Batman: Dark Victory

Batman: Dark Victory

By Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale (DC Comics)
ISBN: 1-56389-738-5 (hardcover) 1-56389-868-3 (softcover)

Oddly disappointing, predictable but visually stunning sequel to the magnificent Batman: The Long Halloween (ISBN: 1-5389-469-6) which follows the survivors of that epic as they regroup and assess their futures.

Catwoman returns to Gotham City as the survivors of the decimated Falcone crime family assess the damage caused by the death of their patriarch Carmine “The Roman”, and the revelation that his son was the serial killer who murdered members of the mob and his own relatives on each public holiday.

A despondent Batman goes about his business heartsick that his old friend Harvey Dent has becoming one of the growing army of criminal super-freaks that increasingly haunt his city, and aware that he cannot keep dividing his attention between them and the insidious gangsters that infest every corner of Gotham. Jim Gordon also worries at the events that drove a wedge between himself and his fellow crime-busters. Nobody seems sure that the bad days are over, or that the right guys are have been punished.

Now another seasonal serial killer is loose. This one is throttling cops and stringing them up. With each corpse there is a child’s bloody puzzle, a semi-complete game of “Hangman”. Are these deaths connected to the Holiday Killer? And now, when a young circus performer sees his parents murdered before his eyes, Bruce Wayne is moved to take the child into his home, and under his wing…

By stringing together so many threads, author Loeb loses a little focus here. This is not a bad story, just uncomfortably cramped and a touch undisciplined. But, quite frankly, in comparison to its predecessor, it was always going to come up short.

Despite all I’ve said this is still an above-average Bat-thriller, and Tim Sale’s moody depictions, especially of the baroque and bizarre Rogues Gallery (mandatory characters in any modern adventure of the Dark Knight) not to mention his unique take on the fledgling Robin make this a book worth reading, and re-reading.

© 1999, 2000 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.

Dan Dare: Prisoners of Space

Dan Dare: Prisoners of Space 

By Frank Hampson & Desmond Walduck (Titan Books)
ISBN: 1-84576-151-0

Great Britain’s greatest hero returns in this collection of strips that originally ran in the Eagle from 28th May 1954 until 6th May 1955. When two young cadets from the “Astral Training College” have another of their slight mishaps it leads to another confrontation with an old enemy and endangers the entire Solar System.

Steve Valiant and Flamer Spry will one day be great pilots, if they don’t kill themselves first, or their tutors don’t do it for them. When an exercise goes wrong, the two boys and the crusty old civilian mechanic “Groupie” are sent hurtling up to the deep orbiting space station XQY. As if that’s not bad enough, once they get there it’s only to find that the satellite has been taken over by the monstrous Mekon, and his rebel Treens, as the first step in a plan to reconquer Venus and crush Earth.

It takes all of Dan Dare’s heroism, ingenuity and resourcefulness to once more save the day, and how he does so makes for some absolutely splendid old-fashioned entertainment.

This nigh year-long epic shows Hampson and his cohorts at the peak of their game, combining action, adventure and fantastic thrills with the traditional British fare of waggish schoolboy heroes. Charming and captivating, these stories are true treasures of English heritage.

© 2007 Dan Dare Corporation Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Vol 3

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures Vol 3 

By Various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN 1-84576-020-4

Spinning off from the Cartoon Network show rather than the major motion picture, this third paperback-sized volume contains four more plot-light, all-action, vignettes set in the Star Wars universe at the time of the Battles between the Republic and Count Dooku’s Separatists.

The first story here is ‘Rogues Gallery’, by Haden Blackman, with art by The Fillbach Brothers, and it’s rather good. In deepest space something is stalking Count Dooku’s evil henchmen Asajj Ventress and Durge, and there’s a creepy frisson of tension amongst all the zipping and zapping. ‘The Package’, the story of a commando raid to recover a stolen box for chancellor Palpatine, is a dark but enjoyable fable drawn by the same team, with Ryan Kaufman scripting.

‘A Stranger in Town’ is written and drawn by The Fillbach, a terrific tribute to the Magnificent Seven starring everybody’s favourite Jedi, Yoda, and the book concludes with the Brothers illustrating Tim Mucci’s taut battle thriller ‘One Battle’.

In England the cartoon episodes aired in 5 minute instalments with a polished, stripped down anime style which the comic stories seeks to emulate. Unfortunately this means that despite some very good adventure strips, these books are over almost before you even realise. Nevertheless youngsters and die-hard fans will lap this up, I’m sure. And you could read them between bus-stops. So perhaps you should.

Star Wars © 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™. All Rights Reserved.

Modesty Blaise: The Inca Trail

Modesty Blaise: The Inca Trail 

By Peter O’Donnell & Enric Badia Romero (Titan Books)
ISBN 10: 1-84576-417-X

The greatest heroine in English comics returns in another superb collection from Titan Books. First reprinting this time is ‘The Reluctant Chaperone’. As a vacationing Modesty is pressured into babysitting the teen-aged daughter of a CIA acquaintance in Malta. As if young girls aren’t trouble enough, the involvement of Mafia thugs trying to take over the island make for an explosive combination. Kidnapping is wicked, but snatching a kid with an “Aunt Modesty” proves to be suicidal for the unfortunate mobsters.

‘The Greenwood Maid’ is a somewhat more traditional escapade as Modesty and Willie do a favour for one of their old criminal gang and find themselves reliving the gory glory of Robin Hood whilst on the trail of hidden loot in a Mediaeval castle.

A deranged and dying playboy millionaire seeks a bizarre and final revenge on our heroine in ‘Those About to Die’, and all her skill and cunning are needed to rescue Willie from an ancient bloody doom, whilst ‘The Inca Trail’ tests the minds as much as the mettle of the duo as a South American revolution makes them and their juvenile charges the targets of death squads whilst holidaying in the mountains.

O’Donnell and Romero were at the top of their game during this period (1975-1976) and the continuing exploits of this unique character simply got better with every episode. In this edition, as well as an interview with the writer, are four black and white crackers no comic fan or adventure-lover can afford to miss.

© 2007 Associated Newspapers/Solo Syndication.

Showcase Presents: Batman Vol 2

Showcase Presents: Batman Vol 2 

By various (DC Comics)
ISBN 1-84576-661-X

No matter how much we might squeal and foam about it, to a huge portion of this planet’s population Batman is always going to be that “Zap!” “Pow!” caped boy scout and buffoon of the 1960s television show. It was just that popular and all-consuming.

Regrettably that has meant that the comic stories from Batman and Detective Comics published during that period have been similarly excoriated and maligned by most Batfans ever since. It is true that some tales were crafted with overtones of the “camp” fad, presumably to accommodate newer readers seduced by the arch silliness and coy irony of the show, but no editor of Julius Schwartz’s calibre would ever deviate far from the characterisation that had sustained the Batman for nearly thirty years, or the recent re-launch that had revitalised him enough for television to take an interest at all. Nor would such brilliant writers as John Broome, Bill Finger, Gardner Fox and Robert Kanigher ever produce work that didn’t resonate on all the Batman’s intricate levels just for a quick laugh and a cheap thrill.

This volume from the wonderfully cheap and cheerful ‘Showcase Presents…’ imprint re-presents all thirty-six Batman stories from September 1965 to December 1966 (which originally appeared in Batman #175-188 and Detective Comics #343-358) in beautiful, crisp black and white. The artists include such greats as Carmine Infantino, Sheldon Moldoff, Chic Stone, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson and Sid Greene, as well as covers from Gil Kane and Joe Kubert supplementing the stunning and trend-setting, fine-line masterpieces of Infantino.

Most of the stories reflect the gentles times and stated editorial policy of spotlighting Batman’s reputation as “The World’s Greatest Detective”, so the colourful, psychotic costumed super-villains are in a minority, but there’s still the first two appearances of Poison Ivy and Blockbuster, as well as debuts for The Cluemaster and Doctor Tzin-Tzin, and second stringers such as The Bouncer, The Birdmaster, Monarch of Menace, and even the Flash’s nemesis The Weather Wizard.

The Riddler and the Joker (in possibly his most innocuous exploit ‘The Joker’s Original Robberies’) are included, and there are a couple of guest appearances from the super-stretchy Elongated Man (a sleuth in the manner of Nick “Thin Man” Charles, and the long running back-up feature in Detective Comics), in the tense thriller the ‘Secret War of the Phantom General’, and again in ‘Two Batmen Too Many!’ with the Atom thrown in for good measure.

The bulk of the stories here are thefts, capers, plots and schemes by world conquerors, heist men, would-be murderers and mad scientists, and I must say it is a joy to see these once-staples of comic books again. You can have too much psycho-killing, I say, and just how many alien races really, really want our poxy planet – or even our women?

And yes there are one or two dafter tales but overall this is a window to a simpler time but not simpler fare. These Batman adventures are tense, thrilling, engrossing and engaging, and I’d have no qualms giving these to my niece or my granny.

Stay tuned and become a Bat-fan.

© 2007 DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.

Alan Moore: Wild Worlds

Alan Moore: Wild Worlds 

By Alan Moore & various (WildStorm)
ISBN 1-84576-661-X

New collections of the work of Alan Moore are few and far between these days and most of his previous output found its way between stiffened covers eventually (didn’t he do some stuff for Marvel UK’s Star Wars comic? I don’t think that’s been strip-mined yet…), so it’s high time his brushes with Image Comics got the treatment. I honestly wish I could say it’s been worth the wait, though.

The big draw at the time of publishing (1996) must have been as much the teaming of Todd McFarlane’s Spawn and Jim Lee’s WildC.A.T.s as the chance to see one of the world’s greatest comics creators turn his hand to superheroes once again. If so, they must have been pretty disappointed.

‘Devil’s Day’, illustrated by Scott Clark and Sal Regla, is a mediocre time-travel story wherein the heroes must travel forward in time to defeat their evil future selves. It’s all actually rather dull and dreary, and lacking any of the clear humanity that Moore excels in capturing. I wonder how much editorial freedom was allowed in combining two creator-owned properties under a third creator’s control?

Much more enjoyable is ‘The Big Chill’ taken from Wildstorm Spotlight #1 (1997). It features the Superman analogue Majestic in a moody, contemplative light as one of the nine beings at the end of time, when entropy is finally shutting the universe down. Carlos D’Anda and Richard Friend provide lovely pictures for the kind of cosmically metaphysical yet intimate wonderment that Moore does best, peeking inside invulnerable skin and behind glittery masks.

The Voodoo miniseries ‘Dancing in the Dark’ saw the exotic dancer and superhero become a pole-dancer in New Orleans and the tool of the all-powerful Loa to prevent a hideous monster from resurrecting its ancient evils in a modern city. Produced during the height of the “Bad Girls” craze (1997-1998), there are lots of gravity-defying, implausible curves and much sweaty skin on display to off-set all the gore, courtesy of pencillers Al Rio and Michael Lopez, and a host of inkers. The combination of crime-thriller, voodoo magic and skintight melodrama makes for an easy if predictable read.

Super-soldier Deathblow is more or less the star of ‘Deathblow: Byblows’ as a mysterious quest through a fantastic land answers questions about the seekers that perhaps they shouldn’t have asked. Moore and Jim Baikie create a mood reminiscent of Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner as well as loads of action to carry the mystery along.

The final tale is from WildC.A.T.s #50, and is beautifully drawn by Travis Charest. Sadly however, I don’t really feel able to comment beyond that because ‘Reincarnation’ is a little eight page tale that recounts events and features commentary from some previous story that I haven’t read, isn’t explained, and features a bunch of characters I’m unfamiliar with. Couched as banter whilst dealing with a monster in their headquarters, it is surely very sharp and no doubt very witty, but I don’t know what is going on and that makes me confused and grumpy.

Surely a page of explanation wouldn’t have been too much trouble if this story had to be included? Or perhaps the editors should have printed the story in a WildC.A.T.s trade edition where it would make more sense, and more rightly belongs?

The name of the author always guarantees sales, but every writer has stories he’s less pleased with. I’m guessing these aren’t any of Mr. Moore’s favourites and they do him a disservice being cobbled together in this manner.

I wonder if they even asked him?

© 2007 WildStorm Production, an imprint of DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.
Spawn and related characters are ®, ™ and © Todd McFarlane, Inc.

Wallace and Gromit: The Whippet Vanishes

Wallace and Grommit: The Whippet Vanishes 

By Simon Furman, Ian Rimmer and Jimmy Hansen (Titan Books)
ISBN: 1-84023-498-9

There are lots of comics and graphic novels that derive from movie and television sources, and for whatever reason, most of them just do not cut it. This is a noteworthy exception.

This publication, dedicated to the further adventures of Northern boffin Wallace and the incomparable best-of-breed working dog Gromit, sees them take on the role of amateur Pet Detectives in a helter-skelter romp to track down a mysterious pet-napper.

All their trademark insanity and high energy action abounds as they deal with snow drifts and missing garden Gnomes and add another eccentric evil genius to their catalogue of arch-villains.

Great fun for all ages and I’d like to offer my particular congratulations for captivating art and colour from Jimmy Hansen and John Burns. Puppets have never been drawn so well.

© 2004 Aardman Animations. All Rights Reserved.

True Story Swear to God 2: This One Goes to 11

True Story Swear to God 2: This One Goes to 11 

By Tom Beland (ait/planet lar)
ISBN: 1-9320-5132-1

Tom Beland is a man in love. At his time of life and looking like he does, he finds that hard enough to believe. That his One True Love lives three thousand miles away, in Puerto Rico, is pretty much incomprehensible to him. And that she’s stuck there without him during the most humungous hurricane he’s ever heard of is not a situation that is going to happen twice.

This second collection of the charming, true, modern romance sees creator and protagonist Beland accept that he and his beloved Lily cannot be apart any more. Matching the comedy and drama of outrageous weather systems with the irresistibly opposing forces of two mature people who are each settled in their own space can only mean that something has to give. Who’s going to move or who’s going to quit?

This One Goes to 11 combines charm, gentleness and real-life trials as old as humanity and wraps them in a warm deceptively subtle cartoon style to tell a story we’ve all featured in and can’t help but empathise with. Well worth seeking out.

© 2005 Tom Beland. All Rights Reserved.

Star Trek: The Next Generation — Maelstrom

Star Trek: The Next Generation — Maelstrom 

By Michael Jan Friedman & Pablo Marcos (Titan Books)
ISBN 1-94576- 318-1

Titan’s reprinting (issues #13-18 of the DC series from the 1990s) of the venerable TV phenomenon continues with Michael Jan Friedman scripting capable if uninspiring comics tales illustrated by veteran Pablo Marcos, and guest artists and writers Dave Stern, Mike O’Brien, Ken Penders, Mike Manley and Robert Campanella also contributing to the licensed fun.

Friedman’s adventures involve an elaborate plot by telepaths to use the crew to assassinate delegates at a peace conference, a plot by the Ferengi to illegally strip-mine a resort world, starring Riker and LaForge, and a stellar phenomenon that draws the Enterprise into a confrontation with the Romulans just as a plague of madness grips the crew. The fill-in is another “time-traveller back to fix the continuum” tale as Wesley Crusher’s attempts to improve the Transporter system go awry.

Although not the best work these creators have produced, the stories are honest entertainment that should be a welcome treat for fans and they are easily accessible to anyone who has seen the TV show

™ & © 2006 CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Chronicles of Conan vol 8: Brothers of the Blade

Chronicles of Conan vol 8: Brothers of the Blade 

By Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Mike Ploog & various (Dark Horse Books)
ISBN: 1-84576-137-5

The eighth volume of reprinted Marvel Conan stories is a true treat, as it features not just the magnificently recoloured artwork of John Buscema partnered with some of his most gifted inkers – Tom Palmer, Frank Springer, Pablo Marcos and Steve Gan – but also reprints one of the last comic stories of the tragically under-rated Mike Ploog. The book ends with Buscema, though, who returns to begin the epic “Queen of the Black Coast” story line that ran from issues #58 – 100 of the monthly comic book. Parts one and two can be found here along with issues #52 through 57.

Conan is undergoing something of a revival at the moment, both as prose and comic book character, not to mention all those figurines that could find homes on the shelves of the faithful, and there’s always the promise of another movie. Still and all, and whilst admitting my bias, if you can’t actually have more Robert E. Howard, you can’t do much better than these thumping good yarns that kept the legend alive in the long-ago, hip again 1970s.

© 1975, 2005 Conan Properties International, LLC. All Rights Reserved.