For the last three years I have embarked on a Comics Odyssey, reading and writing reviews of comics towards an ambitious goal which I only attained on one of three attempts. This year, I still want to read more comics and write reviews, but I’m not setting a specific goal. I’ll just document them and number them. We’ll see how far I can go . . . . . . .
#562 - #565 DAREDEVIL: BLACK ARMOR #1-#4 of 4 by D.G. Chichester and Netho Diaz (Marvel Comics, January-April 2024)
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
BACK IN BLACK! D.G. Chichester returns to Hell’s Kitchen to spin an all-new DAREDEVIL story set during his landmark run with the character. One of the MOST DANGEROUS AND NOTORIOUS VILLAINS in Marvel’s history begins kidnapping heroes and villains alike from New York, pitting them all against one another in a brutal, bareknuckle underground (literally) fight club for the amusement of the super-rich and super villainous! With a cadre of recognizable super villain lieutenants at his command, who is the mysterious force behind these disappearances? And when DAREDEVIL finds himself in the center of it all, will he have what it takes to lace up and literally fight his way back and save the city?!
This mini-series had a '90's vibe to it and reminded me of 1990's superhero comics . . . and now I know why. I had never read any of D. G. Chichester's run on the Daredevil comic during the 1990's and did not know that for a period of time Daredevil wore an armored costume. Although, not armored in the same way that Iron Man is, but rather some hard density padding in places of high impact, like shoulders, etc. The story occurs during Chichester's timeline on the title.
This reads like an action-packed, vividly illustrated comic of those earlier times. Main theme, conflict, and resolution. DAREDEVIL: BLACK ARMOR is elevated to a better-than-average ranking for me due to Chichester's writing. Now I'd like to find some of his original Daredevil stories and read them.
What made this most memorable to me were how Chichester used the flashback scenes of Matt Murdock's early days - - after first becoming blind and secretly watching his father train boxers and learning valuable lessons from doing so - - then showing how Matt used those lessons to get him through the dangerous conflicts. Heartfelt, touching, and well done, with interesting supporting characters (and villains). FOUR STARS.
#566 - #570 THE DEVIL’S RED BRIDE #1-#5 of 5 by Sebastian Girner and Jon Bivens (Vault Comics, October 2020-February 2021)
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
Both a master of the sword and a slave to it, Aragami Ketsuko cannot resist the tide of violence that would destroy her clan. Taking up her fallen father's 'Red Devil' mask, Ketsuko fights to save her people, no matter the bloody cost.
WHAT IS THE SWORD? KETSUKO CARVES HER WAY THROUGH THE WORLD IN SEARCH OF THE ANSWER.
16th century Japan. The fates of warlords ebb and flow like tides of blood, none more than the Aragami Clan who follow their lord clad in the ‘Red Devil’ mask into every battle. But when Lord Aragami succumbs to illness, his daughter, the fierce Ketsuko, hatches a plot to save her people, no matter the cost…
Years later, as Ketsuko wanders the heaving battlefields of her ruined homeland, she discovers a chance to avenge the terrible wrong done to her clan, even if it means stepping back onto a road steeped in slaughter.
A fascinating mini-series, but not without flaws. Sebastian Girner seems to have a detailed knowledge of samurai-era Japan, and incorporates many themes of the time into his story: family rivalry, disputes between clans, the role of women as tools in a male-dominated society. Add a hefty mix of political intrigue, deceit, manipulation, and trickery - - flavor with some unexpected but well-done supernatural side-plots - - making for compelling reading.
Sad to say that as ambitious as this is, it falls down somewhat in execution. The story would have benefited from a more-insightful editor providing direction. For one, the story hops around from past to present without notice, sometimes in the middle of a battle, and tends to pull me out of the story until I can sort out when the scene actually occurs.
There are plenty of twists in the story, but it would have benefited from a bit more clarity. Also, the art, while it has its moments of bloody brilliance, is uneven - - especially in the depiction of female characters who all seem to have the same face. The only way you can identify them is by their clothing or when they are addressed by name in the dialogue.
A noble effort overall, but this could have been so much more. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#571 - #576 THE BAT-MAN: FIRST KNIGHT #1 - #3 of 3 by Dan Jurgens and Mike Perkins (DC Black Label, May-July 2024)
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
The year is 1939. The world, still reeling from the horrors of the First World War, is on the brink of tipping into an even more gruesome conflict, as fascism is on the march--and gathering strength in America's darkest corners. Against this backdrop, a series of violent murders has begun in Gotham, and the recent emergence of the mysterious vigilante known as The Bat-Man has the power brokers of the city living in fear of institutional collapse.
All of the evidence in the murder investigation indicates the perpetrators are all men who died in the electric chair. But when the Bat- Man comes face to face with one of these sickening anomalies, he barely escapes with his life--throwing into question his ability to survive in a world that is brutally evolving around him! Legendary writer Dan Jurgens and superstar artist Mike Perkins return to the earliest days of the Dark Knight, retelling one of his most infamous cases through an acutely modern lens, depicting a world paralyzed by anxiety and a desperate populace crying out for release!
This is appropriately grim and dark, and has a pulpy 1930’s feel to it, thanks to some tight scripting from Dan Jurgens and authentic, detailed photo-realistic art from Mike Perkins.
Bruce Wayne is just getting started in his role as the Bat-eared vigilante. He lives alone in a big old mansion and is just beginning to develop his long-time friendship with Jim Gordon. The United States depicted here is just prior to the rise of Adolph Hitler and fascism is having a negative influence on American politics and law enforcement in Gotham is riddled with corruption. Jurgens is often hit-or-miss with me, but this one strikes the target spot-on.
I love the prestige magazine-sized format, perfect for this story. The art and colors are on best display. FOUR STARS.
#577 ‘PATRA #1 of 4 by James Robinson and Scott Kolins (Dark Horse Comics, August 2024)
The Dark Horse synopsis: “From the celebrated creators behind STARMAN and THE FLASH comes this new supernatural series about slasher monsters, mad scientists, and cult-movie-inspired horror.
A young girl named ‘Patra wakes up with no memory of her past. All she knows is that a big knife and horrific mask appear whenever she’s in danger,.n Oh, that and a deranged killer, in the tradition of slasher films, who is slaughtering families in a small Midwestern town and wants to make ‘Patra his victim too. Join us for a new series as one brave little girl faces both monstrous dangers and mysterious secrets in this homage to the classic horror movies of yore.”
Reading that synopsis it might be easy to consider this yet another homage to horror movies - - seen that and read that before, several times.
However, while that description isn’t inaccurate - - there’s a lot more going on here. The mystery is what makes this fascinating, along with the crazy killer and weird “doctor” trying to help police track him down (like Donald Pleasance in the original HALLOWEEN film). There’s more to him than what is revealed so far.
The garish and gruesome art accentuates the creepy story. I want to know what happens next. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS. I’ll probably rate this higher in future issues, once I see if ‘PATRA deserves to be elevated above standards.
#578 - #583 HIGH MOON by David Gallaher and Steve Ellis (DC Comics/Zuda Comics, 2009)
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
The horror adventure from Zudacomics.com arrives as a bound graphic novel to deliver werewolves (and a whole lot more) in the Old West.
Bounty-hunter Matthew Macgregor investigates a series of strange happenings in the dusty Texas town of Blest where drought has brought famine and hardship to most of the town and surrounding ranches. Unfortunately, that's the least of the town's worries! While the summer heat pushes the mercury toward further unbearable degrees during the day, the nights are haunted by strange, unnatural creatures roaming the darkness. Macgregor, a former Pinkerton agent, seeks to uncover the towns dark secrets and tries desperately to keep his own past, steeped in witchcraft and the supernatural, hidden.
HIGH MOON is notable for being one of the first webcomics adapted to graphic novel format (and presented in landscape format, like the original web series), as well as the winner of several awards.
HIGH MOON is a neat blend of western and horror, very ambitious with plenty of eye-candy scenes. But, it fails in execution. What starts out as a simple story deviates from the main introductions, introduces many new characters and side plots, enough to make the whole thing confusing. I began to doubt who the main character was about half-way through and couldn't determine where this was going.
I probably would have shelved this as Did-Not-FInish except the art was so compelling that I just kept going. Some editorial guidance would have helped this story and probably elevated it to a higher rating. Unfortunately, I believe subsequent editions did nothing to alter or correct and this also spawned two sequels. As much as I admire the art of Steve Ellis, I think I am done. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
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