Happy Memorial Day! Here's a crapton of comic reviews.
Tenth Place:
Green Lantern: New Guardians #31
Wow was this issue out of left field. I assume to fully understand this issue you'd have to have read New Guardians Annual #2. I did not. Why? Because this book has been losing my interest and I wasn't feeling paying $5 for another boring book.
So how does this one play out? Kyle Rayner is questioning everything about how the White Ring works after he's spit out from beyond the source wall. Kyle's essentially babbling some existential bullshit the whole time he's fighting Mogo's brother, also a living planet called Raga. But Raga is a cancer planet that wants to infect the universe.
Ultimately this issue was too big and insane. Diogenes Neves does a nice job with the art if nothing spectacular. Justin Jordan, I fear, is tanking this book.
So how does this one play out? Kyle Rayner is questioning everything about how the White Ring works after he's spit out from beyond the source wall. Kyle's essentially babbling some existential bullshit the whole time he's fighting Mogo's brother, also a living planet called Raga. But Raga is a cancer planet that wants to infect the universe.
Ultimately this issue was too big and insane. Diogenes Neves does a nice job with the art if nothing spectacular. Justin Jordan, I fear, is tanking this book.
Futures End #3
Okay okay better than #2, not as good as #1. Lets take a quick rundown of what we learned from this issue: Mr. Terrific is being downgraded from "asshole" to just "douchebag." Grifter is written as a complete racist who hates ALL life thats not human. And Ronnie Raymond is not only an asshole, but a kidnapper too.
That said, this was a cool issue. Not so much the Grifter parts which had to do too much exposition and that whole racist thing, but the rest was entertaining. You get a little deeper into who Michael Holt (Mr. Terrific) is, and it takes some of the edge off. But he's still reminds me of Kanye if Kanye was REALLY a super genius.
Mark Irwin (a name I've never heard of before) is in charge of, I guess penciling and inking Dan Jurgen's layouts? Anyhow, the art comes off as super 80s. Especially Grifter's 80s ass hair.
Amazing Spider-Man #2
My foray into a monthly Spider-Man book continues, and it was enjoyable. I've kept up with Spider-Man's Doc Ock arc through different nerd websites and friends, but there's a lot about the world that Peter Parker is coming back to that are brand new to me. So interestingly, I am learning about the previous arcs and status quo at the same time as Peter.
Its an interesting enough story with Peter owning and running Parker Industries, and having all these new responsibilities coming out of Superior Spider-Man. The world is so different, its like its not even a Spider-Man book at all. But what writer Dan Slott loses in some of the larger plots, he makes up for with nice character-driven emotional moments.
Humberto Ramos draws a pretty cool Spider-Man book. His art style is just cartoony enough to be a lot of fun, but keeps you grounded in the more real moments at the same time.
Batman and Frankenstein #31
Peter Tomasi with guest artist Doug Mahnke continue to write one of the best Batman books on the shelves. And that's quite a feat because there's a lot of them.
Batman is still chasing down Ra's al Ghul for the corpses of Damian and Talia. Always one step behind, this time Batman might be too late. There's some nice action in this issue, but the gold of the book is the sort of heart to heart Bats and Frankenstein have. It's one of those unlikely DC Universe pairings that has a very interesting tone to it. I'd probably buy an ongoing of a Batman/Frankestein book if this team created it.
This title rolls on and continues to be a great read. I have a feeling that's partly due to Tomasi not having to tie this into any other titles. Tomasi and series regular Patrick Gleason get to do what they want and it really works.
Sixth Place:
Sinestro #2
Sinestro is a badass. Cullen Bunn understands this. I mentioned this in my review of issue #1, and it still holds true. Cullen Bunn understands what Geoff Johns put in place when he rebuilt the Green Lantern universe. Not only with Sinestro, but with the whole shebang. Its something the current writers of the GL books DON'T understand and its damn disappointing.
Sinestro, after being away for a long time has to reclaim his right as the leader of the Sinestro Corps. Arkillo and some flunkys have other ideas and Sinestro shoves their rings up their asses. Not literally. Sinestro is cunning, and brilliant, and also a master manipulator of a power ring. His regal stature is not lost on Bunn or artist Dale Eaglesham.
Eaglesham draws some great stuff in this book. For all the flourishes and framing devices he uses, it does nothing but add to the reading of the book. Two issues in, this is a great team.
Sinestro is a badass. Cullen Bunn understands this. I mentioned this in my review of issue #1, and it still holds true. Cullen Bunn understands what Geoff Johns put in place when he rebuilt the Green Lantern universe. Not only with Sinestro, but with the whole shebang. Its something the current writers of the GL books DON'T understand and its damn disappointing.
Sinestro, after being away for a long time has to reclaim his right as the leader of the Sinestro Corps. Arkillo and some flunkys have other ideas and Sinestro shoves their rings up their asses. Not literally. Sinestro is cunning, and brilliant, and also a master manipulator of a power ring. His regal stature is not lost on Bunn or artist Dale Eaglesham.
Eaglesham draws some great stuff in this book. For all the flourishes and framing devices he uses, it does nothing but add to the reading of the book. Two issues in, this is a great team.
Fifth Place:
Forever Evil #7
Word around town is that Geoff Johns can't finish. He writes amazing stories right up until he gives you a mediocre finale. Forever Evil does not fall in this camp.
David Finch's questionable artwork aside, Geoff Johns takes no prisoners wrapping up this story in grand fashion. Bits and pieces of story that were left along the way all come back to play a part in this issue.
All the action plays out smartly. No one gets taken down or killed in a way that wasn't previously thought out. The epilogues, of course, are my favorite part. The quiet moment when the fighting is done that the pieces need put back on the board. Forever Evil has been the most enjoyable DC event since the New 52 kicked off. And with a couple surprise endings, Johns and Co. have shaken up the DCU a little.
Word around town is that Geoff Johns can't finish. He writes amazing stories right up until he gives you a mediocre finale. Forever Evil does not fall in this camp.
David Finch's questionable artwork aside, Geoff Johns takes no prisoners wrapping up this story in grand fashion. Bits and pieces of story that were left along the way all come back to play a part in this issue.
All the action plays out smartly. No one gets taken down or killed in a way that wasn't previously thought out. The epilogues, of course, are my favorite part. The quiet moment when the fighting is done that the pieces need put back on the board. Forever Evil has been the most enjoyable DC event since the New 52 kicked off. And with a couple surprise endings, Johns and Co. have shaken up the DCU a little.
Fourth Place:
Nova #17
Why is this one of my favorite books this week? Because it gave me something I LOVE to see in comics: heroes being heroes while trying to handle every day life as a human being. Green Lantern has strayed so far away from this basic premise I doubt it'll go back under this current regime. But Gerry Duggan on Nova knows what's up.
The issue is sort of a breather issue between arcs, and its a great breath. Sam (Nova) comes back home exhausted from his latest space adventure. Hijinks ensue when his little sister put on the Nova helmet while he's napping and him and his mother have to find a way to make ends meet. Its sounds very real world and boring, but no one is going to give a shit about what Nova does in space, unless we can relate to him on the ground.
Paco Medina is also back on art for this issue and knocks it out of the park. Easily one of my favorite artists at Marvel, and becoming one of my favorites overall.
Why is this one of my favorite books this week? Because it gave me something I LOVE to see in comics: heroes being heroes while trying to handle every day life as a human being. Green Lantern has strayed so far away from this basic premise I doubt it'll go back under this current regime. But Gerry Duggan on Nova knows what's up.
The issue is sort of a breather issue between arcs, and its a great breath. Sam (Nova) comes back home exhausted from his latest space adventure. Hijinks ensue when his little sister put on the Nova helmet while he's napping and him and his mother have to find a way to make ends meet. Its sounds very real world and boring, but no one is going to give a shit about what Nova does in space, unless we can relate to him on the ground.
Paco Medina is also back on art for this issue and knocks it out of the park. Easily one of my favorite artists at Marvel, and becoming one of my favorites overall.
Third Place:
Saga #19
The last page of this issue is a heartbreaker, folks. Sad times to come. But everything before that is your usual Brian K. Vaughan/Fiona Staples gold.
Since its been a long fucking time since the last issue came out, it takes a minute to resubmerge yourself into this wacky universe. Vaughan and Staples start us out slowly giving us bits and pieces to get caught up on.
I'm not sure what the endgame is for this series, but the imaginative nature of the story telling and characters has me 100% emotionally invested. Even in Alana, who I think is kind of a bitch.
The last page of this issue is a heartbreaker, folks. Sad times to come. But everything before that is your usual Brian K. Vaughan/Fiona Staples gold.
Since its been a long fucking time since the last issue came out, it takes a minute to resubmerge yourself into this wacky universe. Vaughan and Staples start us out slowly giving us bits and pieces to get caught up on.
I'm not sure what the endgame is for this series, but the imaginative nature of the story telling and characters has me 100% emotionally invested. Even in Alana, who I think is kind of a bitch.
Second Place:
Justice League #30
And what did I like even more than Forever Evil? A book dedicated entirely to being Forever Evil's epilogue! All talking! No action! I'm not being sarcastic either. This book starts to set up how Lex Luthor, who is loved by the citizens of the DCU after Forever Evil, begins to capture a seat at the Justice League table.
Ivan Reis and Doug Mahnke split art duties and neither misses a beat. Its a really well-paced book, touching on what the Justice League, and the potential new members of the Justice League are up to following the defeat of the Crime Syndicate.
It really pays off setting up the next couple arcs for the book. If Johns and the creative team can manage to stay the course, we're in for a really enjoyable run.
And what did I like even more than Forever Evil? A book dedicated entirely to being Forever Evil's epilogue! All talking! No action! I'm not being sarcastic either. This book starts to set up how Lex Luthor, who is loved by the citizens of the DCU after Forever Evil, begins to capture a seat at the Justice League table.
Ivan Reis and Doug Mahnke split art duties and neither misses a beat. Its a really well-paced book, touching on what the Justice League, and the potential new members of the Justice League are up to following the defeat of the Crime Syndicate.
It really pays off setting up the next couple arcs for the book. If Johns and the creative team can manage to stay the course, we're in for a really enjoyable run.
First Place:
X-Men #14
This issue starts cranked up to 10 and doesn't let up. A couple quiet moments in the middle are all the breather you need before Brian Wood and Clay Mann crank it up again.
Ideally, and because I'm a creeper, I wish Clay Mann drew prettier girls. Because the rest of his art, design and page layout choices are really cool. The way he chooses to lay out a page seems to pull from all eras of comics, but nothing feels out of place. He makes it all work in his own style. Each page has a natural flow to it.
This is easily my favorite single issue of this run. In one issue, with an ensemble cast, Brian Wood manages to give everyone time to shine and their own voice to speak in. These are developed characters. A shame Wood is leaving the book later in the year because he may have just hit his stride.
Panel of the Week:
Just a really cool Batman head via Ivan Reis in Justice League.
-Gint
This issue starts cranked up to 10 and doesn't let up. A couple quiet moments in the middle are all the breather you need before Brian Wood and Clay Mann crank it up again.
Ideally, and because I'm a creeper, I wish Clay Mann drew prettier girls. Because the rest of his art, design and page layout choices are really cool. The way he chooses to lay out a page seems to pull from all eras of comics, but nothing feels out of place. He makes it all work in his own style. Each page has a natural flow to it.
This is easily my favorite single issue of this run. In one issue, with an ensemble cast, Brian Wood manages to give everyone time to shine and their own voice to speak in. These are developed characters. A shame Wood is leaving the book later in the year because he may have just hit his stride.
Panel of the Week:
Just a really cool Batman head via Ivan Reis in Justice League.
-Gint
No comments:
Post a Comment