Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Book Review

  • REVIEW: ‘Batman: The Detective’

    REVIEW: ‘Batman: The Detective’

    When it comes to DC Comics, the one thing that it is never short on is Batman titles. It seems like every week we’re getting the announcement that a new Bat-centric title is on the way and just about everyone is getting their turn at the wheel. So, it’s unsurprising that a Batman solo title would eventually find his way to Tom Taylor, one of DC’s best minds and now an exclusive writer with the publisher. While Taylor’s Batman: The Detective is a fun read that lives up to its name, throwing you into the mind of the world’s greatest detective, its plot can’t help but feel a bit weak. 

    Batman: The Detective finds the caped crusader leaving his life in Gotham City behind and making his way to Europe, Why you ask? well because some folks overseas are dressing as bats and killing people. Its quickly revealed that they aren’t killing just anyone, but people who have been saved by Batman himself. The biggest mystery of the series is why; why are these people in white bat costumes brutally murdering people who’ve been saved by Bruce Wayne? The story here works, and it’s interesting at times, but it didn’t really sink its claws into me like any other mystery.

    One of the strongest parts of the story is the bits that seem to come from within the mind of the bat. He’s breaking down happenings in his head and really digging into the world’s greatest detective angle of the character that’s been absent from a lot of recent interpretations. For a few glimmering moments, the story feels engaging, but ultimately, the story itself is too weak for anything special to come of it.

    Perhaps the weakest part of this story is the villains themselves, they aren’t compelling and there is really nothing special about them. It’s pretty ironic that they wear white batman costumes because they feel lackluster. They’re what you’d expect if you took all the fun out of the characters from Gotham City Imposters and threw them into a European setting. The story here feels like it should be interesting and feels like a unique scenario but it just doesn’t really tie together well in the end, with the reveal being nothing jaw-dropping and kind of generic.

    Perhaps one of the brighter aspects of the story is its reintroduction of the newest Knight and Squire, UK equivalents of Batman and Robin. Here we see the original Squire, Beryl Hutchinson, pick up the mantle of Knight alongside the newest Squire, Amina Eluko working alongside Batman. Their story is something interesting and the two of them could really shine in their own book. Detective Mentee of the Bat, Henri Ducard plays a prominent role where at times it feels like he’s more useful as a punching bag than he does integral to the unfolding story. Thankfully, though, the character does get better as the story progresses but a moment that could’ve been crucial and emotional falls flat.

    Despite its story issues, this book is something great to look at, with some stellar artwork from Andy Kubert. Batman gets a stellar redesign here, fitting in with his new European terrain, sporting a trench coat and goggles. Kubert really shines here with his environments and bringing Europe to life. The panels here are truly dynamic and admittedly are the best parts of this book.

    While Batman: The Detective ultimately was not the Batman story I was looking for when it comes to Tom Taylor, it is an interesting premise that features a below-average story with some above-average art. 

  • REVIEW: ‘Three Swords’ is Good, Yet a Missed Opportunity

    REVIEW: ‘Three Swords’ is Good, Yet a Missed Opportunity

    Sometimes we read a synopsis for a novel and think, “Wow, what a great story this is going to be.” We are excited about the main characters and are fans of the writer, so we think we know what to expect. Then we read the actual story and it fails to meet those expectations. It could be because of the characters, or the writing style, or the pace of the story, or it could even be the reader’s own expectations. With Three Swords, this is one of those novels where the story failed to live up to the expectations set by the synopsis.

