Thanksgiving week brought us a varied quality of books with no real standout.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #19
Rob David gets a crack at writing Prelude to the Eternity War. I'm guessing Dan Abnett will be back on the title for the actual Eternity War. So far, the prelude was just that – a prelude.
David and artist Tom Derenick take us back to Prince Adam's youth, to when Zodac wants to kill a child and Adam's Uncle Keldor makes his move to take over Eternia. I'm going to assume this issue is just a little set piece setting up a few character's histories and motives. Skeletor and company have been largely absent from Abnett's run, so it'll be nice to see them featured prominently in the next arc.
Tom Derenick's art has some problems. I understand its hard to draw an early teenager. But Derenick's Adam and Teela range anywhere from 10 to 16. I just can't tell how old their supposed to be. Here's to Pop Mhan getting back in the pencil game for Eternity War.
Futures End #30
I guess the Cadmus Island stuff is my least favorite plotline running in Futures End. This entire issue deals solely with Team Green Arrow going in to infiltrate and take it down. The bulk of Team Arrow are characters I'm unfamiliar with, so to me, they're cannon fodder.
Tom Raney draws a passable issue, but much like Tom Derenick's above on He-Man, the regular talent is better. As far as the story is concerned, for all the self-defenses and re-purposed heroes at Brother Eye's disposal, Team Arrow takes down the entire island with relative ease. You THINK Big Barda bites it, but no one really knows.
The highlight this issue is another really cool cover by Ryan Sook. He's killing it. The hulking giant O.M.A.C. rising out of the ocean behind the heroes is super creepy and threatening. The actual giant O.M.A.C. in the issue isn't nearly as cool. Its actually kind of lame.
Superman #36
This book still isn't tearing up the Pull-List, but this issue was interesting. John Romita, Jr. and the art team do a great job illustrating the panic around the city as Ulysses tells the world he'll take 6 million people to "the Great World," his home planet from the Fourth Dimension to live in utopia. They really get across the feeling of, "what the fuck is happening?!"
Geoff Johns must have a greater plan in mind because so far, the Machinist has been forgotten in place of Ulysses betrayal. They've got to tie into one another somehow. Right now it looks like a plot point that was just discarded.
Still, the story is much less about Superman than it is about Ulysses, and it makes it that much less interesting. Johns is a great writer with great ideas. I'll keep the trust and hope he can pull this together in the second half.
Nova #24
Another Axis tie-in that hasn't had a real chance to grow on its own. As I've said before, Gerry Duggan has done a masterful job navigating the interloping waters of Marvel crossovers in order to keep the book firmly about Nova.
Duggan and Carlos Baldeon, leave Sam Alexander in real peril. He gets his ass handed to him by some insane Hulk, then hands it back. The problem is Sam now has a broken arm, some other injuries, and certainly a concussion. I'd love to see Sam actually be grounded for a couple issues highlighting the seriousness of his injuries.
The obligatory Axis tie-in panels are present, like Spider-Man looking for Hulk-buster tech, and Cletus Kasady (Carnage) making an appearance. But in the end it all ties back to Sam being a high schooler dealing with being a hero. Well done, Gerry Duggan.
Aquaman #36
Still one of the most underrated books DC is putting out. Its consistently well drawn, engaging and entertaining. Jeff Parker really understands the groundwork for who Arthur is as a hero and a King of a fabled country. He's taking the book to some cool places.
Nice to see a J'onn J'onzz cameo this issue. Especially a J'onzz that isn't a total asshole like when the New 52 launched. The interplay between Jonn and Aquaman is masterfully done. It highlights their relationship that maybe Aquaman didn't really agree with the decision to kick J'onn out of the Justice League. That story has been a standing New 52 rumor since Justice League #1.
I admittedly haven't read a lot of Aquaman solo stories. I hear the Peter David stuff is legendary. But what Jeff Parker is putting together here is pretty slick too. He's building a whole world around Atlantis, making the fabled city not only Arthur's home, but a character in itself. The Gotham to Aquaman's Batman.
Panel of the Week:
Ulysses' weird backwards-bending animal legs. They're not supposed to do that. C'mon, JRJR, you're better than that.
-Gint
No comments:
Post a Comment