Top 5 Favorite Comics of 2011

Well Christmas is over once again. New Years is the day after tomorrow so why don't I look at some of my favorite comics of 2011. Now to get this straight, these are my favorites, not the ones I think are the best. To be fair I'm going to include only one comic from a series. This includes Spin-offs. So let's check it out.

5. Brightest Day #24
 





































When I was reading this series I didn't really like it. All it was doing was killing off characters that where just brought back in Blackest Night. However it turned out great, and the characters that were "killed" off didn't stay dead. (Well except for Hawkgirl) That coupled with the return of John Constantine and Swamp Thing, as well as a fight between Swamp Thing and Black Lantern Swamp Thing makes this my number 5.

4. Megaman #3

One of the better series of 2011. This issue in particular is great because we see how the Robot Masters powers are corrupting Megaman. Making him more and more ruthless, until he finally sees himself no better then Wily. It also has great art, and very interesting characters.

3. Superman Beyond #0

I know some of you are asking what about Action Comics #1. Well, I didn't like it. I'll explain my problems with it if I decide to review it. Anyway Superman Beyond #0 is great, and it shows why I like Superman. He tries to save a villain from dying in Space even after he was impaled through the chest by said villain. There's also a great moment between Clark and Bruce Wayne. It was a pretty good comic to read before the reboot.

2. Ultimate Spider-Man #160
 





































I'm not going to deeply into this because I already reviewed it. However it is really good, and I recommend it if your a Spider-Man fan. Other then that I've got nothing else to say.

1. Detective Comics #881
 



























Scott Snyder is really making a name for himself at DC, between this run on Detective Comics and his run on the new Batman comic he's become one of the best writers on Batman in a while. Detective Comics #881 is the conclusion of his run, and it is nothing less of epic. I don't want to spoil it so you should check it out for yourself.

Well that the end of my list. Let's hope for some good comics in 2012. Until then, this is the Mystery Theatre saying have a Happy New Year.

Comic Panel of the Week: A Leader

"Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" First Thoughts

Another "First Thoughts" so soon. I just did one last night. Anyway I celebrated Boxing day by going to see the Sherlock Holmes movie, and it was pretty good. Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are great. But it did have it's problem, like Sherlock Holmes dies twice. He survives both through "Chekhov's Gun". Also I just didn't like Professor Moriarty. He was intended to be a genius and very cruel but he never came off like that. His actions felt like that but he himself didn't feel like a threat until the very end.

Also, what was the point of bringing back Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler just to kill her off in the first 10 to 20 minutes. If you couldn't write her into the story you should of just said she was in jail or something. But other then that I liked it. If you liked the first one, you should give this a try.

Rating: 3.5/5

"The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe" First Thoughts

To start off, Merry Christmas! Hope you had a good one, and got what you wanted. Now the Doctor Who Christmas Special. As you can tell this is inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which personally isn't the most Christmas related story they could of chosen. But I watched it, and I liked it. Matt Smith performance here is great as always.

The monster of this episode is weird, a Wooden Statue like creature that hatched from Christmas ornaments that grew from sentient trees. Trust me it's not as stupid as it sounds, but it is weird. Believe me there have been much worse monsters on Doctor Who. Anyway this is good, you should check it out if your into Science Fiction. But if your looking for something more Christmas related you should take a look at last years Christmas Special.

Rating: 2.5/5

The Night Before Christmas: A "It's a Wonderful Life" Review

What can I say about this movie that hasn't already been said. I can never give this movie justice. It truly is one of the best movies ever made. There are no characters in this movie, they are fully fleshed out people. We see George Bailey's darkest moment's and his greatest. Every side character has a personality, and is developed.
















I can't speak no wrong of this movie, if there was any movie to watch this Christmas. This would be it. I can't give this a rating, it's a masterpiece. So go watch your favorite Christmas movie with your family, and have a very Merry Christmas.

