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

Review: Justice League Dark #2

The magic side of the DCU is my sweet spot, and the first issue of Justice League Dark hit it full force. From showing off what made some of my favorite characters great to introducing a truly terrifying supernatural threat, the first issue of the comic delivered a great story and showed a lot of promise for issues to come. It goes without saying that I was only expecting bigger and better things from issue 2. The solicit mentioned world destruction. The cover promised Zatanna and Constantine burning witches. How could it be anything but awesome?

While Justice League Dark #2 lacked the witch burning featured on the cover, it was still a thoroughly entertaining comic. It looks like we're getting into some of the things Peter Milligan really excels at here- screwed up relationship dynamics, unexpected plot twists, and some really terrific character work. I missed seeing Shade the Changing Man this issue, but characters like Deadman, Dawn Granger, and John Constantine made great use of their increased panel time. In many ways, the conflict between Deadman and Dove was the driving force behind the issue, and there were some big developments for other members of the book's cast. I'm still anxious to see the whole team assembled together, but I don't mind the process being drawn back as long as we keep getting great character moments. Everyone but the yet to be seen Mindwarp has had a chance to shine, and I'm sure he'll get his spotlight soon.

Once again, the art by Mikel Janin is absolutely fantastic. His facial expressions are especially strong- he really helped sell Dawn's hurt, frustration and anger throughout the course of a book, and the little smirk that a bloodied Constantine wore tells readers just what they need to know about the character. The twisted spread near the beginning of the book is incredibly detailed, and I spent a long time looking at the destruction littered across the page. Milligan asks for a lot from Janin here, requiring him both the sweet and the gruesome, and Janin always delivers. Colorist Ulises Arreola adds in some nice little details, like the red glow around Deadman, that really compliment Janin's work.

Milligan promised that this series would be emotionally dark, and it's this issue that's really given an idea of what that will mean. At times, some of the series main characters feel downright unlikable, but their actions still ring true to me. What really makes their behavior work for me is that it feels like a natural result of the situation that they're in, not jerkishness for the sake of angst. Even when they're not facing the incredibly powerful Enchantress, it doesn't look like the Dark crew will have an easy go of it, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Milligan takes some of these characters in the issues to come.

While I've already recommended this title to fans of Vertigo and DC's magic cast of characters, I'd also suggest that Dawn Granger fans give this a try. I think her portrayal here is much stronger than it is in Hawk and Dove, and it looks like she's going to be sticking around for a good long while. Justice League Dark remains a solid supernatural title with beautiful art. It doesn't quite feel like a team book yet, but I'm sure it will soon, and I look forward to seeing the adventures that this motley crew will have. This remains one of my favorite DCnU titles, and I can't wait for issue 3, witch burning or not.

By Marceline with 5 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

Review: Justice League Dark #1

I've always loved the magic side of the DC universe, and as might be expected, I was pretty excited when Justice League Dark was announced. It didn't hurt that the book's line-up was awesome. Zatanna! Constantine! Shade the Changing Man! But with high levels of excitement come high expectations, and every once in a while, I'd get worried that this book wouldn't live up to the hype. It didn't help that this was one of the last numbers ones to be released, and by the time I had this book in hand, I was feeling pretty nervous. But by the time I was a few pages in, I knew I'd had nothing to worry about.

Writer Peter Milligan does a great job establishing most of the main cast. Even John Constantine, whose appearance in the book was unfortunately brief, was established enough to give readers a feel for his personality and his history with a certain backwards talking girl. Although it's Madame Xanadu's creepy and foreboding narration that guides us through the issue, it was Zatanna who was the standout for me. She comes across as witty, brave, and clever enough to get past Batman himself. Fans of Shade will be happy to know that Milligan still has a strong handle on the character, and seems interested in incorporating elements of his Vertigo series in this new title.

Artist Mikel Janin is a relative newcomer to comics, but he makes it clear that he was the perfect choice for this book. He's able to bring softness and sweetness to characters like Dawn Granger and June Moone, but where he really shines is during the book's more horrifying moments. His Enchantress is twisted and inhuman, and he finds ways to make even simple moments feel a little more terrifying. There's some fantastic background work that really made a few scenes for me, like the little royal guard bear we see when Constantine crash lands into a pile of souvenirs, or the beautiful stained glass window behind Madame Xanadu. Janin's style feels very modern, but Ulises Arreola's colors help give it more of a 90's Vertigo feel that suits the book well.

While I think this title is fairly accessible to new readers, I don't know that they'll appreciate it on the same level long time fans of these characters will. You don't need to know who June Moone or Kathy are to follow the book, but certain scenes will be much more powerful if you do, and there occasionally seems to be an assumption that the reader knows certain details. On the other hand, I was a little annoyed to see Superman seemingly unaware of his weakness to magic, but I think it was an important thing to establish for those less familiar with the DC universe. It highlights the need for the Justice League Dark, and what makes this crew of characters so special.

The story Milligan is spinning here feels really ambitious, and I can't wait to see it come together. There are elements of things like Morrison's Doom Patrol and Swamp Thing here, and I'm excited to see where some of the weirder concepts in this book go. He seems to be bursting with ideas, from cows birthing meat slicers to envelopes that can compress time. The descriptions in Madame Xanadu's narrations are both creative and unsettling, and really set the tone for this book. In the line of titles like Justice League and Demon Knights, this is a "building the team" book, but there's enough going on in this issue that the book doesn't feel overly compressed. The issue's conclusion is fairly dramatic, and is going to make it hard to wait a month for the next issue.

I'd recommend this to Vertigo readers, fans of magic based characters, and to anyone looking for a less conventional team book. There are some very funny moments, but I'd advise against this one if you're looking for a more lighthearted read. There's some pretty disturbing imagery, and Milligan seems to be holding true to his promise of keeping the book emotionally dark. There was the occasional clunky moment, but overall, this is an intriguing first issue, and I think it's only going to get better once the set-up is out of the way. There's a vast selection of magical characters to use in this title, and Milligan clearly has the imagination to create compelling new ones. I'm looking forward to seeing what his twisted mind comes up with next.

By Marceline with 3 comments

Review: I, Vampire #1

A vampire story isn't the easiest sell to comic readers right now. The popularity of things like Twilight have left many non-fans hostile to the very idea of vampires. This isn't helped by the complete oversaturation of vampires in the current market. From the Twilight films to television shows like The Vampire Diaries and True Blood, vampires are everywhere, and many DC fans were dismayed to hear they'd be a part of their comics as well. The comic itself is based on the J.M. DeMatteis House of Mystery story of the same name, and the choice to resurrect the property was interpreted by many as an attempt by DC to ride the vampire popularity train while they still had the chance.

My own opinions on the title started out as negative, but started to change somewhere around San Diego Comic-Con. DC shared a few beautiful preview pages, and writer Joshua Fialkov seemed truly passionate about his vision for the series. I began to see some real promise in this book, and hoped it could win over many of the naysayers. After reading the first issue, I think some of that a little of that promise was realized, but that there isn't enough here to turn the early negative reaction around.

There are aspects of the book that really work for me. In spite of being burnt out on vampires, I'm intrigued by some of the concepts introduced. Creatures like vampires sharing a world with metahumans is rife with possibilities if done right. I'm a huge fan of non-linear narratives, and I think the skips back and forth in time were employed well here, slowly building tension as readers get closer to the final page. And most importantly, I think vampires are being done right here. They have interesting powers and mythology, and they genuinely feel like monsters- the biggest thing most modern vampire stories don't seem to get.

But in spite of all that, I just wasn't able to connect with this story. I felt like I was supposed to feel sympathy for both Andrew and Mary, but I didn't feel invested enough in either of them to care about their problems. While the two of them are supposed to have had a centuries long romance, I didn't feel any real chemistry between the two characters. There's lots of potential for great gothic horror here, but in order to tell a true horror story, the audience needs to be attached to at least some of the cast. Fialkov has done great character work on books like Tumor and Echoes, and I think it's very likely that he's doing a slow build here. I'm just not sure that's the right approach for a book readers will be approaching with so much skepticism.

Artist Andrea Sorrentino's work on this issue is pitch perfect. His art style is more static than I usually like, but it completely works for me here, largely because of his skill in creating atmosphere with each page. This kind of work wouldn't be right for an action packed superhero title, but it's perfect for a slow, suspenseful horror tale. His thick, heavy inks look gorgeous and give each page a cool, creepy style. His page layouts are wonderfully effective, especially one that places wide screen panels of dialogue across a long vertical panel filled with looming horror. The backgrounds are sometimes simplistic, but occasionally feature some beautiful details, especially when it comes to buildings.

Marcelo Maiolo, who also worked on this month's Demon Knights, does a fantastic job coloring these pages.  He uses both light and shadow beautifully, and gives many of the book's starker scenes a washed out look, while using lovely tranquil blues for the book's sweeter moments. He really understands how colors can change the mood of a page, and his style compliments Sorrentino's work beautifully. With the wrong artistic team, I think this book could've really gone off the rails, and I'm thankful that the chosen team highlights the best aspects of the story.

If you're not interested in reading anything about vampires, this title probably isn't going to change their mind. There's some good stuff here, but not enough to win over reluctant readers. By the same token, I don't know that this will appeal to vampire fans who are used to reading about neutered monsters. Even Andrew, who sees humans as more than livestock, has his moments of brutality, and the heavy horror aspects of the book might lose them. I do recommend this book to fans of dark, gothic horror, fans of Bram Stoker style vampire stories, and to anyone who's sucked in by the book's beautiful art. I'm not sold on this title yet, but I will be sticking with it, and I hope I'm able to feel for the characters more in the issues to come. I'm not that big on vampire romance, but I love a good horror tale, and this book has the potential to be just that.

By Marceline with 2 comments

Review: Resurrection Man #1

I never paid a lot of attention to Resurrection Man during the days of his original series. This is largely because it ran during the late 90's, when I barely looked at anything unrelated to Batman, X-Men, or the Young Justice crew, and because the character wasn't used enough later on to remind me to go back and check those issues out. What I knew going into Resurrection Man was this: his name is Mitch Shelley. Every time he dies, he comes back to life with a power that related to the way he was killed. This series is written by its the character's creators, Andy Lanning and Dan Abnett. And in some timelines, he's a distant future member of the Justice League.

I'm not usually pleased with any gaps in my comic book knowledge, but in this case, I appreciate being able to say that this series is indeed accessible to brand new readers. By the third page of the story, you know the bare basics, and Mitch is more than happy to talk readers through the rest of the issue. Thought boxes clearly describe both the nature of his powers and the general events of each scene, making this a very easy book to follow even if you're not all that used to comics.

In fact, a minor gripe would be that they use too much of the thought boxes. When a mysterious woman offers her left hand for a shake, we see Mitch think "Huh? Doesn't she even know how to shake hands?". When the same woman later reveals herself to be a giant winged monster, a thought box pops up with "What--? What the hell? How did she turn into that?!". For the most part, it seems redundant to have Mitch pointing out what the art clearly shows us, and it feels even more pointless on the few occasions when Mitch comments on what happens in the speech bubbles below.

It's a shame Abnett and Lanning don't rely more on the art, as Fernando Dagnino does some really nice work here.  There are some retro elements to his style that really make me want to see what the pages would look like on newsprint. Everything about the art, right down to Santi Arcas' colors, remind me of the early days of Vertigo. Some often forgotten favorites of mine, such as Sandman: Mystery Theatre and Sebastian O, were a part of this era, and it's very cool to see that style evoked. Fittingly, the highlights of Dagnino's work are a page where Mitch comes back from the dead and a page where he meets his doom.

I have had it with these monkey fighting comics set on Monday to Friday planes!

Another problem is that Resurrection Man had an unusual amount of similarities with this week's title's, Grifter. Both books find our titular heroes in a showdown on a plane with a human disguised villain, and in both books, the hero winds up leaping from the plane mid-flight. I don't believe that this week's prevalence of stories involving plane fights (we saw one in Deathstroke as well) is anything other than a coincidence, and the pacing of both comics is radically different, but it still colored the way I viewed these stories. I wish someone at DC editorial had caught this and mentioned it to the writers, or at least made sure they came out a week or two a part.

These are relatively small issues, and the book as a whole is still pretty enjoyable. I really liked that the writers spent some time on the plane's various passengers, and I'm a sucker for any story that involves battling angels. I love the idea that Mitch's soul is polished by his deaths and subsequent rebirths, like a rock in a tumbler. And the basic premise of the series is terrific one that's full of potential. I would've liked to have seen a little more of that here. Resurrection Man doesn't suffer from being overly decompressed, but it really could've used just a bit of extra oomph. I wish Abnett and Lanning hadn't gone so simple with their ending. Most of the new 52 have ended with a hook, something to suck readers and leave them longing for more. The big hook of Resurrection Man seems to be "hey look, Madame Xanadu", but it lacks punch when she's part of the main cast in 2 other ongoings.

I didn't love Resurrection Man, but I liked it plenty, and I'll definitely be reading issue 2. This is another title I suspect will read better in trade form, and if you're not a huge fan of the character or premise, I'd suggest waiting a few months to check this one out. While I can't say this with any real authority, I'd bet that for fans of the original series, this will feel a lot like Batwoman did for me, and I'm happy those fans have Mitch Shelley back at last. Abnett and Lanning seem thrilled to come back to their characters, and I'd bet they have years worth of stories that they've been waiting to tell. I may not be hooked on Resurrection Man yet, but I think sticking with this title will pay off in the long run.

By Marceline with No comments

Review: Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #1

Frankenstein's history at DC is an interesting one. He was first used by the company in 1948, but the current version didn't appear until the 2005 maxiseries Seven Soldiers. Since then, DC has tried their best to find a role for the character, using him event comics such as Infinite Crisis and Blackest Night. As a fan of the character, I appreciated his cropping up, but he never really seemed to find his niche in the comics universe. With Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E., I think he's found it at last.

In the first issue, writer Jeff Lemire succeeds in setting up an grand adventure series that's weird enough to differentiate itself from titles like BPRD and Atomic Robo. More than anything, this title reminds me of last week's OMAC. While Frankenstein lacks OMAC's retro style and isn't quite as action packed, both issues throw out wildly creative concepts one after another. From the Antfarm, S.H.A.D.E.'s secret headquarters that you have to shrink to enter, to the Universal Classics monster inspired Creature Commandos, Frankenstein is pure, crazy fun.

Several issues of the new 52 have struggled to work in the necessary exposition in a way that doesn't feel awkward or slow down the comic. Much like in Animal Man, Lemire uses unconventional means to convey important information to readers,  this time giving them access S.H.A.D.E.NET database. This is simultaneously entertaining and helpful, and really helped draw me into the story. I hope Lemire doesn't abandon this device in future issues, because I think it's got a lot of potential.

I have a feeling the art in this comic will be polarizing, which is a shame. Alberto Ponticelli was born to draw crazy looking monsters, and Frankenstein takes full advantage of that. There's a spread of monsters wreaking havoc on a town that I keep going back to look at again and again, and he gets in some really brilliant facial expressions. His art here looks a little more rough and sketchy than usual, almost as if he was inspired by writer Jeff Lemire's art style. I get the sense that the level of collaboration between Lemire and Ponticelli is very high, which makes me really excited for future issues. Ponticelli is capable of playing with perspective and panel layout in really interesting, Frank Quitely-like ways, and I'd love to see the book take advantage of that.

Frankenstein isn't an easy character to write, but Lemire really nails his voice here. He feels both like an old, world-weary warrior and someone completely accustomed to all thing strange, dropping lines like "Father Time was under strict instructions not to interrupt my vacation on Mars" on one page and quoting John Milton on another. I get the impression that he's often going to be playing the straight man to his creature crew, which should be a great source of amusement. Sticking Father Time into the body of a tiny Asian girl is another terrific idea. Every time a character referred to him as "Father" I wanted to giggle, and somehow, this form fits his take no crap attitude perfectly.

I really enjoyed Lemire's The Atom backups in Adventure Comics, and it was a pleasant surprise to see him using Ray Palmer here. Ray's new role as a government super scientist (who can still shrink) is a great one, and I hope DC takes note. I completely understand why they don't want 3 Flashes or 2 Blue Beetles running around, but there's no reason why these characters can't be used in other ways. I'd love to see Ted Kord start creating tech for the Justice League International, and befriending Booster Gold that way. Other members of Frankenstein's supporting cast seem promising as well. I especially like Nina, who we first saw in the Frankenstein Flashpoint miniseries. I'm really interested to see how she'll interact with Bride when she shows up.

Lemire really excels at writing about families, and I'd love to see him put that talent to use here. I can easily see this comic developing a sort Doom Patrol dysfunctional family dynamic, and I think that would add a lot of heart to the book's off the wall adventure tales. Frankenstein is shaping up to be the sort of comic I can curl up with when I just want something fun, while still being a title that can fire up my imagination. I hope this comic doesn't get lost in the shadow of some of this week's bigger titles, as I think it has the potential to appeal to a pretty wide audience. I'd recommend this book to fans of adventure stories, old school horror movies, and crazy comic book science, and of course, to any fan of Seven Soldiers.

By Marceline with 1 comment

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

New Justice League Dark Trailer

Artist Mikel Janin has put together a very cool trailer for the upcoming Justice League Dark. I'm a huge fan of DC's magic based characters, and this comic is one of my most anticipated titles. For more tidbits about Justice League Dark, check out Mikel Janin's DeviantArt, and be sure to check out Justice League Dark when it comes out on September 28th!

By Marceline with 1 comment

Review: Swamp Thing #1

Some horror tales open with a big bang, giving you an ample taste or the horrors yet to come. Others open innocently, letting you build up a slow sense of dread as you wait for everything to come crashing down. The first issue of Swamp Thing does a little bit of both, taking you from a simple childhood story into a nightmarish world in a single page. As you transition from Yanick Paquette's beautifully drawn Metropolis architecture to a gruesome collection of dead animals, you can almost hear the flowers Scott Snyder describes as screaming.

The entire issue seems to flash back and forth like this, going from snapshots of what seems like a normal world to something much more sinister. It's an incredibly effective way of keeping the reader on age, and it made some of the comics bigger scares all the more terrifying. The art goes from ordinary page layouts to off-kilter compositions, panels separated by jagged black lines. Even the colors seem to transition from light and sunny to something darker.

Scattered throughout the issue are surprisingly frightening facts about plant life. They help to sell Alec Holland as a botanist and to show us that the world we'll be dealing with is darker than we might have expected. It reminded me a little of the 1954 horror film them, which pits the human race against incredibly vicious giant ants. If the plants of the world are so violent towards each other, what will they do to us?

Superman's presence in the issue was a distraction from my growing sense of unease. This scene was a little exposition heavy, but it made clear that what came before was by no means forgotten, and Snyder writes a great Superman. Yanick Paquette does a better job than even Jim Lee with the new costume, and I'd suggest sticking him on Justice League if it wouldn't mean losing him on this book.

And while things may seem a little less scary when Superman's around, the issue plunges back into horror territory and into one of the most terrifying scenes I've seen in a comic since Alan Moore's original Swamp Thing run. I don't want to spoil the moment for anyone who has yet to read the issue, but the scene felt so real that I could actually hear what was happening, and I can't get those awful sounds out of my head.

Having the book focus on Alec Holland the man rather than Swamp Thing himself was a wise choice. Much of Swamp Thing has focused on the character being a plant who remembers being a man, and this issue turns that concept on its head, framing Alec as a man who remembers being a plant. This was a great comic taken alone, but the potential for future stories is even greater, and I hope Snyder and Paquette get to keep telling them for a long time.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who's up for reading a genuinely creepy comic. Reading Action Comics filled me with joy, but this issue got under my skin, and left me thinking about it as I tried to fall asleep. From the stunning artwork to Snyder's masterful prose, DC has set the bar high for all horror comics with this one.

By Marceline with 3 comments

Review: Animal Man #1

Firstly you should know that I'm a person who's never read a canon DC comic before. DC's 'fabled new reader', if you will. So I approached this comic with no preconceptions whatsoever, other than knowing it has an existing run by Morrison that set the bar pretty high. And boy oh boy, it does not disappoint: this comic blew me away.

Right from the start, the title character is established as a man who's not new to the superhero scene, but has taken a break from donning his costume to spend time with his wife and kids. We're introduced to Buddy Baker; Family man, Animal Man.

Of course, being a new reader there were gaps in my knowledge, and after reading the first issue I'm still unenlightened. This is an inevitability with DC's approach of skipping the origin to get straight to the action, but for now it leaves important questions unanswered. What led our hero to becoming this Animal Man? Did he witness his parents being shot as a child on a visit to the local zoo? And which was the radioactive animal that bit him?

The powers themself are explained well in the first confrontation. When faced with an armed lunatic he does what any sane man would do; gets onto all fours and barks at the attacker. It left me wondering, is that entirely necessary? He's clearly superhuman, but we do later discover that Buddy is deeply troubled-  how are we to know that his powers are animal-based at all? Is he just acting out his animalistic roleplaying desires? Only time will tell.

Obviously, there are evident parallels to BraveStarr.

"Speed of a puma!"

Animal Man #1 brings a welcome depth , as underneath the whimsicality of the character's concept lies themes of an inner turmoil of uncertainty, signs of weakness, and relatable character flaws such as inexplicably bleeding eyes.

There's no hero like a flawed hero.

Towards the end of the book we're given a chilling nightmare sequence that really showcases Travel Foreman's art; a Sin City-esque insight into Buddy's mind, filled with a macabre ambience, symbolism, and foreshadowing of events yet to pass. For me, it's this that really made the comic. Foreman's unique blend of raw yet realistic art brings it to the page perfectly.

Ultimately, Lemire delivers a fast-paced, perfectly crafted story that crams enough plot and variation into the story to give the reader a decent idea of the kind of ride we're in for, and everything seems as promising as it could. Coupled with Foreman's art, it'll leave you wanting more. And that's not even to mention the cliffhanger we're left with.

Animal Man #1 is probably the best comic book reboot about a troubled animal-based superhero that I've ever read. And in my opinion, the best of all the reboot titles so far. It's really that great. DC, you did good, because this is how you make a comic book.

By PalpZak with 5 comments