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Wacky Wizard Games Imprint and Three New Games Announced by @wwizardgames

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Wise Wizard Games announced the launch of Wacky Wizard Games, a new brand imprint focused on family-friendly, lightweight games. Three games are planned for release in 2024 as part of this new brand imprint: Star Realms Academy, Caution Signs, and Pack the Essentials. If you are interested and attending PAX Unplugged they will have prototypes of Caution Signs and Pack the Essentials. "We are super excited to be adding this new family friendly product line to our catalog. We wanted to maintain the focus of Wise Wizard Games on strategy card and dice games with geeky themes, and have created Wacky Wizard Games as an umbrella for lightweight games with a more whimsical, cute vibe," shared Debbie Moynihan, COO of Wise Wizard Games. Star Realms Academy Forge your own star realms, overloaded with cuteness! A kid friendly but still fun for grown-ups version of the popular Star Realms deckbuilding game for 2 players. A little less math, no reading necessary, but still tons of fun! 

Supergirl Comic Box Commentary Reviews: @DCComics Superman, Superboy @dranj70



Here are today's Guest Reviews by Anj from Supergirl Comic Box Commentary for DC's; Superman #22, Superboy #22, and Superman Annual #2. I have also added my rating after each review. If you have any questions about my rating or want to discuss anything just leave me a comment.


See the Review Rating Overview page for more information on how I rate each comic.


Superman #22 - Headaches


Confronted with a Psi War, Superman falls before one of its leaders, the H.I.V.E. queen!

Preview



H.I.V.E. Mentality!


Superman #22 came out this week, another good issue for writer Scotty Lobdell, a trend that has been true for this title since H'El on Earth played itself out. The Psi-War brewing between HIVE and Hector Hammond is certainly an engaging plot, one that Superman isn't well-equipped to deal with. But even within this arc, each issue has slightly improved from the last. It has been a while since I have looked forward to the Superman title. Right now, I am.

It helps that this issue actually gives us some time with Clark as well as with supporting cast members Cat Grant and Jimmy Olsen. Yes, Lois is completely absent from this issue. But I hope that means in the future she will get good moments like Cat and Jimmy get here. It also helps that Lobdell recaps the story so far by having Superman review the events in his head. It brought me up to speed and helped clear up the initial confusion of why H.I.V.E./Hammond are fighting when the last time we saw them (in Action Comics) they are allies. I knew that flash forward in Action would flummox me.

The art in the issue is done mostly by Eddy Barrows. I have always liked Barrows art but I have come to realize he just can't get things done on time. This issue is no difference. While Barrows does the bulk of the art, recent Smallville artist Daniel HDR pencils pages 13-15 and Geraldo Borges who did art on some of the Legion issues of Adventure Comics filled in on 16-18. Hat tip to blog friend Mart Gray of the great
Too Dangerous For A Girl comic review blog for the art breakdown. HDR and Borges style is cleaner, with less line work. But it is all good.

As usual, Kenneth Rocafort does stellar work on this cover. The whole point of the Queen is she is supposed to seduce you or fill you with honeyed word so you will obey her. This image works for that feel.

Read the rest of Anj's review on Supergirl Comic Box Commentary

My Rating


Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 3/5
Layout & Flow - 2/5
Story - 3/5
Verdict - 3
 - (Buy Superman #22) SAVE 10%

Superboy #22 - High School And Other Assorted Horrors


Has Superboy met his match: Psycho and the Teen of Steel continue to track down what they believe are H.I.V.E. psi operatives, with the help of Lois Lane-who Superboy feels a bond to that Psycho isn't revealing. And Kon's double may complicate things even more!

Preview



Innocents Transformed!


There was a feel of momentum building with the Superboy comic in the last couple of months and I was enjoying this book more than I had in quite some time. With the over-arching and overbearing Harvest/Culling storyline in the past and by purposefully forgetting about the Jon Lane Kent debacle, as well as enjoying writer Justin Jordan's less grim and often humorous stories, I thought this book was turning something of a corner. Unfortunately, it was recently announced that Justin Jordan was leaving the book. (I shouldn't be surprised about creative turnover at DC.)

Superboy #22 came this week and the issue felt sort of flat. Maybe it was because I knew that Jordan's time was limited, or maybe it was because the art by Gui Balbi was rather rough, or maybe it was because the plot (Superboy going undercover in high school) seemed to be more forced or cliched than I have been used to, but this issue fell a bit short of the recent mark.

To add to that, I have to say I am getting pretty bored with blood-soaked and grim covers on this book. Sure, maybe there isn't any blood here. But do I need to hear that Superboy might have to KILL PEOPLE! Sigh. Enough DC. Not every book needs to be an ultra-violent gore fest.  

Read the rest of Anj's review on Supergirl Comic Box Commentary

My Rating


Cover & Solicit - 4/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 2/5
Layout & Flow - 4/5
Story - 2/5
Verdict - 2.6 
(Buy Superboy #22) SAVE 10%


Superman Annual #2 - The Last Byline; The World of Krypton, Part 4: Eradication



What repercussions lurk beneath the surface from Brainiac's first attack-and how does it all set the stage for the battle of Metropolis? Plus, how can the Man of Steel fight something he can't physically stop!

Preview




Mindgames


Superman Annual #2 came out last week and was a solid story focusing on Lois and her tenacity as a reporter. Written by Scott Lobdell with some comfort art by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund, I thought this was a strong issue which added a new wrinkle to the upcoming psi-war. It feels like every psionic is somehow being drawn to Metropolis.

Anyways, the big draw for me was that this was truly a Lois Lane issue with Superman playing a bit piece. And overall, Lois shines here ... something which I haven't seen enough of in the New 52. And while she is upper administration now, it is great to see her get down and dirty, chasing a story.  But on top of that, we also get to hear Lois inner thoughts about herself, Clark, and the world around her.

Thanks goodness! I have missed Lois!

Lobdell uses a well-traveled story telling technique. He starts with Lois falling out a window and saying she is dead. We have no idea how she got there, what is happening, and why she says she is dead (outside of falling out a window). In fact, she says the word 'dead' not dying. At first I thought this was just about the fall. But we learn it is something more.

So we then have to flashback to bring us up to this point. It is a classic technique and it works here.

Luckily, Superman is there to help.Is he too late because of the physical trauma?

But there was something that caught my eye. She says 'Superman ... he's my friend'. Why the ellipsis? Why the pause? Is it that she wants more than friendship? Or does she think maybe he isn't her friend?

Read the rest of Anj's review on Supergirl Comic Box Commentary

My Rating


Cover & Solicit - 3/5
Art, Colors & Inking - 3/5
Layout & Flow - 2/5
Story - 3/5
Verdict - 2.9
 - (Buy Superman Annual #2) SAVE 10%

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Anj is a blogger at http://comicboxcommentary.blogspot.com/The use of these reviews has been authorized by the original author.

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