New Comics for the Week of Wednesday, 1/11/17

All the comics from my pull list for this week :-) 

Last Week's Comics, Ranked. (28/12/16)

A highly subjective ranking of a selection of last week's comics (28/12/16).

1. Wonder Woman #13
2. Mother Panic #2
3. Star Wars #26
4. All-Star Batman #5
5. Dark Knight III: The Master Race #7
6. Deadpool: Too Soon #3
7. Black Widow #9
8. Action Comics #970
9. Captain America: Steve Rogers #8
10. Batman Beyond #3
11. Detective Comics #947

Review: "Green Arrow" #12

While never considerably exceeding expectations or delivering that one special moment, Green Arrow is probably the most consistent of all the "Rebirth" comics. #12 is no exception here, as Oliver Queen needs to cope with the media attention that his reemergence necessarily entailed, while also plotting to antagonise two of his nemeses.  

It is especially Benjamin Percy's love for the character Oliver Queen, thoroughly felt in his playful characterizations, that give Green Arrow this special spark. And even though Percy's take on Queen and his environment are often a bit too superficial (ham monologues included), his insistence on bold and controversial political issues make the comic relevant and challenging at the same time. Combine all that with Otto Schmidt's edgy art and bright and distinct color palette, and you have comic that is satisfying on almost every level.

8/10

Review: "Batman: Annual #1"

What better way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year than with a Batman Annual? And 2016's entry, written and pencilled by some of the finest Batman heads of recent years (King, Snyder, Dini, Finch, Adams) certainly looks like it could give us some of that renowned Gotham Christmas spirit.

By both delivering on the Annual's quintessential promise of telling another story (both narratively and visually) and effectively capturing the uniting, disarming spirit of Christmas, Batman Annual #1 ends up being cheerful and insightful, private and public, grand and intimate, all at the same time. Whether it's the emotional tale of a rescue dog, a road trip with an unlikely companion, the introduction of an altogether new villain or a virtuoso treatment of the unexplored niches and moods of the Batman universe by Scott Snyder, it's an instant Batman Christmas classic. Just like "Merry Christmas From The Joker", this will be another must see/read for many Christmases to come.

10/10

Review: "Super Powers" #1

Not really knowing what it wants to be is probably Super Powers' biggest problem. Rated "E", writers Art Baltazar and Franco want the comic to appeal to children as well as to adults, but make the crucial mistake of imagining a children's story meant for grown-ups, instead of creating a proper one that can be enjoyed by older audiences as well. Ads for the comic that run even as recent as this week suggest the comic was supposed to have an entirely different story in some key areas. An assumption backed up by the comic's frequent lack of cohesion. 

The same, unfortunately, goes for Super Power's art. Although appealingly drawn by Art Baltazar, its simplistic style and crooked lines are again overtly self-referential and self-aware. There is still enough time for this six-part series to turn things around, but Super Powers needs to find a coherent tone and approach to convince.

4/10

Review: "Mother Panic" #1

The first time a new universe or protagonist gets introduced in a comic is always something special, for readers and writers/artists alike. What makes them special? How can they be differentiated from existing heroes/villains? 

DC's Young Animal's Mother Panic, written by Jody Houser and illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards, has a lot of safety nets to fall back on to when doing all the above. Set in Gotham City, the comic has its environment and atmosphere already cut out for it. And what an environment that is. Edwards does an impressive job of capturing the claustrophobia and constant threat that permeates every bit of Gotham's architecture.

The sense of safety and familiarity also pervades the comic's protagonist and hero, Violet Paige. While it is certainly refreshing to see a rich female socialite for a change, she is still a Gotham socialite. While a fresh take on the concept could have still been interesting, Houser, unfortunately, relies too much on well-known stereotypes (including her family "situation) in her characterization of Violet.

A definite advantage for Mother Panic, though, is how clearly and entertainingly it establishes a storyline and villain, letting readers know what this will be about from the outset. It surely is the most straightforward and accessible of the "Young Animal" titles so far, and by adding a few tweaks for its protagonist could be even more compelling in the issues to come.

8/10

Last Weeks Comics, Ranked. (9/11/16)

Another highly subjective ranking of some of last week's comics. Get some of them while still on shelves.

1. "Daredevil" #13 - 9/10
2. "Wonder Woman" #10 - 9/10
3. "Mother Panic" #1 - 8/10
4. "All Star Batman" #4 - 8/10
5. "Doom Patrol" #10 - 8/10
6. "Poe Dameron" #8 - 8/10
7. "Power Man and Iron Fist" #10 - 7/10
8. "Captain America: Steve Rogers" #7 - 7/10
9. "Batgirl and the Birds of Prey" #4 - 7/10
10. "Action Comics" #967 - 7/10
11. "Detective Comics" #944 - 6/10