On this, the Fourth of July, we as a country should come together and reflect on what this holiday is all about, even if all it means to you is eating things roasted over flame and sparkly things coming out of the sky. The point is, this is a special time for everyone in some way. There are a few books that’ll help drive the point home (after it’s had too much to drink).
iZombie 27 (Roberson/ Allred): As the series wraps up, this issue works to bring all the story threads together and get everyone ready for the end of the world, or perhaps just a tiny part of it. This isn’t uncommon for stories getting close to the end of their run, but this issue elevates the process to new, weird, funny, weird, epicly weird heights. It’s kinda weird.
The story is about a sentient zombie who remembers other people’s lives easier than her own, trying to build a life for herself now that she’s undead. Her successes and failures have resulted in a number of circles she associates with, some just hang out, some share secrets, others she works with, and for most of the series they’ve been kept apart. Now they’ve crashed together in a way the reader will either laugh at or find contriving. I laughed, but I could see people having the other reaction.
Most of the book focuses on things falling out of the sky, people focusing on the things in the sky, and eating, so this is almost a flagship July 4th book. This was fun, but if you’re not already buying it, you may be better served waiting for the collection.
Batman Earth One HC (Johns/ Frank): Batman’s origin has been told and retold about as many times as Dracula’s. Maybe bats just crave fresh beginnings, I couldn’t say. What I will say is that the origin according to Geoff Johns and Gary Frank is a gorgeously comprehensive story. It doesn’t just get Batman started, but many secondary cast members as well. It takes plenty of liberties, and while a few may inspire some head scratching, most of them weave together into something well worth reading.
For the purists out there, a few things are worth noting. First, this isn’t just a Bat-centric story, this is a Bat-only story. No mention or hint of any other characters from DC are visible, so don’t go in hoping to see nods to Metropolis or Coast City. Another thing is that this version of Gotham obeys more physical and chemical laws as we understand them. A grapple gun will jam if not made well, people don’t mutate into superstrong creatures or criminal masterminds, and if a guy falls off a building, he’s going to hurt on the way down, even if he’s wearing a cape. This Batman isn’t a genius strategist, and when he gets into a fight, he takes damage. This makes for a flawed Caped Crusader, but one that you feel for more.
Hero Worship 1 (Penn/ Murphy): Everyone’s had this dream at some point: while on a tour to see the greatest celebrity working, you get pulled out of the crowd to fill in some bit role, and become a star yourself. That’s the set-up for this story, mashing it up with superpowers and a pinch of global industrial conspiracy.
Adam Robeson is the kind of kid who would bleed average if you poked him. He likes girls, he loves the internet, he doesn’t like being at home. When he is selected to go on an all-expenses paid trip to see the headquarters of the world’s only active superhero, he’s ready to accept it’ll be the moment his life peaks. The premise isn’t new, and there aren’t any risks taken in the telling.
For all that, the execution is solid. The pacing is smart, subtle clues point to Adam having the attitude of someone that could be a hero, and the dialogue doesn’t come off as under- or over-written. Penn’s a screenwriter that’s had a hand in several recent superhero movies, so it’d be a shame if he couldn’t put a story together. Scott Murphy’s art brings a realism to the project as well, grounding it a bit.
Infernal Man-Thing 1 of 3 (Gerber/ Nowlan): The first thing I wondered about this title is “Are they trying to trump Giant-Size Man-Thing for double-entendre potential?” A few pages will reveal that while this COULD be the case, there is more to it than that.
Man-Thing, the empathic bog monster, is dying slowly and painfully. Someone he saved long ago may be the cause; he may be the solution, too. Many parts of the book reference an issue that came out in the 70s, and for those of us whose memories don’t go back that far, a reprint of that issue follows the new story. Two comics for the price of one isn’t bad.
Part memorial piece, part sequel, this continues one of the late Steve Gerber’s most popular Man-Thing stories. It’s one he completed his work on years ago, but he died before it was ready for publication. The results are surreal, haunting, and incredible to look at.
Amazing Spider-Man 689 (Slott/ Camuncoli): I’m not sure if anyone’s heard, but there’s a movie coming out this week. It’s about a young man who wears red and blue tights that fights a big green guy with scales who used to be a smaller white guy without scales or a right arm. This is NOT the comic book version of this movie - for one thing, this book has a vampire, as is now required of every book ever.
The heart of this story is Nature vs. Nurture. Morbius the Living Vampire (just go with it...) believes both he and Curt Connors, the Lizard, suffer from a lack of empathy leading to their violent behaviors because they were transformed into inhuman creatures. He convinces everyone that if they’re cured, they’ll go back to being better people. Spider-Man argues that some experiences change you, no matter what your shape is, and that since the Lizard ate Connors’ son, there’s nothing human left. At this point in the story, there’s nothing certain yet, but it looks like Spider-Man’s right, however he’s too distracted to do much about it.
There are some fairly intense themes playing out in this, and it becomes clear that Spider-Man’s starting to crack a bit due to the weight. The art has some John Romita Sr. flavor to it, and it works well. If you’re looking for something to go with your theater experience, this will satisfy most, but younger readers may not be ready for it.
That’s all for this week! Please, when setting off explosives of any kind, follow all safety procedures, keep a fire extinguisher handy, and if you don’t, post what happens on YouTube so others may learn from your mistakes or add hilarious audio commentary.
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