As promised, Laura’s taken yet another week off and Coach McGuirk is subbing in again for her because that’s the kind of dude he is. There are also a few spoilers in this column so tread carefully.– Adan

Batman #664

Brendan: The father/son jam cover provided by the Kuberts Joe and Andy for Batman #664 looks great. Sadly, seeing the old and new schools combined only reminds me how late this book is. If the direct descendants to comic royalty can’t be counted on to deliver us from this crippling trend, who can?

But, I can’t help but be filled with glee when I see these Grant Morrison/ Andy Kubert Batman issues. If people don’t remember, back in the day when Jim Lee left the X-Men book, it was Kubert who followed and kept the pace. It was this gig that elevated him to a superstar. Today, the work on Batman echoes the past. Kubert’s Batman even looks like Lee’s. And that’s a great thing. Just don’t take as long as Jim Lee. Please. This issue is classic, fun Batman. Morrison’s creative intent couldn’t be any clearer than when he speaks to the audience through Bruce when he says, “[James Bond?] Oh, I’m much cooler than he is.” In this issue, he is. Oh, and if Bat-Bond isn’t enough, just wait until Bat-Bane Begins.

Adan: Obviously, this isn’t the real Bane, as he just won an election in a South American country, but he does look bad-ass and he may have broken the Batman. The Coach is right, though: Grant Morrison is a great writer and Andy Kubert is a great artist and if you need any proof, just open this issue to the very first page and tell me that doesn’t immediately make you want to read more. I’ve not seen a more compelling first page since… man, I can’t even remember when. Also, Kubert’s establishing Gotham shots are fantastic. Sometimes it’s New York, sometimes it’s Mexico City, and sometimes it’s Tokyo (like in this issue), but it’s still the same dirty, neon-lit, rat-infested, rainy city. I’m also relieved that this issue is an actual comic book and not a short illustrated story, like last time.

Daredevil #95

Brendan: I don’t have a ton to say about the latest issue of Daredevil. Matt has returned to his beloved Kitchen, and it is Hellish. Brubaker keeps the action moving, and the team of Lark and Gaudiano provide the proper amount of grit to the book. It wasn’t a bad read, but it did little to spark my interest. For as much acclaim as Brubaker has gotten for this book, it seems to me that the thrust of the credit should still go to Bendis and Maleev, who defined the pulpish tone of this book so clearly that this story seems like it is merely following in the footsteps.

Adan: See, personally, I think Bru is a better writer and Lark is a better artist, overall. On this book, they may be behind the curve a smidgeon, but they’re getting their sea legs right quick. The last two arcs they were just cleaning up the small mess that Bendis and Maleev left behind them (Matt in jail, his outing, Milla) and navigating the mine field that was Civil War (that’s why he was in Europe, kids; no registration bollocks there). Now, Bru and Lark can create their own story without any dangling plot threads, and this yarn already looks mighty fine. Melvin Potter is going crazy again and needs Matt Murdock’s help, while Hell’s Kitchen is once again in the grip of crime and needs Daredevil. Yup, mighty fine yarn.

Elephantmen #8

Brendan: Elephantmen is one of my favorite books. Creator and Comicraft founder Richard Starkings makes it his business to pack each and every issue of Elephantmen with loads of extras and bonus material. For those who think that lettering is merely a “cut-and-paste” job, check out the inside cover, where they graciously sample the many fonts that are needed and tweaked for this very issue. There are a lot of choices made by a letterer, and they’re usually so good you don’t even notice their work. Getting to the main story, Starkings once again provides a vignette that builds the relationships of the tortured souls of the elephantmen. It is consistently entertaining to watch the various characters deal with their post-traumatic stress in differing ways. Moritat’s simple linework allows for the gritty colors of their dystopian future to shine. If you love crime drama, or sci-fi, or are just very pro-animal rights, you should be reading this book. Plus, there is a pretty good interview with Marvel Eek Joey Q that makes a great companion piece to his work on Daredevil: Father. Double bonus plus- Freshney and Steen’s backup story is a great, light counterpart to the heavier main story. I want an iFrog.

Adan: This is the first time I’ve ever read Elephantmen, and I’ve got to disagree with the Coach. It did not feel like it was packed with “loads of extras and bonus material.” The main story was too short and not enough story for my tastes, and the back-up feature did not sufficiently cover for the main story’s length issues as it was shorter and lighter. And frankly, if you want to do interviews, then start a magazine. That said, the two stories, short as they were, were actually quite good. I am very intrigued by this future world of these Elephantmen (even though that seems like a misnomer seeing as how one of them is a hippo and another is a zebra). If the trades don’t skimp on the story for the price they’re asking, then I’ll pick them up, but I cannot see myself buying this book for three bucks on a monthly basis.

Fantastic Four #544

Brendan: Hey kids, look! The Fantastic Four finally complied with Initiative Affirmative Action! The king and queen of Wakanda are temporarily homeless, so while Reed and Sue go to work out their many obvious issues, Marvel’s new hottest couple steps in to help fill the gap. It isn’t the most plausible explanation for the obvious marketing stunt, but McDuffie makes it so it isn’t a huge distraction. Making good on the promise at the end of the Beyond! miniseries, a cybernetic-free Deathlok shows up and alerts the FF of the desecration of Gravity’s grave. New penciler Paul Pelletier doesn’t stun this issue, but doesn’t drop the ball either. This issue was passable, which is pretty unacceptable for a book with such a large marketing push.

Adan: Actually, I’m quite impressed with McDuffie’s handling of T’Challa and Ororo. He writes them better than Hudlin ever has (read Black Panther #26, also out this week, if you don’t believe me). The Panther has a Batman-level intellect, and he shows a small portion of it here that he hasn’t shown since Johns’ Avengers run or Priest’s Black Panther run. Ororo as well, is treated as more than window dressing or merely the undercard for whatever the Panther might be doing. They also seem to be integrated into the team in a believable way, with Ben sarcastically quipping every time T’Challa or Ororo do something not to his liking. And speaking of Ben, he gets the funniest line of the issue, and it’d be a shame for you to miss it. As for the art, Brendan is right: it’s merely passable.

Gamekeeper #1

Brendan: I don’t know how to feel about the “Director’s Cut” series from Virgin Comics. While it’s cool to see guys like John Woo and Guy Ritchie attached to these books, I don’t know how involved they are with the creation or execution of the book, other than a likelihood that they would be attached to any film that would follow the projects. Guy Ritchie’s Gamekeeper is an easy, fun action story. The art is standout, as Mukesh Singh’s tight pencil work and lush color selection make each page jump. While the story is good enough to finish reading, it lacks any original angle to make it more than forgettable. I liked the issue, but it seems like we’re going to see the same old story of a man with nothing to lose taking on all comers. I guess what this book proves to me is that you can have pretty artwork, and a story that keeps the pages turning, but that may not be enough. There needs to be a specific reason to tell the story in a comicbook, and this book seemed pretty much like the first act of every action film I’ve ever seen.

Adan: Andy Diggle can seemingly write any damn thing under the sun. Sci-fi action-adventure space romp? Read Adam Strange: Planet Heist. Spy thriller with a little crime-noir thrown in? Read The Losers. Futuristic Japanese fantasy? Read Silent Dragon. Supernatural horror with social conscience? Read Hellblazer. And now, the man will write an action-thriller in the vein of Guy Ritchie’s seminal British gang films. What’s not to like? The only thing I’m worried about is that perhaps these guys put everything in this first issue. It doesn’t just seem like the first act of an action film, it seems like everything but the climactic ending. I fear for possible pacing problems in the future.

Green Lantern #18

Brendan: I have yet to see art in Green Lantern that is really bad. From the launch with Carlos Pacheco, to Rebirth’s Van Sciver, Simone Bianchi, and the consistently stellar Ivan Reis, the bar has remained high. Thus, I was excited to see Daniel Acuna handling this issue, since while I skipped his Uncle Sam series, was only really exposed to his great JLA covers. I didn’t want to be disappointed, and yet I was. Johns’ continues to redefine GL’s rogues, this time taking on Star Sapphire. The Corps Green Lantern and Sinestro deal in fear, and so it seems that Sapphire’s emotional weapon of choice is desire. This is a simple enough leap that it fits in with this new Lantern mythos.

This issue was too short!! Three panels a page does not a comic make! I don’t know if Johns’ was padding this issue to stretch it to a two-parter, or Acuna just can’t pack a page, but either way it fell flat for me. I really like the look of Acuna, and he could end up being big, but comics need to be able to fit more into single issues.

A saving grace of this issue was the first installment of the Tales of the Sinestro Corps. Despotellis Spreads Fear is a story that takes its structure and intent from the Alan Moore classic Mogo Doesn’t Socialize, but is original enough to be more than a story swipe. I definitely look forward to learning more about those who spread fear throughout the universe.

Adan: I almost didn’t even care about the main story here because I also do not enjoy Acuna’s art. I kind of rushed through the main story (Carol flies, Jordan macks on Cowgirl, and the Star Sapphire shows up, whatever) to get to the back-up because that’s where it’s at, and oh man was I right. Despotellis is a fantastic character and if the other Sinestro Corps recruits are half as original or interesting, then these guys are going to fucking rock. I just need the main story to be good too so that I’m not paying three bucks for six pages worth of awesome, and sixteen pages worth of suck.

Texas Strangers #1

Brendan: Texas Strangers is a book that seems to try and do too many things. Blending genres, in this case Western and fantasy, is a great idea, but tricky in its execution. I will admit that the book lost me from the very first page, when it asked I read a text piece of exposition just to understand the world the book inhabits. This is a comic book, dammit, why tell me when you can show me the damn history! Have an elder tell the twin leads about the way the world got this way, or even break the fourth wall and have him explain it to us, and use some cool visual tricks to get the job done. Don’t take your audience for granted, especially if you are asking them to invest in a world not only one, but two degrees removed from their own. Instead, the book opens like a second chapter, assuming we already give a fuck about any of it. Also, it seemed as though this book was meant to be funny. Perhaps this was only my own preconceived notion, as it is made to seem like an all-ages book, and all-ages often means humor. Well, if you’re going to try and be funny, be funny. Don’t be brutally not funny. That isn’t funny at all. I ain’t laughing. The animation style art was fine, and I will admit it was cool seeing the juxtaposition of orcs and cowboys, but tricks wear thin. I would venture to say that this book could have read a lot better as a graphic novel length digest. If there was some space to explore how the world got the way it did, and even just a few laugh out loud moments, the book could have been saved. But it is most assuredly not worth waiting another month to find out what happens next.

Adan: Harsh, Coach. There isn’t going to be an explanation as to how the world “got this way” because the world’s always been like this. And this is a kids book, so there isn’t going to be some fancy-schmancy way of telling the audience why things are the way they are. I’m not saying kids are dumb or anything, but the simpler the better, you know? There’s no reason to waste an entire arc on exposition when you can just sum it up with a map and a small paragraph. Boom, you’re in. And all-ages does not mean funny, it merely means safe for kids, and there are precious few comics like that left in the world. This is safe for your kids and it’s a good, action-filled story full of magic and monsters, as well as cowboys and Indians, albeit Elven and Ogre-ish ones.

However, what’s up with making the Mexicans all evil and teaming them up with Orcs? What are you trying to say, Antony Johnston and Dan Evans III? We’re aggressive, are we? Our allies are barbaric, are they? I’m coming to your houses, breaking your TVs, and eating your microwave dinners. Call me aggressive and barbaric…

Unique #1

Brendan: Unique is probably a great read if you’re really into accounting. The first 25 pages will be great if you can’t leave the house in the morning without a steaming cup of coffee and a TPS report. Also, the art is consistent and it could even be said makes for good, clear storytelling. But this would require a good, clear story. And all of the sudden I’m out of nice things to say about Unique. Convoluted, wordy, and boring, this is the story of a confused dude who thinks he may be but probably isn’t crazy. And a word of advice, don’t leave the audience as confused and in the dark as your protagonist, they will likely stop caring. If you are really looking for a cool story about the space between us and parallel worlds, do yourself a favor and buy Borrowed Time by Oni. That one doesn’t suck.

Adan: Right on all counts. I was kind of digging this book, but then it got too convoluted, wordy, and boring. I clocked right around when the one guy (I don’t know who) starts explaining what parallel Earths are (see, Coach, this is what happens when you put your exposition in the actual story instead of a small paragraph on the inside front cover). You’re not doing anything for me, Platinum. Your ideas are pretty good, but your execution blows.

Wolverine #52

Brendan: Once again, I’ve been burned by Jeph Loeb. Wolverine #52 is a gorgeous piece of comic art. The aforementioned Simone Bianchi gets better with each issue he completes. Each page is constructed with care and ingenuity. His creative paneling manages to serve the story and avoid distraction. There is a ferocity to his characters that completely match not only Wolverine and Sabretooth, but also the surprise guest star.

And yet, the book lacks. Surprising no one, Loeb again overuses inner monologue captions to distract from the fact that nothing is happening. Actually, I always had issues with Wolverine’s constant monologuing; isn’t Logan the type of guy who thinks to himself very little, instead just acting and reacting? Isn’t that what makes him the best there is at what he does? I also wonder about the intent of this story and title. Isn’t there already an entire title dedicated to Wolverine’s origin? It was my understanding that Wolverine: Origins existed to explore the past life of the Canuck, and the “proper” title would push his adventures forward. Discounting the fact that the flashbacks in this book seem to have more in common with Bill Jemas’ Marville title than Paul Jenkins’ Origin, the most confusing point in the book came when Sabretooth finished a sentence that he began sometime in Wolverine’s flashback. Beautiful inkwashes and coloring aside, I give this a hearty “meh.”

Adan: It really says something that Brendan has to compare this book to three of the worst comics in recent memory: Origin, Marville, and Wolverine: Origins. This story is stupid and meandering and doesn’t make any goddamn sense, and oh yeah, is going nowhere. It’s been three issues and what exactly has happened? Wolverine had flashbacks and he and Sabretooth went on a plane ride. At least they weren’t in the Blackbird for four issues. That would have been excruciatingly worse. And what is it with these TV and film writers going to comics and not giving it their all? Heinberg’s Wonder Woman isn’t done, Loeb’s Wolverine blows, Lindelof’s Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk is stuck in some God-forsaken limbo, and “Hollywood” Frank Miller’s All Star Batman has been garbage since day one (although that 300 movie sure was fantastic). Bring your A-game or don’t show up at all.

And Others…

Adan: Did you all watch the Battlestar Galactica season finale? What the fuck!?