Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #5

July 1, 2007

Quick Rating: Fair
Title: Acceptance
Rating: T+

The funeral for Captain America.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Pencils: John Cassaday
Inks: John Cassaday
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: John Cassaday, Michael Turner (Variant)
Publisher: Marvel Comics

After what seems like an eternity, Steve Rogers is finally put to rest… or is he?

Marvel has been really pushing this book hard as the next “big thing,” the next issue that’s going to have everybody talking. After having read it that big moment is… well… if you can figure it out, you tell me. Don’t misunderstand, it’s not a bad issue, it’s just that there isn’t anything in here even remotely interesting enough to justify the work of the hype machine.

Even calling this the “Iron Man” issue is dubious, as more than half the issue is concerned with Falcon’s eulogy for Cap at Arlington National Cemetery. The funeral is okay – there are several nice flashbacks to Cap’s past, all illustrated beautifully by John Cassaday. After a while, though, the eulogy starts to sound more like a roll call of everyone who felt welcome to attend the funeral.

The final scene is actually far more preferable to me. It’s even more quiet, and the few characters who appear are absolutely the ones that should be involved in a moment like this one. And I must give Jeph Loeb credit for being one of the few writers in the past several months to write Iron Man as a human being instead of a cartoon supervillain. Without giving anything away, I can only assume this last scene is the bit that’s supposed to have everyone talking, as it can easily be interpreted as Loeb putting the pieces where they need to be for the inevitable resurrection.

As funeral issues go, it’s not a bad one. It’s just not as big a deal as it’s been made out to be.

Rating: 6/10

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #4

June 10, 2007

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Depression
Rating: T+

Spider-Man mourns the death of Captain America.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Pencils: David Finch
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Frank D’armata
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: David Finch
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Despondent over Captain America’s death, Spider-Man turns to the one person he’s always gone to for help… his Uncle Ben. Standing at his grave, in the rain (in comic books, there is a strange, localized weather phenomenon giving all graveyards a 90 percent change of rain at any given time), Peter wonders if he should even go on being Spider-Man. His mourning is cut short, however, when he sees a familiar face across the cemetery – the Rhino.

Spider-Man standing in the rain, pondering his future… well, let’s just say it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. Yeah, he’s depressed over Cap’s death, and yes, it’s logical, but it’s still sort of overdone. An unexpected character shows up at the end to add a few platitudes that we’ve all both heard and said while we’re depressed, so again, points for realism, but points off for originality.

But major points go to David Finch’s artwork this issue. As Spider-Man trades blows with the Rhino, he recalls an early fight he had with the Hulk in which Captain America stepped up and joined the fray. Finch, Danny Miki and Frank D’armata do a really good job with these flashbacks, particularly their techniques for blending together the present with the past. Their blurred technique isn’t something I’ve ever seen used in quite this way before, and it’s really very effective, particularly on the two-page spread at the end of the fight.

The only real problem with this issue isn’t that there’s anything bad about it, just that it goes back to a very familiar well.

Rating: 7/10

Superman: Cover to Cover

June 7, 2006

Quick Rating: Great

Over 270 of the most memorable Superman covers of all time!

Art: Alex Ross, Ed McGuinness, Matt Wagner, Neal Adams, Curt Swan, Joe Schuster, Walt Simonson, Leinil Francis Yu, Jim Lee, John Byrne and hundreds of the greatest Superman artists of all time
Commentary: Grant Morrison, Jeph Loeb, Mark Verheiden, Mark Waid, Elliot S! Maggin, Murphy Anderson, Al Plastino, Jim Mooney, Nick Cardy, Bryan Singer, Richard Donner, Jack Larson, Erica Durance and more
Collected Edition Editor: Robert Greenberger
Senior Art Director: Robbin Brosterman
Publisher: DC Comics

The follow-up to last year’s popular Batman: Cover to Cover, this handsome hardcover volume collects over 270 of the most memorable covers featuring Superman since the character’s first appearance back in Action Comics #1. Note that I say here “most memorable,” not “best” – while a great many of the covers included here are magnificent works of art (Alex Ross’s work on Superman: Peace on Earth and Kingdom Come #4, for example), many others aren’t quite as powerful from a purely aesthetic sense, but still deserve a place for honor for what they represent. Several covers from the Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane series are included to demonstrate how a bizarre cover, such as Superman standing by the graves of Lois, Lana Lang and Lori Lemaris, would entice a reader to grab the issue.

