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REVIEW: “Black Beetle: No Way Out” #0-4

(Dark Horse Comics, 2013)

Review by Raymond Jacques

Story & Art by Francesco Francavilla
Lettering by Nate Piekos of BlamBot
Covers by Francesco Francavilla
Series Editor:  Jim Gibbons

Let’s be clear: I LOVE FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA. That is a fact. You NEED to know that right off the bat.

And another point of interest: You NEED to love Francesco Francavilla, too! Beyond being one of the industry’s most sought after cover artists he’s also one of the absolute best comic book storytelling artists in the game. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Batman: the Dark Knight” Annual #1

(DC Comics, 2013)

Review by Raymond Jacques

STORY: “Once Upon A Midnight Dreary”
WRITTEN BY:  Gregg Hurwitz
ARTWORK BY:  Szymon Kudranski
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  John Kalisz
LETTERING BY:  Dezi Sienty
COVER:  Alex Maleev

After a pretty undeniably rocky start, the New 52 title: Batman: The Dark Knight, gained creative traction amidst the rubble of what went before and made great strides towards becoming something truly worthwhile & to be looked forward to upon handing the reins to writer Gregg Hurwitz in issue 10 of TDK. Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Solid State Tank Girl” #1

(Titan Comics, 2013)

Review by Raymond Jacques

WRITTEN BY:  Alan C. Martin
ARTWORK BY:  Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
DESIGNER:  Rob Farmer
LETTERING BY:  Andrew James & Jon Chapple

ATTENTION! Tank Girl, Jet Girl, Barney, & Booga are all back with their own particular brand of nihilistic absurdity in Alan C. Martin & Warwick Johnson-Cadwell’s Solid State Tank Girl #1…AND IT IS SO DAMN FUN! It has been a sheer joy to read and review an advanced copy of this book and would love to read more (hint ,hint). Continue reading

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REVIEW: “Detective Comics” #20

(DC Comics, 2013)

Review by Raymond Jacques

MAIN STORY: “King For A Day”
WRITTEN BY:  Jon Layman
ARTWORK BY:  Jason Fabok
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  Jeromy Cox
LETTERING BY:  Jared K. Fletcher

BACKUP STORY“Empire Of The Son”
WRITTEN BY:  John Layman
ARTWORK BY:  Andy Clarke
COLOR ARTWORK BY:  Blond
LETTERING BY:  Dezi Sienty

This issue is the finale of the “Emperor Penguin” storyline that began in Detective Comics #13 which followed the rise of henchman, Ignatius Ogilvy, from the ranks of The Penguin’s Lieutenant and his calculated dismantling of Oswald Cobblepot’s unbreakable grip on Gotham City’s underworld. Continue reading