Well, every bit of that curiosity I felt at the end of issue #1 has vanished out the window. This book is still goofy. The dialogue is absurd. I would not be surprised if Neal Adams is playing a joke on us all, because if he really is playing this straight, well, I don’t know… -Scott

Batman Odyssey #2

In the words of one John “Hannibal” Smith, I love it when a plan comes together. This is a great issue that left me breathing a sigh of relief and wanting more all at the same time. A number of details are tied up and yet I want to go back a reread every related story Grant Morrison has written since Final Crisis just to see what I’ve missed between the lines. Loved it. -Scott

Batman #702

As I read Batman Odyssey #1, the first word that came to mind was “goofy.” Neal Adams draws and especially writes a goofy Batman. It was funny then to go to CBR and read the opening sentences of their review: “In the early 1970s, Neal Adams helped redefine the look of Batman…His strong anatomical skills and ability at depicting action helped move the character from the campy, goofy looking Batman into something a little more mature…”

This issue seems like a joke. A parody where Batman makes stupid mistakes and looks like David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider (further enhanced by his car looking like KITT). This is not a Batman I like, though by the final panels I found myself feeling just enough curiosity to warrant a purchase of #2. But we’ll see. -Scott

Batman Odyssey #1

DV8: Gods and Monsters #5.

In any series of 8, you’d hope that by issue 5 we’re through with the ground work and lining up on some kind of climatic conclusion.  Last time I checked 5 was only 3 away from 8, that’s if this “New Math” is still holding true.  I’m pretty sure it is.

Only at the end of 5 do we feel like we’re getting somewhere.  Read that again, the end of 5.  That’s 3 issues to get this thing done and dusted.  I’m all for a long introduction when it’s a long walk to come.  I don’t mind talking about the niceties of life for 3 hours as long as I know I don’t have to be somewhere in the next 10 minutes.  Spending 5 issues introducing characters makes for a very backwards runway; it’s all coasting and no takeoff.

In this issue another two characters are made real through the interrogation of our protagonist.  It’s brilliantly crafted, visually stunning and very well written.  But we knew this.

It’s hard to appreciate something like this with so little time left.  Imagine doing the Lord of the Rings movies in a 90 minute slot.  That’s the kind of pressure we’re talking about. -Bretzke

Power Girl #15

So what do you do when you come across a giant, purple, powerful man who can kick your behind?  Well, you get your behind kicked.  But that’s all part of a days work for poor Power Girl.

See, her company just got wiped, her memory is a bit fuzzy and there’s the small matter of the lilac Matterhorn coming down on her like the proverbial ton of bricks.  Note the metric.

I for one enjoy the new art, its less cartoony and more realistic, giving an almost art nouveau feeling to it.  It’s clean and crisp, letting the actions do the talking, rather than the thick black outline.  I’m almost tempted to say it looks grown up, but that’d be drawing far too much into it all.

The story is mature enough for the older readers but will well enough zip and bang for those of a younger demograph.  Couple that with more than enough near-tasteful chest shots of one super hero and you’re onto a winner.

Good clean fun with a kick in the tail; a winner every time. -Bretzke

Zatanna #4

With her first foe fallen, Zatanna is off to Vegas for a show.  You know what they say about Vegas staying in Vegas…

After a brief skirmish with some fodder, Zatanna establishes herself with the richest man in town.  We know how these books work, he has to be the bad guy, right?

This is a slick issue dealing with Zatanna’s father and the impression he left on business in town before his departure.  Some people want revenge and nobody is who they seem.  You’ll be reminded of the Golden Girls at one point, but in this case it’s not their dialogue that’s wicked.

The artwork is  a change from previous episodes and this is initially a distraction but like all things, we adapt.  The writing is where this book picks up.  You’ve read my rants about magically powered heroes being without drama.  It appears somebody was listening as drama is high in this particular installment.  Remember, make a characters’ life perfect, then up-end it.  Nicely done…

Two sorcerous thumbs up. -Bretzke

Batgirl #13, "Trust".

New to Batgirl?  Want to try this exciting title?  Now is your chance, with what you could widely consider a “One Shot” between story arcs.

One could almost consider this a slice of life episode, there’ s a little of ordinary life for Stephanie, the call to duty and a nicely concise episode of ass-kickery.  That it’s clayface she’s going up against is no surprise, it’s on the front cover.

What’s surprising is the level of wit and dialogue that’s been crammed into this singular issue.  At times the quips border on a “Scrubs” level of brilliance, if you’re into that kind of writing.  Fast and dry, the humor presented here is a delight, along with the well executed artwork.

My only complaint is the cover.  Normally Artgerm (Stanley Lau) presents Batgirl in such sweet and saccharine poses, not today, it’s all mud.  Not a fan of that, but the rest of the book pops.  Pops I say! -Bretzke

Zatanna #3

Zatanna is faced by her greatest for yet, a willing minion of Brother Night and a formidable adversary.  Bright visuals and snappy writing deliver a pleasing performance though it’s not going to be anything to knock your socks off.

To my mind it all gets back to the key premise in comics based magic – what’s the limit?  Without generating spoilers, the previous two issues have shown that as long as Zatanna is conscious and coherent, she’s fairly unstoppable.  I would bargain that given a bullet were sub-sonic, she’d even be able to stop that.

With this in mind, though the issue is indeed formidable (with full credit to the writing staff for making an excellent “boss battle”), I found myself without any source of dread or anticipation, other than for how the story would unfold.  I did not worry for Zatanna.  If anything, I worry for those she faces.

Perhaps that is where the key lies: Zatanna, Watch her Unmake the badguys! -Bretzke

Power Girl #14

Previously we’d identified that Power Girl was taking a different tact this time, less of biff and more of the boardroom.  It appears the writing staff have had a change of heart and delivered some smack and pow back into our favourite girl from Krypton.  But there’s still some legalese to be forded.  River crossings can be tricky you know.

The issue is well written with the necessary sparkle that Power Girl brings, her wit and determination shine through in a situation that most of us would find utterly soul destroying.  I go to pieces without my morning cup of brown, let alone dealing with such super sized difficulties.

The artistic direction being taken by Basri and Gho is to be commended; the book feels more natural and less cartoony, fitting the deeper and more ‘adult’ story material being brought out.  The absence of Terra is noticeable though forgivable, not every issue can be about two busty lusty heroes solving the problems of the world.

It’s tempting to say that Power Girl, as a title, has grown up under a new team.  However let’s not jump the gun, fun can be had at the childish end of the spectrum too. -Bretzke

DV8: Gods and Monsters #4

How do you solve the problem of a bully?  Well, you bully him back, show him no fear and de-power his main source of inspiration; that of spreading fear throughout his reign.  That’s the central premise of DV8 #4.  However, instead of taking the moral high ground and having the aggressor belittled and dismantled, he is rebuilt by a tribe or brutal warriors as their leader.

This is not how the revolution was planned, or so we’re told.

The issue tells us precious little about how the DV8 crew came to be on this planet and the narrative is developed further through the eyes of Copycat, interrogation style.  We learn that there is a level of programming involved with the central characters and that perhaps whomever sent them to this place should have expected what was coming.  No real surprsies.

This book is turning into a slow boiler, something that is going to develop over time to a great crescendo, or fizzle into obscurity.  While I hope for the former, the latter is far more likely unless a new approach is formulated other than “This is how character X went out and claimed a bit of this planet”.  While it is necessary to expand upon each character, having this happen for any more issues will lead to formulaic disgust.

DV8: hopefully something great, but could end up kind of crappy. -Bretzke