Some good work this week as I can't say any of the books were bad.
Swamp Thing #1
So it took me a while to get on a Swamp Thing train, but here I am. After repeated positive reviews from friends, acquaintances and comic sites I felt it was time. And it didn't let me down.
Its off to a slow start, but its a good slow start. I don't want that to be confused with a negative. This issue is a nice slow build that really does everything right from letting you know Alec Holland's situation to getting a feel for who he is in relation to the greater DCU. The cameos from Superman, and to a lesser extent Batman and Aquaman were done very well. And oddly enough, writer Scott Snyder's Superman might be my favorite writing of the character in the DCnU yet.
$oss has sang the praises of artist Yanick Paquette from the start and I have to agree. He does some very cool stuff. I love his line work. His use of thicks and thins, not to mention his attention to detail give you a lot to look at on every page.
Swamp Thing is a winner after one issue. Unfortunately my local comic shop didn't have #2, so I'll have to wait patiently to continue reading.
Red Lanterns #7
The slow burn of red rage crawls on. BUT, we finally get some movement with Bleez and Atrocitus. Bleez kills some former Sinestro Corps members and doubts herself. Self-doubt being the prevalent theme in this first arc.
We also get to see Atrocitus back to his normal self... before he gets killed. The first human Red Lantern gets in a fight with Guy Gardner before being pulled to Ysmault and Peter Milligan does a pretty cool job of writing him differently than most Red Lanterns who are just pure rage when they get the ring. This guy can understand a little bit, and Milligan handles it well.
Only one blatant ass-shot from Ed Benes this week who has been getting help from Diego Bernard on the penciling front. So, bummer there. Pun intended.
Red Lanterns continues to be, at the same time, kind of lame and entertaining.
Supernatural: Caledonia #6
Brian Wood and Grant Bond's Supernatural tale comes to a close this issue and I'm sad to see it go. As far as licensed properties go, Supernatural has had a good run in comics. Wood and Bond had some rough patches but ultimately treated the characters with care and crafted a fine story.
Sam and Dean have a final stand off with the Selkies, of which Emma is one of. Emma makes the final sacrifice in the end to save herself and the town. Its a downer of a issue that's for sure. But a well crafted one.
If there is one thing missing from this arc its the trademark wit and humor that helps make the TV show what it is. The show gets pretty serious, but Sam and Dean manage to inject a little humor all along the way.
Hopefully Wood and Bond enjoyed working together and enough people bought this story to necessitate a second one. With one story under their belt, I'd love to see what this creative team has to offer next for the Supernatural mythos.
Also, a very cool cover by Dustin Nguyen.
Also, a very cool cover by Dustin Nguyen.
Action Comics #7
Grant Morrison and Rags Morales are back for a full issue of Action Comics and it pays off. This was a very cool issue.
Superman flies (more like runs and jumps) into space to Brainiac's ship where he finds not only Metropolis in a bottled city, but Kan-dor too. He also finds a crisp white suit from Krypton that changes to the classic blue and red we know and love when he wears it. I'm eager for the explanation of how that works, but initially its pretty cool.
Morales continues to do stellar work. I think some of his best stuff this issue is in Superman's facial expressions. He really nails this young Superman. He makes him really FEEL like Superman.
The last couple issues had a couple bumps in the road, but #7 gets it squarely back on track.
Animal Man #7
Animal Man's first issue with Steve Pugh taking over the bulk of the art duties is a pretty good one. Travel Foreman will be missed, and though Pugh is close enough in style to Foreman that its not a harsh change, there's a certain something special in Foreman's strange-ass drawing style that makes his leaving the book sting a little bit.
Jeff Lemire continues the superb writing by sneaking in some great although brief character moments in the crazy action of the book. The scenes involving "life in the R.V." and Buddy and Cliff's trip to the store made for some good reading.
We'll miss the wacky art of Foreman, but Animal Man looks to be in good hands with Steve Pugh on art duties.
Panel of the Week
Grant Morrison's brain child of a stark white suit becoming Supe's signature red and blue is a concept I'm interested in learning more about.
-Gint
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