Review: Rachel Rising #6

Story and Art by Terry Moore

From Abstract Studios

Rachel is dead and she doesn't know why. With her friends, Jet and Aunt Johnny, Rachel deals with the mystery of her death as well as their own questions of mortality. Meanwhile things slowly get creepier and grislier. I've read some early issues of Strangers In Paradise and have Echo waiting for me in trades, but it has been a long time since i've delved into Terry Moore's prolific comic output. When Rachel Rising began, I jumped onboard hoping for something different and unique. Since the first issue I've been treated to a subtle horror/mystery where the supernatural never overwhelms the natural feel of the characters. Shit is crazy, but at the same time it feels much more real than most other comics. In the current chapter of Rachel Rising more things twist and turn in this single issue than most other comics have in a long time. It is very obvious as you read Rachel Rising #6 that you are dealing with a creator that has done this, meticulously, for quite a while. The pacing and storytelling represent experience and a careful intent. Anything can happen in this book. It's also an honest-to-goodness independent comic book. I'm sure trades are around the corner for this series. I would recommend checking them out as Rachel Rising is, quite possibly, the best monthly series on the comic-shelf.

Overall: 10

B.S.

Review: Defenders #4

Written by Matt Fraction

Pencils by Michael Lark

Inks by Stefano Gaudiano and Brian Thies

Colors by Matt Hollingsworth

Letters by VC's Clayton Cowles

Covers by Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson, Dale Keown, and Edgar Delgado

From Marvel Comics

The Defenders ponder the “magical machine” they took, but it just may be entirely too much to handle. Can Strange control the thing, much less ever figure out what to do with it? Strange is caught between a triangle of new and old passions and in the center of it all is the unpredictable artifact. Matt Fraction just might be the most successful under-rated writer in comics. Perhaps I should use the word “under-rated” more carefully. He has loyal fans who appreciate him, but his rap got soiled by the internet in regard to his cluttered, but very nice looking, event “Fear Itself”. I admit Fear Itself wasn’t great, but it seemed like some exasperated fanboys wanted Fraction’s head on a stick. Don’t they realize that most major comic book events are terrible? Fraction was merely following in the footsteps of many capable creators who drop the ball on overblown hoo-hah. Maybe one good one every ten years comes around. Don’t let that keep you from Defenders is all i’m saying. This issue in particular is a bit more grounded than the previous, but still maintains the elements of fantastical mystery. The character play between  Molly, Strange, and Strange’s returned lost love is very well done. The writing is nicely paced and is not at all tightly wound. In fact it is a very loose book with many lighthearted elements. This issue also featured a Michael Lark fill in. I just read the entirety of Gotham Central, so seeing Lark’s name just makes me giddy. He draws magic elements very well and seems to coincide smoothly with Fraction’s writing style. Let’s hope Lark sticks around for more than one issue. Let's hope Fraction can shake those Fear Itself barnacles so people can appreciate this title for what it really is.

Writing 4.5 out of 5

Art 4.5 out of 5

Overall: 9

B.S.

Review: Scalped #56

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by R.M. Guera

Colors by Giulia Brusco

Letters by Sal Cipriano

Cover by Jock

From Vertigo Comics

The fallout of the last issue commences eight months later, and the Lakota reservation is finally as peaceful as it can get. A lot of characters seem to be getting their lives in order and money is actually going to good causes. Unfortunately sometimes the past can’t stay buried. Nothing ever goes out peacefully on the rez. Scalped, alongside Spaceman, is easily my favorite Vertigo series going and it simply adds another element to Jason Aaron’s versatile repertoire. Guera  pencils like he was born to draw these bleak tales. The features are defined and well researched. The grime of reservation life is bleak with plenty of humanity. While a few artists have contributed here and there, Guera’s work simply owns the tone masterfully. It’s a shame this book is winding down, but all compelling stories must end. Aaron is keeping busy with various Marvel projects. In the meantime I will be chomping at the bit to see what Guera brings us after the end of this series.

Writing 4.5 out of 5

Art 5 out of 5

Overall: 9.5

B.S.

Review: Justice League #6

JUSTICE LEAGUE #6

Written by Geoff Johns

Pencils by Jim Lee

Inked by Scott Williams, Sandra Hope, Batt Irwin, and Mark Irwin

Colors by Alex Sinclair, Tony Avina, and Hi-Fi

Letters by Patrick Brosseau

Covers by Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Avina Sinclair, Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, and Rod Reis

Published by DC Comics

The finale to DC's top selling flagship title ends as one who has read superhero comics for most of their lives would expect. The good guys win. Every hero gets a piece. Darkseid gets sent back to Apokolips where he belongs. This comic, out of all of the new 52, is the most hearkening to comics of the 1990s and Jim Lee pencils are a big contribution to that. To be quite frank, i'm well past excited about Jim Lee artwork. I don't dislike it really. I reserve disdain for those who insist on emulating Jim Lee artwork. Jim Lee himself, I concede, is an original. Those who pine for his work from the 90s will probably find great comfort in reading Justice League. I would definitely recommend this to those past admirers despite the clutter of inkers and colorists that help make these visuals seem a bit too stiff. Personally, as I get older, I want a lot more expression and fluidity in an action comic. This is as one would expect and it unfortunately does not go to the next level. The writing is also as basic and predictable. The character interactions can be pretty humorous. (Nothing beats Batman pickpocketing Green Lantern's ring in issue 1) I do appreciate Johns making Hal Jordan a giant asshole in this series, as I always thought that character was a giant asshole anyway. Most everyone, except maybe Barry, is a fly-off-the-handle jerk. Even Superman. Batman also spends half of this issue running around without a cowl for some reason. Those moments are all too brief as these characters come together to fight the ultra powerful Darkseid in what might be the weakest Darkseid story ever. Really this issue could have featured any Justice League villain. Starro, Despero, or Shaggy Man (look it up)  could have been just as interchangeable. While I don't usually rag on decompressed storytelling, this story did not seem so intricate as to justify stretching out six issues. (That is a total of $24 spent on this series.) Johns is doing it for me over in Aquaman, but Justice League? I think I may be giving this one the drop.

Writing 2.5 out of 5

Art 2.5 out of 5

Overall: 5

B.S.

Review: FF #15

FF #15

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Nick Dragotta

Colors by Chris Sotomayor

Letters by VC's Clayton Cowles

Covers by Mike Choi, Guru e-FX, June Brigman, Roy Richardson, and Christina Strain

Published by Marvel Comics

The ongoing epic between FF and Fantastic Four comes together in this really, really nice looking issue. Doctor Doom has apparently gotten blasted by the Mad Celestials and the Future Foundation, along with Power Pack, scramble to save time and preserve earth from the clutches of cosmic warfare. The grandiosity is very well balanced with nice human moments. Hickman has cited his children as influential to the characterizations of Franklin and Valeria Richards so the personal connection to these characters is coming from somewhere natural. It works. Nick Dragotta's art is incredibly well rendered. The way he represents the posture and stances of the characters within scenes is very well done and shows a lot of virtuosity. The looming of the Celestials (which you can see fight Galactus over in Fantastic Four) deftly reminds you of the nature of the scene after you've been charmed by the great moments. A wonderful chapter for one of Marvel's more adventurous titles. With Hickman and Dragotta at the helm, it seems like you won't get it any other way.

Writing: 5 out of 5

Art 5 out of 5
Overall: 10

B.S.

DC's New 52 - Six Months Later: A Sceptic's Review

The title says it all. Like a lot of people, when DC announced that they were rebooting their entire universe with 52 #1 issues, I was less than excited. It just came across as yet another stunt to temporarily boost sales. Eventually things would return to the status quo, or at least some semblance of how things 'used to be,' and the whole thing would just be remembered as another event. To be honest, I didn't even care too much about it. For me DC peaked back in '06 with 52, and pretty much every event since had marked a slow decline in cohesive storytelling. Over the past few years the number of DC titles on my pull list had reduced from about 18 to 1 (it was Birds of Prey, btw), so it's not like I was going to be affected by it.

But then I came upon the New 52 Panel podcasts from last year's San Diego Con, and I gotta say I was impressed with some of what I heard. I'm not a huge Dan Didio fan, but he, along with the editors, writers and artists, seemed to have a very clear vision for this thing. As the months passed, I started to hear some good buzz about many of the titles (most of which came from my fellow blogger), so I decided to let go of my fanboy hang-ups and give some of them a shot. The fact remains DC recognized that many long-time readers like myself had just stopped caring about their books as a whole and this was an attempt to not only get us back, but attract newbies as well. When you think about it, it's really kind of ballsy. Launching new Aquaman, Wonder Woman or even Batman titles with a #1 issue is one thing, but re-numbering Detective Comics & Action Comics says something. I still think that'll change eventually, but I respect the statement.

So starting today, I will be reading the first story arc of one new DC title every other day and reviewing them here. 20 titles, to be exact. I'd be lying if i said I wasn't a little intimidated by this whole idea. I'm not known for my follow through on things so there is definitely a chance that I will flake on this. Nonetheless, I remain committed. So let's get this party started...

Batgirl

#1-6

Written by Gail Simone

Art by Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes

Colors by Ulises Arreola

Letters by Dave Sharpe

Covers by Adam Hughes

Batgirl was never that interesting to me as a character until she was shot by the Joker and paralyzed from the waist down. I know that probably sounds kind of harsh, but until then, she was really just a gimmick character created to pull in female readers, similar to Supergirl. Their creators pretty much just said, "Let's put a girl in Superman/Batman's costume," and that was it. Supergirl and Batgirl were born. Don't get me wrong. I am a HUGE proponent of more equal representation of women in comics (shame on you DC for having so few female creators and headlining characters in this new universe, btw), but a character is only as interesting as the writer makes him/her out to be. And just like Supergirl didn't get interesting until Peter David transformed her into an earth-born angel (if you haven't read that run, I highly suggest it), Batgirl  became a much more complex character when she was confined to a wheelchair and became Oracle, computer-hacking information broker to the entire DC super-hero community.

So I a was a little bummed when I heard that Barbara Gordon would be back in costume in the new 52 universe. I mean, do we really need another person in a bat costume right now? But I was curious as to how they were going to pull it off. Would her stint as Oracle be completely erased from continuity or would they acknowledge it somehow? And if the latter, how would they explain her return to crime-fighting? Well they do acknowledge her time in a wheelchair, but as far as Oracle is concerned, it was never mentioned so I'm not sure if this new Babs ever adopted the identity. I really hope this isn't the case because that would be a major let down.

The first story arc begins three years after Barbara was shot by the Joker. After a cutting-edge surgery, her paralysis has been cured and she just recently returned to fighting the good fight. This is a younger, less experienced Batgirl still recovering from the trauma of her attack. She has just moved out of her father's house (Commisioner James Gordon) and is settling in with new roomate, Alsia Yeoh (the standard quirky roommate with lots of sass) when a new villain by the name of Mirror surfaces. I won't give away his schtick, but suffice to say he's one of those tragic villains who experienced something so traumatic that it pushed him over the edge. It's not really that interesting to be perfectly honest. Though I will give the guy credit for taking his name quite literally in regard to his costume design. After a couple of rounds with this guy, Nightwing shows up in issue #3. Having these two meet as physical equals on the same playing field for the first time in 23 years is a kind of a big deal, and I don't envy Gail Simone having to write this scene. That being said, I felt completely let down. They fight unnecessarily, she cuts off a lock of her hair and gives it to him (I don't even know what THAT'S all about), and they go their separate ways. There was absolutely no weight to the story at all. Top the whole thing off with an incredibly lame final showdown between BG and Mirror in the most cliched setting you could imagine, and you've got yourself one dud of a debut. Bottom line? This four-issue story arc felt more like an extremely long fill-in issue than the kick-off of a new series. 

Issues #5 & #6 have Batgirl facing off against another new villain named Gretel. With a name like that you would think that Gretel is a witch hunter of some sort, but alas, it's nothing quite that exciting. She is yet another emotionally-damaged villain with a very cliched origin. There's some Bruce Wayne/Batman action in this story, which includes (of course) Batgirl facing off against the caped-crusader, though not in the way you'd think. Gotta say, this story was even less memorable for me than the previous one.

The art is adequate though inconsistent. Syaf obviously enjoys drawing super-heroes, but it would be nice if the same attention to detail was given when drawing people in plain clothes. Arreola's colors are a good combination of vibrant and moody. In particular, the graveyard fight scene in issue #2 stands out for me. I always enjoy Adam Hughes drawing women, so the covers are nice, but I like when he moves past the cheesecake stuff, such as the cover for issue #2. All in all, this book was quite disappointing though not unexpected. I love Gail Simone, but she can be pretty hit or miss. When she hits you get Secret Six. When she misses, you get her run on Wonder Woman. Batgirl definitely goes in the 'miss' column.  

Writing: 2 out of 5

Art: 3 out of 5

Overall: 5

A.L.

This One's For The Children

It has been stated that kids just don't read comic books anymore. Compared to how things used to be this is hard to argue. The big two companies have taken to putting "All-Ages" versions of their books that have come and gone over the years. The fact that DC's Tiny Titans is making it to at least fifty issues before it's retired is a pretty amazing feat. It's hard to identify why this is. Kids will watch the movies and the cartoons, but it just doesn't translate into going to the comic shop. Maybe a comic book just isn't very intriguing for a youngster who has spent most (or all) of their life living in a digitized world? I know I got into comics from perusing spinner racks at the nearest grocery store. Now I hardly ever see comics in grocery stores. What happened there? I guess if grocery stores could still sell them they would still order them.

If your kid is reading comics in your house with any consistency, then that probably means that you are reading comics with consistency. A trickle down effect that may mean that your love of the X-Men since childhood just makes your kids think the X-Men are lame. Allow me to make a few more timely recommendations that kids can identify with all on their own without the baggage of the decades of continuity. Maybe if you ask nicely they'll let you borrow them when they're done.

Super Dinosaur
By Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard
Image Comics/Skybound


There is one thing that will always be true. Kids love dinosaurs. Stick a dinosaur in battle armor and it would seem an obvious recipe for success. The real star of the book is Derek, Super Dinosaur's bestest pal and son of super genius Doc Dynamo. Each issue has more than enough slam-bang action to keep your rambunctious rascal entertained. There are also some real human moments, like when Derek has to deal with his father's severe memory loss. This can be a very real problem with family. A grandson could be dealing with this issue with a grandfather, and it's pretty awesome how this comic can connect in that way. Don't expect this comic to slow down. It moves at ADHD speed, but at the end of the day it is the kids that save it all. With a little help from a talking tyrannosaurus rex.

Snarked!
By Roger Langridge and Lisa Moore
Boom!/Kaboom!


The young Queen Scarlett and her brother Prince Rusty have formed an alliance with the begrudging Wilburforce J. Walrus and his happy-go-lucky carpenter pal Clyde McDunk to find her missing parents to re-claim her corrupted home kingdom in this goofy, Lewis Carroll inspired, madcap adventure. All signs point to the mysterious Snark island that contains a creature everyone fears but very few have ever seen. Langridge has been cartooning for a while and deserves high credit. He doesn't miss a beat and is never afraid to delve into the wackiness of this adventure.  This book seems like a good pick for silly kids who love to read, or have a particular fascination with the sunday funnies.

Adventure Time with Finn & Jake
By Pendleton Ward, Ryan North, Shelli Paroline, and Braden Lamb
Boom!/Kaboom!


Already a commercial and critical success as a television show on Cartoon Network. Adventure Time has just recently found its way onto the comic book rack. Finn the Human and Jake the Dog reside in the Land of Ooo. They hang out, high five, use Jake's magical powers, and practice "battle burns" in this wildly imaginative comic. I've never seen the show, but I am actually totally in love with this comic book. If you have an oddball child that you already know is a fan of Adventure Time then give them this as a treat. Maybe they'll be so appreciative that they won't stick you in a nursing-home someday.

-BS