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Quick Critiques for 11/24/2004
There's no way that Randy and I can cover all of the material we have for review in full reviews, so these capsule reviews will offer some brief comments on other recent releases.
BATMAN #634
by Andersen Gabrych, Paul Lee & Brian Horton
(DC Comics)
 Andersen Gabrych ties up some loose ends left over after the "War Games" crossover that ran through most of the Batman family of ongoing titles over the past three months. There's some strong, grounded and emotional storytelling here that focuses on character above action-oriented plotting, and that's always a welcome change of pace. The problem is that most of this subject matter has been explored in other Batman-related titles, so there's a sense of redundancy here for those who are following along. The script is accessible and somewhat diverting. Paul Lee's dark style suits the tone of the script perfectly, and it's a pleasure to see his work again, and in such a high-profile venue such as this. At times, his efforts here remind me of the styles of such artists as Cliff (Human Target) Chiang and Michael (Gotham Central) Lark. While the script doesn't capture my attention as well as it should, Lee and Horton certainly capture the mood quite well. 6/10
BLACK WIDOW #3
by Richard K. Morgan, Bill Siewkiewicz & Goran Parlov (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 Morgan's story of espionage and feminism continues, and it remains as strong and riveting a read as the first issue. Morgan has done an excellent job of drenching the entire story in intrigue. The title character is depicted as shrugging off a critical injury a little too easily, but Morgan makes up for it with the sharp narration that brings her herculean efforts to scale a building to life. The second interrogation sequence, in which the main character uses a couple of nasty drugs, is quite inspired and makes it easier to understand the almost alien world of espionage and covert military operations. Sienkiewicz's extreme style suits the intense tone of the plot and characters, and his work brings the perception-altering qualities of the drugs to life quite effectively. The teenager tagging along on Natasha's quest for answers and peace remains something of a question mark, but Morgan uses her to great effect here as comic relief. 8/10
HELLBLAZER #201
by Mike Carey & Leonardo Manco
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 As the new masthead on this title demonstrates, DC is trying to reach out to a potential new audience -- those who may enjoy the upcoming Keanu Reaves flick, Constantine, based on this Vertigo comic-book property. Well, it seems their efforts stopped with the logo. The script is highly inaccessible. though billed as a new story arc, the plot really got underway in the previous issue, in which the main character's demonic children from futures that never happened are let loose upon the world. It's not at all clear what the significance is of the terrifying trio is; only those who caught last month's instalment would know the score. Manco's art is appropriately dark, and I love his depictions of the violent games the Constantine offspring are playing. But the art here pales in comparison with what we've seen in previous projects manco has worked on. There was a grittier, more detailed quality in his art in the past, and I'm left with the impression that his efforts on this title just aren't as meticulous. Perhaps it's the monthly schedule that's forced it. 5/10
MARVEL TEAM-UP #2
by Robert Kirkman & Soctt Kolins (Marvel Comics)
 Kirkman both salutes and satirizes traditional super-hero storytelling with this second issue. He knows some of the plot elements here are corny and even illogical, given the characters' history, and he has fun with it. Even the characters acknowledge the absurdity of some of what's transpired, and the end result is an entertaining send-up of the genre. I was particularly amused at how the writer pokes fun on Wolverine's overexposure. ("Wow ... how observant. No wonder you're on so many teams.") He even mocks his own work with a prologue to his Jubilee series. Kirkman also hints at an ongoing plotline to link the disparate team-up stories together, and I'm pleased with that revelation. Kolins's art here isn't as strong as what we're seeing on Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, but it undeniably fun and richly detailed. Furthermore, Studio F's colors add depth to the line art. Ultimately, Marvel Team-Up is far from the best super-hero title on the stands, but it's a guilty pleasure for those of us who grew up with traditional team-up titles. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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