In my opinion, this is the best volume in this run of Justice League. I feel after volume two, they just got better, but this is definitely the best sIn my opinion, this is the best volume in this run of Justice League. I feel after volume two, they just got better, but this is definitely the best so far. The strength of it is telling the story of the dark versions of the Justice League. They are absolutely bone-chilling. I think that horror is not always supernatural aspects, but delving into the psychological heart of darkness. In this care, seeing what an Evil Clark Kent/Superman, Batman, and others would be like. What if the Justice League was merely a syndicate of super-powered, super-evil villains who have plenty of agency to do whatever they want? That is not a world we want to live in, trust me. Unfortunately, the Crime Society have gotten a foot into our world.
I think that I really liked this volume because it's so high on character development. It shows how Earth 3's version of Batman, Owlman is really like the evil side of Batman. He has all Bruce Wayne's strengths, but also a twisted, sick lack of morality that allows him to make methodically evil choices. You really don't want an Owlman when you can have a Batman. Same to be said for Kal-Il/Clark Kent/Ultraman. That's a case of nurture versus nature. Both sets of parents were evil, if not twisted. Kal-Il received all the teachings of his father as he traveled to Earth-2, and they were about the worst conditioning you could give a child, unless you want them to be absolutely twisted morally. Teach a child to hate weakness and to believe that strength is everything, that strength allows someone to take whatever they want with impunity. Earth 3's version of the Green Lantern is rather like the flip-side of the whole ideology of the Green Lantern Corps. Instead of being powered by will, how about your fears and pain being used against you to power the ring? And let's not talk about Johnny Quick and Atomica, a pair of thrill killer/criminal lovers who happen to become super-powered when they are about to commit suicide after a botched escapade. One shortcoming is that we don't learn much about Superwoman, other than she's a piece of work. I am intensely curious about her, and I hope that we get her backstory in the next volume.
This whole adventure is narrated by The Grid, the computer virus/AI consciousness that takes over the super-powered machinery of Vic Stone, Cyborg and expels his human part. I like the way that Vic deals with The Grid and the group of unlikely crime-fighters he recruits.
"Forever Heroes" left me wanting more of this series. High on adventure, suspense, and character development, it was a page turner.
I wasn't expecting much from this volume, but the Superman story was quite innovative, with a narrative angle I wasn't expecting at all. It's really kI wasn't expecting much from this volume, but the Superman story was quite innovative, with a narrative angle I wasn't expecting at all. It's really kind of a scary what if about Superman's origins. He is not the man we know but that doesn't mean he doesn't come into his own as much as he's able. I liked the theme of villainy not necessarily starting from a place of pure evil or self-interest. To my mind, some of the worst villains are true believers or fundamentalists. Their intense belief in their cause can lead to committing atrocious acts in the course of the mission. In this case, it makes for a disturbing story. I really loved Lois Lane. Normally, I'm not a fan, but the Flashpoint situation seems to bring out the best in her character.
The Booster Gold story was interesting, and I think it shows him as heroic in ways I haven't previously encountered. In other words, he doesn't come off as inept and fixated on looking heroic. He has to deal with well-meaning military who decide to harness Doomsday as a weapon, but fail to realize that he cannot be controlled. It wasn't the strongest volume here, but it was pretty good.
Traci 13 is not a character I'm familiar with, but this story was very good. Traci finds herself in an adversarial relationship with her father, who both want to save the world, but in vastly different ways. Very intense look at how grief can tear a family apart.
"Canterbury Cricket" was pretty weird. Closest to horror in this volume out of the stories. A bunch of antiheroes have become guerilla warriors for the cause of England, including Cantubury Cricket, who has a very checkered past. I liked it, but it ended a bit too abruptly for my tastes.
This was a 'meh' read to me. Eclipso is super-powered and super-evil, but he's also super-annoying. I don't care much for posturing villains, and he'sThis was a 'meh' read to me. Eclipso is super-powered and super-evil, but he's also super-annoying. I don't care much for posturing villains, and he's that in spades. when his origins are revealed, you are thinking 'what a whiny baby!' instead of being scared of him. That's not to say he doesn't wreak a lot of habit in this book. He really does. I gave this three stars because the action is pretty epic, and there is no guarantee of a happy ending. You pretty much think it's all over until the last few pages. I've liked the first couple of JLA titles, but this one didn't do much for me. I'm not very familiar with this team, and it was interesting getting to know them, such as I did.
