Comic releases of 1/19/11
Hey all, Time for another weekly dose of comic reviews. This has been sort of a hectic week for me, so I’m a tad late with these reviews. I was surprised to see CBR posting their reviews very fast of most of these issues. These were some really great issues, a lot have great revelations and endings that want you to read the next issue faster than ever. Also there will be some comic news with Thor. With that let’s begin…
Comics: Amazing Spider-man #652, Avengers Academy #8, Brightest Day #18, Invincible Iron Man #500, Power Girl #19, Thor #619, and Wolverine #5
DC Comics
Brightest Day #18
Abridged Story: Captain Cold and Captain Boomerang talk about how Boomerang was revived and his task for the White Lantern. The Hawks continue to battle Hawk-woman’s mother, possessed by the Love entity. Meanwhile Boston has somehow fully recharged the white lantern ring and heads to an unknown location. The Hawks defeat Shay’s mother, they return to earth and are free from their task. As Carter and Shay are about to do the nasty, Boston in White Lantern Deadman form has the ring telling Carter and Shay that they must be away from each other to live. Carter doesn’t agree, wanting out of the Lantern tasks, and the White Lantern obliges….and not in a good way.
Review: Talk about a twist no one sees coming. I wont spoil what happens but trust me, it’s off the wall. The conclusion to the hawks is great, up to the final pages, I mentioned a few times that I wasn't a fan of them, but even I can feel for them in this issue. We are about 8 issues from wrapping up this event, again I would like to see the villains side but so far we get only a hint at what’s happened with them, Captain Boomerang freed Reverse-Flash. With the Ring now at 100% I hope we get to see this new champion, will it be a familiar face or a new person to this universe?
Artwork: Cover is dull, just Hawkman and Hawkwoman flying at the reader. The action in this series is some of the best with this title. I loved the battle with the Love entity and all the past lives of Carter and Shay. The final pages are hauntingly beautiful.
Grade: This was an amazing issue, a huge twist in the story of heroes and villains returning. The artwork continues to impress as ever. I give this issue an A-
Power Girl #19
Abridged Story: Power Girl battles a bunch of Project Cadmus creations. She searches around and finds tons of evidence that helps her figure out whats going on. She meets a cloned Krypto who befriends her and joins the battle. They are stopped when Max makes another appearance and messes with Power Girls mind and makes her go and attack the JLI(which will occur in JL:LG)
Review: What I love is how we continue to see the evolution of this character; she is the fiercest and bravest of the Kryptonians that reside on Earth. She heads into battle on her own and manages to win most of the battles. This issue gives us a turn in the story where she is under someone control, and some of you remember my take on when a man possesses a woman against her will, well it works here in a better degree, it’s his own power, not another's. It was a very fast issue, probably one of the quickest reads I have in a while. The action is fun and lots of it, and the ending has me worried what’s to come next.
Artwork: This cover I like (so I'm a hypocrite), but yeah you can guess the two reasons why, the left and the right. They are the only redeeming factors with this cover. As for the rest of the issue, its good. Basri continues to impress me with his artwork with this character. Her reactions and expressions are some of the best I seen with the characters. Also, is Max supposed to be a tad chunky, his face is much fuller in this series than I seen in a few other images.
Grade: While the last issue was the highlight of the run, this isn’t on that level but still impressive. The art continues to shine and is a fast read. I give this issue a B+
Marvel
Amazing Spider-man #652
Abridged Story: Peter is enjoying his new life with Carlie, while MJ seems a tad jealous. Meanwhile Smythe and his Spider slaying crew head to a nearby rocket base. Peter overlooks the safety of the launch, but it gets interrupted by the Spider Slayers. They attack the base and Smythe holds Jamenson’s son in the shuttle. Spider-man comes in and stops the fighting, only to be told to save the launch. He agrees and heads to the rocketing shuttle. He loses most of his strength, when Scorpion reveals himself and attacks.
Review: The second arc in this new era of Spider-man is pretty impressive, but not without its flaws. I give Slott credit for giving us some great work with Peter and his life now getting back into some form of normality. What surprised was again the odd disconnecting with MJ. Why would she think ever be jealous with Peters new life, yeah she says that he found a way to balance it with Carlie and not her when she knows his secret. The spider-slayers are a pretty cool bunch of villains, with some really cool insect like abilities. I'm glad to see Scorpion back and he looks sweeter than ever.
Artwork: The cover is sort of misleading, the cover is of Spider-man, tattered and beaten up by the Spider-slayers but that doesn't really happen in this issue until the end and thats kind of only with one of them. The style seems to have light improvements. The character designs have more definition and less cartoony. The action scenes at the end are really great and show the madness of the moment.
Grade: A good start with the new arc is very interesting and impressive. This seems most likely to be a quick fun arc too. I love the artwork with the newer design of the characters and as I mentioned, Scorpion is awesome looking. I give this issue an A-
Avengers Academy #8
Abridged Story: The students come across a video of Tigra being beaten up and humiliated by The Hood (does he know the Cape?). Hazmat, Finesse, Veil, and Striker decided to find him and give some payback. They find him just as Tigra comes to terms with what occurred and goes on TV telling her side and that she is establishing a special home for victims of abuse. As she meets up with the students, she is mad by their actions and tells them they are expelled….wait, what?
