DC Comics from Lunar Distributors for May 7, 2024

DC COMICS:

52 Volume 1 TP (2024 Edition), $49.99

Batman #147 (Cover A Jorge Jimenez), $4.99

Batman #147 (Cover B Jorge Jimenez Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman #147 (Cover C Yasmine Putri Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman #147 (Cover D John Giang Ghost-Maker & Clownhunter AAPI Month Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman #147 (Cover E Kendrick Kunkka Lim Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman #147 (Cover F Stevan Subic Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #5 (Cover A Puste), $2.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover A Leonardo Romero), $3.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover B Ejikure Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover C Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover D Philip Tan & Elmer Santos Cassandra Cain AAPI Month Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Birds Of Prey #9 (Cover E Chris Ng Card Stock Variant), AR

Boy Wonder #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Juni Ba), $5.99

Boy Wonder #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Cliff Chiang), $5.99

Boy Wonder #1 (Of 5)(Cover C Juni Ba), AR

Kneel Before Zod #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Jason Shawn Alexander), $3.99

Kneel Before Zod #5 (Of 12)(Cover B Lucio Parrillo Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Kneel Before Zod #5 (Of 12)(Cover C John Giang Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Nightwing A Knight In Bludhaven Compendium Volume 1 TP, $59.99

Our Army At War #81 (Facsimile Edition), $3.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover A Jessica Fong), $3.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover B Frank Cho Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover C R. Kikuo Johnson Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover D Elizabeth Torque Card Stock Variant), AR

Poison Ivy #22 (Cover E Frank Cho Card Stock Variant), AR

Shazam #11 (Cover A Dan Mora), $3.99

Shazam #11 (Cover B Brandt & Stein Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Shazam #11 (Cover C Serg Acuna Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Showcase #22 (Facsimile Edition)(Cover C Gil Kane Foil Variant), $5.99

Steelworks TP, $16.99

Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #4 (Of 5)(Cover A Dan Panosian), $4.99

Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #4 (Of 5)(Cover B Ariel Olivetti Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Suicide Squad Kill Arkham Asylum #4 (Of 5)(Cover C David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Superman House Of Brainiac Special #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Jamal Campbell Foil Variant)(House Of Brainiac), $8.99

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I Reads You Review: DEATHSTROKE #1

DEATHSTROKE #1 (2014)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER/PENCILS: Tony S. Daniel
INKS: Sandu Florea
COLORS: Tomeu Morey
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Tony S. Daniel and Sandu Florea with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVERS: Andrea Sorrentino; Kevin O'Neill
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T+” (Teen Plus)

Deathstroke created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

Deathstroke is a DC Comics character that first appeared in New Teen Titans #2 (cover date December 1980).  Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, Deathstroke was originally introduced as a character named “The Terminator.”  He was Slade Wilson, a mercenary who was completing the terms of a contract undertaken by his son, Ravager, to kill or capture the Teen Titans.  The Terminator became Deathstroke the Terminator and eventually just Deathstroke, an assassin, mercenary, and anti-hero.

With the re-launch of DC Comics’ superhero line, known as “The New 52,” Deathstroke received his second ongoing series, which ran for 20 issues.  In October of last year (December 2014 cover date), DC Comics debuted a new Deathstroke ongoing series.  It is written and pencilled by Tony S. Daniel, inked by Sandu Florea, colored by Tomeu Morey, and lettered by Rob Leigh.

Deathstroke #1 (“Gods of War”) opens with Deathstroke heading to Russia to complete a contract kill.  He meets his Russian contact, Angelica, for sex before going on a killing spree of associates of his target, a man called “Possum.”  But it's all a set-up.

I thought that The Punisher by Garth Ennis was the comic book with the most extreme depictions of violence ever published by one of the big two comic book companies – that I read, at least.  Deathstroke's pretty art, from pencils to compositions and from design to colors, is a flashy and explosive celebration of graphic violence in graphical storytelling.  I am not offended; I want more.

I am glad that I found a second printing of Deathstroke #1.  It seems like something I want to read, and my mind seems to love the eye-candy ferocity of the story.

[This comic book includes a preview of the Vertigo comic book series, Suiciders, from writer-artist, Lee Bermejo.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

I Reads You Review: BATGIRL #35

BATGIRL #35
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher – @cameronMstewart @BrendenFletcher
ART: Babs Tarr – @babsdraws
BREAKDOWNS: Cameron Stewart
COLORS: Maris Wicks
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Cameron Stewart
VARIANT COVERS: Babs Tarr; Kevin Nowlan
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Burned”

Of the many incarnations of the character, Batgirl, the best known and most popular is Barbara Gordon as Batgirl.  Barbara is the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon, and she first appeared in 1966, introduced in Detective Comics #359 (entitled “The Million Dollar Debut of Batgirl”) in a story written by Gardner Fox and drawn by Carmine Infantino.

DC Comics recently launched a new era of Batgirl-Barbara Gordon with the creative team of writers Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher, artist Babs Tarr, colorist Maris Wicks, and letterer Jared K. Fletcher.  From the start, this looks like its going to be an exciting and invigorating new era.

