Bedlam #1 Thoughts

Bedlam #1
"Chapter One: The End of Everything Good"
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Riley Rossmo
October 2012
Image Comics


I had read the preview of this comic prior to first reading the full issue itself. I must admit that I have no knowledge of who the creators are and what their previous work is save for one issue of Batman Incorporated that Frazer Irving (Cover Artist on Bedlam #1) filled in for on the interiors earlier in the Fall. Even after reading the preview, I was skeptical of this story, but was still interested enough to give the rest of the issue a chance. 'Even if I don't end up enjoying this comic,' I thought to myself, 'I can at least savour the fantastic cover and the interior artwork.'

So, several months after having thoroughly enjoyed this story, I've decided to dissect it. Bedlam #1 is a tale about serial killer/anti-hero Madder Red (aka Fillmore Press outside of the mask) who has turned a new leaf and stopped killing. He presently deals with his guilt and anguish (or rather tries to, although I can't imagine it would be easy) towards his old way of life and strives to lead a new life. The plot of the narrative flips back and forth between the present and 10 years ago, during one of Madder Red's mass killings of men, women, and more disturbingly, children in a theatre.

There is a lot of exposition in this issue, and rightfully so since it is the first installment in a new continuity of characters. I gather that this is not writer Nick Spencer's first work, as the flow of the narrative and dialogue is top notch and very impressive. The reader learns about Madder Red/Fillmore Press: his backstory, his motivations, and the events that occurred between the last time he donned the identity of his alter-ego to the present day (in which he is successfully recovering from his old lifestyle). Something that I didn't pick up on initially is that the past is presented in Black & White (and red) whereas the present is in full colour; I'm sure this has been done before, but I think it is a very cool touch. There is an inspirational moment where in one panel [present] Fillmore is looking at himself in the mirror and seeing Madder Red reflect back at him, and then over the course of several panels, we see Fillmore swallow some pills, and after he says "We are not who we were -- We are who we are." Fillmore looks back in the mirror and sees his own reflection and not Madder Red's.

The artwork is attention grabbing since most of it is in black & white with red accents in almost every panel. Clearly red is a motif and has a deeper meaning (the protagonist's alter ego is called Madder Red...); perhaps I am over thinking this. To say the least, this comic is visually stunning and I feel that the script/visuals work extremely well together (Rossmo's artwork is somewhat gritty, and having a better portion of the story in B/W with red accents helps create an even dirtier feel).

Madder Red instantly reminded me of the Joker, and I freaking love it. It doesn't feel like a rehash or a clear cut copy of Mr. J, but instead feels like a breath of fresh air on this maniacal serial-killer archetype. Madder Red does not contain the goofy, 'clowning-around' side of the Joker and that's perfectly okay, because if he did, it would feel really obvious where Spencer got his influence from. Instead, Madder Red is witty and smart and has motivations for why he regularly commits murder, although the reader still doesn't condone what he's doing. There is still that anarchistic side in Madder Red that resembles that of the Joker, but the reader hear's Madder Red's side of the proverbial coin in an interrogation and discovers that MR is not quite as aimless as Mr. J is. MR is challenging humanity and putting them to a test: can they kill him and save the lives of innocents? Or do they do nothing at the cost of six children? It goes a bit deeper than I'm describing and MR even brings in philosophy to the equation. In short, MR questions the values of Capitalist society and blames Western civilization's bad behaviour on that movement. Back to the topic of the Joker, Bedlam #1 is a nice change from what we've already seen with the Joker because the other half of the story takes place in the present which is where Fillmore has stopped killing and is dealing with his life post-Madder Red.

Overall, Bedlam #1 is one of my favourite new comics and I can see this series being loads of fun as these characters are fleshed out. If you're into the nitty gritty world of serial-killers and also love complex character studies, than this is the comic for you!

Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4/5

Swamp Thing #15 Review

Swamp Thing #15
"Rotworld: The Green Kingdom Part Three"
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Marco Rudy
December 2012
DC Comics


Let me begin this review by saying that in case you haven't noticed, this issue is in the middle of the current story arc, and I'm deliberately choosing to start with this issue so as to remain on track with the current release schedule (I do not intend to start at the beginning of each story arc for whichever comics I will review, as it would take a while for me to do and would be frustrating to be constantly behind on the current issue). I'm only making the exception with "Batman" and potentially another series or two but for the most part will just do the most recent issue.

So, onto my opinion! I've been really excited... wait, EXTREMELY excited for this issue since I first heard about it back in September solicitations. Swampy AND Batman in the same book? NO WAY! It was a dream come true to hear this news, and I could not be more excited to see both characters together at last (I was even more excited for Swampy #15 than I was Batman #15 this month). To be honest, this issue was kind of a let down since I had such high expectations for it (I mean, look at that cover; it just screams awesomeness). That's not to say it's a poor quality issue by any means, but in terms of both story and artwork, I was a little let down.

Scott Snyder has been my favourite writer for some time now, knocking it out of the park on both this title, as well as "Batman" (and "American Vampire" for those who read it monthly; I read it in trades) every month since the New 52 started. The story for Swampy #15 had a really great premise, and the solicitation sounded too good to be true:

• “ROTWORLD: THE GREEN KINGDOM” part three!
• Batman’s fate in the Rotworld is revealed!
• Guest-starring the inmates of Arkham Asylum who have been dramatically affected by battling the Green, the Red and the Rot!

Now I don't mean to be a negative Nancy, but Batman's "fate" was pretty mild and lackluster, as he appears in the book for only a couple pages and then ***SPOILER ALERT*** it appears he is shot in the head by Batgirl (literally "Bat"-girl, similarly to Man-Bat) aka Barbara Gordon. Batman has been infected by the Rot and it's unclear whether Barbara has been also, but she saves Swampy so she's clearly on the side of the Green.

 To further add to the misconception of the solicitation, there are NO Arkham inmates! I feel like this was meant for issue #16 and somehow editorial screwed up here.

The story begins by starting where #14 left off, with William Arcane terrorizing Swamp Thing and Deadman on the river of rot. There is a bit of exposition in which Swamp Thing quickly sums up what's going on, but it doesn't really add much to the story. The first scene entails ST and DM fighting the Rot-version of Starro (a new character to me and his/her introduction to the New 52 I believe) in which he is quickly defeated by ST in an awkwardly drawn page that is unclear as to what ST is doing; it looks like he's slashing him with his Green sword but who knows what's happening. William appears to be defeated, but shortly thereafter summons an even bigger monster and then the scene switches to pre-Rotworld Abby who has been abducted by Anton.

The comic becomes more interesting here with the conversation held between Abby and Anton. There is mentioned that Anton could be either her uncle (which is what he's always been) or possibly her father :O. If the latter is the case than that changes things quite dramatically which could make for intriguing storylines down the road. There is a creepy reveal that I won't spoil but it definitely makes this book standout as a superhero/horror mix that is still holding it's place as relevant in modern comics. It has something to do with what happened in a previous issue but I personally never saw it coming...

The ST/DM vs William battle comes to an end in a way that makes sense and I didn't expect, but pondering the options available it is a rather rational yet unfortunate one.

Snyder brings back the notion of a dream Abby and Alec have been having for various issues of the series which adds a neat familiarity to the story yet develops more thoroughly here. An important aspect of Swamp Thing Annual #1 (October 2012) is mentioned here and plays a role in the following scene. There is a mention of the "Other" parliament. It's hard to speculate as to what that means but it will likely be played out in the remaining issues of Snyder's run. It appears that Abby has the upper hand against Anton, but of course, her story ends on another cliffhanger and the reader does not find out what happens to her.

Somehow Alec has made it to Gotham already and he has found Batman's secret lair... It doesn't make much sense and it feels forcefully thrown in, but hey, that's the wonderful world of comics! ST is surprised by his visit to the Bat Cave, and as Scott Snyder always does, he manages to present us with something we did not expect!

The artwork by Marco Rudy is much grittier than Yanick Paquette's beautifully crafted designs and layouts that Swampy readers have come to expect, and to be honest it was a step down from the norm. Marco Rudy has drawn some excellent pages in previous issues of Swamp Thing, but this issue in particular felt rushed and messy. I know, it's an experimental horror book and the grittier-the-better, but in this case it does not work. Some of the layouts are rather sloppy and the colouring of the outlines and panels blend together and it becomes difficult to determine where to start reading the page, where to go next, and in some cases, just exactly what the hell is going on. I mean no disrespect to Marco as an artist/person, but this issue as a whole didn't do it for me. I enjoyed his take on Batman but there wasn't enough of him to really enjoy this comic. Again, compared to his other takes of Swampy, this one looked like an amateur drew the issue.

All in all, this issue wasn't what I hoped for and was a hiccup in this otherwise fantastic series. Rotworld has been dragging on a bit now and it would be nice to see it conclude and also see what's in store for Swampy post-Rot (the zero month initiative definitely screwed the pacing up and I feel bad for Team Swampy/Animal Man since this was not their fault).


Story: 3/5
Art: 2.5/5

Batman #13
"Knock Knock"; "Tease"
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
October 2012
DC Comics


This issue kicks off the Death of The Family arc with a foreboding setup... without spoiling what happens, Scott Snyder has always been the type of writer who brings things full circle with pretty much every single issue I've read of his, so you'll know what I'm talking about once you've read the issue. It's creepy and freaking fantastic!

You can tell that Snyder has an academic background/sincere love for creating endearing and expositional narratives. Not that that's a bad thing (although some might think so) but I personally love it. Scott has developed a style of his own so well now that he doesn't seem overly wordy or lengthy in what it is he's trying to convey in his 20-page stories. He has become such a strong, tight writer and he is capable of keeping things short and sweet, while simultaneously building a momentum of terror.

Scott creates plot threads that work well within the smaller confines of the issue itself, as well as the grand scale of the entire arc. This is definitely an issue (and those that will follow it I imagine) that deserves multiple readings, not only to fully understand and appreciate everything that's occurring, but also because it's so well-written that it will make you want to read it over again right after you've finished.

A lot happens in this issue, but the events in the narrative never feel poorly paced or thrown in. Without spoiling anything, there are at least six different scenes in this issue (in "Knock Knock"), if not more that include well over ten main/supporting characters (not all at once folks). It sounds like a lot but despite this, the story functions extraordinarily well and we get glimpses of horror, action, and some more horror and a tiny bit more action. Solid character development is a given for any Snyder story, and Batman #13 is no exception. Joker is built up tremendously, and in a way that is not unfamiliar with that of the treatment of the shark in Steven Spielberg's "JAWS." The Joker is obviously in this comic, but for the majority of the issue he is not seen, at least not in the light, which helps to create the sense of terror and brooding that people have come to expect from masterfully crafted horror stories, films, and now, comics. This shouldn't come as a surprise, but for anyone who is not reading comics and/or not aware of the Joker's recent happenings in the New 52, he willingly had his face removed by the Dollmaker back in September 2011's "Detective Comics #1", and that continuity is still in effect throughout this arc. It's not much of a spoiler as it's not a main part of the story/plot, but the choice to keep Joker hidden in the darkness is a smart and conscious choice made by Snyder and Capullo (and the rest of Team Batman) that effectively has the reader at the edge of his or her metaphorical (and perhaps physcial) seat.

For hardcore Batfans out there, there are plenty of guest appearances in this story and it appears that these characters will continue to be portrayed in this flagship title for the remainder of the arc. So far, Snyder writes each of these characters relatively well but it's hard to properly judge since their presence is only minimal thus far. It's a nice treat though for those interested in these sort of things and it surely will make your inner fanboy smile and blush with glee.

The artwork department is fabulous and really deserves more mention in this review. I'm not very well versed in how creating visual artwork goes, so I won't spend a lot of time trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about, but from what I gather, it is pencilled, inked, and coloured spectacularly. Capullo has come to be known for his signature style on Spawn and as of late, Batman, but he could not have this credit without the wonderful inker Jonathan Clapion and the equally talented colourist FCO Plascencia. To me, when I first saw Capullo and team's artwork back in Batman #1, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not (I was also new to comics so I wasn't familar with any one particular artist's style). Now, having read comics religiously for fifteen months, Capullo is THE definitive Batman artist to me. His style has the same impact that the Animated Series had on me as a child. Whenever Snyder and Capullo choose to finish their run (which thankfully won't be for a long time), I will be able to identify Greg Capullo's art style as the classic Batman of my generation. I imagine that when I'm flabulous and forty, I'll recall the good ol' days of the Snyder/Capullo Batman run and remember how incredibly bombastic it was in terms of both writing and illustrations.

There is a backup story entitled "Tease" that compliments the feature, and is written by Snyder and his prodigy James Tynion IV with artwork by Jock. Quickly summing that up, it feels necessary to explaining some background work of "Knock Knock" and is a memorable backup story that does not feel like it has been shoved in to make an extra dollar per issue. I won't say anymore than this, but it has a really creepy premise featuring the Joker and another famous villain that will surely manifest butterflies in your stomach. Jock's rendition of the Joker is creepy in its own right and is a nice addition to the new look he sports.

The main story concludes with a gut-wrenching (is there a dash or no dash? not sure how this word is spelled) cliffhanger that will break your heart as well as someone else's bones. It's difficult to say what, if anything, will come of what happens, but knowing Scott Snyder, ANYTHING is possible. Excellent introduction to Death of the Family, and I highly recommend this comic book to any Batfan who either reads or doesn't read comics.

Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4.5/5

The Joker looks like... Regan MacNeil?!?

The current look of the faceless Joker from November's Batman #14.

I made this observation about twenty minutes ago. Every time I look at this new version of the Joker, I'm constantly reminded of the horrifying demon Pazuzu that possesses Regan in The Exorcist. Remember that scene when Pazuzu's face is imposed on the right side of Regan's face, and it looks kind of like a nightmare version of Two-Face? Ugh, gives me the chills every time I see Mr. J's face now. 

Pazuzu/Regan "Two-Face"

"...Look at her eyes. Look at her eyes! For God's sake, what happened to her eyes!?" - Shelly from The Evil Dead.



I hope viewing this post filled your day with butterflies and sunflowers and all things lovely in the world <3 

Why bother reading comics?

Why do I dedicate so much of my time reading comics? Doesn't that take up a lot of my time? Is it expensive? Doesn't it get boring after a while? What's so special about comics anyway? Why not just watch superhero movies instead of spending so much time reading about them? (Why are you dragging this post out with an endless amount of questions?)

It would be next to impossible to add up all the hours (let alone minutes and seconds) that I've put into reading and thinking about comic books, and I've only really gotten into the medium just over a year ago (I've always had a great appreciation for superheroes like most people, but never knew how to get into reading about them on a daily basis). Have you ever had something take such a strong hold of you that it feels like there's no going back to the way your life was before you experienced this such thing? I mean, I've felt pretty strongly about certain things before, be it music, film, literature, video games, action figures (really?), masturbation (*Jim Gaffigan voice* oh he's anti-appropriate), etc... but there's something about comics that sets all those other activities apart for me.

Maybe it's how the comic book incorporates multiple different functions into one pretty little package, for instance, the reading/writing aspect of literature, with the visual features of (you guessed it) visual art, and the shot-by-shot detailing that film exercises. Comics are essentially refined storyboards that are compiled monthly and sold to the public, so screenwriting and comics aren't so unfamiliar with each other in that respect. I love the three aforementioned mediums immensely, and having a medium (can't think of a synonym) roll all of them into one is like having your top three favourite people in the world somehow have a three-way conception and give birth to the most triumphant offspring ever.

Perhaps I'm exaggerating my love for comics a little... nah!

Bedlam #2 Variant Cover

So this is my first post... I don't really know what I'm doing yet so for now I'll jump right in. This is the variant cover of Bedlam #2 published by Image Comics. It immediately jumped out at me because, well... it's an homage to "The Killing Joke!" 

Back in the day, I used to want my favourite image of the Joker tattooed on my body (thankfully it didn't happen). That image came from Alan Moore/Brian Bolland's "The Killing Joke," which was the first comic I ever read (officially read/bought [not necessarily in that order...]). Anywho, pretty much everyone who's read the debut issue of the new series "Bedlam" knows that the new protagonist/anti-hero named Madder Red is not unlike that of the familiar Joker character, and yet brings a new take on the crazed serial killer archetype. I won't spoil the issue, as I'd hate to read a review myself that dishes out all the goods from any type of artform, but I highly recommend the series. I have yet to read issue #2, but the first issue was mindblowingly entertaining and had me craving more even before I had finished reading it. Once I've read the issue, I'll write a spoiler-free review and let you know my thoughts on the writing, artwork, and overall value of the comic. 

In the coming weeks, I plan to gradually introduce myself and explain why it is I'm blogging and why you should be reading these words! I intend on reviewing my favourite monthly comics (roughly 1-2 a week to start, until I get into the groove of reviewing) as a means to gain practice and experience writing and documenting my thoughts about my favourite hobby EVER: Comics. Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll get around to writing my own comics.

Until next time...

Steve Snow