Earth 2 Annual #1 - A Review

Earth 2 Annual #1 is an amazingly good introduction to the world of Earth 2 for new readers.  Why should that be amazing?  Isn't the whole idea of the Annuals to do a big story that will attract the attention of those who haven't been reading the series?  One might think that's the case, particularly since the cover of this issue boasts the introduction of a new Batman.  Yet most of the annuals DC Comics has published in the past year have involved continuations of plot threats that started in the regular series, immediately creating a wedge between the story and any potential new readers. 


At first that seems to be the case with this issue, but - as per usual -  James Robinson seeks a greater depth as he spends most of this issue recalling the origin story of Captain Al Pratt a.k.a. The Atom.  We'd already seen the bare bones of Pratt's origins earlier in the monthly Earth 2 title but this story gives Robinson a chance to explore Pratt's character in greater depth.  Robinson also introduces a number of new elements, such as the new Batman promised on the cover and the revelation that another of Jack Kirby's New Gods villains - Kanto the Assassin - is loose on Earth.  For my money though, nothing tops the revelation that Gotham City is now a savage land filled with dinosaurs in the wake of the disasters that reshaped the world five years earlier.  More, Gotham has become a home of sorts to Mister Miracle and Big Barda


The art team of Cafu, Julius Gopez and Cam Smith prove an acceptable substitute for the regular penciler/inker duo of Nicola Scott and Trevor scott.  I've enjoyed Cafu's previous recent work on Action Comics and we see more work of that caliber here.  I'm unfamiliar with Julius Gopez, but his work here impresses as well.

World's Finest #9 - A Review

Worlds Finest #9 didn't impress me much on my first read-through.  On the surface, not much really happens to advance the on-going saga of two heroines trapped in a world that is not their own.  It occurred to me, on my second read-through, that this was likely by design and that there was more than met the eye to the extended action sequences that make up most of the book's pages.


This is a gorgeous book, with the legendary George Perez taking the lead as our action opens.  Recovering from her recent injuries on her best friend's private island, Huntress finds herself and Power Girl's home under attack.  Unsure if the armed mercenaries have come for her or are after the billionaire Karen Starr, Helena doesn't hesitate in running defense.  We then cut to a flashback scene, ably illustrated by Cafu, where we see our heroines shopping - clothes for Karen and "hunting" gear for Helena.  The final chapter where Karen comes home to find things in disarray is illustrated by Yildiray Cinar, whose excellent work has been most recently seen in Earth 2.



The script by Paul Levitz is enjoyable and adheres to the Stan Lee standard of treating every story you write as if it were going to be someone's first issue.  No previous exposure to World's Finest is necessary.  This issue does a great job of establishing the personalities of both our heroines as well as their skill in kicking butt.  Indeed, it's only flaw is that some of the action here is repetitive for long-time readers and nothing is done to advance the on-going plot of the book until the final page.



World's Finest #9 would be a good jumping-on issue were I certain it was representative of  the book's quality in the immediate future.  That's not to say this is a bad comic.  Far from it.  Yet the continual shifting of the book's artistic contributors do leave it feeling somewhat disjointed visually and the upcoming departure of George Perez has me worried about the future for this book.  Today, though... today it is a great book and well worth the reading.

World's Finest #8 - A Review

World's Finest #9 offers us three pencilers this month and - strangely enough - regular co-artist George Perez seems to be the odd-man-out artistically.  This is not to say that Perez's artwork is bad.  It is not.  All of the artwork in this issue is top-notch.  But Perez seems to be playing against type with his assignment this time around and the issue suffers somewhat as a result.

Renowned for his big, bold classic superheroic style, Perez's pencils seem out of place depicting the solo adventure of The Huntress that opens this issue.  It looks good but it doesn't look RIGHT, to my mind at least.  Perez's pencils seem somewhat over-inked - perhaps an effort to make the scene appear darker.  The colors by Hi-Fi don't help matters, presenting a bright "shadowy" rooftop that lacks any shadows. 


