She-Hulk (2004 Series) #11

January 14, 2005

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Imbalance of Power

Titania’s on a rampage – and even an enhanced She-Hulk may not be strong enough to save the day.

Writer: Dan Slott
Pencils: Paul Pelletier
Inks: Rick Magyar
Colors: Dave Kemp
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Mike Mayhew
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Dan Slott deserves a ton of credit for how he pulled this issue out. He’s taken Titania, a character who has always been an emotional arch-foe for She-Hulk but has never been able to match her in combat, and made her a real threat. Even better, he found a way to reconcile all of the various storylines involving Shulkie from the last few years of other Marvel Comics and made them all fit perfectly within the context of this title.

Titania, now armed by the Power Infinity Gem, is ready to take on the woman she hates more than any other, and the way to draw her out is to tear up the city. Meanwhile, She-Hulk is having a chat with her old buddy Doc Samson. This sequence is where this issue really shines. Slott reaches back to She-Hulk’s days with the Fantastic Four to pick up a thread, which he laces into the “Red Zone” arc of Avengers, back into his own title and then through Avengers Disassembled, explaining perfectly how everything fits together in Jen Walters’ life. He even finds a way to explain the abominable Juggernaut incident from Uncanny X-Men, for which he shall have my eternal gratitude.

For all the character development, though, this issue is ultimately a lot of set-up to lead to a great cliffhanger, which promises a real slam-bang next issue.

Paul Pelletier’s artwork is as good as ever. He draws a lot of characters in a lot of environments, showing She-Hulk and Titania both in various levels of musculature, and recreates scenes from other titles (the brutal death of the Vision, for instance), with grace.

Most amazing of all, though, is the fact that this book never loses its sense of humor. Never. It’s not as laugh-out-loud funny as some earlier issues have been, but even in the midst of a few really heavy scenes, Slott eases in a joke to keep it from going to far.

This book is getting a much-needed profile boost in the coming months, and the critical buzz couldn’t be better. This is one of the best comics Marvel puts out every month, and if you’re not reading it, you should be.

Rating: 9/10

DC Universe Presents #2

October 31, 2011

Title: Twenty Questions Part Two

Writer: Paul Jenkins
Art: Bernard Chang
Colorist: Blond
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Ryan Sook
Editor: Will Moss
Publisher: DC Comics

With no more answers about why he’s been chosen for his afterlife mission or why the parameters seem to have changed recently, Deadman tries to force the Goddess Roma to play her hand. It’s not as easy as all that, though, and he soon finds himself back on Earth seeking clues in the one place he has left… a club that caters to the occult set. Without an invitation to the Moonstone Club, though, he’ll have to resort to drastic means. Paul Jenkins’ rejiggering of the Deadman concept is proceeding really nicely here. I like his take on the character very much. It’s in keeping with everything we already knew about him, while still leaving plenty of room to try something new. The Moonstone club and its various inhabitants is a very cool concept, one that works with Deadman very well. The continuing questions about Deadman’s true nature are also intriguing While we haven’t really learned anything new yet, it’s easy to believe that by the time this story arc reaches its conclusion, the life (such as it is) of Boston Brand is going to be different than it is right now. Bernard Chang does good work here, with some nice “acting” on the characters Boston possesses. The subtlety of the facial expressions and body language really make it clear it’s the same person in multiple bodies, even if we didn’t have the crutch of the energy-aura to point it out for us. Very nice issue two.

Rating: 8/10

Batgirl (2011 Series) #2

October 17, 2011

Title: Cut Short, Cut Deep

Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Ardian Syaf
Inks: Vicente Cifuentes
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Adam Hughes
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Publisher: DC Comics

In her first encounter with the serial killer called Mirror, Batgirl’s fear of being crippled again stopped her from stopping him. In her next fight, she begins to hunt down the truth… and it’s not at all what she expected. As I’ve come to expect from Gail Simone, this issue really takes the characters and take them into perfectly logical, but very unexpected directions. Barbara’s roommate is already stumbling on her covered in cuts and bruises, something that doesn’t at all sit well with her, and the way it’s approached in this issue, her anger is entirely justified. Mirror himself has a very intriguing motivation, something I wouldn’t have guessed at that makes him less of a madman and more of a tragic villain in the vein of Mr. Freeze and the like. He’s still dangerous, he still needs to be stopped, but when you think about what drove him to the lengths he’s taking, you feel for him. Ardian Syaf is a fantastic artist, and a great choice for this book. I really enjoy his take on Batgirl and the design for mirror. As for Adam Hughes’ cover – is he trying to make Batgirl look like Karen Gillan? Because first of all, he’s succeeding, and second, now I really want her to learn an American accent and play Barbara Gordon in something, because she’d be fantastic. Great issue.

Rating: 9/10

New X-Men (2004 Series) #37

April 9, 2007

Quick Rating: Good
Title: The Quest for Magik Prelude
Rating: T+

Does Blindfold sense Magik’s return?

Writers: Craig Kyle & Chris Yost
Pencils: Skottie Young
Inks: Sean Parsons
Colors: Skottie Young & Jean-Francois-Beaulieu
Storybook Page Art: Niko Henrichon
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Nick Lowe
Cover Art: Niko Henrichon
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Well, her brother’s alive again, I guess it was Magik’s turn. On an ordinary evening at the X-Mansion, several of the young heroes are entertaining each other by telling stories. When it’s Blindfold’s turn, though, she begins to describe a tale from the X-Men’s past – that of Illyana Rasputin, the girl called Magik. And the story doesn’t end with her demise.

There’s good and bad in this issue. The good is in the presentation. If they’re going to do a Magik storyline, it’s best that they give newer readers a solid recap on her past, and as recaps go, this one is pretty strong and fairly entertaining. The problem is that the issue is literally nothing but recap. Until the last page, there’s not really any plot progression. Well, there’s a strange scene involving Josh and the Cuckoos sneaking into Hank McCoy’s bedroom, but that’s just kinda disturbing.

The artwork is another strong point. Skottie Young does the basic scenes, and he does a fine job that’s well in keeping with the tone of the series. Niko Henrichon’s artwork, however, is really a standout in this book. Henrichon provides the art for the “storybook” scenes, and does a GREAT job. These pages would be perfectly in keeping with a beautiful fantasy comic book – lush, rich and enchanting.

The story is just okay, although I’m really burned out on all the resurrections we’ve seen lately. (What happened to “dead means dead?”) Still, if it gets us more Henrichon artwork, I’ll take it.

Rating: 7/10

Cable and Deadpool #45

September 24, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Band of (Oh) Brothers
Rating: T+

Deadpool and Bob – meet Captain America and Bucky!

Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Reilly Brown
Inks: Jeremy Freeman
Colors: Gotham
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Nicole Boose
Cover Art: Skottie Young
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Having saved the world from Hydra, the Penetraitor’s damaged armor caused a hiccup in time last issue, grabbing Deadpool and Bob Hydra, hurling them back in time to World War II, just in time to team up with Captain America and Bucky on the trail of the mad scientist Arnim Zola. Deadpool is jazzed to be working with the living legend, while Bob finds himself torn between his HYDRA training focusing his hatred on Cap and the fact that Captain America is just darn cool.

As usually is the case, this is a fun issue, with Cap and Bucky’s very distinct reactions to Deadpool opening up to some nicely-played comedy. The fight scenes are a lot of fun, the artwork is great – I’ve finally realized what it was the problem was that kept me from enjoying this series wholly: Cable. I just don’t care about him. But Deadpool, solo, is turning out to be a highly entertaining read.

Really, Marvel? You’re going to cancel this book – one of the few legitimately enjoyable comics in a bloated, depressing X-line, to replace it with a Cable ongoing? At least keep this book alive and drop his name from the title – make it a Deadpool solo book again. It’s too good to lose that way.

Rating: 8/10

Exiles (2001 Series) #60

March 4, 2005

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Son of Apocalypse Part One

Back in the Age of Apocalypse, the Timebroker reveals a new mission – and a new teammate.

Writer: Tony Bedard
Pencils: Jim Calafiore
Inks: Mark McKenna
Colors: JC
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Mike Marts
Cover Art: Jim Calafiore
Publisher: Marvel Comics

For some time, my major criticism of this title was that it seemed like Tony Bedard was taking too long to get around to any real plot progression. The stories seemed rather generic and not specific to the Exiles, and the members of the team didn’t get their stories advanced much, if at all.