I had trouble tracking the story between the graphics and the prose. One of my pet peeves with graphic novels. They can be done very well where this is not a problem, but it wasn't in this volume. It doesn't help that the cast of characters is so expansive. Eclipso has the ability to take over and make people into his minions, and the confusing part for me is not knowing what the various characters are normally like, makes them as evil minions sort of meaningless. Probably someone who has more background in the DC Universe than I do may feel different. On the good side, the artwork is very good. I find Donna Troy's outfit mesmerizing, a jumpsuit with quasars and stars on it. It was almost hypnotic, quite honestly. Probably one of the aspects I liked most about this book.
My experience with the JL and JLA graphic novels I've read is hit and miss. This one was more of a miss for me....more
I had trouble rating this because it lacks the impact of the first volume. Forever seems to get lost in the shuffle, and she was less defined as a chaI had trouble rating this because it lacks the impact of the first volume. Forever seems to get lost in the shuffle, and she was less defined as a character. Although I felt the flashbacks give more insight into Forever's relationship with her 'father.' The new storyline about the Barrett family, who have to leave their homestead and travel to the city was interesting, but also sad. At first I didn't get how it tied into the main story, but their paths intersect with Forever in a very pivotal way. It will be interesting to see where their story leads next.
I still like Forever's character a lot and will keep reading this for her. I think without her as a focus, the story is much less interesting though. I'm not much of a fan of post-apocalyptic/dystopian fiction, but I love women warriors/kickbutt artists like a house on fire. Rucka seems to like them as much as I do.
Hawkins keeps it real about rakes, except she doesn't show how many of them died from venereal disease. I was livid about that *S$!@ bet from the begiHawkins keeps it real about rakes, except she doesn't show how many of them died from venereal disease. I was livid about that *S$!@ bet from the beginning. Felt sorry for Imogen. I did feel when I read, and not always good things.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine in the July 2015 Issue. .
A fun cozy mystery tailor-made for people like me who are as addicted to baking shows as they are to eating baked treats. The mystery was pretty good A fun cozy mystery tailor-made for people like me who are as addicted to baking shows as they are to eating baked treats. The mystery was pretty good too.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine for the July 2015 issue. ....more
Mixed feelings about this one. I think that it's a lot of fun reading vintage Harlequin Presents, because it's a window into the past. I get a kick ouMixed feelings about this one. I think that it's a lot of fun reading vintage Harlequin Presents, because it's a window into the past. I get a kick out of the characters wearing clothes that will never (let's hope) be in fashion again, and I can visualize they way they look. For instance, Alexis is quite fond of velvet suitcoats and silk trousers. Not something that you can get away with now unless you are deliberately channeling 70s pimp.
Overall, this is pretty strong writing. I just didn't like Alexis, at all. I thought he was manipulative to the extreme. While I will be the first admit I like stalkerific heroes, I felt like he was stalkerish in a very unsexy and offputting way. I know the difference between fiction and fantasy, and it's appealing when the hero is obsessed with the heroine, as long as he's not controlling and manipulative about it, and he's clearly not stalking every mode she makes. After Rachel helps him the first night, he is pretty much following her every day or has his servants doing it. He knows where she works, who her roommate is, and other pertinent information that made him seem like a scary guy who might do Rachel harm. I also didn't like how sexually aggressive he was. Rachel made it clear she was engaged, and Alexis did everything he could to destroy her relationship with her fiance'. While her fiance' was a big time tool, that wasn't right. I guess for me, the difference in why a hero can be stalkerific in a good way or just a plain old creepy stalker is unselfish love and concern for the heroine. I still didn't really believe Alexis loved Rachel at the end of this story. I think he was strongly attracted to her and obsessed, but I didn't get a sense of "I would die for you" kind of love from Alexis.
I agree with another reviewer that the descriptions of the Arab people in Alexis' family and his servants was a bit on the racist side. At least stereotypical. That was a turnoff as well.
So let's talk about what I liked. I did like Rachel, although I wish she wasn't such a pushover. It was pretty odd how the author hints at the fast that her fiance' is selfish enough to expect manual gratification but doesn't reciprocate. He doesn't seem to find Rachel sexy to me. I wondered about that. I felt like maybe he wasn't attracted to her, or that he was possibly gay. I still don't know about it. But I did like Rachel. I think she deserved better than both her ex and Alexis, personally.
I think the love scenes were pretty good, but too bad I felt like Rachel was coerced into sexual situations moreso than truly voluntary. So that did take the blush off the rose for me.
I'm sure many vintage HP fans will like this more than me. The hero really kind of killed it for me. Otherwise, it was a diverting blast from the past. ...more
This is even darker than the Flash volume! Batman isn't the Batman we know and love. He's a much more driven, more morally compromised version. What wThis is even darker than the Flash volume! Batman isn't the Batman we know and love. He's a much more driven, more morally compromised version. What would happen if a man's child was killed in front of him and he was powerless to prevent it. The Joker is probably even more twisted, and you wouldn't believe me if I told you. That's just the Batman story.
Then there's the story about the biggest jerk in the DC-Verse, Deathstroke, and his crusade to find his lost daughter. I can't call him a hero, because he's not. He's ruthlessly selfish and murderous. I feel bad for anyone who throws in with him. He's not a man I'd trust as far as I could throw him. This is non-stop action, a world in which the seas have become a lawless place of pirates, and the Atlanteans kill humans with impunity.
The story about Dick Grayson and his family tells us how things might have gone if Bruce Wayne had not been there in his life after the death of his parents. Also shows a Europe that has been decimated by the Atlantean-Amazonean war, and where various DC-verse figures have become freedom fighters (even ones who were once villains).
My least favorite was Secret Seven. It was pretty gruesome and twisted, and while I see the point of it all in terms of the Flashpoint story arc, I didn't really appreciate the story at all.
I would still give this four stars because I thought it was pretty interesting, and frankly, nightmarish....more
I will confess I watched "The Flashpoint Paradox" Justice League movie prior to reading this, and let me tell you, I was blown away at how dark this sI will confess I watched "The Flashpoint Paradox" Justice League movie prior to reading this, and let me tell you, I was blown away at how dark this story arc is. This is like "What If?" on steroids.
The movie goes into some explanations I won't get into, and I tried to forget I knew that, because I haven't read The Flash, Vol. 2: The Road to Flashpoint yet, which I think is probably the backstory. All I know is, I don't want this life for any of the DC characters I know and love. One of the interesting things is seeing what this crazy world does to the various characters as you know them. Villains end up on the other side. Sometimes, they stay just as villainous. Sometimes, they are worse, unchecked in a world where the Justice League as we know it never existed or has fallen by the wayside. Where Wonder Woman has become an autocrat who leads ruthless, murderous Amazons who delight in killing humans.
This one isn't for the kiddos. Very violent and has some disturbing imagery. Probably the most disturbing in the story about Gorilla Grodd, who has pretty much taken Africa and claimed it for his own, and it ain't pretty. I couldn't look away. I'm starting to wonder why AU seems to be so dark and dreary. Maybe so that the reader will repeat, "It's only a book. It's only a book. It's only a book," and wipe their foreheads. While the first story is about Flash, this is really more like an anthology featuring different characters from the DC verse in the aftermath of Flashpoint.
Flash is a cool character. I like him more all the time. Interesting that this is my first official solo Flash graphic novel. I'll be reading more....more
This was admittedly a slow read for me. But it's proof that some things are worth sticking in for and waiting on. At its heart, this is a moving storyThis was admittedly a slow read for me. But it's proof that some things are worth sticking in for and waiting on. At its heart, this is a moving story about a young boy who is coming to terms with his identity as an adoptee. He's asking the questions about his birth family, but that in no way invalidates his feelings or attachment to his adoptive family. On the surface, this is a mystery/adventure about a treasure hunt in a house that once belonged to a famous smuggler. Milo wanted a quiet Christmas with his family, but unexpected guests arrive and change the whole dynamic. But it turns out this is a pivotal event that will put to rest old secrets and reveal the answers to all the questions of the guests that come to stay in Greenglass House one snowy Christmas week.
While this moved slowly, and I found myself rereading several parts to make sure I understood what was happening, there is a strength to the narrative that made me want to soldier through. I found Milo adorable. He's Chinese by birth and ethnicity, and he's sick of that question of why he doesn't look like his white parents. He's a quiet and bookish kid with a big inner life, and he's ripe for an adventure. Milo meets a young girl who comes along with their cook, and they become partners in a Dungeons and Dragons-like game called "Odd Trails", which ties in very heavily with their quest for secrets about Greenglass House.
That mystery is extremely clever. Especially how the very house itself is full of clues about the mystery. I would enjoy staying at Greenglass House, and exploring its several floors that have stood the test of time, and gazing at the raging winter (I love winter) outside the beautiful stained glass windows. Any good mystery writer presents a group of suspects, and each one is interesting, with deep motives yet to be discovered.
The end was quite a lovely surprise. I hadn't suspected what we find out near the end, but it definitely makes sense, and there are seeds all along. That's the hallmark of a good mystery to my mind.
The author writes an afterword about her reasons for writing this novel, and that adds so much to the story. How this came out of her personal journey to adoption, along with other aspects of the genesis of writing this novel, in which an adoptee plays a major role.
I'm glad my library had this book, and for the recommendation from my friend Rane. While it took me a good while to read, it was definitely worth the reading. I'll look forward to reading other books by Ms. Milford....more
This had a rocky start, but I liked it quite a bit overall. Honey was feisty. In fact, it kind of reminded me of "Taming of the Shrew" because Honey wThis had a rocky start, but I liked it quite a bit overall. Honey was feisty. In fact, it kind of reminded me of "Taming of the Shrew" because Honey was so prickly and rebuffed any attempts at seduction. Ben isn't a flashy charmer who gets off on being offensive like Petruchio, but rather takes the tactic of disinterest. Surprisingly, it does hurt Honey's feelings, although she's sick of being seen as a sex object because of her beauty and curvaceous body. The "Taming of the Shrew" aspect is more that Ben actually woos Honey into relaxing the icy walls around her heart and wins her by loving her for her. She has some valid reasons for being wary of men who seem only attracted to her looks.
I think Ben did play a little too lukewarm at times. If I was Honey, I would have thought he was disinterested as well. I think that's part of why I didn't give this four stars. I like when the hero is crazy about the heroine and it's easy for me to tell that as a reader, even if the heroine can't because of her issues. In the end, Ben finally came clean, but he left it almost too late.
I liked this quite a bit in the end, even though the "hot and cold' back and forth got a bit tedious at times. It was a nice diversion and I'm a sucker for a good marriage of convenience storyline.
I found the older comics a bit dated in storyline and the artwork. It was nice to get some of James "Logan" Howlett's backstory, all the same. It was I found the older comics a bit dated in storyline and the artwork. It was nice to get some of James "Logan" Howlett's backstory, all the same. It was really interesting to discover that Wolverine's first appearance was in The Incredible Hulk. Seeing these two guys throw down is quite an experience.
I'm having to be honest and say I can't stand Mariko. Definitely not worthy of Wolverine's pining. I couldn't help comparing this as I read to the most recent Wolverine movie, "The Wolverine," which I love, except for a few aspects. I think I prefer the movie versions of both Mariko and Yukio. Yukio wasn't bad, but I didn't like how she was so moony over Wolverine. I did like how kickbutt she was and kind of edgy. All the ninja stuff was cool (as they always are). I think Wolverine's adventures in Japan shape him in pivotal ways, and I feel that it helps to temper his animalistic nature.
Wolverine will always stand out as an antihero who is quite heroic. He learns through the School of Hard Knocks how to use his healing factor, formidable strength, and lethal fighting skills, not to mention his adamantium claws to best advantage.
Rereading "Weapon X" brings to mind why Logan is so conflicted as a character. How they deliberately and ruthlessly tortured him to bring out that aspect, and why he will always struggle against it now. And that makes him even more admirable that he can temper his berserker rage to fight with the X-Men and others on the side of justice.
If you're newer to the Marvel Verse, and want to find out the origins of Wolverine, this is worth tracking down. Just keep in mind that some of the older stories are from a different era, and frankly, like the sophistication of modern graphic novels. However, "Weapon X" is not to be missed by anyone who is intrigued with Wolverine.
Pretty good. Lovely color and artwork. Crazy action. This is the Wolverine that most will know and love. Some interesting twists with Mystique and thePretty good. Lovely color and artwork. Crazy action. This is the Wolverine that most will know and love. Some interesting twists with Mystique and the dicey situation between the Hand and the Yakuza, and our esteemed hero in the middle. Things get a little confusing towards the end. But overall, stays pretty coherent and there is no disconnect between the script and the artwork.
This was almost four stars. I just felt that the storyline wasn't as clear as it could have been. I loved the artwork, and the story idea was interestThis was almost four stars. I just felt that the storyline wasn't as clear as it could have been. I loved the artwork, and the story idea was interesting. I think there's a part of me that gets skeptical when crucial technology isn't explained, and I felt the details about the device that was opening portals between our Earth and others, wasn't explained enough for me. I was a bit lost with some of that aspect of the story.
One of the more interesting characters was Raze. I didn't know that Wolverine had a son with Mystique, but he's about what one would expect. Lethal, cunning, sociopathic, more of Mystique's personality than Wolverine. Mostly, I'd say, "The Gang's all here." X-Men fans will like the variety of characters that show up, but I can think of few that I missed in this roundup. The art and the colors were brilliant and beautiful. Salvador Larocca is one of the best comic book artists around.
I don't read as much X-Men. I guess I feel I'm a bit oversaturated with it due to sufficient coverage they get in the movies and tv. I've wanted to read more, but I'm just dipping my finger in right now. This was a nice choice, since the story isn't too locked into an arc. It looks like it might be a one shot. If you ask me, I'll always choose X-Force over the X-Men. Just a personal preference.
Black Widow is definitely going up my list of kickbutt heroines to die for. Her backstory is tragic and conflicted, and it informs the choices she makBlack Widow is definitely going up my list of kickbutt heroines to die for. Her backstory is tragic and conflicted, and it informs the choices she makes. Black Widow is trying to make up for the red in her ledger when she worked as a KGB agent. She takes missions so she can send money to the families of people she hurt back in the day. And she navigates the spider's web of the world she inhabits, where black and white doesn't exist.
Phil Noto has such a distinctive art style. It is very retro, and his color palette is muted. But it works. The action is rendered so excellently, and with this storyline, that's an absolute must. The writing is excellent as well. Storylines are twisted without being convoluted or incomprehensible, very much an asset with the graphic novel format, where there isn't a lot of room for long descriptions or narratives. Together Noto and Edmonson make an excellent team. The Spider motif is conveyed excellently without being too blatant. If I had one quibble, I wasn't sure about the Cyrillic. It doesn't seem to translate very well. I admit I am a novice to Russian, but from what I know I'm not sure about it being accurate.
I can't say there's anything I didn't like about this volume. I am hooked and find this to be one of the stronger Marvel NOW titles I've read.
If I had to recruit a team of kickbutt artists, Black Widow would definitely be on my list!
I have mixed feelings about this series. I am definitely liking Selina Kyle, for the most part. However, the panels are rather difficult to read in soI have mixed feelings about this series. I am definitely liking Selina Kyle, for the most part. However, the panels are rather difficult to read in some issues, and the art quality isn't always up to par. But, when it's good, it's very good. I especially liked the art in the last issue, which features Selina's interesting backstory. I think the writing could definitely have more clarity. There is a disconnect between the action in the panels and the storyline, and it left me confused, especially in the first issue. I did like the cameo of Batman, I mean who doesn't like when Bats shows up? I wasn't always the biggest Bat/Cat shipper, but I'm slowly coming around (if he can't be with Wonder Woman, that is).
Picked this up from my library, and I was pleasantly surprised. This quartet of special operatives were tasked to go back one day in the past to avertPicked this up from my library, and I was pleasantly surprised. This quartet of special operatives were tasked to go back one day in the past to avert a disaster caused by the activation of an underground Nazi missile carrying deadly biotoxin that could easily end the human race. They end up in 1940s Germany just months prior to the end of the war.
Excellent action, with artwork that gives this a cinematic feel. The characters feel unique, and it's an interesting view to have one of the team members as a black man in Nazi Germany, although they didn't delve into it as much as one would expect. However, this is a really quick time period (24 hours), and it's practically nonstop. It gets very interesting. I didn't really understand the technology, but that's not a deal breaker. I liked the various gadgets that the team took with them, and they were all extremely capable and lethal.
I'm a bit of a WW2 geek, so I'm glad I was able to read this. I'd like to read more about this team. ...more
I'd have to say this isn't my typical type of book, so I'm glad it was selected for Action group's read this month. I found it enjoyable. I think thatI'd have to say this isn't my typical type of book, so I'm glad it was selected for Action group's read this month. I found it enjoyable. I think that if this was a movie, it would be a Steven Soderburg movie for sure. I could see his touch all over the movie adaptation.
What I liked:
*I liked the wry and subtle humor. You have to be paying attention to see it, and it's highly ironical. The CIA's big thinkers believe their culprit is anything from the Russians to a huge terrorist cell, but it's not anything of the sort. Their antics to resolve the situation only seem to make things worst. I felt kind of bad rooting for Chinese and his gang, but they were seeming more and more like the good guys in that situation anyway. This book doesn't give a person the best view of the CIA, that's for sure. *I liked Doctor Henry Metzger and his dog. I wish they were in the book more. Considering that the book is named after them, I expected more of an appearance. But when they are there, they steal the scenes. I think Perry is an animal person. He seems to understand their psychology and how they seem to run the households in which they live and often leave their persons baffled. *The descriptions were very well rendered. I used all my senses as I read this book. The narrative is never wordy, which would have lent this book to boredom, considering that some much of the narrative hinges on theoretical sociological research. *This whole book is deftly plotted. I think it could have easily fallen apart, considering the subject matter. But it doesn't. *I think Margaret is one of the strongest characters. Surprisingly Chinese Gordon takes a back seat to her. She is really the brains of the operation.
I wasn't at all sure what I'd get when I started this book. It's kind of like when you go to a restaurant and let your companion pick something off the menu, and you decide you like it. It's a win on both sides....more
Danielle The Book Huntress
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