Dark Crisis

For the last couple of years, I have felt that DC Comics has been a company that has been creatively in a state of disarray. 

The company being bought and sold a couple of times might be the foundation of this issue. COVID delaying things for while didn't help. But leadership changes definitely are a big part of that feeling. There were a number of 'events' unfolding at the same time, overlapping each other, and delaying each other's finales.  The '5G' future that now-gone Dan Didio wanted has been a carcass that DC has picked at for a while. With Future State bringing in 'the future' and introducing us to Jon and Yara as mantle-wearers, it seems DC just didn't know where they were going.

Except for Batman books. They knew they were going there.

Recently the news of the latest event was released. Writer Joshua Williamson is going to write Dark Crisis, a book that he describes as a 'love letter' to the DCU. Art will be done by a recent favorite of mine, Daniel Sampere. There are plenty of stories out there about this but here is one:https://www.gamesradar.com/dc-dark-crisis/

Now it sounds like The Great Darkness, perhaps the one that has been hinted at in Brian Michael Bendis' Legion book is the 'anti-God' that was behind the American Gothic storyline waaayyyy back in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run. Seems odd to have something so metaphysical and religious be the basis of a Crisis but here we are.

Meanwhile, we also got this nugget:

Review: Superman Son Of Kal-El #8

Superman Son of Kal-El #8 came out this week and something is missing.

I wish I could say what it is that just didn't work for me this issue. It just reads somewhat flat. I felt no passion as I read this book which should have coaxed more emotion and energy out of me. There are moments that should have packed a punch. There are emotional scenes that should have tugged at me. 

Writer Tom Taylor is bringing us a different Superman these days, young and socially conscious. This story is a comment on climate change and damage being done to the ocean. Jon is getting more embroiled in an international conflict with Gamorran president Bendix. But even that, including President Bendix's odd world domination plan, seems off. And yes, I am still wondering if Jay Nakamura is not a good guy.

Artist Cian Tormey is back for this second issue and I definitely like his work. There is a lot of water spouts, waves, and splashes in this book. Aqualad is manipulating water. Jon is flying around saving people. It is all visually appealing. Even the drab Gamorra Corps has a great panel. 

I don't know what to say. It wasn't boring by any means. But it wasn't gripping. Maybe someone more articulate than me can help.

On to the specifics.

DC Superhero Girls: #WhySoBlue

I recently have rediscovered the DC Superhero Girls animated shorts on Boomerang and I have been enjoying them immensely. This is a complete Elseworlds with a brash, opinionated, 'punch first, think second' Supergirl but that works in this universe where characters are mainly defined by one attribute. Supergirl is the 'punk' in the group, right down to being cast as the Judd Nelson character in an episode inspired by The Breakfast Club movie, something I will cover soon, I promise.

What I like about the show is that while one aspect of the character dominates, there is room for growth and some subtlety. Kara loves cute bunnies. She is a bit of a geek, getting into role playing games and video games.

In #WhySoBlue, we see Kara learn a lesson about patience and giving people second chances. She has to keep Ted Kord, who has decided to be the super-hero Blue Beetle, from killing himself. But she isn't sure he is cut out for it. 

I would also love to meet the creators or writers of the show to see if they are big comic fans. I see things that could be homages to comic books but I don't know if I am overthinking. On to the show!

Review: Dark Knights Of Steel #4

Dark Knights of Steel #4 came out last week, a flashback issue to give us some background into The Batman's history. I have been enjoying this book much more than I thought I would. So far it has been a wild ride. Death every issue. Politics a plenty. And some new takes on classic characters.

Writer Tom Taylor continues to push this title forward with this issue. I had some theories about where this book was going and as usual, I was wrong. I thought for sure Taylor would make Jor-El a bit vile. Instead he remains mostly virtuous. I have to say the reveal of who the Green Man is has been the only sort of misstep I have felt so far. We shall see.

Old Supergirl friend, artist Bengal steps in for Yasmine Putri. Given that this is mostly a flashback issue, the artistic change works. Even when this is in a trade, the switch will flow well. I think Bengal has a great smooth style. His work here is great. I love the warmth he brings to characters. And while I haven't been getting the variant covers here, I couldn't resist this Joshua Middleton take on Harley. Fantastic.

