15 Second Review - Batman Vol 2 Issue #6
Issue #6 of Batman is an interesting one. It brings a conclusion to a very compelling story arc and features great artwork. I’m a little disappointed that the cliff-hanger from issue #5 was a bit deceiving. That said, it’s still very enjoyable.
Final Verdict: A-
More art I like. Interesting style with this one
30 Second Review - Who Is Jake Ellis?
Argh! I recently read the Who Is Jake Ellis? series and I’m completely torn on how to rate it. In fact, I’m going to forgo my standard pros/cons list and just go with a gut check.
There’s nothing necessarily “bad” about this comic series. It’s a genuinely fun spy/mystery story that plays out like a really good movie (complete with some clever twists and interesting dialogue). At the same time though, I can’t help but wonder if it’ll stand the test of time. In 3 years, will people remember it? Will I remember it? I’m not so sure. Likewise, the artwork itself is simple and straight-forward. Not bad by any stretch, but not necessarily amazing or noteworthy.
Ultimately, I think this is a very good comic series that came extremely close to being great but fell short by an incredibly small measure. That being said, I’d still recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and well-grounded spy thriller.
Final Verdict: Strong B+
30 Second Review - Superman Earth One
I’m nearly at a loss for words.
I recently finished reading the trade paperback for Superman: Earth One and without a doubt, it’s one of the best Superman comics I’ve read in a LOOONG time. Regular followers of my blog will recall my prior complaints about Action Comics Vol 2 and how it had essentially “dumbed down” the story behind the man of steel; force-feeding insincere and contrived dialogue that just didn’t fit. Earth One is the complete opposite. It stands on it’s own as a near-perfect example of storytelling done right.
PROS:
- Great story - It has a simple but solid premise and delves into the internal struggle behind the man in steel as well as some elements of his background. Furthermore, it has excellent pacing; slow enough to delve into details and fast enough to not bore readers or dwell on the wrong parts.
- Overt attempts at humor are kept to a minimum - THANK YOU, DC! This was one of the few Superman comics I could read without cringing at misfired jokes/punchlines. The writer (J. Michael Straczenski) clearly understood that lighthearted moments can be even more powerful when they’re subtle.
- Great artwork - Perhaps not necessarily “original” or easily recognizable on its own but definitely of top tier quality.
NEUTRAL:
- Ending seemed a little rushed - Perhaps it was just me, but it seemed as though the ending was a little too abrupt and should have lasted a bit longer.
- Small deviations from the classic origin - some diehard fans might have objections to how Supe’s origin story is told. I personally loved the fresh take on it but I can understand how others might not appreciate it as much.
Ultimately, I consider this a must read for any superman comic fans out there. Check it out if you get a chance.
Final Verdict: A
The latest comic series on my radar: “Who Is Jake Ellis?”
30 Second Review - Action Comics Vol 2 #6
I just don’t get it. Action Comics Vol 2 has ALL of the separate pieces to make an amazing comic: arguably DC’s most famous superhero, a clean slate for story writing, and a veritable wonder team in the comic industry (Morrison, Kubert, and Dell). Yet it still doesn’t quite hit the mark.
I think ultimately, this series is experiencing an identity crisis of sorts. It seems like it feels the need (rightly so) to bring newcomers into the Superman experience. Conversely though, DC also wants to bring fresh material to the die-hard fans. Which leaves the comic in an awkward place of trying to please both worlds. The resulting story is a bit of a mess covering a variety of flashbacks and (*sigh*) a time bubble.
Yup, that’s right. Time bubble.
Sorry die-hard Superman fans, I’m probably being a little too harsh. If so, I sincerely apologize. I just want more than this. What specifically? Well for starters, I want deeper character development. Show me the flaws of Supe’s seemingly perfect character.
Oh well. Perhaps that’s all yet to come. We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I won’t be holding my breath.
Final Verdict: C+
Thirty Second Review: Batman Vol 2 Issue 5
I’m conflicted. There’s a lot to like about issue 5 of Batman. It continues a fantastic story arch exploring the mysterious Court of Owls and along the way, there is some truly creative artwork.
But…
I still have the same grievances that I had with the preceding 4 issues: story progression is reaaaaalllly slow. So much in fact, that I’m tempted to advise new readers to wait for the inevitable trade paperback to come out.
Final Verdict: B+
I can’t be the only one who’s experienced this frustration….
