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

"The Button" Part 1
Written by Tom King
Pencils and Inks by Jason Fabok
Colors by Brad Anderson

Batman is investigating the button that was mysteriously found during the Rebirth comic book.  Upon finding something unexpected, Batman contacts The Flash who was in the middle of a fight.  Before the Flash could dispose of his foes and get to the Bat-Cave, Batman has a visitor.  Don't read any further if you do not want any spoilers.

This is how you kick of a comic book event.  I am all in on finding out more about this mysterious button as this appears to be a Watchmen tie-in.  Batman sees his father from an alternate universe and also gets into a tussle with the Reverse Flash.  Reverse Flash claims to see God at the end of the comic before he looks to be burned away.  It looks like the aftermath of those that cross Dr. Manhattan(or is that just something we are lead to believe?).

Jason Fabok is an absolutely fantastic person to be doing the art for this comic book.  I've been a huge fan of his work for some time and I really enjoy the way he draws all of the heroes and villains of the DC Universe.  I'm looking forward to seeing more of his work as this story progresses.

What are your thoughts on "The Button?"  Which summer comic book event are you most excited for?  Please let us know in the comment section below or contact us on social media.

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The Flash Review: Season 2 Episode 17 "Flash Back"

The Flash Season 2 Episode 17

“Flash Back”

Synopsis:

After the shocking revelation of Zoom’s real identity, Barry is more determined than ever to get back to Earth-2 to stop Zoom forever. Desperate to find a way to increase his speed, Barry decides to travel back in time and masquerade as his earlier self in order to get his arch-nemesis, Dr. Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne, to teach him how to run faster. However, things do not go as planned and Barry is stunned to face familiar foe Hartley Rathaway, as well as old friend Eddie Thane. Iris makes peace with her past in order to embrace her future.

Review:

With Barry working effortlessly trying to increase his speed, he decides that the only way to become faster is to go back in time and learn from the Reverse Flash. Things go wrong when Barry comes across a Time Wraith and shows up at the wrong time in the past.

Due to the strange behavior of Barry, Dr. Wells figures out he is from the future. While Barry is trying to convince Thawne to help him become faster, the Time Wraith attacks Star Labs. Cisco and Caitlin have to rely on Hartely who is currently being held, for help.

The end of the episode see the past Barry help Future Barry travel back to the Future where the Time Wraith followed and attacked Barry. With the timeline ultimately effected it was Hartley Rathaway who was there to save the day.

Final Thoughts:

Another great episode of The Flash, I love the time travel episodes and this one was especially great due to the fact that we got to see Future and Past Barry’s working together. We also got to see the effects of time travel effecting the timeline when Hartley was there at the end to help save Barry.

It was also great to see the return of the Eobard Thawne/Dr. Wells character return. There has been a part of me that has ultimately missed that version of Wells. 

Finally its kinda amazing how The Flash and Arrow are so different with how they have developed their leading Ladies. With Arrow, I feel ultimately I end up disliking them, where as with The Flash Iris comes across as likable. It just goes to show you how great The Flash really is.

I give this episode Two Thumbs Up, Let us know what your thoughts of the episode were and leave your comments below.

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Drawn Out - Post-It Note Sketching

Even if I'm not at my computer doing digital artwork or at my drawing table with comic book art boards I still find myself sketching.  I'll draw a couple lines, then draw some shapes and before you know it; Batman is on the page.

I have some Post-It notes at my desk and sometimes I get to work a little early or I may be on hold on the phone a long time so I just start sketching.  I decided to share some of those sketches of what I do with a Post-It note and a Uni-Ball Signa 0.7mm pen.  

I drew up my version of the Reverse Flash(or is it Professor Zoom?).  This one I also included coloring with a hi-liter pen from Office Max.  

Next up is Superman.  For some reason I find myself having more difficulty drawing the Man of Steel more than any other hero.  I am finding that less is more when it comes to details in the face.

I've always liked the look of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  They're all a ton of fun to draw and definitely a go to for me.

Blasto the Clown is from the warped minds here at Abnormal Entertainment.  Based on a character that was supposed to appear in a fart fetish video, Blasto has taken on a life of his own in the world of digital comics.  An unlikely hero, Blasto is great to draw, no matter what mood I'm in.

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Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.  Is there anything you want to see?

Thanks for reading and looking.

The Flash Review: Season 2 Episode 7 "Gorilla Warfare"

The Flash Season 2 Episode 7

“Gorilla Warfare”

Synopsis:

Grodd returns to Central City and kidnaps Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker). Barry (Grant Gustin) and team race to find her before it’s too late. Meanwhile, Cisco (Carlos Valdes) plans his first date with the new barista at Jitters, Kendra Saunders (guest star Ciara Renée) and Patty (guest star Shantel VanSanten) begins to suspect Barry is hiding something from her.

Review:

Episode 7 starts with Barry learning how to walk after Zoom breaks his back. The effects from Zoom took a mental toll which played out through the show. Barry was questioning his ability to save the city and what everyone thought of their hero. In order to help get Barry back to being the Flash, Iris decided to bring Barry’s Dad Harry back to town. Its always nice to have Harry back on the show. While Barry is recovering we have Harrison Wells trying to go back to Earth-2 only to have Caitlin appose that decision wanting Wells to stay and help the Team defeat Zoom. 

The main advisory for this episode is Grodd, he is back and wanting to create more gorilla’s like himself. In order to do this Grodd kidnaps Caitlen in order to help replicate the explosion which created him. Due to Barry still being hesitant to put the Flash suit back on, the team decides the best way to get Caitlin back is to have Wells wear the reverse flash suit to make Grodd believe his father is back. While the plan succeeds the team still has to find a way to deal with Grodd. Harrison Wells come up with the plan to send Grodd to Earth-2, as they have a place which was made to send Gorilla’s with Grodds powers so they can be together. The only way for this to work is for Barry to become Flash once again and with the encouragement from his father. Barry is able to send Grodd through one of the rips between the earths. (Did anyone get a Planet of the Apes vibe from Earth-2 preserve?)

Final thoughts on Episode 7, the writers for Flash always do a fantastic job of never drawing story’s out past what is necessary. This is definitely the case for this episode. They dealt with Barry’s inability to walk and his fear all in this show and it never felt rushed. Also love that Cisco had a date with Kendr Saunders, and when they touched Cisco vibed on her getting an image of what at first looked like Hawkman. Later, at the end of the episode when he vibes again he see that its not a man with wings but Kendra. Its our first look at Hawkgirl. Tell me your not even more excited for the Cross over episodes of Arrow and Flash? or for that matter the new series legends of tomorrow? Also at the end of this episode, Joe West tells Iris how he sometimes gets jealous of Barry and his dad and wishes he  had a son. How soon until we meet Wally West? Will he have the speed force?

Seeing Harrison Wells in the reverse flash suite was Awesome, love being able to revisit that character and absolutely got that creep factor when Wells repeated the line from season one about Cisco being like a son. We all know this isn’t that last time we will see Grodd again, only will the next time be on Earth-1 or Earth-2? and how many more Grodds will we be introduce to when we are reintroduced again.

It was nice not to have another Berlanti moment in this episode, surprisingly that is two DC shows in a row which no one learned a secret identified. Pretty sure this is a record of some kind. I am only waiting until Barry tells Patty his secret. It seems like they are leading to this happening sooner rather than later.

This was a very solid Episode, its hard to follow up to what may be the best episode of the series. But the creative team continues with solid story’s keeping the show fun to watch each week. I give this episode Two Thumbs Up