Dread
TMNT 1984-2009
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The rest of my reviews. And yes, I did manage to track down...
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1: Nearly every shop in Brooklyn was sold out of this by the end of Wednesday, which means it was majorly underordered or buzz is good for this series. Apparently there are more GOTG fans than we thought, or space heroes have cemented a small but steady audience. The space-hero-writin' tag-team of Abnett & Lanning (DnA) pen the story and Pelletier, fresh off runs on FANTASTIC FOUR and NOVA does the pencils, and he is really in his element here. A distinct cast of characters, aliens, wide epic looking backgrounds, and so on. The book takes place after ANNIHILATION CONQUEST (which, unlike some people, I actually liked, although it was hardly perfect) and acts as a sister-book to NOVA thus far.
Basically, Peter Quill/Starlord is still feeling responsible for the Phalanx invasion and wants to assemble a team of figures to stop threats before they arise and wipe out entire worlds like Ultron and Annihilus did. Rather than pull together ad-hoc teams last minute mid-crisis, Peter wants one already assembled and up to the task. With Nova being hesitant to rebuild the Corps due to safety and workload issues, Peter takes it upon himself. It helps that he has relationships with the survivors of his "Dirty Dozen" style team for the Kree; Mantis, Rocket, and a slowly regrowing Groot.
Nova suggests Gamora & Drax (even helping to recruit the former during a booty-call) and Phyla & Adam Warlock are pulled into the mix, and the team is assembled. Nova even hooks them up with Knowhere, which gets Cosmo the awesome psychic Commie space dog back on panel. All of the members talk about their mission ORDER/Reality TV style and it works (and has a logical reason). Adam Warlock is especially concerned about the now-strained fabric of reality, which can be the gateway to no end of horrors.
The team's first mission is against the Universal Church of Truth, who are following a new master and draining life-force from their followers to power their warships, and endanger one such rift in reality. The team 'ports in and tears through them, and has to push back an alternate-dimensional monster (basically what Dr. Strange would call a "Friday"), but barely gets time to regroup before there is another threat; a strangely icy structure, with Cap's shield within the ice?
DnA prove to be masters at their craft, nailing all of the characters well and getting things off and running quickly (no 6 issues to build a team, like OMEGA FLIGHT). Phyla, for her part, does less whining and thus is more likable, even if she's got less of an imagination than Hal Jordon (which is pretty bad, ye of the boxing glove). Adam Warlock is more together and knowledgable, and Drax, Gamora, and Rocket have some cool banter mid-battle. Mantis serves a support role and even there she almost steals the entire issue. The only groan was her stating the now obligatory "new team plotline", that is of a traitor. Cripes, a new team book can't even get 22 pages into issue #1 before they are betrayed from within, and it is getting very annoying. Even when it is done well. It is about the most overused team plotline in all of fiction, and while it seems inevitable, at least give us an issue or two before bringing it up.
With all the talk of time & reality being in danger, it naturally opens the door for some of the original GOTG to play a role, and while I never read any of that, I trust DnA to recap enough, as they usually do, that the readers understand the context to get the story. Because, really, no one likes to research a comic book they don't fully understand; they want to enjoy it on one read and DnA know this and try to be inclusive. It also seems to make it even more likely that Immortus or Kang is, or should, be the threat of a third epic crossover. I mean they're the same damn guy anyway (as is Scarlet Centurian and Iron Lad and Rama Tut), but you get the drift.
The issue delivers on all the positive buzz, bringing us great characters, art, and a fast pace. And some classic, quotable lines. The space genre is back, and it literally IS DnA. They may be stronger with writing characters than in writing epic events, which may be why AC was a collection of good characters and moments that didn't always gell as a whole, or why NOVA is reusing the body-jacking menace twice within about 6 months. But once they shore that bit up, they'll be unstoppable. Another hit from DnA and another good superhero team launch from Marvel this year.
THE LAST DEFENDERS #3: The first issue not working off of Giffen's co-plots or breakdowns, and Casey & Muniz maintain the pace seemlessly. It seems a little ropey next to stuff like CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI-13 or GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, but it is still a kinetic superhero romp that seems to try to channel the spirit of the Defenders by having a collection of B and C listers punch a threat for 22 pages.
Despite being ordered decommissioned by Iron Man, Nighthawk and She-Hulk team up to finish their mission, which was saving Kyle's old associate turned SHIELD agent Pennysworth from the Sons of the Serpent. The SOTS have created a "Madbomb" that they want to use to incite a race war across the country and is already starting to effect Kyle & Jen. Fortunately, they manage to destroy the base via some bombs that Pennysworth had planted and they all escape, although the new leader of the Serpents escapes to plot another day. Kyle accesses his base's computer for the last time before they officially pull the plug, and comes across another mission worthy of his potential. Left with no options, he turns to mercs.
Naturally, as shown by the cover, they are Paladin, Atlas, and Junta. The only one I was least familiar with was Junta, who was the gravity-controlling guy on THE CREW, and he seems to have a robot companion that talks to him in Spanish, but it all meshes well. U-Man and the Brand Corporation are trying to strip-mine some of Atlantis' resources and the ad-hoc Defenders (isn't nearly every team of Defenders ad-hoc?) put a stop to it, or at least try, before the newly empowered Krang shows up for blood.
On the side, Yandroth still plots and Hellstorm runs into Dr. Strange, out fighting Nightmare's flunkies despite hands that are still healing from, seemingly, being crushed by the Hulk from WORLD WAR HULK.
Muniz's art isn't any better or worse without Giffen's breakdowns, but as Colossus & Blazing Skull were the designs he struggled the most with, this issue seems better looking because he has more of a handle on the rest. It was fun watching Kyle assemble a squad and be so desperate to save "his" team, which is a character quirk. Still, after all the effort and discussion about the original four Casey selected, I will be a bit miffed if Skull and Colossus don't return to the squad. After all, the Defenders, despite what everyone seems to remember, did have years worth of material with somewhat "stable" rosters, and Carey tried to convince us so much about the four he selected. Hopefully they will be back.
The Yandroth/Hellstorm thing is moving at a snail's pace, but fortunately there are other things going on in the book to keep things moving so the wait isn't as noticed. But it is noticed in general. As a mini, though, I have faith that it is leading somewhere concrete. Yandroth perhaps making his own version of the core Defenders, with Hellstorm = Strange and Krang = Namor so far. And I still like that things are not grim in tone, even when potentially grim things happen (dead agents, Kyle losing his team, etc.).
So far, though, Colossus has done nothing, and it is looking like another wasted chance for one of Marvel's most underwhelming tanker characters. It is a damn shame, because there is more to him than throwing Wolverine at stuff. It is on Casey to prove me wrong with the next 3 issues. People complain about JMS' slow pace on THOR but he showcased how awesome Thor is very quickly on that book. Still, next to the other hero team launches this week, THE LAST DEFENDERS has lost some of it's polish. Still, it is a note to the older school of doing superhero stories before the decompressed bleak parades of the Ultimate line took over the company, and it is appreciated. Plus, Kyle is still likable to me, which is most of the battle.
THE TWELVE #5: Unlike THOR, which sometimes stumbles with JMS' pace, this book thrives on it because it allows a gaggle of characters to get focus. Even if a few are naturally rising to the fore as the stars, and others the support.
As the cover suggests, The Witness gets some focus as his origin is told. An ex-cop who had his career ruined after an ignorant impulsive action, he was mystically (?) given the power to "witness" select people about to die; he has time to determine whether they are truly innocent, and must be saved, or if they are guilty, and must die. It sounds like a very weakened version of The Specter. In this issue he has a conversation with a buxom diner waitress before being Witness to an old man's death (but he was an ex-Nazi, so it is okay). Blue Blade gets his flamboyant show on TV and Dynamic Man finally pushes Capt. Wonder's buttons and reveals why he has a face-forward demeanor. The world of the future isn't what was promised 60 years ago, and the only way to cope is to just keep busy. At least to those who don't appreciate the positives (D.M. is a closet racist, anyway). But in a way it does represent that culture clash, how the optimistic predictions of "the greatest generation" have been widely off the mark in many areas. Laughing Mask is also arrested for "the crime of murder" (which is mentioned that way, twice, and it sort of seemed amusing to me. Like how Thunderbolt Ross keeps saying, "for the rest of your natural life" in 2003's HULK).
The series offers a good look at old school heroes confronting new world realities and all having different reactions to both that and what is left of their lives. Weston's art is fitting as usual and while this book is loosely connected to the rest of the line with the mention of hero registration and all, it is really meant to stand alone for now. Hopefully, though, whichever heroes are left will show up again, because Marvel has long lacked a JSA counterpart, and I think could use one. This is the best shot at forging one with a solid foundation.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1: Nearly every shop in Brooklyn was sold out of this by the end of Wednesday, which means it was majorly underordered or buzz is good for this series. Apparently there are more GOTG fans than we thought, or space heroes have cemented a small but steady audience. The space-hero-writin' tag-team of Abnett & Lanning (DnA) pen the story and Pelletier, fresh off runs on FANTASTIC FOUR and NOVA does the pencils, and he is really in his element here. A distinct cast of characters, aliens, wide epic looking backgrounds, and so on. The book takes place after ANNIHILATION CONQUEST (which, unlike some people, I actually liked, although it was hardly perfect) and acts as a sister-book to NOVA thus far.
Basically, Peter Quill/Starlord is still feeling responsible for the Phalanx invasion and wants to assemble a team of figures to stop threats before they arise and wipe out entire worlds like Ultron and Annihilus did. Rather than pull together ad-hoc teams last minute mid-crisis, Peter wants one already assembled and up to the task. With Nova being hesitant to rebuild the Corps due to safety and workload issues, Peter takes it upon himself. It helps that he has relationships with the survivors of his "Dirty Dozen" style team for the Kree; Mantis, Rocket, and a slowly regrowing Groot.
Nova suggests Gamora & Drax (even helping to recruit the former during a booty-call) and Phyla & Adam Warlock are pulled into the mix, and the team is assembled. Nova even hooks them up with Knowhere, which gets Cosmo the awesome psychic Commie space dog back on panel. All of the members talk about their mission ORDER/Reality TV style and it works (and has a logical reason). Adam Warlock is especially concerned about the now-strained fabric of reality, which can be the gateway to no end of horrors.
The team's first mission is against the Universal Church of Truth, who are following a new master and draining life-force from their followers to power their warships, and endanger one such rift in reality. The team 'ports in and tears through them, and has to push back an alternate-dimensional monster (basically what Dr. Strange would call a "Friday"), but barely gets time to regroup before there is another threat; a strangely icy structure, with Cap's shield within the ice?
DnA prove to be masters at their craft, nailing all of the characters well and getting things off and running quickly (no 6 issues to build a team, like OMEGA FLIGHT). Phyla, for her part, does less whining and thus is more likable, even if she's got less of an imagination than Hal Jordon (which is pretty bad, ye of the boxing glove). Adam Warlock is more together and knowledgable, and Drax, Gamora, and Rocket have some cool banter mid-battle. Mantis serves a support role and even there she almost steals the entire issue. The only groan was her stating the now obligatory "new team plotline", that is of a traitor. Cripes, a new team book can't even get 22 pages into issue #1 before they are betrayed from within, and it is getting very annoying. Even when it is done well. It is about the most overused team plotline in all of fiction, and while it seems inevitable, at least give us an issue or two before bringing it up.
With all the talk of time & reality being in danger, it naturally opens the door for some of the original GOTG to play a role, and while I never read any of that, I trust DnA to recap enough, as they usually do, that the readers understand the context to get the story. Because, really, no one likes to research a comic book they don't fully understand; they want to enjoy it on one read and DnA know this and try to be inclusive. It also seems to make it even more likely that Immortus or Kang is, or should, be the threat of a third epic crossover. I mean they're the same damn guy anyway (as is Scarlet Centurian and Iron Lad and Rama Tut), but you get the drift.
The issue delivers on all the positive buzz, bringing us great characters, art, and a fast pace. And some classic, quotable lines. The space genre is back, and it literally IS DnA. They may be stronger with writing characters than in writing epic events, which may be why AC was a collection of good characters and moments that didn't always gell as a whole, or why NOVA is reusing the body-jacking menace twice within about 6 months. But once they shore that bit up, they'll be unstoppable. Another hit from DnA and another good superhero team launch from Marvel this year.
THE LAST DEFENDERS #3: The first issue not working off of Giffen's co-plots or breakdowns, and Casey & Muniz maintain the pace seemlessly. It seems a little ropey next to stuff like CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI-13 or GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, but it is still a kinetic superhero romp that seems to try to channel the spirit of the Defenders by having a collection of B and C listers punch a threat for 22 pages.
Despite being ordered decommissioned by Iron Man, Nighthawk and She-Hulk team up to finish their mission, which was saving Kyle's old associate turned SHIELD agent Pennysworth from the Sons of the Serpent. The SOTS have created a "Madbomb" that they want to use to incite a race war across the country and is already starting to effect Kyle & Jen. Fortunately, they manage to destroy the base via some bombs that Pennysworth had planted and they all escape, although the new leader of the Serpents escapes to plot another day. Kyle accesses his base's computer for the last time before they officially pull the plug, and comes across another mission worthy of his potential. Left with no options, he turns to mercs.
Naturally, as shown by the cover, they are Paladin, Atlas, and Junta. The only one I was least familiar with was Junta, who was the gravity-controlling guy on THE CREW, and he seems to have a robot companion that talks to him in Spanish, but it all meshes well. U-Man and the Brand Corporation are trying to strip-mine some of Atlantis' resources and the ad-hoc Defenders (isn't nearly every team of Defenders ad-hoc?) put a stop to it, or at least try, before the newly empowered Krang shows up for blood.
On the side, Yandroth still plots and Hellstorm runs into Dr. Strange, out fighting Nightmare's flunkies despite hands that are still healing from, seemingly, being crushed by the Hulk from WORLD WAR HULK.
Muniz's art isn't any better or worse without Giffen's breakdowns, but as Colossus & Blazing Skull were the designs he struggled the most with, this issue seems better looking because he has more of a handle on the rest. It was fun watching Kyle assemble a squad and be so desperate to save "his" team, which is a character quirk. Still, after all the effort and discussion about the original four Casey selected, I will be a bit miffed if Skull and Colossus don't return to the squad. After all, the Defenders, despite what everyone seems to remember, did have years worth of material with somewhat "stable" rosters, and Carey tried to convince us so much about the four he selected. Hopefully they will be back.
The Yandroth/Hellstorm thing is moving at a snail's pace, but fortunately there are other things going on in the book to keep things moving so the wait isn't as noticed. But it is noticed in general. As a mini, though, I have faith that it is leading somewhere concrete. Yandroth perhaps making his own version of the core Defenders, with Hellstorm = Strange and Krang = Namor so far. And I still like that things are not grim in tone, even when potentially grim things happen (dead agents, Kyle losing his team, etc.).
So far, though, Colossus has done nothing, and it is looking like another wasted chance for one of Marvel's most underwhelming tanker characters. It is a damn shame, because there is more to him than throwing Wolverine at stuff. It is on Casey to prove me wrong with the next 3 issues. People complain about JMS' slow pace on THOR but he showcased how awesome Thor is very quickly on that book. Still, next to the other hero team launches this week, THE LAST DEFENDERS has lost some of it's polish. Still, it is a note to the older school of doing superhero stories before the decompressed bleak parades of the Ultimate line took over the company, and it is appreciated. Plus, Kyle is still likable to me, which is most of the battle.
THE TWELVE #5: Unlike THOR, which sometimes stumbles with JMS' pace, this book thrives on it because it allows a gaggle of characters to get focus. Even if a few are naturally rising to the fore as the stars, and others the support.
As the cover suggests, The Witness gets some focus as his origin is told. An ex-cop who had his career ruined after an ignorant impulsive action, he was mystically (?) given the power to "witness" select people about to die; he has time to determine whether they are truly innocent, and must be saved, or if they are guilty, and must die. It sounds like a very weakened version of The Specter. In this issue he has a conversation with a buxom diner waitress before being Witness to an old man's death (but he was an ex-Nazi, so it is okay). Blue Blade gets his flamboyant show on TV and Dynamic Man finally pushes Capt. Wonder's buttons and reveals why he has a face-forward demeanor. The world of the future isn't what was promised 60 years ago, and the only way to cope is to just keep busy. At least to those who don't appreciate the positives (D.M. is a closet racist, anyway). But in a way it does represent that culture clash, how the optimistic predictions of "the greatest generation" have been widely off the mark in many areas. Laughing Mask is also arrested for "the crime of murder" (which is mentioned that way, twice, and it sort of seemed amusing to me. Like how Thunderbolt Ross keeps saying, "for the rest of your natural life" in 2003's HULK).
The series offers a good look at old school heroes confronting new world realities and all having different reactions to both that and what is left of their lives. Weston's art is fitting as usual and while this book is loosely connected to the rest of the line with the mention of hero registration and all, it is really meant to stand alone for now. Hopefully, though, whichever heroes are left will show up again, because Marvel has long lacked a JSA counterpart, and I think could use one. This is the best shot at forging one with a solid foundation.
