Morning Glories #15 review, Ghostbusters #5 review, Legend of Oz Wicked West #2 review, Batman #5 review, Birds of Prey #5 review,

Comic Book Wednesday #32

I had some dental surgery this week... so seriously, thank everything that is good for comics. Here are some books that you should be sure not to miss out on.

Image Comics

Morning Glories #15

P.E. part three

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Joe Eisma

Anyone who follows this blog on a regular basis knows my feelings about Nick Spencer's Morning Glories. I tend to go on and on about how brilliant it is, how engaging the mystery is, how well-crafted the dialogue is, and how Joe Eisma just knocks every page out of the park. This issue is no different. It's scary, tense, and has the best use of a flashback intercut with scene "in the now" that I can remember reading. Morning Glories is like that TV show that you look forward to watching because everything about it just better, from the writing to the acting to the damn editing. This is the comic book version of that dream show.

This series is a Lost style mystery and, at fifteen issues, it has nearly as many mysteries as that show did in its heyday. Since Nick and Joe plan on creating 100 issues of Morning Glories, we know that none of those answers are coming anytime soon... and yes, that's frustrating. In the best way possible. The mythology and the mystery remain in the background, with Nick keeping his attention squarely on the characters. Almost all of this issue is made up on conversation, and I love that.

Not only is this book great, it's also an insane value. This book costs $2.99 - the same price as our twenty page DC books... but this is a thirty page story. With no ads interrupting it. Yeah, Morning Glories is the ultimate comic book experience.

IDW Publishing

Ghostbusters #5

Written by Erik Burnham

Art by Dan Schoening

PCOC pages by Tristan Jones

The new arc begins with this issue. While it's not as instantly gripping as the start of the first storyline, it's still a hell of an entertaining read. The majority of the comic, before the baddie takes center stage, has an almost day-to-day feel, and it seems to be setting the tone for the ongoing adventures of these characters. Fun dialogue, great interactions, and some of the best visuals in comics - this series remains at the top of my pull list.

Big Dog Ink

The Legend of Oz: The Wicked West #2

Written by Tom Hutchison

Art by Alisson Borges

If you didn't catch the first issue, the premise is simple: The Wizard of Oz as a western. Damn near a Tarantino-esque modern take on a spaghetti western, to get to the core of it. Dorothy Gale pulls no punches; she's badass and will punch the teeth out of your mouth you say something she doesn't like.

(A lot of people say things that she doesn't like.)

The story really kicks off in this one as we begin to see Hutchison's interpretations of the classic cast. The Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch are all present here, and they all make this book a bunch of fun. The most inventive reinvention (heh) is the sort of living doll take on the Scarecrow.

The writing is fun, the art is downright gorgeous, and the presentation is flawless. The cover is extra thick, giving this book some nice weight to it. When you go to your local shop, take a glance through this book - I guarantee you won't put it down.

DC Comics

Batman #5

Face the Court

Written by Scott Snyder

Pencils by Greg Capullo

If you have this fun little thing called the Internet, you know what people think of Scott Snyder's Batman. It's nearly universally loved, and for good reason. It's fantastic. Best book of the New 52. This issue is no different. It's trippy, emotional, and... well, it's the scariest that the series has been in a long time. And I'm not talking "Joker's face nailed to the wall" scary. That isn't scary. This book is moody, foreboding, and disorienting. As Batman stumbles through the labyrinth, you'll get lost with him, shifting the book to the side, on an angle, and upside down to read. It's damn good writing with damn good art. You're missing out on a defining moment in superhero comics if you let this book pass you by.

Birds of Prey #5

Chokepoint

Written by Duane Swierczynski

Layouts by Jesus Saiz / Finishes by Javier Pina

This story is just not letting up. It's pretty obvious that Swierczynski is a thriller writer, because the mystery is genuinely interesting. Black Canary, Starlette, Katana, Poison Ivy, and (maybe?) Batgirl reach a very confusing point in their investigation of the s'ploding peoples, and I am completely stunned by the way that Swierczynski is executing this story... because I have no clue what's going to happen next. Not a shadow of an idea. I can't speculate, because I'm just so lost in his storytelling that my instinctual Writerly Instinct of "he's gonna do this, isn't he?" has completely shorted out. This is right behind Snyder's Batman as the best superhero title from DC.

Review Round-up

I've been slacking on the reviews, so here's a big round-up of the last few weeks of comic book goodness.

IDW Publishing

- Memorial #1

Chris Roberson's new creator owned series was one of my most anticipated reads of this month. iZombie, his Vertigo series, is one of the best books on stands, so I was expecting this book to deliver... big time. It delivered, sure, but I'm not as hooked as I expected to be. I'm certainly going to buy the trade (or, knowing IDW, the big beautiful hardcover), but I'm not convinced that this book is going to keep me coming back on a monthly basis for the floppies. I love Roberson's writing and I want to see him keep putting out great material, so I'm reserving judgement of this series until the second issue.

- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5

Last issue, Raph was reunited with his brothers, and this issue spends a lot of time showing how these four are going to function as a unit. However, the most interesting aspect reveals why these Teenage Mutant Turtles are... well, Ninjas. We get a surprisingly intense flashback to Feudal Japan that reveals the four turtles, Splinter, and even Shredder were reincarnated from past lives. The series ends with a sweet, very Christmassy moment that shows Splinter giving all four turtles their own (differently colored) mask, while also giving an in-text reason for the wearing of the red. It simultaneously embraces the original comics and the cartoon, and that is, I think, the best route to take this comic. Loving it.

- Ghostbusters #4

So, about loving things. The first storyline comes to a climatic conclusion in this issue. While some fans have complained about this being a retread of the first movie, what this series has been doing is developing and expanding upon the mythology that made the first flick as awesome as it was. The quippy dialogue and tone are all present here, but Dapper Dan is given the chance to really flex his penciller muscles for the action scenes. So, so good.

DC Comics

- Batman #4

Scott Snyder's Batman continues to be the best superhero book on the market. The mystery of the Court of Owls deepens. Bruce is put at odds with Dick and, seemingly, everyone else in his life as he continues his war against this mysterious group (and sleep). With 2011 coming to a close, I can now say that this is easily the best of the New 52. As a side note, though, I'd like more of an idea of where Damian is through all of this, as he is very present (and rightfully so) in every moment of the Batman & Robin series.

- Batgirl #4

Opening with a terrifying image of Batgirl once again bound to a chair, this comic doesn't let up. While I'm still not sold on Mirror's hokey M.O., no matter how nicely it ties into Barbara's character arc, this issue is bursting at the seams with character moments. Sweet, smart, and loaded with kick-ass action, the fourth issue of Batgirl proves to be another solid installment.

- Batman & Robin #4

The slow boil of this series really, really intrigues me. While I'm getting tired of the repeated image of Damian killing little creatures to show how disturbed he is, the visuals here are almost always great. There's a wonderful scene where Damian visits the Waynes' graves just to tell them how much of a stubborn ass their son is. The villain named Nobody (fan of classical literature, maybe?) is interesting as hell, and has a very theme-centric M.O. that, unlike that of Mirror's, completely works. So interested to see where this is going.

- Nightwing #4

Higgins takes a break from the main story arc and follows up on the Batgirl/Nightwing crossover from last month's issue of Batgirl. They have a fun dynamic, but the exchanges between the characters don't sing the way they do when penned by Gail Simone. This comic has been mostly fun to read, but I think it's time to drop the monthly and wait for the trade.

- Birds of Prey #4

Continuously the biggest surprise of the New 52. The characters are great, the action is great, the plot is great, the writing is great, and the tone is... you get the point. Beat for beat, this is second only to Snyder's Batman in the DCnU... and this is the best issue yet. I have questions about Batgirl's sudden desire to play in the BoP sandbox, what with her stance in #1, but I'm surely sticking around for the longrun to see all of my questions answered. Oh, and Starling needs her own series, stat.

- Justice League #4

The decompression has gotten completely out of control. The last five pages consist of two double page spreads and a full page reveal... but each image accomplishes the same effect. It's done either to take up page space or to give the comic a cinematic feel, the latter of which is a good idea, but it just doesn't work. While the action in the comic is decent, none of these issues aside from #3 have lived up to what a Justice League comic should be. Hell, the story is so flimsy that it doesn't live up to what a comic focusing on any of the given JL heroes should be. If you're looking for a good example of why Geoff Johns is one of the best writers in comics, a game of "anywhere but here" might be in order. Aquaman is great, Green Lantern is great... but this is just twenty one pages a month of unfulfilled potential.

- Green Lantern #4

Really, really solid. In Geoff Johns' hands, Sinestro is one of the most complex characters in superhero comics. He's beginning to give off a bit of a Severus Snape vibe, what with his loyalties split and his spoiled morality challenged, and I can't wait to see what Johns is going to do with him in the longrun. It seems that he's keeping both Hal and Sinestro as Lanterns, which has the potential to be a fantastic team. If #1-4 are evidence of what is to come, this book will no squander that potential.

- Supergirl #4

It's a lot better than last month, but... I just can't bring myself to care very much. The art is great and the writing is competent, but we're not given enough of Kara as a character to care much about what she's going through. There is way too much focus on Tycho as a villain so early on, and it's taking page time away from the development of Supergirl herself. She's my favorite character in the old DCU, so I'm in it for the long run, but this book has sadly fallen to the very bottom of my pull list.

Wonder Woman #4

Devastating and epic. That's mostly what this book is. There's a club scene with Wonder Woman and Strife trying to let off some steam, but we spend so much time with other people talking about what Wonder Woman is doing and with Strife being creepy that we really don't get the chance to see what Wonder Woman is doing in this club. Is she trying to distract herself? Is it working? I love the idea of her letting off steam, but I'd rather see how she does it than to see others reacting to her doing it. That may've come out wrong. Anyway, the stuff back of Paradise Island is horrific and shocking, and easily overcomes the flaws inherent in the presentation of other scenes. This is a really slick book, and I'll be sticking with it as long as Azzarello is on it.

- The Ray #1

This is a fun new series from the writers who made Power Girl awesome. The writing is bright, cheery, and quirky... and then pitch black dark by the end. It's a strange, strange read, but I'll be back to see where two of my favorite creators take this new hero.

Dark Horse

- Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Nine #4

This is everything that a finale to a first arc of a comic book "season" should be. It finishes the story while building on the overarching plot of the season, it's emotional without being too much too soon, it gives new characters page time without taking away from the established/oldies but goodies, it ends with a twist that doesn't come off as shock value for shock value's sake, it's funny, it's true to the show that it's continuing, and it's just very, very good. I'm really digging Christos Gage and Rebekah Isaacs' work on Angel & Faith, but Buffy: Season Nine is just completely nailing it on the writerly front. Now, if only we could get Isaacs on this title...

APE Entertainment

-Helldorado #1

I won this through a really strange Facebook contest. The APE Facebook page posted that the first five people to call a certain editor would be given a free comic. I called, talked to the dude (nice guy) who was surprised that anyone saw that, and was subsequently shipped this comic. It's a western kung-fu horror that is surprisingly readable. It takes a few pages longer than necessary to really get going, but the book banks on the likability of the characters. And then, it kills them as all hell breaks the fuck loose. It's a horrific book with enough blood to have the names Ennis or Millar attached, so I'd encourage fans of good ol' blood splatterin' horror to pick this one up.

REVIEWS: Batman #3, Supergirl #3, Ghostbusters #3, Morning Glories #14, House of Night #1, Birds of Prey #3, Justice League #3 and more

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #27

Before we kick things off, I'd like to direct folks to a post I wrote earlier this week. I shared an encounter I had with a young comics fan that gave me a bit of hope for this industry. Also, now I kind of want to read the Archie Sonic comics.

Well, I've been planning on doing that anyway, because a good friend of mine just announced that he'll be penning a story in an upcoming issue. The man in quesiton (Scott Tipton, who wrote a hell of a lot of excellent stories for IDW's Angel and Star Trek line) also has a book out this week. It's an Angel comic from IDW - which is a bit of a bittersweet thing. While Dark Horse has the license, IDW is still allowed to reproduce material that has already been published. Scott Tipton's Angel: Portraits is a 100 Page Spectacular in the vein of this years Angel and Spike 100 pager. This offers more than those, however, in that it gives us some new material. Scott interviews each of the artists in here, and the book reprints covers that failed to appear in the hardcover collections (something I know a lot of fans took issue with). This is the most beautiful comic you'll find on the shelf this week, and while I wish it were released in the hardcover format in which it was originally solicited, this is still one of the best books IDW has put out. Jenny Frison, who is for my money the best cover artist to work within the Buffyverse, deservedly gets the spotlight here, but longtime IDW artists David Messina, Elena Casagrade, Stephen Mooney, Franco Urru, John Byrne, and Nick Runge get lots of love as well.

Buy that. It's the best eight dollars you'll spend.

Now, let's get to some reviews.

Batman #3

The Thirteenth Hour

Written by Scott Snyder

Pencils by Greg Capulo

DC Comics

When I talk about Scott Snyder's Batman, I always worry about veering into hyperbole. I mean, when I took notes on the issue after the review, I came up with this:

- Amazing mystery

- Dichotomy of text to art is fabulous - almost at an Alan Moore level

- Consistently the best DC title

Thing is, all of that is true. And more. Synder approaches his Batman story with such attention to detail. A lot of folks comment on how good writing reads as if it was done effortlessly... but this absolutely doesn't. The strength of the theme and how each scene and each passage of dialogue serves to further the mystery as well as the character journeys makes it clear that this book was slaved over. Writing this good doesn't come easily, and Snyder's effort pays off tenfold.

I've been told that I should do more plot recap in reviews, and maybe I should. This time, though, I'll let the other reviews do that, because what interests me most about this series isn't the plot at all - but the ideas, characters, and intrigue behind it all. This isn't just a comic that I like. It's a story that matters to me. It's one of those rare books that I like so much that, when I read a review that I don't like (or as I pretentiously think, that just "doesn't get it"), I get a bit peeved. That's a bit of comic book fanboy sensibility, which I doubt ever wears off judging by the behavior of some of even the most famed professionals, but it's also a bit of testament to how much this book works. For some, it doesn't at all. For me, it matters to me as both a fan and a writer who wants to be this damn good.

Supergirl #3

Memento

Written by Michael Green & Mike Kohnson

Art by Mahmud Asrar & Dave McCaig

DC Comics

I feel like this book is going to be different every month. In September, it was hyper decompressed and didn't offer nearly enough plot to latch onto. In October, it was a hell of a lot better, and set up Kara as a sympathetic yet strong character. Now... well, this month was just sort of weird. It's back to the decompression, in that this issue was really just a recap of Kara's fight with Superman and her confusion over what he's saying about Krypton, and then one scene of the new Big Bad testing her with some of her monstrous creations.

The meat of the issue is definitely with the new Baddie, Simon Tycho. He's a young, rich dude who floats over Earth in his craft, checking out the whole "incoming alien" situation whenever that happens. He's all evil and maniacal, and the scenes where he lures Supergirl on board his "home" and proceeds to pit his monsters against her to test her powers show that DC was serious when they made Hunger Games comparisons. This book is definitely going for that. If it succeeds is a question I'll ask myself in the coming months. See, The Hunger Games had a lot of set-up and background that made readers connect to characters before putting them in danger. All in all, the amount of plot in issues 1-3 of Supergirl would be less than a chapter of that book. This comic, while consistently readable and beautiful in the art department (though this month it isn't nearly as sharp or stunning), seems to lack a story arc. There are just events happening, strung together by... well, not by much at all.

I'm looking forward to getting more character moments and an actual arc. I'd never drop a Supergirl book, especially one with art this good, but I definitely need more from my monthly dose of Kara.

Morning Glories #14

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Joe Eisma

Image Comics

Wow, Morning Glories just won't suck.

Despite the fact that a lot of scenes here are, in fact, repeated from the last issue, this is the most story you'll get for the least amount of money this week. Image is still somehow selling Morning Glories for $2.99 (a dollar cheaper than Justice League) while still having thirty pages of story (ten pages more than Justice League). THAT is phenomenal.

About the repetition of scenes. It's done for effect, giving the readers different perspectives. It fleshes out the story and the characters, allowing us to live in their lives and follow each of the characters on their respective journeys. This issue features a strange group coming together, muddy motivations, revelations that just pose more questions, and a dynamite cliffhanger. So yeah, basically it's every issue of Morning Glories ever, but that's not at all a bad thing. It's the best creator-owned series being published right now, and while the "this will be a 100 issue epic!" scares me into thinking we won't get answers for a long time, it also kind of sets me at ease.

We'll be reading Morning Glories for a long, long time. It's worth saying, though, that I miss reading this series in trade. The "different perspective" thing works so, so well when reading these issues one after the other. However, it's a testament to the strength of the writing and the art (gotta give credit where it's due to the brilliant Joe Eisma) that I can't wait for the trades any more, and neither should you. I want this comic to keep coming out, so I'm gonna keep buyin'.

Ghostbusters #3

Written by Erik Burnham

Art by Dan Schoening

PCOC Pages by Tristan Jones

IDW Publishing

Man, this week is big on my favorites. Snyder's Batman is my favorite superhero book, Spencer's Morning Glories is my favorite creator-owned series, and now Burnham's Ghostbusters tops it out as one of my favorite tie-in comics. Not only does this issue keep on with the goodness that loaded the last two installments, it does something very, very rare. I'm afraid that fans of the movies will think me a blasphemer, but I'll be damned if this comic isn't equal to the first movie in every way. The dialogue is on point, the mythology building is the best this franchise has ever seen, and the plot itself just keeps getting better and better. It's a slow-boil, letting the character moments and the comedy take the stage while the mystery and horror bubble in the background. It adds depth to the movies while telling its own story. It's just the highest caliber of tie-in comics that you'll find on the market.

Justice League #3

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Jim Lee

DC Comics

Okay, now THIS is what I'm talking about.

I've had a bit of a rough time with this series, but I had a blast reading this issue. It focuses on Wonder Woman, who is often my least favorite of the heavy hitters in the DCU. She's the character that everyone writes differently but hardly anyone really makes her likable. She's fine enough in her on-going, but her previous guest appearances in the DC books I followed before the reboot made her the least likable character in the 'verse. Even her solo books, which I gave chance from time to time, did nothing to make me buy into her.

Well, then I read this book. Wonder Woman is the most likable character in the League. She's funny, powerful, brave, sexy without being a sex object (though Lantern calling "dibs" upon seeing her is great), and - most importantly - a character that I want to follow. Her scenes make this issue what it is, because the subplot with Victor being Cyborg really pushes my suspension of disbelief (and by pushes, I mean shanks eighty times and then kicks it into an active volcano). It's funny, because when I think about this issue, I almost blot all of those bad scenes from my mind. That's how effective Johns' Wonder Woman scenes are. They don't make up for the awkwardness of the Cyborg stuff, but they sure as hell give this book higher marks than either of the prior installments.

The team is coming together nicely, as is the story. I hope the Cyborg bits can make sense in the larger story arc, but for now I'm increasingly enjoying everything else in this book.

Nightwing #3

Past and Present

Written by Kyle Higgins

Pencils by Eddy Barrows & Eduardo Pansica

DC Comics

I like this book. I like it quite a bit. However, after reading it, I'm not sure that I have anything more to say about it than the first two reviews. While the story is enjoyable, it's sort of just that. It's nothing brilliant or particularly striking, just serviceably good on every angle. The mystery is interesting, Dick is a likable and fun lead with the most unfortunate name in comics, and the book even works on a thematic level. The "can't escape your past" theme, while incredibly heavy handed, goes a long way to keep this book in my pull list. I like what's going on with Haley's Circus and how Dick can't seem to... well, escape his past. Again, I'm left with nothing much to say. It makes for a fun companion read to Batman, but it doesn't work nearly as well as Batgirl.

Or, surprisingly...

Birds of Prey #3

You Might Think

Written by Duane Swierczynski

Art by Jesus Saiz

DC Comics

It's funny... I wanted to drop this book. Hell, I was looking to drop at least one New 52 book a week this month. But this was just so, so good. Swierczynski's BoP easily the most improved series of the New 52, and it was already good to start with. The team comes together when Poison Ivy joins the ranks, much to the (violent) protest of Starling and Katana. However, when the dust settles, we're given one of the most interesting ensembles in superhero comics today. While Black Canary is our leading lady, I'm increasingly interested in the new lady on the scene... Starling. This bad-ass, tattooed chick manages to embrace all of the bad-ass tattoo chick cliches while still surprising me and endearing herself to me.

As these ladies chase down the mystery of the exploding folks, all my thoughts of dropping this book have fizzled out. It was among my favorite this week which, if you read the other reviews, you know is saying a lot.

House of Night #1

Story by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

Script by Kent Dalian

Art by Joelle Jones and Karl Kerschl

Dark Horse Comics

Let's start off with why I bought this book.

1. It costs a dollar.

2. Dan Roth told me to.

3. It costs a dollar.

4. Jenny Frison did the cover.

5. It costs a freaking dollar.

Comic book fans care a lot about their money. Compared to other media, comics are very, very affordable and generally offer more than most similarly priced items do... but still. There are a lot of comics published every week, so readers have to pick and choose what series they'll follow based on a lot of factors. Price is one of mine. Thankfully, most of the books I follow end up in the $2.99 - $3.50 range. What I've seen increasingly, though, is new series being offered for a buck. It's a brilliant strategy that is clearly pandering to the reader who normally wouldn't shell out the three bucks to try something new that they aren't guaranteed to love. And hey, I'm evidence of that, so it clearly worked.

Now, besides the fact that the cover is fantastic, the book actually isn't bad. I'm not sure if it's something I'd follow on a month to month basis, but I enjoyed this issue despite having never read the series of books on which this comic is based. To my understanding, this comic fills in the gap between one of the earlier books... but don't quote me on that. It's perfectly understandable on its own, though Kent Dalian is a bit careless with how he doles out exposition. The first scene is by far the clumsiest first scene I've read in a very long time. Zoey, our protagonist, has a bit of a confrontation with Aphrodite (this series' Draco Malfoy) and this conversation is used as a way to get all the exposition out in the fastest way possible, which just makes every line of dialogue so, so clunky.

A: Well, aren't you special with your filled-in mark and adult vamp tattoos? [...] How did you get those? Oh, wait, I remember! You screwed me over so Neferet would make you leader of the Dark Daughters!

Z: I have zero interest in leading the stupid Dark Daughters, and I didn't screw you over. You were letting those vampyre ghosts eat my ex-boyfriend. And I stopped you.

A: Hello, I was possessed by one of those vampyre ghosts and Heath is only your ex-boyfriend because you stole my boyfriend.

Z: You and Erik were already over, and so were me and Heath.

A: You may think you've won, but-

And so on.

I was ready to stop reading after that (hell, all that is just from pages one and two), but it seriously gets better. For Dalian's first foray into comic book writing, it's not bad. It's clunky, yes, but it effectively introduces a world and establishes the lead as a somewhat interesting character. The flashback scenes are great, and I dig the anthology feel of this series (a different vampyre in history seems to get spotlighted every issue).

Best thing about the issue? The art. Joelle Jones and Karl Kerschl's work is outright amazing. It adds so, so much to this series. I'll see how the reviews for the next few installments come out before I decide whether or not to follow this in trade, but I will say... for a buck, everyone should buy this. Jenny's cover alone is worth a hell of a lot more than that.

-

NEXT WEEK: Aquaman #3, The Flash #3, Justice League Dark #3, Superman #3. I guess all the titles I usually follow came out this week.

Batman #2 review, Supergirl #2 review, Nightwing #2 review, Morning Glories #13 review, Justice League #2 review

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #23

(Part One of Two)

Life is crazy, and so is writing. I've got a lot to catch up on after NYCC (which I'll be writing about tomorrow), and I know I said that things would be back on track today... but hey, life happens. I promise that the writerly stuff coming your way will be worth a stretch of short reviews.

Let's get to it.

BATMAN #2: Trust Fall

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Greg Capullo

So damn good. Again. It's clear that Scott Snyder follows the writerly advice he gives on Twitter (not a direct quote, but he encourages folks to write what they want to write and read at all times, and to follow their passion), because the love and enthusiasm for this story is evident in every panel. The story develops wonderfully here, creating a comic that is equal parts mystery, drama, and action. Capullo's art in highly energetic, but he really shines in the small areas that give characters personality - Nightwing's self-assured smile, Bruce's subtle facial expressions during conversation... and, well, he also draws a dude landing on a car after falling from an incredible height. Again, this book is a complete success and one of my favorite reads of the month. I met Mr. Snyder at New York Comic Con and he was very inspiring - this (and his other books) is something I think every aspiring comic book writer should read.

SUPERGIRL #2: Reunion

Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson

Pencils by Mahmud Asrar

Like last month, this is still a quick read with mostly action, but the context gives it a hell of a lot more depth. We get a flashback with Kara taking care of her baby cousin Kal, that flash-forwards right to their reunion... which is basically him trying to help her and her trying to kick his ass. It's some of the best action I've seen in all of the new DC comics, and again proves that Asrar's art is the best that this book has ever seen. I'm skeptical about all of Kara's history being gone, but this issue did a hell of a lot more than last one to convince me to stick with this book. Lovely writing and lovely art.

NIGHTWING #2: Haly's Wish

Written by Kyle Higgins

Pencils by Eddy Barrows

Similar to the way that the Batman title is getting to the core of what's most important to Bruce, this book gets to the chewy center of Grayson: Haly's circus. Nightwing deals with the who accuses him of being the fiercest killer in Gotham. What's most troubling for him, however, is how he is being slowly pulled back into the circus life that he left when his parents died. Mr. Haley, the dying owner of the circus, tries to leave the whole shebang to Dick, who is, accordingly to Haley, not supposed to be doing the superhero gig. The two plots crash together in an action packed and tragic climax, leaving questions unanswered and tension high. I'll certainly be following this book next month.

MORNING GLORIES #13

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Joe Eisma

First of all, this is thirty-four pages of story for an incredible $2.99. No comics are simultaneously this meaty and this cheap. It just doesn't happen. Yet, here it is. And it isn't the only thing Morning Glories does that should be impossible. It answers absolutely no questions while still being an utterly satisfying read. It creates a compelling, very Lost-esque mystery without seeming like a rip-off of the show... trust me, there were many of those, and this is not that. What it is, however, is the best issue of the best creator-owned comic being published today. While the last arc featured one-shots focusing on all of the Glories, this follows up on some of the story threads that began in those issues while somewhat focusing on Casey. There's not much I can say without spoiling it, but I'll add that there is some great interaction between Casey and Ike, and the continued intrigue of Ms. Hodge is also worth nothing. This is the book of the year.

JUSTICE LEAGUE #2

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Jim Lee

This is a lot better than the first issue. This issue is made up of more than one scene and includes stuff other than Green Lantern bitching at Batman. There's a fair amount of that still, but it's spread out a bit and is a lot less grating than the first time. Hal seems to be closer to in-character here, and it doesn't hurt seeing him teamed up with the Flash. The plot still doesn't really launch off much in this, but it's cool to see the pieces of the puzzle start to fit together. It's not Johns' best work, and it certainly doesn't stand up to his incredible scripting on Flashpoint, but it's readable and pretty damn fun.

TOMORROW: Wonder Woman, DC Presents... Deadman, Birds of Prey.

Supergirl #1 review, TMNT #2 review, Cloak and Dagger #2 review

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #19

Part One

Quick entry today, but a big one tomorrow. Today, we've got three books that I've been looking forward to all month. Let's get to it!

Supergirl #1

The Last Daughter of Krypton

Written by Michael Green and Mike Johnson

Pencils by Mahmud Asrar

DC Comics

Anyone who reads this blog knows how much love Supergirl gets in Comic Book Wednesday. Besides Whedony properties, she is the most talked about character in my little corner of the Internet. This book is the one I've been anticipating more than any other of the New 52, so it had a lot to live up to... and I'm not sure if it did. It was a good read. A good, way-too-quick read. Asrar's pencils are flawless, and he delivers easily the best interiors the book has ever had.

However, more than any of the other New 52 books, this one proves how hilarious it is that DC insisted that this isn't a reboot. Every Supergirl story is scratched. Completely gone. Kara has never been to Earth. Kara lands on our planet in the issue and, already wearing the new Supergirl costume, meets Superman. It's basically a new take on Kara's introduction scene in Jeph Loeb's Superman/Batman: Supergirl arc. But that's really all this is. A scene. I'm all for decompressed comics and letting the narrative unfold at the pace the story dictates... but this is a bit much. In this issue, Supergirl lands on Earth, governmenty types in robot suits (it's always robots with Kara) fight her in an attempt to detain her, she gets confused as her powers go crazy, and Superman appears on the scene. That's it. Fin.

Again, the art is great. We get some inner monologue from Supergirl, and it's extremely well-written to the point of being a tease. I want more of that. I want more than just a fight scene. I wanted (note the past tense) this book to work in the same way that Batgirl worked. That book was a soft reboot, in that everything that happened in the past is honored and still could have happened. That seems to be the case with the vast majority of the DCnU books. This one, not so much. I'm okay with progressing along this path as long as Green and Johnson deliver a great Supergirl story... and it seems that they have the potential to do so. I was hoping that the first issue would be more indicative of how the whole series would read.

In short, it's fun, but be warned that this is by far the rebootiest of the DC reboot. Except, perhaps, Superboy... but I'm not reading that, Teen Titans, or the Red Hood book, so I can't speak for those.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2

Story by Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz

Script by Tom Waltz

Art by Dan Duncan

IDW Publishing

Here is the second installment of what I called my favorite comic of the summer. The fun continues in this comic and, as the story develops and more characters are introduced, the nostalgia for my childhood TMNT love transforms into a very current enthusiasm for this story and this version of the Turtles.

It begins with Raphael saving Casey Jones, whose father is doing the drunken child abuse thing. Never fun. Raph is as sarcastic and badass as ever, but the best part of the issue is how quickly his friendship with Casey develops. The best was when, after Raph asks Casey why he isn't frightened by his appearance, Casey replies, "Ha! Yeah, you ain't exactly Brad Pitt, are ya? But, dude, you met my old man. Next to him, you're a friggin' teddy bear."

We also get two major scenes, one of which is a flashback that shows us how the lab rat and the four turtles would eventually become, respectively, Splinter and the eponymous Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We also, in one slick panel, get a reason for Old Hob's mutation as well as the incident that caused Raphael to be separated from his brothers. It's slick storytelling, and done in such a visual way that could really only be done in comics. Waltz struts his stuff in these flashback issues, teasing longtime fans with what they know while eventually offering something that combines the classic origin with something new and exciting.

So, is it October yet?

Cloak & Dagger: Spider Island #2

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Emma Rios

Marvel Comics

Talk about favorites?

Last month, I was floored by how awesome Nick Spencer's Cloak & Dagger was. It continues this month in this brilliant comic that, while tying in nicely to Dan Slott's Spider Island crossover, is very much its own story. It doesn't have the feeling of a book that exists to service the main title... it is very much its own beast, and a ferociously entertaining one at that. Mr. Negative captures Dagger, who, according to a prophecy, will kill him. The plot is interesting, but it's the dialogue, the character relationships, and the storytelling that makes this as exceptional as it is. Spencer plays with the format in an almost Gaiman-esque way (a lot of this reminds me of Sandman), including a scene with the heading "CLOAK GETS BEAT UP: A Silent Play in One Act, Staged Two Hours Ago." And... well, you can guess what happens.

Captivating story aside, it's clear that Nick Spencer is hungry to do a monthly Cloak & Dagger. The book is packed with too much awesome to not be the physical manifestation of a cry for more. Nick Spencer is easily in the top three, maybe two comics writers working; Emma Rios' art is whimsically beautiful, dancing across the pages, playing the dichotomy of darkness and light; and Cloak and Dagger are two of the most overlooked characters, and I think Marvel knows this. If comics buyers have any sense, an on-going Cloak & Dagger from this creative team would be one of the hottest books Marvel could publish. I can't think of a title I'd be happier to buy.

--

TOMORROW: Where are all the New 52 titles? Got a bunch of 'em, and reviews will be posted tomorrow!

Supergirl #67 review, Pariah #1 review, Mystic #1 review, Cloak and Dagger Spider Island #1 review

Comic Book Wednesday

Issue #14

Okay, let's get through this intro quickly, 'cause I've got a bunch of great comics to talk about. Before you read the review for the Supergirl finale, check out my blog entries covering the top five images of our modern Supergirl and the runners-up.

And now... here we go.

Supergirl #67

"This is Not My Life" - Part Three

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick

Pencils by ChrisCross

DC Comics

The finale of Supergirl is a blast. DeConnick's dialogue here is some of the wittiest I've read in a long while, which made the book a riot, and the climax of the plot is just so... well, cool. Supergirl, joined by the Silk Pajama Society, kicks the asses of (you guessed it) more robots and resident big bad Dr. Ivo. While the issue is almost flawlessly scripted, ChrisCross's pencils range from serviceable to atrocious. When Supergirl takes flight, it looks as if she just tripped and is about to fall on her face, which is bad enough, but the worst was that the facial expressions he gives characters took me out of the moment a handful of times - the worst instances were the two panels where he made Shirley look like an evil mannequin. It's sad, because Shirley had such great lines, but I was torn between rooting for her and worrying that she was going to go try to kill Doctor Who. This miniseries deserved a better artist, but thankfully the writing was strong enough that the bad pencils didn't completely ruin the story.

The issue (and the series... sniff) comes to a sweet end that reinforces the theme of the arc. I can only hope that DC will eventually get Kelly Sue back on the writerly reigns for Supergirl, because she is such a great fit. Her affection for the character shines through the pages, the supporting characters are charming, the action is great, and there's a goddamn Princess Bride reference. What a ride.

I normally don't do this, but what the hell. Here's a list of lines that made me acronym my ass off.

IVO: How do I look?

SUPERGIRL: Honestly? Like a horny toad at a Gundam convention.

GINGER GIRL: We're going to build a stun gun.

SHIRLEY: This is the best day of my entire life.

GINGER GIRL: Ready?

CHRIS: Lady, we were born ready.

SHIRLEY: Oh my God, I wanted to say that.

CHRIS: Y-you are made of awesome.

SHIRLEY: I know, right?

SHIRLEY (shooting the stun gun): Pew pew! Pew pew!

IVO: Impossible!

SUPERGIRL: I don't think that word means what you think it means, professor.

SUPERGIRL reboots to Issue #1 (along with 51 other DC titles) in September. The issue hits stands September 21st.

Aron Warner's Pariah #1

Written by Aron Warner & Philip Gelatt

Art by Brett Weldele

Sea Lion Books

I didn't plan on picking this up. I'd never heard of it. The cover grabbed my eye on the shelf, though, and I was intrigued by both the fantastic, strange art and the odd company logo. Sea Lion Books. Another instance of "never heard of 'em." I'm always up for a good creator-owned book, so I figured I'd give it a try.

Pariah #1 was decent. It's a high concept series set in 2025, following a group of "Vitros," which are essentially kids that are so intelligent that they are believed to pose a threat to the government. This first issue introduces Brent Marks, one of the Vitros, who struggles with his perception of normal people, how to handle the mixed signals a girl is sending him, and the never-ending stream of thoughts that race through his enhanced brain. After Vitros are suddenly (and a bit awkwardly) declared a terrorist cell, Brent finds himself with a whole set of new problems.

The issue suffers from a distinct lack of world-building. The concept isn't told to us in the context of the comic, but instead in a blurb on the inside cover. The odd, stylized art and the humanity of Brent's affection for his crush kept me interested, but I won't be picking up the subsequent issues. When all is said and done, I think I'll buy the TPB if the reviews are good, but this first issue gave so little to go on that I couldn't justify buying the series monthly.

Mystic #1

"The Tenth Apprentice"

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Pencils by David Lopez

CrossGen

This book looks so good. I saw the cover online last week and made it a point to pick it up based solely on the strength of that. I didn't follow the first Mystic series, but the cover was just so dynamic that I couldn't help myself. Stylistically, the art looks a bit Amanda Conner-y, which is pretty high praise considering how much I dig Conner's stuff. Now, the question is: Did the issue live up to my expectations?

Yup.

A little bit Annie, a little bit Harry Potter, and a lotta bit Victorian steampunkery, Mystic #1 is a crazy, fun, and whimsical read. The writing is superb, the characters are already distinct and easy to love, the linework is great, and Nathan Fairbairn's colors add wonderfully to the light, magical atmosphere of the book. The tale throws a bunch of classic elements (orphan girls working for a cruel mistress, a commoner getting chosen to practice the noble art of magic, a rivalry that... okay, well, you'll see) together in this wonderful stew of a story. With this first issue, Mystic has already established itself as something that is unlike any other comic currently being published... so consider me belted in for the ride.

Cloak & Dagger: Spider Island #1

Written by Nick Spencer

Art by Emma Rios

Marvel Comics

I don't know how this habit started, but I usually follow Marvel titles in trade and buy the singles of DC titles. When I heard that Nick Spencer, who penned the best comic I've read all year, was writing a fucking Cloak and Dagger miniseries, I knew I couldn't wait for the trade. Ever since their appearance in Brian K. Vaughan's Runaways, I've been hoping to see more C&D action from Marvel. They had a pretty decent role in Civil War, and now, thanks to Dan Slott's Spider Island event, they've got their own miniseries. This issue ties loosely into the event, opting to only include a quick brawl with those infected with the "Spidey-powers" and to focus more on the relationship between Cloak and Dagger. Spencer expertly boils down the essentials of their backstory, making this book accessible to new fans but not boring to folks who are well versed in their Cloak and Dagger lore. Spencer is clearly a hell of a lot more interested in who these characters are as people than he is in their considerably bad-ass powers, which is something that I think these the portrayal of these characters has been lacking in for quite some time.

The art is beautiful, reminding me of a mix of the covers of The Unwritten and the interiors of The Sandman (at their best, that is - as popular as that series is, it is wildly uneven art-wise). The panels are fluid, sometimes creatively borders by Cloak's... well, cloak; it isn't too artsy as to be hard to follow, though.

The series is narrated by inner monologue from the two lead characters. At first, they seem to in sync that they're finishing each other's unspoken sentences, but the issue really begins to sing when, through their thoughts, we see that though Cloak and Dagger care for each other, they have a fundamental misunderstanding of what the other person is feeling. Especially for a series with such an out-there concept, this issue kicked off a very human story about desire, lack of fulfillment, and the divide between what it means to be normal and what it means to be extraordinary.

I want to read every letter Nick Spencer has ever written.

