Tag DC Comics

Woe to he that walks too close to a storm drain in Gotham City! Listen carefully to our discussion of Detective Comics, chapter 1026, verses 1-32! “Monsters of Men”

The word, though not as good as other issues of Detective Comics, according to Peter J. Tomasi
As envisioned by the, trying to hard, Kenneth Rocafort

The official plot:

“As “The Joker War” rages on, the casualties are mounting, and the underground residents of Gotham City must deal with the devastating effects of the Joker toxin that’s been pumped into the old city’s tunnel system. Batman must risk everything to guide them to safety, but a familiar face has mobilized these forgotten souls to rise up in anger…and Killer Croc takes no prisoners!”

DC Comics

Not exactly. It’s less guiding them “to safety” and more incapacitating and imprisoning them. As to Killer Croc taking no prisoners…slight fib, they are willing participants.

My Impressions:

• The Good: … He’s Batman? I guess…
• The Not-so-Good: Definite filler issue that feels very quickly thrown together.
• Contemporary Artwork: Bleck! Everything is too skinny, squashed or otherwise malformed. This was not a joy to behold.
• Palette: Can we lose the brown please? The whole issue just looks dirty.

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Batman (Bruce Wayne)
• Killer Croc (Waylon Jones)
• Ratty Riz (1st appearance)
• Hardback (1st appearance)
• Gup (1st appearance)
• Ally (1st appearance)
• Garter (1st appearance)
• Bandit (1st appearance)
• Joker War Tie -In

Bottom Line: 1 Star!

This issue is for fanboys and dedicated collectors only! Detective Comics was in my top 4, unfortunately this issue really damaged our relationship! I honestly feel like this story has been sitting in a drawer for ages. A small dialogue change to incorporate the otherwise missing Joker War and BAM! deadline met. Come on DC, you can do better!

Thou shalt not betray thy non magic wielding friends! Pay attention as we discuss Books of Magic, chapter 22, verses 1-25! The story of “Dwelling in Possibility” part 2.

This is the word according to the almost unknown David Barnett
As envisioned by the adequate Tom Fowler

The official plot:

“The powerful tome known as the Book of Possibilities has fallen into the hands of Tim’s schoolmate Ellie…but what will she do with it? Only one thing is certain: she doesn’t seem eager to hand it over to Tim.”

DC Comics

Pretty close…but not perfect. At no point was there a consideration of giving the Book of Possibilities to Tim. In fact, they don’t even interact.

My Impressions:

• Issue’s finest: Destiny of the Endless!
• Finally some maturity: For once, Tim isn’t acting like a petulant brat!
• Contemporary Artwork: Nothing stunning. Fowler did make it very easy to tell which scenes took place in each setting. Good use of panel shapes and colors.
• It’s a grind: The dreaded slow burn of almost all Sandman adjacent books. (It’s all or none baby!)

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Tim hunter
• Destiny of the Endless
• Dead Boy Detectives

Bottom Line: 1 Star!

Let’s face it. With the exception of Sandman fans hoping for a glimpse of the Endless, no one cares about Books of Magic. It doesn’t even appear in the top 100 sales for the last few months running. I’m predicting it won’t survive the coming purge of DC titles.

“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.

My fellow comicphiles, attend as we discuss Batman / Superman Volume 2, chapter 11, verses 1-32! “Atomic conclusion!”

This is the word according to Joshua Williamson
As envisioned by Clayton Henry

The official plot:

“It’s Superman versus Batman as the deadly machinations of the Ultra-Humanite crash to their end! The Dark Knight has been transformed into a human atomic bomb, all in the name of wiping Superman from the face of the Earth! As Batman struggles against the urge to kill his friend, Superman must undo the damage done and help the other victims of the Ultra-Humanite’s experiments. It’s the thrilling conclusion to “Atomic” that will reverberate across the DC Universe for months to come!”

DC Comics

This is a pretty fair assessment of the story, though I do think that “thrilling” is a flat out lie. The “other victims” is a bit of a stretch too…they get one panel.

My Impressions:

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)
• Batman (Bruce Wayne)
• Ultra-Humanite (Gerard Shugel)
• Atomic Skull (Albert Michaels)

Bottom Line: 1 Stars!

Fanboys and completionist collectors only. Everyone else…skip it!

My fellow comicphiles, attend as we discuss Superman in the book of Action Comics, chapter 1024, verses 1-32! The House of Kent part 3!

This is the word according to Brian Michael Bendis
As envisioned by John Romita, Jr.

The official plot:

“The city of Metropolis has been rocked by Luthor’s latest attack and the drama surrounding Superman’s truth, and that gives the invisible mafia a new foothold to change the City of Tomorrow forever. Meanwhile, the Daily Planet is under siege! The fallout from Superman: Villains continues as Clark Kent steps out into the world as a reporter for the first time.”

DC Comics

Almost all of this is untrue. Only “Meanwhile, the Daily Planet is under siege!” is correct…and the siegers are the FBI!!!

My Impressions:

Notable Appearances/Events:

• Superman (Kal-El/Clark Kent)
• Superboy (Jonathan ‘Jon’ Samuel Kent)
• Supergirl (Kara Zor-El/Kara Danvers)
• Superboy (Kon-El/Conner Kent)
• Red Cloud (Robinson Goode)
• Character Death: Deputy Fire Chief Melody Moore (off panel)

Bottom Line: 4 Stars!

You’ve got to love a pissed off Superman! Go look for parts 1 & 2…and get on board.