Tag DC Black Label

Ding-dong the Wizard is dead!! Well…not really, but close enough for me, see what I mean in Books of Magic, chapter 23, verses 1-25! The story of “Dwelling in Possibility” part 3.

These are the musings of one David Barnett
As translated into the visual by a certain Tom Fowler

The official plot:

“The true masterminds behind the Cult of the Cold Flame now stand revealed-as does their purpose in handing the power of the Book of Possibilities over to Tim Hunter’s onetime friends Ellie, Fatimah, and Tyler! But can Tim save his schoolmates from making a terrible choice? Or is their Destiny already written?”

DC Comics

Tim has nothing to do with saving anyone. He’s a lump that sits there and whines.

My Impressions:

• Put a nail in it…we’re done! Finally!
• Of course it had to end that way…but it would have been so much better if it hadn’t.
• Contemporary Artwork: Nothing stunning. Again.
• As with most of the current Sandman Universe titles…no final punch.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Tim hunter
• John Constantine
• Finale issue!!!

Bottom Line: 1 Star!

I’m happy to see this one go. Books of Magic gives the Sandman Universe a bad name. For 22 issues now, I’ve been certain that the next issue would be the last…and FINALLY I’m proven right! As for this issue…yep, ends with “the future is unwritten!” I hate it! Take some chances will you? Walk the kid out in chains! Banish him to Heck! Do SOMETHING impactful! Anything would have been better than this.

Behold the creator of dreams! He who both inspires and terrorizes you in the night. Heed the lessons from The Dreaming: Waking Hours, chapter 2, verses 1-32!

This is the word according to G. Willow Wilson.
As envisioned by the less than extensively experienced Nick Robles.

The official plot:

“New mother Lindy is trapped in the Dreaming, and the lovestruck nightmare Ruin is loose in the real world. Dream must put this situation right-but to do so, he’ll have to travel into the Black Chest where he keeps his most dangerous nightmares…and pull the answers right from the mouth of the unimaginable Endless Teeth!”

DC Black Label

Meanwhile, back in the Dreamcave! Actually, I’m glad to see Dream engaging in this personally. He’s the best part of the Dreaming, and was sorely missed in the last Dreaming series.

My Impressions:

• Most folks will not get the Shakespeare connection…which is a shame. It really does make this story better. Without it, Lindy’s sub-plot is likely going to be fairly boring.
• Great use of varying art styles in the same book. I especially liked the painted settings inside the Box of Nightmares.
• New Nightmares!!!! I’ve been dying to see more ever since the Corinthian.
• Is my nostalgia showing?

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Dream (Morpheus)
• Lucien the Librarian
• Ruin
• Jophiel
• Lindy
• Heather After

Bottom Line: 3 Stars!

The Dreaming: Waking hours is really establishing itself as a continuation of the original Sandman series from the early 90’s. Definitely something stronger than a “spiritual successor.” Fans of the original really should give this new series a shot. If you somehow missed it, fear not, it’s being adapted into a Netflix series. Let us hope that it remains true to the original source material!

Be sober-minded; be watchful! Your adversary prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour! Guard your soul as we discuss Joker / Harley: Criminal Sanity, chapter 5, verses 1-32!

These are their chronicles as witnessed by the talented Kami Garcia.
Translated from the word by Jason Badower.

The official plot:

“Dr. Harley Quinn has confronted horrific crime scenes created by a serial murderer who treats his work as high art. But when she is confronted by the killer himself, her life takes a drastic turn. Will she be able to return to the status quo, and simply help the GCPD to catch this killer? Or will the encounter change her forever?”

DC Black Label

This is not the Harley Quinn that you know. This is the hard nosed profiler working with the GCPD to investigate the Joker’s crimes. She’s tough and determined…there’s no way that the Joker is ever going to shake her. I hope…

My Impressions:

• Black Label worthy material. This Joker isn’t crazy. He presents as calm, cool, artistic and scarier than any other Joker I’ve seen.
• Beautiful artistry. Realistic, unexaggerated expression. Stark contrast of color with black and white.
• Is it worth the magazine format? Oh, hell yes it is!

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Harley Quinn
• Joker
• James Gordon

Bottom Line: 5 Stars!

This is the most realistic take on the Harley/Joker relationship I’ve ever seen. Harley is one tough woman, bent on proving herself as a profiler for the GCPD. Joker is one of the coldest serial killers there is. This, their first meeting, doesn’t disappoint and doesn’t fall into the therapist falls for her patient trope. [Editor’s Note: this is essentially an alternate timeline where Harley is helping the police, or we will find out in the end that this isn’t really the joker, only a copycat. Time will tell on this one.] There’s still time though…we’re only halfway through the series.

It has been said that the devil prowls around, seeking someone to devour. Hear the story of that meal, our hero John Constantine, from his book of Hellblazer: Rise and Fall, chapter 1, verses 1-52!

This is the scripture according to Tom Taylor.
As envisioned by Darick Robertson.

The official plot:

“A billionaire falls out of the sky and is gruesomely skewered on a church spire. Bizarrely, Angel Wings are attached to his back. More follow until, hallelujah, it’s raining businessmen. Detective Aisha Bukhari is stumped by this, until she’s visited by her childhood friend, occult investigator John Constantine. DC’s Hellblazer discovers a link between the falling elite and a shocking moment in his and Aisha’s misspent youth. How do these killings tie to the first death on John’s hands? How does this involve heaven and hell? Even if this is kind of John’s fault, will Constantine be happy to let a few more rich bastards fall from the sky, like a vindictive Robin Hood?”

DC Black Label

Wow…what a sell job! Raining businessmen? If three constitutes rain, sure…it’s raining. I supposed dabbling in black magic does qualify as a misspent youth. Queue the flashbacks!

My Impressions:

• Is it a good story? I feel like it’s been done, but there are two more issues to go. Like I said with the last Hellblazer, I’ve got the first issue so as collector, I’m committed.
• Is it worthy of the magazine format? Not yet, but it feels like there may be potential…
• How does it look? Could be better. I’d rather Lucifer look like his normal Vertigo/Black Label self.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• John Constantine
• Detective Aisha Bukhari
• Billy Henderson
• Lucifer

Bottom Line: 3 Stars!

Unless you’re a huge John Constantine fan, you can skip this one. Hellblazer aficionados may want this since it has some glimpses into John’s youth. I bought this because I wanted to see Lucifer…too bad they didn’t stick with his cannon appearance. Good thing I’m a forgiving soul.

On that day, I saw the Beast and the Kings of the earth and I KNEW things were coming to an end. Hear the story of our hero John Constantine from his book of Hellblazer, chapter 9, verses 1-32!

This is the gospel according to Simon Spurrier. Who is FINALLY doing Hellblazer the right way. (It only took him six issues to figure it out!)
As envisioned by “not a lot of mainstream experience,” Matias Bergara

The official plot:

“The British royal family has always had an interest in breeding the world’s finest racehorses. When one disgraced royal cooks up a scheme to re-create the most magical of all horses, it’s up to John Constantine to stop him from unleashing a bloodthirsty horror!”

DC Black Label

Fortunately for us, Mr. Constantine fails to stop the arrival of said “bloodthirsty horror.” (Disclosure: Only one horse was harmed in the writing of this comic. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the barely legal virgins.)

My Impressions:

• What is good: This is the second story arc in a row that does a really good job of living up to the Sandman Universe umbrella. I was just about to give up…but my hope has been renewed!
• But how did it look?: Dark, grainy, and artistic. Just like all of the other Black Label titles.
• The not so good: There are only three issues left for John Constantine: Hellblazer. Spurrier himself says the title “wasn’t renewed” but we all know that DC is cutting the bottom 25%. Coincidence? Who knows?

Notable Appearances/Events:

• John Constantine
• Tommy Willow-Tree (Tommy)
• ‘Olde Man Constantine’
• Bita Ghul
• Nat (Hellblazer)

Bottom Line: 3 Stars!

I had high hopes this would be a great title, and when it started it was bad. Unfortunately, I’m a true collector, so I was in it until the end…which is now nigh. Maybe knowing the end is near is what boosted the quality of the writing. In the end…I’m both happy and not happy to see John hit the bricks.

“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” If you want to avoid becoming one with the Legion, pay heed to the words of the book of Plunge, chapter 6, verses 1-32!

The official plot:

“Sixty fathoms below the ocean’s surface, a massive hatch waits to be opened…Something within wants to emerge; wants to be born; wants to rise; wants to feed. The child is coming, desperate to fill its belly-by devouring reality itself!”

DC Black Label

Should add that the humble humans don’t feel like being devoured, but otherwise, quite accurate. Also – ugly baby!

My Impressions:

• What works: It’s a horror book…and yeah, it’s one of the more disturbing. I mean, being infested and possessed by extra-dimensional worms. No thanks.
• What I could do without: The threat to “reality” was totally unnecessary. It would have been more effective for the child to have been a giant monster intent on eating all the humans.
• But how did it look?: Confident. Horror titles don’t usually get big names, so the art always seems tentative. Not the case here.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• The child (1st appearance & death)
• Captain Gage (Death)
• Bill and Moriah (The only survivors)
• Clark (Last remaining worm food)

Bottom Line: 4 Stars!

Plunge was one of the better Joe Hill titles. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him end up a staple of the Black Label imprint. I recommend grabbing up the eventual TPB. I really enjoyed the setting of a sea rescue gone bad. It really reminded me of something I would have watched on a Saturday afternoon, when I was a kid…one of those Elvira movies. Individually, this issue wasn’t as good as the rest of the series, but it does leave us open to the possibility of a follow up.