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Bat-Reviews: Detective Comics #857

Many fans are still brooding over letting Batwoman steal the spotlight in Detective Comics now that Bruce is … elsewhere, but even if you’re still not crazy about Kate Kane, it’s hard to ignore the gorgeous display of artwork J.H. Williams III presents from issue to issue. Each page or spread-page dazzles with an array of color and creative panel work that keeps feeling fresh. But there’s something to be said about Greg Rucka’s writing, too. If I wasn’t hooked before, I certainly am now.

I love this new villain, Alice. For someone with a small army of henchmen—and loyal ones to the “High Madame,” at that—you’d think she’d be pretty incapable if she had to fight mano a mano. But the four issues she’s appeared in so far have proven otherwise, demonstrating that this enigma is more than just another Wonderland freak in Gotham. (Really, do these guys have Carroll-themed conventions? A fan club?) Alice is the perfect blend between completely annoying to the point where you want to throw a book at her, and utterly insane enough to make you flee when she yells, “Off with her head!”

This issue takes the pain to the skies—which is fitting, considering the story reaches an emotional and dramatic crescendo. Alice previously grabbed Kate’s father, and now she plans on dousing Gotham in chemical death. Of course, the Colonel provides excellent means for such an endeavor. The revelation at the end is not only startling, but it makes Alice a much more dynamic and breathing character. Long live the queen! The surprise is wonderfully built up throughout the issue, as well, thanks to J.H.’s clever touches.

The secondary feature, involving the Question, feels stale compared to such a vivid main story, and I found it a bit unbelievable, too. (She’s really that good at dodging bullets at such close range?) I can’t say it drags the book down, since all I honestly care about is the actual comic I paid for—not the stuff in the back (although sometimes it’s a rather nice bonus, if it’s good).

Recommendation: As for you, this comic will shake you into a kitten, that it will!

Curious how the Bat-books stack up here on the blog? Look here.

Tags: Bat-Reviews, DC, Detective Comics #857, Greg Rucka, J.H. Williams III
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Bat-Reviews: Batman #690

I find it interesting that the various Batman comics seem to be dealing with Dick Grayson’s takeover as the Caped Crusader differently. Batman definitely seeks to challenge Grayson’s authority to assume the cape and cowl, playing with the notion that only Bruce Wayne truly does the name justice. In Batman #690, sloppiness is costing Dick more and more.

Judd Winick continues to lay out the Black Mask’s cards with the vibrant touch of Mark Bagley’s pencils and Pete Pantazis’ colors. With Clayface and former special forces operative Lyle Blanco dishing out the pain in tandem, Dick soon learns that someone else orchestrated their team-up—and provided Blanco with superhuman ferocity.

Elsewhere, Black Mask reveals more of his sinister plan to the Penguin, who quickly folds when the criminal mastermind presents the second tier to their business arrangement. Just another rise and fall for Cobblepot. While Penguin’s tail gets nipped by the frost, Two-Face begins to organize a more private strike against Batman. It almost seems out of universe to hire teleporters to trace the origins of a single batarang in order to infiltrate the Batcave, but Dent pulls it off in a way you probably won’t expect. If you thought the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh had weird taste in fashion, what comes at the end of the issue makes that look seem almost tame.

While I’m not sure the oddly fantastical element to Batman #690 fits the comic altogether, it does mix things up and I’m certainly intrigued by what Winick is building. All the various aspects of the comic are unfolding nicely, and it’s good to see Two-Face’s luck turn heads’ up for a change (no pun intended). Considering how much the main title fell apart on Morrison’s watch, Winick’s firm hold on the events of Reborn are welcomed.

Recommendation: This lucky penny’s still facing right-side up. It’s almost like magic.

Tags: Bat-Reviews, Batman #690, DC, Judd Winick, Mark Bagley
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Bat-Reviews: Batman and Robin #3

Oink. Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely are certainly a pair, playing off each others’ quirks and eccentricities. Batman and Robin hit the ground running after the widely unpopular RIP that shook the waters a bit too much, but now I’m wondering how safe this new title is in comparison.

