Month: January 2021

Written by Matthew Sturges

Art by Tom Derenick; Wayne Faucher; Pat Brosseau; & Mike Atiyeh

Cover Art by Tom Derenick; Wayne Faucher; & Mike Atiyeh

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for December 2007, the macabre Darkness and Light’s second chapter is entitled “Separating.”  At the ethereal Oblivion Bar, the Phantom Stranger regrets his inability to warn the Warlock’s Daughter re: the Sun King’s psychotic Protégé.  Enchantress intervenes to push her naïve student back to long hours of homework.  In Gotham City, the Protégé delivers another mesmerized female victim to his evil father for horrific consumption.

Trapped within the Nightshade Dimension, the trio of Nightmaster, Ragman, and Nightshade thwart a welcoming committee of ghouls.  The Shadowpact sets out to find their missing teammates.  Detective Chimp and Enchantress consult on the police’s vile discovery of Protégé’s first victim (from the previous issue).  The pair advise the police that a magically-powered serial killer is on the loose. 

Warlock’s Daughter joins the Protégé’s collection at his father’s Gotham City manor.  Yet another of Protégé’s implied sexual conquests is revealed.  The demonic womanizer argues with his demented father.  Protégé chillingly schemes to manipulate a seduced Warlock’s Daughter into destroying the Shadowpact for him.            

REVIEW:

Though this fantasy-horror storyline’s implied misogynistic elements (most are off-screen) are vile, writer Matthew Sturges does a solid job building his various sub-plots.  For instance, the dialogue that Enchantress shares with Warlock’s Daughter and later Detective Chimp is well-scripted.  The smarmy creepiness that Sturges instills in the ruthless Protégé also comes off as intended.  More significantly, there is an intriguing sense of unpredictability to this issue. 

In terms of visuals, the art team does a splendid job supporting Sturges’ sinister plot twists.  The sometimes-unsettling Darkness and Light storyline should merit a parental advisory warning, but Shadowpact # 18 is actually a pretty good read.   

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

With a thumbnail cover reveal of Shadowpact # 19, the single-page “DC Nation” column has a Halloween theme.  Other covers glimpsed are Aquaman # 57; Death of the New Gods # 1; and Justice League of America # 14.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                           8 Stars

Written by Matthew Sturges

Art by Doug Braithwaite; Pat Brosseau; & Mike Atiyeh

Cover Art by Doug Braithwaite & Alex Sinclair

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for November 2007, “Protégés” begins the Darkness and Light storyline.  As narrated by the Phantom Stranger & the Enchantress (June Moone), the Shadowpact faces demonic zombies in a Gotham City warehouse.  The Enchantress suffocates the zombies’ master: Houngan.  The reckless Warlock’s Daughter earns June’s scorn disintegrating already-neutralized zombies. 

At Gotham’s Breed Building, the Sun King bloodily generates a new assistant servant from Dr. Gotham’s own forehead.  His henchmen must provide a continuous supply of living female human flesh for the Sun King to consume. 

Blue Devil battles the Homo Magi’s army.  Intercepted in the Nightshade dimension, Ragman, Nightshade, and Nightmaster are confronted by three zombies.  The Sun King’s suave henchman hypnotically causes a mesmerized blonde victim to commit a grisly suicide. 

The unsympathetic Enchantress harshly pushes the teenage Warlock’s Daughter to re-evaluate her shallow self-worth.  Back at the Oblivion Bar, June’s vulnerable new protégé is among the Sun King’s potential victims. 

REVIEW:

This issue’s gore (i.e. the gruesome servant generation scene and the blonde’s implied bloody corkscrew death), hampers an otherwise solid read.  It’s surprising that DC Comics didn’t issue a parental advisory re: these two horrific scenes.  Still, per the stellar cover image, the artwork brings to life writer Matthew Sturges’ grim storyline. 

Despite its gross-out sequences, Shadowpact # 17 is an intriguing lead-off to its Darkness and Light saga.         

