Before Watchmen: The Comedian #1 Review

Rating: 4/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Pencils: JG Jones
Number of Pages: 32 pgs.
Price: 3.99
Color: Color
Safety Content Label: MAX – EXPLICIT CONTENT – 18 years old.

Publisher’s Blurb:
“I’m a funny guy…”

Plus: Don’t miss the CRIMSON CORSAIR backup story by writer LEN WEIN and artist JOHN HIGGINS!

Reviewer’s Comments:
With the Before Watchmen issues coming out, I was keen to pick up the Comedian’s miniseries. Not only is he one of the more interesting characters in the hit graphic novel but he also predates the Watchmen group.

We find Edward Blake in his home late at night as he listens to music. He finds an old baseball, and begins to reminisce. He goes back to his days when he was friends with the Kennedy family. He is playing football with Jack and Ted Kennedy while Jackie Kennedy, Jack’s wife, looks on. Comedian makes his way into the Kennedy home where he speaks with Jackie. The two discuss the interest of Comedian in their family. As Jackie tries to get Comedian to admit his love for Jack, he will only admit he respects him. They finally come to the conclusion of Comedian’s complete respect for the boys even though; Jackie pierces away at her mythical family. She brings up Ms. Marilyn Monroe who Jack has been sleeping with, and Jackie persuades Comedian to take care of the situation. He does it, and moves onto a bar. He talks with the Kennedy brothers who he had made bets with either. He is apparently not doing too well, and wants to continue going. They conclude a bargain, and go on. As Comedian is about to leave on a plane, a FBI agent stops him, and wants him to take care of Moloch the Mystic. Blake stops him just as Walter Cronkite is announcing Kennedy has been shot. The two men stop their battle of good versus evil, and Mr. Moloch poses the question: “What are we going to do now?”

Brian Azzarello does a fine job here. He makes Blake more of a character you sympathize. He has had a troubling life, and Mr. Azzarello tries to bring that out rather than leave his anger as the thing motivating him. The only troubling thing is that in the graphic novel Watchmen, the Comedian is hinted at being the one who killed JFK. However here, we have Blake taking down Moloch as it happens. It doesn’t add up but yet again, Azzarello may just be writing this page in history down as Eddie being innocent. Backing Azzarello up is JG Jones who does a magnificent job capturing that past era of American history. He really manages to capture every detail of that time but also capture the Watchmen-esque take on that era made famous by Dave Gibbons. While it had an issue with continuity, I cannot fault the issue for that. Mr. A may have wanted to clear Blake of that crime to make him a more sympathetic person…… Who knows…… All I know is that it is a good re-entry point for Comedian.

Nightwing #10 Review

Rating: 4/5
Publisher Name: DC Comics
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Pencils: Eddy Barrows
Number of Pages: 32 pgs.
Price: 2.99
Color: Color
Safety Content Label: T+ TEENS AND UP – Appropriate for most readers 13 and up, parents are advised that they might want to read before or with younger children.

Publisher’s Blurb:
Part one of “THE REPUBLIC OF TOMORROW, TODAY.” • NIGHTWING begins investigating a double murder in OLD GOTHAM that happens to feature part of his costume as evidence. • Introducing the REPUBLIC OF TOMORROW and their leader, PARAGON.

Reviewer’s Comments:
Dick has finally finished his odyssey through his past. Though he won’t let the past exit his life, he tries to focus on the future of his life and of Gotham’s.

Nightwing begins the issue reminiscing about “Old Gotham.” He does not feel it represents the best of the city like many old historic districts do. He is investigating why one of his escrima sticks were used in a murder. He is at the crime scene, and finds an alpha/omega symbol. As he is analyzing it, the GCPD enter storming the room. They unfortunately feel he murdered the Strayhorn brothers. More unfortunate for Dick is that Detective Travis Nie believes that too even though Gordon tells him Nightwing is only a person of interest. Gordon meets with Deputy Mayor Cavanaugh to update him on the situation, and Cavanaugh expresses his wish to help Nightwing especially since Dick saved his butt during “The Night of the Owls.” As Dick moves through the issue, his problems only amount more. He wants to keep the Circus in town to perform at the Amusement Mile. He is hoping the reinvigorate the city’s life so that people will spend more time. He can remember when he was younger, and the Mile used to be the soul of the city. Unfortunately after his fallout with his father Mr. Bruce Wayne, he wants to stray away from him a bit. He also wants to make sure he is his own man; not just a Wayne surrogate. Lucius Fox suggests Sonia Zucco, the daughter of Tony Zucco who murdered Dick’s parents. Dick is not too happy to be working with her but cannot deny his attraction to her. She runs the Gotham Municipal Bank, and she agrees to help Dick. The Circus is not too keen on the idea of staying in Gotham. Jimmy the Clown promises to speak to the group but makes it clear to Dick they probably won’t be sticking around. Next, Nightwing goes to work at a tattoo parlor where the earlier symbol originated from. As he gets his answer, men attack him. Dick takes them down easily finding out they are from the Republic of Tomorrow. Unfortunately as Dick goes into their hideout, he is stopped by Paragon or as he calls himself: “The Future of this City.”

Kyle Higgins hands in another good issue. He manages to capture Dick’s voice, and move the story he wants to tell forward. My only nitpick with the issue is Dick’s dialogue seems a bit too preachy and redundant at times as he talks to Ms. Zucco. Yes, I understand he wants to save the city but he seems to say it a bit too much. On the art side, Eddy Barrows hands in some more great art. While this isn’t his best issue he’s had, it remains up to par with what he wants to do. I continue to love this book, and hope it keeps all the issue’s threads going.

Adam Kubert Covers AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #8!

Adam Kubert Covers AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #8!

The Fanboy Buzz is proud to present your first look at legendary artist Adam Kubert’s variant cover to Avengers Vs. X-Men #8 – featuring the Phoenix Five! Now that the Cyclops has declared “No More Avengers”, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are on the run! The chase comes to a head in Wakanda, as the sovereign nation becomes the target of an out-of-control Namor! Will the onslaught of the powered-up Sub-Mariner overwhelm the Avengers? The answer – and a shocking truth about the X-Men – are revealed this July courtesy of Brian Bendis and Adam Kubert in Avengers Vs. X-Men #8, exploding into comic shops everywhere, the Marvel Comics app and the Marvel Digital Comics Shop this July.

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #8 (MAY120643)

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #8 KUBERT VARIANT (APR128210)

Written by BRIAN BENDIS

Penciled by ADAM KUBERT

Cover by JIM CHEUNG

Variant Cover by ADAM KUBERT

FOC – 6/25/2012, On-Sale – 7/18/2012