Day: February 8, 2017

Writer: Matthew Rosenberg
Artist: Ben Torres
Publisher: Marvel

Marvel’s “Running with the Devil” event kicked off last week with the excellent Bullseye #1, and continues going strong with a new series featuring Daredevil’s greatest nemesis. By the nature of his complex character and tragic backstory, Wilson Fisk, A.K.A the Kingpin, has more than enough merit to star in his own series. He’s just one of those timeless villains who can appeal to readers from multiple generations. He’s big, intimidating and yet there’s so much more to him than his title as the Kingpin of the criminal underworld. This book does a great job of showing the different layers of his character.

What makes this series so promising is that it’s told through the lens of a struggling reporter who gets a job offer from Fisk. While she is reluctant to write stories about a man with such a murderous reputation, Sarah Dewey nonetheless finds herself curious to learn more about who he is. And while Fisk claims that his crime lord days are behind him, the issue leaves readers with questions as to whether or not his turning over a new leaf narrative is true.

It’s true that this one is much more dialogue-heavy and character-driven than the Bullseye comic, but nevertheless writer Matthew Rosenberg does a great job of making it interesting and not come across as overtly dense. By playing on Sarah’s desperation and Fisk’s apparent desire to start fresh, Rosenberg creates both an engaging narrative and some crisp dialogue. Coinciding with the script, Ben Torres’ excellent pencils and Jordan Boyd’s colors give the book a great noir aesthetic. Almost all of it takes place at night, and Torres makes use of a large number of close-ups and shadowy frames to give it a Frank Miller/Klaus Janson feel. There’s also a great splash page at the end which provides a nice cliffhanger. While we’re only two issues into this event, I’m nonetheless excited to see where it’ll go from here with the Elektra solo series and the continuation of Charles Soule’s Daredevil run. If you haven’t yet checked out “Running with the Devil,” get on over and pick up this and Bullseye #1.

-KEVIN SCHAEFER for Ultimate Comics

Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Ivan Reis
Published by DC Comics

One of my favorite parts of team books is that first story where everyone comes together. You get a hint at what holds everyone in the group, what kind of missions to expect, and who’s going to punch a teammate first. And lately, it seems like comics have let that stretch over a few issues, pacing it so that the last team member doesn’t sign up until the trade paperback is ready.

Steve Orlando knows how to make an emphatic point, and he gets everything he needs done in this first issue. And he has assembled a Justice League worth following.

The premise for this team is that Batman was so inspired by Killer Frost’s heroism in the Suicide Squad crossover that he decides to put together a group of people the public can relate to. “The world needs heroes they know, not gods, to inspire them – show them they can be heroes.” Which sounds good.

And yet, the picks for the team are almost all so wrong as to be silly. Two of the heroes, The Ray and The Atom, are new for this book or have one story in the Rebirth line. So the public doesn’t know them. Two of the folks, Lobo and Killer Frost, are former supervillains to carry the redemption theme, and Batman fits the Everyman goal. But Black Canary can scream out a sonic force attack, and Vixen takes on powers based on the animal kingdom.

So the point is, and I think Steve Orlando knows this, that Batman wants to make his own club, no Superman allowed. The group seems to have been assembled with an eye for representation, including an Asian character, a gay man, and a black woman. And over time, he’ll get to connect this team to the public, with dedicated missions to handle high-profile, inspiring challenges.

The book is already fun – Canary hates everybody, Lobo wants more authority, Ray and Atom are preparing to be comedy bros. Orlando’s pacing is deliberate and engaging, and Reis’s art brings a realism to the team in line with the mission statement. This could shape into one of the most memorable eras of the Justice League.

But man, does Batman not get it. And I love seeing that guy when he’s wrong.

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics