Archive
Flash (2011 Series) #2
November 6, 2011
Title: Think Fast
Writers: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover Artist: Francis Manapul
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics
Barry Allen has a friend in trouble… or so he thought. As it turns out, his buddy isn’t too bad at taking care of himself. But the adventure leads him to look at his powers a whole new way. He can move fast, that much is clear… but what about thinking fast? Very early in the run, and we already seen Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato making a clear effort to innovate with this title. Barry has one of the most potentially versatile super powers on the planet, but very few writers have really explored the potential of what a man can do with super-speed. Even Mark Waid’s legendary run, which established the Speed Force in the first place, wasn’t so much about the applications of super-speed. The idea of speeding up Barry’s brain is a clever one, and the way it’s depicted here works very well. While neither Manapul nor Buccellato have a long pedigree as writers, putting artists on the storytelling end of this comic book is really working out well, allowing them to develop innovative visuals that match the clever stories. It works very well.
Rating: 9/10
The Exterminators #2
January 30, 2006
Quick Rating: Interesting
Title: Bug Brothers Chapter Two
It’s bad news for A.J.…
Writer: Simon Oliver
Art: Tony Moore
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Editor: Jonathan Vankin
Cover Art: Philip Bond
Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo
As A.J. and Henry head out on another exterminating job, a nasty find brings them to the attention of the authorities. This issue covers a lot of bases – Henry’s girlfriend, A.J.’s alternative payment plan and two interesting revelations.
Thing is, I still haven’t got the foggiest notion where this comic is going.
To a large degree, this is a mark in its favor. Oliver and Moore have cooked up a really bizarre story that I can honestly say doesn’t seem to resemble anything I’ve ever read in comics before. Henry makes for an interesting viewpoint character – he’s no angel, but while surrounded by some truly depraved individuals, he’s really mostly concerned with just getting by and making a decent life for himself and Laura. He’s the relatable core of a really bizarre comic.
On the other hand, this book is so bizarre that I’m not even really sure where to classify it. It’s got traces of horror, with the grisly discovery our exterminators make this issue. There seems to be a bit of science fiction in the works, as we get deeper into the real workings of the super-roach killing agent called Draxx. We even find a certain prized possession of A.J.’s that makes me think of nothing more than a macguffin from an Indiana Jones movie.
While I do enjoy a story that transcends genre, this story doesn’t quite do that – instead it kind of straddles multiple genres, not sure which way it wants to fall. It’s possible that it will gain enough footing to reach that transcendent state I enjoy, but we’ll likely have to wait until the end of the first story arc (at least) to make that call.
Tony Moore does some good work on this issue. I don’t know what he’s been up to since leaving The Walking Dead, but he really seems to be coming into his own with this comic. As great as his artwork was in black and white, Brian Buccellato’s colors really give them a life and vibrancy that you didn’t see before. It’s great stuff – from the comical scenes to the grisly ones, he handles them all with aplomb.
I’ve got to be frank – the idea of a comic about exterminators didn’t really appeal to me at first. (I’m a big bugophobe, I’m man enough to admit it.) But I’m curious about this series. Sold? No. But at least curious, and that’s a good enough place to start.
Rating: 7/10
Flash (2011 Series) #1
October 3, 2011
Title: The Flash
Writers: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover Artist: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics
Seems like the Flash is starting over every other year these days, doesn’t it? This issue introduces us to the New 52 version of the Flash – a Barry Allen that’s single, younger, and reveling in his role as Central City’s premiere superhero. This issue hits us with a little backstory in the form of an old friend of Barry’s that has gotten into some trouble. What really clicks here, though, are the character moments. Barry and Iris West aren’t married here, have only dated in the past, but the look on his face when he sees her makes it pretty clear that there are feelings there. I don’t know if I believe it was necessary to revert the characters this much, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was the potential for some fun times in watching Barry try to pursue her.
What’s more, Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s artwork is absolutely gorgeous. They really have cemented themselves as the Flash artists of the past 10 years. This family hasn’t looked so good since Mike Wieringo’s legendary run on the character. It just looks phenomenal – energetic and exciting, with visuals that display super-speed in ways we’ve never seen.
I do sympathize with those readers who are upset that Barry has usurped Wally West pretty much entirely. And I want Wally back too. He’s earned a place in the DC Universe .But that doesn’t make this issue, or this character, any less exciting.
Rating: 8/10
Flashpoint: Grodd of War #1
June 30, 2011
Title: Grodd of War
Writer: Sean Ryan
Pencils: Ig Guara
Inks: Ruy Jose
Colorist: Stefani Rennee
Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics
I actually passed up this book when it was released a few weeks ago. There are a hell of a lot of Flashpoint tie-ins, and I had to pick and choose which ones I was going to sample. But I was told by several trusted advisors that this one-shot was definitely one of the ones to get, so I snagged the last copy at the comic shop the last time I visited.
In the mainstream DC Universe, Grodd is a superintelligent gorilla whose frequent attempts to conquer his home kingdom of other superintelligent gorillas (as a stepping stone to world domination) are always thwarted by the Flash. But in a world where the Flash never existed, Grodd went unchecked. Gorilla City is now his, and soon, his reach had extended to the entire continent of Africa. So why is he so disappointed? This is a really great character study, picking into Grodd in a way that you don’t often see. The utter boredom on his face sells this issue time and again. Sean Ryan really gets across the idea that this is a character without much of an identity outside of his enemies (and even the brief appearance of Congorilla in this issue doesn’t assuage that at all). Ig Guara puts plenty of emotion into Grodd’s face, and although the range only goes from anger to ennui, it’s always very evident what the ape is feeling at any given moment.
I was surprised at how good this issue was. If all you’re interested in is following the strict blow-by-blow of what’s happening in the main storyline, this issue won’t matter much to you. But as a strong look into one of the Flash’s most entertaining villains, it really can’t be beat.
Rating: 8/10
Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #1
June 23, 2011
Title: Kid Flash Lost Part One
Writer: Sterling Gates
Pencils: Oliver Nome
Inks: Trevor Scott
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Dezi Sienty
Cover: Francis Manapul
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics
With the timeline of the DC Universe irrevocably altered, Kid Flash (himself a time anomaly) wakes up in a 31st century far different from the one in which he was born. He and Hot Pursuit – and not the same Hot Pursuit he met in the 21st century – are cut off from the Speed Force, fleeing the conquering forces of Brainiac, and in danger of having their own timelines changed irrevocably.
This is one of the better Flashpoint miniseries to date. Bart Allen is an exciting character to begin with, but this issue really puts him in a tough spot. He’s cut off from his friends, from his powers, from everything. This incarnation of Hot Pursuit raises a lot of questions as well, and the danger that they face together could serve to bond them in interesting ways. It makes you wonder if this Hot Pursuit, as opposed to the other one, will find a place in the new DC Universe come September.
Oliver Nome is a good artist, and I particularly like his version of Hot Pursuit. The devastated landscape of the 31st century looks good too, and even raises questions about how the dots can be connected from the present-day Flashpoint world to the world Bart is trapped in. Having Francis Manapul on covers is a treat any way you slice it. It’s a strong issue that looks at the crossover from a totally different angle than any of the other tie-ins.
Rating: 8/10
Flashpoint: Reverse Flash #1
June 23, 2011
Title: …My Revenge
Writer: Scott Kolins
Art: Joel Gomez
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Ardian Syaf, Vicente Cifuentes, Kyle Ritter
Editor: Chris Conroy
Publisher: DC Comics
The man seemingly responsible for the Flashpoint universe takes front and center in this miniseries. Eobard Thawne, a.k.a Professor Zoom, a.k.a. the Reverse-Flash used to idolize Barry Allen, until they became mortal enemies. When an attempt to change the timeline to stop Barry from becoming the Flash in the first place threatens Thawne himself, though, he decided it’s time to tamper with Barry’s past in more subtle ways.
At the risk of making an obvious joke, this book is really something of an anomaly. You’d think that it would be about how Thawne tampered with the past to create the Flashpoint universe, but instead, it comes across more like a prequel for the Flash: Rebirth miniseries. We see all of the tampering he did there, and how it led up to the defining moment in Barry Allen’s life, all of which was explained back then. None of the things he does here seem to link to Flashpoint at all, and in fact, some of it seems to directly contradict it. Which raises an interesting question – is this a case of flawed writing, or a clue to the larger scheme of the Flashpoint story?
The artwork here, sadly, isn’t as strong as we’d like. Scott Kolins has quite a pedigree as both a writer and an artist on Flash-related books, but Joel Gomez seems like a poor fit. His figures seem off-model and often off-kilter, and while Thawne is a thoroughly unlikable person, the permanent sneer on his face in this book seems rather artificial.
I’m interested in seeing what else this story has to offer, but not terribly impressed with this issue.
Rating: 6/10
T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents (2010 Series) #5
April 29, 2011
Title: Never the Whole Truth
Writer: Nick Spencer
Pencils: Cafu
Inks: Bit
Colorist: Santiago Arcas
Art (Menthor Sequence): Ryan Sook
Letterer: Steve Wands
Cover: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Editor: Wil Moss
Publisher: DC Comics
Continuing DC’s reinvigoration of one of comics’ most acclaimed properties, this issue we look into the history of the new Menthor… a T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent that has ties to one of our viewpoint characters. Toby has been kind of a cipher since this book started. Nick Spencer hasn’t dug too deeply into his history or his psyche before, but now we’re finally learning a little bit about him, and it’s none too soon. What’s more, we’re also getting some serious action this issue, which is something else we’ve been waiting for. Cafu does some cool stuff with his layouts, and the battle sequence looks good. My problem with this title actually comes in through Toby and Colleen, the characters through whom we’ve been seeing this world. While Spencer is spending plenty of time picking apart the Agents themselves, we don’t really know enough about the viewpoint characters to relate to them or feel for them. This issue starts to change that, and that’s all to the good. Of course, with Spencer going Marvel-exclusive, we’re left with the question of how long he’s going to keep this storyline and who – if anybody – is going to pick it up when he’s gone. Until those questions are answered, though, best to just enjoy what we’ve got to go on.
Rating: 8/10
Somebody’s First Comic Book: Common Grounds #2
Wondering what Somebody’s First Comic Book is all about? The explanation is on this page!
TITLE: Roles
CREDITS:
Writer: Troy Hickman
Penciller: Ethan Van Sciver
Inks: Jon Holdredge, Roland Paris & Norm Rapmund
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Letters: Robin Spehar, Mark Roslan & Dennis Heisler
Cover: Rodolfo Migliari
Publisher: Image Comics/Top Cow
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Never heard of it before. According to the blurb on the inside cover, it sounds like it’s about a coffee shop where superheroes and supervillains can grab a cup of joe and a donut under a sort of truce where they promise not to fight. Clever concept…
IMPRESSIONS: Two stories in this comic book. The first one is “Roles,” in which we see a young woman — Jenny — who works at Common Grounds getting off work, only to run afoul of a nasty customer with a knife. This is a really clever story – knowing the reputation this “Common Grounds” place must have gives our heroine an unusual way to get out of her predicament. The artwork is very good too. Jenny is a would-be actress, and the artist really manages to get it across on her face when she shifts into playing a role. The story is very good, but I don’t think it would have worked without a very good artist selling a bit of insanity on Jenny’s face when she needed it.
Let’s check out story #2…
TITLE: Elsewhere
CREDITS:
Writer: Troy Hickman
Penciller: Dan Jurgens
Inks: Al Vey
Colors: Guy Major
IMPRESSIONS: “Elsewhere” is a sad little story about a sidekick, the Analog Kid, seeking his lost mentor, Digital Man. The Kid has built a device that traces Digital Man’s last whereabouts to a Common Grounds location, but nobody there has seen him. Meanwhile, we cut over to Digital Man himself, who is trapped on some horrific alien planet with no means of escape. The story packs a very nice emotional punch. It’s essentially about a father and son, separated, but refusing to give up on each other. Troy Hickman manages to mix up these emotional moments with a really great Twilight Zone-style twist at the end that elevates this way beyond the already-strong story that it was.
Amazing comic book – two short stories that are wholly captured in one comic. I loved it.
GRADE: A
The Flash (2010 Series) #6
December 28, 2010
Title: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues Part Six
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Francis Manapul
Colorist: Brian Buccellato
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Cover: Francis Manapul
Editors: Adam Schlagman & Eddie Berganza
Publisher: DC Comics
Concluding “The Dastardly Death of the Rogues,” Barry Allen has pieced together the truth about Mirror Monarch’s death – his true killer was his own teammate, the 25th century’s Top. But the question is, why? As he races to solve the mystery, we get a glimpse of this title’s future.
Geoff Johns, let’s face it, is pretty much the prime architect of the DC Universe at this point, steering both the Green Lantern and Flash franchises and all things Brightest Day, but as this issue reveals he’s also got at least an eye on everything else that’s going on. Things that are happening in the Justice League titles and in Wonder Woman’s book clearly are significant to what’s up with Barry and probably will have something to do with the much-ballyhooed Flashpoint storyline that’s slated for 2011. Some people hate these sort of larger, meta-stories, and I can sympathize with that to a point. I do think that each individual title (or at the very least, family of titles) should be able to stand on its own. But when a meta-story is well put together, it works really well. And in this case, I think it is. This works as a story in its own right, but it also works as the spine of a larger work.
Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato are really becoming one of the finest artistic teams working in comics. Manapul’s linework is sharp and exciting, with fantastic layouts and action sequences, but I don’t think it would be half as great if not for the wonderful and innovative coloring work Buccellato is doing on this title. We’ve got a book here that genuinely looks like nothing else being published today, and that’s a major point in this title’s favor.
This book is firing on all cylinders, and I’m really looking forward to the build-up to Flashpoint.
Rating: 8/10
Spider-Man/Red Sonja #1
July 31, 2007
Quick Rating: Fair
Rating: T+
An ancient foe returns – and Spidey comes face-to-face with the She-Devil with a sword.
Writer: Michael Avon Oeming
Pencils: Mel Rubi
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Letters: Simon Bowland
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Dynamite Entertainment
In those happy, pre-Civil War days when Spider-Man’s identity was a secret, Peter Parker is off to try to sell some photos to the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson, meanwhile, is meeting with a senator who finds himself fascinated with a museum piece – one that literally has the power to change the world.
This isn’t the first time Spidey has met Red Sonja – it happened before in those days when Marvel had the license to the character and indiscriminately mixed their licensed properties into the Marvel Universe. I’m not entirely certain whether this new crossover considers that old one canon, but seeing as how the villain of this piece has made appearances in both continuities since then, it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch of the imagination.
The story is pretty basic – Manhattan turns into a medieval wonderland, there’s a little mistaken identity there, and so on. Mel Rubi and Brian Buccellato’s art is okay, as is the cover by Michael “Going for the Guinness Record for Most Comic Covers Drawn” Turner. It’s an okay book, but just okay. I don’t really see this being of interest to anyone but the hardcore Red Sonja completists.
Rating: 6/10
The Back Issue Bin 