Back Alley Deals
Written by: Francis Manapul
Art by: Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Brad Anderson and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 16, 2016
I made the declaration that this book was "My Justice League" after the excellent first issue. It may not have all the characters that DC's flagship title has, but the quality was leaps and bounds better than anything we've seen since Rebirth started. The second issue, unfortunately, started showing some chinks in the armor and just wasn't as good as the first. So, does this issue get back on track by taking the White Mercy train to Gotham or does that just muddy up a story that really needs things to get...less muddy? Let's find out.
The issue opens with a scene that had to make each and every Batman fan sit up and take notice. A familiar family leaving the movie theater after watching Zorro? Yep, it's happening again! Of course, this is a bit different since Batman and the rest of the Trinity are watching it all from a rooftop while our Batman narrates it all.
Meanwhile in the real world, the Trinity is enveloped in the Mercy plant while Lois is trying to get into the barn where they and Jon are help captive. While we still aren't getting any solid rules to the story (especially during the "somewhen" parts), the art is so good that I was kind of just in it for the scenery at this point.
Back to "somewhen", we get a young Bruce being helped by a very unlikely doctor. It makes no sense whatsoever, but at least Batman is aware of the problem as well. It all continues with a nightmare scene where young Bruce interacts with the Trinity, but they come off as demons to the little guy and again, I was confused by the story, but in awe of the art.
The story ends with a heavy handed, Good Will Hunting "It's not your fault" moment with both young Bruce Wayne and our Batman being comforted by loved ones while in the real world, Lois shows nothing is going to come between her and her little boy...not a barn door or a Gotham villain who still feels a bit out of place in this story.
My love of this book is waning fast. Francis Manapul seems to be content with giving the reader smoke and mirrors instead of real answers and big looking moments instead of real story progression. Who is the big bad behind it all? What is the Mercy plant actually doing and how does it work? How does Poison Ivy know who Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince are? There are so many things I want to know and I'd hope after three issues we'd know something. Not everything, mind you, but something.
I loved Clay Mann's art. He does a great job of keeping it in the style of Francis Manapul and damn it, it looks great!!! Seriously, this is one of those books that reviewers say the art is worth the price of admission alone. I won't say that because I'm not lame...but it totally is!
Bits and Pieces:
I am quickly losing interest in this book which is a shame because after the first issue, I thought I was all in. However, Francis Manapul is in no hurry to give the reader rules and answers and while Clay Mann's art is spectacular, I can't recommend this issue. Hopefully, Manapul will turn it around quick because there is a lot of potential here and I'd hate to see it go to waste.
6.0/10
Well, maybe this was aimed to real newcomers who are really new at everything.
ReplyDeleteFirst 2 didn't seem that way to me
DeleteMaybe you were right Jim! Maybe this IS the Justice League. About the same level of work IMHO.
ReplyDeleteI loved this issue. The mercy is being used as a way for the Trinity to bond and learn about each other. This is wonderful because this Superman (as of now) is a mystery to Bruce and Diana. And here we get Clark and Diana learning about Bruce's back story which is great since Batman has never been one to share yet under the power of the mercy, he has no choice. I'm excited about the team building strong bonds here at the beginning of this run and I'd give this book an 8/10
ReplyDeleteI do like that, but the fact that things aren't "real" (Harleen being Bruce's therapist, ect) kind of ruins that a bit
DeleteThis issue made me a little confused as to what the actual point was, but I can't say I really disliked it. I hope it leads to something and if it doesn't that will disappoint me, but this issue alone didn't really feel all that bad to me.
ReplyDeleteThis book is very disappointing. But then the premise is very forced. It's basically trying to force three character together who the reader have no real reason to believe what is being said other than Lois told you to and nostalgia. I don't have to be told the Trinity are a good team when they work together. I had many stories in the past and the new 52 tell me that. What this is is not 3 characters who are bonded because Superman is not from this timeline, Diana is some rebooted version who is confused so she is not the new 52 counterpart. I don't know why we and DC are even pretending they are and they all going to be superbuddies because they writing some confusing cheap version of Moore's great classic. And this book from the beginning seems like its got some agenda to play up to Lois Lane fans hence her being shoe horned into the scene just like the first issue when she narrated as if she was the big expert on the Trinity. Thanks but no thanks. I don't need a Trinity book being an apology book for how wise and badass Lois Lane is. There is a Superman book for that and Tomasi showed this already. I wanted a book with the three iconic heroes doing hero things. Seems hard to get these days. Because JL is pretty bad as well.
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