Thanks, John. I am thrilled.
Thanks, John. I am thrilled.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Remember, Remember, The Fifth of November, The Gunpowder, Treason, and Plot.
Sorry for the double post but wanted to add this note and it needs the graphic.Originally Posted by turtlex
Well, if everything works out okay - I am now the very proud owner of an original piece of comic art!!!
Page 10 of issue 854 !!!
I contacted the artist ( JH Williams III ) and asked why the page is titled "Batwoman 1" rather than "Detective Comics 854".
This is his response : "The art on the first issue or so says Batwoman instead of Detective Comics because when I was working on it the plan was for that to be the name of the title, then DC decided to place us in Detective Comics after we had been working on the material for awhile."
Interesting, I thought.
Oh, I also asked him to sign the page, and he agreed.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Very nice Pam, congrats
Thanks, Dave. I'm so pleased.
Fellow Readers - Issue 855 is out next week. FYI.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Issue 855 is out this week. And, I continue to be impressed by the art and coloring. Amazing. The story is very good too, though this issue feels shorter than the previous.
The Cover :
Interior Art :
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Another good review for Detective Comics featuring Batwoman.
Via Newsarama
Detective Comics #855
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by J.H. Williams III and Cully Hamner
Colors by Dave Stewart and Laura Martin
Letters by Todd Klein and Jared K. Fletcher
Published by DC Comics
Review by David Pepose
Last month I raved about the opening issue of the all-new, all-different, all-awesome Detective Comics, and I'm happy to say that this sophomore issue isn't half-bad, either. While it doesn't have quite the same blow-you-out-of-the-water effect of the first issue, it still helps raise the bar for DC's overhaul of the Batman franchise, with a story that stretches itself as far as it can go to produce a value not often seen in today's industry.
The best way to split this up is to look at the writing and the art separately. Greg Rucka, having wrapped up much of Kate's current status quo in the last issue, goes full throttle with Batwoman's war on the Cult of Crime. If you haven't read the first issue yet, get that one first, as Rucka puts the pedal to the metal in Round One of Batwoman versus Alice. Looking at it from a script perspective, Rucka really is upping the ante nicely here, with a nice scene reminiscent of the Dark Knight where Batwoman begins removing weapon after hidden weapon from Alice's costume. He also establishes a weird sense of menace for the villainous Alice: "How do you know I'm mad?" she asks. "Maybe because you speak fluent crazy," Batwoman shoots back. It's moments like these that really add a zing to the story: "I will get my answer," Kate vows, "And I will shut you and your freakshow down!"
Yet the highlight of this story is getting into Kate's storied past, as she begins hallucinating due to a poisoned blade. As our hero struggles valiantly to survive, we see Kate's history of torture that goes far beyond the followers of the Crime Bible, and yet we also get a nice tease of who she sees as her salvation -- not herself, not her father, but of the strongest woman she ever met -- Renee Montoya. Even two issues in, it looks like Rucka is setting up the seeds for these two lovers to get back together (or at least to have one epic, swashbuckling team-up), but it really says volumes about what this character can strive to become. But it's the last page that really turns the story on its ear, and makes you really wonder what'll happen next.
Now, for the art. J.H. Williams III, while not knocking it out of the park as repeatedly as he did last issue, still stands head and shoulders above many of his contemporaries. One sequence that really had a Frank Quitely style of visceral imagination was suddenly taking the "camera" into Alice's mouth, as she slowly tongues a razor blade to her lips, slashing Batwoman across the face with it. "Okay," Batwoman says, after a look of disbelief washes across her face. "That was just nasty." As a reader, I definitely agree. While sometimes Williams' double-page splashes don't quite hit the mark with their composition, it's really in the second half of the book that he kicks things into high gear, with a spectacular-looking shot of Batwoman leaping from a castle parapet, gliding across a sky sliced in half with a lightning bolt.
While Williams' art is still top-notch, the color work felt occasionally muddy to me. In the first issue, Dave Stewart really made Kate pop off the page with her bright red hair and porcelain skin. In this issue, Batwoman seemed to match her surroundings more, but that realism sometimes kept the character from really getting her hooks into the reader. That said, because of the way this book suddenly energizes itself two-thirds from the end, part of me wouldn't be surprised if this wasn't some sort of printing error -- because when Stewart puts his mind to it, his colors sing.
But what about the backstory? Rucka makes The Question primarily an action story, which is fine by me. Renee Montoya has a nice bit of bravado, as slave trafficker Vargas says he's going to have to teach the Faceless Warrior a lesson. "Great," Renee says. "I love school." Hamner has a nicely choreographed fight scene, with a great panel of Renee looking at us as she tosses a scattergun behind her. That said, I'm still not sold on an all-blue costume for the Question, and in this case, the decision to drench the fight sequence in shades of brown -- from the house to the sky to the fence to even bits of Vargas' bloody nose -- didn't thrill me. Yet Hamner and Martin really sell me on this feature when they team up for a nice page of Renee infiltrating Chandless' office, giving some great facial expressions to the page. It certainly ends abruptly, but I'm excited to see where Rucka and company take us next with this feature.
All in all, while Rucka, Williams, and Stewart aren't firing on all cylinders like they did last issue, this is definitely a story that I'm going to be in for the long haul. With 35 pages of story -- counting Rucka's main feature, the Question second feature, as well as a compelling five-page preview of Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul's Adventure Comics -- you're certainly getting a lot of bang for your buck with Detective Comics #855, and with Rucka masterfully leading a set of artists that really shoot for the moon, you can't ask for much more in a comic.
Original Review Linkage
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
For those interested, a cool interview with JHW3 the amazing artist of the new Batwoman/Detective Comics arc. And another interview ... JH Williams III is getting a lot of attention for his work on this title.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Just picked up the latest issue # 857 - and I'm loving this title. Specifically, the art is absolutely wonderful. JH Williams III is just amazing and the color work is great... also, it doesn't hurt that Greg Rucka is the writer either. It's a triple threat for a great comic!
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
I keep buying this title, but I need to get caught up on the reading of it.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
Patrick - The current mini arc ends in this issue, and then they're starting what is supposed to be a very intense backstory explaination. The writing is dead on, but frankly the art and coloring are just out of this world.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
I haven't read Detective Comics in ages... But wow, that art... phew! Some of the best I've seen! I just may have to pick this up for the art and coloring alone!
"The most important questions in life can never be answered by anyone except oneself." The Magus
darkwolf - I can't recommend it high enough. Greg Rucka is a great writer but the art is mindblowingly great. I love it.
The current Batwoman run in Detective Comics started with 854 ( which was a sell-out, and went to a second printing ).
From contact with JH Williams III ( the artist ), DC originally was going to try a Batwoman title, but decided after the fact to "turn over" Detective Comics to her for a 12 issue run.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
I wonder if that was done as a try-out or was there some sort of pressure put on the DC powers-that-be. I've not seen this sort of thing before with an obvious "title character", outside of Jean-Paul Valley's run as Batman of course, but he WAS Batman not Azrael.
Margaret Emmie Mackey Catoe, you are, have been, and always will be my soulmate, and I love you.
Con todo mi corazon, por todo de mis dias. And I always will, in this life and into the next.
August 2, 1947 - September 24, 2010
What JHW3 said was that they ( the artist and writer ) were told after they had already started writing Batwoman as a "solo" title - that they ( DC ) were going to fold Batwoman into Detective Comics after all.
This came up because I purchased some art from JHW3 and the pages are titled "Batwoman" and he explained to me that originally she was to have her own title, but that DC changed their mind.
Personally - my thoughts alone here - I think it's because Kate Kane/Batwoman really does embody the true "Detective Comics" feel. She doesn't really need a new title. However, it's selling very well, so if it keeps up - likely they'll give Kate her own title after the 12 issue Detective Comics run.
Seems to me that Rucka is giving Kate a good foundation and back-story which are completely and utterly necessary for a title to have any kind of longevity.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
This may be heresy to the true comic-philes, but I'd be fine if they let Batwoman keep Detective Comics for an open-ended foreseeable future, and let Bruce Wayne have the rest of the titles. There's enough to keep him busy.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
Actually, that would be very cool I think. Detective Comics didn't start with the Batman. He didn't show up until issue 27 if I remember correctly.
Margaret Emmie Mackey Catoe, you are, have been, and always will be my soulmate, and I love you.
Con todo mi corazon, por todo de mis dias. And I always will, in this life and into the next.
August 2, 1947 - September 24, 2010
Oh, so he's a newbie.
Great interview with JHWilliamsIII, Batwoman artist.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
JH Williams III ( Detective Comics / Batwoman ) has been named Wizard Magazine's ARTIST of THE YEAR for 2009.
As a big fan of this Detective Comics / Batwoman arc - I'm thrilled to see this. He's truly an amazing artist.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Awesome news from Newsarama :
Greg Rucka & J.H. Williams To Launch New BATWOMAN Title?
By Lucas Siegel & Michael Doran
Even as Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III, the writer and artist of Detective Comics, are leaders in our Reader Favorites of 2009 Polls, the writer dropped a possible bombshell on his Twitter account Tuesday afternoon. The writer linked to a post on the official DCU Blog, The Source, talking about the end of the current storyline in the critically-acclaimed title, telling the origin of Batwoman. Rucka's accompanying statement, however, suggested not the end of the storyline, but the end of their run altogether, saying "JH and I finishing our Detective run... more news to come."
That news may have actually already come a week or so back. In a soon-to-be published exclusive podcast interview with John Siuntres of Word Balloon conducted December 8th, Rucka stated that not only will his and William's run conclude at least for now with Detective #860, but the creative team's current plans are to reunite to launch a new Batwoman title in 2010.
In the interview with Word Balloon, Rucka says he will remain on Detective at least through issues #861-863 for a story arc illustrated by Jock, "Then Jim [Williams III] and I are going to - and I'm probably going to get in trouble for saying this - we're starting on what will be a Batwoman title,” Rucka claims.
Rucka goes on to say that after a newly-crafted "good #1 issue", designed to make Batwoman completely accessible to new readers, his and Williams' intentions are for the last 5 parts of the initial 12-part Batwoman story they originally conceived for Detective to be told in the pages of this new Batwoman title.
That is "the big plan right now," Rucka qualifies.
Reached for comment Tuesday afternoon, DC Universe Executive Editor Dan DiDio told Newsarama, "J.H. and Greg will be wrapping up their run on Detective Comics for the time being. But we feel very strongly about the character and can guarantee she will be prominent in the DCU in 2010."
As to his own future on Detective, Rucka tells Word Balloon he doesn't know what it is yet, and that discussion whether he should stick around and write "someone else in a Bat-costume," has taken place with DC, but that the issue is still "up in the air" and depends on other professional commitments of his outside of comics. But if he remains with Detective, he promises Batwoman will still be a prominent character.
As previously confirmed by DiDio, Rucka added that the Question second feature in 'Tec will continue no matter how his plans for the main feature work out.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
I don't know much about Detective comics, although I know Batman actually started up there. Is it actually an anthology comic? I.e. were there other character stories alongside Batwoman's? I'm just wondering considering it looks like she's getting her own title.
I don't think so. I think it's going to be an independent title. Her own stories, battles, etc. She'll still be in Gotham, though, and will share that part of Batman's universe.
I know Batwoman being in Detective Comics was a fixed stay... they said right from the start that she'd be around for a 12 issue arc only.
I think that DC never expected her to take off as she did. Besides the art being amazing, the issues are selling very, very well...
... plus, it's just a bonus that Rucka and JHW3 work so great together.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
I hope this concept comes to fruition.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
I have some catching up to do on my Batwoman reading.
"...that Siren which called and sang and promised so much and gave, after all, so little." ~ Ray Bradbury
Patrick - I think you'll find the those issues excellent. The artwork and writing is awesome.
The next three issues were done by a different artist ( Jock ) but still look to be good - not the same storyline, but still.
The Man In Black Fled Across The Desert...
...And The Gunslinger Followed.
“I’m always on the Batman rule, sir.” - Kate Kane / Detective Comics 857
"It is the story, not he who tells it." Except to us collectors who have to put limits somewhere. - jhanic
Posting Permissions
