Soss' Pull List Reviews 8/16/12

Batman #12 

I didn't really dig this issue. I understand that every book can't be a thrill ride but this read like an episode from some ABC Family channel show. No wonder Gint loved this one. A tomboy defends her outcast brother is fine for Love and Rockets but it felt forced and over the top to me. 

Becky Cloonan and Andy Clark do a decent job of filling in but neither holds a candle to Greg Capullo's outstanding work from this past year. It was also an odd choice to pick two artist's with such drastically different styles. DC books have been doing a lot of this as of late. Is it too much to expect the same artist to illustrate an entire book? 

All and all not an awful read just not the Dark Knight comic I was looking for. 

Before Watchmen: Ozymandias #2 

This issue is a brief retelling of Ozymandia's first foray into crime fighting. I was more entertained by last issues origin story. Something about this blonde adventurer that is just bland to me. 

Jae Lee does a fine job with the art. I love the "O" pattern that is carried thru the book. Each page has some circular element included in it. It's unique while not overly distracting. 

The great art however can not make up for a lackluster story. Maybe it's the central character or maybe it's writing but this book felt flat for me this month. 

Batman Incorporated #1-2 

As much as I have generally disliked Grant Morrison's take on Batman these two issues were pretty good. Morrison ditchs his usually convoluted goofiness and tells a straight forward Batman story. The first part features a group of goat headed assassins trying to claim the bounty on Damian Wayne. And who would place a price on a young boys head? His mother of course. 

The second half of the story focuses on Talia al Ghul, her childhood, motherhood and what eventually drives her to call for her own sons life. I'm not a big "Batman in the desert" person, so usually anything ending in al Ghul has me moving on to the next book. Morrison does a great job of fleshing out Talia. Probably the best characterization of Ms. al GhulI I've ever read. 

Chris Burnham's art was a pleasant surprise. At first glance I thought he was a straight Frank Quietly impersonator but by the end of the two books I was totally sold on his style. He draws a awesome Talia! 

Before Watchmen: Nite Owl #2 

Nite Owl and Rorschach stumble upon a masked dominatrix who exposes to drastically different sides of these characters personalities. This is a Rorschach heavy issue and I loved it. 

The single minded stubbornness that would drive me crazy about someone in real life is what makes me love this character. As JMS delves deeper in Nite Owl and Rorschach's respective pasts we see how two men with very similar upbringing's can have such different outlooks on life. 

Andy Kubert and his late father Joe once again team up on a beautiful looking book. Joe's inks bring a authentic retro look to the overall product. 

While the Comedian and Ozymandias books are hit and miss Nite Owl is a great addition to the Watchmen mythos.
-Soss

Panel of the Week: If Talia al Ghul was as cunning and charismatic in The Dark Knight Rises maybe we wouldn't have spent the last month bashing that film.