Sky Doll #1 (of 3) — Writers/Artists: Barbara Canepa and Alessandro Barbucci
This is the first fruit of Marvel’s collaboration with the French comics publisher Soleil, and it’s a surprising, sophisticated treat: a sprawling science-fiction religious allegory involving mechanized prostitutes, dueling popess dynasties, and detailed, expressive animation-style art that’s capable of comedy, drama and, sometimes, startling beauty. In the ’70s or ’80s, it would have been a lead serial in Heavy Metal; today, it’s the first of three issues, 44 lushly-colored pages for $6, and it’s well worth your time.
Batman #676 — Writer: Grant Morrison; Penciler: Tony Daniels; Inker: Sandu Florea
Morrison Batman is an automatic buy ’round these parts, and this is the first issue involving the new Batman: R.I.P. crossover event. That said, not all that much happens; it’s very much a prologue, with a few action pages involving a new wanna-be super-villain, some hints about the mysterious Black Glove organization, Tim and Alfred bringing the reader up to date while Bruce hangs out with his new love affair, Jezebel Jet (a name that, perhaps, foreshadows bad things), and the Joker getting a courtesy call. Considering that we’ve got six months of this to read, let’s hope it’s not a lot of sound and fury, signifying nothing (*cough* Ra’s Al Ghul resurrection *cough*).
Thunderbolts #129 — Writer: Warren Ellis; Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr.
The penultimate chapter in Ellis’s “Caged Angels” serial, in which a number of very powerful, very dangerous people get manipulated into beating one another near to death (and, in some cases, past it). Ellis and Deodato are good at creating and sustaining this very comics-like brand of sustained costumed chaos, and at adding the small details (the conversations between Samson and Robby; the very human, put-upon security guards) that help to center and ground it as it rumbles along. As not-quite-mindless, nasty fun, it’s been hard to beat.
Young Liars #3 — Writer/Artist: David Lapham
The title’s significance becomes more clear, as a flashback indicates that at least one narrator has been unreliable — and, probably, that all of them are; the only character who’s exempt is Sadie, whose brain injury means that, literally, she can’t lie (which, come to think of it, makes her comment about alien spiders from Mars… interesting). Where this is all going is anyone’s guess (maybe even Lapham’s), but the journey, filled with guns and fists and chases and switchbacks and perfect little setpieces, is its own reward.
Bat Lash #6 (of 6) — Writers: Peter Brandvold and Sergio Aragones; Artist: John Severin
Aragones and Severin have well over a hundred years of comics creation between them, and although this has been, at the end of the day, just a western comic (and a rehashed one at that), the sequence of events and art have been so relaxed and confident, with not a wasted word and every line laid down in precisely the right form and place to advance the story, that it’s been a pleasure to read.
Batman Confidential #17 — Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Art: Kevin Maguire
Part one of three parts, detailing the first confrontation between a rookie Barbara-Gordon Batgirl and a thieving Catwoman. The selling points are the Maguire art and the Nicieza script, which is good at nailing the characters’ voices and sly at playing to Maguire’s strengths (i.e., facial expressions and the female form); by the end of the first episode, as Selina’s ducked into a private nudist party and Barbara’s decided to go in after her (a series of exaggeratedly-pained emotions later), you know these guys are going to get into trouble, but you have to admire their knowing, smooth fanboy professionalism that’s getting them there.
Stuff I liked enough to buy, but have nothing new to say about, so read past reviews in the archives if you really want to know….
Amazing Spider-Man #559 — Writer: Dan Slott; Art: Marcos Martin
Punisher #57 — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Gorlan Parlov
X-Men: Legacy #211 — Writer: Mike Carey; Penciler: Scott Eaton; Onkers: John Dell, Andrew Hennesy and Dave Meikis
The Goon #24 — Writer/Artist: Eric Powell
DMZ # 31 — Writer: Brian Wood; Art: Riccardo Burchielli
Phil Mateer
