It was another big week of comics. DC wrapped up their Justice League/Looney Tunes crossovers with the surprisingly excellent Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1, while Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp and Bilquis Evely said farewell to Wonder Woman. Marvel delivered another chapter of the main Secret Empire mini-series while also drawing Amazing Spider-Man into that massive conflict. Elsewhere, Image gave us a new chapter of Saga and the return of Black Magick, IDW kicked off a new Clue comic and Valiant debuted their latest new series with Secret Weapons #1.
Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and be sure to let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.
Written by Dan Jurgens | Drawn by Jack Herbert
This issue takes a step back in quality because Dan Jurgens goes a little too old-school with the dialogue for the Superman Revenge Squad. Yes, they’re all over-the-top comic book villains, but they don’t have to sound like morons. Most them seem to be very out of character, especially Mongul when he yells “Yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!” Fortunately, the issue has stunning artwork by Jack Herbert that more than makes up for the lapse in script quality. There aren’t enough superlatives to describe what Herbert brings to the table. It’s just everything that you could possibly hope for from a Superman comic, with dynamic renditions of the Man of Steel, his greatest villains and the various supporting players in the Superman Family. The closing splash page is particularly powerful and a great hook for the next issue. I wish the story had been stronger, but the art is about as close to perfection as it gets. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Hope Larson | Drawn by Eleonora Carlini
Writer Hope Larson follows up the "Son of the Penguin" arc with a standalone issue revolving around Batgirl investigating a supposed haunting of a YMCA pool. It's a suitably low-key, lighthearted chapter of the series, poking fun at ghost hunting culture and highlighting Babs' rational scientist mindset as she struggles to find a rational explanation for the supernatural. The actual mystery angle falls a little flat, however. Babs solves the problem entirely too easily and with a pretty sizable leap in logic. But maybe Larson could only accomplish so much in that front with one issue. Eleonora Carlini's charming art style suits the tone of this issue well. The series has never really been the same since artist Rafael Albuquerque moved on, but Carlini's light, flowing line-work hearkens back to the aesthetic of the previous volume nicely. Little touches like Carlini designing a swimsuit version of the Batgirl costume (with mask, of course) really add to the overall effect. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Tom King | Drawn by Lee Weeks & Byron Vaughns
"To the best of my recollection, Batman/Elmer Fudd Special #1 is the first comic that literally made me laugh out loud with its first sentence. This comic is every bit as ridiculous as one would expect from an ultra-serious mash-up of the Looney Tunes and Batman universes. But beyond the humor and sheer novelty factor, there's a surprisingly deep story here about two deranged men fighting and bonding over the one thing in life that unites them. It's a far better comic than it has any right to be." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
Written by Steve Orlando & Scott Snyder | Drawn by Riley Rossmo
One of the more effective aspects of the Batman/The Shadow miniseries is that it retroactively makes the Shadow an important part of Batman’s history. And he may even be the architect of Batman’s destiny. That could have been very annoying, yet Steve Orlando and Scott Snyder pull it off so well that it could fit into the backstory of almost any version of Bruce Wayne. The title heroes barely share any time together in this issue, and yet the Shadow looms over Batman in ways that few heroes or villains could. Riley Rossmo’s art seems a little looser and sketchy in this issue, as the Stag picks up a partner-in-crime and a few familiar faces from Batman’s rogue’s gallery appear. The most fascinating moments came from the Shadow and Alfred’s conversation, which shed some light on the Shadow’s plans for the Dark Knight. If DC and Dynamite wanted to make this crossover truly special, then Batman should retain some of the backstory that he picked up in this miniseries. It merits further exploration. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by James Tynion IV | Drawn by Alvaro Martinez
James Tynion’s story is starting to get a bit convoluted. There are two competing narratives in this issue and they’re not meshing well. In the first, Batman attempts to address some hidden magical past with Zatanna, while in the other plotline, a sentient Order of St. Dumas suit comes after Azrael and the rest of Team Batman. It’s the Zatanna side of the story that pops, and hopefully she’ll stick around, since the team has lost a few of its more interesting members. Alvaro Martinez’s art is generally decent, but I was honestly confused by whether one character was meant to be Leslie Tompkins or a more recent creation by Tynion. That initial lack of clarity is present in both the script and the art. However, Martinez has some redemptive moments with Batman and Zatanna in the rain near the end of the issue. Those are some gorgeous pages that were well laid out and engaging. I’d like to see more of that story in the next few issues. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Joshua Williamson | Drawn by Carmine Di Giandomenico, Neil Googe & Ryan Sook
Joshua Williamson may have miscalculated with the decision to bring back the Reverse-Flash almost immediately after his last outing in “The Button.” Diminishing returns have set in, and Reverse-Flash seems less compelling than ever. The new version of his origin in this issue makes Reverse-Flash even more pathetic. That may have been the intent, but it’s still a problem. Carmine Di Giandomenico’s art is also unnecessarily indistinct and difficult to follow. Nor does it flow well with the guest art by Neil Googe and Ryan Sook. In fact, Sook’s pages are the artistic high point of the issue. But even with the cliffhanger ending and its implications for Barry, it still feels stale. Compared to the other recently released milestone issues for DC Universe Rebirth, The Flash finishes up far behind in this race. Not even The Flash can outrun a mediocre story. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Robert Venditti | Drawn by Ethan Van Sciver
Artistically, this book really is at its best when Ethan Van Sciver is the primary artist. The Lanterns never look better, and it is appropriate to have the best Green Lantern artist back for the new golden age. However, it feels like Robert Venditti is eager to tear down the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps alliance that he worked so hard to establish. It still feels a little too soon to be heading in the opposite direction, especially since the pairing of Guy Gardner and Arkillo has such a ready made bond for an intergalactic buddy comedy. Their action sequence is the standout part of the issue, and very satisfying. Venditti also ups the tension between Kyle Rayner and Soranik Natu before dropping a bombshell revelation on John Stewart. It’s an intriguing setup, even if I don’t necessarily like the creative direction that the book appears to be moving in. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Rob Williams | Drawn by Stjepan Sejic
I'm not sure why artist Stjepan Sejic has become such a big presence at DC all of a sudden, but I'm very glad he has. One week after drawing the strongest issue of Aquaman in the Rebirth era, Sejic is back to lend a similarly strong touch to Suicide Squad. Sejic's style is all about blending weird sci-fi imagery with vividly rendered, expressive characters, and that skill comes in incredibly handy in this issue. Sejic and Rob Williams tackle a transitional chapter of the series, with the team mourning the death of Rick Flag and Waller seeking a new team leader. The premise seems a little flawed in that it seems strange that Waller would turn to one of the other Squad members and not an outsider with no criminal record, but that ceases to matter after a certain point. What does matter is that the duo provide an excellent, character-driven story that serves to further humanize every single member of the team, even Waller herself. This issue is equal parts funny, wistful and optimistic, and further proof that Sejic needs to be a recurring face in the Rebirth lineup. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Benjamin Percy | Drawn by Khoi Pham w/ Phil Hester
Much like Jackson Hyde only looks like Kaldur'ahm from Young Justice, the Teen Titans of this book only slightly resemble the characters as they appear in other comics. The old Wolfman and Perez Titans run is pretty dated by today’s standards, but it worked for the time. Benjamin Percy’s Titans feel forced and insufferable. Beast Boy and Robin are particularly annoying and Percy’s depiction of the team as teenagers is about as cliche as it gets. What almost redeems the issue is the way that Percy adds some surprises to Jackson’s backstory and brings in an old Aquaman foe for a battle that has very little to do with the team at all. That may be why the cliffhanger is so strong. That closing splash page by Khoi Pham is a great image, even though the rest of the issue feels like a letdown. This series still badly needs to find a consistent tone and quality. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Greg Rucka | Drawn by Liam Sharp & Bilquis Evely
Sadly, this is the end of the road for Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp and Bilquis Evely on Wonder Woman. In terms of plot, this issue reads less like a definitive end to a chapter in Diana's life and more like a temporary stop in the road. There are too many loose threads and open-ended conflicts remaining for Rucka to really tie everything together in one issue. But emotionally, Wonder Woman #25 serves as a strong finish to that run. This issue opens on a somber, even unsettling note, as the weight of recent failures takes its toll on Diana. But the tone gradually shifts as Diana is given new reason for hope and comes to realize that she has more of a home and a family than she ever allowed herself to admit. The issue also makes strong use of the two artists, dividing them in such a way that they tend to focus on the same characters and conflicts they have been throughout the series. Sharp's renditions of the other Justice Leaguers sometimes seems off (Batman especially), but between his bold, detailed images and Evely's graceful, elegant line-work, this issue serves as a fond farewell to one of the strongest creative teams in the current DC roster. -Jesse
Final Score:
Continues
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire