Sunday, April 30, 2006

Batman #652 - Face The Face, part 4

Batman hasn’t been this good for a long, long time.

The halfway point of the “Face The Face” arc running through both Batman and Detective Comics marks another high point in moody, well-paced writing, pretty much what I expect from James Robinson, whose work on Starman remains one of my personal highlights among the tens of thousands comics I’ve read so far.

I’m very fond of the way Robinson brings everything to a slow boil while also packing the arc with classic (and some not-so-classic) villains from Batman’s past, whether they are intended to be killed off or to provide a casual challenge for the Dark Knight Detective and his trusty sidekick. Villains are dying left and right (we’ve reached the point where I’m genuinely upset about the demise of one of them) and everything points to a supposedly sane Harvey Dent. I still have strong doubts about his guilt, which is to the writer’s credit. He provides enough ambiguity to make us wonder, while also enabling one to just take everything at face value.


The scenes between Batman and Bullock are choreographed perfectly, as the tension between them is evident through both dialogue and art. I was a bit perplexed at this tension though, as I remember Bullock being the one who felt a strong distaste for Batman rather than the other way around. I’m presuming that 52 will cover the necessary background details to provide a clearer context. Even without that context though, the rooftop scene was played out well. You can tell Robinson likes to give his scripts a cinematic feel, so it is lucky for him and us both that the art of Don Kramer (ably enhanced by Michael Bair and Wayne Faucher) excels at telling a clear, visually exciting story. More on that later.


The confrontation between Bruce and Harvey, interspersed with Robin joyfully battling (a new?) Killer Moth, was strange, for it seems odd that Harvey has compact explosives handy behind his desk if he were an innocent man. But then, Two-Face has been cured before and invariably went insane once more, so who is to say the same thing hasn’t happened again? The thing is though, as trusting as Batman has become of Tim (hence the scene where he lets him fight Killer Moth on his own, or so I interpreted it), he still can’t find it in him to grant a long-time enemy and former friend the same kind of trust. Granted, the evidence is there, but who better than Bruce Wayne to know how evidence can be forged to make the impossible seem plausible? Batman’s whispered “Harvey” in the concluding panel expresses a world of disappointment, in his friend and in himself. Down what twisted road this will lead them, we’ll find out in the next several chapters. This chapter was most effective in tipping the scales, bringing Dent ever closer to his recurring madness. I am intrigued to find out whether Batman will end up being responsible for the rebirth of Two-Face, or if Robinson has something more original in mind.




I also want to give Robinson (and his editors) props for using such a varied array of villains in this arc so far, from Poison Ivy and Mad Hatter to KGBeast and a surprise guest bad-girl who hasn’t been seen since Larry Hama wrote the book—deservedly so, because she was a distinctly lame addition to Batman’s gallery of rogues. Maybe I’ll do a short profile or review of the three-parter she starred in sometime soon. It had nice art, at least. In any case, related to the discovery of said villain, Robinson deserves praise for making Batman a detective again. He uses his skills and his technical abilities to find the truth, rather than just beating people up like a total goon (see: Hush). He comes across as sane and balanced as well, which is a strangely refreshing change of pace. All in all, a perfect blend of 70s-style Batman with modern-day trappings.


On the artistic front, I am definitely pleased. Neither Don Kramer nor his fellow artist over in Detective Comics, Leonard Kirk, are superstar artists, nor do they have a style which immediately leaps out at you in the way of a J.H. Williams III or a Kubert brother. However, both of them have undeniable storytelling skill. The composition of each page is a thing of beauty and the layout of the chapters as a whole is impeccable and thrilling. Comics are a visual medium, so I become really happy when I can just flick through a comic without having to read any words but still understand what’s going on. Moreover, everything looks “real” without relying on boring photo-realism (i.e. copying). Iconic, imaginative and dramatic: three key words for good superhero art that far too many “hot” artists ignore just so they can show off their over-rendered line-work—three key words that are more than evident in this arc.




Kramer’s depiction of Bullock is a particular favourite of mine: the ever-constant cigar smoke, the hat and raincoat making him as much a creature of the night, in his own seedy way, as Batman is. It’s just perfect. Everything in the issue looked nice, but the Bullock panels just had that little bit of extra oomph that really made the scenes for me.

It’s been two months of One Year Later books already, time sure flies. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a creative success. Batteries seem recharged, properties have been revitalised. The trick will be to keep the momentum going, but I have no real worries there when it comes to the two main Bat-titles. Between James Robinson and the upcoming Dini and Morrison, 2006 looks like a stellar year for Bat-fans :)

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Doctor... Who?

I remember watching episodes of Doctor Who (I think it was the Tom Baker years) back when I was little, in the early 80s. It was mainly the Daleks (alongside the title music) that were imprinted on my mind rather than the Doctor himself or his companions, but I was never in a position to seek out the older material, nor did I have the impetus to do so, as the series had been canceled and interest in past seasons was minimal to non-existant, over here in Belgium.

So when the new series kicked off in 2005, I wasn't sure what to expect or how much I'd like it. Would it be like Buffy, where I got sucked in at first and then ended up being pretty much repulsed by the series as a whole due to offensively bad writing and acting? Or would it be more like Star Trek: TNG, where my love for TOS--another series I watched in black and white as a kiddie, too young to really have clear recollections of all the stories--was eclipsed by this new fresh start? (Despite a great many atrocious episodes penned throughout its 7 seasons, TNG will always hold a special place in my heart, unlike Buffy). So far I'm leaning towards the TNG-feeling, although we're only 2 seasons in and I adored BtVS up until the 3rd season finale, so who knows what the future will bring?

All this to say that I am, in principle, a total newbie fan of Doctor Who--and frankly, I am incredibly eager for the BBC to put out nice dvd box sets chronicling the various Doctor's encounters with Daleks, Cybermen, the Master, and so on. For you see, this current new incarnation of the series stands well enough on its own, but by referring to old stories in ways both subtle and explicit, I am intrigued by what came before, even though it's not crucial to the current goings-on. Which is what I call the miracle of continuity: jumping in at a particular point and having one's imagination captured enough to want to seek out what came before alongside what is to come. Some think of it as a burden, especially in the world of superhero comics, but I see it as an enriching experience. Thanks to the many resources available on the internet, I'm learning more and more with each passing episode (and each accompanying new foray into past exploits, to place the latest story in its proper context).

Take tonight's episode, "School Reunion", for instance. I was excited to watch it because of the excellent acting skills of Tony Head, once and former Rupert Giles, one of my favorite characters on the aforementioned Buffy show--who was slated to play the role of evil, charismatic villain in tonight's showing (and he performed right on key).
But seeing the current, Tenth Doctor reunited with one of his former companions (as well as a metal pet called K-9, not to be confused with the useless K-Fed) was an unexpected joy to watch, despite being unfamiliar with said companion. Writing and acting alike were able to create a sense of wonder (and fun!) about this aging woman stumbling onto the TARDIS once more, seeing herself reflected in the far younger Rose, the enigmatic Doctor's current traveling buddy, as she once was. By highlighting her important role in the title character's past (and easily having her play her part in the modern-day adventure), I automatically became even more interested in that selfsame past. Unlike superhero comics though, it appears rather difficult to delve into the old serials, which is why I'm genuinely hoping that the current revival will lead to dvd's of the older episodes, much like Marvel and DC are providing their rich past in phonebook sized Essentials and Showcases. I really enjoy how this series is geared towards a newer audience while also seeming quite respectful to its long-time fans.

In any case, I may not be immediately privy to much of the Doctor's past, but you can be sure I want to be around for his future! (here's hoping the future will contain more Daleks. Seriously, Daleks rock. Let's see the Daleks and the Borg team up against, say, Doctor Doom! Ah, the joys of raging fanboyism :)

Heading Towards Alpha

It's the 29th of April, a completely arbitrary day to (re)start a weblog that'll focus on what I love, what I loathe, and everything in-between. Random thoughts, bizarre insights and a lot of rambling will be your lot if you follow these html-enhanced scribblings.
As busy and crowded as life may be, I feel things are in an upward spiral. Not the Icarus type though, for the most part thanks to the love of my life, whom I hope to get involved in this here blog as well. As such I want to make a decent attempt to write something, anything, every day, be it witty, interesting or lame (despite an evident preference for the former, odds are on the latter, be warned!)
Fiction can be fun, it can also be horrid. Here's to sharing the good and the bad! :)