Review by Aaron Cooper
Sometimes, lesser size graphic novels or trade paperbacks can be overlooked compared to the sprawling epics of, say, Watchmen, or Crisis on Infinite Earths, etc. I came upon a couple titles that may not have much of a page count, but definitely should not be missed if you happen upon them.
The Power of Shazam Graphic Novel
What? Is it possible that I found the perfect comic? Strangely enough, yes! Back before anyone started ‘Ultimate (insert favorite Marvel heroes here)’ or even Zero Hour-ing classic characters, Jerry Ordway (who wrote and drew the entire book) took underused Captain Marvel, retold his origin, including many of the secondary characters as possible without sacrificing story, and paid homage to the original creators with a story done in the classic 30’s style, but told it with 90’s sensibilities. Plus, Ordway painted it brilliantly! It contains classic styling without being corny. I don’t even like Captain Marvel all that much, but DC put out a superior product. The hardcover is out of print, but the softcover is still floating around. Highly recommended!
Manhunter – The Special Edition trade paperback
Hard to imagine that what was only a back-up story in Detective Comics for seven issues back in 1973 and 1974 would find itself in multiple printings 30 years later, but anyone that has ever read it can understand why. Manhunter gets props for being quite possibly the fastest paced character driven story ever, with elements from it still attempting to permeate the DC Universe (Kurt Busiek’s failed Power Company and the new Kate Spencer version by Marc Andreyko). The dialogue by Archie Goodwin is superb, and Walt Simonson’s art was cinema style long before it was vogue to do so. Two creators at the top of their game, and the special edition contain the final chapter as planned by Archie Goodwin before he passed away. The only drawback is that some of the references seem dated. Manhunter won several awards when it was first published and still deserves a read today. Pick this up and find out why.
Batman – Ten Nights of the Beast
Once you’ve read this, you can agree with me or not with this statement: Ten Nights of the Beast by Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo was one of the best Batman storyline from the 1980’s that wasn’t written by Frank Miller. The only other exception I’ll accept is the Son of the Demon graphic novel by Mike Barr and Jerry Bingham which itself is seeing new life thanks to Grant Morrison’s current Batman arc. Originally told in Batman issues 417-420, Ten Nights of the Beast was done back when people knew how to write Batman. Sure, he was the Dark Knight Detective, sure he was obsessed, but he wasn’t all moody like he was for years after that and writers are just now rediscovering he could be great without being a jerk. In Ten Nights of the Beast, the KGBeast was the perfect foil that Batman had to use everything at his disposal to stop. There were murders, there was detective work, there were fisticuffs, even the Jason Todd Robin was likable and useful in this story. Sure, the story is dated with Ronald Reagan as President and the Cold War in full bloom, but that’s what the 80’s were about! Not only was Jim Aparo one of the defining Batman artists of the 70’s and 80’s, but this series also featured brilliant covers by Mike Zeck. Pick up a piece of history!