Wednesdays Reviews

Superior Carnage #1 is the first instalment in a five issue miniseries featuring perhaps one of the most violent characters in the Marvel universe. The last few Carnage miniseries titles have been fun, though they aren't necessary reads if you're jumping into Superior Carnage. Continuing with the 'Superior' moniker of the recent Spider-Man books, this miniseries revolves around Carnage unwillingly joining a new rendition of the Frightful Four, alongside lesser-villains The Wizard and Klaw. Of course, Carnage tends not to react well to restraints or rules which will likely make for some fun conflict in the coming issues.
Off the bat, this is a considerably more graphically violent Carnage story which, all things considered, is really the only sensible way to write a maniacal serial killer bonded with a murderous alien. Suffice to say, this one isn't for youngsters. Marvel is clearly releasing this book for a more mature audience. The last couple Carnage minis haven't been as graphic, making this Superior Carnage arc a significantly more enjoyable read in comparison to the others.
The artwork by Segova and Ramos is fantastic, and there's a stunning double page spread in the book that would make an amazing poster or addition to a comic art wall. Kevin Shnick takes writing duties and delivers an action packed issue that doesn't skimp on story progression, while at the same time delivering some fantastic character moments. The Wizard, often a B-list villain, has never seemed so ruthless.
The 'Superior' handle may seem tacked on at first glance, but this really is a superior Carnage... one we haven't seen for a while. More psychotic, disturbing, and vehement in many more ways than the previous Carnage minis. The creative team seems well chosen, and the future instalments of Superior Carnage seem promising after this first issue.

 

Batman 66 is a revisitation of the 1966 Batman television series, but in comic book form. It's a rare breed of comic that combines classic characters, dialogue and artwork with modern storytelling; a real throwback to the 60's in many, many ways. Better still, it's also a solid read from front to back.

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 This first issue features the caped crusader and the boy wonder caught up in a conundrum involving The Riddler. Tasked with recovering stolen gold statues, the dynamic duo team up with Catwoman to put an end to Riddler's shenanigans and place him behind bars once again. Of course, things aren't that easy when dealing with a madman's mind games.

 Everything about Batman 66 feels as though it's been ripped from the 60's and placed in your hands, less the pages themselves. The campy dialogue, the halftone coloring, the character costumes, and the settings are all true to the 60's Batman show. If you've had the pleasure of experiencing the old show in just about any volume, you'll get a kick out of the way this book reads. For those unfamiliar with the show (or older comics for that matter), you'll get the chance to experience comics from a fun new perspective.

 Jeff Parker (Spider-Man: 1602, Thunderbolts) has captured the essence of the 60's Batman show very well, but the story reads as a more cohesive, almost modern Batman tale. Everything comes together quite well at the end, and from front to back, the book is consistently entertaining. A huge part of this book, as well as the writing, is the aesthetics. The artwork by Jonathan Case is a mix of worn pastel shades with bright vibrant colors, and lots of halftones. Visually, it looks as if it's been yanked from the interiors of early 60's and 70's comic books. Very well done.

 Batman 66 is a great first issue in what looks to be a promising ongoing series, and a fun addition to the numerous Bat books on shelves today.