DCU Comic Book Reviews

WEDNESDAY COMICS #5

August 5th, 2009

Written by Various

Pencils by Various

Inks by Various

Cover by Various

A Brief Introduction by Binkley (e-mail)

When this weekly series was first introduced, I immediately started to brainstorm how I would review these issues.  There were 15 stories per comic, so it seemed to make some sense to write reviews for each of the 15 stories.  I came up with a variety of different ways to present the text, but ultimately I decided to wait until I actually read the first issue before making a decision.  After reading it, what struck me the most is that a single page of a story is not enough to write a review.  There just isn’t enough to critique the plot, structure, or character.  And then it hit me.  I can provide my impression of the stories, my thoughts and ideas of what struck me as I was reading.  So, that is what you’ll get each week.  However, when the weekly series is done, I will go back and review the entire story, much as I do for a single issue of a comic.     

Impressions by Binkley (e-mail)

This week, Wonder Woman takes the big spot on the cover.  And it is aterrible picture with a shot up Diana’s nose so you can pick her brain (ha!).  Last week’s cover boy, Metamorpho, returns to the place it originally occupied in the first couple of issues.  Meanwhile, Hawkman, which had been in the Metamorhpo spot, movies into the old Wonder Woman spot.  So I am guessing that each week, Hawkman will move around the front and back, depending on which strip gets the big spot. 

The layout in Batman is somewhat similar to the layout for Metamorpho a few weeks ago in which smaller pictures are placed over a page-length and page-width picture.  I actually like the way it works.  It is fun to check out he details in the corners while the panels still manage to convey all of the necessary information.  In contrast, Metamorpho, um, well, morphs into a typical strip, but it is fun.  I like the triangle that is being set up. 

I am getting bored with Superman.  It is beautiful art, but the story is dull and slow, compounded by the fact that it is covering familiar ground with the origin.  Having said that, it is possible that the topic and it’s placement in the USA Today might get someone interested in comics.

This week, Deadman wins the award for weirdest creature, although the horse in Strange Adventures is a very close second.  Kamandi wins the award for best attack against a talking Gorilla sitting on a horse.  For all of these strips, the great visuals and odd sights add to the story, making them even more awesome than the already are. 

We’ve got two strips featuring characters trying to stop planes from crashing.  Supergirl goes for he funny while Hawkman goes for the cool.  And both work.  I mean, really, how cool is it to see Hawkman trying to keep the plane upright by using the nth metal harness?

I still like the idea behind the Flash/Iris West strip, but they are starting to fell like separate stories rather than part of the same story, as it had been earlier.  Hopefully they’ll merge back together again.  In the other co-staring strip, Catwoman and The Demon, we only get one of the titular characters. 

I probably sound like a broken record, bit the Metal Men strip is kinda fun, but I am not enamored with the decision to include suicide bombers or other dark matters.  In contrast, the torture and the detailed, bloody art from Kubert fits in well with the Sgt. Rock strip.  It is brutal, but in a good way.  I think it is all matter of tone (one is fun, the other not) as well as the content (one features robots, the other takes place during the war). 

I still can’t get into Teen Titans.  It is not clear; some of the action is hard to follow.  Can you honestly tell in the fourth panel, second row, that that is supposed to be Starfire?  And I can’t quite remember what happened to Blue Beetle last week, either.  The narration from Caroline describing why she hates heroes is a little too late. 

I was slightly amused that Hal Jordan is in competition with someone who would prefer to read on a book on a Saturday night rather than drink beer and romance Carol Ferris.  But that may just be me.  It has taken some time, but Green Lantern is starting to reach its stride. 

And, once again, I didn’t bother to read Wonder Woman.  Yeah, I know.  I am starting to get guilty, but each time I look at the page, my eyes get buggy and I have to put the issue down.

PREVIOUS ISSUE	Main		Page	NEXT ISSUE

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.