Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!
It’s March and it’s one week closer to spring!
Let’s talk some comics!
Batman #42
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Mikel Janin
I’m not the biggest fan of Poison Ivy as a character. That’s being said, I’m really digging Tom King’s take on her.
He actually does something interesting with her rather than the traditional slugfest and it works incredibly well.
Poison Ivy has used her powers to the fullest. That means that every man, woman and child on earth is now under her control!
Only Batman and Catwoman have escaped her influence.
But are the two of them strong enough to save the world?
Let’s hope or it’s all going to hell!
The writing is sharp and strong. King is doing a masterful job for sure. Janin is my Batman artist of choice.
This is another great issue. Pick it up for sure. It’s getting really good.
RATING: A
Bane: Conquest #10
Written by Chuck Dixon
Illustrated by Graham Nolan
My gosh, is this book just wacky. I love it.
Chuck Dixon has just one mode in writing a comic book.
What mode is that?
Bombastic!
He used to have some subtlety to his writing that is just gone now. It’s still enjoyable however.
Bane is off to fight Kobra on his turf. He’s building an army! So he recruits twelve of the nastiest pieces of work he can find. To get them prepped, Bane sends them on a crazy mission!
That crazy Bane is using the mission as a test!
The art by Nolan is great here. The action flows seamlessly and it’s exciting. The fight scenes are clear and concise.
All in all it’s not a bad book. Its entertaining. Just don’t look for anything deeper than that.
RATING: B
Batman: White Knight #6
Written and Illustrated by Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy is killing it on this title. The writing is as strong as can be. We are headed towards the conclusion of this miniseries and this story keeps on getting better and better!
Gordon is done trusting the Batman!
He’s had it. He tries something to stop him but it fails.
Meanwhile, Jack Napier’s pills start becoming ineffective. This could wind up being bad for everyone.
The story is moving along at an incredible pace. Murphy knows what he is doing and it shows. The art is wonderful as well as he’s one of the best in the business.
Pick this up immediately. It’s really something great.
RATING: A
Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #5
Written by Tony Isabella
Illustrated by Clayton Henry
This series is rocking and rolling right along!
I’m sad it’s a limited series as it’s very compelling. Tony Isabella is the man, and he writes one hell of a story. This is another fine issue for sure.
Black Lightning and Tobias Whale come face to face for the first time!
The two enemies have a huge fight for the future of the city!
But is it a trap designed to end Black Lightning?
Of course it is!
What will happen?
The story is strong as stated before.
The art by Henry is just wonderful. He’s one of my favorite modern artists. He can literally draw anything with a straight face and make it work.
Pick it up. This is pretty awesome overall.
RATING: A-
Bombshells United #13
Written by Marguerite Bennett
Illustrated by Sandy Jarrell
This book is always a joy to read.
Bennett puts a lot of enthusiasm into her writing and it’s super cool. She’s passionate about these characters and it shows. Bennett’s also very skilled and talented.
The Batgirls are back in Gotham City! But some may be leaving it before long.
Alysia and Felicity head for Hawaii to investigate radio signals causing troubles from around the world.
But they find a new adversary while doing so!
Yikes!
I love Sandy Jarrell’s art. I loved it on Archie and I just love it here. It’s so appealing and super cool.
Pick this up. I liked it very much.
RATING: B+
Deathstroke #29
Written by Christopher Priest
Illustrated by Diogenes Neves
Christopher Priest is just doing a bang up job on this title. Every issue is strong and fascinating and I just love it. This will be a run to be remembered.
It’s this conclusion of the Chinatown storyline, Deathstroke takes on a whole lot of people in this issue.
He takes on the Super-Man of China! He has to take on Dr. Ikon. He takes on members of his own team!
He just doesn’t care! The art by Neves is something special. He’s been doing a great job and he’s underrated.
Pick this up. It’s another great issue in a great series.
RATING: A-
The Wild Storm #12
Written by Warren Ellis
Illustrated by Jon Davis- Hunt
This has been an epic series.
Warren Ellis is an excellent writer. He has taken these almost forgotten Wildstorm characters and made something new. I love the way this is turning out.
Angela Spica is hidden in one of Marlowe’s hidden labs and she’s about to get found out!
The Wildcats are in Jeopardy.
IO and Skywatch are close to a hot war.
The stakes are high, ladies and gentlemen!
Whats going to happen?
Jon Davis-Hunt is just a phenomenal artist. Ellis could not have picked better. The two work wonderfully together.
This has been a great 12 issues. Here’s to 12 more ladies and gentlemen! A must.
RATING: A
Injustice 2 #21
Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Daniel Sampere
Tom Taylor is a hell of a writer.
He takes these archetypal characters and spins them into new places. It’s a hard balancing act yet he pulls it off issue after issue.
And he makes it look easy!
Booster Gold is back! I love him.
In this issue, he trains Blue Beetle.
Meanwhile, Wonder Woman trains Supergirl!
Damian goes to Gorilla City to join Ra’s al Ghul. But there’s a rebellion going on against King Solovar!
This whole issue is just nuts!
The story is fun. The art is very good and is fitting for this title. Pick this up.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s the best comic book you are not currently reading.
RATING: B
Shade The Changing Woman #1
Written by Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated by Marley Zarcone
Shade the Changing Girl has now changed into Shade the Changing Woman.
That’s about the only difference between this and the last series.
The same creative team is back and rocking and rolling on this new book.
Shade has shed her alien body.
Now she has fled from the Earth body she had and into another one.
But new emotions start to form and Shade must deal with them. She has a lot to face, including coming to terms with some things in her past.
Castellucci is just a phenomenal writer. It’s sweet, funny, and strange. The art by Zarcone is tops.
Pick this book up. It is quite excellent.
RATING: A
Superman #42
Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
Illustrated by Patrick Gleason
This was a fun issue.
All of the hype has been about the upcoming Brian Michael Bendis run on Superman. People forget what a tremendous team Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason.
In this issue, Superboy comes face to face with Boyzarro!
Boyzarro is Bizarro’s boy!
It’s a crazy match indeed. But something crazier may be coming. You guessed it: Bizarro himself!
The story is very fun to read and it’s very engaging. The art is wonderful as well.
Pick this up. It’s another great issue by one of the finest creative teams out there.
RATING: A-
