Justice League of America (2005 Series) #48

September 13, 2010

Title: The Dark Things Part Five (A Brightest Day crossover)
Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Mark Bagley
Inks: Rob Hunter, Norm Rapmund, Don Ho, Derek Fridolfs & Rich Perrotta
Colorist: Ulises Arreola & Zarathus
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Cover: Mark Bagley, Jesus Merino & Nei Ruffino
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics

The Justice League and Justice Society (along with Kyle Rayner and Mr. Miracle) face off against a hyped-up Alan Scott. Jade and Obsidian have merged into a new being, and Mr. Terrific’s plan to save the universe will hinge on a couple of girls named Kara.

This really is a fine conclusion to this story arc, bringing everything you were excited about to a boil in the finale. Dr. Mid-Nite’s rescue of Starman is well done, and the cavalry storming in works really nicely. There are some great bits in here with lasting changes for Alan, Jade and Obsidian, clearly establishing their roles in the DC Universe in general and their respective teams in particular. In fact, the Justice League we’re presented with by the end of this issue is an interesting group. I think Robinson has put together a nice core team to build his tenure on this title around.

Mark Bagley’s artwork works, but as I’ve often pointed out, it works better on the young heroes than the Justice Society. It’ll be nice next issue when they return to their own stomping grounds and he’s left with a pretty young team to depict throughout the book. The color team deserves some special recognition here though, I think, really turning out some eye-popping pages.

Then there’s the backup story…

Title: Cogs Part Three
Writer: James Robinson
Pencils: Pow Rodrix
Inks: Ruy Jose
Colorist: Zarathus
Letterer: Rob Leigh

While the Starheart was making all the elementals on Earth go crazy, Cyborg had just finished upgrading Red Tornado’s systems in a way that makes him virtually indestructible. Great idea, until the Starheart pits him against his friend. This issue is mostly an extended battle scene, with Cyborg doing whatever he can to stay alive long enough to – temporarily – put Red Tornado down. It’s an okay sequence, but doesn’t really add much to either character, save for building up the friendship between the two of them. It’s nice, but as neither of them promise to be part of the regular cast of the title, it feels sort of inconsequential.

Rating: 7/10

Exiles (2001 Series) #49

July 9, 2004

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Mission Impossible

What happens when the Exiles land on a world with an Impossible Man gone mad?

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

In an amusing done-in-one issue, the new Exiles team lands on a world where a superpowerful Impossible Man has gone mad. Armed with the ability to transform anyone into anything, and with a mind that is no longer interested in the pesky but mostly harmless fun that has always defined the character, the Exiles have to stop him before an entire Earth is lost.

Predictably, this issue turns into a dual of the goofballs, with Morph taking on Impossible Man directly while the rest of the team tries to minimize the damage, and wind up on the sidelines for most of the fight. It’s amusing and a nice little one-shot story leading into next month’s issue #50. It seems a bit superfluous, though. Bedard came on three issues ago with a storyline set in the “real” Marvel universe, then jumped into this comic relief story. As a result, we still haven’t really gotten a grasp of the direction this series is going to take under his stewardship.

While I still applaud the decision to add Beak to the team, I have to wonder how long Namora is going to last. She’s a thoroughly unlikable character, and while that may work sometimes in order to build conflict, she doesn’t seem to add very much to this book. At least, so far she hasn’t. On the other hand, he deserves points for mining lesser-known and obscure characters like Controller to create his storylines. It reminds you that while this may technically be an X-book, the scope of the title really is the entire Marvel universe.

Jim Calafiore steps back to this title briefly, filling in for regular artist Mizuki Sakakibara, and he does a very good job. He knows each of these long-time characters, and has a great take on Beak. I especially like what he does with Impossible Man, giving him clever transformations. Of course, dealing with a version of ol’ Impy that can transform other people and objects gives him much more to play with, and he succeeds on a visual level, making everything look clever.

Hopefully next issue, the 50th, will allow Bedard to finally open up and tear into the sort of stories I started reading this book anticipating. He’s a great writer, and while his first four issues have been enjoyable, they haven’t blown me away, and that’s what I’m hoping for.

Rating: 7/10

Fables #23

March 8, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Our Second Amendment Issue (March of the Wooden Soldiers Chapter Four)

Prince Charming makes a move, Red Riding Hood talks to Blue Boy and Bigby gets even more suspicious.

Writer: Bill Willingham
Pencils: Mark Buckingham
Inks: Steve Leialoha
Colors: Daniel Vozzo
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Shelly Bond
Cover Art: James Jean
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo

This issue is a curious reflection of the last, wherein Cinderella played a dangerous political game. We get more of those games in this issue, and the consequences are even more dire for at least one Fable.

Prince Charming, continuing his bid to wrest the mayorship of Fabletown from King Cole, makes an intriguing proposition to Beauty and the Beast. Meanwhile, Blue Boy finally has a conversation with Red Riding Hood, whose sudden reappearance centuries after she was presumed dead began all this fuss in the first place. Our three mysterious “brothers” make a much bolder play in this issue, and Bigby has to start piecing together the clues as to their appearance – because by the end of this issue it should be pretty clear to everyone exactly what is at stake.

Bill Willingham continues playing with the mystery aspect that has made this title such a gripping read ever since the first issue. Surprisingly, even in a book where things get as chilling as they do here, he even manages to inject a good bit of humor, particularly in his treatment of Pinocchio, who I’d like to see more of just for the sheer entertainment value.

Mark Buckingham’s artwork, as always, is marvelous. He gets to play around with some characters he hasn’t touched on as much this issue (such as the aforementioned Pinocchio and Flycatcher), and he continues to craft some really original page layouts, keeping his shield motif for scenes starring Prince Charming and tossing in something wickedly clever for the King Cole pages.

This book amazes every month – it manages to continually reinvent itself without ever sacrificing the feel or elements that made it so good to begin with. This issue has everything – character development, mystery, comedy and real progression of the meta-arc. Even the teaser for next issue gives you a healthy glimpse of what must be in store. Fables remains, hands-down, one of the best comic books on the racks.

Rating: 8/10