Shazam! #1 review

‘With one magic word… Shazam!‘ With the return of the 1970s tagline, and a cover unapologetically acknowledging Captain Marvel’s long comic book history, writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora declare that they’re going back to basics. The World’s Mightiest Mortal isn’t throwing magic lightning bolts around. He’s not turning every second person into a […]

DC Infinite’s Hidden Gems – Doctor Fate

There are a lot of trade paperbacks out there. Some collect stories considered classic, and never go out of print – Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, Sandman. Others gather more recent storylines with more limited time appeal, think ‘Event of the Quarter’. Others exist only in my imagination. Favourite runs that – at least so […]

Action Comics #1054 review

The battle between Metallo and the Super Family continues in the new Action Comics anthology. The opening page is a picture of intensity as Warworld refugee turned Kent family member Otho looms over a burning car. Beside the car, a burning man, a member of the anti-extraterrestrial Blue Earth movement. Feeling threatened, the immature Otho […]

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #2 review

Two things I love in comic books are Day in the Life issues and the Traitor Within the Legion trope. And with Unstoppable Doom Patrol #2 writer Dennis Culver and artist Chris Burnham give us a terrific twofer. The Day in the Life aspect sees us introduced to DP base The Shelter as new character […]

Green Arrow #1 review

Missing from the DC Universe since the exaggerated death of the Justice League, Green Arrow is back in the spotlight. He’s not on Earth, though. He’s somehow wound up on a sci-fi version of the island on which, long ago, a shipwrecked Oliver Queen learnt to use a bow and arrow. And his dialogue reveals […]

Superboy: The Man of Tomorrow #1 review

What a strange title… we already have at least two Men of Tomorrow in the DC Universe and the whole premise of this book is that Conner Kent wants to find his own place in the world. The subtitle has to be a nod to the recent Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow mini-series, which some people […]

Superman #3 review

Parasites are popping up across Metropolis in all shapes and sizes. If Superman and the Super Family don’t contain them the world could be doomed. Unfortunately, as this issue begins a Parasite-tainted Superman arrives at Metropolis jail to absorb energy from one of the biggest power players on the planet. As it turns out, Superman […]

The Flash #797 review

Wally and Linda West’s twins Irey and Jai are well into the idea of being superheroes. What they’re less keen on is being attacked by arch-foes out for revenge before they’ve actually fought for the first time. That’s what happens when their uncle Ace – the current Kid Flash – agrees to babysit them for […]

Podcast Plugtime times 2 – Bob and Bobb and Bob’s Your Uncle

One of the nicest things about doing a comics blog is that comics podcast folk occasionally throw out an invitation to join them for a chat. I’ve had two this month, one to talk about a Silver Age comic, the other to chat early Bronze Age. The shows in question are Checkered Past, in which […]

Lazarus Planet: Revenge of the Gods #3 review

The story so far: mad Greek deity Hera has killed Zeus and is sending gods and monsters to attack Earth, the idea being that this will get people worshipping the Olympians once more. No, me neither. Anyway, Wonder Woman made a deal to spare the Amazons, but Hera immediately reneged on it and the ladies […]