November Marvel Previews |
Booster Gold #11
Written by Chuck Dixon
Art by Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund
Review by Ryan Stevens
You read that right, true believer! In this very issue, Drury Walker, aka Killer Moth, goes toe-to-toe with the caped crusader, (which in itself has been done plenty times before), but this time, “Killer Moth” actually does the seemingly impossible: He KO’s the Dark Knight, his Boy Wonder, AND Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl! Now you may be wondering “Waitaminnit! Barbara Gordon was shot by the Joker, and is currently wheelchair bound ! How can she be Batgirl?!?” Well, it’s fairly simple: This book is actually about Booster Gold, who has gone from a selfish faux-hero dipstick to a true-blue time traveling crime stopper. So, the time-traveling aspect may help you answer your previous question.
So, quick recap: This issue is about (without giving too much away) Batman , Killer Moth, Booster Gold, and time-travel. Honestly, this does not sound like it could possibly be a very serious story. You’ve got a guy dressing like a moth for heaven’s sake. Writer Chuck Dixon makes sure to not take the story too seriously, with self-referential humor sprinkled throughout. That’s not too say this issue a big knee-slapping giggle-fest. There are plenty of scenes of suspense and tension, and Dixon throws in plenty of twists and turns in the plot to keep you guessing. The issue begins with a scene that pulls the rug right out from under the reader, and ends on a shocking cliff-hanger.
This is the first of a two-issue fill-in arc for Dixon, and despite the previous writers, Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz leaving a tough act to follow, Dixon carries the ongoing plot without so much as the slightest gaffe. It doesn’t even feel like Johns and Katz are gone. While I would have liked to see Dixon make this book his own, it’s still expertly written, so no harm, no foul.
Now, it certainly would be a shame if this fantastic plot was poorly rendered by some sketchy, scrappy, terribly untalented artist, wouldn’t it? Well, thank goodness for Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund, who take care to keep the art from being anything but great. The art is crisp and clean, Booster Gold and Batman’s outfits are extremely vibrant, and even Killer Moth comes off as looking at least semi-cool. Dan Jurgens is the original creator of Booster Gold, and this love between man and creation bleeds through the page, like a four-color Frankenstein’s monster wearing a big, shiny, blue-&-gold outfit. Unfortunately, Jurgens and Rapmund’s rendition of Robin is that of the green Speedo. This may not be the artists’ fault, but it is still an absolute crime against humanity.
I can strongly recommend this issue, and frankly any issue of this series, to anyone who enjoys the comic book medium. Great story, great art, great comic! Despite the inclusion of the Robin Speedo, I give this issue
9 out of 10 fanboys who care about Killer Moth
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Secret Invasion #5 |
