Comic Book Herald

A Comic Book Reading Order Guide For Beginners & Fans

Reviews

The Joker’s “Last” Laugh In The Clown Prince Of Crime

by 1 Comment

The Joker has undergone significant change over the course of his history, but one thing that a lot of modern fans might not know is that he was genuinely terrifying dating all the way back to day one. His first appearance in Batman #1 makes no qualms when it comes to portraying him as a remorseless killer, taking the haunting visual imagery from director Paul Leni’s silent masterpiece The Man Who Laughs (1928) and twisting the once-heroic jester portrayed by Conrad Veidt into a murderer with a penchant for elaborate showmanship.

In the comics of the mid-’50s, the Batline had been steered away from the occasionally grisly content of the early days towards more family-friendly fare in response to the birth of the Comics Code. Likewise, the campy fun of Batman ‘66 had become the definitive take on the character in popular culture. Regardless, the Joker has more or less remained a horror across the decades, and when writers began once more to embrace mature themes, he was one of the first to step up the brutality. The Joker: Clown Prince of Crime (1975) shows us a criminal mastermind with a callous disregard for life, regardless of whether or not Batman happens to be around to see it or not.

Discusses The Joker: Clown Prince of Crime #1-10 [Read more…] about The Joker’s “Last” Laugh In The Clown Prince Of Crime

X-Men Hellfire Gala: “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”

by Leave a Comment


X-Men Hellfire Gala comics cover

X-Men: Hellfire Gala is by –  W: Gerry Duggan, Benjamin Percy, Zeb Wells, Tini Howard, Jonathan Hickman, Vita Ayala, Al Ewing, Si Spurrier, Leah Williams; A: Matteo Lolli, Joshua Cassara, Stephen Segovia, Marcus To, Nick Dragotta, Russell Dauterman, Lucas Werneck, Sara Pichelli, Pepe Larraz, Alex Lins, Alberto Foche, Scot Eaton w/ Oren Junior, Valerio Schiti, Bob Quinn, David Baldeon, David Messina; C: Edgar Delgado, Guru-eFX, David Curiel, Erick Arciniega, Frank Martin, Matthew Wilson, Sunny Gho, Nolan Woodard, Marte Gracia, Matt Milla, Java Tartaglia, Israel Silva; L: Cory Petit, Joe Caramangna, Ariana Maher, Clayton Cowles, Travis Lanham, Joe Sabino; D: Tom Muller

The true test of a great party is who’s there. Are the conversations worth having, can you gossip about the elbows you rubbed, who hooked up with who? The X-Men have just had their most ambitious party yet, a night to remember now collected in X-Men: Hellfire Gala, courtesy of the entire X-line. Rather than serving a single story, this trade is a sampling of the various series in the line – a snapshot of the Krakoan era in the summer of 2021, and a hint of things to come. Let’s look at the guest list to see how it stacks up, and if this is really my scene. [Read more…] about X-Men Hellfire Gala: “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”

Reign of X: The X-Men’s Empire Evolves!

by Leave a Comment

“We must make tomorrow happen today.”

Mutantkind has taken a giant leap forward, and the nation of Krakoa is more powerful than ever before. But as divisions grow both inside and out, how will the nation continue to evolve? And who will shape the next chapter in the species’ history?

Under head writer Jonathan Hickman, X-Men and its sister titles became the story of Mutantkind realising its full potential; transcending violence, scarcity, and death itself by uniting into a single sovereign nation. And after conquering their shadow-selves in the mystic X of Swords Tournament, the species is more driven than ever to expand what they’ve built, building Krakoa into an empire with galactic reach. To forge this new chapter, the X-Line would add creators Al Ewing, Vita Ayala, Si Spurrier and more to an already impressive roster, further elevating Hickman’s vision into a galaxy-spanning cosmic opera. [Read more…] about Reign of X: The X-Men’s Empire Evolves!

Infinite Frontier: Superman – The One Who Fell Review!

by Leave a Comment

There’s a golden age in every run where every comics reader has hope for a new direction of storytelling. Then there’s a period of time where they see that direction struggle and realize that maybe this run won’t be everything they hoped it would be. Superman: The One Who Fell by Phillip Kennedy Johnson is a mediocre set of two different stories: “The Golden Age” and “The One Who Fell,” which is convoluted and confusing. Together, Phillip Kennedy Johnson has called them “a personal letter to his son.” But in focusing on that personal letter, Johnson often struggles to make the main story similarly compelling and enjoyable.

Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Pencils by Phil Hester (“Golden Age”) and Scott Godlewski (“The One Who Fell”)

Inks by Eric Gapstur (“Golden Age”)

Colors by Hi-Fi (“Golden Age”) and Gabe Eltaeb (“The One Who Fell”)

Collects: “Golden Age”: Superman #29 and Action Comics #1029 and “The One Who Fell”: Superman #30-32 [Read more…] about Infinite Frontier: Superman – The One Who Fell Review!

Djeylia Is A Gorgeous Tale About the Power Of Storytelling

by Leave a Comment

Some stories are charming and intricate because they offer multiple perspectives and characters to appreciate and consider. However, stories about stories show how the power of storytelling can shape lives by telling tales steeped in history, myth, and culture. In the medium of comic books alone, there are books, such as Marvel’s Loki: Agent of Asgard and the graphic novel memoir The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen, that have leads who use the power of stories to explore and express identity. Now, Juni Ba’s West African fantasy epic Djeliya joins them with a blend of stunning art, thoughtful characters, and interconnected tales. [Read more…] about Djeylia Is A Gorgeous Tale About the Power Of Storytelling