Graphic Novel Reviews: Detective Comics 019

The Story
In its most simple form, Batman fights to stop the contagion of Man-Bat virus. With the help of Doctor Kirk Langstrom the outbreak is brought under control. In the side stories we learn that Emperor Penguin has been using the outbreak as a cover for multiple robberies. In the other side stories we get to see the aftermath from the point of view of several different characters. We even get a story of Bane's failed attack on Gotham, with the promise of future developments in that storyline.

The Review
Good gosh this thing is massive! First of all, for those confused by the multiple stories shown in the table of contents, the first story (after the prologue that is) is a direct continuation of the main Detective Comics storyline. The other stories are all side stories that are connected to events in the main storyline, but through alternate perspectives.

Manga Bookshelf's Weekly Shonen Jump Recap: April 1, 2013

I probably shouldn't forget to mention this, but I write a column over at MangaBookshelf. I review each new issue of Viz's Weekly Shonen Jump, and give my basic opinions of each new chapter. If you follow Manga^3, and I hope you do, it's a great way for you to discuss each new manga chapter. And if you don't follow my podcast (shame on all of you) then it's a great way to get a review for the newest manga chapters.

Either way, you should head over to MangaBookshelf and check out this week's column. I'm sure you'll love it.

Weekly Shonen Jump Recap: April 1, 2013

Graphic Novel Reviews: World's Finest 011

The Story
Huntress investigates Holt Industries, to discover how an apparently missing man ordered his goon's to Power Girl's island. In a flashback Huntress and Power Girl break into a government facility to find what information they can use to get home, but find that the government doesn't even know anything about parallel worlds. Back in the present the two of them attend a Holt Industries convention party. Here is where Michael Holt reveals himself to actually be Desaad in disguise.

The Review
With the exception of what I consider miss-characterization on the part of Power Girl, I quite liked this issue. I'll be interested in how Apokolips plays into the rest of the DC universe from here, but for now I'm content to see it in the context of this series alone.

Graphic Novel Reviews: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Issue 005

The Story
Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six have been having nightmares that are keeping them awake all night. After they all get together for a slumber party, hoping that being together would have an effect on the nightmares, Rarity is kidnapped by a formless darkness. Princesses Celestia and Luna arrive, Luna having sensed the return of the darkness that transformed her into Nightmare Moon. She reveals that Rarity has been taken to the moon, and that if the darkness grows any more powerful it would destroy Ponyville and the rest of Equestria.

Luna plans to go confront the darkness herself, but Twilight an the others insist on going with her. Celestia plans to remain behind, to help Ponyville prepare to protect itself.

Graphic Novel Reviews: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Micro-Series Featuring Rainbow Dash

The Story
During a performance with the Wonder Bolts, Rainbow Dash injures her wing when she crashes into a storm cloud inhabited by two Gremlin like creatures. The creatures syphon off the happiness of Ponyville, and despite Rainbow Dash's best efforts, with her injured wing she is unable to drive away the storm cloud.

Finally, after trying everything she could safely try, Rainbow Dash performs a double sonic rainboom and drives off the Gremlins and their storm cloud. The double rainboom cheers all the ponies up, and has the side-effect of coloring Applejack's apples in all the colors of the rainbow.

The Review
Art-wise this issue is similar to the Twilight Sparkle issue, with outlines colored similarly to the color of the object. But the art style itself is a bit better than last issue. Not quite at the same level as the main comics, but it certainly gets closer at emulating the art style of the show but not quite. The art in this issue also manages to do a better job with the faces, making them more expressive when required.

Episode 042 - April 1, 2013 - Abridged Series | My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Volume 1

Episode 042

Welcome to Manga^3, your one stop for manga news and commentary, for the week of April 1, 2013. This week we take a break from manga to talk about a comic series that has been making waves in the US market, just like the cartoon it's based on has been making waves on the internet for the past few years. No, this is not a late April Fools joke. We're dead serious here. Also we talk about abridged series. 

Listen to Old Episodes Here!

Buy My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Volume 1 Here!

Graphic Novel Reviews: My Little Pony Friendship is Magic Micro-Series Featuring Twilight Sparkle

The Story
Princess Celestia calls Twilight in for a special test. She has Twilight work in the royal archives, where she serves as an assistant to Summer Mane, the head archivist. Summer turns her away, but Twilight manages to trick her into letting her into the archives. Summer tells her to stick to her work, and is generally a sourpuss. Over the course of the next few days the two get to know each other better, and Twilight discovers a secret that Summer had been hiding.

The Review
First off, I think the art is worth mentioning. Where the main series uses black outlines for the characters, the art in this first issue in the micro-series tries to match the look of the show more by matching the color of the outline to the color of the object, and then using a color a few shades darker. I get what they are trying to do, and it works in the show, but in a comic it just makes everything seem less solid. In comics the dark lines help give objects a stronger presence, hence why the art in the main comic series stands out more.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Batgirl Annual 1

The Story

Catwoman is hired to rescue the Talon that was captured during the events shown in Batgirl during the Night of Owls. Batgirl tracks Catwoman and the escaped Talon down, which leads all three to the member of the Court that hired Catwoman in the first place. When he double crosses Catwoman, she sides with Batgirl, against him. They, and eventually the Talon, fight the other remaining Talons, and just barely manage to win.

In the end the police surround the place, and rather than letting the police capture the Talon, Catwoman gives herself up, earning at least some respect from Batgirl.

The Review
I've said it before, I really like Catwoman. So any chance to read her is good, unless the story turns out to be lousy. Which in this case it does not, fortunately. I won't call it essential reading, because while it does cover events leading from the Court of Owls, nothing in this book is essential beyond just being a standalone story. It's entertaining enough, but without any gravity to the events I can't see it as more than an entertaining bit of fluff.

Graphic Novel Reviews: The Dark Knight 018

The Story

Batman tracks down Mad Hatter's operation, but is overpowered. He runs into Catwoman, who has stolen his hubcap to try and get his attention. We get another flashback of Mad Hatter's, where we learn the source of his insanity was a dangerous testosterone pill he took as a child. And then Batman reveals who he is to his current F.R.I. (Forced Romantic Interest, thanks to ERod).

The Review
Whooo boy, and we were doing so well with this story. Where do I even begin? Perhaps with what I liked. I like the way Van Sciver draws Batman's cape. It's a bit odd, but the way it's put together makes it look like proper bat wings when the air catches it.

I like the fact that Catwoman made a random appearance, even though it basically affirms that we're back to the early stage of their relationship. I liked where it had gone before the New 52, so going back to square one is annoying. And confusing, considering they did the nasty in Catwoman 001.

Graphic Novel Reviews: Talon 006

The Story

Calvin escapes from the O'Malley Talons, but is recaptured. While Casey digs deeper into Sebastian's secrets, Calvin confronts the Grand Master of the Court of Owls. Both discover that Sebastian was the former Grand Master of the Court, and the one that recruited Calvin.

The Review
I actually called the twist last month, though since I don't think I documented that anywhere I can't claim credit. Then again, I don't really feel like claiming credit. After all, there's always a traitor, so the simple act of calling it isn't that impressive. If someone other than Sebastian had been the traitor, then I would have been surprised.

My powers of plot aside, what does this mean for the book? Well, as a reader I tend to be quite forgiving. And my calling a plot twist ahead of time is hardly an indication that the book itself is no good. Granted it would be better had the reveal been more surprising, but what we got was good enough for me.