Identity Crisis #3

August 13, 2004

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Serial Killer

The Justice League fights Deathstroke – and more answers are found.

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

One of the greatest mysteries ever to hit the DC Universe continues as the members of the satellite-era Justice League try to bring in the man they believe murdered Sue Dibney. But Dr. Light has hired some muscle of his own… Deathstroke.

The fight with Deathstroke is pretty intense, and will most certainly serve as fodder for arena debates for years to come, but that isn’t nearly as great as what comes afterwards. Green Arrow, apparently our viewpoint character for much of this series, explains to the younger heroes the lengths the old guard went to in order to protect their identities and, by proxy, their loved ones… and what made Dr. Light’s case so unique. We also spend a little time with a washed up supervillain and the family and friends of some of our heroes, capping off the book with and ending that left my jaw on the floor.

This issue, while still a fantastic mystery, wasn’t quite flawless – we get another focus on Tim Drake and his father which, like the segment in issue #1, does not fit anywhere in continuity with the current state of the Batman titles. (And before anyone starts espousing that this may be a clue of some sort, Robin writer Bill Willingham has already stated on his website that this is an editorial blunder). The scene is just two pages long, but it’s so starkly different from the “real” timeline it gets distracting to those of us who are following the regular Robin series.

Rags Morales steps up to the plate again with this issue – he does a fantastic fight scene between Deathstroke and the JLA, including some pretty brutal, violent images. This is definitely a grown-up superhero book, not something you’re going to want to show the kiddies… of course, it appeals mostly to long-time fans anyway.

If there’s any flaw in Morales’s artwork, it’s that he honestly doesn’t do a very good Superman. It isn’t terrible, but there’s something off about his face, something very distracting. Fortunately, big blue is just a peripheral character in this series (so far, at least), and it doesn’t distract you for very long.

Minor flaws aside, the impact of each issue of this title builds exponentially. It just gets better and better as the full impact of what we’re reading starts to hit us. As intense as the first issue was, there was much more to the story than met the eye. And it’s not even half over yet.

Rating: 9/10

DC Universe Holiday Special 2008

December 23, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: The Man in Red and other stories

A series of seasonal tales from across the DC Universe!

Writers: Sterling Gates, Matt Cherniss, Peter Johnson, Dan Didio, Paul Dini, Joe Kelly, Franco Aureliani, Art Baltazar, J.C. Vaughan, Amanda McMurray, Rex Ogle, Alan Burnett, Adam Schlagman
Pencils: Karl Kerschl, Ivan Reis, Ian Churchill, Dustin Nguyen, Mick Bertilorenzi, Tim Levins, Lee Garbett, Rafael Albuquerque, Michael J. Dimotta, Kevin Maguire, Rodolfo Migliari
Inks: Joe Prado, Dan Davis, Trevor Scott
Colors: Pete Pantazis, Rod Reis, Bob Rivard, Dustin Nguyen, Pam Rambo, Heroic Age, Cris Peter, Frank Martin, Michael J. Dimotta, Max Niumara
Letters: Travis Lanham, Rob Leigh, Pat Brosseau, Sal Cipriano, Nick Napolitano
Editors: Dan Didio & Eddie Berganza
Cover Art: Frank Quitely
Publisher: DC Comics

Holiday specials, to be frank, are usually a mixed bag. You get some good stories, some bad stories, and in the end you’re left trying to decide if there was enough good to justify the price. This year, however, the DC Universe Holiday Special has a surprising amount of good, more than enough to balance out the rest.

“The Man in Red” begins the issue with a very familiar story – the last son of a dying world is sent to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. It’s obvious from the beginning, of course, that there’s a twist – and even more specifically, just what that twist is – but somehow, that doesn’t make the story any less fun. “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” is a bizarre Aquaman story. When the king of the seas finds s ship being hijacked on the surface, he leaps to the aid of the husband and pregnant wife fighting for their lives. Along the way, though, he finds himself playing the part of a different king. I really liked this story, I must say. The parallels were obvious, but not heavy-handed, and definitely gutsy.

Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen give us a very different take on Batman and Robin in “Good King Wenceslas,” and even though DC isn’t currently using the label, this is as good an Elseworlds story as you’ll find this year. Batman comes back again in “A Day Without Sirens,” by Joe Kelly and Mick Bertilorenzi. Jim Gordon is skeptical when a local agency tries to pledge a night with no sirens, no crimes, no emergencies for the GCPD to handle. But as the clock ticks and the phone doesn’t ring he’s forced to question – is it a Christmas miracle?

“It’s a Wonderful Night” takes advantage of a unique dynamic as Nightwing and Robin encounter Captain Boomerang. Lest we forget, their fathers killed each other, so there’s a tension there unlike any other. Perhaps my favorite story in the book, though, was “Christmas With the Beetles.” Three generations of criminal have run afoul of three generations of the Blue Beetle, and the cycle looks like it’s going to start again, unless a father convinces his son to change his life. I love seeing the two older Beetles in action, and as a fan of Jaime Reyes, he was welcome in this book too. “An Angel Told Me” is a nice – if not amazing – Huntress story about a kid in her school who has been showing up with mysterious bruises. It’s a bit predictable, but gets the point across without preaching.

“The Night Before Christmas” features a highly up-to-the-minute Teen Titans team (plus Traci 13, Jaime’s girlfriend) hanging in New York City at Christmas. The story deals heavily with the dynamics of the characters, with Robin and Wonder Girl contemplating how to keep the team together, Bombshell refusing to interact with her teammates, and Red Devil feeling kind of left out. Unlike most of the stories in this book, which have an ambiguous sense of time about them, this story could easily be inserted in-between pages of the current Teen Titans run, and in fact, probably should be included in a trade paperback of the series.

Alan Burnett and Kevin Maguire step up with “Party Animal,” a tale of the Shaggy Man. The addle-brained villain is rounded up on Christmas Eve, but rather than interrupt the Christmas festivities at S.T.A.R. Labs, Green Lantern and Red Arrow bring him to the JLA Satellite – to interrupt their party. The story is funny, and Maguire’s fantastic artwork helps a lot to get the comedy across.

Finally, Dr. Light stars in “Let There Be Light” by Adam Schlagman and Rodolfo Migliari. Stuck at work on Christmas Eve, Kimiyo Hoshi is attacked by the surviving members of the Fearsome Five, teammates of the villain whose identity she has claimed. There seems to be a definite attempt to bring this character to the forefront these days, which I’m fine with as long as it’s done well. Migliari does some excellent artwork with her, and the story actually addresses the one thing about the character that has always bothered me – namely, why she’d adopt the name and costume of a monster like Arthur Light.

Although there are a few lesser tales in this book, this mixed bag is far less mixed than the typical Yuletide special. There’s a lot of really good material in this issue, and the special is definitely worth the price.

Rating: 8/10

Super Friends (2008 Series) #10

December 19, 2008

Superfriends #10 (DC Comics/Johnny DC)
By Sholly Fisch, Dario Brizuela & J. Bone

The Superfriends play host to a party at the Wayne Foundation Community Center, where children of all faiths are gathering together to celebrate… well… everything. Unfortunately, Dr. Light is a little miffed that he didn’t get invited to the party, so he decides to crash. The book is really kind of so-so. Fisch does a nice turn connecting Christmas, Chanuka and Kwanzaa with the theme of “light,” but the way the different holidays are presented is really by rote. It’s like he was given the assignment to come up with a story that includes and educates kids about all three holidays in one tale — which I’ve got no problem with, if only it didn’t feel quite so forced. The superheroes and kids alike sound like they’re reading out of a textbook for a couple of pages there. On the plus side, the art is nice, and the cover by J. Bone is great. It’s not my favorite Christmas comic this season, but it’s not bad.
Rating: 7/10

Identity Crisis #2

July 16, 2004

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: House of Lies

The truth about Dr. Light!

Writer: Brad Meltzer
Pencils: Rags Morales
Inks: Michael Bair
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Kenny Lopez
Editor: Mike Carlin
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

Review: Let’s review. Last month, Sue Dibney war murdered. Earth’s superhero population was shattered. And as most of the heroes were sent off to chase red herrings while a small core of old Justice League members set off after the real suspect… the two-bit criminal called Dr. Light.

Not all of the current League falls for the ruse, though, and they confront their elder colleagues to get the truth. We find out why Elongated Man is so sure Light is the killer… and the explanation is almost as horrifying as the murder itself.

Meltzer puts this story together perfectly. We not only understand why the JLA is gunning for Light, we applaud it. When we question whether certain members of the team would have gone along with it, he solves the dilemma with something as simple as placing it at just the right period in history. Then he finds a way to again turn everything on its ear, reminding us that it’s just not kosher to completely solve the mystery with five issues to go.

In addition to spot-on use of the heroes in this story, Meltzer delves deeper into the villains this time around. We understand not only why some of them seem so ineffectual, but why some others are much more dangerous than they seem. Identity Crisis will be earth-shattering for the DC Universe, if for no other reason, than because a lot of villains that used to be seen as jokes are now to be taken deadly seriously.

I’m becoming a bigger fan of Rags Morales with each issue. You look at his heroes and they are, simply put, really P.O.ed. Light is crazed… maniacal. He has real acting in the faces he draws. These are heroes, even now, but these are heroes with broken hearts, and Morales gets this message across perfectly.

This is a mystery, but more than that, it’s a story about nightmares. Not just Ralph Dibney’s worst nightmare, but what must be the worst nightmare of anyone who puts on a mask and stand up and fight. I was torn up by the first issue. This one ripped those wounds open again.

It’s fantastic.

Rating: 9/10

Supergirl (2005 Series) #55

September 6, 2010

Title: Fakeouts
Writer: Sterling Gates
Pencils: Jamal Igle
Inks: John Dell, Marc Deering & Richard Friend
Colorist: Jamie Grant & Jim Devlin
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover: Amy Reeder, Richard Friend & Guy Major
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics

With Jimmy Olsen, Gangbuster and Dr. Light among Bizarrogirl’s captives, Supergirl descended into the sewers to try to save them, only to fall victim herself to Bizarrogirl’s reverse X-Ray vision, a power that apparently can encase people in stone. I’m still not sold on that being the opposite of seeing through things, but it’s certainly original, and Gates doesn’t dwell on it too long to really get in a bunch over it.

What does work, as we approach it from the “opposite” angle, is the characterization of the two girls. Bizarrogirl, as Supergirl’s opposite, is a cruel and unfeeling creature, which makes Supergirl’s actions at the end of this issue far more understandable and easy to accept. She takes a pretty big risk here, one that I didn’t see coming, but one that fits into her story perfectly. Using the villain to characterize the hero? A dandy little stroke of brilliance that pays off.

Jamal Igle’s artwork is beautiful. His women are soft but strong, his Gangbuster really looks like a guy who’s taken a beating, and the man does rubble very well. Even the double-page spread that opens this issue is choreographed and posed flawlessly. The man is one of the finest Supergirl artists I’ve ever seen.

This is the creative team we’ve always wanted on this title, and they’re finally getting the freedom to do some really cool stuff.

Rating: 8/10

Supergirl (2010 Series) #54

August 15, 2010

Title: Looking Glass

Writer: Sterling Gates
Penciler: Jamal Igle
Inker: Jon Sibal
Colorist: Jamie Grant
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover: Shane Davis
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics

Linda Lang, reeling from the events of the war with New Krypton, has decided to abandon both of her Kryptonian identities – Kara Zor-El and Supergirl. As she sits at home and mopes about her fate, a new Bizarrogirl appears in Metropolis and goes on a tear. Bizarros, you see, are the opposites of the people they emulate. Superman’s Bizarro is a sort of mindless oaf, the counterpoint for the strong, competent man of steel. Bizarrogirl, though, is the opposite of the kind, gentle Supergirl… and Bizarrogirl is scary as hell.

