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Quick Critiques for 4/12/2006
There's no way I can cover all of the material I have for review in full reviews, so these capsule reviews will offer some brief comments on other recent releases.
THE BATMAN STRIKES #20
by Jai Nitz, Christopher Jones & Terry Beatty
(DC Comics)
 This issue pits the Batman against gangster Rupert Thorne and Bane in a fairly predictable but enjoyable story. I think what I liked most about the plot was that the boxer who was being exorted by the baddies doesn't have a crisis of conscience over whether or not to take a dive. It's all about his family, and he doesn't even think twice about it. Christopher Jones's style isn't quite as angular as the in-house style for the cartoon upon which this comic series is based; instead, there's still a tinge of the Bruce Timm feel that we saw in the previous Batman cartoons (and the current Justice League Unlimited. I actually think the Bane design here is cooler and more intimidating before he bulks up; I love that we can't see his eyes in non-amped form. This is a solid issue overall, bound to delight younger readers while older ones will find some brief diversion. 6/10
DESOLATION JONES #6
by Warren Ellis & J.H. Williams III
(DC Comics/Wildstorm Productions)
 Ellis stops with the morbid playfulness of his combination private eye/espionage story and just sticks with the morbid bits to arrive at a gut-wrenching ending in which everyone loses. There are no happy endings in Retired Spook World, Ellis tells his readers and reminds his protagonist. Jones's defining characteristic is that he loathes what was done to him and when similar atrocities are wrought upon others in the name of scientific curiosity or military experimentation. He refuses to allow others to be manipulated as he was, and that is actually what allows a mysterious, behind-the-scenes force to manipulate him further. This is a fitting ending to a dark and mesmerizing opening story arc. Williams's willingness to experiment with panel layout, perspective and the usual parameters of comics storytelling serve this mind-bending and purposeuflly disturbing script well. 8/10
FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST FAMILY #2
by Joe Casey, Chris Weston & Gary Erskine
(Marvel Comics)
 This is something of a thematic sequel to Joe Casey and Scott Kolins's Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but it's far superior than the previous series. And given the inventive mix of modern cynicism and Silver Age storytelling in Heroes, that's saying something. The smaller cast allows Casey to be more focused in his plotting, and this story establishes a central villain early on. Weston's more detailed, realistic artwork reinforces the plausible tone of Casey's script nicely, but both creators are careful to include plenty of the Silver Age wonder inherent in the source material. Casey's story blends the innocence and energy of the Fantastic Four with a shockingly harsh tone, and adult fans of the super-hero genre will no doubt appreciate it. 9/10
SON OF M #5
by David Hine & Roy Allan Martinez (Marvel Comics)
 This series hasn't proven to be what I expected at all, and that's a very good thing. Instead of exploring Quicksilver's redemption for his actions in House of M, Hine instead shows us that the character is reverting further back into villain mode. But more importantly, it's perfectly understandable to see why he makes the choices he does. He's desperate and he believes he's doing good by mutants like himself who lost their powers. Furthermore, this story isn't just about Pietro. Son of M has proven to be as much an Inhumans title as a Quicksilver book. Martinez's work is stunning in its level of detail. It reminds me of Jose (Hip Flask) Ladronn's powerful line art. The only aspect of the book I find disappointing is Hine's inclusion of the peripheral characters from Chris Claremont's recently cancelled Excalibur series. Familiarity with these D-list mutants is really helpful for this story, and I would have liked to have seen a couple of "names" among those Quicksilver approaches with his M-Day cure. 8/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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