Archive for the ‘Comic Book Review’ Category

Batman and Red Hood(?) #20 Review

Posted: May 13, 2013 in Batman & Robin, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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Batman-and-Red-Hood-20-coverWritten by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: May 8 2013

From what I can tell, Batman’s journey to letting Damian go is FAR from over.  How does one cope with the loss of a son?  As I said in my review of Batman #20, I have no son, so I can’t even dream of what it feels like to loose one. I just hope the duration of the coping doesn’t weigh any of the future Bat-stories down.

Ethiopia is marked with a terrible history for Former Robin, Jason Todd – it’s where the Joker tied him down and beat him to death.  This is where he died. How he survived the Joker-planted explosion is a mystery to us all, but it’s not something Jason wishes to revisit as it brings back terrible memories.

Batman doesn’t care though.  His son is dead.  Jason survived death and Batman hopes that returning his former student to the heart of his terror will jog Jason’s memory, possibly revealing a clue as to how to resurrect Batman’s only son.  It’s hard enough for Jason to live with an almost unbearable past, as well as dealing with the fact that the Joker got away with it, but now Batman is asking Jason to reveal the secrets of his resurrection to save his son despite never showing Jason that same courtesy.  There’s a lot of tension in this 30 paged book, and intense the whole way through!

Batman vs. Red Hood. One acts a bit selfishly while the other makes a bold, and unmerited request. But to be fair, both are faced with terrible trials, working through events which have caused them great pain.  Batman never tried to saved Jason, and it’s something Jason has only recently been able to forgive Batman for.  Likewise, Batman has lost his son and isn’t in the right frame of mind to deal with it properly, unfairly asking Jason to do something he shouldn’t have to. It’s the sign of a good writer who can address two very hefty storylines and make them work so eloquently in only 30 pages.

This B&R installment also addresses issues involving the mistreatment and killing of children.  Batman lures Jason to Ethiopia by framing it as a mission to put an end to the deeds of a gang of international bounty hunters – They collected the bounty put on Damian Wayne’s head. But Jason quickly learned Batman didn’t need him to stop this pathetic band of thugs, thus leading into the heart of the story, and the reason why Batman and Jason were there to begin with.

To be honest, this isn’t an easy comic to read – it deals with death and loss almost on every page.  Even newly introduced character Carrie Kelly is having trouble understanding why Damian suddenly stopped showing to his private acting classes with her without notice. But it seems Carrie will be sticking around as the Wayne’s dog watcher thanks to Alfred’s progressively friendly demeanor.

Gleason Always amazes me month after month on any title he’s sketching. But Cliff Richard’s work is even more impressive that I couldn’t tell when Gleason’s drawings ended, and Richard’s began. But it’s within Gleason’s imperfect style that makes his art so very perfectly incredible.  He’s as good with his action as he is with his angst when the story requires it, and it’s an artistry I can only hope to achieve.

All in all, a very, VERY good read.  Every once in a while Batman and Robin is a let down, but it’s one of the more consistently well written titles coming from DC’s arsenal.

9 out of 10 stars

Superboy #20 Review

Posted: May 9, 2013 in Comic Book Review, Superboy
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superboy-20-coverWritten by: Justin Jordan
Art by: RB Silva, Rob Lean
Cover by: Ken Lashley
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: May 8 2013

Is it really neccesary to go back and focus on the origin story?  Can’t we just move it along and develop Superboy’s character more for the future rather than dwelling on what once was?  I’d really like to see some forward motion in the Superboy title.  There’s enough going on to keep my interest peeked, but every issue seems to be slightly less of a thrill ride than the previews make it out to be.

Of course, Japanese animation is a fun ride, but it doesn’t fit within the DC realm – at least I don’t think it does.  There’s a few good images here and there, but it feels more like a childish read rather than a mature piece of superhero literature.  But then again, maybe that’s what they’re going for. This is a “teen” title, and it might just be what fans were looking for.  But for me, I’d like to see DC  liven up the artistic playing field and bring more visual depth to the comic book medium that’s steadily growing with an older fan base of readers.  The art isn’t bad, it has great control of the colors, action scenes, and facial expressions.  While inconsistent, it’s still good in and of itself….it’s just not for me.

Superboy-banter

I enjoy a good bickering session, especially when it involves a superhero who isn’t know for his humor and a villain who definitely has a history of joke mongering.  Also, to see Superboy attempt making things right by going to the police and confessing his kleptomania, despite not actually going forward with it, is a sign of growth and maturity.  Something Superboy desperately needs if this book’s to last for another year.

I would have appreciated a follow up to the opening scene where Superboy and the dog of steel get the teeth knocked in, but it seems that’s for another day.  Hmmm, I wonder if they’ll treat this little teaser the same way the treated Dr. Psycho when they skipped his inclusion in Superboy’s book for two issues, only to see him make a return, but with a complete moralistic makeover.

In fact, this issue seemed to have more plot holes in the disguise of story arc teasers.  The opening scene was never readdressed, Officer Jocelyn Lure had a rather odd placement in the story, and it was never made clear why all of the chaos was happening in the first place, yet it alludes to something bigger coming in the future.

The action is good though, and I chuckled more than I thought I would.  New writer Justin Jordan combined comedy and action just as good as Shane Black did in Iron Man 3.  Despite all of the strange happenings, inconsistencies, and multiple moments of eyebrow raising weirdness, I still had fun reading.  Superboy started off well, then hit rock bottom. Now it’s on its way back up, and I’m more hopeful of Superboy’s shelf life now than I was two issues ago.

6 out of 10 stars 

Batman #20 Review

Posted: May 9, 2013 in Batman, Comic Book Review
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batman-20-coverWritten by: Scott Snyder
Backup Written by: Scott Snyder, James T Tynion IV
Art by: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion
Backup Art by: Alex Maleev
Cover by: Greg Capullo
Variant Cover by: Jock, Greg Capullo
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 40
U.S. Price: 3.99
On Sale Date: May 8 2013

Clayface or Fecal Monster? It’s hard to tell at times.  Of course I don’t draw clay very often, so what do I know?  Still, it certainly gives the cover a different, and gross, visual interpretation doesn’t it?

I’m not knocking Greg Capullo. I constantly praise his art in every review I’ve done of Snyder’s Batman since the New 52 started.  You can’t deny though, the cover looks like shit!  (#pun) But we’re given some gorgeous moments of precognition when Bruce Wayne gears up in a familiar suit that no one’s seen yet.  And a fine designing job Capullo’s done, using two shades of one color to make a series of images more powerful and captivating than the colorful ingenuity of the Green Lantern Corps. Batman Beyond has certainly left a mark on the Bat-verse hasn’t it?  Maybe I should start picking the title up.  What does everyone else think?

