New Comic Reviews 12/08/11

Action Comics #4 - I am a huge HUGE Grant Morrison fan and have been loving this version of a younger more anti establishment Superman thus far. This issue is a lot of fighting as the evil alien menace that is so interested in Superman has taken over a horde of robots and a recently created cyborg thanks to Lex Luthor thinking he is smarter then everyone else (which is typically true, but there are exceptions like here). This is also the first time we see any authorative figure ask for Superman's help, even though the cops try to arrest him after he takes down a horde or robots. We also get the first appearance of Steel in the new DC52 universe who was always a personal favorite. Now with giant robots running around, Lex Luthor trying to remain in control while freaking out, Steel finally appearing, and Superman being Superman this should be a near perfect score right? Well no, this issue felt flat to me. The fight was cool but the character moments that I have loved in this series thus far just aren't there. We see Clark Kent make his first excuse to go fight evil in front of Lois Lane which was great (he yells "we should be smart and RUN" then runs off) and a few quick snippets of Lois and Jimmy interacting but it is mostly smash boom fight. Which would be fine, if it wasn't for the back up. See this issue boasts a back up featuring Steel, which originally made me excited, except the back up is the fight between Steel and the cyborg from the issue, which should happen in the middle of the issue. Instead in the actual story we see Steel arrive while saving Superman then saying "I got this" and a caption that reads "for the fight of Steel and the cyborg go read the back up" and then we continue on with the story ignoring the fight until then. It took me out of the story completely, the back up was pointless because by then you saw that he won, and what is worse is that the back up is done by a different writer and artist making it not even feel like the same story. Ugh! So taking that into account what would have been a great issue is just an average issue now. 3/5

Defenders #1 - I didn't have much anticipation for this title, especially with how disappointing Fraction's super hero work has been for the last little bit, Iron Man has turned into a mess, Thor is frustrating and illogical, and Fear Itself fell flat very quickly then refused to die. BUT this one issue makes me forget all of that! I don't care that some of the characters are acting a bit off (which may be part of the plot), I don't care that the narration switches point of views several times from an omnipresent view to Dr Strange to Hulk and on through the rest of the team. Why you ask?

Because we have a team of super heroes preparing to fight the EVIL GHOST TWIN OF THE HULK! It is described that way in the book, it is also referred to as the Hulk's very own Hulk. Also we have kung fu performed in zero g's, Silver Surfer really using the power cosmic in interesting ways, and what amounts to the most powerful team in the Marvel Universe that lives on Earth fighting what will be the weird and strange things that exist on the fringes of the super hero community. I am sold after this one issue. It is like Nextwave came back but had slightly more recognizable faces. If you want a fun read, if you want an interesting take on the Marvel Universe, if you want to see who the Incredible Hulk goes to when he needs help, and if you want to see someone finally put some clothes on the Silver Surfer, go read this already! 5/5

X-23 #18 - This takes the set up from the last issue, and more importantly the FUN of last issue and just ran with it. It starts off with X along with the children of the Fantastic Four Franklin and Val flying over New York on a DRAGON and just keeps moving from there. We get another dimension/world, some awesomeness from X (especially while dealing with said dragon) and Hellion and a character making an appearance who I haven't seen since Erik Larsen had a brief stint on Wolverine. Honestly, my only complaint with the issue is Marvel is cancelling the book, but don't let that stop you, pick it up and enjoy the ride, and however many issues are left (I believe two). Who knows, maybe they will change their minds? It worked for Spider-Girl.... 5/5

Reviewing New Comics 11/30/11

FF #12 - This issue is both a continuation and a king of side quest from Fantastic Four #600 which came out last week (and was awesome even though I didn't review it). We get to find out what is happening with the kids of the Future Foundation as they transported the top floors of the Baxter Building away from the Negative Zone invaders and into Latveria. The kids encounter Doctor Doom, his son, Mister Fantastic's father from the future, and an alternate universe Mister Fantastic who is slightly evil but with good intentions. What follows is back story filling in important gaps in this epic story Hickman is telling, fun character bits on the kids, and a bit of science jibber jabber. It is well done and compelling, if you have been reading this book for a while and focusing on this big war of kingdoms going on right now. It is far from a jumping on point, which is fine comics are serial in nature. My only real complaint with this book is the art, I quite like the style and the texture, but it doesn't work for the story nor does it flow well with the art from the rest of this massive story. It is nit picking though. 4/5

Haunt #19 - This is the start of a new age for Haunt, the creator owned book originally made by Todd McFarlane and Robert Kirkman, there is a new writer in Joe Casey and artist Nathan Fox. Two brothers, one dead and the other alive and kicking team up to be a super powered secret agent. Apparently the dead brother can turn into a symbiotic costume that makes the alive brother all bad ass. Or I guess that is what is going on, none of that is really explained. Nor are the supporting cast members who are referenced but never seen and have mysteriously disappear, which hurts the case for new reader friendly even more. BUT there is some great banter between the two brothers, some very good art, and the final few pages made me go wtf in both a good and bad way. Maybe this wasn't supposed to be a new jumping on point, even though Todd McFarlane states that this is a new direction in an essay in the back. I do know I trust Joe Casey to make good comics, and Fox's art is very good. Now if I could just be a bit more sure about what is going on inside the book, I guess the alive brother is our point of view, because he is as lost as I am. We will see if it starts to make sense come issue 20. 3/5

Herc #10 - This comic is so much fun! Hercules fights alongisde a mortal Zeus against both Elektra and the immortal witch Baba Yaga and along the way we see the Kingpin beat up a very drunk Zeus, Hercules mock both of them, and Hercules continue to hit on Elektra as they confront each other. There is so much greatness in this comic and have been in this series (especially if you count the previous Incredible Hercules run by the same writers) that I just can't find a way to even begin to describe it, and I'm still flabbergasted that this is the last issue of the run, ruthlessly cancelled by Marvel. But despite that, this issue works as a nice cap to another chapter in Hercules story, I hope somehow we get more Herc done by Pak and Ven Lente, but if we don't I will be okay with that too, it has been such an amazing ride. 4.5/5

Skullkickers #12 - Just like Herc before it, Skullkickers is a super fun book! This issue feature 4 short stories with various writers and artists showing off random adventures of the two main characters, nicknamed Shorty (he's a dwarf) and Baldy (he is a bald human) who just rampage and enjoy a bar fight as much as they do killing the next giant monster, as long as they get paid! The best story in here is the first one, but each one is so well done it is hard to settle on that. We have a giant fight with musicians who hide weapons in their instruments, a flashback to Shorty before he met Baldy, a fight with an alluring witch, and just an old fashion monster hunt that is told in the most nontraditional style ever. Do yourself a favor and pick this up if you want fun in your comic. The next issue features the start of the next story arc and the creators take full reign again, this is just a fun diversion issue that fleshes out one of the most wild fantasy worlds around. If you ever played Dungeons and Dragons and spent a night (or several) joking around and just wanting to kill stuff, this book is for you, and this issue is a great start! 5/5

Thunderbolts #166 - First, I love the art for this issue, it is moody, dark, and just well done. Second, I don't recognize half of the characters in this issue, and it makes me want to learn more about them! I haven't read this book since issue 150, so of course a lot has changed, yet I feel like I had a good grasp on what was going on and who the characters were even though I haven't followed the book and have jumped into things mid arc. THIS is how super hero books should be written more often than not, easily accessible even though you don't know all the details. The plot is dealing with time travel, as the team is stuck in the time of Jack the Ripper and maybe Jack was actual a team member who has went back in time with them as Mr Hyde and Santana have gone off the edge and went forth murdering. The team (all former villains themselves) join forces with the detective on the case and try to find the two members who have returned to their evil ways. What follows is interesting character moments that define and shape the team without forcing it, an interesting mystery, and a bit of time travel fun while being a well drawn moody piece. 5/5

