It’s not the usual shtick, as you can see. I didn’t edit the panels at all. However, you will note that this is a) a preview of tomorrow’s Friday Rec and b) hilarious commentary on the act of comics coming out every Wednesday. So please sit back and enjoy yet another Wednesday from us now that we are an official dot com! Stay tuned tomorrow as I reveal what this page is from (if you don’t know already).
MATT’S REVIEWS
Thor #603
Oh Thor. After repeated delays and pushbacks, we’re only a little bit closer to the finale by Babylon 5 scribe J. Michael Stracynski. It’s been an epic rebirth and rise of one of Marvel comics’ all time heroes, and it really gets better and better as it goes along. With only one issue left until Stracynski closes his story, I can say I’m pretty anxious.
However, this issue actually leaves me a little bit scared. Let’s face it, this run hasn’t really been that long. There is a LOT of unanswered questions, and we have one single issue left. Not only that, but from solicits we know that the adventures of Thor and the Asgardians in Latverian don’t end in this particular issue. In fact, there are so many unresolved plotlines that it stands to reason this story could go on for a while without Stracynski’s involvement. So what does that ultimately mean? Fear in my eyes. Remember that excellent run in Immortal Iron Fist penned by Brubaker and Fraction? Remember what came after it? It just didn’t match up at all. Sure it helped complete the story until the end of the volume, but it was nothing compared to everything that had been built up before. That’s kind of where this issue leaves off. The story is teetering on the edge of it’s own sanity, everything is about to break and fall apart, and there is just one single issue left before whatever Stracynski has left to tell us. The new writer, Kieron Gillen (writer of the previously recommended Phonogram) doesn’t seem like a bad replacement, but can’t the original writer just finish his own story?
These are all general complaints and concerns about the future. In actuality, the present isn’t bad. This issue was really good, on par with the rest of the series. I love how Stracynski writes Loki, and EVERYTHING done with that character for this entire run has been amazing. He’s just so caniving and perfect. The way he tricks everyone into doing what he wants is so well written that it really emphasizes that he is the trickster God. On top of that, Djurdjevic continues to do A+ artwork in the book. I’ve loved his work on the book since the very beginning and now is no different. Now that Loki is a man again, he’s looking particularly menacing and evil, and it’s pretty excellent. Djurdjevic just gets the world this story takes place in and he does it a perfect justice. It’s great.
Despite my love of the book, I can’t say now is a good time for people to jump in. With the writer switch coming soon and my beliefs on what this could mean, I’d say buy it only if you’ve always been with Thor. Otherwise, this is a browser.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’ve been buying, otherwise make sure to browse
Green Lantern #46
This is probably the only time you’ll ever read this phrase in my entire career as a “professional reviewer” of comic books: I didn’t love this issue. I know! Shocking, right? Normally I’m all about everything Green Lantern! This issue though… it just didn’t really hit me. A lot of interesting things happened, but this is probably the biggest tie-in issue of Green Lantern we’ve had since the start of Blackest Night. Sure, we had the prelude issue and the issue immediately after where Manhunter beats up Flash and Lantern, but this one is a little different. In general, I don’t like the way a lot of tie-ins work because, if you’re not reading them as they happen, getting into them later can be confusing, but I digress.
This issue focused heavily on Sinestro, something we haven’t had in a while but something that worked really well for the story. One of the biggest issues we had was that the whole Mongul angle in the Sinestro Corps was a huge loose end and Sinestro, being tied up elsewhere, had not been addressing it. This issue deals with that and a bit more as all things go to Hell on Zamaron and the Predator is unleashed. Well, that’s all fine and dandy but… it’s disjointed. You can only actually follow Green Lantern right now if you’ve been reading Blackest Night and while, let’s face it, everyone’s reading Blackest Night, it acts as an odd segue for the narrative. The jumping around doesn’t show Johns’ great ability at story telling that we normally receive and, essentially, Green Lantern has become Blackest Night left-over material so that the great scope of the story can be efficiently told.
This is good and bad at the same time. On the one hand, the epic scope of the Blackest Night is truly unbelievable. It’s kind of like how big Secret Invasion was in a sense, and how every book tackled a different subject of the Invasion. This focuses on the resurrection of all the dead heroes and what that means, which is just as important a subject as any because there are a lot of dead heroes (and villains). However, when you get an issue like this, it just kind of comes in at an awkward point, deals with an obtuse subject, and leaves. As we can see, issues of Green Lantern pick up not where they left off anymore. So what does the next issue hold? Don’t we jump in with Walker vs. Larfleeze? Or are we going to learn more about Indigo? Initially I thought Green Lantern would act as a general companion piece to Blackest Night, but now it looks like just as important things happen in this book as do the event title. It is under these premises that I inform you you have to buy it, but I put my thumb to my nose and scowl a bit, and at the end of the day, AS HARD AS THIS IS TO TYPE AND PUBLISH, I have to say…
Final Verdict: Browse
Justice Society Of America #31
I’m torn on Justice Society of America. On one hand, I really love the team. I fell in love with the book during Johns’ run. I got really excited when I heard that the Fables team was coming to the book to helm the next big run of the title. As we’re three issues in, though, I can’t really say anything in it really excites me. That’s increasingly unfortunate.
For one, I don’t really like Magog. I liked him for what he was in Johns’ run, and I thought the whole Thy Kingdom Come story was great, but right now Magog only acts as an annoyance to the team. He spouts off and causes disruption and angst among the members. I also think that King Chimera is a terrible addition to the team. What it appears Willingham and Sturges are trying to do is just upset the simple harmony that was the JSA. Now everyone is questioning everything, “Why are we letting everyone in?” “What are the qualifications for being on this team?” Who cares! Ok, I will admit that this team has grown INSANELY large to the point where it’s absolutely insane (there’s one shot where the entire team is crammed into one tiny panel that blew my mind) but the last thing we need is more disruption to the balance of their family.
I do like the way the villain is being brought around. It reminds me of what was done in Fables, how we just had this mysterious “Adversary” who everyone rallied against or behind without an identity. The mystery of that is very wonderfully intriguing, and I keep thinking of who would actually be this hostile against the JSA (yet not Stargirl?). I’ve gotta say that this part is written wonderfully, and I love all these second rate villains who I can’t even name appearing who are (assumedly) behind someone huge. That keeps me going.
Continued belowOther than that, though, I’ve gotta say this book has lost a lot of steam in my eyes. What once was this really great and fun team book has now turned into a bit of a mess in my opinion. Especially now that Starman isn’t a member of the group, I’d have to say this book is a,
Final Verdict: Browse
X-Factor #49
Review pending, check back soon!
Gotham City Sirens #4
Remember when I said there was a reason to pick up Gotham City Sirens? Remember when I said Paul Dini was such a great writer that yo could assume he knew what he was doing when he decided to write a book starring Harley Quinn, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy as heroes? Remember any of that? Not really? Ok. Well. I chose Gotham City Sirens this week for a very special reason, and that’s because I wanted to be the one to review something that every Batfan surely wants – the return of the Joker. That’s right. The Clown Prince of Crime is back in Dini’s book, and it’s the one pretty much no one is buying!
I can’t say I blame them. From the outside looking in, it doesn’t appear that there is much to the book that is actually attractive. I mean, it’s a bat book starring bat female villains no one is really into. But you have to look at the cover. It says Paul Dini right there. Come on now!
As far as the return of the most infamous Batman villain of all time, I’ve gotta say that ostensibly I approve. In fact, I like this Joker much more than Morrison had portrayed him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong supporter of Morrison’s entire run and I think all the work he did with the character is amazing. The way the Joker “died” at the end was very up in the air, and I wasn’t quite sure how he’d come back, but it looks like Joker has reinvented himself once again and is back to the more humorous big death scheme and balloon with his face on it antics that we’re used to from days of old. What I love most about it is that when I read the Joker’s lines in this book, I literally hear Mark Hammil’s voice. It’s quite amazing. Dini has brought back the Joker I vastly prefer (the light hearted insane guy) rather then play to everyones need for dark insanity, and put his face on a super death balloon where it belongs. Excellent form.
However, this week I have to complain about the art. Guillem March has been doing the art for all four books, and for the most part I see his competition as David Nguyen (the artist for the other Dini book, Streets of Gotham). March has big shoes to go up against and he just doesn’t really hit the spot. His art is somewhat sloppy at times and lacks the crispness of Nguyen. It’s not terrible to look at, but previous issues definitely looked better than this. One scene in particular comes to mind, and that’s when the Joker is sneaking up on Harley in the Jokermobile, and Harley looks awful while the approaching car looks great. It’s an odd mix.
Either way, I like the book. It’s not the best, but it’s certainly better than most. I can read an issue and be highly entertained by it, and this is a prime example of when and why. Dini’s call back to classic days of batlore make me happy, and I couldn’t think of a better man to bring back the Joker right now.
Final Verdict: give it a shot, at the very least in trade
DAVID’S REVIEWS
Thunderbolts #136
Andy Diggle’s extraordinarily poorly matched team continues their intensely dysfunctional hijinks this month, this time to a greater degree as the entire team now comes to blows for the first time. Over what? Over the execution of Songbird and Black Widow, prisoners of Osborn and perceived enemies of the “state” (state being in quotations because of Osborn’s state being different than everyone else’s version). The dynamic on this team has always been an interesting one, as you can tell that everyone is playing the game for a different reason, but those reasons are even less clear than before after this issue.
Diggle really does an incredible job on this issue, as he realistically handles the conflict and the team interactions without getting rid of any dramatic tension. Of course, he may have used a overly easy way around the obvious problems the team was going to be facing (at a certain point, this seemed like it was the obvious end of the team), but the way he handled it and the character he used to deliver it made it seem far more believable than it should have been.
If there is one problem with this book, it is definitely the lack of a consistent artistic identity. Carlos Rodriguez, while doing a fine job here, doesn’t really provide the dynamic visuals we look for in such a stellar title. While Roberto de la Torre originally worked on this book with Diggle and was a perfect fit, he has since moved on to Diggle’s run on Daredevil. Another great fit, but one that is disappointing as Marvel has not been able to find a good artistic fit for this boo. Regardless, this is a continuing problem, but not one that is great enough to say that you shouldn’t pick this title up, month in and month out.
Final Verdict: Buy
Secret Warriors #8
As it has become obvious over the past few months that I am sort of in love with everything Jonathan Hickman touches lately, this issue once again brings out the awesomeness. We have the apparent return of a fallen Warrior, we have an awesome secret mission featuring Hellfire and newest member Eden, and we have the slick revelation of what really happens when Norman Osborn shoots Fury in the head. Let’s just say it isn’t what Osborn expected (or hoped) would happen.
Not only that, but Hickman really displays Phobos’ coming out party, as he brings the pain on this issue to the point his father Ares is nearly tearfully impressed. In the way the average father would look at his child as a success when he first walked or hit his first home run, this is the way Ares looks at Phobos as pretty much scares the living shit out of Osborn. Phobos has been one of the best revelations so far in this series, and his continual growth within the series has been a sight to see.
Allesandro Vitti continues his incredible Stefano Caselli impression (Marvel is getting really good at matching guest artists), as to the untrained eye, you could almost be convinced it was Caselli with a month break and no credits page. While he does a very good job, his darker and less stylized pencils are less my taste so I eagerly anticipate the return of Caselli. Regardless of who is on art, this is Hickman’s show, and what a damn good show it is.
Final Verdict: Buy
Runaways #14
Kathryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli’s run on this title have brought the Runaways and the fans back to the former glory of Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona’s historic run, as they brought us back to the basics and simply captured the spirit of all the characters. No more time traveling, no more ridiculous scenarios, just our beloved team on the run with their amazing frog ship.
Yet this issue, after all of the successes of their run so far, did not ring true. Why? Because it promised the return of our beloved Gert, yet not is all as it seems. This issue represents a lot of tumultuous changes, as there is a clear paradigm shift for the team and one of our beloved characters is terribly hurt, all represented very well by Immonen’s snappy writing and Pichelli’s picture perfect style for the style. Yet the Gert cover weighs heavily upon the issue, as her “appearance” may not be all it is cracked up to be.
While it’s another solid issue, the expectations outweigh the quality in this case. Unfair as it may be, that brings the issue as a whole down.
Continued belowFinal Verdict: Browse
Terry Moore’s Echo #15
Terry Moore is a wonderful creator, and Echo really displays all of his talents as both a writer and an artist. This issue finds Dylan, Pam and Julie finally meeting up, and then just as quickly they are found by Ivy (now on their side) and Professor Foster (decidedly not on their side). This of course leads to a huge showdown between Ivy and her former employer’s on the Phi Project, which goes…not well for the Phi Project. Turns out Ivy is a bit of a badass, as reflected by one hysterically gruesome shot within this issue.
Everything is rendered with Moore’s standard incredibly clean lined, sharply realistic artistic style. The guy has a real knack for handling extraordinary situations based in real life as well as anyone, both in the writing and artistically, and this issue shows that unique talent as well as any issue would.
Of course, now we get to the major problem of this series: the length of issues. The issues are incredibly quick reads and they come in at the slightly more expensive rate of $3.50. While the book is consistently wonderful, it is a bit frustrating to pay more for the perception of less content. Even though I love it and will continue to pick it up on an issue by issue basis, my verdict differs for the average reader as most have not been picking this one up.
Final Verdict: Wait for trade
Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man #4
Not that I’m an easy sell or anything, but any book that features Bullseye betting Daken that he can throw a toy poodle into Venom’s eye from 30 yards has to be pretty damn entertaining. Pretty damn entertaining really covers this series well, as it never was much more than fluff, but my god, Brian Reed and Chris Bachalo made that fluff remarkably fun to read.
This series follows Venom as Norman Osborn effectively titles him the protector of New York…but you know, as Spider-Man, not Venom. Of course, given that Mac Gargan is depraved and is possessed by the Venom symbiote, this ended up with Mac starting a gang war, getting a group of D-list villains after him, and him hooking up with (and possibly eating) many very lovely ladies. Evidently, in Brian Reed’s (and my) mind, the title Spider-Man could work as a great technique for picking up hot women, and we see that at great length here. I mean come on; the first page is Venom swinging through the air with three beautiful women attached to his web. Fannntastic.
Chris Bachalo was a great choice for this project, as it is all kinetic insanity and rich detail. If I could use five words to describe Bachalo’s style that would probably be it. Plus, evidently no one has depicted “dogs as weapons” this well since John McCrea on Hitman (of course that likely is because no one has done that since).
Final Verdict: Buy
GIL’S REVIEWS
Wolverine: Weapon X #5
Holy crap. What a splendid issue.
There’s not much to say about this arc but that it’s fantastic. And that’s coming from someone who’s not a fan of Wolverine.
The story is the best thing in which Wolverine can be involved. A wronged man by the government. Or rather, the wrong man to be wronged by the government. He’s pissed, and he’s not going to take it.
The story is very well told, with plenty of twists and turns, and even a hell of a reveal on the final page. Sure, it’s no She-Rulk, but it’s still fantastic. My eyes visibly widened when I saw that bastard.
The visuals are simply stunning, and also quite hilarious. There’s nothing like Wolverine taking an Apache Helicopter on an aircraft carrier, AND THE PEOPLE GETTING EATEN BY SHARKS.
Continued belowIn short, Matt was right. This is the only Wolverine series you should be reading. You know, exccept for the other books that inexplicably have a Wolverine guest spot.
Final Verdict: Buy the whole damn arc.
Hulk #15
Finally what I had been waiting for. No, not the reveal of who Rulk is. This whole arc is devoted to The Red-Hued Rampager trying to keep his identity a secret. This is the knockdown drag-out fight between Rulk’s mercenary team, and the Wetworks X-Force.
But it was a tad of a disappointment. The fight is way too short, and we only see short glimpses of each battle. There are some nice splash pages between Wolverine and Rulk, but that’s it.
With books like this, it’s easier to just turn the brain off and go for the ride. I’ve always known that this book wasn’t this ut it didn’t get the chance, with Rulk’s wordy inner monologue yammering on and on about how he hates Banner, and how he doesn’t like the abuse of power, and how easily you can be seduced by that kind of power. He even mentions that he used to “careen around the galaxy on a surfboard.”
WUT.
We also met the She-Rulk in the cliffhanger ending(sorry, spoiler!), and it was pretty off. I’m not even sure how she has those clothes on. Whatever. It’s a comic book. The art itself, provided by Ian Churchill is remarkably similar to Ed McGuinness’ art, which is welcome, and not at the same time. It feels like a cheap imitation, but at the same time, I don’t think there’s a style more suited for this book. Also, Elektra’s ugly.
Final Verdict: Somewhere between browse and pass.
X-Force #19
What a deceptive cover. I mean, it’s really well done, and it conveys the right emotions, but you never see Archangel in the entire issue, much less a shattered X-23. Most of my disappointment is that I love Warren Worthington III, and it would have been nice to see him in the issue is all. I can look past it though if the book were fun.
Thankfully, it is. At least, the parts with X-23 are. The pacing for the other half of the book is on the slow side, and it’s actually a bit jarring. But they’re clearly setting it up for the next arcs with Bastion being Bastion and the body of Destiny being unearthed. I just hope these are paid off sooner rather than later, and it’s not too much at the same time. It’s apparent that we’re setting up for Necrosha, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The art, is great as always. It’s really realistic and glossed. The action is REALLY well drawn, and it sucks you in. I jsut wish there were a bit more of it.
On a personal note, as a resident of the Bay Area, it’s really cool to see actual landmarks in the area actually get a mention. Sure they can say they’re in San Francisco, but the rest of the area can get ignored. It’s cool to see. Check it out. I might be waving in the background.(Only not really)
Final Verdict: Buy
Superman #692
Mon-El is dead.
such is the overarching premise of this issue. Or at least, it’s Guardian’s arc. He’s mourning the loss of his squadmate Jonathan Kent AKA Mon-El, and he reveals that fact to the entire squad. There are also a bunch of other scenes that are seemingly unrelated, but will hopefully be resolved by the end of the event.
The art is adequate, but nothing spectacular. The action is well rendered. It’s just the faces have odd expressions that confuse me.
There were some nice twists, like the appearance of a certain telepath from the future from Saturn. But since it’s so continuity heavy, take a look at it, and decide for yourself.
Continued belowFinal Verdict: Browse
Amazing Spider-Man #607
Ever since Mary Jane came back into the picture, it opened the flood gates of women problems coming back into Peter’s life. From Aunt May’s family to Black Cat. And the problems they cause make the freak of the week the B-plot. It’s really quite amazing(pun half intended) how Spider-Man’s life works out.
In this, Diablo, a character who can transmute materials into other materials is causing all sorts of havoc in town, robbing buildings, killing partners of Dexter Bennett, the usual. And aside from his hokey get up, he’s quite the effective villain.
The story, written by Joe Kelly, is a classic Spider-Man/Black Cat yarn. Their dynamic is always fun, and there are quite a few laugh out loud moments. The set up for the upcoming Gauntlet event is becoming clear, as the Kravinovs aren’t simply speaking with Chameleon, but every other Spidey-rogue it seems.
The art which was handled by both Melo and McKone, is quintessential ASM and it’s a lot of fun to just look at. But I think a lot of that is due to the ridiculosity of Diablo’s costume.
If you’re a fan of Spider-Man, you should definitely pick this up. Even try to catch up from #600.
Final Verdict: Buy
