Archive
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
City of Heroes (2005 Series) #14
June 22, 2006
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Awakenings Part Two
The Circle of Thorns’ latest plot will need a world of heroes to thwart!
Writer: David Wohl
Pencils: Roman Cliquet
Inks: Blond
Colors: Blond
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Art: Rodolfo Migliani
Publisher: Image Comics/Top Cow
A prison breakout in Brickstown brings the Freedom Phalanx together with Foreshadow and his visiting heroes from Asia. While the heroes are stopping the breakout, though, the Circle of Thorns is gathering the elements it needs to bring Hell to Earth.
As always, the fun of this comic is watching the heroes undertake missions you yourself may have taken as a player in the video game. The climactic confrontation with the Circle is a perfect example – we watch the heroes meet a contact, descend into the Circle’s caverns, wait while one of their number turns the others invisible… all elements that translate perfectly from the game to the comic.
The big problem with this issue is the artwork. Roman Cliquet’s style isn’t as clean or clear as we usually get with this comic – the pages are very inconsistent and Blond’s inking is far too heavy in many scenes, while the faces are too light and ill-defined in others. It’s not terrible, but the artwork in this series is usually far better.
The comic still gives you a really great feel for the game, but this isn’t that strong an issue. Hopefully the next issue, or the next arc, will get back on track.
Rating: 7/10
City of Heroes (2005 Series) #13
May 4, 2006
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Awakenings Part One
Heroes from another land pitch in as the Circle of Thorns rises again.
Writer: David Wohl
Pencils: James Raiz
Inks: Blond
Colors: Blond
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Art: Rodolfo Migliari
Publisher: Image Comics/Top Cow
Manticore is back with the Freedom Phalanx, and perhaps a bit too eager to prove himself as he leads his teammates into battle with a group of characters from overseas that turn out to not quite be what he thought. Meanwhile, the Circle of Thorns is up to no good.
This issue takes an interesting turn. Usually, the fun of this series is seeing the characters and environments you’re used to from playing the video game in action. This time out, the focus is squarely on a group of characters that have not (to my knowledge) appeared in the game, at least not yet. The new superhumans from Korea have a history with our heroes, and their leader in particular has a very intriguing backstory. It’s different from what we usually get, but it is nice to see a bit more of the world the game is in. Sure, City of Heroes is all about Paragon City, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other facets of this universe worth exploring.
The artwork is a little sub-par this week. James Raiz pencils are fine, but the inking by Blond is a little sketchy and muddy at times, with excessive detail lines and flat facial expressions. Migliari’s cover, as usual, is quite nice.
I do so enjoy this series – I’ve got to wonder, though, if it’s because I love the game so much or if that’s just a nice bonus.
Rating: 7/10
Action Comics #900
May 28, 2011
Title: The Black Ring Finale/Reign of Doomsday
Writers: Paul Cornell, Damon Lindelof, Paul Dini, Geoff Johns, David S. Goyer, Richard Donner, Derek Hoffman
Art: Pete Woods, Jesus Merino, Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, Rags Morales, Ardian Syaf, Jamal Igle, Jon Sibal, Gary Frank, Ryan Sook, RB Silva, Rob Lean, Miguel Sepulveda, Matt Camp
Colorist: Brad Anderson, Blond, Java Tarfaglia, Paul Mounts
Letterers: Rob Leigh, John J. Hill
Cover: David Finch
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
For the better part of a year now, Lex Luthor has been seeking the secret of the Black Ring, an enormous source of power that he craves more than anything. Finally, last month, he defeated Brainiac and made that power his own. Also, over the past few months, the hideous beast called Doomsday has been storming the DC Universe, abducting those who wear the shield of Superman – Steel, Superboy, Supergirl, the Eradicator, and the Cyborg Superman. Now, with both of these threats converging, Superman makes his triumphant return to Action Comics. Is it in time, though, to save the day?
As I’ve come to expect from Paul Cornell, the main story here is really fantastic. The fateful confrontation between Superman and Lex Luthor is one of the best in recent memory, tracing the adventures of both Superman and Lex to show what truly makes each man what he is. It’s powerful stuff, and by the end there can be no question about exactly who these two men are, what makes them tick, and what will forever keep them separate. The finale of the story, leading into the next arc of Action Comics, is a little clichéd, but not the sort of thing that really hurt this issue or the fantastic Black Ring storyline at all.
This being a ginormous 96-page anniversary special, we also get a wealth of back-up features. In “Life Support,” Damon Lindelof and Ryan Sook look at the final days of Krypton. It’s a Jor-El story, extremely sad and extremely powerful. Paul Dini has an interesting little story with “Autobiography,” where Superman encounters an ancient being facing a fate that may one day be Kal-El’s own. It’s a good tale that provides some nice food for thought. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank give us the brief “Friday Night in the 21st Century,” a rapid tale about Lois, Clark and the Legion of Super-Heroes. This creative team was with both Superman and the Legion for far too brief a time, and I do wish we could see them all together again.
This finally brings us to the elephant in the issue, David. S. Goyer and Miguel Sepulveda’s “The Incident.” If you’re not a regular reader of this title and you heard about it at all, chances are it’s because of this story, in which Superman decides to renounce his American citizenship, presumably because he doesn’t want to be seen as an instrument of U.S. policy. A lot of people were upset over this story, but for several reasons, it’s kind of antiquated already. First of all, since this book came out there have been at least two other comics featuring Superman embracing his American heritage. That further seems to indicate that this was just a brief story, something to fill pages with a name creator, not intended to be followed up on. Second, it’s a weak story. It makes Superman seem… well… stupid. He’s a reporter, for Heaven’s sake, does he really think that showing up at the U.N. and making this announcement would endear him to anyone? The people of the United States would be outraged, and the enemies of the U.S. that he doesn’t want to antagonize would call it a political trick and continue to be antagonized. Superman is simply too smart for this story to make any sense. As a result, we’re left with a story that feels like the creator’s weak attempt at pushing forth his own political agenda in a story that will have no consequences on future stories whatsoever.
“Only Human” is the final story in the volume, and it’s an odd one. It’s a screenplay written by Richard Donner, director of the first Superman movie (and one time co-writer of this series) and Derek Hoffman, with storyboards by Matt Camp. It’s an okay story, one that feels very appropriate for Superman, but it’s more of an oddity than anything else. The book wraps it all up with a fantastic pin-up by Brian Stelfreeze which shows Superman through the ages, including an American flag grasped in his hands in the final piece of the sequence. So take that, Goyer.
Overall, it’s a great issue, with just that one poorly-chosen story to hurt the package.
Rating: 7/10
Ghostbusters: Legion #3 & #4
February 2, 2005
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Legion Parts Three and Four
An old friend of the Ghostbusters threatens to send Manhattan spiraling into Hell!
Writer: Andrew Dabb
Pencils: Steve Kurth
Inks: Serge LaPointe & Michel Lacombe
Colors: Blond
Letters: Ed Dukeshire
Editor: Sebastien Clavet
Cover Art: Steve Kurth
Publisher: 88 MPH
I have to admit, I missed the first two issues of this miniseries, but when the last two were passed into my hands, I thought they were definitely worth talking about. Ghostbusters is one of those movies (and later cartoon shows) that I absolutely loved in my formative years, and it’s nice to see it wasn’t forgotten in the 80s nostalgia bandwagon.
This miniseries, “Legion,” goes to the time-honored story of a character from our heroes’ past coming back to cause trouble. Michael Draverhaven (really, with a last name like that “supervillain” is your only viable career option) was a college classmate of Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman and Egon Spengler, a sometimes companion in their studies of the paranormal, who was caught in one of those inconvenient accidents that sent him to an institution for years. He’s out now, though, and he’s gained his own powers over the paranormal that are threatening to engulf the city.
It’s a testament both to the universality of the property and the construction of the comic that I could read the second half of this miniseries without having read the first and still understand it completely. There was no part where I felt lost or out of the loop, although I did feel the urge to go back and get those first two issues, if for no other reason than to establish the timeline. The book seems to take place in a timeline where the events of the movie happened closer to the present day (rather than 1984, when it was released) and the events of the second film and cartoon show never happened at all. Once you accept that, you’re fine.
Andrew Dabb has a handle on our heroes, and although the “old school chum turns villain” story is by no means original, it’s handled well here and adds a nice new dimension to the characters and their world. If there’s any flaw in this miniseries, it’s that the comedy isn’t played up as much as one would hope. The strength of the property comes in its perfect blend of laughs and monsters, and this version seems to lean a bit more towards the monster side. There’s still comedy, but not as much as one would hope. On the other hand, this is just the conclusion, where things have gotten hairy – it may have been funnier towards the beginning.
I’m quite impressed with Steven Kurth’s artwork. He’s got a great line and a strong feeling for the characters, wisely choosing not to try to copy the actors from the films exactly but instead coming up with his own designs that suggest them without dominating the book and dragging down the artwork as happens with most comics based on a live-action property. The colors, by Blond, really pop. They’re bright and cheery when need be, dark and moody when that’s appropriate, and they all blend together perfectly well.
