2 comments about The Story of the Incredible Hulk (DK Readers, Level 4).

1. The entertainment value of this basic summary of the Incredible Hulk's story in Marvel Comics is high, and should certainly capture the attention of the proficient young readers. It's quite literate with good vocabulary for the reading level. Importantly, though it's fun. While conveying the spirit of the comic book character, Teitelbaum brings in related bits of information aimed at increasing the young reader's knowledge while stimulating youthful curiosity into learning more about the Hulk's literary predecessers, about early concerns about nuclear energy, about the cold war and its anxieties, about the fields of scientific research along with other topics.

   The emphasis though is on entertainment which is what should draw the young readers into reading it, strengthening reading skills and expanding their knowledge at the same time.




2. I remember reading the first few issues of the Incredible Hulk comic book when they first came out. The early sixties were an incredible time for the development of new comic book characters. This was the most intense phase of the cold war and humans were beginning to send probes and people into space. Some of the dangers of exposure to radioactivity were known, but enough was unknown so that the comic developers could use it as a basis for the development of superpowers.
   The cold war and radiation form the foundation for the origin of the Hulk. Dr. Bruce Banner is working on an enhanced radiation nuclear bomb. It produces a large amount of gamma rays and when a Soviet spy betrays Banner, the bomb goes off and Banner is engulfed with gamma rays. They change his body so that he is transformed into a large, powerful green being. In later issues of Marvel comics, exposure to gamma rays is repeatedly used to create additional mighty beings.
   While I liked the lesson in the history of comic book characters, the best part of the book is the lessons in history and science. Teielbaum spends some time explaining the cold war, the fifties "duck and cover" that all American school children practiced on a regular basis, the power of nuclear weapons, and animals that are relevant to the cartoon characters. This is a lesson about the world that children will find very easy to absorb.
   Children generally love comic books and if they are properly done, they can also learn science and history. This is a book that is properly done and it can be used as a science lesson/entertainment interlude in the later years of elementary school.

2 comments about The Exterminators Vol. 3: Lies of our Fathers.

1. It hasn't arrived at my house yet, but it's supposed to be here today. I know I can count on it being here today as a matter of fact because Amazon guaranteed if I ordered in the proper time frame that it would be. It damn well better be. I want to be the first to see whatever it is that is blurred out on the cover. I liked parts 1 and 2 very much. It kind of reminds me of Lost except I don't want to nail everybody I see.



2. I came to The Exterminators through being curious about the covers. They really are hard to ignore. Little boy blissfully about to take a big mouthful of cockroach infested cereal. Pixilated insect karma sutra. They tap into the ingrained human fear of insects and `dirty' pests and remind us what creeps into our food and our beds every night, no matter how hard we try to keep them out. Vertigo have always put out great books, but instead of a story starring gods, mythic creatures, ex-green berets or cocky criminals, there's something very down to earth (way way down) about a series like Simon Oliver's "Exterminators".
   
   This is the third volume in the series, and really one of the best ongoing series on offer from Vertigo (following closely behind DMZ and Fables, placing it in good company). The Exterminators story has really begun to branch out and spread itself around in complicated side-stories as the writer and his creative team settle in with the knowledge that they're not going to be cancelled any time soon, but saving us the cokcy complacency of so many `star' creators of the more adult comic genre.
   
   The series has primarily followed the likeable and unassuming Henry, an ex-con whose attempts at starting a normal life and job have been far from normal, and in no small part thanks his new work with his father's business, Bug-bee-gone. There's an escalating pest problem in New York city, seemingly connected to Henry's long-term partner's employer OCCRAM and their DRAXX drug (a three-in-one pest control gel, street narcotic, and cockroach steroid depending on the dosage). Then again, there's the mystery of the mystery ancient egyptian locked box, which Henry found in the car of his spectacularly overdosed work-mate in the first volume of the series. Regardless, the exterminators aren't short of work.
   
   Surrounding Henry's central story is a complicated series of subplots and characters, in which this particular volume revels. The book opens with what at first appears to be a quirky `date' between Sar Saloth (Bug-bee-gone's resident scientist), and a fellow bug fetishsist, but quickly unravels into a tale spanning mass genocide at the hands of the Pol Pot regime. Meanwhile, after drowning a work colleague in the ocean, the reincarnation of an Egyptian Pharaoh is stuck in the body of the apparently deceased exterminator AJ and laments his host's narcotics addiction while planning how to convince the pests of his true nobility (if its even anything but a delusion). Following on, Laura, having in the last volume mutually ended her relationship with Henry, is spying on OCCRAM from the inside as a powerful executive, while her manipulative sexual relationship with her female boss comes to a dramatic close (Hint: involves a cactus). And throughout all of these subplots, Henry himself has had a run in with his white supremacist former prison cell-mate Cleo Crone, now a white collar businessman who is cutting a deal for distribution of the DRAXX drug as a grand scheme to wipe out `cancer' on the streets, drugging and violating Laura as part of OCCRAM's everyday business proceedings. Of course to lighten the mood, we're also following Miss Perez (the single mother from the nightmarish and unforgettable pest-overrun bedroom scene from the series' first trade) as she gets used to her new job teaming up with Henry as they go steam-rolling some frogs in a swimming pool, and over-inflating a hamster performing rodent mouth to mouth, resulting in some ridiculously extravagant gore (this book is yet to hold anything back... You could hardly call the book `The Exterminators' and not expect to see some animals killed in the process).
   
   Instead of simply setting the mystery of the bug problem and the occult-connections and then diving into answering it, the series offers enticing new threads and characters which weave back and forth around the main arc of the story and help drive it forward. It's the best way to tell this sort of long-form series without losing track of the overall story of the series (Preacher, Y: The Last Man have done it well). But with so many side-plots, the main concern now is that the main storyline could eventually get derailed in the process, but writer Simon Oliver has carefully paced the new elements with the original ones, adding new colors and patterns to the soiled tapestry without damaging the overall pattern, and giving enough away at appropriate intervals so as to not frustrate the reader with an over abundance of simultaneous loose ends.
   
   The writing itself is top-notch. Very little in the story has felt forced or unnatural, and Oliver has a knack for presenting his characters honestly and exposing the cracks in their veneer now and then. The book always seems to present surprises, starting you down a path to expect one thing, and then giving you entirely another, a prime example in how quickly the reader's pity for poor Stevie and his ant-infested eye-bandages vanishes as soon as the bandages are removed and he realizes his nurse is of the lowly `slave' race.
   
   The artwork in this volume is alternately handled by artists Tony Moore, Mike Hawthorne and John Lucas, but still retains a consistency due to the skills of the excellent colourists (Brian Buccellato and J.D. Smith), who between them lift the otherwise pretty good art to an appropriately hot and humid L.A. tone, with a splash of raw sewerage for flavor. The artwork itself fits somewhere between cartoonish and raw realistic, which lightens the mood enough to keep the story from taking its gore and cruelty too seriously.
   
   The appeal in this series is its low down and very human dirtiness. Nothing is sugar-coated, and we are forced to face the reality of our own human waste and that the pest rat doesn't just magically disappear when you call your exterminator, all the while subconsciously presenting the question whether humans are actually any better than the pests that frighten and disgust us. For all the horrifying bug and rodent moments in this volume and the two preceding it (and there are LOTS), there's something much more disgusting or cruel being innocently and unquestioningly committed by any of the book's many characters, regardless of wealth or social status. There's something very fascinating and unpretentiously human about this series. It genuinely casts the people we take for granted as the heroes of society. As Page (Henry's new girlfriend and book fantasy prostitute) puts it in volume 2, "[Henry] isn't a writer, thank god, or an artist, performance, conceptual or otherwise... He's one of those people who, unlike anyone here, actually contributes something real and worthwhile to society. Killing Bugs."
   
   This volume and the two preceding it are thoroughly recommended if you've ever liked anything from Vertigo before, but be warned, the books feature animal and human gore, very adult situations, loud squishy sex scenes, sewers full of human waste, drug use, and some truly worst-nightmare bug scenarios which will keep you awake at night. In short, all the good stuff.

