Justice League #23.4 Secret Society Review

Writers: Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates

Artist: Szymon Kudranski

With this being the Villains Month issue that's tied into Forever Evil the most I was really looking forward to it. I was also looking forward to seeing how the Secret Society of Super Villains were built, as well as more of The Outsider's background.

Plot

The Outsider recounts how it was like on Earth-3 and how he would do anything for Owlman.

Review

This was an amazing issue, and one of the best issues from this weeks Villains Month. Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates do a brilliant job of taking us into the word of the Crime Syndicate prior to Forever Evil. The tone of the issue was simply perfect, as Johns and Gates managed to give a very dark story that had a mysterious overtone to it. I also loved how Johns and Gates managed to show how Earth-3 was nearly the exact opposite of the normal DC Universe, with the villains appearing more noble than the supposed heroes. Johns and Gates also did a great job of adding a lot of suspense and drama to this issue, and although this was a fantastic issue I wish it had more to do with the Secret Society.

The art in this issue was simply outstanding, as although I had a few problems with Szymon Kudranski's artwork in last weeks Scarecrow issue, he redeemed himself here. The detail in his artwork was simply amazing, being very consistent throughout. Kudranski's dark style also suited this story perfectly, adding brilliant tone and atmosphere to the issue, and also showed the gritty nature of this word perfectly. I also really liked the layout of Kudranski's artwork, as it managed to add a lot of depth, as well as adding even more tone to the issue. Kudranski also did a great job of showing the characters facial expressions, as they were very realistic, adding amazing emotion to the issue.

This issue would focus quite heavily on Owlman, as with the Outsider telling the story it's only natural that the man he'd die for would be the centre of it. I quite enjoyed seeing this different side to the Batman style character, as with Batman being my favourite character it's natural that Owlman is the character from the Crime Syndicate that interests me the most. I also liked how this issue would show probably the most famous Batman sequence ever but in a different fashion, and found the way it was handled so impactful. I also enjoyed the interaction between Owlman and the Outsider and how other Batman characters were referenced throughout.

We'd also see the Earth-3 version of the Joker in this issue, which was a pleasant surprise. Now I doubt I'm going to like this version over the normal any time soon, but I did enjoy seeing how due to the equivalent of Batman having a different personality, that Joker would too, and that in this universe he is more towards good than Owlman is. Another thing that I enjoyed about this was that besides the attitude change Joker was very similar to the one we know, looking the same, and laughing all the time, just having different goals.

Now although I said that this issue didn't focus on the Secret Society as much as it could have, it still would feature them, showing how the Outsider came to the regular universe and formed the Secret Society. Now this wasn't really anything special, and it actually acted really quickly. I did however still enjoy reading it as it made the title a bit more appropriate as although it still should have been simply the Outsider, it was good to see some connection, even if not much of one. I will however add that I probably would prefer this story over one that focused on the Secret Society more, just that the title wasn't aptly named.

Final Verdict

Although this didn't focus on the Secret Society as much as I hoped it would, it did an amazing job of showing how The Outsider and Owlman lived on Earth-3. The story itself was also very dramatic, being both dark and mysterious. The issue also had brilliant artwork from Kudranski which added the perfect tone and atmosphere that this issue needed. Considering all this I'd highly recommend this issue, especially to anyone who enjoyed Trinity War or is currently reading Forever Evil.

Rating: 8/10

Justice League of America #7.4 Black Adam Review

Writers: Geoff Johns & Sterling Gates
Artist: Edgar Salazar

This was one of the Villains Month issues that I was most looking forward to as having loved the Shazam back-up stories in the Justice League series, as well as liking Black Adam as a villain I was interested to see what this issue would be about.

Plot

Kahndaq was once freed by Black Adam. Now a group named the Sons of Adam try to find a way of brining him back to free them once more.

Review

This was a very good issue, but not quite as good as I hoped it would be. Both Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates do a great job of reminding us how Black Adam freed the Kahndaq people, as well how he battled Shazam (Billy Batson), though I was slightly disappointed that this didn't focus as much on Black Adam as I hoped it would. In saying that Johns and Gates do this for a good reason, and although it downgrades the overall quality of this issue, it made some interesting developments for the future. Johns and Gates also did a great job of adding suspense and drama to the issue, and although the tone wasn't brilliant, the story as a whole was very interesting.

Edgar Salazar did a very good job of the artwork in this issue, as although it wasn't spectacular, being nowhere near as good as Gary Frank's work on the Shazam back-ups, it was still better than a lot of artists. The best part of Salazar's artwork had to be his brilliant layouts, as although they weren't extravagant they did an amazing job of adding depth and drama to the story. The detail in Salazar's art was also brilliant, and the only this that I wasn't a fan of was how he draws the characters mouths, as they looked a bit odd at times, but overall didn't affect it too much. I also really enjoyed Gabe Eltaeb's colours in this issue as I felt they added a lot of vibrancy, also adding a lot of tone to the issue.

This issue would start by showing Black Adam free his people. Now I found it nice that they showed this again, as for anyone who missed the Shazam back-ups it's a nice summary. I did however feel that this showed him as more of a hero than a villain, as although Black Adam has always appeared to believe that he's doing things for the greater good, it's usually in a foul way. It was however also the perfect set-up for the rest of the issue.

The rest of the issue would focus on a group called the Sons of Adam who are trying to resurrect Black Adam to free them once more. Now as I said earlier this wasn't the way that I expected this issue to go, but as I continued reading I found it to be rather interesting. Without going into spoilers I do however question whether it's even right to consider bringing Black Adam back as it wasn't that long ago that he died. I do however find the concept of trying interesting, and enjoyed reading it.

The main character focused on from this group would be a man named Amon, and his sister Adrianna who tries to warn him away from this dangerous situation. Now these aren't characters that I necessarily expect to see again, but I did find them to be slightly interesting, and the interaction between the two was very dramatic. I also enjoyed seeing the passion that both characters had for their individual causes, and how much Amon wanted the people of Kahndaq to be free again.

Final Verdict

This was a brilliant issue and although Black Adam didn't have as big a role as I hoped he would, the story as a whole still managed to be very interesting. It also had plenty of depth and drama, as well as some suspense, having some brilliant developments for the future. Due to this I'd highly recommend this issue, though I'd warn anyone hoping for an amazing Black Adam story to be wary.

Rating: 8/10

Batman and Robin #23.4 Killer Croc Review

Writer: Tim Seeley
Artist: Francis Portela 

I wasn't too sure whether or not I was going to get this issue, as although I'm a big fan of Killer Croc I'm not overly familiar with the creative team. Added to this I also decided to get all the Batman related issues in Villains Month bar the Batman: The Dark Knight titles.

Plot

A team of crocked cops head down into the sewer to look for a dead body they chucked into it, but they soon find that this isn't an easy job with Killer Croc going around.

Review

This was an amazing issue and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Tim Seeley did an outstanding job of showing this vicious villain that is Killer Croc, though he also managed to show that there is more to old Croc than we initially see. Seeley also did a great job of balancing the flashbacks with the current events of this story, as some Villains Month issues haven't done this, with some feeling too forced. I also loved the amount of emotion that Seeley managed to add, as although this was still a very gritty story, it managed to show different sides to Croc, showing that he wasn't always a cold blooded killer, which I really enjoyed and I'd gladly read more from Seeley after reading this.

The artwork in this issue was also very good, as although it wasn't anything spectacular Francis Portela managed to show Killer Croc perfectly. The detail in Portela's art was also very impressive, being very consistent throughout the entire issue. I also loved how Portela was able to show all the different tones of this story throughout his artwork, as with it changing from a very gritty story, to a more emotional it was nice to see the change in Portela's approach to his artwork. I also really enjoyed Portela's layouts, especially in the more explosive sequences, as they managed to add so much more tension and atmosphere to the issue, as well as the action itself adding lots of excitement.

This issue would start with a bunch off cops searching the sewers for a dead body that they threw down there, with this being the main focus of the present part of this story. I really enjoyed this part of the story, and felt that it was probably the most suspenseful. I also loved the attitude of these characters, as well as having the constant thought of, "Croc's going to get you." I also enjoyed seeing the fear in their faces throughout as it's always nice to see misery in a thriller, especially when the characters deserve it.

We'd also get a look at Croc's origin in this issue, as although it wasn't heavily focused on how he became what he is, it showed bits of his past to show readers how he became this monster. It started with him as a child, and I rather enjoyed this sequence as it gave a completely different perspective on Croc, showing how he wasn't always a monster, just a mistreated boy who had some skin problems. I also enjoyed the interaction he had with his aunt during this sequence, and how he desperately wanted to change, but felt that his aunts method was too painful.

The rest of the flashbacks would show how Croc went from a freak show act to the full on villain that he's best known as. Now though some people may have wanted this expanded on I was rather glad that it was summarised as I already know Croc's origin, and preferred the more symbolic background work that we got in the other flashback parts. I did however enjoy seeing it, and the interaction that Robin (Jason Todd) had with Croc was brilliant. I also really enjoyed the freak show sequence as it too was rather depp, and dramatic, also having dark and light tones at certain points.

Final Verdict

This was an outstanding issue, and one of the best Villains Month issues that I've read this week. It showed Killer Croc perfectly, also showing a different side to him. The story itself was also very diverse, having different tones throughout, and although I wasn't overly familiar with either Seeley or Portela prior to this issue, I'd gladly read more of their work. Due to this I'd highly recommend this issue to anyone, as although it wasn't phenomenal it was brilliant.

Rating: 9/10

Detective Comic #23.4 Man-Bat Review

Writer: Frank Tieri
Artist: Scot Eaton

I was in two minds whether to get this issue or not originally but after I decided I'd be getting all the Batman related issues in Villains Month bar the Batman: The Dark Knight titles as well as enjoying Frank Tieri's work on the Penguin issue I thought I'd get this and give it a try.

Plot

Man-Bat (Dr. Kirk Langstrom) decides to make his deceitful wife, Dr. Francine Langstrom pay for betraying him, and decides to become Gotham City's hero at the same time.

Review

This was overall a very good issue, as although it wasn't without it's flaws it was enjoyable. Frank Tieri goes with a completely different style that his Penguin issue that was out last week, as even the writing style is completely different. Tieri did a great job of showing Man-Bat for what he is, as although he didn't show much that we didn't already know, it allows Man-Bat fans who haven't been following this series a chance to see him in the New 52. I did however feel that the story had too quick a pace, as although some stories can drag this simply sped past, moving from one point to the next in rapid succession. The tone of the issue was however perfect and overall bar the faults Tieri did a great job with this issue.

The art in this issue was however simply outstanding, and Scot Eaton did a wonderful job of showing the Man-Bat in this issue. The detail in Eaton's art was also amazing as his artwork throughout the entire issue was very consistent, and I couldn't find any imperfections. I also loved Eaton's layouts, as although they weren't as unique as some artists, they were still very dynamic, adding a lot of depth to the story. Eaton also managed to show great emotion in this issue, also handling the action perfectly. I also felt that Jeromy Cox colours helped to keep a similar tone to previous Detective Comics issues, as it helps keep a level of consistency between Eaton's work and Jason Fabok's work.

The start of this issue would see Langstrom seek revenge against his wife, deciding to take her down. The fight that would embroil between these two Man-Bat's was amazing, as although it could have lasted a bit longer it was still very exciting. I also loved the dialogue near the end of the fight as well, as it was very dramatic. I did however still think it was rather short as given the build-up in the back-up features of this series I was expecting a bit more.

Langstrom would continue to try and perfect his formula throughout this issue, as without going into too much detail he's trying to make it much more better, and so that he can keep the transformation for longer. This sequence was again interesting, though I would much rather more fighting between him and his wife. It did however enjoy the atmosphere that Tieri added through his writing, as it made it very dramatic and suspenseful.

Another thing that Langstrom would try and do throughout this issue would be to become the hero that Gotham needs, as with Batman not around he sees it as his responsibility to protect the innocent. Besides the fighting sequence near the start of the issue this was probably the next best thing about the issue. I really enjoyed how Man-Bat was shown as trying to be a hero, whilst still being misunderstood to a certain extent. I also liked how his attitude to criminals seemed to change throughout the issue, making you question whether the serum is starting to corrupt him, or if this is his true intentions.

Final Verdict

This was a very enjoyable issue, but the pace was way too quick making it questionable whether it's value for money. It also didn't really show us much new, as although it was a nice development for Man-Bat it isn't a great deal off development. It was however still very exciting and dramatic and I'd highly recommend it to any Man-Bat fan, but otherwise I'd probably only recommend it if you want something that's a quick read, or if you have the spare cash to get it.

Rating: 7/10

Batman #23.4 Bane Review

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Graham Nolan

This was an issue that I was slightly excited about, but dreading following the disappointing Scarecrow issue last week. Bane has been one of the villains that I've enjoyed most over the years as although he's not always been used properly, when he is he's a huge threat to anyone in his way.

Plot

With Batman gone Bane makes plans to return to Gotham City and take the city as his own.

Review

This was a good issue, and although I enjoyed it, it was far from perfect. Peter J. Tomasi once again did a great job of setting up the upcoming Forever Evil: Arkham War series in this issue, though it wasn't much more than set-up. I did however prefer this to the other set-up to Arkham War in the Scarecrow issue, as this managed to have much more excitement to it, as well as having more depth. I did however feel that the issue didn't show Bane at his best, as although most of his characteristics were spot on he didn't seem as driven as he normally is. I do however have a lot of hope for the upcoming Arkham War series, as although both set-up issues haven't been brilliant, they have shown a lot of promise.

I was in two minds about the artwork in this issue as although I overall enjoyed it I felt that Graham Nolan didn't do as good a job on Bane as he has in the past. Now I'll talk about the good stuff first as the layout to Nolan's artwork was amazing, being very dynamic and impactful. I also felt that it was very well detailed throughout, and that although it had quite a few plain backgrounds it managed to work well with the tone of the issue. I would however have preferred Bane to have been bigger, as although Nolan did a good job of showing his sheer power, I would have rather him been the huge foe that I loved through Knightfall. In saying that there probably was no need for him to be bigger in this story, and overall Nolan did a fantastic job.

This issue would quickly make it clear that Bane wants Gotham for himself now that Batman is no longer around. Now this is an interesting development, and given the fact that Scarecrow plans on taking Gotham for himself as well it has made the perfect set-up scenario for the upcoming Arkham War series. I did however feel that the issue spent too much time on this, not allowing us to see the best side of Bane. Bane did however manage to give some atmosphere to this issue, just not as much as I hoped he would.

This issue would also briefly run through Bane's origins, showing how he grew up in one of the worst prisons on the planet, Peña Dura, and how he got the venom that drives him. This quick summary of his origin was a nice touch as it allows people who want to know his origin the chance to see it, whilst also not clogging the issue up for people who know it well. I personally however would have rather seen a bit more of this in the issue, as given how the issue went it would have added more excitement to it.

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Scarecrow Villains Month issue would state that Bane would go to Blackgate Penitentiary to get an army, so when I started this issue I was surprised that he was still in Peña Dura. The issue does however have Blackgate involved, though I would have liked them to have had a bigger role, and for Bane to have actually been there himself. It did however also add to the set-up, as although I complained about this and the Scarecrow issue being too much set-up this should mean that Arkham War has no excuse to excel.

Final Verdict

This was an enjoyable issue but nothing special, having a little too much set-up work for the upcoming Arkham War series. It did however have some excitement as well as a lot of depth, but it didn't really do Bane justice, quickly summarising his origin, and not showing him in much action. Due to this I'd only recommend this to anyone who's either that big of a Bane fan that they can't miss it, anyone who's considering getting Arkham War, or anyone who has spare cash and is looking for something half decent to read.

Rating: 6/10

Batman/Superman #3.1 Doomsday Review

Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Brett Booth

Besides maybe the Riddler Villains Month issue this was the one I was looking forward to the most as I have really been enjoying the series so far, and when I heard that Brett Booth would be working on a story arc following this issue I was even more excited about seeing his artwork on it.

Plot

The House of El remember Doomsday and the damage he caused.

Review

This was a very good issue, as although it didn't amaze me as much as I hoped it would, it was still a brilliant issue. Greg Pak has been a bit inconsistent during Villains Month, as although all the issues he's written have been good, they have all varied in overall quality. He did however do a great job of introducing Doomsday to the New 52, as although this wasn't quite the story that I hoped it would be, it was very exciting at times, leaving a lot of possibilities for the future. There was also a lot of drama in this issue, and Pak handled the character interactions perfectly as they were very interesting. The tone of the issue was also brilliant as it managed to be dark and mysterious whilst also being lighhearted at times.

The best part about this issue was easily the artwork, and Brett Booth produced some of his best artwork in this issue. With Booth being DC's go to guy for re-designs and tweaks I was looking forward to see his re-design of Doomsday and I wasn't disappointed. Booth has draws some extravagant characters in the past but the beautiful detail in this monster was something else, as he managed to get the look that everyone knows whilst adding in his own unique touch, and I think these changes made Doomsday look even more ferocious. The other characters were also drawn perfectly, and I especially loved how he drew Zod and Kara Zor-El as both showed brilliant emotion.

Now the thing that I was looking forward to the most in this issue was seeing Doomsday, and although what we get to see is amazing, the amount of time he appears in the issue is slightly disappointing. Pak did however do a great job of showing his legend, as although we didn't get a proper origin story for Doomsday, nor a full on attack from him we still get to see just how ferocious he is, and how much destruction he can cause.

Another villain made an appearance in this issue, as Zod, who Pak wrote an issue on earlier in this month would appear for a short time. Now this appearance doesn't initially have a lot of impact, but there is more than initially meets the eye. Now I won't go into any more detail as to avoid spoilers, but I personally really enjoyed the appearance of this villain, and although I would rather have loved to have seen much more of Doomsday himself, it was nice to see Zod, and given the fact that they'll both be in Superman/Wonder Woman it was to see them both in the same issue.

