Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Saturday, September 05, 2026
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Friday, August 07, 2026
Saturday, July 04, 2026
Scott's Take: The Bat-Man: Second Knight by Mike Perkins (Author/Illustrator)
The Bat-Man: Second Knight
by Mike Perkins is a follow up to The
Bat-Man First Knight and is set in the same universe. The plot
synopsis online for the trade is only somewhat accurate in my opinion. The car
crash does not involve Batman despite what is stated. There is no cult. I did
not realize the guy in purple was supposed to be the monk. I don’t think they
even call him that.
The actual book is about the Scarecrow and a guy in
purple killing people and spreading fear gas across Gotham. Set sometime when
Germany is marching across Europe at the beginning of World War II, Batman is
attempting to stop the killing. He is also with his very scared girlfriend who is
back in town to participate in the premier of her new movie.
Lois Lane and Clark Kent are also in town for the
premier. It is also not long before they are victimized by Scarecrow’s plan. In
the wake of that attack, Clark is quickly able to figure out Bruce has his own
secrets. Can they find a way to trust each other and work together to stop the
attacks?
There is action, horror elements, vivid art, and a
classic old school Superman. In this story, Superman is way weaker than he is
now. He can’t fly. He just jumps really high. Bruce is more of an average man
in this story. Jim Gordon is a veteran of World War 1 and has his own fears to
deal with as related to gas attacks. This book gave me a new appreciation for
how scary gas attacks are. There is a lot of historical elements drawn in to
each character’s backstory.
I enjoyed this period piece. I hope the series
continues, but there is no word at the time of writing this review in early May
if it will.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3R4bdTq
I read this by way of Hoopla through the Dallas
Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Scott's Take: Justice League vs Godzilla vs Kong 2 by Brian Buccellato and Illustrator Christian Duce
Justice League vs Godzilla vs
Kong 2
by Brian Buccellato, illustrated by Christian Duce is the sequel to Justice
League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong. In this story, Amanda Waller has decided
to take the Suicide Squad to Legendary Earth (Godzilla and friends (King Kong,
Mothra, and others). She has come up with the brilliant idea to steal the DNA
of the Titans (giant monsters) and turn it into a serum. She then injects that
into super criminals making them giant
feral creatures to enforce her world.
Of course, the Justice League realizes
this is a really bad idea and decide to stop her. Unfortunately, the DC Universe
heroes are outmatched because two of their heaviest hitters, Supergirl and
Superman, do not get the solar power they need to be as strong as usual on this
planet. So, they may need the serum themselves to even the odds…
This is action packed adventure with
solid art work and decent character work. There is a lot of science fiction concepts
in this tale at work. If you want to see Batman piloting a giant mech or
Superman fighting Godzilla then this is the book for you.
I think the first one was better, but
this is still a fun read. There is setup for another book in the series, but we
will see if that happens, Part of the ending was deliberately vague, which was
very annoying, and that couple be the springboard for a new read.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Pz9vsK
I read the first 4 issues through DC Infinite App and
the last three through Hoopla by way of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, June 19, 2026
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Saturday, May 23, 2026
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Saturday, May 02, 2026
Scott's Take: Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watter and illustrated by Hayden Sherman
Batman: Dark Patterns by Dan Watter, illustrated
by Hayden Sherman, is a read that I read through Hoopla and the DC Universe Infinite
App. This is a twelve-issue miniseries where each of the four separate story
arcs contain three issues each. These stories are set in Batman’s early career.
These tales are supposed to be grounded
street level mysteries which means they are not supposed to have supernatural,
space aliens, or other fantastical elements. Yet, there are implications in the
read that those elements are, in fact, very much present. The read does not match
the plot synopsis marketed with the book. This is a mystery series with some
horror elements.
My favorite of the four separate story
arcs was the second one. The tale was clearly inspired by the movie, The Raid. (A way better movie than the
sequel.) In the story arc, Batman has to fight his way through an entire apartment
building full of people to solve the mystery at the heart of that story.
Overall, I enjoyed this miniseries even
if each story arc is a bit rushed. If you are looking for some less fantastical
Batman reading than the normal fare, this is a book for you.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/48nIbUA
Some of this I read by way of the Hoopla
App through the Dallas Public Library System and some by way of the DC Universe Infinite App.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Scott's Take: Absolute Superman Vol 2: Son of the Demon by Jason Aaron, and artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Fico Ossio
Absolute Superman Vol 2: Son of
the Demon
by Jason Aaron, and artists Rafa Sandoval, Carmine Di Giandomenico, and Fico Ossio,
the second volume in the series and
follows, Absolute Superman Vol. 1: Last
Dust of Krypton. The Lazarus Corporation is still after Superman,
but he has potential new allies in the Omega Men. But both sides want him to
join them and destroy the other side. What will Superman do?
This is a violent and brutal volume with
multiple torture scenes and lots of action. The art continues to impress. I
continue to like this version of a more alien Superman. This series will
continue with Volume 3, untitled right now, and which will introduce Toyman,
Parasite, and Lex Luthor.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/41292kX
I read some of this through the Hoopla
App by way of the Dallas Public Library System and some through the DC Universe Infinite App.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Friday, April 10, 2026
Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: TYLER CROSS: ANGOLA
Saturday, March 14, 2026
Scott's Take: Absolute Flash Vol 1: Of Two Worlds by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles (Illustrator)
Absolute Flash Vol 1: Of Two
Worlds by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles (Illustrator) is a read in the Absolute
Universe where The Flash is reimagined. In this universe, the legacy of
The Flash is gone, there is no speed force, and Wally is on his own. After an
accident at a government facility military brat Wally West became a speedster.
Feeling overwhelmed by these new powers and dealing with the loss of his mother
he went on the run. The government is going to track him down and bring him
back. They want his powers at any cost. His father thinks he can control the
situation and protect his son. Of course,
the government does not care about the boy. They just want his powers at any
cost. They will bring him in either alive or dead.
The art is excellent. It’s also
nice to read a Jeff Lemire title in the DC universe again. I like his writing,
but he is mostly doing indie horror comics now, and I am just not a horror guy.
I really like this new version of Grodd that is introduced in this volume. The
Rogues are now government operatives instead of just bank robbers. They are now
“the good guys” instead of the bad guys. This series will continue with Absolute Flash Vol 2: Still Point.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4c2z2DF
I read the eBook copy of this
through the DC Universe Infinite
App.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Monday, March 09, 2026
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Brownout Murders by Luke C. Jackson and Kelly Jackson, illustrated by Maya Graham
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Scott's Take: Bug Wars Book One: Lost in the Yard by Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar (Illustrator), Matt Wilson (Colorist), and Becca Carey (Designer)
Bug Wars Book
One: Lost in the Yard by Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar (Illustrator), Matt
Wilson (Colorist), and Becca Carey (Designer) is a weird book. I am not sure who the
intended audience is. It’s sort of Game of Thrones-ish, sort of Conan-is,
sort of a lot of fantasy adventure deals. No matter what you try and compare it
to, the deal is told from a kid’s perspective of life among the bugs with bug
worldbuilding pages by his dad. It is weird.
A kid and his
family are forced to move to his deceased dad’s place. Slade has inherited his
father’s love of bugs. Sydney, his brother, has an intense hatred of them and blames them
for the death of their father. During an argument between the two, Slade is
shrunk to the size of a bug and winds up outside the home. He is now stuck in
bug world. A word that is remarkably like his own normal world. He now seeks to
survive, get back to normal size, and return home. He also wants to uncover why
his father died and protect his brother from the bugs vengeance.
There is nudity,
bestiality, violence, cussing, torture, slavery, and way more. This is a very
adult book that, for some reason, stars a child protagonist. It is not ever
clear if he is a pre teen or a little older. The read also comes across to this
reader as two different books stuck together. Some aspects of it seems forced.
The art is
excellent, even though most of the humanoid insects end up looking basically
human except for some minor changes. The world building is interesting, even if
the bug facts were disgusting and made me hate bugs even more. There is a
larger world built up.
Major Spoiler---the
book synopsis claims Slade will uncover the truth about his father’s death.
That does not happen at all. Maybe the sequel will explain. The book raises
more questions than answers.
There will be a
second book and a one shot about the witch spiders released at some point. How
it will be collected has yet to be announced. The title of the second story arc
is The Fellowship of The Fucked-Up. Clearly a play on the Lord
of The Rings series.
Amazon Associate
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4taWpRB
My paperback
reading copy came from the Vickery Park Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Scott's Take: Resurrection by Derek Landy
Resurrection by Derek Landy
is the tenth book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, but it is a
relaunch point, so it is supposed to be a fresh start. I read this book through
the Hoopla App by way of the Dallas Public Library System.
In this book, Valkyrie Cain and
Skulduggery reunite several years after the ninth book. Valkyrie Cain is
suffering from PTSD, but has finally returned to Ireland alongside her dog
Xena. Skulduggery convinces her to return to duty for just 24 hours to help him
stop the resurrection of an ancient evil. They also need someone to go
undercover and infiltrate the group that is recruiting at the local magical
high school.
In a satire of Harry Potter,
they recruit Omen Darkly, the Chosen’s One’s brother. Often overlooked and used
to being forgotten, he is the perfect spy since no one notices him or cares
about him besides his brother, some of the teachers, and his best friend,
Never.
There are plenty of new characters since
most of the previous cast of the nine previous books are benched. A satire of
Donald Trump is also introduced, but I found it too accurate to the real deal
to really find it funny at all. There is plenty of action, humor, and character
development.
Skulduggery Pleasant’s past is explored
more and secrets he has kept are revealed. I liked the relationship between
Auger (the Chosen One) and Omen his brother. I do wish the event’s involving
Auger, who is clearly a hero doing heroic things, were better fleshed out and
filled. Even if it is funny that characters will run across him while he is
fighting monsters with his friends.
The 11th book in the series is currently in my TBR pile through Hoopla, Midnight picks up after Resurrection. According to the Hoopla’s plot synopsis paraphrased-- A serial killer has abducted Alice (Valkyrie Cain’s sister) and it’s up to Valkyrie and friends to save her. Valkyrie has not been in touch with Alice that much after what she had to do in the ninth book to save the world. Valkyrie will have to confront her past if they stand a chance on saving Alice.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/49vwif0
I read this book through the Hoopla App
by way of the Dallas Public Library System.
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse by Kyle Higgins and Mat Groom with Luciano Vecchio (Illustrator, Cover Art) and, Jim Towe (Illustrator)
Spider-Verse vs. Venomverse by authors Kyle
Higgins and Mat Groom with Luciano Vecchio (Illustrator, Cover Art)
and, Jim Towe (Illustrator), is a miniseries where the Spider-Man of various
universes go to war against the Venoms of various universes. The trade, which
will come out in January, will collect the Web of Spider-Verse, Web
of Venomverse prequels, and the main series. I read this through the Marvel Unlimited App.
The entities that individually control each
groups have suddenly decided that the other entity and their group must die.
So, each entity selects a team of heroes from each group and forces those
selected to fight to the death to save their group.
The Spider-Verse team is led by the main
Spider-Man (Peter Parker of Earth 616), and includes Spider-Ham (a cartoon pig that
was bitten by a radioactive Spider), a super solider, and others. They must go
against the symbiote team. A team that is led by an Eddie Brock Venom that
murdered the Peter Parker of its universe and now tries to be a hero.
The prequels are not very relevant to
the main series and just are used for backstory for some characters who show
up. For example, based on the prequel, one would think that a vampire Spider-Man
was going to play a big role in this series. Instead, despite getting a lot of
pages in a prequel, it just shows up for the big fight at the end. This happens
quite a lot with a number of such characters that just show up in the big fight
at the end. A lot of the prequel characters only exists to fill big fight at
the end.
The art, across the board, is just okay
at best. This is an action-adventure style deal that tries to take itself
seriously, but as a reader, one knows they are not going to wipe out a whole
group of heroes. The ending is pretty predictable so the read is just a fun
time where one gets to see these two groups fight. So, if you are a fan of
either group you might enjoy this title as long as you just treat as a not a
serious read.
Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4aun9FK
Scott A. Tipple ©2026
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