Sterling Gates has introduced a nice new rogue for Supergirl here. I don’t think we’ve seen a Bizarro version of Kara since the Silver Age, and making her a creature to be feared instead of an object of ridicule is a nice way to set her apart from the rest of the Bizarros out there. I’m also really glad that Kara’s wallowing in self-pity isn’t going to be a six-issue arc the way it would be under some writers. She’s upset, of course, she thinks about retiring, but we all know she’s not going to really quit the business, so why belabor the point longer than necessary to make the story work? Gates gives us just the right amount of self-doubt before she springs in to action.  He also makes very good use of the rest of the supporting cast, especially Jimmy Olsen and Cat Grant. Gates also seems to have adopted Gangbuster and Dr. Light as members of this book’s cast, although whether that will be full time or simply for this story arc, I’m not sure.

My one real issue with the book is the new power Bizarrogirl whips out on us. The writers have been playing around with the Bizarro’s opposite powers for a while now, and Sterling adds a new one to the arsenal this issue. This one, though, I have to say is a little specious. Freezing vision and fire breath – okay, I can buy that as being the opposites of the regular Kryptonian power set… but the “opposite” of X-Ray vision, gotta be honest, doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.

Jamal Igle’s artwork is fantastic, and I have to admit I’m kind of saddened by the rumors that he’s planning to leave this title to move over to Birds of Prey. He’ll do a fine job on that comic, don’t misunderstand, but he owns Supergirl. The cover not so much – I’ve really enjoyed some of Shane Davis’s other work, but something about Supergirl’s face on this cover looks off, almost like it was plucked from another image and moved on to this one. It’s a shame too – if not for that, it’d be a great cover. It’s still a damn good comic book.

Rating: 7/10

Justice League of America (2005 Series) #47

August 7, 2010

Title: Dark Things Part Three
Writer: James Robinson
Penciler: Mark Bagley
Inker: Rob Hunter
Colorist: Ulises Arreola & Zaratus
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover: Mark Bagley, Jesus Merino & Nei Rufino
Editor: Mike Carlin
Publisher: DC Comics

With about half the members of the combined Justice League and Justice Society either overcome by the Starheart’s power or in danger of becoming so, the remaining heroes recruit Mr. Miracle to help them break into the possessed Alan Scott’s lunar fortress. The world’s greatest escape artist may be the man to get them in, but can even this assemblage of heroes stand up to Alan, Obsidian, and Dr. Fate?

This story has been getting better with each issue. The addition of Mr. Miracle, who has been largely unseen since his Seven Soldiers miniseries, is a very nice touch. Bagley’s rendition of the hero is very good, and the colorists do a nice job making the lining on his uniform pop out and set him apart. He looks like a character that walked off the set of Tron – and I mean that as a compliment. The focus on Jade continues to be entertaining too. We’ve recently (like in Brightest Day #7) found out what her purpose was in being brought back from the dead, and it seems like she very well may fulfill (or fail to fulfill) that destiny before this storyline is over. Robinson has also done good work giving each of the characters at least one moment of coolness (maybe not in this issue, but somewhere in the story) to show off just what makes them worthy of being in the Big Leagues of the DC Universe. Excuse the pun.

We’ve also got a back-up feature, so let’s look at that one…

Title: Cogs Part Two
Writer: James Robinson
Penciler: Pow Rodrix
Inker: Ruy Jose
Colorist: Zaratus
Letterer: Rob Leigh

In part two of “Cogs,” we see just how Cyborg and Dr. Light were able to repair the shattered Red Tornado in a way that may prevent him from ever having his robot body destroyed again. Which is all kinds of awesome. Until the power of the Starheart began corrupting superheroes with powers related to the elements. As the Red Tornado is, in fact, a wind elemental inside an android body, he’s gone haywire. And thanks to his own invention, there may be no way for Cyborg to take him down.

The good in this issue – it’s really great to see Cyborg used in this fashion, showing him off as a techno guy, someone capable of creating instead of just a walking weapon. The problem is that most of this issue is flashback, and the scenes that take place in the present don’t really advance the story. At the end of this installment, we know why Red Tornado is such a problem, but we’re virtually in the same spot as we were at the end of part one. This is one of the dangers of serializing a story in such short installments.

Pow Rodrix is an okay artist – not really ready for a major assignment, but he shows potential. That’s one of the cool things about these back-up features. Not only is it a chance to tell stories about characters who may not be able to support an ongoing story, but it also gives a chance to try out some new creators and give them room to sharpen their skills.

I’m really digging this book, and this story.

Rating: 7/10