Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!
We’re in the middle of summer and things are heating up over at DC!
Here are this week’s reviews!
Batman #26
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Mikel Janin
Tom King may have found his groove here on this title.
Finally.
“The War of Jokes and Riddles” storyline is, in fact, fantastic thus far.
I know they started King off with David Finch as a collaborator on this Batman title, but Mikel Janin is a much better fit working with King. They make for a good team.
What’s great about this issue, King has the villains choose their sides.
They can choose between the Joker or they can choose The Riddler.
The inner workings of who they decide is pretty damn awesome.
If they don’t decide? Well, they are dealt with pretty harshly.
King seems to be on fire all of a sudden here in making a unique Batman book. Janin is an artist who has come into his own. Pick up this storyline. It’s shaping up to be a classic.
RATING: A
Deathstroke #21
Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Diogenes Neves
Another issue of Deathstroke hits the stands and it’s another great issue. This is the start of a new storyline and it’s a great starting point for new readers. Priest really knows how to mix it up and this issue shows us how much.
Deathstroke comes back from his little visit from the Speed Force a changed man! Slade is now on the side of justice. He’s dedicated to it too.
The world however isn’t very accepting of his new career path.
Even when he recruits some former Teen Titans to work alongside him, nobody is buying it.
It’s a brand new direction for this title. Has Slade turned to the good side? Priest keeps the reader guessing. He’s just a master of the character at this point. The art is pretty damn good as well. Neves may have found his niche here on this character.
This is a good book that is solid throughout. Pick it up. Well worth your time.
RATING: A
Bane: Conquest#3
Written by Chuck Dixon
Illustrated by Graham Nolan
This nutty comic book makes you feel like you’re back in the 1990’s reading Batman.
This is definitely the Chuck Dixon Batman: Full of action, light on dialogue, and a ton of fun. I’m enjoying this series very much for its simplicity.
Batman and Bane have escaped from Damocles. They had to team up to do so. There is a problem though. Batman and Bane don’t like each other! This leads to some great conflict between the two. Dixon keeps us interested throughout.
Graham Nolan does a good job on art as well. He uses clean lines that make the storytelling easy to follow.
Pick this up. It’s a fun read for sure.
RATING: B
Nightwing #24
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Miguel Mendonca
I’m completely bored by this title by this point. This is one of the few titles that was actually better before the Rebirth event.
I feel like every month I read this and I think about how this could be better. This month is no different.
Nightwing fights against Tiger Shark and the minions he put together.
It’s a very standard issue that may surprise you…if you’ve never read a comic book before.
Dick Grayson is a good character and I feel like this isn’t the character I grew up with.
I fault Seeley for not engaging me as a reader.
The art is perfectly fine, but without the character and the excitement we are left with a standard comic book. A boring, standard comic book.
RATING: C
Shade The Changing Girl #10
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated by Marley Zarcone
This wonderful comic book may be the best new series in the past year. Castellucci really knows how to write, and this is just a beautiful tale.
Putting Shade on a road trip is pretty damn spectacular and I really enjoyed every second of it thus far. It’s a joyful, emotional book from cover to cover.
Shade heads over from Gotham City to the wonderful world of New Mexico to a nuclear test site. It’s also the setting of her favorite television show call “Life With Honey.” But there are ghosts amidst this site that Shade starts noticing.
This book really is unique. The art by Zarcone is just perfect for this book. It compliments the writing perfectly and creates a world all of its own. Pick this title up. It’s one of the best currently out there.
RATING: A
Superman #26
Written by Michael Moreau
Illustrated by Scott Godlewski
It had to happen. The last twenty five issues of Superman have been quite excellent. It’s been one of the best titles on the market actually.
Then, we get this. The dreaded fill in issue.
Thankfully, it’s not as bad as I initially thought it might be.
Superman and Superboy hang out in this issue like a father and son should. You know, if that father and son had superpowers. They have a little vacation as it were and they get to know each other a little more.
I miss Tomasi and Gleason but this isn’t bad. It’s a decent enough issue with some pretty good art.
Yet, it doesn’t have the spark or shine that I’m used to. The best part is the alternate cover by Lee Weeks.
Still, if you’re a completist this isn’t so bad.
You won’t be angry or anything having read it.
RATING: B
DC Comics Bombshells #30
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Various
I never knew this title existed. It’s written by the ever reliable Marguerite Bennett.
But what was it I wondered. I picked up this, not having read the previous 29 issues.
So I was admittedly confused.
Still, Bennett is a good writer and I could follow it enough to make sense of it.
The original team of Bombshells fight against Killer Frost and Hugo Strange. It’s a wild issue.
Bennett handles the characters very well. She especially has a good take on Supergirl. Maybe there’s a future for her writing the title?
The art isn’t bad. I may have to track down the previous 29 issues. It’s a solid enough read to pursue the entire rest of the series.
RATING: B
