DC Comics
Batman #2: Scott Snyder can do no wrong. It's kind of scary how well he writes tons of characters. Batman #2 is one of the best issues that the nuDC has given us, and everyone should be reading this series.
Bruce Wayne describes some details about Wayne Town, and why there are so many "guardians" on the rings of the tower. All fascinating stuff, but then Bruce is thrown out the window! Let's back up though. Batman is trying to take down a helicopter, while driving along a train track. Batman takes down the helicopter, then heads back to the Bat-cave to investigate the murder in issue #1. Using some really cool tech, Batman checks out the body from the Bat-cave with Gordon standing right next to the body in the morgue. They find an owl symbol on one of his teeth, the same symbol on the knives that killed the man. The symbol is the same symbol for the Court of Owls, a secret organization that has it's roots in Gotham's past. Batman doesn't believe they are real. Nightwing comes by to explain why his DNA was under the murdered man's fingernails. Bruce goes to old Wayne Tower to meet with Lincoln March. An assassin from the Court of Owls appears and throws Bruce out the window. Bruce saves himself, and the assassin somehow survives the insane fall.
Scott Snyder said how the city of Gotham was going to be a real character in this first arc, and it really shows in issue #2. It helps that Snyder makes the Court of Owls feels like it's Gotham is attacking Bruce. It's hard for writers to think up new villains for the Bat, as most of them have already been done and redone. But this Court of Owls feels menacing and actually threatening. What impressed me most about this issue was Snyder's characterization of Lincoln. He seems just like Bruce, but has enough differences that it doesn't seem hokey or just a plot device. Snyder gives us every facet of Batman in this issue, showing us how versatile he is as a writer. We see detective Bat, fighting Bat, even some great work with Bruce. The addition of the tech in the morgue is awesome, and how has another writer not thought of this before?
Greg Capullo's artwork is astounding. His cartoony style fits perfectly in the world of Batman, even though it's a book that is very serious. The action scene with the helicopter flows great, and the fear in the criminals faces is penciled perfectly. My favorite panel by far is the smirk that Batman gives right before he jumps onto a train and into the helicopter. It's hysterical. My only complaint, and this is real nitpicking, is that Lincoln and Bruce look exactly the same.
Batman #2 gets 5/5.
Marvel Comics
Fear Itself #7: It's the end of another Marvel event. I was pleased with this, but most were not. SPOILERS AHEAD
Tony Stark's answer to the Worthy Hammers is upon us. The group of seven attack Dark Asgard, with Captain America in town. Thor attacks the Serpent, who turns into an actual serpent. Thor drops Mjolnir, and Cap picks it up. Battle time. Odin gets ready to raze Midgard, but he sees the battle between Thor and the Serpent, and holds the line. Thor kills the Serpent, and like the prophecy said, Thor will take nine steps, then die. Odin sends all the citizens of Asgard back to Midgard, and brings Thor and himself back to Asgard. The funeral is help for Bucky, and Tony fixes Cap's shield as best he can. Steve Rogers declares that they will rebuild Manhattan and Asgard, as the citizens of Broxton move back to their daily lives.
Maybe it's me being use to Matt Fraction's writing, but this ending was good for him. He is a writer who builds up every very well, but when the ending comes he has some trouble. Look to recent arcs of Invincible Iron Man and Thor/The Mighty Thor for examples. For development as a writer though, this does show improvement. Fraction does need to work more on tying up all the lose ends, but that's also not the real purpose of an event. Fraction gives Cap and Thor some great line, while making the Serpent seem menacing. Fraction sets up a lot of threads that will no doubt be explored in numerous books coming up.
While I have been a fan of Fraction's writing, the real entertainment in this series has come from Stuart Immonen on pencils. The character's have so much emotion in their faces, and the battle scenes are simply epic. The Serpent as dragon looks amazing and is stunningly detailed.
When it comes to events, I'm one who looks at them as a link in a larger chain. They bring to fruition threads that have been building for a while and start a lot of new ones for the future. And for that, Fear Itself does it's job. Did it live up to they hype? Of course it didn't. No event ever does. People put so much hype into events that they can't possibly deliver the results they want. Going into Fear Itself, I wanted an event that used the theme of fear well, and gave us something to look forward too. Fear Itself succeeded on every front in my book. There could have been better character moments, but it's near impossible to give every character the panel space they need to develop. Many complained that Fraction didn't give other characters quality time. I reiterate my past reason, it's hard to give every character the space when you are trying to tell a story. Civil War didn't cover every character, but people didn't complain about it. If you want to see every character, that is what the tie-ins are for. Fraction defiantly has room for improvement, but he crafted a great event that did it's job. And as a fan of the comic book medium, I feel my money was well spent the past seven months.
Fear Itself #7 gets 4.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Herc #9: Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente can't catch a break. Herc has one more issue and it was announced Alpha Flight in fact wasn't turning into an ongoing and ending with #8.
Herc is trying to convince Rhea that he is a one woman girl, even though he had just entertained a bachelorettes party at the bar. Just as Hercules and Rhea are about to become close, Zeus comes in the door. It seems after his latest tris, Hera made Zeus fat so that women wouldn't want to sleep with him anymore. Herc hears from his nerds, and Zeus and Herc head out to stop some Hand ninjas from stealing from a museum. Once they arrive, Elektra shows up and helps Herc destroy the ninjas. Zeus makes a pass at her, and Elektra hits him where the sun don't shine. Elektra takes the thing the ninjas stole and rides off in a straw house with legs. The Kingpin arrives and has a problem with Hercules.
Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente have penned a great issue. It's classic Hercules. Plenty of humor while still keeping up with the drama. The dynamic writing duo have always used the gods well, and #9 is another great example of this. The Herc and Rhea relationship was a great thread that sadly didn't get enough time to blossom with the series tied up in different crossovers. Looking back, with the book on it's deathbed, this might have been the death of the series. Being tied up in two many crossovers keeps the book from telling it's own story. Herc did a great job of telling great stories, even though they were tied up. But audiences can't completely connect to a book that is being helped along by the event.
David Hahn's art starts off strong, looking cartoony but expressive. By the end of the issue though, his pencils look very rushed. Head shapes vary wildly and Herc's and Zeus' beard can't seem to keep the same shape from panel to panel. The action scenes work well, with specific praise being sent towards the Elekra and Zeus scene.
Herc #9 gets 3.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Journey Into Mystery #629: Even if you didn't like Fear Itself, you have to admit that you are glad the series was sold. Because of it, we have the sensational series Journey Into Mystery.
Loki realizes that Thor has no chance of killing the Serpent, so Loki uses the pen from last issue to change the history of the Serpent a little bit. Since beings as old as the Serpent don't have an origin, they have lot of stories and myths. These are easily changed. Loki sets out to change the history of the Serpent so that Thor will have a fighting chance. Loki and his rag tag of bandits run out of Dark Asgard, using Surtur as a distraction. The group arrives at the battlefield just as Thor dies, and Loki realizes that he never had a chance of saving Thor, just making his death worthwhile. Ikol flies away, not believing what he just saw. Loki killed Thor, and he now regrets it.
Loki has always been a character who sits in the background and moves the chess pieces. This arc has perfectly shown how powerful Loki is, even though he is physically weak. Loki's small change hits that much harder with everything Gillen has done Loki. Kieron Gillen has done simply amazing job of turning young Loki into one of the most interesting characters in the Marvel Universe. Gillen's script really helps the reader feel how sad Loki feels about his brother dying. Even better, Gillen drops hints that Leah is interested in Loki, a relationship that will prove to be a hilarious story if Gillen ends up telling it in future issues. The part where Loki uses Leah in the changing of the Serpent's story will no doubt add to this.
Whilce Portacio does a better job this month on pencils, but his faces still need a lot of work. The larger than life figures, such as Sutur and the Destroyer, look fantastic. But the quieter scenes don't look as great. But Gillen's script picks up where there art is a let down, so everything ends up evening out in the end. Doug Braithwaite pencils the origin of the Serpent, and his pencils look great. I wish he could have stayed on the book.
Journey Into Mystery #629 gets 4/5.
DC Comics
Justice League #2: Now this is more like it. After a very safe, and a little boring, start to the new series, #2 kicks the gear up a little bit.
After Batman exhausts his utility belt, Green Lantern sucker punches Superman off of him. Superman breaks out of Hal's construct, the first person to do this. Batman is trying to keep everyone calm so that Lantern and Batman can talk to Superman, but no one hears him. Green Lantern calls his buddy the Flash to help out. The Flash hits Superman, and dodges a bunch of punches by Superman. Sups then flicks the Flash, who is the first person to "touch him" while he is running. Batman finally gets everyones attention, and Superman reveals that he has seen the box (from last issue). Superman stopped someone recently the same way Hal and Batman stopped the guy last issue. Once they arrive at Superman's lair (an abandoned printing press) the box starts to ping. While this is going on, Vic meets his dad at Star Laboratories. The two argue a little bit, and it is shown that Star Laboratories has one of the mystery boxes as well. The boxes light up and a lot of Darkseid's minions bust through. Vic gets hit with some of the beams.
Geoff Johns really hammers home the team aspect in this issue. It helps that Johns shows us more than two heroes. The dialogue works well to give new readers a feel about who these characters are without boring them to death. As someone who didn't know much about Cyborg's past, these few pages work really well to give me an idea of who he is and what he will be like as a hero. The slow addition of members gives the team a "this team is destined to help people" feeling, something that the JL are. The reveal of the villain so early is a different choice, but I'm sure that Johns will do a good job with the story.
Jim Lee's art still stuns. The multiple double page spreads are a sight to behold, and I found myself looking at these pages for a while before going on with the rest of the book. Like last issue, and other Jim Lee projects, a lot of the faces look similar. And interesting choice for the jumpsuit that Vic's dad wears. Lee's lighting is fantastic, especially with regards to Hal's ring.
Justice League #2 gets 4/5.
DC Comics
Nightwing #2: With the massive amount of Batman books that DC is putting out, each one has to give readers a reason to read them each month. Nightwing is doing a good job of this.
Saiko, the man who tried to kill Dick Grayson last month, keep trying to attack Nightwing in the ally. Saiko shoots a grenade at a passing car though, which sends Nightwing towards them to save the driver and passenger. Saiko gets away, so Dick heads home. Raya appears at his doorstep soon after he gets home, and needs Dick to take her down to New Jersey for a secret reason. Dick arrives at a warehouse, an old warehouse that use to house Haley Circus' old props. Mr. Haley is there waiting for Dick, and Haley reveals that he knows that Dick is Nightwing. He then leaves Haley circus to Dick. While flying back to Gotham, Raya and Dick have a nice quiet moment (as quiet as sex can be). Dick gets a call from Saiko, and heads back to the Haley warehouse. Just as Nightwing gets there, Saiko attacks. As the two fight, the warehouse starts to light on fire. Dick saves Mr. Haley, who was still inside, but Haley dies outside just Dick puts him down on the ground.
Kyle Higgans' use of Haley circus in this plot was a fantastic choice. It helps hit to the core of who Dick is as a person. Higgans shows how much that Dick is like Bruce, but also that he is his own character. Higgans has Dick be witty when he needs too, but Batman-y when the going gets tough. I'm sure Raya will be around for a while, but part of me wishes their relationship could have been developed more before they did the side ways tango. But Higgans has done a great job so far, so I'll let him keep going with this portrayal. In my first read through (and in my tweet review), I thought that Higgans made a bad choice in staying in Dick's head and not having the reader experience his thoughts and emotions through action. But in the second read through, I found myself not caring as much about them. Actually, they worked really well in the story.
Eddy Barrows has always been a penciler who works well with action scenes. The new Nightwing series has really let him flex his muscles with quieter scenes. Everything about this comic looks great. The nitpicker in me has a couple of problems with panel flow, but I also hit the nitpicker and put him into his corner all the time.
On my first read through, I gave Nightwing #2 a 3.5/5. With the second read through though, it gets a better rating.
Nightwing #2 gets 4/5.
Millarworld/Icon
Superior #6: Mark Millar's Kick-Ass 2 might not be living up to expectations set by the original, at least Superior is delivering a great read each issue.
The evil monkey turns Simon back into a cripple right as Maddie walks in. Simon explains everything to her, then Maddie reveals a big part of her past. She takes him to a hospital that she use to stay at when she had leukemia. She stayed positive and being in that hospital gave her perspective and also gave her her love of writing. This helps Simon realize that he wants to go home and see his parents. They welcome him with open arms, and Maddie tells her editor that she can't do the story. The evil monkey gives Sharpie a big suit of armor, trying to make Simon give up his soul so that he can be Superior forever. Sharpie gives Simon 60 seconds to turn back into Superior and fight him or he will level half the city.
Mark Millar paints this very dark story with a layer of innocence. It's nice to see Millar give Maddie more to do than be a sluttier version of Lois Lane. I'm not sure that having Maddie have the same type of life as Simon was a good choice, but it could play out well in the next issue. It will be interesting to see Maddie's and Superior's relationship depending on the choice Simon makes. Millar makes Simon feel real and believable even though all this absurd stuff is happening to him. A little to much time is spent on the evil monkey thing, but it helps set up the ending that really hits the reader hard. Superior #6 is one of the best issues that Millar has put out in a while.
Leinel Yu's pencils are as always, beautiful. His characters look almost life like and are very expressive. The scene where the ship goes flying into the skyscraper is beyond detailed. I'm surprised he was able to pencil all this in just a month or two. Sharpie's suit of armor looks really weird and menacing.
Superior #6 gets 4/5.
The evil monkey turns Simon back into a cripple right as Maddie walks in. Simon explains everything to her, then Maddie reveals a big part of her past. She takes him to a hospital that she use to stay at when she had leukemia. She stayed positive and being in that hospital gave her perspective and also gave her her love of writing. This helps Simon realize that he wants to go home and see his parents. They welcome him with open arms, and Maddie tells her editor that she can't do the story. The evil monkey gives Sharpie a big suit of armor, trying to make Simon give up his soul so that he can be Superior forever. Sharpie gives Simon 60 seconds to turn back into Superior and fight him or he will level half the city.
Mark Millar paints this very dark story with a layer of innocence. It's nice to see Millar give Maddie more to do than be a sluttier version of Lois Lane. I'm not sure that having Maddie have the same type of life as Simon was a good choice, but it could play out well in the next issue. It will be interesting to see Maddie's and Superior's relationship depending on the choice Simon makes. Millar makes Simon feel real and believable even though all this absurd stuff is happening to him. A little to much time is spent on the evil monkey thing, but it helps set up the ending that really hits the reader hard. Superior #6 is one of the best issues that Millar has put out in a while.
Leinel Yu's pencils are as always, beautiful. His characters look almost life like and are very expressive. The scene where the ship goes flying into the skyscraper is beyond detailed. I'm surprised he was able to pencil all this in just a month or two. Sharpie's suit of armor looks really weird and menacing.
Superior #6 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Uncanny X-Men #544: It's the end of an era. Marvel's longest running book (unbroken or renumbered) finally ends, and the last issue is good, although not spectacular.
Bobby Drake, aka Iceman, is going to Westchester with Wolverine to help start the new school. The two get nostalgic, discussing all the good and bad times that have come since they have been with the X-Men. Beast comes to grab the last of his things. Cyclops and Beast exchange a few harsh words, with Beast leaving for Westchester as well. Bobby throws one last snowball at Cyclops, and Cyclops barely flinches, solidifying that Cyclops can't have fun anymore. Back in his office, Cyclops talks to Emma while he takes down the old frames hanging up. While all this is going on, Mr. Sinister reads a book that seems to know what is going on about the X-Men exactly while it's happening. He rebirths himself, and seems more powerful than before.
Kieron Gillen has the insane task of closing out the first volume of Uncanny X-Men. This issue really feels like a closure issue, but with the usual openness that we get from the comic medium. #544 also gives us some good hints about how Gillen is going to be tackling Cyclops as leader. Even when things were bad, Gillen had Cyclops be somewhat happy at points. Now it seems that the happy side of him is leaving with the rest to Westchester. I liked the idea of framing the issue around the original X-Men (or what's left of them). Mr. Sinister is rather....well sinister. It peaks my interest in the new volume starting next month.
Greg Land does a decent job this month. But oy, he can't seem to to NOT fit in some awkwardly standing characters. Look at the big double page spread to see what I mean. I was so excited to see that Carlos Pacheo was going to be the new artist on Uncanny, then I saw that Land is going to be the artist from the second arc. Sigh...
Uncanny X-Men #544 gets 3.5/5.
Kieron Gillen has the insane task of closing out the first volume of Uncanny X-Men. This issue really feels like a closure issue, but with the usual openness that we get from the comic medium. #544 also gives us some good hints about how Gillen is going to be tackling Cyclops as leader. Even when things were bad, Gillen had Cyclops be somewhat happy at points. Now it seems that the happy side of him is leaving with the rest to Westchester. I liked the idea of framing the issue around the original X-Men (or what's left of them). Mr. Sinister is rather....well sinister. It peaks my interest in the new volume starting next month.
Greg Land does a decent job this month. But oy, he can't seem to to NOT fit in some awkwardly standing characters. Look at the big double page spread to see what I mean. I was so excited to see that Carlos Pacheo was going to be the new artist on Uncanny, then I saw that Land is going to be the artist from the second arc. Sigh...
Uncanny X-Men #544 gets 3.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Wolverine #17: After a year and a half of fighting the Red Right Hand, Wolverine gets to stab something else. And it's one of the most enjoyable Wolverine issues in some time.
Logan has come back to San Francisco to grab the last of his stuff from Malita's apartment. The two talk about what they are going to due about their relationship, when a small kid comes in. It seems men have been killed, men who are linked to the Black Dragon. The Black Dragon is the kingpin of Chinatown. Well, Logan is the Black Dragon (don't worry, he almost forgot as well). Logan and the kid go to the Black Dragon headquarters, and find that Logan's money has been stolen. Logan goes to stab the culprits, and Gorilla Man shows up. The two trade barbs and start making their way down a staircase. They find that this group, the Claw, have dug a hole to China and are selling drugs. A group finds them, and want to fight.
Jason Aaron must have been saving up a lot of jokes for this issue. Wolverine is one witty son of a bitch, same with Gorilla Man. Aaron takes some kooky concepts, like an actual tunnel to China....in Chinatown, and makes them seem commonplace. Good choice with Gorilla Man for a second hero, and it looks like Fat Cobra is going to be in the next one. I'm in C-lister heaven. Aaron's creation Malita gets some good face time as well. As a long time reader of Aaron's Wolverine, it's nice to see him not skimp on the long time angles, and I wonder if she will play a part in Wolverine and the X-Men.
Ron Garney is always a great collaborator with Jason Aaron. His art isn't as fantastic as his work on Wolverine: Weapon X, but it's still looks great. His scratchier style is more controlled in this outing, compared to his work on Ultimate Captain America. The massive dragoons look great.
Wolverine #17 gets 5/5.
DC Comics
Wonder Woman #2: Wonder Woman gets the award for the freshest series amongst the nuDC.
Wonder Woman takes Zola and Hermes to Paradise Island. While there, Zola finds out how Diana was "born" to Queen Hippolyta. Aleka challenges Wonder Woman to a fight, which Diana eventually wins. While all this is going on, Hera is with Strife, and the two are scheming to kill Zola. Zola is pregnant with Zeus' child, and the child is destined to kill one of the other kids of Zeus. Strife attacks Paradise Island, confusing the Amazons into attacking each other. Strife becomes Godzilla size and is immune to Wonder Woman's lasso of truth, and reveals that Diana's mother is in fact......Hera.
Before this volume, I was never a fan of Wonder Woman. I had read up on her and her history, and even checked out a few trades in Borders, but could never understand the hook of the character. Brian Azzarello gives Diana as fresh a start a 70 year old character can get. Azzarello uses the god perfectly, and gives them one snarky wit as well. After reading though, what stuck with me was Azzarello's portrayal of Zola. She is a confident sexual woman who isn't a slut. It's a small differentiation, but he finds it so well. She has sex with a lot of guys, but it's what she wants and it doesn't make her a slut. More comic writers need to read this issue to see how it's done correctly.
Cliff Chiang's art is fantastic. His art is bursting at the seems with kinetic energy, and the fight scene between Diana and Aleka shows this. It flows like you were watching a film take place. The choice to have the Amazons dress in more battle ready attire work well. Often the use of togas doesn't really help solidify that the Amazons are battle ready warriors.
Wonder Woman #2 gets 4.5/5.
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