Reviews – Batman Inc #4, Daredevil Reborn #3, Hellraiser, Dark Knight #2

Batman Incorporated #4

Written by Grant Morrison

Art by Chris Burnham

Review by Colin

Grant Morrison has been hit or miss for me.  He always has the big ideas, but sometimes it seems too big, too confusing or not complete.  I always admire what he is attempting, but I also understand those of you who pass on his stuff as confusing.  So far, Batman Inc hasn’t wowed me.  Interesting but a lot of “What’s going on?” thought reading it.  Well, #4 is a winner in all accounts.  An engaging story, telling a tale across time seamlessly.  You didn’t always know exactly where you were or what was going on, but it was a fun read.  There was a fast food chain (Hardees?) who advertised a burger as The $6Burger, but it only cost $3.99.  That’s how I feel about this book.  It is only $2.99, but you get $5 worth of story.  And the end sets up future issues leaving you wanting more.

A quick note on the art.  The first 3 issues were by Yannick Paquette.  Very nice art, especially how he drew Catwoman.  This issue was drawn by Chris Burnham.  I was not familiar with his name before.  Well, lets just say that he made a VERY good first impression.  I will be actively seeking out his other and future work.  He created a style that went from the 40s through current, clearly indicating the time period.  And his Batwoman is as good as JH Williams.  The page layouts were not as creative as Williams, but the actualk character drawings were just as good.  I hope he stays on this book for a long time.

Daredevil Reborn #3

Written by Andy Diggle

Art by Davide Gianfelice

Review by Colin

As most of you know, Daredevil is my favorite character.  His is one of the few titles that I have a full run of and have read every issue ever published.  So, I really like the character.  I was not thrilled with Shadowland.  It felt like an editorial decision rather than the natural result of the story that had started with Bendis and gone through Brubaker.  It read like there was a meeting and it was decided to have a big event with 14 spin off books.  In the end, Daredevil fell from grace.  Again.  So he decided to go walkabout to the southwestern US.  I feel that I read this before.  Stranger in a town that doesn’t want him.  Cousnelling a young blind boy.  Confronted by corrupt local cops.  It just feels out of place.  Like a file story that some one wrote any time.  He is not redeeming himself.  He is acting on instinct.  This whole issue was him fighting cops and stealing a truck.  Where Batman Inc was worth every penny of its $2.99, this one leaves you wanting more meat, especially for $3.99.  Maybe something important will happen in issue #4.  But so far, not enough has happened to warrant most people to bother with it.

Hellraiser #1

Written by Clive Barker & Christopher Monfette

Art by Leonardo Manco

Review by Colin

I am not the target audience for this book.  I saw the original Hellraiser on videotape in college when it first came out.  Yes, it was a looooong time ago.  But I am familiar enough with the characters to know what is going on.  After and initial torture and dismemberment (didn’t see that coming), the book takes an interesting turn.  Pinhead is bored.  He has seen as much blood as one could want to see.  So, he makes a decision to change things up.  Everything was good up until the end.  And that is not completely the fault of the writers, but of me and not being familiar with the characters.  Apparently Pinhead has a previous relationship with this character and that will be important.  Overall, it was good and the main plot is enough to make me want to see where this is going to go.

Batman The Dark Knight #2

Written and Drawn by David Finch

Reviewed by Colin

If you don’t like the Morrison Batman, this is the Batman book for you.  Missing person.  Killer Croc and Penguin.  Batman out-thinking a room full of armed henchmen.  Batman left in a death-trap.  Ragman looking decidedly demonic.  Etrigan the Demon.  And, the price has dropped form the original $3.99 to the line-wide $2.99.  What more could you ask for?  Well, hopefully issue #3 won’t be 2 months late.