Adam Graham's Blog: Christians and Superheroes, page 40

Book Review: Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Volume 4: Sin Eaters

Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Volume 4: Sin Eaters by Cavan Scott

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book features two Doctor Who stories in Issues 11-15.

The two issue story, the Sin Eaters finds the Doctor in an institute for the criminally insane for originally murdering his companion Tana with Rose undercover as an Earth Examiner. The institute's treatment involves sucking all the negative aspsects of a person into a Sin Eater. The problem when doing that Doctor leads to a disaster.

The three issue story is about Captain Jack and his quest to find out about his past, recover memories, and stop himself from killing someone. There are a lot of twists in this story and some sure to please fans. The ending of Tana's story (for now) is thought.

Overall, I enjoyed both of these stories, but really thought they could have been better with more space. The big concepts in the first story really could have gone in three issues. The same could be said of the next story, though I think the Doctor lite issue of the Arc is a bit over-indulgent in that regards. The art in the last issue isn't quite as good as the rest of the book.

Still, I enjoyed this quie a bit. The Ninth Doctor Series didn't get a Second Year, so this is all we're going to get. I have to say I'm really thankful for Titan for giving us 20 issues with the Ninth Doctor. It's practically another season and given Eccleston's all-too brief time as the Doctor, this has definitely been welcomed.




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Book Review: Superman: The Action Comics Archives, Vol. 5

Superman: The Action Comics Archives, Vol. 5 by Jerry Siegel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book collects Action Comics #69-85 from 1944 and 1945.

Long-time Superman villains the Prankster (69, 77), Mr. Mxyptlk (#80) and the Toyman (#85) appear.

The pranksters stories are fun as he plays a seemingly annoying but minor prank but with major ramifications. He's not unlike the Joker in the Batman comics, although he's far from being as interesting.

Mr. Mxyptlk is the highlight of the book. He's incredibly goofy and uninhibited, making him fun to watch. Superman has to use his brains to get rid of him as Superman can't just punch him away.

The Toy Man story wasn't bad but it was a bit convoluted, and the explanation for the Toyman's crimes was somewhat unclear.

Beyond that, there are some nice comedy stories that would set the stage for the Silver Age silliness to come such as when there's a huge Valentine's day mix up between Jimmy, Lois, and Superman (#71) and then there's a weaking who tells his girl he's a Superman and actually finds a way to impersonate him. (#74).

There are some heartfelt stories such as Superman coming to the aide of a chef who wants to prepare food for Bohemians (#78) or also the story of a father who left all his funds to build free amusment parks and his sons efforts to sabotage them (#79), or a schoolboy who fears he can't compete in an essay contest about excitement until Superman comes into his life. (#84)

Beyond that, it's mostly thugs and rackets, yet many of these are from ordinary such as robbers who steal hobbies (#73) and a criminal with last name of Aesop who wants to tell his own twisted fables (#75), and the slick conmen in Issue 79 is worth a shout out.

If I could, I'd give this 3.5 stars. There are some stories that don't work , that are too dull, and kitsch, and even the good stories are not as good as some of other Superman collections. Still, there's a lot of fun to be had in these pages, and this is a worthwhile read.



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Book Review: Maximum Carnage

Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage by Tom DeFalco

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Maximum Carnage is an epic 14-part crossover between four different Spider-man comics as serial killer Carnage has escaped from a mental institution along with the psychic villain Shriek and they quickly gather some of the darkest characters in New York City to run a murderous rampage and it's up to Spidey and his own team (which includes his frienemy Venom along with a host of others.)

There are a lot of fair criticisms of the story: It's way too long and there are many parts where the story doesn't move. Mary Jane Watson is portrayed very poorly throughout most of the book. Spider-man had planned to take a one week break and Mary Jane is furious that he let a little thing like one of his most murderous rivals going on a killing spree that seems to be inspiring more violence from the populace. It's portrayals like that which have let to most of the attacks on the marriage. In addition, the story is a lot of action schlock.

However, what makes it work is that it's enjoyable action schlock. Unlike most big crossovers which frontload all the characters. This introduces them over time, and the length of the story allows for some great entrances that just bring a smile to my face. It's like boom, now Iron Fist here and then boom...here's Captain America. It's got this sense of pure fun even if it deals with the grimness of Carnage.

There's also a dilemma. Is the threat of Carnage so severe that the ends justify the means and that Peter and friends have to surrender (to a small degree) to the darkness. Eight years before DC asked the question in, "What's so Funny About Truth, Justice, and the American Way?," you get those questions asked here. The answers aren't complex, but then again, the answers in life aren't complicated, just difficult.

Even Mary Jane's unsupportiveness serves to highlight how critical her support it, particularly when her true character shines through at the end.

Bottom line: Maximum Carnage is a story back when Marvel Comics (at least on the Spider-man titles) had a soul. It was before the utter betrayal of the Spider-man and Mary Jane in "One More Day," and the dark cloud of cynicism that swept the company after, "Civil War." This is a good old-fashioned Superhero story, good guys vs. bad guys. It's not great, but it's good at what it does and it's definitely worth a read.



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Book Review: Fighting American

Fighting American by Joe Simon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked the idea of Captain America, Commie Smasher when Atlas back to fight Communists spies and infiltrators in the 1950s, but the result was kind of bland. However, Cap's creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby gave us their own Commie fighting 1950s Superhero in Fighting American whose adventures were originally written in the mid-1950s and published in seven issues for Prize Comics and some additional material published in the 1960s for Harvey Comics.

Fighting American was joined in fighting evil for nearly 200 pages of Comic book excellence by Speedboy whose a bit faster than the average kid and makes him a natural ally for Fighting American.

The book's come after the Golden Age, and right before the Silver Age. Some stories have the earnest Golden Age feel. One of my favorites is, "Strangers from Paradise," where a Soviet boy is contacting Speedboy with a message of how great things are in Communist Russia, but it's got a double meaning. It's short but effective.

Simon and Kirby faced the same space limitations of other companies with the demand to write multiple stories in a 20+ page space, with most being between 5-8 pages, they told good stories with memorable villains such as "Super Khalovitch" about a ridiculous Communist superhero, or "Three Coins in the Pushcart" where not one but three Commie spies decide to pretend to be Fighting American in order to discredit him. "The Mad Inker," is a cute sort of inside joke story. And then there's a space alien whose charged with being a Communist Agent.

The origin story is probably the biggest problem with this story. Johnny Flagg is a disabled war hero and Nelson Flagg is his weakling brother. Johnny is killed but the government can reinvigorate Johnny's body if Nelson gives his mind to it. It's a very convoluted story that doesn't matter. Fighting American's always referred to as Johnny Flagg and Nelson Flagg is never mentioned again, so why not just have Johnny given superpowers?

At any rate, despite a few logical issues, I really enjoyed the entire Fighting American book with its great Jack Kirby art. It's a forgotten masterwork that every fan of classic comics should check out.



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Book Review: A Very DC Rebirth Holiday

A Very DC Rebirth Holiday by Paul Dini

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book can be divided into several parts over its 160 + pages length. Most of it is Holiday-related stories from the DCU. About the first of it has a party by Harley Quinn where heroes and villains alike have shown as a framing device. Later parts of the book include a Batman annual with holiday stories in it, and there's Harley Quinn's issues.

The main portion of the Holiday Party was fine. Most of the stories were cute (Superman having to get a present for Jon right before Christmas), and a few were even good, the Flash's Christmas Carol told the story of how he and the Rogues called a truce for the Holidays for the first time. I also liked the Epiphany tale with the Green Lanterns. Others were a little pointless. The Wonder Woman/Constantine story was below average. For the most part, the bulk of these stories were cute.

I thought the same of the Batman stories. They were okay. I particularly liked the story about Alfred trying to retrain the Joker's Dog Ace.

The final part of it is an Issue of Harley Quinn's comic book where she journeys into Santa's mind. What can I say. This one is just purely trashy. It tries to be funny and fails. Very unpleasant to read, and also makes this a book you can't give to kids.

Overall, without the Harley story, I'd give this 3.5. With it in there, I'm taking it down to a three. There are some good stories, but man that last one...Trashy.



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Book Review: The Legend of Wonder Woman Volume 1: Origins

The Legend of Wonder Woman Vol. 1: Origins by Renae De Liz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This volume of the Legend of Wonder Woman provides a fresh take on Wonder Woman's origin. The book was originally a series of 27 short digital comics. However, put together, it tells a compelling story of Wonder Woman's origins and her journey to the World of man during World War II.

The book takes its time getting to each point, telling a rich story and creating new twists in the tale since this isn't continuity. None of these horrible twists, they just change the story slightly to make it fit within the world.

One of my favorite changes is the way Etta Candy is drawn. It's refreshingly different from most modern interpretations of Wonder Woman which turns into an average looking chubby secretary for Steve Trevor. This book captures the fun the character had during the Golden Age but makes it less cartoonish and goofy. She's a friend, confidant, and guide for Diana. I like the idea that De Liz portrays Candy and the holiday girls as singers. The design for Candy is great as well, she stays true to the character being plus sized but makes her into a classy looking Diva. It's a great look that really makes the character work.

The art is very good throughout with superb detail work, great colors and appealing page designs. Wonder Woman's origin story has been told repeatedly, but this book is something different. I appreciate the detail and thought on every page. Highly recommended.



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Book Review: Batman Chronicles, Volume 7

The Batman Chronicles, Vol. 7 by Bill Finger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book collects Batman stories from Detective Comics #66-#70 and Batman #12 and #13.

If you're looking for Batman facing foes has to this day, this is really a book for you. We get the first two two face stories in Issues 66 and 68. There's a lot about the character that's the same as today, yet because of the children's audience, these book were written for, some of the psychology is exaggerated or played weirdly. Still, it's a fun look at how this character came to be.

