Wonder Woman #19
This book is stuck in a rut. Its been stuck in a rut for quite a while but its good enough to keep buying.
Its an interesting book. Brian Azzarello has done a good job with the characters, but while things happen from issue to issue, it feel like nothing is happening. Strange, huh? Wonder Woman squeezes Orion's balls this issue and makes him change into some Highfather/Darkseid hybrid. Lennox (one of the best parts of the book) quits and Poseidon and the king of hell are plotting against the guy with the furry collar who I'm still not sure who he is.
The biggest problem with Wonder Woman? It stands totally separate from the DC Universe. For all DC's talk about the "shared universe" they've given Azzarello all the freedom to tell whatever story he wants without being hampered by anything else. I'm sure its great for him, but it sucks for the reader.
Also, we get a new artist, Goran SudΕΎuka, to help out Tony Akins. More rotating artist carousel from the "distinguished competition."
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1
The last mini series that was started by James Robinson and Philip Tan and finished by Keith Giffen and Pop Mhan was a bit of a let down. So my expectations for this new on-going were pretty low. Those low expectations worked out because this was a pretty good issue.
Everything about it was better than the mini. Better story, less corny writing, better art. Mhan did most of the mini, but he stepped up his game here. Its a much more mature look for a book that I think needs it. I imagine the only people buying this are guys in their 30s that grew up with the cartoon. The art and story should reflect that we're not 8 any more.
Spinning out of the mini, Skeletor has been deposed, the Sorceress is dead and King Randor is back on the throne... just in time for Hordak's forces to mount a cross-dimensional attack.
A very well put together issue by Giffen and Co. Lets hope they can keep up with themselves.
Justice League #19
This book could have been ranked higher based on Geoff Johns and Gary Frank's Shazam! backup alone. THAT is a damn fine story they're telling. The Justice League main title however, falls short.
Lets start with the fact that the Justice League should be 7 members: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, a Green Lantern, a Flash and Martian Manhunter. I will allow Hawkgirl as a substitute. That's it. The fact that Cyborg is on the team immediately diminishes they're wow-factor. Not to mention the "additions" of Firestorm and the new Atom. Now, I like Firestorm and Ivan Reis draws the new female Atom easy on the eyes, but they're NOT JL caliber characters. The Justice League are supposed to be the best of the best! Why can't we have a long run on this book with the Main 7 without needing a "recruitment drive" to bolster the ranks?!
A book by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis should be EASILY one of my favorite reads every month. This book hasn't been. As our buddy "Image" Matt Casale said, "it feels like Johns doesn't have a story to tell, they just put their biggest name on their biggest book." I agree.
Green Lantern: New Guardians #19
I read this book first this week expecting it to be the weak sister of the Pull-List. Turns out I was wrong and it was really goddamn good.
New artist (cause it wouldn't be 2013 DC without new creators every month) Andres Guinaldo does a fantastic job. Aaron Kuder's work was pretty great and Guinaldo does a great job stepping up to the plate. Tony Bedard writes some really heart-wrenching stuff, fully getting across the emotional core of the loss of an entire planet. We've seen planets destroyed before (Mogo, Krypton, Xanshi, Alderaan) but Bedard really makes you feel the loss of Korugar.
Soss is usually the guy to credit a good colorist, but this issue Wil Quintana did an amazing job handling a handful of color Corps.
I believe this is the last issue for Tony Bedard and its a shame. I think over the second half of his run he really found his stride and his voice for these characters. Fare ye well, Tony. Its been great having you in the Corps.
Nova #3
Remember when the movies were based on the comics and not the other way around? When the comics didn't have to cater to what their onscreen brethren did? When comics did their OWN thing? Well, with the success of The Avengers in theaters, those days are apparently over.
Now, it didn't ruin this issue. Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness still tell a hell of a story, and even give me a little closure on the Richard Rider situation, but the introduction of the Chitauri (looking just like they did in the movie I might add) pulled me right out of what was an excellent issue. I'm not even sure why its a thing. I mean, don't we want some kind of unity through our brand media? Just seems like the comics may be losing a bit of their autonomy.
I've been thinking it all week and I'll commit it to the etherwebs here, its hard to admit being such an ardent DC fan that Nova was the book I was most looking forward to this week. Well done, Marvel. You win this round.
Sword of Sorcery #7
For starters, I didn't even read the back up story. Its been that bad I'm not bothering myself. Secondly, Christy Marx and Aaron Lopresti's Amethyst story is goddamn good.
If I'm not mistaken, next issue will be the last before DC cancels the title. DC is making a lot of decisions lately that I'm really not happy with, but that's for another time. The world that Marx and Lopresti have built surrounding these characters feels so real and unique, I think a lot of fantasy fans should really have given it a chance. Plus, everyone love diversity and this book is full of it. But that's okay DC, cancel this one, but give us a new cracker-ass-centric Constantine book.
I'm just writing angrily now. I may pick this up in hardback if it gets released. That's how much I like it. If you want to find the back issues and read through them, I highly recommend it. Its only gonna be eight issues long.
Panel of the Week:
Props to the art team of penciller Andres Guinaldo, inker Raul Fernandez and colorist Wil Quintana. this was really a good looking book.
-Gint
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