Zod would not be the only well known Superman character to make an appearance in this issue, as a young Kara Zor-El, who is better known as Supergirl would ask her father Zor-El about this monster. Now this was in my opinion the appearance that made up for the earlier disappointment, as Pak managed to add so much emotion into this sequence, whilst also adding some lightheartedness and even a small bit of humour. I also enjoyed the change in tone that this sequence would give the issue, as it allowed it to be more diverse, and unique.

Final Verdict

This was a fantastic issue and although not quite the Doomsday issue I was expecting it was still very enjoyable. The issue also had a lot of drama and excitement, with some of the best artwork that I have ever seen from Brett Booth. There was also plenty of emotion and even a bit of lightheartedness, and if there was more of Doomsday this could have easily have been a perfect issue. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this, especially if you're fans of Pak's work, but if you are Doomsday fans I'd recommend caution as you may be disappointed.

Rating: 8/10

Superman #23.3 H'el Review

Writer: Scott Lobdell
Artist: Dan Jurgens

As a whole this series has been a bit disappointing, as although it has had some brilliant moments, it has been overshadowed by the even more brilliant Superman series, Superman: Unchained, Action Comics, and Batman/Superman. I am however still slightly excited about the upcoming Krypton Returns story, having also been slightly looking forward to this issue.

Plot

H'el has returned to Krypton, but at a much earlier time than when he left the planet.

Review

This was overall quite a poor issue, as although the story itself was good I felt that it was a bit unnecessary. As I said though the story was decent, and Scott Lobdell should be slightly praised on that. At the same time I felt that he missed the point of Villains Month completely, as the issue focused too much on Jor-El, and not enough on H'el himself. The issue also did the same as other Villains Month issues have done by setting up future events, as although I don't have a huge problem with that, I do when it takes away from the central character too much. Lobdell did however also give some drama, and suspense in this issue, and although it was far from good, it wasn't quite horrible.

The artwork on this issue was however much better, and easily the best thing about this issue as Dan Jurgens did an outstanding job on this issue. The detail in Jurgens artwork was near perfect, as bar the odd imperfection everything simply looked phenomenal, as you'd expect from Jurgens. The layouts were also amazing, as they added an unique style to the issue, making it feel more spectacular, also adding more depth. Jurgens also did a brilliant job of handling the characters expressions and emotions throughout this issue, with it also making the issue feel more lively. Hi-Fi would also do a phenomenal job of colouring this issue, with his colours working perfectly with Jurgens artwork.

I was happy to see H'el back in a Superman comics, as although H'el on Earth was a very inconsistent story, the character interested me a lot. I did however feel that he didn't get used properly in this issue, as due to it being a set-up for the upcoming Krypton Returns it didn't allow quite as much focus on H'el as a character. I also felt that he was overshadowed by Jor-El in this issue, as although I like Jor-El it isn't his name on the cover. I did however enjoy seeing the change in attitude that He'l would have throughout this issue, and loved seeing his reactions to certain parts of the plot, even though it wasn't anything special.

I've already mentioned how Jor-El took too much time in this issue, but I'll now go into what I liked and about his appearance besides that. Seeing more of Jor-El has been something that I've enjoyed since the New 52 started, as although he's not always featured in amazing stories, it's nice to see more of him, and with the modern look. The things I liked most about Jor-El in this issue was how Lobdell showed his intellect, as he'd notice things that the other members of the Kryptonian Science Council would laugh at. I also loved H'el would learn new things about his mentor, though at the end of the day although there are a lot of positives I still think that he should have took more of a back seat to H'el.

What this means for Krypton Returns? I've already said how this does a lot of set-up work for Krypton Returns, and although that takes away from this issue quite a lot, in the long run it might actually help the upcoming storyline. I say this as without going into details, we get a lot of impactful developments in this issue, all of which lead to the upcoming story, and although this issue has left me slightly sceptical over the upcoming story, I hope that this set-up helps make it into something amazing.

Final Verdict

This was a very poor issue that has taken away some of the excitement that I had for the upcoming Krypton Returns crossover. It did however have some amazing artwork by Jurgens, as well as a half decent story, though overall it didn't quite work with the Villains Month concept, focusing too much on Jor-El rather than H'el, also being more to much of a set-up issue. Given all this I'd not recommend getting this issue, and that only people who are going to get Krypton Returns should consider it.

Rating: 4/10

Swamp Thing #23.1 Arcane Review

Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Jesus Saiz

This has been one of the Villains Month issues that I've looked forward to most, as although I've not been as excited about Swamp Thing as I was when Scott Snyder was writing it, it's still been an amazing series. I also have really been looking forward to seeing both Anton and Abby Arcane again.

Plot

Abby Arcane visits her uncle Anton in his own personal hell to try and learn who her mother was.

Review

This was a fantastic issue, and one of the best Villains Month issues so far, being by far the best from this week. Charles Soule did an outstanding job with this issue, as with it using characters that were key to Snyder's run there was always the risk that it wouldn't quite live up to the high standards of what he produced. Character wise Soule matched Snyder easily, showing both Anton and Abby perfectly in their current predicament. Soule also did an amazing job of making this a very gritty and gory issue, as it was full of grotesque sequences that although may seem disturbing to some, added a great atmosphere to the issue.

The art in this story was also amazing, and this is probably the best artwork that I've seen from Jesus Saiz, as although he's done good artwork on this series before, nothing quite as spectacular as his artwork on this issue. The detail was simply outstanding, as everything from the rabbits to Anton's grotesque from looked amazing. I also loved the layout of Saiz' artwork as although it wasn't the most unique style I've ever seen it suited this story perfectly, adding plenty of depth as well as great tone. I also loved how Saiz handled the more grotesque sequences as he didn't shy away from gore, which was needed to make this issue feel as impactful as it did.

The setting for this issue would be the prison that the Parliament of Decay have placed Anton Arcane in, focusing as his own personal hell. Now I won't go into any details over the location as I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, but I will say what I thought of it. Soule really did a great job here, and I loved how well thought out this place was, as although it wasn't anything spectacular, it worked well with the character which at the end of the day is all that matters. 

The thing that I was most looking forward to in this issue was seeing Abby Arcane return, even if it was only for one issue, as bar Swamp Thing himself she was my favourite character throughout Snyder's run. Soule however got her characteristics spot on, and I loved seeing her utilise her new powers to get what she wants. I also enjoyed the interaction she had with Anton, and how weak she made him look due to their current states. I do however hope that she will eventually return to the series on a permanent basis, though not straight away as Soule is working well on his current story.

This issue would also see parts of both Anton and Abby's origins told throughout, as Abby would demand answers about her mother from Anton. This was actually the part of the story that most appealed to me, as although it went away from the usual type of Swamp Thing storytelling that I enjoy, the tone was perfect, and I loved the slightly disturbing nature of it. I also liked how this would show how Anton has always been a sick individual, and that he always had it in him to be an Avatar of the Rot. I also enjoyed how we saw a more human side to Anton as well, and especially considering the fact that he was rotten then as well.

Final Verdict

This was an amazing issue, and one of the best Swamp Thing issues of recent months, as well as one of the best Villains Month issues so far. The story itself was very gory, also being slightly disturbing which suited the characters perfectly. The dram and suspense throughout was also outstanding, and overall the issue had the perfect tone to it. This makes this issue easy to recommend and I'd especially recommend it to any Swamp Thing or Arcane fans.

Rating: 10/10

Batman and Robin #23.3 Ra's al Ghul Review

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Jeremy Haun

This was one of the Villains Month issues that I was looking forward to, but at the same time slightly sceptical about. I was looking forward to it as Ra's al Ghul is a brilliant villain, but at the same time James Tynion IV's work has been slightly inconsistent.

Plot

The Secret Society of Super Villains attempt to recruit Ra's al Ghul, but Ra's needs to be impressed first, with the Society's representative trying to do so by telling the Ra's life story to him.

Review 

This was an amazing issue, as although it wasn't quite as good as I hoped, it was still much better than I dreaded it'd be. James Tynion IV has shown how good a writer he can be with this issue, as although he's not done quite as good in Red Hood and the Outlaws as of late, it was nice to read a great story from him again. I also enjoyed the unique way that Tynion IV told this story, as although it may not appeal to everyone, I personally loved how it was felt it made it rather different compared to the other Villains Month issues. The issue was also very dramatic, though the quick pace of the flashbacks was slightly disappointing. It was however still a fantastic issue, and I really hope Ra's will appear in a storyline in the near future.

The artwork on this issue was also brilliant, and Jeremy Haun did as good a job on this issue as he did on the Riddler issue last week. I probably actually preferred Haun's artwork slightly in this issue, as it suited the style of story much better, and I really enjoyed how he handled the different time periods. I also loved Haun's layouts, as it added a lot more depth to the issue, as well as giving some tone, and I especially loved the atmosphere that it produced. I also really liked how Haun handled Ra's, as although he seemed slightly stiff at times, I loved how he managed to look so focused and calculating other times, as it was obvious that this man thought through his actions, and I was happy that Haun showed this.

This story would revolve around the Secret Society trying to recruit Ra's to their cause, with that being the catalyst that sets up the flashbacks to Ra's past. The recruitment part itself however was very interesting, as although I didn't recognise the person that was trying to win Ra's over the interaction, and the way he felt so sure of himself made the encounter a bit more interesting. I also liked that on top of all that confidence that this man wasn't a complete idiot, as he showed signs of fear and agitation, being startled by certain developments.

Ra's reaction to the Society's offer was however the most interesting part about this issue, as although the flashbacks would have probably been the best if not at too quick a pace, that spoiled that part slightly for me. What I loved most about Ra's reaction was that it was so typical of his character, which I liked as although sometimes predictability can be a bad thing, in this case it was nice as it showed his characteristics. I also loved how due to certain reactions from Ra's that we got to see a little bit of action from him, though I would have loved it if there was a lot more of it, as although Ra's tries to do things the smart way in an attempt to avoid fighting, it's nice to be reminded how good he is.

As I said this would tell Ra's history through flashbacks, also starting with one which was set around the times of the Crusades. Now overall I loved these flashbacks, and especially the one at the start of the issue and the one that involved Ra's encounters with Batman. At the same time some of them were a little short lived, as although this allowed the story to show more of Ra's influence over the years, there were a couple that I would have liked some expansion on. I also liked how it showed some of the more recent events, as well as how it showed well known Ra's associates such as the White Ghost.

Final Verdict

This was a fantastic issue, and I was very happy to see Ra's al Ghul as a main character in a story again, and hope that this will lead to him making a return in a continuing storyline. The issue itself however was very dramatic, and suspenseful, showing Ra's characteristics perfectly. It was also one of the most unique Villains Month issues that I've read so far, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

Rating: 8/10

Detective Comics #23.3 Scarecrow Review

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Szymon Kudranski

I wasn't originally going to get this issue, but after deciding to get all of the Villains Month issues from Detective Comics, as well as the fact that this will follow into Forever Evil: Arkham War I thought I'd give it a try.

Plot

Scarecrow is continuing his recruiting whilst also preparing to go to war against the Blackgate prisoners.

Review

This was a good issue, being better than the last Detective Comics Villains Month issue, but still nothing overly brilliant. Peter J. Tomasi did a great job of setting up the upcoming Forever Evil: Arkham War series in this issue, but at the same time it took a little away from Scarecrow as a character, which will upset fans of the character who aren't bothered about Arkham War. I did however like the direction that Tomasi is taking Scarecrow in, as although he didn't delve into his characteristics too much, he's shown him in a more powerful position, as over the last few years he's been rather pathetic. I also loved how this wasn't an origin story as we already had plenty of that in Batman: The Dark Knight: Cycle of Violence.

I wasn't too happy about the artwork in this issue, as although I've enjoyed Szymon Kudranski's art in the past, I didn't like his artwork on Scarecrow, and with him being the main character in the issue that's a big problem. The rest of Kudranski's art was very good, and I especially enjoyed his artwork on Mr. Freeze in this issue, but Scarecrow himself looked like a common robber, which I didn't like. I also felt that it was slightly too dark at times, as although that suited the issue as a whole, it didn't suit other characters such as Riddler. I did however love his layouts, and if he had drawn a better Scarecrow it would have been some of the best artwork of this week, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.

Due to Scarecrow going around trying to recruit villains to fight alongside him in his upcoming war there was a lot of cameo appearances, all of which I enjoyed. The two that I personally enjoyed the most were Mr. Freeze and Riddler, as although Tomasi got all the villains characteristics right, it was the interaction between these two and Scarecrow that I enjoyed most. I did however also enjoy seeing Poison Ivy and Killer Croc, though I did feel that Croc's entrance was slightly sudden, even though there was a key hint the page prior.
Scarecrow wouldn't be alone in this issue, as besides talking with other villains he would have somewhat of an assistant in the form of Hudson. Now Hudson is never going to win lackey of the year, but he was a brilliant addition, giving Scarecrow someone slightly less complex to work off, as well as someone who's going to agree with his actions. I also loved how Hudson would get the short end of the stick at times, which really amused me, even though it was simplistic.

As I said this issue was mainly set-up for the upcoming Arkham War, but it hasn't half got me excited for it, as well as next weeks Bane Villains Month issue, as it would appear that he'll be Scarecrow's main competition in the series. I also love the concept of the series as although we've seen both sides fight alongside, and against each other in the past, it will be interesting to see it without Batman's presence. I also loved how the issue would have the upcoming war as it's main concept, and I especially enjoyed the small additions like Riddler pulling out Art of War by Sun Tzu.

Final Verdict

A brilliant set-up for the upcoming Forever Evil: Arkham War series, but not the best Scarecrow issue character wise. The issue did however have plenty of brilliant cameos, also being suspenseful, and dramatic. It was however simply too much set-up, which although interesting meant that it wasn't anything special, and due to this I'd only recommend the issue to anyone who's getting Arkham War when it's out, and wouldn't recommend it to someone wanting an amazing Scarecrow story, or a story that shows the best of Scarecrow's characteristics.

Rating: 6/10

Batman #23.3 Penguin Review

Writer: Frank Tieri
Artist: Christian Duce

The issues I've mostly been looking forward to from Villains Month have been the Batman related ones that I'm getting, as although I've been looking forward to the likes of Zod, and Doomsday more, it has been the Batman ones as a whole that I've been interested in, as with his villains being the best collection of villains ever I've been hoping for great stories involving them.

Plot

After recent events Penguin is still trying to build his empire up to what it was, though his old friend Carter Winston is a thorn in his side when he plans to close The Iceberg Casino.

Review

This was a surprisingly good issue, as although it wasn't anything special, it was much better than I thought it'd be. I've never really been a fan of the bits and pieces of Frank Tieri's work that I've read in the past, but this was really good, as after expecting a mediocre issue I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be good. The issue had a brilliant theme to it, taking a different direction to not only most issues that Villains Month has produced so far, but Penguin stories in general. I also loved the dram, and suspense throughout, as although the story wasn't spectacular, the gritty nature of it was brilliant, and I loved seeing Penguin do whatever he needs to get his way.

The art on this issue was also very good, as although I wasn't impressed when I saw the preview, as a whole it was fantastic, and Christian Duce did a great job, and I'd gladly buy more comics with his art. Duce's artwork suited the Penguin perfectly, as although I felt the preview issues made him look a little too grotesque, after reading the whole issue I felt that it was actually perfect, showing this sinister character, who can be charming as well as deadly. I also loved the layout of Duce's artwork, and overall the way he showed the characters emotion was brilliant, though it did look slightly awkward when it came to Carter. I also loved the tone of the artwork, and Andrew Dalhouse produced some amazing colours.

This issue would start by showing the running of Penguin's Iceberg Casino, and that although he's not happy with paying out customers that he's wanting to keep it as legit as possible. He was however angry when he found a group who were cheating. I did however find this version of Penguin too gentle, which put me off the story to start with. It did however quickly turn this into a positive, with this being a set-up simply to show that Penguin's attempting to go, or seem legit.

This attitude wouldn't last long though, as we would see a violent side to the Penguin, which I was very happy about. I was even more happy as we don't usually see Penguin fight himself, as although he's no match for Batman, he can handle himself with these sort of thugs easily, it's just that he mostly uses goons so we don;t get the chance to see it. On top of that I also felt that this sequence as a whole was very dramatic, and extremely exciting, as although it wasn't the best sequence in the issue, it was very close to being the best.

This issue would also see an old friend of Penguin's named Carter Winston, who plans on ridding Gotham City of the Iceberg Casino. Now with this being a new character I was interesting to see what kind of an impact he would have, and I have to say he had a decent one, and the interaction between him and Penguin was outstanding. It was also at times very intense and gritty, as without going into detail, it would add plenty of excitement to the latter half of the issue.

Final Verdict

This was a better issue than I originally thought it would be, as although nothing special it was very gritty, and dramatic. It also had plenty of suspense, and showed Penguin's characteristics perfectly, reminding us to, "never underestimate the Penguin." Due to all this I'd certainly recommend it, especially if you're a Penguin fan, but at the same time don't expect it to blow your mind.

Rating: 7/10

Action Comics #23.3 Lex Luthor Review

Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Raymund Bermudez

Villains Month has been very inconsistent so far, as although we've had some amazing stories out of it, we have also had some really horrible ones. I have however been looking forward to this one, as bar the fact that Lex Luthor is Superman's arch enemy, I wanted to see what Charles Soule could do on a Superman comic seems he'll be handling his and Wonder Woman's relationship in Superman/Wonder Woman.

Plot

Fresh out of jail, Lex Luthor goes about growing his empire, and utilising the fact that Superman is nowhere to be seen.

Review

This was a brilliant issue, and although it wasn't one of the best Luthor stories ever, it was still amazing, being a great tie-in to Forever Evil. Charles Soule simply did a great job of this issue, and has shown me that he knows how to handle a Superman character, giving me even more hope that Superman/Wonder Woman will be good. Soules would show Luthor at his best in this issue, as although he didn't have Superman to fight against, he made do with what he had, making sure that his impact was felt. The issue itself was also extremely dramatic, with some brilliant dialogue that gave the issue fantastic tone. The issue was also fairly intense, with Luthor hell bent on getting what he wants, which I enjoyed.

The art on this issue was also very good, as although it's not the best artwork that I've ever seen, it is far from the worst, suiting this issue perfectly. Raymund Bermudez however isn't an artist that I'm familiar with, with this appearing to be his first major issue. The thing that I really liked about Bermudez' artwork was the layout, as although it wasn't anything spectacular, it worked perfectly with the story, adding depth, as well as helping show the tone and atmosphere that comes with a Luthor story. Bermudez also did a great job of showing the characters emotions, and especially in Luthor, who would seem emotionless in one panel, and maniacal in the next, which was simply amazing.

This issue would centre on the events of Luthor between him getting out of jail, and the start of Forever Evil #1. Now I was very happy when I heard that Luthor would be a main character in Forever Evil, so seeing some backstory in this issue was fantastic. I also enjoyed seeing how Luthor would adapt into his old life, wanting to forget his time in prison. It was also nice to see that Luthor didn't waste time before getting back into his old lifestyle, as although the issue would mention how he could control things even whilst in prison, he managed to do a lot more now that he's a free man.

One of the first things that Luthor would ask about was what Superman was up to, being very shocked to hear that there have been no sighting of him that day. I also enjoyed how Luthor reacted to this, from being initially shocked, to eventually using it to his advantage. I was however still happy that it didn't focus too much on the world not having Superman, as although it needed mention to give Luthor personal satisfaction, it could have easily taken over the issue, and I'm glad that it didn't.

This issue would also see Luthor work closely with his assistant, Casey. I felt that Casey's addition to the issue added some freshness, as although Luthor's presence is usually enough to make an issue good, it's always nice for him to have someone to work off. I also enjoyed how Casey had different views to certain things than Luthor, as although she seemed the loyal employee, it was clear that she didn't like all of Luthor's decisions. Besides this the interaction be

Final Verdict

A brilliant issue that shows that Soule is very capable of creating brilliant Superman stories. The issue itself was also a great prequel to Forever Evil, being very exciting, and suspenseful, also having plenty of drama. The tone was also brilliant with new artist Bermudez doing a brilliant job. Due to all this I'd highly recommend this, especially if you're reading Forever Evil, though don't expect it to be the best Luthor story you've ever read.

Rating: 8/10

Batman and Robin #23.2 Court of Owls Review

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Jorge Lucas

This was an issue that I wasn't sure whether I was going to get or not, as I've never really been a fan of the Court of Owls. I have however been interested in the Talon series and plan on getting the first volume so thought I'd get into the mood with this.

Plot

As Gotham City falls apart without the presence of Batman the Court of Owls make their preparations  for surviving this predicament, and how to rebuild if necessary, as they have always done in the past.

Review

This was overall a decent issue, but it didn't appeal to me too much. James Tynion IV did however do a good job with the writing as the story itself was very well structured. It did however feel to me slightly unnecessary, as although Talon readers may feel differently, seeing a reason why it is necessary, for a relatively new reader, who only knows of the Court of Owls through the Batman series it felt unnecessary, at times even being slightly confusing. It was however overall very gritty and suspenseful which I liked as the one thing that I liked about the Court of Owls when they were first introduced at the start of the New 52 was their tone, and the atmosphere they added.

The art in this issue was very good, and although it wasn't anything too spectacular I rather enjoyed it. Jorge Lucas is an artist that I've not seen in a while as having enjoyed some of his work on previous Marvel series I was rather happy to see his name attached to this issue, and overall I wasn't disappointed. The detail in his artwork was very high, as although it was slightly rough at times, I felt that it worked perfectly with the tone of the issue, making it even more gritty. I also loved the layouts as they were very dynamic and impactful, especially on the fourth page when a Talon appears. Lucas also did a great job of showing character emotion through this issue, and his artwork as a whole was fantastic.

This issue would start with a man trying to round up his family and leave fearing an attack from a Talon. This was the perfect introduction you could have had for this issue, and given the tone, and the drama that the Talon added made me fairly confident that this would be a good issue. That however wouldn't be the case, as the rest of the issue felt rather confusing, and a bit random. I did however enjoy this sequence, and especially considering it managed to balance two different tones at once, having the panic from the father, and the innocents of his son.

The story would then move to the Court of Owls in the present, with Gotham in the midst of a huge riot. Although this would turn out to be a good set-up for the flashbacks in this issue, overall it felt rather unnecessary as although we got to see this Court father and daughter making their way to safety it didn't seem to add much in the ways of future development. This may however be seen very differently from someone who follows Talon, and the end does tease the future of the Talon series, but bar that it felt like it's only purpose was to set-up the flashbacks.

Speaking of the flashbacks, besides the slightly random nature of them they were one of the best parts about this story. I especially enjoyed how they managed to connect to the present events, showing how the Court has managed to get themselves out of trouble, and in general survive. Bar this connection I still feel that the flashbacks were slightly random, as the events were completely different, feeling more like the Courts history summarised, whereas I would have much rather have the focus on on one or two of these situations in more detail.

Final Verdict

This wasn't one of the best Villains Month issue so far, and in my opinion felt a bit unnecessary. I have however not been a follower of the Court of Owls, so Talon readers may find it to be very enjoyable. The issue itself was also very gritty and suspenseful, being brilliantly structured, having amazing artwork that suited the tone of the story. Due to all this I'd recommend the issue to anyone who'd either been following the Court of Owls in Talon, or a fan of the group in general, but for new readers I'd probably recommend caution as it may not be the best issue to introduce them to you.

Rating: 7/10

Detective Comics #23.2 Harley Quinn Review

Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Neil Googe

This is one of the Villains Month issues that I was half looking forward to, but was slightly sceptical about. I did however become more excited about the issue, as after finding out that Harley Quinn was getting her own series I've been really looking forward to it, seeing this as a teaser.

Plot

Now out of the Suicide Squad, Harley returns to Gotham City to wreck some havoc.

Review

This was a decent story, though it didn't feel like the same Harley Quinn I've enjoyed over the years. Matt Kindt did however do a decent job of making a very interesting story, that was well structured, it was just a shame he got Harley's characteristics off a bit. Kindt did however do a good job of showing the turmoil that Harley is going through, as although I've not been following Suicide Squad it has been made clear that she isn't too happy at the moment. Due to this it was probably fitting to go with a dark tone of story, but I personally feel that she needs a fun edge to her, which she was missing for most of the issue, and I hope that the upcoming Harley Quinn series is much better.

I really enjoyed the artwork in this issue, as although the style isn't what I usually prefer I think it suited Harley perfectly. Neil Googe is an artist I'm not overly familiar with, but his cartoonish style was brilliant in this issue, though I wasn't too sure if it was fitting considering the dark nature of the story. I did however love the layout, especially near the start, as it added a lot of depth to the story. I also loved how Googe handled the emotion in this issue, as although Harley isn't a character that I'd call over emotional, it was shown well in this issue. I also felt that the colours went well with Googe's art, and that Wil Quintana did an outstanding job.

This issue would show what it was like for Harley growing up as Harleen in a family that was very different from her. Now I personally enjoyed this part of the story, as although not overly entertaining, it allowed some light to be shone on her time growing up, showing that she's always lived a unusual lifestyle. I also found it interesting to find out that even from an early age that Harley was an intelligent person, as although it doesn't always come across that way, it's nice to see that it's always been the case.

With this issue being mostly an origin story it would also naturally show Harley during her time as a psychiatrist. What I loved most about this was that it showed her doing the same job outside Arkham Asylum prior to moving to Arkham for more of a challenge. I liked this as I never thought that Harley would have had a job prior to Arkham, whereas it makes sense that she would, adding a bit of normality. I did however feel that it was the moving to Arkham that showed her unique way of being a psychiatrist, and how it ultimately lead her to become Harley.

Talking about becoming Harley this obviously also showed that, and this was my personal favourite bit, as it showed signs of the Harley that I enjoyed from Batman: The Animated Series in the 90's, also adding a little bit of fun to the issue. I also loved how it would show that she was basically put together from a lot of on the spot decisions, which seemed appropriate, and the way she went about got her outfit and giant hammer was very entertaining, though not enough to change the way she was shown through most of the issue.

Final Verdict

Overall this wasn't a terrible story, but the characteristics of Harley Quinn were a bit off, as although it appears to be going along with the current status of Harley it doesn't quite feel like her. The story did however shed some interesting points about her life leading up to now. The story is also quite dark, but doesn't have much of the fun tone that usually comes along with Harley. It's hard to recommend this as part of me wants to, and part of me doesn't. I would however advice caution, especially if your a Harley Quinn fan.

Rating: 5/10

Action Comics #23.2 Zod Review

Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Ken Lashley

With both my favourite Superman villain in General Zod appearing in this story, as well as it being written by one of my favourite writers Greg Pak I was really looking forward to this. I was however also hoping that it was better than Pak's last villains month issue (Darkseid), which although interesting was slightly disappointing.

Plot

Growing up watching his family die at the hands of a monster life seemed hard for Zod, but after being found by Zor-El, and Jor-El he would have a new life in Krypton becoming it's millitary's general.

Review

This was a phenomenal issue, and is one of the best issues that Villains Month has produced so far, along with the Riddler issue. Greg Pak simply did a wonderful job, and more than made up for the slightly disappointing Darkseid issue. The tone, and style of this story was simply amazing, and Pak did a brilliant job at telling Zod's origin, changing it slightly whilst not completely butchering it. There was also plenty of drama in this issue, but the best thing had to be the excitement, as Pak managed to give us some  explosive action sequences, that also showed what type of character Zod is. I also loved how Pak paced this issue, as the transitions through time were much smoother than they were in Darkseid.

The art in this issue was very good, and although not spectacular, Ken Lashley overall did an amazing job. The detail to Lashley's art was overall very impressive, but there was the odd imperfection that let it down slightly. I did however enjoy his style, as although it's not my favourite style for a Superman story, it really helped with this one, as it worked perfectly with the younger Zod, as well as his older self. I also loved how Lashley handled all the creatures, or rather, "monsters," that were in this issue, as with a lot going on it'd be understandable for slightly less than perfection, but most of the time it was just that, adding a lot of excitement to the issue.

Zod was perfectly portrayed in this story, as although I was slightly sceptical about the changes to his origin, as I said it was very well handled, and the perfect characteristic made up for any small quibbles. I especially loved how this story showed a slightly different side to Zod at the very beginning, whilst ultimately showing him as the determined war general that he is, wanting to make Krypton as he envisions it, no matter what the cost. I was however in two minds about changing Zod's father to a scientist, as I liked the idea that every Zod was a warrior, whilst all El's were scientists.

Talking about the House of El, both Zor, and Jor-El would also feature in this story, being the people who found Zod. I liked the way that both characters were portrayed in this issue, as although I'm not full aware of the changes made to Zor-El since the start of the New 52 these younger versions were fairly close to the characters I know. I also loved seeing the connection that Zod would make with both these characters, as well as the differences between Zod, and them.

This issue would also show Zod's abilities as a general, as it would see the Kryptonian army face the Char in a very explosive fight. I also enjoyed seeing how Krypton saw Zod following this fight, and how it was in a much different light than he'd ultimately be seen in. I also loved that we also got to see Zod's lieutenants, Non, and Faora Hu-Ul, and how they interacted with Zod, having similar goals as him. I also feel that Zod is always much better with his lieutenants, and I especially enjoyed seeing Faora again following her appearance in Man of Steel.

Final Verdict

This was a truly amazing story, and one of the best that Villains Month has produced so far. Pak did a fantastic job of showing the characteristics of Zod, whilst also showing a slightly different side to him. The story itself was also filled with some brilliant drama, and amazing action, and I'd highly recommend this, and hope that Pak does just as good a job when he takes over Action Comics.

Rating: 10/10