Daniel Sherrier's Blog, page 31

Today’s Super Comic — Black Widow #1 (2016)

Black Widow #1 certainly doesn’t make the mistake of starting the story too early.

Page one gives us the hook—Black Widow is now an enemy of SHIELD. But writers Mark Waid and Chris Samnee wisely withhold the full explanation this issue. Instead, they treat us to Natasha’s thrilling escape from SHIELD, showing off her skills and resourcefulness and letting Samnee’s art tell most of the story.

It’s a great scenario for the character. It puts her in opposition to her allies…but maybe secretly doing it for their benefit? That mystery and ambiguity suits her. We truly don’t know if Natasha is doing the right thing, and she might not either.

I’ll have to read the next issues when they arrive on Marvel Unlimited…or maybe grab the trade paperback when it comes out. The first issue did its job—it sold me on the series. More, please.

Writers: Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

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 Comics — Daredevil: The Man Without Fear #1-5 (1993-94)

Frank Miller redefined Daredevil over a decade earlier, and he returned for an encore with The Man Without Fear.

The miniseries retells and updates Daredevil’s origin and early days, working characters such as Elektra and the Kingpin into the narrative (they weren’t part of Daredevil’s world when Marvel introduced the character in the ‘60s—Miller created Elektra and drafted the Kingpin).

These five issues feel like a movie version of Daredevil, and the actual movie would’ve been far better off using these pages as its storyboard. (Thank goodness for Netflix. Fun fact: The black outfit Matt wore throughout the first season comes from this miniseries.)

Like any great action movie, these comics build and sustain incredible momentum throughout. It’s all very kinetic, both in terms of Miller’s writing and John Romita Jr.’s artwork. Their styles fit together perfectly. Romita in particular is in top form here, producing amazing images that pull you through the story while maintaining an appropriately dark, gritty atmosphere.

If you’ve never read a Daredevil comic, you have several options for a great place to start. This is one of them.

Writer: Frank Miller

Penciler: John Romita, Jr.

Inker: Al Williamson

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; Daredevil: The Man Without Fear (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 14 and up

Today’s Super Comics — Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1-6 (2016)

Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles team up, and it’s everything my inner nine-year-old could’ve hoped for.

These six issues are loaded with fun moments, and even some heartfelt ones. Michelangelo makes a chart to figure out whether Batman is “awesome” or “not awesome.” Donatello geeks out over the Batcave’s tech. Leonardo spars with Batman. Raphael has a heart-to-heart with him. Alfred confiscates Michelangelo’s skateboard. And so much more.

James Tynion IV writes everyone perfectly in character, and Freddie E. Williams II makes them look fantastic. The story has a compelling ticking clock—if the Turtles and Splinter stay in the DC Universe too long, their mutagen will become inert, reverting them to normal animals. It provides a nice sense of urgency without sacrificing the quieter moments, those character interactions we’ve been waiting to see since elementary school.

Another great touch is Batman’s motivation for wanting to help the Turtles and Splinter. Sure, he’s a superhero, so it’s generally in his nature to do so, but Tynion latches on to something more meaningful as well. Batman’s whole mission is driven by a desire to make sure no family is torn apart like his was, and here he encounters a family in peril, however unusual this particular family is. So of course he’ll do all he can for them.

And if the sight of Batman and Master Splinter paying their respects to each other doesn’t warm the cockles of your heart, you either have no heart or were a child at the wrong time.

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Freddie E. Williams II

Publishers: DC Comics and IDW Publishing

How to Read It: recent back issues; Comixology; Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (HC)

Appropriate For: ages 9 and up

Today’s Super Comic — The Incredible Hulk #348 (1988)

The Hulk was gray for a while in the late ‘80s, but the change wasn’t purely cosmetic. His transformations were no longer triggered by anger, but by daylight and nightfall. Hulk and Banner were still two distinct, opposing personalities, but the Hulk stopped being a mindless monster. Though still far from a scientist, the Hulk now possessed rational thought and craftiness, and he could hold down a job as a Las Vegas enforcer known as “Mr. Fixit.”

But among all those changes, the core essence of the character remained. The Hulk wants two things above all else—to keep being the Hulk, and to be left alone. And now he has the means to build a life for himself without having to be on the run all the time, and he can devise ways to keep Banner under control because he knows when the transformations are coming. It feels like progress (for the Hulk if not for Banner), but nothing can be too easy, of course.

In #348, an old enemy, the Absorbing Man, comes to town, hired to put down this new Mr. Fixit guy. And of course he strikes in daytime. So the Hulk has to fight off this reminder of his old life while the sun continuously threatens to bring Banner back. He has to bury himself under layers of clothing or keep to the shade, all while trying to defeat this intrusion into his new life. Like any good comic book fight, this one has stakes beyond just winning the battle.

Peter David had a lengthy run writing the Hulk, and he kept things remarkably fresh and creative throughout, all while staying true to the concept.

Writer: Peter David

Penciler: Jeff Purves

Inker: Mike & Val Gustovich

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; included in The Incredible Hulk Visionaries –Peter David vol. 2 (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 10 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Green Arrow #17 (2013)

Green Arrow’s New 52 series became pretty amazing as of #17, thanks to excellent writing and artwork by Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino, respectively.

The story introduces the idea of Oliver not living up to his potential, and then it blows up his life in a way that evokes the classic Daredevil storyline “Born Again” without copying it. It’s one of my favorite story types, and one Green Arrow is a perfect fit for—the hero having to rebuild himself into something better. It works especially well in comics, as you get the character-development benefits of an origin story without having to rehash the same old tale.

Sorrentino’s gritty artwork grounds the events and suits a non-powered protagonist. Not only does each page fluidly advance the strong script, but they’re all fantastic to look at.

The whole issue screams, “Exciting fresh start!” This sort of thing is exactly what the New 52 should have been all along.

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Andrea Sorrentino

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology; included in Green Arrow vol. 4: The Kill Machine (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 13 and up

Today’s Super Comics — Hawkeye #7-8 (2004)

These issues aren’t from the critically acclaimed Hawkeye series that kicked off around the time of the Avengers’ phenomenally successful first movie. They’re from the previous attempt at a Hawkeye solo series, before we had any idea the Marvel Cinematic Universe was coming.

And while they’re not at the level of the more recent series (so few comics are), they’re definitely worth a look. In these final two issues (#7 and 8—yeah, really short-lived series), Clint tries to solve a murder and winds up at odds with his ex-girlfriend, the Black Widow.

There’s nothing groundbreaking about it. It’s just a solidly executed two-parter that gets Hawkeye’s character exactly right. He’s the stubborn guy who involves himself in affairs he has no business being involved in.

How else would you describe a non-powered archer who joins the Avengers?

Writer: Fabian Nicieza

Penciler: Joe Bennett

Inker: Sandu Flores

Publisher: Marvel Comics

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

Appropriate For: ages 12 and up

Today’s Super Comic — Superman #415 (1986)

Supergirl died a while back, and since DC’s continuity rebooted shortly thereafter, that original version of her technically stayed dead.

But Superman #415 gave her a nice little epilogue, revealing a “happily ever after” she had experienced (for at least a short while). The issue also allows Superman some time to mourn his cousin when he meets the alien husband he never knew she had.

Admittedly, Superman was in need of a reboot at the time. Things were getting kind of stale by this point, but writer Cary Bates and legendary Superman artist Curt Swan were in top form with this issue, paying proper respect to a great character DC decided it needed to sacrifice so Superman could truly be the last of his kind.

Fortunately, DC wised up years later and realized its fictional universe needed the Last Daughter of Krypton, too.

Writer: Cary Bates

Penciler: Curt Swan

Inker: Al Williamson

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology

Appropriate For: ages 9 and up

Today’s Super Comics — JLA #1-4 (1997)

This is how you do a classic-style Justice League of America story with a modern sensibility.

In 1997, DC Comics injected fresh energy into the franchise by relaunching the title as JLA and reuniting the original lineup from the early ‘60s (the current versions of those characters, anyway). For probably the first since those earliest days, the Justice League consisted exclusively of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Wally West, not Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Kyle Rayner, not Hal Jordan), Aquaman, and the Martian Manhunter. All A-listers.

First on the itinerary is—what else?—thwarting an alien invasion. The aliens claim to be benevolent superheroes here to save the world, and they instantly get the public on their side. But of course things aren’t what they seem.

This entire JLA lineup, except poor Martian Manhunter, had their own series, so no major character developments were allowed in these pages. The trick to a great JLA story, then, is to simply let the characters be their awesome selves and interact with their awesome teammates as they awesomely save the world. Split them up, pair them off, knock them down, and let them get back up again and heroically prevail. Writer Grant Morrison gives everyone moments to shine, and artist Howard Porter makes them look suitably epic as they do so (he draws a particularly excellent Batman).

I remember when this series first came out. It was exciting, and I looked forward to each next issue. It’s good guys being good guys—exactly how the JLA should be.

Writer: Grant Morrison

Penciler: Howard Porter

Inker: John Dell

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology; JLA: New World Order (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 10 and up

Today’s Super Comics — Detective Comics #843-844 (2008)

Since I reviewed Paul Dini’s first Batman/Zatanna Detective Comics two-parter the other day, let’s check in on the other one, from #834 and 844.

While I’m partial to the first story, this follow-up is also strong and features a great villain, the new Ventriloquist, who happens to be someone Bruce Wayne knew a while back. The story also explores the friendship between Batman and Zatanna and what other potential might exist, but of course we know they’re not going to embark on any real romantic relationship…because he’s Batman.

A magical girlfriend would certainly change the entire dynamic of Batman’s dark, brooding, and hardly supernatural world. But Zatanna does make a terrific guest star, lightening up the proceedings and humanizing the protagonist a bit more.

Dini should just write something like a six-part Batman/Zatanna miniseries. I have no doubt it would turn out great.

Writer: Paul Dini

Penciler: Dustin Nguyen

Inker: Derek Fridolfs

Publisher: DC Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Comixology; included in Batman: Private Casebook (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 12 and up

Today’s Super Comics — Star Wars #1-6 (2015)

Of course it’s not the movies, but the first six issues of Marvel’s current Star Wars series are the next best thing.

Set between the original movie and The Empire Strikes Back, the comic presents classic characters in their prime. Everyone “sounds” exactly as they should, and Jason Aaron’s scripts also manage to make the events feel exciting and consequential without contradicting the established continuity—not an easy task when the main story has already been told.

Artist John Cassaday excels at drawing relatively realistic figures, as well as cinematic panels, making him the perfect choice to draw this initial storyline. The characters look like their respective actors (or costumes) as much as we can reasonably expect.

It’s essential reading for any diehard Star Wars fan, and it will help tide you over until the next movie.

Writer: Jason Aaron

Artist: John Cassaday

Publisher: Marvel Comics

How to Read It: back issues; Marvel Unlimited; Comixology; Star Wars vol. 1: Skywalker Strikes (TPB)

Appropriate For: ages 11 and up