Batman in Noir Alley #1

Batman in Noir Alley #1
Writers: Stuart Moore, Ed Brubaker
Artists: Valentine De Landro, Sean Phillips
Published by DC Comics and Turner Classic Movies

Of all the free Batman comics scheduled for release over the past several days, Noir Alley was the only one that was comprised of new material. This DC Comics promo comic was released in collaboration with Turner Classic Movie's Noir Alley, a weekly showcase of film noir.

There's two stories in this freebie.

The first story, Batman in Noir Alley, has Bruce Wayne in Hollywood, attending a special showing of a film based on a priceless relic called the Moroccan Raptor. The statue just happens to be on loan from the Gotham City Museum for the event as well. When the projectionist is murderer and the Moroccan Raptor disappears, Batman is on the scene. However, to bring the murderer to justice in a strange town, Batman will need some assistance. Help comes when the Dark Knight's investigation pairs him with the 'Czar of Noir' Eddie Muller, who is also on the case. But can this new player be trusted or will he succumb to the femme fatale behind the crimes?

I really liked this story by writer Stuart Moore (Wolverine Noir.) Though set in the modern era, it's got a very LA 1930s noir feel to it. A lot of this is thanks in very large part to artist Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet). I think had Darwyn Cooke not passed away last year, he would have been the artist behind this story. But De Landro's style is so similar to the late artist that I think we've discovered the next Darwyn Cooke!

The one thing about this story that was odd to me was the use of Eddie Muller. Muller is the host of Noir Alley, the TCM series in which this book is a tie-in. Moore doesn't go right out and have Muller do a commercial for the show. Having Muller play a role in this story was a little hokey to me. It also detracts from the quality of the tale, but not that much thankfully.

A Detective on the Run

Then in the back-up feature, the action is set in 1949. The story is called Gotham Noir, a 2001 Elseworlds tale by Gotham Central's Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Here Jim Gordon is a disgraced police detective who must talk his way out of being apprehended by the Batman. Gordon's story will involve Selina Kyle, dirty two-bit thugs, and a tainted angel whose returned to Gotham in hopes of redeeming her soiled reputation.

My opinion towards this book is mixed. The story itself fits in the genre feel established in the first story. But you only get the first 12-pages of this mystery. Normally, this would upset me to no end because finding out a book is a cliffhanger and not having the rest of the story is a pet peeve of mine. But there's an ad in the back of the book that says the rest of the story is available on readdcentertainment.com, DC Comics' digital publication platform. But once you go to the site, you have to shell out $4.99 in order to get the rest of the story. I kinda feel like this is a bit underhanded. If you're going to advertise this in a promo comic, then the book offered needs to be free.

I had been waiting for Noir Alley to become available at my LCS ever since I saw an advertisement for this about 2 months ago. It was worth the wait but I'm not about to go digital to find out what happens at the end of Gotham Noir. I'll just wait until I come across it for a good deal in paper form.

Batman in Noir Alley is available for free in comic book shops nationwide now.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

The Goon, Volume 14: Occasion of Revenge

 

    The cadre of Zombie Priests finally arrives in town after months of anticipation. The Goon and Franky have prepared for this and have a few tricks up their sleeves. But nothing will prepare the Goon for the trap the Priests have spent decades setting up.

     Occasion of Revenge is the first miniseries by Goon creator Eric Powell after the cancellation of the regular series. Shipping delays and other obligations lead Powell to focus on Goon universe a few issues at a time as opposed to a monthly series. Thankfully, this isn't the last Goon miniseries.

   What this story is, is dark. It's perhaps the darkest Goon storyline to date. The Goon's gang is put through the wringer here and by volume's end, the Goon and his allies will never be the same.

    Adding to the darkness is a secondary storyline involving a jilted lover who commits suicide. His pain and suffering are so great, the lover returns from the grave to haunt the woman who stole and broke his heart. This pair has an important connection to the zombie priests but just what is that tie that binds is is left for another volume to explore.

    Powell continues to produce quality stories with beautifully crafted artwork. His timeless style that incorporates film noir, pin-ups girls, and 1950s B-movies is unparalleled and it continues to amaze me. However, there's some pretty dark and foreboding stuff going on in this volume that kept it from being my favorite Goon volume. There are quite a few funny moments, mostly involving Franky. Yet, it's not enough for my tastes. 

     I prefer the funny and often zany Goon stories to the most somber ones such as Occasion of Revenge. I have a feeling that volume 15 isn't going to be a picnic either. Hopefully, the conflict with the cabal of zombie priests will conclude soon in order for the master of black comedy to truly return the Goon to his original roots.
   
    Worth Consuming

    Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Joker's Asylum II: Killer Croc

   The beastly Killer Croc has escaped Arkham in a typical bloody fashion. Injured, Croc finds himself nursed to health by a seemingly kind couple. However, in a twist straight out of film noir, Killer Croc has now become the hired muscle to a pair of up and coming criminals. But all is not cheery in this new set-up for the escaped prisoner when the femme fatale of the group plays with Croc's heartstrings in an homage to the classic film 'Double Indemnity.'
   
    This volume of Joker's Asylum was one of my favorites in the entire series (though I still have a few left to collect and read.) The storytelling of Mike Raicht was on the level of a Dashiell Hammett. This guy should write gritty crime novels! The art of David Yardin was quite good as well but if you do not like the sight of blood, then I suggest you read one of Killer Croc's other capers found in the pages of the Batman Animated Adventures series.

   A superior comic that is worth consuming and will leave you asking "who's the real monster in this story?"

  Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.