Marvel Comics
Alpha Flight #0.1: I have always been a fan of teams and heroes outside the USA. It's fun to see the affect of heroes on another country. I was one of the fans of Captain Britain and MI13. With Alpha Flight back from the dead, it's time for a new mini/ongoing.
Canada is having a new election, and many in the Great White North want to take the government back. Alpha Flight (sans North Star) is on the scene, helping stop problems around the country. Rolling blackouts are sweeping the country, conveniently during a rally of the Unity Party. Alpha Flight stops the problem, all the while with the future not looking good for Canada.'
Alpha Flight #0.1 does what a few of the .1 issues had a problem with, is bringing in new readers into a book that not a lot of people know about. The book properly establishes all the characters and gives us their personalities and motives. We see the problem that is facing Canada and what will be a problem in the new mini-series. It's also done with humor and drama, making this new volume of Alpha Flight seem very enticing.
Ben Oliver handles the art, and it looks really good. The action is fluid and the panel transition is very smooth. There is some questionable body designs, but it's nothing that doesn't happen in every comic book.
Alpha Flight #0.1 gets 5/5
Marvel Comics
Amazing Spider-Man #660: The last issue finally showed us the Sinister Six and what they are capable of. They seem like a formidable team this time around. But it's time for the FF to kick some butt.
The Sinister Six and FF throw down for much of this issue. The portal that Doc Ock built messes with the original Fantastic Fours powers, but thankfully Spidey fixes the problem. Peter also makes amends with Carlie.
Yep, that's a very short summary. This is really because not much happens. I'm a fan of Dan Slott and his Spider-Man run, finding almost every issue perfect. But this issue leaves something to be desired. The dialogue is good, but the plot spins its wheels. This is probably because of Spider-Island coming up.
The art is also eh as well. Mike McKone pencils most of the issue. While usually good, his pencils look a tad rushed, and it's hard to tell which FF kid is which at some points. Caselli pencils the Peter-Carlie scene, and he does his usual brilliance.
Amazing Spider-Man #660 gets 3/5
DC Comics
Batman #710: While I love what is going on in Batman Inc, Tony Daniel's Batman has a special place in my pull list. It's not as heavy and usually full of fun Batman stories. This issue is a great example of that.
Two-Face has lost his coin and is going on a slight killing spree looking for it. Falcone has the coin and is looking to take down Two-Face in the process. Harvey's wife, previously thought dead, is back as well. Dick and Catwoman try to convince Cat Girl to go to boarding school so that she can get out of the super thief business. Batman is also facing a public relations problem with the new Governor.
#710 is a fun issue that seems classic Batman to me. It's fun to see Two-Face get out of his ways. I'm not entirely sure he would go on a killing spree, but it's fun to read. The Cat Girl angle is also fun to read with Dick seeming more like Bruce all the time. It's fun to see the character develop.
Steve Scott fills in this month on art and does a good job overall. There are a couple of problems with the characters seeming incredibly stiff. Dick also looks inhumanly muscular in the double page spread.
Batman #710 gets 4/5
Marvel Comics
Deadpool MAX #8: It's very sad to see this book ending in a few months. And even though this book says Deadpool, he is absent this month in favor of focusing on Bob.
Bob gives us his long and troubled history as an agent and following love. Not going to spoil you all, but it's something to read. It's very sad but you find yourself laughing hysterically at what happens to him. It reads like classic Bob while taking a whole new angle on the character. While the plot isn't as outlandish as past issues, this works for the best.
The art as usual is insane. But like the plot, the art tones it down a little this month. There isn't as much visually going on, focusing more on characters.
Deadpool Max is one of the few books that needs to be read. While mature readers only, it's one of the best books Marvel puts out.
Deadpool MAX #8 gets 5/5.
Marvel Comics
Hawkeye: Blind Spot #4: Faithful readers know how much I have loved Jim McCann's run with Hawkeye. It's sad to see the ongoing end WAY to soon, and this mini-series is the cherry on top. And thankfully the fourth issue keeps with the high standards of the past three issues.
Hawkeye can't see and has to fight Trickshot and Baron Zemo. Taking a note from the Man Without Fear, he tries to remember where everyone is, with mostly success (and a couple of failures). The fight continues, with the Avengers eventually coming to save the day. Hawkeye's tumor is fixed though....with a donation from his brother.
It's a nice ending, and leaves Hawkeye in a better place than he started in the Heroic Age. Jim McCan started with Hawkeye the confident idiot he can be sometimes, and made him more humble. Hopefully something will come up very soon for McCann to write the character.
Paco Diaz has done an amazing job over the mini-series, and this issue continues it. The faces are hyper expressive and the panels flow great. Like McCann, I hope to see more of Diaz in the future.
Hawkeye: Blind Spot #4 gets 5/5
Marvel Comics
Herc #3: When a young title gets pulled into a company wide crossover event, even one with an established character, can be the doom of the series. Surprisingly, Herc #3 isn't example of this.
Brooklyn is happy to have a new hero, but the recent break at the Raft (seen in Fear Itself #2) has sent a few villains towards the borough. Herc makes quick work of them, until Ares son makes a guest appearance. And Hercules does the truly heroic thing and save the villains from being killed at the hands of the Warhawks. As you might guess, this doesn't sit well with the citizens.
Herc #3 is a very strong issue. It is filled with a lot more humor than the past two issues and will show people how this books is a lot like the old book. Pak and Van Lente making this a more serious book, but that isn't a bad thing. Hercules can't be funny all the time and expect to be taken as a serious super hero. The girlfriend angle is a good choice as well. While I do miss Amadeus Cho, the new girl is an ok substitute. I expect we will see more of her after Fear Itself makes it way through the Marvel Universe.
Neil Edwards continues to improve his pencils on the book. The body types are becoming more consistent and I like Herc's new outfit. I'll miss his old over the top costume, but this one fits in more with the super heroes of New York.
Herc #3 gets 5/5
Herc #3 is a very strong issue. It is filled with a lot more humor than the past two issues and will show people how this books is a lot like the old book. Pak and Van Lente making this a more serious book, but that isn't a bad thing. Hercules can't be funny all the time and expect to be taken as a serious super hero. The girlfriend angle is a good choice as well. While I do miss Amadeus Cho, the new girl is an ok substitute. I expect we will see more of her after Fear Itself makes it way through the Marvel Universe.
Neil Edwards continues to improve his pencils on the book. The body types are becoming more consistent and I like Herc's new outfit. I'll miss his old over the top costume, but this one fits in more with the super heroes of New York.
Herc #3 gets 5/5
Marvel Comics
Heroes for Hire #7: Heroes for Hire has been one of the books on the bubble for my pull list. It has worked it's way off the endangered list by giving us two strong back to back issues.
Spider-Man continues to follow the truck that has been dealing drugs. Paladin has a broken rib and has to take a cab, and Misty Knight feels useless being Control. Spider-Man gets caught up in a massive fight, while Paladin gets belittled. The final reveal has an old Spider-Man villain wanting revenge.
This issue is just hilarious. DnA know how to write Spider-Man in a phenomenal way that rivals Dan Slott. The Paladin cab ride thing was also a nice touch, and had me laughing out loud. The numerous call backs to the first few issues was nice and shows how the book is back to the slow burn plot that made it a quick critical hit. The plot is over the top, and the heroes seem to realize this, which adds to the humor.
What keeps #7 from getting a full 5 is the art. The books needs Walker on pencils every issue. Can this book please go back to shipping once a month so that Walker can do the book? Seeley does a good job, and his art looks a lot like Walker's, but it doesn't have the same feel.
Heroes for Hire #7 gets 4/5
Marvel Comics
Namor: The First Mutant Annual #1: The first two issue of Escape from the Negative Zone were a blast to read. Sadly this issue doesn't measure up to the first two, it's still fun to read.
Namor is going nuts since he hasn't seen water in quite some time. He is destroying everything in sight, and Cyclops and Commander Rogers can't control him. Namor fights Blastaar. Dr. Nemesis finds a way to get out of the Negative Zone, but it takes Hope mimicking some of Namor's powers to lure him out of the Negative Zone.
James Asmus has done a great job during these annuals of writing funny, compelling stories. But this issue lacks the actual Namor focus. He is just a background player and a plot point. I wouldn't have minded as much if this was a mini-series, but it's Namor's annual. But the story ends on a fun note and leaves plenty of story for someone else to tell if they so desire.
Max Fiumara does a slightly sub-standard job on pencils. Some of the heads look to egg shaped and it detracts from the story. The body sizes on characters shifts wildly. This doesn't happen the whole time, but there are a few times where the read can't help but notice and it pulls you out of reading the book.
Namor: The First Mutant Annual #1 gets 3.5/5
Marvel Comics
Ultimate Comics Avengers vs New Ultimates #4: Now that the book has finally been pulled into Death of Spider-Man, the story can get back to being.........well sadly average.
Spider-Man is shot and is still acting like a hero. War Machine destroys the bridge and the chases begin again. Nick Fury is captured as Spider-Man slinks away. Most of the Ultimates have a discussion about what they think should happen to Danvers and Fury. We learn who the person who has been pulling strings has been, and it's quite a shocker.
I really wanted to like this issue, but I couldn't. He has some great ideas and the big reveal near the end makes a lot of sense. But the execution isn't smooth. The Punisher has a very out of character burst. Most of the issue is a talking head issue, and is interesting to read, but spins it's wheels till the end. After reading this issue, the person who is running everything makes a lot of sense. I reread some back issues of this book and you can see the seeds being sowed.
One thing that isn't bad is the art. Yu and Segovia are doing a great job. The action looks chaotic as it should. The talking head scenes look interesting and improve on the dialogue.
Ultimate Comics Avengers vs New Ultimates #4 gets 2.5/5
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