5 comments about The Rejection Collection: Cartoons You Never Saw, and Never Will See, in The New Yorker.

1. Definitely funny! And while admittedly edgier than The New Yorker (language, bodily functions, gore), it's not offensive.
   
   Even better than the cartoons are the accompanying photos of featured cartoonists and their clever responses to a (probably intentionally lame) questionnaire.



2. Truly funny and very creative.. and I loved the "questionnaires" filled out by each cartoonist. Looking forward to all future R.C's.



3. While the cartoons in this book are still New Yorker style, I found most of them not funny or to the point but besides the point - if there was any.
   It became very obvious to me why these got rejected, and I strongly recommend to purchase one of the collections of cartoons that were not rejected.



4. I love NY'er cartoons. These aren't rejects--these were too outre, too funny, too rude, smart, outrageous, on point... Just be careful to read these on or near well-upholstered surfaces. You'll hurt yourself laughing so much collapsed on a hard wood floor.



5. The Rejection Collection is a must for any book lover's collection. The concept of this book is particularly appealing - a glimpse into a cartoon artist's mind and into the standards of the New Yorker. By reading The Rejection Collection, you will have the rare opportunity to see into the childhood of each artist and discover the unusual, often brilliant, thinking process of the cartoonist. I guarantee that you will laugh out laud with each page. My husband and I regularly give this book as a gift - and always receive an exuberant thank you.

4 comments about The Brave and the Bold Vol. 1: Lords of Luck.

1. Green Lantern and Batman are my two favorite characters and them alone make this trade great to me. It's a race against time and fate that, gives it a very "Zero Hour" feel to it. It has Batman staying ten steps ahead of the opposition as always, and wonderful comic relief from Lobo. Not to mention it has a bit of time travel, and it brings in some obscure characters from the DC universe, two aspects which I love.



2. Brave and the Bold used to be one of my favorite comic book titles as a kid. The title usually featured the Batman teaming up with another hero from the DC universe and it was great seeing the interaction between two superheroes that would not normally team-up.
   
   The latest version of Brave and the Bold features the work of two legendary creators, Mark Waid (writer) & George Perez (artist). This hard cover edition collects the first story arc of the relaunched series, originally spanning six issues. A basic outline of the plot has Batman and Green Lantern teaming up to stop the Lords of Luck from using and prospering from two items they've stolen; a gun that can alter probability and the Book of Destiny (best known from Neil Gaiman's "Sandman" series).
   
   While the first issue has Batman and Green Lantern as the book's featured team-up, subsequent issues has these two heroes teaming-up with a wide variety of superheroes like Blue Beetle, Supergirl, Adam Strange, and the Legion of Superheroes. George Perez's artwork is sensational and is as detailed as ever. The story is good but not Mark Waid's best work. However, there are some really funny moments and every scene with Supergirl really shines. The team-up between her and Green Lantern is my favorite and features some hilarious dialog like Hal Jordan having to constantly remind himself that Supergirl is "only 17."
   
   A very enjoyable collection overall and it's great to see the return of the team-up to the DC universe. In terms of extras, there's a short introduction by Waid and six pages at the end where Waid discusses all the references to old characters and old stories he made during the series. A cover gallery at the end of the book rather than before each individual story would have been nice.



3. The new Brave and Bold book (of which this is volume 1) is a great idea (teaming up two different heroes in every chapter) and very well executed by Mark Waid and George Perez. The personalities are all 'on character' and the art is excellent. Mixing up some of DC's old mainstays (Batman, Green Lantern) with the newer generation (Blue Beetle) and new versions of old characters (Supergirl, the Legion), the story takes you all over the DCU and will excite both old fans like me, who will wax nostalgically about stories like this from their childhoods, and new fans who will be introduced to just how big and how much fun the DC Universe can be.
   
   Worth mentioning are the 5-6 pages of annotations by writer Mark Waid at the end of the book, which highlight all the little in-jokes, homages, and historical references of the story. This makes shelling out for the hardcover more than worth it and really was the icing on the cake for me.



4. The first collected volume of DC's relaunched The Brave and the Bold finds Batman teaming up with Green Lantern Hal Jordan as they take on The Lords of Luck, and try to stop their diabolical plans that involve the Book of Destiny. Later on, Bats and GL ally themselves with Supergirl, Adam Strange, the new Blue Beetle, and even the Legion of Superheroes as writer Mark Waid's (Kingdom Come, Flash) story features enough great action and slight twists to make any longtime DC reader happy. What makes The Lords of Luck even better is the artwork by none other than the legendary George Perez, who seems to only get better with age. As a previous reviewer already pointed out, Hal's thoughts towards Supergirl being "only 17" are hilarious, and as a whole, The Brave and the Bold is one of the better new titles to come out of DC since the events of Infinte Crisis. The only downside here is that the book is too short, and before you know it, it's over and done with. That aside, this first collection of The Brave and the Bold is worth picking up for DC readers new and old, and is plenty enjoyable to boot.

5 comments about The Complete Peanuts 1953-1954.

1. This excellent series by Fantagraphics continues in volume two of the Complete Peanuts. This volume features an introduction by Walter Cronkite. This book features the introduction of Pig Pen. For an oddity, we also meet the long forgotten Charlotte Braun, who is a girl that looks just like Charlie Brown. My personal favorite character, Linus, begins to develop his personality. Volume two is another 5 star edition.



2. This is the second book in the series and my 12 year old daughter loves both. Once she was reading the first book she wanted the next one too. Seeing how the characters began is fun as well as the old drawings. And seeing them evolve in personality and age is great. Snoopy's antics get more and more animated, Linus is a baby, and there is the introduction of Pig Pen! He actually cleans himself up, but then decides he likes himself the way he was. I got the book for my daughter at Christmas. We've read several pages each night and are now almost done. I guess we'll be getting the next one in the series. If you are a Peanuts fan, these classic comics are definately worth collecting!



3. I've always loved Peanuts. As a kid, I especially enjoyed the TV shows, but of course everyone loves Snoopy, and the other characters, Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and Pigpen, are all very fun. As a result, when my wife got this for me for my birthday, I was fascinated to see how far what we know as Peanuts had evolved from what it started out as. Charlie Brown still has that shirt with the stupid stripe on it, Lucy has her hair with the two little bobs at the sides below her ears, and Pigpen (who makes his debut here) is followed by a cloud of dust (most of the time). But Snoopy is very very different from what we're used to, spending all of his time on all fours except when he's begging, and being much more dog-like than he was in later strips. He's even drawn differently, with a sharper nose and a more dog-like body. There's another girl (named Violet) who I don't remember from the more recent cartoons, and Patty (no Peppermint) is a pretty straightforward girl, not the tomboy who called Charlie Brown "Chuck" all the time. Linus can't even talk yet! This was one of the biggest surprises: to me, the Peanuts kids were always frozen in time, but apparently Schulz aged them in the first years.
   
   I enjoyed this collection immensely, and I'm now determined to buy more of this collection.



4. Must have for that peanuts fan in your life. Be aware this is part of a set...



5. In this 2nd volume of The Complete Peanuts, Charles Schulz refines the 1st 8 characters he introduced in the 1st 2 and 1/2 years of Peanuts. Lucy is a little fussier (she'll be known as crabby later on) and Linus, though still a baby, thinks deep thoughts and is known for sucking his thumb. Charlie Brown is establishing himself as the wishy-washy "loser" (he has his 1st Valentine's Day letdown in this volume). Also, the security blanket is introduced but it's Charlie Brown and Schroeder who endorse it at 1st, not Linus. Lucy admits she has a crush on Schroeder (the 1st in a series of unrequited love affairs). Violet and Patty are more or less reduced to 2nd bananas (they'll later be known mainly to repeat all of Lucy's putdowns to Charlie Brown). They plan a party and decide not to invite either Charlie Brown or Lucy, realizing that "inviting some people isn't as much fun as not inviting people." Schroeder is still a big fan of Beethoven and classical music (he's the catcher for Charlie Brown's team) and pretty much replaces Shermy as Charlie Brown's buddy (Shermy is rarely seen in these cartoons, he's given a crewcut). 2 new characters are introduced but only one of them seems to have "staying power"- Pig Pen and Charlotte Braun. Pig Pen is a lovable slob with soot all over his face and clothes. Charlotte Braun is a loud and obnoxious character, who would later be written out. Charlie Brown's team always loses and Snoopy's imagination runs wild (though he still walks on all fours and we can't read his thoughts that often). The term "blockhead" is introduced here. In fact, Schroeder is one of the 1st to call him that (but not to his face!). Lucy's mother disgraces her by writing The Life and Times of a Fussbudget. The term "Great Scott!" is used often by Charlie Brown (it would later be replaced with "Good Grief!"). In 1 cartoon, Violet and Patty announce they will not play Lucy's games, which makes Lucy quite upset. After a tantrum of kicking and screaming, she agrees "All right, then. Let's play your way." In another cartoon, she kicks around Patty's doll, Violet's stamp collection, Linus' cookies, Charlie Brown's picture puzzle and Schroeder's piano. Later, as she's running away from the angry gang, she complains nobody understands her! She won't let Linus play with her toys but she will let him play with a rubber band. She later takes it away, though: "I didn't mean for you to have THAT much fun with it!" Charlie Brown's pitcher mound is introduced. Linus stands up for the 1st time, but quickly loses his balance when Lucy rewards him with a cookie. In a few cartoons, adults appear in the background (particularly in the golfing cartoons). A lot (but not all) of what wound up in More Peanuts and Good Grief, More Peanuts is featured here. There is also an interesting introduction by news commentator Walter Cronkite.

4 comments about DK Readers: The Story of the X-Men, How It All Began (Level 4: Proficient Readers).

1. This is a great book for any X-Men fan or someone who just became interested in them. It tells how Professor Xavier, Magneto,Cyclops (Scott Summers), Marvel Girl (Jean Grey, also known as Phoenix, Beast (Hank McCoy), Angel (Warren Worthington III, also known as Archangle) and Iceman (Bobby Drake) came to become the first X-Men. It also gives some info about other X-Men like WOlverine and some of their recent and former enimes like Juggernaut, and Quicksilver. One thing I enjoyed about this book is it had a lot of pics. from old and recent comics. Overall this is a pretty good book!



2. This easy to read book aimed at young readers serves as a perfect introduction for those unfamiliar with the original X-Men team: Cyclops, Marvel Girl, the Beast, Iceman, and Angel all studying under the tutelage of Charles Xavier, aka Professor X. The book also talks about Magneto and the first adventure that the X-Men took part in. The classic team has taken many changes over the years, but few teams will rival the original. Great introduction to the original X-Men team.



3. In one very special way, I had a wonderful childhood. My parents shopped at a small grocery store that had an extensive rack of comics. The owners were very nice people who allowed me to read the comics while my parents bought groceries. Since my father also bought his mother's groceries, I had plenty of time to read (devour) them all. Therefore, I was able to read the original issues of most of the superheroes that erupted from the fertile mind of Stan Lee at Marvel Comics. When I opened this book, I recognized the cover of the first issue of the X-Men series.
   The early sixties were a time of great political uncertainty and scientific advancement. Lee used both of them to great advantage in developing the idea of the mutant with great powers. By developing the character of Professor X who gathered together many mutants at his school, a crime fighting team known as the X-Men was developed. The group has changed a great deal over the years, both in appearance and in membership. This is a history of that group and young readers can also learn something about the world. For example, it is noted that the bones of the winged X-Man Angel are hollow, just like those of real birds. Other relevant science facts, such as details about water freezing in the section about Ice-Man relate the powers of the X-Men to the physical laws of the universe.
   I strongly recommend this as a book for young readers. The topic is one that they will find of great interest, it is very well written at the appropriate level and they can learn something about the world. Perfect for the young mind.



4. I got this for my son who is currently on a Marvel kick. He really likes non-fiction books, so he reads this one like it is a biography/history book, memorizing facts and being fascinated by the back-story stuff. A lot of fun for an early reader book and plenty of info/fun.

3 comments about Supergirl Vol. 3: Identity.

1. While still not as good as it can be, Supergirl is slowly improving in terms of art and storylines. This trade contains issues #10-19(yeah, you read those numbers right!), and the Infinite Holiday Special. The artwork in the special is really good, and Supergirl finally looks normal.



2. Well well well, when it comes to Supergirl I tend to be non-objective because everything is Helen Slater's fault (she made me love the character years ago) but the point here is: The newest interpretation of the Girl of Steel gives us a new dimension never explored before. Kara Zor-El is among us and she is no longer Matrix, the innocent Kara or Linda from the 50s or 60's. No, she is a rebel teenage girl who faces the same issues most teenagers do and with a overdoze of super powers and a lot of comic super heroes sorrounding, so, how do you take this and turn it into an interestering development? Simple: you deal with the basics! The basic legend is there but updated. The art treatment is absolutely amazing with excellent colors, diagram, story arcs, etc. But most important Kara gives us a delight with her rebel finding-who-I-am and my place in this world delicious character. Not to mention the excellent story arcs where she can punch whoever stands in her way and astonishing fight sequences. For fans of Supergirl this is a MUST!!!



3. if u liked the movie and u like Buffy the Vampire slayer this book is 4 u

5 comments about 300: The Art Of The Film.

1. A great companion to a great movie and a great graphic novel.
   Not often do you get to see behind the blue (or green) curtain to see how a movie is made.
   This book gives you that insight!



2. It seems that some people are having a hard time realizing that the title of this book includes "The Art of the Film" and are searching for filming procedures, or sociopolitical explanations on behalf of the film when, in fact, this IS an art book. And for what it is, it does a great job revealing the artistic vision behind the film 300. From makeup effects to storyboarding to the comic conversion of the film, "300: The Art of the Film" makes a stylistic presentation that is worthy of the aesthetic care of the movie itself. Anyone who is interested in the artistic background in the movie 300 will appreciate the clean layout and complete presentation of this book.



3. This book has quite a few photos showing the making of 300 but the biggest draw (to me) was the similarities to the 300 Graphic Novel. Size, shape and cover picture are the same. The book shows a lot of photos of how the digital images were added to bleak green screen sets, how things like the wolf were made, etc. Its a good book for 300 fans it's a must have for those who have the Hardcover graphic novel (to display them side by side).



4. Translating a graphic novel into the world of cinema can be a tricky business.
   
   And the first step is concept art -- creating basic images of the characters, costumes, and important, visually-striking scenes. "300: The Art Of The Film" is crammed with such images, detailing virtually every part of the movie... but it's very skimpy on explanations and information.
   
   It starts off with a couple of prefaces -- one by an expert on military history, and the other explaining the purpose of revealing the concept art. Then concept art itself: it basically outlines the story, beginning with the "inspection" of newborn Spartan boys and ending with another battle brewing between the Spartans and Persians.
   
   These include pages and pages of rough sketches and detailed drawings for the cinematogrpahers, some representing only a few seconds (a fist hitting a slave's face). Then there are plenty of costume sketches, depictions of unreal-looking monsters, tents, and the gorgeous sets for things like Xerxes' opulant golden litter. Actually, it's more of a portable house.
   
   But it has more than just concept art -- there are clay models, special effects shots, elaborate makeup and costume for things like the hunchbacked traitor, Xerxes' chain-porn costume, and things like knives stuck in a eye, and even green-screen shots before the CGI gloss was put on. And there are shots showing how they managed certain effects, like the people who controlled the animatronic "wolf."
   
   And with every sketch and behind-the-scene shot, they show the finished result as it appears in the movie. A lot of them have the original art by Frank Miller as well, to show us how close the movie actually is to its source material. Visually speaking, it's a feast of behind-the-scenes information.
   
   Buuuuut....
   
   "300: The Art Of The Film" suffers from a lack of background information -- they show us loads of information, but don't tell WHY they were done, or even the intricacies of HOW. Come on, they must have had some trial-and-error in this film. While we can see the art for ourselves, we're rarely told much about why they chose this costume, or that monster, and how they created some of the weirder visuals.
   
   So while the book is visually rich, it feels incomplete, like they left a lot of the text out to keep the guide from getting too long. Sometimes pages and pages will go by with only a few sparely-written paragraphs describing the intricacies of the movie. "300" is a visual movie, but come on, there's more to it than that.
   
   "300: The Art Of The Film" has loads of art, but not much explanation in how it got from art to movie. It stumbles badly as a behind-the-scenes guide, but it's still an intriguing visual read.



5. Great. I've complained 3 times cause I haven't received my order and now you ask me to review it? How the hell do you want me to review something I've never seen. Send me the bloody books and I'll review them.

4 comments about Teen Titans, Vol. 7: Titans East.

1. TEEN TITANS: TITANS EAST is the latest graphic novel gathered from the pages of the newest incarnation of the young heroes in the DC universe. Led by Robin (Tim Drake, actually the third person to wear the Robin uniform), the team consists of Wonder Girl, Miss Martian, Kid Devil, Ravager, Cyborg, Raven, and Jericho. They formed the new team after the events of Infinite Crisis (which would take a HUGE column to explain).
   
   This volume opens up with an introspective peek into Kid Devil's life. Since he mysteriously appeared in the pages of the monthly comic series, writer Geoff Johns works his familiar magic in bringing the character to three-dimensional life. I love watching Johns write stories like this, and I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I started in with first-person narrative from Kid Devil.
   
   Johns has got a deft, sure hand with every character he touches. I've yet to hear him strike a false note. To be honest, I wasn't very enamored of the Kid Devil character. He looks kind of neat and is probably fun to draw for the artists, but he just didn't appear to have much depth. After Johns's first arc of the TITANS EAST storyline, I can safely report that just isn't true.
   
   Eddie Bloomberg (Kid Devil) is, literally, a tormented soul. Hero worship was what brought him into the hero biz when he wanted to be the sidekick for Blue Devil. I never much got into Blue Devil either, but he was pretty interesting the way Johns presented him. And, in the end, it was hero worship that boomeranged and trapped Eddie in a situation that could leave him as one of the devil's own - literally - when he turns twenty in three years. That story detail is left dangling for the time being, but I was good with that.
   
   As the story moved into the next section of the arc, Deathstroke the Terminator attacked the Teen Titans with a group of super-powered kids he'd gathered and called Titans East. Long-time readers of the TEEN TITANS will remember that Deathstroke has been a main opponent of the Titans since writer Marv Wolfman created him for the reboot of the series he did back in the 1980s.
   
   Johns is very clever about his plotting. He generally is. Sometimes he lays all his cards on the table and lets the readers simply watch him work magic. Other times, he keeps a card hidden or turned over or turned so that it looks one way when it's really another. That's what he does in this graphic novel and it makes it a little difficult to talk about much of the plot without giving too much away.
   
   Jericho and Ravager are the son and daughter of Deathstroke. Jericho He tells the Titans that he's there to reclaim what is his. Of course, a battle to end all battles ensues.
   
   In Deathstroke's corner there is Batgirl (who we find out later is drugged into listening to Deathstroke), Risk, Sun Girl, Bombshell, Kid Crusader, Match, Inertia, Enigma, and Duela Dent. If you're not a comic geek, the names aren't going to mean much and it would take too long to explain. Just let me say that the line-up is impressive and filled with a lot of Teen Titans history.
   
   Johns's scripts crackle with energy and vitality. The characters, complete with strengths and weaknesses, transcend the page and become real. Wonder Girl is still struggling with the death of Connor, as is Robin, and they're conflicted about the attraction between the two of them. (If Connor ever resurrects and comes back, that's going to be a can of worms!)
   
   Tony Daniels's art matches Geoff Johns's writing. They are really a good match. Johns provides plenty of room to work and lots of emotion and action to draw. There aren't any static pages, no filler. It's all high-action storytelling that keeps readers turning the pages.
   
   I love supergroups because of all the dynamics possible within them. TEEN TITANS has consistently provided that kind of storytelling, and this current volume delivers again. I had a blast reading the story, even slowing down and re-reading scenes and pages to savor the smart dialogue and the beautifully drawn sequences.
   
   The flip Johns provides at the end of the novel is fantastic. I didn't see it coming, and I'm used to his kung fu. But his kung fu is mighty. If you like the Teen Titans, you'll have to pick this one up. Sadly, this is one of the last story arcs Johns will be writing on the book for the foreseeable future. But I continue to enjoy what he's doing on JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA and GREEN LANTERN.



2. It's east vs. the west. Deathstroke is up to his old tricks and it's up to Robin (Tim) to lead his team from the west and a friend is going to help him out. He's going to need it.



3. The Teen Titans meet their match when Deathstroke organizes his own group of Titans, the Titans East. Among the members are former Kid Flash nemesis Inertia and a drugged up Batgirl, and soon enough Robin and co. are in up to their heads in a world of hurt. In one of Geoff Johns' final arcs on the series he helped relaunch, Titans East displays what Johns does best; as he fleshes out newer Titans member Kid Devil's backstory, up's the ante of the relationship between Robin and Wonder Girl, and sets the stage for more mayhem to follow. His ability to make you care about what would be considered otherwise minor heroes in the grand scheme of things shines very bright here, further proving that Johns is the best superhero writer in the business today. The various artwork from Tony Daniel and Adam Beechen is quite good as well, making Titans East all the better, and strengthening Johns' already incredibly solid run on the series he brought back from the dead.



4. I swear there were pages missing from this book. I can't count how many times I had to flip back to try and figure something out that was not explained. The art also bounces around a lot. The first chapter was very poorly illustrated but some of the other chapters looked great. My biggest turn off of the whole run was the over use of splash pages to chew up page count. For a couple of the chapters there is a splash page every 4th page for no real reason.
   
   I'll let some of the plot issues slide because I haven't picked up a titans book in over a year so I might just be out of the loop but the read was very choppy at some points.

5 comments about DC: World War III.

1. With all the wonderful ideas and themes springing out of 52, there had to be a place to dump all the ideas not good enough for 52. This seems to be the designated compost heap. Some fair art, large fight scenes but no cogent plot to be followed. Definitely not worth the money.



2. I have been reading about the contents of this comic book for some time now, and I was eagerly anticipating its release. However, after finishing it, I was severely disappointed. The narration by the Martian Manhunter was heavily cliched and far too verbose. At times, the converging story lines made little sense, and they seemed inappropriate/unnecessary.
   
   I felt that this story had a great deal of potential, but it was too convoluted in the end.



3. Martian Manhunter is among my favorite characters and for that reason alone this story gets three stars. After the tragic events that unfolded in the pages of 52, Vol. 4. The story is very up and down with many storylines that are hard to keep straight in I can't honestly recomand this story unless you just want the complete collection of 52.



4. From the pages of 52 and backup stories of JSA, the story of Black Adam reaches its climax when he once again faces a gigantic loss, and loses his own mind in desperation. The "third-person" perspective from Martian Manhunter, and the parallel stories from 52, makes this story immersive and completely different from other linear comic stories.
   
   A "must have" for any comic-book fan.



5. While I love Black Adam and his dark side, this story focused more on the bang and left very little to the character. The story does do a good job of filling in missing pieces of the 52 saga and the outlying stories, but it comes across as rushed and left me dissatisfied. Is it me, or does it seem during the battle in China that it takes two days for a character attacking Black Adam to get there?
   
   There are continuity errors during the final battles, and it seemed like there were two separate endings to Black Adam. He's getting attacked by Captain Marvel one day only to disappear, and then getting attacked again a couple of days later to disappear again. Maybe I didn't read it right the first five times, or maybe the continuity didn't add up.
   
   If you like to see Black Adam throw his power around and take down heroes, this is the book for you. If you like your stories to make sense, you might want to borrow this from a friend. Or I can mail you mine.