Wonder Woman #33
So. Um. Yeah.
As per general consensus: some good things and good writing mixed within a smattering of WTFery to the nth degree. If you're looking for straight up action and cool sequences, for instance, it's all here in spades.
As I've said though, the Amazons' return is just weird. No mention nor attention at all is made of the fact that this entire nation just spent months in the bodies of mortal women. No mention, in fact, is made at all of the fact that these people were ever
gone. And their absence doesn't feel like a background plot bunny that's going to be brought up again at some point, it's just...completely ignored. They're back to their duties, Hippolyta's got royal protocol running smoothly again, as it's if they'd always been home all this time. For some reason Diana just knows that they're back, and they all know about the Thalarions as well, and everyone just seems to know things they shouldn't and act ways that they shouldn't. It's just
weird.
Obviously Ares isn't dead. I mean, obviously, we know this; hell, the last page contains a seed of his schemes still at play, literally. But what's weird is that the
characters seem to act as if his death were very final, and that's very weird as well. Hello, he's a
god? Hello? When has splitting open someone's noggin
ever killed a god? Last time that happened, we got
this. I know comic book gods sometimes abbreviate the "im" part of "immortal," but still, unless that ax she had was filled with Kills Gods, I don't know what any one of them was expecting. At least decapitate if you mean business, instead of splitting down the middle!
And why is Diana acting like Zeus is still in charge of Olympus? Hello, remember when
you ousted him? Zeus is apparently suffering from the crazies and thinks he's in charge, but Diana should know better. So she forsakes him (not for the first time), and forsakes her homelad (again, not for the first time), and we understand it's all a big deal as far as the moment goes -- and don't get me wrong, the
moment is written very well indeed -- but it just doesn't seem to all fit
together.
Simone is crafting for the long-term, and it does feel like the long-term is being set up to become one of the largest Wonder Woman stories ever with one of the biggest payoffs, but meanwhile the
short-term is beginning to feel muddled and weak. Like I said, things just don't gell. We keep getting information that seems to fit fine on its own, but doesn't fit with other information. It's very unfortunate that Simone's run is turning from one of my must-gets of the month into something much more tentative.
(6.4 out of 10)
The Incredible Hercules #130
Zeus is a Prat, pt 2. But this time it's in midst of an awesome story interspersed with awesome and hilarious writing.
I seem to recall Marvel Zeus being less of a prat, actually, but this series has been drawing so much from genuine mythology that I shouldn't be surprised at it. And I should really be less surprised at all the tiny tidbits of seemingly throwaway mythological trivia all of a sudden playing massive parts in the story. Random story about Atlas? Atlas shows up. Random cameo of Hebe? Turns out to be not so random. Hercules mentions his mortal self in passing? You bet your ass it's going to play it's part. It's not just Chekhov's Gun, it's Chekhov's Motherf***ing Gunrack. And it's great. Dialogue makes sense with other dialogue, information makes sense with other information. It's how it should be done, Simone. Sigh.
(8.6 out of 10)
Detective Comics #854
Hmm. General consensus of this issue seems to be very positive, that it meets the lofty expectations it set. While it does at that, I guess I got a bit too into all that hype because at the least I was expecting a bit more to happen. I mean, a lot happens, but...I just expected a bit more.
I think part of my quasi-disappointment is due to it being, hey look, Kate On Yet Another Crime Bible Adventure. Which is really all she's ever done. Look, I love the Crime Bible. Y'all know how much I creamed about it, when it was coming out. But it's all she's ever done. Let's see Batwoman not spend yet another night kicking around Crime worshippers for answers. Let's see Batwoman spread her wings a bit.
(7.7 out of 10)
Thor #602
Very much near flawless. I mean, I can't actually name any flaws. The story is rolling along great, and we'll all enjoy JMS for as long as he lasts.
I guess Thor giving up the remaining vestiges of the Odinforce is supposed to be a great big deal but, as people have mentioned, it honestly, barely makes a difference anymore. He hasn't even felt like he's had any extra power for a long while, and I suppose it'll make it easier for subsequent writers to write him. I know in my mind that it's a bit of a regress -- hello, old status quo -- but, in my heart, I feel that the story supports it.
Hi, Dr. Strange that I actually like. Bye, Dr. Strange that I actually like.
(9.3 out of 10)
Nova #26
Awesome. Not as much pure awesome as the last issue, but the human rocket book maintains its momentum quite well.
Yeah, I totally thought it was Rich on that last page, too.
(8.8 out of 10)
Justice League of America #34
And so McDuffie's run ends, which is almost too bad because I actually really liked these past several issues. I got into this League. I would read more of them. But no, let's just bring back icons or whatever 'cause lord books never have bad writing
popular characters are in them.
(8 out of 10)
Guardians of the Galaxy #15
Nice. Hilarious at parts. New Phyla can leave now, thanks.
(7.9 out of 10)
The Mighty #5
I don't know how I feel about Yet Another Evil Superman (But Not!) series, but the writing is tight and the characters are all likeable, so, hm, why not?
(8.2 out of 10)