Batman-beyond-precognition

The story’s about Bruce Wayne being pitted against an almost impossible situation to get out of.  Clayface has been made anew and none of Batman’s old tricks seem to work, or even slow the mud man down. #19 revealed Clayface using Wayne’s likeness to rob banks, but here in #20 he discovers Bruce Wayne’s 2nd identity and means to exploit it. Batsy has use his old skills in beating an old foe with new tricks, and it’s not as simple as it use to be.

It’s fun to see Wayne geeking out over new tech and wondering why Fox would ever throw away such a cool suit. It’s also fun to see Wayne hold his own against an almost invulnerable enemy without all the gadgets at his disposal.  Could Batman beat Superman without his tool belt and all the time in the world? Unlikely. But this battle with Clayface makes it seem (que the Mythbusters) plausible.

I did a bit of eye rolling with the cliche villain-revealing-his-evil-plot troupe, which helps Batman solve the puzzle at the issue’s end. And I’m not a father so I can’t even BEGIN to fathom the time it takes to get over the death of a son, especially as young as Damian, but I’m not sure how much Wayne’s weeping over his son added to the story.

Apart from the two little distractions, this is an action packed comic. Clayface has never been handled that well except in Batman’s animated series in the 90′s, but Snyder may have finally provided the character with an opening into some fantastic stories for the future!

7 out of 10 stars

The Movement #1 Review

Posted: May 1, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Gail Simone, The Movement
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Movement-1-coverWritten by: Gail Simone
Art by: Freddie E Williams II
Cover by: Amanda Conner
Variant Cover by: Cliff Chiang
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: May 1 2013

I took an oath a few months ago….to keep away from the rumors, previews, spoilers, and anything else leaking out onto the internet concerning big events in comics.  It’s been nice – being taken by complete surprise in many of the comics I’m reading.  However, the only bad thing about keeping a turned eye to everything that’s up-and-coming is when I neglect the cool stuff.

All I knew about Gail Simone’s “The Movement” was simply that she’s writing it.  It wasn’t until YESTERDAY when a fellow comic book nerd reminded me that it was hitting the stands TODAY.  I would have completely passed it over had she not reminded me, and now that I’ve read it, my hope of having another title filled with incredible anti-heroes has resurfaced, and all is good in the world.

movement1-panel

What’s different about this title by Simone is the amount of new characters coming out of Coral City.  Not every character’s been named yet, but I’m sure they’ll be unveiled as issues come out.  Without a doubt, however, the cast is an intriguing one – there’s an Earth mover called Tremor, a self-dubbed Prince of Rats named Mouse, a wearer of a set of mechanical wings named Katharsis, and Virtue who’s seemingly the leader of this mysterious band of “heroes.” The one caught in the middle of everything is named Burden – or, at least, that’s what his parents call him – and it’s uncertain at this point as to what his role in the story will be.  We do know that he hasn’t learned to control his powers, which is what’s caused this presumed demon possession.

Compacted into this issue are a few more mysteries that will undoubtedly reveal themselves as this series pushes forward, but this series opener has definitely peaked my interest.  Secret Six was great because of its “sketchy” nature.  It didn’t rely on heroes doing things the honorable way.  Everything the Six did fit right into their evil-doer background, yet you were compelled to like all of them.  Likewise, The Movement takes on that same role, but it obvious Simone is making this title excitingly fresh and different. You’ll question the actions of the heroes and finish this book unsure of what their motives are, aside from wanting to do the job the cops aren’t willing or able to do.  But if you’re a fan of Gail Simone, issue #1 will be literary candy for your brain.

Simone is a master of creating characters we can immediately invest in.  We’ve been trusting her for this long and she seldom writes anything that doesn’t get your blood pumping.  Taking the theme of cop brutality and corruption and bringing in a team of young heroes daring enough to put stop to it is a much needed topic to be addressed.  Now we’ll see how far the corruption goes and if the Movement can do anything about it.

10 out of 10 stars

Wonder Woman #19 Review

Posted: April 19, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Wonder Woman
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Wonder-Woman-19-coverWritten by: Brian Azzarello
Art by: Tony Akins, Dan Green
Cover by: Cliff Chiang
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: Apr 17 2013

And my review from last month can be cancelled out because, well…..I jumped the gun.  The story wasn’t done, and the best was yet to come.  Moon and Apollo plot and plan about the dealings happening between War and Wonder Woman, The first born shows Poseidon he’s not someone to be messed with, Zola’s baby gets a name, and Wonder Woman gives Orion a shiner, as well as de-maning him a bit.

This is a redeeming issue for Azzarello, and my comments last month were a bit premature.  Although still too quick and weighty, issue #18 was the perfect lead-in for this month’s installment.  Of course, I wonder if the God’s kids are going to do more than just chat it up along their poolside.  But maybe that’s the appeal, they’re too stuck up for their own good, continually sticking their uppity noses at Wonder Woman and her army.  The First Born’s part in this story is progressively making sense, but I can’t tell if Poseidon is the good guy, the bad guy, or a combination between the two.  Hera is still learning to cope with being human, but little Zeke definitely brought out the mother in her. All in all, every character is developing quite nicely!

The cover is a bit mis-leading, as I suspected, but it’s all part of the punch line.  And strike three came with Orion’s last comment directed at Wonder Woman, and she laid the smack-down, Amazonian style!

Wonder-Woman-punch-Orion

This is what I’ve been hoping she’d do for two issues!  This is the Wonder Woman that should be!  However, while I’m certain we should all feel bad for Orion’s disfigurement, his storming out because Wondy revealed his “true nature” was a bit whiny and childish.  (WWAAAHHH, You hit me!  MOMMY!!!) I keep hating Orion more and more. Good for you Wonder Woman, good for you!

It’s a great issue with only a few things here and there to bring it down.  Overall, however, this is a solid Wonder Woman installment!

See you in 30!

8 out of 10 stars

Superboy #19 Review

Posted: April 15, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Superboy
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superboy-19-coverWritten by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: RB Silva, Rob Lean
Cover by: Ardian Syaf
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: Apr 10 2013

If you want to complicate things, by all means, go for it!  It doesn’t mean you story will be good!  I think fellow comic book nerd and writer, Martin Gray, author of “It’s Too Dangerous For A Girl” put it best…When it comes to superhero origin stories, the BEST ones can be summed up in one sentence…

Superman – Rocketed to Earth from the exploding planet Krypton.

Spider-Man – Teenager bitten by a radioactive spider who gains amazing powers.

Superboy – Clone created from the genetic material of  the present day Superman, Lois Lane and an unknown donor by a time travelling madman to save the life of the sick Superboy he considers his son who is in fact the child of a future Superman and Lois Lane, and take part in his war on 21st-century superhumans in order to prevent the coming of 30th century ‘metas’ destined to murder millions of ordinary humans, including his true child.

You can breath now.

