Star Wars #6
I don't know how many issues this story is supposed to be, but we haven't gotten very far in six issues. I keep waiting for something big to happen, but it consistently doesn't. The coolest part about this issue is the six panel spread on a couple of the last pages that subtly nods to where each of our main characters are at in the story.
Carlos D'Anda's art is still pretty great. Its very polished and professional. I think he'd do a great job on a book like Green Lantern Corps.
I'm still enjoying this book, and it does feel like its building to something huge... but I'm getting impatient waiting for that something huge.
Green Lantern Corps #21
Following in the footsteps of its lead title, Green Lantern, we also get a new creative team on Corps. Credited as Van Jensen on the script and Robert Venditti on the plot, we get our first post-Peter Tomasi issue of the title. Surprisingly, it felt very much like a Tomasi-written issue. And that's not a bad thing.
Green Lantern Corps now stars John Stewart, everyone's (Soss') favorite African-American Lantern. Along the way we'll also see other familiar Lanterns like Salaak and Soranik Natu along with a bunch of newbies as the Corps has to rebuild its ranks. Jensen and Venditti do a nice job subtly setting up these new characters' backstories without letting on that's what they're doing. Now, would I rather see the book filled with Lanterns I AM familiar with like Isamot Kol, Vath Sarn, Hannu and Arisia? Yes, I would. But a Green Lantern book is a title that can more easily insert new characters and have them be accepted.
As for art, I welcome Bernard Chang to the book. He's bounced around from a handful of DC titles over the last few years and its nice to see him on a book I buy on the regular. He's got a really sharp semi-stylized style that really speaks to me as a fan and an artist.
One issue in and I'm pretty happy about the change. Stay tuned to see how it plays out.
Superman Unchained #1
After all the hype, the first issue by superstar writer Scott Snyder and superstar artist Jim Lee is finally here. And it was okay.
I attribute its okayness to the fact that its the first issue and we're just getting things started. Lots of setup, lots of putting the pieces on the board. I love that we get to see Lex Luthor, and I love that he sounds like the Lex from the Animated Series. The New 52 hasn't done him justice yet, so I'm hoping Snyer corrects all of that.
Jim Lee's art is great. There's not one panel that pulled me out of the story. Each panel is drawn expertly and adds to Snyder's storytelling.
Solid start to a new book. We could get a great story here. Looking forward to it all unfolding.
Guardians of the Galaxy #3
Brian Bendis, Steve McNiven and Sara Pichelli make one entertaining book. High action space adventure with some natural comedy thrown in. Can't beat that.
Bendis knows how to write likeable characters. Except Rocket Raccoon. I hate this new one. Seems our heroes shouldn't go around getting off on murdering anyone. But whatevs. The other Guardians don't seem to get much play either. For as good as Bendis has been writing team books, we don't really know anything about Gamora or Drax. They're just kind of the green aliens in the background. Maybe he's got a plan for them later.
I can't tell the difference between McNiven's pencils and Pichelli's. It's terribly amateur for a comic vet like myself. Regardless, its an amazing looking book. Even down to the sets that look like they'd easily fit in a Star Wars movie.
Batman #21
Well, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo do it again. My initial expectation for Zero Year was, "eh, should be cool." But after reading Part 1, damn that was a good issue. Snyder wrote a pretty good Superman in Unchained, but he REALLY knows how to write the Batman U. Its what he was born to do.
Zero Year picks up the year Bruce comes back to Gotham after his trek around the world to become the world's greatest detective. Legally, Bruce Wayne has been pronounced dead, and that's how Bruce wants it. We see a lot of where Gotham is at at this point and parts of what makes Bruce who he is. We also get treated to another aspect of Bruce's family, his Uncle Philip. Snyder has been pretty great about introducing parts of Bruce's family that we've never seen before in a totally natural manner.
Capullo's art shines as always. Never a misstep in any panel. Unlike Superman Unchained that has potential, this issue has already delivered on the potential that Zero Year has to offer.
Panel of the Week:
Steve McNiven or Sara Pichelli drew this panel. I liked it's "Stormtrooper-ness."
-Gint
No comments:
Post a Comment