Batgirl #35 (“Burned”) opens as Barbara moves to the other side of the bridge from Gotham City to the hip Gotham borough, Burnside.  She has a new roommate, Frankie, and is continuing to work on her graduate degree.  This should be a fresh start, but trouble rears its ugly head.  All around her, laptops and hand-held devices are disappearing, including her own.  Plus, Barbara's former bestie, Dinah Lance/Black Canary, has shown up on her new doorstep.  Then, there's Riot Black.

It is hard not to like the spiffy new Batgirl, and I didn't resist.  Like recent Batman-related launches, Grayson and Gotham Academy, Batgirl is mostly free from being connected to continuity.  The new-direction Batgirl is not quite a Batman version of the classic 1960s sitcom, “That Girl.”  Still, Batgirl looks as if it will focus on the life of a young woman who is on the cusp of adulthood while still preparing for it.

I am enamored with Babs Tarr's art, with its Darwyn Cooke's inflection.  I also thought of Jaime Hernandez's Locas stories enjoying the art.  Being similar to Cooke and Xaime are good things, as far as I'm concerned, so I plan on reading more of this new-era Batgirl.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: GOTHAM ACADEMY #1

GOTHAM ACADEMY #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher – @beckycloonan @BrendenFletcher
ART: Karl Kerschl – @karlkerschl
COLORS: Geyser with Dave McCaig
LETTERS: Steve Wands
COVER: Karl Kerschl
VARIANT COVER: Becky Cloonan
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Welcome to Gotham Academy”

Gotham Academy is a recently launched DC Comics titled aimed at teen readers.  The series is written by Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher, drawn by Karl Kerschl, colored by Geyser (with Dave McCaig), and lettered by Steve Wands.

Gotham Academy #1 (“Welcome to Gotham Academy”) opens just outside the Headmaster's office of Gotham Academy.  No one is really in trouble.  Headmaster Hammer simply wants second year student, Olive Silverlock, to act as “nanny” (chaperon) to first-year student, Maps Mizoguchi.  Maps just happens to be the younger sister of Olive's boyfriend (ex-boyfriend?), Kyle.  Chaperoning the little sister is going to be the least of Olive's problems.

Let's be straight, dear reader.  Gotham Academy is a girl's comic book, and that is a good thing.  What writers Becky Cloonan and Brendan Fletcher have done is show that with imagination, the most traditional aspects and elements of DC Comics mythologies and properties can yield something for just about any reader.  And that can be done without transforming the central property, in this case Batman, into something alien.  Gotham Academy is simply a small country in the world of Batman.  It is a boarding school story with elements of mystery and adventure, genres and sub-genres that are familiar to most people who have been regular readers throughout their lives.

So, Gotham Academy is for everyone – for everyone who wants it.  In the meantime, with its female lead and mostly female supporting cast (so far), this comic book is aimed at teen girls, a demographic that producers of comic books in America should be trying to attract.  Still, fans of everything Batman can find something to love about this enticing title.

Gotham Academy is an especially good read, and I certainly want to read more.  Karl Kerschl's quirky graphic style, his energetic graphic design and layouts, and his sparkling graphical storytelling will hook readers into attending this boarding school.  Like another famous boarding school, it has an alluring sense of mystery, wonder, and darkness about it.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: WONDER WOMAN #36

WONDER WOMAN #36
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Meredith Finch
PENCILS: David Finch
INKS: Richard Friend
COLORS: Sonia Oback
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER/VARIANT COVER: David Finch and Richard Friend with Sonia Oback
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Wonder Woman created by William Moulton Marston

“War-Torn” Chapter 1

I have not read a Wonder Woman comic book since I read The New 52 re-launch, Wonder Woman #1, back in the fall of 2011.  There is a new creative team on the monthly Wonder Woman series:  writer Meredith Finch, penciller David Finch, inker Richard Friend, colorist Sonia Oback, and letterer Sal Cipriano.  So I decided to try this team's first issue.

DC Comics is adamant about not providing a synopsis on the first page of each issue of its comic books the way Marvel Comics does.  I think DC refuses to have a first-page synopsis simply because Marvel does it.  Anyway, beware of my synopsis because I had to do some research of my own.

Wonder Woman #36 (“War-Torn” Chapter 1) opens with the depiction of a rural village being destroyed by raging flood waters.  It is apparently just one of many villages destroyed by environmental catastrophes.  This springs Wonder Woman a.k.a. Diana and the rest of the Justice League:  Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Flash, and Cyborg, into action.  Swamp Thing is also investigating these disasters, unbeknownst to the League.

Meanwhile, unrest stirs on Paradise Island (which DC has been calling Themyscira for years), the home of Wonder Woman/Diana and the Amazons.  Apparently, there was some kind of conflict on the island, and males, formerly forbidden, now reside there, which enrages some Amazons.  Diana is now the God of War, and in charge of Paradise Island because her mother, Queen Hippolyta, is now a clay statue (!).  That last thing is now also in a state of flux.

