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burins · 4 months

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as promised the separate comics/graphic novels roundup for 2023! this is a normal post until May when I realized I could (as a graphic novel librarian) become an Eisner voter and read 54 comics in a month (and then slightly less so in August when the Harveys came up.) below a cut because it's heinously long. I'll include my little write-ups and some panels right after my faves

JANUARY

Under the Red Hood by Judd Winick and Doug Mahnke I read this January second. Begin as you mean to go on! For all its flaws (Dick's Squidward face) the emotional arc of this story puts me right into the pit about Jason Todd.

Superman: Reign of the Supermen by Dan Jurgens and others

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest (ongoing) by Mark Waid, Dan Mora, and Travis Moore First off Dan Mora draws everyone like the most beautiful people in the world, which never hurts to look at. But also this is just a really fun comic! The action is fun the characters are very sweet and we get an honest to god Superbat gem fusion

Young Justice (1998) by Peter David and Todd Nauck MY CHILDREN! I was finishing up my Tim readthrough and was so delighted to meet Kon and Cassie and Bart and Cissie and Anita (I still don't care for Lobo.) Nauck's art is cartoony in a way that fits the comic really well.

Red Robin by Christopher Yost, Fabian Nicieza, Ramón Bachs, and Marcus To THEEEEE ARC for Tim. Everyone says read Red Robin. Yes read Red Robin but also understand this is him at his worst and most scrungly. This is not normal Tim. This is Tim's failgirl era.

Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day by Judd Winick and Ale Garza

MARCH

You and a Bike and a Road by Eleanor Davis Beautiful little memoir comic about biking across the US, and also about borders and travel and isolation/togetherness.

Superman for All Seasons by Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale, and Bjarne Hansen I love this comic. Tim Sale draws Clark like the biggest, softest person you've ever seen, and Bjarne Hansen's colors are so gentle. (if you remember the rock metaphor from mission parameters, it's inspired by this scene from Book 1: Spring)

APRIL

Superman: Lost by Christopher Priest and Carlos Parlaguyan (ongoing) This series cuts right to the horror of being Superman and also the horror of being Lois Lane SO deftly. a few plot points I don't love but overall God it makes me miserable

Birds of Maine by Michael Deforge A delightful, dreamy collection of comics about birds living in a utopian society on the moon. The art is weird, the story is weird, everything about it is lovely.

MAY

Divinity v1-2 by Matt Kindt and Trevor Hairsine

The City of Belgium by Brecht Evans This is not a perfect graphic novel but the stuff it does with art and page and rhythm is so so phenomenal.

Lights, Planets, People! by Lizzy Stewart and Molly Naylor

Killadelphia v1-3 by Rodney Barnes, Jason Shawn Alexander, and Christopher Mitten

The Department of Truth v1-4 by James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds This is a book about conspiracy theories and it is DEEPLY unsettling. Martin Simmonds' art makes me legitimately queasy to look at. Really really good but also it did send me into a little spiral for a bit.

Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely (Mat Lopes' colors also deserve a shoutout) This book made me cry! Also I have yet to read another Kara comic because this one was so good and I'm afraid the others won't be. She's sharp and angry in all the best ways and also deeply deeply caring and good. Capes meets space fantasy at its best. I would die for Ruthye

Nightwing (2016) v1-2 by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo

Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler by Tom King and Mitch Gerads

She-Hulk (2022) v1-2 by Rainbow Rowell, Luca Maresca, Rogê Antônio, and Takeshi Miyazawa

Superman: Space Age by Mike Russell and Michael Allred

Revenge of the Librarians by Tom Gauld

Pinball: A Graphic History of the Silver Ball by Jon Chad

Down to the Bone: A Leukemia Story by Catherine Pioli

So Much for Love: How I Survived a Toxic Relationship by Sophie Lambda

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure by Lewis Hancox

Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez and Danica Brine

Wash Day Diaries by Jamila Rowser and Robyn Smith

Animal Castle v1 by Xavier Dorison and Felix Delep

Bungleton Green and the Mystic Commandos by Jay Jackson

Flung Out of Space: Inspired by the Indecent Adventures of Patricia Highsmith by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer Masterclass in writing a biopic that doesn't shy away from its subject's being kind of a wretched person while also producing art that is deeply meaningful to many, many people.

Rain by Joe Hill and Zoe Thorogood

Tiki: A Very Ruff Year by David Azencot and Fred Leclerc

Ten Days in a Madhouse by Nellie Bly, adapted by Brad Ricca and Courtney Sieh

Ultrasound by Conor Stechschulte

Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes, The Graphic Album (various)

A Visit to Moscow by Rabbi Rafael Grossman, adapted by Anna Olswanger and Yevgenia Nayberg

Look Back by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Shuna’s Journey by Hayao Miyazaki

Come Over Come Over by Lynda Barry

It’s So Magic by Lynda Barry

My Perfect Life by Lynda Barry What a lovely collection of comics. Barry captures being a teen in all its mess and glory.

Macanudo: Welcome to Elsewhere by Liniers

Always Never by Jordi Lafebre

The Pass by Espé

Mary Jane and Black Cat Beyond

Moon Knight: Black, White and Blood by Jed Mackay and Carlos Villa

The Nice House on the Lake v1-2 by James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno (Jordie Bellaire colors) I know Tynion can do horror, but he really really can do horror. This is like Glass Onion meets the worst nightmare you've ever had, and the way it unfolds is masterful. Martínez Bueno's art is dreamy and unsettling, especially combined with Bellaire who colors like she's painting oil slicks.

A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo

Booster Gold (1986) by Dan Jurgens Booster my friend Booster. I really didn't expect this to be as FUN as it is! There are occasional storylines that drag but overall a delight.

The Human Target v1-2 by Tom King and Greg Smallwood

Heartstopper v2-4 by Alice Oseman

Killer Queens by David Booher and Claudia Balboni

I Hate This Place v1 by Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin I really need to read v2 because this was so fun. Queer backwoods horror, sarcastic, delightful, and never heavy-handed. I read this right after Killer Queens, which read like someone fed a bunch of Drag Race episodes and 2012 tumblr posts into a comics generator, and Heartstopper, which was so blandly unobjectionable I actually forgot I'd read it, so I Hate This Place felt refreshing as hell. (actually while looking up screencaps I remember why I didn't read v2 which is that v1 has a LOT of gore and body horror and I gotta be careful with that stuff. however if you like a slasher go forth)

It’s Lonely at the Center of the Earth by Zoe Thorogood Gut punch on every page. Thorogood's art is weird and wild. It does feel a bit as though she's opened up her ribs for us to peruse.

Chivalry by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran

Sensory: Life on the Spectrum (various)

Cryptid Club by Sarah Andersen

Public Domain v1 by Chip Zdarsky

Love Everlasting v1 by Tom King and Elsa Charretier

Mazebook by Jeff Lemire A twisting fable about grief and the paths it takes you down. A lot of the Eisner noms had dead wives or daughters which I began to resent, but I gave this a pass because it was really, really beautiful.

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton Everyone has told you it's good! oh it's good. Beaton's style, which I associate more with her humor work, at first feels somewhat at war with the subject matter, but it ended up really working for me.

Days of Sand by Aimee DeJongh

Talk to My Back by Yamada Murasaki This was one of my favorite books of the whole year. Beautiful meditation on the compromises of marriage and motherhood in beautiful, sparse drawings that lingered with me long after I'd finished reading.

Crushing by Sophie Burrows

JUNE

Do a Powerbomb by Daniel Warren Johnson Do you like wrestling? I don't really care about it, but I do love weird wacky stories about grief and trying to fight your way through the afterlife to get your mom back. Both hilarious and poignant. The art is as bombastic as it needs to be.

The Night Eaters v1 by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda Liu and Takeda are back! This time with some horror about a pair of siblings and their fucked up parents. Great stuff.

Ripple Effects by Jordan Hart and Bruno Chiroleu

Superman: Up in the Sky by Tom King and Andy Kubert Oh the Clark Kent of it all. the panel where Clark is calling home from alien customs because he has flown to the ends of the universe for one little girl is really what got me in this one

Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross

Superman: American Alien by Max Landis and various artists

Superman Red and Blue (anthology) This is a whole lot of writers and a whole lot of artists and all of them are excellent. Once again the Clark Kent emotion is happening to me.

JULY

Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu

Superman (2011) v5-6 by Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder

Superman: Warworld by Philip Kennedy Johnson and various artists

Justice League International by Keith Giffen, J. M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire Booster my friend Booster is here and also so are all of my other new friends. I loved the initial run (though it has its weak spots) but then I had to slog through a lot of very bad later stuff.

AUGUST

Blue and Gold by Dan Jurgens and Ryan Sook

New Teen Titans (various Brother Blood issues) by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez

Acting Class by Nick Drnaso

Follow Me Down: A Reckless Book by Ed Brubaker

Girl Juice by Benji Nate

Little Monsters v1 by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen

Mimosa by Archie Bongiovanni

Who Will Make the Pancakes by Megan Kelso

Cat + Gamer by Wataru Nadatani

Goodbye, Eri by Tatsuki Fujimoto

Spy x Family v1-2 by Tatsuya Endo

Alice on the Run: One Child’s Journey Through the Rwandan Civil War by Gaspard Talmasse

Ashes by Álvaro Ortiz

The Extraordinary Part: Book One: Orsay’s Hands by Florent Ruppert and Jérôme Mulot The art and story here are simply so fabulous. A better world is possible and sometimes you have to take direct action to make it!

SEPTEMBER

Batman RIP by Grant Morrison and Tony S. Daniel

Batman Incorporated by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham

Batman and Robin (2011) by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason I've talked about this one before but I think it is truly one of my favorite depictions of Bruce as father in all the ways he succeeds and all the ways he fails. John Kalisz's luminous colors also deserve a shoutout.

OCTOBER

Batman: Failsafe and Gotham War by literally everyone currently working in DC but especially Zdarsky

Birds of Prey (1999) by Chuck Dixon and then Gail Simone and a number of other people (this continued into November and December) This made the worms in my brain wriggle so bad that I wrote a whole yuri zine piece about Dinah and Babs, coming to a PDF (or physical copy!) near you soon!

DECEMBER

Dungeon Meshi v1-11 by Ryoko Kui Is it romantic to devour and be devoured in turn? Ryoko Kui sure thinks so. I was hungry the whole time I was making these my bedtime reading.

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll Emily Carroll is among the best to ever do it. This collection of stories is her at her unsettling best.

When I Arrived at the Castle by Emily Carroll

Batgirl (2000) v1-3 by Kelley Puckett and Damion Scott thanks to Mssrs Puckett and Scott I am now fully unhinged about Cass Cain and her quest for immolation. the art in this is so stylized but so well-done, especially given how little text is in much of the series. when the paneling hits it HITS.

Bruce Wayne Murderer/Fugitive by everyone working at DC in 2002 When a good crossover storyline works, it really really works. I love to see Bruce completely blow up his life because he doesn't see any point in existing outside the cowl anymore. Even more do I love to see the fallout from this on everyone who loves him! delight delight delight.

and that's everything I read this year!! god there was a lot of it. I liked a lot of the stuff I didn't bold, but also I hated some of it. please feel free to talk to me about any of it!!!

#comics not even once #book roundups

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benbamboozled · 6 months

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So I’ve been wanting to read more red hood comics but ngl I’m so confused by all the different connected arcs? Like when I started I just got the red hood compilation book so I didn’t have to track anything down but right now there’s Gotham war which is both Batman and cat woman? And it has more than one author? And also the man who stops laughing?? Which has art that looks the same as some of the Gotham war panels I’ve scene people post I think?? Idk. If ur up for it I would really appreciate some help understanding how to know what’s what cause I’m so lost. Also everyone has been talking about specific authors and stuff and I have no idea about any of that either. So yeah would greatly appreciate any info ur willing to share I know I’m asking about a lot of stuff.

Okay so. DC likes to do EVENTS sometimes, where a bunch of titles set in the same “family” (Arrows, Supes, Bats) will all crossover with one “through” story.

So, Gotham War was essentially a “Batfamily” event (so, an event centered on Gotham) that was a “Batman Vs Catwoman” storyline that crossed over with the Batman and Catwoman titles, and also had two Jason-specific issues for the event, and I thiiiiink one standalone issue.

Generally speaking, the way DC handles EVENTS is by having authors already writing the titles involved (titles = specific lines like BATMAN or CATWOMAN) also continue to write the issues with the crossover storylines.

So, for example, Chip Zdarsky is currently the main writer for the Batman title. He wrote Batman issues of Gotham War. Tini Howard is the current Catwoman writer, she wrote the Catwoman issues of Gotham War. Matthew Rosenberg is currently the… “holder” of Jason (meaning he has been the most consistent writer for him lately, having written Task Force Z and TMWSL), and so he wrote the Jason comics involved in Gotham War.

That’s how you end up with the issues involved in an EVENT being like…

Batman #Bleventeen

Catwoman #Fivety-one

Gotham War: Red Hood #1

Gotham War: Battle Lines #1

Batman #Bleventeen-one

Catwoman #Fivety-two

Gotham War: Red Hood #2

Batman #Bleventeen-two

Is it unnecessarily confusing and often leads to conflicting continuities within THE SAME EVENT? It wouldn’t be DC if it weren’t!!!

Rosenberg is also currently writing TMWSL, and that both crossed over with Jason’s Gotham War storyline in Jason’s book and is picking up where Gotham War left Jason.

As for artists, idk how DC works specifically, but they can sometimes work on multiple books at the same time. (I think at one point Dan Mora was doing Batman and World’s Finest and another one??)

So. Basically, don’t feel bad for being confused, DC makes things pretty much as confusing as it possibly can. (And also people have the habit of not sourcing their images on tumblr which can cause confusion when you’re trying to find out about a book.)

Hopefully that…cleared some things up? A little? Maybe???

Lemme know if you have more questions!

#ask answered #DC does not in any way make it easy to read their comics.

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thattimdrakeguy · 2 years

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A Random Review of Titans United: Bloodpact

Sorry some of these pics are blurry. Some are really big and Tumblr doesn’t like them. So Hopefully they’re still readable.

For the simple reason of me enjoying how Tim Drake was drawn on the cover of the issue I decided to read it, despite me mostly choosing not to read any modern comic, because of my displeasure of the writing choices.

But Tim’s pretty unlucky with artists and how they draw him so seeing this was enough for me to give it a quick look.

I don’t exactly need a deep reason to read a comic.

But it ended up being a very pleasant surprise, because I wasn’t expecting much since it was a Titans comic, and apparently has the line-up of the live action show that I thought was boring. And used T-Shirt Kon, who I don’t particularly favor.

It ended being a surprisingly fun read. Not a really deep one, or a completely smooth read, but a really fun read.

Most of the first issue is a big fight, so instead of actual character moments, it’s more like “OH NOW IT’S THIS PERSON’S CHANCE TO SAY A LINE, AND NOW THEIRS” and so on. So if you’re reading because you love Starfire or Donna Troy or someone, you aren’t going to get much out of this first issue.

However to my shock, it was mostly focused on Tim Drake.

And all around has a damn good Tim Drake in it.

