|
REVIEWS:
MOVIES & DVDs | COMIC
BOOKS | VIDEOGAMES | WEB
SITES & MORE
March
Comics
by Mike-oh
Here's a quick review of the comics I'm reading this month. Updated
each week. Descriptions are pulled from Midtown
Comics' web site (New York City's finest comic book shop). Editorial
is what I write.
Week
of March 29
Action
Comics #837
DC
Writer:Geoff Johns, Kurt Busiek
Artist:Pete Woods
Description:
It’s One Year Later...and who's tagged Clark Kent as a target?
The 8-part “Up, Up and Away” continues as writers Geoff
Johns & Kurt Busiek (ASTRO CITY, SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY,
JLA/AVENGERS) join forces with artists Pete Woods (CATWOMAN) and
cover artist Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson (HARLEY QUINN, Marvel
Knights: Spider-Man)!
Editorial:
This is a good story. It's helping to re-establish the characters
of Clark Kent and Lois Lane as well as Jimmy Olsen and Perry White.
It just doesn't have Superman in it. I'm going to go along for a
while longer. The problem is that the Infinite Crisis has really
raised the bar for what Superman should be -- a leader, a great
decision maker, a model -- some one who is more than a hero, a super-hero.
And I agree with all of that. With all of Earth II Superman's criticisms
of Earth I Superman. And I agree that Superman hasn't done anything
great since he died. So now I'm expecting great. I hope Geoff Johns,
Kurt Busiek and Pete Woods don't let us down. No, don't let Superman
down. It's about time he was the greatest superhero you could ever
read about.
All
Star Superman #3
DC
Writer:Grant Morrison
Artist:Frank Quitely
Description:
The All Star adventures of the Man of Steel take another startling
turn when Lois Lane transforms from Superman’s girlfriend
into a Kryptonian Superwoman! Meanwhile, Lex Luthor’s plans
simmer as the criminal mastermind exerts his charisma and intellect
over the hardcore inmates who share his maximum-security prison.
Editorial:
Now these guys know how to treat Superman like he was the greatest
superhero you could ever read about. What's more, they've really
brought the fun back to the Superman story. I remember the Superman
issue where he becomes invulnerable to kryptonite and some bad guy
tries to threaten him with Green K shortly after. Superman reaches
into the guy's lead box, takes out the Green K and eats it with
a smile on his face. And all the times when Superman tied people
up with steal girders and took the extra time to tie it in a bow,
because it was funnier that way. Or when he would show off his strength
by juggling elephants or something like that. These were happier
times. And Morrison and Quitely have smoothed out Superman's groove
once again. In this issue, Superman is treating Lois to a special
birthday present where she gets to experience having the same super
powers as Superman. And thankfully, Morrison doesn't find it necessary
to have some kind of detailed explanation of how that's possible.
It just is. And that's fun. But the best part is the contest of
strentgth and wits with legendary strong men Samson and Atlas. I
don't know if these guys have ever made an appearance in DC continuity
before but if not, they shoudl become regulars. They're hysterical.
Anyway, this ish is every bit as good as the other two before it.
I'm a little perplexed by Morrison leaving behind a few of the story
threads he introduced in the first one -- namely the DNA labs where
they are making more Supermen, the impending death of Superman to
over exposure to the sun and Lex Luthor going to prison and feeling
all triumphant. I know he's going to come around to all of these
and that's what is going to make this a great series. But who can
stand the anticipation?
Blue Beetle #1
DC
Writer:Keith Giffen, John Rogers
Artist:Cully Hamner
Description:
Tearing its way through the events of DAY OF VENGEANCE and INFINITE
CRISIS, the mystical Blue Beetle scarab has chosen its new guardian!
But supernatural powers can be a blessing or a curse, and when it
comes to the powers of the Scarab, you don’t get one without
the other.
Editorial:
I really didn't know what to expect from this comic. Frankly, I
thought the cover was so cool I really became interested in the
Blue Beetle as a character. Probably because he was never compelling
to me before. A guy dresses up like a beetle seemed like a bad Saturday
morning cartoon character and not a serious superhero. Spider-man
is cool. Beetle man... not cool. That is unless the Beetle man is
more beetle than man. Which is what the cover made me think. After
reading the issue, I'm not really sure what this guy's powers are.
And after reading Infinite Crisis 6, I'm even more confused about
that. But I'm sure it will be revealed later. Actually, my favorite
part of the book was the scenes that centered around the main character's
home life. His family, his friends, and the girl he's babysitting
are all very interesting characters and the dialogue is really great.
I'm on the fence about picking up a second issue. I'll flip through
it when it comes out and decide then.
New Avengers Illuminati Special
Marvel
Writer:Brian Michael Bendis
Artist:Alex Maleev
Description:
Ripped from the pages of NEW AVENGERS. An explosive hidden story
of Marvel’s secret past, the secret history of Marvel’s
most secret team -- how they came together and how they are ripped
apart. The events in this book act as a prologue to not one but
two entirely different Marvel blockbuster summer events. The Marvel
Universe is about to split down the middle and the line is drawn
here!!! You will be asked: whose side are you on? Well... whose
side are you on???
Editorial:
Just read the description above. Has anything ever sounded more
contrived? "The events in this book act as a prologue to not
one but two entirely different Marvel blockbuster summer events."
I'm having a real hard time buying into the idea that these guys
have been meeting and making huge decisions for the Marvel U for
a long time. And I don't mean the Illuminati, I mean Bendis and
Quesada. This thing is starting off like a real stinker. It could
be that the whole idea of heroes being made outlaws by the government
isn't exactly fresh. Think DC New Frontier and the Incredibles as
recent examples. Marvel's playin' the hype game instead of just
focusing on great stories. Be careful. You might get sucked into
this one... because it really sucks.
Week
of March 22
Sgt
Rock The Prophecy #3
DC
Writer: Joe Kubert
Artist: Joe Kubert
Editorial:
This is classic Kubert. The story has been good. The art has been
great. In this issue, Kubert choreographs a tough scene where Rock
is being held captive by the Krauts and then busts loose for some
payback. It's everything you want and expect from Easy Co.
Testament
#4
DC/Vertigo
Writer: Douglas Rushkoff
Artist: Liam Sharp
Editorial:
There are some things that only comics can do when it comes to telling
a story. Testament is also a testament to the power of comic books
as a unique storytelling medium. Rushkoff and Sharp entertwine time
and history with Gods and Devils that transcend time, unveiling
two stories drwn together into one. It would be nearly impossible
to tell this story as effectively in film or books. The illustrated
page is the perfect format for these events that occur simultaneously
in completely different eras and dimensions. It's probably the closest
we'll ever come to understanding how God can see everything in time
all at once and how time is not a barrier to his omniscience. I
love how Liam Sharp blocks out the story. I only wish his illustration
style was a little more consistent. Sharp is obviously still developing
his approach. It seems to be heavily influenced by Frank Quitely
which is not a bad thing at all. He just needs more time to perfect
his craft. By the way, if you think your kids will enjoy this comic
book because it has a Biblical storyline, forget it. This thing
is full of nudity and relatively explicit sex scenes. It's not for
Church. But it's still good reading.
Ares
#3
Marvel
Writer: Michael Avon Oeming
Artist: Travel Foreman
Editorial:
This book just keeps getting better. I almost didn't pick it up
because I overheard one of the guys at Zeus
Comics talking about it and it sounded like he was dissing it.
It was a little bit later that I learned I only overheard the first
half of the conversation. He was making the point that the book
starts off as a lame mythology battle story but it ends up taking
a pretty cool twist in the middle of the first issue. And it has
continued with the twists in each subsequent issue. Oeming proves
once again that he is the master at making mythology contemporary
and relevant.
Daredevil
#83
Marvel
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Michael Lark
Description:
The unthinkable has happened, and Matt Murdock is left stunned.
As the strands of what’s left of his life begin to fall to
pieces, how will he react? This is Daredevil at his breaking point,
and when he snaps, everyone in his way had better stand clear!
