Ultimate Comics Avengers #1 Review

Ultimate Comics Avengers #1
The Next Generation
Part One of Six





Written by: Mark Millar
Art by: Carlos Pacheco
Inks by: Danny Miki
Colors by: Justin Ponsor
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

The issues starts off with a great wrap around cover with a splashy #001 to draw you in. Luckily, the inside isn’t half bad either. Having not read an issue of the Ultimate line in a few years I wasn’t sure what to expect, but one thing is clear; this is a number one. If you’re concerned that continuity might make the book too difficult to follow after the Ultimatum crossover lay your fears to rest. While I didn’t understand everything, I would say I was able to keep up with 90 to 95 percent of everything the characters discussed or did.

Nick Fury is brought back to retrieve a rogue Captain America who disappeared after discovering an interesting revelation, that should have some lasting repercussions on him and the whole team. Hawkeye recounts exactly how Cap found out this secret during a battle with some AIM agents. The fight is well choreographed but I have to say that it featured so many people leaping or jumping through the air without parachutes that it became redundant by the end of the issue. Something like that should make for a good splash page, but after you see it a few times it loses its luster.

Having said that the art has been well hyped, but truthfully I found it to be stale and fairly generic. It even went so far as to remind me of the art I saw in the Avengers cartoon movies. It wasn’t all bad though, the pages featuring Tony Stark had real impact. The inks and colors nicely helped to contrast Tony’s space with Carol Danvers, well done and again you could feel the intensity of the fight.

The page turning story, riveting action and frightening reveal offset the decent artwork enough to make this book worth picking up and adding to your weekly stash.

B

Amazing Spider-Man #601 Review

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601
Red Headed Stranger: No Place Like Home

Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Mario Alberti
Colors by: Andres Mossa
Letterer: VC’s Joe Carmagna
Cover by: J. Scott Campbell

Following the events of issue 600, we finally get a book free of super-villains and get a chance to see just how difficult Peter Parker’s life can be even without Spider-man.

Mark Waid crafts a fun, fairly self-contained story that takes place the day after Aunt May’s wedding. Evidently, Peter gets pretty trashed at the wedding, wakes up in bed with a very angry roommate, and slightly remembers something about a date he has with Mary Jane. Only problem is, he doesn’t know the time or place.

Without a clear villain we get to spend a bit more time with Peter as Spider-man as he tries to figure out what happened the night before, find a new place to live and save the city. This book was funnier than the recent “American Son” storyline, which is a welcome relief as this is how Spider-man is supposed to be, a quipy, one-liner type-of-character, who always has a joke, no matter how down his situation might get. It’s also nice to see some minor characters come back into the spotlight including Betty Brant and Glory Grant. I do worry though how long the Reilly family is going to be hanging around since they don’t add a strong dramatic element and only serve to eat up pages that could be better served with something that’s actually interesting.

After being spoiled in #600 with Romita Jr., Alberti has some big shoes to fill. While it’s not always what you would expect, and sometimes it can be pretty hit and miss, it manages to work, especially the further you get into the book. I get the feeling that Alberti got more comfortable with the material the more he drew. I especially liked Peter’s Captain America boxer shorts.

This is a good issue and solid jumping on point, even if you missed #600. Mark Waid has a strong handle on the character and the art is sufficient despite being nothing special. Also, this remains one of the few books that is still three dollars. An affordable and enjoyable book, what more could you ask for?

B

Lethal Legion #2 Reivew

Dark Reign: Lethal Legion #2

Written by: Frank Tieri
Artist: Mateus Santolouco
Color art: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover: Tommy Lee Edwards

At SDCC I asked Frank Tieri if this would be an ongoing and sadly the answer was no. It certainly doesn’t need to be I admit, but I always enjoy books that feature B or C-list characters. Too often we’re saddled with A-list players who have to fit into status quo molds and can’t be changed or killed. Lower tier characters like these give writers more opportunity to play and maybe even kill one them off, once in a while.

This issue features Livingston, a high-priced lawyer, interviewing Wonder Man and Absorbing Man in prison and they both give their accounts of what happened to the Legion, from its formation to their final encounter with Osborne’s Dark Avengers.

None of these characters are at all likable and oddly that’s one of the reasons I enjoy the book. These aren’t your typical heroes and they make a real point to prove that. They’re bad guys and just because they’re going after Osborne doesn’t mean they’re ready to turn over a new leaf. Tieri is at his best here working with characters long ignored and playing them up with larger than life characterizations that make it easy to figure out where they’re coming from.

The art is dark and gritty, just as it should be. Wonder Man looks badass and the fight with the Dark Avengers feels as big as it should. For a three issue book they put a lot of love into it.

The book ends on a strange note and how this series will end is anyone’s guess. I’m not sure how they’ll wrap it up with only one book left, I just hope they don’t continue it in an ongoing instead. It also relies on you knowing more than you should about the characters and their past relationships, which makes it difficult to keep up at times. Also, since it is only three issues there’s not much incentive to buy the floppies rather than wait for the trade, especially as it doesn’t feel like it will have much impact on current continuity. In fact I don’t expect it to have any impact on anyone not featured in this book. So if you aren’t a huge Wonder Man or Grim Reaper fan, you can skip this without missing much.

With a healthy dose of action, fun anti-heroes and an unpredictable storyline Lethal Legion remains a good book for those looking to collect everything Dark Reign, but it’s not a requirement for anyone following current Marvel events.

B

Detective Comics #855 Review

Detective Comics #855
Elegy Part 2: Misterioso

Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: J.H. Williams III
Colors: Dave Stewart
Letters: Todd Klein

This is only the second issue from this creative team, but already it is one of the most beautiful books on the stands today. Each page unfolds better than the last leading to a final panel that leaves Batwoman at the end of a very short rope.

The book opens with Batwoman taking the upper hand and using it to question Alice about the Crime Bible and her connection to it. She doesn’t get many answers before Alice reveals how resourceful and violent she can be. Things only get worse for Kate as Alice and her forces play their trump card.

This issue is pure fluff never giving any answers, while posing almost no new questions. Regardless, the action is well choreographed and the art is as good or better than you’ll find in any book today. I’ve seen Williams’ art before and never have been as impressed. Batwoman’s opening splash page featuring her leaping over villains and snapping necks looks gorgeous with its red hues and kinetic images. Alice is another stand-out character sketched with emotional guile, intensity and lace.

Alice herself is written as well as she’s drawn thanks to Rucka’s tireless efforts to continue to use quotes taken directly from “Alice in Wonderland.” This direction helps to add to her insanity and works to show how truly broken her mind has become. I appreciate that while knowing about the Crime Bible will help you understand the book in a more well-rounded fashion it is never necessary to appreciate it.

Batwoman is, surprisingly, a bit more confusing. In her introduction during the pages of 52 she was presented as a rich almost selfish socialite, but now she comes across like an army brat who never had more than a dollar to her name. This dichotomy almost works, as she needs both money and combat training to be Batwoman, yet they don’t try and make the two halves mesh in any consistent way. Hopefully, down the line they’ll figure out a way for these different parts of her life to work as one, but so far they’re not making any effort.

The eight-page “Question” back-up is decent if not forgettable. This story probably features my favorite representation of the character as played by Renee Montoya, but the story itself is a generic kidnapping case with no twists or cliffhangers. Out of all the back-ups so far “The Manhunter,” is still the one that captures my attention the most.

This title is the longest continuously published book in United States comic history and still remains one its best. An easy recommend for anyone who enjoys, Batman, Gotham or as the title suggests; a good detective story.

A-

Action Comics #878 Review

Action Comics #878
Sleepers Part Four

Written by: Greg Rucka
Art by: Diego Olmos
Colorist: Rod Reis
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover by: Andrew Robinson

“Sleepers Part Four,” which is part of the “World Without Superman” arc also falls in as part twenty-nine of the overall New Krypton story. That’s a lot of numbers, continuity and characters to keep up with, even for Superman.

The basic through-line for this book follows Nightwing and Flamebird as they hunt down Kryptonian sleeper agents placed there, perhaps by General Zod, but even they don’t seem to be sure. All the while, General Lane, is hunting them and the sleeper agents. This issue focuses a “Bonnie and Clyde” type Kryptonian couple. Unlike, their historical counterparts they don’t rob banks and they don’t seem to have a clear agenda, just pure mayhem.

All this makes for a pretty muddled book. Not enough time has been given to developing the protagonists or shaping the goals of the villains. The one sleeper they captured earlier was killed in the last issue, without divulging any information. These new Kryptonians don’t seem to be sleeper agents, which makes me wonder why they’re being shoved in the middle of a storyline that doesn’t appear to involve them.

Greg Rucka’s best work remains “Queen and Country,” which I highly recommend, but this on the other hand won’t be fondly remembered. There just isn’t enough time given to character, instead there’s a misguided focus on action. This book usually always involves some kind of fighting, otherwise everyone is resting from the last fight in anticipation of the next one. The sudden romance between Flamebird and Nigthwing feels thrown together, in some kind of effort to make the characters a tad more relatable. It doesn’t work.

Another bit of convenience comes when the Kryptonian couple attacks a house in the middle of nowhere that just happens to be owned by a congressman. This immediately brings out the police, who discover some gratuitous semi-nudity and quick deaths. How many times do you need to show how strong Kryptonians are? It seems unnecessary to show them killing a few police officers. We already know they‘re bad and we already know they‘re strong. Those few pages could have been better used to develop characters or expand on the sleeper storyline.

I’m looking forward to the Annual in hopes that it will explain a lot of what’s going on. On the other hand, I don’t feel that I should have to wait for an Annual to tell me what’s going on in the monthly book.

The art in this issue feels rushed at times and lacks a strong focus much like the rest of the book. Nothing about it stands out. Everything is very poorly defined and half-done. I also didn’t like all the Kryptonian subtitles. They’re hard to read and don’t add much to the story. Couldn’t they have just made some notation at the beginning of the book letting us know that certain portions (perhaps surrounded by parenthetical) are translated from Kryptonian to English? It’s funny that they speak it on Earth but not on New Krypton. Is it because they know Superman can’t speak it and they’re trying to help him out?

Overall, there’s no reason to buy this unless you absolutely need to. If it weren’t connected to the “World Without Superman” story I would have left it on the shelf.

C-

The Walking Dead #61

Walking Dead #61

Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Charlie Adlard
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Grey tones, Cover colors: Cliff Rathburn
Editor: Aubrey Sitterson

The greatest strength of this book is the question that it keeps asking. What is more dangerous? The zombies or the survivors? While it refuses to outright answer this, it always gives great arguments for both sides and this issue is no different.

Without giving anything away, this issue is intense. Kirkman doesn‘t need the undead to keep things interesting and he proves that in spades with this issue. Rick, Abraham and the rest of the group continue their long march to Washington free of the zombie menace for the moment. This doesn’t mean however there won’t be trials to face. Things happen fast in this issue with some powerful consequences and a few secrets. It will be interesting to see how these things play out later.

I also enjoy the shifting dynamic of the group. Rick and Abraham haven’t always seen eye to eye, yet here they almost finish each other’s sentences. All of this comes naturally though, and never feels forced or inorganic. Real motives, create real dialogue that comes from character rather than plot. It’s an impressive trait that this book has held onto well.

The art does a nice job of bringing all this dialogue to life. Even without zombies there’s still real power in the pencils and inks. This books feels like you could figure out what is going on without relying on the words, but they do manage to compliment each other well.

If I have any complaints about this book, it’s that these characters never seem to get a real win. There’s small victories here and there, but there’s never any lasting peace or happiness for anyone. I realize that it may put an end to the book if they did find some relief, but it would be nice to see someone get a real victory. Finally, there’s a tease at the end of the book, but I’m still waiting for an honest to God reveal of these so-called “hunters,” whoever they may be.

This may not be the best starting out point for new readers, but “The Walking Dead” remains one of the best books on the shelves today. If you are looking to get into this series I would recommend reading the collection they just printed which gives you issues 1-48 for only 60 bucks. A great deal, if you have the time and money to invest.

A-

The Mighty #1-3 Review

The Mighty #1-3

(issue 3 cover featured)

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi and Keith Champagne
Art by: Peter Snejbjerg
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Colors by: John Kalisz
Covers by: Dave Johnson

“The Light Brigade” was the first book I read written by Peter J. Tomasi. I’ve made an effort ever since to pick up anything else that he writes. While his work on “Green Lantern Corps” is fantastic, his “Nightwing” run fell flat for me. His newest title, a creator-owned book called “The Mighty,” remains steadfastly in the middle.

After three issues it still hasn’t developed a story, rather it keeps itself focused on character. Not the worst quality in a book, I only hope it doesn’t last forever. Issue one opens with a quick, succinct introduction to Alpha One, the world’s first superhero. On a side-note, it’s interesting that this is a DC book rather than a Vertigo imprint since it doesn’t take place in the DC world. Things continue to move with a great sequence featuring Alpha One rescuing an out-of-control train. It’s after that in which things slow down. The leader of Omega Section (the organization that works in tandem with Alpha One), Captain Shaw, is killed, but by issue two his killers are put to rest. I expected this to be an ongoing thread for a few more issues but instead it’s tied up rather quickly.

Issue three puts up Gabriel Cole, the book’s central character, as Shaw’s replacement. Several years earlier he was rescued by Alpha One so his connections to the hero extend back for most of his life intensifying his relationship with the hero. The book does a nice job answering some key questions, like who funds Alpha One’s operation and the extent of his powers. Noticeably, one thing it leaves out is Alpha One’s true identity. He may be a maskless hero but his true name is never given, at least not yet. Whether or not this will be a factor later on remains to be seen. Shaw’s murder case seems too neatly tied up, so again I’m hoping that it comes back into the limelight.

Tomasi and Champagne are taking their time carefully setting up the world, its characters along with slowly revealing bits of its past safeguarding what they intend to disclose later. I appreciate their approach but I worry that this direction could lose a lot of interested readers who picked up the first book or two. I’m always of the mindset that a book needs time to grow, but frankly I think this book’s time is running out. Future solicitations claim big things, but unless they step-up to such big talk I may remove it from my pull list. Especially with other more interesting genre bending characters like “Savior 28,” and “Irredeemable,” already proving to have more promise with less material.

Snejbjerg manages to remain a hidden gem in comics. His art reflects a slick retro style not seen much in comics where attention to detail is as important as retaining a personal quality with every page. Sometimes I find that I can’t tell one artist from another or they simply don’t do anything noteworthy with their pages. Snejbjerg is someone I don’t see often, but I still enjoyed what he brought to “The Light Brigade,” and he does the same thing here.

A nice bit of art lifts a thoughtful yet unremarkable story just enough for me to pick up a fourth issue, but admittedly unless it turns the tide and brings a truly climatic “to be continued,” I don’t think I will.
C+

Flash: Rebirth #1 Review

Flash: Rebirth #1
Lightning Strikes Twice

Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: Ethan Van Sciver
Letters by: Rob Leigh
Colors by: Alex Sinclair

This is a Flash story, but the first issue is slow. Its sole purpose is set-up and where this story is going remains to be seen. I still haven’t figured out why Barry Allen is back and he’s asking himself the same question throughout this book.

Everything starts with a couple of murders, by someone or something who claims to have brought Barry back from the Speed Force. From there we cut to several different events that are meant to welcome the famous speedster back to the land of the living. Both Jay and Wally take the opportunity to pontificate on how much Barry meant to them and how happy they are that he’s back. All this feels too retrospective, especially since there are only five issues to this “rebirth,” I was hoping for a bit more forward momentum.

My favorite moments come when Barry and Hal meet at the Flash Museum. It really defines Barry’s character and his motives. It was a real turn and completely unexpected. Earlier pages painted this as more happy-go-lucky story, but Barry is anything but. Instead, he’s focused and determined. He doesn’t care about parties or parades. He comes across as a bit cold, but I feel like this gives him a chance to grow throughout the series rather than stay stagnant.

Towards the end of the book two kids find the Black Flash apparently dead in the middle of a field. This probably raised the biggest questions for me. Is the Speed Force really knocking off Speedsters? Is Barry’s new lease on life connected to this killing spree?

Johns has written some memorable Flash stories before and this one reflects his understanding of the characters, not just as heroes but as a family. Right now though, Barry seems to be rejecting that family so it will be interesting to see how that comes into play later.

Looking ahead at further solicitations though it seems there will be yet another Superman/Flash race. These exhibitions seem to happen like clockwork and only serve to slow down whatever story is actually happening. It’s too early to complain with due fairness but I don’t really see the point yet.

In terms of this issue though the set-up is unclear at best. The mystery comes too late in the book and where it’s going is anyone’s guess, but I remain ever hopeful and confident in its outcome.

Van Sciver handles the interiors on the book and as usual provides some stunning visuals. I especially enjoyed the not-so-subtle nod to “The Brave and the Bold.” I can only imagine his art will continue to impress as the action ramps up in further issues. Van Sciver is one of my favorite artists so I’m glad he’s working on this book. I do wonder though what it would have looked like if Scott Kolins had handled the artwork instead. Regardless though, each panel features fantastic character work and use of space. For instance, you really feel the size and scope of the parade and the intensity of the book’s final chase.

A solid first issue, but it definitely lacks a real hook to bring anyone back for another issue and uses too much of its time looking back rather than forward. It also caters exclusively to Flash fans with constant references and nods to the past on almost every page. Despite its slow pace the book remains a real treat though and I have every confidence that the payoff will be well worth the journey.
B-

Supergirl #39 Review

Supergirl #39
Who is Superwoman Part 3: Ticking Clocks

Written by: Sterling Gates
Art by: Jamal Igle and Talent Caldwell
Inks by: Jon Sibal and Talent Caldwell
Cover by: Joshua Middleton

“Superman” and “Action Comics” are now being headlined by C-list superheroes (no offense Mon-El) which, like it or not, leaves “Supergirl” as the flagship book of the Superman family. At least she can carry her own.

Deep in the middle of the Superwoman saga we find ourselves alongside Supergirl with endless questions and few answers. Who is she? What is her true purpose? Is she even Kryptonian? The last issue seemingly answered that question, but this time they backed away from that claiming her suit protected her from Reactron’s blast. One of the first chink’s in Gates’ shining armor. The story follows Kara’s search for her prey, her mother’s growing frustration with her and offers only more questions about Superwoman’s true intentions. It all leads to what feels like a final confrontation between Superwoman, Reactron and Supergirl. There’s been a great build and the story doesn’t feel like it’s worn out its welcome.

I found it a relief that they didn’t forget Kryptonians still aren’t allowed on Earth, something that puts a damper on Supergirl’s investigation of Superwoman’s identity. Gates also remembers his DC Comics history and brings in Lucy Lane for a bit of fun. I always like it when writers fit in past characters where it makes sense without resorting to creating entirely new ones. It just helps to establish a better sense of continuity within the universe.

Another fun reference came when Inspector Henderson comments on Supergirl’s midriff baring outfit, ridiculous even by comic book standards. Hopefully this will remain an ongoing joke. It also gave Kara an opportunity to tear out of the trench coat she’s made to wear over her uniform. Perfect comic book pulp.

The artwork was spot-on aside from a short fill-in by Talent Caldwell. Igle’s traditional line work doesn’t match up at all against Caldwell’s exaggerated lines and cartoon-like features. It takes you out of the book and never hits near the general quality of art expected in this title. Thankfully the fill-in job comes and goes in a wink, before Igle comes back to finish off the story.

I also can’t help but mention another fantastic cover by Middleton, who’s been drawing them since issue #34. While Reactron isn’t the main focus of this issue I’m glad to finally see this B-list villain get his own cover.

This story continues to intrigue and remains of one DC’s more interesting mysteries, more so even for me than who the next Batman will be and while I doubt the payoff will be that rewarding the ride is everything I could hope for.
B

Deadpool: Games of Death Review

Deadpool
Games of Death (One Shot)

Written by: Mike Benson
Art by: Shawn Crystal
Color by: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover artist: Greg Land and Justin Ponsor

Before reading this comic I hadn’t heard of either Benson or Crystal. A little research failed to give me much background, although Benson did lend a hand in penning a few “Entourage” episodes, my favorite of which is “One Day in the Valley.” With this solid comedic resume I had some hopes for the issue and for the most part they were met.

A rich man offers Deadpool a million dollars to exact revenge on an illicit game show for killing his son. Deadpool can’t turn that kind of money down and goes in head first, no questions asked. He eventually finds out he bit off a little more than he could chew, but it’s Deadpool so really, why worry?

The first thing that stood out to me about this comic was that no page was wasted. Even the character summary on the opening page features a battle between two of Deadpool’s many personalities. One tries to sell Deadpool, while the other is a bit more honest. From there you get a pretty straightforward story, despite the “twist,” with the requisite mayhem and humor often associated with the character. There isn’t anything revolutionary or laugh-out-loud funny, but the book keeps you smiling.

The artist is another person I’ve never heard of or seen before, but his style worked for this particular book. The character designs are outlandish, the girls are cheesecake and the action is well over-the-top, just what you need when jokes take precedent over character or story. While it is nice to look at, you won’t find anything explosive or dramatic in the artwork. There is not a single splash page to be found, which is a real disappointment considering some images were just begging for it.

In the past I’ve been spoiled with Deadpool books written by Gail Simone and I’m not sure anything will ever measure up. This book is good, but nowhere near Simone good. If however, you are a fan of the character or are looking for a lighter book then don’t pass this up. Even if you’ve never read the character, this is a great introduction.

A warning though, the book costs 3.99 and there is nothing in it that justifies the extra dollar. It isn’t longer, bigger or better, so don’t expect anything more for putting down your hard earned money.
B-

Daily Planet Front Page: Weapon X Variant Covers

The first issue of the five part "Wolverine: Weapon X" mini-series features not one, not two, but three variant covers. The first, and in my opinion best, is drawn by Adam Kubert and featured here. The other two are drawn by Alan Davis and Olivier Coipel. They can be seen by going to the Weapon X Preview Page. The first issue, written by Jason Aaron and drawn by Ron Garney, costs 3.99 and will be released April 8th. 

The Life and Times of Savior 28 #1 Review

The Life and Times of Savior 28 #1


A Kind of Eulogy


Written by: J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Mike Cavallaro
Colors by: Andrew Covalt
Letters by: Neil Uyetake


J.M DeMatteis has been writing comics before I was even born. Given this, he certainly knows something about how to write them, honor them and deconstruct them. He manages all three things quite well in this first issue of his new six-issue miniseries.

The idea for the book originated in 1983 just after DeMatteis had killed off the Red Skull during his run on Captain America. He wanted to reinvent Cap as a “global peace activist,” a concept which then Marvel Editor in Chief Jim Shooter immediately shot down. Now decades later the idea has be reshaped with an original character and universe free of the trappings of an already established world that may have restricted the story had it featured Captain America.

The book opens with a fight, typical of any superhero book, something Matteis quickly points out. It’s clear from the start that he does not like or condone mindless fighting in comic books. A welcome relief as these fights usually hide whatever ideas, philosophies or central themes the creators might be interested in exploring.

The central character is Savior 28 a hero to America for the past sixty years, who gained his powers through a mysterious stone inserted into his body. Although by the time the story starts, he’s already dead. Everything is told by his old side-kick reflecting on who 28 was and why the world went from loving him to hating him.

This translates into a great story about a man first and a hero second. He’s a much more fallible character than you’d expect. He’s an alcoholic, a womanizer, a liar and a hero. He did everything wrong his whole life and when he finally does the right thing he’s crucified for it.

I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad that it’s only six issues as it has a lot of potential to deconstruct the genre. I wouldn’t go so far as to say “Watchmen,” and doubt it will ever reach that status. Regardless of its eventual importance it’s a great book that’s both refreshing and original.

The art is almost as strong as the words. Cavallaro and Covalt create a visual world defined by bright colors and iconic visuals. 28 is a mixture of characters like Superman and Captain America. His arch nemesis, 13, has distinct resemblance to Bizarro, an appropriate nod once you learn who he is. One of my favorite images features an alien, Uncle Sam and guy wearing a fez. A fun piece of art that acknowledges the over-the-top style featured in most of today’s books.

This is a denser read than most books today, but if you’re willing to invest your money and time into it, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
A-