It’s the end of the week. So why not end it with some more comic book reviews? This was a week filled with releases, especially for my monthly pull list. To cover all the comic books that came out I’ve put together some quick reviews for Demon Days: Blood Feud #1 and Robin #12. Both of these are some of my favorite comic books out and they are both completing big arcs with these issues.
In case you missed them reviews with full spoiler synopsis are live for Godzilla vs Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #1 and Trial of the Amazons: Wonder Girl #1.
DEMON DAYS: BLOOD FEUD #1
Creative Team
Story & Art: Peach Momoko
English Adaptation & Dialogue: Zack Davisson
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out o 10
Review
In closing out “The Yashida Saga” that kicked off with the second issue, Demon Days: Mariko, Peach Momoko keeps things simple by focusing in on Mariko’s battle with her sister, Ogin. By keeping things focused on this fight for most of the issue Momoko dives into both the perspective of Mariko and Ogin. We get a full scope of how their respective paths have led them to fighting in the way they do. Which makes how personal things get be something you understand both sides.
With Ogin you see how her rage manifests in trying to absolutely crush Mariko. While Mariko on her side does fight back but does so, along with her wolverine ally Logan, in an act of defense. The entire time Mariko was doing all she could to honor their mother’s wish for Mariko to save Ogin. The way Mariko succeeds in keeping that promise all works well into how Momoko has developed her character and the mythology of Demon Days world. Even though Mariko isn’t fully successful in her goal the resolution does leave the reader satisfied and hoping for more from this story as there are more chapters to tell.
Through all of this Momoko’s artwork continues to shine. The way Mariko draws the characters and world around them is absolutely wonderful. The character designs are all so striking, made even better by the color palette. Obviously Mariko and Ogin stand out as they carry the action but the designs or Kuriko, Demon Days version of Black Widow, and Halbo, Demon Days version of Hulk, is so fitting for this universe. No matter how supernatural things get everything is designed to fit in the same world that Momoko creates.
Overall, Demon Days: Blood Feud closed out “The Yashida Saga” in a satisfying way. Momoko wraps up Mariko’s arc in a way that leaves a lot of room for more stories to be told if we return to the Demon Days Marvel Universe. Which I hope we do because characters and world are so wonderful that there is so many possibilities stories to be told in this universe.
ROBIN #12
Creative Team
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Roger Cruz
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Luis Guerrero
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Review
Robin #12 sits in an interesting spot of being an epilogue to the entire Lazarus Island Saga while being acting as a prelude to the upcoming Shadow War crossover event this series will be involved with. On both aspects Joshua Williamson is able to successful payoff and build up the storylines in a cohesive way. There is no disconnect with what Williamson goals are for this issue. Which allows Damian Wayne’s transition from one major storyline to the next be natural to his overall character journey.
What makes it all work is that Williamson never loses track of where Damian is mentally. The opening with Damian and Connor Hawke parting ways is a reminder of how the former was able to come out of the entire Lazarus Island Saga finding a group of friends he can relate to. The goodbyes given are more of a “see you later” than true goodbyes. Which all leaves the door open for Damian to be involved with all of these characters in different ways depending on the stories Williamson is looking to tell with the cast he introduced through the Lazarus Tournament.
At the same time, we see Damian’s guilt over feeling responsible for Alfred Pennyworth’s death come full circle. Dealing with this guilt, that actually physically manifest, is exactly what Damian needed. Getting out those emotions he has been trying to hold back wasn’t healthy. His mother, Talia Al Ghul, realizing this about her son was an unexpected and welcome development. Williamson and artist Roger Cruz do a wonderful job bringing Damian and Talia together in a way that reforges their mother-son bond that felt broken before Robin #12. Repairing that relationship is a good move so we don’t see what has become the repetitious family fighting that Talia and Damian have gotten into. Which also builds up interest to see how Bruce Wayne will factor in as he reunites with his son in upcoming issues.
When all was said and done Robin #12 works well to close this chapter of Damian’s story and build towards his future. Not only does Williamson build towards Shadow War but also lays the foundation for several other storylines Robin can build on once the crossover event is over. That all creates greater excitement for what is next in the life of Damian Wayne as he continues to develop his own path as Robin.