World Comic Book Review

26th March 2024

Dark Knight Returns III #5 (review)

Dark Knight Returns III #5 (review)
(DC Comics, June 2016)
Writers: Brian Azzarello and Frank Miller

This is the fifth book in the third volume of Frank Miller’s seminal Batman title, “Dark Knight Returns”. We have previously reviewed earlier books in this third series. It is written by two veteran and acclaimed comic book writers, Brian Azzarello and Frank Miller.

The tense psychology of Batman, with his joyous release of fury and raw intimidation, the depth of the supporting characters, including DC Comics’ other paramount character, Superman, and the snappy comedic dialogue which juxtaposed with the grim monologues, was enough to propel the story in 1986. But this story, like “Dark Knight Returns II”, instead, sadly, draws heavily upon the panoply of characters owned by DC Comics – Superman, Wonder Woman, the Atom, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and the Flash. In particular, as we have previously discussed, the storyline picks up on an oddity of the Superman mythos dating back to Action Comics #242, published in 1958: that there is a city of beings from Superman’s home planet, Krypton, who were shrunk to microscopic size by one of Superman’s enemies. The city survived the destruction of Krypton by virtue of being kept as a trophy. Mr Azzarello and Mr Miller have written a story by which some of these Kryptonians, led by a fanatic with delusions of being God, are expanded to full size and terrorise the planet with their alien superpowers. Batman and his colleagues oppose these would-be dominators of Earth.

Read more

All Star Batman #1 (Review)

All Star Batman #1 (review)
(DC Comics, August 10, 2016)
Writer: Scott Snyder

The premise underpinning the first issue of a new title from American publisher DC Comics, entitled “All Star Batman”, will be impenetrable for most readers who are not up to date on the Batman mythos.

For those who are and who follow the adventures of masked vigilante and detective Batman, it is intriguing enough to warrant a read. Batman’s schizophrenic villain Two Face, who experiences tortuous phases between his personality as former Gotham district attorney Harvey Dent and his psychopathic alter ego, has become such a big problem that even mob bosses in the fictional backdrop of Gotham City helped Batman bring him down. The comic shows the aftermath of a recent failed plot that had something to do with acid rain falling on Gotham and injuring hundreds of people, followed by the Batman receiving a unique request from Harvey Dent.

Read more

Justice League #1 Rebirth (review)

Justice League #1 Rebirth (review)
(DC Comics, September 2016)
Writer: Bryan Hitch

Writer Bryan Hitch has a better reputation as an artist than a writer. As a consequence of his efforts on a number of titles, Mr Hitch has developed notoriety as a “widescreen” artist, someone who draws blockbuster movie style action in comics.

“Justice League #1 Rebirth” features American comic book publisher DC Comics’ ensemble of most of its top tier superhero character properties. In this issue Mr Hitch has the superheroes gather to fend off a an immensely giant monster, which straddles Manhattan like a fly on a speck of blood. The creature is called a Reaper and it uses parasites to take control of and bring into its body the citizens of New York City. Some of the superheroes penetrate the body of the creature in an effort to stop it. One of them, Superman, uses his powers to cauterise some of the Reaper’s brain. The monster flies off into space. The comic evokes the kaiju genre of Japanese manga, of which we have spoken recently.

Read more

Dark Knight: A True Batman Story (Review)

“Dark Knight: A True Batman Story”
DC Comics, June 21 2016
Writer: Paul Dini

Contrary to both expectations and the title, DC Comics’ graphic novel “Dark Knight: A True Batman Story” is not about DC Comics’ Batman character. Rather, it revolves around writer and producer Paul Dini.

Mr Dini started his successful and multi-award winning career in the 1990s as a writer for Warner Bros, most notably for the animated series “Tiny Toon Adventures” and the iconic “Batman: The Animated Series”. But the main plot of “Dark Knight: A True Batman Story” hinges on an incident that happened to Mr Dini on an unspecified date. Mr Dini was walking home from a date and happened upon two men, who proceeded to beat him within an inch of his life before robbing him of his wallet. The entire incident absorbs but a few pages of this 100+ paged graphic novel. But it is a very powerful scene based upon an event which had a significant effect upon Mr Dini.

Read more