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Thursday, August 1, 2013

Comic Book Reviews for 7/31/13

After seven epic years (and top placement on our Greatest Comic Runs of the Decade list), Grant Morrison's daring Batman saga has come to its end. DC Comics also released a bunch of new annuals this week, including Batman, Detective Comics, and The Flash.

At Marvel, Angela finally got her full integration into the Marvel Universe in the latest issue of Guardians of the Galaxy, while Daredevil continued to rock our socks and the Hulk attempted to fix the broken time stream.

We'll be adding all of the latest Community Reviews to this round-up in the next week, so get 'em in fast! Also, check out what the IGN All-Stars are doing in covering all of the latest indie comics on Comixology's Submit platform!

Join in on the IGN Community reviews!

DC COMICS

Animal Man Annual #2

Animal-Man_Annual_2-674x1024Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Travel Foreman

"Travel Foreman rejoins the Animal Man man Jeff Lemire for a disturbingly creepy yet emotionally powerful tale that shows all the other guys how an Annual ought to be done. While this story does tie into recent events, it’s virtually a standalone as we get a complete arc with humor and heart, twists and turns. Yes, this costs $4.99, but believe me when I say it’s worth every penny." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.5

Batman Annual #2

Batman_Annual_2-682x1024Written by Marguerite Bennett | Art by Wes Craig

"DC's rigid monthly schedule means that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Zero Year storyline is literally going to take a year to unfold. The good news is that we're getting an extra dose of Zero Year this month thanks to Batman Annual #2. The bad news is that the actual ties in this issue to Snyder's ongoing saga are fairly tenuous. Nor did Snyder himself actually script the comic." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.1

Batman Incorporated #13

Batman_Incorporated_13-674x1024Written by Grant Morrison | Art by Chris Burnham

"Perhaps it's unfair to judge a single issue as an 'ending' to something as big and epic as Grant Morrison's run on Batman. Spanning years and universes – one of the last surviving relics of a pre-New 52 era – Morrison had built a massive web of a story, something that could hardly be described as linear or straightforward. So, what we get here is hardly a neat little package tied up with a bow, but instead just another chapter in the big tapestry of Batman's life; another notch on the utility belt. The story goes on even as the creators part ways." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.7

Collider #1

COLLID_Cv1_PRINT_3pncuy4wjo_-674x1024Written by Simon Oliver | Art by Robbi Rodriguez

"Sometimes, it's good to judge a book by its cover. Especially when that cover features art by Nathan Fox, whose use of eye-popping colors and starkly contrasting fields of light and dark set the mood of the story to come so perfectly. In writer Simon Oliver and artist Robbi Rodriguez's Collider #1, we're faced with a world on the brink of collapse. In this first issue, the integrity of the laws of physics, as we understand them, is rapidly disintegrating. It's a bold premise that promises to defy your expectations." -Melissa

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.4

Detective Comics Annual #2

Detective-Comics_Annual_2-690x1024Written by John Layman & Joshua Williamson | Art by Various

"Detective Comics and I haven't been on the best of terms since the recent issue #19 (#900) and the subsequent abrupt, unsatisfying conclusion to the Emperor Penguin storyline. That said, the current arc has seen the series rebound somewhat, and this week's annual issue does nothing to stall that momentum." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.6

The Flash Annual #2

Flash_annual2CMYK_00yjh81yth_-674x1024Written by Brian Buccellato | Art by Sami Basri

"Nowadays, it's tempting to think that comics are getting increasingly darker. Even evergreen optimistic heroes like Superman are being put through a filter of grittiness to give them an edge (paging Zack Snyder). The Flash Annual #2, written by Brian Buccellato with art by Sami Basri, reminds us why we fell in love with superhero comics to begin with. It's fun, funny, and determined to give you an unabashedly good time from start to finish." -Melissa

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.0

Red Lanterns #22

REDL_Cv22_6h5gprkqmt_-683x1024Written by Charles Soule | Art by Alessandro Vitti

"Red Lanterns is off the bloody hook! In one issue, Charles Soule has effectively washed the bad taste of the previous stories from our mouths and completely realigned the structure of the title. It makes sense, it has a great protagonist, it looks disgustingly awesome, and you’ll laugh all along the way. Who would have thought that Guy Gardner and Zilius 'ZZ blob' Zox would make such an entertaining comedic duo?" -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.0

Superboy #22

SB_Cv22_hje5cbkvf3_-674x1024Written by Justin Jordan | Art by Gui Balbi

"Justin Jordan cut his teeth on a comic that takes place in high school -- his excellent indie book The Strange Talent/Legend of Luther Strode -- so bringing Superboy to that dreaded place of teens and hormones only seems appropriate. While the execution of the actual story is fun and refreshingly upbeat, it’s a shame that Jordan plays up the stereotypes of a high school story so much. A misogynistic jock bully, a popular pretty girl, and a dejected alternative girl are all present, only they do little more than fill their role." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.0

Superman Annual #2

SM_ANN_2_CVR_fnl_d3p47hlexk_-668x1024Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Dan Jurgens

"While the cover of Superman Annual #2 will have you thinking that this is a Brainiac-centric story, it’s actually the first comic in a long time to focus exclusively on Lois Lane. Yes, she is investigating a mystery involving Brainiac, but this is all about her. While that prospect pleases me greatly, the actual story is just alright. I was happy to read about Lois taking on a dangerous assignment, but I also couldn’t say this was the Lois Lane story we’ve all been waiting for." -Joshua

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

6.5

Tom Strong and the Planet of Peril #1

TTSPlanetofPeril1-2b3c9Written by Peter Hogan | Art by Chris Sprouse

"Tom Strong is really as good as it gets. A comic book for comic lovers, Tom Strong was always a loving embrace to the world of comic books. It jumped through time and space to show us everything we loved about the comic book medium, mixing genres, art styles, and tones. Every issue of Tom Strong was a big adventure that knowingly winked at what came before it. It's been a while, but Tom Strong is back with a familiar creative team and another high-flying crusade." -Ben

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

8.7

Trinity of Sin: Pandora #2

TRIN_PAND_Cv2_R1_wj6mev8c7i_-676x1024Written by Ray Fawkes | Art by Daniel Sampere

"The first issue of Trinity of Sin: Pandora didn't do much to establish the mysterious, red-clad anti-heroine as a worthy leading lady in the DCU. For some reason, accidentally stumbling across a box in the woods and opening it is enough to lump Pandora in the same club as Judas Iscariot and (to paraphrase Lucius Fox) whatever it is Vic Sage is accused of being. Luckily, issue #2 goes further in showcasing the potential of this new series." -Jesse

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

7.2

The Wake #3

WKE_Cv3_previews_26hv05imyc_-665x1024Written by Scott Snyder | Art by Sean Murphy

"In the third issue of Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy's The Wake, our protagonist, Dr. Lee Archer, and her colleagues find themselves in deep water -- literally. After the killer mermaid (trust me, it's a lot scarier than it sounds) broke free from its confines last issue, the underwater rig is on high alert as their captive becomes their killer. With how masterfully Snyder and Murphy have dialed up the tension and terror, it's hard to believe we're only thirty percent of the way into the series." -Melissa

Click to read the entire review!

Final Score:

9.7


Source : ign[dot]com

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