Comic Book Review: Mister Miracle #1 - DC Comics (2017)

"Meet: Mister Miracle"

Written by Tom King
Art by Mitch Gerads

Mister Miracle seems to be having a bit of an inside of the mind crisis and dealing with friends, family and most importantly himself has been difficult.

The synopsis I gave is on the vague side for a reason.  Mister Miracle is a twelve issue mini-series and issue one is just the jumping off point.  There are more questions than answers at this point.

Mister Miracle opens with our hero lying on the bathroom floor with his wrists slit.  The fallout from it all plays out throughout the book.  At home with Big Barda, on television in talk show format and also in his mind as he thinks back to childhood.  There are also multiple ominous black panels with "Darkseid is" printed in them.  I am absolutely in love with how this book was written and presented.  I don't know much about Mister Miracle or the New Gods for that matter, so please don't let that deter you from picking up this comic book series.  You may need to pick up a second printing, these books were flying off the shelf and sold out at my local comic book shop.

Speaking of local comic book shop, Samurai Comics in Mesa, AZ was where I picked up Mister Miracle #1 and I was pleased that they had the artist for the series, Mitch Gerads in attendance.  I have had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Gerads at multiple cons and comic book store events and it is awesome to hear his insight.  His art style is a bit different than other comic artists as he does every bit of the artistic process.  Mitch does all of his own pencils, inks, and colors.  It is truly incredible that he is able to do all of the artistic duties and he makes it all look amazing as well.  I was able to get the variant cover of Mister Miracle autographed while I was at the comic shop.

What are your thoughts on Mister Miracle?  What other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?   Please let us know through social media.

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Comic Book Review: The Brave and the Bold #1: Batman and Green Lantern - DC Comics (2007)

"The Lords of Luck Roulette"
Chapter One

Written by Mark Waid and George Perez
Pencils by George Perez
Inks by Bob Wiacek
Colors by Tom Smith

Batman and Green Lantern have a mystery to solve.  Multiple bodies have been found throughout the world and also in space.  The odd part is, it's the exact same body in all of these locations.

I like "The Brave and the Bold" concept of teaming up two DC superheroes.  The first issue in the 2007 iteration has two fan-favorites; Batman and Green Lantern.  I like how these two heroes work together despite a stark clash in style.  The world's greatest detective teaming up with the man with a ring that create just about anything he can think of.

Mark Waid and George Perez have the beginning of a very mysterious story and it goes from outer space, to Gotham, to Las Vegas and before the story ends Green Lantern is headed back to space to head to another planet.  We are also introduced by inter-planetary villains along with another villain we are a bit more familiar with in Roulette.  I received this comic book in the TeeBlox subscription service and you can check out past reviews of that service at HelloSubscription. I may need to head to my local comic shop to see if I can find the rest of this series in the bargain bin.  My library may have the collected graphic novel as well.

George Perez is one of my all time favorite artists and, as soon as I saw his work on the cover, I immediately opened the book to start reading.  Perez has drawn just about everyone in the worlds of DC and Marvel Comics and I was excited by what I saw inside.  Everything from the heroes to the backgrounds look wonderful.  It was an absolute pleasure to not just read, but look at the incredible artwork in "The Brave and the Bold" #1.

What are your thoughts on "The Brave and the Bold" concept?  What other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?  Please let us know in the comment section below or through social media.

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Comic Book Review: Batman #24 - DC Comics (2017)

"Every Epilogue is a Prelude"

Written by Tom King

Pencils by David Finch
Inks by Danny Miki
Pages 1, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16-20

Pencils and Inks by Clay Mann with Seth Mann
Pages 2-3, 5-7, 9, 11, 13-15

Colors by Jordie Bellaire

Batman and Gotham Girl discuss what her future will be.  Batman is also searching for Catwoman As he has some very important things to say to her.

Tom King continues to prove that he is one of the best writers in comic books.  Issue 24 of Batman shows such great sides to the Dark Knight.  Batman is much more revealing on a personal level and he reveals he doesn't know how to be happy.  His unhappy revelation came during Batman's conversations with Gotham Girl during the daytime within this book.  The conversation continues throughout the comic book through colored captions during the nighttime scenes where we see Batman chasing Catwoman.  As the chase draws closer, we get to see Batman talk to Catwoman and it ends with Batman confessing things to her.  The end of the book has fanboys and fangirls everywhere wondering what Catwoman's response will be.

I really enjoyed having multiple artists for this comic.  There were two distinctly different things going on.  Having Clay and Seth Mann doing the artwork for the daytime chat between Batman and Gotham Girl looked wonderful.  They captured Batman's grittiness while still giving softer looks to Gotham Girl.  David Finch and Danny Miki were in charge of Batman's pursuit of Catwoman and the last page with the all-important gesture should be made into a print.  This comic book is excellent.

What are your thoughts on Batman?  What do you think Catwoman/Selina Kyle will say?

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Comic Book Review: Superman #22 - DC Comics (2017)

"Black Dawn"
Chapter 3

Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
Pencils by Doug Mahnke
Inks by Jaime Mendoza and Ray McCarthy
Colors by Wil Quintana

Lois Lane is searching for her husband Clark Kent and their son Jon.  The boys were out with Damian Wayne(Robin) looking for Batman.  Lois finds out there is much more to her missing family and friends as "Black Dawn" continues.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the Rebirth run on Superman thus far.  The "Black Dawn" story line had the seeds planted many issues ago and I feel that this is something that really sets DC Comics apart from many other comic book companies.  There is a plan in place and the stories have been wonderful because of it.  This isn't to say that you need to read all 21 issues leading up to this(plus an Annual and some cross-overs with Action Comics).  If you did read them, it's an added bonus.

The "Black Dawn" stories read a lot like a horror story.  We are also given these stories from multiple perspectives.  The majority of this comic book is from Lois' perspective as she uses her journalistic prowess to find Clark, Jon, Damian and Bruce.  Because this is Lois, we get to see her find much more than she had originally bargained for.  We also are treated to how tough she can be as she takes on assailants and gets to drive the Batmobile.  Superman is the person whose perspective is given to the readers.  There is a revelation at the end of this book that left me clamoring for more.

Doug Mahnke is one of my favorite artists and I am always happy to see his name on the cover.  Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason have been putting together incredible stories and they are that much better when Mahnke is in charge of the art.  The inks were nice in this comic as the use of black in some of the more eerie panels was beautiful.  The visuals are spectacular and Wil Quintana's colors add to the spooky feeling.

What are your thoughts on Superman?  Do you like the family dynamic that is used in this series?  What other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?

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Comic Book Review: Superman: Annual #1 - DC Comics (2017)

"Tangled Up In Green"

Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
Art by Jorge Jimenez
Colors by Alejandro Sanchez

Hamilton County(300 miles north of Metropolis) is where the Kent's have decided to lay down roots when they were pulled from their universe and placed into the current DC universe.  Clark Kent/Superman is trying to figure out why the land in Hamilton County is so dry.  Maybe Swamp Thing can help explain.

I know the old saying; "Don't judge a book by it's cover."  This comic book has Superman and Swamp Thing on the cover so I threw caution to the wind and decided this is a "must have."  This book was even better than I had hoped.  Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason are writing some of the best stories in comic books with their current run on Superman. This "Annual" fits with the story but can be read on its own as well.  The way Superman and Swamp Thing communicated with each other was great.  Swamp Thing helping Superman figure out why the land was drying up was awesome.  Superman didn't want to do things Swamp Thing's way but he can be quite convincing.  

Jorge Jimenez and Alejandro Sanchez were amazing choices to do the art in this comic book.  This was a very visual story so the art needed to be on point.  The two main characters are very different.  The vibrant Superman and the murky looking Swamp Thing.  Seeing the two of these characters with and against each other was a wonderful sight.  The visuals toward the end of the comic book when Swamp Thing helps Superman see the reason behind the drying of the land were absolutely stunning.  The art alone makes this comic book worth purchasing.  Luckily it has a good story as well.

I am all for another Superman and Swamp Thing team-up in the future.  This was the first meeting of this version of Superman with the current incarnation of Alec Holland/Swamp Thing and I hope for many more.

What are your thoughts on Superman: Annual #1?  Are you reading the Superman series or any other DC series?  What would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review in the future?  

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Comic Book Review: Nightwing #20 - DC Comics (2017)

"Nightwing Must Die! - Finale"
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Javier Fernandez
Colors by Chris Sotomayor

Nightwing is on a mission to find his girlfriend Shawn Tsang.  Professor Pyg has his army of demented doppelgangers, including Deathwing(who is figuring out what side he is on).

There is so much more going on in this book than that little blurb I included.  This is the finale in what has been an emotional roller coaster of a story.  Nightwing has been hot on the trail of finding his girlfriend(who also may be pregnant).  Robin(Damian Wayne) is tagging along as he is upset that many feel that Nightwing is the heir apparent to the Batman helm.  Plus you get to throw in layers of bad guys and top layer bad guys taking out the bottom layer of bad guys.  Tim Seeley did a masterful job with this story line.  I'm so glad Superman recommended Bludhaven as a destination for Nightwing(issue #9).

The Nightwing series is wonderful since we have a steady writer in Tim Seeley.  The one thing I wish it had is a steady artist.  Everyone who has worked on this series has been very good, but I feel like it would be that much better with the same artist.  Javier Fernandez did very nice work in this particular comic book.  He gave it a very gritty look which is something I that definitely works when it comes to the street level heroes.  Chris Sotomayer's colors were excellent as well.  The scenery was dark but Nightwing's blue and Deathwing's red really popped nicely.

Nightwing is one of my absolute favorite comic books going.  I look forward to each issue.  Tim Seeley is writing Nightwing/Dick Grayson the way a hero should be written.  Nightwing is a hero full of hope, even when that hope can backfire.  He looks for the good and fights to keep that good alive.  The looking for the good in people works out to Dick Grayson's advantage as Shawn Tsang, his girlfriend, was a villain who was known as The Defacer(it's not as bad as it sounds, she just spray painted artwork).

What are your thoughts on Nightwing?  What other comic books would you like Maskerpiece Theatre to review?

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Comic Book Review: Justice League of America: Rebirth #1 - DC Comics

JLA Rebirth
Written by Steve Orlando
Pencils by Ivan Reis
Inks by Joe Prado & Oclair Albert
Colors by Marcelo Maiolo

Batman is putting together a new team.  A team of heroes that are less God-like and more human.  A group the people of the world can identify with.  The question is, can this group find a way to get along with each other?  Beware: the rest is spoilers.

This book starts out with Batman recruiting Killer Frost.  The two look over the base of operations that Batman has chosen, a secret cave in Happy Harbor, Rhode Island.  From here, Batman and Killer Frost head to Seattle to recruit Black Canary who was a bit surprised the once villainous Killer Frost had come to her city.  The next to be recruited is the alien biker Lobo.  Lobo agrees and the group look to have Ray Palmer, The Atom, join in the fun.  Ray Palmer is missing but his student aid, Ryan Choi, is there and he has been using Palmer technology to search for The Atom.  Batman was against it but Lobo liked the kid.  Now it's the Ryan's turn to recruit so now The Ray is in the group.  Batman rounded out the group by convincing Vixen to join.

This book reminded me of the beginning of Justice League International during the New 52 run.  Batman puts together a group to look good for the masses.  He chooses a leader most of the group wouldn't expect(Killer Frost for JLA and Booster Gold for JLI).  Justice League International was a fun series and I foresee the same with this comic book team.  Having Lobo and Black Canary on a team with Killer Frost should make for plenty of interesting panels.

Ivan Reis is one of my favorite comic book artists today.  It is awesome seeing his work on so many heroes.  The attention he gives to the facial expressions and the poses each character is in is phenomenal.  The colors by Marcelo Maiolo looked amazing as well.  So many of the panels within the book were cover-worthy.

What are your thoughts on the Justice League of America?  What comic book series' are you reading?  Let us know by reaching out to us through social media.

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Comic Book Review: The Flash #21 - DC Comics (2017)

"The Button" part 2
Written by Joshua Williamson
Art by Howard Porter
Colors by Hi-Fi

The Flash is investigating the Bat-Cave, the scene where his nemesis, The Reverse Flash aka Eobard Thawne, met his demise(see Batman #21).  Upon his investigations, The Flash decides he must look for clues in a way only The Flash is able to do.

"The Button" story line is blowing me away.  I am thoroughly enjoying what this cross-over event is bringing to the table.  Flash and Batman teaming up to travel through time and universes to find out who or what killed the man who murdered Barry Allen's(The Flash) mother is a recipe for a whole lot of awesome.  The scenes from the time stream were absolutely incredible.  For the DC fans who did not love the "New 52" as much as I did will be happy to see many of the scenes from this comic book.  For those that liked the characters from the Flashpoint series, there is a really cool appearance from someone very familiar to Bruce Wayne(Batman).

Howard Porter's artwork is spectacular in this comic book.  There is so much going on in each panel as he has a full background in just about all of them.  Pairing this art with Joshua Williamson's brilliant storytelling is absolutely extraordinary.  Get to your local comic shop and buy these books before they are gone.

What are your thoughts on "The Button" story?  Which comic book event are you most excited for?  Let us know through social media.

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WonderCon 2017 - The Event

We had so much fun in Anaheim at WonderCon last weekend. This is a glimpse into what the Con looked like. Enjoy these images and stay tuned for our next post which will be a look at the fantastic cosplay we saw!

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