There was a time, a number of years ago, when DC was considering the prospect of adapting Sgt. Rock for the big screen, with Arnold Schwarzenegger attached in the title role. It was never made, as fans couldn't get past the image of the Austrian-born film icon as the all-American Rock.
The latest entry from DC's new horror line brings Rock & Easy Company back to World War II to fight off not just ordinary Nazis, but ones raised from the dead in a desperate attempt by Hitler to win the war.
Sgt. Rock vs. The Army of The Dead, written by actor and comics fan Bruce Campbell in his DC debut, with artwork by Eduardo Risso, in the style, after a fashion, of Mike Mignola, is a totally weird thrill ride. In this short trailer, Campbell lays it out.
Campbell envisions himself as Rock, perhaps thinking a movie can be made adapting this story. Risso feeds into this by drawing Rock in Campbell's image. Campbell has written comics based on the "Evil Dead" and "Army of Darkness" movies for other publishers, so this is right in his wheelhouse. After this, I'd like to see him tackle one of DC's heavy hitters, with a different artist compatible with the subject matter.
Rating: A-.
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Riley Rossmo has drawn Harley Quinn and the Damian Wayne iteration of Robin. Now, he moves on to Tim Drake: Robin. It's not a good match.
Tim not only has his current life partner, Bernard, but a prospective superhero sidekick in Darcy, who is privy to his dual ID, while Bernard is not. A nice problem to have. I collected Tim's 1st solo ongoing in the 90's, which had some great artwork. Rossmo doesn't fit, as his work is more suited for the satirical antics of Harley.
Rating: C.
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Batman: The Audio Adventures was a 1-shot promoting the HBO Max podcast last year. The numbers were strong enough to bring it back as a 7 issue miniseries. With a continuing story this time, readers will have a chance to be more invested in the title, and maybe check out the podcast.
The first issue teases the debut of Harley in this continuity----because marketing wants it-----and sets up one crazy mystery that's more in tune with the 90's than the Golden Age. A nexus of Bat-realities, if ya will. I'm in.
Rating: B.
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I'm convinced now that DC Vs. Vampires writers James Tynion IV & Matt Rosenberg are not fans of the Wonder Twins.
Zan was killed off within the 1st issue or two. Now, in issue 9, after inheriting her brother's water-based powers, Jayna's quest for revenge ends, thanks to a vampiric Aquaman. I AM SO NOT DIGGING!!
As has been the case throughout, artist Otto Schmidt was the wrong choice to draw this book right from the jump. Put in the hands of a better creative team, the smart move is to leave the twins out of it, else you're going to be accused, as I'm sure Rosenberg is now, of playing to the internet haters that remain. To me, this virtue-signals that with Brian Bendis no longer exclusive to DC, any future projects that involve the twins will be a return to pre-2019 disrespect. DC isn't helping matters with this book by allowing for a 3 month hiatus, creating some 1-shots and spin-off miniseries, to give the ineffectual Schmidt time to finish the book.
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We talked before about Archie Comics' short-comings in discussing Sabrina's 60th anniversary special last time. Those short-comings crop up again in Chilling Adventures Presents Weirder Mysteries. Drawing upon past books in the Archie Horror line, Frank Tieri has Betty chasing aliens. Alexandra Cabot (Josie & The Pussycats) gets a short story spotlight with a predictable twist ending. None of these stories get past 10 pages, and that's wrong.
Rating: C-.
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