Lazarus Vol. 2

Writer:  Greg Rucka

Artist:  Michael Luck

First Publication:  August 201

Source:  Comixology

Publisher: Image

Graphic Novel Challenge #12

Volume 2 is similar to the first volume but even better.  We get to see more of the life of the non-privileged members of this world.  A select few get picked to be “lifted” to a higher status.  Most are excited by the opportunity but some see it as a chance to strike back at the Carlyle family.  As much as I raved about volume one, I thought this one was even better.  I can’t wait to read the next collection.

Highly recommended.

 

Lazarus Vol. 1

Writer:  Greg Rucka

Artist:  Michael Luck

First Publication:  October 2013

Source:  Comixology

Publisher: Image

Graphic Novel Challenge #11

A good friend kept raving about this series until I broke down and tried it.  Now I can’t get enough of this Greg Rucka and Mike Lark masterpiece.  The world is divided up by regions controlled by families.  Each family has a protector called a Lazarus.  This tells the story of the Carlyle family and their Lazarus.  First off, Lark does an amazing job of bringing this dystopian/future world to life.  The characters look stunningly realistic.  Unlike some artists, Lark makes this story flow.  You can have an enjoyable experience just by looking at the art.  But you will be shortchanging yourself if you don’t read the words.  Rucka has obviously put a lot of effort into building the backstory.  The story takes longer to read than the average comic but I never felt like it was a slow read.  The details he puts into it also helps to make it seem more realistic. He tells a great science fiction adventure/political intrigue story with one of my favorite female lead characters of all time.

Highly recommended.

Daredevil Vol. 3

Authors:  Mark Waid & Greg Rucka

Artists:  Marco Checchetto, Chris Samnee, Khoi Pham

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

First Publication:  April, 2013

Source:  Comixology

Collects Daredevil #s 11-15, Avenging Spider-Man #6, Punisher #10

Graphic Novel Challenge Book #10

This review will be a trip down memory lane.  Most of this collection revolves around the Omega Drive.  It is a disk that contains detailed information about the top five crime organizations in the Marvel Universe.  The disk was made out of a scrap from one of the Fantastic Four’s uniforms.  Their uniforms are made of unstable molecules so the disk will self-repair the firewall that keeps the information encoded.  Daredevil has the disk and sets up a meeting with all of the groups.  As his back ups he recruits Spider-Man, the Punisher, and a woman who seems to be a female version of the Punisher.  The first three chapters are all out action as the heroes try to keep the disk from the villains.  This reminded me of one of my favorite Spider-Man stories near the end of Stan Lee’s time on the title.  In Stan’s story, stone tablets were found that contain the formula for the Fountain of Youth.  The crime boss Silvermane tries to get it so he can restore his youth.  Kingpin is trying to get it for future use.  And Spidey was caught in the middle.  It also featured the debut of the hitman called Man Mountain Marko.  Stan had to like giving characters names that had the same initials (Peter Parker, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Matt Murdock, J. Jonah Jameson, etc.).  Waid and Rucka capture the excitement of that classic tale.  And it does not hurt that the art of Marco Checchetto is very good.  

Waid follows this up with a few issues showing the repercussions of the first story.  The final chapters deal with Daredevil captured and experimented on in a foreign country.  He is trying to escape as his powers are fading rapidly.  Waid channels another favorite from my youth in this story.  In an old “Worlds Finest” two part story, Clark Kent goes to another country to do an expose on the dictator in charge.  The plan falls apart and he changes into Superman to escape.  Suddenly he loses his powers, is captured, and thrown in a concentration camp.  Batman goes to rescue him.  Although Waid’s story is original, it captures the feel of that classic story.  And that is part of the appeal of Waid’s “Daredevil” run.  He is giving the reader the fun and excitement of the classic comics.  I will definitely be on board for more of this.

Batwoman Volume 1: Elegy

From Goodreads...
A new era begins as Batwoman is unleashed on Gotham City! Marked by the blood-red bat emblem, Kate Kane is a soldier fighting her own private war - one that began years ago and haunts her every waking moment. In this first tale, Batwoman battles a madwoman known only as Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, who sees her life as a fairy tale and everyone around her as expendable extras! 

Batwoman must stop Alice from unleashing a toxic death cloud over all of Gotham City -- but Alice has more up her sleeve than just poison, and Batwoman's life will never ever be the same again. 

Also, witness the origin of Batwoman in the shocking and tragic story "Go," in which young Kate Kane and her family are kidnapped by terrorists, and Kate's life - and the lives of her family - will never be the same!

Sometimes a series happens that you hear a lot of good press about but, for one reason or another, never read until later.  This is such a series.

Greg Rucka is at the top of his game with this book.  He is one of the best at writing street level characters.  As Rucka reveals Kate's background, it is believable.  Her training in the military and the support of her father helps to give us a rich, fully realized character.  And the anatagonist of the series, Alice, is a perfect foil for Batwoman.  Rucka obviously put a lot of thought and planning in the development of this series.

Batwoman is a showcase of J. H. Williams' innovative layouts and panel designs.  The bat motif is in the design of many pages.  The non-standard panel designs help to pull the reader into the story.  It is almost like the character Alice has influenced the thoughts of the artist.  If Williams ever goes to Marvel Comics, I would hope they would bring back the old "Master of Kung Fu" series.  His layouts are similar to the work done by Paul Gulacy and Gene Day on that series.

The Rucka/Williams team was perfect on this title.  I hope that Williams is able to continue the quality in the new series.  Rucka has left for Marvel so he will not be scripting it.

Highly recommended.