Review: "Poe Dameron" #8

Agent Terex wasn't necessarily a fan favorite among Star Wars comic readers. Poe Dameron's tight-lipped antagonist checked too many boxes of not just Star Wars, but Sci-Fi baddies in general. While writer Charles Soule managed to establish Poe Dameron as a somewhat distinct and layered character, Terex remained ironically bland at best. 

The more surprising (and definitely welcome) it is now that we get such a well-executed and entertaining origin story of the First Order agent, which even manages to tie in with some of the motives explored in The Force Awakens. The character goes through such a substantial and engaging transformation that one has to wonder why it took the comic eight issues to finally tell it. 

Poe Dameron was already the best Star Wars comic around, where intelligent storytelling, fresh characters and Phil Noto's wonderfully varied art make the galaxy feel truly alive. Now we got ourselves a credible villain as well.

8/10

Review: "Daredevil" #12

The cover of Daredevil #12 proclaims, quite luridly, that our blind hero is up "against the Inhumans" this time. There's undeniably some ironic boldness in that, even though we get a pretty decent (and entertaining) fight between Daredevil and an Inhuman. 

However, what writer Charles Soule tries to convey more than anything else is that this is not a struggle against something, but for something. In an unusually diplomatic approach, the Man Without Fear tries to build bridges rather than unnecessarily burn them in what is ultimately one of the more clever treatments of the relationship between Humans and Inhumans in a while. The hunt for the wonderfully haunting serial killer/artist named Muse serves here as the perfect platform to show where both sides may find common ground, but also where they ultimately still differ.  

And yes, I've mentioned it before, but I'll happily to it again. Ron Garney's art and Matt Milla's colors combine to what is probably the best looking comic of 2016.


9/10

Quickfire-Combo Reviews: "Poe Dameron" #6 / "Batgirl & The Birds of Prey" #2 / "All-Star Batman" #2

"Poe Dameron" #6: The galactic mouse hunt between Poe Dameron and Agent Terex continues to be a highly entertaining affair, and one of Marvel's best Star Wars comics to date. It's light, fun, and perfectly captures the Poe Dameron established in The Force Awakens.

8/10

"Batgirl & The Birds of Prey" #2: Neither Batman nor her father can convince Barbara Gordon to accept any help here, and the comic is all the better for it. Batgirl, Huntress and Black Canary wonderfully click in this series, with a plot that retains a clear focus on where its headed altogether.

8/10

"All-Star Batman" #2: 2016 has not been short of great Batman series, and one almost has to feel sorry for Tom King, whose excellent new take on the Dark Knight in the main series gets overshadowed by this beast of a comic book. The artistic freedom Snyder enjoys here makes All-Star Batman truly excel in every aspect, and one of DC Comics' highlight series of the year.

9/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Daredevil" #11 / "Supergirl" #1 / "Blue Beetle: Rebirth" #1

"Daredevil" #11: Soule, Garney and Milla do such an outstanding job with Daredevil right now, it's hard not to almost expect excellence from this series month after month by now. If you haven't started reading it, do it now!

9/10

"Supergirl" #1: It's everything you'd expect from it, which is not necessarily a good thing. Kara misses home, clashes with the D.E.O. and has a hard time integrating into her new environment. Solid, but too predicable.

6/10

"Blue Beetle: Rebirth" #1: What's going on? Why do Jaime and Ted have no chemistry whatsoever? Who are these villains? What do they want? Why could no one write a better comic? Who could possibly be interested in #1?

4/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Green Arrow" #5 / "Poe Dameron" #5 / "Daredevil/The Punisher" #4

"Green Arrow" #5: This terrific storyline ends with the blast it deserved, as Benjamin Percy skillfully concludes the conquest of The Inferno and Juan Ferreyra again displays his great artistic talent.

8/10

"Daredevil / The Punisher" #4: Charles Soule is one of the most prolific comic book writers around at this time, but this is easily his most outstanding piece of work right now. From the great chemistry of the two protagonists to an absolutely intriguing story and memorable art by Szymon Kudranski, this has it all.

9/10

"Poe Dameron" #5:  This has sneakily become the best Star Wars series on sale right now. Its mostly careless fun, with a tone that effortlessly fits into that established by The Force Awakens and a protagonist that feels less and less just like a Han Solo copy. 

8/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Aquaman" #4 / "Batman" #4 / "Daredevil" Annual #1

"Aquaman" #4: It's all pretty much what you'd expect, as the relationship between Atlantis and the USA deteriorates rapidly. It's good, but never really tries to do anything differently.

6/10

Batman #4: An unexpected and bloody twist for the "Gotham" heroes, and Batman teams up with an unlikely ally. Great coloring again, as King seems to find his voice already early as the series' main writer. 

8/10

"Daredevil" Annual #1: It's everything you'd expect from an "Annual". Unusual art, storytelling, the exploration of exciting support characters. An absolute blast.

9/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Daredevil" #10 / "Black Panther" #5 / "All Star Batman" #1

"Daredevil" #10: It takes a while for this new story arc to get out of the gates, but once in full swing, it is a thoroughly strong statement, artistically and narratively, from Soule and Garney.

8/10

"Black Panther" #5: Not quite the action yet promised after #4, but the interconnectedness and complexity of the comic's themes and motifs still makes this a must-read of 2016.

8/10

All Star Batman #1: Its theme of the potential evil which lurks in every common citizen and just needs to be triggered is nothing new in Snyder's Batman lore (just think of the "Mr. Bloom" story line). However, everything else here isn't, as Snyder, Romita and Shalvey go crazy with what Batman can be in 2016. 

10/10

Review: "Daredevil/The Punisher" #3

Did I mention how awesome this comic looks? Probably, but I'll just do it again. Szymon Kudranski and Jim Charalampidis do a thoroughly impressive job in creating a beautifully dark and washed out New York City at night, adding massively to the comic's atmosphere of constant threat. 

But not just the art is AAA here, as writer Charles Soule knows how to build up chemistry, not just between Daredevil and Blindspot, but also between Daredevil and the comics villains, which exceeds mere cheeky combat bon mots. A complete success throughout.  

9/10

Further Links:

Daredevil/The Punisher #1
Daredevil/The Punisher #2

Review: "Daredevil" #9

Probably nothing sums up this brilliant comic better than when Spider-Man tells Daredevil

"You've gotta do stuff like that every once in a while. Find the joy in what we are and what we can do."

It's pure, unadulterated fun as a hilariously out-of-character Daredevil and an in-form Spider-Man chase a mysterious briefcase over the rooftops of Macau and Hong Kong. It's all wonderfully rendered by artist Goran Sudzuka and colorist Matt Milla, as they create a night scenery of darkness and light which serves as the perfect backdrop for Daredevil's and Spider-Man's joyride. A catharsis of sorts not just for the comic's heroes, but also for writer Charles Soule, before Daredevil returns to the dark alleys of NYC again in the next issue. 

9/10

Further Links:

Daredevil #8

Daredevil/The Punisher #1

Daredevil/The Punisher #2

Keepin' It 360: "Poe Dameron" #4

Poe Dameron opens up a new chapter, and it's all the better for it, as the hard-boiled prison setting benefits the characters of Black Squadron. Phil Noto's art is unspectacular, but aesthetically in line with other current Star Wars comics, while writer Charles Soule fortunately resists the temptation of depicting Grakkus the Hutt too close to Jabba.

7/10

Further Links:

Poe Dameron #1

Poe Dameron #2

Poe Dameron #3

Keepin' It 360: "Daredevil/The Punisher" #2

It doesn't have quite the pace the first issue, and character dynamics are a bit off, but the comic still shines with its astonishing art scheme. Its black and gray color palette and the realization of Daredevil's radar sense stand out here particularly. While funny at times, it's Daredevil's gloomy inner conflict about right and wrong that impresses most.

8/10

Further Links:

Daredevil/The Punisher #1

Keepin' It 360: "Poe Dameron" #3

Fortunately, this is better than the sum of its parts. Clumsy and childish action scenes, a more than unsatisfying revelation of the "savior", and one and the same expression on Poe's face do tarnish the comic, but its entertaining character dynamics and vivid dialogues, paired with a ubiquitous love for Star Wars itself still make this a worthwhile read.

6/10

Further Links:

Poe Dameron #2

Poe Dameron #1

Review: "Star Wars: Poe Dameron" #2

Poe Dameron #2 is a solid and skillfully told comic, but suffers from the fact that writer Charles Soule never comes out of the comfort zone provided by well-established Star Wars tales and characters. 

There is Poe himself, who never manages to rise above the status of "Han Solo 2.0", the charming adventurer who can talk himself out of almost every situation. And Agent Terex is the cunning, opportunistic antagonist who plays by his own rules and only uses the First Order as a means for personal advancement, not because he necessarily agrees with their ideology. It's all well done and mostly entertaining, but fails to stand out compared to other of Marvel's recent Star Wars series. Artist Phil Noto, however, has found a clearer vision of where he wants to go with his art, offering an approach that is clearer and more outlined than in #1.

Star Wars fans will be glad to hear that they do get some additional information on Captain Phasma and the inner workings of the First Order. While we have to keep in mind that the comic is narratively limited by the comparably little information provided by the new Star Wars trilogy, a little bit more risk will definitely help this series going forward.

6/10

Further Links:

Poe Dameron #1

Keepin' It 360: "Daredevil" #8

Matt Murdock goes James Bond, as he goes to Macau to win big in a poker tournament. Sounds stupid, but is actually brilliant stuff, as writer Soule and artist Sudzuka meticulously dramatize the action on the poker table with tense inner dialogues and stunning art. We even get a bit of Daredevil, as he unexpectedly meets an old friend. Casino Royale, indeed.

9/10

Further Links:

Daredevil #7

Daredevil/The Punisher #1

Daredevil #6

Review: "Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin" #5

Unfortunately, Obi-Wan & Anakin doesn't end on a high note, as Soule can't figure out a way to conclude the story in a way that does justice to the excellent quality of the series so far. 

The conflict between The Open and The Closed is explained too superficially, while their reasoning and motivations are still only vague. The Scavenger as a metaphor for hope is underwhelming and would have benefited from more depth in its approach; and the fact that the comic's finale relies on a deus ex machina only further emphasizes its narrative weaknesses. 

But it's not all doom and gloom. Checchetto and Mossa's art uses the freedom offered by a planet appearing for the first time in Star Wars lore with a captivating, imaginative and detailed effort. The Scavenger herself is subject to an entertaining revelation, while Soule continues to grasp the essence of the Jedi philosophy like few others can. The whole series is still highly recommendable, especially if you're interested in the education and character development of Anakin. This last issue, however, is a bit of a let-down.


6/10

Further Links:

Obi-Wan & Anakin #4
Star Wars #19
Darth Vader #20

Keepin' It 360: "Daredevil" #7

This is easily the best comic of Soule's, Buffagni's and Milla's run at Daredevil so far. Elektra is a compelling focal point and (part-time) narrator of a story that offers an engaging mystery, intense character relations, clever twists and an overall tension that is impressively matched by an art style that is as breathtaking as it is imaginative.

9/10

Further Links:

Daredevil #6

Daredevil/The Punisher #1

Comic of the Day 14/5: "Star Wars: Poe Dameron" #1

To take on a character like Poe Dameron, who instantly became a fan favorite after his first appearance in The Force Awakens, but is still a relatively dark horse in the larger Star Wars universe at the same time, is no easy task. And how writer Charles Soule handles him is solid, although he doesn't always manage to work around the intricacies that are posed by the context of The Force Awakens.

The story, Poe and his Black Squadron trying to locate an explorer in the Outer Rim who could provide important information on the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker, is something Soule has proven to do more than well in his current Obi-Wan & Anakin series. Poe's relationship to BB-8 is warm, playful and always focuses on the strong bond between the two. It's definitely something the series should build upon in the future. Phil Noto's art is largely true to the movies and does a good job of capturing the character's emotions and illustrating a galaxy that feels pretty much alive, although he doesn't quite manage to capture the faster-paced action scenes here.

