Batgirl Vol. 3: Death of the Family by Gail Simone - Book Review

From the publisher: Gail Simone continues her Batgirl run in a tale that ties into the best-selling Bat-Family event "Death of the Family." When the Joker returns, Barbara Gordon must confront her past as she deals with the crazed criminal responsible for crippling her. Plus, once the dust settles, Barbara must deal with her family demons as her psychotic brother James Jr. comes after her.

Gail Simone’s Batgirl: Death of the Family is an excellent addition to the Death of the Family story.  Because of her past history with Joker, this is one of the more personal, and darker, volumes in the saga.  Barbara Gordon has a very personal stake in ending Joker’s reign of terror and appears to be willing to go to extremes to accomplish it.  She begins to approach some tough moral territory, and Simone handles this conflict very well. 

In addition to dealing with the threat of Joker, Barbara is being tracked by her sadistic and psychopathic brother, James.  As he establishes a relationship with Barbara’s roommate, he also orchestrates a confrontation between he, Barbara, and their recently returned mother. 

There are a number of impactful scenes, including James nearly taking on the Joker, a phone call from Dick Grayson (Nightwing) to Barbara, and the showdown with the Gordon family.  I did not expect the quality of this book to be so high, but in my opinion it rivals the main story running through Scott Synder’s Batman.

I highly recommend this book.  Barbara Gordon has become a very interesting and complicated character since the New 52 began, and this book just raises the bar even higher.  It is as good as anything currently available.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

The Week that Was

So we just finished our first week back from Fall Break.  Right now, we have no sports going on, just Lexi's piano practice and Spell Bowl practice.  It's a nice break.  The girls had their cheerleading awards party and both received trophies.  We went to the ONU football game on Saturday and saw them get a win.  Griffin brought a buddy so he wasn't overwhelmed by his sisters and cousins (its a lot of girls).  We also made our yearly run to the Walmart in Bourbonnais so we could get the kids Chicago Bears gear.  We are now holding our enjoying the downtime until basketball season starts.  Good times.

Catwoman Vol. 3: Death of the Family by Ann Nocenti - Book Review

From the publisher: Writer Ann Nocenti begins her run with the feline fatale! Catwoman must stay one-step ahead of the Joker as he terrorizes Batman and his allies during the Bat-Family crossover event "Death of the Family." But there's no rest for the wicked as hot on the heels of her encounter with the Clown Prince, Catwoman is hired to break into the Black Room to steal the Black Diamond--the source of power for the villainous Eclipso!

Collects CATWOMAN #0, 13-18 and a story from YOUNG ROMANCE #1.

The current volume of Catwoman loosely ties in to the Death of the Family storyline running through the Bat-titles, and Catwoman's role in Batman's life is interesting. She provides a rather unique contrast to Joker, refusing to bow to his pressure but in a different way than the Bat-heroes would do.

However, Selina Kyle (Catwoman) is a more interesting character when the story explores the moral issues of a thief (sometimes for-hire) who also has a strong desire to help others, particularly children and women.  One storyline shows what happens when an ordinary cat-burglar tries to steal a supernatural item, and the item is activated.  The #0 issue gives the reader a glimpse into Selina's backstory, showing who she was before she became Catwoman.  Its a good read.  The latter part of this volume deals with some of the ramifications of information revealed in that semi-origin issue.  The mystery surrounding Selina Kyle only gets amped up as Ann Nocenti takes her story into unexpected territory.

I enjoyed this book more than I expected and look forward to seeing how the story unravels further down the line.  Catwoman/Selina Kyle is showing a lot of potential to be a very intriguing book.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

Green Lantern Vol. 3: The End by Geoff Johns - Book Review

From the publisher: The universe is in shambles and the Guardians are the cause. Their mysterious Third Army has risen across the cosmos like a plague, destroying everything in its path and Hal Jordan and Sinestro are nowhere to be found. It is up to wrongfuly accused Simon Baz to clear his name and become the hero that the Corps needs in order to get to the bottom of Hal and Sinestro's disapperance and the Rise of the Third Army!

Collects issues #13-20, 0.

