Graphic Breakdown: ‘Dark Knight III’#5, ‘X-O Manowar’ V. 11, ‘Suiciders: Kings Of Hell. A.’ #1-4

Welcome back to Graphic Breakdown!

There were some pretty good comics that came down the pipeline on Wednesday!

So let’s talk about those.

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #5

Written by Brian Azzarello and Frank Miller
Illustrated by Andy Kubert and Frank Miller
Published by DC Comics.

This series is totally bananas.

And I love every second of it.

This is the third part of the Dark Knight trilogy, and we are more than halfway through the series. It’s written with a verve that I can’t get enough of.

Miller and Azzarello make for a surprisingly great team on the writer side of things. I just want to see them tackle more heroes. Maybe, the Justice League?

It’s fun and out of it’s mind yet completely compelling. Kubert does some great work here with Klaus Janson inking. It’s exciting, vibrant, with some great storytelling.

The mini-comics drawn by Miller in the middle are a novelty too, and it adds that something extra…like a nice after dinner mint.

The original Dark Knight is a milestone book. Miller will never touch that. But this is a fun, well planned book. I am enjoying it and it’s craziness immensely.

RATING: A-

X-O Manowar Volume 11: The Kill List

Written by Robert Venditti and Illustrated by Robert Gill
Published by Valiant Comics

This book is a guilty pleasure.

I have enjoyed it from the start. It has never been completely amazing, yet it’s just a good time. I enjoy it. It’ll never be the top book on the market but it is solid.

Venditti writes Aric very well and makes the whole affair compelling. The plot revolved around Aric and Ninjak hunting down aliens. That’s pretty much what you need to know. After that, fighting and adventures ensues.

And that’s all you need.  I like Venditti. I like what he does. I do wish he would write a book like his first (The Surrogates) but until he does again I’ll accept this.

The first two issues collected here were rather a bore. But once the Kill List story got going it was exciting and wild. Pick this up. It’s a good time that you’ll forget about ten minutes after you read it. And that’s okay by me.

RATING:B

Suiciders: Kings Of Hell. A. #1-4 

Written by Lee Bermego and Illustrated by Allesandro Vitti
Published by DC/Vertigo Comics

Vertigo used to be the place I would go when I was a teenager to find the best stories, with new worlds, incredible visuals, and striking comics. Lately, they have been really off. Some hits. Some misses.

The original Suiciders series was something of a hit. I liked it. And so here we are for part two.

Now that first series was decent enough. Some bad passing moments. but Bermejo’s art made it worth it overall. He’s great. Here, he leaves the art duties to Vitti. I was concerned about that. When I finally picked up to read the four issues I was blown away. The art IS FANTASTIC.

The art elevates what could have been a standard story. It was awesome. I want to grab everything Vitti has done. I am just wowed by it.

Suiciders will never be at the top of my reading list. But it will be in my reading list. A solid book by the earnest Bermejo and a top artist doing amazing work? Sold!

RATING: B+