Meaningless Awards of the Week- 12/6/06


Detective 826Crazy Guy of the Week- The Joker

Paul Dini is writing the best Batman comic I’ve ever read. Even when the issue hardly has Batman in it, it’s still great. In Detective Comics #826, The Joker takes Robin for a joyride through the streets and the population of Gotham City. The Joker is at his best when he’s just being violently crazy for no apparent reason. And that’s what he is here. The Joker probably just woke up and thought “I think I’ll try and torture Robin a little bit today.” So he did. And he was funny as hell while he was doing it. Is there something wrong with me for thinking that?

Crazy Guy of the Week Runner-Up- Starman

Wow, that new Starman’s bonkers. You don’t see a bonafide insane person as a superhero very often. I guess you’ve got the Creeper, but that’s about it. Oh, and this particular crazy guy likes to spout off potentially prophetic phrases jumbled in within complete nonsense. This should be fun.

Artist of the Week- Tim Sale

Jean-Claude Van Doom mentioned Sale’s art earlier this week, and I’ve got to agree it was pretty spectacular. This image of Superman is easily my favorite panel from the issue, and it just happens to be the one Jean-Claude mentioned in his review.

Superman Confidential 2

Writer of the Week- Robert Kirkman

Robert Kirkman had three books come out this week: The Irredeemable Ant-Man #3, Invincible #37 and The Walking Dead #33. Actually, he had four books if you count The Official Handbook to the Invincible Universe #1, but he didn’t actually write any of that. The three issues he did write were all very good and all very different. Invincible was good old-fashioned superhero fun, Ant-Man was funny in an awkward kind of way, and TWD was…well, you know. Not many writers today have that sort of range.

Tease of the Week- Justice Society of America #1

Yes, that is Alex Ross doing that last panel.

JSA 1

Line of the Week- The Joker, from Detective Comics #826 by Paul Dini

“I mean, we never do this…just hang out. We’re always trying to, I don’t know…is “destroy each other” too melodramatic?”

Walking Dead 33Book of the Week- The Walking Dead #33

While some great, great stuff came out this week (Superman Confidential, Justice Society of America, Doctor Strange: The Oath, Invincible and Detective Comics, just to name a few), one issue stood out above all the rest by sinking lower than any other book. I expected this issue to be a knock-down, drag-out fight between Michonne and the Governor. Instead, there’s a very short fight and the rest of the issue is Michonne torturing the Governor in increasingly gruesome ways. Then after it’s all over, Michonne catches up with Rick & Co. and acts like she doesn’t remember what happened. Or maybe she actually doesn’t remember it happen. After 33 issues you’d think I’d be able to anticipate things a little, but The Walking Dead continues to surprise me. Issue #33 was horrific, but in the absolute best way possible.