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Action Comics #875 [Review]

Posted on March 15, 2009 by Walt

The Sleepers Part I

Writer: Greg Rucka
Penciller: Eddy Barrows
Inkers: Ruy Jose & Julio Ferreira
Colorist: Rod Reis
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Asst. Editor: Wil Moss
Editor: Matt Idelson
Cover: Andrew Robinson
Publisher: DC Comics

As indicated at the top of the cover, this issue is part of “World Without Superman,” the general (apparent) over-arching premise of the next year or so in the Superman family of books. We’ve had New Krypton, we’ve had a couple months of after-effects and fallout, and finally we now have a story taking place after Superman has left Earth for New Krypton to live there, apparently (to the people of Earth) turning his back on them to live among his own kind. This title looks to be starring the new Nightwing and Flamebird characters that cropped up early in the New Krypton arc.

This issue picks up on Nightwing and Flamebird in new costumes designed to give the appearance of being super-powered armor augmenting humans (to cover the fact that these two are Kryptonians…as all Kryptonians except Superman have been officially banned from Earth). They take down a threat, though things do not go as smoothly as they planned, which leads to some questions developing on multiple fronts as different parties harbor their own suspicions and motivations regarding what to do with these two. We also get to see the unfolding of some background and motivation of Nightwing and Flamebird themselves–what role they played in Kandor, and so on. We are also (after several months of not doing so) treated to a revelation as to WHO Nightwing really is. After this revelation, another twist is thrown in that explains how Nightwing can exist in his present condition, as well as suggest some potential of stories to come. The end of the issue shows that this book and World of New Krypton will not be operating as if the other doesn’t exist, but will continue to share in continuity.

The cover art seems kinda different from what I’m used to seeing, and has a sort of almost watercolored look to it…not quite surreal, but something close to that. And with the way the colors are used, and the logo and even the World Without Superman banner…I really, really like this cover.

The interior art’s pretty good overall as well, if a bit “basic.” By that, it’s not art that would in and of itself inspire me to purchase the book, but it is art that I really can’t complain about, as it does what art’s supposed to do in a comic. It conveys the visuals of the story in a clear, understandable way, and doesn’t leave me confused…it works well right alongside the written aspect of the story.

The writing’s by Rucka, whose work I’ve generally been a fan of. I’ve lost track of who all has handled what characters the last few months, but it seems just from this issue that he’s got a plan for some of these characters in context of the Superman corner of the DCU. That we’ve been given Nightwing’s identity allows I think for much more story potential than keeping it a mystery, and I’ll be interested to see where Rucka takes these characters. Having read his work on Adventures of Superman a few years back, I have confidence in his handling/developing the supporting cast with respect and believability.

On the whole, this is essentially a “First issue,” and does its job well. A new arc is begun; new characters introduced, old characters appear (showing no lack of continuity placement). We see our heroes in action, get some background on them and what’s likely to drive them; some conflict and a mission, plus a classic sorta cliffhanger.

While you’ll get a lot more enjoyment out of this if you’re familiar with Superman continuity of the last couple years–and the last few months in particular–this is a decent point to hop onboard for a Rucka-written story involving characters associated with Superman operating in a world without Superman actually present. Well worth checking out.

Story: 8/10
Art: 7/10
Whole: 8/10

Filed under: Action Comics, Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, World Without Superman (event) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Green Lantern Corps #34 [Review]

Posted on March 15, 2009 by Walt

Emerald Eclipse part two

Story & Words: Peter J. Tomasi
Penciller: Patrick Gleason
Inkers: Rebecca Buchman, Christian Alamy
Colorist: Randy Mayor
Letterer: Steve Wands
Editor: Adam Schlagman
Cover: Pat Gleason (variant by Rodolfo Migliari)
Publisher: DC Comics

This issue deals with a number of points in the ongoing story: Sodom Yat’s mother has arrived to try to bring him home to save his people. Meanwhile, back on Daxam, Mongul and Arkillo are having it out for control of the Sinestro Corps. Their battle ends with one a decisive victor. At the same time, Kyle and Soranu continue their relationship, discussing how it’ll play into their roles as GLs; and we check in on the Sapphires and Kryb, as well as Guy, Kilowog, Salaak & co. who are dealing with their new Red Lantern prisoner.

The story’s pretty good, really…keeps everything moving along, and we see all the characters being lined up for where they’ll (need to) be for Blackest Night. No real complaints there…this’d be an interesting story just as prose, without visuals to go along with it/as part of it.

However, I’m just not digging the art. There’s something about it that for the most part comes across as too cartoony or stylistic or SOMEthing…and actually detracts a bit from my enjoyment of the book…it distracts me a bit from the story. I much prefer books where I find that the art is either unobtrusive, or is so good that the entire story just pops and I enjoy looking at the visuals as much as reading along.

This probably isn’t the best point for jumping-on, but longer time readers probably shouldn’t pass this up, as there are things unfolding that are certain to be quite germane to Blackest Night (as if the banner on the cover wasn’t already clue enough).

Story: 7/10
Art: 6/10
Whole: 6.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern Corps | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #1 [Review]

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Walt

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Batman: Battle for the Cowl, Battle for the Cowl (Event), Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Booster Gold #18 [Review]

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Walt

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Booster Gold, Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

R.E.B.E.L.S. #2 [Review]

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Walt

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, R.E.B.E.L.S. | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade #4 [Review]

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Walt

Writer: Landry Q. Walker
Artist: Eric Jones
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Coloring: Joey Mason
Editor: Jann Jones
Cover: Eric Jones
Publisher: Johnny DC/DC Comics

This series just keeps getting better and better.

We begin this issue with an ominous scene of a student running from some clawed beast in the dark of the school’s halls, and then flip back to earlier in the day. We see that Kara is trying to solve her vulnerability-to-Kryptonite problem so that she could be of better use to her older cousin (visualized by a glimpse of her imaginary Moon Supergirl persona). Snapped back to other things she has to deal with, she inadvertantly exposes a cat to the Kryptonite she’s been working on. After Kara, Lena, and Belinda find themselves in a mostly empty school and begin to investigate, they come across a cat that seems to have Supergirl’s powers–and who they discover to have access to an underground lab where other students are being held. Amidst their tussel with the cat, Lena discovers Kara’s dual identity which puts a bit of a strain on their relationship.

This is my favorite issue yet. We wouldn’t be to this point if we didn’t have the earlier issues, as they introduced us to characters and concepts that play roles in this issue’s story. But this issue was just so thoroughly enjoyable that I’m quite sad to realize there are only two issues left. If ever a mini-series should be updgraded to an ongoing, this is one of ’em!

The art is strongly consistent with earlier issues–the primary characters are completely recognizeable, and the style of other smaller/newer characters fit in seamlessly with the established characters. The style puts me (as usual) very much in mind of contemporary animated series one might find on the Cartoon Network, while maintaining the feel of the intended media–this is a comic book, after all, and not a cartoon. The depiction of the cat is particularly amusing.

The story–as said–builds on what’s already been established. Though this is slated to be only a 6-issue mini-series, we have all the trappings of an ongoing series. Characters are changing and developing as we go along, with still loads of potential for continued growth beyond a mere two more issues. The story in this issue is at once self-contained and yet continues to develop over-arching themes.

All in all, this is one of the most enjoyable comics I’ve read in a long time. Highly recommended!

Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 8.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, DC, Johnny DC, Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the 8th Grade | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Batman: Cacophony #3 [Review]

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Walt

Baffles

Writer: Kevin Smith
Penciller: Walt Flanagan
Inker: Sandra Hope
Colorist: Guy Major
Lettering: Jared K. Fletcher
Asst. Editor: Jann Jones
Editor: Dan Didio
Cover: Adam Kubert (variants by Bill Sienkiewicz)
Publisher: DC Comics

This is one of very few mini-series that I’ve actually bought in this day ‘n age of virtually guaranteed collected-volumes. I’m also largely avoiding $3.99 books, but have allowed this as an exception given that it has a full 30 pages of actual story rather than being standard-size. That said, I’m not convinced this was worth it.

This issue picks up with the Batman/Joker/Onomatopoeia standoff on the roof. The Joker behaves typically, and we see what steps Batman has taken for dealing with Onomatopoeia. The story then derails when that villain turns on the Joker, and Batman struggles with a decision that will affect both himself and the citizens of Gotham.

The art is very good, and I really found nothing to take issue with. The characters are shown rather iconically (or “generic,” if you prefer that term). This is a fairly timeless sort of story, with no apparent ties to main continuity–unless it can be found to tie to a version of the characters found in Superman/Batman and Brave and the Bold. Flanagan, Hope, and Major seem to make a great team for Batman visuals that carry a great deal of detail without being overly realistic.

The story wasn’t much to my liking, though I really wanted to like it, being a fan of much of Smith’s past work in the DCU. However, this issue felt like it was trying too hard to be THE “Batman/Joker” confrontation or “conversation.” Their conversation while the Joker was on anti-psychotic drugs felt forced and more than a little (much as I hate to use the term) “fanboyish.” I really didn’t buy the condition of the characters, and can’t help but compare this to The Killing Joke, which I feel sees the characters have it out in a much more satisfying way. Though typical Smith (injecting often crude, but realistic comments everyday people in certain conditions might make), I also did NOT buy Joker’s comment about what he saw, nor that Bruce would repeat it in conversation with Alfred.

All in all, this isn’t a bad issue, but it is a letdown from what I’d expected–whatever it was–from a Smith Batman story. If you’ve snagged the first couple issues, or are able to get all 3 in one go, it ought to be worthwhile as an out-of-continuity/stand-alone story (or if there’s a reasonably-priced collected volume). If you’re on a budget and trying only to stick to “essential” stuff right now, I can’t recommend this. Dinged a half-point as it was a letdown as a whole.

Story: 7/10
Art: 9/10
Whole: 7.5/10

Filed under: Batman: Cacophony, Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? #1 [Review]

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Walt

The Veil, Vicki Vale, Stephanie Brown, Leslie Thompkins, Harvey Bullock

Written by: Fabian Nicieza
Art by: Dustin Nguyen, Guillem March, ChrisCross, Jamie McKelvie, Alex Konat, Mark McKenna
Letters: Swands
Colors: Guy Major, Guillem March
Assistant Editor: Janelle Siegel
Editor: Mike Marts
Cover: Dustin Nguyen
Publisher: DC Comics

This one-shot takes a quick look to check in with several major characters operating in Gotham City, and how they are impacted by the apparent death of Batman. The opening/closing is from the point of view of The Veil, who I’m pretty sure is the character introduced in a recent Detective/Batman two-parter. The scene shifts from her to the other characters. Vicki Vale is back in town, working for the Gotham Gazette again, rather than a tv studio; she finds herself needing to re-proove her abilities at the paper, and seeks to contact Bruce Wayne who also seems to be gone, though there have been a number of sightings of the man around the world. At the same time, Stephanie Brown–Spoiler/Robin IV–looks at the city from her (apparent) new role as she observes Robin (Tim Drake) in action. Leslie Thompkins returns to the city, and seeks to get a feel for herself of what the city is like now, minus its caped crusader. Harvey Bullock has his hands full with a new partner as he himself continues working back from his recent “fall from grace.”

We have a number of artists on this issue, each providing the visuals for the different characters’ chapters. Nothing really stood out to me…which is both good and bad here: bad because hey, nothing blew me away. But it’s good as nothing stood out that I’ve any real complaint with. That each artist contributed to a specific chapter speaks to me of intention rather than “fill-in” work. Having different artists also helps to separate the characters involved, injecting just a bit of a difference or personality to them that could be lost with a single artist.

The story is solid if a bit choppy, since there’s no singular through narrative; we’re checking in on a numerous characters in different contexts and situations, unified simply by being in Gotham and not knowing if there is still a Batman. Nicieza, though I’ve not read much of his Batman work, seems to have a feel for the characters much as I associate with Chuck Dixon’s work on the same, which certainly is for the positive in my eyes.

This issue I believe is to serve as a prologue of sorts to the Battle for the Cowl mini and its tie-ins. This does a pretty good job of showing situations characters are in at present, giving them some facetime that may not be found in the main Battle for the Cowl series.

I’m not sure that this is essential to that story except to add context, but it is probably worth getting if you’re planning on following the entirety of the story.

Story: 8/10
Art: 7.5/10
Whole: 8/10

Filed under: Battle for the Cowl (Event), Comic Reviews 2009, DC, DC Universe, Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead? | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Superman: World of New Krypton #1 [Review]

Posted on March 8, 2009 by Walt

Superman: World of New Krypton #1 CoverFull review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Superman: World of New Krypton | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Green Lantern #38 [Review]

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Walt

Full review posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, cxPulp.com, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

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