Karnak The Shatterer sees the flaw in all things. That’s his whole job, really, to find the flaw and hit it really hard, basically. He’s a refined, filigreed hammer, but he’s still just a hammer, and to him, everything looks like a nail. What’s most fascinating is how Warren Ellis and Roland Boschi wrap up their look at how Karnak, who can see the flaw in everything, can’t see the flaws in himself.
This is the sixth issue of a book that’s taken a while to come out, but it easily meets some high expectations. The plot has followed Karnak as he chases a young man who can turn anybody into anything with a gesture. Over the course of the book, it’s come out that Karnak — who lost a brother to the Inhuman cult of terrigenesis, where people are genetically altered as a rite of passage — has some pretty serious issues with the idea that the universe can ever just give you what you want. Boschi helps matters considerably with art that mixes scratchy inking, psychedelia, and even a nod to a goofy Spider-Man plotline from back in the day to create an unnerving feel.
On the surface it’s a fairly straightforward, and even kind of nasty, story about a unpleasant anti-hero. Under the surface, though Ellis tackles some fairly complex issues about belief, control, ego, and fear; while he never explicitly discusses it, Karnak has to pull a cop-out to win. He sees the physical flaw in his foe, but he can’t fix the moral one in himself.
The Spirit: The Corpse-Makers #1, Dynamite
Franco Francavilla takes on The Spirit with his usual gorgeous art, complex layouts, and smart storytelling. Francavilla’s underrated as a writer, but here he’s able to tackle Will Eisner’s vigilante while keeping Eisner’s tone and even offering shout-outs to Eisner’s revolutionary style while still keeping his own voice is. Whether you’re a huge fan of The Spirit or think he’s just another guy in a mask, come for the art on this one and stay for the story.
Planetoid Praxis #1, Image Comics
Ken Garing returns to his SF story, about a planetoid that nobody can escape, with an interesting twist. The settlements have been built, but the society founded in the original book is collapsing. A scientist from a hated species shows up at exactly the wrong time and, well, things go south from there. Garing’s clean, elaborate art is always a joy, but his thoughtful script sets up a complicated story that doesn’t write off the moral struggles or how it can be impossible to get past hatred.
The Fall And Rise Of Captain Atom #2, DC Comics
Last issue, Cary Bates, Greg Weisman, and Will Conrad flung Captain Atom back to the ’90s and stripped him of his powers. Bates and Weisman have a fairly hilarious followup as to how a naked man with no ID manages to make a living: Cap pays attention to Super Bowl scores, it turns out. But the plot, despite what you might expect, is not a frantic search for a way back to the future. Nathaniel Adam is happy where he is, free of his powers, free from superheroics, free to finally build a real life. But of course, there’s a complication we won’t ruin here. This book swerving from the usual story is a welcome change of pace and possibly the best Captain Atom book since the dearly departed Breach.
Bullseye #1, Marvel
Esteemed writer Marv Wolfman is back with a new miniseries about the assassin who doesn’t miss. If you were thinking this was going to turn Bullseye into some sort of anti-hero, think again. With Guillermo Sanna’s angular, loose inking creating an atmosphere of sleaze, Wolfman’s Bullseye is once again an unrepentant monster who’s simply looking for a work out. That he’ll happen to be picking off a sadistic monster is really just a bonus. It’s not a cheerful story, but the gleefully dark, excessive tone is a lot of fun.
Batman #16, DC Comics: Tom King and David Finch riff on the breaking of the Bat in a smart new plotline.
Assassin’s Creed: Uprising #1, Titan: This book embraces the globetrotting silliness of the video game franchise and turns it to an intriguing question: What if Assassins and Templars, hated enemies… began working together?
Faith #8, Valiant: A well-done two-parter wraps up this issue, with an interesting moral about how even the best of us struggle with self-doubt.
Planet Of The Apes/Green Lantern #1, BOOM! Studios/DC Comics: It’s to the credit of all involved that this strange idea even works, and yet it does in a way that’s fun for both fanbases.
Baltimore: The Red King #1, Dark Horse: This mix of modern horror and Robert E. Howard hits its endgame with a new miniseries.
This Week’s Collected Editions
The Sheriff Of Babylon: Pow Pow Pow, DC Comics (Softcover, $17): Tom King and Mitch Gerards deliver a compelling, dark noir set during the Iraq War, easily one of the most thoughtful takes on the conflict, especially from a man who actually served in it.
Alpha Flight by John Byrne, Marvel (Hardcover, $100): John Byrne’s Canadian heritage comes out in an underrated run on Marvel’s team to the north.
Weird Love: Jailbird Romance, IDW Publishing (Hardcover, $30): Just in time for Valentine’s Day, vintage romance comics that explore what it’s like when your man does you wrong, and goes to prison for it.