DC Comics Faces Layoffs and Restructuring

By

-

January 24, 2019

The news broke Wednesday, confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter, that DC is undergoing a major restructure intended to focus the company primarily on the publishing side of business. Around three percent of DC’s 240-person workforce has been laid off as part of this shake-up.

The most well-known names to be let go thus far are senior VP sales trade marketing John Cunningham, VP consumer marketing Eddie Scannell, and senior VP art director Mark Chiarello.

Moving forward, the company will be organized into three divisions: Editorial, overseen by editor-in-chief Bob Harras; Production & Manufacturing, overseen by senior VP manufacturing and operations Alison Gill; and the new Publishing Support Services, which will handle sales, marketing and promotion, overseen by DC veteran Hank Kanalz.

DC Collectibles, which handles merchandising for the company, is moving to Warner Bros. Consumer Products’ Toy team.

THR also ran a copy of the memo to DC employees, written by Pam Lifford, President of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences:

Today has been a challenging day. We have made organizational changes across DC that we believe will help to strengthen and evolve the division for future success. With these changes come difficult decisions which we take very seriously.

We recognize and appreciate that all of our employees have made considerable contributions to our business and that it is difficult to lose colleagues, many of whom have been here for a long time and have made an important impact on DC. We thank them for their hard work and dedication to DC. As always, we are committed to taking care of our employees and will be as thoughtful as possible with those who are impacted by these changes.

Together with Dan and Jim, and the executive team, we have spent time assessing DC’s business, as well as the comic book publishing landscape. DC is going back to its roots of delivering epic stories with our world-class characters, stories, and brands. Being a premier house of storytelling will never go out of style, and we intend to ultimately super-serve our existing fans, while providing new compelling content that engages and excites even more fans around the globe. Rest assured, the direct market will remain at the heart of our business – and will continue to be one of our greatest strengths.

The new streamlined structure is focused on creating, delivering and supporting a robust publishing operation that will allow DC to be nimble, navigate an industry in change, and thrive. As we communicated today, we are forming three distinct work streams – Editorial, Production & Manufacturing and Publishing Support Services.

Editorial will continue to be run by Bob Harras, SVP & Editor-In-Chief, who will now also be responsible for new initiatives and global publishing, editorial scheduling, and art direction
Production & Manufacturing will continue to be run by Alison Gill, SVP Manufacturing & Operations
Publishing Support Services is a new business unit consisting of all departments that support the sales, marketing and promotion of our books, and this will be run by Hank Kanalz who is taking on additional responsibilities as SVP Publishing Strategy & Support Services As a result – DC Collectibles and its team will be part of the Consumer Products Toy team moving forward.

We recognize there are other groups across DC who are not fully dedicated to supporting the publishing business and, therefore, are not directly addressed in today’s news. As The Global Brands & Experiences structure continues to develop, I look forward to sharing more with you as that evolves.

Many of you will have questions, and in the coming days, you will receive more information from Bob, Alison, and Hank about their teams. Together with Dan and Jim, I will be hosting Town Hall meetings Thursday on the individual floors to discuss these changes and provide more insight.

Thank you again for your support, hard work and loyalty to DC. Each of you are incredibly valued, and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon where I will do my best to answer any questions.

Pam

Of course, this isn’t the only big news to shake DC in the past year. DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson left her position last June after 22 years at the company; one week later, Geoff Johns stepped down as DC President and Chief Creative Officer to write and produce new content instead.

Do these moves sound like the right direction for DC? Comment below!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Exclusive Interview With ASSASSIN NATION’s “Dave” – Must Read

By

Matthew Sardo

-

January 24, 2019

Assassin Nation #1 hits your local comic book store on March 13, but today, Monkeys Fighting Robots has teamed up with Image Comics to bring you an exclusive interview with Dave, an actual assassin from the series written by Kyle Starks with art by Eisner award-winning artist Erica Henderson.

About Assassin Nation:

The World’s Former Greatest Hitman hires the 20 best assassins in the world to be his bodyguards. These mean-as-hell hired guns and murderers must work together to keep the new crime boss safe while attempting to solve the mystery of who’s trying to off him. With the same laugh-until-you-cry spirit of action-comedies like Hot Fuzz, Tropic Thunder, and Deadpool, ASSASSIN NATION is the bombastic, side-splitting murder-fest you’ve been waiting for.

Hot off her breakout success at Marvel, two-time Eisner award winner Erica Henderson teams up with Kyle Starks for a hilarious twist on the hitman trope that will have readers laughing in the aisles.

