Tag Archives: Tom King

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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BOOK REVIEW: Vision #1 by Tom King

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Vision #1Vision #1 by Tom King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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This issue imagines a family of superpowered androids moving into suburban Washington DC, into a neighborhood where the denizens are the lawyers, bureaucrats, and political professionals. Vision is a member of the Avengers. Having been created by villainous Ultron, Vision changed sides to protect humanity, the android’s affinity for humanity subsequently led him to create his own family — a wife and two children, Viv and Vin. When Vision takes a job as the Avenger’s liaison to the Federal government, he moves his family into a Virginia neighborhood popular with the DC elite.

Being fish-out-of-water, these androids are challenged by the quotidian events of suburban life and they’re perplexed by the idiosyncrasies of mankind. Setting a household of super-bots in the most mundane human habitat imaginable provides a lot of comedic fodder. The “Visions” are welcomed to the neighborhood by a couple from next door. Vin and Viv attend their first day at school. The only real action is at the very end of the issue, and it’s clearly meant to carry the story onward through subsequent issues. [Though, if you are reading this as a standalone, it feels like all the action has been crammed in at the end — almost as an after-thought.]

The art and color palette are consistent with the laid-back suburban circumstance of the story.

This issue plays on an amusing premise, but – of itself – is more of a set up than a story. If you’re interested in the character and intend to move forward with reading more issues, you’ll probably want to give this issue a read. However, if you’re expecting this to be an action-packed superhero outing, you’re likely to be disappointed.

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