Unparalleled Universe Comic and Action Figure Blog: DC Comics

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Published by: DC Comics

Price: $3.99

"Barry?...Maybe this time it's a marathon, not a sprint."

Convergence has taken over my life. I didn't want it to be this way, but I have bought into the madness. Okay, maybe I'm lying. I was pretty excited when hearing of this massive event spanning all of DC's comic book universes. However, I didn't expect it to be this far-reaching. Much of the ongoing story lines and universes are ones I am very unfamiliar with. Being sort of a n00b to the whole comic book game, I have a very limited amount of information and back story on them. So for any future Convergence reviews I do, I will be taking the position of someone who has no idea what the hell has been going on in all these multiple universes. That won't be too hard considering that's the exact position I'm in!

What I've enjoyed the most so far of this whole Convergence madness is that you really feel the chaotic nature of the circumstances at hand. Every story from these past 3 weeks has taken place right before Telos' voice rings loud throughout the multiverse as he communicates to the lesser beings that they will fight to the death until one city stands. The reason I chose to review The Flash this week is because I think it shines a light on the struggle the heroes have gone through being powerless and lost under the dome.

I can imagine it being pretty damn demoralizing for the "Fastest Man Alive" to not only jog alongside the common people, but to be outrun by them. Barry Allen clings to the hopes that everything will turn back to normal. He'll get his powers back, he'll be with Iris West again, and that things will just go back to the way they used to be. Yet, there is a part of him that is trying to grasp the concept that this new life they lead is the way it will be forever. It's been a year under the dome and nobody has any clue who did it, why they did it, or how they will fix it. All he does now is run and work.

Later that day, he meets with his universe's Bruce Wayne, and it seems more like a therapy session than a lunch between friends. As Barry leaves to return to the Gotham City Police Department where he works, the voice familiar to Convergence readers booms across the dome. "CITIZENS OF MY WORLD! NOW IS THE TIME! THE HOUR IS NEAR! JUDGMENT IS HERE!" Suddenly, Barry feels the power of the Speed Force surges through his body once again, and hope is still alive.

The art in this book is beautiful too. It's probably been my favorite art so far out of all these Convergence titles to come out. Federico Dallocchio did a fantastic job illustrating this version of Gotham City, and colorist Veronica Gandini really made the scenery pop.

There is a great resource for those of you who don't feel like reading 11 titles a week in order to keep up with this event. the DCR Podcast has been covering every Convergence title in a very entertaining way, If you don't want to read every issue, just plug in your headphones and let these guys give you a rundown of what's going on! Their episodes recapping the week usually come out a couple days after the comics so keep your eye out for that.

I'd also like to say, thanks for being patient with me. Last week I wasn't able to get a review up due to my work and school load. 60 hour weeks are killer and schoolwork and homework on top of that make it very hard for me to do the things I enjoy so thanks for still checking in! Do me a favor and check out my podcast on iTunes and Stitcher and if you could, leave a quick little rating and review! You guys are the shit!

Written by: Scott Lobdell & Jeff King

Art by: Jason Paz & Carlo Pagulayan

Published by: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

"Only one city among many will survive this day!"

CONVERGENCE IS UPON US! Well holy shit, this is crazy. DC's Convergence event is finally here. Things have been set in motion and I cannot wait to see how it unravels!

So, I'm relatively new to the whole collecting comic books gig. It's been an amazing experience, but there is something that has always thrown me off about these huge superhero universes! I find the whole continuity, keeping up with multiple universes thing pretty difficult, especially since I got into comics during the wrapping up stages of DC's New 52 titles.

It takes some serious research to get up to speed with each different universe, and there really is a limit to how much you understand about them unless you've read all the material. I can imagine how hard it would be to juggle all this Infinite Crisis, Zero Hour, pre-New 52, pre-Flashpoint, post-Flashpoint, Kingdom Come, Injustice craziness if you aren't a comic book reading MACHINE. So in that sense, I'm actually really happy Convergence is happening. It seems like an effort to tie up all these straggling universes and meld everything into one cohesive story line moving forward. Executing an event of this scale seems like a hefty task, and I feel that DC has brought on some of the best writers and artists in the business to usher in this new era.

