Image Comics from Diamond Distributors for October 29, 2014

IMAGE COMICS
AUG140638     BLACK SCIENCE #10 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140580     BURN THE ORPHANAGE TP VOL 02 REIGN OF TERROR (MR)     $12.99
AUG140586     COWL TP VOL 01 PRINCIPLES OF POWER (MR)     $9.99
AUG140547     CUTTER #4 (MR)     $3.99
AUG140658     LOW #4 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140590     MORNING GLORIES DLX HC VOL 03     $49.99
AUG148350     OUTCAST BY KIRKMAN & AZACETA #4 2ND PTG (MR)     $2.99
AUG140526     RASPUTIN #1 CVR A ROSSMO (MR)     $3.50
AUG140527     RASPUTIN #1 CVR B STEGMAN (MR)     $3.50
AUG140674     ROCHE LIMIT #2 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140675     SAGA #24 (MR)     $2.99
JUN140571     SAVAGE DRAGON #199     $3.99
AUG140676     SEX #17 (MR)     $2.99
AUG140680     SOUTHERN BASTARDS #5 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140602     STRAY BULLETS TP VOL 01 INNOCENCE OF NIHILISM (MR)     $19.99
AUG140572     THOUGHT BUBBLE ANTHOLOGY 2014 #4     $3.99
AUG140688     UMBRAL #10 (MR)     $3.50
AUG140692     WAYWARD #3 CVR A CUMMING & CAMPBELL (MR)     $3.50
AUG140693     WAYWARD #3 CVR B MOLINA (MR)     $3.50

Comics, Books and Magazines from Diamond Distributors for October 29, 2014

PREVIEWS PUBLICATIONS
SEP140004     PREVIEWS #314 NOV 2014 CUSTOMER ORDER FORM     PI
SEP140001     PREVIEWS #314 NOVEMBER 2014     $4.50

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

AUG141195     ADV TIME BANANA GUARD ACADEMY #4 MAIN CVRS     $3.99
AUG141192     ADVENTURE TIME #33     $3.99
JUL141159     ALICE COOPER #1 RARE VIRGIN DAVID MACK CVR     $50.00
JUL141406     ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF JOKER CIRCUS & LIARS GAME VOL 06 (MR)     $12.99
APR140883     ALL NEW SOULFIRE #8 DIRECT MARKET CVR A     $3.99
APR140884     ALL NEW SOULFIRE #8 DIRECT MARKET CVR B     $3.99
AUG141238     AND THEN EMILY WAS GONE #4 (MR)     $3.50
AUG141720     ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #25 CVR A HENRY     $4.99
AUG141721     ARCHER & ARMSTRONG #25 CVR B CRYSTAL     $4.99
AUG141008     ARCHIE 1000 PG COMICS CELEBRATION TP     $14.99
AUG141006     ARCHIE COMICS SPECTACULAR PARTY TIME TP     $5.99
JUL141391     ATOMIC ROBO KNIGHTS OF GOLDEN CIRCLE #5     $3.50
AUG141541     ATTACK ON TITAN NO REGRETS GN VOL 02     $10.99
SEP141745     BAKUMAN GN COMP BOX SET     $159.99
AUG141781     BARAKAMON GN VOL 01 (MR)     $15.00
JUL141046     BARRACUDA GN VOL 03     $15.95
JUL140782     BEAST COMMANDOS #1 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141608     BEST OF ENEMIES HIST OF US MIDDLE EAST RELATIONS HC VOL 02 1     $24.95
AUG141782     BLACK BUTLER TP VOL 18     $13.00
AUG141783     BLOODY BRAT GN VOL 02     $13.00
AUG141345     BOBS BURGERS #3     $3.99
SEP141218     BONE COLOR ED HC VOL 03 EYES O/T STORM NEW PTG     $26.99
AUG141634     BRASS SUN #6     $3.99
AUG141784     BRIDES STORY HC GN BOOK 06     $17.00
AUG141583     BUNKER #7 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141097     CALIBAN #1 SILENT KILLER CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141347     CAPT VICTORY & GALACTIC RANGERS #3     $3.99
AUG141773     CASE CLOSED GN VOL 52     $9.99
AUG141785     CELEBRATION OF HARUHI SUZUMIYA SHORT STORY OMNIBUS TP     $26.00
JUL141427     CHIMERA BRIGADE HC VOL 01     $9.99
SEP140984     COMPLETE CALVIN & HOBBES SLIPCASED HC NEW PTG     $175.00
AUG141474     COMPLETE PEANUTS HC BOX SET 1991-1994     $59.99
SEP141438     COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 01 1950-1952 (NEW PTG)     $29.99
SEP141439     COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 02 1953-1954 (NEW PTG)     $29.99
AUG141473     COMPLETE PEANUTS HC VOL 22 1993-1994     $29.99
SEP141434     COMPLETE PEANUTS TP BOX SET 1950-1954     $39.99
SEP141433     COMPLETE PEANUTS TP VOL 02 1953-1954     $22.99
JUL140935     CRITICAL HIT #2 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141096     CROSSED BADLANDS #50 SPEED KILLS CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141080     CROSSED BADLANDS #64 (MR)     $3.99
AUG141083     CROSSED BADLANDS #64 FATAL FANTASY CVR (MR)     $3.99
AUG141082     CROSSED BADLANDS #64 TORTURE CVR (MR)     $3.99
AUG141081     CROSSED BADLANDS #64 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141034     DARK GODS #1 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141037     DARK GODS #1 DEITY CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141036     DARK GODS #1 SIREN CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141035     DARK GODS #1 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
AUG148331     DEATH DEFYING DR MIRAGE #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
MAY141387     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 MIDTOWN CAMPBELL SKETCH     $39.99
JUL141202     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 ULTRA RARE BLACK CAT SGN     $29.99
MAY141385     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.1 MIDTOWN CAMPBELL COLOR     $27.99
MAY141388     DF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1.1 MIDTOWN CAMPBELL SKETCH     $39.99
JUN141200     DF DEADPOOL ANNUAL #2 SGN HASTINGS     PI
MAY141391     DF DOCTOR WHO #1 10TH DOCTOR MIDTOWN EXC CVR     $29.99
MAY141392     DF DOCTOR WHO #1 11TH DOCTOR MIDTOWN EXCL CVR     $29.99
AUG140978     DILBERT HC GO ADD VALUE SOMEPLACE ELSE     $19.99
SEP141431     DISNEY ROSA DUCK LIBRARY HC BOX SET VOL 01 & 02     $49.99
SEP141430     DISNEY ROSA DUCK LIBRARY HC VOL 02 RETURN TO PLAIN AWFUL     $29.99
JUL141175     DMC GN #1     $19.99
JUL141434     DOCTOR WHO 11TH #4 REG GLASS     $3.99
JUL141435     DOCTOR WHO 11TH #4 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO     $3.99
AUG141349     DOODLE JUMP #4     $3.99
AUG141922     DOONESBURY MELS STORY SURVIVING MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT TP     $9.99
JUL140794     DR FRANKENSTEAMS MONSTER ONE SHOT     $3.99
AUG141635     DREDD UPRISE #1     $3.99
AUG140974     EXPLORER HC VOL 03 HIDDEN DOORS     $19.95
AUG140973     EXPLORER SC VOL 03 HIDDEN DOORS     $10.95
SEP141098     EXTINCTION PARADE WAR #1 FACE OFF CVR (MR)     $5.99
AUG141088     EXTINCTION PARADE WAR #4 LEATHER CVR (MR)     $19.99
AUG141044     FACE VALUE #2     $3.99
AUG141542     FAIRY TAIL GN VOL 43     $10.99
SEP141624     FALSE MEMORIES GN (MR)     $12.99
AUG141748     GARDEN OF WORDS GN (MR)     $12.95
AUG141797     GFT REALM WAR #4 A CVR TOLIBAO (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141798     GFT REALM WAR #4 B CVR LASHLEY (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141799     GFT REALM WAR #4 C CVR VALENTINO (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141800     GFT REALM WAR #4 D CVR MYCHAELS (AOFD) (MR)     $3.99
AUG141822     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #3 A CVR ORTIZ     $3.99
AUG141823     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #3 B CVR CAFARO     $3.99
AUG141824     GFT ROBYN HOOD ONGOING #3 C CVR CALDWELL     $3.99
AUG141835     GFT WARLORD OF OZ #6 A CVR LUIS (MR)     $2.99
AUG141836     GFT WARLORD OF OZ #6 B CVR KROME (MR)     $2.99
AUG141837     GFT WARLORD OF OZ #6 C CVR QUALANO (MR)     $2.99
AUG141257     GIANT ROBOT WARRIOR MAINTENANCE CREW #3     $2.99
SEP141058     GOD IS DEAD #23 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141059     GOD IS DEAD #23 CARNAGE WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141060     GOD IS DEAD #23 END OF DAYS CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141061     GOD IS DEAD #23 ICONIC CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141057     GOD IS DEAD ENHANCED VALUE SET (MR)     $2.99
JUN140920     GODKILLER WALK AMONG US #1 (MR)     $3.99
JUL140792     GOLD DIGGER HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2014     $3.99
AUG141729     HARBINGER OMEGAS #3 REG CVR LAROSA     $3.99
AUG141141     HIT PEN & INK #1     $14.99
AUG141259     HUGH HOWEYS WOOL #5     $3.99
AUG141133     I PLAY THE BAD GUY #1     $3.99
SEP141493     I REMEMBER BEIRUT GN     $9.95
AUG141786     IM NOT POPULAR GN VOL 05     $13.00
AUG141787     INU X BOKU SS TP VOL 05     $11.99
AUG141656     JOHN CARPENTERS ASYLUM TP VOL 01 (MR)     $19.99
AUG141788     JUDGE GN VOL 05     $12.99
JUL141165     JUSTICE INC #2 RARE VIRGIN ALEX ROSS CVR     $50.00
AUG141400     JUSTICE INC #3 RARE ROSS VIRGIN ART ED     $50.00
AUG141795     KINGDOM HEARTS 358 / 2 DAYS GN VOL 04     $12.00
JUL140936     LAST BORN #2 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141548     LBX GN VOL 01 NEW DAWN RAISERS     $9.99
AUG140957     LEANING GIRL GN (MR)     $29.99
AUG141677     LENORE VOLUME II #11     $3.99
AUG141021     MEGA MAN #42 REG CVR     $3.99
AUG141789     MELANCHOLY OF SUZUMIYA HARUHI CHAN GN VOL 08     $13.00
AUG140976     MISADVENTURES OF SALEM HYDE HC VOL 03 COOKIE CATASTROPHE     $14.95
AUG140975     MISADVENTURES OF SALEM HYDE SC VOL 03 COOKIE CATASTROPHE     $6.95
AUG141556     NOIR THRILLER SET BROADCAST & FAMILY TIES     $27.99
SEP141229     ONE YEAR IN AMERICA GN (MR)     $17.00
AUG141791     ONINAGI GN VOL 04     $17.00
JUL141235     PALESTINE TP (MR)     $24.99
AUG141368     PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #6 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR     $4.99
AUG141366     PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #6 MAIN GENZOMAN     $4.99
AUG141369     PATHFINDER CITY SECRETS #6 ULTRA LTD CUMMINGS CVR     $19.99
SEP141435     PEANUTS EVERY SUNDAY HC VOL 02 1956-1960     $49.99
AUG141520     PHANTOM #1 REG CVR     $3.99
SEP141427     POGO COMP SYNDICATED STRIPS HC VOL 03 EVIDENCE CONTRARY (RES)     $45.00
AUG141792     PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA DIFFERENT STORY GN VOL 03     $13.00
AUG141305     PURGATORI #2 MAIN RUFFINO     $3.99
AUG140935     RACHEL RISING #29     $3.99
SEP141749     RAL GRAD GN VOL 01     $7.99
JUL140783     ROGUES THE BURNING HEART #1 (MR)     $3.99
JUL140784     ROMAN RITUAL #1 (MR)     $3.99
JUL141447     SALLY O/T WASTELAND #4     $3.99
AUG141613     SAN HANNIBAL #4     $2.99
JUN141216     SET TO SEA GN     $14.99
JUL141147     SHADOW MIDNIGHT MOSCOW #5     $3.99
AUG141429     SHOWA HISTORY OF JAPAN TP VOL 03 1944-1953 (MR)     $24.95
AUG141136     SIMPSONS COMICS EXPLOSION #1     $9.99
AUG141023     SONIC BOOM #1     $3.99
AUG141028     SONIC SUPER DIGEST #9     $4.99
AUG141031     SONIC UNIVERSE #69 REG CVR     $3.99
AUG141930     STAR WARS ART POSTERS LTD ED HC     $400.00
JUL140796     STEAMPUNK HALLOWEEN 2014     $3.99
JUL141178     TALES OF MR RHEE KARMAGEDDON #2 (MR)     $3.99
SEP140968     TRUE STORIES #1 (MR)     $5.99
AUG148241     TUKI SAVE THE HUMANS #1 2ND PTG     $3.99
AUG141235     TUKI SAVE THE HUMANS #2     $3.99
AUG141793     UBEL BLATT GN VOL 00 (MR)     $20.00
SEP141045     UBER #19 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141047     UBER #19 PROPAGANDA POSTER CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141048     UBER #19 WAR CRIMES CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141046     UBER #19 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
AUG141794     UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY GN EP 4 #2 ALLIANCE O/T GOLDEN WITCH (     $22.00
SEP141436     WALT DISNEY DONALD DUCK HC BOX SET ANDES & UNICORN     $49.99
SEP141081     WAR STORIES #2 (MR)     $3.99
SEP141083     WAR STORIES #2 GOOD GIRL NOSE ART CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141082     WAR STORIES #2 WRAP CVR (MR)     $3.99
SEP141509     WHISPERED WORDS GN VOL 02     $16.95

