Comic releases of 12/29/10 and 1/5/11
Hey all, and welcome to the first reviews of the new year. Now this is another combined week of the prior week and this recent week of comics. It been a slow crawl at the moment with some of the bigger and better comics that are out. Yet sometimes waiting is worth it, I rather have a product that isn't rushed out and weak. So for a while my comic schedules will be a tad wonky, so expect a few times where I combine weeks of releases, but once it all gets back into the groove of things I will post plenty of more reviews. Also I gained a new laptop and it came with a web camera that can upload to youtube...which after I figure out a fun format for a video review, I might a do a few of them but continue to do written reviews. Also some new changes to my reviewing methods. I will add in cover art with the artwork review, they flew under my radar til now. Also before I start the review, I will have a listing of what I will review. Alright, so with all that said, these two week had some really good issues. This is a surprise, I have more DC comic reviews, which I'm sure most of you have seen I read more Marvel than DC, regardless this was a fun week full of shock and awe.
Comics: Avengers #8, Brightest Day #17, Green Lantern #61, Nemesis #4, Superboy #3, and Teen Titans #90
DC Comics
Brightest Day #17
Abridged Story: The issue begins with Firestorm discovering where exactly they are and head to a familiar planet. Boston reunites with his Grandfather after many years passed, they go on a motorcycle ride and the White Ring begins to charge, and The Hawks team up with Carol and the Entity of Love to stop the hawk invasion.
Review: I loved Bostons story line with him reconciling with one of the last few relative he has in this world, its very touching and I have to admit, I got a little teary eyed. Johns put a lot of weight and emotion into these pages with Boston and it shows they are evolving the character. Firestorm's discovery that where they are exactly makes better sense now that we know and it is cool to see it involving one of the biggest baddies. I find the Hawks kinda pointless because we know the revelations they all must carry out, so we know their trials now, mean nothing, we know the future, but its the journey I guess, but it's a journey I don't care about. Of the recent issues so far, this is has the best story arc, and that's Boston Brands.
Artwork: First off the cover, I hate it. DC feels uninspired with these white covers with only the character and their logo behind them. I feel cheated out of some cool design, The characters look well done, but the cover is week. The story art is done perfect as always with this title. The entity of love is the most interesting design of all the entities seen so far.
Grade: Overall this was a solid issue, I loved Boston's storyline and while the Hawks are not my forte, I still enjoyed this issue. The cover sucks, but don't let that be a simple detractor. I give this issue an A-
Green Lantern #61
Abridged Story: The Spectre and Atrocitus battle wits as the red entity, The Butcher, posses a family man to give him the revenge he always wanted. The Spectre demands the entity to be removed from earth, seeing how its his domain to judge. After the battle, the Spectre lets Atrocitus leave, because he is part of a bigger event.....for now
Review: Funny how this is series called green lantern and the majority of this issue involves a red lantern and the most powerful hero ever. I loved the Spectre short and this issue feels very much like a part of that. The interaction between Spectre and Atrocitus was the best, two beings who know only how to destroy, judging each other about who is right and wrong. The Butcher is just a crazy entity, he looks like a real menace, but of course, has his own meaning of “justice”. The action scenes are just amazing and its cool to see magic and technology clash in this issue.
Artwork: This came out just before the bad covers. They show off the red entity, so it spoils the surprise of the design. The fight scenes are well done and as I mentioned, the red entity looks really cool and scary.
Grade: I love seeing two characters clash their ideals like this. The artwork is done really well and the fight scenes are a joy to see, especially with the Spectre. I give this issue an A
Superboy #3
Abridged Story: The story shifts between the present and the morning. In the morning, Conner worries about the farmers and calls Bart to have them do a charity race(classic). He tells his friend Simon that they can't be friends with they are partners as hero and sidekick. Also a strange event occurs where the students all fall unconscious except for Lori, which doesn't get explained.....yet. Conner meets up with Lori and they discover the cause, a young hero who traveled to the past to get Superboy's help.
Review: This was a great issue. I love the talks Conner has with his friends and loved ones. Conner has yet learned that Smallville can endure, even without a Kent to be around to save it. Conner and Simon's relationship has taken quite a unique turn, he finds this to be a perfect balance but you feel bad for Simon. The shifts between the then and now was odd at first, but I seen plenty of other titles doing this. Also a cool idea with a non legion hero coming into the past. The ending is pretty good and does set up for a great next installment.
Artwork: Again, this cover is uninspiring, it's just Superboy flying with krypto by his side, with his huge Black and Red logo behind him. The issue itself is drawn amazingly well. I love this artist and his design of the characters. The little heroes costume design does remind me of old school yet simplistic, for his age.
