The Iron Age: Alpha #1

February 4, 2012

Title: The Iron Age: Alpha

Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Rebekah Isaacs
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Colors: Andres Mossa
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Editor: Thomas Brennan
Publisher: Marvel Comics

While attending a reception for a library he helped fund, Tony Stark is abducted by a squad of robots, and not even Luke Cage and Iron Fist can save him. Spirited away, he finds himself in the clutches of an old villain he fought once, years ago, who has a new agenda. The Phantom wants to end the world, and all he’ll need to do it is Dr. Doom’s time machine and one of the most powerful threats the Marvel Universe has ever faced.

Rob Williams kicks things off with an interesting concept – a villain who uses time travel to destroy the world, and Iron Man tossed back in time with a chance to prevent it. The format is rather odd – why this was structured as a three-issue miniseries with two “Alpha” and “Omega” bookends rather than just a five-issue miniseries is beyond me. But it’s easy enough to forget about that and just get into the story. Considering what Marvel was working on when this was released last summer, one has to wonder if the reintroduction of Dark Phoenix in this time-travel story wasn’t a warm-up of sorts for Avengers Vs. X-Men. It doesn’t necessarily feel that way, at least not in this first issue, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t weighing on the minds of the creators when they put this book together.

Rebekah Isaacs and Andres Mossa are a good art team, telling the story easily enough and finding ways to visually distinguish between “present” Tony and “past” Tony. All in all, it’s a good set-up. I look forward to reading the rest.

Rating: 7/10

Punisher War Journal (2007 Series) #11

September 11, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Heroes and Villains
Rating: Parental Advisory

Frank vs. Bucky, Bridge vs. Stark, Ian vs… himself?

Writer: Matt Fraction
Pencils: Leonardo Fernandez
Inks: Francisco Paronzini
Colors: Val Staples
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Aubrey Sitterson
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Matt Fraction’s typically entertaining Punisher War Journal branches off to three different stories this issue. The Winter Soldier tracks down Frank Castle to make him answer for daring to wear Captain America’s uniform. Iron Man tracks down G.W. Bridge to talk to him about his obsession with tracking down Frank. And Ian, the young man who wanted to be a cop (remember issue six?) finds himself on a psychiatrist couch.

All three stories in this issue work wonderfully. Bucky’s frustration with Frank can only be equaled by Frank’s frustration with himself, while Bridge still doesn’t really understand why he’s been behaving the way he has. Stark, meanwhile, has a surprisingly different take on Bridge’s obsession. And Ian – who from all appearances was a one-off character in a one-off story – turns out to be a more important character in Frank’s future than anyone would have guessed.

Fraction’s impeccable storytelling, as usual, takes all of these characters to somewhat unfamiliar places without compromising or betraying their established personalities in the slightest.

Fernandez and Parozini’s artwork is a rather striking contrast for fans used to Ariel Olivetti’s sharper, almost digital artwork, but it’s not bad in the slightest. It’s more traditional, more of a classic superhero look, and there’s nothing wrong with it at all. It’s just very different from what we’ve gotten in this title so far.

A very strong issue that isn’t so much a “done in one” story as it is an epilogue to what’s come before, while at the same time, being a prologue to what’s next.

Rating: 8/10

Punisher War Journal (2007 Series) #10

August 7, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Sunset
Rating: T+

Frank’s final battle with the Hate-Monger!

Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Ariel Olivetti
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics

The four-issue flashback finally over, everything comes down to this. The Punisher is captured, trussed up like a pig, and the Hate-Monger is ready for his death… but he’s been interrupted by G.W. Bridge. Meanwhile, Clarke is making his own plans for the Hate-Monger’s headquarters.

Although I think this whole storyline probably could have been condensed into four issues instead of five, this finale really is spectacular. There’s tons of action, the Frank/Bridge relationship is developed nicely, and Clarke undergoes some drastic changes. By the end, this is definitely a different title than it was when the story began, and that’s all to Matt Fraction’s credit.

Ariel Olivetti’s artwork is still great, particularly when we see the unmasked Hate-Monger. The character has such a totally different look without his mask, and most of that is in facial expression. A comic book artist is called upon to be director, cinematographer and actor all in one, and Olivetti has shown mastery in all respects.

Overall, although this arc ran just a tad long, Fraction and Olivetti have nailed the ending wonderfully. Well done.

Rating: 8/10

Punisher War Journal (2007 Series) #9

July 10, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Duel
Rating: T+

In the Hate-Monger’s clutches, Frank recalls how he got there.

Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Ariel Olivetti
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Still in the Hate-Monger’s clutches, Frank recalls the final steps that brought him to this state. After getting a glimpse of the Neo-Nazi’s headquarters, he begins making his move against the racist group. Meanwhile, G.W. Bridge gets a clue as to the whereabouts of the Punisher.

As good as this series is, I’m starting to feel like this story arc has gone on a bit too long. We’ve started the last three issues with the Punisher tied up and getting berated by the Hate-Monger, then going straight into the extended flashback that explains how he got to this point. As a framing sequence, it works okay, but as the end of that thread is a foregone conclusion, it’s starting to get a little tiresome. As it stands, next issue will begin the same way, except that we’ll finally have caught up with the flashback sequences. The Bridge story works a bit better this issue, actually, as we’re still heading towards an unsure end point for him.

Olivetti’s art, as always, is great. His characters are a little overly-large, almost cartoony, but somehow that fits in with the tongue-in-cheek nature of this title very well.

Fraction has done a good job on this title, but this arc seems like it’s overstaying its welcome just a little. It may be a result of the framing sequence, but it’ll be nice to move on to something new.

Rating: 8/10

Annihilation Saga #1

May 6, 2007

Quick Rating: Fair
Rating: A

Catch up on the Annihilation story before the Conquest begins!

Writer: Michael Hoskin
Based on stories by: Keith Giffen, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, Simon Furman, Christos N. Gage & Stuart Moore
Art: Mitch Breitweiser, Scott Kolins, Ariel Olivetti, Kev Walker, Rick Magyar, Renato Arlem, Gregory Titus, Jorge Lucas, Andrea DiVito, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Mike McKone & Sean Chen
Book Desinger: Patrick McGrath
Editor: Jeff Youngquist
Cover Art: Andrea DiVito & Laura Villari
Publisher: Marvel Comics

In general, I think Marvel’s Saga specials are a really good idea – a quick primer on a series that’s about to relaunch or enter a new stage, providing new readers a chance to get up-to-speed before the new jumping-on point. In practice, this is rather weaker than most of the Saga titles.

Usually, these books contain some sort of framing sequence – Runaways was disguised as Molly’s diary, Spider-Girl as Mayday’s scrapbook and so on. The lack of a sequence actually makes the book a bit less readable, less conversational. This is a strict, by-the-numbers account of the various Annihilation-related series, beginning with the Drax miniseries that retroactively became something of a prologue, right up through the first issue of the new Nova ongoing. All the information is there, all of the story is available, it’s just not quite as much fun to read in this form as it could have been.

The artwork is all plucked from the related titles, and as such, it varies wildly. Some of it is fantastic, some of it is just so-so. The same pretty much goes for the text. If you want to read Annihilation: Conquest and haven’t read the preceding comics, this book will get you up to speed. It just won’t be quite as much fun as it could have been.

Rating: 6/10

Punisher War Journal (2007 Series) #8

May 10, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Sunset
Rating: T+

Caught by the Hate-Monger, the Punisher makes his stand for Captain America.

Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Ariel Olivetti
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Still in the clutches of the Hate-Monger, the Punisher goads him into making the fight man-to-man. Stu and Tati, meanwhile, run into a little trouble, and G.W. Bridge has to face up to the results of his obsession with Frank Castle.

This storyline continues to impress the heck out of me. Like last issue, most of this one is told in flashback, as we see Frank and Stu making their plans to take the Hate-Monger down. The flashbacks are growing nearer and nearer to the present, though, and by the end, we get a nice little cliffhanger that will certainly keep people enticed for next issue.

The Bridge subplot progresses nicely here as well. While Frank’s trials are the reason people are picking this title up, the Bridge story provides probably the deepest parts of the story, as we see the effects an obsession can have on an otherwise dedicated, competent individual. More and more, this part of the series is giving me a Les Miserables vibe.

Ariel Olivetti’s artwork is strong as well – Frank and the Hate-Monger both cast strong, imposing figures, and the layouts are especially good. There is one panel that rather jumped out at me, though – a scene where Frank actually has his tongue stuck out in thought threw me back to the old “Pulverizer” strips from Marvel’s What The?! series. A bit of unintentional hilarity, but otherwise, the art is all good.

This title really has been a nice surprise – low expectations led me right into a really strong story.

Rating: 8/10

Punisher War Journal (2007 Series) #7

May 6, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Blood and Sand (An Initiative tie-in)
Rating: T+

On the Mexican border, Frank faces off against a new Hate-Monger… for the mantle of Captain America?

Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Ariel Olivetti
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Technically speaking, the Punisher spends this entire issue tied up to a pole while Hate-Monger gloats. As that would be kind of a boring comic book, though, Matt Fraction wisely gives us a great flashback story explaining how he got there.

Down on the Mexican border, the newest incarnation of the Hate-Monger is slaughtering people he suspects may be planning to emigrate to the United States illegally. What’s worse, he’s doing it wearing a perversion of the late Captain America’s uniform, something Frank Castle will not abide. Frank goes undercover with a white supremacist group to hunt him down – but things don’t go quite as planned.

Fraction has actually taken the bizarre Cap-worship that got shoehorned into Civil War and turned it into a genuinely exciting storyline. You can believe pretty easily that he takes the Hate-Monger’s sins personally based on the uniform he’s wearing, and once you accept that, everything else falls right into place. Now as a Southerner, I’m slightly offended by the implication that all you have to do in Texas is walk into any seemingly random bar wearing a Confederate flag T-shirt and there’ll be a Nazi group waiting to recruit you, but the rest of the issue is good enough that I’m willing to let that go.

Ariel Olivetti continues to create really great artwork for this book, and what’s even more amazing, he’s doing it on time. For someone handling all the artwork himself, from linework to really incredible colors, it’s amazing that this book keeps coming out, and keeps looking so good. Makes you wonder what’s up with those art teams that can’t meet this schedule even when they have three or four people working on the project.

Frankly, Marvel lost me on the Punisher when he jumped from Marvel Knights to MAX and went from starring in a black comedy to a hardcore crime comic. Matt Fraction has definitely got me back.

Rating: 8/10

Punisher War Journal (2006 Series) #5

March 13, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: NYC Red
Rating: T+

Bushwacker holds the streets of New York hostage – with an unlikely hero holding the line.

Writer: Matt Fraction
Rating: Ariel Olivetti
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Bad news for the fans: the Punisher actually doesn’t actually appear very much in this book.

Good news: despite that (or perhaps because of it), it’s really a startlingly good read.

The b-list supervillain called Bushwacker gets blown into the middle of the streets of Manhattan with a hostage in his hands. G.W. Bridge is on his trail, but one of New York’s Finest has already drawn his weapon (for the first time) and is standing his ground. Bushwacker’s demand for his hostage? Bring him the Punisher.

The book is actually, more than anything else, an examination of the cop named Ian. He spends virtually the entire book frozen in place, gun aimed at the villain, whose weapon in turn is aimed at the hostage. Despite this, the dialogue between the characters and the frantic actions of the other cops trying to secure the situation makes for a really strong, really exciting comic. It reminds me of other “claustrophobic thrillers” like Phone Booth or Panic Room – stories told in a small space (although this one is out in the open, there isn’t much movement – but that still manage to convey a feeling of real action. The ending is a really great twist, and the Punisher’s appearance doesn’t feel superfluous, like he was just tacked into an existing story because it’s his book.

Ariel Olivetti is a particularly strong match for this comic. He’s got an excellent grasp on the title character, but his style works really well for the bizarre, morphing Bushwacker as well. He also has a lot of skill at keeping the pages exciting, even though they don’t move very much.

I’d recommend this book even if you aren’t a Punisher fan – it’s a strong story, the sort of thing that really appeals to thriller fans, which I am.

Rating: 8/10

Green Lantern #170 (1990 Series)

October 25, 2003

Quick Rating: Poor
Title: Greetings From Sector 2814

Kyle Rayner sends a message home to the friends he left on Earth, forcing Jade to decide exactly what she wants to say back.

Writer: Benjamin Raab
Pencils: Chris McLoughlin
Inks: David Roach
Colors: Moose Baumann
Letters: Kurt Hathaway
Editor: Bob Schreck
Cover Art: Ariel Olivetti
Publisher: DC Comics

In one of my favorite novels, The Princess Bride, William Goldman writes with the conceit that he is abridging another writer’s work. At one point, he “abridges” an entire chapter because nothing happened in it. The chapter was summed up as, “What with one thing or another, five years passed.”

The best way to sum up Green Lantern #170 is to say, “What with one thing or another, two weeks passed.”

Absolutely nothing happens in this issue. Lianna, the Amazonian Guardian of the Universe, comes to Earth with a message from self-exiled Green Lantern Kyle Rayner. The first half of this issue is Kyle’s message, during which he recaps everything that has happened to him in the past dozen issues or so. In the second half of the book, Kyle’s friends record their messages to him, in which they recap everything that has happened to them in the past dozen issues or so. At the end of the issue, absolutely nothing has changed. The one effort at development in the last three pages just hits the readers over the head with a point that anyone who has read the last two issues knew already.

McLoughlin’s artwork is passable, but many of the characters look way too old, particularly Jade and the Flash, whose costume was also off-model. On the plus side, we do get a beautiful cover by Ariel Olivetti, which is the only new thing in the entire issue.

Perhaps this was an effort to provide a jump-on point for new readers. Every title needs that once in a while. The trick is to do that in such a way that doesn’t make regular readers feel like they’ve blown $2.25 on 22 pages of information they already knew.

Rating: 3/10