You may be asking yourself, “who is Dave?” And the truth of the matter is we don’t know (he’s an assassin; his Tinder profile was kind of vague). After reading the first issue, we had some serious questions for this autograph-seeking modern day man of mystery.

MFR: On a scale from one to fainting at a Beyoncé concert, how excited are you to rank in the top 20 greatest assassins in the world?

DAVE: I mean, I gotta tell you, it’s a real honor. But you can’t get there without hard work. But being in the top 20 means you’ve made it. I mean, sure, no one in the top 10 takes you serious but getting into the top 20? That’s crazy!

MFR: How did you get into the killing-for-money game?

DAVE: I spent a lot of time in DMZs for the military, and when I got out I wasn’t sure what to do with myself. Getting into the private sector just sort of happened. I told my wife, I said, “Wife, if you got a knack for something, you just can’t waste it.” So I’m out here doing the best I can.

MFR: Fernando, F*ck, Bishop. Kiss/marry/kill?

DAVE: Oh wow. Marry, kiss, kill, I guess? I don’t really know these guys all that well. It’s not like we have poker games every Friday night together or something (dang that’d be cool, I wonder if they’d be interested…).

MFR: What’s one thing you always pay good money for?

DAVE: Let me tell you something you should never skimp on: lawn care and steaks. You got a good lawn? You’re everyone’s friend. You got a good steak? King of the castle.

What did you think of the interview? If our Editor-in-Chief Anthony Composto goes missing in the next 48 hours, we might want to call Dave to see if Anthony is okay…

ASSASSIN TOUR 2019

Check out the Assassin Tour and meet more characters by visiting these websites:
Thursday, 1/24: Monkeys Fighting Robots – Dave
Friday, 1/25: The Beat – Bishop
Monday, 1/28: Paste Magazine – F*ck Tarkington, Meat Stick
Tuesday, 1/29: Multiversity Comics – Fernando
Wednesday, 1/30: SYFY Wire – Smoke, Wistful Stan

Bug your comic book store to order Assassin Nation #1 by February 18 (Diamond code JAN190122), and pick up your copy on March 13.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

[Review] CRYPT OF SHADOWS #1 Pays Tribute to Classic Horror Comics

By

David DeCorte

-

Horror has always been an integral part of the Marvel brand. Whether it’s one of the pre-Comics Code creepers, or the widely-popular Marvel Zombies that debuted in the mid-‘00s, you can’t overlook the genre’s importance to the company’s legacy. Now, in honor of their 80^th anniversary, Marvel are putting out a series of one-shot revivals of classic titles from the publisher’s past, beginning this week with Crypt of Shadows #1.

The Writing

The original Crypt of Shadows ran from 1973 through 1975. This new volume, however, reads like a classic Golden Age horror comic, but with a modern tone and sensibilities.

The issue features two stories tied together by a third narrative about a man with cynophobia (fear of dogs). Al Ewing provides writing duties for all three, and you get a sense he’s loving the hell out of it. There’s a zeal for leaning into genre conventions, embracing the campy quality of classic horror comics. However, Ewing manages to include enough new elements and surprises to keep things fresh.

The three stories in Crypt of Shadows are interconnected, eventually merging into one narrative by the book’s end. That shouldn’t come as a surprise; in fact, it’s clearly telegraphed. What is interesting is seeing how they come together, flipping the narrative on its head. The book opts for psychological, rather than supernatural horror, delivering an effective, yet very fun read.

The Artwork

Three different artists provide ink for the different stories, each with their own charm. Gary Brown employs a sketchy style for Cynophobia, which he uses to truly gruesome effect in bringing some of these hellhounds to life. The art shines in this story, especially towards the book’s end.

The other two artists in Crypt of Shadows #1, Stephen Green and Djibril Morissette-Phan, tend toward a more realist style. Their work is similar to what you would find in the pages of an old-school horror comic, which I mean in a very positive way. Both employ heavy inks, giving each panel a shadowy look that perfectly reflects the tone.

The colors provided by Chris O’Halloran are an incredibly important to the book’s overall vision as well. He employs vibrant, spooky tones that absolutely scream “Halloween,” especially on the stories Cynophobia and Grave Errors!

Final Thoughts

Crypt of Shadows #1 is a worthy tribute to Marvel’s legacy of horror. Whether you’re a fan of the genre or not, this volume is definitely worth grabbing.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: FREEDOM FIGHTERS #2 is an Action-Packed Thrill!

