There’s a lot to cover on Wednesdays. We should know, as collectively, we read an insane amount of comics. Even with a large review staff, it’s hard to get to everything. With that in mind, we’re back with Wrapping Wednesday, where we look at some of the books we missed in what was another great week of comics.
Let’s get this party started.
Break Out #1
Written by Zack Kaplan
Illustrated by Wilton Santos
Colored by Jason Wordie
Lettered by Jim Campbell
Reviewed by Quinn Tassin
What a comeback for “Break Out” #1! For its first two-thirds, this issue only vaguely works. It opens as a book that seems like it really wants to be a commentary on the state of the world with visuals that seem to be evoking a school shooter drill and narrative text that’s meant to evoke the pandemic. The thing is, one of the worst ways to tell a story with strong thematic resonance is to open by explicitly stating the themes of the story. So while the whole “weird floating cubes showed up one day and started abducting young people” premise is definitely weird and intriguing, the introduction is doing way too much telling.
The second third of the issue, meanwhile, is competent but a bit overly serious. We get more effective exposition and insight into Liam but it all feels just a bit hard to connect to. On an intellectual level, it’s fine but on an emotional one, it just doesn’t land. But then, almost out of nowhere, this becomes an awesome sci-fi coming-of-age heist story. The tone shifts to a sort of Attack the Block meets Ocean’s Eleven combo and it would be hard not to have a good time. The pacing becomes excellent, the character introductions are swift and effective, and the dialogue goes from wrought to funny.
The artwork is strong in “Break Out” #1. The world feels real and is filled with nice little details that make it seem full and alive. Character’s wardrobes deserve some special attention- they feel like the actual outfits that young adults wear, not like they were specially designed for the sake of the page. In a story that’s about normal people, having the characters look like a real person on the street is a subtle but strong element. The coloring on characters’ skin seems a bit off in some moments, particularly Rosa’s recruitment but generally it’s strong enough. There’s a clear visual tone carrying through the issue- a shade that’s over everything at all times and it really works given the general threat that’s always looming over this world.
All in all, “Break Out” #1 starts out unremarkably and steadily grows into something special. In the span of a couple-dozen pages, it transforms from frustratingly transparent allegory to really fun premise that’ll be exciting to check out in the future.
Final Verdict: 7.0- “Break Out” #1’s opens up as an average comic but ends with an exciting montage and some real potential.
Elektra #100
Written by Ann Nocenti
Illustrated by Sid Kotian
Colored by Edgar Delgado
Lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles
Reviewed by Henry Finn
“Elektra” #100 feels like a Marvel team-up issue that features our titular hero doing the tango for 20 pages with Typhoid Mary as they psychoanalyze each other. There isn’t actually much plot to speak of, as with many anniversary issues the goal seems to provide more of a summary than it does a meaningful addition to canon.
This is to be expected from this sort of historical issue, but what is most confusing is that writer Ann Nocenti focuses the majority of the issue on Typhoid Mary. Now to be clear this is all done through a thoroughly entertaining series of action set pieces, but it never feels like Elektra is defined in a new way. For example, Typhoid Mary gets a full 8 page sequence where she goes through her psychology for Elektra, who serves primarily as a glorified shrink.
Illustrator Sid Kotian does shine in this issue as Kotian puts in a lot of effort to give a wide variety of angles and perspectives to view the action from. Each set piece is treated with a fine attention to detail. For instance the first scene takes place at a beachfront mansion where Kotain makes sure to stuff each panel with buildings to show distance and perspective as well as things you would expect in a multi-million dollar mansion such as statues, art, and widescreen TVs. As we jump to an underground lair, we are treated to in-depth renders of buildings and textures such as graffiti.
Continued belowOther than that, there’s not much else to dig deep into. If you are an avid fan of Elektra you will not gain any new insights, but if you don’t know who Typhoid Mary is, you sure will learn.
Final Verdict 6.0 – A standard fare for what has become a tradition in landmark issues that add nothing to canon or character.
Eternals #11
Written by Kieron Gillen
Illustrated by Guiu Vilanova
Colored by Matthew Wilson
Lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles
Reviewed by Alexander Jones
Marvel’s newest “Eternals” series is preparing for an event in July known as “A.X.E.: Judgment Day.” Writer Kieron Gillen and artist Guiu Vilanova utilize the pages of “Eternals” #11 to tease the highly anticipated new series. Recent developments are looking grim for the Eternals as there was recently a major revelation concerning their immortality. Gillen is back to explore the politics behind the recent shifts and to let readers know the mindset of the “Eternals” prior to the dreaded Judgment Day.
Vilanova’s art pays homage to regular series artist Esad Ribic. Vilanova draws a harsh line that hints toward realism. Vilanova is able to evoke the stoic look from the villains of the series with inflated egos like the infamous Thanos. Vilanova also lends lots of pulse-pounding action sequences in the issue that sets the art apart slightly from what Ribic was working on in previous chapters. Vilanova’s biggest weakness comes from the unpolished nature of the linework in some panels. There are pages where characters look radically different from previous pages or panels.
Gillen carefully crafts a script that offers whimsical commentary on the harrowing situation stirring among the Avengers and Eternals. Gillen is playing to his strengths with the scripts while making sure not to repeat what has come before in previous narration boxes. “Eternals” #11 almost feels essential to the nature of the “Judgement Day” event. Kingo’s clash with the Avengers is a brilliant scene where Gillen takes advantage of political implications in the Marvel Universe. The conversations between Druig and Thanos are also extremely heated and filled with a sense of enticing conflict. The “Eternals” series is mostly focused on the characterization of the individual characters while Gillen slowly ignites a sense of conflict between each faction.
Final Verdict: 8.5 – “Eternals” #11 gracefully ignites the flames of Judgment Day!
Kaiju Score: Steal From The Gods #1
Written by James Patrick
Illustrated & Colored by Rem Broo
Lettered by Dave Sharpe
Reviewed by Alexander Manzo
James Patrick writes “Kaiju Score” with this mesh of the heist genre and movie monsters to create a fun and thrilling storyline. The tropes feel a little bit between The Town and Ocean’s Eleven with Patrick’s use of a familiar crew that while they are thieves, they are also family on a certain level. The story follows Michelle as the leader of this group and her inner motivation to get out of the life of crime, or so it seemed. The truth of the storyline doesn’t seem like she wants out of the game for a clean life, but because she is starting to see how deep this addiction goes and how easy it is for her to follow it through.
This revelation/twist in the first issue gives clues to how her inner conflict could cause her to make mistakes later. While Patrick has shown that she does care about her makeshift family, it does bring in the idea that she may end up willing to do more for the rush of the job rather than her crew.
The art is reminiscent of the old-school Batman Beyond cartoon. The characters are drawn a bit stretched out and lanky looking but with more texture than the previously mentioned animated show. During the scene when Michelle is being presented with a new job, a few panels show close-ups of Javier; Rem Broo showcases all of the wrinkles and sagging skin that helps evoke fear and disgust because of how evil he may truly be. Broo also does a great job of colors by using bright pinks and greens to help keep the readers’ attention and distinguish panels, such as when Michelle is on the phone with Carlito while he’s threatening her on the golf course.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – This is a solid mix of crime and fantasy that satisfies both genres successfully and leaves plenty of crumbs for various storylines and directions.
