After a week out, I have returned with this week's batch.
NEW AVENGERS #43: This issue makes the mistake of tying up one of the more interesting plotlines of Secret Invasion. But considering it was also one of the more annoying of the SI storylines, I'm ok with it. This issue wraps everything up with the Captain America in the spaceship. Nothing you didn't already know. Thank you, drive-thru please. Thumbs in the middle.
TRINITY #8: The spotlight on the villains makes this issue slightly more interesting. Things will undoubtedly pick up, especially now that Despero has made his formal entrance. But with all the agonizing slow and dull moments in-between, I don't doubt that this could be the series that kills the concept of weekly books for good. Thumbs in the middle.
ROBIN #175: This Batman RIP tie-in is actually a pretty interesting look at a Gotham without Batman and left in the care of Robin. This is a good Robin character piece, but just like Detective Comics a few weeks ago, this doesn't seem to affect the RIP storyline at-large. UNLIKE that issue of DT, however, this story comes across as filler. Maybe things get more interesting next month. Thumbs in the middle.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #23: The JLA face off against Amazo...again. Yeah, the fight was fun and all, but I can't help but shake the feeling that this matchup is PLAYED. But like I said, at least the fight was cool. Thumbs in the middle.
JOKER'S ASYLUM: SCARECROW #1: What the hell? The story was interesting, but MAN that artwork! I feel like I just read a cross between a Batman comic and a Powerpuff Girls episode. A semi-decent story merits a very mild recommendation, but the artwork is just a major turn-off. Thumbs in the middle, leaning down.
TWO-FACE: YEAR ONE #1: Holy hell, did THIS book have a tough act to follow. After "The Dark Knight" gave us all the quintessential Two-Face origin story, this book gets to try and capitalize on the newfound interest in Harvey Dent by retelling his origin. After being blown away in the movie theater, this Two-Face origin just felt really "meh". The side-story with the Gotham Central cops being brought in as Jim Gordon's "Untouchables" was interesting and things should actually pick up in next month's finale. It's a good read, but don't expect the origin to hold a candle to new film's masterful version. Thumbs in the middle, leaning up.
UNCANNY X-MEN #500: Good lord, what is it about mutants that seems to bring out the worst in Marvel's best writers? Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction have turned everything they've touched into gold before, but for some reason, they just can't seem to make the X-Men interesting. A dull battle with Magneto with a dumb twist are the lowlight of what should have been a major X-Men milestone. Can we have these guys trade places with Christos Gage and have them write T-bolts instead? Gage seems to have a better grasp on the X-Men than he does on...
THUNDERBOLTS #122: Read any of those T-bolts one-shots? Christos Gage sure hopes so and he'll make sure to remind you of all of them by alluding to them more than anything Warren Ellis did in his run. Gage clearly tries to tell his own story while also trying to stay true to the Secret Invasion tie-in, which isn't going smoothly. Worse than that, without the fantastic artwork of Mike Deodato, this one just doesn't come off right. Maybe next month goes better. Thumbs down.
That's all I've got so far, but be sure to add on with other books from this week, including AMBUSH BUG~! (which I shall collect in trade).
See, I really liked Gage's T-Bolts. I think Gage does better with the individual characters, and also with getting across the fact that, hey, these are super-villains and it's kind of frightening that the government even considered this concept let alone executed it.
There weren't so much references to the one-shots as there were direct references - i.e., they told you exactly what happened ("China doesn't want him back" in reference to Radioactive Man, Swordsman made a deal with Zola, etc.). As for the one-shots themselves, I don't blame Gage. I mean, he had to wait how long to actually start work on this book because of all the delays?
With New Avengers #43, I liked that the Skrull was a sleeper to the point that he thought he was convinced he was Steve Rogers through the very end. But the story could've been told better, and all in all doesn't really give us anything we weren't expecting.
* Living Under Marshall Law Podcast Latest episode uploaded 6/27/08 (Tim Russert, George Carlin, Hulkamania running wild via a raging inferno in your kitchen, and Mixed Martial Malarkey (c) Justin Shapiro)
I wish Gage were writing the old T-Bolts. I really don't want to read the Ellis created team, with Norman Osborn and Venom and whomever else there is involved.
Daredevil is pretty interesting this month! That's about all I got. I'm looking to broaden my horizons beyond superhero comics, anyone know of any good ongoing series for that?
Originally posted by AlexDaredevil is pretty interesting this month! That's about all I got. I'm looking to broaden my horizons beyond superhero comics, anyone know of any good ongoing series for that?
Strangers in Paradise (en.wikipedia.org) is the only thing I can think of, but the series already ended. I have most of the series in trades and I need to get the end of it soon.
It was the only non superhero book I got back when I was still collecting/reading comics oh so many moons ago.
Originally posted by AlexDaredevil is pretty interesting this month! That's about all I got. I'm looking to broaden my horizons beyond superhero comics, anyone know of any good ongoing series for that?
Actually, I guess I could go for some good non-Marvel superhero comics as well, I guess. Or I suppose I could save up the scratch and start collecting Y: The Last Man trades.
But yeah, anything good, I guess. Also no zombies.
I was really pleasantly surprised with Thunderbolts. Gage's one-shots ranged from pretty bad (Songbird/Moonstone) to decent (Swordsman/Radioactive Man), but I thought his first stab at the main title was actually really good. And I thought the art was just fine. Deodato's stuff has always been a little to static for my tastes, and while Blanco didn't set my world on fire, it was perfectly serviceable.
Uncanny X-Men #500 wasn't very good, was it? I could really tell there were two guys writing the damn thing, character voice was all over the place. I do like the idea of involving the High Evolutionary in the current state of mutant affairs, but really this was a big let down. Also, I don't know exactly who Pixie is, but I want her dead.
Oh, and by the way, everyone should be reading Hercules. It's one of the best books Marvel is publishing right now, maybe the best.
Originally posted by Tenken347Also, I don't know exactly who Pixie is, but I want her dead.
Aw man, that's what I was afraid of. As written by Kyle and Yost in New X-Men, she was a pretty endearing character. Then Greg Land turned her into porn star (as he does every female character), even though she's supposed to be like 15.
I haven't read this issue yet, but you're scaring me. Did Brubaker and Fraction turn her into Jubilee Part 2?
Originally posted by Tenken347Also, I don't know exactly who Pixie is, but I want her dead.
Aw man, that's what I was afraid of. As written by Kyle and Yost in New X-Men, she was a pretty endearing character. Then Greg Land turned her into porn star (as he does every female character), even though she's supposed to be like 15.
I haven't read this issue yet, but you're scaring me. Did Brubaker and Fraction turn her into Jubilee Part 2?
Yeah, pretty much, but with "hip" dialogue updated for the current year.
Originally posted by AlexDaredevil is pretty interesting this month! That's about all I got. I'm looking to broaden my horizons beyond superhero comics, anyone know of any good ongoing series for that?
Fables Wormwood : Gentleman Corpse Queen & Country Jack of Fables Jonah Hex Criminal Umbrella Academy Hellblazer
Just to name a few...
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
I realize this is a couple of months outdated now but I just read Joker's Asylum: Penguin and Joker's Asylum: Poison Ivy.
The Poison Ivy story didn't do much for me. Seemed like the T&A factor (not that I find anything wrong with that, mind you) overwhelmed the story. Panel after panel of naked Pamela Isley running around sort of sabotaged the serious tale going on. Plus Poison Ivy is just damaged goods in my mind. I can't look at that character anymore without remembering Uma Thurman in Batman and Robin. It's a terrible curse Joel Schumacher inflicted on me.
I thought the Penguin issue was pretty good. I don't know of too many good Penguin stories. The one standout Penguin story I recall was from a Secret Origins Special from back in '89 that told his origin. This Penguin in love story was a little bit of a mix between Tim Burton's version and the comic book version. A crime boss, twisted, evil, flocks of killer birds, but also looking for the the warmth of female companionship. This would not be a bad direction to take a new Penguin if Nolan puts him in the next Batman. Of course, the next Batman movie would probably also have Catwoman in it so that would be Batman Returns all over again.
Secret Invasion week also saw some other comic gems. COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #04: If you didn't ever think you'd see Darkseid just lounging on a couch in a dingy apartment, well this is YOUR issue! Seriously, this issue's a total crock.