Comics I picked up on thursday 25/6/10

Batman: The Return Of Bruce Wayne #3: More fun and frollics from the time travelling adventures of Bruce Wayne. This month: PIRATE BATMAN. It's a bit of a change from the last issue (understatement) because he really isn't in a detective position as he was in the pagan with hunting. It is cool how it links to the first issue though. I think it's overall a decent series that people should pick up.

Green Lantern Corps #49: It's not the best storyline that GLC has had in recent times . It includes a predominantly human group of lanterns and I honestly don't care about the alpha lanterns. There are other brands of lanterns around and it would be great if we could see the interactions between each corps.

Incorruptible #7: It's all right. nothing spectacular as it has been. The art doesn't help it's really boring, I honestly can't think of anything else to say.

Justice League: Generation Lost #4: I honestly loved this episode because of two things. First and most obvious, batman had an identity crisis moment (you know what I mean if you read it). Second, Maxwell Lord's revelation, which means it isn't so victim and tormentor as we thought. The russian stuff was fun although there's a part of me that thinks this has to do with the JLI days. I seriously need to pick those up.

Powers #5: It's felt like a while but finally it came back. A big plus is that we learn something finally about Sunrise. There's a couple of nostalgic references for long (from the start) term and some more recent references (last issue). The ending was not surprising, if you looked up powers since the first issue was promised to come out, they actually have had a preview of issue 1, 2 and 6, don't ask me why. The starting in my opinion was harsh but it's interesting as to why it happened, this seems to be a what-if that will probably never come up. They say they have two more issues in the next month, so I'm all good.

Secret Warriors #17: It's a change of pace to say the least. It's a time-out from the spy games to focus on Nick and his old friends, the howling commandos. We get to meet the other team of "caterpillars" which have the possibility of being something rather evil. Plus the inevitable howling commandos/ Cap America flashback. A fun change.

Thunderbolts #145: A great second issue in the world of thunderbolts, although I'm wary that anything after the previous thunderbolts team. Their first mission is a decent warm up. The use of swamp thing as well was great as well. I also like the new additions to the cast like who the warden is. btw Find out for yourself what happened after last weeks cliffhanger.

Wolverine Weapon x #14: This story has felt like it's been going on forever and we get to learn about the deathloks. When this book started, I kinda felt like it was supposed to be about the more brutal killing side of wolverine because he is "the best at what he does" and yet here we are, with what seems to be the plot of most of the terminator plots except salvation and he just isn't really being "the best at what he does", plus I swear Captain America changed his uniform throughout this story.

X Factor #206: (second coming tie-in): The finale of second coming revelations. It's up to its usual standard. great character interaction and plot. I love this series, especially for the fact that even though it is tied into second coming, its very much its own world and didn't sacrifice all the plot lines which went before.

X-men Legacy #237: (second coming tie-in): Now this is a great penultimate issue. The great thing about this arc is that it's a great "back against the wall" storyline, some harsh deaths, some great moments and this issue contains one of them. Cypher has always been a character who I never took seriously but he always seemed like he had potential, this is shown in this issue. The ending could be a great final face-off.

Comics I picked up on thursday

The Boys 43: I have to say the one thing that annoys me about the boys is that the photos on the covers have very little to do with the story is anything at all. It was as usual an enjoyable read. The black and white world of the boys vs. the "heroes" becomes more grey. truths are told and this will ultimately become the main ensuing issue for months to come. ending was interesting. the problem with the boys is there is no good jump on point. it's been a long ride and I would recommend just starting at the start.

Brightest Day 4: tbh, this was a rather disappointing issue of BD. it's one of those between big things issues. the firestorm thing; sleeping, deadman, hawk and dove; talking and contemplation of resurrection etc. The only one that perked my interest was the hawkman and hawkwoman story. ending was a big rubbish.

DMZ 54: I enjoyed it. the arc was a "hit rock bottom" arc in my opinion after a big screw up and this was the conclusion. Matty Roth jouney in the DMZ is basically life, we come into the world, we grow, we screw up at some points, we take the punishment, we learn. Not a good jumping on point though but has there ever been?

The New Avengers 1: It has potential. it's a "getting set up issue", we see the new team, we have some interesting twists and we have a initial plot development. As a reader of the first new avengers volume which I think was one of the best monthly buys, I was reluctant to buy this. But the team overall has that "street level" avenger feel to them that works par one (ms. Marvel). It's main story links into magic and the issues brought up about magic.

New Mutants 11: (second coming chapter 11) This is getting interesting. we're reaching an conclusion, it all looks pretty grim and I am intrigued as to how they get out of it. Scott Summers actually for once comes across as impressive. plus the future stuff is twisted. plus LEGION!!!

Walking dead 73: This was another great issue, another twist in the story. I think what makes this series interesting is the potential for anything. one incident could have endless possibilities.

Last weeks reviews

Avengers Academy 1: It's got potential. Yes it feels like it has the clichéd "selling twist". It has it's own generic characters, the moody withdrawn one, the smart but also arrogant one, the sweet one. What makes this series interesting is that it will do it from the perspective of each character in the team. plus return of SPEEDBALL.

Captain America 606: A new arc, a new challenge afoot, will it extend out a long time like the death of America arc, or will it be another shorter but still enjoyable arc. only time will tell. great classic villain fitting of the new cap, very enjoyable. It kind of feels like a daredevil starter, the villain is bringing pieces together, using henchmen who are other cap America villains who cap will work his way through till he finds out. Art has a bleak feel but in a spy game bleak than a moody angsty hero bleak. Nomad story has potential too.

Justice League Generation Lost 3: Slow burning. I personally enjoy it but I know it's going to be a 26 issue run so am not expecting big reveals anytime soon. some things are not suprising like HOW Lord manipulates the team, don't know what the point of ending and where it will lead but it has potential.

Secret Six: A fantastically twisted end to this arc which felt like a return to form of the comic, although I can forgive them for blackest night in the previous issues. plus catman is becoming a more... fleshed out character. Black Alice is still pointless. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed shadowpact but she plays an innocent whiny character who seems to be a potential "redemption".

S.H.I.E.L.D. 2: I just...don't...know. It's been a while, the excitement of how it will go into the history of SHIELD has diminished and there have been stupid links to the marvel universe. I Get Nostradamus, even Da Vinci making the first helicarrier but I just don't like the fact that both iron man's and mr fantastic's dads are SHIELD agents. Look I know someone will be surprised at that but it's kinda like this great star wars sketch from robot chicken that goes like this;

Darth Vader: Luke I am your father

Luke Skywalker: THAT'S NOT TRUE, THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE

DV: And Princess Leia is your sister!!!

LS: THAT'S NOT TRUE, THAT'S.. improbable.

DV: And the empire will be defeated by ewoks!!!

LS: THAT'S... very unlikely.

DV: And as a child, I BUILT C-3PO!!!

LS: ....huh?

It's the improbability of it. S'all I'm saying.

Uncanny X-Men 525: I'm enjoying this series, I think I enjoy these X-men arcs because they try to be weekly so the story is more intense then the other marvel epic events. Took the X-force to an interesting place with a bit of nostalgia for the old x-men fans.