AZRAEL #13
What did the
iFanboy
community think?
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Art and cover by GUILLEM MARCH
Size: 32 pages
Price: 2.99
This review contains spoilers, click here to read
*This is a review of the entire storyarc of David Hine's and Guillem March's first run on the title. I'm doing this partially because I bought all of them at once and I have thoughts for the entire arc. But also partially because DC won't put this in a collection until January 2012 (more than likely). So I like to keep the thoughts fresh*
When Azrael was first brought back to DC, I was intrigued to pick this series up. The mini-series that started it all with Fabian Nicieza and Frazier Irving definitely made it a must-buy for me to buy the ongoing. Although Ramon Bachs artwork throughout the run did ruin some of the enjoyment (it was awful, trust me) it was still a fresh title to read. Definitely something I wouldn't recommend for everyone to read. But if you are interesting in religion, faith, and anything like the sort (regardless of religion affiliation) it was a great read month after month.
With the new creative team though, I wasn't really thrilled to continue it. At the time I wasn't well verse in the writing of David Hine and the prospect of seeing Guillem March artwork on this felt wrong in a lot of ways. So I bailed out once #10 hit the stands so many months ago. With a lot of praise on the series since I left, I felt compelled to give Hine and March's first arc a shot. Was it really worth it?
First I gotta say, I am shocked this ever got the green light. Not with the aspects of how blasphemous the material is here (more on that in a second), but with the insane amount of violence in here. Now I know violence and comic books can go hand in hand sometimes, but this is just insane. I felt like I was reading a Garth Ennis book published by Avatar and Juan Jose Ryp was artist. There is actual 'flaying' going on in this arc! Flaying! I literally had to put the issues down for a second because I was just not prepaired for this. I know this is unrealistic but I have an idea that Dan Didio seriously had no idea that this series was still being published. Cause if he did, then I would like to see his reaction for each issue of this coming out.
But I'm overreacting on the violence in this comic a bit. I really should admit that what David Hine wrote in this arc is miles better then what Fabian Nicieza did in nine issues. I feel bad saying this, because I still like what Nicieza wrote during the first run. But it really feels like Hine has a much better grasp over what Michael Lane is as a character and the overall theme of the book. Heck, he definitely does more with the secondary characters in here then what the previous nine issues and mini-series did in the past. I also like how daring the actual plot of the arc was. I mean when you balantly say that Jesus Christ was never ressurected....that's gonna raise a few eyebrows. But to give Hine credit, he makes the blasphemous material work well into the characterization of Lane and the overal mythos of the Suit of Sorrows. (Reviewer's Note: I am not deeply religious so I only say 'blashphemous' in terms of anyone else that might be offended by this arc. If you see the phrase 'Jesus Christ was never ressurected' and freak out about it....Then I can't recommend this to you.)
The major reason I didn't want to read this arc was because of Guillem March. Ever since I read 'Gotham City Sirens', I just didn't want to see this 'cheesecake' artist take over the title. Sure he would be an improvement to Ramon Bachs. But ANYONE could've been an improvement anyways. But reading this arc, and looking at the covers for each issue, I gotta say he did some amazing work in here. There's some wonky faces here and a few transitions are a bit erratic. But what is here outside of those nitpicks are pretty beautiful. Maybe it's also the coloring by Tomeu Morey, but everything really comes alive on the page. When the violence gets heavy, he doesn't hold back. Hell there are a few times where women and children are brutally slaughtered. Definitely, once again, not for the faint of heart. But there are some great moments in this. Basically anytime Azrael gets his swords out, it is a sight to behold. The blue and red flames floating around the swords are fantastic. I still don't think I want to read 'Gotham City Sirens' again with him as artist. But I hope I see more of March's contribution to the series as long as it lasts.
Speaking of which, I did hear that this series may be cancelled in a few months. Which doesn't surprise me because: A) It's a lower tier book and B) Didio probably saw the flaying in the final issue and wondered what the hell he approved. I do hope that it doesn't get cancelled anytime soon though. These four issues were a blast to read mainly because, like the previous Nicieza/Bachs run, it is the freshest comic on the stands right now. Not the best mind you, but fresh in that you won't read a mainstream comic (or any comic for that matter) that takes a good look at religion. Hell I am not even a religious person but the topics involved here really make me think. David Hine is really great at writing Azrael and the mythos that now goes along with him. Plus March really did some of his best work with these four issues and I was really impressed by his work. Considering I did see a taste (in previews) on the future of this series; I really am excied on where this title is gonna go. If you haven't read any issue of this series I really urge you to do so. Maybe not if you're a fairly religious person, but if you are fine with some of the heavy topics involved here; you should like it too.
Art: 4 - Very Good
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