To start with I have Sonic the Hedgehog 252. I picked this up to push me over the minimum for the punch card at the store. That being said, it wasn't a waste of money at all. It serves as a transition to the next storyline, "Countdown to Chaos" and has Sonic and Tails being confused about what's going on and how they got back. Their confusion mimics the reader's making this certainly an interesting read. 3 out of 5.
Next up we've got Thor: God of Thunder 12. This is another transition issue. After the Gorr story, the three Thors return to Earth. There are a lot of great moments in this book: A bartender readying 2 barrels of mead when he here's the thunder of Thor approaching, when Thor the Avenger visits Jane Foster to find out she has cancer. He also meets Rosalind Solomon when he accepts her Youtube invitation to the S.H.I.E.L.D. ball and joins her in Antarctica to investigate a whale graveyard. The young Thor visits Earth to find the wenches and mead he seeks and the all-father Thor visits the remains of our world. Solid issue and promises good things. 3 out of 5.
Now let's jump over to Image for Lazarus 2 and 3. After discovering that a few of his children are behind the previous attack. He sends Forever to rendezvous with the Morray Family to discuss the attack and a truce. Meanwhile Johanna and Jonah are plotting to start a war by killing Forever when she gets back to Carlyle territory. Once again, this book is excellent. It's hinting at an all out gang war which I'm super excited about. Collectively gets a 7 out of 10.
Next up we'll jump over to Marvel for the Battle of the Atom crossover in the X-Men books. I've got the first three parts in X-Men: Battle of the Atom 1, All New X-Men 16, and X-Men 5 It's a pretty cliche hero vs hero story, but they added a twist. It involves three different teams from three different eras. It's a really neat story that thoroughly explores the differences between the characters and their past/future selves. While the story isn't super clear yet, I'm hopeful that it will continue to be innovative and clever, and with Bendis at the helm? I'm not too worried. More on that later. All-in-all it's an average of 4 out of 5.
Next up we have Justice League 23. This is the end of the Trinity War story. It was pretty good. I was all for it until the last bit where it reveals that it's more of a prelude to the Forever Evil story. 3 out of 5. As a prelude it's up to a 4 out of 5. Now for Forever Evil 1. The actual prelude to this story, this follows the Crime Syndicate as they've taken over the world, the heroes are nowhere to be found, which brings us to Villains Month where the villains take over the books from the heroes. It's a decent book, waiting for it to pick up and get into the story. 4 out of 5.
For the villains month books we've got Count Vertigo taking over Green Arrow, and Deadshot and Killer Frost taking over Justice League of America. Count Vertigo is a great back story to the villain who's been present recently in the Green Arrow book. It's not the most original story as he was abused and tormented by his peers after being abandoned by his mother, whom he eventually gets revenge on. He ends up getting on a helicopter to head to Seattle. 4 out of 5.
The Deadshot issue is another flashback introduction to the gun for hire Floyd Lawton who watched his parents get killed. This issue shows him getting revenge on the man who hired the pair that kills his parents. It's a decent issue and makes him a pretty cool character. 3.5 out of 5.
Killer Frost is yet another origin issue. This one is the most unique and almost the darkest. It's well written and after reading her origin in the 80s Firestorm series, I think it's one of the best updated origins of any character in the New 52. I just wish we were able to explore her story and relationship with Firestorm more.
So that's it for books this week. There was a signing this week at the local shop where I got to meet Dave Beaty and get a print from him of his inks on Brightest Day Issue 6.
Also new cards of his work that just came out:
I also got a signed version of Brian Augustyn's Gotham by Gaslight:
