Week of July 25th, 2007
Well, it's a big week and I've been a little distracted by all the news pouring out of Comic-Con, so we'd better go ahead and get onward!
SPOTLIGHT REVIEW:
Wolverine #55
concludes what we can generously refer to as a "shaky" Wolverine arc, by Jeph Loeb and Simone Bianchi. There have been some high points--the fights between Wolverine and Sabretooth--and some much, much lower points--the story--but nothing tops the climax of this issue, which has Wolverine doing something to Sabretooth that's nearly as graphic as what happened to him in Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk. Even though I'm a fan of Loeb, the art has primarily been the better half of this title, and the "story behind the story" that's been revealed about the rivalry between Wolvie and Creed is both hard to swallow and mystifying in its complexity. Wouldn't it have been okay to hate each other because they're rivals?
FUN SIZE REVIEWS:
Amazing Spider-Man #542
was a big letdown, in my opinion. There is one cool moment (when Spidey partially disrobes and charges the Kingpin), but after building up to this supposedly deadly fight, it was hard to swallow Peter's decision to walk away. Plus the Kingpin seemed out of type: no trump card? No jail allegiances that were going to surprise Spider-Man? Not great; this has probably been the worst arc of JMS' run, as nothing happened for several issues, leading up to an issue where nothing happens.
Silver Surfer: Requiem #3
was my least favorite of the series so far, but still enjoyable. The morose and heavy tone of the first two issues is dissipated some by the massive intergalactic space battle the Surfer stumbles across. Maybe it says something about how deliciously melodramatic the book has been so far that a pointless war actually provides some levity, but it's been well executed. Curious to see how it wraps up next month, and already looking forward to more of Esad Ribic's gorgeous art.
Mighty Avengers #4
is the first issue in the series' short run where it felt like something actually happened. Granted, I'm not necessarily a big fan of what happened (particularly the bit involving Sentry's wife), but at least it didn't just seem like a Frank Cho sketchbook featuring the Avengers. The fight between the team and Ultron's Iron Man army was great, with Ares continuing to be my favorite member of the Mighty Conformist Avengers.
Green Arrow: Year One #2
cashes in on some of the promise the first issue held, and this is shaping up to be one of the better books DC is putting out. Yes, it's not as groundbreaking as the original Year One, Frank Miller's Batman, but that's a nearly impossible standard to live up to. Without doing a total reinvent, they're infusing some good drama to what I've always considered a pretty ho-hum origin story. Plus, it's always nice to see a super hero book that comes out twice a week, instead of twice a year (if we're lucky), like…
All-Star Batman and Robin #6
really, really, really annoyed me. Frank Miller has made it clear in every way this series that he could give a crap less what the fans think. Aside from the horrendously late shipping schedule (supposedly a result of his dallying with dame Hollywood), Miller gave the ultimate middle finger to fandom by including the latter two words of everyone's favorite phrase to hate (I'm the Goddamn Batman) in this book no less than four times. We get it Frank: you're smarter and funnier than us, and you're in on the joke that no matter how bad this book is, people we'll keep buying it. At least Jim Lee's art is top form this issue.
Batman #666
is a quintessential Grant Morrison book: really cool, really good, and really hard to understand unless you read it twice. It's set in the future, with a new Batman (his son Damian) and a villain who seems distinctly aware of what issue number this is. Ironically, Morrison's crazed-Batman-of-the-future still reads like a much more sane character than Miller's All-Star version, and for the second time I think I'm catching some intentional parody by Morrison, who has publicly criticized Miller. Go Grant go! This is worth a read (or two or three).
Sensational Spider-Man #39
seeks to make Eddie Brock a villain again, if only for a few pages. Turns out, he's way creepier and more menacing with a scalpel than he had been with the symbiote for a few years. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't kill Aunt May, but the way he gets out of the murder he'd committed to doing is creepy and mesmerizing, and doesn't feel like a cop-out--JMS should have taken notes for this month's Amazing. This two-issue arc was ultimately inconsequential, but I thought very entertaining.
