Sunday Reading 10-23-2011 Adam Schiewe
Welcome to a very special and classy Sunday Reading, your usual host, the ever popular Lionknight, away for the weekend. So I will be stepping in to offer you some fine sunday reads to enjoy by the fireside with a nice beverage, perhaps even wearing a nice smoking jacket and maybe even a fez? No? Your loss, fezes are cool.
Well since you won’t wear a fez I will, so with my fine evening reading wear adorned I now present this weeks reading treasures in a nice fireside Sunday Reading.
Catwoman #2
Can this book step up and be the classy lady we all want it to be? Josh Hamman seems a bit hesitant but thinks it’s possible saying “I really didn’t want to buy this book, but out of sheer perverted curiosity I felt compelled to. I am as surprised as you that I enjoyed it as much as I did. Once you get past the T & A, there is actually some meat in Catwoman. With the sheer volume of Batbooks on the shelves, this book gives a unique other side view to that world. The idea of Batman and Catwoman hooking up has been and undertone since she first appeared and seeing things from Selina’s free spirited point of view is a lot of fun. This issue furthered the personal quests of Catwoman, showing us why she does what she does, and the brutal consequences and repercussions of her actions. If you shied away from this title due to the ‘overexposure’ I would suggest giving it another chance. Sex sells, and what better place to put it than in Catwoman?”
I flipped through the issue myself and have to agree with my cohort here, the book may be T & A but it also has some heart to it. Perhaps we can make a pretty woman out of her yet.
Avengers #18
I will not deny that the current run of the main avengers title has left me a little cold, sometimes saying some ungentlemanly things about it after certain issues. But what Brian Bendis and Daniel Acuña were able to do in this book makes me take off my fez and bow out of respect and shame. Told through the eyes of a low level S.H.I.E.L.D tech for a majority of the story we are reminded how much the team and the Marvel universe have been through the past few years. From a civil war to and alien invasion and the fall of Gods we start to really wonder how much of a difference the team makes. This all leads up to the reveal at the end of how Norman Osborn is able to reinstitute the Dark Avengers for the upcoming Hammer War. But what sells this issue is a simple exchange between Tony Stark and Steve Rodgers in the middle of the issue about what it means to rebuild the Avengers tower. Drawing comparisons to the twin towers Bendis crafts the most spot on in character dialogue uttered by Captain America in a while. It’s a moving scene made all the stronger by Acuña’s art. This is the writer at his strongest on this book with a great artists who can keep up with the tone.
Darkwing Duck #17
Bloc writer Robert McSantos has read the newest dashing takle of one Darkwing Duck and has been kind enough to share his opinions on the book with us. “It’s wing to wing ducks this month, a full two weeks of beaks. For what is technically a “kid’s book”, this thing is packed with content, as multiple parallel story elements develop. The heroes and villains of both St. Canard and Duckberg begin to turn on their own as the Phantom Blot’s ink continues to transform them into monsters. The issue also spends some time comparing our two main characters, as the theatrical Darkwing and the prudent Scrooge begin to find some common ground. Disney enthusiasts will enjoy the many references scattered throughout the backgrounds by artist James Silvani.”
Sounds like a great read for those of us that enjoyed the winged exploits of the characters on the TV from our youth.
The Boys: Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker #4
I must confess, there may not be anything classy or refined about this book, but it is a fun read from the dark mind of Garth Ennis. It is the type of book you read after the kids have gone to bed and your enjoying a nice scotch in your den. The issue shows us how the Butcher was born, we see his tragic run in with the superheroes of the Boys universe and find out the details of why he wants to hurt them so bad. There is a scene that ends the book that will shock and appall some readers, but the last page shows us the regret that pushes the man over his breaking point. This book is not for beginners; you need a seasoned pallet to enjoy its complexity but there are rewards to those who try it out.
Wonder Woman #2
Our esteemed Josh Hamman shares his thoughts on this mythological tale of love, horror and superheroes. “The first issue of this reboot was amazing and I sincerely hoped the dark edged story and beautifully matched art could continue strong into the second issue. I wish I could say it did. The story left me feeling like I missed character introductions and is quickly getting mired down in the gods side of things, not doing justice to Wonder Woman herself. We are presented with a surprise, but not unexpected twist to Diana’s origin that does add some interest. Where the art in issue one felt fluid and organic yet gritty, this issues seemed looser and almost felt rushed. The team is just getting going, and I am still excited for the overall direction the books seems to be taking, too quickly the darker, or ‘horror’ feel was gone, and we have rejected Sandman characters as villains. One of the things that has held Wonder Woman back is the assumption that all readers are deeply familiar with the Greek Gods, and all of their multitude of Demigods and the like. We now know it was Hera (I assume, as she has still not been named) that created the centaurs in the first issue, and one of her bastard daughters, with her alternative short hair and nose ring, that are causing problems for Wonder Woman. While plumbing the depths of the relationships between mythological Greek characters can be entertaining, I hope there is more planned in the way of basic comic entertainment for the future of this book.
I could not agree more, Mr. Azzarello and Chiang have made this book something new and unique to enjoy, it feels new and classic, modern and ancient. It is a story that really gets us into the characters and makes us wonder what will happen next. Its a thing of beauty to have a Wonder Woman book this good on the stands and I hope more people give it the chance it deserves to wow you.
Top Recomendation: Justice League #2
The dignified Robert McSantos has some thought on the issue: “This issue is primarily a brawl between superheroes, so if you’re into that sort of thing, I can safely say that you might want to give this a look. The fight proceeds logically, based on the powers and abilities of the combatants, not their popularity, so you don’t have to worry about Batman beating everyone singlehandedly. A few tweaks to Cyborg’s origin are made that make it more relevant to the story’s overall theme of humanity desperately trying to stay relevant in a world with an emerging superhumanity. Fans of the previous volume of Flash will be pleased to know that the dynamics of the Central City crime lab have been carried over into this issue as well.”
The aways refined squirrel of the Bloc Josh Hamman also weighs in on DC’s flagship book saying: “The mixed timeline has me thrown off. Batman fighting Superman, then becoming the voice of reason for the rest of the group made me confused. I had no intentions of purchasing issue number 3. Then I got to the end of the issue, and in 2 lines of text, Geoff Johns told me more about the new Wonder Woman than 2 issues of it’s own series has been able to do. This title should have been launched at least 5 issues before the rest of the New 52 came out. The virgin lens that Justice League views the rebooted DCU is the stepping stone for the rest of the flagship books, as it should be. As Robert said, it’s mostly a comic book brawl, but it leaves enough pieces and interest laying around that there is no way I’ll miss issue 3.”
And I have to agree with these fine gentlemen that the book has really upped its game since issue one making it out book of the week, smart writing and gripping art are the most we can ask for in comics and with each issue this book seems to get stronger and stronger.
That seems to be it for this week; I am your guest host Adam Schiewe, I hope you enjoyed this special fireside Sunday Reading. Lionknight will be back next week, enjoy the reading and we hope to see you around the bloc soon.
