Weekly Roundup | Comic Releases Wednesday, March 28th 2018

Daredevil #600 sees Daredevil assemble the street Avengers to take down Mayor Wilson Fisk, the final battle sees Daredevil arrested and Fisk incapacitated by the Hand making Matt Murdock the new Mayor of New York.

Weekly Roundup | June 2017 Comic Solicitations

DC Solicitations DC Comics begins their summer event with Dark Days: The Forge written by Scott Snyder and art by Jim Lee, Andy Kubert, and John Romita Jr. The Justice League believe Batman is holding a secret which could threaten the very existence of the multiverse. In July DC Comics will release Dark Days: The Casting and in August Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo team up with Batman Metal. 

Aquaman #25 has a new artist joining the team Stjephan Sejic who is known for Sunstone and Switch over at Image.

Action Comics #981 and #982 continues Revenge following Superman Reborn where General Zod unites Cyborg Superman, Eradicator, Mongul, Blanque, and Metallo into a new Superman Revenge Squad. The story is told under writer Dan Jurgens who was responsible for the Death of Superman back in 1992.

DC Universe and Looney Tunes Six One Shots

Batman/Elmer Fudd

Jonah Hex/Yosemite Sam

Legion of Super-Heroes/Bugs Bunny

Lobo/Road Runner

Martian Manhunter/Marvin the Martian

Wonder Woman/Tasmanian Devil

The selling point of these stories are the artists of the books. You have Lee Weeks (Daredevil) Mark Texeira (Ghost Rider) Tom Grummett (Superman) Kelley Jones (Batman) and Barry Kitson (Superman). Most likely this is an experiment similar to what is happening to Archie Comics where the cartoon versions are pushed aside for a more realistic version of the characters. 

Marvel Comics Solicitations Marvel Comics continues its summer event with Secret Empire and its 16 tie-ins. Before Spider-Man: Homecoming is released in July, Marvel releases Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man by Adam Kubert and Edge of Venomverse. Just before the Netflix Defender, Marvel releases the Defenders series under Brian Michael Bendis. The Ultimate Thor arrives in The Mighty Thor #20.

Archie Comics brings the 3-part Over the Edge where one of Riverdale's residents loses his or her life in Archie #20.

Valiant brings Rai: The History of the Valiant Universe #1 revealing the history of the Valiant universe from the past and into the future. Valiant is doing preorder set consisting of several issues of a series. They did it before with the first three issues of the new X-O Manowar series. Now they are doing it with X-O Manowar #4 through 9 and taking advantage of the advanced marketing that took place.  Now they are doing it with the new Secret Weapons series. This builds a partnership between the publishers and the retailers to create sustainability and value to the customers. . Valiant has put substantial premarketing into its series by establishing buy-in from the retailers and customers. Much like what Marvel is doing with its upcoming Secret Empire series.

Marvel Action Figure Covers [2015-2016] John Tyler Christopher

Devil Comics Review | Daredevil: Back in Black – Chinatown [2016]

Eight months following Secret Wars, Matt Murdock is back in New York as a prosecutor with his secret identity intact. In the previous All-New, All-Different Point One, we are introduced to Samuel Chung who developed an invisibility suit and goes by Blindspot. The first issue of the new Daredevil series begins with Matt teaming up with Sam to save a witness testifying against Ten Fingers. Later we discover Samuel is part of the Church of the Ten Fingers and he is ordered to kill Matt. Writer Charles Soule is a real life attorney and I’m looking forward to him developing real cases for Matt to argue. Overall this is another great Post-Secret Wars issue along with Totally Awesome Hulk which is both released the same week.

Matt Murdock wants to use his witness Billy Li to take down the Church of Tenfingers. Sammie Chung who works for Tenfingers is sent to take down Billy Li and Matt Murdock. He succeeds in ruining Matt Murdock’s case against Tenfingers. Matt Murdock is assigned to Night Court for losing the indictment against Tenfingers. Later Daredevil discovers Tenfingers stole his powers from the Hand and they want it back.

