Comic Review: Secret Empire (so far)

This post covers Secret Empire #0, Secret Empire #1, and the Free Comic Book day Secret Empire issue. And beware: spoilers ahead!

Comic books as a whole, need to keep stories fresh and exciting I get that. I was already an avid comic reader when Superman died, Batman was replaced by Azrael, and Spider-Man turned out to be a clone. But even back then I knew the originals would return at some point. Now we have Secret Empire, a story so unpopular, it has Marvel is begging for patience from readers.

The basic premise of Secret Empire is that reality as we knew it has been rewritten with the help of a Cosmic Cube. In this new world Steve Rogers has been secretly working for Hydra for decades, slowly setting the stage for the day he and Hydra take control of the United States.

I know this book will have its defenders, but for me Secret Empire fell flat. But maybe not for the reasons you might expect. The problem for me was that Secret Empire‘s first issue unfolded much like the first issue of any other Marvel crossovers: the basic plot is introduced, we meet the main characters, and the bad guys, and then the villains do something horrible to let readers know that this crossover will change everything! (at least until the next Marvel crossover).

Writer Nick Spencer has been building to this crossover for over a year, so I was hoping for something more than just “Captain America believe he’s doing the right thing.” I mean come on, how many times has that been tried in comics before?

Over and over, we keep seeing Cap and other Hydra members complaining about how hard this ordeal is. At one point, Cap tries to save his relationship with his girlfriend, who can’t stand to look at him now, and all he does is complain about how hard his life is now that he’s in charge. and how she just doesn’t understand how he’s doing the right thing for the world.

For this story to really work, you gotta give us more than a whiny Captain America. W need to see how Hydra has integrated into normal people’s lives. We see a few hints here and there, but not enough of it. This is one are where Nick Spencer needed to swing for the fences, or not swing at all.

Another problem with Secret Empire is the art. Each issue of the series has a different art team, and the results are jarring. In Secret Empire #0, Sharon Carter looks like she’s about 55-60. But in issue #1, she looks much younger to me. Even Captain America looks different from issue to issue.

The one bright spot when it comes to the art department, was Andrea Sorrentino’s work in the FCBD issue. The Italian artist has a unique style, but a few panels remind me of Jae Lee’s Hellshock days.

We all know Captain America’s turn to the dark side is temporary, so it all comes down to the execution of the story. But I have to be honest, the Secret Empire storyline could have worked well 10 years ago, or even a couple of years ago. But with all the real world stuff going on today, it left me with an uneasy feeling.

Marvel wants us to be patient as the story unfolds. But with Marvel’s history of crossovers that don’t mean anything in the end, why should we drop $4.99 per issue?

Secret Empire score (for now): D

Comic Flashback: Batman/Captain America (1996)

The rivalry between Marvel Comics and DC Comics goes back decades before I was born. But during my teen years, the two publishers actually got along and produced several crossovers like: Marvel vs. DC, All Access, and Amalgam Comics.

The two companies also published a slew of one shots during this time, uniting some of their biggest characters. I remember buying the Batman/Daredevil, Darkeseid vs. Galactus, and Green Lantern/ Silver Surfer books at New England comics.

My favorite of these one shot crossovers however, was 1996’s Batman/Captain America written and drawn by John Byrne.

I know it’s crazy for me to say a Byrne book is one of my favorite anything. But please keep in mind that in the mid 1990’s, John Byrne was still THE John Byrne. And as far as I’m concerned, the Batman/Captain America book is the last great comic he worked on.

One of the things that I enjoy about Batman/Captain America, is the World War II setting. This gives the book the feel of one of those old movie serials from the era. John Byrne delivers in the art department from page one with a car chase through the streets of Gotham City, as the Batmobile chases the Joker-mobile.

Everything from the costumes, the cars, even the buildings fit the early 40’s setting. Kudos to Byrne for putting so much work into the details.

While Batman continues to search for the Joker, Captain America’s mission takes him back to the States. As Cap and Bucky prepare to land in Gotham City, they see that a flight from Gotham carrying a VIP has been hijacked. Acting quickly, Captain America leaps out of his plane, but not before telling Bucky that if he misses the landing, then it will be up to Bucky to try the same feat. Cap’s jump is unsuccessful, leaving him hanging by a thread hundreds of feet above Gotham. As the end looks near for Captain America, Batman appears!

I may have been 17-ish when I read Batman/Captain America, but I squealed like a five-year old when I saw Cap and Bats working together to save the airship and slap down the thugs onboard. Not only do they save the day, but the do so while smiling! I couldn’t ask for anything more.

At this point in the story, Captain America and Batman don’t know each other’s secret identities. But this changes when Private Steve Rogers is assigned to civilian duty as bodyguard for the man helping to bankroll the secret Gotham Project… millionaire Bruce Wayne!

This sequence is a riot, and another reason why I love this comic book. In just a couple of pages, we get to see the two iconic characters in their “normal” lives. Bruce womanizing, playing tennis, and taking a girl on a shopping spree. Then, Steve Rogers putting all his skills to good use when he begins suspecting Bruce is hiding something. And finally, the moment the two men realize they are Batman and Captain America.

From this moment on, Captain America and Bucky are welcomed into Batman’s world, and they are treated as equal. Now friends, this frees up Batman to investigate the leads about The Joker, with help from Bucky. All the while, Robin answers the Bat-signal with some assistance from Captain America. And what is there to say about John Byrne’s version of the Batcave? It’s a fanboy’s dream come true.

And oh yeah, in this comic we learn the Joker may be a homicidal maniac, but he’s an American homicidal maniac dammit!

Finally, we cut to a scene 20 years later, as a Bat-Submarine travels through the icy waters of the North Atlantic, and discovers a strange form trapped within an iceberg…

Batman/Captain America is as good now as it was in 1996. This is one of my favorite inter-company crossovers for several reasons, but the main reason is simple: Batman/Captain America is just plain fun! If you can track down a copy, I highly recommend reading John Byrne’s Batman/Captain America.

Comic Review: BATMAN/TMNT ADVENTURES #1

BATMAN/TMNT ADVENTURES #1
Written by Matthew K. Manning
Art by Jon Sommariva, Sean Parsons, Leonardo Ito, Shawn Lee
Published by IDW Publishing

A team-up between Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sounds crazy, but if the Punisher can crossover with Archie, why not Bats and TMNT?

Earlier this year comic fans witnessed the original Ninja Turtles pair up with the grittier Batman world we’re used to. And last month saw the release of a crossover between the two animated versions of the character.

I had really high hopes for this series, but unfortunately, this team-up didn’t really click for me. The first issue heavily features the four turtles, true to the Nickelodeon series, in other words: not quite the turtles I grew up with.

In issue #1, the turtles come across villains who are not from their world. Meanwhile, Batman begins to notice villains are escaping from Arkham Asylum in mysterious ways. It’s not long before some of Batman’s rogues and the Turtles’ evilest foes cross paths to destroy New York and Gotham, but luckily, Batman and the TMNT heroes are hot on their trail.

Writer Matthew K. Manning does his best trying to mash together the current TMNT animated series with the Batman Adventures of the 1990’s. He was able to capture their youthfulness, goofiness rather well. But unless you’re a fan of the current Turtle cartoon, you’re probably gonna wish the dialogue was a bit more adult. I thought the tone of the story was uneven, with the Batman stuff aimed at an older audience, while the Turtle stuff was clearly aimed at kids.

Jon Sommariva did a good job in bringing in the cartoony art style of both worlds. I have to commend him for but his Batman stuff. If DC were to hand him a Batman Adventures book in the future, I would not object.

Batman/TMNT Adventures #1 is likely going to appeal to adults due to the Batman Animated material, and it could have worked beautifully with a more balanced story. Sadly, issue #1 doesn’t break any new ground, it only sets the table for what may come next.