NEXT WEEK: Kevin Smith's THE BIONIC MAN

A Continued Tribute to Supergirl

Tomorrow, DC will release the final issue of the current Supergirl title. This book might not matter to as many people as books like Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, and The Flash... but, for those who have followed the title from the first issue until tomorrows #67, we have watched Kara Zor-El evolve from a flat, absurdly sexualized, upsettingly naive character to a young woman who has developed confidence, depth, and integrity. Best of all? Around the time Sterling Gates took the reigns of the title, artists began to draw her as an actual person instead of a strange concoction of hips, five foot legs, and endless (and exposed) belly. The evolution of the character has been one of the most dramatic in the DC Universe, and I'm happy to have been documenting her continued development over the last two arcs with this blog.

Earlier today, I posted a blog that featured what I thought were the best and most iconic images of our modern Supergirl. You can read that here. Here are a few runners-up.

Any time Amanda Conner draws the character

...Especially when she cooks up hilarious sketches for fans at conventions. And whenever Supergirl and Krypto are in the same panel.

Joshua Middleton's work

Joshua Middleton, while a great artist, was a bit hit and miss in his duties as cover artist for Supergirl. The covers that paid too much attention to the shortness of Kara's shirt weren't selected for inclusion here. Instead, we've got the two awesome images included above. How dynamic is that newspaper one?

R. B. Silva's cover for Supergirl #67 (the finale)

Epic and intense. Tender and sweet. A great send off to both Kelly Sue DeConnick's arc and the series as a whole.

Adam Hughes' two page story in Superman/Batman #75

This story, I think, speaks of how comic books are one of the strongest mediums of storytelling. using just a few images and a few carefully picked words, Hughes celebrates the history of Supergirl and Batgirl, paying homage to how they've gotten to be the wonderful characters they are today. I can only hope that the new DC Universe keeps these characters as awesome, strong, and dignified as they have been for the past few years.

Supergirl Covers

A few weeks ago, I read this excellent (and old) article that featured the images Comic Book Resources had dubbed the "five most iconic Supergirl" covers. I enjoyed the article, and mostly agreed on the covers... but one of the quotes included in the article inspired me to write this blog entry. Under an image of the current Supergirl, CBR blogger Brian Cronin wrote "People might not be a fan of the Jeph Loeb/Michael Turner Supergirl, but their take on Supergirl was pretty much the most popular Supergirl has been in comic books since her very early Silver Age appearances." I was at first surprised by this, but then realized that this article had been written prior to Sterling Gates's defining Supergirl run that served to transform Kara Zor-El from a thinly written superhero with no direction (both creatively and as a character) to character that is believable as a hero and as a teenage girl.

So I've decided to, in honor of the end of the current on-going Supergirl series, to pay tribute to the covers that feature the modern Kara Zor-El. Even though Supergirl will continue publication in September, starting with a new #1, the new character design (pictured below) and solicitation for the first issue make it seem as if Supergirl, at least as we know her, is coming to an end.

The new Supergirl costume is complete with the odd armor that Superman also wears. The boots have no knees, she has the same collar that a lot of the heroes are rockin', and she has no skirt. The design isn't bad... it's just different. I hope for the best. But for now? Let's celebrate what has worked for the last two years.

5. Perhaps one of the most recognized images of our current Supergirl is Adam Hughes's cover for Supergirl & the Legion of Superheroes #23. It's a bit cheesecakey for my taste, but there is no denying that this is an iconic image of the Maid of Might.

4. Amy Reeder, perhaps the best cover artist to tackle Supergirl, contributed this cover to Supergirl #57. What I love about this cover is how Supergirl isn't sexualized at all. Even excellent covers like the previous entry tend to show a bit more of Supergirl than needs to be shown, but Reeder excels at showing our hero as what she is... a teenage girl with way too much on her shoulders, an inconceivably large legacy to live up to, and more power than she knows what to do with. The hair might be a bit out of control, but this image is just gorgeous.

3. Interior artist Jamal Igle's cover for Supergirl #53 was the beginning of a more confident Supergirl. The sly smirk and the knowing eyes were showing readers what was to come in the Supergirl title.

2. Amanda Conner. She's one of my favorite comics artists, period. She made Power Girl, a character who has long been a ridiculous example of how women are made into nothing but eye candy in comics (I mean... a boob window? Seriously?), into a character that you can't help but feel for. She only drew one Supergirl issue, but a lot of her sketches from Comic Cons have been made public. It was very hard for me to pick my favorite of her Supergirl images (I almost settled on a comic strip featuring Supergirl and Krypto), but her design for this Supergirl bust just takes the cake.

1. The best Supergirl cover is from Amy Reeder, who contributed this cover to Supergirl #60, in a month when DC asked its artists to design covers that are simple, iconic, and speak for who the character is at his or her core. When I first reviewed #60, I wrote this of Amy Reeder's cover: "SUPERGIRL #60 is brilliant. Even if the issue had been horrible--which, let's just say it wasn't, for those who like to skim (also, hey, stop skimming!)--the cover is iconic. Supergirl, with the pink S behind her, stares out at the audience with a slight smile; after Gates' character defining run, Supergirl is in a good place. She's confident in herself, which just demonstrates how far she's come from the mess of a girl that arrived on Earth in Superman/Batman. The smile and calm look in her eyes on the cover of January's Supergirl #60 perfectly and subtly shows that Supergirl has finally earned the S; the symbol that she has constantly struggled to live up to. That's the art of Amy Reeder for you. Now, I'm just waiting for DC to throw her on interiors."

And what more needs to be said?

Annnnnd...

Just 'cause.

LATER: Honorable mentions.

TOMORROW: Supergirl #67 review.