Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 is the first issue of a new series in the Marvel Universe that uses elements from the Marvel show to create stories dealing with the S.H.I.E.L.D. team from that show but incorporating what's going on in the comic book universe. This is the first time I read the first issue to an ongoing series rather than that of a limited series of an important event like Crisis or Returns. The comic has the team, like in the show, going on a mission to stop whatever plans Hydra is conducting all the while as they deal with their own personal issues. Much like the show that inspires it, this issue is very engaging and filled with twist and turns that makes me want to read more. Over all: 95%
Top lists so far:
1. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
2. Batman: The Long Halloween
3. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
4. Crisis on Infinite Earths
5. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
6. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
7. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
8. The Dark Knight Returns
9. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
10. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
11. Civil War

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1

One of the most recent comic books made, this is the first time I ever bought just one issue of a series without getting the rest due to the other issues also not being out yet. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 sees DC's Batman investigating strange circumstances involving IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, thus also being my first crossover between two different companies. Most of the first issue has Batman trying to find answers to why ninjas were stealing technology and kidnapping scientists, all the while the turtles and Splinter try to find a way home until all six meet at the end. The comic is fun and I can't wait until I get to read the rest of the series to see how Batman and the Ninja Turtles get along and how the latter get back home. Over all: 100%
Top list so far:
1. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
2. Batman: The Long Halloween
3. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
4. Crisis on Infinite Earths
5. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
6. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
7. The Dark Knight Returns
8. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
9. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
10. Civil War

The Dark Knight Returns

Like with Long Halloween, Dark Knight was not the comic I was going to buy as Killing Joke was unavailable again. That said, since it was long rumored that Batman v Superman will take some inspiration from this comic, I thought it was a good idea to read it to understand the references. Returns was not only one of the very first comics made in the Dark Age of Comic Books but also one of the comics that started it all and defined it, as well as make Frank Miller a household name. The story is very interesting as it sees Batman fighting crime again after years of retirement, even going against the government ideals until he faces Superman who has become a government agent. The artwork is very interesting, though a bit off-putting at times since Batman and Superman look over muscled. I feel that Bruce, being over 50 years old at this point, should have shown a lot more aging in his crimefighting as it's only shown in small parts. The introduction of a new female Robin, the fight between Batman and Superman, Joker's death, Batman's fight with the Mutant leader, Superman's problem with the nuke, and the ending are all done to perfection and very iconic. One of the few problems I found however are that there's not a lot of explanation for certain things like why Batman retired or how Green Arrow lost his arm, the giant tank Batman uses, and I don't know if Joker uses a flying robot baby. Over all: 92%
Top list so far:
1. Batman: The Long Halloween
2. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
3. Crisis on Infinite Earths
4. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
5. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
6. The Dark Knight Returns
7. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
8. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
9. Civil War

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe

Deadpool is one of the most fun comic book characters made from the modern era, especially with his own movie having been made and loved by many. Any comic he's in will always be fun no matter what, and Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe is no exception. The comic sees an alternate version of Deadpool going more insane than ever to the point that he knows he's in a comic. Driven insane by the knowledge, Deadpool goes on a killing spree throughout the world, taking out any well known heroes and villains like Spider-Man and the Avengers. The comic series ends with Deadpool, after every other hero and villain has been killed, going into the real world and planning to kill the writers at Marvel. As my first Deadpool comic this perfectly shows how far the Merc With The Mouth can go with his deadly skills and macabre humor. I'm exited to one day read the sequels to this series wherein Deadpool kills famous literary characters in classic books and then goes on a killing spree against other alternate versions of Deadpool. Over all: 100%
Top list so far:
1. Batman: The Long Halloween
2. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
3. Crisis on Infinite Earths
4. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
5. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
6. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
7. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
8. Civil War

Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War

My favorite type of fictional stories told in any medium, whether in films, television, or even comics, are crossovers between any two different franchises or series. This is why I wanted to read Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War as it is a crossover between many of my favorite classic Cartoon Network animated shows, like Ben 10 and Samurai Jack. Once again, IDW crafts a well written story all while delving into nostalgia from so long ago that so many would have wanted. The villains of many of these shows team up to defeat the heroes of their respective universes by making robot duplicates of them and sending them out to conquer their own and other universes. Like with Crisis, there are other comics you have to get in order to read other robots to be defeated by other shows not shown in the main story. Though it can feel packed at times and some things certain characters say feels out of character at some points. Over all: 90%
Top list so far:
1. Batman: The Long Halloween
2. Crisis on Infinite Earths
3. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
5. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
6. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
7. Civil War

Batman: The Long Halloween

Originally I was trying to get The Killing Joke, but instead I got Batman: The Long Halloween because where I got this comic didn't have Joke at the time. I still wanted Halloween, however, since I know it, like Killing Joke, were huge inspirations for The Dark Knight. This being the first comic I read from the '90s and one of the earliest in the Dark Age of comics, I was confused at first when reading the first few issues of the limited series. The story deals with Batman, with help from Captain Jim Gordon and DA Harvey Dent, trying to solve a series of holiday themed murders occurring throughout one year, with all of the murdered being part of different mobs ruling Gotham. What made me confused at first is the intro of certain well known villains like the Joker and Solomon Grundy which at first felt random. It wasn't until the end of it that I realized how clever it was since the whole point isn't the murder investigation but how Gotham goes from being ruled by the mob to being terrorized by the iconic rogues gallery when they all murder the last remaining mob boss of the city. The artwork is very interesting, such as with Batman's large cape or the Joker's large smile with his huge teeth. Over all: 100%
Top list so far:
1. Batman: The Long Halloween
2. Crisis on Infinite Earths
3. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
4. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
5. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
6. Civil War

Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1

The oldest series of comic books that I've read so far, Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1 is a collection of the first ten issues of The Avengers comics that were ever published. This is my first foray into the silver age of comic books and the first to not involve a large event like Civil War or Crisis. It was very fascinating to read due to how different comics were over fifty years ago comparing them to now. All ten issues were very wordy, meaning every panel had a lot of word, thought, or info balloons that were very expositional. The artwork is what one expects from the 1960s, being very simple and cartoony when compared to the more detailed looks of today. What surprised me were some of the characteristics of certain heroes such as Captain America constantly wanting revenge against Baron Zemo or how Iron Man would always mention how no one knows that Tony Stark, himself, is actually Iron Man even when the Avengers use his place as a base of operations. It was however still fun to read how one of the most iconic superhero teams came together thanks to Stan Lee and anyone else who worked in Marvel at the time. Over all: 70%
Top list so far:
1. Crisis on Infinite Earths
2. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
3. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
4. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
5. Civil War