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Review Date: Friday, February 4,
2011
Here In Bongo Congo Good King Leonardo has declared
that we review this week an eclectic trio of comics,
one from an established, iconic creator along with two
new titles introducing some newly-created superheroes:
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Batman/Catwoman:
Follow The Money #1 (One-Shot)
Publisher: D.C. Comics
Howard Chaykin: Writer and Artist
Jesus Aburto: Colors |
DC Comics currently has an interesting-looking
one-shot Batman universe comic on the new issues shelves,
entitled Batman/Catwoman: Follow The Money #1. The
comic book is both written and drawn by veteran comics
creator Howard Chaykin, with colors by Jesus Aburto.
For the uninitiated, Howard Chaykin is a very well-known
veteran of the comics industry, renowned among his
many efforts for pioneering through his popular American
Flagg! comic title, published by First Comics in the
1980's, the emergence of a literate graphic storytelling
style that appealed beyond hardcore comic book fans
to readers of all fiction genres. Chaykin also created
the popular The Shadow mini-series and the Blackhawk
title for DC back in the 1980's.
"Follow The Money" pairs Batman and
Catwoman in a Gotham City adventure. The plot begins
with two interweaving events. The first storythread
is action-oriented, as Batman and Catwoman each separately
confront The Cavalier, a local costumed villain, who
eludes both of our heroes. Secondly, news breaks in
the Gotham media that three Wayne Enterprises company
employees have looted the corporation's pension fund
and are on the run. Both plot threads come together
as our two heroes determine that The Cavalier is the
mastermind behind the theft. Without being a detail
spoiler, our duo have to work together on two fronts,
capturing the villains and restoring the pension funding.
By issue's end, many complicated story details come
together in a satisfactory resolution.
Reading any new Chaykin comic book
has to take into account Chaykin's iconic reputation
for that particular storytelling style of his that
pioneered the late 20th century comics industry advancement
into literate graphic storytelling. Here, he demonstrates
that he still has the touch in this one-shot extra-length
story, successfuly applying his unique blend of pop
culture references, noir detective story elements,
science fiction and jazz culture into a fresh and
entertaining Batman/Catwoman tale. The story is simply
mezmerising at times, flowing with flawless dialogue
between our two heroes as they playfully bicker and
banter their way through a complex financial crime
scenario with costumed villainy behind the entire
mess. The dual narrative is similar to the Superman/Batman
comic title, in which the reader sees how Batman and
Catwoman interpret shared experienced events differently.
There have been so many Batman/Catwoman
comics over the years that its not fair to expect
the latest adventure of the pair to break any new
ground. As such, its a tremendous treat to find that
Chaykin has delivered the unexpected, and serves-up
a wonderful, extra-long adventure blending his own
special storytelling approach with a just-plain-interesting
and fun Gotham tale. So a strong thumbs-up positive
recommendation to add this unique and excellent Gotham
tale to your constantly-expanding new issues reading
pile. You won't be sorry!
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Publisher: Image Comics
Marc Guggenheim & Tara Butters:
Writers
Ryan Bodenheim: Art
Mark Englert: Colors
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Image Comics is up to issue #3 of
a new superhero comic entitled Halcyon. The series
is written by Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters,
with art by Ryan Bodenheim and colors by Mark Englert.
An brief inside-the-front-cover narrative summarizes
the multi-issue story arc so far. The premise is
that all war, violence and individual aggression
among mankind has recently and mysteriously stopped,
thus leading to two questions-why exactly have all
humans on the planet become so passively nonaggressive,
and what is the role of the world's superheroes
in this new world reality?
The issue #3 story segment alternates
between a few subplots that focus on a handful of
superheroes who apparently make-up a superhero team
called Halcyon. The main plotthread features Devlin,
a Batman-like character who suspects a villainous
conspiracy behind the new reality. Teaming-up with
an unnamed flying superheroine, Devlin pursues his
theory that another superheroine named Psiclops,
who manifests strong psionic powers, is somehow
embroiled in the conspiracy. The pair's investigation
confirms Devlin's theory; the tension grows as they
pursue clues to a deserted lab in Iceland, leading
to a very unexpected and climactic end-of-issue
discovery which I won't reveal in this review.
This is an absorbing new title and
story concept in many respects. The artistic style,
plot concept and overall story atmosphere are very
similar to the best elements of Warren Ellis's acclaimed
Planetary series, echoing Ellis's story universe
concept of technological mysteries secretly out-of-control
and threatening the basic nature of existance. There's
also an intriguing emotional element to this tale,
in which superheroes who are suddenly not needed
by the world react in one of two ways: some, such
as the heroine on the issue #3 cover, react with
emotional breakdown leading to devastating consequences,
while others such as Devlin smell a conspiracy rat
and decide to go on the offensive.
A well-deserved hats-off is also
due to writers Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters
for exploring some intriguing side issues within
the concept of this "What If The World All Went
To Peace?" question. There's an intriguing section
of the issue in which any researcher of the peaceful
phenomenon is somehow psychologically diverted away
from focusing on the peaceful phenomenon. Our hero
Devlin pursues a bloody yet interesting strategy
to address this problem, with successful results.
However, my favorite story sub-plot features Damon
Oculus, a Lex Luthor look-alike evil genius. Imprisoned
in his jailcell, Oculus is also affected by the
peaceful malaise effecting all of humanity. Stripped
of all evil desires, out of boredom he puts his
brilliant mind to good use, doodling lengthy equations
on his cell walls that result in the cures for all
forms of cancer!
I've read and reviewed over the
past few years more comics than I can count that
attempt to introduce us to worthwhile new superhero
characters addressing a realistic world crisis situation.
Most stumble to various degrees in trying to achieve
these two worthwhile comic book storytelling goals.
As such, those well-meaning but imperfect efforts
all make Halcyon shine even brighter above the pack,
as a great new comic that gives us solidly constructed
and intriguing new superheroes dealing with a fascinating
mystery that will keep the reader on the edge of
his or her seat with every monthly issue. While
Halcyon deserves a positive review in its own right,
it also deserves the rare complement that this is
a graphic storytelling creation deserved of comparison
to the classic Planetary series.
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Publisher: Image Comics
Ian Churchill: Writer and Art
Ian Churchill and Alex Sollazzo:
Colors
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Another new comic title from Image
Comics this week is Marineman, currently up to issue
#2. The series is written and drawn by Ian Churchill
with colors by Ian Churchill and Alex Sollazzo.
Issue #2 is entitled "Deep Trouble" and is the latest
installment in an ongoing multi-issue story arc.
Marineman is Steve Ocean, a blond and burly twenty-something
marine biologist who gave up academic research for
television celebrity stardom as the host of an ocean
environmental series. Steve made this career decision
with the belief that he could help the world's oceanic
eco-system more by educating the masses and bringing
environmental awareness to the average person. Our
scientist friend is also harboring a secret that
only a few folk know, including his military scientist
father-that he also has some superhero abilities,
including super strength and the ability to hold
his breath underwater for extremely long periods
of time.
The "Deep Trouble" title of issue
#2 is dead-on, as Steve Ocean deals with a host
of problems. One issue is Steve being ordered by
his military researcher dad to play good host to
the visiting career soldier daughter of an old colleague.
Said guest has little respect for Steve's choice
to go the celebrity t.v. route, leading to ongoing
tension between the pair. Steve's troubles escalate
during a live telecast of his t.v. show. When his
best friend is attacked by a shark, Steve has no
choice but to rescue his buddy, revealing to the
entire television audience his secret superhero
powers. Issue #2 ends in an interesting bridge to
next month's story installment, revealing that an
elderly, unnamed villain has also watched the live
television event and has evil intentions toward
our hero.
Marineman is a positive breath of
fresh air, taking a different storytelling tack
away from today's mainstream of often jaded and
grim superhero comic titles. Its fair to complement
this comic book as a positive throwback, combining
a plotline featuring undersea and on-land action
and adventure with an almost innocent educative
message about ocean protection. The result is a
nicely-styled comic title starring a new superhero
who's a little bit like Aquaman but mainly a regular
scientist, intent on dealing in his own small but
effective way with the ongoing worldwide crisis
of ocean resource depletion. There's also an excellent
two-page feature in the back of the book interviewing
a National Geographic-affiliated scientist regarding
the world's oceanic issues.
It's rare to find a comic book that
so seamlessly blends a real-world scientific issue
with comic book entertainment, as well as one that
appeals to and entertains readers of all ages. So
whether you're looking for a new water-based hero,
interested in the world's oceans or just want a
plainly-good quality comic book story to read, you
won't go wrong becoming a well-entertained fan of
this new comic book title from Image Comics.
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Contest
Winner Announcement!!!
Our latest contest challenge was for you
to answer the baseball trivia question asking who is the
only person to ever wear the uniforms of all four New York-area
major league baseball teams-the New York Yankees, Giants,
Mets and the Brooklyn Dodgers. And our contest winner by
a roll of the dice from among the correct entries is (drumroll,
please)...Kevin Browne, who correctly identified that person
as baseball legend Casey Stengel, who played for the Giants
and Dodgers, and managed the Yankees, Dodgers and Mets.
Congratulations to Kevin, who is the winner of our first
prize $10.00 gift certificate to That's Entertainment!
New
Contest Announcement!!!
The Bongo Congo panel of contest judges has decreed that
we hold a trivia contest this week in honor of all of
those second-string, B-list, benchwarmer, back-up characters
that inhabit all of our favorite television animated shows.
After all, where would our favorite animated t.v. stars,
from Fred Flintstone to Homer Simpson, be without all
of their friends, neighbors and colleagues? So your challenge
this week is to e-mail us at Gordon_A@msn.com
with the answer to the following question: What animated
television show features the minor, secondary character
Eleanor Abernathy, and by what nickname is she better
known as? As always, in the event of more than one correct
entry, we'll select the winner of our $10.00 prize gift
certificate to That's Entertainment via a roll of the
dice from among the correct entries.
That's all for now, so pace yourself in shoveling-out
from under our non-stop snow, have a great comic book-reading
week and see you again next week Here In Bongo Congo!
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