huntress: darknight daughter

by Paul Levitz, Joe Staton and more

collects the early appearances of the Earth-2 Huntress, including her origin story and backups in Wonder Woman

the premise: After the retirement of the Earth-2 Batman (following the death of his wife Selina Kyle), his daughter Helena Wayne assumes the identity of The Huntress. Now the Huntress keeps Gotham safe by night while Helena practices law by day.

the lowdown: Man, I love these old stories. This book is your primer on the Earth-2 Huntress, Helena Wayne, the duaghter of the Earth-2 versions of Batman and Catwoman. Her origin is recounted here, and then many of her solo stories from her feature in the Wonder Woman comic are compiled. Most of these stories were written in the late 70's and early 80's, and frankly they were some of the best stories DC was publishing at the time. This is a far cry from the Mafioso post-Crisis incarnation of the character - Helena is more like a female version of Nightwing, with less insecurity and more career ambition. She's more daredevil than grim avenger.

Levitz does an excellent job of setting up Helena's world with a mix of the old and the new. There's the obligatory appearances by the Earth-2 Robin, Joker, Alfred and more - but also a cast of new characters comprising Helena's law firm. The legal stuff isn't cringeworthy, as legal stuff often is. Most of the villains aren't terribly memorable but they work pretty well as one-off deals.

Staton's art is a treat. He does most of these stories, with Jerry Ordway chipping in near the end. It's dynamic without resorting to needless T&A, although Helena is drawn as an attractive woman. I loved the older Joker- he's a character that just gets creepier as he ages.

the verdict: These are very strong old-school adventure stories, a neat way to update the Batman legend for Earth-2. Helena Wayne was cool long before anyone thought of Batman Beyond, and this collection is a nice return to those old tales. My only real complaint is that they didn't do ALL the WW backups - hopefully there will be a volume 2 at some point.

doctor strange: the oath

by Brian K. Vaughan & Marcos Martin

collects Dr. Strange: The Oath # 1-5

the premise: Dr. Strange, Wong, and Night Nurse team up to try to find out - who killed Dr. Strange? They have to solve the mystery quickly, as Wong's life (and possibly the cure for cancer) hangs in the balance.

the lowdown: Does the Dr. Strange concept really work? Sure, he's fine as a supporting character, but can he really carry his own book? The sorcery/ magic angle is a hard sell, he's an older dude and that doesn't help, his villains are boring... it's just a hard concept to really make work.

Thankfully Vaughan and Martin are up to the task. Vaughan has updated the good doctor's speech patterns somewhat. (Any book with the phrase "By the hoary ****ing hosts!" can't be all bad.) He's given Strange a little bit of a sarcastic streak - basically made him sound like something other than a 1960s Stan Lee character. Couple that with a compelling mystery, an interesting ethical dillemma, some interesting supporting characters, and a nice dash of humor, and you've got a winner.

Martin's art is a big part of that. He used to be a poor man's Javier Pulido, but has grown into a top talent. Clear, no extraneous lines, distinct faces... just nice work all around.

Only significant minus is the somewhat cliched motivations for the bad guys. I think pharmaceutical boards have become the new priests.

the verdict: I still don't know if Doc Strange can support an ongoing, but I'd definitely read more minis by this creative team. Top notch work.

heaven llc

by Walter Chinsang & Dave Crosland

original graphic novel

the premise: Imagine if Heaven was run like any other corporation, with a complete Board of Directors, inter-office politics, and a CEO who's kind of a buffoon, and you can picture the world of Heaven LLC. Thrill to the chaos as God goes missing and the corporation has to move on without him.

the lowdown: This original graphic novel is sort of similar to Fables in the way it takes mythological figures and "updates" them, but this time around the concept is played for laughs. Heaven is a wild corporation run by a CEO (God) who pretty closely resembles most caricatures of Bill Clinton. He's an affable but lazy goofball who really just wants to get laid. With the corporation already in trouble, God picks an inopportune time to disappear and get up to all sorts of shenigans on Earth.

The script gives the reader a little satire with a lot of farce. The characters take themselves and their role in the plot absolutely seriously, even though both they and the plot are absurd. Chinsang manages, however, to poke a little fun at corporate culture and religious doctrine. If you're easily offended by knocks on religion, might be best to give this one a wide path, because the humor is blasphemous in many places.

The art is a little uneven, in part because of the large chunks of text that have to be slipped in. There are a few panels where the word balloons are actually squeezing the art out of the picture. It's not by any means a quick read, in that there are lots of little panels, and the layout gives the whole book a claustrophobic affect that adds a little to the farcical mood.

the verdict: Good for a chuckle or ten. There are places where the satire gets buried under the exposition, but this is a fun read for someone looking for humor.

justice society of america vol. 2: thy kingdom come pt. 1

by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross & Dale Eaglesham

collects JSoA # 7-12

the premise: As the JSA embarks on a drive to recruit a truckload of new legacy characters to the team, the Kingdom Come Superman is accidentally knocked into "our" world.

the lowdown: Geez, talk about confusing branding. Volume 2 is Part 1? DC - why not just get away from the idea of numbering volumes altogether?

Anyway - this is, near as I can tell, the first half of the "sequel" to Kingdom Come, and as noted above features the KC Superman joining the JSA. Neat high concept, to be sure. This volume really feels like an extended prologue, though, as the first two issues are unrelated character pieces, and "Thy Kingdom Come" only begins about halfway through the book. Johns' best moments here are little character bits. The very best is in the Starman issue where he and (our) Superman sit down over Sloppy Joes. There's a really nice bit in there - a little line from Superman that looks mundane, but conveys the powerful notion of someone seeing a friend for the first time in a long time. Very nice.

The bad is that Geoff is clearly trying to pull together an epic plot involving a large cast, but there's so much stuff going on it's hard to see how it fits together, and as a result the story doesn't really seem to be *about* anything. The cast is pretty obviously too large, but I trust Johns enough to think that's intentional - there are just times this feels like Roy Thomas without an editor.

(Also - not the best idea IMO having the new Amazing Man be based in New Orleans and helping Katrina survivors. Bad mix of the real and fantasy worlds IMO - why is the JSA just now getting there?)

The art by Eaglesham is nice - he has evolved into a very consistent storyteller, and he does a nice job in particular with the older characters - he actually makes them look old but not decrepit. Alex Ross paints the sequences set in the KC world, most of which are really flashbacks, and that's a nice twist.

the verdict: I'm hanging with this one on faith that Johns will pull this tale together in the next volume. This will need to be paid off in a big way.

stormwatch p.h.d. vol. 2

by Christos Gage & Andy Smith

collects Stormwatch PHD # 5 & 8-12

the premise: The PHD group visits Stormwatch Prime's HQ just in time to investigate the attempted murder of a key character, tries to locate the murderer of retired Stormwatch members, and braces for a revenge ploy by an old enemy.

the lowdown: There's not a single thing about this book that really stands out. None of the characters are particularly memorable, and many are one-note. The villains aren't overwhelmingly interesting. There's little in the way of genre busting or commentary. Pretty much no subtext, at least none I discerned.

So why did I like this so much?

To be honest, it's like eating a Root Beer Float. Essentially it offers nothing in the way of nutritional value, not very many people will mention it when asked their favorite foods - but doesn't everyone like Root Beer Floats? This is a professionally-done superhero team book. The characters are just interesting enough to make you invest in them, and Gage introduces a few twists to their interpersonal relationships that keep you curious as to where he's going. There's a fair bit of police procedural, although not so much that the book drowns in detail.

Moreover, it's nicely drawn by Andy Smith, who takes over ably for departing Doug Mahnke. It's got Mike McKone covers to boot, so it looks good. Overall - a nice package, an interesting concept executed skillfully.

the verdict: Sadly this is the end of Gage's run - I have the feeling he could really have settled in nicely on this series. In any event, we got two collections that are very good reads. This is a nice Root Beer Float.

fables: 1001 nights of snowfall

by Bill Willingham and a variety of artists

original graphic novel

the premise: Snow White is captured and forced to regale her captor with a new story each night in order to stay alive. Her stories fill in many of the gaps in Fables lore.

the lowdown: In some ways this was an odd choice for subject matter for the first Fables OGN, because it's mostly esoterica. The framing sequence is a little flimsy, and most of the stories are entertaining but will mean more to a devoted reader than a newbie.

But let's not fool ourselves - this book isn't about the story. The real draw is the absolutely incredible art from a variety of luminaries. James Jean headlines the list, which also includes Brian Bolland and many many more. Each artist tells one of the short stories "narrated" by Snow White, and since the OGN is on glossy paper rather than the cheaper paper stock used for the TPBs, the art really pops.

That's not to say the stories aren't scripted well. They vary in quality but most are pretty good. Long-time Fables fans in particular will see some long-standing questions answered - "what happened to the dwarves?" - and see some seeds planted for future storylines.

the verdict: This isn't where a new Fables reader ought to start - but it's a beautifully-illustrated book with nice production values, featuring art from some folks who don't do a lot of it.

wolverine & black cat: claws

by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Joseph Michael Linsner

collects Claws # 1-3

the premise: Wolverine and Black Cat get shanghaied to a remote island where they're forced to fight for survival against a variety of mechanical and other menaces. (Try saying that five times fast for fun.)

the lowdown: At this point I think most people, myself included, let out an involuntary groan at the prospect of another superfluous Wolverine miniseries. Certainly this book isn't essential reading by any means - it won't go down among the classic Wolverine stories. For the Kontinuity Kops - this story has no bearing on Marvel continuity, and it's not even exactly clear whether it "happens" in the present or some point in the past. So yeah - not one you've just GOTTA read.

On the other hand it's a pretty good little buddy book with some pretty good chemistry between the two leads. Linsner subtly alters the visual look of both leads, especially BC, to nice effect. Combine that with a breezy script from Palimotti & Gray, and you've got an action-packed thrill ride, kind of the comic book equivalent of cotton candy. It's a fun if insubstantial treat.

I would quibble slightly with the price. I got the oversized HC, which collects 3 issues for $18.00, so it's a little steep. I'm not aware of a SC edition. The art does look really good oversized, though.

the lowdown: A solid turn-off-your-brain and watch the giant robots kind of story. Don't knock over any old ladies to get to it on the shelves, but if you're up for some goofy fun, you might give this one a look.

ruse vols. 1-2

by Mark Waid & Butch Guice

collects Ruse # 1-12

the premise: Detective Simon Archard solves mysteries in the Victorian era with the aid of his assistant, who unbeknownst to him has magical powers.

the lowdown: Ah Crossgen, we never knew ye. R.I.P. Much of the company's output looked uniformly bland to me, but this series caught my eye. Despite the generic name, it's actually a pretty stout mystery series, with a dash of the supernatural. With the exception of Brave & The Bold, I've always felt Waid does his best work when he gets away from the company-owned superheroes, and this book is Exhibit A. Although a lot of the trappings of superhero books are here, it's a variation on the familiar flavor - French Vanilla rather than original. Archard and co. aren't the world's most original characters, but they're compelling nonetheless.

