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Off the Beaten Path

Good Evening all, I say 'good evening' because it is evening as I write this column. I should be learning about the importance of deadlines through this and my many other projects, alas I am a slow learner. This week's column is called 'Juxtaposition'…oh yeah I used an S.A.T word, my English teacher would be proud. This week we focus on some Heroes, not you typical heroes, in fact I may be wrong in calling them heroes, they may be anti heroes or Villains, you may think a character is a hero and they turn out to be a villain, and in Batman's case, something else entirely. Who's good, who's bad and who's neither? Place them all side by side and as always… enjoy.

Title- Batman Secrets

Publisher- DC
Script/Artist- Sam Keith
Format- 5 issues
Shipping- Good
Age- 14 & Up

The Basics- Batman and The Joker, at it again…only this time, The Jokers a lil' different, and not just in his look - he's a changed man, a changed man I tell you. I can't tell you much about the storyline without giving away the surprises, however, Batman is doing his usual Dark Knight shtick, and by that I mean chasing the bad guys, while keeping a close eye on the newly changed Joker and his antics. Meanwhile, the newly change Joker is working the talk show circuit…sound interesting? It is! Some twists and turns find Batman and The Joker on opposite sides in the arena of public opinion, and each faces some unwanted media scrutiny…I can't say who is who without revealing to much. The story is fast and fun, the characters are fleshed out well, each is interesting in their own right, and the underlying mystery is intriguing.

The Art- On the top of my list of great artists, Sam Keith ranks number 1! I have been a huge Keith fan since The Maxx; any and all titles bearing his name are quickly consumed in my household. My appetite for his art is legendary, not that I have kissed his ass enough, onto the critique. First off, you will be struck by the cover to issue one, Sam's take on Batman and The Joker is distinctly his. The double page shot of Batman and The Joker together is priceless, I've not seen The Joker this maniacal in quite sometime, it is impressive. His use of frames to carry the story is unique; it has his trademark feel, the one he built his reputation on in The Maxx, extreme colors, lots of visuals to lead the story, building that spell words, shadows, shadows, and still more shadows. Each scene and page is filled to capacity - it's sensory overload for the eyes, a beautiful sensory overload. Batman is dark and brooding, The Joker is simply as joker as they come. A very good interpretation of two classic characters, I applaud you Sam Keith.

The Verdict- The Joker as he should be, Batman as he should be, art as it should be, a story worthy of Batman's legacy, and Sam Keith as he should be…different and exciting.

Title-Hunter Killer

Publisher-Image
Script-Mark Waid
Artist- Mark Silvestri
Format- Ongoing
Shipping- Poor (well beyond poor to be exact)
Age- 14 & Up

The Basics- The series started out with a #0 teaser edition, in that we meet the main character, Ellis, Samantha Argent no relation to Argent the Wolf -although it is strange that we have a character named Argent and her opposite named Wolf, a nice Grendel reference- (the squad leader), and Wolf (a rogue), Morningstar (the ruler of the USA, and possibly the world, although no one realizes it…but Ellis may know a little something) plus some peripheral characters, who may or may not be the good and bad guys. Then we are taken to issue 1, followed by another issue called issue 1 Dossier. Sound confusing, it should, take into account the 3-4 month gap between issues, and you get the idea. This whole book is confusing in a very compelling way, Ellis is the catalogue, "For what?" you ask, I'm not telling you, I will tell you, everything is not as it seems, parents aren't always good, the bad aren't always bad and Ellis thinks a week is 6 days long. What we do know is, The Hunter- Killers are an organization which hunt's and kills ultra sapiens (super beings) to preserve world peace, what we don't know is if their motive is for the good of the world or just in Morningstar's interests.

The Art- Mark Silvestri, need I say more? No really that's all I need to say.

The Verdict- This book is a super hero/ x-files/ political thriller all rolled into one. Each answer brings more questions, each question brings more questions. Get the idea? Good, now go buy the trade, pick up the recent issues, and get hooked, only to curse Image for their on-time schedule!

Title-Sea of Red

Publisher- Image
Script-Rick Remender
Artist- Salgood Sam
Format- Ongoing
Shipping- Good (surprisingly from Image)
Age- 14& Up

The Basics- I would have to say, this is the most unique book in the bunch, not just for story but for art, paper stock and coloring method. We start off meeting the main character, Marco, his arch enemy Blackthroat, and Blackthroat's right-hand man Omura. Marco just happens to be tied to a ship mast at the bottom of the ocean since 1533, the book takes place in present time, we learn how Marco came to be in this position, and what he seeks most is-duh, duh, dun- revenge. Revenge on those who cursed him to this fate, not only the fate of being tied to a ship mast at the bottom of the ocean, no he also has the rare honor of being a vampire, thanks in no part to Blackthroat and his crew of Vampire Pirates! Sea of Red is about Vampire Pirates, and the storyline couldn't be better. In the first story arc, we meet a James Cameron (the movie director) type of character, who is parodied with great style and wit. I often laugh out loud while reading the biting comments lauded at the various characters, who not by accident resemble many Hollywood mainstays. We are constantly lead this way and that, from character to character, one minute your feeling sorry for the plight of one character and hating another, flash forward 3 pages and you have completely changed your mind.

The Art- Where do I begin? This book is illustrated in black and red tones, no color is used other than shades of red. It s almost monochromatic, certainly unique, the art style fits nicely with the storytelling, taking you back through the ages, on the high seas, and into the lives of the many diverse characters. It's hard to describe the feeling elicited from seeing each page, while devouring the storyline, let's just say, it's as perfect a mix of art and storytelling as is possible in the medium of comic books.

The Verdict- Look past the obvious, revel in the sly attack on Hollywood and pick this one up, it is good storytelling, compelling, fresh and unique…aside from the campy idea of Vampire Pirates that is.

That's it,

Anthony Dominguez
www.anthonydominguez.com
myspace.com/anthonydominguez <TOP>