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Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #2
October 31, 2011
Title: War of the Monsters Part 2: The Dissection of Nina Mazursky
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Alberto Ponticelli
Colorist: Jose Villarrubia
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover Artist: J.G. Jones & Hi-Fi
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics
On the latest adventure of the agents of SHADE, gill-creature Nina Mazursky is forced to confront her own origins… and the ramifications of experiments she left behind a long time ago. This is one of the books from the New 52 that has turned out to be a total pleasure to read from the outset. Jeff Lemire has created a cast of characters that work perfectly together, a superhero team made up of the Universal Studios Monsters, fighting the sort of horrible creatures that only a monster can take down. I’m surprised at just how quickly Lemire is digging into the personal histories of the characters, though. Although he’s more than proven himself the sort of writer who loves character work, I was prepared for an all-action first arc, with the more personal stuff coming in later. The way he’s found to piece them together makes for an entertaining comic book that plays right into his strengths. The artwork isn’t bad – Alberto Ponticelli’s style feels very right for a monster-focused book such as this one, although I don’t think it would work as well on a more standard superhero title. But then, that’s kind of the point, I suppose. Regardless, it’s an exciting comic that makes me glad that DC has found room for different kinds of stories in the New 52.
Rating: 8/10
Recent Reviews: September 14 Releases
Another week, another time I didn’t actually get around to anything but the DC books. Again, sorry. Hopefully next week I’ll do a bit better.
Recent Reviews: August 17 Releases
So what’d I review over at CX Pulp in the last seven days? Here’s the list…
- Avengers Academy #18
- Batman #713
- Darkwing Duck #15
- DC Retroactive: Batman-The 90s #1
- DC Retroactive: The Flash-The 90s #1
- DC Retroactive: Wonder Woman-The 90s #1
- Fables #108
- Fear Itself: Fearsome Four #3
- Flashpoint: Abin Sur-The Green Lantern #3
- Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies #3
- Green Lantern Corps #63
- Justice League of America #60
- Power Girl #27
- Superboy #11
- Tiny Titans #43
- The Walking Dead #88
- X-Men: Schism #3
Recent Reviews: August 10 Releases
I’m a tired, tired man. But I’ve turned out some reviews. Just for you. You’re welcome.
- Batgirl #24
- Batman and Robin #26
- Booster Gold #47
- DC Retroactive: Green Lantern-The 80s #1
- DC Retroactive: Justice League of America-The 80s #1
- DC Retroactive: Superman-The 80s #1
- Fear Itself #5
- Flashpoint: Deadman and the Flying Graysons #3
- Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #3
- Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #3
- Life With Archie #12
- Mega Man #4
- Morning Glories #11
- Red Robin #26
- The Red Wing #2
- Teen Titans #99
- War of the Green Lanterns Aftermath #2
- X-Men #15.1
Fear Itself: Fearsome Four #2
August 2, 2011
Title: Stranger Bedfellows
Writer: Brandon Montclare
Art: Simon Bisley, Ryan Bodenheim, Ray-Anthony Height, Don Ho
Colorist: Simon Bisley, Tony Avina
Letterer: Nate Piekos
Cover Artist: Michael William Kaluta
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics
She-Hulk, Nighthawk, and Frankenstein’s Monster have teamed up with Howard the Duck to stop the rampaging Man-Thing, being fed by the copious amounts of fear floating around thanks to that whole thing that’s happening over in those other comics. After being temporarily swapped with alternate reality versions of themselves, the team gets a recap of Frankenstein’s origin for some reason, then stroll off to face the enemy responsible for Man-Thing’s rampage: Psycho-Man.
And it’s just… a… mess.
The story is all over the lace, the heroes are together for the thinnest of reasons, and the chain of logic is virtually nonexistent. The frequent artistic changes don’t help. While all of the artists working on this book are perfectly competent, their styles are so different from one another that you keep feeling live you’ve spiraled into an entirely different comic book. With the love I have for many of the characters in this book, I was really looking forward to sort of an offbeat Fear Itself tie-in. Halfway through, I’ve felt nothing but disappointment.
