Review: BATMAN/SUPERMAN #21

BATMAN/SUPERMAN No. 21
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review originally appeared on Patreon.]

WRITER: Greg Pak
PENCILS: Ardian Syaf
INKS: Vicente Cifuentes
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Rob Leigh
COVER: Ardian Syaf and Danny Miki with Ulises Arreola
VARIANT COVERS: Jock (Joker 75th Anniversary variant)
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Truth Hurts” Part One

Superman and Batman have been teaming up in various comic books for decades.  The best known Superman/Batman team-up series was the long-running World's Finest Comics (1941 to 1986).  The current incarnation of a Dark Knight/Man of Steel team-up comic book is Batman/Superman, which is currently written by Greg Pak; penciled Ardian Syaf, inked by Vicente Cifuentes; colored by Ulises Arreola; and lettered by Rob Leigh.

Batman/Superman #21 (Truth Hurts” Part One) is essentially the first DCYou issue of the series.  As the story begins, Superman is fighting for his life, when he shouldn't.  You see, Superman has lost his powers (as seen in Gene Luen Yang and John Romita, Jr.'s run on Superman, beginning with issue #41), and the world knows that he is also Clark Kent.  A visit to Lex Luthor pays off in information.  The source of the thugs that are plaguing Superman seems to be located in Gotham City.  But Superman does not know about the current Batman...

I would normally not spend a dime on Batman/Superman.  If I want to read about Batman and Superman partnering up, I will read a Justice League comic book or find a back issue of World's Finest.  However, I decided “what the heck?” because I want to read as many DCYou first issues and first chapters as I can.

This actually is not bad.  Ardian Syaf's art, which is awkward like a teen boy struggling through puberty, and Greg Pak's functional storytelling capture the struggles of this “new era” in both Superman and Batman titles.  This comic book is worth reading just to see how the new status quo works out for DC Comics' “Big Two” characters as a unit, at least for the time being.  In fact, I'm curious enough to read a few more issues of (DCYou) Batman/Superman.

B

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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

Review: DOOMED #1

DOOMED #1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

WRITER: Scott Lobdell
ART: Javier Fernandez
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Corey Breen
COVER: Javier Fernandez with Kyle Ritter
VARIANT COVER: Ken Lashley with Hi-Fi
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2015)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“Doomed, I Say!”

Doomsday is a DC Comics character commonly associated with Superman.  A super-villain, Doomsday made his first full appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #18 (December 1992), after making a cameo appearance in Superman: The Man of Steel #17 (November 1992).  Created by writer-artist Dan Jurgens, Doomsday was the character that infamously “killed” Superman back in 1992.

In “The New 52,” the revamp of the DC Universe, Doomsday is apparently also connected to a virus.  The “DCYou” publishing event launches a new comic book about a college student who catches that virus.  The series is entitled, Doomed, and is written by Scott Lobdell, drawn by Javier Fernandez, colored by Ulises Arreola, and lettered by Corey Breen.

Doomed #1 (“Doomed, I Say!”) introduces Reiser, an affable student at Metropolis University.  He gets an internship at S.T.A.R. Labs in Metropolis, which he sees as a life-changing event.  What changes in Reiser's life is gaining the power to transform into Superman's most heinous adversary, Doomsday.

Doomed must be one of those “DCYou” diversity books.  Diversity in the DCYou means characters of color, but writers of non-Negro.  That might explain Reiser's blandness.  Honestly, I don't know what to say beyond some sarcastic remarks.  I am curious to see what happens to Reiser, but not enough to make a financial effort to obtain this book.  It is not bad, but I can't honestly give it a letter-grade.  If I do end up reading another issue of Doomed, I'll write about it just for you, dear reader.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

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

Review: Creative Team Makes "SUPERMAN #38" Super

Reviewed by Albert Avilla

SUPERMAN #38

STORY: Geoff Johns
PENCILS: John Romita, Jr.
INKS: Klaus Janson
COLORS: Laura Martin, Ulises Arreola, Dan Brown, Wil Quintana
LETTERS: Sal Cipriano

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

SPOILER ALERT

The Men of Tomorrow: Chapter 7 - “Friends and Enemies”

I don't read a lot of Superman stories, but recently, I have been able to read this story arc.  The hype machine got me interested in learning about Superman's new power.  Why does he need a new power?  He is already the head, number-one, ass-kicker in the DC Universe.  But growth is good.  We don't want stagnant characters.

I feel fortunate that I got lucky to read this story because of some key events.  Superman makes a catastrophic mistake that has catastrophic consequences.  This makes him more fallible, not the all powerful super-being who can accomplish anything.  I would have liked to see him a little upset about the situation, not just jump back into his regular routine without a pause.  He is sympathetic toward Ulysses, but I think Geoff Johns misses a chance to demonstrate Superman's human side and to get us in our emotions (new slang that I learned from the kids).

Of course, the new power is a big event.  I like that it evolves from a power that Superman already has, and it leaves him vulnerable after he uses it. A real hero puts his life on the line.  I don't want him to use this power like fireworks on the Fourth of July.  My question is simple:  is this the final manifestation of this power or will it evolve?

That's not the only bomb that Superman drops on us.  Superman reveals his secret identity to Jimmy Olsen.  Now, Jimmy is Superman's best friend.

This is one of Mr. John's best offerings.  He has met the standard set by his own talent.  We can appreciate the masters, John Romita and Klaus Janson, on this art team.  From the Fourth Dimension to Metropolis to Superman exploding, the art is exquisite and sublime. These gentlemen are focused on making Superman the pinnacle of comic art.

I rate Superman #38 Buy Your Own Copy (#2 on the Al-o-Meter)


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

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-

The New 52 Review: BATGIRL #1

BATGIRL #1
DC COMICS

WRITER: Gail Simone
PENCILS: Ardian Syaf
INKS: Vicente Cifuentes
COLORS: Ulises Arreola
LETTERS: Dave Sharpe
COVER: Adam Hughes
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S.

There have been several incarnations of the character Batgirl, but the best known and most popular is Barbara Gordon as Batgirl. Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner James Gordon, 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.

Batgirl #1 (“Shattered”) returns Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, but after being paralyzed and in a wheelchair for a time, Barbara is struggling to adjust to being on her feet again. How tough? She discovers that physically she is just a touch slow when she faces the Brisby Killers. It is the villain Mirror, however, who will be her toughest challenge.

I have not read much by writer Gail Simone, but what I have read I’ve enjoyed. Her lively characters are easy to like, and her sparkling dialogue makes even the slow scenes perk up. The most surprising thing that Simone does here is how much she delves into Barbara Gordon’s struggle to be Batgirl-walking-again.

Also, the pencil art by Ardian Syaf is so pretty, with its details and textures brought out by intricate line work, which the inks by Vicente Cifuentes lovingly highlight. Syaf’s storytelling is solidly built on his drawing skills, and he and Simone make an excellent creative team. I’m going to keep reading, and you should to because I’m highly recommending Batgirl.

A-

August 31st
FLASHPOINT #5
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/flashpoint-5.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/justice-league-1.html

September 7th
ACTION COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/action-comics-1.html
BATWING #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/batwing-1.html
DETECTIVE COMICS #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/detective-comics-1-2011.html
HAWK AND DOVE #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/hawk-dove-1.html
JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/justice-league-international-1.html
MEN OF WAR #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/men-of-war-1.html
STORMWATCH #1
http://ireadsyou.blogspot.com/2011/09/stormwatch-1.html