Injustice 2 #2 - A Review

Pretty much everything I need to say about Injustice 2 can be summed up by this page.

Truly, he is the son of Oliver Queen!

In truth, I do need to say a bit more, despite that one page displaying the art team's amazing ability to match the anarchic spirit of Tom Taylor's writing while still holding true to the dramatic conventions demanded of a mainstream superhero comic. We also see Taylor's own gift for comedic timing, as Bruno Redondo's pencils, Juan Albarran's inks and Rex Lokus' colors work together in perfect unison to craft one amazing looking comic.

The action from last issue continues, with Harley Quinn in the custody of Amanda Waller and the apparent latest incarnation of The Suicide Squad. Harley has zero damns to give, however, so confident is she in an immediate rescue at Batman's hands. Meanwhile, Dr. Fate returns to the parallel Earth where he left a mostly-dead Black Canary, along with her newborn son, to give them a happy ending of sorts with an Oliver Queen who had lost his Dinah Lance at some point in the past. Hilarity ensues.

More about the story I cannot say.  Suffice it to say that if you enjoyed the previous Injustice comic series, you will enjoy this one as well.  It has the same great artwork and a story that will continually surprise you, one way or another.

Injustice: Ground Zero #15 - A Review

Back under the spell of Mistah J (albeit one from a parallel Earth), Harley Quinn is unable to help Batman and his otherworldly allies from the parallel Justice League in their raid on Stryker's Island. But Harley isn't entirely helpless and a twist of fate and a little magic may help her save her army... if not herself.


If ever a comic proved that a good inker can make or break a book, it is this latest volume of Injustice: Ground Zero. The difference between the two inkers who worked on this issue is like night and day. One uses a light touch that enhances the original pencils of Derlis Santacruz. The other uses thick lines to outline everything, leaving the finished artwork looking like a coloring book page. Granted, it's a fantastically colored page thanks to Rex Lokus, but it's still distracting and amateurish.


Christopher Sebela's script remains the high point of the series. There's little he can do fight the repetitive feeling within the sections of the story which replicate the action from the original video game Injustice: Gods Among Us. His take on Harley Quinn, however, is pitch perfect, presenting a Harley who only acts dumb and is crazy like a fox.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #24 - A Review

Only a desperate gambit can save both Superman's Regime and Batman's Insurgency from a one-way trip to Hell! But even if they escape with their lives, there's no guarantee they'll remain unscathed. Or that their teams may remain united once the final battle is over.


Brian Buccellato's conclusion to Year Three of Injustice proves satisfying despite lacking the raw power of the endings of Year One and Year Two. Still, it does offer one final surprise in the end along with a mystery that will leave the fans talking for quite some time to come.  All in all it's a good foundation for Year Four.


The artwork for this issue is equally worthy of praise. This series has been blessed with some fine artists but I think Bruno Redondo and Juan Albarran may be my personal favorite art team. There's a firm appeal to Redondo's sense of composure and panel flow and Albarran's finishes prove the perfect enhancement of Redondo's pencils.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #23 - A Review

The battle between Trigon and Mister Mxyzptlk has grown ever larger, with wild magics now threatening both the House of Secrets and House of Mystery.  Thankfully, Dick Grayson - the (Dead)man with the plan - has an idea on how to save everyone.  But it will require Superman and Batman's teams to put aside their mutual distrust and work together. Can they do it after all that has occurred?  And what is the trickster mage John Constantine hiding even at this late hour?


Brian Buccellato's script for this issue is the definition of action-packed. Some may say that the script falters somewhat in dealing with some of the emotional relationships between the characters. Indeed, the matter of Damien Wayne being forced to confront the ghost of a man he killed is hastily brushed aside after a brief shot of a discomforted Robin looking at the ghostly Dick Grayson. Thankfully, the issue is not ignored completely and is brushed aside only because the characters - and by extension Buccellato - have bigger things to address.


As always, the artwork is well-done.  Mike S. Miller has created distinctive facial designs for each character, so there is no question who is who even in the close-ups where all we can see is part of a mask or an eye. J. Nanjan's inks do a superb job of enhancing the original pencils. And Wes Abbott offers a vibrant display of colors to bring the final artwork to life.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #22 - A Review

The battle between The Regime and The Resistance continues, though the battle is beginning to take a toll on reality.  Between the magic being tossed around by Trigon and Dr. Fate. Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing's connection to The Green, the odd 5th Dimensional Magic used by Mister Mxyzptlk and the presence of two Sinestro Corps members, there is a lot of energy being tossed around.  And if action isn't taken quickly, everything is going to go to Hell.  Literally.


