CBR Review: Daken: Dark Wolverine #10

I recently reviewed Daken: Dark Wolverine #10 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "The opening scene is bold and engaging with Daken causing havoc on the 110, dressed in military gear and a Captain America mask alongside others identically dressed. The point of it all is unknown; no explanations are given and that’s what makes it work. Daken blowing things up with some other people before popping some sort of pill that exchanges Matteo Buffagni’s clean and energetic art for Riley Rossmo’s scratchy, frenetic scrawls? That’s how you begin a new direction! It immediately grabs the reader makes the new team look like they’ve got some interesting ideas for the book."

You can read the rest HERE!

Sketch Reviews (June 9 2011)

Two trips to the States in two days. Last night, Michelle and I saw the Sam Roberts Band play in Detroit and that was pretty awesome. It's the fourth time I've seen the band live -- first time in five-and-a-half years, though. They played St. Andrews and fuck was that place hot last night. Probably the most physically uncomfortable show I've ever been to. But, the venue offers unlimited pop for five bucks, I bought the CD of the opening act Zeus, and the show itself was fantastic. I even geeked out a bit when they played "Dead End," my favourite song of theirs -- and not one that I've seen cropping up in their recent set-lists that they post on Twitter. So, yeah, it was a good night despite the heat. Then, today, we went shopping and I spent too much money on DVDs. Cheap wrestling sets, all three seasons of Deadwood, the second Sean Connery Bond collection that came out this week, and season one of Archer for ten bucks. Plus, some groceries that aren't available here. Lovely couple of days. Now, comics...

'Breed III #1: Where the first issue left me cold, this one worked a lot more for me. Starlin's art looked a little crisper, more dynamic. I wish he'd tone down the narration a bit, but I'm starting to get into this series. Like I said last week, I got the first trade, but I think I'll wait until the second one comes out to read it. Read them both in one go. [**1/2]

Ghost Rider #0.1: I need to stop buying these 'point one' comics. This was bad. A comic that read like it had ADD and didn't seem to care beyond getting to the end of the comic. Just fucking awful. Waste of goddamn money. [*]

Journey into Mystery #624: Rather enjoying this book. Gillen definitely makes this new version of Loki work. He kind of reminds me of Huey, Dewey, and Louie all rolled into one. That could be because I'm watching DuckTales on DVD right now. [****]

New Avengers #13: So that's what the two stories have to do with one another! Still pretty detatched. I did love the way Deodato drew the sad/guilty Thing's face. That was pretty great. Mostly an issue of spinning its wheels for me, though. [**3/4]

Scalped #49: The stuff with Red Crow has me most intrigued. And, damn, the narration in those final pages... Jason Aaron can write one hell of a comic book sometimes, can't he? Guera continues to impress me more than the last time I saw his art... this book will end someday. I hope that day never comes. [****1/2]

Secret Warriors #27: Two weeks later after my shop got shorted... The Fury/Strucker stuff made me laugh. The other stuff seems like necessary positioning for the final issue, which impressed me less so. Though, Vitti drawing Leviathan men popping was great. [***]

The Unwritten #26: An entertaining comic that sees our protagonists actually doing some shit. Huh. [***1/2]

Later

CBR Review: Daken: Dark Wolverine #9.1

I recently reviewed Daken: Dark Wolverine #9.1 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "New series writer Rob Williams comes aboard with this ‘point one’ issue, replacing the title’s only writers so far, Daniel Way and Marjorie Liu. Daken: Dark Wolverine (and its predecessor Dark Wolverine) has always had potential with a lead character that isn’t quite like any other at Marvel. Daken can occupy philosophical and poetic spaces before shifting into brutal violence. Unfortunately, finding a balance that approaches consistency has never been the book’s strong point, often falling into the habit of having Daken simply retread old Wolverine moments and actions. Williams makes it clear that that cycle will be ending, but not in this issue, which is a rather hollow and empty statement of intent."

You can read the rest HERE!

Sketch Reviews (December 8 2010)

A pretty regular week for me. I did pick up another half-priced Marvel collection at my shop as they had a whole new selection. Was tempted by Marvel Boy, but since no one has ever told me if they corrected the double-page layout printing problems from the trade, I didn't want to chance it. Instead, I got Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Box in hardcover. Haven't read it yet (though I do have the first issue or two, so I have read part of it) but I will say that I'm a little annoyed at how the actual issues of the Ghost Box mini-series had the scripts in the back and this hardcover has zero bonus features. Would it have killed Marvel to include the scripts that were in the singles? Not a big problem or anything, but still irks me. Especially after the last trade I got, Man without Fear had such fantastic bonus material from Miller's scripts/plots, sketches, a Marvel Age article... Ah well. On to comics!

New Avengers #7: A very fun and entertaining issue. Bendis does a good job giving us a breather and focusing on the team getting settled. Luke's weird 'morals' being trashed by everyone was good. Spider-Man freaking out about Victoria Hand was another good scene -- and that he can't get paid (think about it: TWO Avengers paycheques Peter Parker isn't getting...) is a nice touch. The babysitter search was a great mix of one-liners, obscure characters, and Stuart Immonen nailing every single fucking panel. The final page was funny, too. This felt like the capstone to a lot of Bendis's work so far in a few ways. I loved it. [****1/2]

What If? Wolverine: Father #1: Unlike past years when I didn't have the money, this year, I'm buying every What If? issue. I love the book, but have been choosey in the past (I think last year's batch mostly got read in .pdf form... when Marvel still gave reviewers .pdfs). I didn't like last week's issue and this one is an improvement, but still left me cold. The ending is that dark What If? sort of ending that's always good, though. Greg Tocchini's art leaves me with much more mixed feelings. It's both appealing and not. Rough yet fluid. The sort of art that you don't love or hate right away -- you don't know why it compels you but it does. The back-up strip had the odd joke or two that landed, but most didn't. [**1/2]

Later