ACTION COMICS #9: Welcome to Earth-23 where Superman is not totally what we are used to. For starters, he’s what we would call African American and apparently so was everyone on Krypton. He is visited by an eyepatch wearing Lois Lane who arrives from another Earth with a pretty burned-up Clark and Jimmy. They battle a robot Superman and this planet’s hero defeats it. Did I also mentioned he’s the {President of this planet’s United States? The back-up story features Superman and Wonder Woman battling a despot.
Okay…I guess the NEW 52 embraces the concept of the Multiverse. I found this to be just a really silly story that makes the Kal-El into the President of the United States. He looks miraculously like our OWN President and I just really hated the story. I haven’t hated a story in ACTION COMICS this much since the first few issues. But I do LOVE Gene Ha’s art! And the back-up story by Sholly Fisch and Cully Hamner? As always, I LOVE Hamner’s. But this story is a poor excuse to give us two members of this planet’s Justice League in action…no pun intended.
ALL STAR WESTERN #9: So Hex and Arkham are trapped on a boat and looking to meet their maker.But Hex had a plan and Arkham knew what he was doing. Hex and the Doc get off the boat while Nighthawk and Cinnamon take care of the bad guys in town, including the crazy pit fighting girl, Z.C. Branke. But they can’t find Thurston Moody who is being slaughtered by a Talon(yeah…it’s an OWLS crossover issue). Arkham almost gets his from Hex when he questions him about his wife. Some time later, during a meeting with Gotham’s power brokers, Tallulah Black shows up toi exact some kind of vengeance. But she is stopped by a masked bodyguard and tossed out the window at Hex’ feet. And apparently he knows her. In the back-up tale, we see Nighthawk and Cinnamon in love and she finally gets her revenge on the man who killed her father.
Another nice issue here as the Doctor and Hex squeeze out of their dilemma and we get another storyline introduced at the end of the tale. And the back-up totally brings it home. Artist Patrick Scherberger and inker Dan Green absolutely have a style that is so much in the style of legendary MAN-THING artist Mike Ploog that it is scary…so much that I had to double check the credits. I want to see more of this duo, both the art duo and the characters. Next issue, we get Bat Lash. I’m interested to see what the NEW 52 holds for that classic character.
ANIMAL MAN #9: Buddy finds his body taken over by the Rot and he ends up in the Bone Orchard of the Red. He ends up speaking at length with the creature known as The Shepherd as they travel to the Totems. Back in the real world, Buddy’s wife and son meet up with a certain John Constantine.
Jeff Lemire and Steve Pugh turn up the heat as the forthcoming JUSTICE LEASGUE DARK crossover begins which will eventually lead to the crossover with SWAMP THING. This is a fun and creepy read recommended for anyone who grooves on horror fiction.
AQUAMAN #9: Black Manta takes on The Prisoner, but he calls upon the spirits of dead soldiers and manages to escape with these special manacles he has. Aquaman and Ya’wara journey to the Amazon Rainforest and she unleashes her anger and her pets with startling vengeance. Mera learns that Shin was responsible for teaching Aquaman how to use his abilities and actually was responsible for sending Manta to retrieve some of Arthur’s blood. Apparently Arthur’s father died of a heart attack following the incident so Aquaman killed Manta’s father. That changes things…
I know I crow about it each and every month, but Ivan Reis’ is completely at the top of his game on this title. And that goes a long ways as I thought his work on BLACKEST NIGHT and BRIGHTEST DAY was stellar. And points again to Geoff John as he continues to deliver some of his best work.
BATGIRL #9: Batgirl faces one of the many Talons who are invading Gotham City this month. The back story we are to understand is this female Talon started her life in Japan circa 1944 and is still alive and kicking today. Her goal: attack Gotham City Police Department and cause havoc, which she does quite well. In the end, Batgirl, defeats her foe but it seems the Owls have the day, as Commissioner Gordon turns on a Bat Signal that is now an Owl Signal.
