Monday, August 2, 2010

Greg's Pull List (7/28/2010) - Reviews




Another good week, 15 titles made it home this week (7 Marvel, 7 DC and one Indie), there were two X-Titles, two titles from Jason Aaron and in both cases one was good and one, not so much. This week had it’s share of clunkers (★★ or less), which has been unusual of late; but there were still some outstanding titles, many of them from the DCU!



The Pull List (in Reading Order)

SHADOWLAND #1 (2nd Printing)
★★☆☆☆
PUNISHERMAX #9
★★★☆☆
BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4
★★☆☆☆
SECRET AVENGERS #3
★★☆☆☆
THOR #612

FIRST WAVE #3
★★★★☆
DETECTIVE COMICS #867
★★★★☆

FLASH #4
★★★★★
GARRISON #4
★★★★☆
UNCANNY X-MEN #526
★★★☆☆
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #15
★★☆☆☆
X-MEN: LEGACY #238
★★★★☆

ACTION COMICS #891
★★★★★
WONDER WOMAN #601
★★★★☆

INCORRUPTIBLE #8

★★★★★ = Really, really good.
★★★★☆ = Better than average.
★★★☆☆ = Average.
★★☆☆☆ = Below average.
★☆☆☆☆ = Not good.
= Unreadable.


Pick of the Week

FLASH #4
w: Geoff Johns
a: Francis Manupal

Story:
★★★★☆
Art:
★★★☆☆
Cover:
★★★★☆
Overall Rating:
★★★☆☆

The Flash is a great comic. If you would have asked me six months ago, especially after I’d just read an issue of Johns’ Flash: Rebirth, I’d bet real money against that fact, but it’s true. The Flash is a great comic.

I am old enough to have grown up with the Barry Allen Flash. I remember waiting (impatiently) for Flash comics. For full disclosure, I remember waiting for Flash comics because of the Green Lantern back-up stories, but none-the-less, as a kid, the (Barry) Flash was the one I grew up with.

So, that means I remember when the classic series ended. I remember the death of Iris Allen, I remember the trial. I remember when Barry went into the future. I remember time-twisted stories being some of the best Flash stories.

This is without question, really not one of those stories. This is series has been something new. It’s a new day, it’s a new Barry and a new Iris (or at least they seem so), and this current Renegades story arc is better because it isn’t trying to be an old-school (Barry) Flash story. So far, the story hasn’t relied on the Speed Force, or any story elements from Flashes that come before (except maybe the Rogues, but Flash needs his Rogues…).

One of the best things about the Flash series so far is that it moves fast. The story is quickly paced, the action is fast and furious and all the while the on-going plot keeps moving forward. Flash #4 is no exception. It almost action-from-cover to cover, with some really cool framing for things to come and even enough room for two little “Flashfacts” at the end of the book.

Manupal’s art is a great fit for this book and Brian Buccellato’s coloring gives the art a very classic, but modern… somehow Tim Sale-ish, but still unique feel to it. There is an underlying simplicity to it that keeps it fresh, clean that adds to the storytelling.


The Rest


SHADOWLAND #1 (2nd Printing)
w: Andy Diggle
a: Billy Tan


Story: ★★☆☆☆
Art:
★★☆☆☆
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★☆☆☆

Daredevil #500 sent ol’ Horn-head on a very different path, the leader of the ninja-death cult, the Hand. Following the catastrophic events of Dark Reign: Daredevil: The List, things have gone even more awry for Matt Murdock. And now he descends even further in Shadowland.

Daredevil isn’t like Batman. The thing that makes good DD stories good are the man inside the costume, not the other way around. When creators (Miller, Kevin Smith, Bendis, Brubaker) understand that, Daredevil can turn the few blocks of Hell’s Kitchen into an entire robust universe. This is not one of those stories.

Do you remember how bad Daredevil was when he wore that (kind of cool looking) completely ridiculous red and black armor back in the 80’s? Or that even more ridiculous costume he donned when he went on some crusade of some sort in France? Bad news, Daredevil has a new costume, which looks a lot like his old costume, only black – but instead of a commanding serif DD on his chest, it looks like someone’s eight-year old drew the logo on.