Morrison’s created a fantastically mad new villain, Professor Pyg, whose ill touch has begun to infect the city with his creepy doll minions and perilous drugs. Pyg holds out for a short but well-handled length of time before he’s whisked away to Arkham, and in terms of content, Batman and Robin #3 burns up as quickly as Pyg’s “pen” itself. By the end of the issue Batman and Robin (or Robin and Batman, as Damian prefers … “that’ll catch on”) are already on their way to confront none other than Le Bossu—one of the creeps associated with the Black Glove.

On a side note, I’m glad at least Morrison finds the decency to make Gordon question Dick’s dangerous tactics as the Caped Crusader, even if he doesn’t seem to have a clue what’s going on with the Bat-family lately.

The scenes with Pyg are wonderfully disturbed. Morrison’s pinned down what has the makings of a genuine Batman rogue—one who suffers from a rather dramatic ego, fetishes, and certainly a darkly murky past. I love that he even acts like a pig in his behavior, particularly with sounds; it reminds me of the Penguin’s trademark oddities.

Obviously Morrison’s plans for Pyg are yet simmering (and that’s a good thing), for his destruction upon Gotham’s citizens remains alive and kicking. However, this issue felt strangely fragmented and a little bare, and for that reason I’m beginning to fear it might crumble the way RIP did in its disconnected, overplayed manner. What was the continuously building, delightfully clashing personality of Dick and Damian seems a bit weaker in this issue, as well.

The one-page cut to Alfred and his mysterious watcher doesn’t comfort, either, considering Morrison basically crammed it in between some pages. Adding in the abrupt yet intriguing reveal of the Red Hood at the issue’s conclusion, the comic feels a bit messy near the end at the same time it struggles to fatten itself up with substance throughout an otherwise well-structured book. The next issue probably won’t be so much of a loose cannon, but Batman and Robin waters down with its third issue.

Recommendation: This pyg is looking scrawnier than usual, but could it be on its slow way to the fryer? Be warned: Feeding it your leftovers just won’t do, Morrison.

Tags: Bat-Reviews, Batman and Robin #3, DC, Frank Quitely, Grant Morrison
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Bat-Reviews: The Widening Gyre #1

For someone who thoroughly enjoyed the underdog of Kevin Smith’s Batman: Cacophony, I’m having a hard time accepting how much The Widening Gyre withered in front of my eyes. “Turning and Turning,” the premiere of Smith’s six-part mini-series with artist Walt Flanagan, comes across as an awkward endeavor to imitate the charm of the Joker’s jabs and the cunning of Onomatopoeia’s sinister growth as a character in Cacophony.

Smith’s handle on the narration and story this time around feels almost cheap. The issue begins during a flashback to the good old days when Batman pummeled costumed losers like Baron Blitzkrieg alongside the acrobatics of the loquacious Boy Wonder in red and green. The intended carefree attitude of the Dynamic Duo while fighting Baron and his laughable new partner in crime, Atomic Skull, shines through in a justified nostalgic way, but it doesn’t take long before the “golden classic fallen to harder times” tone erodes, leaving shallow interaction in its place.

It’s fitting that the embarrassing tumble from the heights of grace occurs in none other than a supermarket showdown (uh, yeah). From Batman’s cry of “Drop it or I shatter your jaw!” to a silly, Aryan-themed play on Marvel’s Avengers and even the Dark Knight’s reaction to a typical Nightwing humor stab that soars over Bruce’s head, everything feels wrong. It’s amateur Batman hour—and it doesn’t help that Nightwing’s unappreciated comparison of Bruce to Squidward reminded me of an lame parody of a fun scene from The Animated Series between Batman and Batgirl involving certain world domination-seeking mice.