Wow! This is it, Green Lantern fans.  This is what the last several years have been building toward.  And it is worth it.  This volume of Green Lantern is hard to review, because it effectively functions as the climax of Geoff Johns's run on the title.  Without spoiling anything, The End has everything in it: Hal Jordan, Sinestro, the First Lantern, Simon Baz (the new Green Lantern), multiple lanterns of various colors, the Guardians, and the rest of the major Green Lanterns.  The threads that were laid out years ago are finally tied off and the whole of Johns's story (dare I say "masterpiece"?) is revealed.  The expanded mythology of the Green Lanterns and the rest of the Lanterns of the emotional color spectrum is fleshed out and brought to a satisfying conclusion.

Geoff Johns's run on the Green Lantern titles, and Green Lantern in particular, should rank with the legendary runs by other writers (Claremont on X-Men, David on The Incredible Hulk, etc.).  In fact, reading the final issue, I was reminded of Peter David's final issue of The Incredible Hulk.  If Green Lantern were to end with this issue and there were no more tales to tell, I believe that the ending is perfect.

I can't recommend this book highly enough, and the payoff for longtime readers will be amazing.  Even a casual fan will find it an enjoyable story.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for honest review.

The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu - Book Review

From the publisher: The Prophus and the Genjix have now both found a way off-planet. The Genjix method will take less time – about 30 years’ less time – but will mean the ultimate destruction of mankind in the process.

They think it a small price to pay to get home.


It's up to Roen and Tao to save the world. Oh, dear...

 

The Deaths of Tao is the sequel to Wesley Chu’s The Lives of Tao (see my review here).  It is every bit as entertaining as the first, although in an entirely different way.  The buddy cop interplay between Roen Tan and Tao, the Quasing that lives inside him, is still there.  The humor and secret history of the world run throughout this book, as well.  Zoras, Tao, or Baji open each chapter with a little more history of the Quasing.

One difference, though, comes in the fact that The Deaths of Tao is a second book, and not an origin tale like the first one.  This allows Chu to expand the scope of the story.  Roen’s training and introduction to the world of the Quasing, including the war between Prophus and Gengix (the two Quasing factions), take up the majority of the first book.  Now the reader sees the larger story taking place and is exposed to a more in-depth look at the Gengix’s plans and the Prophus’ attempts to thwart them. 

There are also three characters providing the perspective.  In addition to Roen and Tao, Jill (Roen’s wife) and Baji take a lead role.  This is a nice change, because Roen’s view tends to be skewed.  The Gengix view is shown through the eyes of Enzo and Zoras, who played a part in the first book.  Using three point-of-view characters lets Chu take the action around the globe.  It also allows him to show simultaneous events playing out as the war between the Quasing reaches critical level.  

Another change in this book is that Chu was able to show how the relationship between Quasing and human host was different for each pairing.  The personality of the human played a part in this, but so did the personality of the Quasing.  A secondary character demonstrated what would happen if the wishes of the Quasing did not line up with the human.

Finally, the tone of this book is much more serious, or darker, than its predecessor.  The serious moments in the first book were often offset by the humorous exchanges between Roen and Tan.  In The Deaths of Tao, we see how three years of undercover and marital strife take their toll on Roen.  Roen is less of the off-the-cuff smart-aleck and understands the consequences of his actions.  His dedication to Tao begins to affect his standing in the Prophus command structure.  This is a nice, and realistic, development for the character.

The main storyline in this book is sufficiently resolved, but Chu drops a game-changer at the end, and then follows that up with an added scene on the last page that reminds me of some of the post-credit scenes Marvel has been putting into its movies.  If he decides to write another sequel, he is set up to take the story on in a new direction.

I enjoyed The Deaths of Tao, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy espionage tinged with sci-fi.  Chu’s writing style is very easy to read, and the action flows steadily on.  I look forward to seeing what he does in the future.

I received a preview copy of this book from Angry Robot Books in exchange for an honest review.

Batman Vol. 3: Death of the Family by Scott Snyder - Book Review

From the publisher: After having his face sliced off one year ago, the Joker makes his horrifying return to Gotham City! But even for man who's committed a lifetime of murder, he's more dangerous than ever before. How can Batman protect his city and those he's closest to? It all leads back to Arkham Asylum...

This new hardcover collects the the critically acclaimed tale DEATH OF THE FAMILY from the superstar #1 New York Times best-selling team of writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo. BATMAN VOLUME 3 will have reprecussions that will affect the Batman universe for years to come!

Scott Snyder’s Batman: Death of the Family is incredible.  It is the culmination of a storyline that was hinted at early in the New 52 reboot of DC Comics.  The Joker has returned, has attempted to reattach his face, and is after the Batman family of heroes.  The Joker wants to strengthen Batman by eliminating his “hangers-on”, all those who cause Batman to fail to reach his potential (at least according to Joker).  This is a fantastic story, the full range of which crosses into all the subsidiary Batman family of titles.  The extras don’t have to be read to enjoy the plot, but they do add depth and differing perspectives.

Synder has done an amazing job bringing out what makes Joker truly terrifying: his insanity and love of chaos.  Not since The Killing Joke has Joker been this sadistic, cruel, and scary.  Joker’s motivation is truly frightening, and there is a strong suspicion that he knows who the Bat-heroes are under the masks.  To add to the creepiness is the font used to show Joker’s dialogue and the fact that he is wearing a mechanic’s shirt that says “Joe” on it the entire time; something about the ordinariness of that strikes me as making him even creepier (artist Greg Capullo really added to the atmosphere of the story).

I highly recommend this book.  This is one of the best Batman stories in recent memory, rivaling the best that Grant Morrison has done.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest  review.

R.I.P.D. Volume 1 by Peter Lenkov - Book Review

From the publisher: Welcome to the Rest In Peace Department—the devoted, yet dead, officers of divine law enforcement. Nick Cruz was gunned down in the line of duty at the height of his personal and professional life. Now he's traded a hundred years of service to the R.I.P.D. in exchange for a shot at solving his own murder. Collects the original four-issue miniseries.
* The original tale of Nick Cruz and Roy Powell that introduced the wild world of the R.I.P.D.!

R.I.P.D. (the Rest in Peace Department) is a neat story by Peter Lenkov.  It actually served as the basis for the recent movie of the same name.

The concept of cops killed in the line of duty going to work for God in the afterlife is a creative jumping off point for what could be a bunch of fun stories.  This particular volume introduces the concept, and cop Nick Cruz is our guide as the reader is introduced to the R.I.P.D. In the grand tradition of buddy stories, Nick is partnered with Roy Powell, a cowboy/sheriff who is days away from his retirement.  Roy has served for nearly a century and his last case before going to heaven is to help Nick solve his own murder.

This is a fun story for what it is: a buddy movie in comic book form.  It's very entertaining and I look forward to finding out more about the R.I.P.D.

A Dance of Cloaks by David Dalglish - Book Review

From the publisher: The Underworld rules the city of Veldaren. Thieves, smugglers, assassins... they fear only one man.  

Thren Felhorn is the greatest assassin of his time. All the thieves' guilds of the city are under his unflinching control. If he has his way, death will soon spill out from the shadows and into the streets.
 
Aaron is Thren's son, trained to be heir to his father's criminal empire. He's cold, ruthless - everything an assassin should be. But when Aaron risks his life to protect a priest's daughter from his own guild, he glimpses a world beyond piston, daggers, and the iron rule of his father.
Assassin or protector; every choice has its consequences.

Fantasy author David Dalglish spins a tale of retribution and darkness, and an underworld reaching for ultimate power.

David Dalglish is the latest author to sign with a major publisher after starting his career by self-publishing.  A Dance of Cloaks is the first book in the Orbit reissue of the Shadowdance trilogy.  This trilogy is the origin of Dalglish's popular character Haern the Watcher.

Based on the popularity of David Dalglish and his success story, I jumped at the chance to review A Dance of Cloaks.  After reading it, I'd say it's a mixed bag.  There is something familiar about the story of a young boy who is destined to be the heir to his great father.  However, Aaron Felhorn isn't certain he wants to follow in the footsteps of Thren Felhorn, the head of the most powerful Thieves' guild in Veldaren.  Thren has a major plot going to seize control of the city and eliminate the three powerful merchant families, and Aaron is to play a role in this whether he wants to or not.

Along the way, the reader is introduced to a rather large cast of characters, many of whom only play cursory roles to the main plot line.  The story begins to sprawl like an epic, but in a very claustrophobic city and its surroundings.  At times it felt like Dalglish had much more story to tell, but he was wrangling the characters and plot to prevent it from becoming to large.  Many of the secondary characters were rather flat, either due to lack of background and motivation (which may be revealed in the sequels) or authorial lack of interest.  However, this wasn't a poorly written story.

The stand-out part of A Dance of Cloaks is the character of Aaron Felhorn.  The familiar trope of the youth destined for greatness is subverted by Dalglish, and he has created a very engaging main character.  Any issues I had with the rest of the story were put aside any time Aaron came on the scene.  The development of him, both physically and morally, are the heart of the story, and Dalglish shines in this area.

A Dance of Cloaks is an above-average fantasy, and is worth reading for the character of Aaron Felhorn.  I'm hopeful that as the trilogy progresses, Dalglish focuses more on Aaron.  It is also worth seeing if the large cast is tightened up.  I look forward to reading future installments in the Shadowdance trilogy.

I received a preview copy of this book from Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review.

Law of the Desert Born by Louis L'Amour with Beau L'Amour and Kathy Nolan - Book Review

From the publisher: The first graphic novel adaptation of the work of master storyteller Louis L’Amour is a dynamic tale of the Old West that explores the borderlands of loyalty and betrayal with the emotional grittiness of a noir thriller.

New Mexico, 1887, a land in the midst of the worst drought anyone can remember. Family histories and loyalties run deep, but when rancher Tom Forrester has his access to the Pecos River cut off by the son of his old partner, he convinces his foreman, Shad Marone, to pay Jud Bowman back for the discourtesy. Yet what starts as a simple act of petty revenge quickly spirals into a cycle of violence that no one can control.

Now Marone is on the run, pursued by a sheriff’s posse across a rugged desert landscape. Leading the chase is Jesus Lopez, a half-Mexican, half-Apache with a personal stake in bringing Shad to justice. Newly released from jail, trusted by no one, Lopez swears he’s the only man who can track Marone down. That may be true. But who will live and who will die and what price will be paid in suffering are open questions. Fate and the Jornada del Muerto desert possess a harsh justice that is all their own.

I had high hopes for this graphic novel, based on a short story by Louis L'Amour, the master of the western.  I love a good western, with the moral ambiguity and tough choices made by flawed characters.  Unfortunately, The Law of the Desert Born was just average.  All the pieces are there to create a great story, but they fail to coalesce into something great.  The story is told through flashbacks and present events, and the characters of Shad Marone and Jesus Lopez are interesting.  The authors, Beau L'Amour and Kathy Nolan, fail to add depth to either of the characters which results in the climax, and the story overall, losing it's punch.

The art is okay and the story is okay.  I hope there are further attempts to adapt Louis L'Amour's work, but the authors in charge of the adaptations need to make sure there is an emotional payoff.

I received a preview copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch - Book Review

From the publisher: With what should have been the greatest heist of their career gone spectacularly sour, Locke and his trusted partner, Jean, have barely escaped with their lives. Or at least Jean has. But Locke is slowly succumbing to a deadly poison that no alchemist or physiker can cure. Yet just as the end is near, a mysterious Bondsmage offers Locke an opportunity that will either save him or finish him off once and for all.

Magi political elections are imminent, and the factions are in need of a pawn. If Locke agrees to play the role, sorcery will be used to purge the venom from his body—though the process will be so excruciating he may well wish for death. Locke is opposed, but two factors cause his will to crumble: Jean’s imploring—and the Bondsmage’s mention of a woman from Locke’s past: Sabetha. She is the love of his life, his equal in skill and wit, and now, his greatest rival.

Locke was smitten with Sabetha from his first glimpse of her as a young fellow orphan and thief-in-training. But after a tumultuous courtship, Sabetha broke away. Now they will reunite in yet another clash of wills. For faced with his one and only match in both love and trickery, Locke must choose whether to fight Sabetha—or to woo her. It is a decision on which both their lives may depend.

The Republic of Thieves is the long-awaited third book in Scott Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards sequence.  I read the first two books back in 2008 and, like many people, have been anxiously awaiting the third installment.  Having loved the first two books, The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies, I wondered if Lynch could recapture the magic he delivered previously.  Well, he did and then some.

The Republic of Thieves picks up very shortly after the previous book ends, with Locke Lamora in mortal danger, a complication of their previous adventure.  He and his partner, Jean Tannen, are hiding out, trying to figure out what they are going to do. They are soon contacted and enlisted to help run one side of the Five Year Game, the election in the city of Karthain, home of the Bondsmagi (who happen to hate Locke and Jean).  Their opponent in the election: Sabetha, a former Gentleman Bastard and Locke's deepest love; it has also been five years since Locke has seen her.  What follows is a twisting romp through the election process, as the three friends reconnect as rivals.

In addition to the main tale, Lynch (like in the other books) interweaves information about Locke's youth, this time focusing on his relationship with Sabetha.  It is fascinating and captivating watching more of Locke's history unfold.  As he and the other Gentlemen Bastards embark on a summer as an acting troupe, they are forced to use their con-artist skills in an entirely different way than in the main story.

Because Lynch's stories rely so much on twists, surprises, and subverted expectations, I won't reveal any more plot points, but suffice to say that Lynch once again is in top form.

As good as he is at telling a story, Lynch is even better with his characters.  Locke and Jean are two of my favorite characters.  Each has a distinctive voice, which Lynch conveys perfectly. The flashbacks revisit many other supporting characters, all who stand on their own as distinctive and original (even the Sanza twins). Seeing how events play out for the characters is a joy.  The interaction between the crew reminds me of the friendly antagonism of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and the rest of the Ocean's 11 crew.

This is a very tough review to write, because I don't want to spoil anything.  I highly recommend this book, I would encourage all who read the previous two books.  If you haven't discovered Locke Lamora and the rest of the Gentlemen Bastards, go read the first two books. They are incredibly fun, entertaining, and clever; plus, if you read The Republic of Thieves first, you'll spoil many of the earlier surprises.

Go buy and read this book. Now.

I received a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Justice League Vol. 3: Throne of Atlantis by Geoff Johns - Book Review

From the publisher: When Atlantis is struck by a U.S. Naval missile gone awry, Atlantis--led by Aquaman's brother Ocean Master--attacks the East Coast of the United States flooding its major cities such as Boston, Metropolis, Gotham City and several others.

The Justice League comes together to help Aquaman turn back the tide, but they soon learn that they are woefully overmatched by the Atlantean Army, and must find a way to save the world from total annihilation.

Collects Justice League issues #13-17 and Aquaman #14-16. 

Throne of Atlantis continues Geoff Johns's wonderful run on Justice League.  In this crossover with Aquaman, the surface world, particularly Boston, Gotham, and Metropolis, are attacked by Aquaman's brother, Ocean Master, the King of Atlantis.  The character interactions continue to develop as the League struggles to not only defeat Ocean Master and protect the U.S., but to discover who is behind the attack.  Batman and Aquaman struggle for leadership of the group, which creates a new dynamic, as Batman is not used to people questioning him.  Superman and Wonder Woman continue to explore their relationship, trying to decide just what they want it to be.  Cyborg and Flash continue to grow into their roles.

This is a fun and entertaining comic, and the potential continues to grow.  The status quo of the Justice League will be affected for quite some time by the consequences of the battle with Atlantis. In addition, this collection sets up the debut of the Justice League of America, an alternative to this current, very powerful Justice League.

The artwork by Ivan Reis is fantastic and complements the outsized events that seem to follow our heroes.

I highly recommend this book.  It is a good example of why DC resetting its characters with the New 52 was a good idea.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.

Star Wars Volume 1: In the Shadow of Yavin by Brian Wood - Book Review

From the publisher: After the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebels are hounded by the Empire. Suspecting a spy in their ranks, Princess Leia forms a secret X-wing squadron—which includes Luke Skywalker—to expose the spy and find a safe home. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Chewbacca are sent on a covert mission! Collects Star Wars #1–#6 and Free Comic Book Day 2013.

I've read quite a few Star Wars comics recently and haven't really been impressed.  At best, they've been okay.  At worst, they were a waste of time.  However, In the Shadow of Yavin, by Brian Wood, is the Star Wars comic I've been waiting for. 

Following immediately after Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope, In the Shadow of Yavin finds the Rebel Alliance looking for a new safe home base.  However, as Luke, Leia, and Wedge begin to explore a remote planet, the Empire shows up in force.  They barely escape, touching off the new storyline.  

There is a spy in the Rebellion, and Leia is tasked with finding out who it is.  She forms an elite squad, including Luke, Wedge, and several other new characters, one of whom (Prithi) is a love interest for Luke.

Meanwhile, Han and Chewbacca are on a mission to buy weapons on Corascant, the capital planet of the Empire.  Needless to say, things don't go as planned, leaving Han and Chewie in the Underground of Corascant.

Darth Vader also plays a role, as he is being disciplined for the failure of the Death Star.  The Emperor has replaced him aboard his ship with an up-and-coming Imperial Officer and Elite Tie-Fighter Pilot named Colonel Bircher.  Vader is furious, but is beginning to be preoccupied by the young Rebel pilot named Skywalker.

Brian Wood has done a fantastic job of capturing the characters, both their voices and their personalities.  He also seems to be staying true to the spirit of the movies as he moves the plot along toward the inevitable events of The Empire Strikes Back.

The art by Carlos D'Anda is well done.  The characters look a lot like the actors and actresses from the movies.

I highly recommend this comic to all Star Wars fans.  I look forward to seeing how the story continues.

I received a review copy of this book from Dark Horse Comics in exchange for an honest review.

Shazam! Vol. 1 by Geoff Johns - Book Review

From the publisher: Young orphan Billy Batson has bounced from foster home to foster home, but he's far from the ideal child. Brash and rude, Billy is a troubled teen that just can't seem to find a calling. But after a fateful night on a subway car, that all will change.

Brought to the feet of the magical wizard Shazam at the Rock of Eternity, Billy is imbued with powers beyond any mortal man. By shouting the wizard's name--Shazam!--the young teen is mystically transformed into the powerhouse known as Captain Marvel! Now given abilities that make him Earth's Mightiest Mortal at the utterance of a simple phrase, will Billy make the right choices and do what it takes to become a hero? Or will he succumb to the poor choices of youth--and the villainous Black Adam!
Shazam Vol. 1 collects the back-up features that originally ran in DC's Justice League comic.  In it, Geoff Johns (DC's writer extraordinaire) introduces Captain Marvel, also known as Shazam, into DC's New 52 continuity.  And Johns was an excellent choice to do so, given his history of taking lesser-known or uninteresting characters and giving them life and creativity.

I always felt the old version of Captain Marvel was somewhat cheesy.  He'd been written like an immature Superman or a super boy scout, but he wasn't ever that deep.  Now, though, Johns has added depth to the story of Billy Batson, the teenager who was given the power of Shazam.  Billy is a foster child. He is devious, rude, sarcastic, and has been in and out of multiple homes. He is far from the old squeaky clean version. 

The wizard Shazam is looking for someone to make his champion, to give them the power of the living lightning to protect the world from evil.  He transports and tests multiple people, one of whom is Billy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sivana is looking to save his family by discovering how to access magic.  He discovers where Black Adam, the wizard Shazam's former champion, is imprisoned.

I really enjoyed this story, particularly the development of Billy Batson.  It's an interesting take on what a typical teenager would do when given extraordinary powers.  The supporting characters, particularly the other foster kids, show a lot of potential. Gary Frank's art completed the story nicely, as well.

I would recommend this to fans of Captain Marvel and Geoff Johns's writing.  It looks to be a fun story to follow.

I received a preview copy of this book from DC Comics in exchange for an honest review.