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Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Comics released 4/4/07
Also: Guy Ritchie's Gamekeeper and Batman: Ego
 52 #48 (DC)
Written by Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, and Mark Waid; Illustrated by Keith Giffen and Darick Robertson
One of the weakest storylines in 52 has been the Intergang plot, and unfortunately this issue focuses almost entirely on it. That, and Renee Montoya’s finally accepting her role as the new Question, but the two are really the same story in this issue. It’s the Intergang plot and their kidnapping of Batwoman that gives Montoya the final push she needs.
The splash page of Montoya finally going into faceless action loses something though because it’s been building for about six months now. All the questions she asks this issue have been asked before. She’s even been wearing the trench coat and fedora for a while now. From my perspective, she’s been the Question ever since the original died. All that was missing was the mask and the spooky smoke. I don’t know, maybe if I was a bigger Question fan I’d be more excited. As it is, I was way more interested in the one page at the end about Black Adam and the mad scientists than the rest of the issue combined.
Even the Birds of Prey origin story mostly just left me wishing that Black Canary was still in that book.
Grade: Didn’t Like It.
 Detective Comics #831 (DC)
Written by Paul Dini; Illustrated by Don Kramer
Harley Quinn is back and so is the new, female Ventriloquist. Dini’s affection for Harley is clear and she serves as the real hero this issue. Batman is important to the story, but he’s ultimately just a supporting character here. That bothered me at first until I realized at the end that I’d had a great time reading about Harley. I wish she had her own series again.
I like the new Ventriloquist too. Although she’s clearly insane, she seems a lot more together than poor, old Arnie Wesker. Maybe it’s because her version of Scarface treats her like a girlfriend (as sick as that is) instead of a hapless patsy, which is how Arnie always cast himself. And I love that she keeps bombs inside her Scarface dolls, just in case.
The art didn’t grab me, unfortunately. Kramer doesn’t seem comfortable with these characters. Especially Harley, who looks really stocky here and not at all like the lithe acrobat I’ve come to know her as. Still, a fun, joyful issue.
Grade: Really Liked It.
Justice League of America #7 (DC)
Written by Brad Meltzer; Illustrated by Ed Benes
I have mixed feelings about this one. One the one hand, it wraps a storyline that has primarily focused on characters that I don’t care a lot about. I haven’t been a DC reader long enough to have a natural affection for the likes of Red Tornado or Solomon Grundy. Though Meltzer did a nice job of giving me reasons to care about them in the context of this story, I naturally wanted more time to spend with the folks who I do like a lot: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Arsenal, and Green Lantern.
I also don’t care for the way that the story spent a lot of time in its opening chapters talking about Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman’s picking the new Justice League, only to have none of those scenes make a difference in the final selection. I know that Meltzer was explaining and foreshadowing some relationships in those selection scenes, but I feel cheated that the ultimate selection was pretty much a rehash of the way the New Avengers got started. As Black Lightening says, there’s a long tradition of super teams getting started that way, but this isn’t the start of a new team; it’s a new incarnation of a very, very old one. I guess I was looking forward to seeing the characters give some real thought about the roster.
There’s also a printing error in the book and some of the pages are out of order. It’s easy enough to figure out how they go, but it’s still annoying.
On the other hand though, there’s a lot to absolutely love about this issue. Bene’s art is excellent and really supported some powerful moments that could have fallen flat under a less talented illustrator. Arsenal’s transformation into Red Arrow is genuinely touching, especially as seen through Black Canary and Green Lantern’s eyes. I had forgotten what kind of role they had both played in Roy’s upbringing, but Meltzer reminded me in a gentle, unobtrusive way that just made the moment that much more moving.
The new headquarters. Holy Crap. Meltzer has created a fanboy’s wet dream for the JLA to operate from. And why not? Why hadn’t anyone thought of it before? I don’t know, maybe it wasn’t the right time before and there had to be a Watchtower in order for me to truly appreciate this. But, man, do I ever appreciate this.
There’s also some great humor. I always like the after-the-big-fight/down-time issues that give the characters time to relax and just interact with each other. Red Arrow’s flirting with Hawkgirl is perfect in so many ways. Superman’s reference to Batman’s giant penny is priceless. Then there’s the name of the training room, Red Arrow’s expression when he’s handed his membership invitation, and Black Lightning’s “Pretty sneaky, sis.”
And there at least three teases to upcoming story lines, all of which sound really interesting.
So, flawless? No. But it is a wonderful, heartfelt wrap-up to the first story and has me looking forward to more.
Grade: Really Liked It.
 Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes #28 (DC)
Written by Mark Waid; Illustrated by Barry Kitson
The Dominators are pretty cheesy bad guys with their impossibly fanged mouths and the gigantic dots on their heads, but they do pose a serious threat in this story line, so I’m able to feel like the Legion is in real danger, even as I’m smirking at the villains’ looks.
I have nothing but good things to say about the politics and interactions between the Legion and the similarly motivated, but differently executed Wanderers. And after a few, long issues of the everyone’s saying how they’re all toast and being really down, it’s nice to see the good guys start to gain – if not the upper hand – at least a fighting chance. Makes me feel like this story is wrapping up so that we can get on to something else.
Final Grade: Liked It.
 The Incredible Hulk #105 (Marvel)
Written by Greg Pak; Illustrated by Carlo Pagulayan
I’m not capable of expressing my excitement about the Hulk’s bringing down his unholy retribution on the bastards who shot him into space. There’s no way a human being is going to be able to meet the expectations I’ve set for World War Hulk. Not short of having Hulk rip Iron Man in half anyway.
But my expectations are tempered a bit by most of the promotional art I’ve seen for WWH. It hasn’t been impressive. I don’t like the Hulk’s armor and headband and the pictures I’ve seen of the Hulk stomping on the world or tearing it apart or whatever have been unconvincing. I see pictures of a monster who’s supposed to be feeling extreme rage, but I’m not feeling it with him. And I should be, because I’m plenty outraged by what Stark and the others did. But the art’s not communicating it in the covers and promo images.
The art in this issue of The Incredible Hulk, on the other hand, communicates it just fine. I had to warm up to Pagulayan, but he’s now one of my favorite Hulk artists. The cold, simmering rage that the Hulk feels as he prepares his return to Earth is palpable. Some of my ability to empathize is thanks to Pak, for sure, so that’s my big hope for World War Hulk, that the writing and the interior art will bring the emotions of story to life in a way that the promos haven’t been able to yet.
Grade: Loved It.
 Omega Flight #1 (Marvel)
Written by Michael Avon Oeming; Illustrated by Scott Kolins
I want to love it.
I mean, it’s Alpha Flight – or the next best thing – of course I want to love it.
The thing is – and, yeah, I’ve known about this since the series was announced, but that doesn’t make it easier – every time someone tries to re-launch an Alpha Flight book, they always start fresh with a whole new team. As if the old, classic team has been the problem with attracting readers.
Listen. The old, classic team hasn’t been the focus of an Alpha Flight book for about twenty years now. When the first volume was cancelled, it wasn’t a book about the classic team anymore. By the time the classic team showed up in Volume Two, the handwriting was already on the wall and that series was cancelled. Same with Volume Three.
Of course I’m not guaranteeing that an Alpha Flight book starring James and Heather Hudson, Sasquatch, Puck, Shaman, Snowbird, Northstar, and Aurora is going to be a hit. But why hasn’t anyone even tried that approach? It’s frustrating. USAgent and the less-popular Spider-Woman are supposed to make the difference here? (I’d include Beta Ray Bill in that question, but thinking about it, he’s cool enough that he might actually make the difference sure enough.)
Anyway, I want to love it, so I won’t harp on what Omega Flight could be. Let’s talk about what it is. It’s a mini-series that starts off way too slow for something that Marvel tells Alpha Flight fans we’re supposed to be pinning all our hopes and dreams on. This issue spends all it’s time explaining why Omega Flight has to be different from Alpha Flight and what the significance is of the name change. And the Wrecking Crew sneaks into Canada to get away from the Civil War. The only member of the new team we really spend time with is Sasquatch, and while I love Sasquatch, it’s not cool that the mini-series is going to be just about half over before we have a chance of seeing the new team in action. I mean, we did get to see Talisman this issue, but only just long enough for her to turn Sasquatch down on his offer for her to join the team.
I’m worried.
Grade: Didn’t Like It. (And I would’ve Hated It if it hadn’t have been for Sasquatch.)
Coming later, a review of:
The Secret #3
I originally announced in this space that I'd also be doing reviews of Virgin's Virulents and Moonstone's Kolchak Tales: The Frankenstein Agenda #1-2, but I've looked closer at those books and decided to hold off on them. Virulents is really more of a graphic novel and deserves to be reviewed as one. Kolchak Tales: The Frankenstein Agenda is an almost complete mini-series, so I'll take a look at that one when it's done and review it as a whole.
Back Issues
 Guy Ritchie’s Gamekeeper #1 (Virgin Comics)
Written by Andy Diggle; Illustrated by Mukesh Singh
First, the art. Because that’s the first thing you notice when you open this book: three, magnificent shots of deep, purple mountains surrounding a coolly shadowed valley and startlingly contrasted by a brilliant orange sky. It’s dramatic and majestic and it comes damn close to capturing the feel of being dumbstruck by the majesty of a scene like that in real life.
And the art doesn’t let up from there. Singh fully indulges himself in the drama of contrasting fiery colors with deathly cold ones: a lit cigarette or a hunter’s amber eyes on a page of blue; a burning building in the chill of night; a cerulean forest interrupted by a neon splash of crimson blood. It’s awe-inspiring.
Enough about the colors though. Singh’s pencils are fantastic too. They’re highlighted by the realism of the painted colors, but they’d still be impressive on their own. Singh comes by his Eastern style of drawing honestly, and if you’re like me and think that a lot of manga is gorgeous to see, but sometimes have a hard time getting into the “Eastern-ness” of the dialogue, this book is made for you.
Which brings me to the story. Credit to Guy Ritchie where it’s due for a sound concept, but it’s Diggle’s execution that makes it work so well. Ritchie may have thought up the “anti-Bond” who’s “nature’s remedy to the planet’s deadliest poison: man,” but it’s Diggle who brings Brock to life with terse, but natural dialogue. Just as he also makes clear that Brock and his employer share a secret that we’ve not been let in on yet. There’s some nice action in the first issue of Gamekeeper, but there’s even more mystery and the promise of greater action to come.
Grade: Loved It.
 Batman: Ego
Written and Illustrated by Darwyn Cooke
I’ve been enjoying the hell out of Cooke’s The Spirit, so I checked out this graphic novel from 2000. The art is everything I’ve come to expect from Cooke: easy, confident lines; brilliant, exciting design. It’s worth picking up just for that.
The idea behind Ego is that Batman begins to question his mission after one of the criminal’s he’s chasing commits suicide. The story is mostly an imaginary conversation between Bruce Wayne and an imaginary manifestation of his Batman persona. Cooke puts the device to good use and is able to express some nice insights about the character. He revisits Bruce’s early years. Not just the night his parent’s were killed, but also the night he went out on a doctor’s call with his dad and faced mortality for the first time.
That episode shows that something was forming in Bruce long before his folks died, but it was their deaths that so engrained that something into Bruce’s personality. As the Batman manifestation (the Batmanifestation?) explains, “You prefer to call me Batman, but the reason you can never escape me… is that my name is Fear. And I live within you.”
It’s not a huge revelation that Bruce turned his childhood fear into a weapon that he uses against Gotham’s criminals, but I’ve never heard it expressed quite this way and it feels new when Cooke says it. Just like Cooke gives new life to the old question of why Batman won’t kill when so many of his villains clearly deserve it. The Batmanifestation clearly wants to kill, but Bruce claims, “It was my force of will that molded you in this image, but I channeled your fury towards a purpose. I tempered your wrath. Left unchecked you vengeance would be monstrous.”
The genius behind Ego is in Cooke’s clear separation of which elements of Batman are provided by Bruce and which are provided by the role he’s chosen to play. It’s a fascinating study. And it gets even more fascinating when the Batmanifestation brings Two Face into the argument and suggests that Bruce willfully allow his personality to split like Harvey Dent’s so that Bruce isn’t responsible for Batman’s actions.
Grade: Loved It.
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April 22, 2008:
February 4, 2008:
November 20, 2006:
A Comic-Con without the Captain