I can appreciate wanting to create a complex and ambitious tale that combines the back story’s of popular characters, but if you’re trying to write a story to be taken at least semi-seriously, you’ve got to draw a line on how much material to pack in.  When the New 52 finally released the concept behind Superboy’s story, I hated it immediately.  Clone’s are an overused aspect in DC’s arsenal of pot ideas, and I was really hoping the the whole clone motif would dissipate or at least dwindle down to a minor character who’s presence in the DCU was minimal at best.  No, they kept it around making Superboy, a hero who has so much potential at being one of DC’s best characters, a clone of Superman.

But wait, there’s more!  We learn in this issue that Superboy is not only a product of Superman’s DNA, but also of Ms. Lane’s. And there’s this whole confusing part where Harvest is traveling through time to save his son, which is some how connected to the title’s signature hero in ways I’m still having trouble comprehending.  Then again, maybe if I was reading Teen Titans or Ravagers I’d have a better handle on the whole situation…but I doubt it.

And to be honest, in concept, I really like Harvest’s character, but there’s nothing coming out in Superboy that made me want to learn more about him.  He simply feels like an artist’s excuse to draw another overly complicated and monstrous-looking villain who’s certainly fun to draw, but the garb has very little reason for being.

We’re still waiting on the “reveal” of who completes this trifecta of doners.  We have Superman, Lois…and the mystery contributor would be?????  If you’ve been reading since issue #1, you’re probably guessing Lex, and that’s a very safe bet to make.  The writers of Superboy aren’t making it difficult to figure out the next big thing.  You’d think that something as complicated as this would leave you wondering what’s going to happen next, but you’d be wrong.  Issue #19, and this speaks towards the entire run, tries so hard to be significant and ambitious, but the execution of the story leaves you with easily answerable questions amongst all the hub-bub.

I shouldn’t hate on this Super-installment too much, it follows the typical storytelling pattern well even with all of the jargon being flung in. The art has definitely gotten better, getting away from the ridiculous visual shout-outs to the stiff-looking manga art style.  I guess I’m a bit annoyed with how Lobdell has decided to weave things through – calling Superboy the son of Lois and Clark, even though he technically isn’t, and poorly using a villain who’s treatment within DC’s line of teen books hasn’t been stellar.  If you’re looking for a book that doesn’t require a lot thinking, but does do a “fine” job at going from point A to point B, you’ll be satisfied with this issue.  As for me, I seriously might be crossing Superboy off my pull list before next month.

5 out of 10 stars

Batgirl #19 Review

Posted: April 13, 2013 in Batgirl, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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batgirl19-coverWritten by: Gail Simone
Art by: Daniel Sampere, Vicente Cifuentes
Cover by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: Apr 10 2013

The best morality tales are the ones that provide hope to those who are afraid of being true to themselves.  Amongst the much larger tale of the Gordon family strife exists moments glorifying what’s socially unaccepted.  A confused young mind can read #19 and believe in the prospect of having a good life and friends after gender reassignment has commenced.

But Simone doesn’t spend too much time on the subject.  She’s the best at jamming two simple panels with more emotion and meaning than most comics books have in 22 pages. This comic focuses on getting rid of James Gordon junior, and let’s be honest, who cares about him anyway?

Fawkes tried his darnedest, but trying to fill Simone’s shoes just wasn’t cutting it, writing a story that continually slid into the dull drums of boring story telling that was trying way too hard to have reason for being.  Having been fired, and DC getting a barrage of haters as a result, the said company not only gave her her job back, but also the right to do whatever the Hell she wanted to!  What better way to show that stupid editor that initially fired her what for by killing off DC’s bad decision.

Yeah, I spoiled everything, James Junior dies by the hands of his own sister.  But there’s more to the journey than the story’s climactic ending, and Gail twists the plot into a fantastic mind-bending tale that’s deserving of DC’s repertoire.  She’s still able to keep everything going according to what Fawkes had set up but gave it an unpredictable sensibility. Simone’s recognizable 1st person narrative way of writing gives more emotional depth to the goings-on, saturating the Gordon-family-four with rich development and intrigue, paving the way for a barrage of storylines that could give Batgirl more legitimacy within DC’s ranks.

The name of Gordon has certainly been revamped.  Barbara and her dad seem to be the only ones with any sense in their heads…and dad’s a police commissioner and Barbara travels the night in a cape and cowl. I now feel like Barbara’s decision to bear the Bat insignia is much more legitimate with her now newly developed back story. What’s a Bat-hero without it’s scathing origin story right?  I can at least buy this version of James Junior better than what Fawkes was trying to do.

Artistically this book is perfect, minus Barbara’s Bat-boots. Sampere brings even the kitchen sink out, designing a perfectly sculpted set a visuals. Don’t you dare think for a second that, simply because she isn’t Batman, Barbara can’t be just as intimidating and menacing.

Batgirl-kicks-ass

The only problem I had with this issue is in a simple statement Batgirl makes, “If she doesn’t know that part, I can still protect her.”  So she’s ok with keeping secrets from those she cares about, but when Batman decides not to reveal his secrets concerning the Joker, that’s a no-no?  That was a defining feature of Death of the Family, and now we’re acting like it doesn’t matter? Consistency DC…consistency.

A minor complaint to an almost perfect comic.  What a way to make a come-back Gail!  You’re my hero!

9.5 out of 10 stars

Action Comics #19 Review – Good Riddance To Grant Morrison!

Posted: April 4, 2013 in Action Comics, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Superman
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Action-Comics-19-cover-full-spreadWritten by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Tony S. Daniel, Batt
Cover by: Tony S. Daniel
Variant Cover by: Tony S. Daniel
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 40
U.S. Price: 3.99
On Sale Date: Apr 3 2013

Superman’s sudden departure from the oh-so-close moment between him (alter ego Clark Kent) and Lois should have been a little more cheesy.  Wouldn’t it have been too funny to see Diggle stick a dialog box off to the side that read, “This is a job for Superman.”  Again I state, it’s hard to write for Superman because of who he is and what he represents without getting too hokey. However, Diggle’s able to write this issue in such a way that shows us we no longer have anything to fear – the Superman we know is back!

But how long can this keep up?  With both the writer and artist having announced their resignation from Action already (with their last issue being uncertain to me) the treatment of DC’s flagship title isn’t one the DC execs should be proud of.  Needless to say, however, issue #19 is a breath of fresh air, providing the character development and relationships everyone has been waiting for, and more noticeably on one very famous fictional news reporter.

Within Superman’s regime of friends, there’s two that stick out as lovable constants, Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane.  While Jimmy isn’t given much of a spot light, we still see the urge to bring him back on the part of Diggle and company.  But part of this issue’s focus is Lois Lane and redefining her as that tenacious, sharp, and witty journalist who can outmaneuver any reporter in the comic book kingdom.  While being tough as nails, we still see the immediate connection between her and Clark.  I wonder, is it possible Lois Lane’s attraction will be more centered around Clark than Supes?  That would certainly be interesting.

