By Don M. Ventura
Captain America
Marvel Comics
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Ed Brubaker does what he does best with his characters and puts Captain America
Steve Rogers plays a perfect game of hardball with Dr. Faustus to ensure the doctor provides adequate testimony that Bucky was not in control of his faculties while working as the Winter Soldier. Brubaker knows how to build drama and does so as Sin’s plotting begins to reveal itself during the course of the trial.
Butch Guice’s artwork is excellent, fitting the tone of the book nicely. My only problem is that the inking duties during the courtroom scene almost make Guice’s art look like it’s been drawn by two separate artists. Bettie Breitweiser’s colors are as brilliant as always.
27 #2
Image Comics
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Unfortunately 27 #2 has slipped further from what I was expecting from this title. So much so that I went back to read the original solicitation.
“Hendrix, Cobain, Joplin, Morrison. All belong to the '27 Club,' which admits only the most brilliant musicians and artists…and kills them dead in their 27th year. Will Garland
I was hoping for more about a musician and less about the supernatural stuff, which has not captured my interest me here. However, there’s a scene in a bar where Will and his manager discuss his playing abilities when a fan comes up and asks if Will if he’d be willing to jam with him. Will screws with the guy and agrees. This was a funny scene and seemed to be the only genuine part of the issue; other than this I haven’t gotten enough of a read on Will’s character.
Renzo Podesta’s art is fantastic and meshes well with the subject matter and the type of story Soule is telling. Podesta has an incredibly indie-look and W. Scott Forbes cover for this issue is really stunning.
Flash #8
DC Comics
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Flash #7 was Geoff Johns’ retelling of Captain Boomerang’s back story and it was good. In Flash #8 the writer goes to town to make sure readers—who may not have been convinced after reading Flash: Rebirth—understand that Professor Zoom is one seriously twisted villain.
We begin with Eobard Thawne as a child in a dystopian culture that is managed by time, rather than the other way around. Thawne, a disappointment to his parents and brother, spends his precious time trying to unlock the mysteries of the Speed Force. And he does.
Soon Thawne wields the power of his past freely and without caution, tinkering with the lives around him in awful ways if he isn’t treated right. Thankfully for us, nobody treats him right and we see what lengths Thawne will go to for retribution. Johns is a master of creating formidable villains. He turned Sinestro into one of the more forceful villains in the DCU, and now it seems to be Professor Zoom’s turn.
Former Flash artist Scott Kolins rejoins Johns for this issue as he did last month and the art on the whole is fine, but there are a couple of awkward panels; at points Hawne’s face seemed a bit inconsistent.
Superman/Batman #79
DC Comics
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I didn’t read any of the “DC One Million” stories, but I was interested in picking up Chris Roberson’s take on Superman and Batman. Superma/Batman #79 was a cool fast-paced issue featuring the time traveling villain Epoch as he goes back through time to claim his rightful place (all the best villains have a clear vision of their rightful place) as leader of a past society. Epoch lands in the past and comes face to face with Superman and Batman… and Robin. Specifically the Bronze-Age versions of the characters, so yes, Robin is wearing his little green tights.
Most of the action focuses on Epoch and his ability to stay a step ahead of the World’s Finest. The story is simple and feels like a throwback to classic Bronze-Age stories where there was little fuzziness between good guys and bad.
The last panel is fantastic with a spunky young Dick Grayson exclaiming “…or my name isn’t Robin, the Teen Wonder!” Gold. Jesus Merino has drawn a sharp looking book. Both his One Million Superman and Batman characters look fantastic and the actions sequences are snappy. I like Fiona Staples artwork on the cover, but I find Superman to be posturing a bit too much to love this piece.
Teen Titans #90
DC Comics
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J.T. Krul and Nicola Scott have brought Teen Titans back to the prominence they have deserved. This book was feeling aimless even before Geoff Johns departed the book shortly after the “One Year Later” event.
Teen Titans is fun, Krul gives time to all of the characters, Scott’s pencils are some of the finest the series has seen, and Damian Wayne (Robin) is a welcome addition to the team. In this issue, the Titans track down Barney Venton (perhaps not the most realistic name for a teenager in 2010), the newly-powered teen that defeated the team in the last issue. Aided by a pair of students with grudges and new powers, the Titans find themselves at a stalemate with Barney and co.
Krul seems to really have an affinity for Damian and Ravager, as he saves some of the best moments in the book for them. Krul writes them both as a couple of thrill-seeking heroes, motivated more by their love for a good fight than fighting for good. Scott has a clean and dynamic style that has a feel of George Perez’s own original vibrant New Teen Titans work.
Batman: the Dark Knight #1
DC Comics
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Batman: the Dark Knight may be the book that needs to be cut from the just-large-enough line of Bat-books. There was nothing significantly wrong with David Finch’s story except that it didn’t feel as though we were being presented with anything we haven’t seen before. This is a challenge to be sure, but one that Grant Morrison has Scott Snyder have been able to achieve on their Batman books.
Finch’s artwork is certainly above average and the book’s prestige format is always welcome; the artist draws an excellent Batman, Batcave, and the gadgetry and vehicles all look sharp. Finch isn’t a bad storyteller either. His pacing is good (no scenes linger) and his dialogue is fine. Ultimately, the book just doesn’t feel necessary.
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