September ends with a rather large week for me with about ten titles, one of those weeks where sitting down to type reviews even for books I liked, and this week was full of them, sometimes feels like a chore. But I'm probably too vain to rest the fingers. Carpel Tunnel, here I come!
As always, heavy spoilers because I hide nothing in the B/T (I usually add spoilers when I repost in other topics, though). The one in A:TI is rather heavy, too.
Oh, and I bought
SUPERMAN: DOOMSDAY. The FULL, SPOILERTASTIC review is here:
http://forums.superherohype.com/showpost.php?p=12809064&postcount=114
Dread's BOUGHT/THOUGHT for 9/26/07:
BLUE BEETLE #19: Abandoning the quest for Jamie's beetle's origins has done wonders for this book, and the irony is while some of his adventures in-between major "The Reach" events might seem like filler at a glance, I'd argue the book's never been stronger for them. This is a new legacy hero having pitched battles to earn more mettle while having humorous dialogue with friend and foe alike. It simply it a lot of fun, and sadly the sales match books that tend to be fun; they are pretty low. Fortunately DC's not as trigger-happy as Marvel so while I once was unsure the book'd last this long, now I think it may actually pass the 2 year margin (a rarity for new ongoings these days). Rogers continues to carry the title without Giffen just fine and Baldeon comes in as a "guest penciller" (a nice way of saying "fill in") and the art is actually very appropriate and kinetic for the title. I'd certainly seen less appropriate artists on this book. The plot of the issue is essentially revealed on the cover; Giganta attacks La Dama, and Blue Beetle is stuck rescuing his local crimelord from another criminal simply because she's the aunt of his best gal-pal, Brenda. But the issue actually has more than that; it includes a training match with Peacemaker (I'd missed him for a few issues); the banter between the two matches the sort of love/hate thing that Booster Gold and Ted Kord had. Brenda also finally finds out her aunt is a kingpin and is at first angered about being lied to by everyone, but it sorts out in the end, and I appreciate Rogers not spreading out Brenda's reaction to 3-6 issues as some writers would. Yeah, a lesson on pressure-points is some heavy-handed foreshadowing, but it is on par with some Saturday Morning cartoon episodes and that matches the feel for BLUE BEETLE in a way. The line Peacemaker makes about Robin after Paco, erm, "reacts" to have "tall" Giganta is was one of the best lines of the issue, and it had plenty more to come. This is probably the closest thing to INVINCIBLE that DC has right now, and it ain't too shabby. Quriky cast, fun dialogue, simple superhero adventures...I usually don't ask for more in most titles.
THE SPIRIT #10: I wasn't expecting this issue, so much like the title character making an appearance in an alley, it came as a surprise. The first page admits and pokes fun of the fact that this tale feels like "filler" compared to the last issue, which nailed down the threat of El Morte. The Spirit's ribs have to heal and the readership won't do with late issues, so in this story goes. "DEATH BY TELEVISION" is not only a murder mystery, but a well needed sort of commentary or criticism based on the larger media, specifically the fact that the line between genuine news programs, petty tabloid gossip, political rantings of the elite and even YouTube (lampooned here as BoobTube, that age-old term for TV) has become very blurry. Cooke & Company are really masters of the craft here, and the way the work reads and the layout of the story is almost as important as the Spirit himself. Eisner used the Spirit to tell tales based on morality and to showcase his narrative technique and Cooke gets that, rather than just trying to make him Batman Lite like some writers. A one page appeal for better news shows and a more informed public seems more like a plea to society than a part of the story, but it weaves in as both. As in many stories, The Spirit actually does very little himself, he merely seems to move about as the situation plays itself to a head, a fact that Cooke has done in past stories and can get repetitive, but NOT when said situation is actually a very readable story. Cooke will leave the title with #12 and it seems the last two issues will tie up the Morte situation, but I am glad we got this tale out of his system first. This title without Cooke & Co. won't be the same. The Summer Fill-In proved it. Still, while it lasts, it's a great little DC book every month.
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #3: I would complain about the scheduling, but in the letters pages (all SEVEN of them), Kirkman admits this series is intended to be bi-monthly so I can forgive it. It straddles the mix between superhero stuff and horror and the blend still seems to have some charm. As some posters predicted, turns out despite all the training with Zechariah the Vampire won't stop the Wolf-Man from being completely out of control and beastial once a month with the first full moon. Zechariah intended for Gary to experience it firsthand but didn't expect him to stray into the city and murder a superhero (whose body he "hid"). At least he now has a "Wolfmobile" to patrol with and manages to save a girl from a villain named Thrill-Kill in a VERY cool, well paced mid-air action sequence. Unfortunately, Gary's personal life is starting to crumble due to his powers because the publicity from his "coma" has led the control board of his company to vote him out. Plus, there are a pack of other were-wolves out to kill Zechariah and Wolf-Man gets in the way. They call him an "Elder Brood", which apparently makes him a werewolf of some importance to their society. I get the sense that naturally Zechariah may not be as noble as he seems and may merely be using Wolf-Man for his own ends; after all, Kirkman has used the "betrayed by a mentor figure" angle before; soon to be twice in INVINCIBLE. Still, what would a horror book be without some mysteries and backstabbings? I also have to give credit to Kirkman for answering 7 pages full of mail when he writes at least 4 comic books and answers mail for some of those, too. Wolfy's icon looks like a wolf version of Thundercats, but it works and I am surprised it hasn't been used before. I won't say this is Kirkman's best title but it's heads and shoulders above ULTIMATE X-MEN and still is fun to read despite the gore. It straddles the blend of horror/superhero better than, say, GHOST RIDER has in a while. Plus, werewolves are cool, and haven't quite been as overused as vampires to me. I wonder if any WEREWOLF-BY-NIGHT fans are catching this title.
ANNIHILATION CONQUEST: STARLORD #3: Despite Green II's art being better for costumed action than it seems to be for civilian scenes, Giffen's mini for AC is still the best of the mini's for me, just barely edging out NOVA in readable factor. The tone isn't kept completely serious with the dialogue so it reads like an INDIANA JONES adventure rather than being as dour and melodramatic as some of the other mini's, and it works as a respite from that. After not being able to find their Phalanx target last issue by exploring below, Peter Quill taps into their computer network to discover it above, as a nanobot virus meant to infect billions of Kree and more at once. Mantis, however, called it beforehand and naturally is very adept at what she does. For those who mourned the loss of the mighty Groot last issue, you are in luck as the big spruce survived, only isn't as mighty (although still twice as funny). Giffen naturally is a master at writing barbs between a team of characters who aren't exactly friend or foe, and this allows him to excell here. After an issue spent avoiding the drones, the team seems trapped, with their only hope laying at the hands of a bloodied Capt. Universe (still distrought after killing Deathbird in self defense last issue). The finale is next month and I can't wait to see how the team gets out of this one. I'd love for this to become an ongoing afterwards, so long as Giffen wrote it, but I'll take what I can get for now. Sadly, AC doesn't seem to be selling as well as the first installment, but it still is thrilling stuff with space opera action and plenty of C and lower level characters getting play. The perfect antidote for those with some CW/INITITATIVE/WWH fatique.
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #6: The iconic issue where The Gauntlet seems to get his come-uppance, and I probably should have predicted the culprit simply because he was the LAST person you'd normally suspect, which is common in mysteries. Steve Uy fills in for Caselli on art for now and the name/style seemed familiar for me for a while, so I did some research. Not only has he done some creator stuff and some covers/promo images for X-Men (including a shot of Iceman that has probably been made into a million avatars by now), in 2003 he did a little Marvel mini with Chuck Austin that I picked up back when my return to weekly comics was new; EDEN'S TRAIL. The gimmick of the book was that it was not connected to the MU at all and had a "cinematic" pace, which meant it was read sideways and efforts were made to make it look animated. It wasn't top shelf entertainment but I enjoyed it at the time and it is burried somewhere in a box in my collection. Uy gets to draw more spandex characters now and his style still has that animated feel. He's no Caselli but he isn't terrible either, and tries to fit the tone of the book that Caselli started. The only scene where he struggled was where Tigra and Yellowjacket are jogging; they almost look like they are standing still but they are supposed to be jogging. Naturally, the plot of the issue is Gauntlet, who is presented as a married man with a little daughter in some hope of trying to get the audience to sympathize with him, is attacked by surprise and nearly beaten to death for his many, MANY comments against the dead New Warriors. Slott presents his mystery, lines up the suspects (all the heroes who were ex-NW's, which are Rage, Ultra-Girl, Slapstick, Debrii, and Initiative counsellor, Justice), offers a red herring and then reveals the perp. Some writers, especially Bendis, would have stretched this to 4-6 issues, but this is the natural length of the story and we're not left hanging for long; much appreciated. The issue presents Gauntlet (or Joseph Green) as a family man who is hardest on his trainees so they become the best soldiers and thus don't die in action, and he actually cares for them to some degree. Whether this will win over many of the readers who have been waiting for him to catch a beating is unknown. I saw it coming and while it is nice to have more backstory on Gauntlet, he still matches that cliche for Drill Sarges and something like this happened decades ago in FULL METAL JACKET and subsequent TV episodes/movies (harsh drill sarge gets some "instant karma") and while I understand his purpose and why he exists, I don't really feel sympathy for him as a character (much as I had for, say, Ko-Rel in NOVA). It was funny how his wife was literally labelled. The issue looks into their ex-Warriors for a bit as the SHIELD agents investigate the attack. They soon stumble into Hardball's antics and he misleads them directly for Gyrich's lab, which he wants to protect at all costs (especially with the media, like Sally Floyd, starting to look into him). Once the Nazi doc laid out the details of the attack I pretty much figured who the attacker would be, and I was correct, but it was still handled very well.
"Who's laughin' now!?", indeed. It also is revealed that Justice & Ultra Girl are an item; guess he's getting over Firestar about as fast as Hank Pym got over Firebird. As with every issue of A:TI, there is a lot going on with so many characters that I always feel like I got my money's worth. There are plenty of people who don't care for the series, but I am definitely in the "fan" camp. I like Slott's take on the characters and his flawless useage of continuity. I like that he resisted the temptation to make this place a perfect wonderland to go in line with Marvel's editorial line of, "Iron Man wasn't THAT evil during CW, honest!" and instead made a camp that is so flawed in it's execution that it fits in line with an administration that is willing to offer Bullseye a badge. There are many internal conflicts to play up and I am very interested in seeing how it all plays out.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #9: The Tournament gets underway in Brubaker & Fraction's IRON FIST opus here with Rand vs. Fat Cobra, a fight made more complicated when a mystery ninja girl (who after one issue is cooler than Elektra and Echo combined) tells him to throw the match to get a chance to uncover the final secrets of Orson Randall before they are lost to the mortality of his biographer. After all, he is being attacked with many angles from that past and knowledge is power, something Danny is discovering by learning some new manuvers from his "book" (many many attacks that Bendis will take at least 5 issues to begin to notice in NA, if ever). The rules of the tournament are a little shakey to me but apparently you can lose and still return for a match, which is good as the battle between Fist and Ninja Sumo goes better for ninja girl than for Danny. Along the way we get more flashbacks of his father in K'un L'un with Davos and the revelation of Orson's deep underground, which includes a technological means to get to the famous interdimensional city. At some point in the battle, which is excellently drawn and paced by Aja, Fat Cobra wants to "test Rand's wisdom" and in a way that works for the overall story as well; continue a fight out of pride for the undefeated record or throw it in order for an oppurtunity to discover more about himself (and what Yu-Ti hasn't told him). In some ways this is a late "coming of age" story for Rand, who had accepted a lot of what he was told by his K'un L'un masters until Orson came along and challenged those perceptions with some harsh reality. Brubaker seems to enjoy playing with backhistories for his stories and thankfully Rand's had a lot of room for it. The best bit of all is that this was a double-whammy month for Iron Fist, as this issue leads into...
IMMORTAL IRON FIST ANNUAL #1: Now THIS is a way to make an annual count for something. It is clearly explained to take place after IIF #9 and offers a bit of continuation to that story, as Danny tracks down Orson's dying biographer, "Lucky Pierre". Brubaker & Fraction have made great use of multiple artists per issue, having different ones tackle flashbacks, and the present, or other dimensions, etc. and it weaves into the story flawlessly when most times, a title with 2-3 pencillers in it seems jarring. Unfortunately, the annual's present scenes are from Chaykin, whose style I don't care for at all. But that is made up with flashbacks of Orson's WWI era adventures from Brereton and Djurdjevic, which are very well rendered. The annuals are a good place to flesh out the past Iron Fist adventures and unlike the 7th issue of the ongoing, effort has been made to make the flashbacks relavent to the core story, so they seem essential rather than filler. This is the best approach for that sort of thing, and I applaud Brubaker & Fraction seeming to improve on a misstep. It also adds to the improved depth of what is now an Iron Fist "legacy". Also, Rand gets to showcase some skills against Hydra goons (which, in the series' only repetitive bit, are the only enemies Danny Rand seems able to defeat).
August's sales charts brought some worry to diehard fans of the series like me, but apparently top 100 slot markers can be misleading; looking at hard numbers at THE BEAT, it turns out that Brubaker & Fraction's answers about sales in interviews are correct for now. While modest, IIF has been selling solidly within the 35-37k range since issue #3. The first issue debuted at barely 50k. What this means is that while IMMORTAL IRON FIST, an utterly brilliant relaunch of a faded franchise that pretty much adds everything you'd want to it (new characters, decent challenges, more history, great art, good pacing, etc.) doesn't sell as well as it deserves to (what with NEW AVENGERS averaging over 100k per issue), it HAS been holding steady in terms of sales, which is the most important thing for a book. While I bet the Marvel editorial board perhaps expected this to sell better, sales that can hold steady means it isn't slipping into oblivion, which is why most books get cut. In comparison, MS. MARVEL still seems to be shedding 4-8% of it's readership every month, whereas over the past 6 months, IIF has lost only .6% of it's readership. My point is the sky isn't falling quite yet, thankfully, and hopes for a third arc at the very least seem plausible. Bring on more Black-Black Poison Touches!
THE ORDER #3: The 2nd issue drop for Fraction's ongoing starring a cast of new superheroes (save for Pepper "Hera" Potts) in terms of sales was rather steep; 30% as a matter of fact. Drops for second issues are rather common for series, but still, hopefully the book can stablize quickly from there, because it would be a shame to lose it too soon. Marvel can always use some new blood, especially for superhero teams in other states. Calamity is given the "origin interview" of the issue, and while everyone gets some play, is the man focus of the book as the team not only deals with the death of one of their ex-Order recruits who got fired in #1 (during the "Sweep Millar's plotlines under the rug" motion), but an army of Zombie Homeless People, affectionaly called "Zobo's". Calamity not only has some issues revolving the accident that took his legs or fitting in on a team, but on a rivalry with Mulholland Black and getting over the fact that he choked when he was ordered to "ice" the Cold War soldiers in #2 (leaving it to Supernaut). Interestingly, while some superhero books are eager to make murderers out of superheroes, the leaders of the Order don't take it as badly as Calamity himself does (at the time they understood why he couldn't and that was why they sent Supernaut and didn't berate him). The team still needs to work out some kinks in terms of collatoral damage, though. The meeting between Calamity and the drunk driver who took his legs was an effectively creepy climax and the team still needs to deal with media and politicians, especially some who want to kick them out of their new HQ to, presumably, make it a historical landmark. Having the politicians smile like Stepford Wives during some of those lines was priceless. The book has a lot going on and a lot of good new characters to explore, none of whom are mutants or were mutants or aliens or whatnot. And I love Kitson's art. I doubt any fill-in artist could capture it, though, that mix of realism with the absurd without going too far either way. This has quickly become one of my favorite Marvel books (and one of my personal Top 5 the company offers) and I would hate to see it go by issue #12. I'm always up for a new order...of Order. Yes, that was absolutely terrible. I could never write a solict.
); Gabe with his ability to rise to the occasion; Rocket with his cynicism; Peter with his ability to keep a cool head and lead these weirdos--but none of them ever really feel like they're stealing the spotlight from anyone else. Giffen's done a great job of playing each character to their strengths (except Deathcry, I guess, unless her strength was the ability to be blown up) but not at the cost of any others. Any writer of an uneven team book with neglected characters in every issue could stand to learn a lot from Giffen's work here (*cough*JohnsBendisWinick*cough*).
