There is 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.
Edward Scissorhands #1
Written by Kate Leth
Illustrated by Drew Rausch
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
Movie tie in and sequels in comics don’t exactly have the best reputations. They almost always lose sight of the original work and feel like cash grabs. “Edward Scissorhands” #1 takes preconceptions of what these kinds of comics are and turns them on their head. “Edward Scissorhands” #1 catches us up 50 years after the movie ends. Kim, through her stories, has turned Edward into a myth and after her death it is her granddaughter that carries it on. Meg believes he’s real and that he’s not the murderer the people think he is. Meg is not Kim and that’s going to make this a wholly unique experience. This is a very good successor to the comic and it’s mostly because of Drew Rausch’s art. It perfectly captures all that was awesome about the Tim Burton film by being fantasy like and colorful. The downside to all this though is that I can’t imagine getting into this if you haven’t seen the original film. If you have though, pick this up and enjoy a worthy sequel.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – It’s hard to translate Tim Burton to comics but this team nails it.
Revival #24
Written by Tim Seeley
Illustrated by Mike Norton
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
“Revival” is a great series. Despite there being a lack of huge revelations and action, this issue demonstrates why it is so good. Seeley and Norton rely a lot on exposition in this issue and set up some stuff that’s going to be a big deal down the road. Em’s pregnancy is not the big plot point in this issue which is a little bit of a disappointment. However there are two major developments at the end that more than make up for it. This issue is solid because it relies so much on the already established plot points. It’s not for new readers and that’s a good thing. Mike Norton has a few really horror like moments in the beginning and end pages that showcase his serious talent.
Final Verdict 7.5 – Lots of words but the payoff is coming. Longtime fans will find lots to like here.
She-Hulk #9
Written by Charles Soule
Illustrated by Javier Pulido
Reviewed by Jess Camacho
Reading “She-Hulk” #9 just made me more bummed that this series is getting canceled. Charles Soule really taps into his law background here but instead of getting a really boring Law & Order episode we get something engrossing and entertaining. Jen and Matt Murdock are going against each other in a civil lawsuit involving Steve Rogers and it’s in the courtroom scenes that Soule excels. He takes much of the law language and simplifies it so that readers don’t get confused or bored. However the selling point is the relationship between Jen and Matt. There’s a deep friendship that exists between these two and it’s something I wish we could see more of. However with just a few issues left of the series, this is a strong story to finish on. I hope to see more of Javier Pulido because quite frankly he’s one of the most underrated artists at Marvel. The almost Mike Allred style he has brings a quirky and cartoon like quality to “She-Hulk”. My biggest problem with “She-Hulk” #9 lies with the apathetic nature of Steve Rogers. The reason for it is not quite enough to make me believe it.
Final Verdict 8.0 – What could have been boring is exciting making me already start to miss this series.
Superman #35
Written by Geoff Johns
Illustrated by John Romita Jr
Continued below
Review by Vince Ostrowski
Geoff Johns opening arc on “Superman” has been something of a head-scratcher. Not that it’s bad or anything like that, but it’s so surprising how isolated it is from the rest of the ‘New 52’ and how it could potentially dovetail into the Multiversal happenings going on in the DCU, but never does. Actually, I think that’s a good thing, because it’s giving Johns the chance to exorcize some Superman demons. For one thing, he’s brought Clark back to the Daily Planet, while simultaneously poking fun at the fact that DC Comics ever moved him away in the first place.
He also takes a look at the idea of co-habiting the Earth with another Superman (something that I curse Rich Johnston for mentioning over at Bleeding Cool before I got a chance to). The tale of Johns’ admiration and involvement in Richard Donner’s Superman has been well-told, and this arc is definitely a version of Superman IV that tries to right some wrongs. I mean, aside from an absence of Jon Cryer, Johns also just uses a much more careful hand to show you how another superpowered being unfamiliar with the planet Earth could react to the evil of the world. It’s something that DC Comics has been exploring many times over by almost constantly having a Superman facsimile in place, whether it’s Scott Snyder’s “Superman Unchained”, any of Tom Taylor’s books, or Johns own look at the Crime Syndicate of Evil. But by not making him an inherently evil version, rather more of a neutral foil for Superman, and keeping his appearance separate from all of the other multiversal stuff going on, Johns’ exploration of an alternative Superman is a lot defter than than other aforementioned ones. Aside from some heavy-handed symbolism, that is.
John Romita Jr’s art is as steady as ever, a few issues in. You know what to expect from him, at this point, and you know whether you like it or not. He’s an artist that is hitting a deadline without degradation in his work, and is able to create iconic scenes with some very unconventional art. He’s the perfect artist for the big blue boyscout, because there are few artists as good as JRJR when it comes to taking a little of the edge off of edgy material and injecting a softer side. “Superman” certainly benefits from that, because his unique sense of morality and emotion demands that he not be a cocky hard-ass most of the time – another thing that the ‘New 52’ tried to reconfigure him into for a while there. Romita’s art is mistaken for rushed, and it’s easy to see where that stems from, considering his style is minimalistic and more dynamic than detailed. It’s pretty much love it or hate it, but it does its storytelling job and there’s no arguing against that.
Final Verdict: 7.9 – “Superman” continues to be surprisingly quiet and disconnected, even with two of DC’s most popular and powerful creators on it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a fine title.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters #1
Written by Erik Burnham and Tom Waltz
Illustrated by Charles Paul Wilson III, Cory Smith, and Dan Schoening
Reviewed by Brian Salvatore
Aside from the fact that they both live in NYC and are, more or less, a foursome, the Ghostbusters and TMNT don’t have all that much in common (well, aside from IDW controlling both licenses). Luckily, IDW brought in some creators familiar with both properties, and crafted the start of a really fun miniseries. As much as a crossover between these two properties can feel organic, this feels organic. By having two veterans co-writing helps that a lot, as all of the characters feel, more or less, “correct,” which is half the challenge for a crossover like this. The art credit is a little misleading, as CP Wilson draws a flashback sequence, and Smith the only scene set in the TMNT-verse, with Schoening handling the vast majority of the book. Schoening drew the recently wrapped “Ghostbusters” book for IDW, and his style adapts surprisingly well to the Turtles, who retain a more classic look alongside his cartoony/caricature-ish humans.
Overall, this is a really engaging book, with fun art that really captures what makes these two franchises so enduring and endearing.
Final Verdict: 7.9 – A worthwhile investment for fans of both, or either, franchises.
