ComicCritic87’s weekly comic book reviews
Week of August 3, 2011
Greetings friends and fellow comic book readers and fans, once again I will be making some slight updates to my reviewing style. I will be keeping the top picks of the week and the quick reviews segments. I will be adding in a new segment called weakest of the week, where I pick out of my readings the weakest issue, I won’t have Marvel or DC weakest of the Week, it could be either one. Whether it is based on the story, writing, or artwork, one of these elements or more will be the deciding factor that will make said issue the weakest. To make my written reviews a bit easier on me I will my reviews in the order of Top Picks, Weakest of the Week, and then quick reviews, which I will add more to them but not make them as long as the others. Also I have not read the issue of Ultimate Fallout #4 where the new Spider-man is revealed, I seen the spoilers and yes it’s a bold choice for Marvel in the Ultimate universe, hope it works out for them, I’m not one for controversy and not in the mood for talking of its impact at this time. For now let’s get to my weekly comic reviews.
Comics this week
DC Comics: Flashpoint #4 of 5, Superboy #10, Superman #714
Marvel Comics: Avengers Academy #17, Herc #6, Heroes for Hire #10, Thunderbolts #161, Wolverine #13
Top Picks of the Week
DC Comics: Flashpoint #4 of 5
Abridged Story: The time has come, the war between the Amazonian warriors and the Atlantians has arrived, the world is on the verge of destruction and Barry Allen must unite the heroes that have gone into hiding to battle these conflicting sides. Barry, Thomas, and Cyborg are under attack but are then saved by somewhat deranged Element woman. Barry overcomes more thoughts being removed and new ones being placed in him, soon he will forget his old world and unwilling embrace the new. Thomas and Cyborg take Barry to the children of SHAZAM, one of the kids uses his magical power to temporarily keep Barry's mind at bay. Barry awakens and tells Thomas they must go and stop the war, He agrees and they soon gather the other heroes and enter the battlefield. Captain Thunder (Captain Marvel in this world) battles Wonder Woman but is depowered and one of the children meets an untimely death. Prof. Zoom arrives and blames Barry for all of this.
Review: This issue has a nice blend of exposition and action, the first half of the issue continues to push the characters forward into gathering the scattered allies to unite in this fight. Yet this event so far feels much like a rush for a deadline, which of course we all know is the September “New 52” relaunch. So Geoff Johns has to cram all the exposition and action into 5 issues, mixing and blending them in a perfect mesh so that it will be easy for us fans to get the gist of what’s happening. If they had more time, they could have pushed this to 6 issues to give us breathing space issue to issue. The good parts in this issue are with Barry Allen and his moments of still trying to figure out this new world, and how it is overtaking him with each lightning surge he gets, that I like, seeing someone trying to stop losing an old life from being taking over by a darker and grimmer one is a far better story line which I would like to see explored more. The big battle sequence towards the end was great but we only see a small view of this battle, which works in this issues favor because the main focus of this mini-series was about Barry trying to set things right
Artwork: The cover of this issue is nicely done yet this doesn't occur in the story line. The cover features Wonder Woman on the left and Aquaman on the right, both about to deal a killing blow to The Flash who is wounded and torn up really bad in this battle. The interior artwork still continues to impress. Andy Kubert has a fun style to his artwork, the heroes are drawn really well, the costume style he draws on them are iconic in new ways thanks to this new universe where they are given that freedom. The battle scene is nicely drawn and doesn't feel cluttered like some battle scenes I have seen before. My favorite moment is when Captain Thunder is depowered since all of the kids are fused as one are coming out of the body rather than a bolt of lightning and not separated.
