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Quick Critiques for 12/10
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.
100 BULLETS #48
by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 It wasn't until a second perusal of this issue that the writer's real intent struck me. He compares Jack to the caged tigers. The tigers are killers, waiting for their chance to taste blood, and no cage can ever take that away from them. The only thing that eliminates that bloodlust is a tranquilizer dart. Similarly, Jack is a killer, a warrior, but his addiction to drugs has dulled his violent spirit. The question here is why Agent Graves is trying to awaken the carnivore within him. As always, Risso makes excellent use of shadows and silhouette to cast a dark, tense atmosphere over the story. I also love how he brings the rather surreal setting -- a piece of the exotic in the middle of Bugfuck, America -- to life. I also enjoyed how Mulvihill's colors shatter that darkness, slicing through the line art like claws and bullets tear through flesh in the story itself. 9/10
DARK DAYS #6
by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith (IDW Publishing)
 Steve Niles took something of an unexpected turn in the latter half of this limited series, but it makes for a solid payoff in the story's closing moments and a strong sense of finality. The showdown with the queen of the vampires boasts a strong, action-movie feel, and the tension is more about fun than drama. There's a great deal of potential for future stories -- albeit of a different kind, which will keep the property fresh -- in Dane, the rogue vampire, who's fortunately a far cry from the good vampire kind of character, such as TV's Angel. Templesmith's artwork is as sharp as the antagonists' teeth, and it's meant to be as jarring as the tearing of flesh. The artist adds a hideously alien look to the vampires, making for some striking visuals. 8/10
FABLES #20
by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham & Steve Leialoha (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 I love the political nature of this new story arc that delves into the origin of the Fables' exile from their storybook homeland. Prince Charming's campaign for mayor is a delightful satire of real-world politics, exposing the gullibility of the electorate, how people want easy answers instead of hard work. My one qualm with this script is its heavy reference to events in Fables: The Last Castle. Willingham doesn't provide nearly enough exposition to properly bring those who missed out on that pricier one-shot up to speed. Buckingham and Leialoha's artwork is appropriately playful, given the lighter mood that dominates this issue. Mind you, that bright tone never engulfs the tension and drama of the plot either. Bigby Wolf's dialogue points to a darker plot at play, and I can't wait to learn more about this mystery. 8/10
GOTHAM CENTRAL #14
by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka, Michael Lark & Stephano Gaudiano (DC Comics)
 What if the Joker was real and there was no Batman to take him down? That's essentially the notion that's at the heart of this story, and it makes for a chilling story. Though he's rarely seen in this story, the Joker's brilliance is center stage, and it makes it easy for the reader to relate to the other characters' terror. Adding to the story's credibility is the political and public-relations subplot that arises. The writers develop plausible public reactions to the Joker's existence and rampage here, and Lark's gritty artwork and the muted, depressed colors foster a disquieting atmosphere that keeps the reader on edge. This is one of the most fascinating Joker stories I've had the pleasure of reading since it's about regular people's efforts to stop the ultimate madman rather than a dark knight in shining kevlar. 9/10
JSA #55
by Geoff Johns, Leonard Kirk, Keith Champagne & Wade Von Grawbadger (DC Comics)
 Two fluffy holiday-themed stories in a row? What's Johns trying to do to me, turn me into some kinda pansy? Kidding. Still, this much warm-and-cuddly super-hero storytelling is a bit much all at once. I'm a fan of stories that revive Golden Age comic-book characters, but Johns seems to be stretching things a bit by bringing a classic humor character into the fold here. This story reads more like he's dotting all his Is and crossing all his Ts in terms of names associated with the Justice Society. Still, this is a fun story that boasts a cheesy happy ending, as one might expect from a Christmas story. It was a pleasure to see Leonard Kirk's artwork in these pages again, though. My favorite part of the issue was the dark cloud that Hawkman brought to the equation, but even that gets the saccharine embrace treatment. 6/10
ULTIMATE X-MEN #40
by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch & Art Thibert (Marvel Comics)
 When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby first created the X-Men, it worked more as an analogy for racism and the ostracized feeling that characterizes adolescence. Today, it works more as an analogy for gay rights, and given the introduction of religious groups as something of an antagonist in this new story arc, I'd say Bendis might agree. The conversation between Angel and Storm in the latter part of this issue points to it as well, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the theme of acceptance here, especially how the Beast's subplot serves as something of a dark reflection of the Angel's here. Furthermore, I doubt I'll ever tire of the writer's Aaron Sorkin-esque dialogue. Finch's art is detailed and really brings a sense of humanity and realism to these extraordinary figures. 8/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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