Dead Body Road 1 (December 2013)

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Dead Body Road has a real nice feel to it. This issue has a mix of nostalgic to the thirties and forties with nostalgic to the seventies. There’s one scene straight out of Mad Max, even though Road is apparently set in the modern day.

The story is simple–there’s one confusing character as Justin Jordan sets up a subplot–but otherwise it’s simple. Jordan’s dialogue is weak at times, but it eventually either gets better or it doesn’t matter because the car chase is just an awesome sequence.

Matteo Scalera’s art doesn’t leave any room for humor in Road but he doesn’t play up the downbeat nature either. It feels like a tough action story, but one with room to noir elements along. The issue doesn’t even have a well-paced finish, just a final couple panels, but Jordan and Scalera are able to the issue coast along nicely.

CREDITS

Writer, Justin Jordan; artist, Matteo Scalera; colorist, Moreno Dinisio; letterer, Pat Brosseau; editor, Sean Mackiewicz; publisher, Image Comics.

Batman 380 (February 1985)

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What an odd turn of events. One can’t help but note Moench is following a number of story beats–corrupt politician, villain masquerading as Batman–Gerry Conway did immediately prior in his lengthy run, not to mention other writers before them.

Rick Hoberg takes over the pencils for the issue (just this one, I hope) and he makes things feel very generic, very superhero. Moench tries character scenes for Jason and Nocturna, which doesn’t work out too well with the pencils, and the mind-bending scenes are just silly.

Moench also has a real problem with the villain, the Night-slayer–he’s a lousy villain. Facing off against Dr. Fang, Moench’s problems with lame villains is just too obvious. Plus, all the events hinge on not just Nocturna being incapable, but Jason and Batman too.

Without a good penciller, Moench’s weaknesses are just too much. The issue can’t overcome them.

CREDITS

End of the Bat; writer, Doug Moench; penciller, Rick Hoberg; inker, Alfredo Alcala; colorist, Adrienne Roy; letterer, Ben Oda; editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.

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