#501 BATMAN #97 (DC Comics, late October 2020) Part Three of The Joker War. The art and eye-popping colors are really fabulous. The story is very good, with plenty of action and suspense. Bonus for me: I finally learned the name of Joker’s new partner: Punchline.
The nano-robot animated corpses attack a toxin-addled Batman in Joker’s movie theater. Punchline’s plans to ship more chemicals to the Ace plant for more Joker toxin encounter a setback. A teenage vigilante dubbed Clownkiller is doing exactly that to Joker’s minions in The Narrows. Alfred’s ghost continues to counsel Batman. There’s a lot to like here. FOUR STARS.
All it took to break my rule this time was a quick skim of the book at the comic shop. One look at Kenneth Rocafort’s art and the action scenes, and I made an impulse purchase. Plus, I usually enjoy Peter Tomasi’s work, especially his Batman stories.
The last time I saw Batman he was suffering the effects of the latest Joker toxin on his physical and mental state. So, I’m assuming this story must occur after Batman #97, because Batman is fully functional. With an assist from Batwoman they save GCPD forces from a graveyard ambush by Joker’s clowns, and then attempt a break-in at Wayne Enterprises to save Lucius Fox.
A fast-paced and fun story. There may be some significance to the ending, but no one who doesn’t read this will be lost by the main Joker War story. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#503 VENOM #25, Third Printing (Marvel, August 2020) I guess I should consider myself lucky that I found a copy of this book, originally published months ago and now in a third printing. Do I hear a fourth? Maybe so. It’s sold out now in all the shops I visit. I’ve also heard from comic shop owners during my travels that speculators (drat, not again) have been picking up multiple copies of this title. (Another reason for the scarcity).
I just had to give it a post here. I love that cover! Bonus: Mark Bagley is on art, and his work here looks better than ever. The story by Donny Cates is pretty good too.
This is the conclusion of the Venom Island storyline and the lead-in (or lead-up) to the coming of Knull, which has everybody scared shit-less, including the Avengers. It’s an oversized story in an oversized issue ($5.99). The back-up feature is a story by Venom creator David Michelinie and artist Ron Lim that is a cool blast from the past. Get this if you can. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#504 MAESTRO #1 (Marvel, October 2020) I have not been this excited about another Hulk book since IMMORTAL HULK #1 debuted. This begins the origin story of Maestro, the future version of the Hulk who’s an aging authoritarian ruler (from HULK: FUTURE IMPERFECT).
Peter David, the creator of those stories comes back to tell this one, and it’s full of drama, mystery, action and more. German Peralta’s art is stunning. I especially love his Hulk smash scenes.
The story of Maestro begins post World War II, when he still had the beard (but it was jet black, not gray) and was in confinement rather than sitting on a throne. The final panel on the last page with Maestro in a devastated Los Angeles is an absolute hoot. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#505-#513 HARLEY QUINN, VOLUME 1: HOT IN THE CITY (DC, 2014)
This collects the first nine issues of this particular iteration of Harley Quinn. While I enjoyed this, it became a bit underwhelming and less entertaining as I read this across two days. Less would probably be more. I recommend you read just two issues worth at a time, and then come back to it later. AO posted a longer review of this hardcover collection in August, which you can find in the blog archives (see right column menu). THREE STARS.
#514 SHADOW ROADS #9 (Oni Press, August 2020) The story returns after a long hiatus. It’s a bit complicated to describe the storyline in a few paragraphs. This is a weird western with magic, mysticism, creatures from the Apocalypse, other dimensions, and faerie. A cool blend of mystery and horror. I don’t recommend you pick up with this issue, as you will be lost. I do recommend seeking out Volume 1. FOUR STARS.
#515 LUDOCRATS #4 (Image Comics, August 2020) Totally ludicrous and off the wall, and I’m loving it.
Example: On Page 4, Doctor X-Position interrupts to explain that “due to a numbering error in the script, several pages have been entirely lost while being passed between the writers and the artist. As the plot has never made sense to anyone in the team, no one noticed until it was all drawn and the deadlines were pressing! Ah, the perils of collaboration!” After several more panels of detailed explanation, main character Otto declares this boring and gives the doctor a nasty chop.
There is an actual plot, and it’s not that difficult to follow along. And, for those of us who can’t get enough of the word play, there’s a funny credits page, glossary of terms, and encyclopedia excerpts in the back. As the hyper-pope says on the always amusing back cover text: “I can reveal no more. Forge onward, please! Your reading brain wishes to delve. Let it, for that brain is all that keeps you from boredom, and the pit which lies beneath.” FOUR STARS.
#516 ATLANTIS WASN’T BUILT FOR TOURISTS #1 (Scout Comics, August 2020) A sleepy little horror story that wakes up in a big way at the mid-point of Issue #1.
The sheriff of small Oregon town of Atlantis in Atlantis County has a pact with the monsters in the forest that keeps the peace. When a traveling stranger with secrets of his own arrives in town, the apple cart gets turned over. FOUR STARS.
#517 RAI #6 (Valiant Entertainment, April 2020) New story arc begins here as Rai steps into a battle between positronic Roman soldiers and huge animal-men on the ravaged Earth of the 41st century. Rather than remain with one needy group and be hailed as a savior, Rai prefers to avoid the minor skirmishes and steps aside in order to continue searching for the bigger threat - the Bloodfather = the physical manifestation of Father, the A.I. computer entity that ruled over New Japan’s floating civilIzation before it came crashing down in 4001 A.D. The art by Juan Jose Ryp is just incredible. Writer Dan Abnett is building an amazing science-fiction/fantasy world here. FOUR STARS.
#518 - #521 RAI, VOLUME 1: Welcome To New Japan (Valiant Entertainment, 2014) I like the current 2019-2020 version of Rai (by Dan Abnett) so much I wanted to revisit some of the older Rai books in my collection.
Great place to start is the 2014 re-boot written by Matt Kindt with amazing visualization by Clayton Crain (whew, some of the panels are breath-taking).
Kindt has done an amazing job building on the foundation of Rai and New Japan in the year 4001, adding complexity and depth to the original stories. Crain’s art is perfectly suited to enhance the storytelling with its sometimes fluid, sometimes erratic art and futuristic images.
FOUR STARS.
I posted a longer review on this blog in the August archives . . . . .
#522 BATMAN: THE SMILE KILLER one-shot (DC Black Label, August 2020) I love the Black Label format using magazine-sized pages for larger panels. Andrea Sorrentino’s art is expressive and dynamic. Jeff Lemire puts a different spin on his Joker: Killer Smile limited series as Batman falls under the same subconscious Joker influence as befell Dr. Arnell in that story. A young Bruce Wayne is bewitched by television show Mr. Smile's Playhouse and compelled to do wrongful acts. An adult Bruce can’t determine what is fiction and what is reality. Delicious. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#523 THE MAN WHO F#&@ED UP TIME #5 (Aftershock Comics, August 2020) I loved the wrap-up to this story. So funny and clever. All my questions were answered. Sean Bennett solves the time mystery and pulls a neat twist on his tormentors. This has a happy ending! Who says all Aftershock books are too dark and gloomy? You must not have been reading this. FIVE STARS.
#524 MILES TO GO #1 (Aftershock Comics, September 23, 2020 release date) Who doesn't want to add another edgy crime comic to their to-be-read pile? OMG! Especially after viewing that full page blast to the face!
My full pre-order preview review appeared on these blog pages for August 31. Check out the archives for the full story. FOUR STARS.
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