Comics: Don't Worry, Be Happy
by Dee. 10/10/2022
This month has been a doozy, but never fear, I've had plenty of time for comics. Always time for comics. From Image Comics comes Least We Can Do, Marvel Comics brings All-Out Avengers, and DC graces us with Tim Drake: Robin.Least We Can Do (Image Comics): Set in a magic-heavy post-apocalyptic United Kingdom, this story begins with our heroine, Uriel bumbling her way into a group of revolutionaries which has the best of intentions to spread magic throughout the world.
The flashback color is yellow, and not in a sepia sort of tone. There are lots of vivid colors throughout, which is a bit of a surprise for a post-apocalyptic setting. Magic shows up as having a magenta aura, which is unexpected: usually magic goes for the blue tones, and technology seems to go to green in comics.
Iolanda Zanfardino (Hecate's Will, Alice in Leatherland) and Elisa Romboli as an artist work well with each other. I really enjoyed the script, and the action moves at a good pace, which suited the story. I also think that the story gave just enough emphasis on the environment without spelling everything out so early. There's plenty of layers left to uncover.
All-Out Avengers (Marvel Comics): Earth's mightiest heroes are here, never fear! This time, you are looking at the combined forces of Thor, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, Captain America, Blade, Spider-Man, Spider-Woman and Black Panther.
Writer Derek Landy (Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2020), Skullduggery Pleasant book series) starts in the middle of the story, as Captain Marvel has been turned by the Dark Tide and is fighting the Avengers. There's teleportation/ wormhole wackiness that has been ignited by Queen Arrok the Seventh, and part of the fun of this issue is the mystery of why and how the Avengers got into this mess.
The story is action packed, with cool looking panels and the dialogue is very cheeky. The character design for the villain of this book is intriguing, and I am looking forward to the unpacking of the backstory.
Tim Drake: Robin (DC Comics): Tim has struck out on his own, claiming a piece of Gotham for himself, and it's at the Marina. The cast of characters is introduced within the first two pages, in a way that keeps the story light. There are some neat graphical choices as far as pointing out clues to the current mystery, a la Sherlock Holmes. Someone has killed two of the beloved neighbors, and it appears to be unusual to the point of supernatural.
The artwork is not what I consider to be typical of DC books, as it's not a polished masterful piece. It's less detailed, and the art doesn't take itself too seriously. The words are stronger than the art that's presented, so it's a little disjointed. I am more a fan of synchronicity between the art and the story. That's just me. The tone of the book is much less serious than I would expect from a Batman related book, and that's okay, because it's all about Tim. If you are all about some Tim Drake, this is a comic that's right up your alley.
That's all the time we have for this month; don't forget to come out on Halloween for some goodies!
Yours truly,
Dee