Sunday 28 November 2010

The Pull-List - 18/11/2010

This week is an all DC edition of the "Pull List."


The Essential Comic

Batman Incorporated #1

By Grant Morrison and Yanick Paquette

And so begins a new era of Batman, penned by Grant Morrison, the genius whose been orchestrating events in the Bat-Universe for the last decade. Bruce Wayne is back in the batsuit, alongside Selina Kyle's Catwoman, searching for Japan's Batman, Mr. Unknown, who unbeknownst to them has been murdered by the villainous Lord Death Man. It's the most fun a Bat Book has been in many months, and Morrison knows these characters better than any other writer working right now. The art by Yanick Paquette, too, is wonderful; the style isn't particularly alluring, but for this book it compliments the story perfectly.

Rating: 10/10




And the Rest

Batman: The Return (One-Shot)

By Grant Morrison and David Finch

This issue served as a semi-introduction to the world of Batman Incorporated, with Bruce Wayne back amongst the Bat Family and starting to implement his plans. It's a nice set-up, serving essentially as an issue zero to the Incorporated book, itself; there's some nice moments featuring Bruce and Damian teaming up for the first time, and we start to see that there is no way these two can work together effectively. There's also the set-up of a new villain for further down the road, as a Middle-Eastern Batman is shown brutalising people and bringing Batman himself cause for concern. Grant Morrison's script is wonderfully complimentary and the whole thing feels much like Batman Incorporated throughout; this also marks the first time that David Finch's artwork has been adequate, suiting the style of the book and not feeling like a Jim Lee emulation.

Rating: 9/10

Brightest Day #14

By Geoff Johns, Peter J. Tomasi, Ivan Reis and Joe Prado

Brightest Day finally steps up to the plate and becomes more than a merely entertaining series with this issue marking the start of the second half of the storyline. The issue is completely focused on Deadman's journey through his own past as we see how Boston Brand changed from brash and unlikeable to a truly exceptional hero. Then there's the inclusion of Bruce Wayne, who is granted a glimpse at the various resurrections that occurred in Blackest Night thanks to the White Lantern Ring. By having the issue primarily focus on these two, we get one definitive art time with the majority of pencils being done by the exceptionally talented Ivan Reis. The ending also conjures numerous questions as we realise that one more person knows about the existence of Maxwell Lord, and it makes perfect sense for them to do so.

Rating: 9/10

The Flash #6

By Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul

Lateness is a plague within the comic book industry, but whereas most book's suffer from lateness, the Flash thrives on it. The final issue in this debut arc for the latest Flash series is an epic finale; the main storyline is wrapped up neatly for the characters, and there is an eerie suggestion that it may not be completely over just yet, with the Rogues revealing the hidden levels of their nefarious scheme. Geoff Johns knows exactly how to present Barry Allen as a character completely different from the more familiar Wally West, and it works wonderfully within the book. As well as that, Francis Manapul's art is absolutely astounding to look at; every panel seems gloriously pored over and meticulously arranged. It's a wonderful book to behold.

Rating: 10/10

Power Girl #18

By Judd Winick and Sami Basri

This book continues to astound as we find ourselves six issues into Judd Winick and Sami Basri's run on the book. It's completely different to the initial twelve-issue run, drawing far more heavily on continuity and the current state of Justice League: Generation Lost, but now we have some drastic stakes. This issue gives us a glimpse at one of Maxwell Lord's various plots; he's created a clone of Power Girl, and most of this instalment is their throwdown. But then we get the last page reveal, which is a lot similar to Brightest Day's reveal, only it's an old character finally remembering the threat that stands before the entire planet. This is great stuff, Winick's doing something quirky and different with Power Girl and her supporting cast, and Sami Basri's artwork is absolutely gorgeous to behold; every panel seems vibrant and alive, and that makes it a must-read comic book.

Rating: 9/10

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