Superman #6, Detective Comics #^^ (First Two-Face) and a mini-review of Inception

COMIC COMMENTARY


Modern Marvels

Superman #6: I've really enjoyed the "rebirth. Revamp" of recent DC books.  It feels like we are in a new renaissance of DC comics.  No where has this been more evident than in the Superman books.  This month's issue wrapped up the Eradicator storyline, sets up a new Superboy that is in its own way unique, and gives us the book's focus on Superman and his son.  Everything that was missing for the past 4 years that shows that this take is doing it right can be summed up in a single image:

Golden Age Greats

Detective Comics #66: When you list the upper-echelon of Batman's villains, Two-Face is always in the top 5.  So it was a pleasant surprise to get to his first appearance.  Almost everything we would think of as classic Two-Face is here: scarred face/scarred coin, basing crimes on "twos', you an even read the animosity between him and Robin here by applying a modern reader's sensibilities since Robin thwarts most of his attempts on Batman's life.  The solution of plastic surgery is mentioned, then discarded, as the only surgeon skilled enough is out of country due to the war.  The only notable differences are that his last name here is Kent, not Dent.  This was also notable for being a continuing story.  Early strips were modeled after newspaper strips, but other than a villain appearing to die or escape in one issue and come back in the next, this is the first time I think there has been a definitive "To be continued".  Also of note is a Boy Commando tale where a reporter from the far future has a mummy relate a wartime tale of a conflict between Nazis and the Boy Commandos in Egypt.  Yeah, I'll repeat that: a mummy tales a reporter in a space age future about a battle in WWII.


MOVIE MADNESS

Inception: I just watched Inception for the first time.  I found it to be really interesting and visually really creative.  I enjoyed it on its surface, but I think those trying to find multiple layers and readings on the film to parallel the multiple layers of dream presented in the film are trying to hard, and while many reviewers at the time tried to present it as an extremely complex narrative, I think on the whole it was relatively simple (but then multiple earths, timelines, etc. are my bread and butter so what do I know).  My really only complaint with this film was Marion Cotilliard.  I don't know if I've seen her in anything else, but she really grates on the nerves here as Mal.