These are very lushly illustrated stories with high production values that move along at a brisk pace, provide plots that make sense, and look good doing it. Like a lot of the Crossgen artists, Guice really made a leap while working for the company, and these are the books where his art goes from "good" to "HOLY CRAP DUDE THAT'S AWESOME!"

Sadly, we never got to see the would-have-been-neat 35 issue run on this series, as Waid had a falling out with Crossgen and departed after #9. The last half of vol. 2 is written by Scott Beatty, who despite being a capable writer was unable to pull Waid's plot together very well.

the verdict: These are almost worth getting just for the art. Vol. 1 is stellar, vol. 2 suffers a bit after Waid leaves. But if you can handle the somewhat uninspiring ending, this is a nice genre series and some of Waid's best work.

ultimate fantastic four vols. 2-3

by Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen (v.2) and Adam Kubert (v.3)

collects Ultimate Fantastic Four # 7-18

the premise: The newly-irradiated FF deal with their wayward companion Victor Van Damme, aka Ultimate Doctor Doom, and encounter aliens.

the lowdown: These two volumes comprise the entirety of Ellis' run on UFF. Ellis dives right into the sci-fi aspects of the series, giving us explanations for how the FF's powers work, etc. Longtime Ellis followers know that he considers his superhero work to be slumming, and really only did this book as a favor to Bendis & Millar, but with that in mind he seems to have put a good bit of thought into it, and the result is pleasing.

Highlights are the snappy dialogue between the FF - there is no Trademark Bitter Old Man, just four kids with pretty good attitudes, incredible powers, and healthy senses of humor. Sue is every bit the scientist Reed is, just focused on different aspects of science than her boyfriend. Ellis uses the humor to poke fun at some of the more absurd elements of the FF mythos, but does it effectively and doesn't hijack the story to do so. Doom's Ultimate rethinking is a little lackluster, but the N-Zone story works out brilliantly.

I prefer Immonen's art to Kubert's, but both do solid work here. Immonen is a little better at making the FF look like teenagers and giving them a wide range of facial expressions. Both artists handle the sci-fi elements deftly.

the verdict: This is a nice run of very readable FF comics, and I say that as someone who's not a big FF fan and not a big sci-fi fan. Both volumes are good reads, and I'd recommend them.

wonder woman: who is wonder woman?

by Allan Heinberg & Terry Dodson

collects Wonder Woman v. 3 # 1-4 & Annual # 1

the premise: Just three years later, it's One Year Later for Wonder Woman. Donna Troy has assumed the mantle of WW, while Special Agent Diana Prince monitors superhumans for the Department of Metahuman Affairs. So what happens when WW's old enemies resurface?

the lowdown: It's really impossible to separate this arc from a critique of the new direction for this franchise, because this arc is clearly intended primarily to set up a new status quo and reintroduce the character. If you've never read a WW story, you can probably start here without feeling lost. WW is re-cast as a more straightforward superhero book - the mythological elements are still there but they're presented in a very super-heroey way, and many of the elements of the 70's incarnation of the character have been returned, right down to the lasso twirl and a stand-in for Steve Trevor.

It's hard to find too much fault with DC for choosing this direction. WW is a tough sell in general, and the consensus seemed to be that the mythological/ ambassador version of the character was too esoteric. DC may very well be right that a straight-up superhero book will have a broader appeal. From my standpoint, though, it feels as if the book has been dumbed down significantly. The new setup just doesn't make a lot of sense. Diana wants to be human for some reason, and wants to live a normal life - so she becomes a spy? (Memo to Diana: it's probably not a good idea to let friggin' *Batman* set up your "normal" life.) Seriously - what? There's no time spent here establishing any kind of normal life for Diana. We see nothing of her personal life, if indeed she has one. She apparently spent her year off hanging out with I-Ching, 'cause that's just how normal people roll, right? She's Emma Peel with a secret.

Frankly it feels like DC was just dead-set on recreating the 70's/ TV show status quo and tried to gerrymander a way to get there. Maybe that will be beneficial in the long run, but while this is a reasonably well-written and beautifully drawn arc, it's hogtied by its own premise.

A final note: Donna Troy still sucks. She isn't quite at Hank Pym levels of pure suckage, but she's close. If there was a smushed-up DCMarvelverse, Hank and Donna would be sleeping together. The only DC character who sucked worse than Donna was Terry Long, so of course she married him.

the verdict: I can see the appeal of this - and newcomers to WW who just want a straight superhero book may find a lot to enjoy. I'm pretty turned off by it and will be bidding this book goodbye for the foreseeable future. Just not my cuppa.

scars

by Warren Ellis and Jacen Burrows

collects the entire miniseries

the premise: John Cain is a world-weary homicide detective (shocking in an Ellis book, I know) who encounters a crime that hits close to home - a crime against a child. After promising to do whatever it takes... whatever. it. takes... to bring the bad guy to justice, he has to... y'know.. do that.

the lowdown: Folks, an uplifting story about the human condition this ain't. Prepare yourself for a violent, dark, and really downbeat narrative. Since this is an Avatar book Ellis has, for the most part, no restriction on him. He can be as nasty or as depraved as he wants to be, and he avails himself of the opportunity.

None of which is a criticism, to be clear. Not every story has to be bright and sunny. Although this series clearly falls back on a few of the Official Warren Ellis Cliches, they've become his cliches for a reason - he's quite good at telling stories with them. As usual, he writes in a very cinematic ("decompressed") style, and as usual he uses the technique to good effect. This is a well-written if not very pleasant tale.