Hi-Fi also provides the colors for a series of flashback pages, drawn by Cliff Richards.  These pages depict Huntress's past, thinking back on her training under her father and mother - the Earth 2 Batman and Catwoman.  Here the bright colors are somewhat less intrusive and Richards' inks are more appropriate to the setting.


The final portion of the book, focusing upon Power Girl is illustrated by Cafu with the coloring duties performed by Rosemary Cheetham  I've enjoyed Cafu's recent work on Action Comics and Green Lantern Corps and the pencils here are typical of his fine work.  I think it might have been better had he and Perez switched sections, as Perez's work depicting Power Girl of late has been excellent.  


The script by Paul Levitz is a call-back to his recent Huntress mini-series.  Helena's actions there resulted in a price on her head and - finally - someone is trying to collect.  After a close-call with one group of assassins, Helena recovers and thinks back on her past as her best friend Power Girl starts dealing with the organization that placed the hit.

Despite this tie-in to a previous story, this issue is a good jumping-on point for those who have yet to give this wonderful book a chance.  The story is fun and action-packed.  The artwork is all-around excellent, despite my quibbling about George Perez being out of his comfort zone.  All in all, this is one of DC Comics best titles right now.

Green Lantern Corps #13 - A Review

Despite being a crossover kick-off issue that had most of it's surprises spoiled by the previews in another book, Green Lantern Corps #13 still manages to entertain.  Readers who have been playing along since the beginning already know that The Guardians of the Universe are plotting against their own Green Lantern Corps and that they have particular plans worked out for our main protagonists.  In the case of John Stewart, the Guardians decide to play upon his guilt, sending him off on a mission of mercy to restore Mogo - the living planet which Stewart destroyed in order to save the universe during the War Of The Green Lanterns.


For Guy Gardner, The Guardians hand Guy the rope he needs to hang himself.  As the issue opens, Guy is appointed to a special supervisory role in the Corps and given an important mission to run.  Naturally, Guy receives a message that a criminal with a grudge against him has escaped and is heading toward Earth and his loved ones.  If you believe this is an unfortunate coincidence, I have a pleasure planet in the Vega system I'd like to sell you.

Peter Tomasi tackles all this with his usual skill.  As always, the best thing about Tomasi's scripts is the character moments.  Tomasi does a great job making Guy, John and the other Lanterns interesting characters the reader can relate to.  Though the depth of this story makes this a poor issue for new readers to jump on with, Tomasi cannot be accused of making the characters difficult to understand if one has never read a Green Lantern comic before.

 

Guest artitst Cafu does an excellent job of emulating the art of the regular art team.  In fact, if I hadn't checked the credits on this issue, I might not have believed it!  Perhaps Scott Hanna's inks had a hand in keeping the look consistent?  Either way, this is a good looking book and a great read.

Action Comics #0 - A Review

The origins of Superman are one of the most well-known stories in modern American culture. DC Comics has already told and retold this story several times in the last decade alone (Birthright, Secret Origins, Earth One). Just a year ago, Grant Morrison gave us a picture perfect introduction to everything Superman is in the New 52 universe with the first issue of the new Action Comics. One wonders then - what more needs to be said about how Superman became Superman? What CAN be said that hasn't already been said?

It is, perhaps, in answer to this question that Action Comics #0 breaks away from the standard template we've seen thus far in DC Comics's Zero Month issues. Morrison's focus in this issue is less upon the man himself and more upon the people he touches. More, it is an exploration of the idea of Superman and his greatest power - the power to inspire.



The Boy Who Stole Superman's Cape centers upon a young boy who, having witnessed Superman's first unsuccessful attempt at crime fighting and seen him survive close-range contact with an RPG, steals his cape. Why? Because he has an abusive step-father at home and he knows that cape can protect him and his family.

As with so many Morrison ideas, the conceit is brilliant in its' simplicity - take the conceit of so many children playing superheroes and make it into a practical reality. What comic fan didn't tie a blanket around our shoulders and pretend we could fly while stretched out across a bed or stand up to a hail of gunfire, fists firmly planted on our hips at some point in our childhood? Precious few, I'd think.

Morrison also adds a little polish to his development of the supporting cast. Jimmy Olsen's role as Clark Kent's "pal" (i.e. ex-roommate and only real friend in Metropolis) is expanded upon. Perry White is given a far larger role than I think he's had in the series until now (no surprise as he isn't Clark's boss yet). And Lois Lane - dear Lois Lane, I have missed seeing you be written to be this awesome.



Ben Oliver & Brian Reber - the regular art/coloring team on Batwing - deliver what is easily the best work I've ever seen from their partnership and that is saying something. Oliver's crisp pencils are perfectly painted and brought to life by Reber. Letterer Steve Wands also deserves high praise for his unique method of demonstrating drunken, slurred speech.

If this issue has a downside, it's that the back-up story seems like something of an add-on to the meat of the main part of the issue. Origin of the Species details the creation of this universe's version of Captain Comet. It's not a bad story. Sholly Fisch is as great a storyteller as ever and Cafu's art is grand. There's just little emotional investment in an origin story for a character who is supposed to be a superbeing developed far beyond humanity's ability to comprehend or relate to.

Overall, this is a damn fine comic and a good jumping-on point if you haven't gotten into Action Comics yet. Give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

Action Comics #11 - A Review

I don't know how Grant Morrison manages to cram so much information and wonder into a single issue of Action Comics. I'm just glad he does it.

With Clark Kent having "died" in the last issue after a professional assassin discovered the connection between Clark Kent and Superman, Superman has adopted a new secret identity - a fire-fighter named Johnny Clark, who is a complete blank apart from his day job. The good news is the job does give him plenty of opportunity to help people apart from being Superman. The bad news is... well, he feels out of touch with people he's helping, having traded Clark Kent's cheap apartment for the satellite which once housed Brainiac. Of all people, he vents about this to Batman in what is a surprisingly effective character-building scene for both heroes and the first time I've really seen the two acting like the World's Finest heroes since the reboot.

Oddly enough, this has nothing to do with the main plot of the issue, which involves Lois Lane's niece turning out to be a nutant - a delightful Morrisonian term for a human who is evolved far in advance of modern-man by 100,000 years. The build-up is surprisingly understated but promises some exciting action in the next issue. The back-up story by Sholly Fisch is another amusing slice-of-life story, depicting a Metropolis T-Shirt shop which claims to be the place where Superman buys his t-shirts. Of course our POV characters - a tourist and his friend, the local - are skeptical, even as the owner tells the story of how Superman saved him from a robber and earned himself a discount.

I've written before about my love of Rags Morales art and my joy that he is back on a monthly book. His work on Geoff Johns' Hawkman was seriously underrated and it is good to see him on a prominent, monthly book like Action Comics again. The back-up story art by Cafu is also of high quality.

Action Comics is something DC Comics has needed for a long time - a Superman book that shows why Superman was the inspiration for an entire genre. It is a must-read for all fans of superhero fiction.

Action Comics #10 - A Review

Grant Morrison's scripts are usually chock-full of ideas but for the first time since he started on Action Comics, this is not to the benefit of his script.  Don't misunderstand me - I loved this issue as I've loved the entirety of the series since the start of the new DC Universe.  Morrison is one of the few writers I feel truly gets the heart of Superman and has made a true effort to do something new with the character. 

The problem is this issue does so much to play with the ideas of who Superman and Clark Kent are while setting up various future plot points that it winds up devoting very little time to its' nominal plot - a hunter named Nimrod attempting to track down and assassinate Superman.  Compared with the spectacle of Superman confronting a child killer the cops won't touch, Superman attempting to find a pair of hamsters a new home (don't ask) and a Justice League meeting where Superman all but outs Batman's secret identity completely by accident while nagging the team about becoming a greater force for social justice (Superman/Green Arrow team-up soon?  Please?), the more mundane plot involving Nimrod can't compete... even when his job is blown following the apparent death of Clark Kent.

I've said before that I always felt Rags Morales was one of the most underrated pencilers that DC Comics employed and that it was a fine thing to see him on a monthly book.  At the risk of being repetitive, I'm saying it again here.  Really, I cannot stress strongly enough how much I like Morales' work on this book.



