Wow, what a surprising week. Though Nightwing is usually a strong contender for "worst" every month, it actually ends up being better than a couple of comics. This week also brings the Worst Comic Ever award for The Boys: it is attempting some sort of ironic statement about superheroes? Or is it just shit? I’m thinking shit.

This week, we say goodbye to The Boys, we hardly much time together, but it was all bad, and sayonara to Checkmate which can’t manage to make me care about the characters or, apparently, remember what chess piece they represent. 52 is also close to the chopping block, but I’ll give it another week.

Anyhow, red means that the comic was worse than I had predicted, green means it was better, and grey means that it was just as I expected.

9. The Boys #1

I’m not even going to bother reviewing this comic, it’s that bad. Instead, I’m going to look at the ads. Beerfest movie ad, stupid, not seeing that movie until I’m drunk and it’s on Starz one late night. Oooh, Gojira on DVD, that’s on my buy list. Absolute Dark Knight looks good, but I’m still paying off the Watchmen one. Grant Morrison/Andy Kubert Batman: eh, hasn’t impressed me yet. Mountain Dew, Infinite Crisis, Vans, bleh. Alex Ross’ Justice: I’m really over the Fred MacMurray as Captain Marvel thing. Ah, Matt Wagner’s Batman and the Mad Monk, a definite buy. Let’s see, WSVG ad, whatever that is. Brave New World comics, V for Vendetta DVD, and a dumb Dodge ad. Hey, DC, how about next month you just publish a comic full of advertisements instead of crap like this comic?

Movement: -2 (was #7)

8. 52 Week Fifteen

I dislike stories that attempt to build up a hero by tearing another down. In this issue, it’s Booster Gold getting ripped apart and Supernova getting the praise. Then Booster makes the supreme sacrifice (and, it appears, spreads the remains of a nuclear submarine across Metropolis). Anyhow, that’s pretty much the whole issue (Renee and the Question have a few pages). Eh. I don’t believe that Booster is gone, and if he is, then this was a piss-poor way to go. And Supernova’s an ass.

Movement: -

7. Nightwing #123

Okay, new month, new story, new artist. This artist really likes drawing ropes. When Nightwing is swinging about the city, his rope seems to wrap all around him. Looks stupid, like he hit a clothesline. Dick’s landlord appears to hang out in his place. That’s weird for a landlord. Anyhow, some pyro-powered villain torches Cheyenne’s office building at the Pierce brothers’ command. Yep, same set of lame characters. We do get some explanation of the Dick/Barbara breakup as Nightwing visits Clancy for more psychoanalysis. Strangely, this issue wasn’t nearly as bad as the previous ones, but it feels like a one-issue story that’s being stretched out.

Movement: +2 (was #9)

6. Checkmate #5

Two panels in, and it starts already: "White King’s Knight — Thomas Jagger. Black Queen’s Bishop — Jessica Midnight." Bye, bye, Checkmate. Five issues in, and you still don’t have confidence in your readers to know who is who. Sorry, Greg Rucka. Mr. Terrific’s "mask" does look like blackface. And it looks stupid and doesn’t appear to offer any advantage like hiding his identity. Anyhow, Alan Scott, sorry, "White King (Former) — Alan Scott" offers the White King job to Mr. Terrific: he’s going back to the JSA. Amanda Waller has some dirt on Fire, which is why she’s working for Checkmate: that does make sense. Otherwise, it’s a typical issue of intrigue, deceit and introductions on characters we should already know without captions.

Movement: -

5. Green Lantern Corps #3

Cool, nothing like Lanterns kicking butt to get you going. Natu (not dead, of course) gets in on the fighting, too. And apparently, there’s also diplomatic immunity from the GLC. Justice is still served, though, and a new Lantern is chosen. Another solid issue. I’m definitely getting a good cop show vibe from the comic, and it’s moving story lines along quite quickly (I’m looking at you, 52).

Movement: -1 (was #4)

4. Shadowpact #4

So, while other humans seem to run in fear of the Martian Manhunter, every one just loves Blue Devil. I like that Willingham remembers that Dan Cassidy is a Catholic: normally, stuff like that gets missed. Anyhow, the Demonic Retrieval Corps have sent Mr. Green and Mr. Grey to bring Blue Devil down below for judgement. I really enjoyed this issue: the end alone prompted many laughs. After a lackluster first arc, I really liked this somewhat stand-alone issue.

Movement: -1 (was #3)

3. Nextwave #7

Hahahaha. The Secret Origin of the Captain’s Name. Funny stuff. Huge Walking Monster Things With Death-Ray Faces on Skateboards! Exploding things. This was the perfect antidote to The Boys. This one just gets extra points for making me laugh.

Movement: +2 (was #5)

2. Manhunter #25

Have I mentioned my love of supporting casts? While the supporting cast in Nightwing seems rather bland and lacking in character, the ones in Manhunter seem real. There’s a sense that these people have actual lives.

Movement: -1 (was #1)

1. Robin #153

Robin teams up with Captain Boomerang, searching for a nuke that Joker’s been saving for a rainy day. Suddenly, in the middle of things, Danny Chase shows up. Okay, so it isn’t Danny Chase: it’s Dodge, another annoying tussled haired kid with teleporting powers. I know, Danny didn’t have teleporting powers, but damn, that’s all this new kid reminds me of. Anyhow, this is one of those stories that could have been stretched out for many issues, but works much better as one. Excellent issue.

Movement: +1 (was #2)

Technorati Tags: 52, Nightwing, Robin, Checkmate, Green Lantern, Manhunter, Shadowpact, Nextwave

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 17th, 2006 at 7:22 pm and is filed under DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Reviews, Wildstorm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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