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Review Date: 07/03/2009
Good King Leonardo has declared its time once again for Women
In Comics Week, so we feature this week
three new DC comics that are premiering female heros and/or
villains as their new central characters:
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Detective
Comics #854
Publisher: DC Comics
Greg Rucka: Writer
J.H. Williams III: Artist
Dave Stewart: Colors
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DC introduces Batwoman as the new headline main character
in the latest issue #854 of Detective Comics.
For the uninitiated, DC originated a previous
Batwoman character back in 1956. This first
Batwoman, Gotham socialite Kathy Kane, was phased-out
of the DC Universe in 1964. The current Batwoman
was introduced in 2006 in DC's "52" series as
socialite Kate Kane. At the time, the character
received national media attention as the highest profile
lesbian character in major publication comics to-date.
Detective #854 is written by veteran scripter Greg
Rucka with art by J.H. Williams III and Dave Stewart.
The story is sub-titled "Elegy Agitato" and is part
one of a multi-issue story arc. The story has
two sub-plots. The first is a basic introduction
to Kane/Batwoman's world. We learn that she's
just starting to get out there on Gotham night patrol
and get the hang of being a Caped Crusader.
The reader is introduced to her support characters
including her retired colonel father who is her mentor
and physical trainer, as well as her corporate girlfriend
with whom her relationship is frayed as she keeps
her hero identity a secret. Kane also briefly
crosses paths with the new Batman on night patrol.
The second sub-plot continues the Batwoman plot thread
from the "52" series as I seem to remember it, as
Batwoman hunts down and confronts a creepy crime cult
in Gotham. The story ends on an interesting cliffhanger
as Batwoman confronts the Goth female leader of the
cult.
Several elements make this comic an entertaining read.
Greg Rucka gives us a story nicely balanced with a
range of narrative elements. Since Batwoman/Kane
is a very new character to the DC Universe, its important
that he weave-into the story some basic background
details about her life. Rucka succeeds very
well on this count, giving us a good amount of
pages and panels portraying Kane with her father and
girlfriend as she struggles to settle-into the
difficult balance of having a dual identity.
I also loved the personality that Rucka instills in
Batwoman when she's in costume. This Batwoman
might be a rookie, but she radiates supreme confidence
along with a veteran crimefighter's ability.
The story commences with a 9-page scene through which
Batwoman practically swaggers, going beyond holding
her own and actually trumping in attitude and action
both a criminal and Batman during her late night
patrol of the city.
The high quality art of Williams and Stewart also
adds a wonderful element to the story. There's
a lot of action throughout this issue, which the artists
present in a very original and creative lay-out that
literally makes the activity leap off of the printed
page. This is the first new issue comic that
I've read in a long time in which the action scenes have
a level of cinematic quality that remind me of the
iconic artist Gene Colan at his best during his DC
and Marvel Silver Age years. So for all of the
reasons above, a definite thumbs-up for this first
issue featuring Batwoman as the new lead character
in Detective Comics.
On a final note, this 24-page story is followed by
an 8-page story featuring Gotham Detective Renee Montoya
as the crimefighter The Question. Readers of
DC's "52" series will remember Montoya as Batwoman's
girlfriend in that series. Subtitled "Pipeline,"
The Question tale begins a multi-issue storyarc
in which Montoya starts to track and try to rescue
an illegal immigrant who's been kidnapped in Los Angeles.
It's a decent story that adds some extra entertainment
value to your $3.99 purchase of this comic.
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Gotham
City Sirens #1
Publisher: DC Comics
Paul Dini: Writer
Guillem March: Artist
Jose Villarrubia: Colors
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DC Comics has added an all-new
monthly comic series to the Batman: Reborn group of
comics with the issuance this week of Gotham City
Sirens #1. The comic is scripted by veteran
comic scribe Paul Dini with art by Guillem March and
Jose Villarrubia, and features the team-up of the
three most famous Gotham City villainesses in the
Batman Universe: Catwoman, Poison Ivy and of course,
the Joker's flame, Harley Quinn.
Issue #1's story is entitled "Union," and interweaves
two sub-plots. In one, Catwoman clashes with
a new Gotham City badguy named Boneblaster.
While Boneblaster is a third-rate street thug with
some upgraded body strength, Catwoman struggles with
dealing with him as she's still recovering from life-threatening
injuries detailed in previous Batman comic issues.
The second storyline, which dominates most of
the issue, focuses on the three villainesses following-up
on Catwoman's suggestion that they band together into
a trio, both working and living together. I
don't want to spoil any of the good details, so I'll
only say that by issue's end, as can be typical
when three roommates move-in together, two of the
roomies have ganged-up on the third roomie over a
very "catty" roommate issue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this issue and just plain
loved the humor in it. Writer Paul Dini originally
created the character of Harley Quinn for DC
and gives us here another very funny take on
the twosome of Harley and Ivy, with Catwoman thrown
into the mix. While Dini gives both Catwoman
and Ivy a mix of drama and humor in their story roles,
he's pitch perfect in blending Harley Quinn with a right-on mix
of schoolgirl innocence and psychotic villainey that
only a guy like The Joker would date instead of running
away screaming from as fast as possible.
Its a lot of fun reading how this threesome begins
their new experience as roomies, starting with finding
a place to rent from a real estate broker who specializes
in renting secret lairs to Gotham's underworld tenants.
While Dini gives us a well-written and entertaining
script, equal credit must be given to March and
Villarrubia's artwork. I've said it in previous
reviews but it has to be said here again: its a rare
artist or artistic team that excells in drawing facial
expressions, and March/Villarrubia are definitely
in that category, as they express Harley Quinn's ditzyness,
Ivy's cunning and Catwoman's exasperation with artistic
quality equal to none. So my review advice is
to get on-board with issue #1 of what's sure to be
a very popular new title in the Batman: Reborn comic book
series. If this comic's sold-out by the time
you read this review, don't hesitate to ask the
good folks at That's Entertainment to order another
copy for you; comic book humor done this well
doesn't come along often enough for you to skip the
chance to read and enjoy it!
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Power
Girl #2
Publisher: DC Comics
Jimmy Palmiotti & Justion Gray: Writers
Amanda Conner: Art
Paul Mounts: Colors
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In follow-up to last month's review of Power Girl
#1, I thought I'd round-out this week's Women In Comics
reviews with a quick look at Power Girl #2.
This issue is titled "Unleashing The Beast," and continues
issue #1's confrontation/battle between Power Girl
and a villain who's essentially an ultrastrong gorilla
with the transplanted brain of a human evil genius.
The issue is written by the team of Jimmy Palmiotti
and Justin Gray with art by Amanda Conner and Paul
Mounts.
I liked last month's issue #1 a lot, as it introduced
us to the details of Power Girl's secret identity
as Karen Starr, CEO of Starrware Industries, as a
balance to her superhero life. This issue focuses
solely on Power Girl's battle with said evil gorilla-guy,
which is protracted through the entire issue, interspersed
with a flashback detailing his earlier human
life and how he became a human brain trapped in a
super gorilla's body. The issue has a cliffhanger
ending as a lead-in to next month's issue, as the
gorilla-dude has captured Power Girl with the intent
of transplanting his own brain into her body (yeech!).
This is not a bad comic issue; Amanda Conners's artwork
is of high quality as always and I always enjoy The
Palmiotti/Gray team's writing, which harkens back
to the best of the 1980's and 1990's basic superhero
stories, giving the reader a standard, fun superhero
tale without feeling the need to infuse every story
element with high literary quality. Only one
thing bothered me about this comic; given the level
of superstrength traditionally portrayed by any member
of the DC Superman Family, oddly, this issue seemed
to portray Power Girl at a lower level of ability.
It just seemed a bit off-putting to see this superhero
spend an entire issue struggling in a basic fistfight
with a freakin' monkey, albeit one with a genius human
brain.
I'm still giving this issue a thumbs-up review for
its basic entertainment value, but my advice to DC
is to avoid squandering the potential of this new
title by giving back to Power Girl her normal level
of superpowers in upcoming issues, along with ending
the gorilla bad guy storyline in the next issue.
More than three issues in a row of a comic starring
a chimp, no matter how "super" or "Evil Genius"-oriented,
is pushing it!
So there we have it, three DC comics that are all
off to new and promising starts with well-known female
heroines or villainesses (or in Catwoman's case, a
heroine/villainess depending on the day!) as their
new central characters. Lots of good reading
coming your way this week from the DC Universe!
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New Contest Announcement!!!
We're still taking entries
at Gordon_A@msn.com for our current
contest, in which you tell us your favorite comic book
writer and why you like his or her writing. First
prize is a $10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment,
so hurry-up and enter no later than this coming Wednesday,
July 8!
Have a great comic
book reading week and Fourth of July, and see you again
next week Here In Bongo Congo!
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