The Larfleeze Christmas Special Review

What does Christmas mean to you? I'm sure none of you said a Space Warthog wielding the embodiment of greed. That being said let's look at the Larfleeze Christmas Special. Larfleeze discovers that every December 25th the children of the earth get what they most want. Being the greedy person he is, Larfleeze make a list. But on Christmas Day he is shocked to discover no presents. At first he thinks someone stole them but he notices the cookies he left out for Santa is still there.

Larfleeze is quite angry about this when he notices Santas in a Christmas Parade on the TV. Larfleeze goes to attack Santa. When he confronts him however his beard falls off. Larfleeze thinks that he's a decoy and chases after another guy in a Santa suit.

However he runs into what can only be described as a Santa Convention. Well it's a costume return, but that seems to make less sense because why are that many people returning costumes on Christmas day. Larfleeze demands to know which one is the real Santa. However a near buy child tells him the real Santa is at the North Pole. Some crazy antics later, he discovers nothing there. He threatens to melt the North Pole if he doesn't reveal himself, however Hal Jordan confronts him. Larfleeze tells him that he was good, but he didn't get any presents. Hal then reveals that Santa Claus isn't real!

Sonic the Hedgehog was right! But I'm pretty sure Superman would argue this with Green Lantern. Larfleeze doesn't believe him. But Hal tells him it's about Christmas Spirit. He asks how to get Christmas Spirit, and Hal explains it is about giving. Larfleeze still doesn't believe him because he wants his stuff. As Hal leaves he tells him to look at his list, and find something that he really needs. Larfleeze does this, and the comic ends with him realizing that what he really needs is his Family.

How sweet, the greedy space monster has a heart. I liked this comic, the art was good and jokes were to. I do have one problem though, it's apparently for kids. It has activity's like mazes, ornaments, and cookie baking& in it. But the whole Santa Claus doesn't exist thing makes this horrible for kids. Other then that I have no problems.

Rating: 3/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Talking Tree

Marvel Christmas Special 1996 Review

Today where going to look at a Marvel Holiday special. But due to the size, I'm only going to review one story from it. I chose Spider-Man because I never get sick of complaining about him. So let's get started. The comic opens with J. Jonah Jameson handing out presents to the less fortunate. Peter is taking pictures of him while complaining about having to take pictures for Jameson unpaid instead of spending time with Mary Jane on Christmas Eve.

Jameson finally let's Peter go home, and gives him some bus money as he rides off in a Limo. Peter thinks he should teach Jameson a lesson by tying him to a light post. So he changes into Spider-Man, and chases after Jameson. I thought the only reason he wanted to leave was so he can spend Christmas Eve with Mary Jane, so once he can leave he goes to bug Jameson. That's just stupid.

































Anyway the Limo stops outside a Warehouse, where Jameson keeps all the toys. Spider-Man spies through a widow on the roof, when the roof collapses causing Jameson ans Spider-Man to be trapped under rubble. When Jameson wakes up after being unconscious, he finds Spider-Man's mask. He looks over to Spider-Man who used his last bit of webbing to make a mask.

Spider-Man explains that the only way there going to get out is if Jameson "seesaws" a beam off Spider-Man so he can save them both. However Jameson wants to wait a hour so the webbing wears off. After twenty minutes, Spider-Man tries to trick Jameson but it doesn't work.

After 40 minutes, Spidey tells Jameson that if they don't get out soon they'll freeze. So Jameson gives in, and lifts the beam. Spider-Man get's free, and put's his mask back on when a beam of light shines down on them. It revealed to be a news helicopter which got a picture of Jameson saving Spider-Man. The comic ends on Christmas day where Jameson is trying to buy all the newspaper in town so that no one knows he saved Spider-Man

This comic is pretty good. The art is pretty good for the 90's, and all the story's are good. If your looking for something to read this Christmas try to track this down.

Rating: 3.5/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Twelve

The thing slashfics are made off.

Sonic X #15 Review

I'm going to be honest, I don't really like Sonic X that much. Especially the 4Kids dub, which took away what drama the original had. For those who don't know Sonic X is an Anime based on the games, and with any popular show they naturally made a comic out of it. Which was worse then the show. So let's not waste any time. The comic opens with Sonic doubting the existence of Santa Claus. Gary St- I mean Chris tells him that Santa exists because how else do the presents appear on Christmas.

Meanwhile Doctor Eggman comes up with a plan to capture Sonic, by dressing up as Santa, and ordering the kids to capture him. You maybe wondering "Eggman? I thought his name was Robotnik!" well you see, in the recent game his name was changed to Eggman. This was due to his Japanese name originally being Eggman but they changed it when they brought it over to America. So they all they were doing was just fixing there "mistake." Anyway Sonic is still being skeptical about Santa. He thinks that it's all a ruse by Eggman. So he runs to the North Pole to investigate.

Sonic can't find any workshop, and runs back to tell everyone. When he get's there he's about to tell everyone when Uncle Chuck tells him that it will only appear on Christmas. They all go to a gathering at Town Square, in order to watch the lighting of the town Christmas Tree, and giant Menorah. Which is weird since to my knowledge your suppose to light one candle a day during Hanukkah, but I'm not sure since I'm not Jewish. Anyway Eggman appears on a big television dressed as Santa, and tells everyone if he doesn't get Sonic he won't give anyone presents. So naturally, Adult's and all, try to capture Sonic. My favorite is the old guy who looks like he's asleep, and the guy whose going to capture Sonic with his awesome Karate skills.

Anyway Sonic escapes, but it doesn't matter since everyone in the whole world wants Sonic dead. Sort of like in real life. I'm just kidding, but this is stupid. Especially since there are other religions in the world, and does no one find it odd that Santa wants Sonic captured. The tip on this iceberg is the fact that everyone in the world is a generic Japanese Anime character.

Antoine D'Coolette would be so proud.

Anyway Sonic decides to give himself in. Planning to pull the obviously fake beard off Eggman. However Eggman sends his robot in order to capture Sonic. So when when Sonic try's to pull the beard off Robo-Santa it doesn't work. So he get's captured, and the fly away. But Uncle Chuck finds a loose screw, he realizes Sonic was right. At the North Pole, Eggman orders Robo-Santa to throw Sonic into a hole. Kinda anticlimactic. However Uncle Chuck arrives, and calls Eggman a liar since the Real Santa is right over there!

Just randomly standing in the middle of nowhere, not doing anything. Eggman says that it's obviously a fake, but Sonic proves that Robo-Santa is the fake by using a ring to turn into a tornado and hit the robot in the head.

I couldn't make this up if I tried. So the robot is revealed to be a fake, the other one turns out to be Chris' maid in disguise(Not sure how that worked), and Sonic let's Eggman get away, for some reason. The comic ends with Sonic and everyone opening presents on Christmas.

This was not good. The art is really bad in some places. It has the same problem as Justice League Unlimited #7, in that it's trying to imitate the TV show but it fails. The art in Sonic #52  was better, and that came out in the 90's. The story also doesn't make much sense, and gives mix messages on the existence of Santa. Overall not good.

Rating: 1.5/5

Lexmas Review

 Smallville is one of those shows where nobody really believes it's that good. Sure it has it's moments, but the real reason people watch it is because it's the only a live action Superhero show on tv. I admit I watched it when it was on, and embarrassingly I kinda liked it. Anyway today were going to look at the 9th episode of the fifth season, titled "Lexmas."

The story begins when two people try to steal Lex Luthor's car. One of them get's trigger happy, and shoot's Lex in the side and shoulder. This induces a hallucination where the ghost off his mother is showing him how good his life will be if he doesn't turn evil, such as he is married to Lana Lang and is a humanitarian. Meanwhile in the real world there is a subplot about Lex possibly being paralyzed, and Lionel tries to save him. There is another subplot where Clark play's Santa, and delivers present's to children. When he run's into a man in a Santa suit about to commit suicide. Clark manages to stop him, and later it was revealed he was the real Santa.

I really liked this, it was very heartwarming and shows that Lex isn't that bad of a guy. That is until Lana dies. That's where this episode becomes less heartwarming, and more depressing. See Lana starts to die after giving birth to her second child. Lex goes to his father for help, but he tells him he has no son. Lex goes back into the hospital when Lana dies. Lex yells at the ghost of his dead mother, asking her why she showed him this. She tells him this is his best future because it's full of love, but Lex tells her it's the same as everything else. The person he cares about dieing.

I don't like this, why? Because it's stupid. Did Lex's mom really think showing him this would help him make the right choices. I mean she flat out told him that this is the best his life will be. So when Lex wakes up he denounces love, and decides that the only way he will have a happy ending is if he has wealth and power. So good job, you may have caused this or even this.

Anyway this isn't to bad. The stuff with Santa and Clark is nice, and so is the hallucination until Lana dies. But the ending is such a downer, especially for a Christmas special.

Rating: 2.5/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Cold Outside...in April

Superman #76 Review

 It's December, you know what that means. Christmas reviews. However I apologize before this since the comic we are looking today doesn't have a lot to do with Christmas. In the 90's DC released the storyline the Death of Superman. Where Superman was killed by a monster called Doomsday. The arc were looking at today shows how people are dealing with his death. So let's take a look at Superman #76.

The comic opens with Captain Marvel joining a bunch of heroes on the roof of the Daily Planet. He mentions how he would prefer snow on Christmas Eve then rain. However Hal Jordan say's it's fitting since they just had Superman's funeral a week ago. We cut to a kid named Mitch. For those who haven't read the Death of Superman, Mitch was a kid who thought Superman was "lame." However when his house is demolished by Doomsday, and Superman saves him and his family he has a change of heart. He feel's guilty blaming Superman's death on himself.

Mitch comes across a crowd of people around a girl who is claiming to be Superman's wife. Lois Lane who is in the crowd , get's mad and walks off. Jimmy Olsen tries to stop her but she walks away. He run's into Mitch, who is looking to talk to someone who knows Superman. Jimmy offers to go to a restaurant while they talk.

Lois, feeling lonely, goes to Clark's apartment. Johnathan and Martha Kent are there, and comfort her. They are surprised when Lana Lang arrives to talk to them. We cut to the post office where the Super heroes went. They plan to help some of the people in need who wrote letters to Superman. Back with Jimmy and Mitch, they meet up with Bibbo at a diner. Mitch tells them how if it wasn't for them needing help Superman wouldn't of died but Bibbo and Jimmy tell him that there's nothing he could of done.

Back with the Kent's, Lana proposes they tell the world Clark was Superman. They decide not to because Clark deserves his privacy. I have to wonder even if the decided to, would anyone believe them. I mean Lois herself said earlier that a bunch of people have been coming out with personal connections to Superman. Anyway the heroes helping people, including rebuilding Mitch's house and getting Mitch's parent back together. Mitch goes to Superman's Memorial to thank him, and the comic ends with someone stealing Superman's coffin for something called Cadmus.

This comic pretty good. The is art is good for the 90's and it's a good follow up to the Death of Superman. Not bad but not the best. Once again I'm sorry that this doesn't have a lot to due with Christmas, but I promise the next couple weeks of comics I'll review will be Christmas comics.

Rating: 3/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Santa calling Superman

The Amazing Spider-Man #649 Review

Today where going to talk about my favorite subject Spider-Man. More specifically the Hobgoblin. So let's not waste anytime, and get started. The comic opens with a South American Dictatorship being attacked by the Rodrick Kingsley the Hobgoblin. Kingsley get the money he made from the assassination, and decides to go back to the United States since Osborn is in jail. He talks to the Kingpin to get a gig, and the Kingpin agrees as long as he does whatever he says. Kingsley agrees, and goes to one of Norman Osborn armory's to get some equipment.

