Classic Horror: Batman - Legends of the Dark Knight volume 5

 

Review:

The stories in this Legends of the Dark Knight collection are horrifying, and deliberately place themselves in line with some classics of the horror genre. With explicit nods to Shelley and Poe, these are fun cowl-wearing updates on well-traveled paths.

In "I.. Batman" Aaron Lopresti does double duty as both writer and artist. He spins a modern take on Mary Shelley's genre-defining Frankenstein story. Dr Norman Carver gathers blood spatter from a series of Batman battles over the years, and with mostly noble intentions, he uses it to clone an imperfect  Batman of his own. But his creation proves harder to control than anticipated, leading to tragedy. The grotesque faces and cross of Frankenstein's Monster with Bizarro Batman makes for at times gruesome panels, interspersed with a sweet back-story of the hero-wanna-be child and his Batman doll.

"Ashes to Ashes" by Doug Wagner and drawn with surprising restraint by Matthew Dow Smith, is another horrific tale, pitting Batman versus an enemy who is so scarred by healed-over burns that he feels no pain. Arson, murder, revenge, eyeballs floating in a glass, Wagner's tale takes us to some dark places. The tragic end felt inevitable. Dow Smith's images are as dark and frightening as the narrative. He does, however, make an unexpected artistic choice of rendering Batman as a slim, ordinary-sized man, reminiscent of Adam West and Batman '66 TV shows.

The Riddler is one of my all-time favorite Batman villains, and he is featured in "Herded Limits" by Marc Guggenheim, with art by Federico Dallochio. This tale plays more to Edward Nigma's genius intellect, brilliance and cunning, rather than to his goofiness or obsessions. Already in prison, but hardly confined, Riddler is playing a long-game in his quest for a lost treasure, believed buried in Metropolis. But how to find it, when he is incarcerated in Arkham?

Another nod to classic horror comes in "Nevermore", a delightful if predictable ode to Edgar Allen Poe, by Ron Marz with some clever artwork by Cully Hamner and Derec Donovan.

The collection closes with the light and entertaining "What Would Batman Do?" by J. Torres and drawn by Matthew Clark. It is a charming glimpse into the education of Robin and Batgirl. With the big guy out of town, when a prison break happens with multiple escapees from Arkham, they must ask themselves: What would Batman do?

Description:

These are dark days for the Dark Knight.

Where would the Dark Knight be if not for the monsters that prey on the very essence of innocent life? His defeats of villains like the Riddler have only helped grow his legend. But what if that's been part of Edward Nigma's plan all along? And for all of Batman's victories, could a new villain obsessed with Edgar Allan Poe be the one to finally bury him? It's up to Arkham Asylum's newest psychologist, Dr. Updin, to find out.

Collects: Legends of the Dark Knight online digital chapters #66-68 and #70-84

Authors: Various
Artists: Vaious
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Nov. 10 2015
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401258146
Pages: 200 pages

Gotham's Dark Detective: Batman - Legends of the Dark Knight volume 2

 

Review:

The Legends of the Dark Knight ongoing series was a platform for newer or up-and-coming comics talents to show their mettle. Tales varied in size, seldom stretching to full-issue length. Indeed, this collection reprints 5 issues and includes 9 distinct stories.

With each new chapter, the writers and artists change, with all the impact one would expect on style, pacing, techniques and other individual touches. A very episodic series and collection.

The transitions likely felt more natural in the original online digital chapters - in a collected edition, be prepared for those large shifts between tales.

The cream of this 9-tale crop is "Tap Tap" by Roy Fawkes and illustrated by Stephane Roux. It is a fun romp of an interrupted cat-burglary, light and amusing, perfectly paced. Roux's images are dynamic and fluid, and at times the colors positively glow.

It's a sharp contrast with most of the rest of the collection, whose art is more often muted and dark, with tones of grey and blues, or else heavily inked. Even a more colorful one like "Carved" (by Paul Tobin and Tradd Moore) is heavy on the pencils and its angular characters display a quick-sketch feel.

Also worth your time is Jeff Parker's "Gotham Spirit" entry, with art by Gabriel Houdman. It tells the tale of an ordinary convenience store robbery thwarted by Batman. A tale in which Batman neither speaks nor narrates - the solid visuals convey all the reader needs to know about Batman.

With other appearances by Killer Croc (with his pet dragon), Scarecrow (a fascinating paraplegic future), Penguin (teaming up to work with Batman to stop a larger foe) and a couple monster mysteries, this is a solid book.

