#Mike Spicer

[spaceshiprocket]

Star Wars by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

[wwprice1]

10 amazing DC covers for November!

[judgeanon]

So About That BATGIRL #1...

I put this review up in another site, but since folks here on Tumblr seem to be realizing I have a lot of Thoughts about Lady Shiva, I figured I'd transplant it here. So here's how I feel about it. The short of it is that I think it's a strong start with a few small quibbles because I'm not sure how much of Shiva's writing is her being intentionally OOC and how much is Brombal trying to humanize her.

The long is here:

Now, one of Shiva's main issues as a character ever since they finally split her from the League of Assassins (God bless you Bryan Hill) is that, instead, writers have stapled her to Cass. Literally every major Shiva appearance since 2017 has involved Cass in some way. That is a problem not so much for Cass, who gets to have her own stories and series with and without the Batfam (although mostly with), but for Shiva, who doesn't get nearly as much exposure as her daughter. If there's a Shiva comic coming out, odds are it's gonna have something to do with Cass. Well, except for the other Shiva comic coming out this month that's gonna suck shit.

But at the same time, I don't think that means nobody should ever do another Shiva/Cass story, because I still feel like that's rich soil that nobody has had the time, space or desire to really commit to mining. Hill in Outsiders was writing a whole ensemble cast and couldn't linger too long on them. Writers like Grayson and Cloonan/Conrad both teased Shiva trying to reconcile with Cass but never took it anyhwere. A Shiva/Cass story can still be compelling and interesting as long as the writer is willing and able to Actually Write It.

So when literally the first panel of this new issue is Shiva addressing Cass and their relationship directly, I'm already perked up. Right from the get go, you can tell that Tate Brombal is absolutely here to tell a story about these two women and pretty much nothing else, and also that Tak Miyazawa and Mike Spicer are a killer art team. I adore how hard Tak's figures look without (usually) being stiff, thanks to some solid body language and expressions. And Spicer's colors have a cool kind of dark-but-vivid look. The last leg of the issue, with everything illuminated by fire, is especially cool.

Going back to the opening, it's curous how despite this being an issue #1, there's very little in the way of character introductions or set up. There's no slow burn here, no lengthy creeping intro like previous Shiva/Cass stories. And while I can't help but feel that it must be a little awkward for readers unfamiliar with them or their current situation, I think it also accurately reflects one of my favorite parts of the comic, which is Cass' being just absolutely fucking DONE with her mom.

After years of hyper dramatic standoffs and tearful moments of cheap heartbreak, it's fun to see a Cass who has no time for her mother, who's not interested in what she's got going on, and who's confident enough in herself to even be a little shit about it. It's fun and refreshing and fits Cass very nicely.

That not-quite-breakneck but still fast pace keeps up when the Unburied show up after just a few pages of setup and you know, in a couple of interviews, Brombal mentioned being influenced by Daredevil. And this is the page that made me go "Ah, yeah, that tracks." 'cause brother, those are some MILLER-ass ninjas.

Why Shiva fears these guys or thinks Cass can't handle them is not yet explained, but her desperation to keep Cass around does lead to a small but very meaning-heavy moment: the first punch in this series is not thrown into the face of the new enemies, but it's Cass decking her mom in the face and Shiva loving it.

It's an excellent touch and a perfect mission statement about the series. I love it as much as I love the ensuing fight, full of cool moves in big and small panels, but the most fun thing to me is how it's choreographed as Cass fighting her mom almost as much as she's fighting the Unburied. And on top of being a great fight, it ends with a small nod to QUESTION #1 or the 'Tec '88 Annual, in case I was somehow not sold enough already.

And while I still love Cass being so willing to call Shiva out on her lies, it does bring up one of the small gripes I have with this issue: I don't like it when Shiva lies constantly. I think she's best when she's strong and confident enough to not need to lie, when she just lays everything out on the table the way this comic is almost doing. It's good for Cass, as it keeps showing her as someone who has grown to understand her mother, who sees Shiva for who she is and what she does. And it does set up a slightly heartwarming scene at the end.

Of course, that's personal preferrence, and I'm not gonna say this is a bad comic because it doesn't follow my own idea of what works best for Shiva, especially since it's clear that Brombal is writing her with a lot of intention here. But that leads to the other big-ish issue I have with this issue: it's a bit hard to tell, from this story alone, how much of these moments are Brombal building his own personal version of Shiva and how much of it is Shiva, in-universe, acting out of character for the sake of some hidden scheme. After all, Cass points out that twice in the issue Shiva backs down, first from a moral fight and then from an actual fight.

So it's possible that even the constant lying is Shiva playing a role in favor of a grander scheme which will be revealed in later issues. Which, fair enough, I'm willing to see where it goes. But that second moment of yielding does lead to what's maybe my biggest problem with BATGIRL #1, and it's the Unburied themselves.

There's nothing in that initial fight with the Unburied that suggests Shiva and Cass would've had trouble dealing with them. Hell, there's very little to suggest even one of them would've had trouble with them. Now, I'm not suggesting that this issue should've started with the titular character and her mom getting their asses handed to them. But it feels like there's just not enough to these new enemies yet to justify the escape. Ninjas show up, Cass and Shiva beat them without getting hit once, more Ninjas show up and Shiva self-defenestrates herself.

Again, entirely possible that Shiva has something up her sleeve here, and issue #2 did promise to show us the main villain behind them, but as it stands it leaves me with this weird mix of not quite intrigue, not quite disappointment. It's just odd. They could've had, I dunno, a bomb set in the building or some other reason for Shiva to exit the venue like that.

Speaking of odd things, however, I did NOT expect to be reading a comic that brings up Shiva's cult from Puckett/Scott's BATGIRL #25. It's an "Order of Shiva" now though, with chapters and temples and stuff. Which is a bit of a change, since back in #25 they came off more like a gang of fanboys than an order of servants or anything like that. And after being summarily disposed by Shiva in that same issue, they were never really explored again.

So this is Brombal not just bringing back a bit of old lore, but also shifting it slightly, turning it into a more organized group... and then summarily disposing of them one panel later.

Also, I don't know what it is but I *LOVE* this panel. Shiva's face, her "wut" pose, the O.O, it's just... beautiful.

Anyway, once they're in the temple for the last bit of the issue, I start to see a bit more of what Brombal's doing. Like Gail Simone and Bryan Hill, Brombal seems to want to soften Shiva up a little, to make it clear that deep inside, she does have at least a bit of a heart, or enough of it to feel sadness at the wasteful death of people she may feel like she owes something to. Compare it to BIRDS OF PREY #62 for example:

This one is not quite as dramatic or vulnerable, but it's clear that Brombal wants to write Shiva with a slightly more human heart. Which, again, I'm not opposed to but I don't think it's the best thing you can do with her. I prefer Shiva being more detached in regards to death, like the most she'll do is see it as a waste but she's not gonna get emotional about it, she's going to be way more matter-of-fact. Death happens and such. But I think that kind of aloofness often gets interpreted as monstrous disdain for life by writers trying to make Shiva into a villain, and if I had to choose between what Brombal's doing and what, well, what Tom King's probably gonna be doing in a few weeks, I'll take this anytime.

Anyway, I also didn't expect to see the apprentice from BATGIRL #26, having apparently gotten a promotion somewhere in the last 20 years. Good for him! Less good for him is the shitload of arrows he eats two pages later but oh well.

The last couple of pages lead to a nice moment of sheer badassery for both Shiva and Cass and one last showcase of Miyazawa and Spicer's glorious team effort. Those two work really well together and I'm excited to see more of them in future issues. And while we're at it, I gotta give props to Miyazawa for being one of maybe two artists to draw a visibly older Lady Shiva.

His version isn't just aged but hardened by that age, looking stern and determined without having to rely on gritted teeth or angry looks. And on top of all that, he still finds more than enough moments to give her the kind of cocky smiles that bring out the more playful side of Shiva that some stories tend to either gloss over or turn into outright sadism.

Man... I just love to see that momma smile.

Other than that, there's a couple of minor quibbles I have with the issue. There's a funny moment where Cass pulls a Batman on her own mother (who charmingly acknowledges Bruce's influence) but it's undercut by Cass poofing back into existence on the next page. And there's also the weird, almost surreal emptiness of the city around them. Even after a building explodes, there's literally nobody on the streets other than Shiva and Cass.

On one hand, it speaks to the intentions of this run. This is VERY much a two-woman show so far, with no room for much else. But it's still glaring enough to be distracting.

However, it's that intentionality that ultimately wins me over. Even with all my personal little issues with Shiva's characterization, it's obvious from the start that this is a writer who is genuinely trying to write her as a character, who is ready to engage with her and with her relation with Cass on a deeper level than just hero and villain, or good daughter and evil mom.

Brombal, Miyazawa & Spicer have put some meat on the grill, and although I don't think the biggest pieces are there yet... I'm ready to let them cook.

[venowtron]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, fictional characters doing wrestling moves is the coolest shit.

[vertigoartgore]

Absolute Batman Vol.1 #2 variant cover by Daniel-Warren-Johnson and Mike Spicer.

Mike Spicer : "Dan sent me this, and I wanted to try something different. I referenced Darrow’s Hard Boiled. A little change to what I normally do."

[chasm-side]

I'm reading the first issue of the new Batgirl title, and I need to gush about the art. Just look at this spread:

(low quality phone photo bc I bought the physical floppy instead of the digital issue. sorry etc)

The cinematic composition! The bold colours! The striking contrasts! This art team (Takeshi Miyazawa on art, Mike Spicer on colours) absolutely knocked it out of the park.

And this is IN ADDITION to the story. Which is exactly what I would have wanted in a Cass Cain Batgirl at this point in her history - a conflicted mother-daughter team-up with Lady Shiva that portrays the anger, betrayal, and very reluctant love between her and Cass. It's only the first issue, but there are already signs that maybe both Cass and Shiva are going to be at least a little complex in their characterizations - or at the very least, there may be room to read some type of depth in both of them. Hopefully we can avoid the Evil Mother tropes, despite Shiva being a villain and a killer and not the world's greatest mom. Hopefully Cass's conflict with her will not focus only on the no-killing rule (though I don't want to see Cass break it).

Also, Cass is finally back to being Bruce's daughter again!!!

I have high hopes for this run. HIGH. HOPES.

[drbatsponge]

Batgirl #1 Preview!!!!

[fcotdextra]

Transformers #4

Words and Art by Daniel Warren Johnson

Colours by Mike Spicer

[farsight-the-char]

Energon Universe FCBD issue by DWJ, colours by Mike Spicer.

This is very DISARMING!

[spaceshiprocket]

Optimus Prime by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

[wwprice1]

Really excited for Cassandra Cain’s new series next week!

[danaclese]

Batgirl #1 - On how Shiva treats Cass: Abusive Parents, manipulation & Body language in art.

Page one presented in full. Shiva opens the match with an attempt to create need in Cass

Cass is defiant. Cass stands powerful and large to say "You do not control me."

So her mother generates a point of leverage in order to regain control.

Shiva's back turned, the dismissive posture is meant to create a need in Cass for her attention, quickly digging a hole to fill.

Shiva always force's Cass to find affection between the lines, make her look for it. this keeps her hooked on Shiva's every move

Provides the attention she just manipulated a false need for.

She sees her as property, not to be protected out of love but out of ownership.

This is how Shiva acts when she knows Cass is watching and needs her help.

And THIS is how Shiva looks at Cass when it worked and she has her back turned, knowing that her claws have found their way back into the old holes. Lady Shiva does nothing without deliberate purpose, and every single word, expression, pose, posture, every fluctuation in heartbeat....

Every little thing that is shown to us in this comic is a manipulation tactic to gain control over Cassandra because she needs her help.

There is no real evidence yet that the assassins want anybody but Lady Shiva Batgirl Number 1 November 6 2024

Writer Tate Brombal

Artist Takeshi Miyazawa

Colorist Mike Spicer

Letterer Tom Napolitano

Editor Jessica Berbey

[jessepov]

Batgirl #1 DC

Tate Brombal (W) Takeshi Miyazawa (A) Mike Spicer (C) and Tom Napolitano (L) start off with non stop action asap. If you don't know much about our BAE Cassandra Cain and only ever see her cameos in other Batman titles, this is the comic to get! This team did great in getting you caught up on her life in the first few pages with amazing fighting in between. Def a must read and it was def a fast read with all the action.

[kryptonbabe]

"None of us are. We are all in the process of becoming"

From Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees (2024) by G. Willow Wilson, Mike Perkins & Mike Spicer

[khakilike]

Batgirl (2024) #1, Tate Brombal and Takeshi Miyazawa

[martianmanmilker]

Shockwave’s Whale Blender

Transformers (2023) Issue 10