The Wild Storm #22 by Warren Ellis - Comic Book Review

From the publisher: “The Sparks has the authority.” Jenny Mei Sparks has assembled a group of misfits and exiles, to stand against a corruption that covers the world and orbits above it. The problem? She’s probably too late. The endgame for a free Earth is in motion.

What happens when Jenny Sparks, Shen, Angie Spica, and John (thought it was Jack) Hawksmoor meet Apollo and the Midnighter? Well, Warren Ellis shows us in The Wild Storm #22. Oh yeah, Skywatch and IO are planning on fighting over control of the Earth, too. SO basically, this issue is one giant meet-up and battle. It's pretty cool with lots of typical Ellis action, some funny quips, and some outrageous situations.

I enjoyed this issue for what it was: the formation of The Authority. And if that was what Ellis was working towards with this series, the payoff was huge and explosive and fun. Seeing the characters interact was entertaining, as well. However, there are a bunch of hanging plot threads from earlier in this series and none of them were even mentioned in this book. That leaves Ellis two more issues to tie them up, or it looks like there will need to be a sequel series of some sort (which I'm fine with). I trust that Ellis knows what he is doing and I'm really looking forward to reading the next two issues to see how resolves everything.

I highly recommend The Wild Storm #22 by Warren Ellis. If you're just getting started with this book, stop and grab the collected editions of the first 18 issues, then come on back to see how it all ends. It's great fun!

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

Heroes in Crisis #8 by Tom King - Comic Book Review

From the publisher: You’ve seen all the clues. You’ve heard the testimony and eavesdropped on the secret confessions of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. Now, with the killer revealed, it’s time to find out why. What could have driven a hero to the brink, to turn a savior into a murderer? Rifts will form between old allies, and the trinity of Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman will have their leadership challenged and will question their own judgment. Sanctuary has become something they never imagined…and it’s still potentially carrying on without them!

I don't know how to review Tom King's Heroes in Crisis #8 without spoilers. So, I'm going to give a brief, somewhat generic review, then announce SPOILERS! to warn readers, and go from there.

Heroes in Crisis #8 reveals the person behind the massacre at Sanctuary. It also gives the backstory, all of which makes perfect sense. Each step is laid out in order, and King doesn't cheat with his reveal at all. All that's left is to see how Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the rest react to this, and just where they go now that Sanctuary has been revealed to the public and the killer has been made known. I presume that's what issue #9 will deal with; however, I expect that the consequences of this series will be felt in the DC Universe for some time, or else I'd be extremely disappointed.

I'd highly recommend Heroes in Crisis #8 by Tom King. Once again, he has given well-known, even over done, characters depth and pathos, adding gravity to the hero business with the creation of Sanctuary to help them deal with the trauma that often results from the many adventures and battles these heroes encounter and experience.

Now, SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!!!





Wally West is responsible for all the deaths!?! Really? I know the story was leaning in that direction over the past few issues, but this seems harsh. Wally was erased from everyone's memory due to the New 52 (this was a major complaint). However, his return has been a major part of the Rebirth storyline and has even been an impetus in the Doomsday Clock story. Wally is such a positive character throughout his history in DC, it hurts to have him be responsible for this crisis. However, it makes sense. Because, with his disappearance, the fact that his wife Linda doesn't know him (let alone marry him), and his twin children no longer exist, I don't think any character has suffered so much. As King writes the backstory to the massacre, Wally's depression or sadness or anxiety or whatever it would be called, causes him to make some questionable choices, which lead to an emotional breakdown that results in the speed force killing the occupants of Sanctuary. I can buy all of that. What I really don't want to see happen is that Wally dies, again. He just returned to the universe, and if for no other reason than that the fans deserve some more Wally stories, it's not really fair for him to die so soon. That said, I'm looking forward to the next issue in the hopes that the Trinity of heroes can stop Wally before he follows through with his plan (King left a door open). I'm also curious to see how all of this affects Wally's friends and fellow heroes. After all, Roy Harper is now dead, along with a host of other heroes, and Wally set Booster Gold and Harley Quinn up as suspects. I would definitely read a series that dealt with the fallout and the healing going forward.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

He is risen! Happy Easter. Jesus loves you and died for your sins. But today, we mark His resurrection!

THE DREAMING #8 by Simon Spurrier - Comic Book Review

From the publisher: His skin, marked by malignant magics. His spirit, eclipsed. His mind, crushed.

Even the Lord of Dreams is powerless against the storm of lost love. When an Endless heart breaks, the world breaks with it...

The Dreaming #8 by Simon Spurrier is another excellent addition to this series. After a rather slow-ish start (in my opinion), Spurrier has kicked things into high gear with the two most recent issues. The current one is the second chapter in this arc, and picks up right where the last left off.

Rose is still at the hospital, relating her story (and her daughter Ivy's story) to a weird looking man she discovered on the beach and rescued. Rose continues to tell him how Dream/Daniel and Ivy fell in love, and then how the relationship fell apart. Without spoiling anything, I will say that this reminds me a bit of how the last Dream was trapped and held captive for years. Ivy was an unwitting and unknowing pawn in a conspiracy to do something to Daniel, and she was cast aside once her role was finished.

There is a bit of heartbreak mixed in, from many of the characters involved. Additionally, there is now a conspiracy for Rose to try and reveal/defeat and the identity of the mysterious patient to discover (I thought it was Lucian, but now think it might be Matthew or another Raven).

I'm really loving this arc, because Spurrier has seemed to captured what I so enjoyed about the original Sandman series; the depth and emotion, and wheels within wheels of Gaiman's writing. And while I don't want a replay or retelling of Gaiman's stories, I do appreciate Spurrier capturing the feel and adding to the Sandman mythos with a story that feels appropriate and like it belongs. Because, after all, Sandman is a story about stories.

Pick up The Dreaming #8. Simon Spurrier has something wonderful going on with this series, and this issue is a continuation and expansion of the world he is developing. It's worth a read, especially to fans of the original series (both Sandman and The Dreaming). I can't wait to see where this goes.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics and Vertigo in exchange for an honest review.