Batman/Superman #9 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Some memories are repressed for a reason.

The Review: I feel bad for writers who do the true crossover storyline, where the plot actually advances through alternating books. Not only do the writers have the challenge of crafting a cohesive story across multiple series and issues, since they have no guarantee that a reader will go out of his way to pick up all the participating titles—ahem, like me—they’ve got to make what’s happening in their individual series coherent on their own as well. Talk about patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time.

To his credit, Pak manages to achieve this balancing act, though he reduces the plot to a trickle to do it. If it wasn’t for the fact that our paired-off heroes have switched partners since the last time you saw them, you’d be forgiven for believing there hasn’t been an intervening chapter since then at all. To sum up, our quartet is still in New Gammora, Clark and Karen are still out of control, and we still don’t really know what’s going on, even after reading through this issue.

Batman/Superman Annual #1 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Kenneth Rocafort (art), June Chung & Nei Ruffino (colors)

The Story: Can anyone really bring peace to Warworld?

The Review: It’s a touch unusual, some might say arrogant, for a series to put out an annual before it actually reaches a year’s worth of issues, but then again, what does Batman/Superman have to worry about?  It’s a title starring Batman and Superman, for crying out loud.  I suspect it could be written and drawn by a grade-schooler and still sell more copies than, Swamp Thing, Astro City, or Fatale.  So what the heck—let’s have an annual four months early.

But you know, had Pak taken those four months (or had his DC superiors allowed him to), maybe he could have delivered a better crafted annual, because this one reads like it was pushed out the door four months prematurely.  Here’s the scenario: after Mongul’s imprisonment in the Phantom Zone, his son Jochi appears, with Warworld behind him, ready to challenge the men that defeat his father and demanding they bring two members of their family to assist.  The premise is fine; it’s everything that comes after that feels messy and not very well thought out.

Batman/Superman #8 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Which World’s Finest is the finest?

The Review: The Earth-2 arc that led off this series was a strong storyline whose promise was nearly ruined by the following arc that turned Batman and Superman into living avatars controlled by the collective nerd-rage of a host of gamers.  Returning to Earth-2 is thus a wise decision on Pak’s part.  It reminds discouraged fans of what made this title initially attractive, and it pairs this World’s Finest with that of another world, making for a mighty fine foursome.

I don’t know how Paul Levitz will handle the Batman, Superman, Power Girl, Huntress dynamic in coming chapters of this storyline,* but Pak gives them an endearing chemistry, surprisingly devoid of the misunderstandings that plague encounters between people of different worlds.  Even Batman discovers, to his slight horror, “In my heart, I believe every word [Huntress] says[.]”  This immediate trust lets Pak bypass obligatory conflicts to focus on the story at hand.

Batman/Superman #4 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Ben Oliver (art), June Chung & Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Batman vs. Batman vs. Superman vs. Superman.  And Wonder Woman…

The Review: There are certain tropes that most comic book writers, especially the ones who make their living from the superhero genre, end up using (and re-using) at some point in their careers: the tragic loss of a loved one; the vendetta that pits a hero’s morals against his sense of justice; a character’s greatest doubts and fears manifesting in a psychic/magical/spiritual delusion.  As overdone as these scenarios are, writers never seem to tire of them.

As someone who reads comics for a living,* I can’t say I enjoy any of these plot devices very much, but my least favorite has to be the obligatory battle that ensues whenever two heroes meet.  The fights and preceding conflicts always seem contrived, no matter the context: alt-universe counterparts, time-traveling doppelgangers, or the simple meeting of two characters who don’t usually share the same title.  In Batman/Superman’s first arc, we’ve ended up with all three.

Batman/Superman #3 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Yildiray Cinar (art), June Chung, Matt Yackey, John Kalisz (colors)

The Story: Clark and Bruce, best buds forever—until they try to kill each other, that is.

The Review: Never let it be said that Pak doesn’t know how to make lemons into lemonade.  Getting handed a title starring DC’s two biggest icons is hardly comparable to lemons, of course, but the point is Pak knows how to make the best use of what he has.  Your average writer might have chosen a more down-key story for his first arc, but right out the gate, Pak has written Batman/Superman like the boy who decides to play with the most expensive toys all at once.

As if having the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel at his beck and call isn’t enough, Pak has added on their superior counterparts from Earth-2, Wonder Woman, and now the biggest baddie of the DCU.  Needless to say, this arc is turning out to have far greater reach than anyone expected, though much of its grandstanding is constrained by one fact: the fate of Earth-2, in particular its trinity of Wonders, is a foregone conclusion.  That knowledge steals a lot of the tension away from the plot, though it retains most of its interest.

Batman/Superman #2 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Sometimes it feels like your younger self is like a person from another planet.

The Review: Even though the first issue was a bit thin story-wise, Pak took some unusual directions in both the plot and characters that still worked.  With that tentative first step out of the way, Pak lengthens his stride on this second issue, settling upon a surprisingly comfortable and engaging pace.  He has a great instinct for moving from a burst of action to a touch of exposition, from letting characters mull on their own to weaving them together.

It’s that last point where Pak reveals his craft.  Instead of throwing everyone into the story all at once, he methodically cues each one’s entrance at just the right moment in the action, where their presence would best invigorate the scene.  In steady order we get introduced to our villain, our dual heroes, our heroes’ doubles, their doubles’ wives, and several other important figures along the way.  For all that, the issue never feels crowded; each character appears just long enough to keep the story clipping forward, like a highly trained relay team.

Batman/Superman #1 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Ben Oliver (art), June Chung & Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Batman and Superman bond over their blind spots with kids.

The Review: I don’t know which genius came up with the idea of writing DC’s two biggest icons together, nor do I know the context, but it’s safe to say that he probably had no clue how writers since then would run away with the pairing.  Certainly he couldn’t predict that Batman-Superman adventures would eventually become less a contrast of skill sets and personalities, but one of moral ideology.

That’s what really sets the Batman-Superman relationship apart from all other superhero pairs.  Because both characters represent much more than the sum of their physical or personal traits, they’re perfect for exploring some of the more interesting philosophical dichotomies.  Pak taps into this material very quickly in this issue, which immediately sets Batman/Superman apart from its eventful but relatively meaningless predecessor Superman/Batman.*

Dark Tower: Fall Of Gilead #1 – Review

By Stephen King (creator), Peter David and Robin Furth (writing), Richard Isanove (parts), Dean White (color assists).

The Story: It’s the beginning of the end of Gilead as Farson’s forces, headed by the evil wizard Martin, have make their move against the Gunslingers. Roland deals with the realization of the matricide he has committed, while Cort makes a fatal stumble into one of Martin’s traps.

What’s Good: This is a “professional” comic, meaning, that there is an A list team onboard with experienced editors that have clearly worked out every nuance of this comic long before it has hit the shelves. Additionally, it is hard to go wrong with adapting an already legendary story, such as Stephen King’s Dark Tower. All that being said, this comic still rocks in and of itself.  It is masterfully written and conceived. Many scenes, especially with Roland and his mother, are unforgettable.

As always in the Dark Tower series, the art is beautiful. I’m not convinced that nothing is lost from the lack of Jae Lee on this arc, but Richard Isanove does a yeoman’s job filling in. His designs are very detailed and impactual. Roland’s expressions and overall  countenance are stark and powerful. You feel his horror and grief as wakes up to the reality of the murder he has committed.

What’s Not So Good: Well, Jae Lee is Jae Lee and him not doing pencils hurts this issue. Also, this issue veers away from Roland’s journey and basically just rehashes what we saw in the last issue of Treachery and in the Wizard one-shot. There is a lot of story to tell and spending a whole issue to get to one scene where Steven confronts Roland, is a bit wasteful. However, to be honest, I am nitpicking in finding things not to like in this issue as it mostly superb.

Conclusion: If you’re not reading this series, I recommend going out and getting the trades and jumping on board. With the exception of this not being a new creation, the Dark Tower series is comic book creating at its finest. I came to the Dark Tower series late and had to play catch-up, but it quickly became apparent to me that all the praise and rave reviews of this series is well warranted. The Fall of Gilead looks to be as strong as the previous installments. Whether it holds up the first arc, A Gunslinger is Born, is yet to be revealed, but I think it has the potential. I almost hate buying this series in single issue as it is very hard to wait to the next installment.

One last praise: Because of the extremely well crafted writing and gorgeous art, the Dark Tower series is, to me, highly re-readable. And this is what I ask for in a comic, the fact that it can be and needs to be visited again and again, rather than just a one and done like most titles on the shelf. Highly recommended!

Question for readers of the Dark Tower novels and comics: Would you want to see a comic adaptation of Roland’s adventures post-Gilead, i.e., his journey to the Dark Tower?

Grade: B+

-Rob G

Dead Irons #1 – Review

By James Kuhoric (writer), Jason Shawn Alexander (artist), Jae Lee (cover artist & character design)

The Story: What is the story?  I’ve read this issue twice now and can safely say that it does little more than barely introduce the Irons siblings, supernatural bounty hunters in the Old West who are just as happy killing the townsfolk they encounter in their travels as they are the bounties they pursue.

The Good: Jae Lee’s cover is wonderfully morbid and evocative, and I’m sorry to say it totally sold me on the issue in the first place.  Alexander’s art is clearly influenced by Lee’s, who also serves as Art Director for the title, and is heavily saturated in scratchy inks and shadows.  It’s a great style for this kind of story though, and one of this issue’s few redeeming qualities.

The Not So Good: Kuhoric’s script here is a confused mess of disconnected scenes that suggest the idea of a story without actually telling one.  The dialogue is a melodramatic nightmare that had me groaning as hard as I was laughing.  For example, take this passage from the first page: “Pain.  It’s the only thing in this world you can count on.  We’re born in pain.  Suffer with it every day on this land.  And die in it.  If we’re lucky, the pain leading us to death is brief and not an extended agony.”  What!?  Who talks like that?  Hard to say, as Kuhoric never even introduces his characters.  The whole issue is full of these moments, and while I’m sure Kuhoric is taking his story quite seriously, it’s that same emo streak that comes off looking ridiculous.

Conclusion: A moody, pretentious first issue that goes to great lengths to convince you how dark and serious it’s going to be, but forgets to be entertaining in the process.  You don’t need this.

Grade:  D

-Tony Rakittke