BIRDS OF PREY #7 DC COMICS
With the big Amazon crossover completed in the manitory 6 issue arc that will fit perfectly into a collected work, we more on to a new mission and a new team. But it’s not so much a new team but rather the old team swapping out Harley Quinn for Vixen and bringing in Batgirl proper. Unfortunately, I can’t help but notice a certain similarity between certain plot points here and in a guilty pleasure from the 1999 series of Gen13 (issue #45 to be exact) where mind controlling clothes forced people to steal and cause chaos. And while the build up here is more serious, we still get a cliffhanger with the heroines on a lingerie runway during a fashion show. Still not as entertaining as the Gen13 issue. I give it a 7 out of 10 Grahams.
DETECTIVE COMICS #411 FACSIMILE EDITION DC COMICS
Detective Comics in the early 1970’s was a truly unique place to be. With fan favorites such as Denny O’Neil, Dick Giordano, Bob Brown, GFrank Robbins and Don Heck at the reigns, things were mighty different. Robin had been bramnded the Teen Wonder and left to go to college. Batgirl had taken over his backup slot. Bruce and Alfred had closed up stately Wayne Manor and moved into a penthose at the Wayne Foundation building. And the stories and art were becoming more worldly and dark. Batman was frequently found out of the country solving international mysteries. And meeting new friends/enemies such as Talia Al Ghul! Yep, Batman travels to Asia after the League of Deadly Assassins only to came face to face for the first time with his beloved Talia. And we all know what happened from there. Plus Batgirl helps out a fashion designer in peril. All good stuff from some genius storytellers that were really expanding on the DC Universe. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
THE FOG #1 SUMERIAN COMICS
Well, the good news is that this is a follow up to the 1980 classic film from director John Carpenter and not the 2005 reboot. While the question of why we need a sequel is valid, writer Steven Ekstrom’s story does seem to have some merit and artist Marko Fodera has put some real feeling into the older versions of many of the film’s actors and actresses. And one can’t help but marvel at his John Carpenter as Bennett. The problem is that the original movie was not set up for a sequel. The proper number of people died to satisfy the ghosts and the ghosts took what was left of their gold back. The End. Now, an arguement can be made as the radio host warns boats that the Fog might return, there is no real logic for it except for paranoia. This coupled with the fact that one of the related characters here is a paranormal podcaster, is really a bit cliche. All in all though, this isn’t a bad book and I am sort of interested in the reasons for the ghosts returns. All in all, I’m giving it a 7 out of 10 Grahams and hoping it continues to be interesting.