Year of the Villain: Black Mask #1

YEAR OF THE VILLAIN: BLACK MASK #1 puts a smart new spin on a classic Bat-villain that greatly needed an updated mask. Furthermore YEAR OF THE VILLAIN: BLACK MASK #1 works as a great tie-in but as an even greater stand alone for newcomers. Read Full Review

It's very early in The Gifts portion of the Year of the Villain arc, but if most books are of this quality they'll be worth checking out to see how Luthor tips the scales in favor of his fellow bad guys. Read Full Review

The only problem with the issue, unfortunately, is its reason for existing in the first place. The inclusion of Lex Luthor and his offer feels shoehorned into what is otherwise a stunner of an installment. Still, its great to see a one-and-done comic done well, and Year of the Villain: Black Mask #1 is definitely that. Read Full Review

Year Of The Villain " Black Mask #1 is a perfect entry point for readers not overly familiar with the character, though long-time devotees will love it too. With the promise of more to come for Black Mask down the line, the web of intrigue being woven here has reeled this fan in with both feet. Read Full Review

I don't know if the idea was to make Black Mask a compelling character, and I'm not sure it achieved that, but it definitely made him an effective threat. Read Full Review

Plenty of event issues crowd the rack but this is one book worth picking up. Read Full Review

I mean, it was a pretty great story and all, I am just wondering if Black Mask will be playing a bigger role. Let's hope so and let's hope this creative team works together again. They work very well together. Read Full Review

Because of the events that take place and the way that it ends, Taylor presents everything in a way that makes Black Mask seem like an important piece of the larger puzzle. Read Full Review

Fun issue. It seems like this is a backdoor pilot to a new Batwoman series. Read Full Review

Although this event and special are a bit lacking in originality, they do give us an entertaining read. Also, it sets Black Mask up as a much more dangerous threat than before. I hope to see the new and improved Black Mask making more appearances, whether in the Batman family of titles or in the wider DC Universe. Read Full Review

Year of the Villain: Black Mask is a very average issue that starts something with no immediate promise of finishing but made stronger by an impressive art team. Read Full Review

For yet another event tie-in book, this is better than most, which is to be expected when you consider that Taylor is one of the names often touted as a King replacement on Batman. Read Full Review

When taken all together, this issueis a solid entry into the Year of the Villain story event. It lays the groundwork for future events while giving the audience a deeper understanding of the main character. This makes this Black Mask: Year of the Villain #1 a great read for people following the event, or readers who are interested in a deeper dive to one of Gotham's most notorious villains. Read Full Review

The creative team behind the issue is pretty solid, spearheaded by Tom Taylor (one of the best superhero writers currently working, in my opinion) and Cully Hamner, whose experience drawing grittier action-heavy stories like this serves Taylors script well. Dave Stewarts vibrant colors offer an appealing contrast from the darkness of Hammers inks, especially the pops of bright red when Batwoman is in the scene. In all, Year of the Villain: Black Mask is a pretty unimpeachable little one-off supervillain tale. Read Full Review

This first issue does a few things well while not completely sticking the landing. Read Full Review

Year of the Villain is supposed to be this huge storyline pitting the forces of Doom against the forces of Justice. Everything about this first issue feels as small as the crimes themselves. Cully Hamner's art is great in this issue. The characters look great and the moments between young Roman and young Bruce Wayne in the beginning of the story are amazing. Read Full Review

A Black Mask origin story that has been told before,and better, with an extra wrinkle that is pretty disappointing. "Year of theVillain" fanatics only need apply, Read Full Review

While the overall effort may be uneven, it certainly delivers more good than bad in a one-shot brimming with evil intent. Read Full Review

Welcome to the year of halfway paying attention to comics. Wake me when someone comes up with an actual story idea. Until then I'll be reading DCeased. Read Full Review

Black Mask: Year of the Villain is not a bad comic book, but it is one that I feel I'll forget soon after reading it. It manages to tick all of the boxes required of a one shot like this, but does little to add to the bigger story at play. There is good character work with Kate and Renee and the promise of more Black Mask villainy to come, but the issue has not done a good job of making me want more. If Year of the Villain is going to work, it needs to up the stakes monumentally. In my opinion, this event is failing to deliver the game-changing narratives it promised. Read Full Review

Azrael

Aug 22, 2019

Black Mask has always been interesting and Lex was right. He does think too small. I hope the lack of a solid conclusion is a prelude to him being involved in Lex’s grand plan or to be continued in future Bat Family comics.

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Aug 22, 2019

Always love Black Mask. I have to admit I read his original appearance and I don't remember tbe ugly part, not sure if I misremember or it is a new addition.

Psycamorean

Aug 25, 2019

This was a solid one-shot.

Spacey Medicine

Sep 03, 2019

Pretty good, I was certainly engaged.

M1sf1r3

Aug 23, 2019

The Good: The interactions. Taylor is a character writer and it shows. His dialogue is always impeccable and I like his Black Mask. But the absolute highlight is Kate and Renee. Their banter, their teamwork, there's nothing to fault. This is what raises the score, what earns the score it receives. The Bad: The first quarter is wasted on reminding us how Black Mask is with the next telling us what he's doing now. Nothing intrinsically bad, just... disappointing seeing as one's already been told but better and the other is generic. I generally don't like having dates or other forms of time in comics. Whilst nice they ruin the sense of flow (weirdly enough) like they do here. A month later? How does this impact other books with their timelines? I don't know. Conclusion: Well, people know my stance on Year of the Villain but this isn't all too bad. Mediocre? Well it just passes that in my system. Needed? Probably not either. My takeaway from this is it happened. So what? I hope this goes somewhere but with how Year of the Villain is being run, I'm not so sure. more

egonnn244

Sep 02, 2019

"Not his face" Tom Taylor. There's no need to write anything else.

Darkseid24

Aug 21, 2019

It wasn’t bad. Some parts of Sionis Pre52 origin story gets referenced& also when he was in charge of Gotham during War Games times I guess, but it feels quite short. He gets the ability to change his face, but doesn’t do anything meaningful with it? Sounds like a big waste.

Soul Assassin

Sep 03, 2019

Sloppy