A short week including a hold-over from last week because I forgot to buy it. No one's perfect, right?
Fourth Place (retroactive to last week):
Guardians of the Galaxy #18
A month ago I jumped back into the Guardians pool to see what exactly happened to my buddy Richard Rider. Brian Michael Bendis is telling a good story about how Star Lord, but not Nova, get back to our universe.
Peter Quill finally uses the Cosmic Cube to kill Thanos... but in the Cancerverse, beings from our Universe can't die. So they're essentially stuck with him forever in hell. Then the Cancerverse Revengers show up and everything REALLY goes to hell. Bendis is telling a cool story about our heroes being trapped over there. The last two issues have been so good, I think I'd like to see a longer story about them having to team up with Thanos just to survive in a universe where life conquered death.
It also doesn't hurt that we're treated to the artwork of Ed McGuinness. My man knows how to draw a superhero comic book. I may not like him on a book like Nailbiter, but for Guardians of the Galaxy? Fuck yes. This is the story I've wanted told for a long time and Bendis isn't letting me down.
Third Place:
Nailbiter #6
Speaking of Nailbiter, some of the shine has come off this book. To be sure, its still plenty entertaining, but there was a level of excitement through the first few issues that seems to have quieted down by number six here.
This issue is a cool little one-and-done following troubled Buckaroo teen Alice through, naturally, some weird shit. She comes across Mallory, a pregnant woman who wants to have her baby in Buckaroo because, according to Nailbiter mythology, if you're born in Buckaroo, you have a great chance of being a serial killer. Mallory is fucking bonkers and wants the fame that comes with being the mother of a serial killer.
The greater story of FBI detective Finch coming to Buckaroo to find his old buddy is put aside this issue, and next issue teases "Bendis!" I'm not sure what that means. Whether he's going to be a character in the book, or guest writing? Expect lots of witty banter and television references if that's the case.
Second Place:
Futures End #22
This one was kind of snoozy, folks. What does that say about the books that finished behind it on the Pull-List? This issue features a whole lot of setup. I suppose during a year-long weekly, you need some issues to reset the board. This one does that with some heavy exposition, some new character introductions, and some "he remember this guy we haven't talked about in 10 issues?"
The best parts of the issue are the quiet moments between Terry McGinnis and Plastique. They both open up to each other (I smell romance) and explain what they're doing here and why. Plastique is one of the breakout characters of Futures End.
Patrick Zircher needs some work on his backgrounds, but aside from that, all of his character work is pretty damn good. Particularly the reveal at the end of what I THINK is the true New 52 Brainiac... who is super fucking creepy.
First Place:
Justice League #34
I gotta say, I'm pretty surprised this is in First Place this week. Why? Because I am not a fan of Geoff Johns' buddy Scott Kolins. I know they have some Rogues love affair or whatever, but Kolins is not in the Justice League... well... league.
That said, its one of the cleanest books I've seen him pencil and ink. I'm still not a fan of his style, but he's done far worse. I think colorist Andrew Dalhouse gives him a boost. Everything is a little sharper than I normally see from him.
The star of the issue is still Lex Luthor. He's learning that it takes more to be a Justice Leaguer than being able to go toe to toe with Gorilla Grodd. You have to genuinely believe you're there for the greater good, and all life is more important than yours... or something like that. I wouldn't make the Justice League either.
After a few issues of tension, and the League and Luthor slowly, but uneasily working with each other, its sad to see both factions plotting against the other by issues end. I suppose that incited emotion is due to good writing. Well done, Geoff Johns.
Panel of the Week:
I still can't get used to older-bearded Tim Drake in Futures End.
-Gint
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