This week snuck up and slapped me on the back of the head. Originally I looked at my virtual pull list and saw 2 books. What a bummer. And I was thinking, Well the podcast will be a quick one this week, and I also thought about doing a column about digging through the quarter bins. Luckily Marvel Comics unleashed a flurry of #1 issues, and between them and a few surprises, by pull list exploded. These may be a bit short, but I wanted to cover everyone.
One Month To Live #1 (OF 5)WRITER: Stuart Moore, John Ostrander, RICK REMENDER & Rob Williams
PENCILS: Mike Del Mundo, Andrea Mutti & Koi Turnbull
INKS: ANDREA MUTTI
COLORED BY: ANDREA MUTTI
This book looked semi-interesting, and I must admit that I only picked it up for a few reasons that weren’t too compelling. But I enjoyed the crap out of it, and I think the average reader will too. We are introduced to Dennis Sykes who is your average joe working for a greedy-evil bank that won’t lend to a kids orphanage because the fat cats want their bonuses. After he delivers the bad news, he tries to help someone out of a robbery and gets beaten and poisoned with toixic waste (only in the Marvel U) but is rescued by The Thing (again only in Marvel’s NY). After Dr. Richards revives him, he give him the bad news that he has serious cancerous growths, and only a month to live.
Invigorated by the short deadline of his life, Dennis discovers he has weird matter-altering powers and decides to steal the money owed to the orphanage, but is caught by his family who think poorly of him for being Robin Hood. Since he feels guilty, he breaks back in to return the money, only to be captured by Spider-man, who eventually lets him go. Instead he uses his powers to give the orphans what they wanted (which is a rock garden) putting him on the radar of a bad guy who runs the neighborhood.
Now after that synopsis, I’m sure you can’t find many appealing mind-altering ideas that make your rush out to buy it. The real magic behind it isn’t the “It’s Clobbering Time!” or the witty commentary by Spider-Man, but it’s the interpersonal emotional dialogue between Dennis and his wife, and the awkward dialogues with his adopted daughter. The story is actually wracked with tragedy, but as a comic book reader, you get sucked into this world hoping for him, and hoping for a happy ending.
What also gives the book more impact that it should is the artwork by Mike del Mundo. The artwork is bright, dark, gritty and clean when it needs to be to illustrate the moods of the book. The darker panels give the proper somber tones and even a stressful tension that the teenage girl brings to her scenes. This book may be finite, and given its more grounded approach, we have a sense of reality that isn’t present in Avengers. Sure Spidey and Thing show up, but they are the same as seeing a bright green camaro, or a woman with a short skirt. They give you a sense of rare instance, but don’t dominate the overall mood.
It may be because I enjoy Vertigo books, but I really took a liking to this more grounded Marvel book, and the human problems that are in it. I like to escape to a world filled with super powers as much as the next guy, but as a comics reader, I enjoy books like this because they demonstrate what the medium is capable of. Not once did I turn the page and roll my eyes when Dennis manifested powers. I didn’t sigh heavily when the Thing yelled “Clobbering Time!!!”. I was able to set the fan boy down, and embrace the story for the emotions that Rick Remender wanted me to feel, and that my friends is a rare thing.
Avengers Children’s Crusade #2 (OF 9)WRITER: ALLAN HEINBERG
PENCILS: JIM CHEUNG
INKS: MARK MORALES
COLORED BY: JAYPO LLC
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: JIM CHEUNG
Jimmy Cheung is a great guy, and I have had the pleasure of hanging out with him since he is here in the boondocks of Florida. When you see his work, you automatically are drawn to the great character drawings, the framed action sequences, and the panel layouts. It’s always great work. And then when you meet the guy, you just become a rabid fan. He’s one of the nicest dudes, and a genuinely good guy. So of course I’ll pick up this book. I don’t even need Heinberg on it.
This book is a fantastic return of the too short lived Young Avengers title, and I am one of those fan boys that winces at the idea that anyone different from Hienberg and Cheung handling the book. Luckily we get a breath of fresh air, and this dynamic and young group can once again have adventures in an old-fashioned Marvel way.
