Back of the Box Digital Edition
I used to spend hours browsing discount comic boxes in my local shop. For a few dollars, it was possible to try several comics. Sometimes they were good, sometimes they were sub-par, and once in a while, you'd find a stunning new series to add to your monthly list. This column is the digital version of back-of-the-box browsing. At the time of the review, there were 127 free issues on offer at Comixology. The numbers I chose were 8, 13, and 70.
#8) DC Universe Rebirth Wonder Woman #1 -- A Free Comic Book Day promotion, this special edition is worthy of the phrase. The bare bones of Wonder Woman's beginning are familiar to me, but Greg Rucka's powerful yet dreamy style captured my romantic heart. Rucka's writing is served very well by Nicola Scott's art. There is a subdued, gentle grandeur to many panels. The features don't draw attention to themselves partly because of colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr.'s exceptional talent and harmonious use of magenta, coral, azure, and gold. The team is so cohesive it's easy to get lost in the setting when gazing at the scenes. The story begins with a young Princess Diana looking to the horizon and longing for adventure. Steve Trevor has an adventurous, military life and yet seeks the stars. Their actions and experiences mirror each other even as they are leagues apart. The mirroring is reflective rather than exact, which I find elegant and pleasing. The book ends when two worlds collide. Trevor crash-lands on Themyscira, and Diana is forever changed.
#13) Batman Detective Comic #27 Special Edition -- Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27, "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate", on March 30, 1939. Recently, DC Entertainment honored Batman's 75th Anniversary with this fabulous collection that includes the original comic by Bill Finger and Bob Kane. It's a lot of fun for nostalgic reasons, and for those of us too young to have purchased the original, it's nice to see the first appearance of Batman. Even though the vintage art style is somewhat cramped and stumpy, Batman cuts a most impressive figure. Immediately following, is the gorgeous, expansive re-telling by Brad Meltzer and artist Bryan Hitch. The modern story adds drama as Batman reveals what compels him to act. Meltzer skillfully combines character layers that have evolved through decades of development, while still being faithful to the original tale. Hitch's artwork explodes off the page as he always finds an awe-inspiring angle, and David Baron's colors echo the originals but in more sophisticated shades. The third story, "Twenty-Seven", features beautiful, detailed artwork by Sean Murphy. Sometimes calm and orderly, other times chaotic and jagged, it never feels cluttered, though there is much to see. Scott Snyder tells a wicked-cool continuation story. There will always be a Batman. "Never the end."
#70) Tales from Deep Space #0 -- Tales from Deep Space is a well-received mobile game from Amazon Game Studio, and Tales from Deep Space #0 "Lox of Luck" is a companion prequel comic that tells the story of how travelling salesman E and his luggage drone CASI end up doing their thing in the Big Moon universe. There's an emergency! E and CASI have to work as collection bots and get Mr. Mang Lox, the CEO of Lox and Load LTD, who is 103 payment cycles behind, to pay his bills. Tom Waltz brings to life colorful and hilarious characters, including sassy Sheila, who pushes the story over a cliff. Ciro Cangialosi's choice of coloring in soft sorbet shades softens his floaty, rounded, cartoon-style even further. The quality crew delivered a good story. |