The book is divided up into several segments, each showcasing a different aspect of the man of steel – one section focuses on his relationship with Lois, another on the members of his extended family, one on Metropolis and one on Krypton, a section of patriotic covers and a section devoted entirely to his team-ups with other superheroes. The book is divided into over 20 such categories, and looking at the list it’s hard to think of any aspect of the character that isn’t covered somewhere.

In addition to the sections focusing on the different aspects of Superman, several times some of the writers, artists and other people most associated with Superman take a page to present their personal favorite Superman cover, and those covers are usually placed in the category they most belong. Classic artist Nick Cardy, for example, chooses his cover to Justice League of America #102, where Superman stands on a hilltop and announces that one of the assembled members of the Justice League and Justice Society must die to save the world. This powerful cover is, appropriately, placed in the “World’s Finest” chapter, which includes Superman’s great team-ups. Brandon Routh, who plays Clark and Superman in the upcoming Superman Returns film, chooses the simple but elegant Ron Frenz cover to Superman Vol. 2 #120 – a classic image of Superman bursting through chains with the entire cover colored green except for the S-shield. This is included in a section of covers selected for their clever and innovative graphic design qualities.

By the very nature of this project, not everyone will agree with the final covers selected. Everybody will have their own favorite covers that may not be included, and they’ll come across a few they may think less than deserving of inclusion – but the art by its very nature is selective. Most readers will be hard-pressed to argue this isn’t, overall, a very entertaining collection of iconic and eye-popping Superman images. This is a book that every Superman fan needs to have on his coffee table.

Rating: 9/10

Wolverine (2003 Series) #52

March 26, 2007

Quick Rating: Okay
Title: Blood on the Wind Chapter Three
Rating: Parental Advisory

Wolverine and Sabertooth fight each other… in Wakanda!

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Pencils: Simone Bianchi
Inks and Washed Halftones: Simone Bianchi & Andrea Silvestri
Colors: Simone Peruzzi
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Axel Alonso
Cover Art: Simone Bianchi
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Previously in this title, Wolverine and Sabretooth fought. This issue: Wolverine and Sabretooth fight… in Wakanda. A subtle difference, to be certain. Apparently the new queen, Storm, summoned Wolverine there to show him something they found at an archeological dig, and his slugfest with Sabretooth simply continued along the way.

Honestly, I don’t know how to feel about this story. Ostensibly, this will finally settle the question of the relationship between the two characters once and for all, but so far we haven’t really seen much other than fighting, flashbacks to previous fighting, talking about fighting, and fighting. Okay, when you’re dealing with Wolverine, especially with Sabretooth in the mix, you’ve got to expect some fighting, but there has yet to be any real substance to go with it. The Black Panther and Storm are pretty incidental to this story, and only seem to be included because of the reveal at the end, which was found in Wakanda, which could have been placed at virtually any other point on the globe except that the creators wanted to include the Black Panther and Storm.

Simone Bianchi’s artwork is… okay. Frankly, I think the art style works far better on covers rather than in sequential storytelling – it makes for a good piece of art, a good static image, but there are several scenes where I feel it simply doesn’t tell the story that well.

I’ve heard mixed reactions on this storyline – a lot of fans seem to love it, a lot seem to hate it. I fall squarely in the middle – it’s not terrible, but it’s not really crying out for a recommendation either.

Rating: 6/10

Superman: Our Worlds at War-The Complete Collection TPB

April 17, 2011

Title: Our Worlds at War

Writers: Jeph Loeb, Joe Casey, Mark Schultz, Joe Kelly, Peter David, Phil Jimenez, Todd DeZago
Pencils: Phil Jimenez, Mike Wieringo, Doug Mahnke, Ed McGuinness, Pascual Ferry, Carlo Barberi, Kano, Todd Nauck, Mark Buckingham, Duncan Rouleau, Yvel Guichet, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ron Garney, Leonard Kirk
Inks: Marlo Alquiza, Andy Lanning, Jose Marzan Jr., Cam Smith, Keith Champagne, Tom Nguyen, Juan Vlasco, Wayne Faucher, Walden Wong, Duncan Rouleau, Mark Morales, Lary Stucker, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dexter Vines, Robin Riggs
Colorist: Wildstorm FX, Patricia Mulvihill, Jason Wright, Zylonol Studios, Tanya Horie, Richard Horie, Tom McCraw, Rob Schwager, Gene D’Angelo
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Comicraft, Ken Lopez, Janice Chiang, Bill Oakley
Cover: Ed McGuinness
Editors: Eddie Berganza, Mike McAvennie, Bob Joy       
Publisher: DC Comics

