• Julie Murphy’s Faith: Taking Flight
• TJ Klune’s The Extraordinaries

All cards on the table, the only thing I knew about Teen Titans before going into this book could be summarised in less than a sentence. That being said, I feel like I enjoyed I Am Not Starfire almost more because of it since I didn’t have any expectations for the story. And really, I don’t know what it is about this graphic novel, but the vibes were just impeccable. Mandy struggles to connect with people because of her superhero mother Starfire, who everyone wants to talk about instead of about Mandy herself. Mandy’s seen as little more than an extension of her mother at school, and people either flock to her to find out whether she also has superpowers or to get in with her mother. Thus, Mandy spends most of her school days isolating from everyone except for her best friend Lincoln. That is, until a school project forces her into close proximity with Claire, a beautiful, popular girl who Mandy might just be crushing on. And who might just like Mandy back.

Yoshi Yoshitani’s artwork in this is stunning. Mandy has such distinct looks and I adored that we got some body diversity in this graphic novel. Not to mention that the black lipstick, sharp makeup, and overall badass vibes that Mandy has throughout this novel made me nostalgic for my youth.

This graphic novel also picked up on generational differences and especially the struggle of Mandy connecting to her mother and vice versa. Both of them love the other, but they don’t really know how to express that without starting a fight so they often tiptoe around the other or placate each other to keep the peace. It’s such a relatable take on the whole “How do I communicate with my parents/my teenage daughter” discussion that it will for sure make readers cringe with secondhand embarrassment (because hello, we’ve all been there, superhero parent or not) and want to hug their parents extra firmly just for the heck of it.

There’s also a queer romance at the heart of it all which was just so cute. Claire and Mandy are so cute and even though Mandy tries her hardest to be seen as abrasive, you could get a feel for who she would be if she let someone else in.

There’s of course also an epic showdown which I will not spoil at the end of the graphic novel but wow, oh wow, was I here for it. Mandy comes into her own in ways I could have never imagined and I loved how the resolution tied in with her relationship with her mother and while things definitely change for Mandy, she still stays true to herself. All in all, if you’re in need of a good time, this graphic novel’s for you!

A fun, queer take on the “not the chosen one” trope, I Am Not Starfire is a quick read perfect for fans of The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune!

I Am Not Starfire is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up I Am Not Starfire? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

From New York Times bestselling author Mariko Tamaki (Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) and artist Yoshi Yoshitani (Zatanna and the House of Secrets) comes a story about Mandy, the daughter of super-famous superhero Starfire, and her desperate attempts to get out from under her shadow.

Seventeen-year-old Mandy Koriand’r is not her mother. Daughter of Starfire and high school outcast, Mandy is constantly trying to get out from under the shadow of her bright, bubbly, scantily clad, and famous mother. Dyeing her bright orange hair black and sticking close to her best friend, Lincoln, Mandy spends her days at school avoiding Teen Titans superfans and trying to hide her feelings for the gorgeous, popular, and perfect Claire. And while Mandy usually avoids spending too much time with her alien mother, she’s been particularly quiet as she’s keeping one major secret from her: Mandy walked out of her S.A.T.

While Mandy continues to tell Lincoln her plans of moving to France to escape the family spotlight and not go to college, she secretly hides a fear of not knowing her identity outside of just being the daughter of a superhero and who she will become. But when she is partnered with Claire to work on a school project, their friendship develops into something more and a self-confidence unknown to Mandy begins to bloom. Claire seems to like Mandy for being Mandy, not the daughter of Starfire.

But when someone from Starfire’s past comes to disrupt Mandy’s future, Mandy must finally make a choice: give up before the battle has even begun, or step into the unknown and risk everything. I Am Not Starfire is a story about mother-daughter relationships, embracing where you come from while finding your own identity, and learning to be unafraid of failing, if it was even failing in the first place.

The post #ReadWithPride: I Am Not Starfire by Mariko Tamaki appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Mainstream superhero comics have become pretty grim over the last couple of decades. DC, the home of Superman and Batman, is no stranger to this trend. Not too long ago, the Joker cut off his own face in Detective Comics. In Teen Titans, Wonder Dog turned into a crazed beast and mauled two characters. Former Green Arrow sidekick Arsenal attacked some guys in an alley because, in his drugged mind, he mistook a dead cat for his daughter. What happened to all of the fun and hopeful comics?

There is a place for dark, gritty storytelling in superhero comics. Still, it’s easy for readers to feel overwhelmed with the increasingly mature output of mainstream superhero publishers. Thankfully, in an ocean of grimdark stories, readers still can find the occasional oasis of superhero tales that are bright, optimistic, and fun. Here are five of the most underappreciated DC comic book runs that put fun first.

5. Smallville: Season 11

Smallville is both famous and infamous. The television series premiered in 2001 and attempted to bring superheroes to the small screen. In order to make Superman appealing to younger viewers, creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar focused on a teenage Clark Kent. The ten seasons of Smallville were, in essence, his journey toward becoming Superman.

The show, throughout much of its run, rejected the trappings of the comic books. “No flights, no tights” was the basic rule of the series. When the finale aired in 2011, the show still refused to put star Tom Welling into a Superman suit. Fans of this version of Clark Kent never got to see “their” Superman in action. Then, in 2012, DC comics returned to the world of Smallville with a Season 11 comic book continuation. Bryan Q. Miller was brought into the fold as writer, in part thanks to his extensive history with the franchise. Miller actually started his television career as an unpaid intern for Smallville. Before the series was over, he had become its Executive Story Editor.

What Makes Smallville: Season 11 So Much Fun?
As a continuation of Smallville, the book is nearly flawless. Miller obviously knows these characters and does a fantastic job picking up where they left off. More than that, he manages to boldly move many of the characters in new directions.

The art is also quite good, thanks to a rotating staff of artists. Although some artists attempt to capture the likeness of the actors, most focus on drawing the characters themselves. This creates some inconsistency between story arcs, but it never distracts from the overall sensibilities of the book.

The appeal of Smallville: Season 11, however, goes a lot deeper than seeing Tom Welling’s version of Clark Kent properly become Superman. There’s more to enjoy here than catching up with beloved television characters. The stories are simply really good Superman tales.

A More Traditional Superman Comic
At the time Smallville: Season 11 hit shelves, DC was going through its “New 52” reboot. Two main continuity Superman comics were available at the time. In Action Comics, Grant Morrison was crafting a highly unusual, but fun Year One style Superman story. A younger, inexperienced Clark Kent fought against injustice while still coming into his full powers.

In Superman, Dan Jurgens tried to tell traditional Superman stories with mixed results. The “New 52” Superman was young and brash, a far cry from the seasoned, mild-mannered character of the previous continuity. When writer Scott Lobdell replaced Jurgens on Superman, things got…weird. 

In short, neither main Superman comic book at the time actually featured a traditional depiction of Superman. Smallville: Season 11, however, managed to lean on the continuity of the television series while crafting traditional Superman tales. Each story seemed to move the Smallville continuity closer to something Superman’s comic book fans would find familiar. 

Superman meets Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern for the first time. He travels to the future and encounters the Legion of Superheroes. He tussles with Lex Luthor and deals with a crisis on a parallel Earth. These stories feel both familiar and, thanks to the Smallville flavour, fresh.

Smallville: Season 11: The Bottom Line
At the time DC published Smallville: Season 11, it may have been the best monthly Superman comic book on the market. Today, the book continues to hold up well as a series of alternate reality Superman stories that are a lot of fun.

4. Power Girl 

Who is Power Girl?
Like so many DC characters, Power Girl is…complicated. Through several reboots, DC editorial has continuously recontextualised the character. The most popular version, however, is simply an older, grown-up version of Supergirl from a parallel Earth.

Continuity baggage, however, is not Power Girl’s sole sticking point. Her costume, while iconic in its own right, has also been a source of debate among fans and creators. It features a “cleavage window”, an actual hole in her clothes that reveals part of her breasts. She has become, in some ways, one of the most sexualised characters in DC comics.

What makes Power Girl so much fun?
So, how does a character like Power Girl end up on a list of comic books that are, above all else, fun? Chalk it up to the creative team of Jimmy Plamiotti, Justin Gray, and Amanda Conner. The trio had a memorable 12-issue run on Power Girl’s solo series that kicked off in May of 2009. 

The best way to describe the series is lighthearted and fun. The super heroics and the action set pieces are big and bombastic, but the book never takes itself too seriously. Palmiotti and Gray find the humour in moments both big and small and imbue their stories with witty, playful dialogue.

Amanda Conner’s art is a revelation here. The characters are expressive and full of personality. She manages to perfectly capture the spirit of the dialogue and situations. Power Girl is a stunningly gorgeous comic book.

Power Girl – The bottom line
After the first 12 issues, the entire creative team departed and author Judd Winick took over writing duties. The tone of the book shifted dramatically, and, although Winick is a capable writer in his own right, Power Girl never managed to recapture the pure joy of those first 12 issues.

3. Blue Beetle 

Who is the Blue Beetle?
There have been three distinct Blue Beetles over the decades. Dan Garrett was the first Blue Beetle and drew his power from a mystical scarab. Ted Kord, who had no superpowers, became the second Blue Beetle. His time as a member of the Justice League alongside best friend Booster Gold ushered in a golden age for humorous super heroics in the 1980s.

Then, Ted Kord died in the lead-up to DC’s 2005 crossover Infinite Crisis and a new Blue Beetle made his debut. Teenager Jaime Reyes may be, arguably, the best Blue Beetle to date. Dan Garrett’s mystical scarab, which turns out to actually be an alien weapon, fuses to Jaime’s spine. The artificial intelligence of the Scarab envelops Jaime in armour and provides him with weapons and the ability to fly.

What makes Blue Beetle so much fun?
Blue Beetle, which began publication in 2006, was simply ahead of its time. It managed to combine the teenage super heroics of Ultimate Spider-Man with the cultural touchstones of something like Ms. Marvel, which didn’t come along until 2014.

Jaime, as a Latino teenager living in El Paso, Texas, reflects the culture of his community. This adds a distinct flavour to his adventures. His voice, his family life, even his friendships are distinct. Much like Ms. Marvel’s storytelling benefits from Kamala Khan’s cultural background, so does Blue Beetle. The book has a clear, culturally relevant voice.

Blue Beetle is also successful in bringing teenage super heroics to life. As a rookie superhero, Jaime struggles to figure out his powers and find his way. Much like Peter Parker in Ultimate Spider-Man, he brings a lot of humour to the role of superhero. 

Cully Hamner and Rafael Albuquerque crafted a unique visual style for Blue Beetle. Both artists perfectly capture the environments of Texas. Backgrounds are clean and detailed, but never cluttered. The characters are distinct and expressive. Since the book deals with teenagers, they each made sure the characters were emotionally expressive.

Blue Beetle – The bottom line

John Rogers and Keith Giffen created a banger of a book with Blue Beetle. Giffen left the book after a few issues, but Rogers continued to craft a 25-issue run that builds to an incredible climax. Although the book continued for several issues after Rogers departure, it never quite recaptured the spirit of those first 25 issues.

Jaime has become a bit of a breakout character, showing up on Smallville and in various animated series. He has a solid fan base. Yet, despite relaunches and attempts at new solo series, nothing quite compares to the first 25 issues of his debut comic book.

2. Starfire 

Who is Starfire?
Starfire is easily one of the most recognisable DC characters. She had a memorable role in the legendary New Teen Titans comics of the 80s. Starfire also played a major part in the 2003 Cartoon Network Teen Titans series. Currently, she is a member of the Teen Titans team in the live-action HBO Max series.

Yet, despite her apparent popularity, there hasn’t been much of an effort to catapult the alien Princess Koriand’r into solo stardom. Enter Jimmy Plamiotti and Amanda Conner, who penned 12 issues of Starfire. Much like their work on PowerGirl, Stafire is bright, colorful, and above all else, filled with humor and fun.

What makes Starfire so much fun?
The orange-skinned alien princess decides it is time for her to build a normal life for herself. Kori settles on moving to Florida, where she battles a hurricane, makes new friends, and struggles with Earth customs and everyday life.

The series leans heavily into the “fish-out-of-water” scenario of an alien trying to build a “normal” life for herself on Earth. There are lots of misunderstandings and tongue-in-cheek humour. Palmiotti and Conner also bring their trademark wit to the dialogue. The book oozes fun.

Although Conner herself doesn’t take on art duties, Elsa Charretier and Emanuela Lupacchino bring a similar, lighthearted brightness to the book. Each artist has a distinct style and does a fantastic job creating a truly beautiful comic book. It’s almost impossible not to smile when reading Starfire.

Starfire – The bottom line
How this series never found an audience large enough to keep it in publication will forever be a mystery.

1. Batgirl

Who is Batgirl?
Stephanie Brown is Batgirl. She should still be Batgirl in current DC continuity. 

DC originally introduced Stephanie as “The Spoiler”, a supporting character in Robin. There, she served as a thorn in Tim Drake’s side, as well as his love interest. She was the daughter of a villain, Cluemaster, but decided to be a hero. Stephanie was a deeply flawed character who made a lot of mistakes and “got in the way” as much as she assisted Robin.

She had a chance to briefly serve as Robin herself. Then, in an attempt to prove herself to Batman, she incited a gang war that left her “dead”. Of course, no comic book character ever stays dead. She returned and revealed she had only faked her death. The character seemed aimless, unfocused, without a clear direction or future after her return.

Then, writer Bryan Q. Miller got a hold of Stephanie. Her luck was about to change.

What makes Batgirl so much fun?
Batgirl may be the most underappreciated series on this list. It had its fans, no doubt about it. When DC revealed Stephanie Brown as the new Batgirl, however, fans of previous Batgirls Cassandra Cain and Barbara Gordon were unhappy with the choice. Many never gave the book a chance. What they missed out on is a contender for the title of best Batgirl book to ever hit the stands.

Stephanie decides to take up the mantle when Cassandra Cain, the previous Batgirl, discards her suit and abdicates the role. Once again, Stephanie plays the spoiler, fighting crime as Batgirl when those around her wished she wouldn’t. Eventually, Barbara Gordon, the original Batgirl, decides to mentor Stephanie. What follows are 24 issues of pitch-perfect super heroics.

Hope, humour, and relationships
Stephanie Brown’s Batgirl became the infusion of hope, of fun, of humour that the dark and grim Batman line so desperately needed at the time. Stephanie gets knocked down time and time again, but she keeps getting back up. She makes mistakes, but she learns from them. She is fallible and human, but driven to help those around her.

Most importantly, she has fun as a superhero. Even through all of her trials and tribulations, she truly enjoys her role as Batgirl.

Her relationship with Bruce Wayne’s son Damien is one of the highlights of the book. Stephanie became, in essence, a big sister to Damien. Their banter, snarky and hilarious, made every team-up a delight. Miller managed to make Damien likeable at a stage in his development when he was still difficult to like.

Most of the art during Miller’s 24 issue run came from the minds of Lee Garbett & Dustin Nguyen. They managed to create a Gotham City that is both familiar and unique. This is Gotham City, but not the gothic, gargoyle-infused and rain-soaked metropolis. There’s room for light, for brightness to shine through the darkness.

Batgirl – The bottom line

Batgirl was another victim of the “New 52” reboot at DC. After the reboot, Barbara Gordon returned to the role of Batgirl herself. DC wiped Stephanie Brown’s tenure as Batgirl from continuity. She ultimately regressed, her character growth wiped out, and once again took on the identity of Spoiler. It still seems like the wrong choice.

Anybody looking for a fun Bat-family book should start with Batgirl. It’s simply the best.

What DC comics do you think are underappreciated? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Five Underappreciated DC Comics All About Superhero Fun and Hope appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

House of El is a worthy, thematically rich addition to the Superman mythos.

The mainstream comic book audience is ageing. The biggest publishers of superhero fare, DC and Marvel, have long ago discovered this trend. In an effort to retain their readers, both publishers have shifted the bulk of their output to suit the tastes of more mature readers. Regrettably, this approach has made it difficult for children and young adults to find an “in” with the publishers. Despite movies based on Marvel and DC characters grossing hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, the source material only has a small fraction of this audience.

Both publishers have, in recent years, made an effort to publish more all-ages and young adult products. At DC, this effort took the form of “DC Ink”, which has since been renamed “DC Graphic Novels for Young Adults”. The imprint attempts to present traditional DC characters in a new way for young adult readers.

A “Young Adult” approach to Superman’s home world

The House of El Book One: The Shadow Threat is the first in a new trilogy of graphic novels. It is clearly a part of the effort to draw in new, younger readers. Written by prolific young adult author Claudia Gray, with art by Eric Zawadzki, the book attempts to put a new twist on the story of the demise of the planet Krypton.

Gray is best known for her Evernight series and her work as a Star Wars novelist. With The House of El, she has to face a pretty substantial challenge. Is it possible to present the last days of the planet Krypton, Superman’s home world, in a new way after so many writers have put their own spin on its story? To her credit, the answer is a resounding “yes”.

New characters inhabit a familiar setting

The basic canvas of the story is familiar. Krypton is experiencing mysterious ground quakes, but the planet’s leadership seems unwilling or unable to face this challenge. Instead, they hide behind propaganda and false reassurances. Few seem to question their leaders, in part because the government carefully breeds Kryptonians into a caste system of sorts. Each class of citizens has been specifically bred for the traits needed to fulfil their roles in society.

Rather than focusing on the usual suspects, such as General Zod and Superman’s parents, Gray instead introduces two new characters. Zahn is one of Krypton’s elites, while Sera is a soldier in Krypton’s army. Although some of Krypton’s most famous denizens do eventually make an appearance, they play second fiddle to the trials and tribulations of these two teenagers. This, ultimately, breathes new life into the story of Krypton.

Zahn possesses an affinity for power, wealth, and leadership, while Sera, as a soldier, has innate bravery and fearlessness. Both, however, begin to question society and their own roles in it. Ultimately, they join forces to unravel the mystery behind Krypton’s ground quakes, the political machinations of their leaders, and the strange experiments conducted in the House of El.

Strengths and weaknesses of The House of El

What makes The House of El so successful, however, is that it is simply a really good science fiction story. Like all of the best science fiction stories, it raises serious questions about topics with clear modern-day parallels. House of El touches on morality, fate, natural disasters, socioeconomic classes, and genetic engineering. The story is thematically rich and never talks down to its audience, despite the youth of its target audience.

Gray has a history of including romance in her young adult fiction, and this holds true for The House of El, as well. It is, however, the weakest element of the story. The mutual attraction between Zahn and Sera, so far at least, adds little to the larger themes. Since two sequels are on the way, however, Gray may yet make this part of her story work in future instalments.

Art and colours enhance the storytelling

Eric Zawadzki’s art, on the other hand, does a great job bringing the thematic richness of the story to life. The art, unlike much of DC’s regular output, avoids the exaggerated physiques of superheroes for a more grounded, realistic approach to its characters. There’s a clean, almost Spartan quality to the art that allows for great expressiveness of the characters. Nevertheless, the art never comes across as cartoony or simplistic.

Dee Cunniffe also expertly executes the colours of The House of El. Cunnifee renders backgrounds in various shades of a singular colour, while individual characters receive more detailed colouring. The shift in background colour is often an effective means of communicating not just location, but tone. A break-in at an official government building features golden tones, while terraforming attempts on an inhospitable planet are bathed in reds.

The biggest drawback of this approach to colour may be uniformity. Blue tones communicate the coldness and sterility of Kryptonian culture. Various shades of blue serve as the default colour scheme throughout the book. This causes many scenes and locations to blend together a bit. At the same time, however, this approach helps those instances when background colours shift to really stand out.

The bottom line

In the end, The House of El is a fascinating take on the last days of the planet Krypton. Sera and Zahn are interesting characters who each go through their own crisis of faith. In doing so, they grapple with many questions that have clear parallels in our own society. It ultimately succeeds as a piece of young adult science fiction. As the beginning of a new trilogy exploring the end of Kryptonian civilisation, it is a worthy addition to the Superman mythos.

The House of El Book One: The Shadow Threat is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up The House of El Book One: The Shadow Threat? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Zahn is one of Krypton’s elites: wealthy, privileged, a future leader. Sera is one of Krypton’s soldiers: strong, dedicated, fearless. Their rule – bound society has ordained that their paths should never cross.

But groundquakes are shaking the planet’s surface. Rebellious uprisings are shaking the populace. Krypton’s top scientists — Jor-El and Lara — conduct a secret experiment that is meant to reform their planet from the cellular level up. Zahn and Sera must join forces to investigate the hidden dangers truly threatening Krypton. In the process, they form a bond that will endure past the end of the world.

The post Review: ‘House of El Book One: The Shadow Threat’ by Claudia Gray appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

After remotely finishing my university degree this summer in the midst of a full UK lockdown, I, like many others, suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands. After spending a few weeks tackling my never-ending backlog of video games and binging a lot of TV, I came to the conclusion that I desperately needed something new to fill up all the copious amounts of time, and that’s exactly when I decided to jump headfirst into the wonderful world of comic books.

Now there are obviously a lot of comics in the world, more than enough to be overwhelming. Speaking from experience, the main thing that put me off picking up this hobby a lot was the sheer amount of content and having no idea where to start.

So, that’s exactly why I’m writing these articles! I want to highlight some of my favourite writers and artists as I discover them and create a guide for specific staple characters using my (admittedly still limited) knowledge as a new reader for perspective comic book fans. And what better way to kick things off then with the dark knight himself, Batman.

It’s fairly likely that, even if you’ve never picked up a comic in your life, you’ve likely consumed some kind of Batman content. Whether it’s Nolan’s film trilogy, the Arkham video games, or the television series Gotham, The Dark Knight has been adapted into every form of media but really there’s nowhere better to find your Batman fix than where it all started: between the pages of a comic. So, without further ado, here’s my quintessential beginner’s guide to the caped crusader!

Batman: Year One
Over the years the beginning of Bruce Wayne’s story has been told numerous times, but when it comes to the comic book universe, this is the definitive Batman origin.

With a story crafted by the legendary Frank Miller and accompanying artwork from David Mazzucchelli, Batman: Year One recounts Bruce Wayne’s earliest days as Gotham’s protector. Although there’s a noticeable absence of any franchise staple supervillains, the corruption of the crime-ridden city is still on full display here as Bats fights his way through thugs, thieves, and drug-dealers, slowly garnering the acknowledgement and respect of, not only the citizens of Gotham, but the newest member of the GCPD, James Gordon. This story is as much Gordon’s as it is Batman’s and it eventually builds into setting up their first encounter, and subsequently, their united resistance against Gotham’s seedy criminal underworld.

Basically, if you’re diving into Batman for the first time with minimal knowledge, this is the perfect place to start.

Batman Hush
If you’ve played any of the Arkham video games then this comic might just be the perfect jumping in point for you, as much like the games, it brings together an abundance of Batman’s enemies and allies alike to tell one epic tale.

Originally published between October 2002 and September 2003, Batman Hush is written by Jeph Loeb and features the art talents of Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair. The arc introduces a new villain, Hush, who appears to be set on sabotaging the vigilante.  

A crime epidemic is sweeping the city and a handful of Batman’s deadliest foes have emerged, pushing Bruce Wayne to the limit. As this gritty tale twists, turns, and unravels, it soon becomes clear that whether friend or foe, everybody is just a pawn is an elaborate revenge game and Hush is pulling all the strings.

Due to the sheer amount of characters featured, Batman Hush works as a great crash course for the various heroes and villains of the franchise. It’s also absolutely filled to the brim with action, so what’s not to like?

Scott Snyder’s The Court of Owls
One of the first things I learnt when I started exploring comics was about timelines resetting (honestly though this isn’t quite as daunting as it sounds). Essentially every few years publishers will reboot their universe (something that’s usually caused by a canon story event such as DC Flashpoint’s or Marvel’s Secret Wars) and this results in a new series of ‘Number 1’ issues.

In 2011, directly following the events of the Flashpoint crossover event, a reboot of the DC universe entitled ‘The New 52’ was launched. As the name suggests, this comprised of the debut of 52 new, revamped titles, including (you guessed it) Batman. Dark Knight duties for the New 52 were handed over to writer Scott Synder and artist Greg Capullo, and the team delivered from day one with their compelling Court of Owls storyline.

The Court of Owls is an urban legend inspired by an old nursery rhyme that has been passed down for generations within Gotham. The court are an organised crime ring who control the city from the shadows, utilising money, power, and an elite group of highly trained assassins to carry out their wishes. After a series of elaborate murders take place, Batman soon discovers that they’re much more than just a myth and Bruce Wayne has a big target on his back.

In my opinion, this run includes some of the best Batman writing of the past two decades and is an absolute must-read for any fan. Snyder leans heavily into the detective aspects of the character making for some incredible twists and reveals. Once you pick this up, you won’t be able to put it down.

The Long Halloween
A classic noir tale, The Long Halloween follows in continuity to Batman: Year One and is written by Jeph Loeb with art from Tim Sale. Originally published between 1996 and 1997, this is another chronicle of Batman’s early crime-fighting days. It follows the story of a killer named Holiday who commits a murder every month, coinciding with a holiday. Working together with James Gordon, as well as district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman finds himself in a frantic race against time as he attempts to discover Holiday’s identity every month before another victim is claimed.

Unlike Year One, The Long Halloween does introduce and feature several supervillains, including Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and the Riddler. The story also sets up the events that cause Harvey Dent’s transformation into one of Batman’s biggest enemies, Two-Face. It’s one of the caped crusader’s most compelling cases and is widely considered a classic. If you couldn’t get enough of Year One, this is a great way to follow it up. And, if both still weren’t enough to get your fix, be sure to check out the direct sequel Batman: Dark Victory as well!

The Killing Joke
If Year One is the definitive Batman story then The Killing Joke is the Joker’s equivalent. Written by Watchman’s Alan Moore and illustrated by Judge Dredd legend, Brian Bolland, this masterpiece  paints a deep picture of the twisted and tragic origins of the man who laughs.

The 48 page tale is centred around the concept of how just ‘one bad day’ can drastically change everything, and also delivers a striking take on the similarities and differences between Batman and Joker.

To go into too much detail on this one would simply be taking away the full experience of immersion. Believe me, this story is best experienced when going in blind because nothing is quite as chilling as seeing The Killing Joke slowly unfold one page at a time.  

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Batman: A Beginner’s Comic Book Guide To The Caped Crusader appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

This graphic novel written by Lauren Myracle and illustrated by Isaac Goodheart is a new and interesting take on the origin story of Batman villain, Mr Freeze. A young Victor Fries’ life is flipped on its head when he meets the vivacious Nora Kumar. Victor has dedicated his entire life to science since the untimely death of his brother in a tragic house fire. He is studying cryogenics and one day aims to preserve the dying until a treatment and/or cure can be developed for their particular ailment.

Nora lives everyday to its fullest, but she has a secret. She is suffering from a progressive and incurable illness which will leave her a shell of herself before taking her life. She and both her father and younger brother have moved to their holiday home in Gotham City so she can enjoy her last summer to its fullest. It is two months shy of her 17th birthday and on that day she will take her own life.

Victor and Nora meet at the cemetery, while Nora is visiting her mother’s grave and Victor his brother’s. Their connection is almost instant and a magical romance develops quickly between the two teens. Nora brings Victor out of his shell and he begins to enjoy life once again, but when he learns of Nora’s illness he becomes almost manic in his pursuit to save her.

There has been a surge of graphic novels published over the last 10 years and it has developed beyond the traditional manga and comic fandoms it originated in. Graphic novels are a unique genre combining story text and graphics which makes them easy to read and allows the author to convey their meaning in a much quicker time frame. They have more depth than traditional comic books and the increase in e-reading has made them much more accessible to the wider population. Due to having less text they are easier to consume while still providing the entertaining, intellectual and stimulating stories of traditional novels.

The story Myracle has crafted perfectly captures the tragic love story between Nora and Victor and is an incredible start of Victor’s descent into villany. Before reading this story, I didn’t actually realise what it was going to be. I knew it would have something to do with the DC Comics Batman universe, but it was only upon completion that I realised that the main character was actually Mr Freeze. For those unaware, Mr Freeze was brought to life onscreen by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1997 movie Batman & Robin. But do not fear dear reader, your knowledge of the Batman universe is not essential to enjoy this graphic novel and is merely a bit of background. While Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story is Mr Freeze’s origin story, it is also at its heart just a love story.

Victor and Nora are opposing forces in the world. Victor is overwhelmed by guilt and grief over the death of his brother and instead of living his life he spends most of his time in his lab working. Nora is a breath of fresh air and lives life to the very fullest. Nora has the benefit of knowing when she will leave this earth and therefore knows to make each day count. I loved watching the characters develop together. There is an inherent instant love relationship between the characters which is not usually my idea of a fun read but the situational necessity of such a relationship is clear within the book and plays a key role in the conclusion of the novel.

The illustrations throughout are simply breathtaking. It is clear that Goodheart paid close attention and detail to not only the characters, but the accompanying scenery. His art perfectly portrays the emotions Myracle created with her words and these two creators are a match made in literary heaven! I enjoyed the characters perspective being drawn in different colours, blue for Victor and Pink for Nora, and when they come together in scenes the pink and blue interact and play with each other throughout.

While the book ends on a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more, Victor and Nora: A Gotham Love Story is likely to be a standalone which I think is perfect. This tragic tale of young love is truly inspiring to live your life to the fullest, but the conclusion of the novel stresses the power of love and how it can be all consuming, making it dangerous. There is the implication that letting go of the one you love can be for the best and refusal to do so can be your downfall.

Victor and Nora is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore.

Will you be picking up Victor and Nora? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Myracle (ttyl, ttfn) and artist Isaac Goodhart (Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale) reunite in this gorgeous YA story about living life to the fullest, and how far one will go for love.

Seventeen-year-old Victor Fries has a cold heart. After his brother died in a tragic house fire for which Victor feels responsible, his parents have isolated themselves, and Victor has dedicated his whole life to one thing: science.

Nora Kumar is full of life. She is suffering from an incurable illness that will slowly consume her, so she’s decided to live her last days to the fullest at her summer home outside of Gotham City until her birthday. On that day, she plans to take her own life.

When Victor and Nora happen to meet at the cemetery outside of town, they are astonished to find the connection they have each been missing in their lives. Their summer quickly spirals into a beautiful romance, and Victor’s cold heart begins to thaw, allowing him to enjoy life just a little more. But when Victor learns of Nora’s illness, he’s driven to try to find a solution to keep from losing another person he loves…by any means necessary.

Victor & Nora: A Gotham Love Story is a tragic tale about living life to the fullest and what it truly means to love…and to let go.

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After an unfortunate shooting and fall, a partially paralysed Barbara (or Babs, as she prefers to be known) is taken to the Arkham Center for Independence. It’s not somewhere she wants to be and she has a hard time adjusting. She just wants to be back home hacking with her friend Benjamin. She’s an excellent hacker, skilled at solving puzzles, and cracking codes. It’s these skills she has to remember and use to try and solve the situation she finds herself in. As she struggles through therapy, she eventually makes friends. One of these is Jenna, who keeps her up at night as she tells her stories of her old life and about previous patients. After Jenna disappears, it gives Babs a puzzle to solve and a purpose. She is told that Jenna has just left the facility, but Babs knows in her gut that something is not right. Babs has to learn to follow her instincts again, as well as learn to trust others if she is to get to the bottom of the mystery.

The mystery felt quite sinister in places, and kept me glued to the pages, I read the whole novel in one sitting. I thought it was a pretty chunky book for a graphic novel though, so you could break your reading down into smaller pieces if you wanted to. That is, if you can pull yourself away!

As with any graphic novel, a mention has to go to the artwork. I think its really skilled in capturing Babs’s facial expressions well. This makes her easy to read and understand how she’s feeling. The rest of the illustrations are good as well. There is a repetition of puzzle pieces in the artwork, which I think is there to symbolise how Babs’s mind works as she puts things together. As a hacker, she visualises things as puzzles to solve. There is a nice balance of light and dark scenes, as some take place in the day and some at night. The darker scenes work well to portray a creepy atmosphere. Sometimes, characters or background is faded out to focus on who is talking, or to show what Babs’s is thinking about. Another thing I like was that when Jenna tells her short stories, they are done in a different style of art that I find a great balance of sweet, but ghoulish.

There is great representation for disability and disabled characters in The Oracle Code. Their depiction is handled well and with honesty. The message is that the characters do not need to be “fixed” and their disabilities do not make them any less whole. We see the characters struggle, and we see them sad, or experience their frustration at times, but we also get to see them be positive too. There needs to be more disabled representation in books, and I love that The Oracle Code doesn’t just include disabled characters, but makes them the main characters and the heroes too.

The Oracle Code is good for a wide range of audiences. I would recommend to DC Fans, comic book fans, and anyone who loves a good origin story. However, this is a really powerful book for teens, and disabled teens, regardless of whether they are well versed with DC Universe or not.

The Oracle Code is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be picking up The Oracle Code? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp (This Is Where It Ends) and artist Manuel Preitano unveil a graphic novel that explores the dark corridors of Barbara Gordon’s first mystery: herself.

After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed, Barbara Gordon enters the Arkham Center for Independence, where Gotham’s teens undergo physical and mental rehabilitation. Now using a wheelchair, Barbara must adapt to a new normal, but she cannot shake the feeling that something is dangerously amiss. Within these walls, strange sounds escape at night; patients go missing; and Barbara begins to put together pieces of what she believes to be a larger puzzle.

But is this suspicion simply a result of her trauma? Fellow patients try to connect with Barbara, but she pushes them away, and she’d rather spend time with ghost stories than participate in her daily exercises. Even Barbara’s own judgment is in question.

In The Oracle Code, universal truths cannot be escaped, and Barbara Gordon must battle the phantoms of her past before they swarm her future.

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Harley Quinn has had many iterations. Almost as many as her equally deranged counterpart, The Joker. Stjepan Šejić breathes a freshness into the mallet wielding, bubblegum character, giving her new motivations and ideas, all of which inevitably lead her into the arms of Gotham’s most feared.

Harleen collects numbers 1-3 and opens with a frustrated Dr. Harleen Quinzel delivering a scientific lecture to a fidgeting audience. Quinzel believes there can be a way to search for, diagnose, and then cure psychopathy. Not in the broadest sense of the term, but more how the lack of mental empathy can trigger the psychopathic tendencies of Gotham’s criminals. Put to the task of interviewing inmates from both Arkham Asylum and Blackgate Penitentiary, it is at the former where her path crosses with DC’s most infamous villain.

What really stands out in the novel are the story-telling elements Šejić utilises in order to move the narrative forward. Told in real-time, as well as through voiceover from an already outraged Quinn, Sejic allows the reader to see both past and present without it ever feeling clumsy or overworked. This is cleverly achieved with tight, clean dialogue in the present-day action, supplemented with clear markers for the voiceover. And it’s even here that Harleen still feels human. It’s often the case when characters descend into villainy, they remove all confusion and morals from their own behavioural index. But in having Harley Quinn still exhibit Harleen’s understanding of the world around her, allows for a more three-dimensional character to come off the page in all the ways you want a character to do.

The artwork is stunning, capturing both the intimate relationship the reader must have with Harleen while also having panels that are cinematic in scope, bringing the vivid action to life. The choice again to flow from one timeline into the next never feels confusing or muddled; it all blends seamlessly, and even the shorter, dream sequences don’t feel out of place at all in the larger narrative. The art is bold and vibrant, but never shies away from the darker undercurrent of the narrative.

Harleen is a devastating look at the origin and subsequent descent of one of the comic book world’s most iconic and well-known characters. In a world dominated by Margot Robbie’s quirky chic Harley Quinn, Šejić’s graphic novel stands on its own two feet in this confident entry into the DC graphic universe.

Harleen is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be picking up Harleen? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

Dr. Harleen Quinzel has a theory: mental illness is a survival mechanism. As she seeks to help the broken souls of Gotham City piece together their sanity she will become the one thing she fears the most: one of them. A bold new retelling of the tragic origin of Harley Quinn told through the eyes of the only person who knows her better than anyone: Harleen.

A young psychiatrist with a potential cure for the madness that haunts Gotham City, Dr. Harleen Quinzel must prove her revolutionary theory to a skeptical establishment by delving into the disturbed minds of Arkham Asylum’s deadliest inmates. But the more time she spends with her criminally insane subjects, the closer she is drawn to one patient in particular–and the further she falls away from reality.The birth of legendary antihero Harley Quinn and the shocking origins of her twisted romance with the Joker are revealed in Harleen, a stunning new tale of love and obsession written and illustrated by renowned comics storyteller Stjepan Šejic (Aquaman: Underworld, Sunstone).

Collects Harleen #1-3

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The Legends of Tomorrow are on the Waverider somewhere in space, while The Green Arrow and The Flash are keeping Star City and Central City safe until there is a breach and metahumans from another earth are coming through. Of course, none of them are playing for the Heroes team. The metas from Earth 27 are the opposite of Earth 1, which is our world. The good guys are evil and the bad guys are good. Central City is now full of speedsters and guys like Ultraman, whose power are similar to Superman and Kryptonite cannot harm him it actually powers him up. To have the slightest chance to defeat them, Barry needs help from Green Arrow and his team.

Since Arrow has aired, I am now somewhat less faithful to the Arrowverse because I do not like some developments they made on screen lately. Reading this book and imagining the actors was quite fun and the novel refers to events that have just taken place in the last couple season of The Flash and Arrow so it feels like a little refresher.

Still, the book stands on its own and should not be mixed up with the TV shows. Using the multiverse, the book tells the story of another Barry who did not create Flashpoint. Ray explains it on the first couple of pages and later Cisco tells Team Flash about his monthly conversation with himself from the other timeline.

For the 250 something pages, there were quite a few different storylines moving forward at the same time. While Barry and his team work together with half of Oliver and his Green Arrow Team in Central City, Jo helps in Star City with a well-known Bee Lady. I would have loved to get to know more about the shortly introduced Madam Xanadu who is not a meta but uses real magic!

What I really liked was that everyone has a bad doppelgänger and that even the noble Bruce Wayne has one and the “…to be continued” sounds like we will have quite a lot of him in the next instalment in which Barry and Oliver gets help from Supergirl to defeat Anti-Matter Man, a weapon used in an invasion of the positive matter universe, a power that even its creator fears it.

Some time ago, I had the pleasure of reading Bang by Barry Lyga, which is an entirely different and more mature story. Let me tell you, no matter which book you will pick up by him, you will not be disappointed. No matter what he writes, you going to love it!

The Flash: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.

Will you be picking up The Flash: Green Arrow’s Perfect Shot? Tell us in the comments below!

Synopsis | Goodreads

It’s the crossover event fans have been waiting for, as The Flash joins forces with Green Arrow!

When the Green Arrow needs help tracking down a sinister bomber in Star City, speedster Barry Allen is out the door in a flash. But as The Flash saves the day with his friends on Team Arrow, a huge dimensional rift appears over his hometown of Central City—and thousands of refugees with superspeed come pouring out. Can the combined skills of Team Arrow and The Flash’s friends at S.T.A.R. Labs manage the chaos long enough to stop the rift from tearing their universe apart? This exciting first installment in the new crossover trilogy promises to be one of the most action-packed reads of the season. Supergirl, Superman, and the heroes from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow will be joining in on the fun in books two and three of this can’t-miss trilogy.

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Pennyworth follows Bruce Wayne’s legendary butler, Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier who forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s billionaire father, in 1960’s London.

In an interview with comicbook.com, executive producers Danny Cannon and Bruno Heller aimed to make the series more like a gritty James Bond movie.

“I went back and watched Michael Caine’s Harry Palmer movies, and the first couple of James Bond movies, because going back to that Cold War kind of story telling I liked going back into this period because all of our Berlin movies and Russian espionage movies, it was like the British version of westerns,” Cannon said. “Like there was a wild west quality to the Cold War. Because after the war was done, we knew that there was a nuclear bomb, and we were capable of terrible things, but the spying and the style in which it was done, and the dignity with which it was done, and the charm with which it was done I thought all reminded me of what Bruno had been talking about. So going back to those movies, and watching what was good about Michael Caine back there was he didn’t hide his accent. And the fact that Harry Palmer was very unpopular, but he just got the job done. Because he called everything as it was. His feet were firmly placed in the ground, he’d look people in the eye and I really appreciated that, James Bond, same thing too.”

Starring Jack Bannon (Ripper Street), Ben Aldridge (Fleabag), Paloma Faith (Youth), Hainsley Lloyd Bennett (King of Crime), and Emma Corrin (The Crown).

Pennyworth premieres July 28th on EPIX.

Will you be watching Pennyworth? Tell us in the comments below!

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Written by Stacey Rourke

Hi Kami! Thanks so much for joining us. Let’s start with the Twitter challenge! Describe your book in 280 characters or less.

Raven loses her mom and her memory and has to move to NOLA. She doesn’t know she has powers and she has to find the strength to face the truth about herself — with the help of her foster sister Max, Max’s mom, a boy with a secret, ancestral magic, tarot cards, a copy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and the huge reappearing shadow of a raven.

I’m hooked already! Tell me, what kind of research did you do before beginning Teen Titans: Raven?

I was already a fan of Teen Titans and the character, but I did watch the animated series again and re-read some of the comics. Most of my research focused on New Orleans. I’ve spent a lot of time there, but it’s not the same as being a local. My friend Alys Arden, author of The Casquette Girls series and the forthcoming graphic novel Zatana: The Jewel of Gravesend (for DC), is a native New Orleanian. She helped me get NOLA and the tarot card reading details right. The graphic novel is also very diverse and we had several sensitivity readers. I was a teacher for seventeen years, so I how important it is for teens to be able to see themselves in the book they read.

Interview continues below images…

The character of Raven has been featured in different comics, television series, and films over the years. How did you go about portraying your version of Raven?

I wanted to write a version of Raven that focused more on Raven as a teen than Raven as a superhero. But I also wanted to be true to the character co-created by Marv Wolfman, because she embodies how it feels to be different and the loneliness and isolation that often comes with it. Yet Marv also crafted a female character who pushes through those feelings. I wanted to write a teen version of Raven that was really relatable. Gabriel’s art really made that happen. He captured the heart of the character with his art.

What was the process like working with illustrator Gabriel Picolo?

Working with Gabriel was a dream. He immediately understood what I was trying to do with the characters and he loved the idea of grounding Raven in reality just enough to make her more accessible to new comic readers. He also brought a new character — Max — to life, which was incredible. Gabriel’s art captures the heart of what makes these characters special.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

A lion would be my spirit animal because they’re dangerous if you mess with them, but they spend most of their time sleeping and lounging around until they get hungry.

Fantastic answer! Thanks so much for joining us, Kami! Book nerds, make sure you check out Teen Titans: Raven! Until next time, keep reading! 

Will you be checking out Teen Titans: Raven? Tell us in the comments below!

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