Category Archives: Comic Books

“X-Men: Phoenix in Darkness” by Grant Morrison

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X-Men: Phoenix in Darkness by Grant MorrisonX-Men: Phoenix in Darkness by Grant Morrison by Grant Morrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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This volume consists of two different story arcs that are thinly tethered by the character of Jean Grey / Phoenix. The first arc features an elaborate plot by Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto to clear the playing field of major opposition so that he can carry out his plans for world domination / the end of homo sapiens. The second arc is set in a futuristic dystopia and its villain is a dark and twisted variant of Hank McCoy / Beast who sets himself up to control the power of the gene. Interestingly, while Jean Grey / Phoenix plays important roles in both arcs, the stories are by no means centered on her. This keeps the stories from just playing out the will of a ridiculously overpowered character, and instead uses the fact that Phoenix is a threat everlasting, one that can never be allowed to get out of one’s sight.

The volume can be a bit chaotic, with the various time jumps and rather large cast of characters, but I felt it wasn’t too hard to follow the story — even given a bit of Grant Morrison trippiness.

If you’re interested in the X-men, this volume is worth looking into.

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BOOKS: “Batwing, Vol. 1: The Lost Kingdom” by Judd Winick

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Batwing, Vol. 1: The Lost KingdomBatwing, Vol. 1: The Lost Kingdom by Judd Winick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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This New 52 spinoff takes the Batman mythos out of Gotham and into the Democratic Republic of Congo. Batman, himself, plays largely a supporting role as mentor and equipment provider to David Zavimbe, a.k.a. Batwing. The book is careful to avoid having Batman play the role of rescuer, but instead, when Batwing and Batman fight together they do so largely as peers.

I’ve got to say that the name had me worried. It’s like a mashup of “Batman” and “Nightwing” and seems lazy and uninspired in a way that I feared might infect the comic. However, character building is a strength in this volume. David Zavimbe is a former child soldier in the Congo, particularly gifted in killing — though tormented by it, torment that reflects itself in PTSD.

While Batwing’s abilities paired with Bruce Wayne’s technology makes the Congolese superhero a force to be reckoned with, Batwing meets his match in a mysterious villain who calls himself “Massacre.” This six-issue volume focuses on the on-going battle between Batwing and Massacre, as the former tries to disrupt the latter’s killing spree.

This arc is stimulating in that it deals heavily in the complex realities of war-torn Africa. There is the issue of redemption, and whether it is even possible for someone who has been a cold-blooded killer. But the story also generates ambiguity about who is right, and even whether “right” is meaningful in a context where everyone has blood on his hands.

I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it for all comic book readers, especially those who like either Batman, Black Panther, or both.

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BOOKS: “Batman: Killing Time” by Tom King

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Batman: Killing TimeBatman: Killing Time by Tom King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Killing Time is a MacGuffin driven Batman story, though less Batman-centric than most of his eponymous titles. For any readers who might be unfamiliar with the term “MacGuffin,” it’s an object that motivates the characters to heroic and villainous extremes of behavior for reasons about which the reader is largely (or completely) left in the dark. Over the course of the story, the reader is teased information about the MacGuffin, but never with enough certainty or detail that it ever feels like it’s not a MacGuffin. On the other hand, it does feel as though there is self-awareness of the MacGuffin-esque nature of the story, and there are some strengths that I think more than offset what might otherwise be considered the laziest of storytelling.

What are these strengths of which I write? First of all, there is a disjointed, non-linear story presentation that facilitates revelations and maintenance of tension, but it is done artfully enough that one isn’t likely to lose the thread. Second, there are some intriguing characters (and some fascinating character development) in the story. Much of the story revolves around an uneasy alliance between Catwoman and the Riddler, and that is explored in detail. There is also a character known only as “the Help” who is both brought to life in a compelling way, but who also generates tension because he’s every bit a match for Batman in a slug-fest. Thirdly, while the book of epic proportions in some sense, with street criminal melees and the like, it’s quite street-level throughout, not veering into magic or god-tier superpowers. Finally, it is a complete and satisfying story arc. [My biggest pet peeve with comic volumes is that they often don’t feel concluded.]

I enjoyed reading this comic book. It’s fast-paced and isn’t afraid to give supporting characters some space to steal the show. If you’re a Batman fan, it’s definitely worth reading.

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BOOKS: “DCeased” by Tom Taylor

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DCeasedDCeased by Tom Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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It’s the zombie apocalypse in a world brimming with superheroes. Sort of. As is mentioned a couple of times throughout the story, it’s not really zombies as we know them, and there are a few crucial distinctions. But, basically, zombie apocalypse. What matters is that it is a threat that grows to inexorable proportions because it infects efficiently and spreads rapidly, and no one is immune. The threat is increasingly everyone and everywhere. The source is a viral bit of “programming” called the Anti-Life Equation.

This is about as dark as superhero comics get. The heroes that we are used to saving the day experience only victories of a short-lived and pyrrhic nature, while experiencing defeat after defeat. There are no ex machina saviors, at least not that amount to more than a blip in the scheme of things.

I found this story, depressing as it may be, to be intensely suspenseful. Full Disclosure: I also liked the Avengers “Infinity War” movie much more than “Endgame.” It’s not that I necessarily like seeing villains win, but that a story feels more compelling when there is strong and successful opposition and when costs accrue. And credible opposition and true stakes are often missing from superhero comic book stories.

I’d recommend this book for superhero comic book readers.

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BOOKS: “Saga of the Swamp Thing: Book One” by Alan Moore

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Saga of the Swamp Thing, Book OneSaga of the Swamp Thing, Book One by Alan Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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This volume presents two separate and complete story arcs. The first features the Floronic Man (Jason Woodrue) as the main villain, and it deals heavily in the origins of Swamp Thing and the creature’s struggles to come to grips with who it is and why it experiences the world as it does. The second story makes a shift to a more supernatural threat and shows a Swamp Thing who is more comfortable in its… roots? twigs? foliage? — whatever Swamp Thing has in lieu of skin.

Alan Moore does his usual superb job of creating a clever and satisfying set of tales. Swamp Thing was groundbreaking in its cross-genre mélange of horror, supernatural, eco-fiction, and sci-fi. There is also a certain smartness about the comic. One is led to consider questions of consciousness and humanity’s role in nature through these stories. And solutions are rarely achieved by punching the villain into a stupor. This won’t be for everyone. In some ways, the comic elevates the wise old mentor to the role of hero.

I enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it for readers of comic books and graphic novels.

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BOOKS: Batman Arkham: Penguin by Bill Finger, et. al.

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Batman Arkham: PenguinBatman Arkham: Penguin by Bill Finger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Drawing from 70 years of stories, this collection of issues involving the Penguin as Batman’s villain du jour really shows the shifting landscape of comic books over the decades. In the early issues, written with a young audience in mind, the Penguin is a skillful thief, but also kind of goofy, camp, and with not really much menace. By the last issue included, we see the hard edge of psychopathy and the gross deformity of this classic villain.

I was pleasantly surprised with this collection. Often these cobbled together comic collections lack coherent storytelling and feel as cheap and lazy as a sitcom clip show, but this volume shows several satisfying story arcs, and — while there is no overarching arc — it makes for a satisfying read.

I enjoyed reading this collection and seeing, through it, the evolution of comic books.

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BOOKS: The Batman Who Laughs by Scott Snyder

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The Batman Who LaughsThe Batman Who Laughs by Scott Snyder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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This volume plays on the spookiness of buffoonery that has made the Joker not only one the most well-known and effective villains of Batman’s rogues’ gallery but in all of comic books. However, while the Joker does play a role in this book, he’s not the villain. Instead, the book employs the popular comic book scenario of having the villain be a version of the hero, a version without moral compunctions or constraints. In this case, the central villain is a demented and mutated version of Batman with Jokeresque qualities, assisted by a Batman who is a bit more malevolent and vengeful, one who goes by the moniker Grim Knight.

