Bill Frye Comic Reviews

If you are looking to get a complete view of all that is happening during the Battle for the Cowl storyline, you could certainly do worse than this issue of Azrael. This story is surprisingly interesting for a concept I care little about, and is worth checking out for, perhaps, only the most loyal Batman fans.

All in all, this was a solid first issue to a storyline I really never thought I'd see, despite the fact that the dead never stay dead for long. I am interested in following this story to its end to see who may step up to take Bruce's place. Regardless of whether something more surprising or mundane happens at the end of this three-issue story, this is one battle I am willing to see to the end.

Overall, this book is only for the diehard Batman reader who must know everything that is happening in the Bat-verse. Otherwise, I recommend steering clear of this book and looking elsewhere for your Dark Knight fix.

Readers can get ready as new writer and Booster Gold creator Dan Jurgens takes on writing and art duties on the book in the next issue. I know Ill be there.

Cory Walker's art is also a nice contribution to the story, adding a level of simple line detail that is a more comic book like, rather than realistic, which gives the action scenes a gritty feeling. Walkers style also could elicit a reaction from a reader during those action scenes due to the fact that he doesn't have to hold back the description of what happens when Destroyer punches someone in the face. Walker shifts well from big time action scenes to small character moments, like the conversations between Keene (Destroyer) and his wife, Harriet.

I dont recommend this being anyones first issue of Detective Comics, however, if you read the Heart of Hush storyline you may want to give this a go as this two issue arc looks to tie up the loose ends left by that storyline.

Readers should be picking this book up. It might not have a logo as recognizable as the big two, but the story quality certainly rivals the stuff they put on the table. The story is solid and it's only on its seventh issue.

There are several reasons for anyone to check out this book. One, Phil Hesters art; two, a solid story for any fan of the El Diablo mythos; three, a story that can be read without feeling like you have to read a dozen other books to understand it.

Also of note is the artwork of Sebastian Fiumara. Fiumara seems to have developed a gritty art style to depict the children's life on the streets of Rotterdam. His pencils create a rough and dirty atmosphere, such when Bean is confronted with the reality of the streets on pages 30 and 31. Here Fiumara shines by showing Bean's fear and the brutality befallen one of his allies. Also interesting is on the last page of the issue, Fiumara teases readers with a slicker art style that shows a space station and a fleet of space ships that Bean seems destined for.

Fiumara's art continues to bring a very detailed look to the characters in the book. Readers can see Bean learning, thinking and understanding on the page, even without the words. Fiumara is able to bring to life Bean's determination to stay off the streets of Rotterdam. You can see it in his face and by his demeanor. For a person of such small reputation, Fiumara does some fantastically big things through his art.

If you are interested in politics this book is worthy of your attention. regardless of whether you agree with its politcal messages or not, it is a book that will make you think both of the continuing story of Everyman and the real-world political climate. Even if you aren't potically motivated, this book could be just the thing to mix up your usual reading list.

Theres a lot of story in this 20-plus pages of comic book. Gates does a great job of making Prometheus a legitimate threat. Readers should be excited to see what kind of havoc he is planning for the heroes of the DC Universe.

If you're a loyal fan of The Flash, then this won't be the worst read you've ever experienced, but it won't be the best and I wonder if you'll really feel anything at all.

All in all this is a solid opening chapter to a much anticipated storyline. Johns does what he does best and revitalizes a family of characters that have been fallen on hard times, since, well since Johns was last on the title. Any Flash fans, who felt jilted by the series since Johns departed, can come back and feel like he never left.

For $20, Hatter M: Mad with Wonder is a great value for a hardback graphic novel. I recommend everyone look into this interesting take on Wonderland and its characters.

The art by Nathan Watson brings a very real and kinetic feel to the book. While Watson's pencils are rough, it adds to the flavor of the comic itself which brings the characters to life. With Watson's pencils, you are never questioning the thoughts and feelings of a character. His character expression work is fantastic and jives well with the tone of Giffen and DeMatteis scripts.

Hexed is a great read, it goes by quickly, but it doesn't lack in substance--and that's what makes it such a great find. In the simplest of terms, if you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and enjoy crime stories, then you should thoroughly enjoy this hardcover collection.

Along with the books interesting qualities, this book is a challenging one. Readers can expect to learn more about the character of Sara and her journey in subsequent reads of the first issue. Theres enough here to keep anyone interested, albeit slightly frustrated, to come back for the conclusion of this strange journey.

If youre looking for your Oracle fix, then you shouldn't be too disappointed by this issue (or this miniseries, so far). However, if youre reading Battle for the Cowl and expect Oracle: The Cure to play a part in that event, then you may want to be cautious when approaching this series since it remains to be seen what, if any, ramifications this story will have on the Bat-verse.

Raney's art fits the Inhumans well, as he is able to give excellent detail to each of the characters' looks. From Medusa's wild hair, Karnak's facial tattoos and more, Raney's art brings the characters to life.

Unless you are a die-hard Spider-Man (or Man-Thing) fan, this book may not be for you.

If you've been avoiding the Thunderbolts because of "Secret Invasion" or you fear that if you pick it up that you won't know what is going on, go ahead and give this issue a try. This is a good jumping on point for new readers as the team moves out of one phase and into the next.

There isn't much holding back this entertaining series at this point. It's fun to watch these characters interact and deceive each other; it's a train wreck that won't end and only continues to escalate in damage. A new status quo is in place as the team only seems to be heading down a darker path.

While the issue didn't blow me away, it was great to see a true revitalization of the 2099 characters without everything that came before this miniseries being completely tossed out.