Daniel Sherrier's Blog, page 28

Today’s Super Comic — Kingdom Come #1 (1996)

I haven’t read Kingdom Come in many years, so I figured it was time to see how well it holds up.

Exceptionally well, judging from the first issue. Mark Waid wrote it and Alex Ross painted it, so that was a pretty safe bet.

It’s set in the DC Universe’s possible future, in which the younger generation is running amok without understanding the true meaning of super-heroism. The Justice League generation is all either retired or focused solely on their respective home turfs. And we view it all through the eyes of an ordinary preacher, whom the Spectre has recruited as his human anchor.

This is, first and foremost, a Superman story, and one of the great Superman stories. In this world, Superman has been gone for ten years, and the void is tremendous. We see the importance of his ideals in their absence. It feels especially relevant these days, since Superman has been largely missing from his own movies—well, the last two have had a grim fellow who looks like him, but that’s about it.

This Superman isn’t exactly a happy sort either. He’s a Superman who’s lost his way and needs to get himself—and the world—back on track. As contradictory as it sounds, he’s out of character in a way that demonstrates a superb understanding of his character. At this point, how he got there and how he recovers isn’t fully apparent.

And I have to praise Ross’s art, of course. The level of detail is phenomenal—far beyond the capabilities of mere mortal comics. (That’s no slight against any other artist. It’s the benefits of the painted medium combined with Ross’s mastery of his craft.) So much care has gone into countless character designs and set designs—look at all the Easter eggs in the Planet Krypton diner, or the tiny skull in the Spectre’s eye, and how Superman’s presence instantly evokes a sense of grandeur.

I’m going to take this series one issue at a time, one day at a time. It’s worth the attention.

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Alex Ross

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology; included in Kingdom Come (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 12 and up

Today’s Super Comic — The Vision #6 (2016)

Lots of good books added to Marvel Unlimited this week, and here’s another.

The Vision keeps getting creepier and more compelling with each issue. In your standard superhero book, you know the good guys will ultimately prevail—it’s just a question of how and after what sequence of setbacks. But there’s no good vs. evil here, and the series can go in any number of directions.

Artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta nails the two-page splash panel in #6, and it’s a perfect moment to go big. Not because of quantity of content—it consists of just a few key components—but because of the importance of the moment. And writer Tom King makes a dramatically satisfying move by fast-forwarding a bit immediately after that panel, leaving the reader with various puzzle pieces to assemble as we try to figure out what happened. Ambiguity serves the book well.

How far will an artificial man go to preserve his artificial family? The answer’s not clear, and the uncertainty is a treat.

Writer: Tom King

Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: recent back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; included in The Vision vol. 1: Little Worse Than a Man (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 14 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Invincible Iron Man #8 (2016)

In yesterday’s review, the kids bantered when Ms. Marvel dropped in on the younger Spider-Man. Now the adults banter when the older Spider-Man helps out Iron Man.

There’s nothing like a good team-up, and this…is a perfectly good team-up. Spidey provides the comic relief while Tony is preoccupied with trying to locate Rhodey, who happens to be fending off hi-tech ninjas at the moment. Meanwhile, Mary Jane rethinks her employment situation.

Pardon the lack of insightful commentary, but this one’s just fun and that’s that.

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Mike Deodato

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: recent back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology

Appropriate For: ages 12 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Spider-Man #3 (2016)

When is a team-up not a team-up? When the title character is grounded!

The superheroics take a break, but the fun continues in #3 as the new Ms. Marvel visits the new Spider-Man. These two are easily Marvel’s best teen superheroes at the moment, so pairing them up—even for just some banter and visual gags—is a delight.

This series started strong, and each issue keeps getting better…and the ominous shenanigans later in the book bode well for subsequent issues. Maybe not so well for Miles, though.

It’s a teen book done right.

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Sara Pichelli

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: recent back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; included in Spider-Man: Miles Morales vol. 1

Appropriate For: ages 10 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Black Widow #2 (2016)

The first issue dropped us in the middle of an intriguing scenario, without all the facts—Black Widow on the run from SHIELD, and not even she’s not certain she’s doing the right thing…whatever it is she’s doing. The second issue remains coy, but it reveals just enough more to further intrigue us.

Superheroes need weaknesses and flaws, because what’s the point of a protagonist who’s invincible? Or one who’s so formidable that she’s practically unstoppable and solutions come too easily? And Black Widow is easily among Marvel’s most formidable non-powered characters, but she also has her own special version of kryptonite—her own past.

It’s a great weakness for a character to have (well, it benefits the reader, not the character, of course). It raises the stakes in a personal way, much more so than a glowing space rock ever can (no offense, Superman).

So far, this series appears to be leveraging that weakness to thrilling effect.

Writers: Chris Samnee and Mark Waid

Artist: Chris Samnee

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: recent back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology

Appropriate For: ages 12 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Guardians of the Galaxy #26 (2015)

This is a fun premise: Peter Quill is elected president of a whole planet—without his consent. So now he must decide whether he, as a guy who loves to rail against the establishment, is the right guy to lead the establishment. And meanwhile, the Guardians enjoy the presidential treatment.

It’s a relatively quiet issue compared to what comes before and after. Always nice to sprinkle some of those in and let everyone, including the reader, have a chance to catch their breath.

As an added bonus, the X-Men’s Kitty Pryde has joined the cast…which seems somewhat random, but more Kitty Pryde is always welcome. (First, Bendis paired her up with Spider-Man when he wrote Ultimate Spider-Man, and now he pairs her up with Starlord. Quite the wingman, that Bendis.) She’s not new to space adventure, but she brings a fresh perspective to the team.

All in all, a good time.

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Artist: Valerio Schiti

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; included in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 5: Through the Looking Glass (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 12 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Magneto #1 (2014)

If there’s ever been a comic book villain who could carry his own series, it’s Magneto—and he recently did, for 21 issues. I’ve only read the first 12, but after re-reading #1, I realize I need to rectify that.

Magneto works as a character because he believes he’s in the right, and due to his tragic backstory, you can understand where he’s coming from even while disagreeing with his actions and rooting for the X-Men to stop him.

No X-Men appear in this issue (although technically Magneto is an X-Man these days). Writer Cullen Bunn and artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta reintroduce us to a stripped-down version of Magneto, a man who knows what it’s like to possess tremendous power and resources but currently has little of either. Here, he seeks to avenge the murder of innocent mutants in his typically unheroic way, but he learns there’s more going on than he initially suspected. And the stage is set for the first storyline, and I want to keep reading.

A truly distinct X-Men spinoff.

Writer: Cullen Bunn

Penciler: Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; included in Magneto vol. 1: Infamous (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 15 and up

Today’s Super Comic — The Flash #182 (2002)

Let’s continue the super-villain streak, shall we?

One of writer Geoff Johns’s big contributions during his tenure on The Flash was taking the time to flesh out each of the Rogues. Previously, most of Flash’s recurring enemies had been little more than recognizable nonentities. Their gimmicks would pose interesting obstacles for a speedster to overcome, but that was about it.

Johns devoted the occasional issue to one Rogue at a time, and #182 starred Captain Cold, who has since become rather prominent in DC’s television universe. The issue nicely balances expositional backstory with a modern-day plot that has personal stakes for the character. It’s also a Flash-free plot.

While we learn about Lenny Snart’s miserable childhood, in which the only two people he truly cared for were his grandfather and little sister, we watch the present-day Captain Cold on a revenge mission. There had been a cheap Captain Cold knockoff running around in earlier issues, another nonentity named Chillblaine. But Cold’s revenge isn’t about the guy copying his gimmick. No—this guy killed his sister, so Snart must avenge her.

Cold’s focus on a loved one humanizes him, and by the end of the issue, we view him as something more than Flash’s parka-wearing Mr. Freeze copycat.

Writer: Geoff Johns

Penciler: Scott Kolins

Inker: Dan Panosian

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology; included in The Flash by Geoff Johns Book 2 (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 11 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Fantastic Four #258 (1983)

Since I reviewed John Byrne’s portrait of Lex Luthor yesterday, it seems appropriate to bookend it by reviewing Byrne’s portrait of the Fantastic Four’s greatest enemy, Doctor Doom.

The FF don’t appear in Fantastic Four #258. This is Doom’s book, and he carries it so well 30you don’t even notice the absence of the title characters. While the issue sets the stage for the FF’s next threat, it spends ample time showing us a day in the life of Doctor Doom—how he rules over the country Latveria, sincerely believing himself to be a benevolent dictator to his people; how, in his own twisted way, he seems to genuinely care for his young ward Kristoff, even allowing the child to stand by his side as he tends to his monarchial duties; how constantly aware he is of people who plot against him; and how enraged he becomes if anyone or anything dares to question his supremacy.

Without ever explicitly telling us so, Byrne portrays Doom as a man who’s living in a constant state of fear. It never looks like fear, though—it looks like ego, suspicion, rage, and a desire to control or destroy all enemies. Doom has lots of power and resources, but no real human connections to draw strength from. And holding on to power, without support, takes considerable and constant effort. One slip-up, and it could all be gone—and he’d have nothing.

This issue shows us why Doom is the perfect foil to Marvel’s premier family (even if that family is taking the issue off).

Writer/Artist: John Byrne

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; included in Fantastic Four by John Byrne Omnibus Volume 1 (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 9 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Superman #2 (1987)

Superman #2 sums up Lex Luthor perfectly. This was early in Superman’s late ‘80s reboot, so taking the time to clearly define the hero’s arch-nemesis was a wise move on writer/artist John Byrne’s part.

Luthor is the true protagonist of this particular issue, as he’s determined to learn the connection between Clark Kent and Superman. Along the way, we see him abuse and manipulate his employees, rip out Metallo’s kryptonite heart and not give a damn about any consequences, order the ransacking of the Kent farmhouse, torture Lana Lang (well, that’s off-panel, but we see the wounds), and enjoy a moment of triumph over the Man of Steel.

But then his fatal flaw slithers out on a brilliant last page, and his own arrogance robs him of what should have been a sweet victory. It’s a punchline that shows us the sharp contrast between Superman’s and Luthor’s respective worldviews.

With this issue, Byrne successfully modernized a classic villain.

Writer/Artist: John Byrne

Inker: Terry Austin

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology; included in Superman: The Man of Steel vol. 2 (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 9 and up