Moore, John Francis
AVERAGE REVIEW SCORE:
3 out of 5
(2 books)
TOP PICK:
Superman: The Dark Side
Birds Of Prey: Catwoman/Oracle
(Art by David Ross and Jimmy Palmiotti)
A follow-up to 'Birds of Prey: Batgirl/Catwoman', this book sees Selina Kyle and Barbara Gordon once more having to form an uneasy alliance in order to stop a vicious killer intent on usurping the mantle of Catwoman.
What I particularly liked about this book was the way it shows how both of the title characters have changed in the time since their previous team-up. Catwoman has moved further down the road of vigilante, keeping her edge but losing some of her selfishness. Naturally, Barbara's journey has been somewhat more dramatic, having gone from naieve young crimefighter to logistical mastermind via a crippling bullet courtesy of the Joker.
Despite that element, however, this book is just far too short to really develop any depth, being only about the length of a single comic book issue.
3 out of 5
Superman: The Dark Side
(Art by Kieron Dwyer and Hilary Barta)
An Elseworld story in which baby Kal-El's rocket, fleeing doomed Krypton, is diverted to Apokolips where the child grows up to become Darkseid's chief enforcer. However, after Darkseid's war with the New Gods spills over onto Earth, Kal-El begins to realise that his destiny is far greater than what his cruel patron had planned for him.
The premise of this book is an interesting one. Whilst I've never particularly liked the New Gods or their counterparts on Apokolips, the idea of Kal-El being raised by Darkseid is one with plenty of story potential. I also liked the fact that it was Kal-El's interactions with the down-and-outs of Metropolis which begin to show him a different way of viewing life. I'll also give lots of credit to Kieron Dwyer, whose designs for Kal-El's dark armour and his later proto-Superman outfits are absolutely brilliant.
The problem is, however, that there aren't really any surprises in this story. Kal-El's conversion and eventually turn against Darkseid is not only totally predictable, but it also feels derivative. The story of the villain's champion developing a conscience and turning against the villain to become the hero is one that has played out countless times in fantasy and science fiction, so holds no innovation here.
3 out of 5
Read more...
DC Comics (here)