All right, it is time to dish out The Revolution’s weekly awards.
As always, the followers of The Revolution chimed in with plenty of great comments. I went ahead and gave the award for the comment of the week to Mike McNulty, a.k.a stillanerd in response to the Batman #686 review:
“As you observed, Neil Gaiman is, in fact, an author of several novels, and not just a writer of comic books (although certainly is Sandman comic book series is considered one of his signature works). He also has written some Batman stories before as well; in fact, this issue reminded me of one he did for Batman Black and White #2 called “A Black and White World” in which Batman and the Joker take a “lunch break” from the comic book and go “backstage” to talk about their roles in the comic.
One of the things I got out of this issue is that, by using the “funeral” of Batman, Gaiman is reflecting on the power of stories, which is a common theme in his work. In this case, Batman is not just a comic book character but is also a heroic figure of legend, much in the same way Robin Hood, King Arthur, and Gilgamesh are. And just as legendary heroes have variations of how they became a hero, they also have variations of how they died. And it’s because of these stories, even if they contradict each other, that allow these legendary heroes live on in our imaginations.
Batman is no different. Neil Gaiman once said in an interview on the History Channel about the history of comic books that characters like Batman and stories about Batman will continue to be told 100 years from now, because they are the modern myths, legends, tale tales, and folklore of our age. So when we see various incarnations of the same character show up at Batman’s “funeral,” when we see characters tell totally conflicting versions of how Batman “died,” when Batman himself is somehow watching all of this, I believe Gaiman is acknowledging the strength that Batman has become as a modern myth and a legendary hero, no matter if he “dies” or not.
At least, that’s one interpretation. Which is also what’s so great about this issue because you can look at it from so many different angles that don’t diminish the story.”
Okay, let’s go ahead and check out the nominees for The Che for the best comic book of the week.
Batman #686
Batman and the Outsiders Special #1
Nightwing #153
Incognito #2
The Winner: Batman #686
All of the nominees have been reviewed this past week so I am not going to rehash our opinions on them now. Batman and the Outsiders Special #1 was the best issue that we have gotten on this title since it was re-started. My favorite scene was the incredibly touching scene when Alfred is watching the pre-recorded statement by Bruce. Seeing Bruce tell Alfred how much he has meant to him and how Alfred is his second father was quite powerful.
Nightwing was another emotional and touching read. Tomasi certainly has proven that he has the chops to write the members of the Bat-family.
Incognito #2 was a great read as well. But, in the end I had to give the Che for the best read of the week to Gaiman’s Batman #686. This was a brilliant read that stood head and shoulders above the rest of the titles.
And now the nominees for The Sequential Methadone Award for the worst comic book of the week:
Titans #10
The Winner: Titans #10
Creative Team
Writer: Judd Winick
Pencils: Howard Porter
Inks: Wayne Faucher
Story Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
Titans #10 was another unexciting issue. The incredibly unoriginal and dull Jericho story arc ended with a total thud. After a mindless battle in which Jericho proceeds to take control of various Titan members and JLA members we end with Jericho simply dissipating into the air. It was such an anti-climactic ending to a pedestrian story arc. I really have little interest in what Winick has in store for Jericho since we have all seen this before. This title boasts some fantastic characters. By all rights, it should be hard to screw up a title starring the classic Wolfman/Perez Titans. This title desperately needs a change at the wrier position.
So congratulations to Batman #686 for winning the Che for the best comic book of the week. And “congratulations” to Titans #10 for winning the Sequential Methadone Award for the worse comic book of the week.