Legends of the DC Universe #41

   The final issue of Legends of the DC Universe threatens to tear apart the very fabric of the DCU. With only the most annoying character in the history of DC Comics to aid him, Snapper Carr, the Atom must literally race against time! His mission is to prevent the workings of Chronos from stopping time itself after the villain set up a battery to drain a time machine called the Time Pool of temporal energy. Left running, the battery is causing velociraptors, knights, tanks, and sink holes from all of history to converge on the Atom's home of Ivy Town.   

   Will the tiny hero be able to save the day before time runs out? 

   The final issue of this dynamic series ended with lots of time-bending action. I enjoyed seeing tanks and dinosaurs destroying a small town, but I would've liked to have seen more of it. More variety too. I kinda wanted to see some of the old Justice Society heroes or even villains from that era, but then I remembered that at this point in DC history, they would've been on Earth-2. So, I guess they couldn't have made an appearance after all. 

   I also found myself doing something I didn't expect- liking Snapper Carr. When he was first introduced in the pages of Justice League of America, he was nothing more than a glorified sidekick with the job of either writing down the latest adventures of some of the heroes or get himself into trouble. He was clearly around to appeal to the younger generation in hopes that those young readers might relate to the character. But why they didn't use Robin or Jimmy Olsen for that role is beyond me. Still, writer Rich Faber did a really excellent job in making this Snapper a more of a  down-to-earth character who lacks confidence and doesn't over congratulate himself with those annoying snaps of his. 

   Legends of the DC Universe was a fun series and I'm a little sad to see it go. The New 52 tried to revive this idea slightly with its 'DC Universe Presents' series, but it just wasn't the same. On the bright side, there's still an 80-page Giant that I've yet to find and add to my collection so I got that to look forward to. But with DC being on a kick to bring back some old favorites as a result of its Convergence storyline, I don't see why the publisher couldn't revamp this dynamic anthology series once again.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #5

  So how do you solve a cliffhanger when you're involved in a massive explosion that's supposed to destroy an entire galaxy? You draft up a handy dandy wormhole and send your hero back into the bosom of his comfy new mansion he was awarded when he beat a fellow superhero bearing the same moniker. 

   Ok- so it's a pretty lame plot device and the reader deserves better. However, there's another reason for this cop out. See, as I've been mentioning for a while, the 13th issue of the original Tick series took over a decade to be published. Karma Tornado sought to extend the Tick franchise by having the hero be plucked from the timeline before the cliffhanger in issue 12. So in order to have the Tick be able to come back to earth, he has to return sometime after the events of issues 12-13. SPOILER- Tick and Arthur survived!

But aside from that bit of mind-bending physics,  this issue was pretty funny. Ever since the Tick defeated Barry Hubris, the big blue superhero was given access to the former Tick's home, gadgets, vehicles, and pretty sweet bank account. Thus, when Tick and his sidekick Arthur, who finally makes an appearance in the awesome series, go shopping around for a new superhero team to join, they get taken for a ride. Well, it didn't help having Tick brag about his wealth and awesomely tricked-out  motorcycle. 

   Will our illustrious heroes realize that they're being used for their money and luxuries before it's too late and the bank account reaches zero? Will this sudden popularity go to the Tick's head? Will any crimefighting actually be done in this episode? You'll just have to pick up a copy of this issue and find out for yourself!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

The Tick: Karma Tornado #2

   The Tick has been named the captain for the earth contingent in this intergalactic competition. Along with the Tick is his time-displaced teammates including Eli Whitney, George Washington Carver, Mrs. O'Leary's cow, a T-Rex, Nefertiti- OH!!! The T-Rex just ate the cow. It looks like Tick's team is going to be a man down during this competition!

    I know that many consider Edlund's original series as the definitive Tick series and I would agree that it lays the foundation for a character so crazy, so insane that you can't help but laugh! But I think I like Karma Tornado a little better than the first series. The art is superior and the writing is brilliant.

    The only thing missing is Arthur, Tick's sidekick. He balances Tick quite well. He's the Dean Martin to Tick's Jerry Lewis. The duo of Eli Whitney and George Washington Carver, who act as Tick's co-captains and scorekeepers are a good substitute for Arthur, but it's not the same. 

  Featuring an out-of-this-world cliffhanger that will leave you as breathless as the Tick.

    Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Age of Ultron

Some of you may be saying "'Age of Ultron,' where have I heard that before?" Well, it's the subtitle of the next Avengers film due out this summer. Though the villain Ultron is the film's main villain, I doubt that the plot will be as wide scale and sweeping as in this miniseries.

   In 'Age of Ultron' the dastardly artificial intelligence has created a vast army of robots and drones with the sole purpose of destroying all organic life from the earth. The attack takes just minutes and now only a handful of survivors are the only hope for humanity.

   Several small groups make their way to the Savage Land, seeing it's Antarctic locale as the ultimate protection from Ultron's forces. There they find Nick Fury and discover that the reason why Ultron can't be touched is that he's controlling all of the pieces his chess board from the future. Fury just happens to have Doctor Doom's time travelling platform and assembles a team to strike at Ultron from his distant safe haven.  However, Wolverine has other plans and along with the Invisible Woman, the mutant decides to go back in time and kill Ultron's creator, Hank Pym!

   If you've been reading the reviews of the Marvel Now! Avengers series on my blog, you've probably realized that crazy things are going on with the space-time continuum in the Marvel Universe. Alternate earths are being destroyed and the Illuminati are at odds with the rest of the Avengers over the use of a planet killing device to save our earth (earth-616.)

