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Reviews and commentary by Tony Isabella
"America's Most Beloved Comic-Book Writer & Columnist"
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TONY'S ONLINE TIPS
for Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Third time's the charm?
For the third time in as many months, I'm attempting to read and review an entire month's worth of DC Comics comic books. The reading is going well, a bit ahead of schedule, but the reviewing might take more than a month.
I started reviewing third-round comics in "Tony's Other Online Tips" over at the Comics Buyer's Guide forums, but, before I review any of these in TOT, I want to catch you up on the first and second round issues I reviewed in TOOT.
The Batman Strikes #43 [$2.25] is another above-average issue of this suitable-for-all-ages title. Based on the current animated series airing on Kids WB, these Batman stories are always complete in one issue and, though much more lighthearted than your typical super-hero adventures, still maintain a moderately dark tone that's in keeping with the tragic loss that define its title character and his young sidekick.
In "Grounded", Robin's reckless nature almost gets him hurt, earning him a suspension from crime-fighting with his mentor. Writer James Peaty does well by all the characters - Robin, Alfred, Harley Quinn, and Batman - with his only misstep being the ease with which a Robin-less Batman is tricked and captured by Harley. By story's end, Robin has learned one of those important lessons about life, but the delivery of the requisite moral is not at all heavy-handed.
Christopher Jones (pencils) and Terry Beatty (inks) do a wonderful job with the visuals. They tell the story in a manner both clear and exciting. The page that concludes Robin's battle with Harley is nothing short of amazing.
The Batman Strikes #43 earns four Tonys.
Cartoon Network Block Party #43 [$2.25] leads off with a very funny episode of "My Gym Partner's a Monkey" by Tom Sheppard and artists Andy Suriano (pencils) and Dan Davis (inks). Though I have never seen this series, "The Last Whooperding" was new reader-friendly as it built on its amusing premise, added truly hilarious complications, and delivered a clever ending. The Cartoon Network comics have been more miss than hit with me, but this story shines. The issue also features "Camp Lazlo" and "The Powerpuff Girls," but neither story is particularly entertaining.
Cartoon Network Block Party #43 earns two Tonys.
Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up [$24.99] is a hardcover volume of the first six issues of the ongoing series by writers Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz with penciler Dan Jurgens and finisher Norm Rapmund. Though the material strikes me as an odd choice for an HC, I found it entertaining on nearly every other level.
Booster Gold has been one of the sad sacks of the DC Universe. A disgraced football player from the future, he came back to our time to seek fame and fortune as a merchandised, sponsored super-hero. But creator Jurgens always made it clear there was more to the guy and this series had shown him at his best: helping people with no thought of reward, trying to earn the respect of his peers, and, in an amazing moment, throwing away that respect for a greater good and becoming a "guardian of time."
In these six chapters, Booster teams with the mysterious Rip Hunter to prevent some unknown villain from wiping Earth's greatest heroes out of existence. In the midst of his missions, Booster is determined to tamper with history himself by preventing the murder of his best friend, Ted Kord, also known as the Blue Beetle. The creative crew mixes action, drama, humor, nostalgia, and even a bit of horror. Time travel can be scary stuff.
The ending of this volume leaves me somewhat dissatisfied. With a cover price of $25, there should have been more issues and more of a resolution to the major conflicts. Abandoned by Booster, Hunter is pursuing some secret plan of his own. The villains are still at large and planning new temporal attacks. And something about the book's seemingly happy ending seems off to me. Not that any of the above will keep from following Booster Gold's ongoing adventures. The series is still more enjoyable than almost any other DCU series you could name.
Booster Gold: 52 Pick-Up earns an impressive four out of five Tonys.
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TONY POLLS
Most every Tuesday, I post new Tony Polls questions for your balloting entertainment. This week, from a list of choices, the question is:
What news from Comic-Con International in San Diego was the most exciting for you?
You can cast your votes at:
www.worldfamouscomics.com/tony/poll
Thanks for spending a part of your day with me. I'll be back tomorrow with more stuff.
Tony Isabella
<< 08/04/2008 | 08/05/2008 | 08/06/2008 >>
Discuss this column with me at my Message Board. Also, read Heroes and Villains: Real and Imagined.
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THE "TONY" SCALE
ZERO: Burn your money before buying any comic receiving this rating. It doesn't *necessarily* mean there's absolutely nothing of value here - though it *could* - but whatever value it might possess shrinks into insignificance before its overall awfulness.
ONE: Buy something else. Maybe I found something which wasn't completely dreadful in the item, but not enough for me to recommend it when there are better comics available. I only want what's best for you, my children.
TWO: Basic judgment call. I found some value, but not enough to recommend it. My review should give you enough info to decide if you want to take a chance on it. Are you feeling lucky today, punk? Well, are you?
THREE: This denotes something I find perfectly respectable. There are better books out there, but I wouldn't regret buying this item. Based on my review, you should be able to determine if it's of interest to you. Let the Force guide you.
FOUR: I recommend anything earning this rating. Unless you don't like the genre, subject matter, or past work of the creators, I believe you'll enjoy this item. Isn't it uncanny how I can look right into your soul that way?
FIVE: Anything getting this rating is among the best comicdom has to offer. You should buy/read this, even if the genre/subject matter doesn't appeal to you. It's for your own good. Me, I live for comics and books this good...but not in a pathetic "Comic-Book Guy" sort of way.
Please send material you would like me to review to:
Tony's Online Tips
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