Comics Bundle: 09.17.09 Pt. 2

The is the second part of my Comics Bundle for this September (part 1 is here). As always, the part 2 deals with non-Marvel comics. For some reason, all of my non-Marvels in this bundle are just too awesome. I actually had a hard time picking 5 issues to review.

Fables #88
9.3 of 10
Of all my comic book titles, Fables is definitely the one that I missed the most. Thanks to the crossover that choked the life out of the title like an arterial blockage. But now that it's done and over with, I'm happy to be reading Fables with all its quirky characters again. Speaking of characters, the main ones like Snow and Bigby aren't present in this issue. But others are getting some spotlight, which I'm glad. The witches, especially Frau Totenkinder, are stepping up into the plate as they gather power to confront the Dark Man. Beauty and Beast are also getting some attention that they deserve. Hopefully, the couple will get as much limelight as Snow and Bigby, even at least in this story arc.

Batman and Robin #4
8.7 of 10
The main Batman title has become too unbearable for me to read. With Dick Grayson now in full swing and all smiles wearing the cape and cowl, I never thought that I'd miss Bruce Wayne that much. Luckily, Batman and Robin has a lot of edge. Of course, that edge comes from Damien (who seems to be keeping Dick from smiling). He's a tough little kid who can really fight, and shows great potential to become Batman. Even Dick, with all that experience, can't sneak up on him. I just wish that he'd grow up soon enough to replace Dick as Batman.

DMZ #45
9.5 of 10
Like Fables, DMZ was also interrupted by a 3-part story arc that flowed outside the main continuity. While I enjoyed the story, I'm nonetheless glad to have Matty and Parco again. Matty Roth has surprisingly evolved. If compared to a couple issues back, he's now a much more confident, ballsier and ruthless character. While he still works for Parco, he acts more of his adviser rather than an underling. He even have his own security crew -which includes the sniper Angel from the early issues. All in all, this is an awesome issue.

Chew #3
9.7 of 10
Tony Chu is probably the most unique character in the comics industry right now. As a detective "cibopath", a person that can get psychic from impressions from what he eats, he'll know who killed a person just by eating the corpse of the victim. But just when I thought the creators are done making unique characters, they brought out Amelia Mints into the fold. Mintz -who is also the love interest of our protagonist- is a "saboscrivner", a person who can describe the taste of food (good or bad) so accurately that all those who listens to her or read her writings will also be able to savor it. Now how cool of a character is that?

The Walking Dead #65
9.0 of 10
The Walking Dead, to me, has been a medium to explore the twisted side of humanity, the dark side that is borne out of desperation. In the recent arc, Kirkman gave us cannibalism when a group of man-eaters pursues Rick and his crew. But one thing I love about this group of cannibals is that they're not some mindless, hungry primitives. Kirkman actually defended them by giving them a sense of logic. Even though their logic may seem twisted, it's actually part of the natural order, the survival of the fittest. This actually made me pause.

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Comics Bundle: 07.22.09 Pt. 2

This is the 2nd part of my comics bundle from last week. Normally, I'd write the review an hour, or a day, later after I've written part 1 (which can be found here). But since I had like 30 stacks of comic books, I just couldn't read them all in just one go. Hence the delay.

Batman & Robin #2
8.9 of 10
This title is becoming one of my favorite comic book, and it's definitely one of Morrison's best work since New X-Men. I really like how both Dick and Damian try to adjust to their roles as the new Batman and Robin, and how they try their best to work as a team. Even the people that they worked with before, like Albert and Gordon, are also adjusting to them. Frank Quitely's artwork, which is nothing short of impressive, also compliments the vigor of this new team. All in all, it's a just very refreshing take on one of the of the oldest comic-book franchise.

Chew #2
8.5 of 10
Chew is probably the best new comics that came out this year (as of now). But issue #2 is a bit of a let down. It just lack the hilarity and gross factor that issue #1 delivered. Nonetheless, it has its moments.

Fables #86
8.8 0f 10
This title have been derailed from its normal continuity, and I was displeased with that. But, now that the crossover is done and over with, the title is finally on its right track. Which means they'll be focusing on the Fables dilemmas such as their current "housing" situation and their new nemesis Mr. Dark. This issue tells a back story that characterizes Mr. Dark, and also clears a bit of mystery that surrounds him. It tells us of how he was captured by Geppetto's empire, and of how he manipulated the events that led to the fall of the empire. It's one enjoyable read and I can't wait for the series to take of again.

DMZ #43
8.8 of 10
Like Fables, I also miss this title a lot. Mainly because the main continuity have been put on hold to give us a story from a different angle. But in no way this issue, and the whole arc, is a bore. It may not be tied to the continuity but it adds more to the setting by shedding light into other characters and factions that lives inside the DMZ, reminding us that it's a grim place. This arc particularly focuses on Tony and other NYPD cops that have stayed behind and became insurgents, a cult that steals, kills and inflict pain on just about everyone.

The Walking Dead #63
9.0 of 10
This book never ceases to amaze me with its study of human character and morality amidst a gruesome reality. We've seen many characters in this title who, were once decent and respectable persons before the zombie plague, have now succumb to moral decay. We've seen friends turning against friends for a piece of canned food, survivors killing fellow survivors for safe haven, and desperate lonely men trying to rape little kids. But, just when you thought you've seen it all, this new story arc ups the ante. Because, now, men have become the very monsters that they've tried to kill or elude since issue #1.

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Part 2 of my comics bundle. As usual, it's composed of titles from DC, Vertigo, Image and other publishers. Part 1 of my bundle can be found here.

Chew #1
10 of 10
"I need to have this on my pull sheet". That was what I said when I saw Chew's preview on the last issue of The Walking Dead. Because this title is just too damn good and too damn unique to pass up. The book is mainly about Tony Chu. He's a detective and he can get psychic impressions from what he eats -except canned beets. So if he eats a tomato, he'll know what fertilizers and pesticides were used on it. If he eats a part of a serial killer, he'll know the names of all the killer's victims and how they died. It's a gruesomely entertaining title. So if you're looking for a new comic book, I highly recommend this one.

Four Eyes #3
9.3 of 10
This title continues to astound me. I really love the art and setting, an alternative history in which dragons exists during The Great Depression. This issue brilliantly depicts the day to day life during that era. Of how desperate the people are that they'd take on a dangerous jobs, like dragon hunting, just to feed themselves, and of how the rich takes advantage of them. Like Chew, if you're looking for a comic book without capes and masks, pick this one up. It's a brillant book. The only problem I have with it though are the delays.

Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3
7.9 of 10
The Battle for the Cowl concludes in this issue. After the battle between all the Robins, Dick Grayson finally steps up to take on the mantle (or rather the cowl) of Batman. I knew it's going to be Dick Grayson, I don't think there's no one else. So this run has disappointed me. On the other hand, Damien being the new Robin pretty much surprised me.

Batman and Robin #1
8.6 of 10
This new title takes off after the Battle for the Cowl, which shows the adventures of the new Batman (Dick Grayson, first Robin) and Robin (Damien Wayne, son of Batman with Talia Al Ghul). This is an interesting, and probably the most refreshing, take on the Batman continuity. I just loved how Grant Morrison switched the personalities of Batman and Robin. In this title, Batman is much more light-hearted and Robin is more of a bad-ass. It somewhat reminds me of Grant Morrison's other work, The New X-Men, where he revisioned everything for the better. So I'm going to keep an eye on this one.

Jack of Fables #34
6.0 of 10
This issue is the fifth part of The Great Fables Crossover. As huge fan of Fables I thought this crossover is going to be really epic. But as I found out in this issue, there's nothing epic nor great about it. In fact, it even messed up the world of Fables. It looks to me like Kevin Thorn, the antagonist in this story that can change reality at his whim, isn't the only one suffering with a writer's block in this issue.

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