Tom Strong 13 (July 2001)

Posted on 11 February 2012 | Leave a comment

87827.jpg

While this issue features some incredibly cool writing from Moore (more on it in a bit), it also has amazing art. It’s a five-part story, with Sprouse and Gordon on for the prologue. Then it’s Russ Heath (doing a teenage Tom Strong), Kyle Baker (doing the bunny Tom Strong analogue) and, finally, Pete Poplaski doing the finish. Poplaski makes the whole thing feel very Golden Age and it’s simply a superior visual experience.

As for Moore, he plays a lot with time travel and its effects, but he also comments briefly on the “imaginary story” genre. Tom Strong, it seems, has no imaginary stories. Moore gets a lot of mileage in figuring out how to make this one real.

There’s some great villainy from Saveen, though a lot of the dialogue refers to very distant events.

It’s also a mini-Captain Marvel homage with the “wizard.”

Simply wonderful stuff.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in America's Best Comics, Tom Strong

Tagged , , , , ,

Tom Strong 12 (June 2001)

Posted on 10 February 2012 | Leave a comment

87826.jpg

Moore does a really nice job finishing up his Tom Strange two-parter, especially given how much material he brings into it.

The issue opens with the two Toms unfreezing all of Terra Obscura’s heroes and introducing them. They aren’t quite analogs to popular superheroes, but it’s hard not to see Batman in the Terror, who has a kid sidekick and everyone suspects is secretly nutty. Pretty much every other modern superhero analog owes it to Moore and Tom Strong.

Then there’s a brief introduction to the alternate Earth, which is fantastic. Sprouse doesn’t go crazy with it, just straightforwardly illustrating the amazing setting (an inverted city).

And the action-packed finale is exciting and touching. It’s no small feat, since Moore’s got the reader caring about characters he or she only met five pages earlier.

It’s masterful and Moore makes it all seem playful. “Just” a special retro issue.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in America's Best Comics, Tom Strong

Tagged , ,

Tom Strong 11 (January 2001)

Posted on 9 February 2012 | 1 Comment

63587.jpg

Moore really brings in the weight this issue. Not emotionally, but in terms of complexity. He introduces Tom Strange and Tom Strange’s whole alternate Earth. The complexity comes in with the explanation it’s not really an alternate Earth but a duplicate one, albeit with some differences, elsewhere in the galaxy.

It’s hard to comprehend, which is good, because it means Moore is able to maintain the fantastical nature of the proposition. But it also means there’s a lot of exposition. The Sprouse art is excellent, but it can’t outdo the endless scientific explanations.

The issue’s a little… pardon the term… strange. Moore opens with a fight scene and an action set piece, then he moves into talking heads, then into the science and sci-fi. There’s almost no movement in the issue, even with a fight scene and intergalactic traveling.

It’s also a two parter. This first part feels incomplete.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in America's Best Comics, Tom Strong

Tagged , ,

Tom Strong 10 (November 2000)

Posted on 8 February 2012 | Leave a comment

63586-1.jpg

“What about people who don’t read America’s Best Comics?” “They’re just scum.”

Moore closes the issue with a joke ad for the comic line and it overshadows the rest of the issue. It’s just too funny.

Once again, there are three stories. The first, illustrated by Gary Gianni, is sort of a period horror thing. Tom gets on a time machine-like device and travels into the past–into a dimension of the dead. Gianni’s art is sufficiently creepy, illustrating Moore’s prose. It’s a very effective piece, giving real insight into the Tom Strong character.

In the second story–Sprouse and Gordon taking over–Tom visits an alternate universe much like a Disney cartoon. It’s funny, cute and somewhat unexpected from Moore.

Fun’s also the keyword for Tesla’s adventure. She inadvertently brings a much of alternate selfs through a dimensional portal.

The issue’s not deep, but quite a fun read.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Comic books

Tagged , , ,

Tom Strong 9 (September 2000)

Posted on 7 February 2012 | Leave a comment

63585.jpg

The issue’s a family affair, with Tom, Dhalua and Tesla each getting their own story. Paul Chadwick handles the art on Tom’s story. His style mimics Sprouse quite a bit. If I hadn’t seen Chadwick’s name, I’d have no idea.

It’s a nice little story, with Moore mixing jungle adventure with positivist sci-fi. It ends a little fast though.

Dhalua has a good flashback story. Mostly Moore is just filling in her backstory, rounding the character. He does an exceptional job with the character, making her more distinct than Tom. Sprouse and Gordon do well with the constrained setting.

They also do the art on Telsa’s story, which Moore models on DC backups, like a Supergirl one. It’s a lot of fun, with more great art from Sprouse and Gordon. It’s got the most humor. Moore succeeds at making his observation on comics traditions while writing a great character.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in America's Best Comics, Tom Strong

Tagged , , ,

Tom Strong 8 (July 2000)

Posted on 6 February 2012 | Leave a comment

63584.jpg

There’s no feature this issue, just three short stories. The first, with art by Alan Weiss, is a throwback to “The Twilight Zone” as Tom and Solomon find themselves in the Old West. All the residents have three eyes, eat weird things and no longer identify colors with the same words.

It’s a fast little story, with a nice resolution, but Moore really doesn’t explore all the implications. I guess that lack is the drawback–Moore’s ideas, even little ones, are just too strong.

The second story is an adventure for some of the Strongmen of America, with Chris Sprouse and Al Gordon on art. It’s a fun little amusement with a psycho principal out to make kids work harder in school.

The final story, again with Sprouse and Gordon, is nearly sublime. It’s a Tesla adventure and Moore ends it on a joke. It’s still almost sublime.

Great stuff.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in America's Best Comics, Tom Strong

Tagged , , ,

Detective Comics 530 (September 1983)

Posted on 6 February 2012 | Leave a comment

5635.jpg

This issue is weird. It’s great too–I wonder if Moench created Nocturna with Colan in mind, since she basically looks like a vampire–but it’s weird.

There’s some action at the end, but the most striking parts of the comic aren’t the action scenes. Moench is serious about his rumination on darkness and he follows through with it at the end. It’s unexpected, but quite good.

The other striking scene is when Nocturna talks to Jason Todd. It’s a contrived encounter, but Moench sublimely makes the scene work. It’s also interesting to just hear Jason Todd try to explain his living situation. It pairs well with Bruce’s later order to Alfred–Alfred’s not allowed to report Jason missing.

The art from Colan and Giordano is fantastic. Moench’s securely in his stride now.

Cavalieri’s Green Arrow is, once again, incredibly lame. New penciller Adrian Gonzales has big problems with perspective.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC, Green Arrow

Tagged , , , , ,

Batman 363 (September 1983)

Posted on 6 February 2012 | Leave a comment

2825.jpg

Moench gets a lot done this issue. Primarily, he introduces Nocturna (an astronomer turned ghostly pale through radiation and, of course, now a criminal), gets her flirting with Bruce and fighting with Batman. Oh, wait, there’s also the continuing Vicki Vale drama and Jason Todd getting ready to leave since he can’t play Robin.

And more with Bullock and Gordon. Even a passing mention of Gordon’s health problems (but just passing).

What’s even better is how well Moench writes these scenes. He and Newton make Nocturna believable in her hyperbole–she’d be overcompensating to make up for the physical changes. Bruce’s inability to bond with Jason is also salient. Moench’s not spending a lot of time showing his Bruce Wayne, but he is clearly defining the character.

The art’s outstanding. Alcala and Newton jibe here, from the first page it’s masterful.

The issue’s strong. Moench juggles a lot and succeeds.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC

Tagged , ,

Detective Comics 529 (August 1983)

Posted on 5 February 2012 | Leave a comment

5634.jpg

I try to be open-minded about Cavalieri and Cullins’s Green Arrow back-ups, but this one peeved me. Moench doesn’t get enough time with his Batman story–which is his fault for not pacing it out right–but come on. Who carries about Green Arrow’s lame villain? Though inker Frank Giacoia does ruin Cullins’s pencils in sometimes amusing ways.

Moench and Colan (joined by Dick Giordano on inks), on the other hand, do a fabulous Batman story about Bruce losing. He loses in a fight (the bad guy has better costume material), he loses Vicki Vale and he’s about to lose Jason Todd. His life, as much as a billionaire’s life can, is falling apart.

And Moench and Colan nail it. There’s a slick noir tone–Colan excels–with Moench expounding on the idea of nighttime habits as they relates to Batman.

It’s great. Shame it runs too short.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC, Green Arrow

Tagged , , , , ,

Batman 362 (August 1983)

Posted on 5 February 2012 | Leave a comment

2824.jpg

I was expecting more from the art, with Alfredo Alcala inking Newton this issue. The art’s still good, but Batman’s talking heads scenes with Gordon are off a little. Newton and Alcala position Batman awkwardly in the space.

This issue is a Riddler issue, plain and simple. It opens with Edward Nigma figuring out a good riddle for Batman and Batman dealing with him. Moench is muted when it comes to both exposition and character development. While Bullock’s attack on Gordon’s career continues, there’s zilch about Gordon’s heart condition. I wonder if he just magically got better at some point off page.

As for Batman, there’s a mention of Jason Todd at the beginning, but Moench keeps the story tight. Batman and Gordon are after the Riddler; there’s no time for anything else.

The Riddler’s big riddle isn’t great (it’s lackluster after its first part), but the issue’s still solid.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC

Tagged , ,

Detective Comics 528 (July 1983)

Posted on 4 February 2012 | Leave a comment

5633.jpg

Gene Colan’s first issue on Detective (with Moench) is unexpected. There’s a dreamy, otherworldly, emotive quality to it. Harvey Bullock oozes repulsiveness; the symbolism becomes clear at the startling conclusion. Moench knows how to surprise–even if the cliffhanger isn’t exactly unexpected, its degree is a shock.

The issue closes up–after Batman’s adventures with Man-Bat–the new villain Moench introduced in his first issue, the Savage Skull. It’s strange reading these pre-Miller Batman comics when it was more possible for Batman to get his butt kicked by a boxer or whatnot. Moench gets that human element, the possibility of failure.

Instead of following Batman, Moench concentrates on Gordon, who’s life is crumbling. It’s effectively done, with the exposition finally a lot smoother. Maybe because of Colan’s great art.

Cavalieri and Cullin’s Green Arrow is pretty weak though. It’s incredibly juvenile, like an overlong Hostess fruit pie advertisement.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC, Green Arrow

Tagged , ,

Batman 361 (July 1983)

Posted on 4 February 2012 | Leave a comment

2823.jpg

Here’s the problem with Man-Bat stories. They’re basically all the same (at least in this era). Langstrom screws up, becomes Man-Bat, does something bad but probably not fatal to anyone and then Batman cures him.

The details are different, sure. For example, in this issue, Man-Bat grabs Jason Todd so Bruce is really peeved. But he doesn’t try to kill Man-Bat. He comes around and realizes Langstrom just needs the cure.

The most interesting thing in the issue is the last page, when Gordon gets stuck with Harvey Bullock as an assistant. It’s pre-cartoon Bullock and he’s a real heel. It’s compelling.

As for the rest, the unoriginality can’t compete with Newton. His Man-Bat is both physical and frightening; there are some beautiful action sequences.

Moench’s writing is good too. He relies on exposition a little much, but otherwise he does well.

It’s fine.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC

Tagged , ,

Detective Comics 527 (June 1983)

Posted on 3 February 2012 | Leave a comment

5632.jpg

Doug Moench sure does like exposition this issue. Batman can’t stop thinking about all the problems in his life (though he manages not to detect Gordon’s heart problem). But there’s also the regular narrative exposition, which Moench overwrites. It makes me wonder if he’s gearing Detective towards a younger audience. He’s not particularly confident; he keeps explaining himself.

The Dan Day artwork is okay without being good. Day, inked by Pablo Marcos, is competent but childish. His figures don’t show any maturity.

Towards the end of the issue, Moench juxtaposes Bruce and Jason getting ready to go to the movies (presumably not Zorro) and the problem becomes clear. Moench knows he’s writing about a difficult “real” issue, adoption, but he doesn’t know how to write it. It’s too bad

The Green Arrow backup from Joey Cavalieri and Paris Cullins has nice enough art from Cullins. Sadly, the story’s exceptionally silly.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC, Green Arrow

Tagged , , , ,

Batman 360 (June 1983)

Posted on 3 February 2012 | Leave a comment

2822.jpg

I can’t tell for sure, but it doesn’t seem like Doug Moench’s thrilled to have Batman saddled with Jason Todd. He writes the kid sympathetically–this issue is set approximately a month after his parents died–but Moench can’t wait to leave him behind at Wayne Manor.

Batman heads off on an urgent case and Jason doesn’t make another appearance.

The issue has a great pace. It opens with a teaser of the villain, moves to the next morning, then the rest of the issue takes place over the day. There’s a lot of Batman in the daylight (so much there’s exposition about how effective he comes off) before Moench tightens up the pace.

The villain’s fairly weak and the C plot with Gordon’s heart troubles is too obvious, but it’s pretty otherwise good. Don Newton comes up with some excellent action layouts and he matches Moench’s procedural pace well.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Batman, DC

Tagged , , ,