Batman Annual #2 - A Review

Some of the best Batman stories ever told came from the perspective of a character other than our Dark Knight Detective.  Batman Annual #2 is such a story.  Our P.O.V. character is Eric - an idealistic new orderly who has an encounter with both the legendary Batman and the first inmate Arkham Asylum ever housed on his first night on-the-job.


The script by Marguerite Bennett (co-plotted by Bennet with Scott Snyder) is wonderful on all fronts.  The idea that Batman bears some responsibility for the creation of many of the villains he faces has been explored before but I don't recall any Batman story that proposed that his presence created a philosophical shift from treatment to punishment as the villain/victim of this piece suggests.  Said victim/villain, The Anchoress, is a worthy addition to Batman's Rogues Gallery, with powers enough to be difficult for Batman to face in a direct fight and a psychological defect unlike anything we've seen in previous Batman baddies. 


Would that the artwork of this issue matched its' story in quality!  The pencils of Wes Craig (most recently seen in World's Finest) are skillful enough and his character designs are clear as are his depictions of the action.  Yet with six inkers having worked on this issue, there is a certain lack of continuity to the artwork as the story progresses. 

Thankfully, the artwork never looks bad - just uneven.  Any who doubt the power an inker has to make or break a comic would do well to read this issue and observe the differences in inking technique on various pages.  Regardless, the inking issues do not detract from the story itself and this comic was a most enjoyable read. 

World's Finest #5 - A Review

World's Finest #5 surprised me.  Coming fresh off of Zero Month, I wasn't expecting another story that would serve as a perfect entry point for new readers.  Then again, Paul Levitz has surprised me a lot with this book so far so perhaps I should stop being surprised at being surprised.  That might be a wise crack, but I doubt it.

As in previous issues, we are given a frame story which explains the situation our heroines find themselves in while the inner stories detail their more action-packed solo adventures.  Refugees from a parallel Earth, Karen Starr and Helena Wayne have reestablished themselves in the main DC Universe as Power Girl and Huntress.  For five years, the duo have lived their separate lives, discretely doing good as their gifts allow them.  Karen dreams of finding a way home and funds several technological companies in her secret identity working toward that end, but Helena would prefer to build a new life in this new world.

George Perez, whose work should need no introduction, handles the penciling duties on the framing sequences with his customary skill.  Backed by the inks of Scott Koblish, his work has never looked finer.  The two interior stories are handled by two separate but equally skilled art teams.


The Power Girl sequences, in which Karen fights with a piece of machinery for another dimension, are illustrated by another legendary artist - Jerry Ordway.  Best known for his work with Superman and Captain Marvel (to say nothing of Crisis Of Infinite Earths!) Ordway proves the perfect choice to depict Power Girl's adventures. Ordway's figures are larger than life and seem to be poised for action even as they stand stock still.

The Huntress sequences by Wes Craig and Serge Lapointe are equally enjoyable.  A penciler with a gloriously diverse portfolio of work (I don't think any artist has worked on both Guardians of the Galaxy AND The Texas Chainsaw Massacre comic), Craig's darker sensibilities are put to good use depicting Huntress's encounter with a sniper out to cause chaos at a rally.  Lapointe's inks further help to contrast the styles of the two heroines visually.


If you aren't already reading World's Finest, this issue provides you with the perfect jump-on point.  It offers a great story with two strong female protagonists.  The variety of art presented by three skillful teams of professional creators makes this an interesting study in contrast for fans of the genre and aspiring artists alike.  But most importantly, it's just plain fun to read!