And that’s kind of how Shadowland starts and I would guess, how it will go. Luke Cage (who isn’t off in one of his other two Avengers books) is on hand with his old pal Iron Fist, as more “average joe” fodder for this meat grinder of a story. Again, what made the original Power Man & Iron Fist run great was that they were blue-collar heroes (like DD is described above) they fit into this story like a cat in a swimming pool. There’s also a panel showing the Punisher looking on, completely de-Frankencastled.

There may be a story for some people in Shadowlands, but it’s not for me. That being said, I’ll still pick up at least the first issue of Fred Van Lente’s Powerman series.

PUNISHERMAX #9
w: Jason Aaron
a: Steve Dillon

Story:
★★★☆☆
Art:
★★★★☆
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★★☆☆

The Bullseye story-arc is taking a little long to get where it’s going. That isn’t to say that it’s losing steam, but it’s starting to feel a little like ground we’ve chewed before. And while the ultra-violent, ultra-intense plot continues, some of the (probably important later) details are getting swept up in the sameness of this arc. It’s still a good story, borderline great. The reimagining of Bullseye is not as gripping as the Kingpin’s, but he is still becoming a character you would fear, just maybe not one you would like. Or would want to see again and again.

BATMAN: RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #4
w: Grant Morrison
a: Georges Jeanty

Story:
★★☆☆☆
Art:
★☆☆☆☆
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★☆☆☆

With apologies to all comic fans who think Grant Morrison is a god, this mini-series is really hard to follow.

I’m not a Morrison-hater, I’ve been reading (and enjoying some of) his work all the way back to Animal Man, Doom Patrol (sometimes), All-Star Superman, We3, even Batman & Robin is pretty good… and I’m sure there are plenty of others. But for every story that Morrison renders pure magic, there are colossal (usually unbelievably popular) story arcs that just make no sense to me and often go a long, long way to tell a very over-complicated story. Seven Soldiers ([i]yes, I actually read them all[/i]), for example was like 50 issues of almost brain-numbing madness that actually (eventually) tied into Final Crisis (and please don’t get me started on FC). Okay, in fairness, two of those mini-series were pretty good on their own!

The problem with The Return of Bruce Wayne, for me, is that the on-going story arc doesn’t have really flow well from issue to issue. From cavemen, to pilgrims, to pirates, to cowboys, all that are missing are gangsters and space men and you’d have all the makings of an eight year old’s “How I spent my summer” essay.

The worst part, again for me, is with each stop in time, nothing gets clearer; nor do the stand-alone jaunts through time tell particularly good stories. No doubt, the fans who loved Final Crisis are eating these up. Forgive me, I just don’t get it.

SECRET AVENGERS #3
w: Ed Brubaker
a: Mike Deodato, Jr.

Story:
★★☆☆☆
Art:
★★☆☆☆
Cover:
★★☆☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★☆☆☆

When you read comics you set aside a lot of room for suspension of disbelief, but Secret Avengers takes that liberty and just goes and goes and goes. If you can get over the basic premise that the least suited team of Avengers you could possibly imagine have gone to Mars, you are still bombarded by even more inanity.
Like, why the Beast’s space armor doesn’t have sleeves?!? Or why, when suddenly there is oxygen on Mars, it seems like a good idea to take off your space helmets!?! And really Cap, I know super team-ups are supposed to start with a fight and then you become best buds, but just like that… all of a sudden the killer-Transformer robot is your pal?!? Hmm…

Still, if you can get past all that… Brubaker is telling a better than average little story. The dual-crown/Roxxon story has some teeth, but it’s really hard to get into it with the wacky Mars storyline going on.


THOR #612

w: Kieron Gillen
a: Doug Braithwaite

Story:
☆☆☆☆☆
Art:
★☆☆☆☆
Cover:
★☆☆☆☆
Overall Rating:


The first post-Siege Thor story-arc, “The Fine Print”, is just not good. Everything you might possibly think could go wrong with an Asgardian story does and then there’s Mephisto to make matters worse. From demon-zombie-valkyries whose dialogue goes on for pages without making any sense to really bad plot devices (like only two Asgardians can go on this little adventure), Gillen’s story just limps along and will sadly go on for at least one more issue.

For cryin’ out loud, the entire sword of whatever thing is so contrived it hurts to read. From Mephisto taking it on a whim to Thor choosing to go out into Hell, when he’d already been told the dang thing was in the very room he was standing in… ugh. Unless of course, Mephisto was alluding to the sword being behind the curtain, which was in his chamber, in which case the whole “you won’t even have to travel…” banter is pointless. Ugh. Bad use of Mephisto, in the worst possible way.


FIRST WAVE #3
w: Brian Azzarello
a: Rags Morales

Story:
★★★★☆
Art:
★★★☆☆
Cover:
★★★★☆
Overall Rating:
★★★★☆

The First Wave mini-series is pretty good, even it isn’t doing a very good job of introducing the First Wave series (Doc Savage & the Spirit) that are running simultaneously. You’d be almost as hard pressed to identify the Spirit from his on-going to the one in First Wave, as you would the traditional Batman to his First Wave counter-part. In other words, they seem very different.

That being said, Azzarello’s plot has made good use of the Savage, kind of good use of the Spirit and finally we’ve gotten to see more of this new Batman. As an Elseworld Batman goes, the First Wave Bats probably isn’t going to be your favorite, but he works well in this “pulp” world.

As the DCU turns, First Wave probably won’t last much longer than Red Circle or the Milestone titles, but there are some gems. The Spirit has been a fun read and this mini-series is a nice diversion.


DETECTIVE COMICS #867
w: David Hine
a: Scott McDaniel

Story:
★★★★☆
Art:
★★★☆☆
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★★★☆

“Imposters Among Us” is fun and well put-together. Okay, let’s break it down a little. First, if the “Imposters” (Jokerz) strike a familiar chord, it’s probably because we’ve seen a version of them before. McDaniel’s art may not be for everyone, but I’ve always kind of liked his take on the Bat-verse characters. Hine delivers a face-paced story that even has time to delve into a little origin flash-back (and really, who doesn’t miss Robin in short-shots?).

With all the heavy-reading in the Batverse of late, “Imposters” is really lite-fare. It moves quickly, has a solid Bat-centric plot that involves a handful of Gothamites, but isn’t bogged down by too many moving parts. It starts off with a bang and keeps the pedal to the metal all the way to the very interesting final page.



Garrison #4
w: Jeff Mariotte
a: Francesco Francavilla

Story:
★★★★★
Art:
★★★★☆
Cover:
★★★★★
Overall Rating:
★★★★★

The Wildstorm, made-for live action mini-series, Garrison, hit of the summer continues with a lot of action and a surprising sci-fi twist.

Garrison “looked like” it was going to be a mini-series in Previews and has held-up its end of the deal. Mariotte’s story is simple and complex at the same time. It has a very straight-forward action-adventure plot driven by some well-written sub-plots and the on-going mystery surrounding the central character. Francavilla’s artwork also suits the theme of the story: simple and mostly direct, reminiscent of Chris Sprouse – in a good way.


UNCANNY X-MEN #526
“Five Lights” – w: Matt Fraction, a: Whilce Portacio
“Rebuidling” – w: Allan Heinberg, a: Olivier Copiel

Story:
★★★☆☆
Art:
★★★☆☆
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★★☆☆

“Five Lights”: Fraction & Portacio’s post-Second Coming is disappointing. The story is a lot of talking and character development that is at first anti-climatic and then a bit sappy. Following Second Coming would be hard, but when X-Men #1 made reading about vampires sound interesting the bar was set very high for the re-start of the classic X-men title. Even X-Men Legacy #238 (also form this week) was a better X-title. Sadly, even Portacio’s heralded return to the X-men seemed rushed and in some panels phoned-in.