Grade: B+
Marvel Comics: Avengers Academy #17
Abridged Story: The students have seen their first war and survived the skirmish in Washington DC, they return back to base for rest and recovery. Mettle and Hazmat have a slight falling out after Mettle says he killed someone, just like Veil has done. Meanwhile the Absorbing man and Titanna still possessed by the hammers of the Worthy search for revenge against Ant-man, they find the best way, the kids. Veil and Mettle discuss about the trauma of killing in a time of war. Striker then talks with Finesse and Reptil about how he doesn't mind killing someone since he has power now, and even saying that the event with Korvac was not about them. Just as they are relaxing, their home is under attack by Absorbing man and Titanna, they are powerless against these two heavy powered villains. Just as they are about to attack, Mettle comes in and blocks the attack and an explosion occurs.
Review: I have been a fan of this series since issue #1 and it continues to impress no matter what is occurring in each issue, we are following these students through their training and now we have seen the fruits of that labor. This issue has a great pace to it, we get plenty of time to relax after the battle, seeing them deal and handle their first taste as heroes even if it has come with the price of post-traumatic stress disorder. Out of all the students I’m glad to see a romance blossom between Mettle and Hazmat since they are two made for each other, they have the Marvel standards of dating, in love but tragedy is bound to occur. The two villains of this issue are very persistent with this revenge since the Hammer didn't fully take over the Absorbing man, yet Titanna speaks with an English tongue as well, it must be because they are talking with one another and it would be annoying to see the asgardian tongue take over two people. The big fight at the end of the issue is well done, showing how unprepared they are when the least expect it.
Artwork: The cover is nicely drawn and does showcase what is to occur in the issue. The cover is of Reptil pushing the Giant hammer of the Absorbing man who he does battle in the issue. The interior artwork has been the most consistent thing about this series which makes it a worthy read just for the art alone. The characters are well designed no character looks the same, there is diversity in this series, and I like that.
Grade: A-
Weakest of the Week: Heroes for Hire #10
What failed: The artwork in this series in the beginning was done amazing, giving such detail for every hero and villain. Now the artwork is all over the place, like a bad 90s comic, the characters are poorly drawn and shaped fun with strange proportions. The story is also weak; it ties into the events of Fear Itself rather than being its own story line much like Mighty Thor or the new Captain America. This series had a fun start but if it doesn't improve it will be a dropped title. D-
Quick Reviews
DC comics
Superboy #10: 80% of the issue is a flashback of who is the mystical villain is that Superboy is fighting and how this mystic has become the Phantom Strangers rival. The final 20% has Connor being overpowered easily. The flashback took way too many pages to tell in my opinion and should have focused on the two groups in this underground city. The artwork was still nice in this arc. C+
Superman #714: Superman finally gets back to normal and fights a woman who is the embodiment of his depression and fear thanks to a crystal from New Krypton. He removes the fear and instills in it hope and crushes it, scattering it across time and space. Superman goes around giving his new found friends membership to his new group of defenders. The girl from the Supermen society turns out to be the woman he fought in this issue. Besides the crappy this ending this was not a bad ending, yet Superman needed a better send off since this is the end of this arc. C+
Marvel Comics
Herc #6: Hercules and Kyknos battle one another as the grip of fear disappears from Brooklyn. Hercules wins the battle thanks to the help of powered up versions of his three new allies. I enjoy the level of fun this series gives off, not taking itself serious works in its favor. The artwork could be improved but nonetheless still nicely done. B-
Thunderbolts #161: The team has averted the Juggernaut from attacking Chicago, but the team doesn't get time to relax as a Warhead comes down to nuke Chicago. Moonstone is the only one able to stop it. She heads up to alter its course but as she does the warhead drops and heads down at a fast rate. It falls into a nearby lake where then giant monsters come out of the lake; the team arrives and preps for battle. Love this series, the artwork is still nicely done and the action is always there. B+
Wolverine #13: Logan continues his revenge against this group of people. We learn the back story of one of the members, a young girl who is from a Ninja Clan who was wiped out thanks to Wolverine. Logan is warned that the final trial will hurt him far worse than the people he has fought. Aaron is awesome with this series and the artwork so the brutal nature of Logan. B-
Well hope you guys enjoy this updated format, next week is going to be a breeze, 6 issues next week that will really test this format. Catch you all then, ComicCritic87 out, peace