Comic-per-day Reviews

Avengers #21

2012-01-27T08:00:00.002-06:00

It is always important to let your characters get their butts kicked so that the villains can live up to their reps. Bendis has always loved laying out the Avengers, usually so a guest-star can come in and take care of business. I'm not sure who would ride to the rescue here. Nick Fury, maybe? I'm also trying to remember where Quake went. She's part of the permanent team now, correct? But I don't see her on any of the action teams that get picked off throughout the issue. Maybe she'll save the day?

I really like the HAMMER agents using combined abilities of the Avengers, but there is going to have to be some limitations, or technically these guys should take over the world pretty quickly. Maybe the treatments kill the recipient or something?

I also have to point out the fun sequence where Spider-Woman tries to pretend she's still an undercover Hydra agent. It's worth a try!

It's interesting, Renato Guedes' art typically looks a little more solid than it does in this issue. I'm not sure if it is the inker or if this was a rush job, but there are definitely some panels that look a bit... uneven. It's actually odd, because it is especially noticeable on the divided pages that close out the book. Sometimes Maria Hill looks awesome, then her eyes are bugging out two panels later, and it is the same with Cap and the Vision.

Fair

Avenging Spider-Man #3

2012-01-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

Man, Zeb Wells writes a good Spidey. Web-head has always been down on his luck, but man, the new villain who “killed” Red Hulk sure lays a beatdown on Spidey in this one. Supposedly, this is a Marvel Team-Up style book and the first guest-star was the Red Hulk, but man, let’s face facts: J Jonah Jameson was really the guest star in these first three issues. Red Hulk spends all but a few pages in this issue on his back! It’s all worth it though, just to see how mad Red Hulk is about Spidey out-doing him and ending the subterranean invasion that Rulk couldn’t stop.

JJJ and Spidey spend about half the issue bickering, with most of the other pages full of Spidey getting knocked around. (It seems Joe Mad is one of the artists who feels Spidey’s eyes are made out of plastic, there’s some good shattering going on here.) I absolutely love the panel with the sad moloids. Never under-estimate the cuteness of moloid children when they cry or suck their thumbs.

Ra’ktar may be beaten, but he’s certainly not out. This guy gave Rulk and Spidey more than they could handle, and he may be heading home for now, but that grin he shoots Rulk sure makes it seem like he’ll be back.

I don’t think Joe Madureira is getting a lot of inking help, some of these panels look downright soft. But others look fully rendered and nice, and he can still do action like few others. I would have loved to see a few more panels with more Avengers, his Spider-Woman and Iron Man look great.

(I’m still grateful for that digital copy to offset the extra dollar in price, too.)

Good

Venom #12

2012-01-25T08:00:00.005-06:00

Now this is serious. When did Rick Remender get this good? I sampled his Punisher work a few years ago and thought it was only OK. But these last three issues of Venom have been fantastic; so good that I just picked up a run of Uncanny X-Force on Comixology. And to think I only gave this a shot because I liked his interviews on Secret Avengers!

As for this issue, it checks off every box a Venom fan could want. Eddie Brock is long gone, but there are numerous pages featuring the huge, brain-eating Venom as he chases Jack O Lantern through Vegas. This is classic Venom the way we remember him, with some added features like extra mouths and spikes.

Jack O Lantern is a fantastic villain, and I adore his look. When he first appears, it honestly looks like he's just hanging out, chilling on his hovering, flaming broomstick. Only in comics!

Flash Thompson does get a few moments as GI Venom, the coolest being the scene where he pretends to be a drunk. Note the fantastic spider-symbols on his shirt.

I'm going to need to do a little research on Toxin, I remember enjoying his limited series a few years ago, but what has he been up to since? Didn't he fight Razorfist?

Lan Medina's art is solid, and many of the nice moments I mentioned above work because of his pencils. Geez, the scene where the symbiote overpowers Thompson is one of the scariest panels I can remember. There is a tightness to a lot of the backgrounds and surrounding characters that I recognized too, Medina is ably assisted by Nelson DeCastro.

Good

Batman & Robin #5

2012-01-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

First, a few stray thoughts. I can’t believe that Batman’s training room is called the Danger Room. I mean, didn’t Marvel copyright that or anything? It just seems odd that Peter Tomasi would take that name so easily. The other thing I noticed is that there is a page in this that looks all messed-up and digitized. That happened recently with the Metal Men collection, surely there is some sort of quality control for that?

Now, as for the comic itself, it is brilliant. Tomasi has established himself as a master of mood and plotting, and his Patrick Gleason makes the story come alive. I don’t want to have a separate discussion on the art because everything fits together so seamlessly. From the new Batmobile’s design (and we see it in action taking out cars in Gotham) to the wonderful, detailed splash page showing Nobody and Damian taking out an embassy full of people. When I complain about splashes in the new 52, this is NOT what I’m talking about. Gleason fills the page with wonderful, unique moments, the best being when the two vigilantes just sneak down a hall behind a headphone-wearing janitor. Just brilliant.

Ducard’s origin is wonderful too. He’s a fairly generic bad ass, but the moment when he meets and dresses down Bruce Wayne is fantastic. It seems all you had to do in order to impress Ducard Sr. was beat the crap out of his son.

A lot of the new 52 stories have only taken five issues to tell, but I’m glad this one is lingering on a bit longer.

Excellent

Black Panther #528

2012-01-23T08:00:00.001-06:00

What’ s awesome about David Liss’ epic battle between Kingpin and Black Panther is that it is different than the other Kingpin fights we’ve seen over the years. Daredevil rarely actually outsmarts Kingpin, relying on his stubborn pride and ability to take a beating to outlast the big man. Spider-Man has always been able to taunt and annoy Kingpin into making a mistake. But Black Panther just straight-up out-plots the guy. The Kingpin is a criminal mastermind that gets by with his brains first, brawn second. And Black Panther operates exactly the same way!

I find it a bit odd that T’Challa’s sister Shuri shows up and has such an important role in this issue. She hasn’t had a whiff of impact on the series so far, but here she is zooming in with an extremely plot-altering role. I didn’t read the last series where she was introduced, so I know nothing about her, so maybe I’m more confused than other BP fans.

I also hope there is a tad more for Luke Cage and Falcon to do next issue. Surely they can fight Lady Bullseye and Typhoid Mary while BP faces down Kingpin next month?

Michael Avon Oeming’s style is too unique for him to come in and wrap up the closing chapter of this story. David Liss’ book has had an extremely consistent look from the beginning; Oeming is good, he’s just too different. His use of shading works fine, but his simple lines don’t carry the same weight as the other artists on this run.

Good

Invincible #87

2012-01-22T08:00:00.003-06:00

Dag. Mark Grayson has been missing from the pages of Invincible for too long. While I love the supporting cast and world that Robert Kirkman has created in this title, Invincible’s name is on the cover, and the book is better when he’s in it.

I absolutely love Dinosaurus. He’s such an insane concept, a world-changing environmentalist villain who is now influencing the most powerful hero on the Earth. Plus his name is Dinosaurus! I always love seeing the Guardians of the Globe show up, and Robot actually got to talk tough for a minute before Mark and Dino blew him off. I can’t imagine anyone is going to be able to give those two a run for their money.

I’m also enjoying the continuing subplots from the world Mark left behind. When he zoomed off to become a world-changer, he left his business in the hands of Atom Eve by herself. Judging from upcoming covers, I think Bulletproof will take over soon, but for now, it’s neat seeing Atom Eve trying to keep things running. And Cecil popping back in for a reasonable chat was great too.

Of course, that last page is the real shocker. My sense of pacing must be off in comics right now. I never would have guessed that Kirkman would go back to this particular plot so quickly. I’m thrilled to see it, but I’m still surprised.

It’s wonderful to have Ryan Ottley back on art. This is his book now, and everything looks better when he’s on pencils. (Not that Cory Walker is bad, but Ottley is brilliant.) It’s interesting that Ottley (or Kirkman) decided to change Atom Eve’s look the way they have. She’s not ugly, but she’s not the slim-hipped, top-heavy style lady we see in every other comic. It’s a neat choice. I’d love to know the thinking that went into that choice.

Good

X-Men Legacy #260.1

2012-01-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

I’d better jump into my recent Amazon box and read Schism, because I obviously missed a lot of recent X-happenings. I’m glad I just read Age of X, or the lines about Frenzy’s feelings for Cyclops would have made zero sense as well! That said, Christos Gage always makes his work new reader friendly, and this issue is as well.

It seems this is the X-version of Avengers Academy, which is pretty crazy if you think about it. One guy is writing the “school” books for the two main Marvel franchises. One interesting difference seems to be that while Avengers Academy focuses on the students, it seems the spotlight in Legacy will be more on the faculty. Are the teachers we see here going to be the focus going forward? I figure Legacy has been Rogue’s book for awhile, but I’m curious to see if Husk, Cannonball, Rachel Grey, and especially Frenzy can maintain this level of exposure. I love seeing these characters get a chance to shine, especially Husk. She’s got a great power and I’m excited to see new abilities popping up every month (especially when Rogue can just copy that ability!)

The demons who show up have some nice ties to old X-Men comics (that I haven’t read) but really, they are the equivalent of ninjas, robots, or zombies, they show up in this point one issue to let the stars of the book show off their powers. Cannonball blasting through a demon, then immediately lecturing a class on the X-Men’s No Kill Policy was fantastic, because naturally, demons don’t count.

That is a might interesting development on the last page. I’ve always liked Gambit and Rogue’s on-and-off romance, but I am enjoying the heck out of the new Frenzy too. I remember Joanna Cargill as that troublemaker from early X-Factor, I never would have guessed she’d be turning into a real X-Man!

David Baldeon’s artwork is always fun and dynamic. His work reminds me of She-Hulks artist Ryan Stegman. I’m not totally sold on the redesign for Rachel Grey, although I really love her phoenix-style cloak that shoots out when she flies. And c’mon, we’re not keeping that bike-helmet looking head on Iceman, are we?

Good

Green Lantern #5

2012-01-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

It’s pretty amazing that Geoff Johns is still writing such compelling stuff featuring the cosmic nonsense of the Green Lantern Corps. I mean, when Sinestro revealed that over-taxing a GL ring can destroy it, it made sense, but when Sinestro reveals that he’s done it before on multiple occasions, I just smiled. Clearly, even as a villain, Sinestro is twice the hero Hal Jordan has ever been.

It makes sense that Hal and Sinestro would have to clean up the Sinestro Corps. There is no way to even tease a redemption for Sinny if he’s got his army of psycho killers wandering around. Johns cleans up that mess nicely, leaving a solid explanation of why we might occasionally see other Yellow Lanterns like Arkillo in other books. I’m happy the yellow guys are taking a step back, after months and years of Rainbow Corps based stories, I’ll be glad when the core GL book can look at some other sci-fi ideas.

It’s also worth noting that once again, Hal is missing his lantern ring, but at least he seems to have put his priorities straight and gone back to Carol Ferris. I suppose it is too much to hope for that we might see some role reversal as Carol continues operating as a heroic Star Sapphire while Hal gets to wait behind and worry?

Doug Mahnke’s art remains consistent. Even his gore is alien-looking enough that a split Sinestro Corps member wasn’t too bad. And his ability to make Sinestro look striking and heroic is inspiring. Got to love all those square jaws.

Good

Secret Avengers #21

2012-01-19T08:00:00.004-06:00

What a wrap-up to an entertaining run. Warren Ellis delivers his last word on the Avengers with the same gonzo, original ideas that he’s delivered through his run. Utilizing a nice forgotten piece of Marvel minutiae, the Secret Avengers invade a ONE base (Office of National Emergency, last seen around the X-Men’s Decimation) to root out a Shadow Council spy. I wasn’t pleased to see Cap resorting to torture (by association), especially when it worked once again.

I did like that Ellis surprises us with the actual traitor, and it is all worth it for the great battle scenes in the office building’s basement. The weird, tentacled creatures are pretty reminiscent of those in The Mist from a few years ago, but it’s very different seeing them clearly blasting their way through office building floors and lashing out at heroes.

Ellis makes sure to give almost every member of the team a few lines, although he saves the best for Steve Rogers, Beast, and Valkyrie. The potential in this lineup really is fantastic, I suppose Ed Brubaker deserves the credit for that. The straight-up heroics of War Machine make a great contrast with the more… unrestrained methods of Moon Knight and Black Widow.

I love Stuart Immonen’s artwork. His sleek, powerful War Machine is one of the best Iron Man style designs that I’ve ever seen. I love that you can see the difference between Sharon Carter and Valkyrie by their flowing battle-hair. And the aforementioned creature design is a great blend of sci-fi and horror. I know most people love this creative team for their Nextwave work, but I would have loved more straight-up super-heroics like this.

Good

Thor: World Eaters TPB

2012-01-18T08:00:00.001-06:00

I heard a lot of folks didn’t enjoy this arc, and I have to ask: Are you flippin’ crazy? I haven’t seen such a seamless blend of big cosmic ideas and Asgardian mythology since those old Buscema issues where Thor was flying around the universe in a Viking ship.

Matt Fraction absolutely loads this story with madness and violence. That’s exactly what I want from my Thor comics. I have complained about Fraction’s stories sometimes being too talky, but he doesn’t have that problem here. (He actually gets to give in to both sides, such as his long-suffering scientist trying to warn the Asgardians of their impending threats.)

Fraction makes some really interesting choices; the oddest is immediately bringing Loki back to life. He just died in Siege, and yet he pops right back in as an “awakened” god. It makes sense that Thor would try and bring back his brother as he was when they used to get along.

Another odd choice is the huge blood colossi that support Odin in the big fight. The giants look impressive, but I’m pretty conditioned to expect the star of my book to appear in the conclusion. Instead, Odin gets all the good dialogue while Thor “drives” one of these golems from the inside. What a neat idea; let your lead bond with allies and really fight off the villains as team.

I’m just a tad blurry on the final fate of Balder and Tyr. Are they in the limbo that Odin was stuck in before?

Pasqual Ferry’s art has never looked more cosmic, and he’s got some experience there. His opening shot of Alfheim is gorgeous; it looks like it was ripped from Heavy Metal or something, it’s just stunning. Thor and Odin are bulky figures that own every panel they appear in. I would have liked a bit more Iron Man action, just because Ferry’s Iron Man looks so sleek. The Kirby-esque design of the Asgardians and the other fey is nice, but check out those Kirby circles and dots on the World Eaters! (Lots of nice weapons too!)

Excellent

Frankenstein: Agent of SHADE #5

2012-01-17T08:00:00.000-06:00

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it says right on page one to check out the last issue of OMAC "for the other side of this battle!" And that's exactly what this issue is. For some reason, I thought the Frankie/OMAC fight CONTINUED into this issue, but no, this is really the same fight we saw last week, just with more pontificating from Frankenstein.

I'll admit, Frank can smack-talk with the best of them, he has some great lines in this issue as he takes on the more simple-minded OMAC. But I have to say, the fight was a heck of a lot more dynamic and impressive from Keith Giffen's pencils. Alberto Ponticelli does an OK job, but that sense of destruction is more jumbled here. The more artistic approach to the panels makes the fight a bit harder to follow, and the choreography of the fight takes a back-seat to the dialogue.

I loved Frankenstein when Grant Morrison wrote him, and Jeff Lemire does a good job keeping up with the philosopher warrior in a very strange world. I'm just not sure this sample was enough to bring me back again too soon.

Average

Amazing Spider-Man #677

2012-01-16T08:00:00.004-06:00

This must be crossover week for me. Here's another issue that I normally would wait-for-the-trade on, but since regular Daredevil writer Mark Waid is tying into that book, I decided to branch out and check in on Spidey again.

I've got to lead with the art. I'm not normally a fan of Emma Rios' scratchy artwork, it's just too "indie" for me. But it actually works in this one; I'm especially impressed at how well she handles the aerial acrobatics from DD, Spidey, and the Black Cat. The character's don't look as great in their civilian IDs, but man, you can't question the grace as those folks glide over the city.

I'm not sure who the villain will be in this storyline, but it seems Waid has again struck on a story that would work for anyone, but is perfect for Daredevil. DD's radar sense is the perfect foil for the hologram-based baddies that would have given Spidey a real run for his money.

And it is always nice to see the Black Cat showing up. It seems like she always used to be chasing Spidey around. I love the return to the original status quo; sure, she thinks Spidey's a nice guy, but when he gets too normal and desperate? Blech.

This issue is filled with an interesting mystery, well-written guest-stars, and witty banter. Good, solid stuff.

Good

OMAC #5

2012-01-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

Big dumb fun. And I’m not going to apologize for basically enjoying DC’s version of the Hulk. Sure, Brother Eye adds a pretty major complication, but OMAC is a monosyllabic moron who speaks in short sentences and seems destined to travel the DCU busting heads. That’s a concept I can get behind.

