First of all, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to Heather, who's kindly providing additional reviews for Heroine Addict!, starting with the first two issues of Booster Gold. Like World War Hulk and so on, it's a book I feel is worth paying some attention to, even thought it's not a superheroine title; unlike a miniseries like WWH, I just don't have room in my meagre budget to add an ongoing title like Booster to my list, so I'm very happy to have Heather covering it in my place.
Also, if you turn your attention to the Newsarama Shadowline previews for November, and look closely at the pages for Bomb Queen IV #3, you may spot a shop named "Kitty Fantastico's" in the background - 'Miss Kitty Fantastico' is the screen name I use on the ComicBookResources forum, where Jimmy Robinson has a thread for Bomb Queen readers to ask him questions and generally chat about the book; thanks for the shout-out Jimmy! (Though what with the nature of New Port City, I shudder to contemplate what might go on in Kitty Fantastico's there...)
Also on Newsarama is Issue #0 of Jungle Girl, the eight-page prelude to her new series, which I covered last week. It's worth looking at, and hell, it's free, what more do you want. And now, on with the show:
Booster Gold #1 & #2 (reviewed by Heather) ~ The 52 Pick-Up arc gets under way very quickly in these two fantastic issues. Johns' and Katz's writing absolutely sparkles, and it's topped by fantastic art that's the equal of the best of 52's. The story is perfect, and pure Booster Gold. We begin issue #1 with a typical stunt - having saved the multiverse, Booster's decided to once again put his knowledge of history to use and get the attention of the Justice League in order to gain an invitation to join them. Rip Hunter's appearance, and the vicious attack on Daniel Carter, darken the tone of the book as Rip explains that history is being maliciously altered, and that since Booster is already viewed as (to quote Skeets) an "egotistical, self-centered moron," he's the perfect secret agent. He can operate in the shadows, and nobody will know about it. Booster's struggle between his ego and Rip's 'mission' is written very well, and the scene where he's forced to turn down his sought-after Justice League invite is heartbreaking, particularly for a hero who's so often played for laughs. The most fascinating plot twist is Booster's demand at the close of the issue - that he'll only play his part in exchange for the opportunity to save Ted Kord. And kudos to Johns and Katz for taking a potshot at one of Infinite Crisis's stupider plot points via Rip Hunter. From there we fly into issue #2, wherein Rip grudgingly agrees to Booster's demand - but warns him that there will be consequences for their actions. This issue has a lot of minutiae about the Green Lanterns and a plot largely centered around Sinestro, who I know very little about, and I can't say that I get all of it by any means, but it's structured so that people like myself can understand it without knowing the finer points. The portrayal of Guy Gardener is much more sympathetic than I'm used to seeing, and finding out that Booster had a role in turning Guy into the man he became later was a very nice touch. If I knew more of the DC universe I might have an idea of who the villain of the piece is by the symbol shown during Rip's chronodiving scene, but I really don't - all I do know is that he/she/it layed a hell of an ass-kicking on Rip, and seems by the end of the issue to have shapeshifting abilities as well as the ability to travel in time. And that just can't be good. The issue's highlights are Booster's very dedicated kissing of Sinestro's ass and Rip's line: "Oh, sprock me..." I'm very, very curious to see where the arc is going from here - it looks like issue 3 will feature Jonah Hex, and I'm so looking forward to seeing Booster in the Old West. This book's worth every penny thus far!
Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose #46 ~ Tarot is almost always steeped in symbolism and layers of meaning - what's happening plot-wise is generally only half the story, the rest being allegory to real-world situations, with Tarot, her allies, and her enemies representing real-world forces and opinions. It's something I like very much about the comic, and the 'Witch Key' arc, of which this is the third of four issues, takes this trend to its height. On the surface, the plot is quite simple - Tarot and other witches are kidnapped by a mysterious, powerful 'bleeding man' who seeks to uncover the source of their power and control it - but that's merely because this is a story where subtext is to the fore, so much so that the 'maintext' actually takes a back seat a lot of the time. Having ended the previous issue being dumped in icy waters to drown, Tarot has a long struggle ahead of her, firstly to survive, and then to return to the temple where her fellow witches are being held with sufficient strength to help them; along the way she recognises the challenges in front of her as metaphors for the persecution faced by anyone who refuses to conform - savage yeti-like creatures represent humanity at its most bestial; cunning goblins are fear and self-loathing, cruel and hypocritical; Tarot's own struggle to stave off the freezing climate and keep moving reflect the crushing urge to give in, accept defeat and be ignored rather than persist in declaring her individuality and continuing to be singled out and attacked. If it sounds pretentious, that's just because it's difficult to convey the scope of the story in a one-paragraph review - it would be pretentious, were it not written and drawn with lavish care and attention, and most of all a touching sincerity: so far as this is a sermon, it comes from the heart, and every word is sincerely meant. Jim Balent's art is as lavish and unashamed as his writing, but especially noteworthy this issue are the colours, provided by Holly G, with Stephanie Chan acting as colour flatter: every page is awash with vibrant tones, from the chilly blues and greens and greys of the underwater to the stingingly-crisp whites and vulnerable flesh tones of the snowy scenes, to the slow-building crescendo of colour as the freeing of the captive witches reintroduces all their palettes to the mix.
Avengers: The Initiative #6 ~ The Gauntlet finally gets his chance to shine - despite being unconscious for the majority of the issue. We get to see him (briefly), his family, we learn why he does what he does, and what it means to him to be the drill sergeant for the Initiative. He's a character a lot of readers don't like - me, I saw him first in the context of the excellent Sgt Zim from 'Starship Troopers' (the book, not the movie), so I've always regarded him as a good guy, and this issue backs me up. The mystery surrounding the attack on him frames the issue, but the real meat of it is what the investigation stirs up - feelings are brough to the surface, everyone is on a knife-edge, and all that digging around (figuratively and literally) unearths traces of a lot of secrets that will no doubt have a bearing on future issues. My only complaint this issue is the fill-in artist Steve Uy - sometimes he's good enough to pass in place of Stefano Caselli, and his style is similar - which was a good choice by Marvel, so far as that goes - but at times, speaking as a layman, the art just isn't up to par. Gauntlet's gauntlet is notably different in appearance to what we've seen previously, especially around the fingers - style is one thing, but for me this is missing a level of consistency that an ongoing title should be - and Tigra looks pretty awful in her cameo, more like an awkward teenager than the shapely woman we see in other titles she's showing up in at present. Make no mistake, Dan Slott's story is good enough to carry the issue, but I'll be glad to see Caselli back.
Justice League of America #13 ~ The Injustice League arc (aka Challenge of the Superfriends 2: This Time It's Good As Well As Fun) continues from its prologue in the JLA Wedding Special of two weeks ago, with a quick recap summing up pretty much everything of import in case you missed that, and then jumping right into the action. Dwayne McDuffie handles the large cast effectively, using the structure of the story to focus on two or three characters at a time so as to introduce them, without losing sight of the bigger picture or the sense that everyone is on the same team - Green Lantern (John Stewart) comes across especially strongly, though Batman rivals him for prominence in a fun and effective little 'pre-title sequence' at the beginning of the issue that sets the mood wonderfully. The villains are likewise differentiated well, with a particularly (and rightfully) sinister Dr. Light really finding his own voice this issue. The final page could go a number of ways, but all of them are wanting to know what happens next - for McDuffie, this issue is a very good sign for his tenure on JLA.
52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #2 ~ Very much a middle-of-the-story kind of thing - with the first issue kicking things off, but the real payoff not yet ready to be sprung on us, this issue spends most of its time clarifying and elaborating and adding detail and depth to the stage that was painted in broad strokes to begin with. It's time well-used, and entertaining to read - surprisingly, I'm still really enjoying the interplay between Superman and Batman, who are joined by Wonder Woman this issue, and all three are presented as having a trememdous sense of respect for each other, as people and as heroes. It's great work, and anchors the title well. Veronica Cale's newly-declared nation of Oolong Island is the other highlight, with Dr. Cale again creepy, and very, very intelligent - I'm really hoping this won't go to the traditional last-minute doublecross, because Cale comes across as very plausible and powerful as a villain the way she is now - she has motives other than just screwing with the heroes, which is how it should be. If she and Oolong survive this miniseries, Gail Simone's Wonder Woman could do a lot worse than bring them into the fold as a regular source of aggravation (but not outright one-dimensional villainy). Not especially prominent story-wise, but told very effectively and creepily, is the Four Horsemen's slow build to rebirth, with the entire surviving population of Bialya seemingly consumed and turned into an apocalyptic workforce who are slowly building new forms for the horsemen - it may sound like typical hype, but at this point, I'm really believing they'll be greater and more terrible than those we saw in 52, and I'm looking forward to seeing them in action again - especially Famine, who it's fairly unambiguously stated will likely be reborn as something a lot more imposing than a crocodile man.
The Order #3 ~ Another fine issue in what's rapidly shaping up to be a favourite title. This time it's 'Calamity' James Wa in the spotlight, and he proves to be a rather volatile character, headstrong and resistant to attempts by others to channel him in any direction he doesn't want to go - but we get some background and elaboration on why he's the way he is, and though he does some unsympathetic things this issue, he doesn't come across as a jerk, much. Mulholland also gets some notable attention, setting up what will likely be her feature issue next - overall, this feels less like a one-issue story than #1 or #2, and more like the book is starting to settle into a rhythm and develop a larger storyline, ably assisted by very effective and natural use of events from those first issues, which drive some of the character conflicts here. There's also some clear set-up for future issues, but with the whole story starting to feel like it's spreading its wings, it doesn't feel unnature to get the set-up without the payoff yet. Kitson's art continues to impress, providing exactly what the writing needs to back it up and make a great comic all around.