I had planned on reading more than one issue of Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang's New 52 Wonder Woman and never got a round to it, though I still plan on doing it.  I am intrigued enough by this new Finch and Finch production to read more.  If anything, I love the art by Finch, Friend, and Oback.  It's gorgeous, and Finch's Wonder Woman recalls the pin-up girl art of his former Top Cow Productions stablemate, the late Mike Turner (may he rest in peace drawing nekkid pictures and near-nekkid pictures of the buxom beauties that share Heaven with him).

I think I'll make a harder (clears throat) attempt to follow Wonder Woman now.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: SUPERGIRL #36

SUPERGIRL #36
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: K. Perkins and Mike Johnson
PENCILS: Emanuela Lupacchino
INKS: Ray McCarthy
COLORS: Hi-Fi
LETTERS: Dezi Sienty
COVER: Emanuela Lupacchino with Dan Brown
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2015)

Supergirl based on the characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

“Crucible” Part 1

DC Comics character, Supergirl, is essentially the female counterpart of Superman.  The most familiar version of the character is Superman’s cousin, Kara Zor-El, who was created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino.  She first appeared in Action Comics #252 (cover date May 1959), although there were two earlier versions of the character that appeared in 1949 and in 1958.

I have not read a Supergirl comic book since I read The New 52's Supergirl #1 (“Last Daughter of Krypton”) just over three years ago.  I recently visited an area comic book shop where the owner likes to hand out free comic books to her customers.  That's how I ended up with my first Supergirl comic book in years, besides the Supergirl trade paperback I bought my niece several months ago.

Supergirl #36 (“Crucible” Part 1) opens in the aftermath of Kara's shenanigans with the Red Lanterns (of which I am not familiar).  She is living in New York City and working at Elixir Cafe.  Kara just wants to live on Earth among the regular folks.  Her cuz, Clark Kent a/k/a Superman, makes a surprise appearance, with the intent of giving some big brother-type advice to Kara.  However, he also was involved in some shenanigans (regarding the Doom virus), so maybe he can use some advice, too.  The real lessons for Kara/Supergirl, however, will come from the Crucible Academy, courtesy of three super-powered aggressors.

I probably would have kicked Supergirl #36 to the curb by placing it in a pile of unread comic books, due for removal at a later date.  But I took one quick look inside and was immediately impressed by the eye-candy art from the team of penciller Emanuela Lupacchino, inker Ray McCarthy, and colorist Hi-Fi.  Lupacchino is a skilled hand at compositions, and her figure drawing is strong.  McCarthy's inks give the art an Adam Hughes quality, creating a light-hearted approach to the story that captures Kara as a young woman in flux.  Hi-Fi's candy-painted hues bring the alien environments in the second half of the story to life.

Wow!  Surprised!  Supergirl #36 has tempted me to read more.  Maybe I shouldn't ignore Supergirl.

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: 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


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

I Reads You Review: BATMAN #33

BATMAN #33
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder
PENCILS: Greg Capullo
INKS: Danny Miki
COLORS: FCO Plascencia
LETTERS: Dezi Sienty
COVER: Greg Capullo and Danny Miki with FCO Plascencia
VARIANT COVERS: Paolo Rivera; Bryan Hitch with Alex Sinclair
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (September 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

I finally got around to reading Batman #33, which contains the final chapter of the Batman event story, “Zero Year.”  Written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo, this 12-issue “graphic novel” only ran through the ongoing Batman title, beginning with Batman #21.  [Batman #28 was a preview of the current weekly Batman comic book, Batman Eternal.]

I seem to remember it being announced as a ten-issue event, and that would have been about right... at least for me.  After reading Batman #31, I thought that issue needed to end.  Yeah, “Zero Year” was too long.  I also think that “Zero Year” is really The New 52 take on the Frank Miller-David Mazzuchelli classic, “Batman: Year One,” which was originally published in Batman (1940) #404 to #407.

In “Zero Year,” the Riddler (Edward Nygma) successfully launches a massive and complicated plot that leaves Gotham City without some utilities (including power).  Gotham is essentially in a blackout and is closed from the rest of the world.  It becomes a dead city, as if it were plunged into some kind of post-apocalyptic future, where the infrastructure decays and plants and foliage take over.

Batman #33 finds Batman in the clutches of the Riddler.  He must battle the villain in a game of riddles to save Gotham by keeping a series of weather balloons filled with a dangerous chemical agent (basically a weapon of mass destruction) from being activated.  At the same time, military jets make a final run to bomb Gotham.  Batman does not battle alone to save his city, but policeman Jim Gordon and Wayne Enterprises Industries employee, Lucius Fox, may not be able to help Batman... or even save the city.

Although I found “Zero Year” to be too long, I did think that individual issues within the event were quite good (such as #31).  I liked that Scott Snyder invested a considerable amount of the narrative delving in the personalities, quirks, motivations, etc. of not only Batman, but also of his supporting cast.  Their is a deeply emotional component to Bruce Wayne's relationship with his butler/partner, Alfred Pennyworth, and Snyder depicts this “union” as an emotional landscape fraught with landmines, apt to explode into shouting matches.  Like our real world, loved ones can use words to hurt, and I think Snyder gives Bruce and Alfred's relationship as much worth as that between Batman and Alfred.