Rating: 6/10
Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #2
July 21, 2011
Title: Our Army at Gore
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Ibraim Roberson, Alex Massacci
Colorist: Pete Pantazis
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover: Doug Mahnke, Rod Reis
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics
Frankenstein leads his new Creature Commandos through a Flashpoint world torn apart. But Velcoro, Griffith and Nina don’t know that their old ally’s daughter is tracking them down, with the help of G.I. Robot. Even if the world doesn’t tear itself apart, they may not make it out alive. Out of the Flashpoint spin-offs I’ve read, this is probably the one that has the least to do with the overall crossover. In fact, if they made only minor changes they probably could have used this to launch the new Frankenstein series that’s beginning in September. The team Jeff Lemire has created is about as classic as you can get – a vampire, werewolf, and gill creature teamed up with Frankenstein’s monster? Excellent combination. And with Shrieve playing Inspector Javert to their Jean Valjean, there’s definitely room here to build a rich, expansive universe. I know I’m being kind of presumptuous here – it’s possible that Lemire’s new Frankenstein series will bear very little resemblance to this miniseries – but I know that what I’m reading is cool enough that I want it to be like the new series. Roberson and Massacci do wonderful art as well – something soft and fanciful, but dark enough that it feels like it spilled from between the frames of a Universal Pictures classic. This is some of the most fun Flashpoint has provided yet.
Rating: 8/10
Hack/Slash/Eva: Monster’s Ball #1
June 1, 2011
Title: Monster’s Ball Part One
Writer: Brandon Jerwa
Art: Cezar Razek
Colorist: Salvatore Aiala
Letterer: Marshall Dillon
Cover: Tim Seeley
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment/Image Comics
Eva (sometimes called the Daughter of Dracula) and her pal Michael (also known as the Frankenstein Monster) believe themselves to be on a mission from God to destroy the monsters that plague the world. Cassie Hack and her partner Vlad have a similar mission: the elimination of the “slashers” that rise from the grave to kill and kill again. Inevitably, they would come together for a common mission. A trap set by Eva’s old foe Praetorious draws in Cassie and Vlad, and the two groups find themselves fighting a new breed of monster.
I am, as you may know, a big fan of Tim Seeley’s Hack/Slash, but this is my first encounter with Eva. The thing that strikes me immediately, I must admit, is just how similar the characters are. Young women, driven to slay monsters, accompanied by a gentle giant that can be viewed by some as a monster in his own right… honestly, it’s almost too close for comfort. But I applaud the creators for finding a way to make those similarities work together rather than cry Copyright Infringement. The characters don’t actually come together until the last few pages of this first issue, but that’s okay. It’s four issues long, and we expected some set-up. Brandon Jerwa nicely combines their respective worlds into one that easily works as a home for both groups, and we can see quite simply how the heroines can complement each other.
I don’t know if this is enough to make me run out and buy an Eva comic, but I’m more than satisfied with this first issue of the crossover. It gives me just what you want in a book of this sort.
Rating: 7/10
Recent Reviews: June 8 Releases
As you may or may not know, in addition to the tons of reviews I post here at the Back Issue Bin, I also write reviews of new comics over at CX Pulp.com. I thought I would start making it a habit to link BIB readers over to those other recent reviews on Tuesdays… y’know… when I remember. And have time. And feel like it.
Anyhoo, here are the comics released on June 8 that I’ve reviewed over at CX. These links (as well as all of my CX reviews) can be found right here on the archive page as well.
