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Review: Dark Knights of Steel #4

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Dark Knights of Steel #4

Dark Knights of Steel has a been a solid “Elseworlds” storyline taking the characters we know and throwing them into a fantasy setting. The series, more importantly, hasn’t been simple the characters we know in a new setting. Instead, there’s been some slight tweaks and additions and enough to keep readers guessing. Add in political machinations and it’s been an entertaining read. Dark Knights of Steel #4 continues the success with an issue that pulls back the curtain telling the story of the Els’ coming to Earth and how Bruce came to be.

Alfred spills the details. All of the details. After Bruce’s discovery in the previous issue, Alfred has decided to sit him down and tell him the truth (I’m assuming it is). Written by Tom Taylor, Dark Knights of Steel #4 takes us through the Els’ early years on the planet and we find out how they came to rule their kingdom. It’s a much more grounded and benevolent story hinting at what’s to come.

What I like about Taylor’s storytelling is that it makes sense in many ways. It’s a gradual takeover by the Els and not some quick power grab or worship by the people. It very much fits the “benevolent’ character of Superman. But, it also shows a slow corruption over time to where things are at.

Taylor also delivers some twists finally revealing who the “Green Man” is. It’s definitely not who I expected, showing the series can still surprise.

Bengal handles the art duty for this issue with Arif Prianto on color and Wes Abbott on lettering. The art is good. There’s some fantastic panels and pages but generally the characters lack a certain detail of previous issues. Bengal’s art style is good and consistent but it’s nothing that really jumps out to me. It’s a step back from the previous issues and is noticeable, partially because the first three issues were so good visually.

Dark Knights of Steel #4 fills in some interesting gaps to the story. We get to learn a bit of the world’s history through Alfred. While the issue is mainly devoted to the past it’s very much about the present and by the end, has set the series up for its next arc and direction.

Story: Tom Taylor Art: Bengal
Color: Arif Prianto Letterer: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.25 Art: 7.4 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

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Review: Dark Knights of Steel #3

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Dark Knights of Steel #3

Dark Knights of Steel has delivered a hell of a rollercoaster ride so far. The series follows a fantasy take on familiar superheroes with Black Lightning’s family ruling one kingdom and Superman’s family ruling another. Jor-El is murdered by King Jefferson leading to Zala Jor-El to attack Jefferson’s kingdom killing his son. A war is brewing and Dark Knights of Steel #3 sees the various factions jockeying and preparing for what’s to come.

Written by Tom Taylor, the first three issues have very much been the setup of the clash to come. There’s lots of mystery brewing, like why Zala is just out killing folks now, but it’s the machinations and planning by the rulers that’s most interesting.

Dark Knights of Steel #3 has Jefferson attempt to woo the Amazons to his side. But, is that really his goal overall? There’s an intelligence as to what Taylor is brewing that has the reader questioning what might behind everyone’s actions. Things can’t just be straightforward, can they?

Taylor also does a fantastic job of using DC’s characters without just having them in different costumes. There’s hints and teases in some cases where just a name or color of armor let you know what their main DC Universe equivalent is. It’s fun in that way that has you partially playing “who’s that character?”.

The art by Yasmine Putri has been fantastic. With color by Arif Prianto and lettering by Wes Abbott, each issue looks stunning and Dark Knights of Steel #3 is no exception. As said above, the characters look like they fit in this world without just slightly tweaking their normal costumes. Normal knight armor might just be colored in a way to tip off readers. There’s also a great use of events off page. With Zala on the warpath, some of her actions happen off the page with the reader only seeing the beginning and then the destruction. That leaves the imagination to run wild and fill in the blanks, which is far worse than what Putri would be able to show.

Dark Knights of Steel #3 is another solid issue of the series. It’s slowly building the intrigue and action to come instead of just rushing into things. It also has no problem piling up the bodies and destruction. In other words, it’s using its disconnect from continuity to full advantage and delivering a reading experience that’s familiar but also keeps readers on their toes.

Story: Tom Taylor Art: Yasmine Putri
Color: Arif Prianto Letterer: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.75 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

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Review: Nightwing #87

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A brilliant issue, Nightwing #87 is told in one continuous issue. If you love comics and comic art, this is a must get.

