Wytches Be Like...

Pledged is Pledged...

And that's a wrap on the first chapter of Wytches from Scott Synder and Jock, a tale of a family trying to survive and escape a dark curse of sorts. And after 6 issues of cliff hangers and jaw dropping moments after another, I've got to say Wytches #6 really does a hell of a job wrapping it all up and at the same time leaving you ready for more, the story will continue and I can't wait to see where it will go next. From the first issue, Wytches was able to create a sense of horror and mystery, the stories main characters were also good people you wanted to see get out of all of this alive. in Charlie, you see the struggle of a father who is trying to do best for his daughters and you see Sailor, a kid trying to make sense of everything that is going on. But you get the feeling of family, you see how together they are able to overcome any challenge in the past. But unfortunately for the Rook family, this challenge has tons of sharp teeth and is hungry. And once you are pledged, you are marked until they get you. So what can you do to escape an inescapable fate? We see that here in this issue and plenty more, so let's get to it, we are looking at Wytches #6 from Image comics.

So in the final chapter of this first arc, I felt that we do get some answer to a lot of the questions from the previous issues and a few unanswered ones as well, which is good though, we need reasons to come back for issue 7. There was a very cool book end effect with one of the first scenes from issue #1, that was actually really well done because I had no idea that the scene was going to important, I thought it was showing the viciousness of the wytches. Well it did do that as well, a two for one if you will. This is just an example of all the things done right in Wytches, every issue has been solid in writing and in the art department, being able to take a unique story and bring it to life like this should be the goal of all comic book creators. Synder creates a scenario that is horrifying and scary but doesn't feel over the top or ridiculous. The fear is real enough like a good urban legend, the kind of stories that really mess with your head, are there really creatures waiting to eat me in the woods? Maybe or maybe it's all in your head. And with Jock, his art is able to convey the same feelings of fear and the unknown. Some pages look like a drawn out nightmare and they look incredible, Jock has an undeniable style that his own and it works perfectly for this story. These two have made an incredible run so far and I hope they continue on until the story is finished. 

This is a highly recommended title for all horror comic book fans and even those who are just looking for something new to read. What I love most about Wytches in general is that it has a very Silent Hill feel to it, a psychological horror if you will. And I don't know about you guys, but that is probably my favourite kind of horror. So I highly suggest everyone gives this book and series a read as soon as you can, I have heard they are going to make a TV series based on Wytches, which I hope is on the ball and as good as the book. Unless you are a little kid or don't like scary things at all, I see no reason why you shouldn't be reading Wytches.

But I ask, have you guys read Wytches? And if so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments below or send me a message over on Twitter (@ChileanStorm) and let's talk some Wytches. I had a pretty bad start of my week, I think I got food poisoning or a flu or both, not to mention my whole body felt like dry broken bones, so I am trying to change things up in my life, cutting back on the junk food and going to bed early to get 8 hours of sleep. Also got to get more active and moving more and what not. And you should as well. Take it from me, I am 28 and just some days ago I felt like I was 45, I was sore and hurt all over. So please take care of yourselves. You are important. But that's all the time I have for now, plenty more comic books to catch up with and share with all of you lovely little storm clouds. Until then, keep chasing the storm! 

The Torment Legacy

You know what book I had not read in ages, for like the longest time, Todd McFarlane's Spider-man. And don't sit there like you don't know what book I am talking about, this is without a shadow of a doubt one the most famous comic books of all time. Is that an exaggeration? Not really, the success of this book, along with Liefeld (X-Force) and Lee (X-Men), they were able to change the comic book industry as we know it today. If you haven't seen the Image Comics documentary, it is an absolute must watch, even if you aren't that into comics, go and watch as soon as you can. That being said, I found this book in my collection and decided to give it a read again, see what it was all about. I remember hearing a lot of negative comments about this story, Torment, a story with Spider-man taking on The Lizard in a very gritty fashion. But I wonder, why can't Spider-man be gritty? I mean his enemies want to kill him, not slap him on the wrist. His first love was killed by a psychopath in a goblin suit, he then sold his marriage to the devil. How is Spider-man free from the gritty? While I see that tons and tons of kids love him and that's great, but kids also love Batman. And Batman is the undisputed king of grit. While I don't suggest every superhero go down the path of the Dark Knight, I do want to say that if you can do it right, all power to you. Spider-man Reign gets slammed so much by critics and fans, but I thought it was an incredible story with some of the greatest Spidey moments I have ever seen. If busting out of a coffin in the classic red and blue tights doesn't get your comic book blood pumping, nothing will. And so, if this is going to be a dark trip into the world of the friendly neighbourhood Spider-man, well so be it. And with that, let's take a look at Todd McFarlane's classic, from Marvel comics Spider-man issue 1. 

Can we at least all agree this is the best looking Spider-man cover of all time though? It is absolutely iconic and eye popping, all those webs and spiders crawling all about and the hero right there in the middle of it all, looking better then ever. And yes back in the 90's there was a crazy trend that everything was going to be a collectors item in time and yes this cover had a couple of different styles, like the gold one or the black and white one. But still, this image is so incredible you can't be mad. How many fans have created fan art based on this cover? This has got to be a requested commission recreation on sketch covers at conventions for sure. Not to mention the amount of times the pose has been used for other books, it was even used later on a Spawn cover as well. But yeah, I love it. When I think Spider-man, I think of this cover.

Okay, so the actual book and all.  

Well while I admit it isn't the deepest piece of literature I have read, after going through it, I don't think it needs to be. Now keep in mind, McFarlane wrote and drew this book. But clearly he is an artist first, writer second. But he does have some good ideas and does a different take on this classic hero, this is a Todd McFarlane Spider-man for sure. And of all the villains he could have picked, he made a really interesting one with The Lizard. For the longest time, Lizard would crawl about and attack people but not really do too much damage, and you felt sympathetic for this character. After all, Doctor Connors isn't able to control his alter ego. But here we get a violent, hungry and gory Lizard, and it's pretty cool. So the while the writing does leave more to be desired, the ideas are really good and thanks to the art, ideas may be enough. The art in this book looks absolutely stunning, this was done well over 20 years ago and still looks as good as anything being done today. Say what you will about the man, you can't deny the absolute talent he has. The details in the webs, the way Spider-man moves through the city sky, even the look of all the people in New York, everything is brought to life in a way only a comic book can do. I highly urge to look through this book and tell me what you think, take in all the lines and all the action going on in each panel and tell me you don't see how an artist was able to change the comic book world. Spider-man will always be a cornerstone to the legacy of McFarlane and comic books as a whole. 