- Doctor Who: A Fairytale Life #3
- Donald Duck #367
- Echo #30
- Fear Itself: Fearsome Four #1
- Flashpoint: Frankenstein and the Creatures of the Unknown #1
- Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Kilowog #1
- Green Lantern Movie Prequel: Tomar-Re #1
- Love and Capes: Ever After #5
- Morning Glories #10
- Space Warped #1
- Supergirl #64
Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein #1
December 5, 2008
Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein #1 (Image Comics/Top Cow)
By Paul Dini, Stephanie Gladden & Felix Serrano
Paul Dini launches his new Dinicartoons line of comics with the return of his venerable holiday creation, Jingle Belle. Santa Claus’s daughter is perturbed at a busybody stirring up public opinion against the big guy. With anti-Santa sentiment building, Jing makes a startling discovery: Frankenstein’s monster, frozen in ice! As she and her friend Polly Green (the Halloween witch) try to help Frankie assimilate to the modern world, the forces against Santa grow in power. Finally, the monster decides to take matters into his own hands. This has got to be my favorite Jingle Belle special to date. It’s funny, the writing is sharp, the characters are awesome, and the artwork by Stephanie Gladden and Felix Serrano is absolutely flawless. This really should be an animated special. In fact, why hasn’t there been a Jingle Belle Christmas special yet? Ah, maybe next year. In the meantime, enjoy this one — I sure did.
Rating: 10/10
Monster War TPB
January 15, 2007
Quick Rating: Good
The Top Cow heroes go to war with the most famous monsters of all time.
Writers: Christopher Golden & Tom Sniegowski
Art: Joyce Chin & Victor Ishimura
Colors: Scott Kester
Letters: Troy Peteri
Series Covers: Marc Silvestri, Joseph Michael Linsner, Joyce Chin, Eric and Rick Basaldua
Cover Art: Marc Silvestri (Cover A); Joseph Michael Linsner (Cover B)
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment/Top Cow
Last year, in one of the more innovative crossover concepts I’ve seen in a while, Dynamite Entertainment pieced together a four-issue adventure utilizing properties it calls the “Classic Monsters” (Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, Wolf-Men and Mr. Hyde) in a battle with four of Top Cow’s top properties, Magdelena, Tomb Raider, Witchblade and The Darkness. I’m not really a big fan of the Top Cow characters, but the concept intrigued me, so when they put out the collected edition, I decided to take a look.
Written by Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegowski with art by Joyce Chin and Victor Ishimura, the story actually comes up with a pretty organic way to draw all these disparate characters together. Magedlena has a vision that leads her to a crypt where she finds Mr. Hyde – somehow separated from Dr. Jekyll – about to resurrect the inert form of Vlad Tepes, alias Count Dracula. Her pure, sanctified blood turns out to be just the thing to give Drac a quick pick-me-up, and it begins to turn her as well.
She’s rescued by Lara Croft (the Tomb Raider) and her companion, Dr. Henry Jekyll. Jekyll and Croft had encountered each other earlier while both trailing the freed Hyde, who ventured into the Arctic circle to free Frankenstein’s monster. Now, with Magdelena turning, Lara sets out to find the Necrotic Orchid – the one herb that can reverse a vampire’s curse. The Orchid, unfortunately, is guarded by a legion of Wolf-Men.
Meanwhile, Hyde, Dracula and the Monster have made their way to New York for the last element Hyde needs for his plan – a chunk of the Witchblade. Sara Pezzini, bearer of the Witchblade, and her uneasy ally Jackie Estacado (the Darkness) are drawn into battle. The final plot is driven by a fairly logical motivation for the monsters, and showing the four heroes (or anti-hero in the case of the Darkness) in battle is actually quite exciting. The monsters even take it a step further, bringing in a dash of Cthulu at the end.
The artwork actually varies considerably. Not being particularly familiar with either artist’s style, I can’t quite tell who drew which chapters, but I can definitely tell when the changes take place. Some of the chapters are drawn with a lighter touch – more of a penciled, unfinished look, which actually works very well for the story. Other chapters are more finished, heavily inked, which is fine in and of itself, but it makes for a drastic contrast that may be distracting for some readers.
This is a pretty good horror story overall, one that works well especially if you’re a fan of the Top Cow characters. The “Classic Monsters” are fun to read about in their own right. I can’t imagine Dynamite would have worked on this crossover if there wasn’t an intention of using the Monsters elsewhere, but to the best of my knowledge, that hasn’t been done yet. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to set them up in some new horror tales, though, if a proper hero could be found to stand against their evil.
Rating: 7/10
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