Dan DiDio makes a minor effort to justify the appearance of Frankenstein (and the rest of SHADE), but it isn’t too complicated. Most of the issue is left for enormous punches and explosions. I especially love the splash lacking sound effects (where the editor tells us to supply our own). This feels like a 70’s Marvel book!

I’m a sucker for tie-ins, so I’ll be grabbing the upcoming issue of Frankenstein to see if the big green guy gets his arm back from a shocked Kevin Kho. I think OMAC won that fight by running!

Keith Giffen’s work on this book is positively inspired. The pulsing action and immense explosions rock every page, making this a quick read, but a fun one.

Good

Back-Issue Review: Amazing Spider-Man #229 & 230

2012-01-14T08:00:00.000-06:00

What a great bonus feature in that last Spidey trade. I've got a long run of old Roger Stern Spider-Man comics to read, but getting my hands on these two issues has proven pretty difficult. I'm glad I was able to finally read them.

This isn't a complicated story with lots of insight or emotion. Black Tom Cassidy and Juggernaut want to capture Madame Web to use her pre-cognitive powers to take over the world. Madame Web can see her future is in danger, and asks Spidey to help. Done. That's all the set-up we need.

The rest of the two issues are spent watching Spider-Man exhaust every tool in his arsenal against a foe so powerful, Spidey doesn't even register. Juggernaut is so far above Spidey's weight class that nothing Spidey can do even slows Juggernaut down. (One big help is the force-field aura that protects Juggernaut from a lot of the web-based attacks Spidey tries. Does Juggy still have that ability?)

I think my favorite part of this road runner-esque story is when a desperate Spidey plows a gasoline truck into the Juggernaut. Think of the peripheral damage that the usually careful Spidey sets off with such a huge attack. Roger Stern does a nice job making it seem like Spidey is truly out of options and pretty desperate. In the end, Spider-Man beats Juggernaut through a bit of luck, and I'm not sure I buy it as a dramatic conclusion. But, Juggernaut's final stubborn vows and Black Tom's shock at Juggernaut's absence makes it work. Maybe dumb luck is the only way anyone ever beats Juggernaut!

The art looks right out of my childhood, with John Romita Jr working more in the Marvel style while working with classic Spidey artist Jim Mooney. This is what Spider-Man comics look like when I picture them in my head.

Good

Villains for Hire #2

2012-01-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

Once again I’m struck by what a niche concept this book is. Who the heck asked for a title starring Misty Knight and the Purple Man? With most of the dialogue supplied by luminaries like Tiger Shark and Bombshell? Heck, isn’t Bombshell one of the Death Throws? That makes TWO Hawkeye villains regulars in this series (including Crossfire.) I totally understand why Marvel cut this book down by a few issues.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to love it while we’ve got it.

I love hearing more from Tiger Shark! Purple Man? Why not hear more about his hopes and dreams! Factor in a mysterious and worrisome new attitude from Misty Knight, and this is a pretty dang entertaining comic.

I’m a tad annoyed that Scourge is a new guy, why not just keep him Nuke like he was in the recent Thunderbolts? (That tells me Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are going to kill him during this mini.) I wouldn’t argue with more Avalanche, Nightshade, or Shocker, either. They are fun villains we rarely see, so hopefully they will get some panels soon. I also think it’s a smart move for DnA to include Paladin; that gives the reader at least one “good guy” to support with Misty acting so strangely.

Renato Arlem is doing a solid job with the art, although he has a tendency to look a bit traced. I’m not positive, but some of the panels sure look like they’re photographs or really traced. It’s not awful, I like his costume design and his art does look like snapshots taken in the middle of a fight. (His Speed Demon is really nice. I think I know a sketch I need this summer!)

Good

Swamp Thing #5

2012-01-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

What an absolutely horrific comic. If the cover wasn’t a good enough clue (my seven-year-old daughter spotted it on the rack and asked “Ewww, what is that?”), this is one violent comic. I’m amused that we’re this far into the series and Alec Holland still isn’t Swamp Thing. He at least manifests the ability to quick-grow some plants to take on the Rot, which gives him an easy win over Abigail Arcane’s freaking brother. I’m not even complaining, it’s just an observation that Scott Snyder has somehow crafted a brilliant series about a guy who likes plants.

Snyder does deliver on all that chemistry for Alex and Abby, at least.

Oh my lord, Yanick Paquette’s art. I don’t know if it is the horrifying triple-heads on the pig-beast and the cow-monster, or the slaughterhouse gore dripping off them. Maybe it’s the awful almost-pig and almost-cow sounds they make while snuffling around trying to kill our protagonists? Either way, this would make one hell of a TV show or horror film. That image of the piggy sniffing around for Alec in the store won’t soon leave me.

Excellent

Venom #11

2012-01-11T08:00:00.003-06:00

I had a chance to read the recent Spider-Island issues of Venom, and I found myself impressed enough with Rick Remender’s military-hero that I decided to pick up this issue. It seems it’s not exactly the start of a new arc, but I think it is close enough.

A hero is measured by his villains, and since this issue is basically a showcase for the new Jack-O-Lantern, I can safely state that Jack is one of the most despicable new characters I’ve seen in quite some time. I mean, the guy’s secret origin is filled with some deplorable stuff, and his “calling card” of turning his victims into actual jack-o-lanterns? It fits better into an issue of Crossed than a mainstream Marvel book.

Flash Thompson himself seems to be in the midst of a slump. His Dad just died, and he’s knuckling under the current Crime Master and Jack as they send him on errands all over the country. Oh, and he’s stolen the Venom symbiote and he’s worried that he’s addicted to using it. So yeah, not the best day for Spider-Man’s #1 fan.

I’m pretty excited seeing the religious Eddie Brock and the always-entertaining Red Hulk show up. I think there is a crossover coming up with these guys, and the shared backgrounds (symbiote for one, military for the other) seems to make this a strong set-up. Count me in.

Lan Medina’s art has never wowed me, but he seems to be channeling Tony Moore in these pages (the series’ original artist) and boy, it’s working. Jack looks monstrous, Flash’s face is expressive and clear, and I love the heavily-equipped Venom. Why wasn’t I reading this comic before now?

Good

Avengers Academy #24

2012-01-10T08:00:00.005-06:00

Well that was fast! It certainly felt like Christos Gage was giving us a slow burn on the whole Reptil plotline. Having one of your core cast being a secret spy and secret, hidden shape-shifters are both fairly common ideas (used pretty uniquely here, though!) Usually they are long-simmering plots. Not this time. Reptil starts off by leading the Sentinel kid to safety, but then he starts serving up important main characters to the enigmatic Hybrid. (Look for a review of Hybrid’s first appearance soon, I’m hitting my long boxes!)

We do have the Jocasta and X-23 subplots simmering, so Gage isn't neglecting us with continuing stories. I'm just amazed at this quick payoff!

It makes sense that Reptil’s inherent goodness would keep even his jaded future self from turning too evil, and I’m happy it worked out that way. It’s also interesting that White Tiger is so forthcoming with her origin after being so stand-offish in her first appearance. I love the original White Tiger, so having a new one is a nice bonus in a book I already enjoy.

That’s a heckuva a list of victims Hybrid puts together so quickly. Tigra and Lyra are both pretty big names. I hope that Hybrid didn’t get too far in his breeding plans, it seems like Tigra especially has been through enough hard times over the past few years.

Tom Grummet joins the artistic rotation this issue, and he’s another classic-style artist whose work will fit right in. I do worry that he’s not the best option for a horrific character like Hybrid, but he’s perfect for the Avengers themselves. His Tigra looks great, as does his White Tiger.

Fair

Justice League International #5

2012-01-09T13:17:00.000-06:00

So I was in a comic store with a few extra bucks this weekend, and Mart’s ringing endorsement of this comic (combined with my love of Booster Gold) convinced me to give this one more try. It’s a good call.

Dan Jurgens knows super-heroes. It’s as simple as that. He’s been putting together classic (not formulaic, although they are a bit) super-stories for years. He knows how to make us care about this new team, even when we know nothing of the characters in the new 52.

Booster is the leader who needs to win his team over; who actually does his best work when teamed with his rival Guy Gardner. Godiva is the rookie with potential, but she’s got the sassy attitude to cover up her nervousness. Ice, Fire, and the rest of the gang haven’t gotten featured yet, but they are all competent heroes who use their powers in logical ways.

Peraxxus isn’t going to win any awards for originality; he’s basically a low-budget Galactus with a staff. That said, his boredom at dealing with Earth does make him interesting. In issues 4 and 5 he must make the same comment about speeding up to his process three times. And it’s not because he’s worried, rather he’s annoyed at the JLI’s useless attempts to stop him.

I wanted to exit the new 52, but I think I’ll keep a toe in the water with this book.

Aaron Lopresti has the clean, bright style I love in my super-comics. I still don’t love the designs on most of the new 52, but at least those stupid grooves don’t look to noticeable in this comic. Give Booster back a collar and maybe I’ll be able to stop complaining about his look.

Good

Secret Avengers #20

2012-01-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

Man, Warren Ellis is pretty good at this done-in-one thing, isn’t he? Once again, the newest issue of Secret Avengers checks the boxes of a classic Marvel comic while still bringing in a ton of new ideas and concepts.

Time-travel is an old standby in comics, but rarely do we see the level of detail that the Black Widow leads us through this issue. When the SA team is dropped by some baddies, War Machine hands off a macguffin to send the Widow back in time to try and save the team. Turns out that’s a multi-part task, with BW force to not only save the team, but actually create the time-travel device that she’s going to end up using.

It’s all a tad mind-bending, but I think the logic carries through. In the end, Widow has to hide just how close things went to going bad, the rest of the team never knows. And it’s a good thing she doesn’t age, because she lost months of her life lining everything up just right.

I don’t love that killing has become so commonplace for all the Avengers these days. BW is a spy, but man, but killing used to be a big deal for the team.

Alex Maleev’s art is solid, but definitely skews more towards a spy book than I’m used to in an Avengers comic. I dig a little more color in my super-stories, but I can’t complain at how well he portrays the workman-like task that Black Widow has to plow through.

Good

Amazing Spider-Man: the Gauntlet v4: Juggernaut

2012-01-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

I'm a pretty easy target for some stories, and this trade has been on my must-read list for some time. It has Juggernaut, Roger Stern, and a classic re-print that I've wanted to read for years. So yeah, this is the trade that convinced me to power through some of the weaker Spidey trades over the last few months.

I knew I'd be interested in a Spidey-Juggernaut fight, but Stern doesn't totally deliver on that promise. Instead, classic Marvel concept "Captain Universe" shows up with a great new design and a pretty petty sense of revenge. The opening moments don't really lead to any payoff (the car left three stories up is pointless), but that's OK, the real story works well.

Juggernaut spends a lot of the story flat on his back, the recipient of a Cap Universe-style beatdown. When he does come around, he doesn't really act like the villain of the piece. Again, it works well with what we've seen of Juggy over the last few years. This is a guy trying to find his place in the world, not trying to take it over any more. He gets a nice sense of redemption too, as he cleans up a mess he made years ago the first time he tangled with Spidey.

How in the world is Lee Weeks not on a regular book? This guy's style is fantastic, his design sense is top-notch, and the "acting" on his characters is wonderful. I love the new Captain Universe look, and Juggernaut gets a bit of a makeover this issue to great effect too. From the way he handles the few scenes involving Spidey's current supporting cast, his art is perfectly capable of looking "modern" when it has to. This is a great-looking book.

Good

Avengers Annual #1 (2012)

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Well, I managed to hold off for a few months, but eventually, my desire to see Wonder Man show up in any comic, even a bad one, overpowered my better judgment. I figured that even a badly-characterized, Bendis-version of Wondy was better than nothing.

Turns out, I was right.

The New Avengers Annual is more fun for me, filled with Wondy’s screed about all the problems the Avengers have caused. Even better is the Gabrielle Del’Otto re-designs of a bunch of forgotten characters. Say what you will, but Del’Otto is pretty good at updating and modernizing silly costumes into something great. Factor in the “Revengers” defeat of the Sitting Avengers, and I actually liked this book.

The Avengers Annual had some good parts too. The Revengers did fine against a team that enjoys long meals and conversation, but when the real Avengers show up, they don’t really have a chance. Wonder Man doesn’t even try to fight in this one, instead, he’s content to pile on Bendis’ current message that the Avengers are entitled, rogue agents who need to be shut down. This makes no sense for Wonder Man as a character, but to give Bendis credit, there’s an out. Wondy is doubting that he’s even real, since he was brought back to life by a pre-House of M Scarlet Witch. I’m not sure how I feel about nullifying the last few years of WM appearances, but I wouldn’t complain seeing him come back as just a powerhouse, not in the ionic form (hey, I miss the jet-packs).

After the Revengers are in custody, it’s a mixed bag of characterization for the all-dude team. Anti-Venom should not be the only rational member to speak out that he frankly agrees with Wonder Man’s assessment of the Avengers. Ethan Edwards and Goliath’s search for revenge makes sense, and Century’s alien reasoning was a nice touch. I know almost nothing about Captain Ultra, so I suppose he could be that petty, but Atlas shouldn’t have attacked the Avengers just because they didn’t want him as a member, that’s a miss. D-Man cracks me up; could he actually be working to get the Infinity Gems?

So I hope the redesigns stick around, and I hope people remember that Atlas, Goliath, and Century exist. I want Wonder Man’s ill-thought out villainy retconned as quickly as possible (although I do like seeing Cap, Iron Man, and Thor caught between the “New” folks like Cage and their old friend).

Fair

Batman #4

2012-01-05T08:00:00.004-06:00

Dang, Scott Snyder writes a good Batman. What I'm finding with this DCnU relaunch is that I don't feel the same loyalty towards characters I did before, but good stories still stand out. Snyder's Batman is iconic and powerful, and doesn't contradict anything we've seen before. Sure, Greg Capullo's Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson look too young, but that's a small complaint for such action-packed artwork.

The bulk of this issue fleshes out the Court of Owls. It's tough to make a fictional nursery rhyme seem real (and ominous), but Snyder pulls it off magnificently. The combination of moody flashback and CSI-style autopsy make it work. How horrifying is it to find out that your relative died from many tiny stab wounds rather than drowning in sewage? It's a rough way to go either way, and just a tiny bit of detail that makes this comic a great blend of mystery and action.

And what a cliffhanger! Talon is a great addition to Gotham's rogues, and I love the Court of Owls' needlessly complicated deathtrap for Batman.

As I mentioned, Capullo's artwork really sells the action. His helmet-style cowl is rapidly becoming one of my favorite bat-looks. He even manages to cover up those silly grooves that are a requirement in the DCnU.

Excellent

Avengers Solo #3

2012-01-04T08:00:00.003-06:00

I fully admit that I'm a bit of a simpleton, and I'm afraid that is hurting me with this comic. Jen Van Meter is laying out a fairly simple mystery, but she's layering a ton of new characters into the equation. I'm afraid I can barely tell who any of the folks are in this book. Normally that wouldn't really get to me, but Hawkeye's involvement hinges on a dramatic vote between the supporting characters, and I don't remember them well enough to know or care how each of them votes.

When the book is full of action (especially involving Trapster), I'm fine. I still don't understand who the villainess is, but I think that's ok. I falter more when Hawkeye starts questioning those supporting characters and he starts putting clues together, that's when I get lost. Maybe it is just like Hawk says in this issue, "This detective stuff takes more time than I thought."

I'll take any Hawkeye stories I can get, but I have to say I found it a bit easier to connect to Jim McCann's WCA-style take in the last couple series.

Where the heck did Roger Robinson get to? I was loving his art on the first two issues, and while Al Barrionuevo's art is tightened up by a strong inker (Raul Lopez), it isn't as strong as Robinson's. Trace really needs a little something extra to make her costume pop. It was fine when she was just a generic villain, but now that we're supposed to be getting attached, we need that comic-shorthand ability to recognize her from a symbol or something else that has an iconic feel.

Fair

Batman: Leviathan Strikes #1

2012-01-03T13:59:00.000-06:00

I did not understand this comic.

(It was very pretty, the art was top notch. Cameron Stewart is always great, and Chris Burnham art looks so much like Frank Quitely's, I can't believe it. And actually, I did enjoy the opening chapter with the charm school for assassins, but man, once Doctor Dadelus showed up, I was through. The helpful recap couldn't even clear it up.)

Fair?

Aquaman #4

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

A storyline resolved in four issues! This really is a new DCU!

Aquaman was one of the many pleasant surprises for me in the new 52, and Geoff Johns keeps on trucking with his Aquaman reclamation project. There are a three or four instances in this issue where we see Aquaman exhibiting some major super-strength, and combining that with his "normal" abilities, he becomes quite powerful. That goes a long way towards stopping Aquaman as a joke.

