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Snapshots for 11/26
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 #621
by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso (DC Comics)
 My only reservation about this book is that it's pretty dark for the mainstream Bat title. But I find it easy to forgive any such misgivings when I read the issue, because I honestly think that Azzarello and Risso have hit a groove very similar to the one they hit on 100 Bullets. Azzarello brings a noir flavor to Batman, with metaphors like grilling and new settings like strip clubs and a much darker take on his interrogation methods, and it absolutely fits this staple of detective fiction. Like Risso's artwork, it's much darker and more stylized than we're used to seeing in the Batman books, but it's a refreshing change from the super-hero mystery of Loeb and Lee, and probably the only way DC could have followed up that run. Azzarello and Risso are playing with the smaller crooks (a sarcastic and brutal interpretation of Killer Croc) and smaller stakes (a murder similar to the one that created Batman) but so far, I'm absolutely riveted. 9/10
CAPER #2
by Judd Winick & Farel Dalrymple (DC Comics)
 The first issue of Caper was a great setup, full of interesting characters and terrific atmosphere. The second issue of Caper is better. There are some interesting gangland politics at work in this issue, but the really fascinating aspect of the issue is the romantic triangle that exists between Boss Cohen, Jacob and Rachel, made all the more interesting because not everyone involved in the triangle knows what's truly going on. Winick has made reference to the Biblical story of King David, but the story really has a structure more like a Greek tragedy. Things play out the only way they could have, but there are some truly shocking moments despite the terrible inevitability that characterizes the story. As much as Winick's dialogue and situations set the stage, though, special mention must be given to Dalrymple's beautiful artwork, which has a beautiful attention to detail and stylized figures that remind me of some of the stronger work of John McCrea. The quiet sorrow and shocking brutality of the story is in large part the responsibility of Dalrymple, and he never fails to deliver. 10/10
CASE FILES: SAM & TWITCH #5
by Marc Andreyko & Scott Morse (Image Comics)
 At this point, it doesn't seem remotely fair to talk about Case Files as single issues. The three story structure, combined with the links back to the less-than-recent Bendis "Udaku" story, makes for a tale that just does not read well at all from month-to-month. Though what's going on is certainly clear (and more than clear, beautifully illustrated by Scott Morse), it all sort of takes place in a vacuum for me, as I can't relate it back to everything that happened in previous stories or connect it to the "Udaku" story, which I read quite some time ago. However, even though I'm not terribly clear on the context of the whole thing in this issue, there's enough there to get the sense that this will make a very interesting story upon rereading, especially in conjunction with the first story arc of Bendis's "Udaku." God help you if this is your first exposure to Sam & Twitch, though, because this is far from an accessible story. 6/10
DEMO #1
by Brian Wood & Becky Cloonan (AIT/Planet Lar)
 As a graphic novel type of guy, the decision to release Demo as a bunch of single issues from graphic novel house AIT/Planet Lar puzzles me a little, and does kill a little bit of my interest in the book. However, while I've mostly converted to following trades, there are rare series that I collect on a monthly basis, and Demo is definitely worthy of being one of those exceptions. Wood's story feels a little short, as if there's so much more before and after that I'd like to see, but it's a powerful tale of young lovers' trust and dangerous super-powers with some spectacular art. Cloonan's work reminds me of the gritty style of David Lapham and the inky beauty of Paul Pope crossed with a little bit of manga influence, and it's very clear and very affecting. The single issue format feels more like a constraint than something that gives artistic freedom, especially given that there's so much more I wanted to see in this story, but Wood and Cloonan get their point across and tell a very interesting tale. 7/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #507
by Mark Waid, Howard Porter & Norm Rapmund (Marvel Comics)
 Though the big selling point of Waid's Fantastic Four for me has been the strong characterization, one shouldn't underestimate the value of a story where you can't predict what's coming next. "Authoritative Action" has been terrific for this sort of thing, with Reed Richards acting in very mysterious and dangerous ways, and this issue we finally see the plot that he's been building to, and why he has been acting so strangely. It's probably one of the most heroic moments I've seen for Reed Richards, and all the more tragic when things don't go as planned. Certainly the shocker at the end of this issue is a powerful one, made moreso by Porter's brutal portayal of the moment in the artwork and a few hints from future solicitations that suggest this change might be more than a temporary problem for the team. Quite simply, this is classic super-hero stuff with a nicely modern edge, and this is probably my favorite issue of the series so far. 9/10
THE FLASH #204
by Geoff Johns & Alberto Dose (DC Comics)
 I have the advantage of knowing generally where this story is going, which might color my opinion a little bit in its favor. But even without knowing the eventual outcome, this New Marvel-esque take on The Flash has quite a bit to offer. Though we've lost the bright and effective action and speed that Scott Kolins brought to the book, Alberto Dose brings a certain gritty and darkly violent touch to the book that seems appropriate in the wake of the tragedies brought about by Zoom, and Johns is putting his hero through some really tough paces in moving him toward a new phase in his evolution. As always when Johns is writing, Captain Cold really steals the book here, and seeing the interaction between him and Wally is fantastic, not just because of the ruthless yet likable personality that Johns has built up for Cold but because we really get that this guy is smart enough to take on the fastest man alive with little more than a freeze gun. The battles here are more psychological than physical, because the mystery of Mr. Element is played out on a somewhat blatant level (especially in this issue) but the story is more about Flash coping with the slowly returning knowledge of his own abilities and what it means to his relationship, and we're seeing some of the shockwaves that ripple through the relatives of Flash and Zoom after their last conflict. This issue also features a terrific ending, with a guest star that seems obvious in retrospect but who I just didn't see coming, and it certainly seems to set up some more big changes (and important answers to big questions) in the next issue. 8/10
INHUMANS #7
by Sean McKeever, Robert Teranishi & Nelson (Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 We're not getting a trade paperback of Inhumans, which pisses me off to no end. Fortunately, Inhumans is enjoyable on an issue-by-issue basis as well, and this particular issue is probably the best single issue that the book has had so far, a great chance to sample the series and a self-contained tale to boot. McKeever plays around with expectations, turning the story of a cruel prank into a story of young romance and then delivering a sucker punch of an ending that could have been seen as just desserts if the motivations of the lead character hadn't changed so radically during the story. It's another example of McKeever exploring the Inhumans' society by contrasting it with our own, and playing up the warts and all aspects of both societies. In addition, Robert Teranishi does a fantastic job stepping in for Matthew Clark, perhaps losing a little bit in terms of backgrounds and not quite nailing the visual importance of a piece of art that Sans creates but definitely getting the expressive faces that makes the emotional story work and doing a terrific job on the alien appearance of the Inhumans. Marvel may have given up on the Tsunami books, but that doesn't mean readers should, and Inhumans is one of those worth checking out. 9/10
THE LEGION #27
by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Chris Batista & Chip Wallace (DC Comics)
 "Foundations" regains a little strength this issue, featuring some truly impressive super-hero combat, a little more thickening of the plot and a continuing cool role for Superboy that neatly sidesteps any continuity implications thanks to the magic of time travel. Actually, I'm kind of loving the way that Abnett and Lanning are doing time travel in this arc, with Kid Quantum experiencing weird flash-forwards, Darkseid (if it is indeed him) manipulating space-time for his own mysterious and nefarious purposes and Braniac making a veiled reference to all of this spinning out of an event some years ago. Time travel has always been a part of the Legion, and Abnett and Lanning are doing a nice job of incorporating that element without resorting to stupid and goofy time travel mechanics or high-falutin' quantum physics to make it all work. Meanwhile, they provide Chris Batista plenty of room to show off, with some truly spectacular views of the high-tech cities and space stations of the futures, great designs for the bad guys and some fun (if all too brief) fight scenes. Mix in a deft handling of the largest cast in comics and you've got what stands with the best of the Legion, including the much-beloved Paul Levitz run and the impressive early post-reboot era. 9/10
NEW X-MEN #149
by Grant Morrison, Phil Jimenez & Andy Lanning (Marvel Comics)
 The "Planet X" story has been somewhat unfocused, especially as Morrison's tribute to the classic Magneto vs. X-Men showdowns of old, but each issue has been compelling on its own, and I suspect that next issue will bring some truly mind-bending revelations about what's really been going on. In the meantime, this issue answers some nagging questions (like "where are the other super-heroes?" and "why is Magneto acting like a complete psychopath instead of the more balanced man he's been of late?") while raising others. There are some interesting explanations for what's really going on with Magneto and his followers, and a nicely redemptive (if truly violent and dark) segment for Beak, who goes from Magneto follower to victim awfully quickly. I'm a little worried to see Fantomex showing up, as the character is nowhere near as interesting as Morrison seems to think he is, but the rest of the story is classic X-Men rising from the ashes of defeat stuff. There are many more questions than answers here, and the next issue will really determine whether this was brilliant setup or Morrison spinning his wheels, but given his general level of work on New X-Men, I'd bet on the latter. 8/10
NOBLE CAUSES: DISTANT RELATIVES #4
by Jay Faerber, Andres Ponce, Ken Wolak, Dawn Groszewksi, Ethen Beavers & Sebastien Lamirand (Image Comics)
 Though Faerber promises more Noble Causes (in color) next year, Distant Relatives #4 actually serves as a nice finale for those who have been following the series for a while. There are a couple big status quo changes and a long-in-coming confrontation between Krennick and Zephyr. As always, these interesting scenes are far too short, a symptom of the backup story taking up too much room. However, the backup story does have one of the really pleasant surprises of the issue, as Faerber shows us why Krennick's dirty little secret didn't get out before. While the story is good, though, it's the art that really makes the backup special. Ethen Beavers is quite the find, and his style reminds me in all the good ways of such artists as Cameron Stewart, Darwyn Cooke and Bruce Timm. I'll be very surprised if we don't see more of Beavers in the future, and very pleased if some of that work is on Noble Causes. 7/10
TEEN TITANS GO! #1
by J. Torres, Todd Nauck & Lary Stucker (DC Comics)
 As a relatively new dad, I look at Teen Titans Go! from a different perspective. Not as a super-hero fan, but someone who wonders if there are any super-hero books out there that can appeal to kids without being so dumb that I feel bad giving them to my kid. The answer, happily, is yes, as Teen Titans Go! absolutely captures the feel of the Cartoon Network animated series. The bad news is that it's a little predictable and goofy for your average comic fan of teen age or above, but it seems like a delightful bit of fun for kids who aren't used to the story cliches, and who will no doubt find plenty to like in the manga meets super-hero style of the book. Nauck uses super-deformed characters and little one-panel mini-stories in between the main story as well as capturing the action in Torres's script, and the result is a book that seems like a lot of fun for the younger set, even if it's not likely to score points with the average comic reader, who (as well as know) tends to be a little bit older. 7/10
WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #16
by Joe Casey, Dustin Nguyen & Richard Friend (DC Comics/Wildstorm imprint)
 The news that Dustin Nguyen is going to be doing Batman worries me a little, because while I don't begrudge him his chance to move up to a higher profile book, his work with Joe Casey here has been just fantastic stuff. Along with inker Richard Friend and colorists Randy Mayor and Wendy Broome, this art team covers the gamut, from the dimly lit high-tech hideout of Grifter and hospital rooms that Wax visits to the hot and expansive factories of Halo to the sunlit villa of C.C. Rendozzo to the corporate commercial look of the interstitial sequences, and it all looks note perfect. Meanwhile, Casey continues his exploration of super-heroes without a war, who are taking the fight to a very different level and coming at it from a business rather than physical side of things for the most part. The commercialism of the new Halo marketing campaign seems a little too blatant to really work, but the ideas there are really solid, and the cast is very interesting. On top of the business initiatives which mask a sort of world improvement/benevolent world domination agenda, Casey doesn't forget to touch on the characters, especially Grifter, who gets a hilariously strange and yet fitting makeover in this issue. 9/10
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