   The events that occur in this miniseries are the spark that lights the fire of the death of the multiverse. With the upcoming 'Secret Wars' series that will result in the first ever reboot of Marvel Comics, the time to read this miniseries has never been more timely.
 
With a great plot, dynamic art, and some very unique takes on the philosophical question "If you could go back in time and kill Hitler, would ya?" this is one of the best sweeping crossover events that I've ever read.
   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

The Next #6 (of 6)

The final chapter has the Next, Sion, Superman, and Metron teaming up to take down the Oblivion Shadow once and for all. But as allies disappear from the time stream, it will be up to Monikka Wong to step up and become everybody’s savior.

The final chapter was just alright. There were thrills but no frills. Most DC books that involve time travel get a little metaphysical and this finale is no exception. The reason for the Shadow’s existence was a little too much like the ending to Wizard of Oz. However, the art once again stepped up and was amazing. So, it wasn’t a terrible waste of time.

To my knowledge, this is the only appearance of the Next. It’s the only comic to star them and I am pretty sure that’s it. There’s a very good reason why you never see the Next ever again- their one and only mini-series was terribly inconsistent. I found some of the jokes corny, the plot thin, and much of the science jargon was college-level. I wasn’t a fan and if it wasn’t for being a time travel book and a Superman featured title, I would’ve given up after issue #2.

Take my advice, skip this. If you want to enjoy the Man of Steel travelling through time, check out Time and Time Again. It’s a much more coherent and exciting story.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Overall Rating: 6.5 out of 10 stars

The Next #5 (of 6)

As the Next keep one step ahead of Sion, the Oblivion Shadow continues to grow, further threatening all of time and space. If there is any chance of beating this anomaly in the space-time continuum, the Next and Superman all going to need all the help they can get. Look for the New God Metron to make a very Yoda-like appearance and for an unlikely partnership to form in this penultimate issue.

Thankfully, DC has pushed out 2 very good issues of the Next in a row. It’s got me a little nervous that the final issue is going to blow as this series can’t seem to decide on whether it wants to be an instant classic or a colossal fail.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars

The Next #4 (of 6)

The inter-dimensional bounty hunter Sion has finally found his prey. Coming to the Next’s rescue is Superman. But how can the Man of Steel defeat someone who’s basically a magical being? It’s going to take some creativity, resolve, and time travel. Lots of time travel.

This series is the comic book equivalent of a roller coaster. It goes up and then way down, then it peaks again. This is by far the best issue of the series, a series that’s sadly very inconsistent. The art continues to be very creative and colorful but the story is all over the place.

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Next #3 (of 6)

The anomaly of space-time, now called the Oblivion Shadow, has the Next and Superman in it’s sights. How can this be unless this thing is sentient…

One of the Next is known for being a brain and uses a lot of technical jargon to get his point across. He’s basically Reed Richards, only I can understand him- most times. This was perhaps one of the most confusing issues I’ve ever read. Usually, I might get lost because I don’t know the full history of a character or series. This was the first time that I felt that I’d get most out of reading a Graduate level text book on Quantum Physics.

If my wife saw me when I read this she probably would’ve said that it looked like my eyes had glazed over. I know that they crossed from the ‘science’ in this issue.

The plot was good as well as the art. It just had some very advanced theories that kept me from enjoying this issue so much. I think that’s a real shame as the previous issue seemed to be finally getting everything on track. I’m not ready to give up yet. But if this keeps up, I will.

Not Worth Consuming

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars

The Next #2 (of 6)

   While Superman has his hands full with the space anomaly in earth’s orbit, the Next and their earth friend Monikka are experiencing fluctuations in time with dinosaurs, cowboys, and various other things bleeding through. Plus, the overlords that the Next fled into our dimension from have sent a bounty hunter names Sion to bring them home. He’s not found them yet! But he’s getting close.

Issue 2 was much better as the Next and Superman finally meet and it’s not a happy first encounter either. I think having these two entities finally interact is what this series was seriously lacking. It makes for a much more interesting story and the flow of action seems more fluid.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

 

The Next #1 (of 6)

What is the Next? Well, it’s not a team of outcasts from STAR Labs or the Cadmus Project, as I originally thought. In fact, despite the fact that Superman is on the cover, the Next aren’t officially members of the Superman Family.  The Next are a group of four extra-dimensional teenagers from the future or a tangent timeline. When their guide ‘dog’ becomes lost in the modern era time stream of Earth, the youths become trapped, causing not only a rift in time and space but for a human girl to be killed.   Taking human form, the Next have bonded their life force to the girl, named Monikka. If they leave, not only will Monikka die again but all of time and space will begin to unravel.

So where does the Man of Steel fit into all of this? Well, the New God, Metron is a member of the Superman Family, even if it’s unofficial and a stretch. But knowing of Superman’s superior strength and passion to save others when all hope is lost, Metron informs the Kryptonian of the crisis forming in the space-time continuum.  It’s a task Superman heartily accepts but has he bitten off a little more than he can chew?

Issue 1 is the very first appearance the Next. So, there’s a ton of introduction and back story to be made. Most of the plot is devoted to explaining all of that and it’s a bit annoying. Monikka’s backstory is interesting but everything seems rushed.  Why even Superman’s role is extremely limited and doesn’t appear until the last couple of pages.

I feel like this is false advertising. The cover boasts Superman and the Next in a pose that looks like their best buds. Yet, the two entities don’t even meet! I’m not sure what’s up with that but I’m hoping it’s a plot point that will be rectified in the next issue.

So far, I’m not impressed.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.