The Shotgun Blast!

(Apologies, McGirk...)
Reviews: Will Dubbeld

Doctor Strange #1.MU

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Julian Lopez

So the Monsters Unleashed event isn't quite what I expected. Rather than Mole Man rallying a horde of 1950s monsters to conquer the surface world, apparently giant critters called Leviathons are wreaking havoc and heroes and good-guy monsters team up for the fight.
This particular tie-in focused on Dr. Strange and Googam, Son of Goom, and their fight against an escaped Leviathon. Strange is low on magic due to events transporting in his solo book and Googam is low on smarts, but high on moxie.
The art is phenomenal, and the story is much better than expected. Cameos from Spidey and a My Little Pony reference add to the chuckles and distract the reader from the unoriginal Leviathon premise, which seems pretty similar to Pacific Rim's Kaiju or the MUTOs from Gareth Edward's Godzilla flick.

Justice League of America: Rebirth #1

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Ivan Reis

Now we're talking. Ever since DC played New 52 card pickup with their readers, the books have been preeeeeeetty mediocre to outright bad.
Fortunately there's some diamonds to be found in DC's rough, and they usually involve Batman.
In the wake of the Suicide Squad/Justice League fracas Batman has decided to put his own team together, because even loners need friends, and this issue focuses on getting the band together.
Batman-helmed teams always tickle me, as I'm an absolute fanboy of the Dark Knight. The Outsiders was a swell book and this new JLA incarnation may just scratch that itch.
Headquartered in the old JLA hq in Happy Harbor, The Batmans and Killer Frost (who's apparently Caitlin Snow these days; thanks Flash tv show...) strut out into the DCU in search of fellow Leaguers.
Black Canary is an easy sell (no idea if it's Dinah, Laurel, Sarah, or what), as is The Atom (Ryan Choi, pretender to the throne imo...). The next two recruits are Vixen (always one of my favorites) and The Ray.
I know.
I don't care about The Ray either...
Vixen's intro was great, as she defeats Roxy Rocket with what appears to be catfish powers.
Readers may recognize Roxy Rocket from her most popular incarnation in the purest interpretation of The World's Greatest Detective:
Batman: the Animated Series
Lastly, but not leastly, we get Lobo.
Not that bullshit Hot Topic Lobro idiot they tried to shove down our throats, but the tried-and-true Main Man we all know and love.
Great issue, but literally almost nothing happens aside from team-gathering.

Kingpin #1

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Ben Torres

Big fan of Wilson Fisk, no pun.  As a Spider-Man foil or Daredevil's greatest foe, Kingpin has always been a crowd pleaser. From the days high above New York in a tower to the stretches in prison, he's always commanded the scene.
Wilson's new jam is courting a reporter who has fallen on hard times in the hopes she'll write his memoir. Obligatory Kingpin training scene aside, this book is all dialogue and character-building. Rosenberg is writing a slow burn, a smolder, building tension as the reader waits for the other shoe to drop. Fisk is incredibly benign here, even humble, and it's either a bait-and-switch or a gross mischaracterization. I surmise it's only a matter of time before shit hits the fan and Wilson goes full Kingpin, but we shall see. His interactions with the reporter reminded me of those rare moments of tenderness he expressed in regards to Vanessa, his wife.
I'm talkin' funnybooks, mind you. This was years before Netflix showed us that facet. In any case, there's a Matt Murdoch appearance which I hope was just a nod as Kingpin is a strong enough character to support a solo book without Daredevil popping up.
The art reminds me of a brighter, tighter Frank Miller page or a style reminiscent of Kaare Andrews.
I'm all in on the Kingpin.