(Graphic Novel with art by Andy Kubert and Adam Kubert)

This is, without a doubt, my favourite graphic novel of all time.  As a kid (despite being exposed to the Adam West version) Batman was always my favourite superhero.  Then in my teens I saw a film called 'Predator' which introduced me to the fascinating concept of an alien who kills not for food or out of anger but for sport.  An unstoppable creature with superior technology and a rigid code of honour.  It was years later when I discovered that these two icons of my youth had faced off against each other.  So eventually I got a copy of this book and it didn't disappoint at all.  The Predator seems made for the dark gritty streets of Gotham and Batman's detective skills had the perfect foil in an invisible alien killing machine.  The back and forth of the story as Batman attempts to counter the Predator's superior technology makes for exciting reading until, finally, both combatants are stripped back to level footing for a face off.  Perhaps my favourite element of the book is the subtle (and often humourous) use of the Predator's voice copying abilities.  In fact, the best bit of the story involves Batman bashing the Predator with a baseball bat and saying "It's me, Batman" to which the reeling Predator replies "Bat.  Aha ha hahaha!".  The ending is clever and perfectly captures the feeling of that moment in 'Predator 2' where Danny Glover just wins the battle of his life, only to be faced with a dozen more Predators.  Read it if you have any interest whatsoever in either franchise.

5 out of 5

 

Rann-Thanagar War

(Graphic Novel with art by Ivan Reis, Joe Prado, Joe Bennett, Marc Campos, Oclair Albert and Jack Jadson)

Part of the Countdown to Infinite Crisis series.  When the planet Rann is transported into the same system as it's old enemy Thanagar, it sparks off a war that rapidly spreads across the galaxy.  Amid the fighting Adam Stranger, Hawkman, Hawkwoman, Hawkgirl, Captain Comet and Green Lantern Kyle Rayner find themselves confronting the true sinister force behind the conflict, the soul-eating demigod Onimar Synn.  Whilst I enjoyed the epic story of warfare portrayed here, it was detracted from by two major factors.  The first is simply that I'm not a huge reader of DC Comics and therefore am largely unfamiliar with the characters, places and situations featured here (with the exception of Kyle Rayner).  This meant that I didn't have that familiar connection to the story that I would have if it featured things like Gotham City or Superman.  Because of this the death of one of the main characters lacked the same impact as, say, the death of Blue Beetle in 'The OMAC Project'.  The other detracting factor was that this book ends with the war still in progress and a completely unexplained cosmic vortex appearing.  This is clearly part of the lead-in to 'Infinite Crisis', but leaves you devoid of that feeling of resolution that a stand-alone story should have.

3 out of 5

Then you might like 'Batman/Aliens' by Ron Marz, 'Batman/Aliens Two' by Ian Edginton or David Michelinie's 'Superman Vs. Predator'.

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