Daily Archives: April 30, 2016

Batman with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo

Life

Batman-51-Cover

Writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo have been in charge of DC’s headline book since The New 52 started. Batman has led the charge with some wild and daring story lines and sports one of the few teams from the 2011 relaunch that made it this far. I’ve become a big fan of Scott’s writing and Greg’s art blows me away every issue. I love the way he draws everyone and his layouts are super dynamic. The way he artistically spins Scott’s visions are often breathtaking, his work really stands out from the pack.

These two have a fantastic symbiosis making Batman and it’s a bummer to see it end. Issue #51 marks the last issue and it’s a knockout. #50 brought the “Superheavy” story arc to an epic close and this issue bookends their entire run. It’s a quiet story with Batman out on patrol shortly after the events of 50 and he’s raring to go. Cruising in the Batmobile, a tremor is felt and Gotham’s lights go out. Sure that the criminal element is up to no good, Batman gets to work investigating. But for once, the streets of Gotham are calm. The people of Gotham are…okay. Scott has made a point to make Gotham a character itself and we see that in this issue as Bruce investigates his city, silently (well, mostly) checking in with those who often hurt it. A beautiful book in every regard, especially as it ends with a feeling of hope and inspiration. I want the last page as a full sized poster, it’s that poignant. For a series so often steeped in darkness (looking at you, Joker and Mr. Bloom), the light from this optimism has never looked so bright. The cover you see above perfectly matches what’s inside.

The art in this book is stunning. As simple as the story is, with no major action set pieces, there is a remarkable sense of weight and motion captured in every frame. The play between shadow and light is something to behold thanks to experts Danny Miki (inks) and FCO Plascencia (colors). These two are gods among men, I love their work so much and they are a big reason why this series has been so striking. The scene with Gordon and Batman on the roof should be put up as an installation in a museum.

#51 bookends Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s run perfectly. It reflects their 5-year tenure and I couldn’t ask for more.

The other good news is that Snyder and Capullo will work together in the future. I’m all for them working on something original when the time is right. Until then, Snyder will be writing All-Star Batman and Capullo will be drawing a mini-series with writer Mark Millar and then come back to work on a new book for DC (no word on what it is, just that DC offered him something and he said yes). That leaves Batman with an all new creative team. Tom King is writing (The Omega Men, Greyson, and the Robin War event) with David Finch (his Wonder Woman is amazing) and Mikel Janin (Justice League Dark and Greyson, pretty sure he’s just doing covers which are pretty killer) on art duty. We’ll see the new direction in June. Until then…

batman_51_interview

Creed

Movies

Creed

Creed turned out better than I think everyone on the outside of production thought it would. It’s got the three staples of a great film present and accounted for.

A great script. Brilliant concept and writing to further the best Rocky films. Adonis Johnson is the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed, one-time foe and eternal friend of Rocky. Apollo cheated on his wife with Adonis’ mother and after his death, at the hands of Drago in Rocky IV, Apollo’s wife finds Adonis in foster care and adopts him. Adonis grows up with guidance but only knows his father through his legacy. Now in his mid-twenties, we see that boxing is in his blood. He explores the sport by teaching himself,  but  he still feels aimless and incomplete. Looking to fill the void he feels, he moves cross-country to find Rocky, to learn from the only other person who truly knew his father. Creed is the story of Rocky coming full circle in his boxing career, to help the boy of his friend come out of the shadows and be his own man. The setup works and the execution does too. Each beat of Adonis’ journey is an important one and brings back the feelings that made everyone fall in love with Rocky almost 40 years ago.

The actors that make it work. Michael B. Jordan is a hell of an actor. He’s bopped around TV for some time (he’s in The Wire!) and I think he first got the biggest movie attention from his role in Chronicle. The following year he blew people away in Fruitvale Station. You give this guy the material and he’ll do it justice. He’s fantastic as Adonis, he’s a joy to watch transform on screen and completely believable as a boxer. Sylvester Stallone gets to remind everyone again of how great an actor he is. Nearly 70 years old, Rocky stepping into the ring doesn’t make sense. Seeing him come out of retirement (he owns a restaurant), persuaded by Adonis to actually enter a boxing gym and then train him (another smart thing, Rocky sets him up with a team, he doesn’t do it all himself) and share his life is really touching. They go through a lot together and the difference in their age goes beyond the amount of wrinkles on a face; it’s experience, overcoming, and understanding. This story is so much more satisfying than rebooting Rocky with a new guy in the role. There’s only one Rock and that’s Sly Stallone.

The direction. A good looking movie in every regard, director Ryan Coogler knows how to set up a scene and get out of the way when necessary. Then, when the action comes, he brings a deft hand to some phenomenal boxing scenes. It’s thrilling, real (even if it is exaggerated, the final fight shows endurance that isn’t possible) and never confusing. He even pulls off a “spin around the actors” moment that usually makes me mad. It almost always looks bad, forced and pointless, but Coogler does it just right.

I’m all for a direct sequel if the whole team stays together to make it. Coogler’s got a big gig with Marvel next, so if the writers come together in the next year, he’d probably be replaced.