By this time, it seems the writers knew that when they did four Batman stories in an issue of Batman, one had better be about the Joker. He's in both issues of Batman and also in Detective Comics. This portrayal of the Joker is a puzzler. His MO is that he pulls an outrageous crime that on the surface looks like he's nuts...like actually "painting the town red," or stealing a kid's report card so he'll cry, or giving people items that are useless like a clock with only one hand. In each case, there's something far more devious behind it. These are fun stories.

The Penguin also appears in Detective Comics #67 and we're given an energetic and vibrant story.

As for the rest of the book? We're given some interesting stories. There's a mystery on the train, to there's a few morality tales involving non-super criminals, and then there's a goofy one where A guy regains his memory of being a crime boss by being hit with a stone and so decides to get revenge by using things that have stone in their name for his revenge. It's goofy but enjoyably so.

The ones that didn't work are, "Batman Takes a Lone Hand," where Batman convinces Robin that they're quits and we get a somewhat dumb story. And the final story with a mentalist who gets real mindreading powers has a few flaws and is a bit below the standards of the rest book.

Still with five stories from classic Batman villains from the 1940s that are mostly very good, Volume 7 of the Batman Chronicles is one of the better trades in this series.



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Book Review: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal

Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a book you are SUPPOSED to like. It boasts on its cover copy that it's the most IMPORTANT comic book of the year. This is a red letter warning that this book is not very fun, but given the critical acclaim of the book, its high ratings, and that I could read it for free with Prime reading, I decided to check out this Hugo Award-winning book which collects Miss Marvel Issues 1-5 as well as a point one comic.

The book follows Kamala Khan, who gets her powers in the first issue in a way that is never actually explained in this book because instead of seeing her get her powers, we are treated to her having a trippy vision of the Avengers appearing to her. And the nature of her powers is...also not really understood. How it works or what the extent of her powers are is unclear.

Part of the problem is that we're getting a ton of characters introduced and emotional teenage drama frontloaded before we've actually established her as a hero. She's being grounded and sneaking out, and so many other things that really don't work in a first book.

Most of the supporting characters are not all that likable or well-crafted. The exception is her dad. My favorite scene is the one where he has a one-on-one talk with her. The character (practically a giant) really is drawn in a way that communicates how much he cares and you genuinely like him. The rest of these people are mostly unpleasant. The point one comics big plot point is Kamala's mom blowing up at her at a wedding.

While the book is advertised as being about a Muslim character, and we are reminded of this frequently, we never actually get her thoughts about her faith. I'm not saying this should be fleshed out in the first volume, but it's as if everyone's talking about it in general, without our main heroine ever indicating anything about her feelings about it.

The book has some fun moments towards the end, but they're ultimately drowned out by the book's self-importance. This can be done better as DC has illustrated. The Jaime Reyes Blue Beetle from the mid-2000s introduced a character from a minority culture and was fun and likable. Simon Baz is a Muslim Green Lantern who was a Guantanomo detainee, but has writers let us see him as a hero rather than putting so much emphasis on issues of identity that we don't actually get to understand who he is.

From what I've read, some of the plot points that should have been resolved in this book are addressed in the second volume, but this book doesn't leave me wanting more. There's just no excuse for failing to answer basic questions about your main character, while giving space to boring or unlikable characters.



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Book Review: Batgirl, Volume 2: Son of Penguin

Batgirl, Volume 2: Son of Penguin by Hope Larson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book features Batgirl's dealing with the son of the Penguin coming to Burnside.

What's good about this book? The art's generally fun. Barbara decides to change her major to Library Science and we actually hear why. In the Silver age origin of Barbara Gordon, it was just stated she was suddenly a librarian. Here, we get to understand why. While the author is obviously progressive, she does take a critical eye at some common progressive blindspots such as a disdain for homeless and hurting people in their communities, and a lack of consideration for what their green projects could do to harm local interests. It raises questions and does show some intellectual curiosity. I also love the subject of data mining, which is key to how the villain works in this story. The Penguin makes an interesting guest appearance. The second story in the annual where Barbara teams up with a friend she's been blowing off is cute. Barbara remains mostly likable.

What's bad about this book? Despite his cool use of data mining, the villain doesn't turn out to be that impressive particularly in how he's defeated. While I get that the author is trying to build relationships into the story, there does need to be some major threats she's facing. Barbara's dating the obvious villain is not believable. I think the author is underrating her intellect. Reading this sometimes feels like the comic strip character Cathy became a superhero. The author wasted time on giving not one, but two members of Batgirl's supporting cast having personal problems, neither of which we care about much, particularly because Barbara doen't seem to care that much. I mean they're her friends. The first story in the annual is trying to hard to be relevant and twee.

Overall, this isn't a great book. I'm hanging because I still like the character, but I hope we get a good book soon featuring her.



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Book Review: "Batman '66: The Lost Episode

Batman '66: The Lost Episode #1 by Len Wein

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Len Wein adapts Harland Ellison's script for a 1960s Batman episode featuring Two-Face.

This story is a somewhat typical Two-Face origin story like you might read in the 1960s. As a story, it felt like this needed to be fleshed out a bit (particularly the second part) in order to make it really feel like an episode of the TV show. That said, it's still an okay story and the art is nice to look at. It's just not a lost classic.



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