Tim Drake even inside the book and not just on it’s cover is very clearly identifiable as Tim Drake. Making him the smallest member of the team, along with his famously notable baby-face, big eyes, and classic hairstyle. Things that, despite literally being his description within the comics themselves, have a hard time being depicted often enough that it’s considered a pain.

He actually starts the comic off in his normal clothes, and before I read a single line I could tell it was Tim, because of how he was drawn, which isn’t always the case sadly. Sometimes he can be in costume and I’ll not be sure if it’s Tim because it doesn’t look like him.

This isn’t only a thing for Tim as well. All the other characters are drawn very distinctly so that if they were in streetwear as well, you could also tell who they are very easily. (On a side note I quite like the clothes they put Tim in. Simple, and comfy. Just feels very Timmy. Never a fan of when they dress him up extra formal or something, and tired of the generic button up look on him.)

Compared to someone like Dan Mora, who while also being a fantastic artist. Basically draws Tim Drake Robin and Dick Grayson Robin as the exact same person in a different outfit. Which isn’t favorable.

It’s increasingly rare to see an artist put in the effort to make sure the characters look like themselves if they don’t fit the typical depiction of a super hero, so it was a very welcomed addition.

Only one who looks a bit off might be Conner, who, apart from my opinion on his costume in this, just looks a little bit off. I think it might be the hair, ‘cause I don’t think he’s ever had a haircut like this.

But that’s a nit-pick if I’ve ever heard. So really, who gives a damn.

I’m mostly just having fun seeing Tim pop up all tiny-like in several panels. With several moments showing the team being a bit protective for him, which also feels right back at home for Tim. Never in any overwhelming way, but in a way that feels right without being distracting. Never making it too much about Tim that he feels overbearing when it’s a team book.

The writings also very fun, and writes the characters, it does put a bit more of a spotlight on pretty well. It starts off sort of old school with it’s style of narration, but it gives it a really interesting charm that I appreciated.

Beast Boy has his usual snarky, self-absorbed-ish attitude. And I really enjoyed how Dick and some of the other more typical Titans have a more mature attitude to them, that shows that are grown and serious.

Which is so satisfying in the way of Dick Grayson, because let me tell you, I am so sick of the depiction of Dick Grayson as a some sort of man child or doofus. He’s been a very serious, concerned, hard of himself, workaholic since maybe even before the 80s. To strip that away just to make him a sitcom character always came across as disrespectful for me.

Tim, who again, is the surprising focus of this first issue, and possibly the rest of the comic going off of how important he is to the beginning in end of the issue, but we’ll have to see on that, but anyways, is written very well.

I was super pleased with how Tim was written, because it felt like a fully rounded version of him, and not a fraction of him, or a generic hero that a writer placed his name on.

It shows how naturally heroic he is instantly, but doesn’t overwhelm the reader with that to the point he’s horrendously boring.

It’s the best representation of Tim Drake and Dick Grayson’s actual relationship in years. It’s not just redoing something they did 20 to 30 years ago. It’s new content of them being baby brother and big brother, having a back and forth full of teasing.

Seeing Timmy have his bratty baby brother side be shown for the first time in a way that’s felt authentic in years has been wonderful, even if it’s only for a page or two, because it sucks me in to this world, believing it’s actually in the same universe as the stories I love, instead of butchering it. It feels natural, because it’s them, not a pandering mess. It’s just them being them, and they’re fantastic together.

Timmy Drake also has his very very boyish and juvenile energy back. And is also made clear to be the ultimate underdog of the DC Universe, also very representative of who Tim is. Again, adding more layers to him, that represent who he is, through natural dialogue that feels appropriate for the moment, and authentic as if these are real people living in this fantasy and sci-fi laced world.

And overall when it comes to Tim, really shows how simple it honestly is to write the kid. He is not a difficult character to write. It’s done with such ease that I adore it.

These are such small moments into the overall, but it doesn’t matter, because seeing a Tim Drake just be Tim Drake, and showing off his different layers is a rarity. It is probably the best Tim writing since issue 1 of Sum of Our Parts, since...sadly Fitzmartin has shown that she isn’t really a great writer...and has...bad tendencies that really just insult the audience.

Could this also happen with this writer? Very well possibly. But that’s just how it is. Some writers stay good. Some writers are good but have bad moments. Some writers are bad and have good moments. In the end these writers are people, and people aren’t perfect. The same way I’m not perfect, and you’re not perfect. It’s simply how it is, as disheartening as it can be at times.

In the end it’s just fun, and represents them well. Though I’m just now realizing after posting that panel that Gar just said their real names which is...not very hero-y but oh well. It happens.

At the end of the story even it shows Tim’s good heart, empathy, and detectively mind without going overboard to the point it feels like flanderization.

There’s not much I can say beyond it’s overall super solid, and super satisfying if you’re a Tim Drake fan. Wish I could say more about the other characters. But they all seem to know each other, creating a nice big open world feel, and it’s nice. Sort of homely, ignoring how there’s a major fight happening. It makes the world feel real, which is rare, when so many other comics end up so inconsistent it never feels right.

I’d recommend reading it for sure.

It just goes to show that the good stuff doesn’t come from changing the characters in random ways.

The good stuff comes from putting our favorite characters in fun situations that highlight their personalities.

And Titans United: Bloodpact does it in spades.

#Tim Drake #Robin #Dick Grayson #Nightwing #Garfield Logan #Beast Boy #Conner Kent #Superboy #Donna Troy #Starfire #Kory Anders #Teen Titans #The Titans #DC Comics #Bloodpact #Comic Review #Review #Again sorry if some of the pictures are blurry #Titans United

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zahri-melitor · 6 months

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New(ish) Comics:

Batman #138: I’m reading this again as this is just such a great comic. Seriously Zdarsky, well done. So many different fight details here. I particularly noticed Bruce is demonstrating super-strength on this read for some reason – he breaks both Dick’s escrima stick and Tim’s bo staff, he rips the door off a car (??!!). There are so many neat details of ‘something is seriously wrong with Bruce’ here.

Blue Beetle #2: I like the note here that Booster is taking Ted away to heal somewhere else in time. I also enjoyed that all the JLI folk instantly nominated Tora to go comfort Jaime. And finally, I am delighted to see characters finally suspicious of Victoria Kord because! I have been so sus on her! Since her first appearance in Graduation Day! Her vibes are indeed off! (And it’s not just the clear autism – I do not get nearly these levels of ‘when do you turn out to be an evil plant’ from say Dani Garrett, who is also intensely female autistic about the scarab and her grandfather)

Birds of Prey #2: The art in this comic remains immaculate. I love the x-ray, out of panel drawings for passing between the ‘real’ world and the magical world. In terms of the plot – I’m still not 100% in here trust wise, but Thompson is winning me over, issue by issue, by reassuring me she understands the characters and is making considered decisions to justify why this lineup. I really really think they screwed themselves a bit with the way they announced the lineup – the vibes in the comic itself are far more clear on who’s a long term choice (Cass, Barda) and who are more likely ‘this storyline only’ choices (Harley, Zealot).

Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #2: This continues to make me so happy in its level of fun and metacommentary. I love the collection of villains, because there’s one existing rogue in each line (Beefeater, Maxie Zeus, Gentleman Ghost) and the six new ones, though admittedly Linka and King of Cats are somewhat linked to existing characters/mantles. The goof levels are off the charts (I lost it at the “Guns don’t kill people. I kill people” line) Anyway come for Bea and Tora remaining extremely ‘on a break’ as they definitely don’t date…uh…siblings, stay for the shenanigans. Maybe Bea and Tora will finally get to kiss in issue #6 (the kiss will obviously be a cheek peck or an accident during a fight scene or something)

Shazam! #4: Garguax the Distressing, Emperor of the MOON! I love him. He’s so silly. Chew on the scenery a bit more, Garguax! Also Billy manages to avoid mind control by realising he’s about to have his first ever kiss with a bee supervillain and deciding he’s not cool with that. Go you, Billy. This comic remains deeply committed to serious silliness and Silver Age vibes (Mark Waid. Dan Mora. Do we need to enforce the ‘one gorilla a month’ rule from the 1970s on you?) which is exactly what I want from the Shazamily. Also Darla appeared, my beloved.

Warlord #22: this week in Skartaris Travis was fighting a werewolf! I would pretend this was a surprise revelation on the very last page, but given someone turned up and shot a silver arrow during the very first fight scene, let’s just say this revelation was signalled.

In addition to the amusement I always get when archery occurs in this title, Grell enjoyed two full pages of serpent bondage scenes. Enjoy some assorted scenes.

Oh Mike Grell. Never change.

#newish comics #z canon read throughs #next I'll get to the last issue of gotham war

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augment-techs · 2 years

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Due to #100 coming out, I decided it’s Round 2 on remembering THE GOOD STUFF. And here we start in on Dan Mora’s gorgeous art and Jason being an actual teenager, with actual teenage habits (who looks so adorable, omg).

No, I’m not too keen on Matt’s post-Moon PTSD manifesting in putting the clues together, but coming to the wrong conclusion. However, I thank Dan Mora every day for giving us Kimberly with this hairstyle. She looks both older and younger at the same time and I want fifty more images of her just like this.

The one time Goldar and the others will ever hear Rita’s version of, “Mama loves you.” Scream with me now~

Okay, this is a tragic moment, a newly unlocked addition to Slayer Kim’s tragic backstory, but this layout always knocks me the fuck out. A very Ridley Scott version of Hell, Drakkon likes, it’s true; but I am rather adoring this standing over the enemy camp, saying the kind of goodbye that Bulk and Kim don’t want to admit is a goodbye. I love this fucking duo AND trope.

Anyone else//enjoy this scene//tremendously//more than you should have//CLAP YOUR HANDS!!

I’m sorry, but if this doesn’t make your insides soft and squishy and also make you want to kill things, you are missing out. And are possibly a robot. (I wanna squeeze Kim’s little face in the above image, aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!)

Not on the same page, and not actually on the same panel, but both are screaming: Five Seconds Before Disaster. Tell me that isn’t great here--or that it isn’t the cutest damn thing what they were doing beforehand.

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dilfs-comics · 1 year

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Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #9 (2023) | Art: Dan Mora, Color: Tamra Bonvillain

[ID: Single comic panel of Batman posing with one leg in his batmobile and his pointy cape fanning out behind him like wings. Boy Thunder flies overhead and says “That is one badass car.” to which Batman says “Thanks. And, no. You can’t drive it.” End ID]

#Batman #Boy Thunder #not bats posing like a diva #batmobile #batman/superman: world's finest #dan mora #tamra bonvillain #DC comics #comic panels

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kimberlyannharts · 1 year

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LAST TIME ON MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS AND THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: Casey decides to take a leaf out of Tommy’s book and betray everyone to work for Rita, because apparently everyone thinks they can be Tommy nowadays. The MMPRs and their new besties, the TMNT, are combining their mouthful-named, rainbow-colored teen powers into one to get to the bottom of this. It’s MMPR/TMNT II #2!

- HEYYYYY SCORPINA it’s been ages!! This was obvious but I guess this confirms the MMPR/TMNT crossover books are in their own “canon” since at this point, Scorpina should be in Drakkon’s dimension

- Boom is truly like if we can’t give Rita a new outfit every story arc we’ll die

- since last time I was distracted by Dan Mora Tommy’s beautiful hair I’m gonna take the moment to nitpick that. This is not how Green With Evil went. Unless we’re retconning the Sword of Darkness into Tommy’s childhood sword

- but speaking of beautiful hair FLUFFY KIM!!!!!!!!! It was NOT that long back in the first issue but [Kim voice] you know the helmet really does mess with her hair

- wow nice color scheme these Dimension X morphers have. Surely that’s not going to play into anything later

- everyone’s reading the Krang dialogue in this ‘87 cartoon voice, right. If you’re not, you really really should.

- POWERBUNGA is extremely good

- Leo’s line in the final panel is genuinely very very good. One thing I do like about this issue is we’re finally getting some interactions between the Rangers and Turtles that share their covers, rather than the assigned Turtle friend from last book. There’s fun character dynamic potential to be had from switching things around

- Except for Kim who still just hangs out with April but at this point I need to savor morphed April whenever I can

- no comment.

- FREAK!!!! FREEEEEEEEEAAAAAAK!!!!!!!!!!!!

- I know I just posted about this but. Casey. You know Tommy didn’t beat up his friends, free hordes of dangerous villains, or call people slurs when he went undercover with the villains, right. Maybe you just kinda suck

- Dan gave Alpha eyes in this sequence? My impact, obviously (it was not my impact.)

- SHREDDER BUSTING THROUGH

#mmpr comic #mmpr comic spoilers #spoilers #comic recap #long post #mmpr/tmnt II

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introverted-nightwing · 1 year

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my dick grayson headcanons

[IMG ID: four panels of Dick Grayson as Robin from the worlds finest series, drawn by Dan Mora. One has the bisexual flag,bthe second one has the nonbinary flag, the third one the ocd pride flag, the last one has the demisexual flag: END ID]

#you can pry ocd dick grayson from my COLD. DEAD. HANDS.#evidence: ocd can be caused/made worse by extra responsibility as a child + perfectionism + i think dick ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ grayson #is reasonably qualified for that #batfam #dc #batman #dick grayson

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morebedsidebooks · 2 years

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Poison Ivy #1 and #2

Poison Ivy issue #1 reveals Ivy in the middle of a suicidal mission, one in which she plans to take humanity with her. Writer G. Willow Wilson in her take making references towards horror, film and TV properties Annihilation or Hannibal. Well, I’m a reader. Annihilation the Nebula Awarding winning ecofiction book by Jeff VanderMeer, part of the Southern Reach series, I am familiar with more than the loose movie adaptation. Still parallels abound with philosophical questions of nature, identity, being, destruction, transformation and horrors mingled with beauty. Artist Marcio Takara has really gone above and beyond in the details for the comic. The coloring by Arif Prianto is particularly worth attention giving each place and shift on this journey its own sense and distinction. Lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou from dialogue to written excerpts and more shifting and distorted as need be. Even many cover images are uncanny, to name one variant by Dan Mora, made me recall VanderMeer’s novel.

However, I’d argue the real sense of terror is the more than one crisis that the comic evokes. This isn’t just about the environment and harm to it reaching a certain point, but to Ivy herself. And this crisis she’s in (alone) is clearly not just physical but another psychological one. Which makes the issue acutely painful and debatable in taking an also homicidal, even at times strung out, route as that’s a common yet problematic portrayal when it comes to figures grappling with mental health issues in media.

The method at play for this apocalypse first teased back in 2021 in the Gotham City Villains Anniversary Giant comic entitled “Ophiocordyceps Lamia” as well raises questions. In Batman #124 “Photosysntheisis” Ivy is diminished in her abilities, desperate and leaving Gotham. Next, details yet untold, in Colorado with quite the deadly weaponized spores of pathogenic fungi bottle marked with an esoteric rune of much interpretation. Continued in Poison Ivy, dialogue speaks to a psilocybin light show, again Prianto’s who is the colorist for the series key, page and panels a full rainbow. Eden in Gotham as well a verdant, rave sort of palette. Now fungal life in DC’s universe is also alien in source, part of The Grey not The Green. (Nor in real life are fungi easily categorized in terms of plant or animal, instead a kingdom of their own. Raise your hand if you happen to love mycology like me.) Though, mushrooms and the like can still be in Ivy’s wheelhouse. Even used previously to this way back in 1995 with similar body horror inducing visuals in Shadow of the Bat Annual #3. (The latter incidentally has one of my favourite quotes from Jason Woodrue about Pamela that she’s “A peculiarly deadly mass of contradictions!”) It’s all part of a strong impression we’re going back, not just to Seattle and her origins (Woodrue included), but in general.

As various creative teams have also depicted through the years Ivy and her powers, sometimes under different influences can reach from local to world shaking results. A recent example just months ago the seemingly once again whole Ivy ended up saving Gotham during Fear State. Similarly, one can look to many more comics where, unless Ivy’s not all herself or under influence, her targets are specific— the elite, exploitative, predatory, and abusive. Nor when it comes to matters of unsustainability, are workers really her enemy. So, the level of indiscrimination in these recent issues, initial victims being lowly workers, helpful motorists, livestock and ranchers, farmers, harassers she can best and knows she could leave alive for now, infecting a packed diner of customers young and old, two cops (after a woman who again reminds of Harley), repeatedly the end goal to encompass an extinction of all humanity, are more conflicting and worrying events.

It’s a lot of horror but then the first page of the miniseries also tells us this is a love story. Yet, what kind is uncertain. (Here’s where I’ll write you’ll must tread carefully elsewhere for any analysis of Hannibal.) We see again the further estrangement of Ivy and Harley also involving the Gardener, in previous Batman issues. But Harley isn’t far from Ivy’s mind. In “Ophiocordyceps Lamia” Ivy spared a woman who reminds her of Harley. And Ivy’s reminiscing and romanticizing still, at the bleakest moments. DC Comics readers know in the main comics this non-monogamous couple has for years at this point basically been broken up. Ignoring recent success like the Harley Quinn Animated Series and Eat Bang Kill Tour comic. (There is a cute reference to Frank, the carnivorous plant, on Harley’s shirt btw.) Additionally, to end this Pride month the show graced with their own special #Harlivy emoji. Too 2021’s Pride Anthology with the Harley and Ivy poked fun at the all the back and forth. The couple also returned for the 2022 issue with an entry showcasing the pairs insecurities and strong points rather well. And a special variant with the two for the anthology as well seemed as popular as ever. It should not go unacknowledged a lot of people, including those part of the LGBTQIA+ community, put in the work to have comics and covers realized for DC Comics to mark Pride. (And yes, as corporations do always court money. It’s a little convenient where Harley & Ivy do or don’t show up and how.) For Poison Ivy #1 Kris Anka contributing the Pride variant with the oh so striking dark look of a more fungal Ivy with rainbow flower head piece.

But if you were looking and ordering issues as I was its worth noting the DC Pride Month announcement didn’t mention about Ivy’s comic book being one where “humanity had its chance”. There has been of course debate on whether a genocidal comic arc is appropriate to be included. I do have to say with the increasing rise in fascism and hostile climate for LGBTQIA+ people a villainous genocidal and suicidal queer woman character in conventional American comics is a choice. One I wouldn’t probably think about as much if superhero comics had the maturity so to speak that gave readers a plethora of opportunities to feel not only entertained but seen. The latter is something because of the numerous facets of one Pamela Isley’s character many, many different people have felt. And how to generations now she’s a figure that has been embraced. Sometimes we need the villains. Sometimes those villains appear that way because of the status quo they challenge and upend. Where when we also ask ourselves how far gone the world is— are we going to endure that sort of world anyway. Ivy before has too been a voice arguing for a sense of awareness and urgency. There’s a panel in #2 that riffs a popular webcomic meme.

This indictment of complacency however is undercut as other megalomaniac motivations of Ivy’s are revealed wanting to return to the godlike power of Queen Ivy.

Then there is also the topic that over years & iterations I’m familiar with Poison Ivy has appeared more reliably as vegetarian/vegan. Wilson breaks with an overwhelming number of past portrayals by numerous creative teams in this respect too. The main cover of issue #1 by Jessica Fong the first stark indication. An image of Ivy in a restaurant overgrown with plants, mushrooms, and transformed victims, on a table a rare-cooked steak, knife and fork in hand juices dribbling as she wipes her lips. Wilson herself appears of the opinion a veg eating Ivy is the result of “someone didn’t think that through all the way” along with this thread with a review declaring the fan debate over Ivy’s diet settled by DC. But more significant than opinion is the manner this carnivore Ivy is argued in the comic.

Ivy’s words are offensive and contemptuous of the very question and idea otherwise.There’s a further fallacy in the argument that has Ivy disparaging not just some rich consumers lacking awareness but, the whole of vegetarianism/veganism. Along with deflecting the complexity of the subject of and agave, and its uses that have long history and challenges beyond vegetarian purposes to also include effects of climate change. It’s a missed opportunity to make greater real factual points about industrialized food and systems along with prejudice that factor into these arguments, vs. individuals.

More than a merely misguided protagonist, to make the character of Ivy ‘that bad’ it necessitates her being that wrong. This Ivy has crafted an ecofascist manifesto, as a narrator not only nonlinear but unreliable. Another madwoman, tool for suspense, perhaps engaging readers on a deeper level. Yet part of it is all too serious, and as some readers do it will be taken at face value. For a character murdered, reborn, split and reformed many times remember—could even some corruption, breakdown or doppelgänger ostensibly clarify this time. Because again is that question why this, why now?

Since The Cycle of Life and Death in 2016 where Ivy very much had a life, at work not just as a scientist, solving her colleague's murders, gained daughters, and had friends, fans have been waiting and asking for Poison Ivy to get a solo comic again. Speaking for myself this new miniseries is something with her name on it I have a hard time recognizing. It appears not only openly dismissive of some of the character’s key traits and creatives who contributed to Ivy’s growth but antagonistic towards people involved in certain activism, concerned with the climate crisis, or involved with the food on their table. All I can gather right now is this Poison Ivy miniseries is one to avoid so far if you’ve been drawn to and followed Ivy’s character development over the years.

#ncbd #dc comics #poison ivy #g willow wilson #marcio takara #jessica fong #dan mora #nick robles #alvaro martinez bueno #kris anka #arif prianto #long reads #cw: murder #cw: body horror #cw: suicidal thoughts

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fantomcomics · 1 year

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What’s Out This Week? 12/28

Our final post of 2022! Thanks for rocking with us again this year, and if you actually read these tiny blurbs, Raven says thanks!

Book Of Slaughter #1 - James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'Edera & Dan Mora

The future of the Slaughterverse is laid bare by Something is Killing the Children and House of Slaughter creators James Tynion IV and Werther Dell'Edera in the very first SIKTC one-shot special! From the sidelines to the spotlight, Book of Slaughter follows the white mask Maxine Slaughter... but will her loyalties remain where they are, or will she show her true colors? In addition to being a precursor to the upcoming chapters of both series, this special issue features a sizable guidebook that delves into the deep lore of the Order of St. George!

Cursed Princess Club GN - LambCat

Meet Gwendolyn-living proof that princesses don't always have it all. Although she lives in a castle and her father is the King, Gwendolyn isn't like a fairy-tale princess and isn't conventionally attractive. But one night, she accidentally stumbles upon the twisted world of the Cursed Princess Club, and her life will never be the same. Hexed and cast out, the ladies of the club are just the people Gwendolyn needs to show her that just because she doesn't "fit the mold" does not mean she's any less of a princess.

Double Walker GN - Michael Conrad & Noah Bailey

Cully and Gemma are watching their carefree, childless days come to an end and decide to take one last trip to the magical Scottish Highlands before the baby arrives. What was meant to be a romantic trip soon spirals into paranoia and violence as a bizarre string of murders follows them on their journey. Conrad has returned to his horror roots while continuing to write the celebrated Wonder Woman as well as Midnighter. The time in the mainstream having only driven him further into the surreal and twisted worlds in which he is most at home.

Entangled With You: Garden Of 100 Grasses GN - Aki Aoi

A beautiful and self-contained Boys' Love fairy tale set in the deep, dark woods. Once upon a time, Marcel's sister fell in the forest while gathering herbs. Her injuries were grave and Marcel was at a loss for what to do, until a fearsome horned man appeared, offering help-in exchange for a promise. Now, ten years later, Marcel returns to the woods, steeling himself for death. Instead, he finds something quite different: a gentle soul, friendship... and perhaps something more.

In His Time: The Early Stories Of Ernest Hemingway GN - Jason Novak

In this adaptation of the original 1924 version of In Our Time, cartoonist Jason Novak finds the graphic equivalent of Hemingway's lean, muscular prose - stark, punchy, beautifully composed panels that convey the understated poetics of those early, famously breathtaking stories.

Jujutsu Kaisen: Summer Of Ashes, Autumn Of Dust GN - Gege Akutami, Ballad Kitaguni

Cursed spirits have struck the opening blow at Satozakura High School in an unfolding conflict against the Jujutsu Sorcerers. But while this epic and unyielding battle intensifies, the heroes of Jujutsu Kaisen have other mysteries to solve...such as why Yuji and Megumi see Gojo at a maid cafe, whether Nanami can uncover the secret behind a website that claims to sell dolls that resurrect the dead, and what happens when a blind old man is able to see the scheming Mahito.

MMPR TMNT II #1 (Of 5) - Ryan Parrott & Dan Mora

It's been six months since the Teenagers With Attitude and the Heroes In A Half Shell teamed up to defeat the unholy alliance of Rita Repulsa and Shredder, but a new threat will force them to reunite in the crossover YOU demanded! Between an invasion from beyond, old enemies teaming up with unlikely accomplices, and a threat to the Rangers' powers themselves, will the two teams survive the onslaught, or will they need help from the most unexpected ally imaginable? Longtime Power Rangers architect Ryan Parrott (Rogue Sun) joins forces with superstar artist Dan Mora (World's Finest, Once & Future) to deliver the follow-up to the hit crossover!

Whatcha snagging to close out 2022, Fantom Fam?

#WOTW #What's Out This Week?#comic #comics #comic book #comic books #manga #Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #Jujutsu Kaisen #In His Time: The Early Stories Of Ernest Hemingway #Entangled With You #Double Walker #Cursed Princess Club #Book Of Slaughter

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