Frame to Frames: Dick Tracy

There have been some phenomenal comic book-to-film adaptations. Even in the earliest days of the age of superheroes there have been filmakers who understood how to take the characters from a few panels per page to 24 panels-per-second. There are some pretty kickass serial movies from the forties; Spy Smasher (1942) and Batman (1943) come to mind. Some of these adaptations are so good that original aspects from them are incorporated into the comics. The Fleischer cartoons still influence Superman (and the DCU at large to a lesser extent) to this day. There have been times were the number of adaptations waxed and waned but before the current post-Spider-Man renaissance of blockbusters there was an era that almost was. The early 1990s had entertaining, action-packed, and often-flawless adaptations of off-beat and non-superhero comics galore. Going down the list there's Rocketeer, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Batman Returns [DISPUTED], the Crow, the Mask, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles just to name a few. As the opening salvo in this cavalcade of cinematic awesomeness we have:

BATMAN

Dick Tracy was originally by Chester Gould who was a genius for taking a pulp hardboiled noir detective and simply splashing him with scads of color. Gould understood all the strengths of the comic strip: the caricature, the silliness, the brightness and life and glorious color. He also keenly understood what made the dick characters of the era cool. Tough as nails, crime-stomping, kick in the door and beatdown the crooks cool.

"Calling Dick Tracy! Come in Tracy!"

There is also the unique and pulp-y two-way radio watch, a gadget worthy of James Bond but distinctly Tracy. Beyond the watch and the rogues Dick Tracy does not stray far from a straight crime-buster story. His heroics are human.

Pulp Detective + Comic Strip = AWESOME

Warren Beatty was not only a fan of the comic strip but a passionate fan. He successfully wrestled almost all control over the project to himself (he had a concept to do a Dick Tracy film in '75 and pursued it as it came up in various iterations for following 15 years).

"There was one Napoleon! One Washington! One me!!"

By 1988 he managed to become producer, director, and star of the project. He even agreed to deduct budget overages from his own salary just so he could do what he wanted. You've got to admire his gusto. You can see some of it in both principal characters of the film, in fact.

There are few men of such unparalleled ambition even in Hollywood and Beatty was really into Dick Tracy. Most men harbor a deep and abiding affection for some comic from their childhood. Even cool movie stars. I like that about him.

"Keep your dirty mitts off the stuff I like, you hacks!"

Fortunately for all of us Beatty isn't just a nerd but a great filmmaker. At the most basic element of design he did just what Gould did: he and art designer John Caglione took a 30's cops and robbers movie and splashed it in color. The whole thing is drenched in bright and vivid tones that perfectly reflect the glory of Gould's strips.

The buildings, the furniture, the clothing, and the people are all colorful

The entire world is a gaudy display and it immerses the viewer entirely and pulls you into the setting like Alice down the rabbit hole. With tones of art deco and strong lines in stark colors the characters are often framed in boxes and the viewer is looking at a comic panel without even knowing it.

Dick Tracy is sneaky that way.

That's just the beginning though. Beatty surrounded himself with people who took his vision and breathed wondrous new life into it. The script is by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr, one of two they wrote for John Landis to direct in the early 80's. Beatty had hoped to star and that is how he got involved in the production. He liked one of the scripts and when the production fell apart Beatty bought the film rights for himself. He took his style and the Cash and Epps script to Disney.

Beatty was nothing if not persistent

Cash and Epps weren't the only thing that Beatty thought the failed production got right. He also agreed with their choice of star: him!

Hell yeah, 'Tracy Triumphs'

And I happen to agree. Beatty has the hard-nosed detective aspect of Tracy down pat. He is unflapped by both bribes and the threat of explosion. He throws punches and will gun down a crook without blinking.

Another pulp image: the protagonist tied and in peril but cool as a yellow cucumber

That's not to say that the violence is the point of the character. Far from it. A lighter spirit tends to prevail. Tracy's awkward and shy relationship with Tess, his upright tutelage of the Kid, and unerring righteousness keep Tracy squarely in the comic book realm. As for who would oppose Tracy's quest for law and order there was only one choice in the director's mind.

Beatty said he always envisioned Pacino playing Big Boy Caprice since his initial concept in '75. The two of them had been in competition for arch-gangster Michael Corleone and Beatty saw Pacino as having the potential to be the greatest realistic, introspective gangster as well as the greatest over-the-top caricature of a gangster. He had no idea.

