Dark Avengers #11

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Mike Deodato and Greg Horn
 
I should start off by saying that this issue is really well structured. The fact that the story opens up by referencing Victoria Hand's position as a S.H.I.E.L.D. accountant three years ago is a perfect set up. By starting the issue this way, Bendis allows for two ongoing story lines to occur simultaneously that cross over into one another, but still manage to remain separate, and do not confuse the reader. Victoria Hand is presented as this very weak female character in the beginning of the story, and you can see the way she has evolved and been strengthened as a character over the course of the last three years. This issue is as much about Norman Osborn's assistant as it is about Norman himself. In this issue, Norman is tested by the Molecule Man, who can easily destroy Norman if he wished to, but doesn't. The plot reaches a climax in the beginning of the book, and then reverts, before ending on a high note once again. 

"The only thing I don't understand is...How long did you think you were going to have this job, anyhow? Everybody wants you to fail. Even the people who are rooting for you-- secretly they know what you are and they know what's going to happen to you...They're just waiting! When will he snap? Well, for my purposes, I can't wait. The sooner the better. And if I can help it along...all the better."

Bendis writes a perfectly despicable and resentful Molecule Man, which is perfectly captured in his character narration. Probably the most powerful scene in the entire comic is the interaction between Norman and the Molecule Man, who seems ready and willing to aid Norman in his own psychological destruction. This interaction reinforces the idea that Norman is self destructive, and that in the end, he very well may be his own enemy. His psychological instability seems to be what will more than likely result in his own demise.
 
Scenes which Molecule Man clearly has the upper hand and has invaded Norman's mind are drawn by Greg Horn, while all other scenes are drawn by Mike Deodato, who has been the artist on the book throughout the entire series. The decision to bring on another artist with a completely different style for these specific scenes acts to further reinforce the shift in the story which makes for an interesting dynamic. Perhaps the reason I enjoyed this book so much is due to the Molecule Man's prominent role in the story, specifically because he seems like such an unlikely adversary. A fantastic issue overall, my only complaint is that the interaction that Molecule Man has with the rest of the Avengers (Sentry, Ms. Marvel, Daken...) seems rushed and could have been extended. 
 
4 out of 5  

Batman Unseen #4 of 5

Written by Doug Moench
Art by: Kelley Jones
 
Of all the Batman books out in the market now, this is definitely one of my favorites. Written specifically for fans of the Bruce Wayne Batman- sans the side-kick, this book returns the character to his detective roots and reads like an edge of your seat mystery thriller that has over the years, been what has made Batman so intriguing to so many fans. Everything from the style of the writing to the art aid in bringing the reader back to a dark and dreary bronze age Batman, which is exactly what makes this such an interesting read. Kelley Jones' abstract and dark artistic style likens to that of Frank Miller's artistry in ' The Dark Knight Returns.' The way that the narration acts as an internal monologue intertwines perfectly with the character dialogue. The story is organized effectively into chapters which distinguish the transition from one scene to the next similar to a novel. Perhaps it is the way the book is structured, or the fact that it is so well written and organized, but this book blew me away. Mind you, Bruce Wayne is also my favorite comic book character so I tend to be a bit biased...then again if I think that he is characterized well in this book, then chances most Batman fans will agree. 
Note that this title is out of the continuity of the other bat-books. I recommend picking up the three previous issues before tackling this one so that you can get the most out of this story. 
 
4 out of 5  

The Authority: The Lost Year #3

Story by: Grant Morrison and Keith Giffen
Written by: Keith Giffen
Art by: Darick Robertson and Trevor Scott
 
There are few artists that can capture the fluidity of movement and still maintain a gritty style; Darick Robertson however does exactly that. The first four pages exemplify his personal artistic style to perfection. If you have not and are not planning on picking up the two previous issues of The Authority, then there is really no sense in getting this one because you may not grasp what is going on. The content is somewhat graphic and the art is suggestive in some scenes, but entertaining, nonetheless. The book maintains an interesting plot and story and is very well structured, but without an understanding of these individual characters it is near impossible to read. One thing is certain, these guys are a hell of a lot more interesting than the Justice League. The script is well organized which is evident in the artistry of the first four pages. I personally love a good fight scene without dialogue; it is a great example of the artist's talent. While it was a fun read, I did have some trouble being engaged throughout the entire story and it felt no different (to me) than reading any other super hero book.
 
