Saturday, August 13, 2022

On The Shelf: Beginnings, endings, and coming distractions

 IDW issued a free preview spotlighting five new titles, one of which is already out.

Dark Spaces: Wildfire, written by Scott Snyder, is a timely series about firefighters battling wildfires, which tend to be an annual thing out west. Only, in this case, there's a murder mystery involved, and it would seem this fire was a backdrop for someone stealing millions of dollars. This is currently in stores. 

Your actual interest may vary. Rating: B.

Trve Kvlt (the spelling is deliberate) deals with a fast food clerk who wants to move up in the world by taking up a life of crime. Seems this was set during the early part of the pandemic, when few businesses actually could have money on hand for a robber.

Rating: B-.

Crashing is set in an emergency room, and dealing with patients who suddenly have powers. Weird.

Rating: C.

Earthdivers: Kill Columbus is set 90 years in the future, or, basically, another alternate future sci-fi fantasy, also involving time travel. Not my speed.

Rating: C.

Dead Seas is a weird one, too. A little girl and a monstrous imaginary friend come to life. And they're saving this for December? Bad timing, yo'.

Rating: C.
==========================================
After a few months' delay, DC finally resets the former Mary Marvel as The New Champion of Shazam! in a 4 issue miniseries that is meant to pass the baton, if ya will from Billy Batson to Mary Bromfield as Shazam, after the events of last year's Shazam! miniseries, which left Billy trapped on the Rock of Eternity. Josie Campbell and Evan "Doc" Shaner are tasked with this one. No Uncle Marvel, but there is a powerless Hoppy. What fun.


Image courtesy DC Comics.

Rating: A-.
===========================================
Time to close the books on some recently concluded miniseries.

Captain Carter, spun off, after a fashion, from What If?, sees Peggy Carter wielding a shield of her own, and thrust out of her time. The big surprise was unveiled in issue 4, which was delayed to July for unknown reasons. Baron Blood, though not mentioned by that name, ends up being the big bad. Like, did they really think no one would remember an old Captain America foe from back in the day?

This was fun, but they could've done better.

Final rating: B-.

As Naomi was cancelled by the CW after 1 season, the 2nd miniseries from Brian Bendis, David Walker, & Jamal Campbell reaches its conclusion. What is not certain is whether or not Bendis will leave Naomi McDuffie at DC, or move her adventures to another publisher, despite the establishment of her ties to the Justice League. One wonders if Bendis will even return to DC.

Final rating: B--.

Tom King's Batman: Killing Time has had a mysterious narrator from the go, and he's finally revealed. 

Temple Fugate, the rebooted Clock King from Batman: The Animated Series, becomes the latest to cross over to the DCU. King, I think, has plans for him down the line, but would other Bat-writers have any interest. Fittingly, Batman: The Animated Series marks its 30th anniversary this fall. Seems King is more at home writing miniseries after the Bat-debacle of a couple of years ago.

Final rating: A-.
=============================================
While the world awaits the next issue, if there is one, of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Salem takes the spotlight in an October 1-shot. Looks promising.

DC has signed actor Paul Dano ("The Batman") to script a 6 issue Riddler: Year One miniseries, out in October, that will serve as a prequel to the spring blockbuster. Also in October is a brand new Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries series that picks up where the last series left off. This does mark 50 years since the two icons first teamed.
==============================================
In light of Marvel's Mutant Gala in the X-books the last two years, some clever DC fans have come up with some designs for the women of DC in the event DC decides to stage a gala of their own. I'm impressed with what's there, and you have to hope DC takes these folks up on the idea.

No comments: