Jeff Parker and Paul Pelletier's Aquaman continues to impress me taking the first spot in a week with a lot of competition.
Ninth Place:
The Amazing Spider-Man #3
When this book was announced, I was excited to get a Spider-Man/Peter Parker that took me back to the beloved J. Michael Straczynski/John Romita, Jr. run. I don't know if its my fault for having lofty expectations or just Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos' story, but... I'm kind of bored.
I know I shouldn't be. Black Cat and Electro are plotting against Peter while he puts his life back together after having his brain taken over by Doc Ock. On paper it sounds great. But the execution's not working. Slott's Peter is too silly and cartoony, and besides Peter, the whole supporting cast is brand new. Like seeing Guns N' Roses with just Axl Rose and a whole new backup band... which they did and it was a failure.
While Ramos' art is more than suited for a Spider-Man book, the overall "oomph" just isn't there. I'll give it a full arc, but the lifespan of this one may be waning.
Eighth Place:
Batman #32
More Riddler outsmarting Batman, more pastel color scheme, more Zero Year. When's it going to end? According to this issue, next issue. And I'm a-okay with that. This has been going on way too long.
The trio of Batman, Lucius Fox and Jim Gordon infiltrate what they think is Nygma's hideout only to be foiled again to have this story drag on for one more issue. Nothing really stood out this month other than all the setup for the grand finale. Please let it be the finale.
When all is said and done, I think this will be a cool story. Not a "buy the hardback" cool story, but a cool story. Monthly however, holy shit is this dragging on.
Seventh Place:
Futures End #8
Staying with the Futures End theme, Superman is also an asshole. Though that's not technically true, since we don't know who this masked Superman is. Perhaps I'll withhold judgement.
I'd expect a 52-issue long story to be pretty decompressed. And maybe it is. But so far these issues have packed a TON of shit into 20 page books. We learn a little more about Fifty Sue's powers, Dr. Yamazake and Superman are dicks to Jason Rusch, and Ray Palmer cuts off Hawkman's arm to give it to Frankenstein. Lots of stuff, folks.
Scot Eaton is back on pencils, and while he may be my least favorite of the four rotating artists, he doesn't get much help from his inker. Drew Geraci just slops down blacks like it ain't no thang. Lots of heavy linework makes for some thick panels. Maybe a smaller gauge, Drew. Thanks.
Sixth Place:
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #14
A new arc kicks off this month, and this issue takes a bit of a hit because its a lot of setup. We know Adora has gone off on her own to atone for leading the Horde into Eternia, but now He-Man catches up with her to help her find herself, and presumably, lead her to becoming She-Ra.
A few issues ago, Teela became the new Sorceress. I didn't expect that to stick around very long, but that's apparently the new status quo. Bold move on writer Dan Abnett's part. By having her channel the power of the Snake-Men, he finds a way to incorporate the Teela action figure's outfit with the big snake headdress that was never used in the cartoon. Abnett clearly loves this property.
If you're a fan of He-Man, you should be reading this book. I've said for years that the world of Eternia is rich to mine, and it just takes the right guys to do it. Abnett and Pop Mhan are doing a great job making this a relevant title.
Fifth Place:
Sinestro #3
Well that didn't take long before reinforcements had to be called in on artwork. But at least they aren't just your random whoever fill-in. Rags Morales helps Dale Eaglesham with the back half of this issue. Here's the only problem with that - Rags' characters look markedly different than Eaglesham's. A minor gripe. As far as talent goes, he's got it.
Cullen Bunn is telling a pretty solid tale of Sinestro trying to regroup the Sinestro Corps. Since he's been gone, they've just been going around terrorizing the galaxy. Sinestro wants them to help make a better universe... through fear of course. So the captured Green Lantern Soranik Natu has decided to stick around and make sure they're not doing anything over the line.
What's been fun is reading new Sinestro Corps member, Dez Trevius, with the voice of Draco Malfoy. I don't know if that's what Bunn was going for, but every line of his dialog falls right in line.
Fourth Place:
Superman #32
I haven't bought an issue of Superman since #6 of the New 52 relaunch – because it read like my asshole tastes. But the creative duo of Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. are enough to bring anyone back to read a comic.
Superman, the character as a whole, has wholly blew my nuts since the New 52 relaunched. DC's tentpole character, and the comic writers can't even get him right. Aside from his costume still being dumb, Johns writes the Superman I've been waiting for. For the first time he feels like the pre-New 52 Clark Kent, and that's a good thing. Previously, Johns has written Richard Donner's version of Superman. This time, he may have nailed his own.
John Romita, Jr.'s art, with Klaus Jansen on inks is just as good as I remember from the aforementioned Amazing Spider-Man run. His style is really all his own. It doesn't look comic booky, but is very comic booky in his storytelling.
The story so far centers on an analog Superman character from a dying Earth, sent to grow up in another dimension, before coming back to Clark's Earth. Not entirely what I expected, but a very enjoyable read. I haven't said that about Superman very much in the last couple years.
Third Place:
Saga #20
Saga isn't your run of the mill comic. Its anything but. Traditional comic making goes out the window and you never know what you're going to get from Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Normally, if that's how a book is presented to me, I'm immediately turned off. But since I got in on the ground floor of this one, its an amazing book.
This issue may not be SO amazing. Lots of setup, lots of advancing a couple pieces on the board to get them ready for this arc. But the way its done is a lot of fun. The book's cast is comprised completely of aliens with horns and giant ears and wings and such, but its written in such a way that is all relateable. Vaughan and Staples make a giant universe feel like our little part of the world.
Shit's going to go down this arc. I fully expect to be really bummed when it closes. But it will be work the ride, just like the first 19 issues.
Second Place:
Justice League #31
Maybe having some bad guys join the Justice League was just what this book needed to get it kicked into high gear. The bold move of looking at Lex Luthor in a new light, and having him find out who Batman really is is pretty novel and Geoff Johns plays it expertly.
Lex confronts Bruce at Wayne Manor and says he knows Bruce is Batman. Bruce denies it and the entire conversation that generates from there is gold. Elsewhere, the rest of the Justice League is looking for the missing Power Ring ring from Forever Evil, we also see who it finds (Jessica Cruz - sexy) and why. Johns' writes the ring to be pretty terrifying.
And its all drawn by Doug Mahnke. Mahnke is a DC mainstay. He just gets these characters. Even down to their mannerisms and acting, he knows how to draw a DC book. Mahnke may not get the accolades of a Jim Lee, but in my opinion, he's just as good as the big dogs, if also an unsung hero.
First Place:
Aquaman #32
For all the talk about the comics industry needing more quality female super heroes, there sure isn't a lot of talk about Mera, who is essentially a co-star in Aquaman. She's great. After reading this issue where she really takes center stage, I'd entertain a Mera ongoing series.
Besides Mera stealing the issue, it's also a full issue of Paul Pelletier's pencils, which we haven't seen in a couple months. He knocks the entire issue out of the park, cover included. Character work, layout, storytelling... all of it. Inkers Sean Parsons and Rick Magyar, and colorist Rain Beredo should also get credit. Its a great looking issue.
McSoss' own Dominic Yosi dropped Aquaman this week and that bums me out. This is an honestly good book. Its kept me fully engaged through its full New 52 run.
Page of the Week:
Paul Pellietier's mastery of Aquaman continues. Great detail on this new threat to the King of the Seven Seas.
-Gint
Batman #32
More Riddler outsmarting Batman, more pastel color scheme, more Zero Year. When's it going to end? According to this issue, next issue. And I'm a-okay with that. This has been going on way too long.
The trio of Batman, Lucius Fox and Jim Gordon infiltrate what they think is Nygma's hideout only to be foiled again to have this story drag on for one more issue. Nothing really stood out this month other than all the setup for the grand finale. Please let it be the finale.
When all is said and done, I think this will be a cool story. Not a "buy the hardback" cool story, but a cool story. Monthly however, holy shit is this dragging on.
Futures End #8
Staying with the Futures End theme, Superman is also an asshole. Though that's not technically true, since we don't know who this masked Superman is. Perhaps I'll withhold judgement.
I'd expect a 52-issue long story to be pretty decompressed. And maybe it is. But so far these issues have packed a TON of shit into 20 page books. We learn a little more about Fifty Sue's powers, Dr. Yamazake and Superman are dicks to Jason Rusch, and Ray Palmer cuts off Hawkman's arm to give it to Frankenstein. Lots of stuff, folks.
Scot Eaton is back on pencils, and while he may be my least favorite of the four rotating artists, he doesn't get much help from his inker. Drew Geraci just slops down blacks like it ain't no thang. Lots of heavy linework makes for some thick panels. Maybe a smaller gauge, Drew. Thanks.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #14
A new arc kicks off this month, and this issue takes a bit of a hit because its a lot of setup. We know Adora has gone off on her own to atone for leading the Horde into Eternia, but now He-Man catches up with her to help her find herself, and presumably, lead her to becoming She-Ra.
A few issues ago, Teela became the new Sorceress. I didn't expect that to stick around very long, but that's apparently the new status quo. Bold move on writer Dan Abnett's part. By having her channel the power of the Snake-Men, he finds a way to incorporate the Teela action figure's outfit with the big snake headdress that was never used in the cartoon. Abnett clearly loves this property.
If you're a fan of He-Man, you should be reading this book. I've said for years that the world of Eternia is rich to mine, and it just takes the right guys to do it. Abnett and Pop Mhan are doing a great job making this a relevant title.
Sinestro #3
Well that didn't take long before reinforcements had to be called in on artwork. But at least they aren't just your random whoever fill-in. Rags Morales helps Dale Eaglesham with the back half of this issue. Here's the only problem with that - Rags' characters look markedly different than Eaglesham's. A minor gripe. As far as talent goes, he's got it.
Cullen Bunn is telling a pretty solid tale of Sinestro trying to regroup the Sinestro Corps. Since he's been gone, they've just been going around terrorizing the galaxy. Sinestro wants them to help make a better universe... through fear of course. So the captured Green Lantern Soranik Natu has decided to stick around and make sure they're not doing anything over the line.
What's been fun is reading new Sinestro Corps member, Dez Trevius, with the voice of Draco Malfoy. I don't know if that's what Bunn was going for, but every line of his dialog falls right in line.
Superman #32
I haven't bought an issue of Superman since #6 of the New 52 relaunch – because it read like my asshole tastes. But the creative duo of Geoff Johns and John Romita, Jr. are enough to bring anyone back to read a comic.
Superman, the character as a whole, has wholly blew my nuts since the New 52 relaunched. DC's tentpole character, and the comic writers can't even get him right. Aside from his costume still being dumb, Johns writes the Superman I've been waiting for. For the first time he feels like the pre-New 52 Clark Kent, and that's a good thing. Previously, Johns has written Richard Donner's version of Superman. This time, he may have nailed his own.
John Romita, Jr.'s art, with Klaus Jansen on inks is just as good as I remember from the aforementioned Amazing Spider-Man run. His style is really all his own. It doesn't look comic booky, but is very comic booky in his storytelling.
The story so far centers on an analog Superman character from a dying Earth, sent to grow up in another dimension, before coming back to Clark's Earth. Not entirely what I expected, but a very enjoyable read. I haven't said that about Superman very much in the last couple years.
Saga #20
Saga isn't your run of the mill comic. Its anything but. Traditional comic making goes out the window and you never know what you're going to get from Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples. Normally, if that's how a book is presented to me, I'm immediately turned off. But since I got in on the ground floor of this one, its an amazing book.
This issue may not be SO amazing. Lots of setup, lots of advancing a couple pieces on the board to get them ready for this arc. But the way its done is a lot of fun. The book's cast is comprised completely of aliens with horns and giant ears and wings and such, but its written in such a way that is all relateable. Vaughan and Staples make a giant universe feel like our little part of the world.
Shit's going to go down this arc. I fully expect to be really bummed when it closes. But it will be work the ride, just like the first 19 issues.
Justice League #31
Maybe having some bad guys join the Justice League was just what this book needed to get it kicked into high gear. The bold move of looking at Lex Luthor in a new light, and having him find out who Batman really is is pretty novel and Geoff Johns plays it expertly.
Lex confronts Bruce at Wayne Manor and says he knows Bruce is Batman. Bruce denies it and the entire conversation that generates from there is gold. Elsewhere, the rest of the Justice League is looking for the missing Power Ring ring from Forever Evil, we also see who it finds (Jessica Cruz - sexy) and why. Johns' writes the ring to be pretty terrifying.
And its all drawn by Doug Mahnke. Mahnke is a DC mainstay. He just gets these characters. Even down to their mannerisms and acting, he knows how to draw a DC book. Mahnke may not get the accolades of a Jim Lee, but in my opinion, he's just as good as the big dogs, if also an unsung hero.
Aquaman #32
For all the talk about the comics industry needing more quality female super heroes, there sure isn't a lot of talk about Mera, who is essentially a co-star in Aquaman. She's great. After reading this issue where she really takes center stage, I'd entertain a Mera ongoing series.
Besides Mera stealing the issue, it's also a full issue of Paul Pelletier's pencils, which we haven't seen in a couple months. He knocks the entire issue out of the park, cover included. Character work, layout, storytelling... all of it. Inkers Sean Parsons and Rick Magyar, and colorist Rain Beredo should also get credit. Its a great looking issue.
McSoss' own Dominic Yosi dropped Aquaman this week and that bums me out. This is an honestly good book. Its kept me fully engaged through its full New 52 run.
Page of the Week:
Paul Pellietier's mastery of Aquaman continues. Great detail on this new threat to the King of the Seven Seas.
-Gint
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