Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours by Jim Butcher

Any time a novel is written about a comic book character there is the potential for much cheesy-ness. 

In the hands of an author of Jim Butcher’s caliber, that potential is never reached. Spider-Man: The Darkest Hours is thoughtful and insightful while still containing plenty of action and mayhem. 

To start, this version of Spider-Man has Peter and MJ married, Aunt May in on the alter-ego, and Peter teaching high school science part time. I start there because there are so many iterations of the characters and their timelines that knowing that helps place it. If you have never read Spider-Man before, this caveat isn’t necessary. You will be able to jump right in.

As there always is with any good Spider-Man story there is a subplot that has Peter having trouble in his civilian identity. He is substitute coaching the basketball team for a week and the star player knows that he is really, really good. So good that he doesn’t see the need to play as part of a team. The coach asks Peter to work on this as the kid is good at heart. Oh, and then Peter finds out after school on Friday that if that kid’s immunizations aren’t up to date by Monday morning, he will be suspended and off the team. 

At home, MJ has gotten a part in The Scottish Play. The hitch is that the theatre is in New Jersey. To make the commute, she buys a car and tries to get her license. With no luck. So Peter tells her he will help her study for the test. 

Then the super-hero crisis hits: Rhino is on a rampage in Times Square. As he is about to swing into action former girlfriend and sort-of good guy The Black Cat (Felicia Hardy) tells him he is headed into a trap. He goes anyway, of course. After defeating the Rhino, he is attacked by a trio of “Ancients” who are siblings of Morlun, a villain Peter barely beat. They feed on the life energy of people with power derived from totemic sources. Animals. Like Spider-Man, Black Cat, and yes, Rhino.

The stories intertwine and seeing Peter work his way through these problems is what I read about Spider-Man for. There is a lot of soul searching, deducing, and cattiness in the finding a solution. And the not-help of Doctor Strange drives Peter to distraction. 

I heartily recommend this book. It is by turns, funny and serious, fun and thoughtful. Butcher’s take on these iconic characters was a joy to read. In fact, I read most of it in one day—it was hard to put down. 

Batman/Catwoman: The Wedding Album by Tom King

If you are looking for a wham bam action packed Batman adventure, this is not the book for you. This book is much more a character study of both Batman and Catwoman. When Bruce Wayne removes the cowl and prposes to Selina Kyle, using the diamond he stopped her from stealing on their first meeting, it leads to deep dives into the psyches of each of them. 

Through a mixed series of flashbacks, and separate focuses on each of the main characters, and numerous pages of guest artists portraying the couple, keeps the story moving along quickly. I have to make mention of the art, because I am usually much more of a story guy. The artwork in this book was amazing. The cast of guest artists outdid themselves. 

If you are looking for a book that takes you deeper into the minds and motivations of these two characters, I heartily recommend you read this book. 

I received a free electronic ARC of this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. 

Harley and Ivy Meet Betty and Veronica by Paul Dini and Marc Andreyko

I didn't know what to expect when I opened this comic. I mean, how much further apart could two settings be than Gotham and Riverdale? How could they ever be brought together? Well, Dini and Andreyko figured it out. When Ivy sees Hiram Lodge advertising that he is building a megamall, destroying a rare ecosystem in the process, she decides to take action. As the heat is on in Gotham, Harley agrees to go with her BFF to see what havoc they can cause. Add in Zatanna and Sabrina, mixed up spells, mixed up bodies, and the story is on. 

This was a lot of fun. The two totally different worlds are brought together in a believable way (once I could wrap my mind around Riverdale and Gotham in the same fictional universe). The more modern, realistic-looking Archie gang is used here to help sell that. The characters are who they are. The Archie gang has all the same quirks and obsessions they always have. Adding a slightly sweeter version of Ivy and Harley worked out pretty well.  There was some minimal character development and the plot moved along nicely. There were laughs and suspense. I enjoyed this book. 

I received a free electronic ARC of this book through Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review. 

Wonder Woman: Earth One Vol. 1 by Grant Morrison

It is hard to keep track of all the new and various retellings of the DC superheroes’ origins. In this variation on the Wonder Woman theme Morrison modernizes the story. Instead of Diana coming to the “world of men” during WWII, she comes today. Most of the story is told in flashbacks at Diana’s trial. She disobeyed her mother and took Trevor back to the world of men. There she had several adventures and became more and more distressed with the state of the world. She submitted to her mother for trial to try and convince her that the world needs the Amazons—and the Amazons needs to the world. Through the course of the trial the Lasso of Truth is used to not only compel truthful testimony, but as a translator, as well. Using the Lasso, Hippolyta unveils a millennia old lie—one that explains much about Diana’s own character.

Sexuality plays a role in this story. Hercules was a misogynist and a rapist. The Amazons were depicted as lesbians. I guess that makes sense when they were all alone on that island for over 3,000 years. Morrison does not make a “big thing” about it, but it is not left as subtext either. It’s just the way it is. Diana had a lover on the island. Apparently they had been together for thousands of years. I think the very fact that Morrison includes that bit of information without making a big deal over it worked. It comes across as natural and understandable.

Steve Trevor is an African-American in the version; this sets up a scene where Diana makes a tremendous faux pas without realizing it. He is pretty much all that is right with the world of men. He is honest and honorable, truthful and brave. His character as well as his testimony make a big impression.  Etta Candy is back, as a bisexual sorority party girl. She is still a big, beautiful woman and is proud of it. When one of the Amazons tries to body shame her, she shuts that down fast. I really liked her character a lot. Under the party girl exterior there was a core of steel.

I enjoyed the artwork. I am not an artist, just a fan who enjoys good work. This counts for me. The most jarring thing—aside from the teenage boys’ fantasy of the Wonder Woman costume—was how young Diana looks. Even though she is thousands of years old, at times she seems like a teenager herself.

I look forward to seeing where this Earth One version of Wonder Woman goes from here.

Martian Manhunter Vol. 1: The Epiphany by Rob Williams

This is a revamp of a favorite DC hero. And, for me, it didn't work too well.  It was extremely confusing, and I don't often find myself lost in novel.

The artwork was good, and the story was ambitious. It was just a bit hard to follow and way outside of what I was looking for in a Martian Manhunter title. Change is good, but the amount of change wrought on this character left me reeling. 

Justice League: Gods And Monsters by Bruce Timm and J.M. DeMatteis

Back in the day, Marvel had a comic titled "What if...?" and DC answered with its own version: "Elseworlds." Each title would explore alternate possibilities for characters and story lines.  Like what if Aunt May had been bitten by the radioactive spider? What if Batman had become our sector's Green Lantern? This graphic novel, a collection of three different origin tales and a combined adventure, has that sort of feel to it.

In this graphic novel DC explores a different version of "The Trinity": Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. It starts with Superman. In this version he is the son of Zod, not Jor-El, and is brought up by a family of migrant workers.  He experiences a very different upbringing than Clark Kent did. He is not so much a hero for a great deal of the story. It is disconcerting to see Superman as arrogant and uncaring as he is portrayed. Although in the context of the story, it makes sense.

Batman is also very different. Kirk Langstrom is a brilliant doctor. When it is discovered that he has terminal cancer, he creates a cure for himself. The unanticipated side effect was that he became a vampirelike creature who needed blood to survive. In order to try and assuage his guilt, he vowed only to prey on evil men. And he found this was not as easy as it seemed.

Bekka of New Genesis is this reality’s Wonder Woman. Having come to Earth through a random boom tube fleeing Darkseid, she is rescued by a kind couple. She learns that while there is real goodness here, there is also evil and she is driven to protect her new home. Often her adventures end rather badly.

The three come together to to investigate a man who is offering “upgrades” to those who can afford them. These new “Forever People” are endowed with godlike powers. But, if they do not continue to pay for upgrades, they soon die. It doesn’t take them long to decide that the Earth is theirs to rule.

There are some epic battle scenes. Many the moral conundrum is considered and puzzled over. Does might make right? Who are these “heroes” who so casually take the lives of those they see as wrong-doers? Are they any better than the Forever People? What is to stop them from declaring themselves rulers of the world?

