Another week, another batch of comics, another bunch of reviews. You can also catch my spoiler-free or blocked reviews over at ComiXology. So here’s what I read this week.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Alliance #2{IDW}

WRITER: Chris Mowry

ARTIST: Alex Milne

COLORIST: Josh Perez

LETTERER: Neil Uyetake

EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton

The Autobots escort the Decepticons remains for their burial at sea. Lennox promises a proper funeral for Jazz. Prime leaves the shard from the All-Spark with Sector Seven, then rethinks his decision and sends Ironhide and Bumblebee to retrieve it. It’s too late, however, as the All-Spark shard reactivates a rather angry Wreckage (which the Autobots didn’t know they had) just as Starscream crashes in. Starscream and Wreckage battle (Starscream thinks Wreckage betrayed them and he’s still angry about the betrayal during “The Revenge of Starscream” mini, and Wreckage thinks he was left behind in the second Target special) and Wreckage is taken out just as the Autobots arrive. But before Starscream can battle them he’s called away by the head of another group of Decepticons on their way to Earth.

What they got right:This story has a better balance of action and talking. Optimus makes a judgement error, thinks twice about it, and sends his boys back to correct it. It works. As a reader within, I’m annoyed that Sector Seven is still trying to maintain their normal modus operandi as far as how they treat the Transformers, but as an objective reader, that’s how they should be. The art is great, although the humans and poses still need improvement, but the fight scene at the end could be better choreographed.

What they got wrong: Outside of the aforementioned fight scene, not much. Everything seems to be flowing well.

Recommendation: Second issue in, and looking like a good choice for fans of the movie. I’m not sure it’s a “must”, but maybe by the end, I’ll be able to save for sure. I also recommend cover A (the one in the link). It’s a nice shot, and it’s nice to see a cover that actually reflects the inside content.

DC Super Friends #11 {DC}

Based on the Mattel toyline

WRITER: Sholly Fisch

ARTIST: Chynna Clugston

LETTERER: Travis Lanham

COLORIST: Heroic Age

EDITOR: Rachel Gluckstern (Gluckstern?)

It just another day of crime fighting for the Super Friends as they try and capture the Royal Flush Gang. However, Batmite appears and insists that only Batman should capture the Gang, because it will be more exciting. (He is a BatFanboy, after all.) Misunderstanding Wonder Woman’s comment that they all put their powers together to stop anything, the little imp decides to give them all to Batman. This doesn’t sit well with Mr. Mxyzptlk, who decides to create all sorts of trouble to prove he should at least give Superman back his powers (as torturing a powerless Superman is no fun). After Mxyi creates a challenge that’s too much for even a super-powered Batman, Batmite relents, but remakes them as the Bat-Squad, which doesn’t sit well with other imps who are fans of other Super Friends (as well as one of the Guardians of Oa), so he turns everything back, tricks Mxyzptlk back home, and decides to bring all the imps together Super Friends style. That won’t end well. 🙂

What they got right:I picked up the first two issues previous, and the art there had a bad habit of having the heroes represent the toys, which made Wonder Woman look closer to Etta Candy as far as body type goes–does Diana even have a DCSF figure?–while making everyone else look more or less natural. This was not the case in #11, and it’s a welcome change. Even the Rescue Heroes character models where given more natural human forms in their media presentations (two cartoons and a bunch of coloring/kids books). There’s still a bit of “kiddieness”, like when Flash calls out “for justice”, but considering the target audience that’s how it should be. Besides, he also makes a joke about the Royal “Flush” Gang that feels like the Flash, or at least Wally. Plus, it’s Batmite and Mr. Mxyzptlkin a kids comic. It almost writes itself, and the cameos by classic “imp-ish” characters from DC’s past is a nice touch for older readers reading with younger kids. There’s something for everybody.

What they did wrong:The only reason nothing goes here is the fact that it’s a comic targeting 6 year olds, so unless your part of the “everything for meeeeee” crowd who is under the impression that they don’t need to make comics for kids (I call them “morons”), all is as it should be.

Recommendation: Pick this up for your children, younger siblings and relative, or any other little kids you may have. And don’t be afraid to read it for yourself.

The Phantom Annual #2 {Moonstone}

Guest-Starring: Mandrake the Magician

STORY: Mike Bullock & Kevin Grevioux

ART: Samicler Goncalves (yeah, that “C” is done in some weird character I’m not sure I can recreate here)

COLORIST: Jason Jenson

LETTERER: Josh Jenson

COVER ARTISTS: Pat Quinn (A, see left), Leonardo Manco (incentive B), Nick Derrington (limited C)

PHANTOM CONSULTANT: Dr. Bryan Shedden

Both of Lee Falk’s comic strip heroes are brought together when the cousin of Mandrake’s assistant, Lothar, is killed by villains looking to find a secret Bangallan herb that, if misused, can be turned into a mind control potion.

What they got right:It’s always interesting to see a team-up like this between two characters created by Lee Falk and “controlled” by King Features. The characters work well together, and while I don’t know if Lothar is supposed to be Bangallan in nationality in the strips, it is a nice bridge here.

What they got wrong:If you don’t read the comics, you don’t know who Mandrake and Lothar are. Seeing as Moonstone often has their “Behind the Mask” page to cover these things, it’s lack of appearance here is unfortunate. The story doesn’t help, as the reader doesn’t know if the Phantom and Mandrake are already friends or not unless they know the history of the characters. They team up just a bit too quickly, and even a two-panel scene of the three agreeing to join forces would have been nice.

Recommendation: A good story, and if they had found a way to get Flash Gordon (not the current comic book) into the mix, you might have Defenders of the Earth done right, but there’s no way to get him in there. A good choice for Phantom and/or Mandrake fans.

Marvel Super Heroes #7 {Marvel}

Featuring The Mighty Thor

WRITER: Louise Simonson

ARTIST: Rodney Buchemi

COLORIST: Guru eFX

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

COVER ART: Espin, Kesel, and Pantazis

PRODUCTION: Tom Van Cise

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jordan D. White

CONSULTANT: Ralph Macchio

EDITORS: Nathan Cosby & Mark Paniccia

Donald Blake (secretly the Norse God of Thunder) takes his girlfriend/employee (ok, is that a good idea?) and her friends son to the zoo’s new Reptile and Amphibian House, but suspects that something is up with the invitation he was sent. Over in Asguard, Odin is concerned that his son is so smitten by a human girl, and Loki decides to take advantage of that with a plan to make Thor look foolish and possibly destroy Donald and Jane’s relationship in the process. Donald/Thor was right to be concerned about the exibit, however, as the guy behind the exibit is actually starting a plot to poison the guests and make big money giving them the antidote. Long story short, Loki’s scheme backfires, “Cobra” is defeated, and Donald and Jane are still an item.

What they got right:Louise Simonsonwrote this month’s issue instead of Paul Tobin, and while she doesn’t bring the level of oddity that Tobin has brought to the first six issues, we still get a great story with every character interesting. She finds a way to bring two different stories together, keep them mostly independent of each other, throw in a quick reference to an old Thor story, and make it all come together like a jigsaw puzzle (about five years after I got it, but that’s another story). The art is only slightly above average, but it’s not supposed to be an art book, and it does compliment the story. That’s what comic art is supposed to do.

What they got wrong:On the other hand, there are times when the character changes slightly. Take for example the scene where Donald and Jane are discussing the invitation to the exibit. Nice touch with the birds outside the window. However, the last panel makes Jane look a bit more “developed”, shall we say, than the other two panels and her nose looks wrong. Also, Donald looks like he has five-o-clock shadow, although if you look at it closer, they’re supposed to be wrinkles or something because of his expression. Also, being a fan of MA: Avengers, I have to note more proof that sadly Marvel Adventures doesn’t maintain continuity between it’s comics, as Louise has Thor/Donald dating his 616 sweetheart, Jane, rather than Thor’s MA dating Storm of the Avengers. Sure, this story wouldn’t work at all with Storm, but that makes the two comics take place in a separate continuity from each other. That’s unfortunate, but that’s just me.

Recommendation: I’m not usually a Thor reader, and probably still won’t after this, but it is a good story, even if it does break with another Marvel Adventure story. Worth picking up.

Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man #47 {Marvel}

WRITER: Todd DeZago

PENCILER: Sanford Greene

INKER: Nathan Massengill

COLORIST: A. Street

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

PRODUCTION: Randall Miller

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Jordan D. White

CONSULTING: Mark Paniccia & Ralph Macchio

EDITOR: Nathan Cosby

There’s a new supervillian in town breaking into labs. According to the Bugle, it’s some guy called the Prowler, but they say the same thing about Spider-Man. Can the two team up and stop the real criminal?

What they got right: The writing and art have improved since last issue. The characters feel a bit more real. I like this version of the Prowler, and the team-up and conclusion work rather well. The real villain also works, the victory is simple but doesn’t feel too off, and ending is satisfying. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Prowler return again someday.

What they got wrong:When I say the art got better, that doesn’t mean it’s as better. JJJ looks anorexic and the Prowler looks like he’s wearing a high collar on his cape. The Prowler’s costume happens to be one of my favorite designs in the Marvel Multiverse (yes, even in those colors), so the fact that I’m not as jazzed about it in this art style is disappointing. And why is Peter still wearing his glasses? Every continuity has him no longer needing the glasses thanks to the radioactive spider-blood fixing his eyes or something. This is issue 47. They should be gone by now. What happens if they get broke, and is Peter using perscription 2-way mirror lenses in his mask, or is he somehow wearing the glasses underneath the mask. That can’t be a good idea, and I wear glasses myself so I know what I’m talking about.

Recommendation: An improvement over last issue, but I’m still not ready to add this to my personal pull list just yet.

The Dreamland Chronicles #7 {IDW/Blue Dream Studios}

Story/Art: Scott Christian Sava

I originally wasn’t going to pick this up this week, since I picked up my comics the day before I got paid, and I only had so much on me. However, I ended up near the comic store ,the day after I got paid, on other business, so I picked it up, along with a TPB that was waiting in my folder, but I won’t say what it is just yet.

Alex returns to Ashendel, home of the elves and his childhood friend, Nastaja, who is now queen of the elves. Unfortunately for Alex, he’s fogotten much of the Dreamland portion of his childhood. He also meets a little human girl named Erika, and her panda friend, Ferdinand Montoya Jimenez De Guadalupe, or “Spotty” if your Erika. She doesn’t need a necklace to visit Dreamland like Alex does. Once in the castle, a lot of interest is taken in his sword.

What they got right: Well, the publishers didn’t mess up the pages like last time, so that’s a step up. A bit more happens here, but unless Erika and Spotty are important later (I really should finish reading the archives and getting caught up some day), it still takes a while before getting into the main plot, namely Alex’s returning to Dreamland for the first time since he was 12. We do, however, get more mystery concerning Erika and how she enters Dreamland compared to how Alex does it. We also get to see Pattington dance again.

What they got wrong: Not much to say here. The plot does seem to be advancing, even when at the slow parts.

Recommendation: Unless your a “floppy” addict like me, you may want to wait on the trades. The story flow may seem better via that route. But you still must get this comic.

 Best Scene of the Week:

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Alliance #2

"Just thought I'd drop in." (Yeah, that was too easy.)

And that does it for this installment. Now I’ll just let you wonder what collected crossover mini I collected until I finish reading it and review it.