Guest Review - The Black Bat #1

   Back with a Guest Review of a pulp revival (no relation to a certain Dark Knight) is my pal Lyle Tucker:   

   You can't keep a good bat down.

   Eighty-one years ago (1933) a character known as The Black Bat burst onto the scene in the pulp pages of a magazine - BLACK BAT DETECTIVE MAGAZINE to be exact. 

   The Bat lasted for about a year. Five years afterwards, Ned Pines introduced a second Black Bat in the pages of BLACK BOOK DETECTIVE.

   Crime-fighting District Attorney Anthony Quinn (no relation to Zorba the Greek) was blinded after having acid thrown into his face during the trial of criminal kingpin Oliver Snate (ya gotta love that name). 

   Quinn is befriended by the daughter of a dying policeman (whose corneas, transplanted into Quinn, not only allow him to see again, but also to have perfect sight in the dark). 

   Not to mention better hearing, more sensitive touch, etc, acquired from from when he was still blind. (And since this wasn't yet the '60s, no radioactive isotopes are involved)

   Now this Black Bat and the Batman we all know and love, hit the stands at roughly the same time and each accused the other of copycatting. Lawsuits were about to happen, until a senior DC editor who had once worked for Pines drew up a deal allowing both to amicably continue. 

   Visually both characters most likely took inspiration from the original 1933 Bat, so finger pointing was more than a little hypocritical. The pulp Black Bat lasted for 71 issues.

   Nedor/Standard comics (also part of Ned Pines' publishing) reconfigured The Bat as The Mask in 1940. The Mask retired in 1942.

   In 2011, Clockwork Comics introduced a fourth, updated Black Bat that lasted only one issue.

   Also in 2011, Moonstone comics showcased The Black Bat in the graphic novel “Return of the Originals.”

   Finally, in 2013, Dynamite includes The Black Bat as part of their vigilante team, Masks, and in May of 2013, THE BLACK BAT #1 comes out, written by Brian Buccellato and drawn by Ronan Cliquet.

   Our hero is still named Tony Quinn and the villain is criminal kingpin, Oliver Snate. The story's been updated to modern times, but the artwork and the coloring keep the tone set in the noir '40s. I really enjoyed this comic, especially Cliquet's art, which reminded me of a tidier Miller and Janson.

Grade: B+

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Hawkeye #15

   After a terrific run of stories, Matt Fraction and David Aja turn in an issue of Hawkeye that's merely pretty darned good.

   It does have the advantage of excellent art and a story that answers some long-simmering questions, but the answers are surprisingly... not too surprising.

   As always, there are funny bits included, as our hero gets caught with his pants down, must deal with (not evil at all) ex's, team up with his former opposite number, and face a deadly killer.

   So, just another day in the life of the Avenger who can handle super-villains with no trouble, but who struggles with the real world.

   Look, even when it's not at the top of its game, this series is far better than most comics out there.

   So forgive us poking some fun, and pick up this series. It's one of the best in the business.

Grade: A-

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Wolverine and the X-Men #42

   So here's the final issue of this series - but of course, next month brings the return of the title - and a new issue #1 of Wolverine and the X-Men.

    I can't remember another title that's been more up-and-down in terms of enjoyment. It's had some stories that were a lot of fun, and others that were just silly.

   This one leans more toward the latter, as it takes us into the future to see such events as: the graduation of the Jean Grey school's most untamable student; the ultimate fate of the school; and a peek at stories to come.

   The story is by Jason Aaron, and it has its good moments and a fair sprinkling of humor (which has been the book's most positive aspect) - but it falls short of actually providing a compelling story.

   The art is by a small army of artists - eight in all - and the results are mixed. Some are outstanding, while others are a bit flat.

   The series continues to be promising, and one of the better comics in the X-Men family - but I do wish for a bit more consistency.

Grade: B+

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Tomb Raider #1

   I should admit that I thought the original Tomb Raider video game was a lame idea - at least until I actually played it.

   The idea of a video game with a voluptuous, sexy lead character just seemed... well, pandering to the base impulses of male gamers.

   My friend Bruce bought the game and invited me to give it a try, and, despite my doubts, I must admit, I was almost immediately hooked.

   That's because, as crude as the graphics were by today's standards, it was a terrific combination of action, adventure, mystery and puzzle-solving, all tied together with an actual story and featuring a feisty, strong-willed and intelligent character, Lara Croft.

   After a lot of games starring the character (some great, some not so), last year the video games stole a page from the comics companies and rebooted the character as a young woman, just starting down the path of adventure.

   I wasn't sure it would work, but I played the game and enjoyed it a lot (though I wouldn't recommend it for young gamers - it's violent and brutal). Apparently writer Gail Simone had the same experience, because after hesitating at first, she decided to take on the assignment.

   That almost works against this series, because I'm not sure the story would stand alone if you aren't familiar with the game. It serves as a sequel to that adventure, as the surviving members of the expedition to a deadly island find that mystic forces may still be having an effect on their lives.

   The art by Nicholas Daniel Selma never quite lives up to that outstanding cover by Dan Dos Santos (or to the visuals in the game), but that's more a tribute to the graphics by the latter than a slam on the efforts by the former.

   So this series is off to a start that fans of the game may enjoy, though it's taking its time setting up the story. Non-fans might find it a bit more of a challenge to catch on, but it's a promising beginning to the new adventures of young Lara.

Grade: B+

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Fantastic Four #1

  Another month, another Fantastic Four #1.

   Following a terrific run by writer Jonathan Hickman and a run by Matt Fraction that was sometimes wonderful, sometimes not, we now turn Marvel's First Family over to writer James Robinson, whose career of late has been a bit of a mixed bag.

   But as his work on DC"s Starman demonstrated, when he connects with a series, he's capable of outstanding work.

   So I approached this series with some trepidation - and after reading the first issue, I'm still not sure which Robinson is at work here. 

   There are good moments in this issue, as we see the team taking on one of my favorite monsters, Fin Fang Foom, and settling into some "back to the basics" routines - Reed and Sue back to their loving ways, Ben seeking to renew an old relationship, and Johnny is back to his partying ways - even the FF kids are part of the mix.

   But things are not going to stay calm for long, and the foreshadowing promises dark days ahead for the team. 

   I'm not a fan of dark and gloomy, but I'm certainly interested enough to hang around and see what happens next.

   I like the art by Leonard Kirk and Karl Kesel - it's fresh and energetic, with a classic approach. 

   There are a few things I'm not crazy about. I hate the new logo on the cover - it's trying too hard to be clever. I'm not thrilled with the latest redesign of the costumes - the red will take some getting used to (but at least there are no short-sleeved shirts). And I worry that the creative team is trying too hard to get the team back to its original status - some growth can be a good thing.

   On the other hand, the team members all "feel" correct - in character and back to being a family again. We'll have to see if the comic can once again earn the classic tagline, "The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!"

   Here's hoping!

Grade: A-

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New Comics Today

   Here's what your pal Chuck picked up at the comics shop today:

- Aquaman #28 - Shark attack!

- King Conan #1 - Very happy to see this return.

- Doc Savage #3 - Amazing cover!

- Fantastic Four #1 - A new start for Marvel's First Family.

- Flash #28 - A visit from Deadman.

- Guardians of the Galaxy #12 - The Trial of Jean Grey continues.

- Hawkeye #15 - This issue comes after #16?

- Hulk #19 - Can Banner stop the madness?

- Miracleman #3 - Taking on the Kid.

- Serenity #2 - A trip to the ER is tricky in space.

- Tomb Raider #1 - Lara Croft in her own comic.

- Wolverine and X-Men #42 - That cover looks familiar, like it's from a Day from Futures Past or something.

- Worlds Finest #20 - Finally crossing over with Superman and Batman.

   And that's it!

Guest Review - The Classics - Adventures of Superman #1

   Here with a review of a recent "classic" comic is our man Lyle Tucker (he's on fire lately)! It's time for the Adventures of Superman!

 

  I've been a Marvel Zombie for most of my comic-reading days. Like many of us old farts I started out with kid stuff (Richie Rich, Sad Sack, etc.), graduating to Batman / Superman / Bouncing Boy / WhatHaveYou Lass, finally being won over to Marvel with the F.F., Thor, etc.