Burrows' art works nicely. I'm always impressed by his linework - it always seems so fine, but never scratchy. It's the kind of work you normally see from far less detailed artwork, but Burrows manages to pull off that delicate touch while still giving the work a lot of detail. He has a very distinct style that I've come to enjoy.

the verdict: If you like crime comics this is a pretty good one. Don't share it with the kiddies, and don't expect an uplifting read. This is a nice precursor to Fell, though.

queen & country definitive edition vol. 2

by Greg Rucka, Jason Alexander, Carla Speed McNeil & Mike Hawthorne

collects Queen & Country # 13-24

the premise: Tara Chace's adventures in the Special Section begin to take a turn towards the dark - and it's not like it was all roses and sunshine to begin with. These three arcs (vols. 4-6 of the TPBs) see the reality of mortality come to Special Section - and force the Minders to deal with their seemingly limited lifespan.

the lowdown: The midpoint of this volume is Operation: Stormfront, which IMO is the greatest of all the Q&C stories. The two stories that surround it are probably two of the least memorable arcs, but they bookend Stormfront nicely, giving the reader a chance to see Tara in a (for her) low-key action, and then watching Special Section cope with the dramatic changes brought about by Stormfront. The only real downside of reading these in the Definitive Editions rather than the TPBs is that Stormfront has a connection to Crocker's "declassified" mini, which won't show up until Definitive Vol. 4. The broad strokes of that story are laid out here, though, so the reader shouldn't be lost.

Rucka really does some nice things with Tara's character here. Not entirely without reason, Rucka gets accused of cycling his female leads through the same plots, but even when he re-explores a theme from his other works, he does it in such a skillful way that you get something new. The first arc of this volume, for example, shows Tara's romantic life in upheaval even as she is forced to interfere in a friend's. The juxtaposition is powerful and builds to a satisfying - but disturbing - conclusion.

All three of these artists do excellent work, although their arcs look nothing alike. MacNeil letters the middle arc as well as providing the art, and that gives "Stormfront" a very distinct visual look. All these folks are good, and all of them make maximum use of the B&W format.

the verdict: To me this is where Q&C REALLY starts to get good. The first few arcs are a great intro to the characters and their relationships, but this volume shows how things start to fall apart, and really lays the groundwork for some of the character work with Tara in future volumes.

spider-man visionaries: roger stern vol. 1

by Roger Stern, Jim Mooney, Marie Severin and more

collects Amazing Spider-Man # 206 and Peter Parker # 43-52 & 54

the premise: Legendary Spider-scribe Roger Stern's first set of Spidey tales is collected! Spider-Man meets Belladonna, deals with an apparent alien abduction, and tries to save the White Tiger.

the lowdown: This was a run I'd been looking to see collected for quite some time, largely because Stern took over Spidey when I was young. I have more nostalgia for his ASM run than these tales, which mostly came from the companion Peter Parker title, but these are a lot of fun too. These are definitely old-school classic Spidey stories. There are really no issues in here that, individually, would stand out as landmark Spidey stories - but there are also pretty much no clunkers. Stern on Spidey was a reliable good read each and every month, and this volume reflects that even if it's not the zenith of his run.

A few notes from these stories: Stern presents the introduction of Roderick Kingsley, who would go on to some significance in Spidey lore. He also introduced Nathan Lubensky as a paramour for Aunt May, proving that old people can still get their schwerve on. Finally, Stern features Peter's mousy pseudo-girlfriend Debra Whitman, who would eventually go crazy and start hallucinating. (Sadly, though, not in this volume.)

The art rotates around some, mostly from Mooney and Severin, but also with issues by Rick Leonardi and a few others. It's mostly workmanlike, although I'm a Severin fan and think those issues are the best in the book.

the verdict: A dense read - nothing groundbreaking but if you're in the mood for good old-school Spidey in color, this fits the bill. I should note that most of these issues have also been Essential-ed as well, so if the high cover price puts you off, there's a cheaper alternative.

showcase presents batgirl vol. 1

by John Broome, Carmine Infantino, Gil Kane & more

collects most of Batgirl's earliest appearances

the premise: When Barbara Gordon, daughter of Gotham City's famous commissioner, saves millionaire Bruce Wayne from a kidnapping, she decides to fight crime as the Dominoed Daredoll - Batgirl! This collection reprints her early appearances, both alongside Batman and solo.

the lowdown: I assume most people realize that DC Comics' understanding of how to write women was a little... off... in the 1960's. (I'll refrain from comment about today.) So these stories have to be read with that in mind - they really were trying to present a positive female role model. It's just that they didn't think having her do her makeup during a fight was demeaning.

These stories are written a lot like the Batman stories of the era. For what they're worth, they're fairly solid if somewhat generic superhero stories. They're heavy on plot over characterization, and many of the best stories involve the heroine being required to solve a puzzle of some sort. Like a lot of the Showcase volumes, the real draw, apart from nostalgia, is value for money. It's a dense read with lots of stuff in it.

Gil Kane's art is really the high point in that department, although Infantino's work is solid as well. Good storytelling, not much on flash.

the verdict: You've read better comics than this one, but if you like Batgirl and want to peruse her early appearances, this book is a good value for money and a nice trip down memory lane.

okay, so...

The penguins are gone. They will not be returning. Not quite sure what I was thinking there. Can we just agree to file this away with "Michael Jordan's baseball career", "Milli Vanilli", and "the Cir-El Supergirl" as things we just all pretend never happened?

new avengers vol. 7: the trust

by Brian Michael Bendis & Leinil Yu

collects New Avengers # 32-37 & Annual # 2

the premise: Elektra is a Skrull! So... who else might be a Skrull? The outlaw Avengers struggle to figure out who they can trust, while The Hood organizes Marvel's c-list bad guys and makes a play for power.

the lowdown: Bendis was pretty much made to write this kind of paranoid conspiracy story. He really has set this Skrull thing up beautifully, and it's a joy to watch the Avengers stumble around trying to figure out who might be a Skrull. They get betrayed by a team member (take a gander at the cover and try to guess who!), they resort to magic, they yell at each other... good times, good times. There's also a couple of pretty good extended fight scenes, lest you forget that the comic has "Avengers" in the title.

On the other hand Bendis makes some odd storytelling choices here, and some of them really don't work too well. In mid-story the team gets dragged into the symbiote storyline apparently going on in Mighty Avengers, but essentially an entire issue gets devoted to recounting this big fight that occurred mostly off-panel. Clearly this is an attempt to tie together the continuities of the two books, but I can't help but think Id've enjoyed the Mighty arc a bit more if I hadn't just read a synopsis of it in some other title. The villain plot is not bad, but it's far less interesting than the Skrull paranoia, and at times it just feels like an extended distraction.

I'm of at least two minds about Yu's art. At his best he's the next coming of Denys Cowan, which is high praise from me. His muddy style fits the post-Civil War tone of this book very well. On the other hand, at times the work really looks rushed and unclear. Lots of the faces, especially the women, are indistinguishable. Echo and Spider-Woman look alike. Night Nurse and Jessica Jones sometimes look alike, except when Night Nurse looks completely different. Several of the villains look just alike. At times the art works really really well, and at others it detracts from the story. The annual is drawn by Carlos Pagulayan and actually looks more like a traditional Avengers book.

note: Unless they're planning to reveal that Echo is a Skrull (which would be awfully convenient), the creative team apparently doesn't realize that she is deaf. She shouldn't react to a doorbell, folks. Likewise, she shouldn't be able to talk to Hawkeye/ Ronin when his back is to her.

the verdict: An enjoyable volume tainted somewhat by some storytelling errors. The Skrully thing is very cool, though, and is being set up really well. Fun but flawed.

hawaiian dick vols. 1-2

by B. Clay Moore, Steven Griffin (v.1) & Nick Derington (v.2)

collects Hawaiian Dick # 1-3 and Hawaiian Dick: The Last Resort # 1-4

the premise: These stylish series follow a 1950's private eye who mixes island life with organized crime, debauchery, and a hint of the supernatural. Now an ongoing series, these volumes collect the two minis that introduce the cast of characters.

the lowdown: The first volume of this series was my first exposure to the work of B. Clay Moore, and I think it may have been his first published work. Now I am more or less a B. Clay Moore zombie, and this series is the biggest reason why.

This is a slick PI series set in an island locale, with an interesting cast of characters and a few urban legends mixed in. This is not particularly hard-boiled, gritty or overly violent, but it falls clearly in the "noir" genre. The 1950's setting, the island backdrop, etc. give the book a mood that is relaxed and intense at the same time. Rather than the downtrodden leads of most classic noir, this series has characters who seem to enjoy their lives, and who are very good at what they do. It's a breezy read but doesn't feel superficial. In short, a nice blend of action, comedy, and style.

Griffin and Derington bring similar styles to the art - a clean look that emphasizes storytelling over splash. The coloring is a big part of the art here - you can see from the cover image that it's a very vivid, lush look. That complements the story nicely and helps establish the mood noted above.

the verdict: There aren't a lot of good PI comics right now for whatever reason, so for those who have been missing the genre - give these books a whirl. They are published somewhat erratically but are well worth the wait.

fables vols. 7-9

by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham and more

collects Fables # 42-59

the premise: These volumes set up the next round of Fables stories. Snow White and Bigby are reunited and alter their relationship - with each other as well as with Bigby's father. The Adversary plans a strike against Fabletown. The new government churns on. and we finally learn the story of the best-known Fable - Santa Claus.

the lowdown: With the exception of the climax of Vol. 8, these volumes are something of a departure from the previous installments. Instead of having big mega-stories, these volumes give us quite a few smaller stories, usually focused on a few characters at a time. Snow and Bigby remain the two most compelling characters in the series, but many of the minor characters have their backstories elaborated as well.

It also feels like the book is now aware of and acknowledging its fanbase. The best example of that is the patchwork issue where Willingham does a collection of one-and-two page stories answering reader questions about series minutia. (It's in Vol. 9, BTW.) But even beyond that, more and more this series seems to be written with a knowing wink to its audience. I'm not sure I like that, necessarily, although I think it's great the book has gained such a following. I'm more interested in the next big story, though, and clearly as of Vol. 9 the seeds are being sown.

Buckingham's art continues to impress, and he's joined by wide variety of collaborators here. No point in listing all of them - it's pretty much a who's who of alt or vertigo talent. Very good stuff.

the verdict: In some ways this series has lost a step - but it would pretty much have to have a down period after the brilliance of Vols. 3-5. These tales are entetaining but a little slower, a little less "wow" than their predecessors. They do appear to be setting up some very promising plotlines for later, though.

empire

by Mark Waid & Barry Kitson

collects Empire # 0-5

the premise: Tyrannical supervillain Golgoth has overthrown the world. But that's just the beginning of the story, as Golgoth must work to keep his power and deal with enemies within and without his "government". Running the world is not an easy job.

the lowdown: I'll start with the bad - Golgoth is a really dumb name. I guess if you rule the world you can call yourself whatever you want, but one has to question how someone who would choose to call himself "Golgoth" would ever have the wherewithal to take over the world.

