Review: Batwoman #3

Batwoman can be a challenging series to review. The art is so overwhelming that it can be hard to look at the comic as a whole instead of focusing on that one beautiful piece. I was so sucked in by this issues dreamlike underwater pages that I lost all interest in turning the page. All I wanted to do was watch the way the water flowed from panel to panel, to admire the details JH Williams III had hidden at the bottom of the river. But somewhere along the way, the hold the art had on me was broken, and the plot is what garnered the bulk of my appreciation. While I've enjoyed the first two issues, I think Batwoman #3 is the best storywise so far.

One of the reasons we admire heroes, superpowered or not, is their bravery, their strength in the worst moments. They don't break down when normal people would, which makes the moments when we do see them drowning in their troubles and responsibilities that much more powerful. I doubt as we'll see Kate as vulnerable as she was in those panels with Maggie anytime soon, but that's what makes it special. Being reminded that masked heroes are still human, that they have cracks in their armor, makes the things they accomplish all that more impressive.

La Llorona, Cameron Chase, and even Maggie Sawyer fell into the background as Williams gave us a wonderful Kate Kane character study. Kate doesn't wear her angst on her sleeve the way Batman often does, and I think it's easy to forget how tortured she really is. Jake Kane's appearance in the issue was a brief one, but more than ever, you could feel how much the separation from her father is killing Kate. For years, they only had each other, and being apart from him when she's emotionally torn apart must be brutal. I miss the two of them together, and I want to hope for a reconciliation, but it's hard to see how Kate will forgive the Colonel when her pain over what happened to Beth is still so raw.

Kate's words may have been harsh, but I think it's fair to point out that Bette doesn't really have a reason for fighting. Bette was a forgotten character for years, but her old origin essentially had her training to become a hero because she wanted to impress/stalk Robin. As much as she might like Bette, that has to sting for someone like Kate, who fights because she absolutely needs to. I hope that their falling out gives Bette some more depth. I always like seeing her, but I don't think she's a compelling character on her own yet. The pages with her donning her Flamebird suit were absolutely stunning, and even though I'm not expecting this to lead to something good, it was a cool little moment for the character.

This issue picked up directly from where the last one left off, and ended on a cliffhanger, but in many ways, it felt like a standalone issue. If someone asks me where to start with Batwoman, I'll always recommend Elegy, but I can easily see myself handing this issue over to someone I want to hook. It's not the action piece I was expecting- it's just a look into one night of Batwoman's life, and sometimes that can lure in readers to way an introductory story can't. Some plot points might be hard to make sense of if you haven't been following the series, but Kate's pain is something any reader should be able to understand.

When I talk about what makes Batwoman great, I often focus on the art, and maybe that's a mistake. The art is breathtaking, but Kate's story is exceptional too, and it would be no matter who was drawing her.  Loss is a common theme in comic book back stories, but the way loss is used in Kate's tale feels somewhat unique. She's dealt with tragedy, found a purpose, and had that purpose stripped away from her. When she found a purpose once again, all her wounds from her past were reopened, and this issue proves they've never really had a chance to heal. There's something intensely relatable in all that, and it's a huge part of why I love Batwoman as much as I do. As always, I urge anyone who isn't familiar with Batwoman to give the character a chance. Whether you begin with Elegy or start right here, you're in for something special.

By Marceline with No 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: Batwoman #2

I'm still not used to having a Batwoman book every month. I feel like Batwoman should be a rare treat- something I wish I could enjoy all the time, but I only get to have every so often. But if DC's willing to give me a new issue of Batwoman every month, than I'm more than willing to read it, and it was with great joy that I tore into my copy of Batwoman #2. When I read the book's opening action scene, I felt like the words "SOCK!" and "POW!" should be appearing on my page, accompanied by a familiar series of dunananananas. JH Williams III takes the bright colors of flash associated with Batman in the 60's and somehow marries it perfectly to his Batwoman style. It made Bette's neutral costume stand out on every page, and gave the book a high level of energy right from the start.

But for me, the highlight of the book wasn't the action scenes, but the relationship between Kate Kane and Maggie Sawyer. Their chemistry felt so natural here, and the two of them had some really fun moments. I especially loved Kate's little bow as she walked away. I feel like having Maggie around makes Kate try a little bit harder, and brings out great aspects of the character we don't often get to see. I grinned right along with Batwoman when she smiled with pride from the rafters, and the expression on Kate's face when she asked about the children was a very nice touch. Williams really seems to have a good handle on writing Maggie Sawyer, and I'm excited to see how he develops the character.

While it's a minor complaint, I felt like the book's delay really stood out this time around. Batwoman debating whether or not to join Batman Inc. feels a bit pointless, considering we already saw her working with Batman Inc. in issues 4 and 5 of the series. I also wish we'd seen a little more of Bette this time around. Batman's warning would've had a little more punch if she'd had more pagetime, and I just really like the way she interacts with Kate. Still, there's so much going on in this issue that her minimal appearances are easy to forgive. I'm thrilled that Batwoman is giving so much attention to the supernatural side of Gotham, especially since it's not playing a role in any of the other Batbooks right now. I know we won't be seeing Alice again any time soon, but I'm looking forward to seeing more of the Religion of Crime all the same.

It looks like Batwoman is going to become the home for characters previously drawn by JH Williams III, and I have to say I'm pretty excited about that. In addition to the characters introduced in the last issue, I spotted Desolation Jones hidden away in a panel during the club scene. I suspect there are other easter eggs scattered throughout the series that have already been noticed by readers more astute than I. On that same note, Cameron Chase is an even better fit for Batwoman than I thought she'd be. She's not just a great foil for Kate, but a good one for Detective Sawyer as well. I loved that Chase suspected Sawyer of being Batwoman, and I'm curious to see how she'll affect the budding relationship between Maggie and Kate. I'm excited to see what happens when Chase and Batwoman finally get a chance to fight. I'm betting the dialogue will be as good as the action itself.

There's not much about JH Williams III's art I can say at this point without sounding redundant. His artwork is stunning, the way he switches up his style throughout the book is fascinating, and his page layouts are wonderfully intricate. I love that he got the chance to draw some monsters here. One in particular looks truly horrific, and I hope he comes up with some ways to showcase those skills soon. The comic still isn't very friendly to digital readers, and I definitely suggest getting a physical copy if you can. There are a few pages that seem like they'd be very challenging to read otherwise, and there are some great, subtle background details that could easily be missed.

Batwoman is still somewhat inaccessible to new readers, but for old fans of the character, this series is a win. The art is as amazing as ever, and both the plot and the character work continue to be great. Because of the way Williams renders his layouts, the comic takes a long time to read, and I really felt like I'd gotten my money's worth by the time I got to the end. If you missed out on Batwoman #1 last week, I strongly recommend picking up the reprint and getting issue #2 to go along with it. A monthly ongoing drawn by JH Williams III is a rare treat, one you should enjoy while you still can.

By Marceline with No comments

What to Read Next: Batfamily

While I offered some reading recommendations to fans of the new Batman comics a few days ago, there are still lots of other Gothamites to cover. From former Robins to the Birds of Prey, here are some suggestions for what Batfamily fans should read next.

The controversial first issue of Batgirl took Oracle out of her wheelchair and put her back in the Batgirl suit. Fans of the Batgirl concept should check out Kelley Puckett and Bryan Q. Miller's run of the title, while fans of Babs Gordon can enjoy Batgirl: Year One or Birds of Prey. Gail Simone's most recent run on the title feels fairly similar in tone to this. Looking for something to read that doesn't involve Batgirl? Check out these titles:

Ongoing: Angel and Faith, published by Dark Horse Comics

While Barbara isn't on the sort of redemptive quest that Angel and Faith are, all three characters are haunted by their pasts and learning how to move forward. This title is aimed at people who have some familiarity with the characters, but those who haven't read a Buffy comic needn't fear. All necessary information is quickly recapped via flashback before the story moves forward. Christos Gage does a great job mixing action with character moments, and Rebekah Isaacs is a strong artist who's especially skilled at visual storytelling. It's tricky to work with characters people know best from an entirely different medium, but the creative team handles it with ease. I suspect there's a lot of crossover between Buffy fans and Batgirl fans, and this is hands down the best Whedonverse comic being published right now. Angel and Faith just released its second issue, and now is the perfect time to jump into the series. If you'd like to see more of Angel and Faith, you can check out a free preview here.

Concluded: Manhunter

Barbara Gordon isn't the only whip-smart lady vigilante in the DCU. Manhunter tells the tale of Kate Spencer,  a criminal prosecutor who decides to take the law into her own hands. Kate isn't as naturally likable as Babs or many other DC ladies, but in this case, it's a good thing. She's a complex, fascinating character whose motivations and actions feel believable, even in a world full of metahumans. Manhunter never holds back, and it's often a tense and uncomfortable read. Kate's supporting cast is full of fleshed out, lovable characters, and often includes appearances from less used DC characters like Al Pratt, the first Atom, and Obsidian. 

Kate's mostly been written by the very talented Marc Andreyko, and drawn by Jesus Saiz, the current Birds of Prey artist. I don't think all her stories are collected in trade, but there are several volumes available on Amazon for cheap. There are no previews available, but here's a scan from the series' first issue.

If you liked Batwoman #1 and you haven't read Batwoman: Elegy yet, stop reading right here and go pick it up. Batwoman #0 is more of a teaser than anything else, but that's definitely worth grabbing too. While 52 is a wonderful comic that's great as a general read, I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone trying to get a better feel for Kate Kane's characters. I don't think anyone really had a feel for how to write her then. I also highly recommend picking up Chase when it's released- it was illustrated by Batwoman writer and artist JH Williams III, and it looks like he's going to make frequent use of its cast of characters. And beyond that? I suggest you try:

Ongoing:  Daredevil, published by Marvel Comics

Both Batwoman and Daredevil are well written books with wonderfully crafted characters in which the art still takes center stage. While Paolo Rivera and Marcos Martín's panel layouts aren't inventive in the way William's are, they still do some really creative and interesting stuff, like this spread that shows readers how Matt Murdock "sees" the world. Daredevil doesn't have quite the level of atmosphere Batwoman does, but it makes up for it with a relentless sense of fun. If you associate Daredevil endless angst and misery, it shouldn't take long for this comic to change your mind. It's written by the terrifically talented Mark Waid, and every issue so far has been a great one. It's my favorite Marvel title by far, and I hope plenty of Batwoman fans will give it a lookk.

Concluded: Promethea

With a creative team like Alan Moore and JH Williams III, it goes without saying that Promethea is a terrific book. This is an incredibly smart and stunning comic that gives readers a sense of how Moore perceives all things mystical. The comic follows Sophie, a college student, as she takes on the role of mythical warrior Promethea. It frequently deals in the fantastic, and allows Williams to show off his skill for drawing in a variety of styles. His page layouts here are even more elaborate than they are in Batwoman, and the plot itself is very experimentive. Themes like sexuality, religion, and philosophy play a big part in the stories, as does the nature of comics. There are all sorts of strange and compelling characters, from the Five Swell Guys to the Weeping Gorilla. It's beautiful to look at, a really great read, and I think fans of Batwoman will absolutely appreciate it. 

Judd Winnick is a writer who's very hit or miss for me, and Batwing was a hit. I really enjoy the character, the setting, and the superhero history he's started to establish. While Batman Inc, the comic in which David Zamvimbi originated, seems like an obvious recommendation, the character is actually barely featured there. He's pretty much brand new, so I'll skip straight to my suggestions:

Ongoing: DMZ, published by DC's Vertigo imprint

 

Mentioning DMZ here feels like a little bit of a cheat- the series ends this December- but it's still a great read that fans of Batwing should really enjoy. The comic is set in a war-torn but not too distant future in which Manhattan has become a demilitarized zone. For the most part, we see the story through the eyes of photojournalist Matty Jones, who covers the plight of Manhattan citizens. The situation is always portrayed in a plausible way, which makes the book's story that much more compelling. Brian Wood takes a simple concept and turns it to an intense and fascinating tale. Riccardo Burchielli's art adds to the comic's atmosphere, and his work on the more damaged and defaced parts of the city is especially compelling. Most of DMZ is available in trade form, and I highly recommend trying to catch up with the story while you still can. 

Concluded: Christopher Priest's Black Panther

Black Panther is a character who only works for me with the right writer, and it doesn't get any better than Christopher Priest's run on the comic. He makes the politics of Wakanda fascinating even when T'Challa himself is away from his homeland, and  packs the book with great action and strong characterization. There are several different artists during the book's run, but it's Joe Jusko's stunning painted pages that really stand out in my memory. Black Panther obviously isn't involved with the Batman Inc initiative, but it almost feels like he could be. Throughout the series, he comes up with these marvelous, Batman-esque contingency plans, and it's a blast to see all the pieces come into place. If Batwing turns out to be as half as good as Priest's Black Panther was, it's in a pretty good place.

Selina Kyle works best for me in small doses, so needless to say, Catwoman #1 wasn't really my thing. Any fan of the artwork in this title or Catwoman herself should check out Gotham City Sirens, a Guillem March illustrated book which also featured Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler. For those who'd like to see a different take on the character, I recommend Ed Brubaker's run, which features some great art from Darwyn Cooke. And for those who want something else, these are the books I'd recommend:

Ongoing:  Executive Assistant Iris, published by Aspen Comics

Those who checked out Catwoman because they wanted to see a tough, badass hottie kicking ass would be wise to check out Executive Assistant Iris. The series' title character is a combination secretary, bodyguard, and assassin that seems to get more chances to use the violent side of her skillset than the administrative one. This series isn't a masterpiece, but it's a lot of fun, especially when we get to see more of the comic's supporting cast and Iris' backstory. Eduardo Francisco's art has a pin-up quality, but he never fails to make the executive assistants look like they really could kick your ass. Some people may be put off by Iris' personality in the earliest issues, but I promise, she has plenty of growth as the series goes on. You can read the first issue for free here.

Concluded: Madame Mirage

Madame Mirage was a six issue series written by Batman: the Animated Series' Paul Dini and illustrated by Kenneth Rocafort, who is currently working on Red Hood and the Outlaws. Set in a world where all superheroes are manmade, Madame Mirage uses her various powers- including mind control, shapeshifting, and the creation of illusions- to confuse and eventually defeat the various enemies she goes up against. As the cover makes clear, the series is heavy on cheesecake, but it's an old fashioned pulp comic at heart. Madame Mirage was primarily based on The Shadow, and there's a sort of old fashioned feel to the comic in spite of its somewhat futuristic setting. Madame Mirage herself is a lot of fun, mostly because she seems to really enjoy what she does. You can check out Top Cow's trailer for the series here.

If you liked Nightwing #1, you're in luck! The new series is very close in tone most of what came before, and Nightwing ran for hundreds of issues. I'd also recommend taking a look at Gates of Gotham, which Nightwing writer Kyle Higgins co-wrote with Batman scribe Scott Snyder, as well as Supreme Power, which Higgins wrote for Marvel. If that's not enough, here are a few more suggestions:

Ongoing: Mysterious Ways, published by Image Comics

The obvious recommendation here is Daredevil, but since I already suggested that to Batwoman fans, I'm going a little bit more off the beaten path and suggesting Jason Rubin's Mysterious Ways. If you're intrigued by the "is Dick Grayson a serial killer" plot over in Nightwing, then I think you'll be equally interested in the "is he or isn't he crazy" story Mysterious Ways sets up. Our protagonist is an alcoholic former cop under suspicion for them pretty brutal murders. At the same time, he begins to discover he has supernatural powers- or maybe it's all in his head. This comic is a lot more decompressed than I like my serialized stories to be, but it's still got neat ideas and some nice art from New Guardians penciller Tyler Kirkham. You can take a look at the comic here.

Concluded: Denny O'Neill's The Question

On the otherhand, if what you're looking for is a really great street level vigilante comic, it doesn't get much better than Denny O'Neill's The Question. The Question may not have Dick Grayson's acrobat background, but when you've received training from Richard Dragon, you can bet there are some great looking action scenes. Still, what really makes The Question shine for me is the way Vic Sage perceives the world. He's not awkward in the way he sometimes was in Justice League Unlimited, but he has a very strange way of thinking that's really fun to read. Sometimes, you get the sense The Question and Vic Sage are two different people, and the question of how much his mask changes him is one that intrigues. I especially like his occasional interactions with other members of the DCU, like Batman. This series came out during the 1980's but it's aged wonderfully, and is available in trade paperback form.

Much like Batgirl, there are plenty of easy recommendations to make for fans of the new Birds of Prey. The old Birds of Prey series are a great bet, as is writer Dwayne Swierczynski's work with Marvel. While she hasn't made a true appearance in the new series yet, those intrigued by Katana can check out the Outsiders, the comic in which she originated. Here are a few more suggestions:

Ongoing: Heroes for Hire, published by Marvel Comics

Soon to be re-launched as Villains for Hire, Heroes for Hire is the closest thing to a team of alleged supercriminal hotties that Marvel's got. Both books are full of fun characters, with Misty Knight filling a role similar to what Oracle did in the old Birds of Prey. Most of the characters here are fairly street level, but there's plenty of flash, excitement and fun. The art quality of the series is really up and down, but writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are consistently great. Best of all, Heroes for Hire had a reboot of its own about a year ago, so there's very little for new readers to catch up with. If you really want to start at number 1, you can wait till November when Villains for Hire #1 is released. 

Concluded: Secret Six

If what you're really looking for is a dysfunctional family dynamic, there's no book finer than Secret Six. The team is made up of former villains who'll take on any mission for the right price. Unfortunately, they frequently discover they have more morals than they'd prefer. Even as the team expands beyond the 6 mentioned in the title, every character remains so well-crafted, so perfectly characterized, and so lovable. The characters realize they're broken, damaged, and doomed people, but they keep living their lives all the same, even when damnation itself is staring them in the face. This was the series from the old DCU that it hurt most to lose, and I really look forward to seeing it brought back anyway possible. For now, you can read the series in trade form. Secret Six trades may occasionally be hard to get a hold of, but they're re-printed frequently, so you should be able to acquire whatever volumes you need.

Red Hood and the Outlaws was a bit of a strange book. In some ways, it felt like three different comics, and I want to recommend a book for each of the issue's aspects. For now, I'll suggest that Red Hood fans read Under the Red Hood if they haven't already, and that those curious about Starfire check out R.E.B.E.L.S., which features one of my favorite takes on the character. For a book that matches the books's action-comedy meets sex romp meets underground mystical secret society conspiracy feel? The best titles I can come up with are these:

Ongoing:  The Goon, published by Dark Horse Comics

If you're looking for a slightly schizophrenic, sometimes offensive, frequently hilarious comic full of beat em up action, than The Goon is the book for you. The longrunning series is written and illustrated by the eccentric Eric Powell, is often weird but always a blast to read. Goon and his sidekick Franky are always finding someone interesting to fight, and the comic is full of colorful characters. From a Spanish speaking monster turned manservant to the never seen (but frequently mentioned) Charlie Noodles, the weird world of The Goon is wonderfully fleshed out. I'd definitely describe The Goon as a fun comic, but that doesn't mean it's not dark- there have been some truly brutal moments over the course of the series, and more than a few scenes that made me squirm. But even when the comic's taken a turn for the miserable, The Goon manages to leave me with a smile on my face. You can check out the comic for free here.

Concluded: Nextwave

The tragically shortlived Nextwave had it all. Excitement! Explosions! Naked ninjas and Wolverine monkies and broccoli men! Nextwave never tried to be anything deep- it just wanted be silly, fun, and revel in the craziness of the comic book world. Nextwave doesn't really feel like it's set in the Marvel universe, and the series takes full advantage of that, portraying major heroes in fairly out of character ways and blatantly parodying others. At one point, we meet Charlie America, a would-be super hero allegedly created from Steve Roger's superpowered pee. The comic bucks the trend of decompression, featuring nothing but 2 issue arcs. This thankfully helps the 12 issue series to feel a little longer than it actually is. If you like fun, you should probably read this comic. If you don't like fun, you should probably read this comic and see if it changes your mind. If you're still not convinced, click here.

That's it for the Batfamily! Check back later this week for Superbook recommendations.

By Marceline with No comments

The Best of DC's December Covers

DC recently finished releasing their solicits for December, and there are quite a few gorgeous covers in there. I think the power of good cover art is often underestimated, and I always want to take the time to spotlight a great looking cover when I can. It wasn't easy narrowing them down, but here are my top 10 DC December covers.

10. Batwoman #4, by J.H. Williams III

At this point, I'm pretty sure J.H. Williams III is incapable of making a cover I don't love. This one is especially cool to me because of the way it recalls some of the Batwoman logos DC ultimately decided against. I love the contrast between Bette's muted colors and Kate's deep rich ones, and I'm fascinated by some of the imagery there at the bottom. Having read the first issue of Batwoman, that hook makes me think that we might see more crimes inspired by urban legends in some way. The feathers floating up by Bette's hand is a nice touch- one of those little details that you might not notice the first time you look at it. There's also a very cool variant cover for this issue courtesy of co-artist Amy Reeder. I'm looking forward to seeing how the current logo looks on a cover not done by Williams, and I'm even more excited to see how the images on these two covers wind up fitting together.




9. Captain Atom #4, by Stanley Lau

Stanley Lau's been doing some really nice covers for Captain Atom, but none of them have caught my eye in the way that this one did. I love the blur of colors trailing behind and below him, and the terrified expression on the face of the soldier at the bottom. I'm not sure if Stanley Lau colored this or if it was Jose Villarubia, but the whole color scheme is so striking, and uses the recommend "blue and orange" elements without looking like everything else on the stands. It's a good match for Freddie Williams II's new art style, and shouldn't leave readers feeling disapointed when they check out the interiors. There's nice detail all over, even at the top of the page, and it's a shame some of that's going to be obscured by the book's logo. Captain Atom is a tougher sell than many of the other new 52 books, but this is the sort of cover that could convince someone to give it a shot. Here's hoping this issue is a good jumping on point.




8. Justice League Dark #4, by Ryan Sook

Man, that Ryan Sook can draw! And while you might think he'd be getting sick of drawing Deadman right now, he seems to be full of ideas. This is a beautiful cover that really gives you a feel for the sort of book Justice League Dark is. There's a lot of negative space here, but he still manages to fit in a fair amount of the book's cast- I believe that's June Moon and Enchantress along with Deadman. I get more bothered than I should by nice deals being obscured when the cover goes to print, so I always appreciate a cover like this, in which almost nothing will be covered up. Justice League Dark may not make its debut until Wednesday, but this cover has me more excited to read the title than ever before. While I love all of Ryan Sook's covers, I hope we get to see the book's interior artist, Mikel Janin, take on a cover in the months to come.




7. Batman and Robin #4, by Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray

During Batman and Robin's last run, my favorite comic artist, Frank Quitely, turned out cover after cover for the series. While this cover is very obviously not drawn by Quitely, I feel like it appropriates a lot of the things that made his covers so cool, and such a great fit for the title. I love the image of Damian breaking free of Batman, with both of them breaking free of the city below, while Nobody lurks beneath them, and something sinister reaches out for them. It's a lot going on without looking crowded, and makes me really curious about what's going on plotwise. This is another cover that seems to have been designed with the book's logo in mind, and I think all those bats might actually look cooler when it appears that they're pouring out from beneath the Batman and Robin symbol.





6. Stormwatch #4, by Chris Burnham

There have been elements of this style in some of the other Stormwatch covers we've seen, but Sepulveda's never gone cartoon-y in this way. I absolutely love it. It's a joy to see this sort of take on the Stormwatch crew, and I would love to read an entire issue drawn like this. It's filled with wonderful facial expressions, from Adam One's look of panic to the reaction image worthy look on Midnighter's face. It also makes wonderful use of Martian Manhunter. When you really pay attention to it, this is a pretty gory cover, but the bright colors and overall fun look of the image distract from that. I keep looking and looking at this and spotting new details every time. There's some detail that will sadly be lost when the logo gets added, but I'm actually really curious to see how the standard Stormwatch logo looks against an image like this.





Edit: It looks likes the solicit was incorrect, and this cover was actually drawn by Chris Burnham. In that case, I'd love to see him fill-in for an issue or two! Thanks to commenter Jill for pointing this out.





5. Batman #4, by Greg Capullo

Greg Capullo's Batman covers just keep getting better and better. This cover has a few similarities with the next cover on the list, but it's so eyecatching that I couldn't help but include both of them in my top 5. The bleeding image of Gotham at the bottom of the page is so striking, and gives me so many ideas about what this story might be like. Capullo's Batman feels as though he's in a completely different world from everything else in the image, and I absolutely love it. We haven't gotten a look at the new owl themed Batvillain, but I have a feeling this image will only become cooler when we do. The gold against the black looks fantastic, and that's really a beautiful coloring job. I hope the silver of the new Batman logo is changed to gold for this issue- it'd look really striking with the rest of this cover. With the way these covers have been improving from issue to issue, I can't wait to see what Capullo has for us next.




4. Swamp Thing #4, by Yanick Paquette

Yanick Paquette isn't doing the covers for this issue, but he still managed to turn out an incredibly creepy and eye catching cover. I love all the symmetry in this image- the design at the bottom looks like something you'd see on a greeting card in hell, and that creature lurking behind the diver is the stuff of nightmares, That the image of Swamp Thing isn't symmetric makes him feel a little more real than everything else on the page- a very cool effect. There's been an awful lot of green in Swamp Thing covers past, and I like that this still heavily incorporates the green (hee) without it feeling so overwhelming. This is one of my favorite books of the relaunch, and seeing a cover like this just cements that.






3. Wonder Woman #4, by Cliff Chiang

I saw this cover before I had a chance to read the fantastic first issue of Wonder Woman, and while I thought it looking great, I didn't quite get how well it encapsulates the vibe of this books. It's hip and it's different, it's sometimes brutal and sometimes loud, and Diana herself feels a little separated from everything else in the comic. She's a presence, someone intimidating in both the world of man and the often terrifying world of the gods. I am so glad they changed the Wonder Woman logo before it went to print- this one looks perfect with both covers I've seen it on. This is the sort of comic that I really wish DC could get on newstands, because I have the feeling this cover could help drawn in a brand new audience. I never thought I would say this, but this is an image that would get me to hang a Wonder Woman poster on my bedroom wall.






2. Frankenstein, Agent of Shade #4, by J.G. Jones

Even without taking the book's leading man into consideration, Frankenstein is a title very clearly inspired by the Universal monster movies of old. To play tribute like that is awesome, and I love seeing this side of J.G. Jones' style. Frank looks like a real movie hero here, and not just like a monster. Working that title (which uses a great font) into the cover is also a clever idea. While those who've read the solicits have known about monster planet for a little while now, this sells the concept to anyone who might be browsing what's on the shelf. This really doesn't look like a DC book, and I think that's a good thing. Fans of indie titles, horror comics, and more are going to be picking this one up, and I have a feeling they'll like what they see. This issue will take place in the middle of a storyline, but I definitely think Jeff Lemire is the kind of writer who understands that every issue is someone's first.





1. The Flash #4, by Francis Manapul

Francis Manapul said he didn't expect DC to let him play the book's logo like this, but I'm so very glad they did. Everything about this cover is visually interesting, from the bullet traveling panel to panel Frank Quitely style, to the way the bridge in the two panels near the bottom comes together, to the flip-book like effect on the book's right hand side. Manapul uses a color scheme like this in a lot of his work, and it always looks fantastic. There's so much action going on here, but there's still this softness to the image, something that makes you want to pause and soak up all the details. This isn't just one of the best covers of December. I can already tell you this'll be among my top covers for the year, and maybe even one of my top covers of all time. I'm tremendously excited to read Flash #1 this Wednesday, and one look at this image should tell you why.

By Marceline with 2 comments