Description:

Top writers and artists from comics and beyond tell tales of the Dark Knight!

This second volume of Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight collects short stories of the Dark Knight by Jeff Parker, Christos Gage, Chris Sprouse, Ray Fawkes and more!

Collects: issues #6-10 of the printed series, or #16-29 and 41 of the online digital chapters

Authors: 9 different authors
Artists: 10 different artists
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: May 20 2014
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401246006
Pages: 168 pages

Filling the Final Gaps: Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 5: A Savage End

 

Review:

This collection is a fitting capstone on the at-times brilliant ongoing New 52 series Superman/Wonder Woman. In keeping with the entire series, this collection is by times poetic, beautiful, intimate, brutal, merciless, unrelenting and, finally, romantic.

Author Peter J Tomasi pens the main story arc, of the battle against a ruthless and rejuvenated Vandal Savage and the approaching death of Superman. The sequence of events is jumpy, constantly interrupted by wild swings in the characters and situations between the chapters. This collection leaves those gaps in place, and points to the other Superman titles to fill in those gaps, with a set of one-page explanations to summarize those other developments.

To Tomasi's credit, the results hold together well enough as standalone stories, despite the jarringly large gaps.

I love that the collection includes two exclusive final stories, numbered #30 and #31. These are written by Brian Buccellato and drawn by Guiseppe Cafarl, and they fill in the gap between Superman #50 and Superman/Wonder Woman #28. Along with Tomasi's excellent #25, these are superb superhuman romance tales.

So many artists share in this collection. Doug Mahnke gets the cover credit for his two issues, and internally the styles vary widely, from the familiar Mahnke to the balletic violence of Cliff Richards in #27 and the clean, simple cartoon stylings of Cafaro in #30-31.

This is a beautiful, sweet and fitting end to this ongoing exploration, a giant "What If" of a series about two ultra-powered non-humans falling in love, and the impact on the friends, family and world around them.

Description:

A “power couple” no more, Superman and Wonder Woman need each other more than ever if they’re to defeat the immortal despot Vandal Savage. By stealing the Man of Steel’s powers, Savage has realized his master plan to draw back to Earth the comet that gave him his power eons ago. And this time, he’s confident it will grant him unspeakable might.

In his weakened state, Superman is a near-certain casualty at the hands of Savage and the super-powered genetic offspring that kill in his name. Diana appeals to the Olympian gods to heal him, knowing that they will first put his spiritual form through an emotionally grueling test to determine his worthiness. Should the God of War’s desperate gamble pay off, she and Superman must still contend with the immortal madman and his progeny. Will that epic battle move the estranged lovers to reaffirm their feelings for one another…or must one final tragedy bring them back into each other’s arms?

Collects: issues #25-29 and collected edition exclusive SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #30-31.

Authors: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Doug Mahnke, Cliff Richards, Ed Benes and Jorge Jimenez
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: Dec 27 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 9781401265458
Pages: 208 pages

Dark Indeed: Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 4: Dark Truth

 

Review:

Issue #18 of the ongoing Superman/Wonder Woman series brings the start of its take on the cross-title "Truth" storyline. Lois Lane has exposed Superman's secret identity as Clark Kent, at a time when his powers are fading (or gone, or not - it seems to depend on the narrative needs of the moment).

None of these developments were on the radar in issue #17, so author Peter J Tomasi and artist Doug Mahnke need to bring up to speed any readers who are not following the other Superman titles. Which they do brilliantly in a touching and tender 3-page bedroom reflection as Diana watches Clark sleep.

That quiet moment over, our couple must solve the mystery of the disappearance of Clark's circle of family and friends; battle the Suicide Squad (which feels decidedly one-sided even with a depowered Superman), initially fight and later join forces with Parasite, and ultimately struggle with issues of trust and betrayal in their relationship.

The whole premise and arc of "Truth" is one of the most frustrating and uninteresting Superman developments in years. Trauma and PTSD can scar and alter one's outlook and personality. But this Clark Kent is all bitterness and rage, with little of the recognizable character we've watched evolve over its 80-year history. The actions and choices he makes in these stories are far beyond the boundaries of the character, even with the most generous of error-bar ranges. A mental health check is in order, as he is stuck in a very angry state of grief.

Tomasi's version is promising, with a stronger relational anchor in Wonder Woman, compared to the other Truth-infected titles. Yet even here the extreme edge, the metaphorical giant Kryptonite chip on the shoulder, ultimately dooms those relationships and drags these tales down with it.

Description:

Superman, deprived of most of his power and outed to the world as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, is in trouble. Someone is targeting his human friends and hometown. Lana Lang has disappeared. The Kent family home has vanished. And graves have been desecrated within Smallville. With Wonder Woman at his side, Superman flies home to investigate.

Frustrated with Wonder Woman’s growing vigilance over his weakened state, Superman leaves her behind in an effort to protect her when he realizes that whoever is targeting his friends and family might soon move on to her. But it is Wonder Woman who discovers the key to unlocking the mysteries plaguing Smallville: an imprisoned Lois Lane.

Collects: Superman / Wonder Woman #18-24

Authors: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Doug Mahnke
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: June 14 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 978-1401263225
Pages: 192 pages

From Trauma to Magog: Superman/Wonder Woman Vol. 3: Casualties of War

 

Review:

The Casualties of War storyline introduces the powerful new villain Magog to the DC world. Formidable in size, with thick warrior armor and a horned helm, he holds his own vs Superman and Wonder Woman, aided by his Circe-infused power staff. But ultimately his rage is insufficient and his skills too amateur to win.

For Circe has twisted the grief and anger of young David Reid. Orphaned five years earlier, still a child, by the parademon invasion, he seeks justice - or just revenge - against the heroes who failed to save his family. And he becomes a pawn in Circe's game.

Author Peter J Tomasi, whose DC career has seen him write for a wide set of prominent titles, strikes a lighter tone than usual, at least initially. He gives us welcomed peeks into the life and dynamic of Clark and Diana, and of Superman and Wonder Woman. It is a slice of super-powered domestic life and tenderness and trust, and helps to frame the heavy-hitting brawls at the center of this tale.

Doug Mahnke's art is superb throughout, carrying the domestic sections with creativity, and packing intense punches in the battles. A solid and vivid series.

Description:

It's no surprise that after recent events, Superman and Wonder Woman are cautious about the appearance of the new hero who calls himself Wonderstar. But this mysterious hero seems to be asking for nothing more than their guidance in dealing with his strange, erratic powers—and for their help in protecting his loved ones and his secret identity. The only problem is that his past is a blank slate. He doesn't know who he is, where he comes from—or why is feels a strange connection to the Man of Steel and the Amazon Warrior!

Collects: Superman / Wonder Woman#8-11 and Superman / Wonder Woman Annual #1

Authors: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Doug Mahnke
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: June 14 2016
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 9781401263218
Pages: 168 pages

Hot Date Night - Superman / Wonder Woman vol 1 Power Couple

 

Review:

When people share experiences with intense emotions, adrenaline and threats or challenges to overcome, sometimes sparks of romance are kindled. It's only human. Apparently it happens to aliens and goddesses too.

Such is the premise of this New 52 ongoing series from DC Comics. Superman and Wonder Woman, after countless times of working together to save the world, have fallen in love. Yet they are two very different people - one a warrior, one a "boy scout" - with two very different philosophies - one embraces a secret identity, the other lives her hero stature in the open. Can they navigate their differences? Can they tell anyone?

In other hands, this series could head in a sappy direction, or become overly melodramatic. Not so here. Charles Soule plays with these tensions, teasing out new angles on some well-known characters. The nervous energy, the advice-seeking, awkward misunderstandings, even anxiety over appropriate gifts for an occasion, or meeting family. So much rich fare on the dating and romance themes. Yet perfectly balanced with the threats both divine and alien, and the battles that ensue.

The visuals complement the story beautifully. Tony S. Daniel blends action and violence with stunning layouts and superb attention to detail, to bring to life this couple and their range of complex feelings for each other. A wistful look in one's eyes. Nervous fidgeting in the other. Wounds from battles, lovers in silhouettes. All beautifully done.

I need more of this series! Looking forward to future volumes

Description:

Beginning a bold new series that details the relationship between The Man of Steel and the Warrior Princess as writer Charles Soule (Swamp Thing) is joined by artist Tony S. Daniel (Batman) to tell the tale of a romance that will shake the stars themselves. These two super-beings love each other, but not everyone shares their joy. Some fear it, some test it--and some will try to kill for it. Some say love is a battlefield, but where Superman and Wonder Woman are concerned it spells Doomsday!

Collects: Issues #1-6 of Superman/Wonder Woman

Authors: Charles Soule
Artists: Tony S. Daniel, Paulo Siqueira
Published By: DC Comics
Published When: March 24 2015
Parental Rating: Teen
ISBN: 9781401253462
Pages: 200 pages