 

   This is what I see as the natural maturation of a comic-book reader, rightly or wrongly. The Distinguished Competitor has, indeed, mostly been Brand Echh for me.

 

   In the '70s I went back to some titles based on the artist drawing the mag (Adams, Wrightson, Nino, etc.), but I found the company's overall “less sophisticated” approach dull compared to Marvel's hyperbolic gaudy fare.  

 

   Then I got married, raised a family, and mostly left comics behind, not returning in any real way until I ran across the Busiek / Ross MARVELS. Now I'm back with the fold, but I'm still and will always be behind the times.  

   Kinda like how I always viewed DC as being.

 

   And now that I see we have something in common, I can appreciate their stable of characters more than I used to. Take Superman. Once I left for Marvel, I rarely looked back at the uber mensch. He was deadly dull. Invincible except for Kryptonite – feh!

 

   However, nowadays, I enjoy the big clod.

   Take ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #1, 2012, with three stories respectively written by Jeff Parker, Jeff Lemire and Justin Jordan (this issue could legitimately be sponsored by the letter “J”), and art by Chris Samnee, Jeff Lemire and Wiley Rossmo. 

 

   The Parker / Samnee tale involves Supes facing a street addict with inexplicable powers that actually seem to phaze The Big Guy. It's a quick story that hints at greater troubles to come, with dynamic Samnee art propelling its arc.

   Lemire treats us to a scene we know all too well – two kids playing at being Superman. The one who has the thankless task of being the villain is unable to decide upon which fiend he's going to stick with, and although Lemire's art is decidedly quirky, it fits the tale.

   The final story features everyone's favorite, Bizarro Superman. As I did back as a kid, I got a headache trying to stay up with Bizarro's rationale. Superman does, too. But he works it out and saves the day.

 

   And I think he does so for truth, justice and the American way.  Behind the times. As he should be.

Grade: B-

 

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Daredevil #36

   There are some Marvel heroes who should have a secret identity.

   As they found out the hard way, Spider-Man is one. Daredevil is another one. (Iron Man, on the other hand, works better with his identity public.)

   But several years back writer Brian Michael Bendis let the cat out of the bag and "outed" Daredevil as attorney Matt Murdock.

   I thought (and still think) it was a bad idea. But to their credit, the creative teams have largely embraced it, rather than cook up some lame way around it (there's never a Daredevil robot around when you need one).

   But this final storyline (before the next restart with a new issue #1) by writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee embraces the problem and uses it to generate a terrific story that focuses on the pros and cons of secret identities and the toll it can take on a hero's morality.

   It's a terrific wrap-up to an outstanding three-year run on this title, and it sets up a fresh start for the Man Without Fear.

   This is one of Marvel's best, with amazing art and sharp storytelling - it should be on your "must-read" list.

    (Oh, and the cover merits close inspection - there are some wonderful nods to past stories, creators and bits of business - my favorite being the Mike Murdock hat and glasses.)

Grade: A

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The New Warriors #1

   I was a fan of the original incarnation of The New Warriors and was not at all happy when the team was made the scapegoat of the explosion that killed a school full of children and incited Marvel's execrable Civil War.

   That same event (apparently) killed the lovely Namorita, one of Bill Everett's last creations, and drove the lighthearted character Speedball (co-created by the great Steve Ditko) to the edge of insanity.

   So I wasn't crazy about that.

   This reboot (of sorts) is an attempt to combine the original team with new "kid" heroes (and at a couple of more experienced characters).

   And while the mix is an interesting one - sadly - the first issue doesn't do much to hook the reader.

   We see Justice and Speedball (now returned to his more lighthearted self, somehow) fighting generic bad guys. We meet heroes new (the delightfully upbeat Sun Girl), familiar (the Spider-Man clone known as Kaine) and unknown (at least to me), like Hummingbird.

   The new version of Nova is also included, and the issue includes a new undersea warrior woman, and brings back a classic opponent whose henchmen have a new look.

   The art by Marcus To is quite good, with a fresh, breezy look that hearkens back to classic Marvel tales.

