BATMAN “Dark Allegiances”

Batman “Dark Allegiances” is an Elseworlds one-shot graphic novel written and drawn by Howard Chaylin, published by DC Comics in 1996.

Howard Chaykin is one of my favorite writers, and I believe to be one of the best writer/artist in comic book history.

I’m a big fan of the Elseworlds graphic novels. Though obviously out of continuity, they are a great introduction to any principal character, and they inevitably present the hero at their pure essence. Elseworld titles were often my first introduction to many major DC characters.

Howard Chaykin is best known for pushing the boundaries of the medium, whether it be explicit violence, sexuality provocative or extremist theologies.

I really enjoyed Dark Allegiances, a Batman tale set in the late 1930s, with World War II looming. It’s a very political tale, which I don’t mind, and the use of real people (ie: Adolf Hitler) and references of the time, represent much thorough and loved research by Chaykin of that era.

It’s not for everyone. It’s quite wordy, maybe too intellectual, with a message perhaps too subtle for some. Simply, for mature minds only.

7.5 out of 10.

Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection DARK HORSE hardcovers

Star Wars celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2007, so Dark Horse decided to commemorate the occasion with a series of limited edition hardcovers, released monthly from March 2007 to February 2008.

Back when Marvel Comics held the rights, Star Wars was my gateway into comic books, and the biggest influence over my pre-teen years. From the early 1990s, Dark Horse began expanding George Lucas’ universe, this at a time when many fans dropped off from the saga. I even stayed true, when the comic book industry seemed to be imploding in the mid-1990s from a glut of pointless, soulless comic books, with Dark Horse continuing to deepen the love for Star Wars.

This hardcover series is a high-cost venture, and I did not take the decision to purchasing them lightly, knowing that the entire collection would cost be approx. AU$300 by its’ completion. Would I pay $300 for a 12 set of Star Wars hardcovers? No way. Could I do it a month at a time, paying anywhere from $20 to $30? Sure.

The list of 12 titles chosen from Dark Horse’s inventory is nowhere close to the 12 titles I would have chosen from their large inventory. In hindsight, that’s been a good thing, as they have opened my eyes to some stunning tales that I’d either forgotten or totally missed the first time around.

Volume 1: The Freedon Nadd Uprising. Written by Tom Veitch, art by Tony Atkins, Denis Rodier (56 pages), $16.95
Volume 2: Jedi Vs. Sith. Written by Darco Macan, art by Ramon Bachs & Raul Fernandez, cover by Andrew Robinson (144 pages), $29.95
Volume 3: Darth Maul. Written by Ron Marz, art by Jan Duursema (pencils) and Rick Nagyar (inks) (96 pages), $22.95
Volume 4: Jango Fett/Zam Wesell. Written by Ron Marz, art by Tom Fowler and Ted Naifeh (120 pages), $19.95
Volume 5: Light and Dark. Written by John Ostrander, art by Jan Duursema (pencils) (144 pages), $24.95
Volume 6: Endgame. Written by John Ostrander and Welles Hartley, art by Jan Duursema and Doug Wheatley (pencils) (144 pages), $24.95
Volume 7: Darklighter. Written by Paul Chadwick, art by Doug Wheatly and Tomás Giorello (pencils) (96 pages) $19.95
Volume 8: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye. Written by Terry Austin, based upon Alan Dean Foster novel, art by Duncan Fegredo (112 pages), $19.95
Volume 9: Boba Fett: Death, Lies and Treachery. Written by John Wagner, art by Cam Kennedy (144 pages), $24.95
Volume 10: Crimson Empire. Written by Mike Richardson and Randy Stradley, art by Paul Gulacy (pencils) (106 pages), $24.95
Volume 11: Union. Written by Michael A. Stackpole, art by Robert Teranishi (pencils) (96 pages), $19.95
Volume 12: Legacy. Written by John Ostrander, art by Jan Duursema (pencils) (144 pages), $24.95

So, now that I own and have read all the hardcovers, what do i think? Well, a lot like the films, once all the pieces are in place you can see the bigger picture. The bigger picture of this collection is that Star Wars is cyclical, the same kind of things occur in the past, present and future.

