Check out what I checked out this week.
Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.
Welcome to The Pull List.
And, as always…Spoilers ahead!
Batman & Robin #37
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray
Colorist: John Kalisz
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
When Grant Morrison killed Damian Wayne in the pages of Batman Incorporated, many wondered how this would affect the Batman & Robin series.
Peter J. Tomasi and company have worked hard on producing great stories, but what direction would they go in without their ace in the hole?
Damian’s name appears second on the marquee, but he was the featured attraction.
A grieving story arc followed by several Bat-villains taking the second lead in an interesting concept didn’t replace, but filled the void left by the Boy Wonder’s demise.
Twenty two months later, Robin’s road to resurrection has a few road bumps in the form of a Lazarus Pit followed by a trip to Apokolips. DC Comics has done a good job of promoting Batman versus Darkseid, and while history dictates that the Caped Crusader will find a way to win, seeing how he will pull off such a feat is the stories allure.
Tomasi makes this moment payoff for loyal readers as Darkseid comments on things that occurred in the first arc of the Geoff John’s helmed Justice League.
John Kalisz’s Omega Beam red color motif displayed Apokolips in all its fiery glory while Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray bring Batman’s struggle to the forefront as he trades fisticuffs with the New God. The opening round of attacks show Batman handling the situation with ease until a peek inside the Hell-Bat suit shows Bruce is grimacing with every clubbing blow.
There is a subplot involving Batgirl and Cyborg that didn’t take away, but augmented the main event brawl because it reminded the reader that time was running out. Darkseid gaining the upper hand against Batman is arguably the best thing in the book. Again, you know who is going to win, but each bone crushing blow makes that outcome less likely and gets to the point where it will be ridiculous if the odds on favorite pull it out.
Tomasi produces an outcome that doesn’t disappoint while giving us the long awaited reunion between father and son that takes a different turn.
The first couple of pages takes the story from zero to sixty and delivers loads of fun that never lets up. If the rumors are true and Damien does indeed have super powers, this is going to bring a whole new element to the series since Bruce could barely control the powerless version of his son.
Score: 5 out of 5
Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man #8
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: David Marquez
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
One thing that has been looming over this entire series is the past of Miles Morales’ father, Jefferson Davis.
On the surface, we know that Jefferson has a salty past which made him look unsympathetic when he ran out on his son after learning his wall crawling secret. Jefferson returns and sits Miles down for the ultimate father son talk.
At first, the direction of this issue appeared it was going to be a letdown since there was no follow up with last month’s startling revelation that Miles’ girlfriend, Katie Bishop and her family and full-fledged members of Hydra. The actual reveal was a one two punch of “OMG” that was executed to perfection.
Brian Michael Bendis shows us why he is such a great storyteller and gives us something different and equally satisfying. We travel back to a time before Miles was born when Jefferson and his brother Aaron (the future Prowler) ran with some bad people tied into the seedy underbelly of the city. Jefferson turns out to be someone not to be trifled with and is recruited by Nick Fury to stay the course in order to get to the one guy calling the shots.
Jefferson has the ultimate dilemma on his hands as he either incurs the wrath of the New York gangs or is thrown into a deep dark hole by S.H.I.E.L.D. This peek into the previous life of Jefferson Davis is a far cry from the hard working family man that we were introduced to when the series began. His hatred for mutants is understandable since he’s had dealings with them during his time with Fury.
Shutting out Miles was done out of fear because he realizes that his past has come back to haunt him and his son.
The artwork of David Marquez has been always spot on but it was coloring of Justin Ponsor that took center stage as the dark tone during the flashbacks represented for Jefferson a point in time that he would like to forget. As much as the Katie Bishop thing is just begging for continuation, the life of Jefferson Davis is a great detour that promises even more answers from the past that will dictate the future.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
Wytches #3
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Jock
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99
Three issues in and Wytches has received vast critical acclaim.
Multiple comic book store owners that I’ve spoken to have stated that the Image title is among the highest requested books for a customer’s subscription pull list.
Scott Snyder gets to fully sink his teeth into his creator owned psychological horror story that oozes tension with every turn of the page.
Sailor is missing and her parents are working with police to find her. Charlie Rooks, Sailor’s father becomes the focal point of the story as his tales of being attacked by a supernatural element is chocked up to delusions brought on by fear.
Snyder’s hallmark of storytelling is how he hides things in plain sight, only for the reader to marvel at his brilliance when the shocking discovery is made.
In every issue, the talented hand of Jock illustrates a half page facial expression of Charlie Rooks as if he is looking into the camera with a distinguished look on his face. The innocence is slightly outweighed by the creep factor and suggests there is something bad about Charlie that hasn’t come to light, yet.
I thought I was just over analyzing the depiction until his attacker said Charlie has secrets which adds credence to the notion that knowingly or unknowingly, Charlie is hiding something. I say unknowingly because the supernatural elements we’ve been presented with thus far are outside the box and well thought-out because everything Snyder does has a purpose.
While this issue is not as interesting as the first two, we get to know the family a little bit more while being pointed in a few different directions which will make fans come back for more in 2015.
Score: 4 out of 5
Godzilla Cataclysm #5
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Dave Wachter
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Price: $3.99
The final act of Godzilla Cataclysm deals with the realization of human error in the face of annihilation.
Hiroshi, now an old man, belonged to a group that attempted to use mind-control to make the monsters do their bidding. Yeah, that didn’t go so well and the Cataclysm laid waste to humanity. Those who remain are being hunted by Destroyah.
Enter Godzilla and we have ourselves a fight.
I was impressed with Cullen Bunn’s ability to add such a detailed human element to the story while ensuring that the monster we paid to see are highlighted in grand fashion.
Hiroshi coming to terms with his part in the Cataclysm was poetic and carried enough gravitas to make the moment a powerful one. Dave Wachter can draw one mean monster. His artwork is gorgeous and his well-constructed page layouts make all the difference in Godzilla vs. Destroyah looking like a battle instead of two giants stumbling into buildings. The ending could have been a little better and while I can’t tell if a sequel is in the cards, this book is still worthy of your hard earned money, just for the art alone.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
Predator Fire and Stone #3
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Chris Mooneyham
Colorist: Dan Brown
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
Have you ever heard the story of a Predator and a human sitting together by a fire?
No?
Well, it goes something like this.
The Predator is on the hunt for an Engineer and he is holding Galgo hostage via a laser leash. Their back and forth with one another as they comb the woods interesting in a sense that they seemed to be getting along, as friends.
Well, as friendly as those two particular species could.
Galgo is a jerk so you really don’t feel bad for him even though he might have some redeeming qualities revealed down the road.
Williamson delivers laid back story which isn’t a bad thing, but it makes the payoff at the end pretty sweet. Chris Mooneyham’s artwork exhibits good character work with a gritty presentation, but the coloring is rather plain, lacks energy, and didn’t serve the illustrations well.
The showdown this issue builds up to takes place next month and I’m intrigued to see how it all unfolds because based on what’s happened in Fire and Stone so far, The Predator doesn’t stand a chance.
However, I’m sure Williamson will be able to throw in a few twists and turns that will make it a worthwhile affair.
Score: 3 out of 5
