Superhero comics, especially ones that have been around for decades, inevitably have stories more complex than the casual fan realizes. Writers take great pains to create a ripple effect in their work–sometimes a villain will scuffle with Batman in one issue then return punch-drunk to fight Batgirl several issues later. Continuity, when it comes down … Continue reading »
Tagged with graphic novel …
Recommended Reading: Superior by Mark Millar
Teenage superheroes have always had slight handicaps to overcome, usually commonplace ones like shyness around girls, general nervousness, lack of parental support, or poverty. Superior, a seven issue mini-series by Mark Millar, takes the time-honored formula a step further by giving its hero, a pre-teen named Simon Pooni, an incurable, debilitating, tragic handicap: multiple sclerosis. … Continue reading »
Don’t Let the Mouse Sneak By: Bubbles and Gondola Graphic Novel Review
Bubbles and Gondola, a graphic novel by Renaud Dillies, is the perfect example of why you should occasionally veer away from the Marvel and DC comics on the shelves (something I’ve been trying to get readers of this site to do for months). This book is the sleeper hit of the year in comics. I … Continue reading »
Puts the “Detective” Back in Detective Comics: Batman Detective 27 Graphic Novel Review
One complaint I have with the otherwise awesome Batman franchise is that the hero goes by the epithet “the world’s greatest detective,” and yet, in recent years, doesn’t seem to do much real sleuthing. I guess I’m a bit old-school; when I think detective, I think of clever deductions and riddles and so forth, while … Continue reading »
What Comic Books Are You Reading?
As anyone who has ever stepped into a comic book store knows, there’s a lot of comics published each month. On this site, I try to give my recommendations each and every week, but I can only read so much, thanks to restraints both temporal and monetary. In a perfect world, I’d read a wide … Continue reading »
Our Hero is Plagued By Memories: Wolverine Vs. The X-Men Graphic Novel Review
Wow, Wolverine sure went to hell after Jason Aaron took over the series… literally. In 2010, it was decided to restart Wolverine’s long-running solo series at issue one, and thankfully the folks at Marvel had the good sense not to retell his origins yet again. The whole Weapon X storyline is convoluted enough as it … Continue reading »
X-Men Versus Cthulu? X-Men: Golgotha Graphic Novel Review
In the five-part series X-Men: Golgotha, the team of mutants collide with Cthulu–well not Cthulu exactly, but the monstrous villain named Golgotha resembles the Cthulu so closely Marvel should owe H.P. Lovecraft’s heirs some money. If you’ve never been initiated into H.P. Lovecraft’s weird and gloomy fiction, the Cthulu is the author’s most famous creation. … Continue reading »
One of the Best Stories in Ages: Astro City The Dark Age
I couldn’t possibly count all of the comics I’ve read in my life. During Marvel Month, I actually read 200 issues in 4 weeks. That’s abnormally high, but just about every month I’ll read at least 25 issues. Out of all the comics I’ve read, a handful have stood out: Bone, Sandman, the work of … Continue reading »
Torment Can Be Fun: Superman/Batman: Torment Graphic Novel Review
Superman/Batman: Torment isn’t a comic that’s going to redefine the way you look at comics, nor will it much change the way you see the heroes. What this is, is a fun, fast-paced graphic novel that you don’t need to know all that much about the DCU to understand. The plot begins with something that … Continue reading »
Superman: Codename: Patriot…AKA: Dud.
As much as I like the work of writer James Robinson (Starman), I can’t in good conscience recommend purchasing Superman: Codename: Patriot (the comic industry sure loves their colons). What I look for in a graphic novel is something resembling a full story, with beginning, middle, and end. Of course, I realize superhero comics never … Continue reading »
