This week has been all bad. What started as a holiday week turned into a scheduling nightmare. but I’m here, and I’m reviewing four big books that came out this week. Secret Six, Batman & Robin, Brightest Day, and The Walking Dead. What did I think this post holiday late-fest? Well, you’ll just have to find out, won’t you?
Secret Six #23
Writer: JOHN OSTRANDER
Artists: RB SILVA & ALEXANDRE PALAMARO
Cover: DANIEL LUVISI
32pg
Full Color
$2.99
Guest writer John Ostrander (SUICIDE SQUAD) brings you a story about men who choose to hunt the most dangerous game in the world: The Secret Six! The Six are tricked into traveling to a secluded island where they’re trapped in a fight for their lives. But the Six are nobody’s prey!
This book came out at a curious time. It’s not especially amazing, but it is quite good. It’s just a little funny because it has a similar premise to the recently released book Predators, starring Adrien Brody. The team is kidnapped on eh way to a mission and they have to get themselves out. Now, the kidnappers seem to have bitten off a little more than they can chew, and the story quickly unfolds in this one issue arc that is strangely out of continuity (it takes place before the previous arc). Guest writer John Ostrander obviously wanted this to be a quick fun story, as he’s not the regular writer.
Ostrander succeeds too. He’s a worthy substitute for the current writer Gail Simone, as he created the modern Suicide Squad himself, and they have ties to the Secret Six. He knows all of the characters quite well, from the stoic and powerful Bane to the whimsical and creepy Ragdoll. All of them act as if Gail wrote them herself, and that’s far from a bad thing. The dialogue in the book is especially strong, with Deadshot’s impeccable if not a tad sadistic humor stands out.
If there is a weakness in the book, it happens to be the art. It’s not the worst art I’ve ever seen, but some of the panels felt awkward and the character designs looked off. There were some panels where I swear Catman looked cross-eyed. As a matter of fact, most of the characters looked that way, and it was odd to say the least. At least the action was well handled, and that’s what matters, right?
Finishing up, the book was a lot of mindless fun that really doesn’t have much weight to it, and it’s an excellent stand alone arc that anyone can read and enjoy, regardless of if they’ve read any of the previous issues.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy
Batman & Robin #13
Writer: GRANT MORRISON
Artist: FRAZER IRVING
Covers:FRANK QUITELY, FRAZER IRVING
32pg.
Full Color
$2.99 US
Writer Grant Morrison is joined by artist Frazer Irving (BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE) for the first chapter of a 3-part epic!
Thomas Wayne — a man believed murdered over 20 years ago — has returned with an incredible tale to tell, and he’s claiming the entire Wayne fortune! He’s slyly demanding that Bruce Wayne must return if Bruce wishes to oppose the claim! Plus, the long-awaited return of the ultimate Batman villain!
Oh Grant Morrison. Just as I’m starting to lose my faith in you (I have not been enjoying RoBW), you go and release a fan-TASTIC issue like this. Serving as a tie-in to that mini-series, Dick and Damian have The Joker in custody after he revealed himself to be Oberon Sexton. They’re trying to search for answers, and they seem to be getting them from a strangely cooperative Clown Prince of Crime. But the plot threads raised up from previous arcs of this series are starting to come together, as the viral addictions that Professor Pyg was working on came back to the light.
Continued belowAs I said, Grant Morrison is at the top of his game here. I’m not the fanboy that Matt is, but I’ve really loved this book. Plot threads from earlier books are starting to merge together and a lot of it is starting to make a lot more sense. Even the Black Glove has returned, this issue, and he’s disgustingly evil, from his planned murder of his wife and son (could this be a precursor to the vaunted Multiversity Comics?) to his love of satanic orgies. He’s a bad dude for sure.
The art I could take or leave though. It was fine, it got the point across, but some of it felt like it was polished and then roughed up again to simulate grittiness in a Batman title, when I don’t feel that’s necessary at all. The character designs though were lovely and the action was brilliantly plotted.
The book was flat out one of the best issues since the new flagship started, and I enjoyed nearly every minute of it. Pick this up.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy
Brightest Day #5
Writers: GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Artists: IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO
Covers by DAVID FINCH & SCOTT WILLIAMS, IVAN REIS
32pg.
Full Color
$2.99Deadman discovers the truth behind the formation of the White Lantern and what it means to the twelve returnees and the rest of the DC Universe. Plus, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Hawkgirl and Firestorm discover the price for their resurrections…and why they may be doing more harm than good to the world.
Anyone notice this book is a week late? Was that just me? Oh, OK, maybe it was. Anyway, Brightest Day is back and it’s continuing the stories of all the characters brought back by the White Light. We haven’t seen The Martian Manhunter in over a month now, but we’re treated to the yarns of the Hawkcouple, Aliveman, along with Aquaman and Mera all racing to figure out just what the heck is going on with them.
All in all, the book was quite enjoyable, even if the cover lied. We don’t really find out about Hawkworld, we are just treated to a fight with some other winged creatures and some panther looking folks. Not much was explained, and now all we have is another question: “Why can’t they touch?”
The story with perhaps the best traction right now is the Boston Brand story. He seems to be the only one whose story is moving forward lately, while the rest of them go places but don’t do much. It’s a little frustrating. I had hoped after the previous issue it would have continued to pull along. But I suppose one story progression is better than none, right?
The art is incredibly hard to critique. Since there are so many artists on the title, it can be difficult to single out any that are good or bad, even if none of them are poor. I suppose to best thing about the different artists working on the title is that they all complement each other, and they have similar styles that make it easier to transition from one scene to the next. I just want more Martian Manhunter so I can see more Patrick Gleason, which is the only artist I can pick out from the Brightest Day stable.
It’s frustrating to see a book with so much potential feel like it’s not moving at all. I have to move this to a high browse, even if I enjoy it.
Final Verdict: 6.9 – Browse
The Walking Dead #74
Writer: ROBERT KIRKMAN
Art & Cover: CHARLIE ADLARD & CLIFF RATHBURN
32 PAGES
Black & White
$2.99A life restored by His glory.
RETAILER WARNING: MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES.
Why do I hate myself? I don’t like reviewing this book because it’s the hardest book to review along with Fables. It’s a book about character development and it mostly sidesteps the action for smaller moments that make you appreciate the action later in whatever arc they happen to be writing.
Continued belowKirkman is again at the top of his game here, and it’s sickeningly amazing how he writes these characters, and makes you care about them until their inevitable death. I see a few characters dying in the near future, and my heart weeps for them.
The art by Charlie Adlard is your standard TWD art. He doesn’t up the bar, but he keeps the same level of consistency we’ve come to appreciate from his time on the book.
The book is just consistently one of the best books on the market, and if you’re not reading, you should be.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – Buy
