Dark Days: The Road to Metal Review

Finished reading Dark Days: The Road to Metal, setting up the stage for DC's event, Metal the book sees Batman readying himself for an oncoming and mysterious threat that seemingly has ties to the different metals within the DC Universe. The book opens with Batman working with Aquaman to save a group of scientists from a Wayne Enterprises site on a volcanic island before he heads to his Batcave on the moon to check over the data from the site with Mr Terrific as Bruce begins an investigation into the different metals within the DC Universe that my have a link to alternative universes. Meanwhile on Mogo, Green Lantern is giving the mission to return to Earth to meet with Batman in the Batcave only to come across Duke as the two discover a secret part to the cave where Batman has seemingly kept the Joker locked up for some time. The next part of the book has the last two parts of the Final Crisis event where makes his final stand against Darkseid before being killed by the New God while the other heroes a trying to form a plan in preventing the collapse of the multiverse. The book then transitions to the opening part of the Return of Bruce Wayne as Batman finds himself with a tribe of caveman who come under attack from a very young Vandal Savage. The following large of the book features a couple of part of the Batman: Endgame that is referenced at the beginning of the book as Batman is in the middle of an out of control Gotham trying to find a cure for the city's citizens that may be inside Joker's own DNA after coming into contact with Dionesium. The penultimate story sees Nightwing and Robin working together in France as they are trying to rescue Dick's girlfriend, Shawn when they get into a fight with Deathwing who strongly believes to be the real Dick Grayson. The final story of the book has Red Robin finding Batman in an alley as he hopes to ask Bruce about the current situation of the Batfamily as everyone is position within different parts of the DC universe. Overall this was a good book as it puts the characters in place readying for the upcoming event while also giving some context to the event by featuring some additional stories. The use of Batman's investigation into the different metals within the DC Universe being juxtaposed to Hawkman's journal entries of his own investigation works immensely well with how the two parallel one another along with the journal entries working as narration for the story. While the art that accompanies the opening story is great as each artist does a great job in bring the different locations that Batman visits to life along with bring some of the character interactions to life extremely well as the changing of art styles feel surprisingly organic thanks to the story's structure. The addition of the older stories within the book while helping to give some context to the opening story with the Endgame story having a direct reference, some of the stories feel like extra padding to the book with some of parts of the book feeling out of place as they are only parts of a full story. 7/10.

Ocean’s 8 Film Review

Finished watching Ocean's 8, directed by Gary Ross and starring Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Awkwafina and Anne Hathaway. The film opens with Debbie Ocean (Sandra Bullock) being released from prison as she makes her way to meet with her friend and work partner Lou (Cate Blanchett) as Debbie lays out her plan for a heist that she has spent her time in prison to perfect. After agreeing to go ahead with the heist Debbie and Lou begin to build a team consisting of their friends Amita (Mindy Kaling) and Tammy (Sarah Paulson) along with fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna) and the pickpocket Constance (Awkwafina) to try a steal an expensive necklace that's worth hundreds of thousands in dollars by using a gala as cover for the heist by using celebrity Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) as an unknowing participant within the heist. Overall this was a good film as it does a great job in introducing each character into the film by giving of the characters enough backstory to help give them their motivation into why each member of the team agrees to be a part of the heist along with showcasing what skills they bring to the team. There is also a nice amount of comedic moments with the film that help to make light of some serious moments within the film while also being able to bring a extra element to the film's heist. 7/10. 

Nightwing: The New Order Review

Finished reading Nightwing: The New Order, writer Kyle Higgins returns to the character as Nightwing finds himself in a not too distant future that he has help to create after the use of superpowers have become almost nonexistent and illegal throughout the world. The book opens within a partly destroyed Metropolis where all the heroes and the villains have been defeated by Nightwing after using a device he's holding. Twelve years later Dick now heads the police force know as the Crusaders as their primary job is to police people with superpowers and make sure they are in check with the use of prescribed drugs that suppress a person's own superpowers since it had become illegal to have them. While being the public face of the Crusaders, Dick is also a single parent to his son Jake who soon begins to display superpowers of his own and after getting checked out by a retired Mr Terrific, as he discovers that Jake's DNA my hold the key to bring back the worlds superpowers as the drugs to suppress superpowers have no effect on him. When news of this gets to the Crusaders, Dick finds himself having to go rouge against the world that he help to create which also gains the attention of heroes that went underground after the events of Metropolis. Overall this was an amazing book as it sends the DC Universe into a very intriguing alternative future with how this universe has effected the characters that inhabit this world which also showing how different they are compared to their counterparts in the main DC Universe. There is an amazing amount of interactions between characters throughout the book as it is the main source of exposition for what has happened within this universe which allows for a each character's views and emotions to come to the forefront. This also leads to some amazing character development especially for Dick and Jake when they meet with Starfire and the remaining Titans as it shows how this universe has effected people who are against the current laws for superpowers while also bring the conflict into how Dick views them especially when his son is involved leads to some great twist within his development. Additionally the use of the book being narrated by Jake helps to bring a different prospective to the book as it allows to make the story feel more personal from the narration is. The art by Trevor McCarthy is amazing as it brings this version of the DC Universe to life extremely thanks to the futuristic designs of some of the technology that is on display along having a slightly darker tone that fits extremely well for the type of universe the story is in while still having some familiarity to the classic DC Universe. 9/10.

Harley Quinn: Vote Harley Review

Finished reading Harley Quinn: Vote Harley, concluding writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's run with Harley as her conflict with the mayor of New York with Harley deciding to run for office. The book open with Harley and her friends are working together with Chief Spoonsdale to stop an illegal car distribution as Harley announces to the press that she is running for mayor of New York. This instantly gains the attention of the current mayor and along with his assistant they plan to sabotage Harley's campaign by any means with the hope to stop her from winning the election. The last story within the book sees Harley and her friends are dealing with the aftermath of their confrontation with the mayor as Harley takes some time to think by going to the roller derby before taking up on Tony's offer to join him and Quinne on their way down to Florida as they pick up Poison Ivy along the way as Harley also plans on going to her parents home on the way. Overall this was an amazing book as it brings an end to writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti's time with the character by continuing with the great comedy that has been a staple throughout the series while bringing a level drama and suspense that bring some moments that plays with the heart. There is an amazing amount of character interactions and development throughout the book with Harley's relationships between her boyfriend Mason become a vocal point throughout the book especially with how events transpire within the book that effects the two especially for Harley at the end of the book. The art throughout the book is great as each of the art teams do a great job in bringing the book to life with the changing art style works extremely well with how the types of story and tone of the book changes in different part that make the more dramatic parts extremely effective along with the comedic moments. 9/10.

Green Arrow: Hard-Traveling Hero Review

Finished reading Green Arrow: Hard-Traveling Hero, writer Benjamin Percy continues the DC Rebirth series as Oliver goes on a road trip around America with the hope to stop the Ninth Circle from expanding their influence outside of Star City. The book opens with Oliver Queen on the road when he meets with the Flash after a group of dear run past him at super speed, which leads to the two heroes having to work together when a group from Black Hole are working with a member of the Ninth Circle have set up a base in the mountain range and are using Speed Force energy that's effecting the local area. After rescuing one of the scientists and destroying the base, Oliver discovers that his next destination is Washington DC when he meets with Wonder Woman when the Ninth Circle crash an arms showcase. This then leads to Oliver having to stop a mechsuited member of the Ninth Circle before following leads to Metropolis and Gotham in hopes to stop the spread of the Ninth Circle activities in other cities. Overall this was a good book as sends Green Arrow into the widened DC universe as he meets and teams up with the Justice League to stop the Ninth Circle leads to some great interactions between Oliver and the other heroes leading to him rebuilding his relationship with the heroes. The connective tissue between each of Green Arrow's team ups is very interesting as the same person from the Ninth Circle following him around and causing problems not only for Oliver but the hero he's with as well. The inclusion of Black Canary and Emi's story back in Star City is extremely interesting with how it shows what is happening in Star City while Oliver is away and how the two are trying to help with Oliver's upcoming court case by trying to prove his innocence. The art throughout the book is amazing as it shows off the different locations that Green Arrow travel to from large cities to even traveling into space with Green Lantern have a great amount of detail while asleep have some almost breathtaking moments. Additionally the art also does an amazing job in bringing each hero to life with how they interact with Oliver along with how each of their power sets work with Oliver's own abilities. 7.5/10.

Batman: The Rules of Engagement Review

Finished reading Batman: The Rules of Engagement, continuing the DC Rebirth series as Batman and Catwoman begin to ready their future together as their friends and family soon discover that the two are engaged to one another. The book opens up with Batman and Catwoman in a desert as they travel to the war torn Khadym where they go to meet with Taila Al Ghul who currently has Catwoman's friend Holly living within the country, who turns out to be the reason why Selina was arrested earlier in the series. Meanwhile at Wayne Manor, Batman's current and former sidekicks begin to question where Bruce had gone and why he has proposed to Catwoman. The next story sees Superman is being pursued by Lois to call Batman after hearing the news that he's engaged to Catwoman. Meanwhile Batman is also putting off call Clark to tell him the news as he is working a case, which leads to the two couples meeting one another due to them working the same case. After defeating a couple of villains the two couples decided to go out to a fairground where they talk about the engagement while also having some fun. The final story begins with a flashback to Batman's early day as a hero where Catwoman keeps stealing from him and leaving mice as a calling card before transitioning to an ageing Bruce and Selina in the future. Overall this was a good book as it puts some light onto Batman's supporting with how they view the engagement between Batman and Catwoman which lead to some great interactions between Batman's current and former sidekicks especially between Dick and Damian as the two react to what Batman is doing in Khadym and with his relationship with Catwoman. While the use of Superman and Lois in the book is a nice addition with how their relationship is compared to Batman and Catwoman's while also allowing for some interesting interactions between the two couples. The art throughout the book is great as each art team is able to put a great amount of detail into the characters with how they emote and interact with one another while also busting a nice amount of detail into the location designs as well. 7/10.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Film Review

Finished watching Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, directed by J. A. Bayona and starring Bryce Dallas Howard, James Cromwell, Rafe Spall, Chris Pratt and Isabella Sermon. The film opens with a group of mercenaries on a mission to retrieve a sample of the Indominus Rex before leaving in a hurry when the T-Rex begins to chase down the land crew as they leave on a helicopter after the crew lose communication with a submerged vehicle that was eaten by the Mosasaurus. Back in America the former manager of Jurassic World, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) is now the founder of the Dinosaur Protection Group with the hope to help the dinosaurs on Isla Nublar who are currently under threat by an active volcano on the island. Claire soon gets a call from by Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) to his home as Lockwood and his assistant Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) who hope to rescue as many dinosaurs of the island as they can with the help of Claire and Raptor trainer Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) as Blue is one of the dinosaurs that Eli has a particular interest in. Once one the island Claire and Owen are joined by a mercenary group that has been hired by Eli as the two soon discovered that they have been trick as Eli has ulterior motives. Overall this was a good film as it continues with the storyline that began with the previous film with the antagonist putting multiple dinosaurs up for auction including those that are hybrid which is a nice through line between the film's. There's a nice amount of character interactions and develop within the film, with the way that the relationship between Claire and Owen has developed since the previous film helps to bring a nice amount of insight to the characters as the film catches up with what the state of their relationship is and how it grows within the film thanks to some great interactions between the characters. While the addition of Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon) actually leads to some great interactions and puts Claire and Owen into an interesting place at the end of the film. The film does a great job in balancing the action with the dinosaurs and the horror elements that comes with use of the Indoraptor with the character moments with the human cast from there interactions with one another and the dinosaurs which brings a nice amount of levity to the film in places while also making characters, human and dinosaurs more relatable. 7.5/10.

Nightwing: Raptor’s Revenge Review

Finished reading Nightwing: Raptor’s Revenge, concluding writer Tim Seeley time with the character as Dick finds himself in desperate need of help when the villain Raptor returns. The book opens with Nightwing swinging through the streets of Blüdhaven when he finds himself having to save a Senator from the appearance of Raptor who has come to Blüdhaven with the Senator being one of his targets. After defusing the situation and Raptor escaping by using a waitress as a destruction, Nightwing turns to his allies in hope to get some help against Raptor but due to letting his friends, the Run-Offs down which led to the death of their friend and the Police being unable to help, Dick goes to the last person in the city that might be able to help, Roland Desmond. Overall this was a great book as writer Tim Seeley wraps up all for the plot lines from throughout the from the rerun of Raptor coming to meet with Dick in his new home of Blüdhaven to Dick rebuilding his friendship and trust with his friends the Run-Offs. The book also does an amazing job in delivering on the character interactions between Dick and Raptor that helps to make the story feel more personal to Dick thanks to how Raptor reveals more about his past with Dick’s mother. While the book also does a great jobs with the development of Roland Desmond as a character with how he is affected by Raptor’s plans for Blüdhaven especially when the casino that he runs becomes ground zero for the release of the Blockbuster serum into the city. The art throughout the book is great as it does an amazing job in bring to life the aesthetics of Blüdhaven extremely along with the amount of detail that goes into crafting the action scenes and bringing across the tension and other emotions at play between characters within their conversations. While the book also does a great job in transitioning between the changing art styles incredibly well with what parts of the book that changers. 8.5/10.

Suicide Squad: Kill Your Darlings Review

Finished reading Suicide Squad: Kill Your Darlings, writer Rob Williams continues the Suicide Squad’s fight against the organisation called the People who plan on bring Task Force X into their fold. The book opens with Amanda Waller arriving in Washington DC to a hearing where congress have questions for Waller over the events of Justice League vs Suicide Squad. Meanwhile in Bulgaria the Suicide Squad head to a facility with the hope to gain more information on the People and find there boss Karla. After the hearing Waller soon finds herself captured by the head of the People Karla. who tells her of his plan for his own Task Force X on a more worldwide scale which he seemingly gets Waller to agree with. Overall this was a good book as brings an end to the overarching storyline that began at the beginning of the series with the organisation known as the People’s plan is finally revealed. The current team dynamic within the book is extremely interesting and well written as placing Harley Quinn as the leader of the team leads to some surprising directions and twists with how she is a a leader. While the way it affects each team member becomes a very intriguing part to the book when everyone beings to fight each other with how they deal with the situations they find themselves in and the order they’re getting from Harley and Waller. The book also does a nice job in having some call backs to the Justice League Vs Suicide Squad story with how Amanda Waller is being brought to a hearing by the American government while also having developed countermeasures against the heroes the DC universe which leads to the Squad going after Killer Frost later in the book which also brings Batman into the fray which leads to an interesting conflict. The art throughout the book is great as it puts a nice amount of focus into the action scenes with how well each of the characters powers and abilities are on show while also putting a great amount of detail into the characters interactions that makes some of the conversations just as suspenseful as the action. 7.5/10.

