ComicCritic87's Weekly Comic Reviews

ComicCritic87's Weekly Comic Reviews

A new review format this week, plus a comic company I attacked joins my readings....check them out.

Review Opinion
By StuckInPanels - Mar 15, 2012 09:03 AM EST
Filed Under: Comics

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

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Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 3/15/2012, 10:06 AM
Weird short reviews but sums things up nicely.
-So yeah good reviews/summarys(?)

I got my hands on a pre-release copy of Kick-Ass 2 #7 and I will have my review for it at the end of the month. It comes out next week along with Supercrooks #1
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 3/15/2012, 11:15 AM
Also, why do you bash Image? They aren't like 90s Image at all anymore
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 3/15/2012, 11:16 AM
from Image get Chew plz

also three successful comments in a row
dbzmaster789
dbzmaster789 - 3/15/2012, 11:34 AM
Chew rocks!!
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 3/15/2012, 1:33 PM
@Weed....I always bash on IMAGE for their Super Hero comics that are simply the EXTREME style of Marvel or DC characters when they were trying to become hip and new. The stuff I see them doing now with all these creator owned projects are much better when not involving caped and cowled types. I wanted to give chew a try when it came out but I was never able to find issue #1 at the time. Are they are any good jumping on points? I can't wait for both Kick-ass 2 #7 and Supercrooks #1, I'm a self admitting Mark Millar whore.lol.
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 3/15/2012, 4:56 PM
I'm a Millar whore as well. I think you'll love #7

I'd start with Chew in trade format look for the first 4 or 5 trades then pick up the issues from there
manymade1
manymade1 - 3/15/2012, 6:46 PM
Is Avengers Assemble recommended? It seemed like a typical Marvel money grabber that just uses action.
manymade1
manymade1 - 3/15/2012, 6:47 PM
@ Weedbeater I just have to know, are their any hints to a sequel like with the first?
Weedbeater
Weedbeater - 3/15/2012, 7:16 PM
Oh yeah man but the hints are more subtle. I have no idea what the sequel will be about this time unlike the first one, where i figured it out quick enough
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 3/15/2012, 7:25 PM
@Manymade....yes. MUST READ and READABLE are similar but different. MUST READ are titles that are so good that they must be read before anything else. READABLE are titles that are serviceable and well done titles that can be read by any reader. PASS/FANS ONLY is kinda easy to figure out, the titles that aren't for everyone unless you are a fan and can read bare to read them. I will retweak this style by next week. I may make a scale similar to Destroyers at the end of each
Destroyer14
Destroyer14 - 3/16/2012, 4:58 PM
@manymade1 Avengers Assemble is a fun little story, nothing special, but fun.

Legends wasn't bad, not great, but had a nice little fight between Godzilla and Kumonga.
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