Futures End continues to impress and Nova reminds me I'm not crazy about the current Rocket Raccoon.
Nova #19
This issue guest stars the soon-to-be breakout hit character of the summer, Rocket Raccoon. Forgive me if I'm incorrect, but I don't remember Rocket being so obnoxious in the Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning run of Guardians of the Galaxy. Every time I see him show up in a current comic, I'm instantly turned off.
Sam Alexander recruits Rocket to help him find answers about his dad. His dad was apparently a Black Nova, and a corrupt one with a suped-up Nova helmet. The Black Nova helmets had the "throttles and safeties removed" to access more of the Nova power, unlike their gold-helmeted brethren. Its a neat little tweak to the Nova mythology, but not one I'm incredibly comfortable with yet.
Its another competent issue from Gerry Duggan and David Baldeon. It also sets up a second issue guest starring everyone's favorite cosmic trash-eater: Rocket Raccoon.
Third Place:
X-Men #16
The Future has captured Jubilee and its up to the X-Men to muster all they've got and go get her. The Future is a serious badass and I expect to see some X-Men get their asses handed to them in the near future.
Matteo Buffagni and Gerardo Sandoval tag team the artwork for this issue. While its a far stretch stylistically from Terry & Rachel Dodson who launched the book, it works well for a lot of different reasons. Colorist Paul Mounts should also get credit for setting the mood in a lot of panels.
I didn't think I'd still be getting this book 16 issues later, but its been really damn solid. This X-Men book has lived up to the hope I had for it, unlike the current Amazing Spider-Man.
Robin Rises: Omega #1
I should come out of the gate talking about Peter Tomasi's story, or Andy Kubert's expert pencils, but I can't get over the paper stock for this issue. This one-shot is 38 pages of artwork on a slightly thicker than usual, matte, textured paper stock. I really like it a lot. The paper gives colorist Brad Anderson's work a cool watercolor quality. Interesting choice, DC.
As for the story, its another step in Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's mega-run on Batman and Robin. Gleason isn't on art, but I think Andy Kubert is a suitable replacement. There's a lot going on as this issue flashes back to the entire Damian Wayne lifetime, including the old Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams story featuring his conception. Tomasi and Kubert get you all caught up on recent Bat-history, including Grant Morrison's silly-ass Final Crisis BS. After that its an all-out fight between Batman, Ra's and the Justice League vs. parademons and foot soldiers from Apokolips.
I'm worried this story might be getting too big (looks like Batman is going to Apokolips next issue) but Pete Tomasi has done few things wrong since he took over Green Lantern Corps years and years ago. He has my complete trust.
First Place:
Futures End #11
This week Georges Jeanty becomes the fifth penciler to do an issue of Futures End. He draws a very competent book furthering along this week's events featuring douchebag Mr. Terrific calling out Terry McGinnis as an alien. I expect this story to dovetail with Grifter's hunting aliens business.
The most interesting pages for me were seeing the Justice League of five years in the future. Wonder Woman, the masked Superman, Aquaman, Cyborg and the Flash are still OG members, but they've been augmented by Roy Harper, Equinox (Jeff Lemire's creation from Justice League United), and Stormguard, who resembles Marvel's Patriot from Young Avengers. They're trying to reign in a volatile Ronnie Raymond who just wants to party with no responsibilities, and a reluctant Jason Rusch to be Firestorm again.
We have 41 issues to go, and there's lots of time for fumbling around and screwing up this book, but so far everything is coming up roses for the Futures End team.
Panel of the Week:
I wish I could get a physical paper sample into the internet so you can feel this stuff, but you'll have to settle for a little Andy Kubert Justice League.
-Gint
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