Gint's Pull-List Review 2-2-11

The first week of February, 2011 brought us a nice trio of books. Consistent artwork, consistently good writing. Solid week.

In 1st Place:
Secret Six #30

I love this book. Loved this team of gray-area bad guys since they debuted in Villains United. Gail Simone just has a feel for these characters. She knows them. She makes them real. Some of the most colorful characters in the DCU.

This week began the first issue of a two issue arc with the Doom Patrol. Gail Simone knows how to write B-list characters and makes this the perfect team-up of some of the most unique characters DC has to offer.

Jim Calafiore's artwork isn't quite Nicola Scott's, and it was an adjustment when the changeover happened, but he and Simone seem to really be finding their niche with each other making Secret Six their own book.


2nd Place goes to:
Brightest Day #19

If Simone is the master of the B-list characters, Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi are the masters of the A-list.

If you want a fantastic Aquaman story, this is the team to do it. Along with Ivan Reis on art, this could easily catapult to a regular Aquaman series. Unfortunately, if that happened there would undoubtedly be a creative team change who wouldn't be able to swing these characters as deftly as Johns and Tomasi.

While my initial reaction to the ending cliffhanger was that it was cliched, I'll hold my final opinion until I see where Johns and Tomasi take it.

Strong book this week, gentlemen. Well done.


And coming in 3rd:
Superboy #4

This is a pretty good book. It was going to be hard to live up to Geoff Johns' and Francis Manapul's brief run on Adventure Comics but Jeff Lemire is doing a good job. He feels the characters, he feels Smallville, and he brings Superboy to life like he should be: quiet, thoughtful and determined to be the best hero he can be.

What's holding this book back is the artwork. Pier Gallo's art isn't bad, but it leaves you wanting more. It never feels very rural to me.

The bigger problem is the coloring. I understand there's a certain amount of realism trying to be obtained by adding a little color in the character's corneas, but its too much. The red tint makes everyone look like they've been hitting the doob. Pull it back a little, fellas. You can do it!

-Gint