New Comic Day July 5

In addition to picking up my second copy of Casanova #1 reviewed two weeks ago, I picked up the follwing gems. This week's theme will be: "Reason to buy this book."

Teen Titans #37

So it looks like this is the last issue with the Doom Patrol in it (thank god). I actually feel like I was buying a Teen Titans instead of "Doom Patrol featuring the Teen Titans because Geoff Johns has a man-crush on them." I didn't mind this issue as much as the others because Dr. Niles Caulder (aka The Chief) gets his comeupins for manipulating the Doom Patrol team members and we get to see just how important Cyborg is to the Titans through the eyes of temporary members during the missing one year. That aspect of the issue is nicely done by Johns, though it's just a way to introduce more characters. Robin's efforts to bring Superboy back from the dead by cloning him is also well done as it shows how much he cared about his friend. Though again there is some problems here as I can't recall a particular instance when he was alive that they were showed to be really close.

Tony Daniel's art is hit and miss with me. Some panels look really great and others not so much. Sometimes his characters are flat and static while at other times very dynamic. It's somewhat jarring. As a bonus, this is the first time I noticed the inking! The last 4 or so pages were obviously done by a different inker than the rest of the book. When I noticed this, I checked the credits and sure enough, two inkers: Kevin Conrad and Norm Rapmund. It would have been nice to have consistancy within the issue, but maybe they were trying for a different mood. I dunno, I'm not that deep.

Reason to buy this book: A disembodied brain in a newly cloned body declares his love to his intelligent servant ape. As Chris Sims is wont to say: You are now freaking out.


Y: The Last Man #47

We finally get the backstroy og Dr. Mann with this issue. I thought it was entertaining and showed her development from child to adult rather well. There are also hints as to who/what is really behind the event that killed all the men. Good thing too as this series is coming to a close with issue #60 and there's alot of loose ends to tie up.

The issue opened a bit weird though as Dr. Mann is bleeding profusely yet she seemed fine after last issue despite being stabbed in the shoulder. She kind of explains it at the end saying after she miscarried she expected some long term effects, so I guess that's the reason. Still, an odd opening.

Reason to buy this book: Titties!


Detective Comics #821

Here's the first offering from new creative team Paul Dini (of Batman: the Animated Series fame) and J.H. Williams III and damn is it good. I can't recall the last time I picked up a monthly in-continuity Bat-title but I'm glad I'll be getting this one regularly.

Dini gives us a "done-in-one" story where it is told from Batman's perspective. It empasizes the detective part of Batman where there is a new villain in town stealing from Gotham's elite and Bats has to figure out how he's doing it and who he is. The opening action sequence hooks us in and we then get to see some good character interaction between Batman and Comissioner Gordon. However, their dialogue is a bit to expositiony to seem natural and the same information could have been gained through a narrative from Batman while perusing case files in the Batcave. But I think Dini wanted to get Gordon in there so it's a bit of a trade off. We also get the sense of how much Batman cares about Robin when he won't let him help with the case because they are dealing with an unknown player. Alfred's dialogue is brilliant. Dry, sarcastic wit that you would expect from a Brit.

We are right there with Batman as he puts the pieces together and the journey is highly enjoyable. Excellent first issue from Dini.

The art from J.H. Williams III is great and some of his page layouts are very nice. The choice to highlight exactly where Batman is hitting his opponent in the opening sequence is a neat idea. Batman is always shown to be somewhat in the shadows just as he should be. Good stuff all around.

Reason to buy this book: Batman is a total player and thinks the word "corn" in his narrative.