Review- BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD- THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD- THE BRONZE AGE OMNIBUS VOL. 1 (DC, First Printing, 2017; Hardcover)

Collects The Brave and the Bold #74-109 (core stories only; none of the back-up stories are included) (cover dates November, 1967- November, 1973)

Writers: Bob Haney, Mike Sekowsky, and Denny O'Neil

Artists: Pencilers- Ross Andru, Neal Adams, Mike Sekowsky, Bob Brown, Irv Novick, Nick Cardy, Carmine Infantio, and Jim Aparo; Inkers- Mike Esposito, Jack Abel, Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, Vince Colletta, Irv Novick, Joe Kubert, Nick Cardy, Murphy Anderson, Jim Aparo, and Frank McLaughlin

DC has really closed the quality gap when compared to Marvel's Omnibus editions. I prefer the paper stock that DC has been using over the decontented stock Marvel has been using in theirs for the past few years. The binding, while stiffer, feels sturdier than Marvel Omniboo. We'll see if it develops Omnibus sag like the older Marvel ones do. Both companies have cheapened the hardback boards and casewrap.

Awful gradient shading. 

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Issue 84 had a two page spread which was broken up on pages 265 and 266. While it is a subtle spread Bruce Wayne's head does continue across both pages in the original issue. This effect is ruined in this book.

Linework and Color restoration: Hit and miss when it comes to the coloring. Some of the restoration work has been repurposed from the Legends Of The Dark Knight: Jim Aparo hardcover and the Diana Prince, Wonder Woman trades. Those issues have awful, lazy gradient shade blends. While subtle to normal humans, they stab into my eyes like hot needles.

The issues which were freshly recolored for this book (INCLUDING the Neal Adams ones!!!) look terrific. Those of us who suffered through Adams' George Lucas Special Edition bastardization of these issues in those Batman By Neal Adams line can rejoice in the fact that history has been corrected.

Scan of the original comic.

Restoration found in this book.

The linework is very good throughout, although I did not go page by page and panel by panel. I might have missed something, but the handful of spot checks that I did looked good. 

Paper stock: I love the matte coated stock DC uses in their Omniboo. Top shelf stuff.

Binding: While the sewn binding is stiffer than Marvel's, the book as a whole feels sturdier.

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: The dustjacket has glossy lamination. The casewrap of the hardback is the sole drawback here, as it feels cheap.

Review- BATMAN/ FLASH: THE BUTTON- THE DELUXE EDITION

My son asked me if I would read this before reading Doomsday Clock. He assigned it to me as weekend homework reading before his next visit. His mother bought him this book, so full disclaimer: I didn't pay to read this book. My son is 12 and I won't let him read Watchmen, which I suppose makes it a sort of forbidden fruit for the lad. Alas, I am not sure how much enjoyment he will derive from this or Doomsday Clock without understanding the reference points of Watchmen. I explained things to him as best as I can without revealing certain, age-inappropriate things about the series. 

BATMAN/ FLASH: THE BUTTON- THE DELUXE EDITION (DC, First Printing, 2017; Hardcover)

Collects Batman #21, 22, and Flash #21, 22 (cover dates June-July, 2017)

Writers: Tom Cook and Joshua Williamson

Artists: Jason Fabook and Howard Porter

Colorists: Brad Anderson and Hi-Fi

Wow, talk about your assumed knowledge, self-referencing works. This is the prequel to the main event which spun out of DC Rebirth #1, that 80 page comic that was a reset of a reset of reset, or something like that. This story is a fun, action packed read, but falls flat on its face overall because the writers assume that everyone has a working knowledge of Watchmen and the DC Universe. While the majority of readers do, someone like my son who has a budding interest in comics simply didn't understand a lot of this. Reading the book with his confusion in mind and looking at it through his eyes made me look for clues to explain the story to a “civilian”. The pickings were slim.

S P O I L E R S abound- you have been warned. So Doctor Manhattan is likely the “god” that is somehow pulling the strings and has left The Comedian's button in the DC Universe? To what end? Alan Moore would be rolling in his grave if he were dead. If DC is trying to blur the lines of all ret-cons and reboots into one cohesive universe, using Reverse Flash (Thawne) seems even more confusing. Maybe this is my Marvel thinking, but wouldn't every single attempt at altering Flash's history by going back in time change nothing and only create alternate timelines?

While I am not a DC expert, I have a mild working knowledge of their continuity. Even so, I found some of these reference points to be confusing. I know that this is all make believe, but all of this ret-conning and rebooting has made a mess of things.

