A couple favorites with less than stroke-worthy efforts this week.
Fifth Place:
Star Wars #15
This series mostly lost me a few issues ago, but since Brian Wood's run comes to a close with issue #20 (when Marvel takes over Star Wars publishing duties from Dark Horse) I'll stick around to see how he can lead us into The Empire Strikes Back.
We get yet another artist on the book. This month its Stéphane Créty. He, much like Carlos D'Anda and Ryan Kelly, can't draw a good caricature to save his life. Unless they say "that is Princess Leia," you would have no idea. Also, his Luke Skywalker looks like a 60-year-old grandfather.
To secure a new base-planet for the Alliance, Leia agrees to marry the Prince of that planet. Brian Wood's story isn't afraid to explore the strange crush Luke has on Leia during this time period as he gets all jealous and marches out of the Rebel base. Its awkward for all of us.
Somewhere around issue 10 this title lost all of its steam. Wood has five remaining issues to pull it all together and, much like Darth Vader, redeem himself at the end.
Fourth Place:
Hawkeye #17
So... that was an interesting issue. Artist Chris Eliopoulos, best known for a very kids cartoony, Calvin & Hobbes-type style, draws the Winter Friends. The Winter Friends is a fake holiday cartoon that Clint falls asleep watching. While he's sleeping the show mirrors his inferiority beside the other Avengers. Its a cool little story, but something that can only be done in Hawkeye.
This book has found a way, in its infinite quirks, to do whatever it wants. You couldn't get away with this in Batman. But Hawkeye has been so unique in tone and story throughout this run, that an issue like this one isn't incredibly surprising.
But what has been most interesting about Hawkeye is the bottom layer of pathos. On top is all the jokes and fun and the "bros," but underneath Matt Fraction has been telling the story of a pretty broken guy trying to do the best he can. Issues like this one, while cute, could be put to better use focusing on that grittier side of the book.
Hawkeye #17
So... that was an interesting issue. Artist Chris Eliopoulos, best known for a very kids cartoony, Calvin & Hobbes-type style, draws the Winter Friends. The Winter Friends is a fake holiday cartoon that Clint falls asleep watching. While he's sleeping the show mirrors his inferiority beside the other Avengers. Its a cool little story, but something that can only be done in Hawkeye.
This book has found a way, in its infinite quirks, to do whatever it wants. You couldn't get away with this in Batman. But Hawkeye has been so unique in tone and story throughout this run, that an issue like this one isn't incredibly surprising.
But what has been most interesting about Hawkeye is the bottom layer of pathos. On top is all the jokes and fun and the "bros," but underneath Matt Fraction has been telling the story of a pretty broken guy trying to do the best he can. Issues like this one, while cute, could be put to better use focusing on that grittier side of the book.
Batman #29
I think I'm ready for Zero Year to be over. Maybe once its all collected it will be a great read, but I'm burning out. I feel like Batman has been trying to catch the Riddler for years now. Though, when its over that just means we get the crappy future that was teased last issue.
Greg Capullo's pencils are undeniable. He's easily a Top 5 artist in the business right now. Not once in this issue (and most of his run) was I pulled out of the story because of a funky panel. If a Capullo panel gets more attention, its because I'm taking in its greatness.
But I'm ready to move on. Zero Year is taking too long and I'm losing interest. Maybe Frances Manapul and Brian Buccellato's upcoming Detective Comics will give me a proper bat-fix.
Second Place:
Superman Wonder Woman #6
I think I've had enough of Zod and Co. I was all-in when this book launched, but since Zod and Faora were introduced as the villains, I'm less interested.
The issue is a knock-down-drag-out between Supes/WW and Zod/Faora, with a little assistance thrown in by Hephaestus and Apollo. Apollo, having been schooled by Superman a few issues ago decides to help Zod and power up him and Faora. Its an interesting twist with him being the sun god and all, but really I'm just all burned out on Zod.
Tony Daniel draws the hell out of it though. Great artist on a great book. The last page's cliffhanger is a doozy, and also a very interesting idea by writer Charles Soule.
Superman Wonder Woman #6
I think I've had enough of Zod and Co. I was all-in when this book launched, but since Zod and Faora were introduced as the villains, I'm less interested.
The issue is a knock-down-drag-out between Supes/WW and Zod/Faora, with a little assistance thrown in by Hephaestus and Apollo. Apollo, having been schooled by Superman a few issues ago decides to help Zod and power up him and Faora. Its an interesting twist with him being the sun god and all, but really I'm just all burned out on Zod.
Tony Daniel draws the hell out of it though. Great artist on a great book. The last page's cliffhanger is a doozy, and also a very interesting idea by writer Charles Soule.
Green Lantern Corps #29
Its nice getting back to back issues from Bernard Chang. The guy knows how to draw a good comic book. Chang has a particular style to his work. HE could draw his own Luke Skywalker while having it look like Mark Hamill.
What made this issue great was there was very little mention of Ring usage killing the Universe. I don't need preachy shit in my comics. Van Jensen is able to touch on various parts of the Corps in this issue and maintains a very balanced A-B-C story structure. He makes you want more of each story.
Green Lantern proper just isn't very good, and New Guardians has been inconsistent. Green Lantern Corps is currently the best GL book on the shelves.
Panel of the Week:
Yep, that's "Menorable," one of the Winter Friends featured in this month's Hawkeye. Seriously.
-Gint
Panel of the Week:
Yep, that's "Menorable," one of the Winter Friends featured in this month's Hawkeye. Seriously.
-Gint
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