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Assistant Editor Elisabeth Gehrlein pens the single-page “DC Nation” column, which hypes the release of several Countdown-related spin-offs.  Cover reveals are made for Countdown to Mystery # 1; Black Canary/Green Arrow Wedding Special # 1; Countdown # 32; and Shadowpact # 18.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                7 Stars

Written by Bill Willingham

Art by Tom Derenick; Wayne Faucher; Pat Brosseau; & Mike Atiyeh

Cover Art by Tom Derenick; Wayne Faucher; & Mike Atiyeh

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for April 2007, this issue, as narrated by the Phantom Stranger, is entitled “Cursed, Part Two of The Demon Triptych.”  Ragman and Nightshade accompany teenage sorceress Laura Fell back home from the Dark Tower to the Shadowpact’s Oblivion Bar clubhouse. 

While under-age Laura acclimates to the supernatural bar scene, an exhausted Enchantress reveals to Ragman her prolonged efforts to keep an impaled Jim “Nightmaster” Rook alive.  Encountering the demonic messenger, Vortigar, Blue Devil finds out where to retrieve his stolen trident from a corrupted Etrigan, who intends to rule Hell itself.  A short-handed Shadowpact recruits three inexperienced allies to join their excursion into Hell.             

Note: Despite her cover presence, Zatanna Zatara doesn’t appear in this issue.

REVIEW:

The issue is mostly well-played, aside from a sarcastic exchange between Blue Devil and bartender Eddie Deacon referencing “retard jokes at the Special Olympics.”  Despite this dubious scene, writer Bill Willingham sets up this transitional issue well for the Shadowpact to regroup before its showdown against Etrigan. 

For the most part, the art team’s visuals are excellent.  The only caveat are images of Etrigan decapitating a demonic guard dog and ripping an appendage off of another.  This carnage isn’t super-grisly, but it merits a parental advisory (that DC Comics didn’t bother to include).  Still, the macabre cover image reflects the issue’s contents.             

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Dan DiDio’s single-page DC Nation column (with an image of Clock King) ‘obsesses’ over the fifty-two minute countdown he has to write this installment.  Thumbnail cover reveals are for Shadowpact # 11; 52 # 42; Brave and Bold # 1; and Helmet of Fate: Black Alice # 1.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  7½ Stars

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Art by Jorge Jimenez; Carrie Strachan; & Saida Temofonte

Cover Art by Cat Staggs

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for October 2013, the Olympus opener introduces Wonder Woman to the Smallville universe.  In  a prologue set twenty years before, orphaned six-year old Steve Trevor survives a plane crash, only to land on the beaches of Themyscira.  Playfully claimed by Diana (who is Steve’s age) as her ‘secret boy,’ she somehow hides his presence for five years.  Steve is finally discovered by Diana’s displeased mother, Hippolyta.  Diana defiantly witnesses Hippolyta’s troops drag Steve away. 

In the present-day, Martha Kent meets the ominous D.E.O. Director, Mr. Bones, only to be rescued by a now-adult Diana (the mysterious ‘Woman in White’) from masked cultists.  In Washington, D.C., Clark & Lois reunite with Martha.  Clark’s work connects him with Steve Trevor, who is a D.E.O. agent (and Lois’ ex-boyfriend). 

Meeting Diana, Lois bonds with her new friend.  Superman intervenes after they are attacked by two harpies.  Seeing Steve for the first time in fifteen years, a stunned Diana retreats.  A sinister magician surfaces.      

REVIEW:

As a major selling point, artist Cat Staggs’ cover image (including actor Tom Welling’s likeness) is this comic’s best asset.  The interior artwork is well above-average, as even the prologue’s cartoony look is an inspired choice.  The subsequent flashback’s art conveys a sense of poignancy re: Steve’s loss of his parents.  Impressively, the art team pursues general likenesses of Tom Welling, Erica Durance, and Annette O’ Toole without cheating its audience.

Writer Bryan Q. Miller’s inspired reboot of Diana & Steve Trevor makes an easy transition into Smallville’s continuity.  The convenient bit about Lois as Steve’s ex makes sense, as does Diana’s instant friendship with Lois.  Courtesy of the art team, Miller pitches a great sight gag re: a sleeping Clark & Lois hovering above their bed late at night. 

A misstep, however, is Miller’s flashback implying that precocious six-year old Diana somehow conceals Steve from her fellow Amazons for five years.  It’s also suggested that Diana retrieved the Trevor plane’s submerged wreckage.  Perhaps another flashback could rectify these few contrivances. 

At least, Miller doesn’t reveal too much too soon, i.e. why Diana (without her familiar red-yellow-and-blue) is in the modern world, let alone how long she has been here.  Hence, Smallville, Season 11 # 16 is an entertaining read for those who enjoy Superman-Wonder Woman team-ups.              

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

In addition to a full-page reprint of the cover image, there is a page of Cat Staggs’s concepts & sketches leading to the finalized cover.  Accompanied by art still from this issue, the two-page Smallville Season 8 plot synopses cover live-action Episodes # 12-22.  For whatever reason, the single-page “DC Comics All Access” column spotlights Bat-Cow in honor of the new Batman, Incorporated series.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8 Stars

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Art by Jorge Jimenez; Carrie Strachan; & Saida Temofonte

Cover Art by Scott Kolins & Carrie Strachan

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for March 2013, this glossy thirty-page issue kicks off Haunted.  An amnesiac Lex is haunted by the heckling specter of his murdered sister, Tess.  Desperate to recover his lost memories, Lex resorts to aiding Superman thwart a new threat, Psimon.  A skeptical Lois meets Lex’s dim-witted office assistant, Otis Berg (a sly in-joke re: “Superman: The Movie”) before interviewing his evasive boss. 

Meanwhile, Superman & Bart “Impulse” Allen reunite for a ‘Fastest Man Alive’ race to India.  They are re-routed by Chloe to the Louvre in Paris to battle a villainous duo familiar to Teen Titans fans.  While Impulse and Superman thwart some monkey business, Lex seeks a captive Psimon’s aid.  Impulse senses that an ominous dark predator is pursuing him.            

REVIEW:

The story is solid, as writer Bryan Q. Miller dangles some intriguing sub-plots.  In addition to well-played action scenes, Miller sprinkles some terrific comic relief.  For instance, the “Otis Berg” joke (even if this Otis isn’t actor Ned Beatty) is LOL! 

It’s cool to see how Miller’s Smallville subtly pays homage to Christopher Reeve’s Superman franchise with such class.  Jorge Jimenez’s artwork is B+ caliber.  Some of his renditions (Cassidy Freeman as Tess & Michael Rosenbaum as Luthor) are spot-on.  The same applies to Lois, as the resemblance to actress Erica Durance is passable.  Jimenez does better with a rebooted Otis; the Barry Allen-like Impulse; Chloe’s cameo; and the puny Psimon (though he resembles Lex too much). 

Jimenez’s representation of Tom Welling’s Superman, however, is a mixed bag.  Jimenez captures Welling’s general look, but this twenty-something Superman too often resembles a teenage Superboy.  Still, the cover image is a terrific reflection of the story’s contents.     

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The first half of Season 5’s episode guide (Episodes 1-11) is summarized in two pages.  Snapshots from this issue’s artwork accompanies the summary.  Artist Cat Scaggs’ digital variant cover (with Lex Luthor) is displayed, as well as Bryan Q. Miller’s explanation for upgrading Impulse’s costume.  The last page promotes DC Comics’ daily news blog, “The Source.” 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 7½ Stars

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Art by Jamal Igle; Marc Deering; Carrie Strachan; & Saida Temofonte

Cover Art by Mico Suayan & Carrie Strachan

SUMMARY:

Published for December 2012 by DC Comics, this untitled chapter of the Detective storyline begins with Oliver & Chloe’s evening interrupted by Bruno Manheim’s attempted jailbreak.  At the prison, Superman clashes with Batman.  Green Arrow arrives to trade shots with Barbara Gordon’s Nightwing.  Superman finds out that Batman is after Manheim’s inside info re: who killed Bruce Wayne’s parents. 

Aiding Batman, Superman confers with both Manheim and Lois Lane re: the elusive Joe Chill.  At their base dubbed ‘Leviathan,’ Batman & Nightwing observe Superman’s makeshift Bat-signal from Metropolis.  Oliver confronts Lex Luthor re: his alleged e-mail harassment, which takes an unusual twist.  Batman confronts a decrepit Chill.  The World’s Finest Duo face a villainous team-up amidst their stakeout of Chill’s Suicide Slum hideout.                  

REVIEW:

Superb entertainment!  At 44 pages (including special features and obligatory ads), this comic is a fun-packed read.  Not only is Smallville’s version of Batman (more like, Batman Beyond) refreshingly credible, there’s a welcome sense of unpredictability, thanks to writer Bryan Q. Miller.  Supported by strong visuals (including a spot-on cover image), this issue does solid work recreating the TV cast’s likenesses. 

Added bonuses are the inclusion of fresh re-imaginings of Barbara Gordon; Joe Chill; and even Luthor’s henchman, Otis, from Christopher Reeve’s first two Superman films.  Ultimately, this issue delivers on the ‘great’ what-if re: Batman’s existence in the Smallville universe.      

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Illustrated by images from this comic, there is a Season 3 (for Episodes 12-22) guide.  Images of artist Cat Staggs’ three digital covers are provided, as are artist Chris Cross’ concept sketches for the Barbara Gordon version of Nightwing.  The single-page “DC Comics All Access” column hypes their 2012 New York Comic Con schedule.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     8 Stars

Written by Bryan Q. Miller

Art by Daniel HDR; Agustin Padilla; Marcelo Di Chiara; Carrie Strachan; & Saida Temofonte

Cover Art by Cat Staggs

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for November 2014, this ‘Season 11’ mini-series depicts Smallville’s multi-verse under cosmic siege.  Superman and Lois are trapped on a parallel Earth (dubbed Earth-Majestic) while their home Earth crumbles.  With the Watchtower off-line, Professor Emil Hamilton and his S.T.A.R. Labs team desperately need a save from an Eclipso army known as ‘The Possessed.’  In Antarctica, Lex Luthor, Otis Berg, and two Sinestro Corps henchmen swipe a starship.  Booster Gold and Skeets may be this reality’s last hope.  An armored Hank Henshaw saves Professor Hamilton’s team.    

Failing to contact his own multi-verse counterparts, Luthor intends another interdimensional phone call.  Luthor’s Sinestro thugs subdue Booster Gold.  Superman & Lois race towards Earth-Majestic’s equivalent of the Fortress of Solitude, as this Earth’s fate is also now sealed.  At the Fortress, with Superman temporarily neutralized, Lois pleads with Earth-Majestic’s Jor-El to save them.  Transported to yet another parallel Earth, Lois and Superman discover that it’s on the verge of destruction from ‘The Bleed.’        

REVIEW:

Including Cat Staggs’ terrific cover image, this issue’s appealing visuals are an asset.  Yet, Chaos # 2 lives up to its title, as it’s a bewildering read.  Stuffed with too many sub-plots, a summary-to-date is needed to fathom this incoherent storyline.  Aside from the poignant Lois/Earth-Majestic’s Jor-El sequence, far too little makes sense. 

The best advice is to digest this Chaos mini-series in sequential order (i.e. in trade paperback form).  Curiously, underneath all the confusion are subtle hints of a great Brian Q. Miller plot struggling to emerge.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The single-page “DC All Access” column hypes the Earth 2: World’s End series.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  4½ Stars

Written by Paul Kuppenberg

Art by Carmine Infantino; Bob Oksner; Ben Oda; & N. Hoolahan

Cover Art by Eduardo Barreto

SUMMARY:

Published by DC Comics for May 1984, it’s entitled “Who Stole Supergirl’s Life?”  In Chicago, brunette college student Linda Danvers is bewildered to see Supergirl fighting crime on the TV news, as Linda believe she is Supergirl.  Changing into costume, Linda realizes that she lacks super-powers … and a month from her life. 

Meanwhile, amidst her routine patrols, a partially amnesiac Supergirl is similarly perplexed over her lack of a secret identity, among other memory gaps.  As the gaps converge between Supergirl and Linda, the Girl of Steel traces back her arrival on Earth to Midvale.  Ultimately, it comes down to a Supergirl vs. Linda confrontation.       

REVIEW:

Anchored by the art team’s great visuals (including an intriguing cover image), writer Paul Kuppenberg assembles an intriguing mystery that ties into Supergirl # 10-12 by re-exploring the Girl of Steel’s past.  Even if the story isn’t a memorable addition to the original character’s history, this classy issue is a refreshingly innocent read. It even packs a few mild surprises geared towards Supergirl fans of all ages.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Writer Mindy Newell fills in for Dick Giordano on his full-page “Meanwhile …” column.  There is also a two-page “Daring New Readers of Supergirl” letters-and-answers column.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 6½ Stars