Hey all, time for another helping of Comic book reviews. This is quite an interesting week of releases. We have another Mark Millar release for the second week in a row, The Chaos war gets more chaotic with the chaos king attacking all kids of hell, Brightest day focuses on ONE character, Batman and Robin has some dark and creepy revelations, and Power Girl teams up with Batman and meets a new villainess. That's right, today's reviews are Batman and Robin #15, Brightest Day #12, Chaos War #2, Kick-Ass Vol 2, and Power Girl #17.
Batman & Robin #15
Story: Damian Robin confronts the madness of Joker and gets away to save Batman. He saves Gordon and he attacks a huge group of crazies, it fails. He gets captured as we learn about who Thomas Wayne really is. He shoots Grayson in the back of the head as we saw in the beginning of this arc and tells Robin to sell his soul so he may summon a bat-god thing....I'm not kidding....a bat-god. It fails and A ghostly figure of Batman appears before them.
Review:....ummmmmm.....uhhhhhhh....wow....just wow. I don't know where I really should begin, but let me try from the start. Alright, in terms of story telling, this is interesting, Grant Morrison is telling a dark and twisted tale that feels more surreal than most of the bat books. I can now see why most people who are reading this are wigged out, it feels out of place when surrounded by actual heroes that can stop this with ease. Yet showing the darkest time since Bruce has left and no one has seen him until his glorious return. It's trying to say that a world without the REAL Batman is a dangerous thing and that him dying was a BAD thing and caused super clashes between mobsters and psycho's. Now it should be noted that Grant Morrison will be leaving this bat title while he does double duty with Batman Inc and Batman: The Dark Knight, so much like Kieron's run on THOR, this is Morrison's Swan song if you will, he is making a final glory note in his run, no matter how screwy and surreal the story is.
Artwork: This has some very creepy images in the first few pages alone, it feels like a Marilyn Manson video in some parts and in some it has some really amazing looking pieces in it as well. Is it the best ofr this series, no....but for this story alone then yes.
Grade: This is truly one of the strangest issues in this arc and delves into a twist I wasn't expecting along with some intriguing artwork that will freak you out. This issue gets a B+
Brightest Day #12
Story: This issue focuses primarily on J'onn J'onzz and his return to a green and flourishing Mars. He finds the second Martian alive, D'kay. She comes to a strange conclusion that since his revival and the rebirth of Mars, they are destined to be its Adam and Eve. He then beats the living crap out of her as she tells him all the things she has been up to since the destruction as she and J'onn begin to merge together. He pulls her off and she messes with his mind by making it look like the JLA are fighting him. We get a quick break with Ronnie and Jason chasing after the Black Lanterns, then back to J'onn. After he smashed her into the ground some how all of Mars people are brought back to life but then.....
Review: Geoff John's, do you truly deserve that Scream Award...yes and then some. This is a true step up from all the recent issues of Brightest Day. This series has had its up and down, even with all the changes with issue rosters switching it up, random pace and less focus on all 12, this issue final fits one piece of the bigger puzzle of this event. We have J'onn confronting the last of his kind, a woman, despite being a Martian he still has no care for her. I found it strange we took a quick detour with Ronnie and Jason, considering that this issue focuses only on J'onn and J'onn's story. We do get a quick moment with Boston and Dove, but that had some meaning to it.
Artwork: D'kay is truly a unique alien creature that merging with J'onn is probably one of the best looking scenes in this issue. The coloring is spot on and its nice to see a splash page that isn't all action but of memories.
Grade: One of the better issues in this series and has one of the best endings I never saw coming, along with amazing artwork as usual, this is a step up from the last issue. This issue gets an A-.
Chaos War #2
Story: All hell breaks loose....literally. The Chaos King's spread of terror now heads into the realms of the Underworlds; Hades, Hela, Mephisto's and all other realms of Hell have been conquered by the Alien Gods the Chaos King has enslaved. Meanwhile Hercules summons Galactus and the Silver Surfer in order to create a new “God Squad”. The Entity shows up and tells them they better win the battle or else all is gone. Hell breaks out and brings back some familiar faces, but not on their side.
Review: What a follow up to an already awesome event. I loved this issue and this event. Whats great about it is that it is showcasing top and low tier heroes banning together to stop a creature who wants nothing but a total void in all of existence. What I love best is the connection to the Infinity Gauntlet when the Eternity shows up and mentions what Thanos did was only kill half of all existence, instead, the Chaos king wants EVERYTHING gone. I liked seeing how powerful he is when even the depths of HELL in all forms are destroyed and conquered with ease. The build up for the next issue is amazing after seeing a return of Ares, since Siege. My one tiny complaint is that this issue is just a build up for all the action for issue #3 but still a great issue.
Artwork: The artwork matches with issue #1 and is top notch as ever. I like seeing different artists take on characters that are drawn much differently, like with THOR in this series looks different to JRJR's or Ferry's.
Grade: For a strong build up along with good exposition with some stellar artwork this issue gets an A-
Kick-Ass Vol 2
Story: Again, much like my review on Superior I will spoil much. I will give a few tidbits. This takes place a few months after the events of Vol 1, Hit-girl is training Dave, Dave's life sucks still, He teams up with another costumed hero and meets his justice team
Review: AND MILLAR HITS ANOTHER ONE OUT OF THE PARK!!!!....After seeing a great start with Superior, Mark Millar's return to the Kick-ass title is just as amazing. The development with Mindy is great, and yes they find a way to retcon Marcus from the movie into the comic and it is pulled off in a great way. I love the ending where we see a justice team where we now have a much larger world that is shaping up to be something great. We get some great action scenes and Dave can actually fight now. We get a peek at the biggest event at the end of the series, kinda spoils it but its the journey as to how it leads up to it will be worth it.
Art: This is JRJR's finest work to date. Now many complain that he is fit for THIS and not the avengers but it has some subtle differences and you can see them with Kick-ass and Avengers. The Justice team is well diverse and just by their looks they have a lot of personality to them. IDK why Hit girl has full lips in the cover, its kinda weird but not the worst thing.
Grade: Once again Mark Millar delivers with an amazing set up and as always JRJR's work on this title is spectacular as ever. This issue gets an A+
Power Girl #16
Story: Power Girl teams up with Batman to find the weapon dealer who sold the super bomb. They part ways as Power Girl heads to the Arctic and Batman leaves for home. As she is searching she comes across the and gets attacked by a masked person. Her aid Neco helps her out and discovers the person is gaining strength at a rapid pace and its turned out the person is much like her and more.
Review: This issue brings back the feel of the original team of Power Girl where they had team ups, comedy, and good action moments. Kara toying around with the thugs in the beginning and even saying she has admiration(perhaps more) for Dick Grayson as Batman. I do like that she has a partner to rely on, even if he having a hard time catching up on this new life and responsibility. The reveal of the new villain is really cool and adds some new depth with the Maxwell Lord search. This issue is much better than last issue, here its both good and light hearted.
Art: Basri continues to impress with the artwork in this title. While Conner got the look and feel of Power girl(in all the right places), Basri is still doing good with the characters familiar and new to the PG title.
Grade: I'm glad this issue is such an improvement with a lighthearted feel and Basri's top notch artwork to compliment it. This issue gets an A-
And there you have this weeks reviews, I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I love writing them. Next week brings one of the new titles, Teen Titans, to my roster of readings along with seven other titles for next week. Catch you in the postings, ComicCritic87 OUT!!!!