Hellfire Girls

Finished this recently. I am that rare creature who looks for and often enjoys spin off media. I don't hold my nose about it, either. Writing a story is writing a story. It's difficult. It rarely pays, and even more rarely pays well. Few people do it, and even fewer do it well. I don't care whether it's  your sandbox or someone else's--all I can ask is that you entertain me.

Brimstone Angels entertained me. It's a Dungeons and Dragons novel, set in the world of the Forgotten Realms. It tells the story of a tiefling called Farideh, who becomes a warlock by accident kinda? Because of this, she, her twin sister and her adopted Dragonborn old man have to amscray from their home and make their living as mercenaries. Following this unexpected career path, they run into new friends, old conspiracies, and a devil who--despite giving Farideh her powers--may not have her best interests completely at heart.

Erin M. Evans goes above and beyond the expectations of the genre here. She gives Farideh more depth than you'd find in a Salvatore novel, even if at times Brimstone Angels slides into YA novel territory, with its focus on crushes and bad boy boyfriends. With a devil as a supporting character, it's no surprise that she works in the Realms version of Hell and all the politics simmering away down there. This was darker than I had expected to be, to be honest. Evans ties it all together quite well.

While the novel feels like it wanders a bit in the middle, Evans brings things to a satisfactory conclusion. The story continues in a second volume, which I have yet to pick up.

The only problems I had with the book are really just problems with the source material. I'm not a fan of easy magic in novels, and this being Dungeons and Dragons, fireballs and healing spells fly around like nobody's business. I also find myself wondering just how the economy works in this place, since everyone seems to be either out on a quest, hiding their true identities, or plotting some epic malfeasance. Aside from a few guards and shop owners, no one seems to have a job. How does anyone eat in this place?

These are the questions that plague me.

Having only read on Dungeons and Dragons novel before, Brimstone Angels was a definite improvement.

Lovers In A Dangerous Time: Batman #40

As the concluding chapter in a wonderful story, I could just say see below for my thoughts.  Suffice to  say Tom King sticks the landing. Jones' art continues to make me sigh. So instead of just mindlessly praising this issue I found myself thinking how impossible this kind of story would have been twenty years ago.

A Batman story about time mechanics and sexual temptation all set against the hopeless backdrop of an eternal Hell dimension. Back then, the story would have been twelve issues long, all leading up to a major dramatic climax and then ending on the last page with a narrative reboot button or a hand waving It Never Really Happened Suckers. Zatanna made a spell! The Anti-Monitor had created a pocket dimension! It was all a dream! You can't believe we were actually serious!

Burned.

Which isn't to say DC won't do the same with this ongoing arc. I've been burned before. If you've read comics for any length of time, you've been burned before. For example, the Dick Grayson as Batman stories were a joy and made such narrative sense, such mythological sense, and it ended with all the gravitas of a needle scratch across a record.

If they do this with King's arc--or in any way not go through with the marriage--I will be very disappointed. But as sure as I am that will happen, I will just enjoy these issues for what they are.

Another thing: I really enjoyed Wonder Woman's depiction here. I don't read her current series and am a few years behind on JLA so I'm not sure what she's like these days. Here, I like how she speaks as if English isn't her mother tongue, eschewing contractions. Her sense of humour is also delightfully odd and individualistic. While King uses banter here for comedic effect, each interchange between Batman and Wonder Woman shows who they are as well as being amusing. There's a scene where they discuss their pets that is especially effective in this regard.

I'm guessing the current Wonder Woman is based on the movie version since that really won many people over, but I haven't seen it yet. But if this is how she's shown these days, I think it's perfect. Just like the rest of this comic.

Stuck In The Middle With You

Another issue where King focuses on relationships instead of Batman beating the beejeezus out of some gimmick obsessed bad guy. This time, the relationships in focus are both Batman's relationship with Catwoman and his work relationship with Wonder Woman.

With the I'll believe it when I see it marriage of Batman and Catwoman somewhere in the near future, recent issues of Batman have been looking at their relationship from different angles. The framing for The War of Jokes and Riddles was Batman explaining something he did during that conflict to Catwoman, so she knows what he considers to be a dark secret.  Catwoman facing Talia Al' Ghul showed how much she loved him. The Superfriends date issues with Lois and Clark showed how Catwoman sees Batman, and what their everyday relationship is like.

Now, with issue #39, we see what temptation looks like.

The story centres around a question: What if you had to go out of town for work with a female co-worker for a day, but that day turned into decades? If you only had each other for that long, both of you enduring terrible stress and looking for any sort of escape,would you still remain faithful to the one you left behind?

This story reminds me of a similar one from years ago, something similar but with Superman and Wonder Woman. I think it was in Action Comics? Regardless, this story is done far better, complemented with absolutely gorgeous art by Joelle Jones.

Another fine issue in an increasingly wonderful run.

When Comics Are Great: Batman Annual #2

 I've been late to Tom King's run on Batman. From what I've read--and it hasn't been the entire run--I find his strengths are in in character and dialogue, in which he shines. And Batman Annual #2 is simply him shining very, very bright.

One of the things I've liked plot wise on his run is the engagement of Batman and Catwoman. DC Comics hedged for decades about having heroes in relationships, unless they were clearly second stringers. Those heroes--like the Flash and Green Arrow, for example--were allowed to have girlfriends, have sex and lead somewhat normal lives. Superman and Batman, however, had to forever remain aloof and above such petty concerns. Or if they did have a relationship, they ended in tragedy and made them even more resolute to never let themselves be that weak again. Much gritting of teeth and staring at sunsets.

With comic readers--at least those who actually go and buy the damn things-- aging out and the new readers determinedly not swarming in, DC seems to be letting their once celibate heroes reflect the lives of those selfsame readers. So now Superman is married to Lois and has a son. And Batman and Catwoman are going steady. Which brings us to this Annual.

With this comic, King focuses entirely on the relationship between Catwoman and Batman, beginning with what could be called a 'first date'. It's gloriously written, highlighting the connection between the two over two separate periods of time. To explain how he does this would be to spoil the joy of reading it for yourself. After reading these characters for almost fifty years, I can honestly say that King and I are on the same page when it comes to these characters. He clearly loves them as much as I do--and believe me, I love them a lot.