Marvel Comics
Alpha Flight #4: Hooray! Alpha Flight has been upgraded to an ongoing series! The series has been great so far, but #4 takes a slight dip in quality. Mostly due to the backstory of the main villain.
Alpha Flight is trying to get out of the country, since Canada isn't that found of their favorite superhero team at the moment. The Unity party is using it's captives as slave labor to strip a mine. Northstar is reverting to torturing tactics to find out where his boyfriend is being held captive. Vindicator visits her family, where the government has entrusted her in laws to take care of her daughter (see #1 for more). She deals with the quickly, in a rather grim manner. Guardian doesn't want to wear the flag anymore, and takes the Canadian maple leaf off of his uniform. This doesn't last long, as he and Alpha Flight attack the mine the captives are working at. He puts the flag back on as a morale booster. The villain behind the Unity Party is revealed, and it's....a race of aliens.
Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente work their writing magic in this issue...for the most part. The emotional highs and lows hit their marks and feel real. The team is in despair and the reader can really feel this. I wish that if Guardian is going to take off the flag, keep it off for a bit, not a few panels. Still, the moment works well. The thing that doesn't work well is the alien angle. We always knew that someone was behind the Unity Party, but having it be aliens just rings hollow. The whole story feels like an invasion gone wrong, something we have seen time and time again. It's not unreadable, as Alpha Flight still has to make Canada love them, even if they defeat Master of the World (who is controlling the aliens, or at least it seems that way).
Dale Eaglesham is getting better and better each issue. Some have complained about his stiff characters, but he has been working on this more and more each issue. His characters are getting more expressive and he is diversifying his face models. Guardian still looks like Mr. Fantastic, but it's rare for him to have his helmet off. I'd like to see Eaglesham stay on the book now that it's an ongoing.
Alpha Flight #4 gets 3.5/5.
DC Comics
Batman & Robin #1: I stopped reading the last volume of Batman & Robin when Grant Morrison left the book. I read great things about Paul Cornell's and Peter J. Tomasi's issues though, and this made me download #1 of this volume.
It's the anniversary of Bruce's parents being killed. He takes Damien to the place on Crime Alley where his parents died to instill in him respect for the dead. Damien is less than pleased with this, and wants to fight bad guys. Alfred alerts Batman & Robin about about a problem over at Gotham University, and the dynamic duo react. Batman & Robin start to defeat the bad guys, with Batman trying to instill lessons into Robin while they fight. A few of the bad guys find the vehicle Batman & Robin came in and drive away. Damien accidentally kills them, much to the chagrin of Batman. In Moscow, the Batman Inc representative stops a bad guy. A new villain appears, name Nobody. He captures the Moscow Batman and the nameless bad guy, and burns them alive in what looks to be acid. Nobody then realizes where he needs to go next...Gotham.
When I first heard that Bruce and Damien would headline this book, I wondered how the father/son relationship would play out. Peter J. Tomasi makes the book an enjoyable read, if a little out of character. Bruce doesn't seem like the person who would have a massive tribute to his parents. I could understand visiting and delivering flowers, but thinking back about the pearls and the Zorro playbill just seems out of character for Bruce. The dynamic comes into full swing during the fight scene, and it's a blast to read. That alone is the reason I'll be buying the book next month.
I'm not to familiar with Patrick Gleason's art, but I really like what I see here. The panels flow well and the action looks great. A personal favorite is how Gleason makes Batman's and Robin's cape seem like it's a force of nature and more menacing that it really is. It's a small touch that adds to the fear Batman is trying to portray. His art reminds me a lot of John Cassidy's. There a couple of facial problems, but I have seen a lot worse from the New 52.
Batman & Robin #1 gets 4/5.
Dark Horse Comics
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9 #1: I didn't get into Buffy until I started dating my current girlfriend. She sat my ass down and made me watch all seven season of Buffy and five season of Angel. God I love her. Buffy Season 9 #1 is a great start to the new season, and it looks to be back to basics that Buffy seriously needed.
Buffy is having everyone over to celebrate moving into her new apartment. She invites the usual gang, and has a rather rowdy time. Her night gets rather insane, including accidentally putting the moves on Riley, and what seems to be having sex with Xander (but probably not). She wakes up with a legendary hangover, and Willow and Buffy's room mates inform her of what happened the night before. While this is going on, someone sends a demon after Buffy. Also, what seems to be a former Slayer is heading towards San Francisco. And even more meanwhile, former Slayers seem to be dying mysteriously. Near the end of the issue, we see what the demon was going after Buffy for......HER STUDENT LOANS!
Buffy Season 9 #1 has some of the best Joss Whedon dialogue I have read/heard in a while. It's amazing after all these years that Joss still has a tight grip on the voice of these characters. What's better is that he wrote this amazing issue while he was filming next summer's The Avengers. Not once does Buffy brood, but the reader can tell that she can't figure out her life and what she wants to do with it. The dialogue is hysterical. My favorite line is Spike's. "I'm going to add Y to the end of every sentence." It's incredibly self referential, but it works with characters. Only a writer at the caliber of Joss Whedon could reference himself in the process of using his own stereotype and not have it seem awkward or clunky. Joss also adds a good number of threads that will no doubt last this season. It's a nice touch to keep this comic feeling like a continuation of the TV show.
The only thing that keeps this issue from getting a perfect score is the art. I really like George Jeanty's art on Season 8, and here in Season 9, but it isn't up to par of the art from Angel & Faith. There are points where the characters look nothing like their actor counterparts. Riley is the worst victim of this. The art does look good though, and is very expressive. It does take a very talented penciler to incorporate the looks of the actor and not lose momentum.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 9 #1 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Daredevil #3: Mark Waid has shown that you don't need to be gloomy to be entertaining. His Daredevil is fun, and I love him for it.
Matt Murdock is captured by Klaw and his echoes. The sound waves are messing with Matt's radar, making it hard to find people. The echoes place a thing on Matt that will most likely kill him so that Klaw can become hold again. Daredevil finds a way to get out of the system, and makes a run for it. Klaw sends sound waves out to stop him though, and it takes everything in it's path with them. Matt runs into traffic, basically blind, and destroys the frame thingy that was attached to his face. It seems to destroy Klaw in the process. Back in the coatroom, Matt can't help his client, since his client was hearing voices (which was Klaw). Matt and Foggy teach their client to represent himself. He does well and wins the case. The two go out to a bar latter, and Matt says something that will no doubt lead to hilarious repercussions with Foggy.
Klaw is a kooky villain. Much like most of the golden/silver age villains created, they are insanely powerful, but never used to their potential. Mark Waid turns Klaw into an actual villain, and I'd like to see Klaw come back in future issue. Mark Waid has really laid on the humor of Matt in these past three issues, and he continues that here. The last page is downright hilarious and will have some great responses from Foggy. The teaching clients to represent themselves is a great angel for Matt and just adds his helpful aspect of Matt. It works so well, much like when Peter Parker was a high school teacher.
Paulo Rivera's art is brilliance. It's amazing to see him work a ton of panels into one page and to not have it seem cluttered or busy. The use of shadows when Matt can't use his radar is a great touch, and one that might not stand out to most readers. I want to say I'm sad that Rivera won't be penciling the next issue, but Marcos Martin is penciling the next issue, so I can't be sad.
Daredevil #3 gets 4.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Deadpool #43: Marvel's premiere funny book when it started, Deadpool has gone into some dark places as of late. #43 still has some of that darkness to it, but adds a good chunk of funny.
Deadpool escaped the mental institution and is living on the streets. This doesn't stop Doctor Whitby from finding him, and wearing some rather disturbing attire. Wade isn't happy with that and shows her some chivalry (smacks her in the face with a gun). Wade wakes up the next day and realizes he needs to get out of England. He car jacks a Brit and his comically small car, and accidentally runs into the Queen of England and her blockade. Trying to get away from the police, he runs into the Queen's car. He strikes up a conversation with her, and she seems to help him. Deadpool pulls the old switchero and escapes.
I enjoyed this little foray to the mental institution, but I do miss Deadpool being wacky and finding his way into weird situations. #43 has some of this, and looks to have more of it next issue. Daniel Way does a commendable job for keeping the book fresh and not retooling the same scenario over and over. The car scene in the second half of the book was hilarious and reminds me of Deadpool in it's early days. Deadpool can be a very dark character, due to his backstory and history, and it's good to see Way not completely forget this. But don't fix what's not broken right?
Carlos Barberi's art is his usual fair here. His art is getting better, as he is staying away from such exaggerated body types. Deadpool's muscles are proportionate to his size, and even Dr. Whitby looks normal, even with her being the over the top character that she is.
Deadpool #43 gets 4/5.
DC Comics
Demon Knights #1: Paul Cornell hasn't had great luck with books recently. Stormwatch didn't start of great and his run on Action Comics didn't exactly end well. Demon Knights changes his luck around with one of the bigger surprises of the DC 52.
At the fall of Camelot, Marlin is trying to contain the demon Etrigan. A young boy named Jason enters the room, and Merlin seals the demon in him. A knight rushes to find King Arthur to give him Excalibur, but he is being taken back to Avalon. Xanadu jumps out of the boat heading to Avalon, trying to get Excalibur. The sword disappears. We jump 400 years into the future...to the Dark Ages. Jason and Xanadu are traveling together, and seem to be involved. The Queen of the area, called the Questing Queen, is searching for something, and uses the child of recently conquered village to channel a demon. The demon tells them what they want to hear, but kill the child in the process. Jason and Xanadu head to a local village (the exact village the Questing Queen is going to invade soon). Jason and Xanadu meet up with Vandal Savage, a barbarian they have fought with before. The Queen's army makes their way to the village, and Jason lets go of Etrigan to fight them. Xanadu and Etrigan share a kiss, and the Queen sends dragons to stop him.
Paul Cornell wrote a distinctly British comic in Captain Britain and MI13, and Demon Knights has that feel again. It's filled with Britishisms, and a distinct British humor. The massive jump in time is a little drastic, but it will no doubt lead to some great story lines down the road. There is a lot set up in this book. Many characters are shown, just to give them a few panels of face time. It can be a little jarring to have all these characters pop up and give their history, then go back to the story. Cornell gives the characters their voices though, and each a reason to be in the book.
Diogenes Neves' art looks a lot like Olivier Copiel's art, and it looks great. I'm not familiar with his art, but I wish I was. The characters are expressive, and Etrigan looks fantastic. The scene where Jason changes into Etrigan looks amazing. The demon in the child scene looks very creepy.
Demon Knights #1 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Fear Itself #6: Marvel's new event is almost over, and not a lot of people are pleased. I have been enjoying the series, and maybe it's because I didn't give into the hype.
Captain America is trying to get Thor to Asgard. A few of the Avengers stay behind to evacuate New York, while Spider-Man is trying to find his Aunt. Aunt May gives Peter the ol' "great power with great responsibility" reminder, and Peter swings away. The Serpent finally shows his endgame to the Red Skull. Odin tries to heal Thor, and tells Thor how he locked the Serpent away the first time. Tony Stark is done with building the new weapons. Odin has to bless them though, and since Stark is using his own suit of armor, that means some trial by fire. Captain America orders the Avengers to guard the World Tree, while Cap himself goes to keep Dark Asgard from getting to Asgard's fallen remains.
Matt Fraction tells a compelling tale, but I have a few questions or gripes. In Amazing Spider-Man, Aunt May has already moved to Boston, so how is she still in NYC? I'm also a little surprised that in a situation like this, Spider-Man would need another reminder about Uncle Ben's famous motto. It just doesn't make sense. Captain America's dialogue works well. He is a soldier who isn't use to being on the losing side, so naturally he is going to be a little desperate. It would have been nice to see Steve's realization that his shield has been destroyed, but soldier's don't stop fighting in wars. Fraction could have done a better job of trying to contain the entire story in the event book, and not relying on tie-ins so much. But it's the guy's first big event, it will take some time to learn how to get it done.
Stuart Immonen's art is still the main attraction for this book. He does loose some detail in the wider shots, but that is to be expected. The characters are hyper expressive, and the reader can really see the pain and suffering in their eyes. Immonen's art is helped by the amazing inks and colors by Von Grawbadger and Martin respectively. I'm going to miss Immonen's art once he goes on a break after Fear Itself.
Fear Itself #6 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Ghost Rider #3: A lot of hubbub was made about the Ghost Rider being a girl. Three issues in, and Johnny Blaze is still the star of this comic.
Adam finally shows Alejandra what happens when she uses her powers to whip the sin out of people. Blaze is trying to stop this, but before he is about too, she summons a rather large bike. She almost kills Blaze, but he is saved by the Seeker. Blaze and the Seeker escape, but not before being blasted into what seems to be Colombia. The Serpent feels the new Ghost Rider, and tells the Red Skull that he has a new sister in destruction. The Avengers arrive in Colombia to the place where the temple use to be. The one that Alejandra blew up. Adam has big plans for her now, and shows her a space ship.
Rob Williams has created a great tale here. The grind house atmosphere is a used to great effect, especially seeing the space ship at the end of the issue. Williams' writes a great Johnny Blaze. Even the Seeker gets a few good lines in there. Adam's threat feels real and has massive ramifications. One thing that this book has been missing though is some characterization for Alejandra. She is a blank slate, and all we know right now is her name. Williams will no doubt explain her back story and other things once Fear Itself is over with, but for now it's hurting the book. Williams' loves to pepper one liners throughout the book, and thankfully they feel natural. The book's grind house style is helped by the funny parts, and it makes the rather bizarre ending that much more enjoyable when the book doesn't take itself completely serious.
Brian Ching's art doesn't match up to past issues in the art department. His faces look flat out ugly in some panels. The massive two page spread where the bike makes it's appearance looks fantastic. The Seeker is the biggest victim of this later in the book.
Ghost Rider #3 gets 3/5.
Adam finally shows Alejandra what happens when she uses her powers to whip the sin out of people. Blaze is trying to stop this, but before he is about too, she summons a rather large bike. She almost kills Blaze, but he is saved by the Seeker. Blaze and the Seeker escape, but not before being blasted into what seems to be Colombia. The Serpent feels the new Ghost Rider, and tells the Red Skull that he has a new sister in destruction. The Avengers arrive in Colombia to the place where the temple use to be. The one that Alejandra blew up. Adam has big plans for her now, and shows her a space ship.
Rob Williams has created a great tale here. The grind house atmosphere is a used to great effect, especially seeing the space ship at the end of the issue. Williams' writes a great Johnny Blaze. Even the Seeker gets a few good lines in there. Adam's threat feels real and has massive ramifications. One thing that this book has been missing though is some characterization for Alejandra. She is a blank slate, and all we know right now is her name. Williams will no doubt explain her back story and other things once Fear Itself is over with, but for now it's hurting the book. Williams' loves to pepper one liners throughout the book, and thankfully they feel natural. The book's grind house style is helped by the funny parts, and it makes the rather bizarre ending that much more enjoyable when the book doesn't take itself completely serious.
Brian Ching's art doesn't match up to past issues in the art department. His faces look flat out ugly in some panels. The massive two page spread where the bike makes it's appearance looks fantastic. The Seeker is the biggest victim of this later in the book.
Ghost Rider #3 gets 3/5.
DC Comics
Green Lantern #1: Green Lantern is one of the few books that hasn't had it's continuity touched by the reboot. This leaves the book just as fun as it has been the last couple of years.
Hal Jordan has no life on Earth. He doesn't have an income, or a place to stay anymore. Hal sees a woman being attacked next door and springs into action, only to see that the woman and man are actors. Carol Ferris bails him out of jail, and Hal asks her out to dinner. While at dinner, Hal seems like he is going to propose to Carol, but asks her to cosign the car on his lease. She leaves in anger, and Hal walks home distraught. Sinestro is the new Green Lantern, and the Guardians seem to have a lot of plans for him. Sinestro goes to his home planet of Korugar, and sees that the Yellow Lanterns have enslaved his home planet. One of the Lanterns attacks Sinestro, and realizes their fearless leader has betrayed them. Sinestro kills him and destroys the ring. He heads to Earth to see Hal, and gives him an offer.
It's good that DC decided to keep the Green Lantern books the way they were. Green Lantern was a book that desperately needed a rest and to find it's footing again. Geoff Johns reminds us why Hal Jordan and Sinestro are engaging characters, even when there aren't massive events going on around them. Hal especially needed to be grounded, and it's a fantastic read to see him figure out how it is to be human again. I'm a tad surprised at Carol, as she never seemed like the type to want to marry Hal. Not in the business they are in (being galactic Power Rangers). Sinestro is put into a rather interesting situation, and this will no doubt have lots of ramifications in future issues.
Doug Mahnke's art is simply beautiful. He goes from very quite scenes to massive fights very fast and without losing any momentum. He isn't given as many monsters to dram this time, but his quiet talking head panels are just as beautiful.
Green Lantern #1 gets 4/5.
I'm sorry folks, but I ran out of time and didn't have enough time to review these next issues.
Herc #7 gets 3/5
Journey Into Mystery #627 gets 5/5
Resurrection Man #1 gets 2.5/5
Spider-Island: Spider-Girl #2 gets 3/5.
No comments:
Post a Comment