    Penned by C.L. Werner, the veteran writer of numerous short stories set in the Warhammer universe and the Black Plague trilogy, Three Swords tells the story of the Warriors Three as they receive an ominous set of predictions from the Enchanters as it pertains to Asgard. The Warriors Three must venture out into the cosmos to stop the Enchanters from enacting their plan to destroy the universe. This takes our titular heroes to many moments in history, from the actual civil war to important moments in England, and it is there where you really get some highlights that you can enjoy, even if you’re not well-versed in Marvel lore. Unfortunately, the story is not given much time to breathe before jumping to the next set-piece, and it seems Werner is ultimately in a rush to just get through the story. As such, the Warriors Three aren’t as fleshed out as they could’ve been. Whereas the little Easter eggs while they’re traversing the universe work without you having a vast array of Marvel knowledge, the characters are written as if you do have a vast array of Marvel knowledge. Due to this, it creates a disjointed narrative where characters do things and you’re almost expected to just understand why they did that. 

    The set pieces work pretty well, with Werner doing a great job of using words to paint the story of the action we are seeing. Because each Enchanter has a tower, or lair, it feels like a Mortal Kombat video game where you’re fighting waves until getting to the endgame boss. Fandral is the standout here, as he gets some really cool moments where we are reminded how good a swordsman and warrior he truly is. As I was reading it, I kept thinking “man, this would be a really cool adaptation on Disney+” because it kind of feels like the National Treasure films with their reverence for what came before in both Marvel and modern history with some really good action mixed in. I, also, enjoyed that this story really put someone other than Thor in charge of saving Asgard: too often, in Asgard’s history, the Warriors Three are just along for the ride, but putting them in charge here really makes the story feel small enough (their friendship shines) even though there’s so much at stake. 

    Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the twist ending. No spoilers, but it is telegraphed from the beginning, and that made it feel a bit cheap. It lessens everything that came before the end, and it doesn’t really hold up to the rest of the story: if the story was a B before the ending, the twist is like a D and just soured me a bit on the story as a whole.

    All in all, a solid entry but one that could’ve been substantially better had a cheap twist not been added and had more effort been put into developing the characters beyond what we would know as Marvel fans. Werner deserves credit for writing the action and humor in a strong way, but in the end, the story falls to reach the heights teased.

  • REVIEW: “Fearbook Club” is a Story of Growing Up Told Through a Spooky Tale

    REVIEW: “Fearbook Club” is a Story of Growing Up Told Through a Spooky Tale

    When I first stumbled upon Fearbook Club on NetGalley, I was immediately pulled in by the cover. Then I read the description and was easily sold by its premise. A group of middle school students who are deemed the weirdos and forced to join Yearbook Club, only to discover there are ghosts of missing students lingering around campus. It’s a pretty fun concept, and while it isn’t always cohesive, it’s a rather easy read that celebrates the outcasts.

    Fearbook Club, which hails from AfterShock Comics, was created by writer Richard Hamilton, artist Marco Matrone and letterer Dave Sharpe tells the story of four middle school outcasts that are forced to work together in a Yearbook Club. The lead character, Whit, is a shy 6th grader who loves photography and spends most of his free time taking photographs that he develops in his makeshift darkroom at home. It’s when he develops his film after he takes of a fellow student near a condemned building on school that his world becomes entwined in chaos. In the photo, Whit discovers other students in the picture — other students that were only visible through the photograph.

    When Whit and the others try to unravel the mystery, they soon discover their school has a long track record of missing students that are seemingly forgotten. What unravels is a story of overcoming fear and doing what is right in the long run. Unfortunately, this is also where the story falls apart. Things become rushed that the last twenty pages become hard to follow. The mystery of who and what is behind the missing students is fascinating, but it’s not executed in the best way to truly benefit the story.

    As for the artwork, it’s pretty great, honestly. It’s the artwork that carries the story. From the design of the “monster,” to the way the emotions are conveyed in scenes, the artwork tells the story wonderfully.

    Overall, Fearbook Club isn’t a book everyone is going to love and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. While it does have its issues, Fearbook Club is a book I would highly recommend to young readers because it tackles important topics such as overcoming fear, handling grief and finding yourself. Even better? It does so in a way to keep them invested in the story — it brings in a spooky element, all while still managing to stay reality-based.

  • REVIEW: ‘Slip’ Uses Art to Tell a Heartbreaking Tale of Mental Illness

    REVIEW: ‘Slip’ Uses Art to Tell a Heartbreaking Tale of Mental Illness

    When I first stumbled upon Slip on NetGalley, I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the book. There’s no denying the cover is stunning, and the descriptive text is rather intriguing, but it also promises a story self-harm and coping through art. Suicide is something that’s hard enough to deal with in reality; using a friend’s attempted suicide to frame a story? It seemed wrong. Yet, in the end, Slip manages to be a powerful story worthy of your time.

    Slip hails from writer Marika McCoola and debut artist Aatmaja Pandya. It tells the story of a young girl named Jade who finds herself trying to cope with a friend’s hospital stay following a suicide attempt. Just as things seem to be going up for Jade, she finds herself struggling to make it through everyday as her thoughts immediately turn to Phoebe. For Jade, her best friend was supposed to be by her side during art camp, so the idea of getting through it alone is hard to process. She doesn’t feel good enough, as Phoebe was her biggest cheerleader. She moves through the day like a zombie, oblivious to what’s taking place around her. Until she meets fellow art student, Mary.

    Mary helps revive her spirit, helping her figure out what she needs to do to get her work back on track. More importantly, though, she helps Jade find a way to cope with Phoebe. It’s an emotional story that is beautifully told thanks greatly to Pandya‘s artwork. You can feel the grief, you can sense the confusion and by the end, you’ll find yourself in the same boat as Jade. It’s a powerful story that isn’t perfect, as it often loses focus but when it gets back on track? It soars like the phoenix Jade crafts.

    The artwork can be choppy, but it only helps to sell the story. It adds to the grief and the uncertainty. It captures Jade’s feelings. The use of the red when Jade is hurting is gorgeous and the way Pandya brings Jade’s pieces to life is wonderful. They’re pieces of clay, that spring to life to help Jade along her way. It can be a bit confusing at times, as the story isn’t the best at transitions, but those moments of uncertainty are some of the biggest moments for Jade’s character.

    Ultimately, Slip isn’t a light read. If you’re looking for a fluffy romance? Slip isn’t your book. If you are, however, looking for a graphic novel that successfully tackles real life issues thanks to artwork, then Slip is the perfect book for you.

    Reviewer’s note: I generally don’t make it a point of adding my own personal bits into reviews. To be fair, though, in most instances? My reality doesn’t relate to the fiction I consume. Slip, though, hits hard. Very, very hard. Eleven years ago, I lost a dear friend to suicide. They remind me a lot of Phoebe. Loved to talk, was always smiling, and in the end, I never understood why they felt the need to end it. (We never know the full truth to someone else’s story.) To say Slip brought back some emotions for me would be putting it lightly. I never got into ceramics – look, I tried in college and it did not go over well – but I still related to the story. Art is a tool to help with grief in Slip, but there’s so much here that many others will, unfortunately, be able to comprehend.

    Slip will go on sale on June 7th from Algonquin Young Readers.

  • REVIEW: ‘School of X’ is a Strong Entry Into the X-Men Mythos

    REVIEW: ‘School of X’ is a Strong Entry Into the X-Men Mythos

    When you introduce time travel and multiverses, a story can sometimes be weighed down by the intricacies of the story if the rules aren’t properly explained. The DC Extended Universe will take its crack at the multiverse with the Flash’s first solo film, while Marvel has methodically begun to build out the rules of their multiverse. The comics these universes take their inspiration from, however, have never really cared for rules. What is canon today may not be canon tomorrow, and this has been true for some time. With that said, there has been more of an effort by DC and Marvel to streamline timelines over the last few years, and it is in that effort that School of X arrives. 

