What is this book about?

Black Adam, the ruler of the nation of Kahndaq and a recipient of the Power of Shazam. Shazam is an ancient powerful wizard who grants people with the power of the gods; Shazam imbued Teth-Adam, a 13th century warrior with the power of the gods hoping that he was going to be his new champion in the wizard’s quest for justice. Unfortunately the wizard realized too late that he had recruited a champion with a dark temper and a dangerously limited definition of justice.

Believing that his student had become irrevocably corrupt, Shazam banished his soul into a mystic scarab rather than allow him the freedom to menace Earth unchecked.

Now, centuries later, his soul was released from the scarab, where he now pits himself against Shazam’s modern day champion, Captain Marvel. Defeated, Black Adam joined the Justice Society of America, but soon became exasperated by their so-called “reactive” approach to law enforcement.

Eventually, Adam returned to Kahndaq and took it by force. Reestablishing his “eye for an eye” brand of justice through bloody retribution. As the leader of a sovereign nation, he is both feared and worshiped despite his rage, he sees himself as a hero, having vowed to protect Kahndaq from any and all who dare threaten it’s borders.

This story takes place after Black Adam’s wife, Isis, is infected with a deadly disease which kills her. Seething with fury, Adam slaughters everyone connected and not connected with her death. Two million deaths later, and intent on revenge, Black Adam flies off, seeking revenge for the death of his family. Enraged to the point of madness, and with his gods’ blessings, Black Adam launches a week-long attack against the heroes of the world. Tearing across the globe, Adam attacks and defeats dozens of superheroes who attempt to stop him. Adam causes massive civilian casualties and billions of dollars in property damage when various superhumans get in his way. Captain Marvel, though unable to take away Black Adam’s powers, works with a group of mystics, to work a spell to transform Black Adam into Teth-Adam. Marvel also changes Adam’s magic word from “Shazam” to a word he keeps secret to prevent him from ever changing back. Despite his defeat, Teth-Adam escapes. He is left a mortal wandering the Middle East, unsuccessfully guessing at the word that will restore his power. Which is where Black Adam: The dark age begins.

Some time after his defeat in World War III, Adam sneaks into a heavily guarded and war-torn Kahndaq in disguise to retrieve the bones of Isis. Adam takes Isis’ bones to a Lazarus Pit, (caverns composed of unique chemicals that possess the ability to rejuvenate the sick, injured and even resurrect the dead), in the Himalayas with the intentions of using it to resurrect her, but cannot complete the process without either using all of Isis’ bones or her magical amulet, which has gone missing. He makes his way to Dr. Fate’s tower, (a safe haven for the hosts of the Fate persona), looking for the amulet. He finds the supervillain sorcerer Felix Faust, who was trapped in the tower. Faust reveals to Adam that Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Jr. (sidekicks to Captain Marvel) broke Isis’ amulet into several pieces and scattered them across the globe. Faust enacts a spell which allows Teth-Adam to transform into Black Adam by drawing from the residual magic remaining in Isis’ bones, with Adam using her name as a magic word. However, Faust warns Adam to use his powers only when absolutely necessary, lest Adam drain all of Isis’ remaining power and make her resurrection impossible. Using a homing signal etched into his hand by Faust, Adam sets out across the globe hunting down the pieces of Isis’ amulet.

Why should you read this book?

Honestly? Because in the end it’s really a sweet story.
Any guy, or girl for that matter, who has lost someone, not even necessarily from death, but through the ending of a marriage or relationship, I feel can relate to this story.

I say this almost every comic book review I do, but, comics are just metaphors on the truth. There probably aren’t many people in this world that would travel the globe looking for ways to resurrect their dead significant others and even less who take the events in this book as a literal translation for how you should act if your partner is murdered. But, the whole purpose of the book is to show you and hopefully to teach you not to take for granted the experiences you have with people. Because even though it’s cliche to say, you really do never know when is the last time you’re going to get to enjoy someone’s company. Time really is precious and you really should cherish every moment you have with people.

It’s funny, the name of this book is called: The dark age, but I see nothing but light and revelation in this book. Of course the book is very sad and somber at times, but, in the end, it’s Black Adam realizing certain things about life that for the countless centuries he’s been alive has never realized but does now. Like I said, it’s a very sweet story about coping and loss with the main point being about hope.

The other reason to read this book is Adam’s quest of figuring out his secret word that will change him back into Black Adam. So he goes around reciting the names of streets, signs, locations, moods, and emotions in hopes of stumbling upon his new magic word. I really don’t want to give anything away, but, it’s really cute when he finds out what the secret word actually is. I say cute, because, Captain Marvel books have always been about family, innocence, and power. And Black Adam even though violent, angry and vengeful…is very much about those concepts as well. So how and where he stumbles upon the word is so fitting and perfect for the Captain Marvel ideal characterization.

Black Adam is written that his troubles are never his fault, but rather the consequences of a man who’s always right doing what has to be done. Adam is a study in contradictions but that doesn’t mean he is in fact a contradiction. His regrets are only for what he’s lost, not what he’s done. People would call Black Adam a villain before calling him a hero but it’s not as black and white as we’d like to think. Let’s take Black Adam’s conversations with Hawkman and Atom Smasher. Two heroes not afraid to shed blood, but Hawkman wants Adam to turn himself in, while Atom Smasher councils Black Adam to hide. Adam heeds neither’s advice, but the fact that he fights with Hawkman but leaves Atom Smasher in peace speaks volumes of Adam’s character. The difficulty with calling Adam a villain is that ultimately, he’s a reasonable man. His reluctance to throw the first punch, when “heroes” like Hawkman have no such reservations, threaten to redefine our concepts of heroes and villains. Which also as controversial as this may be, makes me think twice about “villains” like Ra’s al Ghul and Sebastius.

There’s a lot of back story in this book that might turn you off to caring to read it, but, do yourself a favor and read it.

If you would like to read this book, purchase it from here.

What is this book about?

Featuring adventures surrounding Barbara Gordon (Batgirl, one of Batman’s most trusted allies), years after Gordon was paralyzed after being shot by the character the Joker. Unable to retire from fighting crime she attempted to create a new identity. Augmenting her detective skills with state-of-the-art-electronics she created a new alter ego as the ultimate information resource to the super-hero community. She now goes by the name, Oracle.

Oracle learned the ropes of espionage as an ally of the Suicide Squad, a covert black-ops government strike team, before starting her own international crimebusting operation called, The Birds of Prey. Her first agent Power Girl, left the team when a mission went awry and innocent people were killed–something that strains their relationship to this day. Oracle’s next agent was Black Canary, and the two slowly became the best of friends. Canary’s tour of duty defined the team and it’s methods of operation giving it the long-term credibility it would need to outlast her once she finally left the group.

No one operative could replace Canary, instead, Oracle now recruits allies largely on an as-needed basis–some regularly, others only when their specific skills are required. Among her core operatives: Big Barda, Manhunter, Lady Blackhawk, and Huntress.

Why should you read this book?

Solely because the title is the rarest of anomalies in the comic industry. Maybe it’s the creative team that makes this book such a gem and well-respected book among critics, maybe it’s these specific characters, maybe it’s writing for uniquely strong and well-rounded female personalities, or maybe it’s the assuredness of an editor who knows what this book should be. I have no idea. What IS important is that the Birds of prey book was one of the few books published by DC Comics that you could open each month and expect to find quality and entertaining stories starring strong women characters that embody so much of what the feminist ideal is. So given that concept, for this series to survive when the core audience of comic books, especially super-hero comics, are primarily young males is no small feat.

You can pretty much read any books from the Chuck Dixon’s run on the book, however, I’d like to recommend specifically issues 47-49.

Barbara Gordon makes plans to attend a scientific conference where Lex Luthor (who at the time was President of the United States of America, [not kidding]) claimed to have made a breakthrough that could stop cellular decay. Dr. Atticus Blackaver, the scientist? financier? demonstrated how to manipulate the so-called “chaotic code” that controls cellular decay. His demonstration included a teenage girl, who apparently can control the chaotic code. In order to prove his findings to be correct Blackaver healed a senator with a heart condition that was at the conference. Skeptical, Barbara Gordon asked incessant questions that annoyed Blackaver and had the teenage girl, Madison, touch her legs to heal them like she healed the senator. Much to Barbara’s surprise, she could now feel her legs. Before she could get up and walk around the convention was interrupted by terrorists out to kidnap Madison, the teenage miracle healer. Now without revealing too much of the actual story, I just have to take this time to tell you why exactly I’m reviewing and recommending this book to you.

Dinah Lance, Black Canary + Terry Moore (of Strangers in Paradise fame) + Amanda Conner + Ass kicking and witty banter from a hott woman in fishnets = Greatest story ever told. Also, the controversy surrounding Terry Moore and giving Barbara Gordon control over her legs again (albeit temporary) is another interesting reason to read this story.

If you would like to read this book, purchase from here.

How about that…no infamous NINTR introspective insight about about the book where I try and decipher the subversive message behind it all. Just a plain ‘olll fashioned book review.

What is this book about?

A description from the writer:
“A violent rapist prowls the city streets, while the corrupt authorities, controlled by a wealthy right-wing family, turn a blind eye. From the burgeoning art scene emerges an enigmatic hero — the bizarre, brash, and colorful creature of the night, THE CREEPER. And she’s got one word for the self-serving upper-class… BEWARE. In the aftermath of World War I, the bohemian art scene explodes onto Paris — much to the chagrin of the rich and powerful Arbogast family. Ravishing Surrealist painter Judith Benoir wants desperately to make a splash that will have everyone talking, at whatever cost — even if it means ignoring the warnings of her jilted lover, Inspector Allain, and her prudish sister, Madeline. Amidst the cultural clash between aristocracy, religion, and the avant-garde, The Creeper’s simple cat burglaries quickly escalate into spectacular art crimes, establishing her as a cultural icon.”

This story takes place in 1925 Paris, which as you read the story you begin to understand why. It was a pretty wild and crazy time for people who lived in Paris during that time. World War I had recently ended and people were tired of death and misery and wanted to live it up. So as a result some liberal sensibilities began popping up which really ignited the avant-garde artist movement. This paved way for Surrealist painters to be taken seriously as more and more people were buying this type of artwork and also as a result of the avent-garde art movement women were becoming more independent.

It was a time of enlightenment and Paris was a mecca for writers, artists, and free-thinkers. It was a time of cultural change and technological advancement. An entirely new way of thinking about life and art was coming into focus, so utilizing the idea of what the character The Creeper is makes perfect sense for this book. For in many ways, The Creeper, is the embodiment of that attitude and spirit that was alive in that era.

For those of you who don’t know, The Creeper, was originally a superhero that first appeared in Beware the creeper Volume 1 in 1968. His name was Jack Ryder who was a Gotham City television talk show host fired due to his outspoken nature. Finding employment in network security, he attempted to rescue a scientist named Dr. Yatz whom mobsters had kidnapped in order to obtain his newest discoveries. The chief mobster hosted a masquerade party at his mansion. To gain entry, Ryder improvised a costume from yellow tights and facial make-up designed to look like skin, a green wig and trunks, and red gloves, boots, and furry cloak. Ryder located Yatz inside, but the mobsters detected him and opened fire, wounding him. Yatz injected Ryder with a serum and implanted a device in his wound. The scientist performed this surgery to save Ryder’s life because the implant has the power to almost instantly heal any wound and grant it’s host enhanced strength and agility. Because the scientist was unaware of the drugs in Ryder’s system the implant inadvertently recorded the drugs in his system as well. Thus the whenever the device in his system is activated it recreates his strength and agility but it also recreates the drugs in his system, explaining The Creeper’s odd personality.

The Creeper in this story has no connection whatsoever to the original Creeper, but I thought I should explain why the odd personality of the original Creeper was a perfect vessel to this story.

Why should you read this book?

For the social commentary that the writer hints around to in this story. A character like The Creeper is ideal for examining that commentary. Specifically because there’s that classic tradition of the fool who speaks the truth. The Creeper’s antics really put that era’s issues into focus in this story. She exposes the hypocrisy of those around her.

Not only do I think that this story was a way to speak about the issues surrounding that era, but I think it also has a moralistic theme revolving around the idea of loving people for the wrong reasons. Either those reasons you know about or even those you don’t is something that plays a vital role. So does the notion of taking things too far and having to face consequences you never foresaw.

It also deals with the idea of what circumstances can create an art movement or fad, and just how much validity those types of things have.

The early 2K’s (early 21st century), writers seemed to be in love with the idea of re imagining and re purposing popular characters or themes and telling a new story utilizing the very ideas that made the original characters popular.

Such as in the Marvel comics world Mike Allred took a book called X-Force which was primarily used as a vessel to tell story’s about characters that were popular in the X-Men world. But mid-series, Allred joins the team and says “no, there’s an entirely new way we can tell this story but still using the same ideas of what X-Force stood for and what it was all about.” Which is what he did and it was highly controversial, however, a huge success in sales. There were numerous books that did this and Vertigo did something similar with their Creeper character. The reason writers did this is because you need depth to the story in order for people to relate and to care. A lot of people may have liked the original Creeper, but, the Creeper in this story is someone that more people can actually relate to easier. A lot of the strength of the story comes from the fact that the creators are doing their best to create believable human emotions and motivations. That’s what makes a story interesting, and it’s what readers can relate to. Most people have absolutely nothing in common with a guy who puts on a costume and fights crime, but they do understand anger or a desire for justice. These characters aren’t there to move the plot along, but to tell a story about why people act and say the things they do, and what sort of circumstances can drive a person to incredible deeds.

What is this book about?

Pre-Infinite Crisis, Matt Wagner re-invented the origin of the first meeting between Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in the DC Comics universe.

The reason why this is significant is because, combined, these three are regarded as DC Comics iconic super heroes that are pretty much the center of the DC Comics universe where most events that happen revolve around them, occur because of them, or intentionally or unintentionally are caused because of them.

Why should you read this book?

Every hero that has been created since the 1940’s has in some way, shape or form been molded or inspired from these three.

The existence of the DC comics universe as well as so many other super heroes pretty much exist because of the popularity of these three characters.

So what I’m trying to say is this book is important because it depicts the first time they all meet which is a significant milestone in the fictional as well as non-fictional history of these characters.

When I first got into comics, the books I first bought were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, then I got into the Amazing Spider-man, then I got into Superman. Specifically because right around this time The Death of Superman came out. Shortly after that I gave Batman a try, specifically because right around this time Knightfall came out. Superman stuck with me for a long time but I stopped collecting Batman very quickly. Eventually after a few years I stopped collecting Superman as well. Thinking back on it, the reason I had then for not collecting these books was because I just didn’t like the stories anymore. So from then on I would only collect a few books here and there from each title, not the entire series like I do with the Amazing Spider-man.

Reading those books today, I realize that it had very little to do with not enjoying the stories but more that I couldn’t relate to these characters and that I didn’t respect them.

However, in the early 21st century, I began finding interest in Wonder Woman. Not for any noble reasons at first. I only was getting the books because Adam Hughes was drawing the covers. And Hughes is known for his renditions of pinup-style female characters. But, the more Wonder Woman books I read, the more I began to really like the character and the more I actually respected the character.

I’ve been hooked ever since. But, that’s another review for another time…

But, my new found love for this character made me enjoy this book a lot more, since the story revolves around Batman and Superman’s first meeting with Wonder Woman. We see so many stories of Batman and Superman’s first meeting, but never really so many stories about the two’s first meeting with Wonder Woman. Which makes this book very unique.

This book was truly amazing. I went into this book expecting it to be another creator told masturbatory fantasy “first meeting” of childhood icons of his. That he completely changes around continuity and ignores actually history for the sake of being able to tell how HE wants to tell the story. Which he did do…but to his defense it takes place Post-Zero Hour and Pre-Infinite Crisis so it gave Wagner a chance to reinvent it. His use of certain guest appearances from other characters to pin point where in history this story takes place was really cool too. Such as, a young Artemis, an early in-training Robin, and pre-first visit to the surface world Aquaman, (which was really random, but very cool).

Seeing how a suburban farm boy alien and an urban billionaire play boy human relate and work with an amazonian warrior princess is spectacular. In the psychological metaphorical introspection of Batman and Superman they represent dark and light, colder and meaner heroism in contrast over warmer and nicer heroism. If Batman and Superman represent dark and light, then Wonder Woman represents the shades of gray in the middle. Her character is balance between the two. And that’s why I wasn’t able to continue reading Batman or Superman. In Batman, there was too much brooding and darkness. In Superman there was too much optimism and light heartedness. But in Wonder Woman, she the perfect balance of dark and light. She is an ambassador of peace from her country but she is also a warrior. Because of this she is easily relatable to either side, dark or light.

Much like another recent book review about the group dynamics between Batman and Superman; where because of their inability to work together in the series Batman & Superman: World’s Finest, they were not able to save a life. So every year they meet and work to improve their group dynamics. Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity is similar in that if they are to have any hope of stopping the villain of the book, they will first need to overcome their own biases and reconcile their differing philosophies. Which I’m sure if you know the characters at all, that the differences between Batman and Wonder Woman were certainly entertaining but I thought even that the differences between Superman and Wonder Woman were great too.

Anyway, buy it here.

What is this book about?

World’s Finest chronicles the first ten-years of Batman and Superman’s relationship. It starts off with Bruce Wayne (who is secretly Batman) and Clark Kent (who is secretly Superman) attending a charity function of a mutual friend who is kidnapped and held hostage. The two heroes arrive at the scene but due to their inability to work together, they are unable to save his life. From that point on, they decide to remember that day by meeting every year and working to improve their group dynamics.

Why should you read this book?

Many who would review this book would opt for the broad overview why this is an interesting book; that it’s a great portrayal of the complicated relationship between these two characters. However, I’d like to fine tune the specific portrayal that was the most interesting to me and why.

Avid Now is not the Rhyme readers know that I am a huge fan of comics; especially comics I got into when I was kid. What comic reader isn’t? Well, I suppose the difference is I might stand in the minority when I say my favorite time in comics was during Spider-man’s Clone saga, when Diana Prince was replaced with Artemis, when Ollie Queen was dead and Connor Hawke replaced him, or when Jean Paul Valley was Batman and when four different Supermen claimed to be Superman after the original died. These are the characters I remember, these are the characters I love, and these are the characters I can relate to. So it shouldn’t surprise you that my favorite issue of this book was issue number #9.

Issue #9, has two separate stories; one for when Batman goes looking to see if any of the four new Supermen is the original by seeing if they remember that they meet every year on the same day and when Superman goes looking to see if this new Batman was told by Bruce Wayne that they meet every year.

Despite the outcry of fans that hated the replacing of these heroes and declining sales from the books after; I think it was one of the smartest things DC Comics has ever done. To have fictional characters continue to live on and on and never die is absurd to me. But that is another blog post for another time…

One of the reasons why Batman and Superman work is because the writer’s change them to suit that time era. Replacing them in the 90’s drove sales and got people back into comic books. Even though it wasn’t well received it will always be remembered and people that got into comics from those books who work for these companies later will be inspired to create books and stories based on them. Much like how creators now do with stories they grew up with from the 60’s and 70’s.

Every issue from this book is great and you should totally pick it up. You can find it here. It’s a good book for someone who is thinking of getting into comics but doesn’t want to get a ton of old books just to understand the history of the characters and the book is great for any Batman & Superman fan of any era since this books spans the entire history of the two characters and picks out significant life changing events that truly shaped the character.

On a side note, if you’re interested in books similar to this, you can read my review of Batman: Turning Points which has the same concept, except the history and friendship between Batman and Gotham City’s police commissioner James Gordon is spotlighted.

What is this book about?

The stories in Batman: Shadow of the bat always took place within the current continuity of Detective Comics and Batman, in contrast to Legends of the Dark Knight which focused on Batman’s early years. Stories in Batman: Shadow of the bat looked into the psyche of Batman and the various cast members of the Batman comics.

Why should you read this book?

The story I’m reviewing isn’t the story I want to recommend that you buy. The story I recommend you buy and read are from issues #83 through #94. They take place around the events of Batman: Cataclysm where an earthquake destroys most of Gotham city, Batman’s home.

However, as a precursor, the story I am reviewing gives a good lead in as to why you should read Batman: Cataclysm. I’m reviewing Batman: Shadow of the bat #0. Much like last time DC Comics was given an opportunity to retell (or clarify) the origin of its hero(es) to establish the official version in this “post-Zero Hour” revised continuity. So a “#0″ issue was published in the weeks that followed Zero Hour to showcase that series’/character’s origin. In the case with Batman: Shadow of the bat, Batman already had a series that showcased his origin, Batman. So, Batman: Shadow of the bat was left to explain why there was a series called Shadow of the bat.

So what they did was tell this story that talked heavily about the sacrifices Bruce Wayne made to his social life along the way to help the world and honor his parents.

It’s hard to remember a quote that I’ve heard come from a comic book that I could relate to more than this:

“The ineffectual effete fop persona he’d created for himself mean’t men saw him as no challenge–but he was still attractive to the ladies.

It would have been so easy to live the rich man’s life…

…But this wasn’t what he’d trained himself for. This wasn’t why he’d learned how to fight, why he knew more than any man alive about crime, and how to detect it.

He’d seen the ways of the world but even though he thought they were shallow, and trivial, and fleeting–

–it still hurt to leave them.”

This story describes why Shadow of the bat is significant in the Batman-universe. It really focuses on Bruce Wayne’s humanity and his struggle with two conflicting personality’s. The one where he is supposed to be responsibile, aware, and alert all the time and the one where he recognizes the importance of relaxation, fun and social interaction.

In Batman: Cataclysm, you really see his humanity shine through. Where there is this force of nature that he is powerless to stop and it’s destroying the city he swore to his parents that he would protect.

Shadow of the bat turned out to have some really great stories that I never realized existed when I was growing up. Buy the books here.

What is this book about?

Written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely, featuring the characters Batman and Robin. This series takes place after the events: Batman R.I.P., Final Crisis, and Battle for the Cowl where the original Batman, Bruce Wayne, apparently died at the hands of DC Comics villain Darkseid and Dick Grayson, the original Robin, taking the mantle of Batman, while Damian Wayne, Batman’s son who he fathered with Talia Al’Ghul becomes the new Robin.

Or read this explanation from the author himself:

Batman is dead. Robin is now Batman and Batman’s evil son is now Robin. Everything is new again. If you ever liked Batman and don’t want to see how that dynamic plays out, then may the Lord have mercy on your dry and shriveled worthless husk of a ’soul’! G’wan, g’wan, g’wan and buy Batman and Robin before the whole world starts laughing at you for missing out! Missing this is like missing your own birthday!

The series is only on it’s second issue right now so it’s hard to say exactly what the series is actually going to be about, but I would like to tell you…

Why you should read this book.

It’s really interesting to see the drama and emotion that Dick Grayson goes through in deciding and trying to become Batman. Click the image above to see a really cool discourse between him and the butler, Alfred.

This series so far is a mix between the ’60s Adam West TV show and a David Lynch project.

Grant Morrison wanted to be able to tell more light hearted Batman stories, but he knew he would not be able to. Mainly because it wouldn’t have made any sense for Batman who for the past twenty years or so has become darker, angrier, grimmer, and grittier as time past to suddenly be happy-go-lucky. So when the chance arose to kill Bruce Wayne and replace him with Dick Grayson, who he feels he would absolutely be able to tell the stories he wanted to by using the original Robin as a vessel in order to do so. Since Dick Grayson has always walked that line of light and dark anyhow.

One of my all-time favourite Batman panels was written by Haney and drawn by Jim Aparo and shows Batman strolling down the sunlit streets of Gotham, checking out the mini-skirted girls and accompanied by the line to end all lines: ‘Yes, Batman digs this day!’

I’m not saying that’s the Batman we want to see on every page, but I love that he might have this aspect to his character. I love the notion of a Batman who enjoys a peaceful stroll down the summer sidewalks of the city he keeps safe. There’s something very human about that and it makes him much more relatable and rounded. I can certainly see the Dick Grayson Batman digging this day on a more regular basis!

The series is really cool so far. I’m really into it. It’s a total change of pace for the character. It’s good too for people who have gotten out of comics who are thinking of getting back in and they’re not sure where to start or what to read. Even though this series isn’t continuity/back story free, it does talk very little about that, so you feel like you don’t have to know the whole characters back story just to understand the book.

Also, the new villain in this series named, Pyg, is fucking terrifying! Click the image below to see a larger image. He makes these doll minions from real people after what looks like a melting process to attach the doll mask to people. Forget the joker, this man is far more terrifying.

What is this book about?

Back of the book description:

Visionary writer/artist Paul Pope presents a futuristic mystery of epic proportions set in a dark, dystopian world devoid of privacy and filled with government conspiracies, psychic police, holographic caller ID and absolutely no room for “secret identities.”

In Gotham City, 2039, a federal agent is murdered and a contingent of Washington’s top agents is hot on the suspect’s trail. The Batman, a forgotten icon from the past, is wanted for the murder. Amid the chaos Gotham City Police Detective Gordon, grandson of the former commissioner, discovers that the man they are chasing shouldn’t exist at all.

Why should you read this book?

I feel obligated to recommend this book to you for it’s writing, however, the art truly justifies the purchase.

Don’t get me wrong, the story is intriguing, no doubt. But, Pope is an artist, I feel, first and forthright.

I recently read a review of this book that basically stated that he felt as though Pope inserted his own Libertarian political views into the story and didn’t display Batman’s desire and drive for the “greater good.” He compares Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, which he says kept the focus on the sacrifices that Bruce Wayne must make to protect the city he loves—letting go of the woman he loves, even taking the blame for a murder he didn’t commit, all for the greater good. He continues to point out that we never actually see him fighting street crime, only Batman taking down the government.

But Batman is taking down the government because it’s corrupt. Libertarian views or not, there are unlawful things happening here that Batman has decided falls directly in line with his views on what fighting for the greater good means.

What’s interesting about this book is that we’re not sure who Batman is. We don’t know if it’s Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or hell Stephanie Brown with a sex-change! We don’t even know if his “Robin” or “Oracle” in Year 100 is a Robin or Oracle that we all know and love. We just know that this takes place in the future and that there is evil corrupt happenings that the Batman does not want to see come to fruition.

I think the point of this story is to lay claim that there will always be someone with evil intentions and that there will always be someone with good intentions to war against it, such as The Batman.

MY QUESTION however is, what does Paul Pope think came first…good intentions or evil? Was there ever a first? Or were the two “born” together at the same time?

Enough about the story, look at some of this art! (RSS reader’s, go to the actual post)

What is this book about?

The series focuses on the major events of Commissioner Gordon’s and Batman’s relationship. The moments when their relationship took a turn for the better, or worse.

In case you don’t know, Commissioner Gordon is the police commissioner of Batman’s home of Gotham City. He shares Batman’s deep commitment to ridding the dark and corrupt city of crime. He disagrees somewhat with Batman’s vigilante method but recognizes the necessity of Batman so the two have a mutual respect and tacit friendship which dates back many many years. So this story sort of highlights the more important story’s that shaped their friendship that would help a new reader understand their bond.

• The first issue focuses on the tentative steps toward their relationship.
• The second issue focuses on the introduction of the first Robin.
• The third issue focuses on Batman and Commissioner Gordon’s heartache after the Joker murdered Jason Todd (Batman’s adopted son) and attacked Barbara Gordon (Gordon’s daughter).
• The fourth issue is when Batman elected to have Jean Paul Valley replace him without mentioning it to Gordon.
• And the fifth issue is the then-current relationship between Gordon and Batman.

Why should you read this book?

This book is a good beginner into Batman comics. Because essentially you’re getting really quick reads revolving around the MAJOR events in these character’s history without actually reading the longer versions. Additionally, the artwork is amazing. Particularly the last issue which is penciled by one of my favorite artist’s Paul Pope, who also created one of my favorite books 100%, which is kind of a love story but it talks so much about what sex will be like in the future. It’s so awesome. Anyway…

The whole series is great and you should read all of it in unison. But particularly issue number four stuck out to me a lot. This may not be the one that captures everyone’s attention, but, maybe it will, allow me to explain why this is the issue I’ve decided to review.

This is the issue I mentioned above where Batman elected to have Jean Paul Valley replace him as Batman without mentioning it to Gordon.

This just struck me as an interesting issue because the issues where Jean Paul Valley took over in the Batman books is right around the time when I got into comics as a kid and I remember those books and love them to death. Even though many consider this to be one of the lower points in Batman’s history.

What I loved about this take on Batman was that, Batman was already dark to begin with. But Jean Paul Valley took his own brand of justice and made Batman even darker. He was more violent, more angry, and more out of control. Which isn’t the reason I liked those books. The reason I like those books was because it made you miss Batman. It made people realize how much they NEED Batman. Which is always a good reminder to have. Valley coming in and giving the villains, cops, and criminals a swift kick in the ass needed to happen but, all it really did was made us realize how much we needed the Batman who had morals and restraint. Commissioner Gordon knew this and felt way as well.

Additionally, probably the single most interesting thing that struck me about this issue and this time-period in the Batman mythos is that Batman never told Gordon that he was putting in a replacement. Which I never thought about as a kid reading those issues. How can two people who claim to be friends not communicate like that? Why didn’t Batman say anything? Did Batman feel that the change wouldn’t be noticeable? Did he not want to admit that he ‘failed’? Did he want to make himself seem strong and able and not show weakness to the police commissioner? It’s really interesting stuff! I think it asks really interesting questions about the communication or lack thereof betwixt two longstanding friends. Which people who have these types of relationships with people can relate to, and maybe even find the answers to why there was a miscommunication to begin with inside a Batman book?

What is this book about?

Batman’s consistent enemy, The Joker, is released from prison and commits a dozen crimes to make the public doubt everything they DO know about Batman.

The theme revolves around a question of, do the secrets we keep, shape us into who and what we are? The Joker seems to think so, at least. Not only does he have a secret but he knows another man’s secret and he’s doing everything he can to use that man’s position to turn the populace against Batman. Most of the story is the Joker trying to figure out why Batman is so rigid and repressed. He feels as though it’s because he has a secret he’s hiding. The Joker is actually in many ways the main storyteller in this book because his obsessions with secrets is always driving semi-insightful and intelligent comparisons and contrasts between himself and Batman.

Why should you read this book?

Given the fact that Sam Kieth is my all time favorite writer/artist ever, I highly recommend this book with every fiber of my being.

But if that’s not enough reason then certainly for the Joker’s use of blackmail for the purpose of manipulating the media against Batman. Kieth is creating a very general message around the power that the media has in influencing how and what people think or believe to be real.

But like last time, I feel that Kieth is speaking about something else entirely that he is intentionally not making clear.

I feel that he is asking what is reality? Is it what literally happens or how it is perceived? And can reality be shaped and molded by others?

It’s funny. I was always really confused why Sam Kieth jumped on a mainstream superhero comic such as Batman. Especially a Batman book starring another fight between him and the Joker. Which is entirely dated and overdone and not seemingly within Kieth’s normal writing style. Yet, he did it; and I think it’s because he realized he wanted to say something about himself and his decision to make the book.

Which is that Batman and the Joker are opposite sides of the same coin, a thought that not only makes Batman cringe but very angry. Which is why I think he focused on spotlighting Batman’s fist in nearly every panel. Batman thinks their days of fighting can end, but the Joker thinks it cannot. And he says it’s because “It is what the machine demands, what the public wants.” Which is true, because comic fans eat up and buy stories starring these two characters more than any other Batman story. I think Sam Kieth was just trying make it clear to the fans that they bought this book because they believe somewhere deep down that good and evil must exist in unison. That you cannot have one without the other and that they prove this by purchasing these books time and time again. I think Kieth wants to educate the readers to look deeper into what is seemingly another Batman/Joker battle and wonder why you’re even reading this to begin with. The Joker and Sam Kieth are similar in this sense. The Joker wants Batman to realize this much like Kieth wants people to realize this, and both Batman and the average reader don’t want to. So Batman will clench his fist in anger and take it out on the Joker and deny his accusations and say he is insane much like what many readers do to Sam Kieth. Where they’ll be mad or disappointed that the story didn’t have enough action, or that the story seemed unrealistic, that they don’t agree with what The Joker was saying in the story, that they’ve lost all faith in Kieth, etc. etc.

But despite what people think and feel about Sam Kieth, please, do yourself a favor and read this book!