These fears are stoked by a Lois Lane who adamantly hates these three. She is suspicious and belligerent. So different from the many iterations of this character that have come before. Only Lex Luthor seems to be himself. And doesn’t that just sound like grand news?

I liked the feel of this graphic novel. The limited nature of the series gave the authors the freedom to really push a few boundaries that they may not have been able to if this was to be an ongoing series. I especially enjoyed the character development. I deeply enjoyed seeing variations of these iconic heroes. It was a fun read and worth my time.

I recommend this. All my comic book geeks out there, give it a shot.

Dark Night: A True Batman Story by Paul Dini

I was not sure what to expect when I first looked at this graphic novel. What I didn't expect, but most certainly got, was a riveting true story. Paul Dini, the author, uses the graphic novel format to write a stirring autobiography. He is not gentle with himself. I was intrigued by the story and impressed by the level of honesty Mr. Dini showed.

In writing about the tragic event where he was severely beaten, the author uses the cartoon and comic book characters he worked with to help portray his inner landscape. This psychological play is a powerful metaphor. The villains from Batman,chosen with great care, were there trying to sabotage him, and the Dark Knight was there with encouragement, insight, and tough love.

I would recommend this book highly. If you are not a graphic novel fan, I encourage you to give it a try. It is worth the read.

Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 2 by Tom Taylor

In a dark, twisted version of the DC multiverse, Joker tricked Superman into killing Lois Lane, their unborn child, and all of Metropolis. This set Superman and many of the DC heroes down a dangerous, slippery slope. In order to keep the world "safe" they have decided to take action and make the world a more peaceful place.

The alternate versions of the characters in this alternate reality are interesting to me. The bloodthirstiness of Wonder Woman. The calm, cerbralness of the Flash. The angry, scared, vengeful Superman.

And not all of the heroes are with Superman and his new world order. With the help of Lex Luthor, the only survivor of the nuking of Metropolis and Superman's friend, a plan is formed to create an army of superpowered people to enforce the new rules Superman wants. Many of the non-powered heroes, led by Batman, are opposed to this plan. This sets the two sides on a collision course that leads to unforeseen, previously unthinkable actions. Heroes I thought I knew were distorted. The very closeness of these versions to the "real" ones makes them all the more frightening.

The writing of this series is scary good. The logical extrapolations that Tyler creates make my hair stand on end. It is easy to see how one small bad decision, and sometimes even a decision that isn't so bad, can lead these heroes further and further away from the right path into a morally gray area that seems to just keep darkening.

I highly recommend this series. The writing and the artwork are outstanding. The story is, as said previously, scary good.

Secret Origins, Volume 1 by Jeff Lemire, Pete Tomasi, Greg Pak, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, and Kyle Higgins

A couple of years ago DC comics rebooted its entire universe. This means it needed to update the origins of all the superheroes who made the transition to that universe. Most of these tales are ones I know. Heck a couple of them, like Superman and Batman, everyone knows. So why bother?

Well, for one thing, the way a story is told matters. The details of a story matter. And the details in these origin stories are slightly different from the older versions. Not so different as to be completely (or even substantially) changed. But the details allow the writers to set up the way they want these characters to grow and evolve in the New 52.

Some of the techniques used to tell the origin stories worked for me. The double-voiced narration of Superman’s story. The darkness mixed with hope in Batman’s story. It’s a different look at Aquaman and how his own future nemesis springs from it. Starfire’s story is definitely much darker. Batwoman’s story was completely new to me.

Of course, now that there is another multiverse shaking event coming up soon, who knows how quickly these new origins will be dated as well?

Stormwatch, Vol. 1: The Dark Side by Paul Cornell

This was a new to me. I am no longer a collector of comics, so I am no longer aware of all the titles. Of all places, I found this in a library in Dayton, Ohio. In the DC Universe, there exists a group of “heroes” who take on the jobs that aren’t talked about. They protect the Earth from alien invasions, no matter what the cost.

