The Week In Ink: May 5, 2010

I gotta tell you, folks: This was the one that almost didn’t happen. After taking last week off to prep for FCBD and then writing up a storm this afternoon, I just wasn’t feeling it. But then:

 

 

Hellboy being kicked in the face by a luchador possessed by Camazotz, the Mayan Bat-God of Death. Truly, it is as though El Santo himself was urging me to post it. Thus, the Internet’s Most Rudo Comics Reviews have returned for another night! For my thoughts on Hellboy in Mexico, check out this week’s ComicsAlliance roundtable, but now, here are my thoughts on this week’s books!

 


 

Archie #608: On the off chance that anyone thinks I haven’t written enough about race in comics today, this week saw me finally getting my hands on a copy of Archie #608. This was, of course, the comic that prompted my last outburst of pseudo-brainy writing on the subject, and I’ve been wondering for a while how it was going to play out. This is a pretty key moment for Riverdale, standing as almost as big a step as their upcoming introduction of Kevin Keller, and it really could’ve gone either way.

So what’s the verdict? It’s actually pretty good stuff. For one thing, while most of the Archie books are the only ones left that stick to the three-story format, this one takes up the whole issue, following the model of the “New Look” stories without losing the house art style. It’s something that Dan Parent and Bill Galvan really take advantage of, establishing an enjoyable sitcom conflict, wrapping it up, and then escalating things with Archie and Val, and while the issue could certainly use a little more Melody Valentine (and really, what couldn’t?
?) the extra breathing room allows for a much zippier story.

But the big deal is the kiss itself. Not to spoil anything, but Parent and Galvan actually manage to pull off a surprise fakeout in an Archie comic, which is something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before: After a long night of songwriting, Archie and Valerie have a reasonably chaste goodnight kiss, then part… and then come back together for something that’s one poet shirt away from a romance novel cover. By Archie standards, it’s a remarkably passionate display, and it’s obvious that the creators knew exactly what they were doing when they set it up–they know this is a big deal, and that’s exactly how they’re treating it.

Plus, there were two other things that I really found notable about it: One, that they actually involved Veronica’s nerdy cousin Marcy in the plot (notable because she’s my go-to example for a third-tier Archie character that doesn’t get much to do), and second, that it was inked by Rich Koslowski. Yeah, that Rich Koslowski, from 3 Geeks and one of my favorite comics about religion ever, The King.

Weird, huh?

 

Batman and Robin #12: Okay, look: I don’t want to spoil the last page of this one for anyone–even someone who should know better than to go into a page of reviews if they don’t want spoilers–but I would like to point out something I said in November:

“…if I’m Dick Grayson and I meet a guy named “Oberon Sexton,” I’m just going to start hitting him on general principle.”

Told you so.

The amazing thing about this issue, though, is that the last page reveal isn’t the only great moment about it. It’s fantastic from top to bottom, and while you can hear Euge and I gushing about it on next week’s episode of Ajax, but the scene with Damian and Talia is one of the most ice-cold badass moments I’ve seen in comics in a long time, as is the nice reminder that Dick Grayson is a guy that not only inherited Bruce Wayne’s arch-enemies, but also brings his own to the table. And then there’s the part where they connect the dots on a map.

Guys, I am not gonna lie here: I am a total sucker for guys connecting lines on a map to see a pattern. On one level, it’s absolutely ludicrous, but in a way that appeals to the kid inside me that grew up loving the World’s Greatest Detective, it’s always hit me as not only the perfect visual representation of putting clues together, but as the kind of thing that embodies the over-the-top nature of what I love about comics. I loved it in Dark Knight, Dark City, and I love it here. It’s just the way I’m made.

 


 

And that’s all I’ve got for this week! As always, if you’d like to discuss anything that hit the shelves, whether it’s Chris Roberson and Mike Allred’s truly awesome first issue of I, Zombie or the abysmal Brightest Day #1, which managed to embody this brighter spirit of the DC Universe by going 8 pages before the first reference to rape and 17 pages before someone’s arm got torn off, feel free to leave a comment below!

