DCU Comic Book Reviews

THE SHIELD #1

Kicking Down The Door, Part 1

November 2009

Written by Eric Trautmann

Pencils by Marco Rudy

Inks by Mick Gray

Covers by Francis Manapul

Synopsis

In the mountains between Bialya and Khandaq, the United States have lost 32 men who have been searching for insurgents.  Now, they send in Joe Higgins (aka The Shield) to find them.  The Shield lands in near a small village, where he is greeted coldly by the elders.  However, the elders decide to let on of their own lead the Shield to where he needs to go.  There, he finds signs of American Soldiers.  And the local trips a landmine.  The Shield is able to protect the local.  However, it brings forth a platoon of American soldiers.  The Shield tries to contact them, but the soldiers attack.  The Shield attempts to disarm them without casualties but then the Marines arrive, in the form of Magog from the Justice Society.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Maybe it is because he appeared in the final pages, but I couldn’t help but compare this first issue of the Shield to the first issue of Magog.  Actually, comparison is a kind word because Trautmann’s effort here is light years ahead of Giffen’s attempt to introduce Magog.  Both first issues follow pretty much the same basic template:  introduce the hero, introduce their reasons for being a hero including the first plot and conflict, introduce the various supporting characters, and then go for the cliffhanger to draw the reader into the next issue.  The difference is that Trautmann doesn’t clutter the narrative, either with excessive narrative boxes or with unnecessary scenes to showcase the villains.  It reads smoothly and quickly; I didn’t feel like I was getting bogged down.  Plus, Trautmann wisely builds the conflict into the story, first with the interaction with the local elders and then when the American soldiers shoot at him and the kid.  At no point does the story jump to another character or location.  By keeping the story on the Shield, we learn more about who he is and can relate to his situation as he navigates through the plot.  There is a nice balance of action and characterization, sometimes at the same time.  Moreover, there is enough to keep me interested, but not enough to make me believe there will be more about the suit and about the Shield as the series progresses.  And I think ultimately that is the goal of any first issue, to make me want to come back and read more.  This issue accomplishes that perfectly. 

I also love the way Trautmann incorporates the power suit into the story, building on one of the original parts of the Shield’s origin (something that was passed over in the Red Circle one-shot).  We see the Shield use the suit, so that when he uses its powers, the story builds tension as he searches for the insurgents as well as to provide exposition on its abilities and powers.  It is an effective, economic method that demonstrates, to me at least, effective writing. 

I should mention the one slight misstep.  Some of the plot threads from the Red Circle one-shot are not addressed here at all.  Specifically, the Shield’s father.  I understand that Trautmann has his own agenda for the series before he tackles someone else’s story, but it would have been nice to have some sort of call back so we knew he’ll get to it at some point. 

INFERNO:  Burning Inside, Part 1 of 4

Written by Brandon Jerwa

Art by Greg Scott

Synopsis

In Star City, the Inferno tries to hide after he saved a cruise liner when he located the hidden bomb.  However, Inferno has lost his memory and he can’t recall what happened or why he knew the bomb was there.  He checks into a hotel room, using a name he can remember, but doesn’t know if it is his own face or someone else’s.  Later, Inferno is watching the news on the tv when he sees himself, except it doesn’t look like him.  Apparently, when he bursts into flame, his appearance changes.  Just then the police arrive at the hotel door.  Inferno runs, but is caught.  He bursts into flame to escape, but he is caught again.  By Green Arrow. 

Review

This was both good and bad.  I think Jerwa has found the right story for the character in that it looks as if we are going to get some kind of conspiracy thriller.  The Inferno will be on the run, searching for his identity and those responsible while at the same time running from the law that thinks he blew up those cruise liners.  The story has possibilities. Where it goes wrong here is that Jerwa tosses too many ideas into these few short pages.  There is a lot going on and a lot to digest (the name, the ship, the face, the man in the mask) and I think it overwhelms the story to a small degree.  Not enough, mind you, to take away from the story, but enough that I think if Jerwa had more pages, the story would breathe a little more than it does here.