Pacino delivers the line "I AM THE LAW" with more gusto than Sly Stallone ever could

Al Pacino transformed Alphonse Caprice into a character worthy of the name Big Boy. Smarmy, violent, and arrogant Big Boy has long been overlooked for how phenomenal he is as a villain. Doug Drexler's makeup (especially the chin and the mole) transform Pacino into the face of a criminal Napoleon. Added to this is Pacino's hunched, manic, and fidgeting physicalities. Big Boy is unrepentantly greedy and crooked. He kills friend and foe alike - He blows up competitor gangster James Caan and has the corrupt DA Dick Van Dyke shot in an attempt to frame Tracy. And as for Paul Sorvino's character boss Lips Manless...

"The Bath" - An AMAZING pulp way to off someone

Big Boy's plan in the film is to orchestrate the unionization of the crime rackets (it's the 30's after all) and he even goes so far as tying Tess Trueheart (Tracy's sweetheart) to the moving gears of a drawbridge.

I guess there weren't any train tracks around...

The host of bizarre and outlandish rogues that are encountered throughout the film are another essential element of the Dick-verse that this film hits a home run with.

No Face is a character from the strip with a unique twist for the movie

One of the only mistakes this movie makes is not enough Little-Face

To add to this Beatty (a pianist himself) got the creme de la creme of the scene to do the music for Dick Tracy. Fresh off of Batman and Darkman Danny Elfman was a natural choice for the score. Beatty worked with him on the themes (though Elfman wasn't too happy about some of his input) and the result was a resounding success. Bold and unique, the melodies ring true in both tone and in accenting the era. In my humble opinion it stands out as brilliant accomplishment in a career of many fine successes for Mr. Elfman.

It even makes this blogpost cooler!

And as if that weren't enough Stephen Sondheim was brought on for four songs. They are catchy, unique, and with the unparalleled clever and emotive flare of Sondheim. One is sung by Mel Torme and plays on the radio for a montage of Dick, Tess, and the Kid. The other three songs are all sung by Madonna, including Sooner or Later, arguably the most famous number from Dick Tracy.

Madonna performed it at the Oscars that year

And the vocal performances of Madonna are the third element which gives Dick Tracy a sound that is almost unheard of in film.

Get it? UNHEARD of!

Madonna was dating Warren Beatty at the time which is fortunate for him because A- he got to sleep with Madonna at the height of her sexiness and B- she was Breathless Mahoney. Just like Big Boy is the quintessential gangster Breathless is unmatched in the category of moll.

Plus, like I said: the absolute height of her sexiness

The story is engrossing and compelling. It is rife with sentiment and suspense and the kind of violence that modern audiences expect. Make no mistake- this movie can go toe to toe with any gangster or action movie as far as action violence is concerned.

The final shootout is a bloodbath as all of Big Boy's henchmen as gunned down in a hail of tommy gun fire. The reason that all of this is rendered somehow less bloodcurdling is due to the fact that it's all so bright and colorful. Also, the movie holds the same taboos: killing is ok but showing blood isn't.

Now THAT'S some PG family entertainment

But it's effective nonetheless. It achieves onscreen what the Dick Tracy comic strip did - Making these violent adult adventures suitable for everyone. Though perfectly suitable for kids Dick Tracy can be viewed and enjoyed by adults just as well. The fact that's it's a quasi-musical also adds to the perception that it is somehow less violent than it is.

Beatty adds the 'Badass' subtype any time he is equipped with a Tommy Gun

Plus, there are great performances from the entire star-studded cast. Seymour Cassel, Charles Durning, Glenne Headley and so many more talented, big-name actors clutter the screen. All of them deliver and garbed in gaudy colors and bathed in bright lights they seem to belong to the world and never distract from the drama. If anything, their performances are so unique that the performers disappear into the over-the-top four-color characters. Remember Dustin Hoffman for example?

Oh yeah, and that's Kathy Bates in the background as the stenographer. Seriously.

Somehow, critics and audiences alike managed to miss all of this. Dick Tracy's profits were lackluster and the reviews mixed.

Pictured: Roger Ebert's Review

How the entire population and most of the critics can completely whiff on such an awesome film is beyond me. I guess Dick Tracy just used up all it's awesome on the movie itself.

Al Pacino undressing Madonna: What more did they want?!

Despite this the Oscars recognized the accomplishments of Dick Tracy and justly rewarded them. Dick Tracy got more nominations and more wins than any other comic book movie (eat it Dark Knight). Art Direction (John Caglione), Make Up (Doug Drexler), and the song "Sooner or Later" by Stephen Sondheim all took home Academy Awards. In addition, Tracy had four other nominations.

