Mera: Tidebreaker is the first DC Ink release, launching the publisher’s imprint for young adult graphic novels. As written by Danielle Paige and illustrated by Stephen Byrne, it tells a familiar story with new character insight. Given the popularity of the Aquaman movie, most readers will be aware of Mera as an undersea princess, but it’s refreshing to see that here, she’s also a warrior, willing to fight for her people. While navigating history, birthright, and expectations, Mera learns to […]

Super Sons: The PolarShield Project, the first of the DC Zoom titles, written by Ridley Pearson and illustrated by Ile Gonzalez, launched the publisher’s middle-grade readers imprint. It’s a shame that it gives such a poor showing. The book is a muddled mess that won’t appeal to either audience, those who know the characters or those who don’t but are interested in second-generation heroes, because much of the appeal of the concept is ignored or run away from. The author’s […]

My review of Mera: Tidebreaker is now posted at Good Comics for Kids. Short version: I liked it. As the first DC Ink release, launching their line of young adult graphic novels, it’s a good showing (and a lot better than Super Sons: The PolarShield Project, the first DC Zoom title for middle grade readers). Although the story structure is familiar — either to fans of star-crossed, fighting family romances or the comic book characters — the telling is entertaining, […]

Now that we’ve seen a few issues, I thought I’d take a look at the Wonder Comics imprint from DC Comics. Wonder Comics is “curated” by Brian Michael Bendis and features four titles that star teenage heroes. One hasn’t appeared yet. Dial H for Hero, about the magic dial that grants its wielder superpowers for an hour, launches at the end of the month. It’s a six-issue miniseries (originally announced as an ongoing) written by Sam Humphries and illustrated by […]

I know it’s ridiculous for me to be talking about Catwoman/Tweety and Sylvester Special #1. It’s a silly event tie-in that came out four months ago. I bet no one even remembers it. But it’s a really good comic that shows what a skilled creator can do with even the most ridiculous premise. Gail Simone writes and Inaki Miranda draws the team-up, which starts off by pairing Catwoman with the “puddy tat” Sylvester. She’s shocked he talks — complete with […]

What would Batman be without his butler? In Batman Annual #3, by Tom Taylor and Otto Schmidt, the answer is suggested to be “dead on the street”. I enjoyed this focus on a necessary but often overlooked aspect of Batman’s life, butler Alfred Pennyworth — and I say Batman because there’s nearly no Bruce Wayne here. It would make a good start for anyone interested in the upcoming Pennyworth TV show, although this comic is about Alfred now, and the […]

DC comics have a long history of featuring gorillas, apes, and monkeys. If you’d like a capsule history of just how many, check out the latest issue of Scooby-Doo Team-Up! It’s “gorilla warfare” in issue #42 as written by Sholly Fisch and illustrated by Dario Brizuela. The mayor has called in the kids to drive Monsieur Mallah and the vampire gorilla Pryemaul out of City Hall. To help, Scooby and his friends enlist the detective Sam Simeon, Detective Chimp, and […]

Scooby-Doo Team-Up is the most fun comic I read, and #39 is no exception. The Mystery Inc. gang teams up with the superhero team Justice Society of America, which requires time travel. I was amazed at how much Sholly Fisch managed to pack into this issue — a modern day supernatural mystery, the trip back in time, and best of all, a structure that mimics the original JSA comics. Typically, given the size of the team, a threat would be […]