Friday, July 03, 2009

Get Your Reviews Here

I keep reading, and the stack keeps getting higher. That means despite cancellations of comics I like, there's still plenty to read.

Gotham City Sirens 1
I had to try this because of Catwoman and was pleasantly surprised. Paul Dini is a good writer whose work I've enjoyed in the past. He handles female characters well, and the three here -- Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Selina -- all have distinctive personalities. The art by March is nice enough, though I think Selina is a bit off. But the cartoonish aspects suit the book. A fun start to what I hope is a consistently entertaining title.

Detective 854
Starring Batwoman, by Greg Rucka, with art by JH Williams III. This jumps right into things, and Rucka clearly has control over his star character. She's fully realized and I love having her father be part of her team. no worry about keeping her crimefighting life a secret from him, a concept (keeping secrets from family) old enough to be cliche. Rucka, with Cully Hamner on art chores, is writing the backup story starring The Question. Renee tackles what looks like a small time crime that is leading to something bigger. I like both stars and with Rucka still guiding their adventures, I have high hopes for this book.

Booster Gold 21
The new Batman is worked into the story, only to have him eliminated from the timestream. The Black Beetle is back and Booster has his work cut out for him. Blue Beetle is back, too, in the backup feature, and writer Sturges picks things up pretty much where they were left off. Jaime is dealing with what happened to him at the end of his own book, not to mention a new threat, but with the best supporting cast in the DCU, the villains don't have much of a chance. I'm so glad to have Blue Beetle back, and in a book I already love.

Batman 687
Dick takes over as Batman in what turned out to be a nice, emotional story. The panels with Dick, Superman, and Wonder Woman are emotionally charged, and Alfred, as he does in the new Batman and Robin book, provides stability. He's the emotional center of these stories, the one person who understood Bruce more than anyone could, and who understands Dick as much. He knows how to be supportive, based on the personality of whoever is wearing the cowl. Good stuff. I might have to keep getting this.

Streets of Gotham 1
The Batman story in this didn't work as well for me, but I'm buying this book for Manhunter. It's great to have Kate Spencer back, and working in Gotham. The art by Jeanty and Story is nice enough, but not as good as the art when Kate had her own book. She looks too young, and everyone looks like they just walked out of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic. It's rather disconcerting, but the story gets off to a good start setting things up.

Batman and Robin 2
Morrison and Quitely continue their version of Dick Grayson/Batman and Damien/Robin, along with some of the creepiest villains ever to walk the pages of a DCU comic. Damien clearly needs to learn some discipline, and to develop some respect for Dick's authority. Lots of good character stuff, and entertaining if grim story, and fun art make this a must-read book. It's worth it just for the first page with Dick and Alfred.

Secret Six 11
Probably my favorite comic right now. The mismatched teammates form sides as the repugnant task they've unwittingly agreed to has some of the team wanting to void their contract and the others insisting they gave their word and have to go through with it. And when this team resorts to infighting, it gets ugly. And when Wonder Woman shows up at the end of this chapter... well, next issue should be even better than this one.

2 comments:

  1. There were a heck of a lot of really good comics this week. That first page of Batman and Robin ALONE was worth it all.

    In fact, is it me, or has there been a plethora of really spectacular artwork just recently?

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  2. No, it's not just you. I've been awed by all the nice art lately. I'm hoping we've turned a corner in that regard and the art will continue to excel, or at worst, be good.

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