Wayne Markley

by Wayne Markley

Last time around I reviewed a handful of graphic novels and collections I have really enjoyed reading recently. Aas a follow up, and per Tim Schmidt’s demands, I am going to look at monthly books this time. At the end I will offer a quick review of Justice League #1, the first book of the new DC relaunch or reboot or whatever title they prefer. I will admit I complain a lot about the quality of monthly comics, as I feel there are very few monthlies that are really worth the money they are asking. As with any generality such as this there are exceptions such as Jonah Hex and Usagi Yojimbo which, month after month, have been excellent books for years now. I mention these two books specifically because they are examples of what is good about monthly comics, they tell focused stories that take as long as the story requires, one issue to multiple issues, and are not padded with never-ending drivel done for a collection down the road. I hope with Jonah Hex ending and becoming All Star Western that the creators are able to maintain the high level they have established. With Usagi, after 25 years, I have no doubt it will be enjoyable and a great read this month, next month, and ten years down the line.

Daredevil #5

Marvel recently relaunched Daredevil under writer Mark Waid and artist Paolo Rivera. This title was a real surprise as Daredevil has been around for over 40 years and has had a number of great periods under Frank Miller, Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker to name a few. While I think all three of these creators did an amazing job with the character and told a number of great stories, Mark Waid’s vision is so fresh and different than these other incarnations it is almost like night and day. In a very positive way. While it is too early to tell since there are only two issues out so far, these two issues have been fantastic. They are bright and light and are strong on story and portray Daredevil in a way he has not been seen since the early days of Stan Lee writing the character. It is a joy to read this book each month. I am hopeful that Mark and Paolo will have a long run on this title and not fall into the trap of trying to recapture the dark side of Daredevil, as it has been done to death, and this new vision of the character is a breath of fresh air.

Criminal

Another book I look forward to every month is Ed Brubaker’s and Sean Phillips Criminal. Over the last few years there have been a number of publishers trying to do crime fiction, be it Vertigo or Oni or Moonstone. While their efforts are mixed, none can come close to matching Criminal. After reading each new issue I feel dirty. In a good way. Each story is so complex and well told you feel as if you are in the streets or back alleys or gutters with the people in the stories. The cast tends to change from storyline to storyline but the powerful storytelling does not. Sean Phillips’ art is both moody and atmospheric, and perfect for this book. The stories vary from gangland action to betrayed lovers to sad stories of lonely and dirty men. All of which feels so real you feel like you know these people or you just got out of watching a classic film noir. Speaking of Brubaker and Phillips, I would also recommend the recent one shot DC offered called DC Presents: Batman Gotham Noir. It’s a great story with very little Batman, a lot of Jim Gordon, and you can see the early beginnings of Criminal here, in terms of storytelling. (Please note that Criminal is a series of miniseries and not a traditional monthly comic.)

PunisherMax

I think that PunisherMax is highly underrated. To be fair, I am not the world’s biggest Punisher fan. I did like Garth Ennis’ work a lot but there have been so many relaunchs and different takes on this character over the years it is hard to get a feel for which is the real Frank Castle. With this book, writer Jason Arron and artist Steve Dillon have taken what Garth Ennis laid out over his run and expanded it. This is a mix of black humor and ultra-violence that makes for a very enjoyable read filled with twist and turns. So far there have been three story arcs, with the Kingpin, Bullseye and a revealing look at the Punisher’s origin with a very good twist. While I have raved for years about Arron’s other crime title, Scalped, which unfortunately was a victim in Vertigo’s gutting recently, we at least get to still enjoy Arron’s writing on this fun title. (Please be warned, that this book is for adults only and has graphic violence).

Black Panther: Man Without Fear

This next book really surprised me in when it was launched (well, retitled). I did not have high expectations, and I have been shocked month after month with the quality of the writing and the art (which has changed a few times). The writer, David Liss, I must admit I was not all that familiar with. I knew he wrote crime fiction, but that was it. And when it was announced he was the writer of Black Panther: The Man Without Fear (now renamed Black Panther: Most Dangerous Man Alive – ed.), I was like, ok……………..After the first two issues this book shot to the top of my reading list. While honoring the background of the character – an African king, and ex-Avenger, married to Storm – he also has been able to take a character that has had a hard time carrying his own title and make it into a great read. While maintaining a lot of the urban grittiness that Daredevil had under Miller, etc. Liss has been able to take the African king and make him an everyman there to help the people on the street. In addition Liss has created a supporting cast that is both interesting and you care about. I recommend this book all the time and I have little success getting people to try it, but those who have love it and come back for more and more. The first story arc is collected into a very nice and inexpensive trade. And while I am speaking of David Liss, I would also recommend his current miniseries, Mystery Men. It is a fun tale of the Marvel Universe in the 1920s before there were tons of heroes. It is a precursor to the Twelve in a lot of ways (Which sets up Marvel Comics #1).

DC Retroactive: Superman – The ‘80s

Finally I want to recommend DC Retroactive: Superman – The ‘80s. As a rule I really did not care for the Retro book specials DC did. I loved the idea but I thought the execution was poor. I have a real problem with the reprinted stories in the back of the books that are part one of multiple part story arcs but DC did not tell you how the story developed (a one page summary of how the multi-part story ended would been nice since almost none of these “to be continued” stories have been collected in a trade anywhere.) Secondly, nowhere did they credit where the reprints were first published. A very sloppy thing to do and disrespectful to the original source material. And on top of that, a number of these books felt rushed. With all that negativity said, I did really enjoy the Superman 80s Retro. When I was reading it I was “what the” as it co-stars Destiny and has Superman going all over the place doing some very odd things, but with the last page, I was like “oh, I see”. I do not want to give it away but it is a very nice precursor to one of DCs best storylines. Marv Wolfman deserves much kudos for telling a great story. I also greatly enjoyed the Alan Grant Batman Retro. It showed what a great writer he is and it is a shame he is not doing more work.

Justice League #1

Over the last few months I have been quite negative over this whole DC relaunch and I finally had the chance to read the first book, Justice League. Well, I guess the best I can say is if this is the way the rest of the line is going to be, it is going to be a very sad end for the company I have read passionately for forty years and even worked for. This first issue is $3.99 for a comic that takes less than 10 minutes to read (and that is taking into account lingering over the pretty pictures.) It does not tell a story, it sets up a story. Paying $3.99 for what would have been the first two pages of a Justice League story of the 60s, 70s or even the 80s is horrendous. You are better off spending $4.99 for the Justice League Retro 90s by DeMatties, Giffen and Maguire. There you get two complete stories. I know this is DC’s big event and they want to build up the Justice League to be the flagship title. I know it sold a ton (for DC at least) but if the other titles are padded like this first issue is and don’t even to tell a story, then I will have to give up completely on my long lasting love affair with DC Comics. I am hoping this is a one-off and the pace picks up with issue two. There was very little in this first issue to make me want to come back for issue two and I am a hardcore fan. That is a very sad commentary on this first issue.

As always, these are my opinions, and do not reflect the staff of Westfield Comics. I welcome comments or questions at MFBWAY@AOL.COM. And suggestions are also encouraged as I am always looking for a good read. I do hope you try one or two of these books and please let me know what you think.

Thank you.