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| Friday, August 8, 2008 04:12 PM |
| The Take |
 by Fëanor |
Fëanor's weekly comic book review post.
Well, it took a couple of phone calls, a long drive, and visits to three stores in two different states, but I did finally get all the comics I wanted to get for this week (that being the week of July 30th). I also found $20 on the street on my way to one of the shops (which I took with impunity, as a passing policeman encouraged me to do so), and decided to pick up a trade paperback with the free money. The review of that book will show up in a later episode of the Take.
Back issues and old data
Narcopolis #3
I'd kind of forgotten that I missed issue #3 in the odd Avatar sci-fi miniseries Narcopolis until I saw #4 on the release list for this week. Luckily I was able to find #3 at the mighty Atomic City comics when I got back to Philly, which enabled me to continue on and read #4, thus finishing the series.
In #3, Gray Neighbor's training as a TRUST agent continues, and as he gets deeper into the secret workings of his society, he is more and more repelled by it and distrustful of it. He also gets closer and closer to the dark truths that lie, quite literally, underneath everything, as a drug used by underground rebels allows him to see into his own shrouded past.
This has been a very interesting, very different series, and I continued to enjoy it in this issue. It gets a little corny at times, what with all the odd jargon and so forth, but it remains smart, entertaining, and intriguing despite that.
Thumbs Up
New releases
Star Trek: Year Four - The Enterprise Experiment #4
After reading #3 of this series, I wasn't sure I'd even bother to pick up another issue, but I decided to go for it anyway, and I'm glad I did. I'm actually really enjoying these Star Trek titles. In this one, Kirk and the crew enter the ancient alien city that the Klingons are so interested in and discover an obelisk there that's very similar to one that wiped Kirk's memory and led him to believe he was a native named Kirok in an episode of the original show. The author also brings back a Klingon character from the TV show, and I suspect the Romulan sub-commander who appears here is from another old episode. I even recognize one alien crewmember on the Enterprise from the animated series. It's great how they're tying it all together so well and being so respectful of the continuity. Anyway, in the last issue, Kirk got to have a thoughtful monologue and a flashback, but in this issue it's Dr. McCoy's turn, as he thinks back to his daughter's graduation from the Academy, and his various family troubles. It's interesting stuff, and pretty effective. Later, the Enterprise crew cook up a pretty clever little plan that involves Sulu masquerading as a Klingon, and which ends in them totally hoodwinking, robbing, and kicking the asses of the Klingons. Awesome. I'm sold on this title now. It's quite intelligent, with lots of smart dialogue, and an equally clever and complex story.
Thumbs Up
Star Trek: Mirror Images #2
Here's the other Trek book that came out this week, and I enjoyed it just as much. In this issue, Kirk suggests to Captain Pike that they take part in a secret mission to buy a cache of contraband dilithium from a smuggler. Pike is suspicious, but agrees. But as it turns out, he was right to be suspicious; the mission is all just a ruse to disguise Kirk's plan to smuggle aboard a very dangerous piece of technology that will eventually give him the command of the Enterprise. And the way he smuggles it aboard, which involves sexy alien women taking their clothes off, is truly brilliant and hilarious. This is a seriously entertaining series. And it looks like the next issue is going to be a one-shot Mirror Universe interlude set during The Next Generation, which I can't wait to read.
Thumbs Up
newuniversal 1959
This is a one-shot set in Marvel's New Universe. It's a flashback to events already referred to by Warren Ellis in his newuniversal series, but this book is written by somebody named Kieron Gillen, who I read somewhere was hand-picked by Ellis for the job. The book jumps back and forth a bit between 1953 and 1959, piecing together for us the story of how the American government became aware of the effect of the Fireworks event and brought Phil Voight in as an agent. Voight quickly becomes obsessed with the superhumans who were created by the Fireworks, and with the danger he feels they represent to the future of humanity. We see the stories of the various superhumans from an intriguing distance, as the investigators feel around the edges of things and slowly figure out who these people are, what they can do, and what their relationships are with each other. There's also a really fascinating reference back to Earth-616 in the person of a preternatural genius named Tony Stark. It's a really great story, loaded with drama, action, and intrigue. It's very well written, and although the art by Greg Scott isn't anything special, it does the job (I rather prefer the short flashback section done by Kody Chamberlain). I only wish it wasn't a one-shot, and there was more to it! Luckily, as the final page of the comic reveals, there kind of is more to it; another newuniversal one-shot called Conqueror is on the way, and it looks like it involves a big guy with a sword fighting a whole zoo full of animals, which should be fun.
Thumbs Up
Narcopolis #4
As I said above, the release of this, the last issue in this miniseries, spurred me to track down #3, which I'm now kind of glad I found late, as it meant I was able to start right in on #4 after I finished #3. #4 starts with Neighbor and his lover/mentor coming back from arresting a little boy for pulling a prank. As usual, Neighbor is unsettled by the experience, and it doesn't help that he's started seeing roots sucking people everywhere. Are they the tentacles of a real monster, or just a vision brought on by the weird drugs he got from the underground rebels? No time to find out for sure, as that night Neighbor and his lover are going to the SuckFeast, a giant orgy of sex and drug-taking that will be Neighbor's final initiation into TRUST. There Neighbor's true purpose and the true nature of Narcopolis finally become clear. This issue is a little corny, and slightly confusing (thanks perhaps in part to all the future jargon), but still interesting and thought-provoking, and ends up being a rather clever metaphor for recent world politics. The final panel, and final question, is an important and powerful one: Do you want to be safe, or free? Good series!
Thumbs Up
X-Men First Class #14
As the X-Men and Machine Man fight off an attack by the Lava Men, and then head deeper into the Earth to track them down, the info about the other Machine Men going berserk finally trickles down to the team, and the tension rises. Will Aaron continue to help them, or will he turn on them and make things even worse? The answer is an interesting one. The back-up story this week again features Colleen Coover's adorable art, and this time shows us, in a completely wordless and surprisingly moving series of panels, the team missing Angel and trying to cheer themselves by telling stories about him, but in the end they only ending up missing him even more. Luckily for them, if the teaser for next issue is to be believed, he's going to be back very soon!
As with most issues of X-Men: First Class, this one entertained me fairly well, with its blend of light comedy and action, but it didn't blow me away. And so I toy again with the idea of dropping it, with the knowledge that I will almost certainly pick up the next issue when I see it on the shelf next month. Sigh.
Thumbs Up
Blue Beetle #29
I've tried this title and then dropped it at least twice before, but this issue is the first with new writer Matthew Sturges (whom I know and like from Jack of Fables and House of Mystery), so I thought I'd give it yet another try. One of the first things I noticed is that, funnily enough, nobody seems to have told the guys who do the cover that Rogers isn't writing the book anymore:
On the inside, Blue Beetle starts out by coming across something called a Title Fight, which is a brilliant concept: two guys fight it out to decide who gets to take over the name of a recently deceased supervillain. Meanwhile, Peacemaker is overseeing some Vanguard guys who are patrolling the border between Mexico and the US when they come upon a group of folks who appear to be your average illegal aliens trying to sneak into America under cover of darkness. But it soon becomes clear they're anything but average, and a nice big super fight results, which the Beetle flies into the middle of in time to "save" a girl. I put that in scare quotes because there's more to all of this than it at first seems. Intergang and a villain named Nichols are involved. (And Nichols gets a particularly excellent and bad-ass supervillain line: "The last time someone threatened me... well, let's just say that's not cow leather you're sitting on.") It's an encouraging start to a new storyline for this title. Entertaining, fun, and it even looks like it might try its hand at taking on the subject of illegal immigrants, at least to a certain extent. I'm going to tentatively commit to picking up the next issue.
Thumbs Up
Comic Book Comics #2
At long last, the second issue of Evil Twin Comics' utterly absorbing history of comic books is here, and I couldn't be more pleased with it. Even if I didn't already find the subject matter totally fascinating, I think I'd still be drawn in by the clever, funny, and engaging storytelling employed by author Fred Van Lente and artist Ryan Dunlavey. They even succeed in making the disclaimer at the front, and the bibliography and letters column at the back, entertaining!
This issue picks up as the Golden Age of comics is really kicking into high gear, and as America is finally entering WWII. There are great stories about the insanity that went down in comics "shops" (not where the comics were sold, but where they were made), the story of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby (the birth of Captain America, the death threats they received from Nazi sympathizers, their defection to DC, their feud with a young fellow named Stan Lee), and the details of how various comics creators fared during the war - some heading to the frontlines while others got cushy jobs using their writing and drawing skills. We find out how Will Eisner changed the way the Army trained its soldiers, how Walt Disney terrorized his employees and hatched the idea of a three dimensional wonderland, and how the guys who made Captain America started the romance comics craze, which actually had a deep effect on concepts of love and romance in American popular culture.
Then, as comics seem ascendant, the censors and fear-mongers pull into town. One of them is put to work and creates Wonder Woman, but others are not so easily subdued. The fascinating story of Bill Gaines is told, and then the stage is set for the showdown between himself (the peddler of some of the most violent and disgusting comics in existence) and Dr. Fredric Wertham (the worst of the censors and fear-mongers).
It's an exciting story told with intelligence and wit, and with plenty of crazy and hilarious anecdotes, and sarcastic and clever background art. Informative, educational, entertaining, and funny! You can't describe many comics that way. I'm really going to have to track down the Action Philosophers! series these guys did a while back...
Thumbs Up
Black Panther #39
Black Panther is not a title I normally collect, but this issue is the start of a story arc that ties in with Secret Invasion, and that is written by my comics man-crush, Jason Aaron, so there was no way I was going to miss it. Unfortunately, this turned out to be the hardest of this week's comics to track down. The first store I went to, down in NC, didn't seem to carry Black Panther at all, and the first two I tried when I got back home were sold out of the issue. Thankfully, Atomic City still had a few copies, so I quickly reserved one over the phone and went down to pick it up the next day.
After all the trouble I expended getting it, I was really hoping the comic would turn out to be spectacular, and although it's not quite that, it is still very good. As the comic opens, the story is being told from the perspective of a tired old Skrull commander, past ready for retirement (sort of a Skrull Officer Murtaugh), who's flying in with his army at the start of the invasion. They have what is supposed to be a simple mission: subdue the small African nation of Wakanda. Unfortunately for them, it turns out to be anything but simple. The people of Wakanda have already found the Skrull sleeper agents placed among them, killed them, and put their heads on pikes outside the capitol city. And they also have a plan for knocking out most of the Skrulls' weaponry. But the Skrulls are no dopes, and there's still a giant, brutal war to be fought, on the ground, with swords and spears and fists and arrows, and with the numbers against the people of Wakanda. And as the issue ends, it's clear that both T'Challa and the Skrull commander still have deadly tricks hidden up their sleeves.
The best part of this issue is undoubtedly when T'Challa faces off against a Super Skrull. The Skrull says to him, "I have trained my entire life to face you." And T'Challa responds, "Then you have already lost. For I have trained my entire life to face the unknown." That's some pretty bad-ass stuff there.
There are some corny and cliche bits in here, but overall it's a very entertaining and interesting story, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
Thumbs Up
Wolverine #67
Mark Millar's fascinating "Old Man Logan" story arc, set in a ravaged, post-apocalyptic future where the villains have won and now own America, continues! The declawed Wolverine and the blind Hawkeye continue their cross-country journey, coming upon an underground race who may just be the Earth's immune system, a Ghost Rider gang, and a town where superheroes are worshiped and their relics are sold as souvenirs. Here they also stumbled upon a new adventure: Hawkeye's daughter, by Peter Parker's youngest daughter (who appears to be African American, interestingly enough), has been out playing Spider-Girl and got herself imprisoned and sentenced to death!
This arc continues to be shockingly entertaining, funny, and even moving. In this issue we get an intriguing glimpse at just what happened to Logan that caused him to break and give up fighting. Hawkeye gets to be a bad-ass, and the scene in the superhero tourist town is pretty awesome, as you might imagine. Hawkeye and Logan are both really interesting as characters, and I like how they're being developed. The future world they live in is also really interesting. It's pretty creepy that Hawkeye hooked up with Peter Parker's daughter, but it should make for an interesting new subplot. Can't wait for next issue!
Thumbs Up
Star Wars: Rebellion #15
I hadn't been collecting this title - which is actually set between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, and centers on Luke Skywalker and friends - but my interest in the Vector storyline, of which this issue is the next episode, got the best of me and I decided to pick it up. And hey, it's actually pretty good! It opens with Luke thinking back in pain on losing his only mentor in the Force: Ben Kenobi. Meanwhile, Vader has remembered Celeste Morne and has decided to trick the Rebels into visiting her planet and being destroyed by her and her monstrous plague. The Sith ghost attached to Morne hopes to use this as an opportunity to escape the planet. What Morne wants is not clear, but certainly Skywalker will be attracted to the possibility of learning more about the Force from a Jedi of the ancient past. And of course, at some point they'll fight, which should be fun. It's a cool story (by Rob Williams), and surprisingly well told, thanks as much to Dustin Weaver's wonderful art as to Williams' smart dialogue and interesting characters. Another good Star Wars title! I'll be damned.
Oh, and there's also a reprint in the back of that original Charles Atlas ad about the guy getting sand kicked in his face at the beach. Very cool to get a close look at a little piece of comics history.
Thumbs Up
Skaar: Son of Hulk #2
Skaar's fight with the Axeman continues, and giant dragons get involved! We're also introduced to a character I feel like I should know from the Planet Hulk storyline: Princess Omaka. She's got knives for arms, because her arms were burned off somehow, and she claims to be the true heir to the throne. Either my memory is poor, or Greg Pak is going to give us the background on her as we go along. It looks like her and Skaar might end up in a conflict next issue, and/or join forces. We'll see. I'm still not loving this title, but I'm not hating it, either. I'll stick with it for now.
Thumbs Up
Green Lantern #33
The origin story of Hal Jordan continues. This issue opens by introducing us to the character of William Hand, the man apparently fated to begin the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Blackest Night. He seems like a pretty harmless weirdo working at a funeral home, but undoubtedly there's more to him than can be seen at first glance. Meanwhile, Jordan is still trying to deal with the newly transformed Hector Hammond (who is drawn very creepily and effectively here by Ivan Reis). Sinestro stops Hammond easily, saving Hal and Carol, and rebuking Jordan in the process. Sinestro and Hal fly off together and talk things over, and then get a look at a posthumous message from Abin Sur that reveals some of the secret history of the Guardians (and the Manhunters, and the Five Inversions), and includes a last request that they stop Atrocitus and his buddies from unleashing the power of darkness. Sinestro and Jordan track Atrocitus down and find him just as he has succeeded in tracking down William Hand, and a fun little showdown begins.
Good times! This is one of the better issues of this arc, with lots of action and mystery, as well as some interesting glimpses into the history of the Lanterns. Johns has got me really intrigued as to what the deal is with William Hand and how this will all connect into the prophecy. The thing with Hector Hammond is pretty cool, too. I remain hooked.
Thumbs Up
Fantastic Four: True Story #1
This new four-issue miniseries about everybody's favorite superhero family is written by Paul Cornell with art by Horacio Domingues. I didn't realize when I picked this up that Cornell is the guy who wrote the Wisdom miniseries, and who's writing the new ongoing Captain Britain series, but now that Wikipedia has made me aware of that fact, I feel even better about my purchase! This particular little series opens with our heroic foursome fighting a monster, but Susan's heart is clearly not in it. She's depressed, but not sure why. It soon becomes clear it's because she no longer gets any joy from fiction. And that's because a mysterious entity is attacking the world of fiction! So, Reed invents a machine to allow them to travel into the world of fiction, and off they go on a crazy postmodern adventure, where what they imagine becomes real! Their first task: to save the Dashwood sisters from Sense and Sensibility from a horde of evil monsters. Brilliant!
This is a great idea for a story. It could become really corny and gimmicky, but so far Cornell has managed to keep it clever and interesting, with plenty of funny dialogue, and even some rather thought-provoking comments on the nature of fiction and interpretation. Domingues' art is kind of childish and clumsy, but that's only a small complaint. I'm definitely in for the long haul on this title.
Thumbs Up
Superman/Batman #50
I'm not sure why I picked up another issue of this, after the last storyline ended with a couple issues of pretty much pure unadulterated crap. I guess I was pulled in by the fact that this is the "BIG 50TH ISSUE!!" of the title, and by the fact that it's a brand new one-shot story that deals with our heroes' fathers - Thomas Wayne and Jor-El - and their previously unknown meeting prior to the births of their sons. It opens up in a rather promising manner, with Thomas Wayne and his wife having a conversation heavy with foreshadowing before coming upon an artifact from space in a manner quite similar to the way the Kents will some years later. Then we jump back to the present where Supes, Bats, and their friends from the Justice League are busy rebuilding Smallville, and things start to go downhill a little. Writers Michael Green and Mike Johnson still insist on giving Batman and Superman way, way too many first-person narrative boxes, and on having their bits of narration play off of each other in a way that is meant to be clever, but is really just teeth-grindingly corny and irritating. I'll admit, the book has its moments. It's funny that the kids are roasting marshmallows over that nuclear guy's head, and calling him Captain Flame Man. And the flashback sequences with Thomas Wayne and Jor-El are really pretty neat, especially the glimpses they give us of where Kal-El could have ended up, and of the Superman he could have become. We also learn the reason why Jor-El chooses Earth, and it's rather moving. But the final fight is kind of dumb, and the incredibly corny epilogue made me want to kill myself. I think I can say pretty confidently that I'm finally really going to give up on this book now.
Thumbs Down |
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