Tiny Titans #46 - Probably the best use of the hooded woman from the new DCU yet happens in this book. There is also some great artwork and a perfect few pages involving bats and penguins. Sure it is for kids, but it was a lot of fun, and frequently very funny. 4/5

Uncanny X-Men #2 - How do you fight an uncountable amount of Mister Sinisters? That is the question posed by this issue as the most powerful team of X-Men tries to find out the answer. The actual fight at the start is brief but entertaining, the real meat of the issue lies in Mister Sinister calmly talking to the team in a pursuit to give his evil bastard speech and just be an egotist. It is very well done and at many times, hilarious. The final few pages make it feel like Sinister is unstoppable now, and with a huge army of copies along with Celestials on their way to blindly destroy, the new issue or two should be full of huge dangers to the X-Men, which is how it should be. Another bonus about this issue? There aren't pages discussing the split between Cyclops and Wolverine, which I'm tired of already after only a month. 4/5

new comic reviwes 11/23/11

Astonishing X-Men #44 - Cyclops is a bonafide super hero. In this issue which should be called Cyclops and some X-Men appear for a bit too. Here we see Cyclops be bad ass and do some cool things with his "simple" powers that are awe inspiring including to his own team mates. The plot to this issue is also good but simple with Storm arriving to help show an upset Cyclops get out of his funk from Wolverine leaving to form his own X-Men, why no one questions why she is back to her old mohawked self from the 80s is beyond me but this is at least quickly answered as to why she is that way by the end which leads to an interesting but confusing ending. 4/5

Aquaman #3 - Aquaman and his wife Mera fight giant canibalistic fish men from the deep, and it is awesome! Also we meet a doctor from Aquaman's past who is a bit insane and quirky, some comedy that Aquaman isn't important which is getting a bit tedious when he is doing awesome and bad ass things, and get a gorgeously painted page showing Aquaman as a kid. What more could you want? Issue #4 out now is all I can think of. 5/5

Voodoo #3 - This has quickly become an interesting monster/fugitive story within two issues which is impressive as after a first issue filled with gratuitous T and A I was ready to write this story off completely. In this issue our resident evil alien goes to check in with the higher ups and encounters her first super hero, Green Lanter (Kyle Raynor). Their encounter is so well written and neither Voodoo, Green Lantern or the other Daemonites are seen as weak during it. What happens is true to each character and their strengths and by the end I am wanting all those involved to meet again and soon! We have another excellent ending here making you have to know what is next too. The only thing that sucks about the issue? Knowing the writer Ron Marz will be leaving the title in two months, I don't want this ride to end quite yet. 4.5/5

Mighty Thor #8 - In a post Fear Itself world, Thor is dead and no one remembers he existed except Loki who can't quite remember his name. Who did all the things Thor did so as not to mess up the history of Marvel? Tanarus, the god of thunder of course! This issue is supposed to be setting up the new status quo and quickly leap frogs that and starts to move the plot forward as well which is where some issues come from. The stuff about Asgard on Earth now being full of mythical creatures from all the other 9 realms is interesting stuff and can lead to great srtories, as is the new status quo of the gods with the three in one All Mother being in charge of Asgard since Odin abdicated, and where Thor actually is (still dead though) makes for an awesome and exciting cliffhanger, heck even Tanarus and the revisionist history is interesting. But then it all falls apart.

First, Loki, the god of mischief who has been amazing written by Journey of Mystery writer, Kieron Gillien, is nothing like what Loki should be here written by Fraction. His plan to find out the truth? Fly towards Tanarus and say "you're not right, where is my real brother? I shall destroy you!" What the hell? This is the guy who just played Mephisto and won and yet he his a doofus here. We find out who Tanarus really is (way too soon btw, where is the mystery?) and while it is a good character to have be Tanarus, how did the switch happen? More importantly how does the character and those behind it remember Thor? How does everyone else including the all seeing All Mother not know this? Captain America and Norman Osborn remember! This just feels like shoddy continuity which makes me think this will be resolved in an issue or two at most, making this pointless. Really if you want to read about Asgard in the Marvel Universe, go read the vastly superior Journey to Mystery. 2/5

Captain America and Bucky #624 - This should be called Winter Soldier #0 or I guess #.1 since that is Marvel's thing now. It is a solid story showcasing the history of the Winter Soldier as former sidekick, former Captain America and supposedly dead Bucky Barnes tells about his life to someone dear to him. The history of him and Black Widow finding love while being used as weapons in the Cold War is a good look at a story that couldn't have been published during the years it is supposed to be happening. The drama in this issue isn't too high, you know it is a flashback, but how Bucky rebels from his Russian masters and finds some humanity is well done and touching as is his developing relationship with Black Widow. The final few pages showing who he is talking to is touching as well. The art is simple and stylistic making it a perfect fit for a story set in the past. If this were published in the years of the Cold War it would have had a similar style making it work so well. After reading this I can't wait for the new Winter Soldier series coming out in a few months Bucky and Natasha fighting evil sounds great. 4.5/5

Secret Avengers #19 - Did you ever read Warren Ellis' Global Frequency series? It was a series of one shots of people taking down unique and weird threats. His short stint on Secret Avengers is Global Frequency with super heroes, right down to a new artist on every issue! This one rests on Steve Rogers (at this time former Captain America), Black Widow, SHIELD agent Sharon Carter, and Moon Knight taking down the man who has developed a drug that may be an offshoot of the super soldier serum that created Captain America. What follows is a fun and fast paced tale of infiltration and fighting and includes Moon Knight playing James Bond, Steve Rogers setting someone on fire using alcohol, and the two women being a pair of purely awesome bad asses that they don't always get a chance to be. The twists of the plot and the tiny character moments make this issue work so well and make me happy to enjoy this all too brief run of Ellis. We finally get a sequel to Global Frequency, all it is missing is the Brian Wood covers. Did I mention the whole mission is finished once the issue ends? It is a short and awesome action movie with no commitment to further issues, though I highly recommend you stay on for the whole ride! 5/5

more comic reviews from 11/16

Avengers #19 - I am a bit of a sucker for team forming stories, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that I liked this issue which introduces the "new" Avengers team. I say it like that because really they are just out a member or two and replace them with Storm and a former Avenger who is a fan favorite who I did miss. It also seems like Spider-Man and Wolverine are off the team which is good, they are both on two other teams, Avengers will do fine without em. Now though I admit how much of a sucker I am, this issue did have some hitches, like Storm appearing and then being shoved aside mid sentence for the mystery Avenger (which is fine in and of itself but I hope this isn't how she is treated for good), and a few too many random asides and conversations that don't add much to the story, but that is Bendis for you. I do have two fanboyish gripes though, first I thought everyone forgot that Thor ever existed and was replaced perpetually by the new thunder god? If so I don't think Bendis got the message, this is the second Avengers issue post Fear Itself to discuss missing Thor, just seems like he doesn't care about the ideas of others. My other thing is that at the end a villain shows up to make a ruckus and it made me wonder, do the Avengers go out and stop evil anymore? Or does it always come to them? Besides that though, as I said I'm a sucker for these stories. 4/5

Fear Itself #7.3 - With this issue the 7 issue Fear Itself finally ends its 10 issue run. Like 7.1 and 7.2 (I hate the point system by the way) these are really just an issue of the main book of whoever is starring in the given issue (this time Iron Man) and "resolve" something doing with Fear Itself. Thus far by resolve it has meant undoing a major event, like (spoilers)


In 7.1 we find out Bucky Barnes never actually died, Nick Fury and Black Widow replaced him with a fake to force Steve Rogers to return as Cap, which understandably pisses Cap off but at the end he agrees and it ends happy. 7.2 does something similar and finishes with Thor opening his eyes.

Now in 7.3 we get another major event in Fear Itself being nullified by the definition of dues ex machina, and it pulls it off...mostly. It only works because it is built in such a way that you want the villain to pay, want horrible things to happen to them because of all the right heartstrings being pulled by the incident which gets over turned. As far as take backs go it isn't all that badly done and makes you a bit happy about it, until you really think about it. In this comic Iron Man who is the title character of this issue, doesn't do anything. He doesn't solve the problem, he just mopes and wines and contemplates murdering a defenseless man. The latter by the way becomes irrelevant later on and makes Tony seem a bit of a dick. But on first read through the book works, gets the response it wants and only after thinking about it do you find the flaws. 3/5

Walking Dead #91 - At this point in time you either read the Walking Dead or you don't. The art is great as always and the story is still moving along. This issue is a little bit more resolution and build up over the last few issues of big events. It is a breather issue while giving Sophie (who needs to be found in the show already) and Andrea (who could just die already in the show) a few good character moments. If anything my only criticism is as a stand alone issue this doesn't offer much, unlike the more recent ones, but it will work great in the trade. 4/5

Incredible Hulk #2 - I don't know what I think about Bruce Banner being an immoral mad scientist trying to get the Hulk back after seperating them. I also don't know about undoing the excellent ending to Pak's run on Hulk off panel. But it has happened and we must move on when dealing with corporate comics and I shall. The Banner parts of this story just don't jive with me. I can't see him experimenting on anything and everything due to being sad he isn't Hulk anymore, especially what he does at the end, pure evil move; I also don't see Betty/She-Hulk leaving like she does in a flashback outside of editorial mandate so she can be in the Defenders. So that part of the book doesn't work for me. The Hulk part where he fights giant sharks on the other hand, now that works! Why can't the book just be that? The mysterious government woman who keeps flirting with Hulk can die though, don't care one bit. Just give me Hulk fighting giant monsters! The art is a bit of an issue, the issue got a ton of flack for many fill in artists on this the second issue and from an Image founder at that, many jokes flew. But since Silvestri is apparently dealing with a medical problem it is very understandable. The art won't impact the final result which I'm afraid is a bit low due to Banner weirdness. 2/5

Wonder Woman #3 - Did I read a weirdly mixed issue? It felt to me like the first dozen pages were in the wrong order, I should have tried a different copy to find out for sure. Besides that little snafu though, this continues an interesting take on the Amazon. We find out in this issue that Diana wasn't made from clay after all and that her mother actually had an affair with Zeus himself to conceive her. The story of lust and keeping it hidden from bards and Gods alike takes up a bit of the issue as is building to it and resolving it. This issue is sadly a bit of filler and makes me question why did WW ever go to Paradise Island in the first place when she just turns around and leaves. I'm still invested in this story after the first two issues, but this one added nothing beyond giving WW a daddy and showing angry Amazons. Thankfully the art is still wonderfully done and I am invested from before. 3/5

Witch Doctor #4 - what a fun ride this book has been! With this issue our good doctor and his lackeys fight Cthulhu's Deep Ones in only a way a doctor of the occult could. This issue is also the first to start tying things together, showing the greater world outside of the occult medical emergencies and start to thread it all together. This is the final issue of this series, with a one shot coming out shortly and another series to follow shortly. If you haven't been reading this I highly recommend picking up the trade when it is released since odds are your comic shop criminally under ordered this. 5/5

comics review 11/16/11

This is a quick pellet review of superhero comics released world wide today. The review is from the top of my head and written on the train ride to work after reading them before.

Batman #3 - This book should be titled Detective Comics, Batman is in pure detective mode throughout as both he and we discover more and more about the Order of the Owl and its ties to both Gotham and the Wayne family. I can't discuss too much more without breaking down the mystery itself which is well done and building so perfectly. There is little action to the book and I could care less honestly. The artwork is strong and goes from being the right kind of moody to showing the light of Bruce Wayne perfectly. 4/5

Justice League #3 - Now this was a fun and entertaining comic. While Green Lantern keeps acting like a tool with Batman, Superman, and the Flash kicking ass and acting professional during their fight with the Parademons, the bulk of the issue focuses on Wonder Woman and the creation of Cyborg. The Wonder Woman stuff is great and shows off both her compassion and bad assness which is very welcome. When Wonder Woman joins the fight there is some good interactions with the characters which makes up a lot for the decompression feel of the story. The character who appears on the final page, and how they proclaim they should be leader made me smile and want to read the next issue. The art is well, it is Jim Lee, it is well done and dynamic, exactly the quality you expect. 5/5

Nightwing #3 - we continue to dig deeper into Dick's past with the circus while dealing with the death of the owner and apparent life long protector of Dick. Dick seems to be one to run from his past a bit or so is accused as such by former friends. It is a very interesting look at the most under explored side of his life, the circus life outside of just his family. While Nightwing's fight in the middle of an issue with a former circus friend now turned hitman/hitman liaison, was pretty well thought out and artfully done it left me a bit baffled. I take it the guy knew it was Dick in the suit, I mean he grew up with the guy and it isn't hard to tell otherwise with that mask if you know Dick Grayson, but why did they fight? Just because he didn't want to admit he didn't know who it was who killed the circus owner? Seems forced for the sake of needing a fight scene and introduce a (throw away?) character who has ties to the main character's past to add some "depth". The character interactions are what makes this issue worth while, the people of the circus feel like fleshed out characters and the flashbacks work well to strengthen that. The reveal of who hired the killer is a bit out of a procedural cop show, but still works for the purposes of the story. The artwork is well done and capably shows Nightwing flying and fighting while also working well for all the character work being done. 4/5

Red Hood and the Outlaws #3 - This book continues to read as fan fiction gone wrong. We are without random Starfire sleeping with people or her being more scantily clad, but it still is far from a good or compelling issue. Apparently Arsenal has been suicidal for years now, and once tried to use Killer Croc as a means of suicide, what!?!? This kind of stuff made me not care for the character in the first place, so not happy it continues. Also confused how he was Green Arrow's sidekick when it seems like GA is still new to the game in his own book. Really the only thing that was enjoyable in the issue were the last few pages featuring a young Jason Todd as Robin being too sick to go out on patrol, it is heartwarming and the opposite of what I would ever expect from this book. 1.75/5

X-23 #17 - when did this book become so much fun? X-23 (or Laura) is hanging out with Gambit who is back to being a charming and dangerous Cajun once again, she has an odd but flirtatious relationship with Hellion who doesn't come off as a complete tool while still keeping some of his assholish qualities, and she now baby sits for the Future Foundation! The story is pretty simple, discussion of the previous adventure and other issues of the past are discussed, Hellion and Laura have an aggresive and odd flirtatious fight/discussion, Gambit acts all suave and bad ass, and then Laura meets with the Invisible Woman and starts baby sitting for Franklin and Val Richards who just want to use a small nuclear explosive to go back in time to pet a dinosaur. What follows is traditional Adventures in Baby Sitting fair, a boy (Hellion) wants to come over, the kids get into trouble (something big and scaley arrives via Val's messing around with technology) and the parents are currently none the wiser. The cover even is an homage to the movie Adventures in Baby Sitting which is what made me pick up the issue in the first place. Speaking of the art, it is great. The painted style works so well for the book and the characters are crisp and the facial expressions are spot on making the dialogue superfluous at times to read the book. The pure fun and the interesting interactions in the book make me want to read more which is saying a lot of a book about the female clone of Wolverine. 5/5