Comics! Mara #4

Mara #4

Brian Wood, Ming Doyle, Jordie Bellaire

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Review
The look is there, but the story...

Last issue's weird time jumping issue just felt out of place for me. It really felt like it was taking a story and really putting it out of place right when things should have gotten interesting. This was an interesting book about a volleyball player and her having (surprisingly to her) superpowers manifest themselves. But then things turned very generic for me.

Mara is essentially turning into a Superman type. Something akin to Rising Stars. Having seen that type of  plot used several times before, I really want something to pop out about this comic that makes me want to finish the story with positive feelings of anticipation instead of the feelings of dread that are rising.

This issue even dropped the world around her, save for a few panels of hints as to how the world reacts to her being gone. Mind you, the only sense of time that is really given says that this story takes place with the span of a couple of days. The news media outside has accepted Mara's death by unknown causes as the essential truth, and are moving on to other things. For having the world around Mara move at as quick of a pace in forgetting her, the book is forgetting to really develop her character at the same pace.

I find myself just not caring for Mara. There really isn't anything about her personality that tells me she is someone unique that I should care about. What have we discovered about Mara's character that we didn't know about at the end of the first issue? That's where I am struggling to maintain interest.

Grades
Words: 4/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Blugh.
Buy Next Issue: I'm really, really debating if I should. If I do, I might as well finish the series. It will be a realease day decision.

Comics! Batman & Red Robin #19

Batman and Red Robin #19

Peter J. Tomasi: writer
Patrick Gleason: penciller
Mick Gray: inker

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Review
Tomasi gave an interview before this book came out due to the premiere of Carrie Kelley in the New 52, her first time ever being introduced into the main Bat-titles. He was asked if it was his idea to bring her in. He alluded to the fact that an editor and him were talking, and then he dodged the question.

Editor driven issue/development aside, how does this story stack up? Well, it was surprising actually. Aside from Carrie Kelly, whose initials "C.K." give a different perspective to previous issues where a note from "C.K." was left on a book of Damian's, Frankenstein made an appearance here.

It makes sense to have him in the story, simply because Bruce being off the rails and wanting to re-animate his son would drive Bruce to the point of seeing how Frankenstein ticks. But Frankenstein isn't really a pushover here. In fact, he comes across as the most logical one between him and Batman, which was nicely executed by the creative team.

My hope with this issue was being able to see lots of screen time between Red Robin and Batman. Unfortunately, there isn't much of it here. When Red Robin arrives on the scene, Bruce is already pulling apart Frankenstein. In fact, both Carrie and Frankenstein get more screen time and more interesting plot points than Red Robin. Such a shame to see another opportunity to get to know Tim Drake in the New 52 world go to waste.

The question that I'm thinking of after finishing this book is how I want to look at Carrie Kelley in the New 52. Personally, a part of my wishes that she would be kept in The Dark Knight Returns world and just stay there. But I trust Tomasi. In just this one issue, I am getting a sense of character that doesn't feel generic like how Harper Row feels. In a way, I feel the same way about Carrie right now like I did about Damian when he first appeared on the scene. Interesting, and I'm not entirely turned off by the idea initially. Let's see how this plays out.

Grades
Words: 9/10 - a firm grasp on main characters involved, minus Red Robin, who remains a mystery.
Pictures: 9/10 - Gleason and Gray are awesome together.
General Feeling After Reading: Interested in a little more.
Buy Next Issue: I'm down. Should be interesting to see how Red Hood interacts in the story.

Comics! Batman #19

Batman #19 

Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: penciller
Danny Miki: inker
James Tynion IV: writer - backup
Alex Maleev: artist - backup

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Review
Well, this is awkward. The backup was a more interesting read than the main story.

Let's face it, once Clayface is introduced in a story where you have an introduction with Bruce Wayne robbing a bank, I think we know where this story is headed.

The only aspect part of the first part of the issue was the meeting of Reaper. Reaper seems like a throwback to a 90s style of villain with the giant scythes attached to his forearms and the armoured chest plating. It isn't necessarily a bad look, but usually characters with this specific type of look usually only look good under the original artist's work. Under anyone else and it begins to look...troublesome.

I find it odd that Clayface is a shape shifter who generally stays in his muddy form rather than constantly being someone else. What is up with that?

I do have a small gripe with wanting to put a timeline to the Bat-books. The flashback to Damian being around six days prior to this story really feels too soon considering that we don't know the punishment that Bruce took or what happened towards the end of Batman Incorporated. I find it surprising that even in death, Damian eschews the Bat-timeline just as he did when he was ten and walking around in a five year old DC universe.

Now the second story has me very much more intrigued than the first. This is a meeting of Superman and Batman post Damian's death. This is the first time I think that Superman has appeared in the pages of a Bat-book post New 52, and it is interesting to see.

My first impression is that this doesn't feel like an over bearing, all seeing Superman from the previous DC universe. points for that. The second is that magic and the supernatural seem to be more of a weakness than kryptonite, which is another interesting aspect seen here. I don't know how explored this concept has been done in the Superman books, but I like it here. This story is set up perfectly to find something mystical that challenges both Batman and Superman and puts them both in a vulnerable spot.

I'm actually surprised. Most of the stuff Tynion has wrote in these backups in previous issues never really seemed to thrill me much when he wrote it alone. This is actually something I'm looking forward to reading more so than the main story. That is a job well done.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - a good split between the 6 of the first part and more of an 8 for the second part.
Pictures: 9/10 - I love both of Capullo's work and Maleev's use of light. Well done by both artists.
General Feeling After Reading: Intrigued, but not until the very end.
Buy Next Issue: I'm down.

Comics! Animal Man #19

Animal Man #19

Jeff Lemire: writer
Steve Pugh: artist

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Review
Let's just forget about this whole Rotworld thing, shall we?

