Review: Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9

DARK KNIGHT III: THE MASTER RACE No. 9
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
PENCILS: Andy Kubert
INKS:  Klaus Janson
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Andy Kubert and Frank Miller with Brad Anderson; Frank Miller with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVERS: Jim Lee and Scott Williams with Alex Sinclair; Greg Capullo; Klaus Janson with Alex Sinclair; Frank Quitely; Mikel Janin; Chip Kidd
40pp (plus 16-page insert), Color, $5.99 U.S. (July 2017)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

A nine-issue comic book publishing event, Dark Knight III: The Master Race (also known as DKIII) is the second sequel to Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (also known simply as The Dark Knight Returns or DKR).  DKR is the now-legendary 1986 four-issue comic book miniseries written by Frank Miller and drawn by Miller (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks).  DKR focuses on a 50-year-old Bruce Wayne who comes out of retirement to resume fighting crime as Batman.

DKIII is written by Brian Azzarello and Frank Miller; drawn by Andy Kubert (pencils) and Klaus Janson (inks); colored by Brad Anderson; and lettered by Clem Robins.  In DKIII, Batman unites with Superman to stop a murderous group of people from Superman's home planet, Krypton, from taking over the Earth.  Meanwhile, Superman's daughter with Wonder Woman, Lara, has joined with the murderous Kryptonians, and Carrie Kelley, the former Robin, begins to evolve into the new Batgirl.

As Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9 opens, the “master race” of Kryptonians from the Bottled City of Kandor and their leader, Quar, prepare to make the Earth unlivable in order to punish humanity for not worshiping them.  Enter Green Lantern and the Atom.  Batman has a surprise for Quar and company, but Superman may have the biggest surprise of all.

If I remember correctly, when it announced that DKIII was being extended to nine issues, DC Comics said there was more story to tell (or something like that).  After reading DKIII #9, I don't know if this is so much “more story” as it is an extended action sequence, all of which could have been wrapped up in a double-sized DKIII #8.

After much criticism and complaining about DKIII (with only scattered praise), I had to admit that I thought that DKIII #8 was not only the best issue of the series, but was also a truly good comic book.  DKIII #7 and #8 moved the narrative forward more powerfully than a locomotive, and #9 is nice finale slash coda coming after those two issues.

I think that DKIII #9 also came into existence to prepare the way for more comics set in the world of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.  Rumor has it that DC may have outlines all the way to an eighth miniseries, and I'll probably read them all.  For all the series' unevenness, DKIII #9 has some surprises, like The Atom's pivotal moment and the last page, with its graphic homage to an iconic graphic from DKR.  Plus, I can't resist the eight-page gallery of Adam Kubert and Klaus Janson's art in black and white.  So in the end, I'll recommend Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9.

Dark Knight Universe Presents: Action Comics #1 (Insert comic book)
STORY: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
PENCILS: Frank Miller
INKS: Klaus Janson
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: Clem Robins
COVER: Frank Miller and Klaus Janson with Alex Sinclair

I have not really enjoyed these mini-comics inserted into the center of each issue of DKIII, but I did like DKIII #7's“Strange Adventures” and #8's “Detective Comics.”  In “Action Comics #1,” Batman provides a narration as we look in on heroes like Aquaman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, and The Atom.  Also, Lara and Carrie Kelley/Batgirl take the next steps in their lives (with Carrie's evolution alluded to at the end of the main story).  “Action Comics #1” is also a nice coda slash prelude to the probable “DKIV” or “DK4.”

B+
7.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------------

Review: BATMAN & ROBIN Eternal #1

BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

STORY: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
SCRIPT: James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Tony Daniel
INKS: Sandu Florea
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Tom Napolitano
COVER: Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER: Mikel Janin
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (December 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Batman Eternal was a weekly Batman comic book series that began in 2014 and was produced as part of the year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics #27: cover dated May 1939).  Although the series was planned to run 60 issues, Batman Eternal lasted 52 issues.

Batman Eternal was enough of hit that DC Comics decided to do it again.  Thus, we get the weekly Batman & Robin Eternal.  Batman Eternal “showrunners,” Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV, have written the story for Batman & Robin Eternal.  Tynion will be the lead scripter, with contributions from a rotating team of writers:  Tim Seeley, Geneveive Valentine, Steve Orlando, Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Ed Brisson.  Tony Daniel is the lead artist, with artists Paul Pelletier and Scot Eaton as contributors.

The first issue of Batman & Robin Eternal is scripted by James Tynion IV and drawn by Tony Daniel (pencils) and Sandu Florea (inks).  Tomeu Morey provides colors and Tom Napolitano letters.

Batman & Robin Eternal #1 opens with two glimpses into the past.  Then, the story follows Dick Grayson, current super-spy and former sidekick, across the skyscrapers of Gotham City.  That brings him into contact with Red Hood aka Jason Todd aka his successor as Robin.  Red Robin aka Tim Drake aka the third Robin joins the fun.

Meanwhile, Bluebird aka Harper Row, who was going to be trained by Batman... before he died, finds herself confronting the new robot-Batman.  Second meanwhile, Grayson is back on the mission for the spy agency, Spyral, but things go bad in ways Grayson does not expect.  Something from Batman's past is coming back to haunt every one of those young people who have fought by Batman's side.

After the 52 inconsistent and red herring-filled issues of Batman Eternal, I am not ready to invest in another weekly Batman comic book.  On the other hand, I am really digging the fantastic comic book artist that Tony Daniel has become over the last decade, especially the last five years.  Sandu Florea is probably the perfect inker for Daniel, and Tomeu Morey's colors do wonders for both the storytelling and the visual appeal of the Daniel/Florea team.

And I must admit that I am intrigued by the second half of this story (because I certainly wasn't feeling the first half).  Plus, I am a sucker for Batman comic books, and it takes extra effort to avoid trying each new one.

For the time being, I plan to keep following Batman & Robin Eternal.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2015 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: GRAYSON #1

GRAYSON #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

PLOT: Tim Seeley and Tom King
SCRIPT: Tim Seeley
ART: Mikel Janin
COLORS: Jeremy Cox
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Andrew Robinson
VARIANT COVERS: Mikel Janin; Jock
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (September 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Dick Grayson is a DC Comics character best known as the first person to take on the identity of Robin, Batman's kid sidekick.  Robin/Dick Grayson was originally created by Batman's creators, artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and also artist Jerry Robinson.  Robin debuted in Detective Comics #38 (cover date:  April 1940).

Batman's a junior counterpart, Robin, was known as the “Boy Wonder,” during the first three decades of the character's existence.  The team of Batman and Robin is commonly referred to as the “Dynamic Duo” or the “Caped Crusaders.”  Over time, the men who wrote the Batman comic books depicted Dick Grayson as growing up, even graduating from high school and attending college.  Robin would go on to lead a group of teen characters and sidekicks called the Teen Titans.  Eventually, Dick Grayson relinquished the name Robin and became a new superhero, Nightwing (first appearance in Tales of the Teen Titans #43)

As Nightwing, Dick Grayson has been the star of two eponymous comic book series.  The New 52 version of Nightwing was canceled some months ago.  It was recently replaced by a new comic book series, entitled Grayson, that spins out of DC Comics' 2013-14 crossover event series, Forever Evil (which I did not read).

Grayson #1 finds Dick Grayson in a blond wig.  He is now known as “Agent 37,” and he works for an international spy organization known as Spyral.  Grayson has just hitched a ride aboard the Trans-Siberian Railway, where his target for acquisition is Dubov Ninel.  However, Agent 37 isn't the only one out to get Ninel, and even after he obtains him, there is a new player looking to take what Grayson just obtained.  [SPOILER Alert!]  Enter Midnighter.

I read a preview of Grayson #1 in another comic book (can't remember which one), and that preview intrigued me.  I was excited about the series and visited two comic book stores to find a copy of issue #1.  Having read it I can say that I don't think that I would pay to read Grayson again.

It is not that Grayson is bad.  It is entertaining, and I like the art by Mikel Janin with colors by the always good Jeremy Cox.  It's just that besides an appearance by Midnighter (of Stormwatch and The Authority fame), nothing else about this first issue excited me.  It's good; just not special enough for me to set aside the cash to buy it on a regular basis.  I must say that if I am excited by the guest star in a particular future issue, I might buy that issue.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

I Reads You Review: BATMAN #22

BATMAN #22
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascenia
LETTERS: Nick Napolitano
COVER: Greg Capullo with FCO Plascenia
VARIANT COVER: Mikel Janin
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (September 2013)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Zero Year – Secret City: Part Two

Dear Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo,
Apparently, your “Zero Year,” a most pleasing, is what I wanted Grant Morrison’s Batman to be.  Of course, I enjoyed Mr. Morrison’s Batman stories, but I always thought that they should somehow be... better?  His Batman and Robin series started with such hope and promise, but quickly went flat, whereas your own “Zero Year,” seems to be on an upward trajectory, as they say. We’ll see...

