Detective Comics #27 – Review

by John Layman, Scott Snyder, Paul Dini, Brad Meltzer, Gregg Hurwitz, Peter J. Tomasi, Jason Fabok, Neal Adams, Dustin Nguyen, Guillem March, Bryan Hitch, and Sean Murphy

The Bat-Man, a mysterious and adventurous figure, fighting for righteousness and apprehending the wrong doer, in his lone battle against the evil forces of society…

Giant anniversary issues like this are always interesting to dissect. What’s the best use of all those pages? Will it connect to current storylines, or should it serve as a celebration of the character’s history? This behemoth issue tries to have its cake and eat it too, but that’s only a problem if it fails. So the question is: did it?

Let’s start at the very beginning, as I hear that that’s a very good place to start. The issue opens with a story from Brad Meltzer and Brian Hitch that goes by the highly appropriate title, “The Case of the Chemical Syndicate.” This iteration of “Chemical Syndicate” is a clever retelling of the 1939 original. Though it has been updated, it is a remarkably faithful adaptation. The major difference is the addition of Batman’s later character traits and a running commentary from the Dark Knight, himself, which would not have been possible in the original story without spoiling the surprise ending.

Though Meltzer displays an impressively economic writing style, cramming a lot into a short fifteen pages without overcluttering his story, the real meat of this story is in the narration. Basic Batman caption boxes do a fine job of showing up a mysterious and yet inexperienced version of the Caped Crusader. Meanwhile, a series of journal entries posit a number of answers to the question “why does Batman do it?” The answers are a master class in Batman, neither overglorifying the vigilante, nor digging too deep into his neuroses to appear heroic. Particularly over the last few days, I’ve been growing tired of a Batman too damaged to inspire us to anything healthy. Perhaps I’m biased by my recent musings, but I think this story navigated these dangerous waters very well.

Batman and Robin #23.1: Two-Face – Review

By: Peter J. Tomasi (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: Heads, he flips the coin.  Tails, he doesn’t.  Wait…

The Review: It’s a common premise that all of Batman’s villains to some degree represent an aspect of the Dark Knight himself.  While this argument is harder to make for some rogues than others (Orca, anyone?), it’s easiest to see Batman’s reflection in Two-Face, who clearly mirrors Batman’s duality, a man who aspires to heroism even as he’s prone to darkness.  Two-Face offers the most credible portrait of what Batman can become if he ever crosses that line.

The reverse is true as well, particularly for Two-Face.  His disfigured alter-ego may have his sadistic crazy-pants pulled up tight, but even at his worst moments, Harvey Dent retains some of that tragic nobility which also characterizes his greatest foe.  Tomasi doesn’t explore this part of the villain as much as you expect—which is surprising, given how character-oriented a writer he usually is—but in the brief vignettes of Harvey’s past we see him as he once was: a force of good so powerful that he almost had “Gotham looking like Metropolis.”

Talon #6 – Review

By: James Tynion IV & Scott Snyder (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: Even an undead assassin can’t catch a break from parental disapproval.

The Review: I really have credit to make sweeping statements about how fiction should be done, so there’s really no reason for you to take me seriously when I do.  But I’m pretty sure that if you want to have a character star in his own ongoing, you better hope readers can get some kind of attachment to that character, or at least enjoy seeing him do his thing, otherwise it’s going to be a pretty rough uphill battle for that series.  I’m ninety percent sure that’s key.

With Calvin Rose, the best thing I can say is that I don’t hate him; I just don’t like him, nor actively care about him either, really.  Now that we’re past the half-year mark on this series, that’s become a real problem.  Every issue you see Calvin sneaking through buildings, skirting death, tackling challenges, and yet you experience it all with this incurable distance.  Tynion’s never made our hero very relatable, and with his passive personality, it’s hard to buy him as a self-determined protagonist.  He’s more of a tool for better, more assertive minds to direct.

Talon #5 – Review

By: Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: Always check before you let a recently revived serial killer in.

The Review: With the cancellation of both Sword of Sorcery and Team Seven, that leaves Talon as the only “Third Wave” title left on my pull list (for better or worse, I’ve always avoided the Dan Didio-penned Phantom Stranger).  Considering that I also see Talon as a fairly uninspired series across the board, I think I can safely conclude that DC’s “Third Wave” has been the weakest set out of the new 52.

In the case of this series, it’s always suffered from a lack of originality or even freshness.  Even if you can set aside the fact that it’s mostly an attempt to strain every last drop of excitement generated by the Night of the Owls storyline, there really hasn’t been much about Talon that’s distinguished it as a must-read: the characters aren’t memorable; the plotting is thin at the best of times; and none of the concepts have been particularly thought-provoking.

Talon #4 – Review

By: James Tynion IV & Scott Snyder (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: Calvin and Co. deal with the Gotham Butcher using some strategic running away.

The Review: One of the downsides of optimism, even the cautious kind, is you tend to run into disappointment a lot.  Case in point: I had just started to enjoy myself on this title, especially with the new team dynamics Tynion introduced in the last issue.  And just like that, with impeccable timing, he takes a lot of the things I liked and throws them out the window.  I would be upset, but by now, it just feels like my lot in life.

I don’t want to overstate my attachment to Casey’s crew of ex-assassins, but I actually liked them—as ideas.  Taking these former killers and convicts and turning them into an Ocean’s Eleven type crew, each with his or her own quirks, had a lot of potential to transform this title into something beyond a spin-off.  Tynion would’ve been smart to explore the kinds of stories he could mine out of these characters, but instead, he cuts their one on-page adventure short before you even get the full excitement out of it.

Talon #3 – Review

By: James Tynion IV & Scott Snyder (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: What is this, a meeting group for recovering assassins?

The Review: It’s funny what a difference of a few months can make.  Of the Third Wave DC titles I cover, Team Seven started with the most promise, Sword of Sorcery made a solid showing, and I had major doubts about Talon.  Now, things have upended quite nicely; Team Seven has become a title I dread reading, Sword of Sorcery continues to perform up to standard, and Talon has lately shown signs of dependable fun.

Last issue made a stronger case for a team-up between Calvin and Sebastian versus the Court, though it still left me feeling like I was reading a highly elaborate epilogue to the Night of the Owls storyline.  Here, Talon finally starts moving away from being a mere spin-off and coming into its own as an individual series.  At least, the potential for greater originality is there; we’ll see how Tynion executes as time goes on.

Talon #1 – Review

By: James Tynion IV & Scott Snyder (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: Calvin Rose faces off against the violent side of the Empty Nest Syndrome.

The Review: I wasn’t too impressed with the debut of this spin-off character, one who has the distinction of deriving from a mere storyline rather than a proper series.  I don’t think Calvin Rose even actually appeared during the “Night of the Owls.”  That makes this title probably the first in a long time I’ve seen to launch with an entirely brand-new character, or pretty close to one.  In some ways, you have to admire DC supporting a book with so little brand recognition.

But the Court of Owls arc in Batman was so popular a premise that Calvin probably benefits anyway from fans who want to see the aftermath of that storyline.  Maybe that’s why even though I’m not all that enamored of Calvin’s past and its escapist theme (escaped from dog cage, became an escape artist, escaped the Court and escaping ever since), I can muster some curiosity about his future.

Talon #0 – Review

By: James Tynion IV & Scott Snyder (story), Guillem March (art), Tomev Morey (colors)

The Story: The Court of Owls should consider putting this runaway’s face on a milk carton.

The Review: I must say, it surprises me Snyder has promoted his former pupil as obviously as he has this past year.  To me, this reeks of a kind of cronyism, and it just doesn’t seem like the best way to let someone stand on their own merits if you’re constantly hovering over their shoulder, even as a name on a co-credit.  It also doesn’t help if your mentee doesn’t demonstrate outstanding talent; Tynion didn’t make the best first impression on me with Batman Annual #1.

Still, getting such lavish support of Snyder is no easy feat, I assume, so let’s sit ourselves down and try to figure out how Tynion earned it.  From the first page, you notice right off both the teacher and student share a literary penchant for heavy narration.  While Snyder has an instinct for balancing showing versus telling, Tynion leans quite a bit more on the telling.  Calvin Rose’s monologues dominate the issue, suffocating whole panels with text.

Batman and Robin #23 – Review

By Judd Winick (writer), Guillem March (1-10) and Andrei Bressan (11-20) (art), Alex Sinclair (colors), Patrick Brosseau (letters)

The Story: Jason Todd, the Robin-turned-resurrected-homicidal-maniac, wants out of Arkham and into a general prison population. He gets his wish, and things go just about as well as you’d expect with Jason surrounded by bad guys who ‘deserve’ to die. The Dick Grayson is kept mysteriously out of the loop until it’s too late, and Todd has apparently escaped (…with some help from a new set of friends.)
What’s Good: Jason Todd, while not as flashy as a Joker or Riddler, has been a fantastic Bat-villain since his inception and is one of my own personal favorites. His very direct connection to Batman makes him an excellent foe to bring out when a writer wishes to give the Dark Knight and emotional challenge to overcome. Of course, Todd’s most personal connection is to Bruce Wayne, so I was quite curious to see how undisputed Jason Todd master Judd Winick would handle the relationship between Todd and Dick Grayson’s new Batman.

This is actually subverted in the beginning of the book by having Bruce’s Batman be the one to initially confront Todd in Arkahm Asylum. Batman and Robin is Dick’s book, no question, but bringing Bruce in, at least for the storyline’s kickoff, was absolutely the right choice. Not only does it serve to remind us of Todd’s origin, it gives the scene a much stronger emotional impact. When Dick’s Batman arrives later, Todd, and his place in the story, have already been well established. The transition between the two Batmen is handled seamlessly, and is the key to accepting Todd as Grayson’s villain for this storyline.

March and Brosseau do a fantastic job on art duties. March, in particular, shows off his skill to great effect when drawing Jason Todd at the start of the book. His sly expressions, his relaxed body language all prove just how at ease Todd is, both with himself and in his environment. This is a powerful nonverbal statement, especially when contrasted with (Bruce’s) Batman’s tension and discomfort.

Batman #708 – Review

By: David Hine (writer), Guillem March (artist)

The Story: Some weird paranormal stuff is going down. Dick Grayson is having some unsettling moral side effects from a wound he got from Azrael. When the Crusader comes to the unsavory parts of Gotham, Batman has his hands full, even with the help of Red Robin and Catwoman.

What’s Good: I haven’t enjoyed March’s art before, but I don’t recall seeing him ink and color his own stuff, either, and this issue looked real good. Stylistically, I was most reminded of Craig Russell’s moody, spooky stuff. The expressions on the junky’s face and on Dick’s later on are the most striking, as well as some of the poses. I also liked March’s take on Batman’s cape and the clothing and hair on everyone, actually. March’s work is very fluid, but at the same time, this organic touch doesn’t detract from the heroism of figures. Batman is constantly larger than life and heroic, especially when checking out the damage left by Azrael. By the same token, the emaciated figure of Fireball fits the dramatic mold too, being the type of anti-hero exaggeration that sticks in your mind because of the grotesqueness of the character and situation. The color work was brighter than normal Gotham, and it succeeded in setting a different kind of tone. Dick’s false memories and the Crusader’s point of view both required a brighter kind of color style (much like White Knight is forcing in the current Batman and Robin arc) and the thematic greens and reds were very purposeful. All-in-all, beautiful visual storytelling and I am really glad I like Guillem March.

Storywise, I like the religious nutbar angle that Hine is taking here. I don’t know if this is editorially-driven, considering something similar is happening in Batman and Robin too, but I find the “moral Christian Knight” angle in this series more compelling. The imagery with Azrael and Crusader is strong and is forcing Dick into some moral territory and personal questions he doesn’t normally deal with. Heroes are often told they should do less. How often do they get told they aren’t doing enough, or haven’t taken a high enough moral ground? How often do they get questioned as to whether they are effective? It may be a question of focus (like whether Batman is an agent of individual justice or an agent of societal change), but the questions themselves are going to be fascinating to watch.

Birds of Prey #8 – Review

By Gail Simone (writer), Guillem March (artist), Nei Ruffino (colors), Travis Lanham (letters)

The Story: Canary, Dove and Blackhawk work–rather unsuccessfully–to fight off Mortis, who has been hired by Calculator to find and destroy Oracle. Elsewhere, Barbara and (Bruce’s) Batman work to put a plan into motion…a plan that quickly begins to fall apart as Mortis’ powers may prove to be too much for the Birds to handle.

What’s Good: The first issue of this arc left me feeling a little iffy, but this one has pretty much laid all those doubts to rest. A great issue that balances its (very!) large cast extremely well, and delivers on both exposition and action, all while keeping the main plot moving forward at a steady pace. That is an incredible feat of authorial prowess. On top of everything else, Simone manages to end the issue with a genuine cliffhanger. Most comics try to end on a high note of course, but very rarely is the reader left with the feeling real, genuine danger that is captured here.

To harp on the writing a little further, I absolutely love Simone’s take on Batman. Even in his own book, Batman (the REAL one–Bruce Wayne’s Batman) has become very…talkative, and open, and cosmopolitan, and just generally about as far from the lone, brooding Dark Knight as he could possibly get. Although he’s still not quite the Batman I know and love, I have a feeling that Simone’s version of Bruce’s Bat is as close as I’m going to get to my favorite version of Batman in the foreseeable future.

Batman #698 – Review

By: Tony Daniel (writer), Guillem March (artist), Tomeu Morey (inker)

The Story: Riddle Me This, Part One: Batman is called to a weird murder that doesn’t quite fit easy theories. Who shows up to help out and make suggestions? Edward Nigma. No one is comfortable with his help, but he seems to be on to something in terms of spotting a series of copycat murders. As the story goes on, it becomes increasingly clear that someone is trying to play Batman, but who is it, and will Dick get out alive?

What’s Good: Guillem and Morey draw some very evocative art. The blotches of color in the dream sequence, the scratchy darkness, the mutilated corpes and a grim-faced Batman make Gotham come to life in its lurid, creepy way. Nigma, with his stringy, greasy hair and fluid mouth fits right into the creepy. And everything is textured: the rain, the pavement, the buildings and the faces. I really enjoyed the effort the artists made to evoke this reality. At the same time, I think that Daniel offered us a typical Batman puzzle, although I had some issues.

Gotham City Sirens #4 – Review

By Paul Dini (Writer), Guillem March (Art), and Jose Villarrubia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I thought the last issue of Gotham City Sirens was the best one so far. That’s not necessarily a good thing, however, because Paul Dini didn’t write the book and the main characters were limited to about two pages. What’s that say about the strength of the concept?

The Story: Harley Quinn’s not in the best of positions. She’s unknowingly in the clutches of Hush and also a target of the Joker. Lucky for Harley though, she’s got some backup. She’s just not aware of it yet…

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: I know I say this in some way for every Gotham City Sirens review, but it is one seriously nice-looking series. From the dynamic scene composition (Joker’s splash page and Ivy’s plant communication scene comes to mind) and storytelling to the character work and action, Guillem March continues to impress. And thanks to Jose Villarrubia’s flawless color work, every panel looks vibrant and feels very alive.

Both March and Villarrubia do wonders for what is, in all honesty, a pretty bland script. While Paul Dini definitely gets across the characters and tells a story that’s decent enough, it all feels somewhat uninspired. That said, I do really enjoy the part where Joker and his thugs play in Gotham City Sirens #4. The thugs because of their fairly smart conversation, and Joker because of his body language (credit to Guillem March for that one) and the way he goes to some interesting lengths to bring down Harley Quinn.

It’s tough to really come down too hard on Gotham City Sirens #4 because it’s, at worst, average. The book certainly gets the job done, yet at the same time it leaves something to be desired. My hope is that eventually, Dini creates some sort of compelling hook that makes Sirens a solid part of my pull list as opposed to a book that’s making the cut solely because of the artwork.

Conclusion: Gotham City Sirens #4 delivers a lot more of the same. That’s a good thing as far as the artwork is concerned. That’s a bad thing as far as the script is concerned.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Gotham City Sirens #3 (Batman Reborn) – Review

By Scott Lobdell (Writer) and Guillem March (Art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: While the art has been fantastic, everything else about Gotham City Sirens has been, at best, average. Maybe writer Scott Lobdell can turn things around a bit..  I’m fairly certain that artist Guillem March will hold up his end of the book. Also, how stylish is that cover?

The Story: Edward Nigma, the man once known as the Riddler, finds himself trying to crack a murder case with the help of the new Batman. Meanwhile, Catwoman and Ivy begin their search for Harley.

What’s Good: For the first time in the short history of Gotham City Sirens, the writing is actually something worth talking about. Scott Lobdell’s tight one-and-done Ed Nigma story/character study is one hell of a fun, satisfying read. From the back and forth narration (and dialogue) from Nigma and Batman, to the intriguing villain with a clever name, nearly everything about Lobdell’s script just simply works extremely well.

From the excellent character work to the detailed settings, Guillem March’s art is, as expected, incredible (though some of the action is a tiny bit hard to follow). His Edward Nigma looks as shady and charismatic as the script makes him out to be, his Batman is appropriately threatening, and his cheesecake stuff is… well… they’re as expected, but always executed in a way that feels anatomically realistic (even if it is gratuitous). In short, Gotham City Sirens continues to be one great looking series. Also, for fans of cool-looking stuff, there’s another Guillem Gotham gargoyle to check out that looks even more badass than the ones featured G.C.S. #1.

What’s Not So Good: Gotham City Sirens #3 is a pretty great comic all around and easily the best issue of the series so far. There’s two major problems though. The first problem is that the titular Sirens are shown on exactly one page. What’s that say about the group of characters the series is based around? The other problem is that the main writer for the series, Paul Dini, has nothing to do with the latest issue of Gotham City Sirens. What’s that say about the writer that’s supposed to be handling the series? My opinion? I think that Lobdell should be given the reigns and Ed Nigma (The Riddler is dead) should be added to the cast permanently.

Conclusion: Even if the whole Gotham City Sirens thing isn’t up your alley, you really should take the time to check out Gotham City Sirens #3. It’s basically a great looking one-shot about a cool character.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Gotham City Sirens #2 (Batman Reborn) – Review

By Paul Dini (Writer), Guillem March (Artist), and Jose Villarubia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The first issue of G.C.S. wasn’t anything special. Guillem March’s artwork looked great, but Paul Dini’s story and dialogue left quite a bit to be desired. Things need to develop more if I’m going to be adding another ongoing to my pull-list.

The Story: Through a flashback, it’s explained how Selina can resist revealing the identity of Batman, even though she’s under Ivy’s power. Selina’s answer satisfies Ivy and Quinn enough anyway, and off goes Harley to do some shopping. She then encounters “Bruce Wayne.”

What’s Good: Once again, Guillem March and Jose Villarubia take center stage in Gotham City Sirens. Clearly, they are up to the challenge. Their fantastic work absolutely carries Gotham City Sirens #2 in nearly every way.

Guillem March brings the cheesecake, sure, but it’s very well-done cheesecake that takes into consideration things like anatomy and realism. March’s eye for detail is also noteworthy, as every flower near Ivy is given a certain amount of care and every bystander during Harley’s trip to the store really feels like a unique entity, not a faceless one. The action in Gotham City Sirens #2 is satisfying as well, especially since it flows in a way that really adds to the frantic pace of the Bruce Wayne kidnapping. As for the opening flashback? Visually, it’s executed damn near perfectly. It’s trippy, creepy, and just the right kind of weird thanks to March’s surreal imagery.

Jose Villarubia’s color work makes March’s impressive artwork look even better. Villarubia truly shines during the moody, dark scenes taking place inside of Selina’s head. That said, special mention must also be made of the more colorful scenes as well. Vibrant, sunny, and full of life, Villarubia really takes March’s work to another level.

What’s Not So Good: The writing in Gotham City Sirens #2 is passable, but weak. It certainly isn’t bad, but I have yet to truly get hooked on the story Paul Dini is trying to tell. He’s giving Sirens a solid foundation, but nothing about the foundation ever really rises above average and generic. Simply put, March and Villarubia deserve something better to work with.

Conclusion: Pick Gotham City Sirens #2 up for the artwork. The story is nothing special.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Gotham City Sirens #1 (Batman: Reborn) – Review

By Paul Dini (Writer), Guillem March (Art), and Jose Villarubia (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I decided to check out the first issue of Gotham City Sirens after hearing nothing but good things about Guillem March’s art. While I’m far from familiar with the current status quo of the three Sirens, my hope is that Paul Dini will provide the necessary “#1” information to keep me from feeling lost.

The Story: Catwoman has a run in with new Gotham thug Boneblaster and finds herself overwhelmed. Luckily, Poison Ivy is in the area to make the save. Ivy and Catwoman go back to Riddler’s place (where Ivy has been staying) where they are soon joined by Harley Quinn. The three ladies catch up and form an alliance…

What’s Good and What’s Not So Good: I picked up Gotham City Sirens #1 for the artwork and Guillem March’s work does not disappoint. While it’s heavy on cheesecake (Zatana in bondage, Quinn as a naughty schoolgirl, Ivy…being Ivy, etc.), it’s also very stylish (March’s gargoyles look AWESOME) and full of impressive details. My only complaint about the visuals is that, from time to time, March gives characters little more than the most of basic facial features.

The script for the debut of Gotham City Sirens is pretty disappointing. While I can’t, in good conscience, knock it for relying on continuity a bit more than I had expected (considering the book is labeled as a #1 issue), I can knock it for being rather bland, formulaic, and completely average. The characters and their relationships are defined well enough (translation: there’s decent banter and exposition that works), but there isn’t any real plot hook that makes me interested in reading the series for the long term. That said, the ending of G.C.S. #1 is intriguing enough to keep me reading for at least another issue or two in order to see if Dini can improve things enough to keep me around.

Conclusion: Gotham City Sirens #1 isn’t bad, but it isn’t all that good either. Guillem March’s work is the obvious highlight, but nice artwork can only take a series so far. Paul Dini’s got a solid concept to work with. Now he just has to do something interesting with it.

Grade: C

-Kyle Posluszny

The Joker’s Asylum: Poison Ivy

JT Krul (writer), Guillem March (art and cover), Rob Leigh (letters)

I’m a person who likes consistency in my life. Without consistency in comics there’s no way to tell in advance how you’ll feel from one issue to the next. This series is a collection of one shots, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating for readers. In spite of that, this is one of few mini-series that somehow improves each week.

JT Krul paints quite a picture of Poison Ivy. The retelling of her origin isn’t forced and isn’t intrusive for vets, yet is very clear for the newcomers. As an Ivy story, it’s more of the same (people who hurt Mother Earth must die) but its tone and style feels very fresh. The way sadistic ways she goes about killing these guys (especially the last one) actually makes me feel sorry for them. Another impressive thing about Krul’s work is how much he makes you root for Ivy. Maybe I’m sick in the head, but I really wanted her to get rid of these guys. It may be a lesser of two evils, but then again, I may have a thing for green-skinned redheads. Either way, Ivy makes for a pretty compelling protagonist and that’s a tribute to Krul as a writer.

Guillem March’s art is every bit as good as Krul’s writing. Ivy is drawn perfectly, she’s sexy, and has enough danger to be inviting, but not offsetting. Another testament to March is his panels of Gordon and Batman. Each show someone who’s seasoned, but not old (a common mistake) in glorious detail. An interesting style choice was how different The Joker was drawn from everyone else. It’s so different I thought a different artist was drawing him; March’s pencils do a good job of illustrating his insanity. The downside is it doesn’t really fit with the rest of the book.

Consistency may be hard to find in weekly comics, but there are a few elements to this series that carry through. Batman has a small roll in each, keeping the focus on the villains. Even though we get a new look and writing style each week, the overall tone has remained constant and hopefully that can carry through with the series soon wrapping up. (Grade: B)

– Ben Berger