Including a well-deserved nomination for Al Pacino

Dick Tracy remains one of the greatest examples of how to adapt a comic book (or any source material for that matter) to the big screen. Passion and prestige need to be guiding elements. Staying true to the original subject is important but not as important as staying true to the spirit of the subject. Major aspects of the film should be informed by the source and the more that the world of the comic is embraced then the better the movie will be. And as Fred Greenburg used to say "they're just funnybooks" - so above all have fun!

--

52 Pick Up

On August 31st DC Comics is going to launch one of the most bold, innovative, and monumental changes in the history of comic books. They are going to be starting every one of their ongoing titles again with #1. That's fifty-two brand new #1s for all their books from Action Comics to Wonder Woman. This will be coupled with some rebooting so that DC can alter some of its 80 years of continuity and have a fresher, more diverse look for the new millennium.

Nothing like this has ever been done before. Marvel in the 90's restarted a couple of comics in a "different universe" with Heroes Reborn, but that was only some of its poor-selling flagship titles (Thor, Fantastic Four). DC has done reboots of their continuity as well, major ones like Crisis on Infinite Earths and Zero Hour. But while these led to some comic series restarting it was far from 52 new titles.

Promo Art from Justice League #1 for the New 52

But I don't want to get into a symposium on the history of comic book reboots. I am here to advise you on the future of comics. And as far as DC's New 52 is concerned I have but two words for you: Pick one!

The Free Promo Book for the New 52

These stories will be starting fresh meaning you don't need to have an ultra nerd-level of knowledge to read these books. You'll be starting fresh along with everyone else. But that's just a perk. I think the real strength of this reboot is how awesome these books look like they're going to be!

DC has brought out their top talent as well as the hottest young guns in both writing and art. It is far harder to find a comic in this new lineup that isn't awesome, inventive, or exciting than it is to find one that looks bad (Teen Titans *cough cough*). But with 52 books it is a daunting prospect to find the ones that are right for you. So, with that in mind, I've picked out five books that I think look particularly good and would be particularly well-suited to readers old and new!

Action Comics

Written by Grant Morrison, Art by Rags Morales

Interior Art from Action Comics #1

Action Comics #1 was the premiere of Superman way back in 1938. And for almost 75 years it has been ongoing until a few weeks from now when #904 will mark the final issue. Action Comics volume 2 #1 comes out on September 7th. Restarting this title has been the most controversial decision of the reboot. I am not crazy about the idea of restarting this icon and breaking a tradition that has persisted since the first Superman fans gave DC Comics its real start. But despite this concern Action Comics #1 may be able to match the greatness of the first Action.

Grant Morrison is one of the visionaries of the medium. He's been revolutionizing comics since the 1980's as one of the progenitors of Vertigo with his Animal Man series and now he will be the standard-bearer on DC's flagship title. Many are familiar with Morrison's Arkham Asylum and All Star Superman. The latter is one of the best Superman stories ever (coincidentally the former is one of the best Batman stories ever) and the prospect of Morrison continuing to write Superman is tantalizing. He understands the character and embraces the concepts of Superman and all that he represents. Coupled with Rags Morales this book will have an element of humanity and compassion that is seldom seen in mainstream comics. Rags Morales' pencil work is emotive, delicate, and dynamic. Morales' drawings tend to be energetic, with the world and the characters in constant motion. He can capture both pathos and action with sublime skill. If there is a single key to understanding what the New 52 is all about this is it and I guarantee it will be both a pleasurable and rewarding read.

If you liked All Star Superman then Action Comics is a no-brainer.

Batwoman

Writing and Art by J. H. Williams III, Co-Writer W Haden Blackman

Interior Art from Batwoman Elegy

DC Comics has been stressing diversity, edginess, and creativity in regards to the New 52. Few comics will embody these ideals more than Batwoman. As a character Batwoman was created to allay fears of homosexuality between the dynamic duo in the 50's. But this is not the good-girl of the Eisenhower administration anymore. The new Batwoman who premiered in the brilliant 52 (a weekly comic from 2006) is a lipstick lesbian with military training and a penchant for ass-kicking. She is interesting, intense, and stylistic. She was such a hit as a supporting character that she got a year of stories in Detective Comics. With the aid of J H Williams' breath-taking art and layouts Batwoman became a fan-favorite. Now J H Williams' is devoting himself full-time to Batwoman doubling up on writing and art. Williams art is beautiful, engaging, and complex. Using different colors and inks to show the different gothic, technicolor worlds of civilians and superheroes and villains. Batwoman's brooding black-white-and-red colors spill over the pages and set the tone as well as tell the story. A veteran Star Wars comic writer, W Haden Blackman, will be helping Williams with the story and plotting so that the overworked Williams can keep up the monthly schedule. Based solely on Williams' previous work on Batwoman I would wager this will be one of the best books on the market whether it was part of the New 52 or not.