On to the good - which is pretty much everything else. This is the book Wanted claimed to be - a genre-busting look at supervillainy. It's been said that everyone sees themself as the hero of their own story, and that's clearly true here. Waid gives us a new twist on the genre by presupposing that the bad guy has won, and dealing with what happens next. Bomb Queen takes a similar approach but uses it for satire - this is a more straightforward treatment that sees He-With-the-Dumb-Name dealing with trying to maintain his empire AND be a father to his daughter. Those are the two major conflicts - they run concurrently - and they're both very compelling.

Kitson's art is excellent as always. You can see from the cover that the character designs are a little sci-fi-ish, but it works. Kitson really excels on the action scenes, but handles the smaller moments well also.

the verdict: I believe this to be Waid's best superhero work (with Brave & the Bold a close second), and he and Kitson have a clear symmetry as collaborators. Very nice work, and I wish they'd revisit this world sometime in the future.

the adventures of barry ween, boy genius vols. 1-4

by Judd Winick

collects all four Barry Ween series

the premise: Imagine if Calvin of Calvin & Hobbes was a few years older, swore a lot, and had a genius IQ, and you've pretty much got the premise here.

the lowdown: These four books are being reissued soon as one big volume, so I thought it'd be a nice time to take a look back at them. They're written and drawn by Judd (my name is the most misspelled this side of Sienkiewicz) Winick - one "n", people! Clearly this series borrows a lot from Calvin & Hobbes, but without the need to be family-friendly, Winick can take Barry farther than Calvin can go.

These stories vary from uproariously funny to so-so, with more in the former category than the latter. The books are full of crude humor, bad language, etc. - but you can't help but like Barry, kind of like Calvin is endearing. Although it's primarily comedy, it'll get you with a heartfelt moment every now and again just to throw you off guard a little. Winick takes a pretty significant beating from most of the online community for his superhero work, but this is an entirely different beast and a very different read.

Winick is actually a pretty decent cartoonist as well. The art moves the story along pretty nicely - it's not the kind of thing you'd see on a more "mainstream" superhero book, but is more akin to Watterson than, say, Lee. A little more detailed than Watterson, perhaps, but still pretty simple, and pretty effective.

the verdict: Along with Caper I consider this to be Winick's best work. These trades are available pretty cheap and, as noted above, are being collected into an Omnibus of sorts. If you like potty humor give them a look.

sandman mystery theatre vol. 6: the hourman & the python

by Matt Wagner, Steven Seagle, Guy Davis and Warren Pleece

collects Sandman Mystery Theatre # 29-36

the premise: The crimebusting adventures of Wesley Dodds continue as he encounters a somewhat like-minded foil - The Man of the Hour - and tries to solve the mystery of the serial-killing Python. Plus, Wesley's relationship with Dian Belmont takes more twists and turns.

the lowdown: As always, the centerpiece of this series is the Wesley-Dian relationship. This volume features two perfectly good crime stories. The first is less mystery than thriller, and features a reimagining of the Golden Age Hourman. The second is a straight-up mystery that, despite relying on some impressive coincidences, is very well-done.

But those things are really secondary, as noted, to the ever-evolving relationship between Wesley and Dian. They behave FAR more like a real couple than most couples in mainstream comics, and the creators are among the few who have actually bothered to give them a relationship beyond the superficial. They do not simply alternate between making out and fighting, and the problems they do face build in a very subtle way before hitting critical mass. It's made very clear that they have an.. ahem.. adult relationship without either character being overtly sexualized. In short - they act like real people rather than comic book characters, and it's very refreshing.

The art for the Hourman arc is by series regular Guy Davis, and has his usual pulpy feel. Warren Pleece handles the Python arc, and although his figures are a little more abstract than Davis' his style fits the mood of the series quite well. All of the creators clearly took pains to ensure this series reflected the feel of the late 1930's, in the art as well as the growing number of references to the world situation.

the verdict: Another excellent installment in this series. Recommended to fans of good crime comics, but also to those who want to read about a believeable romantic relationship.

invincible: the ultimate collection vols. 1-3

by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker & Ryan Ottley

collects Invincible # 1-35 & more

also available in TPB

the premise: Teenager Mark Grayson has just learned he's the son of the world's greatest superhero - and that he's developing powers of his own. But just when he's learning to use his powers, he gets a major surprise that turns everything on its head.

the lowdown: Man, it's hard to review these without giving away The Big Twist. Suffice it to say there is a Big Twist - a Very Big Twist - midway through the first volume, and it colors everything that follows. What starts as a teen hero book ends up as... well, still a teen hero book, but a much different one than early issues would lead you to believe. The Twist isn't just shocking for its own sake - it allows the creators to explore some themes that, while not unique, haven't been plowed over quite as thoroughly as some other teen hero tropes.

Kirkman's affection for classic Marvel comics is pretty evident here, and this series reads a lot like those, except updated with more violence. Despite some of that violence it's not a gory read, and it packs a lot of the same kind of Kirby-esque energy that made classic Marvel so much fun. The series does progress, and the characters do age, so you get to see the progression of their lives. Kirkman also spends a LOT of time world-building, and it struck me about midway through volume 2 that he's created a HUGE cast of characters, without fumbling any of their stories noticeably.