3 out of 5

  
 'Batman and Robin' #4
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Philip Tan
 
Who knew comic books could read like poetry? If you have been reading Grant Morrison's run on 'Batman and Robin,' then you probably know what I am talking about. I will be the first to admit that when it comes to Morrison's books, I often find myself re-reading them to ensure that I've managed to capture all of the facets and intricacies of his plot-line and characters. With Morrison, there is usually an incredible story that lies beneath the surface, and this book is a perfect example of that. While issue four has a lot of plot development, there is an evident focus on 'Scarlett's' character and an array of emotions that the character is obviously subjecting herself to. It was evident that she had become psychologically tormented and may perhaps be going insane. I don't blame her, I would probably be a bit messed up myself if someone replaced my face with a mask! Her motivation for being a side-kick to a psychotic vigilante likens to penance for the death of her father. Scarlett has his blood on her hands, and in order to right her wrongs, she resolves to vigilantism; fighting against the bad guys and often subjecting them to her own style of justice- death. Morrison captures the essence of this lost, psychologically deteriorating young girl in his language. The literary eloquence coupled by Philp Tan's dark expressions and scenery is nothing short of phenomenal. Quickly, the reader might recognize that Scarlett is a mere victim of her circumstances and surroundings, and her motivation to fight crime differs greatly from that of the 'Red Hood.' 
 
There is a tremendous amount of balance in this story. So much so that it seems cyclical; in that it comes completely full circle based on the events in the beginning and in the end. There are three elements which the story begins and ends with. First is the element of death. The first scene shows Scarlett and Red Hood killing a masked criminal. The final scene ends in the same way. The 'Red Hood's' "motto" 'let the punishment fit the crime' surfaces on more than one occasion and is also a staple in the language at both the beginning and the end of the book.

I have my theories on the identity of the 'Red Hood,' and I feel as though now would be the perfect time to delve into that; however, If you have not read the issue, do not read further.
 
 

This is by far one of the best comics I have read these last few weeks, and I highly recommend this series. 

  
 
 'Blackest Night: Batman' #2 of 3 
Written by: Peter Tomasi
Art by: Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes
 
I should probably apologize for the delay on the review of this book as I have been a bit under the weather and as a result I've been forced to play a lot of catch-up! I digress, though. This book is great. So great, in fact, that I really wish that it wasn't a mini and was extended to at least five issues! The fact that Tomasi is forced to cram all of that content into a mere three issues may be hindering the story. While it is well organized and the story remains fluid throughout, I feel like a lot of the content is glazed over and that there really isn't a lot of time to delve deeply into any sort of plot or character development. The book is well written, and the art work is really consistent and very good, so it is most certainly worth the purchase! 
 
If you have been reading the series since 'Battle For The Cowl' then you are probably familiar with the quasi fall-out between Tim Drake (former Robin,) and Dick Grayson (former Nightwing). The cool thing about Tomasi's book is that he draws the parallel in the two characters' similarities and utilizes that to bring them to look beyond their differences and work together. I love Tim, so an appearance from him in this series is a lot of fun. The interaction between Damian and Dick in the beginning should also be noted. Tomasi has a certain flair for depicting a very witty and fun interaction between these two characters, which is nice.
 
Barbara! Is it me or is 'Babs' making all sorts of appearances in the various 'Batman' books? Have I said yet how much I love it? There is an interesting interaction too between Barbara and Dick, and I wonder whether that relationship wil be touched upon in any of the other issues. What do you guys think? Was it me, or was there something there? 
 
Deadman is a fantastic character that really isn't used enough in comics, and it seems to me like Tomasi is having a blast writing this character! 
 
Overall, this is a great issue and I recommend it to anyone who is really interested in the 'Blackest Night' series. It's definitely been a great addition to the overall story!

  
 
 'Models INC.' #1 
 Written by: Paul Tobin, Mark Sumerak
Art by: Vicenc Villagrasa, Terry Pallot, Jorge Molina
 
The fact that this issue coincided with start of New York fashion week is something I did not realize until I actually read the book itself. Had I not been watching E! the previous night while I was sick in my bed, I probably never would have put two and two together. One thing I really liked about this comic book was the fact that it was so extremely unconventional. As far as the structure of the book, I felt that Marvel put great effort into making the experience of reading 'Models INC' feel almost like you had picked up the latest issue of 'Elle Magazine,' which I found really entertaining. Having said that, I think this book truly caters to a small demographic of comic book readers; the typical male comic book reader between the ages of 13-27 will more than likely have little to no appreciation for the plot line of this particular series. While I do not think that the majority will find this book to be entertaining, I almost half-enjoyed the witty 'Sex and the City' humor, and felt that it was a breath of fresh air to be re-introduced to Marvel characters ( Millie the Model, for example) that we haven't read about since the 1960's. 
 
Did I love this book? No, but it was a fun read.I found myself laughing at some points because I know who Alexander McQueen is. However, even I, a 23 year old female comic book connoisseur, prefers the adventures of Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark to Millie the Model's gossip and shopping adventures. 
 
I like that Marvel is tipping their hat to New York fashion week, (I am a huge fan of the show,) as well as reaching out to a different kind of reader. If you like mindless fun and model behavior, you are sure to be entertained.