Wolverine: Old Man Logan Hardcover Review

Wolverine: Old Man Logan
Marvel Comics
Oversized Hardcover
224 pages
$34.99
ISBN 9780785131595

Contributors: Mark Millar and Steve McNiven

Reprints: Wolverine (2003) #66-72; Giant-Size Old Man Logan #1

Synopsis: The day the villains united the heroes fell.  Most died, but Wolverine survived the tragic event although his spirit was forever broken.  The man Logan continues, but the Wolverine is no more.  He lives out his days as a pacifist farmer with his family.  Their meager plot of land is rented from the Hulk Gang -- the in-bred offspring of Bruce Banner and rulers of the West Coast.  The rent is due and the punishment for not paying is death.

In order to save his family and pay the rent Logan accompanies the now-blind archer Hawkeye across the desolate Amerika -- a land carved up and controlled by the villains.  Can a man sworn never to pop his claws in anger protect his family in this brutal world? 

Pros: McNiven's art is spectacular, Millar's story is brutal with some major twists (fate of the X-Men is particularly harsh), includes all variant covers and sketchbook

Cons: Plot was a little too simple (kind of like the Hulk Gang), what happened to Wolverine's slow aging?

Mike Tells It Straight:  I read this book in a single sitting and it was a page-turner.  Not ground-breaking, but Millar and McNiven create a compelling genre-fusion tale.  I love a good dystopian future (like Hulk: Future Imperfect) and this story delivers.  A couple plot points are suspect and there's a lot of suspended disbelief here, but they nail Wolverine's character and motivation.  It's a worthy entry into the Wolverine mythos although possibly too heavy for hardcore traditionalists. 

SNIKT!

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Booster Gold Vol. 1 52 Pick-Up Hardcover Review

Booster Gold Vol. 1 - 52 Pick-Up
DC Comics
Hardcover
160 pages
$24.99 (2008)
$14.99 (2009)
ISBN 9781401217877

Contributors: Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, and Art Adams

Reprints: Booster Gold (2007) #1-6

Synopsis: In the aftermath of 52 the multiverse is in peril from unstable time waves and only Booster Gold, the greatest hero you've never heard of, can save it!  Booster is just inches away from regaining membership in the Justice League of America when he is called back by Rip Hunter to protect the 'soft' spots in time.  Someone is attempting to exploit them and erase the greatest heroes of the Justice League before they can become heroes. 

Now Booster must travel through time ensuring specific events transpire and coming into contact (and mostly conflict) with several characters including Sinestro, Jonah Hex, the Silver Age Flashes, the Joker, and Batgirl.  His reward for repairing the time stream will be to save his best friend Ted Kord, the Blue Beetle, from being murdered by Maxwell Lord!

Pros: Great concept and nice continuation from 52 storyline, concept design sketches by creator Dan Jurgens

Cons: Dan Jurgens art is weak, story jumps around very quickly, keep Dan Katz away from comic writing

Mike Tells It Straight: Just like Booster Gold's character this book is mostly hype with little real substance.  It jumps around to a bunch of different times with a lot of guest stars, but just doesn't deliver a remarkable story.  I've never really liked Jurgens art style and it really doesn't impress me here.  The concept itself is really interesting and the story is enjoyable for its twists & turns.  I wouldn't recommend shelling out top dollar for this series and it's only for those fans who loved Booster's story from 52.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

World War III Review

World War III
DC Comics
Softcover Trade Paperback
128 pages
$17.99
ISBN 9781401215040

Contributors: Keith Champagne, Pat Olliffe, Andy Smith, John Ostrander, Tom Derenick, Norm Rapmund, Jack Jadson, Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid, Keith Giffen, J. G. Jones, and Justiniano

Reprints: World War III #1-4 (of 4); 52 #50

Synopsis: The Black Marvel Family is dead and Black Adam rages against the world.  His family was murdered through treachery and he follows one of the murderers to the tiny nation of Bialya subsequently killing the entire nation in a haze of bloodlust.  In the ruins of Bialya the Martian Manhunter confronts Adam and is resoundingly defeated.  Other heroes band together battling Adam across the globe as he leaves death and destruction in his wake.  Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman have been missing after the events of Infinite Crisis leaving the rest of the heroes to stop Adam's deadly rampage.  Can they accomplish the task without their three strongest members and who will be the casualties of this brutal war? 

Pros: Black Adam does some hardcore killing, writers kill off Teen Titan member Frankenstein (WTF is a teen Frankenstein doing on the Teen Titans!?), cover by J. G. Jones is awesome

Cons: Just like in 52 the revolving artist role can be distracting, some of the DCU storyline updates are confusing without any explanations

Mike Tells It Straight: WWIII fills in a lot of blanks on the rest of the DCU during the whole 52 storyline while expanding the conflict against Black Adam.  Two Teen Titans are killed, Checkmate's reformation continues, Aquaman/Sub-Diego are resolved/rebooted, and the Martian Manhunter gets a new direction.  You cannot read this series before reading 52 #1-49 or it will not have much impact.  Martian Manhunter is a particular focus of this story and you find out what changed him before his new series.  This series offers a nice, condensed recap of DCU events without having to read a bunch of different titles.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Batman: Manbat Review

Batman: Manbat
DC Comics
Softcover Trade Paperback
160 pages
$14.95
ISBN 9781563893209

Contributors: Jamie Delano and John Bolton

Reprints: Batman: Manbat #1-3 (of 3)

Synopsis: Marilyn Munro is a guerilla reporter for activist group "Video Witness" on a mission to expose Edencorp's corrupt animal testing.  She and partner Mac break into a facility in Northern Arizona bearing witness to horrific genetic experiments on helpless animals.  During the break-in Marilyn boosts a vial and subsequently becomes stranded in the desert after crash-landing her hyperlite.  She stumbles upon the lair of Kirk Langstrom, the Manbat and his family of half-bat/half-humans. 

Batman is called in to get the vial back before a deadly, man-made plague is released to destroy civilization.  The problem is Kirk Langstrom has been trying to create a new species of bat-people to inherit the Earth and the arrival of a plague to wipe out humanity is most fortuitous. 

Pros: Great story by Delano with a unique vision of Batman and Manbat, very nice painted artwork by Bolton

Cons: Art was a bit inconsistent at times

Mike Tells It Straight: I think Delano originally wrote a "continuity" Batman/Manbat tale, but his Batman was just different enough to prompt an Elseworlds label.  Batman does a few things which don't sit well with the reader 1) consorting with corporate and government officials who are obviously corrupt (granted it's to prevent the release of a plague) and 2) he kills someone in the story.  Despite that Delano's portrayal of Batman was really amusing along with Marilyn the environmentalist.  I loved how Delano painted them both as hypocrites by the end of the tale.  This book was enjoyable and probably the best Manbat story out there (that I've read).

TO BUY and Recommendations: