Gint's 5-28-14 Pull-List Review

After a few dragging issues, Batman has really delivered the last couple issues.

Fourth Place:

Futures End #4

DC's latest weekly continues, this time giving a lot of facetime to Frankenstein, Tim Drake and of course, Grifter. Grifter's pages are always the worst because he's he one that gets nonstop exposition as to who he is and what his job is. We're four issues in. We get it. Give us a break.

When Frankenstein first showed up in the DCU, I guess when Grant Morrison did Seven Soldiers of Victory, I thought he was super dumb. But since the New 52, he's really grown on me. Even between different writers and and different books he's a very enjoyable character. Probably because he resembles the Hellboy of the DC Universe.

The book says Aaron Lopresti does the pencils, and I LOVE Lopresti's work. But I'm assuming its Art Thibert's inks that makes Lopresti unrecognizable. Its a shame. Also, how come chicks in comics, this time Amethyst, always have to do crap to their hair like shave one side when they get "darker" or "serious." Can't comic females ever just have a normal haircut?

Third Place:
Aquaman #31

Art duties this issue are split between personal fan favorite Paul Pelletier and Alvaro Martinez who does a great "Paul Pelletier." Even taking a closer look at Martinez's pages, he's one of the fill-ins with the closest style to the main artist.

This is essentially a throw away issue, except for the Mera scenes. Mera is off to the Underrealm of Atlantis to see who put a hit on her. Mera is just as badass as Aquaman in this book. The Aquaman parts feel like a cheap ploy to have a crossover between Aquaman and Swamp Thing. Its complete with a "check out next week's Swamp Thing #32 to see what happens." Lame.

A well-drawn issue by both artists that I wish had more bearing on the actual story Jeff Parker is telling, and less involving Swamp Thing for no particular reason.

Second Place:

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #13

Dan Abnett, man. Brother can tell a story. I wasn't expecting a whole lot from Abnett and Pop Mhan's brief story of how King Greyskull rose and fell from power, but goddamn was it good.

They both tie in a good bit of Eternian characters and lore to this story. We see the Gars, a race of blue skinned people who presumably have tied to Skeletor and Sy-Klone's race who fuck some shit up. I expected some old Kryptonian-type stuff where I think, "blah blah yeah yeah whatever," but this issue was compelling. The quick, concise and brutal way it was told made for great reading.

As far as Pop Mhan's art goes, though our buddy Dominic my not like the way the inks are handled, this is some of Mhan's best work on the book. He just keeps getting better the more I see from him.

First Place:
Batman #31

The color in this book is still awful. Batman shouldn't live a world of pastels. But the story has really picked up. After a dragging middle arc, Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have me thinking about staying on after Zero Year.

If you want an issue seeing Batman exhibit complete badassery, this is the issue for you. He fights two lions... and wins. Its the first before the final showdown with the Riddler that I expect comes next issue. Batman gets a little help from Lucious Fox and Jim Gordon setting up the plan to take down Nygma.

Though I had to drop Greg Capullo on Twitter because he tweets too much, he draws a stunning book. Hands down one of the best artists putting out a consistent, on-time book month after month. Between his art schedule and his tweet schedule, I don't know where he finds the time.

Page of the Week:

The brutal slaying of King Greyskull, handled expertly by Pop Mhan.

-Gint