Review: DC Comics Bombshells Volume 2 - Allies

As the otherworldly Tenebrae descends upon England, the Bombshells are dispatched to eliminate the evil force once and for all. With the combined might of Baroness von Gunther, Edward Nygma, and Nereus on its side, it becomes quite clear that lives will be lost and sacrifices must be made in order to defeat the Tenebrae.

DC Comics Bombshells Volume 2: Allies collects DC Comics: Bombshells #7-12, written by Marguerite Bennett and illustrated by Laura Braga, Mirka Andolfo, M.L. Sanapo, and Marguerite Sauvage.

Allies is the thrilling conclusion to the first year of DC Comics: Bombshells and finally sees the title’s heroines assembling together to fight the Tenebrae. Writer Marguerite Bennett builds towards this final confrontation through a series of interconnected vignettes that develop the protagonists’ arcs and establish the villains. For instance, Stargirl learns the truth about her parentage while Supergirl and Mera team-up to do battle against the Tenebrae beneath the waters surrounding London. Meanwhile, Catwoman and Huntress free Batwoman from the clutches of Brother Night and Wonder Woman does battle against Baroness von Gunther. Each of these narratives are brimming with action and punchy dialogue, particularly the segments featuring Batwoman. Bennett is to be commended for being able to give these characters distinctive voices and for reinventing them for the time period this book is set in.

I am continually impressed by and engrossed in the character work that Bennett does in Bombshells. Mera and Stargirl prove to be the runaway stars of this particular collection, as both are given important arcs and contribute greatly to the final fight against the Tenebrae. We learn that Mera has effectively misrepresented her past, which comes back to haunt her and it threatens to harm the people she cares most for. With Stargirl, she vacillates between her unshakeable desire to be a hero and her deepening insecurities over being a human in a world of superhumans. For both characters, they demonstrate heroism in through selflessness and determination. It’s both endearing and poignant, particularly during the climax (which left me rather teary-eyed). Beyond the inspirational aspects to these characters, Bennett also injects a lot of fun into them as well. Mera’s dialogue is very playful and she even reveals herself to be Wonder Woman’s first kiss. She’s also written to speak in song, which is a really unique quirk.

Mirka Andolfo provides a highly stylized aesthetic that is vibrant and whimsical. It has a vague shoujo-like quality to it, which pairs really well with the tone of Bennett’s dialogue. Marguerite Sauvage’s art is comparable to this as well. It’s very cute and feminine, but she really nails the toughness of these characters (especially Batwoman). Laura Braga’s art is more traditional for the superhero genre, but is certainly amongst some of the best in contemporary comics. I absolutely adore the way she illustrates Wonder Woman and admire just how beautiful all of her characters are. Her action sequences are particularly memorable as well. Lastly, Sanapo captures the pin-up origins of Bombshells quite well with her style. It manages to be both playful and sexy.

DC Comics Bombshells Volume 2: Allies is great fun. It’s fresh, hip, and irreverent, but also retro in all of the right ways. Bennett’s dialogue is dynamic, her character work is nothing short of brilliant, and the action is blockbuster-sized. There’s a lot of depth in Allies as well and it has its fair share of moments that tug on your heartstrings (provided you’re as sensitive a reader as I am). This series also showcases female talent at its finest. The art is polished and electric, while the story itself is cohesive and epic in scale. In an ideal world, Warner Brothers would greenlight a Bombshells movie ASAP and hire Bennett as the screenwriter. Yes, this series is that good.

RATING: A

Review: Storm Volume 1 - Make It Rain

As an X-Man and headmistress of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, Storm must find a balance between being a hero and mentor. From looking for missing children to aiding Forge with a machine that will relieve drought in Kenya, she is determined to make the world a better place on her own terms.

Storm Volume 1: Make It Rain collects Storm #1-5, written by Greg Pak and illustrated by Victor Ibañez.

In this volume, Greg Pak provides an intimate and informed character study of one of the X-Men’s most iconic heroes. There’s affection in the way he writes her, as a confident and competent woman who is also conflicted and flawed. His dialogue is on point and most of the standout moments from this collection occur in exchanges between the characters, especially those between Storm and Beast. Their longstanding friendship is felt in the way they converse with one another and he becomes the anchor for this otherwise episodic volume.

The plot of Make It Rain strays from the typical six issue arc formula used by most other modern superhero comics. Instead Pak takes the titular heroine on a series of adventures that see her travelling the globe in an attempt to be a more proactive force for good. He makes great use out of characters from Storm’s past – Callisto, Forge, and Yukio – as a means of highlighting her legacy and impact on those around her. Where Pak really makes his mark, however, is in the two issues wherein Storm grieves over the death of Wolverine. The opening pages of issue 4 alone are particularly searing as she is taken out of Earth’s atmosphere in order to release the sorrow and anger within her. The storyline that follows where Storm becomes Yukio’s champion in a gladiator ring is cliché, but Storm’s reflections on Wolverine throughout are memorable and poignant.

While Make It Rain is admittedly very light on plot, it is an incredibly well-written examination of Storm and who she is as a woman and as a hero. Pak provides readers with a multi-dimensional view of the character, which should hopefully be enough to convert a reader or two into fans. Victor Ibañez’s art is also a major selling point of this collection. It’s expressive, expansive, and sometimes even visceral. I love the way he draws Storm. He captures her elegance and her beauty without sexualizing her. If anything, this volume is worth a read just to gaze at his artwork. As a major Storm fanboy, Make It Rain gives me almost everything I could ask for – gorgeous art, great dialogue, and nuanced character work – all that’s missing is a higher stakes and more action.

RATING: B+

Review: Batman - Contagion

When a deadly virus is unleashed on Gotham City, Batman and his allies race against time to find a cure before its citizens can be decimated by the infection. While the police attempt to maintain order in the city, Robin and Catwoman join forces to track down survivors carrying antibodies in order to formulate an antidote. With time running out, it becomes clear that Batman very well be facing the one threat he can’t beat.

Batman: Contagion collects Azrael #15-16, Batman #529, Batman Chronicles #4, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #48-49, Catwoman #31-35, Detective Comics #695-696, and Robin #27-30, written by Doug Moench, Alan Grant, and Chuck Dixon.

Contagion was the first major Batman event following the commercial and critical success of Knightfall. Unlike its episodic predecessor, it is a tightly plotted crossover that unfolds as a clear and concise arc. It begins with an outbreak of the Ebola Gulf-A virus, which quickly spreads across Gotham City. With the GCPD on the frontlines as it happens, Batman works towards finding a cure before all life in the city is decimated by the virus. It’s a gripping storyline that presents Batman with an enemy that he can’t simply beat up and throw into Arkham Asylum. Much like with Knightfall, he’s pushed to his limits, but this time learns to accept the help of those around him (including his enemies). As such, we get a really great sequence where Batman relies on Poison Ivy to deliver a potential cure to the infected due to her immunity to diseases.

Interestingly, Batman doesn’t actually feel like the star of this crossover. His presence feels muted in comparison to the rather prominent roles Nightwing, Huntress, and the GCPD play in keeping the peace in a city ravaged by a plague. Furthermore, Robin serves as the nucleus of this arc. He’s the one who is tasked with the mission of finding the antibodies to manufacture a cure and who later joins forces with Nightwing and Huntress while Batman is busy with Poison Ivy. The real scene stealer though is Catwoman. With a bounty out on the survivors of the virus, the Feline Fatale is determined to be the one who finds them. This initially puts her into opposition with Robin, but the pair put their differences aside in order to team-up and find the survivors. This subplot is the most well-written and exciting part of Contagion, largely due to how action-heavy it is and since Catwoman’s dialogue is so electric and sassy. The character injects life into an otherwise dour and melancholy crossover.

Batman: Contagion is impressive start to what would become a tetralogy of Batman crossovers from the 1990s. It is a grounded and carefully plotted storyline that is evenly paced throughout. Despite there being a lack of a distinctive (physical) antagonist, Contagion features Batman at a point of apparent hopelessness and gives readers a lot of great action sequences courtesy of Nightwing, Robin, Huntress, Catwoman, and Azrael. My sole complaint regarding this specific collection was the decision to include some of the issues that take place in the aftermath of the main event. The Robin issues are fantastic, but the Batman-focused ones seem out of place and unnecessary. Aside from that, this is essential reading.

RATING: A-

Review: Uncanny X-Force Volume 2 - Torn and Frayed

When Psylocke is spirited away to rescue Fantomex from Weapon XIII, she is forced to deal with her conflicting feelings towards Fantomex and his clones. Then, X-Force must overcome the darker reflections of themselves in the form of Revenants. With Storm, Psylocke, and Puck out of action, it may be up to Bishop to stop the Revenant Queen before she can reach her endgame.

Uncanny X-Force Volume 2: Torn and Frayed collects Uncanny X-Force #7-12, written by Sam Humphries and illustrated by Adrian Alphona, Dalibor Talajic, and Ramon Perez.

The Psylocke-centric issues that begin this collection are admittedly the most thrilling and engaging. She confronts her past and present as she is taken to Madripoor in order to square things with Fantomex, Cluster, and Weapon XIII. In a series of flashbacks, we see a glimpse of her life when she was entangled in a complicated relationship with Fantomex and Cluster in Paris, dividing her time up equally between pulling off heists and rolling around the sheets with her lover(s). Then, the present day action brings her into conflict with her ex-lover(s) as she must either spare Fantomex’s life or kill him. This arc provides a complex character portrait of everyone’s favourite purple-haired psychic ninja, revealing her to be sexually fluid and unable to give up the thrill that comes from larceny. While the Fantomex clones fail to be more than plot devices, I can at least applaud Humphries for using them in a way that expands Psylocke’s personality and explores her desires more fully. It’s a quaint and nicely contained arc that is somewhat diminished by lackluster art (and colour - seriously why is Psylocke's hair lavender?!) and the fact that it’s a diversion from the main thrust of this series.

The latter three issues of Torn and Frayed return to the narrative of Bishop and the Revenant Queen. Bishop is separated from his allies in a battle against their enemies, leaving Storm, Psylocke, and Puck vulnerable to the emergence of their Revenants. The trio is thus confronted with their deepest desires and worst failures. While I appreciate many of the elements to this storyline, particularly the reveal of who the Revenant Queen is, I’m disappointed by the disjointed way in which it is told and that it’s left as a cliffhanger when collected in trade form. I also find the exploration of the characters’ insecurities to be trite and expected. We’ve already seen these characters acknowledge and rail against their inner demons in other storylines, so it seems a bit clichéd to do so yet again here. It seems to me that it would have been more time effective to actually resolve the Revenant Queen arc and then perhaps move the Fantomex clone arc after it.

It’s clear by Torn and Frayed and its preceding volume that Humphries’ strength is in his depiction of Psylocke. She’s been the most consistently well-written and interesting character in his tenure on Uncanny X-Force, especially during the opening issues here. The rest of this collection could use a little more bite and originality, but it is entertaining anyway. Still, I’d recommend reading Torn and Frayed for the sake of completionism or if you’re a big fan of Psylocke or Bishop. Otherwise, this trade falls on the more disposable end of the X-universe.

RATING: C+

Review: Birds of Prey Volume 2 - Your Kiss Might Kill

Having been infected with a toxin by Poison Ivy, the Birds of Prey are coerced into helping her in her campaign to rid the world of the most dangerous threats to the environment. There’s just one problem – Black Canary and the others aren’t willing to sacrifice the lives of innocent humans who will be caught in the crosshairs of Ivy’s crusade.

Birds of Prey Volume 2: Your Kiss Might Kill collects Birds of Prey #8-13 and #0, written by Duane Swiercynski and illustrated by Jesus Saiz and Travel Foreman.

After an explosive opening arc, Swiercynski finally reveals Poison Ivy’s motivations for her joining the Birds of Prey. She needs their help in bringing down corporations that are poisoning the Earth as she cannot do so on her own. It’s an interesting plot as it forces the team to confront the moral implications of their actions and tests their unity as a group. It’s evident that none of them trust Ivy, but there’s a spectrum on which each of them falls. Batgirl appears to be the least trusting and instead wishes to get Batman involved, while Katana sits on the other end clearly willing to go with whatever is expected of her. These dynamics are fascinating, but sadly Swiercynski only touches upon them superficially. He doesn’t dig deep enough with these characters and their feelings. In fact, he appears to have a difficult time giving each member of the cast equal focus. Black Canary is clearly the star and Poison Ivy obviously has quite a bit to do, but Batgirl, Katana, and Starling seem to be mere accessories to the narrative.

There’s an overall sense with Your Kiss Might Kill that Swiercynski was rushed or distracted while penning this batch of issues of Birds of Prey. It begins with an insular story that deals with the aftermath of the first arc, which ends on a shocking cliffhanger regarding something that happened in Black Canary’s past. The following issue is a tie-in for Night of the Owls, which derails the entire plot and flow of this collection. It feels unnecessary and disposable. The only decent thing about it is Black Canary’s antagonistic attitude towards Batman the following issue. We get to the meat of the story with the four-part Poison Ivy arc. While still an interesting storyline, it feels like a diversion from what Swiercynski should be dealing with – the truth about and circumstances around Black Canary’s past. It’s aided very little by Travel Foreman’s art, which is ill-suited to the overall aesthetic of this series. Sadly, even the origin issue that closes this collection fails to excite or offer much insight into these characters. In it, we learn that the Birds of Prey were formed while Canary and Starling were working as enforcers for the Penguin and joined forces with Batgirl to take down an operation by Basilisk. The problem is that the issue is too brief and doesn’t dig deep into the characters’ motivations or personalities.

There are indeed aspects of Your Kiss Might Kill that I enjoy. Starling is a standout and her dialogue is consistently witty and on point. The action sequences are also all top notch, particularly in issue #8 as illustrated by the incomparable Jesus Saiz. Even still, I’m uncertain this is enough to really get readers engaged in this title. Overall, I’m left with the feeling of wanting more. I want more character development and for the characters’ personalities to shine as brightly as Starling’s. I want more substance to the stories and more attention paid to resolving dangling plot threads. As it stands, Your Kiss Might Kill reads like a middling and confused entry into the Birds’ New 52 history.

RATING: C+

Review: Batwoman Volume 6 - The Unknowns

When a cult resurrects the sorceress Morgaine le Fey, Batwoman allies herself with an unusual group of misfits to battle the Arthurian villainess. Meanwhile, Kate’s personal life is in tatters after ending her relationship with Maggie. She’s begun seeing someone new, but neither her sister Beth nor her ex seem terribly impressed by this decision.

Batwoman Volume 6: The Unknowns collects Batwoman #35-40, Batwoman: Futures End and material from Secret Origins #3, written by Marc Andreyko and illustrated primarily by Georges Jeanty.

This collection is a bit of a headscratcher. It begins rather abruptly with a jaunty rehash of her origin story, which feels unnecessary and out of place in this volume. It does very little to actually pay respect to the layered and complex backstory that Greg Rucka, J.H. Williams III, and W. Haden Blackman crafted for Batwoman. After that, we plunge headlong into a story in medias res. Batwoman and her team of D-list allies, called the Unknowns, are battling Morgaine le Fey in space. From there, writer Andreyko traces back how we got to this point over the course of several issues. It’s a stilted way to begin this arc and isn’t effective in drawing the reader in. Instead, it invites confusion and interferes with the pacing. There’s also a subplot involving Kate dating a vampire, which is deserving of a healthy eye roll since it occurs so quickly after she put the brakes on her relationship with Maggie. While I do like the idea of using a character like Nocturna and perhaps even repurposing her as a recurring villain for Batwoman, their relationship isn’t believable and comes across as forced (which I suppose was the point).

The overall thrust of The Unknowns seems rather fabulous in theory. Morgaine le Fey is resurrected by a cult in Gotham City and she proceeds to wreak havoc wherever she does, which necessitates Batwoman partnering with Ragman, Clayface, Etrigan, and Alice in an attempt to prevent her from achieving her goal of global domination. After the diversion away from the supernatural in the third and fourth trades of this series, this would seem to be a return to form. Unfortunately, the finer points of The Unknowns are messy, questionable, and frustrating. I disagreed with the way in which Andreyko brought Alice back into the series. I rather liked her as an antagonist and her rehabilitation feels predictable. She’s used throughout as a pseudo-sidekick for Kate, which is irritating since she already had a partner in her cousin Bette. Bette was actually one of the best characters in this series, so it is maddening that Andreyko would drop her from the book’s cast in favour of replacing her with Alice. He does seem to have issues with handling a larger cast here as most of the Unknowns are underdeveloped. That said, I can’t say that I didn’t enjoy his take on Clayface. That was one of the few highlights in this collection.

The most frustrating part about Andreyko’s relatively short tenure on Batwoman is that I know he’s a capable and talented writer, but somehow that didn’t translate to dazzling and engaging arcs. There are a lot of great ideas present in this volume and I would have loved for them to be fleshed out further. The entire concept of the Unknowns is brilliant and is something I can cosign with Batwoman in lead. It just doesn’t quite get the push it needs. Even Georges Jeanty’s art doesn’t do quite enough to sell this trade, especially since he’s not on deck for every panel. By excising the Nocturna subplot, focusing more on developing the Unknowns, swapping Alice for Hawkfire, and putting more effort into mimicking the aesthetic of the Williams/Blackman issues, this could have been a mighty fine arc worthy of being the conclusion to Batwoman’s first ever solo series. As it stands, it’s a muted finale that is sure to leave most Batwoman fans disappointed. Also, the less said about the Futures End issue the better.

RATING: C