Mini Reviews 11/03/2012

While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and provide a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.

MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Nick Pitarra & Cris Peters
Image $3.50

Stewart R: I’d been fairly excited for Hickman and Pitarra’s last Image-published project, Red Wing, but very quickly that excitement dwindled into sheer ambivalence as the miniseries went on. Not wanting to judge a creative partnership on the basis of one piece of work I’ve now picked up Manhattan Projects to see what they can do. I certainly like the idea of two diametrically opposed Oppenheimer brothers and both writer and Pitarra do a decent job of showing their upbringing from the two very differing perspectives. The bigger problem for me is the surrounding military science fiction story which shows Hickman once again working in ‘big ideas/little substance’ mode. The bizarre attack on Base Zero lacks a feeling of real gravity or danger and I tend to think that it’s down to the writer looking at things from too high a level. Pitarra’s artwork is also a touch inconsistent with some very strange panels and views thrown in. I stuck with Red Wing through all four issues, I don’t think I’ll be giving Manhattan Projects the same grace. 4/10

Matt C: Jonathan Hickman is a brilliant ideas man (anyone who can come up with tagline ‘Infinite Oppenheimers’ has to be doing something right!) but as was recently evidenced with Red Wing, sometimes those ideas slip through his fingers rather quickly, and he can’t quite fit them into a satisfying storyline. Which is basically my way of saying that while I was impressed by this introductory issue with it’s central premise that the US government was funding much more far out projects than just atomic bomb research in the early ‘40s, I’m going to be guarded in my enthusiasm until I see how this series begins to play out. Pitarra’s art is generally good, not as strong as it was on Red Wing though, with some panels look decidedly off, and the bendy figurework a little distracting on occasion. I’ll certainly continue with this series for the time being, as it’s a great concept loaded with potential, but I’m going to hold off on recommending it in case it loses its spark along the way. 7/10

James R: Longtime readers of this blog will know the drill by now: Jonathan Hickman, creator-owned project. First issue? Brilliant! I love Jonathan Hickman's wild ideas, and here he's taking the alternate history concept that he's using to great effect on S.H.I.E.L.D. as we learn that the Manhattan Project - America's WW2 endeavour to build the Atomic Bomb - was just the tip of a huge secret iceberg, involving science that would make Reed Richards go even more bendy than usual! At the heart of this is Robert Oppenheimer, the head of the nuclear research team re-imagined here as... well, that would be ruining a great surprise! The book tears along, and is framed by Hickman's distinctive design. My one reservation is that Hickman does not always pay off his brilliant ideas - Red Wing and Red Mass For Mars being case in point - but on the strength of this book, it's a fine start, and the world of comics is all the richer for his innovative concepts. 8/10


SUPURBIA #1
Writer: Grace Randolph
Art: Russell Dauterman & Gabriel Cassata
BOOM! Studios $3.99

James R: A couple months ago I flagged this up as one of my Ten Forward choices - I thought that the story superheroes’ other halves had a lot of potential and I'm delighted to say that this first issue confirms my hunch! It's easy to characterise this book as 'superhero Desperate Housewives' or riffing on the strengths of The Incredibles, but it's way more than that. On one hand, Randolph does a terrific job introducing us to the whole cast and their issues while at the same time setting up a corking narrative. She also sets up a lot of potentially great takes on the classic superhero archetypes. In the same way that Marc Guggenheim did a great 'Alternative JLA' with Halcyon last year, Supurbia takes Superman, Batman, Green Lantern et al and views them through a fresh prism. I'm also enjoying the fact that the protagonist isn't someone superpowered, but the newly married Eve White, who has the greatest of all ‘super’ powers - a keen and inquiring mind! The book has a fresh and distinctive look delivered with aplomb by Russell Dauterman and Gabriel Cassata, and it all adds up to a winning read. One of the best things about writing for this blog is when we can flag up new books that are worth of your attention, and Supurbia is the perfect example of this - get on board! 9/10

Matt C: I don’t think the marketing of Supurbia as ‘Desperate Housewives meets superheroes’ did it many favours, as it certainly wasn’t a concept that really appealed to me, and if it wasn’t for the buzz that suddenly erupted before its debut I could have easily let it go by unnoticed. If I hear good things about an issue #1 I’m generally willing to give them a try though, and this is absolutely a case of the end product far exceeding any expectations I may have had. I can see where the Desperate Housewives tag came from – it’s superheroes and their families in a suburban community – but I don’t think that comes anywhere near to doing it justice. The series it brings to mind for me is Jay Faerber’s superb superhero soap, Noble Causes – obviously Supurbia is it’s own thing, but it feels like it has a similar wit and sensibility, and Randolph looks like she knows how to draw plenty of mileage from the what-superheroes-get-up-to-when-they’re-not-punching-supervillains concept. Dauterman’s art combined with Cassata’s colours gives the whole thing a bright, shiny sheen, which nicely juxtaposes with the idea that things aren’t so rosy behind close doors. A hugely promising opener. 8/10


HELL YEAH #1
Writer: Joe Keatinge
Art: Andre Szymanowicz & Jason Lewis
Image $2.99

Matt C: I’m not much of a fan of teen-books (I mean books featuring teens rather books purely aimed at them) and while the odd exception will completely click – something like Joe Casey’s The Intimates, or New Mutants in its heyday – generally I don’t relate to them as well as I may have done when I was far younger man (and, yes, if that makes me sound like a grumpy old bastard, so be it!). Hell Yeah made it on the list purely on the strength of writer Joe Keatinge’s debut issue of Glory a couple of weeks back as I’d previously seen the blurb in Previews a couple of months ago and decided it wasn’t for me. Having now read Hell Yeah, I know I my initial reaction was right, but I will say it was a fairly engaging read even if I’m not inclined to go beyond this issue. The idea of a world swamped with superheroes isn’t new, but Keatinge adds a few interesting twists, and the teen perspective keeps it feeling fresh, while Szymanowicz’s art impresses with its clear exuberance. In all honesty, I could potentially pursue this series if my pull list wasn’t so overstocked at the moment, but I also get the feeling I’d probably knock it on the head sooner rather than later. 6/10


GREEN ARROW #7
Writer: Ann Nocenti
Art: Harvey Tolibao, Richard Horie & Tanya Horie
DC $2.99

Matt C: I had no interest in this book when the New 52 was launched but with a new creative team taking over, all it took was one name to get me to pick it up: Ann Nocenti. She’s not been involved in comics much over the past couple of decades, but readers of a certain age will remember her phenomenal run on Daredevil back in the ‘80s. I certainly remember it and that memory was enough to make me want to see what she could do with the Emerald Archer. Sadly, within a couple of pages, I knew this wasn’t for me. I guess seeing GA monologuing out loud to himself made me realise that Nocenti was still writing like it was the ‘80s, in an overly verbose fashion that didn’t let the art do the talking (although I wasn’t taken with Tolibao’s fussy art either), and it became rather grating quite quickly. Which could also be said for Green Arrow himself. This brash, cocky version of Oliver Queen isn’t really the version I want to see – I much prefer that dash of the debonair to offset the cocky streak. It’s nice to see Nocenti back writing a regular comic book but either her style is past its sell-by date or the character isn’t the right fit for her. Whatever the answer is, I’m out. 4/10


X-MEN #26
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Jorge Molina, Cam Smith & GURU eFX
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Only a two-week wait between issues and to be honest that was too long! Having a huge cast of characters pairing off and squaring up against each other generally tends to be done incredibly well or mind-punchingly poorly in my comic reading experience. Gischler and Molina prove that they’re squarely in the camp that can do this incredibly well! The creators elect to give up just one single page for the majority of the clashes between the mutant/vampire alliance and the selection of bounty hunters who have turned up on the isolated China Sea island looking to claim their prize. The variety of the combat, combined with Gischler’s skill with mid-fight banter and Molina’s ability to deliver some superb kinetic action really brings it all together in fistfight harmony! Even while all of the violence is ensuing we still get some opportunities to explore Storm’s stubborn stance when it comes to the X-Men’s mission and I enjoyed seeing her painful history with vampires clash headlong with the ideology of isolation that being a mutant brings to the table. It’s all set up for a humdinger of a finale next issue and I might just have to have a quick look now to see how long I have to wait! 9/10


BATWING #7
Writer: Judd Winick
Art: Dustin Nguyen, Derek Fridolfs & Brian Reber
DC $2.99

Stewart R: And just like that, the brilliant Ben Oliver’s run on Batwing was over and my ponderings on why I’d been drawn to this title for those first six issues began to surface. As it turns out with #7 I’m pretty certain that Judd Winick’s punchy scripting and intriguing story was a big fat piece of the puzzle as I enjoyed this instalment just as much as I did the preceding chapters. The continuing look into disbanded (and now mostly murdered) African super-team, The Kingdom, really captures my attention every time and even here, when Winick has elected to shift things to Gotham (or DC had him do it in time for the upcoming fight against the Court of Owls), it still works well. Bringing in the ensemble Bat-cast helps to increase the tension as they try to track down the missing Kingdom members and come up against a foe far more ruthless than they’re used to confronting. Dustin Nguyen isn’t my first choice for art duties but he puts in an applaudable effort here, especially when it comes to the flashback scenes in Africa. Those ponderings of mine have certainly disappeared for now! 7/10


AVENGERS: CHILDREN’S CRUSADE #9
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Art: Jim Cheung, Mark Morales & Justin Ponsor
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: I loved the first series of Young Avengers. It was heartfelt, exciting and one of those teen-orientated books I actually really connected with (see my Hell Yeah review above for further info!). We waited around for a long time for Heinberg and Cheung to reunite and bring us a second series, and this mini – Young Avengers II in all but name – was what finally arrived. Admittedly it started off strongly, with a solid and prudent plot thrust along with a core cast of characters that bounced off together well. New characters began being added as the series progressed and the scope widened, but once both the Avengers and the X-Men appeared on the scene it became decidedly overcrowded. By the end there was a lot of emoting going on (too much), some less-than-scintillating fisticuffs and a heck of a lot bystanding. And by bystanding I mean those scenes where you have a handful of characters interacting but a whole lot more simply standing around and doing nothing. It might have worked if it felt like we were seeing something new, but too often (Doom with ultimate power!) we were being handed stuff we’d seen numerous times before. Cheung’s art made the whole thing look quite beautiful but by the end I was bored, and maybe the bi-monthly schedule factored into that, but I’m pretty confident when I say this hasn’t been a patch on the first series. 4/10

Stewart R: Eighteen-or-so months worth of reasonably epic comic storytelling across nine issues comes to its conclusion and it’s all so very understated and processional. The initial pages dealing with the death of a character are tinged with a suitable amount of tragedy - Cheung being a dab hand at capturing grief in the faces of all involved - but then, all of a sudden, it seems as if Heinberg has an instant necessity to draw a plot point that he started several years ago out of the fire and complete that damn circle. It doesn’t stop there however and it feels as if the Scarlet Witch is then in some sort of bizarre press day where everyone gets five minutes of her time before they go on their way. It was stated way back in the day that this would lead us to the upcoming Avengers Vs X-Men event but the knowing dialogue nods are a touch forced and hard to swallow. By the time things start to get to the soap opera that is expected and often enjoyed when it comes to the Young Avengers and their team friendship I had really started to stop caring enough. This has still been an enjoyable story on the whole, but at times it has come across that perhaps Heinberg was torn between an intimate look at a son’s journey to find his mother and that Marvel Event Bandwagon hurtling down the hill towards summer oblivion. 6/10


G.I.JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #176
Writer: Larry Hama
Art: S L Gallant, Gary Erskine & Andrew Crossley
IDW $3.99

Stewart R: Okay, so last week’s G.I. JOE:ARAH annual didn’t manage to set the world alight but at least the main title is still pounding along nicely without a sign that the pace or tension is going to let up! I’d been a bit ‘sniffy’ when Hama first decided to bring in the Blue Ninja cyborgs, but by having both the Joes and Cobra have their own reasons for trying to stop their activities it’s really added an extra level of dark excitement as we can see the potential car-crash of conflict looming in the distance. I really do enjoy the fact that Hama gives an equal amount of page-time to both sides’ actions and Cobra Commander’s usual cheesy bravado has been swept aside, thankfully to be replaced with a frenzied, near passionate, thirst for revenge. S L Gallant plays a big part in giving this story a more grounded feel with some rather creepy panels depicting the cyborgs’ moves to capture Cobra uniforms from sleeper-agents’ houses. All in all this is a great example of why this series was brought back out of retirement in the first place. 8/10


SWAMP THING #7
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Yanick Paquette & Nathan Fairbairn
DC $2.99

James R: Payoff! After teasing us for seven issues, Swamp Thing properly returns in this issue, and as we've come to expect from the comics genius that is Scott Snyder, it's a tour de force. I have to admit, I'm a sucker for an 'accept your destiny/regain your powers' story at the best of times, but this is a particularly great one with Alec Hammond crucially deciding this time to become Swamp Thing once more. I particularly loved the parts where, while arguing with the Parliament of Trees, he observes that the Green is not a place of "Beauty and balance and wonder... It's a force of nature, volatile and wild and conscienceless." I loudly and proudly declared that Snyder was a worthy heir to Alan Moore's classic run on this title back at the start of the New 52, and with this issue he really shows this to be true. Yanick Paquette's art also goes up to another level, his psychedelic panel layouts and images of horror juxtapose brilliantly. After seven issues, I get the feeling that this book is about to get even better - I have no idea how, but I can't wait for this creative team to keep delivering the goods. 9/10


X-CLUB #4
Writer: Simon Spurrier
Art: Paul Davidson & Rachelle Rosenberg
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: This miniseries had been riding high predominantly on the cushion of comedy that Si Spurrier had inflated under it with Dr Nemesis’s strange psychic predicament and Madison Jeffries’ self-denial and then soul searching over his strongest emotional attachment. While the comedy takes something of a breather this issue - don’t worry, it’s still there - this turns into a more fraught affair as all of X-Club find themselves in the toughest of situations. Dr Rao’s self-doubt and battle against the seemingly inevitable demise of her patient is gripping and Jeffries supposedly lethal plummet towards the Earth atmosphere adds a keen emotional touch to proceedings. Nemesis meanwhile still gets to fling insults and highbrow curses despite the horrendous torture he is put through by an unveiled foe of tremendous power. It’s riveting stuff and when wrapped up in the quirky and tasty stylings of art combo Davidson and Rosenberg I believe it to be one of the best minis available on the shelves. Get it and love it! 8/10

Mini Reviews 04/03/2012

While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and provide a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.

ORC STAIN #7
Writer: James Stokoe
Art: James Stokoe
Image $2.99

Stewart R: Ten long months have passed and finally I have Orc Stain #7 in my hands. I can understand the delays that can often come with creator-owned projects, but I had initially been concerned that Stokoe’s superb fantasy comic book had been dealt a deathblow and that we wouldn’t be seeing it anymore. Thankfully that is not the case and to make up for the protracted wait this issue is one of the best in the series to date. One Eye has survived his trial within the belly of the Mountain Monster but has succumbed to a severe bloodlust in the process which allows Stokoe to take us through fleeting flashback territory to show us a time long ago when our protagonist worked with those Orcs who now hunt and torment him. From there it’s high-speed action as Bowie and her strange companion Zazu effect a rapid rescue of the monocular Orc before his blinding desire for ‘Poxa-Gronka’ (an Orcish vendetta) gets him killed. There’s some well-timed character development threaded throughout this instalment - particularly when it comes to Zazu - and it helps to melt away the clouds of forgetfulness blown in by the winds of publishing delay. The art is as dazzlingly marvellous as it has ever been and the introduction of a new character towards the end of the book can only indicate that there are more instances of awesome ahead. Superb. 10/10


SCALPED #56
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: R.M. Guera
DC/Vertigo $2.99

Matt C: The final arc of this exemplary series begins, and once again Aaron takes expectations and flips them on their head. If you thought fireworks were on the agenda following last issue’s riveting conclusion, think again. Without giving too much away, bar the first couple of pages, we’re flung eight months into the future. A lot has changed, but by the same token, a lot hasn’t, and if we didn’t know any better this could easily be viewed as an epilogue to the series as a whole. But we do know better, and even though on the surface some folks have moved on with their lives (not all of them, mind) there’s still a hell of a lot of unfinished business left hanging there. There remains a huge possibility that those aforementioned fireworks will start shooting off but, based on what we’ve seen to get to this point, it’s fair to say Aaron has been anything but predictable. Guera’s artwork is up to its usual high standard, bursting at the seams with violence and emotion, the intricacies in both the figures and the backgrounds enough to completely envelop you in this world. Unless Aaron completely fumbles the ending (highly unlikely) then there’s nothing to prevent this being considered as a searing masterpiece of American comic book literature. 9/10


G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO ANNUAL #1
Writer: Larry Hama
Art: Ron Frenz, Ron Wagner, Herb Trimpe, Sal Buscema & Rachelle Rosenberg
Image $7.99

Stewart R: The Crimson Guardsmen were one of my favourite things about the early G.I. Joe comics and toylines as the thought of an underground, sleeper force lurking anywhere was a mind-boggling concept for my young 1980s mind. The rather striking cover to this annual had me really excited by the prospect of a big Guardsman story, full of tension and action, but unfortunately it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. Hama takes an interesting line with a Crimson Guardsman who has become disenfranchised with modern America and left isolated through no contact from Cobra, and this feels like a fresh perspective that counters some of the occasionally garish ‘toyline’ fun that this comic book series can drop into every now and then. Before too long however we end up with the Dreadnoks on the scene and that only really serves to distract from the promising plot and let things descend into the Magical Land of Predictability. Perhaps I’m being a touch harsh, but the problem with the plot is compounded with some rather lacklustre art from the guys on pencils. Far too often characters - more often than not the Joes - end up with weird ‘dead-eye’ stares and things seem a touch rushed throughout. Bit of a shame all around as, while no complete loss, I can’t help but feel that this was an expensive opportunity missed. 5/10


THE UNWRITTEN #34.5
Writers: Mike Carey & Peter Gross
Art: Gary Erskine & Lee Loughridge
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: Mike Carey's literary-inspired epic takes another leap back in history for this Point Five issue, as we learn about the youth of Tom Taylor's mysterious father, Wilson Taylor. We discover that Wilson fought in World War One, and while he struggled to stay alive amidst the pointless carnage, he also had a mysterious power tied to the ability to tell stories. As always, Carey's script is intelligent and thoughtful. This month, he uses the story of the Angel of Mons - where soldiers swore they saw angels on the horrific battlefields of the Great War. It works really well, and as always, I'm impressed with the invention of The Unwritten. Back when we first heard Mike Carey outline the series at the Bristol Comics Expo in 2009, he said the potential to tell stories in this universe was almost limitless, so it's great to see that Karen Berger (as editor of the book) has given Carey these additional issues to really let him flesh the world of The Unwritten out. If there's any criticism it's that Erskine and Loughridge's art is a little ‘clean' - anyone that's ever seen pictures from the horrific battlefields of France can testify that mud and filth were as much a part of the landscape as No Man's Land, and I didn't feel the art conveyed that reality strongly enough. However, this was far and away the best comic I read this week, and I'm still fascinated to see where this smart and inventive series goes next. 8/10


JUSTICE LEAGUE #6
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Jim Lee, Scott Williams, Sandra Hope, Batt & Mark Irwin
DC $3.99

Matt C: No two ways about it, Justice League has been a disappointment. What should have been the blockbusting juggernaut of the New 52 has felt utterly slight in comparison to the real winners of the relaunch. Lots of pyrotechnics on display but very little in the way of heart, and that’s surprising as most people assumed with the creative team involved that this would be a slum dunk. Okay, so there are some cool moments in this issue, ones that illicit that tingle down your spine, but that’s all they are: moments. As a whole it doesn’t hang together as something that will cause you to punch the air. The characterization goes from hitting the right notes to skidding straight off the tracks and Darkseid barely registers as anything more than a cosmic brute. I can see what Johns tried to do here but rather than showing off his trademark skill of juggling numerous balls at once, he appears to drop most of them, and Lee blatantly spent less time on each subsequent issue following the excellent visuals of the debut. All in all, nothing especially memorable has appeared in the last six issues and yet I will be back for the next instalment. Why? It’s the Justice League goddammit! I’m not prepared to give up on it just yet! 5/10

James R: Last month, I speculated that Geoff Johns had been replaced by a Life Model Decoy by Marvel to sabotage DC's flagship title. This month shows that it's mission accomplished! Once again, I'm utterly perplexed and bewildered by this title. Johns has clearly written this as a 'blockbuster' comic, but in the same way that a cinematic blockbuster can be all spectacle and no substance, this book lacks coherence. It's a comic that's one big punch-up - and there's nothing inherently wrong with that - but it feels so rushed and random; as far as I can make out, Darkseid gets beaten because Cyborg concentrates really, really hard! Then we're treated to - again - a blockbuster-style coda where the Justice League are rewarded for their heroics. But hang on - at the start of the arc, we see that Batman has (in time-honoured tradition) tried to stay as an urban legend, and he's at war with the GCPD... and now he's at a medal ceremony at the White House?! And suddenly, the book gets a Marvels feel with this all being the work of a journalist writing on the JL! It all feels wildly inconsistent. The only thing that gives me hope is the final few pages featuring the mysterious Pandora and the Phantom Stranger. I'm hoping that now the reintroduction is done, this book can settle down and tell some dynamic stories. At the moment, it’s jaw-dropping for all the wrong reasons. 4/10


GREEN WAKE #10
Writer: Kurtis Wiebe
Art: Riley Rossmo & Kelly Tindall
Image $3.50

Stewart R: Following the striking first six-issue arc I, along with many readers I’m sure, were hoping that this could potentially turn into another successful ongoing series for Image. Sadly it was not meant to be as #10 marks the end for Morley and the citizens of Green Wake as the critical success was not being matched by the readership numbers. Admittedly I was finding the new arc a slightly tougher read to follow but was plugging away each month and coming away thinking that we were definitely being led towards a big reveal. This finale promises it and then seems to veer away slightly at the last moment so everything can more or less be wrapped up. That may seem like a criticism but when the idea behind this comic has been so intriguing and unpredictable throughout it actually fits quite well. Wiebe still gets to the heart of what the mysterious isle of purgatory is about while leaving an element of the unknown there to pluck at the back of your mind and Rossmo delivers his fine pencil and ink work that has served us so very well for ten chapters. Fair enough I’ve come away feeling that perhaps there was more that we’ve now missed out on that would have made this a great arc, but as far as (possibly) hurried endings go this as good as they get. 7/10


SPACEMAN #4
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Art: Eduardo Risso & Patricia Mulvihill
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: Halfway through its run and Spaceman starts to show its genealogy. When this book was first promoted, it was sold as 'the team from 100 Bullets does sci-fi' but after reading this issue, I would say '100 Bullets goes future dystopic' would be more accurate. Kidnapping, sex, greed and violence - the themes that made Azzarello and Risso's crime saga so memorable are simply shoved into a future where the seas have risen, but society is still filled with corruption and desperate characters. The thing that's so impressive here is Azzarello's use of language - the slang employed by most of the characters might be off putting to some, but to me it's reminiscent of Anthony Burgess' language in Clockwork Orange. On one hand, I'm a little disappointed that this book hasn't invested more time in some of the SF concepts I thought it would (for example, the development of Orson and his genetically altered brothers) but at the same time it's always a pleasure to see Azzarello and Risso walk down the mean streets of human nature, regardless of whether it's the underbelly of present day America or this gritty future imperfect. 7/10

Matt C: While I can appreciate his talent, Brian Azzarello’s a writer whose work I don’t always get on with. I’ve recently knocked Wonder Woman on the head because although it contained lot of good elements it did quite grab me hard enough to keep going with it. His arcs on Batman and Superman disappointed and I totally missed the boat on 100 Bullets (although I have a feeling I would have enjoyed that and maybe investigate at later date). I few Batman shorts and various other bits and pieces have been on the money though, and at the moment I’m off the opinion that Spaceman is one of his best works yet. The basic plot may feel generic but it’s everything that Azzarello hangs around that plot that makes it unique and special, from the characters to the setting to the dialect (a turn-off for some but entirely successful from my POV). Risso’s vibrant artwork works its usual magic, creating a world that feels like an authentic representation of a not-too-distant future. Another winner from Vertigo then. 8/10

London Super Comic Convention: The Voyage Home

Now we've had a chance to settle back into reality, here are some thoughts on last weekend's events:

Matt C: Having been there on the first day of the inaugural London Super Comic Convention I can say without hesitation that it should be classed as a success. An impressive selection of guests, a huge amount of tempting merchandise, and a general feeling of enthusiasm for the medium permeating throughout the air meant that the Paradox crew left the ExCel tired but elated.

The major draw was, of course, the presence of Stan ‘The Man’ Lee, and various ticketing/queuing criteria meant only two of our group got our photos taken with the legend, while just one of us had a signature and a guaranteed space for Stan’s panel. Having been one the two to get a snap with him, I can say it’s one of those surreal, amazing moments that occurs all too infrequently throughout life (as my bemused expression in the photo demonstrates – and no, I’m not making it available for public consumption!). Obviously he was getting paid a significant amount of dough for his appearance (allegedly £120,000!) but even bearing in that in mind, you have to admire the amount of energy Stan put in to making himself available to his fans. I’m sure there are not many 89 year-olds kicking about that have that kind of stamina!

If you couldn’t get close to the former chairman of Marvel Comics there were plenty of other creators scattered about who, on the whole (mentioning no names!), were happy to chat to anyone who approached them. What people figured out fairly quickly was that while there were signing sessions organised throughout the day, most creators had their own table, so stopping my for an impromptu visit meant queues could often be avoided (although signatures were a little easier to get hold of than sketches!). Brief chats with Mike Carey, David Petersen and Fred Van Lente were are as far as I got this time, but seeing how easy it was to access these guys means next time I might bring a few books for potential signing.

Stewart R: Arriving at the event some 30 minutes after doors opened, three of our number breathed a sigh of relief that we were holding tickets that allowed us to speedily walk past the monumental queue that had formed, spanning the entire length of the gargantuan ExCel building (and then some) while the poor remaining trio had to join the throng and start counting the minutes and the paces. As to be expected with a debutant event there was a small amount of teething trouble revolving around what our differing passes allowed us to do in terms of expedited entry, but it didn't prove to be a blood-boiler and it's the kind of thing that can be ironed out with experience by organisers as the years go on. Before long we were all within the hall and within moments had spotted the much-mentioned Marvel legend partaking in his first signing session of the day.

I'd prepared myself to not see anything of Stan Lee for the entire day, having not purchased a VIP ticket and not being too keen on forking out for a photo with the legend, but there was something incredibly uplifting about spotting a godfather of comics sat only metres away as we collected our passes and wandered into the massive heart of the London Super Comic Convention. Essentially I, and everyone stood in that hall, creator, exhibitor and fan alike owed an awful lot to the 89 year-old sat diligently scribbling away - as he may have done some 50 years earlier to different ends - and by jove, I think we were all intent on celebrating what makes our hobby so great! I immediately did a tour of the entire hall to gather my bearings, establish where some of the best bargains might be found and locate those creators that I was hoping to collect a signature from.

The first thing I noticed was the number of people who had dressed specifically for the occasion; cosplayers were out in good numbers and the variety of characters was impressive, almost to the point where I was wishing I'd joined in (thankfully the logistics of the day meant I took the sensible choice). Everyone had put in a terrific amount of effort and no one was shy for the cameras, or afraid to chat about who they'd come as, even when dressed as the most villainous of comic book characters. Galactus was certainly the highlight for me (possibly robbed by Doctor Victor Von Doom at the inaugural Cosplay Contest) along with a convincing Hope and rather cute Valkyrie, and I have to say I've spent a good few minutes pondering on who I might possibly attend as should the mood catch me in coming years.

Matt C: I’ve never really paid that much attention to cosplaying before but I have to say I was mightily impressed by some of the costumes being paraded around, and being a red-blooded male I certainly didn’t have a problem seeing the likes of Black Cat and Supergirl strutting their stuff! Ahem. When I wasn’t being, er, distracted by Scarlet Witch or Catwoman, the merchandise was where it was at. No matter how much cash you came with, chance are you burnt right through it. There was just that much great stuff on display. A bunch of Captain America issues (for the most part, 50p a pop) ended up in my bag along with other miscellaneous items and to be honest I could have easily kept going if I didn’t have any self-restraint, along with the fact that I needed to carry my haul around me all day (thank God they had masseurs on hand – yes, really!).

I’m reluctant to bring up any criticism as this was a first time event and it was such a resounding success, but if I was to pick something it would be the spacing between the aisles that resulted in regular human gridlock (not pleasant when you remember that certain comic fans aren’t especially concerned with body odour!). There was a massive empty space in the hall that could have been utilized but this is a minor quibble and not something that would have me clamouring for my money back. I would also say the panels (the ones I could get into at least!) didn’t really appeal too much, but I can imagine once word gets out and there’s (hopefully) and increased creative attendance in 2013 (apparently, the organisers have said the have someone comparable to Stan lined up!) we’ll be looking at much more variety, a lot more high profile guests and maybe some genuine exclusive announcements when LSCC returns next year. And yes, I most definitely will be back for more!


Stewart R: I'll echo Matt's concerns with the spacing of the exhibitor aisles as it really did get far too cosy at some points which seems a little crazy considering the space available. With just about enough room for five people to stand next to each other from one side to the other there were some uncomfortable bottlenecks and jams, especially when everyone is carrying bags and dragging cases bulging with comic book purchases. That is however, an issue that only ever gets fixed with time and considering the evident popularity of the London Super Comic Convention - it’s estimated some 8000 people turned up the first day! - and general amount of space that can be available in future years should they return to the ExCel, I suspect this might well be addressed next time around. In any case I was still able to get all 'elbows out' at certain points, digging through the long boxes and returning with some early (#4-12) X-Men Vol 2 issues for 50p a time, as well as a couple of missing Silver Surfer and Green Lantern Corps comics that I'd a suspicion were missing from my collection.

My favourite random moment of it all had to be when myself and James R were just strolling past the exhibitors and publishers lined up along the far wall, stopping not a couple of feet away from Nick Roche drawing a Transformers commission for someone. Having stood there for a couple of seconds I turned around just in time to see a young boy, maybe 8 years old, look to the ceiling, yell ‘IDW, YES!’, fist pump in triumph and then bound up to the stall. That little display of mirth-inducing excitement captured the feeling of the crowd and staff perfectly; this was a day about celebrating comic books, in the company of other fans, one living legend, real-life twins dressed as Scott Pilgrim and a guy in a homemade Thing suit, and I don’t think that anyone in that hall hadn’t done their own little mental fist-pump at some stage since they entered that room.

Looking back through this review it seems a little unfair that we’ve mentioned any slight problems or niggles about this event. What I’ve brought away from my very first London-based comic convention is the memories of a truly superb day. There were so many smiles upon faces on either side of a table or longbox, there was a brilliant buzz hour after hour in the mammoth hall, and even when it came to spending a few minutes outside relaxing by the water in the sun there were still comic book fans wandering around, all soaking in the day with great enthusiasm. In these incredibly testing times for the industry that we love it’s heartening to see the organisers of the London Super Comic Convention make such a success of a weekend at their first try, keeping it simple and fun and ensuring that as the Paradox Comics Group stepped out of the ExCel Centre at the end of the day we all pretty much turned to each other and said ‘Same time next year then?!’ Oh yes please!

Mini Reviews 26/02/2012

While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and provide a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.

FANTASTIC FOUR #603
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Barry Kitson & Paul Mounts
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Darn it. I like what Hickman has been doing over past issues of this title and its FF sister but there’s something this time out that just seems a touch underwhelming and it comes at a critical point in the story where spectacle and consequence really should seem to matter. The Mad Celestials’ attack is certainly menacing and I do appreciate the efforts made to show that despite the tremendously powerful fighters in the ring, this conflict may ultimately rely on the younger charges of the Reed family. The problem for me lies in the sudden, juddering escalation and the strange turn of events when it comes to the Celestials tackling their opponents - there’s a weird sense of leniency or mercy that makes little or no sense. I have to say that Kitson’s art work seems a little on the ‘light’ side for a situation supposedly heavy with the foreboding inevitability and something inside had me wondering what this would have looked like in Steve Epting’s hands. All that said, the climax is decent and both Hickman and Kitson do a terrific job with Susan as she fights to protect those she loves. Just have that feeling that this could have been better than we’ve received. 6/10


PROPHET #22
Writer: Brandon Graham & Simon Roy
Art: Simon Roy & Richard Ballermann
Image $2.99

Matt C: I’d initially (and foolishly) dismissed Prophet due to its origins as one of Rob Liefeld’s creations under his Extreme imprint for Image back in the early ‘90s. While I don’t have anywhere near the kind of bile some have for Liefeld, his brand of ‘kewl’ comics back then never appealed to me in the slightest, so it’s not really surprising it didn’t register when I flicked past it in Previews. I didn’t pick up the ‘first’ issue last month but went back quickly for a copy when I saw the wave of praise that followed its release. Once I got hold of Prophet #22 (which, in itself, is a big middle-finger salute to the relaunch culture) it quickly became obvious where all the acclaim was coming from: to put it simply, it’s very good indeed. From what I understand, Graham has taken some bits from Liefeld’s initial concept and jettisoned others, bringing enough of his own ideas to the table to present a thoroughly compelling sci-fi proposition. It’s not an original set-up by any stretch – man wakes up in far-distant, dramatically-different future Earth – but it succeeds due to the resolute determination to create a unique, alien environment and power through it with sparse but intelligent scripting. Roy brings that uniqueness to the page with some exotic creatures and sprawling, acrid landscapes, perfectly coloured by Ballermann. Those with an enjoyment of post-apocalyptic sci-fi should most definitely give this enormously promising ‘new’ series a look, and those with an aversion to Mr Liefeld might be wise to set that aside and also give this a try. 8/10


THE FLASH #6
Writers: Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art: Francis Manapul
DC Comics $2.99

James R: Another month, another outstanding issue of The Flash! If any title has benefited from DC's relaunch last year, it's definitely been the Scarlet Speedster. Under Geoff John's stewardship, the book did a lot of good things - Johns made the Flash's world three dimensional, fully rounded out the Rouge's Gallery and crafted first Wally West and then Barry Allen into brilliantly ‘human’ characters. However, it's Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato's work that has embodied the sci-fi ethos that Julius Schwartz introduced when he developed the silver age Flash. The creative team infuse every issue with brilliant concepts and convey the world of the Flash as a place where the boundaries of the possible - either in time or space - are constantly pushed. This month, the Flash locks horns with Captain Cold while we learn of Dr. Elias' attempts to harness the speed force. From first page to last, the creative team do not put a foot wrong - along with Scott Snyder's Batman, this is super hero comics at their best - intelligently written, sumptuously illustrated and a blast to read. 9/10


CHEW #24
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory & Taylor Wells
Image $2.99

Stewart R: While I tend to pay somewhat close attention to when the titles of Marvel and DC are due to hit stands I seem to have less of a clue when it comes to Image and other publishers, which makes the news that a new edition of Chew will be available on a Wednesday all the more enjoyable. ‘Guaranteed’ is a word that shouldn’t be used too freely but it applies perfectly to the work of Layman and Guillory as, without fail, all 24 issues of Chew have been a barrel of fun and incredibly well executed. Some months ago we learned about Tony’s extended family and since then we’ve steadily seen Agent Savoy attempt to gain the skills of Tony’s daughter, Olive. She’s brilliantly obstinate and withdrawn yet appears to share some of her father’s never-give-up mentality which also allows us to see a slightly different side to the hulking Savoy. The strength of the character work means that the star of the show can be all but completely missing from events and this still be a shining example of how you produce dark comedy comics. When you add in some great visually gags from the mighty pen of Guillory you have the true ingredients for success. 9/10


AMERICAN VAMPIRE #24
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Rafael Albuquerque & Dave McCaig
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: With each passing month, I find myself more and more under the spell of American Vampire. I've used this forum before to express my admiration that Scott Snyder has managed to write a vampire tale that has been able to engage me (I hate vampire stories for the most part), but it's continuing to impress me with the sheer scope and scale of its story. From the Old West, via the Pacific theatre in WW2, to the California of the 50's, Snyder keeps the peddle to the metal, and serves up a breathtaking ride. Looking back over the arcs, it's clear that with each passing chapter Rafael Albuquerque keeps improving, and the palette of Dave McCaig is outstanding too. Snyder also opts for the time-shift narrative technique that Francis Manapul uses in the Flash this week, and both men use it to great effect, with Snyder building the tale to a brilliantly cinematic crescendo. The battle between Travis and Skinner Sweet has been incredibly compelling over the last few issues, and I can't wait to see how this one pays off. Effortless brilliance from everyone involved! 8/10


THE MIGHTY THOR #11
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Pasqual Ferry, Pepe Larraz & Frank D’Armata
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: I’ve been resolving to drop this title once this particular arc ends, primarily off the back of Pasqual Ferry’s art style not being a favourite of mine, but also because I wasn’t convinced by the sudden sharp turn Fraction had taken following the rather excellent Galactus Seed arc. Unfortunately for my wallet, this has been getting steadily better as time has worn on and while the battle Thor has been facing against the god-eating Demogorge has turned a little one-dimensional, the real fun has been found in Loki’s continuing frustration as everyone around him shows no sign of remembering his lightning god brother, only the thuggish brute who has mysteriously replaced him. Thankfully the mists of confusion start to lift somewhat in this chapter and the subsequent showdown between the Weird Sisters is brutal to say the least. I always like it when Heimdall gets involved in the action and Ferry does a reasonable job of depicting the swift action. Fraction also seems to be forming something of a bond between Loki and the Silver Surfer and I have to say I’m now curious to see where all these strange events and plots may lead. 8/10


AQUAMAN #6
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis, Joe Prado & Rod Reis
DC $2.99

Matt C: Six issues in now, and while I can’t say I haven’t enjoyed this series so far (a lot more than I could have ever imagined enjoying an Aquaman comic, that’s for sure) it’s never really moved beyond a status of ‘pretty good’. And I’m not sure whether ‘pretty good is good enough anymore. Comics aren’t cheap, and as I’m beginning to think of trimming down by pull list to a more manageable size, those “pretty good” reads are going to be first for the chopping block. Aquaman keeps feeling like a book that’s about to take off and reach new heights, but never quite does. After a couple of issues that’s fair enough, but after six you expect it to be going places. It often appears as though Johns is focusing too much of his time trying to undo the public perception of the character as a bit of a joke and redefine him as someone worthy to stand beside DC’s more recognizable icons. As far as I’m concerned we should have got past that stage by the three-issue mark. That we haven’t, and that we’re still being teased by a historically-linked Atlantis story (we get sidetracked by a spotlight on Mera here), means I may not be back next month. Reis has turned in some impressive work so far but Prado’s embellishment of his breakdowns in this issue doesn’t quite have the same fizz. Better than expected, but not quite good enough. 6/10


X-MEN #25
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Jorge Molina & Guru eFX
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: My brain let out a little cheer when it realised that this week marked the reunion of Gischler and Molina on this title as their last partnership was a real triumph. Here, they come together to continue Storm’s hunt for Jubilee as she and her X-Men ransack vampire haunts across the globe in search of their friend. I’m enjoying Ororo getting more page time, not least because Gischler really manages to show her for the passionate leader that she is and compliments her with a competent retinue with the likes of Domino and Psylocke. The headstrong misunderstanding between the mutants and Jubilee’s ‘captors’ can be seen coming a fair distance away but is not grimace-enducing like similarly sign-posted conflicts can be because it allows Molina to show just what he can do when it comes to the action. I’ll admit that the odd pose or panel here and there don't quite look ‘right’ in my eyes, but on the whole it’s a great effort and his facial expression work really does capture the emotionally-charged situation well. The last couple of pages promise a barn-storming bust up with bounty-hunters and braggards next time out and I personally cannot wait! 8/10


WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #6
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Nick Bradshaw, Walden Wong, Jay Leisten, Norman Lee, Cam Smith, Justin Ponsor & Matthew Wilson
Marvel $3.99

James R: The Marvel Universe's unorthodox school opens it's doors for another issue and once again it's a blast. This month, Wolverine and Quire pull the Rain Man card in an intergalactic casino in order to get the school some desperately-needed funding, while the Beast and the class go all Fantastic Voyage and get miniaturised in an attempt to save Kitty Pryde. In some ways, this just shouldn't work; Aaron wears his influences on his sleeve, and you could say that it’s a little derivative, but it manages to transcend this. The scribe writes with such brio, and the narrative goes at a breakneck pace so that the whole package hits you like, well, a Juggernaut (or should that be a Colossus?!) I have been slightly worried that this book will lose it's momentum with the imminent Avengers Vs. X-Men extravaganza - I feel the last thing this book needs is to get dragged into a tie-in seeing that Aaron has many (fantastic) plates spinning here. I'm keeping everything crossed that Marvel's summer mega-event won't result in this great book flunking from an A to a C+... 8/10


SECRET AVENGERS #23
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Gabriel Hardman & Bettie Breitweiser
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Oh this is good, very good. Remender shows those character skills that have served him so well on Uncanny X-Force by really getting into the hearts and minds of this beaten down team. There’s some sublime banter between Pym and McCoy centering around their bulging intellectual egos, a nice touch in barked objections between Barton and Rogers and then the real highlight. Since he was rolled into the Thunderbolts and started to show an intriguing case of conscience I’ve had a soft-spot for Eric O’Grady’s Ant-Man and he’s made a good addition to the ranks of the Secret Avengers even if the previous writers didn’t utilise him or explore his character to any great length. It seems that Mr Remender is making an attempt to fix that and I love how we get to see the thoughts and inner workings of a guy battling to make amends for his past yet doubting that he’s even capable of doing that to any successful level. It gives the latter half of the issue a brilliant level of tension and helped along with the eye-wateringly good artistic stylings of Mr Hardman and Mrs Breitweiser this issue goes a fair way to confirming that we could be in the early stages of an unmissable run. 9/10