    A seven-story anthology edited by Gwendolyn Nix, School of X tells the story of the next generation of X-Men as they train under the watchful eye of Magneto, Emma Frost, and Cyclops. Jaleigh Johnson, Robbie Macniven, Cath Lauria, Amanda Bridgeman, Pat Shand, Neil Kleid, and Carrie Harris each get a story and they deliver fresh takes on the new X-Men as they fight alternate versions of themselves. Nix, in particular, deserves credit for editing together a cohesive story that doesn’t relegate the aforementioned X-Men into Dumbledore status, where they are merely just caring for the new mutants. Cyclops, given all he’s lost, does come off more ornery than in any other X-book, but it is earned and it feels like positive character development for Marvel’s boy scout. Magneto behaves like a surrogate Professor X, though, and I’m not really sure that worked so well, but Emma Frost is really the standout amongst the caregivers in part because she has the most emotional connection to the new mutants. 

    Each author puts their own spin on the mutants, but what stood out to me was how Emma Frost’s triplets (the Stepford Cuckoos) jump off the page every chance they get. This is particularly true in Of Dirt and Bones, the 5th story in the anthology: whereas Your 15 Minutes was on the shorter side, Of Dirt and Bones gives you what the family dynamic we’ve come to love from the best X-books. Depowered gives us a fresh look at Polaris, the oft-forgotten daughter of Magneto and sister of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, and she continues to be one of my favorite characters in the X-Men mythology. I hope Marvel brings her into the Marvel Cinematic Universe because she’s been written really well as of late, and remains one of the most powerful mutants. 

    The only story that doesn’t work in the anthology, for me, is Kid Omega Faces The Music. A Grant Morrison creation, I’m admittedly not the biggest fan of him in the comics, but this story also does him no favors. He comes off annoying and arrogant and, even when faced with his demons, doesn’t really display much growth in comparison to his peers. For example, in Call of The Dark Graymalkin comes face to face with his biggest fear and ultimately comes out of that encounter in a much more interesting place. The same cannot be said for Kid Omega. 

    Overall, a strong addition to the X-Men mythology, with particular shoutouts to Amanda Bridgeman for Eye Of The Storm and Pat Shand for writing Phoebe Cuckoo in a really powerful way in Of Dirt And Bones. You get some action-packed stories that really supplement the more familiar X-Men themes (family, teamwork, independence), and you get a Polaris that has to come out of her father and siblings’ shadow. All in all, a really good read.

  • BOOK REVIEW: ‘Agents of S.L.A.M.’ is a Delightfully Fun Read

    BOOK REVIEW: ‘Agents of S.L.A.M.’ is a Delightfully Fun Read

    Agents of S.L.A.M. is an upcoming graphic novel being released by Oni Press. It’s from creators Dave Scheidt and Scoot McMahon, who previously worked together on Wrapped Up, and tells the story of a wrestling organization with a huge secret. These are not just wrestlers. They are responsible for protecting the Earth from an extraterrestrial threat. 

    The story features Katie, a young girl who happens to also be a vlogger who loves wrestling. More specifically, she’s a huge fan of the Agents of S.L.A.M. and the wrestler Bruno. After being invited to tour the secret S.L.A.M. headquarters, Katie finds herself thrown into a world she never would have imagined capable of existing. Even worse? As the day goes on, she learns that sometimes we build our heroes up too high, making it all the easier for them to prove us wrong.

    What follows next is a story full of action, heart and hilarity. As someone who is not particularly a fan of wrestling, I admittedly was not sure I’d like Agents of S.L.A.M. Yet, by the end, I was glad I gave it a shot. This is a middle-grade title, technically, but it feels like a book that readers of all ages will come to adore.

    This crew of wrestlers is delightful and so diverse. From a grandmother who pilots the jet, to a female who leads the crew and a young girl who proves herself more than worthy of being a hero, it’s hard not to enjoy the fiascos of this crew. They are a disaster but in the best way possible.

    It’s an absurd story. Wrestlers that work for the president and go to space? It should be utterly ridiculous. Yet, what unfolds is a story of a makeshift family that is hilariously entertaining. If you’re looking for something you can enjoy with your children, Agents of S.L.A.M. is a title you should check out come April.

    Agents of S.L.A.M. releases in April 2022.