This is a little darker than most DC titles. All but one of the members of this team are also mainly new to me. They have an interesting array of powers:

Jenny Quantum: powers are based on "21st century physics, whatever those turn out to be"
The Engineer: nine pints of nano-fluids instead of blood gives her various abilities to control technology
Jack Hawksmoor: can talk to and control cities
Midnighter: can predict the outcome of any situation
Apollo: solar-based powers include super strength and flight
J'onn J'onzz the Martian Manhunter: shape shifter and telepath
Adam One: an immortal born during the Big Bang, aging backward
Emma Rice, the Projectionist: control over the mass media
Harry Tanner, the Eminence of Blades: lie to anyone and be believed

I enjoyed the science fiction-y aspects of the book. I also enjoyed that the members of the team don’t think of themselves as superheroes and actively cut the JLA out of the loop when they need to. They are not in this for glory, but to get the job done. In this volume they save the planet from invasion, lose a member of the team, gain two members, and face betrayal from within. There are some intense interpersonal relationships—this is not one big, happy family. It's more fun than deep and thoughtful. I was interested enough to want to read volume two. Maybe I’ll find that in a library one day, too.

JLA/Avengers by Kurt Busiek

Since I was a kid, I have always loved reading comic books. And I still remember the pure joy I felt when DC and Marvel got together and wrote a joint Superman/Spider-Man adventure. I still remember Spidey trying to punch out Supes. Since then I have kept my eye out any DC/Marvel crossovers. They are few and far between.

JLA/Avengers was a series that pitted these two iconic super teams against each other. This graphic novel contains that series. It starts off with some different DC/Marvel universes being destroyed. The destroyer turns out to be Kronos, an Oan (these are the little blue dudes who started the Green Lantern Corps) exiled due to his obsession with finding out what happened before the Big Bang. His initial inquiries were a disaster and were punished by introducing evil into the DC universes. Kronos is still looking for his answer.

In a bid to save the universes, the Grandmaster, a godlike being from the Marvel Universes, proposes a bet with Kronos. Each will get a team of superheroes and they have to find 12 objects of power. The team that collects the most wins. The losing team will have their universe destroyed.

That sets the stage for some pretty awesome battles. But what I liked even better was the way Busiek pointed out the contrasts between how super-powered beings are treated in each universe. And I totally love the ending. A time and universe bending battle.

George Perez, the artist, did an outstanding job. He captured the feel of each universe and the splash scenes for the battle were out of this world (sometimes literally).

I probably do not need to say it by now, but I give this book a very high recommendation. Definitely worth the time to read.

Dr. Psycho's Circus of Crime by Paul Kupperberg

I didn't care for this book, I'll be honest. Strange, as it is a Wonder Woman story. The problem for me is that it is written for children. The characters are all static and flat. Cliches abound.

A series of crimes is being committed. The perpetrators are able to do unusual things--not super powered, just unusual.

After an amazing coincidence, Wonder Woman tracks the criminals down and is met by Dr. Psycho, an old nemesis.

No surprises for me. Took about 10-15 minutes to read. I read it more so I can see what is available for my "lower-level" readers.

Not a book for adults, nor for those who look for some depth.

Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1 by Tom Taylor

I am not a videogame player. Not my thing. So I was unsure how I would like Injustice: Gods Among Us, Vol. 1. It is based on a popular videogame. I shouldn't have worried. I didn't need to be familiar with the game to be able to get into this story.

It is an alternate universe story. I really enjoy those quite a lot. The premise here is what if the world's superheroes, led by Superman, decide to take over for our own good? Broken by the cruelty of the Joker, Superman decides that he can no longer let evil and/or warfare exist while it is in his power to stop it. Wonder Woman has been waiting for him to decide this and enthusiastically joins his cause, as do most of the other super-powered heroes.

Batman, however, does not agree. He has not lost sight of the need for people to have free will and decide for themselves how they want to live, even with the inevitable disasters that entails. This sets up the basic conflict. Which vision of the world will win? And what lengths are the heroes willing to go to in order to make their visions that winning reality.

This graphic novel has strong writing. The morality of what is happening is questioned throughout the story, but not at the expense of action. The graphics themselves are sharp. They bring the story to life with often grisly detail.

I am looking forward to continuing the story in Volume 2.