DARTH VADER #19 Review: Star Wars Is In His “Soule”

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The Inquisitors hunt for Jedi as Charles Soule opens his nonstop, action-packed installment of DARTH VADER #19 out this week from Marvel Comics. Let’s take a look at FORTRESS VADER!

WRITTEN: Charles Soule

LAYOUTS: Giuseppe Camuncoli

FINISHES: Daniele Orlandini

COLORS: David Curiel

LETTERS: Joe Caramagna

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

DARTH VADER SPOILERS TOO!

To see what happened the last issue, click on the writer’s name below.

Summary

Darth Vader tracks down Eeth Koth who was a Jedi once upon a time before he went into hiding as a priest. Why? Well, Vader’s mission has been to track down every last Jedi across the galaxy and slaughter them all. However, when the Sith Lord arrives, he finds Koth and his newborn baby girl.

Koth and Vader fight while the baby and its mother tried to flee. As the two make it to their escape vessel, they are met by the Inquisitors who take the baby alive. The issue concludes with Darth Vader impaling Eeth Koth from behind as he notices the Inquisitors have his baby.

Art

Joe Caramagna’s lettering was spot on throughout the issue. The letters during the fight scene with Koth and Vader were big, bold, and colorful. Each smash was lettered so largely and appeared so loud in the context of the panel. Giuseppe Camuncoli and Daniele Orlandini’s art was eye-catching and smooth. Together with David Curiel’s colors and Caramagna’s letters the artistic team made every panel dynamic, intense, and powerful.

In addition, look at Caramagna’s lettering on page 14 and see how it stands out when Vader impales Eeth Koth from behind. Caramagna chooses the perfect letters mixed with the perfect colors by Curiel to make the exact sound of the lightsaber killing Koth. Readers can practically hear it through the words on the page.

Furthermore, during the lightsaber scenes, Curiel chooses the obvious red for Vader’s lightsaber BUT look closely at the Sith Lords helmet. The detail in the colors of Vader’s helmet is fantastic. His helmet is shiny with hints of red mixed in adding so much depth to the page. These little details by Curiel elevate this issue so much more throwing readers deeper into the story.

Ruthless Inquisitors

As a fan of the TV show STAR WARS: REBELS, I enjoyed seeing Soule put the Inquisitors into this issue. They play a pretty significant role throughout, especially in the way they captured Koth’s baby. At first, Soule let readers think the Inquisitor was having a change of heart with the mother, but readers quickly see it was just a demoralizing plan.

The Inquisitor uses the force to steal the baby right out of its mother’s hands from the ship, which painted such an awful exchange of emotions on the page. For any being to be that malicious, twisted, and evil makes me wonder how they got to that point. I want to know more about the creation of the Inquisitors. Hopefully, Soule takes readers on that journey soon.

Star Wars Is In His “Soule”

Soule reintroduced a pretty famous Jedi that survived up to this point. For the readers that are unaware, Eeth Koth was captured by General Grievous during STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS and appeared in the movies STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE as well as STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES. So, this wasn’t some throwaway Jedi that Soule dropped into the story. Koth has a deep history in the mythos and Soule understands that, writing him in beautifully.

Readers can see that Soule is a true fan willing to do his research into this universe for something he genuinely loves. The proof is in the reintroduction of characters like Eeth Koth and Soule has been doing this through his entire run so. If readers need more proof, simply go back to the last story arc to see first hand, as well as the Tarkin issue last month.

Should you buy this issue?

Yes! Soule made this issue quick and clean. There was very little dialogue, which made the comic easy to read and fun, while the art team literally draws readers into the issue wonderfully. Soule set up the first issue well and left readers with great questions moving forward. Yes, readers that have been following the series know that Vader is hunting down Jedi but why does he want to keep the babies? Are these future Inquisitors? Why doesn’t the Emperor instill the kill order with the babies?

Should you add this to your pull list?

Definitely! Soule makes this fun and exciting from start to finish. Almost every issue to date continues to be interesting each month. However, for an issue named “ Fortress Vader,” Soule didn’t dive into anything related to a Fortress. The title was a bit confusing with the plot of this issue. Hopefully, Soule can connect the dots between the meaning of the title and the pages in the next issue. Add this to your pull list now because it’s the perfect time to hop on board.

What did you guys think of DARTH VADER #19? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter @dispatchdcu. If you would like to read more of my reviews, click HERE!