MAGAZINES
JUL141739     BRICKJOURNAL #31     $8.95
AUG141959     COMIC SHOP NEWS #1428     PI
AUG141960     COMICS REVUE PRESENTS OCT 2014     $19.95
AUG141519     HEAVY METAL #271 (MR)     $7.95
AUG141966     MONSTERS FROM THE VAULT #33     $9.98
MAY141858     TOMARTS ACTION FIGURE DIGEST #205     $5.95
AUG141973     WALKING DEAD MAGAZINE #10 NEWSSTAND ED (MR)     $9.99
AUG141974     WALKING DEAD MAGAZINE #10 PX ED (MR)     $9.99

BOOKS
SEP141870     ACTION FIGURES OF THE 1960S     $29.95
SEP141871     ACTION FIGURES OF THE 1980S     $29.95
AUG141780     ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF DIAMONDS OFF VISUAL FAN BOOK SC     $25.00
AUG141912     ALIEN ARCHIVE ULT GUIDE TO CLASSIC MOVIES HC     $50.00
AUG141915     ART JAPANESE MONSTERS GODZILLA GAMERA & SF FILM ART SC (MR)     $39.99
JUL141676     ART OF BLUE SKY STUDIOS ICE AGE TO DIGITAL AGE HC     $60.00
AUG141914     ART OF FILM MAGIC 20 YEARS OF WETA HC     $100.00
SEP141847     ARTTITUDE HC VOL 02 DRAWING IS NOT CRIME     $39.99
AUG141849     BORIS VALLEJO & JULIE BELL DREAMLAND HC     $35.00
SEP141869     COMIC BOOK HERO TOYS SC     $29.95
AUG141870     DOCTOR WHO SECRET LIVES OF MONSTERS HC     $45.00
AUG141853     FIFTY YEARS OF ILLUSTRATION HC     $40.00
SEP141867     GORGEOUS & GORY ZOMBIE PINUP COLLECTION HC     $34.99
JUL141323     GREEN LAMA HORROR IN CLAY PROSE NOVEL     $7.99
AUG141916     HARRY POTTER CREATURE VAULT HC     $45.00
AUG141917     HOMELAND REVEALED HC     $24.95
SEP141853     ILLUSTRATION NOW SC VOL 05     $39.99
AUG141637     JUDGE DREDD YEAR ONE NOVEL     $7.99
JUL141644     MARVEL AVENGERS POSTER A PAGE BOOK     $12.95
SEP141872     MEGO ACTION FIGURE TOYS SC 3RD ED     $19.95
JUL141688     NEIL GAIMAN HANSEL & GRETEL GRAPHIC DLX HC     $29.95
JUL141687     NEIL GAIMAN HANSEL & GRETEL GRAPHIC HC     $16.95
SEP141901     NEW ANNOTATED H P LOVECRAFT HC     $39.95
SEP141905     PUMPKIN CINEMA HC     $24.99
AUG141477     SOCK MONKEY INTO DEEP WOODS HC     $16.99
AUG141927     SPIDER SATANS MURDER MACHINES SMILODON PX SC     $15.00
AUG141931     STAR WARS COSTUMES HC VOL 01 ORIGINAL TRILOGY     $60.00
AUG141615     VOLTRON FROM DAYS OF LONG AGO HC     $29.99
AUG141857     WARBIRDS AVIATION ART OF ADAM TOOBY HC     $34.95
SEP142575     WARHAMMER 40K HORUS HERESY SC BOX SET VOL 1-12     $125.00
AUG142794     WARHAMMER 40K SCARS MMPB     $9.99
AUG141932     WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE STAR WARS TRILOGY ROYAL BOX SET     $44.85
AUG141877     WORLD OF ICE & FIRE UNTOLD HISTORY HC VOL 01     $50.00
SEP141883     X-MEN 75 YEARS CHARACTERS & THEIR UNIVERSE HC     $24.99
AUG141662     YEAR OF THE BEASTS ILLUS NOVEL HC     $9.99

Toriko: Festival Kickoff!!

I read Toriko, Vol. 24: The Cooking Festival Begins

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

Review: PUNKS: The Comic #1

PUNKS: THE COMIC #1
IMAGE COMICS – @ImageComics

CREATORS:  Joshua Hale Fialkov and Kody Chamberlain – @JoshFialkov @KodyChamberlain
COVER: Kody Chamberlain
VARIANT COVER: Rob Guillory
28pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2014)

Rated T+ / Teen Plus

Writer Joshua Hale Fialkov (The Ultimates) and artist Kody Chamberlain (Sweets, Tag) revive their comic book project, Punks, with the new ongoing series, Punks: The Comic, which is being published by Image Comics.  Fialkov and Chamberlain published at least two issues of Punks via Digital Webbing in 2007.  Punks stood out because of its surreal and absurd humor and because Chamberlain produced the art by cutting up photographic images and pasting them together to create the characters and settings.

Punks: The Comic #1 features the return of Dog, Skull, Fist, and Abe Lincoln.  Dog is a human figure with a bulldog head pasted onto it.  Skull has a skeleton's skull.  Fist is a clenched fist on a human body, and Abe Lincoln features an iconic image of the President Abraham Lincoln head on various bodies and figures.

The story opens at the quartet's home (a dormitory?).  The misadventures begin with Dog and his “Wunderpants” and includes a visit from a girl he is trying to romance.  Her arrival coincides with an invasion of gnomes.  Will it be happily ever after or just insane as it ever was?

[Punks: The Comic #1 includes some story pages from Punks: The Summer Comic Special, which was published in 2007.]

The cut-and-paste, do-it-yourself aesthetic of Punks: The Comics goes farther than one would think.  It is not a one-note joke, but I am curious to see where the creators go with this.  This comic book concept also reminds me of those animations that Terry Gilliam created for “Monty Python's Flying Circus.”  I think Fialkov has previously mentioned that the late British television series, “The Young Ones,” as an inspiration for Punks.

Punks: The Comic is so “out there,” yet it works.  I have to admit that I am genuinely surprised by how successful the humor is, rather than merely being arty, pretentious and vague.  Also, I can't help but admire the work Kody puts into creating the art.  Readers looking for something truly different in comic books will want Punks: The Comic.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

Kamisama Kiss: Nanami in Disguise

I read Kamisama Kiss, Vol. 16

I posted a review at the ComicBookBin, which is seeking donations.  Follow me on Twitter.

I Reads You Review: DETECTIVE COMICS Volume One: Faces of Death

BATMAN – DETECTIVE COMICS VOLUME ONE: FACES OF DEATH
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY/PENCILS: Tony S. Daniel
INKS: Ryan Winn, Sandu Florea, and Rob Hunter
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Tony S. Daniel and Ryan Winn with Tomeu Morey
ADDITIONAL ART: Szymon Kudranski
ISBN:  978-1-4012-3466-9; hardcover
176pp, Color, $22.99 U.S., $25.99 CAN (2012)

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

When The New 52 brought forth “new” Batman comic book series, I found myself crazy-in-love with Detective Comics #1, produced by writer-artist, Tony S. Daniel.  In fact, I preferred Detective Comics to Batman #1 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo.  I only read the first two issues of Daniel's Detective Comics, but I thought that the first issue reminded me of the first “book” of Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns more than any comic book I had read in a long time.

I bought the first hardcover collection of The New 52 Detective Comics.  Sadly, it took me two-and-half-years to get around to reading it.  In that time, Snyder and Capullo's Batman became one of the bestselling comic book series in North America, and a favorite of mine.  On the other hand, Daniel departed Detective Comics after issue #12.

Batman – Detective Comics Volume One: Faces of Death collects Detective Comics #1 to 7, which comprises two story arcs.  Detective Comics begins with Batman in the midst of a dangerous mission.  He has to find The Joker and also discover what is behind the grisly murders of several of the Joker's acquaintances.  Eventually, Batman battles The Dollmaker, a killer who removes the faces of his victims and even some of their organs.  He uses them as macabre building materials to create new people.  The Dollmaker is also seeking revenge against Commissioner Jim Gordon.

The second story arc centers on The Penguin's off-shore gambling palace, The Iceberg Casino.  The casino is also a front for Penguin's money-laundering operation.  The story also involves Gotham City Mayor Hady's re-election campaign; the mayor's election-year war on Batman; reporter and Bruce Wayne love-interest, Charlotte Rivers; Rivers' sister, Jill; and a cheap hood named Jack Houston, whose ability to change his face has earned him the name “Snakeskin.”

Having finally finished the Faces of Death collection, I have to say that, three years later, “The Dollmaker” arc still thrills me.  I think it is a definite heir to Frank Miller's seminal Batman work from the mid-1980s.  Daniel's Batman is a combination penny dreadful and Saturday matinee thriller; each chapter ends in either a cliffhanger or with a shocking reveal.  Batman fighting in the darkest corners of Gotham, with the threat of death hanging over several people, but especially over him.  Several times, I actually believed that Batman was going to be killed.  I knew better, of course.  Batman isn't going to die-as-in-stay-dead, but still, those stories...

“The Iceberg Casino” arc is entertaining, but is an average to above-average Batman story arc.  It is sort of a Batman as action movie/crime thriller.  Of course, there are some cliffhanger-styled thrills int this story, but this is nothing particularly special.

I think Tony Daniel was unable to maintain the promise of his opening Detective Comics story arc.  In Batman, Snyder's story and Capullo's art create a gripping narrative with striking graphics, one issue after another.  Daniel with inker Ryan Winn also created a graphic narrative full of high-drama and edgy visuals.  Visually, Daniel and Winn offered a Batman that was a bird of prey, and the art had a sense of movement so that Batman always seemed to be racing across a dark, but alluring landscape.

As the second story arc advanced, Daniel's art took on a Neal Adams-quality that moves, but lacks something... perhaps, the edginess it had in “The Dollmaker” arc.  I first discovered Tony Daniel's work back in the mid to late 1990s, on his Image Comics series, The Tenth.  The early issues of that series had the characteristics of a raw, but promising talent.  With Marlo Alquiza inking his pencil art, Daniel delivered art that grabbed the reader with its horror-themed creatures and characters.  After Alquiza stopped inking The Tenth, what was raw, but promising became unfocused and undisciplined.

I'll remember Tony Daniel's New 52 launch of Detective Comics for the promise the early issues offered, with joy, but also with some disappointment.  That promise plus 11 pages of preliminary art, thumbnails, sketches, and pencils have encouraged me to give Batman – Detective Comics Volume One: Faces of Death a high grade.  By the way, Daniel is now working on another relaunch of the DC Comics' character, Deathstroke.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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