Black Hammer

Black Hammer 1-11-13

Bought the first trade on the recommendation of a colleague.  I’m disappointed that I got the second.  Upon reflection, I’m sure it was a matter of “want to know what happens next” more than “I like this and must have more.”

There are a couple of nice moments - Eva’s death is pretty harrowing, and I like that Dr. Star is named Jimmy Robinson (an homage to James Robinson and his stellar run on Starman).  But other than that, the mood is too dreary, the art too drab (a mix of Mike Mignola and Guy Davis).  I may try to read the last 12 issues in the arc to see how it all ends, but these first 12 are getting cut.

(Went back to my initial reviews, and they almost completely mirror my thoughts today.)

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Fine

Black Hammer, Black Panther movie

Black Hammer 7-11, 13

So yeah, I picked this up at the bookstore today.  That I did it on a business trip makes it feel more shameful, for some reason.  Why isn’t issue 12 in the trade?  Looking...can’t find an official reason, but it was a backstory issue.  Don’t know how that’s a reason, though.  This title is also on hiatus until its relaunch in April 2018.  Sure.  It’ll give me some time to think more about it.  

The second trade is more of the same, high quality stuff, but I may have been hasty in buying it; As good as it is, I don’t think I need to reread it again.  I mean, I would, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of title I’d ever feel like reading out of the blue.  I fall into this trap sometimes where I get started with a new series and plow through the available trades more because I want to find out what happens next, not because it’s re-read material.  (Deadly Class is the most recent example that I can think of.)  No regrets, I’m fine with giving Jeff Lemire my money for this story, but let this be a cautionary tale.  I could have borrowed this from the library or read it at Barnes and Noble and been just as happy.  And 20 bucks richer.  Which is what I’ll do with the next trade.

Black Panther movie

I watched this last night at an Alamo Drafthouse.  It’s my second time at one, and I’m sad to say I’m not the biggest fan.  The servers are distracting in the middle of the movie, and eating while I watch on the big screen diverts my attention as well.  I don’t think I need to go back to one again.  Like with 3D films.  

My initial reaction to the movie was that it wasn’t as good as the the hype.  While I didn’t read any reviews beforehand, the headlines I saw all trumpeted this as a Marvel Masterpiece.  I did not agree.  It has a ton of amazing moments, but as a movie, it did not elevate itself above my favorites from the studio - Cap 2 and 3, Avengers 1, Spider-Man Homecoming.  The plot was still boilerplate - Hero is knocked down from his lofty perch by an antagonist who wants to see the world burn, must regain his position.

I loved all the women.  Sister, General, Partner, Mother.  As NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour stated (pretty sure it was them), every one of them could carry their own franchise.  I would pay to see all of them.  (They’re all more interesting characters than T’Challa, let’s be honest.)  I so much want to see Shuri as Ironheart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  I love Riri in the comics, but Letitia Wright would KILL IT.  

The action scenes were generally sub par.  (The final fight between T’Challa and Killmonger was a CGI-fest no better than the one in Justice League.)  The car chase scene was pretty good, but the trailers unfortunately gave away all the good bits.  On the plus side, watching the Dora Milaje kick ass was always fun.  And battle rhinos!

Killmonger.  He was a few writing decisions away from being one of the MCU’s great villains.  I was so ready to be on his side, but he had to screw it up by being just a little too evil.  And his final plan of mass weapons distribution was ill-conceived.  Other than that, his message of sharing Wakandan tech to make the world a better place and help the oppressed was one I could get behind, and echoed the sentiments of Nakia.  Played just a little less militantly, Killmonger could have been so much more.  

So that was last night.  Today, I got into a number of discussions about Killmonger and other aspects of the movie.  There’s so much more to talk about with this movie compared to just about everything else out there. (Last Jedi being the exception…)  And that means something.  I still don’t put it above the aforementioned movies from an entertainment standpoint, but as a think piece, it outpaces most, if not all, of the field.  

Regret watching?  No

Would buy on DVD? No

Would watch again?  Yes

Rating: Pretty Good

Black Hammer, Batman Incorporated

Black Hammer 1-6

I bought this on the recommendation of a co-worker.  It’s the latest (for me) in a long line of JLA-analog stories.  The ‘JLA’ has been trapped on a farm for the past 10 years for reasons unknown, following a massive battle that saved the world.  Why can’t they leave?  We don’t know yet.  But we learn about their backgrounds and how they’ve adapted to small town life, where no one knows who they are.  And the daughter of their dead comrade has begun looking for them.  

It’s entertaining enough.  I read the trade straight through, and want to read the next one.  

Batman Incorporated 0-13, Batman Incorporated Special 1

These trades were sitting on the bookshelf at the library, and I’d never read them before.  I didn’t get very far in Grant Morrison’s Batman run when it first came out.  I don’t think I was a very big fan of Damian Wayne back then.  That opinion has changed drastically with Peter Tomasi’s Super Sons.  Which....was cancelled in an announcement today.  Ah well.  

I read Batman RIP at a used bookstore and hated it, so I figured Morrison just didn’t have it this time around.  Sadness, since he pretty much defined Batman-as-all-knowing-god on JLA.  

But library means free, so why not?  

The concept of international Batmen really doesn’t do anything for me.  Not sure why, let’s see if I can break it down.

I have no problem with multiple Green Lanterns.  Green Arrow has a son with the same name and a spinoff with Arsenal.  Superman’s got Supergirl.  Flash has a whole team of speedsters.  Even Batman has his family, four Robins, and temporary replacements.  Why does Batman Incorporated feel so gimmicky by comparison?  Why can there be a Green Lantern for each sector of space, but not a Batman for each country?

I think it’s because Batman is inextricably tied to his origin - Murdered parents in Gotham and the determined vow of a grief-stricken child.  Calling someone the Batman of Japan or the Batman of England is absolutely meaningless.  Superficial similarities - dead loved ones and fighting for justice - aren’t enough.  Grah.  I couldn’t get to a good explanation.  But i still don’t like it.  

While the Batman Incorporated part of the story is questionable, everything else is solid for a good long time - The build up of Talia’s plan, Batman’s attempts to counter it, and the growing horror as it all goes incredibly wrong had me rapidly flipping the pages.  The culminating battle in the Wayne Tower lobby is spectacularly choreographed.  The character moments between Damian and Dick are beautifully touching.  And Robin’s final stand showcases a brave, scared, defiant, beaten boy.  It’s very good comics.  

If only the following issues handled the aftermath as adroitly.  It’s now the third instance I can recall where a Batman arc fails to conclude as successfully as it starts (War of Jokes and Riddles, Death of the Family).  

Out of time.  I’ll write more tomorrow if I can’t fill it with whatever I read.