Archive for October, 2004

Catwoman: When In Rome #1 (of 6)

October 4, 2004 | Comics

Catwoman: When In Rome #1 (of 6) Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale DC Comics $5.25/$3.50 US **** (out of five) An old adage says: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well the writer/artist team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have been doing nothing but producing gripping, beautifully illustrated mini-series over the past few years that fly off the shelves. So why not keep going? After a couple of years working on the “colours” series for Marvel (Daredevil: Yellow, Spider-Man: Blue and Hulk: Gray), Loeb and Sale return to DC with Catwoman: When In Rome. Picking up Selina Kyle’s life after the events of the creators’ Batman: The Long Halloween and Batman: Dark Victory, When In Rome kicks off with a bang, featuring Catwoman taking on the Dark Knight, the Joker and Two-Face — and that’s just in the first 10 pages. Selina heads to Rome to learn more about former Gotham City crime boss Carmine Falcone from the head of southern Italy’s Mafia. But the Joker’s intervention paints Catwoman as a murderer and the reason why is … to be continued in issue #2! Catwoman: When In Rome is a page-turner that shows how great Loeb and Sale can be when they’re on their game. Waiting a month for No. 2 and five months for the series’ conclusion may be agonizing.

Conan #8

October 4, 2004 | Comics

Conan #8 Kurt Busiek, Greg Ruth Dark Horse Comics $3.77/$2.99 US **** (out of five) Conan is the greatest warrior of the Hyborian age. But you knew that. What you may not know is that Dark Horse Comics’ new series of Conan adventures is one of the best-written and most exquisitely illustrated ongoing series in comics today. Scripter Kurt Busiek (Astro City, Marvels) has been faithful to the original stories of Conan creator Robert E. Howard and has returned a measure of dignity to this long-standing character that was diminished by two ill-fated theatrical features starring a certain Austrian-American behemoth who now runs the state of California. The incredibly detailed pencils of regular artist Cary Nord — one of the nicest guys in the comic biz (he is Canadian after all) — have raised the level of his work to rival any of the biggest names in the industry. After the end of the first major story arc, issue #8 brings us Born On The Battlefield, the first of six planned stories of Conan’s childhood, to run a fill-in issues over the next few years. Busiek, along with extremely capable replacement artist Greg Ruth, gives readers a rare glimpse of the ancient hero’s upbringing — how he was a natural leader and a quick learner and how popularity and fame seldom comes without a price.

Hellblazer #200

October 4, 2004 | Comics

Hellblazer #200 Mike Carey, Steve Dillon, Marcelo Frusin, Leonardo Manco Vertigo/DC Comics $6.75/$4.50 US *** 1/2 (out of five) It is an amazing thing how John Constantine endures. Not just as a character in his monthly series Hellblazer, but on the comic book racks. After over 16 years of tales of the most immoral character in the DC Universe, fans get issue #200, a three-chapter trip down “what if” lane by past, present and future Hellblazer artists Steve Dillon, Marcelo Frusin and Leonardo Manco and talented scribe Mike Carey. With a fairly cloudy memory of how he got there, Constantine wakes up one morning to find himself married, with a son. But he quickly begins to realize that something is amiss and evil is afoot. But just as he figures out what’s going on … he wakes up again — this time on the train home to see a different wife and son. When things again begin to go sour, as in blood-curdlingly so, John loses consciousness again and wakes up with yet another wife … and a daughter? By the time Constantine figures out what’s going on the foundation is laid for Carey and Manco’s next year’s worth of stories and the given what he’s up against, it’s going to be a year of hell.

Soulfire #1

October 4, 2004 | Comics

Soulfire #1 Jeph Loeb, Michael Turner Aspen $4.35/$2.99 US *** 1/2 (out of five) Since issue #2 of this series won’t be shipping until later this months, here’s my chance to catch people up on one of the hottest new series around, Soulfire. Artist Michael Turner and writer Jeph Loeb, the creative team also currently working on Superman/Batman for DC, bring together a fun mix of sci-fi and fantasy in a sweet looking package. Loeb shows his strengths right off the bat with a series of intriguing mysteries, such as how did a dragon’s skeleton, uncovered at Machu Picchu in 2007, get there and why is a live, and clearly ill-willed one destroying everything in sight in 2211? And Turner’s art is, as usual, outstanding — with sexy women, fun clothes, dynamic battles and awesome tech. This series, which Turner says will last about 12 issues, should be a fun one to follow.

The Flash #214

October 4, 2004 | Comics

The Flash #214 Geoff Johns, Howard Porter, Livesay DC Comics $3.50/$2.25 US *** 1/2 (out of five) Spinning out of the events of DC’s blockbuster crossover event Identity Crisis comes Sins Of The Father, a three-part Flash story which deals with recent revelations about Wally West’s predecessor as the Scarlet Speedster, Barry Allen. After learning that Barry, along with several other members of the Justice League, once voted to lobotomize super-villains that posed a serious danger to the heroes and their loved ones, Wally is forced to deal with the reality that even the greatest can make imperfect decisions. Another solid issue in a long run of them by writer Geoff Johns, with solid art from Howard Porter and Livesay.

Star Wars: Republic #69

October 4, 2004 | Comics

Star Wars: Republic #69 John Ostrander, Jan Duursema Dark Horse Comics $3.77/$2.99 US *** (out of five) Only eight months to go before the final chapter of Star Wars. Who’s excited? Dark Horse Comics continues to enjoyably fill in the gaps between Episode II and next May’s Episode III with fine titles like Republic, which kicks off a new story arc this month, Dreadnaughts Of Rendili. Set six months before the events of Revenge Of The Sith (and thank you Dark Horse for letting readers know this), chapter 1 of this story sees Master Obi-Wan Kenobi answer a distress call which leads him to a former Jedi friend, who’s red lightsaber may indicate an allegiance to the Dark Side. But when two other Dark Jedi move in for to kill Kenobi and his companion, it’s an all-out battle for their lives.