I'd say it was a 50/50 week with two so-so books, a good book and an outstanding book.
Fourth Place:
Supernatural: The Dogs of Edinburgh #2
The solo Sam story, The Dogs of Edinburgh wraps up with a pretty quick ending. Emma of the Isles leads Sam to help her take down a homicidal ghost who owns homicidal ghost dogs. Its a cool story, but it's missing a certain charisma that a Supernatural story usually has. I attribute it to writer Brian Wood acclimating himself to these characters and the lack of Dean Winchester to play Sam's character off.
Grant Bond's art once again does good and bad stuff. His colors are a good, dark moody pallet but his full-body figures need some work. There's some really awkward large heads/hands here.
Despite its couple shortcomings this is still an enjoyable book. Supernatural the show is an underrated product. It would be nice if this comic was a little higher quality to peak interest in both the comic and TV arms of the brand.
Barely registering Third Place:
Red Lanterns #3
Storywise, Red Lanterns hasn't been all that special so far. Interesting, but not special. Its the ass-tastic art of Ed Benes that puts it ahead of Supernatural this week. What I'm going to start doing in Gint's Pull-List Review is start chronicling all of the blatant ass shots that Benes throws into this work.
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| Click for larger asses. |
This issue Atrocitus increases the intelligence of Bleez above basic animalistic rage-level. This is still an incredibly convenient way of writing yourself out of a corner by using the Red Lanterns to begin with. Well apparently there's unrest in the Red Lantern ranks as Bleez has designs on leading the red corps herself.
Besides all the ass Benes throws around, all of his other work is still fantastic. A nice touch is when Atrocitus puts his arm through a guy and continues talking to Bleez... with the guy still hanging from his arm.
This issue peaks the interest of the story and starts it rolling, but it still feels false under the pretense that the Red Lanterns can even think at all.
A strong Second Place:
Action Comics #3
Some of the sheen seems to have come off of this book. I may be saying that too soon. After all this is only the third issue. But unlike issues #1 and 2 which embarked on a new journey for the Man of Steel, #3 falls in to some of the old tropes of previous Superman stories.
We get some unique art from Gene Ha that introduces us to the DCnU's Krypton and its populace. But other than some new looks its the same old "Brainiac takes over Kandor then comes to Earth" story. Some other New 52 writers have said they're not going to use any of the old villains for a while. When I hear that I immediately think, "I don't want to have to suffer through reading about some new dumb villain. Use the tried and true rogues!" But this issue convinces me that a way to keep things fresh is to NOT fall back on what's been done before and really branch out with some new stories. A good place to start is with a new villain or two.
As far as this issue is concerned it seems to move along really fast. Especially the "montage" in the middle. The beginning and end are tight and concise but the middle gets a little sloppy. Almost like Morrison knew he had to hit certain story beats, but had to cram them in a space too small for them.
Rags Morales' art continues to give this book a unique voice and Gene Ha's pages are used just for the Krypton scenes. I was afraid it was going to be more of a fill-in capacity.
You're not going to hit a home run with every issue. Even if you're name is Grant Morrison.
An outstanding First Place:
Animal Man #3
Best book of the New 52. And I don't say that lightly. DC's reboot has offered up a lot of good stuff, but Animal Man surprises me every issue out.
This isn't a wordy book. Jeff Lemire is incredibly efficient with his words to define each character's personality and never loses the essence of who they are. He's made Buddy Baker's son Cliff and wife Ellen just as interesting as Maxine and Buddy himself. He's using each piece of this puzzle to create a story that's really unlike anything else out there right now.
And what can I say about Travel Foreman's art? Its so fucking weird and so perfect for this book. The attention paid to the detail in the crazy shit that he draws up is impressive. If I'm going to knock anything regarding the artwork, its that I'd like to see some clean inks other than the straight pencils on some pages.
Also a nod to letterer Jared K. Fletcher. The simple task of appointing a different font for each of the Hunters Three and to the Totems of the Red is damn effective.
And to think, I almost didn't get this book.
Panel of the Week:
Travel Foreman hooks up some WACKY. ASS. SHIT!
-Gint
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