With the two big comic book companies releasing their two biggest comic books, I’ve decided to give you the first of many Quick Comic Book Reviews. This week it’s all about Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo’s Batman and Jonathan Hickman & Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars. Though the reviews won’t spoil the single issues, already known facts from the series can be spoiled.
- Batman, Volume 2, Issue 43 – Written by Scott Snyder, Art by Greg Capullo & Danny Miki
Snyder and Capullo have been under a lot of pressure from the Batfans to truly deliver with the new face of Batman. Jim Gordon’s two first issues were just fine. I was prepared to love them, but I just liked them. I missed Bruce, but I still felt that they had ended his story properly in Endgame.
This issue is the best Jim Gordon-led Batman-issue yet, by far. In this issue you just feel the size of the universe due to a cameo from a familiar face – a friend of Bruce’s. We get somewhat of an explanation from Alfred: where has Bruce been? Is this really Bruce? And so on.
But the two stars of this issue are Greg Capullo and the new villain. Greg Capullo and Danny Miki’s art is top-notch as always, and the final page is chilling. Perfect artwork, with just enough intrigue to subdue the terror. I cannot wait to see what Snyder and Capullo have in store for us, Gordon, and Mr. Bloom.
Issue Grade: A
- Secret Wars, Marvel Event, Issue 5 – Written by Jonathan Hickman, Art by Esad Ribic
If you’ve been reading my issue-by-issue reviews of Secret Wars, then you would know that Esad Ribic’s problem with faces of astonishment is a huge annoyance for me. His problems are still present in this issue, but, sadly, his hit-or-miss artwork is not the biggest problem with this issue.
Set in the aftermath of Stephen Strange’s death, this issue just doesn’t have enough valuabe content to fill its pages. Hickman’s dialogue is perfect, and I’m still intrigued by the story – but this just felt like a filler issue.
Issue Grade: C
For a full list of Comic Book Review grades, go here.
I’m Jeffrey Rex
I'm Jeffrey Rex 