Pilot Season: Murderer #1 review
I’m a sucker for Robert Kirkman so it was a no brainer to pick up his new Top Cow title, Pilot Season: Murderer (even though this meant buying outside of my pull list, which I promised I wouldn’t do this week!). This is the inaugural issue of a possible ongoing series that’s both interesting and disappointing.
Cursed and blessed, Jason Sparks can hear the thoughts of others. You can almost see the gears in Kirkman’s mind working, “What if a guy could hear thoughts? What would he do with that knowledge?” It’s an interesting premise in the hands of a gifted author. However, this issue reads like a “what if” rather than a well-planned series. The narration was a bit confusing and muddled. I admire Kirkman’s ability to write great characters. So far, Jason is stiff and I don’t feel connected enough to him to care. This distance also makes me want to read more to learn about him. If Kirkman is doing this intentionally then great; if not, it’s weak writing.
I was intrigued by the premise and how it played out toward the issue’s conclusion. The pieces eventually began to fit and once I reread it, the issue made more sense. This is a series with promise and I’m in for the next installment. I think I’m more critical because I respect Robert Kirkman so much and expect nothing but greatness. While Murderer is good, it’s not great…yet.
3 out of 5
This review is for all of the fans who e-mailed us and begged for more Jimmy. We haven’t been podcasting often enough to satisfy his public, so Jimmy has put away his cape and switched back into reporter mode. I give you, unedited, Jimmy’s review of the new Superman Batman Public Enemies DVD.
The main question that I had during the movie is, which one was the sidekick? Batman or Supes?
First of all, my favorite comic heroine, Power Girl, was portrayed horribly. Power Girl in this movie doesn’t match her comic book personality at all. I know she is only a support character in this movie and the main reason for the PG-13 rating, but her portrayal sucked.
I’m waiting for Ray, Rick or Dr. Lou to tell me who Magpie is?
Supes–”Why is it that good villians never die?”
Bats– “Clark, what the hell are good villians?”
Back to talking about Power Girl, her height is never represented accurately, or in a stable manner so you can’t reconcile her height with Bats &/or Supes through the movie. The comic books always portray her as tall, example is her recently getting “Banged” in floppy #4.
Sorry, SPOILER ALERT!
Lex Luthor as President? Yeah, and I’m sorry but COME ON?! A Lex Luthor statue in the fountain at the White House, even the Messiah, Barry Obama hasn’t got a statue of him yet, give me a break!
So, the BIG, PG-13 question is, throughout the movie are Power Girl’s boobs big enough, well, just ask Toyman(13 year old boy in this movie).
The reference to Star Labs, is that Power Girl’s company?
Just in case you wanted to know, unlike Wolverine & Cyclops just being used to being carried/flown around by the flying X-Men, Bats prefers using his wire/cable over Supes fly/carrying him, Bats HATES being carried, actually.
I guess if you wanted it to be a surprise, special guest appearances, don’t read further.
Ban Shee
Ice chick? I don’t know her name.
Mr./Dr. Freeze
Ice guy, with hood and mask, he may be an enemy from the Superfriends/Legion of Doom, I obviously don’t know his name. [I just found out who it is, Captain Cold]
Is Mongul, Dark Seid? Chest heat beam or ray.
Solomon Grundy
Who is Shiva?
Nightshade, I have no clue who she is.
Gorilla Grodd
Bane
Walking shark, Sharkman????
Manta
Giant lady wearing tiger/leopard print bikini, Ha, ha, ha, obviously those ARE bigger than Power Girls, LMAO!
The scene where all these villians show up is basically a gang bang, Legion of Doom reunion, minus President Luther.
Come on?! Smallville idea in an animated movie?! Barry Bonds-Luthor, Luthor Bane! Come on?! Steroids with liquid kryptonite?!
Toyman is actually a 13 year old boy, good guy? WTFrak? Toyboy is an additional reason for the PG-13 rating, make way for the “boobliners” and X-ray glasses.
Toyman–”Does Power Girl have big–?”
So for Jimmy to finish up, THIS MOVIE WAS BETTER THAN Superman Returns!!
Jimmy only likes Superman 1&2 anyways, the others are blasphemy.
Hopefully, the Garden Guys will be back in the studio soon for another audio episode.
Jimmy out!
“Blackest Night comes to Smallville!”
In the second of three issues in the Blackest Night: Superman mini-series we find Superman and his family under siege by not just the Golden-Age Superman, but also his wife Lois. The townspeople are having their own problems with the Psycho-pirate and his emotion manipulation powers. To top it off, even New Krypton isn’t off-limits to the Blackest Night. Supergirl is forced to confront her newly deceased father, Zor-El. There is a ton of conflict in this issue!
I found the first issue to be very good and I have to say that this issue continues the trend. There is plenty of action and some really good emotional conflict. This series shows where Superman and Co. are while the main Blackest Night series is progressing. I love that the main series is focusing on other characters than the bib three, but the additional mini-series show that the conflict is world-wide.
In summary, issue #2 is another winner and a no-brainer of a purchase!
4 out of 5
Click on pics to enlarge
Click on pics to enlarge
Listen to the Jimmy in the Garden comedy podcast here
Click on pics to enlarge
Click on pics to enlarge
Check out the Darth Ravenous and Darth Blarney cosplay pics from last year’s Farpoint Convention
Notice anything extremely cool about this ad for Top Cow’s Berserker that we found in Impaler #4?
Too many cool things to know for sure what we’re referring to? Here’s another hint:
Read Ray’s original Berserker #1 review here.
“Locked-out of the Batcave but still in the fight!”
This issue opens up with the start of a new storyline. It seems that with Arkham Asylum destroyed, that it will be up to the Outsiders to track down the escaped criminals and lunatics. There assignment, to recapture three of the worst escapees: Killer Croc, Clayface and Mr. Freeze, is presented to them outside the now off-limits Batcave by their contact Alfred Pennyworth. With all the upheaval in the Batman universe, the team is going to have to temporary operate without a base of operations. The team then proceeds to break into smaller units to pursue their own individual targets.
Though we get to see a page a piece of the teams looking for Croc and Clayface, the second half of the book is dedicated to Owlman and Black Lightning going after Mr. Freeze. Now I rather enjoyed this team-up and I’ll have to say that watching Owlman and Lightning driving across the Arctic Circle reminded me a little of Watchmen. The action and resolution to this story was good and I was very entertained by it.
Over all It was a good, solid read in an entertaining book. I have to say that I’m happy with the over-all quality of this book and I hope it has a good long run in the future. This book could have easily collapse by the lose of Batman in it but it has continued to entertain the audience and even improve.
4 out of 5
“Another Titan Dies!”
Well the title says it all. Before I even get into the story, I have to ask: Is there some kind of mandate at D.C. that insists that everybody that writes this book must kill off at least one Titan? I, for one, find that when you kill off characters just to kill them, you remove any type of positive impact for any book. Most times it is meaningless death for the(Very limited) shock value. And when it happens in a Titans book, it has gone to the point of being a “So what else is new?” point. And with that being said, no matter how well the story is written or even executed, it just has a diminishing effect.
Now I’m wondering if the creative team and/or D.C. wanted to create some roster spots for the soon to be rejoining the book; Superboy and Kid Flash characters. If that’s the case, just have a few of the team quit or something else. Death in this book just hurts the book.
The one positive thing that I did like, was the sub-plot with the Calculator and his imprisonment of Kid Eternity. That I did find interesting. I want to see more on that subject in the future issues.
The back-up story is chapter three of the Ravanger story. This story was just ten pages of action and I enjoyed the change of pace from the front story. It was solid and I hope it continues to be.
One final note to D.C. Lets try something different for a change. Let’s publish a Teen Titans and for that matter a Titans book that tell good stories, have good art, and that they don’t feel the need for cheap gimmicks and shocking covers to try to garner readership!
1 out of 5
“Return of the classic series!”
After a lapse in publishing that lasted over 26 years, Adventure Comics has returned! I have to admit that I was really looking forward to this series, just for the feeling of nostalgia alone. I have a fairly decent collection of the original series at my home. While my collection is nowhere near complete, it does have several of my favorite issues of in it which happen to star Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes.
The new series has placed Superboy (Conner Kent) in the lead role. Conner has recently returned to the current publishing time via the Final Crisis: Legion of 3 World’s series. He is a welcomed return that has much potential, as the first issue has shown. I enjoyed seeing him back in Smallville attempting to reforge his life after an untimely death. I hope future issues continue to explore these themes. I was hoping they would keep him somewhat isolated from other heroes and allow his character to grow, but it looks like they want to place him back with the Teen Titans. I guess we shall see what the future holds in that regard.
The second feature is the Legion of Super-Heroes. I love seeing the Legion here for sentimental reasons, but I also hope it is short-lived. I want them back in their own title now that we have the pre-Crisis Legion back to some extent. Again, I guess time will tell.
The issue is solid and is a great way for fans old and new to jump aboard this title!
4.5 out of 5
“Plenty of dead heroes to choose from in this Universe!”
Blackest Night: Titans #1 is the first issue of the third series to be brought out to tie-in with the Blackest Night main series. This one should have a lot to bring to the plate considering how many dead Titans there are! But because of that, I’m concerned about how many they might try to bring back and jam into this series. If they all comeback, that could be a real issue for our heroes…I think there may be more dead Titans than live ones!
The cover pretty much lets you know that Terra was coming back, but i was curious as to which one. They decided on the original traitor. I have to wonder if the other one might show-up too. I have to say that Garth really took it in stride when it’s revealed that he was kissing a corpse! Darn that Lilith for tricking him!
A lot of the issue focuses on the Hawk and Dove characters. I like those characters and I’m glad to see that they recovered from the Titans East Special where they were gravely injured. But, I have to say that I wasn’t remotely surprised by the end of the issue. I saw it coming from a mile away. I’m sorry to say that the predictability of the ending took something away from the issue for me.
The book still was a good read and I will still stick around for the next issue, but it is the weakest of the three mini-series so far.
3.5 out of 5
“More dead rising and things are getting darker!”
After the events of last issue, I couldn’t wait to see what was coming next. And I wasn’t disappointed in the least! The story picks-up with the Atom talking to a transformed Hawkman over the phone who causally lures Ray to come over to be killed. It gives you the feeling that no hero is safe in the story, which really raises the stakes for the readers.
From there we see more dead heroes rise, the death of another one and the corruption of two more of the undead: Deadman and Spectre. But something that I found even more interesting was the twist that one dead hero cannot be resurrected as a Black Lantern. I hope that plays out more in the future for I find that intriguing.
I should also point out, that I really dug Mera’s fight with her dead husband. Her character showed real strength and this could be the biggest defining moment ever for her in the comics (if she survives).
The last page will certainly bring me back next month and I find it almost scary how many of the satellite era J.L.A. are no longer among the living! If your not reading this series, then you are not a true D.C. fan!
4.5 out of 5