Is this book getting a pass to gold on it's art alone? Yeah I would say so. But also on how it change the game forever. You have to remember, Marvel doesn't just let anyone work on a Spider-man book, let alone write and draw one, unheard of. So this will probably be something we may never see again. But look, this is just what I think, it goes without saying that you can only take it for what it is, nothing is absolute. So what do you think about this issue? Do you see more warts and flaws, things I missed. Leave a comment below and let's talk comics. Well that's all I've got for today, going out to Brampton tomorrow, going to be doing a show for Pride Week over at Stadium Comics! Check out the details, here! And if you get a chance come down and get some art from me and Toby! That's right the worst guys will be there, so don't miss out. I should try to get some sleep now, until then guys keep chasing the storm!  

The Great Scott Avengers...

Okay that was a really bad title, but I swear it does relate to what goes down in this comic that I am looking at today. It was either that or "That Time Iron Man was Turned into a Naked Killer Robot Lady". You know we all have that one that got away, an idea that at the time might have been awesome, especially if everyone was passing around some green and/or booze was involved, but once done and finished is actually a pretty terrible idea. Kevin Smith did it with Tusk, and I have to say Brain Michael Bendis would probably want to take this one back. Or not, he makes millions, so f*ck you. I have to believe anyone who makes boat loads of money today can look back and not really care about past mistakes or flops along the way. But if I am wrong, that would totally be cool. (After all, Mark Wahlberg knows The Happening was awful) Regardless, I can't help but feel like this arc in The Mighty Avengers is one that most comic book fans want to bury and forget about for sometime. And here I come like a grave digging jerk face to bring it back into the light and talk about it. A book with a new team of heroes after a massive world event like Civil War against a classic Avengers foe like Ultron, how can you mess that up? And is it really that bad? Even a strange plot can have some great moments and is worth another look. So with that said, let's take a look at The Mighty Avengers issue 2 from Marvel comics.  

From the creative team of Brain Michael Bendis and artist Frank Cho, we get a new team of Avengers. Though some may call them the "sell-outs" Avengers team, this is the team that sided with Iron Man during Civil War, the other team of cool kid "rebels" Avengers became the New Avengers. This is still a very strong powerhouse team, led by Ms.Marvel, with Iron Man, Wasp, Black Widow, Wonder Man, Sentry and Ares. You would think this team could handle practically anything, and then Iron Man gets turned into a naked robot chick who looks exactly like Wasp...because creepy. Yeah, that goes down in issue 1 and issue 2 picks up right there, Mole Man and his critters are also there but they run away pretty quickly as soon as the shit hits the fan. We see a bunch of flashbacks to the recruitment of most of the team members, except Ares, who actually is probably the most curious one of them all, being a God and all that. And the team is trying deal with the now naked lady Iron Man villain that they are trying to take down and figure out what the waffle is going on. Though Janet has an idea about what they might be dealing with, it becomes clear by the end of the book. But we get to see plenty of Avengers tossing about and being thrown all over the place, good times. 

So let me make one thing clear here, Bendis and Cho are very talented individuals, that really goes without saying. And who could say otherwise, unless your Joe Quesada or Jim Lee, you don't really have a platform to dump on anyone making money in the industry. Anyone who makes it, is there for a reason. That being said, do I feel like this book and this particular arc is pretty weak all things considered. While some really interesting stories were going on in New Avengers, which Bendis was handling at the time and planting seeds for Secret Invasion, this feels like it needs to be strange for the sake of being strange. Can you just have Ultron come back and wreck some havoc, just like that. Sure, why not? I know you always need to up the ante, but this just comes as a little forced. Shock for the sake of shock, no substance. And comics do this all the time to stir the pot, I get that. But after the shock is gone all that is left are feelings of embarrassment and sadness. These are the books that become ghost stories of stupidity, like no one would actually do that in a comic...would they? Yeah, they would. Could this same story have been done properly? I think so. This Ultron here feels like a killer sex alien. Instead you could've had the bad robotic villain waking up as Janet and believing that it is Janet, not Ultron. A sleeper agent, a wolf in sheep's clothing. You work an angle of mistrust and confusion in the team, and have them conquer Ultron and grow as a team overall, especially if this is the first challenge for The Mighty Avengers. Just an idea, but you get the point. 

This is one of those if you happen to find it at a good price, check it out, but you know be warned. But if you are a pretty new to comics, you'll probably want to read something that isn't so bizarre. This is the comic book your librarian warned you about. 

And just like that, another book reviewed and gone. Feels good to be writing again, had to get that out of my system. There is actually a lot I want to talk about recently, been going to therapy and been looking around for a new job, all the while doing my best to bust out as much art work as possible while trying to learn more and more art techniques. Not to mention the constant feeling that life and most people are leaving you behind, not a great feeling. But you know what, I am here now and I am going to do my best to bust out as much work as I can. It's the only thing I can do, so let's shoot the shit and talk some comics. Let me know what you thought about this issue and this run of Mighty Avengers. Are you a fan or did you hate it? Let me know in the comments below. Going to try and write something up more and more, but I might do some more personal ones, trying to make sense of it all and what not. But the Storm is back, so as I said before, stay sassy n classy and until then, keep chasing the storm.

Of Stone: Stone Cold Comic...

Of Stone, a comic you may haven't heard of from a comic book writer/artist that you should know. Seriously though Dave Bishop is one of the best feel good stories in the independent comic book world here in Toronto. A hard working family man who's passion to create drives him everyday to work on comics, he has tackled zombies, squirrels and even work on the new under water thriller, Deep Sea, with writer Ricky Lima. With a second issue in the works, I wanted to take a look at this epic of the stoic stone ogre, the first issue of Of Stone. But for this post, I wanted to explore a few of the themes and symbols that could potentially be linked to this story. Because as far as I am concerned this is a book you should get, because with every book purchase you help an artist get one step closer and closer to his goals. So it goes without saying, buy Of Stone. Hell get two copies of it for a friend over seas. And besides once you get a copy of this book, I would love to hear your own opinions and thoughts on the issue, what did you see and what did you think. With that out of the way, let's take a deeper look at Of Stone...

•Walk Harder: You hear this a lot, especially in books and movies about the struggles of growing up and coming of age stories, you have to be hard. It's one of the obvious themes, I mean it's literally in the title of the book. But you start to understand it more and more with each page. The main character of the story is a warrior and a hunter, Gan, the most you get from him though his a sense of responsibility  and duty. He knows the creatures he hunts are bad, a threat to the world. And so he wants to do everything he can to clean the world of these creatures. But it's not until the end of the issue that you get a feeling that maybe he is doubting what he and his people have been doing for years. Because maybe it's not meant to be questioned, you just do as your told. Even with the lost of his own son, he doesn't stop hunting, he keeps moving forward with a heavy heart. Through the harsh winter, the mountain terrain and even through the pain of battle, this one tough cookie. 

