This week we rage right through reviews of The Uncanny X-Force #1, Metalocalypse: Dethklok #1, SHIELD #4 and Wolverine #2, just narrowly avoiding a Marvel sweep. Plus the first edition of Josh’s Spins, where I detail the records that haven’t exited my head over the last 168 hours. So lets hit that rating chart!
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
HIT THE JUMP! HIT IT!
The Uncanny X-Force #1
Words by Rick Remender
Arting by Jerome Opena
It’s always funny when Marvel puts a giant PR push behind a book. It sets an absolutely unfair standard that few mainstream super hero books can live up to. Adding to that is the fact that this book ALREADY had some huge shoes to fill following up the greatness that was the Kyle/Yost run. That said, while this issue did not completely deliver, the seeds have been planted some goodness coming down the road.
The first thing I will fully admit is that my only interest in the book spawned from the characters Remender selected for his inaugural squad. When the initial relaunch was announced with only Wolverine revealed to be a member my gut instinct was to drop the book and be on my merry. However Wolverine, Psylocke, Fantomex, Archangel and Deadpool is just too insanely constructed of a line-up to not at least take for a test drive. Much like the “shouldn’t make sense but somehow works” current Thunderbolts line-up, this team plays off each other quite well, despite being borderline nonsensical.
One thing that stuck out to me was the character focused on the most in this issue, the one that also happens to be the least known member of the team: Fantomex. He was definitely given a large majority of the spotlight in terms of expositional dialogue and while he has been one of my favorites since his introduction, this focus strikes me as an odd choice. Given that this is a first issue, it more or less seems like they’re saying “okay! We know you know the others, here’s the guy you don’t know! Look at the awesome!”…a welcomed, if unforeseen choice.
On the art end, I had never been exposed to Jerome Opena before, but his Leinil Yu meets Mike Deodato style fits the book fairly well. He certainly handles the action scenes well enough, although all his characters do look somewhat emaciated. Either way, no real complaints.
I’ll keep with this one for a bit I’d say…if only for the adequately written Deadpool and to see how the shockingly Darkseid-esque take on Apocalypse plays out.
Final Verdict: 8.0 – Buy
Metalocalypse: Dethklok #1
Words by Brendan Small, Jon Schnepp & Jeremy Barlow
Arting by Lucas Marangon
All I found myself saying while reading this one was “hehehehehehehehe” since as a long time fan of Metalocalypse I found a lot to like with this one. Despite starting off kinda slow, the issue managed to mimic an episode of the show to a T, including an appearance by the shadowy cabal and a musical interlude. While normally this strict adherence to form would be a turn off (it’s a different medium than the how and must be treated as such), there are two major components to this book that really work.
One is the backstory and exposition they employed for Murderface and Dr. Rockzo that would have been impossible to include in the overall aesthetic of the show. The established patterns simply don’t lend themselves to the detail the comic got into with the characters and I can honestly say the additions made to the mythos this issue are great.
Continued belowThe second great aspect is how goddamn friggin funny it was. It nailed the dark, childlike humor of the show perfectly and included more than a few legitimately laugh out loud moments…which, from a humor comic, really is the best you could ask for. The only downside is the fact that, despite being billed as an ongoing, it appears as if this baby is gonna clock out at 3 issues. While this makes perfect sense given the immensely busy schedule of the creators now that the show is back up and running, that is still kinda sad.
Another downside is the fact that if you’ve never watched the show or were not familiar with the established voices of the characters, the shape of their universe and the nature of their antics, then there won’t be a lot for you here…but really, that’s to be expected.
Final Verdict: 9.4 – Buy with extreme prejudice (if you’re already a fan…and if you aren’t then go watch the show, buy a few Pig Destroyer albums and THEN buy the comic.)
SHIELD #4
Words by Jonathan Hickman
Arting by Dustin Weaver
It’s official: Jonathan Hickman is the new Robert Johnson (except not old, not black, not poor, not southern and working in comics instead of playing the blues.) What is clear is that he sold his soul to the devil, because there’s no other earthly reason I can comprehend for why this book is as good as it is.
This issue continues the insane train ride embarked upon three issues ago by not only fleshing out just what the hell Nostradamus’ deal is, not only giving Leonardo ANOTHER badass moment, but showing what might be the coolest concept I’ve ever seen in the Marvel Universe: the birth of a celestial baby in the heart of the Earth’s sun. Normally I don’t like spoiling key plot points like that, but that one truly does need to be seen to be properly comprehended. Trust me though…it was goddamn cool.
Dustin Weaver continues his stint as one of the best new artists in the industry right now, with his wide-screen, brilliantly composed pencil work truly capturing the breathtaking imagery and concepts Hickman is breathing into the book.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again: this book is absolutely one of the best books on the market today, despite haters pouring haterade all over it. Simply put: this is not an “easy” comic book. It requires at least a passing knowledge of world (and art) history as well as a relatively keen working knowledge of the history of the Marvel Universe as well. There are layers upon layers of complexity here, but if you can make the time to really dive in and really take your time with it, this book will very quickly become a must read.
Play on, blues man. Play on.
Final Verdict: 9.5 – for the love of god, buy this.
Wolverine #2
Words by Jason Aaron
Arting by Renato Guedes
Wolverine is in hell and I can’t possibly be more stoked. I love Wolverine and as long as i can remember I have always loved Wolverine (and not just because I’m also a beer loving, angry Canadian.) However, a truly good Wolverine book is few and far between these days, especially within the characters main title. I remember the glory days of the Frank Tieri run, or even the all too brief Guggenheim run, but I was so deluded by the boring ass/borderline insulting stuff (coughloebcough) the I completely missed Aaron’s supposedly phenomenal Wolverine: Weapon X series. However, this new beginning for the character was intriguing enough to drag me back to the character and I am fairly glad I did.
This issue begins the slow and painful breaking down of Logan’s soul by that dastardly rascal, the devil. And as promised in all the solicits (and the issue’s cover), Wolverine begins to face wave after wave of the dear and departed he sent down to the infernal pit with a barely functional healing factor and his 90s throwback bone claws (SO 1995.) Refusing to be beaten by the likes of Omega Red, Ogun, The Adamantium Men, Xorn, Cyber and loads of red shirts, Satan pulls out his big/little gun and finally gets the much desired scream he was looking for. I can’t wait for the next issue when Sabretooth apparently comes into play.
Continued belowOn the art end, I could have sworn Sean Chen was back on the book when I first read the last issue. Guedes is absolutely doing a phenomenal job with this one. It’s clear he’s really taken the time to study these characters and get their designs just right. Its nice to see an artist show that much attention to detail, especially given some of the other pencilers I’ve seen tackle the character. Plus, Steven Sanders’ work in the back-up story shows a marked improvement from his work on SWORD (not a horse nose to be seen for miles!)
As for that surprise reveal at the end, all I’ll say is “so THATS why he isn’t in that one shot!”
Final Verdict: 8.1 – Buy
Records I Can’t Turn Off This Week:
Two Cow Garage – Sweet Saint Me (Suburban Home, 2010)
Scrappy, mid-western piano driven rock n’ roll. This new one take everything that was good about the first record, triples it, replaces some of the angst with righteous anger and throws in a healthy dose of power cords to boot.
Death Cab For Cutie – Plans (Atlantic Records, 2005)
I never quite appreciated these guys when was younger, but a no-bullshit love song is a rare occurrence in popular music these days and few rank better than “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.”
The Flatliners – Cavalcade (Fat Wreck Chords, 2010)
One of the best punk records of the year by far, these fast paced, rowdy Torontonians can do no wrong in my book, and they truly seem to be getting tighter with age. This one has the moshers, the ragers and the softies to satisfy all your new millennium punky needs.