I can blab on and on about Jimmy all day, but let me swing the spotlight on Heinberg. I was frustrated as hell when he left Wonder Woman since he was doing and awesome job of rebuilding her after Infinite Crisis. Heinberg seems to get comics. He’s fantastic at TV writing, but I love his comics work. He actually reminds me of Jeff Loeb the way he stays within the standard tropes of comic books, but where Loeb loses me, Heinberg excels. Heinberg doesn’t insert everyone’s favorite one-liners for the sake of defining the book and giving people “What they want”. He merely writes a good story, stays true to the characters, and gives us some fun twists and turns along the way.
I’ll admit that the first issue gave me whiplash as they went back and forth to Avengers Tower, but this issue was fluid, and had a confluent idea behind it to keep driving the Young Avengers on their quest. The idea of the kids pairing up with Magneto was delicious, and the torn loyalties and tension was fantastic. All of which eventually leading to a fantastic teaser for next issue which I am anxious to read. Damn it Jimmy! Hurry up!!!
Brightest Day #9Written by GEOFF JOHNS & PETER J. TOMASI
Art by IVAN REIS, PATRICK GLEASON, ARDIAN SYAF, SCOTT CLARK & JOE PRADO
Covers by DAVID FINCH
Variant covers by IVAN REIS
Another solid hit. I was worried to death that we would have a run of Haws stuff, but luckily, it was J’honn and Aquaman. Although the book seemed brief compared to Superman:Last family #2, and 1 Month to Live, it was still filled with good stuff. J’honn is torn and decimating Ollie’s magic forest, as Ollie has to stop the out of control Martian Manhunter, we learn the new Aqualad is the son of none other than Black Manta. That will make for some great stories in the future. In the hands of Geoff Johns Aquaman goes from confusing-crap-character to cool water-avenger.
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero #158Writer: Larry Hama
Artist: Agustin Padilla, Rod Whigham
The Joes turn up the heat, and rally at COBRA’s secret Silent Castle. Scarlett and Snake Eyes, infiltrate the castle while Duke and boys rouse bloody hell outside. The issue is filled with great action sequences that leap out of an 8-year old imagination (not a bad thing), and story really does a fine job of giving everyone their minutes of glory. My only gripes were that a few twists in logic drew me out of the story. Even though the story was a bit muddled near the end, and telegraphed everything happening in simple terms, I still enjoyed the book as an enjoyable military toy book. I’m looking forward to seeing the Joes kick the crap out of COBRA this time, and especially anxious to see Cobra Commander’s new battle armor.
Superman The Last Family Of Krypton #2 (OF 3)Written by CARY BATES
Art by RENATO ARLEM
Cover by FELIPE MASSAFERA
I had no idea how much I missed the “Elseworlds” books until this book showed up. And it’s hard to “break in the room”, especially with this crowd or over-analyzing fan boys. Cary Bates continues to write a logically different Superman book, and Renato Arlem illustrates it with balanced and beautifully rendered imagery.
The saga of the Els continues as Clark tries to find his place on Earth. His super-powered twin siblings learn that they are half-mortal due to their earth-birth (sounds like a disgusting beer), and Lex continues to outshine Clark. Only in this book we get a look at the growing cult called “Doomsday” that wants this fantastic super-family off Earth.
Much of the book’s imagery and famous lines can still be found in Mario Puzo’s screenplay of Superman:The Movie, but it wasn’t too awkwardly jammed into the book. I still enjoyed the twist of the half-super twins, the way Lex is playing both sides (naturally) and I especially liked the artwork. These double issues are great, and I’m happy I grabbed this is in issues instead of trade.
Thor For Asgard #1 (OF 6)WRITER: ROB RODI
PENCILS: SIMONE BIANCHI
INKS: SIMONE BIANCHI
COLORED BY: SIMONE PERUZZI
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: SIMONE BIANCHI
I know some fans must hate it, but I’m loving the influx of Thor titles, and I really enjoy these side books. Some fans have cried foul on the account that the movie is coming out, and Marvel is trying to rip-off the readers. Horse hockey! Here’s why: Shut up. Enjoy the extra Thor books, and no one is putting a gun to your head to buy them.
So in this tale Thor is putting down rebellions in the 9 realms after Odin has gone missing for two years and Blader is dead. Can anyone say Ragnarock? Thor must carry the weight of Odin’s throne a she tried to lead the Gods through this dreary time. He Doesn’t have the power of Mjoner, and times are getting leaner and leaner. It was a dreary read, but the tale is dreary. My highlight of the book is when Thor and company have to attack civilians and front giants alike since the frost giants are using the simple folk as human shields. Interesting commentary there. Bianchi draws a pretty good Thor book. The photo-real renderings and character designs are really easy on the eye, and the layouts break up the pages in refreshing ways.
Wolverine #1WRITER: JASON AARON
PENCILS: RENATO GUEDES
INKS: ART & COMICS INT’L
COLORED BY: MATTHEW WILSON
COVER BY: JAE LEE
Jason Aaron has joined the ranks of Geoff Johns, Warren Ellis and Brian K Vaughn as a writer whom I will try anything their name is on. He writes a solid story, with good cliff hangers, true characterization, great experimentation without compromise of character, and a great balance of reality and fantasy. I have always felt that the great comic book writers are the one s that can take chances, remember the stories that have come before, and still write a book that is something new without betraying the true nature of the character.
Here Aaron writes a Wolverine book that gives us the gritty back-story that accompanies Wolverine, and manages to move along at a good pace without being mired in inner-dialogue. Wolvie meets up with Wraith, and then a mysterious group attacks wraith, Wolvie’s girlfriend, and presumably everyone he cares about. Mystique comes to the rescue, and explains that Logan is actually separated. At this point the story ends with Logan about to be tortured in the bowls of Hell. I know right? Craziness. But it all worked. Renato Guedes art is well done, and I enjoyed the thin lines that cleanly rendered the characters. He had great action panels, and some cool character designs.
I also enjoyed the Silver Samuri backup story even though I had no idea he died. It was great, and you can really tell that Aaron has read every issue of Wolverine and that is why he gets him. Not a cliché in sight.
Wolverine Road To Hell #1WRITER: JASON AARON, MARJORIE LIU, RICK REMENDER & DANIEL WAY
PENCILS: Mico Suayan, Guiseppe Camuncoli, Will Conrad & Jerome Opena
This book stole my lunch money. Another one of those books with 9-page previews of other books that I shouldn’t be charged for since it is a big advertisement. Boooooooo Marvel for this book.
Well here it is. This is Apple’s holiday lineup and it was a biggy. We at the Giggaheim felt it would be easier to not just post several smaller articles detailing 1 thing but to just do the entire event in one post. Apple has done it again. We are gonna go in the order that Apple did:
Apple has always done well with there retail stores. Steve revealed 3 new stores openings around the world and the elegance that is presented with the stores is stunning. I am an engineer and I gotta say I was impressed. The locations consisted of Shanghai, Paris and London. The Paris and London stores were built in refurbished old buildings and are HUGE. The Shanghai store has a glass cylinder enterance and is large as well. Just take a look at some of the photos Steve released of the new stores.
Apple has stated that they almost get 1 million visitors a day across all 300 stores worldwide. They are doing something right!!
iOS 4.1 is going to be good update. It is scheduled to be released sometime next week and will be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch (*excluding some models). It will be a free update and will include these features:
These fixes include performance improves for the iPhone 3G. It also improves the Bluetooth functionality and fixes some of the proximity sensor problems some user may have been experiencing. (I have to be honest, my iPhone 4 is experiencing the bluetooth and sensor issues.)
