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DAVE STEWART’S ZOMBIE BROADWAY ( Virgin Comics / Harris / Schenley / Neogi )

In Zombie Broadway, the human population of Manhattan has been decimated to the point where the only survivors are a few unlucky civilians and a bunch of stuck-up Broadway elitists. The acting mayor (the others have been eaten or killed) of New York has convinced the President to try taming the Zombies through theater before the ultimate resolution of dropping a nuclear bomb on the city. The story of Zombie Broadway takes the form of an ensemble black comedy full of violence and humor.

RUN!! RUUUUUUNNNNN!! It’s hard to remember the last time I read a comic this bad. Virgin sells this comic with a line “From the creator of the Eurythmics”. I’m thinking Dave Stewart should stuck with 80’s music be and left to world of comics to the professionals.

First up is the story. It’s horrible! Scientists discover that if a zombie is sang to, they’re less likely to attack because music is hard wired into the human memory of a zombie, and music makes people happy. As the story progresses, Stewart takes a page from George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead by making almost all of the characters not likable. When characters get eaten, I didn’t feel bad. The dialog was poor and disjointed and didn’t flow at all. I really can’t find anything redeeming about this story at all.

On to the art…not much better. There are some panels where the art looks professional, but it mostly looks like guys in artist alley who are selling with Xeroxed comics for five bucks. Honestly, I’ve seen 8th graders note book doodles with more terrifying zombies.

Bottom line: Save your $4.99 + tax and buy something worth reading.

Grade: F

She-Hulk #28 (Marvel - David / Semeiks / Meikis / Sotomayor)

Tracking down the mysterious bomber who attacked her in New York City, She-Hulk finds herself in prison – and the story of why she left her legal career behind finally begins to come to light.

If you watched my body language when I read She-Hulk, you would not know how much respect and admiration I have for Peter David. He is literally a legend… but this issue is pretty close to filler. Jenn is stuck in prison because someone higher up the “clan destine” ladder stabber her in the back. She-Hulk trying to find the bright part about being a good guy is becoming a reoccuring theme. The best part of the book is when Jenn gets to make up trash about the Juggernaut to try to quell her cell mate.

Issue Grade: C

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Ultimate Fantastic Four #53 (Marvel - Carey / Kirkham / Regla / Blond)

The conclusion to the Cosmic Cube Thanos saga! Mr. Fantastic is M.I.A. The Invisible Woman and the Human Torch have gone over to the dark side. That leaves only one man—the Thing—to wrest the all-powerful Cosmic Cube from the clutches of the mad god Thanos!

Marvel’s description is not quite on the money, but it was a great issue anyways! After the first “Ultimate Thanos” trip o’ so many issue ago, I thought I would swear off of the storyline forever. But Mike Carey did an incredible job in this arc of giving us a visit back to the “galactic god” setting that was adventurous and suspenseful. Not to mention a very classic “Reed Richards finds a solution to the unbeatable problem” ending. This run is credit and must read for Ultimate Universe fans everywhere!

Starting next issue, Mike Perkins (Captain America) starts up a a story arc dealing with the Mole Man and Ultimate Agatha Harkness… and if you don’t know who Agatha is, find a real Fantastic Four fan and ask them!

Issue Grade: A

Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic #27 (VECTOR: PART 3) ( Dark Horse / Miller / Hepburn / Parsons)

An ancient evil gains long-coveted power in the third part of 2008’s biggest Star WarsSomething terrible is spreading among the Mandalorians, threatening to bring their conquest of the galaxy to a previously unthinkable new level! Unfortunately, fugitive Padawan Zayne Carrick and the con artist Gryph don’t even know how they’re going to survive their current predicament, let alone stop this horrifying threat! Lucky for the galaxy, their companion Jedi Celeste Morne has a few ideas about what to do. Unlucky for Zayne, Celeste’s boss wants him dead! * This is only the third issue of “Vector,” a 12-part storyline that will run through every event! Star Wars title, from Knights of the Old Republic, to Dark Times, to Rebellion, to Legacy.

So here’s one where the story is worth while and really very good, but the art was so much better when it was done by Brian Ching or Travel Foreman. Scott Hepburn is a good artist, I just don’t think his cartoony style fits KOTOR very well. His Rakghouls look cool, but Zayne Carrick looks like the lovechild of Adrian Brody and Crispin Glover.

John Jackson Miller does an excellent job with this third installment of the Vector crossover as we see that the Muur Talisman may have a mind of it’s own. Since there is no time travel in the Star Wars universe, I’m becoming more and more intrigued on how Miller and company will explain how these time periods in the Star Wars universe will connect.

Issue Grade: B+

Series Grade: A-

HULK #3 ( Marvel / Loeb / McGuinness / Vines)

Not a flashback! Not a dream! Together again for the first time! The battle you NEVER thought you’d see — The Hulk Vs. The Abomination! But…wait, we’ve seen that lots of times! Well… No you HAVE NOT. And it isn’t just because superstars Jeph Loeb & Ed McGuinness are bringing it to you for the first time — it’s because if you’ve been reading the Hulk (yes, we know there’s one or two of you), it CAN’T be possible! But it is — AND IN COLOR — LOTS OF THEM! The pulse-pounding, gamma-spawned action adventure continues in Hulk #3!!!

Wow…This book has big action, big color, lots of big strong guys, and just enough story to fill a thimble with. Ugh! So in-case you haven’t been following along, Banner is in no way the Red Hulk. We get a possible hint on who he is on the first page when Commander Hill let Stark know that 3 people were missing during the attack on the helicarrier (last issue). They are S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Clay Quartermain, Doc Samson, and General Thunderbolt Ross. Two pages later we see a recording of Doc Samson and Ross grilling an incarcerated Banner on the identity of the Red Hulk. Hmmm, where could the missing Quartermain be? I really hope it’s not that obvious.

Grade: C

Series Grade: B-

STAR WARS: LEGACY #22 (Dark Horse / Ostrander / Robinson)

In light of recent events, Darth Krayt deems it time to teach a lesson in obedience-to the entire galaxy!  Emperor Krayt is displeased, and the price of betrayal will be exacted from an entire race, their suffering rippling to the edges of the Outer Rim. Yet his wrath will not stop there, as even among his own ranks failure will be dealt with cruelly and with lasting results. Old allegiances will be tested, and new bonds will be formed through pain and anger.  This is what happens when the Sith rule the galaxy!

Sith are bad…..very, very bad. I know that isn’t news, but we get a reminder of the genocidal mayhem the Sith are capable of. Unfortunately we see it through some of the worst art I’ve seen in a Star Wars comic in some time. I looked up Alan Robinson’s other art work and it wasn’t bad, but his first 5 pages of Legacy looked like a 6th graders Star Wars project. Ostrander is working his way through a story arc that has so far been unimpressive, but has possibility to grow into something. I really feel like the last three issues have been just left me waiting for something, and what I’m waiting for is the return of Cade Skywalker! It looks like Cade and company return next issue, but lets hope the art gets better.

Issue Grade: C

Series Grade: B+ (dropping due to last three issues.)

Thor #8 (Marvel -  Straczynski / Djurdjevic / Miki)

The God of Thunder keeps sizzling off the stands! Part two of a two-part arc by writer J. Michael Straczynski (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN) with sumptuous art by DAREDEVIL cover artist Marko Djurdjevic sees the mighty Thor ruling over a newly glorious Asgard and all its people! But what danger has risen on the horizon of its American heartland surroundings? And how will Thor equip himself to face it??

It took me a bit to get to the comic review this week, and then when I did get around to reading most of it was horrible in some form or another. Not Thor! Thor #8 is by far the best book I read this week. This is the second issue of the “Father Issues” story arc that finds Thor and Odin having a father/son talk about the future of Odin and of Asgard. With a Marvel’s take on the history of Odin, to the big reveal of the whereabouts of the Lady Sif, this issue was great. Not only do we get some great character development, but we also see some big action with Thor and Odin vs. Surtur.

Grade: A

Series Grade: A

Catwoman #78 (DC - Pfeifer / Lopez / Lopez)

Catwoman’s way off the Hell Planet is set and ready to go, but first she’ll have to deal with the villains she’s crossed. And she’s crossed a lot of villains. Line forms to the left…let’s start with the bloodthirsty, claw-wielding, kill-happy Cheetah!

If I were a long time reader of Catwoman, I would be disappointed, because I am reading Salvation Run on a regular basis and for the last few months, these two series have been complete overlap with very little extra. Take this issue, yes we get a little bit of insight into Catwoman trying to beguile Hammer and Sickle (leftover Cold War cybernetic villains) and we get a close-up view of her throw-down with Cheetah. But it ends at the same place Salvation Run #7 does… with all of the villains trapped on planet Salvation temporarily putting their personal issues aside and dealing with the attack of the parademons. It’s a good thing for this series that this arc is coming to an end.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it has interesting watch Catwoman interact with all of her super-powered cohorts. But it is time for the feline fatale to get back to gritty Gotham with stories that fit her character better. There is nothing wrong with the writing or the art, both are great… it’s just been a fish-out-of-water arc, or more specifically a cat-out-of-the-streets arc.

Issue Grade: B-

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The Mice Templar #4 (Image - Glass / Oeming)

Only the legendary Readers of the Wheat priesthood can approve Karic’s destiny as the prophesied liberator of all mice. But only knighted Templars dare enter their ancient fortress within the Great Ash Tree, while Karic must first survive the sacrificial rituals of the fearsome druid-witch Black Anaius. Also, the Hooded One reveals his name, and it may cost the life of Pilot the Tall.

With each issue, this series gets better and better. At first, I was pretty shaky about this rodent epic, which explores religion, culture, point of view and destiny. But with every single page that is turned and puzzle piece that fits, the story of The Mice Templar becomes more and more amazing.

Karic is a great off-centered protagonist that is joy to watch, he is too sure of himself in a situation when his pride will be his biggest road block, unsure of himself at times when he needs to step up… and always running at a break-neck pace in way over his head and never really thinking twice before a decision. Thankfully Pilot is there to help him out. It really is fun Karic is sort of a combination of young Luke Skywalker, Frodo and Gobo Fraggle… except as a mouse.

On a functional note, the art and story of the book compliment each other incredibly well to continue this grand tale… the only bummer is wondering how long it will be until issue #5

Issue Grade: A