Bane Conquest #9 (of 12)

   It's relatively rare for a comic series to star a villain, and the typical mistake those series make is that they tend to make the villain a more sympathetic character.

   You'll get none of that in Bane Conquest, a series that gives us a central character who's a complete bad-ass.

   Bane is out to carve his own criminal empire, and he decides to take on a big target: the Kobra organization.

   To fight an army, you need an even tougher army - and this issue is all about putting the band together.

   Needless to say, Bane's recruits are a collection of the toughest, most accomplished fighters / criminals (or near-criminals) around, each one at the top of their field.

   The series reunites the Bane creative team of writer Chuck Dixon and artist Graham Nolan, and what a delight to see these consummate pros at work.

   The story continues to build with brutal efficiency - and the fun's just starting!

   I hate to see this series end - it's been a great ride!

Grade: A

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