Brightest Day #18 Review

Written By: Geoff Johns & Peter J. Tomasi

Artist: Ivan Reis, Ardian Syaf, Scott Clark, Joe Prado

Inker: Vicente Cifuentes, David Beaty

Colorist: Aspen MLT’s Peter Steigerwald, Beth Sotelo

Cover Artist: David Finch

Letterer: Rob Clark Jr.

Editor: Adam Schlagman, Eddie Berganza

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

And here we are, eight issues into the finale of Brightest Day and things are beginning to make sense…while still being confusing as hell!  This series has been plagued with confusion ever since issue #1, with nothing making any more sense than me playing a game of basketball completely in the nude outside of my neighbor’s house.  Johns and Tomasi have finally figured out where to start giving this story its main pile of gumption, and what better way to do that than by killing off two of DC’s more popular characters?

Now for those of you who have actually read #18, you may or may not be shocked at the death of the Hawks.  I mean, good grief, Comic companies kill off enough characters consistently enough that sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever be surprised at another heroes death ever again.  But in any case, this turn of events is pretty epic, especially how Deadman is left in a dusty cloud of despair, allowing the ashes of the Hawks to trinkle between his fingers.

But of course this issue is a nightmare for the fan of the pure and unadulterated action story that feel a good storyline has no place amongst all the testosterone, punching, explosions, and what not right?  It’s all about love and how the power of love will conquer all.  Sound cheesy right?  Well…it is.  Up until that point where we think we can sit back, relax, and enjoy the fact that Hawkman and Hawkgirl can at long last be together with their curse finally lifted.  Johns and Tomasi certainly pulled out the ultimate cliffhanger as the white ring upon Deadman’s hand interrupts the Hawks moment of embrace and tears them apart, once again causing us to question if the two lovers will ever be happy.

Enhancing the story is of course the ever crowded room of toggling artists, with Ivan Reis heading the team and Peter Steigerwald taking over the coloring duties.  And one thing I am completely sure of, Blackest Night and Brightest Day has been a colorist’s dream boat.  One thing I am ALSO certain of is that the Star Sapphire’s color scheme can do a real number on the eyeballs if not careful.  And I completely echo Mr. Paul Mallory and his inability to look at pinks and purples without thinking of the toy isle bearing Barbie dolls. 

Now this isn’t a criticism, I for one enjoy the clever way the colors were displayed on every page.  But for those of you with weaker eyes…or at least the ones who feel their manhood has been put into question because you’re reading a comic book filled with pretty little colors and all about love…you might want to put on some sun shades.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

No doubt this is the best issue of Brightest Day thus far, but it hasn’t had too much competition to begin with.  But offing the Hawks was definitely a story addition that is going to keep me interested until eight issues from now.  (knock on wood.)

But then again, could this death be another rouse?  Will the Hawks come back from the dead?  Tune in next month when we will, more than likely, be confused and start wondering why the hell we are reading this series to begin with.

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars

Comic Book Review: Batman The Return #1 - One Shot

Literary & Artistic Credits

Writer: Grant Morrison

Penciller: David Finch

Colorist: Peter Steigerwald

Inker: Batt & Ryan Wynn

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Art: David Finch & Gene Ha

Editor: Mike Marts

Batman Created By Bob Kane

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

So there I was, sitting in bed ready to open up Morrison’s Batman: The Return one shot, and immediately negative vibes ran through my body.  I already hate the idea of bringing Bruce Wayne back just because fans are unable to deal with Bruce Wayne dying, but I also hate the idea which is the focus of this issue…A Batman Justice League.

Batman has gone through a plethora of changes for the last decade and a half.  Identity Crisis changed him into a cold hearted bastard, Infinite Crisis made him a lot more likeable, 52 gave him a complete make-over for the worst, and then R.I.P completely shattered everything decent that batman had become up to that point.  Now the next stage within the life of Batman has occurred, and I can’t convince myself that this is a good thing,

The issue itself is quite good; allowing Bruce Wayne to finally enjoy being the Caped Crusader and giving new direction for the entire Batman family.  In fact this one shot introduces a new addition to the Bat-villain line-up; The Leviathan.  Morrison presents this mysterious team as terrifyingly hideous and grotesque, even though we haven’t actually seen the leader’s face.  This only added to the dark and gothic nature of the book which appeals to my literary taste buds.

I’m sure Morrison also has to deal with the DC hierarchy as well as I’m sure the numerous Bat-titles are, for the most part, being forced upon DC’s writers regardless of what they think.  But what is clear in this issue is Morrison’s undeniable vision he’s had for Batman since he began writing R.I.P.  And, no doubt, much of what’s happening with Batman currently is due to the drugged-up mind of Grant Morrison.  While the writing of this issue, in and of itself is great, the thematic prose that the Incorporated Batman team presents is only appealing in theory and disregards everything Batman has become to fans everywhere. 

In addition, having Batman in charge of one team makes it very difficult for him to continue on with the JLA.  But I guess if Green Lantern can serve on two teams, why not Bruce Wayne right?

However, I must give the writer props for giving Batman a very focus and deliberate storyline that has been severely lacking in Morrison’s comic book work for the last few years.  The beginning of two new events starts here; the Batman Incorporated and the Leviathan, and it’s all very focused and not wavering in its intentions.

The beginning of this comic was fantastic but confusing, I’m sure for those who did not read Return of Bruce Wayne.  But it fits this “new beginning” which Batman is undergoing right now in probably the best way to start the issue.

David Finch does a great job with the panels and makes it fit right in with Morrison’s story telling.  The new Bat suit design is top notch and seems to be a lot more realistic with the seams and stitching.  And I actually enjoy having the Yellow emblem back on the breast of Batman.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

The issue itself is fine and well written but will potentially presents many problems in continuity and in keeping true with the Batman mentality.

Rating: 6.33 out of 10

Writing: 8

Art: 9

Themes: 2

Comic Book Review: Batman #700

Batman created by Bob Kane

Literary and Artistic Credits

Author: Grant Morrison

Pencillers: Tony Daniel, Frank Quietly, Andy Kubert, David Finch

Colorists: Ian Hannin, Alex Sinclair, Tony Avina, Brad Anderson, Richard Friend, Peter Steogerwald

Letterers: Jared K. Fletcher, Janelle Siegel, Mike Marts

Cover: David Finch

Variant Cover: Mike Mignola

My Awe-Inspiring Opinion

It has happened, Batman turns 700 years old! (Or at least that’s what I heard a little kid scream in the comic book shop when I picked this issue up, very cute.) And what better way to celebrate this glorious occasion by hiking the price tag up to the $4.99 mark, spewing almost 25% of the book as unnecessary documentative (is that a word?) Batcave information, and putting the story in the hands of my least favorite writer.  #700 finds itself wandering around the time vortex in the same manner as Hansel and Gretel, aimlessly combing the forest without a real purpose or goal.  Maybe I’m just a simple minded peasant, but when it comes to stories dealing in time travel or some time paradox, you have to be extra careful so nothing becomes confusing or silly, and I’m not sure Morrison was able to accomplish this.

The issue starts off with Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson and works its way through all the way to Terry McGinnis and a robot-like boy wonder.  Professor Nichols is at the center of this mystery which spans in all three timelines.  We of course discover that it is Nichols himself who goes back in time to murders himself, causing this incredible and vicious cycle to continually rotate throughout time.

I wasn’t sure I understood why Professor Nichols needed to go back in time to kill himself.  So the Joker took away his dignity and embarrassed him as a man of science, ok I get the motivation, some men can’t take a joke right?  But Batman stopped the Joker and the rest of his cohorts, I would have assumed from that event Nichols need for revenge would be quenched.  Along with this tirade of mine, for the life of me I can’t figure out how the three timelines mesh together to help this mystery make sense.  I won’t go into the details, you should pick up the issue to find out, but I felt there were some major problems with tying all three periods together.  There really was no explanation as to why Nichols was 20 years older than he should have been, nor was there any reason about his future self being younger.  The paradox of time in this story is all very confusing to me, and I’m a guy who loves Star Trek, it shouldn’t matter so much!  It’s a very creative idea, and points should be awarded to Morrison for that very fact, but he tried WAY TOO HARD.

There’s no need for me to say it, but I’m going to anyway…the art drove me NUTS!  For those of you who read my blog regularly, I’m sure you know by now that artist toggling aspect of many comics recently is not my favorite thing in the world.  I’ve been known to mark the art down for that, even if every artist is good.  I am faced with this problem in #700, every artist in this book is fantastic.  Who can complain about Andy Kubert right?  But I prefer to have one artist complete an entire book rather than DC divvying up the artistic duties, but everyone did so well.  I understand the reasoning for doing this, but it becomes way too much of a distraction for me within the story.  SO!  Instead marking down the art for making my head explode, I decided to grade each artist by themselves rather than as one cohesive unit.  And it’s #700 right?  It should be held to a higher standard.

My Majestically Climactic Conclusion

I could have done without the whole Batcave section at the end, but I’m sure fans will eat it up. This book is creative in its approach, but it came off more as random incoherent jargon than a well rounded story.  And what’s worse, Morrison will be returning for #701 and on.  I certainly hope the end line “To 700 More” doesn’t speak to Morison’s immortality, because that would just kill me!

Writing: 4

Themes: 6

Art: Tony Daniel – 10

        Frank Quietly – 10

       Andy Kubert – 10

       David Finch – 8

Overall: 8 out of 10