“Rebuilding”: Heinberg & Copiel’s introduction to the Children’s Crusade is much better than the main event of the issue. Copiel’s art steals the show, in a back-up that is little more than a lead-into the Children’s Crusade maxi (mini?)- series that started in July. If you hadn’t picked up Children’s Crusade #1 yet, it promises to be a sleeper hit.


WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #15
w: Jason Aaron
a: Ron Garney

Story:
★★☆☆☆
Art:
★★★☆☆
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★☆☆☆

The Wolverine: Weapon X “Tomorrow Dies Today” story arc wanders to a disappointing conclusion. This story arc has had moments of absolute brilliance, but also seemed a bit stretched in some parts. In the end the story winds up a little of both, with a bit too much confusion in the conclusion to be satisfying. Aaron’s work of late (Astonishing Wolverine/Spider-Man & Punisher:Max) has been fantastic, but he seemed in way over his head with this ambitious time-twisted plot. The re-launch of a more palatable Deathlok however, at the very least redeems the effort.

X-MEN: LEGACY #238
w: Mike Carey
a: Clay Mann

Story:
★★★☆☆
Art:
★★★★☆
Cover:
★★★★☆
Overall Rating:
★★★★☆

Carey & Mann deliver a strong X-story. A small team of X-folk accompany Indra back home to Mumbai and a strange new (new to me?) world is introduced along the way. Magneto plays an interesting role doing his best impersonations of Wolverine (on a mission of his own devices), Cyclops (the “reluctant” but bossy leader) and Chuck X (in his mentor role) throughout the issue.

Overall, X-Men Legacy #238 is as good of a follow-up X-story to Second Coming that you hope for without going all DCU and launching into another huge mega-event. But if you want the mega-event, that would be over in X-Men #1.


ACTION COMICS #891
w: Paul Cornell
a: Pete Woods

Story:
★★★★☆
Art:
★★★★★
Cover:
★★★☆☆
Overall Rating:
★★★★★

It has been over a year since Superman was last the featured star of Action Comics. For the better part of that year, Action has been at best interesting to only select-hardcore Superman/comic fans. In contrast, Cornell & Woods’ Lex Luthor story arc is a solid story that is accessible to even casual fans.

A hallmark of well-crafted serialized story-arcs are being able to tell a solid stand-alone chapters (issue), while advancing the larger plot. So far, in the two Luthor-Actions, there has been a strong story in each issue, with a teaser to the next, and an underlying plot. Not to mention super villain guest stars. Who could ask for more, you don’t even miss Big Blue.




WONDER WOMAN #601
w: J. Michael Straczynski
a: Don Kramer

Story:
★★★★☆
Art:
★★★★☆
Cover:
★★★★☆
Overall Rating:
★★★★☆

The re-launch of Wonder Woman is well underway now: new costume, new story arc, new origin (sort of), and it even seems like an entirely new Diana. Well, mostly. This is definitely the kind of re-launch that WW underwent back in the 80s, when Perez took the helm. In some ways, it has similarities to how JMS re-launched Thor a few years ago. Everything familiar is new again, but (apparently) what has come before isn’t necessarily gone either. And while we’re getting to know this new (ish) Diana, there is a war to be fought and people to defend.

As with many JMS stories, it seems just as things start to really get going, time is up. And that’s a good thing, so long as he keeps coming back… not so good when he leaves – see Spider-Man: Brand New Day, or this latest Thor story arc for examples. If there was any doubt to which and where JMS was going to start his re-launch, you need look no further than the artist who was selected to accompany him. Kramer is clearly cut from the George Perez tree of penciling and sets the perfect tone for various atmospheres that we have already seen in Wonder Woman.

I can see how this series may not be what some had expected for a re-launch of Wonder Woman. We aren’t reading about the classic 70’s TV icon, with her invisible jet and short-shorts, fighting for truth, justice and the safety (and heart) of Steve Trevor. But on the other hand, this does feel like a Wonder Woman story. Just maybe not the kind folk might have expected.