A Week in Comics: April 7, 2010

This week was light on a few good comics – comics I can afford at least. But in any case, let's just get on to the reviews. I don't have to tell you that there's going to be spoilers!

Batman and Robin #11 

Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Andy Clarke
Inks: Scott Hanna
Price: $2.99

“Batman and Robin” has been one of my all time favorite ongoing series, and that’s all thanks to the writing of Grant Morrison. I’ve read some of Morrison’s previous work with DC Comics – including “All Star Superman” which is one of the best Superman comics I ever read – and this is probably some of his best work yet on Batman.

If you didn’t know already, the original Batman – Bruce Wayne – died (technically sent back in time) at the end of “Final Crisis” and former boy wonder Dick Grayson took the mantle of the Bat. Joining him as his sidekick is Bruce’s son Damian Wayne taking over the identity of Robin.

This issue has Batman in the middle of his investigation under Wayne Manor in a seemingly unknown section that no one knew about.

Meanwhile up-top, Robin and Oberon Sexton – introduced in the fourth issue of the series – are confronted by the 99 Fiends (really just 3 guys), a mysterious group of assassins with no clear motives except to kill Sexton and Robin.

A fight ensues and at the end of it Sexton and Robin are victorious, and Robin finally asked what everyone who read this title was thinking: is Oberon Sexton really Bruce Wayne?

While a plot development like this seems to be extremely obvious, Morrison will most likely reveal that Sexton is actually a character that no one would have guessed. My money is still on Bruce Wayne, this cover does state that “The Return of Bruce Wayne Begins Here!” after all.

Morrison has written this title to perfection and his slowly connecting the threads to the “Return of Bruce Wayne” mini-series coming in May.

And while I loved frank Quitely’s art on the first three issues of the series, I am completely in awe of Andy Clarke’s work on this title. The way he drew the scene were Robin accuses Sexton of being Wayne is just excellently done – it even has a flash of lightning in the background so you know it’s dramatic!

We are left on a cliffhanger at the end of this issue and I just can’t wait for the next one to come out. For the last 3-4 issues, “Batman and Robin” came out on a biweekly basis and the month-long wait is just agonizing.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #1

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver
Price: $3.99

Even though I promised to not pick-up any new comic titles, I just couldn’t pass up the chance to read a comic about the secret history of SHIELD. – especially if it’s being written by “Secret Warriors” writer Jonathan Hickman.

Premiere issues usually act as just boring set-up for the rest of the series but in the hands of Hickman on writing and Dustin Weaver on art, it something entirely different.

The main thread of the story involves Leonid – a character that I assume was created for this series – picked-up in 1950s’ New York by SHIELD agents Richards and Stark (no guess to who their sons are). And we are given a background of SHIELD history. By the end of the story we, like Leonid, are still in the dark on what’s going on.

Hickman gives us a story that features an ancient Egypt dealing with an invasion from the Brood alien race, Galileo facing down against Galactus and a bare-chested Leonardo da Vinci strapping on a Renaissance version of a jetpack and flying towards space.

While this issue seems to be a retcon of Marvel history, Hickman’s writing just makes me forget all that and I was just sucked into this issue.

And thanks to the work of Weaver, this is one beautiful book with wonderful splash pages that word make a geek like me jump with joy.

The panels in ancient China especially were great to look at and that’s because of the work of Christina Strain on colors. The scene itself had the look of being painted in watercolors and it just fit it pitch perfect.

While the price is $3.99, the writing and art alone should be enough for you to buy it. The issue is just choked full of pages with little to no ads in sight so you really are getting the best bang for your buck. Marvel really has something on their hands, and it’s great.