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AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #3 – A Tale Of Two Peters

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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Spencer & Ottley are delivering on the double-shipping schedule like nobody else! Amazing Spider-Man #3 continues the dynamite creative team’s classic restoration of both Spidey and Peter Parker.

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

The good ol’ isotope genome accelerator that granted Peter Parker his powers is at it again. Now Spider-Man and Peter Parker are two different people, but there may be some dangerous side-effects to having things be easy for a change–cue that classic “Parker Luck!”

Within these first 4 issues (counting the FCBD release) there is plenty to be overjoyed with in Amazing Spider-Man. Perhaps the biggest standout from this issue specifically is how much fun it is to just hang out with Peter Parker in civilian situations. A majority of this issue takes place in a bowling alley, just Pete & MJ on a double-date.

Nick Spencer was born to write our beloved web-head and this may be the greatest example of why. He could make Peter watching Netflix alone for twelve hours into a compelling comic book issue. This strength of his will make the inevitable heroic triumphs and challenges of Spider-Man carry that much more weight with all the attachment readers have to him behind the mask.

Spencer also has a perfect voice for Pete’s narration and inner-dialogue. There’s a perfect mixture of self-doubt, self-deprecation, humor, anxiety, and lovable cornball. It’s pretty much impossible for any longtime Spider-Man fan to not smile the entire time reading this issue.

The classic appeal that this book has so far is no minor achievement. Each issue, from cover to cliffhanger, feels like a classic Spider-Man comic book. Even when the theme or concept is nothing drastically new, Spencer & Ottley bring so much to it that it feels like the first time you’ve ever come across such an idea.

Ryan Ottley is another perfect match for Spider-Man, as well as creative partner Nick Spencer. His transitions are flawless and cinematic, every panel has a purpose. Ottley’s scene coordination and lively character figures play a big part in making a dialogue-heavy issue feel action packed.

Spider-Man’s action poses and movements are fantastic. Ottley makes sure Spidey wields webs as proper tools to win a fight, never is a web-line shot without purpose. X-Men villain, Tri-Sentinal, is the latest to get the Ottley treatment. His take on various Marvel characters will no-doubt be a joyous spectacle throughout this entire monumental run.

Colorist Laura Martin puts the finishing touches on this book’s classic Marvel appeal. Her tasteful pallet pushes Ottley to the next level in a spectacular manner. Veteran letterer Joe Caramagna ensures every action and character is introduced with proper flair and gravitas.

The Amazing Spider-Man is superhero comic book perfection. Spencer & Ottley take no time to win over longtime Spidey fans. From cover to cliffhanger, each issue has been a truly joyous experience worthy of a second read. This entire creative team is worth way more than the price of admission.

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The First Miles Morales SPIDER-MAN Story Post-Bendis Raises Questions

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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Our beloved Spider-Teen, Miles Morales, is in a strange place right now when it comes to comics. We’re in the first post-Bendis era of his existence and he’s without an ongoing title. This Spider-Man Annual #1 is a good sign of life for Miles fans.

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

Our story is split into a current day tale and a flashback of Miles during the events of Secret Invasion before his web-slinging debut. Miles may have officially become the hardest character to explain the origin story of after his permanent inclusion in the 616 universe.

If he was around in this world for the Skrull invasion, does his Ultimate universe origin no longer apply? Are we now rewriting every bit of Morales history before Secret Wars? If we are, that’s extremely frustrating given that all of his best Spider-Man stories took place within the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man.

This is most likely what’s keeping us from getting a full-blown Miles series, it’s probably not an easy fix to pitch. It’s frustrating but in order to enjoy this Spider-Man Annual issue, you’re going to have to put all those questions aside and just enjoy the ride.

Bryan Edward Hill takes on the task of writing Miles in a post-Bendis world. Universal-canon questions aside, he crafts a tight little story about Miles’ tragic birthday. This feels more like the Ultimate Spider-Man stories of old rather than the more recent water-treading 616 tales.

The spirit of Spider-Man comics is present in that this hidden tragedy showcases a sense of responsibility that Morales carries with him carrying the weight of guilt he feels about an incident he feels he could’ve prevented. Hill pulls this story off by sprinkling in hints of what makes Spidey our favorite web-slinger, but still keeping this very much a Miles Morales story rather than a remix of Peter Parker.

