Soss' Pull-List Reviews 1/31/13

Avengers #3

Marvel has enough heroes. You wouldn't know it since there are about five Avengers books, sixteen X-Men titles and one with both them for good measure. My biggest problem with this over saturation are the missions these teams get sent on. Captain America can't be fighting a race riot in New York and the next day be on Mars fighting a God. Two different skill sets. 

This brings me to this months Avengers. Jonathan Hickman certainly is going outside of the box with this story, however the mix of street level and intergalactic heroes is a bit overwhelming for me. If we are going to have a book about inter-planetary travel and battles with God-like creatures and aliens lets name it...I don't know...Guardians of the Galaxy.

The first three issues in this series did not match well with my comic book sensibilities. I think the creative team of Hickman and Opena has great potential, just maybe not on this particular book. 

Uncanny Avengers #3

Red Skull uses his new mind control powers to start a riot and unleashes his S-Men on the Uncanny Avengers. Johann Schmidt is the perfect foil for this mashed up team of heroes. It's surprising that other writers haven't used this nutty racist as a mutant foe in the past.

John Cassaday is in full artistic stride. His time working on Captain America and Astonishing X-Men really shows in his detailed approach to the individuals on this team. There is tons of brawling action which all plays out beautifully. I'm always amazed by how much detail he can put into a single small panel.

I've been pleasantly surprised that this book has lived up the hype that came with jamming Marvel's two key team franchises into one book. -Soss

Panel of the Week: Wolverine pancakes in 5, 4, 3, 2...

Difficult To See The Future Is

This is a tough one to wrap my brain around. My 15 year old brain or the current one.

My mum is a Star Trek fan. Original Series of course. I remember taking her to see Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in theaters for her birthday in '87. I also remember being dragged (I didn't realize how awesome it was at the time) to a comic con to see William Shatner. His intro music was Rod Stewart's "Forever Young." That song will ALWAYS remind me of Shatner.

Growing up, and even into the teenage years it was all Star Wars, all the time. I was a fiend. Even in the dark years between Return of the Jedi and the special editions. But then the Prequels were released and chipped away at my passion for the franchise little by little. And not just the Prequels, but since, everything Star Wars has revolved around the Prequels. We've been inundated with terrible movies and their characters.

Enter J.J. Abrams. Imagine my surprise when his version of the previously reviled Star Trek franchise gave me everything I wanted that I didn't get from the Prequels. I won't go so far as to say I'll choose Trek over Wars, but now its at least a close game.

So now Abrams, who ushered in a brand new, exciting Star Trek with two movies (even though Into Darkness isn't out yet I'm gonna say its good) is off to direct Star Wars: Episode VII. I'm torn. I believe he can do a great job and reinvigorate a once-beloved franchise, not just for us old heads, but for everyone.

The problem? Remember when Bryan Singer did two great movies (X-Men and X2) and then dipped for another rival franchise (Superman Returns) and the conclusion to the X-franchise kind of smoked a kong dong? Is that the fate we have in store for Star Trek now that Abrams is leaving? Surely he can't juggle two franchises of such magnitude?

But I don't blame him. Its not everyday you get to play in those particular sand boxes.

So, live long and prosper, J.J... and I guess may the Force be with you too.

-Gint
      

Gint's 1-23-13 Pull-List Review

Its been a while since I've had seven books to review in a week. They go from meh, to damn impressive.

Seventh Place:
Supergirl #16

Gah... when will H'El on Earth be over?! This was actually a pretty cool issue. At least until the end when H'El shows up and reminds me I'm reading a shitty crossover.

The bulk of the book centers around Kara and the Flash duking it out. Kara has apparently been duped by H'El (into thinking this is a good crossover apparently) and is waging war on his behalf to go back in time and save Krypton. Superman and the Justice League know the ruse is up and send Barry Allen to save Kara. Mahmud Asrar does a fine job with the artwork though his blacks get a little to heavy for his style at times. His pencils work best when laid over like Francis Manapul's; light and watercolor-ey.

According to the last page, this H'El business should wrap up in next week's Superman. Lets hope so and get back to our regularly scheduled Supergirl.

Sixth Place:
Sword of Sorcery #4

This issue is a fill-in of sorts. Its written by Christy Marx, but Aaron Lopresti isn't the artist, and it doesn't continue the main story of Amy in Nilaa.

After she helps Constantine in the pages of Justice League Dark Amy wants to chill in Chicago for a little bit. She stops off to get pizza and is kidnapped by a CEO Sorceress. True. She wins and eventually Constantine comes to clean up. Ho hum. A cute little story but nothing to write home about.

Its a fine story, but its a tap on the breaks during the normally smooth ride we've had so far.

Also, the AMAZING Tony Bedard/Jesus Saiz Beowulf back-up story is replaced by a sweet-jesus-is-this-boring Stalker story by Marc Andreyko and Andrei Bressan.

Also, I don't like Walt Simonson's art. He does the cover. Blech.

Fifth Place:
Wonder Woman #16

This was the best issue of this book in a little while. The last so many issues left me kind of bored, but this one had the right blend of story and dialog for me to rip through it pretty quickly.

Orion (of New God fame) doesn't seem to be quite as big a jerk in his New 52 incarnation and has a sense of humor. He could be a nice addition to the cast so long as I don't have to endure all those other New God idiots with bad costume designs.

BUT, despite the good story, I'm still waiting for some kind of climax. This story hasn't really taken a breath. There's no defined beginning or end to any arc. It just keeps going. Brian Azzarello, please give me a gear change or something!

Fourth Place:
Justice League #16

Fantastic issue. Really. From the main story to the Shazam! backup, this issue did everything I wanted it to.

Ivan Reis and his art team know how to draw a comic book. A perfect compliment to Geoff Johns' big crossover. Aquaman has to mediate between his brother Orm and his teammates, Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman. Needless to say, this wouldn't be much of an issue if they just talked it out. Unless it was a Bendis issue.

Johns' and Gary Frank's Shazam! backup is just as good. I've never given a shit about the Shazam mythos as much as I do now. Frank's facial expressions are some of the best in the business. I'd love to see this story turned into a movie. It feels like you're watching one when you're reading it.

Justice League is the flagship book its supposed to be.

Third Place:
Green Lantern #16

This book could have placed higher than Green Lantern Corps #16, but for my personal preference. I refuse to believe there's anything a Lantern can do that Hal Jordan cannot do.

Squirrel Lantern B'Dg gives Simon Baz a quick lesson on GL 101. They also set off to find Hal and Sinestro. But before they can do this, Simon wants to use the ring to pull his brother-in-law out of a coma. B'Dg is against this from the start cause its not going to work, but somehow, there's something in Baz that wills it to work. I guess its no different than believing Kyle Rayner can wield all the colors while no one else can. But since Baz is Geoff Johns own creation, I feel like he's getting special treatment. Petulance on my part. Yep. Hal's my guy. I can't help it.

Other than that it was a damn good issue. The only problem is using five inkers. Can we get this book on track to get smoother artwork from page 1 to 20?  

Second Place:
Green Lantern Corps #16

Lets talk about consistency. In the world of comics it never seems to be a priority for publishers or creators. From rotating creative teams to fill-in artists you're lucky to find a book that you can really count on to be a good read every month. Green Lantern Corps is that book.

Besides a few issues when Tony Bedard took over writing duties, Peter Tomasi has been writing the title since 2008 when he took over the still new title. Pat Gleason did a huge run on art followed mostly by Fernando Pasarin. Its a book that should get a lot more praise than it does. Which is why I'm here. Cause I'll stroke this book off every day.

Great stuff from Pete Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin month in and month out.     

First Place:
Green Lantern: New Guardians #16

This was easily the best issue of New Guardians. The art and story couldn't have worked more perfectly together.

Ganthet shows up on Zamaron to kill Kyle Rayner who can't seem to get the hang of the violet light of love. There's a pretty heavy duty battle between the Zamaron's, Kyle and Ganthet, and though its mostly a fight issue, the dialog in between is flawless.

Until this issue I was luke-warm on Aaron Kuder's art. This issue really turned it around. His style may not be my favorite but everything is technically sound. It had a real John Romita, Jr. feel to it. But his real strength is the storytelling. The art flows flawlessly and couldn't take you any more smoothly and emotionally through the story.

Tony Bedard and Kuder have set themselves a new bar, lets hope they can keep it up!

Page of the Week:

Aaron Kuder really flexed his storytelling muscles in this months New Guardians.

-Gint