Review: Doc Savage: The Ring of Fire

A weekend fun comicbook reading review…because sometimes a Pastors need a break from heavy reading!

David Avallone.  Doc Savage: The Ring of Fire.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, November 14, 2017.  96 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Have you heard of the pulp comic book hero name Doc Savage?  This is the first time I read a story about Doc Savage, a character that is popular in pulp magazine stories in the 1930s and 1940s.  In this modern retelling of Doc Savage in comic book form by Dynamite Entertainment the story takes place in 1938 and involves Pacific Island, secret conspiracy plots and also the Japanese Navy and fascinating of all Amelia Earhart.  If you know your history you would remember Amelia Earhart was a woman famous pilot who unfortunately disappeared in her plan in the Pacific.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Shadow: The Last Illusion

A weekend fun reading review…because sometimes a Pastors need a break from heavy reading also.

Cullen Bunn.  The Shadow: The Last Illusion.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, May 25, 2016.  144 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Have you heard of the pulp 1930s era superhero name the Shadow? He’s one of the oldest superheroes from the pulp age whom the creator of Batman “borrowed” the concept of the Shadow (I am saying this as a fan of Batman).  Older generations would hear about the adventures of the Shadow on Radio; that was way before my time.  In this modern retelling of the Shadow you see that the character the Shadow fight crime and pursue a mystery with twists and turns.  As someone who love the references to the 1930s in comics this satisfied my interests and the story was worthwhile!  I am glad Dynamite Entertainment have printed this story about the Shadow on trade paperback collecting all the issues for this story arc and I hope they would have more stories of the Shadow in the future (I think I am almost done with all their recent stories of the Shadows that they published).

Read Full Post »

Review: Captain America: White

Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading!  So here’s a comic book review!

Jeph Loeb. Captain America: White. New York, NY: DC Comics, November 15, 2016. 160 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Want to read the story of Captain America and his partner Bucky?  This is a story of World War Two, fighting fascism, camaraderie and memories of those who died.  I picked up this graphic novel because whenever the writer Jeph Loeb and the artist Tim Sale team up they typically give readers a great story and wonderful nostalgic artwork that gives a historical mood.  I thought this book is really good and in the same vein as Loeb and Sale’s previous titles that I enjoyed: Batman: The Long Halloween, Superman for All Seasons and Daredevil Legends, Vol. 1: Yellow.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses

This volume comes out today!

Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando.  Batman/The Shadow: The Murder Geniuses. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, November 28, 2017. 168 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is probably my favorite comic in 2017!  I love Batman and I just found out about the Shadow this year; now the two superheroes are together in a story told by a team that include Scott Snyder, a writer who have written some of my favorite Batman stories.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman: The Dark Knight: Master Race

This came out yesterday and is currently #1 Best Seller in DC Comics & Graphic Novels (and rightly so!)

Frank Miller.  Batman: The Dark Knight: Master Race. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, September 19^th, 2017. 376 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Wow this work is just incredible.  This is definitely the best work on Batman released by DC for the year 2017; I think it would be up there with some of the best works on Batman.  This is the third volume in the famous Dark Knight Saga by Frank Miller, with the first one titled The Dark Knight Return and the second titled The Dark Knight Strikes Again.  With the release of Batman: The Dark Knight: Master Race it has been thirty one years since the first one began.  That’s thirty one year since Frank Miller wrote a story that has shaped Batman’s narrative and also have influenced the movies about Batman.  This third work is epic in the same fashion as The Dark Knight Return.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Shadow: Year One

A lighthearted reading review…because sometimes a Pastors need a break from heavy reading also.

Matt Wagner.  The Shadow: Year One.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, April 28th 2015.  304 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is a longer story of the pulp comic book hero known as “The Shadow.”  Not that I’m complaining about it being longer but rather I see it as a delight since this past year I have been immensely enjoying the stories and the character of “The Shadow.”  If you enjoy other titles on the Shadow you will enjoy this one.

Read Full Post »

Review: New Super-Man Vol. 1: Made In China

Thank you for DC  for allowing me to review this comic.  This new book comes out today.  For more of my reviews of comics check out Collection of Posts: Superheroes, Comics and Worldview Series.

Gene Yang.  New Super-Man Vol. 1: Made In China. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, June 27^th, 2017. 231 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This was a fun read.  This was a little different than the typical Superman comic. This New Superman is Chinese (as one can gleam from the subtitle).  I loved the story as it was a breath of fresh air from the generic Superman story and also that it was a different cultural perspective.  I am glad DC printed this and had a good writer name Gene Yang tell this story.  Thus far this is my favorite of DC’s latest company-wide relaunched called Rebirth.

Read Full Post »

Review: Green Hornet: Reign of the Demon

I appreciate the publishers providing this review copy before its official release date!

David Liss.  Green Hornet: Reign of the Demon.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, June 20th 2017.  96 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is another Green Hornet comic book volume that I enjoyed.  I liked that this one is “old school” in that it is situated in the past rather than the present.  Putting the Green Hornet in our contemporary era seems to take away something from the story and I was disappointed when other Green Hornet graphic novels did that.  So I’m glad that one of the latest Green Hornet from Dynamite Entertainment retain the 1930s-40s era of the Green Hornet.  Note: If you don’t want to read any spoiler skip the next paragraph and read what follows after that.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Shadow, Volume 4: Bitter Fruit

A light reading weekend book review!  Why?  Because Pastors need breaks and fun read too.

Garth Ennis.  The Shadow, Volume 4: Bitter Fruit.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, October 28^th, 2012.  180 pp.

3 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

If you like graphic novels with a pulp, noir and historical feel of the 1920s-50s you ought to give the character “The Shadow” a try.  This is my third volume I read that featured the Shadow because I have come to really this character.  Here’s my thought on this specific volume.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman, Volume 2: I Am Suicide

A break from heavy theological posts!  I want to thank DC comics for this advance review copy.

Tom King.  Batman, Volume 2: I Am Suicide. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, April 18^th, 2017. 168 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

This is volume two of the new Batman series in the DC rebirth series.  It picks up where volume one left off in which Gotham Girl is need of help; specifically in order for Batman to help her he needs to find Psycho-Pirate to restore her mental state.  But for Batman to get Psycho-Pirate this requires Batman to go on an adventure outside of Gotham.

Read Full Post »

Review: Kato Origins: Way of the Ninja

Another Weekend Light reading review.

Jai Nitz.  Kato Origins: Way of the Ninja.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, December 7th 2010.  140 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

The character Kato is the sidekick of the Green Hornet and while the title of this graphic novel is Kato Origins: Way of the Ninja it really is not an origin story per se but don’t let that stop you from enjoying the story.  While it did not cover Kato’s origin in the traditional sense of how most comics would approach it, this work though was definitely a story about the identity and identity crisis of Kato, among other things.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Shadow, Volume 1: The Fire of Creation

Here’s a light weekend reading that serves as a break from heavy theological reading.

Garth Ennis.  The Shadow, Volume 1: The Fire of Creation.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, November 20^th, 2012.  176 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

Last week I read and reviewed The Shadow/Green Hornet: Dark Nights and I found the character “The Shadow” facinating.  Apparently in the 1930s the Shadow and Green Hornet were popular pulp heroes and have their own radio shows which I have only learned about recently.  The publisher has brought back these pulp heroes and have done a good job getting writers and illustrators to deliver to readers these wonderful graphic novels about them.  This work which is volume one on “The Shadow” was a fun and delightful read.

Read Full Post »

Review: The Shadow/Green Hornet: Dark Nights

A light weekend reading review.

Michael Uslan.  The Shadow/Green Hornet: Dark Nights.  Runnemede, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, March 18^th, 2014.  128 pp.

5 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

I discovered from reading comics on the Green Hornet that I like stories with historical references (of course the main character is fictional).  I read the writer’s work on the Green Hornet and the Lone Ranger and I enjoyed the historical references and even actual historical characters plus the great storyline so much that I looked up more works by Michael Uslan.  So I picked up The Shadow/Green Hornet: Dark Nights and found that the same thing I liked in my previous reading can also be found in this graphic novel.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman: Detective Comics, Volume 1: Rise of the Batmen

 

Sometimes even Pastors need a break from heavy theological reading…hence this review.

If you enjoyed this review you also might want to check out my Review and Christian Reflections of my favorite works on Batman.

James Tynion IV.  Batman: Detective Comics, Volume 1: Rise of the Batmen. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, February 14^th, 2017. 128 pp.

4 out of 5

Purchase: Amazon

From what little I know about DC Comics I believe their “Detective Comics” series is the longest series in comic book history and that’s largely due to the character Batman.  This is volume one of Detective Comics as part of DC Comics’ relaunched called “Rebirth” that started in 2016.  I’m still quite the rookie when it comes to Batman and this is the first Batman I read in the Detective Comics series and thus far I’m enjoying it.

Read Full Post »

Review: Batman, Volume 1: I Am Gotham

I’m thankful for DC Comics allowing me to review this new volume!

 

Tom King.  Batman, Volume 1: I Am Gotham. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, January 11^th, 2017. 192 pp.

4 out of 5

Over the last year and a half I have really become a fan of Batman.  So as a new fan I could not wait to get my hands on this new Batman work titled “I am Gotham.”  This particular work is volume one in the new Batman in DC Comics’ 2016 relaunch which they have called “Rebirth.”  With this graphic novel as my first exposure to DC Comic’s Rebirth universe I must say that I’m excited to read and explore what else DC is doing with their other titles.

Read Full Post »