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Snapshots for 1/28
There's no way that Don 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 #623
by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso (DC Comics)
 Azzarello and Risso serve up another slice of pure pulp goodness with Batman #623, introducing the intriguing (and beautifully-designed) new criminal duo Fatman and Little Boy and once again letting Batman's knuckles do a little dance on Killer Croc's face. The story itself is pretty convoluted, and will no doubt read better in trade, but it hardly matters, because "Broken City" is all about atmosphere, and that's what this team can always deliver. Batman's grumpy, whip-smart narration is consistent with the Uber-Bat portrayal that has been de rigeur ever since Morrison redefined the character in JLA, but it's got a different edge, a little more street smart and with a touch more humor, and Risso really makes the rain-soaked streets of Gotham look like a city, rather than just a colorful backdrop for super-hero conflict. This book makes a perfect companion to Gotham Central, with the same gritty, street level view of the city and its players but with the focus squarely on Batman instead of the cops whose lives he haunts. It's not what I'd like Batman to be all the time, but for anyone who has read a lot of Batman, it's a welcome breath of fresh (or should that be polluted?) air. 9/10
CAPER #4
by Judd Winick & Farel Dalrymple (DC Comics)
 Winick's period crime piece concludes in a fashion that isn't unexpected, given the setup, but which has more than a few surprises, including a clever use of the geography to provide a rather unsettling and climactic background element that mirrors the upheaval in the San Francisco crime scene and the lives of the Weiss brothers. This first story arc is long past a happy ending, but it does have a very satisfying ending, and the grim nature of some of the final business has an upside in a relatively happy ending for a couple of the characters, in that they get a new start on life. Though Caper is a violent look at gangster life, and the protagonists are certainly purveyors of that violence, it also has a lot to say about loyalty and strength and when you need to have the latter to overcome the former and do the right thing, even if it means turning your back on everything. The next issue of Caper brings a new storyline and a new artist, and while I'm certainly looking forward to '70s Hollywood with John Severin, the creative team has its work cut out for them improving on the gorgeous work of Dalrymple and the intricate plot and fascinating characters of "Market Street," Caper's first arc. 10/10
CATWOMAN #27
by Ed Brubaker, Paul Gulacy & Jimmy Palmiotti (DC Comics)
 This book has become a constant source of frustration for me since #25, and it's only getting worse. Not because the writing is bad, but because I'm realizing that the writing is just as good as ever, and the change of artwork has derailed the book for me. Brubaker creates some fantastic scenes here, including a wonderfully tense and yet touching scene between Selina and Batman that makes great use of their new relationship and a very funny introduction for Slam Bradley's son. For that matter, Selina's struggle with her new role as protector rather than just burglar makes for some fascinating reading as well. It's just that when you compare the artwork to what has gone before, it all looks so very ordinary. Catwoman looks too old, too boring compared to the sleek, sexy look she had before. Holly looks too young. Slam looks... weird. Gulacy does some nice work here in places, notably a great shot of Catwoman roof-jumping in the dawn hours of Gotham, but simply solid artwork can't help but disappoint when the book had carved out such a unique visual identity with its first two dozen issues. I'm still hoping for an art change, but honestly, the strength of the writing is drawing me back in regardless, and this issue definitely regained some of the interest I had lost since the departure of Cameron Stewart. 7/10
THE FLASH #206
by Geoff Johns, Alberto Dose, Howard Porter & Livesay (DC Comics)
 "Ignition" finishes up this issue, and if you're one of those who dropped the book because you felt like Johns had gone all New Marvel, it's time to come back. Not only do Johns and Dose serve up another cool example of superpowered battle between Flash and Mr. Element, Captain Cold has a brief but character-defining moment that once again reinforces that he is the coolest character (no pun intended) in Johns's run (again, no pun intended) on this title. If that's not enough, though, there's a legitimately heart-wrenching and yet uplifting scene between Linda and Wally and a surprisingly smooth shift from the dark and urban feel of Dose's art into the more straightforward superhero style of new artist Howard Porter. The book hasn't lost all of its dark edge, which I felt was on the verge of swallowing the book, but it's clear that Johns has not forgotten the joy of superpowers, costumes and the hero's morality which are some of the strengths of his writing and his work on this book, and it's just as clear that Howard Porter knows how to capture that joy and sense of speed. "Ignition" has turned out to be something of an interesting side trip, but I'm really looking forward to seeing The Flash take another leap forward with the next issue, and hope that some more folks will jump onboard as well. 8/10
HAWKMAN #24
by Geoff Johns, Rags Morales & John Dell (DC Comics)
 Now that's more like what I had in mind. The first "Black Reign" chapter in Hawkman was something of a disappointment, but this time out, the book features the first all-out conflict between Black Adam's team and Hawkman's JSA, and it's quite the super brouhaha. Johns, known for his classic super-hero stylings, turns in a surprisingly brutal script, and Morales and Dell are more than happy to oblige, making it feel like both teams are really taking their lumps in this story. The brutal toll taken on one of the JSA members in the last few pages is particularly affecting, and if Atom Smasher crushing dictators under his boot or Northwind gutting guards didn't serve notice about the darker, more evil nature of this team's nature, those last few pages ought to remove all doubt. Even better, though the action is a big selling point, Johns hasn't forgotten to include some tantalizing story bits, including status quo shakeups for a couple big JSA members, a mysterious "secret weapon" on Hawkman's side that I can't quite figure out and the continuing morally gray area that Black Adam is operating under. 8/10
IRON WOK JAN! #7
by Shinji Saijyo (Comicsone)
 At this point, anything I say about Iron Wok Jan! is pretty much going to be repetition, so this is mostly just a confirmation for those on the fence that yes, I still love it and yes, I believe you will too. Though Iron Wok Jan! can definitely appeal to the vast manga audience thanks to its insight into an aspect of a foreign culture (in this case, Chinese cooking in Japan), it's got appeal for the casual comics fan as well. Saijyo makes the tension of cooking contests and challenges as gripping as any superhero battle, and at the same time he presents the haute cuisine of the Gobancho restaurant in such a way that this comic tickles the taste buds as well as the other senses. Iron Wok Jan! will make you laugh at the buffoonish behavior of some of the characters and the unbridled arrogance of Jan himself, but I'll be very surprised if most readers don't walk away from this issue also thinking "Huh. Spring rolls do sound good for dinner." One of the oddest titles on my regular pull list, and also one of my consistent favorites. 10/10
LONE WOLF 2100 #11
by Mike Kennedy & Francisco Ruiz Velasco (Dark Horse Comics)
 It feels like Lone Wolf 2100 is in the home stretch, because Kennedy is having Itto confront the big bad villains and making some big revelations about the true nature of the War Spore and the cure that Daisy carries within her. This issue is a big showdown between Itto and Terasawa, which is interesting in part thanks to the gorgeous action by Velasco but also because it allows us to get inside the villain's head. Terasawa's argument about the superiority of Emcons and their mistreatment by humans isn't entirely off the mark, and his emotional development and love for Belladonna make him more than just a cackling villain. It makes for some interesting philosophical underpinnings to an all-out action story, and continues to distance Lone Wolf 2100 from its inspiration, making it much more of a strong standalone story. 8/10
LOVE ME TENDERLOIN: A CAL MCDONALD MYSTERY
by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith (Dark Horse Comics)
 I've gotta say, though 30 Days of Night might make a great movie, Cal McDonald is the property that somebody should be snapping up, because this would make a hell of a TV show. I've enjoyed the longform Cal McDonald stories found in Niles's novels and in the Dark Horse miniseries Criminal Macabre, but the real strength of the character and his world comes in these one-off tales. Niles delivers a weird and funny little mystery that isn't entirely unpredictable if you accept the weirdness of McDonald's world but which is quirky and fun regardless. Templesmith's work is, as always, a little too abstract for my tastes, but he tells the story pretty well in general and definitely has an evocative and engaging style, even if I can't always tell for sure what's going on. Whip smart dialogue, a clever premise and a weird mixture of horror stories and pulp detective tales makes for an unusual and entertaining tale in Love Me Tenderloin... and while that title may be odd, it perfectly captures both the content and tone of the story contained within. 8/10
TALES OF THE VAMPIRES #2
by Joss Whedon, Alex Sanchez, Jane Espenson, Scott Morse, Brett Matthews & Vatche Mavlian (Dark Horse Comics)
 The second issue of Tales of the Vampires, like the first, is very much a mixed bag. Once again, Whedon's tale is interesting but all too short, although the character of Edna is another strong female character from Whedon introduced effectively in remarkably short order. Mind you, as a framing sequence, the story doesn't really work, especially when you have a couple of gimmick stories to fill out the rest of the book. Espenson's story is of the goofy EC twist variety melded with a bit of children's book, a silly rhyme with a twist ending, but it's a lot of fun to read, thanks in no small part to beautiful color artwork by Scott Morse. Actually, it's the artwork that shines on the last story as well, as Vatche Mavlian does beautiful, atmospheric work with unusual and haunting colors by Michelle Madsen, all of which is matched by a somewhat predictable and cliched story of Jack the Ripper. Matthews attempts a double twist ending, but both twists are fairly predictable, and so the story is something of a letdown. Tales of the Vampires so far has been worthwhile if only for the art, but it pales beside Tales of the Slayers or Fray, much less the high watermark set by most of the Buffy TV series. 7/10
ULTIMATE SIX #6
by Brian Michael Bendis, Trevor Hairsine & Danny Miki (Marvel Comics)