I initially bemoaned Dark Horse using Legacy as their final volume (I believed the Chewbacca series would have been an awesome addition), but upon reading it, I can see there’s more to it than just a launch of their latest series, but as also a tale that reaffirms their overall message of Star Wars. There will always be Sith. There will always be Jedi to stand in their way!

My biggest disappointment for the volumes is the lack of supplementary material at the back of the hardcovers. It would have been nice for Dark Horse to include cover art, sketches or ANYTHING additional to the volume.

I do like that Dark Horse hardcovers are manufactured without slipcase. I understand their purpose, but slipcases simply annoy me, as I always need to remove them when trying to read the book.

The volumes I recommend for casual Star Wars fans and general readers of comic books are Volume 3 – Darth Maul and Volume 7 – Darkighter. Both of these volumes expand upon the history of these supporting characters of the films and are really great tales. It should be noted that Volume 8 – Boba Fett stories take place AFTER his apparent death in Return of the Jedi. So, if we are to believe these stories are official Star Wars cannon = Boba Fett lives!

Overall score for the collection: 7.5 out of 10.

The Creator Chronicles – BILL SIENKIEWICZ dvd

I’m more about comic book writers, than comic book artists, yet there has been one artist who I have always gravitated towards, and that’s Bill Sienkiewicz.

One of the first comic books I ever bought was Star Wars #92, which featured his wonderful front cover painting. New Mutants was one of my favorite comic books, growing up in the 1980s, and Senkiewicz run wild with his imaginative, provocative and unique covers and interior artwork.

This DVD by Woodcrest Productions presents an interview with Sienkiewicz, in which he details his early years in the business working on Moon Knight, artistic influences and enthusiasm for the medium. Bill reveals that music has been a big influence and inspiration for his work, even though his tastes are very eclectic. I was delighted when he mention his interest in manga, specifically Uzumaki.

So, what does this DVD offer that podcast interviews can’t? Well, the visuals to go with what the creator is talking about is incredibly helpful, but seeing the artist passionately speak of his work adds an extra level of appreciation for their work.

Running Time: 105 mins, Video: NTSC, widescreen enhanced 1.85, all-region. US$24.95

Special Features: Audio Commentary by the director, 20 minute interview with creator Nathan Massengill (who’s been working in the comic book industry since the early 1990s and is best known for inking), previews of other Creator Chronicles DVDs (includes George Pérez, Mike Golden).

8 out of 10.

RED SONJA volume 4 “Animals and More”

RED SONJA volume 4 “Animals & More” hardcover collects issues 19 to 24 of Dynamite Entertainment’s ongoing series.

Issues 19 to 21 present the “Animals” storyline, in which Sonja and her crew ventures into a kingdom ruled by animals, with the Lion-human breed the rulers of all on the land. Issues 22 to 24 is the “The Long Way Home” arc, whereby a voyage on the seas brings Sonja up against a whale god.

Despite two distinct story arcs, the series flows brilliantly without interruption. In fact, even by the end, there is enough loose threads to suggest a couple more storylines to come in the future. Among that, Kulan Gath’s reign of terror spreads further throughout the known lands, and an inevitable showdown with Red Sonja looms.

I enjoyed the “The Long Way Home” issues greatly, with the underwater action truly sensational, and the art by Homs flawless.

The bonus at the back of the hardcover is the reprinting of all the covers, including variants, from these issues. A cavalcade of different styles and fantastic splash pages from a superb variety of the industry’s best artists.

This is one of the best comic book series being printed today, Dynamite Entertainment pay true respect to the character, it’s a golden time for lovers of Red Sonja.

8 out of 10.

ZOMBIE BROADWAY

ZOMBIE BROADWAY is a one-shot comic book co-created by Dave Stewart (of the Eurythmics) with writers David Harris and Christine Schenley, published by Virgin Comics.