The beginning of the book shows a disaster in what appears to be the universe influenced by the Injustice: Gods Among Us titles. You can kinda tell based on Batman and Flash's suits, as well as the crazed and psychotic look in Superman's piercing red eyes. Gotham City has been decimated, and it's citizens have been annihilated. A booming message fills the air, yet they cannot find the source.

In a different universe, Thomas Wayne and Dick Grayson are zapped into the sky and land on the dusty ground of an unknown desert. Now, these iterations of Batman and Grayson are not to be confused with the Flashpoint Batman and super spy Grayson (thanks to a couple redditors for checking me on that). Following closely behind are other Earth-2 heroes Jay Garrick (Flash), Val Zod (Superman) and Alan Scott (Green Lantern). Ripped from a battle with Darkseid, they now try to figure out what the hell is going on as their powers start to fade.

ENTER TELOS! Cosmic being with a set of orders from Brainiac to pit different universes against each other in a Hunger Games-style tournament until one city stands victorious! It it destiny. It is Convergence. Witness...it has begun!

You guys, this is the beginning of something INSANE. I got a rush just reading this first issue. It's a lot to digest right off the bat, but I feel like these writers are really putting in an effort to make all this multiverse mumbo-jumbo palatable for the layman. You MUST get this book.

Also real quick, I'd like to apologize for skipping my weekly review last week. Some personal stuff came up and it had to be dealt with. But I'm back in action and excited as ever for what's to come in the following months! Be sure to check out the rest of the Unparallelled Universe blog!

Aaaaand ONE more thing. So me and a couple friends decided to start a podcast. We bullshit around and talk about kinda silly stuff. It's for fun, and if you have some time to kill, you should definitely check it out. The podcast is in no way affiliated with Unparalleled Universe, just something I'm doing and I'd love for you to check it out! Thanks so much!

Suggested Listening: Molossus composed by Hans Zimmer for the Batman Begins score

Favorite Quote: "Citizens of my world! I have brought this convergence upon you. Now is the time. The hour is near. Judgment is here. Only one city shall survive, only the strong." - Telos

Martski here, and if you're like me you've got big convention plans this year. With the Convention season pretty much upon us, I wanted to share some tips I've learned over the years while attending many shows, including the grand daddy of them all, San Diego COMIC CON. Think of this as a survival guide for attending an event as small as your local Toy Show to something as big and grand as Comic Con. These are in no particular order.

Take care of yourself! These shows can be/are very exhausting. Never sacrifice comfort for style. You will be doing a lot of walking and standing so make sure you have comfortable shoes. If anything get some Dr. Sholl's for your shoes. They are not very expensive and trust me, your feet will thank you. Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water. If possible keep a bottle of water on you at all times. Not sure how you feel about public fountains but refill as often as you can. Feel free to drink what you want but make sure to mix in water as often as you can. It's cheaper than most drinks and free if you use a public fountain.

Backpack it. You'll get cool and sometimes HUGE swag bags (Warner Brothers) at the shows but it's best to try and keep your hands free. Double strap it! I carried a side bag for a few years and halfway into the day it was killing my shoulder so I would switch it to the other and sure enough that one started killing me to. With all the freebies and stuff you'll buy its gonna fill up and get heavy fast so why get your arms all tired. If possible and your hotel or car is close enough, make a few drop offs and unload some of that weight. The backpack isn't just for swag, there are a few things you should keep in there. Aspirin for possible headaches and body aches. Gum and or Mints (do you want to meet Stan Lee with stank breath?). Snacks like trail mix, candy bars, fruit snacks or even power bars. A pen and or Sharpie. A bottle of water (remember stay hydrated). Coins, I always find myself needing quarters at these things. Your phone charger or one of those portable power packs for your phone or other device.

Have patience. Be prepared to do a lot of standing around and waiting. Remember your not the only one trying to get a sketch or book signed. Another thing to remember is just because you're in line doesn't mean you'll see the end of it. There are times when they will cut lines off for whatever reason, so make sure it's worth the time and effort. Ask the people already in line how long they've been waiting and if it's been moving.

Be nice and polite! These things can get awfully crowded and your personal bubble may get popped every now and then. Accidentally running into people or getting run into can and will happen. It's very rarely on purpose so if and when it does happen simply apologize and say excuse me. Your favorite writer or artist would be happy to sign your books, but not their whole twenty issue run on X-Men. Remember there are other people who want to meet them too, don't be that guy or gal. If you see someone drop something and they don't know it, pick it up and give it to them. There's nothing worse than losing your badge, phone or wallet on vacation.

Bring Your Own Food (B.Y.O.F.). Now most of the food at conventions is very expensive and not worth the price. Sure there may be plenty of spots around the convention center to eat but you can't leave to hit up Jack In The Box and be back in time for the Kevin Smith panel! Remember you do have some snacks in your trusty utility belt (backpack) but you should pack a lunch or at least buy something before you go into the show. Anyone who's spent all day in Hall H at SDCC know how important it is to bring a lunch and dinner with them. Eating throughout the day is just as important as drinking, you want to keep your energy up. Those snacks aren't just there to save you money, they also keep you energized.

Knowing is half the Battle! Bigger shows like San Diego Comic Con are excellent at providing you with resources to help plan for the weeks events. Get to know and love the event guide they provide you with. There is a ton of useful information in them like a map layout of the main exhibit floor with booth numbers and aisles to help you navigate your way to whatever it is you want to see or do. The map also shows you all the bathrooms (remember all that water your drinking). They let you know who's gonna be at the show. Whether it's your favorite actors, writers, artists or companies like DC and Marvel, it tells you where and when you can see or meet them.

You can't see and do it all. I know you have your heart set on seeing that Big Bang panel but you should have a backup plan in place just incase you can't get in. These shows don't clear the rooms out after each panel so you may have to show up early and sit through a few things you don't care for in order to see the panel you want, especially if it's to see some of the more popular stuff. I've slept outside overnight in the infamous Hall H line just to see that thirty second clip of Batman vs Superman and it was worth it! Ok there was a lot of other cool clips and stars there too but my point is, sacrifices must be made if you really want to see something. Make a list of all the panels and/or signings you want to go to even if they start at the same time. You won't know for sure which ones you'll actually get into, so it's always good to have a few back ups just in case.

The Buddy System. If you're at the show with your friends the chances of you guys wanting to see separate things is pretty high. Sure we all love Superman but say he wants to meet the artist drawing action comics and I want to meet the actor playing him in the movies (Henry Cavil), we'll need to split up, but before you go your separate ways, there's a few things you want to establish. Be sure you know your buddies phone number, and I don't mean having it saved in your phone, I mean actually having it written down in your pocket or having it memorized because if you lose your phone or it dies you could find yourself in a sticky situation with no way of contacting them. Always establish a check in time or meeting place. For example, we will meet at the Marvel Booth in a couple hours or I'll text every half hour to see if you're ready to meet back up. Staying in constant contact is important.

Venture Outside. It gets pretty crowded and stuffy in those halls not to mention ripe (yes the stories are true about "Con Stench") so take a break and get some fresh air when you can. Fresh air isn't the only thing outside either. Shows like SDCC have tons of things to see and do outside the convention center. If you thought there were tons of freebies in the exhibit hall there are just as many outside the convention center. Let's not forget there's a whole city out there. Unless you're in one of the twenty four hour Anime rooms, you might not want to go home when the exhibit hall closes. See what the city has to offer. Check out some of the local restaurants or maybe even enjoy some of the night life. Remember it's a vacation so make the most of it. I will admit though, some of those days can be long and exhausting, going straight back to the hotel room to get some rest is perfectly acceptable.

I hope some of these tips help make your Con experience a little more enjoyable and I'll see you out there on the Exhibit Floor!

Written by: Ray Fawkes

Art by: Ben Templesmith

Published by: DC Comics

Price: $2.99

"Millions will die tonight...if we are not strong."

The dark side of the DC Universe. The supernatural side. The straight up freaky side. These sides are represented perfectly in this book. And who better to illustrate these pages than Ben Templesmith? I'm afraid this review is going to turn into a Templesmith fanboy session, but the guy is absolutely phenomenal. His style fits almost too perfectly with the story being concocted by Ray Fawkes, who has been on a roll lately. His work on Batman Eternal and Constantine have really solidified him, at least in my opinion, as one of the most creative people in the business right now.

Jim Corrigan has a secret. An extremely potent and powerful secret. One his team, the Midnight Shift, has been kept in the dark about, until now. He can contain it no longer! When a menacing entity named Ikkondrid comes to Gotham City seeking retribution, there's only one thing that can stand in it's way...The Spectre!

But this salvation comes with a heavy price. The Spectre operates divinely, and Gotham is full of sin. Did Ikkondrid appear in Gotham to destroy it himself, or to act as a catalyst to bring forth the Spectre and let him do the dirty work? Corrigan has a battle of his own. Can he shut down the Spectre, or will Gotham fall?

Oh, and how silly of me, what would a nightmarish catastrophe in Gotham be without Batman blasting onto the scene?!

Now, I said I didn't want this to turn into a Ben Templesmith lovefest, but I think I lied about that. There isn't anything he does that I won't read. His writing is eerie, hair-raising and twisted, which meshes with his art in ways I've rarely seen. I'm sure Gotham feels like home to him. Mr. Templesmith recently had a Kickstarter (which I pledged for) to fund a re-imagining of H.P. Lovecraft's short story Dagon, and I suggest supporting it if that's still an option.

Get the book, guys. Hell, start from issue #1. This series is relatively new and there's still plenty of time to jump on this roller coaster and enjoy the ride. I've been trying to keep the reviews to series' that are in their early stages so that you have an opportunity to pick it up if it seems like something you'd like! As always, thanks for checking this out, and leave some damn comments so I know whether I should give this hobby up forever or not. Thanks!

Favorite Quote: "The Spectre is not a superhero. He's not here to protect us." - Jim Corrigan

Suggested Listening: "Judgment" composed by Steve Jablonsky for the Gears of War: Judgment score

Twitter: @BiGNasty91_

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi

Art by: Viktor Bogdanovic, Art Thibert

Published by: DC Comics

Price: $3.99

"I'm heading home, Alfred. Arkham City is closed."

Okay, so before I get started, I want to say something.....Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks?! Holy shit I did not see that coming. Alright, anyway! Video games! I grew up on video games. It was a large part of the culture of my generation. If you're reading this, chances are you've spent hours either with your face 2 inches from your GameBoy trying to level up your Squirtle or sitting criss-cross apple sauce in front of the TV with drool dripping down your face....or maybe that's just me. Either way, I believe that the storytelling aspect of video games is what first attracted me to comic books.

What's great about Batman is that he translates extremely well to gaming. The stealthy approach, brutal combat, and critical thinking are elements that make the Arkham series so much fun to play. If you've ever played Arkham Asylum, Arkham City or the prequel Arkham Origins, you're already familiar with the framework those games have set. I won't try to break down the story of three games in this review, but I encourage you to at least read up on the happenings in Arkham City, considering this book is the official prequel to the finale of this game series.

So I'm just going to assume you at least know what happens at the end of Arkham City moving forward. The Joker is dead, Arkham City has been shut down, and Gotham is safe once again. (Is it ever, though?) We see a small glimpse of this Arkham Knight character, who remains pretty mysterious. So far as we can tell from this issue, Batman isn't even aware of his existence yet.

Bruce's internal struggle between juggling the lives of both his public, multi-billionaire philanthropist persona and the Batman is weighing heavy on his mind. The aftermath of these events have both Alfred and Bruce wondering which side of Bruce is the best crusader for the good of Gotham. In an effort to not spoil the ending, I won't tell you what happens. What I will say, is...you must have seen it coming.

There's not much to say about the art, really. It's satisfactory art that delivers the mood of each scene fairly well. Nothing crazy stands out to me about it so far except the eerie images of Joker's dead body. With that said, it's absolutely worth the read and you should definitely keep up with this series if you plan on playing its video game successor later this year. I can't wait to see what's next! As always, don't take my word on this. I'm just a guy with an opinion. Go pick this up and see for yourself!

Favorite Quote: "I simply suggest that your focus on Gotham's nights have left it's days vulnerable...and one cannot thrive without the other."

Suggested Listening: The Shadows Betray You - The Dark Knight Rises score by Hans Zimmer

A quick note about the blog, we have a new contributor and you should go check out his posts and say hi! Holy hell I said "Arkham" a lot in this post.

Twitter: @BiGNasty91_

Martski here, the newest member and contributor to the Unparalleled Universe Comic and Action Figure Blog family. As an infant, I was born on a doomed planet. My parents, unbeknownst to our government, built me a rocket ship and hurled me into space so I may escape my planets fate. I roamed the galaxy until my ship crash-landed on a planet called Earth. Discovered by a rich childless couple, they took me in and raised me as their own. As a kid, life was good until one fateful night leaving the theater. My adopted parents were gunned downed in a back alley, and from that night on, I swore revenge on those who would prey on the innocent. I knew in order to fight crime, I had to become someone else. I had to become something else. With billions of dollars and nothing better to do, I had a Super Soldier Serum created that I then injected into a radio active spider which in turn bit me on the lip while I was asleep. When I awoke, my world had been changed forever. I had been changed forever. I walk among you not as a man, no, I am something more. I am The Unoriginal MARTSKI!

So some, if not all, of that might not be true. I'm just a guy who loves comics and anything comic related. I like to think of myself as a pretty well-rounded geek. A fan of anime, action figures, movies and gaming. Most of my posts will relate to one, if not all, of these categories with maybe a few I didn't mention in between. I don't claim to be an expert on any of these topics, but I do have an opinion on them and whether you love or hate what I have to say, remember, it's just my opinion. If anything, I'm sure you'll get a laugh out of my posts or at least a chuckle. I look forward to sharing my love of Geekdom with you.

Hey everyone check out our review of the new Mezco One:12 Collective Dark Knight Returns Batman Video Review. Thanks for watching!

"Welcome to New Angeles...hope you enjoy your stay."

New Angeles - home of the Suiciders. Where death matches replace those terrible reality TV shows we've grown so fond of, and you're the outcast if you haven't been aesthetically altered in some way. After "the big one" hit the metropolis formerly known as Los Angeles, it's culture and humanity was decimated and it's civility followed suit.

The government has abandoned its people, leaving them to the mercy of their own survival instincts. Using the need for survival as the basis of it's entertainment, New Angeles has ignited the industry of the "Suiciders". A TV series centered around Gladiator-style death matches between physically augmented Suiciders so brutal that Maximus himself would piss that cute little tunic of his.

Shrouded beneath the extravagant and savage exterior of the high-octane action and blood-stained wrist blades lies a clandestine underworld that seems ripe for deception, duplicity and illegal dealings of all kinds. Where getting into New Angeles is the dream and getting kicked out is a nightmare.

The very first image you see when you flip that beautiful cover (illustrated by the writer himself) is a seemingly war-torn statue of the Christian deity Jesus Christ on the crucifix, with our (let's call him) hero knelt before it. "The Saint" mentally prepares himself to fight for his life and to defend his title of reigning champion of New Angeles. The overall tone of this scene seems somber as hell. Blue tints shower the page and the image of Christianity's fallen hero hangs over the man. "It's time to begin", says a figure behind him. After being escorted down a dingy hallway, he is greeted by a couple men in jumpsuits who greatly resemble members of a NASCAR pit crew.

The "klick-klack"-ing sound of heels heading towards the same door belong to a "takes-no-shit" journalist named Sheila Sutter who shares not only the same tenacity and determination with the likes of Vicki Vale and Lois Lane, but also the same affinity for names of an alliterative nature. She is granted access to The Saint's (for lack of a better term) dressing room and walks in on what looks like an Ivan Drago training session.

Without giving away any more of the plot, an interview follows and The Saint is released into the arena to the sound of thunderous applause. Let the battle begin.

Lee Bermejo (Batman: Noel, Joker graphic novel) is at the helm of this series, with the help of Eisner Award winning colorist Matt Hollingsworth. If you are familiar with the work of either of these gentleman, I HIGHLY suggest picking up this book. It promises to be a wild ride.

Favorite Quote: "Every time my opponent steps into the coliseum...they've already lost." - The Saint

Favorite Panel:

Before I go, I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate my local comic book shop Bill's Bullpen and it's owner Bill, who have been given recognition by our local Chamber of Commerce for "Best Retail Business." Outstanding customer service and loyalty to the people of Hollister have earned you this award, Bill. Thanks for keeping the comic book culture alive.

Okay everyone, that wraps it up for my first ever comic book review. It may be rough around the edges so if you have any feedback, please feel free to comment. Thanks for taking the time to read and I hope you'll grab this book!

I'll Be Back (in my best Ahnuld voice)

Twitter: @BiGNasty91_

What's up everybody. My name is Nico, and about a year and a half ago I got heavy into reading comic books. I was more of a casual reader than anything before that. I'd pick up Batman trades now and then, maybe some random Spider-Man comics my little brother had laying around, but never really expanding my scope beyond that.

I've always had a love for Batman, though. As a young'n, my parents bought me Batman action figures, pajamas, lunch boxes, and pretty much anything else that would solidify me as hot shit on the playground. My desire to punch bad guys more often got me sent to the Principal's office than being widely recognized by my local police department, but I digress.

When I heard that Marvel was relaunching The Amazing Spider-Man, I figured this would be the best time to dive head-first into the world of comics, not knowing the full extent of the pleasure and excitement you can get from reading a 30 page book with cool drawings in it. I was instantly hooked. Every Wednesday was a new adventure from a different part of whatever world I chose. The grimy streets of Gotham, New York City's ever-eventful alleys crawling with life, or worlds I've yet to experience like the small town of Buckaroo, Oregon or our cosmic neighbor Mars, The Red Planet.

This is an introduction to what I hope will be an enjoyable reading experience. Maybe it'll persuade you to pick up an underrated book you hadn't given a second glance, or make you steer clear of a series you were skeptical about in the first place. I'll be giving my personal and honest opinions on a book each week. I'll give a little of the synopsis without being a spoiler and commenting on the art. I'm not sure which books I'll be reviewing or how I'll determine which ones I do each week. My plan is to take a different book off my weekly pull list and throw a review up for it. We'll see where that takes us. I'll try my best to make this a weekly thing. Having a job that works me 40-60 hours a week an hour away and being in school may make it somewhat difficult but I will do my best.

Alright guys. Shutting it down for now. I hope you'll check it out! Follow me on Twitter for opinionated babble about rarely anything of any real importance or substance @BiGNasty91_

Sequence Terminated (yeah I'm gonna need to think of a better sign-off)

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