Latest Comic Book Reviews (07.12.2011) - Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of Vengeance #2 & American Vampire #16

Two stunning comic book with fantastic cliffhangers and shocking reveals in a comic book week that's full of surprises. Yes, reviews are little bit late, but as the saying goes - "better late than never".

All my reviews after the jump.




Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of Vengeance #2
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art by Eduardo Risso
Published by DC Comics

In a world where Bruce Wayne is dead and where his dad - Thomas Wayne - is the goddamned Batman, its really hard to tell which character is going to appear next in this topsy-turvy alternate reality, and Azzarello just does that: making his readers fall into thinking that they know the whole story, but then slaps them in the face with a jaw-dropping shocker that will make anyone scream: "What in the fucking hell?"

Its an almost-perfect mystery writing by Azzarello, with Risso continuing to do a great job on his crime-noir style of illustrative storytelling. These two are the best in what they do and within the mystery-crime genre, I think this team is the best out there.

Jim Gordon is highlighted nicely here, with him serving as the lone hero before Batman steps up to the scene - albeit too late. The Oracle reveal is a pretty nice surprise too, but I don't really feel that the character fits into the role she's given.

And that's the main flaw that plagues this book. Despite its genius at leading readers to an enjoyable roller coaster ride, the book also alienates an awful lot because of familiar characters being put into unfamiliar roles. Yes it makes for a very thrilling literature, but it also creates an unorthodox feel that could confuse (some) big time.

With all of that said, Knight of Vengeance - despite its alienating tendencies- is still one of the best Flashpoint tie-ins while serving as a solid stand-alone saga by itself. You won't forget the brutal last pages of this issue, for it is one of the biggest shockers this week while giving us a peek as to what's going to happen next.

But just like before, I'm sure Azzarello won't let anybody correctly guess his next treat.

Rating:

American Vampire #16

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Rafael Alberquerque

Published by Vertigo 

If there is one underrated comic book in the stands - that has to be American Vampire.

This comic book series is one hell of a groundbreaking story in the vampire genre that erases the teeny-boppy Twilight completely, and yet, it doesn't get the credit and attention it deserves from its fans. Scott Snyder has been making this saga noteworthy and he continues to 1-up himself every single month with his brutal and dramatic storytelling.

AV #16 is no different. 

As our commandos are jailed in an underground Japanese prison, the struggle and will to survive has never been evident and paramount in this issue. Our heroes are desperate to make to escape the hellhole, and with the revelation that the Japs are creating vampiric monsters out of their prisoners, the adrenaline rush just heightened up a notch.

Snyder's crafty narrative with Henry and Skinner Sweet is the highlight of this book - including a blood-sucking scene that was as horrific as it is beautiful. These are desperate times for everybody involved, and Snyder just made the most logical decision to put Henry in a mindset where he has to do everything there is to survive - even if it takes to "befriend" a notorious American Vampire in Sweet.

Henry's love interest - Pearl Jones - makes an appearance as well, looking to save his beloved from imprisonment, but she may have to go to a tough battle before she can ever accomplish it, as seen in her panels. Snyder will definitely continue this brawl in his next issue which will definitely make up for another  awesome exciting issue.

All of these is (and will be) accompanied by Alberquerque's strong illustrations that blends perfectly with Snyder's script. Words are not enough to explain the fantastic watercolorish style that completely sets the dark and melodramatic tone of this epic series that consistently impresses readers - even non fans of the vampire genre.  His last panel in this issue is one of the strongest panels of this series EVER.... and it reeks of 100%, pure-badassery that would make one drool for more vampire action.

American Vampire continues to impress, and with 16 issues down, its quickly gaining status as a series of epic proportions because of its vampire goodness. So good - its not even funny. 

Hopefully more fans will take notice for this series right now because this is Snyder and Alberquerque at their very best. Writer and artist at the peak of their powers, and it would be a shame not to witness it. 

Rating:

Graphic Novel Review: Joker

"Joker"

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art by Lee Bermejo

Colors by Patricia Mulvihill

Published by DC Comics

The team of Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo never ceases to amaze and entertain me with every work they've done.  Their insightful take on the mind of Superman's greatest foe Lex Luthor in Lex Luthor: Man of Steel was impressive, and I loved the fact that they avoided telling a boring origin story and instead,  attempted to "break-in" into the mind of the genius bald-headed villain by telling a story through  Luthor's perspective.

This one is no different. 

Joker is released from the bars of the dreaded Arkham Asylum after many years and though glad that he out of the penitentiary, the clown immediately realizes that the people he trusted took everything that he has thinking that he was dead for good. Frustrated, he goes on a mission to take back what is "his" and begins the journey of rebuilding his criminal empire together with his newest recruit - a man named as Jonny Frost - who also serves as the narrator of the novel.

The novel introduces some interesting re-interpretations of Batman's classic rogues gallery that I really liked, namely Two-Face, The Penguin, Harley Quinn, The Riddler and Killer Croc. Croc in particular, is depicted as a muscular, African-American guy who has a normal physique which is totally different from the half-human/half-crocodile monster that we see in today's comic books.

The Riddler is a tattooed and crippled weapon-arms dealer in Gotham, while Harley Quinn is a stripper in one of Joker's establishments and is suggested as to having a sexual relationship with the mad Clown. Azzarello clearly has put much thought into redefining these characters and made them as real and believable as possible - a necessary ingredient for the crime-noir elements that he incorporated in this novel.

But the real treat, arguably, lies in the fact that this novel's Joker was seemingly inspired by the late Heath Ledger's portrayal in the 2008 summer blockbuster The Dark Knight. 

The close resemblance of this Joker to the man is eerie, but at the same time, awesome enough to make you feel shivers down your spine.

Ledger's portrayal of the Joker in that film is the most humane of them (and the best) all in my opinion, and Azzarello and Lee's version is very much... well... just like that. The Joker in Azzarello's world is a really disturbing and kind of vulnerable, as he is an an alcoholic and one that heavily relies on drugs and pills to get a day by. 


He is also shown to be afraid of the Batman, as suggested by him when he said that he thinks he is following him all the time.  But despite the tweaks in his personality, he is still the same maniac, crazy psychopath clown that would do whatever it takes to see the world and everything around him crumble. 

I read somewhere that the novel was created way before The Dark Knight was released on the big screen and that Azzarello nor Bermejo had an idea on what he would look like or how he will be portrayed in the movie.


If that is indeed true, I would say that this was very impressive of them. They somehow made a "blueprint" for what would become a tool for one of the most memorable acting performances in cinematic history. 

Lee Bermejo's stunning and vividly detailed art is a winner as usual. Its truly dramatic, and Bermejo captures the chaotic and murky aspects of of Gotham so well, especially its dingy and foul-stenched alleys.


And combined with the beautifully toned-down an grimy colors of Patricia Mulvihill, the overall result is a dark, dirty world that makes a great background for all of the Joker's craziness. 

And though the title of this book is "Joker", that doesn't mean that you won't see "the goddamned" Batman. Its just a matter of time for the Caped Crusader to join the show, and Azzarello doesn't disappoint. He gives us the inevitable showdown between the two freaks, masterfully drawn  by Bermejo up until the last page. 

If there was one thing flaw that I have to point out, that would be the use of one of Joker's henchman as the narrator for the story. Jonny Frost doesn't really stand out as a character and Azzarello totally forgot about giving him his own "identity" in his novel.


Jonny doesn't do anything of importance to the plot and it would have been great if he was made to be more than just a dog who follows his master wherever he went. Plus his fate down in the tale is as predictable as it could possibly get. 

As a whole, "Joker" is an entertaining 128-page read that is gorgeously hideous in its own insane way. This graphic novel has the makings of a cult classic as time goes by, something that could possibly compare to (or even surpass) the other all-time-great Joker story - Alan Moore's The Killing Joke.

If that ever happens, I think Azzarello and Bermejo has Mr. Ledger to thank for. 

Comic Book Review: Lex Luthor - Man of Steel

 Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Lee Bermejo

Issues: 5

Published by DC Comics

Just like Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke, the story of Lex Luthor: Man of Steel is narrated by non-other than Lex Luthor himself, who we know as Superman's greatest adversary. We know him as the evil billionaire and intelligent business man who stops at nothing to get rid of the Last Son of Krypton.

But the striking difference of this comic book title is that Luthor isn't depicted here as a ruthless individual, but rather a charitable one - which is very different from what we have read through the years. Nonetheless, he still dreams of a "World Without a Superman" and wonders why people have embraced an alien who shoots fire from his eyes just because he looks human. He despises everything that Superman is and believes that one day he will stop at helping people to finally conquer the world. So he takes matters in to his own hands and creates a plan to stop and discredit Superman to the entire world. 

We get to see Batman here as well and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne, who does some sort of business together with Lex Luthor to defeat Superman. What now? Luthor + Batman > Superman? I honestly never saw that coming, but they did team up here for a while which was surprising. Oh, and Lex gets to make love... with a robot. Seriously. You always have to admire it when writers try to mix up new concoctions in a comic book and the team of Azzarello and Bermejo did a heck of a job in that department.

The narratives and dialogues are fantastic and partnered with an dirty and sketchy art, I would have to say that this is a great read and would make you see Lex Luthor and Superman in a different light. Had real fun reading it.