   But the story by Christopher Yost doesn't hold up its end of the deal. The first issue of a team comic is usually the "gather the team" story, but we only get part of that here. There's more ground to be covered, and it's possible the story will pick up once the gang is together - but so far, it's not holding my attention.

Grade: B

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Back Again!

   Sorry for the short absence, friends. Real life has kept your pal Chuck on the go and away from my computer - sorry for the skip days!

   We're back in business - we'll try to keep it that way!

Guest Review - Velvet #1

   We have another guest review for you - this time our man David Wright is here with a look at one of Image's newest - and hottest - comic:

Velvet #1  by Ed Brubaker and art by Sean Epting

   Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting have become a formidable force in modern comics. I’ve come to rely on them for strong storylines and ideas.  

   Their long run on The Death of Captain America and the more recent ongoing, Fatale, and other comic work have always hooked me, and I look forward to seeing what new stories and ideas they come up with.

   Velvet  is a spy comic heavy on action and intrigue and fashioned much in the mode of James Bond, Jason Bourne, and the more recent film, Haywire. It features a strong female protagonist, Velvet Templeton, portraying the main role.  

   The story begins in 1973 as an operative agent, X-14, is on a mission in Paris. Something goes wrong and it appears a mole has tipped off  his mission, and he’s been set up as a fall guy.  

   After the news reaches the agency of his untimely demise, intelligence sets into looking for who might have taken the hit, and they begin checking into airport arrivals and departures, hotel bookings, and so forth, trying to find clues as to who might have done it. 

   There’s another flashback on Velvet’s earlier career when she was an agent. She knew X-14 along with several of the other agents, they were once pretty close so she has a personal interest in the case. But the past few years she’s taken a desk job out of the field, and working under Director Manning as a secretary.  

   From intel they find an agent, Frank Lancaster, who might have killed X-14, but Velvet thinks the intel on Lancaster smells funny, and is half baked. Curiosity gets the better of Velvet, and she begins her own investigation into the case, which leads her to one of Lancaster’s safe houses.  

   Once Velvet gets inside the safe house we find out all is not well. The book ends on a confrontation, and a heck of a cliffhanger. Yes, like a lot of the James Bond franchise and other spy fiction, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief is required to engage in such fantasies. But if spy fiction and action is your double martini, you might want to check out the book.  

Grade: A

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Justice League #28

   I admit it, I love the Metal Men - I have since I discovered their adventures shortly after their first appearance in the '60s.

   Here was an odd collection of robots with human-like personalities, able to shape their bodies into almost any shape, each using the qualities of the metal they're named after - and each one completely expendable.

   You never knew which character - if any - would survive to the final page. The adventures were often silly, but had a lot of heart - and were very entertaining.

   So this issue of Justice League (which has almost no actual Justice League content, thanks to the ongoing Forever Evil story), gives us the origin of the "New 52" version of the team.

   The art, of course, is tremendous. I love Ivan Reis' work (with inks by Joe Prado and Scott Hanna), with modified, expressive designs for the team, which manages to improve the originals (mostly - I'm not crazy about Gold's new face) while still retaining some of the original look.

   Writer Geoff Johns also deserves credit for crafting personalities for the team that work in a modern setting - but manage some surprises along the way, including a great jab at the usual robot personalities we see in comics (he had me going for a minute there).

   So don't buy this issue expecting to see the usual lineup - Cyborg is the only JL hero in evidence - but you will find a fun adventure with the Metal Men!

   Nothing wrong with that!

Grade: A-

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Guest Review - The Classics - Kull the Conqueror #2

   Back with another guest review is my pal Lyle Tucker, with a look at one of my all-time favorite Robert E. Howard-based comics:

KULL THE CONQUEROR #2, "The Shadow Kingdom," Marvel Comics, September 1971.

   Throughout the history of our favorite “junk medium” there have been runs of exemplary work which stand the test of time and shine like brilliant jewels in a sea of sometimes merely-competent visual literature (i.e. Eisner's SPIRIT, Lou Fine's CONDOR, Steranko's NICK FURY, etc). 

  

   With Marvel's KULL THE CONQUEROR such a run of visual sumptuousness started with the second issue. Even though the first-ever comic-book attempts at interpreting Robert E. Howard's Conan-lite were also visually highbrow, with Berni Wrightson giving us our initial gorgeous taste in CREATURES ON THE LOOSE #10, and Wally Wood splendidly inaugurating the CONQUEROR title with Ross Anru's assistance, it really wasn't until the brother-and-sister team of Marie and John Severin took the artistic chores that something quite special began. 

 

   Their KULL was a far more organic affair than either Wrightson's or Wood's, and the look they achieved immediately plunked us into a world quite unlike anything we had seen in the super-hero-centric '60s/'70s.

 

   Roy Thomas wrote the adaptation, and does a fine job of it, even if there is a bit of silliness involved with just how the villains of the piece are discovered and unmasked, and how that information is conveyed to Kull (by one of the people Kull suspects as being an imposter – which would be akin to The Joker disguised as Alfred telling Bruce Wayne he couldn't be anyone but himself because he is a butler). 

 

   It is Marie Severin who especially shines. Having already had a long history in comics, she takes to the subject exquisitely, penciling the brawn-heavy action with a deft eye and a raw sensibility one wouldn't have, perhaps unfairly, attributed to a woman. 

 

   Cementing the deal are John's immediately identifiable inks. As he had already shown over Trimpe's HULK, John's approach elevated any comic page to true works of art. 

 

   Even though this as-far-as-I-know only brother-and-sister team *ever* in comics produced less than a dozen issues, and such artistic luminaries as Mike Ploog and Alfredo Alcala would later do him justice, it is the run which begins with this issue that stands as the pinnacle of KULL's somewhat rocky comic-book reign.

 

Grade: A-

 

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New Comics Today

A light day at the comics shop today - here's what I picked up:

 

- Amazing X-Men #4 - Nightcrawler returns!

 

- Avengers World #3 - Shang-Chi in a fight he can't win.

 

- Conan the Barbarian #25 - The end of the Belit saga.

 

- Daredevil #36 - Out of a job.

 

- Harley Quinn #3 - Love is in the air.

 

- Justice League #28 - Return of the Metal Men!

 

- New Warriors #1 - Return of the New Warriors!

 

- Uncanny X-Men #17 - Training day.

 

- Wonder Woman #28 - When gods clash!

 

   And that's it!

Thor: God of Thunder #19

   Perhaps the biggest curse of being an immortal (if such thing there were) would be watching as your loved ones pass away.

   We get a sense of that as Thor dives into danger to rescue his newest love interest, Agent Solomon, who works for SHIELD.

   We also see a flash forward to Earth's last days, as an aged Thor confronts a dying planet, the loss of humanity - and faces an old foe.

   I'm surprised more effort isn't made to align the comic with the film version by reigniting the romance between Thor and Jane Foster (made problematic by her struggles with cancer) - or by reviving his relationship with Sif (which has been mostly "off" in recent years, though it's never really been explained why).

    The art by Esad Ribic is quite good, although the watercolor feel to it seems to ramp down some of the action sequences. But the designs and use of color are striking.

   Jason Aaron's story manages a nice balance between humor and the adventure. The new story is just getting started, so it's too soon to pass final judgment, but it's a decent (if not spectacular) start.

Grade: B+

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Batman #28

   This issue got a "What the heck?" out of me.

   That's because it's not a Batman issue at all. It's a preview for the upcoming Batman Eternal series, whatever that might be.

   It's apparently set in the "near future" (though we have no idea if that's next week, next decade or "Batman Beyond" territory).

   So we see Batman searching for the cure to some kind of illness (I think), taking on an army of thugs, confronting a familiar foe, and working with a new partner.

   The art by Dustin Nguyen is quite good - fresh, energetic but moody and edgy - but the story raises many questions and provides almost no answers.

   Yes, there's a big shock on the final page - but despite a few good surprises along the way, I don't feel compelled to add the new series to my pull list - it just feels like another Bat-title, and there are already more of those than I can keep up with.

   And turning the regular issue into an ad doesn't encourage me to hang with this series, either.

Grade: B-

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The Avengers #26

   I'm really enjoying the throwback covers on recent issues of The Avengers - this one is a tribute to the original Avengers #3.

   The interiors are somewhat related to the "old days" - a different Avengers team (one that resembles an early incarnation of the team) has crossed over into "our" universe.

   But that team isn't exactly heroic - their actions would indicate they're not any version of the team we've seen before, despite their appearances - and battle quickly erupts between the team and the super-science organization known as AIM.

   There are quite a few twists and turns to the story - and a strange new menace seems to be on the rise.

   So, another strong effort from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Salvador Larroca - they're building a special story here (I should say yet another in a series of special stories), one where our Avengers are on the sideline - but only for the moment.

   I love stories where I don't know what will happen next - and you'll find that (and then some) in this series.

Grade: A-

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Superman Wonder Woman #5

   Charles Soule is quickly establishing himself as one of the better writers working in comics today.

   His excellent She-Hulk was released this week, and now the latest issue of Superman Wonder Woman.

   He manages something here that most writers seem unable to accomplish - he makes Wonder Woman into an interesting, sympathetic character.

   She spends much of the issue visiting her homeland, Paradise Island (though it doesn't exactly live up to its name these days), while her lover, Superman, is dealing with two Kryptonians who have escaped from the Phantom Zone: General Zod and the soldier named Faora.

    It's a serious challenge for the Man of Steel, since he's had no military training - but things get interesting when the fight heats up.

   The art is by Tony S. Daniel, and it's fresh and vibrant, from quiet moments to wild action sequences. Very nice.

   I still don't buy the title characters as a couple, but it's well written and the partnership is moving in an interesting direction, and - so far - it keeps bringing me back for more.

Grade: A-

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All-New X-Men #23

   Being a fan in the "geezer" stage, I can't help but look at the title of this crossover event - "The Trial of Jean Grey" - and remember the similarly-titled "Trial of the Flash," a story that ran on for what seemed like years over at DC - and it did! The story actually took over two years to tell.

   Thankfully, this story is only covering five issues, jumping back and forth from the All-New X-Men and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

   The story by Brian Michael Bendis is straightforward enough - the leaders of the alien Shi'ar have captured Marvel Girl and are placing her on trial for her crimes as Phoenix (wherein she destroyed a planet) - but since this Jean Grey has time-traveled from her past, from a time before she was possessed by the Phoenix Force, can she be held responsible for what her future self will do? Er, did?

   (And where but at Marvel could you find a story like that?)

    Of course, her teammates in the original X-Men (and Kitty Pryde) aren't taking this lying down, so they've teamed up with the Guardians to try to rescue Jean - but first they have to survive an attack from a giant starship - and an encounter with someone who, surprisingly enough, was thought to be dead but is still alive.

   (Again, not at all unusual for Marvel.)

   As always, Stuart Immonen's art is stunning, with crowds of heroes, aliens and stunning locations on display.

   So far, this has been a lot of fun - but with only two issues to go, this is shaping up to be a very short trial. Lucky Jean's not using the Flash's lawyer!

Grade: A-

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She-Hulk #1

   The She-Hulk is a character that just keeps hanging around (which is usually a good thing).

   That's because, when she's well written and well drawn, the character is a heck of a lot of fun.

   She's had several different incarnations - from straight-laced super-hero to savage she-beast to comical adventuress.

   So which character shows up in this series? So far, the story is focused more on Jennifer Walters the attorney (although she never changes her Hulkish appearance) than She-Hulk the superhero.

   And that's a great thing, because it's sharply written by Charles Soule. It follows Jen as she faces upheaval in her career as a lawyer, and follows her humorous attempts to help a woman who was cheated by one of the world's most powerful men.

   It has a bit of superhero action, but not much. But it's chock full of strong characters and lots of humor (though not the over-the-top, break-the-fourth-wall humor that John Byrne used so well during his run on the series).

   The art is by Javier Pulido, as it has a light-hearted, Mike Allred feel to it. It hearkens to the fun and earnest energy of the Silver Age, but it appeals to modern sensibilities.

   So it's a good start to this new series, and a fresh take on this (now) classic character. Here's hoping for more along these lines!

Grade: A-

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