Matt Kindt wrote the comic book series Mind MGMT which was very lovely, and was one of my lingering regrets earlier this year because I couldn't find any time to read more of it, seeing as I'm sticking to a strict Batman comics diet until the end of the December. I had high hopes for this issue with that alone, and never have my hopes for a comic book been squashed so violently and repulsively before. This has to be the second greatest offender committed in Detective Comics for me. I look at the general consensus rating of Goodreads for this issue and it's flabbergasting! If I had my way, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOWER THAN THAT. Personally, as someone who loved Harley Quinn deeply than of all the Bat-villains, this re-telling of her origin story offends me.
I gotta ask: WHAT THE FUCK HAS NEW 52 BEEN DOING TO HER LATELY? I'm happy she became a part of the comics canon, but aside from Paul Dini's Mad Love comic, I seriously have never read a magnificent and resonant Harley issue after it, even when she got her own title. Those stories were okay, a few may even be great. I read bits of her appearances in Suicide Squad for New 52 and never truly enjoyed them. I have copies of her title re-launch and I dread getting around to them. I don't understand why they're doing things to Harley that contradict the characteristics that Paul Dini and Bruce Timm originally defined and instilled her with. Look, I can go on and on about the costume she started to wear since New 52 began WHICH I LOATHED because it was NEEDLESSLY SKANKY and very un-Harley in the MOST DEGRADING SENSE. It's even worse than putting Wonder Woman IN PANTS before. I can even complain about the gratuitous violence she displays that even for someone like her is grossly over-the-top.
But I won't. I'll simply say that this issue, written by someone whose other work I was slowly falling in love with, is a sorry miss. It was joyless. It was pretentious. It was everything Harley never was. Harley is a barrel of laughs in spite of the grimness of her actions. She always does everything with a genuine smile in her face because she found her life's purpose and calling by being the Joker's muse. She's charming in her exploits and uninhibited in exploring her dark inclinations. But she's never cruel or chaotic for the sake of her own sadism that needs to be filled. She enjoys and takes pleasure when it's the Joker who inflicts cruelty on people. as long as she has a part to play in it. She relishes on his psychosis and gives herself to him as his personal instrument of destruction which only he could play the right tunes from, if not a terrifying and playful symphony. That's comics' most functional dysfunctional relationship between two sick minds that complete each other and it's a love story that is one of a kind. But New 52 can't seem to grasp how to capture what Dini and Timm offered on screen in the animated series. It confounds and irritates me.
(I just remembered reading a Harley story in Batman Black and White issue #1 two months ago entitled Justice is Served and I loved that one. I can recommend it.)
There were just so many things that this issue got wrong about their relationship, let alone what motivated her to join him in the first place. I don't want to discuss it any more in detail. I feel like I might alienate those who only read Harley Quinn in comics and never got to enjoy her in all her fabulous, hilarious self in Dini's work or in the cartoons. And I really don't want to rant on. What you need to know is that this issue left me numb. The amusing costume change (which I can tolerate better than the one she had on in Suicide Squad but it's still a far-cry from the original which was just perfection) did not distract me from the awful way this story ended. Harley committed an atrocity that I will never in a million years believe she will ever be capable of. It was just too much! Look, the Joker is chaos in its rawest form but Harley is more of the distilled version. She can be unpredictable but she's also got a big heart that magnanimous enough to love someone like the Joker and stand by him. She IS NOT HEARTLESS ENOUGH TO DO WHAT SHE DID IN THIS STORY. So fuck this. I don't know who this person is but she is an impostor. SHE IS NOT HARLEY QUINN. I might never read any New 52 comic book with her in it ever again. It just hurts too much. It also pains me to know that novice readers will firstly acquaint themselves with this version of her and even enjoy it for the joyless, skanky and inconsistent mess that she has become. I'll also re-read my some of my copies of Mind MGMT to remind me that Kindt is still a spectacular writer. Also, so I can forgive him for this disgusting issue.
NOT RECOMMENDED: 1/10
Villains Months marks the official re-telling of the origin stories of the baddies of DC. Several months back in my first wave of Batman comics diet, I read and reviewed Peter J. Tomasi's villain issues for Two Face, the Talons, Clayface and Ra's Al Ghul and they were all great especially Two-Face's which was an absolute favorite! I was really surprised to see that Layman didn't write the four villain installments themselves for his title. In any case, I thought Fridolfs did a remarkable piece with his take on Poison Ivy's origins. The artwork by Javier Pina stood out for me well enough especially his illustrations of the hellish jungle that Poison Ivy turned Gotham into being.
Absurdly enough, a Villains Month issue seems to have a standard formula which is composed of a villain walking around the city about to fall into ruins (or already in ruins) as he or she reminisces the past (several flashbacks detailing their cruel beginnings which led them to life of crime and chaos). This worked for Tomasi's Two Face tremendously well, and he delightfully subverted it with his Ra's Al Ghul issue. As for Poison Ivy: I was just okay with it. There was nothing to it that felt like a disservice to the character, but there was also hardly anything I connected with. Still, the entire issue was enjoyable because Pamela Isley was contemplative and consistent in her tale of woe. I didn't like her less when I read this which I felt the need to point out only because I also didn't like her more after finishing.
It was a suitable origin story that didn't try to offer me beyond its means which is what saved its quality from dropping which it could have easily done so. So that's a comforting consolation.
I still maintain that Fabok draws Poison Ivy the most splendidly yet, and he at least illustrated the cover for his issue and look how slick it is! She's sexy and appealing but not at all trashy. That's not to say that I thought Pina did a subpar job of drawing her in the pages themselves; there were a lot of panels which I thought were lovely to look at, and his flashback sequences were had a lightness and sweetness to their color palette which certainly makes Pamela Isley's childhood look idyllic which was far from it. The thematic 'looks can be deceiving' is very much alive in that regard then. Poison Ivy after all makes a point to drive home that grain of truth as she relishes on her past aches. This is an issue I can re-read again and appreciate. It wasn't innovative but it wasn't ambitious either which was why it was overall a solid exploration of a fascinating villainess.
I dare not say the same for the Harley Quinn one after this. Oh, boy, am I about to nerdrage on that one..
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
Another Villains Month issue here. I didn't know how to review this issue because the story was particularly average, considering I confess that I'm not exactly a big Killer Croc fan to begin with (I do remember that he and Jason Todd marked their first appearance in the same issue though back in 1983; and I was lucky enough to acquire said vintage issue last year; and even then I didn't think he was that much special of a villain).
What I would commend most about this issue was the staggering and dynamic illustrations. The art was extraordinary because the panels were able to convey the suspense and action-oriented atmosphere that manage to make up for the story which I said wasn't that stellar. For that alone, this issue is worth the read even if you're like me and you don't like Killer Croc as well.
I had no emotional investment in the story of Waylon Jones but I did appreciate writer Tim Seeley trying to humanize and deepen his characterization; to portray him as more than just some mythical alligator man in the sewers under Gotham City who is out for blood. I think what Seely tried to write here is the fact that Killer Croc can be considered as the representation of the underprivileged or marginalized classes of Gotham who finally found a hero they could emulate and believe in. Seeley wrote Killer Croc in a way that's supposed to define the other unnoticed groups of people in Gotham who have learned to be crueler than the world they live in because that world has showed them nothing but unkindness. For that effort and idea alone, I could say this Seeley did an acceptable job. But the story just doesn't hold up in light of the other villain-centered issue for the line up.
But then again, Killer Croc is not exactly an A-lister in the rogues gallery so let's give him a pass for this. The artwork is immensely detailed and exciting to look at anyway so for that, my rating will be higher overall.
