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411’s Comic Reviews: Detective Comics #1000, Spider-Man: Life Story #1, More
Hello and welcome to 411mania’s weekly Comic Book Review Roundtable! Each week we’ll be serving up a warm dish of reviews from Marvel, DC, and anything else that captures our interest. What did you pick up this week? Let us know in the comments.Want to write a review? If you can write at least one review a week, consistently, email me at [email protected]!
Beyonders #5
Preview by Steve Gustafson
Final issue of the first arc!
As Jake, Narine, and the redoubtable Shadwell struggle to solve the mystery of the Beyonders Code—one that seems to be connected across time and space—they are running out of options with the Faceless Man and his Order in hot pursuit. Will they uncover the mystery of mankind’s greatest riddle? Will they unearth a stunning answer that turns all of modern history on its head? Will they prevent a cataclysmic end to the world? And will there be time for a sandwich?
All of these answers and more will be revealed inside the book that contains its very own treasure hunt!
From Paul Jenkins (ALTERS, Wolverine: Origin, Sentry) and Wesley St. Claire (FU JITSU, Teen Titans) comes the mystery series that can be summed up in one word of its own—AfterShock!
The Lollipop Kids #4
Preview by Steve Gustafson
Nick discovers that his missing sister is not only NOT missing, but she’s also the LEADER of the Lollipop Kids. The last thing Mia wants is her little brother in the park tonight, and she orders him to go home immediately. Nick has survived a few monster clashes and wants in, but Mia has no time for this and has him locked him up in the brig until they can lock up all the monsters again…but does one of the most infamous monsters of all time await their emergence from the prison?
Brought to life by Adam Glass (ROUGH RIDERS, THE NORMALS, Teen Titans) and Aidan Glass, with art from Diego Yapur (The Night Projectionist, Priest: Purgatory), THE LOLLIPOP KIDS is an epic tale of the nightmares that haunt Central Park after dark…
Tyler Cross: Angola
Preview by Steve Gustafson
A hell called “Angola,” the biggest high-security prison in the United States, surrounded by swamps and crushed by the sweltering Louisiana sunshine. And then just to put the cherry on the cake, the Scarfo clan has put a price on his head, and there are a whole load of Sicilians among Tyler’s fellow inmates. If Tyler ever manages to get out of this penitentiary hell, it sure won’t be for good conduct.
Detective Comics #1000
Review by Steve Gustafson
Detective Comics #1000 is a no-brainer to review. Buy it. Doesn’t matter if you’re a Batman fan or not, this book is a reminder of why he’s stayed around so long and why the character still has plenty of mileage left.
This issue is like a creative buffet, giving us a number of stories from different teams. While none really get the space to get going full speed, there’s enough to satisfy just about anyone.
I mean, just look at some of the talent that supplies the goodness:
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.
Kevin Smith and Jim Lee.
Geoff Johns and Kelley Jones.
Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.
Tom King and Tony Daniel.
Peter Tomasi and Doug Mahnke.
Trust me. This is one of those books that more than delivers in value for what you pay. Detective Comics #1000 is to be celebrated not just for attaining the #1000 landmark but also for being a fun, imaginative read about Batman. Find it at your local comic shop today!
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Spider-Man: Life Story #1
Review by John Pumpernickel
Spider-Man: Life Story has an interesting premise. Taking a look at Spider-Man’s early days but doing so in real time. For a character who has one of the most well known origins, it’s tough to find an angle to cover without rehashing something that’s already been done.
Does it work? Sorta. But not to the expectations you might have.
“With great power…”
We all know how it goes. We know it by heart. Putting the “real time” frame on it gives old events a new twist. Chip Zdarsky and artists Mark Bagley and John Dell deliver a solid book but it never quite reaches the wow factor it’s hook inspires. The flow of the book is uneven at points but there’s enough meat on the bone to bring me back for the second issue.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
That’s all the time we have. Tell us what you’re reading below and see you back here next week! You can now find our reviews on ComicBookRoundUp.com!
