Batman #51 / Detective Comics #567

Batman #51
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo & Danny Miki
DC Comics (2016)





















Detective Comics #567
Written by Harlan Ellison
Art by Gene Colon & Bob Smith
DC Comics (1986)

Batman #51 by Snyder and gand reminded me of Harlan Ellison's lead story in Detective Comics #567, "The Night of Thanks, But No Thanks!"

Both stories showed Gotham in a more optimistic light, with citizens stepping up so that Batman can take time off.

I've mostly enjoyed Snyder's run on Batman across all the titles. #51 was his final issue on BATMAN and it was so light compared to the darkness that permeated most of his run. It was a fitting finale, IMHO. Likewise, Detective Comics #567 published about 30 years ago was DC closing one chapter on the title and starting a post-Crisis relaunch.

The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power

Written by Ryan North
Art by Erica Henderson
Marvel Comics (2015)

A real fun read!!

Captain Marvel (2014) #15

Written by Kelly Sue DeConnick
Art by David Lopez
Marvel Comics (2015)

I've really enjoyed Kelly Sue DeConnick's Captain Marvel but this issue is particularly strong from an emotional standpoint.

Collected in Captain Marvel Vol. 3: Alis Volat Propriis  

Locke & Key

Vol 1-6
by Jeff Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez
IDW Publishings (2008-2014)

Superboy Vol. 1: Smallville Attacks

by Jeff Lemire, Pier Gallo & Marco Rudy
DC Comics (2011)

Nice!

Black Jack - A Lucky Man

Published in Black Jack, Vol. 13 

by Osamu Tezuka
Vertical (2011)


A Lucky Man is the final story in Vol. 13. It contains many of the familiar elements from Black Jack that I find heartwarming and enjoy very much.

Same Difference

by Derek Kirk Kim
First Second, 2011

Nice! Reminiscent of great reads like Ghost World!

Supergirl (Vol. 5)

Who is Superwoman?
Friends and Fugitive
Death in the Family
Bizarrogirl
by Sterling Gates & Jamal Igle
DC Comics, 2009-2011

I thought the Peter David run (with Gary Frank and later Leonard Kirk) on Supergirl was going to be hard to beat, but Gates & Igle have proven that their stories from #34-59 (most of them collected in these four volumes) have proven to be just as strong.

Light Brigade

by Peter J. Tomasi & Peter Snejbjerg

DC Comics, 2005

Blockbustery fun.

The Sugar and Spike Archives

Vol. 1

By Sheldon Mayer

DC Comics, 2011

Northlanders

Vol. 1-

By Brian Wood

Vertigo Comics, 2007-2012

Not a fan of all the stories, but like the overall tone of the series. Sven the Returned in Vol. 1 and The Shield Maidens in Vol. 3 are some of my favs.

Note: The series is ongoing and will be completed in 2012.

Power Girl: Bomb Squad

By Judd Winick & Sam Basari

DC Comics, 2011

Here's an intelligent character in a book that truly rocks when it comes to action and humor!

Some of the BEST Power Girl stories ever, IMHO!

Gone Case

Vol. 1-2

By Dave Chua & Koh Hong Teng

2010-2011

Not perfect, but not bad either.

iZombie

Vol. 1 -

By Chris Roberson & Michael Allred

Vertigo Comics, 2010 -

Fun read.

Note: This comics is currently ongoing.

Sweet Tooth

Vol 1 -

by Jeff Lemire

Vertigo Comics, 2010 -

Bambi meets The Walking Dead without zombies!

So far, this has been a pretty good read with great art and a story that throws an innocent into a harsh, apocalyptic world.

Note: This series is currently ongoing.

Scalped #35

by Jason Aaron & Daniel Zezelj

Vertigo Comics, 2010

Scalped is one of the most depressing series I've read, with the characters constantly struggling against the harsh realities of life. While this stand-alone tale is no exception, it is slightly more hopeful as it tells the tale of a loving old couple and their struggles.

This story is also collected in Vol. 7 of the trades, but I wanted to single it out for mention because I think it really stands out as one of the best stories I've read.

Adam Strange: Planet Heist

by Andy Diggle & Pascal Ferry

DC Comics, 2005

Pity that the series which picks up from where this book ends is a dud. Anyway, this is one of the most fun and entertaining sci-fi adventure comic stories I've come across with cool art!

The Incredible Hercules Vol.5: The Mighty Thorcules

by Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Reilly Brown & Rodney Buchemi

Marvel Comics, 2010

The Incredible Hercules under Pak and Van Lente has been an incredibly fun ride - this is the most fun I've ever seen Hercules portrayed in comics. This volume stands out for the ridiculously funny circumstance in which Hercules winds up pretending to be Thor, and Thor ends up having to pretend to be Hercules. All that and a nipple pinching fight scene makes this one of the most fun to read volume in this series.

Chew

Vol. 1 -

by John Layman and Rob Guillory

Image Comics, 2009

Like this dark humour series about a detective who is able to know what someone else knows once he consumes part of that person.

Note: This series is currently ongoing.

Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #1

by Greg Rucka & Nicola Scott

DC Comics, 2009

This blew me away. This stand-alone tale is a worthy follow-up to the story in which Wonder Woman had to kill Maxwell Lord to save Superman. Wonder Woman never looked so good, or get written so well.