Review: Demon Knights #3

It's a testament to how fast paced Demon Knights has felt that this issue felt like a bit of a breather. Sure, people may have been dragged to hell, heraldic dragons may have been dodged, and the enemy may have upped the ante, but this issue still took things slowly compared to last month's dragon slicing delight. While I always enjoy a rollicking good action scene, it was nice to get a better understanding of characters like Vandal Savage and Shining Knight. I have already gotten sick of double checking how to spell Exoristos' name, but she's growing on me more and more with each issue, and I suspect she'll be a favorite of mine before long. At times, Demon Knights feels like the truest team book on the stands. Paul Cornell seems to really appreciate why people enjoy team books so much, and does a great job handling the character balancing act.

One of the things that I've loved about Demon Knights from the start is its sense of fun, and while that's still there, I felt as though there was a little more harshness to this issue. I realize that's a silly thing to say about a book that blew up a baby halfway through its #1, but it's more about how these moments felt then what they were. No one reading this issue will be forgetting that Etrigan is a demon anytime soon, and people may regard seemingly sweet moments with a lot more suspicion. I don't expect the sacrifice Madame Xanadu made to last, but that she was willing to make it all the same is a pretty impressive moment for her character. Of course, given her duplicitous nature, there could be more to her actions than what we readers have seen. I appreciate that our villains, while very evil, don't seem to be stock characters or fools set up to fail against our characters. However, that probably means that there will be plenty more loss and bloodshed before this battle is through.

I'm becoming more and more curious about how Cornell will keep this crew together once they're no longer stuck protecting this town. None of them are really the team type- I think that's kind of the point- and there definitely hasn't been anything in the way of cliched bonding moments. Right now, I can only envision them sticking together if they're dropped headfirst from one adventure to the next in a sort of neverending cycle. I can't say I'd mind reading about that, but it'll be interesting to see if the book goes in that direction or comes up with a different sort of solution. I would like to see more friendships develop between the book's cast, even if they're screwed up, twisted ones.

The detail in Diogenes Neves' work continues to blow me away with every issue. He works in so many subtle moments that make the book a more entertaining read, from the reactions in the background of one of Vandal Savage's rousing speeches to the perfectly designed Madame Xanadu doll that Mordru clutches. His facial expressions have been great from the beginning, but for me, this issue is the best they've ever been, with nearly every character showcasing a wide range of emotions. He's the perfect match for Cornell's style of writing, and I hope these two keep working together in the future. Likewise, Marcelo Maiolo and Oclair Albert do beautiful work here. It's just a great creative team all around.

Once again, I urge any and all fans of team books to pick up Demon Knights, regardless of their feelings about fantasy tales. It may not have a member of the Batfamily, but that doesn't mean it can't give Justice League a run for its money. As always, in honor of Etrigan, this review will conclude with a rhyme:

Just as things begin to look futile
Demon Knights #3 gets even more brutal
Etrigan has a chance to show his wrath
And comes off looking like a psychopath
But there are still plenty of smiles to be found 
And Vandal Savage is almost profound

By Marceline with No comments

52 Review's Source Wall - Episode 2: The Deadman's Chest

And we're back ladies and gentleman! After a bit of a delay, Eric Holodnak and Bobbinette Carey return with a slightly Halloween themed episode of The Source Wall (formerly just the 52 Review). Several suggestions were taken into an account, some changed were made now, some have to be made later, and some (like me being replaced with someone less annoying) were just not touched upon.

On this episode, we go over several demon and monster based books. Demon Knights, Justice League Dark, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. and, because no one demanded it, I, Vampire. Then we talk about if it's possible, in a world like DC's, to have an actually effective horror line. Join us won't you?

And, as always, feel free to comment with suggestions and niceties.

THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM MAY CONTAIN HARSH LANGUAGE

VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

And if you want to just watch the full version because you've got that sort of time:

(VIDEO COMING SOON)

Changes in the works:

We are aware that it's still a little rough. We're working on a new location that doesn't have the atrocious echo so, bare with us. For now, I hope you can still enjoy us in the rough, as it were.

By Electric Nerd with 4 comments

Panels Of The Week - Week Of 10/12/11

Now that we're covering more than just DC comics, we'll be featuring 10 panels per week instead of the usual 5.  With so many great comics to choose from, it was a little tricky to narrow it down, but here's what we think were the top 10 panels of the week:

10. Generation Hope #12

Nominated by our resident Phoenix fanboy. He says this was more of a personal pick, but I have a feeling this was a cool moment for more than a few readers.

9. The Cape #2

It's not as catchy as "Look! Up in the sky!" but I'm betting this would be a common response to the sight of some dude flying through the air.



8. Batwoman #2

Superhero relationships can be a tough sell for me, but Batwoman #2 left me completely convinced. This panel in particular has me grinning.

7. The Shade #1

Just a great way to introduce a character. It helps that Cully Hamner's art looks fantastic.

6. Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #2

I'm going to have to figure out a way to drop this line into an everyday conversation.

5. Morning Glories #13

 




This one's a bit of a cheat, but both panels are great for the same reason. Click to see them full size.

4. Green Lantern #2

I'm not sure what I like better- sadsack Hal or annoyed hero Sinestro. Either way, I am really enjoying Green Lantern.

3. X-Men Regenesis #1

I've been on an X-book hiatus for a while now, but this panel makes me want to dive back in. Beast is terrific when he's written well.

2. Demon Knights #2

This is more adorable than it has any right to be.

1. American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #5

Escaping from nazis on a motorcycle while they're attacked by a giant monster. It doesn't get any better than this, folks. Sean Murphy might very well be the best person in the world to draw this.

By Marceline with No comments

Review: Demon Knights #2

After a ridiculously fun issue last month, Demon Knights quickly became on of my favorite series in the new 52. It has everything I want in a comic book: detailed art with lively facial expressions, witty banter, complex character relationships, and people throwing dragons at things. So, when I grabbed my stack of comics this week, it was hard not to tear into Demon Knights first. I knew this was going to be a great issue, but I didn't want to start with this and make all my other comics feel less awesome in comparison. Demon Knights is the sort of book that needs to be saved for last. 

This issue picks up right where the last one left off, which means our heroes have some dragons to fight. Writer Paul Cornell manages to take something that would already be a blast and make it even more fun, and the scene should have readers laughing by its second page. In the midst of all the hilarious, madcap action, there's some very nice world building- especially when it comes to the concept of magic. Even the beasties themselves are expanded on- they're not heraldic dragons, but true dragons, which seem to look an awful lot like dinosaurs. I'm a pretty big fan of dinosaurs to begin with, so the idea of them spewing fire and trying to chomp down on peasants is just awesome to me. 

If Cornell keeps this up, Vandal Savage is easily going to become one of my favorite characters in comics. He fires off line after hilarious line, slowing down only to enjoy his tasty dragon meat. His gleeful expression as he completed Etrigan's rhyme was worth paying $2.99 for, and seeing him block arrows with a drumstick was merely icing on the cake. And while Vandal Savage may have stolen the show, the rest of the cast got chances to shine as well. We got hints of what Al Jabr might be able to do in the first issue, but he really proved his worth here. He seems to have an endless supply of secret weapons and other useful devices, and seems to have a wealth of knowledge at his disposal as well. I'm still convinced he'll be the book's connection to Stormwatch, and I'm looking forward to seeing if my theories about him hold true. 

In the hands of the wrong writer, a character like Exoristos could come across as one-dimensional and unlikable, but Cornell makes her absolutely charming. The panel pictured above is easily one of my favorites of the week. We didn't just see Ystina, but Vanguard as well. I'm hoping we'll get to hear from him a little in the next issue, and I'm REALLY hoping we'll see the name Horsefeathers. And of course, I can't mention the book's cast without acknowledging its wonderful take on Etrigan, who does get a few chances to rhyme in this issue. I think his rhymes feel more special when we only see them on occasion, and I definitely wouldn't want them to get in the way of his dialogue with Madame Xanadu. 

Artist Diogenes Neves and inker Oclair Albert already proved their talent last month, but this issue really shows off Neves' his ability to craft a good fight scene. There are some beautiful moments of visual storytelling, and the energy level of the book remains high throughout. He draws some magnificent looking beasts and makes the ways our characters defeat them look even more interesting. The wonderful background details also continue in this issue. If you don't notice Vandal Savage when looking at a page, take a minute and search for him. He'll probably be doing something that'll make you smile. Jared K. Fletcher does a terrific job of lettering the issue, and Marcelo Maiolo's colors are rich and vibrant.

I urge anyone who missed out on Demon Knights last month to give this issue a go. Whether you're into fantasy or not, this is one of the best team books being published, and is an absolute blast to read. Cornell does great character work without ever slowing the book down on the action front, and packs plenty of story into the issue as well. It's full of laughs, ridiculously quotable lines, and makes fantasy accessible in a way that few books do. Once again, in the spirit of Etrigan, I'll conclude this review with a rhyme:

Demon Knights #1 was a delight

From Vandal Savage to the Shining Knight

And Demon Knights #2 proves the fun is non-stop

Pick it up from your local comic shop

By Marceline with No comments

Top 10 Comic Book Quotes- Week Of 9/14/11

It's a new Wednesday and the comic shops are starting to open! Soon, the internet will be filled with chatter about the new Batman and the merits of a pantless Wonder Woman. But before we start enjoying a whole new round of books, here's one last look at some of the best lines from last week's comic books. From vacations to mars to car leases to dragon throwing, here are the 52 Review's top 10 comic book quotes of the week!

10. "You're not my partner, you're my son." -- Batman, Batman and Robin

9. "And don't think I didn't notice that the V.R. version of me is a total Mary Sue." -- Rose Wilson, Superboy


8. "Now where would I hide a ten-foot suit of biomechanical battle armor?" -- Mister Terrific, Mister Terrific


7. "Father Time was under strict instructions not to interrupt my vacation to Mars unless it was of the utmost importantance." -- Frankenstein, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

6. "How about you just free me? Then I could, I don't know, establish a library system or invent the printing press? I really am full of love for humans at this point." -- Etrigan, Demon Knights

5. "So unless Superboy's cells originated in a deeply pathological, megalomaniacal narccisist, the likes of which the world has never know..." -- Dr. Caitlin Fairchild, Superboy


4. "We're the Alpha Dawgs. Dawg." -- Hughes, Deathstroke

3. "Carol...will you co-sign the lease on my new car?"- Hal Jordan, Green Lantern

2. "In case you haven't noticed, the world's gone mad. We've got Supermen flying around Metropolis and Batmen in Gotham. Times are changing, and stuffy old lab coats like you have got to change with them, unless you want to be left behind. -- Father Time, Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

1. ‎"We find the source of the problem...and throw dragons at it." -- Demon Knights

By Marceline with 1 comment

Panels Of The Week - Week Of 9/14/11

Much like last week, many of the best moments took place across an entire page. DC is really giving their artists freedom to play around with wide screen panels and page layout, and it's making for some great looking books. For me, this week didn't quite measure up to the stellar one before, but in spite of all that, I still had no trouble finding 5 great single panels. Once again, here are DC's top 5 panels of the week!

5. Deathstroke

For all my complaints about this week and planes, I have to say that this scene really worked for me. The idea of using Clayface DNA to experiment on soldiers is an interesting one, but more than anything, I just liked seeing Slade's sense of humor. It's also the panel where I figured out the voice I was going to read Slade in (he kind of sounds like Ron Perlman).

4. Green Lantern

Oh Hal. I'm really going to miss stuff like this when you get your ring back. Bringing back Hal Jordan was obviously a good move on DC's part, but the character's never really grabbed me since he stopped being crazy. Sad, ringless Hal has sucked me right back in, and I hope the character can keep being interesting when he has powers again. "I've been out of town" is a nice line.

3. Demon Knights

What I love about this panel is that everyone's having a bit of a moment in it, even the perpetually dull Jason Blood. I like the use of the pale and larger, bolder text to convey the volume at which each character is speaking. The facial expressions here are brilliant too. Vandal Savage looks like he wants to wink so badly.

2. Batwoman

While JH Williams III is known for his complicated, intricate pages, this panel works because of its simplicity. His work is beautiful in black and white, and it makes for a really powerful moment. This was actually one of the most controversial panels of the week- many readers took this as a sign that Renee Montoya was dead. Rest assured, Williams himself has said that the wall photos were of officers who had received special commendations. Renee may no longer be The Question, but she's definitely alive and well.

1. Frankenstein

This panel doesn't even need words to make it work. Frankenstein shouting down a tiny schoolgirl with his finger on her nose is a terrific visual image all by itself. There were actually several panels from Frankenstein I wanted to put up here- I really like the shot of the team as the doors open on the city of monsters- but for me, this was the image that really summed up what made this issue fun. If you have yet to check out Frankenstein, I strongly suggest you do so.

By Marceline with No comments

Review: Demon Knights #1

Make no mistake- I love superheroes. I love the capes and the costumes, the incredible powers, secret identities, the whole shebang. But I also think that superheros have engulfed the comic industry. There are so many similar characters, and so little variety when you're in the mood for something different. DC has begun to address that with their new Dark and Edge titles. Books like Animal Man, Swamp Thing, and Men of War are just the sort of thing comics need, and the new focus on diversification is easily my favorite part of the relaunch. I say all this so you understand what a huge compliment I'm paying when I say that out of all the Dark and Edge titles I've read, Paul Cornell's Demon Knights is the best of the bunch.

Paul Cornell is a man who understands what makes comic books fun. From immortals casually discussing the fall of Camelot to villains who solve problems by throwing dragons at them, this title is full of imagination, big ideas, and never takes itself too seriously. Tying a medieval fantasy tale into the greater DC universe may seem like a big challenge, but it's one Cornell handles deftly. His sharp, witty dialogue avoids standard fantasy pitfalls like being tiring to read or of feeling overly anachronistic. Line after line left me smiling or laughing out loud, and the comic only read better the second and third times around.

Diogenes Neves isn't an artist I was familiar with prior to reading this title, but I'm now very much a fan. His work here is reminiscent of Art Adams- a compliment of the highest order- and his backgrounds are filled with great details that give me something new to enjoy with every re-read. His lively, fun facial expressions are a perfect match for Cornell's sense of humor, and help give every member of the cast a little more personality. He also makes great use of body language, especially when introducing Ystina, the Shining Knight. While I'm hugely impressed with Neves' work and don't want to take away from it in any way, I also want to compliment the work of inker Oclair Albert. I saw penciled versions of a few of these pages, and his work here really took them to the next level. He and Neves make a great team.

After giving readers a bit of backstory, we're launched into our current tale. Cornell plays with classic elements I love, from the reluctant heroes trope to the Dungeons & Dragons setup of the teeam meeting at a pub. We only saw hints of some characters, such as archer extraordinaire The Horsewoman, but every member of the team seems interesting and like they'll add a lot to the title. Vandal Savage is more entertaining than he's been in years, busting through walls to get into an inn and cheerfully describing his lack of ethics while admiring them in others. Ystina, a personal favorite of mine, is cocky, confident, and instantly likable, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her in action.

One thing that struck me while reading this was that even the oldest characters in the title feel fresh and new. A Madame Xanadu, Jason Blood and Etrigan love triangle is introduced, and it's so brilliant I can't believe no one's thought of it before. The Demon himself seems both witty and fascinating here, and I think that getting away from the constant rhyming will make room for some real development. Fans of his rhymes needn't fear, as Cornell has said he'll still be rhyming at the end of scenes.

Like every good first issue, there are already interesting seeds for stories to come. I can't wait to see the creations of charming inventor Al Jabr, who I suspect may be the book's connection to the Stormwatch universe. Madame Xanadu's entry into this tale has me intrigued, and her new prominence in the DC universe has me especially curious about what her role in the comic will be. Demon Knights #1 works in strong character introductions and world building while setting up an interesting story, and the issue concludes with my favorite last page of the reboot so far.

I've enjoyed many Cornell penned comics, including last week's Stormwatch and his wonderful Action Comics run. However, my absolute favorite of his works is Captain Britain and MI: 13, and this captures the spirit of that title beautifully. While this title never shies away from being a fantasy comic, I implore people who aren't all that into fantasy to give this a shot. This comic avoids the aspects of the genre I find offputting while still taking full advantage of its period setting. For me, this is the best team book of the DCnU bar none, and one of the most promising new titles period.

In honor of Etrigan the Demon, I'll conclude this review in rhyme:

If fantasy tales are what you seek
Then pick of Demon Knights this week
And if you're looking for something fun
Then check out Demon Knights #1

By Marceline with No comments