Unplug This Cable

When I first heard about the new monthly Cable and X-Force series, I thought: Good.  There's one title I don't have to worry about picking up.  Why?  Because Cable is a product of the awful 90s when comic books took a downward turn.  As are Domino and Dr. Nemesis.  Forge was interesting when he first came on the scene in the 1980s and romanced Storm, but then he, too, jumped on the 90s bandwagon.  No longer was it about storylines, character development, superpowers, or quality art.  It was all about misshapen, disproportionate men and women carrying weaponry.  It was about multiple issue covers, holograms, and foil-embossed covers.  In other words, anything to generate additional sales and not giving quality in return. 

However, (and you knew there had to be a "however"), when I heard that Salvador Larroca would be doing the artwork, I had to give it a shot.  He was amazing on Iron Man.  The detail that he puts into his art is astounding.  The characters look so real...and attractive.  To top it off, one of my favorite under-utilized characters -- Colossus -- was going to be on the team.  Colossus mixed with the Juggernaut = BAD.  Colossus mixed with Kitty Pryde/Shadowcat (or whatever name she goes by today) = GOOD.  Even though Kitty wasn't going to be a part of the team and they're not "together," I still wanted to see what was going to be done with Piotr Rasputin.  

Sadly, after reading the first four issues of the series, I'm disappointed.  The writer, Dennis Hopeless, provides no character development.  Instead, we're treated to some ridiculous storyline about aliens at a company.  Worse, Larroca's art doesn't seem up to par.  The art doesn't jump off the page like it did in Iron Man.  It lies there flat.  The cover art by Larroca is fantastic, but the interior art is disappointing.  

I think Cable and X-Force will soon be pulled from my Pull List.

Batman STINKcorporated

I'll say it again:  I am not a fan of Grant Morrison. And I still don't understand why DC chooses him over many talented other writers when he writes incomprehensible stories.  During the New 52 reboot, he was given the task of not only writing another Batman Incorporated series, but also the new Action Comics starring Superman.  I read neither.  

Now they supposedly go and kill off Damian Wayne in Batman Incorporated.  Let's discuss this.  DC chooses to do this dramatic story in Batman Incorporated and not in the Batman and Robin that I do read?  Isn't Batman Incorporated supposed to be about the many Batmans or Batman-like characters around the world?  Instead, the latest Batman Incorporated series has just been another Batman and Robin title.  WTF, DC?  Seriously.  

Whatever happened to the Batman Incorporated concept?  And why does this title even exist when it's just another Batman and Robin title?  Is Robin the Inc. in Incorporated?  

No, I'm not going to cave and start buying another freakin' Batman title just because DC decides to give Grant Morrison free reign with a title.  Kill Robin, see if I care.  But I won't read another Grant Morrison written comic again.   

This Joker's No Joke

After Batman's lame reboot in DC's New 52 with the never-ending Court of Owls saga, they followed it up with one of the best Batman stories ever: "Death of the Family."  Yes, it mimicked the original late 1980s "Death in the Family" title to try to grab some headlines and piggyback on that popular story's sales, but we'll forgive DC for that cheap marketing tactic.  

"Death of the Family" gave us the New 52 version of the Joker.  And he is freakin' scary.  How scary is he?  He removed his own face and then loosely reattached it.  And with every issue, the reattached face decomposed more and more as it barely clung to him, tied only with strings, with flies buzzing around the decayed skin.  Twisted!  

The story involved Joker haunting the entire Batman family of superheroes, including Robin, Red Robin, Nightwing, Red Hood, Catwoman, and Batgirl (alas, no Batwoman), and the stories ran into their own individual titles.  This is the story DC should have rebooted the Batman series with, but I can see why they'd save it in their back pocket. 

I was a little disappointed in reading the conclusion of the storyline in Batman #17.  I thought, "That's it?"  However, after a closer second reading, I appreciated it more.  It established an interesting (new) bond between Batman and Joker, and delved a bit more deeply into the Joker's past than ever before.  Joker's still up to his games all in the name of dark humor, but they're much more serious and deadly.  And I like it.  This Joker is extremely psychotic, making him all the more interesting.  I'd love to see even more character development with this new Joker.  

All in all, DC did a fantastic job with the entire "Death of the Family" storyline in Batman, including all of the related titles.  I hope they collect all 23 issues in one chronological graphic novel.  That would make for one fantastic gift.  

I give DC an "A" for effort and an "A" for content, and it almost makes up for the ongoing Owls saga (know when to quit!).  Let's hope the next time we see the Joker, he's paired with the new, darker Harley Quinn (aka Harlequin). 

The Bionic Mayhew

I received my monthly shipments of comics in the mail the other day.  As I was going through all of them -- BAM!! -- immediately the cover of Bionic Man #16 stuck out.  This was one sexy Steve Austin.  As soon as I saw the artist signature, I knew why.  It was drawn by Mike Mayhew, who also turned in a sexy vision of Hawkeye naked and tied to a chair, a la James Bond in Casino Royale.  This was the best I've ever seen Steve Austin look since the Bionic Man series from Dynamite Comics started.  It wasn't just the muscles, it was the handsome face and styled hair.  It's been awhile since I really stared and studied a beautiful cover.  It took this particular cover to do the trick. To me, Mike Mayhew is sadly underutilized.  He not only draws comics, he creates stunning works of art.  I look forward to seeing much, much more of his work.