Editorial:
I have to make a confession. I have only read a few of Bendis' Daredevil
stories. Less than a dozen. It's just been one of those titles that
I had in my "not enough time to read everything" list
of books I should read but don't. Also in that list are Fables,
JSA, Flash, Sandman, Girls, Seven Soldiers of Victory, Concrete,
the Goon, and about a hundred others. Anyway, I picked up Daredevil
again when I saw that Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark were on the book.
I loved Gotham Central when it first came out and particularly love
everything that Michael Lark has done. I also had really enjoyed
Brubaker's run on Batman before Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee came in and
rocked our world. So I'm not at all surprised to be ecstatic with
the mess these guys have made out of Daredevil's life. But as cool
as everything else has been, I'm just amazed at what they're getting
away with this time. They killed Foggy Nelson in their second issue
on the title. That's like amazing. That's like incredible. That's
like super balls. They have Daredevil, identity exposed, jailed
in prison, completely screwed over by the Feds, set up by the Kingpin,
and forced to helplessly witness the viscious murder of his best
friend. Everyone else thinks that he's going down but Brubaker is
just setting Daredevil up for a major feeding frenzy. He's getting
ready to set the demon loose without anything to hold him back and
I have a feeling that he's literally going to be the last man standing
in the entire prison. Will he kill Wilson Fisk? Probably. Will he
become a total savage? Maybe. Will he escape and become the coolest
fugitive ever? Hopefully. But whatever Brubaker and Lark decide
to do with this story, I know it's going to be one helluva ride.
Incredible
Hulk #93
Marvel
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Carlo Pagulayan
Description:
Stranded on an alien planet and thrown into the Imperial Arena to
fight as a gladiator, the Hulk seizes the opportunity to smash with
abandon. But inspired by the Hulk’s defiance of the corrupt
Red King, a group of rebels try to break him out of captivity. Will
the Hulk join the rebels’ cause? Or will he lead his fellow
gladiators to claim the glory offered by the arena?
Editorial:
This has been a lot of fun. I was taken in by the Prelude to Planet
Hulk which reprinted some pretty lame issues of Incredible Hulk
leading up to the new story arc. I've been suckered like that before.
I'm over it now. The good news is that the Planet Hulk storyline
is off to a great start. It looks like the Hulk is getting a chance
to really tear things up. And frankly, I'm happy for him. I don't
envy Nick Fury though, if Hulk ever makes it back to Earth. My prediction:
Hulk fights his way to the top of the food chain and becomes King
of Planet Hulk. Admired and reveared by all. Pretty much a repeat
of the experience he had with the Jarella storyline way back in
the day where the strange green race of people fixed his savage
mental problem and allowed Banner to exist in Hulk's body and then
made him King to Jarella's Queen, ruling side by side in Hulk paradise
until someone came along and completely ruined it all and totally
ruined our high as well. I'm betting that happens again. Hulk becomes
king. Rules the world. Loves it. Finally has nothing to worry about.
No one hassling him. When all of sudden, someone from Earth snatches
him back for some comparatively petty or selfish reason, dragging
the Hulk back into the hell of the Marvel universe on planet Earth.
Mark my words.
Nextwave
Agents Of Hate #3
Marvel
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Stuart Immonen
Editorial:
There should be a warning on the Nextwave theme song download letting
us know that 1) it sucks and 2) we'll never get it out of our heads
once we listen to it. Don't download the Nextwave theme song but
do rush out and start buying this series. It's absolutely hysterical.
This is the kind of comic book that makes other comic books look
like comic books. The cover price should be the same as a ticket
to an evening movie. Becasue it's that good. It's so good that it
deserves it's own theme song. It's too bad the one it has sucks
like it does.
Squadron
Supreme #1
Marvel
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Gary Frank
Editorial:
This book is what I expected it to be. I've really enjoyed the whole
Supreme Power miniseries. I've been following it in the collected
trade paperbacks instead of picking up each monthly issue. Frankly,
I found it to be the ideal way to keep up with the story. When I
heard that the title was going to relaunch as a Marvel title instead
of a MAX title, I figured that meant an end to the nudity and the
hyper violence. And when you pick up the first issue of Squadron
Supreme, you won't find any nudity or hyper violence. I don't think
you'll be disappointed, though. That's not really what this series
has been about anyway. Although it's hard to tell what this new
sereis is going to be about since all they did was re-introduce
the characters. Hopefully they'll pick up the pace in the next issue.
Week
of March 15
Batman
Year One Hundred #2
DC
Writer: Paul Pope
Artist: Paul Pope
Description:
Paul Pope’s amazing tale of a future Gotham continues! Detective
Gordon has discovered 100 years’ worth of suppressed police
evidence related to the Batman. Why has this masked mystery returned
from the shadows just when Gotham City begins falling to pieces?
Editorial:
This has been really enjoyable so far. I was very hesitant to pick
up this book. The title really gave me pause. Batman, after he's
been crime fighting for a hundred years? I thought maybe, since
he was rich and resourceful, he was using genetics and modern science
to prolong his life or something like that. But Paul Pope's art
made it hard to tell if Batman is supposed to be old and feeble
or just real low-tech. I still don't know the answer but it appears
that he's only got grey hair at the temples so he's probably not
a hundred and twenty year old man. Doesn't matter 'cause the age
thing, despite what the title implies, is not the story. The story
is cool because it puts Batman in a world where he's not some kind
of popular celebrity hero. Where no one believes he really exists.
Where he's scary 'cause they think he's a monster. I think this
is why Batman, Year One was so compelling because it gave the story
a chance to shed all familiarity with Batman and have the other
characters react to this strange freak in very genuine ways. Story
and art are both amazing and great. This is the kind of book that
is definitely a cut above. GO out and buy this book now (if in New
York, make that a trip to Midtown
Comics, if in Dallas, make that a trip to Zeus
Comics).
Green Arrow #60
DC
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Scott McDaniel
Description:
It’s One Year Later, and Ollie Queen is the newly elected
mayor of Star City, fighting the good fight on the streets and through
the system! And welcome aboard the dynamic new art team of Scott
McDaniel and Andy Owens (NIGHTWING, ROBIN)!
Editorial:
Yawn. I read Nightwing 118 which is another One Year Later story
as well as Superman 650. Both of those stories were much better
than this one. Winnick takes the whole issue to reveal that Oliver
Queen is the Mayor of whatever city that is that he lives in. Central
City or Star City or something like that. Anyway, DC had been advertising
the whole time that he was going to become mayor so it wasn't much
of a shocker. And unfortunately, nothing else really happened. The
other stories at least did a good job of making me interested in
what has happened in the last year but more importantly, what's
happening right now. All that's happening right now to Oliver Queen
is that some guy he doesn't like just quit his city job. Yawn. The
real shame here is that, thanks to Denny O'Neil, the Green Arrow
is a naturally politically charged character who now has a chance
to pursue his political agenda. But instead of dealing with issues,
he's just another politician. Lot's of room for improvement here.
Infinite
Crisis Secret Files 2006
DC
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Various
Description:
Don’t miss this important side chapter of the INFINITE CRISIS
saga! Superman of Earth-2, his wife, Lois Lane of Earth-2, Alex
Luthor of Earth-3 and Superboy from Earth Prime: the last survivors
of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. What happened to them after CRISIS
ON INFINITE EARTHS is finally revealed here for the first time by
one of the masterminds behind that landmark event: writer Marv Wolfman
(NEW TEEN TITANS)!
Learn what these heroes have been doing, how they have changed,
and how their reappearance will force the DCU’s heroes to
reexamine themselves. This is the one Secret Files you dare not
miss!
Editorial:
Okay, this was a pleasant surprise. Mainly because my comic shop
retailer (Zeus Comics in
Dallas) put a copy of this in my stack and I decided to go for it.
He knows that I'm reading Infinite Crisis and I guess he knew that
it was an important part of that whole story. I've never picked
up a Secret Files before because I always thought they were just
origin retellings and catalog type profiles of heroes and villains.
Not this issue. It's a full on explanation of what was happening
with Superman of Earth II, Superboy Prime and Lex Luthor of Earth
3 that lead to the current Crisis. Most of this was what could be
pieced together from the first five issues but it was a story that
was well told amd wonderfully illustrated. If you are following
this monumental story, you have to pick up this comic.
Nightwing
#118
DC
Writer: Bruce Jones
Artist: Joe Dodd
Editorial:
As I mentioned earlier in my review of Green Arrow, this Nightwing
story was a much better story that made me care about what was happening
to Dick Grayson right now just as mcuh as I was curious about what
had happened to him in the last year. He's moved to NYC where he
finds out that someone is posing as Nightwing, fighting crime, and
killing the criminals. It's a great way to open the story 'cause
my first thought was "Oh, crap! They turned Nightwing into
a killer vigilante!" And though I'm sure a lot of you figured
out right away (or maybe you had already heard) who the Nightwing
imposter was, I had no idea. And by the time I get to the end of
the story, I'm completely sucked into the mystery of the imitiation
Nightwing. In the last panel, Nightwing doppleganger has Nightwing
by the throat and I was like, "Whoa! Come on next month. I
need to know what's going on." And then I turn the page to
read DC's blurb about the next issue and they say "While Dick
Grayson and Jason Todd battle over the identity of Nightwing, the
Pierce Brothers put a price out on the heads of both men!"
Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. Frankly it ruined the moment. I had
no idea that the Nightwing imposter was Jason Todd! Maybe I was
supposed to have already figured that out. They used red dialogue
boxes for Jason Todd compared to Nightwing's blue dialogue boxes.
I guess I was supposed to know that he was the Red Mask or something.
But still, I can't believe DC would reveal his identity in a copy
blurb after they had done such a great job of building the suspense
in the pages of the story. It seemed really stupid to me. But there.
I'm done venting. And I'm going to follow this story because if
anyone should be beating the soup out of Jason Todd, it's Dick Grayson.
Go kick his ass!
Superman #650
DC
Writer: Geoff Johns, Kurt Busiek
Artist: Pete Woods
Description:
It’s One Year Later...and Metropolis prepares to bid farewell
to a hero! Join writers Geoff Johns (INFINITE CRISIS, TEEN TITANS)
& Kurt Busiek (ASTRO CITY, SUPERMAN: SECRET IDENTITY, JLA/AVENGERS),
artist Pete Woods (CATWOMAN) and cover artists Terry Dodson &
Rachel Dodson (HARLEY QUINN, Marvel Knights: Spider-Man) for Part
1 of “Up, Up and Away,” an 8-part story crossing over
with ACTION COMICS!
Editorial:
Like the Nightwing story, this was a much better One Year Later
story than the Green Arrow story. It does a great job of re-establishing
the characters of Perry White, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, and Lex Luthor.
And the whole mystery of the disappearance of Superman is a good
hook that gets replaced with the mystery of what has happened to
Superman's powers. This is the first of 8 issues that are being
bounced back and forth between Superman and Action. I'm not crazy
about that kind of cross-title story telling, but that's just me.
I'll pick up the next couple of issues to see what happens. But
Superman better show up pretty soon because I'm not too keen on
the idea of reading a Superman story that's got no Superman in it.
Babies! I gotta have more Superman.
Superman
Shazam First Thunder #4
DC
Writer: Judd Winick
Artist: Joshua Middleton
Editorial:
I cried. Really. Not out loud or anything. But to be honest, I was
truly touched. Superman discovers Captain Marvel's secret identity
and is outraged. He asks Billy Batson to tell him "who did
this to you?" and then he confronts the wizard, Shazam demanding
an explanation for why an innocent like Batson would have his childhood
torn away from him and replaced with the horrible responsibility
of dealing with life and death issues that are too tough for most
adults to deal with let alone some nine year old. And frankly, I
just didn't expect this story to end this way. The other issues
had been fairly average superhero fun fighting super villains and
monsters and whatnot. But in the final issue, it became so human.
