Review: Wonder Woman #36
Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt

Review: Wonder Woman #36

By Cat Wyatt

Now that we’ve finished catching up with Jason’s backstory (thank you for that, issue #35), we’re back to the main plot once again. The scene opens with Diana chained up to a stone pillar while Jason monologues (though not as verbosely as a villain can). He (or maybe it was Grail) somehow managed to find an ancient Beachhead from New Genesis. It could even be an earlier world, who’s to say?

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Review: Under: Scourge of the Sewer #1
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: Under: Scourge of the Sewer #1

By Daniel Vlasaty

When I was a kid I was afraid to take shits because I thought a skeleton was going to reach up from the toilet, grab my ass, and pull me down into the sewer. I’ve known other people that thought snakes or rats or alligators. But I don’t know why I thought skeletons were going to get me. I was afraid of toilets. I was afraid of sewers. I was a weird kid. But listen, the sewers are a fucked up, ugly, nasty, creature-y place, I guess. Especially in Christophe Bec’s and Stefano Raffaele’s Under: Scourge of the Sewer #1.

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Review: Suicide Squad #31
Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt

Review: Suicide Squad #31

By Cat Wyatt

After a month of anxiously waiting to see what was going to happen to half of the Suicide Squad (the half trapped on the moon, that is), we’re finally given our answer! Considering the point they left us off at last issue, they really didn’t have much of a choice but to pick up right where they left off (well, they could have done something different, but I’d advise against stressing out your fans). To recap: Rick Flag Sr. is possessed by the Red Wave, and likely has been partially under its control for a while, Boomerang, Katana, and Croc have also fallen under his (its?) thumb. The only one on the moon with control over their own body is Harley. So not exactly a good position to be in.

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Review: Klaus and the Crisis in Xmasville #1
Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards

Review: Klaus and the Crisis in Xmasville #1

By Jonathan Edwards

On December 5th, 2016, I finally did what I’d spent the better part of the year thinking about doing; I applied to be a comic reviewer for ComicBastards.com. On December 12th, 2016, I received an email inviting me onto the team, and on December 21st, 2016, my reviews for Dept. H #9 and Klaus and the Witch of Winter were published on the site. And now, just barely a year after I sent in my application, here I am reviewing the next Klaus book, Klaus and the Crisis in Xmasville. And, maybe there would have been more ceremony in reviewing next week’s Dept. H #21. Especially since that was the actual first book I reviewed, and issue #21 comes out closer to the anniversary of when I actually reviewed issue #9. But, Klaus only comes one a year, so I think that makes it the more appropriate choice. Also, I could just do both, but I haven’t read an issue of Dept. H despite continuing to buy them with the intention of eventually sitting down and binging them. But until then, let’s focus on Grant Morrison’s superhero Santa Claus.

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Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #34
Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt

Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #34

By Cat Wyatt

Are you ready for another issue of buildup? No? Well, then I’m sorry but I have some news for you (but in all seriousness it wasn’t the frustrating type of buildup, it simply is what it is). Things pick up right where we were left off in issue 33; John, Hal, Guy, and Kyle are all brainstorming for causes and solutions to their problem, while also pestering little Somar-Le (the only witness to the Guardians kidnappers) for more information.

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Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Samurai Slasher – Late Fees

By Dustin Cabeal

The concept of Samurai Slasher is an enjoyable one to movie and comic fans. The idea is that the character of the Samurai Slasher can be dropped into any story. He’s Freddy and Jason, without the baggage. A new slasher, from a bygone era, that you can tell original stories without repercussions. It’s what made the first comic in the series so enjoyable.

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Review: Striker & Slayer #1
Comic Reviews, Manga Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews, Manga Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Striker & Slayer #1

By Dustin Cabeal

Anytime I pick up a comic, and the first page is a wall of text, I kind of just sigh to myself. The wall of text as I call it is a big cheat because it’s conveying information that the creator can’t or doesn’t want to work into the story. It’s common in sci-fi because creators think it’ll speed things up by explaining the world instead of showing it.

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Review: Her Impact! #0
Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Her Impact! #0

By Dustin Cabeal

Her Impact! Suffers from what I call the “Manga Effect.” As you can probably already guess from that labeling, its manga inspired. In the case of Her Impact, it attempts many of the tropes while offering a story that you’d likely never read in a manga.

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Review: Chronospire #1
Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Chronospire #1

By Dustin Cabeal

My first question with any fantasy story is, “is the fantasy element needed to tell the story?” You’d be surprised how often the answer to this question is a resounding, “No.” That is the case with Chronospire, which is a world full of elves and ogres, but a story that requires neither element to function.

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Review: Pussycats – Foxglove #1
Comic Reviews Oliver Gerlach Comic Reviews Oliver Gerlach

Review: Pussycats – Foxglove #1

By Oliver Gerlach

Pussycats – Foxglove #1 is the first issue of a planned 2 issue miniseries. It is, as far as I can tell, a part of e-comix’s Pussycats series, which appear to be cheap titillation with what might be the most unappealing covers around. Using a photo of a “sexy model” for your covers feels like a spectacularly regressive approach to comics marketing. So, is the interior of Foxglove #1 any better than you might expect from this?

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Review: Batman: White Knight #3
Comic Reviews Benjamin Snyder Comic Reviews Benjamin Snyder

Review: Batman: White Knight #3

By Ben Snyder

Joker-centric stories have left a long legacy of being some of the best stories told in the Batman canon. Dating to older series such as A Death In the Family and The Killing Joke to more modern interpretations such as Scott Snyder’s Endgame arc and Brian Azzarello’s Joker mini-series. This theme has even infiltrated other mediums as many consider The Dark Knight to be one of the greatest superhero films of all time. While not quite on par with many of these classics, Sean Murphy’s Batman: White Knight still has been an enlightening read and delves deeper into the relationship between the Joker and Batman. Batman: White Knight #3 continues the story as Jack Napier, and Harleen Quinzel dig deeper into the corruption of Gotham in an attempt to oust Batman, and while it does continue to be a good read, entry #3 suffers mainly because it doesn’t offer any further insight into the mind of Jack/Joker.

