This time Waid has decided to bring our heroes to Skartaris to see Warlord and his supporting cast. That is a tiny corner of the DCU and, as far as I know, one that hasn't been explored in a while. Maybe a bit in the last Young Justice book? Maybe one of the villains from the Convergence event a while back? But I wonder if this will be the first Warlord book for many readers?
One of the best things about this book is that Waid has had free reign to go any where he wants to in this book and bring in any characters he wants to as well. Given this is an elsewhen book, looking back in the DC continuity, Waid can give us classic takes while freshening things up. As always, the young Dick Grayson Robin has the best lines.
This issue is the opening chapter so we don't get too much backstory and instead are dropped right in. We'll see where this goes.
Adrian Gutierrez knows his assignment and brings us some great dinosaur action, fun sword and sorcery battles, and some of the sexiness that was a crucial part of the Mike Grell book back in the day. The art is the best part of this issue.
We get dropped in the action with Batman and Robin standing in a jungle over an unconscious Superman. Great point of view page by Gutierrez.
I laughed out loud at Robin's dialogue. Not a bad first page reaction to get me excited to read the rest of the book.
We then flashback to how our heroes got there.
Initially Robin thinks they are flying north to go to the Fortress.
Waid riffing on the Kryptonian Thought Beast without naming it formally made this old timer chuckle, especially Batman's more scientific take on how silly the concept is.
The heroes get dragged through the portal to Skartaris where Superman is knocked out by a T. Rex.
Batman, Robin, and the awakened Superman try to subdue it but the thing is killed by the Warlord. Great opening shot of him!
He is trying to quell a war started by someone named Tyrant Rex.
Superman does something silly, deciding he needs to bury the T. Rex honorably.
His powers are a bit wonky in Skartaris which is basically a magical land.
So while burying the beast, he is attacked by reptile men who stab him with a spear and take him out.
Interesting silhouetted panel construction here by Gutierrez. Almost like a scene on a Grecian urn.
Meanwhile, we get some exposition from Warlord to the Dynamic Duo.
Time travels oddly in Skartaris. Morgan has been there for a lifetime. Kreitzer has been there for years (even though he just disappeared in our world). How will this impact our heroes if they are able to get back.
I think Waid does a great job teaching readers about the character and the place without it feeling forced or stilted.
And then my favorite moment.
Warlord introduces his band of allies to Batman and Robin including Tara, Mariah, and Shakira all of whom are in the Grell state of semi-undressed. Gutierrez channels things perfectly.
Mariah was always my fave growing up.
But Robin, eyes wide and hair ... erect ... saying he wants to love there made me truly laugh. Think good thoughts chum!
And then the cliffhanger.
Kreitzer is Tyrant Rex. And he has Superman.
This really was a true first chapter, just setting up the scene and story. But it grabbed me. This book has always been one of the most entertaining on the rack. I am never let down.
Overall grade: B+
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