Princess Leia shines particularly here, as her wise, authoritarian tone perfectly rounds out the (unfortunately few) impressions we had of her in The Force Awakens. A chance has been missed though to give Poe more of an independent voice, as too much continues to remind of a young Han Solo. Although we can only guess how much freedom the creative team really has, with the Lucasfilm story group having such a firm grip on the overall lore of the Star Wars universe.

Some of the narrative holes that we encountered in The Force Awakens unfortunately persist here as well. Why is the Resistance called the Resistance, when it is part of the New Republic and should act out of a position of power? And why does the First Order act like they have any real political mandate, when they are really just operating from the underground? The comic does little to provide some context, only emphasizing the notion that the real reason is simply to be as close to A New Hope as possible. But again, it can only be speculation as to how much influence the creative team really has to tell their story.

Despite all the above issues, Poe Dameron #1 is still an extremely joyful and enjoyable affair that puts the series on firm ground going forward.

7/10

Further links:

Obi-Wan & Anakin #4
Obi-Wan & Anakin #3

Comic of the Day 12/5: "Daredevil/The Punisher" #1

Charles Soule and Daredevil is one of the great comic symbioses at the moment, and so it was only logical to see him also taking on this crossover with "The Punisher". And the stakes are even a bit higher this time, as the Daredevil/Punisher dynamic was one of the sole highlight of a more than mediocre second season of Netflix' Daredevil.

But what we get here is an almost flawless experience. Soule shines again with his ability to write dialogues that are both witty and nuanced, and his depiction of the Daredevil/Punisher relationship finds the perfect balance between adverseness and mutual respect. It's only the Punisher's reliance on a vast array of gadgets that feels slightly out of place in the overall context.

Artist Szymon Kudranski really knows how to stage a super hero, as it's particularly the transformation from Murdock to Daredevil that strikes with its sheer visual power and dynamic. His execution of the car chase sequence is simply breathtaking, while Jim Charalampidis' impressive grey color schemes lend the comic a sombre and threatening atmosphere. 

Daredevil/The Punisher #1 is an amazing achievement throughout, made possible by great contributions by the whole team behind it. 

9/10

Further links:

The Punisher #1
Daredevil #6

Comic of the Day 30/4: "Daredevil" #6

Charles Soule's, Matteo Buffagni's and Matt Milla's run at Daredevil did not leave a lot to ask for up until now, and with the start of a new story line ("Electric Connection"), they are proving that they can handle Elektra as well as anything else. 

The comic comes straight out of the gate with the fight between Daredevil, Elektra and Blindspot, and is only interrupted by flashbacks dealing with Elektra's reappearance in Matt Murdock's life (remember, she doesn't know any more it's one and the same person). Although Soule isn't able to keep the tension between the two on a constantly high level (telling a romantic story is not one of his fortes), he manages to pull off some truly thrilling scenes, exploring the Elektra/Matt dynamic in its full potential. And the final twist here is surprisingly unpretentious and unpredictable.

But it's the action scenes that shine brightest here. Fast, relentless, superbly choreographed and with a highly aesthetic interplay between light and shadow and a great interpretation of Blindspot, Buffagni and Milla deliver a true high point of the series so far. 

8/10

Comic of the Day 27/4: "Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin" #4

One of the issues with Obi-Wan & Anakin #3 was that it posed more questions than it actually answered. Consequently, one of Charles Soule's greatest achievements as a writer here is that he answers many of these questions without making the comic feel jam-packed with facts or information. Step by step he delivers small pieces of the bigger puzzle while maintaining a high level of suspense throughout. Marco Checchetto's art is impressively detailed and polished, even though some of the environment and creatures of Carnelion IV might feel alien to what audiences are accustomed to in the Star Wars universe. 

Obi-Wan & Anakin's second big story line is that of Anakin's training in the Jedi Temple and the gradual seduction by Palpatine. The dialogue is as excellent as always here, perfectly illustrating the nuanced cunning and plotting by the Chancellor. It's also intriguing to see the comic take a more critical stance on the recruitment of young Padawans in general. Anakin in particular is written with an exceptional depth and complexity that is missing from the main Darth Vader comic.

In just one issue, Charles Soule has managed to set the comic up for what will be its final instalment next month, filling in enough holes to focus entirely on the story's conclusion.