Archive for the ‘Andy Kubert’ Category

Action Comics #6 Review

Posted: February 2, 2012 in Action Comics, Andy Kubert, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Grant Morrison, Sholly Fisch
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Inked by JOHN DELL
Colored by BRAD ANDERSON
Lettered by PAT BROSSEAU
Backup story art by CHRISCROSS
Cover by ANDY KUBERT
Variant cover by RAGS MORALES
B&W Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT

Talk about giving Superman a back bone, great Scott!!  Superman critics will be delighted to know that Superman’s “boyscoutish” nature has been wiped out with the rest of the previous DC continuity.  One can always assume that boys will be boys, and Action Comics was presenting us a young man driven by testosterone and a need to show off; however, five years into the future Superman is still ornery and in-your-face, ready to knock the teeth out of anyone who scorns him!

A lot of continuity building happens in this issue, establishing Superman’s relationship with the Legion of Superheroes with first impressions.  It’s interesting to see how the original Legionaries weren’t falling head over heels for the Boy of Steel, finding him to be quite annoying.  Their respect for the role model of the future, however, is all that matters as they understand that meeting the Legion was one of the greatest influential periods of Superman’s life.

Grant Morrison keeps Action Comics spinning with fantastic new takes on things we always assumed we knew about Clark’s upbringing.  Certainly, no follower of Superman will ever consider Smallville a canonized adaption of the Man of Steel’s legacy, but the detest that Superman has for his birth parents is certainly being applied into this origin story.  Clearly, Clark hasn’t quite figured out everything concerning his home planet or the intentions of his parents when sending him to a safe planet for him to grow up on.  How this will pan out for Superman in the long run has only been revealed minimally, but there’s no doubt that this is a Superman that has a lot more baggage to deal with then the pre-reboot Superman.

The most impressive part of Andy Kubert’s art in this issue is how well he makes Young Superman resemble older Superman!  Not to mention Brad Anderson’s amazing coloring job.  Both artists work well together to create amazing visuals that look like this…

The book concludes with a secondary story trailing back right before Clark moved to Metropolis. It’s much slower and more sentimental in comparison to the more important story, but it’s filled with a lot of heart.  As to what purpose this secondary story serves for the overall picture, I’m not certain.  More than likely it’s simply setting up the overall remapping of Superman’s origins and beginnings.  And while I loved reading it, I’m not certain there was much point to it in connection to the bigger story at hand.  However, I don’t think it lessens the reading experience in the least.

This isn’t the best issue of Action since the reboot, but without a doubt it’s one you don’t want to skip out on!  Six hits in a row for Morrison, this rocks!

9 out of 10 stars!

Action Comics #5 Review

Posted: January 9, 2012 in Action Comics, Andy Kubert, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Grant Morrison, Pat Brosseau
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Written by GRANT MORRISON
Backup story written by SHOLLY FISCH
Art by ANDY KUBERT and JESSE DELPERDANG
Colors by PATRICK BROSSEAU
Backup story art by CHRISCROSS
Cover by ANDY KUBERT and JOE PRADO
Variant cover by RAGS MORALES
B&W Variant cover by ANDY KUBERT

Here it is, 6:30 on Sunday night, facebook is all a glow with Tim Tebow worship, and I’m sitting on the couch finishing up rewatching the first season of Heroes and writing a review of Action Comics #5.  Where are the internet hits going to be punching to tonight? The answer, the playoffs and the Broncos.  So I’m exceptionally happy, dear reader, that you’ve decided to take the time and venture on over to the geeky side of life and take a look at my review of the 5th installment of Superman’s marque title.

It’s been told time and time again…Superman’s origin story!  Only this time Morrison has given us a new perspective on the Baby of Steel’s upbringing.  Narrated by Baby El’s escape pod, (yes, you read that right) we are jettisoned from Krypton to Kansas farmland where Jonathan and Martha Kent find themselves in the midst of a baby boy bundled up in his family crest bearing blankets.

Flash forward to issue #1 of Action’s reboot and we are reminded of the somewhat sentimental moment Supes shares with his ship.  All of the sudden with the story context of issue #5 does everything start to make sense.  But what does this mean?  Is Brainiac’s technological consciousness going to take over and attack Kal-El while he’s at his weakest?  Of course it will!  That’s a no brainier!  But what will the implications of this new twist on Kal’s upbringing do for the future of the hero?

I can’t remember for the life of me how much of Brainiac’s involvement was tied to Krypton’s fate and Superman’s origin.  I seem to recall, however, that Brainiac being apart Krypton’s technological life was a new twist on the Superman folklore made by the Superman Animated series.  Unless I’m mistaken, Morrison has fused that into the actual Superman cannon.  There also seems to be bits of the horribly campy TV show, Smallville, added into this comic series.  Superman’s escape pod now has a consciousness and will be playing a much bigger role in the overall story than Siegel or Shuster ever intended.  The new stuff keeps a-comin’, the twists and turns are endless, and Morrison continues to amaze me!

Flashback to Krypton before it exploded, Morrison has also given Laura more of a purpose in her son’s story.  She isn’t simply some woman who always stays home while Jor-El went out making the bacon, but rather a technical designer, one who helped with the creation of the escape pod.  Finally, comic book women are being given more of a purpose that is (almost) at the equivalent of men’s.

A nice little change in the philosophy of Superman’s powers has also risen with the reboot.  It seems that Superman’s abilities are not as mythological as we thought.  Jor and Laura ask Brainiac to target “worlds where the gravity is weak so that he [Kal-El] will seem to fly,” giving a more scientific explanation to Superman’s abilities.  Is Kryptonian physiology tailor made to withstand incredible gravitational force?  Is that why Superman can fly on Earth?  More to come on this, I’m sure.

To continue this overly drawn out review, Martha and Jonathan Kent have a nice little storyline where they get their “sexy” on.  Martha is unable to conceive a child, so it’s a wonderful coincidence that Kal-El falls right in their backyard.  Something Jor-El didn’t plan as he told Brainiac to target ANY planet with the Same solar make-up of as Earth.

Kubert and Brosseau are no strangers to excellence when it comes to Superman.  The reboot is supposed to be new and refreshing, but it’s like I’m seeing a golden age of excellence that resembles so much of the old art style fused with the new!

Morrison is bringing in something I thinks he’s wanted for a while; combining his literary vision of All-Star Superman with what the ignorant public knows thanks to Smallville.  Morrison just might have created the ultimate Superman beginning…one that both old and new fans can enjoy!

10 out of 10 stars

Flashpoint #2 Review

Posted: June 5, 2011 in Andy Kubert, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Flashpoint, Geoff Johns, The Flash
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Written By: Geoff Johns

Penciled By: Andy Kubert

Inked By: Sandra Hope

Coloring By: Alex Sinclair

Lettering By: Nick J. Napolitano

Edited By: Kate Stewart

Associate Editor: Rex Ogle

Cover By: Andy Kubert & Sandra Hope

The Plot

We get a glimpse of the Aquaman and Wonder Woman of Flashpoint, and it ain’t a pretty picture!  Meanwhile at the Batcave, Batman (Thomas Wayne) and Flash try to work out their differences.  Can the Flash restore his reality and wipe out Flashpoint’s.  I guess we’ll find out when the DCU reboot begins huh?  (grumble grumble)

My Awe Inspiring Opinion

How does a fan of DC comics continue to read Flashpoint knowing that it’s the precursor for the rebooted DCU coming in September?  Sure, there are those that are looking forward to the “new and improved” DC line of comics, but for those of us (and it’s a lot) who are really aren’t happy with this up and coming change, it could be really hard to read this miniseries with an open mind.  For me, personally, I’m not sure what to do.

That being stated, I did enjoy issue #2, but not near as much as #1.  There’s only three issues left to go and the bulk of the issue was spent in aggressive negotiations between Batman and Flash…how much time did Johns need to spend in developing the series’ overarching plotline?  I felt as if this could have been fleshed out in fewer panels.  (But I’m just a blogger right?  What do I know?)

Just when I thought Johns was going to take the easy route, he throws in the monkey wrench and makes sure Thomas Wayne isn’t just some evil version of the Batman we all know.  Thomas Wayne shows his stance as a character with his immediate acceptance of helping Barry wipe out the world of Flashpoint if it means giving life back to his son Bruce, willing to not only sacrifice his life, but the life of everyone else on Earth.

Evil Wonder Woman and Aquaman help to maintain the feeling of unfamiliarity and angst.  Andy Kubert’s artistic prowess amplifies this sentiment even more with the two former heroes and their demonic look, followed by a very disturbing turn of events with Barry Allen’s body completely singed from the failed Frankenstein experiment.  This book, despite the foreknowledge of the reboot, left me wanting much, much more!

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

I don’t know, I liked this issue but I’m pissed about the future of DC being helmed by Johns and Jim Lee.  I can’t fault this issue based on the disgusted feeling I have towards the reboot, so I can’t justly give this issue a bad rating based on that.  But I must make it know to Johns and Lee…I am NOT HAPPY!!

8 out of 10 Stars

Flashpoint #1 Review

Posted: May 12, 2011 in Adam Schlagman, Alex Sinclair, Andy Kubert, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Flashpoint, Geoff Johns, Nick J. Napolitano, Rex Ogle, Sandra Hope, The Flash
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Written By: Geoff Johns

Penciled By: Andy Kubert

Inked By: Sandra Hope

Coloring By: Alex Sinclair

Lettering By: Nick J. Napolitano

Edited By: Adam Schlagman & Rex Ogle

Cover By: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope, & Alex Sinclair

The run-at-the-seat-of-your-pants Plot

After hearing about a shoot-out between some of Barry Allen’s fiercest enemies, the DC Comic speedster runs after the crime scene only to find his speed force ring missing.  He falls down a set of stairs to see his mother after so long.

After a series of events, Barry realizes that not all is well and reality has become somewhat unfamiliar.  The world fights against Wonder Woman and Aquaman, and the similar heroes we all know are a tad bit more relentless and “dirty fighters.”  Worst of all, Iris loves another man.  Barry must now decipher the mystery of this familiar, yet strange new world he’s stumbled into and find his way back home…after Flashpoint is done in five issues of course.

My Awe Inspiring Opinion

Where Brightest Day began horribly, Flashpoint gets off with a bang.  Personally, I find that DC uses the Multiverse way too much, giving us too many Flashes, Supermans, Wonder Womans, and Green Lanterns.  However, Johns seems to have taken full control of this version of Earth within the multiverse giving it a new and fresh feeling, filled with mystery and excitement.  I can honestly say that I’m hooked and will most likely stick with this series all way through to final issue #5.

Johns starts off with a tremendously emotional first few pages, delving back into Barry’s past and how it led up to him being the Flash and developing friendships because of that.  But as we shift further into this world where Barry Is “slow,” even more occurs to enticement and ensnare our senses.  Unlike the beginning of Brightest Day, Johns leaves so much unanswered but gives us so much to go on, leaving the mystery swimming in our heads in a positive flow.

Among these mysteries in the overarching theme of Flashpoint, the two most center-staged ones deal with Wonder Woman and Aquaman turning out to be murderous jerkfaces!  Without a doubt I’ll be picking up the Flashpoint One-Shots staring Wonder Woman and Aquaman just to find out why they are so evil!  But concerning this first issue, we discover one very interesting thing about this world’s Batman.  I can’t give it away for fear of ruining the best surprise to come out of a DC Comic in a very long time, but I don’t know if I can hold in this “father” of all secrets for very much longer.  (Riddle me this!)

The tone was set very well for this series and its character developments.  Faces and costumes are familiar, but mindset is completely different.  It seems Johns has expanded on the dark side of each hero’s personalities.  Batman now seems to be much more willing to sacrifice the lives of evildoers in the name of justice, and the heroes in this world don’t seem to get along with each other in the very least.  The only character that seems to have maintained his personality trait is Cyborg, who not only has the ability to walk, but run, jump and save damsels in distress after “slipping” from the top of a tall building.  Only recently have I gotten into Cyborg’s character.  I think John’s may have just sparked my interest even more.

It’s good to see Andy Kubert working on a series I’m reading again.  But the best work of this issue doesn’t come from the action or more intense scenes found towards the middle and end of the book, but rather at the beginning.  I can’t see a more emotionally gripping panel than the one where Barry embraces his mother in a heartfelt hug.  But even with that said, the artistic vision and execution of this issue is flawless, never sparing on details nor lacking in the depth of color and definition.  Sinclair became just as much of a storyteller as Johns and Kubert with his excellent depiction of a torn and beaten up Gotham City with the multiple shades of red and black.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

Now I can’t say that this issue is one of the best I’ve ever red out of DC’s comic repertoire, but it’s definitely got my interests peaked and excited for what’s in store for the future.  It kept my attention from start to finish.  While Geoff Johns is great at writing storylines for Green Lantern, I think some of his real passion lies with the Flash, and it shows!

10 out of 10