The back-up story by Solly Fisch is as enjoyable as ever, depicting a number of Clark Kent's associates and friends paying tribute to their colleague after his apparent death.  I can't say a lot about this story without revealing some substantial spoilers.  I will say that if it weren't for the mid-book credits, you'd never have known this was a separate story, so seamlessly does it blend into Morrison's narrative style.  Cafu's artwork on this section is also complementary of Rags Morales' style, offering a shadowy and more detailed look at the characters that is fitting of the introspective tone of the tale.  


This is a lackluster issue of Action Comics but even a mediocre issue of this book is better than the best days of most other comics.  If you aren't reading this book, you should be.  Even if you aren't a Super-Fan, you owe it to yourself to give this book a shot as Grant Morrison isn't writing your daddy's Superman.  Heck, he's not even wriitng your older brother's Superman.  This is Superman done right, for the 21st Century..

52 Pick-Up - Week Two, Part Two

GRIFTER #2 - Cole Cash tries (and fails) to explain about his alien abduction and the aliens in disguise all around them. After getting attacked by the aliens again and digging himself in deeper, Cole escapes only to be attacked by his own brother, who has been sent by the federal government to kill him. This one is falling back to "Wait For The Trade" Status. It is very well written and the art is good but it's paced like a marathon and I like my monthly books to have a little more speed to them.


MISTER TERRIFIC #2 - This issue is hard for me to summarize because so much happens in it. Seriously, I don't think any book in the New 52 manages to throw out as many interesting concepts and ideas as this one. It's very much like a good Doctor Who episode. The art is a little bit sloppier this time around but it's not bad. And while Power Girl fans may be disappointed that Karen Starr doesn't have any super-powers (yet) she still proves herself to be intelligent and a cool-hand in a difficult situation. Also, the new baddy - Brainstorm - is a close second to The Mirror as the best new villain of the New 52 line. Definitely on the pull list.


RESURRECTION MAN #2 - As with the original Resurrection Man series, this issue focuses upon an amnesiac Mitch Shellley as he's trying to remember who he was. He's tracked down by two super-powered female assassins, who call themselves "Body Doubles", who apparently know who Mitch is and have some previous relationship with him. This is a change from the original series, where the Body Doubles were just two ordinary women turned assassin who took the job to track down and capture Mitch Shelley. These changes are academic, however, and this is another solid title that is definitely going on my pull list.

Grifter #1 - A Review

We open on a blonde man on an airplane who is hearing voices in his head, which are talking about killing him. Despite all appearances to the contrary, he is not crazy. This is our hero, Cole Cash. A flashback reveals that Cole is a confidence trickster – the titular Grifter – and that he was abducted off the street while on the way to meet his girlfriend/partner after pulling a con. His abductors were some form of alien being, who referred to him as a host, and Cole was just barely able to escape with his life. The experience left him with an ability to sense when someone is an alien in a human body and to overhear the aliens’ telepathic communications. By issue’s end, we learn that Cole is apparently ex-military and that top men are nervous about what his apparent PTSD breakdown may expose and send a special agent – Cole’s own brother – to deal with him.

This issue drops us in the middle of it and doesn’t let up for a section. The plot is fairly standard Science-Fiction 101 – the alien menace masquerading as normal humans to invade from within – but we rarely see this sort of thing in a superhero book. The action sequences are amazing on their own but what I really love this book is how writer Nathan Edmondson is able to subtly introduce us to Cole Cash as a character with very little of the info dumps used by other writers on other New 52 titles.

The artwork is damn good too. Most of Cafu’s previous work has been on Superman titles and this book does have a good, traditional superhero comic look, with lots of thin lines and light inks by Jason Gorder. There’s a danger in a book like this of going too dark with the artwork, with the coloring palette being too muted or the inks being too heavy. Thankfully, the art team avoids this and creates something that is appropriately atmospheric and heavily detailed yet seemingly streamlined.

I know next to nothing about WildC.A.T.s, so this is another one of the few New 52 titles I was able to go into completely virgin, as it were. So if you’re a long-time Grifter fan who wants to know how much things may have been changed, I’m afraid I won’t be much help. What I can tell you is that this is one of the best of the new comics I’ve read so far and that it won me over with one issue.