“Zero Year” is also a star turn for the art team of penciller Greg Capullo and inker Danny Miki.  Since he starting drawing Batman with the birth of The New 52 back in 2011, Capullo has fully emerged from the mystery world and curious comics ghetto of Todd McFarlane, where Capullo toiled for years on McFarlane's Spawn comic book.  Capullo's Batman compositions have been stylishly quirky and oddly visually appealing.  Miki's intricate inking seems to precisely trace the pencils, but always improves the art.  With Miki, Capullo creates comic book art that seems like a modern take on the primordial graphics of early Batman comic books.

I like “Zero Year” most of all because of the art.  I am also curious to see where Snyder takes the ongoing Batman series post-event.

A-

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: 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: DETECTIVE COMICS #30

DETECTIVE COMICS #30
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
ARTIST: Francis Manapul
COLORS: Brian Buccellato
LETTERS: Jared K. Fletcher
COVER: Francis Manapul
VARIANT COVER: Hermann Mejia
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated T

Batman created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger

Icarus Part One
As a writer-artist duo, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato launched The New 52 version of the Flash comic book series.  Now, they are the new creative team on Detective Comics.  Writer/artist Manapul and writer/colorist Buccellato start their run on the series with what looks to be a potent story arc, entitled Icarus.

Detective Comics #30 (Icarus Part One) finds Batman breaking up a kidnapping ring in Gotham City’s Chinatown.  Later, Bruce Wayne considers entering into a partnership with Elena Aquila and her Aquila Healthy Families Initiative.  That real estate development deal doesn’t sit well with everyone, including local politicians and a vicious crime boss known as “The Squid.”

I only read Flash #1 of The New 52 Flash series, but I really liked it and plan on returning to it and reading at least the Manapul-Buccellato issues.  If issue Detective Comics #30 is a good indication, this team’s run on this seminal Batman comic book series will be a good one.

I am especially impressed by Manapul’s imaginative and creative page design (especially the bottom third of Page 9 of the story).  This story arc is intriguing, made even more so by the coloring, which gives an added jolt of electricity that made me anticipate each page.  I’m ready to read issue #31 to get a better feel for the series, but right now, I like this enough to give it a high grade.

A-

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: SUICIDE SQUAD: Amanda Waller #1

SUICIDE SQUAD: AMANDA WALLER #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Jim Zub
PENCILS: André Coelho
INKS: Scott Hanna
COLORS: Andrew Dalhouse
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Giuseppe Camuncoli with Blond
48pp, Color, $4.99 U.S.

Rating “T+” Teen Plus

Amanda Waller created by John Ostrander and John Byrne

“Sacrifice in the Storm”

Dr. Amanda Blake Waller, or simply, “Amanda Waller,” is a DC Comics character.  Waller first appeared in Legends #1 (1986) and was created by John Ostrander and John Byrne.  [Ostrander plotted the series, while Len Wein wrote the script.]  Waller does not possess super-powers, but she has been and is a powerful ally/antagonist of the DC Comics superheroes, as well as being an antihero.

In The New 52, the restart of the DC Comics Universe, Waller is the commander of the Suicide Squad (or “Task Force X”), a team of super-villains.  Members of the squad take on risky missions in exchange for time served.  The team’s base of operations is Belle Reve Penitentiary, a special prison for meta-humans and super-villains located in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana.  Waller chooses the Suicide Squad’s membership and basically has the power of life and death over those members.  The New 52 Amanda Waller is a slim, attractive young woman, whereas the original version of her was a portly, older African-American woman.

Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1 is a one-shot comic book set after the events depicted in Suicide Squad #24 (The New 52 series, of course).  Entitled “Sacrifice in the Storm,” the story finds Amanda Waller confronting a super-powered attacker and focuses on the decisions she has to make in order to save some lives.

The story opens with Waller traveling aboard a U.S. Air Force plane with a military escort.  She is negotiating the cooperation of Dr. Algot Issen, who has developed genetic testing equipment that not only classifies super-powered beings, but also offers the opportunity to control them.  However, an entity from Dr. Issen’s past, called Kriger-3, has come back for some payback.  Now, Waller has to make the tough decisions that will decide who dies and who survives … if anyone survives.

When a young actor is hot… well, let’s be honest… When a young white male actor starts getting hot, the major Hollywood studios/corporations (Warner Bros., FOX, Universal, etc.) will find a “star vehicle” for this hot stuff.  A “star vehicle” is some kind of action movie or comedy with an uncomplicated plot, but has an interesting idea (once called a “high concept”).  Basically, it’s a chance for YWM (young white male) to showcase whatever it is about him that might make him a movie star.

The movie will feature a young (usually) white actress as a sidekick slash arm candy slash girl who probably gives him some booty (off-screen or on-screen, depending on the rating).  This film will have a mixture of respected older actors, venerable character actors, and actors (regardless of age) who specialize in playing such supporting characters as best friends, sassy friend-girls, kooky coworkers, etc.

Disturbia was a star vehicle for Shia LaBeouf.  Most of the films in Channing Tatum’s filmography of the last six or seven years are star vehicles.  Enemy of the State was a star vehicle for Will Smith (one of the Negro exceptions in Hollywood).

Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1 could be seen as a star vehicle for a fictional character.  To be honest, I only picked up this comic book because I am a fan of writer Jim Zub’s work on IDW Publishing’s Samurai Jack comic book.  [And Black Jesus knows DC Comics acts as if it would kill them to hire a Black writer to write about a Black character.]

Anyway, I think Amanda Waller makes an excellent choice to star in her own series or occasional miniseries, one-shot, or original graphic novel, especially if Jim Zub were the writer.  Zub’s story focuses on Waller, but is also told in the context of Suicide Squad’s central idea – imprisoning super-villains and sending them on deadly missions no one else would take and Waller’s part in that.

Zub sends Waller on a mission that is dangerous in every sense of the word.  To live, she has to make some brutal choices, and no, I won’t spoil the story by listing them.  I can say that to stay alive, Waller has to go to the heart of darkness and his cousin, ugly.  I am not saying that this is great work.  In some ways, it is merely professionally executed – nothing particularly special.  However, this story does mix internal character conflict and explosive superhero action quite well.

The art by André Coelho (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks) and Andrew Dalhouse (colors) is good.  The colors heighten the drama and beauty of the compositions with its clean line and “exacto” inking.  The storytelling, however, rests on Jim Zub’s efforts, so I hope we get more Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller, with the right storyteller.

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: HARLEY QUINN #1

HARLEY QUINN #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
ART:  Chad Hardin
COLORS: Alex Sinclair
LETTERS: John J. Hill
COVER: Amanda Conner with Paul Mounts
VARIANT COVER: Adam Hughes
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (February 2014 – second printing)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Harley Quinn created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm

Harley Quinn is a DC Comics fictional character; she is specifically a super-villain in the DC Universe.  However, Harley Quinn was first introduced on the animated television series, Batman (also known as Batman: The Animated Series), which debuted in 1992 on the FOX Network.  Harley was created by Paul Dini and Bruce Timm and made her first appearance in the episode “Joker’s Favor” (September 11, 1992), as a female sidekick of The Joker and his eventual accomplice.

Harley Quinn made her first comic book appearance in The Batman Adventures #12 (September 1993), DC Comics’ comic book spin-off of the animated series.  Harley received an origin story in the one-shot comic book, The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (cover dated: February 1994).  Produced by Dini and Timm, Mad Love revealed that Quinn had been Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, M.D., an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who falls for the Joker and becomes his accomplice and temporary sidekick.

I read Mad Love years ago.  I ignored the previous Harley Quinn comic book series, but decided to give a shot to the 2013 launch of a new Harley Quinn series, after find a second printing of the first issue.  Harley Quinn #1 (“Hot in the City”) has Harley starting over in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

According to Robert Coachman (of the law firm Coachman and Coachman), an anonymous benefactor has left Harley some real estate.  She has inherited a four-story building, complete with residential and business tenants.  This new life does come with complications.  Harley has expenses and someone is stalking her.

Harley Quinn #1 is good, not great.  I like the art by Chad Hardin (pencils and inks) and Alex Sinclair (colors).  Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti’s story is playful and engaging.  It’s also violent, partly in a Looney Tunes cartoon kind of way, although some characters are killed or grievously wounded.  I’m still debating as to whether I want to read more, but I’m intrigued.

B

Reviwed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

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I Reads You Review: BATMAN ETERNAL #1

BATMAN ETERNAL #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY/SCRIPT: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with Ray Fawkes, John Layman, and Tim Seeley
ART: Jason Fabok
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Nick J. Napolitano
COVER: Jason Fabok with Tomeu Morey
VARIANT COVER: Andy Kubert and Jonathan Glapion with Brad Anderson
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Although we are already a few issues in, I just obtained a copy of Batman Eternal #1.  DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have begun the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics #27: cover dated May 1939).  Part of DC Comics’ year-long celebration is the launch of Batman Eternal, a new, year-long, weekly comic book series, which will apparently consist of 60 issues.

Scott Snyder, the writer of the ongoing Batman comic book series, is Batman Eternal’s lead writer with James Tynion IV.  The series’ other writers are Ray Fawkes, Tim Seeley, and John Layman; Layman’s work will appear early in the series, before Kyle Higgins replaces him.  The art at the beginning of Batman Eternal will be provided by Jason Fabok.  Batman Eternal will apparently feature an “immense cast” (according to the “DC Comics All Access” column) and will focus on Batman’s relationship with his allies and with Gotham City (“his city”)

Early in Batman Eternal #1, we meet Jason Bard.  Bard is a young police lieutenant who is transferring to the Gotham City Police Department from Detroit.  He arrives in Gotham, where he gets a welcome from Harvey Bullock.  Meanwhile, Batman and police Commissioner James “Jim” Gordon are on the trail of Professor Pyg.  Then, everything starts to go bad.

I enjoyed reading Batman Eternal #1.  It’s interesting, though not the most interesting Batman comic book of the moment, but it could be.  There is potential here, especially because of the way this first issue begins and ends.  I can say that I am impressed with the art by Jason Fabok.  He has an old-school style, in which he uses his inking to create depth, texture, and feathering – three elements many current comic book artists have given over to the people that color comic book art.

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

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: Batman #28

BATMAN #28
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
PENCILS: Dustin Nguyen
INKS: Derek Fridolfs
COLORS: John Kalisz
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Dustin Nguyen
VARIANT COVER: Howard Chaykin and Jesus Aburto
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (April 2014)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have begun the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the debut of Batman (in Detective Comics: cover dated May 1939).  Part of DC Comics’ year-long celebration is the launch of the new, year-long, weekly comic book series, Batman Eternal.  The series launches on April 9, 2014 and will apparently consist of 60 issues.

Batman Eternal will feature Batman, his allies, and Gotham City, and will be written by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley.  Writer John Layman was originally scheduled to write for Batman Eternal.  Although he is no longer associated with the project, the work he finished before departing will apparently still be seen in the first 12 issues.  Batman Eternal will work in tandem with the ongoing, regular Batman comic book series, which is written by Scott Snyder.

Batman #28 offers a preview of Batman Eternal.  It contains a 24-page story entitled “Gotham Eternal.”  The story opens in a near-future Gotham, where a mysterious young female infiltrates The Egyptian, “the only nightclub left in New Gotham.”  She runs afoul of a group of heavies who seem to run the club.  How do Batman and Selina Kyle fit into this scenario, and what does the young female need so badly that she would risk her life to enter this club?

I’m intrigued by Batman Eternal.  Why, you ask?  Well, I’ve been a life-long Batman fan, and I am excited about the 75th anniversary.  And although I have never bought very many of them, I am always curious about weekly comic book series.  Batman #28 hints at a dark, dystopian-lite future that finds Batman imperiled.  So, what the heck?  I’m in.

Batman #28 includes a six-page preview of American Vampire: Second Cycle – WRITER: Scott Snyder; ARTIST: Rafael Albuquerque; COLORS: Dave McCaig; and LETTERS: Steve Wands

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: Justice League of America's VIBE #1

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA’S VIBE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Geoff Johns and Andrew Kreisberg
PENCILS: Peter Woods
INKS: Sean Parsons
COLORS: Brad Anderson
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER/VARIANT COVER: David Finch
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (April 2013)

Rated T (Teen)

Vibe created by Gerry Conway and Luke McDonnell

I recently reviewed the Justice League Annual #2 (October 1984).  It introduced a comic book character named Paco Ramone, a breakdancer and local hero who went by the name, “Vibe.”  Paco had shockwave-casting powers, and those powers earned him a spot in the Justice League.  Paco would appear in the last three years of the original Justice League of America comic book series (1960-1987); then, he would be killed-off as the series came to a close.

Vibe is back.  He is cleaned-up, politically correct (hate that term), and has his own comic book series, Justice League of America’s Vibe.  [This series had already been cancelled by the time I read the first issue.]  In DC Comics’ The New 52, even dead, scorned, and marginal characters can get another chance to shine.

Justice League of America’s Vibe #1 is set in Detroit, Michigan and opens five years prior to the main story.  It introduces Francisco “Cisco” Ramon.  He and his older brothers, Armando and Dante, have a front row seat to Darkseid’s invasion of earth, which was chronicled in The New 52 re-launch of Justice League (2011).  Five years later, Cisco is still grieving a loss, when a stranger offers him the opportunity to get payback against a certain Parademon.  A hero named Vibe is born.

I was surprised to discover that DC Comics was publishing an ongoing series starring Vibe, a minor and notorious, but apparently well-remembered character.  Diversity in the hi-souse – Yay! Yay!  Seriously, Vibe?  But it turns out that Justice League of America’s Vibe is actually a pretty good comic book – at least the first issue is.

Peter Woods is a more-than-competent comic book artist, and he gives every panel here – even the character drama panels – a bit of dynamism.  Wood’s style is unspectacular, but he’s good with figure drawing – a must for a superhero comic book artist.

The writing by Geoff Johns and Andrew Kreisberg is solid and even a little dazzling.  It is nothing distinctive or stand-out; this isn’t Alan Moore doing a Vibe makeover, after all.  There is enough intrigue and the characters are interesting.  I just may try to read the other nine issues of this now-cancelled series.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

I Reads You Review: BATMAN #21

BATMAN #21
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: Jock
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2013)

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

Zero Year – Secret City: Part One

The latest Batman event story is “Zero Year.”  Written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Greg Capullo, the 10-issue story is currently running through the ongoing Batman title.

