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Review: Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #3

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deadman3coverDeadman: Dark Mansion of Love concludes in twisting, turning Gothic fashion, and one of these twists is in this first page as it’s revealed that Adelia is the dark, malevolent spirit that has been haunting Glencourt. But, like the previous issues, Deadman #3 isn’t just creepy libraries, spooky spirits, and gorgeously designed architecture from Lan Medina and Phil Hester. Writer Sarah Vaughn continues to dig into the budding relationship between our protagonist Sarah and her friend Sam along with the strained one between her and her boyfriend Nathan. There is plenty of blood magic, candles, secret passages, and even an explosion, but Deadman is really about finding someone who you don’t have to hide your true self from.

The romance between Berenice and Sam is definitely one of my favorite queer romances in comics. And Vaughn also makes their connection an essential part of Deadman’s plot as Berenice can see the dead while the dead don’t have an effect on Sam. But even though they have awkward moments while Berenice is chatting with Deadman and Adelia, Sam wholeheartedly believes in these apparitions and teams up with her to get to the bottom of the mystery. Vaughn indulges Gothic tropes and adds a touch of defanged vampire mythos with the reveal that the Nathan is a murderous immortal and Adelia’s ex husband, whose lifeforce is tied to the house. She doesn’t give him an overcomplicated backstory making him a man, who isn’t afraid to literally sacrifice woman he supposedly loves to make him live forever. Nathan forces Adelia to sustain his life just like he is controlling over Berenice and doesn’t want her going into his study or spending more time with Sam. This isn’t love, but abuse and tyranny, and thankfully there’s a spooky revolution in Deadman #3.

And Deadman doesn’t get left behind in the comic that bears his name and is downright heroic in a genre that is more about running away from creepy things than facing down the abyss. His possession abilities are key in defeating both Nathan and Glencourt, and Medina and Villarrubia show this by having a red outline around Nathan’s body. Deadman is in the eye of the hurricane letting Adelia do the ghostly equivalent of whaling on him before finally releasing himself while Nathan collapses as a clump of blood and meat fulfilling the gore quotient of the Gothic genre. And his ending is the most typical superhero thing ever (He flies away to save someone else in need.), but it comes off as original because for most of the series, Vaughn and Medina have trapped him in Glencourt. Deadman did save the day, but in the weirdest haunted house/bodily possession way.

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I really enjoy the way Medina draws and Jose Villarrubia colors Adelia as she switches from ghostly maiden to dark spirit of vengeance. The being is starkly inked and is just an amorphous blob of power that is hungry and can’t be contained just like Nathan suffers from headaches even though he’s immortal. On the other hand, Villarrubia uses cool colors that flow like Adelia’s dress and spin around when she is finally freed from the house like a young girl at a ball. It’s glorious to see these wide open spaces and beautiful sky and fields after being cooped up in the house (A gorgeous one, however.) for 40+ pages, and Vaughn and Medina give her a poetic moment before she fades away peacefully. This epilogue is a well-earned bit of relaxation after the full-page spreads and jagged panels of fire, destruction, and hairbreadth escapes.

Speaking of those things and the series in general, Deadman Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love is an example of how you can re-tool classic literary genres and still make them relevant in the present. Deadman has all the escapes, murderous intrigue, twist, and setting/atmosphere overload (Kudos to Medina, Hester, and Villarrubia yet again.)  of a great Gothic yarn, but it stars a bisexual Asian woman and a non-binary black person and gives their relationship great nuance. Vaughn and Medina let queer people of color be the heroes of a genre that is pretty lily white in both the genre defining novels by Ann Radcliffe and Matthew Lewis and recent films like Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak while crafting a slow burn romance that is filled with honest words, smouldering glances, and soft touches wreathed in copious shadow.

Deadman Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #3 is an exciting and satisfying ending to a wonderful Gothic romance with exquisite set design from Lan Medina, Phil Hester, and Jose Villarrubia. Each moment that Sarah Vaughn writes featuring Berenice and Sam will give you those happy, goosebump chills that you get when you see two humans that are perfectly matched for each other.

Story: Sarah Vaughn Art: Lan Medina with Phil Hester Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #2

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deadman_2Deadman: Dark Mansion of Love #2 begins nice and slow with Deadman and Adelia, a ghost who haunts Glencourt Mansion, getting to know each other and even musing on the philosophical nature of death and the fact that they are trapped in the house. But Sarah Vaughn’s plot ends in utter chaos and darkness as she turns the haunted house genre on its head. In Deadman #2, the ghosts are trapped, and the humans are free… for now. But Vaughn, artist Lan Medina, and colorist Jose Villarubia don’t lose sight of the character relationships that make this more than just a Gothic romance as protagonist Berenice struggles with her relationship to her boyfriend Nathan and her possible romance with Sam while Deadman and Adelia bond beautifully in the story’s first half.

Medina’s art in Deadman #2 is both lush and haunting depending on the color that Villarubia decides to use, but his design for Adelia is always freaky. She is a woman, who was probably murdered by her new husband and forced to live in the place where she died, and something gives me the chills about her. Adelia is like a ghost from Crimson Peak while Deadman is more friendly and charming despite the fact that he possesses other people’s bodies and has huge existential crises about what comes after death. They are both Berenice’s secret as she and Nathan grow apart while he spends all his time writing his book instead of with her.  On the surface, he gives off a workaholic vibe, but Medina adds some Gothic touches to him by having his workspace be a locked study. And in the Gothic tradition when something is locked, you don’t want to open it.

One thing that I have really enjoyed about Deadman as a series so far is how, dare I say it, normal Berenice acts in response to the spectres and horrors surrounding her. She acts like an intelligent human being with a head on her shoulders instead of like some kind of pearls clutching Gothic heroine or a Final Girl. Instead of exploring Glencourt willy-nilly, she goes into town to research the house, Adelia, and Adelia’s husband, who she deduces murdered her. But even in the library stacks, she still has a poet’s side and talks about old history books and records are basically a series of tragedies. Also, out in town, she reconciles with deadmaninteriorSam and almost thinks about kissing them as Medina and Villarrubia’s art goes from the idyllic small English town to the shadow filled beauty of the opening pages. Somehow, Sam and Berenice are caught up in this tragic romance, and this is true physically as well once the shadows return at the end of the issue. Vaughn and Medina even foreshadow this on the first page she appears as the stack of old letters she is going through kind of resembles a magical circle like she’s having a seance.

It’s kind of depressing that she is spending more time with words written by dead people (Plus ghosts.) than her real, flesh and blood partner. She can’t even confide in him about the fact she can see Deadman and Adelia. Berenice and Nathan’s relationship lacks the rush of romance of hers with Sam and Deadman’s with Adelia so his marriage proposal falls hollow at the end. However, the effect of putting a ring on her hand triggers some insane dark magic and ensures that the closing issue of this miniseries will be its most Gothic yet with the interplay of helpful spirits (Deadman), vengeful and sympathetic spirits (Adelia), mortals, and scary spirits.

Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden #2 is a suitably haunting follow-up to its flawless first issue, and Lan Medina and Jose Villarrubia give Deadman and Adelia some real chemistry in the first half with their play of red, black, and ghostly white in the dark environs of Glencourt Mansion. Splitting the book between Deadman and Berenice’s narration continues to be a clever device from Sarah Vaughn as both characters do some soul searching. Deadman #2 is filled with thoughtfulness and reflection on love, death, and tragedy that erupts into a full-out horror comic by the time you turn the final page.