It’s New York of a near future, and the city has been overcome by a plague of zombies! When all seems lost, and New York set for annihilation via bombing, the mayor discovers that zombies appear to be calmed by music. So, the mayor decides to put on a zombie musical on Broadway, starring zombies!

I wasn’t sure if I was going to purchase this, but I really love the one-shot prestige format (that was popularly used in the 1990s, especially by DC Comics with their Elseworlds titles), which Virgin Comics have been sporadically releasing.

It’s a fun book, obviously not to be taken too seriously. It’s quite wordy. In fact, there is a distinct lack of action for much of the one-shot. I do like the odd relationships that occur between the semi-civilized zombie and somewhat uncivilized non-zombies. I can’t help feel the comic is making a statement about a particular group of people, either.

7 out of 10.

Jorge Vega’s GUNPLAY #0 Preview Edition

GUNPLAY #0 is a 32-page preview of a 88 page Graphic Novel coming out late April from Platinum Studios Comics. With a cover price of only 99 cents, I thought I would give it a look.

Synopsis: Abner is an ex-soldier roaming the old west of 1868, afflicted with a demonic curse that forces him to kill once a day or suffer soul searing pain.

The art by Dominic Vega is excellent, and the coloring by Nei Ruffino has the glowing golden west appearance to the pages. Storywise, I actually found it a bit hard to follow, but that’s not too surprising, given that this is just a portion of the complete story.

I doubt I will purchase the graphic novel upon its’ release. It looks like a good story, but I’m not sure if it truly offers something different from the many other Western comics I’ve read before…

6.5 out of 10.

ROGUE ANGEL: Teller of Tall Tales #2 (of 5)

The second issue of ROGUE ANGEL “Teller of Tall Tales” came out this week, and it’s even better than the first issue!

Annja Creed explains the origin of her impressive sword, in an issue that deepens the intrigue of her world. The pace of the comic book is excellent, Barbara Kesel’s script perfectly balances action and exposition. I still find Ranae De Liz’s art to be unusual, being a very unique caricature style, especially for this kind of series.

Even though I can see that I’m going to purchase the trade paperback when this series is completed, I am content to follow the mini-series through monthly, rather than “wait for the trade”.

7.5 out of 10.

The QUESTION “Zen and Violence”

The QUESTION “Zen and Violence” tpb (DC, 2007). Collecting issues 1 to 6 of the 1987 series.

This is was my best friend’s favorite comic book series as we grew up as teens of the 1980s, with me collecting Marvel and he collecting DC. The title for this trade paperback (Zen and Violence) is perfect for this character and series, as the Question juggles mystic-inspired concentration with hardcore brutality. With no real super powers, the Question is foremost a detective, and a bloody good one.

The most enduring aspect of the character is that he will face a challenge head-on even though he is out-numbered, may probably lose and most definitely will get hurt. Brave. The sophisticated writing by Denny O’Neil is outstanding, equal to the cynical stories Alan Moore and Frank Miller were producing at the same time.

It’s a shame that it has taken 20 years for DC to produce a collection from this series, and it would be a bigger shame if DC did not continue to collect the remainder of this wonderful series.

8 out of 10

GOTHAM CENTRAL – the Trade PaperBack collection

GOTHAM CENTRAL – Vol.1 – IN THE LINE OF DUTY tpb (Issues 1 to 5) – Written by Ed Brubaker and Greg Rucka, has two story arc cases for the Gotham Central Police Department to investigate, which actually resolved the overall 3rd story arc of the entire tpb. Pure detective investigating, with limited contact to the “superhero” world, though the GCPD do cross paths with Mister Freeze. 8 out of 10.