Comic book crossovers have been a staple of the form since the 1980s, and there have been more misses than hits. Sometimes, though, time passes and you forget how good a particular storyline was. That’s the case for me with the 2001 crossover Our Worlds at War.

In this storyline Imperiex, an alien Superman had fought some months before, was making Earth the target of his latest assault. It turns out Superman hadn’t fought the real Imperiex, but rather a “probe” sent out by a much more powerful biend, who had the intention of destroying Earth in part of an ongoing quest to wipe out… well… the universe. Superman, the Justice League, and pretty much every other hero on the planet assembled to go to war against the forces of Imperiex, and to do so they had to make some strange allies… Lex Luthor, then-President of the United States, and the dark god himself, Darkseid.

Although this book is labeled The Complete Collection, that isn’t strictly true. There are several crossover chapters and specials that were released in 2001 that aren’t part of this already-hefty omnibus. This book does collect all of the pieces vital to the main story, including the chapters of the assorted Superman titles, Wonder Woman’s book, those starring the members of Young Justice, and a few more for good measure. Not every chapter is that great, but a lot of them are. The story packs a surprising emotional punch, as we see Superman and his allies run ragged fighting a foe more powerful than they’ve ever fought before. Granted, that’s the tagline for virtually every crossover that’s published, but this time we really feel the stress, the strain they have to go under. We see heroes brought to the breaking point and several significant, meaningful deaths. (Unfortunately, virtually all of those deaths have been reversed in the decade since this story first saw publication, but it’s unfair to hold that against this volume, I think.)

The book does lean heavily on characters that were important to the Superman mythos at the time, such as Strange Visitor, who more recent readers won’t recognize at all. The changes that Steel goes through, as well, make for a strange little time capsule, and Supergirl is virtually unrecognizable from the current version. But the story as a whole is still engaging, exciting, and powerful. I’m really glad I picked up this monster omnibus and read this story again.

Rating: 8/10

For the record, this book collects the following individual issues: Action Comics #780-782, Adventures of Superman #593-595, Impulse #77, JLA: Our Worlds at War #1, Superboy (1994 Series) #91, Supergirl (1996 Series) #59, Superman (1987 Series) #171-173, Superman: The Man of Steel #115-117, Wonder Woman (1987 Series) #172-173, World’s Finest: Our Worlds at War #1, and Young Justice (1998 Series) #36.

Onslaught Reborn #3

March 6, 2007

Quick Rating: Poor
Title: Might Makes Right
Rating: T+

Controlled by Onslaught, Thor battles the Hulk!

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Rob Liefeld
Colors: Matt Yackey
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: John Barber
Cover Art: Rob Liefeld
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Since the last issue of this weekly series came out three months ago, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering why, exactly, Marvel thought this would be a good idea. A belief that sales will justify it is the obvious answer, of course, but when a book is this consistently mediocre, there’s absolutely no logic behind the choice. Here’s the issue in a nutshell: Onslaught possesses Thor. Thor fights the Hulk. Hulk smash. Hawkeye gets a big reveal that makes me curl up into a fetal ball and whisper “Not him, not him, please GOD anybody but HIM…”

This issue is almost entirely fight scene, which I have no objection to in principle. When you write a story like that, though, you need to be sure you’re dealing with an artist whose style can carry a fight scene for that long and keep it exciting. That’s not what we have here. Instead we have a book full of awkward, unrealistic poses, teenage girls with chests that would fit in with the Swiss Alps and the same two facial expressions photocopied onto one head after another.

And the thing is, virtually anybody who remembers the 90s could have told you that’s exactly what you would get from this book before the first issue was even printed.

We expect that from the art, of course, but the writing… well, there have been worse stories, of course, but Jeph Loeb is capable of better. It’s hard to look at this comic and believe this is the same writer who crafted Batman: The Long Halloween. It’s like Shakespeare writing an episode of “Welcome Back, Kotter.” It just ain’t right.

I can’t call this issue disappointing, because that would imply I expected something better… but it’s not worth reading at any rate.

Rating: 2/10

Solo (2004 Series) #1

November 8, 2004

Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: Date Knight and other stories

DC’s newest anthology series kicks off with the work of Tim Sale!

Writers: Tim Sale, Darwyn Cooke, Diana Schutz, Jeph Loeb & Brian Azzarello
Art: Tim Sale
Colors: Dave Stewart & Jose Villarrubia
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Mark Chiarello
Cover Art: Tim Sale
Publisher: DC Comics

In a market where anthology titles traditionally don’t sell that well, DC Comics is taking a clever, unique approach to the form. In this new ongoing series, they’re going to offer up 48 pages a month to a different artist and allow him or her free reign to tell some of their own stories, using any DC characters they want or to branch out and tell other stories. Tim Sale, best known for his partnerships with Jeph Loeb on books like Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman For All Seasons, gets first crack.

The book opens with “Date Knight,” written by Darwyn Cooke. In it, Catwoman lays a very unique trap for the Batman, one that even the world’s greatest detective didn’t see coming. The story is a lighthearted chase sequence, a nice little twist on the normal rooftop battles you see in the bat-books.

“Christina” follows, the first of two quick, personal stories Sale writes himself in this book. It’s a creepy little tale of a man and woman on a beach, and the horrible mission the man must undertake.

“Young Love,” written by Diana Schutz, is perhaps the most unique story in this volume, focusing on the Pre-Crisis version of Supergirl and telling the lost tale of her romance with Dick Malverne. It’s done up like an old-fashioned romance comic, right down to a dot-deco color scheme, but the story has something of a modern tinge to it. It’s bittersweet and beautiful.

Sale teams up with Loeb for “Prom Night,” a story that could very easily be called Superman For All Seasons: The Lost Chapter. It’s just what it sounds like, the story of Clark Kent preparing for his senior prom with Lana Lang. Like the Supergirl story, this tale is warm and tender with a sort of heartache lacing the panels, because although the characters don’t know it, the readers know that Superman will soon come between the two young lovers forever.

Brian Azzarello contributes “Low Card in the Hole,” a quick film noir-ish story about a hardboiled gumshoe forced to face one of his own greatest sins. I was not a fan of Azzarello’s run on Batman. I’m not a fan of 100 Bullets. His Superman leaves much to be desired. But this story is great.

The issue ends with “I Concentrate on You,” the second offering written by Sale himself. It’s a soft, quiet piece, largely wordless, that ends with a lovely dedication that really puts things into context.

From month-to-month, the quality of this series is going to depend on the strength of the artist invited to take the helm for that issue and the reader’s own level of appreciation for him or her. This first issue, however, is absolutely wonderful, and anyone who enjoys the work of Tim Sale would do themselves a terrible disservice if they don’t pick it up.

Rating: 10/10

Superman/Batman #9

April 21, 2004

Quick Rating: Great
Title: Visitor (The Supergirl From Krypton Part Two)

Superman is happy to finally have family. Batman doesn’t trust her. Who is the Supergirl from Krypton?

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Michael Turner
Colors: Peter Steigerwald
Letters: Richard Starkings
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Cover Art: Michael Turner
Publisher: DC Comics

I have to admit, I was initially apprehensive when word came that this book would feature the return of the Kara Zor-El version of Supergirl, especially since I’m still smarting at the shabby treatment given the Linda Danvers version of the character. Bit if anybody could sell me on this Supergirl, it’s Jeph Loeb, and he sells her in spades this issue.

Last month Batman uncovered a girl claiming to be the niece of Jor-El trapped in the Kryptonite meteor that nearly struck the Earth a few months ago. This issue, a month later, he and Superman have kept her in seclusion for study and tutelage in the ways of Earth. The thing that’s selling this story, though is we’re still not entirely sure she really is Kara Zor-El. Batman doesn’t trust her (of course, Batman doesn’t trust anyone), but Krypto doesn’t like her either, several other allies of our world’s finest duo have their reservations, and this issue gives us a reason to believe this girl has a link to one of the nastiest customers in the DC Universe.

Despite that, though, the girl has a sweet innocence to her that’s pleasingly reminiscent of the silver age Supergirl she is emulating. In fact, perhaps the best recommendation I can give this comic is to tell you that, at this point, I simply can’t decide whether it would make for a better story for this girl to turn out to be a new Supergirl or an imposter.

Michael Turner’s artwork is the reason a lot of people are picking this title up, of course, and he delivers big-time. It isn’t easy to draw Superman and Batman together and have them both look good, but he does it. His Batman works even in a bright location like the Fortress of Solitude and a nighttime scene at the Superman statue in Metropolis, aided by the colors of Peter Steigerwald is absolutely gorgeous. It is not an exaggeration to say that this may be the best-looking comic book in America this month.

Ever since this series launched last year, it has consistently been, hands-down, the best regular title featuring either of the iconic title characters. Superman and Batman are frequently referred to as the world’s finest. With Jeph Loeb at the helm of their book, they deserve that title.

Rating: 9/10

Onslaught Reborn #2

December 26, 2006

Quick Rating: Below Average
Title: Born to Die!
Rating: T+

Franklin tries to convince the heroes about the truth of their reality.

Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Rob Liefeld
Colors: Matt Yackey
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: John Barber
Cover Art: Rob Liefeld
Publisher: Marvel Comics

So Onslaught (apparently he’s “Death” now) has arrived on the Heroes Reborn Earth. So has Franklin Richards, who created said Earth. But the heroes of this world, who are ostensibly the heroes of OUR Earth transplanted and transformed, don’t believe him. Of course, if they ARE the heroes of our Earth, how did they get back there, since they got sent home ten years ago when this story first ended? And why isn’t anyone (and by “anyone” I mean “Bucky”) acting as if they ever left? And if they got sent BACK from our Earth, how does that work in current continuity, with Thor currently “dead” (ish) and the Hulk off on some other planet?

The logical problems alone with this series are enough to give even the most dedicated fan a massive headache, and the execution honestly doesn’t help matters. The only bright spot in the writing is Jeph Loeb’s characterization of Captain America. The story is pretty painful, but he’s got that character, at least, spot-on… enough that I’d like to see him get his hands on Cap on a regular basis in the future.

And the artwork… ugh. Criticizing Rob Liefeld’s artwork is like fishing in an aquarium with sticks of dynamite, but I’ll give it a shot. Everything you’ve ever heard about awkward poses, impossible anatomy, hideous costumes (particularly on Hawkeye and Thor) and a cast of a dozen characters who display a combined total of three facial expressions throughout the entire issue… well, it all applies here.

So far, all this miniseries is doing is confirming the fears of those who thought putting it out at all was a mistake.

Rating: 3/10

Spider-Man: Blue TPB

July 9, 2005

Spider-Man: Blue (Marvel Comics)
by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale have built a well-deserved reputation as chroniclers of early chapters in the lives of iconic superheroes. Their two Batman volumes, The Long Halloween and Dark Victory, are mystery masterworks. Superman For All Seasons was so good that Loeb got hired to write for the Smallville TV show.

Their work for Marvel hasn’t been as eye-popping, though. Daredevil: Yellow was pretty good, but for the most part, Spider-Man: Blue left me stale, and I think I know why. Gwen Stacy.

So many of todays comic pros grew up in the days when Gwen Stacy was the it girl, Spider-Mans’s girlfriend, the woman he was meant to be with. Then, in a stunning act for comics of the 1970s, she was killed off. As those readers became the creators, a wave of Gwen nostalgia was kicked into high gear.

Problem is, I’m a child of the 80s, by which time there was a new “it” girl, Mary Jane Watson. She was the love of Spider-Man’s life. She was the woman he wound up marrying. But over and over again, the writers at Marvel seem to keep churning out these long, aching love letters to Gwen Stacy. I can appreciate her place as a character and as an important chapter in Spider-Man’s history, but she’s not a character I’ve ever really felt for.

Out of all these love letters, Spider-Man: Blue is probably the best done. It’s written well and Sale’s artwork, as always, is beautiful. Any one of the covers in this series has poster potential. But for all that, it’s just not for me. Gwen Stacy fans, this one is for you. As for the rest of us, I’m waiting for the days when Spidey fans who grew up with Mary Jane start writing the stories.

Rating: 6/10

(2010 note: Boy. Freaking. AM I.)