Countdown to Adventure #2 ~ Adam Strange on Rann gets the lion's share of the A-story, which is a bit of a chore to read, but picks up by the end of the issue when we get a glimpse at what it's building towards. Animal Man and Starfire fare better on Earth, with their storyline being more approachable (i.e. less aliens acting like idiots), but there's not a lot of them. What this issue mainly does is cement the fact that this is a follow-up to the Space Crew's adventures during 52, not just a new story featuring those characters - and that's a very good thing. Forerunner's backup story, oddly, is seventeen pages with no interruptions from ads - very long for a backup, and being that it's on the cover, and has no ad breaks, it's almost as if DC's treating it better than the actual story the book's about. Viza takes on the Justice League of a world where the Nazis won World War II - probably the most typical alternate history trick there is - and a lot of time is spent showing her getting mad at the idea of concentration camps and beating the hell out of the 'heroes' who are protecting them. It's not unenjoyable, but there's two basic problems: one is that everyone speechifies too much, with dialogue becoming stilted under the weight of how much Justin Gray wants to say in a short space, and the other is that I just can't wrap my head around the idea that this is building up to a multiversal war that's going to be fought by armies of guys in armour with guns. For a supposedly big, bold sci-fi idea, that's about as unimaginative as they come. I do kind of like Viza - I hope she gets a better name than Forerunner - but I'd really like to see her feature in a more coherent story than this, without Monarch's arbitrary orders railroading her into nonsensical fights.
Wonder Woman Annual #1 ~ Finally, the very very late conclusion to Allan Heinberg's opening arc of the new Wonder Woman title is here - and much like the first four issues, it's superficial and devoid of any notable insight into either the superhero genre, or Diana as a character. I mean, take the main change that comes out of this: Wonder Woman, when she's Diana (i.e. when she does the sparkly twirly thing and her costume turns into civilian clothes) is now 'human', as in she has no powers until she twirls back into Wonder Woman. Yep, that'll really help all us readers relate to her civilian life as a secret agent. I'm sorry, but that's a stupid, stupid idea - I'm all for superheroes having a non-hero side to their life, something more grounded in reality, but Wonder Woman's secret identity is essentially a differen kind of superhero. What the heck is that supposed to achieve? Nothing, which is what it does achieve. The rest of the issue is devoted to one-panel reintroductions of Wonder Woman's rogue's gallery, which is likewise a waste of time - if someone wants to do a story featuring, say, Angle Man, I'm sure they could have given us the necessary exposition then - and the big revelation that when Wonder Woman's in trouble, all the other heroes in the DC universe come running to help her, because they love her. So what that whole shouting match between Diana, Donna and Cassie was in the earlier issue, I don't know. Really, whatever brilliance Heinberg brought to Young Avengers (I haven't read it, but a lot of people seemed to like it), he brought nothing to Wonder Woman, and between not turning in scripts anything near on time, giving no rationale or development of her supporting cast, and creating for her a secret identity that's worse than worthless as a storytelling device... well, he screwed the book up. It remains to be seen whether Gail Simone can salvage it, but I'll tell you what, if the very first words of her first issue are "And then Wonder Woman woke up, and realised it was all a dream," regardless of how bad a cliche that is, it'd be a good start. This annual features a back-up story, also written by Heinberg, which is basically a bunch of origin stories strung together on a one-dimensional storyline - with a Sphinx being killed for no real reason, except to show that Nemesis is an idiot and Wonder Woman's inept. Nice work. The Dodsons provide the art for the main story, which is lovely as always, but Gary Frank's pencils for the back-up vary alarmingly between good and ugly.
Demons of Mercy #1 ~ Interesting little find this - a free full-length comic, which you should be able to find just waiting for you to grab at your local comic shop (unless they're all out). Obviously it's just to try to get people to buy the series... but heck, who's complaining about a free 22-page sample? Not me - especially not after reading it. It's not the most revolutionary writing or art to hit comics - the whole thing feels a bit typical-Image-ish, but that's hardly the worst that could happen, and the art - Image style and all - is really quite good, very lively and energetic, if not exactly remarkable beyond that. Most of the issue is spent showing off Mercy (wearing not a whole lot) fighting bad guys and demons, but there's enough of a storyline to get a feel for what this title will be like in terms of tone and subject matter. All in all it's worth having a look at (did I mention free? That really makes the choice easy), and I'll keep an eye out for the next issue (presumably not free) - if it happens to be a slow week, I wouldn't be surprised if I buy it.
As always, if you have any feedback for myself or Heather, suggestions of titles to cover, alternate viewpoints on the ones discussed... anything really, the Comments link is here for you:
