Code Monkeys Save World #1- "...I Will Get Our Savior."

After a smashing success on Kickstarter, Code Monkeys Save World debuts this week to the world. Based on the songs of Jonathan Coulton, writer Greg Pak and artist Takeshi Miyazawa deliver an action packed(no pun intended but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t laugh when I wrote that) tale of talking monkeys, evil geniuses, and invading robot aliens.

Charles is your everyday monkey trying to get through his 9 to 5 job and find love when alien robot invade to enslave members of the human race. I’ve been waiting for this comic for a while but unfortunately missed the Kickstarter deadline. This was definitely worth the wait. Pak brings a lot of comedic yet frustrating moments showing Charlie trying to go about life while people never let him forget he’s a monkey. We’ve all been through those days where it just goes on and on and while we try to get things done we just want the day end. That’s where Pak succeeds. He makes the main character 100% relatable even though he is a monkey.

Miyazawa does a fantastic job at drawing a character that you forget is human and don’t mind that you did. The expressions are spot on and never fall flat. His strongest moment comes during a sequence involving this Code Monkey doing what he does best to find the woman of his dreams. There was one thing that didn’t sit right with the coloring. The character Matilde seems to stand out in every panel she’s portrayed and doesn’t seem to mesh with her surroundings. But it’s a minor thing that has no effect on the quality of the book itself.

This is simply comics done right. It’s a simple premise with great execution. If you aren’t reading this, do yourself a favor and buy this issue.

Last Line...8.6/10

Superman/Wonder Woman #1- "We Have Nothing But Time."

Charles Soule, continuing on his quest to write every comic, and Tony S. Daniel, fresh off his arc on Action Comics, team up to tell this story of two of the world’s most powerful people trying to make things work in secret.

It’s been over a year since Superman and Wonder Woman met with the kiss heard ‘round the world and started a controversial relationship. Since then there have been less than a handful of issues actually dealing with that relationship. We’ve been told about their relationship and the effect it could have on the world, but we’ve yet to actually see any of it in action. Superman/Wonder Woman is the beginning of the first full attempt to show us these two characters belong with each other.

A book of this nature is a bit trickier than your run of the mill team book, such as Justice League. Focus isn’t shifted from one person to the other over the course of an issue, or even an arc. These two larger than life characters demand equal focus and time. Charles Soule manages to accomplish this well by splitting the issue into two very different sequences. One sees the action and all of its godlike feats, while the other seems smaller and intimate. In that latter setting, Soule shows the concern and respect for each other.

Tony S. Daniel does an outstanding job at showing off the strength and abilities of these characters in the action sequences. However, some of the quieter moments don’t fare at well. Some of the more subtle facial expressions that should be there, especially in a few tender exchanges between Diana and Clark, are missing.

Superman/Wonder Woman #1 is a great first issue that takes DC’s power couple and elaborates on their relationship in a way sure to win over ever the biggest of naysayers in the issues to come.

Last Line…8.1/10

Swamp Thing #16-“…I Give to You Abigail Arcane!”

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

One more issue of Swamp Thing has come out which puts us one step closer to the end of Scott Snyder’s glorious run on this series. I dread the day when the Jowled Avenger will no longer be written by Snyder.

This is the last entry in the Rotworld crossover before he is meant to reunite with Animal Man to take down the Big Bad Wolf, and it’s scope makes it apparent. Swampy’s goal is to find the white haired love of his life and the insertion of the Abigail scenes are perfectly time to bring an end to the issue that can only let your mouth hang open. The best scenes come from the Gotham-centric moments that allow Snyder to play with aspects of Gotham that he would otherwise not be able to use in his Batman book. There is a sense of fun from his letting loose. A particular moment comes from Swampy utilizing a device from Batman’s luche libre foe that makes you want to shout “hell yes.”

Yanick Paquette brings his A-game this issue, especially in a double page involving Abigail. Everything works perfectly, from his layouts to his action sequences. He is on top of his game in the creepy department with decayed flesh and other variation upon thereof. The one aspect I love the most that was missing from the issue were the tree branch panel breaks. While they are still there, albeit rotted, it’s still a much missed aspect.

Swamp Thing #16 is an action packed plate of Gotham City that serves up a satisfying appetizer to the giant conclusion.

Last Line…8.5/10

The Superior Spider-Man #1- “…When You Cross This Spider-Man!”

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD***

It’s finally here. The first issue of the new Spider-Man series where Peter Parker isn’t Spider-Man. Sort of. With the revelation that occurred within the last arc of Amazing Spider-Man, the concept of this series made me very excited, and it delivered.

While it seemed odd that Dan Slott was kept on the character he has been writing for so long while everyone else at Marvel was moved to other projects as a part of the NOW initiative, I’m glad to have him on this book. The arrogance he portrays Otto as having in his Spider-Man guise sets the tone of the book. He is out to be a better Spider-Man than Peter Parker ever was, in terms of besting his opponents instead of a moral high ground. There are a few problems with the plot. Otto going after Mary Jane comes off as very creepy, like he is going after a plaything instead of a woman. For those of you who have read comics for a long time and are accustomed to the aftereffects of a character’s death, this is the worst case scenario.

The art done by Ryan Stegman is a much appreciated aspect of this new series. While his panel structure is very simple, cutting the page into thirds, the action sequences come off great and do an effective job at telling a story. The end action sequence against a new Sinister Six comes specifically to mind.

Super Spider-Man #1 is a good first entry in a new series despite the controversy surrounding it.

Last Line…7/10

Green Lantern: New Guardians Annual #1-“We Now Return You To Reality As You Perceive It.”

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

I should say New Guardians is a series I enjoy very much. Seeing members of all the Lantern Corps working together sends shivers down my spine. They’re the Avengers of the Emotional Spectrum. No. Wait. That should probably say Justice League. Anyway. I have fun reading this month in and month out. This however, did not live up to what I had come to expect.

Stepping in for writing duties on this annual is Keith Giffen. To make a long story short, the dialogue is flat and repetitive. The entire plot involves Carol Ferris, Arkillo, and Saint Walker traveling to ask the Lady Styx to intervene in the actions of the Guardians. His writing starts as the beginning of a heist movie to get Carol to a meeting, but it seems to hit all of the standard beats of the set up with none of the fun of the pay off from such a movie.

On art is Scott Kolins. His cartoony style is pleasant and works most of the time. Where it fails to get any traction is during action scenes. In a series where action and fighting coming every few pages, it can be a problem. They seem to be rushed and the final product suffers for it. The structure of the issue also sets back its success. The panels seem cluttered and chaotic.

The biggest issue I had with this Annual that instead of telling it’s own story, or pushing forward the event the series is currently in the middle of, it uses it’s pages to set up a brand new comic coming in DC’s next wave. The story focuses on the set up while ignoring the story it should be telling.

While New Guardians has been a fun roller coaster ride so far, the Annual makes it stop unexpectedly upside down at the top of the big loop.

Last Line…4/10