On to the particulars!

Review: World Of Krypton #3

World of Krypton #3 came out this week, the halfway point of this new mini-series re-telling and re-thinking the story behind Krypton's destruction. We know the end of this story but frankly things have been tweaked many times since Rebirth, heck since the Crisis. Jor-El has been evil. Zor-El has been evil. Kara has been evilly manipulated by her father. Heck, most recently Rogol Zaar blew up Krypton. All that is in the past.

Writer Robert Venditti and artist Michael Avon Oeming bring a more classic take on the story. Jor-El and Zor-El are friends. Lara and Alura are just as smart. They all care for each other and their world. And they are all trying to save Krypton. 

Venditti is really giving us a lot to chew on. The concern for Krypton's destruction seems to be known for years. Jor-El and Zor-El are doing their best to bring the problem in front of the right eyes. In the meantime, the political environment of Krypton is just as combustible. Zod is trying to bring order to the world, with an iron fist. There are enough echoes of this world for me to see the writing on the world. But so far, it isn't too heavy-handed. This is a story about Krypton, not a preaching about Earth.

The best thing of this issue for me though is a brief look at the precocious dreamer that is Kara Zor-El. If I ever needed to see a clever Kara dreaming under the stars, it is now.

Oeming is a star in this issue. The panels have been intriguing in this book, sort of like computer screens. But everything else is stunning here. The Science Council, Zod's police tactics, the environment ... Oeming is bringing it here. It is incredible. Just impressive.

On to the book.

Review: Superman & Robin Special #1

One of the best things that I feel came out of DC Rebirth was the introduction of a tween Jon Kent and his subsequent friendship with Damian Wayne. The Super Sons was always a great read as it was sort of World's Finest Lite, with the differing personalities of the sons adding nice fodder for plot and characterization. Under the writing of Peter Tomasi, we got to see the two boys grow, learn to respect each other, and get into wild hijinks. 

Brian Michael Bendis took over the Superman books and in the midst of that run had Jon age up about 6 years. This wasn't an instant aging. Jon was stuck in another dimension where he was tortured for what felt like 6 years. Back in the main DCU, only months passed. Suddenly we had a near Superman. Unfortunately that meant that it wouldn't be easy to have anymore Super Sons books. While we did get another mini-series, it was a flashback. You can only go to the well so often that way. And it was a shame because I loved those Sons books.

Last week, Peter Tomasi got one more bite at the apple, coming out with Superman & Robin Special #1, a team-up between Jon and Damian, now in their current DCU forms. In some ways, it reads a little sad because both Jon and Damian realize that maybe it'll be a little weird to hang out like they used to. In some ways it is confusing, as Tomasi includes some dialogue that seems off-continuity or not just right. In some ways it is nostalgic as Tomasi references things he put into his Superman run which his now several years old. But in many ways, it read like a Super Sons story filled with crazy twists and wild action. As such, I enjoyed this.

Add to that the art by New Super-Man artist Viktor Bogdanovic. The boys looks great. The action is wild. And everything flows very well. There is some big action here as well as some quieter emotional scenes. They all shine on the page.

On to the book and the particulars. 

Review: Superman '78 #6

Superman '78 #6 came out last week marking the end of this mini-series and making me want a sequel immediately.

Writer Robert Venditti and artist Wilfredo Torres absolutely captured the feel, tone, and look of the Donner Superman universe. They gave us the Lois and Perry and Lex we know from those movies. And they also gave us Brainiac, a villain they made somewhat sympathetic.

But they main thing they did here was give us a Clark that was instantly recognizable. This is a Clark who won't give up, who understands goodness, and who inspires. If you want to give someone a book that epitomizes who Superman is and what he stands for, this is a pretty good book. 

Torres continues to shine, giving us great likenesses and fantastic action. The art definitely brings out the emotions these characters are feeling. In particular, the scenes with Lois just sing.

It all feels like it ended too quickly. How I would have loved 3 or 6 more issues of this team doing this Superman. Maybe this will sell well enough to get us a sequel. And while we are at it, maybe we can get a Supergirl '84 book too!

On to the specifics!