What Is Techno Again?

Review: Batwoman: Elegy Deluxe Edition

I like Greg Rucka’s Gotham Central series, and given the context, it makes sense that he’d kick-off the new Detective Comics, featuring a lesbian Batwoman. Read all about the Elegy Deluxe Edition GN at OneMetal. Here’s a snippet:

Another masked redhead swings into Gotham’s troubled heart, declaring war against its criminal infestation. A mighty symbol emblazoned on her costume, the new Batwoman fills the city’s streets with more than nervous electricity: She sparks a little controversy, as well.

Greg Rucka has handled lesbian issues before, particularly with DC’s own series Gotham Central, and now he’s back steering the army brat Kate Kane through tumultuous relationships and putting her in the thick of Gotham’s miscreant welcome brigade. Kane, military cadet turned superhero, faces the city’s second most famous Lewis Carroll nut, the cult leader “Alice” whose religious ties nearly cost Kane her life once before. The lavishly dressed villain converses purely in rhyme, and the High Madame oversees the thirteen covens with merciless, sadistic attention. Kane’s vengeful strike against Alice’s latest homestead attracts the interference of the cult’s supernatural sect, shape-shifters known as the True Believers. When the fight escalates, taking to the skies, Kane learns a secret that disrupts her moral compass and awakens unhappy family memories.

What do you think of Kate Kane?

Tags: Batwoman, Dave Stewart, DC Comics, Deluxe Edition, Detective Comics, Elegy, Greg Rucka, J.H. Williams III, Todd Klein
Posted in Comics/Manga, OneMetal, Reviews, Writing | No Comments »

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
Posted in Comics/Manga, Reviews | 2 Comments »

SDCC09: Batman: New Dynamic panel

The Batman: New Dynamic panel on Friday of Comic-Con featured many strong names: DC Universe senior story editor Ian Sattler, Batman group editor Mike Marts, Chris Rose, Fabian Nicieza, Mark Andreyko, Greg Rucka, Brian Q. Miller, inker Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguyen, Paul Dini, and Philip Tan (Batman and Robin #4-6 artist).

The panel commenced with the immediate confirmation (which we all knew) that Batman is missing—not dead. Dini, who currently writes Streets of Gotham and Gotham City Sirens, said, “Hush is back, and he’s making trouble in both books.” With a “one-man stimulus plan … Gotham is proclaiming him as their new savior … He’s after Harley right now; pretty soon the Joker’s going to hear about this, and he doesn’t like the sound of Harley stepping out on him.” Bandages aren’t the only thing that’s in, though. “[Mr. Zsasz is] going to get a new look, and he’s going to have a big dream to accomplish.” According to Dini, artist Dustin Nguyen worked on the redesign.

Brian Miller (Smallville), who will be helming the new Batgirl title in the fall, cryptically admitted, “There are waffles in the first issue, and we can eliminate one suspect: It’s not Bet Kane.”

Greg Rucka commented on his gorgeously illustrated Batwoman book (Detective Comics), saying much to everyone’s incredulity, “It actually gets better looking. I think JH is changing the form. I think he’s changing the language of comics with this.” He told the audience that when we open issue #858, we won’t even recognize that it’s Williams’ art.

As far as the recent installment of second features are concerned, writer Mark Andreyko said that the co-feature and the decision to move Kate Spencer (Manhunter) to Gotham City received a “huge vote of confidence from the company.” The features highlight “supporting characters who might not be able to support their own monthly.” Andreyko reported that Jeremy Haun will be the artist for the feature as of issue #4, and as for what we’ve seen before from him, Andreyko raves, “The stuff he’s doing on Manhunter blows that out of the water.

Fabian Nicieza announced the new Azrael series coming in October, stating that it “flows from the Batman and Detective annuals, which I’ll be writing, as well.” The two Batman annuals will feature Batman and Robin as well as the Question; Michael Lane takes over as Azrael. “He’s clearly a character who has some issues and some flaws,” Nicieza stated. “We’re gonna see what direction he goes in and how the other characters in Gotham deal with that … He’s a guy who clearly needs redemption, and we’re trying to figure out a way to help him instead of throwing him into the abyss.”

Chris Yost (Red Robin scribe) talked of Tim Drake, explaining that they’re dealing with “a character who’s in an incredibly dark place.” He added, “Anyone who wasn’t Tim Drake would probably be in an asylum … This book is really examining where he is now.” Yost continued, “He’s on this crazy, delusional quest to find Bruce Wayne, and even Superman says he’s dead … Fairly surprising things are gonna happen.”

To follow up on Battle for the Cowl, Tony Daniel will be coming on Batman for multiple issues in an effort to create a cohesive universe. “There are substantial, long-lasting changes to Gotham, and we’re not gonna let up on that. That’s our promise to you guys.”

In the question and answer portion, the panelists noted one of the unique qualities about the new age of Batman comics: “All of these books can sit within the same sandbox and kind of coexist on their own.” As for the origin issues? “We live in perpetual deadline peril.” Seven issues will be uninterrupted JH Williams III, and then Jock (Mark Simpson) will come on for a three-issue story starting in Detective #861.

Although DC remains tight-lipped on the identity of Batgirl, the panelists revealed that the costume will be familiar at first, but by the end of the third issue a new outfit will be showcased. “[The book] will have the lightest tone while still dealing with serious subject matter.”

Writer Peter Tomasi and artist Adrian Saef will present Batman: Blackest Night, which “really brings the Batman universe, in an interesting way, into Blackest Night.”

What about some of Gotham’s other prominent costumed individuals? Sterling Gates is scribing a World’s Finest issue, focusing on Dick Grayson’s travels. Selina Kyle will be dealing with the new Black Mask soon, and reportedly there will also be quite a bit of Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon interaction this year.

Tags: Batman: New Dynamic, Blackest Night, Brian Miller, Chris Rose, DC, Derek Fridolfs, Detective Comics, Dustin Nguyen, Fabian Nicieza, Greg Rucka, Mark Andreyko, Paul Dini, Philip Tan, San Diego Comic-Con 2009
Posted in Comics/Manga | No Comments »