Excalibur (2004 Series) #1

May 16, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Paint it Black (Forging the Sword Part One)

In the ruins of Genosha, Professor Xavier seeks a new purpose.

Writer: Chris Claremont
Pencils: Aaron Lopresti
Inks: Greg Adams
Colors: Liquid!
Letters: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Mike Marts
Cover Art: Andy Park
Publisher: Marvel Comics

We begin our “X-Men Reloaded” journey with the all-new Excalibur, which doesn’t appear to have anything to connect it to the previous series other than the fact that Chris Claremont is writing it. In the aftermath of Magneto’s death, Charles Xavier has lost his faith in his own dream, and hopes to find renewed purpose in the ravaged land of Genosha. As he travels, he wrestles with his own demons, voices from his past, old enemies and a surprise last-page guest star that 99 percent of you already know about because the spoiler is all over the Internet.

If that last page figure is, indeed, who it seems, it’s pretty disturbing that someone, even Claremont would undo so much of Grant Morrison’s work so quickly. However, the way it’s presented, you can’t be totally sure that things are what they appear – the good professor does spend much of the book hallucinating, and things aren’t necessarily what they seem. I’m willing to give this book the benefit of the doubt, at least into next issue, to find out what’s going on. Claremont’s dialogue isn’t bad in this issue either – even during his heyday in the 80s he had a tendency to be really wordy with his dialogue, but he tones that down in this book, the way he has in his current JLA run, making things more conversational and less expository and melodramatic – and this is a book that could easily have lapsed into melodrama.

On the art side, I’m much more satisfied with the issue. I’ve been a fan of Aaron Lopresti for years, going back to his Sludge run for Malibu comics. He’s a really good storyteller and he has a very delicate balance with his artwork – it’s detailed, but not so detailed as to detract from the story the way a lot of artists work these days. He manages to make each character distinctive – Xavier looks older, but wizened, Wicked may be clad in leather and fishnets, but he’s resisted the urge to give her giant… um… “endowments” the way so many comic artists would. Pretty much everyone, even the giant lizard-man, look pretty realistic.

I’m not sold on this series yet, but I think there’s enough good in this first issue to give it a chance and see where it’s going. If one must “reload,” at least Marvel is doing it with some good ammo.

Rating: 7/10

The Escapists #3

September 21, 2006

Quick Rating: Great

When a publicity stunt goes over the top, will the League of the Golden Key survive?

Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Art: Steve Rolston & Jason Shawn Alexander
Colors: Dave Stewart & Matt Hollingsworth
Letters: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Diana Schutz
Cover Art: John Cassaday & Laura Martin
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Last issue, Max Roth’s dream to bring back the Golden Age superhero the Escapist seemed within his grasp. He’s found a great artist and recruited his best friend to be the letterer, and the self-published comic is almost ready to go. The only thing he needs is a hook – which is how the letterer, Denny Jones, wound up in an Escapist costume. When Denny accidentally thwarts a real crime, though, the attention brings more heat than Max was ready for.

Max uses the publicity to get the upcoming first issue , but the local newspaper reviewer – assuming he capitalized on the mysterious do-gooder, trashes him in print. Max is crushed, but Case refuses to let him give up on his dream.

This issue is very much about the relationship between Max and Case, and that’s a good thing. There’s an obvious attraction between the two characters, but Vaughan has (thus far) danced around the issue, not allowing himself to fall too deeply into the cliché. Instead of supporting him romantically, the issue shows Case giving him the emotional support he needs. The juxtaposition of “her” art next to the style of the main story is really well-done, and the way the characters act out their problems through the developing artwork is unique.

The artwork itself is really strong. Steve Rolston’s “real world” scenes make for a sharp contrast with the more sharply realistic “comic book world” scenes, with art by Alexander. Rolston’s work has a lighter, more “cartoony” feel to it, which serves the story very well. Alexander takes things a step further, though. While the primary job of any comic book art is to tell the writer’s story, Alexander uses the development of the art itself as part of the plot. It’s a unique little twist, and it’s a great one.

Vaughan manages to pull in one of his trademark last-page surprises this issue, and it’s a hook that not only will keep you reading, but promises to make Max’s life even harder in the future. It’s a shame that this miniseries is halfway over. Six issues won’t be nearly enough.

Rating: 9/10

Batman: City of Light #3

December 1, 2003

Quick Rating: Average

Batman sits vigil for a comatose boy while attacks on Gotham City call Batgirl to the fray..

Writer: The Pander Brothers & Mark Paniccia
Pencils: The Pander Brothers
Inks: Alvaro Lopez
Colors: Moose Baumann
Letters: Janice Chiang
Editor: Bob Schreck
Cover Art: The Pander Brothers & Moose Baumann
Publisher: DC Comics

Coming in on the third issue of a miniseries is never the best idea, but this one gives me enough to sort of piece the story together. Batman’s city is falling apart, with Wayne Industries holdings apparently being the target of malicious bombings. Batman is out of the game, though, sitting at the side of a hospitalized boy whose chances for survival appear slim. It seems this is one child Batman could not save.

Batgirl takes up the slack, investigating the bombings and finding cryptic, glowing clues. Meanwhile, a developer that is responsible for a glowing “Neo-Gotham” is plotting to demonstrate the dark side of the city. The Neo-Gotham is plaguing the Batman somehow, taking up residence in his mind, starting to control him.

This story has a weird sci-fi angle that isn’t my favorite for Batman. The artwork, however is rather good. The Pander Brothers draw a suitably dark Batman, while still doing a good job with the brilliant light-city of Neo-Gotham.

It’s nice to see some use getting made of Batgirl – something to ground this special in the current DCU as opposed to the nebulous, in-between time that a lot of Batman miniseries seem to occupy.

This isn’t a bad book, but it doesn’t really seem to add too much to the Batman saga either. In the end, it unfortunately feels like just another miniseries.

Rating: 5/10