GOTHAM CENTRAL – Vol.2 – HALF A LIFE tpb (Batman Chronicles 16, Detective Comics 747, issues 6 to 10) – This is a total Renee Montoya tpb, beginning with two back story episodes from Batman Chronicles and Detective Comics, which detail her unusual friendship with the villain Two-Face, aka Harvey Dent. The main Gotham Central storyline itself deals directly with Montoya, as she has to defend herself from a murder she has been framed for, while dealing with aspects of her private life becoming public. 8 out of 10

GOTHAM CENTRAL Vol.3 “Unresolved Targets” tpb. Containing #12-15, 19-22. The first story arc deals with The Joker, and the second arc is a Mad Hatter story (with a cameo by the Penguin). It’s all very solid with story, script and art, and I love the color scheme that is used (entire pages tends to be either all blues, all reds or all browns). I was a little disappointed that Renee Montoya is rarely seen, but I guess there is over 20 characters to focus on at the Gotham Central Police Department, and this ain’t The Montoya Chronicles. 7 out of 10.

GOTHAM CENTRAL vol.4 “The Quick and the Dead” tpb. Containing issues 23-25, 28-31. All issues completely written by Greg Rucka (as co-writer Ed Brubaker probably more consumed with doing Captain America at Marvel).
The first 2 issues is an interesting story about gang violence in Gotham, with a subplot of corruption within the GCPD (ie: tampered evidence), which seemed to have an incomplete ending.
Issue 25 is a one-shot story, as the GCPD no longer trust Batman, and decide to take down the “bat signal”.
The tpb concludes with the 4-part “Keystone Kops” story, which focuses on the Flash’s enemy – Doctor Alchemy.
All these issues feature a lot more of Renee Montoya, and that’s a good thing, as she is the most interesting character.
The artwork by Michael Lark and Stefano Guadiano is quite interesting, as they tend to draw all characters as ugly, which doesn’t make them unlikeable, just more real, I guess. 7 out of 10.

GOTHAM CENTRAL vol.5 “Dead Robin” tpb – Containing issues 33 to 40.
It begins with a 4-part story, whereby teen boys dressed as Robin begin appearing around Gotham. Not such a great detective story, but some interesting cameos by Batman and the Teen Titans provides some interest.
Issue 37 is a cross-over with the Infinite Crisis event, and is most definitely one of the most stunning issues of the entire series. Superbly written.
The final 3 issues tie up the corruption storyline left hanging (as mentioned, from the previous tpb) and conclude the series. With her partner dead, and no justice in sight, Renee Montoya quits the GCPD and walks into the pages of 52… searching for answers to her Question! 8 out of 10.

PLANET HULK

The INCREDIBLE HULK – PLANET HULK hardcover (Marvel, 2007) :

Issues:

Containing #92 to 95, a short story from Giant-Size Hulk #1, #96 to 105, Amazing Fantasy #15 and the Planet Hulk guidebook.

Plot setup:

The Hulk has been betrayed, exiled from Earth by way of a rocket ship thanks to Reed Richards and his superhero buddies. With the approaching superhero Civil War looming, Reed felt it was better to have the Hulk sent to an uninhabited planet, where Hulk can’t hurt anyone and where Hulk could be left alone. However, the rocket’s coordinates gets diverted due to a wormhole, and the Hulk finds himself on a planet that is very much inhabited, and in fact actually dealing with a Civil War of their own!

Comments:

Yeah.. umm.. this is awesome. Superbly written by Greg Pak, with a great story that gradually builds to a strong climax, with occasional moments of humor and some inspirational moments of dialog (on the rare moments when The Hulk actually said more than 2 words in a sentence!). I really don’t want to spoil too much of the story, but it’s the typical classic hero’s journey (almost anti-hero, in fact), of a guy just doing his own thing, somehow leading the oppressed to rise against their aggressors.

Despite not arriving at the peaceful planet he was promised, the Hulk grows to love the planet and his role in it (and we also get a brilliant cameo from a certain surfer dude in silver! = #95 is worth getting just by itself, btw!). As the story goes along, the Hulk gets stronger, and possibly even smarter, but a tragic finale just leaves him super angry, and ready to return to Earth and unleash World War Hulk!

Rating: 9 out of 10. Most definitely one of the best things I’ve read in recent years and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!