Comics

As Brett Matthews and Sergio Cariello did for The Lone Ranger this time Dynamite Entertainment taps Grendel creator Matt Wagner and artist Francisco Francavilla to retell the classic story of Zorro in this new series.  Here’s our review of the first issue!

Zorro #1
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“A legend is formed by those who hear it..by those who believe it.”

In the tradition of Frank Miller’s Batman: Year One, Matt Wager (creator of Grendel) retells the origin of one of comics earliest and most enduring characters – Zorro.

In this first issue the tale is told of the first appearance of a mysterious demon who attacks a band of soldiers by the lone survivor of the altercation.  Intermixed with his tale is the origin of Diego De La Vega as told by his childhood friend and loyal supporter Bernardo who peals back the veil to give us a look at the important events in the life that shaped Deigo into the man he would become.

There is much here to enjoy and as the story unfolds on multiple fronts from Diego’s first experience at injustice as a child to juming out of the night in the shadows.  In these short and limited panels of our hero’s first foray into the night the story borrows from Miller’s Batman origin tale, which is only fair as Batman has borrowed much from Zorro over the years.  In fact my only real complaint is that it’s done so well we never actually get to see Zorro!

Wagner also adds a new element to including in the tale Isabel Allende’s version of Diego’s mother as a Mexican tribal warrior whose heritage, along with the Spanish heritage from his father, was passed on to her son.  The story includes a Spirit Quest for both Bernardo and Diego as each finds part of their future, and a piece of Zorro.

The art by Francisco Francavilla captures both the harsh light of Diego’s past and the darkness and mystery (what little we do see) of Zorro.  I’ll wait a little longer until the masked man makes more of appearance in the series to provide a final critique, but I like what I’ve seen so far.

The tale is dedicated to Zorro creator Johnston McCulley and the “countless films and comic creators who have chronicled the adventures of America’s first masked super-hero.”  From the first words to the reveal of the final panel the story, one that has been told many times over the years, will keep you enthralled.  Whether this is your first experience to Zorro or your hundredth, this is a Zorro worth spending some time with.

Issue #4 is a bit of a break, a chance to include a pair of familiar faces, and set-up some storylines which should (hopefully) play out down the road.  Taken by itself however the latest issue feels a bit too much like filler before the big fight between Angel and the champion demons of Hell.

Angel: After the Fall #4
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“That almost made the whole damn thing worth it.”

Season Six continues with a few more familiar faces – those of Lorne and the Groosalugg (who show up in Silver Lake of all places), but the anticipated throw-down between Angel and demons is sadly not covered here.

Most of the issue is taken up with Angel’s preparation for the upcoming battle of champions, although we do get a short flashback to Angel’s, and Los Angeles’, first moments in Hell.

Gunn continues to put his plan in action by destroying the Wolfram & Hart Building.  This also has an unexpected consequence on poor Wesley, whether or not this was part of Gunn’s plan or just a side-effect will have to be seen.

We also get more time-loopyness around Spike this time who is offered a Hagun Shaft, said to be able to kill even Immortals, by the Demon Lords as a back up plan to take care of Angel should he find a way to win.  As to why they would saddle this task with Spike, or even Illyria isn’t explained (or even well though out, it seems to me).

Other than the big explosions by Gunn the main trouble with this issue, aside from getting reintroduced to Lorne and Groo, is how much it feels like filler prolonging the battle which is to come.  I’m also a bit concerned that the time-shifts we’ve seen effecting many of the characters haven’t even by addressed yet by the characters themselves (don’t you think someone would have commented on it by now?), or explained by the writers.  This is really the first mis-step of the series; however if some of the foreshadowing comes to fruition in the next few issues perhaps it will be worth it.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

This third volume jumps us into Buffy‘s third season with the start of the original comic run.  Although it’s not as good as Volume One, it’s a definite step-up from the disappointment of Volume Two.  This volume includes a martial arts vamp, Buffy’s new job at the Popsicle Parlor, Xander crashing the girls’ slumber party, demon worshippers, a haunted house, an evil film, and the return of Ethan Rayne.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus Volume 3
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“I tell ya Buff, if I’m gonna fight, you’re gonna have to pun better.”

We jump into the third season with this volume which collects the beginning of the original Buffy comic run.  This third volume begins with “Wu Tang Fang” finding Xander training in martial arts, only to discover his teacher isn’t exactly human, and getting a chance to be heroic.  “Halloween” once again finds Buffy with stuck with a gang of kids for trick-or-treating but this year Willow gets abducted by a pack of vamps and it’s up to Buffy, complete with a Jason Voorhees hockey mask, to save the day.  “Cold Turkey” continues the storyline with the one vampire who escaped whose attempts at revenge go up in flames.

“Dance With Me” is a short tale of Buffy’s “dance” with a vampire who was once one of her classmates.  “White Christmas” returns Angel to the fold and and finds our Slayer working at the Popsicle Parlor for money to buy a dress to the big dance only to discover that her boss is using the walk-in freezer to summon an Ice Demon.  “Happy New Year” brings a tale of a cursed Puritan, hellhounds, and the beginning of a New Year.

”New Kid on the Block” introduces a new character named Cynthia to the gang, a slumber party (which Xander crashes), a family of vampires, and more than a few surprises.  “Food Chain Part 1” and “Food Chain Part 2” starts with Buffy’s concern with Sandy Shipman who is hanging out with the wrong crowd, but takes a complete 180 when Buffy discovers it’s Sandy, who isn’t even human, who is using kids for her own purposes.

”Play with Fire” finds the gang attempting to help the spirit of a teenager trapped in a haunted house.  In “The Final Cut” a film student discovers the power of the movies, and a chance to make all his dreams come true with one of the characters begins to talk to him.  And in “The Latest Craze” Sunnydale is infested with little goblin-like dolls called Hooligans brought to town by none other than Ethan Rayne.

Overall this is a strong volume of tales.  The look of the characters is good, though I think Cordelia and Willow still look a little too much alike and Xander’s a bit too buff (pun intended).  Of the group “Happy New Year” is the weakest story, but still worth looking at for the character interaction.  With a good mix of horror, action, and humor, there’s easily enough here to recommend.