Dead Day #1 Review

Writer: Ryan Parrott

Artist: Evgeniy Bornyakov

Rating: 7 of 8

Dead Day #1

One of the worst things in life is losing someone you love. What any of us wouldn't give to get them back, even just for one day... In Dead Day, one day a year is all anyone gets, though it's not only loved ones that come back.

In issue 1, the town of Pewter Falls is 'celebrating' it's 4th Dead Day, though there are some mixed opinions on it. One boy's mother hates the day, saying it's against God, while a former soldier just can't let himself rest easy because of the uncertainty of just who might show up outside his home.

Parrott does well in showing a range of different reactions to the dead rising, which I appreciate, as though a lot of us would happily welcome loved ones coming back, not all of the dead are going to be friendly. The police are well aware of this, with a dozen of them armed and ready for more hostile zombies, with a horde of those gathered outside the police's metal fence.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the art, especially in one scene. In 4 panels, Bornyakov does a great job in creating a spooky mood, going from an empty road, to a deserted street, to a graveyard, with the moon as it's only light. In the 4th panel, we see a number of the dead leaving the graveyard, jet black, with glowing, yellow eyes. I'm glad he didn't add too much detail, as the image works a lot better because of it's simplicity.

Overall, this is a superb debut and I'd happily read more. We never find out what's causing the dead to rise, though perhaps it's better left unknown, as the focus is more on the different ways people react to it. I happily recommend it. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

Arkham Manor #1 Review

Writer: Gerry Duggan

Artist: Shawn Crystal

Rating: 6 of 8

Arkham Manor #1

They say home is where the heart is - but what if madness lies at it's center? That's definitely the case here, as Wayne Manor becomes the new Arkham Asylum. It's definitely a compelling idea, though I'm not sure how well it'd work for a few reasons. Would Batman be able to avoid being seen leaving the cave, given it's not so far from his home?

Though the issue does explain what he does to ensure no one's able to get in, it still seems like a big risk to take. At the same time, I think it's admirable he'd give up his home for so many of those in need, even when so many of them are the criminals he faces on a regular basis. He brings up an interesting reasoning for letting them use his home, believing his father would've done the same.

What I find odd about this is that he hasn't done something like this sooner and that it seems to have taken until a catastrophe to cause him to take action. I never really understand why he doesn't do more to help the mentally ill and reform criminals, which could help decrease the amount of people re-offending, as many Arkham inmates do. Though I understand doing so could take away some of Batman's most popular enemies, so I can see why it's not often done.

I also find it odd that he violently takes out his frustrations about having his home used as the new Asylum when he's not really forced to. Later on, Bruce needs to investigate a grisly incident in Arkham Manor and as he walks, we see moments from his past, as he trained his mind and body. I thought this was pretty cool, especially each moment being shown through the open doors.

Overall, it's a good issue, despite it's flaws. It's mostly well written and clips along at a decent pace, with some very good moments. I appreciated Duggan showing a range of negative reactions to Gotham prioritizing a new Asylum, which were either due to safety concerns, or the city prioritizing the asylum over other things. I wouldn't heartily recommend it, but if you like the sound of any of this, especially the premise, it could be worth a spin.

Lex Luthor: Man of Steel Review

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Lee Bermejo

Rating: 7 of 8

Lex Luthor

Man of Steel

They say one of the most compelling characters in any story's the villain - but to Lex Luthor, he's always been the hero and Superman the villain. Which is perhaps one of the reasons he's so compelling. Instead of being a one dimensional, mustache twirling villain, angry the red and blue boy scout keeps getting in his way, he thinks he's the best hope for the world and wants to convince people they're better off without their Man of Steel.

Intriguingly, when Lex first confronts Superman here, he posits just why he hates him: to Lex, Superman represents the end of humanity's potential and achievements. Rather than looking on him as a beacon of hope, or someone to aspire to, he instead sees the abyss. Despite his lofty aspirations, he's not unwilling to go to darker avenues to get what he wants, as shown throughout the series. In the 2nd issue, LexCorp's running over budget on the science spire's construction, so Lex comes up with a rather clever solution, but needs a Mr Orr to ensure it - and what he does to make that happen's certainly a lot darker than fighting Superman in a mechanical suit.

Issue 3 focuses on a conversation between Lex and Bruce Wayne, interspersed with a truly epic battle between Batman and Superman. It really shows just how outmatched Batman is against him, though he still pushes on, insisting on fighting a battle he's very unlikely to win. Given Superman's overwhelming power and how the fight leaves Bruce, I can understand just why he makes the decision he does at the end of the issue. His design here's different to how he usually looks, with Bruce wearing sunglasses throughout, sporting long, messy hair. This, combined with his attitude, could all be part of the mask Lex seems to recognize, belying his true nature. 

Lex hopes to expose humanity's darker nature to Superman and, in so doing, expose a part of him they'll never understand, or want to. What he does to achieve this is one of the cruelest, most twisted things I've ever seen him do, though it does fit with the darker tale Azzarello's telling.

Overall, this is a fantastic story and possibly one of the best Luthor stories I've ever read. It offers a great, thorough insight into his mind and what he really thinks; not only about Superman, but a great deal of other things, too. Bermejo delivers some really standout visuals, ensuring it stands out from other superhero comics out there. He brings us a grotesque Toy Man, who looks a lot more unpleasant here than he usually does. I'm not sure this was necessary, though it might've been done to reflect just how ugly he is inside. His Superman's a lot more alien than he's usually drawn and, with his eyes and frequent silence, a lot scarier than he usually is, though this all fits with it being from Lex's perspective. I highly recommend Luthor - I doubt you'll be disappointed. 

Superman: Earth One Vol 1 Review

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski

Artist: Shane Davis

7 of 8

Superman

Earth One

Over the years, Superman's been many things - he's been red, he's been blue and he's even been dead. But until 2010, he'd never been Straczynskied. Similar to Marvel's Ultimate universe, Earth One reimagines many of DC's titular characters and here, JMS certainly does that.

Most of the time, Clark's a reporter for The Daily Planet, but here, it takes a while to get there, which both makes sense and is a refreshing change.Though I do have a problem with how well things are going for him initially, as, for a short while, it feels like things are too easy for him. It's also pretty interesting that his first roadblock's the Planet, ultimately due to him holding back who he really is.

Straczynski adds a very human layer to Superman, with Clark struggling with what he wants and living up to what his parents want. He also touches on something I've never seen anyone else do, which is just why Clark doesn't wear a mask, with Martha giving a pretty good explanation as to why he shouldn't.

In the 1st volume, Clark's really thrown into the deep end in his first outing as the Man of Steel, having to confront a fierce alien invasion, out for one thing: him. The moment he first confronts their leader, Tyrell, is really exciting, pulled off very well in a couple of panels by Davis. The first time he steps out as Superman is awe inspiring, as is Krypton's destruction, rendered beautifully by Davis.

I loved seeing Lois and Jimmy do their best to save Superman. I always find it touching when people band together to protect their heroes, even if they don't stand a chance against the threat at hand. Volume 1 also sets up just what destroyed Krypton, with it being revealed in volume 3 and while it's different to what it usually is, it's a bit more complicated than Krypton's destruction needs to be.

Near the end, we see a wide range of reactions to Superman's arrival and though it's nice seeing contrasting opinions, some of them don't quite make sense, especially the military's. While I understand them being unsure of him and not yet ready to fully trust him, I think his actions have earned him a bit more leeway than he's being given.

Overall, JMS and Davis kick off their EO series very well, with it only continuing to improve as it goes on. I'd definitely recommend it to both fans of Superman and those looking for a fresh take on a familiar character.