Story: Tom Taylor
Art: Bruno Redondo
Color: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

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Review: Dark Knights of Steel #2

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Dark Knights of Steel #2

Time and time again, writer Tom Taylor has show he can do an “Elseworlds” story taking the familiar heroes we know and putting them in new and interesting situations. He often delivers the basics but packs in enough enough different aspects that it feels far more than same heroes in a different setting. In the first issue of Dark Knights of Steel we’re introduced to a fantasy take of our heroes with some twists and turns and Dark Knights of Steel #2 does much of the same, upping the action and tension.

Taylor has delivered a world where the heroes we knew now rule Kingdoms with the land of Jor-El imprisoning “wizards and magic” leaving its rivals to see them as a threat to the people. With a prophecy hinted at, the debut issue saw Jor-El killed by an arrow and the revelation that Bruce was his son as well. It was a hell of an ending that threw a lot into question and added a layer of possible friction for later.

Dark Knights of Steel #2 picks up on that as two kingdoms look to inch towards war and we see how evil the House of El is. The second issue delivers twists in multiple ways, including an unexpected character and that prison. Is Superman’s family actually evil? For characters that have stood for good for so long, just casting a shadow like this on them leaves the reader questioning if this is the side we should be cheering for or not. Something is very off and two issues in, I’m not sure who’s good and who is bad. Hell, they all might be bad in the end and it’s just a matter of how evil they are.

The art by Yasmine Putri continues to be fantastic. With color by Arif Prianto and lettering by Wes Abbott, the world and characters feel familiar but are distinctive. The designs take inspiration from their DC counterparts but aren’t a straight riff. They have elements inspired by. There’s also just some great visual moments and a lot of emotion in the characters as they deal with the fallout of the debut issue. You get the sense of the highs and lows in the issue. But, it’s the small details that stand out and say a lot. There’s an entire bit with Green Arrow and his capture where the visuals are so much more impactful than the dialogue about them.

Dark Knights of Steel #2 is a solid issue that leaves us with a holy shit moment. It leaves us questioning who are the real heroes and if there are any in this story. Taylor has taken the expected heroes versus impossible odds in new setting formula we were expecting and is delivering us another shakeup to the genre he’s mastered so well. This is a hell of a series that looks to keep its readers on their toes.

Story: Tom Taylor Art: Yasmine Putri
Color: Arif Prianto Letterer: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.4 Art: 8.6 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

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Review: Suicide Squad: King Shark #2

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Suicide Squad: King Shark #2

Suicide Squad: King Shark #2 continues to be a funny, gory, and occasionally sexy good time from Tim Seeley, Scott Kolins, and John Kalisz. This book feels a lot like a quirky late-1980s DC comic thanks to appearances of supporting cast members from Animal Man, Swamp Thing, and of course, the titular Suicide Squad, but Seeley brings a modern sense of humor with one of the most annoying songs in recent memory acting as both a running gag and something driving the plot. The same philosophy extends to Kolins’ sturdy, almost deadpan figures that are an inch away from erupting into total violence. Kalisz also eschews the fancy digital effects and goes for bold, trippy tones especially any time mystical power or energy is involved. King Shark is a silly book, but it’s well-crafted and has some great world-building too.

Like in many of his previous DC efforts, like Nightwing and Grayson, Seeley excels at both excavating old concepts and characters from previous DC Comics as well as fleshing his own additions to this vast multiverse. The entire plot of Suicide Squad: King Shark revolves around a tournament of representatives of different species from cockroaches and sea worms to sharks and humans to see which one is the prime evolutionary force on the planet. It’s also connected to the idea of the Red and Parliament of Limbs from Jeff Lemire’s run on Animal Man, but Tim Seeley and Kolins give it a reality TV/shonen manga/pro wrestling flair. It’s fun to watch anthropomorphic animals beat the shit out of each other while King Shark and our POV character, Shawn Tsang (Aka my favorite character from Seeley’s Nightwing run.) work out their anger issues and try to stay one step ahead of Amanda Waller, who wants King Shark to kill for her not his species.

