Mega Man (2011 Series) #2

July 20, 2011

Title: Weapons GET! (Let the Games Begin Part Two)

Writer: Ian Flynn
Pencils: Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante
Inks: Rick Bryant
Colorist: Matt Herms
Letterer: John Workman
Cover: Patrick “Spaz” Spaziante
Editor: Paul Kaminski       
Publisher: Archie Comics

The evil Dr. Wily has corrupted the robots invented by his former partner, Dr. Light, and turned them into weapons of destruction. To save the world, Light’s gentle assistant robot Rock has volunteered to be transformed into a new kind of warrior: Mega Man. In this issue, as he does battle with the likes of Bomb Man and Guts Man, Rock learns how to adopt the weapons of his fallen enemies, even as he questions the wisdom of going into battle against his own kind.

I’ve gotta tell you, when Archie Comics announced that they were going to be launching a Mega Man series, the last thing I expected was a deep examination of the mental state of the modern soldier. Rock’s reluctance to fight brainwashed robots, coupled with his own self-recriminations when he’s forced into a position where he has to destroy them, makes for one of the most cerebral comics I’ve ever read from this publisher.

That’s not to say that the comic doesn’t work as a simple action tale – it does, and it does so in a very entertaining fashion. People who grew up playing the video games will find just what they expected. It’s an additional later that seems pretty bold for the righter to add on, actually making a statement of sorts rather than just telling a wacky sci-fi tale. This book works in ways I wouldn’t have expected at all.

Rating: 7/10

New Thunderbolts #3

December 24, 2004

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Heavy Burdens

Even with some all-star help, can the new Thunderbolts save the U.N.?

Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Heavy Thinking: Kurt Busiek
Pencils: Tom Grummett
Inks: Gary Erskine
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Albert Deschesne
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Art: Tom Grummett & Chris Sotomayor
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Last issue, a battle against The Game at the United Nations sent the building crumbling with the Thunderbolts, Mr. Fantastic and Namor inside. This time, heroes and villains alike work inside and out to save the lives of everybody trapped in the building.

The character dynamic in this issue is really, really good. It’s intriguing to see how quick Mr. Fantastic is to trust these new Thunderbolts, like he’s willing to give someone a second chance. On the outside, there’s a sharp contrast as Spider-Man has to forge an uneasy alliance with his former enemy, Mach-IV, who once plagued him as the Beetle. Mach-IV has to pull strings with his unlikely benefactor, Baron Strucker, to bring in the one man who can save the lives of everyone in the building. Finally, the book ends with a major, major twist (which is actually two twists in one – one of revelation and one of action) that turns the entire series on its ear only three issues in. Twists and turns were the hallmark of the old series, and it’s great to know that Nicieza and Busiek (who I have to assume is credited here for co-plotting) are keeping that tradition going.

Grummet, Erskine and Sotomayor continue to do a fantastic job with this book. They’ve got a lot to play with visually this issue, starting out with a four-page underwater sequence followed up with a major fire at the U.N. Songbird’s powers get a real workout this issue as well, which means they have a lot to play with as far as her powers are concerned.

Questions keep racking up with this book. What’s up with Atlas’s powers? How and why did Mach-IV hook up with Strucker? And what happened to Captain Marvel? I’d be lying if I said you got any answers this issue, but man, it’s fun getting to the questions.

Rating: 8/10

Fables #26

June 8, 2004

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: The Battle of Fabletown (March of the Wooden Soldiers Chapter Seven)

The wooden soldiers are armed. The Fables are ready. The war begins.

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 is one of those comic books it is going to be very hard to review, because so much happens and virtually everything constitutes a spoiler. Still, I shall endeavor to do my best to convey to you exactly how sharp, how powerful, how brilliant an issue this is of one of the best comic books on the market today.

The Adversary, the mysterious being that drove the Fables out of their homelands, has sent an army of wooden soldiers constructed by Pinochio’s father, Gepetto, out to New York City to do war with them in the streets of Fabletown. The wooden soldiers are only supposed to be interested in procuring the magical items in the Fables’ possession and taking Pinochio back with them, but they march with a blood thirst that could bring down everything the Fables have work for.

This is basically a book-long battle scene, but it’s one that advances the plot and many characters in very significant ways. Prince Charming proves himself a capable warrior. Snow White is shown as a good leader and strategist, but not infallible (one major mistake she makes, ironically, is a tactic that fans on Bill Willingham’s message board have been debating all month). At least two major characters seem to fall in battle – although in a book like this any death is suspect – others are gravely wounded and still more find new or slightly altered roles to cast themselves in. This is one of those books that actually lives up to the hyperbole of saying that nothing will be the same after it is over.

Buckingham and Leialoha own this series. While there have been other artists and they’ve all done fine jobs, this art team gives the title more power, more zing than anybody else. Buckingham doesn’t get to play around with panel structure as much as he usually does, since the battle scene doesn’t really allow for that, but he still packs every panel with magic, valor and energy.

And if all that isn’t enough, the book also includes a preview of the upcoming The Witching by Jonathan Vankin, Leigh Gallagher and Ron Randall. It’s hard to get a feel for the story in the few pages presented here, but the artwork is beautiful.

In summation, if you haven’t been reading this book, start. Now. Go get the first three trade paperbacks and order the TPB of this story arc, it’s solicited in this month’s Previews. Go ahead. I’ll wait. It’s worth it.

Rating: 10/10