Shadecraft

Shadecraft 1-5

I was expecting great things from this after Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett’s amazing, super fun collaboration on Skyward.  And while Shadecraft isn’t bad, it isn’t nearly as good.  It’s missing the sense of wonder from the previous series, seeing as how it’s rooted in the mundanities of high school drama and family life.  (Which can be a totally rich genre on it’s own, but Henderon doesn’t do more than surface level work with it.)

Same for the art by Garbett - It’s undeniably beautiful, but it doesn’t have the extra kick that made Skyward one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. 

This is the end of Book One, I have no idea if I’d get Book Two if it ever comes out.  Probably not, since I wouldn’t buy this again?

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Astro City, New comics

New comics!

Shadecraft 5

End of the series (for now).  That ended way faster than I thought, I assumed this was 12 issues for some reason.  Everything gets tied up rather neatly, I’d rate it as Nice if this were a re-read.  Not nearly as good as Skyward, but maybe it’ll be better the second time around.  (Which will be surprisingly soon; I’m getting to the box after this one.)

Many Deaths of Laila Starr 4

This is really good, and unlike anything else that I’ve ever read.  Ram V’s story and Filipe Andrade’s art combine into this amazing series that feels like a mix of Death: High Cost of Living and Daytripper, I think.  Only uniquely its own.  I think it ends next month, very curious to see how it turns out.

Nightwing 82

So Dick Grayson has a retconned half sister that I’m totally cool with.  Tom Taylor does an impressive job of pulling off the Melinda Zucco connection in a way that doesn’t piss me off.  Told almost completely in flashback, the main story continues next issue.

Astro City 18-21

A nice stretch (for Astro City) of eight issues with no clunkers!

One of the better arcs in this whole series; Hawkeye/Mockingbird analogues Crackerjack and Quarrel are rapidly approaching retirement age, and struggle with the pending life change in different ways.  Kurt Busiek tells a great origin story with some wonderful narration from Quarrel.  He doesn’t do much to redeem Crackerjack’s annoying egotism, but he at least makes his motivations understandable.  Plus, some of Alex Ross’ best covers for Astro City.

Love the joy on her face and the angle of the shot.

Profound grief, masterfully depicted.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Astro City 22-25

Issue 22: In stark contrast to the Quarrel arc, here’s a calm, satisfying tale about a hero who recognizes when his time in the line of fire is over.  It’s surprisingly serene and peaceful, and it totally works.

Issue 23-24: A talking gorilla who just wants to play drums in a band.  His dilemma is amusing (his rehearsals are always interrupted by villains who want to use his gorilla-ness for evil) and his solution is sublime (form a rock band comprised of superheroes so that no one will mess with them).  

Issue 25: The origin story for Hummingbird.  Not too bad.  It’s fun reading about someone who has all the women of the Honor Guard as aunties.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Tom King Batman, New comics

New comics!

Shadecraft 4

I think Joe Henderson is done throwing twists at us and moving on to the main thrust of the story, but I could be wrong.  It feels like things will finally get going next issue.  

Old Guard: Tales Through Time 3

A total clunker of an issue.  I was disengaged the entire time, none of it connected with me.

Seven Swords 1

A can’t-resist concept: d’Artagnan gathers up the best swordsmen across literature to hunt down Cardinal Richelieu.  It’s a martial League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.  But things barely get going here, and I’m not sure there’s enough here for me to get the next issue.  

Batman 38-44

Original review.  The stories aren’t quite as good here, it’s the Mikel Janin and Joelle Jones art that saves the rating.  (I still think Selina could have broken into the dress shop in a less destructive manner.  That dress truly is divine, though.)

Beautiful lighting.

I don't care if I posted this image already.  I'm in love with this woman.

No way she takes out three Flashes.  Love how she ends with a pose, though.

Batman invented a pants machine.  King is brilliant.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Scott McDaniel Batman, New comics

New comics!

Strange Adventures 10

Things are finally made clear as Mr. Terrific lays it all out like the detective at the end of a murder mystery.  It’s 27 pages of narration, but Tom King had me completely glued to the page.  Fantastic writing, and now we’ll see how it all turns out.

Black Widow 7

This team of Kelly Thompson and Elena Casagrande might be, no joke, one of the best creative teams ever.  I can’t believe how blown away I am by this title right now.  As heartbreaking as it is, I’m glad that Thompson is continuing to explore the trauma Natasha’s experiencing in losing her family from the first arc; It’s not a plot point that’s so easily dismissed.

You don't have to be a parent for this to sting.

And then there’s the art.  Mind exploding.

Shadecraft 3

I can’t articulate why, but the story so far has been as insubstantial as shadows themselves.  It lacks any kind of emotional weight, and I’m finding myself sadly disappointed so far.  The only thing keeping this on my pull list besides the art (and even that isn’t Lee Garbett at his best) is Joe Henderson’s continued streak of excellent issue-ending cliffhangers.

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr 1-2

This is kind of like Neil Gaiman’s immortal Death: High Cost of Living, but not really.  The goddess of death is out of a job, and she sets out to kill the person responsible.  It’s unlike anything else I’ve ever read, and it’s lovely.

Batman 575-578, 582-584, 588-590

The start of the Scott McDaniel run. (I think this comes after his time on Nightwing and before Green Arrow.)  He works with Larry Hama, Ed Brubaker, and Brian K Vaughan in a series of stories that are all decent enough but really need the art to elevate them to a Nice rating.  

Having not read much, if any, non-GI Joe writing by Larry Hama, this is the first time I’ve noticed that his scripts could very much pass for his GI Joe stories, with their military specificity and characters describing exactly what they’re doing.  Batman’s basically a more verbal Snake Eyes.

Vaughan writes a creative Matches Malone origin story that would be more interesting if I cared at all about Matches Malone.

I was literally thinking this exact same thing at the exact same moment.

Sweet pose from McDaniel.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Maus, New comics

New comics, three weeks worth!

Seven Secrets 8

Some super sweet looking action from Daniele Di Nicuolo, but with 14 Keepers and Holders to keep track of, I’m getting a little lost with all the characters.  This’ll read better at once.  

Rorschach 8

I almost never remember what happened last issue, so I’m having a ton of trouble keeping track of the plot.  But Tom King is so adept at making each of these issues stand alone that I’m still having a blast.  

The transition to this page is so creepy.

Shadecraft 2

I’m not nearly as taken with this as I was Skyward.  The plot is still taking its time to develop, and it’s going pretty slowly.  Still, Joe Henderson’s crafted an exciting cliffhanger for the second issue in a row.

Batman: Detective 2

Not bad, but not stand out.  

Die 16

I’m always impressed and grateful when I can enjoy an issue even when I can’t remember the last issue.  (See Rorschach.)  Kieron Gillen does a great job here of immersing me back in the world of DIE, and I’m looking forward to the dungeon crawl that starts next issue.

Black Cat 6

A set up issue as Black Cat looks to reverse the deal Black Fox made last month.  Still fun.

Maus 1-2

For some reason, I had the urge to read this during my midnight snacking last night.  There’s not much for me to say.  It’s Maus.  I’ve read this many, many times now, and it’s always great.  The subject matter is the only thing keeping this from the highest rating.  It’s hard to say that a story about the Holocaust brings me Pure Joy.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Superman, New comics

New comics!

Shadecraft 1

Joe Henderson and Lee Garbett, the creative team of the excellent Skyward; Of course I was going to pick this up!  It’s too early to tell much of anything right now (Shadows are attacking girl, girl’s brother who’s in a coma fights them in his own shadow form), but I’m certainly in for the ride. 

Black Cat 4

Jed MacKay’s just a really good writer, even in this slightish story starring a possible future antagonist.  

Batman/Catwoman 4

Strange Adventures 9

I love Tom King, but I really wish I could enjoy his series as individual issues rather than 12-issue epics.  The gap between issues really prevents me from enjoying all the subtleties and continuity in these stories.  Waiting for the re-read to really evaluate these.  

Seven Secrets 7

Just a little bit more origin story for Caspar.  (I had to look up his name.  Not the best sign.)  Still enjoyable.

Joker/Harley: Criminal Sanity 8

It feels like this series has been going on forever.  Quick search reveals...October 2019.  Wow, this is older than my daughter, for just 8 issues.  Anyway, Harley doesn’t become a Joker disciple, nor does she go crazy.  That’s all I really wanted from this, so yay.  The ending’s a total let down (she catches him, he goes to jail, she vows to kill future bad guys), but this was still worth the buy.  WIll see if it holds up.  

Superman: Man of Steel 18-19

Superman 74-75

Adventures of Superman 497

Action Comics 684

Justice League America 69

The storyline that kicked off gimmick events at DC - This led to Knightfall (Batman), Emerald Twilight (Green Lantern), Terminal Velocity (Flash), whatever the death of Green Arrow was called, and Wonder Woman’s short biker chick phase.

There’s not much to talk about here - Doomsday pounds on Superman and the Justice League for seven issues.  Doomsday’s lack of origin doesn’t bother me so much, nor does the out-of-nowhere nature of his appearance.  That part of it actually works for me - a lot of people don’t see their deaths coming, and neither did Superman.  As Ron Burgundy says, 

With the decreasing number of panels per issue, the reduced number of images that can be devoted to storytelling means that the fight goes by really quickly.  It leads to my main problem with the arc - Superman really shouldn’t have been able to kill Doomsday.  Most of the story shows him getting his ass kicked.  He gets a few shots in, but given how much Doomsday’s strength has been touted, there’s no way Superman wins this fight.

Still, this is a classic storyline, certainly worth reading and a lot more entertaining than some of the other arcs I listed above.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Action Comics 858-863

There’s something about Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.  They tell some beautiful stories together.  This one, where a powerless Superman travels to the future to help the Legion of Super-Heroes, isn’t quite as good as Secret Origins, but it’s pretty close.  Mark Waid’s the only other person who’s made me care about a Legion story as much as this one.  This is a frickin' good yarn.

This page reveal made me gasp with joy.

Frank's great, but that punch is drawn all wrong.

Brainy's interjection is priceless.

Such a sweet way to connect Superman's adventures across the years.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Action Comics 864-865

One issue that ties up loose ends from the Legion arc that I really don’t care about.  Another about the Toyman that screams “let’s give Gary Frank some time to draw the next storyline.”  Since I don’t have this complete run anyway, I don’t feel bad cutting these.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Didn’t suck

Action Comics 866-870

Maybe it’s because Superman’s been rebooted so many times that this death of Pa Kent had absolutely zero emotional effect on me.  And this Brainiac lacked any kind of menace.  Good thing they gave Frank time to draw this, because it keeps the less-good-than-usual Johns writing from tanking the rating.  

As always, Frank's Clark is perfect.

Makes no sense from a logistic POV, but I still love it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Superman 677-678

Tried these out because James Robinson was spectacular on Starman.  He’s not as good here.  I don’t know who Atlas is, but I don’t care in the slightest.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Boring (Cutting)