There is a ton of good this week, but I also give out my first “F”. Good times…good times.
Batman #651
“Face the Face”
Published by: DC
Writer: James Robinson
Penciller: Don Kramer
Inker: Keith Champagne
Colorist: John Kalisz
My goodness, Poison Ivy turns out to be a bit of chump, doesn’t she? As Gordon puts it, “That was easy.” I’d add in “too easy” if I were him. This is too bad, because otherwise, the Robin v. giant plants and Batman acting as bait sequences were good and the first occurrence I can recall in a long time of Batman and Robin actually being Batman and Robin, partners.
The logic of the whole thing is flawed, too. Is Batman really going to let Ivy’s plants grow wild over the penthouse of this building? Unlikely. So, she surrenders and her plants die anyway (probably). Well, maybe she just got caught up in the moment.
I’m being a bit harder and a bit more flip about this issue than I actually feel though. There was much I liked. The beginning sequence, most likely foreshadowing people that Batman will run into during this 8 issue arc, was nice setup, the people’s reaction to the exploding Batwing felt authentic, and, as I already said, I liked most of the Poison Ivy stuff except its outcome. It is just that, in place of a climatic return and victory for Batman and Robin, we get an underwhelming one page resolution, and that leaves a taste in my mouth that the rest of the issue has a hard time overcoming.
This one earns its grade on characterization and Robinson nailing the feel of Gotham. If it was all about action, I’m not sure I could be so kind.
Grade: B
Manhunter #20
“Psychobabble” Part One
Published by: DC
Writer: Marc Andreyko
Layouts: Javier Pina
Finishes: Fernando Blanco
Colorist: Steve Buccellato
This, much like Birds of Prey, establishes a OYL continuity that is not all that different from where we left it. However, it goes down a lot smoother to me than BoP’s disappointing first post-OYL issue.
Part of the reason is that these changes feel lived in and ongoing. The changes in BoP felt like they had just happened despite it being OYL and they were merely roadblocks back to the status quo. One of my fears of OYL before it hit was that all the titles were going to start in “bold new directions” with the point being to return to “same old, same old.” BoP reflected that fear. Manhunter avoids it with changes that feel organic and capable of being held long term.
The only specific criticism I have to offer concerns the art. I’m not sure if the designation of “Layouts” and “Finishes” (as opposed to “Penciller” and “Inker”) really belies a change in roles for Pina and Blanco, but I would not be surprised. The faces in this issue often seem a bit fuzzier than usual, not as crisp in their detail.
Otherwise, a strong setup for Manhunter’s post-OYL run. May it last awhile and may Dylan Battles remain an improbable ladies man.
Grade: B
Robin #148
“Out Goes the Lights”
Published by: DC
Writer: Adam Beechen
Penciller: Karl Kerschl
Inker: Wayne Faucher, Karl Kerschl, and Prentis Rollins
Colorist: Guy Major
Alright, DC, you win. I’ll buy Robin again.
I’ve always had an affection for the Tim Drake Robin. When he started, he was roughly the same age as me, he had the same first name (silly yes, but I’d be lying if I pretended that it had nothing to do with my liking of him) and he was a capable hero in his own right. I enjoyed his title for a few years until Chuck Dixon lost the rudder and spent about a year trying to get it back, ultimately failing. The two subsequent writers both failed to turn the title around in their own unique ways and I figured that Robin would be quietly cancelled some day and I would read about it, shrug and think, “Huh…I remember when I liked that book.” But I picked up this issue anyway. Hope springs eternal I suppose. As it turns out, this time that hope was not misplaced.
Robin is well written, Batman is well written, there is an interesting mystery, and Tim’s back to showing us how he became Robin in the first place, his brain. All in all, a good bag of accomplishments for a first issue.
Beechen nicely pushes the book forward (Robin has his own digs, is confident enough in his talents to tell Batman to stop down and Batman respects him enough to do so) and remembers the past (the inclusion of Lynx, references to Cain, Cassandra, and the first Tim Drake story).
Kerschl’s work is, overall, strong. There are a few pages at the end where he seems to have lost total control of his pencil (check out the briefing officer’s face) or someone else is doing an uncredited fill-in. I did think Robin looked a bit young, (especially in comparison to his appearance in the Titans annual), but I suppose he is supposed to be about 15 years old still so…
Grade: A
Captain America #16
“Collision Courses” Part 1
Published by: Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Mike Perkins
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
I won’t go so far as to say that Mr. Brubaker can do no wrong, but this week he pulls that little feat off and here’s the first proof of it.
But first, let’s talk about the coloring. Because no one ever does that. And I love to be wacky. To keep with that theme, I’m proclaiming D’Armata one of the best colorists in the business and certainly THE best in Marvel’s stables. His work here is not as flashy as his work on New Avengers, but he nails every panel. I do not usually notice the colorist, but with D’Armata, it’s hard not to.
Now, back to Brubaker. He made the return of Bucky work (a miracle in and of itself) and proves here that it was not just a one arc shock, that the results with reverberate through the title for at least some time to come. I especially appreciate how he uses a rumored Bucky appearance to show Captain America brighten up and be a little more loose. I cannot remember the last time we’ve seen Cap portrayed that way and yet it feels utterly authentic.
Of course, if emotions are not really your thing, we also have Crossbones and Sin making like a better spoken, better dressed version of Mickey and Mallory as they work their way through Kansas and Iowa. As human beings, we should not delight in this sort of over-the-top random acts of violence, but you gotta admit that the two sure do make it look fun (and a bit sexy).
A lot of that credit also lies with Perkins. I’m not sure how long he’s on, but he is a credible fill-in for this book. He nicely integrates himself into the book’s style but never feels flat or copycatish.
