Comic Book Reviews for 7/25/12

Man, what a stellar (and pricey) week for comics. This week saw the return of everyone's favorite prequel-era Sith Lord, Darth Maul, in a fun "in between seasons" story that follows up on his appearance in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. DC Comics also continued its rejuvenation of Aquaman, while Marvel delivered the latest twist in its plans to redefine the Lizard's status quo.

Please note, there is a review coming soon for American Vampire #29.

DC COMICS

All-Star Western #11

Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti | Art by Moritat

"While the rest of the Bat books have wrapped up their dalliances with the Night of the Owls crossover, All-Star Western continues to explore Jonah Hex's chaotic encounter with the 19th Century incarnation of the Court.  The series is practically reveling in its ties to the Batman mythos at this point. Besides returning the setting to Gotham, writers Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have brought in the Religion of Crime as a rival cult. They also seem determined to ensure that as many major Gotham figures as possible have historical analogues in this series. At some point it would be nice to be reminded that this book is about Jonah Hex too." -Jesse

Final Score:7.0

Aquaman #11

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Ivan Reis

"Apparently it's not enough for Geoff Johns to swoop in and make writing a compelling Aquaman yarn look like child's play. He also has to prove that it's perfectly possible to toss an entire team full of essentially new characters at readers and make these readers fall in love with them after a handful of issues. This is a book that makes good on all the promise the New 52 offered." -Jesse

Final Score: 9.0

Batman: The Dark Knight #11

Written by Gregg Hurwitz | Art by David Finch

"Gregg Hurwitz's first issue of Batman: The Dark Knight was a mammoth leap forward in storytelling and quality. This feels like a Batman book now, instead of a turd smeared across paper and then stapled into the shape of a comic. Still, as we said in the review of issue #10, this series is not doing much to make itself a 'must buy' each month. Being an okay Batman book in a sea of good Batman books just isn't enough." -Benjamin

Final Score: 6.5

Before Watchmen: Comedian #2

Written by Brian Azzarello | Art by J.G. Jones

"Before Watchmen: Comedian deserves some credit for being the only one of the Before Watchmen books so far to not attempt a standard origin story. The series skips over Eddie Blake's formative years and instead follows his misadventures in the '60s as a government agent. Unfortunately, despite the less formulaic approach, Comedian still falters quite a bit in its execution." -Jesse

Final Score: 5.5

The Flash #11

  

Written by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato | Art by Marcus To

"You can always count on The Flash to have an amazing title page and a new villain, and the creators do not disappoint here. While fiery baddie Heat Wave is nothing to write home about, his debut adds yet another member to Flash’s rapidly expanding rogues. Even better, Barry Allen changes the status quo on how he fights crime by moving into the seediest part of town and getting a job at the worst bar imaginable. It’s almost like hewants to get into a fight. Good news for us, he does." -Joshua

Final Score: 7.5

Green Lantern #11

Written by Geoff Johns | Art by Doug Mahnke

"Last issue, Black Hand decided to go cliff diving rather than become an Indigo Lantern once more. It was gruesome stuff, but now he’s back at it with a Black Lantern ring and a plan to bring back his dead family and eat Chinese food with them, among other more nefarious things. It feels good to have a clearly defined villain with an evil agenda in a Green Lantern book again. I enjoyed learning the mysteries of the Indigo Tribe, but now I’m ready to see how Hal Jordan and Sinestro are possibly going to get along long enough to overcome this deadly threat." -Joshua

Final Score: 8.5

I, Vampire #11

Written by Josh Fialkov | Art by Andrea Sorrentino

"Since the start of the New 52, four books have continually impressed me issue after issue without fail: Batman, Wonder Woman, Animal Man, and I, Vampire. What they all have in common is their consistently high quality artwork, refreshing stories within their genre, and a cast full of memorable characters. With this installment, Andrea Sorrentino creates an epic battle scene between vampires and zombies while Joshua Hale Fialkov continues to develop the twisted romance between vampires Andrew and Mary. In short, it still kicks ass." -Joshua

Final Score: 9.0

Justice League Dark #11

Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Mikel Janin

"Let’s start this off right: in my opinion, Justice League Dark is – right alongside I, Vampire – one of the most consistently beautiful books at DC. To my memory, neither series has had a lapse in artist and yet has remained pristine issue after issue. Mikel Janin delivers yet again in JLD #11, perhaps even topping himself with stunning layouts and pristine lines that formulate one of the trippiest – yet cleanest – looking issues yet. There is seriously so much detail packed into his characters that it’s astonishing to see this book arrive on time month in and month out. The editorial team at DC should take a bow for assigning Janin to this book, and issue #11 is precisely the reason." -Joey

Final Score: 9.0

National Comics: Eternity #1

Written by Jeff Lemire | Art by Cully Hamner & Derec Donovan

"In a move that I’m still quite excited about, DC Comics has debuted its new done-and-one series called National Comics, aiming to reintroduce some of the DCU’s more obscure characters month in and month out in a series of one-shots. The debut features a revamped Kid Eternity, written by Jeff Lemire with are by Cully Hamner and Derec Donovan. As a re-introduction (or perhaps just an introduction for some) to the character, Eternity #1 suffices just fine. In fact, the only storytelling detriment I can pinpoint is the fact that the story doesn’t exactly wrap-up in a way that will leave you satisfied. Instead, it ends on a rather heart wrenching cliffhanger that will just leave you waiting for the next issue. That’s not a knock against the book itself, it’s just that, at least at this point, that next issue doesn’t exist." -Joey

Final Score: 8.0

Spaceman #8

Written by Brian Azzarello | Art by Eduardo Risso

"Spaceman is finally getting around to making a point. There are moments in this issue when we finally start to see the story come through. Some of these scenes could have been pretty poignant and meaningful -- if they had happened three or four issues ago. This series has just become to long and to unwieldy. It's saying something, but does anybody even care anymore? I doubt it." -Benjamin

Final Score: 5.5

Superman #11

Written by Dan Jurgens | Art by Dan Jurgens

"This Superman title has been less than stellar since its debut, but despite some cringe-worthy elements, this issue isn’t all that bad. The teaser text on the cover is an outright lie, the villain is a photocopy of a Predator, and Superman’s abnormally long neck is back, but a well-paced story manages to keep things interesting. It’s not a super story, but it’s getting there." -Joshua

Final Score: 5.5

Teen Titans #11

Written by Scott Lobdell | Art by Brett Booth

"Teen Titans seemed to be taking steps in the right direction for the past few issues. It felt more interesting, like it was finally starting to tell these kids' story. That comes to a halt in this issue. The Teen Titans just punch some random dude that they invited over their apartment and then they punch each other. Thrilling." -Benjamin

Final Score: 4.5

Source : feeds.ign.com

Debris #1 Preview

A couple of months back, we brought you an enlightening chat with our good friend and Image Comics writer Kurtis Wiebe about his new series Debris, which re-teams him with his Green Wake cohort Riley Rossmo to deliver a fantasy epic inspired by the likes of Final Fantasy.

The story centers on Maya, the last hope of humanity, as she's forced to battle the spirits of Earth that take the form of gigantic monsters made of junk. And yeah, it's as cool as it sounds. Courtesy of Image Comics, take a look at the first issue, which hits stands next week.

Final Fantasy Inspires New Comic

Source : feeds.ign.com

Hero Worship: Batman's Unsung Hero

Hey, everyone! Hero Worship is back, and it now exists in a post-Comic-Con and more depressingly, a post-Dark Knight Rises world. Yes, the one big blockbuster movie I’ve been waiting for since 2008 has, at long last, passed through my eyeballs and entered my brain. As such, I’m left aimless. Without purpose, you might say. Okay, that’s not entirely true, but the lack of any other movies left to anticipate this summer has instead drawn me to reflecting on the Christopher Nolan trilogy and, more broadly, Batman as a character.

Superhero comics are an industry built on the hard work and often, the unsung sacrifice of many creators whose contributions have fallen by the wayside in the decades that followed the debut of their iconic creations. While it’s taken legal battles and much championing by advocates of creator rights to get names like Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s listed as co-creators of Superman, one name in particular still has yet to be given credit where credit is due: Bill Finger, the uncredited co-creator of Batman.

To help shed some light on Finger’s importance in the Batman legacy and the need to appreciate the creators – not just the characters they create – I turned to my friend Marc Tyler Nobleman, who just recently released a new book called Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman. “Bill Finger was the original writer and even before that, co-creator of Batman. He was there from the very first weekend; Bob Kane the cartoonist came to Bill with a sketch of a character that some people say was called Bat-Man. Other people say that Bob didn’t even do that much – that might never be known for sure,” said Nobleman. Illustrated by Ty Templeton and meticulously researched through the culling of old documents and interviews with friends, associates, family, and others that had never spoken at length about Finger before, Bill the Boy Wonder is presented as a kid’s storybook and walks the reader through the life of and career of Finger, following the format of Nobleman’s other book, Boys of Steel, which is a similar exploration of Superman’s creators.

It’s important to reflect on this, especially as The Dark Knight Rises climbs up the box office charts. With the rights of creators shooting to the forefront of the comics community this year as superhero flicks continue to eat up more and more of our money, fan awareness of the men and women behind their favorite characters is more crucial than ever. While creations like Spider-Man have gotten proper billing for both Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Batman remains credited solely to Bob Kane, despite the fact that Finger did much of the heavy lifting. Nobleman told me, “Bill was the one who completely overhauled it [Kane’s original sketch] and turned it into the Batman that we still know today, visually. Bob went into what became DC Comics that Monday morning with a revised sketch that was Bill’s vision. He didn’t mention to DC about Bill being involved, and then he hired Bill to write anonymously for him. That’s how Bill’s career got started.”

In terms of Finger’s contributions, Nobleman said, “I always challenge people to name something central to Batman that doesn’t come from Bill. So far, no one’s done it.” The most notable additions are things now synonymous with Batman: the color scheme, the cape and cowl, the name Bruce Wayne, and even the moniker “the Dark Knight,” a phrase so iconic that the latest Batman movies – one of which is one of the most successful movies of all time – could use that moniker alone without even having “Batman” appear in the title.

Perhaps most importantly, Finger is the one that penned that fateful journey into Crime Alley. “He wrote the first story, and many of the best stories of the first 25 years including Batman’s origin, which some people say is the reason for his endurance,” explained Nobleman. “This was the first time someone had imprinted a psychological reason to wage war on crime, where it wasn't being done just to do good for good’s sake; there was a real scarring there.” Finger was also instrumental in the creation and development of some of Batman’s most famous supporting cast, including Robin, Catwoman, and the Joker.

Sadly, the exploitation of creators at the time was not unheard of. In fact, it’s only fairly recently in the world of company-owned characters the creators have gained more recognition for their creations, even if they are still technically owned by the publisher. “It was unfortunately fairly common at the time where the comic book company couldn’t care less how the story got there; they just wanted the story there on time. You could’ve hired a person to write each page if you wanted, and they didn’t care as long as you turn it in and don’t ask for more money,” Nobleman said. He continued to explain that eventually DC discovered Finger’s involvement and then contracted him to work directly for the company instead of for Kane.

“

Bob Kane never wrote a single Batman story in his lifetime.