HDR photos is something new that Apple is pushing on us to improves the quality of our photos. What it does is when you take a standard photo on the iPhone, it actually takes 3 photos. 1 photo at regular exposure, another underexposed and the last one overexposed. It then uses software(probably black magic Photoshop) to improve the image; and it WORKS! Some of the examples Steve was showing showed massive improvements in the photos but
removing a lot of the light that was taking some of the detail out of the images and sometimes adding some in darker images. Check out some of the examples Engadget took; the first image being before HDR, the second with HDR processing. Unbelievable!!!
Since the iPhone 4 has been released there have been a lot of complaints about how the iPhone cramps the HD resolution to 480p when uploading to YouTube directly from the phone. Apple has addressed that and will allow for 720p uploading to YouTube when connected to Wifi. Trust me, you’ll eat the crap out of your data if you do this over cell and it will probably take forever.
Apple has implemented a way where you can actual rent and watch TV shows directly on the iOS device. This is done through the iTunes app.
Because of the huge success of the iPod Touch, Steve announced that the iPod Touch has outsold Nintendo and Sony by holding a 50% market share. There have been 120 million iOS devices sold since the original iPhone. Because of this success, Apple is now going after Xbox Live and is trying to getting into the multiplayer aspect of gaming. You can now use Gamecenter to unlock achievements in games, have a friends list, play online with friends and matchmaking as well. You can challenge your friends and some of the games look stunning. Epic Games has an amazing looking game coming out this year and its running on an iPhone. The power of this device continues to astound us.
iOS 4.2 is everything in iOS 4 and 4.1 but for the iPad. It is scheduled to be released in November and it looks to be huge. Multitasking is coming to the iPad, folders, and now wireless printing. You can print to any connected printer right from your iPad. Another cool feature about 4.2 is something called Airplay. More on that later.
Steve then moved onto iPods, so I will go in order of the Shuffle, Nano and Touch.
The new shuffle is getting a pretty significant upgrade. They are bringing back the click-wheel from the 2nd generation and are keeping the Voice-over from the 3rd generation. Think of it as the 2nd and 3rd generations combined. The shuffle has a max battery life of 15 hours of music. They come in multiple colors and all look awesome. It will retail for $49 and has a 2GB flash based memory.
The iPod Nano is also getting a significant overhaul. Apple has made it even smaller. To make it smaller they removed the clik-wheel and made it just a multi-touch screen. The built in all the touch controls we use with our iPhones and iPod Touches but with some customized features. There is no accelerameter, but to concur that you just twist 2 fingers on the screen and it rotates. It can rotate all 360 degrees in 90 degree increments. The battery life on the nano will last about 24 hours worth of music playing. The new Nano will come in 7 different colors and has 2 different versions. An 8GB model for $149 and a 16GB for $179. There is no longer a camera on this; so no more video recording or picture taking.
The iPod Touch seems to be the biggest thing Apple “touched.” The retina display, the A4 chip, the 3-axis gyro, front-facing and rear-facing camera are all coming to the iPod Touch and they were still able to make it thinner. How have they done that??? The new Touch will has a battery life of 40 hours worth of music playing and can record HD videos just like the iPhone 4. This sucker will retail in 3 different configurations. The 8GB model will go for $229. The 32GB model for $299 and the 64GB model for $399.
ALL NEW iPODS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NEXT WEEK!!!!
Steve announced that iTunes is still going strong as being the #1 retailer of music purchased PERIOD. There have been 11.7 billion songs, 450 million TV shows, and 100 million movies downloaded from iTunes. So what are they doing with iTunes in the next release. Well iTunes 10 is out TODAY and here is what they have added:
That was all UNTIL Steve has “one more thing…or hobby.”
Apple’s AppleTV was never a big success. Why?? It was too expense, too hard to use and ran very hot and loud. Apple has addressed all of this. First thing they did was remove the hard drive. Everything you do to the new Apple TV is streamed based content only; whether from iTunes or you computer. You can stream movies, TV shows, music and photos directly to the new device. The interface is much easier to use and a lot of third party based services have been implemented. Some of these sites include: Netflix, YouTube, Flickr, Rotten Tomatoes and others. Apple also released there new TV show rental services with ABC and FOX (currently) which will let you rent TV shows and stream them over to AppleTV for only $0.99 a show. These are not just SD shows, these are HD shows for $0.99. New released movie rentals will also be available for rent for $4.99 a movie.
The coolest thing about AppleTV now is something I referred to earlier as AirPlay. AirPlay is the reworked version of AirTunes but this time not only lets you stream music over but movies, TV shows and photos to another device. The other device I am talking about is AppleTV. Steve demonstrated this but streaming UP from his iPad to AppleTV without the use of the computer. All you do is play the movie on your iPad, hit a button and it instantly plays on the AppleTV right where you left off. It was awesome. You can also do this from your iPhone and iPod Touch. All of these features and then some and AppleTV will retail for only $99. Not $229 but $99. That’s more like it Apple. It will be available in 4 weeks and pre-orders start today.
So this was it. Apple’s lineup for the holiday season this year and it is shaping up to be a very big year for Apple. All products will be available within 4 weeks and some are available today!!! Pre-orders yours now before they are gone!!!!
If you would like to watch the Keynote, you can either stream it from Apple’s website, if you have a Mac or iOS device, or by downloading it from iTunes.
File this review under: Extremely Late to the Party. Like many of the issues you can grab on the digital outlets, The Pro was published a while ago, and for those of us reading them for the first time, we get a false sense of discovery. The Pro, written by Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti, was first released in 2002. That’s gives you a sense of how late to the party I am. The pizza isn’t just cold, it’s at the curb. But, despite my tardy arrival I still felt special for reading this book. Who wouldn’t feel special after reading a book about a hooker who gets super powers? And better yet, I proudly read this in public on Saturday while getting my oil changed. That’s right a family of four got to watch me read a comic on my iPad that had a guy who looked like Superman get a blow-job.
This is purely a satire/comedy prestige format book that takes some wild swings at DC and Marvel’s mainstream comic characters. Here’s the basic plot, A hooker gets powers from a Galactic overseer, and despite being rough around the edges she saves New York. The super team, villains, and other characters are simple satires of the JLA and the Avengers (mostly JLA), and portrayed as overly-sexual yet restricted shadows of what we have all grown up with. Some sections could be seen as childish humor, while other scenes made me laugh out loud at times. Ennis certainly showed no restraint (why would he?) as he took some swings at the Bat-family dynamic, Wonder Woman’s ambiguous nature, and Superman’s chaste reputation.
Amanda Conner was a brilliant accompanist to illustrate this raunchy parody. Her honest look at a hooker who has to care for a baby on her own had great touches of realism mixed into the sexual tinsel. There were two panels that made my jaw drop, by the way they were laid out, and the humor that was infused with them. But the use of bruises, band-aids, knobby knees, grungy apartments, and implied actions was brilliant from page to page. Now, I don’t have any censorship issues, but I’m sure certain readers do, so I’ll keep this review brief. I would however like to take a small stab at Comixology’s “Guided View”.
Why the Hell did it censor certain panels when I have to prove I am over 18 when I purchase or update my comic reader? Clearly I am over 18, and don’t give a rat’s ass about the adult content. Now I can see how a kid could find my iPad, somehow flip thought he comics, and see some inappropriate panels, but take the restrictions off if you are going to have me sign on.
Anyways, if you want a fun, Dick & Fart joke comic book that takes a swing at mainstream comics, this was a really enjoyable one.
Episode 26 – Justice League Generation Lost #8 – Fearless Dawn #1 – Halo:Reach – Heat Ray Robots
Ert, Craig and Pete hold down the fort for the Half-Year podcast. Pete reviews Justice League Generation Lost #8 and Fearless Dawn #1 and reveals a lot of Marvel Entertainment news. Craig covers Halo:reach’s new videos, warns us on the dangers of modded boxes, and gives us a Rockband DLC update. Then the trio try and make it through the tech news covering Heat-Ray using robots, the Boy Scouts copyrights badge, and a little black dress that can make phone calls.
This was a solid week of comic books, and I had a good stack of them to review even though my LCS didn’t order 2 I wanted (Welcome to DCBService.com). It was a solid week of 4-star books (Going by the iFanboy.com rating system) and it was hard to figure out which book I thought was tops. I have been trying to review the 4-star and up books at length, and giving short reviews for this column, but there was only a couple of books I didn’t care for * cough * JLA * cough* .
Justice League Generation Lost #8Written by JUDD WINICK
Breakdowns by KEITH GIFFEN
Pencils by AARON LOPRESTI
Covers by TONY HARRIS and J.D. METTLER
White Lantern Variant covers by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN and JOEL GOMEZ
If you asked me at the beginning of the summer what I would be looking forward to the most by August, I would have either said Invincible, or The Flash. Not in a million years would I have said Justice League Generation Lost, or any other title by Judd Winick about the JLA that never got good press. I don’t hate the guy, but I just don’t have any stories by him in collected trade, and I haven’t really enjoyed his writing style. It’s not a direct criticism, I just never cared much for his stories. And as far as this JLA is concerned…I never liked them much either. I liked the Bwah ha ha I Can’t Believe Its Justice League stories, but my JLA had the big seven, and was written my Waid or Morrison.
Now, I’m singing a different tune (as I eat my hat).
When Max Lord came back to life at the end of Blackest Night, I was really intrigued on what he was doing. You knew, just knew, it wasn’t good. So I dove into this series for two reasons. 1) I never gave this “league” a shot (As you can tell above). (2) It comes out digitally on Comixology, so I wouldn’t get screwed out of a copy at my LCS. And I have been rewarded for my curiosity ten fold. These characters aren’t a collection of B-Listers who have their own story thanks to an open-ended cross over. These people are heroes who were once the core members of the Justice League.
The skinny (as you may know from reading my previous columns) is this group was mysteriously brought together my Max Lord who has used his powers to erase his existence to everyone but them. Their quest is to stop him, and they are having a hell of a time finding a guy who doesn’t exist. Last issue they broke into Checkmate to find him, but got caught. In this issue they fight their way out and rendezvous at their old embassy in Germany, where Max is waiting.
Not only do the characters shine in their own way in this book, but they have the good balance that a team book needs. They have good moments as solitary characters, but they also gell together well. It’s a trait that made me fall in love with Morrison’s JLA. Beetle is a great character on his own, but fantastic mixed into this group. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the artwork by Lopresti. The Rocket Red designs for everyone are great, but his layouts are fantastic. He is able to construct great panels for static dialog (thanks to the letterer too) but also his panels that are filled with action are explosive and filled with energy. The scene where Captain Atom rescues the captured group is particularly good. The book is really smartly put together and the more this book continues the more I anticipate its release. I’m just happy that it comes out bi-weekly.
Avengers #4WRITER: BRIAN MICHAEL BENDIS
PENCILS: John Romita JR.
COLORED BY: DEAN WHITE
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: John Romita JR.
Ahhhhhhhh. This was much better that issue 3. The artwork still isn’t my cup of tea, but the story has some great moments. This is the part of a traditional trade paperback that you wind up racing through, and don’t even notice the breaks between issues. The first team goes through time to the future to stop Kang from breaking the time stream any more than it is. They witness a 2-page-epic-battle-royale and then are brought to Hulk and the Next Avengers. Team B is left in NY to have witty banter and wacky-time-breaking-battles. It was a fun comic book, and I only wish we could discard team A’s storyline so we can just follow team B, they’re more fun. Since Marvel is intent on having 19 Avengers books, let Team A have their own title, and we can follow Team B. Makes sense to me.
I think Bendis has segmented his comfort zones into the book. You can tell that the main story revolving around team A is the one he probably has to take time to write, and remind himself how the characters are voiced. Team B is probably written in 5 minutes, and is just a lot of fun. I can’t help but wish that Jimmy Cheung or Bryan Hitch was handling the art duties on this book though. I really don’t mean to put J.R. JR down because I do appreciate his work, but there are a few spots on this book that would have been theatrically big in another person’s hands. Now JR JR’s framing of the action, the angles, the energy, and ideas were awesome. The battle royale in the future was an incredible, violent landscape, but almost indiscernible due the the amount of open lines JR JR crams in the page. I really had to look hard at the panels to see what was happening to whom, and at one point thought I saw a Rocket Red in there. Despite art confusion, this book felt like it got back on pace, and with the separation of the heroes, it feels like it hit a winning rhythm.
Batman #702Written by GRANT MORRISON
Art and cover by TONY DANIEL
I feel like Lincoln writing to Grant near the end of the Civil War “…I see it now…” and this issue is a culmination of the brilliance that is Grant Morrison. Grant is one of those writers that has a polarized audience. He has big ideas that challenge readers, and you either love him, or you just can’t grab what he is saying. He is one of those writers that challenges your thought process, and makes you pay attention. He forces you to engage your brain, and become more involved with the story he is telling. Batman #702 lays the cards about Batman on the table that he has been dealing to us for almost 2 years. Tony Daniel crushes the art here, and the letterer does a brilliant job with the various narrations. I honestly have a hard time writing this review due to the complex nature of the story, so I will say only this: IF you are reading Return of Bruce Wayne, you need to pick this up.
Invincible #74story ROBERT KIRKMAN
art & cover RYAN OTTLEY & FCO PLASCENCIA
It’s funny. Normally I would bitch about deadlines and publication schedules, but I MUST stick by my statement that I would rather have a late good book, than a crappy book on time. Ottley is delivering the clean lines with great framing and energy that make Invincible a fun read. His debris, backgrounds, and use of varied line really embody the term “illustrate” for these battle panels. As always Kirkman supplies a story that logically makes sense, and also twists and turns to create interest and situations that you want to continue reading. It’s almost torture to read this by issue, and waiting for the next issues to come out. I want to read this entire war NOW, and with the story’s pacing it would feel as though 5 minutes has passed by.
Oliver and Nolan have their last bonding-quiet moment before Mark wakes up fully recovered. As they leave the planet to rejoin the fight, the Viltrimites attack the Federation home world, hoping to finish the war. They’re quickly repelled as Mark, Nolan and Oliver arrive to destroy the lead ship, and repel the invasion. We then learn that all of the Viltrimites will be coming home for a last stand/attack. And then the damn book ends! A good sign that book is good is the anger you feel when you see the words “To be continued…”.
Astonishing X-Men #35WRITER: Warren Ellis
PENCILS: Phil Jimenez
COLORED BY: Chris Arrant
LETTERED BY: Jason Paz
COVER BY: Phil Jimenez
This story line was dismissible for me, but I kept getting the issues since they were infrequent, and I wanted to keep a complete run. Since it has been a while since I read issue 34, I was pretty clueless about the story, but this last issue was good on its own. Basically we get to the big bad guy, Cyclops crashes Cobra’s Nightraven into a ship, and Wolverine punches an old man. The whole issue was pretty dismissible until that moment, which made me burst out laughing. Fantastic character building and dialog kept this book up in the ranks, but I really hope the next storyline is a bit more “epic” to earn a place among the “Astonishing” storylines.
Superman Batman #75Written by PAUL LEVITZ, JOE KELLY, DAVID FINCH, J.T. KRUL, STEVEN T. SEAGLE and others
Art by JERRY ORDWAY, DAVID FINCH, ADAM HUGHES, FRANCIS MANAPUL, DUNCAN ROULLEAU and others
Cover by FRANK QUITELY
I don’t read this book normally, but since DC threw a party, I thought I’d crash it. I enjoyed Loeb’s run on this book back in the day, and Paul Levitz wrote a cool Legion wrap-in story. I loved Batman’s role in the story, and it answered that question of how Batman would react to the Legion (I haven’t read that before). How would a street-level character like Batman react to a Silverage Time-traveling collection of X-men wannabes like the Legion? Brilliant stuff. Naturally all the back matter was fantastic, and it a great menagerie of ideas from the industry’s finest. One of the stand out stories was Azarello and Bermejo’s Joker and Lex. A great Homage to Bill Waterson’s Calvin and Hobbes with a great summary of the two Archvillian’s motivations. another standout 2-page story was Billy Tucci’s Brothers In Arms which was imaginative and brilliantly drawn.
Thor #613WRITER: KIERON GILLEN
PENCILS: RICHARD ELSON
INKS: PASQUAL FERRY
COLORED BY: ANDREW J. TROY
LETTERED BY: NEUROTIC CARTOONIST, INC
COVER BY: MICHAEL SUAYAN
Thor is getting better and better, leaving behind the run from Siege, and as Thor travels deeper into Hell, we the readers journey into a better place. The artwork for this run is fantastic. The darkness and reds mixed with fantastic bristling details and imaginative designs help take you on a journey through Hades that challenges Thor on a physical level, and emotionally as he is tempted to save his mother. I’m looking forward to this story’s conclusion, not to get to something better, but to witness the culmination of something better. Thor continues to be mythological and entertaining like a book about a God should be.
Wonder Woman #602Written by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Art and cover by DON KRAMER and MICHAEL BABINSKI
Variant cover by ALEX GARNER
Speaking of mythology and entertainment, Wonder Woman continues to build up from her shattered back stories with a new one that JMS likes. I think Tom Katers put it best on the 11 O’clock Comics Podcast by stating that Wonder Woman has been wronged through the ages by her authors’ inconsistent way of writing her, and failing to embrace her heritage. They are always too quick to “Reinvent” her. I kind of trust JMS and his motivations to help put Wonder Woman into the foreground. I think he is writing her better than Superman. He has always been good at embracing mythology, and bringing heightened and untouchable characters to ground level.
In this issue Wonder Woman beats up a task force, and makes her way into a cluster of besieged Amazons. She has a tussle with the idea of faith, and then beats the living crap out of more war-mongering men. Again, JMS can put Wonder Woman in an environment where she can be a strong warrior and avenge the wronged, embrace and deepen her mythological heritage, and stand for an ideal that means something. Hopefully it will stick this time.
Namor First Mutant #1WRITER: STUART MOORE
PENCILS: ARIEL OLIVETTI
COVER BY: JAE LEE
Well this was….interesting. Is anyone else concerned about the vampire connection to mutants? Anyways, Namor has decided that they need Dracula’s head so that he can be resurrected, and end this vampire problem. So the coup faction disposed of Dracula’s head by placing it at the bottom of the ocean. With a cloister of other mer-vampires.
Right.
Anyway, Namor journey’s down to the depths of the ocean is fruitful, but also ticks off the underwater vampires who apparently had a treaty with Namor’s people. Pretty interesting to be honest, given the circumstance, and Ariel Olivetti’s art was good, but has a rushed feeling to me. The characters and action are very good, but with empty water backgrounds for 80% of the book, I would have thought there would be a bit more.
Justice League Of America #48Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by MARK BAGLEY, ROB HUNTER and NORM RAPMUND
Cover by MARK BAGLEY and JESUS MERINO
White Lantern Variant cover by RYAN SOOK, FERNANDO PASARIN and JOEL GOMEZ
Oh thank god this is over. I was hoping for an epic event like The Lightning Saga. Alas, this wasn’t that great, or even close to the term “saga”. The one bright spot in all this was seeing Jade fully resurrected, which was a reward for fulfilling her end of the bargain wiht the White Lantern-power-guy, and Jesse Quick will be giving up Liberty Bell to join the JLA. Sorry guys, not enough to bring me back to JLA for a while, but I hope JSA is still good after this…..story.
Peter Schmeiser – Giggaheim Director
