It’s another week, and you know what that means! More comics! It’s just Matt and I this week, so we both have not 4, not 5, but six book reviews for your enjoyment. I know YOU’RE psyched! Especially for my books! Becaue my books are totally better than Matt’s. Totally.
0: Uwe Boll will direct the adaptation of this comic
0.1 – 1: Burn upon touching
1- 1.9: Abysmal
2.0 – 2.9: Art. Writing. Editing. All bad.
3.0 – 3.9: You’d be a masochist to pick this up.
4.0 – 4.9: “I’ll give it another month…but that was not good.”
5.0 – 5.9: “Really? The Watcher? In the face? I guess it was fun.”
6.0 – 6.9: “Hmm. That was decent.”
7.0 – 7.9: Well made but a few problems
8.0 – 8.9: Nearly flawless
9.0 – 9.9: Outstanding
10: Perfection. Issue of the year contender
Scarlet #2
Written by: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
Art by: ALEX MALEEVFrom the Eisner award-winning team that brought you Daredevil, Halo, and the Avengers comes another startling new chapter in their first ever creator owned series.
You’ve met Scarlet and now you know who she is and what she wants… the world is a corrupt, broken place and she is going to fix it. But how far is she willing to go? She is talking revolution right here in the United States!! But where does one start such a thing?
What an issue. Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev’s creator owned epic continued, and let me tell you, it really picked up. I’ve loved this book since the debut, but this one really took it up a notch. Here we were thrust right into the story about Scarlet and her quest to save the world after such a terrible traumatic experience with a dirty cop.
Bendis is as of late known for his superhero fare like Ultimate Spider-Man and his plethora of Avengers work. But he got his start in crime comics, and he really seems to be back in his element (not to say he’s not doing really well on his mainstream Marvel work). The story is told in a really innovative manner, with her telling the story in first person dialogue as opposed to first person narrative. But even further than that, you live the moments as they happen. There was a beautiful page with her telling s how she coped with the death of her true love while she recuperated from the brain surgery that she needed after being shot the head. It all culminates is one of the most harrowing scenes when she confronts the officer who wronged her. The whole issue goes for the throat, and it had me from the first page.
And that’s not even talking mentioning Alex Maleev’s GORGEOUS artwork. Some people call his work too sketchy, but it really fits the tone of the book. Maleev, the co-creator of the book, is the perfect person to handle the pencils. Even if he didn’t co-create it, I can’t think of a single person who could match Bendis’ words this closely. It’s dirty, just like the story, and I couldn’t be happier.
I really can’t wait to see how this story unfolds, as it’s the best new book I’ve read since Chew.
Final Verdict: 9.0 – Buy
Wolverine #1
Written by JASON AARON
Penciled by RENATO GUEDES
Covers by JAE LEE, STEVE MCNIVEN, PAUL SMITH, and MARKO DJURDJEVICWolverine’s soul gets sent straight to hell…literally! However, while Wolverine’s soul is in Hell, his body is terrorizing all that are close to him. This September, Wolverine #1 delivers Logan doing what he does best, in true Wolverine fashion. And what he does best is not very nice.
There’s another new Wolverine ongoing that hit the stands this week! That’s what…the fifth one in the past five years? Sometimes it feels that way. But how good was this one?
Continued belowWell, I’m not one to go out of my way to pick up a Wolverine book, but it’s another one written by Jason Aaron, so how could I turn it down? Well I’m glad I didn’t because this was a solid relaunch for one of Marvel’s most popular characters. Logan waxes philosophic with his old buddy John Wraith about faith and the evils they’ve done.
In a twist to the narrative, Wolverine is not the one “telling” the story. It’s told from the perspective of two people, his old buddy, the Reverend John Wraith (you heard me, Reverend) and Logan’s girlfriend Melita who works as a reporter in San Francisco. The story from Wraith’s end is a little sluggish, but it ends in a bloodbath that you’re not likely to walk away from with a smile. Melita’s story is one that reminded me of Terminator 2 with a savior you’re not likely to expect. Why they showed up to help Logan of all people is anyone’s guess, but I’m hooked to see why they’re there.
One misstep felt like it was the art. While it was nice, I don’t think it was necessarily the best fit for the story Aaron is trying to tell. It’s a little too bright, and some of the weapons used were a little hokey. There was a gunblade ala Final Fantast VIII, and I’m still trying to figure out how the thing actually fires a bullet. If someone can clue me in, I’d greatly appreciate it.
Possibly the best thing about the issue though was the Silver Samurai back up. Silver Samurai was always a fascinating character to me. And adding more to the character is definitely something I want more of. Great stuff. Will this cross over into the main story? I hope so!
This was a solid read; I’m just wondering why another Wolverine relaunch was necessary. One thing I see in the near future is a Wolverine renumbering. I don’t even know how many books Wolvie’s been in since he first launched in the 80’s. I’m guessing somewhere upwards of 300. That’s a lot of Logan.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy
Brightest Day #9
Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK and JOE PRADO
Covers by DAVID FINCH and IVAN REISThe resurrected have discovered their purpose for being back, but where will the knowledge lead them? Who is the new Aqualad? And what strange event is taking place around the White Power Battery in New Mexico?
In a drastic change from the previous issues, this time we had a smaller focus of the characters appearing in the book. Instead of the 3 or 4 stories that don’t really intertwine at all, they only had two! And better still, they focused on the one in which I’m most invested. That’s right, this one is almost all Martian Manhunter, as implied by the standard cover! And if you notice the second cover, the other is focused on Aquaman and Aqualad! Awesome stuff. No HawkAvatars and no Firestorm (who’s been curiously missing as of late), which has been kind of a relief.
And indeed the focus really helped the narrative, as instead of several stories running at once and not really going anywhere, we had two stories that made solid progression and were actually a blast to read! The book really has finally hit its stride. Martian Manhunter, the Aquafamily, and Deadman are the anchors of this book, and if it weren’t for them, the book would not be worth reading at all.
The art took a step up too. The cohesiveness of having two artists as opposed to 5 really helps it stick together so to speak. Patrick Gleason and Ivan Reis along with Joe Prado really complement each other in odd ways and it makes the book really stand out artistically.
The book keeps getting better. Check it out.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy
Superman: Last Family of Krypton #2 (of 3)
Written by CARY BATES
Art by RENATO ARLEM
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERAThe second chapter in the saga of the sole survivors of Krypton finds the entire El family adapting to their new home on Earth with varying degrees of success. Young Kal-El’s become a reporter at the great Metropolitan newspaper The Daily Planet, while Jor-El clearly favors the company of the boy-genius Lex Luthor. Meanwhile, Lara’s charity work covers many bases including a fateful meeting with the wealthy family that runs the Wayne Foundation. It seems the two new El family members, Bru-El and Valora, are the only ones struggling to fit in, even though they’re the first Els born on Earth…
In an Elseworlds tale from DC Comics, this tells the story positing the idea that the entire El family might have evacuated Krypton when it exploded. In it, Jor-El leaves his large mark on the world and the family as a whole becomes the most famous family in the world.
The shame is that it’s dreadfully boring. The book just kind of moves along with dialogue heavy in the panels. Imagine Bendis at his WORDIEST. And then multiply it by three. It’s so dreadfully boring. The most interesting idea is that Kal-El might have had twin siblings. But they are somehow “half-super” because they were born on Earth instead of Krypton. It was explained, albeit poorly.
The art even suffers. You saw me love the Alex Maleev art to pieces in the Scarlet review, but here, the person seems to have drawn a ripoff of his work and it just doesn’t work.
This short review can be summed up in a few words: It’s a book full of wasted potential. It could have been so much, but instead falters to near unreadable status. Pass on this unless you REALLY love The Big Blue Boy Scout.
Final Verdict: 3.5 – Pass
I, Zombie #5
Written by CHRIS ROBERSON
Art and Cover by MICHAEL ALLREDIn the search for Dead Fred’s killer, Gwen Dylan has learned more than she bargained for and discovers that she’s been wrong about a great many things. Now she finds herself faced with a choice: risk losing all that she is, or become a real monster. As if that weren’t enough, a confrontation with one of the fearless monster hunters leads in unexpected directions. And what about Spot the were-terrier, Ellie the ghost-girl, and Claire the vampire? All this and more in the conclusion of iZOMBIE’s debut arc.
I love Mike Allred. I’ve been a fan of his ever since X-Force, and while I’ve never read Mad Man (something I’m working to correct as soon as possible, believe me.), I’m always excited about new projects of his, including this one. But for a while, the book didn’t really go anywhere, and I was losing interest. I kept on going due to my love for the art.
Thankfully that loyalty paid off. The story has taken a bent into the mythological, explaining the existence of all the supernatural beings roaming the Earth, from Gwendolyn to her friend the Were-Terrier. It’s a breath of fresh air, giving a dose of seemingly real mythology to an otherwise tired genre.
But that was last issue. While this issue was more of a character piece, with Gwen reacting to the revelations from the last issue, including the one about the boy she likes. He’s a monster hunter, don’t you know! There wasn’t much plot development here, but with the recent developments, I actually care what is going on in Gwen’s head after such heavy realizations.
But to top it all off, there’s Mike Allred’s art. I can’t ever criticize it. His art, along with Dale Eaglesham are somehow both the spiritual successors to the throne of Jack Kirby. You can see the influences of The King in both of their highly disparate art. Whereas Eaglesham’s art shows the grand scope of comics, Allred is the beautiful pop art that has that timeless feel, even when there are brains and viscera all over the panel. It’s disarming and disturbing, simultaneously.
Continued belowShould you be reading this book? Of course you should. It’s the exact opposite in every way to The Walking Dead aside from quality and fun. Pick this up if you like horror, comedy and angst.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – Buy
Jonah Hex #59
Written by JUSTIN GRAY & JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and cover by JORDI BERNETThis one’s got it all: Classic HEX foe The Gray Ghost! Gunfights! The dust storm to end all dust storms! Lovers on the run! Jealous brothers! Art by living legend Jordi Bernet! And, of course, the man himself — Jonah Hex!
A lot of times, comic fans discuss how to get new fans into comics. It’s a tough sell for some people though, because so much continuity is involved. Take any given marquee character, and they’re involved in this vast arcs that make it difficult to get into.
But then there’s Jonah Hex. Jonah Hex’s title runs a very welcome “one and done” series of stories, where you can pick up any one title of the book without any knowledge of the previous issues (58 in this case) to understand and enjoy the book and the character. This is the biggest strength of the book, but it’s also a bit of a weakness. The weakness is that it can be hard to care about the supporting characters because the only recurring character seems to be Jonah Hex himself. Without the characters for Jonah to interact with on a regular basis, sometimes it can be a little on the superficial side. But it’s still a lot of fun.
The art is something I’m not exactly the biggest fan of, but it certainly fits with the story. The book is a gritty western and the art matches that style in spades. Everything is rough and crosshatched, and everyone looks like they have a story to tell. It gives it a cohesive look and feel which is extremely appreciated.
Jonah Hex is that kind of book that makes it really easy to get into in the vein of Dini’s run on Detective Comics. Everything is fresh and new in every book. If anyone you know wants to read comics but hasn’t picked up a book yet.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – Buy