RECOMMENDED: 7/10
Holy shit, Villains Month should happen more often in DC's New 52 because I'm all up for it now since reading Tomasi's Two-Face issue A Tale of Two Faces (which I terribly loved), and Tynion IV's Exquisite Dread about the Court of Owls (which actually made me like the Owls storyline again). This time, Tynion gives me yet another scrumptious villain-centered story: The Demon Tower starring no other than Ra's Al Ghul who, in my personal opinion, is the most formidable and engaging villain from Batman's rogue gallery OF ALL TIME. Sure, I'll always be all for the Joker being Batman's perfect contrast and twisted "soulmate", but of all of Batman's villains, I can never imagine Batverse being the way it is without Ra's Al Ghul to add some spice and devastation.
Reading this issue unearthed long-buried nostalgic feelings about Dennis O'Neil's Birth of the Demon which remains my most favorite Ra's Al Ghul story EVER. Heck, look at that splash of green (from the Lazarus Pit, I assume) in the cover! It's even reminiscent of Birth. The reason why I thoroughly enjoyed this issue SO FUCKING MUCH because it operates on the well-established and badass characterization of Ra's Al Ghul which is that he had adapted to the rapid changes of the earth, and nothing will ever get in the way of his vision of a perfect world. After the events in Forever Dead (which I know I keep referencing to in my Villains Month issue reviews, but never expound on, and this time I STILL WON'T BECAUSE SPOILERS, HELLO), a new evil event appears in the horizon, the creatively named Secret Society of Super Villains. Ra's, who has seen societies, empires and civilizations rise and fall for years, was understandably NOT IMPRESSED.
Said secret society tries to invite him, bribe him and/or threaten him by sending a envoy to have the most awesome swashbuckling sword-fight sequence/dialogue. It doesn't get any more epic than that!
Just like in Tynion's Exquisite Dread, we get several flashbacks pertaining to Ra's throughout the centuries, and how this is contrasted with the present times. We also got some great moments with Batman, Talia and Damian in it too for extra good measure. And then when all is said and done, Ra's is still NOT IMPRESSED with this new league of villains. Because if there is one thing that's constant in Batverse, it is the fact that Ra's Al Ghul will always, always, adapt to new environmental factors, and he will not bow down to any master, or join any other cause than his own. This is one Bat-villain who will not compromise for anything. Jorge Lucas' artwork is distinct and dynamic in only a story likes this deserves to have. I love the explosion of colors and bizarrely-angled panel shots during some scenes.
So yeah, I have fangirled my heart out with this story, so I should end this review before I start overselling the issue. But you know what? It's really worth the purchase. Pick up this one alongside Two-Face and you will be happy that you took the time to bother reading them. Villains Month still has one issue left in this line-up (which is about Killer Croc) and I'll be reading that alongside the Nightwing one (the last stage of Batman's grief). Here we go!
RECOMMENDED: 10/10
"They watch you at your hearth, they watch you in your bed, speak not a whispered word of them or they'll send The Talon for your head." ~The Court of Owls
James Tynion IV as a writer has a way of sneaking up on me every time I come across his one-shot stories in Snyder's Batman run and Tomasi's Batman and Robin line-up. He's currently writing the Talon series for New 52, and I've read six stories of his in total, and I've been enticed by his narrative style and approach so far, particularly because of the scope of horror in his tone. This issue #23.2 for Villains Month is exactly what I would expect from someone of his literary inclinations.
I don't think I want to talk about this issue too much because I don't want to spoil the story, considering the strength of Tynion's writing for the Court of Owls in this one operates within its air of mystery and suspense throughout the pages. What I will say is that the structure for the story was divided into four parts, allowing readers a glimpse of this centuries-old organization in different timelines, and how they have thrived. In present time, Gotham is being torn apart by a series of riots (which follows the aftermath of Forever Evil series).
