Comic releases of 5/25/11
Hey all, time for another fun round of comic reviews. Once again this is a nice chunk of comics this week, another 12 issues. I bring in a new title that intrigued me since it’s about the King of Comics, Jack Kirby called Kirby Genesis. Godzilla continues to stomp around and a new monster enters the fray, and the next three parts to the Green Lantern War rages on.
Comics: Amazing Spider-man #662, FF#4, Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters, Green Lantern #66, Green Lantern Corps #60, Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #10, Kirby Genesis #0, Secret Avengers #13, The Mighty Thor #2, Venom #3, Wolverine #9, and Xombi #3
DC Comic
Pick of the week: Green Lantern #60
Abridged Story: Kyle and John continue their mission on getting Mogo free from the captive power of Krona. As the reach down into the bowels of the living planet, they are ambushed by their former allies and under constant attack until Kyle discovers a way for his ring to free the mind control. They reach Mogos ring, both of them try their best but John Stewart makes the ultimate choice, he drains Mogo of the Black Lantern power and kills the heart of the Corps.
Review: What a major turning point in the War, first I was like O.O then T-T when I saw Mogo died. As they said, he was the heart of the Corps, with the destruction of Mogo, the corps will no longer be the same since we draw close to the big moment in September. What I liked in this issue as opposed to the other parts of the War is that we see the two earth lanterns at conflict with their powers; Kyle was shown to have found a way to fix it all however his method is not the strongest. The reveal that the black lantern is still lingering in this universe and the way John Stewart used it as a means to end the struggle is ultimately the biggest moment in any the green lantern universe. They even have an obituary for him in the issue, which makes it official and I doubt a giant planet will come back any time soon.
Artwork: The artwork is impressive as ever in this title. The cover features Kyle and John amongst a swarm of Green Lantern rings. The inner artwork is great full of so much going on yet you are able to keep track of it all. Of the two Lanterns, John as an Indigo is really great and seeing him take and use the Black Lanterns power along with the look of rot and decay. The big two page of Mogo blowing up.
Grade: A-
Quick Reviews
Green Lantern #66: Hal and Guy are attacked and overpowered by the guardians. Krona wants to turn the Earth Lanterns into the next guardians (and this is a bad thing). Story is great, Johns keeps on making bigger and better things. Artwork is great. A-
Green Lantern Emerald Warriors #10: The Earth Lanterns reunite and head off to free Parallax from the Main Battery, combining the powers of all the rings. Guy shines in this issue, artwork is great. B+
Xombi #3: The battle of the Manathra comes to a end as the group reunites and discovers the true reason behind the villains plot. LOVE this series, Writing is solid and the Artwork is AMAZING. A-
Marvel Comics
Top Pick of the week: Venom #3
Abridged Story: Flash has temporarily lost control of the Venom suit as it goes on a rampage to stop the villains from getting ahold of the Antarctic Vibranium. Meanwhile Betty I kidnapped by the deranged Jack O’Lantern and strapped with explosives. Spider-man joins the fray as he stops Flash from getting to Betty and the suit goes crazy to attack Spider-man.
Review: This is the best issue of this series, it brings in more of the Spider-man mythos and as I described with some of the issues, I love how raw and dirty it feels. Seeing the hero using a weapon that was used by villains but at the same time it using him as a means of getting out its aggression is fun to watch, since this issue now brings in his loved one. When the villain has a loved one worth fighting for is a great contrast since most books about villains are about how good it is being a villain, while Flash himself is a hero in his eyes, his form will always be seen as the bad guy. When Spider-man enters in, it’s like “great….another book Spider-man makes an appearance in” yet here it’s interesting to see him as the foe since he is keeping Venom away from saving Betty.
Artwork: I really love this artwork; I hope it stays with the title if the writer moves. The cover is odd though, it features an extreme close up of Venom with a devilish smile under the suit, almost like it was vacuum sealed or something. The inner artwork is a dirty beautiful; the breakdown of the suit as it reverts into a more monstrous form is the best thing I like with this book. Seeing the grit and grim the character goes through with this power is great. The fight scenes are tough and brutal and I love it, I said it’s a throwback to Dave Gibbons and a more refined version of Frank Millers later works in the 90s.
