Four pretty solid titles this week:
I missed picking up issue #6 last month so I lumped these two books together and read them at the same time. I'm not sure when FF turned into a Marvel space escapade but that's exactly what I got. I felt like a bait and switch had been pulled on me and I was pissed. But I did find good things about these two books.
Greg Tocchini's art is beautiful. He is well suited to illustrate all the wonders of the cosmos. There is a good balance between outer-worldly aliens and graceful human characters. The colors on this title are bright and vibrant. The panel's might as well have been oil paintings.
Alas, with all that said this was a space book. I just don't care for comics set in space. I'm sure the tale of Black Bolt and the prophecy that he would destroy the Kree Supremor is thrilling stuff, but two full issues of space adventures was more than I bargained for. Let's get back to Earth please.
I hate these alternating storylines. One month it's monsters in Japan the next it's aliens in space. It's jarring to go back and forth like this.
We rejoin the group as they try and figure out a way to extract the alien larva from Agent Brand's body. Great anime-influenced pencils by Juan Bobillo here. The use of negative space in his panel layout is interesting and makes for a compelling read. I find myself enjoying this story more now that space oriented tale in Uncanny is over.
Unfortunately the stupid shipping schedule sabotages this story. Guess I'll have to wait until September to read the finale.
While I didn't get the origin story I had hoped for in the pages of The Boys it looks like it can be found in this mini series. I'm glad Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson have reunited to explain the motives of the The Boys leader, Billy Butcher. I'm confused as to why this essential part of the mythos isn't part of the main title. It does explain’s why that book has been shitty for the past year.
In these pages we are introduced to his mother, brother and the crazed father that helped mold him into the character we now know. Ennis' clearly has a vision of who this character is and the dark past that motivates him. He paints a painfully vivid picture of a family torn apart by abuse. Little brother Lenny is especially sad, considering he is never mentioned in the other books I'm guessing there are bad things in store for him. This spin-off could be just what I needed to once again enjoy the exploits of Butcher and his Boys.
X-Men: Schism #2
I admit it, I love Frank Cho. I mean I love his work but I'm sure he's great guy as well. A major factor in my decision to get this series was his involvement.
Writer Jason Aaron further explores the growing divide between the two leaders of the X-Men. This issue is mostly dialogue, which suits me just fine. Aaron’s use of varying speech patterns is excellent. Cho also deserves credit in adding extra shine with his portrayal Scott "Slim" Summers. I've never seen Cyclops drawn this thin, but it makes a lot of sense. I'm not sure why other artist's don't draw him this way.
My only real complaint is with the villains. I refuse to believe that this new version of the Hellfire Club is a genuine threat. "Why" you may ask? Because they are a bunch of little kids! If anyone can make me afraid of little girls in pink kitty cat shirts it will be Jason Aaron. -$
Panel of the Week: Words hurt Black Bolt...words hurt.
No comments:
Post a Comment