There he finds Phil Urich, who was once Green Goblin. He's there to find something to impress a girl he likes. Kingsley is about to kill him when Phil starts laughing like the Joker. Kingsley is hurt by this since Phil has Sonic waves called the "Lunatic Laugh" that disorienting to most people. Kingsley is hurt on the ground, and Phil takes the opportunity to go Highlander on him and cut off his head quicker then you can say "There can be only one!."

We cut to a undercover reporter who is investigating a gang that looks up to the Green Goblin. She is about to be attacked by them when she is saved by Spider-Man and Black Cat. Spider-Man makes fun of them since they idolize a known psychopathic killer.

Latter Norah, the reporter, is writing the story when Phil comes to talk to her. Phil tries to brag about how he killed the Hobgoblin and found Norman Osborn's secret lair, but wimps out. They are interrupted by Ben Urich, Phil's uncle who is wondering if Phil needs a job. Phil declines since he already has a new gig, as he pulls out the file Kingpin gave to Kingsley. Then we see Peter and Aunt May getting ready for his first day at horizon labs. When Peter leaves, Aunt May flashbacks to the 60's where the art isn't that great and teen Peter looks older then adult Peter.

Peter is having a hard time thinking of something to make when he hears a crash. Phil dressed as the Hobgoblin is attacking the lab. Peter changes into Spider-Man, and tries to stop the Hobgoblin. Peter thinks Phil is Kingsley, and Phil starts laughing again. Spider-Man becomes immobilized, and the comic ends with the Hobgoblin about to cut off his head.

This comic is pretty good. I like the story, and the art. This also feel's like a 1st issue, and is probably a good jumping on point for new readers. However I do have one problem, what's the point of bringing Rodrick Kingsley back only to kill him off. I'm not a big fan of Phil Urich either so that doesn't help. It's still good though, and I recommend it.

Rating: 4.5/5

Comic Panel of the Week: Hit-Monkey

 Awesome.

Justice League Unlimited #7

Today were going to look at something that has to do with Jack Kirby's New Gods. Essentially when the Old Gods died, there came New Gods. They are live on the twin planets New Genesis a planet filled with unspoiled forests, mountains, and rivers and is ruled by the benevolent Highfather. Then there's Apokolips a nightmarish world filled with fire pits, ruled by the evil Darkseid, who is probably one of the most evil villains in the DC universe. Anyway let's take a look.

The comic opens with Superman going to see Supergirl because she ran away from home. They talk a bit, and it cuts to various heroes in space. They're fighting against Darkseid's soldiers. Supergirl goes to help Red Rocket, and it is revealed that Darkseid is trying to use something called the X-Canon to break through the Source Wall.

The Martian Man-Hunter tells her that she should help Superman and Lightray restrain Orion. For those of you who don't know Orion is Darkseid's son, who was traded for Scott Free in a peace effort between Apokolips and New Genesis. He grew up learning how to control his rage, but he still is very impulsive. As such his relationship with his father isn't that great. Especially since it's Orion who is destined to kill Darkseid.

Anyway Orion breaks free from Superman, and is about to attack Darkseid when Supergirl stops him. Orion get's mad at her but Superman tell's him they need to stick to the plan. Supergirl, Lightray, and Orion go to stop Darkseids minions while Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Atom, and Zauriel go to stop the X-Cannon. However they can't stop the cannon, and are seriously harmed.

Orion has had enough, and attacks him. However Darkseid hit's him with the Omega Beam (which is drawn weird in this comic since it's in the shape of the Ω symbol, and I've never seen it drawn like that) which incapacitates him. Supergirl attacks Darkseid telling him that no matter who you are you shouldn't treat you son like that. She punches him into the X-Cannon destroying it. Darkseid angrily leaves through a Boom Tube. Orion telling Supergirl that now she knows what a fraction of his anger is like. The comic ends with Supergirl going back home, and reconciling with her uncle.

This comic wasn't that bad story wise. However it has the same problem all DC all ages books have, the art isn't that good. It's like someone is trying to imitate the art style of the TV show but fails at it. But I did like the comic it's just not as good as it could of been.

Rating: 3/5