The second "...And the Superhuman Review" is up at Comics Should be Good. It was amusing to watch the comments section of the first one devolve into a bunch of idiots saying stupid things. My favourites were the comments that basically said "Contracts are too hard to understand, so Alan Moore was screwed" and "DC fucked Alan Moore by not forcing him to hire a lawyer to make sure he understood what he was signing." And I say that those are stupid things to say in the broadest sense, looking at ANY situation, not the DC/Alan Moore one specifically. I wonder how long it will take before the comments sections for those posts are dead, because no one wants to talk about the situation surrounding Before Watchmen... My bet is never.
Avengers Assemble #4: Why the fuck did they get rid of Star-Lord's helmet? That helmet was badass. Not as badass as Thanos, though. Bendis comes pretty close to getting the character right here -- much better than the Dr. Strange attempt from Avengers. Of course, Bendis doesn't have to get it right, because this Thanos is a clone. Obviously. [***1/2]
Batman #10: Thomas Wayne, Jr. It was at that reveal that I officially decided that this was a little too similar to Grant Morrison's Black Glove/Dr. Hurt story. It's like the mainstream movie adaptation of that story. Something a bit more easy to swallow by the masses. Something that doesn't quite hold together as well. After all, halfway through this issue, Batman suddenly solves the mystery and we all collectively went "Wait... there was a mystery?" Not that there's something inherently bad about a story recalling a previous one; it's just that... "Batman RIP" is only, what, three years old? Part of me wonders how long it will be before we get a resurrected Dr. Hurt teaming with undead Thomas Wayne, Jr... (Also, if you JUST read Batman, the Court of Owls was a group with a lot of build-up and almost no payoff.) [***]
Captain America #13: The panel where Henry Gyrich screams "I'm the hero here! Me!" as he's arrested sums up that character in the most profound way that I can imagine. [***1/2]
Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #10: I forgot when Matt Kindt was taking off (and so did the person who proofread the credits on the cover) and I'm glad that I stuck around. This was a good start to his run -- not radically different, but definitely a shift in storytelling. I love the flashback/hallucination stuff. AND(!) that final page...! Awesome. Glad to see Ponticelli sticking around, too. [***3/4]
The Massive #1: This was Brian Wood Week at the shop or something with this series kicking off on the same week that he took over Ultimate X-Men and X-Men. Unfortunately, my shop didn't have any rack copies of X-Men, so I only got two-thirds of the experience. This was a decent first issue. It didn't quite address the central idea of the series, but it laid a lot of groundwork. Definitely a good enough hook for me to stick around -- and I do dig that art. [***1/2]
The Mighty Thor #15: I wish this were nothing but Amora and Don Blake. I'm kind of putting in times right now until the crossover with Journey into Mystery, I guess. [**1/4]
Spider-Men #1: A total impulse purchase. I was curious. This was your typical first issue where you get to see the premise you already knew played out. But, I do enjoy the way that Bendis writes Spider-Man -- and once the comic has him fighting Mysterio, it hums along nicely. The ending was a nice, especially the "Thanks, but that costume is in bad taste..." scene. And the comic looks pretty, pretty good, too. I'm a sucker for stories where alternate versions of characters meet. AND where they're not zombies or vampires. Wait -- is Miles Morales a vampire or zombie? [***1/4]
Ultimate X-Men #13: It's funny jumping into this book as a reader of The Ultimates where the southern states seceding doesn't seem like an anti-mutant Sentinels thing -- it seems like a nation panicked over Washington getting blown to bits thing. For the first 2/3s of this issue, I had little interest in buying issue 14, but I like the way it built at the end there, making those first 2/3s seem necessary and worthwhile. You don't see that too often and Wood pulled it off. This could be an interesting little book. [***1/4]
Untold Tales of the Punisher MAX #1: I said that there need be no more Frank Castle stories, but this isn't a Frank Castle story. Like most of these one-shots (and this feels like a one-shot that got put into this mini-series) featuring the Punisher (MAX or otherwise), he appears at the beginning and the end only long enough to kill folks. Otherwise, it's someone else's story. I dug this. I like Roland Boschi's art -- especially when he's working with Dan Brown on colours. The writing was solid. I wasn't sure if I was going to buy this and, then, it was in my pull file, so... And I have to admit, they've got a decent set of creators lined up for this title so far. I guess I'll ride it out... [***1/2]
Later
Showing posts with label scott snyder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scott snyder. Show all posts
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
EXCLUSIVE! Chad Nevett's Comic Book Mini-Reviews and Star Ratings for the Week of May 30, 2012
Yesterday was the day of many, many trades -- after last week when I bought three trades at the shop (Knightfall: Knightquest, Uncanny X-Force: The Dark Angel Saga book 1, and Silver Surfer: Parable) to boot. When I got my tax return this year, I used most of it to pay off a credit card and, then, placed an order for the available Spider-Man: The Complete Clone Saga and Spider-Man: The Complete Ben Reilly Epic trades. Well, all of those arrived yesterday (except for volume four of The Complete Clone Saga, but it will ship later). It's a big box of comics hated by... well, almost everything it seems. Flipping through them was like stepping into a poorly drawn time machine (aside from the Sal Buscema/Bill Sienkiewicz, John Romita, Jr., and Dan Jurgens/Klaus Janson issues, which are pretty great-looking). But, I also picked up that complete Alec omnibus that came out a while back since my shop had a copy on sale. That's a lot of comics to read. Sometimes, life is good...
Animal Man Annual #1: Someone explain something to me: the Red, the Green, and the Rot need to be in balance. If the balance gets out of whack, all of them suffer. Now, that's doesn't mean that one of the three won't grow a little too much, but... shouldn't it be a simple matter of the representatives of each sitting down and remembering that they all need one another? With the Rot out of control, why isn't anyone simply pointing out to that group that, unless they scale things back, they're going to be fucked, too? No, no, I get it: CRAZY BAD GUYS SHIT UP LOGIC! Still... it seems like there's an easier solution. Not as easy as the solution to the Rot back in the 19th century... Actually, it almost was just a discussion... I do like that Lemire gave us a story of the Rot being defeated without it giving any help to the current situation. And Timothy Green II's style fits well into the look of this title. Always nice when annual look like they belong with the main title. Definitely a more worthwhile tangent story than that lame Buddy Baker movie issue. [***1/2]
Batman Annual #1: This I liked a little less. Was the Freeze/Owl connection mentioned explicitly? I honestly forget. But, I also hope it wasn't and it's just a detail that they've learned and are revealing like this. If it is, kudos to Snyder and Tynion. Otherwise, it's a fairly basic 'Batman vs. Mr. Freeze' issue with some retconning thrown in for fun. A solid issue. [***1/4]
RASL #14: It's both easy and hard to believe that this series is ending with issue 15. Certain plot elements seem near their end, while others seem like they could keep going for quite some time. Before the final issue comes, I'm definitely giving this a reread so I can pick up the various bits that slipped through the cracks between issues coming out. I love Crow in this issue... his freakout over the parallel universes or the calm way he stands there when Miles jumps realities... Every issue of this series was a lovely surprise when it came out and I'll miss it. [****]
The Ultimates #11: I feel sorry for Sam Humphries a little. I've enjoyed his writing elsewhere and I don't think the writing has changed much on this title -- but, the art has had such a large shift and downgrade (with no help on the horizon) that his arrival coincides with a clear drop in this title's overall quality. Like this issue with its four artists and two colourists. One thing I loved about the Esad Ribic/Dean White team was how they managed to make this title stand out as something different and, now, it looks so fucking typical. I rarely look at previews of comics I know I'm buying, because why have three or four pages already read? But, I'd usually look at previews of new Ultimates issues so I could get a taste of the visual wonderings Ribic and White were going to give me... I tried that with this issue and saw nothing that made any impression. The writing is still strong and adventurous and -- that stuff with the new President was really quite good. But, this comic doesn't feel as special anymore. It's not one that I'm clamouring for, because one of the key elements has been completely undercut. I noticed the same thing firsthand when reading the Uncanny X-Force trade that I got last week (something people complained about when the single issues were coming out). Like I said, the writing is still at a level where I will keep buying this comic, but part of me wishes it weren't, so I could just walk away and save myself the trouble. [***1/4]
Later
Animal Man Annual #1: Someone explain something to me: the Red, the Green, and the Rot need to be in balance. If the balance gets out of whack, all of them suffer. Now, that's doesn't mean that one of the three won't grow a little too much, but... shouldn't it be a simple matter of the representatives of each sitting down and remembering that they all need one another? With the Rot out of control, why isn't anyone simply pointing out to that group that, unless they scale things back, they're going to be fucked, too? No, no, I get it: CRAZY BAD GUYS SHIT UP LOGIC! Still... it seems like there's an easier solution. Not as easy as the solution to the Rot back in the 19th century... Actually, it almost was just a discussion... I do like that Lemire gave us a story of the Rot being defeated without it giving any help to the current situation. And Timothy Green II's style fits well into the look of this title. Always nice when annual look like they belong with the main title. Definitely a more worthwhile tangent story than that lame Buddy Baker movie issue. [***1/2]
Batman Annual #1: This I liked a little less. Was the Freeze/Owl connection mentioned explicitly? I honestly forget. But, I also hope it wasn't and it's just a detail that they've learned and are revealing like this. If it is, kudos to Snyder and Tynion. Otherwise, it's a fairly basic 'Batman vs. Mr. Freeze' issue with some retconning thrown in for fun. A solid issue. [***1/4]
RASL #14: It's both easy and hard to believe that this series is ending with issue 15. Certain plot elements seem near their end, while others seem like they could keep going for quite some time. Before the final issue comes, I'm definitely giving this a reread so I can pick up the various bits that slipped through the cracks between issues coming out. I love Crow in this issue... his freakout over the parallel universes or the calm way he stands there when Miles jumps realities... Every issue of this series was a lovely surprise when it came out and I'll miss it. [****]
The Ultimates #11: I feel sorry for Sam Humphries a little. I've enjoyed his writing elsewhere and I don't think the writing has changed much on this title -- but, the art has had such a large shift and downgrade (with no help on the horizon) that his arrival coincides with a clear drop in this title's overall quality. Like this issue with its four artists and two colourists. One thing I loved about the Esad Ribic/Dean White team was how they managed to make this title stand out as something different and, now, it looks so fucking typical. I rarely look at previews of comics I know I'm buying, because why have three or four pages already read? But, I'd usually look at previews of new Ultimates issues so I could get a taste of the visual wonderings Ribic and White were going to give me... I tried that with this issue and saw nothing that made any impression. The writing is still strong and adventurous and -- that stuff with the new President was really quite good. But, this comic doesn't feel as special anymore. It's not one that I'm clamouring for, because one of the key elements has been completely undercut. I noticed the same thing firsthand when reading the Uncanny X-Force trade that I got last week (something people complained about when the single issues were coming out). Like I said, the writing is still at a level where I will keep buying this comic, but part of me wishes it weren't, so I could just walk away and save myself the trouble. [***1/4]
Later
Thursday, May 10, 2012
EXCLUSIVE! Chad Nevett's Comic Book Mini-Reviews and Star Ratings for the Week of May 9, 2012
Another week, another shortage at the shop. After some sort of problem (I heard it was a truck accident?) with Diamond meant Fury MAX #1 (and some other comics) were delayed from last week, this week, my shop was shorted on Silver Surfer: Parable hardcovers, so I don't get that for another week or two. I wouldn't mind shit like this if it happened only occasionally, but it seems to happen a lot -- and when it isn't happening at my store, I don't have to expend much effort to read about it happening elsewhere. Fun. But, I did get Essential Black Panther, so I didn't exactly need another collection to buy this week. While I'm on that, thanks a lot, Marvel, for leaving Jack Kirby's final two issues of Black Panther out of this volume... good on ya... idiots.
Avengers Assemble #3: Given how well Bendis wrote Thanos when he 'appeared' in Avengers last year, I'm not exactly thrilled to see him pop up here. That appearance was Dr. Strange posing as Thanos, though, so, hopefully, Bendis does a better job this time around. Then again, Thanos is one of those characters that I have a hard time reading when he's not written by Jim Starlin. Other writers don't seem to quite grasp the character or what he's about the same way. Reading this issue, I wonder if I would have liked it more if any artist other than Mark Bagley drew it. Yes, of course. Ugly fucking comic. Cluttered pages, poor line work... And Bendis's writing here isn't that impressive. The fight construction is generic, the villains lack personality, and there's that standard comics trope of 'power equals the ability to fight well' cropping up. [**]
Batman #9: The narration to this issue made me want to enter the comic, walk up to Batman and remind him that he's not actually a bat and those people he's fighting aren't actually owls. They're all people dressed up in costumes and what costumes they choose to wear doesn't necessarily reflect the relationship those animals have. It's just so silly, man... [**3/4]
Captain America #11: Solid as always. It seems weird to want to look down on a comic that's just delivering good superhero stuff every month. Not amazing, not bad -- just good. Like that's a crime or something. [***1/4]
Fatale #5: This issue finally hooked me in a little. I'd been having a tough time getting into this series, not convinced that all of the elements cohered well. There's a lot of mystery still there, but seeing that there was an actual point to everything goes a long way sometimes, even if that point isn't 100% clear. But, still, this remains the Sean Phillips and Dave Stewart show. [***1/2]
Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #9: Alberto Ponticelli works with a new inker this time out and the results are messier than Walden Wong's efforts, but it's still too wide open, too empty. Ponticelli's art when he inked himself was darker, used blacks more, which complemented his demented line work. Take that away and figures wind up looking awkward -- too bright somehow. Not the best issue as far as writing goes either. [**3/4]
Fury MAX #1: That first page... fuck me... I love it. It's Ennis and Parlov back together, doing their thing. It would be too much to hope it lasts forever, right? [****]
Hell Yeah #3: I think this series is hitting its groove for me finally. (Like three issues in deserves a 'finally...') Thus far, it felt a little meandering and scattered, not able to fit enough into an issue to make it feel worthwhile entirely, but, here, Joe Keatinge hits a really great balance across the issue, especially introducing a plot twist that seems to work at cross purpose to last issue's plot twist. I knew having a little patience would pay off here... (Or, maybe it's learning that Keatinge is a wrestling fan. That could be it...) [***3/4]
Hulk Smash Avengers #2: It's like reading an ultra-compressed version of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes 3" or something... I love how well Joe Casey can jump in and capture a period of Avengers history so completely. The scene with the Vision and Scarlet Witch served no purpose except fitting this issue into context. Casey takes a very character-driven approach and, more than a lot of flashbacks, it makes this feel almost like a genuine 'lost' issue. Max Fiumara's art is a bit hit or miss at times, but I love the way he draws the fight. [***3/4]
Journey into Mystery #637: An improvement over Exiled #1. Almost interesting enough for me to buy next week's New Mutants. Some of the 'Asgardians as humans' bits didn't work completely, forcing it a bit. Still, more worthwhile that it seemed a week ago. [***]
Mystery in Space #1: The third Vertigo anthology like this in the past couple of years and, like the previous ones, it's a hit-or-miss affair. Mostly mediocre SF stories with the odd one that's better than the rest and one that I didn't get past the second page of before giving up. What happened to Paul Pope's contribution, though? The lack of it is the most disappointing part about this book. [**3/4]
The Ultimates #10: The creative team switch begins here with Sam Humphries joining Jonathan Hickman as co-writer for a short transitional period before he takes over entirely. There isn't a noticeable shift in writing yet. The opening pages showing Washington before it was blown up, though, are an utter waste. Otherwise, this was a quieter issue of response to what's happened and gearing up for some more big stuff. Esad Ribic and Dean White's absence is what hurts. This series just took a big downgrade in art and it affects the reading experience quite a bit. What bugs me most is when, later in the issue, Luke Ross and Matthew Wilson's art begins to resemble the Steve McNiven plastic people. Gone are the lush colours and exquisite line work that made this comic stand out (along with Hickman's insane writing); left is something that looks so much more typical and dull. [***]
Later
Avengers Assemble #3: Given how well Bendis wrote Thanos when he 'appeared' in Avengers last year, I'm not exactly thrilled to see him pop up here. That appearance was Dr. Strange posing as Thanos, though, so, hopefully, Bendis does a better job this time around. Then again, Thanos is one of those characters that I have a hard time reading when he's not written by Jim Starlin. Other writers don't seem to quite grasp the character or what he's about the same way. Reading this issue, I wonder if I would have liked it more if any artist other than Mark Bagley drew it. Yes, of course. Ugly fucking comic. Cluttered pages, poor line work... And Bendis's writing here isn't that impressive. The fight construction is generic, the villains lack personality, and there's that standard comics trope of 'power equals the ability to fight well' cropping up. [**]
Batman #9: The narration to this issue made me want to enter the comic, walk up to Batman and remind him that he's not actually a bat and those people he's fighting aren't actually owls. They're all people dressed up in costumes and what costumes they choose to wear doesn't necessarily reflect the relationship those animals have. It's just so silly, man... [**3/4]
Captain America #11: Solid as always. It seems weird to want to look down on a comic that's just delivering good superhero stuff every month. Not amazing, not bad -- just good. Like that's a crime or something. [***1/4]
Fatale #5: This issue finally hooked me in a little. I'd been having a tough time getting into this series, not convinced that all of the elements cohered well. There's a lot of mystery still there, but seeing that there was an actual point to everything goes a long way sometimes, even if that point isn't 100% clear. But, still, this remains the Sean Phillips and Dave Stewart show. [***1/2]
Frankenstein, Agent of SHADE #9: Alberto Ponticelli works with a new inker this time out and the results are messier than Walden Wong's efforts, but it's still too wide open, too empty. Ponticelli's art when he inked himself was darker, used blacks more, which complemented his demented line work. Take that away and figures wind up looking awkward -- too bright somehow. Not the best issue as far as writing goes either. [**3/4]
Fury MAX #1: That first page... fuck me... I love it. It's Ennis and Parlov back together, doing their thing. It would be too much to hope it lasts forever, right? [****]
Hell Yeah #3: I think this series is hitting its groove for me finally. (Like three issues in deserves a 'finally...') Thus far, it felt a little meandering and scattered, not able to fit enough into an issue to make it feel worthwhile entirely, but, here, Joe Keatinge hits a really great balance across the issue, especially introducing a plot twist that seems to work at cross purpose to last issue's plot twist. I knew having a little patience would pay off here... (Or, maybe it's learning that Keatinge is a wrestling fan. That could be it...) [***3/4]
Hulk Smash Avengers #2: It's like reading an ultra-compressed version of "Earth's Mightiest Heroes 3" or something... I love how well Joe Casey can jump in and capture a period of Avengers history so completely. The scene with the Vision and Scarlet Witch served no purpose except fitting this issue into context. Casey takes a very character-driven approach and, more than a lot of flashbacks, it makes this feel almost like a genuine 'lost' issue. Max Fiumara's art is a bit hit or miss at times, but I love the way he draws the fight. [***3/4]
Journey into Mystery #637: An improvement over Exiled #1. Almost interesting enough for me to buy next week's New Mutants. Some of the 'Asgardians as humans' bits didn't work completely, forcing it a bit. Still, more worthwhile that it seemed a week ago. [***]
Mystery in Space #1: The third Vertigo anthology like this in the past couple of years and, like the previous ones, it's a hit-or-miss affair. Mostly mediocre SF stories with the odd one that's better than the rest and one that I didn't get past the second page of before giving up. What happened to Paul Pope's contribution, though? The lack of it is the most disappointing part about this book. [**3/4]
The Ultimates #10: The creative team switch begins here with Sam Humphries joining Jonathan Hickman as co-writer for a short transitional period before he takes over entirely. There isn't a noticeable shift in writing yet. The opening pages showing Washington before it was blown up, though, are an utter waste. Otherwise, this was a quieter issue of response to what's happened and gearing up for some more big stuff. Esad Ribic and Dean White's absence is what hurts. This series just took a big downgrade in art and it affects the reading experience quite a bit. What bugs me most is when, later in the issue, Luke Ross and Matthew Wilson's art begins to resemble the Steve McNiven plastic people. Gone are the lush colours and exquisite line work that made this comic stand out (along with Hickman's insane writing); left is something that looks so much more typical and dull. [***]
Later
Thursday, April 19, 2012
EXCLUSIVE! Chad Nevett's Comic Book Mini-Reviews and Star Ratings for the Week of April 18, 2012
Things conspire against me today. First, there's the Sickness that makes sitting up and writing problematic (so this week's "Riding the Gravy Train" post will be delayed somewhat). Then, there's Blogger changing its layout from something simple that I knew well having used it for many, many years to something that I'll probably learn to love but hate right now. I hate how nothing online can just stay the same. Especially when most of the time it seems like change for change sake -- which I don't mind when it's someone's site that I'm simply getting content from, but, when it's a site I use for my own purposes, it's annoying. Ah well. Let's get to the very brief EXCLUSIVE! mini-reviews and star ratings so I can go back to the couch or the bed... whichever one seems more appealing.
Batman #8: "Night of the Owls" begins and it's not exactly a story I've made any secret about not loving the premise of. The execution has been good so far, it's more my immediate distaste for 'hidden threats from the past' and that always seeming like a lazy way to establish someone or something. Hell, I would have preferred it if this organisation had only been around for a couple of years and hadn't revealed itself, because it had been stalking Batman, learning Gotham's secrets, etc. A subtle change, but one that is less distasteful than the 'I never knew my city at all' melodrama we're forced to deal with. Ignore that and this is a fun, entertaining comic. I'm not sure what you do with a city whose major public figures have all been killed -- then again, people die in Gotham all of the time and it always returns to the same old place. The back-up piece was a nice addition to the story. [***1/4]
Batman: Odyssey #13: That was all kinds of fucked up. The pages of the Rogues Gallery reacting to Batman gunning someone down was worth the entire series. It was like Neal Adams showed the gunshot page to some hardcore Batman fans, took pictures of their faces, and used those to draw the bad guys. I need to reread this entire series. SWOOP![****]
The Defenders #5: "The ocean's too big for police." Okay, Namor doesn't say that, but... you suck, Namor. Also, where's my translation of the bottom of the page text? Internet, you owe me that! [***3/4]
The Manhattan Projects #2: I'm surprised at how much I just enjoy reading this series. Two issues in and I have had a blast with each issue. I love this shit. [****]
Prophet #24: Last week, I accidentally bought a second printing of issue 22 thinking that this issue had come out a week early (it was in my pull file!) and, this week, they also stuck a copy of the second printing of issue 23 in my file with this issue. I think my shop is trying to trick me... Anyway, an unexpected 'twist' for the story, but one that makes a lot of sense. I love the subtle aging of this John Prophet. Given that my major experience with Dalrymple's art is Omega the Unknown, it seems fitting he's drawing another comic with weird doppelgangers. [****]
The Shadow #1: Because I'll give almost anything Garth Ennis writes a try... (And because there were no rack copies of the new issue of Punisher, so I didn't feel like I was 'losing' money...) This was alright. Nothing special, but I did like the opening quite a bit. From there, I grew less engaged. If I see issue two in my shop next month, I may give it a shot.
Wonder Woman #8: Not that I wanted to see Diana shooting off those guns, but that cover is a total lie. A lying cover! I really enjoyed how this issue continued the idea of Diana learning that assumptions or things she thinks to be true aren't necessarily so -- this time with the role of those in the underworld. The end of the issue was one of those cliffhanger/twists that genuinely hit me. When that bullet goes through... jesus. [****]
As I said at the beginning, no timeline on this week's "Riding the Gravy Train." I'd expect it sometime during the weekend or Monday most likely.
Later
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Sketch Reviews (March 21 2012)
Smaller week, so I picked up a couple of recent issues based on some good buzz from some people...
Age of Apocalypse #1: It was pointed out to me that I might dig this and it was alright. The rough-around-the-edges elements worked quite well -- and the art matched the writing's tone. Based on feeling alone, this comic had me. Based on plot... well, I couldn't care less. There doesn't seem to be much of one besides a bunch of sad, deluded people thinking they can make a difference. I automatically want to root against them for some reason... I think I'll check out the next issue or two, though... [***1/4]
Batman #7: If ever there were a series that pulled me in two directions at once... I'm not, in general, a fan of plots that hinge on unknown threats from a character's past or that have always been there but not mentioned. This is no exception. The Court of Owls does nothing to engage me. They exist for no reason that we can see... besides something supposedly big and scary that can 'reveal the truth about Gotham' to Batman (whatever the fuck that means). Except by having them appear out of nowhere, apparently always there, is a cheap way to build them up without having to do the work. I had the same issue with Fear Itself. Except... all they've managed to do is be idiots in dumb masks that seem obsessed with... something? Dick's reaction to the new that his great-grandfather was a Talon ("Who cares?" basically) is mine most of the time. There's almost a sense where I keep waiting for Bruce to just sort of shrug and laugh about the idiots hiding and pretending like they're big and scary while the world goes on without them... But, ignoring all of that, this is an entertaining comic at times. Decent little scenes or moments. This issue not as much, but the issues leading here. In many ways, it's a better comic once you stop paying attention and ignore the specific details, just taking in the atmosphere and broad strokes. Because it's got good atmosphere. [***]
Batman: Odyssey vol. 2 #6: Jesus... what is this comic even about? It's like Neal Adams doesn't even know and is just throwing out whatever he wants... Clark asking about stuff that Bruce skipped over seems less a character moment than Adams smacking his head and going "I can't believe I forgot..." Weird cuts rule this issue. Though, I do like how Alfred seems to side with Ra's al Ghul. That's amusing. My main question: why does Clark have a band-aid on? [***]
Green Arrow #7: This comic has great forward momentum. Every scene just hums along, driving forward, very energetic. Another comic where the plot doesn't matter to me at all, because simply going along for the ride was pretty fun. [***3/4]
Prophet #23: Last issue seemed almost relaxed compared to this. Not quite a 'chase' comic, it comes close. John Prophet just scrambling and driving himself forward no matter the cost or the danger... and then he accomplishes his mission... and none of it feels like a victory. Remarkable. [****]
Uncanny X-Men #9: Along with Avengers: X-Sanction #4 (which I'll hopefully discuss tomorrow in the start of something), the tease for Avengers vs. X-Men pick up before next week's zero issue. Whereas X-Sanction introduces a point of conflict, this is like the last hurrah of everyone being cool and having fun in a good ol' fashioned superhero team-up. I'm glad that Kieron Gillen did this -- and in a way that called back to SWORD logically. Though, minor quibble... those aren't exactly the Avengers. Or are the two teams basically one big team? [***1/2]
Wonder Woman #7: A case of expanding upon the backstory of characters in a manner that feels organic and not necessarily the crux of the story, but a means for the real story to occur. Or maybe I just think Azzarello does it so well that I don't care? It's not a hard and fast rule, it's a preference. I don't like vampires or zombies usually, but that doesn't mean I'm not up for some top notch stuff involving either. Also, I'm a hypocrite. [****]
Later
Age of Apocalypse #1: It was pointed out to me that I might dig this and it was alright. The rough-around-the-edges elements worked quite well -- and the art matched the writing's tone. Based on feeling alone, this comic had me. Based on plot... well, I couldn't care less. There doesn't seem to be much of one besides a bunch of sad, deluded people thinking they can make a difference. I automatically want to root against them for some reason... I think I'll check out the next issue or two, though... [***1/4]
Batman #7: If ever there were a series that pulled me in two directions at once... I'm not, in general, a fan of plots that hinge on unknown threats from a character's past or that have always been there but not mentioned. This is no exception. The Court of Owls does nothing to engage me. They exist for no reason that we can see... besides something supposedly big and scary that can 'reveal the truth about Gotham' to Batman (whatever the fuck that means). Except by having them appear out of nowhere, apparently always there, is a cheap way to build them up without having to do the work. I had the same issue with Fear Itself. Except... all they've managed to do is be idiots in dumb masks that seem obsessed with... something? Dick's reaction to the new that his great-grandfather was a Talon ("Who cares?" basically) is mine most of the time. There's almost a sense where I keep waiting for Bruce to just sort of shrug and laugh about the idiots hiding and pretending like they're big and scary while the world goes on without them... But, ignoring all of that, this is an entertaining comic at times. Decent little scenes or moments. This issue not as much, but the issues leading here. In many ways, it's a better comic once you stop paying attention and ignore the specific details, just taking in the atmosphere and broad strokes. Because it's got good atmosphere. [***]
Batman: Odyssey vol. 2 #6: Jesus... what is this comic even about? It's like Neal Adams doesn't even know and is just throwing out whatever he wants... Clark asking about stuff that Bruce skipped over seems less a character moment than Adams smacking his head and going "I can't believe I forgot..." Weird cuts rule this issue. Though, I do like how Alfred seems to side with Ra's al Ghul. That's amusing. My main question: why does Clark have a band-aid on? [***]
Green Arrow #7: This comic has great forward momentum. Every scene just hums along, driving forward, very energetic. Another comic where the plot doesn't matter to me at all, because simply going along for the ride was pretty fun. [***3/4]
Prophet #23: Last issue seemed almost relaxed compared to this. Not quite a 'chase' comic, it comes close. John Prophet just scrambling and driving himself forward no matter the cost or the danger... and then he accomplishes his mission... and none of it feels like a victory. Remarkable. [****]
Uncanny X-Men #9: Along with Avengers: X-Sanction #4 (which I'll hopefully discuss tomorrow in the start of something), the tease for Avengers vs. X-Men pick up before next week's zero issue. Whereas X-Sanction introduces a point of conflict, this is like the last hurrah of everyone being cool and having fun in a good ol' fashioned superhero team-up. I'm glad that Kieron Gillen did this -- and in a way that called back to SWORD logically. Though, minor quibble... those aren't exactly the Avengers. Or are the two teams basically one big team? [***1/2]
Wonder Woman #7: A case of expanding upon the backstory of characters in a manner that feels organic and not necessarily the crux of the story, but a means for the real story to occur. Or maybe I just think Azzarello does it so well that I don't care? It's not a hard and fast rule, it's a preference. I don't like vampires or zombies usually, but that doesn't mean I'm not up for some top notch stuff involving either. Also, I'm a hypocrite. [****]
Later
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Sketch Reviews (November 16 2011)
Keeping things extra sketchy this week...
Avengers #19: Interesting new line-up. Even though he created her, Daisy Johnson doesn't 'feel' like a Bendis character anymore, does she? I chuckled at the Vision taken aback by Red Hulk. Or, Spider-Man and Wolverine realising that they're not on this team anymore. Daniel Acuna does some fine work. I kind of wish this issue and issue 18 switched covers, though. That final panel is a killer -- totally unfair. [***3/4]
The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #5: A strong follow-up to last issue. Ennis wasn't lying when he said this would be a great series. And Darick Robertson handles the emotion fantastically. [****]
Captain America #4: As always, when a weird different reality is introduced, I immediately lose all interest in the REAL world. I could read many comics about Captain America's different 'dream worlds' that reflect his best hopes and his worst nightmares. Digging Steve McNiven's art... [***1/2]
Deadpool MAX II #2: When this series ends, we can have Cable MAX, yes? Fun game: when the preview for Avengers: X-Sanction starts, pretend it's part of this comic! [****1/2]
Severed #4: Gorgeous art and wonderful interplay of characters. The scene in the diner was just horrible -- in that good way, you know? [****]
Wonder Woman #3: I really enjoyed this issue. I don't have much to say beyond that. [****]
Later
Avengers #19: Interesting new line-up. Even though he created her, Daisy Johnson doesn't 'feel' like a Bendis character anymore, does she? I chuckled at the Vision taken aback by Red Hulk. Or, Spider-Man and Wolverine realising that they're not on this team anymore. Daniel Acuna does some fine work. I kind of wish this issue and issue 18 switched covers, though. That final panel is a killer -- totally unfair. [***3/4]
The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #5: A strong follow-up to last issue. Ennis wasn't lying when he said this would be a great series. And Darick Robertson handles the emotion fantastically. [****]
Captain America #4: As always, when a weird different reality is introduced, I immediately lose all interest in the REAL world. I could read many comics about Captain America's different 'dream worlds' that reflect his best hopes and his worst nightmares. Digging Steve McNiven's art... [***1/2]
Deadpool MAX II #2: When this series ends, we can have Cable MAX, yes? Fun game: when the preview for Avengers: X-Sanction starts, pretend it's part of this comic! [****1/2]
Severed #4: Gorgeous art and wonderful interplay of characters. The scene in the diner was just horrible -- in that good way, you know? [****]
Wonder Woman #3: I really enjoyed this issue. I don't have much to say beyond that. [****]
Later
CBR Review: Batman #3
I recently reviewed Batman #3 and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Writer Scott Snyder, to his credit, is following the Batman formula to a degree, with this issue simply representing the most formulaic part of the story: a mysterious threat has revealed itself by trying to kill Bruce Wayne, and Batman follows up using a healthy mix of beatings, detective work and coincidental happenings. What can be done to spice things up and make Batman beating down a gang of thugs before intimidating a man for information yet again? Adding some metal face masks is Snyder's solution, along with some backstory on the gang, adding a little color to Greg Capullo's drawings of Batman making these supposedly hard, scary, professional thugs look like rank amateurs."You can read the rest HERE! (Or, compare the two reviews CBR has for this issue!)
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Sketch Reviews (November 3 2011)
Part three of the first Direct Message is below. Finally have two days off in a row, so these may be extra brief. I just began the final season of Married... With Children and have the urge to just plow through it. Then there's 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami and the time spent listening to Lulu by Lou Reed & Metallica (review at 411mania should be up tonight or tomorrow)... busy days. But in that good way.
Action Comics #3: What a cynical comic. The media turns everyone against Superman and the cops in Metropolis are openly corrupt. Is Morrison still in Batman mode or something? Also: goddamn, Rags Morales's art is awful. Sloppy, shitty work. (That's not terribly 'professional,' but it's about 300% more accurate than any 'professionally' worded critique.) The first issue that didn't quite work for both tonal and artistic reasons. [**3/4]
Animal Man #3: You know what DC loves more than Crises? Putting their heroes into longstanding legacies and groups. Every hero falls somewhere in a line. No one is new. No one is original. Everyone is in a family or a corps or a league that stretches back to the beginning of time. Hey, fuck you, Alan Moore. You ruined it. You fucked up. (Actually, I dug this issue. Foreman's art continues to get more fucked up and crazy, which suits the horror writing of Lemire. Lemire avoiding long bits of exposition is also impressive.) [****]
Avengers 1959 #3: Man, even before Doom, Latveria was fucked up. Two soldiers see an attractive girl and immediately begin arguing over the order in which they plan to rape her. What I love is that their argument sounds more like they're arguing over who will get the next round of drinks. Just a casual, friendly argument, because raping women together is not something out of the ordinary for these guys. That's fucked up. (In Chaykin-related news, I also got a full run of Cyberella, the comic he did with Don Cameron for the short-lived DC sci-fi imprint Helix. The complete run was marked at $10, but Retailer Tim gave it to me for five bucks. Good man that Retailer Tim.) [***1/2]
The Boys #60: The opening two pages are harsh. Wolverine killed the president. Mother's Milk life continues to be fucked. The revenge of the '90s. Decent issue. [***1/2]
Fear Itself #7.1: James is alive and I don't mind one bit. I love the people annoyed because it was a fake-out... when were they supposed to tell you? It only happened, like, four months ago. That's how fake-outs work. If they tell you right away then it's not a fake-out. The art here is fantastic. The writing was serviceable, though. So plot-driven that there wasn't much room for anything else. Good comic that was a nice little surprise with a great character still on the table. I assume Winter Soldier will replace Captain America & Bucky, because no one is stupid enough to think three ongoings featuring those characters could last. Two is pushing it. [***1/2]
Men of War #3: Just enjoy the ride, son... [***1/4]
Moon Knight #7: Oh, that guy an issue or two ago was meant to be Count Nefaria. I totally didn't get that, because, while talented, Alex Maleev doesn't draw characters so that they look like previous depctions. Ever. Entertaining comic. [***1/2]
Swamp Thing #3: The exposition train keeps a'rollin'... The art fill-ins were decent, but the writing was a bit plodding in spots. Snyder needs to find a way to either cut down on the exposition dumps or make them fit more organically into the book. Then again, this issue has that fantastic single page. You know which one it is. [***1/4]
Later
Action Comics #3: What a cynical comic. The media turns everyone against Superman and the cops in Metropolis are openly corrupt. Is Morrison still in Batman mode or something? Also: goddamn, Rags Morales's art is awful. Sloppy, shitty work. (That's not terribly 'professional,' but it's about 300% more accurate than any 'professionally' worded critique.) The first issue that didn't quite work for both tonal and artistic reasons. [**3/4]
Animal Man #3: You know what DC loves more than Crises? Putting their heroes into longstanding legacies and groups. Every hero falls somewhere in a line. No one is new. No one is original. Everyone is in a family or a corps or a league that stretches back to the beginning of time. Hey, fuck you, Alan Moore. You ruined it. You fucked up. (Actually, I dug this issue. Foreman's art continues to get more fucked up and crazy, which suits the horror writing of Lemire. Lemire avoiding long bits of exposition is also impressive.) [****]
Avengers 1959 #3: Man, even before Doom, Latveria was fucked up. Two soldiers see an attractive girl and immediately begin arguing over the order in which they plan to rape her. What I love is that their argument sounds more like they're arguing over who will get the next round of drinks. Just a casual, friendly argument, because raping women together is not something out of the ordinary for these guys. That's fucked up. (In Chaykin-related news, I also got a full run of Cyberella, the comic he did with Don Cameron for the short-lived DC sci-fi imprint Helix. The complete run was marked at $10, but Retailer Tim gave it to me for five bucks. Good man that Retailer Tim.) [***1/2]
The Boys #60: The opening two pages are harsh. Wolverine killed the president. Mother's Milk life continues to be fucked. The revenge of the '90s. Decent issue. [***1/2]
Fear Itself #7.1: James is alive and I don't mind one bit. I love the people annoyed because it was a fake-out... when were they supposed to tell you? It only happened, like, four months ago. That's how fake-outs work. If they tell you right away then it's not a fake-out. The art here is fantastic. The writing was serviceable, though. So plot-driven that there wasn't much room for anything else. Good comic that was a nice little surprise with a great character still on the table. I assume Winter Soldier will replace Captain America & Bucky, because no one is stupid enough to think three ongoings featuring those characters could last. Two is pushing it. [***1/2]
Men of War #3: Just enjoy the ride, son... [***1/4]
Moon Knight #7: Oh, that guy an issue or two ago was meant to be Count Nefaria. I totally didn't get that, because, while talented, Alex Maleev doesn't draw characters so that they look like previous depctions. Ever. Entertaining comic. [***1/2]
Swamp Thing #3: The exposition train keeps a'rollin'... The art fill-ins were decent, but the writing was a bit plodding in spots. Snyder needs to find a way to either cut down on the exposition dumps or make them fit more organically into the book. Then again, this issue has that fantastic single page. You know which one it is. [***1/4]
Later
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Sketch Reviews (October 20 2011)
It's a week with new comics from Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, David Lapham/Kyle Baker, and Joe Casey/Nick Dragotta. Give me a hell yeah.
Avengers #18: "Who will be the new Avengers?" I don't know, because that's not in the fucking comic. Man, fuck you and your bullshit covers. Either get Bendis to actually confine himself to a single issue or read the comic before you write the cover copy. I liked the issue fine, but am sick of shit like this. It happens all of the time with Bendis's Avengers stuff and I don't understand how. The guy is seven years ahead on scripts! He's probably the only writer who turns in complete scripts before the covers are drawn. Why do you lie to me like that, Marvel? Huh? I'm already buying the comic. It's on my pull list. And, if it weren't, I wouldn't come back next time. I'm tempted not to as it is. I didn't expect a new lineup until your cover told me there would be one -- and then the comic didn't have one. It just had Cap asking that question as the final scene with the Avengers. That's fucked up. You're goddamn professionals and you do amateurish shit like this all of the time. Fuck. [I liked the comic, but refuse to give it a good rating officially after that...]
Avengers 1959: #2: There are no scene transitions. I'm not sure there's any cause and effect. I still hate the colouring. [***1/2]
Batman #2: Damn you, David Brothers. You know what you did. A fine comic, except for the stuff with fancy "soon to be mayor" man and his life story that parallels Bruce's down to the detail. Sure, the details are changed, but they're the same details. That's not clever aside from how it was meant to make us think he's evil and then SWERVE he's stabbed! Also, the Bruce/Dick relationship is beyond fucked up. [***1/4]
Fear Itself #7: I almost did my Random Thoughts this week on Holy Terror instead of Fear Itself. I changed my mind for a few reasons, including wanting an excuse to reread Fear Itself before the final issue came out. What I found more surprising than how snarky the post turned out to be is that I've yet to receive a single comment defending the series. Not one. In fact, I've had a few that basically said "I was thinking about buying this in trades and, now, I won't." Not my intention, but somewhat troubling for Marvel's big event, don't you think? And that brings us to the final issue. Tony didn't make Steve a weapon because his shield is totally awesome... except it was destroyed. Thor gets killed by... falling from a great height after being dropped from great heights so many times in this series that he made a joke about it (and that's not foreshadowing, that's making your payoff lame). Steve grabs Thor's hammer and isn't transformed at all even though everyone who grabs it (aside from Odin) is transformed. And Odin is sad, so he's told his people to fuck off so he can mope in his room with his dead brother. And the evil hammers got sucked up into the great Deux Ex Machina in the sky before one of the 'epilogues' (previews) shows that the force inside one of them has escaped conveniently. Well, at least it shipped on time... (I did like Immonen's art. But, that's a given.) [**]
Journey into Mystery #629: A recipe for disaster: Kieron Gillen writing purple prose over top of Whilce Portacio's art. [**]
Uncanny X-Men #544: Okay, that Mr. Sinister stuff was funny. He writes the book until he's destroyed and an identical body takes over -- NOTHING EVER CHANGES! Except, of course, when Cyclops basically says at the end that going back to the school is creative devolution. Kieron Gillen using the final issue of Uncanny X-Men to trash the X-offices? Now, I'm sure he (and many) would say that's a misreading -- if it is, what's the proper one? I'm glad I bought this issue. The art is horrible, but it may have convinced me to check out the relaunch of this book in addition to Wolverine & the X-Men. [****]
Vengeance #4: Four classic villain covers; one villain that still looks like the cover. I'm surprised how much this issue stuck with the Young Masters of Evil. LADRONN! Loki thinks girls are yucky. Of course I loved this comic. Did you expect otherwise? [****1/2]
Wonder Woman #2: Is Wonder Woman ever drawn with a belly button? That question occurred to me. Then again, do we ever see her bare midriff? Maybe, if she were born from clay, her mother would have put a belly button on so she felt normal, though. I don't know. Cliff Chiang rocks it on this issue. Excellent fight sequence. Azzarello's writing isn't as obtuse as the first issue's. This may quickly become that ONE book I've wanted from the DC relaunch. It's close. [****1/4]
Later
Avengers #18: "Who will be the new Avengers?" I don't know, because that's not in the fucking comic. Man, fuck you and your bullshit covers. Either get Bendis to actually confine himself to a single issue or read the comic before you write the cover copy. I liked the issue fine, but am sick of shit like this. It happens all of the time with Bendis's Avengers stuff and I don't understand how. The guy is seven years ahead on scripts! He's probably the only writer who turns in complete scripts before the covers are drawn. Why do you lie to me like that, Marvel? Huh? I'm already buying the comic. It's on my pull list. And, if it weren't, I wouldn't come back next time. I'm tempted not to as it is. I didn't expect a new lineup until your cover told me there would be one -- and then the comic didn't have one. It just had Cap asking that question as the final scene with the Avengers. That's fucked up. You're goddamn professionals and you do amateurish shit like this all of the time. Fuck. [I liked the comic, but refuse to give it a good rating officially after that...]
Avengers 1959: #2: There are no scene transitions. I'm not sure there's any cause and effect. I still hate the colouring. [***1/2]
Batman #2: Damn you, David Brothers. You know what you did. A fine comic, except for the stuff with fancy "soon to be mayor" man and his life story that parallels Bruce's down to the detail. Sure, the details are changed, but they're the same details. That's not clever aside from how it was meant to make us think he's evil and then SWERVE he's stabbed! Also, the Bruce/Dick relationship is beyond fucked up. [***1/4]
Fear Itself #7: I almost did my Random Thoughts this week on Holy Terror instead of Fear Itself. I changed my mind for a few reasons, including wanting an excuse to reread Fear Itself before the final issue came out. What I found more surprising than how snarky the post turned out to be is that I've yet to receive a single comment defending the series. Not one. In fact, I've had a few that basically said "I was thinking about buying this in trades and, now, I won't." Not my intention, but somewhat troubling for Marvel's big event, don't you think? And that brings us to the final issue. Tony didn't make Steve a weapon because his shield is totally awesome... except it was destroyed. Thor gets killed by... falling from a great height after being dropped from great heights so many times in this series that he made a joke about it (and that's not foreshadowing, that's making your payoff lame). Steve grabs Thor's hammer and isn't transformed at all even though everyone who grabs it (aside from Odin) is transformed. And Odin is sad, so he's told his people to fuck off so he can mope in his room with his dead brother. And the evil hammers got sucked up into the great Deux Ex Machina in the sky before one of the 'epilogues' (previews) shows that the force inside one of them has escaped conveniently. Well, at least it shipped on time... (I did like Immonen's art. But, that's a given.) [**]
Journey into Mystery #629: A recipe for disaster: Kieron Gillen writing purple prose over top of Whilce Portacio's art. [**]
Uncanny X-Men #544: Okay, that Mr. Sinister stuff was funny. He writes the book until he's destroyed and an identical body takes over -- NOTHING EVER CHANGES! Except, of course, when Cyclops basically says at the end that going back to the school is creative devolution. Kieron Gillen using the final issue of Uncanny X-Men to trash the X-offices? Now, I'm sure he (and many) would say that's a misreading -- if it is, what's the proper one? I'm glad I bought this issue. The art is horrible, but it may have convinced me to check out the relaunch of this book in addition to Wolverine & the X-Men. [****]
Vengeance #4: Four classic villain covers; one villain that still looks like the cover. I'm surprised how much this issue stuck with the Young Masters of Evil. LADRONN! Loki thinks girls are yucky. Of course I loved this comic. Did you expect otherwise? [****1/2]
Wonder Woman #2: Is Wonder Woman ever drawn with a belly button? That question occurred to me. Then again, do we ever see her bare midriff? Maybe, if she were born from clay, her mother would have put a belly button on so she felt normal, though. I don't know. Cliff Chiang rocks it on this issue. Excellent fight sequence. Azzarello's writing isn't as obtuse as the first issue's. This may quickly become that ONE book I've wanted from the DC relaunch. It's close. [****1/4]
Later
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
Sketch Reviews (October 5 2011)
My work schedule is normally Saturdays and Sundays 8am-8pm along with Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-6pm. This week, they needed me on Monday and Tuesday, so I'm off until Saturday for a nice change of pace... and three straight days of no work. It also meant getting comics on Wednesday. I've done that occasionally after work when my hours were moved up to 8am-4pm, but I haven't gotten then when the store opened in quite some time. Rather nice. So, let's get some sketch reviews out of the way as I have CBR reviews to write...
Animal Man #2: Travel Foreman's art seemed more consistent this time out and I rather like the way Jeff Lemire writes Maxine. She's a creepy little kid. Hell, this comic is creepy as hell. Really digging it. [****]
The Boys #59: Christ... those final pages... Hughie's angry tirade was pretty awesome, too. Nice to see him standing up for himself. But those final pages... not just the writing either. Russ Braun absolutely destroys those pages with the dead, calm look. Wow. [****]
Men of War #2: Not as engaging at the first issue. I really liked the opening of the issue, but the rest never quite got 'there.' I didn't bother with the back-up story this time. [**3/4]
Moon Knight #6: Last issue left me a little uneasy over Echo wailing on Moon Knight how she did and this issue helped that a bit. The Avengers showing up allowed for some pretty good visual gags surrounding Cap, Spider-Man, and Wolverine. I didn't recognise the 'Kingpin.' Should I have? [***3/4]
OMAC #2: I liked this more than the first issue. Maybe my expectations had shifted enough. I went expecting some big dumb action and, when I got it, ate it up. I wasn't sure about adding this to my pull list, but I think I will. Especially considering I got the last rack copy today... shortly after twelve when my store opens at twelve. [***1/2]
Severed #3: The tension was built masterfully with the bear trap scene. Wow. It's not too often I get a little nervous while reading a comic -- but I did here. Wonderful. [****]
Stormwatch #2: This issue was a step up from the first one. Mostly, it was helped by just getting on with everything and not worrying about explanations as much. Or, trying to write faux-Ellis dialogue. I really hate that new Midnighter costume, though. Harry is turning out to be an interesting character. I like the level of backstabbing and bastardness in the team... without it seeming like they hate one another. They just have their own agendas. Glad I came back for this issue after being disappointed with the debut. [***1/2]
Swamp Thing #2: Good villain... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fucking exposition. I like the idea of trying to keep everything, even the contradictions, from Swamp Thing's past... but it does make this issue a bit of a chore to read in parts. Second issue and where other books are getting on with it, this one is giving a long history lesson. Paquette handled the horror aspect a bit better this time, I thought -- if only for that panel of the baby/little kid. [***]
I also picked up the trade of the first volume of American Vampire. Only read the first issue and liked it.
Later
Animal Man #2: Travel Foreman's art seemed more consistent this time out and I rather like the way Jeff Lemire writes Maxine. She's a creepy little kid. Hell, this comic is creepy as hell. Really digging it. [****]
The Boys #59: Christ... those final pages... Hughie's angry tirade was pretty awesome, too. Nice to see him standing up for himself. But those final pages... not just the writing either. Russ Braun absolutely destroys those pages with the dead, calm look. Wow. [****]
Men of War #2: Not as engaging at the first issue. I really liked the opening of the issue, but the rest never quite got 'there.' I didn't bother with the back-up story this time. [**3/4]
Moon Knight #6: Last issue left me a little uneasy over Echo wailing on Moon Knight how she did and this issue helped that a bit. The Avengers showing up allowed for some pretty good visual gags surrounding Cap, Spider-Man, and Wolverine. I didn't recognise the 'Kingpin.' Should I have? [***3/4]
OMAC #2: I liked this more than the first issue. Maybe my expectations had shifted enough. I went expecting some big dumb action and, when I got it, ate it up. I wasn't sure about adding this to my pull list, but I think I will. Especially considering I got the last rack copy today... shortly after twelve when my store opens at twelve. [***1/2]
Severed #3: The tension was built masterfully with the bear trap scene. Wow. It's not too often I get a little nervous while reading a comic -- but I did here. Wonderful. [****]
Stormwatch #2: This issue was a step up from the first one. Mostly, it was helped by just getting on with everything and not worrying about explanations as much. Or, trying to write faux-Ellis dialogue. I really hate that new Midnighter costume, though. Harry is turning out to be an interesting character. I like the level of backstabbing and bastardness in the team... without it seeming like they hate one another. They just have their own agendas. Glad I came back for this issue after being disappointed with the debut. [***1/2]
Swamp Thing #2: Good villain... waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much fucking exposition. I like the idea of trying to keep everything, even the contradictions, from Swamp Thing's past... but it does make this issue a bit of a chore to read in parts. Second issue and where other books are getting on with it, this one is giving a long history lesson. Paquette handled the horror aspect a bit better this time, I thought -- if only for that panel of the baby/little kid. [***]
I also picked up the trade of the first volume of American Vampire. Only read the first issue and liked it.
Later
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Sketch Reviews (September 22 2011)
The month keeps rolling on and I find myself looking forward to next week especially. Holy Terror!, people! Hell yes. This was a good week, though, so let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Avengers #17: Yeah, I bet Noh-Varr is really scared of Tony Stark's reaction to is hacking Stark's system and controlling all of his leftover armour to fight Nazi robot war machines. I get what Bendis was doing there, but... come on. Carol's bit of dialogue about rather fighting something big and scary than facing Stark after that made me roll my eyes. Tell Tony to settle the fuck down and learn to respect his betters. I do love how this cover had nothing to do with what happens in the comic. All in all, a good fight issue with some annoying parts for anyone who doesn't have their head shoved up Marvel's ass. [***1/2]
Batman #1: This was decent. I found the art distracting and a big detraction much of the time. Capullo is fine when he's drawing Batman and Harvey Bullock... the rest of the time, though, I had no idea how old any of his characters were... or if they were actually supposed to be different people instead of strange clones. The writing is fine. I like the cliffhanger. [***1/4]
The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #3: The engaged sap in me who absolutely adores his girlfriend was all warm and fuzzy inside for much of this issue. The guy who knows what's going to happen to Becky is filled with dread. [***3/4]
Daredevil #4: Marcos Martin did some great work here. Waid's writing just floats along, drawing you in without a hint of effort. A joy to read. [****]
The Red Wing #3: At this point, I'm more interested in where it ends and how it all holds together as this has an odd structure... I'm enjoying it... I do like the idea of an alternate reality travelling to our past to save itself. [***1/2]
Severed #2: I thought my shop had forgotten me last week with regards to this issue, but, according to Scott Snyder, this only shipped to the west coast last week. That means I get it this week instead of in another week or two. Last issue, I wondered if Sam was supposed to be a boy or girl. Glad that was purposeful to a degree. Still unsettling and engaging. Curious to know where this is going. [***1/2]
Ultimate Hawkeye #2: So... Hawkeye is a superhuman... and a former convicted killer... huh... I liked Sandoval's art more in this issue than last. But I also spent more time looking at it in a pdf of the issue, so that probably plays a role in my preference. An entertaining comic, but nothing special. [**3/4]
Wonder Woman #1: One of the first titles to get a 'definite buy' response from me. When I was in the shop today, Tim the Retailer told me that I was the first person he's spoken to this week that likes Cliff Chiang's art (he does, too). I was shocked at this. But, apparently, most superhero comics readers are blind fools. Not a home run issue; an intriguing start. More about mood than character -- with the beginnings of a plot. Effective and evocative. Good stuff. [****]
X-Men: Schism #4: Part of my problem is that I don't buy Wolverine taking this position. He's too pragmatic and too smart to get so pissed off over this position. Scott was fighting Sentinels when he was those kids' age, so how is this any different? Maybe it's that Logan's position isn't being presented as fully as it should. Right now, it comes off as simplistic. Hell, he's never had any problem with the younger students getting involved with bad guys before, what's changed? That one of them had to kill? He was in a snit before last issue, though. This seems like a case of those involved having an idea of where they wanted this to end and needing to come up with a reason to get there. It feels false. Hell, Scott bringing up how Logan blows off every class he's supposed to teach was my favourite line. It just doesn't add up. Beyond that, great art, and a nice rise of tension. That the argument between Scott and Logan basically came down to Jean was good. [***1/4]
Later
Avengers #17: Yeah, I bet Noh-Varr is really scared of Tony Stark's reaction to is hacking Stark's system and controlling all of his leftover armour to fight Nazi robot war machines. I get what Bendis was doing there, but... come on. Carol's bit of dialogue about rather fighting something big and scary than facing Stark after that made me roll my eyes. Tell Tony to settle the fuck down and learn to respect his betters. I do love how this cover had nothing to do with what happens in the comic. All in all, a good fight issue with some annoying parts for anyone who doesn't have their head shoved up Marvel's ass. [***1/2]
Batman #1: This was decent. I found the art distracting and a big detraction much of the time. Capullo is fine when he's drawing Batman and Harvey Bullock... the rest of the time, though, I had no idea how old any of his characters were... or if they were actually supposed to be different people instead of strange clones. The writing is fine. I like the cliffhanger. [***1/4]
The Boys: Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker #3: The engaged sap in me who absolutely adores his girlfriend was all warm and fuzzy inside for much of this issue. The guy who knows what's going to happen to Becky is filled with dread. [***3/4]
Daredevil #4: Marcos Martin did some great work here. Waid's writing just floats along, drawing you in without a hint of effort. A joy to read. [****]
The Red Wing #3: At this point, I'm more interested in where it ends and how it all holds together as this has an odd structure... I'm enjoying it... I do like the idea of an alternate reality travelling to our past to save itself. [***1/2]
Severed #2: I thought my shop had forgotten me last week with regards to this issue, but, according to Scott Snyder, this only shipped to the west coast last week. That means I get it this week instead of in another week or two. Last issue, I wondered if Sam was supposed to be a boy or girl. Glad that was purposeful to a degree. Still unsettling and engaging. Curious to know where this is going. [***1/2]
Ultimate Hawkeye #2: So... Hawkeye is a superhuman... and a former convicted killer... huh... I liked Sandoval's art more in this issue than last. But I also spent more time looking at it in a pdf of the issue, so that probably plays a role in my preference. An entertaining comic, but nothing special. [**3/4]
Wonder Woman #1: One of the first titles to get a 'definite buy' response from me. When I was in the shop today, Tim the Retailer told me that I was the first person he's spoken to this week that likes Cliff Chiang's art (he does, too). I was shocked at this. But, apparently, most superhero comics readers are blind fools. Not a home run issue; an intriguing start. More about mood than character -- with the beginnings of a plot. Effective and evocative. Good stuff. [****]
X-Men: Schism #4: Part of my problem is that I don't buy Wolverine taking this position. He's too pragmatic and too smart to get so pissed off over this position. Scott was fighting Sentinels when he was those kids' age, so how is this any different? Maybe it's that Logan's position isn't being presented as fully as it should. Right now, it comes off as simplistic. Hell, he's never had any problem with the younger students getting involved with bad guys before, what's changed? That one of them had to kill? He was in a snit before last issue, though. This seems like a case of those involved having an idea of where they wanted this to end and needing to come up with a reason to get there. It feels false. Hell, Scott bringing up how Logan blows off every class he's supposed to teach was my favourite line. It just doesn't add up. Beyond that, great art, and a nice rise of tension. That the argument between Scott and Logan basically came down to Jean was good. [***1/4]
Later
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Sketch Reviews (September 8 2011)
Big week. One of the biggest in recent memory with all of the various #1s coming out. It helps that, for the first proper week of DC's relaunch, half of the comics I'm buying from said relaunch came out. Gives it that bigger feel than it might have had if things skewed towards the third or fourth week of the month. Random chance, I suppose. Let's get to it...
Action Comics #1: An entertaining comic. Pretty basic, actually (and, by that, I mean simple/straight forward). Still not the biggest Rags Morales fan, but some pages were really nice (others not so much). Definitely an interpretation of Superman that suits me just fine. I'm glad this is one of the first week books and second Brian Hibbs in thinking this would have been the right book to kick off the relaunch. [****]
Animal Man #1: The art is a bit hit or miss at times; the writing is spot-on. Normally, I don't really like dream sequences. Something about them seems cheap and lazy. I liked this one; it added to the horror of the book. That Lemire shifts so effortlessly between domestic bickering, slightly comedic superhero bullshit, gravely serious, loving, and horror is pretty amazing. This issue cycles through a lot of different tones without any ever feeling 'wrong' or inconsistent. This was a comic I decided to pick up more as a hunch, a guess that it would suit my tastes, and, so far, it does. [****]
Casanova: Avaritia #1: It has returned. Is it everything I hoped for? No. Is it a disappointment? No. It falls somewhere between all of that. It's been a long time since the end of the second volume (the exact time is in the issue) and it's hard to see this book completely clearly. It feels like Casanova and looks like Casanova... but, it's not the Casanova I remember. Then again, I'm not the guy who read it originally. Hard to account for how both of us changed since then. I liked a lot of it. But: the montage of alternate realities is a better idea than it plays out; that bit at the end with 'Ott' was a little too corny; and... actually, that's it. Yeah. Yeah, I liked it. [***1/2]
New Avengers annual #1: Okay, that ending is bullshit. The follow-up hasn't even been solicited, so why release this now? So it can sit in people's boxes until the second half of the story eventually comes out whenever? This was nothing pressing about this comic that it couldn't have waited for the Avengers annual to be ready. Beyond that, it left me a little cold. I just didn't believe it. Wonder Man gets together a group of losers and rejects and they take down Luke Cage's band of Avengers? Maybe if they seemed helped more by the surprise element... It was a fair fight and, somehow, those idiots won? I don't buy it. Hell, I don't even buy Wonder Man's rationale completely. Seeing Dell'otto's art coloured by someone else is interesting, though. [**1/2]
O.M.A.C. #1: Tim talking this up made me give it a look. I like Giffen's art, just not enough to get past this script that was so fucking obvious and didn't really have any meat on it. [**]
Swamp Thing #1: Was a little on the fence over this one, too. It's an interesting set up that didn't quite grab me completely. Part of the problem is the obvious horror feel this book is going for and that doesn't really play to Paquette's strengths as an artist. His line work is too clean and smooth to really convey the horror that's happening. There's a disconnect there, at least for me. Otherwise, the art is gorgeous (just not horrific) If anything, this issue felt only partially done. It ends on a good cliffhanger, but left me wanting more. Not in the 'I want to see what happens next month' way, in the 'Is that all?' way. [***]
Wolverine: Debt of Death #1: Goddamn, David Aja puts on a show here with Bettie Breitweiser (who is quickly becoming one of my favourite colourists). David Lapham's writing services the art more than anything and that's pretty much what you want from an Aja-drawn one shot, right? Lots of action, lots of mood, lots of crazy page layouts... it's a great-looking comic. [***3/4]
Later
Action Comics #1: An entertaining comic. Pretty basic, actually (and, by that, I mean simple/straight forward). Still not the biggest Rags Morales fan, but some pages were really nice (others not so much). Definitely an interpretation of Superman that suits me just fine. I'm glad this is one of the first week books and second Brian Hibbs in thinking this would have been the right book to kick off the relaunch. [****]
Animal Man #1: The art is a bit hit or miss at times; the writing is spot-on. Normally, I don't really like dream sequences. Something about them seems cheap and lazy. I liked this one; it added to the horror of the book. That Lemire shifts so effortlessly between domestic bickering, slightly comedic superhero bullshit, gravely serious, loving, and horror is pretty amazing. This issue cycles through a lot of different tones without any ever feeling 'wrong' or inconsistent. This was a comic I decided to pick up more as a hunch, a guess that it would suit my tastes, and, so far, it does. [****]
Casanova: Avaritia #1: It has returned. Is it everything I hoped for? No. Is it a disappointment? No. It falls somewhere between all of that. It's been a long time since the end of the second volume (the exact time is in the issue) and it's hard to see this book completely clearly. It feels like Casanova and looks like Casanova... but, it's not the Casanova I remember. Then again, I'm not the guy who read it originally. Hard to account for how both of us changed since then. I liked a lot of it. But: the montage of alternate realities is a better idea than it plays out; that bit at the end with 'Ott' was a little too corny; and... actually, that's it. Yeah. Yeah, I liked it. [***1/2]
New Avengers annual #1: Okay, that ending is bullshit. The follow-up hasn't even been solicited, so why release this now? So it can sit in people's boxes until the second half of the story eventually comes out whenever? This was nothing pressing about this comic that it couldn't have waited for the Avengers annual to be ready. Beyond that, it left me a little cold. I just didn't believe it. Wonder Man gets together a group of losers and rejects and they take down Luke Cage's band of Avengers? Maybe if they seemed helped more by the surprise element... It was a fair fight and, somehow, those idiots won? I don't buy it. Hell, I don't even buy Wonder Man's rationale completely. Seeing Dell'otto's art coloured by someone else is interesting, though. [**1/2]
O.M.A.C. #1: Tim talking this up made me give it a look. I like Giffen's art, just not enough to get past this script that was so fucking obvious and didn't really have any meat on it. [**]
Swamp Thing #1: Was a little on the fence over this one, too. It's an interesting set up that didn't quite grab me completely. Part of the problem is the obvious horror feel this book is going for and that doesn't really play to Paquette's strengths as an artist. His line work is too clean and smooth to really convey the horror that's happening. There's a disconnect there, at least for me. Otherwise, the art is gorgeous (just not horrific) If anything, this issue felt only partially done. It ends on a good cliffhanger, but left me wanting more. Not in the 'I want to see what happens next month' way, in the 'Is that all?' way. [***]
Wolverine: Debt of Death #1: Goddamn, David Aja puts on a show here with Bettie Breitweiser (who is quickly becoming one of my favourite colourists). David Lapham's writing services the art more than anything and that's pretty much what you want from an Aja-drawn one shot, right? Lots of action, lots of mood, lots of crazy page layouts... it's a great-looking comic. [***3/4]
Later
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Sketch Reviews (August 25 2011)
Not much to add this week... let's get to it...
Batman: Gates of Gotham #5: Well, that was underwhelming. A decent ending, but fairly typical. I have no real complaints, no real compliments. [***]
Batman, Incorporated #8: And the new contender for 'worst issue from Morrison's run on Batman' is... My god, this is an ugly comic featuring mediocre writing. [*]
Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search for Swamp Thing #3: Three issues building up to... not a goddamn thing. What was the point of this book besides proving that DC really will publish anything no matter how fucking awful it is? No, really, get me the e-mail addresses of everyone who approved this piece of shit so I can ask them what point it served, because I sure as fuck can't see it... [-****]
Captain America & Bucky #621: The closest thing I have to buying a book primarily for the art. Chris Samnee is wonderful. The writing is okay, but this is a bit of a downgrade from the 'first' issue of this series. Will it actually go anywhere beyond "Bucky: Year One?" Let's see! [***1/2]
Flashpoint: Project Superman #3: This comic wasn't as funny as the second issue, but it was still pretty funny with its visual allusions and the constant look of "I... I think I wet my pants" on Kal's face. I don't know... I just couldn't take it seriously. It had none of the genuine humanity of the Azzarello/Risso Batman mini but all of the superficial crap... it's just a funny comic. I wish they'd gone all out and just did the parody of Action Comics #1 for the cover. [***1/4]
And a special bonus:
A Few Things You May Need to Know from Ultimate Fallout to read The Ultimates #1
* The man in the helmet on the first page is Reed Richards. He's escaped from the Negative Zone with the goal of creating an environment that will create the next generation of superpeople to help remake the world as he wants it. I think. Those people in the white Future Foundation-esque uniforms are his followers and they live by the code 'evolve or die.'
* Captain America quit at some point. It was mentioned briefly in Ultimate Fallout #6 with Steve Rogers last appearing in the second issue at Peter Parker's funeral. He got slapped by Aunt May. We've yet to be told why he quit, but I assume it has to do with Parker's death.
* Nick Fury was ordered to increase S.H.I.E.L.D. operations by 30% only to be told shortly thereafter that the budget is being cut by 30%. That has put him under a little stress.
* The threat in S.E.A.R. is a metahuman of some kind.
* Brian Braddock has cancer, so his brother has replaced him as Captain Britain.
* This may be important later: Tony Stark has been asked to take his brother Gregory's place in an organisation of 50 very wealthy and powerful (mostly self-made) people who are going to try to change the world from behind the scenes. We don't know if he's accepted yet.
And, not that this has anything to do with anything, but look at Quicksilver's face in the final panel of the preview for Ultimate X-Men #1. Isn't that just fucking awful?
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Later
Batman: Gates of Gotham #5: Well, that was underwhelming. A decent ending, but fairly typical. I have no real complaints, no real compliments. [***]
Batman, Incorporated #8: And the new contender for 'worst issue from Morrison's run on Batman' is... My god, this is an ugly comic featuring mediocre writing. [*]
Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search for Swamp Thing #3: Three issues building up to... not a goddamn thing. What was the point of this book besides proving that DC really will publish anything no matter how fucking awful it is? No, really, get me the e-mail addresses of everyone who approved this piece of shit so I can ask them what point it served, because I sure as fuck can't see it... [-****]
Captain America & Bucky #621: The closest thing I have to buying a book primarily for the art. Chris Samnee is wonderful. The writing is okay, but this is a bit of a downgrade from the 'first' issue of this series. Will it actually go anywhere beyond "Bucky: Year One?" Let's see! [***1/2]
Flashpoint: Project Superman #3: This comic wasn't as funny as the second issue, but it was still pretty funny with its visual allusions and the constant look of "I... I think I wet my pants" on Kal's face. I don't know... I just couldn't take it seriously. It had none of the genuine humanity of the Azzarello/Risso Batman mini but all of the superficial crap... it's just a funny comic. I wish they'd gone all out and just did the parody of Action Comics #1 for the cover. [***1/4]
And a special bonus:
A Few Things You May Need to Know from Ultimate Fallout to read The Ultimates #1
* The man in the helmet on the first page is Reed Richards. He's escaped from the Negative Zone with the goal of creating an environment that will create the next generation of superpeople to help remake the world as he wants it. I think. Those people in the white Future Foundation-esque uniforms are his followers and they live by the code 'evolve or die.'
* Captain America quit at some point. It was mentioned briefly in Ultimate Fallout #6 with Steve Rogers last appearing in the second issue at Peter Parker's funeral. He got slapped by Aunt May. We've yet to be told why he quit, but I assume it has to do with Parker's death.
* Nick Fury was ordered to increase S.H.I.E.L.D. operations by 30% only to be told shortly thereafter that the budget is being cut by 30%. That has put him under a little stress.
* The threat in S.E.A.R. is a metahuman of some kind.
* Brian Braddock has cancer, so his brother has replaced him as Captain Britain.
* This may be important later: Tony Stark has been asked to take his brother Gregory's place in an organisation of 50 very wealthy and powerful (mostly self-made) people who are going to try to change the world from behind the scenes. We don't know if he's accepted yet.
And, not that this has anything to do with anything, but look at Quicksilver's face in the final panel of the preview for Ultimate X-Men #1. Isn't that just fucking awful?
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Later
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Sketch Reviews (August 10 2011)
This year's Blogathon is Monday, people! Money goes to the Hero Initiative! Plenty of ways to give:
* Direct donations to the Hero Initiative
* Purchasing products from their site, including annual memberships
* Purchasing products from their eBay store
If you do wish to sponsor me, let me know via e-mail: chevett13[AT]yahoo[DOT]ca
'Breed III #4: Damn, that little kid sure changes his look, going from around age seven to 14 and everywhere in between depending on the panel, while having a personality that seems to be one of a 19-year old. Otherwise, I'm still digging this series for reasons I don't understand and baffle others even more, I imagine. [***]
Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #3: Wondering how it all comes together... [***3/4]
Detective Comics #881: The interplay between Dick and James, Jr. was compelling. My problem still stems from not really buying James, Jr. as the villain of the piece somehow. It seems a little too mundane for me. Because I'm that fucking arrogant. I guess it's too simple and straight forward to me. Too clean and easy... Part of the problem is that this run didn't have enough time to play out that story. There wasn't enough time for James to come to Gotham and slowly win over the trust of his family before revealing himself. It's more, he's back, people are unsure, they almost begin to think he's okay, and OH GOD HE'S PURE EVIL AND THINKS HIMSELF THE NEXT EVOLUTIONARY STEP CRAZY MOTHERFUCKER! Positioning himself as Dick's opposite number was clever and helps a great deal. I'm just not sold on it. And, of course, Bruce being only the Batman overshadows the final pages a bit. The outside factors on this run bring it down a bit for me, I guess. Is that fair to the people who made the books? Not really. [***1/2]
Fear Itself #5: You know what? I think I would have liked to have all of the Tony Stark/Odin stuff moved to the end of issue four, because I've already read Invincible Iron Man #dwarffucker and know where the fuck this conversation goes. Uneven pacing for the event as a whole, I guess. Of course, when it's the same guy writing the comics... Plus, that would have allowed for a Simonson callback as we get Stark forging weapons ala Surtur. I did like the big Thor fight. That was pretty cool. The ending sets up Stark showing up with his fancy weapons and being all "TRON UP!" [***]
New Avengers #15: Wow, that cover is godawful. Deodato pushing that sketchy, busy style too far. This was an okay issue. The sparring scene was cool. Still don't really have any handle on Squirrel Girl, though. She seems like a collection of a few tidbits than an actual character. [***]
Punishermax #15-16: Finally got last month's issue. Wasn't even in my file either. Was on the rack. And I had to explain to my retailer how, last month, they stuck #14 in my pull file instead of #15 and I returned it the following week when Tim was running the shop solo. He believed me and let me have the comic for no charge (I already paid for it!), but still a little weird. I don't know why, but I never considered that as what happened before the gunfire started in the park that day... damn good comics right here. [****1/4]
Ultimate Fallout #5: The Quicksilver stuff was actually intriguing. The Nick Fury stuff was decent. The most focused issue since the first one. I hope these little 'prologue' bits are collected in the trades for the series they lead into like the new Ultimates and Ultimate X-Men comics. They won't be, of course, but they should be... [**3/4]
The Unwritten #28: The story in the past is genuinely interesting and engrossing. Young Wilson Taylor is a fun character to read about. And I love the cover to this issue... except for the fucking barcode that almost ruins it. [***1/2]
Vengeance #2: Man, it's like Joe Casey decided to write a comic specifically for me. He obviously didn't, but I'm going to pretend that he did. You don't need to catch the references, obviously, but they're right there out in the open. When is Jack fucking Truman and/or Larry Young showing up? Are they already here? Also, anyone else who immediately recognised Devlin Deangelo? We're weird people you and I... [****]
I also got Vertigo Resurrected: Jonny Double, but have only read the first issue contained withint. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, Fantagraphics sent me the third volume of Prison Pit. I'll save my thoughts on that for an actual review, but... it's damn funny stuff.
And, please give to the Hero Initiative! The Blogathon is almost upon us! It will be 24 hours of superhero comics glory! Hell yes, son!
Later
* Direct donations to the Hero Initiative
* Purchasing products from their site, including annual memberships
* Purchasing products from their eBay store
If you do wish to sponsor me, let me know via e-mail: chevett13[AT]yahoo[DOT]ca
'Breed III #4: Damn, that little kid sure changes his look, going from around age seven to 14 and everywhere in between depending on the panel, while having a personality that seems to be one of a 19-year old. Otherwise, I'm still digging this series for reasons I don't understand and baffle others even more, I imagine. [***]
Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #3: Wondering how it all comes together... [***3/4]
Detective Comics #881: The interplay between Dick and James, Jr. was compelling. My problem still stems from not really buying James, Jr. as the villain of the piece somehow. It seems a little too mundane for me. Because I'm that fucking arrogant. I guess it's too simple and straight forward to me. Too clean and easy... Part of the problem is that this run didn't have enough time to play out that story. There wasn't enough time for James to come to Gotham and slowly win over the trust of his family before revealing himself. It's more, he's back, people are unsure, they almost begin to think he's okay, and OH GOD HE'S PURE EVIL AND THINKS HIMSELF THE NEXT EVOLUTIONARY STEP CRAZY MOTHERFUCKER! Positioning himself as Dick's opposite number was clever and helps a great deal. I'm just not sold on it. And, of course, Bruce being only the Batman overshadows the final pages a bit. The outside factors on this run bring it down a bit for me, I guess. Is that fair to the people who made the books? Not really. [***1/2]
Fear Itself #5: You know what? I think I would have liked to have all of the Tony Stark/Odin stuff moved to the end of issue four, because I've already read Invincible Iron Man #dwarffucker and know where the fuck this conversation goes. Uneven pacing for the event as a whole, I guess. Of course, when it's the same guy writing the comics... Plus, that would have allowed for a Simonson callback as we get Stark forging weapons ala Surtur. I did like the big Thor fight. That was pretty cool. The ending sets up Stark showing up with his fancy weapons and being all "TRON UP!" [***]
New Avengers #15: Wow, that cover is godawful. Deodato pushing that sketchy, busy style too far. This was an okay issue. The sparring scene was cool. Still don't really have any handle on Squirrel Girl, though. She seems like a collection of a few tidbits than an actual character. [***]
Punishermax #15-16: Finally got last month's issue. Wasn't even in my file either. Was on the rack. And I had to explain to my retailer how, last month, they stuck #14 in my pull file instead of #15 and I returned it the following week when Tim was running the shop solo. He believed me and let me have the comic for no charge (I already paid for it!), but still a little weird. I don't know why, but I never considered that as what happened before the gunfire started in the park that day... damn good comics right here. [****1/4]
Ultimate Fallout #5: The Quicksilver stuff was actually intriguing. The Nick Fury stuff was decent. The most focused issue since the first one. I hope these little 'prologue' bits are collected in the trades for the series they lead into like the new Ultimates and Ultimate X-Men comics. They won't be, of course, but they should be... [**3/4]
The Unwritten #28: The story in the past is genuinely interesting and engrossing. Young Wilson Taylor is a fun character to read about. And I love the cover to this issue... except for the fucking barcode that almost ruins it. [***1/2]
Vengeance #2: Man, it's like Joe Casey decided to write a comic specifically for me. He obviously didn't, but I'm going to pretend that he did. You don't need to catch the references, obviously, but they're right there out in the open. When is Jack fucking Truman and/or Larry Young showing up? Are they already here? Also, anyone else who immediately recognised Devlin Deangelo? We're weird people you and I... [****]
I also got Vertigo Resurrected: Jonny Double, but have only read the first issue contained withint. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand, Fantagraphics sent me the third volume of Prison Pit. I'll save my thoughts on that for an actual review, but... it's damn funny stuff.
And, please give to the Hero Initiative! The Blogathon is almost upon us! It will be 24 hours of superhero comics glory! Hell yes, son!
Later
Sunday, August 07, 2011
CBR Review: Severed #1
I recently reviewed Severed #1 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "The cover to this issue is one of the more clever ones I’ve come across lately. With the bloody hand ripping through the rustic portrait of a home, the central idea of the book is communicated. Each successive cover of the series reveals the intrusion to be bigger as more of the man ripping through is shown. Severed is a horror comic and is rooted in the idea of something forcibly disrupting and imposing itself on the world while revealing that what everyone thought was the truth was merely the surface of things. Here, a hand is ripping through the cover, both disrupting the picture of the house and showing it to be a picture, a falsity, not the realty. And like the gradual revelation through covers of this intruder, this first issue shows that it will be a slow build as the horror creeps over the reader bit by bit each month."You can read the rest HERE!
Thursday, August 04, 2011
Sketch Reviews (August 4 2011)
On Tuesday, Michelle and I saw Titus Andronicus in Stratford as part of their yearly festival. The only reason why we chose that play was I had a code to get tickets for $10 each and it was a day that I wasn't working. I have never read the play and Michelle has read a lot less Shakespeare than I. I knew a little bit about it (violent, over-the-top, not respected usually) and was rather impressed with the production. You could tell that there were some big weaknesses in the play -- and if you're not willing to go along with some fucked up shit, you just won't like it. The director also designed the stage and made good use of the space, the lighting, and the sound. John Vickery's performance as Titus stood out -- like a lot of men who do Shakespeare, he's developed such a commanding voice capable of a very broad range. Oddly, I was also taken with the character of Aaron, a moor who basically engineers the destruction of everyone, because... well, he's evil. Now, having the black character as the all-evil villain is not something you're supposed to like or get behind... but, Dion Johnstone was so charismatic that I was reminded of the Joe Casey style of villain. The villain who flat out loves being a bad guy and is so over-the-top in his love of villainy that he can't not be entertaining. You got the impression that, had he never been discovered and managed to destroy Titus's family completely, Aaron would have turned on his allies and destroyed them, because that's what he does. I do love a good villain. So, if you have the chance, go see it.
Batman: Gates of Gotham #4: The art was a step up here with Dustin Nguyen and Derec (Aucoin) Donovan. For plot reasons, I found this issue less compelling. I don't know what they could have changed, but moving towards the end of the series, there's less room for cool revelations -- although, that final page has me wondering. [***1/4]
The Boys #57: The Hughie/Annie relationship is oddly complex. Nice to see Ennis not have it all return to normal right away with Hughie still struggling with exactly what he wants. That shit at the end is fucked up. Then again, who wants to see Jack Kirby fucking Wonder Woman? NOT ME. [**3/4]
Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3: Wow. That was some harsh shit. Any time Brian Azzarello gets near Batman and his world, there's always some giant mindfuck right around the corner. Revealing to Martha what Bruce is like in the regular DCU... jesus. [****1/4]
Flashpoint: Secret Seven #3: This title also turned out to be fairly fucked up by the end. I imagine this will partly lead into Milligan's Justice League Dark next month, but was an oddly compelling little story. Some people didn't really dig this mini... I did. Moreso as it progressed. [***1/2]
Moon Knight #4: I didn't really dig the third issue and this was a nice recovery. Character-driven with some good action, and a nice cliffhanger. Solid, entertaining superhero comics. [***1/2]
Scalped #51: Hey, new paper! BURN IT ALL. [****1/4]
Ultimate Fallout #4: I've got to say: I don't really care if Ultimate Spider-Man is black. Or a woman. Or gay. Or anything else that isn't straight white male Peter Parker. It's a neutral move for me, as a reader. It neither attracts me to the book or makes me want to avoid it. The introduction we get here is entertaining... yet, until the mask came off, it didn't really seem like someone who wasn't Peter in the costume aside from not knowing who the Kangaroo is or not fully understanding his powers. Otherwise, same personality. After my remark about Ultimate Tony Stark entering into a Future Foundation-esque group last issue, Hickman one-ups that and has Ultimate Reed start a twisted, fucked up version of the group... kind of. And, apparently, the US government created mutants. That is about two hundred times less interesting, honestly. When I picked up my books this week, I added Ultimates and Ultimate Hawkeye to my pull list. Good call. [**1/2]
Later
Batman: Gates of Gotham #4: The art was a step up here with Dustin Nguyen and Derec (Aucoin) Donovan. For plot reasons, I found this issue less compelling. I don't know what they could have changed, but moving towards the end of the series, there's less room for cool revelations -- although, that final page has me wondering. [***1/4]
The Boys #57: The Hughie/Annie relationship is oddly complex. Nice to see Ennis not have it all return to normal right away with Hughie still struggling with exactly what he wants. That shit at the end is fucked up. Then again, who wants to see Jack Kirby fucking Wonder Woman? NOT ME. [**3/4]
Flashpoint: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #3: Wow. That was some harsh shit. Any time Brian Azzarello gets near Batman and his world, there's always some giant mindfuck right around the corner. Revealing to Martha what Bruce is like in the regular DCU... jesus. [****1/4]
Flashpoint: Secret Seven #3: This title also turned out to be fairly fucked up by the end. I imagine this will partly lead into Milligan's Justice League Dark next month, but was an oddly compelling little story. Some people didn't really dig this mini... I did. Moreso as it progressed. [***1/2]
Moon Knight #4: I didn't really dig the third issue and this was a nice recovery. Character-driven with some good action, and a nice cliffhanger. Solid, entertaining superhero comics. [***1/2]
Scalped #51: Hey, new paper! BURN IT ALL. [****1/4]
Ultimate Fallout #4: I've got to say: I don't really care if Ultimate Spider-Man is black. Or a woman. Or gay. Or anything else that isn't straight white male Peter Parker. It's a neutral move for me, as a reader. It neither attracts me to the book or makes me want to avoid it. The introduction we get here is entertaining... yet, until the mask came off, it didn't really seem like someone who wasn't Peter in the costume aside from not knowing who the Kangaroo is or not fully understanding his powers. Otherwise, same personality. After my remark about Ultimate Tony Stark entering into a Future Foundation-esque group last issue, Hickman one-ups that and has Ultimate Reed start a twisted, fucked up version of the group... kind of. And, apparently, the US government created mutants. That is about two hundred times less interesting, honestly. When I picked up my books this week, I added Ultimates and Ultimate Hawkeye to my pull list. Good call. [**1/2]
Later
Monday, August 01, 2011
CBR Review: Flashpoint: Project Superman #2
I recently reviewed Flashpoint: Project Superman #2 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Most likely not intended as a comedic book, Flashpoint: Project Superman #2 is easily the funniest comic released this week. In its efforts to be a meaningful story about a child Kal-El as he’s tortured and tested by the US government, it becomes a dark farce where each successive scene is funnier than the last."You can read the rest HERE!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Sketch Reviews (July 28 2011)
Busy times made busier by me wanting to hang out with my girlfriend more than a lot of other things. We finished watching Damages season three on DVD last night and, damn, that show always lets me down in its season finales. I guess that's what comes with teasing out half of the finale the rest of the season and watching as the writers scramble to cobble together their red herrings and teases into something coherent. A bigger bunch of bullshit coincidences and letdowns you'll never see. I've got many other things to do besides this, so let's get to it...
Before that, though, I did want to point out that, already, $55 has been raised in my Blogathon and we're still two-and-a-half weeks away from it. That's really great. I'm hoping that we can raise a nice amount of money for the Hero Initiative. Details in the post below this one in case you're wondering.
Butcher Baker, the Righteous Maker #5: I came for the Casey, but I stayed for the Huddleston... [****]
Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #2: I do love that bastard protagonist sort of story. And the mixing of the Archie gang with more 'real' subject matter in the past is funny. Curious where this is going now. [****]
Deadpool MAX #10: The painting show made me laugh. Good to have Baker back. [****]
Detective Comics #880: Now, that's good comicbooking. Snyder's Joker is Morrison's Joker. Jock's art gets the mood right. The final 'reveal' was a bit obvious, but still good. The stuff about Gotham is made more explicit and, more and more, I'm beginning to wonder how long it is before someone just destroys the city and, when Batman and his bunch whine, point out that the city is obviously rotten to the core. Funny how the people trying to redeem the city always talk about there being 'good people' there and never realising that, after years of effort, shit is still fucked up and Gotham is probably the worst city in the world to live in. Why couldn't the earthquake have done the job for good? Even the fucking planet wants the city dead... wake up, Batman. [****]
glamouspuss #20: Someday, I'll read these comics. Oh yes. And it will be glorious. [N/A]
The Mighty Thor #4: Something about the structure of this comic was really working for me. Lots of quick cuts, quick scenes, and general sense of everything happening at once. And is that another fucking Superman story in the mix? It took one shitty arc and two less-than-great-issues, but Fraction is winning me back to the idea that he can write a Thor comic. [***1/2]
Secret Avengers #15: "My grandpa died and superheroes come back from the dead, so that makes it okay to lie and pretend I'm a real journalist and be a jerk!" "No, it's really not, because we're people, too, and being people sucks." "Oh, really? I didn't know that." "Well, now you do." [SAVE ME, WARREN ELLIS!]
Ultimate Fallout #3: I haven't been reading FF, but isn't that what the Tony Stark shit in this comic is? I liked it, but, come on, son... the rest I have no use for. I do think I'll buy the Hickman Ultimate stuff and that's it. [**]
X-Men: Schism #2: I dug the first issue and this one has some nice moments. The Cyclops/Wolverine/Quentin Quire stuff felt off. The growing rift between Scott and Logan seems forced with Logan immediately pissed off, while Scott's reaction to Quentin (hell, Quentin showing up like he did) didn't really follow any logic for me. *shrugs* PLOT IS LOGIC, SILLY HUMAN! SO SAYS THE MUTANTS! [**3/4]
Later
Before that, though, I did want to point out that, already, $55 has been raised in my Blogathon and we're still two-and-a-half weeks away from it. That's really great. I'm hoping that we can raise a nice amount of money for the Hero Initiative. Details in the post below this one in case you're wondering.
Butcher Baker, the Righteous Maker #5: I came for the Casey, but I stayed for the Huddleston... [****]
Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #2: I do love that bastard protagonist sort of story. And the mixing of the Archie gang with more 'real' subject matter in the past is funny. Curious where this is going now. [****]
Deadpool MAX #10: The painting show made me laugh. Good to have Baker back. [****]
Detective Comics #880: Now, that's good comicbooking. Snyder's Joker is Morrison's Joker. Jock's art gets the mood right. The final 'reveal' was a bit obvious, but still good. The stuff about Gotham is made more explicit and, more and more, I'm beginning to wonder how long it is before someone just destroys the city and, when Batman and his bunch whine, point out that the city is obviously rotten to the core. Funny how the people trying to redeem the city always talk about there being 'good people' there and never realising that, after years of effort, shit is still fucked up and Gotham is probably the worst city in the world to live in. Why couldn't the earthquake have done the job for good? Even the fucking planet wants the city dead... wake up, Batman. [****]
glamouspuss #20: Someday, I'll read these comics. Oh yes. And it will be glorious. [N/A]
The Mighty Thor #4: Something about the structure of this comic was really working for me. Lots of quick cuts, quick scenes, and general sense of everything happening at once. And is that another fucking Superman story in the mix? It took one shitty arc and two less-than-great-issues, but Fraction is winning me back to the idea that he can write a Thor comic. [***1/2]
Secret Avengers #15: "My grandpa died and superheroes come back from the dead, so that makes it okay to lie and pretend I'm a real journalist and be a jerk!" "No, it's really not, because we're people, too, and being people sucks." "Oh, really? I didn't know that." "Well, now you do." [SAVE ME, WARREN ELLIS!]
Ultimate Fallout #3: I haven't been reading FF, but isn't that what the Tony Stark shit in this comic is? I liked it, but, come on, son... the rest I have no use for. I do think I'll buy the Hickman Ultimate stuff and that's it. [**]
X-Men: Schism #2: I dug the first issue and this one has some nice moments. The Cyclops/Wolverine/Quentin Quire stuff felt off. The growing rift between Scott and Logan seems forced with Logan immediately pissed off, while Scott's reaction to Quentin (hell, Quentin showing up like he did) didn't really follow any logic for me. *shrugs* PLOT IS LOGIC, SILLY HUMAN! SO SAYS THE MUTANTS! [**3/4]
Later
Monday, July 25, 2011
CBR Review: Batman: Gates of Gotham #3
I recently reviewed Batman: Gates of Gotham #3 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Ah, the ‘middle of the story’ downturn issue. You’re almost guaranteed when you see that ‘3 of 5’ on the cover of a comic that you’re in for a quieter, less exciting issue than the two that preceded it and the two that will follow it. Thankfully, the writing team of Scott Snyder, Kyle Higgins, and Ryan Parrott write an issue with enough intriguing developments to keep boredom at bay. In fact, it’s a pretty good issue of this mini-series exploring the creation of Gotham City into the major urban center it is now, and how that creation has come back to haunt the city."You can read the rest HERE!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Sketch Reviews (July 14 2011)
I actually got comics last night because I only worked until five and could make it to the shop. But, I didn't even read them all before I started to work on reviews. It's been a long time since I turned in a review on Wednesday (let alone two) and that's usually because I don't get comics until Thursday. But, I signed up to review two 'big' releases and thought I should get those in last night. Sketch Reviews had to wait. And here we are...
'Breed #3: I'm more into this book now that it's got some momentum. The fight scene here is pretty good, albeit with a cheap ending that's only redeemed by a cameo from another Starlin-owned character. Not an amazing comic or one that looks like it will rank among Starlin's best, but I'm enjoying it. [***]
Captain America #1: I don't mind the 'out of continuity' feel this issue has. That's a smart way to ease yourself into a new series featuring the character. I do have to wonder if Ed Brubaker -- or anyone -- is capable of writing about this character without referencing World War 2 and making shit up that, somehow, we've never heard about until now. That trick is getting real fucking old and has me considering just making a break from Brubaker's Captain America comics. There are only so many times that 'previously undiscussed events from the War coming back to haunt Steve/Bucky/Sharron/Natasha/everyone' works before it's just comes off as lazy. I'm not saying it is lazy or that Brubaker is lazy, but it comes off that way. Perception vs. reality. Just to shut up anyone who wants to take that as me calling him lazy. I don't know if he is -- nor do I care. I care about the comics and this reads as lazy storytelling. The same lazy storytelling that we often see used on Wolverine and, now, in Fear Itself... hell, in tons of books. I'm sick to fucking death of the hidden past come back to fuck things up, and, yeah, I'm taking it out on this comic, because that's pretty much all Brubaker has done with this character. It worked with Bucky, because he just returned and would have to deal with his past obviously before he could move on. Steve, though... is he nothing more than a guy who fought in World War 2? Has he not carved out an identity since he's woken up that's divorced from his 'first life' to some extent? And, if not, how good can his comics really be? (In an unrelated matter, I have to ask: is Secret Warriors going to have any impact on the rest of the Marvel Universe? Just wondering...) I did dig on some of Steve McNiven's art here. I haven't been a fan of his in general, but his page compositions made me think of John Cassaday a bit here. That same big openness. Not all of the time, but in a few panels. [**]
Detective Comics #879: Colouring for mood and impact? Gotta love Francavilla. The writing was a bit hit and miss for me here. Snyder writes a creepy Joker and that mood hovered over the entire comic. However, he lost me with the pill stuff. James, Jr. (who, by the way, is a return from the past, but not one that Snyder created; he brought back an unused character who, logically, should have a place in this world in some way) being a sociopath? Great. Him not getting better? Works for me. Him killing people? Well, that's what a sociopath does, I suppose... Creating pills that make pepople sociopaths and trying to feed them to children? That's just plain goofy, not scary or creepy. My eyes rolled and a soft chuckle escaped my lips. Was that the intended effect? Eliminate that little 'twist' and this is a really strong comic. [***3/4]
New Avengers #14: "The Oral History of the Avengers" being used here too is a nice touch -- and the more focused interview changed things up in a good way. Spider-Man wanting nothing to do with Victoria Hand... I like that. Also, the New Avengers taking down the Nazis was interesting in how we haven't seen that reflected in Fear Itself. They probably would take them down like that, though. [***1/2]
Punishermax #15: Did not get, because my shop, somehow, put issue 14 in my stack. I didn't notice because of the shitload of comics I was buying. A little mystified at how that even happened. [Rating pending]
RASL #11: Goddamn, that double-page shot is nice-looking... [***1/2]
The Red Wing #1: A little underdeveloped for my taste. I don't quite get the basic concept. They fight battles through time why? I don't get the 'why' of the book. I don't get the logistics of these wars/battles. The characters barely have anything there. The art is nice, though. I know it will come together by the end, but this a comic that leaves me with too many essential questions. I did love that stuff about the goal being to win so completely that you change how the enemy thinks. That's good stuff. [**3/4]
Simpsons Super Spectacular #13: Blame Tucker Stone for this. I saw it in the shop last week after I'd paid for my books and (since I pay with debit usually and didn't feel like doing it for a three buck comic) had the owner put it in my file for this week. Some funny gags and a lot of smart references/plays on Watchmen. I'm surprised they resisted a more direct reference to "I did it 30 minutes ago." I really want to see the complete League of Superheroes and their various identities. Who was the original Pastry Face? Entertaining little comic. [***1/2]
The Unwritten #27: No big thoughts here other than "I liked this comic." Sometimes, that's all there is. [***1/2]
DC Comics Presents: Batman: Goatham Noir #1: This is a reprint of the Elseworlds special that Ed Brubaker and Shean Phillips did back in 2001 along with Batman #604 to bring the page count up. Gotham Noir is okay. It doesn't have the economy or skill of Criminal and is actually made a bit worse by the references to the Batman characters. I do wonder, though: if it was obvious allusions to those characters, would I like it more? Probably, because I'm an asshole like that. Most of us are. Maybe the story needed some more room to breathe than it got. Still pretty good and definitely worth picking up. The Batman issue that's included is utterly forgettable and added nothing. It even ends with "To be continued," which made me laugh. [***1/4]
Later
'Breed #3: I'm more into this book now that it's got some momentum. The fight scene here is pretty good, albeit with a cheap ending that's only redeemed by a cameo from another Starlin-owned character. Not an amazing comic or one that looks like it will rank among Starlin's best, but I'm enjoying it. [***]
Captain America #1: I don't mind the 'out of continuity' feel this issue has. That's a smart way to ease yourself into a new series featuring the character. I do have to wonder if Ed Brubaker -- or anyone -- is capable of writing about this character without referencing World War 2 and making shit up that, somehow, we've never heard about until now. That trick is getting real fucking old and has me considering just making a break from Brubaker's Captain America comics. There are only so many times that 'previously undiscussed events from the War coming back to haunt Steve/Bucky/Sharron/Natasha/everyone' works before it's just comes off as lazy. I'm not saying it is lazy or that Brubaker is lazy, but it comes off that way. Perception vs. reality. Just to shut up anyone who wants to take that as me calling him lazy. I don't know if he is -- nor do I care. I care about the comics and this reads as lazy storytelling. The same lazy storytelling that we often see used on Wolverine and, now, in Fear Itself... hell, in tons of books. I'm sick to fucking death of the hidden past come back to fuck things up, and, yeah, I'm taking it out on this comic, because that's pretty much all Brubaker has done with this character. It worked with Bucky, because he just returned and would have to deal with his past obviously before he could move on. Steve, though... is he nothing more than a guy who fought in World War 2? Has he not carved out an identity since he's woken up that's divorced from his 'first life' to some extent? And, if not, how good can his comics really be? (In an unrelated matter, I have to ask: is Secret Warriors going to have any impact on the rest of the Marvel Universe? Just wondering...) I did dig on some of Steve McNiven's art here. I haven't been a fan of his in general, but his page compositions made me think of John Cassaday a bit here. That same big openness. Not all of the time, but in a few panels. [**]
Detective Comics #879: Colouring for mood and impact? Gotta love Francavilla. The writing was a bit hit and miss for me here. Snyder writes a creepy Joker and that mood hovered over the entire comic. However, he lost me with the pill stuff. James, Jr. (who, by the way, is a return from the past, but not one that Snyder created; he brought back an unused character who, logically, should have a place in this world in some way) being a sociopath? Great. Him not getting better? Works for me. Him killing people? Well, that's what a sociopath does, I suppose... Creating pills that make pepople sociopaths and trying to feed them to children? That's just plain goofy, not scary or creepy. My eyes rolled and a soft chuckle escaped my lips. Was that the intended effect? Eliminate that little 'twist' and this is a really strong comic. [***3/4]
New Avengers #14: "The Oral History of the Avengers" being used here too is a nice touch -- and the more focused interview changed things up in a good way. Spider-Man wanting nothing to do with Victoria Hand... I like that. Also, the New Avengers taking down the Nazis was interesting in how we haven't seen that reflected in Fear Itself. They probably would take them down like that, though. [***1/2]
Punishermax #15: Did not get, because my shop, somehow, put issue 14 in my stack. I didn't notice because of the shitload of comics I was buying. A little mystified at how that even happened. [Rating pending]
RASL #11: Goddamn, that double-page shot is nice-looking... [***1/2]
The Red Wing #1: A little underdeveloped for my taste. I don't quite get the basic concept. They fight battles through time why? I don't get the 'why' of the book. I don't get the logistics of these wars/battles. The characters barely have anything there. The art is nice, though. I know it will come together by the end, but this a comic that leaves me with too many essential questions. I did love that stuff about the goal being to win so completely that you change how the enemy thinks. That's good stuff. [**3/4]
Simpsons Super Spectacular #13: Blame Tucker Stone for this. I saw it in the shop last week after I'd paid for my books and (since I pay with debit usually and didn't feel like doing it for a three buck comic) had the owner put it in my file for this week. Some funny gags and a lot of smart references/plays on Watchmen. I'm surprised they resisted a more direct reference to "I did it 30 minutes ago." I really want to see the complete League of Superheroes and their various identities. Who was the original Pastry Face? Entertaining little comic. [***1/2]
The Unwritten #27: No big thoughts here other than "I liked this comic." Sometimes, that's all there is. [***1/2]
DC Comics Presents: Batman: Goatham Noir #1: This is a reprint of the Elseworlds special that Ed Brubaker and Shean Phillips did back in 2001 along with Batman #604 to bring the page count up. Gotham Noir is okay. It doesn't have the economy or skill of Criminal and is actually made a bit worse by the references to the Batman characters. I do wonder, though: if it was obvious allusions to those characters, would I like it more? Probably, because I'm an asshole like that. Most of us are. Maybe the story needed some more room to breathe than it got. Still pretty good and definitely worth picking up. The Batman issue that's included is utterly forgettable and added nothing. It even ends with "To be continued," which made me laugh. [***1/4]
Later
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