ARCHIE & FRIENDS would have been perfect if released next month, as it was an all pranks issue starring Reggie. The first story was written by DeFalco and drawn by Frenz, and while they have a good grasp on the Archie-verse I can't help feeling their stories are a little...darker when compared to the rest of the line. Not that it's akin to a Punisher story or anything, but it's just the way they feel. I dunno. What's interesting about their story is they featured Archie's original car, the Model-T, which hasn't been in the comics outside of flashbacks since the early 1980s (the car was destroyed and replaced since with a 1960s Mustang). The last story was drawn in manga-style last seen in the Josie & The Pussycats revision and Young Salem books. Anyone who knows me knows I can't STAND manga style in many cases (always exceptions) and this was just hard to look at. But, the story did point out an interesting trope often explored in Archie books: that Betty and Veronica look similar except for the hair. There've been many a story where one or both of them put on the opposite wig and nobody can tell them apart. Of course this is a nice jab at the fact their models are always drawn similar, but kinda makes you wonder...B&V, separated at birth?
AVENGERS ACADEMY was a great read as usual. Kind of fitting to have Korvac make an appearance upon the conclusion of the all-ages tragic retelling of the Korvac Saga. This was an interesting twist, and one of the reasons why this book is so good. Although, I'm a little concerned over the cliched future incarnation plot device, but I guess we'll just have to see what happens.
BRIGHTEST DAY brings us the conclusion of Firestorm's "mission," thankfully. This was the least interesting of all the stories as I don't give a crap about Firestorm. He's another perfect example of DC overpowering their characters and giving them a lame weakness. "Oh, I can alter chemical compounds but not organics!" "Oh, I have a super powerful ring that can do anything, but darn that color yellow!" Please...
DC UNIVERSE LEGACIES comes to a close, and we find out who our narrator's been talking to. And, of course, his story isn't believed. This was a great trip through DC history with an all-new sub-story put front and center to connect it all. Some of it I knew, some of it was brand new. Len Wein did an excellent job, and this trade would definitely be the comprehensive guide for new readers to get a rudimentary understanding of DC continuity (such as it is).
HULK gives us Rulk's own General Ross in the form of a former protege. Looks like we've got a new villain in the works, and an all-new direction for Rulk. Gotta say, this character was immensely groan-worthy upon debut, but since Loeb left the title proper he's improved immensely. Goes to prove, folks, there are no bad characters, just the wrong writers to write them. Even NFL Superpro could have been good if given a writer that stayed away from football puns.
ICEMAN AND ANGEL is the next in the series of First Class one-shots (ironically not even done by the people who made First Class so good). While the Jean one was interesting, this one was kinda meh. The banter was more annoying than witty, and the overall story was just plain silly. Plus, there was a bit of a continuity gaff in the fact that the X-Men have heard of Wolverine, despite it being way too early in their careers to have done so. Overall, I miss the REAL First Class. That was a series that deserved to go on for a good long time.
KATO ORIGINS takes us to their own version of the Hellfire Club, which allows the super rich to engage in whatever perversion they like, no questions asked. Honestly, I don't know why this is an ongoing and not a mini. The first arc, while slow, ended up pretty decent. This just seems like staying in the creative well until you prune.
KNIGHT AND SQUIRE was an interesting series. Admittedly, I had some trouble with the British way of speaking, but that just makes it more authentic I guess. Nice throwing in the Joker to contrast the civility between Britain's heroes and villains with the chaos that is American heroics.
RUSE & SIGIL were pretty good introductions to the universes of these Crossgen titles. I have a bunch of the backissues but haven't gotten to read them yet. Despite that, I didn't feel all that lost and felt they were great set-ups. Although, I admit, the cover blurb and description for Ruse (plus the title) made it seem like the assistant was the real detective forced to work through the guy (her real assistant) since no one would take a woman detective seriously. Admittedly, I'd've liked to have seen that book, but what we got was just as good.
THUNDERSTRIKE is another good issue from DeFalco and co, but I have one complaint: the costume. Tstrike gets his new official costume, and it's hideous. I wish they'd've recycled his MC2 uniform. Simple but effective.
