Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Weekly Rankings For 03/11/09
Here are this week’s comics ranked prior to reading them:
4. Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1
3. Green Lantern Corps #34
2. GI Joe #3
1. Walking Dead #59
Here are the rankings after the first read through with a mini-review:
4. GI Joe #3
Dixon & Atkins
This issue is filled with action. Literally cover to cover of fighting. It’s a good issue in that regard. The Destro and Baroness plot isn’t really revisited much and the Stalker plot isn’t checked in on at all. However, the action in this issue made me forget much of the other stuff. I was a little shocked to learn in the opening paragraph that it was Snake Eyes who stopped the Stalker mission cold last issue. Also I was little miffed that Snake Eyes appeared on the cover but not in the comic at all. The only actual disappointment I had was that the first real action in this series was the Joes fighting robot bugs basically. Still this was a fun issue.
3. Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1
Daniel & Florea
There is a lot to get into for this series. Two-Face and the Penguin are having a turf war while a third player is blackmailing the rest of the villains to fight on one side. There are multiple Batmen running around and the Gotham supporting cast all get some good page time here. There were two character developments that felt forced. First, Nightwing has become dark and distant. It just feels very rushed. Wouldn’t have been easier to play this out instead of just being told it? Second, Damian has turned into a reckless child. He isn’t the fighting brat with a massive ego anymore. That’s fine, but are we expected to believe that Oracle, Dick and Tim are all okay with him hanging around like nothing happened? We’ll have to see how this all plays out but based on the way the characters are being jammed into place it seems too easy as to who will be the new Batman and Robin.
Tomasi, Gleason, Buchman & Alamy
Kyle and Soranik continue their forbidden love while Sodam freaks out on his mom then hurries off to Daxam to help his planet from the Sinestro Corps. The main action is between Mongul and Arkillo while the science cells get a new prisoner. As always this issue is packed with great character interactions and outstanding art. The whole issue keeps you entertained and fully engaged. It’s not the kind of comic you read in three minutes. There is symbolism, hidden secrets and some clues dropped throughout. The story only suffers a little because of the lack of Guardian interaction. I mean, where are they during all of these happenings? A fun and interesting issue.
Kirkman, Adlard & Rathburn
Just when things slow down for a second or two then the floor gives out. This issue has an excellent ending that was hinted at in a previous issue. The rest of the issue shows just how mentally messed up Morgan is. It’s obvious that no one trusts him and I’m wondering just how much the others regret picking him up. This issue is so comprehensive that Rick actually explains why he keeps the keys to the old police station in his pocket. You got to read this one just for the ending though. It opens up some interesting possibilities in future stories. The double page spread of their discovery may be in my top five pieces of art in this series. Excellent issue.