The most interesting part? what’ll grab you most in this Super-installment happens within the first four pages.  I wish there would have been more!  I wish there could have been something else to extend into six pages, maybe even seven.  But alas, I am left wanting.  Thankfully the fun just begins as we’re hurled into Superman fighting men in armored battle suits – in the much more familiar and trade-marked Superman style.  Lex Luthor controls everything behind closed doors, and Superman is left with an infection that’s only going to lead to much bigger and terrible things.

And Lex Luthor was awesomely devious!!!!

I favorited Tony Daniel’s style with his run on Batman a few years ago.  He knows how to draw the Caped Crusader and gave him so much life for that brief period of time.  Now he’s proven himself on Action, making some of the most difficult ways of drawing seem easy as pie.  Not forgetting about the coloring job, Tomeu Morey explodes every page with artistry every colorist should hope to aspire to.

This is a dynamite issue.  Sure, there’s some flaws, but nothing so noticeable to offer distractions.  You probably won’t even notice it. See you in 30…

9.5 out of 10 stars

Superman #18 Review

Posted: March 28, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Superman
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Superman-18-coverWritten by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Kenneth Rocafort
Cover by: Kenneth Rocafort
Variant Cover by: Kenneth Rocafort
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: Mar 27 2013

It’s a sad day indeed…Orion is sticking around.

As I’m sure you all can guess, based on my review of Wonder Woman #18, Orion isn’t very likable.  That being said, however, Lobdell gives him a much more substantial purpose in Superman #18 – extending further than the frat-boyish persona.  I still hate him, but it’s better now.  (I still want Wonder Woman to kick him in the balls.)

This issue finally gives Superman a worthy presence in the DC Universe – defying the government, bringing Lois and Supes much closer together, and presenting a dilemma in which Superman will have to work in reassuring the people’s faith in him.  I won’t deny Superman is a bigger asshole in the New 52, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Granted he shrubs off Cat Grant both as Clark and as Superman, but it’s obviously for this character developing prose – he can’t seem to fathom the night life part of Metropolis.  His upbringing on Earth doesn’t mean he’s got life down perfectly.  He’s still got a lot of work to do to take the small-town out of his now big-city livelihood.

I can completely understand Superman denying the U.S. government access to his Fortress of Solitude, I would have done the same thing.  They don’t have the right to order Superman around in the way they did, but publicly announcing that his home is dangerous and allowing Earthlings into his domicile could cause those dangers to emerge wasn’t the smartest.  I’m uncertain where it’ll go from here, but I’m guessing Sam Lane will do his darnedest find any chance at jailing Supes.

I was reminded of Shyamalan’s “The Happening” when the night-lifers started jumping off the roof top.  Luckily Superman saves the day, with Cat wondering where Clark suddenly ran off to.  Instead of saying thank you, people wonder if they’re nothing more than toys to Superman that he can play with at his leisure.  Thanks to H’El, Kryptonians aren’t the most liked beings on Earth, and it doesn’t give Superman many chances to redeem himself if anything he does is always under scrutiny.

The question of the night is…what was compelling everyone to leap to their doom while smiling?  Clues point to an old Green Lantern foe, Hector Hammond.  But is it that easy of a solution?  And why is Orion being show by the higher powers that Superman is a threat to all of existence? So many questions, and all I can do is wait impatiently.

Rocafort blasts his way through the art, presenting some incredible panels and splash pages to make any artist jealous. My criticisms of his style only go as far as over sexualizing the female characters.  And while Cat Grant shows off her curves, there really wasn’t anything overdone, which is always nice.

The best issue of Superman to date since the New 52 started.  If Lobdell keeps this up, we might just have a shot at seeing a Superman we’re much more familiar with!

8 out of 10 stars

Action Comics #18 Review

Posted: March 21, 2013 in Action Comics, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Superman
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ActionComics-18-coverWritten by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Rags Morales, Mark Propst
Cover by: Rags Morales
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 40
U.S. Price: 3.99
On Sale Date: Mar 20 2013

In Grant Morrison’s world, everything makes sense to him.  To the rest of us, however, we’re either confused as Hell or joyfully guzzling the Morrison Kool-aid until the glass is empty – simply accepting the story as amazing as can be, when in actuality, it’s one big mess of a plot.

In order to save reality, Superman has to find a way of defeating Vyndktvx by means other than tricking him into saying his name backwards.  Vyndktvx isn’t as easily fooled as Mxy, so the question is how does someone defeat an almost all powerful enemy when the best trick in the book is useless?  With the help of his friends - the Legion of Superheroes, his two best Earth Pals – Lois and Jimmy, the dog of steel, and a strange band of supers called the Wanderers, Superman begins his task of defeating Vyndktvx, Lex Luthor, a mega Doomsday, and a horde of Superman haters.  It’s a weighty issue that’s as physically heavy as it is metaphorically.

The redeeming qualities of this issue exist in spurts, presenting some exceptionally meaningful moments within the thematic aspects of the book.  However this particular issue relies on a faithful following for the last 12 issues, and even then it’s not that clear of a climax.  No doubt this issue is one of the most intense installments of Action to date, but intensity doesn’t have to include an overhaul of characters and incomprehensible plot developments.  What is interesting, however, is how Morrison gives an appropriate amount of shout-outs to the past story arcs, TV shows, and movie quotes within the Man of Steel’s repertoire.  Morrison’s thematic focus has always been a shining star in the scope of his overall bad storytelling.

Towards the end the story gets rather rough, infusing some random familiarities that we veteran comic book junkies will recognize, yet will cause us to question why they’re even there in the first place.  Superman Red and Blue make a come back, The Legion of Superheroes may have changed their own timeline by jumping into save the day, a confusion of parentage and lineage occurs, and there’s a flux of strange changes in loyalties where friends become enemies, and enemies become friends.  All of this and more have either no clear explanation or simply no reason for being in the first place. It’s exceptionally frustrating and hard to read.  Most of the time you’ll try to make sense of everything going on both visually and literally, but it all makes very little sense and hurts the brain.

After all is read and done, you’ll find yourself leading right into a back-up storyline by Sholly Fisch who, juxtapose with Grant Morrison’s over exaggerated tale of nonsense, gives us a nice relaxing tale of aftermath and honor.  Don’t think Fisch didn’t do her work with the lack of dialog, this is an amazing wordless backup story that’s so much more moving and inspirational than anything Grant Morrison has tried to do.  It’s perplexing that DC decided to put the two writers on the same book when one is so good at getting straight the point, while the other tries WAY TOO HARD to get his point across with no avail.

To be honest, I’d like to see Sholly take the main writing responsibilities of Action Comics with Chris Sprouse on art. Rags Morales is great, but Sprouse is superb.  However, I’m delighted to see Morrison off the flagship comic of DC.  This title started off well, but in no way is it one I’d recommend to any new comers to comics in it’s current form.  It’s inaccessible and almost impossible to read.  Thank goodness for Fisch redeeming it at the very end.

