Comic Review: Batman #1

Batman #1

Script: Scott Snyder

Pencils: Greg Capullo

Ink: Jonathan Glapion

Price: $2.99/$1.99 digital

Publisher: DC Comics

Here's the deal: If you even moderately enjoy the ill-tempered Dark Knight detective, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book.

Story:
Scott Snyder has managed to turn every one of his stories into pure gold, so the comic-book community was rightfully overjoyed when DC announced that Snyder would be penning his own take on Bruce Wayne. 

And it's nothing short of wonderful.

Instead of burdening himself with a "new" and "fresh" take on Batman, Snyder manages to inject all of the details that we already know and love about the character into every single page. We get a Batman who is confident, ambitious, and adept at mopping the floor with his entire rogue's gallery of villains in a single evening. Snyder also does a spectacular job with creating exciting and imaginative additions to Batman's utility belt, enhancing his reputation as a detective, first and foremost. 

As Bruce Wayne, our hero announces his optimistic plans for Gotham's future and seems much more chipper than usual, and it's a refreshing angle on the typically dreary and pessimistic crimefighter. 

But everyone should know that things won't stay bright and peppy for long; this expertly paced issue ends with a cliffhanger that is guaranteed to make Bruce question the inherent "good" of Gotham City. 

Art:
After years of drawing elaborate monsters and creative carnage on Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Greg Capullo brings his unique and borderline cartoonish style to Batman, and it looks fantastic. There is a definite "back-to-basics" vibe with the look of the Batsuit that can be compared to David Mazzucchelli's groundbreaking work in Batman: Year One, and the straightforward design gives Batman a youthful and energetic presence.

Good ol' Bats can certainly bring the pain.

The opening sequence featuring the Dark Knight containing a breakout at Arkham is downright thrilling, and while it doesn't necessarily further the plot, it serves as a perfect representation of what Batman is: one badass dude. We're also treated to a straight-up classic wide-angle splash page of the Batcave and all of its contents, which would look great blown-up and framed on my wall.

My only minor issue here: Why must every artist (and writer, for that matter) feel the need to completely redefine The Joker? I don't necessarily dislike his wacky look in this issue, but it's getting a bit old, people.

New-Reader Friendly?
If you've seen a single Bat-flick or TV show, you're good to go here. Well, other than the fact that Batman has gone through several Robins over the years, and the most recent one is Bruce's biological son from one steamy evening with Ra's al Ghul's daughter, Talia. There, now you're all set!

For a double-whammy of awesome, snag this along with Batman #2, in stores tomorrow!

Comic Review: Swamp Thing #1

Swamp Thing #1

Script: Scott Snyder

Art: Yanick Paquette

Price: $2.99/$1.99 digital

Since it's October and all, I know what you must be thinking: What a perfect time to pick up some horror comics! 

Okay, so maybe that wasn't your first thought, but why not? There are some fantastically creepy funnybooks sitting on the shelves (literal or digital) just waiting to be cracked open, and Scott Snyder's Swamp Thing is a great place to start.

Here is a little background on what Swamp Thing is all about:

Alec Holland was a botanist working on a project that could change the collective future of the world's flora and fauna. But as these things go, a tragic lab accident left Holland on the brink of death until he was essentially absorbed into "The Green" – or the consciousness of all the earth's vegetation – and transformed into Swamp Thing, defender of "The Green."

Sound geeky? Perhaps, but a single read through the pages of Swamp Thing will have you ducking under the covers, rather than rolling your eyes.

Story:
Swamp Thing #1 kicks off with Alec returning to his life as a human being after years spent as Swamp Thing. Snyder is a writer who clearly does his homework before delving into a script, and this issue only furthers his reputation. Full of specific plant-related details only a botanist would know, Snyder's narration invites the reader into Alec's mind and shows us why he was such a strong candidate to defend the world's plant life.

But all is not well on planet Earth, and Snyder brings his tried-and-true sense of dread to the story within the first two pages. Not to mention the mass-murdering beast that shows up about halfway through – but those details are best discovered on their own.

There's a lot of buildup in this issue (which comes with the territory in a "#1"), but it's so carefully crafted that it perfectly captures the sheer terror guaranteed to come later in the series.

Art: 
Yanick Paquette's big, bold lines do a wonderful job of separating this book from the pack. And while his page layouts in the scenes with Alec get the job done, he really hits it out of the park with the "monster" sequences; the thick divisions between panels look like black moss growing across the pages, which are perfect compliments to the eerie contents of the panels themselves.

However, a visit from the boy in blue only reminds me that I can't seem to accept this re-design on Superman's costume. It just looks...unnecessary.

Say goodbye to the red undies.

 New-Reader Friendly?
While this book works well as a "new beginning" for Swamp Thing, it wouldn't hurt to bop on over to Wikipedia and have a look over the character's history. Or even better, check out the legendary Alan Moore's work on our gooey hero!

Next: More eerie pre-Halloween reading with Animal Man #1!