By far my favorite thing about this book is Aquaman's relationship with Mera. She's a great new character, and comics rarely show married couples as anything but bickering. Mera is supportive but strong on her own, and totally capable of kicking butt by herself.

The Trench get wrapped up a bit quickly, after so many issues of build-up. But I'm confident that at least their king will be back as a recurring villain, he makes too much sense as an opposite for Aquaman. (And how neat was it seeing the Trench king trying to explain that he was just grabbing food for his people?)

Ivan Reis' art is spectacular. The gloomy depths come alive in this issue due to his pencils; I'm not sure the effect would be half as good with another artist. I also love the regal poses he uses for Aquaman and Mera. These two should get some respect, dang it!

Good

Black Panther #526 & 527

2012-01-02T08:00:00.001-06:00

Oh man, is that the coolest cover in months, or what? I've been loving these pulp-style images for BP over the last few issues, but this one takes the cake. You know Kingpin is in some trouble when the Panther actually goes and gets some friends.

I'm really enjoying David Liss' last story arc for a few reasons. I don't think I've ever seen Kingpin match up against BP before, and both characters are such excellent planners that they make good adversaries. I'm also quite pleased with the ever-expanding cast for this final arc. Falcon, Cage, Typhoid Mary, and Lady Bullseye are enough to almost turn this into a team book.

The best part about this arc has to be how seamlessly Wakandan politics and plot points are weaving into post-Shadowland New York. Wakanda is such a cool element of the Marvel Universe that I was sad seeing it neglected in BP's solo title. That's finally being rectified now. My only hope now is that Vibranium becomes a resource for Wakanda again and we get a bit of a reset for BP's status quo.

With Francesco Francavilla moving on to Captain America & Bucky, it seems Black Panther's title is the unlucky one. Shawn Martinborough does an admirable job imitating Francavilla's style, but Michael Avon Oeming's pencils are so unique that he ends up making the book his own a bit too much. I've always liked Oeming's art, but his style is so recognizable, issue 527 doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the run. That's the price we pay for two issues in one month, though.

Good

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T08:00:00.005-06:00

Time to re-assess the ol' subscription list. With the DCnU failing to grab me with most of the new 52 titles, I find myself drawn back to Marvel. I'm sort of pleased, I've always been a Marvel guy, so basically I'm just switching back from trades to floppies for a bunch of Marvel books.

Here's my list going in to 2012.

Aquaman
Avengers
Avengers Academy
AvX
Avenging Spider-Man
Batman
Batman & Robin
Black Panther
Daredevil
Green Lantern
Green Lantern Corps
Invincible
OMAC
Secret Avengers
Swamp Thing
Villains for Hire
Walking Dead
Winter Soldier
X-Men Legacy

That's a lot more Marvel than I've had in floppy for months. I'll continue buying all my regulars in trade, too.

Happy New Year!

Green Lantern Corps #4

2011-12-31T08:00:00.000-06:00

So I know more happened in this issue than Martian Manhunter showing up to give Guy Gardner a hand, but once again, I find myself fixating on the new 52. So I guess J'onn and Guy never served together on the JLI? Since Guy is surprised and doesn't seem to recognize the Martian Manhunter, it seems pretty safe to say that the JLI never happened in any incarnation. I also was a bit annoyed that J'onn only talks about his affiliation with Stormwatch, since I thought he was on the League too.

I am still enjoying Peter Tomasi's look at the Corps as a whole; the focus on galaxy-level threats is pretty entertaining. Sure, the dramatic death on page 4 loses some dramatic impact because I don't know who that GL is, but that goes with the territory at this point. It's much more interesting seeing how the different Lanterns deal with their traumatic memories after leaving some of their fellow Lanterns behind. (I guess Hannu still got ditched by Hal Jordan in some way, since he's bugging out about leaving others behind in the same fashion.)

Fernando Pasarin's art continues to be nicely detailed and dynamic. I don't like his take on the Martian Manhunter with that weird, grooved skull, but I don't think he's responsible for that design. The Keepers have a fun look under their armor, even if we've seen similar builds on a few Sinestro Corps members.

Fair

Avengers #20

2011-12-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

It’s too bad, I sort of liked Madame Hydra’s absolutely insane new look, with that giant cephalopod on her head. I’m not sure where it happened (or how), but it seems she’s back to being her old slinky self after this issue. I’m going to guess she got changed in Secret Warriors?

I’m enjoying Bendis’ focused storyline right now, it seems he does his best work on the Avengers when they have a really cerebral foe working against them. I think Bendis needs to have one side or the other talking, so by having Osborn chatting away with his HAMMER flunkies, it means Captain American and the rest of the Avengers get to actually go out and kick some butt.

It’s always neat seeing new pair-offs when teams split up, and it works again here. Storm and Red Hulk? I never would have figured the two of them would work together, but they are both professionals, so it actually turns out OK. I’m not sure when Hawkeye and Spider-Woman got together, where is Mockingbird? Noh-Var and Iron Man make a neat team, but mostly because I’m intrigued to see the relative rookie try to deal with Iron Man after this issue.

I will say that Quake needs a real costume. She can’t keep running around with the big dogs in a standard SHIELD uniform. Daniel Acuna’s design sense is spectacular; I love his Kirby-esque take on HAMMER’s bad guys. (It’s worth noting that HAMMER seems to have Wasps, Giant-Men, and Hulks.) Acuna sometimes skimps on backgrounds, but with action this dynamic, I can forgive him.

Good

Daredevil #7

2011-12-29T08:00:00.002-06:00

Has everyone had enough X-books? I know I have!

Let's jump back to regular books with the best super-hero title on the stands, Daredevil.

Is this one of the best covers ever, or what? I mean, this should be available as a Christmas card right now! Mark Waid contrasts the playful cover with a pretty serious story. Matt Murdock takes a group of troubled, blind children to a lodge every holiday season, but in this issue, things don’t go well. After being turned away and taking some back roads, the school bus crashes, leaving DD in wandering through the wilderness with a bunch of kids. To make matters more interesting, DD’s radar sense does little to nothing in swirling sleet and snow.

There is a bit of character development through flashbacks, but for the most part, this is a non-essential part of Waid’s ongoing story. That said, it is still worth it just to see Daredevil (actually, Matt Murdock) inspire a group of kids who really need it. It’s also worth noting that Foggy Nelson spots a bit of the old brooding Matt Murdock very briefly. I hope that mopey guy isn’t coming back, though, I like happy DD!

Paolo Rivera’s kinetic pencils do a great job with both the crash and the whirling weather. I love his ability to give each scene such rich detail while still maintaining a fairly cartoony look.

Good

Wolverine Goes to Hell TPB

2011-12-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

Jason Aaron continues his run on Wolverine with a new #1, and things sort of keep on trucking. I’m not sure this holds up quite as well as the last few trades featuring the Adamantium Men or Deathlok, but overall, Aaron still has a pretty good take on Logan.

The book kicks off in the middle of the story, with Wolverine’s body wreaking havoc in the real world while his soul gets tortured down in hell. I enjoyed Aaron’s hell, a rocky, barren place with lots of dead folks in cages and some mighty big demons and devils talking constant smack. Wolvie’s buddy Puck from Alpha Flight shows up, and you know how nice it is to see a familiar face. (Wraith shows up too, but I swear he was already dead!)

I was thrilled to play spot the villain with the hordes of dead guys going after Wolverine in hell. Sabretooth, Omega Red, legions of Hydra agents, Hand ninjas, I spotted the samurai from Frank Miller’s limited and the White Ghost (I think) from Warrant Ellis’ brief run with Wolvie. Another very old character from Logan’s past shows up, but that hits more an emotional level than a physical one.

I was all ready to complain about Silver Samurai showing up in hell to warn Wolvie of the troubles his friends were facing on the surface. As long-time readers of my blog know, my pet peeve is killing off established characters just to establish your new big bad. I’m fine with it if the writer is willing to put in the work to make me care about the dying character, but it is really lazy when the writer just picks a name off a list so that he can have a bloody costume in his book. Silver Samurai MIGHT be in this situation, but I saw some upcoming solicits that makes it seem like he might be back. I’ll hold off my annoyance for now!

Renato Guedes’ art is interesting, if a bit inconsistent. He has a tendency to draw lumpy faces, mostly on the guys. His Mystique looks great, and the demon designs are strong too. I’m not sold on the new band of Marauders yet, they are almost cool, but each of them has something that puts them too far over the top into ridiculousness (like the blades on Gunhawk’s revolvers).

Fair

X-Men Legacy: Collision

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

I suppose they can't all be masterpieces! I've been a pretty vocal supporter of Mike Carey's run on X-Men Legacy, but this is the first time I can't keep up the good words. Carey makes an interesting choice, focusing on a group of X-Men that haven't had a lot of screen time in this book so far. Magneto and Rogue head off to India with Indra, Anole, and Loa, three X-students that I have never seen before. I like Anole, he seems like a pretty fun addition to the X-universe, but the other two aren't as impressive. I mean, it's hard to root for a Shadowcat-copy and a pacifist, you know?

Unfortunately, Carey combines his least-interesting cast with the worst villains from his run. The Children of the Vault work better as a high concept than actual antagonists. I never really worried about them when they first showed up, so I sure don't remember them well enough to have any idea what their goals are.

NOW, factor in one of the weaker artists of the Legacy run. Clay Mann is ok, but his art is a tad too soft. Nothing ever looks dynamic, and many of the panels look like excuses to show Rogue bending over while wearing slinky summer outfits.

Average

Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis HC

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

It's going to be difficult to review this book and talk about anything other than the way Kaare Andrews draws Emma Frost literally spilling out of her uniform. Seriously, her chest is bouncing out in every panel and her underpants aren't exactly doing their job either. It's sort of fascinating that this comic came out looking like this. (And Storm has never been quite this endowed before, has she? It's crazy!)

At least Andrews is equal opportunity; Cyclops and Wolverine are hulking around with washboard abs too.

The story is another intersting mix of Warren Ellis' favorite themes. We've got some other-dimensional goodness that ties this to the Ghost Box storyline, but this time it's linked through the involvement of some old Alan Moore/Alan Davis Captain Britain concepts. I'm a little surprised to see such a sequel-type idea showing up from Ellis, and while he does mix things up nicely, when it comes down to it, this story owes a lot to the original.

One of the more interesting aspects of this one is "Dr. Crocodile," the leader of the African country where the X-Men travel to research new mutant births. He's a complicated character that fits in nicely with what we know of Marvel U history. He really seems like he was a pretty nice guy before he started making the hard choices. Interesting that he doesn't get along with Cyclops or Wolverine; you'd think they'd understand those "needs of the many" arguments.

This is another of those trades that is probably best enjoyed by folks who really dig either Ellis or Andrews. I'm not a huge fan of either (not that I dislike them, I'm just not a dedicated fan; I found this entertaining, but not riveting.

Average

Uncanny X-Men: Birth of Generation Hope TPB

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

After the madness of Necrosha and Second Coming, the X-titles had to come back to Earth. This trade can’t even compare to the breakneck pacing and excitement from those crossovers. When Matt Fraction takes a moment to let the team catch their breath, I lost my interest.

Fraction spends a lot of time bouncing around the team, but the title of the book comes from Hope’s travels to activate the “five lights” the new mutants who popped up on Cerebra after Second Coming. The problem is, Hope isn’t interesting enough to me. Her power as an “activator” is too passive for me, and her mix of spandex and military gear doesn’t fit in with the X-team look. I like the idea of her getting a small squad (including Rogue) to try and find the next generation of mutants, but I’m not as interested as I thought I would be, especially with Rogue involved.

White Queen puts together a bit of a heist-type crew to remove Sebastian Shaw from Danger’s prison, but again, with no payoff in this trade, there isn’t a lot to even judge. There are a lot of pages devoted to a story with no resolution in this trade. These “middle chapter” trades are pretty frustrating, and I imagine that feeling would be even worse following this book monthly.

Cyclops really has become a jerk. He’s practicing and relaxing by killing dinosaurs at the open of this trade! Sure, they are raptors, but still…

I’m not digging Whilce Portacio’s art anymore, so I enjoyed the chapter by Leonard Kirk the most. Portacio’s faces have always been a bit stiff, but his dynamic battles made up for it. With so few actual fights in this story, there is no chance for Portacio to show off.

Average

X-Men: Second Coming 4: X-Force 26-28

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000-06:00

I think it is great the the X-Force title ended up being the driver for two mega-crossovers, Necrosha and Second Coming. Craig Kyle and Chris Yost are clearly fans of the same X-eras I am, which makes these two crossover feel familiar, yet exciting at the same time. This story feels like a mix of the Mutant Massacre and the X-Tinction Agenda, and that's a fun amalgam to get to play with.

Once again, the X-Force team is at the center of the crossover, as Cyclops dispatches the team on two different missions as the story moves along. For the entire first half of the trade, X-Force (plus Nightcrawler, Ariel and Psylocke) are on the hunt for Cable & Hope after their return to the present. There is some nice wetwork action, contrasted nicely with the rest of the X-Men. Nightcrawler in particular has some big problems with this team, while Psylocke doesn't seem to argue too much (that's probably why she joins the team after this story).

For some reason, Wolverine and Cable seem to play off each other well, and the first reunion scenes are quite fun as the two old vets get to try and out-tough each other.

X-Force's second mission teams them up with Cable and Cypher as they teleport to the future to take on Master Mold. This is supposed to be a one-way trip, but a heroic sacrifice keeps it from getting too bloody. Once again, Cypher's powers are amped up. He's a great character in this digital age, it seems.

Cyclops supposedly disbands the team at the close of this story, but Wolverine has other ideas. It's funny, didn't I read that Wolverine is now the kinder, gentler leader after Schism? I have some catching up to do!

Mike Choi's beautiful pencils still look great, but his art tends to look over-posed too. I think I like his work better when he handles entire storylines himself. Seeing him alternating with guys like Terry Dodson makes his work seem a tad stiff.

Good

X-Men: Second Coming 3: X-Men Legacy 235-237

2011-12-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Rogue is another of the characters set up in contrast to dictator-Cyclops for this story. She spends the first half of the trade escorting Hope around (along with Nightcrawler) and she gets to use that sweet combo of X-powers we've seen before. I don't really see the connection between Hope and Rogue, but I do like that she seems to be one of the kinder, gentler leaders in the X-Men.

This is the title that introduced the heavy-hitter X-team, and I always love seeing big casts split up like this. Colossus, Rockslide, Namor, Archangel, Iceman, and Dust are part of this group, and they get the task of facing down dozens of future-Sentinels as they port into San Francisco. I honestly think this could have supported more pages, because who doesn't want to see these powerhouses throw down? Colossus suffers a rare "break" here when the nimrod-class sentinels work over his arm, giving this a bit of a Mutant Massacre feel.

Magneto fans should be sure to check out his big appearance here too. He's a one-man cavalry in this!

It's weird seeing Greg Land handle the art in this title. I expect to see White Queen and Psylocke arching their backs and laughing in pleasure, I don't expect Rogue and Magma to get that type of treatment. It's just... odd.

Good

X-Men: Second Coming 2: New Mutants 12-14

2011-12-22T08:00:00.000-06:00

Zeb Wells is a lucky man. He gets to write the big re-match between the New Mutants and one of their worst foes; Cameron Hodge. Hodge is a classic bad guy at this point, and he's boosted by his army of smiley-armored flunkies. These guys are straight out of my X-Men childhood reading, so this is absolutely a perfect book for me.

Wells gets to continue his neat chacter-developments too. Cannonball is really turning into a mini-Cyclops, willing to sacrifice his own team in order to keep Hope alive. He doesn't want to spend their lives cheaply, but he will spend them.

High points of these chapters include Karma's fantastic use as a body-jumping death-machine. I've never been a huge fan, but man, she was great. And I can't be the only person who's tickled at this new tough-guy Cypher. I mean, I guess violence could be considered a language, but man, he's just ridiculous now. Fun fun!

Most of the team fades into the background as the story moves past the Right, but Cypher stays in a lead role as he joins up with X-Force. Mirage also gets to play host to Hope. I would have given that fight to Mirage, but it seems Cable is a pretty good teacher after all. Who would have thought?

Good

X-Men: Second Coming 1: Uncanny X-Men 523-525

2011-12-21T23:05:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the week of X-Mas, where I'll be reviewing X-books every day!

Whew! This is a behemoth of a trade, and it took me awhile to work my way through it. Just like some of the other recent mega-crossovers, this felt like a classic X-Story, and I'm amazed at how well the creators are rekindling the nostalgia. It's hard to break up a story this massive, but I'll try to do it by title.

The Uncanny X-Men chapters are pretty solid, and Matt Fraction gets to spend a lot of time dealing with the upsetting death from this story. I think it is a huge mistake. There is absolutely no reason that this character needed to die. The various writers do a great job building Bastion up as the big bad, and Fraction in particular amps up the tension through his star, Cyclops. I understand the need to make each story feel important, but man, this felt totally unnecessary.

Fraction's window into this book is Cyclops. He's the star of the book and all the big actions get their weight from Cyclops' reaction. It's interesting (to me) that Cyclops was one of my favorite characters as a kid, but he's not anymore. I certainly find him to be a fascinating character, but he doesn't feel like the old team-leader type that he did in the past. He really is a successful Magneto.

It's worth noting that Fraction has some fun with Namor too. He fits in nicely as the powerful loose cannon who KNOWS he's better than all his teammates.

Good

Comics on the Bubble: X-Men: Phoenix Warsong #1-5

2011-12-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

That cover really says it all, doesn't it?

I usually like Greg Pak’s writing, but this series sure didn’t connect with me. Tyler Kirkham’s pencils look a lot like Marc Silvestri’s but without the sense of kinetic action Silvestri usually provides. He’s got the big lips and stripper poses down, though!

I probably should have realized that a series turning the Cuckoos into a legion of clones created in The World (one of Grant Morrison’s mad ideas) was never going to work for me, especially when the Phoenix force got shoehorned in too.

Issue 1 – the Cuckoos turn bad and run away from the Xavier School
Issue 2 – Cyclops talks tough and puts together a crew to go after the ladies
Issue 3 – Jake Oh (wasn’t he in War Machine?) shows up to get knocked around by the Cuckoos. We see the big cavern full of Emma Frost clones created from her harvested eggs (WEIRD).
Issue 4, 5 – TLDR

Summary: Issues 1-5 SELL

Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman v4 TPB

2011-12-19T08:00:00.003-06:00

Man, these trades seem to take forever before they come out. Doesn't it seem like forever that Marvel did their big media blitz about the Human Torch dying in this comic?

In any case, it is clear that Jonathan Hickman is really keen on his Future Foundation concept, that's where this book is leading. In fact, the Foundation operates as a team through this whole collection, with Val and Franklin both exhibiting their world-class powers, and Alex Power seems right up there now too.

In contrast, the FF spend this collection split up handling different missions, many of them wrapping up old FF storylines. Reed Richards heads out to Nu-Earth to convince Galactus that he doesn't need to destroy that planet. Susan Storm heads under the sea with Namor to broker a peace treaty with the ancient Atlanteans she discovered in the polar icecaps. Meanwhile, Ben Grimm drinks the potion the Foundation made that will turn him back into a human for one week a year. So he and Johnny Storm go out on the town. (Johnny's reaction when Ben reverts to humanity is my favorite segment in the whole collection.)

Turns out that is bad timing, since Annihilus has chosen this moment to send another Annihilation Wave into the universe. This time, he's blasting free through the Negative Zone portal in the FF's headquarters. Closing this portal is the crux of much of the collection, and I found myself being won over by the snarky Wizard-clone (he might be the 2nd biggest brain in the Foundation).

Again, I like all these plots, but Hickman's take on the FF is so... dry. Johnny and Ben are the only two who have any fun with this hero thing. Killing Johnny off doesn't improve that situation. The final issue is a silent one, featuring the cast as they agonize over Johnny's death. (But hey, no body means a likely comeback, right?) I will be switching to the library collections for Future Foundation.

Steve Epting and Nick Dragotta are fantastic pencillers. From start to finish, this is a beautiful comic. The original Atlanteans include this awesome crab race that I marvel at every time they appear. Epting's art is simply stunning, and while he draws Susan Storm a tad young-looking, I love the way he draws her controlling a room with her confidence (even a room with Namor in it!)

Fair

Secret Warriors v2: God of War, God of Fear HC

2011-12-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

I’m slowly realizing that Jonathan Hickman does some things very well (his high concepts and world-building are top notch), while other aspects of his stories aren’t quite as riveting for me.

This is the second trade of Secret Warriors, and I can barely remember who half the cast is, much less their personalities or powers. Stonewall, Slingshot, Druid, and more spend the book sitting around. Sure, the book focuses on Nick Fury, Ares, and Phobos, but man, isn’t it weird that a title called Secret WarriorS would have so little to do with the team?

There is no debate that Hickman’s plot is pretty riveting. I love the whole idea behind the Leviathan conspiracy, and seeing all those Marvel spies tied together in more CGI graphics is pretty compelling. It is weird when the most interesting part of your story is a chart, though.

I will admit that I enjoy Ares any time he appears on panel. Seeing him try to navigate some sort of relationship with his son is quite entertaining, although I found Phobos’ quick induction into the ranks of deities as a bit odd.

The Dark Reign: The List issue is stronger than the rest of the book. Ed McGuinness’ kinetic, cartoony style has very little similarities with the classic Jim Steranko work with Fury in the past, but the comparison is there. McGuinness is clearly trying to bring back that 60’s feel with the flying cars, cyborg agents and wingsuits. It actually works.

Stefano Caselli’s departure is another loss for this comic. His larger-than-life action worked well in the first collection. Alessandro Vitti’s art is solid enough, but not as dynamic as Caselli’s.

Fair

Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin TPB

2011-12-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

Joe Casey was pumping out the Iron Man series a few years ago, and I just now got around to checking out his Mandarin series. Quick question, this isn’t Temugin’s first appearance, is it? I know he showed up in Agents of Atlas, but I can’t figure out where else I know him from.

Casey re-tells the first few encounters between Tony Stark and the Mandarin, mixing in a liberal dose of Chinese politics and policies from Stark Enterprises. There are some neat bureaucratic elements, as Casey takes the time to give his supporting SHIELD characters some sweet lines.

Casey’s Mandarin is one egomaniacal dude. He spends half the book spouting off on how great things will be once he’s in charge, and the other half handing out pretty huge beatdowns. Heck, even in Iron Man’s rematch, Mandarin comes close to coming out on top. (At best, the fight is a draw.) There is no doubt that Mandarin is one of Iron Man’s most powerful enemies, but combining that power with an indomitable will like this makes him pretty scary.

Casey always finds interesting partners to work with on his projects, and Eric Canete is no exception. I’m not usually a big fan of Canete’s work; in a normal setting, his angular faces and penchant for over-doing technology don’t always work. However, with this finite series, that style works well. Even more organic foes like the Scarecrow look pretty spooky under his pencil. And of course, Mandarin’s rings and Iron Man’s armor look great, almost steam-punk in their design.

Fair

X-Force: Sex & Violence TPB

2011-12-16T08:40:00.000-06:00

After being so pleasantly surprised by Chris Yost's work on X-Force, I had high expectations for this mini-series. I've always liked Domino, and she and Wolverine do make a fun couple. I had absolutely no idea what to expect, but even so, this book was a bit disappointing.

First of all, this barely qualifies as a Mature Readers book. Sure, every other word out of Domino's mouth is sexy talk about hooking up with Wolvie, but it just makes her look like a nympho with a ADD. Wolverine in turn looks like he gets led around by his privates; this book doesn't do either any favors.

While Yost does use a bunch of cool street-level villains (including an old fave of mine, Bushwacker), too many panels get used up just watching the couple shred faceless ninjas and assassins. That's the problem when your leads are killers, they can't be killing named baddies all the time, so the conflicts start feeling pointless. That said, seeing Black Mamba, Bullet, and the rest is pretty fun, and the duplicating sniper guy seemed pretty cool too.

Gabriele Dell'Otto re-designs a bunch of villains, just as he did in Secret War a few years ago. I like some, like Black Mamba and Bullet, but his Boomerang looks terrible, more like Dan Simmons' Shrike than a guy with boomerangs.

Average

Dark Reign: The Hood TPB

2011-12-15T08:00:00.001-06:00

I'm kind of over Dark Reign. What I've found is that all those minis that Marvel pumps out featuring tie-ins to the big event of the moment? Well, I just don't care about them if I don't read them right when they're shipping. I mean, you can pick up Red Hulk or X-Force and read that any time, but all the Dark Reign books are really tied to their era. Now that age is gone, and does any of it really matter?

Jeff Parker dodges some of the problems of the event-era comic by putting a lot of influence on Parker Robbins, the man under the hood. Parker is a fascinating character, alternately shown as a savage criminal mastermind (by Bendis) or an almost-Peter Parker-esque guy who is just trying to get by (Brian Vaughn and Jeff Parker's take). This series explains some of that personality split by showing that the more savage moments in New Avengers are the moments when Dormammu is ascendant, but the "regular" Parker's crimes are a bit more mundane. Sure, he's a thief and a bully, but he's not out to kill people.

Jeff Parker also seems to be having fun with the mob the Hood has put together. The Controller, Griffin, Wrecking Crew, and more all show up and get a few good lines as they either line up with or against the Hood. (I don't recognize the Squid or fish-guy in this. Are they old characters or new creations?) I'd say my favorite part of the whole Hood's mob angle is just playing spot the obscure villain.

Kyle Hotz's work is always stronger on mood and atmosphere than detail. He's not the best at drawing faces, but I really like the way he draws battles and the big emotional moments. I will say his Force re-design is terrible. Why would you mess with the original look?

Fair

Back Issue Review: Batman #433-435

2011-12-14T08:00:00.003-06:00

The Many Deaths of the Batman!

Ah, 75 cents well-spent! I picked up this three part storyline because the name sounded familiar, and sure enough, this story did have a bit of buzz around it back in the late 80’s

Written by John Byrne with dynamic art from Jim Aparo, The Many Deaths of the Batman has very little actual Batman for the first issue and a half. Instead, we see how puzzling murders must be for Jim Gordon when Batman isn’t around to make intuitive leaps and help point the GCPD in the right direction.

Someone is killing men wearing bat-costumes. The interesting part is that each of the victims is the leader in his field; these were men of action like race car drivers, explosives experts, and gymnasts. I won’t give away the secret linking all these men, but it’s a neat twist that brings Batman in to the story nicely.

Gordon gets a medical examiner to bounce his ideas off (does this predate Harvey Bullock as Gordon’s regular plot-dumper?), and I like the idea that the GCPD is actually fairly competent. Sure, they need Batman to wrap up the case quickly, but the cops would have gotten there eventually.

Jim Aparo draws one heck of a Batman. He draws a lot of folks wearing bat-suits in this, but it is never really a question for the reader (aside from that first one). These bodies have different faces and physiques that make it clear there is only one Caped Crusader.

These self-contained bat-stories used to be the foundation of the line, I think that’s probably why I’m appreciating Scott Snyder’s run on the book right now.

Good

OMAC #4

2011-12-13T08:00:00.000-06:00

Once again, I find myself ashamed and delighted at the new issue of OMAC. As other reviewers have stated, Kevin Kho, the ostensible lead of this comic really has no personality and hasn’t done anything. Maybe Bruce Banner was like this at first, but man, this re-telling of the Hulk is just weird. I don’t read many comics where the lead is a complete cipher, but this book certainly qualifies. There is no doubt that Brother Eye has the most recurring personality in this book.

But that’s not a bad thing. Kho’s lack of characteristic actually makes him more identifiable. He’s just a normal guy trying to live his life, only he’s got a sentient satellite holding him hostage while simultaneously facing down techno-alligators in the subway. Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen have done a wonderful job delivering mad ideas; the hologram-headed alligators grown from tablets certainly qualify.

It’s so much fun to see Keith Giffen enjoying himself. Well, maybe I’m wrong and he doesn’t like this, but man, it certainly seems like this Kirby-inspired madness is absolutely perfect for him. Any excuse for more Build-A-Friend’s is good with me!

Once again, a book I never planned to pick up is one of the few I’m still buying in the DCnU.

Good

Villains for Hire #1

2011-12-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

Well, I suppose I can understand how this series got downgraded to a limited. Let’s look at the stars of the book: Purple Man, Avalanche, Bombshell, Tiger Shark, Nightshade, Crossfire, Scourge, and a couple other folks no one has heard of. (Well, no one but a major Marvel nerd like me.) It actually makes me happy that series like this get made, because really, did Marvel ever think that anyone besides dedicated fanboys would care about the Purple Man trying to take over New York?

There is an element at the close of the book that makes the popularity factor rise a bit, but still, probably not enough to keep sales very high on this title. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are delivering fanboy comics here, no two ways about it.

This is a villain-caper book very much in the vein of MODOK’s 11 from a few years ago. These types of projects are great at casting a spotlight on characters that have never had it before. If you are a fan of Marvel minutiae, than maybe you too get a thrill from seeing the Shocker described as a powerful villain. Or Nightshade as a serious hazard.

Renato Arlem does a nice job drawing these third-rate characters. Tiger Shark looks imposing, Avalanche looks like a powerhouse, and Bombshell looks like a hottie. (Arlem sure likes drawing ladies with no pants. If it wasn’t for the coloring…) The action can sometimes look a bit stiff or photo-referenced, but overall, the art is pretty strong.

Good

Daredevil #6

2011-12-11T08:00:00.001-06:00

At what point is it ok to be disappointed with less than an “excellent” issue of a book? Fortunately, I don’t need to worry yet, because this issue of Daredevil is right up there with the last five. This book is awesome!

DD got himself into deep water last issue when he faced off against Bruiser. Bruiser is a combo between Rey Mysterio Jr. and Booster Gold, and for me, that makes him the perfect villain. I love the guy after just two appearances, and hearing how he’s got a hit list to qualify him for a Hulk fight? Wonderful detail (as is his rank of Spider-Woman below DD on that list).

Mark Waid wraps both the fisticuffs and plot with nice little bows. Bruiser’s takedown ends up being a tad easy, but hopefully this isn’t the last we’ve seen of this guy. As for the secret alliance of Marvel villain groups, they’re all gunning for DD now. I’m not sure I buy that DD’s possession of that unique data disk buys safety for anyone else, but surely it puts a pretty big bulls-eye on his head. Judging from that smile, I’d say Matt Murdock is up to the challenge.

There has been a lot of justified praise going around about this artistic team. Bruiser’s look is great, and I love the way Marcos Martin draws the five villain reps in their fighting togs. I’m not usually a big one for coloring, but the bright, primary colors permeating this issue tell the story almost as well as the dialogue. This is great work from Muntsa Vicente.

This is the best comic on the stands!

Excellent

Hulk: Scorched Earth TPB

2011-12-10T08:00:00.001-06:00

I shouldn’t be surprised, but once again Jeff Parker’s story has left a smile on my face.

Jeph Loeb’s uneven (but fun) Red Hulk epic went on too long and never totally made sense, but it seems it left behind a few new viable characters. Thunderbolt Ross was always a jerk but seeing him red and Hulked out has added a lot to him. The best part about the first few issues in this trade is that it is one long run of folks getting revenge. Loeb really let Rulk go crazy through the Marvel U; Parker makes him pay the piper.

In the first issue, it’s Iron Man, next up is Thor, then the Watcher, followed by the Sub-Mariner. Each of these guys got punked a bit, but Parker lets each of them wail on Rulk for a bit to re-establish their cred. Thor’s is the best; Iron Man has some legit reasons to beat on Ross, Thor doesn’t exactly have that excuse.

The overarching plot that drives Rulk (and Rick Jones as A-Bomb) is the doomsday plan left in place by the Leader and MODOK should their Intelligencia fall. Since it did at the close of Loeb’s run, it’s up to Banner to put together a team to clean up the mess. There are some nice tie-ins to Parker’s Thunderbolts, the biggest being the reveal of Monster Island. Every comics company needs some reason to have some kaiju/giant monsters lurking around, so this just makes sense.

Gabriel Hardman continues to impress me with his beautiful artwork. His use of blacks is among the best in the business, along with Chris Samnee and Francesco Francavilla. He gets to design some epic new monsters and his new MODOK is wonderful. I’m a huge MODOK fan; I can recognize when a new design pays respect to the classics while still being modern. This book is gorgeous.

Good

Swamp Thing #4

2011-12-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

Who would have thought that this random pick-up in the new 52 would end up one of the last comics standing on my DC sublist? Scott Snyder has impressed the heck out of me the way he’s writing a Vertigo title in the mainstream DCU. Best of all, he’s done it while repeatedly referencing that yes, Alec Holland and Swamp Thing have a past. See DC, it’s not a bad thing for your characters to actually have done things before, there are still good stories out there!

We’ve seen the “legacy” deal many times before; I’m not blown away that there have been previous Swamp Things out to protect the Green from the Rot. However, I’m absolutely tickled by the idea that before humans were the dominant species, we had Swamp Mudskippers and Swamp Dinosaurs. That’s a level of madness I can truly appreciate (especially when rendered so well by Yanick Paquette on that cover!)

Marco Rudy does his best, and it really doesn’t fall that short from Paquette’s work. The closing shot of the Rot’s next round of creatures is truly disturbing, lending a real chill to the close of the issue. His work on Alec Holland and Abigail Arcane is strong too, and I’m shocked how good he is drawing tumors blasting out of people’s mouths. You’d think that skill would take longer to refine.

Good

Avenging Spider-Man #2

2011-12-08T13:15:00.002-06:00

Oh, digital copy, you make all the difference. Those $3.99 titles that seemed so untouchable are just about worth it when I get a digital copy to go along with the print. No need to buy an eventual TPB if the story is already on my tablet.

Zeb Wells continues to put together a fast-paced and entertaining story in this month’s Marvel Team-Up. It’s always tough using an established villain like Mole Man to show how tough a new baddie is (like this issue’s ruler of Subterranea), but Wells walks the line well. Clearly, Mole Man is still the favorite of his moloids and some of his monsters, but these new guys are definitely the bigger threat right now.

J. Jonah Jameson has as many lines of dialogue as the Red Hulk, and arguably just as big a role in the story. Spidey hasn’t had a ton to do in this one besides crack jokes and make fun of Rulk, so JJJ’s presence keeps this feeling like a Spider-Man comic. I’m not sure if these new guys have staying power, but laying down a beatdown on Red Hulk as decisively as Rak’Tar does this issue. (Ol’ Raky needs an easier to remember name, though.)

Joe Madureira’s art is still fun, and he still excels at drawing monsters. There’s a part of me that wishes we had a few more costumed heroes here, because I love his blend of manga and Western art, but seeing Spidey in that style does scratch the itch. It’s also worth noting that the new subterranean language looks fantastic when rendered digitally, the stone letterboxes almost glow on that black background.

Good

Comics on the Bubble: Daredevil #508-511

2011-12-07T14:47:00.000-06:00

Well, now I know why Black Tarantula never showed up again in Shadowland.

I picked these up for a dollar, and that’s about what they’re worth. I always say that Daredevil is not one of my favorite characters, yet I own a lot of DD comics. Well, DD may not be a fave, but he is at least a good plot-mover. When DD is off plotting, Dakota North and Foggy Nelson can’t keep the book moving with any momentum.

I usually like Andy Diggle, but this isn’t his best work. Roberto De La Torre’s art has improved a lot over the years.

Daredevil #508 – DD’s friends try to cope with his murder of Bullseye in the core series. Sell.
DD #509 – Luke Cage and Iron Fist try to talk some sense into their friend, but leave most of their dialogue in the core series. Sell
DD #510 – Elektra gets involved and we see how she got wrapped up into the main series. White Tiger gets some panel time too. Sell
DD #511 – So I guess Black Tarantula is actually dead? Weird choice. Too much time with the NYC cop. Sell

Final count: SELL DD #508-511

Hellboy: The Bride of Hell & Others TPB

2011-12-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

I've been waiting for Hellboy in Mexico for a long time. Mike Mignola talks about the convention card he drew years ago that inspired the story, and yeah, I've got one. I believe it was a Chicago con, if I remember correctly.

In any case, factor in monster-fighting luchadores with some beautiful Richard Corben art and this first story was just fantastic. I really hope there are some follow-ups on the way, either featuring the surviving luchadores OR the bat-monster dude. Just more Hellboy in Mexico! Corben does a great job with the wrestling moves too; this is a fun issue.

Double Features of Evil has the kind of high-concept BPRD case that I wish we could see more of. With Hellboy's own path in sort of a weird place these days, I relish these chances to see glimpses of his old cases. And that haunted house story! Wonderful!

The Sleeping and the Dead is surprisingly sad, given the amount of smashing and vampire-punching involved. Mignola provides a pretty neat explanation why there aren't many blood-suckers in his world. Heck, when they do pop up, Hellboy just kills them anyway. I also liked seeing some more random field agents in this story. The BPRD is staffed by government shlubs who know about monsters. They're not so good at killing them, but at least they know monsters exist!

Richard Corben returns for the Bride of Hell. Another fantastic short story featuring Hellboy's background at the BPRD. It's always neat seeing Hellboy mix it up with crusaders and religious nuts, so I dug this one too.

Buster Oakley gets his wish is just plain silliness. That's what I used to love about Hellboy in the beginning. It was fun seeing him bust heads when reality wasn't on the line! Kevin Nowlan handles the fun art and horror mix perfectly.

Good

Steve Rogers: Super Soldier TPB

2011-12-05T13:02:00.000-06:00

Let me put it this way, any story featuring Machinesmith is going to at least get a “Fair.” It’s an unfair advantage, but c’mon, that guy is awesome!

Ed Brubaker sometimes surprises me with these classic-feeling Cap stories. With so many espionage, “adult” feeling storylines, I forget how well Brubaker writes kooky Cap stories. I expect Machinesmith from Roger Stern and Mark Gruenwald, I’m pleasantly surprised when we get him from Brubaker.

Steve’s “Commander Rogers” persona isn’t quite as cool as Captain America, but the return of the photonic shield is welcome. That’s a neat mid-90s concept that works as well now as it did then. Brubaker includes some nice fights too (greatly realized by Dale Eaglesham’s pencils). There aren’t strong flunkies for Steve to whip up on, but I’m sated by the great use of Machinesmith’s googly eyes and extending arms.

I was pretty impressed by Dale Eaglesham’s Cap in the opening chapters. Steve was a hulking dude, looking like the Hulk about to bust out of both his normal uniform and his fancy tuxedo. Well it turns out that was a choice; when Steve loses the super-soldier serum he seems even smaller and weaker because he’s been a looming powerhouse for the whole series so far.

I also liked Machinesmith’s ridiculous identity as the head of security. His cover identity looked just as much like a super-villain as his normal body! Is that the most inconspicuous he can be?

Good

Shadowland TPB

2011-12-04T08:00:00.002-06:00

Wow, I’d heard that this was a below-average story, but this was brutal. I’m glad I waited for the big discount, but this probably should have been a library rental.

Daredevil is the ostensible villain here, but he’s never believable. I usually like Andy Diggle’s writing, but this had a ton of posturing and debate that never made it believable that DD would turn evil. This book tries to have the street-level heroes face down against the DD-controlled Hand, but it just doesn’t work.

I was actually interested while the story focused on DD dealing with Bullseye once and for all, but that was only for an issue. After that, we are supposed to accept the hordes of Hand ninjas as a legitimate threat to the street-Avengers who show up. But let me remind everyone of the ninja rule (also works as a robot or zombie rule): The more there are, the weaker they look. With a ton of ninjas bouncing around off light poles, I never worried for a moment that Luke Cage or Iron Fist would be hurt. Heck, the heroes agree to team-up with the Punisher! I don’t buy that either!

And it is not like there weren’t bad guys around! Kingpin and Lady Bullseye spent the whole series chatting! How about they bust some heads; this is the climax, right?

As a longtime DD reader, I was anxious to see the resolution to the Black Tarantula and White Tiger mind-control story arc, but that’s not here either. Maybe it is resolved in the DD trade?

I’m not a huge Billy Tan fan. His art is clear, but the Marc Silvestri influence just doesn’t do it for me. I did like the expanding horns on DD’s head as he loses control, but at that point I was so disappointed in Shadowland’s true villain (who appears out of nowhere) that I couldn’t make myself care.

Average

The Gunslinger: Little Sisters of Eluria HC

2011-12-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

Now this is more like it! I was really disappointed with the last Gunslinger trade, it had storytelling problems and really didn't flesh out anything new or interesting in the tale Roland the last gunslinger. This story does not share those weaknesses.

The Dark Tower series works best (in the novel Wizard & Glass, I think) when the reader is shown glimpses of the expansive Mid-World, but never given a complete explanation. Why are so many elements of the "real" world mixed in? When does each part of the story take place? We just don't know. Little Sisters is full of those little glimpses of the familiar but it's all stirred up with those weird elements that Stephen King mastered years ago.

This collection has some great shots of the slow mutants, the ever-present threat to humanity that's only a step above a zombie. It's great seeing the kinder, gentler Roland try to reason with these creatures before he starts blowing them away. Eluria itself has all the hallmarks of a classic Mid-World town, with a church to the Man Jesus and a red cross painted on the tent outside town.

I don't like it when it feels like Roland is the last person around, too, and that definitely isn't the case here. The Little Sisters are currently working on a small group of drovers and bodyguards, and some of them actually get some dialogue, so once again it feels like Roland is a part of a bigger world. Sure, that world has moved on, but the remnants of civilization are still there. Heck, that's what makes the slow mutants and the little sisters so scary; if it was just monsters left it would be easier for Roland to give up.

The Little Sisters are pretty cool. They seem ok on the surface, but they've got a nice King grossness to them. The Dark Tower on their chests provides a link to the greater mythology, but of course, it is never explained. It doesn't need to be; these gross ladies just want to consume the liquids of their prisoners. Does it really matter why?

And of course, this story has that classic element of lost love, too. Roland has loved and lost a lot over the years. I think each trade should be required to have a sad connection for the gunslinger.

Luke Ross does a great job on the pencils for this story. In fact, I think his work might be the best fit for this series so far. It still looks and feels like a comic, but Richard Isanove's color palette keeps everything solidly rooted in the Dark Tower universe. The slow mutants look wonderful, the sisters are creepy, and Roland looks like a movie-hero. I do picture the gunslinger hand-cannons a bit bigger, but maybe that's just me.

This is one of the best Dark Tower books so far.

Good

Shadowland: Thunderbolts TPB

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

I finally caught up with the missing issues of Thunderbolts. Too bad the trade had to tie-in with the average Shadowland crossover. Fortunately Jeff Parker is a good enough writer to connect where he needs to, but still focus on his more interesting core plot.

The first few issues are a great showcase for Juggernaut, Crossbones, Moonstone, and the other evil members of the Tbolts. Crossbones has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and seeing him fighting so effectively with his new powers is pretty awesome. I love his callous murder too; it’s totally pointless and totally in character.

Then the Avengers come to visit. Steve Rogers, Thor, Luke Cage and Iron Man show up to take Ghost, Juggernaut, and Crossbones on a mission. Of course, things go wrong when Ghost inserts himself into Man-Things teleporting path. It’s a nice little character piece (featuring a hilarious talking frog) where each of the characters gets to flex their muscles and learn a little about themselves at the same time. The highlight has got to be how Iron Man takes out Ghost.

Ghost is the star of the final issue too, when he tells Moonstone his origin. It’s suitably tragic, making a fascinating character even more riveting.

Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey share the art duties and do a great job keeping things consistent. When Thor finally meets up with Troll, Walker does a tremendous job telegraphing the shock, but it’s still a great delivery when it happens. The design on that little frog man is wonderful too; too bad he has such a tragic end!

Excellent

Aquaman #3

2011-12-01T08:00:00.002-06:00

The poor king of the seas can't catch a break. After he and Mera are sort of overwhelmed by the Trench, the cops are quite understanding. Geoff Johns is really pushing the point, but I love seeing that the cops don't blame Aquaman for failing to stop the deep sea creatures. They know he did his best; it just wasn't good enough.

No wonder Aquaman is always angry! I guess he's got other reasons too, including a weirdo scientist from his past that he turns to in order to find out more about the Trench. I'm a little surprised Aquaman couldn't make some of these leaps of logic himself. Stephen Shin is an interesting character, one that I'm sure we'll see again, but could Aquaman not tell that these guys came from deep water? Or that they need a lot of energy to survive? Not a huge issue, just odd.

I also love the way Johns is using Mera. She's powerful and capable, but she's still learning things about Aquaman, making her a great POV character for the reader.

This issue felt like it had a lot more bang for its buck, and that's due to how Ivan Reis laid out the issue. The book opens with a thrilling action sequence then follows it up with some drama-laden exposition. The whole thing leads nicely into a good cliff-hanger for next issue.

Good

Secret Avengers #19

2011-11-30T08:00:00.001-06:00

I'm still just tickled that there is an Avengers title out there that feels so right. Bendis loves the dialogue and relationships, but Warren Ellis is writing an Avengers comic where crap gets done!

This issue features Steve Rogers, Moon Knight (in a suit), Black Widow, and Sharon Carter. It's pretty great, because while this is still an Avengers comic with big baddies like elder gods, it works just as well as a drug-bust comic. The street-level heroes are all packing knockout guns and blasting their way around; it's pretty entertaining.

The high point of the issue has to be Steve Rogers' street fight. It's light on dialogue, but man, these amped up drug-dealers are a real threat. Steve is sporting a shiner for the rest of the issue after taking out just one of these guys. From that point on, it's K-O gun time! Moon Knight gets some sweet undercover action in his white suit too. More heroes need a formal-wear version of their costumes!

Michael Lark is a chameleon. This looks street-level and gritty, as it needs to, the big moments all get to shine. That double page knockout in the middle works because it is so jarring from the rest of the story.

Good

Avengers Solo #2

2011-11-29T08:00:00.002-06:00

You'd think ol' Hawkeye was fighting Spidey by the looks of that cover! I suppose there is some overlap with the Trapster's powers, though.

I'm enjoying Jen Van Meter's Hawkeye story as it moves into the second chapter. This is the definition of a plot-based story, you could plug in any hero to this story and it would work equally well; there are no real "Hawkeye" elements that make this a personal mission for him. That said, Van Meter writes Hawkeye as a competent and powerful hero who is out to do the right thing. The thugs are a tad generic, but you can't fault this book on action. There is a ton going on, including more super-villain goodness from Trapster. I hope another baddie shows up next issue, or that the bandaged gal turns out to be a real villain. (I would have guessed Moonstone, except that she's busy elsewhere.)

Roger Robinson draws a fantastic Hawkeye. There are a ton of really strong pages with great action shots. I got sketch from Robinson years ago, and I asked for Hawkeye then because I thought he'd do a great job. He did then and he's doing a bang-up job now.

Good

The Torch TPB

2011-11-28T09:59:00.002-06:00

Head on over to the Collected Editions blog for my guest-review of The Torch TPB.

Here's a hint: It was good!

Marvel Zombies 5 HC

2011-11-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

I like Fred Van Lente's writing. Heck, I even liked Marvel Zombies 3 that he wrote. But what is the point of this story? It's a random sampling of alternate universes where different forms of the zombie virus have taken hold (all named after famous directors, amusingly enough).

The problem is that this story can't decide if it wants to take the story seriously or if it is a joke. Machine Man and Howard the Duck? How are we supposed to take that seriously? And the original Black Knight's world is overrun with Deadites from Army of Darkness?

The last story is mighty confusing too, a more "realistic?" take on the zombie story? I'm not sure what the point was, but the whole thing comes off a bit oddly.

The art is a mix of decent creators, but my confusion at the tone of the story kept me from getting too wrapped up.

Weird.

Average

Fall of the New Mutants TPB

2011-11-26T08:00:00.005-06:00

Zeb Wells continues to churn out good, classic-feeling stories that acknowledge the rich history of the Marvel U without bogging them down in continuity. If you liked Inferno or the original New Mutants at all, you will dig this series. If you like super-heroes taking on mutant soldiers? Yeah, you'll like this a lot too.

Back during Inferno, Maddie Pryor used a bunch of mutant babies to bring about the end of the world. When it didn't happen, the US Government took those kids and set about turning them into weapons. In what is clearly a horrible choice, but logical in comic book-thinking, the government set up a base in Limbo to raise and train the kids. This gives Wells a chance to indulge in some classic sci-fi elements. The sped-up aging of Limbo; the horrific grafts of demonic transplants; and some absolutely killer designs for weird new limbo monsters. This is great stuff, and the design work of these bad guys is wonderful. Every one looks like they could star as the big bad on his or her own.

The "babies" as they're called have some sick personalities, but getting raised in Limbo would probably do that to you. Wells has examined the outlook of the New Mutants before, but seeing them contrasted against this other group makes a lot of sense. Sure, Cannonball used them poorly during Necrosha and Second Coming, but he never got close to using them as badly as the soldiers do the Inferno kids. Cannonball cares about his crew too much and takes his responsibility too seriously to ever think of his crew as resources. (Especially now that he and a teammate seem to be acting upon some long-theorized feelings for each other.)

Part of what makes the New Mutants work is how well the characters know each other (and we know them). Sunspot is going to be a cad, even when decked out with a sword and armor. Magma is noble. Magik is scheming and plotting. Wells keeps everyone in character so well. This is almost fan-fiction, except that it's handled so well.

Leonard Kirk is a fantastic artist and he's a great fit for this book. As I said, his design work on the Limbo demons is wonderful. There are some little frog-guys that just tickled me, and the vision-enhancing creatures that clamp their fists under their human host's jaw? Horrifying and cool at the same time.

Good

Secret Avengers #18

2011-11-25T08:00:00.002-06:00

I'm a few weeks late, but since I decided to pick up the upcoming Rick Remender-era of Secret Avengers, I've gone back to get Warren Ellis' run too. I'm glad I did.

If you liked Planetary but thought it was missing that Marvel something, then this is the title for you. The secret societies and snappy dialogue are all there, but now we've got Shang-Chi, Steve Rogers, and Sharon Carter taking care of business.

This issue features a Secret Avengers strike team out to destroy a group of terrorists before they can use a slice of reality to create a big bomb. It's pretty generic, but it gives David Aja a chance to show off some Escher-related combat on a satellite. Seriously, the plot is secondary in this thing, this is all about space-fu.

Ellis does have time to fit in some of his patented mad ideas. Arnim Zola 4.2.3 is so logical an idea, I'm puzzled how it hasn't come up before. Of course there would be old copies of Zola's personality still puttering around in old combat suits! Why not?

There are also a few nice moments with Shang-Chi questioning his role (and responsibilities) on an Avengers team. I'm not sure I totally buy Steve Rogers' explanation and rationalization at the end, after all, he did just use Shang to brutally incapacitate a lot of people. But hey, Rogers gives a good enough reason, one that Shang can probably use to justify sticking around. It probably would wear on you permanently hurting people like that, so the questioning works.

Good

Avengers Academy #22

2011-11-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Let's all give thanks for low-selling fanboy titles like Avengers Academy. I hope it can survive the current Marvel cancellation purge!

I get the feeling that Christos Gage has been looking forward to this issue's big showdown for a long time. It had to happen, Quicksilver and Magneto. With the Academy relocating to California, the timing couldn't be better. (Check out the battling logos on the cover: "Shattered Heroes" on top and "Regenesis" on the bottom. Go for those sales!)

While the conflict between the two groups is a little forced, I loved seeing folks like Whiz Kid (remember him?) caught in the middle. He's a mutant, but enrolled in Avengers Academy. Which side will he choose? And if there was any doubt about Gage writing Hawkeye well, check out the archer's reasoning of why White Queen is still evil: her outfit! This while Hawk is on a team with Tigra. (White Queen has some wonderful advice for Tigra too. What lucky students they must have.)

It is nice seeing Finesse throw her support behind Quicksilver. She's long been fascinated by Magneto and villains in general, so this switch to Quicksilver gives me hope that maybe she's going to be a hero after all. What a turnaround considering her history and actions so far.

I also really like Hank Pym's awkwardness around the other heroes. He's a neat hero, but man, Cyclops shoots down just about everything he says. Pym isn't quite enough of a tyrant to fit in with Scott Summers these days.

Sean Chen is a fantastic artist, I've sung his praises for years. I'm sad to see him go, but Tom Grummett will be another great "classic" replacement. That said, if Sean Chen can't make the current Hawkeye look work, then it is time to go back to the drawing board. Those purple sunglasses are plain awful. Why would Marvel move away from a classic design like Hawks' in order to get some synergy with a movie that's still six months away! Yuck!

Good

Green Lantern Corps #3

2011-11-23T08:00:00.003-06:00

Just to prove I'm not anti-DC overall, we've got Green Lantern Corps #3.

Peter Tomasi has put together an intriguing, stand-alone story that doesn't contradict the history of the DCU, it just adds another chapter. Admittedly, that's one gory chapter, but this issue is not quite as messy as the first two.

You know things have gone badly when Guy Gardner is willing to call back to Oa for some help. Salaak is suitably surprised, but there is just no way he can get reinforcements out to Guy and John Stewart in time. Enter Plot Device Lantern, a teleporter who strains and grits his way through some plot-necessary teleports, but at least he pays a reasonable price for it. And I do like the random feel of the GL who don't quite make it out in time. Tomasi has cultivated enough of a personality on our new Lanterns that I don't want to see any of them get pasted.

I like the idea that a souped-up willpower can withstand a Green Lantern ring. Does it make sense? Not really, but that's my kind of pseudo-science.

Geraldo Borges has some big shoes to fill, artistically, but he does a nice job. He's got that DC house style down pretty well, and he delivers on the multiple crowd scenes the story requires. The backgrounds are a bit sparse, there's a bunch of empty green panels, but the story explains much of that away nicely.

Good

Justice League #3

2011-11-22T08:00:00.002-06:00

At the end of the day, I'm just not down with the Ultimate DCU.

Look, I get it. Geoff Johns and Jim Lee have made the League 10x cooler and 100x more extreme than ever before. Wonder Woman is chopping dudes to shreds. Superman is taking pleasure in knocking parademons' heads off. Aquaman has mutton chops and an attitude.

But man, the parademons look too much like daemonites from mid-90s WildCATS comics. Those collars just aren't doing it for me. I don't like Hal Jordan calling "dibs" when he first spots Wonder Woman. This reads like a mighty attempt to make "not your Dad's Justice League, kids!" The problem is, I'm the Dad! I liked Superman as the no-kill leader of heroes. I liked Wally West growing into his role as the new Flash. I liked Kyle Rayner as a competent third-generation hero.

This comic has 22 pages of totally extreme goodness, not a bad ratio in today's environment. There are a ton of splash pages, but Jim Lee makes them look like awesome pin-ups or posters, so I can't complain about that.

The real problem is that I just haven't connected with the new DCU at all. So I think this is my last JL issue. Avengers is going on the sublist.

Average

Avengers #19

2011-11-21T08:00:00.001-06:00

It pains me to admit this, but the newest issue of Avengers was actually pretty decent. Bendis does these types of issues well; there is no fighting, but we get a long of interpersonal interaction as Captain America puts the new team together.

I admit to being a tad disappointed that Black Panther isn’t rejoining the team, especially since his solo book just got cancelled. (Don’t get me started on all the recent Marvel cancellations!) However, adding Storm is a brilliant move. She’s a powerhouse, so she fits right in as a great replacement for Thor, and she’s of course well-acquainted with Wolverine (I loved their casual greeting.) What I’m really excited about is all of the new interaction that Storm can have with all these new characters. She’s a gorgeous queen, mutant, and superhero; she’s going to shake the team up nicely.

Bendis hits another high spot with his return for the Vision. This isn’t Kid Vision from Young Avengers, this is the real deal. And Viz is in a weird spot, he can appreciate his friends being happy to see him, but for him, he just got taken out during Disassembled. He’s missed everything since. What a great new POV character for the team!

I haven’t read enough about Quake to know how she’ll fit in on the team, for now I can just declare that I want her to get a real costume.

Daniel Acuna’s art is still wonderful. That giant mural of the old Avengers team is fantastic, and his Storm is striking. I think he draws Red Hulk smaller than I imagined, more athletic than muscular. Vision looks sleek and classic.

I’m going to keep getting either Avengers or Justice League. Let’s see who wins the week.

Good

Thunderbolts: Violent Rejection TPB

2011-11-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

With this trade, Jeff Parker just became a "must-read" author for me.

I've got a stack of trades up to my knees, so I accidentally grabbed the wrong Thunderbolts trade. I skipped Shadowland and came straight to this one. I wanted to put it down and read them in order, but I found myself so immediately wrapped up in this story, I couldn't go back.

Parker has picked up the Thunderbolts/Suicide Squad concept and is now adding to the genre with every story. This trade is chock full of super-hero goodness. An alternate-reality Superman (Hyperion) joins the team to fight off gigantic Godzilla-based monsters. Dr. Strange shows up to help Luke Cage get some magic might on the team by strong-arming Satana. Best of all, the whole "back-up squad" idea gets a nice push as Songbird and Fixer put together a new group of villains to be ready to step up to the prime time group.

Really, the list of characters involved is all I need to be sold on this comic. Cage, USAgent, Mach V, Songbird, Fixer, Juggernaut, Moonstone, Ghost, Troll, Shocker, Mr. Hyde, Boomerang, I could go on and on. And Man-Thing! If he's not one of the best 70's characters ever, I don't know who is (especially the way Parker writes him). If you love the Marvel universe, this comic is for you.

As you'd expect, in addition to the greater plot-lines like lost Teutonic castles and monsters, the interpersonal stuff is wonderful too. Moonstone is plotting and scheming. USAgent intimidates everyone he talks to. Cage is walking that line between inspiring and forcing his team to be heroes. This is great stuff.

Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey share artistic duties, and they nail it. Walker's art is always striking, but he does a better job than I remember with the interpersonal stuff too; I love the scene when Satana tries to seduce her new teammates. (There is a well-placed word balloon to keep Moonstone's introduction from getting too titillating.)

Excellent

Walking Dead #91 & Walking Dead on AMC

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

What can I say? You know it’s great. I know it’s great. There may not be many zombies, but Robert Kirkman packs another issue full of interpersonal conflict and maneuvering that keeps me riveted.

I did love the bit with the aged scotch. It would be a crime to share it with folks who wouldn’t even appreciate it!

I will say one thing: That mysterious figure from the last page? Gotta be Darryl, the best character from the show who never appeared in the comic. It’s called “synergy” people!

Good

As for the TV show, I think the episode on November 13th was the best one this year. Maybe it’s because the cast knew that Michael Rooker was hanging around, so they had to be on their best behavior, but everyone was great. Even Lori was believable and didn’t sound embarrassed to deliver her lines!

I am super-ticked at Andrea though. In a world of zombies where gunshots will draw the roamers, you CANNOT shoot a single zombie with a high-powered rifle, especially when you’ve got four or five dudes already running up to it. That was a dangerous shot to make even if she was skilled, and we know she’s not. She took that shot to make a pouty statement, and could easily have hit her friends. Frankly, with all her whining and now this stupid move, I’m not going to cry if she gets eaten.

On the flipside, I love Maggie on the show. She’s a lot more timid in the comic, but I like this aggressive character on the show. She’s leading Glen around and it’s fun to see. Shane is going dark again too, which is fine with me. He and Darryl could be internal threats right soon. (I hope Darryl can throw off his brother’s influence, he’s got redeemed hero written all over him.)

Good

Batman & Robin #3

2011-11-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

While my interest in the greater DCnU is waning, the books that have continued right along are still great. Peter Tomasi is writing some of the best Alfred moments I’ve ever read, with the butler acting every bit the ex-spy he is. Damian may think he’s pretty smart, but Alfred’s been around the block a time or two, himself.

I love the personal vendetta motivating Batman’s newest nemesis. Plus, he seems pretty darn formidable, taking out both Bats and Robin in a few quick pages. Tomasi shows off his skills again with the riveting closing pages; I never figured an abandoned drive-in as a spooky place, but it seems downright surreal at the close of this issue.

This book has the DCnU staple of tons of splash pages, but Patrick Gleason makes it work. Batman’s big arrival about halfway through the book is striking and impressive, actually meeting the requirements for a good splash page. It’s odd that an appropriate use of splashes would impress me so much, but it’s one of the major failings of the relaunch so far. And look at Nobody’s design! That alien-looking head with those eyes, he’s a character to strike some fear into the hearts of do-gooders.

Good

Black Panther #525

2011-11-17T10:28:00.000-06:00

Man, the Marvel street books are some of the most riveting on the stands right now. David Liss delivers yet another brilliant comic, again showing how skilled the Panther is, but he doesn’t short-change the villains either. BP is on the run for most of this comic, dragging along a wounded Wakandan citizen (who still calls him “king” in a nice touch). Things are tough enough while BP is facing down a crew of Hand ninjas, but they’re just the warm-up.

The two ladies on the cover do show up; Lady Bullseye is tough enough on her own, but when Typhoid Mary shows up, BP is overwhelmed. Liss has another brilliant touch when describing Mary’s powers as “Telekinesis. Pyrokinesis. Craziness.” That’s about right, isn’t it? Mary’s days on the Avengers Initiative never seemed so far away!

Shawn Martinbrough does a fantastic job keeping the art consistent. I was worried when Franco Francavilla moved on to another title, but it seems things are in good hands. Martinbrough has delivered some fantastic pencils over the years and it looks like Black Panther is going to be just fine.

Good

Green Lantern #3

2011-11-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

I have to give Geoff Johns credit; while I’m losing interest in the rest of the DCnU, Green Lantern is chugging right along. It’s probably the simple fact that this book is just continuing on as if the reboot never happened. It’s not a coincidence that I’m dropping all the non-GL and non-Batman titles on my list.

I still find it laughable that Sinestro is even partially a good guy, but that’s what makes comics so great. I love seeing Sinestro show off his mastery of the ring. It must have been annoying for Sinestro to lose to Hal so many times over the years when he still knows so much more about being a GL than Hal does.

I’m also interested in the development of the Sinestro Corps. Will any of the members of that evil group side with their charismatic leader over the vague motivation of “causing fear?” I don’t think there are too many well-developed yellow lantern, but it’s a neat idea that Johns plants this issue.

Doug Mahnke was born to draw Green Lantern. His strong jawlines and piercing eyes are perfect for a hero like Hal, and try and tell me that Sinestro doesn’t look heroic too. This book is beautiful.

Good

Avenging Spider-Man #1

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Can I just call this book Marvel Team-Up? Thanks!

So, I know this is a $3.99 title, but man, I have a hard time saying “no” to a team-up book. And I couldn’t this time either. I’ll weigh in on the digital thing too; I HATE the $3.99 price point, but a digital copy for that extra buck? That’s real value and it convinced me to pick this up.

Zeb Wells has always had a nice voice for Spidey, and that shows up again here. Spidey is a hard-luck loser who is lucky to be on the Avengers, even if none of them really want to hang out with him or give him a ride home. (How many heroes have that problem?)

What impressed me even more was Wells’ dialogue for J. Jonah Jameson. JJJ is fantastic in this book. He’s making hilarious comments in every mad situation he finds himself in. He almost copes as well as Spidey!

There isn’t a ton of development or dialogue with the Red Hulk, but visually, he pops nicely. Joe Mad’s art has a nice element of nostalgia for me, so seeing Spidey and Rulk running around is pretty exciting. There are a heck of a lot of splashes in this, but with 22 pages, there is still enough dialogue to make the book take a few minutes to read.

So yeah. I love Marvel Team-Up/Avenging Spider-Man.

Good

B.P.R.D.: Hell on Earth TPB

2011-11-14T08:00:00.001-06:00

Dang. Is there a better book on the stands than BPRD? I freaking love this comic. Mike Mignola and John Arcudi have created such a fascinating world, I can't get enough of it.

The world is in a rough spot. Some gigantic spore creature created a bunch of monsters in California, there's a volcano in Texas, and in Canada, entire towns are disappearing. This trade focuses on the Canadian diappearances, and it's a great, focused story about how the Earth is slowly giving way to chaos. While there are plenty of scenes for Kate Corrigan and the other folks back at HQ, the stars of this book are Abe Sapien and Capt. Daimio. It's been a long time since we saw the good Captain, but he's still out there doing his part to protect humanity. He just does it out in the woods like some sort of survivalist. These two men of action are a great team; it's been a long time since Mignola had two field agents who worked this well together (Hellboy had this relationship with both Abe and Roger the homunculus). The scene where the tentacle-beast chases the two of them through town while they empty AK-47's at him was thrilling.

As for Johann Kraus, he is getting harder and harder to like. The guy clearly blames Daimio for destroying his gigantic muscle-bod, and he's having a hard time thinking about anything besides getting it back. I understand Johann has had a hard couple of years now, but he's supposed to be a senior BPRD agent, and seeing him off in a daze all the time is unsettling. I am enjoying the developing suspicion he holds for Panya, the ancient mummy-woman.

One of the things Mignola and Arcudi do best is fill in the gaps around the stars of the book. Along with Devon, who has been around for a few books now, there are a couple more human field agents that really have the potential to add to the book. I loved the closing 8-page story with Carla. The world is crazy and she just put down a 60-foot monster, but she just wants to get home to her three-year-old. The world would go on, you know?

Guy Davis' art is simply amazing. That crazy pellican-monkey that's running around BPRD HQ is one of the silliest things I've ever seen, and yet I'm certain there is emotion in those weird eyes. The greenhouse, full of genetic mutations is another bright spot; when that gigantic hammerhead shark/gorilla hybrid comes out of the trees, who isn't tickled? One of my favorite Davis designs has always been his insane-looking Wendigo, Darryl. He shows up a few times in this, and man, that is one crazy beast-man!

I love it. What a fantastic comic.

Excellent

Wolverine: The Reckoning TPB

2011-11-13T08:00:00.002-06:00

Now hold on. Are you telling me that this was how this story was supposed to end? Daniel Way wrote a 50-issue Wolverine series all about dealing with Wolvie's son and how the two of them would take out Romulus. Romulus, of course, was the terrible new proto-Wolverine created by Jeph Loeb. Romulus is bigger, faster, tougher and meaner than Wolvie or Daken. We learned he doesn't like samurai swords, Canadian experiments, and traveling by train. We learned that he (like most of the Marvel U) can brainwash Wild Child. We saw that he can manipulate everyone around him and that he wanted Wolverine to be the new leader of the "feral guy pack." (I honestly don't know what else to call it.)

And Wolverine beats him by having teammate Cloak just trap him in the darkforce dimension. Easy. Done. I usually avoid spoilers, but this is so silly and odd that I almost can't consider it a spoiler. I simply don't understand how they decided to do this. I read this series from the library, and thank goodness I did. If I bought this series, it would have gotten pulled and put in my used bookstore box immediately after reading this issue.

Wow. Resolving a 50-issue plot with a guest-star doing the dirty work.

Daken ends up in pretty much the same place he started too. And over-sexed, manipulative psycho out to get ahead and prove he's tougher than his Dad. I actually like Daken, he's a new type of character and there is a lot that writers can do with him that they can't with Wolvie. Daken's book has a lot of potential.

Cloak just picks drops him off.

The art is fine, I guess. Will Conrad and Scot Eaton handled the last few storylines in this book, and they are both good storytellers (I do prefer Eaton's hulking figures a bit more than Conrad's.) But man.

Romulus is just sitting in the darkforce dimension. Just sitting there. Done.

Wow.

Poor

Incognito: Bad Influences TPB

2011-11-12T08:00:00.001-06:00

Can we just call this Sleeper Season Three? Seriously, I had an extremely hard time keeping this separate from the masterful series that Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips put together for Wildstorm a few years ago. (Actually, Sleeper is probably one of the saddest casualties of the Wildstorm reboot.)

I don't mean this as a critique, rather, it's a high compliment. I'm as riveted by Zack Overkill as I was about Holden back in the day. Brubaker writes scumbags, but he sure does make them likeable.

It's hard to go into specifics about this one; it's really quite tied to the original Incognito series and doesn't really wrap up on its own. There is some clear planning going on to set up a third Incognito series. Poor Zack is in a tough spot as this series ends, and I'm not certain that multiple people haven't maneuvered him exactly where they want him. Did those explosions Simon Slaughter set up ever get explained? Or what exactly he was doing with the time travel. I assume some of it was setting up Zack, but I think there's got to be more to it.

The supporting characters are once again a strength for this creative team. Brilliant concepts and perfect character design bring Zoe Zeppelin, King Midas, and more to life. I can't even remember the second-banana's name, the guy who is always giving Zack a hard time, but with his robotic eye and arm, you KNOW he's got some cool story that Brubaker is just waiting to tell.

Don't sleep on this one, Brubaker and Phillips have turned into one of the best collaborations in comics. We should enjoy it ever chance we get.

Excellent

OMAC #3

2011-11-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

There has got to be something wrong with me. When so many of the DCnU's titles have been totally boring me, I still love OMAC. I love the cheesy titles, I love the lack of characterization in the main character. He's basically a techno-Hulk, and it is so much fun watching this bull wreck the china shop of DC's spy organizations.

We see more of Checkmate this month, and of course Max Lord is still maneuvering around the edges of the plot. I enjoyed Dan DiDio and Keith Giffen's attempt to create more mad ideas in the Kirby vein. The little strike team that tries to take out OMAC is a tad generic, but they certainly are fun.

The Psi-Fi Man would be revolting if he was drawn realitically, but in Giffen's Kirby-style, he just looks hilarious. That gigantic brain is pretty great, even if I generally don't care for mental-powered bad guys.

Good

Marvel Point One

2011-11-10T08:22:00.000-06:00

Whew, it's a good thing the page count is so high for this thing. $5.99 is ridiculously expensive for one comic. Fortunately, there is a lot of content here, and the idea of a sampler of Marvels' upcoming big stories is a nice idea. I don't think it is always leading me to pick things up though.

The lead story is pretty interesting, with two folks in space-suits sneaking into the Watcher's lair and rifling through his most recent events. The Watcher's ability to see alternate reality and times makes this review a bit confusing, but it holds together nicely as a framing sequence for a preview book.

That's not Richard Rider Nova in the opening story, right? It seems like a preview for Jeph Loeb's upcoming Cable vs. the Avengers series. I sure hope isn't for a Nova book, because if that is Rider, he seems a lot younger and less competent than he was when we last saw him. (And no way is Terrax going to stay dead.)

Scarlet Spider looks like it could be interesting, but I'm totally puzzled why Marvel would set up Kaine as the new Scarlet rather than the far more popular (and less scarred) Ben Reilly. The book looks like it has potential, but I probably won't be picking it up right off the bat.

Coldmoon and Dragonfire (dang, another lost name I can't use in my writing!) have potential, but those costumes aren't going to do it for me. There is always room for another evil corporation in the Marvel U.

I'm intrigued by a group of humans fighting off the mutants that hate and fear them, which seems to be the concept that we'll see in the upcoming Age of Apocalypse series. I think Donald Pierce as an even remotely good guy is ridiculous, but it sure seems like they are supposed to be the protagonists. Weird, but could be fun.

Matt Fraction is going to write one hell of a Dr. Strange in the new Defenders book. This oughtta be good.

I have a bit of a hard time figuring out exactly what's going on in those Ultron vs. the world pages from Bryan Hitch. Ultron's already won? Most of the heroes are dead? I guess that story is some sort of future deal? Isn't it a bit early to go back to an alternate future well after Avengers 1-6?

In summary, this is a decent glimpse at the Marvel U with solid art and a story that won't win any awards, but is a decent promo. I'm a bit surprised that not even one of the stories grabbed me enough that I MUST get out there and purchase the series being promoted.

I guess I need to wait for the preview book featuring Daredevil, Black Panther, Secret Avengers, Villains for Hire, and Avengers Academy.

Average

Avengers Academy #21

2011-11-09T08:00:00.001-06:00

Nicely played, Marvel! Someone not paying attention could very well pick this up thinking it is a first issue. Not that it is a bad thing, particularly when Christos Gage works so hard to make this a great jumping-on point for new folks.

With the team relocating to the Avengers West compound, it makes sense to shake things up. I wasn't expecting this level of change, though. We've got at least one more instructor added to series regulars Giant Man, Tigra, and Quicksilver, and this new guy makes a whole lot of sense. It sure doesn't hurt that he's one of my top two heroes in the Marvel U. I can't wait to see Christos Gage write more of this character.

There are changes in the student body too, with Lightspeed and White Tiger joining the group. I love the idea of these two ladies in the cast; Lightspeed in particular is going to be a great contrast. She's pretty, powerful, and well-adjusted, pretty much the opposite of Finesse and Hazmat. Yeah, they're not going to get along. White Tiger has a great core concept, and if Gage plays her right, she could be a lot of fun, but her pay-it-forward attitude might be hard to keep from grating on characters and readers alike (too soon to tell right now, obviously).

The big shocker involves the apparent murder (not buying it) of one of the Avengers faculty, followed immediately by another reveal. The second one in particular really rewards long-time readers. Gage is clearly going for a "Thunderbolts" level reveal, and it might work out. I'll have a better feel on that next month.

Sean Chen is awesome. I love his classic pencils, and seeing him draw these hero-crowd shots is a treat. Was that Whiz Kid from X-Terminators I saw flying around? Impossible!

Good

Villains for Hire #0.1

2011-11-08T08:00:00.003-06:00

After the entertaining Heroes for Hire v1 TPB, I decided I couldn't wait for the new Villains for Hire relaunch. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have proven to be some of the most consistent writers I follow, so this was a no-brainer for me to pick up, especially when I saw that $2.99 price tag.

Folks looking for the actual start of the villain-themed series might be in for a surprise, as DnA spend most of the issue showing readers how this whole "for hire" thing works. We see Misty Knight dispatch Silver Sable (and her butt), Black Panther, Paladin, and Daimon Hellstrom out on a mission.

In addition to the heroes, DnA include a few more references to the established Marvel U in a great new Stilt-Man and one of my faves from the Mark Gruenwald era of Captain America. Factor in some nice use of the Mole Man's moloids and this book feels like a modern twist on some classic Marvel ideas. My kind of book.

I do wish we could have seen a bit more of the new set up, including more of those villains shown on the cover. I want some Speed Demon action!

I mention Sable's butt because artist Renato Arlem seems to take much joy in showing her flying around with some might tight pants on. His storytelling is actually pretty strong, the Stilt-Man fights are great, and he actually makes it seem like that silly idea could have some legs.

Good

Action Comics #3

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

Gene Ha is a fantastic, talented artist, but I just can't make myself care about yet another version of Krypton. Maybe it was a mistake to read Secret Origin and New Krypton so recently, but after all that stuff, none of Morrison's new ideas feel "real." In fact, I'm having that problem with the whole relaunch. I'm probably just showing my age, but I'm now more invested in the Brave & the Bold cartoon than I am in the DCU.

Grant Morrison still has a great eye for the dramatic. I love the raid on underground reporter Clark Kent's apartment; it makes sense that powerful men would have a problem with this Kansas kid stirring up so much trouble. And the land-lady development is a bit surprising too. It's neat seeing that when an underground hero like Superman starts challenging powerful men, they'd dedicate their non-physical weapons against him. How can Supes overcome the media and bought-off folks on the street? I'm not sure I buy that this could happen so fast, but it's still a neat idea.

Is this green-robot force a new Brainiac? That's the only thing that makes sense to me, but again, doesn't this feel a lot like New Krypton and Secret Origin? I did like seeing the new origin for Metallo, but I still prefer John Byrne's Terminator design.

Rags Morales' art seems a bit rushed this time, with faces a bit less defined than we normally see from him. Gene Ha's art is gorgeous, as I said.

I'll tell you what, canned interviews is not going to cut it for extra content. I refuse to pay $3.99 for 20 pages of story (with three or for splashes). Because of those prices, I'm going to be switching this to a digital purchase when DC has their 99cent sales online.

Fair

Justice League International #3

2011-11-06T09:59:00.000-06:00

Sometimes reading DC comics really makes me appreciate Marvel Comics. And that's not a good thing for the reboot.

Dan DiDio may have stated that folks weren't supposed to write for the trade, but I'm pretty sure that Dan Jurgens' story in JLI is going to need some humdinger closing chapters to turn out nicely. This issue has way too many pages dedicated to the UN admins who put the group together; I appreciate the need to use them as an info dump, but man, they are not really compelling.

I'm also at a loss at the level of you're OK, Booster!" that goes on in this comic. Jurgens is constantly having cool characters like Batman talking about what a great leader Booster is, but we are not seeing it in the comic. In fact, Batman doesn't fit in too well with this team at all. We've got a thrill-seeker (Fire), media darlings (Booster & Godiva), and a jerk (Guy Gardner). August General, Ice, Vixen, and probably Rocket Red seem to have more heroic goals, but man, that's a rough ratio. There are some cool ideas mixed in, especially the idea that August General's skin looks like that funky armor. That's a big reboot change, right?

Aaron Lopresti's art has always lent itself to strong super-heroics, the problem is that I don't find the mysterious giants compelling and the generic villain doesn't impress me as much as Grayven or other B-level guys.

This is getting one more issue.

Average

Guarding the Globe #6

2011-11-05T08:00:00.001-05:00

Has it been four months already? Actually, I don't know how long its been since issue #5, but I do know I barely remember where that issue left off. It took me three or four pages to try and recall what was happening and who the bad guy on the first page was.

The pacing in this series is mighty weird. We spent a lot of time learning about characters that didn't have an impact in the climax this issue, and barely any time with folks who had pretty important parts. Le Bruiser is a joke, but if you are going to raze his hometown, maybe we should know a tad more about him? And Japandroid has a pretty great moment all to herself; it's a comic-book moment if there ever was one, and it is a great idea, but I don't feel like I know this little robot at all.

Even the more established guys like Bulletproof and Samson don't have much more than a line or two of dialogue. I also found it laughable that Brit took out the main villain by taking off his hat. I mean, I understand leaving some stuff for a sequel, but Robert Kirkman and Benito Cereno make some odd choices here.

Speaking of the first page, it sure looks like that much was completed by Ransom Getty, the detail-oriented artist who did such a nice job on the series so far. Kris Anka does an OK job filling in for the rest of the issue, but the pencils are a lot looser and more cartoony. I don't think Getty is the fastest guy around, but I wish we could have seen his version of this final conflict.

I still dug the chance to spend more time in the Invincible universe, but this series started better than it finished.

Fair

Stormwatch #3

2011-11-04T11:03:00.000-05:00

And it's time for month #3 of the DCnU. It's amusing to me that three months in, I can't even really decide if I'm enjoying most of the new books or not. Some are hits, some are not, and some are in the middle. Stormwatch is definitely a title I was really excited about, but now that it has arrived, it is only OK.

My biggest problem is this: can my affection for the Martian Manhunter make me pick up a book I probably wouldn't buy otherwise? Paul Cornell does a good job with J'onn; he's powerful and smart, and actually should be in the hunt to lead the team. But there are a whole lot of pages dedicated to the rest of this pretty large cast, and not many of them strike my fancy. As long as Midnighter is rocking that ridiculous spike-beard, I can't take him seriously. T-shirt-wearing Apollo feels too much like Action Comics Superman. I like Harry Tanner, but only if he's going to be a villain (that sure seems to be the way he's acting). Hawksmoor, Jenny Quantum and the rest are suffering the same as J'onn, sort of shunted to smaller appearances. (I did find the whole idea of city-avatars intriguing. That's certainly new!)

So three issues in, I'm more excited to read this comic hoping for more Manhunter pages that I probably just need to admit won't be coming. It's not a bad comic, but it's not what I hoped for, either.

Miguel Sepulveda's art is starting to look more and more photo-referenced. There were numerous backgrounds in this one that looked like they were drawn over a digital picture to give the panels background. It's not bad, but again, not exactly my style.

Average

The Unwritten v3: Dead Man's Knock

2011-11-03T11:45:00.000-05:00

I've made no secret that I love Mike Carey's work. His X-Men comics are a wonderful reminder of what I loved about comics during my childhood, and his concepts always feel unique. That said, his work on the Unwritten has to be some of the best storytelling I've ever seen in comics.

Carey doesn't take it easy on the reader. This is a story that KNOWS it is a story, so the reader can't take anything for granted. You always have to keep in mind tropes and manipulations that Carey or the protagonists might be pulling. Which parts of the story are real? Well, none of it of course, but Carey actually admits this and lets the reader define a lot of what is happening. This is most clearly laid out in the Lizzie Hexam origin issue, a choose-your-own-adventure type story with multiple endings. If you aren't careful, Lizzie doesn't end up joining up with Tommy Taylor, she ends up drugged into a stupor in a mental hospital. Choose wisely! (I'll briefly mention that depending on the path you take, quite a few odd occurrences from earlier in the series get explained.)

The main plot moves along nicely too, with Wilson Taylor, Tommy's Dad, finally making his on-panel appearance. Wilson clearly has some sort of destiny in mind for Tommy, but Tommy isn't ready for it. And it doesn't seem like Wilson's got a lot more chances to make this work. This trade shows the big release of the 14th Tommy Taylor novel and all the wonderful maneuvering Wilson and his friends have done to take down the cabal that secretly runs the world.

In such a word-heavy and convoluted story, Peter Gross's art would be easy to overlook. But don't. It's his panel layouts and rapid reality changes that make this story work, and he does a fantastic job leading the reader through multiple worlds and perceptions of reality.

The concepts are unclear and challenging, but if you've got the time and interest, this is an intensely rewarding series.

Excellent

Avengers: Solo #1

2011-11-02T13:17:00.001-05:00

I may not be a big fan of the core Avengers titles these days, but luckily there are still some Avengers comics for old-school fans like me. Avengers Academy and this book are right up my alley.

Jen Van Meter writes Hawkeye in a bit more of a noir setting than I'm used to, but after his costume-less days dealing with normal folks, it's not so much of a stretch. Especially when Van Meter includes not one, not two, but three costumed villains to go after Hawkeye. Trace is new and Chance is classic, so the bases are covered right off the bat. The last surprise villain is not a typical Hawkeye foe, but I think their abilities should match up for a good throw-down.

Again, this is clearly a mystery that any hero could get thrown into, but Van Meter is doing a great job handling Hawkeye in this plot-based story.

Roger Robinson handles the art, and he's been a favorite of mine for years. The art is stunning, I just wish he could get more pages of Hawkeye in uniform!

The Avengers Academy back-up from Jim McCann and Clayton Henry is strong too, making this the rare worthwhile $3.99 purchase.

Good

Daredevil #5

2011-11-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

So five issues in, we know Mark Waid is going to dazzle us with great new uses of DD's powers (check), an interesting sub-plot with Matt's new client (check), and stunning art (thanks to Marcos Martin, check).

What I wasn't expecting was a corporate middle manager to actually be a likeable character. I wasn't expecting one of my favorite new villains in years. I mean, this guy is a cross between Bane and Booster Gold; Bruiser may be a bit of a silly name, but that luchadore mask can overcome just about any faults! And best of all, judging from Bruiser's hit list, this guy might be around for awhile. Heck, when we first see him, he's beating the snot out of Ox of the Enforcers. That's starting fairly high up the food chain! And again, I love DD's little comments during the fight, most especially when he "can't bridge out" of a wrestling hold. Awesome!

Martin's just another star in what is the best art team in comics. This book looks incredible each and every month. Somehow, Daredevil has become my favorite comic!

Excellent

Walking Dead #90 & Walking Dead on AMC

2011-10-31T16:23:00.000-05:00

At this point, what can I say? Robert Kirkman ties up a lot of the threads that were loose after the confrontations last issue, but no one is fooled into thinking the situation is much better. Rick is still close to losing it, as is most of his crew. There is still a ton of division in the Community, even if the first folks to cause problems might be calming down.

These issues are so important, because we need to see as many faces and personalities as we can. The zombies aren't as scary if we aren't concerned for the survivors, and Kirkman's last big kill-off narrowed our cast significantly. I do like getting to meet more folks in the Community. Where's Eugene been hanging out? Surely that tubby voyeur is up to something?

I also figured I'd weigh in on the Walking Dead TV show. Three episodes in, and it is just as uneven as last year. I find the characterization of the ladies on the show to be quite weak, with Andrea and Lori being just about total whiners. Maybe I wouldn't care if I didn't know how tough Andrea is in the comics, but seeing her whine and cry those suicidal arguments makes it difficult to like her. Dale and Glenn are steady, of course, but they really haven't had much to do. I love Darryl, the redneck exterminator. That dude is in a different show than everyone else; you can just watch Norman Reedus having fun thunking those CGI arrows. Maggie is another character with a ton of potential. I like how she's tougher on the show than in the comic. (My wife was immediately amused at her pairing up with Glenn.)

My main problem with the show is still with the core three characters. Rick is still to reactionary and frankly, weak. He took some strong action to save Sophia is episode 1, but even then he didn't really have the group too prepared. Shane tried to rape Lori last season, and she justifiably told him to stay away from her and her family. Makes sense. So why is she chiding him for his distance from Carl and then asking him to stick around? It's crazy. She knows what a loose cannon he is, and Shane's actions this week certainly won't endear him to the viewers. I feel like they can't quite decide who Shane is, a good guy making tough choices or a total scumbag. At this point, I don't see how the scales could come out with anything but "scumbag."

The zombie scenes are still fun, even though many of the tight spots the survivors get in is due to their own poor planning. Shane's lack of an escape plan from the medical trailer... seriously? Just thought you'd walk right out of there, huh?

The show is still exciting and fun to watch, I just don't want it to become "24" fun to watch, where I laugh at the characters and their motivations even as I enjoy the adrenalin-boosting scenes.

Comic - Good
TV show - Fair

She-Hulks TPB

2011-10-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

I really, really want to love this book. I’m a big She-Hulk fan, and while I don’t love “Savage” quite as much, the idea of the two She-Hulks teaming up to hunt down criminals certainly has potential. Unfortunately, this trade was just ok, as it never quite met its potential.

Harrison Wilcox chooses to spend more time with Lyra the “Savage” She- Hulk getting adjusted to school, which I suppose is fine, but I really came to the book looking for the Jennifer Walters version. It was a nice move having Walters hook up with Wyatt Wingfoot again, they are a good couple, but I didn’t care for the fact that the two ladies spend so much time shopping and spending Bruce Banner’s money (and trying to be sneaky about it).

The story is a bit stronger when it comes to the villains. Letting the She-Hulks take down so many villains in so few issues (Trapster, Red Ghost, Wizard, and more) is a pretty good win record. And it does make sense that Jennifer Walters would be good at this sort of thing, being a former bail bondsman. It’s just that I like her better as a lawyer.

Ryan Stegman’s art is fun and cartoony, and he certainly does enjoy drawing pretty ladies (a requirement for this book). His Red Ghost is a bit weird, but I loved his take on the Wizard. I also dig the way Savage always looks like a maniac whenever she gets in a fight, a nice contrast with Jennifer Walters.

Fair

Heroes for Hire: Control TPB

2011-10-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

"Hello hero. This is Control. Are you for hire tonight?" I love that opening scene, mostly because artist Brad Walker does a great job flashing back to The Warriors, that sweet gang movie from the '70s. I never would have thought to put Misty Knight in this sort of role, but she does really well with it.

Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are well-known for their cosmic stories these days, but their street-level kung-fu is strong too. Rather than put together an odd crew of street level heroes and making them into a regular team, this title actually only has two characters appear every issue. Misty Knight is Control, drafting heroes in the Marvel U, using money or the mission to inspire action. The cast is pretty varied, and they never actually show up and work together as a unit. Paladin is a bit more heroic in his portrayal here, but he's still got that mercenary streak. Moon Knight, Elektra, and Silver Sable show up for some money too, but Ghost Rider, Falcon, and Black Widow are all inspired by the mission rather than a pay-off. Iron Fist and Punisher show up too, but they don't get recruited quite the same way...

As we expect from DnA, the book is filled with off-the-wall ideas (like soul-powered rifles) and old characters we haven't seen in awhile. I particularly enjoyed seeing Silver Sable again, she's a neat character who doesn't get much time in the sun.

And who could complain about the secret villain pulling everyone's strings? I half-thought this guy was dead, I thought he bought it in Ms. Marvel's book a few years ago, but I'm not going to complain. He's a great villain and he's creepy and effective in this title.

Brad Walker doesn't get to do the whole book, but the chapters he handles look fantastic. If you like the idea of Moon Knight versus a raptor, this is the book for you, cause it looks every bit as good as you'd hope. Robert Atkins handles some art too, and he's fine, but after Walker's brilliant pages, it's a rough comparison.

Good

Secret Avengers: Mission to Mars TPB

2011-10-28T07:55:00.000-05:00

Explain to me why the "covert" team of Avengers is going on the most classic-style adventure of any of the Avengers titles? Using the classic Marvel serpent crown? It's a secret team yet it stars a bulkier Iron Man, Lady Thor, and a blue furry cat-man. Am I the crazy one here?

Don't get me wrong, these aren't complaints. I'm thrilled that Ed Brubaker put together this well-rounded team of heroes and set them off after the storied serpent crown. I would have loved for Nova to have a bigger role on the team; as it is, he botches one mission then jets back off for the Thanos Imperative. It's too bad, Richard Ryder would be a good fit on the Avengers, I just think Brubaker probably didn't need all that firepower. Brubaker has his big guns covered with Valkyrie (Mike Deodato likes her big guns too. War Machine brings a lot of muscle too, although I'm not a huge fan of "angry" War Machine, even though that's how Jim Rhodes was portrayed in his most recent series.

The more espionage-y members fill out the roster nicely. Ant-Man is the new Hawkeye, trying to prove his worth while still retaining his silliness. Black Widow is Steve Rogers' right-hand gal in the field, while Sharon Carter fills that role at home. Moon Knight is crazy, but there isn't really time for his madness to manifest in these pages, he does a good job of staying on task and doing his job. I loved how Mike Deodato took Moonie's cowl off on the space-suit version of the costume.

Deodato's art is always dynamic and fun, the guy draws great explosions. He also gets to draw some titanic chests on Valkyrie, Sharon Carter, and Black Widow. Seriously, I think Val might be able to open doors from a few feet away. At least all three get to kick a lot of butt, so they aren't just pin-ups in the book. I also loved Deodato's space-costumes for the team. Steve Rogers, Moon Knight, and Black Widow were especially cool.

This feels more like "classic" Avengers than most anything published recently. A good trade for those who miss the madness of 1980's Marvel.

Good

Aquaman #2

2011-10-27T07:59:00.000-05:00

Goodness, these 20 page comics feel awfully short, don't they? I even like the use of dramatic splash pages, but when there are only 20 pages total, losing 4 or 5 to splashes kind of stinks. I enjoyed this issue, but it was over very quickly.

I actually like the way Geoff Johns is filling out Aquaman's world. Mera seems kinder and more interested in AM than I can remember ever seeing; it's nice seeing them as an almost contented couple. I mean, when we jump in on them this issue, they are looking through old photo albums together! Mera can still kick butt as needed too, her water-manipulation powers are put to good use when she finally gets some monsters to fight towards the end of the issue.

Teh Trench are a lot of fun, with hunger seeming to be their main motivator. The idea of each fish-man being able to mark his own food is a novel idea too. I'm not sure I buy that such a huge force of first responders would miss a boat full of carniverous fish-men, but it certainly makes for a dramatic scene.

Ivan Reis is doing a great job on art, he's become remarkably consistent. I really like the subtle differences in faces amongst his cast. I'm going to need a bit more differentiation on the Trench, though. I get that the one guy has some sort of weird spikes, but that's not much individuality to go on.

Good (but not a great value, I have to say)

Captain America Corps #5

2011-10-26T09:54:00.001-05:00

While I enjoyed this series overall, the conclusion is a bit too filled with cosmic mumbo jumbo.

The book opens with another neat shift in reality where we see the Beast mutate to his furry form and Ulysses Bloodstone turn into a skeleton (time to re-read Bloodstone Hunt!). I'm not sure the narration boxes were entirely necessary, surely most readers could get the reality shift idea without that level of explanation?

I'm also a bit confused why Roger Stern included Hank Pym and the Tony Stark brain elements of the story. The two characters never really do much, and everything wraps up quite nicely without them ever justifying their page count. Was this supposed to be a six issue series and it got cut?

The story really ends when Cap allows himself to be merged with one of the alternate Caps kidnapped earlier in the series. It seems they've been stored in a cosmic cube, and all Cap needed to do was let himself merge with one to restore all the alternate Caps to their own realities. Uhh, what?

I love the idea of a Cap Corps, but what did the group really accomplish by the end of this series? Too bad these guys aren't contemporaries in the Marvel U, because the group works well together. American Dream in particular would be a fun character to keep around.

Phil Briones' art has tightened up as the series went on. By the time this issue wraps up, he's almost looking Rik Levins-ish, giving the whole project a nice "classic Cap" feel.

Average

Green Lantern Corps #2

2011-10-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Nah, this shouldn't be bloody at all...

Peter Tomasi loves his blood and guts, but he keeps most of his ultra-violence confined to his namesake Green Lantern in this second issue of GLC. Unlike the first issue, the Corps is actually competent enough to arrive in time to fight off some of the crazy murderers from issue one. And this time, the whole planet isn't quite dead yet. I love that kind of competence in my heroes!

Tomasi does a great job giving each of the GLs a voice. We certainly don't spend as much quality time with John Stewart or Guy Gardner, but we get more dialogue from Hannu, Isamot, and the sheriff GL (there's one more, but I just call him "shoulder pads, he's the one who'll die in this story). Actually, I don't like sheriff GL's chances either, she has casualty written all over her, too.

Fernando Pasarin doesn't have much to do with the faceless mass of "will-killers" so he makes up for it with the GLs. They all look unique; I love his T-Rex-looking Isamot. And the constructs work nicely too. It makes sense that when Hannu actually has to use his ring, he just makes a big Hannu. I like that kind of simple-minded ring-slinging! The detail on every page is just wonderful, I think I might have to try and buy a piece of this original art if I can find it.

Good

Batman #2

2011-10-24T12:01:00.001-05:00

Is it just me, or do these new 52 titles feel really short? It just seems like very little happens every month, and each of these titles takes less than 5 minutes to read. I didn't think I'd be veering back towards trades so soon, but I may have to; I just can't justify these 20 page comics!

I actually like Scott Snyder's second issue, it's got a lot of fun Bat-moments mixed up in his greater plot. The book opens with a great helicopter chase where Bats is in pursuit on some elevated train tracks. This is great high-concept stuff, this whole sequence belongs in a movie. Greg Capullo knocks it out of the park, too, especially the moment where Batman yanks one of the crooks out through the chopper window.

All of Capullo's faces seem a bit too young. It makes the scene on Gotham Tower a bit strange, because I'm not sure how old Bruce Wayne is supposed to be in relation to the not-at-all suspicious Lincoln March. I'm sure Lincoln is just a nice, trustworthy addition to Gotham high society, not a new villain at all (wink wink). I mean, these guys look like clones of each other!

The brutal fist-fight is neat. Snyder fills the narration boxes with details about Batman's fighting style, pointing out that he has to fight as Bruce Wayne and make his hits look lucky. It's a great detail in an issue full of them. The other highlight is, of course, the whole deal with Nightwing's alibi for last issue's murder.

If you like Batman, you can't go wrong with this comic.

Good

GI Joe vol 5 TPB

2011-10-23T08:00:00.002-05:00

I’ve got a bit of a problem here. I always like Chuck Dixon’s work, and I want to support this book, but why would I read about a re-booted and re-imagined GI Joe team when Larry Hama is doing such a kick-butt job on the Real American Hero title?

This trade is advertised as the concluding chapter of the “first story” in Dixon’s run on the title, and all that makes me think is “wow, this has been pretty slow.” It has been around 25 issues to see Cobra set up the Mass Device and get it working, and then Snake Eyes and Helix promptly wreck the plan in two issues. I’m not a ninja fan to begin with, so making those two cool kids the heroes who get the win annoys me. I was hopeful when the original strike team was put together (including Cover Girl, Low Light, and Flint) but then it all comes down to ninjas. Hooray.

The pacing seems very confused here too. Why have all those issues with the Joes capturing a Viper, then set that guy up in jail to get info, when it all didn’t matter anyway? The Joes just jumped back to the Mass Device anyway! I’ve got to think the more driven GI Joe: Cobra title’s big conclusion shook up the plot for this book. Frankly, this core title needed the kick in the pants. The opening story had drawn out way too long, with way too many side-missions and quests leading up to the Joes even discovering Cobra exists.

I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the next chapter of the rebooted GI Joe universe. I’m very interested in the Cobra in-fighting for leadership, and maybe this will kick the pacing in this book into higher gear. But at this point, I want to see some good reviews, because as I said, the Real American Hero title is scratching my GI Joe itch.

Robert Atkins is back on art for this whole trade, and I’m glad. His figures can be a tad stiff, but he’s fantastic at modernizing the classic figures’ looks. I still say that the Joes spend too much time in generic, matching clothing. With a few exceptions, I can’t tell the characters apart without their distinctive outfits. (That’s been one of my main complaints about this series for years.)

Fair

Secret Avengers #16

2011-10-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Is it me, or is Moon Knight a bit off this issue? It's not that I don't like it, Warren Ellis sets up a neat situation that would fit in nicely in Planetary or Global Frequency, then sends in a fast-talking bunch of Avengers to deal with it. It just seems a bit like this is Ellis' idea of how these particular Avengers act, rather than what they actually do.

Now I haven't read any other issues of Secret Avengers, but Moon Knight isn't super-strong, right? He can't crash through the hood of a car and not get hurt, correct? And can he fly now? He certainly does it a lot this issue.

Cap gets a weird little gun that shoots knockout razors. I think it's a funny affectation for non-lethal methods considering how the story ends, but it does make sense. Steve Rogers doesn't go out of his way to kill anyone.

The Beast sounds great; he's intelligent and smart-alecky at the same time. I loved the reaction shots of his teammates as he lectures them about the villain.

Not surprisingly, Ellis' best take is on the Black Widow. She's confident and capable, but there is a fun side to her in this issue that I found quite enjoyable. Who knew she loved muscle cars?

Jamie McKelvie is ready to make the switch to super-hero comics. The action looks great and he even makes the generic Secret Empire thugs look interesting. Get this guy a regular gig!

Good

Avengers #18

2011-10-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

So as I reshuffle my sublist, I figured it was time to check back in with Brian Michael Bendis' Avengers. It's funny, I complained yesterday about Justice League's brevity and splash pages, but this issue is worse. There is a lot more action in DC's flagship title too, although I do get that this is a breather issue between storylines.

One thing that became immediately obvious is that I really do like the Marvel U more than DC. It was refreshing to see Iron Man, Captain America, Spider-Man, Ms. Marvel, and the rest of the gang, even if they were just standing around at a party. I didn't read Fear Itself, so I'm lost on what exactly happened, but it seems rough. I love how Bendis writes Spidey in these maudlin circumstances. His Spidey is always joking and making light of the problem, even in inappropriate situations like this. Luke Cage doesn't get much panel time, but Bendis has a great handle on him too.

The bulk of the issue deals with the aftermath of big Marvel events. Bendis is fascinated with people holding the Avengers responsible for the actions of all heroes. The SHIELD agent who anchors the book doesn't say much, but when she does speak, she sure sounds like Wonder Man did in that preview for the New Avengers annual.

Daniel Acuna's art is still an inspiration to me. I absolutely love his fusion of Jack Kirby and Alex Ross. I even like that stupid new Hawkeye outfit!

So yeah, if this was $2.99, I'd definitely stick around to see the new HAMMER alliance. That group of villains at the close looks great! But $3.99 for 20 pages? With 6 spashes? (And a ton of dialogue-less pages too.) I can't do it.

Fair