Tim Seeley, Scott Kolins, and Kalisz are quite creative with the fight scenes in Suicide Squad: King Shark #2 and make them weirder, and in many cases, grosser than your usual superhero fisticuffs. John Kalisz colors the hell out of some oozing fluids, and Seeley doesn’t make King Shark’s matchups a cake walk even if he isn’t fighting any recognizable DC characters. However, the highly problematic B’wana Beast is the host and in full sleazy drama-stirring mode. (The fact that Mr. Beast is problematic is commented on by the characters in a quick witted line from Shawn.) This combination of struggles at the tournament plus Shawn (And by extension, the reader) rooting for Man King to ensure that humanity isn’t shark or cockroach bait increases the tension as well as Amanda Waller and a team of seriously cool characters ready to retrieve King Shark from what she perceives as nonsense. Her interactions with King Shark’s divine father are seriously chilling as she doesn’t back down from a character who gets special big lettering font from Wes Abbott because he’s so powerful.

Suicide Squad: King Shark #2 is truly a delight. It’s a deep dive into some seriously underappreciated DC characters, both past and present, with a sense of humor and a brutal approach to fight scenes. Tim Seeley and Scott Kolins also find the gentle humanity in King Shark, and most of the time you’re laughing with and not at him and feeling bad at how he’s manipulated by so many forces, including his father, Amanda Waller, and Shawn Tsang. Maybe, one day he’ll find a human that he can actually trust, but it probably won’t be in this miniseries among the Real Housewives, er, Furries of the DC Multiverse.

Story: Tim Seeley  Art: Scott Kolins
Colors: John Kalisz Letters: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.4 Art: 7.9 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

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Review: Suicide Squad #5

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Suicide Squad #5

With his spotlight in the upcoming The Suicide Squad, it was only a matter of time before we saw Bloodsport join the series. Suicide Squad #5 brings the character into the fold as he takes on a mission for Amanda Waller, one that involves the multiverse.

Bloodsport is on a mission. After a quick “origin” recap for those that don’t know the character we get into the thick of things. Hopping around the multiverse on his own, Bloodsport is looking for new recruits for Waller to join her Suicide Squad. Now on Earth-3 he has to deal with a world where all of the “heroes” are actually villains. There’s a lot of recruitment opportunities there.

Robbie Thompson does a fantastic job of taking us through Bloodsport’s thought-process as he explores a new world and explains his mission. We get a little more about his background and history and Thompson adds some small touches that add some depth to the character. What’s great is the character delivers what feels like a mix of danger, expertise, and a little off. The results are some deadpan humor that keeps the comic from being too serious.

A team delivers the art which isn’t too noticeable. Other than an opening sequence, the comic is smooth in its look and it looks good. Dexter Soy, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, and Joe Prado all provide the art. Suicide Squad #5 features some nice layouts that make Bloodsport look amazing with dynamic poses that you want to recreate with toys. Alex Sinclair‘s colors make the blues, reds, and greens pop on the page. Wes Abbott handles the surprising amount of dialogue and really makes Bloodsport’s journal unique and in his “voice”.

Suicide Squad #5 is a fantastic entry in a series that’s been entertaining the entire time. It almost stands on its own and can likely be picked up by new readers with few issues. What’s better for long-time readers is that there’s some major moments when it comes to the team’s dynamics that’ll have major implications going forward. At the end though, it left me wanting more Bloodsport.

Story: Robbie Thompson Art: Dexter Soy, Eduardo Pansica, Julio Ferreira, Joe Prado
Color: Alex Sinclair Letterer: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

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Robins Reunite in Nightwing #80, and a Heartless New Blüdhaven Villain Arrives!

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Longtime Nightwing readers will know that Dick Grayson’s always had a big heart. From protecting those persecuted by bullies in his youth, to combating evil alongside Batman as Robin, to pledging his newly inherited wealth to enriching Blüdhaven as Nightwing—his kindness and generosity have always guided his life. But looking ahead to Nightwing #80’s “Leaping into the Light” part 3 on May 18, a new villain stalks the back alleys of Blüdhaven, removing the hearts of the city’s most vulnerable. Who is this terrifying new menace named Heartless, and will he be able to resist plucking out the biggest heart in all of Blüdhaven? You’ll need to read this (literally) heart-wrenching issue to find out!

On top of all that, creators Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott are delivering the heart and soul of the DC Universe in every issue! Check out a Robins reunion in Nightwing #80, due to hit shelves on May 18! What is Tim Drake doing in Blüdhaven?

