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sdelmonteA very busy, and very mixed week, topped by a great issue of Dini's Detective...
Countdown 47 - Jimmy has weird dreams, Mary gets Black Adam's power, the Monitors vote, Trickster and Piper compare notes, Holly from Catwoman arrives, and we are linked to the Amazons Attack comic for some reason.
A lot going on? Sort of. This book continues to feel scattershot, with things getting close to interesting and then jumping to something confusing or loorly executed. Only the scene with Trickster and Piper, where both make it clear that they haven't entirely given up on being good guys, was notable, and I still don't see this plot going anywhere. Indeed, I don't really see anything going anywhere. Five weeks into 52, things were much clearer. And that we are linked to all the other things in the DCU doesn't help.
I might drop this soon. But I'm still open to the chance of improvements.
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born 5 - Boring. Possibly the dullest comic I have read in years. Tons upons tons of exposition. When Batya read it, she wonderd how Peter David could put so much energy into such copious amounts of text when he should know better. But then she looked over the art, and realized that as pretty as Jae Lee's work it, it doens't really tell the story. It's static. And thus requires explanation. PAD could have done a better job, but since his contribution comes after the art is done, the lion's share of the blame has to fall to Lee. What started out so well has become little more than pretty pictures with mood text. At least the two short stories by Robin Furth, if rather obvious, are well-written.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight 4 - A rescue mission is mounted, Warren explains things to Willow, Dawn gets stompy, and things get darkers for the Slayers. Not as good as last month, with somewhat muddled art, some muddled storytelling involving Willow's actions, and an ending that was rather abrupt but still chilling. The script is great, though so far Joss isn't doing much to make the Slayer Pack distinct (though I think that changes next issue). Xander rules, by the way. This book belongs to him, even if Buffy is the star and Willow the most powerful witch this side of Marvel.
Supernatural: Origins 2 - John follows a trail, gets in trouble, and meet a Hunter. Somewhat full of exposition, but well written and entertaining. A good bit of backstory with good art, but after the season finale of the show, it feels a little tame. Also, there is a great cover byIsaac Mendez Tim Sale.
Nightwing 133 - Wherein we start to learn more about a missing part of Nightwing's past. Decent, but not as good as it's been and a little slow. Marv seems to be biding his time for tihs book till Countdown affects it.
Detective Comics 833 - An assistant to the magician Ivar Loxias is dead, a young woman who used to work for Zatanna. Can Batman and Zee solve the mystery? Is Loxias a killer? And can Bats and Zee get past the events of Identity Crisis once and for all?
I think that in his ideal world, Paul Dini doesn't have to deal with what Zee did to Bats, that there is no tension or mistrust. But it's part of the story, and if Dini is going to write his two favorite characters, he will have to address the issue. And thankfully, he does so in a way that works within the broader tale and that doesn't overplay things. He gets Zee right, he gets Batman right, he sets things up perfectly, and then pulls the rug out in a great cliffhanger. Once again, this is a great, great, great comic. And I can't wait to see what happens next.
Countdown 47 - Jimmy has weird dreams, Mary gets Black Adam's power, the Monitors vote, Trickster and Piper compare notes, Holly from Catwoman arrives, and we are linked to the Amazons Attack comic for some reason.
A lot going on? Sort of. This book continues to feel scattershot, with things getting close to interesting and then jumping to something confusing or loorly executed. Only the scene with Trickster and Piper, where both make it clear that they haven't entirely given up on being good guys, was notable, and I still don't see this plot going anywhere. Indeed, I don't really see anything going anywhere. Five weeks into 52, things were much clearer. And that we are linked to all the other things in the DCU doesn't help.
I might drop this soon. But I'm still open to the chance of improvements.
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born 5 - Boring. Possibly the dullest comic I have read in years. Tons upons tons of exposition. When Batya read it, she wonderd how Peter David could put so much energy into such copious amounts of text when he should know better. But then she looked over the art, and realized that as pretty as Jae Lee's work it, it doens't really tell the story. It's static. And thus requires explanation. PAD could have done a better job, but since his contribution comes after the art is done, the lion's share of the blame has to fall to Lee. What started out so well has become little more than pretty pictures with mood text. At least the two short stories by Robin Furth, if rather obvious, are well-written.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight 4 - A rescue mission is mounted, Warren explains things to Willow, Dawn gets stompy, and things get darkers for the Slayers. Not as good as last month, with somewhat muddled art, some muddled storytelling involving Willow's actions, and an ending that was rather abrupt but still chilling. The script is great, though so far Joss isn't doing much to make the Slayer Pack distinct (though I think that changes next issue). Xander rules, by the way. This book belongs to him, even if Buffy is the star and Willow the most powerful witch this side of Marvel.
Supernatural: Origins 2 - John follows a trail, gets in trouble, and meet a Hunter. Somewhat full of exposition, but well written and entertaining. A good bit of backstory with good art, but after the season finale of the show, it feels a little tame. Also, there is a great cover by
Nightwing 133 - Wherein we start to learn more about a missing part of Nightwing's past. Decent, but not as good as it's been and a little slow. Marv seems to be biding his time for tihs book till Countdown affects it.
Detective Comics 833 - An assistant to the magician Ivar Loxias is dead, a young woman who used to work for Zatanna. Can Batman and Zee solve the mystery? Is Loxias a killer? And can Bats and Zee get past the events of Identity Crisis once and for all?
I think that in his ideal world, Paul Dini doesn't have to deal with what Zee did to Bats, that there is no tension or mistrust. But it's part of the story, and if Dini is going to write his two favorite characters, he will have to address the issue. And thankfully, he does so in a way that works within the broader tale and that doesn't overplay things. He gets Zee right, he gets Batman right, he sets things up perfectly, and then pulls the rug out in a great cliffhanger. Once again, this is a great, great, great comic. And I can't wait to see what happens next.
