“Blood”
Writer: Howard Mackie
Pencils: Ian Churchill, Norm Rapmund, Jon Sibal, & Tom Raney
Colors: Hi-fi, Peter Steigerwald, & Gina Going-Raney
Letters: Dezi Sienty
Assistant Editor: Darren Shan
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover: Ian Churchill
(No Spoilers)
Ravagers continues to prove its a fresh new book in the New 52. It also takes time to introduce an old Teen Titans villain into the mix and even starts alluding to storylines started over in Animal Man and Swamp Thing. It’s unexpected connections to the rest of the DCU that are keeping this book interesting and reminding us just how inter-connected the New 52 has been.
In order to give Ian Churchill a break, or possibly to allow him time to catch up, we actually have two artists in this issue. Now normally I don’t like when artists split an issue but here they found a smart way to do it. Churchill illustrates the scenes with Fairchild and her group while Tom Raney does the scenes with Terra and Beast Boy. This made it not so jarring because as we changed artists, we changed scenes as well. Definitely a smart move and it made for an interesting visual shift throughout the issue.
Chruchill gets to have some fun as we get some fan service this issue as we basically have Thunder, Lightning, and even Ridge naked for the majority of the issue. Since Austin Powers have I not seen so many conveniently placed arms, panels, and even power effects as they keep Lightning covered up. I thought it was a fun thing to do in the middle of an issue that did have some seriousness to it as well. Plus, Churchill does know how to draw beautiful women so that helped as well.
The one surprise of the issue is the allusion to storylines concerning The Red which were started over in Animal Man and Swamp Thing. Thank goodness a friend lent me those issues recently otherwise I would not have know what they’re talking about (sorry, but it’s a little too much to go into for this review). It not only explains why Beast Boy is red now but also continues to make the New 52 feel inter-connected and that different books are actually important for each other in unexpected ways.
I was actually surprised to see a sharp sales drop from issue 1 to issue 2. I’m not sure what people are not enjoying about this book. It’s got good art, good story, and a fresh concept that didn’t exist Pre-Flashpoint. Maybe because it’s the new team and new concept for DC that people don’t know what to make of it. Regardless, out of the New 52 books I pull, I think it’s my second favorite so far. I hope buzz about it will drive more people to try it.
8 out 10 (On its way to greatness!)