Then in Nightwing #81 on Jun 15, Dick Grayson trades out his escrima sticks for a magnifying glass and a sleuth hat to investigate Blüdhaven’s new mayor, Melinda Zucco, and find out how the daughter of the man who murdered Dick’s parents came to power in Nightwing’s city. But his investigative adventure is cut short when he comes face to face with the most horrendous villain in the history of Blüdhaven—HEARTLESS.

And in Nightwing #82 on July 20, Melinda Zucco’s connection to the man who killed Dick Grayson’s parents wasn’t a surprise to the Blüdhaven hero, but what the former Robin discovers about Melinda’s ties to the Flying Graysons leaves the usually upbeat detective speechless!

Every issue of Nightwing, written by Tom Taylor with art and covers by Bruno Redondo, color by Adriano Lucas, lettering by Wes Abbott, edited by Jessica Chen, has Nightwing “Leaping into the Light!”

Review: Suicide Squad #2

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Suicide Squad #2

I loved the debut of this latest volume of Suicide Squad. The issue did a great job of doing its own thing but also tying into what else was going on in the DC Universe. The debut issue involved Peacemaker leading a team to break out William Cobb, aka Talon, from Arkham Asylum. For those who read Batman, you’ll know there was an attack that killed most of Arkham’s inhabitants. Peacemaker and the team found themselves caught in that attack. Suicide Squad #2 keeps things moving as Peacemaker is determined to complete his mission.

Robbie Thompson keeps readers on their toes with Peacemaker focused and overwhelmed. He’s dealing with inmates and guards as he attempts to get his target back to base. There’s a solid action aspect to it but Thompson also does something interesting, you have no idea if Peacemaker will succeed. In the first issue, much of the team were killed. That opening now keeps readers on their toes not knowing who might be offed next. This is a first, I really feel like this is a team that might not make it. Beyond Peacemaker and Superboy, who knows who might die. Thompson keeps things rolling as a new team is sent to help Peacemaker in his mission.

Suicide Squad #2 is solid in that it begins the steps towards the team we see in its Future State issues. It also throws in characters both known and obscure and any can die. But, what it really does is gives us a team where there’s more than team vs. Waller. With the inclusions of Peacemaker and Superboy we have two powerhouses who are going to clash. Peacemaker sees Waller as a method to achieve his goals. Superboy is the reluctant member who wants to do things his way and keep the death toll low. Then there’s a whole bunch of other varied personalities. It’s a solid team and dynamic that’s really entertaining.

Eduardo Pansica‘s art is fantastic. There’s just fantastic action that delivers on every page and looks great. The characters are so varied yet it still looks like they belong together. Julio Ferreira‘s ink, Marcelo Maiolo‘s color and Wes Abbott‘s lettering just adds to the experience. The color and inks make the images pop at times and really takes what easily could be a dark comic but lightens it up in a way. The lettering too just adds to each character’s personality.

Suicide Squad #2 is a solid issue. It’s full of action and sets up the team dynamic well. There’s also the fact that bodies keep piling up. This is a series that you shouldn’t get too attached to characters. They’re going to die. Beyond a few specifics, everyone is on the table as far as that. This is a comic that’s just full of action and personalities with some dynamic art that brings it all together. A fantastic second issue that builds on the excitement of the first.

Story: Robbie Thompson Art: Eduardo Pansica
Ink: Julio Ferreira Color: Marcelo Maiolo Letterer: Wes Abbott
Story: 8.1 Art: 8.1 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

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Heartless Debuts in Nightwing #79

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Coming up in Nightwing #79, in addition to the first appearance of new character Heartless, Dick Grayson has inherited Alfred’s fortune, a puppy, and a whole lot of questions. Who is Mayor Zucco, and what is her relation to the man who murdered Dick’s parents? What sinister plans does Blockbuster have for Blüdhaven? What kind of dog food is best for a three-legged puppy? To answer these questions, Dick’s going to need a little help from his friends—past and present. Take a look at the first few pages of Nightwing #79, due to hit shelves on April 20.