The latest Batman event storyline is “Zero Year.”  Written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo, this 10-issue story is currently running through the ongoing, eponymous Batman series.  And thank you, DC Comics, for not making it a crossover with other Bat-titles and keeping the publication schedule pure.

Batman #22 (Zero Year – Secret City: Part Two) opens with Bruce Wayne facing down the Red Hood and his gang.  He discovers a shocking connection to the criminal and to Wayne Enterprises, but Bruce doesn’t know the half of it.  Meanwhile, a flashback to the past shows little Bruce gone cave exploring.  And adult Bruce has a spat with his butler, Alfred Pennyworth.  See ya’ next issue.

As I said in my review of Batman #22:  Wow!  I’m ready to read more.  Snyder is killin’ it, y’all.  I so don’t look forward to a refraction period, so I hope this story arc stays strong.  Style aside, Greg Capullo is doing some tremendous storytelling.  “Tremendous,” did I say?  I guess you can tell that I am enjoying this.  But I look forward to enjoying this, almost as much as I look forward to each new appearance of Love and Rockets – my favorite comic book.

Bruce Wayne: “That One Time”

WRITERS:  Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
ART: Rafael Albuquerque
COLORS: Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Taylor Esposito

This issue’s Bruce Wayne flashback story is “That One Time.”  It takes place when Bruce is 21.  He’s trapped in a hole of some kind.  The theme is “doing the impossible.”  I like some of what artist Rafael Albuquerque is doing here.  The rest of the art serves the story, so I won’t complain.

Artists, writers, and other creative types will find some words of wisdom in this story.  They may even find it inspirational.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for syndication rights and fees.

DC Comics Rocks July Comic Book Sales Charts

Superman & Batman Team-up to Top Comic Book Sales Charts

DC Entertainment Dominates July with Impressive Results Coming out of Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Super Hero comic book sales soared in July with SUPERMAN: UNCHAINED #2 and BATMAN #22 continuing their reign atop the comic book sales charts at the #1 and #2 positions, respectively, moving DC Entertainment up the ranks as the month’s top publisher in dollars, according to Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest comic book distributor in the world. Additionally, JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 – the first part of “Trinity War,” a crossover that sees the three Justice League teams at odds – took the #4 spot.

The sales figures closed out a historic July for DC Entertainment (DCE), as the company rolled on after a momentous Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013. The show kicked off with the unveiling of a customized JUSTICE LEAGUE-inspired KIA Sorento—the final car in a series of 8 featuring each member of the Justice League—and launched a charity auction on eBay benefitting the We Can Be Heroes giving campaign. To date, the campaign has raised nearly $2.4 million.

Thousands of fans swarmed DCE’s massive booth, an all-star collection of Superman costumes from the character’s various film and TV incarnations, leading up to a star-studded celebration of Superman’s 75th Anniversary, which featured a special guest star: an original issue of ACTION COMICS #1 – the comic book that started it all and made Comic-Con International: San Diego possible. Warner Bros. Interactive (WBIE) also had a great Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013, offering fans hands-on playable stations featuring upcoming games Infinite Crisis, Scribblenauts Unmasked and Batman: Arkham Origins.

The news that was the talk of the town and beyond came courtesy of Man of Steel director Zack Snyder, who made a surprise appearance in Hall H to confirm that the next DC Super Hero movie is in pre-production, slated for a Summer 2015 release. Snyder also teased a potential storyline featuring two of DC Comics’ most iconic Super Heroes – Superman and Batman – together on the big screen for the first time!

“Superman and Batman are icons, pure and simple. Their popularity stretches across all media,” said Diane Nelson, DC Entertainment President. “Having them paired together on the big screen is something fans are extremely excited about, and seeing both heroes – and their team, the Justice League – topping the comic book sales charts is further proof of that.”

“Batman: Zero Year,” re-telling the origin of the Dark Knight in DC Comics – The New 52, continues to be a dominant force in terms of sales and critical acclaim, with the work of writer Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo raking in the accolades. As if that weren’t enough, Grant Morrison’s own, epic Bat-saga came to a close in July with the touching, shocking and always engaging BATMAN INC. #13, marking an end to the beloved seven-year tale with a major cliffhanger and press coverage including USA Today and The New York Post.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #22, the first part of the summer “Trinity War” crossover that pits the three Justice League teams against each other, pairs A-list writers Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemire with the best artists in comics, including Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Mikel Janin. The story leads into this September’s FOREVER EVIL #1, by Johns and superstar artist David Finch – the first line-wide event in the history of DC Comics – The New 52. For a primer on “Trinity War” and FOREVER EVIL, fans can check out a special “Justice League 101” video – narrated by Johns himself – that gives fans a crash course on all things Justice League.

Over at Vertigo, issues #1 and #2 of THE WAKE by Scott Snyder and Sean Murphy have sold out and gone back to press along with other key new launches like TRILLIUM and COLLIDER, making for an impressive 2013 for the genre-defying imprint. Writer/artist Jeff Lemire’s sci-fi love story TRILLIUM weaves together the lives of two souls separated by thousands of years and hundreds of millions of miles in a phenomenal, oversized flip book. In Fabletown, bestselling author Lauren Beukes – whose new novel The Shining Girls has been tabbed as a key summer read – hit the top 10 in graphic novel sales with FAIREST Vol 2: THE HIDDEN KINGDOM, revealing the story of Rapunzel in Japan.

“The second half of 2013 is going to be an exciting, innovative and important few months for us,” said Nelson. “From Neil Gaiman’s return to the world of Sandman, the fantastic 3-D Motion covers adorning our Villains Month titles and the epic crossover that is FOREVER EVIL, we hope fans are ready for a fun ride.”

July digital sales saw continued dominance of Digital First title INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US (ranking #1-4) while newly launched Digital First title BATMAN ’66 also scored strong sales during its first month of release, with three digital chapters ranking in the top 20 for the month (ranking #6, 13 and 17) . As the Trinity War event heats up several related Same Day Digital titles were popular in July including JUSTICE LEAGUE #22 (ranked #5), JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #6 (ranked #8), JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #22 (ranked #11) and TRINITY OF SIN: PANDORA #1 (ranked #18). On the eBook front, following the dramatic Comic-Con film announcement there was a huge jump in month-over-month sales of Frank Miller’s BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS.

Fans visiting the DC Entertainment websites before Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013 were dazzled by newly-designed video sections, which featured an across-the-board switch to YouTube as the online video player for the site. The redesign and player switch helped bump up traffic for the site’s regular “Con Away From Con” coverage by 67 percent over the prior year.

DC Collectibles also had a great showing in San Diego with its “Con Exclusive” products including new “Super Best Friends Forever” figures and a Man of Steel variant statue posting strong sales.

On the book trade side, SOLO: THE DELUXE EDITION, BATMAN Vol. 2, BATMAN AND ROBIN Vol. 2, SUPERMAN: THE GOLDEN AGE Omnibus Vol. 1, BEFORE WATCHMEN: MINUTEMEN/SILK SPECTRE, BEFORE WATCHMEN: OZYMANDIAS/CRIMSON CORSAIR, SUPERMAN Vol. 2 appeared on The New York Times Hardcover Graphic Book Bestseller list while RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS Vol. 2, AQUAMAN Vol. 2, Vertigo’s SWEET TOOTH Vol. 6 all landed on The New York Times Paperback Graphic Book Bestseller list.

MAD Magazine had a very strong presence at Comic-Con International: San Diego 2013, where Editor John Ficarra highlighted the upcoming release of INSIDE MAD - the follow-up to last year's #1 New York Times bestseller, TOTALLY MAD. The week after the convention, MAD released issue #522 while also preparing for the August release of issue #523, which will feature Spy vs Spy depicted as major figures on the cover for the first time. Meanwhile, THE IDIOTICAL blog continued their daily spoofs, including "A Public Service Announcement to the New Royal Parents."

About DC Entertainment:
DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world. DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

The New 52 Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Peter Milligan
ARTIST: Mikel Janin
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ryan Sook
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

In the Dark Part One: "Imaginary Women"

Justice League Dark is a new Justice League comic book series that comes out of “The New 52,” the re-launch of DC Comics superhero comic book line. This series will focus on a more supernatural team than any Justice League series has previously done.

Justice League Dark #1 opens with Madame Xanadu finding “great wickedness” in the future during a tarot card reading. Meanwhile, a young woman named June Moone is literally beside herself so many times that she is on the run. Meanwhile, the Justice League, in the form of Superman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg. take on an increasingly insane and insanely powerful Enchantress. Also, Shade the Changing Man and John Constantine are on the move.

I really wanted to like Justice League Dark because I like both the cast and series writer, Peter Milligan, but I can’t – not really or not yet. This first issue is all setup and the story hangs on stiff dialogue and stiffer exposition. The pencil art by Mikel Janin ranges from strong compositions to wooden figure drawing, with the former (thankfully) dominating. The cover by Ryan Sook is quite good, though.

I’m sure that Justice League Dark is going to be a dynamite book, but it isn’t, yet…

B-