Game Madara

Review DC Bombshells 29 DC Comics Bombshells #29 came out last week, one of the last remaining print issue of this first run of the concept. After stumbling a bit in the middle issues, the title has found itself again these last few issues. For me, this most likely is because Wonder Woman and Supergirl have taken center stage again. And I just think that these stories of the Bombshells heading into Russia has just been more compelling than the Africa side adventure that preceded it. Writer Marguerite Bennett has also given us a familiar trope for Supergirl, dealing with the existence of Power Girl. And, like many before, Bennett has the two fight each other at first before realizing that they are more alike than different. Bennett also gives us a very sympathetic Supergirl, dealing with grief but still striving to do what is right. Ill focus on the Supergirl story but this issue also includes a nice opening with Raven, Ivy, and Harley. As readers we are asked the question what would y...

Bullet Review DC Bombshells 32 DC Comics Bombshells #32 came out this week, the penultimate issue of this run. The storylines of all the Bombshells have all come together in Russia. Faora has been revealed as the villain pulling the strings from behind the scenes all along. The Kryptonian general is hoping to create an army of super-powered army through cloning  so she can overrun the world. Supergirl has overcome her grief. She has put the death of her sister behind her. It still motivates Supergirl but she isnt weighed down by it. The rest of the Bombshells are ready to fight Hugo Stranges army of creatures.  And a bulk of the issue is devoted to Ravens origins. But I am running on fumes with this title. The issue starts with Karas adopted mother crashing a plane into Faora, temporarily stunning the villain. In fact we dont see Faora again until there are only a handful of pages left in the book. Should a small plane effect a Kryptonian that much? Despite the fact the villa...

Bullet Review DC Bombshells 28 DC Bombshells #28 came out in print last week and continued a pretty engaging Supergirl portion of the Bombshell universe. We hadnt had Supergirl in the book for some time. Her arc is gripping with emotional layers and great call backs to the main DCU. I suppose one of the dangers of having a book with a cast as large as Bombshells is that sometimes characters can get lost or cast to the backburner. It cant be easy for writer Marguerite Bennett to give everyone the time they deserve in the few pages she has. Ill focus on the Supergirl chapter in a bit. The rest of this issue focuses on the other members we have been following along on their trip into Russia. First off, Lois is chided by Killer Frost for not having killed Hugo Strange when she had the chance. The Frost turns out to be a bigger threat than had been anticipated, revealing herself as Stranges boss. not the other way around. We get a Bombshell version of the Reaper/Phantasm which was very inte...

Review DC Superhero Girls Wonder Woman Day Special Last Saturday was Wonder Woman Day at local comic stores, a brilliant addition by DC to last months Free Comic Book Day. The FCBD DC books were Wonder Woman and DC Super Hero Girls. But given the buzz of the Wonder Woman movie, I love that DC gave us another day of free stuff. And I love that they doubled down on Diana. If DC knew that they were doing a Wonder Woman day with a free Wonder Woman comic and a free DCSHG book, they could have looked elsewhere for FCBD. Instead, we get 4 Wonder Woman focused freebies. And that makes me happy! DC SuperHero Girls Wonder Woman Day #1 is just the second chapter of the upcoming Summer Olympus graphic novel which is being released around the corner. The creators are writer Shea Fontana and artist Yancey Labat, the two most linked to the Superhero Girls. I do love this cover though, something of a badass Diana with Kara and Babs ready to throw down right behind her. This is the fiercest I have se...

Review DC Bombshells 30 DC Bombshells #30 came out in print this week and was the next chapter in the final arc for this title. And, incredibly, I think it is the final arc for me with these characters. This title has been on shaky ground for the last several months and this issue cinched it. I think this title has sort of lost its way. The first year of this book was such a delight, introducing us to these characters, riffing on the film styles of the day, and bringing in the politics of the day. The zenith was in DC Bombshells #12 , in a battle over London, where Stargirl sacrifices herself. I applauded this book then. Since then, the stories have been a bit all over the map. Writer Marguerite Bennett began to use the book as a vehicle for an agenda. And as I have said, if you have a character driven book with an agenda, I am on board. When you have an agenda book with characters, it often falls apart. I also think that Bennett has started to be a bit too cute and a bit too glib in ...

Review DC Comics Bombshells 31 DC Comics Bombshells #31 is the penultimate issue of this title and the penultimate issue of me collecting this title. I have been talking about dropping this title for a while. The series is coming to an end next month. There is a new title coming out shortly thereafter but I think I am out. The stories have become too meandering and too confusing. And the whole thing seems to be weighed down with the messages that Marguerite Bennett is trying to impart and proselytize to the audience. I have said it before and Ill say it here. Tell me a good story that has a message and Ill be engaged. Have a message you want to say and then construct the story around it and everything just feels forced and I feel preached at. And it is a shame that I am leaving because the first year of this book was brilliant. The story came first there. And it is also a shame because Supergirl has taken center stage in this last arc. On to the book. The book opens with the origin of ...

Bullet Review DC Comics Bombshells 33 DC Comics Bombshells #33 came out this week, the last issue of this volume of the characters and my last issue reading this. When this series started out, I was very impressed at writer Marguerite Bennetts ability to weave a very solid story about World War II and the arrival of super-women fighting the Nazis. The first year was fabulous. But since then, since the battle of London around issue 12, it has felt like the book has lost its way. There are a lot of ideas in this book but the stories havent read well. Its like those ideas havent gelled into a narrative. As a result, the book has been something of a mess. On top of that, there has been a bit too much cutesy dialogue recently ... something that I might have tolerated more of the story around it was stronger. And so this last issue wraps up the story. Bennett has brought a bunch of subplots together into a large battle in Russia. So Supergirls grief and Ravens familial issues and Loiss opti...

DC Superhero Girls Batnapped The first two seasons of the DC Superhero Girls video shorts seemed intent on introducing us to the characters and giving us an overall sense of this particular incarnation of the characters. I enjoyed this new universe for what it was, a fun look at the foibles of being a super-heroic high schooler. But with success and a following behind them, as well a couple of feature-length films and graphic novels behind them, it was time to take a step forward. The trailer for the third season makes it seem more like a long form story told in chapters as opposed to humorous one-offs. There are sentient Kryptonite chunks playing with the emotions of humanity. There is a Female Fury invasion. And what looks to be plenty of battles. The trailer really had a sort of Super Friends vibe to it. A last week, the first episode of the season dropped. Batnapped was a nice transition. We definitely get great fun with Batgirl, Supergirl, and Killer Moth!! And we get the seeds of...