The primary focus of the story is a father (and member of the modern court) who takes his daughter to the heart of the Owls' rich tapestry of historical importance over the ages, and make us all understand the necessity to strike back with a vengeance to keep control of their city, now more than ever. Tynion doesn't give up the game until the end of the issue, and it was worth the tension. Even as someone who doesn't really go crazy over the Owls as an addition to the Batman rogues gallery, this issue kept me on the edge of my seat! I believe this issue will appeal to readers who enjoy a good horror story every now and then in a superhero comic book, especially so when it's done excellently. Tynion surely delivers, and the combined artistic talents of Jorge Lucas and David McCaig provided us a wide range of versatility in illustrations. This was such a visually stunning issue, truth be told. Anyone who adored Scott Snyder's Owls saga will eat this up as well. The ending was a wicked twist and left me wishing I start keeping up with the Talons series one of these days..
RECOMMENDED: 8/10
*Lusciously dark and foreboding..
“Heads, I save Gotham. Tails, I make it bleed.” ~Two-Face
Villains Month happened a few months back and Tomasi had the opportunity to write something for that using one of the top players in Batman's rogues gallery. And, well, hot damn! This was fucking amazing, hands-down! I've been very critical of Tomasi's way of writing villains, at least for his own original creations. Sometimes he hits the right notes with a villain like NoBody, and other times we get a pitiful waste of comics space like Terminus (seriously, fuck that guy. WHY OH WHY do I still bring him up in my reviews?). But his Two-Face? Abso-fucking-lutely magnificent! Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray don't illustrate this issue though; instead we get Guillem March who is now my new favorite artist just based on this story alone.
Also, I haven't gotten a chance to read great Two-Face-centered stories in a long time. Over the years I have been so sick of the absurdity surrounding his character that I'd much rather watch him in Paul Dini's Batman: The Animated Series than read him in comics. So finally, we get something that demonstrates that this grade-A Bat-villain is a remarkably frightening force to be reckoned with! It's a masterstroke, that's what it is!
Right from the get-go, the fireworks are on display with the captivating exchange between Two-Face and yet another under-appreciated villain, Scarecrow. The dialogue is slick and the stakes are presented with a nice simmer before the explosion in the later pages. I haven't been caught-up with Forever Evil series but it is to my understanding that this Two-Face side-story written with Tomasi is indirectly referenced or of consequence of that arc. Regardless whether or not you read all New 52 titles (I confess I do not follow all of them because that takes too much work and takes away my spending of quality time with the Batman titles), you can just zoom in and focus on Two-Face in this Tomasi story without bothering yourself with other DC storylines for the new continuity.
But I have read Forever Evil #1 months ago, though, which allowed me to get right into this story easily so maybe it would help you if you pick that one up first. But I digress again. Is it just the BTAS fangirl in me or did Tomasi purposefully write the distinct sound of Two-Face monologues that reminded me of the said cartoon's version? I can seriously hear voice actor Richard Moll in the passages and it gives me the chills!
I'm not much of a gore fan in comics but March's illustrations of bloodshed and massacre were terrific! There are stories in this medium that could use blood and chaos and this issue is one of them. I like the spliced scenes between the past and present where we see Harvey Dent walking the halls and entering elevators, just having a normal day at the court office; then cut right back to Two-Face passing by a pile of dead bodies as he prepares to "go to court" and play judge and executioner. Tomasi was not bashful when he used Two-Face's obsessive coin-tossing to determine luck and just run with it which fortunately worked to his advantage. I love how Two-Face is playing the odds by acting on whatever the coin decides for him to do. It's his reason and rhyme.
In the beginning pages, the choice was Heads which is why he was attacking criminals and city scum (while Batman is understandably a no-show because ehem, yeah, you need Forever Evil for the context). But by the end of the story, he flipped the coin again and we got Tails now. This was such an ominous way to end this arc for now because now the tables have turned again and Two-Face is playing against our side this time. I think I'm giving away too much of the plot now. So fuck it, just pick this up because you won't be sorry. It was helluva a ride and worth every buck and penny!
RECOMMENDED: 10/10