Story: Sarah Vaughn Art: Lan Medina with Phil Hester Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Review: Deadman Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1

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deadman1coverThe first of three issue prestige format miniseries, Deadman: Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love #1 skillfully combines atmosphere and spooky stylings of classic Gothic stories with a nuanced romance subplot that happens to star the DC Universe’s most famous acrobat turned ghost/people possessor Boston Brand aka Deadman. Writer Sarah Vaughn (Rosy Press’ Ruined), artist Lan Medina (Fables), and colorist Jose Villarrubia (King Conan) uses the fifty-page length of Deadman #1 to construct a perfect haunted house setting that would make Guillermo del Toro or the old Hammer horror directors swoon. But there is substance behind the varied line lengths and almost painting style art of Medina and the ghostly whites and crimsons of Villarrubia as Vaughn gives her protagonist, Berenice, a complex personality. She loves the past and buying antiques, but she is also creeped out by the old mansion that her boyfriend Nathan inherited from his uncle and is currently writing a novel in.

Berenice also has genuine romantic feelings for and wants to keep Nathan and her friend Sam, a non-binary antiques dealer safe. She is also getting over an ex-girlfriend, and Deadman feels the intense pangs of their breakup when he possesses Berenice. Vaughn alternates narration between Deadman and Berenice offering different reactions to their surroundings as Deadman makes with the punching while Berenice plays the sleuth and investigates. She happens to be one of the few mortals that can see him. And along the way, they begin to bond as friends, and Berenice challenges him to rethink his usual practice of possessing people without permission. Their relationships is completely platonic, but this conversation is a great metaphor for the importance of enthusiastic consent in touching someone sexually or otherwise. But eventually, she comes to trust him and allows him to possess her if it means stopping the super creepy shadows that prevent him from leaving the mansion. Vaughn and Medina go old school horror and don’t show the comic’s monster yet, but shows its powerful effects, including giving Nathan migraines, keeping ghosts hostage in a corporeal space, and giving almost everyone bad vibes.

Lan Medina’s art and Jose Villarrubia’s colors are both melodramatic and subtle depending on the situation. The deadman1coverinterioropening pages are reminiscent of a frontispiece of a Victorian penny dreadful with its combination of architecture (especially window) porn, fine art, and a shrieking woman in a nightgown. Like Wuthering Heights or Northanger Abbey (albeit in a more parodic way), they and Vaughn make the Glencourt mansion a character of its own while keeping the setting’s time period ambiguous for quite some time thanks to Sam and Berenice’s love for all things vintage, including automobiles. Medina also neatly integrates the superhero genre into Deadman #1 through powerful poses when Deadman fights the equally powerful red and black shadows in a study in contrasts from Villarrubia. But a right hook or a nifty ghost power can’t heal a broken heart, homesickness, or an “It’s complicated” relationship status as Deadman’s attempt to fight physically all come up short.

But Medina can also tone down the Gothic, horror, and superhero bits of Deadman #1 and deliver on scenes where human relationships are front and center. A good example of this is a two-page sequence after Deadman attempts to bust out of Glencourt by possessing Berenice. Vaughn’s dialogue seems like that Sam and Berenice are going to talk about the strange phenomenon that just happened, but she and Medina pivot and turn to their relationship. Medina slows down with a couple panels of Berenice about to kiss Sam, but she ends up turning her back to them. Their body language goes from being close and intimate to more standoffish with no eye contact and arms crossed. Then, Medina goes for the romance comic staple that always breaks my (and Roy Lichtenstein’s) heart: the sad eyes. Sam and Berenice part in the rain, and we’re back to the moors, mansions, and inlaid chests of Gothic land after this beautiful human moment.

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Deadman #1 is a nearly flawless, Gothic romantic treat with a diverse cast of characters when it comes to both race, body type (Kudos to Medina.), and sexuality that has chills, thrills, and gorgeous scenery to go along with poignant themes of love, death, and the messiness of relationships. The incorporation of the character Deadman adds a touch of humor and the fantastic to these lofty themes while he also gets to learn more about humanity through his bond with Berenice.

Finally, Sarah Vaughn, Lan Medina, and Jose Villarrubia deserve to take a bow while “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush plays in the background as the comic ends with a twist that would make serial fiction writer turned English majors’ nightmare Charles Dickens nod with approval.

