Bought/Thought 28/11/07

[TheCorpulent1]

Aw, I was hoping for Carey. Olivetti's art should fit Cable like a glove, though. A giant, overly muscled glove.

 

[JackRembrandt]

Yeah, Olivetti's a fantastic comic book artist. His work is always fun to look at, it's unique and he's incredibly fast.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I didn't think it fit well on Punisher: War Journal, but I think that was more because I misinterpreted what PWJ was supposed to be. His art was still technically great on it, though.

 

[JackRembrandt]

Oh, I think he fits perfectly on PWJ. He really ups the ante in the zany department to match Fractions absurdist scripts. It's one of my favorite Marvel books.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I hate it. It's not the Punisher, it's a parody of the Punisher. I was hoping to see the Punisher put squarely back into the middle of the Marvel universe, but he's still occupying the fringes--he's just an idiot with goofy high-tech crap to boot. But I'm well aware that I've missed the point of Fraction's story in that sense. Much like with Ellis' Nextwave, however, I don't really care for the point he's trying to put forth anyway.

 

[JackRembrandt]

The Punisher has been a parody of himself long before Fraction came aboard. And I don't see it as a parody anyway. He is firmly back in the MU. His first few issues dealt with him being the black sheep of Cap's Secret Avengers. The storyline after that dragged on way too long, but he's since helped people escape Manhattan during WWH (killing Mung in the process), and he's currently facing off against a new Kraven who's captured the Rhino. All MU stuff, in my opinion.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

It's handled with too much of a comedic bent. You just described it as absurdist, for example. That's not what I want from the Punisher. Frankly, I was hoping for something akin to Ennis' MAX series, only with more Marvel characters involved instead of just the mob. I haven't gotten that from PWJ, although I admit I haven't read it since the fourth or fifth issue. Maybe I'll try it again, since you said it's improved.

 

[JackRembrandt]

Well, I don't really see the point of making another Punisher book, only to make it "MAX-lite." If you want MAX, it's there for the reading. And when I used the term "absurdist," I was referring to the situations that Frank find himself him. And he knows it's absurd. Seeing him react to it is half the fun. He's still Frank. He still shoots people in the face.

I can understand not liking Nextwave, because it wasn't just the plots that were absurb, it was also the characterization. With PWJ, the characterization is spot on. Nothing's changed with Frank Castle.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Fair enough. The issue that turned me off actually didn't feature Frank at all. It was that one with the fake cop who just stood there like a moron for the whole issue while G. W. Bridge and Bushwhacker talk around him. Kind of an interesting story in another context, I guess, but not what I want in a Punisher comic.

 

[GNR]

Yeah, some novelist and Ariel Olivetti.

Same guy who did the MK Annual this week.

 

[JackRembrandt]

Fair enough. The issue that turned me off actually didn't feature Frank at all. It was that one with the fake cop who just stood there like a moron for the whole issue while G. W. Bridge and Bushwhacker talk around him. Kind of an interesting story in another context, I guess, but not what I want in a Punisher comic.

Yeah, that guy comes into play later on.

Same guy who did the MK Annual this week.

Oh. I didn't read it. Any good?

 

[GNR]

Yeah, Olivetti's a fantastic comic book artist. His work is always fun to look at, it's unique and he's incredibly fast.

I think he relies too much on photo backgrounds,then again,the same could be said for guys like Lark and Maleev who use actual NYC backgrounds.

PWJ has been a different book.

The CW arc was a good,action packed re-intro which ended on a serious note with #3.
#4 was one of the best done in ones I've read.
#5 had the approach of leaving the title character out,people hated this,but Fraction has shown with previous issues,the main character here is a factor.
#6-10 hit the more serious note.I fully expected this title to be a romp thru all the villains of the MU,but I was proven wrong with this arc.It was about 2 issues too long,but still made for a solid read,even with the use of current events.
#11 was a recap of year one and a preview of things to come.
#12 I could have done without,but had a good approach to tying into WWH,no HULK appearance or use of any of the events going on in WWH.
#13 was a HUGE step up for the series.This is what I've been expecting since #1.Hopefully this issue is an indication of year 2.

 

[GNR]

Yeah, that guy comes into play later on.



Oh. I didn't read it. Any good?

I don't read the MK ongoing,but it was a solid done in one.You can pick it up without having read the current run.If you've liked Marvel's recent slew of Annuals like DD,IIF and Wolverine,you'll love this.

 

[GNR]

MOON KNIGHT ANNUAL #1: Just when I was growing tired of the regular series' creative team and anticipate the next, along comes a solid one-shot tale that shows there still is some life in the franchise. Actually, the story by Swierczynski and Palo is standard annual fare; unable to do anything major with the title character, they tell the story of civilian characters with the title superhero acting as a brief phantom to move the plot forward. Writers have told one-shot WOLVERINE or PUNISHER stories along this route for years. It also touches on a theme that Sam Keith has all but milked to death; women being raped. Unfortunately, it is still a too-common crime and this story touches on many of the angles of victimization, anger, despair, and even denial. Various women meet in a support group for victims of date rape and all tell tales, some interconnecting, of the same sleaze who takes on various identities and acts to date-rape women. One of the women manages to fall into Moon Knight's arms after a suicide attempt, and this puts the hero on the trail of the rapist, who gets his just desserts in the end. One could argue that Moon Knight himself isn't exactly required here; one could have told the exact same story with Daredevil, Wolverine, the Punisher, or any moderately violent hero in his place and only a few lines would have had to be changed. But, Moon Knight has usually thrived in this sort of urban material, and he works out here. The last woman in the group really needed a good smack, though (tasering superheroes is NOT cool). Still, this was a simple, effective storyline which was good for a one-shot read, but unfortunately may re-inforce critics who feel Moon Knight is too "interchangable" with other heroes. I liked having a down-to-earth urban story about the sort of criminals and victims that do exist in the world, especially after OMD #3 which has Mephisto Starring in DIVORCE COURT. Solid, enjoyable annual. The art's great, too.

come to think of it,I don't think MK could be switched with guys like DD or Wolvie in this issue,the woman he saved became driven for vengeance and actually killed the guy,I don't see that happening with guys like Wolvie and DD

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I think he relies too much on photo backgrounds,then again,the same could be said for guys like Lark and Maleev who use actual NYC backgrounds.

PWJ has been a different book.

The CW arc was a good,action packed re-intro which ended on a serious note with #3.
#4 was one of the best done in ones I've read.
#5 had the approach of leaving the title character out,people hated this,but Fraction has shown with previous issues,the main character here is a factor.
#6-10 hit the more serious note.I fully expected this title to be a romp thru all the villains of the MU,but I was proven wrong with this arc.It was about 2 issues too long,but still made for a solid read,even with the use of current events.
#11 was a recap of year one and a preview of things to come.
#12 I could have done without,but had a good approach to tying into WWH,no HULK appearance or use of any of the events going on in WWH.
#13 was a HUGE step up for the series.This is what I've been expecting since #1.Hopefully this issue is an indication of year 2.

Is 13 the most recent issue? I think I'll track it down.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Anyone read WWH Frontline #6? I thought that the reveal of who Ben & Sally's mysterious benefactor is was a great moment. (I actually figured it out the second Sally walked into his office, lol)...

 

[JackRembrandt]

Is 13 the most recent issue? I think I'll track it down.

I can't remember the issue numbers, but the most recent one features Cory Walker art and it's the first in the new storyarc. You can actually feel the Rhino's heart just drop when he lays eyes onto the Punisher. The fact that this one man can put that kind of fear into someone like the Rhino is hard-****ing-core. I love it.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Marvel says that's #13. I do love some Cory Walker art, too.

Anyone read WWH Frontline #6? I thought that the reveal of who Ben & Sally's mysterious benefactor is was a great moment. (I actually figured it out the second Sally walked into his office, lol)...

Who was it?

 

[GNR]

13 is the latest yea.

 

[JackRembrandt]

What's the latest issue of Iron Man, by the way?

 

[RockSP]

Bought:

Checkmate 20
Countdown 23
Spirit 11
Birds of Prey 112
Brave and Bold 8
Powers 27
Heroes for Hire 15
The Umbrella Academy 3
Wonder Woman 114
Ex Machina 32
Metamorpho 4
Captain America 32
What If Annihilation one shot
Nexus' Greatest Hits
She-Hulk 23
Invincible 46
Deadly Artisans 4
Killing Girl 3, 4
Metal Men 4
Midnighter 12, 13
Lone Ranger 10
Conan 46
The Boys twelve
Green Lantern Corps 18
Daredevil 102
Dan Dare 1
Proof 1
Batman & The Outsiders 2
Incredible Hulk 111

Thought:

Daredevil #102: Cool issue but DD and Ox being able to take on the Wrecker was silly as hell.

Umbrella Academy #3: I can already see a cgi movie of this being made.

Powers #27: I almost forgot Bendis could write a good comic. Best issue of his best series in a while.

 

[GNR]

Wolverine #56 - Jason Aaron's done in one.Picked up a slew of Annuals this week and heard good news about this.

Chaykin's art doesn't bug me as it does other people.Good read,could have done without the epilogue.

 

[JackRembrandt]

Daredevil #102: Cool issue but DD and Ox being able to take on the Wrecker was silly as hell.

It would have been silly if they didn't get their asses handed to them, but they did. Daredevil even made a comment about the Wrecker being way out his league.

 

[RockSP]

It would have been silly if they didn't get their asses handed to them, but they did. Daredevil even made a comment about the Wrecker being way out his league.

The fight shouldn't have lasted as long as it did, IMO.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Isn't Ox super-strong? The Wrecker's power level is all over the place a lot of the time, too. Maybe that had something to do with it.