Weeks of April 25th and May 2nd, 2007
Hello hello, Mainstream Mania is back with a two-fer column this week; I'm not going to try and review the whole crop from the last two weeks, so here's a sampling of what I picked up. It's a decent sized week next time around, so look for a fatter column. Enough placating for God's sakes: let's get onward!
SPOTLIGHT REVIEW:
52 #s 51-52
So it's the end of the road for 52. It was a long, bumpy road, but overall I can say that I don't regret reading every issue of this series. There were several that I didn't enjoy, but overall it was usually interesting, if not outright good. Unfortunately, the end of the series does not qualify as anything other than enraging. SPOILER The big secret (which Dan Didio revealed in-issue a few months ago, so I'm assuming you all know by now) is that the multiverse is back, with 52 versions of Earth, including most of the famous pre-Crisis books. So, to sum up, DC's big 52/One Year Later experiment served as a retcon for the only really revolutionary thing to happen in the mainstream universe. Lame. At least now the Question is still alive, somewhere out there. DC always convinces me they're going to try something revolutionary, and always ends up just finding a revolutionary way to maintain the status quo.
FUN SIZE REVIEWS:
Midnighter #7:
This stand alone story was written by Brian K. Vaughan, who manages to bring a fresh take to Midnighters "I know everything that's going to happen" implants by telling this story backwards, with the last page (that actually begins the story) reading "I know how this story ends." Awesome, innovative writing with great art by Darick Robertson.
The Initiative #2:
This has been an interesting story so far, but it feels like with this being the flagship title for "The Initiative" to have 50 supergroups in the country, there should be more going on than there is. So far it's just focused on a few nobody kids; I understand the drive to bring in new people, as well as to focus on a small group, but I want bigger and better from this title.
Detective Comics #832:
This is a fill-in stand alone story about the Terrible Trio, and a threat that stalks them. It's not bad, but it is symptomatic of DC's larger problems putting out issues by good creative teams on any kind of regular basis. When I commit to buying Paul Dini's Detective books for a year, it bugs me to have six other issues come out in between; I've learned to live with lateness, but I hate second-rate fill-ins.
Dark Tower #4:
A dark shadow has come over this book; the writing and art are still solid, but it didn't seem like there was a single face you could see all of in this issue. Everyone is half in the dark. Heavy symbolism or deadline demands? You tell me.
Amazons Attack #1:
I'm told this issue make sense if you've read the Wonder Woman issue that came out this same week…I should have been told that by this issue, though, not another confused reader. Kind of a bungle on DC's part that contributes to me finding this book confusing and unconvincing. The title pretty much sums up all of the action…stay tuned for further info, I guess?
NEWS BRIEFS:
Sherman Alexie, one of my very favorite writers, will be getting two Marvel series in the near future; one, a miniseries about Forge, stays in Alexie's line of work, as he usually write Native American characters. The other, a Daredevil MAX series, promises to be amazing. Keep a look out.
I've been asked about and written about Spider-Man 3 so much that I can't bear to write another review. I have a lengthy blog about it at astoriedyear.blogspot.com, my blog, that pretty much covers it. Bottom line? I loved it, while being able to admit its flaws. In big bucks news, it pulled in $150 million in the US, and another $225 million worldwide, meaning Sony made $125 in profit on a movie with a quarter billion dollar budget in ONE WEEKEND. Like it or not, I think we can all agree Spidey 3 was better and more deserving of all this record-breaking success than Pirates 2.
Good to see you all again, thanks for reading. If you have anything to say, or any questions about absolutely anything, from comics to relationship advice to inquiries about dinosaurs, send them my way at skio84@mac.com. Until next week, I'll be at the Town Center, watching Spidey 3…
<TOP>Week of April 18th, 2007
Well hello. Yes, I know it's been a while, and I haven't called, or written…I'm sorry, I really am. The fact of the matter is, I've been dealing with a broken computer, a broken immune system, and the broken immune system of various friends and family. BUT! I'm back with a weekly dose of mainstream mania, and will be for the foreseeable future. I'm just going to hit the reset button and start over from today as far as coverage, but look for the weekly content you once were accustomed to from this column.
SPOTLIGHT REVIEW:
52 #50/ WWIII #s1-4:
I had really high hopes for this, as it's another ambitious publishing tact taken by DC. Publish an entire trade's worth of stories on one day, and get people to drop ten bucks on it. Unfortunately, the story is told more or less in its entirety in the issue of 52; the WWIII issues only serve to provide "depth" where none is needed, and to give us shots of Martian Manhunter hovering in space a la Superman Returns. This story not only could have been, but is better told in much less space. Buy the 52 ish, one of the better from that series, skip the others.
FUN SIZE REVIEWS:
Mighty Avengers #2:
The overwhelming response from online reviewers to this issue? "It's weird…" I have to agree. It's Ultron/The Wasp in a half-naked no-action standoff with the Avengers, interspersed with flashback shots to the team's formation. Not great.
JLA #8:
I liked this issue, if only for the cut scenes of Batman fighting Karate Kid. And yes, the last page of this JSA team-up launch does look like a Street Fighter screen. But I loved Street Fighter! Didn't you?
Ultimate Spider-Man #108:
Bendis and Bagley take a victory lap with this Ultimate Knights arc; this issue sees Ultimate Moon Knight going nuts, forming a new persona, beating Spidey senseless, and generally wrecking Midtown High. Bummer. Great read, though.
Brave and the Bold #3:
This has turned into a really disappointing title. I had high hopes after the very well-drawn and written first issue, featuring Batman and Hal Jordan, but its only gone downhill, finally hitting what I hope must be rock bottom with this Bats/Blue Beetle teamup. Not worth reading, I'm afraid.
NEWS BRIEFS:
This has been the subject of a ton of rumors and gossip, but it's now been confirmed that Spider-Man: The Musical, will be a reality, with music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge. UNBELIEVABLE! Look for more coverage of this as the story develops, I promise.
It's good to be back; let's make a habit of it. Send any comments, complaints, or queries to skio84@charter.net. Otherwise, I promise I'll see you next week. And the week after. And the week after…
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