Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 "Clover Comics Gazette" comic book reviews!

Hello and welcome back to the desk of
 "The Clover Comics Gazette"
this is Dustin your main writer wishing everyone a happy "New Comic Book Day" it was an amazing N.C.B.D. this week and I have my five pull-list books to share with you today! Thanks so much to everyone for reading and viewing my youtube videos, very nice to see views and comments for all of my hard work. Enjoy!



"Superman / Batman" #72
Writen By: Paul Levitz
Artist: Jerry Ordway
Cover By: Fabrizio Fiorentino

Preview:
With Superman out saving the world Bruce is left to try to pull Clark Kent's main squeeze out of the fire. Superman may feel responsible foro saving the whole Universe, but will that desire destroy Superman/Clark Kent's reason to l,ive? Lex Luther is up to his old tricks again and a group of monks just may reenact the "Salem Witch Trials" with Lois.

Review:
Review: This book for me is a pull list drop; I've finally decided to do it. The story by Levitz and illustrations by Fabrizio are well done, unfortunately for me this book has gone too far away from the Dark Knight and made Superman the main event. The stories are too focused on Superman and make Batman look like a side kick. If Superman is your favorite this is the right series for you, but if you like living in Gotham then don't bother!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

2 out of 5!

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"Batman: Streets of Gotham" #12
Written By: Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen, and Derek Fridoffs
Illustrated by: Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridoffs

Preview:
 Batman becomes a side not as a tale is wound around "The Carpenter" a young lady who designs secret hideouts for all the most shady of Gotham. Mysterious antagonist, The Broker, has plans to have the carpenter create elaborate traps and video surveillance to record the death of heroes, but she may be designing her own fate as well. Among other things does Damian actually have a heart for the person who saved his life?

Review:
We have two well known creators working on the year anniversary monthly of this fairly new Batman series. With Dini and Nguyen working on both sides of the playing field this story would be hard pressed to fail. Add in the proposition that the namesake, Batman, barely makes a cover appearance and the story still stands up. Stories like this is something only legendary creators can pull off! Can't wait to get the final part of this. Go grab it NOW!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

4 out of 5!



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"Azrael" #8
Written By Fabian Nicieza
Illustrated by: Ramon Bachs and John Stanisci

Preview:
Michael Lane might not have know it at the time, but his faith at an early age, coupled with a trip to the Gotham City Museum of Natural History foretells his future as Azrael. Cryptic messages and a guiding hand from a "White Ghost" weave a "Divinci Code" esque store which leads you to believe that Michael's "Faith" may be the sin that dooms Azrael.

Review:
This book for me is one of my favorites, it definitely has a lot of critics and I think that helps me appreciate it even more for what it is. For only being 8 issues old the story is well developed and intriguing. Though a character I knew very little of from his connection to the Batman Universe, this storyline is in depth but simple to under stand. Great book, great time to jump on board!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

4 out of 5!

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"Zatanna" #1
Written By: Paul Dini
Cover By: Stephane Roux

Preview:
Zatanna #1 follows the journey of "Stage Magician Zatanna" to the Zatanna who deals with things beyond the scope of reality. A friendly cop who is in way over his head will need the help of Zatanna to have any hope of finding the responsible parties for a mass murder. Brother Night has been shut down by Zatanna, so it may take some digging to get far enough into the underworld to find help!

Review:
Paul Dini again outdoes himself with this first issue of Zatanna and it's so nice of him to swing for the fence. Stephane Roux illustrates Zatanna perfectly and tastefully to complimen tthe background images. The story itself reminds me of "Charmed" where you have the supernatural character linked to a mortal who is left to explain situations that the truth can not reveal. Couldn't ask for anything more from a number one! Go Grab This, great series ahead, all aboard!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

5 out of 5!

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PICK OF THE WEEK!

"The Walking Dead" #72
written by: Robert Kirkman

Preview:
The crew is finally starting to let their guard down in this new found paradise. However, Carl doesn't seem as keen, even as a boy, to let his guard down. Going back to normal life may be easier for some then others and the new sheriff in town might not be as excited about letting his guard down as he is making people think. Too good to be true is usually way too good especially dealing with "The Walking Dead".

Review:
As promised a month ago in "Walking Dead" #71 the group at Image is back on schedule. This book being the only non-DC book I'm reading at the moment it is refreshing take to the huge budget of any Marvel or DC comic. The writers, illustrators, and editors make it easy to realize why this book is so popular. It feels like all of the work is done just for the fans and like the crew is your friend and not your bookie. Along with a surpise mention of the new AMC orginal for "Walking Dead" due out sometime this year. The book tells a great indepth story even without slamming each page with a mass amount of text. This book is amazing, definitely one of my top three favorite titles!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

5 out of 5!


Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my blog and check out my videos! If you would like to write a guest blog, debate my scores, or inform me about a comic I should be reading please email me CloverComicsGazette@hotmail.com, Twitter @CCGNerds, or Facebook CCGNerdNews.



My Video Reviews for this week, GO SUBSCRIBE NOW....Please!

Also this is the second week of doing video reviews so please stop by my Youtube page www.youtube.com/CloverComicsGazette!

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From the desk of:

"The Clover Comics Gazette"

this is:

"The Boy Wonder" - Dj UnderPressure
signing off!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

"The Clover Comics Gazette" Comic Book Reviews for May 12, 2010! "Return of Bruce Wayne"


Hello everyone and welcome back to "The Clover Comics Gazette" my name is Dustin aka "The Boy Wonder" - DJ Under Pressure and I will be reviewing six books for you this week. Great week for DC and finally "The Return of Bruce Wayne"!

"The Clover Comics Gazette" video reviews #1
Subscribe to my channel on CloverComicsGazetteVideo!




"First Wave" #2
Written By: Brian Azzarello
Illustrated by: Rags Morales

Preview:
The Golden Tree bears bitter fruit! The Blackhawks are after The Spirit. Doc Savage is after the Blackhawks. Anton Colossi is after William "Johnny" Littlejohn. And only Rima, the eyes of the jungle, knows what the heroes do not: something glorious and terrible has risen in the darkest corner of Hida`lgo!

Review:
Brian Azzarello as the writer along with Rags Morales are able to move forward with this new series in it's second of six parts. In #2 you see the first appearance of "The Caped Crusader" which was a big hit for me. The story needs so much background information that it is taking a few issues to get the ball rolling fast. For a second part it adds to the base that #1 started and hopefully will pick up from here!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

3 out of 5


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"The Flash" #2
Written by: Geoff Johns
Illustrated by: Francis Manupul w/Joel Gomez

Preview:
The rogues are back in time to arrest "The Flash" for a murder that, the rogues, imply he is yet to commit. The Rogues from the future claim to be heroes, while the Rogues from the present are assisting Captain Boomerang with another escape from jail. It seems that when it rains it pours with Flash a criminal in the future and Barry Allen seemingly framed for murder in the present, the only direction from where Barry/Flash can go from here is up!

Review:
As a rule I don't read comics with heroes that have powers, however Geoff Johns proves his legend by writing for Flash and Barry Allen, making him feel more human to me. The story art by Manupul is as detailed as simple can be and the art doesn't feel forced. This books provide a lost art of the illustrations assisting a stand alone great title just from the writing. I would say if you haven't read the Flash now would be a great time to start. Go pick up number one, get the free flash ring, and then grab number two. Both are easy, great, informative stories.

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

4 out of 5
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"Batgirl" #10
Written By: Bryan Q Miller
Cover By: Stanley Lau

Preview:
Our new Batgirl and former Batgirl, the Oracle, have found themselves painted in a corner against "The Calculator". The Calculator knows the face of the Oracle and her protecting his daughter only fuels his fire to destroy her. Using technology to turn everyone into zombies the Calculater is adding up to be a fierce adversary.

Review:
No secret that this is one of my favorite books out right now! The writing has been stellar and fresh along with the covers by Stanley Lau this book is working hard to stay on everyone's pull list. The connection of Stephanie Brown and Barbara Gordon is a constant passing of the torch that is not often seen between present and former heroes. Bryan Miller's writing still is extremely witty without taking away the tension of danger, which I feel is the only true way to write a Batman book. I think this story is getting stronger by the months and holds its own in a week where DC has all of their guns blazing. Pick this one up!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

4 out of 5

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"Batman" #699
Written and Cover Art by: Tony Daniel
Illustrated by: Guillem March

Preview:
The Riddler, Firefly, and Mr. Blackspell weave a tail of numerous ends to the same story. Did the Riddler pull the wool over Batman's eyes and who would want both Batman and his adversaries dead? Gotta read to find out!

Review:
Tony Allen delivers once again as he writes and cover arts a story that feels like it's straight out of a Detective Comic from the 50s. I found myself as confused as Batman with no idea who to truly point the finger at. The art by Guillem March is so well done again, I don't feel let down by the fact that Tony Daniel didn't do the story art.

The use of Arkham Asylum as if it were an actual living being provides an almost live theater effect to the book. Along with great backstory for Firefly and a mystery that feels as if it is just getting started this book is amazing and probably on any other given week would be my top pick. This is a must buy!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

5 out of 5

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"Brightest Day:" "Birds of Prey" #1
Written by: Gail Simone
Illustrated by: Ed Benes

Preview:
The birds are back and a new enemy will stop at nothing to bring them all together and take them out in one swoop. The bases are all covered with Black Canary, Huntress, Hawk, Dove, and even a flightless Batman nemesis makes an appearance. This new enemy is revealed but, why does she want the birds defeated and who is she? Only time will tell!

Review:
For me it feels like in the DC Universe does an amazing job at servicing the fans by taking a known group and making them new again. This is helped greatly by writer Gail Simone with the addition of a new enemy that, with alot of DC characters, can only mean a long detailed back story.

Ed Benes does an incredible job of drawing all of the bombshells in a single book while giving each one their moment in the spotlight. So happy to see this series back cause it gives me hope that eventually both NightWing and Robin with regain their own series. This being the #1 I would say go grab it now, I love number 1s, it feels great to start at the beginning! Add this to your pull list today!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

4 out of 5

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Pick Of The Week:


Is:
Wait for it..............NOW!



"Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne" #1
Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciller: Chris Sprouse
Cover: Chris Sprouse and Andy Kubert

Preview:
Guess who is back.........................?
For the first time in months the fog has moved aside and all the assumptions and guesses, for the readers anyway, are fulfilled. The Batman is stuck in time! Caveman days find Bruce reveared by some as a God and by others a creation that can only be an enemy. Does Bruce know where, how, why, when he is? With some of the Justice League following his trail of breadcrumbs what will happen next? Til number 2 we are all in the dark!

Review:
All I can really say is THE BAT IS BACK! Man it feels like forever since I've seen the true lord of the cowl, but I know we are far away from the end of the tunnel and the mantle of the Bat back to its true owner. Grant Morrison is amazing in this story it's witty and throw funny references to the Bat Universe that make you laugh just enough to take the edge off the story. Alot of amazing artists used in this book so far; including partial cover art by Andy Kubert. I hope this collaboration between many minds continues to help convey Morrison's epic like resurrection of Bruce Wayne.

Two variant covers are offered for this book one being a 1/35 and the other being a 1/200 I would say get the 1/200 CGC it and hold on to it. Story is epic and just counting the days til the next one, the return hasn't disappointed me one bit!

"Clover Comics Gazette"
gives "The Pick of the Week" an easy

5 out of 5

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Wow what an epic week in the DC Universe, completely exhausted from all the greatness bestowed upon me. I think everything is falling in to place for a knock down drag out brawl between the cities of Gotham and Star and I love a competition!

If you would like to write a guest blog, debate my reviews, or tell me all about a new book I have to start reading please email me CloverComicsGazette@hotmail.com, Twitter @CCGNerdNews, or on Facebook CCGNerdNews.

Also please stop by my Youtube page CloverComicsGazetteVideo and check out my video reviews, news, and everything else for the nerdy side of Pop Culture.

Thanks so much for reading and I will see you next week!

From the desk of:

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
this is:

"The Boy Wonder" - DJ Under Pressure

Signing OFF!

P.S. To find a comic book store in your area please click: Comic Store Locator!




















Wednesday, May 5, 2010

"The Clover Comics Gazette" comic book reviews for Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Hello everyone and welcome back to a new week of comic book reviews coming to you from "The Clover Comics Gazette"! First of all I will address the fact that there were no reviews for last week. All I can say is that I apologize to any readers and mistakes on my part created consequences that prohibited me from posting my reviews. Now I would love to correct that and do last weeks reviews this week; however in a "Nerd's World" the attention span is only long enough to hold until the next cool thing comes along! So with that said let's go ahead and jump head-long into this weeks reviews!


"Batman: Confidential" #44
Written by: Kevin Vanhook
Art and Cover by: Tom Mandrake

Preview:
In this first part of "Batman Vs. The Undead" Batman finds himself in "The Big Easy" for business, unfortunately business does not always turn in to pleasure. In a area steeped in tradition for "Voodoo" Batman might need the help of an "Undead" to fight the threat of a Voodoo spell that is bringing the dead to life.

Review:
This book for me has been a struggle to read each month, which you can definitely see in the last few reviews for this book, luckily a new team of writers and illustrators just may save this comic from being executed from my pull list! A story by Kevin Vanhook which removes the always present character of "Gotham City" by uprooting and moving to an actual city, New Orleans, and setting Batman out of his element. With Tom Mandrake doing both the cover and the story art; the combination of writer and artist make this series fun again.

The story centered around the "Voodoo" culture and the undead is a welcome fresh fiction story that grips you right away and drags you through the comic wanting more pages at the end. First in a new story line, new life from new professionals, and a great story puts me back on the "Batman Confidential" band wagon.

Pick this one up today!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
happily gives it:

4 out of 5 Stars!

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"JSA: All-Stars" #6
Written by: Matthew Sturges
Art and Cover by: Freddie E. Williams II

Preview: 
A spell from the unknown sorceress back fires and brings the evil of another planet to the "JSA". A seemingly already defeated foe returns and a betrayal at "Star Girls" expense could lead to all of their demise.

Review:
This is the conclusion of the "Constellations" story-arc and this ending does not disappoint. The story by Matthew Sturges with art by Freddie E. Williams II bring an exciting end to a title, JSA Allstars, which is only six issues old. The story blends multiple stories together and shifts them in line with one another at the perfect time. Tons of DC heroes drawn perfectly by Williams and jump off of the page. Everything about this book is a page turner and I'm super excited to see what is coming in #7.

Go get this book today and while your at it grab the first six as well!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

4 out of 5 Stars!


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"Red Robin" #12
Written By: Christopher Yost
Art & Cover by: Marcus To and Ray McCarthy

Preview:
The last time we saw the "Red Robin" he had realized that "Rhas al Ghul" had his sights set on anyone, directly or indirectly, connected to Tim Drake. This in turn leads to a confrontation between the hero and villain which could end in disaster. Will his friends be saved, can he save himself, what are Rhas' big goals for the Red Robin, and where is Bruce?

Review:
Wow it is incredible to see that "Red Robin" is already a year old this month. Twelve awesome volumes that are able to connect and not imitate the partner books of "Batman and Robin" and "Batgirl". The combination of To and McCarthy have outdone themselves with another great cover. I am always a huge fan of heroes in trouble on the cover. Rhas al Ghul and Tim Drake make perfect writing gold for Chris Yost and raise questions in my mind that makes me want to learn more. This book is a stand alone sensation that raises as many questions as an episode of "Lost", but gives you just enough to keep you running to the newstand to find out what's next. Definitely a buy this week and the first 11 are worth a look as well!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

5 out of 5 Stars!



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PICK OF THE WEEK!


"Batman and Robin" #12
Written by: Grant Morrison
Art & Cover by: Andy Clarke, Scott Hanna, Dustin Nguyen, Alex Sinclair, Patrick Brosseau, and Frank Quitely

Preview:
Last time we saw our heroes Damian under mind control was trying to take out Dick Grayson! Damian being the catalyst of a war between his mother and Dick Grayson: could blow up in both Batman and Robin's faces. Is Bruce really trapped in the past and who is the mystery man that has been helping Batman and Robin, all is revealed in this year anniversary of  "Batman and Robin" appropriately titled "Batman VS. Robin!

Review:
For part three of a story arc and the year anniversary of this book out of the shadows clears my decision to say that this book is amazing. Grant Morrison has an amazing writing style for this book and he makes it feel just like old "silver age" style detective mysteries that feeds the story without overbearing the action. Also the use of so many different comic professionals working on the same story I feel can only raise competition between employees and fans of the series reap the benefits. This book is everything I love about comic books, third part in the story, so go pick them all up right now,  you will not be disappointed!

"The Clover Comics Gazette"
gives it:

5 out of 5 Stars





Big thank you to everyone who has taken the time to stop by and read my reviews. I'm definitely working extremely hard and I would love to hear what everyone thinks in a constructive manner!

If you would like to debate my reivews, guest blog, or suggest a blog topic please email me: CloverComicsGazette@hotmail.com, follow me on Twitter @CCGNerdNews, or "like" my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CCGNerdNews!

Also a couple of big news things that will be happening at "The Clover Comics Gazette"!! First of all we now have a Youtube account and you can find us at: www.Youtube.com/CloverComicsGazette! Then construction is about to begin on "The Clover Comics Gazette" website: COMING IN JUNE! Finally, hopefully starting next week "The Clover Comics Gazette" will be doing a video blog along with the written reviews! So big things coming up this summer from "The Clover Comics Gazette" and we are working non-stop to bring you all the "Nerd" news you need to know!

From the desk of:
"The Clover Comics Gazette"
this is:

"The Boy Wonder" - DJ Under Pressure
signing off!

P.S. Find a comic book store in your area by visiting: www.ComicShopLocator.com