ComicCritic87 Weekly Comic Reviews
Month- March 2012
Week #2- 3/14
Hey there friends, I have been working on a slight redesign of my weekly comic reviews, I always continue to make them easier and quicker reads since a lot of times I do have repeated titles being my top pick. I have redesigned to where I have certain levels of reading: Must Reads, Readable, and Pass/Fans Only. I want to avoid the word AVOID since it’s a very harsh word for any comic, except Liefeld, unless you are into really bad and cheesy comics. I will be changing up what I review; I’m including some PRO’s and CON’s of an issue, even the ones in the Must Reads and no grades this time around. Also this week you see something never expected……IMAGE has entered my roster. Let’s get started then.
Comics this Week
Dark Horse Comics: Conan the Barbarian #2
DC Comics: Demon Knights #7
IDW Comics: Godzilla Legends #5, Infes2ation: TMNT #1, Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #3
Image Comics: The Manhattan Projects #1, Saga #1
Marvel Comics: Avengers #24, Avengers Assemble #1, Incredible Hulk #6, Journey into Mystery #635, Scarlet Spider #3
MUST READS
Conan the Barbarian #2- Written by Brian Wood/Artwork by Becky Cloonan
Story: Conan battles the pirate fleet of the pirate queen where she wants him to make her his Queen.
Writing: Solid and well-paced for a dark action fantasy.
Artwork: Very unique for the character and universe.
Pros: A very easy story to follow, no canon to prior stories, great violent action.
Cons: A bit slow with the battle and the story slows down.
Incredible Hulk #6- Written by Jason Aaron/Artwork by Whilce Portacio
Story: Hulk and Banners battle comes to an explosive conclusion.
Writing: Aaron does some great reinventions with the characters he is give, Hulk is greater now.
Artwork: Solid artwork with some awesome character designs.
Pros: The action scenes are top notch and the ending is a great cliffhanger.
Cons: The Von Doom arc felt rushed and didn’t conclude on a high note
Saga #1- Written by Brian K. Vaughn/Artwork by Fiona Staples
Story: A unique blend of Science fiction and fantasy about a newly married couple and their baby.
Writing: Vaughn is one super star talent, this story is truly amazing.
Artwork: The art is unique as well; the variety of character designs blends the genres greatly
Pros: Everything is unique to what comics are today, very mature artwork and writing
Cons: Despite 42 pages the story feels a bit rushed and leaves you wanting more
Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #3- Written by James Roberts/Artwork by Alex Milne
Story: The Crusadercons are being stalked by a Spark eater
Writing: Roberts is very talented with writing these characters each with amazing personalities
Artwork: Fun artwork that blends the various styles of the Transformers.
Pros: Fun Story, Alien inspired issue, Characters are fun, Narrative flow is constant.
Cons: Ends a bit quickly than hoped, Remembering names is a must.
READABLE
Avengers Assemble #1- Written by Brian Michael Bendis/Artwork by Mark Bagley
Story: The newly former team does battle with a force of villains based on the Zodiac.
Writing: Bendis does a good job writing the team and creates great personalities.
Artwork: Serviceable art, nothing that stands out as impressive.
Pros: Easy to read, Continuity free, great jumping on point, redefined villains.
Cons: Another unnecessary Avengers title, Movie based team, clearly a cash in
Demon Knights #7- Written by Paul Cornell/Artwork by Diogenes Neves
Story: The medieval team survives the onslaught but the town is destroyed.
Writing: Cornell creates great team dynamics and character personalities.
Artwork: Art is top notch and well designed, characters are unique from one another.
Pros: One of the best team books at DC, darkish fantasy story, writing and artwork.
Cons: Story arc took too long to finish
Infes2ation: TMNT #1- Written by Tristan Jones/Artwork by Mark Torres
Story: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fighting Cthulhu style monsters.
Writing: Jones keeps the characters true to the mainstream IDW comic series.
Artwork: Dark and dreary style mixes well with these characters.
Pros: Great way to mix them into this event, THE TURTLES FIGHTING CTHULHU MONSTERS.
Cons: The forced cliffhanger ending.
Scarlet Spider #3- Written by Chris Yost/Artwork by Ryan Stegman
Story: Kaine tries his best to fit in but soon becomes target to the Assassins Guild.
Writing: Yost does a great job making Kaine more anti-hero than hero.
Artwork: Stegman’s art is nicely done.
Pros: Well-paced, fun action, mixes and comedy well.
Cons: Assassin Guild?
PASS/FANS ONLY
Avengers #24- Written by Brian Michael Bendis/Artwork by Daniel Acuna
Story: Norman Osborn becomes an Adaptoid, which causes his downfall.
Writing: Bendis does well writing teams but needs to improve on villains.
Artwork: Acuna’s artwork is not for everyone.
Pros: Ends the arc
Cons: Norman becoming an Adaptoid, HYDRA returning to power, No real action.
Godzilla Legends #5- Written by Bobby Curnow/Artwork by Dean Haspiel
Story: A daredevil climbs Godzilla and witnesses a battle between the Big G and Kumonga.
Writing: Well done story, the best of any of the Legends comics.
Artwork: Some of the best monster designs around.
Pros: Godzilla at his best and ends the mini-series on a high note
Cons: Radiation suit has no mask, forced in message at the end
Journey into Mystery #635- Written by Kieron Gillen/Artwork by Richard Elson
Story: Loki, Leah, and Daimon exorcise various people to stop Nightmare but Loki acts foolish again
Writing: Gillen redefines the trickster god so well but bogs us down with exposition.
Artwork: Elson’s style is serviceable in the series but I miss the dream like style from early issues.
Pros: The characters are unique and the story is well-paced.
Cons: Exposition galore, too much character dialogue, not action packed as last arc.
The Manhattan Projects #1- Written by Jonathan Hickman/Artwork by Nick Pitarra
Story: Dr. Oppenheimer joins a secret military group and battles robot samurais from Japan.
Writing: Hickman is a talented writer and works well in the science fiction genre.
Artwork: Unique, grungy, British grunge style.
Pros: Unique story that plays with History.
Cons: heavy exposition, very little action, twisted ending leaves your head scratching.
Well that’s all for this week, I like this new way; it was quicker, simpler, and easier to get done. Catch you all next week with another double digit of comics next Wednesday. Catch you all later