Cory Walker gave way to Ottley about halfway through vol. 1, and Ottley is the regular artist thereafter. Both of them have clean, slick styles - not as minimalist as Toth but without the 90's crosshatching that people seem to think is so cool. I think it's some of the best superhero art on the stands - clear, tells the story wonderfully, looks good, smells nice.

the verdict: One of the best superhero books out there, and a concept that feels like it could sustain itself for another decade to come. The Walking Dead is IMO Kirkman's best work, but this series is his best superhero work, and it's terrifically fun to read.

sam & twitch: the brian michael bendis collection vols. 1-2

by Brian Michael Bendis, Angel Medina, Alex Maleev and more

collects Sam & Twitch # 1-19

the premise: Hard-boiled cops Sam & Twitch investigate brutal crimes with a supernatural bent. These two volumes collect Bendis' entire run on the series (before McFarlane fired him).

the lowdown: For those who don't know, Sam & Twitch started out as supporting characters in Spawn before spinning into their own series. These stories have nothing whatsoever to do with Spawn, but they do occasionally have a supernatural element to them. Aside from that, it's pretty straightforward police noir, with S&T investigating violent crimes and working to bring the perpetrators to justice.

There are actually two versions of vol. 1 floating around. It was originally released in B&W as "Udaku", even though the issues were full-color. The more recent version, featuring Bendis' name prominently, is in color and is the superior product.

Noir is what Bendis does best, and this is pretty good noir. These stories are very dark and very violent. Sam & Twitch aren't overwhelmingly compelling as characters, but they work reasonably well as plot devices to immerse the reader in various mysteries. Most of the art is by Medina and Maleev. Medina certainly has his detractors due to the exaggerated McFarlene-esque artwork, but I've always enjoyed his stuff. Maleev here is a work in progress - he's improved by leaps and bounds since taking over Daredevil - but as with his Batman work you can see flashes of his immense talent here.

the verdict: These are a little pricey - $25 each - for what you get, but they're good books. This was a solid crime series that might have gotten even better had McFarlane not unceremoniously dumped the writer.

the last christmas

by Gary Duggan, Brian Posehn & Rick Remender

collects Last Christmas # 1-5

the premise: Apocalypse strikes, and zombie-like creatures overrun the Earth and kill almost everyone, including Mrs. Claus. Santa must emerge from a drunken depression in time to save Christmas - from zombies - and kick anyone's ass who gets in the way.

the lowdown: Look - if you made it this far, you're not expecting Shakespeare here. The cover pictured above is actually the back cover of the trade - the front cover has Santa fighting zombies with the aid of a large-breasted blonde. Clearly this is not one to give to your college lit class for deep academic study.

On the other hand, if you like good wrong fun, with lots of violence, this could be the book for you. What's amazing about this book is that even in an obviously ridiculous situation, even through all the gory violence and drunken binging by Santa, the creators manage to re-affirm the value of myth and childlike innocence. Was that their intent? I dunno - maybe not - maybe it really is just about the kewl factor of seeing Santa blow lots of stuff up - but that little nugget is the kind of thing that separates good satire from bad, and it's present here.

The book delivers on its premise, with lots of stuff blowing up, lots of mindless fight scenes, generally lots of gore, all ably illustrated by Remender, whose cartoony look fits the cartoony story being told.

the verdict: C'mon - you know you want to see Santa kick zombie ass. You may not want to admit that you want it, but you want it. If it makes you feel better, buy this one and slide it into a textbook or something.

the five fists of science

by Matt Fraction & Steven Sanders

original graphic novel

the premise: Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla team up to build a giant robot designed to ensure world peace - but they'll have to get past Thomas Edison and his collection of grotesque monsters and demons to do so. (No really - that's what it's about. Really.)

the lowdown: Seriously - could a book with this premise NOT be completely awesome? What if I mentioned that Nikola Tesla also dresses up in a costume and fights crime? And that they end up fighting a demon?

Joking aside, the premise owes a lot to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but the presentation is very different. In order to fully "get" LoEG you need to have at least a passing familiarity with British pop culture, whereas here so long as you know who Twain and Edison are, you're in pretty good shape. The cover declares this to be a work of "historical fiction" - and there's an explanation given as to why we've never heard of these events - but more than anything it is a farce, and a hugely entertaining one. Twain is really the star of the story and steals most of the scenes in which he appears, but there's an eclectic cast of oddballs around him. They're all engaged in a scheme to force world peace through giant robots, and they're absolutely serious about it.

The art by Sanders has an almost-painted look to it. It's in full color and is really solid. The whole book has a meticulous design - again like LoEG every detail has been taken into account. There are tons of little Easter Eggs in the design and the story - but you don't have to pick them all out in order to have a ripping good time reading.

the verdict: Did I mention it has Twain and Tesla teaming up to build giant robots? As the cover proclaims, "you can't spell action and excitement without T&T!". Highly recommended!

sub-mariner: revolution

by Matt Cherniss, Peter Johnson & Phil Briones

collects Sub-Mariner # 1-6

the premise: A terrorist attack on an American city is traced back to Atlantis, and Namor discovers a rogue cell within his consituency. Namor wants to deal with the problem his way, but the U.S. Government - and Iron Man - aren't about to let him do that.

the lowdown: I picked this one up based on my enjoyment of the writing team's excellent work on the Powerless series from a few years back, plus a recommendation at comicbloc.com. Namor as a character usually doesn't do much for me, and frankly neither do any of DC and Marvel's undersea characters. This story, however, is a pretty solid political thriller, as Namor deals with a civil war brewing in Atlantis and the threat of war with the United States. The story takes him back and forth between land and sea, where he comes into conflict with Iron Man and several other well-known Marvel characters.

