Agents of Atlas (2006 Series) #5

December 3, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: The People’s Leader
Rating: T+

A traitor revealed

Writer: Jeff Parker
Pencils: Leonard Kirk
Inks: Kris Justice
Colors: Michelle Madsen
Letters: Dave Lanphear
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Tomm Coker
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Agent Khanata now believes one of his team to be a double agent. As they find themselves facing off against SHIELD, Namora makes a sudden connection about one of her teammates that reveals a long-hidden, horrible truth. In the end, a traitor stands revealed, and the Agents of Atlas find themselves gripped in a truly horrifying battle.

I haven’t been reading this miniseries up until now, but this issue really makes me wish I had been. This is a wonderful blend of old-fashioned superheroics and modern espionage, with enough of a 1950s flavor to make it true to its roots. The characters all read very true to themselves (at least from the few stories of theirs I’ve read in the past), and Jeff Parker has done a good job of taking obscure, forgotten characters and making them relatable today. He gives us people to root for and people to disdain, and that’s quite a feat with characters like these.

I’ve always been a fan of Leonard Kirk’s artwork, and this issue is certainly no exception. He takes the retro 50s style, but blends it with modern sensibilities to create something of a timeless look. This book would fit in perfectly with comics of any age, and like the writing, that’s no mean feat.

It’s probably too late for me to hunt down the first four issues of this miniseries, but I’m definitely going to seek out the trade paperback. This issue was a lot of fun.

Rating: 8/10

Herc #3

June 3, 2011

Title: Fear Itself

Writer: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Breakdowns: Neil Edwards
Finishes: Scott Hanna
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Cover: Chris Stevens & Leonardo Olea
Editor: Mark Paniccia       
Publisher: Marvel Comics

When the Raft is blown open, Hercules comes to blows with some of the escapees that start tearing through Brooklyn. When the villains are targeted by an even more powerful force, though, Herc is forced to step up and defend even his foes in the face of a greater power. I’m so glad that Pak and Van Lente have managed to continue their association with this character, and this book shows exactly why. Their Hercules is far more than the braggart who has gotten himself and his comrades into hot water time and again with his mouth – although that Herc is still a part of him, to be sure. This Herc, though, is utterly powerless, but doesn’t hesitate to charge into battle against the likes of Man-Bull. Then when Man-Bull is the one who needs defending, Herc doesn’t hesitate to do that either. The story works for two purposes, both demonstrating Herc’s overwhelmingly heroic nature, but also setting him up for some mistrust on the part of the people he’s there to defend. The book doesn’t really have a lot to do with the overall Fear Itself crossover, save for using the escaping villains as the crux of the story, but it looks like next issue will have a deeper tie. This is another really good issue for a great creative team.

Rating: 8/10

Bullet Points #2

December 9, 2006

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Trajectories in Flight
Rating: T+

As Steve Rogers ponders retirement, Peter Parker wanders onto a very familiar missile testing range.

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Tommy Lee Edwards
Letters: John Workman
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Tommy Lee Edwards
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Last issue, two Marvel icons were irrevocably altered by the same bullet when a German spy successfully murdered Dr. Abraham Erskine before he could transform Steve Rogers into Captain America. The same bullet killed an MP by the name of Ben Parker, depriving the future Peter Parker of the only father figure in his life.

Now, years later, Rogers is semi-retired from the program in which he served his country – the “Iron Man” project. Parker, however, is a young punk, rebellious at school, failing, and addicted to danger… which leads him to a missile testing range, where he absorbs a life-altering dose of gamma radiation.

Yeah, you get where this is going.

Straczynksi has crafted a pretty good story here, showing how the initial alteration has a ripple effect throughout time, changing things for one hero after another. This is the sort of thing the original What If? series did so well, and in fact, that’s what this comic reads like. My only concern is that this doesn’t simply turn into a case of, with every issue, two characters getting combined. It works for Steve and Peter, but if it keeps going it will start to feel like a gimmick.

Tommy Lee Edwards’s artwork is perfect for this title. He’s got a very dark, edgy, sketchy style that fits this twisted version of the Marvel Universe to perfection.

So far, this has been a very strong prism through which to show a different Marvel, and it’s working quite well.

Rating: 8/10

Somebody’s First Comic Book: Araña #6

Wondering what Somebody’s First Comic Book is all about? The explanation is on this page!

TITLE: The Heart of the Spider Part Six

CREDITS:
Writer: Fiona Avery
Penciller: Roger Cruz
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Letters: Rus Wooton
Colors: Udon’s Jeannie Lee
Editors: Jennifer Lee & Mark Paniccia
Cover: Mark Brooks
Publisher: Marvel Comics/Marvel Next

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: I’ve never heard of this Araña before. There seems to be a spider motif going on here.

IMPRESSIONS: The book, quite helpfully, starts off with a “previously”page that tells us a couple of things. Araña is apparently trying to help someone named “Miguel,” who is evidently bonded to her in such a way that he requires her presence to… well… not die. And now she’s got a super-assassin named Amun chasing her. And somebody else is now trying to kill her for no apparent reason.

Then I turn the page into the story and my understanding pretty much falls apart. The fight scene is simple enough, but there’s not much chance of understanding why she was in the fight in the first place or whether or not Amun is actually a bad guy… or, for that matter, why the guy who’s trying to kill her in the first scene looks so much like Miguel later on that I was trying to figure out why she was trying to hard to help out the bad guy.

I’m not really sure what Araña’s deal is, either. She’s apparently super-strong, but is the armor that pops out of nowhere in the last page normal? Or the fact that she starts talking like she’s in a trance when it’s there? It is, simply put, a very confusing comic book, and the revelation on the last page that evidently her mother had something to do with her very confusing circumstances doesn’t make them any less confusing. The whole thing is just… weird.

GRADE: D+

Incredible Hulk (2000 Series) #111

November 19, 2007

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Warbound Part VI (A World War Hulk tie-in)
Rating: A

The renegades face the end of the War!

Writers: Greg Pak & Jeff Parker
Art: Leonard Kirk
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Carlos Pagulayan
Publisher: Marvel Comics

World War Hulk may have ended last week, but there’s still time for one last tie-in comic. The last chapter of “Warbound” happens pretty much simultaneously with World War Hulk issues four and five, and basically shows the events of those two issues from the perspective of Amadeus Cho and his ragtag group. As the Hulk forces the Illuminati in their own battle, then takes on the Sentry, Cho and his group are forced to hunt down the demon inadvertently unleashed by Dr. Strange.

Not surprising, given who’s going to be taking over this title in short order, there’s a lot of room given to Amadeus and Hercules, and to a lesser extent, the rest of the “Renegades.” The story itself isn’t particularly groundbreaking, especially if you read the core miniseries, but it’s a nice angle to take.

Leonard Kirk’s art, as always, is great. He has a good handle on all the diverse characters in this group, and who else could possibly draw such a convincing demon-inhabited suit of Hulkbuster Iron Man armor slugging it out with Hercules? That’s right, no one.

The new lead character for this book is a bizarre choice, but an intriguing one. As long as Greg Pak is staying with this title, I will too.

Rating: 8/10

Incredible Hercules #113

January 15, 2008

Quick Rating: Very Good
Title: Shirt of Nessus (The Incredible Herc Part Two)
Rating: A

Ares and Wonder Man chase down the rogue Hercules!

Writers: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Pencils: Khoi Pham
Inks: Paul Neary
Colors: Stephane Peru
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Arthur Adams & Guru eFX
Publisher: Marvel Comics

As Hercules and Amadeus Cho plan their way out of the Hulk Refugee Camp, Ares and Wonder Man make plans to track him down. Ares pulls out a secret weapon – a danger from Hercules’ past – to take his brother down.

There’s an awful lot to like about this comic book. First of all, like last issue, Pak and Van Lente are dipping back into classic Greek mythology for their plot points. The weapon Ares conjures up isn’t some deus ex machina or Star Trek-style technobabble weapon, it’s something very real to Hercules. Treating the original myths as in-continuity as any comic book appearance they’ve made is a great way to handle this character.

