CBR Review: Hulk #30.1

I recently reviewed Hulk #30.1 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "I’ve been following Marvel’s ‘Point One’ program, buying every .1 issue released, wanting to see how each title and set of creators approaches the concept of a ‘jumping-on point’ comic. The results have been mixed, but Hulk #30.1 is, probably, the most effective of these titles released yet, both crafting a story that establishes the status quo of the book and telling a story that changes it. In effect, Jeff Parker gets you up to speed before getting you involved through a large change to the character of the Red Hulk and his world. Throw in some very good art by Gabriel Hardman and Tom Palmer, and it’s definitely an issue that’s perfect for those who haven’t been reading Hulk and want to give it a chance."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Thunderbolts #151

I recently reviewed Thunderbolts #151 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "A member of the group for over two iterations, the Ghost has been a central player in Thunderbolts and even showed up in Invincible Iron Man, but he’s always remained something of an enigma.I’ve never questioned that approach, since the character’s creepy exterior worked better knowing as little as possible about what lies beneath. With characters like this, there’s always the danger that too much information will spoil the mystique and take away some of the appeal. That doesn’t deter Jeff Parker and Kev Walker in Thunderbolts #151, where they have the Ghost tell his story to Moonstone and it serves to enhance the character, for the most part."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Atlas #3

I recently reviewed Atlas #3 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Parker, though, is paired with a couple of great art teams in the Gabriel Hardman/Elizabeth Breitweiser duo and Ramon Rosanas flying solo. Hardman’s drawing style is sketchy and bold, using extreme contrasts of light often. He does dynamic action well, especially towards the end of the issue. Where he’s most impressive is in his presentation of the events that befell the Chandlers with a much more impressionistic style that stands out from the rest of his art. Breitweiser’s colors reflect the extremes in Hardman’s art, using simple colors for the most part. Together, they produce page after page of interesting, bold, compelling art. It’s the sort of art that you can spend a lot of time poring over."

You can read the rest HERE!

Quickie Reviews (May 26 2010)

It's too damn hot and humid here. Makes writing a chore since all I want to do is fill the bathtub with cool water and sit there with a fan on and my slushy mug filled to the brim. Girlfriend being present is optional. But, comics are out and I ventured into the hell that is the Outside World to get them, so let's do this anyway...

Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #2: Better than the first issue. Frazer Irving as the artist is a nice callback to Klarion. The story is okay, but it still hasn't captured me completely. Bruce Wayne going from time to time is maybe interesting...? But, the little story here is entertaining enough along with some time travel talk and Bruce being a total dick. I liked it. [***1/2]

Detective Comics #865: The main story is weak. I didn't mind it as much last issue, but this one just went off the rails. All it makes me wish is that someone would just destroy Arkham and be done with it. I got this because I wanted the last part of the Question back-up feature -- why have every part except the final one? It was alright, but not sure how it works as a conclusion to the whole thing. Will have to read it all in one sitting. [**]

Secret Warriors #16: And so ends "Wake the Beast" and most of the action happens off-panel. Together with the final page of Secret Avengers #1, I'm wondering what's up. A solid issue, but the art is the weakest it's ever been with a fill-in. Underwhelming as a conclusion, I think, the final page notwithstanding. I'm disappointed, honestly. Some good moments that never really cohered for me... hmm... [***]

Thor #610: Best part of the issue: the add for Skaar, Son of Hulk that says that title is coming out in June 2008. Let it never be said that Marvel simply gives up on books it believes in... Actually, this Siege epilogue issue is pretty strong. Gillen continues with a lot of the plot points from before the event and the fall-out of it. Kelda and William get a moment (of sorts), while the fight between Thor and Ragnorak (aka Clor) is something people have wanted since Civil War. Throw in Doug Braithwaite on art and it's the best issue of Gillen's run to date. [****]

Thunderbolts #144: Figured I'd give this a look since it seemed interesting. It's all set-up and team-building, but does that well. Luke Cage is Luke Cage and Parker really pushes the idea of this being a longstanding program that works at rehabilitating supervillains with former members showing up quite a bit. Not sure about all of the members or the reasons for them being on the team (most of them seem to be there despite Cage's wishes, which makes the whole thing come off as somewhat laughable). Kev Walker is an artist who I've always liked and he's pushed himself in a different direction here. I prefer his dark, sharp-edged stuff, but this cartoony, sharp-edged stuff is good, too. Haven't decided about the next issue yet, but I'm leaning towards giving it a look. [***]

Later.

CBR Review: Hulked Out Heroes #1

I recently reviewed Hulked Out Heroes #1 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "They really should have titled this 'Hulkpool’s Wacky Adventures in Time Travel' instead of Hulked Out Heroes, because the only hero that’s hulked out here is Deadpool. There’s nothing wrong with that idea, but that’s not what people buying a book called Hulked Out Heroes will be expecting. It feels like a letdown as a result. You get all geared up for your favorite heroes getting hit with gamma energy and becoming bulging monsters like the No-Thing, Wolverage, and Namor the Hulkmariner as we get to see in the sketchbook at the end of the issue. That’s what people want from this book and it fails to deliver."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Thunderbolts #141

I recently reviewed Thunderbolts #141 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "The Thunderbolts finally enter the fray of Siege in this week’s issue, with a secret mission for Norman Osborn: steal the Spear of Odin from Asgard’s armory. Jeff Parker is clever in using this mission to tie into Siege since it plays to the group’s strengths and doesn’t simply launch them into the huge brawl. Parker also uses this mission as a means to explore the dysfunctional group dynamic of late with the Ghost AWOL and the team’s leader, Scourge, having shot Headsman in the back of the head under mind control."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Spider-Man 1602 #5

I recently reviewed Spider-Man 1602 #5 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "It’s easy to look at a book like Spider-Man 1602 and wonder why it exists. What’s the point of telling stories involving 17th century versions of characters that we’re familiar with and can read about now? The finale to this series provides a pretty easy answer: it allows for Marvel to publish a pretty entertaining, light-hearted action comic written by Jeff Parker and drawn by Ramon Rosanas where the two of them can just go out and have fun with these ideas. Spider-Man 1602 isn’t going to win an Eisner for best limited series, but it is an amusing and enjoyable read."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Underground #2

I recently reviewed Underground #2 and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Who knew a fight over a cave would be so entertaining and engrossing? I will admit that when I saw the concept for Underground, I scoffed a little, wondering why on Earth I would want to read a comic about an argument over a cave, but a great marketing promotion by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber got me to read the first issue and it was impressive, something the second issue follows up on well."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Exiles #6

I recently reviewed Exiles #6 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "The team that Parker put together for this book is certainly interesting although a bit scattershot with variations on Forge, the Beast, Polaris, the Scarlet Witch, and Black Panther joining Blink and Morph. As this book hurtles toward its conclusion, each of the character is given a moment or two to shine. Without going into spoilers, Parker manages to solve the ‘something isn’t right with Blink’ subplot effectively, while also bringing the team closer together and energized with renewed purpose. How he does so does get a bit too involved and may lose readers by boring them, but if you can stick through the three or four pages of explanation, the rest is a joy."

You can read the rest HERE!

Blogathon 33: Secret Invasion (Part 2)

[Discussed in this post: Secret Invasion #2, Mighty Avengers #14, New Avengers #41, #43, Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust?, and Secret Invasion #3.]

I'm using the reading order for Secret Invasion that I came up with earlier this year in these posts.

Secret Invasion #2 follows up on one of the first issue's teasers: the '70s heroes in the crashed spaceship. They totally throw down with the New and Mighty Avengers and you're damn right it's awesome. Luke 'Sweet Christmas!' Cage versus Luke 'Responsible Father!' Cage! Spider-Man versus Spider-Man! Ms. Marvel versus Ms. Marvel! It is everything you could hope for and more. Except, seriously, the '70s heroes couldn't be the real ones? That would have been sweet. Or, I don't know, a mixture of the two? Some Skrulls, some humans? The issue ends with the Skrulls invading Times Square. And they are some awesome-looking Skrulls. The Young Avengers are totally impressed.

Mighty Avengers #14 is a fairly solid Sentry story. It earns marks as a Secret Invasion tie-in that doesn't explain how someone became a Skrull. Really, it explains that the Skrulls don't see the Sentry as a threat because he's crazy -- if he hasn't already killed himself (or everyone) by the time the invasion happens, just shapeshift into the Void and he'll freak out. Easy as pie. And it works. Wow! But, then, a Skrull tries to kill Lindy, the Sentry's wife, so the Void gets involved and saves her. She's a little freaked out as a result. An issue that advances a totally different Bendis subplot but it works.

New Avengers #41 is a Savage Land issue where Ka-Zar and his wife (Shanna? Sheena?) explain how they came across Skrulls before with those rogue SHIELD agents in the Savage Land. Borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring!

New Avengers #43 is more Savage Land goodness as we learn that '70s Captain America is a Skrull after he's killed by Mutates or something. Even more borrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring!

Secret Invasion: Who Do You Trust? is a one-shot with five stories. They're all pretty bad. The Captain Marvel one is melodramatic and painful to read. The Agent Brand one has a moment or two -- and some interesting art, but whatever. The Wonder Man & Beast team-up is decent, but definitely geared at people who remember those two doing things together. Meaning not me. Because I don't. The Marvel Boy NOH-VARR! story shows that ripping off Grant Morrison's writing isn't the same as writing a faithful version of his character. The Agents of Atlas one made me not want to read Agents of Atlas.

In Secret Invasion #3, the SHIELD Helicarrier magically appears in the Bermuda Triangle after losing power over Manhattan. Wicked mean gliding skills that Helicarrier. In New York, the Skrulls kick some fucking ass and destroy lots of property and not even the Avengers Initiative kids can save the day. Meanwhile, in the Savage Land, the Skrull Queen/Spider-Woman tries to convince Tony Stark that he's a Skrull as a mean tease to all of us who kind of wish he were a Skrull, because that would mean that he's not a horrible bastard. (Spoiler: he's not a Skrull. He is a horrible bastard.) Back in New York, the Skrulls take Times Square and celebrate by killing young superheroes until one of them is blown up by...

NICK FURY AND HIS MOTHERFUCKING HOWLIN' COMMANDOS, MOTHERFUCKERS!

Say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

You'll find your answers in 30 minutes.

Also, we're up to $160 raised! More! I demand more!

[Don't forget to donate what you can to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund! After you do, let me know via comment or e-mail (found at the righthand side) so I can keep track of donations -- and who to thank.]

CBR Review: The Age of the Sentry #5

I recently reviewed The Age of the Sentry #5 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Issue five contains two 10-page stories featuring the Silver Age Sentry as well as a one-page Marvel Fruit Pie parody ad, and one page that takes place now featuring the narrative frame of the previous stories. Firstly, the Marvel Fruit Pie parody ad: please just stop these. Why is it that every comic that flashes back to the Silver Age feels the need to include a fruit pie ad? The joke has worn thin and, let’s be honest, wasn’t that funny to begin with. It’s just a groan-inducing cliché at this point."

You can read the rest HERE!