SimonpaddyPicks

SimonpaddyPicksComics BATMAN EARTH ONE (VOL 2) by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

Well, after reading this I feel much more comfortable with Geoff Johns’ co-writing the début cinematic Batman/Batfleck film. This GN at some points do feel like it’s either a pitch or an adaptation of a movie property. Thankfully though, this is a movie I would definitely want to see. While there are some changes to the mainstream mythology that feel a little bit too forced (in particular the stuff with Harvey Dent) overall it continues to be an worthwhile series of books. 

One of the things that Johns should be praised for in particular is how scary he manages to make The Riddler. Even as recently as Scott Snyder’s Zero Year arc the Ridder has continued to feel for me like a completely second rate villain and one of the only Batman rogues who has not managed to shake off their gimmicky origins in the modern era. In this volume Johns makes Riddler a viable, believable threat that could conceivably hold Gotham and Batman to ransom. 

Gary Frank’s work has some great pacing and sequences such as the elevator attack and the moments on the roof of the train feel very tense. For me it does continue to feel a little stiff, but I know at least one other person who absolutely loves Frank’s work here so I think it’s just a case of not-for-me rather than not good. 

The Earth One series has always had a bit of trouble, particularly from within the comics community, to feel like a vital read. It’s set outside regular continuity and come out so sporadically that you almost forget it exists as a property. While I doubt this will go down as an all-time classic Batman story it is interesting to read it and consider how and what Johns is exploring here and how this may impact the wider representation of this character in other media.

SimonpaddyPicksComics SAM WILSON CAPTAIN AMERICA 3 by Nick Spencer and Daniel Acuna & Mike Choi 

It’s really good to see that since the (completely overblown) controversies around the first two issues we get a third which shows the more playful side of Nick Spencer that readers might be used to. That’s not to say this issues is pure comedy, but it does show a lighter tone which is welcome in a series that had lent on political analogue for the first two issues. 

Although Acuna/Choi continue to do some excellent work here I’m not so sure I’d have pegged them for a body-morph comedy piece - they’re great for this title overall, but this issue felt a little out of place. 

As for the series so far, three issues in, it might be my favourite CAPTAIN AMERICA comic for a while. Brubaker was iconic but perhaps went on a smidge too long, Remender/Romita’s Dimension Z was classic Cap but went off the rails shortly after. Captain America, the character, is always most interesting as he gets more political and shows a strong point of view. Having a new person in the costume always allows an interesting examination of this responsibility. 

Spencer has been on ANT-MAN for a good few issues now and it remains one of my favourite series. That title has a strong comedic side, but I’m excited to see how Spencer manages that side of his writing personality with the more serious nature of the CAP title. I’m on board. 

SimonpaddyPicksTV BROAD CITY by Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer

This is probably the funniest comedy you’re not watching right now.

Like all good double acts you really feel the warmth between Abbi and Ilana, but this is buddy-comedy with a sharp, critical eye. 

Like channel-mate Amy Schumer this is confrontational comedy in the best way. They’re not going to soften their act, or their conversations for TV. If you’re tuning in to their show, you’re hanging out with them and they’re going to talk about what they want to talk about. That’s not to say the show is trying to push people away, the conversations may be confrontational but the cast are warm and charismatic and you will want to hang out with them after watching.

I can’t think of another show where New York has felt so real. There is one spectacular episode where the girls and their friends are in a race against the clock around town to try and get to a fancy wedding party. Almost all of the episode is set on the streets or in real location shoots and it absolutely adds to the episode’s energy but these occasional reminders of scale only help the show. The series also makes use of the city by setting even incidental scenes here, they’re not trying to be pretty or spend the budget on money shots they want you to see what two girls hanging out in New York look like and this is it.

The best episodes, of course, are where the girls are able to just be with each other. The two season finale’s have simply been the girls on a night out, in season one at a fancy restaurant and in season two just walking from one place to the next. Though the episodes where they have independent stories are still great fun, it’s when they get back together and play up their chemistry that the show comes alive. Abbi as playing it more straight, more self-concious and Ilana are the liberated agent of sexuality and chaos.

The supporting cast, what little there is, are perfectly executed. There seems to have been no temptation to build up any parts in season two and it has allowed the irregular appearances from John Gemberling and Hannibal Buress to remain an absolute treat.

The guest appearance cast are also always strong – if not just completely mad  – and despite their strangeness there’s always a suspicion that there is a brilliant writers room story at the bottom of it.

BROAD CITY really is a truly brilliant show, and one that way more people should have their eyes on. 

SimonpaddyPicksComics CAPTAIN AMERICA WHITE by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale

This series was absolutely fantastic. All of the main cast are not currently active in their more familiar roles in the current Marvel Universe (Bucky is in space, Fury is old or maybe dead, Cap is old and Falcon is standing in for him) and so it’s good to see them in a tale from their glory days. 

Anyone who has read any of the Loeb/Sale books will know that they have an uncanny ability to tap into a story that is both specific yet timeless and this is no exception - both Loeb and Sale continue to be absolutely brilliant in their execution and I’m really certain this will be viewed as a classic in years to come. 

SimonpaddyPicksComics ALL-NEW WOLVERINE 1-3 by Tom Taylor and David Lopez & David Navarrot

Another series from Tom Taylor who somehow keeps managing to take dubious concepts and making them absolutely engaging. 

The All-New Wolverine of the title is Wolverine’s clone Laura Kinney, X-23, a character who I have only a passing familiarity with and therefore very little upfront interest. I checked in on the strength of Taylor’s previous comics and I’m glad I did. There are a lot of books dealing with legacy heroes at the moment across Marvel and it’ll be interesting to see where and how this title fits in to that wider trend beyond this début issue.  

The art from Lopez/Navarrot is really great to look at with everything from the facial expressions to the big action sequences hitting perfectly. 

SimonpaddyPicksComics WE ARE ROBIN 1 by Lee Bermejo and Corona / Haynes / Randolph 

The concept of this book intrigues me. A group of kids band together to become self-appointed Robin’s. Keeping in touch with a closed social network, and proudly wearing their homemade costumes. It’s certainly an interesting pitch and Bermejo keeps the balance just right, just enough to stop it being silly. Much like BATMAN INCORPORATED it’s a much more interesting world where people are shown to be inspired by Batman and, in this case, Robin and see how the insular heroes of Gotham react to this literal hero worship.

Robin is one of the most maligned but vital parts of the Batman mythology. You can’t do a truly brilliant Batman story unless you understand and own Robin’s role. Eventually and inevitably everybody will find their own favourite. Their own Robin, whether it’s Dick, Jason, Tim, Stephanie, Damian or Carrie (and DC they are ALL Robin’s).

In this book Bermejo is either hedging his bets on finding a popular Robin, or is utterly confident in his main characters that an audience will find his interpretation of a gang of Robin’s popular.

Duke Thomas, our POV character for this issue is interesting enough, though that character depth is always hard to judge in an issue with quite so much set up to do. It’ll be interesting to see how Bermejo develops a character who is essentially a kid with a Robin origin – his parents presumed dead at the hands of The Joker – away from Batman, with a group of other kids who also feel they are Robin’s. 

It will also be interesting to see Leslie Tomkins as a kind of mother figure to Duke, as the issue seems to imply. Tomkins has long been one of my favourite Gotham supporting characters, and her relationship with Bruce is often disappointingly overlooked or underplayed.

The art here is absolutely gorgeous. Utterly dynamic in a way I haven’t been as impressed with since first seeing Tradd Moore on LUTHER STRODE.