Ares, an Avenger now, is being played as the Big Bad in this arc, and that also works wonderfully. The natural friction between these two sons of Zeus provides the drama in a very organic way. Wonder Man’s confrontation with Herc goes over very well too – these guys are old friends. Neither of them wants to fight, and they both make that clear just before the fisticuffs begin anyway.

Khoi Pham, Paul Neary and Stephane Peru give us some fine artwork. The Greek monsters we see in this issue look great, as do all of the thrilling heroics.

And on a personal note, the first page of this book kinda took me aback. I’ve often been heard to voice disapproval of the depiction of Louisiana or New Orleans in comic books, as the depiction often falls into bad stereotypes. Imagine how much more I was stunned when I opened up the book to a scene set in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, which is actually my home. The depiction? Well… I wasn’t happy to see another thatch-roofed hut, and my girlfriend, who is thirsting to see an alligator in person, would be astonished at the fact that there is evidently an alligator farm in my back yard. But since there are really swamp tours in this area, I’m willing to let it slide. For once, I found it more amusing than insulting.

But I digress. The point is, this second issue of Hercules’ story is even stronger than the first, and it’s rapidly on its way to becoming one of the best comics Marvel is publishing.

Rating: 8/10

What If? X-Men: Age of Apocalypse #1

December 26, 2006

Quick Rating: Average
Title: What if Legion Had Killed Xavier and Magneto?
Rating: T+

A world with no Xavier or Magneto – a different “Age of Apocalypse.”

Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Dave Wilkins
Colors: Anthony Washington
Letters: Nate Piekos
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Marko Djurdjevic
Publisher: Marvel Comics

The appeal behind a “What If?” project is showing how the Marvel universe would be different had things been changed. In a lot of ways, “Age of Apocalypse” was really just one long “What If?” storyline, so this issue is, in essence, a “What If?” about a “What If?” The Age of Apocalypse was caused when Legion went back in time and killed Charles Xavier. In the universe we visit in this issue, Legion killed not just Xavier, not just Magneto, but countless people. Fear of mutants became widespread and mutants were oppressed, until Apocalypse arrived with his troopers to conquer Earth.

To say this Earth is worse off than that of the original “Age” would be difficult, but it’s definitely different. The battle lines have been drawn quite differently, with the biggest similarity being Nate Gray again being a key player. He joins up with the last dregs of the superhuman resistance, planning to take the fight to Apocalypse.

Some of the little touches in this book are interesting – the identity of this world’s Sorcerer Supreme, for instance, is quite amusing. Others kind of bother me – I can understand the mutant characters being more or less the same, since their powers are hardwired in from birth, but in a world so different from any other, how probable is it that the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man would have evolved in such similar fashions? Remender also litters the book will little in-jokes (like a clone crack) that are amusing, but really serve to wrench you out of the story.

Dave Wilkins art, like the writing, is a mixed bag. It tells the story fairly effectively, but it’s really dark and gritty, and not in a way that necessarily matches the story.

I’ve read worse What If? stories, but I’ve read much better ones too.

Rating: 5/10

Incredible Hulk (2000 Series) #105

April 1, 2007

Quick Rating: Heartbreaking
Title: Planet Hulk: Armageddon Part 2
Rating: A

Hulk has brought peace to the planet Sakaar – but can that peace possibly last?

Writer: Greg Pak
Pencils: Carlo Pagulayan
Inks: Jeffrey Huet
Colors: Chris Sotomayor
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Ladronn
Publisher: Marvel Comics

After 14 issues of some of the best stories Marvel has been putting out in the last two years, “Planet Hulk” comes to its heartbreaking conclusion. After months of fighting on the planet Sakaar, the Hulk has taken the crown and taken an empress, bringing peace to a planet torn by war. He’s found joy. He’s happy.

Of course, it can’t last.

This issue turns on a dime, going from joyful and happy to horrifying and heartbreaking. You feel for the Hulk here like never before, and you’re almost anxious to see him lay waste to the planet Earth once he makes it home. I’m still wary of yet another event story so closely on the heels of Civil War, but Greg Pak has really made this lead-in to World War Hulk feel like a natural, organic outgrowth of the story.

Carlo Pagulayan, Jeffrey Huet and Chris Sotomayor provide some really fantastic art, and Pak gives us a text piece at the end that gives us some really nice insight into how the story was put together.

It’s hard to say much more without spoiling anything. Suffice it to say, if you’re looking for a happy ending, go read Uncle Scrooge or something. If you’re looking for a story that will genuinely affect you, make you feel for a character that’s always teetered between the man and the monster, this is the book.

Rating: 9/10

Ultimate Comics Thor #1

November 7, 2010

Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Pencils: Carlos Pacheco
Inks: Dexter Vines
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover: Carlos Pacheco
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Ultimatum effectively killed off my interest in Marvel’s Ultimate universe. Actually the run-up to Ultimatum did the trick, I didn’t even last into the event itself, and from all reports, I was more than justified in this decision. However, I decided to make an exception and try another Ultimate book when I heard that Jonathan Hickman was working on a Thor title.

This first issue seems to be taking us into the true origins of this universe’s Thor. Found and held at the Dome, the man who calls himself Thor is furiously scribbling old Nordic runes on the floor of his cell. James Braddock (father of Brian) calls in Dr. Donald Blake to examine Thor, and here we get our first major deviation. Blake, in this universe, is a psychologist (and, conveniently, “dabbler” in linguistics) who happens to be perfect to examine Thor. As the interview begins, we flash back to 1939, when Thor and his family were hunting down Frost Giants and Baron Zemo was helping Hitler out with some experiments to unleash the power of the enemies of the Aesir gods on Earth.

Hickman’s pedigree is the reason I read this book – he’s saved Fantastic Four from mediocrity and done some damn fine work on his other Marvel Universe titles, so I was willing to give this one a chance. I wasn’t disappointed. The story is clever and entertaining, and Hickman throws in plenty of energetic, fan-pleasing moments. (Come on, Thor versus Frost Giants versus Nazis? How can you possibly go wrong with this combination?)

The script is strong, and there’s some very strong artwork to accompany it. Pacheco and Vines have done some fantastic work together for years, and here they’re really effective at showing three very different time periods and environments: Asgard, a modern science lab, and the classic castle environs of Nazi Germany. All three of these settings look perfectly compatible with each other.

While this book isn’t making me love the Ultimate universe again, I at least enjoy the book for what it is. I’ll definitely follow it through to the end.

Rating: 8/10

Skaar, Son of Hulk #1

May 10, 2008

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Cradle of Fire
Rating: Parental Advisory

The son of the Hulk stalks the remains of Sakaar!

Writer: Greg Pak
Pencils: Ron Garney
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Cover Art: Ron Garney; Carlo Pagulayan & Julie Bell (Variants)
Publisher: Marvel Comics

When the planet Sakaar was destroyed in the tragic ending of Planet Hulk, the Hulk’s bride Caiera was pregnant with the son of the rampaging man-monster. The Hulk left Sakaar to seek vengeance on the Earth, unaware that his child – against all odds – survived.

The explanation for Skaar’s survival here is a little iffy, but that’s not really important. It’s good enough for a John Carter-style planetary romance, which is what this book quickly reveals itself to be. Picking up a year after the explosion devastated the planet, a new tribe of barbaric aliens is trying to hunt down the legendary son of the Hulk, the only obstacle to their domination of the planet.

Although it’s set on a distant planet, with plenty of sci-fi trappings, the book reads more like a sword-and-sorcery fantasy series like Conan or Red Sonja than anything else. Skaar isn’t really much of a character at this point, but he does exhibit the same sort of disparity between his savage nature and a protective tendency that’s so indicative of his father. He needs more time to develop, but there’s a seed of something interesting here.

Ron Garney is a good match for this book. I’m more used to seeing his style on action-oriented human heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man, but he shows a real skill here for monsters and beasties, and that’s just what this book needs.

Right now, Skaar doesn’t really serve much more of a purpose than to stand-in for the Hulk’s savage incarnation in a barbarian setting, but Pak has more than earned enough currency as a writer to wait out the first story arc and see what this is going. This issue didn’t blow me away, but as introductions go, it isn’t bad.

Rating: 7/10