Each book this week had the potential to be a great one. Some climaxed, some didn't.
Hawkeye #14
If it comes to a point where there's a need to examine where Matt Fraction's Hawkeye jumped the shark, I submit this issue.
Annie Wu is the artist and she can't hold a candle to David Aja. Her style has the same stark nature to it, but its more cartoony. Like this was supposed to be the all-ages version.
Fraction and Wu tell a story about Kate Bishop (who I normally love) finding her way being a super-hero/private detective in L.A. But this issue feels like a decidedly different Kate Bishop than the one we've seen. She's way sillier and almost every line out of her mouth is a zinger. The comedy in Hawkeye is normally very understated and very effective. This issue was all banana peels and cream pies.
Marvel should sit Fraction and David Aja down in a room and not let them out until they have a good long run on this book in the can.
Fifth Place:
The Flash #25
What I thought was going to be an amazing wrap on Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato's Flash run turned out to be another boring Zero Year story.
Manapul doesn't even draw it. He draws the last eight pages. The rest is done by Chris Sprouse, who does a really good job in his own right, but when paired with Manapul, it pales in comparison.
This is now two stories I've read about superhero's before they were superhero's (the other was John Stewart's Zero Year tie-in) and neither has been very compelling. Barry volunteers to help in Gotham during the black out (which seems strange to essentially call in Kansas City cops to work in New York City) and helps Harvey Bullock track down the makers of a drug called Icarus. The drug ironically gives the user an adrenaline-fueled superspeed.
I'm really sad this creative team is leaving. I really wanted to see them tackle the future of the love triangle between Barry, Iris and Patty. But they're onto Detective Comics, so at least that's something.
Fourth Place:
Aquaman #25
For as epic and far reaching as Geoff Johns' run has been, his final issue goes out with a bit of a whimper. It tries to be grandiose, but feels rushed, even with the extra pages and higher price tag.
Paul Pelletier's artwork is great. He goes from quiet moody panels to epic splashes pretty easily. Everything is drawn expertly, including the awkward five pages where Mera says she can't rule Atlantis with Arthur anymore, then changes her mind and goes back. Its like Johns wanted to say more there, or had something else in mind that doesn't translate to the page.
Jeff Parker takes over the book next issue. Pelletier thankfully will stay on pencils. I've never read anything by Parker, though he has quite a resume. Johns' run was the best Aquaman I've ever read, so Parker has a lot to live up to.
The Flash #25
What I thought was going to be an amazing wrap on Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato's Flash run turned out to be another boring Zero Year story.
Manapul doesn't even draw it. He draws the last eight pages. The rest is done by Chris Sprouse, who does a really good job in his own right, but when paired with Manapul, it pales in comparison.
This is now two stories I've read about superhero's before they were superhero's (the other was John Stewart's Zero Year tie-in) and neither has been very compelling. Barry volunteers to help in Gotham during the black out (which seems strange to essentially call in Kansas City cops to work in New York City) and helps Harvey Bullock track down the makers of a drug called Icarus. The drug ironically gives the user an adrenaline-fueled superspeed.
I'm really sad this creative team is leaving. I really wanted to see them tackle the future of the love triangle between Barry, Iris and Patty. But they're onto Detective Comics, so at least that's something.
Aquaman #25
For as epic and far reaching as Geoff Johns' run has been, his final issue goes out with a bit of a whimper. It tries to be grandiose, but feels rushed, even with the extra pages and higher price tag.
Paul Pelletier's artwork is great. He goes from quiet moody panels to epic splashes pretty easily. Everything is drawn expertly, including the awkward five pages where Mera says she can't rule Atlantis with Arthur anymore, then changes her mind and goes back. Its like Johns wanted to say more there, or had something else in mind that doesn't translate to the page.
Jeff Parker takes over the book next issue. Pelletier thankfully will stay on pencils. I've never read anything by Parker, though he has quite a resume. Johns' run was the best Aquaman I've ever read, so Parker has a lot to live up to.
Justice League Dark #25
Who likes to write a lot and then keep writing and then write some more... J.M. DeMatteis does. Its a wonder there's any room for Mikel Janin's stellar art.
And therein lies the problem with this issue. Too many words. DeMatteis writes every thought that pops into Constantine's head. And its not that its bad, I just think it can be trimmed down. Jeff Lemire's John Constantine was sharp and quick. While DeMatteis gets his attitude right and its clearly the same character, he gets a little off base with all the exposition happening. He should take a page from the Francis Manapul/Brian Buccellato book of story and art and let the pictures speak for themselves.
That said, it wasn't a bad issue. Janin's art was once again great. It just took a long... time.... to... read.
Nova #10(0)
So, I guess this is actually the 100th issue of Nova. You know, if Marvel hadn't rebooted it however many times. It would have been nice to actually have it be #100 though wouldn't it?
As for the story, its broken into two parts: the first by Zeb Wells and Carlos Barberi, the second by Gerry Duggan and Paco Medina. Both stories are drawn pretty well with Medina getting the edge over Barberi. Medina's linework is just so smooth.
Each part is a nice little story about Sam Alexander and where he's going as Nova. The Zeb Wells story is the bulk of the book that puts Sam firmly in place as part of the New Warriors. It also tells, in a way, about what it was like being a Nova for Richard Rider. That, as you know, endears me to the story. Hearing about Richard Rider in this book was like hearing about Hal Jordan in a Kyle Rayner book when Hal was dead.
Besides having a rotating stable of artists, Nova continues to be an entertaining book. I hope Zeb Wells plans to hang around for a while.
First Place:
Saga #16
This world is deep. I don't know if Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples have a notebook with all this stuff tied together in it or what, but if you look closely, you can see how things get tied together.
I think it was issue 12 that left us with a severe cliffhanger, then tells the story a little backwards. Well this issue we finally catch up to where the cliffhanger left off. Its mostly character development, but when its done right, its brilliant. Oh, there's also more nudity from Staples and some awesome Lying Cat.
Shit looks like its going down next issue. I can't imagine it won't be in First Place again.
Panel of the Week:
Fiona Staples doing her best Frank Cho... drawing juicy butts.
-Gint
Saga #16
This world is deep. I don't know if Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples have a notebook with all this stuff tied together in it or what, but if you look closely, you can see how things get tied together.
I think it was issue 12 that left us with a severe cliffhanger, then tells the story a little backwards. Well this issue we finally catch up to where the cliffhanger left off. Its mostly character development, but when its done right, its brilliant. Oh, there's also more nudity from Staples and some awesome Lying Cat.
Shit looks like its going down next issue. I can't imagine it won't be in First Place again.
Panel of the Week:
Fiona Staples doing her best Frank Cho... drawing juicy butts.
-Gint
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