Bane Conquest #2

   As a long-time Batman fan, the Bane Conquest series from DC is like a breath of fresh air.

   There are several reasons for that.

   First, it's loaded with action and intrigue, as the powerful and ruthless Bane finds himself imprisoned in an escape-proof jail, trapped with his most capable enemy (you'll have little difficulty figuring out who that might be).

   Second, it offers some rare flashes of Bane's earlier years - and some of the formative moments that made him into the force of nature he is now.

   Third, it's drawn by Graham Nolan, one of the co-creators of Bane, and he turns in amazing work here - powerful layouts, terrific actions sequences, and striking character designs.

   Finally, it's written by Chuck Dixon (another co-creator), who was born to write these kind of hard-hitting, tough-as-nails, no-holds-barred tales of adventures that are also smart and a heck of a lot of fun.

   This series is further proof that quality storytelling never goes out of style. High recommended!

Grade: A

-----------------------