Iron Man has pretty much become Marvel's "President Luthor". Remember when he showed up in every DC book for no reason? Now it seems every other Marvel book has the protagonist arguing with Iron Man. Cherniss & Johnson manage to avoid casting the character as a tin-plated fascist, though - the conflict that's presented is complex enough that the parties' respective positions make sense.

The resolution of the conflict is also very interesting. I'm not sure if Marvel has more Namor stories coming from this team, but the ending certainly sets some up.

The art by Briones is a little rough in places. Although Scott Hanna is one of the best inkers in the biz, I actually think the first three issues (inked by Briones himself) look better than the last half inked by Hanna. Some of the faces are a little wonky but the storytelling is solid. Briones is clearly still developing as an artist, but he shows potential here.

the verdict: I'm glad I picked this up. It's a well-done political thriller with some cool fights, an interesting conflict, and a resolution that delivers on the setup. It's a little continuity-heavy for the newbie (including several references to a plot point that I guess happened during Civil War but which I don't remember reading), but there's a recap in the front that tells you all you need to know. Good stuff - recommended.

filler

by Rick Spears and Rob G

original graphic novel

the premise: John Dough lives life on the margins, spending his time drafting from one anonymous role to another. But when he meets a hooker named Debra Cross, he's drawn into a violent caper that he may not survive.

the lowdown: Imagine Sin City with a little more natural dialogue and slightly less over-the-top violence, and you've got an idea what this book is like. It's presented entirely in black, white and red, and tells the very noir story of a man caught up in circumstances beyond his control. That's a classic element of true noir, of course, and this book plays off those genre tropes well.

The story itself is an ugly, somewhat brutal crime story involving a protagonist who's not particularly likeable, but seems to be the lesser of a whole bunch of evils. Spears hammers home the noir themes by presenting Dough as, literally, a nobody - an extra in police lineups, a face everyone immediately forgets, etc. The story has lots of twists and turns, and ends in a compelling manner. Lots of violence, lots of language, and some nudity in this one - so be aware of what you're getting before picking it up. This is a harsh book at times.

The art by Rob G is excellent and makes very good use of the limited color pallette. As in the Couriers books Rob shows off his ability to draw frenetic action scenes, but in this story he also gets the chance to draw some slower scenes and knocks those out of the park as well.

the verdict: This one's a treat for fans of crime noir. If you're into 100 Bullets, Fell, or Criminal, or Charlie Huston's prose novels, give this one a look.

fables vols. 5-6

by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham and more

collects Fables # 22 & 28-41

the premise: In the aftermath of the invasion of Fabletown, the city's political structure gets a major shakeup. Snow finally gives birth to her.. kids? Plus - the Adversary revealed?

the lowdown: IMO Vol. 4 of this series was really the culmination of most of the plots building up to that point. These volumes tie up some of the loose ends and begin the process of re-world building. Vol. 5 is hugely entertaining, as there's a major shakeup in the Fabletown government, and Snow finally gives birth. If you have children, the last story in Vol. 5 will break your heart. It might break your heart even if you don't have kids. Very strong.

Vol. 6 isn't quite as sharp as Vol. 5, but features Jack (as he prepares for his own spinoff), and has Boy Blue venturing back into the Homelands following the invasion. It's got some nice payoff moments, as a reveal that should have been obvious several volumes ago, but wasn't, is finally made clear. Nice bit of misdirection by Willingham.

Buckingham's art is just perfect for this series. Snow's facial expressions during an unexpected moment in her delivery are priceless. There are fillins here and there, most of which are not at Buckingham's level but are pretty good also.

the verdict: Fables keeps on rolling. These volumes aren't quite as strong as 3-4, but are still outstanding. Highly recommended.

robin: the big leagues

by Adam Beechen & Freddie Williams II

collects Robin # 163-167

the premise: Former aspiring sidekick Dodge assembles a group of bad guys to try to get revenge on Robin - but maybe they all have different ideas of what "revenge" means. Plus, Tim celebrates a sad anniversary.

the lowdown: And so Beechen's run on this title draws to a close. The good and the bad from his earlier volumes continue here. He still has an excellent grasp of Tim's "voice", and he's worked hard to create situations where it makes sense that Robin would take center-stage rather than he-whose-ears-point. Where Batman does appear, Beechen takes a good bit of time establishing a healthy father-son relationship with Robin.

But the plotting -- yeesh. This arc is actually set up pretty well, but it completely gets away from Beechen in the end. The resolution of the story is based on not one, but two, dei ex machinas (is that the plural of deus?), and it requires Robin to have exercised preternatural powers of anticipation. It's also thematically very out of step with the tone of the rest of the arc.

The art really doesn't help. Robin looks way too young in costume (oddly, he looks fine in civvies), and I really don't like the little hooks on the mask. Not sure if that's a Williams thing or a DC thing, but either way it's tough to look at. When the plot actually relies on the artist's inability to draw distinct faces, there's a problem. Williams is a capable artist but his work on this book lost its luster over the course of the run.

An aside: the final issue is a one-off written by newcomer Brandon Thomas, and although Thomas makes some newbie mistakes - notably some awkward pacing and out-there dialogue - it's a pretty enjoyable yarn and boasts a terrific last line.

the verdict: Can't recommend this one, I'm afraid. If this wasn't the end of Beechen's run I'd be dropping the book. As it is I think I'm done with his superhero work - I am looking forward to his Dugout graphic novel, but his shared-universe stuff leaves much to be desired.