#3 TMNT Batman 3

#3 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Batman 3

As the title would suggest this is the 3rd outing for the TMNT and Batman crossover, I will be touching on the previous two but it's not essential to read them in order to understand what is happening with this plot. Plus, let's be honest almost all TMNT and Batman stories follow the same backbone origin, TMNT being the mutation of the turtles and Batman being the death of Bruce Wanes' parents in Crime Alley (Originally called Park Row). This multiverse tale has allowed a combination of the two origin stories, which is interesting but nothing we haven’t seen a million times before. The third collaboration see’s focus move to the villainous big guns being released, Joker, Harley Quinn and Krang.

Krang, in an attempt to control the multiverse has torn the timelines apart and combined the two, while confusing the memories of all involved. This has resulted in appearances from the black and white Turtles, which is a nod of nostalgia to the very first TMNT books, and more importantly full on ninja versions of the Batman and Joker. Which we haven’t seen since the Batman Ninja film (if you haven’t seen that yet, watch it now! It’s on Netflix).


The character designs and artwork are fantastic but the crossover is getting a little bit stale at this point, particularly in the opening two issues, everything that happens has already been done in the previous two outings with Ra's Al Ghul/Shredder in the first and Bane in the second instalment's, but the target audience is probably not thirty year old men! I would recommend all three storylines,  it's fun and has some brilliant action in it, but just don't go in expecting Stephen King, and leave a larger gap in between each series than I maybe did. That being said if they go for a forth I'll still be buying it.


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#2 Guardians of the Galaxy 2019

#2 Guardians of the Galaxy 2019

Now this is a much longer haul than my previous review, twelve issues are included within the 2019 storyline but with a few spin-off storylines and and there is much more of the story before this starting point. So if you're looking for a short story this may not be for you, also the expense is also more so you may want to opt for the graphic novel rather than the issue by issue; but that's an argument for another time!

This part of the story written by Donny Cates is set after the Infinity Wars and after Thano's death, the galaxy is in disarray with 'a hundred worlds at war' , but even in death, Thano's has a massive trick up his sleeve. Every hero known to the Guardians universe is gathered for the funeral where via hologram Thano's revels his final masterpiece, to live on through another vessel, "I have taken measures to have my consciousness uploaded and implanted into the mind of another upon my untimely demise" (Thano's issue #1). But who, his plot isn't only to continue to live but to have the hero's pull themselves apart in the process.

 
The angry mob of hero's decide that Gamora is the obvious choice for Thano's new brain, with her being Thano's adopted daughter and the fact she has gone into hiding! This is what drags the Guardians as we know them into the mix through the love sick puppy of Star lord and the loyalty of Groot, the only two Guardians (particularly as we know them in the MCU) in the group for the start of this story. The cast changes many times throughout the story twisting and turning with many sub plots running throughout. Guardians of the Galaxy Annual that comes between issues 7 and 8 which itself includes three side stories that take you into Silver Surfer Black (see separate review) which in itself is a five issue series on it's own!

If you're expecting something exactly like the MCU Guardians you may be disappointed, because like all book to film adaptations this is slightly different. My only major criticism is that a pretty big part of the ending is the old 'anti shark spray' style get out clause, but that being said this has been my favourite run of 2019 the artwork by Geoff Shaw, and Cory Smith is fantastic throughout and each issue keeps you hooked and excited for the next release day, which is exactly what comic reading should be about!

As mentioned before there is a lot to catch up on before it continues in 2020; as the release for Guardians 2020 #1 (see below) is set for January 22nd, there is a lot that comes before the 2019 story and I suspect a hell of a lot more to follow. So if you are looking for a quick fix then this may not be for you but if you're looking for the deep addictive storyline then look no further.

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#1 DCeased

DCeased

So, my first review and where better to start than one of DC’s biggest titles of 2019, DCeased. The six part story comes from the brain of Tom Taylor (All New Wolverine, Justice League/Power Rangers) with Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Gaudiano and James Harren bringing it to life. The artwork is kept to a modern retro feel that keeps the story flowing nicely but stops you in your tracks when it wants. The stand alone series has allowed for completely open writing with the whole DC universe at its disposal, and the bravery to undo what previous storylines have done.

Taylor's storytelling offers a fresh look at the ever popular zombie story telling, by bringing it into the twenty first century, by the virus being spread virally as well as through your usual zombie bites or scratches. This brings real thought into how small the world has become and allows the threat to excel incredibly quickly, keeping the flow constant and keeping the reader hooked on every move. By the end of the first issue it's revealed that no character is safe from being killed off no matter how big they are, as Batman is zombified; spoilers I know but it is the variant cover of issue one by Francesco Mattian (pictured). The adrenaline of the storyline only increases constantly as hero's are turned into uncontrollable killing machines. With the virus spreading so rapidly and violently the action is taken to every corner of the globe and many of the DC big settings such as Themyscira (Wonder Woman), Gotham (Batman) Smallville and the Fortress of Solitude (Superman). 

With this being a starting point/stand alone storyline this allows a brilliant beginning point for those who are new to comics or wanting to take up reading. With appearances from so many of the main DC characters enhances the introduction to the universe, while a deep knowledge of each characters backstory is not needed to enjoy this story, like it may with some books. If you are, or where new before reading DCeased and have enjoyed it, the storyline goes deeper in DCeased A Good Day To Die (also written by Tom Taylor), this brings in many of the less familiar hero's such as Mr. Terrific and John Constantine into the after story (out now), and just when you thought it couldn't get any darker, DCeased: Unkillables will be released 19/02/2020! both DCeased and DCeased:Unkillables Pre-order available HERE

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