Finger’s involvement in Batman has become common knowledge throughout the comics community, but Nobleman’s goal is for more mainstream recognition. “Bob [Kane] never wrote a single Batman story in his lifetime,” said Nobleman, but you’re not going to find Finger’s name in the credits of The Dark Knight Rises this weekend or in the next Batman graphic novel you buy; Kane’s name will stand alone. But Nobleman hasn’t given up hope that it could happen someday. “Nothing can happen for Bill unless there is legal action. DC’s not just going to put his name on there just because they know it’s the right thing to do,” he said. “They know it’s the right thing to do, but they’re part of a corporation.”

Nobleman’s exploration of Bill Finger in a digestible, accessible manner is to be commended and hopefully will educate new comic book fans on the sometimes revisionist history of superhero comics. It’s important not only to respect the past as you watch, read, or play the latest Batman adventure, but also be aware that the characters you’ve come to love and admire are products of much sacrifice, often not appreciated until long after the loss of the creators.

Keep that in mind the next time you’re reading a new comic book that you love. With comic book creators more accessible than ever on social media or at conventions, let them know their hard work is appreciated.

Bill the Boy Wonder is now available at Amazon, and Nobleman suggests that you mentally insert Finger’s name during the end credits of The Dark Knight Rises. At least until it appears there for real.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Tron: Uprising – "The Price of Power" Review

Apologies for this review going up a week late - Comic-Con had us all in its clutches when this episode aired!

Note: Full spoilers for the episode follow.

As I've mentioned in previous reviews, despite delivering spectacularly on the promise of an original and stylish visual aesthetic, Tron: Uprising has relied on familiar storytelling tropes a lot in the first half of its inaugural season. It's a minor complaint, given that the show is generally well written and the writers have managed to adapt the themes organically into the world of the Grid, but the trend continues in "The Price of Power." This time, however, the source material comes with an interesting meta significance.

In this episode we have a powerful weapon with a poisonous affect on anyone who possesses it and a hero who must destroy it while resisting the temptation to harness its power. Oh, and it also happens to be in the shape of a ring. Even those with only a passing familiarity with the Lord of the Rings franchise can see the connections between the stories, but they don't end there. Both have the same actor at the center of the chaos, Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings movies and provides the voice of Beck in Tron: Uprising. Wood is clearly in his comfort zone here, giving one a more dynamic performance than the usual flatness I've come to associate with Beck.

The action is set in motion by a Gollum-like character named Shaw, a scientist who has built General Tessler a prototype that could give the occupation a huge advantage over any potential rebellion (not that Tessler doesn't already have one, with a massive force of armed soldiers, recognizers, tanks and other heavy artillery at his command). Shaw's device snaps into an identity disc and provides the bearer with a massive power upgrade in strength and agility. But he has already become corrupted by his own creation, paranoid and aggressive, with glowing red eyes. It's a little preview of what's in store for Beck once he gets his hands on it and gives into the temptation to use the power-up for himself. As we all know he will, despite his promise to Tron to destroy it.

Predictability can be a big liability when a story is heavily influenced by other material, however well that story is adapted, updated and executed. It's not hard to see where the story is going long before it gets there. Fortunately, Tron: Uprising manages to provide us with lots of cool scenery along the way. The slow-motion shot of Beck flipping over Paige's chopper may be one of my favorite action shots in the series so far (Beck jumping out the window in "Identity" runs a close second). There's a glowing, crackling energy to this world that enhances even the most played-out themes and circumstances.

One other thing this episode accomplished was to give a little more heft to the character of Tessler. Thus far he's been the scheming, mostly fumbling, authority behind the scenes, barking out orders and sending his commanders out to get beat by the Renegade. Here we see him derez one of his minions by pulling out his identity disc through his chest, a ruthless act that even Pavel and Paige seem to find gruesome. So, okay, maybe Tessler is a badass after all. And for the first time, we actually got to see him go up against the Renegade when Beck, under the energy disc's influence, storms into his base and confronts him directly. An injury to Abel brings Beck back to his senses, but I look forward to seeing the continuation of this fight at some point in the future.

