3-24-11 The Betrayal: Epilogue

 

Sven's story wasn't over once he got cut from the team. Who better to commiserate with than another runner-up from the Voltron Universe: That Other Voltron. You know, the one with the vehicles? Had cars for feet or something? Yeah, I thought that one was lame too.

-Gint

3-21-11 The Betrayal

I've always been under the impression that Sven got a raw deal. Keith, Lance and himself were similar enough that one of them, unfortunately, became expendable. And someone on-high probably said, "you know, if we had a girl on the team, more girls would watch this show!" So that was it. The straws were drawn and boom. Sven's outie 5000.

I will give the writers credit for trying to give him a continuing story worthy of the Voltron second-in-command instead of killing him off. But lets face it, if you're not piloting a lion, you ain't shit.

-Gint

Gint's Pull-List Review 4-20-11

4/20/11 is a week where any of the 3 books could finish at number one. It feels good to sit down with your books for the week and know you'll be pleased with all of them.

In a strong third place finish:
Supergirl #63

 
This was one of those issues that took me a few pages (3) to remember what was going on. There wasn't a big break between issues (credit to the creative team for keeping this book on time) so I guess its just my brain getting older and not retaining that short-term memory. Or perhaps its just not a memorable story?!

No, I've actually been enjoying this story. James Peaty has done a good job picking up on the great storytelling that Sterling Gates and Jamal Igle left behind. And I like Bernard Chang's style. He draws hot chicks. Dig it. So besides the big reveal of one wacky, Kirby-created character this issue, its pretty hooked up.

I also like the cover for this issue a lot. Though part of me liked it because I thought it was Freddie Williams II. I thought I was being treated to his work two weeks in a row. Turns out its not Williams, but the team of Amy Reeder, Richard Friend and Guy Major. Hopefully DC will keep them on some books. I'd like to see more.

 

Second Place goes to:
Green Lantern Corps #59

 
There's a good chance this is the best issue of Green Lantern Corps since Tony Bedard and Tyler Kirkham took over as the creative team. Following Green Lantern #65's Part Four of War of the Green Lanterns, this issue flows seamlessly from that book. All the characterization is spot-on and while John and Kyle get the spotlight (since it's their book and all), it doesn't feel forced.
 

John and Kyle have indigo and blue rings respectively and can't get them to work. The mythology of the different rings corps is so rich and follows its own science and rules. Just because you can wield a green ring, that doesn't mean you can just pick up another one. Seeing John wear himself out trying to make the indigo ring light up was great.
 

I'd like to see Kirkham work on drawing Hal a little more, but at that point I'm nitpicking.
 

Five parts in and War of the Green Lanterns has been a very enjoyable read. I almost feel bad for doubting it when I first heard about it.
 

And our Number One book:
Green Lantern #65

 
This issue was the kind of story I was hoping to get when War of the Green Lanterns started. This issue offers up some great character moments from everyone in the book. Kilowog is a bad-ass, Krona is scary and Hal and Guy are pitch-perfect in their roles.

What I really liked about this issue was the comedy. Its the situational comedy that isn't forced but grows naturally out of the story.

Geoff Johns has said in multiple interviews that its the characters that make the Green Lantern universe so rich. And he's right. So long as they're written properly. In someone else's hands, these characters might not sing as sweetly as they do under Johns' leadership.

Great issue. Might be worthy of a second read.

-Gint

And our panel(s) of the week:

While Ivan Reis will always be the quintessential Green Lantern artist to me, Doug Mahnke does a great job hooking up some creepy shit.

03-18-11 Wandering Eye

Cyclops' choices in women blows my mind. He dates Jean Grey, a psychic, for the better part of four decades. I don't know about you, but the thought of someone reading my mind during an argument is not the most appealing thing on the planet. After numerous deaths and rebirths Grant Morrison finally killed old Marvel Girl for good in 06'. So what does Mr. Summers do? He immediately jumps into a relationship with another psychic! That dude sure knows how to make his love life difficult.
-$

03-15-11 Hardcore

When I saw the first promo images of the new ThunderCats cartoon my honest reaction was "why would they mess with such a good original design?" Then I Googled the old cartoon images and was shocked at how… erotic the 1980's design actually was. Tight swim trunks, and tank top with a window cut out for the abs? Is that any way for the last son of Thundara to dress?

-$

Gint's Pull-List Review 4-13-11

Man, we really saw both ends of the comic book spectrum this week. The good and the really bad.

In fourth place:

Superman #710

God, this issue is a mess...

Let's start with my personal belief that Superman and Batman don't need to have met when they were kids or early in their careers before being Superman and Batman. Its a lot more likely that they meet for the first time as their alter-egos fighting in Metropolis or Gotham. Not fighting off a Vandal Savage attack in Bhutran.

That brings us to our current issue. Batman comes looking for Superman during his walk across the country and they reminisce about the good 'ol time they had in Bhutran.

Eddie Barrows does the pencils for the scenes in the present and Travel Foreman does the flashbacks. Never being a big Eddie Barrows fan to begin with I was surprised when I found myself wishing he'd drawn the whole book. Foreman's work is real sketchy with a LOT of cross-hatching. A lot. Some panels look like he could have a nice Leniel Yu style, others not so much.

As far as the story goes, its just boring. Clark and Bruce save a little village in Bhutran. If I was Vandal Savage, I'd have just waited until they went back home and raided the shit out of that village.

At least the present scenes were tolerable despite a real Full House moment between Bats and Supes. The only thing missing was Dave Coulier.

This book gets an F. I was going to give it a D, but fuck that. It gets an F.

Third place:

Superboy #6

Doomsday is dumb. He was a plot device created in the 90s to kill Superman and that's it. The character has no redeemable value and I'd like to see him go the way of some other characters that were long forgotten.

Superboy #6 is a Reign of Doomsday tie in. And its right in-line with DC's apparent "Bad Art Week 2011." Pier Gallo has been drawing this book and while he's not phenomenal, he's at least consistent. Our new artist, Marco Rudy, is not. Some panels are inked, some are not. Some look like watercolors, while some look like your standard comic coloring. While the coloring isn't Mr. Rudy's fault his work is still our prime offender.

As for the story, it's nice to see Tim and Connor get some face time. Other than that I haven't been following the Doomsday storyline, so the bulk of the story, Connor and Doomsday fighting, is meaningless to me. Its also confusing. Its not choreographed well and some panels you can't tell what the hells happening.

Two books-in this week and I'm pissed. While I hate to give out such harsh justice this week, Superboy #6 gets an F also.

Second place:

Red Robin #22

Thank Jesus someone knows how to write and draw a damn comic book this week.

Even though this issue of Red Robin is a tie in to some other story taking place in the Bat-books, Fabian Nicieza does a good job explaining what's going on. This could have been the beginning of a Red Robin story and I wouldn't have been the wiser. Its a cool issue that's introspective of Tim's faith. Nicieza gets this character and it shows.

Freddie Williams II is back on art for at least this issue. This makes me incredibly happy. I don't know for how long, and no offense to Marcus To who has been doing a fantastic job, but I fell in love with Tim Drake (in a totally hetero way) when Williams II was drawing the book. It was DAMN good seeing him draw Tim again.

Our winner:

The Flash #10

The Flash title is being cancelled in May. I believe issue 12 may be the last. That's a shame because its been a good book.

It hasn't blown me away, and sometimes I think Geoff Johns likes the Rogues a little too much, but this issue really grabbed me. Johns really lays down the groundwork for Flashpoint and, since his rebirth (Barry's not Johns'), showed me a side of Barry Allen that I really sunk my teeth in to.

What makes me upset about this book is that right when it seems some plot lines start coming together we're going to jump in to the much larger, less personal Flashpoint. I shouldn't doubt Johns though. Some seeds were planted with Bart and Patty Spivot that I'd really like to see play out on the personal, character driven level.

Francis Manapul owns every page of this issue. He's also responsible for our Panel of the Week:

Manapul pulled out the emotion in Barry's eyes and the black and white bottom 1/3 highlights how alone Barry is though he doesn't know it.

This was a fantastic comic book. Shame it'll be over in 2 more issues.

Just so its not a total Geoff Johns love-fest, I think the name Hot Pursuit is stupid.

-Gint

3-13-11 We're Coming For You

The Flash could be a damn marketable character. For as much as people don't remember the old 90's Flash TV show, those that do thought it was passable.

However, DC has had a way of fucking up their live-action efforts. The Flash could well be on the list after this potential Wonder Woman debacle on NBC.

Watch your back Barry Allen. DC's not finished.

-Gint

03-12-11 The Weather Outside is Frightful

Contrarians. We all have them in our lives. Whether it's arguing over the color of the sky, if water is indeed wet or if Little House on the Prairie is the greatest television show of all time, these folks never seem to tire of saying controversial things. Social networking has only made it that much easier for this group of people to antagonize the most people in the most effective manner. Brizzle's irrational love for all things cold can only be equaled by the joy he gets out of aggravating his friends. Luckily, there's always someone there to take some of the wind out of his icy sails.

-$

Gint's Pull-List Review 4-6-11

My expectations for the week of 4/6/11 were pretty good. These have been 4 books that haven't let me down, and they didn't disappoint again.

In 4th place:

Annihilators #2/Rocket Raccoon & Groot

Two issues in and I'm not really feeling Annihilators. But I want to. Up to this point I've loved what Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have done with the Marvel Cosmic Universe. But something just isn't clicking with Annihilators.

Perhaps its these characters taking a lead role? They've all worked great in their previous roles through Annihilation and the Phalanx War, but all together in a group, they're just kind of boring. Cosmo isn't even around for some of that ol' Guardians of the Galaxy vibe.

Its not a bad story. Its entertaining. It better be because the art isn't. There are some panels that Tan Eng Huat hooks the shit out of. Like Beta Ray Bill summoning the storm to cover up the black sun. And then there are others like this perspective shot of Doctor Dredd. C'mon man.

Look at those feet. C'mon.

There are 2 issues to go and plenty of time to make Annihilators stand up like the other DNA books. But so far, C+ at best.

Rocket Raccoon & Groot however continues to bring what a Rocket/Groot story should: insane space action. The story has been funny, and slightly tongue-in-cheek, but there's almost one too many Earth pop culture references.

The art continues to be pretty damn cool. I like the creepy way Timothy Green II draws Groot. And he really hooks up a badass, talking Look at those feetmushroom. There's a certain style and consistency happening with the art in the back of this book that isn't happening in the front.

I don't know what the DNA plan is, but I'd like to see these two stories dovetail in the last issue.

 

In a surprising 3rd place:

Brightest Day #23

This issue moves pretty quick. We get right into the action and the Big Bad before the saddle stitch of the book. And its pretty cool.

I won't give up any spoilers, but its a character from DC's extensive history that fits into this story pretty well. Had I been a bigger fan of this character before, the surprise may have hit me even harder. Regardless its pretty sweet. I'm interested to see how they're going to work this into future issues and how they're going to be handled in the current DCU.

The art, as usual, is pretty damn solid. No glaring atrocities (see Annihilators #2 above.) If I say there were no outstanding art moments in this issue, one could argue the double-page spread of the big bad qualifies. But perhaps I'm just so used to Ivan Reis knocking stuff out of the park I'm not blown away by it. I'd hate to become calloused to his spectacular work.

Brightest Day is advancing and I think its time. I'm not getting tired of it, but its running its course. Should be a good finish.

In 2nd place: 

Secret Six #32

So, there's something about Jeanette that I find so effing hot. If I were to pick my top 3 comic book chicks ever, she may make the cut. I think its a combo of the Silver Banshee powers and just her attitude. Also, J. Calafiore and Nicola Scott before him always draw her damn sexy.

I digress. While I can't say I entirely buy Ragdoll's 180 from lovable psycho to scheming prince of hell, its making for a great story. The Secret Six work best when they're up against unbeatable odds. Gail Simone knows how to push all the right buttons and get them in the right situations.

What's cool about this book is that there are other books where, in a shared Universe, you'll read it and ask, "Well, why isn't Superman coming, or why isn't so and so coming," but Simone writes it in such a way that the Six really inhabit their own corner of the DCU when they need to. You don't wonder why heroes or villains aren't coming. This is the Six's job.

Simone also does a good job writing rhyming demons. Most writers make them hard to get though. Simone keeps it short and sweet.

And how sweet is that cover. Cree-py.

 

And triumphantly in 1st:

Doom Patrol #21

22 pages of Cliff "Robotman" Steele rehashing his life with the various Doom Patrols and making a decision on whether or not to invade Oolong Island. Sounds like a lot of introspective text and exposition. It was. And it was awesome.

Much like Gail Simone has taken a certain ownership of the Secret Six characters, Keith Giffen has made the Doom Patrol his own. When you read some writers, you read their text as if they're saying it, not the character. Though while I imagine some of Giffen's own thought process creeps in to his writing of Cliff Steele, I think Giffen and Steele are so close to the same person, that it works perfectly.

Matthew Clark doubles and triples up the same panel quite a bit in this issue. That's rare for him, but in this context (mostly Cliff's flashbacks) it works as a static image that Cliff remembers and not an artist being lazy.

The Doom Patrol invades Oolong Island next month, and I can't wait.

-Gint

And introducing our new Pull-List feature: our PANEL OF THE WEEK! There are trumpets, you just can't hear them.

Matthew Clark hooks the shit out of this full page of the first time Cliff Steele sees himself as Robotman. That's a damn creepy robot.

3-12-11 Casting Call

While I'm sure the upcoming Wonder Woman TV series isn't going to include a lot of what fans like about the character, one like in particular will be the lack of mythology. Chances are we're not going to see any two-headed krakens or even Ares in full war paraphernalia. This gets a big thumbs down.

-Gint

3-8-11 That's Messed Up

While my youthful age in 1983 probably had more to do with my indifference to Princess Leia's slave costume than our actual brother-sister relationship, the fact remains I was never particularly attracted to Carrie Fisher.

However, notables such as Kristen Bell and Olivia Munn have done wonders for the slave outfit since. Keep up the good work ladies.

-Gint
 

Gint's Pull-List Review 3-30-11

You know what? This was really a pretty solid week of comic books. I'm happy to say that because it reaffirms why I dump an average of $12 on my comic fix.

To the reviews!

In 4th place, though with a pretty solid performance:

Wonder Woman #609

The J. Michael Straczynski/Phil Hester run on Wonder Woman, in general, hasn't been so good. So when I find myself liking an issue, I'm genuinely surprised.

The enjoyment of this issue probably starts with the slow crawl to explaining what the hells been going on in this story since JMS took over. Plot points start coming together and you find yourself saying, "Oh, that's what that was all about." In short, Phil Hester has gotten back to some classic storytelling and the path of where the story is going gets clearer.

As far as the artwork goes, Don Kramer has some beautiful panels and he has some bad ones. Perhaps its a rushing issue? Perhaps that's an inking issue? Regardless, there's nothing so atrocious that it pulls the reader out of the story.

This story might actually be getting somewhere. But I don't want to jinx it.

 

With a mediocre 3rd place showing:

Green Arrow #10

This story has been going on for so long I feel like I'M the one fighting Etrigan. In actuality, I think its only been about 3 issues, but time is relative and its felt a lot longer.

We get closer to the end of the fight and learn who Galahad really is, so at least that's something. And I really like the way writer J.T. Krul handles the Galahad story. He makes him a real character that has the potential to pop up in Green Arrow stories years from now.

As always, Diogenes Neves and the art team give you a nice looking book. While the story might be taking a tad long to tell, Green Arrow continues to be at worst an entertaining read every month.

Finishing 2nd with probably my favorite issue of the Paul Cornell run:

Action Comics #899

Lets start with Pete Woods' art. He's been the regular artist on this book up until this issue. And up until this issue, I thought his work was pretty solid. And it was. But Jesus Merino did the pencils for #899 and made me realize that if Merino was on the art for this entire run, I'd probably liked it a lot more. This is an example of an artist that should be on an on going. I'm looking at you, Eddie Barrows.

As for the story itself, it was a very entertaining issue even though you have to wade through a lot of exposition. A lot of exposition that makes a lot of what's happened before incredibly convoluted.

I still don't really understand what the black spheres are for or what they do, but this issue was a nice pay off for an up and down arc so far.

And finishing 1st:

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #8

Emerald Warriors feels like a Green Lantern book in an inherently natural way Green Lantern Corps. doesn't. Its in the way Pete Tomasi knows these characters and the way Fernando Pasarin's art can resemble Patrick Gleason's.

The Felipe Massafera cover highlights an all out brawl between Hal Jordan and Guy Gardener. While I always have a "ho-hum, more mind control" attitude toward mind control, I'm glad Tomasi uses it here. With all the Earth Lanterns have gone through, its unrealistic to have them actually angry enough at each other to come to blows. This issue reveals the relationship between Guy and Hal that while they're not always going to agree, they're Lanterns together with a mutual respect for each other. There's a reason they were the 1st two Earth Lanterns chosen and Tomasi shows why.

Fernando Pasarin also deserves an "'atta boy" for hooking up all those flying snow pages.

Part 3 of the War of the Green Lanterns story is a strong, tight issue that's keeping me excited for the rest of this story.

-Gint