Top of the Pile - 6/27/2012

I have subscriptions at two comic shops in my area. I like to think of it as helping both shop owners out with my $20 a week. So that means that there is a lag with some titles I get. So my list this week has several “top” worthy titles including FF #19, Fatale #6, and Fables #118. But I went instead with one of the most consistent book in recent years, Daredevil # 14. Though it was released last week, I only picked it up today on my dinner break from work. Written by Mark Waid, this renumbering of Daredevil has restored my faith in the character. The previous volumes of Daredevil were convoluted at best and just bad storytelling at worst. But thankfully, the plots are now much more fun and exciting.

For the past several issues of Daredevil, the story dealt with a quantum hard drive that contained data on 5 major crime syndicates. Daredevil had it in his possession and there was a very uneasy stalemate between all parties concerned, keeping ol’ Horn Head relatively safe. In issue #13, The Avengers help dispose of the quantum drive and on the last page, Daredevil is teleported into a glass cage the size of a coffin right in the middle of Dr. Doom’s country of Latveria.

As issue #14 starts we learn that the country of Latveria was relying on funds from the sale of the quantum drive to help their economy. Sentence was passed and executed where Daredevil was doused in some type of gas. Upon release, he beats up a bunch of guards, which is, “an unprovoked attack against the royal army,” which carries the penalty of death.

The artwork by Chris Samnee is good. There isn’t anything too daring or out of the norm about his style. In fact, on a couple of pages, it seems he has channeled some Jack Kirby. This is especially noticeable in the uniforms of the Latverian army. And I have to also admit, the colors by Javier Rodriguez was noticeably good. Normally, the color is just a part of the story that’s beneath my notice. But with this book, the high contrast in the palette seems very effective.

I really like Mark Waid’s work. He keeps things on a human level. Daredevil’s inner dialog stays within the character and enhances the story greatly. Also, he portrays Foggy as a real person too. He is worried about his buddy and partner Matt, but you can see that he’s at the end of his rope. I look forward to this book every month and so far it hasn’t disappointed me yet.

Review - The Unknown

The Unknown
written by Mark Waid
art by Minck Oosterveer
Boom Studios

The book for The Unknown collects the first 4 issues of the comic series. It is about a world famous detective named Catherine Allingham who uses Sherlock Holmes like hyper-logic to solve closed room murder cases. The story opens up where Catherine hires as an assistant a muscular bouncer who has an natural ability to read people named James Doyle. We learn early on the Catherine is dying of a brain tumor and suffers from hallucinations. One reoccurring vision she has is of a tall, pale man with a thin smile. Though disturbing, Catherine knows it's just a figment of her condition and ignores her fear. Ultimately, Catherine with her rational mind and terminal condition, is compelled to try and understand what happens to people after they die. Her investigations lead her to take cases that might shed some tangible scientific truths about an afterlife.

I really liked this book. I remember seeing it at the comic shop when it first came out, but it was a thick week and I couldn't justify picking up another book to myself. The characters are interesting. The really interesting character in the story is James Doyle. We really don't know his past. There are some flashbacks to tragedy, but we're not privy to what his background might have. Catherine is interesting in that she is focused on solving problems all the time. We don't get any real glimpses into her background. But we really don't need any. She is driven to find the Truth, no matter where it leads while James seems to question weather finding the Truth is a good or bad thing.

The artwork by Oosterveer is really good. The narrative is clear and the characters are expressive. Catherine almost always has a smug expression while James has more range from confused to concerned. Readers will be able to follow the action easily and should be really creeped out by his hallucination character of the pale man.

I'll catalog this book in the teen area. There is no bad language, nudity, sexual situations or gratuitous violence that would offend sensitive parents. This is a good mystery with a supernatural twist that people who don't want to read super hero stories should check out. I just hope that they make more so we can follow Catherine and James to see if they can find the answer to the ultimate question.