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Short Shrift
Week of 08-02-06
Posted 11 August 2006
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The Short Shrift!
Short and to-the-point reviews of new comics!
Detective Comics #822
4.00 out of 5 Stars
Writer: Paul Dini
Artist: Don Kramer
Publisher: DC Comics
Only a few months in from OYL and we are on our third Bat-reboot already. However, this time DC lines up Paul Dini on
writing chores, thus making Detective Comics live up to its namesake. Dini takes a chance and has Batman actually
detect something and solve a case using his brains. Dini nails the dialogue and feel of the book (what it should be,
that is), and his choice of new direction for the Riddler is both interesting and logical for the character.
Handling the art is Don Kramer, who has stepped up his game now that he has a solid story with which to work. I had read that
J. H. Williams III was supposed to draw the series with Dini, which would have been awesome, yet Williams is nowhere to be
seen in this issue. Kramer does a nice job, but doesn’t elevate the book to the 5-Star status a Dini/Williams combo would.
Definitely worth the time for Batman fans, and could even bring back readers that Infinite Crisis and OYL have alienated. (Adam White)
Batman #655
2.50 out of 5 Stars
Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Andy Kubert
Publisher: DC Comics
Grant Morrison is hit or miss when it comes to anything anymore, so I was curious what his Batman would be like.
Morrison’s Seven Soldiers stuff was a mess, yet his return to Animal Man in the pages of 52 is awesome
(if brief); Morrison’s Batman is somewhere in between. The Good: potentially interesting plot, Alfred. The Bad:
poor characterization (except Alfred), ridiculous storytelling, little adherence to continuity of any kind.
I have hated Andy Kubert’s recent efforts, mostly because he has fallen prey to a disorder several formerly good
artists have fallen to: he has gotten too caught up in his own style to the point it becomes distorted. Thankfully, Kubert
pulls back from this a little for Batman, doing a pretty good job with the exceptions of a few slips here and there.
Detective is by far the better Bat-book, although Batman could be better if the creators went through a
“clarity” workshop or two. (Adam White)
Dusty Star #1
5.00 out of 5 Stars
***BOOK OF THE WEEK***
Writer: Andrew Robinson & Joe Pruett
Artist: Andrew Robinson
Publisher: Desperado
Wow! What a heck of a first issue. Robinson (along with Pruett) has told one great Western tale that doesn’t
suffer from any usual first-issue problems. Dusty Star is a kick-@$$ outlaw that is the best there is at what she
does (to steal a catchphrase), taking her revenge/justice on those that have done her wrong. Robinson goes straight into
the action from page one and then allows the characters to tell the story through their actions and words. Top-notch writing
from the get-go, and great fun for both Western fans and those readers new to the genre.
Robinson backs up the script with outstanding visuals, from the pencils to the color. Every panel is perfect, every
character dynamic, every detail a visual treat. Robinson is amazing, and though I am not familiar with his previous work you
can be absolutely certain that I will be in short order. This is a book you need to own, and if friends tell you that
Westerns are “old” or “stale” all you need to do is put this book in their hands to prove them wrong. (Adam White)
—CCdC—
Cover image used without explicit permission in accordance with the "Fair Use" provision of US copyright law.
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