Overall, this is an entertaining, solid series. The ongoing should have started by now, and if you were a fan of the movies, it’s well worth looking at.
Rating: 7/10
New Avengers/TransFormers #2
August 7, 2007
Quick Rating: Below Average
Rating: T+
The Avengers throw down with the TransFormers!
Writer: Stuart Moore
Pencils: Tyler Kirkham
Inks: Sal Regla
Colors: Annette Kwok & Blond
Letters: Todd Klein
Editor: Bill Roseman
Cover Art: Jason Pearson
Publisher: Marvel Comics/IDW
Spurred on by the “aggression wave” that is covering Latveria, the Avengers leap into battle with the Autobots against all boundaries of logic and common sense.
I’m trying to make allowances here. Okay, the Avengers aren’t in their right minds. They’re oh-so mad. But except for maybe Luke Cage and Warbird, there’s nobody on this team who could logically give a TransFormer a scratch in combat. What’s more, the Aggression Wave (not to mention the device that can free the Avengers from it) feels like a poorly plotted fanfiction that will stoop to any level to force a confrontation between the heroes.
That’s the main problem with the story, really – it feels terribly formulaic. The story could be told just as easily without the Aggression Wave forcing a fight between the heroes, but the dictates of the crossover seem to mean we’ve got to see Captain America (out of his mind) trying to beat up Optimus Prime. I love Cap as much as the next guy, but come on.
The artwork is okay, but nothing special, and the cover makes Wolverine look like an overinflated Thanksgiving balloon. I was skeptical when this crossover was announced, and I’m starting to feel my fears justified.
Rating: 4/10
City of Heroes (2005 Series) #12
April 16, 2006
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Trading Places Part Three
Manticore versus the Freedom Phalanx?
Writer: David Wohl
Pencils: David Nakayama
Inks: Roland Paris, John Livesay & Ryan Winn
Colors: Blond & Tyson Wengler
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Art: Rodolfo Migliari
Publisher: Image Comics/Top Cow
Another arc ends for City of Heroes (are they all going to be three issues?) and again really helps to cement these characters as heroes and warriors in their own right, not just generic pastiches of Marvel or DC characters. Manticore has pretended to turn on the Freedom Phalanx, even going so far as to fake kidnapped Sister Psyche and deliver her into the clutches of Lord Recluse.
The massive battle that erupts in Siren’s Call this issue is the sort of thing that this comic has the potential to do very well – while the story is enormous, the scope is actually pretty small. It’s like reading a big “Justice League/Teen Titans” team-up slugfest but viewing the whole thing through the eyes of just one character. And because this book doesn’t necessarily have any superstars, you can get away with telling the story this way in a way you couldn’t with those better-known teams.
Another thing you don’t get when the story is the Justice League? The chance to see your own character show up – at the end we get a nice shot of the Freedom Phalanx with other heroes of Paragon City, characters created by game players. It’s a nice touch, one that makes the comic feel even more like part of the game.
David Nakayama’s artwork is really strong, although he does succumb to the temptation to do the cheesecake shot at times. (I mean really, why would Sister Psyche charge into battle against Lord Recluse standing with her back to him except to show off her butt?) But overall he handles superhero storytelling very well, in a very consistent fashion.
This is your basic, old-fashioned superhero story, with the twist that the heroes involved are ones you may have teamed up with yourself. That’s what makes this comic so much fun.
Rating: 8/10
City of Heroes (2005 Series) #11
March 7, 2006
Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Trading Places Part Two
Manticore turns on the Freedom Phalanx!
Writer: David Wohl
Pencils: David Nakayama
Inks: Roland Paris
Colors: Sonia Oback & Blond
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Art: Rodolfo Miglirai
Publisher: Image Comics/Top Cow
One of the things that has impressed me the most about Top Cow’s City of Heroes comic book is the way they’ve taken the video game heroes, pretty much standard superhero archetypes, and given them their own identities. Manticore, who takes center stage in this arc, is at first glance your standard Green Arrow/Hawkeye style archery hero. He even seems, at first blush, to share Green Arrow’s social conscience and Hawkeye’s disobedient streak.
The more we see of him, though, the more we see him as a unique character, one struggling to live up to the shadow of his father against a group of more “powerful” heroes that don’t give him the respect he deserves. This issue, having been driven out of the Freedom Phalanx, he seemingly throws in his lot with the villainous Lord Recluse and is given the mission of bringing in his former teammate, Sister Psyche.
The twist this issue isn’t that big of a surprise – we’ve seen stuff like this in superhero comics for as long as I can remember – but in a comic like this, that’s not really that big a deal. The real point of this title is to give background and life to those characters that, in the video game, exist merely to hand out missions and badges to your character. Reading this title helps give Paragon City more of a feel of a “legitimate” comic book universe. While you don’t need to play the game to enjoy the comic, as someone who does both, I really think that reading the comic makes the game more fun.
David Nakayama does a dandy job with the artwork here. He’s got a good style for your average superhero title, and while I do have to deduct points for an unnecessary cheesecake shot of Sister Psyche in the bathtub, I do enjoy most of the look of the title.
I don’t know how many people who don’t play City of Heroes are putting down money for the comic book, but those gamers who are into this title really get quite a treat month after month.
Rating: 8/10
Steel (2011) #1
January 22, 2011
Title: Full Circle (Reign of Doomsday Part 1)
Writer: Steve Lyons
Art: Ed Benes
Colorist: Blond
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover: Alex Garner
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Nearly 20 years ago (real-world time), a terrible beast called Doomsday killed Superman. Four men stepped forward to claim his mantle before the real one returned, and all of the others have stuck around in one form or another. Now, Doomsday has returned, and this time it’s John Henry Irons who steps up to fight the beast.
In part one of the Reign of Doomsday event we see Steel – in my opinion one of DC’s most underrated characters – as he tries to hold the line against Doomsday. The problem with Doomsday, though, is that his primary power is the ability to evolve and compensate for anything that’s able to harm him. Every time you face him, he’s more powerful and harder to kill. The book works really well as a look into Steel’s psyche. We see what makes him work, what makes him tick, and why he – out of all the people who tried to take Superman’s place – was the only one who had the heart of a man of steel.
Ed Benes has been bouncing all over the DC Universe for some time now, and this book is a pretty good fit for him. I like his versions of Steel and Doomsday, especially the changes to Doomsday that happen throughout this book (as he continues to evolve). The cover by Alex Garner is really great, a wonderful image of John Henry.
The ending of this book is deliberately ambiguous – we don’t really know Steel’s fate, but as this is part one of a storyline, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As I’ve said elsewhere, I do worry about him taking the big nap here, instead of using this story as a chance to give him more of the spotlight he really deserves.
Rating: 8/10
City of Heroes (2005 Series) #10
February 2, 2006
Quick Rating: Good
Title: Trading Places Part 1
Manticore is off the job – at the worst possible time.
Writer: David Wohl
Pencils: David Nakayama
Inks: Roland Paris
Colors: Sonia Oback & Blond
Letters: Troy Peteri
Cover Art: Rodolfo Migliari
Publisher: Image Comics/Top Cow
Although this edition of City of Heroes continues to have a new writer with each story arc, this is the first time where we’re given any sense of continuity, as Wohl picks up on a thread from Dan Jurgens’s recent storyline – specifically, Manticore killing the villain Proteus. An unapproving Statesman places Manticore on suspension, not only from the Freedom Phalanx, but from acting as a superhero in Paragon City at all.
While the suspension is being handed down, though, a pair of rookie heroes get in over their heads, and only Manticore and the ex-sidekick team called the Vindicators can lend a hand. This is one of the things I really enjoy about this comic, particularly this story arc and the Jurgens arc – I’m a big fan of the game, and the various missions and historical tidbits you find give you a sense like you’ve stepped into a long-running superhero universe. With characters like the Vindicators or stories about Manticore’s father, you get that same sense in the comic book. You don’t feel like you’re part of something new, you feel like you’re part of something as timeless as the Marvel or DC Universe, and that’s what you really want.
As far as the story itself goes, it’s good. The hero ostracized from his team isn’t a new concept, of course, but that kind of gets back into the basic idea of the game – this is a superhero universe (and specifically, a superhero city) like any other. The heroic archetypes are familiar enough that people who don’t play the game won’t have any problem following along. For fans who do play, however, it’s fun to see the characters and environments you’ve interacted with in comic book form. (Just two days ago, in fact, I played my first mission in the part of the city called “Dark Astoria,” and was quite excited as I read this issue and learned the backstory of that very community.)
David Nakayama has been a more consistent presence on this title than any of the writers, and that’s to the good. While there are certainly a lot of stories to be told about Paragon City by a lot of different voices, keeping the same artist around gives the book more of a feeling of stability that I think is important. Nakayama is a very strong artist, perfect for the kind of classic superhero storytelling this book requires.
I love this game, and I’m becoming a bigger fan of the comic as well.
Rating: 7/10
The Back Issue Bin 