The Pull List: Feb. 19th

This week we have two comics that both ended their current arc. Wrapping up a story is make-or-break, and I’ll analyze how well each issue performed.

Batman and Two-Face #28 by: Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, and Mick Gray

3 stars

With two big reveals, “Batman and Two-Face” #28 should have been a smash, but instead ends with an awkward close.

The book opens with Batman racing to free a captured Two-Face who is about to be assassinated on live TV by the Irish mob. Three villain cameos by Penguin, Man-Bat, and Killer Croc, who are watching the program, add a nice flavor to the story as it begins.

Before McKillen can play any role in this issue, Batman ejects her from the Batmobile and she is captured by the police to be barely seen again. Two-Face and her differences remain unresolved.

The first reveal that we learn, as Batman and Two-Face are having their little chat in the middle of a firefight, is that Two-Face has known Batman’s identity all along. “If YOU only KNEW the battles I’ve fought in MY head to keep you alive these last few years,” he explains to Bruce. This is a nice touch on the character to show how Harvey has been sticking up for Bruce all these years. But is still seems a little shallow, because Two-Face has always tried to kill him anyway.

Gordon and Two-Face have their confrontation later—which is very “Dark Knight”-esque. I have to give credit to colorist for the way the panels jump back and forth between red and blue with the cop-car lights. It displays the duality of the character in a very physical way.

The throwback scene at Wayne Manor was a little too sentimental to me, and didn’t add anything to the plot. It only showed that Bruce is a “really nice guy,” because he introduced Harvey to Gilda all those years ago.

Erin McKillen is an interesting character. She has minor scarring from acid, and because she was a former twin she recognizes duality similar to Two-Face. And even more similiar, as she makes it very clear in prison, is that she has chosen the side of evil. I enjoyed her character despite her being rather two-dimensional (she is always overly angry and rude), and I am excited to see more of her.

The final scene with Harvey was excellent, but where did this come from?!?! I am so skeptical by comic-book deaths, that I wish creators would just stop doing them altogether. There is not a shred of doubt in my mind that editorial will bring this character back within the next two-years, and that is a shame. “He didn’t shoot himself in the head as the panel implied, he shot a hole in his hand to further disfigure himself to complete his transformation,” they’ll explain.

Patrick Gleason’s artwork remains the main aspect that keeps me coming back to this book. Despite my love for his dark cartoony-realism and harsh shadows, I do find some of his layouts to be awkward and confusing. On page three there is a wide panel that is only about half an inch high, that communicates three things: Batman driving up to the film studio, Batman ejecting from his car to fly towards the studio, and Batman blowing a hole into the side of the building (for his entrance). This is a little much for such a tiny panel, and I had to flip back to study it when I realized that I had no idea how Batman ended up where he was next panel.

There were multiple instances of shaky panel movement. Gleason’s art is fantastic to see, but he needs to make sure that he connects all of the dots along the way. Even one misstep in panel continuity is very dire.

The issue was a nice read, but ultimately did not serve as a satisfying conclusion.

Quantum and Woody! #8 by: James Asmus, Ming Doyle, and Jordie Bellaire

4 stars

This issue wraps up the arc with a smooth finish and lots of dialogue.

“Quantum and Woody!” #8 is a very text heavy issue. The banter back and forth between each character is so rich and funny though, that it never feels over-done or too heavy-handed.

This issue finds Quantum and Woody in the position of defending a group of white supremacists. This is only because the government organization attacking them is attempting to frame them for terrorism so that they can reap the rewards (only in this book). It is an even more funny situation, because the people love Quantum as a hero, but are not as big of fans now that they realize that he is black.

The part that I enjoyed most is the moment of humanity for the ever-joking Woody. In this issue he realizes that he is in fact a hero to certain people. This adds a bit of depth to his snarky personality, and lets you know that he won’t (always) let his half-brother down. As he charges into battle, he exclaims, “Well, too bad for them. Because I’m a %#@%&$ Super—“ right before he gets smashed to a pulp by mercenaries.

The book is written very well, and the art and colors are delivered with excellent skill. Jordie Bellaire is my colorist hero right now and she knows exactly how to set the tone for a book. The sketchy cartoony lines from Ming Doyle only add to the comedy.

In the end, we find that the boys are getting a new HQ, thanks to Woody’s girlfriend (also a clone of one of their villains). I look forward to the future for this great Super-Hero comedy.

Final note: throughout this arc, there have been flashes of a new villain that I don’t quite understand. The book has not done a good enough job of connecting this together so that the reader stays engaged with this off-panel menace. For instance, on this final page, a fax goes off to reveal a evil looking Cyborg-esque robot character named Max-Beta. I have no idea how this is connected to anything.

We shall see what happens in the coming months, but until then, “Quantum and Woody!” stays on my pull list, and it is with enthusiasm that I wait for “Goat #0”.

Comics I’m Reading: And You Should Too

Ask any comic book fan what books you should be currently reading, and you will hear the same answers all around: “Daredevil,” “Saga,” and “Hawkeye.” All excellent books no doubt, but I’m going to give you a peak into what I think are the best books on the stands today. Take note that I am a massive fan of the Super-Hero genre, so you will not find many indie books here.

Batman and Robin by: Peter J. Tomasi & Patrick Gleason

Although the Robin this book refers to, Damian son of Bruce, died over eight months ago, “Batman and Robin” continues to tell some of the best Batman stories on the shelves.

In the wake of Damian’s death, fans were left wondering about the future of this book. It picked up as a five stages of grief story for Batman as he teamed up with a member of the Bat-Family each month for a grief filled one-shot. However, a thread started to make itself known when Carey Kelley (famed female Robin from Frank Miller’s classic Dark Knight Returns) was introduced into DC continuity. The full implications of this character, and her relation to Damian are yet to be fully revealed.

The books current incarnation, “Batman and Two-Face,” describes a new Two-Face origin with members of Gotham’s Irish Mafia. Aquaman is scheduled to be the next team up for Batman in this book. The future is exciting, and we’ll keep our fingers crossed that a new Robin will be introduced sometime in the near future.

One of the main things that keeps me coming back to this book is the fine art by Patrick Gleason. His panels are incredibly dark, without being gritty; there is still a light cartoony side to his characters. Mick Gray is hands down Gleason’s best inker, delivering crisp lines that showcase the nuances of Gleason’s line-work.

 Pretty Deadly by: Kelly Sue DeConnick & Emma Rios

“Pretty Deadly” is the story of Death’s Daughter attempting to get vengeance in the mythic wild west… I think. Or maybe she is the bad guy. I’m just now, at issue three, beginning to think that I’m getting a handle on what is going on, but really I have no idea.

This book is less about a clear cut story and more about a world that both writer and artist are doing an amazing job immersing their readers in. I say mythic wild west, because there is an air of magic to this book. Talking crows, animal named character, a dead bunny made of bones, etc. The tapestry is rich, and only gets richer as stories within stories are unfolded.

The clear highlight of this book is the art. There is an anime quality to it, that I don’t really find anywhere else. The characters have such original designs, and the panel movement is extremely fluid. It is worth noting Jordie Bellaire’s color work that adds a lot to bringing this book to life before your eyes.

 Quantum and Woody! by: James Asmus and Ming Doyle

“Quantum and Woddy!” might be my favorite Super-Hero book out, and it’s a comedy book. I haven’t laughed this hard at a comic since “Scott Pilgrim.”

“Quantum and Woody” is the story of two super powered step-brothers who couldn’t be more different. The catch is that they must clack their gold wristbands together once a day or they become vaporized, so being apart isn’t much of an option.

This book is witty as hell, and contains hilarious scenarios which poke fun at the superhero genre as a whole.

This is my number one recommendation for people looking for a new book to get excited about. It is completely unlike anything else on the stands today.

Again, I have to shout out to Jordie Bellaire for the colors. She uses single tone color fills, without any of the modern digital shadowing or gradients used in other books. It adds a cartoony quality to the book that compounds the charm.

Jupiter’s Legacy by: Mark Millar & Frank Quitely

Although I’m not a massive fan of Mark Millar’s work, this book’s sheer inventiveness makes it a standout.

“Jupiter’s Legacy” is the story of the post-modern children of golden age superheroes. These kids are super-powered to the max, but because they reside in the shadow of their super-hero parents, they turn to sex, drugs, and fame.

This is a violent book that explores many interesting ideas about the standardized superhero world. For example, if superhero’s are so powerful, why don’t they use their superior strength and intellect to sway the leaders of the world for good? Why rescue single citizens when a global game of change could be met?

Frank Quitely’s art speaks for itself. I can stare at these pages full of inventive super-powered beings for hours. The cartoony realism matched with that slight gritty line-work has become a new standard for new artists to model after. Because of this meticulous art and Millar’s busy schedule, this book is a on a bi-monthly schedule. Arc two is scheduled for release very soon however, so get on board now!

 The Sandman Overture by: Neil Gaiman & J.H. Williams III

“The Sandman” is one of the best ongoing comics to have ever been created.  It tells the story of the Endless, beings even loftier than the gods. More specifically, it is about Dream, the endless Sandman who delivers the dreams to the sleeping. The scope and imagination of this book is profound, and its world is like no other.

Even if you don’t read comics, you’ve probably heard of Neil Gaiman. Sandman is his beginnings and in my opinion, his magnum opus. It is the book that got me hooked into comics in the first place, so you can imagine my trepidation when I heard that a prequel was announced.

My worst fears were put to rest immediately with this fantastic first issue. “The Overture” thrusts you back into Dream’s world with ease. This time, we learn that there are multiple instances of each of the seven endless across the Universe, and one of the Dreams (in the form of a flower) has died. What implications this has is your guess as good as mine.

J.H. Williams III’s artwork is some of the finest in comics today. His creative use of panels and the massive splash pages makes him the perfect match for a new Sandman story. Well done!

Superman / Wonder Woman by: Charles Soule & Tony S. Daniel

I like seeing Superman not with Louis Lane. The eventual staleness that a marriage adds to an ongoing character is unavoidable, not to mention almost impossible to end (you don’t want to have Superman go through a divorce, boring). So when DC launched the New 52, they were able to have The Man of Steel become a hip young bachelor again. And who do they pair him with, Wonder Woman of course!

“Superman/Wonder Woman” is part love story, part kick-ass action. Beings are escaping from The Phantom Zone: Doomsday, Zod, and soon Foara; and Superman takes it upon himself to do something about this while trying to protect his new love interest.

Charles Soule is a new writer on the scene that I am watching very closely, and so far I am not disappointed. Tony S. Daniels’ art is reminiscent of a 90’s superhero artist, in that he makes the characters actually look cool!!! I dug his art on Batman, and I’m excited to see his work grow with the Superman and Wonder Woman cannon of characters.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by: Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, and Mateus Santolouco

Whoa, Kevin Eastman, the original Ninja Turtles scribe and artist, is plotting the new ongoing Turtles book. Why didn’t someone tell me sooner. This book will make your inner Turtles fan giddy with excitement. The Foot, Bebop and Rocksteady, Casey Jones, Shredder, Krang, and more!

This book is fun as hell! Their world is expanding with new characters, new mutants, new weapons, and is a fun ride to be apart of. The artwork is very cartoony, and it captures the explosive movement of the Turtles as they zip around the page beating up baddies.

Pick up the rocking Kevin Eastman variant covers for a Turtle throwback. Who is your favorite Turtle?

 Action Comics by: Greg Pak & Aaron Kuder

One seems to forget that the titles of these books old books have significance. You don’t forget it when you read “Action Comics” though. This is “action” turned all the way up. Superman is facing the fallout of the monsters below the earth’s surface, that are being released into our world. It seems that a government agency is targeting him as well. Trouble on all fronts.

Lana Lang is taking up the supporting role in this book, a character we haven’t heard much from in the last decade. She knows Clarks identity, because she grew up with him, and now she is out in the world doing her science thing.

Aaron Kuder is THE artist to watch. His style is in the same school as Frank Quitely and Chris Burnham. My first exposure to him was when he wrote and drew the Parasite story for DC’s villians month. I knew I had to see what this guy was capable of when he joined Action Comics, and so far it’s an exciting ride.

 Green Arrow by: Jeff Lemire & Andrea Sorrentino

“Green Arrow” by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino takes Ollie into the dark gritty streets where he belongs. After radically switching the pace of the book, Lemire sets a new status quo by stripping the character of all that he once had. The emerald archer is forced to build himself back up as he is assaulted on all sides by a deep mysterious plot that built around his past.

“Green Arrow” is my consistently favorite superhero book. The arcs are self-contained, yet there are plot threads in place that are building to something much bigger. This book is a realistic look into an archer superhero, and it somehow makes the cheesy gimmick arrows in Ollie’s quiver seem kind of cool.

Andrea Sorrentino’s art captures movement and action in a way that I have never seen before. Panels within panels of red tinted action highlight the fast paced movement in a very clear way. Essential for a character who relies on arrows that fly faster than a still panel can usually capture. The realism of the character design harken back to the now classic Bendis/Maleev run on “Daredevil.” The grit of the streets and the dark shadows add an exciting element to the Emerald Archer.