Dark Ages #6 Review

Posted on by Alan Taylor


(W) Tom Taylor (A) Iban Coello

This was a seriously tough week to narrow down to one pick of the week. The 30th March saw the return of Something is Killing the Children, the return of Ram V’s Swamp Thing, Issue 2 of Jock’s One Dark Knight, the best issue yet of DC vs Vampires, and the excellent opening chapter of Shadow War Alpha. In other words, a ton of DC goodness, yet it was a Marvel title that just edged it for me, and it was Tom Taylor’s swan song to Marvel.

We’ve spoken about it before, but it is a bit of a shame that Tom Taylor has signed exclusively with DC. Of course, I have a preference for DC, so more titles from him playing in that sandbox are of course welcomed. However, his Marvel work has been nothing short of stellar from All New Wolverine, to his War of the Realms one shots, to Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man and now Dark Ages.

And Dark Ages has so many moving parts that it easily could have been a 12 issue maxi-series. So if there’s one tiny criticism for this issue, it’s that some parts are maybe a little rushed, but you’ll barely notice to be honest because of how many brilliant, genuinely jaw-dropping moments there are in this final issue.

#6 picks up after Peter Parker was able to save Miles Morales from the twin threats of Venom and Carnage (and what a great issue that was as well), Peter Parker and the rest of the heroes learn of Apocalypse’s plans to project his consciousness into the Unmaker, and take over the entire universe. They must also deal with Purple Man (what an adversary he has been in recent Marvel titles by the way), who has exerted his will over their friends! Will the world be saved, or will Darkness prevail?

This being a Tom Taylor, outside of canon book, the great thing is you know that no-one is safe. Heroes will be sacrificed and lost along the way, stakes will be raised, and the heroes may not necessarily win in the end.

As well as weaving an entertaining and tense narrative though, there are also interesting themes at work here. At its core Dark Ages goes against the grain of the usual “dark future” trope that often populates alternate-universe comics. And that has remained true through the series; it’s very interesting that the ultimate goal is for the heroes of the Marvel Universe to make a better world despite the loss of technology. “Who says a post-apocalyptic world has to be a bad thing?” Parker says in one of the series’ most emotive moments.

Taylor also is able to display the perfect balance between the grimness of the situation and injecting humour into the tale. He even achieved the impossible throughout this book in my eyes, as he was able to make Deadpoool both hilarious and an integral part of the heroes plan. Too bad we’ll never see a Tom Taylor scripted solo Deadpool anytime soon, as I would have been all over that!

The writing is of course on point, but the book succeeds just as much because of the wonderful art, and issue 6 is Coello’s best work in the series. He delivers some jaw-dropping action sequences. There’s a brilliant sequence involving Wolverine going up against a mind-controlled Cyclops (though he is still cognitive and knows what he is doing. He tries to keep his eyes closed for as long as possible), with the X-Men leader’s optic blasts shredding his teammates’ flesh and bone off in a series of horrific panels (this book is not one for Wolverine fans who don’t want to see their hero bettered. This was one of those jaw-dropping moments I mentioned before).

There is an absolutely amazing two-page spread which depicts the Purple Man’s mind-controlled heroes against their counterparts; Colossus and She-Hulk wrestle, Doctor Doom engages in battle with Dracula, and Spider-Man darts around Captain America. It’s pure wish fulfilment from when you were a kid and you wanted to see these heroes do battle to find out who is the toughest and best. We even get a great moment involving Blade, which is few and far between in modern Marvel titles (side note, can we please get a Rodney Barnes scripted, Jason Shawn Alexander drawn Blade book sometime soon…)

This was a brilliant series and when it hits trade I cannot recommend it enough. It delivers a fitting swan song to Tom Taylor’s time at Marvel and Coello’s art was a more than worthy companion to this bittersweet, goodbye tale.

Best Comics of the Week – 22nd December 2021

Posted on by Alan Taylor

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Eat the Rich #5(W) Sarah Gailey (A) Pius Bak

So we reach the end of this original Horror title from Boom Studios, and we are treated to a grisly, but wholly satisfying conclusion to the series.

The crux of the story had Joey going to meet her boyfriend Astors family, who all come from privilege, in Crestfall Bluffs.  What she has learned over the course of the story is that wealth and social standing can hide any personal horrors and indulgences from public view.  And also that rich people really get up to some sick and perverted things, and enjoy testing the limits of both the law and basic humanity.The art and writing for this series has been extremely consistent and of a high standard the whole way through.  When this hits trade, make sure to pick it up.  And also keep an eye on what the creators Sarah Gailey and Pius Bak come up with next.

Catwoman #38(W) Ram V (A) Caspar Wijngaard

And so the Ram V era on Catwoman comes to an end.  And boy, does he wrap it up in style!

The final issue here takes on mainly a flashback style narrative, as many loose ends from the series are tied up, motivations and actions are explained and accounted for, and it leaves Selina in an interesting way where new writer Tini Howard can pick up the reins and pretty much go off in any direction they’d like.I’d happily have had Ram stay on Catwoman as he has elevated the title massively, focusing on utilising Selina’s smarts when it comes to planning and executing heists, while making sure she never falls back into a life of crime.  She is portrayed here more as a Robin Hood-esque figure who takes from the Haves and helps the Have Nots.A fitting end to the run, and I would highly recommend picking up the trades.

Batman: One Dark Knight #1(W/A) Jock

It’s a sign of just how strong so many titles were this week, that this Black Label #1 from Jock is not my pick of the week.  This was an absolutely blistering first issue, filled with dynamic action, phenomenal art and a streamlined Batman story that can be summed up as Batman trying to aid the GCPD in transporting a criminal from one side of Gotham to the other.  This is Jock’s debut as a writer on a Batman title, and his writing is every bit as good as his artwork.  The tension drips off of every page.  We have a supervillain, EMP, being transferred, but of course gangs have found out about the transfer route and are determined to attack.  EMP is able to escape, and as I’m sure you can work out from his name, that spells trouble for Gotham as the city is plunged into a complete blackout.It’s no surprise that this title is absolutely gorgeous.  It’s no secret I’m a long time fan of Jock’s work and he knocks it out of the park here.  It’s a title that suits the prestige plus format, as it is very cinematic with lots of double page spreads, high intensity action, hero shots for Batman and glorious city wide vistas.Cannot wait for issue 2.

Nightwing #87(W) Tom Taylor (A) Bruno Redondo

So after a few issues tying into Fear State, we are back to Nightwing’s own narrative and what an issue to return to it.  #87 has been hyped for quite some time and billed as the ‘one long continuous panel’ issue.

It could have been something of a gimmick and an idea that worked better in the planning than the execution.  I should really know not to doubt this creative team over anything at this point….Nightwing #87 is a perfect issue for new readers.  It is a perfect issue for fans of unique ideas.  It is a perfect issue for long time readers.  It’s just a pretty perfect issue.  It’s a self contained one shot issue where some bad people kidnap ‘Haley’, Nightwing’s dog.  And Nightwing sets out to save them, aided along the way by Batgirl.If you ever wanted to hand someone an issue of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s run, to sum up their style of storytelling then this is it.  It’s fun, visually spectacular, with quipped dialogue and fast paced action.Essential.

PICK OF THE WEEK

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow #6(W) Tom King (A) Bilquis Evely

So from one beautifully drawn DC title written by a Tom to another.  And given this issue was able to keep both One Dark Knight and Nightwing off of the top spot this week, it gives you a clue as to just how good it is, and how great this series has been in general.

We’ve highlighted nearly every issue so far on the podcast (if not every issue) and this is a series that hit the ground running but somehow still managed to raise the bar with every new instalment.Every issue of this title has been its own journey, almost a confined one shot, but it is all part of a brilliant connecting narrative, much akin to Tom King’s brilliant Superman miniseries – Up in the Sky.This issue doesn’t actually push the main story forward much, as a majority of the issue is spent in flashbacks and origin stories. Kara and Ruthye have finally encountered Krem and his cohorts, but the villain is prepared for their arrival. He aims another Mordu globe at Kara, having had previous harrowing success in the issue prior by sending her across the universe. But Kara is also prepared (clearly she’s given Batman a call in between issues), and this time she has her own secret weapon—the super-horse Comet, who can move even faster than even a Kryptonian and might possibly be the only thing in the universe that can outrun magic itself. So we have a ticking clock device, a race against time in one of the best action scenes of the series (in itself no small feat given how great every issue has looked)—but it’s also utilised here for King to reinvent Supergirl’s origin as only he can, in a really cool flashback to the last days of Krypton—and beyond.This is an issue that actually had me cheering while reading it, almost to the point it was an interactive comic.  You can feel yourself willing Comet and Kara on, and hoping they can foil the dastardly plan.  The set up is so deceptively simple but just brilliantly executed by the creative team all round.We’ve said it so many times before but it really can’t be overstated just how beautiful this series is.  Whatever Bilquis Evely moves onto next will be straight onto my pull list.Overall, Supergirl might seem like an odd character for this type of story from King, but in many ways it feels like she’s always been waiting for this story—to let her voice be truly heard much louder than her more famous cousins.

Dark Knights of Steel #1 (of 12)

Posted on by Alan Taylor

(W) Tom Taylor (A) Yasmine Putri

Welcome to the latest edition of the Tom Taylor corner, who we have recently learned has signed exclusively to write for DC.  And as a DC fan, this is certainly excited, though I had always secretly hoped for another volume of Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man….

But anyway, back to the DC Universe meets Game of Thrones.  This was an exceptionally fun opening issue.  We see the familiar beats of Krypton exploding, and Jor-El and Lara talking about needing to send their son away from here and start a new life.  Thew twist this time?  The parents actually flee their dying planet with their son this time.  They crash land in a strange place, where Jor-El instantly uses his powers to defend his family.  At the same time, a seer named John Constantine is having visions of strangers arriving and how they will spell humanities end.

Flash forward 19 years and Kal-El is all grown up and the lands are now known as the Kingdom of El.  Bruce Wayne’s parents used to rule the lands but are now deceased and have entrusted the ruling of the land to Jor-El, relying on their abilities and moral fibre to rule over the kingdom, and usher in peace.  Batman acts as a Knight for the El Family, and is dark and brooding as we’ve always come to know him to be.  He has a fleet of Robins under him to utilise.  And Harley Quinn is present as the King’s Jester and provides most of the comic relief for the issue.

The main hook that they story ends on is to do with Bruce Wayne’s heritage.  He was subject to an attack from this worlds Black Canary, whose scream should have torn Bruce to pieces.  However, he survived and is not sure why any mortal would have.  He believes himself to be cursed.  But maybe in this world, Bruce Wayne is more than a mere mortal…

This was an awesome first issue.  As ever, Taylor’s strength is in his world building and his trust in his audience that they will recognise characters from the DC Universe, and enjoy his twists on those characters.  In the first issue here we are introduced to Batman, Superman, Constantine, Black Lightning, Black Canary, Harley Quinn, Stephanie Brown, Dick Grayson, Green Arrow and more.  Batman and Superman are almost warring brothers, unsure of each other’s motives and practices.  It’s a relationship that has been explored in so many ways in previous comic series, yet Taylor may have just found a fresh take here given revelations that are unearthed towards the last few pages.

Yasmine Putri’s art is fantastic.  It is by turns bright and heroic, but also dark and foreboding.  It is a perfect fit for this kind of material.  The designs of the character’s suits all include subtle hints to classic looks meaning you know who is who, but they also feel new and interesting.  She also does the colouring work for the series and it elevates the art even further.

A supremely confident, entertaining and beautiful start to DC’s latest maxiseries, and once again Tom Taylor remains a writer you know will deliver.