Damian, Son of Batman #1: Just because a character is dead...and I mean dead as disco...doesn't mean DC can't and won't still make money off of them. After all, if something's related to Batman, Dan Didio will gladly put on a Super Mario costume and step on its head until coins spring forth from its flattened carcass. Therefore, it's only logical that we wouldn't have to wait long to get what is basically a "What If?" miniseries about what Bruce Wayne's problem child could have been. However, as a huge fan of this particular boy wonder, I was happy to give this one a shot.What's curious is that Andy Kubert's series seems to overlook or forget a lot of what Grant Morrison offered us as far as Damian Wayne's development over the years. We don't get the Damian that went out in a blaze of glory against his mother's Leviathan syndicate in Batman Inc. We don't even get the (kinda) endearing scamp that antagonized Dick Grayson Batman in the early runs of Batman and Robin. Make no mistake this is a late teen version of the murderous douchebag kid we first met in Morrison's "Batman and Son." However, considering Kubert had been developing this years ago, it's not unforgivable that there would be some chronological inconsistencies. In the wake of Batman's death (which measured up to be less than a footnote), Damian starts down a path to avenge the caped crusader which is hinted to be his first step in assuming the mantle himself. But it's unclear whether this is the road to the version of Damian we saw in Batman #666....which is maybe the scariest Batman of all fucking time. Much of the narration is given via his electronic journal which, though understandable for a character attempting to follow in his father's detective footsteps, seems out of place since he does a lot of emoting. While I love watching a vengeful Robin going on a beserker tear through the Gotham underworld, I did find it difficult to connect to Damian. I mean, it's one thing for a little kid Robin to go around murdering and mouthing off to grownups when you know he becomes less of a dick in later issues, but being the same jackass he was then makes this guy sort of unlikeable.
Kubert's artwork, however, offers something to look forward to here, though. Despite Batman's pre-New 52 costume design (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), his sometimes overwhelming, seedy environments are just lovely. Some readers might miss the creepier, occult-ish touch from the pages of Batman Inc., but the character depictions are mainly compelling to look at.
Bottom Line: If you need a break from New 52 continuity and like watching Damian Wayne beat the shit out of bad guys for a bit, this might be worth a look. Not quite epic, but an okay read. 7 out of 10.
Saga #15: When you're a reviewer, there's actually such a thing as a comic book being "too good." I haven't reviewed Saga in a while because, honestly, it's a lot like being a weatherman in Houston during the summer. "Today's Forecast: It's still hot. See you guys in November." It's still going strong. It's still the best book in comics right now. Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples still don't hesitate to push the envelope. It'd be hard to argue that the sheer effort and love that obviously goes into every page of this book, makes it, by leaps and bounds, the Game of Thrones of comics right now. If your book isn't this good, you probably shouldn't be doing it. I have a coworker who....I shit you not....bought copies of the first graphic novel volume and just randomly handed them out to his friends to get them started on the series. Some are comic book readers and some of them are not. They are ALL now hooked. That's what a good comic does.
This issue sees our outlaw lovers, Marko and Alana, giving some serious thought to their future and that of their baby, Hazel. We get some more juicy insight into Alana's Meanwhile, The Will finally makes a decision about what he's going to do with himself in the wake of a profound personal loss while yet again suffering a case of "wrong place/planet/solar system/galaxy, wrong time." One of the things that makes this series so profoundly compelling is the perfect medium it finds between dazzling sci-fi lore and relateable plotting. Sure, there are elements of alien culture and sword/sorcery and ogres with disturbingly large nether parts, but you have characters that you feel as though you've met before. You've known a woman like Alana who, while being fierce in her resolve to protect her baby, is NOT the person you would have thought would be a mother one day. Most people have had a friend like Marko, who just wants to be a good boyfriend/husband, but sometimes you get the sneaking suspicion his girlfriend/wife might be crazy. I've had eccentric, unconventional yet brilliant teachers like Oswald. And we've all known comfortably fanatical, self righteous douchebags like the TV Robot Head people Prince Robot and Countess Robot X. I've dated several. You know these people enough that you almost yell out "Oh, come on, man!" and "Lady's got a point, dude" as you're reading.
Fiona Staples artwork is so consistently incredible, it's almost aggravating to not have anything bad to say at all about it. Her characters' movements always look like they have actual personality and purpose, rarely just posing for the panel's sake. The settings seem alive at all times as opposed to just serving as backdrops. She knows exactly where her characters are in the scenes at all times. It's awe inspiring to gaze upon the work of an artist whose process is clearly a well oiled machine of a creative process.
Bottom Line: Beautiful drawn, nuanced characters that....Wait, WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? ARE YOU STILL WAITING ON ME TO SAY THIS BOOK IS GOOD?! HURRY UP AND BUY THIS SHIT!!! 9.5 OUT OF 10.
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