Artists Nelson Blake II, Alitha E. Martinez, Mark Bagley, and inker Roberto Poggi provide smooth transitions between time-jumps. Blake and Martinez do a great job making the flashback scenes actually look like the art we saw in Secret Invasion tie-ins way back when. They also deliver a creative spin on the Miles Morales version of the homemade Spidey suit.

Colorist Carlos Lopez keeps things simple and lively, making this feel even more like a Spider-Man comic of old. The contrast between Skrull-Spidey and the purple sky backdrop makes for some wonderful panels. Letterer Cory Petit subtly accents and emphasizes emotional beats, lightening the load of our art teams.

Writer Emily Ryan Lerner, artist Alberto Alburquerque, colorist Carlos Lopez, and letterer Cory Petit (again) provide the short backup story. It’s a cute quickie about Miles and Ganke during a driving school incident.

Spider-Man Annual #1 raises more Miles Morales continuity questions, but we aren’t going to hold that against the creative team. If you can close your mind off to question marks and just enjoy what’s in your hands, this is a great contained story that showcases what makes Miles and Peter both similar and different.

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Review: THE MEG Will Delightfully Devour You With Entertainment And Mayhem

By

Dewey Singleton - Film Critic

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The Meg is a ridiculously constructed testosterone infused jaunt into a farcical world where Jason Statham is invincible, and so are Tea Cup Yorkies. Some releases tend to dabble with insane concepts which defy all logic, while The Meg bathes in them to the delight of fans who crave more from where that came from. Director John Turteltaub latest project is as if Jurassic World and Godzilla had a baby and its first words were “Kick-Ass.” Nothing in this film makes sense, yet everyone was okay with it.

The film centers around a science crew which is studying life inside the ocean and the horrors they uncover. During there exploration of the deepest portions of the water, a discovery was made of a thick cloud barrier which separates their world from fascinating creatures. While exploring what’s beyond the boundary, a monster attacks their ship disabling it. The only person who can save them is the one man who has lived through similar circumstances. Jonas Taylor (Statham) and a team are set to go down below and rescue that crew. Just when you think this could be over, that’s when a 75-foot shark pays his first visit.

Dean Georgaris, Jon Hoeber, and Erich Hoeber were tasked with adapting Steve Alten’s best selling book. The Meg stays true to its sci-fi roots without turning this release into a big budget version of Sharknado. Dialogue at specific points in the film matters very little as the film briskly moves from one set piece to the next. Pacing wise the movie was spot on as we were quickly moving from one set piece to the next.

There appears to be a concerted effort from the cast to punch up those “dramatic and hilarious moments.” Doing this allowed The Meg to come off as way more balanced and enjoyable. Had Warner Brothers decided to go in an extreme direction, either way, they would run the risk of turning off the audience. Does Statham overact during certain moments of the film? Yes! Does it matter? Not, even a little bit. The Meg is on a mission to entrance audiences worldwide with the use of 75 ft shark as it tears through the Pacific Ocean. Nobody is saying this is Jaws (far from it), but we are saying prepare yourself to be highly entertained.

The two performances which stood out to me (other than Statham and The Meg) were Rainn Wilson and the Teacup Yorkie everyone has seen in the trailer. Wilson plays a billionaire by the name of Morris who is flush with cash and sleaziness as well. He lives long enough in the film (sorry spoiler) to see himself go from being a hero to a villain who died epically (watch the movie and see how). The Teacup Yorkie has a small part to play in our saga, but her charm will wash over everyone.

Tom Stern’s cinematography was crucial to enhancing the tension in each scene. Stern made use of some ground-level shots and angles giving the perspective of being hunted by this beast. Perhaps my favorite moment was when he slowly panned the camera outside the soundstage (where they were shooting The Meg) creating this idea that it was watching them.

Overall, The Meg is one helluva a good time and should be seen on the biggest screen possible with a great group of friends (and concessions as well). Allow this tale about a prehistoric beast take hold of your group, and I promise you’ll be smiling in the end.

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Review: The Search for the Strength Force Begins in THE FLASH #52

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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While lacking major action, this issue of the Flash sets the stage for an intriguing tale.

The Flash War has come to a close, but the aftermath could be just as destructive. During the war, Hunter Zolomon broke barriers to the DC Earth, bringing forth new forces. Alongside the Speed Force, the Strength Force and Sage Force appear and empower Hunter. Both Flashes put aside their differences and worked together to take down Hunter. When the dust settled, however, Hunter was missing, and hypertime was closed off. The Flash family soon falls apart, leaving Barry alone to investigate the forces Hunter had unleashed. If the Speed Force allows its users to run at faster than light speeds, what can the other two do?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

The Flash heads to the House of Heroes, the center of the DC Multiverse, to meet with other Flashes. He hopes to find an answer amongst the multiverse, but his universe is truly the first mention of any other forces. Disappointed at the lack of solutions, Barry goes home to continue his investigation. Meanwhile, the Trickster is being convinced by the police to finger a corrupt prison warden when he gets attacked by hired goons. Before they have a chance to murder him, The Flash runs in to save him. Before the goons get away, however, the time-displaced Commander Cold comes in to help Barry.

This is a decent opening issue for the new arc, but not without its problems. While the idea of the other forces getting explored is an interesting angle to go at, we don’t get much of it visually. Yes, we see The Flash investigating the new Forces, but the Strength Force doesn’t appear until the very end of the issue.

The mystery of the Forces and the case against the corrupt warden are laid out as the base of the story. While that usually isn’t a problem, especially since it is an interesting story, there isn’t much action to get us hooked. We have a pair of humans who recreate Parademon technology and try to kidnap the Trickster. That concept alone could have expanded into a fight scene that spanned across Central City. Instead, they’re defeated quickly and in dull fashion. It’s obvious this issue was meant to set the stage, and while it did the job, I can only hope for more action next time.

Art:

While I will miss Porter’s art, the new art team does a good job here. Christian Duce takes over for illustrating this issue and does a great job in designing the characters and powers. The Para-Angels were different enough to stand out from the original Apokoliptian foot soldiers but maintain similarities. Along with them, the Flash looked terrific whenever using his powers. The lightning pops off the page along with The Flash thanks to the fantastic colorwork of Luis Guerrero. Overall, the issue looks nice, and I can’t wait to see more.

Conclusion:

Despite the lack of any major action sequences, I thought this comic was good. The stories that are laid out are interesting enough to keep readers invested for next issue. The art is nice, being both creative and colorful, perfect for The Flash series. The investigation of the new Forces has begun, and if the ending of this comic implies anything, it’ll be a wild ride.

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‘THE EQUALIZER 2’ Review: Denzel Washington Leads This Action-Packed Sequel

By

Kieran McLean

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August 8, 2018

In the latest episode of Kieran’s Movie Space, Kieran McLean delivers his spoiler-free review of The Equalizer 2. Is this an action movie worth checking out? Is Denzel Washington still a great action hero? Listen to the review below and find out!

More – ‘Ant-Man And The Wasp’ Review: A Fun Standalone Adventure

Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters. New episodes weekly…or whenever I feel like posting.

Listen to the episode below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeM2YoKdMdI[/embedyt]

Directed by Antoine Fuqua, The Equalizer 2 stars Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders and Bill Pullman. The film will land in UK cinemas on August 17, 2018.

If you have a problem and there is nowhere else to turn, the mysterious and elusive Robert McCall will deliver the vigilante justice you seek. This time, however, McCall’s past cuts especially close to home when thugs kill Susan Plummer — his best friend and former colleague. Now out for revenge, McCall must take on a crew of highly trained assassins who’ll stop at nothing to destroy him.

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Review: Things get Weird in the Phantom Zone in SUPERMAN #2

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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The second issue to Bendis’ Superman trips over itself with bizarre dialogue.

Just when Clark Kent’s life couldn’t get any worse, the first issue of his new series has him hit rock bottom. After the events of the Man of Steel miniseries, Superman has been trying to get back to his normal life. His wife and son are off in deep space; meanwhile, his cousin left the planet to investigate their attacker. All of this puts a strain on Superman emotionally, then the unthinkable happens. The entire world is pulled into the Phantom Zone; the dimension Kryptonians used as a prison. Superman must now stand against the threats of this planet while figuring out how they even got there.

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

After being absorbed into the Phantom Zone, Superman works around the clock to protect the Earth. Satellites and asteroids fall from the sky as Clark begins to worry about the threats that hide within the zone. One such threat is Rogol Zaar, who sees a chance at revenge. Before he can execute an attack, however, he resolves to build an army first. Back on earth, the Justice League work around the clock to figure out who sent the planet into the Phantom zone. Unfortunately, it becomes apparent that there is a side effect to earthlings, causing the League to fall. Superman is all alone to protect Earth.