The Hand sends a creature called the Fist against Tenfingers. Daredevil destroys the Fist and finds Tenfingers strapped on the wall dead. Overall the first story arc introduces Tenfingers and Matt Murdock’s new status quo in New York City. The final issue seemed a bit rush as it ended the first arc. The Fist is killed as well as Tenfingers within a few pages during the end of issue five.

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Devil Comics Review | Netflix Daredevil [2016] Season 2

The second season begins with Daredevil confronting Frank Castle AKA the Punisher on the rooftops of Hell’s Kitchen. The Punisher is targeting gangs who are responsible for the death of his family. Karen Page and Foggy Nelson are attempting to link the murders to the District Attorney’s office. Frank pleads “Not Guilty” and a trial is held while Matt Murdock teams up with Elektra to take down the Yakuza. Stick comes back and reveals Elektra works for him since Matt first met her in college.

Frank is taken to jail where he is confronted by the Kingpin who reveals the Blacksmith is behind the death of his family. The Kingpin frees Frank from prison to seek the Blacksmith. Karen Page tracks down Frank’s commanding officer who reveals himself as the Blacksmith. The District Attorney created a sting to trap the Blacksmith however Frank’s family was killed in the crossfire. Frank gets his revenge on the Blacksmith and uses his armory to become the Punisher.

The Hand is introduced and led by Nobu who supposedly died and is not resurrected this season. They are seeking the Black Sky who is Elektra. Nobu and the Hand fight against Elektra and Daredevil which ends with Elektra being killed and Stick beheading Nobu. Season 2 ended with Matt revealing his identity to Karen, Elektra is resurrected, and the Kingpin is investigating Matt and his ties to Daredevil.

This was an explosive season giving us both the origin of the Punisher and Elektra as well as expanding on the events of season one. Season three will most likely bring the Born Again storyline which leads with the Kingpin discovering Matt’s identity and the introduction of Bullseye. 

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Review | Daredevil #1 [2015] Charles Soule | Ron Garney

Eight months following Secret Wars, Matt Murdock is back in New York as a prosecutor with his secret identity intact. In the previous All-New, All-Different Point One, we are introduced to Samuel Chung who developed an invisibility suit and goes by Blindspot. The first issue of the new Daredevil series begins with Matt teaming up with Sam to save a witness testifying against Ten Fingers. Later we discover Samuel is part of the Church of the Ten Fingers and he is ordered to kill Matt. Writer Charles Soule is a real life attorney and I’m looking forward to him developing real cases for Matt to argue. Overall this is another great Post-Secret Wars issue along with Totally Awesome Hulk which is both released the same week.

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5

Review | Netflix Jessica Jones [2015] Season 1

Before the debut of Season One, Marvel release a twelve page comic featuring Jessica Jones and Daredevil. Jessica discovers her injured contact at the hospital and discovers Daredevil put him there. During Season One, we are introduced to Luke Cage and Patsy Walker. After the death of her parents, Jessica lives with Patsy Walker who becomes a sister to her. She stalks Luke Cage and it is revealed she killed his wife while under the influence of Kilgrave. Throughout the first season, Jessica finds ways to stop Kilgrave until ultimately killing him in the end. Overall the series is different than Netflix Daredevil but that's what makes Jessica Jones special. Season Two will not commence until after the Defenders. 

RECOMMENDED - 4 OUT OF 5

Review: All-New, All-Different Marvel Point One #1 [2015]

The Point One issue begins with Battlerealm which seems to be all that’s left of Battleworld following Secret Wars. Instead of Doom we have Maestro who has a competition with the Collector. The issue is a prequel to Contest of Champions. The Avengers #0 book introduced the various Avengers team while the Point One issue surveys the rest of the Marvel Universe including SHIELD, Inhumans, Daredevil, Carnage, Rocket, and Groot. We also have the return of the Sentry to the Marvel Universe after his death in Siege a few years ago as well as the first appearance of Daredevil’s new sidekick. The first appearance is alone is a reason to pick up this book. 

RECOMMENDED – 4 OUT OF 5