For those of you who enjoyed Promethea, Batwoman would be a great choice.

Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E.

Written by Jeff Lemire, Art by Alberto Ponticelli

Frankenstein #1 Variant Cover

Jeff Lemire is one of the most talked about up-and-coming comic writers out there today. He made a splash with Essex County, a brooding, sardonic, and artistic work that exuded humor and heart. Then Lemire took Vertigo by storm with Sweet Tooth, a kind of Road Warrior/Bambi story (If you can't imagine what that is then pick it up - You'll see). Now Lemire is coming to the mainstream of DC and he's doing it with a character that is as off-beat and unique as the author himself: Frankenstein. DC's Frankenstein is a philosopher warrior with a penchant for ultra-violence, weapons that range from religious artifacts to James Bond gadgets, and an abiding hatred of evil. Frankenstein's weird, wild world is just waiting for Jeff Lemire. He is currently writing a Frankenstein miniseries in which the titular character kills Hitler in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII. Now Frankenstein will be working alongside his four-armed "Bride" with the secret supernatural spy organization S.H.A.D.E. (Super Human Advanced Defense Executive). I've only seen italian artist Alberto Ponticelli's art on the Vertigo Unknown Soldier series but his gritty, violent covers always conveyed far more than the bright colors and bold line work initially let on. If there was one under-appreciated Vertigo series from the last few years it is Unknown Soldier and I can only hope that Frankenstein brings Ponticelli the credit he deserves.

If you like Hellboy or the BPRD then Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. is an ideal way to get into the New 52.

All-Star Western

Written by Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, Art by Moritat and Jordi Bernet

Cover of All-Star Western #1

Scary Monsters and Super Creeps aren't the only ones riding through the New 52. The adventures of the cowboys of the wild west have been a long-standing part of the DC Universe and now the classic title All-Star Western is back for the first time since 1972. However, this comic is also a case of "Not broke, don't fix it". The team from the popular and ever-cool Jonah Hex series (which will be ending) are picking right up with All-Star Western and paragon DC cowboy Jonah Hex. Hex's adventures will take him to 19th-century Gotham where he will be teaming up with Dr. Amadeus Arkham (founder of Arkham Asylum) to track down Gotham's first serial killer. This story sounds so badass I can barely contain myself. Gray and Palmiotti have been making Jonah Hex the coolest cowboy in media (not just comics, but across all spectrums of cowboy stories) for 70 issues now and there is no indication that they're doing anything but amping it up for the new series. Jordi Bernet is another Jonah Hex veteran having drawn almost 20 issues to wide acclaim by fans and creators alike. Moritat is a new one on me but his name (an allusion to medieval murder ballads) is cool and I really liked what I saw of his art in a few issues of the Spirit. Also, Jonah Hex is only the beginning as All-Star Western will be telling stories from across the DC West from vengeance tales, to shoot-outs, to the weird west, and beyond.

For anyone who is a fan of westerns, I would urge you to give All-Star Western a read; It won't disappoint.

Wonder Woman

Written by Brian Azzarello, Art by Cliff Chiang

Interior Art from Wonder Woman #1

Brian Azzarello never fails to let his readers down with the brutal, clever, and pulpy tales of both heroes and criminals. The most talked about Batman story of the year has been his three-issue Flashpoint Batman mini-series and this is just the latest in a long list of hardboiled comics. He's done war comics (Sgt Rock), westerns (Loveless), and more than a few superhero comics including Batman, Superman, Luke Cage and more. Every one of these titles have been edgy and intense and now he's turning his unique eye to Wonder Woman. The story seems to be a Gods vs Mortals kind of story (Clash of the Titans-style) with Wonder Woman as the Perseus out to defend humanity from the whims of cruel celestials. Coupled with the art of Cliff Chiang this may be one of the most interesting Wonder Woman comics ever. Chiang was brilliant on the Beware the Creeper miniseries from '03 (despite a less-than-compelling story). He also recently showed the diversity of his character designs when he teamed with Azzarello on the Dr. Thirteen mini-series which featured such a colorful cast as Nazi gorillas, vampires, cavemen, and flying pirate ships. Wonder Woman will be facing off with Gods and monsters and I am sure it will rise to heights of violence and epic conflict to rival the siege of Troy.

Have you read 100 Bullets and can't get enough? Then give Wonder Woman a try.