Countdown #40
sees some action from Action Man, Jimmy Olsen's alter-ego, an advancement of the Red Hood/Donna Troy story, and a truly classic Darkseid scene. I've been enjoying the Piper/Trickster story which sees some action here too. Looks like they'll be getting a visit from an old 52 character next issue, whose last-panel appearance looks, well, pretty awful here. I won't give away who it is, but let's just say that a big part of their costume looks downright goofy.
There's a ton of news from the little con down in San Diego, but I'm still reeling from it, honestly, so look for a comprehensive, digestible listing in next week's column, when I've had the chance to digest it a little bit. Look for a super-sized news section, and a super-sized helping of World War Hulk, which is coming out only two weeks after last issue! Awesome! If you have any complaints or comments, or crumbled cookies, send them my way at skio84@mac.com. Otherwise, I'll see you in seven.
<TOP>Week of July 11th, 2007
Yawn. Entering the comic shop this week, I was greeted by more tumbleweeds than great books, and a tired but industrious Pulp staff. Not a whole lot to review, but we'll do our best. Let's head begrudgingly onward.
SPOTLIGHT REVIEW:
Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen #1
will ultimately do what it was intended to, I think: be the best-selling book Oni has maybe ever put out, and get some new fans into comic books. If you have a friend who watches Colbert and isn't yet into comics, it's your duty to give them this first issue; while The Man himself doesn't write it, it does star him, and he is credited as responsible for "Galactic Overlording" over the project. In addition to a crossover hit, I found it to be a very enjoyable comic as well; it's an entertaining space adventure that isn't weighed down by continuity or "science." It has a stock plot (borrowed from a Simpsons Treehouse of Horror, I believe), but entertaining dialogue throughout, especially from Colbert's Jansen, and his weird little black cloud pet, who hates him and promises to "rip off your head and make it my wife," among other hilarious and ineffectual threats. Worth a read to fans old and new; if you're a seasoned comics vet it won't blow you away, but it does make for an entertaining read.
FUN SIZE REVIEWS:
JSA #7
is another "passing down the legacy" issue of JSA, and one I'd deem a success; Commander Steel's grandson becomes Citizen Steel, with a continuation of an older arc. Eaglesham's art remains on point, and Geoff Johns crafts yet another great new addition to comics' oldest team….he even gives us a realistic origin to Steel's costume as a bonus.
Green Lantern #21
is the second part of the much-lauded Sinestro Corps story. If you're interested in the title but couldn't get your hands on SC#1, feat not: neither could I, and I had no trouble following this book, Johns' second hit of the week. I still find the Lanternverse kind of a fanboyish title, but Johns did a good job of boiling down all the history into a digestible little sugar pill. Definitely worth the pick-up.
New Avengers #32
makes due on the promise to reveal more Skrulls in the Marvelverse, starting with a member of the New Avengers…granted, it's probably the one you assumed it was, but still crazy stuff. Not a whole lot happens here besides the revelation, but the dialogue was tight and snappy, and it worked for me. Perfect Bendis-style stuff.
Green Arrow: Year One #1
might not knock your socks off, but it'll probably make you want to buy the second issue, which I count as good enough for me. Diggle and Jock work well together, and Diggle does a good job writing a young and cocky Oliver Queen here. Gets through a lot of story without rushing, which is harder than it looks.
Countdown #42
on the other hand gets through not a whole lot of story but feels like it's rushing the whole way through, touching on stories with Mary Marvel (and the Riddler of all people), Piper and Trickster, Holly and Harley, Donna and Jason (and Monitor makes three), Batman and Karate Kid, and Jimmy Olsen. One of those "remember where everyone is, because next week we'll start advancing stories" kind of issues you get from time to time in weekly books. Not bad, but not really worth buying either.
Still not really much news to report, since most companies are saving that for Comic-Con which is (gasp) only a few weeks away. I do have the news to report that the afore-mentioned con has sold out of four day passes for the first time ever. Good luck getting in amigos (Editor's Note - individual day passes are still available, but go to SDCC site NOW and get the day(s) you want)…anyway, I'll be preparing for next week's Hulk EXPLOSION! If you have any comments, questions, queries, or complaints, hit me at skio84@mac.com or through my blog at astoriedyear.blogspot.com. Otherwise I'll see you in a bit!
<TOP>Week of July 4th, 2007
Holy Mother, it's a big week. I'm not even going to say anything else about it, let's just get onward.
SPOTLIGHT REVIEW:
Action Comics #851
is, in an industry that complains constantly about the lack of new, young readers, the first genuinely kid-centric thing I've seen DC or Marvel do in years. The gimmick? An extra buck gets you half an issue in 3-D, complete with Phantom Vision 3-D goggles that, in spite of myself, I had to smile while I was assembling. Unfortunately, it's incredibly difficult to read with them on, especially when you already wear glasses as I do, and very few panels really pay off with impressive 3-D design; the ones that do are amazing, however. The issue itself is pretty good, though it looks like the next ish will have all the action in it. The 3-D experiment? It's difficult and frustrating work for a minimal but very cool payoff: in other words, the kind of things kids will love. Kudos, DC.
FUN SIZE REVIEWS:
Fallen Son: Death of Captain America- Iron Man
is the final issue of this uneven but often brilliant series. I stress uneven because whole issues have felt pointless, but when it's been on, I've loved it. This whole issue is "on" for me: Falcon's eulogy for Cap, interspersed with beautiful splash flashbacks by John Cassaday, everything about it. The shame is that characters are often best defined by their eulogies, and now that Cap is so well nailed down…he's dead, and there won't be any new books (for a few months at least). Pick this up even if you haven't read any other issues. The ending was, I thought, quite fitting.
Detective Comics #834
didn't pay off the promise of the last issue, which featured a creepy mastermind Joker that's sold short in this month's book by the overly talk-y, impotent version in this book. Overall, it just didn't work for me, and this is probably my least favorite issue of Dini's run. I have to hope he sticks to single-issue stories from here on out.
Thor #1
features the return of one of comics' biggest stars: Olivier Coipel. No, of course I'm talking about the Asgardian Hammer himself, who returns in this very symbolic, dreamy issue written by JMS and penciled by House of M's Coipel, who gives a new take on Thor that I really like, making him modern and classic at the same time. I'm not a hardcore Thor fan (which means I'm probably the target audience), but I loved this. Goes to prove my theory that JMS should get ten issues on every character, and then be forced off before he gets too weird.
Black Canary #1
isn't really about Black Canary that much, as she's edged out by her ward, the curiously named Sin. I didn't think it was great, except the well-constructed flashback scene, which makes me wish that instead of doing a Black Canary mini and a Green Arrow Year One, DC was doing a Canary/Arrow Year One.
Ultimate Power #6
almost makes the previous issues make sense, as a mastermind villain is revealed (one who makes a ton of sense and fits very well, too). The main problem is that we still have yet to see a conclusive fight, as once again the action is interrupted before either side asserts its dominance. Let's get moving here, Ultimate Power!
Dark Tower #6
is, I'm man enough to admit, just pretty confusing, although not as confusing as last month's issue. Among the Dark Tower-lingo and stunning art, I just kind of lost track of the story, which has been…denser than I expected. Still, I like the dialogue and art, but much like Justice, I'm going to have to wait for the trade to really see the whole picture.
All-Star Superman #8
isn't the best issue of this series, which would be damn tough, but I liked it nonetheless, even though at times the whole thing felt like a Grant Morrisson thought experiment in Bizarro language. The invention of Zibarro and other secondary Bizarro World characters was great, and Quitely's last page proves that, no matter how high my expectations for him, he always exceeds them.
Countdown #43
is almost entirely about Wally West's funeral, with some really great eulogies, including a fierce and heartfelt one from Cassie. I've heard people complain about an event this big being in Countdown, but I still like that "current" feel of the book, that this is our real-time look into the DCU as a whole. Unfortunately, this is probably the worst art of any Countdown title yet, with faces and objects (is Rose holding a phone or an…adult sex toy?) often looking muddy or at times downright nonsensical. Mary Marvel will be back next issue, so there's that to look forward to.
No news to report, and with next week the slowest comics week maybe ever, I might just grab me a quick post-firework nap…oh do be on the lookout for a couple of crossover debuts, as Nic Cage and Stephen Colbert's respective books are both debuting on Wednesday. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please drop me a line at skio84@mac.com, or get me through my blog at astoriedyear.blogspot.com. Otherwise, I'll see you in seven! Happy Independence Day…
<TOP>