DC Comics
Action Comics #3: Grant Morrison is a writer I always give the benefit of the doubt. He is allowed to have a bad issue or two. Action Comics #3 is an average issue.
Back on Krypton, there is a big party going on. Baby Kal-El sits alone. Jor-El warns his wife, Lara, to get out of Kandor, as there is something that is about to destroy Krypton. Something invades all of their systems, killing many who are connected to the system. The thing starts to bring a bunch of metals together to form one thing. Back on Earth in the present time, the Metropolis police force are investigating Clark Kent's apartment again. Clark meets with Jimmy and Lois, who scold him for trying to bring down Glenmorgan, as well as bring him over to the Daily Planet. Clark says no, and walks off. Clark gets a call from an unnamed source, who gives Clark plenty of information on Glenmorgan. Superman saves a little girl from being run over by a truck, but people aren't happy with him. Metropolis isn't happy that Superman is there and wants him out. The same thing that took down Krypton is in Metropolis, and it seems that Lex Luthor is behind it.....
I'm glad that Morrison didn't waste anytime in showing us his version of Krypton. It's big and out there and I hope we see more of it soon. But the rest of the issue is a little all over the place. Clark Kent is turning more into Peter Parker by the issue, and I'm starting to wonder if this is a good thing. Does that mean that Spider-Man is the real "all-American" superhero? The book shows us that Metropolis really hates Superman, but Morrison doesn't give us any transition from panel to panel. We just see random scenes. Morrison also drops a lot of hints about why things are happening, and knowing Morrison, they will come back in later issues. The ending is interesting though.
Krypton looks beautiful. Gene Ha's art is simply astounding in these scenes. It's futuristic, and his bold lines look great. The big double page spread near the beginning had me staring for a few minutes. Rags Morales art is really starting to suffer. His faces change shapes from panel to panel. It looks rushed. Instead of having Morals pencil just half, have someone pencil the entire issue and give him time to catch up. Marvel does this and it works great.
I originally gave Action Comics #3 a 4, but after another read through, Morrison's disjointed plot really got to me.
Action Comics #3 gets 3/5.
DC Comics
Animal Man #3: This is hands down the creepiest book I have ever read. God I can't wait for #4.
Buddy and Maxine make their way into the Red. They meet past Animal Men, and they discuss what Maxine means in the upcoming war against The Other. It seems that Maxine is more connected to the Red than Buddy is. Buddy is told he is an Avatar, but he was used to protect Maxine so that she could be ready for this. Buddy is also told that the aliens who gave him his powers didn't really give him his powers, and that these past Animal Men gave him his powers. The aliens were used so that Buddy would accept the powers easier. The Other monsters attack the rest of the Bakers, who make a run for it. Two of the Others invade the Red, while Buddy protects Maxine from them. The other Other, impersonates a detective that Ellen and Cliff Baker know, putting their lives in danger.
Jeff Lemire crafts a very creepy story. The idea that something is tied deeply to the animals of the world isn't something new, but Lemire makes it work really well here. But the strongest part of this book has to be the family aspect. Lemire really sells the fact that the Bakers are a family, and that Buddy's wife and kids aren't a plot device. I loved how Ellen was smart and reacted quickly, something the wife of a veteran super hero would do in that situation. Lemire quickly sweeps aside Animal Man's old origin, but as I didn't know anything about the character before this series, I could honestly care less. This relaunch is about new beginnings right?
The real star of this issue is Travel Foreman. His art is creepy as all hell and really gets under the readers skins. The Others in human skin are slightly deformed, but it makes them that much creepier. The heavy line usage is starting to grow on me. The first couple of pages could easily be turned into posters. I'd love some creepy comic art hanging in my room.
Animal Man #3 gets 5/5.
Marvel Comics
Fear Itself #7.1: Time for the grand story of what happened to Bucky and what it all meant to Steve. And while I'm pumped for the future, this story is a little bit of a cop out. And yes, spoiler warning.
Nick Fury comes to talk to Steve Rogers before Bucky's funeral later that day. Bucky is still alive. After Steve almost rips Nick a new one, Fury explains. Flashback, the paramedics at Blitzkrieg USA are able to keep Bucky alive, mostly by giving him the last of Fury's Infinity Formula. Bucky heals up, and decides to come with Nick Fury to tell Steve. Cap is naturally pissed, but Bucky says he needs this to get his life back. Bucky is still a fugitive after the "Gulag" arc. After the funeral, Hawkeye notices that Steve might have been smiling during the eulogy. Bucky heads off into the sunset, ready to make right on the things he did in his Winter Soldier days.
As a long time reader of Ed Brubaker's Captain America, I love the way this comic ended. It takes an event and turns it into something great. Steve did need to be Captain America again. And Brubaker used the opportunity to the best he could. I just don't think this was the best way to go about it. It feels like a massive cop out. It's the old scenario in comics of "oh he survived, you just didn't see it." Maybe I'm a jaded comic book reader. But enough bashing. This issue puts the Captain America section of the world into a very interesting scenario. The Winter Soldier series is something I'm really looking forward too, as well as how Brubaker handles Fury potentially dying soon. I only hope that enough people will read Winter Soldier that it won't be cancelled. With the recent budgetary constraints at Marvel, I'm very worried about any second tier characters.
Butch Guice's art is always magnificent. The massive double page spread looks great, and Guice can always catch the essence of scene. He also seems to be channeling more and more of Jack Kirby, which is always a good thing. In the scene with Fury and Black Widow in the helicopter, Guice gives so much emotion to Widow. The reader can feel every tear she cries, and how hard it really is for her.
Fear Itself #7.1 gets 3.5/5.
Marvel Comics
Moon Knight #7: This seems like as natural a point as any to end an arc. Even though it gives no indication that it's an arc. I love it.
Marc Spector confronts Buck for ratting him out to the Avengers. Spector gives him a hard time, but Buck agrees to keep helping Marc be Moon Knight. Buck heads to a club where Snap Dragon is working, hoping that she will lead them to the kingpin of LA. Well, it does. The kingpin of LA is Count Nefaria, an old Avengers villain who is way out of Moon Knights league. Buck gives Nefaria the Ultron head, but it's a fake. It explodes and temporarily weakens Nefaria. Moon Knight bursts into action and smacks Nefaria around a little bit. Echo tapes the entire thing, showing that Nefaria can be attacked and isn't as powerful as he makes himself off to be. The voices come to talk to Moon Knight while Echo is still filming. And she is very confused.
Bendis' trademark dialogue is on display this week. But the greatness comes from how Moon Knight handles Nefaria. Moonie doesn't back down even though he is fighting a villain so out of his league it's not funny. The altercation is real, and not some fist fight. Moon Knight uses different tactics, and it works. So well I can't wait until the next issue. Naturally Echo's reaction will lead some interesting story beats. It's nice to see that Bendis is dedicated to the character and has a real plan. This issue alone does a lot to show that Moon Knight is an actual smart character and not a one note hero who hears voices in his head.
Alex Maleev's art is great as usual. He's toned down the photo referencing, and it really helps the story. The colors by Matt Hollingsworth are great, especially in the scene where the Ultron head explodes. OOOOOOOO shiny.
Moon Knight #7 gets 4.5/5.
DC Comics
Swamp Thing #3: This and Animal Man have to be the two strongest books that DC is putting out right now.
The issue opens with a kind in a plastic bubble. His name is William, and he is allergic to chlorophyll. Since the stuff is everywhere, it's impossible for him to breathe in normal air. But something is calling William, much the same way that plants call Alec Holland. Abigail Arcane introduces herself to Alec Holland, via a shotgun pointed in his face. He proves he is Holland and she is determined to help him. Abigail explains her past history with the Swamp Thing, the same Swamp Thing that Alec was. She is the mysterious woman that he remembers. Her mission is to bring him to see William, who has a connection to the Rot. Abigail's family has always had a connection to the Rot, but she has tried not to help it. William is her her half brother. When the two arrive at the hospital, almost everyone is dead. William realized he had the connection and killed all the kids that made fun of him, and then everyone else. Time for Alec and Abigail to find him.
The plot thickens in this issue, while still unloading a lot of exposition. But it never feels like exposition. That's the mark of a great writer. Scott Snyder gives us all this information, but in a way that we want to keep reading more and more. Most of it has to deal with Abigail and her history to Swamp Thing. Now that all the back history is out of the way, no doubt the plot will move along at a nice pace starting with #4. I also see a potential crossover with Animal Man. Snyder paints William with a lot innocence, which makes his deadly turn that much more alarming when it happens.
I was expecting this entire issue to be pencilled by Yanick Paquette, as his name is the only one on the cover for artists. Victor Ibanez does a good job on pencils, but can't match Paquette's, so it sometimes leaves the readers little confused. Holland's face looks suddenly different in a few panels by Ibanez. Paquette's panel layouts can't be matched, so Ibanez doesn't try. I'm not bashing Ibanez, just saying it's hard to go from insanely detailed panel layouts to the usual.
Swamp Thing #3 gets 4/5.
Marvel Comics
Uncanny X-Men #1: Now comes the second big Regenesis relaunch. Sadly, Uncanny isn't as great as Wolverine & the X-Men.
Uncanny will focus on the Extinction team. This team faces the big level threats, the ones that threaten to kill all mutants. Cyclops briefs the team on what they are about, and then sends them on their way. All the different teams are keeping San Francisco safe. While this is going on though, the Dreaming Celestial is still there from when the team went back in time in issue #512. Agent Brand, head of S.W.O.R.D. gives Utopia a call, asking them about this. The Extinction team makes their way over, and X-Club says there is something wrong with the Celestial. The Celestial's head then transforms to look like Mister Sinister, and the X-Men attack. A massive fight ensues, and the X-Men calm the body part down, but the head goes missing. It lands near by, and makes everyone in the area look like Mister Sinister.
Kieron Gillen sets up the team very well. He seems to be putting Cyclops in a Magneto type role, which i think is a great idea. The big table conversation was a blast to read, especially Storm's idea about Scott. The Emma angle that appears is very interesting, if only something that won't last very long. Gillen handles the Colossus and Magik relationship very well. One thing that I must commend Gillen for doing is giving everyone time to shine. I don't feel like anyone was left by the wayside. This is the first issue, so let's see what happens in the future. One thing that did bug me though is the fact that this Regenesis relaunch is suppose to bring about new things. And Uncanny X-Men #1 feels like nothing has changed at all. That is was a relaunch to get a new #1. And that's a big reason why this didn't get a 4 or a 4.5. Wolverine & the X-Men really felt like something new for the X-franchise. This feels like Uncanny X-Men #545. I'm not sure that's Kieron Gillen's fault, but has to be to blame for a little of it.
Carlos Pacheo's artwork looks great. He seems to love penciling Emma Frost with as little clothes as possible, which I no doubt will find hysterical. It's funny to see how much artists can get away with. The Celestial battle looks great and is very detailed.
Uncanny X-Men #1 gets 3.5/5.
Old Comics
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3 gets 4.5/5.
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