 Lately, I've started to feel like maybe I've had my fill of the "Ultimate" style books for a while, but then a week like this one comes along and changes my mind. Ultimate Six still feels like it will read much better as a trade paperback, but Bendis has done a nice job of serving up cliffhangers in every issue and those who criticize his lack of action and heavy talk in books like Ultimate Spider-Man and Daredevil (like myself, sometimes) should be happy to see that there's plenty of action to be found in Ultimate Six this week. Trevor Hairsine's work still seems a little rough and unfinished in some places to me, but when he's on, it's really impressive. His Green Goblin is huuuuge and terrifying, his Doc Ock looks like a power freak and the scene where Iron Man opens a high-tech can of whupass on Sandman is a blast. The more ordinary characters aren't quite Hairsine's forte, as Peter Parker goes from looking too old to looking like some kind of mutant, and the Wasp is about as mannish as she's ever appeared, but given that this is very action-centric, it's probably fair to say that Hairsine nailed what's really important in this issue. Looking forward to seeing how it all wraps up, and hoping for some more surprises. 8/10
WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #18
by Joe Casey & Francisco Ruiz Velasco (DC Comics/Wildstorm imprint)
 It's been hinted at all along that the powers-that-be were not going to be happy with Halo's continuing benevolent corporation act, but one really gets the feel with this issue that the pressure is starting to increase. Casey's take on oil and politics won't be popular with some, but they sure feel true enough for me, and certainly work within the conspiracy-laden Wildstorm universe, especially when Sleeper has the flipside, showing us the corrupt structures that lay underneath the power structure that we know in the real world. More importantly, while the feeling of pressure on Halo increasing is there, the calmness that Jack Marlowe feels and the way he reacts are just fascinating. His speech about transforming himself from a machine built for war into something more shows that despite his cold exterior, Marlowe has given some thought to the philosophical underpinnings of his mechanical life, and though it's bordering on superhero cliche (a similar scene showed up in X-Men 2: X-Men United and in this week's Cobra Reborn, just off the top of my head), I really enjoyed Marlowe's late night, private visit with the President to show him that his power isn't as absolute as he might like to think. Francisco Ruiz Velasco's artwork will take some getting used to, and it's neither as detailed as I'm used to from him or quite as gritty and nuanced as Nguyen brought to the book, but it is solid work that at times reminds me of Sean Phillips's work on the book, and I expect he'll grow into the role just as every other artist on the last few iterations of this book have. Good stuff as always, and the upcoming Coup D'Etat should provide a good jumping-on point for this and the other Wildstorm books for those who have heard the buzz and are curious to check it out. 9/10
WILDGUARD: CASTING CALL #5
by Todd Nauck & Lary Stucker (Image Comics)
 I've gotta be honest, these days I'm starting to feel like the flood of reality TV is to our society as bread and circuses was to Rome. However, I've been sucked into a few reality shows in my time, and so I know the form well enough to know that Nauck is capturing it perfectly with Wildguard: Casting Call. Actually, he's capturing it perfectly and giving it a superhero twist. This issue has me anxious to find out who's going to make the final cuts, getting past events like staged superbattles, but it also has a superhero plot running in the background dealing with kidnapping, duplicates and a mysterious set of villains. Nauck continues to deliver a really effective parody/emulation of reality show tropes like the spot interviews and mixes that with some pretty incredible character development skills. In five issues, he's introduced a ton of heroes, and he's done so well enough that I have a pretty good feel for the final dozen or so, as well as some of the contestants who went out. Wildguard is a lot of fun, and I hope that once we learn who the final team is, we'll be seeing more of them in a follow-up miniseries. 8/10
X-TREME X-MEN #40
by Chris Claremont, Igor Kordey & Greg Adams (Marvel Comics)
 I haven't read X-Treme X-Men in quite a while... quite honestly, I'd written the whole thing off as not my cup of tea, and it didn't feature a lot of my favorite characters anyway. However, with Claremont coming back to Uncanny and some folks suggesting that the last few stories here had been improved, I thought I'd give part one of a new story a chance. What I found was more interesting than most of the X-Treme X-Men stories I've read and pleasantly free of much of the Claremont dialogue cliches, but it wasn't the most accessible thing I've ever read. Half the characters I don't know, and the others I don't recognize because of changes in their powers or looks. That said, I kind of enjoyed this, due in no small part to the gorgeous work by Igor Kordey, Greg Adams and Liquid!, which looks like a mixture of Crossgen greats Greg Land and Butch Guice with a touch of Alan Davis in the mix. However, while I was unsurprised to find Kordey doing fantastic art, I was surprised to find that Claremont's writing was also drawing me in. His take on Bishop makes him considerably more interesting, not to mention more capable and dangerous, and I love his take on the powers and limitations of Sage as well. The book is thick with continuity, and I didn't really get fully half of it, but what I did get I found intriguing. 5/10
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