Nightwing #79, written by Tom Taylor with art and cover by Bruno Redondo, color by Adriano Lucas, lettering by Wes Abbott, edited by Jessica Chen, featuring a card stock variant cover by Jamal Campbell, continues the next stage of Nightwing’s evolution as a hero!

Nightwing #79

Review: Nightwing #78

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Nightwing #78

Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and Adriano Lucas begin their run on Nightwing with a heart-render of a first issue that really shows what makes Dick Grayson tick as a person and a hero. It also sets up some train tracks for future developments in the title and has a cute puppy to boot. Opening with a six page flashback featuring a young Dick and Barbara Gordon, Nightwing #78 pays tribute to the character’s past, but it’s also forward-thinking as well with our protagonist getting an opportunity to improve life in Bludhaven on a larger scale than beating up Orca, Blockbuster, or whatever Metropolis or Gotham villains decide to pay a visit to his city.

Taylor and Redondo wisely sidestep yet another re-tread of Dick Grayson’s origin, but they do spend Nightwing #78 showing how trauma has shaped his life. But, instead of turning him angry or isolated like certain other heroes, Dick Grayson is all about building and maintaining relationships with the people (or animals) he comes into contact with whether he’s dressed up in his Nightwing or Robin costume or just going about his day. We see this in the flashback where he protects one of his classmates from a bully and also gets to duck and weave a little bit and knock the teeth out of the son of one of Gotham’s most corrupt insurance company owners. There’s definitely a little bit of the hero who’s not afraid to stand up against in corruption in young Dick, and Taylor and Redondo even make certain fans happy by having a young Barbara Gordon show up to help. This scene is really sweet and re-establishes the friendships Dick has with Barbara and had with Alfred Pennyworth (He helps him do the dishes!) as well as his generally altruistic attitude. He’s always ready to help out whether that’s standing up to a school bully or punching someone in a killer whale costume.

Tom Taylor structures Nightwing #78 as a study in contrasts between Dick Grayson and Melinda Zucco. Dick is the scion of two good men, Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne, while Melinda is the daughter of a corrupt murderer, Tony Zucco, who also killed Dick’s parents. She has two scenes in the book, and for now, she looks just like a pawn/yes person for the jacked up crime lord Blockbuster, who is the real power in Bludhaven and totally cool with squashing the heads of public officials that don’t play ball with him. Colorist Adriano Lucas bathes her scenes with shadow and dim light while Bruno Redondo draws Blockbuster towering over her while she takes direction from him and doesn’t even react when his henchman disposes of the old mayor’s body like a candy wrapper. However, the whole passive thing might just be an act, and Melinda’s final scene in the comic hints at a character with a thirst for revenge and finishing what her dad started. She’s definitely smarter than the old mayor.

While Melinda Zucco works within the corrupt system of Bludhaven in Nightwing #78, Dick Grayson wants to dismantle it in both big and small ways. He rescues a puppy that is being kicked around by some sadistic men while also trying to figure out how to keep the rent in his apartment complex affordable after losing access to his Wayne Enterprises funds during the events of “Joker War”. This macro/micro approach to Nightwing’s extends to how the comic is written and drawn. During action scenes, Bruno Redondo’s art is super kinetic with all kinds of speed lines and silhouettes while Tom Taylor’s narrative captions add context and look at the bigger picture of what Nightwing is trying to accomplish. We don’t just get him trying to sniff out an intruder in his apartment: Taylor gives the whole backstory behind where he has decided to live. He’s always drawing parallels throughout the events the story like Dick thinking back to how he acted after his parents passed away when his new puppy bites him.

In Nightwing #78, Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and Adriano Lucas plot out a familiar, yet new path for Dick Grayson. He’s in Bludhaven and eventually going up against Blockbuster, but Taylor and Redondo add all kinds of lovely bits of characterization like pausing to let him finally grieve over Alfred and bond with a new puppy. From this issue, it seems that they care about Dick as a person just as much as a superhero, and they also start to craft an antagonist that is a shattered mirror of him without being cheesy and putting her in a “Dark Nightwing” costume or something. All in all, this issue is a charming read and worth checking out whether this is your first or 201st Nightwing comic

Story: Tom Taylor Art: Bruno Redondo
Colors: Adriano Lucas Letters: Wes Abbott
Story: 9.0 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.9 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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