At least, that is the impression I get after reading this book. There are ramifications to acknowledge, such as Buddy's son's death, but this book gives me the feeling that it will be trying to move away form the whole Rotworld breakdown in story that happened before this.

Honestly, if anything should have been labeled an "epilogue," then this issue fits the bill. It really feels like it wants to move forward at the end.

This issue brings the same feelings to me that Batwing #19 did. It gave enough story to everything that happened before but then leaves you on an ending that just felt like it was too soon. In that regard, both books did offer very good transitional material for their respective stories.

Something that bothered me about Ellen in this story is that I don't see how her character has progressed much since the first issue of the series. She still is in denial about anything involving superheroes and the supernatural when it comes to her family. The one thing her personality does mirror is buddy's outright ignorance to his role within the Red. The art for this issue started the story mirroring how each of these character's spent their time before Cliff's funeral, at it was looking over these pages that I got the sense of both Buddy and Eleen's denial.

It is funny to think that the only character who has really grown is Maxine. My only sense of hope that he character makes it is that she provides the key to whatever it will take to get Ellen and Buddy to realize their character flaws. I could see her serving as a good vehicle for that character development.

I will say that with less of a focus on all things Rotworld, this book makes a good first step towards coming out of that crossover nonsense and being able to stand on its own two feet.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Alright, let's move on.
Buy Next Issue: Going to give it a go.

Comics! Batwing #19

Batwing #19 

Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti: writers
Eduardo Pansica: penciller
Julio Ferreira: inker

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Review
This is essentially a sweeping under the rug of one Batwing, only to introduce a new, yet familiar one.

I'm a believer in Palmiotti and Gray. What they've done this issue is to put a nice bow on everything that came before they started this title as a way to sweep everything away and introduce something new.

Not really knowing what has happened since I last picked up the book, which I think was the Night of the Owls issue, it isn't too terribly difficult to pick up what is going on. Everything essentially gets introduced enough so that it doesn't feel like anything is unnecessary, and we are at least left with the feeling that if David ever needed to return to the pages of Batwing, then there is room for him here.

The one thing that bothered me a bit was towards the end of the book. We get this moment when Bruce and Alfred are talking about bringing in the new Batwing with the new suit and Alfred makes mention that this new Batwing was actually Bruce's first choice for Batwing. That, to me, really underscores the whole premise of Batwing and Batman Incorporated in general. Isn't the whole point of Batman Incorporated is to introduce Bat-characters around the world? That was the appealing aspect of Batwing when I first picked up the series, but now it looks to be swept under the rug since the new Batwing is living in Gotham.

If I am to accept this issue as a transition issue, then the time spent on each Batwing was as much as could be spent on them. I would have liked to gotten to know the new Batwing a little bit better, but I guess that is for another issue. Although, even given the reveal, I just don't find myself overly excited for the next issue. It seems to be missing the wow factor for me to really ignite my interests in picking up the title regularly again.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Ok, but like I'm missing something.
Buy Next Issue: That will have to be a decision when it is on the comic book shelf.

Comics! Flash #18

The Flash #18 

Brian Buccellato: script & color
Marco Takara: artist

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Review
Francis Manapul did not write or draw this issue.

Repeat: Francis Manapul did not write or draw this issue.

This is interesting. Now we get to see Brian Buccellato write a story with just his credited input. This may shed some light on things.

...And it does.

On the writing side of things, this is amateur work.

Let's make a list of what has to happen in order for this story to work:
-Barry Allen, who recently was found alive and was in  the papers, still isn't recognized by anyone at the Rogues bar that he works at.
-Police come into said bar to arrest Trickster for murder. and put handcuffs on his new robotic arm.
-Introduce new heroes without saying what their powers are.
-This is the first time Flash has decided to do anything about the fact that all four people who were trapped in the Speed Force now have some radiant energy that he can feel.
-Some "Outlander Nation" never before mentioned suddenly has an army and guns and considers itself its own nation.
-Somehow time goes loopy and it goes from dinner time to night time to morning in a few pages.

...hmmm.

The art is OK. Nothing too spectacular but gets the job done.

And beyond that I'm just about done with Flash. It seems like the focus on the book is everyone but the Flash, which would be fine if we had established any likability for Barry Allen before this.

I seriously do not like bashing issue, but this is one I'm just going to have to turn my back on and forget about. I'll silently collect it until the next creator change.

Grades
Words: 3/10
Pictures: 5/10
General Feeling After Reading: Done.
Buy Next Issue: For collection purposes only.

Comics! Planetoid #5

Planetoid #5 

Story, Art, Lettering: Ken Garing

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Review
Ah, Planetoid. You were a fun little romp.

Was this issue worth the long wait since the last issue? Yea. We get a lot of action that could have felt more tied up if the book was on a monthly schedule, but I'm not complaining too much.

By a single issue metric, this book is somewhat jarring. You get that a war is going on but you don't fully understand the sacrifice made at the end. Hell, even the epilogue was a little beyond me until I started thinking more about the first issue, then it all looped together.

The story ends somewhat predictably, but there was enough throughout the series that made the journey worth the ride. The art alone was spectacular. I loved the overall feeling and look of the series enough so that if any more stories are published in this world then I would pick them up.

I'm now wondering if this would have been a series that I would buy in a trade. Thinking back to the first issue, and if I got that issue free to try, then this would have been a purchase I would be satisfied with. There is potential for Garing in this series. I don't know if this is his first go around with his own solo work, but it is something that I find intriguing and want to see more from him. This feels like a semi-pro about to discover what works for him, and I'm glad I was there to enjoy it.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 8/10
General Feeling After Reading: Goodness.
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