The Widening Gyre does craft genuine moments of emotion in which it channels true Batman comic strength, however—like the “smiling’s for Superman” panel so effortlessly but powerfully expressed, and Bruce’s quiet thoughts about those who have stumbled into his curious and burdensome walk of life. The story itself boasts potential, flitting off the commonly woven thread that Arkham’s been taking over by one or many of its inmates—this time bearing the mark of Pamela Isely—except without the mass riots and dark twists. The long wind down the corridors of Arkham Asylum, overrun by Ivy’s plants, uproots psychological meaning to Batman as well—and Flanagan’s illustration of Riddler sent chills up my spine. And of course, Smith doesn’t forget to sprinkle in a delightful moment with the Joker, as well.

Smith’s portrayal of Isley buds showered in extreme erotica, as the writer chooses to exploit the teasing sensuality and masterful seduction of the character without holding back. However, Poison Ivy comes off more like a green cat in heat rather than a darkly sweet woman of unbridled power. From thereon, anytime Smith’s writing warms up to quality again, Ivy literally pops in from the side, spoiling the goods.

Etrigan fans (*raises hand excitedly*) will find redemption through his rather gory cameo, although Smith’s attempt at chivalry through the Dark Knight sent the rhyming dramatic tension into comedic failure again. The panels that follow seem oddly forced in order to make way for the deus-ex-machina that ensues. Suddenly Batman resembles the lovechild of those Godawful All-Star Batman and Robin Frank Miller variants, which I barely stomached when placed beside Jim Lee’s glorious covers of Goddamn awesome. And of course, there’s the “new guy.”

The Widening Gyre #1 somehow manages not to go up in smoke, but the overwhelming fluctuation in quality tramples the brighter moments of the comic. Here’s hoping the second issue can make up for the sins of the first.

Recommendation: The only thing distracting you from the reek of Mulligan’s half-eaten body splattered all over the pages is that green, naked chick in the front row with you.

Curious how the Bat-books stack up here on the blog? Look here.

Tags: Bat-Reviews, Batman: The Widening Gyre, DC, Kevin Smith, Walter Flanagan
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Bat-Reviews: Batgirl #1

No more secrets. No more hiding. The first issue of Batgirl (written by Bryan Q. Miller) reveals the new Batgirl in Gotham and explains what happened to Cassandra Cain. So does the Bat-family have a new professional crime-fighter on their hands, ready to help clean up Gotham, or is the gig already blown?

SPOILERS!

How do you safe-guard a review when the warning is a spoiler in itself? That’s right, the latest Batgirl is none other than Spoiler, aka Stephanie Brown. Brown may have hung up the hood of the Spoiler, but that black and yellow symbol has an allure she just can’t resist. Living a normal life and going to college like people her age are expected to doesn’t exactly appeal to a girl who knows the thrill of flying high above Gotham and punching some thugs where it hurts.

Batman and Robin first notice they’re not the only ones taking up a different mantle when Brown makes a mess out of stopping a street racing group that’s been leaving tire marks on the pavement for weeks. Stephanie’s not the best at covering her tracks, and she knows it’s only a matter of time before she’s busted—either by her mom, the cops … or Gotham’s other costumed heroes. And what Batgirl-themed title would be complete without the inclusion of the iconic Batgirl, Barbara Gordon? Oracle has sunk into a dark place, and when Dick Grayson alerts her about the newest Bat on the Gotham scene, she’s not about to stand idly—especially after Brown haphazardly saves one of GPD’s rookies.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with Batgirl #1. Although I like the character—she does share my first name, after all, and therefore is cool in my book—it’s hard to get behind someone as reckless as her, especially when Brown’s nightly activities endanger others. Lee Garbett’s pencils, Trevor Scott’s inks, and Guy Major’s colors make a good combination for the comic, though. The almost simplistic, adventurous art style reflects the story well, and the shift to the flashback with Spoiler and Batgirl (Cassandra)—which I particularly enjoyed—acts as a well-illustrated contrast against the book’s present events. However, at this point it’s unclear where the comic will be going, and or if the character will take a perhaps much-needed change of pace.

Recommendation: Chow down on some waffles while you read this. It might make the book a little more substantial.

Tags: Bat-Reviews, Batgirl #1, Bryan Q. Miller, DC, Lee Garbett
Posted in Comics/Manga, Reviews | 4 Comments »