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.