It's All My Fault!!!! I Started the War!
You can't judge a cat by the different ways to skin it. Okay, maybe I mixed my metaphors up a bit, but despite the recent thud of ONE Catwoman at the box office, the Catwoman in DC's Catwoman #34 (by Ed Brubaker and Paul Gulacy) is pretty entertaining.
This issue continues the War Games story running through the Batman titles. It is still confusingly labeled as Act One, Part 7 of 8, but the book stands just fine all by itself. As someone who is not a regular Batman reader, I have been impressed by the way these books stand on their own while also adding a piece to the bigger story.
The out of control crime of the titular War Games has spilled into Catwoman's territory. This does not make her a happy kitty. She takes the fight to the gangs with surprising ferocity. Never, ever mess with an angry, whip-wielding, defender of Gotham's East End. Catwoman makes this point quite clear to the gang members who face her wrath. She is even forced to take to the streets in her "outfit" during the daylight hours, which catwomen try to avoid at all costs. (Or so I am told.)
Along the way, she takes on a major Batman villain, meets an occasional Robin, and gets a pretty good idea how the whole Gang War actually got started. And, of course, she wears skin-tight black leather and tends to bend over a lot. If you like that sort of thing.
If you like your super-heroes with a bit of a gritty edge, if you enjoy crime comics, Batman, or catwomen in general, you can't go wrong trying out Four Color Fantasies' Guaranteed Book of the Week-Catwoman #34!
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Heroic out of his tights: Robin #129
You can take the hero out of the costume, but you can't take the hero out of the guy. That is the main lesson learned from this week's Book of the Week, Robin #129 by Bill Willingham and Guiseppe Camuncoli.
Don't be frightened by the fact that the cover to this book confusingly claims to be Act One, Part 5 of 8. (I was both confused and frightened, until Kathy explained it to me! Then I was just confused.) This is a story that stands completely on its own despite being part of a larger event.
Tim Drake has given up being Robin. He has promised his parents that he will not put on the tights and mask under any circumstances. Unfortunately for Tim, a huge Gang War has erupted in Gotham City. (Though it seems a bit short-sighted for regular old criminals to try this sort of thing in the city where Batman lives.) A normal trip to school becomes fraught with peril for Tim and his friends. Circumstances beyond his control force Tim into action, and he clearly demonstrates that tights do not make the hero.
Willingham handles these characters with style. His scripting really gives some depth to young Tim Drake. Even the incidental cast are very three-dimensional, despite their brief time "on-screen." An appearance by Scarface is both kinda funny and kinda creepy, which is just about right for his character.
This book has great characters, tense action sequences, and an ending that will really leave you on the edge of your seat. The only thing it doesn't have is orange tights, and that isn't such a bad thing. Give Robin #129 a try. You can't lose because it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!
Don't be frightened by the fact that the cover to this book confusingly claims to be Act One, Part 5 of 8. (I was both confused and frightened, until Kathy explained it to me! Then I was just confused.) This is a story that stands completely on its own despite being part of a larger event.
Tim Drake has given up being Robin. He has promised his parents that he will not put on the tights and mask under any circumstances. Unfortunately for Tim, a huge Gang War has erupted in Gotham City. (Though it seems a bit short-sighted for regular old criminals to try this sort of thing in the city where Batman lives.) A normal trip to school becomes fraught with peril for Tim and his friends. Circumstances beyond his control force Tim into action, and he clearly demonstrates that tights do not make the hero.
Willingham handles these characters with style. His scripting really gives some depth to young Tim Drake. Even the incidental cast are very three-dimensional, despite their brief time "on-screen." An appearance by Scarface is both kinda funny and kinda creepy, which is just about right for his character.
This book has great characters, tense action sequences, and an ending that will really leave you on the edge of your seat. The only thing it doesn't have is orange tights, and that isn't such a bad thing. Give Robin #129 a try. You can't lose because it is Four Color Fantasies' guaranteed Book of the Week!
Friday, August 13, 2004
Hulk out on this one: Incredible Hulk #75
Beware green men with giant brains and cheesy moustaches! No matter how much you may want to, you just can't trust those guys. Don't accept their hospitality, and don't make toasts with them, either. These valuable pieces of advice can all be picked up from Incredible Hulk #75.
This anniversary issue has everything you could want from a Hulk comic. Many readers have felt that Bruce Jones' take on this book has been a little too light on actual Hulk appearances. This issue goes a long way to fix that perception, by giving the reader loads of Hulk-action. There are conspiracies, mind control, and appearances by a certain green, big-brained Hulk villain. Toss in Doc Sampson, Tony Stark and Betty Ross and you have a book that is more fun than a pair of purple pants!
As this is a "Special 75th Issue," it seems only right to let the green guy himself say a few words about the book. (Be warned, this may be extremely silly.) "Hulk's head hurt! What Leader doing to Hulk's brain? Hulk smash stupid conspiracy! Hulk smash Bruce Jones! Hulk's pants too tight! Hulk want beans! Hulk's book good and pictures nice! Buy book or Hulk smash you!!!"
Well anyway, this book has great Hulk action, some mysteries, some resolutions and a nice cliffhanger. It gives new Hulk readers everything you really need to know to enjoy the book and has some nice, moody art by Darick Robertson. And at least one character with an eye-patch. Give it a try, you won't be sorry since this is the guaranteed Book of the Week! And you really don't want to make the Hulk angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.
This anniversary issue has everything you could want from a Hulk comic. Many readers have felt that Bruce Jones' take on this book has been a little too light on actual Hulk appearances. This issue goes a long way to fix that perception, by giving the reader loads of Hulk-action. There are conspiracies, mind control, and appearances by a certain green, big-brained Hulk villain. Toss in Doc Sampson, Tony Stark and Betty Ross and you have a book that is more fun than a pair of purple pants!
As this is a "Special 75th Issue," it seems only right to let the green guy himself say a few words about the book. (Be warned, this may be extremely silly.) "Hulk's head hurt! What Leader doing to Hulk's brain? Hulk smash stupid conspiracy! Hulk smash Bruce Jones! Hulk's pants too tight! Hulk want beans! Hulk's book good and pictures nice! Buy book or Hulk smash you!!!"
Well anyway, this book has great Hulk action, some mysteries, some resolutions and a nice cliffhanger. It gives new Hulk readers everything you really need to know to enjoy the book and has some nice, moody art by Darick Robertson. And at least one character with an eye-patch. Give it a try, you won't be sorry since this is the guaranteed Book of the Week! And you really don't want to make the Hulk angry. You wouldn't like him when he's angry.
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Great set up: Majestic #1
"This guy walks into a diner---." Sounds like the opening line of a really bad joke, doesn't it? Fortunately, it isn't. What it is, is the opening line of a pretty good comic book. In fact, it is the opening line from DC's Majestic #1 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Karl Kerschl.
When I picked this book up, I had no idea who Majestic was. Abnett and Lanning do a nice job of telling you everything you need to know about the character without narrating at you too much. Majestic is a Superman-like hero from another Universe. Somehow, he has been trapped on Earth in the DC Universe, and is trying to go back home. (Insert appropriate ET quote here!)
While hanging out on Earth, he does try to lend a hand by doing a little heroing on the side. Unfortunately, his approach is not to everyone's taste. Unlike Superman, he tends to do whatever he thinks is the right thing, without worrying too much about laws, or trials, or whether he is scaring people. (Like most of us would if we could do everything Superman can.) And he does seem to scare people. In fact, he seems to make everyone around him very nervous indeed.
The highlight of this issue is the conversation Majestic has with Superman shortly after "this guy walks into a diner--." Supes gives him some big-brotherly advice about how to deal with people that is both clever and insightful. And they discover a similar taste in coffee. All superheroes need caffeine. And of course, Supes advice may come in handy very soon---.
Majestic has great dialogue, some action, a diner, and coffee. It would be even better if it had pie, but no comic can have everything. Plus, issue #1 has a cool retro cover. What more could anyone ask for from a no-risk Book of the Week?
When I picked this book up, I had no idea who Majestic was. Abnett and Lanning do a nice job of telling you everything you need to know about the character without narrating at you too much. Majestic is a Superman-like hero from another Universe. Somehow, he has been trapped on Earth in the DC Universe, and is trying to go back home. (Insert appropriate ET quote here!)
While hanging out on Earth, he does try to lend a hand by doing a little heroing on the side. Unfortunately, his approach is not to everyone's taste. Unlike Superman, he tends to do whatever he thinks is the right thing, without worrying too much about laws, or trials, or whether he is scaring people. (Like most of us would if we could do everything Superman can.) And he does seem to scare people. In fact, he seems to make everyone around him very nervous indeed.
The highlight of this issue is the conversation Majestic has with Superman shortly after "this guy walks into a diner--." Supes gives him some big-brotherly advice about how to deal with people that is both clever and insightful. And they discover a similar taste in coffee. All superheroes need caffeine. And of course, Supes advice may come in handy very soon---.
Majestic has great dialogue, some action, a diner, and coffee. It would be even better if it had pie, but no comic can have everything. Plus, issue #1 has a cool retro cover. What more could anyone ask for from a no-risk Book of the Week?
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