How are there multiple versions of Batman? The multiverse, of course. That makes this a sci-fi heavy Batman story. If you like your Batman of the Matt Reeves / Robert Pattinson variety — i.e. in a plausible world, with fully human enemies, and with no freaky supernatural happenings, then this one may not be for you. That said, I don’t think the sci-fi elements detracted from the story, and they did allow for some compelling story elements. Snyder, wisely, avoids a problem that can readily plague sci-fi intense Batman stories, which is reference to (or cameos of) the god-tier DC heroes. (An occurrence that always begs the question, why wouldn’t Superman use his god-like powers to fix this debacle before heading to lunch.)

I enjoyed this story. I especially enjoyed that it wrapped up the narrative arc in a tidy package. It is often the case that comic book volumes end with a speedbump on the way to the next volume. This story felt like the central issue was resolved, while still leaving potential for future stories. I should point out that, with flashbacks and multiple Batmen, it does require one’s full attention while reading, lest one get lost between backstory and the present.

I’d highly recommend this volume for comic book readers.

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Hulk Limerick

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FEMA Photo by Win Henderson
There was an Anger Management counselor
 who, truth be told, was kind of an amateur.
   His schedule planner
   didn't know the name "Banner."
 So, for his new place, he hired a nerd.

BOOK REVIEW: A Boy Named Rose by Gaëlle Geniller

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A Boy Named RoseA Boy Named Rose by Gaëlle Geniller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Release Date: July 18, 2023

This is the story of a preternaturally likeable and enthralling young cabaret dancer, the titular boy named Rose. Rose’s entire life has been lived in the cabaret that his mother runs, and much of the story revolves around his introduction to the broader world as his fame grows.

It is eye-catchingly illustrated in a way that creates and facilitates a unique feel for the story.

As stories go, it’s not particularly emotionally rousing. I suspect that is partly because, as is common with literary fiction, it’s more character-driven than story-driven, and this presents a challenge for the graphic novel format in which the reader has more direct exposure to the characters’ external happenings. One may see a character being pensive, but without insight into that individual’s mental world one doesn’t feel it as intensely as one would with a novel that allows one some internal insight.

That said, a world is presented that is so foreign to most of us, life inside a cabaret, that it generates interest in that sense.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, light-hearted read.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Amazing Camel Toe by Claire Duplan

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The Amazing Camel ToeThe Amazing Camel Toe by Claire Duplan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Release Date: May 16, 2023

This graphic novel tells the tale of a misandrous artist who draws a comic book superhero who is meant to be a hero to harassed and harrowed females everywhere. From reading the blurb, one knows this is going to be a book with a message and a bit of edge. However, one hopes from the apparent whimsicality of title and cover that there will be enough humor to balance the anger and vitriol and make it an entertaining read. There is not.

I use the term misandrous not based on the dastardly characters her comic’s heroine kicks around, but rather based on the protagonist’s interactions with her “boyfriend.” This is the one man in the book who isn’t presented as a complete jerk, and, perhaps, the only man on the planet the protagonist doesn’t want to straight up murder (all the time.) Still, this “nice guy” can do nothing right except to always apologize and except full responsibility for every argument. The couple has a falling out at one point, and I suspect the author saw their reuniting as some sort of rom com “awe” moment, but the reader knows it’s a doomed relationship because the protagonist has a seething contempt for the boyfriend character and the fact that he went away once before means he’s probably got an iota of self-esteem in there somewhere that will not go gently.

If you enjoy the emotional pacing of being stuck in an elevator with a tantrum-prone two-year-old, this book may be for you. Otherwise, it’s kind of a one-dimensional character who’s angry all the time, and not that fun to read.


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