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Batman and Robin, Volume 1: Born to Kill
Guy Major, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, Peter J. Tomasi, Pat Brosseau, John Kalisz
I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy these issues since I'm largely unfamiliar with Batman's world, but it absolutely blew me away.
Bruce and Damian's relationship is understandably difficult and complicated, and fortunately written with depth and care as their bond reaches starting point of stability. Both father and son are interesting and fully fleshed out characters not only in relation to each other, but separately as well. They have been shaped by horrific experiences, but are truly defined in their unsteady attempts to reach connection with each other and what they believe to be a moral higher-ground.
Overall I found the entire story to be thrilling in its action, emotion and psychological complexities. I wasn't bored during a single page, and though I wasn't originally planning on reading further into this series I definitely want to now.
Bruce and Damian's relationship is understandably difficult and complicated, and fortunately written with depth and care as their bond reaches starting point of stability. Both father and son are interesting and fully fleshed out characters not only in relation to each other, but separately as well. They have been shaped by horrific experiences, but are truly defined in their unsteady attempts to reach connection with each other and what they believe to be a moral higher-ground.
Overall I found the entire story to be thrilling in its action, emotion and psychological complexities. I wasn't bored during a single page, and though I wasn't originally planning on reading further into this series I definitely want to now.
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I really enjoyed reading this trade, it was fast-paced with a story that ended in an explosive way that I definitely did not see coming, but my favorite parts were definitely the affable interactions between the Batfamily.
The events in these issues are connected to previous happenings in the DC Universe, and while I didn't follow some of what was going on in that aspect I still feel that these comics are a decent starting point for new readers since their main focus rests on who Dick is as a person, and which influences have led him to this point in his life.
The events in these issues are connected to previous happenings in the DC Universe, and while I didn't follow some of what was going on in that aspect I still feel that these comics are a decent starting point for new readers since their main focus rests on who Dick is as a person, and which influences have led him to this point in his life.
This is actually the first DC comic I've read that included any connection to their main heroes so I don't have a good frame of reference to judge it, but personally I think it dropped the ball.
The concept of a group of teenagers who never met previously and lead very different lives coming together to fight for the greater good is compelling, however much of the narrative and characters' inner monologues come off as more shallow than meaningful.
The choice of having homeless drug addicts as main antagonists fell flat for me too. In multiple places the emotional pull of the story focused on the effects of super-powered villainy on the lives of average people, and yet when these specific people were manipulated and used by another super-powered villain the protagonists showed absolutely no concern for their wellbeing or possible recovery.
My favorite issue included in this volume was the forth one, it disconnected from the main story but had art that was interesting, bright and unique. Its visuals also contained a sense of power that was needed but unfortunately missing from the surrounding pages.
As a whole I felt that this comic was mediocre, and while I did like a few of the characters I really am not interested in reading any more of this series.
The concept of a group of teenagers who never met previously and lead very different lives coming together to fight for the greater good is compelling, however much of the narrative and characters' inner monologues come off as more shallow than meaningful.
The choice of having homeless drug addicts as main antagonists fell flat for me too. In multiple places the emotional pull of the story focused on the effects of super-powered villainy on the lives of average people, and yet when these specific people were manipulated and used by another super-powered villain the protagonists showed absolutely no concern for their wellbeing or possible recovery.
My favorite issue included in this volume was the forth one, it disconnected from the main story but had art that was interesting, bright and unique. Its visuals also contained a sense of power that was needed but unfortunately missing from the surrounding pages.
As a whole I felt that this comic was mediocre, and while I did like a few of the characters I really am not interested in reading any more of this series.
This series immediately starts off as intriguing, with surreal art that brings its unearthly story alive.
Clearly this is a science fiction comic, but I think it does an excellent job of presenting a mystery to us as well. Enough informative backstory is given that I already feel invested in the lives of the characters and their mission, and yet there's still much to be uncovered. I'm excited to read more!
Clearly this is a science fiction comic, but I think it does an excellent job of presenting a mystery to us as well. Enough informative backstory is given that I already feel invested in the lives of the characters and their mission, and yet there's still much to be uncovered. I'm excited to read more!
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The Backstagers: Rebels Without Applause
Jim Campbell, Walter Baiamonte, James Tynion IV, Rian Sygh
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Vol. 3: The Smartest There Is
Brandon Montclare, Natacha Bustos, Amy Reeder
So I assumed these comics were just going through the phase some series tend to where random cameos are introduced to sell issues without any satisfying payoff storywise, but I was dead wrong.
Each issue does feature a different supporting character who attempts to help Luna and teach her about their perspective on the world, but it truly means something. Their wisdom leads Luna to reevaluate her seemingly wanted loneliness, and begin to realize the importance of relying on others.
The last issue was powerful not only because Luna and her newfound friends all fought together as a group, but because of the growth that allowed that moment. It's difficult to grow up in a world where you feel like an outsider. Sometimes the easiest way to cope with it really is convincing yourself that you don't need anyone but you, even though that's destined to become self-destructive.
Being the smartest there is doesn't mean you understand everything and don't need anyone, and it's relieving Luna is learning this lesson early on so she doesn't develop the same unhelpful and toxic behaviors that some of the other geniuses in the Marvel Universe have. I'm both proud and glad that she's is letting herself leave isolating mindsets behind, and hope she's able to gain an emotional intelligence to compliment and enhance her logical one.
Each issue does feature a different supporting character who attempts to help Luna and teach her about their perspective on the world, but it truly means something. Their wisdom leads Luna to reevaluate her seemingly wanted loneliness, and begin to realize the importance of relying on others.
The last issue was powerful not only because Luna and her newfound friends all fought together as a group, but because of the growth that allowed that moment. It's difficult to grow up in a world where you feel like an outsider. Sometimes the easiest way to cope with it really is convincing yourself that you don't need anyone but you, even though that's destined to become self-destructive.
Being the smartest there is doesn't mean you understand everything and don't need anyone, and it's relieving Luna is learning this lesson early on so she doesn't develop the same unhelpful and toxic behaviors that some of the other geniuses in the Marvel Universe have. I'm both proud and glad that she's is letting herself leave isolating mindsets behind, and hope she's able to gain an emotional intelligence to compliment and enhance her logical one.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Vol. 2: Cosmic Cooties
Marco Failla, Brandon Montclare, Natacha Bustos, Amy Reeder
This volume starts after a Terrigen Cloud catches up to Luna and unfortunately gives her a fairly goofy Inhuman ability, which was always her worst nightmare. It causes trouble, but by using her creative genius Luna eventually figures out a solution.
I enjoyed the ongoing plot for the issues and how they focused on multiple conflicts. Some are unique to our protagonist while others may be relatable to younger readers of the series.
I'm looking forward to Luna's potential being recognized further so she gains better opportunities to create, and also hope she is able to form good friendships with other heroes as the series goes on. The last few pages have me extremely excited for the next volume, which I'm going to start reading right away!
I enjoyed the ongoing plot for the issues and how they focused on multiple conflicts. Some are unique to our protagonist while others may be relatable to younger readers of the series.
I'm looking forward to Luna's potential being recognized further so she gains better opportunities to create, and also hope she is able to form good friendships with other heroes as the series goes on. The last few pages have me extremely excited for the next volume, which I'm going to start reading right away!
Each story included here is fairly simple, but they're all balanced well between action and slice of life. The volume itself is full of sweet little additions, including a collection of the covers used for the issues and one of those 'i spy' type games.
My only large criticism is that the layout and design for the speech bubbles in a few of the issues are extremely distracting. They're whimsical, but difficult to focus on and look a bit awkward as well.
Overall I thought the comics was adorable even though I haven't watched the original cartoon in years.
My only large criticism is that the layout and design for the speech bubbles in a few of the issues are extremely distracting. They're whimsical, but difficult to focus on and look a bit awkward as well.
Overall I thought the comics was adorable even though I haven't watched the original cartoon in years.
Bee and Puppycat, Vol. 1
Aimee Fleck, Coleman Engle, Anissa Espinosa, Pranas Naujokaitis, Garrett Jackson, Tait Howard, Ian McGinty, Frank Gibson, Natasha Allegri, Becky Dreistadt, Madeleine Flores, T. Zysk, Mad Rupert
I put aside some time to read this volume only because I was planning on selling it, but it's so enjoyable I'm no longer sure I actually want to.
Like the original source material they come from, these comics are cutesy and humorous while still carrying a surreal vibe to them. Most of the stories included are really short and they don't have much of an ongoing plot, so they're relaxing and easy to read. Each new story also has a different artist, so we get to see the characters in varying styles.
The first issue contains QR codes leading to brief videos so you can hear the same music the characters are hearing. That's probably the most clever use of technology I've ever seen in a comic, and the more haunting melodies definitely add to the tone of the plot.
Like the original source material they come from, these comics are cutesy and humorous while still carrying a surreal vibe to them. Most of the stories included are really short and they don't have much of an ongoing plot, so they're relaxing and easy to read. Each new story also has a different artist, so we get to see the characters in varying styles.
The first issue contains QR codes leading to brief videos so you can hear the same music the characters are hearing. That's probably the most clever use of technology I've ever seen in a comic, and the more haunting melodies definitely add to the tone of the plot.
This volume is the last in its series and sadly it's fairly mediocre. The plot isn't amazing and only a few of the introduced side characters manage to be interesting but I did enjoy the bittersweet ending.
Pieces of the dialog were really cringeworthy, which I guess I should have expected given the writer but I definitely could have done without the racist and lgbtphobic words and themes used. I'm not quite sure why stories set in the past are so often written to shallowly highlight the amount of bigotry some privileged people pretend doesn't still exist, and the trope certainly didn't add any depth to these issues.
Unfortunately one gross theme included wasn't even related to the past. While the previous volume seemed to respect Xavin slightly more as a gender-fluid character, these issues showed repeatedly that Karolina only wants to see them as a woman while the other Runaways still think they're abnormal. I fully understand that the general public wasn't well educated about transgender issues during the time in which the comics were written, but if these attitudes aren't criticized people are just going to go on believing they're acceptable.
Pieces of the dialog were really cringeworthy, which I guess I should have expected given the writer but I definitely could have done without the racist and lgbtphobic words and themes used. I'm not quite sure why stories set in the past are so often written to shallowly highlight the amount of bigotry some privileged people pretend doesn't still exist, and the trope certainly didn't add any depth to these issues.
Unfortunately one gross theme included wasn't even related to the past. While the previous volume seemed to respect Xavin slightly more as a gender-fluid character, these issues showed repeatedly that Karolina only wants to see them as a woman while the other Runaways still think they're abnormal. I fully understand that the general public wasn't well educated about transgender issues during the time in which the comics were written, but if these attitudes aren't criticized people are just going to go on believing they're acceptable.