One thing you can say about Brian Buccellato is that he does not play for small stakes. The last few issues have been steadily building the action of this battle to an almost (pardon the pun) comic level, as heavy-hitter after heavy-hitter has been brought in.  Buccellato has balanced this manic display with the skill and energy of a plate-spinner on espresso and it has been a joy to read.


The art team does their usual stellar job, easily equaling Buccellato's script.  Mike S. Miller perfectly captures the action of the story, with even the static shots of characters talking having a wild energy about them.  J. Nanjan's inks enhance Miller's pencils without obscuring them.  And Wes Abbott's colors leave everything looking amazing.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #20 - A Review

Things have gone from bad to worse for The Resistance. Caught between a furious Trigon and Mister Mxyzptlk, things already looked dire with Superman and his Regime forces hot on their heels. But now The Swamp Thing has shown up and he's not going to listen to John Constantine's lies anymore...


Apart from some philosophical musing from Constantine at the start, this issue of Injustice is all action.  The plot isn't advanced much but there are a lot of great combat scenes.  The best part is that the fights are quite unpredictable with some unexpected victories.


Pete Woods returns to the art duties after a lengthy hiatus from this book. You'd never know it, though.  All of the cast look true to form and the combat is well blocked visually.  Rex Lokus offers up an amazing display of color artistry and Wes Abbott does a fine job on the lettering.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #19 - A Review

The Resistance is on the run and running low on options. As Trigon fights with Superman's mystery protector, The Regime will receive aid from another unlikely ally. And John Constantine's day is about to get even worse...


I'm reluctant to say much about this issue, lest I spoil last week's amazing revelation as to just who has been helping Superman all this time in the guise of The Spectre.  Suffice it to say Brian Buccellato delivered one heck of a surprising twist but one that makes perfect sense within the context of the DC Universe.  And that sense - as much as sense can be said to apply to this situation - is explained in full within this issue.


Mike S. Miller does his usual excellent job on the artwork.  The fights are all well choreographed. The backgrounds are also well-handled, with the Escheresque Tower of Fate being particularly noteworthy. And Rex Lokus' colors are suitably vibrant and eye-catching.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #17 - A Review

The Tower of Fate is breached! Now, Batman and his resistance will need all the magic they can muster as Superman and his allies invade their secret base. But even with the added advantage of Lex Luthor's super-pills, will they be able to hold their own long enough for one last gamble from John Constantine?


This issue is basically one extended fight scene. But as far as extended fight scenes go, it's a darn good one.  The script by Brian Buccellato allows a fair bit of character development in spite of the focus on fighting and there's some rather creative pairings at play as the respective sides square off. My favorite is Harley Quinn vs. Shazam.


Xermanico is largely responsible for the excellent artwork of this issue.  Fellow regular Injustice artist Bruno Redondo offers an assist with the layouts and inker Juan Albarran helps with the finishes. Rex Lokus contributes his usual vibrant work on the issue's colors.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #11 - A Review

Left with few allies in the wake of their failed attack on Superman, Batman and John Constantine puzzle out the prophecy of Madame Xanadu and plot their next move. Meanwhile, The Phantom Stranger questions The Spectre and it becomes clear that something is not right with The Spirit of Vengeance. And in order to get at Superman, The Resistance may have to raise a demon that even John Constantine is reluctant to summon...


I've said before that Tom Taylor has done a fine job of adding little moments of humor and character into this series and that's certainly true of this issue.  Little touches such as Catwoman playing with Karlion The Witchboy's familiar Teekl or Harley Quinn's continuing to call out Dr. Fate on not being a real doctor help to lighten the tone of the story as more serious characters discuss the dark business of killing Superman.  What I've never noted, however, is Taylor's boldness as a writer and if having Detective Chimp wearing a T-shirt mocking Rocket Raccoon on the same day that Guardians of the Galaxy is released on DVD in the USA isn't bold, I don't know what is!


The artwork matches the script in courage and audacity.  Bruno Redondo captures the cosmic scope of both The Phatnom Stranger and The Spectre perfectly, depicting them walking on the rings of Saturn!  And inker and finisher Xermanico does a fine job of enhancing Redondo's pencils, going far beyond offering mere outlines and shading.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #5 - A Review

I know I risk growing repetitive in talking about my love of this comic, but I do love this comic.  If this comic were a woman, I'd be afraid of asking her out for fear that it would ruin our friendship and drive her out of my life forever, leaving me a sad, broken husk of a man doomed to spend the rest of my days wallowing in eternal sadness. It is THAT good!


Tom Taylor fits so many little things into this issue that are just so perfect.  Harley Quinn being presented as a competent medical doctor.  Doctor Fate reluctantly admitting that he isn't really a doctor.  John Constantine being soft enough to lie to a scared little girl.  Klarion The Witch Boy's glee at being able to say a ludicrous thing out-loud.  And best of all, signs that despite all that has happened there is still something of the old Superman - the inherent nobility of Superman - somewhere deep inside the tyrant who now wields the power of fear as a weapon.


All of this is ably illustrated by Mike S. Miller and J. Nanjan with their usual skill and attention to detail.  I particularly like Miller's design for Harley Quinn and the way John Constantine's angry face is reflected in Doctor Fate's helmet.  Nanjan finds the perfect balance between light and dark, with inks that shade without shadowing the pencils.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Three #1 - A Review

John Constantine has never been one for getting involved in noble causes. When Duty Calls, you can usually find John running the other way. But Superman's war with the Green Lanterns has changed many things and killed a lot of innocent people. And while he's not one for getting involved in noble causes, John Constantine also isn't one for letting bullies get away with murder.

Throw in a new magical menace that has been awakened by Superman's actions and John has ample reason to get involved even before things get personal.  So the rest of the world had best be wary. For when John Constantine gets involved in things, it usually means that a bad situation is about to become a whole hell of a lot worse.


Any fears that might have existed about this series dipping in quality as it shifted in gears from super-heroic space opera to street-level mysticism prove completely unfounded.  Tom Taylor rounds the curve into the new series effortlessly and his decision to focus this year upon DC Comics' magical heroes and their response to Superman becoming a tyrant is proving to be an interesting one thus far. John Constantine is the perfect central character for this story, being both an every-man figure the newer readers can identify with but also one of the few characters who can play comedy and horror with equal effectiveness - an essential trait in this series!


The artwork by Bruno Redondo and Xermanico is as wonderful as ever.  The characters are all well designed and the action of the story flows naturally throughout.  Colorist J. Nanjan creates some rather impressive effects throughout, particularly the light reflecting off Doctor Fate's helmet.  And because I don't think I've ever praised it before, let me say that the lettering by Wes Abbott is quite lovely and easy to read.

Earth 2 #25 - A Review

Earth 2 #25 is the distillation of everything that makes up great superhero comics.  It is hope.  It is love.  It is idealism.  It is the eleventh-hour, million-to-one long-shot that just... might... work.  It is the kind of book where characters can say that they accidentally pushed a villain into infinity or that they are going to hold the entire Earth in place and you believe it.  You honestly believe it with all your heart.


What Tom Taylor, Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott have done with this title is truly magical.  This issue is perhaps the best of the series so far and I will eat my hat if it is not nominated for an Eisner or an Eagle or some manner of award for Best Single Issue.  If it has a flaw, it is that as the penultimate part of the current storyline it is not easily accessible to new readers.  As such, I advise those of you who have yet to read this series to start with Issue #0 and start catching-up.  You won't regret it.

Injustice: Gods Among Us - Year Two #4 - A Review

Unlike previous issues of Injustice, this fourth issue doesn't have any world-shaking moments.  There's no big splash panels of horrific deaths or shocking fight scenes.  Instead this issue collects a number of vignettes that subtly expand the world and the characters.  We learn that the Tower of Fate does get cell phone reception, that Amazons are not above talking to the gods to ask for a life to be saved when medicine fails to get the job done and that Barbara Gordon is indeed Oracle in this reality.  Small things, to be sure, but they do answer questions the readers might not realize they had about the nuts and bolts of the reality of Injustice.


This sort of thing is author Tom Taylor's bread and butter.  Yet he also manages to get in a fair bit of social commentary, as Barry Allen and Hal Jordan take it upon themselves to do the impossible - get the United States Congress to do their jobs and knock it off with the gridlock and grandstanding!  Leave it to an Australian to perfectly capture the absurdity of the American political system and to do it in a way that would make Dennis O'Neil proud. 


The art team continue to do a stellar job on the artwork.  Bruno Redondo's designs for the characters are clear and distinct.  I particularly like how his Hal Jordan resembles Nathan Fillion.  Julien Hugonnard-Bert goes surprisingly light on the inks, with much of the actual shading of the book being accomplished through highlights added into the colors by colorist Rex Lokus.

Earth 2 #20 - A Review

I heard about the controversy regarding Earth 2 #20 long before I got a chance to read it.  The problem stemmed from the revelation that The Red Arrow - a hero who had gone unnamed and largely undefined apart from a snarky personality - was named Connor Hawke.

For those who don't know, Connor Hawke was the name of Oliver Queen's illegitimate son and the second Green Arrow in the pre-New 52 DC Universe.  He was also of mixed-heritage, his mother being half-African/half-Korean.  Unfortunately, many artists and colorists did not bother to portray this and Connor was frequently depicted as a light-skinned, clean-shaven clone of his father despite being meant to be quite different physically and in terms of personality.

Some are bothered that Connor Hawke would be revived looking more like Roy Harper - with white skin and red hair - than as he appeared before.  I understand that and agree with it to a point.  However, I'm reluctant to label this as a case of "white-washing" given the nature of the Earth 2 series and the personal track record of the creator involved.


The world of Earth 2 has taken many characters and combined them, creating new characters that may seem familiar while offering new twists on classic formula.  For instance, multiple versions of The Atom have been condensed into one character with the name of the original Atom (Al Pratt) and the size-changing powers of his successor (Al Rothstein).  Taking Oliver Queen's two sons and combining them in a similar fashion honors both.

Would I have preferred a visibly mixed-race Connor Hawke?  I think so, yes.  But I'm reluctant to scream racism at a series that has done so much to give us a more diverse DC Universe.  So far, this series has given us a Hispanic Hawkgirl, an Arabian Doctor Fate, an Indian World Army commander, a gay Green Lantern, a senior-citizen Batman and - if the end of this issue is any indication - a black Superman.  To complain about one character going from mixed to Caucasian in the face of all that seems short-sighted to me, particularly when we know so little about the character and his background so far.  And it's ludicrous to call Tom Taylor a racist when the independent comic series he's created and is currently developing into an animated series is based around the adventures of a mixed-race family of super-scientists.

Ignoring all the controversy, this is a damn fine issue.  Taylor is a great writer of dialogue and he has a great grasp on the classic characters of the DC Universe.  The best moments in this book involve Lois Lane - now inhabiting a robot body - attempting to comfort a young Kryptonian named Val who is agoraphobic thanks to his having spent virtually his entire life either trapped inside his Kryptonian birthing matrix or locked inside a government facility.  These scenes offer a glimpse at a Lois Lane long absent from the most recent Superman books - the Lois Lane with an iron will and nerves of steel who was as strong as Superman in all the ways that matter.


The artwork by Barry Kitson is a match for Taylor's script.  Kitson is a skillful artist and inker and a tremendous visual storyteller, who gives a certain sense of emotional power to alll of the scenes in this issue where people are just talking.  Robson Rocha and Oclair Albert are less skilled in depicting the issue's lone action scenes, in which the villain Brutale orders all the holy sites on Earth destroyed in the name of Darkseid, but the work here is competent if not as fine as Kitson's.

Earth 2 #12 - A Review

Perhaps I'm biased, but at this point I think Earth 2 may be the strongest title to come out of DC Comics New 52 wave.  Amid a number of series that promised us a whole new world, Earth 2 delivered both literally and figuratively.  The series has progressed at a leisurely pace but I think that has been to its' benefit.  James Robinson took an equally lengthy time in establishing the cast of Starman nearly two decades ago and few will deny that series was well worth the wait.


Consider this issue, which is dominated by one long action scene.  This is uncharacteristic for Robinson's stories in general but it proves a potent payoff after several months of setting up the new Doctor Fate and adding further development to this world's versions of The Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl.  Robinson's characters are real people who just happen to have unusual powers - a surprisingly rare thing in most American superhero comics, where the focus on introducing a character sometimes falls on powers and abilities instead of personalities.  Here, our heroes are still finding their footing and learning their limits and Robinson does a masterful job of revealing our hero's souls as they experiment with their new found gifts.  He also unites several of the series' subplots - such as the revelation that the disaster which turned Alan Scott into the Green Lantern was meant to kill his boyfriend and not him.


Nicola Scott is a wonder of an artist.  Most of the artwork in this issue is made up of two-page spreads which, for once, merit the larger canvas.  Despite this, Scott's fine eye for detail still shines through even in the smaller panels.  These details are expertly emphasized by inker Trevor Scott.

Earth 2 is one of DC Comics best written and best drawn comic books.  This issue is not a good one to jump on with, but I highly advise new readers jump on with the next issue.  Better yet, pick up the first story collection or grab the earlier issues on-line.  This series is a must read for all fans of superhero stories in specific and comics in general. 

Earth 2 #10 - A Review

Despite continuing an increasingly involved storyline, Earth 2 #10 is a good jumping-on point for new readers.  I love James Robinson's work but he's better known for his sprawling epics and finely detailed scripts than his accessibility.  Yet this issue begins with a flashback illustrating events that were mentioned before but not shown in detail and a pompous new villain explaining the current state of affairs to half of our confused heroes and, by proxy, the reader. 


Robinson's main plot evokes the memory of H.P. Lovecraft, with ancient, powerful beings playing sport with humanity and magical artifacts best left untouched.  Like many of Robinson's revisions of the classic concepts behind the original Justice Society of America characters, this idea leaves the larger character concept intact while putting a twist on it that will make the character interesting to long-time readers while still respecting DC Comics' rich past.  Such is the case with the new Dr. Fate - a mild-mannered archeologist who has become the unwitting recipient of a magical helm that offers great power and great madness to the one who wears it.

We see something of this in the B-Plot as well.  More, we see Robinson's uncanny ability to develop a complex character in a short span of time.  The scene where Alan Scott makes peace with his boyfriend's father is short but no less touching for that brevity.  Too, the revelation that the violent attack which triggered Scott's transformation into The Green Lantern was aimed at his boyfriend promises to add to the drama of the upcoming issues. 


I've spoken before at length of my love for Nicola Scott's artwork.  This issue is now my Exhibit A in the case for why Scott is perhaps the most underrated artist working in the industry today.  There are few artists who could manage the level of detail and scale required to depict The Tower of Fate but Scott manages the task with style.  This image moves past being simply Escheresque or simply surreal, suggesting an actual depth and solidity that boggles the mind as we rebel against the impossibility of what we see. 


If you haven't picked up Earth 2 yet, now is a fine time to start.  The artwork is amazing in its' scope.  The writing is similarly detailed yet the stories remain simple enough to be accessible to new readers.  And the whole thing is basically a gigantic love-letter to the characters and stories that got DC Comics - and indeed, superhero comics as a genre - started.  It's awesome stuff and I can't recommend it enough.   

Earth 2 #9 - A Review

Earth 2 #9 brings Nicola Scott and Trevor Scott back to provide more of the same wonderful art we've come to expect on this title.  I've been a brazen Nicola Scott fanboy since her brief but enjoyable run on Birds of Prey and she's been one of the few artists I've actively followed since then.  Her work here is up to her usual standards and Trevor Scott's inks are also true to form.


This issue also sees James Robinson introducing another revised hero into the world of Earth 2.  This time the hero in the spotlight is Dr. Fate - the most powerful magician in the world.  Seemingly drawing inspiration from Geoff Johns' and David Goyer's portrayal of the character in JSA, Robinson has revived the idea of the Helm of Nabu - one of the mystic artifacts that bestows The Power of Fate - possessing a host rather than being wielded.  The helm's current possessor - or possesse, as the case may be - is an Arabic man named Khalid, who has some past connection with Hawkgirl.


The main thrust of the issue concerns Khalid trying to keep an eye on Jay Garrick, as the newly dubbed Flash heads home to tell his mother about his new-found powers.  Naturally the World Army is laying in wait and it falls to Khalid to try and help without losing his mind or tapping into the power that has chosen him.  The action here is well paced and Khalid is an immediately sympathetic character.  The issue-ending cliffhanger is guaranteed to bring you back next month. 

Friday Comic Con News Round Up - Part Two

All news from the DC Comics Justice League & Green Lantern panel.

* Earth 2 #0 will show us more of the Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman of that earth before their deaths. There will be eight superheroes or "Wonders" of that time. One of them is apparently Terry Sloan, who is now a villain but has some kind of noble motivation for what he does.

* Alan Scott will basically be the Superman of Earth 2. The heavy hitter and paragon of virtue.

* Wesley Dodds is now Canadian and works for The World Army that has taken over protecting this Earth without superheroes. There will also be an original character leading the World Army named Amir Khan, whom Robinson describes as "Captain Nemo meets Nick Fury."

* Upcoming issues of Earth 2 will reveal Wildcat (who will have some kind of connection to The Red, though they won't use that name) and Dr. Fate, along with several other familiar names working for the government Nicola Scott says we've already met one, but nobody noticed.

* Justice League Dark will be introducing a new character who is described as "the Moriarity to John Constaintine's Sherlock Holmes". Shazam will also be showing up in JL Dark

* Robinson called bringing back the Ma Hunkle Red Tornado "a nice challenge", when one fan asked about her returning in Earth 2.

* Geoff Johns is planing to bring back The Metal Men at some point in the future.

* There's no plans for Plastic Man... yet.

* Blue Beetle will NOT be joining the Teen Titans.

Dr. Fate #1 - A Review

Written by: Christopher Golden
Penciled by: Don Kramer
Inked by: Prentis Rollins
Colored by: John Kalisz
Lettered by: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Publisher: DC Comics

I was rather nervous when I first looked at this book. The cover art, depicting DC Comics most powerful magician, looks like it was inked and colored with Magic Marker. Still, the adage about how you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover proved most accurate in the case of Dr. Fate.

I’m not familiar with Christopher Golden as a writer of comic books but I am familiar with his work as a novelist and have enjoyed all of his books that I have read. And I have it on the authority of a friend who is a big fan of “Buffy: The Vampire Slayer” that his books based on the series are the best. I mention this, because that is what the series and this opening issue remind me of… but in a good way.

In Golden’s introductory text, we discover that the city of Salem is a nexus of dark magical powers but most of those in the city are unaware of the battles between order and chaos that occur on a near daily basis, thanks to the efforts of one hero: our esteemed Doctor. But this is the only battle of supernatural forces that we see in the entire book, so those expecting a story full of cape-waving and dialogue along the lines of “Zounds! The dread Demons of Dorkmammu are arising again. I must call upon the powers of the Terrific Talisman of Tal-Ah-Has-Iee if I am to survive this, my greatest battle!” will be greatly disappointed.

The rest of us will be treated to our introduction to several interesting characters. Aside from Hector Hall (who we should all know from the pages of JSA) and Nabu (who has materialized as an Obi-Wan ghost inside Fate’s Tower), we are introduced to…

• Professor Boiling and his students Anita and Tom; practicing Wiccans, who are observing Fate for reasons as of yet unexplained.
• Caitlin, a waitress at a coffee shop, who has a crush on Hector.
• Justin, Caitlin’s stalker ex-boyfriend
• Jenny, Caitlin’s co-worker
• The proprietor of the “Wicked Wicks” candles and spells shop, who does little more than give Hector a dirty look as he walks past her shop.
• Justin Gilder; a thief of high skill, recruited to steal a magical helmet from a Mr. Fenton for an old lady in New York City.

How does all this tie together? I can’t begin to say. But the characterization rings true and every character, despite only appearing for a few pages, is easily identifiable and memorable. This is helped by the excellent art Don Kramer. Kramer’s work is, as best as I can describe, as detailed as Frank Quitely but not nearly as dirty or as heavily inked. The colors are rich and vibrant, making this look every bit the DC book despite its Vertigoesque roots.

(Incidentally, you cameo spotters will not a number of Vertigo’s magical heroes in Fate’s scrying mirror at one point in the book. And someone who is no stranger to us magic fans makes it quite clear he doesn’t like being watched.)

All in all, it feels like Golden is building towards something with his opening arc. This issue is a little slow on action, but it looks very promising. And considering that we’ve sold the title out twice at my store in the four days since its release, it looks like there are a lot of people besides myself who are under the spell of this book.