X-Termination : Q&A with David Lapham, Marjorie Liu and Greg Pak

By Jim Beard (originally posted here at Marvel.com)

Age of Apocalypse #13
 cover by Greg Land
(click to enlarge)

Sometimes X-Men events get so big it takes more than just multiple titles to contain them; it requires more than one reality.

The universe-jumping X-Termination will spill out not only from its own Alpha and Omega bookend issues, but also into Astonishing X-Men, X-Treme X-Men and Age of Apocalypse beginning this March. We contacted Marjorie Liu, Greg Pak and David Lapham—the respective authors of the aforementioned X-titles—and posed a few questions to them about alternate realities, alternate points of view, and lots and lots of alternate X-Men.

New Photos From Marvel's Iron Man 3!

Robert Downey, Jr. stars as Tony Stark/Iron Man in "Iron Man 3"

Stop what you're doing, and take a peek at four new photos from Marvel's "Iron Man 3," in theaters May 3, 2013!

JENNIFER BLOOD Vol. 1

WARNING: Jennifer Blood is a Mature Readers Only series. 

Garth Ennis as far as I am concerned is possibly one of the most underrated graphic novelist. I know he is well known and has written some classic fiction in the past but as the final issue of The Boys reaches the stands I for one am looking forward to what he decides to do next. When The Boys was published under the Wild Storm (DC Comics owns it now) imprint Ennis and his artist, Darick Robertson were told by DC that they didn't want a mature series about superheroes as it would more then likely be against what DC wanted in their stable of titles. This left Ennis with the choice of taking the series, which had at that time only 6 issues. else where. Which as far am I am concerned it was good move. Both artist and writer then took the series to Dynamite Entertainment. Where the series has flourished over the past 7yrs.

By then there were talks about a The Boys feature film. Lots of interviews and discussion about a movie. which at the moment is still in the air. I have written a review on the first volume of The Boys. Which should be out soon. It is with Dynamite Entertainment that Ennis created his Jennifer Blood series.

Jennifer Blood, a pseudonym of the lead character, is a well crafted action thriller about a house wife who at night goes out to dish out her own justice on a family of Mob related criminals. The story is told through her own narration written in her journal. We follow this mother of 2 young children and a loving husband, Andrew, who are none the wiser as Jennifer. Every night Jennifer drugs her kids and Andrew, so that she can go about carrying out her vendetta on the local crime family. And like any other vigilante she leaves her calling card.

No matter what, Ennis writes, there is always a very strong first issue. And so in the first issue we follow Jennifer as she puts her family to bed and goes downstairs to the hidden enclave which houses weapons and spy equipment that might put James Bond to shame. Weapons from a simple glock pistol to a RPG (rocket propelled gun) and semi-automatic machine gun. Here in her hidden cupboard space she changes from a house wife to a black leather clad female Punisher. (NB: Ennis wrote several volumes of The Punisher through Marvel Comics Max imprint. The Punisher film starring Tom Jane was based on some of that series).
With a black wig to cover her blonde hair she takes off into the night in her Black SUV wearing dark sunglasses. And it is here that we start to see the very different character than the one while she was with her family. With her chosen weapon hidden away in the SUV, she drives to her first victims of her vigilante.

At first glance the first issue looks like a rip-off of a Punisher story. Jennifer Blood being the female Punisher. But its nothing like the Punisher. Jennifer Blood in her own right is a complex story about family, and the criminal under ground. Jennifer Blood is a strong female character. Which I like seeing in comics. Often to sell a comic book a first issue that is mature in content ends up having the female protagonist is over sexualised, but not so in Jennifer Blood. There is a good balance of mature content along with some of the crazy humor stuff Ennis is known for. But that does not take away from the story. I, for one really enjoyed the story.

This story like any many others that Ennis has written before or since Jennifer Blood, is worth the cover price. When you read through the first arc, Ennis only wrote the first volume on the on-going series, you will come to realise that Jennifer Blood is another original story that could easily be made into a movie, and I hope they do, because the whole first series can easily be adapted to a film script.
The artwork by Adriano Batista gives life to the series which the colorist, Romulo Frajardo Jr. clearly set out to show us to show the difference between Jennifer's day life and her night life, using light tones and colors for the Jennifer's day life and dark hues for the night activities. I found the art and color tones to be well planned out.
The first issue includes a two and a half pages of interview with Ennis about the series as well as  five pages of sketches showing the character designs. After Garth's 6 issue run the writing and art chores are picked up by Al Ewing and Kewber Baal. I had only bought the first 6 issues, all Tim Bradstreet 'Virgin Art' Retailer Incentive covers through my comic dealer. Having read all the issues this week, I hadn't even read the series until this week, I wish I had continued with collecting the rest of the series in print form.
If you are a fan of good crime action stories, then may I suggest that you read at least read Ennis' run. Al Ewing continues on with the series with the spirit of what Ennis began.

(ARU), Aruneshwar has a Bachelors Degree in Digital Media -Digital Film-making. Aru is writing and illustrating a graphic novel about the 30yrs of Institutionalised Slavery ofIndians in Fiji from 1885 -1915. He is a prolific script writer and writes in all comicbook genres which include several graphic novels for his own company,Rising Sun Comics. Aru also uploads a digital comic series on Facebook called, Zero as well as finishing off the lettering to his crime-noir graphic novel, The Circle. He is also trying to finish off coloring and lettering a superhero comic book mini-series he co-created with Mike Burbeck called, Incredi-Girl.

Alan Moore -The Legend, The Myth pt 2 of 2

(for the first part of this article, click this link)

Opinion (conclusion)

Constantine movie poster

When Alan Moore began voicing his views on the Watchmen movie, comic books fans like myself were divided. Fans buy into the characters and heroes in comic books. They become our escape. And like Moore, some of us don't want to see the comic books become 'harmed' by those who want to cash in on these characters being 'cheapened' by film versions - despite how loyal (or not) the directors are to the comic books themselves, or not. By that I mean that their representation in other forms may take away their value to us. And sometimes their adaptation isn't as loyal to the comic books. Constantine is an excellent example of when something can go so wrong. I am not saying that the movie itself was bad, I loved it, but that it cheapened its comparitive-value to the comic series. Over the past two and a half years, as I began to think of comic books as a creator/writer/illustrator, and not just a fan or collector, I started to see the holes in what Alan Moore as a legendary creator/writer had been pointing out about his creations being portrayed in other mediums. 

Marvel NOW Review: Uncanny Avengers #1 + Red She-Hulk #1

The big world-changing, ground-breaking, soul-shaking (yadda, yadda, blah, blah, insert more standard hype here, etc...) event that has been building over at the House of Ideas is finally here!Marvel NOW officially launched last week with the first of the new wave of titles - Uncanny Avengers and Red She-Hulk.

Today our own dynamic(-ish) duo of Mayank and Akshay take us through them both to see whether these measured up to all the hype!

Red She-Hulk #1

Script : Jeff Parker

Art : Carlo Pugalayan & Wellington Alves (pencils), Val Staples (colours)

Mayank says:

The second release under the “Marvel Now” banner for last week. The focus of Hulk shifts from father to daughter, from Red Hulk (RULK) to Red She Hulk (Betty Ross), while Rulk moves to the new team of Thunderbolts (along with Elektra and Punisher.. man that’s gonna rock!). Jeff parker continues to play around with the concepts he introduced and I gotta say man, I am loving this book. This title isn’t going to change your life, it’s not going to make you think or try to prove its relevance by using real world scenarios or create pseudo-reasons for a hero vs hero fight... but this is the most fun I had reading a comic book in quite some time.

[BREAKING NEWS!] NYCC 2012: He's Alive!! Agent Coulson Lives in Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D.

I want this T-shirt!

At the recent "Marvel Television Presents" panel at New York Comic Con, Head of TV Jeph Loeb announced that Clark Gregg would reprise his role as Agent Phil Coulson in the live-action pilot “Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D.” Gregg previously played Coulson in “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2,” “Thor” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” as well as Marvel One-Shots “The Consultant” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor’s Hammer.”

NOTE: If you haven't watched those last 2 videos, go to youtube and watch them now, great little mini's made by Marvel and watchable for free, made to fit in between the other Marvel movies and the Avengers!

- Always Aware Akshay

Alan Moore -The Legend, The Myth pt 1 of 2

From page 1 of Absolute Watchmen, Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons 

Recently, a lot of stuff is being said about Alan Moore's latest addition to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen opus (Century 2009), and how it has a Harry Potter type character in it. After reading his comments about it and the latest round of Before Watchmen books, I thought I would take a wider look at Alan Moore's works. I have already read a lot of the graphic novels he has written and like millions of other fans I love Watchmen, From Hell and being a Socialist I love V for Vendetta.

