The Bionic Man #10
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith with Phil Hester
Pencils by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross & Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: July 11, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

The Bionic Man #10 is the epic conclusion to the first arc of the series!! And believe me, it sure lives up to the hype. Ten issues building up to this one and you are NOT gonna be disappointed at all.

Writers Kevin Smith and Phil Hester bring everything full circle in this issue. Steve Austin faces off against the enemy he was destined to ever since issue one. While I won’t go into spoilers, it’s one hell of a knock-down drag-out fight. I really wish that this HAD been made into a movie, because seeing it on the big screen would be simply breathtaking. Like I said, Smith and Hester manage to bring everything full circle, and I mean EVERYTHING. At the end of the issue, all the storylines have been resolved, and they set up a new, surprising, status quo for Colonel Steve Austin. They send the book off in a brand new direction that should be, frankly, awesome. It’s been one heck of a ride getting to this point, but I can only see this book getting better now that the origin story is done and out of the way.

The Bionic Man #9
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith and Phil Hester
Pencils by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross & Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: May 23, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Man, after reading The Bionic Man #9, I am SPENT! But, in a good way. NO, a GREAT way. THIS is a comic book, folks. THIS is your summer action movie. THIS is your sci-fi drama with the drama turned up to eleven. THIS is the review that you bought and paid for, Phil Hester. Just kidding on that last part. I’ve only met Mr. Hester one time, and no money changed hands. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

Phil Hester (with some help from Kevin Smith) brings us the classic story of man vs machine vs man vs machine. Once you’ve read the issue, that’ll make more sense. This issue is INTENSE!!! From the story to the dialogue to the action, this book opens with a great action scene and doesn’t stop until the last page. In fact, it doesn’t even STOP at the last page!!!

A Game Of Thrones #6
Based on the novel by George R.R. Martin
Adapted by Daniel Abraham
Art by Tommy Patterson
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Cover by Mike S. Miller
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: February 29, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

This month in A Game Of Thrones #6 we deal mainly with interpersonal relationships between the characters, helping to feed the already twisting plots. Allies are not always to be trusted, nor are enemies always the most dangerous. George R.R. Martin‘s debut novel is brought to the comic reader in breathtaking fashion.

We begin by seeing Jon Snow humiliating one of his “brothers” of the Night’s Watch. Not his finest hour nor an intelligent move on his part. Luckily, he quickly sees the folly of his ways, just as his father, Eddard Stark, knows that being hundreds of leagues away in King’s Landing is perilous on multiple levels. Surprisingly, he discovers his wife is nearby and being hidden in a most unusual place. Again, not everything is as it seems.

Green Hornet #21
Written by Ande Parks
Pencils by Ronan Cliquet
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Marshall Dillion
Covers by Phil Hester, Jonathan Lau, and Brian Denham
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

While reading The Green Hornet #21, I just couldn’t help but think “this is a great, old fashioned, mystery man comic.” Month in and month out, this title delivers on that level and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.

Ande Parks hasn’t been writing Green Hornet all that long, but he’s really taken to his new job very quickly. I’m most impressed with his use of the reader’s intelligence. A lot of his issues are “one & done” stories that reference past issues WITHOUT the use of footnotes! Can you believe that? A writer that actually believes today’s comic fan has an attention span that goes back more than a month!! Well, on behalf of comic fans, THANK YOU, ANDE!!!

The Bionic Man #5
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith and Phil Hester
Pencils by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross, Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: December 21, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

Hot Damn! It’s Steve Austin on his first all-out undercover adventure with his brand new bionics. While fun, it’s not at all what I was expecting from The Bionic Man #5.

OK, let’s get one thing straight, and for me to do this I HAVE to go into spoiler territory: While the story is a LOT of fun, there was something about it that bothered me. Writers Kevin Smith and Phil Hester have brilliantly updated the bionic man and his powers significantly from the 1970s, but there’s one of his new powers I’m not that fond of — it’s Steve’s ability to make his face and voice resemble anyone that he wants. While this is cool in a Zartan sort of way, Steve spends most of the issue fighting and spying as a 60-year-old Russian business executive. That’s really not what I want out of this comic book.