Grade: This was a nice progression issue, low on action, but the dialogue and exposition with the characters is great. The cover blows, and the character designs are the best I've seen. This issue gets a B+
Teen Titans #90
Abridged Story: The Titans heal their wounds from the failed fight. Rose tells Damian to act like a member of the team rather than an individual. Meanwhile, the teen villain goes to school, only to discover that there are more kids like him. Bart finds out who the kid is and where the school he goes to is. The team heads over as Wonder Girl deals with a bratty girl with skin like steel, and Conner contends with a Jock with super strength. Rose and Damian team up and find the cafeteria full of zombie students, and they grin with delight.
Review: This is a fun issue. I love this team and the way they interact with one another, this is not just a team of kids, these are friends; they bicker and have conflicting ideals, but they are united for a common goal. Rose and Damian seem to be developing a mutual bond for each other. The team still has a hard time coping with a new Robin and Tim's departure but Damian as a new addition is gonna be a good thing. This kid in the story comes off as more of a bully than the people that bully him, which I bet is gonna come back and bite him in the butt in the end of the arc. I love the setup for the next issue with Damian and Rose prepping to fight school zombies
Artwork: I love this cover, its a subtle hint as to what and where the issue is taking place. Showing Damian taking action first, which he seems to do in the pages. The last page as I mentioned is awesome and really shows off their love of battle.
Grade: This is worth reading, the characters are great and full of unique traits, the artwork is top notch as ever and again, last page.lol....I give this issue an A-.
Marvel Comics
Avengers #8
Abridged Story: Tony reunites with the Illuminati, with a new member, Medusa, replacing her deceased husband. Tony informs them about the Red Hulk telling the Avengers about the man who possessed the red and yellow Infinity gems. Medusa leads them to the Inhuman burial chamber and discover that the gem was stolen, they leave only to discover Rogers and the rest of the Avengers, and they are pissed.
Review: Well so much for that whole “RED HULK JOINING THE AVENGERS” he barely stays long in this issue. He tells them he got owned by some guy and they gotta deal with it. Now I do love the reunion of the Illuminati and their pasts coming back to haunt them, in a very big way too. It's mainly dialogue between all the members of the Illuminati, and them trying to figure out just who stole the gems and what purpose is it for. I loved seeing the others discover the Stark and his allies, now this chapter must be talked about amongst all Avengers. Bendis continues to impress me with this relaunch title.
Artwork: This is an awesome cover. I love that its all the Illuminati in some type of action ready pose, preparing to deal with the unknown future. I love Romita's artwork with this series, some might not, but its a fun title and it deserves cartoon like artwork.
Grade: Just a pure fun read, it has good exposition and the characters dilemma is totally worth the read. Romita's art just adds to the fun. I give it an A
Nemesis #4
Abridged Story: Blake and his team head to the White House and attack Nemesis. It turns out one of his team members was in on it with Nemesis, who in turn kills the guy after his use. Blake has to decide between his wife and the President, both strapped with explosives, the President leaps at Nemesis and blows up. Blake and Nemesis fight it out and it ends in gun fire. Blake lives and goes to having a life without worry. He gets a card saying that another villain is gonna arrive and best stay out of Los Angeles.
Review:..................I'm at a loss for words. As many of you know, I love Mark Millar's work and this alone is one of his more “controversial” works(that's saying something from the writer of American Jesus and Trouble), So do I praise him for take a very ballsy approach to Nemesis, a total Batman ripoff who is overly prepared for this one situation. His henchmen mentions he studied Blake for 8 years just for all this....8 YEARS!!!! This ending feels kinda week because we got so much emphasis on how crazy and smart Nemesis really is, but to find out he and Blake have no real quarrels was odd. Also to discover he was part of something much greater, does set up for a sequel , which I will definitely give a look.
Artwork: I love the cover, it is more or less saying this is what the issue is all about. Nemesis and Blake shooting each other to see who is the winner. The inner art, what do I say is the best....ALL OF IT....seriously I can't say what was the best scene exactly because each page worries me what is to occur next so its all about the suspense of what Millar asked the artist McGiven to draw next.
Grade: Even after all this, the story, the crazy events, the messed up artwork(still good but crazy), and the ending. This is not a comic, this was an experience and this was a crazy experience. I give it a B+
And that's all for this week's comics. I hope you read last weeks and give this weeks releases a glancing. Next week we got a nice amount again, so be sure to keep checking for my reviews. Catch you all later ComicCritic87...OUT!!!!!