Like I said above, as fun a read with nice artwork that it is, it's a thin story. The prequel is little more than a stunt, which I suppose is appropriate since this Doomsday Clock event is one of the biggest stunts since The New 52.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 3.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Super thick coated stock with a medium sheen.

Binding: Sewn binding. Go DC!

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: This particular printing has a lenticular dustjacket. I can't recall of another collected edition with this feature. Very cool. The single issues boasted this feature, so this was a nice nod to that. The hardback has a glossy laminated casewrap.

Review- BATMAN: THE COURT OF OWLS SAGA ESSENTIAL EDITION

BATMAN: THE COURT OF OWLS SAGA ESSENTIAL EDITION (DC, First Printing, 2018; Softcover)

Collects Batman #1-11 (cover dates November, 2011- September, 2012)

Writers: Scott Snyder with James Tynion IV (co-writer #8-11)

Artists: Pencilers- Greg Capullo with Rafael Albuquerque (co-penciler #8-11)

Inkers- Jonathan Glapion with Rafael Albuquerque (co-inker #8-11)

Colorists: Fco Plascencia, Nathan Fairbarn (co-colorist #8), Dave McCaig (co-colorist #9-11)

I was thrilled when DC announced their Essential line of trades, where they compile two arcs into one low priced book. Santa brought a second copy of this book to my son for Christmas along with the corresponding Lego set. I read the second half of the issues collected in this book with my son a while back, so this was a half new read for me. And what a read it is! Scott Snyder gets it.

The whole concept of the Court Of Owls is amazing, and for my money it completely works on all levels. I like how they outmaneuvered Batman for the most part. Those who work in the shadows are more dangerous than those who confront you head on. The Court Of Owls are a great addition to Batman's rogues gallery. I would say that they are ripe for the big screen, but a quick search reveals that they were already featured on the third season of the Gotham television series. I don't watch much in the way of television and have never seen a single episode of the show.

My only gripe with this book is that they could have omitted the character sketches and script extras and included issue 12, a standalone included in the separate trades. I understand that there are page count and price points to meet, but this could have been done with no additional cost. At least the variant covers were included. This is a great value priced collection worth your time and money.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Medium weight semiglossy coated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound trade paperback.

Cardstock cover notes: Laminated cardstock cover.

Review- TALES OF THE BATMAN: LEN WEIN

TALES OF THE BATMAN: LEN WEIN (DC, First Printing, 2014; Hardcover)

Collects Detective Comics #408, 444-448, 466, 478, 479, 500, 514, Batman #255, 307-310, 312-319, 321-324, 326, 327, World's Finest Comics #207, The Untold Legend Of Batman #1-3, DC Retroactive: Batman- The '70s #1, and a story from Batman: Black And White #5 (cover dates February, 1971- March, 2014)

Writer: Len Wein

Artists: Pencilers- Neal Adams, Dick Dillin, Jim Aparo*, Ernie Chua, Marshall Rogers, John Calnan, Irv Novick*, Walt Simonson*, Don Newton, Tom Mandrake*, and Victor Ibanez*; Inkers*- Dick Giordano, Joe Giella, Vince Colletta, Frank McLaughlin, Bob Smith, John Byrne, Frank Chiaramonte, and all artists denoted with an * above

Len Wein is one of the greatest writers of the '70s and early '80s and is responsible for so many long lasting characters. Wolverine, Swamp Thing, the X-Men as you know and love them? Wein had a hand in their creation. He has an understanding and deep love for the flagship characters as well. He sadly passed away last fall but his work will live on in the hearts and minds of comic fans everywhere.

The bulk of this book is from 1975-1980, which is prime Bronze Age material that I have never read before. Wein had the good fortune of being paired with some top notch talent like Neal Adams, Jim Aparo, etc. It's a shame how DC has allowed Neal Adams to destroy classic comics like Detective Comics #408, the same re-inked and recolored version found in the Batman By Neal Adams hardcovers and trades. The bastardized version of Batman #255 is included. It's a pity, because it is a fantastic story about Anthony Lupus, a man who is afflicted with Lycanthropy. He goes to see Professor Milo, a certifiable quack who brings his condition to the fore. It's probably one of the best comics of the '70s, completely ruined with the now totally outdated Photoshop and at the time modern computer recoloring from 15 years ago. This George Lucas Star Wars Special Edition thinking was well-intentioned but ultimately doesn't work.

The Jim Aparo issues are equally excellent, with Aparo being almost as good as Neal Adams. He may not have had the inventive panel layouts but his storytelling ability and sense of pacing were equally great.

Len Wein was great at keeping the continuity flowing. While each issue was a complete story there were enough dangling subplots to give returning readers something to look forward to month in and month out. There were very few writers who could successfully pull this trick off, and Wein was one of the best.

Detective Comics #478 is a sentimental favorite of mine. My mom bought it for me as a kid while we were on vacation in northern Michigan during the summer of 1978. It was some weird convenience store in the middle of nowhere that's probably long gone. I am guessing that the whole area is now populated with Starbucks and Walmarts, but back in the late 70s it was “up north” and rural.

Batman had some great Christmas stories. While nobody does Christmas issues anymore for fear of offending anyone, this was not the case back in 1978 when Batman #309 was released. Batman #310 is what really got me, though. I'm a sucker for the Gentleman Ghost, with my first exposure to the character on the SuperFriends cartoons back in the '70s as Gentleman Jim. I love how Wein paints Jim as a ghost but Batman isn't having it. Batman tries to come up with a rational explanation for how he pulls off his capers. Wein had a really good grasp on the character Two-Face. Batman #313 and 314 were among the better Two-Face stories that I've read.

Lucius Fox is featured throughout these issues. Fans of The Dark Knight trilogy will know him as the character that Morgan Freeman portrayed on the screen. Firebug is an interesting character who was motivated by the same kind of grief that Batman was. In his introduction in Batman #318 he wanted to burn down unsafe apartment buildings because those same slumlord apartment buildings killed his family. Wein humanized the villain, a rarity at the time.

We see the Gentleman Ghost return for a rematch and Batman #319. He's such a great villain. Sorry to gush, but I have been a sucker for him since the SuperFriends cartoons were a part of my Saturday mornings in the '70s. Batman #327 was another standout issue. Wein brought Professor Milo back, who was running Arkham Asylum in a somewhat offbeat Silver Age-flavored story.

The Untold Legend Of The Batman mini series was great. The first issue had art by the team of John Byrne and Jim Aparo, which was mindblowingly great. Among my favorites in the book was Detective Comics #514, a story about human nature and why it's best to sometimes leave people alone.

I'm sorry to ramble on and on about this book, but it was so great that I cannot help myself. While this package leaves something to be desired (please refer to The OCD zone below), you get 600+ pages of top notch Batman stories by a writer whose likes we will never be seen again.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials used in physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Linework and Color restoration: This book is all over the place, from abysmal (the Marshall Rogers issues which were repurposed from his artist-centric hardcover), blasphemous (the Neal Adams “commissions”), to serviceable (much of the book). DC never revisits and remasters material when given an opportunity to do so, so unfortunately these lackluster restorations are it for the ages.

Original comic.

Restoration done for the 1999 BATMAN: STRANGE APPARITIONS trade paperback.

Restoration done for LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT: MARSHALL ROGERS hardcover which was used in this book as well.

DC often leaves a lot to be desired in terms of restoration. 

Paper stock: Bright white glossy coated stock. While this is better than the toilet paper they were passing off on folks, the light glare is too harsh for material with flat coloring. I find it best to read this stock in natural sunlight for minimal glare.

Binding: Perfect bound (read: glued). Glued binding on a supposedly high end hardcover is something of a joke. As far as glued bindings go, this one isn't too bad, especially with a page count of over 600 pages. It lays reasonably flat for much of the book.

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: Laminated dustjacket with the same cheap boards and chintzy casewrap that DC has been passing off on folks for years.

Review- BATMAN: ODYSSEY

BATMAN: ODYSSEY (DC, First Printing, 2012; Hardcover)

Collects Batman: Odyssey #1-6 and Batman: Odyssey Vol. 2 #1-7 (cover dates September, 2010- June, 2012)

Writer and Artist: Neal Adams

Inkers: Michael Golden, Scott Williams, Bill Sienkiewicz, Paul Neary, Josh Adams, and Kevin Nowlan

Colorists: Continuity Studios, Ginger Karalexas, Cory Adams, Moose Baumann, and Guy Major

Before I begin, let me state that I love Neal Adams. The man is a genius whose panel composition and sense of movement and flow helped redefine comics and set the stage for the Bronze Age of comics. In the 60s and 70s he crafted some of the most memorable Batman stories of all time, restoring him to his Golden Age glory.

The idea of Neal Adams returning to the character for a 13 issue mini-series sounds great on paper. The general consensus on the internet was that this was a batshit crazy story and best avoided. So I did avoid it. For years. Still, I always wondered what it was all about.

One day I decided to finally plunk down and buy this book. The only thing that I can say after reading it is that it is apparent how much pull Neal Adams has at DC to this day. His writing is batshit insane, with this “odyssey” going from flashback sequences to the beginning of the character to Batman breaking into Arkham Asylum to Batman teaming up with subterranean caveman and dinosaur people versions of him and Robin while riding flying dinosaurs, all in one of the most convoluted, nonsensical stories I've ever read.

I'm not being the slightest bit hyperbolic here, folks. This is tough to follow. The story shifts gears so many times that it becomes difficult to make heads or tails of what is supposed to be going on. A strong editor is needed to reign in a few of these convoluted plot twists as well as to streamline the dialogue. Nobody wants to step on Adams' toes due to his legendary status, but if they really loved and respected his work they would give it to him straight: This can be hard to follow.

In terms of artwork, Adams can still do brilliant panel composition. His sense of movement and story flow are still in check. The coloring is at times overly rendered and heavy handed with digital gimmicks. This and the inconsistency of the inking coupled with an overly written, difficult to follow story sink this book. It breaks my heart to write this, but it's not very good. I wish that it were. I love Neal Adams. This book doesn't change that, but I wish that it were better.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 2 out of 5.

The OCD zone- This is the part where I go into tactile sensations and materials of physical media. Those with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or women who are pregnant should exit my blog at their earliest convenience, as their safety cannot be guaranteed beyond this point.

Paper stock: Glossy coated stock.

Binding: Perfect bound (read: glued).

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: Glossy laminated dustjacket. The same cheap hardback boards with the same chintzy casewrap that DC has been passing off on folks for years.

Review- ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 1: MY OWN WORST ENEMY

ALL-STAR BATMAN VOL. 1: MY OWN WORST ENEMY (DC, First Printing, 2017; Hardcover)

Collects All Star Batman #1-5 (cover dates October, 2016- February, 2017)

Writer: Scott Snyder

Artists: John Romita Jr. and Danny Miki (My Own Worst Enemy main story) and Declan Shalvey (The Cursed Wheel back-up story)

Colorists: Dean White (My Own Worst Enemy main story) and Jordie Bellaire (The Cursed Wheel back-up story)

My son checked this out from the library and wanted to read it with me. I liked Scott Snyder's Swamp Thing run and am a huge fan of John Romita, Jr., plus I get to read comics with my son. It's a can't lose scenario!

Two-Face has Batman on the run against the clock, with the KGBeast (now known as The Beast) hot on their tail. JRJr really shines in the bonecrushing fist fight sequences. I still can't get over John Romita Jr. defecting to DC after decades with Marvel. I wonder if it was money or if it was simply boredom. He has handled every single Marvel property at one time or another and might have just felt that it was time to move on.

My only dislike about the My Own Worst Enemy story is the ret-con aspect of the flashback. I'm not sure if that facet really added anything to the overall story, even with the end result of it coming full circle. It likely flew in the face of some continuity established somewhere since 1939 and it did the story a disservice by tying it to the “then” instead of the “now”.

The Cursed Wheel was awesome, a story about a demented serial killer that Batman's new partner Duke manages to stop because he was able to piece together the clues faster than Batman. It is a dark story done at a PG-13 level. It was incredible.

This whole book was fantastic. I will freely admit that I have a double standard when it comes to DC. Their continuity doesn't have to make any sense to me since they have rebooted and ret-conned things so many times that I am not even sure if they have a definitive continuity. With that in mind I am free to read and enjoy anything that they release as it's own thing, with no thought or concern as to where it fits into the puzzle that makes up the big picture. Marvel's continuity was once as tight as a drum and I have never forgiven them for running it off of the rails.

My 10 year old son's take: I think that it was great. It was brilliant. The art was well drawn, the storyline was good. I liked that it all revolved around Two-Face. I disliked the little bit of swearing. (Note: The swearing was mostly in @#$%$% form.) It was the best Batman comic I've ever read. It was really well done.

This is so good that I am considering buying it. It's not like I will ever have to time to read it again, but it's so good that I would like to think that I'll be able to someday.

Junk Food For Thought rating: 5 out of 5.

The OCD zone- Library books are fascinating science experiments in the workmanship of the materials used to make these books. I'll be lucky to find enough time to read all of my books once, so I am not sure why I would consider buying more.

Paper stock: Good weight coated glossy stock.

Binding: Perfect binding.

Dustjacket and Hardback cover notes: The dustjacket is in a Brodart sleeve and taped to the hardback. Difficult to evaluate on these library books.