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

-

The Freedom Fighters Take On The Nazis in an Explosive Way!

Earth X. A world where the Nazis won World War II. Where Adolf Hitler took America and killed its heroes, the Freedom Fighters, with them dead and their leader Uncle Sam vanishing, no one can stop the Nazi war machine. Decades pass and all hope for a free America appears to be gone. On the day of the Freedom Fighters’ deaths, a Nazi museum is destroyed. The culprits of this bombing reveal themselves to be a new version of the Freedom Fighters! To combat the reborn team, the Nazis send a giant robot to face them. Will the Freedom Fighters fall before they get a comeback?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

Picking up from right where we left off, the Freedom Fighters face off against a giant robot. We watch as each member of the team contributes to the fight. From Human Bombs explosive attacks to Doll Woman’s infiltration of the machine, no member is left out. The Fighters seek to gather information out of the machine to help their fight against the Nazis. After they clear the machine, they begin to fall back in their wicked escape ship. All the while, they’re scattering pamphlets of Uncle Sam everywhere. This begins to bring the long lost leader of the Freedom Fighters back from the dead.

The biggest problem with this issue is also its greatest strength. This issue doesn’t give us character development in any sense. We don’t know the origin or personality of any of these characters. One could be disinterested because of this, but that’s where the positive comes in. Not many readers know of the Freedom Fighters. Their most popular appearance came in the Crisis on Earth X TV crossover, and it was just a single member. We need to know what these characters can do. How? With one big, badass fight scene. Each of the Fighters played their parts, showing off their strengths and powers. It was just a ton of fun to behold.

Art:

The art for this issue was extremely well done. The battle almost cinematic levels of detail. Everything feels big because of the amount of effort put in. The page of the Human Bomb destroying the giant robot is still etched into my mind as I type this. There are so many panels similar that are just a wonder to behold. Whether it be the grandiose details of the battle or the expert colorwork, this was a great looking comic for the Freedom Fighters.

Conclusion:

While it’s not the issue I was hoping for, I did have fun with the Freedom Fighters. The battle against the regime is an excellent showcase of the heroes on Earth X. It gets even better when the art matches the action of the story. While it is fun, the story does need to move on from this. We need to connect with our heroes or else this is just going to be a hollow action romp. As it stands, however, if you love action filled comics, this is the one for you.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: NAOMI #1 Introduces Us to the Titular Character and her World

By

Jose "Jody" Cardona

-

Welcome to the Small World of Naomi!

Brian Michael Bendis has been making waves since his arrival at DC Comics. Sometimes they’ve been great waves with exciting stories, other times have been confusing and subpar. One of the more interesting waves is the new imprint, Wonder Comics. This imprint will be centered on teenage heroes and curated by Bendis himself. The first of this imprint, Young Justice, was a decent read. The next of the imprint is the story of Naomi. This is a new character that will go on an adventure that will affect the whole DC Universe. So just who is Naomi?

**Some Spoilers Below**

Story:

After a small town in the northwest gets a visit from Superman, a young girl begins investigating. This is Naomi, and she is fascinated by Superman. She is curious about why he has come to their little town. She also begins investigating the other time anything strange happened. Everyone appears to be avoiding the topic, much to the young lady’s annoyance. The reason Naomi wishes to know is that she wants to learn if she is special.

This issue is primarily used to give us an understanding of Naomi. As this is a new character, we spend a majority of the issue learning a ton about our heroine. It’s clear that this story will be a more character-driven series rather than an action-packed one. The only action we get this issue is the fight Superman gets into at the start.

I prefer a balance of both action and character-driven narratives. Because of that lack of action, I was getting bored by the end. The cliffhanger saved it, but overall I just couldn’t get into it. Maybe this will change as we learn more of her origin, but right now, I’m just “meh” about this opener.

Art:

The art is by far the best part of this book. Each panel is breathtaking in illustration and colorwork. Jamal Campbell is the artist for the issue, and he gives it his all on every page. The character designs feel grounded in reality, especially in their facial expressions. There’s a scene in this where Naomi is on the verge of tears from the mystery weighing on her. Each panel shows a little bit more of the sad frustration until she starts to cry. It’s full of emotion, incredibly realistic, and I loved it. I hope the artist isn’t going anywhere, because I already can’t imagine this comic without his skill.

