DARK NIGHTS METAL #5/ Written by SCOTT SNYDER/ Pencils by GREG CAPULLO/ Inks by JONATHAN GLAPION/ Colors by FCO PLASCENCIA/ Letters by STEVE WANDS/ Published by DC COMICS
Review by MATT MORRISON
The Justice League find themselves surrounded on all sides by nightmares and oblivion. There must be a light somewhere in the Dark Multiverse that has besieged their universe… but what if there isn’t? Brilliant as the concept is and as wonderful as the art is, I still find myself hard-pressed to describe just what happened in this issue and wonder if the story has really progressed since the last issue. After some consideration, I find that it hasn’t. It’s good as far as art for arts’s sake goes but this series has become empty calories as far as I’m concerned.
DETECTIVE COMICS ANNUAL #1/ Written by JAMES TYNION IV/ Pencils by EDDY BARROWS/ Inks by EBER FERREIRA/ Colors by ADRIANO LUCAS/ Letters by SAL CIPRIANO/ Published by DC COMICS
Review by MATT MORRISON
From its classic horror movie cover to the spine-chilling conclusion, Detective Comics Annual #1 is one fine book. Detailing the DC Rebirth origins of Basil Karlo a.k.a. Clayface, we learn how a one time superstar was transformed into a nightmarish monster and how Batman came to approach him about the possibility of redemption. Knowing how the story ends does not rob it of its power and the artwork is as wonderful as the story. There’s also a clever shout-out to the most famous version of Clayface from the Batman: The Animated Series that is rather nice.
THE FLASH ANNUAL #1/ Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON/ Art by HOWARD PORTER & CHRISTIAN DUCE/ Colors by HI-FI/ Letters by CARLOS M. MANGUAL & TRAVIS LANHAM/ Published by DC COMICS
Review by MATT MORRISON
Left feeling alone in the wake of the dissolution of The Titans, Wally West (the original redhead one) decides to look up old girlfriend Frankie Kane to see if she exists on New Earth and, more importantly, if she still remembers him. The good news is she does. The bad news is so does her evil super-powered alter-ego, Magenta. I loved Geoff Johns’ run on The Flash so it does my heart good to see Wally taking center-stage in this annual and the story bringing back a character from that time period. This issue also brings back one of Johns’ original Rogues, who it appears will have a major role in Flash War. Couple that with the fantastic artwork of Howard Porter, Christian Duce and Hi-Fi and you have a perfect comic!
INJUSTICE 2 #43/ Written by TOM TAYLOR/ Pencils by BRUNO REDONDO/ Inks by JUAN ALBARRAN/ Colors by REX LOKUS/ Letters by WES ABBOTT/ Published by DC COMICS
Review by MATT MORRISON
A civil war erupts in Gorilla City, as Grodd launches a coup against King Solovar. Caught in the middle of the violence, Ra’s Al Ghul and his Suicide Squad must join the fight to salvage the alliance that may be the only means of saving the world. Do you like stories full of action, romance, comedy and horror – sometimes all four on the same page? Do you enjoy colorful artwork with exciting visuals? Do you like tons of gorillas fighting each other, with the occasional crocodile man, whale woman and man-bat for variety? If so, then you will love this comic!
Buy these comics at your local comic book store (don’t know where that is? here you go) or digitally via comixology.com!
Kabooooom! 