BATMAN 2022 ANNUAL DC COMICS
Any time that Batman Inc. pops up, I’ll always stick around to check it out. Batman Inc. started as the Batmen of All Nations in Detective Comics #215 (1955) and popped up occasionally throughout the years. Most notable in Grant Morrison’s run of Batman #667-669 and the short lived Batman Incorporated series from 2010. So while this annualntechnically falls in my “This is nothing but a preview of the Next Big Thing” catagory, it provides a whole bunch of backstory and catches us up with what is going on the universe of Batman Inc. And while I am not a huge fan of Ghostmaker and Clown Killer, their new roles in the world of the Batman make a lot of sense and gives them some personality. So we have an interesting premise with Ed Brisson’s story moving it forward, we may have a winner here. Let’s see if the new series can keep the momentum going. I give it a 9 out of 10 Grahams.
HORROR COMICS #10 ANTARCTIC PRESS
Being a big fan of B Horror movies such as Billy the Kid vs Dracula and Jesse James meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, reading the little blurb about Gianluca Piredda’s story peeked my interest. The story here has all the touches of one of those classics. But it adds in Luca Lamberti’s art which has definite influences from 60’s-70’s italian horror art. This provides for a perfect blend in storytelling. The tale makes sense and the panoramic panels of scenery make for a movie within the page. The Count is a fascinating character study in the classic noble vampire. A man of his word and who does not take kindly to the arrogant cowboy of the American West. This one is a real gem. I give it a 10 out of 10 Grahams.
HORROR COMICS #11 ANTARCTIC PRESS
Don’t ask me how this happened! But along with issue #10, issue #11 showed up as well today. Featuring the second part of Gianluca Piredda’s Dracula In The West story, This tale has sequal written all over it. This could have easily been called Return of Dracula in the West instead of part 2. Picking up a few days after the events of issue #10, Dracula has taken refuge in the villains home and is keeping his appetites in check. With a few mind control servents in town and an understanding between Dracula and the local Shamaness, Dracula soon finds himself under suspicion as a girl’s body has been found drained of blood. Realizing that there must be another vampire in the town, Vlad steps up to the plate to solve the problem. And even though Emiliano Albano’s art is even more dramatic and lovely here, the story is definitely sequal worthy. And with it being released the same day, you can spot the differences more easily. But the story does manage to keep it interesting. Dracula for sheriff? As for the second vampire, his backstory is makes you think but really appears to be a bit of a stretch. And unfortunately, the final battle is hopelessly out of balance. Still, this is a great change of pace comic and definitely worth reading. In all honesty, I’d love to see what the creative team could do with a Frankenstein approach in the same setting. This is another sure thing but like all part 2’s, it can’t live up to the original. I give it 9 out of 10 Grahams.