Conclusion:

I like certain aspects to this story. Naomi is an interesting character, and I want to see where her story goes. The art is also incredible, being full of excellent colorwork and skillful illustrations. This issue might have been average thanks to a lack of real excitement, but I actually can’t wait for the second issue.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

INTERVIEW: Director And Star of THE GOLEM Discuss Bringing Jewish Folklore To Life

By

Ruben Diaz

-

January 23, 2019

The Golem is a new horror film from Doron and Yoav Paz about Hanna, a woman (Hani Furstenberg) who turns to mystical forces to save her village that’s based on a centuries-old Jewish folktale.

The Golem is a fun horror flick with some great, underlying themes about fear and motherhood. The Paz brothers have evolved as filmmakers since they got a lot of attention for their mostly first-person horror flick JeruZalem. The Golem provides great visuals through an entertains story. At the heart of it is Hani Furstenberg and her performance that holds the whole movie together.

PopAxiom spoke with director Doron Paz and lead actor Hani Furstenberg about their work on The Golem.

Finding Hanna

Hanna is the complicated protagonist of The Golem. She’s solemn but caring, and when the village is under threat, she does what she feels she has to do. It’s a meaty party to play for any actor “I knew Hani was the right woman for the role. I contacted her, and she ditched us two hours before our meeting.”

Doron continues the story “We continued looking for the right protagonist for the film, and no one was the right one. So we tried again, and we contacted Hani again, and this time she read the script.”

Hani’s a fan of horror but “It wasn’t the first thing I wanted to do. I found my love for cinema through horror and thrillers. At about nine or ten I started to make films, and they were always horror films.”

Hani continues the story “A friend finally urged me to be a part of the project and read the script … I fell in love with the heart of the story. It’s a very special film in the genre.”

About The Golem, the singer-actor says “It’s so much more than just a horror film. It’s a period piece, a drama … arthouse thriller and Jewish folklore … so many different kinds of stories.”

Making The Golem

For Doron, making the film started with a realization “It was really amazing to us that no one had touched this story. Hundreds of years old, such an interesting folktale, and it was left alone for one hundred years on film.”

The Golem is a period piece and finding the right place to make it all happen was key “The location was so important to the mood. We shot in Ukraine, in the middle of nowhere. It was a studio that was left there.

Hani adds “It was the coldest summer in Ukraine. It was freezing.”

But ultimately, for the team “… it really put us in the mood as the filmmakers. So often you shoot a scene then go home to your family and friends. Here, we were so isolated, and it was all about the film.”

Hani describes the place “It was acres and acres of land. So much green. Beautiful. It didn’t feel like a [film] set. It really felt like we were in this other time.”

Becoming Hanna

The protagonist in The Golem, Hanna, faces internal and external threats that make the character go through a lot in the 90-minute runtime. How did Hani stay sane through all these horrors? “… With a lot of help from a lot of people.”

Hani’s preparation for the role started before she was even cast and didn’t even know it “I happened to be watching Handmaid’s Tale, the first season. That was a big inspiration.”

About the character of Hanna “This woman … is very smart, opinionated, tries to break through what is supposed to be her part in this life and world.”

Making A Monster

The Golem fits into a lot of subgenres, but first and foremost it’s a monster movie. How did the creature come to be? “In the first draft of the script … something was missing. We had this huge monster, and it wasn’t interesting enough. And we got into, should the monster be CGI or a costume.”

However, the Paz Brothers kept brainstorming and realized “The idea of The Golem is much more interesting than the appearance of the creature.”

Soon after, one decision made that put the whole puzzle together “Once we settled on doing the creature as a child, the rest of the story wrote itself.”

Working Brothers

Think of Doron and Yoav as the Israeli Coen Brothers yet it’s rare to have two brothers working together as directors of a single film. Hani admits “I did not know what it would be like to work with … not only two directors but brothers. But they work amazingly together. They really compliment each other. There’s also something very symbiotic about how they work.”

According to Hani, there’s little disagreement on set between the Paz Brothers, but Doron jokingly admits “We only argue a lot when we’re alone in the editing room.”

Wrapping Up

What is next for the Paz Brothers? “We have so many stories that we want to tell. We wake up with a new idea, and we go crazy for weeks developing it then another idea comes up. I want to do them all! We’ll be shooting something this year but I can’t talk about it.”

Hani jokes “Will I be in it?”

Doron replies “Maybe. It’s going to take place in Germany so practice your German.”

As for Hani, you’ll see plenty of her very soon “I have two series that came out in Israel. One is called False Flag. The other is Asylum City and the first season just started. It’s a cop-based thriller. And you’ll see me in the new season of American Gods.”

