Blog

Legion of Superheroes #6
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Ryan Sook
Inks: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Ryan Sook

The latest issue of Legion of Superheroes kicks off with a LEVEL FIVE EMERGENCY! Which means its a high stakes, chaotic adventure that’s all over the place as the fight for Aquaman’s trident comes to a head. Bendis wraps things up with a massive battle between the Legion and Horraz Collective that for the most part delivers on the absolute craziness we’ve seen so far. With the title boasting a huge roster of characters things have been a mad rush from one to another but he’s been able to entertain and juggle everyone’s part quite well. The art team has been killing it in every issue so far and this one is no different. Sook’s art and panel layouts carry the frantic pace of the issue and every one of them looks fantastic coupled with Von Grawbadger’s inks and Bellaire’s colors which make it all just pop off the page.

The only letdown of this issue is the serious misdirection of the cover. The characters mentioned get a quick moments and if you squint hard enough you can see the Dr. Fate of the 31st Century. Other than this the first arc wraps quite nicely and hopefully we can find out whey they brought Superboy here in the first place. 3/5

Batman #92
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: James Tynion IV
Art: Guillem March
Colors: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover: Yasmin Putri w/ Tony Daniel

This has been a long awaited issue for more reasons than the pandemic that paused comics from hitting the stands for months. This issue finally gives readers the first full appearance of Joker’s new accomplice, Punchline. She’s been hyped up for months and Tynion does a nice job with her intro here that now my interest is actually piqued. Though it’s brief, her meeting with Harley and Catwoman is a high point of the issue. The Batman parts of the story are a bit hit and miss as the sequences with the Riddler and Deathstroke do deliver on several levels it’s the cliffhanger that doesn’t stick the landing with me. A lot of it being from what is revealed in Tynion’s story in Batman: Secret Files #3. Not going to spoil it for anyone but hopefully the Designer becomes a villain with bigger and better plans when the Joker War plays out later.

March and Morey do make things visually entertaining from start to finish this issue. Riddler’s design and progressive state of visual agitation are great as Batman begins to get the better of him. The page where Batman is pretty much giving Nygma a verbal middle finger as he manspreads in comfort is just a great looking page. Even if the misspelling of “bandana” is a bit distracting. The action sequences move well and even though we could have used more Catwoman, Harley, and Punchline action what we do get is quite good. The Underbroker’s design is stylish and coordinated even if you have to wonder how he breaths in that mask?

Overall, Batman #92 was solid but let’s hope things pick up and the stakes are higher in the upcoming issues. 3.5/5

Batman: Secret Files #3
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer(s): Vita Ayala, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Mariko Tamaki, Dan Watters, James Tynion IV
Artist(s): Andie Tong, Victor Ibanez, Riley Rossmo, John Paul Leon, Sumit Kumar
Colors: Alejandro Sanchez, Jordie Bellaire, Ivan Plascencia, FCO Plascencia
Letters: Rob Leigh, Troy Peteri, Tom Napolitano, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover: Guillem March & Tomeu Morey

Anthology comics are usually a hit-and-miss collection of stories but I have to say that this issue of Secret Files is more hit than miss. Kicking things off with a story by Vita Ayala and Andie Tong we get Batman attempting to stop Cheshire from murdering a good man. It’s a great look at good intentions, unmet expectations, and a much needed reality check for Batman. The Green Arrow team-up was surprisingly fun though the lull (at least for me) began with the “Muted” and “Afraid of America” stories. They just didn’t hit as well and the main draw for both were the art styles that moved the narratives. Tynion’s story is the one that actually ties into what’s currently happening in the main Batman title. And though it sheds some light on the Joker’s plans it’s a direct reason why I wasn’t took excited about the cliffhanger for Batman #92.

If you’re into anthology titles and done-in-one stories then I’d say you should check out Secret Files. Maybe there’s something in here for you. 3/5

Infinite Speech
infinitespeech@comicattack.net