Heavy hitters on comic stands this week, and I even forgot a copy of Saga on the shelf!
Neil Gaiman teams up with J.H. Williams III to return to Sandman after nearly 17 years, Andy Kubert tells the first New 52 Elseworld tale in Damian: Son of Batman #1 (spoiler, he doesn’t die!), Dean Hapiel and Mark Waid revive Red Circle’s The Fox. At ComiXology Submit, fend for Gold.
SANDMAN OVERTURE #1 (of 6)
WRITER: Neil Gaiman
ART: J.H. Williams III
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
Price: $4.99
Publisher: DC Comics / Vertigo
UPC: 76194131030500111
Buy it HERE
To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Sandman comics, Neil Gaiman announced his return to the character with Batwoman/Promethea artist J.H. Williams III. Any artist could draw the story, but William’s breakthrough page layouts, fascination with symbolism, painterly expressions and abstractions are perfect for the land of The Dreaming.
Cleverly, as a nod to his absence, Gaiman returns Morpheus to the book (first as a plant!) by noting that he has been gone for some time.
He returns to London to confront one of his creations, Corinthian who has broken Sandman’s rules of interacting with the waking world.
After dealing with Corinthian, Dream is called to another realm, and Williams carries him there on an 8 page fold out spiral dreamscape that is a spectacular publishing gimmick, but one that showcases the beautiful artwork and range of our artist.
Pacing and delivery of this world doesn’t of course lie on either the artist or writer exclusively. Gaiman’s return is yet another chapter to a masterwork, long thought closed. This book is not a coda, rather it is like tapping into The Dreaming for a familiar recurring dream in between wake and sleep, perhaps a nap taken on the same day you slept in really late.
This book is beautiful, amazing, accessible to new readers (a dream gateway!) and also full of familiar characters. Writing a review of a new classic is difficult, so please just take this one merely as a strong recommendation, especially for fans of J.H. William’s signature style.
DAMIAN: SON OF BATMAN #1 (of 4)
WRITER/ARTIST: Andy Kubert
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
Price: $3.99
Publisher: DC Comics
UPC: 76194131694900111
Buy it HERE
Andy Kubert co-created the 10 year old bad kid Robin in 2006 with Grant Morrison based on Mike W. Barr’s creation.
The son of Talia al Ghul and Batman (erm, Bruce Wayne) was raised an assassin, and when custody turned over to the Dark Knight, Bruce (and Dick Grayson) tried as hard as he could to make him a regular, normal kid. That was fine sometimes, when he’d befriend a Bat-Cow or have real tender moments with Ace or Alfred, humanizing the boy.
But mostly, he was kind of a dick.
Morrison always planned on introducing Damian and killing him off, which he did this year.
Apparently, Andy Kuburt had a different plans and was working on this mini-series for a while.
Going into weirdo Neal Adam’s Batman: Odyssey contradictory continuity territory, DC Comics released the first issue of what can only be described as an Elseworld’s tale, or one that exists in the pre-New 52 continuity. Lord in Hollywood only knows why “The New 52” is emblazoned on the cover of this one.
At any rate, because this does require some explaining, fast forward a few years into the future and Damian is a teenager, the age most Robins historically have been. Batman and Robin are out patrolling when they stumble upon a Joker fish that explodes, killing Batman. A reversal of the Jason Todd moment happens here, with Damian holding Batman in his arms.
This is where the adventure begins! Alfred admonishes Damian (who still eats cereal in the kitchen!) for seeking revenge on the Joker, but also the other Rogues in Gotham.
Fans of Kubert & Morrison’s run will delight in this well paced, high action revenge tale that cameos the League of Assassins. A Talia flashback shows my panel of the week, a moment where I imagine my own dialogue, “leave the cowl on”.
THE FOX #1
WRITERS: Dean Haspiel & Mark Waid
ARTIST: Dean Haspiel
Publication Date: October 30, 2013
Price: $2.99
Publisher: Red Circle Comics / Archie Comics
Buy it HERE
The Fox looks to reintroduce a classic golden age comic hero, one not seen in a big action movie or in cartoons, but freak magnet photojournalist Paul Patten has been around since the 1940s!
The original Fox was his dad, actually, and Paul Jr. has no superpowers, just a knack of getting into situations that baffle.
Haspiel is writing and drawing the book and collaborating with Mark Waid on dialogue.
Just as Archie comics continue to appeal to a broad audience, this superhero book has a unique and fun voice that will do the same.
A crossover with original patriotic star-spangled hero The Shield is teased at the end, assembling once again the team known as The Mighty Crusaders!
This book is not just for comic book historians or snobby collectors, this is a street level hero, with Parker and Murdock problems, the colors are bright and the problems aren’t dark but strange. Give this book a shot, Deano has promised big things coming up, and reading a superhero story without much pretense is a sigh of relief!
GOLD #1
WRITER/ARTIST: Serg Sorokin
Price: $.99
Imprint: Serg Sorokin
Page Count: 22 pages
Digital Release Date: July 3, 2013
Age Rating: 15+ Only
Buy it HERE
Grab your machetes and head to the Amazon for this Indiana Jones type adventure for Aztec gold.
There is a curse on the temple, but is this to scare robbers or is it real?
Serg Sorokin’s storytelling is great, flashing forward and back in time to show the real motivations of our would be adventurer and you might doubt if he is a hero or not.
Great stuff, looking forward to more of Serg’s work, this one-and-done story is full of action and tells a complete story.
