Review - Doctor Fate #3

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Doctor Fate (2015) #3 - DC Comics

Written by Paul Levitz

Art by Sonny Liew

Colors by Lee Loughridge

Letters by Nick J. Napolitano

Anyone who has been reading Doctor Fate since the first issue comes out knows that Khalid, the one chosen to wear the Helmet of Fate, is still getting used to it.  To be more specific, used to being a hero and seeing himself as someone who can save the world.   In the third issue it seems he's finally getting the hang of it...sort of.  His family should be in turmoil after what happened with his father, but no one really seems rattled.  That is, except for Khalid's father, who sense something very evil is at work.

We do get to see him gain confidence when he is able to do something that he couldn't do in the previous issue with his new found powers.  You get the sense that this book is about to make a turn to a more confident hero.  Levitz has balanced that very well with the fact that we are talking about a kid who is supposed to be starting med school.  Being educated and logical, he can't wrap his mind around the fact that he's wearing this crazy talking helmet and he can now fly.  I would like to see more of a dark and evil tone from Anubis in future issues, to give things a real sense of doom.

So far, this series really has felt like one, long #1 issue.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I do think the transition needs to be made soon with a clear path set going forward.  As someone who has always loved Doctor Fate, it's nice to see a different take on the character and take him back almost a Year One.  The art from Sonny Liew has definitely grown on me more and more now that we're three issues in.  Nick J. Napolitano's letters really make this book pop and give it that ancient Egyptian feel that they're going for.  If you're a Fate fan, or just of Egyptian mythology, this is a pull for you.  If you're not sure, it's definitely still worth picking up.

Rating: PICK-UP 

Review - Swords of Sorrow: Vampirella & Jennifer Blood #4

Swords of Sorrow: Vampirella & Jennifer Blood #4 (of 4) - Dynamite Comics
Written by Nancy Collins
Art by Dave Acosta
Colors by Valentina Pinto
Letters by Erica Schultz
Cover by Billy Tan

The tie-ins to the big Swords of Sorrow arc from Dynamite are starting to wrap up.  Vampirella once again teams up, albeit reluctantly, with Jennifer Blood keep their swords from Chastity and the Prince.  It seems the attempt to pit them against each other didn't work out so well.  Problem is, what should have felt like an epic final battle, seemed to fall a bit short.

Chastity just was not a convincing villain to me, and at no point did I feel our two heroes were ever in any real danger.  There was a point where Jennifer Blood runs out of bullets, which I did feel was a nice way to add some tension.  Still, even in a back and forth battle with Vampirella and Chastity, at no point did I feel like things weren't going to work out.  You still want some sense of peril or the sense that this may turn things in the bigger arc.  Even the end of the issue, at the climax of the showdown, it didn't have that wow factor.

Nancy Collins does to a great job with Jennifer Blood, who seemed to steal the show in this final issue.  I found myself more interested in her pages, which is ironic, because Collins has done a masterful job in writing Vampirella solo for years.  The art by Dave Acosta is very consistent, and the action sequences played out well.  If this were anything but a conclusion, I would have enjoyed this issue much more.  If this were, say, a halfway point in the arc, I would give this issue high praise.  As a conclusion, this issue falls a little flat for me.  It does assist the main arc, which serves the purpose of a tie-in, but not enough to race out and grab this off the shelf.

Rating: DROP/SKIP

Review - Midnight Society: The Black Lake #2

Midnight Society: The Black Lake #2
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Drew Edward Johnson
Art by Drew Edward Johnson
Colors by Lizzy John
Letters by Steve Dutro

The mystery at Loch Ness continues!  If you didn't read Issue 1 of this series, you'll definitely want to back track before trying to jump in to the second issue.  The story really centers around Secret Agent Matilda Finn, joined by Submarine Diver Billy Wetherell and the search for a lost research team that went looking for the infamous Loch Ness Monster.  Drew Edward Johnson really does well letting his words drive the story in one moment, and his art take control in the next.  It's this back and forth that really draws you in as the story goes on.

I cannot stress the word "Secret" enough when it comes to Matilda.  We get a SMALL sense of her past and her motivations in this issue, but all it does is let you know there are more questions that will have to be answered later on in the series.  Right away, you can tell she is "different" and you'll know why in the first few panels.  Both Matilda and Billy really question each of their motives for being on the mission, but it turns out one of them definitely has more reason to be suspicious.

As you read you know this book is building towards something big, and boy does it deliver!  For me, this was almost like watching the final act of the original Jaws...only this is far from over.  It does drag a bit in the early going, but the payoff was well worth the wait.  The colors by Steve Dutro really help set off Drew Edward Johnson's art, making you feel like you're in a very dark and dangerous place throughout.  Combining mystery, science and suspense so well, I think Dark Horse has found a winner with this creator owned project.

Rating: PULL

  

Review - Bloodshot Reborn #5

Welcome to our BRAND NEW online reviews!  We hope you enjoy reading about what comics Nick and I are reading as much as you do listening to them.  Without further delay, let's dive in and see what else I'm reading.

 

Bloodshot Reborn #5
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Raul Allen & Patricia Martin
Additional Colors by Borja Pindado
Cover by Raul Allen 

The more and more you read Bloodshot from Valiant, the more you can understand why he will be the first one to have a feature film from the publisher.  Ever since the first issue of this series, you can really feel for Bloodshot as he gets pulled slowly back into his old life.  The way that Lemire writes the internal monologue in this series is fantastic.  Then that gets mirrored by Raul Allen in the art, bringing those feeling out (and boy did they come out in this issue!)  It's not easy to make the reader REALLY care about the characters, but you really do in this series.

Ray has been on the edge of losing it since the end of Issue 1.  Part of the reason for that is Bloodsquirt, check that, it's a major reason.  With each passing issue I find myself wishing Bloodsquirt would be taken care of.  Well now there's more tension than ever with the addition of Magic, who Ray picked up in the last issue.  You really get the sense that she will be very important going forward.  Bloodshot needs that comfort zone, and he's not finding that with the figments of Kay (who is pushing him to kill Magic.)  SOMEBODY doesn't make it to the end of this issue.  When that happens, it changes everything.  Then there's that folder with Ray's true identity.  Who IS Bloodshot?  You do NOT want to miss the end of this issue.

Every time Ray hunts down another nanite infected psychopath, much like his blood, you feel this series building more and more to an exciting conclusion.  Introducing Magic into the mix added even more intrigue to an already gripping story.  The pacing by Lemire in the story borders on perfection.  Matched with the vivid detail and attention that Allen gives to each page, this is a can't miss series for me.

Rating:  PULL

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