Review: This is a conflicting issue, while yes its a good issue; the problem is the tone and story its telling. The idea of bringing abuse into play as well as making the students act more on impulse of their ideas rather than thinking what Tigra would want. I agree with the policies they bring up on what makes a hero and where they draw the line when it comes to justice. How is this going to shape up with this title, who's staying and who’s expelled…..got to wait and see.
Artwork: The cover is really cool, it features Veil and Hazmat, but Finesse isn’t featured that much in the story at all. This has some impressive artwork but I found one error and it’s obvious. One panel has Hazmat and Veil behind Striker, they swap sides within two panels and theres no transition of it happening. The character designs are still great but that’s an oops they missed.
Grade: A conflicting issue, some of it good while it lags in real progression of any of the students. One acts out of character and as I mentioned two panels that adds to the confusion. This issue gets a B-
Invincible Iron Man #500
Abridged Story: This big milestone issue has two story lines. The first takes place in the present with Tony and Peter Parker dealing with a super weapon Tony created and its destructive capabilities. Meanwhile in a potential future, the Mandarin has the world under control and about to eliminate the last of humanity. The resistance fighters are led by one of Tony’s family, while others are forced against their wills to side with Mandarin. The issue shifts between the two stories, weaving a perfect web of history mingling together.
Review: Again when it comes to time and history used in issues, much like this, it’s got to work off right. Does it, yes, the story is basically tells that this will occur no matter what happens to a legacy of work used for the wrong reasons. Between the two tales, I actually preferred the future arc, it remains me of Old man Logan, its huge and crazy, and I hope they do a new story line with that. The interaction with Tony and Peter are good, they work well of each other. The ending is really interesting, kind hints at who the mother of this person is.
Artwork: The cover is cool, its Iron Man crashing through a huge 500, breaking a huge milestone for the character. They have two art styles; the current timeline is the same as before while the future has a Frank Miller Dark Knight Returns vibe, its grungy, bleak futuristic society, and I love it, I would like see it used more. The weapon of the future looks like Metal Gear Ray mixed with an EVA unit and it looks bad-ass.
Grade: Its a great issue, a huge read, took me a while to finish but totally worth the read. I preferred the future aspects, and the idea of history is going to occur regardless was impressive and sometimes hard to pull off but Fraction does it. The artwork blends well and I loved the future design. This issue gets an A+.
Thor #619
Abridged Story: Odin tells the origins of the World Tree; Loki gets frightened by Odin’s anger and flees. Thor goes after him as he is greeted by Iron Man, Jane, and the little professor guy. Meanwhile Balder and Tyr head into battle to give a final stand with the red demons of the tenth realm.
Review: Well we seem to be getting to the real moments of the arc. Fraction did the same with Iron Man but with Thor, you need to bring in the action fast and quick, while keeping a fantastic story involved. I liked the origin of the World Tree and I liked Odin’s reaction to Thor’s happenings, trying to live a better life, rather going back to the old order of things. The confrontation is finally about to happen and I cannot wait.
Artwork: Ferry continues to impress with this arc. The cover of the issue is neat, its Odin battling Thor, but theres no fight, except a conflict of ideals. I love his design of Odin, looks like a bad-ass version of Santa. The world tree design is beautiful and gives you a sense of the cosmic style Ferry I best known for. The battle Balder and Tyr have is awesome but one moment is a tad cartoonish, and if you read it, you know what I mean.
Grade: I enjoy Thor as a whole, while its just building up to the actual fights, it’s still nice to see more pieces coming together. Ferry is amazing as always and his designs are beautiful. This issue gets an A-.
Wolverine #5
Abridged Story: Logan and his Father come to terms with what has occurred during his time in Hell. He wants to return home but his father thinks he should rule hell; Logan disagrees and gives his say….with claws. Meanwhile on Earth, it takes both ghost riders to take the demon possessed Logan to Hellstrom and they exercise him out and bring Logan back. However their reunion is halted when Cyclops steps in and asks whats happening.
Review: This was a great way conclusion to an already clever and well thought out arc. Aaron’s writing is amazing and gives us a down to earth portrayal of Logan, a man not stopping for anyone or anything. The interaction he has with his pal Puck is really great when they battle the demon hordes. The ending pulls us straight in from this arc right into the next one, which is really great. No real big action moment but the story is all about Logan’s return to Earth.
Artwork: The covers I have mixed feelings about, the cover art is a weird design while the rest of the issue is another. I have seen the artwork before; it’s not for me though. I love the interior artwork; its portrayal of Hell isn’t all red, fire and brimstone, but a grungier cave like appeal.
Grade: Love Aaron, Love the ending, can't wait for more. The cover is not my taste and I love the design of Hell and its inhabitants. This issue gets an A
Comic News: It was announced this week that Matt Fraction will do a new Thor title called Mighty Thor while Gillen Keiron will return to the current title but that title will be called Journey into Mystery, which was the comic that introduced Thor, way back when. So basically Kieron is returning to a title he did great in while Matt leaves but continues with Thor in a new title. Wrap your head around that folks.
Thats all for this weeks reviews, I know I missed Superior, I will cover it next week. Til then catch you all later, ComicCritic87 OUT!!!!