Batman: Detective Comics: A Lonely Place of Living Review

Finished reading Batman: Detective Comics: A Lonely Place of Living, writer James Tynion IV continues the DC Rebirth series as Tim Drake finds himself trying to find a way back to Gotham which leads to him working with an unlikely person. The book opens with Tim Drake being questioned by a mysterious figure on why he became Robin before leaving when Tim hears a voice over his communicator thinking it to be Batman only to to soon discover that it's him from a future who became Batman. The two soon find themselves reluctantly working together to try and escape the prison back to their own time periods while also trying to avoid a rampaging Doomsday. The next story cowritten by Christopher Sebela sees Spoiler continuing to work with Anarky in the hopes to help the people of Gotham more directly with medical supplies for the less fortunate. Meanwhile in Batman and Clayface are working with Doctor Victoria October in her research into the cleanup of the attack of the Monster Men while the Doctor is also tying to help Basil is finding out why he loses control when he stays in is Clayface form for long periods of time. Overall this was a great book as it gives Tim Drake the spotlight as he finds himself as he escapes the prison he's been from earlier in the series which leads to him meeting a future version of himself which allows for some intriguing interactions with the future Tim and the heroes thanks to how close to home the antagonist is to all of the characters. The use of the books other story does a great job in continuing Stephanie's story after leaving the team with how she's found herself working with Anarky while also give a nice amount of development to Clayface with him still try to control over his Clayface appearance which leads to some get work on the relationship that Basil and Cassandra have formed over the course of the series. The art throughout the book is great as the whole art team doing a great job delivering on some well paced action set pieces while also bring a level of emotion that works amazingly well especially with how each character interact with one another as well as the future Tim Drake. 8/10. 

The Flash: Negative Review

Finished reading The Flash: Negative, continuing writer Joshua Williamson's run with the character as Barry finds himself having to deal with a new power set which is affecting his life as the Flash along with having an effect on in his work life. The book opens with The Flash trying to get use to his new powers that he gets from the Negative Speed Force as its causing more destruction than the villains he's fighting against which also causing Barry to become more exhausted from being the Flash. When Barry gets to work he's called into the office of his boss, Director Singh as he forms a small group to investigate into where some evidence have gone and who within the CCPD is behind it. The next story sees Flash working with Kid Flash once again in the hope to find a way to help his new powers under control before he heads of to Iron Heights for his new job in their forensic lab. The last story of the book is a Christmas set story that sees Barry fighting with Rainbow Rider at an airport when he finds out that all of the flights have been cancelled as he try's to help everyone before going to see Wally at Titans Tower in New York. Overall this was a great book as it sees Barry trying to come to terms with his new powers from the Negative Speed Force that allows for some great uses of the powers that is show by the books amazing art work within the action set pieces. Additionally the book also does a great job in putting a nice amount of focus into the character moments by bring some drama into Barry's life that is being caused by how his powers are effecting his emotions and how losing his temper is causing problems with his job and his colleagues. The book also does a great job in mixing the superhero parts of the Flash fighting against super villains and criminals with the CSI parts of Barry's work where he's on a case of missing blood samples is one of the best parts of the book with how it puts Barry's live as a CSI is brought to the forefront. 8/10.

Solo: A Star Wars Story Film Review

Finished watching Solo: A Star Wars Story, directed by Ron Howard and starring Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Joonas Suotamo, Woody Harrelson and Donald Glover. The film opens on the planet of Corellia as a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) has hot wired a hover vehicle which he uses to escape to the space port with his girlfriend Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke) in the hope to get of the planet only for Qi'ra to be captured which leads to Han to sign up for the imperial navy in order to get of the planet. Years later Han finds himself on the frontline of an invasion when he finds himself thrown into a cage when he defies his ranking officer. While in the cage he quickly gets himself out of danger from a chained up Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) which the two soon become acquainted with one another as Han helps Chewbacca to escape the planet as they find themselves going into a life of crime when the board the ship of the criminal Tobias Beackett (Woody Harrelson) and his crew. Overall this was a good film as it divides into the past of Han Solo which allows the film to bring in some classic Star Wars characters like Chewbacca and Lando (Donald Glover) that leads them on their path to becoming the characters and forming the relationships that are shown in the original films. While the addition of new characters helps to bring an element of suspense along with some interesting twists to the film that helps to bring some unpredictability to the film as the stories of the classic characters are slightly predictable as it feature things that have been previously mention and referenced to. The film also features some great action set pieces that is able to build tension within scenes that brings into question of how the characters can get out of the multiple situations they find themselves in with the different factors going against them even though it known that the characters will get out of the situations. The film also does a great job in having some great interactions between its cast as the relationships that classic characters have begin to form thanks to the little back and forth characters have while also being able to give a nice amount of development to newly established characters. 7.5/10.