Story: Sarah Vaughn Art: Lan Medina Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Holiday Gift Guide: DC Icons. Batman, Deadman, Green Arrow, Mister Miracle and more!

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Action figures have come a long way since we were kids in the 80s. The amount of detail, the articulation, and the accessories seem to get better every year.

Some of our favorite toys and action figures come from DC Comics in the form of their DC Icons line of toys.

We show off the first wave that features Batman, Deadman, Green Arrow, and Mister Miracle, but there’s many more to get!

These are great gifts for fans of action figures or the characters themselves.

Below are some of the lowest prices I found:

 

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with items for free for review

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site.

Comic Book Weekly Reviews – 11/16/11

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A thick stack of books this week.  We’re coming up on the end of the year, what’s going to make our best of list?  There’s only a few weeks left for comics to qualify.  Find out if any of this week’s comics stand a chance below.

The Avengers #19 – This continues the transition as we find out who is going to be a member of the new Avengers team.  Unfortunately, while there’s a lot of discussion of who might be on, we’re not given tons of reason of the why.  The team though seems interesting.  The other focus is Osborn’s escape.  There’s a twist at the end as well that I didn’t expect, that’ was pretty damn interesting.  Overall a ho-hum issue that looks to set up a decent upcoming story arc.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Avengers Academy #22 – With the academy on the West coast close to Utopia it was only a matter time before Cyclops, Magneto and others paid a visit.  That’s happened sooner than later with a rather silly fight breaking out.  The issue could have had some great emotional impact with Magneto’s seeing Quicksilver, but a needless fight just dilutes the situation and makes it rather eye rolling.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Batman #3 – We’re dragged further into what exactly the Talon is and what it has to do with Bruce’s relatives.  It feels like a bit of a stretch as far as the family connection, but I like the pacing and some of the ways the story is laid out.  The art is fantastic as well.  Out of all of the lines DC has, the Bat one is definitely the strongest and this series is a good example of that.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8

The Bionic Man #4 – I’m not sure if the “we can rebuild” it refers to the actual making of the Bionic Man or Kevin Smith and Phil Hester’s ability to breath new life into this franchise.  The build up is fantastic and there’s tons of winks and nods throughout the comic, including why the nu-nu-nu happened anytime Steve Austin does something.  There’s a lot of explanation of the process which makes it seem that much more plausible and adds a bit of realism (especially that the writers have thought it through).  The series has been a slow start and it’s taken four issues to get to this point, but it’s well worth.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Captain America #4 – Cap is still stuck in the dream world as we get to see some of the bigger plan as well as the motivation.  The issue is interesting, but there’s too much “Inception” in it without really using that movie’s landscape bending abilities.  The story is decent, but it actually doesn’t go far enough to show us the entertainment that a world without rules could be.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.5

Captain Atom #3 – Some amazing philosophical questions are thrown out there as far as Captain Atom’s powers and his ability to “play god.”  What should he do?  What’s the difference between his actions and miracles?  That’s all thrown out there.  Also, he meets up with the Flash in Libya dealing with that situation.  DC promised heroes dealing with real world situations and it looks like they’re doing just that.  An amazing issue.

Story: 9 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9

Deadman #3 – Really this is Quantum Leap in comic book form, but there’s certain parts of this issue that are heart wrenching.  The comic has an emotional impact and it’ll be interesting to see this story arc through completion.  So far so good in what’s been one of the standout series of the DC relaunch.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5

Fear Itself #7.3 – During Fear Itself, what happened in Paris opened up a storyline that could have been explored for years.  Unfortunately, in this one issue, that pretty big act has been undone.  That’s the bad part.  The good part is that Tony decides to see the Grey Gargoyle and discuss what it is to be a God and what happened.  That part is an interesting conversation.  Overall, hopefully we see the PTSD impact I’d expect from what Tony has gone through and here’s to some decent stories in the future even if the horrific act committed is undone with a flick of the wrist.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.5

Fear Itself: The Fearless #3 – Generally not feeling this twelve issue limited series that follows the chase for the hammers left on Earth.  The story is meh and there’s some poor attempts to tie in the past and the present.  The follow up mini-series is of the same quality as the event that proceeded it.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Generation Hope #13 – The series has only glimpsed what it could be in the short year it’s been around.  I haven’t praised the series too much and with this first issue of it’s new creative team it also shows what could be.  The art is improved in spots, but is still inconsistent.  The story is also inconsistent.  I’m sticking with the series in hopes it sees improvement, but so far I’m weary.

Story: 7 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7

Green Hornet #19 – This is the first issue I haven’t liked a whole lot.  We learn the origin of the Red Hand and the way he’s defeated is meh.  Something is off with this issue, both in story and the art.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Green Lantern Corps. #3 – It’s a last stand as the team dispatched to fight a mysterious enemy hold out for the cavalry to arrive.  The story is interesting, but it’s a small part of a larger story.  The larger story is really a draw, this one issue doesn’t stand on it’s own.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Justice League #3 – Darkseid is looming as the team continues to gather.  There’s an interesting dynamic going on and I can’t say I’m a fan of all of the depictions of the characters, but overall the series is pretty damn solid and gives the feel of that big story you’d want and expect.

Story: 8 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

New Mutants #34 – The team begins to settle down and see what a normal life is like, but at the same time they’re on the lookout for Blink who is hopping around where strange weather phenomena are occurring.  The issue is interesting and series has potential, but I remain skeptical to see if it ever finds it’s own voice.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Nightwing #3 – Hmm, it’s interesting to see them try to flesh out Dick’s life in the circus, and it’s interesting to see where the series goes, but the idea of a killer going after Dick, for something, just doesn’t seem to jarring to really get me excited.  These first three issues have been one big set up.  We’ll see what’s actually used going forward after this arc wraps up.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7

The Punisher #5 – An interesting issue that’s supposed to make you think of what a soldier doing their duty is.  It could stand on it’s own, but is a follow up to the previous issue.  The story takes place 100 days since his ass whooping and the Punisher is on the mend healing his wounds.  Not the best of the series, but not too bad either.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8 Overall: 7.5

Supergirl #3 – Kara is still getting acclimated to her new world as Superman attempts to give her the rundown.  We also get to find out who the bad guy is.  It all really doesn’t have much interest in me.  What does seem interesting is Supergirl’s learning of her new world and coming to grips with her new reality and the fantastic art.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7.75

Thunderbolts #165 – Generally an enjoyable comic, but there’s something missing about it.  I generally don’t like time travel stories, and this is really just that.  Overall, not bad, but not great.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.25

Ultimate Comics X-Men #3 – Stryker continues his plan as the X-Men are on the run and the team begins to form up a bit.  It’s all very interesting, enough to make me want to go back and see everything I’ve missed.  Overall, this has the danger and excitement that’s been missing from the 616 X-Men for some time.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Venom #9 – The emotional trauma has been building up for some time and a villain attempts to take advantage of the chaos post Spider-Island.  During the crime spree he kills a few pedestrians which sends Venom over the edge.  The series has a nice feel of a man living on the edge which I hope it plays up more as it gets back to standing on it’s own.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

The Walking Dead #91 – It feels like the usual calm before the storm.  The group is dealing with winter and dwindling supplies as Carl learns to live with his injury.  Tensions are mounting and I’m sure it’ll explode into something big knowing Kirkman.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Wonder Woman #3 – We get the truth about Wonder Woman and her lineage as some Amazon’s aren’t too happy with what’s occurred.  The first three issues have been interesting, setting up the new status quo.  The art is fantastic and overall this series is one of the better DC is putting out there.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.75

X-Factor #227 – Lots of fighting, kind of silly, but that was an interesting ending….

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

X-Men #21 – A small nation is gathering Sentinel technology to defend itself from anything.  That’s interesting but would be even better if compared with the right of Utopia to protect itself.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5

X-23 #17 – Laura gets a call from the Future Foundation, to babysit.  The story is cute and fun, but it’s the art that stands out, back to the anime inspired look we saw a few arcs ago.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7.5

52 Reviews, Part 3

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So, for the fun of it, I’m going to be collecting all 52 DC #1 issues. And I’m going to review them all. Keep in mind, though, that I’m generally a Marvel fan and, while I’m working may way through DC’s recent big events, I’m only up through the middle of Countdown and I haven’t read any of DC’s non-event comics in a long time, so I’m coming at these stories with a bit of a disadvantage in terms of chronology and character knowledge. Since DC is certainly trying to attract new readers, though, this makes me come at them with a perspective similar to their hypothetical new fans…

Batman #1 (DC) – Maybe DC should just stick to stories about Batman or written by Scott Snyder. They seem to do well with those. I’ve liked all of the Batman issues of DCnU and this one is no exception. Greg Capullo does a great job on the pencils on this one. This story gives us a great intro to many of Batman’s enemies, reaches out to Batman’s wider universe of allies, gives a great nod to his past and leaves us with a great mystery at the end. This is a very good comic.

Story: 10 Art: 9 Overall: 9.5

Birds of Prey #1 (DC) – Unlike some of the other creative teams this week, Duane Swierczynski and Jesus Saiz at least try to balance the “hotness” of their female characters with a good story and clothing that is functional. Sure, they’re still models and there is still some titillation, but the costumes are legit for superheroines and the women are well-written characters in a well-written story.

Story: 8 Art: 7 Overall: 7.5

Blue Beetle #1 (DC) – So far, this is DC’s best attempt at diversity. There have been a number of other minority characters in the new comics, but they all seem to be colorblind attempts at diversity, with the black characters not being stereotypical, but also not being distinguishable from white characters beyond the visual elements. In this issue, Jaime Reyes is written as a real human being and his Hispanic heritage is not ignored and he doesn’t descend into a characature, either (although a few of the other characters come dangerously close). There is also a great Spanglish joke that was my favorite moment of the week.

Story: 9 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5

Captain Atom #1 (DC) – The art is a bit too loose for my tastes and I’m not sure that I like this particular take on Captain Atom, but J.T. Krul does commit to a particular vision of the character and does a good job of being consistent and creating a coherent narrative and personality for Captain Atom and his supporting cast. Definitely worth a continued look.

Story: 7.5 Art: 6.5 Overall: 7

Catwoman #1 (DC) – The art by Guillem March is bad enough to sink it (near-Liefeldian body proportion problems mixed with Macfarlane-esque contortions). Tht title of the story is “most of the costumes stay on,” which has to be ironic, since in the three pages before we learn that title, we see five separate panels showing Selina’s bra-covered breasts. The rest of the issue has naked hookers and a throwaway woman who is beaten and killed for no particular reason. The story seems like a man’s revenge fantasy of what a woman would do to a man who had brutalized and killed another woman. Sort of like his heart’s in the right place, but he doesn’t quite understand women. And the concept is undercut by the wall-to-wall TNA and the uncomfortable Batman sex scene. One positive note: through 39 DCnU issues, Catwoman’s contact Lola is the first female character I’m aware of who isn’t skinny. She’s still in skin-tight clothing and is somewhat sexualized, but it’s something

Story: 1 Art: 4 Overall: 2.5

DC Universe Presents #1 (DC) – Another issue where there is a coherent vision for the character and an attempt at creating a style and tone for the series that, while I may not love it, I can appreciate the quality of what is being done. This issue has some interesting things in it, including a possibly unintentional homage to the movie Fallen, with Denzel Washington, that works well.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Green Lantern Corps #1 (DC) – This issue isn’t perfect, but it’s still very entertaining. The Guy Gardner-John Stewart team-up works well. Artist Fernando Pasarin’s strength appears to be the big, epic shots. In a GL story, there are a lot of those and most of them in this issue are breathtaking. Definitely a series to keep reading. So when I said above that DC is really getting it right on Batman, I’d add the Lantern stuff to that, since I think all of the Lantern issues have been well done, too.

Story: 8 Art: 9 Overall: 8.5

Legion of Super-Heroes #1 (DC) – Not surprisingly for a Legion comic, there are too many characters here to really grab on to any of them. It’s not a bad issue, it’s just not something that is really interesting. Good, but not great.

Story: 6 Art: 7 Overall: 6.5

Nightwing #1 (DC) – It’s a little confusing at times and the art isn’t my favorite, but it’s very good, if necessarily derivative of Batman comics.

Story: 8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Red Hood and the Outlaws #1 (DC) – This comic is very sexist. It’s all about objectifying Starfire, her having sex with random people in the perfect male fantasy, and spying on her and posting pics of her in a bikini on the Internet without her knowledge. I think Jason Todd and some kind of plot are in there too.

Story: 1 Art: 7 Overall: 4

Supergirl #1 (DC) – The issue is all action and the action is pretty good. The art isn’t great and I keep getting the feeling that if she turned the wrong way, Supergirl would accidentally be bottomless, that’s how skimpy the bottom of her costume is. Also, it seems like DC is relying too much on the “reveal” of a major character guest appearing in another issue, despite it not really being a surprise most of the time. This is at least the fourth or fifth time that Superman or Batman has shown up on the last page of a comic starring someone else. This one does have a lot of potential, though, so I’ll be back.

Story: 7.5 Art: 6.5 Overall: 7

Wonder Woman #1 (DC) – I’ve never cared for Wonder Woman since I’m not a huge mythology fan and I was prepared to really dislike this comic. I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised. While this issue has some of the same wardrobe problems and male fantasy takes on what women should be like that other issues this week have, they are minor here compared to other issues and this one is superior because of a very good story. The comic is almost cinematic in its tone and Diana is clearly established as a strong female character, something we can’t say for Catwoman or Starfire.

Story: 9 Art: 7.5 Overall: 8.25

Around the Tubes

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The news is coming and coming fast.  After a few weeks of speculation, the news broke of the post Flashpoint DC universe.  Below is the normal news, but also a special “Post Flashpoint” section.

Around the Blogs:

ICv2 – T-pop Says Manga Rights Reverting – Will someone step up and grab the gems for US distribution?

Investor’s Business Daily – Stan Lee Creates ‘Heroes With Hang-Ups’ – A nice profile of the legend.

Geekweek – Matthew Modine Reportedly Playing A “Politician And A Key Villain” In BATMAN 3 – Completely fascinated by this one.

Bleeding Cool – Another Round Of Questions With Rob Granito – Bleeding Cool brings the hard questions for the notorious scammer.

After Flashpoint:

The ComicChron – Restarts and reboots: DC’s plan and some historic precursors

Bleeding Cool – Full JLA Art including Flash & Batman Designs, Hawkman #1 With Robinson & Tan, Birds Of Prey #1 Without Gail Simone?

Bleeding Cool – The Hooking Up Of Superman And Wonder Woman

Comic Book Resources – Details Emerge On DC’s Relaunch

The Beat – Creators and retailers respond to the huge DC news

Bleeding Cool – OMAC #1

Bleeding Cool – Legion Lost #1

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Heroclix Brightest Day Deadman

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Wizkids has released a preview of the Deadman figure for it’s upcoming Heroclix release Brightest Day.

Heroclix Brightest Day DeadmanFrom the Wizkids website:

While Deadman probably won’t be eating any burgers during your games, he will help you dish out some hearty helpings of pain to your opponent’s figures!  His array of support abilities, as well as his very consistent combat values, allow for a host of tactical opportunities during your game!

Not to mention Deadman’s ability to summon friendly figures with the White Lantern Corps and the Brightest Day keywords! WOWZAS! Need some reinforcements? Deadman has your back!

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