And in addition to these there are 47 other great new titles that will come out between August 31st and September 28th. If these don't sound like your cup of tea then take my advice: Pick one! This is an exciting time in comics and it's your chance to get in on the ground floor and to get your hands on comics that I bet you'll end up loving. Some other titles that look awesome:

Aquaman - You know, now find out just how awesome he is. Geoff Johns (Blackest Night, Flashpoint) is writing the adventures of the Sea King - This could to be the first popular Aquaman comic ever!

Demon Knights - Etrigan the Demon stars in a sword and sorcery medieval adventure that takes place after the fall of Camelot. Featuring such DC characters as Shining Knight, Mordru, and Madame Xanadu this book looks like epic fantasy at its best.

The Fury of Firestorm - Ronnie Raymond and Jason Rusch are the odd couple of the superhero world and only together can they become Firestorm the Nuclear Man! Written by Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Secret Six) and Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern Rebirth) this book looks awesome.

O.M.A.C. - The One Man Army Corps is being used as the pawn of Brother Eye against the world peace-keeping organization Checkmate. Dan Didio (DC Grand Poo-Bah) will be writing with the ever-talented Keith Giffen!

Static Shock - The young justice of the DCU is joined by the milestone Static Shock! Alas, poor creator Dwayne McDuffie because were it not for his untimely demise he would be writing this. Scott McDaniel is as good a replacement as I can imagine and I am psyched to have Static as part of the DCU.

Stormwatch - It's the Authority (basically) but with the added bonus of Martian Manhunter! Bad guys prepare to have your asses handed to you in the most vicious manner possible courtesy of Apollo, Midnighter, and the rest of the crew.

And that just scratches the surface of the New 52. There's something for everyone here, you just need to find it!

This Week's Comics Rock #4: Super Dinosaur #2

Super Dinosaur #2

Vital Stats:
Publisher: Image
Release Date: 5-25-11
Author: Robert Kirkman
Artis & Colorist: Jason Howard
Cover Artist: Jason Howard
Cover Price: $2.99
Paul's Grade: B+

Some people just get why people love the comic book genre. These select few authors understand the melodrama, the supermorals and the four-color insanity that we shell out money monthly for. One of this small group is Robert Kirkman. The larger populace has been exposed to Mr. Kirkman due to the TV-adaptation of his original (and still ongoing) comic series the Walking Dead. But as awesome as Walking Dead is in my opinion his greatest work is his original (and still ongoing) series Invincible. It lives up to its tag-line "The Best Superhero Comic Book in the Universe". Robert Kirkman's latest foray into the world of Super Heroes is no less wonderful especially considering it stars a boy and his dinosaur!

HE'S GOT A LASER GATLING-GUN!

Great cover, first of all. Super Dinosaur is in his newly-minted "Arctic Battle Gear" with some awesome, teeth-exposing battle damage. Super Dinosaur cradles his best friend Derek protectively as he wields his laser gatling gun at unseen foes behind the "camera". It's a classic comic tableau made that much better because it's a dinosaur. Last issue introduced us to Derek Dynamo and his best friend Super Dinosaur! He lives in an underground base under Mount Ranier with his father the world-famous Dr. Dynamo. They also just met Bruce and Sarah who are there to help maintain and build new Super Dinosaur armor. All of this is powered and made possible by Dynore, a mysterious and powerful mineral discovered by Dr. Dynamo in Inner-Earth where Dinosaurs still rule!

Look at his little arms on the video game-esque controls!

The relationship between Super Dinosaur ("SD") and Derek is really fun. It's part Lassie & Jeff, part Tom Sawyer & Huck Finn, part Jonny Quest & Race Bannon, and part Jimmy Olsen & Superman. SD is a pet, best friend, bodyguard, and hero idol all rolled into one. Their interplay is fancy free and fun-loving. It's replete with the kind of young teen banter that one would expect of Ben 10 or somesuch Cartoon Network toon with a young boy for a protagonist. But it's not bad. It's actually quite entertaining and refreshing. Superheroes tend not to be half as enthusiastic or excited about what they are doing as Derek.

Their relationship is already endearing

Derek also gets some relationship building in with his dear ol' dad. Last issue we found out that Dr. Dynamo is mentally slipping and that Derek has been secretly been finishing his father's projects at night so that he doesn't feel bad. Going through an elderly relative losing his memory I can completely relate to Derek and am a little touched at the sincerity Kirkman does it with (though this is not a major part of the book, it has been touched on each issue briefly). It also adds a beautiful and almost heart-breaking aspect to the story. I (as a seasoned comic reader) fear for Dr. Dynamo's safety in coming issues. I feel he is vulnerable and his death would be a turning point for Derek and SD. I hope I'm wrong and Derek gets many happy years with his dad but I don't have high hopes...

The lab is a great generic Super-Lab they use to study Dynore

In regards to Kirkman getting what comic readers want - Just look at Super Dinosaur! He is almost the embodiment of the Comic Book Genre. He's like Iron Man if he were a dinosaur and he's got a Robin-like sidekick. The shoulder cannons are classic and so are his big hulking arms (which are complimented so brilliantly with the little arms at the controls). We also get to see his "Arctic Attack Gear" when Derek and SD go to Antarctica following a tracking beacon in search of a villain. SD's new suit has a ski mask, goggles, and skis! It's ridiculous and so cool. Plus, they go to assault a secret Antarctic base complete with giant spacecraft and what looks like a reactor. This echoes tons of other franchises from Watchmen to James Bond but with a uniquely Kirkman twist.

The beautiful blues and whites and the enormity of what Derek and SD are racing towards is perfect

Jason Howard (artist and co-creator) does a beautiful job with the landscape and setting. He deserves a lot of credit for the character designs throughout the book as well. I especially like his take on Max Maximus the arch-villain of SD.

"I'll burn the ocean to the ground!" - These are the rants we need more of in comics!

Now, on to the villains! Kirkman serves up a trio of villains in this book and hints at even more. Since the book starts with SD and Derek already having spent years adventuring they have a rogues gallery in place. The primary one is Max Maximus who helped create SD, created the Dino-men, and betrayed Dr. Dynamo when he went evil. He's got a great tattered green labcoat/cloak and an evil-looking robot arm. Classic bald head with a goatee (evil-Spock style) sells the look to the nines. He does villain rants, he's got a room full of viewscreens, and he's got Dino-Henchmen. This guy has been in two issues and already he's got the makings of a great. Seriously, all he needs to do is murder Dr. Dynamo and this guy will be in my top 25. Knowing Kirkman, no matter what Max Maximus will make a huge impression!

He's got a spear made of Dynore

The new villain who is introduced this issue is the Exile and he too knows how to give a villainous rant! He enters with his energy spear crackling and introduces himself in textbook style. His costume is cool (I like his halfcape and his cyclops look) but I could do with some more color. That's just me though. Plus they have Tricerachops (she wields an axe) who Maximus created and now works for the Exile.

There is a lot of character building, Dino Action, and a great fight scene. Super Dinosaur #2 does not fail to impress in the least. I give it a very strong "B" only because Kirkman is obviously still getting the players in place and he's still got lots of exposition to get through. I'm sure by issue #10 this book will be running on all cylinders and will be one of my monthly favorites. That being said this issue never feels slow or too expository. It is fun, exciting, and engaging throughout and is paving the way to yet another entry in the Image hall of fame for Robert Kirkman! Get on board now so that when Showtime makes the Super Dinosaur series in five years you can say "That book's awesome! I've been reading that since issue #2; You should check out the trades!"

This Week's Comics Rock #3: Batman Incorporated #6

Batman Incorporated #6
Vital Stats:
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: 5-11-11
Author: Grant Morrison
Artist: Chris Burnham
Colors: Nathan Fairbairn
Cover Artist: Chris Burnham and Nathan Fairbairn
Cover Price: $2.99
Paul's Grade: A
The cover is nice. It's pretty straight-forward but it's a great collection of heroes from the Bat-o-verse and a lot of them are new. I saw this at C2E2 at the artist's booth and admit that I stopped to take it in for a moment. I like his style and think it's a good cover but I must say that I have enjoyed the earlier, more visually complex covers that have hitherto been a staple of this title.

Dark Avenger, Nightrunner, El Gaucho, Blackbat, Red Robin, Batman, Dark Ranger, and Batman (again)
Red Robin fighting the Voodoo villains in the ruins of Port-au-Prince is my favorite panel

First, please take a moment to look at that picture up close and personal (click for larger version). Look how the thugs make a continuous scene with Batman fighting them all across the world. Beautiful, right? Nyktomorph is the title of this tale and it's a nice little double-entendre. Nyktomorph means to transform the night or "the changing night". And with Batman's plan to go global with an army of Batmen will the night ever be the same again? The issue is about Batman expanding the ranks of Batman Incorporated. This splash page features a number of the new recruits as they wage their war on crime. I like that Batman (the original Bruce Wayne) is seen in two of the panels above because it enforces the theme of the issue: Batman is Everywhere.
For those who aren't up to date, Batman recently had an epiphany. He realized that though he has long been considered (even by himself) to be a loner, he has in fact always had help. Robin joined him early on but even before that he had the help of Commissioner Gordon. Even more prominent is Alfred Pennyworth who raised him and acts as tailor, medic, confidante, and assistant (in addition to a myriad of other responsibilities). With this in mind Batman decided to embrace the concept and recruit other Batmen across the globe. Bruce Wayne came out to the public that he has been secretly financing Batman for years and he founds Batman Inc in order to fund other deputized Batman similarly.