The Golem, in theaters on February 1st
and available on DVD, VOD, and Blu-Ray February 5th.

Thanks to Doron Paz, Hani Furstenberg, and Big Time PR
for making this interview possible.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: BLOSSOMS 666 #1 Brings The Devil To Riverdale And It’s A Hell Of A Good Time

By

Manuel Gomez

-

Blossoms 666 by Cullen Bunn, Laura Braga, Matt Herms and Jack Morelli brings old-school ‘Satanic Panic’ horror to Archie with a gruesome and fun first issue.

Cheryl and Jason Blossom are a pair of seemingly normal kids in Riverdale. They’re wealthy, popular and likeable—but they also harbor a deep, dark secret—one of the Blossom Twins is the Anti-Christ. Both want the title, and no one in Riverdale is safe.

Blossoms 666 #1
Written by: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Laura Braga
Colors by: Matt Herms
Letters by: Jack Morelli

Writing

Cullen Bunn is no stranger to horror and horror comics. The scribe has been pumping out scary stories all over your LCS’s. Now, with Blossoms 666, Bunn gets to play in the sandbox that is Archie horror and it’s clear the writer is having a blast. One of the biggest draws with any Archie horror title is the subversion and twisting of the classic characters and their relationships with each other. From the beginning, Bunn nails this with the way he writes Cheryl and Jason Blossom. He introduces each in quick scenes that not only establishes the antagonistic relationship the siblings have with each other but also clearly places them both in the upper hierarchy of Riverdale High. This opening scenes also serve as a way for readers to meet the rest of the Riverdale gang, as they exist in this world, with the writer finding ways to tweak and subvert Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, and even Dilton. Bunn makes this feel natural and even if you are an Archie superfan, it feels like you are meeting some of these characters for the first time.

It’s about halfway through that the horror starts really popping up and it all enthusiastically embraces the classic tropes of the Satanic sub-genre of horror. We have robed cultists, pentagrams, blood rituals and even a potential sacrifice (I won’t spoil who but it’s someone who probably deserves it). In another title and under another writer’s keyboard this could come off as cliche, but Bunn is having so much fun and seeing these characters reinvented just adds another layer to that enjoyment.

ART

The art team of Laura Braga and Matt Herms have to be able to capture both a bit of the classic Archie feel and give it the horror atmosphere it needs, and they certainly accomplish that. The art is cartoony enough to pull you in and give you a sense of ease, before opening up with full-blown horror imagery. Like the writing, the art plays with both conventions of Archie and horror; blending and melding them into a gruesome and glorious phantasmagorical cauldron of Satanic horror.

Conclusion

Archie horror has always delivered on fun and thrills. Blossoms 666 #1 is no different. It’s fast, fun, gory and good. Pick it up, and pray to the Dark Lord that we keep getting more Archie horror titles.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: SHAZAM! #2 Takes Us On a Trip to the Funlands

By

Corey Patterson

-

The second installment of Geoff Johns’ SHAZAM! series expands on the themes of family established in the previous issue. We’re given a deeper look into the inner workings of Billy Batson’s foster siblings and the dynamics that play into their relationships. In this issue, the champions of the worlds of magic are faced with a crossroads as they decide which destination upon which to embark via a magical subway.

Story

Johns focuses his story on the concept of family building, which is what he’s often claimed has been the core aspect of SHAZAM! comics since their inception. Billy’s status as a foster child allows for great storytelling as he learns what it means to create a family. In that vein, the story takes us on a journey with Billy and his foster family into the “Funlands”, one of seven magic lands the heroes discover while visiting the Rock of Eternity.

There was little that took place in terms of action throughout this issue; it chose to focus on the characters’ interactions with one another. But Johns doesn’t disappoint in this regard. When trying to choose a magical land destination Mary, the eldest sister, shows she’s a responsible and concerned sibling when attempting to manage the excitement of the younger children. One of these children, Freddy, exudes the energy of a hyperactive puppy over the prospect of visiting the Funlands, making the clash between him and Mary exemplify a classic case of bickering siblings.

Of the characters’ personalities, however, it was Billy’s that proved to be the most engaging and relatable in this story. The reader experiences the true dilemma facing any child of his age: choosing to be responsible or engage in a fun activity with friends instead. Amazingly, Billy finds ways to balance these two inclinations, showing his development as a character.

Art

Marco Santucci gives us crisp, clean artwork fitting of the comic’s action-packed theme. Mike Atiyeh’s coloring works with this beautifully, creating seamless transitions that take the heroes from dark caverns to brightly colored theme parks. These aspects quite literally illustrate the differing feelings of each hero: from the unyielding doubt Mary faces to the shining optimism of Freddy, the reader is drawn further into the cacophony of emotions in this family.

Rob Leigh’s lettering grants life to each character’s dialogue. There was no confusion as to who was speaking despite the vast number of exciting characters in this issue.

On another note, Dale Eaglesham and Alex Sinclair’s holiday-themed cover art was quite misleading, though this may have been due to the release date changes. Nevertheless, it would have been great to see a bit of the Funlands theme park in the cover art instead.

Conclusion

SHAZAM! #2 was an engaging connecting story, but offered little in terms of plot. Despite this, it was great getting to see what each character was like. Hopefully this issue serves as a stepping stone toward a much more elaborate storyline to come.

What did you think of SHAZAM! #2? Let us know in the comments below!

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Exclusive First Look: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA #2

By

Matthew Sardo

-

January 23, 2019

The Life And Death Of Toyo Harada #2 hits your local comic book store on April 10, but Valiant Entertainment and Monkeys Fighting Robots have teamed up to bring you an exclusive first look at the three covers by Mico Suayan, Ariel Olivetti, and Dean Haspiel.

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF TOYO HARADA will place the planet’s most powerful man in the spotlight as he strives to control the course of history. But with the menacing mastermind’s resources dwindling after the downfall of the Harbinger Foundation and a target on his head, will the formidable psiot re-emerge as humanity’s greatest hero…or its most dangerous villain?

The first issue of the six-issue mini-series comes out on March 13.

Cover A by Mico Suayan

Cover B by Ariel Olivetti

Cover C by Dean Haspiel

The 40-page second issue is written by Joshua Dysart with art by CAFU and Butch Guice, and will retail for $4.99. Dysart is a multiple Eisner Award-nominated writer and a New York Times Bestseller.

About the issue:
The deadly campaign of the most powerful psiot in the Valiant Universe continues! In the present: Toyo Harada finds himself and The Foundation Zone under attack by a coalition of world governments, as one of his own teammates begins to turn on him. In the past: Toyo Harada escapes Japan aboard a fishing vessel and sets sail for the new world.

Are you excited for The Life And Death Of Toyo Harada? Comment below with your thoughts.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

[Review] BATMAN #63 Gives Bruce His Happily Ever After…or Does it?

By

David DeCorte

-

What if the wedding of The Bat and The Cat had turned out differently? Batman #63 seems to give Bruce Wayne his happily ever after, with Batman and Catwoman now married and serving as Gotham’s top crime fighting duo.

Things are not as they appear, though, if John Constantine’s presence is any indication. John dogs Batman throughout the issue, warning of personal tragedy just around the corner.

The Writing

Batman #63 presents part three of King’s Knightmares story arc. The dreamlike mood and uncertainty about reality that defined our last few issues are still here, but we start to get some answers by this issue’s end.

King reveals information in a creeping, deliberate manner, serving to heighten the tension. We see Bruce and Selina enjoy their time as newlyweds. In every scene, though, Constantine reminds Bruce that things won’t—and possibly even can’t—go well for him. He turns up, constantly tugging at the threads of Bruce’s world…or at least what Bruce believes is his world.

The last several issues remained largely abstract, going for mood and suggestion before revealing the twist at the end, and this one continues that trend. But, unlike our last two issues (good though they may be on their own), Batman #63’s end carries some genuine momentum for the broader narrative. We finally get answers to what’s going on and how it ties into Bane’s larger plan to psychologically break Batman.

The Artwork

Mikel Janin does a great job reflecting the tone of King’s writing. The lines are soft, giving the artwork a somewhat wistful, light vibe compared to other recent issues.

Batman #63 is light on action, instead focusing on Bruce’s interactions with Selina and Constantine. Janin keeps things interesting in the way he frames the panels, though. He divides some pages into similar, yet increasingly-zoomed-in images as the conversation rises in intensity, or shifts angles to keep things interesting.

Jordie Bellaire provides a dynamic color sensibility, nicely complementing Janin’s line work throughout. She skillfully captures the tone for each scene, balancing between soft, slightly washed out palettes, and dark, yet vibrant tones.

Final Verdict

While the last few issues are great in their own ways, their lack of immediate connection to the overarching plot did start to drag the momentum a little bit. By the end of Batman #63, though, we finally have our narrative bearings.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube