Mini Review: Free Comic Book Day 2009

This Saturday, May 2nd, sees the 8th annual Free Comic Book Day. Those unfamiliar with the event should head to the official site – here we take a look at an advance selection of freebies that should be available at your local comic shop at the weekend. Of course, those of you in the same catchment area as us should head over to Paradox where Andy H will have available not only the comics reviewed below, but many more besides!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY AVENGERS #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Jim Cheung & Mark Morales
Marvel $0.00

Matt C: As Bendis has managed to gain more and more control over the direction the Marvel Universe is heading so I’ve distanced myself further and further from his work. When I realised the only reason I was buying his Avengers books was so I could bitch about them with my fellow Paradox Comics Group colleagues I realised it was time to knock them all on the head. FCBD provides me with a good opportunity either to see if I’ve made a horrendous mistake or remind myself that I made an excellent decision. And guess what? I was right the first time! Bendis’ New Avengers continue to bicker inanely with each other while the writer manages to achieve the what-should-be-impossible by making me think J Jonah Jameson isn’t completely off base with his continuing quest to bring down Spidey (he’s supposed to irritate other characters, not the reader!). And, as he did in Secret Invasion, Bendis proves yet again that he not only has a limited grasp on the Thor mythos but he also has no idea how to put convincing dialogue in the character’s mouth. On the plus side, Cheung’s art is shiny and beautifully rendered. But that’s about it. What the hell though, this will easily be the most popular book during FCBD so what I say is pretty much irrelevant. I’ll just continue to sit and grumble in the corner. 3/10

Matt T: Well, it’s nice to see a brand new story being thrown out for FCBD instead of the usual regurgitation of a first issue. This is a classic ‘rival heroes meet, fight, then unite against a common foe’ book with one difference: the Dark Avengers. As a team they don’t sit within any comic with a lighter tone, and trying to force some witty banter between Spidey and Venom, or Bullseye, just comes off as strained and dumb. Why would he be joking with someone who has repeatedly threatened, if not come close, to killing him on multiple occasions? As much as this is a decent enough story from Marvel it just goes to prove that the Dark Avengers don’t sit at all well in the current Marvel Universe. 6/10

James R: After a few years of frankly lazy efforts from Marvel and DC on Free Comic Book Day with some arbitrary reprints (incidentally, as a geek there is something quite galling about seeing a comic you paid cash money for a few months prior suddenly being given away for nothing!) it is nice to finally see some effort being put in. This mini issue of Avengers is drawn by one of Marvel’s big hitters (Jim Cheung) and written by Marvel’s King of the Kingdom, Brian Michael Bendis. All told, it’s pretty good fun – despite my moaning, the purpose of FCBD is to get new readers on board, or perhaps entice back the lapsed geek. For the uninitiated, I suppose this would be as confusing as buggery, but hey, isn’t that always the case when you first pick up a Marvel comic?! It looks beautiful and it passed the time, and I would have gone bonkers if you would have said to a 13 year-old me ‘Here. This is free – enjoy!’ Pass it on. 7/10

BLACKEST NIGHT #0
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert & Rob hunter
DC $0.00

Matt C: This is more like it from DC who usually opt for putting out reprints on FCBD – this year we get a prologue for 2009's Green Lantern event, Blackest Night and it’s something I would have gladly forked out some cash for; as a freebie, it’s a no-brainer. Essentially a conversation piece with Hal Jordan and the recently resurrected Barry Allen standing over Bruce Wayne’s grave, this is a clear example of why Geoff John’s is far and away the best writer DC have writing superhero comics – he handles the two icons with confidence and clarity, and his portrayal of the Flash as a man practically unable to keep still is expertly realized. Reis’s gorgeous, blockbusting illustration, along with some back up art pages spotlighting the large cast of characters that will feature in this event means that not only is this utterly essential for GL fans, but it’s well worth picking up for anybody with an interest in contemporary superhero storytelling. 8/10

Matt T: As an introduction to a comic (Green Lantern) I’ve been long recommended by Matt C and Andy H this certainly wets my appetite. The sombre tone of this post-Death Of Batman story certainly shows the way the event is headed, and also allows Geoff Johns the space to prove that he’s one of the best writers around at the moment. The art is a decent enough, and I especially like the in-flux Flash representation. 8/10

James R: Like Marvel, DC have decided to use Free Comic Book Day to bring something new to the table: here it’s a ‘trailer’ for their big summer event, Blackest Night. They did something similar last year with a preview of all their ‘Big’ titles coming up, and that just came out as a haphazard mess – at least this has a lot more cohesion - but it suffers the same fate that a lot of DC stuff does in my eyes – it just doesn’t feel particularly dynamic or relevant. This might just be down to me not being a big fan of ‘cosmic’ comics, but I can’t say that this has made me desperate to get on board. 5/10

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: ALIENS/PREDATOR
Writer: John Arcudi
Art: Zach Howard, Mark Irwin & Javier Saltares
Dark Horse $0.00

Matt C: My interest in both these franchises has never really progressed past the movies, and even then I’ve had some painful viewing experiences with the characters (Alien Vs Predator was beyond criminal!). Still, I can easily see the ripe potential in both sets of otherworldly killing machines, so although I don’t recall ever reading a single Aliens or Predator comic this was definitely worth a look. While both readable (the Aliens tale more so than the Predator one) sadly there’s not going to be any conversion going on here. Not for me at least, but you may feel differently, so go for it! 5/10


RADICAL 2009 PREVIEW
Writer: Barry Levine & Varios
Art: Various
Radical Comics $0.00

Matt C: Radical’s output has been a bit hit and miss for me but I can’t deny they know how to pull out the stops when it comes to delivering impressive visuals, for the most part anyway (let’s not mention the last few issues of City Of Dust!). They’ve made a smart move here then, by basically producing a showcase of the art for various upcoming series in their FCBD title. Some of it’s quite literally eye-popping but often the story premises don’t seem of the same calibre. At the moment I’m fairly curious about David Hine’s Federal Vampire And Zombie Agency and will maybe keep tabs on Rick Remender’s Last Days Of American Crime (which is a great title!) but I remain wary of titles coming out containing exceedingly pretty pictures that try to make up for the lack of originality and ingenuity. 6/10


OWLY AND FRIENDS!
Writer: Andy Runton & Various
Art: Andy Runton & Various
Top Shelf Productions $0.00

Matt C: The other stories pale in comparison - with Korgi in particular being a tad weird and freaky – but for those of you not already clued in, Owly is a work of genius (really!), transcending any pigeonholing to create some of the most magical and comforting experiences you’re ever likely to get from a comic book. There’s no excuse not to pick this up! 8/10


SAVAGE DRAGON #148
Writer: Erik Larsen
Art: Erik Larsen
Image $0.00

Matt C: I’ve managed to get this far without reading a single issue of Savage Dragon, and I don’t think my life has been worse off because of this, but I guess such a long running title was bound to cross my path sooner or later, so this felt kind of inevitable. An amusing recap and a certain amount of energy can’t hide the feeling that this would have appealed a lot more to me 20 odd years ago, and another publisher resurrecting the Golden Age Daredevil seems kind of pointless. I can sort of see the appeal, but this is a cult I won’t be joining anytime soon. 5/10


FREE COMIC BOOK DAY & STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS – GAUNTLET OF DEATH
Writers: Henry Gilroy & Various
Art: Ramon L. Perez & Various
Dark Horse $0.00

Matt C: I’m a huge Star Wars geek (yes, I even love the prequels, so up yours, haters!) but for some reason I still haven’t got around to watching the Clone Wars movie. I guess if it ain’t live-action then I’m not really that interested (with exceptions) which might explain why I’ve never gone for Star Wars comics in a big way (bar the Marvel stuff released back in the ‘70s/’80s). The short Clone Wars story here is quite entertaining with some nice cartoony art, but it’s blatantly directed at young audience and contains nothing that would entice me back on a regular basis. Of the other shorts featured within only the Usagi Yojimbo really stuck out. I know the character’s been around an age, passing me by on many occasions, but now I can sort of understand his longevity from this brief encounter with him. I wouldn’t be averse to looking out for more of his adventures at some point in the future. 5/10


RESURRECTION #0
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Art: Justin Greenwood
Oni Press $0.00

Matt C: I’ve raved about this series in its previous incarnation and I’m pleased that Oni are giving it a boost with this FCBD edition. Longtime readers have an obvious advantage but introducing a totally new set of characters means newbies aren’t being thrown into the middle of things without a clue what’s going on. It may come across as a little vague if you’re unfamiliar with the premise, and the art’s not quite there yet, but if you’re interest is piqued in any way then look for the newly released $6 TPB (yes, $6!) and keep your eyes peeled for the second volume this summer. 7/10

Matt T: I’m guessing this book would have worked far better if it was a third or fourth issue, but as an introduction it’s just far too slow and confusing for my tastes. There’s clearly plenty of dark themes and conspiracy afoot, but I felt like the story got going about ten pages too far in, making the atmospheric, but ultimately unnecessary, build–up a waste. 4/10

James R: The sombrero is firmly off in the direction of Oni Press for Free Comic Book Day – Resurrection #0 is a fully contained story that re-caps what’s gone on before for newbies and sets the stage magnificently for the second series of this corking title. On top of that, it’s now in colour, and with a much better artist on board. It’s the kind of comic that restores your faith in humanity. 8/10

CYBERFORCE/HUNTER-KILLER: FIRST LOOK
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Kenneth Rocafort
Top Cow $0.00

Matt C: I enjoyed the original Hunter-Killer series quite a bit but its sporadic scheduling really didn’t do it any favours. I had assumed it had been consigned to the pile of forgotten superhero comics but obviously Mark Waid’s still too fond of his creations for that to happen just yet. Top Cow always seem to be very keen on crossovers, but that kind of thing holds limited appeal for me these days, and I’m sad to say this book will probably join that club. Waid has no problem holding the readers interest with his storytelling skills, but unless you’re already a die-hard fan of either Hunter-Killer or Cyberforce you’re not likely to be wooed by this ‘First Look’. 5/10

Screen Time: X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

By Stewart R

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Danny Huston, Ryan Reynolds, Lynn Collins

Director: Gavin Hood
Runtime: 107 mins
Certificate: 12A
Release date: 29 April 2009

After Bryan Singer’s adaptive and modern takes, and Brett Ratner’s explosive and throwaway finale to the X-Men trilogy, there was an opportunity for 20th Century Fox to take the best discovery from those three films, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and deliver a spin-off that was greater than its parent franchise. Wolverine's origin story from the comic books has an interesting, involving and brutal past that would easily span several films and that could allow a director to play with more mature themes than the previous family-friendly movies dared. Zack Snyder had been in the running to direct but his R-Rated version was apparently shot down by producers Jackman and Lauren Shuler Donner who wanted to aim for a PG-13 rating, a decision that can only have pleased the studio considering the bums-on-seats draw of the Jackman’s characterisation. It has therefore fallen to Gavin Hood, director of critically acclaimed Tsotsi, to take the furry Canadian by the sideburns and steer him down an origin story.

Somehow Hood, with ample help from screenwriters David Benioff and Skip Woods and star/producer Jackman, has managed to take that truly great opportunity and blow its brains out all over the walls of a dark, dark alleyway in a town called Crapsville. The 107 minutes running time has been used for three things and three things alone:

1. To show off Jackman’s muscular body.
2. To demonstrate a raft of disappointing CGI effects and set-pieces.
3. To try to hide the films flaws from X-fans by providing screen time for several characters that didn’t make it into the main series.

After a promising introduction that makes a brief nod to Paul Jenkins' Origin limited series and a well judged opening credits sequence it soon becomes clear that story is likely to take a backseat once the mutant-power showboating begins. The slightest sign that 10 minutes of uninterrupted story and character development could be on the way is soon squashed beneath claws, rage and mutant-manliness. It appears that rather than develop actual characterisation through a combination of decently written dialogue and proficient acting performances the creators believe that all we require as an audience is an obviously expensive demonstration of abilities and talents that instantly introduces and defines a character.

The biggest problem appears to be the scope of what Hood has to try and pack into the runtime. The film teleports John Wraith-style all over the place, from location to location, punch-up to punch-up with barely a pause for breath. As a result we hardly get opportunity to explore Logan’s emotional state as a man forever on the brink of succumbing to his animal side. Jackman has the proven acting depth to be able to deliver a truly haunted and isolated performance but he’s simply not given the chance to flex his acting muscles. Instead it’s an endless parade of his bench-pressed biceps displayed thanks wholly to that white sleeveless t-shirt - at one point Wolverine’s jacket even disappears without reason so that the t-shirt can get more screen time!

Limiting the growth of the title character would normally be acceptable in a blockbuster if the special effects payoff at the end of each ‘jump’ was up to scratch but unfortunately X-Men Origins: Wolverine fails to deliver on that account. The CGI and green screen work is poor, with very noticeable lighting problems for many of the big set-pieces and even in one scene where Logan is simply driving a car along a country road. The location for the finale was an interesting choice and I had hoped that it could raise my opinion of what was turning into an unpleasant experience, but alas the pointless grandstanding and questionable effects even turned that into something of a joke. Note to the writers: characters with a healing factor are not going to be terribly troubled with a fall from great height! When a potential blockbuster is lacking in its rudimentary components of script, story and acting talent then the CGI usually manages to cover some of the cracks, but all it serves to do here is widen those cracks with a car-jack.

There are some good points to note: Liev Schreiber delivers a wonderfully feral performance as Victor Creed and Ryan Reynold’s Deadpool could easily make for a decent ‘spin-off from the spin-off’, but as for anyone else appearing in this movie they’re simply not allowed to dive in and show us more of what they can do.

That’s it. Really! Two things of note and I’m struggling to find much else to give praise to.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine fails to deliver what it promised on so many levels, tears the cinematic X-world even further away from its comic book roots and leaves the X-Men franchise standing somewhat precariously on the brink of becoming unsalvageable. I don’t believe that the superhero movie bubble is about to burst quite yet but anything 20th Century Fox gives us these days certainly seems to be fuelling that argument. 2/10

Mini Reviews 26/04/2009

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.

Matt C's Byrne FF project continues this week.


DETECTIVE COMICS #853
Writer: Neil Gaiman
Art: Andy Kubert & Scott Williams
DC $3.99

Matt C: There’s been an unnecessary wait for this second part of Gaiman’s Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader? and I would grumble about it if the end product wasn’t something that I think will be looked at as one of the definitive Batman tales in year’s to come. I realise that’s a quite a bold statement but Gaiman has delivered an enormously potent examination on the Dark Knight and his iconic status in popular culture and how, no matter how many iterations of the character have existed or will exist, one truth will always apply: Batman doesn’t ever give in or give up. It’s this truth that explains his consistent popularity and longevity, and why he will continue to connect with audiences long after we’ve all become wormfood (a fact reinforced by the inspired conclusion). Of course, Gaiman presents this in a far more eloquent manner than I could ever hope to manage, and Kubert’s pencils – carrying his own distinctive style while incorporating plenty of nods to the past - bring the writer’s ideas to vivid life. The more I think about this, the better it gets; I don’t want to be too impulsive and label this “a classic” without giving myself enough time to dwell on its layers and meaning, but I think there’s a good chance that it thoroughly deserves that accolade. 9/10

James R: Last week I declared that DC weren’t making the most of the Batman mythos in the main books; this week Neil Gaiman gives a masterclass in how to deliver the goods. It is late, but this is a great Batman tale all told. Incredibly, this seems to take place both in and outside of continuity, making the insightful point that the world will always need a Batman – the embodiment of the human spirit that will never surrender. Andy Kubert produces some of the best art of his career, fantastically echoing Brian Bolland and Dick Sprang (with some able support from Scott Williams and Alex Sinclair). I’ve read some comments elsewhere claiming that this is one of the all-time classic Batman tales – I’m not sure I’d go that far but it certainly reminded me why I love Batman, and it was definitely worth the wait. If you haven’t read the Bat titles in a while, this (and the Batman companion issue) deserves your time and money! 9/10


THOR #601
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Marco Djurdjevic & Danny Miki
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: What’s this? An issue of Thor that gets below 8/10 from me?! Well, while it’s still good, it’s not quite up to the same standard we've been used to thus far. For a start, having Doom admit he looked the word ‘winkles’ up on Wikipedia is a bit dumb (and unintentionally hilarious for UK readers considering the word’s ‘other’ meaning in Brit slang) and a lot of the issue seemed like padding – entertaining padding, but padding all the same. After seeing Djurdevic’s stunning pencil work on the title before I’m guessing Danny Miki’s inks don’t make the perfect match because, while still very strong, the art isn’t quite as effective as it could be. 7/10


KICK-ASS #6
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: John Romita Jr & Tom Palmer
Marvel/Icon $2.99

James R: Six issues in and I really don’t know what to make of Kick-Ass. Beyond John Romita Jr’s top-draw art, I’ve been ambivalent about the story. I just feel that ‘superheroes in the real world’ has been done better – even by Millar himself (I thought 1985 was fantastic) and well, it feels a bit formulaic really. This month we get a character back-story, and a betrayal. If you read comics, this will be hugely familiar to you. From ‘Millarworld Wave 2’, this title feels sluggish compared to both Wolverine: Old Man Logan and 1985. I’d be interested to see if any of our savvy readership (yep, that includes you!) think this is going to make a good film – unless they add an awful lot, it doesn’t exactly scream ‘blockbuster material’ to me. Leave a comment if you agree or know better! 6/10

Matt C: If you’ve been keeping your eye on this blog for a while now you’ll know I blow hot and cold with Millar - some of his work is mind-blowingly brilliant, among the very best stuff on the stands today, while some of his work stinks to high heaven. He even manages to ricochet from one extreme to another within the space of a single issue! Kick-Ass has generally been one of his better efforts recently (if you ignore the scheduling!) but there’s always been niggles during each instalment that prevented it from becoming the classic it already is in Millar’s head. This issue, on the other hand, hit all its marks without putting a foot wrong as we get the 'Secret Origin of Big Daddy and Hit-Girl'; it has its nods to Leon (aka The Professional) but takes them to a deliciously politically incorrect extreme, all wrapped up with a wicked sense of humour that generates plenty of hilarity as the title character continues to blunder from one dicey situation to another. On top of that is Romita Jr’s outstanding artwork: you can almost sense the unadulterated relish he’s having pencilling this book. Let’s just hope the rest of the series makes it out before the movie debuts! 9/10

Matt T: There's a point when black humour crosses the line and becomes a fair bit disturbing, which is evident in this issue of Kick-Ass. The origins of Hit Girl and Big Daddy aren't particularly surprising, and the verging-on-child-abuse treatment of the 11-year old vigilante is particularly difficult to deal with at times. Still, I'm not going to go all Daily Mail on a book which is designed to be shocking and fairly gory, and once more is superbly written by Millar. Romita Jr is on fine form again, and while the plot looks to be getting far more comic-booky with the twists and turns I'm still on board for the conclusion. 7/10


AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #23
Writer: Christos N Gage
Art: Humberto Ramos
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: A few issues ago I couldn’t see how this title could carry on in a post-S.H.I.E.L.D Marvel Universe, but I’m slowly seeing that Gage has a plan and it might well keep this on my pull-list. Devastating Stamford for the second time doesn’t sound like an original idea but I get what Gage is trying to do in almost taking everything full circle: Stamford gets devastated by superheroes, Tony Stark becomes head honcho, the Initiative is born; Tony Stark is knocked from his perch, The Initiative falls apart, causing Stamford to feel the pain once more. It’s necessary and delivered quickly without too much agonizing on the plot repetition. The Shadow Initiative is even more interesting and the twists delivered here amongst the behind-enemy-lines story have ensured that I'll see this arc through at least. I reckon that Ramos was going through a purple patch a couple of issues ago as his art here is now back to his usual high quality. 7/10


SKRULL KILL KREW #1
Writer: Adam Felber
Art: Mark Robinson
Marvel $3.99

Matt T: It constantly annoys me that ongoing titles that show a real drop in quality over prolonged periods are often allowed to survive long beyond their best, where books like SKK are limited to a few issues. Let's get things straight though, there's nothing really sensible or gritty about this comic, as the infected-burgers-from-cows origin shows, but it's damn good fun. The first few pages reminded me plenty of the opening sequence to Blade, which is no bad thing, and the wit and action continued throughout. A good giggle, hopefully consistently so for the next five issues. 8/10

Stewart R: If you’re worried about not getting enough ‘greens’ this week then may I recommend this title: there’s enough green goo, guts and blood here to sate the hungriest of comic appetites! One of the successes of Secret Invasion gets its own five-part mini-series and shows us that the Skrulls are still around, still in numbers, and still need wiping from the face of the planet Earth. Felber ensures that the readership don't have to know the entire history of Skrulls visiting Earth before by folding it into his story, and he provides a great comic by doing so. Ryder is a troubled soul and this mini will certainly delve into his fears and personal issues. Robinson’s art is reminiscent of Paco Medina and Humberto Ramos’ work and Marvel will do well to keep hold of his services. If you haven’t had enough of Skrulls I can certainly recommend picking this up. 9/10


NO HERO #5
Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Juan Jose Ryp
Avatar Press $3.99

James R: The paper fumes from No Hero still make me feel light-headed! But it’s Warren Ellis, and I like to think it’s all part of a nefarious scheme on his part. In all fairness, this issue sees the series hitting its stride. Young Josh finally gets to prove his worth as hero, but nothing is quite on the level in the world of the Front Line. It was great to see Ellis giving us a quick fix of trademarked widescreen action in amongst the Machiavellian scheming and the plot to destroy Carrick Masterson; Ryp delivers his best art so far this issue, and this all adds up to a heady superhero hit. Ellis is in a rich vein of form at the moment, and I urge you to get on board and douse yourself in FX (maybe that’s what the pages smell of…) 8/10


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #592
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Mike McKone & Andy Lanning
Marvel £2.99

Matt C: An amusing if an unexceptional issue from Waid & co as Spidey crams in as many heroic deeds as he can, from thwarting armed attacks to rescuing kittens, specifically to wind up new Mayor J. Jonah Jameson. I’d hoped for something with a little more wallop from Waid, but I suppose it ambles along quite nicely, although McKone’s pencil work is slightly innocuous in places. Surprisingly, the highlight of the whole issue for me was nothing to do with the plot at all but was instead found in the letters pages where some intelligently reasoned correspondence between a reader and both Steve Wacker and Marc Guggenheim on the Flash-Thompson-in-Iraq issue offers plenty of food thought. Personally I side more with the reader’s views but kudos for Marvel for printing his letter and answering it in a considered manner. 6/10


EX MACHINA #41
Writer: Brian K. Vaughn
Art: Tony Harris
DC/Wildstorm: $2.99

James R: Ex Machina is a great example of the comic fan’s condition: the title that you loved at the outset, and even though it’s not as good as it was, you just can’t quit reading it! Brian K Vaughn is an outstanding talent, and I’m always going to pick up anything with his name on, but over the last 10-15 issues, I’ve sensed that Ex Machina had lost its drive; the story was becoming a bit too predictable and formulaic. But, like all of us, I just couldn’t say goodbye to it. Knowing that Vaughn always has an endgame helped keep me on board, and wouldn’t you know it? In this issue, the title comes good again. Mitchell Hundred tells everyone he won’t be standing for re-election, and decides that if he’s really going to make a difference, he’s got to act now. Add to that, his enemies are also starting to gather against him, and to top it all off, New York is beset by a particularly nasty plague.

With the end in sight, Vaughn does a great job of putting his pieces in place, and Tony Harris does his usual sterling work on pencils (the final page especially has a visceral punch that Crossed aspires to). A compelling read all round, and I’m now really psyched to see what happens next. See, sometimes the comic fan’s condition pays dividends! 8/10


INCREDIBLE HERCULES #128
Writers: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Art: Dietrich Smith & Terry Pallot
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Oh dear. I’ll start with the art this time as it was the first thing to catch my eye and I don’t mean that in a good way. Smith’s style is far too simple for my tastes and looks very hurried in places. Considering the artistic talent that has graced this book in the past couple of years this issue is something of a let down. The story suffers due to the art and also under the sheer weight of characters here. Having this bizarre three-way throwdown between Herc & Co, the Dark Avengers and the Olympus Group should be a titanic struggle but it’s untidy and isn’t particularly ‘incredible’ as far as Hercules goes. The fact that he can chuck Sentry around so easily seems to indicate a little carelessness on behalf of the writers. The only saving grace is the Cho/Delphyne storyline but even that won’t stop me from labelling this issue as naff. 3/10


ELEPHANTMEN #18
Writer: Richard Starkings
Art: Marian Churchland
Image $3.50

Matt C: Where Elephantmen was once a powerful and intoxicating blend of an imagined future where man decided to play God, recently I’ve begun to wonder if it’s lost its direction. The last few issues have trundled along with varying levels of enjoyment, but any forward thrust seems to have been forgotten. I know there have been huge delays, and I know they weren’t Starkings’ fault, but I do feel he needs to accelerate things a little more because my attention is beginning to wander. This issue contains what would be a life-changing decision for any young girl, but it’s all handled in a rather inoffensive manner and doesn’t allow for an emotional connection to the characters. Churchland’s light, washed-out art is nice but doesn’t seem quite suited to the content. 5/10


X-FORCE #14
Writers: Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost
Art: Clayton Crain
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: And so the Messiah War rolls on with the black-ops type bloodbath we’ve come to expect with this title. It’s brutal and visceral action from the creative talent but it’s not at the high standard that we’ve been presented with before. It may be to do with the large cast of characters and the necessity to focus on the Cable and Stryfe past/present/future storyline, which detracts from the team and makes them seem like bit players in a far bigger game. Crain’s artwork looks a little rushed and there are some panels where it’s hard to tell if facial features have been left out on purpose or by accident. That said there are some awesome full page renders including one of Stryfe entering the fray which is simply jawdropping. With three issues of the Messiah War left things are looking promising. 6/10


DYNAMO 5 #21
Writer: Jay Faerber
Art: Mahmud A Asrar, Yildiray Cinar & Ron Riley
Image $3.50

Matt T: There's a definite problem with fledgling books like Dynamo 5 falling into the trap of reproducing storylines from longer running comics, and in this issue it's worryingly obvious. The 'superhero date' and 'super-drug' plots get trotted out, and not in a way that's new or fresh, making me think that the lull D5 has hit recently might be a touch longer term than I initially thought. For once the art looks a little shaky too. 5/10


GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13
Writer: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Brad Walker & Victor Olazaba
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Page 17. That’s almost all that I need to say. Page 17 of this issue is the best page that I have read this week. Nine simple panels, two great characters and a clear indication that Abnett and Lanning know that adding a touch of humour to the mix in an ongoing title can really work wonders. Thanks to the various books embroiled in the War of Kings it’s become clear that there are no clear-cut ‘right and wrong’ sides to this conflict and the Guardians angle as protectors of the nature and fabric of space itself is really interesting. The fleshed out Guardians roster could possibly indicate that there will be casualties during the war, but hopefully not too numerous. Walker delivers some delightful pencilwork and can mix his layout style to suit the situation with skill. This issue is a triumph and not just because Groot finally gets a debriefing log at long, long last! 10/10

Matt C: Oh yeah, this is more like it! My faith in this series was sorely tested over the last couple of issues – Drax and Phyla’s search for Moondragon proved to be a comparatively tedious read and I did fear that this dip in quality would continue possibly to the point where I parted ways with the book. Fortunately Guardians snaps back into form this month as it connects with the War Of Kings event – the humour and energy of earlier issues are front and centre once more and with the help of Walker’s cosmically-infused panels the whole thing zips along at a frenetic rate of knots. 8/10


BUCK ROGERS #0
Writer: Scott Beatty
Art: Carlos Rafael
Dynamite Entertainment $0.50

Matt C: I’m all for these resurrections of classic characters into the modern age, but this updating of Buck Rogers felt kind of flat. The plotting was rather vague, and pitting Rogers against some amorphous globs wasn’t the most visually arresting idea ever (Rafael does the best he can with it though) meaning there’s not really anything here to reel me in for the ongoing series. I can’t fault Dynamite for putting this out for 25 cents though as it’s a great way to sample something you may avoid otherwise. I’ll be sticking with Buster Crabbe for my Buck Rogers fix though, or failing that, Gil Gerard (as long as he brings Erin Gray along for the ride!). 5/10

James R: I would’ve paid 30p for the Cassaday cover alone! But will this be worth picking up monthly? On this evidence, I say: No Twiki, no good! And if there’s no catsuit-clad Wilma Deering, I just don’t want to know! In all seriousness, Dynamite should be applauded for launching the series in this way, with the price and cover making it impossible to ignore. However, I’m not convinced the 12 pages told me that the forthcoming series will be an essential read. With respect to Scott Beatty, I can’t help think this would have been a lot more fun in the hands of Warren Ellis – check out Ignition City instead! 4/10


NEW AVENGERS #52
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Billy Tan, Chris Bachalo, Matt Banning & Tim Townsend
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: It is such a shame that Marvel are messing around with artist shuffles at this point. The combination of Tan and Bachalo has worked magnificently on these past two issues and now the powers-that-be are sending Mr Bachalo off to a *sigh* Dark Reign: Spider-Man mini-series. Here his work is superb with some excellent panel and layout work and I believe that should a Dr Strange title surface in the future he should be top of the list for pencils. The retelling of the battle with the Hood scattered between the Avenger-based banter and decision-making is polished, and bringing Madame Masque into the picture means that there are some interesting angles for Bendis to explore. 8/10


SCALPED #28
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: R.M. Guera
DC/Vertigo $2.99

Matt C: Simply put, this is the best thing DC (including its various imprints) are publishing at the moment. I may sound like a broken record but, month in, month out, this title continues to astound. The character work is as good as you’re likely to see on the stands currently – it remind me of The Wire in a way, in that even the minor players are fleshed out into three dimensions. The black and white art pages (with the occasional splash of red!) are startlingly effective during this issue as one of the series’ mysteries is finally cleared up. Some of Aaron’s work elsewhere may not hold the same kind of appeal, but the simple fact that he’s writing Scalped makes him one of the best writers working in the industry today. 9/10


FANTASTIC FOUR #252
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne
Marvel $0.60

Matt C: This is Byrne doing ‘widescreen comics’ way before the term was coined, although he applies it far more literally than Bryan Hitch ever did by flipping the book on its side so we’re essentially reading pages from bottom to top. It’s a neat idea and gives Byrne the opportunity to do some interesting stuff with his panel layouts, so it’s a bit of shame that the story features a number of flaws that reduce the impact of the artwork. It reminded me of an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation with the foursome arriving on a planet and getting mixed up with the inhabitant’s problems. Here though, Reed is taken out of the action early on leaving Sue in charge, and she’s made to look like an effectual leader as she, Ben and Johnny bungle their way into the alien’s affairs. Worse is the denouement, where a horrendous crime – the kind whose consequence would ripple across the next few issues if handled correctly – is treated as a bit of a schoolboy error rather than a grand tragedy. Captian Picard certainly wouldn’t have let it slide so easily! So, a visually impressive but imperfectly plotted issue which, thankfully, was a rare occurrence during Byrne’s tenure on FF. 7/10

Working The Boxes: SUPERMAN #221

In Working The Boxes we highlight any recent back issue purchases we've found buried in comic boxes or discovered on eBay that we think are worthy of further attention.

By Matt C

A few summers ago I read Gerard Jones exemplary Men of Tomorrow: Geeks, Gangsters, and the Birth of the Comic Book (a must-read for anyone with an interest in comics history!) which stoked my interest in the works of Superman creators Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster, prompting me to look into the possibility of purchasing issues of any comics credited to them (with the help of this handy page). Some of the more famous books written by Siegel, such as the first appearance of Mon-El in Superboy #89, are way too pricey for me but, with eBay as my friend, I did manage to track down a few relatively cheap issues, and then found myself buying a couple of non-Siegel/Shuster Silver Age gems.

It was often the covers that have me handing over the cash, the more ridiculous the better (any Jimmy Olsen book featuring a gorilla is usually a guaranteed camp classic!). What amazes me, and it's something a more knowledgeable Comics Historian could elucidate on, is how DC continued to pump out a string of books plotted in a relatively puerile manner during the ‘60s while Marvel was continuously pushing the boundaries of what the superhero genre was capable of. But, even though DC's comics lacked the sophistication of their competitors at this point, they did still offer plenty of entertainment value, albeit not always in the way the creators may have intended. Which brings me to an issue I picked up at the Bristol Comic Expo last May, and as this year’s convention is just a couple of weeks away I thought now was as good a time as any to give it a look. I think the cover kind of speaks for itself:


One look at that image, and I knew this comic had to be mine!

The issue contains two stories, the lead tale featuring what was possibly the first and last appearance of Super-Pancho, a former slave on the remote island of Remora who presumably to this day continues to terrorize would-be criminals in a Superman costume given to him by the Man Of Steel himself. Even after being freed from bondage Super-Pancho didn’t feel it necessary to get hold of a razor, perhaps believing his five-day old beard differentiated enough him from the real thing.


But nobody bought this issue for Super-Pancho. What they really wanted to see was Super-Fatso!!

Inexplicably piling on instant pounds during a visit to a space centre in his guise of Clark Kent, Superman learns that an alien race he’d previously befriended, and who had given him a taste of their sacred scarlet nectar, had since discovered said nectar had past its expiry date and become poisonous! Kal-El’s invulnerability saved his life, so instead of killing him the poisoned nectar transforms him into the Man Of Fat!


Weighing himself on a hastily constructed Super-Scale, Superman realises he must lose the pounds by 8am the next day, as only his precise weight can open the vault which contains the Nullifier, a device that will deactivate all weapons within a hundred-mile radius!! The only way to achieve this is through a rigorous bout of super-exercise, interspersed with an occasional feat of derring-do, such as plugging a dam with his butt!


It doesn’t quite live up to the cover (although the 'Man Of Fat' sobriquet is quite awesome) but there’s an extra bonus in this issue in the form of a lovely portrait of the Superman 'Family', with a full page of text explaining who each character is:


Direct your eyes to the bottom left-hand corner and you will see Beppo, the Super-Monkey, described thusly:

“Originally a test animal in the laboratory of Jor-El, on Krypton, Beppo stowed away in the rocket that brought baby Kal-El (now Superman) to Earth. Here, under Earth’s yellow sun, Beppo became super. He is now king of the African jungle.”

Step aside, Tarzan, there’s a new monarch in town!

Now to the bottom right, to Lori Lemaris, the Mermaid from Atlantis, who is revealed here as a master of disguise (!) attending Metropolis University “using a wheelchair, with a blanket to hide her fish-tail”. Ingenious!

And let us not forget Comet the Superhorse! If, like me, you’re wondering who the hell he is, wonder no longer:

“Comet the Superhorse was Biron, a centaur, in ancient Greece, till an evil wizard turned him into a horse. Circe the witch gave him the powers of the gods, but the wizard banished him to a far star. When Supergirl’s rocket passed on the way to Earth, it freed him, and he followed her to this world.”

Fantastic!

Reading the above, you’ll probably have a good idea whether you can stomach this kind of thing, and whether your 21st century sensibilities are really attuned to DC's brand of Silver Age wackiness or not. Me, I love it, it’s kind of the last gasp of the 'anything goes' ethos that served DC so well for such a long time before they realised it was time for their comics to grow up.

Mini Reviews 19/04/2009

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.

Matt C's Byrne FF project continues this week.


100 BULLETS #100
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Art: Eduardo Risso
DC/Vertigo $4.99

James R: And so the curtain finally comes down on one of Vertigo’s core titles. Like Sandman and Preacher before it, 100 Bullets embodied the Vertigo spirit of telling adult-orientated tales with sophistication. This was the first book I read this week, and I think it’s a tribute to Azzarello and Risso’s talent that, years after picking up my first issue of this comic, I was still fascinated to see how it would all pay off. All told, it was a largely bittersweet experience. Firstly, the good – Risso’s art was first-rate again, helped by Patricia Mulvihill’s excellent colours. The story itself was also fittingly apocalyptic, bringing to mind Sam Peckinpah at his best. But the bad? Well, bearing in mind the time we’ve spent with some of these characters, a few of them were offed in a slightly dismissive way, and the survivors seemed oddly arbitrary. You can argue that life is like that, but still, there were a couple of moments where I thought, ‘Couldn’t Brian have thought of something cooler than that?’, and one of the Minutemen is spooked by a gunshot – really? Having being told that these are the baddest men to walk the earth for the last nine years, I felt that one of them being surprised by gunfire was entirely out of character.

All told though, I want to use this review to applaud the series as a whole – for some story arcs it was my favourite ongoing comic series with dynamite prose and art really showcasing why comics are unique (and fantastic) as an art form. Cheers gentlemen, it was a great heist. Issue – 7/10 Series - 9/10


WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Ron Garney
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: I had high expectations for this debut issue, too high probably because I came away feeling disappointed. There’s nothing really wrong with it per se, but I was anticipating something a little less predictable and formulaic. As well as impressing me elsewhere (Scalped being the prime example) Aaron caught off guard last year when he turned in the Kill Mystique arc on the main Wolverine title alongside Garney. It remains the best Wolverine tale I’ve read for many years and I immediately wanted both creators working on the character fulltime. Aaron’s recent Wolverine: Manifest Destiny miniseries was only moderately entertaining but I was still excited by the announcement that this series was in the pipeline (which looks like becoming the core Wolvie title as the other book is being renamed – ridiculously – Dark Wolverine). This issue probably lands somewhere in between the aforementioned two stories. The script is suitably gritty and the art has a hard-as-nails feel energy to – it’s just a shame the plot rakes over stuff that we’ve seen so many times before. Of course I’ll give Aaron the benefit of the doubt, and I’m sure he’s got some surprises up his sleeve, but while this was good read it lacked the memorability and punch for me to want to try and convince lapsed Wolverine fans that this is a series they need to pick up. 7/10


BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL #2
Writer: Tony Daniel
Artist: Tony Daniel
DC $3.99

James R: Two issues in, and I’m still perplexed by this. Not in any conventional sense – Tony Daniel is doing a fine job in setting the world of Gotham up for the new Batman & Robin, and the whole issue held my attention from the first panel to the last, but yet I feel that Batman always deserves a bit more. I don’t think I’m making a ridiculous statement when I say that almost every comics professional working in the mainstream has a Batman tale they’d love to tell, and I think that DC should be a bit more ambitious with their prime property. When you consider the huge roster of characters and motivations, I just have the sneaking suspicion that the whole Bat-universe could be outstanding as opposed to just good. A fun read but, let’s face it, far from essential. 7/10


HALO: UPRISNG #4
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Alex Maleev
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: And so the Master Chief dives into action while reluctant hero Ruwan... nope, sorry, I barely care now. This as a regular month-by-month mini would have been a passable read but to wait some nine months for this finale is a joke, especially as, issue after frustrating issue, the frown lines have appeared on my brow with increased intensity. As an alien invasion story on its own, without the weight and pressure of the Halo title and the guns-blazing necessity of the Master Chief, this could have been a decent read. Shoehorning the action in has severely limited the scope and growth of the characters and made it redundant. In a Halo game this story would actually have been acceptable but to end in a clichéd tale of sacrifice with the Master Chief being used as a simple plot tool to get the job done offers nothing to the Halo Universe and deprives me of $3.99. The presence of adverts serves to annoy further considering the wait for the limited material and then hiding the inflated pricetag on the back of the book winds me up even more. Perhaps the nine months may have gotten to me....? Good frackin’ riddance. 1/10


CAPTAIN AMERICA #49
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Luke Ross
Marvel $2.99

Matt T: Very few comics can pull off a character backup story and still maintain my interest, but Cap just about manages it. Sharon Carter is given the spotlight, explaining her absence from the post-Red Skull storylines. There are a fair few plotlines cleared up, and hopefully the conclusion will result in Agent 13 getting back in the mix, but overall this was a well-written slow burner and a pleasant break from the norm. 7/10

Matt C: After the full-on excitement and action of the last three issues the focus shifts and the tempo slows down as we catch up with Sharon Carter, still reeling from the knowledge that she was responsible for Steve Rogers’ death. But, this being a Brubaker book, there’s a heck of a lot packed into the story and plenty to ponder, including what could be the first clear indication of the rumoured imminent return of an old friend. 8/10


WAR OF KINGS: ASCENSION #1
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Wellington Alves & Scott Hanna
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: These writers have to be Marvel's greatest triumph of the past five years. I didn't pick up the Darkhawk two-parter so came in here 'cold' so to speak yet within half of this issue I already know what's going on and I haven't been force-fed the information. Christopher Powell is far removed from Abnett and Lanning's other SBU (Space Based Universe) star, Richard Rider; where Nova has been steered and guided into being the hero the universe needs, Darkhawk has struggled under the weight of his unfamiliar powers and his own self-esteem issues. The master/trainee premise here is delivered with a small amount of tongue-in-cheek humour thanks mostly to the way that Powell's anger comes across and, due to a twist at the end, it remains fairly cliché free. Wellington Alves is the perfect choice here as his style suits gore-riddled space battles and he can deliver visual angst as displayed when Powell contemplates his actions to this point. Bring on the next three issues. 8/10


INCOGNITO #3
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Sean Phillips
Marvel/Icon $3.50

James R: Hands down, this is my favourite comic being published at the moment. After rhapsodising over it for the last two issues, this month’s instalment keeps the genius quotient topped up nicely. This time, Brubaker and Philips smash up the conceit that they built up last issue, only to leave Zack Overkill in even more of a jam. Throw into this even more cool characters from Incognito’s neo-pulp universe, along with the best art of Sean Phillips’ career, and you’ve got a flawless piece of entertainment. An extra tip of the hat to the backmatter in this issue – Jess Nevins continues to do a great job giving a concise guide to the world of pulp heroes, and Brubaker always recommends interesting reads. I’m running out of superlatives to use on this comic. I’d rather go without food for a day than miss out on this! 9/10


X-FACTOR #42
Writer: Peter David
Art: Valentine DeLandro & Marco Santucci
Marvel $2.99

Matt T: With the X-Factor crew fighting various different battles across time and space this issue is fairly fractured, with the most interesting element being Jamie's trip to the future. Peter David has really hit his stride recently, creating some truly shocking and interesting tales, although this is one of the weaker issues purely because the group is so separated. It's interesting to see how Longshot's powers are shown, which have always been a little vague, and the obvious differences between future and past art-wise. 7/10


IGNITION CITY #1
Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Gianluca Pagliarani & Chris Drier
Avatar Press $3.99

James R: Warren Ellis is a man who likes the final frontier. If you read his introduction to Orbiter, he spells out his love for the Space Race and how man’s future should be amongst the stars. With Ignition City he touches on some of his favourite themes and ideas – an alternative Earth where World War 2 also featured the Martians and a lot more rockets than Werner Von Braun’s V2. Ellis has been here before – with Ministry of Space and elements from The Authority - but he is superb at crafting believable worlds populated with thought-provoking ideas; here, check out Bronco, a drunk who claims he’s a hero from 500 years in the future, now stranded in “Dark Ages” Earth. Pagliarani’s art is tidy, but given the nature of the story, his ships, planes and backgrounds seem a little muted (though respect for hiding the Rebel Blockade Runner from Star Wars in the background!) Ellis is at his usual visionary best, and the fact that this is a five issue miniseries means that by the final issue, as usual, I’ll be hoping that it’s merely an ‘End of Chapter 1’ as opposed to a full stop. 8/10

Stewart R: I jumped onboard the Warren Ellis train only last year with Aetheric Mechanics and enjoyed that so much that this was likely to end up on my pull-list. Ellis appears to be able to rewrite history like no other, keeping enough of the recognisable and familiar in the worlds that he crafts yet spinning them off into wonderful 'what-if' scenarios. For Ignition City we're introduced to Planet Earth in the 1950s where spaceflight has been established for several years but the only place left operating as a spaceport is the titular locale. There are famous faces from the past century dropping in from all over and to name them here might detract from the entertainment value. Suffice to say that the earlier discovery of spaceflight would certainly have changed the futures of certain individuals from history and Ellis provides a wry and insightful slant on where those people may have ended up. Pagliarani offers a line style which can be a little too simple at times when it comes to characterisation but his scenery work is terrific and I imagine he'll give us even more in the issues to come. Good launch, let's see where the flight takes us. 8/10


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #591
Writer: Dan Slott
Art: Barry Kitson, Dale Eaglesham & Jesse Delperdang
Marvel $2.99

Matt C: There remains some confusion on exactly what Spidey does and doesn’t know about Mephisto’s magic retconning of his recent history. Unless I missed something I was under the impression that Mephisto made Peter ‘forget’ all those big (and little) details that went against Joe Quesada’s ‘vision’ for the character, but here he seems to be aware of a “psychic blindspot” that’s caused everyone to forget who hides behind the Spider-Man mask. It smacks of Slott doing his best to fix some of the unanswered irritants that still linger on following the debacle of One More Day but it only seems to complicate matters further. That aside, this was an enjoyable team-up issue: Slott nails the juvenile banter between Spidey and the Torch and there are some nice sequences highlighting how relationships are always changing and evolving, even over relatively short spaces of time. I just wish they'd leave One More Day behind for good, because every time they try and go back to iron out the continuing continuity problems they seem to dig themselves further into the hole they made. Let’s just put it behind us once and for all, shall we? 7/10


INFINITE HORIZON #4
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Art: Phil Noto
Image $2.99

James R: A couple of months ago Matt C made a post about comics which had simply dropped out of the listings, and the lack of information given by publishers as to when or where we might see them again. Infinite Horizon was one name writ large; this miniseries had such a great concept (the retelling of The Odyssey in a very believable post-apocalyptic world) and it looked unique. It thoroughly deserved the plaudits that are pasted over its back cover. Well, from out of nowhere, Lo! A new issue! Worth the wait? Umm, sadly, no. It echoes the Circe part of Homer’s epic, complete with the drug, moly - Duggan spends most of the time focusing on the Captain’s inner demons, and it makes for an uninspiring read. We’re simply treading water in here, a fact made all the more annoying with the promise of the Sirens next time. I hope this is a misstep, but given that the goodwill this comic has is almost gone due to lateness, the final two issues need to be stellar… and on time. 4/10


SUB-MARINER COMICS 70TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1
Writers: Roy Thomas, Mark Schultz & Bill Everett
Art: Mitch Breitweiser, Al Williamson & Bill Everett
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: The lead tale – by Rascally Roy Thomas, no less - is solid if predictable, and features some strong, focussed art from Breitweiser, while Mark Shultz’s subsequent short is pure Bill Everett homage. The real highlight for me was the reprint of the debut Sub-Mariner story from Marvel Comics #1 in 1939 by Everett himself (and yes, I’m ashamed to say this is the first time I’ve seen it!). It may seem simplistic to contemporary eyes, and the character was nowhere near fully-formed, but the potency and iconography is apparent and powerful enough that, 70 years later, he still stands out amongst Marvel’s pantheon of greats. 7/10


UNCANNY X-MEN #508
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Greg Land
Marvel $2.99

Matt T: Ah, Greg Land. His art is pretty to look at, but oh so samey and seemingly clinical, looking annoyingly static when supposedly active. I'd be happier if he simply did covers, as the female faces blend making them very difficult to differentiate. Still, Fraction is getting a handle on the X-Men, even if this is looking like something of an unnecessary and familiar story. I'm hoping there's something a bit cleverer going on than what's on the surface of a group of disgruntled female mutants kidnapping someone for a bit of body-swapping, so I'll stick with it for the time being. 6/10

Stewart R: Having spent a painful amount of time dealing with Colossus' hang-ups in the past couple of issues, Fraction now returns us to the Sisterhood of Mutants storyline and it's about time. There's almost too much going on in the X-world since the move to San Francisco; Uncanny appears to be the only regular title to deal with the shift, and it’s previously struggled to be a consistent read under the weight of the various plot threads. It has gotten better though and this is an entertaining X-read. Beast's quest to solve the mutant gene problem will inevitably grow to be the major plotline over the coming year or so but the return of Madelyne Pryor is a significant twist and I'm glad that Fraction has gotten back on track with it. There is one point here however that will make much of the readership spring question marks from atop their heads and we can just hope that an explanation to a surprising appearance is quickly delivered. As for the art? Greg Land does Greg Land's women, need I say more?! 7/10


JESUS CHRIST: IN THE NAME OF THE GUN #1
Writers: Eric Peterson
Art: Ethan Nicolle
Bad Karma Productions $2.95

James R: To quote the late, great Bill Hicks; “Do you think when Jesus comes back he ever wants to see another Crucifix? That’s like goin’ up to Jackie Onasis wearing a sniper rifle pendant… He’ll be coming back with an Uzi!” Guess what? Someone took Bill’s word’s and turned them into a comic… sort of. Jesus decides to go back in time and put right humanity’s wrongs, starting with Hitler! In fairness, it’s one of those ideas where the final product can never live up to the sucker-punch of the initial concept, but it certainly has its moments (wow many comics can you name where Jesus shouts: "Suck my balls Nazi bastards!"?!) This certainly won’t trouble the Eisner awards this year, but it’s one of the reasons why I love comics – sometimes, anything goes. However, I’ll be looking out to see if Peterson & Nicolle have the balls to follow this up with Mohammed: An Eye For An Eye. 5/10


SUPER ZOMBIES #2
Writer: Marc Guggenheim & Vince Gonzales
Art: Mel Rubi
Dynamite Entertainment $3.50

Matt T: What started out as relatively interesting if a touch confusing has become even more confusing, slipping into Marvel Zombies rip-off territory. Introducing a brand new universe of super-people is always a tricky prospect, so trying to wedge all the new characters in and get started on a story which more than whiffs of plenty of other, similar books doesn't fill me with confidence for the rest of the run. I'll keep my eye in for an issue or two more, but the secondary plot of an all-powerful being looking to mix things up needs to pushed to the forefront. 5/10


FANTASTIC FOUR #251
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne
Marvel $0.60

Matt C: You can take Reed Richards out of the Negative Zone, but you can’t take the Negative Zone out of Reed Richards – with his scientist/explorer cap on, the lure of the NZ continually proves too great for Mister Fantastic regardless of the constant danger and risk that exists beyond the dimensional boundary. This issue sees the FF in downtime mode as they focus on their personal lives before making another journey into the unknown. Wonderful character work from Byrne fleshes out the foursome, making them distinct and recognisable individuals and proving why they continue to remain so popular to this day: Reed’s always thinking a hundred steps ahead of everyone else, Ben’s constant insecurity over his relationship with Alicia, Johnny as the self-styled ladies man who can’t see what’s going on right in front of him half the time, and Sue the soul and conscience of the group, her love for her family absolutely unquestionable. No punches are thrown this time but Byrne’s superb storytelling skills mean you barely notice the lack of “action”. 8/10