No reviews last week because oddly, I didn't get any. The Star Wars Annual didn't warrant a buy, just like the Darth Vader Annual this week didn't make the cut. But what books did make the cut? Lets take a look...
Martian Manhunter #7
Artist Eddie Barrows is out for issue #7, but Ronan Cliquet does some nice work for a name I've never heard of before. Not sure about Barrows' status on returning, but I hope he does since he's been doing the work of his career.
The story though continues to be super strange. Each issue has been really up and down. Some I like, some are just too far out for what I want from a Martian Manhunter book. I'm also not feeling the native Martian design. Its too far removed from what the Martians of the DCU usually look like.
Just when I think Rob Williams has hooked me back into this book, he pulls me back out. This may be a good jumping off point for a book I'm only moderately invested in.
Justice League #46
What started out as an interesting story about Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor fighting with the Justice League caught in the middle has turned into a convoluted mess. Maybe "mess" is a bit harsh. But there are tons of moving parts that have me scratching my head saying, "huh?"
Half the League have become New Gods, a couple evil Amazons are involved somehow and its up to Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor to clean it all up. That's about as good of a summary as I can give. Never being a New Gods fan to begin with, things aren't boding well for a thumbs up when this ones over.
Jason Fabok takes a break on art this issue and DC gives the nod to Francis Manapul. I've sung Manapul's praises here plenty of times, but going from Fabok's style to Manapul's is shocking. Especially with the addition of Manapul's color palette which harkens back to Greg Capullo's Zero Year palette: pastel city. Love Manapul, but as a counter part to Fabok it doesn't help a story that already may be going off the rails.
Descender #8
Maybe with The Force Awakens just opening in theater's I have Star Wars on the mind, but this is the most Star Wars-y issue of this book. The back and forth dialog between Andy and Blugger is the kind of fun buddy-comedy relationship you want. When they have to escape a couple government ships, Jeff Lemire navigates the Star Wars-ish plot to a tee.
The story mentioned above is intercut with flashbacks to Andy being a child when his mother buys him Tim-21 to keep him company. Its sweet and sad and you see why Andy is so determined to find Tim – because it may be the only thing he has left of his mother.
As fun as this book has been, and as great as Dustin Nguyen's watercolors are, I almost want the art tightened up some more. It doesn't need an inker to define everything, but this is a world that's pretty well thought out. I'd love to see the art make it feel a little more tangible.
Secret Wars #8
Is it me or have I been reviewing Secret Wars for the past three years? That's a cheap shot, I know. But I've been enjoying this story so much that I don't want to wait another few months for the final chapter. Lets wrap it up quickly.
Esad Ribic and Ive Svorcina have been crushing the art on this book, so I don't want to see a fill-in, but maybe better planning from the start for a timely release schedule. Some of the best parts in this issue have to do with how Jonathan Hickman writes Peter Quill. He only gets brief screen time (panel time?), but each line feels like a good mix of the pre and post-Chris Pratt Peter Quill.
Hickman and Ribic have done a nice job having characters really get their asses handed to them while maintaining enough magic power in the universe to set things right. If someone really don't want a character to die, they don't have to. Magic! They're back! But just seeing the Marvel U caught up in this all out brawl is a ton of fun.
Panel of the Week:
Esad Ribic channels his best Eric Roberts for this Star Lord panel.
-Gint
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