I also liked the way the episode ended, with the repaired disc back in play. As the cast and crew teased during the Tron: Uprising panel at last week's Comic-Con, there's some really interesting territory to explore up ahead. The tenuous bond of trust between Beck and Tron suffered a blow in "The Price of Power," but it's about to be put through an even bigger test. Stay tuned, programs.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Wolverine #309 Review

Wolverine #309 finally hits stands two weeks after issue #310. But really, is that the weirdest thing to happen in the world of superhero comics this month? Not unlike Sabretooth Reborn, this issue plays out like a sort of lost adventure as Wolverine teams with Elixir to deal with a lingering threat left over from M-Day. It's hardly a vital read for anyone but hardcore Elxir fans, but it's an enjoyable standalone issue all the same.

Writer Ivan Brandon picks up Elixir's story in the wake of the character's disillusionment with the actions of X-Force. The idea of Wolverine taking a younger X-Man under his wing and providing guidance is hardly new, other than the fact that this trainee happens to be male. Nor does Brandon's exploration of Wolverine's self-loathing really break any new ground. It's the execution that sets this book apart. The dialogue is smooth and well honed. The characterization of Elixir in particular effectively builds on past stories. While the issue sometimes relies overly much on past Wolverine continuity, Brandon's script is nonetheless tight and well-plotted.

The art goes a long way towards distinguishing the book as well. Rafael Albuquerque and Jason Latour divide up pages, which lends a harder-edge, almost Vertigo-esque approach to the pencils. The script is somber and violent, and the art enhances these qualities. The two styles don't blend perfectly (Latour's pages are a little more surreal), but individually they both work well.

It's not clear why Marvel couldn't have simply adjusted the numbering and waited until after Sabretooth Reborn was finished to ship this book. And despite the boosted page count, it's debatable whether $4.99 is a fair asking price. But those who simply crave an enjoyable, standalone Wolverine adventure likely won't be disappointed.

Source : feeds.ign.com

Check Out Starship Troopers Invasion's Power Suits

This past weekend at Comic-Con, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment hosted the world-premiere screening of Starship Troopers: Invasion, the latest outing for the space-faring franchise which takes Johnny Rico into the realm of CGI animation. The film went over really well with the packed house of fans in attendance at San Diego's Gaslamp Theater, and I was honored to moderate a filmmaker Q&A after the show with executive-producers Casper Van Dien and Ed Neumeier, director Shinji Aramaki (Halo Legends), producer and story co-creator Joseph Chou and story co-creator Shigehito Kawada.

And now we've got an exclusive new look at the Power Suits that dominate the film's action. These space suits were a huge part of the original Robert Heinlein novel on which the series is based, but as Neumeier -- who wrote the original film -- explained at the Q&A on Saturday, they were prohibitively expensive to make for the 1997 live-action film. But that's what animation is for! Check out the suits below in the new image:

Starship Troopers: Invasion hits Blu-ray and DVD with UltraViolet on August 28th. The film features the return of Johnny Rico (played, of course, by my new pal Van Dien in the first and third films), Carmen Ibanez and Carl Jenkins from the original movie. The characters find themselves on a dangerous mission to rescue survivors of a Federation outpost that's under attack by the bugs. Those damned, dirty bugs! Check out the trailer here:

The trailer for the upcoming game Starship Troopers: Invasion -- Mobile Infantry, which ties directly into the film, was also unveiled during the screening. You can learn more about the game by clicking here.

(From left) Scott Collura, Casper Van Dien, Ed Neumeier, Joseph Chou, Shinji Aramaki, Shigehito Kawada

The discs will feature filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes and an 11-part Making Of featurette that reveals how the film was created via a mix of animation, motion capture and compositing. The Blu-ray also features an exclusive conceptual art gallery, showcasing the original designs of the movie’s ships, alien bugs and more.

Source : feeds.ign.com