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Review: Lizard Men #1
Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal Comic Reviews Dustin Cabeal

Review: Lizard Men #1

By Dustin Cabeal

Have you ever read a comic that is good, but still just not quite for you? That’s where I am with Lizard Men. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s well-written, and the creators understand the medium and produce a professional work. It just didn’t vibe with me.

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Review: No. 1 With a Bullet #2
Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt

Review: No. 1 With a Bullet #2

By Cat Wyatt

No. 1 With a Bullet is a relatively new series by Image, the first issue setting up a certain series of events, which this issue then focuses pretty heavily on. Nash, the main character, works at a tech industry and had been a big believer in the whole “if you don’t want it on the internet, then don’t do it” belief, until it happened to her. The series poses the question of what will happen when the barrier protecting our privacy begins to shatter. We’re already seeing it happen; this story simply explores the idea in a more drastic light.

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Review: Rocko's Modern Life #1
Comic Reviews Justin McCarty Comic Reviews Justin McCarty

Review: Rocko's Modern Life #1

By Justin McCarty

After twenty years Rocko’s Modern Life is back. Its last new episode was in 1996 and the comic was last published in 1994. Originally a failed comic pitch in the eighties, Rocko’s Modern Life became one of Nicktoon’s most loved shows. I haven’t seen an episode of RML since the nineties, I have very fond memories of it but it might not have been as good as I remember. This comic reminded me of all the reasons I loved it. It’s surreal and droll, while still being silly. I had a lot of fun reading this comic.

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Review: Barbarella #1
Comic Reviews Justin McCarty Comic Reviews Justin McCarty

Review: Barbarella #1

By Justin McCarty

I picked up Barbarella because of the cover alone. Wow. Just wanted to get that out of the way. I am familiar with the Barbarella comics, and the movie. But I have never read Barbarella before or watched the movie. I don’t know why I haven’t seen the movie. Just never got around to it, I guess.  That means I don’t have any reference point for what this comic should be. What it is, is a campy sci-fi social commentary on sexual empowerment and ignorant religious dogma. 

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Review: DC Holiday Special 2017 #1
Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards Comic Reviews Jonathan Edwards

Review: DC Holiday Special 2017 #1

By Jonathan Edwards

It’s December, so that means ‘tis the season for holiday specials like this one, and ‘tis the season for starting reviews off with the phrase “’tis the season.” In the wake of Rebirth last year, I was looking forward to DC’s DC Rebirth Holiday Special #1. It seemed like a great way to celebrate the season and the overall success of the relaunch. Unfortunately, if my LCS had gotten any copies (I didn’t ask, but I’m sure they did), they’d sold out of them before I got there. This was also before I started reviewing for Comic Bastards (if only barely), so I didn’t have access to any review copies. Oh well, I told myself, and I figured it maybe wouldn’t have turned out to be that good of a read anyway. In retrospect, that seems like an unnecessarily sour attitude to take during the most wonderful time of the year. And, the best way I can think of to make up for that is to take an optimistic look at DC Holiday Special 2017 #1.

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Review: Sleepless #1
Comic Reviews Benjamin Snyder Comic Reviews Benjamin Snyder

Review: Sleepless #1

By Ben Snyder

Upon finishing the initial couple of pages in Sleepless #1, I couldn’t help but feel a magical quality about the book and that feeling didn’t let up for the rest of the issue. It’s not that Sleepless intends on revolutionizing the wheel, but more so that it succeeds in all that it sets out to achieve.  Sleepless #1 introduces the reader to a story involving politics within the royal class of a far-off land, an assassination, and a mysterious bodyguard class to the royalty.

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Review: Witchblade v2 #1
Comic Reviews Justin McCarty Comic Reviews Justin McCarty

Review: Witchblade v2 #1

By Justin McCarty

Twenty-two years after the launch of Top Cow’s iconic series hit comic store shelves it has come back. The gauntlet has found a new host. I read the comic off and on for years in high school, following the dark and sexy drama of Sara Pezzini. Turner’s artwork is still so much fun to look at. The whole Witchblade mythos and universe was very cool. Unfortunately, the look was very much a product of its time. The Witchblade has found a new host and the series looks like it completely fits into the contemporary style and tone of comics.  While solid, and while all we have is one issue to go on, it has some work to do to live up to the original. That means I am excited to see how this series shapes up.

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Review: The Gravediggers Union #2
Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty Comic Reviews Daniel Vlasaty

Review: The Gravediggers Union #2

By Daniel Vlasaty

I really enjoyed the first issue of this series. I thought it felt like a fresh and exciting entry into a genre of comic books that’s – for lack of a better phrase – bloated with a lot of crap. Wes Craig is telling an interesting and exciting story. And, while yes it kind of sucks that Craig’s not doing the art on top of the writing, Toby Cypress’s art is great and unique and really adds to the story. So how does issue #2 stack up compared to the first?

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Review: Green Lanterns #36
Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt Comic Reviews Cat Wyatt

Review: Green Lanterns #36

By Cat Wyatt

Issue 36 picks up exactly where 35 left off, almost to the second. For those concerned, let me assure you now that the unique names keep on coming; we have the continued presence of Boff and Bolphunga, as well as Singularity Jain. I still can’t get over any of their names (and don’t even get me started on their titles).

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