BOOK OF THE WEEK
All-New Wolverine #10
Writer: Tom Taylor
Penciler: Ig Guara
Inkers: Bob Wiacek & Victor Olazaba
Color Artist: John Rauch
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Marvel
The perfect scenario for an event tie-in of an ongoing series is that the tie-in books heighten or progress what the book was already doing in a natural way. This is pretty much the cast in All-New Wolverine #10. The two Wolverines that now inhabit the main Marvel Universe (Laura Kinney nee X-23 and Old Man Logan) were bound to run into each other and, since this is a superhero book, they were bound to be at odds too. OML is from a dystopian future where everything went to shit (mainly and Millar-ly because of him) and he’d do anything to stop those events from playing out. That all of this coincides with the Minority Report Civil War II event is icing on the cake that Tom Taylor has excitingly crafted. Guara's faces sometimes take some getting used to, but there’s no deny his excellence in framing and action. Rauch’s colors do wonders to punch up a mostly static setting (via plot, not artist). The best thing about this tie-in is that it could have happened without the event, which is the mark of a promising story.
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1
Writers: Julie Benson & Shawna Benson
Artist: Claire Roe
Colors: Allen Passalaqua
Letters: Steve Wands
DC
So, this book’s a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it is probably the most complete of the Rebirth books I’ve read in that it feels less like a primer and more like an actual first issue. The Bensons show us how the team meets up again and more importantly why and does so in a way that feels justified and seems interesting. On the other hand, some of the dialogue is fairly bad (a character actually yells “Hi-ya!” without any trace of levity just before attacking), Huntress’s introduction is pretty much C-movie ridiculous (again in a groan-inducing way), the Bensons mine the classic Bat-trope of a character unnecessarily narrating a combat action to sound intelligent, and we get to relive the Killing Joke again because we can’t move away from that ever. Admittedly, that last one is definitely more of a personal axe, as the fallout of that (i.e. Oracle) is intrinsic to the plot, but frequently going back to that book is something that’s been rehashed so much it’s kinda lost much of its impact. On the art side, Roe’s faces are…interesting. Not Tana Ford-level (yet) but certainly nothing to write home about. Something that is, however, is Passalaqua’s colors which manage to inject much of the drab scenery of Gotham with flashes of eye-catching color. That sounded like a bunch of negatives, but for the most part, BG&BoP looks to be a really enjoyable book with a great set-up, if a few kinks to iron out.
Batman #3
Writer: Tom King
Pencils: David Finch
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: John Workman
DC
This issue we get part of the origin story of Gotham and Gotham Girl and Hugo Strange, seemingly with Amanda Waller’s backing, enacts the next stage of his plan. King’s choice of origin is interesting, if a bit without surprising (so far), and the narration running through out the issue is expertly laced so it builds to a fantastic crescendo. The art team appears to be finally meshing well (imo) as the dusky twilight that hangs over Finch and Bellaire’s Gotham fits this part of the story a bit better. Despite a bit of a stumble after the Rebirth issue, Batman appears to be picking up speed once again.
The Ultimates #9
Writer: Al Ewing
Artists: Kenneth Rocafort & Djibril Morissette
Color Artist: Dan Brown
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Marvel
Bit of a downtime issue, as the Ultimates come together to solve a problem even as their differences start to tear them apart. Ewing’s deft character work is on display and his dialogue is natural and sells emotion like hell. Rocafort and Brown’s always excellent art is joined by Morissette who depicts the non-Ultimates-featuring parts of the book. Morrissette’s art is a bit more simplistic than Rocafort’s but is evocative and fitting in its own right. Despite being something of a filler issue, The Ultimates remain enjoyable.
