Idolized #1
Written by David Schwartz
Pencils by Micah Gunnell
Colors by David Curiel
Letters by Josh Reed
Editor Vincent Hernandez
Cover by Arthur Adams, Michael Schwartz and Joe Benitez
Aspen Comics
Release Date: August 8, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

I’ll be the first to admit, I didn’t think that Aspen Comics would stick around long after the unfortunate passing of founder Michael Turner. But, they’ve done a good job keeping the fire burning and I was actually surprised at how much I liked Idolized #1!!!

Writer David Schwartz does a FANTASTIC job writing this comic! I’m guessing that he watches a lot of reality TV, because to me, the dialogue, premise, and execution of the issue was almost perfect. And he knows how to combine it perfectly with the superhero genre. From start to finish this is a great comic. It’s a perfect blend of reality and super heroics and a really fun read. It’s got a great shock ending, that I honestly didn’t see coming. There’s an origin that takes up about a quarter of the book, and that’s a little standard, but it read well and was entertaining. This book was a VERY pleasant surprise.

Lady Mechanika #3
Created by Joe Benitez
Art by Joe Benitez
Colors by Peter Steigerwald
Aspen Comics
Release Date: December 21, 2011
Cover Price: $2.99

The third issue of a new comic is always difficult to accurately review. It’s often too soon to reveal any major plot twists, yet late enough to not be gaining momentum. This is the place that Joe Benitez‘s Lady Mechanika finds itself.

Lady Mechanika #3 is a building block in an overall larger picture. This issue introduces new villains and interesting developments, but offers little in surprising content. This is not to say issue #3 is not impressive, because it is. Lady Mechanika #3 is the initial stages of something that could become a very compelling storyline.

Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet #4
Written by Kevin Smith
Breakdowns by Phil Hester
Art by Jonathan Lau
Covers by Joe Benitez, John Cassaday, Alex Ross, Stephen Segovia
Dynamite Entertainment
Price: $3.99
Released date: May 26, 2010

Continuing in Dynamite’s tradition of pleasing me with their revamped Green Hornet line, Kevin Smith’s Green Hornet #4 brings a swift roundhouse kick to the reader’s face by really bringing in the meat of the story.

When we last left the series, Britt Reed, Jr had been dealing with his father’s recent demise when he met Kato, his father’s assistant in fighting crime who literally opened the doors to his father’s past. We pick up directly where we left off as Kato sheds light on Britt, Sr’s motivations to lead a double life as the crime fighting “mob boss,” The Green Hornet.

While opening Britt, Jr’s eyes to this world, Kato also expresses the Hornet’s wishes to have his son and all evidence of the Hornet shipped to China while Kato and his daughter rid the streets of the Hornet’s assassin. Britt concedes, and we directly go into the legacy Kato confronting the mob, and just when things are looking there most grim, a new Green Hornet bursts on to the scene.