The Batman Handbook: The Ultimate Training Manual by Scott Beatty

The official manual to becoming the Batman! True, nobody can be Batman. But, if you ever wanted to follow in his footsteps, then Scott Beatty has crafted a handbook for you. Taking instruction from experts in law enforcement, criminology, first aid, self defense, psychology and weaponry, Beatty utilizes the Dark Knight's casebook to advise up-and-coming vigilantes and superheroes on how to defend and protect themselves from nearly any situation one might face in Gotham City. There's even some tips from magicians and escape artists on how to free yourself from the various traps employed by Batman's rogues gallery.

Need to know how to build up your superhero arsenal of vehicles and gadgets? Clueless on how to conduct your own investigations? Don't worry! Scott Beatty's got you covered! In my opinion, those sections are Scott Beatty's most well researched and written articles. When Beatty tries to explain situations such as how to safely fall off a building or how to repel up that same building, he gets caught up in the technical aspects and I find myself getting lost. Let's face it: no matter how many illustrations one might add as figure examples, trying to get your bearings through instructions on how to be perpendicular with the ground while keeping your arms in a diagonal bend is just too complicated to follow. A series of supplemental YouTube videos would have been greatly appreciated.

The artwork for the handbook is very clean. It has that classic style of Batman: The Animated Series. I like almost all of it. Except for the ears. I don't know why. But David Hahn's ability to draw ears just seems so odd looking. Big cases in point are the auricles of techno villain Gearhead as well as those of Commissioner Jim Gordon. One might think that I'm being petty or nitpicky about this. But the insides of human ears just don't look like that!

A neat concept by Quirk Books. Great use of actual Batman comics and other media. Though I would have liked if this book had stayed either all comics or all movies. Both really muddies the lines of what is canon and what is not. A must for fans of the Batman family. Only just because there is some actual life saving information comprised inside this book, by no means use this to become an actual superhero!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy

The story of Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy is the Black Hammer universe's version of Batman and Robin. There's also some element of Hit Girl from Kick-Ass. But when you throw in the arch-villain of the sadistic Grimjim, this story is definitely of the Dark Knight with Jeff Lemire flair. 

An unfortunate but inadvertent dropping of this book resulted in me seeing a scene that looked rather tragic and sad. So I held off on reading this library find for a while. But it's time for the books I checked out to go back, so I had to read it. I'm very glad I did. 

This is an extremely gritty book. But I enjoyed the heck out of it. The violence was gratuitous and there were a couple of scenes that show body parts exploding. This typically isn't my thing (and the main reason I've never seen the film Scanners) but for some reason, I was hooked. It felt like the sort of film Tarantino and Sam Peckinpah would have made if they ever decided to get together to do a superhero flick.

I was also a big fan of the artwork. Tonci Zonjic's artstyle is just so minimalist and classic. It reminds me of the late Darwyn Cooke. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. If I'm not mistaken, in the sketchbook section of this read, Jeff Lemire likens Zonjic's work to that of Darwyn Cooke's and I could not have agreed more. 

I really don't feel like this story is over. However, news reports claim that Jeff Lemire is closing the doors on the Black Hammer universe in the next year or so. If that's the unfortunate case, then I really hope Jeff Lemire brings Skulldigger back. There's just so many unanswered questions, like what was Detective Reyes' past history with the vigilante? She mentions a past with Skulldigger in issue #1 and has her reasons for wanting to arrest him. But, then that whole vendetta is glossed over and on the occasions when she does met up with Skulldigger, the two act like they've never meet before.

I'd also like to learn more why it seems that the Chief of Police seems glad that Skulldigger is killing all of the criminal elements of Spiral City. I'd like to learn more as to why it seems like the law enforcer has given up hope in the services of his police force. There seems to be a powerful origin story waiting to be uncovered here.

This story cannot be over. It had better not be. However, it's been about 3 years since Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy was published and time is running out. If that's all there is to this cast of characters, I am going to be sorely disappointed.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

1st Issue Special #11 (2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

A college science experiment for extra credit results in coed Jonathan Drew unlocking his psychic potential. A million-to-one series of events results in the device attached to Drew's noggin to encounter a power surge. At first, it seems that Drew is just a little dazed. But when he asks for a glass of water and telekinetically pours the glass with his mere thoughts, Drew learns that he's one powerful psychic.

At first Drew and research scientist, Dr. Andrew Stone aren't sure what to make with these new found abilities. But when Drew's trial attorney sister, Maria, is killed in a hail of bullets from members of the mob, Drew soon realizes his destiny. He will use his newfound powers to take down the thugs who killed his sister. 

Armed with his new mental abilities and a pistol loaded with tranquilizer darts, Jonathan dons a blue and orange body suit to obscure his identity. His vigilante moniker is Assassin. However, just about everybody knows who Assassin really is thanks to media efforts by Dr. Stone to bring Drew in peacefully before he crossed the ultimate line: murder. But since our hero never kills anyone, he just knocks them out and ships baddies off to jail, I'm not sure whether or not calling yourself Assassin is such a great idea. In Drew's defense, the name Sandman was already taken.

Codename: Assassin was created in a joint effort by issue co-writers Gerry Conway and Steve Skeates, along with Frank and Nestor Redondo. Conway had previously co-created the vigilante character of the Punisher for Marvel. So I think Assassin was supposed to be like DC's version of Frank Castle. Somewhere along the way from Carmine Infantino designing the look of the character and the Redondo Studio putting the final touches on everything, the character of the Assassin went from cold blooded murderer to a much more muscular version of The Shadow. Only they kept the bad boy name. It's like when you have a pit bull named 'Killer' but you have him neutered. The intimidation factor just isn't the same.

Assassin's super-powered foes are almost polar opposites. There's the slinky former circus freak called Snake and then there's the blustering Powerhouse with the ability to siphon off electricity. Both have been hired to protect a mob boss from the Assassin. Snake is really cool looking with his lanky form and green scales. Powerhouse looks like a guy in one of those old scuba suits without the bell helmet. Snake can't be caught; making him a tough foe to nail down. But he's not very powerful. Powerhouse is a shocker but he's about as maneuverable as a bronze statue. 

Just before Assassin is about to tussle with Snake and Powerhouse, the story ends with a cliffhanger. Readers are encouraged to write in for more adventures of Codename: Assassin. Apparently the fan response was rather lacking because it wouldn't be until 2008-09 (roughly 31 years later) until Jonathan Drew would return to print in the pages of a few Superman Family titles. 

In his modern day appearances, the Assassin finally lives up to his name! Working in conjunction with Project CADMUS, Drew killed off several Guardian clones along with project overseer, Dubbilex. Afterwards, Drew would be recruited by General Sam Lane to develop a plan of defense in the light of a potential Kryptonian Invasion. That appears to be the last we've heard of the Assassin... for now.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Completing this review completes Task #43 (Written by 2 Authors) of the 2022 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Battling Boy: The Rise of Aurora West

 

  I love Paul Pope's work. Ever since the day I first came across Batman: Year 100 at my local library many years ago, I've been a fan. So, when on Goodreads.com, I saw a drawing to win a free copy of this graphic novel, I gladly entered my name. With great luck, I won this book and within about a week, I was taking my first journey into the world of Battling Boy. 

    I really thought I was going to be lost reading this book as I've not read Battling Boy. But, upon further research, I discover that the Rise of Aurora West is a very good place to start because this book is actually the prequel to Battling Boy, Volume 1!

    The Battling Boy books are set in the future during a monster apocalypse in the city of Arcopolis. Young Aurora West is the sidekick to hero adventurer inventor father turned vigilante, Haggard West. Aurora is literally in training for her very life because the monsters of Arcopolis steal children for an unknown purpose. (It's postulated that the kids are stolen for food, but there are clues to another more sinister purpose for their kidnappings.)

   On a patrol with her father, Aurora sees a symbol that looks very familiar to her. When she shows it to her nanny, Aurora learns that she used to draw the symbol all the time as a little girl, saying it was in reference to her imaginary friend, Mr. Wurple. This revelation brings back memories to the time when her mother was alive before the monsters came. 

   Using her training, smarts, and her handy Kenpo sticks, the girl secretly begins an investigation in her mother's mysterious murder. But will the answers she finds be the ones she's really looking for and how does it involve the shadowy Mr. Wurple who disappeared on the night of Mrs. West's death?

    I really enjoyed this graphic novel. Yes- the family's last name is West. Dad drives the West-mobile and is a vigilante. Plus, Aurora uses similar weapons and training as one young Mindy McCready. So even though this story borrows heavily from Batman and Hitgirl (from the Kick-Ass franchise), this book was fresh and exciting. 

The mystery of just who killed Aurora West's mother is one of the reason's I liked this book so much. The spooky monster villains are another unique perk that this graphic novel has to offer. But it's the art-style that really made this edition seem so different than just about anything on the market today.

    Though this book was illustrated by David Rubin (The Fiction), the Rise of Aurora West really emanates primary author, Paul Pope and his iconic style. Pope's works are heavily influenced by German neo-classicalism. The style takes the gritty and often absurd scenery of avant-garde films such as Fritz Lang's Metropolis and Robert Weine's Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and is infused with the Imperialist splendor of great civilization's such as Rome and Athens. A prime example of this type of work is in the 1938 Olympics posters of the Nazi regime. (Interestingly enough, Pope crafted an Elseworlds story based on if Batman operated as a Jewish sympathizer in Nazi Germany in the pages of The Batman Chronicles (issue #11, Winter, 1998.))

     With great writing by Pope and co-author JT Petty, superb artwork, and an eclectic cast of characters, The Rise of Aurora West was a fantastic sci-fi/horror thriller that will keep the reader guessing and since this is the first of two volumes- wanting more. (The sequel: Battling Boy: the Fall of the House of West is due in stores October 13th.)

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.