DC Power 2024

After spending the last two weeks burning my way through She-Hulk, I've ended up collecting a healthy (or not healthy depending on your point of view) backlog of my pull list comics.

So, this week I decided to dedicate my reading towards that pull list.

Until I discovered that DC had released a couple of anthology collections during February so far.

DC Power 2024 is the first of those, focusing on the a selection of African-American (or, in Nubia's case, African-Themyscarian) super heroes, to give us a glimpse into their lives and show us why they do what they do.

The stories are:

• Enduring Farewells - A sort of Coda to the Far Sector series. For me, it's great art, but a not so great story. It felt like I was catching the end of a movie on tv that i had you've never seen before. However, what little I was able to follow did seem interesting and the gorgeous art makes me think I need to buy the series.

• The Spice of Life - Focusing on a day in the life of the Pierce sisters a.k.a. Thunder and Lightning. This was a fun story with some cool art. I enjoyed it as it gave me insight into Black Lightning's kids and sure would like to read a mini on them if one exists.

• Pit Stop - A story about a superhero travelling between (Dante's) circles of Hell, I've got to admit that this was the weakest entry in my opinion. No shade on the creators but I still have no idea who the protagonist is which didn't help as I struggled to understand the story and the art wasn't to my taste.

• Pure Blackness - The reason I bought this comic, followed Val-Zod as he recounted his life and the reasons for why he does what he does. I love Val-Zod and have dont since his debut. But in the here and now, I absolutely loved the art which depicted him. Now, i thought the story was a little heavy but didn't stop it being a wonderful and inspiring read.

• Lost at Sea - A story of Black Manta working with a father/son Pirate team. This was another enjoyable story which provide a compelling Insight into Black Manta. I thought the art was good, if nothing to really write home about, which fit the story and setting well enough.

• The Session - A horror/mystery story primarily starring the Spectre. It was an good to see Crispus Allen again and the story was intriguing, with the art having a Francavilla vibe to match. However, the stumbling block for me was how the character of Crispus just didn't feel how I remembered him (from Final Crisis: Revelations), which made it a tough read to get fully invested in.

• The Natural Order - A story of Queen Nubia of Themiscyia as she captures a trespassing Mxylptlk. This was a story with vibrant art but, beyond that, struggled to hook me. The pages felt crowded and the story itself seemed like it was a tiny (middle) piece to a much larger story. Since her debut/return (I still don't know which), I've struggled to connect with Nubia and this entry didn't help.

• Jump Shots & Loose Watts - Following the younger Wally West as he helps someone perfect their jump shot, this story felt bright and optimistic, with an incredibly positive and inspiring nature. I also feel that the story gave me some insight into Wally Jr, something I've bever really gotten before. This waa a good read and certainly wouldn't make me opposed to seeing more of his story (I might even check out Speed Force).

• Fair Play - An action packed story which sees Mr Terrific protect an idealistic politician from hitmen. The art seemed a bit rough for Mr Terrific, as I expected would have expected something more more stylised and 'hi-tech'. Overall, however, this was a good read which really showed off all of 'Mr. T's' skills. On fact, this story does make me wonder; Is Ray Thomas related to Duke? Speaking of which ...

• The Light that Shines - Focusing on Duke Thomas' alter ego, the Signal, this is another fun story, although it took two reads to see its worth. That said, I found it an inspiring tale about not giving up. Thought the art was a little rough but then realised that it's actually a fitting choice for the story told. By the end, it made me realise that Duke would make an awesome visual Batman.

By the time I reached the end I felt the stories told in this anthology were attempting to share a combined message, one about seeing beyond the surface of a person and realising that there is more to them, and their actions.

Of course, that in depth assumption doesn't change the fact that DC Power was an eclectic selection of stories that, overall, presented me with an enjoyable read for the week.

Now, I just have to hope that, next week, How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 days can match it.

Dan Slott's She-Hulk Vol. 1

It's taken a little longer than was originally planned (something not helped by the subsequent purchase of Grayson Vol. 2 and Murder Falcon), but I've finally finished reading the comics I received at Christmas!

For the past two weeks I've been reading She-Hulk vol. 1 by Dan Slott, Juan Bobillo and Paul Pelletier. This series sees the Sensational Jade Giantess riding high as a successful trial lawyer by day, while partying both inside and out of Avengers Mansion with both her friends and a slew of beau's by night.

However, when she loses her job and her home within Avengers HQ, She-Hulk is offered a lifeline by the premiere Law Firm in town. However, there's one caveat: She must work in an identity she is eager to ignore, she must work as Jennifer Walters.

Let the hijinks begin.

As a fan of both the current Rainbow Rowell runs and (to a lesser extent) the Charles Soule run before it, I've always heard about Dan Slott's work with the character and its influence into both.

Now that I've read it, I can totally see that. These twelve issues are quirky, light-hearted fun which felt like the last vestige of a style of writing from the late 90's/early 00's which was all but eradicated in the Bendis era.

With an underlying narrative about a someone having to utilise a part of themselves that they don't like (which I think we've all had to do at one time or another), Slott manages to layer it so deeply under the fun and randomness the Jen faces issue by issue in her new job, that her evolution feels gradual but, by the end earned.

The artwork is a mixed bag but still a fun look which complements the story and series. Juan Bobillo's work for half of the series feels a little simple but in a cartoonish way, helping to emphasise the fun, absurd nature of the series. Meanwhile, the great Paul Pelletier (whose work I loved on both FF and Aquaman at various points) leans into that old school action packed aesthetic. It's this style especially which has me thinking (with some nostalgic glee) of that pre-Avengers Disassembled time period.

Like I said, this run of She-Hulk feels like a throwback to a more fun time, but also seems to be a precursor for some of the more 'normal life' stories we've been getting in the last few years a la Hawkeye.

Still, I found it to be quirky and a lot of fun and despite the abrupt ending (which would make sense if it is, as the title suggests 'volume 1'), I sure hope we will get to see a continuation of this run in the pages of a 'volume 2.'

However, I've been burned that way before with Marvel Knights Fantastic Four volume one

Murder Falcon

Ever since I read the 7 part series, Do A Powerbomb, I've been intrigued about the other works of Daniel Warren Johnson, thinking that first series of his I'd been introduced was something special.

Well, this week, after recently ordering the trade through my LCS, I read DWJ's second series, Murder Falcon.

A story that feels like Pacific Rim meets Bill and Ted, Murder Falcon tells the story of Jake, a former guitarist of the Metal band Brooticus, who ekes out a life of depression after a terminal illness cost him his wife and, successively, his bandmates.

However, existing in a world besieged by monsters from a dimensional portal, Jake is one day introduced to Murder Falcon, an anthropomorphic birdman with a metal arm. He's come to save the world and is powered by heavy metal from a guitar which he has now bestowed to Jake, who's destined to save the world with it.

So, obviously, Murder Falcon is a story in need of a rather convoluted explanation. However, this doesn't change the fact that DWJ has told a poignant and heartbreaking story about a man coming back from the brink and facing his fears.

For that reason, I found myself incredibly invested in Jake, whose tortured and broken soul, while maybe too sombre for where I am at this point (maybe it's a painful reflection of a time gone by), is still one I can understand and, thus begs me to root for him.

Thankfully, he's got a tremendous cast of characters (including the titular hero) who support, love and even praise him in an effort to show him his worth.

As a result to this, this is a tremendous story of someone climbing from their darkness in an effort to regain the life they lost in some way.

Of course, I can't not talk about the premise of this series. While evil continues to destroy the world, humanity's only defence is ... music (?). DWJ has done something really unique with this notion and, in a very Bill and Ted ending way, proven the healing properties of music. As such, seeing a guy with a cowbell or even a whole orchestra taking out monsters is an incredible sight to see.

Speaking of sights, Murder Falcon (much like with Do A Powerbomb) is a constant collection of intense incredible art from beginning to end. DWJ provides a style which is incredibly rough compared to many comics I read These days. However, this frenetic style, which looks like he literally pours every ounce of his emotion on the pages, displays such an incredible energy to it that the artwork practically feels like its imbuing the metal that Brooticus are playing in the story. Sadly, there is a distinct lack of (probably) jagged musical notes to accompany the scenes that the instruments are played, but, for me, it's a minor absence that, while noticed, doesn't affect my enjoyment.

Whereas Do A Powerbomb hit me like a steel chair across the head, I fear that my lack of musical acumen limited this title from having the same impact. That said, Murder Falcon is still an unbelievable read that still pierced my heart with every strum of a guitar and swing of a giant metal arm.

I'm already looking into picking up Extremity, because DWJ is 2 for 2 with me and I really want to see if it's just as good where it all began.