What do you think?
Rate this book
Deadman (2017) #1-6
Deadman
In 1967, a blazingly talented young artist helped bring the strange adventures of Deadman to life—and redefined what comics could do. Now Neal Adams has reunited with this haunting hero to solve the mystery of his murder once and for all!
Boston Brand was just a circus performer when an assassin cut him down in his high-flying prime. Given an eerie afterlife as the spectral superhero called Deadman, he has the power to possess the living in order to fight for justice…and find his own killer.
But the conspiracy behind his death goes deeper than Deadman knows.
Now, with the help of allies from this world and beyond, including the Batman, Deadman will follow the trail to its infernal source: the League of Assassins and its immortal mastermind, Ra’s al Ghul.
Dive into an all-new investigation into the DC Universe’s dark side. Written and illustrated by Neal Adams (Batman), Deadman collects the entire six-issue mini-series!
Boston Brand was just a circus performer when an assassin cut him down in his high-flying prime. Given an eerie afterlife as the spectral superhero called Deadman, he has the power to possess the living in order to fight for justice…and find his own killer.
But the conspiracy behind his death goes deeper than Deadman knows.
Now, with the help of allies from this world and beyond, including the Batman, Deadman will follow the trail to its infernal source: the League of Assassins and its immortal mastermind, Ra’s al Ghul.
Dive into an all-new investigation into the DC Universe’s dark side. Written and illustrated by Neal Adams (Batman), Deadman collects the entire six-issue mini-series!
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2018
4 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
Neal Adams
1,054 books83 followersNeal Adams was an American comic book and commercial artist known for helping to create some of the definitive modern imagery of the DC Comics characters Superman, Batman, and Green Arrow; as the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates; and as a creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and recognition for Superman creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.
Adams was inducted into the Eisner Award's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999.
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Adams was inducted into the Eisner Award's Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998, and the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1999.
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 10, 2020
An absolute mess of a story. If you've ever read Superman: The Coming of the Supermen or Batman: Odyssey, this is more of that same over the top kind of nonsense. Most of this makes very little sense with terrible dialogue. Adams may not be a good writer anymore, but he can still draw. The book looks great and is full of DC's mystic characters.
October 4, 2020
I'm a huge Deadman fan. Neal Adams original run in particular.
But sometimes, you can't go home again. This being Neal Adams the book looks great. I wish the same could be said for the story. I think the problem is three fold.
1. Time has shown us that that while many comic book artists can plot- and Adams can- few can write. Look at all of Adams DC successes of the late 60s and early 70s. He was almost always teamed with some very skilled writers. Usually Arnold Drake or Dennis O'Neil.
2. As much as he needs a writer, he needs an editor willing to say no. That's a problem with creators who are big and DC spent a $#*! ton of money to lure back into the fold in the first place. It is even more intimidating when that writer/artist is the co-creator of so many of the characters involved and concepts involved. (The League of Assassins, Rhas Al Ghul, Ramna Kushna, Nanda Parbat, etc.) But when your creator comes back with a story that fans would have called foul on almost 50 years ago that looks even more nonsensical half a century later, well, the editor should have the balls to not only protect the brand but the creator's reputation.
3. Much of the time, a lot of comic book writers coming back to characters they are known for writing try to pretend that nothing has happened with these characters since they last wrote them. But every character in this book: Deadman, Spectre, Etrigan and most especially Batman, Rhas Al Ghul and Zatanna have grown as characters since 1972.
This series makes Batman Odyessy look like Batman: Going Sane.
But sometimes, you can't go home again. This being Neal Adams the book looks great. I wish the same could be said for the story. I think the problem is three fold.
1. Time has shown us that that while many comic book artists can plot- and Adams can- few can write. Look at all of Adams DC successes of the late 60s and early 70s. He was almost always teamed with some very skilled writers. Usually Arnold Drake or Dennis O'Neil.
2. As much as he needs a writer, he needs an editor willing to say no. That's a problem with creators who are big and DC spent a $#*! ton of money to lure back into the fold in the first place. It is even more intimidating when that writer/artist is the co-creator of so many of the characters involved and concepts involved. (The League of Assassins, Rhas Al Ghul, Ramna Kushna, Nanda Parbat, etc.) But when your creator comes back with a story that fans would have called foul on almost 50 years ago that looks even more nonsensical half a century later, well, the editor should have the balls to not only protect the brand but the creator's reputation.
3. Much of the time, a lot of comic book writers coming back to characters they are known for writing try to pretend that nothing has happened with these characters since they last wrote them. But every character in this book: Deadman, Spectre, Etrigan and most especially Batman, Rhas Al Ghul and Zatanna have grown as characters since 1972.
This series makes Batman Odyessy look like Batman: Going Sane.
April 26, 2020
You can read the other reviews for critical commentary; I wouldn't disagree with a lot of what is said in those. But what I found was, by the end of the book, I just didn't care about the things being objected to.
The plot is breakneck: Deadman is trying to exact vengeance on the guy who killed him, but that guy is (or maybe isn't!) dead, and was just a pawn of the League of Assassins anyway. So he wants to take vengeance on the LoA, but it turns out that his father did (or didn't!) get into a bind by signing Deadman's older brother over to them back when his mother was dying and the League cured her. And in the cliffhanger ending, Deadman is given the chance to not be dead any more—at the cost of the powers he needs to save his older brother and everyone else.
Neal Adams is pushing 80, but this feels like the work of a young man. It's so free and energetic. And the artwork is amazing. Every panel sings. The stakes are relatively low—it's really just a kind of intimate family drama—but the emotion is cranked up to 11. And there's a kind of cool patois to the dialogue that you might expect from an 80-year-old man who worked in a juvenile-oriented industry most of his life. The characters might sound like they're from the '50s all the way to...well, let's say the '80s. There isn't any very recent slang.
Also, the characters (Deadman, Spectre, Dr. Fate, Zatanna) are the ones from the Golden Age that never really transitioned into Silver Age. (What passed for mysterious/supernatural/magical in the '40s didn't play that well in the '60s.) Yet you can see Adams' idiosyncratic take which respects the old without being chained by it.
It's a weird character. The story is fittingly weird. The art is wonderfully weird. And I will definitely be finding volume 2 and reading that when the stores open up again.
The plot is breakneck: Deadman is trying to exact vengeance on the guy who killed him, but that guy is (or maybe isn't!) dead, and was just a pawn of the League of Assassins anyway. So he wants to take vengeance on the LoA, but it turns out that his father did (or didn't!) get into a bind by signing Deadman's older brother over to them back when his mother was dying and the League cured her. And in the cliffhanger ending, Deadman is given the chance to not be dead any more—at the cost of the powers he needs to save his older brother and everyone else.
Neal Adams is pushing 80, but this feels like the work of a young man. It's so free and energetic. And the artwork is amazing. Every panel sings. The stakes are relatively low—it's really just a kind of intimate family drama—but the emotion is cranked up to 11. And there's a kind of cool patois to the dialogue that you might expect from an 80-year-old man who worked in a juvenile-oriented industry most of his life. The characters might sound like they're from the '50s all the way to...well, let's say the '80s. There isn't any very recent slang.
Also, the characters (Deadman, Spectre, Dr. Fate, Zatanna) are the ones from the Golden Age that never really transitioned into Silver Age. (What passed for mysterious/supernatural/magical in the '40s didn't play that well in the '60s.) Yet you can see Adams' idiosyncratic take which respects the old without being chained by it.
It's a weird character. The story is fittingly weird. The art is wonderfully weird. And I will definitely be finding volume 2 and reading that when the stores open up again.
July 20, 2018
A convoluted mess of a story, with often wretched scripting. However, Adams’s art is as beautiful as ever!
August 24, 2021
El guión no tiene mucho sustento, dos estrellas. El arte de Neal cuatro estrellas, genial. Los personajes amados, cuatro estrellas más, los diálogos raros como si todos compartieran el sarcasmo de Boston Brand, pues dos estrellas.
Tres para emparejar la cosa. Etrigan adorable, es Espectro irreconocible.
Tres para emparejar la cosa. Etrigan adorable, es Espectro irreconocible.
March 17, 2020
Read a while ago. It was alright. I enjoyed it ok but I'm a big fan of Justice league dark. I wouldn't recommend it if you're not sure. 3 stars.
May 17, 2019
I guess I shouldn't say I've "read" this book, but I did read the first issue and it is incoherent. I've been a fan of the character Deadman for a while and I truly could not follow the first issue. Bye!
September 26, 2023
After reading Batman: Odyssey maxi-series I had all but given up on Neal Adams. I picked up the first issue of this series and read it with my son. It was almost as confusing as Batman: Odyssey but had enough of a hook for us to pick up issue 2. I forgot to pick up the rest of the series until I saw this trade.
The optical illusion with the lion on the cover of the second issue is intact in this trade. Unfortunately the glow in the dark cover of #1 can't be replicated in the collected edition.
Adams tries to set the record straight for Deadman's origins. The original 1960s issues were admittedly confusing at times, with revisions and reveals one after another. Adams didn't write those original issues, so he was not to blame. The problem is things were already smoothed over and this is yet another set of revisions. Oh well, I can't keep DC's continuity straight anyhow so who cares.
The Hook, Nanda Parbat, Rama Kushna, and The League Of Assassins are all brought back front and center. Adams drags in The Phantom Stranger, The Spectre, Batman, The Demon, and Zatanna. Neal Adams draws an incredible version of Zatanna and I would be interested to see what he could do with a series for her.
While the writing in issue 1 was somewhat confusing it improved and was more readable until #5 and 6. That's when Adams' newfound tics of throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks started kicking into high gear. His dialogue wasn't as groan inducing as Batman: Odyssey...thank god. That book gave me a headache.
Adams' artwork has deteriorated. His panel composition and layouts remain great, but he insists on inking his own work and his clean lines have devolved into a chicken scratch mess. It's too bad that Adams retains such creative control. A strong editor could tighten up the dialogue a bit and pair him with a strong inker who would complement his style. Adams' coloring seems outdated, and I mean that in a bad way. He plays with Photoshop bells and whistles in a way that is reminiscent of colorists a dozen years ago. The tricks aren't new and they aren't convincing. Your mileage may vary.
The book ends on a nonsensical cliffhanger, promising a book two. So far not a single issue has been solicited, and never will be since Adams has passed away. This was decent and entertaining enough.d.
The optical illusion with the lion on the cover of the second issue is intact in this trade. Unfortunately the glow in the dark cover of #1 can't be replicated in the collected edition.
Adams tries to set the record straight for Deadman's origins. The original 1960s issues were admittedly confusing at times, with revisions and reveals one after another. Adams didn't write those original issues, so he was not to blame. The problem is things were already smoothed over and this is yet another set of revisions. Oh well, I can't keep DC's continuity straight anyhow so who cares.
The Hook, Nanda Parbat, Rama Kushna, and The League Of Assassins are all brought back front and center. Adams drags in The Phantom Stranger, The Spectre, Batman, The Demon, and Zatanna. Neal Adams draws an incredible version of Zatanna and I would be interested to see what he could do with a series for her.
While the writing in issue 1 was somewhat confusing it improved and was more readable until #5 and 6. That's when Adams' newfound tics of throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks started kicking into high gear. His dialogue wasn't as groan inducing as Batman: Odyssey...thank god. That book gave me a headache.
Adams' artwork has deteriorated. His panel composition and layouts remain great, but he insists on inking his own work and his clean lines have devolved into a chicken scratch mess. It's too bad that Adams retains such creative control. A strong editor could tighten up the dialogue a bit and pair him with a strong inker who would complement his style. Adams' coloring seems outdated, and I mean that in a bad way. He plays with Photoshop bells and whistles in a way that is reminiscent of colorists a dozen years ago. The tricks aren't new and they aren't convincing. Your mileage may vary.
The book ends on a nonsensical cliffhanger, promising a book two. So far not a single issue has been solicited, and never will be since Adams has passed away. This was decent and entertaining enough.d.
December 17, 2018
I'm... not sure what to make of this graphic novel. The Deadman character kind of fascinates me, but I think what I learned from reading this is that I prefer him as a side character, rather than the focus. I've said before that I'm not a fan of supernatural stories, so, as such, it's not particularly surprising that this one didn't quite "click" for me--not only by the nature of what the story is, but also because I haven't read hardly anything featuring the other prominent characters, such as The Spectre, the Phantom Stranger, Etrigan, etc. (Though I was kind of annoyed that Etrigan didn't rhyme all the time. I thought that was his thing...?) So there was more than a little confusion throughout this entire graphic. (Though the way some of the dialogue was written was also confusing... I'm going to assume that's because I'm not "up" on my supernatural side of DC.) Still, the overall story was an interesting (though, again, confusing) one, about Deadman trying to piece together the motive of why he was killed and realizing that his family was tied up in the League of Assassins. The cameo by Batman in the first issue was also pretty cool. And I also liked the "old school" writing style, of the unknown narrator "talking to" (reacting to) Deadman's thoughts and actions. And, of course, the Neal Adams artwork was awesome. But, as far as a story that really "grabbed" me... this one just didn't. I'm not saying it wasn't good; I'm just saying it wasn't really my thing, for many reasons. I'll probably read the next volume that comes out--because I am curious to see how the story ends (so that obviously means something), but it won't be one that I'll have to grab AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT (like Aquaman, Vol. 6, out tomorrow!). Still, worth a read if you're curious about the character and if you want to enjoy some new work by one of comic-dom's greats, Neal Adams.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2022
Neal Adams, siendo una leyenda vivienre del cómic, en su momento quizo contar una historia perdoda de Boston Brand, Deadman, que no pudo contar en su momento por la cancelación de su cómic original. Esto es dibujo y guión de Neal, un hombre que creció entre la era de plata de los cómics, y que para el tiempo de escritura de esto estaba llegando a su séptima década de vida. Tomando esto en cuenta, el trabajo hecho en este tomo es presentable, más no excepcionalmente integral. Neal brilla en sus mejores obras cuando es apoyado en el guión por otros escribas legendarios como Waid y O'Neil, y si esperas de ese tipo de guiones, esto no va a ser para ti. Yovine por el arte, que es muy bueno, e incluye varios personajes interesantes de DC haciendo apariciones, pero esta es una historia de Deadman. Que aunque resuelve sus tramas principales, da pie para su secuela, que sigue en Batman vs Ra's al Ghul, que se convertiría en el último trabajo de Neal Adams publicado por DC antes de su fallecimiento a principios de 2022.
Una historia contada como el quería, para bien o para mal, cosa que muchos artistas no se pueden dar el lujo, pero es unvtestamento a la libertad que ya tenía este autor por el gran trabajo realizado a través de las décadas.
Una historia contada como el quería, para bien o para mal, cosa que muchos artistas no se pueden dar el lujo, pero es unvtestamento a la libertad que ya tenía este autor por el gran trabajo realizado a través de las décadas.
September 6, 2018
As a huge fan of Deadman, it was neat to see Neal Adams return to the hero that made him a star. I was looking forward to him finishing the story he always wanted to, as he explained in many interviews.
The artwork is fantastic and the storytelling is often above average, but the writing in this book constantly loses me. Every character seems to speak like the same person, and often times incoherently so I lose track of what is going on. It’s unfortunate because some of it is fantastic and super fun...but then it just returns to incoherence...until it finally ends without a real conclusion, and teases to be continued in another Batman story.
As of right now, I think the most justice that has been done for Deadman was during the New 52 run, when they had a few issues entitled “DC Presents...Deadman”.
The artwork is fantastic and the storytelling is often above average, but the writing in this book constantly loses me. Every character seems to speak like the same person, and often times incoherently so I lose track of what is going on. It’s unfortunate because some of it is fantastic and super fun...but then it just returns to incoherence...until it finally ends without a real conclusion, and teases to be continued in another Batman story.
As of right now, I think the most justice that has been done for Deadman was during the New 52 run, when they had a few issues entitled “DC Presents...Deadman”.
February 13, 2021
Let me say this right off. My two favorite artists of all time are Berni Wrightson and Neal Adams. However, I am just not a fan of the recent writing forays of Neal Adams.
I rarely DNF a book, as in almost never. But both this and Batman Odyssey were ones I DNF. I just cannot follow the stories. And the dialogue is just silly in many cases. This wasn't as wordy as Batman Odyssey, as that one may be the wordiest comic ever in the sense that the word balloons obscured much of the art. This wasn't that bad, but it was close.
What kept this from one star was the art. Neal Adams can still draw, no question about it. I wish he'd hook up with a great writer and do a project, because his art is top notch even now.
Still a big Neal Adams the artist fan, not so much Neal Adams the writer.
I rarely DNF a book, as in almost never. But both this and Batman Odyssey were ones I DNF. I just cannot follow the stories. And the dialogue is just silly in many cases. This wasn't as wordy as Batman Odyssey, as that one may be the wordiest comic ever in the sense that the word balloons obscured much of the art. This wasn't that bad, but it was close.
What kept this from one star was the art. Neal Adams can still draw, no question about it. I wish he'd hook up with a great writer and do a project, because his art is top notch even now.
Still a big Neal Adams the artist fan, not so much Neal Adams the writer.
March 9, 2019
Great, great superhero rendering in pencil and ink art by the great Neal Adams... However, the story and characterization seems forced, a wooden manipulation. Pluses and minuses include guest appearances by Batman cast, The Specctre, The Demon, Dr. Fate, and Zatanna, with that great rendering and woeful characterization.
SPOILER ALERT: ends in a set up for another limited series/volume.
It's Neal: judge accordingly. Your mileage may vary.
SPOILER ALERT: ends in a set up for another limited series/volume.
It's Neal: judge accordingly. Your mileage may vary.
May 15, 2019
Deadman can be an interesting character and has been done well in some other, relatively recent comics. This, unfortunately, is not one of them. The art is perhaps a matter of taste, but the writing comes across as garbled, somewhat old-fashioned, and severely detracting from the underlying story. Everything seems to happen in a rush and can be quite hard to follow at times. On the plus side, there are some fun guest appearances, but they can't salvage this confusing mess.
September 13, 2022
I genuinely love mini series. They are normally contained enough that you don't have to understand the whole mythos in order to enjoy. You get to look at certain characters in a new way.
This wasn't one of those. I was disappointed at the amount that you needed to know about the DC Universe in order to understand this mini-series. I am unhappy by that alone.
This wasn't one of those. I was disappointed at the amount that you needed to know about the DC Universe in order to understand this mini-series. I am unhappy by that alone.
December 4, 2022
If not for a tantalizing cliffhanger, this would have been a five-star review.
Neal Adams takes Deadman on a journey deep into his soul (and other places) aided and abetted (or not) by a wealth of great DC characters (Batman, James Gordon, Etrigan, The Phantom Stranger, The Spectre...).
Great fun.
Neal Adams takes Deadman on a journey deep into his soul (and other places) aided and abetted (or not) by a wealth of great DC characters (Batman, James Gordon, Etrigan, The Phantom Stranger, The Spectre...).
Great fun.
December 18, 2018
3.5
I really don't know what to make of this one. The art is great and the gist of the story is enjoyable but there is so much (seemingly random) stuff filling in around the edges I struggle to know what to do with it. Fun characters though and the implication of a sequel.
I really don't know what to make of this one. The art is great and the gist of the story is enjoyable but there is so much (seemingly random) stuff filling in around the edges I struggle to know what to do with it. Fun characters though and the implication of a sequel.
May 13, 2018
Neal Adams draws so well people pay him to write on occasion.
His greatest hits tour continues as DC's Mystic Heroes get time on stage in this beautifully drawn yet bewildering mini-series.
His greatest hits tour continues as DC's Mystic Heroes get time on stage in this beautifully drawn yet bewildering mini-series.
December 18, 2018
Brilliant art and a chaotic story featuring Deadman, The Spectre, Zatanna, Demon, The Phantom Stranger and more
February 10, 2019
What the hell, Neal.
March 28, 2023
Confusing and not well drawn.
July 14, 2023
This was so confusing for the first couple issues, and even after finishing it, I'm still a little lost. Interesting enough though
May 9, 2020
(Copy of review posted to my Facebook page on 3/30/20.) I just finished reading the Neal Adams written and drawn "Deadman" trade paperback (2018), reprinting his six-issue limited series of the same name ("Deadman" #1-6, also from 2018).
I typically really like Neal Adams' stuff, even his newer stuff (although ever since he's decided to mostly write and draw his books I have to say that the stories have typically not been very good and his characters, who he can still draw wonderfully, tend to act way out of character with any earlier versions of those characters).
This Deadman limited series, however, gets only a "meh" out of me, I'm afraid. At times his art is still very neat to look at, but his writing is much worse on this than even some of his other more recent stuff. (Prior to this I thought his "Batman: Odyssey" was "badly written but nice to look at". This one is a step down from that, into "badly written, part of the time nice to look at".)
Once again, existing characters (Deadman/Boston Brand, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, the Spectre, Dr. Fate, the Demon Etrigan, Zatanna, etc.) all speak and act in ways different from any versions seen prior to this story. And the plot this time is very hard to follow unless you are *very* familiar with these characters and can therefore infer a lot of what's going on despite it not being very clearly depicted for you in the dialogue and artwork here. (For instance, why is Commissioner Gordon in Japan at the beginning as an "acting ambassador" inspecting nuclear sites? We never do find out.)
Adams doesn't do a good job of introducing any of these characters well enough for a new reader to understand who they are. And if that's because he's aiming it entirely at long time readers who are already familiar with these characters then they are the ones most likely to realize that few of these characters are behaving correctly.
I found myself reading it just to look at Adams' artwork more than anything else. But even in this regard, "Deadman" isn't as good as Adams' other recent stuff. Here, everyone's expressions are always at one extreme or another (shouting angrily, shocked, confused, etc.). And the action is at times hard to follow (requiring the reader to sometimes "read" a panel or page more than once to realize what's happening exactly.
Some of his characters still look very good. Batman/Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, and Alfred Pennyworth all still have the classic Adams' look. And I especially like how he draws the Spectre and Zatanna (although it is funny to see her in a jacket and heavy books over her usual costume with the fishnet stockings in the freezing cold arctic setting near the end of the story). Adams' Deadman in this is drawn merely "okay", though, and his creatures that the heroes have to fight in the end (yeti, zombies, "robotoids", "deformers", etc.) don't look all that great. (When Adams goes for "ugly" or "grotesque", he doesn't tend to really pull that off very well.
Worst thing: When you get to the end, the story doesn't actually end. Instead, if has a supposedly big "reveal", followed by, "Stand by for Book 2! 'Batman: Demigods War'". (Which apparently got retitled as "Batman vs. Ra's Al Ghul", another six issue limited series that started coming out in late 2019.)
Maybe if I reread my 1970s "Deadman" stories I would appreciate this follow-up series a bit more as it involves a lot of characters that I barely remember from the original comics, like Deadman/Boston Brand's brother Cleveland. Somehow, I doubt it, though, as those 1970s comics were written by others and didn't suffer from a lot of the basic storytelling problems of this Adams written story. And, regardless, Adams shows here that he really needs someone helping with the dialogue as it's pretty darn painful to read in this one. I give this a two stars (out of five).
I typically really like Neal Adams' stuff, even his newer stuff (although ever since he's decided to mostly write and draw his books I have to say that the stories have typically not been very good and his characters, who he can still draw wonderfully, tend to act way out of character with any earlier versions of those characters).
This Deadman limited series, however, gets only a "meh" out of me, I'm afraid. At times his art is still very neat to look at, but his writing is much worse on this than even some of his other more recent stuff. (Prior to this I thought his "Batman: Odyssey" was "badly written but nice to look at". This one is a step down from that, into "badly written, part of the time nice to look at".)
Once again, existing characters (Deadman/Boston Brand, Batman, Commissioner Gordon, Alfred, the Spectre, Dr. Fate, the Demon Etrigan, Zatanna, etc.) all speak and act in ways different from any versions seen prior to this story. And the plot this time is very hard to follow unless you are *very* familiar with these characters and can therefore infer a lot of what's going on despite it not being very clearly depicted for you in the dialogue and artwork here. (For instance, why is Commissioner Gordon in Japan at the beginning as an "acting ambassador" inspecting nuclear sites? We never do find out.)
Adams doesn't do a good job of introducing any of these characters well enough for a new reader to understand who they are. And if that's because he's aiming it entirely at long time readers who are already familiar with these characters then they are the ones most likely to realize that few of these characters are behaving correctly.
I found myself reading it just to look at Adams' artwork more than anything else. But even in this regard, "Deadman" isn't as good as Adams' other recent stuff. Here, everyone's expressions are always at one extreme or another (shouting angrily, shocked, confused, etc.). And the action is at times hard to follow (requiring the reader to sometimes "read" a panel or page more than once to realize what's happening exactly.
Some of his characters still look very good. Batman/Bruce Wayne, Jim Gordon, and Alfred Pennyworth all still have the classic Adams' look. And I especially like how he draws the Spectre and Zatanna (although it is funny to see her in a jacket and heavy books over her usual costume with the fishnet stockings in the freezing cold arctic setting near the end of the story). Adams' Deadman in this is drawn merely "okay", though, and his creatures that the heroes have to fight in the end (yeti, zombies, "robotoids", "deformers", etc.) don't look all that great. (When Adams goes for "ugly" or "grotesque", he doesn't tend to really pull that off very well.
Worst thing: When you get to the end, the story doesn't actually end. Instead, if has a supposedly big "reveal", followed by, "Stand by for Book 2! 'Batman: Demigods War'". (Which apparently got retitled as "Batman vs. Ra's Al Ghul", another six issue limited series that started coming out in late 2019.)
Maybe if I reread my 1970s "Deadman" stories I would appreciate this follow-up series a bit more as it involves a lot of characters that I barely remember from the original comics, like Deadman/Boston Brand's brother Cleveland. Somehow, I doubt it, though, as those 1970s comics were written by others and didn't suffer from a lot of the basic storytelling problems of this Adams written story. And, regardless, Adams shows here that he really needs someone helping with the dialogue as it's pretty darn painful to read in this one. I give this a two stars (out of five).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews