CBR Review: Jonah Hex #63

I recently reviewed Jonah Hex #63 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "It’s sometimes hard to think of Jonah Hex as an ongoing comic series that’s coming out right now. There’s a very classic feel to the book any time I pick it up with its self-contained stories, straight forward storytelling, and solid art. If it were colored the way that comics were 20 years ago, you could put out a collection with the word ‘archive’ on the cover and I doubt many would notice. There’s something very nice and comforting about that. You pick up an issue of Jonah Hex and there’s a standard level of quality to be found, but it also rarely rises above that standard. Issues tend to hit their mark and that’s that. Issue 63 is no exception: a solid, entertaining issue that leaves little lasting impression. Disposable comic book entertainment at its finest."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Power Girl #9

I recently reviewed Power Girl #9 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "It’s not many four-star comics that begin with a woman sitting on the toilet and her cat sticking its butt in her face, but Power Girl #9 is definitely one of them (or the only one of them). Beginning with the morning after last issue, this one creates a sense of business by cramming a lot of information and events into the first six pages before transitioning to a fight between Power Girl and Satanna and her animal army that’s slightly more relaxed, but not by much."

You can read the rest HERE!

Quickie Reviews: January 20, 2010

Because I don't feel like saying much sometimes... (And apologies if anything I say here winds up being said on the Splash Page podcast that will go online later this week probably. We had various recording issues, so I don't know what parts of mine and Tim's discussion actually got recorded and saved. But, whatever, if there's some crossover, just play that part while reading this blog and it's like you've got a transcript or some shit. Also, you'll see that, yes, I do write how I talk. Or, at least, I try to... what that says about my writing or how I speak is something I don't know...)

Anna Mercury 2 #3: High-concept action series keeps on a'truckin' boy oh boy. The whole space vikings thing is funny, but I'm more interested in seeing what Anna Mercury's fellow agents are like. The introduction of Max Jupiter -- wait, sorry, "THAT'S MAX FUCKING JUPITER, DEAR" -- at the end of the issue prompted a laugh, partly because of Facundo Percio's art. He's got a slick-yet-rough style. The wild, bug-eyed, freaked out look Mercury has a lot of the time really sells just how fucking insane her job is. Not a reveolutionary work, but I always enjoy it when an issue comes out. [***]

The Authority: The Lost Year #5: Ever wondered what would happen if you found an artist that was influenced by manga-influenced artists and Sam Kieth? Well, wonder no more thanks to Jonathan Wayshak. I'm very close to dropping this book as Keith Giffen's writing is... not good... I have no idea if this was Morrison's original plot or if Giffen is deviating, but it's lacking. Maybe Morrison would have made it work, but Giffen's dialogue lacks nuance and... reads like someone who understands only the most superficial characteristics of the Authority. At least I don't have to see Darick Robertson's art butchered by hack inking... [*1/2]

Captain America #602: Didn't make it through the Nomad story. Don't care. The main story is back into the regular sort of Captain America comic we all know and love. But with Dean White doing the colours. It looks better and why not take the break that Reborn provided as a chance to change the visual tone of the comic? [***1/2]

glamourpuss #11: The car story was a funny gag that didn't work in execution. The rest of the comic with Sim focusing on Stan Drake's facial expressions was great. Really wonderful stuff. [***]

Gravel #16: Both a 'done-in-one' issue and tying into the larger idea of Gravel as the new king of magicians in England. A pretty basic ghost story that's worthwhile as it brings up the friction between Gravel and those that really control England... which follows up on last issue's bit about that. The weakness of the main story hurts this issue a bit, but I do like seeing Gravel in a story that takes up just a single issue. Everything he's been involved in so far has been part of a larger story when, like John Constantine, the character lends itself to short horror stories. I'm kind of surprised that Ellis hasn't tapped that part of the character more yet. [**1/2]

Joe the Barbarian #1: Honestly, if I didn't know what the concept of this series was, I would have liked this issue less. The art is gorgeous in its sketchy, angular detail. But, the writing is weak and relies heavily on the idea that this will work much better when read as part of the whole. I would completely understand someone who had no idea where the story is heading reading this issue and not wanting to buy number two. It would be their loss, but I do understand. (One thing that our recording issues for the podcast does mean is that you won't hear Tim and I discuss this issue. Or how Vertigo's preview pages tend to be the final pages of the comic... good insights there... ah well...) [***]

Power Girl #8: A funny issue that had me more than last issue. I checked out this series partly to review #7 for CBR and partly because I really dug Palmiotti and Conner's "Supergirl" strip in Wednesday Comics. Last issue was fine, but didn't wow me -- or make me laugh much. This issue really brought the funny and did so in an interesting way plot-wise. Power Girl getting drunk and goofy was rather amusing as was the stuff with the bad guys -- and so much of the humour is executed in the visuals. That's a place where a lot of comics fall flat since doing funny comics requires an artist that can sell jokes visually and not a lot of people can do that (mostly because that's not a skill they develop when working on most superhero comics). I think this book may be getting a spot on my pull list. [***1/2]

Spider-Woman #5: I don't really have many thoughts on this book. I enjoy it, but not that much. I don't dislike it. It's like one of those TV shows that you watch because it's on, because you sometimes get one line or scene that makes you want to watch more. Alex Maleev's photoreferenced art is hit-or-miss as most photoreferenced art is. The drop-in at the end by the Thunderbolts comes out of nowhere -- in that bad way. Curious to see where this book is after next issue. I'm on the fence about it really. [**1/2]

And that was this week's non-CBR-reviewed books that I bought.

CBR Review: Jonah Hex #51

I recently reviewed Jonah Hex #51 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "Jonah Hex #51 reminds me of an episode of a western TV show that you used to see on Saturday afternoons in syndication. It’s not great, but it’s also not bad; it’s pleasant is what it is. It’s a pleasant little story with some cynical wit thrown in and is a satisfying read that won’t linger too long in your mind, but will leave you with a nice feeling. It’s the sort of comic that you will remember fondly and will only get better as time passes since you read it. In short, the impression it makes is better than its actual quality."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Power Girl #7

I recently reviewed Power Girl #7 and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "While the situation lacks originality, there are plenty of funny moments thrown in like the forecasting of the Blue Snowman’s death early in the issue or the revelation of the Snowman’s true identity. Kara also gets in a few zingers, while also trying to maturely deal with this creepy jerk. Gray and Palmiotti write her well as she tries to stop his advances without actually getting sucked into the game he’s playing. She keeps Vartox at arm’s length, treating him as the sort-of-crazy person he is."

You can read the rest HERE!

Best of 2007: Beyond the Top Ten Part 2

And so we continue the build-up to Sunday's top ten list with a few more books that I really enjoyed, but just didn't make the cut for whatever reason. Sure, this is just a way to recognise more than ten books, but whatever, all in good fun, eh?

Midnighter

Twelve months, twelve issues. Out of the various books I buy on a regular basis, this may be the only one that went twelve for twelve in 2007 and, let's be honest, that goes a long way in this age of "maybe ten issues a year." What keeps it from the top ten is really just the fact that the quality isn't top ten. This is a solid superhero book that I always enjoy, but it's just good, not great. As well, 2007 suffered (in my opinion) from the period between Garth Ennis and Keith Giffen's runs where there were three self-contained issues by Brian K. Vaughan, Christos Gage and the writing team of Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray. While those issues were good (especially the BKV one--a very interesting story told completely in reverse to play on Midnighter's ability to see a fight in his head from beginning to completion before the first punch is thrown), they didn't contribute much to the book and its direction.

2007 gave us four issues by Garth Ennis, three completely the story where Midnighter is sent to the past to kill Hitler. This story was good, very "Ennis," but not much else. It had the advantage of being a defining Midnighter story in that its goal was to hammer home the point that Midnighter is a killer, not a hero or a radical or a revolutionary--he kills people. Thankfully, the writers after Ennis used this trait and often played against it. Gage's story had Hawksmoor challenge Midnighter to do something that worked against his killing ways--but the story quickly became an excuse for Midnighter to fuck shit up. There must be a temptation to turn Midnighter into a Batman-type of hero where he's unique.

As well, Keith Giffen's debut arc has been interesting in its attempt to explore Midnighter's life before he became this unstoppable killing machine. The story has been a bit choppy, though, sometimes going off on weird tangents that slow things down a lot. The next arc, involving an arch-enemy tailored for Midnighter proves promising, so maybe this book will make the cut next year.

The lack of one artist hurt this book a little, but, at least, the self-contained issues featured guys like Darick Robertson, Jean Paul Leon and Brian Stelfreeze. If only the larger arcs could keep a single artist to maintain cohesion. So far, Keith Giffen's run has had five issues with four artists and that's no way to do a book like this.

Midnighter is a good read and definitely the "almost made the top ten of 2007" book most likely to make the top ten of 2008.

I Shall Destroy All the Civilized Planets

What keeps this fantastic collection of Golden Age comics by Fletcher Hanks out of the top ten is the enjoyment factor. This is an important and worthwhile collection of comics, but the antiquated sensibilities and stories don't do it for me the way modern stuff does. I know, I know, but that's how I feel.

Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.

Only two issues of this series came out this year. Now, those two final issues of the series were glorious in their madness and fucked-up-ness, but two issues don't cut it.

The Order

Okay, this book is Midnighter's biggest competition for a move from "the almost top ten of 2007" to the top ten of 2008, I think. A slow start is what keeps this book off out of the top ten. However, this is a very well-written, well-drawn book that demonstrates that Matt Fraction is most definitely Marvel's future superstar writer. Up until this point, he's done very off-beat, very wacky comics that are great, but haven't demonstrated his ability to be a leading writer that could handle a franchise book. The Order does that as he juggles a large cast of very heroic, very ultruistic characters that are in very Marvel-esque situations like fighting Communist supervillains and getting evicted from their headquarters. Also, Fraction is very well-represented in the top ten and he really doesn't need another book there.

On Saturday, I will post my bottom five of 2007.