Batman Inc #4

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Chris Burnham

After focusing on Damian, Talia, and Matches Malone, the fourth issue of Batman Inc. lives up to its premise by deploying a large platoon of the heroic organization against the might of the League of Assassins. Crusader and Gaucho's ongoing feud using the Falkland Islands conflict of the 80's as an excuse is hilarious, but at the same time, makes me wonder how many of the things I don't understand in the writing -which are a lot- would be clear if I had a Ph.D. in something or other. As impressive as Batman's army is, Leviathan's takeover of Gotham, and the many minions she has all over, makes her a formidable enemy; a bit too similar to the Court of Owls, actually. That, and several other themes in the title either make it redundant (we already have Batman and Robin) or place it outside continuity; this latter argument gains more weight with the developments involving Wingman and Redbird.

By the way, congrats to writer Grant Morrison for his recent induction into the British Empire for his services to film and literature.

Dueling Dragons!

This week saw two remarkable displays of artistry with a common theme. Clay Mann and Rachelle Rosenberg  faced Gambit with an other-dimensional horde of three-headed dragon-like gods that tried to make their way to Earth.

Gambit #4 by Clay Mann and Rachelle Rosenberg

Meanwhile, over in Superman, Kenneth Rockafort and Sunny Gho brought a kryptonian menace to Metropolis. The species' name is Tripedal curosiananiun; also a three-headed creature, this one with two of them in its paws. If we had another one of those Marvel vs DC crossovers, which of these two creatures do you think would win a confrontation?

Superman #13 by Kenneth Rockafort and Suny Gho

Superman #13

Writer: Scott Lobdell

Artist: Kenneth Rocafort

I completely missed Superman after his re-launch in 1986. That new version seemed like such a difficult character to write stories for, and even harder to read; it was quite painful, actually. The New 52 still didn't completely get me vested on the character, but with this single issue, Scott Lobdell has made me take a second look. In so many ways his Superman is a regression -in a good way- to the one from the Silver Age of comics, more specifically, the Curt Swan era. Thank you also, Mr. Lobdell, for that little tantrum Clark throws at the office regarding the ethics of today's so-called journalism; maybe the whole truth, justice, and the American way spiel was a little over the top, but the principle in general is a nice critique on the news business. Kenneth Rockafort and Sunny Gho kill it with the most amazing visuals the title has seen in the past year. That Tripedal curosiananiun (Kryptonian dragon thing) was fantastic.

Wait a minute... that's the second time this week dragons are mentioned. That gives me an idea... Dragon duel!

Gambit #4

Writer: James Asmus

Artists: Clay Mann and Leonard Kirk

Things go from bad to worse for Gambit and his female companion when the relic that had burrowed into his chest finally brings them to its desired destination and opens a portal to another dimension. The larger-than-life creatures on the other side are the highlight of the issue; Clay Mann draws some fantastic dragons -to give them a name- and the care and detail he puts into them are almost palpable. That's pretty much everything that goes well in this installment; there is not a lot of story to talk about, since the resolution is quite underwhelming and defeats the purpose of all that build up that's been taken place the past few months. The artwork is disrupted again with Leonard Kirk's collaboration; however, Rachelle Rosenberg does a great job tying it all together. It seems that lately it's been up to the colorists to bring the cohesiveness to these pieces, and their work is not always recognized.

The Flash #13

Writers and Artists: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato

A surprise invasion from Gorilla City serves as the catalyst to a most unexpected alliance: The Flash and the Rogues team up to protect the Gem Cities from King Grodd and his forces. Manapul and Buccellato, however, take care in not making this a sudden truce, by forcing the Rogues into helping out only after failing to do what villains normally do. Meanwhile, the appearance of Turbine in Central city is about to make him a huge threat, not because of his powers, but because of the knowledge he holds. There is a major development for Trickster, a character that did not get a proper introduction into the book, so this crazy move comes out of the blue, but the visual execution is flawless. Speaking of, the heavy action of the story is nicely illustrated, and the coloring helps convey the sensations of heat, cold, speed, light, and electricity. Oh, and more on the enigmatic Daniel West. Nice issue!

Wonder Woman #13

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Tony Akins

After suffering a bitter betrayal by Hermes, Wonder Woman and her friends regroup to heal and plan their next move. Azzarello brings conflict to the little band by adding a depowered Hera to their ranks and it doesn't take long before drama unfolds. Meanwhile, Apollo, who now sits the throne of Olympus, gathers his pantheon siblings to further conspire against everyone else. Seeing all these deities together in their new incarnations, proves how much effort the series' creators have put into providing a fresh perspective on the characters. The second part of the issue focuses on Diana searching for yet another one of her many godly relatives, and although the buildup drags on more than needed, the payoff comes with the cliffhanger and the introduction of Siracca. Tony Akins' style is much more similar to Cliff Chiang's here than in previous issues; however, Matthew Wilson's colors are the ones that really close the gap. Good start for the book's second year.

Marvel Now! Point One :: Ant-Man

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: Michael Allred

With the Marvel Now! initiative underway, the publisher teases readers with a preview of upcoming titles in this week's .1 issue. Presented in an anthology format, one of the segments features Ant-Man in a prequel to the soon-to be-relaunched FF series. Scott Lang died during Disassembled and came back to life during Children's Crusade, only to see his daughter Cassie a.k.a. Stature die at the hands of Dr. Doom. Now Ant-Man is trying to overcome his loss the only way he knows how: exacting revenge. Fans of the current Daredevil and Hawkeye titles need to check this one out. Matt Fraction -who also writes Hawkeye- has found a niche where he clearly thrives, and thanks to the fact he knows which specific talents to exploit in the artists who illustrate his stories, the final product is a true delight. Michael Allred's art is the ideal complement to a plot that starts in an obscure place but ends on a lighthearted note.

Batwoman #13

Writers: J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman

Artist: J.H. Williams III

Alright, pay attention and take copious notes, because class is in session, and J.H. Williams III and W. Haden Blackman are going to tell you how it's done. Stygian Descent is a sensorial experience unlike any other you have lived before while reading a comic book. Batwoman and Wonder Woman search for Medusa in a tartarean prison, but instead they find themselves in the tendrils of the goddess Nyx. The interpretation of darkness in this issue is dantesque: the lack of sight is compensated with an overwhelming description of sounds, smells, and textures that are worth a thousand light bulbs; it is indeed terrifying. Batwoman's reaction to Diana is almost funny; like a roadie who is in front of the rock star for the first time, and the amazon herself has never felt so divine before. Meanwhile, contrasting the tone of the story, a Phoenix slowly rises from the ashes, and little by little her brightness intensifies. This, dear reader, is how comic books are made.

Hawkeye #3

Writer: Matt Fraction

Artist: David Aja

The smartest comic book in circulation is back and it's gold! As if taken from some groovy 70's TV show, Cherry is a high-adrenaline, car-chasing, butt-kicking adventure, starring ladies man Clint Barton and smart-mouthed Kate Bishop. Fraction's choice of bad guys is hilarious. Rather than using some random thugs, he brings back the Russian dudes in tracksuits from issue #1, and I believe this has to do with all the bantering about their ceaseless bro, because here they truly go overboard with it; their presence, however, conveys that sense of world-building for the title, and that's worth their annoying habit. From Kate's sarcastic comments, to the trick arrows, to the ingenious dialog, and of course David Aja and Matt Hollingsworth's stellar artwork, there is nothing else one could ask from this book, except maybe that a new issue came out every week. Oh, and that new take on full frontal nudity? Priceless!