Teen Titans #79 - I loved Nicola Scott's work on Birds of Prey and moreso on Secret Six, where she's still sorely missed, so while I was attracted to the last issue of Teen Titans and the debut of the new creative team, I just wasn't enthused about it. That changed this issue with the addition of Damian Wayne/Robin to the team and I have to say JT Krul handled it perfectly, even if it's kind of incongruous as Damian isn't yet a teenager. The action of the issue was decent but Krul nailed the emotional aspects wonderfully and has a total bead on Damian's character. Going to stick with this for a little while at least.
Detective Comics #871 - Speaking of new creative teams, Scott (American Vampire) Snyder and Jock (the Losers) climb on board the figurehead title at DC and I have to say I'm surprised and a bit blown away. Snyder not only brings the "detective" back to the title, but he totally geeks out, seeding in plenty of nods to Dick Grayson's past as well as various DC stories (like Gotham Central). While Morrison's Batman and Robin was pretty great, I think Snyder may have an even better grip on Dick Grayson. I guess we'll see.
Batman and Robin #17 - Speaking of Morrison's Batman and Robin, well, it's no longer Morrison's Batman and Robin. It's Pete Tomasi's Batman and Robin, but due to some scheduling stuff, it' won't be for another three issues. In the interim it's Paul Cornell's Batman and Robin, and it's entertaining enough but Scott McDaniel's art looks terribly rushed (as it most likely was, since they were a last-minute filler creative team) and I'm not sure Cornell has Damian's voice right.
Batwoman #0 - Yes, it's pretty slight, but it's also pretty pretty. It's gorgeous, and I've always like the split-story issues like this. I'm sure DC was hoping to have this ready for the "Bruce Wayne: The Return Home" stuff last month where Bruce was spying on all his allies, because it certainly reads like it. There's lots of tiny nuggets for future Batwoman stories here, I particularly love the idea of Batwoman having her own "Robin" with her cousin (and former Titans West member?) Flamebird under her wing.
Captain America #612 - Prison fun for Bucky, while the politics and press of the situation are really bringing Steve Rogers down, man. If Brubaker pulls it off this will either be a fully rewarding tear-down and build-up of Bucky-Cap or a wacky cheese fest with America giving Buck a hug and a "we're sorry" at the end. Or Mephisto gets involved and makes everyone forget.
Justice League: Generation Lost #14 - As I pointed out in the not-review of Booster Gold last week, the Giffen Justice League often had Marvel analogs, and here Judd Winick presents a "Days of Future Past"-riff with Captain Atom time-jumping (probably the best aspect of his character, sparsely used since it was re-introduced in Armageddon 2001) to a future where OMACs replace the Sentinels. It's hands down the best issue of the series so-far, and sort of a great read on its own.
Avengers vs The Pet Avengers #2 - Last month I mentioned how straight this series played the talking animal thing, well, sadly, I must rescind because there's a horrendously groan-inducing sequence of Tony Stark-as-a-frog leaping "comedically" from one troubling situation to another. Too cute, Chris Eliopoulos, too cute.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 4: Realm of Kings - In the scheme of my 30-years of reading comics, I've only *just* started to care about the Marvel cosmic (all started with Annihilation), but man I nearly spit my grilled cheese sandwich out my nose when Phylla-Vell cut Thanos out of that cocoon. Sad for the end of GOTG and Nova, but the big hardcover of the Thanos Imperative comes out in January and I'm totally ready.
Yo Gabba Gabba: Goodnight Gabbaland and
Yo Gabba Gabba: Gabba Ball - The aforementioned Chris Eliopoulos did the latter while J. Torres and Matthiew Loux write and draw the former, two 16-page board comics from Oni Press riffing on the delightful characters from the hipster-kiddie show. Hopefully we'll get Gooble in a subsequent book, because that sad ghost is hilarious.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Definitely Not Reviews (11-17-10)
Batman: The Return #1 and Batman Incorporated #1 - Two peas of the same pod, you can't read one without the other (whoah, analogy break). Batman: The Return isn't so much about welcoming Bruce Wayne back to the fold, but instead establishing the new status quo as Bruce hands out his marching orders, and thus the new direction for the bat books. As much as what went on previous was a grand orchestration, it is, at this point, irrelevant, and, to Grant Morrison's credit, he truly makes this a fresh start. So if you'd missed "RIP" and Final Crisis and Return of Bruce Wayne and Batman and Robin and all the other bits in-between, it doesn't matter. All aboard, enjoy the ride. First stop, Tokyo.
Green Lantern #59 - oh, hooray, two dull, should-still-be-dead heroes having an argument and, in typical Geoff John's fashion, bluntly laying out the character traits of one another in a conversational manner like noone ever does. And Barry keeps a wallet in his tights? How does that work without lumping?
Legion of Super-Heroes #7 - Two stories. In the first, Tyroc shows off some new abilities as Durlans attack. Murder mystery solved. In the second, Brainiac 5 has trouble with his time bubble and Paul Levitz must have said Candlejack while writing the script, because that was as abrupt an end to a chapter as I've seen.
Tiny Titans #34 - This issue is devoted to a little meta-commentary on Franco's delightful-yet-simplistic cartooning, as both Superboy and Zatara have the same haircut and therefore look interchangeable... and they have some fun with it. I'm never not impressed by this book.
X-Factor #211 - after last month's interlude, it's nice to get the story back on track. Every issue PAD gives the reader at least one capital-m Moment., Madrox's plebs-eye-view of Thor is definitely it this issue.
GI Joe/Cobra #10 - Oh, I'm so glad to see Antonio Fuso back, but I should probably admit that when the first G.I. Joe/Cobra mini-series came out I wasn't too enthused by his work. But I can honestly say that it sometimes takes a bad artist to make you appreciate a good one. Also, nice to see the return to Chuckles' story after four issues of meandering around the Cobra/Serpentor cult, which was interesting but overlong.
Sixth Gun #6 - I could tell that this series was barrelling towards a sixth-issue conclusion (makes sense afterall), but I kept noticing that there was never an "of 6" on the cover, which implied that it wasn't just a six issue limited series. Given that there's a 7th issue cover printed in the back, I'm super-excited that Sixth Gun is continuing on, but I should also say that this issue is a definite end to the current storyline and it is a fantastically orchestrated, totally widescreen battle. Dapper caps off to Misters Bunn and Hurtt. Monocle Smile.
Warlord of Mars #2 - Oh, get to Mars already John Carter. (Note: I'm pretty sure he'll be there next issue).
It Came From Beside The Bed
Classic G.I. Joe Volume 9 - for all the ham and cheese that this series seemed to revel in, every so often Larry Hama delivered an honest gourmet sandwich of an issue - a turkey breast with pancetta, arugula, asiago and garlic aioli spread oasis amidst the mountain of cheap if satisfyingly salty pressed pig and Kraft singles. This volume actually features three of the best tales from the series, including "Weeding Out" (perhaps the best of the series?), "SFX" (a redux of the infamous "Silent Interlude" wordless issue #21) and, though lesser so, "Not Fade Away" anniversary issue which brings in the original G.I. Joe (and G.I. Jane) and puts them amidst a rather entertaining heist plot. I should say there's a rather dire clunker or two in the midst of the usual bologna outside of these three, and the art is a wild ride from the fantastic (but perhaps ill-suited) Marshall Rogers, to the oversimplified Tony Salmons, to surprise work from M.D. Bright (whom, it would seem, took over as regular artist, and will handle the bulk of the art in Volume 10 and 11)
New Acquisitions, Future "It Came From Beside the Bed" fodder
Grant Morrison's 18 Days HC - less a comic and more an art and process book looking at Morrison's proposed (in-the-works?) animated project based off eastern folklore. I like Morrison, I'm interested in process, and this think looks really, really pretty. I'm going to have trouble with the character names though, I can tell you that much off the bat.
DC Comics Presents: Batman #2 - A quartet of Ed Brubaker-penned Batman tales from around 7 years ago for 8 bucks. Sure, why not.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Comics Explained: Siege, Part Two
Siege (2009)
Actual conversations in a comic book store:
Me: So, now that leaves us at Civil War. Things get wacky a little for me at this point so bear with me. The government wants all the heroes and the villains to register to become heroes.
Customer: Hold on. So, does the government want the Marvel villains to be villains?
Me: (smile)
Customer: (silence)
Me: So... Cap opposes this and Iron Man doesn't and somewhere in this and is appointed The Secretary of Defense...
C: Nooo...
Me: Yes. So, because Cap is against it, Stark brands him a traitor and hunts him down and while all of this is going on Captain America hijacks a fighter jet and decides to surf on it.
C: (puzzled look)
Me: Trust me, it makes no sense but it was one HELL of a visual. So, Cap gathers together a band of rebels in opposition to Stark's plan...
C: Wait! Was all of this going on during the Iron Man movie hoopla?
Me: Kinda but no one who actually went to see the movie would care, anyway. There's a huge fight between Cap and Iron Man and Cap admits defeat when a mailman, a policeman and a firefighter try and beat him up.
C: (Mouth wide open)
Me: I know. The civil service.
C: Seriously?
Me: Seriously, it's called "ham-fisted," son.
C: So, then?
Me: Well, Tony Stark takes over S.H.I.E.L.D. and arrests Cap and parades him out onto the streets where he's promptly assassinated.
C: WHAT?!?
Me: Don't worry, it was only a time displacement bullet.
C: (raises eyebrow)
Me: Yeeeeah...
Me: And then Stark recruited Reed Richards to build concentration camps in space. OH, YEAH! And THEN, they fought The Hulk and shot him into space. He was PISSED, conquered a few worlds, impregnated an alien and when his baby's mama got killed by Stark's rocket thingy declared war on Earth but nothing really came of that.
C: (blank stare)
Me: And then, there were Skrulls.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Definitely Not Reviews (11-10-10)
Batgirl #15 - Barbara gives Wendy a history lesson using a wonderful Tiny-Titans-esque cartoon interface which highlights new artist Dustin Nguyen's visual dexterity. Hope Babs had Wendy sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Meanwhile, there's a new Grey Ghost (see Batman: The Animated Series for future reference). Brian Q. Millar is firing on all cylinders. A thoroughly fun book.
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 - That sound you just heard was my head exploding (see Justice League: Generation Lost #13 for a visual representation of what that looked like).
Birds of Prey #6 - This issue was, to quote Doug Benson, fucdiculous. The resolution was so outrageously "everything works out for everyone, hooray" in a Tempest fashion. There were a few nice moments (Shiva giving Huntress a new moniker springs to mind), but overall it was hideous to look at and not much more pleasant to read. Teetering on the "drop pile".
Booster Gold #38 - You know, until a few years ago, I didn't really realize that characters such as Mr. Nebula, Blue Jay, Silver Sorceress and General Glory from the much beloved Giffen/DeMatteis run of Justice League were analogs of Marvel characters. Yes, I can be kinda dense sometimes. Anyway, this is a wacky WWII caper involving Booster Gold and General Glory and it's the first issue of the GifDeMat run on the title that feels 100% like the old JL (except the art is a little clunky). I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not.
Justice League: Generation Lost #13 - Holy poopies. Some stuff actually happens this issue. Like (SPOILER) shooting (SPOILER) in the face with his (SPOILER), and making his (SPOILER) go all 'splodey. I honestly didn't see that one coming, mainly because Geoff Johns isn't writing this book and he's usually the one to dismember and 'splode people. I've long objected to Max Lord being d-bag #1 in the DCU, but I'm starting to enjoy disliking the a-rod.
Mighty Crusaders #5 - Wow, Inferno's a T-800. I would say "SPOILER" but nobody's reading this book so I can pretty much give away anything that happens and apathy towards it will continue to abound.
Red Robin #17 - If my wife weren't picking this (or Robin prior) I can't say I'd be reading this with any regularity, but with the exception of the first few issues of this new series, I'm actually really enjoying it. Nicieza really does well managing Tim Drake: Teenager, Tim Drake: Wayne Enterprises figurehead, and Tim Drake: Superhero, now merging in elements of Tim Drake: Playboy, and Tim Drake: Son.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 - Don't think I didn't notice that both licensed-properties books that came out this week (also Mighty Crusaders) were $3.99, DC. Then again so was Return of Bruce Wayne #6. I'm not sure anymore what the connection is. As for the book itself, it's a very Greg Rucka-esque presentation (a good thing) featuring more of the behind-the-scenes aspect of a UN sponsored super-powered fighting force than the men (and women) wielding the power. Not sure if it'll continue like that (I'd like it to), or if it'll take a turn into more conventional, follow-the-powers story. I'm on board, and curious about the old stuff, since I know, literally, nothing about the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.
Tiny Titans/Little Archie #2 - okay, issue one was fun, but this one is full on "aw yeah!" Josie and the Pussycats are invited to Pet Club (where the first rule is, naturally, to not talk about Pet Club), and a party breaks out in the Titans treehouse, as Captain Pureheart and the Archies-as-heroes gang show up. It's utter crossover madness, with more puns than you can shake a stick at. Directionless, but absolutely delightful.
Unwritten #19 - ahem, still not caught up yet. Residing comfortably with a pile of Unwrittens stacked neatly beside the bed.
Chew #15 - a lovely "Last Supper"-esque gatefold cover adorns this interlude issue in which Tony goes home for Thanksgiving and we learn all about his family and his family troubles. Plus, a serious game-changer ending which will either mean exciting changes or an unwelcome shift in the story.
Tron: Betrayal #2 - So very surprising that a comic book interlude actually accomplishes anything, but Betrayal actually develops Kevin Flynn in a way that the first Tron never did, observing as he struggles with his corporate life, his family life and the virtual reality world he built. The Grid is also grown from seed to, likely, where it is at when Sam Flynn arrives in the new movie. It's not a perfect story, but it is pretty darn good, add that to the new trailer my already unbridled enthusiasm for the new film has grown exponentially.
Classic G.I. Joe Vol 8. - I've been slowly working my way through the highly ridiculous Classic G.I. Joe comics (though not nearly as ridiculous as the 80's cartoon), but I've fallen behind with volume 9 and Special Missions vol 1 & 2 still waiting. But I powered through volume 8, which contained an arc which at up half of its ten issues. In a crazy case of mindboggling overkill, Serpentor and Cobra Commander (who's really a dude named Fred) are locked in a civil war on Cobra Island (a land mass created a few volumes back from a "Superman Returns" style plot) and somehow Serpentor managed to get the Joes on his side. Toss into the melee Destro and his own private army, and it's a three-way tug of war. After it all ends (in but a whimper) the Joes are livid and seek to take on their handlers who forced them into the fiasco. But virtually the entire (now mammoth-in-size) Joe crew are arrested and publicly called out for treason while a few underground Joes scribble together an A-Team like plan to clear their name and expose the politicians who are behind it all. It ends abruptly with a one-panel appearance by Destro who swings in to save the day (seriously). Larry Hama is not a great writer, but for some reason his unintentionally screwball take on highly unrealistic characters and situations hits a certain ironic tone with me and, especially when it comes to G.I. Joe, seems to fit it like a glove.
Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6 - That sound you just heard was my head exploding (see Justice League: Generation Lost #13 for a visual representation of what that looked like).
Birds of Prey #6 - This issue was, to quote Doug Benson, fucdiculous. The resolution was so outrageously "everything works out for everyone, hooray" in a Tempest fashion. There were a few nice moments (Shiva giving Huntress a new moniker springs to mind), but overall it was hideous to look at and not much more pleasant to read. Teetering on the "drop pile".
Booster Gold #38 - You know, until a few years ago, I didn't really realize that characters such as Mr. Nebula, Blue Jay, Silver Sorceress and General Glory from the much beloved Giffen/DeMatteis run of Justice League were analogs of Marvel characters. Yes, I can be kinda dense sometimes. Anyway, this is a wacky WWII caper involving Booster Gold and General Glory and it's the first issue of the GifDeMat run on the title that feels 100% like the old JL (except the art is a little clunky). I'm still trying to figure out if that's a good thing or not.
Justice League: Generation Lost #13 - Holy poopies. Some stuff actually happens this issue. Like (SPOILER) shooting (SPOILER) in the face with his (SPOILER), and making his (SPOILER) go all 'splodey. I honestly didn't see that one coming, mainly because Geoff Johns isn't writing this book and he's usually the one to dismember and 'splode people. I've long objected to Max Lord being d-bag #1 in the DCU, but I'm starting to enjoy disliking the a-rod.
Mighty Crusaders #5 - Wow, Inferno's a T-800. I would say "SPOILER" but nobody's reading this book so I can pretty much give away anything that happens and apathy towards it will continue to abound.
Red Robin #17 - If my wife weren't picking this (or Robin prior) I can't say I'd be reading this with any regularity, but with the exception of the first few issues of this new series, I'm actually really enjoying it. Nicieza really does well managing Tim Drake: Teenager, Tim Drake: Wayne Enterprises figurehead, and Tim Drake: Superhero, now merging in elements of Tim Drake: Playboy, and Tim Drake: Son.
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 - Don't think I didn't notice that both licensed-properties books that came out this week (also Mighty Crusaders) were $3.99, DC. Then again so was Return of Bruce Wayne #6. I'm not sure anymore what the connection is. As for the book itself, it's a very Greg Rucka-esque presentation (a good thing) featuring more of the behind-the-scenes aspect of a UN sponsored super-powered fighting force than the men (and women) wielding the power. Not sure if it'll continue like that (I'd like it to), or if it'll take a turn into more conventional, follow-the-powers story. I'm on board, and curious about the old stuff, since I know, literally, nothing about the original T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.
Tiny Titans/Little Archie #2 - okay, issue one was fun, but this one is full on "aw yeah!" Josie and the Pussycats are invited to Pet Club (where the first rule is, naturally, to not talk about Pet Club), and a party breaks out in the Titans treehouse, as Captain Pureheart and the Archies-as-heroes gang show up. It's utter crossover madness, with more puns than you can shake a stick at. Directionless, but absolutely delightful.
Unwritten #19 - ahem, still not caught up yet. Residing comfortably with a pile of Unwrittens stacked neatly beside the bed.
Chew #15 - a lovely "Last Supper"-esque gatefold cover adorns this interlude issue in which Tony goes home for Thanksgiving and we learn all about his family and his family troubles. Plus, a serious game-changer ending which will either mean exciting changes or an unwelcome shift in the story.
Tron: Betrayal #2 - So very surprising that a comic book interlude actually accomplishes anything, but Betrayal actually develops Kevin Flynn in a way that the first Tron never did, observing as he struggles with his corporate life, his family life and the virtual reality world he built. The Grid is also grown from seed to, likely, where it is at when Sam Flynn arrives in the new movie. It's not a perfect story, but it is pretty darn good, add that to the new trailer my already unbridled enthusiasm for the new film has grown exponentially.
It Came From Beside The Bed
Classic G.I. Joe Vol 8. - I've been slowly working my way through the highly ridiculous Classic G.I. Joe comics (though not nearly as ridiculous as the 80's cartoon), but I've fallen behind with volume 9 and Special Missions vol 1 & 2 still waiting. But I powered through volume 8, which contained an arc which at up half of its ten issues. In a crazy case of mindboggling overkill, Serpentor and Cobra Commander (who's really a dude named Fred) are locked in a civil war on Cobra Island (a land mass created a few volumes back from a "Superman Returns" style plot) and somehow Serpentor managed to get the Joes on his side. Toss into the melee Destro and his own private army, and it's a three-way tug of war. After it all ends (in but a whimper) the Joes are livid and seek to take on their handlers who forced them into the fiasco. But virtually the entire (now mammoth-in-size) Joe crew are arrested and publicly called out for treason while a few underground Joes scribble together an A-Team like plan to clear their name and expose the politicians who are behind it all. It ends abruptly with a one-panel appearance by Destro who swings in to save the day (seriously). Larry Hama is not a great writer, but for some reason his unintentionally screwball take on highly unrealistic characters and situations hits a certain ironic tone with me and, especially when it comes to G.I. Joe, seems to fit it like a glove.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Comics Explained: Siege, Part One
Siege (2009)
Actual conversations in a comic book store:
Customer: Can you tell me what Siege is about?
Me: (pause) How long have you been away from comics?
C: Since "The Clone Saga."
Me: (pause) Are you sure you want to start with Siege, then?
C: Is it really involved or something?
Me: Kiiinda. Siege is sort of the end of a six year comic book cycle of events.
C: I've got a minute.
Me: Well, back in 2004, I think, this writer Brian Michael Bendis revitalized The Avengers by bringing in Wolverine and Spider-Man basically making them Marvel's Justice League equivalent.
C: It's most famous heroes on one team?
Me: Exactly, and he added some of his favorites onto the team like Spider-Woman and Luke Cage.
C: Luke Cage? Power Man? Like Power Man and Iron Fist, Luke Cage?
Me: The same. Things were cool for a little bit and then The Avengers fought Electro and a bunch of B-list villains then, things got weird?
C: Weird, how? Like did they find out Electro was some sort of criminal mastermind or something?
Me: No, he just caused a blackout.
C: Bull****. Spider-Man handles this sort of thing by himself all the time and him AND The Avengers couldn't handle it?
Me: Son, don't make me have to explain "decompression" to you. Anyway, do you remember The New Warriors?
C: The team with Speedball on it?
Me: Exactly, well, Speedball blows up a school full of kids and...
C: WHAAAAA....
Me: It gets better! Because of this the government wants all the heroes and villains in The Marvel Universe to get "hero licenses."
C: Like... licenses to be superheroes.
Me: Yeah and Speedball became a cutter and his cat is on a team called "The Pet Avengers..."
C: (Silence)
Me: Yeah.
C: Go on...
Me: So, Iron Man agrees with this line of thinking because Marvel needed a character to represent The Right and he used to be an arms dealer so, of course...
C: Let me guess, Cap represented The Left and Spidey was the middle trying to bring the two sides together...
Me: Nah, he sided with Stark.
C: Whaaaa...
Me: Yeah, and to thank him Tony eventually gave him a new costume made of armor.
C: (Perplexed look on face) Uh...
Me: Let me guess; you haven't heard of Civil War...
The great battle where the postal service was the deciding factor in a great philosophical war.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Definitely Not Reviews (11-03-10)
Man, been slowly whittling away at this DNR for a week, but sickness and family time have kept me from completing it. I at least got it pushed out before I pick up this week's books.
Batman & Robin #16 - sweet sassy molassy, Bruce Wayne's back and kicking ass. How'd he get back? Well, I don't really understand that part... but it was all very grandiose and exciting wasn't it? I'm still rather annoyed that many of the turns of this book (eg. Dick and Damian staying on as Batman and Robin, the new "Batman, Inc") were spoilered months in advance, but there was still two other turns in this book (one minor involving the Joker, one quite a bit bigger involving a speech by Bruce) that made me rather excited.
Doom Patrol #16 - As a change of pace, Keith Giffen works the pencils and is joined by a new co-writer, and I don't think I've liked a single issue of this book half as much as I liked this one. I can easily say, with the action, humour and character drama, best issue yet. This series has really been picking up steam in its second year, and thus it'll more than likely be cancelled soon.
Secret Six #27 - I think if I was a Warlord fan I'd be totally crapping my pants in excitement over this issue. As it stands, I'm not, but I still really enjoyed it. Amanda Waller has a moment that proves once again why she's one of the best character in superhero comics.
Superboy #1 - I don't have any great affinity for Superboy, but I do like fellow Torontonian Jeff Lemire, and if ever there was a guy who should write "superheroes in a small town", it's Lemire. This issue: a little clunky in establishing Connor Kent's status-quo and supporting cast (with heavy homage to original Superboy setting and structure) but doing so immediately might mean less time spent doing so later on. Sticking around this one for a while.
Tron: Original Movie Adaptation #1 - I'm not sure what the purpose of this is, and yet I bought it anyway. There's some nicely written narrative elements from Peter David and a different take on the storytelling timeline, but otherwise it adds nothing to the film, the art is stiff and the colors not nearly vibrant enough. The rational man inside me is wrestling with the completist over whether to buy the second issue or not, as I own the film and thus this comic adaptation is redundant.
Strange Tales #2 - It's probably not good that I just read this and I can't remember anything much from it. In general, though, I like that Marvel's bringing in indie creators to play with their toys however they want to. It would be interesting to see almost any of these creators cut loose on a full issue story or mini-series.
Captain America: Man Out Of Time #1 - It's not a retcon... Mark Waid excels at the retrofit back story (see his Flash and Superman: Birthright), and Captain America: MOOT should solidly uphold that tradition. I'm not really sure what to make of the last few pages. What just happened to the rest of the Avengers, how is he sending off communications, and can you get any more cliche than the rescue-the-girl-from-the-thugs-in-a-back-alley (though there is a bit of a twist on that one).
Invincible #75 - My wife's the Invincible fan, but I only casually read the odd hyper-violent issue from time to time, just to see what's happening. This issue, I didn't so much as read as flip through it, thinking that this extra-sized, extra-pricey 75th ish celebration was the big conclusion to the latest storyline, but, apparently, it's not, and all the extra pages are there for some other Invincible-less Kirkman creations.
Slamarama #1 - 2 - Originally titled Squared Circle, I actually discussed the first issue previously, but creator Dave Howlett has self-published a new, full-colour version with the new title as well as a second issue, which were must-haves for me. Colouring on indie-books tends to generally be weak, but Howlett nicely sticks to basic colouring and doesn't overwork the gradients. Being a child of the 80's wrestling scene, there's a nostalgic aura to this fictionalized wrestling action-drama, complimented by some well executed wrestling sequences as engaging melodrama. If you're not up for hunting down physical copies, you can always read it on-line and in full colour at the Slam-a-rama blog.
Scenester: The Inevitable Collected Edition - The aforementioned Howlett also has made available in a compact collection his first self-published series, Scenester, about a quartet of Halifax 20-somethings trying to get a pop-culture zine off the ground in the pre-internet age. Having tried numerous times to do the same thing (mostly on-line) it's all very familiar territory, and rings very true. Howlett only did three issues and was just hitting his stride (in terms of characters and comedy) when he gave up on it, which is too bad, but high quality stuff with a cornucopia of easter eggs on every page.
Batman & Robin #16 - sweet sassy molassy, Bruce Wayne's back and kicking ass. How'd he get back? Well, I don't really understand that part... but it was all very grandiose and exciting wasn't it? I'm still rather annoyed that many of the turns of this book (eg. Dick and Damian staying on as Batman and Robin, the new "Batman, Inc") were spoilered months in advance, but there was still two other turns in this book (one minor involving the Joker, one quite a bit bigger involving a speech by Bruce) that made me rather excited.
Doom Patrol #16 - As a change of pace, Keith Giffen works the pencils and is joined by a new co-writer, and I don't think I've liked a single issue of this book half as much as I liked this one. I can easily say, with the action, humour and character drama, best issue yet. This series has really been picking up steam in its second year, and thus it'll more than likely be cancelled soon.
Secret Six #27 - I think if I was a Warlord fan I'd be totally crapping my pants in excitement over this issue. As it stands, I'm not, but I still really enjoyed it. Amanda Waller has a moment that proves once again why she's one of the best character in superhero comics.
Superboy #1 - I don't have any great affinity for Superboy, but I do like fellow Torontonian Jeff Lemire, and if ever there was a guy who should write "superheroes in a small town", it's Lemire. This issue: a little clunky in establishing Connor Kent's status-quo and supporting cast (with heavy homage to original Superboy setting and structure) but doing so immediately might mean less time spent doing so later on. Sticking around this one for a while.
Tron: Original Movie Adaptation #1 - I'm not sure what the purpose of this is, and yet I bought it anyway. There's some nicely written narrative elements from Peter David and a different take on the storytelling timeline, but otherwise it adds nothing to the film, the art is stiff and the colors not nearly vibrant enough. The rational man inside me is wrestling with the completist over whether to buy the second issue or not, as I own the film and thus this comic adaptation is redundant.
Strange Tales #2 - It's probably not good that I just read this and I can't remember anything much from it. In general, though, I like that Marvel's bringing in indie creators to play with their toys however they want to. It would be interesting to see almost any of these creators cut loose on a full issue story or mini-series.
Captain America: Man Out Of Time #1 - It's not a retcon... Mark Waid excels at the retrofit back story (see his Flash and Superman: Birthright), and Captain America: MOOT should solidly uphold that tradition. I'm not really sure what to make of the last few pages. What just happened to the rest of the Avengers, how is he sending off communications, and can you get any more cliche than the rescue-the-girl-from-the-thugs-in-a-back-alley (though there is a bit of a twist on that one).
Invincible #75 - My wife's the Invincible fan, but I only casually read the odd hyper-violent issue from time to time, just to see what's happening. This issue, I didn't so much as read as flip through it, thinking that this extra-sized, extra-pricey 75th ish celebration was the big conclusion to the latest storyline, but, apparently, it's not, and all the extra pages are there for some other Invincible-less Kirkman creations.
Slamarama #1 - 2 - Originally titled Squared Circle, I actually discussed the first issue previously, but creator Dave Howlett has self-published a new, full-colour version with the new title as well as a second issue, which were must-haves for me. Colouring on indie-books tends to generally be weak, but Howlett nicely sticks to basic colouring and doesn't overwork the gradients. Being a child of the 80's wrestling scene, there's a nostalgic aura to this fictionalized wrestling action-drama, complimented by some well executed wrestling sequences as engaging melodrama. If you're not up for hunting down physical copies, you can always read it on-line and in full colour at the Slam-a-rama blog.
Scenester: The Inevitable Collected Edition - The aforementioned Howlett also has made available in a compact collection his first self-published series, Scenester, about a quartet of Halifax 20-somethings trying to get a pop-culture zine off the ground in the pre-internet age. Having tried numerous times to do the same thing (mostly on-line) it's all very familiar territory, and rings very true. Howlett only did three issues and was just hitting his stride (in terms of characters and comedy) when he gave up on it, which is too bad, but high quality stuff with a cornucopia of easter eggs on every page.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Detective: Comics
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Detective: Comics
Monday, November 1, 2010
Definitely Not Reviews (10-27-10)
Hello Second Printers. First, news before (un)reviews.
So it looks like Devon and I are no longer writing for "Comics Reviewed" over at JoBlo.com as the entire column has been scrapped due to, apparently, lack of reader involvement. Our hard work and dedication (which by and large was our comrades Adam and Jeb's hard work and dedication) just wasn't gelling with the Maxim-esque readership there. But not to fear, we've landed on our feet, and will be returning to the review game in a few weeks...
And now, the goods:
Captain America #610 - Holy poopies, Bucky's done got arrested. This is looking like the best storyline the title has had since the switch back to "original numbering". Brubaker does pretty well with action generally but his political stuff is more his strong suits. Also as much as Daniel Acuna's art is vastly different than the consistent-feel of Steve Epting, Luke Ross, Butch Guice etc teams of the past, he's actually quite a welcome shift. The title could still stand to lose the Nomad back-up, though. Feels like dead weight.
Avengers vs Pet Avengers #1 - While the Pet Avengers are kind of cute, it's not generally a funny animal comic. It's a full-blown superhero adventure comic which just happens to be quasi-but-not-really anthropomorphised animals. Here, they're facing off against Fin Fang Foom whom is unironically sporting his purple undies (must shop at the same place as Bruce Banner), and trying to enslave humanity with his dragon pals. Damn fun.
Beasts of Burden/Hellboy One-Shot - Evan Dorkin (with limited Mignola input) crafts a tale that is equally suited to the styles of both parties involved, and while Hellboy doesn't intrinsically fit in with Jill Thompson's watercolor style she uses on Beasts, she captures him fairly well throughout, though he does get rendered rather cartoonishly in the occasional panel. The coda felt a little detached from the main story, but otherwise it's a wonderful pairing (though I would like more Beasts adventures in the bag before a follow-up)
Justice League: Generation Lost #12 - I'm curious to know if this is ret-conning Ice/Ice Maiden's history or if it's actually a tweaking of continuity that was previously ret-conned. I seem to recall that Ice Maiden used to have icy-blue skin (see Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents), so that's not completely out of question for the character, but I do seem to recall her visiting her royal icelandic family (at some point during the late-90's Dan Vado run on Justice League America which I'm sure most people have forgotten) and that, you know, she wasn't a gypsy. Gypsy's a gypsy.
Supergirl Annual #2 - I was curious to see how they reintroduced Supergirl to the Legion, whether it would be in-continuity with the Levitz-Legion or if they would throw her back to the Mark Waid Legion (of which she was a part of as Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes earlier in the decade). But I guess, post Legion of Three Worlds, they're trying to forget about anything but the Levitz Legion (though there is a passing reference here where S-girl narrates that it's not "her Legion"). This is the first Supergirl story I've read from Sterling Gates and she seems in good hands. Also, Marco Rudy's pencils really missing Mick Gray's inks here.
Deadpool Team-Up #888 - yes, my second Deadpool book in one month. I should get my head examined. But to justify, I have three reasons why I bought this: 1) I love love love team-up books and figured I should at least give this a try; 2) It guest-stars The Thing, which means I can pretend it's an issue of Marvel Two-In-One; and 3) It's written by Cullen Bunn whose The Sixth Gun and The Damned are just awesome. Verdict: A fun issue. Bunn is obviously a big wrestling fan as he captures all the tropes perfectly. That said, I'm still not getting the allure of Deadpool, however I may give another issue of this series a try depending on the guest star and the writer and/or artist.
G.I. Joe/Cobra II #9 - I noticed that the regular artist, Antonio Fuso, recently did a Vertigo Noir graphic novel, hence why the past five issues have been by this guy Sergio Carrera. I'm hoping he's back next month (or someone else takes over) though because I'm not sure I can stand the line-traced photograph art of Carrera for another storyline. It's uncanny valley illustrating and it's not my cup of tea, at all. (And looking him up on Comic Book DB, I remember him from Boom Studio's High Rollers where I quite disliked his work as well).
(comics/trades I finally got around to reading/finishing)
Warlord of IO - James (Rex Libris) Turner's epic space adventure-comedy about a young heir to a galactic empire who's usurped from his post by a warmongering dictator-type. Turner switches his illustrative style up here into something more cartoony that screams kid-friendly, and while the book is a clean read, I personally think it might be too dense for younger readers. No, the appeal here is to a literate Daily Show-style audience who understand the juxtaposition of kid-friendly illustrations and politic-heavy humour. But if your kid is smart, or enjoys the Clone Wars this may not be as challenging as I suspect. Look, what I'm trying to do here is backtrack from my statement, which essentially is "your kid is dumb"... oh, and also to say the book is a hell of a lot of fun. Think I'm going to read it again right away.
Nova vol 6: Realm of Kings - Woah, I completely forgot I didn't read the last chapter of this trade, which is the (temporary?) end of the Nova series. I have to wonder why though, as far as I was aware Nova was selling well and getting fairly positive reviews. Did D'n'A simply burn out with the sheer amount of Marvel Cosmic they were dealing with every month? Or was it because Brubaker stole Nova for Secret Avengers? Is this whole time-displaced Namorita thing going to resolve itself somewhere? And when did she die, anyway, wasn't she in the Incredible Hercules not too long ago?
So it looks like Devon and I are no longer writing for "Comics Reviewed" over at JoBlo.com as the entire column has been scrapped due to, apparently, lack of reader involvement. Our hard work and dedication (which by and large was our comrades Adam and Jeb's hard work and dedication) just wasn't gelling with the Maxim-esque readership there. But not to fear, we've landed on our feet, and will be returning to the review game in a few weeks...
And now, the goods:
Captain America #610 - Holy poopies, Bucky's done got arrested. This is looking like the best storyline the title has had since the switch back to "original numbering". Brubaker does pretty well with action generally but his political stuff is more his strong suits. Also as much as Daniel Acuna's art is vastly different than the consistent-feel of Steve Epting, Luke Ross, Butch Guice etc teams of the past, he's actually quite a welcome shift. The title could still stand to lose the Nomad back-up, though. Feels like dead weight.
Avengers vs Pet Avengers #1 - While the Pet Avengers are kind of cute, it's not generally a funny animal comic. It's a full-blown superhero adventure comic which just happens to be quasi-but-not-really anthropomorphised animals. Here, they're facing off against Fin Fang Foom whom is unironically sporting his purple undies (must shop at the same place as Bruce Banner), and trying to enslave humanity with his dragon pals. Damn fun.
Beasts of Burden/Hellboy One-Shot - Evan Dorkin (with limited Mignola input) crafts a tale that is equally suited to the styles of both parties involved, and while Hellboy doesn't intrinsically fit in with Jill Thompson's watercolor style she uses on Beasts, she captures him fairly well throughout, though he does get rendered rather cartoonishly in the occasional panel. The coda felt a little detached from the main story, but otherwise it's a wonderful pairing (though I would like more Beasts adventures in the bag before a follow-up)
Justice League: Generation Lost #12 - I'm curious to know if this is ret-conning Ice/Ice Maiden's history or if it's actually a tweaking of continuity that was previously ret-conned. I seem to recall that Ice Maiden used to have icy-blue skin (see Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents), so that's not completely out of question for the character, but I do seem to recall her visiting her royal icelandic family (at some point during the late-90's Dan Vado run on Justice League America which I'm sure most people have forgotten) and that, you know, she wasn't a gypsy. Gypsy's a gypsy.
Supergirl Annual #2 - I was curious to see how they reintroduced Supergirl to the Legion, whether it would be in-continuity with the Levitz-Legion or if they would throw her back to the Mark Waid Legion (of which she was a part of as Supergirl and the Legion of Superheroes earlier in the decade). But I guess, post Legion of Three Worlds, they're trying to forget about anything but the Levitz Legion (though there is a passing reference here where S-girl narrates that it's not "her Legion"). This is the first Supergirl story I've read from Sterling Gates and she seems in good hands. Also, Marco Rudy's pencils really missing Mick Gray's inks here.
Deadpool Team-Up #888 - yes, my second Deadpool book in one month. I should get my head examined. But to justify, I have three reasons why I bought this: 1) I love love love team-up books and figured I should at least give this a try; 2) It guest-stars The Thing, which means I can pretend it's an issue of Marvel Two-In-One; and 3) It's written by Cullen Bunn whose The Sixth Gun and The Damned are just awesome. Verdict: A fun issue. Bunn is obviously a big wrestling fan as he captures all the tropes perfectly. That said, I'm still not getting the allure of Deadpool, however I may give another issue of this series a try depending on the guest star and the writer and/or artist.
G.I. Joe/Cobra II #9 - I noticed that the regular artist, Antonio Fuso, recently did a Vertigo Noir graphic novel, hence why the past five issues have been by this guy Sergio Carrera. I'm hoping he's back next month (or someone else takes over) though because I'm not sure I can stand the line-traced photograph art of Carrera for another storyline. It's uncanny valley illustrating and it's not my cup of tea, at all. (And looking him up on Comic Book DB, I remember him from Boom Studio's High Rollers where I quite disliked his work as well).
It Came From Beside The Bed...
(comics/trades I finally got around to reading/finishing)
Warlord of IO - James (Rex Libris) Turner's epic space adventure-comedy about a young heir to a galactic empire who's usurped from his post by a warmongering dictator-type. Turner switches his illustrative style up here into something more cartoony that screams kid-friendly, and while the book is a clean read, I personally think it might be too dense for younger readers. No, the appeal here is to a literate Daily Show-style audience who understand the juxtaposition of kid-friendly illustrations and politic-heavy humour. But if your kid is smart, or enjoys the Clone Wars this may not be as challenging as I suspect. Look, what I'm trying to do here is backtrack from my statement, which essentially is "your kid is dumb"... oh, and also to say the book is a hell of a lot of fun. Think I'm going to read it again right away.
Nova vol 6: Realm of Kings - Woah, I completely forgot I didn't read the last chapter of this trade, which is the (temporary?) end of the Nova series. I have to wonder why though, as far as I was aware Nova was selling well and getting fairly positive reviews. Did D'n'A simply burn out with the sheer amount of Marvel Cosmic they were dealing with every month? Or was it because Brubaker stole Nova for Secret Avengers? Is this whole time-displaced Namorita thing going to resolve itself somewhere? And when did she die, anyway, wasn't she in the Incredible Hercules not too long ago?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)