My biggest problem with this issue is the dialogue. Not the lettering of the dialogue, but the dialogue itself. Some of the things that are said in this issue are so bizarre for the League to say. One could argue that it is the Phantom zone affecting their speech, but it’s really hard to ignore it. During the opening of Superman working to save the Earth, he says that this day sucks. He says he can think of a better word, as he is a journalist, but why not say it then? Was this Bendis’ attempt at humor?

What about the rest of the comic? How is the story itself? Well dialogue aside, the story is just okay. The pacing is average, the action is awesome, but its just a run-of-the-mill story. If it wasn’t for the dialogue, this story could have been a passable comic.

Art:

While the story might not impress, the artwork certainly will. Ivan Reis masterfully illustrates the issue with cinematic vision. Most of these panels would look fantastic on the big screen, from massive battles on strange planets to Superman speeding off to stop falling satellites. Reis even brings back an old villain from Superman’s cinematic past and makes him look amazing! The only problem art has, however, would be in the colors. Not that they’re terrible, but occasionally there are color inconsistencies that stand out. Other than that hiccup, the comic looks pretty damn great.

Conclusion:

This was not a good second issue to this series. The dialogue takes what would be a passable story and drags it down. The art does a fantastic job, but even that isn’t enough to save this comic. Hopefully, this was just a bump in the road, but so far, this story already looks like a flop.

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Review: WONDER WOMAN #52 Sees the Start of a New Adventure

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

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While it talks a big game, this opening for the next Wonder Woman arc needs some work.

With the Dark Gods arc come and gone, a new creative team has stepped up to take over. Steve Orlando has now taken up responsibilities in writing adventures for Wonder Woman. His first issue set the tone for his run as it began to peel back the layers of what makes Diana Wonder Woman. It followed her visiting a villain she took down earlier in the series, eventually befriending her. It showed off the peacemaking side to the Amazon Warrior, which was refreshing after the dark stories that came before. Now we have a full arc that will team up Wonder Woman and Aztek, introduced in Orlando’s Justice League of America run. How will this classic and new heroines unite and against what?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

During a raid with ARGUS, Wonder Woman is approached by Aztek with a new mission. She has had a vision that shows an Amazon in the heart of an ancient Aztec temple. When Aztek describes the Amazon, Wonder Woman realizes that it is her long-lost aunt. This convinces her to go with Aztek to the temple and defeat the evil that has her aunt. Realizing they might need a little extra help, however, Diana turns to Artemis, a rival Amazonian. Putting their differences aside, Artemis joins them, and soon the trio finds themselves in a labyrinth within the temple.

This issue is a very large information dump, but with little explanation. If you don’t know the history of Aztek, you might get a bit lost on the character. Same goes for Artemis, but at least with her, they reference the comics. We also don’t get a clear explanation of what precisely the titular “enemy of two sides” actually means. This is the first issue, so I expect some of the story to be revealed over time, but this honestly felt like a clunky read. I will admit, however, that the story’s legend of the lost Amazon, as well as the labyrinth, is intriguing enough to keep readers hooked for next issue. Hopefully, as the series goes on the story smooths itself out.

Art:

The art is a bit hit and miss to put it simply. There are times where the designs of the characters and setting are fantastic. They’re very creative and blends history and the paranormal in ways only seen in a Wonder Woman story. The flaws for the art lie in the colorwork and the layout. While it isn’t uncommon to push past the traditional grid of panels, but this issue has some strange layouts. None of which are consistent, causing the story to feel more and more clunky. The colorwork also feels just a bit off, causing the characters to feel flat in some places. There’s enough good to balance the bad, but both sides are very noticeable.

Conclusion:

Overall, this opening issue left me wanting and not in a good way. I can see where Orlando wants to go with it, but the story isn’t quite there. An adventure that shows off Wonder Woman’s personality as well as be badass is welcome. I do see potential in this comic arc. It just needs to be cleaned up and focused to become a great story.

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‘Ant-Man And The Wasp’ Review: A Fun Standalone Adventure

By

Kieran McLean

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August 8, 2018

In the latest episode of Kieran’s Movie Space, Kieran McLean delivers his spoiler-free review of Marvel’s latest superhero flick, Ant-Man And The Wasp. Has Marvel Studios delivered another exciting superhero movie? Does The Wasp get a perfect introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Do we find out where the duo were during Avengers: Infinity War? Check out the episode below and find out!

More – Review: ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ Is One Of The Best Action Movies Ever!

Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters. New episodes weekly…or whenever I feel like posting.

Listen below:

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv7CQEjfs50[/embedyt]

Ant-Man and the Wasp is directed by Peyton Reed and stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hannah John-Kamen, Michael Peña, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Randall Park and Abby Ryder Fortson. The film is written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Berrar, and Gabriel Ferrari.

Scott Lang grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to rebalance his home life with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he’s confronted by Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put on the suit and learn to fight alongside the Wasp as the team works together to uncover secrets from the past.

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Review: SANDMAN UNIVERSE #1 Is A Welcome Return To Vintage Vertigo

By

Manuel Gomez

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Neil Gaiman returns to the concept that made him famous with DC/Vertigo’s one-shot Sandman Universe #1. Featuring the work of Si Spurrier, Nalo Hopkinson, Dan Watters, and Kat Howard as well, the issue will set up four brand new series: The Dreaming, House of Whispers, Lucifer, and Books of Magic.

Sandman Universe #1
Written by: Neil Gaiman, Si Spurrier, Nalo Hopkinson Dan Watters, and Kat Howard
Art by: Bilquis Evely, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Tom Fowler, Max Fiumara, Sebastian Fiumara, and Mat Lopes

A rift between worlds has opened, revealing a space beyond the Dreaming. Meanwhile, a book from Lucien’s library is discovered by a group of children in the waking world where it should not exist. Lucien calls for Matthew the Raven to seek out their master, Daniel, Lord of Dreams. As Matthew flies across the Waking World and others, he finds a young boy named Timothy Hunter who, in his dreams, has become the world’s most powerful magician—but in his nightmares, he is the world’s greatest villain. A new House has appeared in the realm of the Dreaming: the House of Whispers, with its proprietor, a fortune-teller called Erzulie. And elsewhere, Lucifer has fallen again, only this time he might be trapped in a Hell of his own design.

Writing

Sandman Universe #1 does what any good one-shot does: it gives you a clear, accessible setup. What’s special here is the world being set up, and that world is a re-introduction to a shared ‘Sandman Universe’. Gaiman, along with the crew of writers who will be guiding this universe forward, does a solid job of balancing exposition for the Vertigo virgins with a new a ‘deep cut’ mystery for Vertigo veterans. Using the raven Mathew (a Sandman fan favorite) as our guide is also a clever move. Not only is Mathew entertaining and amusing, but birds as guides is a long tradition in myths and stories, which is a huge part of what ‘The Dreaming” is about.

As good as the wraparound story is, each individual story/concept does feel a bit rushed; Tim Hunter could have used a few more pages and the sequence with Lucifer may be a bit confusing if you don’t know both the Vertigo and traditional Christian histories of the character.

The ending though sets up a great mystery, and the ‘rift’ concept makes you wonder if this could even be tied into Daniel’s (the Sandman) recent role in the main DCU’s Metal event.

Art

Vertigo books have a long tradition of having great art, and this issue is no exception. The bulk of the art comes from Bilquis Evely, who will be drawing The Dreaming written by Spurrier) and she does a fantastic job. Her art is elegant and crisp. But the entire art team does a great job, and even though there is a difference in art and approach, there is still an overall feeling of ‘style’ to the different stories that helps build cohesiveness.

The lettering also deserves a mention, as fancy fonts and clever word balloons and narrative boxes help make this a complete package.

Conclusion

If you loved Sandman back in the day, you probably already have this. If you are curious about what the Vertigo phenomena was in the ’90s then this is a great primer. Either way, it’s great to have new classic Vertigo in comic shops and this one-shot will get you excited to see where these new titles are going to go.

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WRITTEN: Charles Soule

LAYOUTS: Giuseppe Camuncoli

FINISHES: Daniele Orlandini

COLORS: David Curiel

LETTERS: Joe Caramagna

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD!!!

DARTH VADER SPOILERS TOO!

Summary

Art

Ruthless Inquisitors

Star Wars Is In His “Soule”

Should you buy this issue?

Should you add this to your pull list?

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

While lacking major action, this issue of the Flash sets the stage for an intriguing tale.

Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

The second issue to Bendis’ Superman trips over itself with bizarre dialogue.

Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

While it talks a big game, this opening for the next Wonder Woman arc needs some work.

Story:

Art:

Conclusion:

Writing

Art

Conclusion

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD

SPOILERS LIE AHEAD