Justice League Dark #19
I love Mikel Janin's art. For serious. He draws such distinctive faces. I can't impress how important that is to me. I've seen enough books where that shit doesn't matter. It matters to Janin. He also draws the sweet Craig T. Nelson out of Madame Xanadu. There are few hotter chicks in comic books.
How was the issue? Really good. Despite not really featuring the Flash after his big hype on the cover, this issue sets up the Horror City arc like a champ. It looks like, as the Justice League Dark is getting back on their feet after the Timothy Hunter fiasco, the Cold Flame (some evil magic society) comes a callin'.
Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes write a nice tight story and Janin draws the hell out of it. The only negative is the inks by Vicente Cifuentes. Not as strong as the previous 18 issues, but lets hope he's just getting in a groove.
The Flash #19
Much like Flash's brief appearance in Justice League Dark despite his cover appearance, the Reverse-Flash's cover appearance doesn't tell you he only appears on the last page inside the book.
Marcio Takara is on pencils this issue and would do a fine job if he wasn't compared to the incomparable Francis Manapul. I feel like Manapul hasn't done a full issue in quite a while. Its a shame because he's an amazing artist that makes this book sing. As much as I like Takara and Marcus To, they're no Manapul.
What makes this issue somewhat confusing is that it picks up from a story in Dial H, which I CLEARLY didn't bother getting. So it stumbles over itself a little. Its a shame because had this whole story been covered in The Flash, it would have been pretty great.
That doesn't take away from how enjoyable this book still is though. While a lot of the New 52 has lost steam, The Flash has stayed strong.
I, Vampire #19
Brilliant. Totally underrated and brilliant. It would have been even better if Andrea Sorrentino would have been able to draw the whole series. But I guess the New 52's shitty Green Arrow was more important.
The final issue of Joshua Fialkov and Andrea Sorrentino's (with Fernando Blanco at the end) I, Vampire wraps with issue #19. Sorrentino comes back to draw some key pages to end the story of Andrew Bennett and his love Mary. The scenes with them in the past are the best of the issue, though Blanco does a beautiful splash page himself.
While a critical darling, the series undersold and that was enough for DC to cancel it. But they'll keep pumping out trash like Vibe, Talon and Dial H (are you fucking kidding?!!!) not to mention awful stories that have chased me away from the entire Superman franchise.
Fialkov and Sorrentino had a truly unique and captivating book that died too soon. Here's to you I, Vampire.
Guardians of the Galaxy #2
There are worse fill-in artists than Sara Pichelli. It looks like Steve McNiven lasted exactly one whole issue before needing help to stay on schedule. Unlike DC and their ballsacky fill-ins, Marvel has put class on top of class with McNiven and Pichelli.
What consistently stands out to me is how McNiven drawns a slim, lean Gamora instead of drawing her as a She-Hulk-type character with muscles on top of muscles. She almost seems more threatening by looking unassuming.
This is your classic Brian Bendis book with zippy dialog that almost pulls you out of the book. Rocket's "Blam! Murdered you!" over and over again was too much. But seeing the way this story is playing out, and including Iron Man and the leaders of the Galactic Empires, Bendis seems to be setting up something that may play out a little cooler than what the initial solicits let on.
Guardians is a hit. I can't fight it.
Panel of the Week:
Fernando Blanco does some of his best work on this page sending I, Vampire out in style.
-Gint
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