Comics

Static Shock #2 – Review

 Static’s back in his second issue and is just as much fun as he was in the first with even better action scenes, but a few more problems that could negatively effect how popular the title could become.  If you are tired of the depressing storylines in Batman or just need a breather and a more light-hearted series, this is a great one, even if it is hard for new readers to follow.

Scott McDaniel and John Rozum team up again in this issue as the writers and have Static facing off against the Slate Gang and Virule, powerful foes who want him dead.  But after a close call, Static realizes how powerful he is becoming.

The Strange Talent of Luther Strode #1

Oh, sweet hyper-violence, how I have missed thee. I’ll be up front and admit the following: this comic is certainly not for everybody. But this reader right here was sold in the first two pages. Here’s a little play-by-play, just to give you an example of what I’m talking about. Man gets arm ripped off. Said arm is shoved down other man’s throat (which logically gets torn because of the arm’s fingers). Same arm obliterates another man’s face. Like I said, this may not be for everyone, and keep in mind that the rest of this issue is much more tame than what I just described. However, if you can muster through what I just said, then jump on board — you’re in for a great time with what is one of the best debuts of the year.

Titles that Should Have Been Part of the New 52

 DC Comics is re-launching 52 titles in an attempt in an attempt to breath new life into their brand. Unfortunately, several underrated titles did not make the cut. It seems to me that several bat and Green Lantern-related series could have been scrapped in favor of the following great series.

Static Shock #1 – Review

After having my favorite childhood cartoon ruined for me in Batman Beyond #1, I was very skeptical of how Static Shock, one of my other favorite childhood cartoons, would fare.  Unsurprisingly, it is not the best of the New 52, but is a great start to Static’s story with a promising new plot, a surprising appearance from an older character and decent artwork.

Static gets his first ongoing series since the ’90s!  Virgil Hawkins (aka Static), Detroit’s greatest superhero, has moved with his family to New York City where they are about as welcoming to Static as they are to Spider-Man.  Static is working as an intern at S.T.A.R. labs under the mentorship of Hardware.  His “warm” welcome in NYC is followed by getting a hit put on him by a group of super villains, leading up to an exciting cliffhanger.

Angel & Faith #2 – Review

When Angel & Faith #1 released I was stoked. Angel was returning to Dark Horse. He and Faith, two personal favorites, were teaming up for their own book. The pair were leaving California in the wake of the massive drama bomb that was Angel killing Giles. There was a lot to be excited for and, obviously, that hype lends itself heavily to the first issue when all these cool ideas were made reality. But, to know if Angel & Faith could stand on its own as more than a heaping helping of hype, Angel & Faith #2 had to be seen. Man, am I glad it kicks ass.

Justice League Dark #1 – Review

If there’s anything I’ve learned from the post-90’s entertainment market, it’s that darker is better. No one liked those Joel Schumacher Batman movies; let’s get the guy who made Memento. Sonic the Hedgehog? So lame. Make way for Shadow the Hedgehog. Sure, the Beatles’ “White Album” was great, but let’s add in a little Jay-Z and make it the “Grey Album.” DC’s answer to the dark side was Vertigo, a line comics that, for the most part, still corresponded with the DCU and its characters, but had more of the controversy and graphic themes that kids love. Basically, Batman-style stuff without the marketability to get away with it in the mainstream. Of course, with the New 52, Vertigo and DCU are whole once more and the dark side of the spectrum needs a corresponding flagship. So, forget that non-light-spectrum-associated Justice League, this is Justice League Dark #1.

The Advent of Digital Comics and Why That Totally Sucks

Today, pretty much everything we own has a screen on it. Our phones, our game systems, our cars – it’s hard to find something that doesn’t connect to the internet. With the rise of the digital age, and the innovations that followed, the idea of instant purchases was an exciting one. Napster changed the way people bought music, Amazon introduced us to the ebook, Netflix gave us movies and TV from our computer, and iTunes capitalized on all of the above. What these systems have in common is instant digital entertainment. The days of worrying about a scratched disc or a torn page were behind us. Hard drive get wiped? Most of these companies allow multiple downloads after purchase. To many, it’s hard to find a flaw in all this. Is there a downside? Maybe.

I suppose I’ll start with the benefits. Digital downloads are basically indestructible. Ever buy a comic, bring it home, put it on your bed, and your dog jumps onto it? If not, I’m sure at some point one of your books got destroyed one way or another. My garage flooded once, and hundreds of my comics were destroyed. After softly weeping in the dark for what seemed like days, I went to the shop and bought a plastic bin for those that survived – and that was the end of it. Not once did I wish they were all on my hard drive instead of tucked away in flimsy boxes, though I did understand the appeal.