Comics are expensive. No longer can people just throw away money on books every week. That's why we try to review as many books as possible each week. From Wednesday right on through to the next Tuesday, we'll continue to add reviews. Keep checking back for more.
In an effort to give readers what they want (and to look cool doing it), we've added a ratings system. However, our rating system is a little different than most. Rather than giving stars or grades, we're providing two-word descriptions that give a sense of a book's overall merit.
Ratings Scale
- Must Have - A home run that can't be missed.
- Must Read - A great tale that most will enjoy.
- Check It - Good, but not a necessity.
- Pass It - Save your cash for better books.
- Burn It - A dubious honor, reserved for the very worst books.
August C-Note Selection Written by Mike W. Barr Art by Jerry Bingham | |
 Mike W. Barr's tale imagines a situation in which Batman finds himself allied with Ra's Al Ghul. More than this, the Dark Detective finally succumbs to his love for the Demon Head's daughter, Talia. Though Batman's truce with Ra's is tentative, his love for Talia is as potent as it has ever been in DC comics. In fact, the two are unconventionally married. This gives birth to the title, Son of the Demon, as Ra's accepts Wayne as his son, allowing Batman to command troops into battle. There are some distinctive touches, such as Batman training Al Ghul's men to use non-lethal methods, but those who have only experience Batman over the past few years may not even recognize the caped crusader. Batman is not without some dry humor and his views on justice are broader. Though I respect the overly dark, isolationist Batman of recent times, reading Son of the Demon has reminded me that Batman was once a much more complex character than he is now. Son of the Demon is much more of a Batman tale than one of Ra's Al Ghul, but the relationship is never better defined than in these pages. Outside of this dynamic, Son of the Demon offers a fantastic mix of action and drama as Batman's combat prowess is put to the test and Talia's loyalties become split between father and husband. Jerry Bingham's art proves that action can be exciting without the need for splash pages. This is graphic storytelling at its finest. The only stumble is when Batman's actions lead to the death of an enemy. He appears callous to the act, which is in stark contrast to Batman's altruistic stance against murder. However, this could be attributed to the subtle influence of life with Ra's Al Ghul or the overbearing need to protect Talia from harm. It feels false to the character, but this small betrayal is minimal compared to the rest of the tale. There are many Ra's Al Ghul tales, particularly in the past decade. If you've ever had a fascination with the Demon's Head, Son of the Demon is one book you absolutely must read. |
August C-Note Selection Written by Paul Dini Art by Don Kramer | |
 The premise of this issue seems solid enough - the Riddler has reformed and aids Batman in solving a crime. It works on some levels but at the same time I have a lot of trouble believing the situation and found that both the Batman and the Riddler were very accommodating of their former foe. All said, this is an entertaining issue, but neither of the new teams has yet to really deliver a knockout Batman story. |
August C-Note Selection Written by Brian K. Vaughan Art by Tony Harris | |
 This issue defines what makes Vaughan and Harris' book work so well. It keeps its tone but delivers the trademark jaw-dropping moments. Every issue contains at least one moment that is astonishing, and usually on a rather disturbing level. Fortunately this book doesn't rely on its shock value, providing great fiction, comedy and characters while fusing it with timely social issues. |
Written by Jeff Parker Art by Leonard Kirk | |
 I think I've said enough to the point where you know if you're going to buy the book or not. I have a feeling many of you were sold once you read "monkey with guns." I had fun with the issue, though it's too early to really tell how good it will be. Like any bizarre concept, it's easy to fall off the edge. The suspense Jeff Parker creates is enough to keep me coming back. Like many non-Civil War titles, Agents isn't exactly critical reading right now, but it's great for an odd adventure on the side. Just watch out for the monkey; he's crafty. |
August C-Note Selection Written by J. Michael Straczyski Art by Mike McKone | |
 I still enjoyed this issue and I like the stance that Grimm has taken - it perfectly fits his character. McKone delivers on art as usual, and JMS presents a very interesting story, albeit an unnecessary one. I am a bit frustrated that Sue, Reed and Johnny are completely absent from this issue… especially during an event like this, it is nice to get updates on all the characters, no matter how brief. |
Written by Brian M. Bendis Art by Mark Bagley | |
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August C-Note Selection Written by Ed Brubaker Art by Clayton Henry | |
 Lets move away from the obviously-filler story and analyze Billy Tan's… oh wait, he's not doing the art for this issue! We're on issue #3 of Tan's run and we get a guest artist. That's not good news. I want to make it clear that I don't blame Tan and I don't find the substitute art that bad (though it has no continuity with Tan's work, which would have been preferred). I blame the editorial team for wanting to double-ship Uncanny last month. I realize a new team is worth hyping and celebrating, but don't double-ship if you can't deliver on the very next issue. Obviously this is not something Marvel wanted to do, but I'm still extremely disappointed. This issue is not worth picking up because you're not getting the art you want to see and you're not getting a story that contains anything new. Just skip it and wait for the next issue; I promise you're not missing a single thing. |
Written by David Petersen Art by David Petersen | |
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The first issue of Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson's The Defe...