Week In Review : Deadpool #61 + Happy #1 + Invincible #95

CAPTAIN! ICE-BERG AHEAD!!! ...no not really, it's actually just some awesome new comics, including the much-awaited return of super-scribe Grant Morrison to creator owned writing – so keep reading and enjoy!
- Akshay the amused

Deadpool #61 (Marvel)

Story : Daniel Way

Art : Ale Garza (pencils) + Sean Parsons (inks)

(Reviewed by )

YEAH BAY-BEE!! Hit Monkey’s back.

So this first issue after the Blacklisted saga, we see Wade explaining himself to what seems like somebody 'off-camera'.

So this issue is all about a ex-FBI agent who has a vendetta against good ol’ Wade.

What’s awesome is how eloquent Wade seems to sound when he’s trying to stop HIT MONKEY from KILLING him.. Yes I’m excited. Hit Monkey is awesome. If only I did all my reviews with this intensity.

Hit Monkey holds a special place in my heart, and in the hearts of many a Deadpool fan. Although what pissed me off was the lack of him in the issue and why he’s going ballistic.

So anyway back to the former agent. Yeah, so she was caught in Wade’s line of fire back when she was undercover, now she’s disabled. And, of course, wants DP dead.

Are Reboots worth the RISK? (Part 2 of 2) : Marvel NOW?

(Continued on from Part 1 here.)

Okay so, lets get back to the real world and the current bombardment of the "NEW", "NEXT", "NOW!".

Usually when you hear, see or read any of those three previous words you would expect something, new, current and better, right? Well, sorry friend, but you are out of luck. Remember last year when all of a sudden Marvel decided to end the decades old run of the Uncanny X-men title and spilt it into Wolverine and the X-Men and renumber Uncanny X-men to #1 with Cyclops leading the team.
Wait.., Didn't this happen before? 
Yes, a similar thing did happen back in 1990s. I remember, because thats when I spent $100 of my wages every week buying comics, especially X-Men related books. There was a split with Cyclops,  'Blue Team' and Storm's 'Gold Team'. Preorder for that 'X-Men' book was 8 million but supposedly only 3 million sold. Which shows that the decision didn't pay off as was expected.

X-Men - 1991 series

Are Reboots worth the RISK? (Part 1 of 2)

Due to poor health, I spend a lot of time reading articles on comics, reading comics and going through reader responses to current trends in the comic industry. Along with writing comics, illustrating them and with a completed graphic novel before an international publishing house (my fingers are tired from crossing that I might get that much needed boost-to-my-ego and finally arrive upon the comic scene - you can cross your fingers as well. I need all the luck I can get. And also, I could do with a little less idiocy in my life), I am weary with how the Comic Industry is going to keep being relevant while rehashing the same characters in a new costume, only slightly changed, and  in a different team etc.

Now let me make myself very clear here before anyone starts to have a go at me for being an upstart, or if you're a little less polite, an idiot.

I LOVE COMIC BOOKS!

I do. Comics were my first love. They were an escape and several thousands of dollars were spent buying them as a collector and as a fan.

AvX Recap (#0-9) : Series In Review

AVENGERS vs X-MEN recap #0-9

Writers: Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron, Ed Brubaker, Jonothan Hickman and Matt Fraction

Art: Frank Cho, John Romita Jr, Olivier Coipel and Adam Kubert

Published by Marvel Comics

Article by Stewart Loud

The X-men and Avengers have declared war on each other and the world as we know it is under threat of total destruction by an all powerful cosmic threat. It's a Marvel event, alright!

The Plot:

The Phoenix is returning. The X-men know it's coming and they know it's intended host is Hope Summers. Despite all the death, destruction and mess it usually causes, the X-men, in particular Cyclops, have decided this is a wonderful thing that could possibly bring back all the mutants again so the world can return to being the ultra dangerous and chaotic place it used to be, where any halfwit or psychotic murderer can be born with the powers to murder more people than they ever could have hoped for otherwise, before most of them were de-powered during House Of M.

Week In Review : Deadpool #58 + Wolverine and the X-Men #14 + X-Treme X-Men #1

Greetings and salutations folks young and old!

Step right on in and enjoy as we bring you a bunch of new releases, today in a special Marvel Monday set of reviews!

(Psst! And of course, drop back in tomorrow for more reviews!)