Grade: A
Daredevil #83
“The Devil in Cell Block D” Part Two
Published by: Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artists: Michael Lark with Stefano Gaudiano
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
And here is example #2 of Brubaker (and oddly enough, D’Armata’s) do-no-wrongness. He maintains his momentum from last issue, pushing Matt into general pop, teasing with more appearances by the faux Daredevil, revealing the fate of the cop who led Franklin to his doom, and inspiring Urich to finally get it together and “save Matt Murdock.” He also shows us Foggy Nelson’s funeral.
There is no way that Foggy’s really dead though. I’m not in denial, I’m serious here. Foggy’s not dead. Call me crazy if you like, but check out Dakota talking about what happened when the ambulance arrived. I don’t know if he’s hiding by choice or by force, but mark my words, Mr. Nelson remains amongst the living.
For now though, that is little consolation to Matt Murdock who is in the process of fully embracing the angry kid that he always wanted to be but held in check for his father. His drubbing of the Owl is cathartic and frightening. Cathartic because it finally gives Matt something physical to fight, frightening because you can tell he’s enjoying it for reasons beyond that, that he’s unabashedly delighting in the pulping.
Some people are comparing it to Miller or Bendis’ runs on the book. It’s too soon for that really. But it is damn good.
Grade: A
Nextwave #3
Published by: Marvel
Writer: Warren Ellis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Colorist: Dave McCaig
Like many, part of me is waiting for this book to wear out its welcome, to become too much of a good thing or to be revealed as too little as it slips into tedium.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, that day is not today.
Once again, Ellis delivers a top notch script that’s full of actual funny (“I AM PRESIDENT FRANKENSTEIN!” Indeed). But that’s not all this issue offers. The captions are genius (“This is a gas tank,”), the opening primer is bizarrely sublime (“Oooo. You’d look good in a nice periwinkle pants suit.”), and the letters column is surprisingly insightful about Toto’s “Africa” (as insightful as one can be about that song, anyway). Not to play into the book’s hyperbolic language or anything, but this is not merely a comic…it’s an experience.
Grade: A
New Avengers #17
Published by: Marvel
Writer: Mike Deodata
Penciler: Mike Deodata, Jr.
Inkers: Jose Pimentel
Colorist: Dave Stewart
This book opens with a premise I quite like, Cage leading the Avengers in an act of impact police work. I imagine it is likely to ruffle some feathers (“the Avengers do not just STAND somewhere” I expect one might complain) but it makes sense to me. Why can’t the Avengers stop cosmic threats and still take the time to visit a lousy neighborhood in Detroit so life for the people living there can improve? I cannot think of a good reason besides the old standby “that’s just not what they do,” and I have no interest in accepting that.
Sadly, the Avengers are quickly called away to deal with that glow-y dude from last issue. Things look bad, then surprisingly good when Iron Man seizes control of the situation, then worse as Ms. Marvel acts impulsively.
It’s more in line with “how the Avengers act” and that’s nice too. I think Bendis is capable of balancing the small (hanging in Detroit, battling ninjas) with the large (fighting Senor Burning Man, taking on a corrupt SHIELD) in this title and finally it seems like he is making it work. It makes me nervous for Civil War which may very well upset that apple cart.
For now though, this issue gets a…
Grade: B
Supreme Power: Hyperion #5
“Prodigal Son”
Published by: Marvel
Writer: J. Michael Straczynsi
Breakdowns: Dan Jurgens and Staz Johnson
Finishes: Klaus Janson
Colorist: Saul Trevino
My working theory (and it is just a working theory) is that there are two JMS’s. There is one we know from writing Supreme Power, Midnight Nation, and the first arc or so of Rising Stars. Then there is one that is responsible for the pretentious mess called Book of Lost Souls and this miniseries.
In other words this miniseries…not so good.
It should have a tone of creepy foreshadowing given what it delves into. Instead, its “reveals” are dull and telegraphed. What’s worse is that it finally skews the direction of Supreme Power/Squadron Supreme to Gruenwald territory, a move that JMS has heretofore nicely danced around. If all Supreme Power/Squadron Supreme ends up being is an update of that classic 80’s maxi-series, doesn’t that strike anyone else as a bit of a waste?
Even if it was not a waste, however, this issue just is not very good. Most of it is made up a largely pointless fight sequence followed by a reveal that one could’ve anticipated from about three issues ago. Add to that the fact that the reveal is reinforced in such as way as to insult the intelligence of the reader (I get that 2008 is in the future. I don’t need a character to point to a March 2006 calendar to let me know.) and I can’t stomach it.
But hey, that Klaus Janson is a hell of an inker, eh?
This marks the second and a half time (I give Nighthawk partial credit as I did enjoy it up until its sloppy, rushed finale) a Supreme Power mini has burned me. Guess its time to wise up and stop buying the damn things.
Grade: F
Squadron Supreme #1
“The Pre-War Years”
Published by: Marvel
Writer: J. Michael Straczynsi
Penciller: Gary Frank
Finishes: Jonathan Sibal
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
In this largely setup issue, the other JMS is kind enough to show up. Thus, this issue fares much better. Those who wisely avoided the Hyperion mini, however, might be a bit lost as to how the heck we got from the end of the MAX series (with Hyperion ordering the government to leave him the hell alone) to here (with Hyperion headlining a new superhero team, albeit while ratting them out to the press).
What really makes me happy though is the return of Gary Frank. It’s been too long since I got me some sweet Frank art. Too long, baby, too long. But back he is and in fighting form. Huzzah.
Grade: B
