Batgirl 63 & 64: 
I know what you're thinking, "he's gone mad! Two issues reviewed in one? Can he do that?". Although it is rumored that I've lost all regards for form and order, embracing a cataclysmic life of mayhem and chaos. It ain't true. Let me explain, since I've been bad and not updated the site in a long time I thought a two-fer might make way for a more meaty, substantial review. I know it is not how I usually go about things but I think you readers can roll with the punches. So, onto the review... Batgirl 63 and 64 basically read like one issue. I bought them at the same time and read them back to back. They flow together seamlessly. So it made sense to just lump them together as one review. These two books have gobs of action. The second half of 63 and almost all of 64 is a full on martial artfest. Deathstoke and Ravager take on Batgirl. Deathstroke has been one of my favorite characters lately. Ever since I read Infinite Crisis 3 I can't get enough. IC3 was probably one of the best comics I've ever read. I mean come on, he takes on the entire JLA and makes them look more pathetic than those loser's who know every word to R.E.M.'s "Its the end of the world as we know it". He straight clowned 'em. I've been a fan of Deathstroke's ever since the fore mentioned clowning. Ravager. Never really cared to much till I started reading Teen Titans. She is naughty in all the right ways. She not just good to look at but she is an incredible martial artist and a master tactician just like her Daddy (Deathstroke). Batgirl (Cassandra) has always been a character that I've followed closely. I think the main reason is I read her very first issue. It seems kind of rare these days to be able to follow a character for a few years, and see them grow. All too often characters will fizzle out or not have enough talented creators to keep them interesting for very long. I can't tell you how many times I've seen characters fade away before they even have a chance to get going. Batgirls been blessed with enough longevity that she has developed into a complicated multi-dimensional character. Batgirls journey has been alot of fun to watch. 
Right now I'm sure your thinking my Indian name should be "Long-With-Word", but I ain't done yet. So bear with me. Ok down to the goods. As I mentioned earlier the fights were a plenty. It made for some explosive reading that kept the pages turnin'. There is nothing more satisfying than action supplemented with the brawler's thoughts and strategies. Batgirl's thoughts were quite observant in regards to Deathstroke and Ravager. She compares Deathstroke's body movements to a choir. A choir that has too many voice singing too loud and too fast for her to follow. I thought that was a good insight into Cassandra's mind's inner workings. The comments she made helped explain how she sees body movement as a language. Just like Batman she is able to evaluate the challenge she is presented with in a matter of seconds. In these brief moments she is able to choose the perfect combinations of variables to achieve the best outcome. This fight is no different. She plays on Ravagers fears of disappointing her father as well as exploiting Deathstrokes faithfulness to the contract. Batman and Cain taught her well. You know the action was great, as was Batgirl's internalizations. But what stood out the most is the idea of Batgirl facing herself in the form of Ravager. Both Ravager and Batgirl were raised to be killing machines by master assassins. In some ways they are a yin and yang of the same character. Two sides of the same coin. One of them is still trying to impress Daddy and live up to his dreams (as sick and malicious as they may be). The other has cut herself free from her father and his dreams, living life on her terms. It was smart to put them up against each other like that. It held a tainted mirror in their face and allowed them to see a different current in the river of time. This issue nicely reinforces that age ole maxim that you may be better of if you didn't have a relationship with your psychotic homicidal father. A point we all need to be reminded of on occasion. To sum up, three of my favorite characters dukin' it out. Great writing great art. Fun read, check it out. Teen Titans 35: 
I'm sad to say but this is only the second or third Teen Titans I've ever read. I added Teen Titans to my pull list after I received a very persuasive recommendation from my friend Tom. Just look at him, how could you not at least hear that man out? Anyway he made a good argument that I can't remember all the details of, and for now I'm a monthly reader. One of the only negative things about this book lies on the cover. How many characters do you recognize? I didn't think very many. It looks like a group of second stringers. To be honest, it is. You won't find Superman or Batman here. I have been an avid reader of DC for five or six years plus and hardly recognized a soul on the cover. Now I'm not a comic superfreak, and I admittedly have a bad memory for characters and their stories. However, I obviously read enough comics to have a website that mostly reviews DC comics and don't recognize 8 of the 9 characters gracing the cover. That's is my biggest problem with the book, at face value it kinda seems like a bunch of no name characters. So who cares, right? Well after reading this issue, I care. As I sit hear listening to DJango Reinhart, sipping port, and fancying myself as an intellectual, I start to think about what I really like in this issue of Teen Titans. Soon my delusions of grandeur vanish as I realize my draw to this issue is the girls. Five of the first seven pages are full of tantalizing women naked or scantily clad. There are two spicy vixens in this issue by the name of Wondergirl and Rose Wilson (Deathstrokes daughter). They have a cat fight that albeit only lasts two pages is still one of the hottest comic fights I've seen since Dolphin and Mera go at it in Aquaman 12. The fore mentioned Tom once told me that Tim Drake is slowly becoming Batman. I believe it whole heartedly. In Identity Crisis he witnessed his parent being killed, much like Bruce. Then in Teen Titans 34 he reminded me of Batman when he talks to the computer blankly and almost subconsciously. So if this theory seems plausible wouldn't that make Rose Robin's Catwoman? I think so. She is naughty and playful, yet extremely dangerous. As with Catwoman and Batman it seems like Rose and Robin have a love/hate dichotomy full of danger and passion. I look forward to seeing how this relationship develops. Anway, the art is great, the women are hot and the story is shaping up to be a real humdinger. Buy it, read it , love it, thank me. Moon Knight 2: 
"...then he was a hero. He used to jump from rooftops, spread his cape against the night and drop to the streets and the bad men below...A name they didn't use in the alleys for fear it would bring him from the shadows. He was a hero. He had everything, and more. Had a friend... Had a life like you read about in legends." That sounds a lot like Batman, doesn't it? Well it's not it's Moon Knight. I've always thought Moon Knight was an it intriguing character. He often seemed like the Batman of the Marvel universe to me. He is dark and borderline evil just like Bats. I really don't have much evidence to back this up as I don't read all that much Moon Knight. I guess I was always drawn to him and will probably read the current series for a while. So the current series is on its second issue. The art is great, it is very wet and extremely detailed. It has hints of both Sin City and Spawn to it. The art is ultra violent and hyper bloody. The fight sequence in this issue is AMAZING! The story is told in a visual manner leaving very little room for words and exposition. This style works both for and against the overall artistic package of Moon Knight. Although it is flashy and graphic its' verbal brevity leaves gaps in the storytelling. Ehh, more than gaps, I would probably call them ravines. It looks great but I can't make out what is going on and why. We see him fight a guy (awesome) and then talking to another guy. The problem is we have no idea who any of these people are and how they relate to each other in space and time. In the creators defense the books preface does loosely mention that the main characters is looking back retrospectively at his prior actions. Even with the preface however it is still relatively unclear to me who these people are and what their motivations are. What the h-e-double hockey stick is going on?! For new readers, Moon Knight has enough flash and visual pizzazz to get you through the first 2 books. I do fear for a diminishing group of followers if Marvel doesn't make with the goods and cough-up some details soon. I think old readers would understand what is going on and be razzle-dazzled by the art. All being considered I have to say read this one at your own risk, I'm not making any promises. Infinite Crisis 4: 
First off, read this series! If you haven't been reading it find your nearest comic book store. Then buy each issue that's out so far. Do it now! The fate of countless beings from infinite dimensions hang in the balance. No joke, that is how massive and important this series is. DC has gone all out. It seems to me that the best part of such a large comic event is that everyone and their mother has some half-cocked theory about what will happen during such crazy times. My friend Joe has this thoery that the Joker is going to single handedly start knocking off everyone in the Society as he was not invited. Seems possible. The Joker is very unpredictable. I of course, am no different than the rest of the comic book reading world in that I have a few theories of my own. The first one is that Wonder Woman will die. My second theory is a bit more in depth. I believe the Atom will have a triumphant return and destroy Luthor's tower, possibly ending in his own death. That's crazy you say? Let's take a closer look. 
Has anyone noticed that we haven't heard anything from the Atom since way back in Identity Crisis number 7 when he had his wife Jean committed to Arkham and then disappeared? Ok now let's think, what do we know about Dr. Ray Palmer. He is a world renowned physisist who is a foremost leader in nanotechnology. He can also (as we saw in Identity Crisis 7) shrink down to a subatomic size. He can shrink down so small in fact that the JLA, an elite force fo Superhumans cannot contact him. Neither Batman's detective skills or Martian Manhunter's telepathic link can decipher his wereabouts. That also makes him unable to be traced by Alexander Luthor or watched by Brother Eye. These factors give him an advantage that very few hero's have the luxury of right now. Working without being watched. Every other charcter's actions or movements are being well documented and watched by the all seeing Brother Eye. Now, keeping all that in mind, what force in the DC universe is based on nanotechnology? Oh whats that? The OMACS you say? Hmm interesting. Now what would someone who could feasibly control OMACS undetected do with them? If they were only guarding something important, some intregal part of the story arc that could foil Luthor's master plan... What? What's thatyou say? You're kidding! The OMACS are guarding Luthor's tower? ! The very tower that will bring the end of the world as we know it?! Wait a minute here maybe my theory isn't so crazy. In the words of Darth Vader, "all too easy". On a side note while I was writing this review I dug into my collection and fished out the ole Identity Crisis 7. Man, I find the sequence with Ray and his wife extremely heart wrenching. The Atom for some reason has always been one of my favortie characters. Aquaman has always been one of my favorites as well. Maybe I have an affinity to characters who are hard to write for and have virtually useless powers. I mean come on one shrinks and one talks to fish. Anyway back to issue 7, it was tough to see the Atom go through such a horrific event and hit rock bottom. It is always hard for someone to see their heroes fall. Infinite Crisis 2: 
DC comics have been really exciting in the past year or so. Heres a quick summary of what's been going on: Aquaman has been a great series with the art of you know who. The whole sub diego plot was brilliant. They successfully brought drama to a guy who talks to fish. That in itself seems like quite an accomplishment. They brought back Jason Todd. Not sure if I agree with that or not but I have to admit it has made for some good reading. Hal Jordan is back. Awesome. The JLA broke up. Very exciting, and very dramatic. Just about everyone in tights or a cape has had their memory altered. DC killed the Blue Beetle and an army of unknown second string characters. It's cool when a super hero or villain are bumped off, but to me it has all been a big tease. Someone big has to die, no not the Human Bomb or Elastic Man's wife, who cares about them. I mean someone BIG. (please be Wonder Woman, please be Wonder Woman. With messy continuity and long histories, comic publishers all too often forget that not everyone knows what happened at each and every turn in a characters past. The two most important books I've read so far this year (Green Lantern Rebirth:3 and Infinite Crisis 2) set the record straight on certain issues. These two books summaraize two of the biggest events in DC history. Crisis on Infinite Earths (COIE) and the extermination of the Green Lantern Corps by Hal Jordan. Great books for new readers to find out how it all went down. In my mental card catalog Infinite Crisis 2 falls under reference. In plain English it explains what the heck happened in COIE. I read the COIE tradepaperback and still never really understood what the hell was going on. Infinite Crisis 2 tells the story simply and straight forward so that any reader new or old understands. Thanks god. Crack open your piggy bank and buy this book. Not only does it have interesting story developments and slick art, but its strength lies in its boiled down synopsis of past events. For someone who wants to understand the basic elements of COIE and not read the whole thing buy this book, stick it in a box and have it for quick reference at anytime. I'm glad I got it. Justice 2: 
I'm usually completely blown away by Alex Ross' art. He has a gift for lighting that would rival some of the best big Hollywood gaffers (chief lighting technicians) out there. His use of light and his choice of angles and colors express dimension and a tonal feel that is almost hyper-realistic. His art seems more photographic than painted. He has weak points like anyone though. I think the full spectrum of his abilities can be measured by how he portrays different characters. I was kind of unimpressed with his Batman in Justice. His body seems too square and blocky like a vaudeville strongman. It just doesn't look right to me. I always envision Batman lurking in shadows, and he was lit too flatly and evenly. Ross' Flash isn't the best either. I think his art is too realistic and grounded to do the Flash justice (no pun intended). The Flash's power gives alot of room for artistic impression that is absent in Ross' interpretation. If you look at the Flash pages he looks like a stationary man with streaks going through him. There is alot of room for swoops and swirls that aren't taken advantage of. I wish the Flash looked more like a comic and less like a photograph. The art doesn't convey enough body movement. So are there any of Alex Ross' characterizations you do like? You may be asking. Yes, many of them. I was impressed with the Riddler. Very neat and great lines in his costume. I was glad to see him in the bowler. It is a Riddler staple in my mind. (Yes, I'm from the Batman the Animated Series generation). All and all nice riddler. Although Ross does a very nice Joker, his best character by far is Superman. Nobody does Superman like Alex Ross. 
Side note: Chicago White Sox just won the World series...wow. Ok. Alex Ross' Superman. Superman is the original icon. He defines super-hero with his very name. He stands for truth, justice, and the American way. When I close my eyes and think of Superman it is Ross' version of him. That's about as big of a compliment as you can get out of me. One other quick thing with the art. I wish Alex Ross painted in the words too. It is very jarring to see the cheesy machine printed word bubbles slapped over these masterful paintings. It quickly pulls me out of Ross' world. Too bad. I thought the story was good but still too early in the dramatic incubation of the series to get a full grasp of its weight and scope. I thought Bruce Wayne's Private files in the back were a very cool touch. Robin 142: 
I think one of the hardest thing to do in the comic book industry is to write a one or two comic story arc that makes a difference. Most of these short arcs don't have much substance, it isn't enough material to work with. Robin 142 is one of these. I think this story arc is a rebuilding time for Robin. The creators are trying to move him in a different direction which I can appreciate. I think this story arc isn't very exciting. Large transitions or title overhauls are often all expostition and not much action. In this issues defense, I thought the art was strong. It had a blocky simplistic feel to it which worked quite well. Although I think a few times the artist's stripped down style was an easy way to hide laziness and a lack of detail. I have three main problems with this issue. 1. If the Veteran is completely invulnerable then why does he need a team to help him in this mission. 2. The demon hatchilings- they were kind of an interesting idea but it always seems a little misplaced when magical entities appear in Batman. Gotham and Batman's supporting cast always feels like an enviornment with it's roots firmly planted in technology not magic. 3. Tommy Tinker Clockwork Commando. That is a piss poor idea for a character. Who are they trying to kid? I thought DC was better than that. Piss poor. Invincible Vol. 1: 
This review is a two parter. I hated to do it but it seemed like leaving out the first part just didn't seem right. The first part is how I came to start reading the book, and the second is what I think of it. 1. I had a great time at the Chicago Comic Con this year. I bought every Peter David Aquaman, none of which I have ever read. The most exciting thing I got however, was The Ultimate Collection of Invincible. This is not a book I would ever buy in a million years. The funny thing is I didn't have to. It was Saturday and I saw Robert Kirkman was at the Image counter almost all day signing autographs and goofing with Tony Moore. Suddenly I was taken back 5 years when I saw the same two guys peddling some black and white book named Battle Pope. It was a real funny book and I had read it since the first issue so I thought I would say hi to Robert. Although he didn't have a sweet mullet anymore I still went up to his booth and chit chatted for awhile. I told him I loved Battle Pope and asked him what else has he been working on. He grabbed for the Invincible hardcover and said to check it out. I flipped it over and saw that it cost 35 bucks and himmed and hawed. He then said I could just have it for free. I said thanks. It worked out well. I got a good book, an anecdote about an industry professional, and got something for free. What else can you ask for at a comic con? A gift like that can't just sit on the shelf. You have to read it. 