Gail Simone and Ardian Syaf contributes a great chapter in the NIGHT OF THE OWLS storyline. Not only does the book long tremendous, which Syaf makes this book do issue after issue, but Simone turns a beautiful, heartfelt issue with a great back story. Before this issue is through, you will feel pity for the Talon. And the twist with the “Owl Signal” at the end is pure magic! Thank you Gail and Ardian for this awesome issue!
BATMAN #9: Batman, dressed in some heavy duty battlesuit, fights a horde of Talons. He orders Alfred to drop the temperature in the Batcave to slow them down but it takes the help of a bevy of bats to take them down. He heads out to try to stop the Talons campaign of attacks but arrives too late to save Lincoln Marsh. In the back-up story, we get a tale of the House of Wayne as told by Alfred’s father, Jarvis.
Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s lead story is great and the end of it ties in directly with the story that runs in BATMAN: THE DARK KNIGHT #9. What I found interesting is that there are moments when Capullo’s art resembles Sam Keith and at other time Frank Miller. Either way, I’m cool with it. The back-up story, by Snyder, James Tynion IV and Rafael Albuquerque, I could totally do without. I don’t need to know about Thomas and Martha Wayne’s brush with the Talons. I just found myself not caring.
BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #9: We get the tale of Alton Carver, a Talon who slays Lincoln March but not before March wounds him in return. We learn of his history and how he was retired. Batman arrives, there is a battle and it looks like Carver is done for. But when last we seen him, he staggering about in the sewer.
I absolutely love this story, probably as much as any of the NIGHT OF THE OWLS tales. David Finch turns in his usual beautiful work but it is Judd Winick’s writing that propels this tale forward. I love Winick’s writing here as I do almost all of his work. He has a knack for great dialogue and superb characterization. The back story is impressive and you really feel for Carver. Nice work…better than nice-awesome!
BATMAN AND ROBIN #9: Robin is send on a mission to protect Major General Benjamin Burrows from The Talons. And since it is Robin we are talking about, you can just guess how it ends: Damien beheads him.
Another killer issue from Peter J. Tomasi with art from Lee Garbett(except for pages 16 and 17 the origin story for Talon Edwin Wilkins which was drawn by Andy Clarke). It is always nice to see Robin embrace his psychotic roots. And this entire issue is nothing but Damien. Love it!
BATWOMAN #9: To Drown the World continues with it’s intersecting stories. Batwoman and Sune are fighting Falchion, who drops a blackout bombs on them. Jake Kane freaks out when Bette flat-lines. Maro returns to Gotham Bay with Killer Croc to speak to the Weeping Woman. Kate and Sune attended a party on Falchion's yacht and dig through his personal belongings, finding blueprints of his secret lair., and then surreptitiously made their way back to the party. Back in present time, Falchion attacks Sune, cutting her open. Batwoman the arrow the DEO gave her into Falchion's eye. The arrow blows up and so does Falchion's head. The issue ends with Batwoman and Sune sharing a kiss.
Another disjointed issue with time jumps all over the place. This will probably make a lot more sense when the storyline ends. W. Haden Blackman handles the artwork this issue is the continuing artist Merry-Go-Round while J. H. Williams continues to my favorite of the new titles. And a side note: in trhe middle of all sorts of morality critics climbing on the bandwagon involving ASTONISHING X-MEN and EARTH 2 having homosexual characters, no one seems to notice that Kate Kane gets about as busy as anyone in the DC gay superhero family.
BIRDS OF PREY #9: We start in the year 1842 and a massacre has ensued, apparently brought on by the Court of the Owls. Flash to today where the Birds are battling another bird: Talon Henry Ballard. And while Katana and Canary are forced to flee to the church from issue #1, Starling arrives spouting one of the best lines(she calls him an “Edgar Allan Poe looking bastard” who she is planning to send back to his maker, “who, by the looks of ya, is Tim Burton”) and drives him into and through Leave it to Batgirl to save the day but it turns out that Ivy is going to fully save the day by climbing into a refrigerated railroad car with Talon until he ends up being put back into his frozen grave.
Duane Swierczynski and Travel Foreman do an adequate job of crafting this chapter in the saga of the NIGHT OF THE OWLS. With the exception of a mention about Dinah’s husband and a reference to what looks to be a trip to the Amazon next issue, all existing plotlines have been tossed out for the moment. Don’t forget, there is still the mystery of who Choke really was and Dinah murdering her husband three years ago.
CATWOMAN #9: Much of the story revolves around an incident during the 1600’s when a Talon lost one of his killing knives and this resulted in his being put on ice. Today, the disgraced Talon is brought back to life to redeem his honor by killing Penguin. Spark and Catwoman save the villain who only wants his knife back. Catwoman promises him he will have it just as Penguin takes the poor soul out with a headshot. True to her word, she returns the knife and they are all together again on his corpse because “monsters deserve a little mercy”.
A great NIGHT OF THE OWLS tie-in from Judd Winick and regular series artist Guillem March. Where many of the tie-in issues through out the NEW 52 Universe just served to push the epic tale of the Owls along, this one actually ties together nicely, doesn’t totally abandon the current storyline in CATWOMAN and actually left me feeling sorry for Talon. Nicely done.
DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #9: It looks as though there may be a serial killer loose and the F.B.I. calls in Agent Sage to investigate. She ends up a Belle Reve interviewing her father, Jon Savage. He is also know as The Vandal Savage. Yes, THAT Vandal Savage. He may be a prime suspect to have inspired a copycat, but it looks like they will have to spring him from Belle Reve to accompany her.
James Robinson and Bernard Chang introduce Vandal Savage into the modern New 52 Universe( he exists in DEMON KNIGHTS), so he has appeared in the new Universe before this. I find it an interesting taken on the character although it seems like this is going to be a Metahuman version of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. We shall see...
DEATHSTROKE #9: A contract is put out on Deathstroke and someone attempts to collect on it while Slade Wilson is at the grave of his wife, who died five years earlier. Bad idea. What we discover is this isn’t the hit team. This is a team of Metahumans looking to hire Slade as part of their team. The leader of the team is a certain red jumpsuit wearing former WildC.A.T. named Zealot. In fact, we’ve seen many of this team before as Kalista, Tigorr and Primus were all members of the Omega Men, now known as T?he Omega Youths. Deadshot has been hired to capture a certain Czarnian who has escaped from a facility in Colorado. Only one Czarnian I knew: that would be Lobo.
With this issue, the era of Rob Liefeld handling writing and art duties begins. And, despite my biggest fears, it was not as bad as I imagined that it could have been. The dialogue was a bit on the sparse side but it wasn’t as dumbed down as I feared. Liefeld’s art? It is what it is. Here I was prepared to loose this title following this issue and I find myself deciding to stay a little longer…at least to see how this all turns out.
DEMON KNIGHTS #9: Allegedly Merlin got murdered by a Daemonite at the conclusion of issue #8. The Demon Knights arrive at the city of Alba Sarum where Princess Alba and Princess Sarum are in desperate need of help. They discuss a reward and ask them to investigate Merlin’s murder. Xanadu tells the tale of how the dead go to Avalon but she seems to think that Merlin’s soul has not passed on. The team crosses the English Channel on their way to the ruins of Camelot but runs into a sea serpent in the process. Oh, did I mention that The Shining Knight speaks with her Pegasus who has talked to the Horsewoman’s horse? Don’t trust her is the word on the street.
Okay…this title is starting to get on my nerves. I love the characters and the setting. But the whole team thing is starting to get old. Etrigan is relegated to Hell at least once an issue where he gets to commune with Lucifer. Is The Shining Knight male or female. Is the Horsewoman REALLY going to become Batgirl in the future? And what’s up with Stormwatch hovering about? Answers, people! Give us something resembling the frist few issues.
DETECTIVE COMICS #9: A NIGHT OF THE OWLS cross-over. Over at the Asylum, Dr. Arkham is working with Black Mask when he is attacked by a Talon. Lucky for him, Batman arrives on the scene and, after a confrontation with talon, Clayface and Black Mask, manages to cold-cock Arkham and get him out of the Asylum. In the back-up, the Two Face tale continues on.
A nice issue by Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea that manages to introduce the Black Mask into the NEW 52. The back-up story does nothing for me although Szymon Kudranski’s art is quirky and interesting to look it, even if Tony Daniel’s story is unimpressive..
FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF S.H.A.D.E. #9: S.H.A.D.E. wakes Frankenstein up to send he and Nina on a search for the missing Animal man and Detetctive Kershaw(see past issues of ANIMAL MAN for those details). After some searching, they find his rotted, bloated body on the banks of the swamp. Then The Rot attacks with Krenshaw’s body separating like it came out of THE THING. When it appears he can’t kill the creatures, he calls for a Code 666 which stands for “Undead Infestation”. The response? They drop a Blackbomb that vaporizes the area defeats The Rot
Jeff Lemire and Alberto Ponticelli turn in another killer issue, no pun intended. Frankenstein and his new love interest do their best to defeat The Rot and now Lemire ties this book into other books in THE DARK. What a great read!
GREEN LANTERN #9: We begin by seeing Sinestro undergoing his transformation into a member of the Indigo Tribe, including having to relive some of his past indiscretions. Hal meets with Natromo: an Indigo tribesman who tells him a previously untold tale of Abin Sur. He also learns that The End of the Corps would be brought about by an evil known as The Guardians of The Universe, who are just doing whatever they must, good or bad, to obtain the Book of The Black. Hearing that Abin Sur is dead, Natromo destroys the Indigo’s power source, freeing Sinestro and the other tribesmen. What now?
Once again, Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke redefine the legend of the Green Lantern. While we have always suspected that The Guardians of the Universe had their own agenda but they have gone totally over the edge. You may remember that Ganthet has no emotions now and has convinced the Guardians that they should create a Third Army to replace the Green Lantern Corps. It is up to Hal and Sinestro to stop this from happening. How far will they go? We’ll just have to wait and see!
I, VAMPIRE #9: Welcome to Utah-home of a burgeoning vampire nation run by Andrew Bennett and his lover Mary. But there seems to be an uprising brewing as Andrew won't let the vampires feed on anything but cow's blood. But they also know that none of them have the power to defeat, and they aren't pleased about that. Meanwhile, Tig and the Professor travel to Germany and meet the Van Helsings. Suffice it to say, the Van helsings are dying to get to America and meet with Andrew who, you may remember, asked for the Van Helsings. So here they come, flying attack helicopters and bombers with the VH logo on them. Maybe they’ll arrive just in time for the battle between Mary and Andrew control of the vampire army.
As far as I’m concerned, this is one of the key cornerstone books in The Dark grouping oif the NEW 52. Bennett is the vampire you love to hate and hate to love. On one hand, he’s a friend to humanity but, at the same time, he IS a vampire. Joshua Hale Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino just blow away the vampire genre like Robert Kirkman blows away the zombie genre with THE WALKING DEAD. You need to be reading this title!
JUSTICE LEAGUE #9: The story begins with author David Graves discovering that his disease is fatal. So he kills his doctor and plots his future. Meanwhile, Flash discovers he is no good at playing “Bad Cop” in the game of “Good Cop/Bad Cop” and Colonel Steve Trevor has his family’s life threatened, so he decides to give up everything he knows on the League. In the back-up story, Billy gets in trouble on his first day of school, even though he was defending his new family members. And Doctor Sivana becomes a changed man…literally.
Jim Lee is back in the main story after a brief hiatus and the story by Geoff Johns is interesting and boring! Sorry guys! Author David Graves turns bad, the main battle is at Arkham Asylum and Steve Trevor gets the crap beat out of him and gives up. Not the Steve Trevor I knew. The SHAZAM back-up story by Johns and Gary Frank continues to deserve it’s own title. Billy continues to be a mouthy punk but does manage to defend the honor of his “siblings” and we meet the mysterious Mr. Bryer, who looks like Richard Branson but behaves like Lionel Luthor. Fawcett High School? NICE!!! And Dr. Sivana gaining a neat little thunderbolt in the last panel is a nice payoff.
No comments:
Post a Comment