Superman's reaction was totally appropriate. And I know what I felt
through Superman's outrage was general pity for Billy Batson being
given a burden that no child should have to carry. I know it sounds
like I'm taking this all too seriously, but that's not my fault.
You can blame Judd Winick and Joshua Middleton for that. They're
the ones that took a failry innocent superhero romp and turned it
all emotional on us. And my hat's off to them for a great turnaround
in what I thought was going to be a pretty forgetable story.
Ultimate
Extinction #3
Marvel
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Brandon Peterson
Description:
First contact! The X-Men’s Charles Xavier makes telepathic
connection with the awesome entity Gah Lak Tus — and it nearly
kills him! Meanwhile Iron Man and the alien Captain Marvel find
themselves in a life-and-death struggle with the Silver Surfer.
And the F.F.’s Reed Richards works feverishly on a defense
against the alien enemy too horrifying to contemplate.
Editorial:
Here we are in the middle of the third story arc of the Gah Lak
Tus trilogy and it's every bit as good as it should be. I'm really
loving Brandon Peterson's art. He has a cool technique and I look
at every panel wondering how long it takes for him to do that and
what kind of short cut is he using to give it that great etching
effect. And then there are terrific moments in the story that keep
me on the edge of my seat, too. Especially this scene with Reed
Richards struggling with his discovery of how he can stop Gah lak
Tus and his hesitation to use it because it's so horrible. Warren
and Brandon totally sold that moment and hit me like a ton of bricks.
And it seemed like the Ultimate Silver Surfer was a guy with weird
wings until towards the end of the story, the Surfer shows up as
a ballistic misslie launched from the Gah Lak Tus horde somewhere
in outer space. So who is that freaky guy with the Van Halen metal
wings?
Week
of March 8
Incredible Hulk Planet Hulk Prelude
TP
Marvel
Writer: Daniel Way
Artist: Keu Cha, Juan Santacruz
Reprints:
INCREDIBLE HULK #88-91 and the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Description:
Bruce Banner has finally found a semblance of peace. Here, in the
isolated interior of Alaska, he hopes to protect the rest of humanity
from the Hulk’s never-ending rampage by secluding himself
in self-imposed exile. Banner is confident that his plan will work
— after all, who would be foolish enough to actually come
looking for the Hulk? But when Nick Fury comes calling, you know
there’s trouble for someone involved. This story sets up next
year’s huge event involving a certain Jade Giant.
Editorial:
The cover said Prelude to Planet Hulk. I looked at the cover art.
It sucked. I flipped thorugh it real quick. Mistake. I didn't read
the back cover that said it reprinted the last four issues of Incredible
Hulk. I thought it was going to be an important part of the Planet
Hulk story so I bought it. Much to my chagrin. The worst part of
the whole thing was the god awful depictions of Nick Fury. I'm going
to quit compalining now and just move on.
X-Men The 198 #3
Marvel
Writer: David Hine
Artist: Jim Muniz
Description:
Viva la Revolucion! The inmates--we mean refuges--at Xavier’s
are starting to get a little antsy inside the walls. They want out.
But with the new electronic tagging that the O*N*E* is introducing,
how long before the 198 decide to fight back!?
Editorial:
Aren't the covers of this series totally cool? Isn''t the rest of
this series totally awful? How could they blow such an important
follow up story to the House of M event? Marvel has this bad habit
of turning good opportunities into bad soap operas. That's what's
going on here. Bad soap.
Week
of March 1
Infinite
Crisis #5
DC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Phil Jimenez
Description:
The DCU shakes apart as Superman of Earth 2 finally confronts our
Superman. Meanwhile, heroes are disappearing throughout the DC Universe,
a transformed villain returns, and the mystics of every world and
dimension seek help from the very Spirit that is destroying them.
Editorial:
Superman versus Superman! Yeah, babies. That's what I'm talkin'
about. This is such an amazing story. Especially if you tie it in
with the Crisis of Infinite Earths, Identity Crisis, the present
Infinite Crisis, and even the One Year Later event that's just started
and the 52 weeks event that is just ahead. Altogether, this is one
hell of a yarn. The best part of the whole event though is how they
have made me care again about so many characters that I had totally
written off including Superman. I can't tell you how disappointing
most contemporary Superman stories have been to me. And I just haven't
cared about his world. His troubles. Now I can't wait to find out
what's going to happen to him next month. Superman and Catman. Nightwing,
the Specter, Black Adam, Zatanna, the Blue Beetle, Green Lantern,
the Flash, and even Detective Chimp. I know that this is the phenomena
that everyone is writing about. How much we care for B-listers and
so on. So I'm adding my voice to the chorus. But come on. These
guys deserve a loud chorus. What usually happens in this situation
is that the big comic book corporation wants to do a better job
of cross selling their characters so they cook up some half-ass
crossover event that forces you to pick up everyone of their books
just to be able to successfully follow the story and then half of
the books have some thin connection to the overall plot while other
obscure titles are carrying crucial parts of the story. But that's
not what happened this time. These guys are doing it right. They're
telling a great story worthy of the great characters it depicts.
Bravo.
Marvel Team-Up #18
Marvel
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Paco Medina
Editorial:
If you're looking for great superhero fun, pick up Marvel Team-Up.
So far, every one of these issues from issue 1 to issue 18 has been
a blast. This book moves fast with characters that you love while
introducing you to new characters that instantly feel just as familiar
as the old, loved ones. If all comics were like this series, we
wouldn't have provocative stories that made you think and feel.
We wouldn't have clever examinations of the human condition. We
wouldn't have social issues and political commentary that forced
us to take a closer look at our own world. And we wouldn't care
'cause we'd be having too much fun reading cool comic books! Pick
up a few issues and just enjoy 'em.
Marvel
Zombies #4
Marvel
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Sean Phillips
Editorial:
Did I just mention superhero fun? Nothing else compares to Marvel
Zombies. It's no wonder with Robert Kirkman at the wheel. I gues
this is his kind of specialty. Man, this book is just hysterical.
It's hard to put into words simply because Kirkman leaves you with
so many mixed emotions in every scene. You feel sorry for the hell
these guys are in, you feel revolted with their behavior, you feel
disgusted with their condition, and totally crack up when you see
them hopping around on one leg and attacking Galactus like crazed
lunatics and turning like cowards and running with their tails between
their legs. It's absolutely awful and wonderful at the exact same
time. Catain America walks around with half a head. Iron Man flies
around with half a body. The Wasp has nothing left but her head
and she's being carried around by the Black Panther and beggin him
for a bite. It's sick. And it's fun. Real, real fun.
Ultimates 2 #10
Marvel
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Bryan Hitch
Description:
Despite all the globe-girdling surveillance information and awesome
firepower of S.H.I.E.L.D and its super-powered army — the
Ultimates — the unthinkable has happened! An unknown enemy
with unimaginable power and an unstoppable force of will is at our
shores... Will hope rise from the ashes of defeat, or is this truly
the end for the Ultimates?
Editorial:
It's only the coolest creative team in comics working on the coolest
superhero team in comics. Every issue is like going to the movie
theater. I think I'm going to eat a bucket of popcorn when I read
issue 11. They should recommend music to listen to while reading
this book. After issue 9, it seemed like the Ultimates were totally
screwed. But by the end of issue 10, I'm all juiced up and ready
for the next issue when they're gonna hit back hard. The great thing
about the way this story is being told is that, in the old days,
when your heroes were captured or trapped or giving up, you knew
in the next issue they'd turn it all around. But Millar does such
a great job of convincing you that he's just gonna go ahead and
kill your favorite heroes 'cause he just doesn't give a damn that
he has you sittin' there thinkin' "Aw, crap! That damn Millar
is gonna kill Hawkeye just to spite Bendis." And then in the
next issue he has Hawkeye pullin' a Bullseye and killing a room
full of baddies with nothing but fingernails that he ripped off
his own fingers and flung like deadly weapons into their throats.
I hate you Mark Millar. I'm like a plaything to you. So why do I
keep coming back for more?
|