Grade: A+
Quick Reviews
Amazing Spider-man #662: Spider-man fights the students of Avenger Academy and teaches them the lessons of being a true hero. More time wasting until the big event. The artwork is good. C+
FF#4: Reed and the villains plan a counterattack to the other dimension Reeds. Sue and Spider-man fight off an invasion at Atlantis only to discover one of the evil Reeds. Very impressive story and all of the dialogue with the villains is great. Artwork is great also. A-
Mighty Thor #3: Thor and Sif train a team of warriors. Meanwhile Odin tells the true purpose of the “seed”. Silver Surfer arrives and wants the power and warns of his master’s arrival. This was a very strong second issue that is building up something worth seeing. The artwork is bad-ass as ever, Sif looks HOT!!!. A
Secret Avengers #13: Hank Pym talks to a Congressmen who is his friend from the past and just talk. It’s set in and around the Blitzkrieg but was weak because it was mostly exposition and they recited the Gettysburg Address. Artwork is still good. C+
Wolverine #9: Logan goes on a one man hunting party to find and kill Mystique. Love the pulse pounding feel to this issue; artwork is very stylish and well done. B+
Other Comics
Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #3
Abridged Story: The scientists of Earth have given the monsters there names as they continue the destruction. Meanwhile mysterious twins have gathered to an Egg as it hatches to reveal a familiar face. Also there’s a lady Gaga like character, cuz…that was needed?
Review: I now realize that IDW along with the writer of this series have clearly created a fun satire of our world, these are lookalikes of well know people, like it’s not Obama but a guy who looks like him, as well as that Lady Gaga satire character, who gets some time in this book while I want more destruction from the monsters……yet I have a second realization is that this does feel like the movies this comic is about pace. They are doing a great amount of pacing, we get snippets of the Monsters doing what they do best, while we get the human side since this comic wouldn’t be strong enough to hold an audience if it was purely Monsters (Well for me it would if they just beat the crap out of each other). I loved the big twist with the twins, since I thought this was a new take on the Mothra twins…but this is why I love a series that turns my predictions on its head.
Artwork: This is a strong and solid category; the looks of all the monsters are solid and keep true to form. The Lady Gaga analog does wear ridiculous and over the top outfits. There are fewer monsters attacking cities and more on the humans in this world. I like the cartoon style since it’s not trying to be serious.
Grade: B+
Kirby Genesis #0
Abridged Story: Pioneer 10 has been launch with the image of two superheroes as it approaches a space anomaly and is pulled through very timelines and universes, many different people witness this object.
Review: Now this is what is called a “primer” issue, its setting up the look and style that this new series is about to unleash and I have to say that this is my favorite if not most ambitious title that I want to read. This screams everything I love about comic books, the tribute to a legend, establishing this big, bright, and beautiful worlds and characters before the big reveal next month. This is a love letter to the brilliance and amazing artwork that Jack Kirby has given us, this is his legacy and anyone who wants to get into the industry must know his name. There’s not much else to say but pick this up for only a buck is totally worth it.
Artwork: This artwork is some of the most beautiful artwork I have seen; Alex Ross is pretty much one of the best things about the comic industry, his huge splash page of Kirby and his wonderful creations is the biggest highlight of the series. The moment Pioneer 10 goes through the anomaly has some of the best looking and well-designed characters I have ever seen, this is some DC and Marvel can’t master any more, the layers, the shape, the design, the look and feel of these heroes and presumably villains are some of the best I have seen, Jack Herbet has quite a task ahead of him to bring life to Kirby’s last known great unused characters. Jack Kirby will be proud of this contribution to the comic book industry and hopefully other artists will take notice and push to bring artwork like this to the table.
Grade: A++
Well that’s all for this week my friends, next week I will be reviewing ALL, yes all of the tie-in stories of Flashpoint, I look forward to see what these side stories have in store for us. Til then catch you all later, ComicCritic87 OUT!!!