43 thoughts on “The Week In Ink: May 5, 2010

  1. Gotta say, Hellboy in Mexico has become my favorite story in the series ever, I mean it was just freaking wonderful! I hope Mingola and Corben continue to work together because The Crooked Man and The Bride of Hell were awesome as well.

  2. Red Robin 12 was some damn good Batman comics, I gotta say. Goooooooood week for League of Assassins stories.

  3. I concur with Adam. Johns needs to be taken down. Again. I’m still pissed off about buying some of his comics after they were recommended to me, and I spat three paragraph-intensive comments at him today on your racial politics article. That’s actually the first time that I’ve ever done that on the internet. Anyone who puts two title drops in the first issue of his comic deserves hating.

    Also, I totally guessed Sexton’s identity from the start.

  4. Hey Chris, in the first issue of the new “Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine” miniseries, Jason Aaron writes a story with caveman Spider-Man, the Orb and his villainous Orblings, and a robotic Devil Dinosaur.

    You might want to check it out, since I’m pretty sure he was writing it just for you.

  5. “Johns needs to be taken down.”

    I’m not so sure about that necessarily, but Chris’ post about #0 echoed my sentiments to an almost frightening level, so I’d rather just read what he has to say about it than actually presumably suffer through it.

  6. “…in the first issue of the new “Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine” miniseries, Jason Aaron writes a story with caveman Spider-Man, the Orb and his villainous Orblings, and a robotic Devil Dinosaur.

    “In the ‘Hellboy in Mexico’ epic, there was even a cameo of a rasslin’ Lobster Johnson!”

    I sure hope the comics show up down here tomorrow.

  7. Adam, I consider myself to be fairly intelligent for a 19-year old, and I have trouble understanding what goes on in Johns’ work. While I don’t think that it’s fair to criticize a writer for making a massive, multiple-year story that rewards readers who stay on, it is excruciating to have to study (not read, study) the massive amount of terrible post-’03 DC that happened in order to get a basic picture of the universe. For “Brightest Day”, you need to read: Blackest Night, Sinestro Corps, 52, Infinite Crisis, Rebirth, Identity Crisis, to say nothing of the smaller series that go between them (OMAC Project, Day of Judgment, DC Universe 0, etc.) or Johns’ other past runs (because otherwise, we wouldn’t get the Black Lantern Golden Glider or so much focus on the Flash Rogues, who – while very fun – are not really central to the universe). By contrast, Bendis’ Marvel events, stupid though they are, are connecting to tell a large story that rewards you for hanging on without requiring it, and the only books that are in that story are few, major, and most importantly, readily available for purchase at most book and comics stores.

    On an actually brighter note, though, I, Zombie, Sparta USA, Hellboy in Mexico, and Joe the Barbarian do look really good. Thanks for suggesting the first one, Chris. And Batman and Robin is always a delight.

  8. “I consider myself fairly intelligent for a 19-year old”

    Isn’t that sort of like saying “I consider myself fairly athletic for a quadriplegic”?

    Note that I am (as of two months ago) 20, so I can say stuff like that.

    Also I’m not necessarily disagreeing with you re. Johns. If he’s actually capable of writing something that doesn’t leave forehead-shaped indentations in my desk, well, I haven’t read it.

  9. It’s funny because I find that Johns is one of the best writers of superhero comics at the moment (I am aware that this might be damning with faint praise). I have no trouble understanding his stories – and I’m not a DC fanboy – and found Sinestro Corps War, JSA, Flash and even Infinite Crisis to be enjoyable reads (JSA was one of my favourite books for a while and actually made me care about second tier legacy heroes such as Hourman and Mr Terrific). He also co-wrote the wonderful and fun Booster Gold series.

    However, I am aware that Johns can be somewhat graphically bloodthirsty in his storytelling. He always seems to find a way to insert a bloody decapitation or amputation into his books – which doesn’t sound too light and bright to me.

    Still, I’m always surprised at the amount of hate he gets from some people. Hate is such a strong word for someone who does at least write coherent, understandable and (for me at least) heroic epic stories.

  10. Brightest Day #1 was so awful that it makes me not want to read mainstream DC comics for a very very long time.

  11. I don’t really have much else to say about Brightest Day. It’s the opposite of what its name suggests; it’s more of the same rape-and-dismemberment comics that readers have been shoveling money at DC to get for the past 7 years. There’s no “takedown” needed, it’s just awful and that’s the way it is, and because everyone wants a Red Lantern t-shirt, that’s how it’s going to stay.

    Why yes, I did wake up in a crabby mood. Why do you ask?

  12. You know, if there will continue to be people out there who dislike Batman and Robin even after this latest issue, I will understand them even less than I understand those who disagree with him on Geoff Johns.

  13. To me, the worst sin of Brightest Day is teasing us poor Deadman fans with a leading role in DC’s latest tentpole event and then giving him the super-power to not do anything.

  14. Chris,

    Loved the reveal at the end of Batman and Robin this week. I’m having a bit of trouble figuring out why you state that Batman should just be punching someone in the face, immediately, when that person introduces himself as “Oberon Sexton”. I get Oberon is the king of fearies and a Sexton is an office akin to the manager of a graveyard. Am I missing some hidden message behind his name that should have tipped off Batman to begin messing this guy up besides the ridiculousness of his name?

  15. @John Seavey: I’ve read plenty of Jeff Parker’s stuff and really enjoy his stories too!

    And Geoff Johns has said that “Brightest Day” is not about the DC Universe becoming light and brighty (even though the title seems to suggest that).

    I should also point out that I have not read Brightest Day #1, nor Blackest Night for that matter. So, y’know, I can’t really comment on those – only on Geoff Johns other pieces of writing (which, apart from the unnecessary bloody violence, is usually pretty enjoyable. To me anyway)

  16. Dammit Karsten, when you try to peddle these comics to Chris you run the risk of making me want them too. And did you stop to think that maybe I can’t afford any more monthly titles at the moment? DID YOU?!?

  17. I’m having a bit of trouble figuring out why you state that Batman should just be punching someone in the face, immediately, when that person introduces himself as “Oberon Sexton”.

    It is a total super-villain name. If I’m Batman and I meet anyone with literary references or puns in their name, I’d just straight throw them into Arkham and save myself the trouble.

  18. I despise rape in comics as much as the next reasonable fellow, but a one panel reference to rape that is immediately stopped by the heroes?

    That is hardly worth getting bent out of shape about.

  19. But, you know what comic was pretty good that didn’t have rape? Doom Patrol. It’s a pretty neat series that has a great handle on the weirdness you’d expect from the title. Other than some wonky dialog, it’s pretty enjoyable.

  20. “It is a total super-villain name. If I’m Batman and I meet anyone with literary references or puns in their name, I’d just straight throw them into Arkham and save myself the trouble.”

    See, for me, Oberon Sexton immediately made me thing of Sexton Hardcastle, so I was holding out hope that when the Gravedigger unmasked, it would be Edge underneath- maybe having stolen the Undertaker’s gimmick in the Deadman’s usual post-Wrestlemania hiatus.

  21. @Michael Simon –

    There’s kind of an interesting counterpoint to what you said in one of the recent Marvel crossovers. I think it was Secret Invasion because I remember the Skrull Kill Krew being in it. When I read it, I thought Bendis was actually doing a pretty nice job of showcasing a lot of the big events of Marvel Comics in the ’90’s and the early-’00’s. If you hadn’t picked up a Marvel Comic in 15 years, you wouldn’t recognize these guys, but they were introduced effectively, in my opinion. So you’d recognize all the classic Silver and Bronze age characters, but if you were just returning to comics, you’d also get a quick catching-up on who Skrull Kill Krew was, or what S.W.O.R.D. was, or events in Cosmic Marvel.

    Now, whether this was worth doing probably depends on how well you can tolerate The Sentry, but *the way in which it was done* struck me as a good model for future big events. It reminded me that crossovers COULD be used every ten years or so as a universal jumping-on point, rather than as an ante that you have to keep tossing in to be allowed to read the NEXT event. Overall, I think Marvel’s continuity-wonkery is (at this moment) a lot more reader-friendly. No one can tell me that Dan Slott is less of a continuity geek than Geoff Johns, but I never feel like I’m walled out of one of Slott’s books.

  22. Hey Chris,

    Unrelated to anything from this week (or the past year) but have you read JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure? It’s a simple tale of a boy nicknamed JoJo and his grandfather nicknamed JoJo hunting down a vampire that has caused a tree like growth to start killing young JoJo’s mother. BTW the vampire has his head stiched atop the torso of JoJo’s great-great grandfather, also nicknamed JoJo. It also features awesome violence and in a later chapter a psychic baby being forced to eat its own poo. I have this comic in one hand while I drive so I can read at the stoplights I love it so.

  23. Totally agree with the hidden pattern in the map comment. It’s a visceral thrill to see that in a comic – I think it taps into the heart of the joys of comics as an art form – the extra narrative dimension that the panels have on the page as a whole in relation to each other, seperate from the left to right up-down storytelling. It’s most expicit in something like Watchmen or the best Kirby but it’s part of all comics -hidden patterns. loved it.

  24. Wait a second.

    Didn’t you just slam Mark Millar the other week for kinda-recycling a plot device from his old Authority in his new issue of Ultimates?

    And this week Grant Morrison does pretty much the same thing by recycling a plot device from his X-Men run (spoilers!) in his new issue of Batman and Robin… but Grant gets a pass.

    Just odd that it happened that way, just a week apart.

  25. Loved Astonishing Spidey and Wolverine. Jason Aaron has some great Spidey and Wolverine inner monologues/dialogue. Adam Kubert is Adam Kubert so the book looks pretty sweet as well.

    When I kept reading about the big thing in Batman and Robin 12, I thought Damian was going to get killed off, so I’m glad he lived. I’d like to see him as Robin for the forseeable future.

  26. Mike:

    Eh. Xorn was his own character, with what people thought was an actual reason to wear a mask all the time. Everybody knew “Oberon Sexton” was somebody’s assumed name, we just didn’t know who.

  27. I LOVED Brightest Day 1. How could you not love a comic with zombie giant squids?! I was not originally planning on picking this up every other week, but I now after giving this issue a shot and enjoying it as much as I did. I thought it was fun. Maybe not the rape part. Zombie giant squid part though, impressive!

  28. “Everybody knew “Oberon Sexton” was somebody’s assumed name, we just didn’t know who.”

    That’s not the point.

    Mark Millar got slammed for (kinda) recycling a plot device from one of his old stories just last week.

    Grant Morrison does the exact same thing this week and everyone gives him a pass because “Everybody knew “Oberon Sexton” was somebody’s assumed name.”

    And if you want to give him a pass for whatever reason, that’s fine. I’m just pointing out how odd it is that these two stories happened within a week of each other and the first person got roasted for recycling the same story and the 2nd person gets complete amnesty for doing pretty much the same thing, it’s not even mentioned.

  29. But it wasn’t the exact same thing! It was a similar thing! Totally different! (That and making fun of Mark Millar is more fun. Well, I think so, at least. Also, remember what that one dude at Comics Alliance said; Chris and the rest of CA have a grudge against Millar because he makes money or something. It’s a conspiracy!)

    Oh, and Aaron: “Sadly, I agree fully with Karsten.”

    I’m sad that I never thought of that. I have failed in my attempt to force my wrestling and comic geekery together like Stan Lee jamming the Thing in that kid’s Batmobile on the Simpsons!

  30. “It is a total super-villain name. If I’m Batman and I meet anyone with literary references or puns in their name, I’d just straight throw them into Arkham and save myself the trouble.”

    They should have an express lane for that, just to really speed things up. Drive through villain drop off, maybe? That could be a whole thing in annual, if they still published them.

  31. “To me, the worst sin of Brightest Day is teasing us poor Deadman fans with a leading role in DC’s latest tentpole event and then giving him the super-power to not do anything.”

    It’s even worse than that though…they’ve turned him into Pariah.

  32. Hey, I’m all for ripping into Millar and if anyone wants to take cheap shots at the guy I’m usually one of the first to praise God and pass the ammunition. But if you’re going to rip him for recycling a plot device then you should also knock anyone else who does the exact same thing, even if it’s one of your sacred cows and especially if he happens to do it just a few weeks later.

    Also, I didn’t bring it up at the time, but I didn’t really see the Authority and the Ultimates as being the exact same thing. At least that’s not how I read the comic.

    In Authority, I read that as the Doctor went back in time and *created* that event, just to mindf*ck with his enemy. He could have killed the Engineer back then, but instead just went back in time to plant a 20+ year old mindf*ck to screw with her head.

    In the Ultimates you have someone using their cosmic powers to make the hero relive a past tragic event, more for the readers benefit so that they can pretend to care more about this new character, I guess.

    In the X-Men, Grant Morrison introduced this new hero with a costume that covered pretty much all of his head and when he took it off it was revealed to be the heroes # 1 arch enemy.

    In Batman and Robin, Grant Morrison introduced this new hero with a costume that covered pretty much all of his head and when he took it off it was revealed to be the hero’s # 1 arch enemy.

    “Everybody knew “Oberon Sexton” was somebody’s assumed name, we just didn’t know who.”

    Well, I would hope so, considering Grant wrote the exact same story just a few years ago.

    And like I said, if you want to give him a pass for whatever reason I’m fine with that too. I just call bullsh*t on the fact that you made such a bid deal slamming Mark Millar, who you obviously are nursing a grudge towards, for recycling a story but when one of your idols does the exact same thing just a few weeks later you conveniently look the other way.

  33. Mike, without being Chris, (a fact of which I am eternally ashamed) much like Brad is also not Chris, I think one of the key differences is that when MM recycled his bit, he didn’t do it as well the 2nd time, but when GMoz recycled his bit, he’s done it better the 2nd time.

    I personally have no problem whatsoever with creators reusing plot points, gags, whatever, I mean Shakespeare wrote the exact same romantic comedy at least seven times, and they’re all good.

  34. And like I said, if you want to give him a pass for whatever reason I’m fine with that too. I just call bullsh*t on the fact that you made such a bid deal slamming Mark Millar, who you obviously are nursing a grudge towards, for recycling a story but when one of your idols does the exact same thing just a few weeks later you conveniently look the other way.

    That’s nice.

  35. Don’t be cranky now. I just gave you a new post.

    “Today on Comics Alliance, The Top 10 recycled plotlines! Because this is Earth Day and we’re all green and sh*t, today I count down the top 10 stories that writers have recycled over more than once.”

    There. I just gave that to you. Because I’m a lot like Jesus Christ and I’m a giver.

  36. Yeah, the analogy breaks down when you describe “Oberon Sexton” as “this new hero” instead of “obviously an existing character wearing a new mask, with no effort made to disguise this.” Xorn was an elaborate ruse that passed the assumed identity off as a new character, with his own powers, backstory, personality etc. Sexton was a guessing game.

  37. Exactly. I don’t see DC having Chuck Austen write a story to retcon Oberon in to being an actual character after Morrison leaves. And only partially because Chuck was finally ridden out of comics in a rail during the Bush Administration.

  38. I like Johns, a lot. Rate him with Morrison and Fraction now. While I like him, I can see how some might not. But the sheer hatred I’ve seen across the web is kind of insane. You’d think he was printing child pornography, not even universally disliked books seem to get as much hate