Deadpool #58 (Marvel)

Story : Daniel Way

Art : Salvador Espin

(Reviewed by Anant Sagar)

So epic-ness continues in this issue as Deadpool faces off against Black Swan. No not Natalie Portman from the movie, I’m talking about an assassin from back in Deadpool’s past.

He was apparently the best. That is until Deadpool killed him......or so he thought.

Over the course of the issue we find out that Taskmaster had told Black Box that Wade doesn’t have a healing factor anymore. So now BB wants Wade dead. He finds Black Swan to tell him that he can kill him now.

Swan catches Wade on the toilet while he’s taking a... um... #2. Insists that he flushes before he dies. Wade dodges and jumps into the bathtub which has an ANTI BALLISTIC SHOWER CURTAIN!! I was like WHAT???

So anyhow, Swan dies. Again!

But that doesn’t deter Black Box. Turns out now that BB has the info that Wade can die, he’s going to be making a lot of calls to a lot of people. Because we all know how many people want him dead, and next in Black box’s list is BLACK TOM CASSIDY.

What is it with this guy and BLACK? Black Box, Swan, and now Tom.

Review: Avengers vs. X-Men #5

A quick disclaimer before we start : It’s a little difficult to talk about this issue without dealing with the big elephant in the room spoiler regarding the identity of the new host of The Phoenix. He/she/they/it/I won’t be named here, but it’s safe to call this one a total game changer and a twist worthy of the first act of this massive story.

Special Review : Avengers vs X-Men #4

Marvel’s latest summer crossover event has gotten into high gear this week, with the launch of fan favourite writer Jonathan Hickman and industry legend John Romita Jr.’s Avengers vs X-Men #4, an issue that attempts to put all the cards on the table and setting up the conflict for the next issue, which is set to serve as the conclusion of "Act I" of the event.

Last Week-In-Review : Dan the Unharmable #1 + Deadpool #54 + Hell Yeah #3 + Mystery In Space #1 One-shot

Welcome back to another new week of comics folks! Don't let us get in your way, let's jump right on into it:

Dan the Unharmable #1 (Avatar Press)

Story : David Lapham

Art : Rafael Otiz
(Reviewed by Akshay Dhar)

Week In Review : Daredevil #12 + Earth 2 #1 + Teen Titans Annual #1 + World's Finest #1 + X-O Manowar #1

Welcome back for more new issues! Read the feedback from our crack staff as they review the books fresh off the racks!
Today is a bit DC-heavy, but given the huge number of titles they put out every week and a bunch of hotly anticipated new titles - so more books tomorrow, but for now, enjoy!

Daredevil #12 (Marvel)

Story : Mark Waid

Art : Chris Samnee

(Reviewed by Anupam Sarkar)

First of all, the cover is extremely awesome and sexy. Man, I just love Paolo Rivera!

The issue starts with a date between Matt Murdock and Kristen McDuffie, the Assistant DA, where she, (in a sexy pose) asks Matt to tie a scarf around her head as a blindfold. The reason for her to use a blindfold is to experience how a blind guy like Matt “enjoys” the world.

Within the issue, Matt tells Kristen about how he and Foggy became friends and also about their 'mock trial' against a professor at the university who had accused Foggy of cheating.

Mark Waid is a brilliant writer and storyteller and has brought something new with each issue. Daredevil #12 is not one of the action packed comics but more like knowing 'bout the guy behind the Daredevil Mask. In fact, there are only two glimpses of Daredevil in this issue (including a shadow).

Chris Samnee's art is pretty awesome and he provides with some jaw dropping visuals.

Review: Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Writer : David Michelinie
Story : Father Roy Gasnick
Artists : John Tartaglione, Joe Sinnott



When I was a teenager, as a rule, I would not purchase comics made as biographies and autobiographies. I grew up reading a comic series from India called Amar Chitra Katha that introduced young readers to the history, mythology and culture of India. There were a gamut of stories, but I usually preferred the folktales as they were stories - escapist literature.

Week In Review : Avengers #25 / B.P.R.D: The Long Death #3 / Batman #8 / Nighwing #8 / Ragemoor #2 / The Shadow #1

 Avengers #25 (Marvel)

Story : Brian Michael Bendis

Art : Walter Simonson

(Reviewed by Anubhav Sharma)

As I’ve said last week, I’m a big fan of Bendis penned event tie-ins, mainly because he gets the level of characterisation and depth stories as big as the events we’ve been seeing for the last half decade which may not fit in well with all the big action in the main books. At face value, one may not see how relevant this issue is to AvX as a whole, but deep down it gives much needed buildup on the Avengers side of the conflict at the core of the event, and serves as a bridge between the recent Osborn storyline and AvX. Captain America and the Protector, in particular, get their motivations fleshed out, which explains some of the former’s decisions in AvX so far and the latter’s solicited actions.

Of course, one can’t talk about this issue without talking about the return of legendary artist Walt Simonson to Marvel. With modern colouring techniques showing is art in a new light, it’s safe to say it as the same level of dynamism he was known for at his best. Also, is Thor particularly looks as majestic as ever.

SCORE : 8.2 / 10

C2E2: New Comic News!!

Good day one and all!

Apologies for a hectic week and not enough comic-y goodness for all of you (largely my fault, but I blame the IPL and various other things for our shortcomings!) but we intend to make up for it and then some in the days to come!

For those of you who follow this stuff, there's a HUGE load of comic news that came out during the recent Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, popularly known as C2E2 amongst fans. I've been keeping an eye on their news and announcements and have for you here a sumptuous feast of some of the most choice and tender treats to tickle your taste buds!

This post is a special recap where I've tried to put together as much of the news as possible for your geeking-out pleasure (in alphabetical order for general ease of use!).

So let's just get to it shall we?

To kick things off, from the strange and frighteningly awesome Avatar offices:

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Michael DiPascale’s new project announced at C2E2 is Hero Worship which will premier in July. Keith says that Avatar Press rarely does superhero comics, noting the exceptions by Warren Ellis, and Christos Gage, saying they don’t do them unless there’s something unique about them. He then describes Hero Worship a bit, telling us Zak Penn will be writing, and it’s a six issue miniseries and is about society’s worship of superheroes and how that can be used to screw the system. The main characters are Adam and Zenith. Adam is a normal boy and Zenith is a Superman-style superhero. Adam is Zenith’s biggest fan, and the book is not really about him, so much as the world around him.

Week In Review: America's Got Powers #1 / Deadpool #53 / Frankenstein Agent of SHADE #8 / Suicide Squad #8

America's Got Powers #1 (Image Comics)

Story : Jonathan Ross & Bryan Hitch

Art : Bryan Hitch

(Reviewed by Anupam Sarker)

The story begins with a flashback to a weird, big and shiny blue crystal landing in San Francisco, causing every pregnant woman within a five mile radius from the crash site to give birth. All these newborns had some special super-power except for one unlucky chap named Tommy Watts a.k.a The Zero (means the guy has Zero Power).

So what do these Super-powered kids do when they grow up? They join a reality TV show called America's Got Powers where all Super-powered folks compete to be in the world's biggest superhero team. And what does Tommy Watts do when he grows up? He does menial jobs at a stadium called Powers Arena where the TV show competition takes place.

Back to the present, Tommy and his friend dress as mascots and go about the arena. Sometime after the show has started, a super-powered guy is thrown out of the arena by the gigantic robots and explodes against the barrier wall, causing civilians to get inside the arena. A kid also gets into the arena and Tommy jumps in to save him. The issue ends with Tommy being revealed to have an unknown type and level of super-power while saving the kid.

I'm a big fan of Jonathan Ross. He is responsible for Turf, a five-issue Image mini which was awesome. But I'm pretty disappointed with the familiarity of the story. I mean, after reading the first few pages of the comic, one already knows what is going to happen. The concept of the comic sounds loosely based on another Image series by Todd Nauck called Wildguard, a comic where super-powered folks enter a reality TV show to join the world’s biggest superhero team (talk 'bout uncanny similarities)

Bryan Hitch's art is pretty good, but sometimes the faces seem to get sloppy or out of proportion.

Overall, the comic is interesting with some amazing visuals and extremely awesome colours by Paul Mounts and attractive letters by Chris Eliopoulos.

If you are looking for an awesome comic which will get more awesome in the next issues, then this is your thing.

P.S- Image Comics publisher Eric Stephenson does a cameo in a panel of the comic.

SCORE : 8.5 / 10

Deadpool #53 (Marvel)

Story : Daniel Way

Art : Alex Garza

(Reviewed by Anant Sagar)

No No No!! What has Deadpool done? You want to know? No? Well too bad. Wade here has gone and made himself normal. Well okay, normal is relative. He’s now mortal, he can die, he can finally be with the love of his..err..life, Death. Anyway down to business.

THE GOOD:-

As all of you following Deadpool would know and agree with me. The story is excellent. Deadpool is finally closer to dying. We know he wants to die so he can be with Death. So now, with a serum, he actually loses his healing factor. Has X-force after him, apart from Tombstone who wants to put a bullet through his head. The art follows over from the old issues. The fact that Deadpool is now mortal adds a nice twist to the way one would perceive the issue.

THE BAD:-

The story has been going so well so far. And when it comes to the story the only thing I can say is, WHY IS HE MORTAL?? That’s something that’s going to make things weird for a bit. But I guess it may become one of his many quirks. Or he’ll just be dead. I doubt he’ll just stay dead. I don’t know, Deadpool being normal-ish just doesn’t seem right. I guess only time will tell.

THE FUNNY:-

As I have stated before. EVERYTHING!

My favourite moments include the following (and everything else in the issue):

- the secret ingredient to the serum is baby hair. (YES BABY HAIR!! Yikes!)

- Bob: “You’re not mad?” DP: “I’m a MAD genius. Maybe....”

- E.V.A.? Expliquez. S’il vous plait.

- “it doesn’t work,” (expression) “It doesn’t??” “it only works on you” “YESS”

- Deadpool getting smacked on the head by Bob, yes Bob, with a pot.

My final opinion... I eagerly look forward to the conclusion. I want it I want it I want it!!!

The story arc so far, 9 out of 10. Grab a copy NOW!

SCORE : 8 / 10

Frankenstein Agent of SHADE #8 (DC)

Story : Jeff Lemire

Art : Alberto Ponticelli

(Reviewed by Rijul Raut)

I love done-in-ones. Writing for the trade is something I can tolerate, and its ubiquity in recent comics makes it all the sweeter when a good one-shot issue sneaks past that combines characterization with plot relevancy. This issue is one of that rare breed, mixing flashback with reality as a sort of mirror (another semi-recent example would be Greg Rucka writing in pre-reboot Detective Comics) and providing insight into that issue that every Franken-fan has pondered - what caused Frankenstein and his Bride to separate way back when?

SCORE : X / 10

Suicide Squad #8 (DC)

Story : Adam Glass

Art : Frederico Dallacchio

(Reviewed by Akshay Dhar)

This is among the worst books DC has in it's new line-up, but I can't lie – it's also one of the most entertaining guilty pleasures.

Violent, blatant, shameless and mindlessly entertaining, this new incarnation of the fan-favourite and acclaimed Suicide Squad titles is nothing but the epitome of the 90's-style “EXTREME” that DC has been pushing in several of their books – mostly in the crappier of the lot. But here it works somehow, despite Glass' often mediocre writing and insufficient characterization.

FOR THOSE JUST COMING IN:

The latest version of the squad is officially known as Task Force-X and still run by Amanda Waller. The mainstay members are Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Black Spider, King Shark and El Diablo. In only seven short issues they've had brutal missions including one where an entire stadium was sealed off because it was possessed by something evil and not only did they get team-mate Voltaic to kill them all, Deadshot popped him in the head after that to pin it all on him. Between that and other members getting their head blown off (literally!) by nano-bombs they all have implanted in their necks (in case they get frisky!), this has been a pretty hardcore series. Not to mention Harley going AWOL and brutalising an entire police station after hearing Joker died (read Detective Comics for more on that story).

MOVING ON:

The last issue ended with Harley finally getting what she deserved and after a bullet at extremely close-range, being put down after her murder-spree of madness! Now this issue she's been revived and given one last chance before they pop her head like a potato in a microwave.

This one is kind of an interim issue in that it follows what's happening with the squad after several missions and the fallout for them, both personally and in terms of their deal with Waller. In a sense this is the closest you'll see to character development by Glass is my guess and he doesn't do too bad a job on it here. El Diablo is now back on the team and Savant is released back into the wild, his term complete and such, ending with a deadly new mission ahead which promises that the next issue will be a return to the usual bloody, violent and wicked form that makes this title a success.

Don't get me wrong, I don't love it for that, I just enjoy it and am willing to admit that if done well such mindless fare can be fun too. However unless he can really up his game, Glass should limit the characterization attempts and stick to crazy adventures. The only thing that worries me is the rate at which he's killing folks here, either they need to create a bunch more characters that are there just to be killed brutally or try and find adventures where they don't die quite so often or something. How long this series will stay readable, I don't know – but for now it's entertaining enough that I'll keep catching it when I see it.

SCORE : 6 / 10