Green Hornet #20
Written by Ande Parks
Art by Igor Vitorino
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Marshall Dillon
Covers by Phil Hester, Jonathahn Lau, and Brian Denham
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: December 21, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

If I had to pick one word to describe The Green Hornet #20, it would be-charming. It’s not too often a comic actually makes you feel better after you’ve read it, but this one does just that.

Writer Ande Parks serves up two stories in one issue here. A tale of the original Green Hornet & Kato and one of the modern day Green Hornet & Kato. Both fighting the same villain, but in very different ways.

The Bionic Man #4
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith & Phil Hester
Pencils by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross & Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 16th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

THIS. IS. IT. The Bionic Man #4 is the issue that everyone’s been waiting for!!! This issue is ALL Steve Austin. And while there’s really no fighting, there’s some great action. This issue is, so far, my favorite one, and it’ll be yours too. Most of the plot threads in the previous three issues come together and our hero is ready to be turned loose to tackle all the things that haven’t been resolved. This is where the fun starts.

Kevin Smith’s The Bionic Man #3
Based on a story by Kevin Smith
Script by Kevin Smith, Phil Hester
Art by Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross, Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: October 19th, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

It’s getting there!!! Those that are the lest bit familiar with the origin of The Bionic Man know that Steve Austin‘s origin can’t be told in one or two issues. But in this third issue of the title, Kevin Smith, Phil Hester, and company start getting down to business.

I know what some of you are thinking. “It’s just a comic based on a TV show,” but let me assure you, that this issue is PACKED with both character development and emotion. It’s got just as much as any creator-owned or non-licensed comic that I’ve ever read. There’s some action thrown in, for good measure, but the story is what really drives this issue. There a lots of nods to the television series that this is based on and some will have you both cheering and laughing out loud. Well played, all around on the story front. It’s fantastic.

A Game Of Thrones #1
Book One of A Song of Ice and Fire
Based on the novel by George R.R. Martin
Adapted by Daniel Abraham
Art by Tommy Patterson
Letters by Marshall Dillion
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Covers by Alex Ross, Mike S. Miller
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: September 21, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

George R.R. Martin‘s books are iconic fantasy novels that I hold in the highest regard. A Game Of Thrones #1 was everything I could ever want in an adaptation…and more. Unlike the HBO miniseries of the same name, this comic book delivers a better depth of the book as opposed to trying to make it fit into segmented television programs. Not that I disliked the show, but it was a concise version of one of the greatest fantasy books I’ve ever read.

While it doesn’t quite match up visually to what my mind created while reading the original book, A Game Of Thrones #1 brings a certain depth that many comics are missing today. Through a combination of Tommy Patterson‘s art and Daniel Abraham‘s writing, we get a thorough view of the world of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond. From the quick justice of Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, to the sad straits of Daenerys Targaryen, Princess of Dragonstone, we are shown both the beauty and the horror of this harsh world.

Kevin Smith’s The Bionic Man #2
Written by Kevin Smith, Phil Hester
Art By Jonathan Lau
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross, Jonathan Lau
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: September 21, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

When tackling an existing property, creators throughout all mediums often find themselves in an unenviable position. They are forced to walk the line of fan expectation to honor the source material, yet their final product must also be fresh and original. This is never an easy feat, as many Hollywood scribes will tell you, but in Dynamite Entertainment’s The Bionic Man, Kevin Smith, Phil Hester, and Jonathan Lau manage to not only meet expectation, but exceed it as well.

The Bionic Man #2 opens strong, with Steve Austin in trouble after a catastrophic accident while testing a new fighter jet for the government. With Steve’s life on the line, we get to know a little more about the villain Hull by meeting the people who gave him his bionic attributes. Hull was meant for more than his murderous ways, but as we learn by issue’s end, he is not open to discussion about his path. He is a focused man with a strong agenda, and nothing will deter his will.