Top Picks: Volume 1 Issue 4

5. Red Hood and The Outlaws #15

Written By: Scott Lobdell

Art By: Timothy Green II



Red Hood and The Outlaw #15

I was really looking forward to reading this. I initially thought it was going be pretty epic. I mean, Jason Todd and the Joker-- the man responsible for the former Robin's death-- that is a recipe for success.

For all the potential that was on the table, I was pretty let down.

We start off with the G.C.P.D. confronting Jason in a woman's apartment. The woman, named Isabel, has been forced an overdose of some kind by the Joker, and Jason, being set-up for it, is held at gunpoint by several of Gotham's finest, including Detective Bullock.

Jason fights off the police, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist and a shower rod in his hand. 

From here, we see get our first glimpse of the Joker as he lurks in the back of Bullock's police car, which Jason had just drove off in in an attempt to warn the others at the Batcave of the Joker. As you probably guessed, this doesn't end well for Jason.

While we get some more hints into Jason and the Joker's relationship from the #0 issue, the whole encounter didn't have the "revenge factor" I was expecting-- like from last week's Batgirl.

Another issue I had was with the scenes between Starfire and Arsenal. Between Roy fixing a ship and the two hooking up-- it took away any momentum the Red Hood and Joker had going.

The various writers attached to all these "Death of the Family" books have been trying their best to keep up with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's Batman. So far, only Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's Batman and Robin has come close.

This story will continue in the next Teen Titans issue, so I'm sure Tim Drake-- another former Robin-- will be involved. 

4. All-New X-Men #4

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis
Art By: Stuart Immonen

All New X-Men #4

Brian Michael Bendis and company have been killing it on All-New X-Men.

There are three big things happening in this book:

The first is Cyclopes' struggle to understand what he has done in the name of mutant people. The second is the original X-Men confronting the present X-Men regarding the previously mentioned Cyclopes issue. And the third is the deterioration of Beast's health.

We start off with an intense stare down between the two Cyclopes. During which, present Cyclopes, in his mind, runs through a laundry list of mutants who might have the ability to make him do the things he's done.

As this inner monologue progresses, we get a beautiful page that features the faces of both X-Men teams forming into one. This goes to show how good Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Brawbadger, and Marte Gracia have been. The three certainly     complement the detailed story that Bendis is providing.

Cyclopes isn't the only one struggling. A young Jean Grey is still coming to terms with her new found powers, which proves to be trying on the rest of the young X-Men.

As I mentioned, Beast's health is fading fast, and it doesn't get any better here. The ending of this issue certainly will have me picking up #5 to see what happens.


3. Nightwing #15
Written By: Kyle Higgins

Art By: Eddy Barrows

Nightwing #15

The Joker takes Nightwing on an emotional rollercoaster ride in this one.

***Warning: There will be some big spoilers from this point on.***

If you saw the preview for this issue on Newsarama, then you know that at least one person close to Dick Grayson dies, and it happens within the first three pages!

"Coming Soon" posters for Amusement Mile line sections of Gotham City. The posters feature Jimmy the Clown, a member of Haly's Circus. If you've seen Jimmy before, then you know that he bears a striking resemblance to our story's antagonist.

After Jimmy is poked fun of by the other members of Haly's Circus, he leaves to grab a drink and is confronted by the Joker, who is hiding in the shadows.

The Joker questions the similarities between Jimmy and himself, but after a deadly cloud of gas consumes the area, the Joker is singing a different tune.

We get a fantastic title page in which the Joker is holding up Jimmy's dead body. This is followed by an even better splash page that features Nightwing and Batgirl.

I have to say, it is so good to have Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows back. The two took a couple months off, and their work was greatly missed, at least in my eyes.

There is more to this book than just Jimmy's death. We see more of the relationship between Dick and Sonia Zucco. If you don't know who Sonia Zucco is, she is the daughter of Tony Zucco, the man who killed Dick's parents. The two share a passionate kiss, but it ends abruptly after Dick realizes what he is doing and who he is doing it with.

We also see more from another woman in Dick's life-- a former childhood friend named Raya Vestri. Vestri was sent to Blackgate Penitentiary in an earlier issue and is now being manipulated by the Joker.

After a brief confrontation with Dick, Raya suffers a similar fate to Jimmy, and leaves behind a message that will carry on into the next issue.

I highly recommend this book. It was fantastic from start to finish. Great writing and great artwork-- a must buy!

2. Hawkeye #6
Written By: Matt Fraction
Art By: David Aja

Hawkeye #6

Okay... this looks bad.

Are you kidding? This looks great!

How often can you say that you read a comic front to back... literally. Not only are the covers worth looking at a couple times, but the "Arrow Mail" on the back page is always worth your time.

David Aja is back after taking a two-issue break. I don't think I'm alone in saying welcome back.

Aja has the ability to draw things that look so simple, yet elegant at the same time. Don't let my praise take away from what Javier Pulido did in Aja's absence, which was fine work as well.

Issue #6 combines six days in the life of Hawkeye AKA Clint Barton, and places them out of order, which worked... really well.

The opening sequence had me really nervous, but as I turned the page, my anxiety slipped away and I found myself smiling. You'll have to read this issue to see what I'm talking about, but it involves Clint, Tony Stark, and some tricky wires.

Tony isn't the only Avenger who shows up. We get some fun dialogue between our titular character, Spider-Man, and Wolverine.

In previous issues, we have seen a group of men in tracksuits who really like to use the word "bro" and have a disdain for Clint. Their conflict reaches new heights here as the group broadens their scope and focus on more than our purple-wearing friend.

I'm sure we'll see more of this in the next issue, which also will deal with a real-life event that happened this past October.

Matt Fraction has said that we will donate royalties from Hawkeye #7 to Hurricane Sandy Relief. So if what you've seen so far isn't incentive enough to pick up the next issue-- you have another great reason to do so.

1. Daredevil #21

Written By: Mark Waid

Art By: Chris Samnee



Daredevil #21

Well that was... awesome!

Let's just get it out of the way. A big surprise came at the end of this issue. I will not reveal what happened, but it involves another character in the Marvel Universe. The moment alone is worth the price of admission.

This issue pretty much concludes Daredevil's situation with Coyote and The Spot. It's been a great story to read, and has featured fantastic moments such as Matt Murdock and others believing he might be crazy, to heads being "removed" from bodies. Thank you, Mark Waid for delivering the goods.

Let's not forget about the art, which has been spot-on. Chris Samnee is a force to be reckoned with. His artwork if the perfect compliment to Mark Waid's writing.

You should get this issue just for the ending alone, but also for everything else that it brings to the table. 

                                                            

--Eric  Follow Me on Twitter