As all of you knew assuredly, yesterday brought a bevy of titles into readers hands for the low, introductory price of nothing. It was Free Comic Book Day after all, and there were many great entries from many great publishers. We’ve got reviews of those titles coming in over the weekend from the hard working Multiversity writing staff. Keep coming here for more as we get them!
Reviews are after the jump!
Iron Man/Thor
Written by: Matt Fraction
Illustrated by: John Romita, Jr.
Reviewed by: Walter Richardson
I’ll be honest, I will purchase anything with the names “Iron Man” and “Matt Fraction” on them. Luckily, I didn’t even have to buy this one! This issue was an excellent example of the “one and done” style of storytelling. All that is needed to approach this issue is a basic familiarity with the characters, particularly with Iron Man, and you can bet that Marvel was banking on this to pull in new readers alongside the release of Iron Man 2.
As a whole, this book was just really fun. Fraction’s voice for Tony Stark is excellent as always, and his Thor is equally entertaining. The overall tone of the book reminds me of the Iron Man films, with wonderfully done action scenes and witty dialogue. Just like the movie, though, there’s not much more than that. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, especially in a one shot! I will say, the issue is somewhat preachy, but not enough to be truly bothersome. Besides, if the story is good I can look past a little bit of preaching. Between this and Civil War, though, it seems Tony isn’t quite familiar with due process.
I know I shouldn’t be too picky about free comics, but I had one problem with this issue: the art. It wasn’t necessarily bad, but I’ve just never really gotten why John Romita Jr. receives so much love. His usual issues of proportion and such that I get critical about were nowhere near as pronounced in this issue, but for a guy who gained his popularity drawing Iron Man, I just don’t like how he draws the new suit. I suppose I’m just being fickle, though.
Overall, this was another enjoyable title by Matt Fraction. With this being out near the release of Iron Man 2, and Fraction’s Invincible Iron Man starting a new chapter, I’m sure Marvel has gotten a couple new readers with this one.
Final Verdict: 7.9 – I would get it even if it wasn’t free!
Atomic Robo/Neozoic/Box 13 – Red 5 Sampler
Written by: Brian Clevinger, Paul Ens, and David Gallaher
Illustrated by: Scott Wegener, J. Korim, and Steve Ellis
Reviewed by: David Harper
Atomic Robo comics are starting to become a bit of a tradition for Free Comic Book Day, and in many ways, it’s the perfect book for FCBD. I really don’t know how someone can pick up this FCBD issue in which Robo and a squad of Tesla’s Action Scientists take on a legion of fearsome giant chickens and NOT want to immediately buy every single trade that exists. Brian Clevinger and Scott Wegener manage to put all of the things we’ve come to love from Robo in this short story: snark, action, technobabble, surprises (what the giant chicken does with Robo is glorious, to say the least), and just a ton of fun. This is a gem of a story, and I’d buy it if I had to.
Incredibly enough, as big of a fan of Atomic Robo I am, I don’t read any other Red 5 books. That’s kind of astounding, but I may have to remedy that problem as I really enjoyed the samples from Neozoic and Box 13 that were included.
I’d actually already ready the section of Box 13 that was included and had already planned on picking up the print release when it comes in May, but for those that haven’t, you probably understand why I would. David Gallaher and Steve Ellis are a very good team, and with the initial 8 page sample of Box 13 they draw the reader in very quickly with a tightly paced and incredibly intriguing story about a writer who may be getting too close to the truth of the MKULTRA project. For fans of High Moon, this title’s appeal is obvious, but for those that haven’t read it you get a really good feel for what this team does so well.
Continued belowNeozoic was something entirely new to me, but I have to admit, the introduction to this book was a really appealing one. I have no idea if this is a reprinted sampler or something entirely new, but this book posits a world where dinosaurs never went extinct and humanity is tenuously hanging on as a viable species. The little bit Ens and Korim give us is intriguing and attractive, mostly because of the superb action sequences and the quick but alluring character work. This is now something that I’ll check out, sooner rather than later.
All in all, this was a nice pack of samples from Red 5, and a really good indicator of the uniform quality they’ve been producing over the past few years.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy (FOR FREE!)
Doctor Solar/Magnus – Dark Horse Sampler
Written by: Jim Shooter
Illustrated by: Dennis Calero, Bill Reinhold
Reviewed by: David Harper
Growing up, I was a fan of Valiant Comics. Most of their universe was developed in the old Gold Key Comics, but they had a ton of great characters like Doctor Solar, Magnus Robot Fighter, and Harbinger. While that publisher folded fairly quickly, their effect on me held over the years. To see Dark Horse bringing them back starting with this FCBD offering was a real treat, and something that has me very excited for their future.
Better yet? They brought back Jim Shooter to work on the characters he revived at Valiant. His grip hasn’t lessened, as both Doctor Solar and Magnus are just as cool as I remembered them…although Magnus’ story was significantly better. The future world of rampaging robots and the one man that can take them on is one of tremendous allure to me, and Shooter’s grip on it is strong. Some sections of both comics tend to the side of awkward and inorganic storytelling, but overall they’re fun.
My biggest issue with Shooter’s writing are things that just come across as unnatural at times, like the Dr. Manhattan esque Doctor Solar making random jokes in his internal dialogue while being completely stoic and icy besides that. Those jokes seemed to make no sense for the character, and it seemed like an odd leap for Shooter to take.
The artists involved are uniformly superb though. Those that don’t know Dennis Calero need to get out there and pick up his work because the man is a star. His style is perfect for the god like Doctor Solar, and he ably renders the action in a way that makes even the more outlandish events seem real and tangible.
Bill Reinhold is not someone I was familiar with before this book, but he really took a hold on me immediately. I think it’s his Guy Davis like style and his real imagination for this bizarre, dystopian future. Anything that draws my mind to Davis’ work is a real bonus, and Reinhold has a perfect look and feel for this title.
Artistically speaking, this book was pretty much dead on. However, I did have issues with the writing at times. Nothing that killed the comic though, as I will still be picking up both of these titles at launch. It did a great job of drawing me in as a reader and getting me excited for these books.
Final Verdict: 7.2 – Buy (when they come out)