Tune in next month for an all new Action Comics…better than ever, much more comprehensible, and Morrison-less

2 out of 10 stars

Wonder Woman #18 Review

Posted: March 21, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Wonder Woman
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WonderWoman-18-coverWritten by: Brian Azzarello
Art by: Tony Akins, Dan Green
Cover by: Cliff Chiang
Variant Cover by: Cliff Chiang
Color/B&W: Color
Page Count: 32
U.S. Price: 2.99
On Sale Date: Mar 20 2013

Some cool stuff looking at you in this issue – Hermes and Wonder Woman going at it tooth and nail and sharing a smile beforehand, War yanking Zola’s baby from her viney stomach, and the clever one-liners coming from our superstar jock of a demi-god, Orion.  It’s a fantastic 32 paged book that brings all of the characters we’ve read about since issue #1 into a nice ending of an exceptionally epic story arc – but is it just me or did the resolutions seem rather abrupt?  As if Azzarello simply ran out of room and somehow had to make it work. It’s even more disappointing than the Death of the Family arc.

I appreciated Azzarello trying to redeem himself for his completely unnecessary depiction of Orion’s sexual harassing personality, but it certainly feels cheap.  “Yes, all I have to do is touch you and I have your abilities!”  My response to that…LAME!  Orion hasn’t been served well within Wonder Woman’s title and needs to be placed elsewhere.  Fingers crossed that next month will deliver an Orion-less Wonder Woman book.  (Or at least, if he turns out to be much more involved in the title, have Wonder Woman kick his ass!)

Did the First Born die?  What purpose did he serve?  So much was built around his inclusion in the story, yet it turns out that all of the progressive story telling in the previous issues were for nothing.  The final battle between him and Poseidon could have been great, but instead it was filled with meaningless dialog that led to a climatic end that wasn’t worth the wait.

Now, here’s my BIGGEST complaint – issue #1 to NOW has been a great ride, putting so much importance on Zola, her baby, and this prodigal son theme permeating throughout every issue.  Everything had gone to Hell in a hand basket, and the wrap-up occurred in the last two pages where all the bad guys and good guys sit around the couch coddling the baby?  Is forgiveness that simple in the world of comics?  All the havoc and mistrust that happened…and it’s a simple matter of misinterpreting the baby’s gender?  Since War doesn’t have what he needs, we can all kiss and make up?

I call B.S.!  Ugh!

To be fair, it’s been a lot of fun and I won’t short Azzarello’s ability to tell a fantastic story.  But an ending like this isn’t worthy of the incredible story telling given to us for the last 17 issues.  To end it all with a punch line, with everyone laughing it off and getting along, makes this reader pissed off.

Art is great, no complaints there. Sudzuka and Chiang are masters at taking an amazingly simple art style and turning it into a series of epic visuals displaying danger, excitement, and intrigued.  Chiang will always be in my top ten favorite comic book artists of all time.

It’s a disappointing issue that does a good job at a few insignificant things, but fails in so many other ways.  I’m not going to drop Wonder Woman, but this issue in no way will get you excited for what’s to come.

4 out of 10 stars

Batman #18 Review

Posted: March 14, 2013 in Batman, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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Batman_18_CoverWritten by: Scott Snyder
Backup Written by: Scott Snyder, James T Tynion IV
Art by: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope
Backup Art by: Alex Maleev
Cover by: Greg Capullo
Variant Cover by: Andy Kubert, Greg Capullo

It’s nice to get a friendly reminder that, while we typically see Batman’s more human side – with writers delving into the emotions the rest of Gotham doesn’t see – most of the innocent bystanders see Batman as a symbol and not a man.  The essence of the Bat takes center stage in how he affects the people of Gotham and the rest of the world.  Humanizing stories are always great, otherwise we’d get bombarded with unrelatable plot lines and give up reading comics all together.

The vehicle in which this point gets across in issue #18 comes in the form of Harper Row who’s technological intelligence is rivaled only by a few notable heroes in the DC Universe.  It’s within this issue of Batman where we finally see the accessibility  that DC Comics promised us 18 issues ago when the reboot finally happened.  Any non-comic reader could pick this issue up and completely understand the point without knowing anything about Batman other than the fact that he’s a superhero.  While we, the more informed comic book aficionados may understand the inner most thoughts of Batman and his personality, we, the readers, are simply an unknown entity to the inhabitants of Gotham City that watches the Dark Knight protect the city in the best way he knows how.

So often does the idea of scouting the streets night after night become an appealing one due to the nature of what the superhero represents.  Snyder takes time to show how awful leading this type of lifestyle can be and how hard it is for those who actually do it.  Batman has to be operating at 100% every time he puts the cape and cowl on.  The idea of a symbol (such as Batman) includes an unrelenting persona, one that instills respect and fear.  If Batman were to show weakness at any time, his safety and the safety of others becomes compromised.  While we see his weakness through the dialog of Batman, it isn’t obvious for those who see him only for an instant. It’s a concept that needs to be focused on for readers from time to time.

There are speculations running throughout the internet that Harper Row could bare the Robin insignia in the near future.  Damian will return – the rising of the dead is a naturally associated event when it comes to comics.  However, should Damian’s return take a few years, Harper could serve as a more than adequate side-kick for the Bats.  She’s already behaving in such a way anyways, might as well brace for the it.  This issue gives more life to Harper, making her out to be a fairly significant supporting character in the life of Batman as well as boosting her status as someone who could take on the bad guys just as well as any of the other non-powered heroes.  Look out for Harper boys and girls, she’s going to have a great future with DC Comics!

Don’t worry, there’s still an emotional center point where we see Batman’s mental state in dealing with the death of his son, but an even bigger one when Harper and her brother goes to visit dad in prison.  He calls Cullen one of his daughters due to being homosexual, and Harper let’s her father know she only came to visit him because Cullen wanted to.  It’s a difficult concept to conceive – to be gay and have a father who not only doesn’t love you, but is also a very evil man. Harper’s ability to deal with this, juxtaposed with seeking out the Batman as one of the very few positives influences in her life is compelling and very captivating.

All in all, this is one Hell of an issue. I understand the way DC works and it’s hard to create stories without falling back on past story arcs.  However, it would be nice to see more issues like this.

10 out of 10 stars

Justice League #17 Review

Posted: February 24, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Justice League Of America
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Justice-League-17-coverWritten by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado
Cover by: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado
Variant Cover by: Steve Skroce, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado

I’ve said many times, the Justice League was the title that got me into comics as much as I am today.  It’s the title that I read regardless of how awesome or terrible it is.  When it IS terrible however, it hurts me, which then forces me to consider NOT writing a review it – I don’t like saying negative things about the book that sent me into a world of superheroes and the best kind of make-believe.  This is why my blog hasn’t published any reviews on Justice League for a few months…it hasn’t been that good.

I’ve been considering dropping the title and only getting it in trades after Throne of Atlantis finished.  However Geoff Johns delivered a climactic ending to the arc in #17 that may just be the best issue the League has had since issue #1.  Arthur finally accepts his role as the majestic ruler of the sunken city and, spoilers ahoy, makes a decision to resign as a member of the League and live in the water with his people to ensure nothing like this ever happens again – leaving his friends behind…even Mera.

Moments of epicness include Hawkman taking it to Orm with the full force of a Thanagarian’s might, Zatanna turns a massive tidal wave into one giant ice burg, Element Woman has a funny conversation with the Bats, and every known hero in the New 52 flies in to fight against Atlantis alongside Aquaman.  With every troupe imaginable, Johns storytelling and Reis’ artistry bring an arsenal of cool super powers being displayed, and amazing team-ups that are only equaled by Infinite Earths.  Mysteries are on the horizon, and characterizations are placed eloquently into each panel that make this book worthy of being called The Justice League.

One thing I have to say about Reis – he’s definitely the best when it comes to creating overly-complicated and detailed splash pages and panels.  To be honest I’m not sure how he does it. Every month of the Justice League is incredibly epic and angsty just within the art, and there’s so much going on that I sometimes have to take a break, set the book down, go eat some food, maybe even go for a walk just so I can give my eyes a rest from how much awesome he’s throwing at me.  It can be jolting, but it’s still great work none-the-less.

I think I’ll be sticking with the League on a monthly basis for a bit longer.  I certainly hope Johns continues with this level of quality in the League, otherwise I’ll be leaving it very soon.

9 out of 10 stars

Wonder Woman #17 Review

Posted: February 24, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Wonder Woman
Tags: , ,
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Wonder-Woman-17-coverWritten by: Brian Azzarello
Cover by: Cliff Chiang
Variant Cover by: Cliff Chiang

The dealings with Satan in the last arc were quite good – fantastic in fact!  Azzarello does great work, and Wonder Woman’s presence in the DC reboot from issues #1 – 14 were great examples of that.  It’s all been a great mixture of thrills, hilarity, monsters, sentimental moments, and substantial story lines.  But now the children of Zeus have been given a story unworthy of their potential, much less that of Wonder Woman.

I was actually quit excited to see where this was going.  It’s a family feud of supernatural proportions, with the potential of a new demi-god on the horizon.  It’s too bad the writer tried way too hard to give this story life.

Great moments include calling Lennox a “lummox,” Diana rehearsing a conversation with Zola, Hermes clawing the crap out of Ares, even Strife has a couple of shining moments, and that’s saying a lot since I have very little appreciation for Strife as a character. It’s difficult for me to point out a book’s flaws, especially when it’s a title I look the most forward to month after month, but when you turn a character as awesome as Orion was into a frat boy, it’s makes me wonder where the author’s head is.  And this panel was just dumb…

Wonder-Woman-as-slap

I don’t care what anybody says, this is as unrealistic as any moment in comics. I might have been ok with it had Wonder Woman immediately punch the douche bag in the face, but no, instead she retaliates with this simple glare and retort…

WHAT-THE

Yeah, this isn’t the Wonder Woman I know, and it’s troubling. Extended as a part of this is Wonder Woman’s apparent lack of tactical  skills, which is unbecoming of an Amazon warrior.  Ares does a decent job at bringing these characteristics out, as does Mr. War himself.

The art is good, no complaints there.  It’s the saving grace of this issue.  In a lot of ways, Akins is just as good as Chiang, giving an incredible amount of emotion and flare to each character, mimicking Chiang to an incomprehensible extent.  The breakdowns and layouts are a breathtaking set of visuals, and it’s something I hope to model my own graphic novel after…assuming I ever get it done.

All gripes aside, it’s still enjoyable, there’s just this one glaring annoyance in the form of an unagressive and dumb Wonder Woman.  I certainly hope Orion tries something on Wonder Woman next month, giving him three strikes, and Wondy’s foot clogging him in the groin as the strike out.

6 out of 10 stars

Action Comics #17 Review

Posted: February 22, 2013 in Action Comics, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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Action-Comics_17_coverWritten by: Grant Morrison
Backup Written by: Sholly Fisch
Backup Art by: Chris Sprouse, Karl Story
Cover by: Rags Morales
Variant Cover by: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Rags Morales

In a typical Heretical Jargon way, when I’m disgusted, appalled, or simply bored by an issue, I whip out my simple mathematical equation that’s incontrovertible and undeniable.  You either agree with my assertion, or your wrong. It’s very simple.

Of course, take this with a grain of salt.  My reviews typically don’t reflect popular opinion, and I can already think of a few fellow comic book nerds who are going to jump on me and smack me around until I come to my senses.  Morrison always starts a series off well, but never fails in loosing focus and creating a story that had so much potential, and turning it into a joke.

Here we go.  brace yourselves!

Grant Morrison + Action Comics = Me Reading Action Comics NO MORE!

Spider-Man-No-More

I hate to say it, but I can’t deny it, Grant Morrison is simply confusing me more than enticing me.  It’s a shame too – he started this series off so well, and now it’s come down to this, a typical Morrison acid trip made visible for us in the form of a superhero story. There’s moments of remembrance where I can point to something and recall how it connects to last month’s issue, but I can’t tell you why it’s important or how it provides anything substantial.  And it’s been this way since issue #12, and it’s forced my hand.

Of course people are still going to buy this title while he’s on it and continually praise Morrison’s “ground-breaking” writing abilities, but it’s beyond me how that could be.  From what I can tell, this installment’s time paradoxical motif toggles back and forth with no real reason for being…it’s simply just there.  Maybe in Morrison’s mind this all makes sense, but not to me.  My conclusion – he tries way too hard to bring his incredibly creative ideas to life.  Within #17, Lord Vyndktvx never really makes an appearance, Dimension 5′s Superman doesn’t serve a purpose, and the time jumping and paradox makes everything going on confusing with no resolution in sight.   It’s hard to read something this convoluted.

If only Sholly Fisch had been hired as the main writer, this book would have been so much better.  While short, the few pages by Fisch makes so much more sense as well as being meaningful and substantial far better than the main story.  Add in Chris Sprouse, and it’s all a wonderful combination of literature and art that serves Superman well and reminds me of Alan Moore’s Tom Strong.  If this issue is worth buying at all, it’s only because of Sprouse and Fisch’s back up story.

Needless to say, I think I’m done with Action Comics.  My money can be better spent with titles that aren’t tripping out on drugs and trying way to hard to be meaningful.

3 out of 10 stars

Batman And Robin #17 Review

Posted: February 16, 2013 in Batman & Robin, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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Batman-Robin-17-coverWritten by: Peter J. Tomasi

A dream within a dream.  Something Christopher Nolan explained very well on the big screen.  I’m not sure that’s what was going on here, but more power to those who try to break free from the same ol’ same ol’. Batman and Robin #17 takes time to swim around the dreams of the Wayne Manner residents, presenting a series of horrifying and heartfelt dreams that I’m sure most comic book readers will get a kick out of.

Like any stand alone comic that’s part of a title dependent on tie-ins and crossover events, it has a bitter sweet attachment to the DC continuity.  It isn’t a 22-paged story that needed to be told, yet we’re glad to have it as to break away from the normal intensity that naturally comes along with superhero comics.  This issue, however, came at me with the same amount of intensity, and even more confusion at that.

I understand what the intent was; dealing with one’s personal demons and recognizing the people in your life you care most about.  Amongst all of Damian’s angsty boyhood drama, he is a kind hearted young lad.  And Bruce Wayne isn’t as cold hearted as he likes to make himself out to be, he just hasn’t figured out how to show his real emotions yet.  Thank goodness for Scott Snyder giving Bruce and Damian a legitimate father-son relationship.  And it’s nice to see Alfred’s vulnerable side and that even he, given the right circumstances, has the potential of loosing himself.

The issues come when the flow of the story seems jolting and without flowing transitions.  But I guess that’s how dreams work huh? However the point of this issue didn’t come off as clearly as intended, even if I got it. I can certainly appreciate and enjoy what Tomasi did, but I would have liked to see less jumpiness in the plot, making it a little less taxing to read.

Can you really say anything bad about Pat Gleason and Mick Gray?  This is an artistic team-up that I hope never goes away. Gleason’s wooden style would typically be uninteresting to me, but coveying emotion is key to making this type of artistry work, and Gleason is perfect at it.  Gray has a knack for making colors work better than most. DC, give him more work please!

I love Tomasi, and I hate giving his writing a rating of less  than 10 stars, but this is one time where his writing didn’t grab me like normal.

7 out of 10 stars

Batman #17 Review

Posted: February 13, 2013 in Batman, Comic Book Review, DC Comics
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Batman-17-coverWritten by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion
Cover by: Greg Capullo
Variant Cover by: Tony S. Daniel, Batt, Greg Capullo

And I’m freaking out!  Waiting a month for this issue has created a level of tension inside my loins that hasn’t occurred in a long time – the sign of great writing.  However, like any story which has this level of build-up comes with it reader expectations and the fear of those expectations not being met.  What’s going to happen? Who’s going to die?  Will it be this person?  Will it be multiple people?  What’s the twist? How will this affect future stories? Am I going to cry or be angry by the end? All these questions, and the fear of disappointment lingers on even after closing the book and slipping it into long box storage.

A preview was leaked thanks to CNN, a much more revealing preview than normal, and it made me wonder if a Titus Andronicus type of story was going to occur.  And for me…honestly…I was hoping for something that disgustingly disturbing. Instead, the terrible joke by the Joker was as such, a joke with no real evil following except the deceptive attitude towards it all.  Sure, he tried burning the Bat-Squad up, but that’s nothing new right?  I was actually hoping for a long lasting effect that would devastate and delight me at the same time.  How traumatic would it have been for the platter’s lid to be lifted, revealing the actual faces of our heroes?  You’d be pissed and happy at the same time, and it’s what I was hoping for despite how mad and upset I would have been because of it.

Disappointments set aside, the dynamics of the Bat-family, and everyone included in that circle from the outside, is going the change immensely.  The book’s end clearly demonstrates that nothing will be the same from here on out, and a rebuilding process is going to have to occur in order for this band of heroes to salvage the love they have for each other.  But we know that the love hasn’t completely disappeared and the strength of family still exists thanks to this gorgeously illustrated panel…

Bat-Family-Love

Only seeing this panel by itself is disturbing enough, but in reading the pages that connect with it, this is arguably one of the most clever and beautiful images of a super-family in DC’s history.

The Killing Joke was a spectacular read and gave both the Joker and Batman an exchange in words that’s almost unequaled.  Scott Snyder might have boosted himself to an Alan Moore-like quality (and that’s saying a lot for me) with this “final confrontation” between the two.  The tone for future Joker/Batman stories has been raised and new questions will undoubtedly need to be addressed  from the events of this issue.  We now have a new way to look at the Joker and his philosophies on life, as well as Batman’s new found approach when dealing with a man he absolutely hates.

joker-hate

I actually believe that statement!  The mind games he played with Bats, along with the amazing art work by Capullo, make this entire story as believable as can be.  However, I never thought it possible for Batman to actually HATE anyone, even the unknown persona of his parent’s killer. But the issue of Batman loving the Joker, and Joker loving Batman is an interesting one that Bruce Wayne explains with such believability.  For Bruce Wayne to say he’s never killed the Joker because Gotham simply won’t allow evil to be completely wiped out is a profound statement, and a terrifying one at that.  The only way to keep Gotham from getting worse is by allowing the most destructive man in history to stay alive? What does that say about the city itself?

Capullo does his best work to date, detailing out some exceptionally grotesque and terrifying images.  The wear and tear of Joker’s sliced faced slipping and sliding on him as well as the discoloration from white to a peutred off-green is enough to make me want to hurl!  But as gross and disturbing as everything looks, it’s still a gorgeous display of color, detail, and emotion.  Fingers crossed that I can be as talented as Capullo one day.

With the exception of a few disappointing plot developments due to my own pre-conceived ideas, this book is absolutely fantastic!  And even if this issue isn’t as great as it could be, this ARC is without a doubt the best Batman story to come around in a VERY long time.

8 out of 10 stars

Animal Man #17/Swamp Thing #17 Review

Posted: February 9, 2013 in Animal Man, Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Swamp Thing
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Rotworld-animal-man-swamp-thing-17-covers

Animal Man #17
Written by: Jeff Lemire, Scott Snyder
Art by: Steve Pugh
Cover by: Steve Pugh, Yanick Paquette

Swamp Thing #17
Written by: Scott Snyder Jeff Lemire
Art by: Andy Belanger
Cover by: Yanick Paquette, Steve Pugh

Why not just clump the two together in one review?  Very seldom do we, as readers, get the chance of enjoying tie-in stories in the same week month after month.  The culmination of the two has been perfectly constructed.  In both issues, our heroes not only attempt to fend off the greatest threat Earth has ever faced, but also find the people they love most are taken and enslaved by the Rot.  This is one Hell of a finale to the Rotworld arc, but that’s a deceptive way to describe anyway.

Both titles have lived up to the “horror” that DC built both books up to prior to the reboot.  In this team-up, both Lemire and Snyder take us on a roller coaster ride of disemboweled bodies, guts, walking dead, and much more grotesque imagery.  The creepiest part of it all is wondering if the recognizable heroes destroyed by the rot are still there in some sub-conscious way, or if they’re completely taken over by Arcane.

Animal Man #17 brings Buddy Baker and Animal Man together against Arcane and the rotified JLA.  This issue takes more time at weakening the rot and allowing each character still surviving the onslaught a time in the spotlight.  Whereas Swamp Thing brings us the finale showdown between Arcane and Alec Holland.  Animal Man isn’t left out from basking in the glory, but let’s face it, This is Holland’s moment, and both he and Arcane have unfinished business together.

But it really isn’t that simple.  The misleading advertisements gave the illusion of a resolution for both our heroes, but it’s quite the opposite.  So many questions are left up in the air, especially after both Swampy and Animal Man throw themselves into what seems like a portal to another place.  What happens to Earth now?  Will we ever see it restored to the way it was before?  How is this going to effect the the timeline and DCU continuity? Question after question and we have no idea how it’s going to end!

How clever the two writers are, eh?  Allowing us to believe that THIS would be the end of it, and next month will be a (probably) boring epilogue.  Can they fool us again next month, or should we trust that this will all finally come to an end, with our heroes going on fighting the good fight?  Personally, I’ve loved the Rotworld arc, but it needs to end.  To much of a good thing can “rot” your brains.  Fingers crossed!  In the meantime, both issues are spectacular and worth the cover price.

10 out of 10 stars – for both!

Earth 2 #9 Review

Posted: February 7, 2013 in Comic Book Review, DC Comics, Earth 2
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EARTH-2-9-CoverWritten by: James Robinson
Art by: Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott
Cover by: Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott
Variant Cover by: Nicola Scott, Trevor Scott

It’s incredibly difficult to move a story at a snail’s pace and keep it interesting.  This is one of James Robinson’s trademarks, and it’s never done him well.  Yet something has brightened up his writing skills as every single issue of Earth 2 so far has been absolutely fantastic.  Of course, the biggest question that’s plaguing every reader’s mind is…will this clump of “wonders” ever become a team, forming the inevitable Justice Society?

After the polite shunning Green Lantern bestowed upon the other “lesser” super-powered mortals, a vanishing occurred, as so it says on page one.  Hawkgirl and Flash are remaining teammates, yet have gone their own separate ways for a brief period on some personal errands.  While Flash is making certain his mother is ok, Hawkgirl makes a plea to Khalid-Ben-Hassin to place the Helm of Fate on his head and take up arms with her and Flash.  Reluctant as he is, he decides to help, but as a man, not a hero.  In the meantime, Jay Garrick has a run-in with the Atom and company while checking in with his mother, and right before the final blow by soldiers of the World Army, magical forces make a last minute rescue.  But the trifecta of Hawgirl, Flash, and the yet-to-be-crowned Dr. Fate seem to be in even more trouble than before they left the land of the known.

I enjoy a good “plotty” story from time to time, and this is certainly a goodie.  The pacing is great, moving fast enough to keep the action interesting, yet holding back an appropriate amount of story-progressing material that’s all coming out in this issue, mostly dealing with the introduction of new characters both good and bad.  Dr. Fate making his come back was a giddy moment for me, as odd as it seemed.  In fact, with every aspect of this run comes a strange sense of oddity.  Being 31 years old, having read comics as much as I have since 1992, my memories of the Society are as an older, more stylistic team up that maintained a very different and vintage montage and persona.  With that being said, it’s very weird to see all of these characters I’m more familiar with as elderly folks drawn as younger egocentric personalities.  It’s a new perspective on a set of heroes we are all to familiar with before the New 52 started.  It’s one of the few titles that served it’s purpose exceptionally well since the reboot.

It’s a very good story that makes you wonder what the heck’s going to happen in 3o days, and how the Hell you’ll survive until then.  Don’t ponder on it too much because you can always go back to Nicola Scott’s perfect artistry, bringing each character to life in ways most artists can only dream of.  Page one, as simple as it was, was amazing with Hawkgirl’s wing spread, as well as the massive detail work done on Khalid’s office home.  Could I draw like Scott does?  I’m sure I could…but no way am I going to try to do this as consistently and regularly as she does.  Wow!

It’s a great issue that proves DC’s doing all they can to make sure their stories are top-notch.  There’s been some misses amongst DC’s regime of titles, but Earth 2 isn’t one of them.

9 out of 10 stars

Detective Comics #17 Review

Posted: February 6, 2013 in Comic Book Review, Detective Comics
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detective-comics-17-coverWritten by: John Layman
Art by: Jason Fabok
Backup Art by: Andy Clarke
Cover by: Jason Fabok
Variant Cover by: Jason Fabok

Up and down I go!  Do I like this issue or do I think it’s so-so?  Truth be told, I’m stuck in the middle, being completely bored while at the same time loving every last bit of this Batty installment.  Batty it is too, focusing on the League of Smiles and their insane origins, worshiping/obsessing over the Joker and making themselves up in such a way where they resemble his likeness. Being the great detective that he is, Bats deciphers the mystery of who the Merrymaker is quickly, and without error.  And the rest is simply flashbacks and resolutions.

When it comes to Batman within the new 52 (is it still 52? Cancellations and new series might negate this.) Snyder has done a fantastic job at reviving the detective within the Dark Knight, and it’s been glorious.  The last six months, however, with exception to the main title, the “detection” side of the Bat has been severely lacking.  John Layman’s work on Detective comics has been good, but it seems he’s really starting to get a handle on the world’s greatest detective.  Not only is he solving mysteries, piecing everything together into a nice set of dialogging, he uses his brawn less with minimal punching, kicking, and breaking the baddy’s teeth in.  I love a good action scene as much as the next guy, but substance is more important to me than mindless action scenes.

Where does the problem occur?  Right on the first page, when Dr. Meredith makes his appearance with Batman’s inner monologue inquiring about the identity of the Merrymaker.  If you’re worried about spoilers, don’t worry, this “surprise” won’t excite you enough for it to matter.  I figured out the “twist” by the third page, and it really isn’t that exciting.

So the joy of getting to read a TRUE detective Batman story was minimal.  Sure, it’s always fun to read the detective’s words as he unfolds the mystery bit by bit, but when you’re able to figure out the end result before reaching page four, the thrill diminishes.  Maybe I’m being a little too picky, but I was born with high expectations.

The book does get interesting during the flashback when we learn more about Dr. Meredith and his assessment of Joker’s influence on the unstable mind.  What grabbed me the most was how much the Joker’s influence stretched across Arkham Asylum, both with the inmates and its employees.  It gives so much more life and reason to Harley Quinn and Jeremiah Arkham’s insanity.  The moral of the story?  it isn’t Arkham Asylum that breeds the crazies, it’s the Joker.

There’s a lot of good art work to be seen, and new comer Jason Fabok (Is he new? I’m making assumptions based on nothing) is making a good lean into the comic book world.  He’s already good, better than most, but it’ll be fun to see what he can do in a few years, assuming he sticks around of course. I think his nitch is going to be detail, and there’s already a fantastic amount of that going on here.

Overall it’s a decent issue, just a little TOO predictable to make it exciting.  Enjoy it, but don’t begin reading it thinking it’s going to be a mindblower.

7 out of 10 stars

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