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

Animal Man (2011 Series) #1

September 12, 2011

Title: The Hunt Part One: Warning From the Red

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Pencils: Travel Foreman
Inks: Travel Foreman & Dan Green
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artist: Travel Foreman
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Publisher: DC Comics

Animal Man is one of those characters that has a truly devoted, if very small, fan base. Not everybody knows him, but those that do love him. This issue will make it clear why. The sometimes-superhero is called to action when a man attacks a local hospital, grief-stricken over the loss of his daughter. Buddy Baker, Animal Man, feels sympathy for the man, but knows he has to stop him before he hurts an innocent person. The action is quick and very much keeping with the character… and as is often the case with books like this, it opens the door to real horror.

I couldn’t have thought of a better writer for this title than Jeff Lemire. Something about his other titles, the sort of blend of fear and sympathy that pervades Sweet Tooth for example, feels like the absolute perfect match for Buddy Baker. I also love the way he’s really making this book about Buddy’s daughter, Maxine. She’s clearly inherited abilities from her father, but what those abilities are remain to be seen. If the last page of this issue is any indication, they’re going to take us someplace truly bizarre.

I like Travel Foreman’s artwork here. He’s definitely not your standard superhero artist, and like Lemire his work brings a blend of horror into the book. The one thing I really don’t like for, though, is Animal Man’s costume. It looks terribly bland, and considering how quickly he takes off the headband thingie, I’m not sure why he even bothers (since it looks better without it anyway).

That’s hardly a reason to pass on a book as good as this one, though.

Rating: 8/10

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

Superboy (2010 Series) #5

April 10, 2011

Title: The Superboy/Kid Flash Race!

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Pier Gallo
Colorist: Jamie Grant
Letterer: John J. Hill
Cover: Eddy Barrows & J.P. Mayer
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics

Races between Superman and the Flash have been a staple of comics for decades now, but this is the first time that Superboy and Kid Flash have buckled down for a contest of their own. As the Teen Titans come out to cheer on their teammates, all of Smallville assembles to see who will come out on top.

The feeling of this race is a lot different from all the Superman/Flash races we’ve seen in the past, and not just because the Phantom Stranger pops up out of nowhere to freak our heroes out. To be sure, we’ve seen the charity race thing before, and we’ve seen the heroes have to take a break from the race to thwart one monster or villain or what have you. But Superboy has been going through quite a bit lately, what with his break-up with Wonder Girl and finding out that his friend Lori is the niece of Lex Luthor, and Jeff Lemire takes the time during the race to talk have our heroes talk things over. Bart Allen has developed quite a bit since his Impulse days, and the character who pops in here actually shows a surprising amount of sensitivity towards his friend. Fortunately, he still feels like himself, and that helps keep up the feeling of joy that surrounds the race itself.

I will admit to being a little irritated at the race’s outcome, or lack thereof. Back in the Silver Age, DC never wanted to actually crown a winner in one of those Superman/Flash races, so there was always some sort of convoluted excuse to prevent them from crowning a champion. This issue’s convoluted excuse is a lot funnier, but the end result is the same. C’mon, guys, if you’re going to hit us with the race, give us a champion!

Still, it’s a strong character-based issue that works nicely for the characters. I liked it.

Rating: 8/10

Superboy (2010 Series) #1

November 18, 2010

Title: Smallville Attacks Part One

Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Pier Gallo
Colorist: Jamie Grant
Letterer: John J. Hill
Cover: Rafael Albuquerque
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics

Superboy celebrates the return of his own ongoing the way characters have done for years – with the Phantom Stranger showing up and warning him about the future in very cryptic terms that may have huge repercussions for Conner Kent and for Smallville itself. Jeff Lemire has, until now, been content to work on low-key books like his indy work and his Vertigo title, Sweet Tooth, but this is his first time helming a superhero title from one of the big two. Well, unless you count his Atom second feature from Adventure Comics. But I digress, this issue takes us into what he does best – portraying small town life gone awry.

As Superboy tries to keep up with ordinary smalltown life again, things are tossed into chaos when the Parasite attacks. His real goal, of course, is a feast of Superman, but he’ll gobble up Superboy’s power as an appetizer if he has a chance. The battle sequence is pretty good, although it’s a little unclear just how the final attack of the battle works, considering the power sets of the two characters. To be fair, though, the action isn’t nearly as important to this story as the character stuff, and that’s where Lemire shines. He’s got a take on Superboy that works very well – the big city boy trying to get along in the small town, an odd supporting cast including a potential love interest that happens to be Lex Luthor’s niece (although now that I think about it, doesn’t that kinda make her Conner’s first cousin?) and plenty of fun with Krypto. Lemire’s work with these characters is impeccable.

We also get nice interior artwork by Pier Gallo, who manages to capture the rustic feel of Smallville and inject it with the superhero action that gets the asses in the seats. Rafael Albuquerque tops things off with a wonderful cover, one of the best we’ve ever had of Conner (and, to be frank, a far superior cover to the variant by John Cassaday).

I really enjoyed this book – a nice step towards expanding the Superman corner of the DC Universe.

Rating: 8/10