Batman #21 (Zero Year – Secret City: Part One) opens six years ago, which I’m assuming is a time period occurring before The New 52.  Batman looks cool on a motorcycle.  Then, the story moves to a period five months earlier than that.  Then, there are flashbacks to Bruce Wayne’s youth.  “Secret City,” which seems unhinged in time, features the Red Hood, Alfred Pennyworth, Dr. Thomas Wayne, Philip Kane (Bruce’s maternal uncle, whom obviously irritates Alfred), and a surprise appearance from a classic member of Batman’s rogues gallery.  See ya’ next issue.

Wow!  I’m ready to read more.  Snyder borrows elements (as far as I can tell) from Batman stories written by Frank Miller, Grant Morrison, and novelist Tracy Hickman.  He turns that into an intriguing tale of Batman’s early campaign against crime in Gotham City.  I think Uncle Philip is in this story to add a tragic twist, and for that Snyder has made him well suited for betrayal and blood.  One of my favorite things about this story is how Snyder portrays young Bruce Wayne as an explorer of Gotham.  It’s too cute, and it tugs at the heart.

Another favorite thing about Batman #21 is Greg Capullo’s quirky pencils, which under Danny Miki’s inks, creates a Batman milieu that is timeless.  The art seems inspired by the entire graphical landscape of Batman, from the 1960s to the early 21st century.  FCO Plascenia’s coloring captures lovely autumnal colors in a way that one would think not possible for a comic book (and certainly not a superhero comic book), and the coloring gives Gotham City character and personality.  I’m ready for more.

A-

Back-up story:  Bruce Wayne: Where the Hell Did he Learn to Drive?!

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

“Bruce Wayne: Where the Hell Did he Learn to Drive?!” is a back-up short comic that presents a vignette of the life of 19-year-old Bruce Wayne.  I guess that you can’t tell a tale of early Batman, if you don’t also show how Bruce got to Batman.  I will assume that Bruce is in Rio do Janeiro (the story’s setting) to train for his future efforts in Gotham.  This is a clever story that hints at the future “Dark Knight,” especially Frank Miller’s Clint Eastwood-esque take on the character.  Rafael Albuquerque’s art is nice.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

I Reads You Review: CONSTANTINE #2

CONSTANTINE #2
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire
ARTIST: Renato Guedes
COLORS: Marcelo Mailolo
LETTERS: Carlos M. Mangual
COVER: Juan Jose Ryp and Brett Smith
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2013)

Rated T+ (Teen Plus)

The Spark and the Flame Part 2: “The Blind Man”

It has been a few months since I read Constantine #1, the re-launch of the long-running comic book series, Hellblazer.  I thought that first issue showed promise for the series and as a fresh start for title character, John Constantine.  Now, I’ve just read the second issue, and I am not so sure.

Constantine #2 is the second part of the opening story arc, “The Spark and the Flame.”  Issue #2 continues John Constantine’s search for Croydon’s Compass, a powerful tool of divination that, of course, has the potential for evil in the wrong hands.  Also looking for Croydon’s Compass is the Cult of the Cold Flame (or simply “Cold Flame”), a group of powerful malevolent magic-using types.

Croydon’s Compass has been broken into three parts.  John has the first part, the needle, and now, he has arrived in Myanmar to find the second piece, the dial.  Waiting for him is Mr. E. and The Spectre, who really wants to get his spectral hands of John.

Constantine #2 is a comic book full of characters trying to be clever, but they are neither particularly interesting nor especially boring.  Their cleverness simply registers nothing.  Even this chapter of “The Spark and the Flame” seems as if it is inconsequential to the larger narrative.  This is the first time I am really starting to wonder about the wisdom of ending Hellblazer in order to start Constantine.  Or maybe DC Comics just needs to cut back on the use of writer Jeff Lemire.

C

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

The New 52 Review: Constantine #1

CONSTANTINE #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITERS: Ray Fawkes and Jeff Lemire
ARTIST: Renato Guedes
COLORS: Marcelo Mailolo
LETTERER: Sal Cipriano
COVER: Ivan Reis and Joe Prado with Rod Reis
VARIANT COVER: Renato Guedes
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (May 2013)

Rated T+ (Teen Plus)

The Spark and the Flame Part 1: “The Price We Pay”

John Constantine: Hellblazer is dead? Long live Constantine?

After first appearing, in full, as a supporting character in The Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 (June 1985), John Constantine starred in his own comic book, Hellblazer. Twenty-six odd years later, that series came to an end with Hellblazer #300 (April 2013 cover date).

With Constantine #1 (May 2013 cover date), John Constantine is headed in a new direction. Once tempted by magic to the point of his near-destruction, Constantine seeks to “maintain balance and prevent anyone from becoming too powerful.” That is a direct quote taken from Constantine #1. The maintainer of balance: that’s John Constantine’s place in The New 52.

Constantine #1 opens in New York City where Constantine lives in a pet story, Dotty’s Pets. He already has a new mission – get Croydon’s Compass before his rivals, a group called “Cold Flame,” obtain it. You’d be surprised at the membership of Cold Flame, but I’ll say that Zatara is/was one of them. Dragging along a reluctant acquaintance, Chris, Constantine heads to Norway for a battle in which someone does pay a rather high price.

Same old John: knowing him always costs someone his or her life. What can I say about the new Constantine comic book? Well, the first issue lacks the occult detective, London-noir, street hustler, Richard Stark-vibe of Hellblazer. Constantine the comic book is colorful and slick, like the 2005 film, Constantine, but without Keanu Reeves’ sincere-thespian stiffness. Magic explodes as if it were a mutant power, with crackling bursts of energy. It’s a bit like Harry Potter without the wands.

Constantine is interesting. If you’re looking for the old thing – the way Hellblazer was – that’s gone. I like this new thing. I’m not in love with it, but I like it.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

Albert Avilla Reviews: Batman #16

Batman #16
DC Comics

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

Writer: Scott Snyder
Pencils: Greg Capullo
Inks: Jonathan Glapion

“Castle of Cards” (Spoilers)

Snyder has taken us on a ride to the dark side that we won’t soon forget. Each month, for the short amount of time that we take to read this comic masterpiece, we should be thankful for every event that led to this story being produced. Runs like this don’t come very often.

Synder makes a comic story an emotional experience. Everything that makes Batman great comes exploding off these pages. The Joker is pushing Batman to the edge; Batman will have to dig deep to keep himself from jumping over. Synder has a unique talent; he is a maestro using every instrument in the orchestra to present to us a symphony of words and pictures. He burns our emotional skin off and leaves us hypersensitive to the emotions that run through his story. Snyder leaves us awe struck by his creativity. He strikes terror in our hearts with scenes like the flaming horse and the tapestry made from living human bodies.

The depraved humor of the Joker sends chills down your spine, leaving you questioning your sanity for laughing at the Joker’s antics. The Joker has Batman at his wits end, but we know Batman is at the top of his game. He easily dispatches some of his most vicious enemies, and yet the Joker outsmarts him at every turn. The Joker taxes Batman physically, mentally, and emotionally. It’s amazing how an insane mind is able to out-think and bluff some of the greatest minds. Action, horror, and sadistic humor: Synder gives it all to us. The Death of the Family crossover is showing us that Synder is out shining his fellow writers in the Batman family of comics. This is definitely a must-read comic. Batman is the best single hero comic that I read.

The art falls in line with the writing; it integrates itself into the greatness of the writing. It is dark and foreboding. It perfectly illustrates the evil.

I rate Batman #16 Recommend It to a Friend. #1 (of 5) on the Al-O-Meter

I Reads You Review: JUSTICE LEAGUE #7

JUSTICE LEAGUE #7
DC COMICS – @DCComics

WRITER: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: Gene Ha
COLORS: Art Lyon
LETTERS: Patrick Brosseau
COVER: Jim Lee and Scott Williams, with Alex Sinclair
VARIANT COVER: Gary Frank with Brad Anderson
40pp, Color, $3.99 U.S.

Rated “T” for Teen

“The Villain’s Journey” Prologue

Why am I just reviewing the seventh issue Justice League now? This month will see the eleventh issue published since #7 first appeared. Well, the reason is a compilation of excuses: infrequent trips to a not-near-enough local comic book shop (LCS), finances, time, acquisition, etc. You might add that I was reluctant to read an issue of The New 52 Justice League that Jim Lee did not draw. That’s a shame because this issue’s artist, Gene Ha, delivers some nice looking pages.

Justice League #7 opens in present day Baltimore, Maryland. An army biological warfare specialist named Dr. Samuel Street was exposed to the “Spore” virus. Now, Street is a villain called “Spore,” and he creates “Seeds,” which are mindless flesh-eating creatures that he can control telepathically. Plus, Street/Spore is holding his ex-wife hostage. Enter the Justice League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Cyborg.

This story has a second focus, Colonel Steve Trevor. Wonder Woman’s would-be lover, Trevor is head of A.R.G.U.S. – Advanced Research Group Uniting Super Humans. A.R.G.U.S. is both a support group for the Justice League and an intermediary between the League and the U.S. government. Now, Trevor faces a Congressional debriefing, and these members of Congress want answers.

I think this issue stands out because of the focus on Steve Trevor. Writer Geoff Johns gives us the same action and squabbling that he has written into the Justice League since the series’ re-launched back in 2011. Johns gets personal with Trevor, showing both the man of action and the man who is a good boss and a lovesick puppy. Gene Ha is the right artist for Trevor’s story, and he certainly does some good action scenes for the League. Still, Ha’s subtle touch in drawing faces better serves this character focus on Steve Trevor.

Justice League #7 has a back-up feature. Once again, DC Comics is trying to do something with Shazam-Captain Marvel. This time with Johns and artist Gary Frank, and perhaps I can say that maybe it works a little better than the previous efforts over the last 30 years. But in the long term, dark Captain Marvel just won’t work. There is something inherent in the character that suggests light-hearted fantasy. DC and its writers just don’t seem to have the imagination, with a few exceptions, to do anything really interesting with this character.

B+

[Justice League currently includes a Shazam back-up story by Geoff Johns (writer), Gary Frank (artist), Brad Anderson (colors), and Nick J. Napolitano (letters).]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux