By Miles Baker, Owen K. Craig, and Tom Kerr
Each week we use random.org’s random integer generator to create two random numbers. They then count down on the release list until they find out their RANDOM COMIC OF THE WEEK! No matter what the publisher, what the issue, what the arc, we will be there reviewing things with little or no context.
Miles’ Book
Justice League of America #13
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Penciled by Joe Benitez
Inked by Victor Llamas
DC Comics, 2007
I’ve not been kind to DC Comics in these reviews. I wanted to love this book to prove that I’m not a mindless Marvel zombie eating up the latest X-Men crossover and then asking for seconds; I wanted to say, “I love this book because it has all your favourite DC heroes and they are awesome,” but I just can’t (who is this “Red Tornado” and where the fuck is the Flash? Just talking about him doesn’t count). It’s just not very good. Half the book is full-page panels of characters posing, preparing to make their grand entrance because there are almost 20 characters seen in this 22-page story.
There’s also a central problem that I’ve noticed in all the DC books I’ve read: every one is out-of-date and feels stale. They make comics for a low-brow intellectual — and clearly male — audience. Come on, you want me to accept that a villain shows up and all the characters instantly and simultaneously exclaim their name? What is this, the sixties? There are better ways of introducing a character than a gaudy splash page and cheesy dialogue — some of them are even found elsewhere this book. Having little logos next to some of the heroes as they make their splash page entrance is more elegant and plausible and doesn’t make your characters sound like Speak-and-Spell douchebags.
There is some great dialogue from the Joker, but he’s only around for a page.
Owen’s Book
The Punisher MAX Annual #1
Written by Mike Benson
Art by Laurence Campbell
Marvel Comics, 2007
I’m not going to lie to you guys: I don’t like The Punisher. I think he’s a lame character. So if you like him, this review probably isn’t that helpful to you. I just wanted to be clear about that. That being said, this book didn’t exactly do anything for my anti-Punisher prejudices. All that went on here is some idiot crook who we don’t really care about running away from a strangely Terminator-esque (in demeanor, not appearance) Frank Castle (who is The Punisher for those who don’t know). Which would be fine I guess, and I would dismiss this as another “well, I guess it’s not for me” thing, except for this: this was such a wasted opportunity. Allow me to explain. The concept of annuals is that they’re a chance to tell a good one-shot story. It’s recently been announced that longtime Punisher writer Garth Ennis is leaving, and rumour has it that the writer of TV’s Entourage will be taking over. Here we have a great chance to write a story that won’t be tied in with many years of Ennis’ continuity and to introduce readers to the world of The Punisher and this is what they come up with?
I forgot to mention, Laurence Campbell’s art was pretty.
But I don’t like The Punisher.
Tom’s Book
Criminal #9
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Sean Phillips
ICON Comics/Marvel Comics, 2007
As Owen discovered not long ago with his Spider-Man: One More Day review, reviewing a totally random book on a weekly basis is bound to eventually lead to reviewing a book you’re already following. Such is the case here. Not only have I been reading Criminal, but it’s been one of my favourite reads for months, and it’s not hard to show why. Ed Brubaker’s smart and savvy exploration of character and emotion through various Noir techniques proves why elements typically unappealing to me, such as an excess of captions, very conservative paneling and few actual events, are as ubiquitous in comics as they are: when used well, they can really create a gripping and engrossing atmosphere.
It’s probably a sad testament to the state of comics these days that one of the things I found most satisfying about this book was that it did not start with a caption reading “Now,” showing some overdramatic moment with no context, followed by a caption reading “Ten Minutes Ago” and taking the entire issue to reveal the circumstances. Instead, Brubaker’s storytelling proceeds at a confident, patient pace that avoids cheap thrills and shock value in favour of compelling characterization and creative plotting (what a concept!). The storyline itself, which focuses on a disillusioned military man becoming embroiled in his brother’s seedy criminal life on a quest for vengeance and penance — is quintessentially Noir, and Sean Phillips’ art conveys this with deep shadows and tight close-ups from varying angles. Phillips’ mastery of capturing facial expressions means that, for all Brubaker’s unenthralling dialogue, what’s not being said is often more fascinating than what is.
I am going to abuse my power as a columnist to break out of my usually passive voice and speak directly to you: if you are not currently reading Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ Criminal, you should be. When the whole package is this good, not reading it is simply criminal.
Groan.