I love the way Nathan Fairbairn colors Bruce's clear mad blue eyes. Also the Kingdom Come-esque Robo Bats

Bruce holds a press conference (while foiling Emoticon Man with new Batmaned-out Jet-Suits) and lays out the central motif. While all this is going on he is also continuing his worldwide Bat-crusade. Batman is ranging far and wide to find new Batmen and to help his new associates in their battle against Leviathan (the big evil organization Morrison's been building up for the last six issues).

1st App: Blackbat

Blackbat is (to the best of my knowledge) a brand new character and the Bat(wo)man of Hong Kong. She looks awesome. Her mask is something like Nightshade's or Black Canary's but distinctly Batman. I like the open flowing hair and the Batgirl (Kassandra Kane) bat symbol but that's not what makes the look. The coolest aspect is her fluttering, almost tattered cape. It's an homage to the classic crenelated ending of Batman's cape while being something that I don't think I've ever seen in a cape before. Well done!
There's a three panel sequence of Batman and Dark Ranger chasing down a truck, then capturing the crooks who were driving it. It ends with a phenomenal panel of Batman delivering the oath.

The oath scene mimics the famous panel of Robin swearing his oath

The action is obvious, even cliche. That's why it only gets two panels. The whole of the scene is silent (the expository dialogue is from an outside narrator) because we all understand the events. This makes the Batman imagery that much more potent as well as giving the sense (to me at least) that this is becoming the routine for Batman and that this is one of many oaths he's given in the weeks since the founding of Batman Inc.

Here we see Nightrunner, the Batman of France (what happened to the Musketeer?!)

Also, the common crime that Batman Inc is cracking down on is human trafficking. The secret evil organization is stealing children and turning them into little murder machines who keep heiling "Leviathan!" (not the most subtle strategy). The sheer number of Batman featured in this book is great but it's also got Batman (Bruce Wayne) being cool on his own. He is thinking outside the box in a lot of ways, including keeping his identity safe now that Wayne is Batman's public backer.
There's something timeless about Batman sitting at the Batcomputer and typing "Batman is Bruce Wayne". It's been teased on covers and been the fodder of dreams and imaginary stories but Morrison is best at taking everything old and making it new again. Plus, the idea that Batman trolls conspiracy theory websites is really funny.
Grant Morrison is very probably my favorite writer. He rocks my world and I am never less than impressed by his work but what he has been doing with Batman these past few years has been nothing short of visionary and transformative. He revels in all the classic aspects of the character while keeping him the height of the modern Super-Crime fighter. I don't know if it's just this issue or something subconscious but I have been really taken with Nathan Fairbairn's colors as well. The big splash page shows that well with the scintillating array of colors in each scene. Also, look at Bruce Wayne's shirt and tie in his press conference scene. Fairbairn brings a dynamic and lively quality to the detailed and complex art of Chris Burnham. Burnham has a style that brings me in mind of Frank Quitely (one of Morrison's most frequent collaborators) but the faces of the characters are less scowling and brutal. He brings an energy to Bruce Wayne that is undeniable. When is the last time you saw Batman smile? He's doing it a lot in this. It's exciting because Batman is clearly excited about what he is doing and the challenge that Leviathan presents. When he first discovered this evil secret organization and their machinations he sat back in his batchair in the Batcave and said "Game on" and he really meant it. It's a new direction for the character in so many ways while not ever being out of character.
This book rates a solid "A" and well it should as it is one of the best titles that DC is currently publishing. This issue did not have a moment that made me jump out of my socks or gasp so I cannot give it an "A+" but it's still the best book of the week.
For $2.99 this is a great Batman story and the beauty of it is you can pick it up and read it and not need to know too much about what's happened before or what's going to happen next. It enforces and expands on things from earlier in the series and is clearly getting pieces in place for what's to come but this issue is stand alone enough that I'd recommend it to anyone who likes Batman. Cheers!

This Week's Comics Rock #2: Gladstone's School for World Conquerors #1

Gladstone's School for World Conquerors #1
Vital Stats:
Publisher: Image
Release Date: 5-4-11
Author: Mark Andrew Smith
Artist: Armand Villavert
Colors: Carlos Carrasco
Cover Artist: Armand Villavert
Cover Price: $2.99
Paul's Grade: B
The first issue of this new ongoing series is clever and lots of fun. It opens with a brief and rather silly prologue describing the eponymous Gladstone and how he and his school got started. It sets the tone for the rest of the issue: Lighthearted genre-parody rife with supervillains and supervillainy. After the nine-page introduction the scene jumps to the here and now and the introduction of the first principal character.

This is revealed to be Monologue-ing 101

It's a great splash page. The ruins are almost uncomfortably 9/11 but they don't dwell on it and I do like the defeated Batman-knockoff in the lower right of the frame. Kid Nefarious is the talented kid but is spoiled by his supervillain parents and has a sense of entitlement. Still, for a book about young Mad Scientists and Magical Aberrations he fits nicely as a central protagonist along with his cohort/partner-in-supercrime Martian Jones. He isn't riveting but he is someone I want to continue watching.
The book is shaping up to feature a large ensemble cast much like most classic teenage/high school dramas. Unfortunately the two female characters in this issue left me pretty flat. Mummy Girl with her puppy love for Kid Nefarious has a couple pages of in-class daydreaming by way of an introduction. It seemed to me a tired and overdone motif even with the supercriminal element.

Their dialogue just seems to retread the same familiar High School Girl story

Her BFF Ghost Girl is equally uninspiring thus far and both of them seem just a touch too Manga for my tastes. Actually, up to this point, the smaller and background characters have been more compelling and intriguing than the principal protagonists.

This book needs more scenes like THIS

Recess kicks off with a gigantic two-page fracas of kid supercriminals battering one another and getting up to general schoolyard roughhousing on a whole new level. Great costumes and a really engrossing palette of powers being displayed. I especially like the kid para-trooper and the one riding the flying pink jellyfish.

The Metal City Gang and the Skull Brothers taunt one another on the playground

This schoolyard fight is pretty great. First off, the villainous parodies are a lot of fun. I like the Rogues/Fatal Five-type team of the Metal City Gang. They seem like a bunch of villains who have teamed up for mutual protection/pooling resources. They've got a good, wacky balance and characters that both fit neatly into understandable archetypes while at the same time looking pretty unique. The Skull Brothers take it up another level still, caricatures of both the brooding ultra-violent street killers (like Bullseye or Deadshot) as well as the perfect set of goth kids. These are the characters that I want to pick up the next issue to see more of (and I hope they deliver).

Again, the art gets very Manga-like at times

The staff of Gladstones hasn't really been explored except for the Groundskeeper who is the retired villain Greensleeves. When he freaks out and uses his powers in nicely emphasizes that the adult villains are on another level than the kids. In my opinion the teaching staff at such a school should be just as awesome if not more cool than the kids (look at Hogwarts) so I hope we get to see much more of them in the future.
The issue also ends with three pages of dialogue between a hero and a villain that sets up a tantalizing mystery for next issue. Their talk also potentially casts the Skull Brothers' rant from earlier in the issue in a much different light.

The two fighting on the TV are the Hero and Villain we meet at the end of this issue

Mark Andrew Smith seems to have some very interesting ideas that he's playing with in this book. It's obvious he loves the tropes of supervillainy as well and that shines through consistently. It even makes up for some of the more heavy-handed story elements and the sometimes prattling dialogue (jury is still out on whether he is just writing high schoolers accurately or his dialogue lilts into the inane at times). Overall he does a good job though and if I like coming issues I think I will check out Amazing Joy Buzzards (one of his other Image titles). Armand Villavert's art is, as I've said, a little too Manga for my tastes but that is not consistent throughout the book. Also, I dig his costume designs for the villains (especially the initials at the end of Kid Nefarious' scarf). It is quite a challenge to stock an entire school with brightly clad fiends and he rises to the challenge beautifully. The coloring is bold and engaging. It puts me in mind of something Vince Colletta would do if he were working with digital coloring (for those of you who don't know Vince, this is a HUGE compliment). It puts me in mind of a by-gone era of comics when many backgrounds were simply bright colors that help to accentuate the mood of the scene or the drama of the panel. Very nicely done.
Gladstone's #2 will be on my pull list and I am hoping that the quality only improves from here. I especially hope that the main characters will become more endearing with more exposure (though I feel they could just as easily become increasingly aggravating). But this issue is bright and fun and well worth the $2.99 cover price.