Latest Comic Book Reviews (07.12.2011) - Flashpoint: Batman - Knight of Vengeance #2 & American Vampire #16

Two stunning comic book with fantastic cliffhangers and shocking reveals in a comic book week that's full of surprises. Yes, reviews are little bit late, but as the saying goes - "better late than never".

All my reviews after the jump.

Graphic Novel Review: Joker

"Joker"

Written by Brian Azzarello

Art by Lee Bermejo

Colors by Patricia Mulvihill

Published by DC Comics

The team of Brian Azzarello and Lee Bermejo never ceases to amaze and entertain me with every work they've done.  Their insightful take on the mind of Superman's greatest foe Lex Luthor in Lex Luthor: Man of Steel was impressive, and I loved the fact that they avoided telling a boring origin story and instead,  attempted to "break-in" into the mind of the genius bald-headed villain by telling a story through  Luthor's perspective.

This one is no different. 

Joker is released from the bars of the dreaded Arkham Asylum after many years and though glad that he out of the penitentiary, the clown immediately realizes that the people he trusted took everything that he has thinking that he was dead for good. Frustrated, he goes on a mission to take back what is "his" and begins the journey of rebuilding his criminal empire together with his newest recruit - a man named as Jonny Frost - who also serves as the narrator of the novel.

Comic Book Review: Lex Luthor - Man of Steel

 Lex Luthor: Man Of Steel

Writer: Brian Azzarello

Artist: Lee Bermejo

Issues: 5

Published by DC Comics

Just like Alan Moore's Batman: The Killing Joke, the story of Lex Luthor: Man of Steel is narrated by non-other than Lex Luthor himself, who we know as Superman's greatest adversary. We know him as the evil billionaire and intelligent business man who stops at nothing to get rid of the Last Son of Krypton.

But the striking difference of this comic book title is that Luthor isn't depicted here as a ruthless individual, but rather a charitable one - which is very different from what we have read through the years. Nonetheless, he still dreams of a "World Without a Superman" and wonders why people have embraced an alien who shoots fire from his eyes just because he looks human. He despises everything that Superman is and believes that one day he will stop at helping people to finally conquer the world. So he takes matters in to his own hands and creates a plan to stop and discredit Superman to the entire world. 

We get to see Batman here as well and his alter-ego Bruce Wayne, who does some sort of business together with Lex Luthor to defeat Superman. What now? Luthor + Batman > Superman? I honestly never saw that coming, but they did team up here for a while which was surprising. Oh, and Lex gets to make love... with a robot. Seriously. You always have to admire it when writers try to mix up new concoctions in a comic book and the team of Azzarello and Bermejo did a heck of a job in that department.

The narratives and dialogues are fantastic and partnered with an dirty and sketchy art, I would have to say that this is a great read and would make you see Lex Luthor and Superman in a different light. Had real fun reading it.