He’s making up for that now. The Timebroker has plunked the team back onto Blink’s world, known to comic fans as the universe of the Age of Apocalypse (just in time to coincide with the 10th anniversary specials of that same event, what a coinkydink) and replaced some of their members. The team’s disenchantment with the Timebroker’s mission grows this issue, especially when they learn what their new mission is.

This book feels like it’s finally rumbling towards a final confrontation with the mysterious and increasingly malevolent Timebroker, something that Bedard has slowly been brewing since taking this title over 15 issues ago. It make have taken a little while to get here, but this issue has really started to excite me.

Jim Calafiore returns to the art again this issue, and I must say, he’s just as good as the artist he trades off with. It’s been a while since I read any of the Apocalypse issues, but he fits the visuals of that world very well, and manages to show a progression of how that world looked some time after its conclusion and supposed destruction. (I’m assuming the other issues being released this week give some sort of explanation as to how it escaped nuclear devastation, they seem to brush past it in this issue).

Next issue is labeled as the last part of this arc, but future covers would seem to indicate that there’s a good bit more to go through before the main story is over. I’m quite anxious to see how it plays out.

Rating: 8/10

Cable and Deadpool #44

August 20, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Head Games
Rating: T+

Cable dead? Deadpool beheaded? Wolverine versus the Penetrator!

Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Ron Lim
Inks: Jeremy Freeman & John Dell
Colors: Gotham & Sotocolor
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Nicole Boose
Cover Art: Skottie Young
Publisher: Marvel Comics

You know, considering that Cable was apparently killed over in X-Men and Wolverine chopped off Deadpool’s head last issue, you would think it would be difficult to find something to write about this month. And for a lesser writer than Fabian Nicieza it probably would be, but I gotta tell ya, he’s got this all sewn up.

With Deadpol out of commission, Wolverine turns his attention to Penetrator, even as the hordes of Hydra begin to swarm upon them. Not only is this book action-packed, but it’s also one of the flat-out funniest issues of this comic to come down the pike in a long time. Nicieza makes liberal use of the joke potential in a character called “The Penetrator” (at least as much as he can without turning this into a MAX book), and a totally out-of-the blue Hugh Jackman joke left me laughing out loud. Nicieza sets up things nicely to begin the next story, and I put the book down feeling genuinely satisfied with what I’d read.

Having Ron Lim on the art doesn’t hurt of course. He’s one of those artists I always love seeing but who doesn’t get nearly as much work as he deserves. He blends the major fight scenes with some great physical comedy sequences here, and he blends them flawlessly.

Yeah, you’d think that having both of our leads seemingly dead would be a detriment to this issue, but it’s a fantastic read anyway.

Rating: 8/10

Batgirl (2011 Series) #1

September 12, 2011

Title: Shattered

Writer: Gail Simone
Pencils: Ardian Syaf
Inks: Vicente Cifuentes
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist: Adam Hughes
Editor: Bobbie Chase
Publisher: DC Comics

This was one of those “New 52” books that made me feel a real mix of conflicted emotions. I love Barbara Gordon… as Oracle. And I’ve loved her as Oracle for years. But I also trust writer Gail Simone, the person who made me love Oracle, to tell the greatest stories about Barbara Gordon possible, no matter what costume she’s wearing, no matter whether she can walk or not. I was nervous. I’ll admit. But I shouldn’t have been. Gail Simone knocked this out of the park.

Barbara Gordon has regained the use of her legs. We don’t yet know how, but so far that doesn’t matter. With the use of her legs back, she’s reclaimed the Batgirl identity she originated and taken to the streets of Gotham City, seeking a serial killer who calls himself The Mirror. Barbara is back in fighting form, but even though we don’t yet know how she regained her legs, she certainly hasn’t forgotten how she lost them. Flashbacks to the Joker’s crippling gunshot to her spine still plague Barbara… and when the time comes, will she be able to rise above her fear and become a hero of the streets once again?

I’m not really surprised that we don’t yet know how Barbara is walking again, but it’s fair to say that lack of knowledge is the only thing about this issue that disappoints me even a little. Considering how sensitive an issue this is, it may have helped to give a more substantive answer than to chalk it up to an unnamed “miracle” (which I don’t take literally, but some irate fanboys online apparently have). I’m willing to give Simone the benefit of the doubt on this one, I just wish we’d been thrown a bone.

That aside, everything else about this issue is virtually flawless. Simone knows Barbara’s character better than anybody who has ever written her, and even this younger Barbara feels like the same person who graced the pages of Birds of Prey for all those years. She’s tough, but not Batman-tough, and she uses her brain as a weapon moreso than anything else. At this point, her own fear is her greatest enemy, and that makes for a totally gripping read.

Ardian Syaf is one of those artists I truly believe will soon crack into the echelon of DC Superstars. He’s in that position where Ivan Reis or Nicola Scott were a few years ago – turning out beautiful work on a book that isn’t necessarily top-tier (although it’s hard to say exactly where the top tier of the New 52 will wind up), but that’s far too good to be ignored. I hope he has a very long run on this book, but I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him moving on to the likes of Justice League or Batman should the artists of those titles decide to step back.

Wonderful story, beautiful artwork, and in just the second week, one of the New 52’s greatest comics.

Rating: 9/10

Exiles #61 (2001 Series)

March 19, 2005

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Son of Apocalypse Part Two

The Exiles launch a desperate plan to free themselves from the Timebroker!

Writer: Tony Bedard
Pencils: Jim Calafiore
Inks: Mark McKenna
Colors: JC
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Mike Marts
Cover Art: Jim Calafiore
Publisher: Marvel Comics

This book, in the last few issues, has really raced up my list of most-anticipated titles. Tony Bedard took a while to get his legs, but now that’s he’s on them, he’s doing great. Sasquatch and Blink have been taken from their friends, replaced with Sabretooth and Holocaust from the world of the Age of Apocalypse. Despite being labeled as a 10th Anniversary tie-in to that storyline, this book has almost nothing to do with it, other than using the characters and the M’Krann Crystal.

The murderous Holocaust has a plan to use the Crystal to take the team to the heart of the Timebroker’s lair, finally confronting the entity that has been manipulating them since the series began. Their only obstacle remaining? Full-on battle with Magneto and his X-Men. This is a heavy action issue and is immensely satisfying on that front. I’m more anxious than ever to see how this story will play out. Don’t let the title fool out – although it’s labeled as “part two of two,” this is by no means a conclusion to the story. It’s a cliffhanger, and a particularly abrupt one. In fact, it’s how sharply the issue ends that gives it the only black mark in my book.

We’re left in the dark about two characters, but there seems to be a promise that they’re going to get the closure they need as this story continues. This seems to be one of the few instances where that old chestnut that “nothing will be the same again” may actually apply.

Jim Calafiore’s artwork, again, is quite impressive. Some of his faces, up-close, are a little sketchy this issue, but overall it’s very strong. He does a really good job with the fights this issue – there’s plenty of action, and it all looks good.

Finally, this title is exciting again. I’m on the edge of my seat waiting to see what comes up next, and three weeks may actually be too long a wait.

Rating: 8/10

World War Hulk: Frontline #1

June 26, 2007

Quick Rating: Average
Rating: T+

Ben Urich and Sally Floyd need a big scoop for their paper. Will the Hulk’s world war do the trick?

Writer: Paul Jenkins
Art: Ramon Bachs
Colors: Matt Milla
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: John Watson
Publisher: Marvel Comics

It’s been a few months since Ben Urich and Sally Floyd launched their new alternative newspaper, and they’re struggling… until a mysterious benefactor gives them the funds to stay afloat. Now all they need is a story to make their mark. Then, on cue, the Hulk arrives on Earth with an ultimatum.

The big problem with this book is that the writer is trying to do too much in one comic. There are no less than five separate storylines going on at once. You start out with a newsroom drama about a struggling paper. You throw in a mystery about who would give them the money – anonymously – to help the newspaper succeed. Then the Hulk arrives and the story shifts to being about how a reporter will cover such an event. Then we have two additional, connected stories that seem totally out-of-place, a story about an envoy from the Hulk’s Warbound attempting to establish diplomatic relations with the city of New York (the city, mind you, that they just invaded), which is further compounded by a murder mystery. And unlike the previous Frontline miniseries, this isn’t divided up among various stories in a single issue, this is all ostensibly in one story.

Ramon Bach’s art looks good. He handles the talking head stuff at the beginning just as well as he does the sci-fi/alien encounters in the second half of the book. The problem, as I said, is that there’s simply too much going on here. The book feels like it’s trying to do everything at once, and as a result, it isn’t doing any of it as effectively as it could.

Rating: 5/10