And you know in life, sometimes we need to be tougher then we really are. It's not easy and it can be the challenges of trying to hold a job and feeding a family, or maybe trying to finish a deadline. But no matter what, we need to be strong, we need to be "Of Stone". Anyone who accomplished a change in the world, they made sacrifices to get to where they needed to be. And much like the author of this story, he is still fighting everyday to create great works. 

•Know Your Enemy: As mentioned earlier one of the turning points in the story is when our hero is fighting the dark shadowy demons and suddenly hears their voices, he hears one of them cry out for his now dead brother. So not only can these creatures communicate, but much like the ogre community in the mountains, these creatures have family. How much does this change things exactly? Well it is much easier to hunt something you know is bad for the planet, especially if it doesn't think or feel. So then realizing this beast isn't as wild or unaware as you were told, perhaps changes things. What if all they wanted to do was live like you do? What if all the legends and tales that were told were lies?

This reflects much of our current state of fear mongering in the news and media, all we need to know about our enemy is that they are dangerous and they want to kill us. But how much does a soldier know about the war he is going to fight? The less they know and the less they question, the better soldier you have fighting for your cause. How much will this reveal change things in the next issue, I am looking forward to finding out. 

•My People: The last theme I wanted to look at was community. In the book you get to see three races; humans, ogres and these shadow creatures. From an ogres point of view, you see that the ogres are people of great strength, pride and tradition. They hunt to protect the planet from this enemy, and unlike the humans who live on tales and lies about heroism and bravery, the ogres bring skull trophies back home, as a token of unquestioned strength. 

There is no doubt we should be proud about who we are and the community we represent. For every success you accomplish you are representing your family, your city, your country and of course, humanity as a whole. Creating a standard of strength and success is a way to make sure all who follow your path will continue to keep that reputation high.

Plenty of food for thought here, and possibly even more that I didn't even touch on. Of Stone is one of those books you can read again and again, to see those messages and see how they play out in the story. I can't recommend this book enough, and I am personally super excited to see what's in store for the next issue and how each of these past themes will be expanded on. 

So give Dave Bishop a follow here or here and see what show he will be at next and be sure to get Of Stone and join the conversation, I want to know what did you take from the story? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in comments below. As always you can contact me on Twitter or Tumblr, over @ChileanStorm, let me know what you are reading and what I should take a look at next. Remember to give plenty of love to all the indy comic book artist who are taking off. Thanks for reading, and until then, keep chasing the storm.

On What Authority...

I will be the first to admit it, I don't remember what I was reading at the time that The Authority made their entrance into the comic book world. But I also feel like this was one of those series that grew more and more by word of mouth between fans at stores and conventions, or maybe through a few comic book web pages and blogs (like Storm Watch, subscribe and tell your friends). So when I was recommended to give this series a read, I was blown away by the big names working on this particular volume that I am going to be looking at today. I had no knowledge of the series or any of the characters, so I was excited to be exploring an unknown universe. In a nutshell, The Authority is a superhero team, much like the infamous Avengers or the Justice League. The characters also seem pretty similar to some power archetypes, but speak a very different language as far as personality and mood goes. You have the team leader, Jenny Quantum, who serves as the spirit of the 20th century. We have Apollo and Midnighter, a superhero couple who are your Superman and Batman, except in a relationship. These guys work so well, I wonder if DC Comics should try this out one of these days with their big two juggernauts. Then we got the Doctor, the team magic user and yes, it is not be confused with the Doctor from Doctor Who. We also have Jack Hawksmoor, with an interesting ability to be able to talk and shape cities at his will. There is also Swift and the Engineer, who serves as navigator and the repairs for their massive base ship. Each character brings something different to the team, each character is used really well, you don't find any Hawkeye or Aquaman jokes here (and before we chomp my head off, yes, Hawkeye and Aquaman are awesome characters who have gotten their dues and respects in the comic book world). So I am going to be looking at today at two stories with two different creative teams but same team, will see how they play out and how I feel about the team as a whole. 

So off the bat, we got two story arcs, the first one is call "Outer Dark" and it is written by one of my favourite writers in the industry, Warren Ellis. And it is drawn by a pretty popular name, you might know him, Bryan Hitch. And if that wasn't enough then you get the second story, "The Nativity" from Mark Millar and Frank Quitely. And according to sources and fans of Quitely, this is some of his best looking work. These names alone merit a look at the book, I mean you can have all these guys working on any title and I would check it out, especially Warren Ellis and Frank Quitely. Ellis did in my opinion the best work ever done with the Thunderbolts team, that remains an absolute favourite for me to this day. And Quitely has done some absolute insane work in We3, Batman and Robin and Jupiter Legacy. Hands down one of the best out there today. 

So I guess I will breakdown each story at a time and what I like/disliked about each one. 

With "Outer Dark" we have a Galactus like being coming to destroy the planet and it is up to the team to figure out how to beat this thing. A pretty simple concept that we have seen before, but the end result made sense and plays into the next story really well. I like the idea of destroying this thing from the inside, and seeing how this beings insides protected it from outsiders. A pretty basic story set up, not a lot of big moments but nothing that ruined the flow of the narrative or anything like that. 

The second story, "The Nativity" is a bit more interesting to say the least. Since the events of the last story, the team is now looking for the new spirit of the 21st Century and has them in at war with...I sh*t you not, Jack Kirby and all his creations. Basically different messed up versions of every single Marvel character. And while this idea might be a satire or something, it also seems like a straight up f*ck you. And while these things happen a lot in comics, like Captain Marvel or even Wonder Man, I generally feel like it is made to say something, to make a statement. And I wouldn't care or even try to look into this too much, but Mark Millar is the same guy who wrote the Marvel love letter, 1985. Is no one else scratching their heads about this? Or is this just Millar's calling card, writing something over the top, offensive and/or controversial to sell books and make movies, then on to the next project. He is one of those writers who seems to write moments just for the sake of doing it, to shock and awe if you will. And while it is okay once and a while, afterwards it gets pretty stale. And while this story is fine for the most part, there are moments of face palm, a lot of them actually. I felt like Picard just trying to get through it. But hey, Frank Quitely does a great job, plenty of gory moments capture perfectly. 

After reading both these stories, I wanted to see what was done if they switched the teams up. We have seen some pretty good stuff from Hitch and Millar with the first two Ultimates stories, and I think they could have done some great things here with The Authority. Like wise, seeing what Ellis and Quitely could have done together is a dream team up for sure. And while the book had some moments of face palm, overall I have to say it is a damn good book and a new take on the superhero team genre, worth a read for sure. And I do feel like some people will absolutely love this book, but I take it with a grain of salt, I respect the attempted to try something new and different but some of the edgy stuff falls flat. 

So that is all I've got to say on The Authority, for now, because I want to see what the other writers and artist do with this team, and where will they go from here and what not. But more importantly, are you a big fan of The Authority? What did you think about these stories? Leave a comment, a statement below and let's talk. I also wanted to say thanks to Shane Heron for introducing me to this book and let me read it in the first place, with all these comic books out there, I am always open to read new things. So until then guys, keep chasing the storm!

Does Whatever a Gwen Does..

There is little to no reason why you shouldn't be reading Spider-Gwen. It is really everything and more that you have been hearing, this is going to be one of the biggest series of the year, and it is only getting started. During the massive Spider-verse event which saw Spider-men and women from various different universes coming together to fight a threat that could have seen an end to every Spider hero in existence. One of these heroes, a Spider-Women whose true identity was Gwen Stacy, who of course in the known 616 universe had been tragically killed. In her world, the spider gave her the powers and it was Peter Parker who was killed. But as you go into the Spider-Gwen world, you will find a lot of familiar faces taking over some new roles. The brand new twist is quite possibly the best part of our new heroine, because similar powers don't mean same responsibilities.  

Forget everything you think you know about Gwen Stacy, because this a whole new and kick ass Stacy. She is able to beat up and make fun of her opponent just like any good Spider-man, she is also a drummer in her own underground rock band (in New York which is kind of a big deal), but still the daughter of the chief NYPD detective, George Stacy. So while trying to manage and dodge around her own social life, she has to deal with dangers like the Kingpin and Matt Murdock (that's right my boy DD is a villain in this world, like Shadowland all over again). Did I mention the Vulture? He is first up to make sure Spider Gwen stays down as a one hit wonder, surprisingly or perhaps not, the Vulture is just like the old cranky bird we know in this world. Though Gwen puts up a good fight, we end the fight on a cliffhanger...or a falling from the sky at high speeds hanger. 

But to sum things up as far as the book goes, it keeps the same tone and high energy that we got from Edge of Spider-verse issue 2, from the same creative team of writer, Jason Latour and artist, Robbi Rodriguez  we get back into this world and are ready to expand and grow, which is a really fresh approach to old concepts and ideas. This is a world you want to see more of, and with each issue that comes out, I can't wait to see the different changes all our favourite Marvel characters have taken. I can't stress this out enough, this is a book everyone should be reading. For long time comic book fans, you get a new look at the classics and the familiar and for new readers, it is a great book to add to your growing collections. Anyone who is too pig headed to pick this book up for whatever silly reason or insecurity you have, well you probably don't enjoy much in general. Seriously though get the steel rod out your butt and enjoy all comics out there. 

But like any book it isn't without a few flaws and hiccups, even a perfect book you want to find something wrong if only to be fair. I guess off the bat, I would suggest getting the Edge of Spider-verse issues, gives you more meat on the world building plate, but you can survive the story without it. Another thing is though, I am curious on how much time Marvel is going to give this series, because with Secret Wars coming up, the aftermath is anyone's guess. And to be honest half the fun of this series is seeing this alternative universe at play, so saving Spider-Gwen only to have her in 616, wouldn't be as much fun. Although, having her react to a guy like Daredevil here would be a fun misunderstanding fight for sure. Regardless I hope this book gets a long healthy life span, it would be sad to see it go after 12 issues, which has been the case for a quite a few series so far. Don't let the fans down Marvel. 

So should you be reading this book? Hells yes! It's funny, it's got action and a whole new world to explore. And now is the best time to get on board, the series is just three issues in, plenty of time to catch up on the story so far. But as always I am all ears to all opinions, comments and gushing, though I highly suggest we just gush and jump for joy over Spider-Gwen. But as always follow me here on this blog or over at Twitter (@ChileanStorm in case you didn't know) and be sure to come back for more comic book blogs, until then keep chasing the storm! 

Black as your Soul...

Who is ready for another massive Marvel crossover event? Not this guy! Seriously though it's true, after the shit show that was AXIS and knowing what is coming up this Spring with Secret Wars, in comes the Black Vortex, trying to squeeze in and make itself noticed. But I will be honest guys, I don't think that I am going to be following this one all the way through or at least properly, see the thing is here, this one plays out a lot like the big X-Men event a year or so back, Battle of the Atom, in which the chapters took places in different books. Say what you will, but I gotta say my piece, I don't like that format. That's me though, because I don't buy or follow every series, I find it a pain in the butt to pick up other books just to get a clue on what the hell is going on. And then at the end you have one issue of Wolverine and the X-Men in your collection, and it looks bare and strange. You then have to go out and find all the other issues or leave it there and pretend it doesn't bug you. Okay, I will admit that is a first world problem, but this a comic book blog page, small bends and second printings are kind of a big deal in our world. And you know what though, I did pick up Black Vortex Alpha, the first chapter to this story and I gotta say, it might have a story that really works. I have a big feeling I am going to be missing out on one good space adventure...

The first chapter here is by Sam Humphries and with art from Ed McGuinness, some big names in the comic book world and no, they are not off their rockers...not yet at least. And for fans of last years "Trial of the Phoenix" story that had the Guardians of the Galaxy team up with the All-New X-Men, this is right up your alley. We get both teams getting together to decide on the fate of a powerful ancient artifact that makes you awesome. What? No but seriously, this mirror shows you a reflection of a super powerful version of yourself, all you have to do is submit to it's power. For everything the Black Vortex will give you, there will be plenty that it takes away. A simple concept that used in this context with various different heroes from all over the galaxy, each one deciding on what to do with this thing. Because morally, sure you could destroy and that would be that. But say in the example of Beast, old and blue Hank McCoy, a man who has nip tucked the laws of space and times so much, you can't tell where the nose start and the mouth begins. Take him and give him the power or the knowledge to make things right, to put everything in it's right place. Why wouldn't he take that chance? And plenty other heroes who want to use this upgrade to do better and to be better. All you have to do is submit.

So like AXIS and Original Sin before it, the idea and concept here is really good and has got a ton of potential to create a great story with the big space cast. So if you are into Marvel space adventures, like GOTG and Fantastic Four, I highly suggest giving this one a look. The best way I would say to read this one is probably going to be in the collection, so hang tight for a few months til that comes out. And while this book and story have a lot going for it, we should get to some of the flaws and even potential flaws out of the way. Obviously it goes with out saying, this story has a chance of tripping and falling flat on its ass, think Shockmaster style. Also I know I will only be reading the X-Men side of this story, because those are the only series I am reading and I don't exactly feel like grabbing Star-Lord, GOTG and plenty of the other series. If you are able to look past this or are collecting all of these anyway, please let me know how it is and if it is worth finding these chapters. But also, I am curious as to why missing out on the action are the Uncanny X-Men, Cyclops and his team. Giving Cyclops the power to be a mutant messiah again, that has potential for a lot of chaos. Although young Cyclops will be reuniting with his team mates so that will be cool to see. And speak of the young out of time X-Men, I really hope the Vortex doesn't make another Phoenix. I don't about you, but I am okay with not reading another Phoenix story for maybe 10 years or more. I am all Phoenix-ed out.

So travel the stars with caution fellow readers, and yeah be sure to tell me If I am missing out here. I want to hear back from you guys on what you think of this next big event? Any character you would want to see improved with a boat load of power? Leave a comment below or tweet me over on the Twitter sphere, @ChileanStorm! And be sure to subscribed to the page and tell your friends as well, plenty of reviews as well for you guys to check out and other comic book related news. Gotta a lot of potential books to be taking a look at, so stay tuned for plenty more, until then, keep chasing the storm! 

Sugah We Goin Down...

When you read tons and tons of comic books over the years, it is natural to develop favourite characters, favourite stories and even favourite couples, it happens. Me, I've got to say I always liked the pairing of Rogue and Gambit. Since I was a little kid, waking up to watch the X-Men cartoon every Saturday morning, I loved the playfulness of those two. I mean sure as I got older I read more and more comics, and I may have grown to judge and over analyse each episode and how they compared to the different issues that they were based on. But my love for these two never changed. And yeah, I was bummed by the lack of Gambit in the X-Men movies, but I understood it is another universe, anything can happen. It was great to see the evolution of these two in their on and off relationship, sometimes it was sweet and sometimes it was a bit sad, but damn it if they look great together. If there was a prom night at the school, hands down, Rogue and Gambit are the prom queen and king. So today I wanted to take a look at an issue of the happier times between them, sure there might be an assassin guild or so involved trying to kill them, but trust me when I say this had some "feels" moments for me. And yes this is me being a sap for these two, let me have this.

Actually before I gone about what I thought about this issue overall, I want to say how much it was a gift to be looking through these pages and seeing the incredible work of the late Mike Wieringo. That alone is a reason to look this issue and mini series up. In his lines you see a lot of character expression and feelings from all the characters, you could read the book without words just based on everything you see in each panel. He added an almost animated or cartoon feeling to his work and it's something you can find in a lot of expressive comics of today, his influence lives on. And his legacy is shown greatly here in this issue.

The story is a part of a four issue mini series about Rogue taking care of some personal business, trying to take care of her problem on her own without the X-Men team. But of course, Gambit goes after her to help out. And considering it also involves Gambit's ex, Bella Donna, it would make sense he gets involve. So after a little showdown with a group from the Assassin's Guild, we get see these two spend some quite time together and this is when I melt from feelings overload. I loved this scene because of how simple everything was, given the situation that happened and what could potentially go down, all Rogue says to Remy is just hold me. That's it. No over the top perfume commercial inspired sex scene (I am looking at you 300 movie) or over the top romantic dialogue, none of that. Just hold me. I mean that is the basic and simplest idea of love, of being with someone at all. That you can have someone to turn to, that when you need someone to hold on to, that person will be there. You feel the safety, you don't worry about how much money you do or don't have, you don't worry what anyone else thinks of you because you have each other and at the end of the day, that's all you need. Am I a romantic, I guess? I think love is a beautiful thing, that sometimes gets forgotten. Not attraction, not desire, but just love. And I mean hell who doesn't love sex, we all do, it's awesome. But you don't need love to get off. I think love, and I am guessing here it's all just an idea to me, keys & codes, is something so simple it can't be explained. Like maybe I am over thinking it, because that is what I do, with practically everything I find. But in the pure and simple form, love doesn't get posted on social media, it doesn't need to be celebrated by others, in the purest way it's two people who aren't afraid of what comes next. Just hold me. 

Those three pages between them is all you need to know on why you need to read this issue. I wish I could go on about the story or what happens next or anything else. But it really doesn't matter as much to me, because I honestly really like that scene so much, it is probably my favourite moment between these two. So check it out and let me know what you thought, let me know if you don't feel warm and fuzzy inside. 

So there you have it guys, I went sappy today. 

Let me know in the comments below how you feel though about love. Which is your favourite couple in comics? What's your favourite romantic scene? Is romance dead? Let me know and let's keep the conversations going. Be sure to subscribe to the page, follow me on Twitter and practically all forms of social media to stay in touch and updated. Got a few more for this week, so let's keep this theme moving along, until then keep chasing the storm. 

Better Off Dead...

A face not even a mother could love...finds love. 

See, there is hope for everyone. If a crazy loud mouth killing mercenary can find love, so can you. Keep reaching for that rainbow. But the funny thing about love, sometimes it can go unwanted. So is the case for our favourite killer anti-hero, Deadpool in issue 43 of the 2008 run of the series. After Deadpool gets sent to the loony bin out in England, he manages to escape thanks to one of the doctors who works there and finds a deep attraction to him. Wait a minute, where else have I seen this? Crazy killer gets set free with a blonde doctor who is also kind of nuts, sounds familiar? I see what you did there Deadpool. That alone gives this issue and this story so many brownie points, or chimichanga points in this case. After all the Merc with a Mouth is known as much for his over the top violence as he is for his comedy, it is a careful and beautiful dance of both that is needed for a great Deadpool book. How does this one hold up? 

It takes a real kind of crazy to out crazy Deadpool, isn't that crazy? Well that is exactly the kind of psychopath we have on our hands with Dr.Ellen Whitby. Not because she is in love with Wade, although that is up for debate, but her love seems more like a really creepy obsession, creepy and dangerous. And when you start licking up a used can of beans, that is probably crossing the streets of creep town. So naturally Deadpool is now on the run from the police and federal agents and a stalker, all the while being stuck across sea in England. On the bright side, it can't possibly get any worse, can it? Well let's just say that his trip does end up getting a bit of royalty in there. And also we get a really dark and twisted reveal from the good old Dr.Whitby. 

The comedy in this book really holds up in this book, especially with Deadpool trying to get around in London, from car theft to clothes switch tricks, plenty of laughs in this book. Though not a lot of action, no slice and dice or bang bang bang or pineapple grenades here, which feels like something is missing. The book tends to be more of a comedy issue in that sense. Although the doctor here, she does come off really creepy, it is hard to feel sympathetic for such a character, especially considering her love is more of a sick obsession. I doubt the writers wanted to create something more here. The art is solid here, with Carlo Barberi taking care of the pencils as he does on plenty of the issues of this run of Deadpool. We actually get a lot of face time with Wade Wilson here, which is pretty cool to see, sometimes you forget about the guy under the mask. But given the amount of action in this issue, we don't get any big moments that take advantage of the art fully, still the art is done exceptionally well for what it needs to do. 

So while the issue is stronger in comedy, it still holds up pretty well, especially knowing what comes next from this story, it is worth reading on. And while the doctor parody joke is pretty funny, it might be lost on a few readers. Not the best Deadpool issue or story by any means, but not exactly the worst one out there. Worth a read for the bigger picture for all Deadpool fans.

So there you have it another book down on this Valentine week thing I am doing here. But again, I always want to hear from the people, so please by all means if you've read this issue, leave your thoughts below. And if you enjoyed this read, follow the page and tell a friend or two, anything helps here. But thanks again for your time and be sure to stay tuned as we got a few more issues for this week to take a look at, until then keep chasing the storm! 

Super Wonder Bread...

So it's been some good time since this series has been out and about, and it being February and all, figured why not take a look at Superman/Wonder Woman from DC Comics. Was actually looking through my comics for "love" themed books and this one came up, it was this or Batman/Superman. See what I did there. Anyway, back to are two on hand here, Superman and Wonder Woman. Probably one of the bigger moves that DC Comics took with these two was to make them a pair. I don't remember this being something many writers explored too much, what with Lois Lane being the main crush for the man of steel for a long time. I even remember Wonder Woman and Batman being kind of a couple on the Justice League cartoon, it was pretty sweet in a way, having Diana remind Bruce to smile so more and enjoy things for a bit. But it seems Batman and Catwoman are all the rage now, so it makes sense to have these two together. The cool thing here, is that this power couple could take over the world if they wanted to, but they do a heck of a job keeping it safe. In this book we get to see them work as team, all the while working through all the kinks of being in a relationship and what not. And what is mine is yours, especially when it comes to foes and enemies, so expect plenty of super powered aliens and angry Gods coming in to make sure these two get a honeymoon trip to hell. Just another day for the power couple.

One of the most exciting things about this book is the power team making it, we got both Charles Soule and Tony S. Daniel on this one. Charles Soule, who did some fantastic work over at Marvel with She-Hulk and did a number of Swamp Things book as well with DC is writing this duo together. If you haven't had a chance, you should check out some of his past work as well as the new Wolverines series that was just released. As for Tony S. Daniel, he just started on the new Deathstroke series, as well as doing some fantastic work over on the Batman Detective Comic series. A really power team as well to make sure these two legendary heroes get the right kind of treatment. And I think these guys deliver. You get plenty of action off the bat, with Superman and Wonder Woman teaming up to save a massive cargo ship that has been attacked and you get flashbacks to both these characters making sense of their current relationship. Having things go from action to dialouge sequences works really well, you are able to follow along and stay for the long ride, a hard balance but one that is done right here. The art hits all the right notes as well, plenty of big scenes here with a lot of detail, not to mention a beautiful three page fold out cover here with all the friends and foes of the Superman and Wonder Woman world. Take a moment before you go in and just take it all in, a sight to see for sure. 

I thought I would be rolling my eyes at this book, but you know what, it was fine. They have dialogue and romantic moments, but none of it seemed George Lucas, if you know what I mean. If you haven't seen Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones, be ready for some brutal "romance" scenes. But they got Jango Fett, that's pretty cool. Back to our comic, I feel like nothing here was too much or over the top. I did wonder what the deal was about the world finding out that Superman and Wonder Woman were together, and why that would be bad, they are heroes after all. I mean wouldn't Gordon finding strange that Batman makes out with Catwoman, Talia, Poison Ivy and even sometimes Harley Quinn. But as a stand alone issue and as the kickoff point of the series, you can't go wrong. Unless you hate these two together or alone, well you probably can skip this series all together. But if you are ready for a series that combines the best and the evil of both worlds, check this out if you haven't already. I also highly suggest fans of Batman/Superman to check it out as well, the book has a similar feel but a completely new take on the team-up comic.

So there you have it guys, the first Valentine sort of kind of theme book of the week. To be honest, it is not easy to find books that fit well to the theme and are actually pretty good, so this was kind of a blessing. I've got plenty in store for the week, a few good ones and maybe a bad one for your entertainment, maybe. I take no joy in reading bad comics, but it needs to be done. So let me know what you guys think about this power couple comic, are you reading this series? What's another great couple in the world of comics? Let me know in the comments below. Be sure to follow the page, tell your friends and all that good stuff! Until then keep chasing the storm! 

That Thing with the Laser Swords...

Star Wars is back, whether you like it or not, it has taken over again. And while I can and completely understand how someone could potential not be a fan of Star Wars, I ask this, how can you not be a Star Wars fan?  Okay Jar Jar was awful and the prequels for the most part sucked, but there is so much to love about the Star Wars universe, from bounty hunters to the jedi and sith, the deep lore of this galaxy as well is absolutely fascinating. And as anyone who lives on the internet already knows, The Force Awakens is set to release this December and will not doubt be the biggest hyped movie event of the year. And how else do you keep the legion of fans occupied until then, comic books that's how! Disney and Marvel have teamed up and have launched a few Star Wars series for fans to see stories that take place in between the original trilogy, one book focuses on Princess Leia and another follows Darth Vader. The one I got was one that plays out like a movie of sorts, following the whole casts of heroes from A New Hope. We get Luke, Leia, Han Solo, R2-D2, C-3PO and most importantly, Chewbacca! Love that Wookie. But yeah, we get to see the Rebellion in action against the Empire, a whole slew of adventures before Empire Strikes Back. Which while we are here and on the subject is without question in my mind, the best of the Star Wars films and will be hard pressed to be beat anytime soon. So without further delay, let see if this book is worth all the hype and the avalanche of variants as well (I heard they had about 60 variants for this issue alone). 

While I am a big Star Wars fan, I can't say I am a Star Wars wizard...or jedi in this case. I love the movies, the games and practically everything in between but I don't have the religious kind of devotion to it like some of the fans do, and these are the fans who know EVERYTHING about Star Wars. So I can imagine if anything is even slightly off or out of characters, they will be the first ones to tell you. I got to say, I had a blast reading this one! As a Star Wars fan, I felt that it was handled properly and added some kick ass moments as well, things we didn't get to see in the movies. And it never felt like it was trying to be something more or something different, it kept that classic movie feel to it all.  Written by Jason Aaron, who has been doing some great work with Thor for some years now, he writes all the characters we know and love like the characters that we know and love. This isn't a writer or a creative team deciding new directions or changing the plot up in a ridiculous way, this feels like a Star Wars comic. And thanks to John Cassaday the book looks great, we get to see all are favourite actors back in character and without the wrinkles. There is something timeless about a young smug looking Harrison Ford isn't there? The planets look great as do all the different ships and aliens, everything remains as you would imagine it would and it helps keep that authentic feel to the whole experience.

And while I don't want to nit pick on some of the story elements or anything like that, I will hold my tongue until the next issues. I still had a great time reading this, and I am looking forward to seeing what they do with this story and where it goes. I want to see more Chewbacca kicking ass moments and I would love to see some Boba Fett in the future issues. Yes, I am a Boba Fett fan. With that in mind, give this book a shot if you are a Star Wars fan for sure, you'll love it. If you aren't a fan, nothing here for you, I doubt a comic book will change your mind on a movie franchise. 

Have you guys had a chance to read this issue yet? Did you love it or hate it? Are you a Chewbacca fan as well? Leave a comment below and let me know if you will be following the different Star Wars series from Marvel comics. That's all the time for today guys, thanks again for reading and be sure to check out past posts as well, I take a look at the current Batman issues from DC Comics and I also shared my thoughts on AXIS: Avengers & X-Men. Plenty to read and plenty more to write as well, until then keep chasing the storm! 

ERMAGHERD AXIS IS REALLY BAD!

You know high hopes and Toronto go hand in hand, every Fall and every Spring it happens. A team in blue, either the Maple Leafs in the fall or the Blue Jays in the spring will fill our hearts with hope. This is the year we do it, this is the year we get back into the playoffs, when we become contenders. And for sometime now, we've been disappointed. Hey, don't get me wrong here, I remember when the Leafs were a hockey team and they made some great playoff memories and runs. It is also impossible for me to forget 93' World Series and the magic of Joe Carter's homerun. You wouldn't be able to sell hope without these memories. So yeah, what does this have to do with comics? Well, for me, it was hope that AXIS wouldn't be such a massive 9-part mess of a let down. And trust me, I wanted to like this one, a lot. Hell, my review of the first issue was a pretty positive one, I had no idea what the hell was going to go down and how. But let's start from the beginning, why the hope? Well when you have a massive casts of comic book characters coming together it should always be a good time, isn't that the case with all the cross over events? Though for me, it was a little bit more.

The idea of X-Men and Avengers coming together is a beautiful dream team, my hopes for Uncanny Avengers was so high! Because I remember Captain America pointing out at the end of AVX, that they did have to do more to help out the mutants. For so long we had both teams, but both doing there own thing and rarely teaming up, so I was all for it. But man, if one of the things I really ended up hating about the Uncanny Avengers series, is that it felt really boring. How does that even happen? The team seemed really dull and colourless, especially compared to the flare and excitement that was the All-New X-Factor team. And it's funny but I think the Uncanny team could have used Gambit. I felt like Scarlet Witch was there for mainly plot device, so she could be used to do something terrible and awful...again. I would have rather seen her spend time with her kids, Speed and Wiccan. I loved seeing her and Polaris in issue 14 of ANXF, going out and kicking ass together. But that wasn't the case here. And they had a massive and huge plot with the Apocalypse Twins, a whole lot going and the world blows up and everything, but it felt small. My main problem with this was, while other heroes made an appearance in the issues, the impact or conflict was all kept to this series. So when the hell was this all taking place? How come no one brings up that time a Celestial destroyed the planet. And then after all the shit hits the fan, it gets a magic wand fix and everything is back to normal. Hurray, I guess...? Look I got all the issues of this first run, I was here for the whole run and I wanted to be excited, I wanted to care. But I was just left with a feeling for so much more, and I was really hoping AXIS was going to be just that. 

I am a really happy camper when it comes to comic books in general, I don't like being a mean critic when it comes to this medium. But I can't sit here and tell you that the Spider-man Clone Saga is a must read or that Batman Knightfall were the best issues of the dark knight. And I can't tell you that AXIS: Avengers & X-Men was a good Marvel event. It was awful. And on an idea that could have been really good and could have made some classic moments, instead we are left with a device that helped change things and we are supposed to take them seriously, because clearly Marvel took their job seriously when they released this junk in the first place. When you realize what the story is doing, all the "permanent" changes that happen, you get the feeling this event was made just for that. How else could you explain the rushed job by all these extremely talented artist who have done some amazing work in the past and why they kept changing the artist issue to issue. The script had to be written in the bathroom in between other work that was taken more seriously, so long as key moments were made they didn't care much about the rest of it all. Look, I am really trying hard to understand the whole "inversion" thing. Good guys become bad guys and bad guys become good guys, right? But this is a subjective idea though, isn't? Every villain knows he is a hero in his own mind, that what they do is for some kind of greater good. So having the inverted heroes act like Saturday morning villain parodies was painful to read. And Carnage, well aware that he wanted to kill people but couldn't because he knew he had to be a good guy, that is basically Patrick Bateman in a nutshell. Which isn't a good at all, it's still a psychopath! And to have Scarlet Witch reveal that Magneto isn't hers or Pietro's father! That was me being done with the series. I finished it out of principal, but there wasn't anything to write home about. Except for Iron Man wanting to be evil and no one doing jack shit about it, because cupcakes. 

But hey Secret Wars is blowing this train wreck up anyways, so who cares?

I think the most disappointing thing about all this, is the amount of shits not giving in making this. If there was, I didn't see it or feel it. This was made to set up the new books, this was made to set up the movie and comic universe to be parallel to one and other. Sell a few comics while making these bogus and heartless set ups and call it a days work. Honestly, the biggest disappointment of last year as far as comics go. Don't get the collection, don't get any issues. Skip this event and stay clear of Uncanny Avengers latest run, save your money and your troubles. 

Really had to get that one off my chest. But what did you guys think about AXIS? Did you like it? Hey, I could be wrong about all of this. Let me know what you thought about it in the comments below and be sure to subscribe to the page for more comic book reviews, discussions and all that good old stuff. Got a lot of reading and drawing ahead these days, but stay tuned for more and more updates. So don't get inverted and keep chasing the storm!  

Game Ender: Friendship

Well that was creepy. 

So today I am going to be taking a look at Batman Annual #3 which also happens to be a tie-in to the current story arc, End Game. And man, does this story get really dark. We have plenty of themes here with friendship, obsession and haunting on a massive scale. But like the title implies, what is the end game to it all? Are we going to get any closer to understanding the Joker in this universe of Batman. A character who is very much close to the concepts of chaos and disorder, we see here is haunting a reporter consistently through out his life, crime after crime, the Joker pays his "friend" a visit. I am curious to see how this will all play out in the big story at the end, but I have the feeling it might just be a cool dark side story that takes place here. And as any one off story should, this one holds up really well on it's own. The Joker has been crafted and transformed into a sick and twisted monster, a monster that can't be explained, which for us is probably the scariest thing in the world. We are a culture of questions and answers, when we can't find or explain the question, well, we panic. So much for The Riddler though, Joker is truly the question without an answer. 

A great tie in story is able to fall seamlessly with the main story, even with different heads at the creative steering wheel of each book. The writer and artist on this issue I am unfamiliar with their past works, but I would be inclined to look around and see what upcoming projects they have, because they do a damn good job on this book. And while being a Batman book, it feels more like a psychological horror film, with our main character being unable to escape this beast. The writer, James Tynion IV, does an excellent job here with introducing the safety and confidence of the journalist and takes us along the fall of his own sanity and reality, one could almost call it a Stockholm syndrome kind of ending. Helps with the overall creepy tone. And the artist, Roge Antonio complements the story as well along the way with some very amazing art, I loved the way he used the shadows to make the Joker look more and more like some kind of demon from the depths of hell. The pages with the "faceless" Joker are absolutely incredible looking, although I am huge fan of the look and concept of the deranged faceless freak. I almost wish he kept that look sometimes. Although not with the art itself, I would have liked to have seen more evolution with the different outfits and styles for the Joker, this is a story that takes place through different years and months, it would have been really cool to have seen that play out in the art as well. I also found it weird he never had the red lips in any of his looks. That aside though, these guys do some great work here.

Seeing as I am not sure how much impact this story will have overall, I am curious about a few things here. The journalist, Thomas Blackcrow, gets haunted for a few years in this book and I have to wonder, could he have signed up for witness protection or something? Why did he never try to get in touch with Batman? How come Batman never contacted this guy or even knew about him? Seems a bit strange, but this is me looking to deep into it, trying to find answers to all my questions. This still doesn't stop the issue from being a great and solid read, if you like your Batman books really dark with a side of horror, this is your cup of tea. I got to say, I highly recommend this one for everyone following the End Game story right now and if you get into it later, be sure to give it a read. It will also likely be included with the collection when it comes out later in the year. A haunting good time.

I wasn't sure if I was going to review this book first or issue 37, and by this time issue 38 should be out as well. It's been a blast reading this story so far, and I can't wait to see where Scott Snyder will takes us. As far as DC Comics go, this is the story to be reading right now. What do you guys think? Did you get a chance to read Annual #3 and if so, what did you think? Leave a comment below, tell you friends and be sure to follow this page for more and more comic book reviews and even little updates on my own projects. Thanks again as always, until then, keep chasing the storm! 

Game Ender: Super Kumite

Thanks Loot Crate for the exclusive variant!

Hey there storm readers, so just a quick heads up before I start this review off, this is a look at Batman #36 and part 2 of the Endgame storyline. I just wanted to give a heads up that there might be a few spoilers here and there, so if you haven't read this one by now, go out and get going on this run of Batman. A lot of surprises are coming to the Dark Knight and you don't want to miss it! Also, I took a look at the first part of Endgame, you can read that review right here. But come back and see my take on everything that went down in this issue.

That said, round 2, fight!

So after the cliff hanger ending in issue 35, we start off this issue with another round in the Batman vs Superman chronicle of fighting. And I am guessing that maybe a few, not everyone, but a few fans of comics could be sick of this idea by now. Don't get me wrong, but this scene was done and done brilliantly in the classic Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns. You see a Batman that won't go down without a fight, we see Superman get his pretty perfect face turned to pulp and an overall classic fight that is part of comic book history as we know it. And it really did capture the hearts and imagination of many, people arguing this fight up and down. Not to mention DC Comics trying to find new and different ways to have these two, really good friends, go at it time and time again. Why can't they just be friends? Well not here, we have the Justice Buster ready Batman against an unhinged killer Superman. A lot of great things displayed here in this quick fight between the dark knight and the man of tomorrow, the idea that under the influence of someone as twisted as Joker, Superman is not going to care much about city damage and body count. This isn't Man of Steel Superman here, the Superman most of us knows to take the fight outside or to space, he is always aware of the little people. So that idea of making him a pure unstoppable killing machine, yeah that is something to worry about. But the best point and maybe the most important is a line Batman says as he and Superman fall down from the sky after using some hidden kryptonite; who wins in a fight between Batman and Superman...? No one does. And when you think about it, yeah, it's true. Regardless who wins, you have one really important hero out of the picture. You have a hollow victory over a friend, and an opportunity for all your real foes to come and pick off the bones. These guys make a way better team then they do as enemies. 

With the Justice League and Superman now out of the fight and healing up, Batman is now desperately trying to find Joker. Taking over all his friends and team mates, Joker has displayed that no one is out of his reach of influence and corruption, that Gotham will be taken over in a snap if Batman can't stop him. So on the hunt for the clown prince of crime, we see Batman back in the old Arkham Asylum at the old cell of his nemesis, looking for any hints or clues. And in comes Eric Border. A pretty recent new character, a medical staff of the new Arkham Asylum, always seemed like a pretty tame character, he would always say that everyone can be saved and such. Jokes on you...

Well played Joker. And well played Mr.Snyder. 

And God damn it, I hate to say it, but this a really awesome intro and design for Joker. I feel like this character gets enough air in his tires, but holy crap was this really great. Batman falls into the Jokers trap and we get a very creepy explanation to his latest plan and his reasoning, if we can even call it that, this guy is a psychopath after all. The best part of it all, this is only the beginning. The devil is here and is going to turn this city into his own kingdom of hell. Get hyped people, get hyped.

We also get more of the back story going on as well with the Arkham patients who have been looking for Joker, each with their own disturbing story in which the Joker has appeared before them as something more then human, a powerful influence of evil. But Joker is just a crazy guy...right? How much do we know about this guy anyway? Maybe that is the biggest joke of them all. There is more backstory as well in Batman Annual issue 3, so be sure to check that out and see how this all plays out in the Endgame. 

Okay so needless to say I am really looking forward to this storyline and see how it all plays out. While issue 35 gave us a big fight with heroes turned crazy, the reveal of Joker was really well played and makes me really excited to see what is going to happen next. The absolute landmark title for DC Comics right now, Batman is the series you want to be following issue per issue. As far as the mainstream big hero goes, you can't go wrong here. And you know I will be looking at all the rest of these issues as well, so come back and join in the conversation, what do you think about issue 36 of Batman? What do you think is really going with the Joker? Leave a comment below and let's talk about this. And be sure to check out all the other comic book related blogs and reviews coming up and already posted, until then keep chasing the storm!