DC Comics
Flashpoint #4: The end of the DCU as we know it is coming to an end soon, and I wish I could say it was going out with a bang. But instead it's going out with a poof.
The Flash and his friends are helped out of their fight by the new character Element Woman. Flash realizes they need to attack Wonder Woman's and Aquaman's forces to he can talk to them. With Batman behind him, the rest of the heroes of this universe come to help. Once they get there, a battle breaks out, and many heroes are slain in the process. The Reverse Flash appears, blaming the Flash for everything that just went wrong.
My plot description is very lean, and that's because I cut out all the nonsense that took place in between each of the plot developments. We learn about the Marvel family of this universe, then cut to Hal Jordan, then finally get to the Flash. For a Flash-centric event, he is barely in this book. #5 looks to change that, but for me, it's to little to late. We still don't know why Thwane is doing this or even how. It's bad storytelling from Geoff Johns. Flashpoint seems to just be a means towards an end. It doesn't have a purpose besides to connect the old DCU to the new DCU. Batman also gets way to much time in this issue, much like the last few. It belittles the Flash as a character, who is suppose to be the big hero of this event.
The one consistent thing is Andy Kubert one art. His art is stunningly detailed, and his ability as a story teller is amazing. His art is almost worth the $3.99 alone. I'm glad he was given over a year to pencil this book.
I originally gave this book a 3.5, but after a second reading, I just became more disappointed in it. That's why it gets the following rating.
Flashpoint #4 gets 2.5/5
Marvel Comics
Herc #6: As great as this book has been with Fear Itself, I'm kind of happy this is the end of the tie-in. While the book is more serious, it does find ways to be like the Incredible Hercules again.
Hercules is still stone, and Kyknos decides to destroy Hercules' friends with his stone body. Herc's followers start to pray for their favorite bafoon, and Kyknos wants Helene to kill her father. Rhea starts to pray too, which breaks Hercules from his stone form. He fights Kyknos, all but defeating him. Helene delivers the final blow though. With the fear over Brooklyn departed, Hercules declares that the borough is his town.
Hercules finally gets some sidekicks. He doesn't necessarily need them, but Pak and Van Lente have a great hold on Herc with sidekicks. It's a great fold for him. The book is taking a turn for the serious, which isn't a bad thing. It makes Herc's jokes that much funnier. Hele, Rhea, and their father are given a good amount of threads that will no doubt play big roles once the title is done with big crossovers. A book I wasn't sure would last seems to have found it's legs. Hercules has an extended cast, a good concept, and the occasional sidekick. The ending is something to be desired though. It seems a little to cliche for a book that has been upping the ante each issue.
Neal Edwards art has slowly been improving during his time on Herc. His art was always better for talking head panels, but his action panels have been great. He does have a couple of problems with faces in the last couple of pages. And Hercules muscles on the last page just look weird.
Herc #6 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Invincible Iron Man #506: While I'm enjoying Fear Itself, I can't wait for it to be out of this book. Iron Man was one of the strongest books Marvel was putting out, but now it's just average to bad.
Tony Stark had his first drink in a very long while. Odin brings him to the place where he forges his weapons. Odin introduces him to his elves, and says he can forge one weapon to help fight the Serpent. Tony is going to use these guys to build a new reactor for his chest. Back at Stark Resilient, Pepper is getting into her Rescue outfit so she can help fight the Serpent. The Hammer family is also sending out a team to rescue Detroit Steel.
First off, I fucking hate the elven talk. Swears and different languages mixed in with regular English can be funny or useful in the right situation. Think Firefly with using Chinese. But this is just annoying. The elven talk takes up half the dialogue boxes, which makes those almost impossible to comprehend. Matt Fraction, who is a great writer for Tony Stark, gives almost no weight to Tony drinking again. It happens and he moves on with the plot. The ending could have had more weight if it happened earlier in the plot, but now we have to wait until next month to see how that plays out.
Salvador Larroca usually has problems with talking head panels, but this issue doesn't have that problem. The elves look great, and Tony has a drunk look on his face throughout the book. The Detroit Steel bots look great as well, and next months fight between Rescue and the Detroit Steel Corps should be a sight to see.
Invincible Iron Man #506 gets 2.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Moon Knight #4: After rereading Moon Knight #1-3, then reading #4, I'm getting the feeling this book is going to be a better read in TPB form. But either way, #4 is a great issue.
Echo calls up the New Avengers to see how insane Moon Knight is. Ms. Marvel alludes that she likes him, which leads to some great lines from Spider-Man and Wolverine. Back in LA, Marc Spector talks to his personalities about if they should be able to trust Echo or not. Echo arrives and the two talk about what she was doing out in LA and why Moon Knight is in LA. The Night Squad appear, and attack the two. The police arrive, just as Echo and Moon Knight take down the Night Squad.
The plot doesn't move much, but it is still an enjoyable read. Bendis does need to establish Marc with a personality of his own, as we can't just go on the three split personalities. It's not a big problem, but one that does need to be addressed if the book wants to stay around for a while. There is a fair amount of exposition, but I barely noticed. It's relegated to the personalities, so it works instead of a real character telling us.
Alex Maleev's art is a big reason this book is a fun read every month. It is very reminiscent of his work on Dardevil, but still has it's own feel to it. Action scenes, a big problem for Maleev while on Daredevil, work really well here. It's framed correctly, even with all the photo referencing. I do wish Maleev would hold off on relying on photos so much, but what are you going to do.
Moon Knight #4 gets 4/5.
Echo calls up the New Avengers to see how insane Moon Knight is. Ms. Marvel alludes that she likes him, which leads to some great lines from Spider-Man and Wolverine. Back in LA, Marc Spector talks to his personalities about if they should be able to trust Echo or not. Echo arrives and the two talk about what she was doing out in LA and why Moon Knight is in LA. The Night Squad appear, and attack the two. The police arrive, just as Echo and Moon Knight take down the Night Squad.
The plot doesn't move much, but it is still an enjoyable read. Bendis does need to establish Marc with a personality of his own, as we can't just go on the three split personalities. It's not a big problem, but one that does need to be addressed if the book wants to stay around for a while. There is a fair amount of exposition, but I barely noticed. It's relegated to the personalities, so it works instead of a real character telling us.
Alex Maleev's art is a big reason this book is a fun read every month. It is very reminiscent of his work on Dardevil, but still has it's own feel to it. Action scenes, a big problem for Maleev while on Daredevil, work really well here. It's framed correctly, even with all the photo referencing. I do wish Maleev would hold off on relying on photos so much, but what are you going to do.
Moon Knight #4 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
The Punisher #1: The final book of Marvel's Big Shots line is released, and it's another hit. This volume of the Punisher looks to take a new angle on Frank.
Most of the issue is framed around two new characters. Detectives Bolt and Clemons are investigating a murder at a wedding. Bolt receives a text from an anonymous person (later revealed to be Frank) about the wedding. Bolt gives him the info he has, and Frank finds the person in question. The Punisher blows everyone in the bar away, except the main guy. The second part has to do with how Bolt met the Punisher, but is framed as a police report. There were two rival gangs meeting around a school. Frank pushed Bolt aside, takes his gun and goes to town. This makes Bolt look good, and puts him in Franks debt.
Greg Rucka is a great crime writer. And this issue shows his writing abilities work great with the Punisher. I still wish we could have seen more of the Punisher though. He appears only in a hand full of pages, and is treated more like a force of nature instead of an actual person. It's a nice angle to take, and it's interesting to see the point of view of the people who have to clean up after Frank. The police report angle is a great addition, but could become old fast if Rukka does it to much.
Mark Checchetto pencils a great book. His art works best when there are a lot of shadows, and it makes Frank look menacing. He doesn't sacrifice on violence, even though this isn't a MAX book. Everything is bloody and disturbing. Some of the male faces can blend together to much, especially at the wedding scene. But that's nitpicking an overall great issue.
The Punisher #1 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
S.H.I.E.L.D. #2: Finally, the plot seems to be moving. The bimonthly book has finished introducing characters and is now ready to move onto the epic plot line that we all want. Much like every other review of this book, I'm not going to try and describe the plot, as my fingers would fall off before I was finished trying to summarize everything.
Jonathan Hickman gives the reader more carrot than stick this issue. The book has been frustrating at times, because it's hard to keep track of all the characters, plot lines, motives, or even what time period we are in. But this issue puts the plot at the front and center. Not only that, but Leonid is finally given something to do instead of just be told stuff and react. It's not much of a role, but it seems like he will be taking more a role in the upcoming issues.
Dustin Weaver's art is the real reason that this book is worth waiting two months for. Everything is detailed to the point of it looking real. Part of the allure of this book is to just open up to a random page and just stare. There are numerous panels that look beautiful and are some of the best art in comic books today.
S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 gets 4.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Red Skull: Incarnate #2: I was very disturbed at how Greg Pak made me feel for one of the most evil villains in the history of comic books. But he did, and he does again with this issue.
Johann Schmidt is living on the streets, needing to steal to eat. A street gang of kids chase him into the house of Jews, who take Johann in. The gang's leader follows him, telling Schmidt that he works for him now. Schmidt tries to steal the father who took him in's money, but can't do it. The father didn't think he would, and tells him he is a good man. Things are starting to look up for Schmidt. Then the Nazi's come to town. They beat the Jew father, and Schmidt protects his daughter. The street gangs leader comes, and Schmidt slits his throat. Schmidt then hits the daughter, as she won't stop screaming. He gives the daughter to the Nazis, and makes some money. He walks away as the Jew father says his name over and over.
Pak has the uncanny ability of subtlety. A lesser writer would have just handed us the reasons that Schmidt became the Red Skull, but Pak gives one or two reason an issue. These are starting to build, slowly showing why the Skull is the way he is. It's also nice that the Nazis aren't as prominent as I thought they would be. It shows that the Nazis didn't make the Skull, and he was this way before they came in and destroyed Germany.
Part of the disturbing nature of the book is due to Mirko Colak. His art looks like it's painted from real life. The flash of red every time Schmidt commits an act of violence is a great and keeps reminding the reader that this boys fate is already sealed.
Red Skull: Incarnate #2 gets 5/5.
Marvel Comics
Wolverine #13: Another issue of Wolverine, another issue describing the backstory of the Red Right Hand. I'm going to put it simply, it needs to end.
This issue focuses on a former Hand assassin. Most of her family was killed by Wolverine, and the rest of her faction of the Hand was killed by him also. She meets the leader of the Red Right Hand, and he offers to bring her into the group. In the present, the leader sends Gunhawk to deal with Wolverine. He doesn't last nearly as long as his predecessors, and dies fast. But not before revealing that the group's plan is to make Wolverine hurt, not die.
The idea of giving backstory to the Red Right Hand members was good in principle, but it shouldn't have lasted this long. These could have been shortened down and used as backstories, and have the book focus on Wolverine. He has been absent in his own book. I'm sure this will no doubt lead to something, as Jason Aaron is a talented writer. But these last few months have destroyed all the momentum that started all the way back in #1.
Renato Guedes picks up the slack this month. His pencils look great, especially the action scenes. The quick fight between Gunhawk and Wolverine is one of the highlights. I have read a few reviews that discuss how thin Wolverines claws look. I'm not sure it's as big of a problem as they make it off to be, but there are a few panels where they look to much like bone and not adamantium.
Wolverine #13 gets 3.5/5.
That's it for the week boys and girls. Next week we have Fear Itself #5, which will no doubt be awesome. I'm going to read Ed Brubaker's Incognito this weekend, and continue reading Y: The Last Man. Have a good weekend.
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