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| Monday, May 26, 2008 04:37 PM |
| The Take |
 by Fëanor |
Fëanor's weekly comic book review post.
I'm finally catching up on these. Of course, I'll have to work extra fast this week, because comics are coming out late (on Thursday) due to the holiday.
New releases
Captain America #38
Well... the cover of this one is really cool. It's a political poster advertising the Red Skull's Third Wing political party, done up in the style of an old Soviet propaganda poster. Inside we learn, via lots of expository narration, the true identity of the creepy "Captain America" that Sharon found lying around in the Red Skull's headquarters. Then Falcon and Bucky raid an A.I.M. installation but don't actually get any useful information, and meanwhile the Red Skull's evil plans (involving the Third Wing presidential candidate and the new Captain America) continue apace.
Not really much happens in this issue, and what does happen isn't particularly interesting or well told. I might actually just give up on Captain America one of these days. It just hasn't been exciting me lately.
Oh, and this comic, like most of this week's Marvel comics, contains a lame preview for the next issue of Moon Knight in the back. I'm glad I'm not reading that book anymore!
Thumbs Sideways
Ghost Rider #23
As clearly foreshadowed in the end of last issue, this issue opens up with all of our different storylines literally colliding in a huge and fantastic explosion. The Ghost Rider manages to take some righteous vengeance on most of the bad guys involved, but ends up back at square one on his quest to find and kick the ass of his archenemy, Zadkiel. Meanwhile, we get the surprise reveal at the end that I expected on the identity of Zadkiel's top agent on Earth, plus the introduction of a new mystery having to do with a strange old man who apparently has some connection to the whole Zadkiel thing, but what exactly it is is not yet clear. I'm still loving the art and the action in here, although for whatever reason I didn't absolutely love this issue. Maybe some of the Ghost Rider's disappointment and frustration was transferring over to me, I don't know. Still, I enjoyed it well enough, and I'm looking forward to seeing where Aaron takes the story next. I'm particularly looking forward to (spoiler!) the inevitable upcoming face-off between the two Ghost Riders. That's going to totally rule.
Thumbs Up
The Incredible Hercules #117
Here we learn how Athena discovered the truth about the Skrull invasion, and what she plans to do about it; it involves putting together a super-team of Gods and demi-Gods to go to the Skrull homeworld and assassinate their Gods. It's a fantastic idea. And at the very end it's suggested that (spoiler!) Athena herself could be a Skrull, which leads one to further infer that this entire plan could be a Skrull trick to get all the most powerful Earth Gods out of the way so the invasion can proceed smoothly and successfully. Which is upsetting, but also quite clever. There's also some interesting prophecies and foreshadowing of what's to come. Good stuff.
Thumbs Up
The Mighty Avengers #14
I gotta say, these Secret Invasion tie-ins continue to be surprisingly good. This one takes a look at the Skrull plot as it relates to the Sentry, and how he's affected by the invasion. It's fascinating, effective, and disturbing - in a really good way. The end is particularly creepy and well done. Of course, it helps that I'm one of the few people who actually rather likes the character of the Sentry.
Thumbs Up
Scalped #17
Jason Aaron's Scalped is a work of art, pure and simple. This issue is the final part of the most recent story arc, "Dead Mothers," and it's just as brutal and shattering as the previous issues. Subtle character development, smart, realistic dialogue, powerful art - it's the whole package.
Thumbs Up
Star Trek Assignment: Earth #1
This is an interesting new ongoing series from IDW that acts as kind of a spin-off/sequel to an episode of the original Star Trek TV series called "Assignment: Earth." This was the episode wherein the Enterprise traveled back in time to Earth of the '60s, where they come across a man named Gary Seven, who's actually an alien living undercover as a human on Earth, along with a cat named Isis that's not really a cat, and a pretty handy supercomputer. Gary also has a human assistant in the person of a young woman named Roberta. The comic reenacts the end of the episode, then jumps forward three months in time to recount a mission Seven goes on wherein he uncovers a Commie spy and a dangerous weapon. Oh, and everybody wears lots of crazy '60s clothing and enjoys lots of '60s free love.
It's a pretty cool idea for a series, and this issue is vaguely entertaining. But it's also pretty cliche, and not particularly exciting. I don't think I'll be buying any more issues.
Thumbs Sideways
Star Wars: Legacy #24
I've only read a handful of issues of this title so far, but this is definitely the worst one yet. Cade has it out with his uncle about some truths that were hidden from him, and realizes that he and his friends are in more trouble than they thought, and that they can't keep hiding out where they are. There's also an interesting moment where Cade talks to a couple of his ancestors (including Luke!), who appear to him in blue spirit form. Then they finally discover who's been following them, and have a run-in with some Imperials.
The issue is just lots and lots of really not so great dialogue. Nothing too creative here, and I'm starting to rather dislike these characters. Even the art is pretty lame, with the characters often posing in ridiculous, unrealistic ways. It was definitely cool to see Luke, and to get a glimpse into the family history of the Skywalkers, but otherwise this was pretty disappointing. Still, I think I'll give the series at least one more chance. I've enjoyed it in the past, and maybe when we get back to the action it'll get fun again.
Thumbs Down
Superman/Batman #48
I'd really been enjoying this storyline so far, but this issue was just terrible. Somehow Superman and the All-American Boy end up taking their fight right into downtown Smallville, and then onto the Kent farm (what are the chances?), which upsets Superman to no end. Luckily, a happy coincidence frees Batman, who is able to then use his magic powers to acquire top secret information, use it to transport to the scene the only people who can stop the monster, while also convincing Superman's sworn enemy to help him. Oh, and then they get a piece of not so surprising information that will lead them to the next and final step in their quest to acquire all the Kryptonite on Earth.
Almost everything that happens in this issue is either really hard to believe, really corny, really cliche, really melodramatic, or all of that stuff combined. The dialogue and narration are terrible, the plot is ridiculous. It's just bad stuff. Of course, I'm still going to read the next issue, because I want to see how this storyline finishes up. But man, it's sure taken a disappointing turn here.
Thumbs Down |
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