I know one might think this Kentucky fried, "yee haw" hollerin', post mullet goofball might not seem that smart, but trust me, he is. Not only does the guy have some chops when it comes writing, but he is also an all around nice guy and a great business man. I'm a very tough sell and he has me buying every past issue of Invincible that I've missed. A well placed gift will keep me reading Invincible for a long time. Well played Kirkman, well played. You win.......this time. 2. I've thought about writing this part of the review for almost a week now and realized there isn't too much I can say. The first set back I had was there is a particular page I want to have a link to in this review but the imagecomics website is currently down. So that's out. Then I considered mentioning some of my favorite parts of the book, but that might ruin them for a new reader. So I'm not going to mention specific events either. I would love to say more but I really think I would be cheating people by talking about the best parts. I do have to mention two things though. The trash bag was brilliant and the meeting with the comic book artist is hilarious. It was a joke that would only work in the comic book realm. I think this book is brilliant and Kirkman is holding a one way ticket to the top. I just hope he doesn't get too big for Invincible one day. This book gets me excited to turn the page like not many comics have recently. Countdown to Infinite Crisis: 
80 pages for a dollar. Right off that's a pretty good book right? I'm always glad when one of the major companies offers one of these great deals. Granted, it's usually a stunt to get readers hooked early on in a series so they will read the entire run, but it's a trick I'm willing to fall for. It's like how a drug dealer runs things, ya know the ole "first ones free, but the next one will cost ya". But that's the way capitalism works. I found the narration by the Blue Beetle an extremely interesting choice. First off I've never known him to be any kind of intellectual character. I've haven't followed him much but usually he is a slapsticky, one dimensional character. So I was surprised how introspective and intuitive he was written in this. I thought it was a very cool move. I thought the discontinuity of this book was too confusing. I liked the movie Memento and I also appreciate Tarantino's use of jumping around in time. In these movies it works. It either furthers the story or tone in some way, or used as a clever stylistic technique. I think it was a poor choice for this book. Looking back I have no idea what happened when. It was just far too confusing and had too much jumping around to establish a distinct timeline. I would like to think that I would be pretty good at following jumps in time; so I can only imagine how lost other readers felt. The time jumping didn't seem to further the story or aid the telling of it in anyway. It just seemed thrown in for flash and had no real justification or logical purpose. Well not that I noticed anyhow. 
Booster Gold. I have no idea who he is or what he does other than run around with the Blue Beetle and act like a jack-ass. Anyone who could give me some details on this guy let me know. The art was great. In such a visual medium the aesthetic is everything. Unlike movies, comic books entice only the eye, no other sense is stimulated by them. This fact puts extra emphasis on the art. Rags Morales draws in this book, one of the best Hal Jordans I've ever seen. I look at him and instantly think hero. Hal Jordan not Rags Morales. The rest of the art although drawn by a large group of artists was fantastic. It is dark, dramatic, and action packed. The "explosive" pages at Ted Kord's house are thrilling. Fine job boys. The other main sequence that comes to my mind is in The Wizard Shazam's Lair. I thought it was cool the way the Wizard looked like the lair. He had a long, wavy beard and hair which almost blends into the rough, cavernous walls. This tends to make me think that the Wizard and the cave are very closely related. Not just that he is in there all the time, I mean on a deeper metaphoric level. You know the loneliness and emotional emptiness of being a Wizard, are all descriptions that could be related to a cave. Granted I don't currently know any Wizards, I haven't seen one at the bar whoopin' it up recently. I'm sure theres is a life of solemn solitude, studying ancient texts and mixing potions. I liked the book, and I think it will be a good jumping platform for a storyline that will ultimately end-up being a let down and dissapointing. Just like Batman: War Games was. But go read it and get hooked like the rest of us dollar wielding fools. Green Arrow 46: 
I thought this episode was pretty well rounded. Mia is semi tricked by Ollie to join up with the Teen Titans. Predictably the Teen Titans were portrayed kinda goofy and one dimesional, but I think DC often writes them that way. The art was also pretty cool, I think the facial expressions and detail were really lacking. On the upside I loved the vibrant physical action and body movement. The Teen Titan audition fight really stood out in my mind. There were some badass frames in there (when Mia does the summersault and cranks off three arrows). I thought the idea of Mia fighting Robin was cool. It was great that it was more Ollie measuring himself against Batman as a superhero/mentor/father than Mia proving her martial art prowess. Mia loses the fight, of course, Batmans proteges are too badass. Give it a read, you'll like it. Bullseye's Greatest Hits 5: 
I really liked how the story developed in this issue. Baldry's failed attempt at tricking the mastermind, Bullseye into reaveling the secret location of the stolen plutonium sets the stage for a face to face confrontation between agent Hoskins and Bullseye. This series has really given me a deeper look into the character of Bullseye and this issue is no different. His interaction with Hoskins and Baldry give a glimpse as to the degree of Bullseye's psycotic, yet masterful plans. Hearing the story about Bullseye's youth and his interaction with his father shows how deep mentally and shallow emotionally Bullseye really is. Although the story is good, and the character development is great, the art is mediocre. There is no action in the pictures. Almost the entire book is people sitting in white rooms wearing white robes talking to each other. BORING. 90% of the drawings are just talking heads (medium close-ups) all from an eyelevel perspective. This technique could be used to set a mundane atmoshpere if executed correctly but I think in this case it's a lack of creativity and a need to meet a deadline. I really admire when someone can take a story and tell it in a away that can only be told in the medium of their chosing. This story didn't really need to be a comic. It could have been just a written story or a movie, I would have gotten the same satisfaction out of it. All and all it was a quick easy read. Pretty good, coulda been dynamite with better art though, but hey they can't all be gold. Flaming Carrot: 
I've always heard rumblings of it from friends and aquaintances who fancy the obscure. I sporadically fall into that catagory so I figured I'd check it out. The one I read, just came out and is both number 1 and number 33 for you kids keeping score at home. I thought it was pretty good. I've read worse comics, that's for damn sure. It's in black and white, always a bonus in my eyes, though I'm not sure why. The story was a little weird but it's about what I thought it would be. It had some real funny parts, and I think his baloney gun is ingenious. What a great idea. I've always had a fascination with culinary weaponry salad shooter, potato guns etc., and I thought the baloney gun was right up there. The art was kinda run of the mill, it really didn't blow my skirt up too high but it didn't suck either. All and all I think it was worth my 299 cents but it will probably be the last one I read. Dr. Blink Superhero Shrink 0: 
I always love it when someone crafts an actual original idea. Yeah something fresh, creative and unique. Well Dr. Blink is that and isn't. On one hand the premise of a superhero shrink is brilliant and genius. Probably the most original comic I can think of since Battle Pope. Please a moment of silence for the Almighty Battle Pope. .......... Okay, anyway, Dr. Blink is also very unoriginal in its blatant spoofing of DC comics. When I first opened the book and read the first few shorts, I thought it stuck way too close to well known characters and their scenerios: Batman, Supes, etc. But as I read further the stories got really hilarious. The profiles in the back were brilliant. "Mental Midget", thats classic. But alas, I'm ashamed to say that "Killer Pussy" actually made me laugh out loud. Thats funny. The art is safe and very animated, DC tv show cartoonish. Which if youve every looked around my site you should know I like, alot. Oh almost forgot, the Letterman bit was hilarious. Anyway I thought it was very original, and I'm anxious to tell Rob at the comic book store to throw it in my box when it hits the shelves next time. |
