The Flash #23.2
I don't think The Flash has ever fallen to fifth place on the Pull-List before. While it was still an entertaining read, it just wasn't the sweetness I've come to expect from Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. Mainly because Manapul doesn't draw the issue.
They still write it, and Buccellato still does the colors, but Scott Hepburn does the pencils. Its close enough to Manapul's style with Buccellato's colors, but there's something off sometimes that clues you in that its just slightly inferior artwork.
As for the story, that was pretty solid if not inspiring. The Reverse-Flash of the New 52 is Daniel West. Iris' brother and maybe Wally's (if he existed) uncle? There's the idea that being a family member of a main Flash character makes him more compelling, but there was something about the old totally disconnected, totally insane Professor Zoom that had more impact. When you're introduced to Daniel West, you don't ever get the sense that he has super-villainy in him. They try giving him a hard backstory as a kid, but they've done such a good job with this guy so far that I just don't buy him as a maniacal villain.
So that's that. What was nice is that this issue has nothing to do with Villains Month and does tie directly into the main Flash story.
Aquaman #23.1
Through my tenure as a comic fan I've had a fondness for Black Manta. Since Episode 20 of our podcast, I'm ready to admit this fondness has developed into genuine affection for the obscure Aquaman villain. Thus, I was suckered into getting his Villains Month issue.
This was a WAY more effective issue, actually having things to do with Forever Evil, than the Green Lantern Relic issue did. Which was a giant ZERO. This Manta issue takes you through Forever Evil #1, but from Manta's point of view. Written by Geoff Johns and Tony Bedard, they really bring a subtle emotion to the stoic Black Manta.
Drawn by Claude St. Aubin, the issue takes us through how Black Manta gets out of Belle Reve Supermax Prison, learns of the Crime Syndicate and Aquaman's death, and why he'll be against them in the Forever Evil series. Its not a MUST read, but it adds a nice depth to the series as a whole.
Star Wars #9
It feels like its taken more than nine issues to get to this point, but there's finally some big action that moves the story forward. The way Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly blend the four different stories is the best they've done so far.
Luke and Wedge have infiltrated the Star Destroyer Devastator. Next issue looks like they dress up as Stormtroopers. Since Han and Luke already did this in A New Hope, I find this really played out. What are the chances of being able to pull this off again? Maybe Wood will have a twist in store to surprise me.
I'm curious how long this book will run. Seems like Wood and Kelly have a lot of story to tell still. After all, we haven't even heard of Hoth yet.
The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys #4
Now we're getting somewhere. We're getting past a lot of the introductions and weirdness and settling into this crazy world Gerard Way, Shaun Simon and Becky Cloonan have created.
Lots of forward momentum this issue as the porno android Blue escapes Battery City, Korse's lover gets killed by the people he works for and the spy in the desert turns out to be an implant in the Girl's cat. Not all the characters are likeable, but I think I like the ones that are supposed to be.
It took a while, but I'm officially all in on this book.
X-Men #5
Brian Wood and Olivier Coipel better get on a regular schedule with this book or its getting dropped. I was promised Coipel art when it started, then got a fill-in for #4 and David López on #5. No to mention this issue dumps you right in the middle of Battle of the Atom (admittedly a cool title). The catch-up page in the beginning isn't enough to make up for this.
So what's the actual review of the issue? I really liked it. If I could be promised that every Battle of the Atom issue was as cool and expertly drawn as this one, I'd pick up the rest.
If you like time-travelley stuff, this book is for you. Three teams of X-Men (past, present and future) are all in the present, well, to stop something bad. Since this issue is Part 3 of however many, I'm not really sure what the problem is. Wonky time continuum stuff I'm sure.
I really gave this book a go. And the Wood/Coipel stuff was really good. But if the fill-in issues and creators continue, I'm out.
Panel of the Week:
The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys' Val Velocity by Becky Cloonan.
-Gint
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