Bought/Thought 9/26

[TheCorpulent1]

Slott had Starfox charged with rape, only to reveal later that it was ultimately Thanos' fault that his powers spun out of control. He then voluntarily had them shut off. Innocence is still pretty intact there, as far as I'm concerned.

I could still see Gauntlet as the protective type. Assuming that scene where he tried to kick Rage out of the Initiative was a true recollection of events, he's very clearly not a horrible person when he's not barking orders and making an epithet out of the New Warriors' name. He pulled Rage aside and then calmly explained why Rage wasn't ready (for more than just talking back to him) with a hint of genuine sadness that Rage couldn't hack it, it seemed to me. Slott really humanized Gauntlet in this issue. Kind of funny that he made me like a guy I hated and hate a guy I liked all in one issue.

The Ultra-Girl/Justice romance is rather odd. I don't think she's nearly as much of a rebound as Tigra is for Hank, though. I get this feeling whenever I see those two together that it's just all about the sex because Hank had too much "relationship stuff" with Jan for all those years. It was also disconcerting how both Hank and Justice look like full-grown, hardened men in this issue, yet Tigra and Ultra-Girl look like middle school girls. Awesome work, Uy.

He abruptly decided to reconsider his career or something; Jamal Igle does #52, and then Eddy Barrows (yanked off Countdown to Adventure) comes on as regular artist with #53.

Jesus tapdancing Christ, really? Eddy Barrows was probably the worst artist on 52. Why couldn't Igle be the full-time penciler?

 

[PhotoJones]

It was also disconcerting how both Hank and Justice look like full-grown, hardened men in this issue, yet Tigra and Ultra-Girl look like middle school girls. Awesome work, Uy.

Yeah, his X-Men covers were a lot better then his interior work. Still, I didn't hate him.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

I didn't either. He didn't detract from the story too much, except when I really stopped to look at the characters. Either way, I'll just be glad when Caselli's back.

 

[PhotoJones]

If Caselli comes back.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

What else is he gonna do? Hack/Slash? Come on, he has to come back.

Doesn't he?

 

[PhotoJones]

Marvel may move him to another project. You know the formula: good artist on an opening arc, move him to something else.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Lame formula. I hope Coipel sticks around on Thor, at least. Unless they replace him with JR Jr. again or something.

 

[PhotoJones]

The formula might be lame, but it is there.

 

[iloveclones]

On the Gauntlet matter, it was a nice red herring. Either Gyrich coerced Gauntlet to say what he wanted to get rid of the SHIELD people quickly, or he covered for Slapstick. I'm not sure why he would cover for Slapstick for beating on him when he was fully willing to punt Rage off the squad for talking back to him.

I'm kind of hoping this is a set-up where Gauntlet will confront Slapstick man to man.

I always thought Slapstick was an odd addition here, but it certainly paid off with this story (He is now officially a take-off on the "scary clown" stereotype.)

 

[RockSP]

Also, Pym ****ing Tigra was laid out in MIGHTY AVENGERS, I believe.

Yeah, I remember them being "caught in the act" by SHIELD agents. I figured that was just Bendis being Bendis, though.

The Pym/Tigra thing started waaaay back in West Coast Avengers. She broke it off with him when she became the "new" Tigra (more stripes, tail, more powerful).

The Firebird/Pym thing McDuffie had going in Beyond also was first touched on in West Coast Avengers.

 

[PhotoJones]

Huh. I had no idea. I'll have to go look back at those old issues. Thanks.

 

[Doc Destruction]

Yeah, Rock is correct. That is in continuity for sure. It IS Slott after all

 

[PhotoJones]

Yeah, Rock is correct. That is in continuity for sure. It IS Slott after all

You mean Bendis?

 

[gildea]

heh bendis can't get a break.....

 

[Dread]

Slott had Starfox charged with rape, only to reveal later that it was ultimately Thanos' fault that his powers spun out of control. He then voluntarily had them shut off. Innocence is still pretty intact there, as far as I'm concerned.

I could still see Gauntlet as the protective type. Assuming that scene where he tried to kick Rage out of the Initiative was a true recollection of events, he's very clearly not a horrible person when he's not barking orders and making an epithet out of the New Warriors' name. He pulled Rage aside and then calmly explained why Rage wasn't ready (for more than just talking back to him) with a hint of genuine sadness that Rage couldn't hack it, it seemed to me. Slott really humanized Gauntlet in this issue. Kind of funny that he made me like a guy I hated and hate a guy I liked all in one issue.

The Ultra-Girl/Justice romance is rather odd. I don't think she's nearly as much of a rebound as Tigra is for Hank, though. I get this feeling whenever I see those two together that it's just all about the sex because Hank had too much "relationship stuff" with Jan for all those years. It was also disconcerting how both Hank and Justice look like full-grown, hardened men in this issue, yet Tigra and Ultra-Girl look like middle school girls. Awesome work, Uy.

Yeah, Uy's women did look a bit young. Ironically, Uy is an artist who probably could actually draw teenagers as teenagers, but will never go near RUNAWAYS.

The depth on Gauntlet was nice but I wouldn't go so far as to say I suddenly like him as a character. I understand Gauntlet more and it was nice to see a side beside the unlikeable Drill Sarge, but I still go back to that scene in FULL METAL JACKET where Pile gets his "revenge" in the bathroom. Anyone in the audience feel genuinely sorry for Sarge there? Yeah, I didn't think so. Mostly the audience reacts as, "Man, Pile really has snapped." Of course, FMJ is one of many post-Vietnam, "depict the U.S. military as the most evil thing ever created" films, but one that most of us have seen and enjoyed. I understand Gauntlet better, but I still don't really care for him as a character. He belittles the names of heroes who made one error in judgment daily, yet throws a fit if anyone DARES do likewise to a military soldier. But at least he is on the road to being more tolerable and possibly even likable depending on how it goes.

I also thought of a third option; what if Gauntlet suffered enough trauma that he didn't remember many details of his attacker and thus presumed it was The Ghost? I mean Norman Osborn used to suffer bouts of plot contrived amnesia after far less severe injuries.

It is sudden seeing Justice hooking up with Ultra-Girl; part of me figured that was just an easy way to figure out something for her to do besides stand in the background and give token lines (i.e. like how Bendis uses Iron Fist in NA). Still, he is 20 and he did just break up with his fiance, and in the world of superheroes, there are always fish in the sea. Still, Spider-Man can't be the only superhero allowed to date around before marrying his high school or college sweetheart.

I didn't either. He didn't detract from the story too much, except when I really stopped to look at the characters. Either way, I'll just be glad when Caselli's back.

Agreed. I could stand Uy as a fill-in but I would be wary if he suddenly became the regular artist.

If Caselli comes back.

He better.

What else is he gonna do? Hack/Slash? Come on, he has to come back.

Doesn't he?

He could also go back to GI JOE I guess, if he wanted. It would seem like a downgrade. A:TI is a book that is important to Marvel, though, so hopefully that means they will keep top talent on it.

I'm kind of hoping this is a set-up where Gauntlet will confront Slapstick man to man.

I always thought Slapstick was an odd addition here, but it certainly paid off with this story (He is now officially a take-off on the "scary clown" stereotype.)

Uh-huh. Part of the problem is that in today's comic age, "funny, innocent" characters get to become one-trick ponies burried in the ghetto of "humor comics" and are rarely treated as genuine characters. In some ways Squirrel-Girl has suffered this fate; it is great that she is so fun and bouncey and whatnot, but anyone who had any genuine ambitions for her to grow and develop much beyond a punchline may have to wait a while.

Of course, Slott knows this and even lampooned it. At best he is playing with the system. At worst, success has made him a hypocrite sometimes. But really, that happens with anyone, really. Slott has been around long enough to know if he really wanted Slapstick to become more popular, a little edge is needed. After all, Slappy always was a poorly concieved rip-off of The Mask, and The Mask always had an "edge" to him (even in the Jim Carey film, The Mask kills the bad guy Dorian Tyrell at the end).

In fact that is what I always liked about Giffen; he could have characters be funny or deliver witty banter to each other but he still took them seriously enough to genuinely develop them. It is not the easiest of tightropes to walk.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Slott developed She-Hulk pretty well without neglecting the humor or having her beat anyone into a coma.

 

[PhotoJones]

Slott's not normal.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Um... okay?

 

[Doc Destruction]

You mean Bendis?

My bad. I assumed we were talking about Initiative.

Bendis is very well versed in WC Avengers (hence the Wanda HOM crap), so it's not that much of a surprise.

 

[Doc Destruction]

heh bendis can't get a break.....

When he deserves one, I'll give him one.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

My bad. I assumed we were talking about Initiative.

Bendis is very well versed in WC Avengers (hence the Wanda HOM crap), so it's not that much of a surprise.

Well-versed enough to rehash stories from it.

 

[PhotoJones]

Um... okay?

Meaning, that he goes against the grain and actually gives a **** about the characters that he writes.

 

[Doc Destruction]

[corp]Well-versed enough to rehash stories from it. [/corp]

Exactly

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Meaning, that he goes against the grain and actually gives a **** about the characters that he writes.

I hope he's got more in store to ultimately redeem Slapstick, then, because he didn't seem to love him too much in A:TI.

 

[PhotoJones]

I really was pretty shocked, myself.