While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.
This week also sees the continuation of Matt C's Byrne FF project.
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: A large chunk of this issue features just Tony Stark’s talking head but Fraction injects such a high level of intelligence and emotion into Stark’s monologue that it becomes absolutely riveting. There were occasions in the past where I was unsure about the route this title was taking, but it’s been slowly and quietly working its way under my skin to the point where I’m pretty much convinced that this is one of the best titles Marvel are currently publishing. On this trajectory it’ll be giving Captain America a run for its money very soon. This is probably the only book where the whole Dark Reign thing works for me, and I think Fraction nails Osborn the way Ellis did in Thunderbolts i.e. far more successfully than most other writers seem to be managing (yeah, you know I’m thinking Bendis). Larrcoa isn’t handed much action to work with this month but he’s still able to keep the drama alive in each and every panel. The only low point is the 'Iron Man Saga' back-up – considering Marvel have been giving this sort of thing away for free recently it feels a bit cheeky to see them jacking up the price by a dollar for its inclusion, but as it’s such a thrilling read overall I can let that slide on this occasion. 9/10
Stewart R: Ok, let’s start with the negative here and I must cry an almighty ‘bullshit’ at Marvel for having the nerve to slap the hideousness of a $3.99 price tag on this comic. The ‘Invincible Iron Man Saga’ piece that takes up the last 15 pages here (including adverts for other Marvel titles!!!) is completely unnecessary for regular readers of this title and I would really have liked see it released either separately or have two versions of this issue, one containing it at the higher price and the other lower and without. Aside from that gripe we’re still in terrific Tony Stark territory as Fraction and Larroca take a detailed look at his plan for a post-Osborn world which he may or may not be around to witness. Larroca should really take much of the praise here as the sequences inside Tony’s psyche alongside those of his recorded message to his Avenger colleagues are brilliantly contrasted. It takes a lot to produce six pages of repeating panels of the same character and make every single one unique and captivating. Jump on to this title, jump on now dammit! 9/10
BLACKEST NIGHT #5
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis & Oclair Albert
DC $3.99
Stewart R: The further I get into this event the more I realise that I’m looking forward to the associated titles more and more and this main title just a little less. I believe my feelings for this may be based upon weight; this title has to deal with the main thrust of the story along with a huge universe of characters, alive and dead, and under the weight of these things I find that it can lack a little ‘heart’ as it deals with the big picture. Ivan Reis’ artwork is definitely of a decent quality but is a step away from Mahnke and Gleason’s work on Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps respectively as they bring a cohesive feel to the Lantern ‘Universe’ with their complimentary styles. The continuous jumping to and from locales is also getting confusing as it becomes difficult to remember on some occasions just who specific Black Lanterns are. It still puts the Marvel events of the past year to shame but I’m expecting better over the remaining course. 6/10
Matt C: It’s becoming a bit of a rollercoaster, this main Blackest Night series. One issue can be electrifyingly brilliant, the next good but flawed. This one falls into the latter category. Nekron, so far, is a largely one-dimensional character, and this entire event really needs a shot of charismatic villainy at this point. Bringing Superman and Wonder Woman into the mix – two members of DC’s iconic ‘trilogy’ – but then relegating them to secondary status, with a barely a handful of words between them, seems like a misstep; they’re contribution needed bolstering considering who they are and what happens at the end of this issue. It’s still an exciting page-turner with several “Holy crap!” moments peppered throughout, and the art is largely stunning, but Green Lantern #48 provided a better, more cohesive read this week. 7/10
Matt T: There's been few crossovers, in my memory at least, that have remained so consistent and surprising at the same time. Johns has an impressive ability to weave dozens of characters into a coherent plot without making you feel short-changed, giving each their time to shine. The collaboration of the Lanterns feels like a 'backs against the wall' situation, and the interplay between the likes of Larfleeze and Atrocitus shows some superb writing. Add to this Reis' ability to turn a potentially garish muddle of various colours battling against one another into a spectacular series of eye-catching panels, with the odd worthwhile splash page and I no longer have any concerns as to whether the quality can be maintained; instead I don't want this amazing event to end! 9/10
CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #2
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Sean Phillips
Marvel/Icon $3.50
Stewart R: Well isn’t this just a healthy ‘meat and two veg’ meal of a detective noir comic! There’s no over the top ‘wow’ moments, no unnecessary overblown violence or profanity, no huge rooftop action sequences; there’s just good, plain, down to earth story development, character interaction and the occasional hint of plot threads to come. Brubaker is apparently in his element as he unwinds Tracy Lawless’ journey through the seedy alleyways and seedier bars as he tries to uncover the motive behind the attacks on Hyde’s operations. The dialogue is deliciously punchy and Phillips’ panels so cinematic that I could easily see this making the transition to television at some stage. Of course I wouldn’t want that to detract from these guys continuing to make great comics! 8/10
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5
Writer: James Robinson
Art: Mauro Cascioli
DC $3.99
Matt T: The free reign given to James Robinson to ignore current events in the DC Universe is clearly paying dividends, as the twists and turns are wonderfully reminiscent of his amazing run on Starman. The range of characters shows an impressive handle on the variety of personalities in the current DCU, and the storyline is going in an unexpected direction to say the least, and with Cascioli's artwork becoming more competent dealing with the action sequences this is becoming a favourite mini of mine. 8/10
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #138
Writers: Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente & Jeff Parker
Art: Rodney Buchemi & Gabriel Hardman
Marvel $3.99
Stewart R: Despite its presence in Marvel’s catalogue as something of an ‘event’ I’m feeling a little underwhelmed by the Assault On New Olympus premise and delivery. Compared to some of the big stories that have graced the mighty pages of a $2.99 Herc book in the past year or so – see the Secret Invasion tie-in and the Love & War storylines – this is feeling a little haphazard and a little plodding. The inclusion of the Mighty Avengers will work for some who pick up that title but I’m certainly not fussed by their involvement here and they’re simply being used as a means to deliver a huge fight in the issues to come. There is hope in the fact that Amadeus Cho is being developed as a character in huge Titan-like strides by the writers, and there are some clever twists and plays on Greek Mythology. That said I’m not too keen on the artwork by Buchemi but with the number of titles that Marvel are pumping out week on week it’s no surprise that the quality is going to drop here and there. The backup is the usual accomplished bitesize Agents of Atlas fare and once again it saddens my heart a little to see them shuffled to the last six pages which we’re essentially charged a dollar for. 6/10
GREEN LANTERN #48
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy & Tom Nguyen
DC $2.99
Stewart R: Now this is more like it! Johns has brought all of the leaders of the Lantern Corps together and makes a terrific read out of their first meeting with each other as the potential saviours of the universe. The writer seems more at home here with the varying personalities and specific character traits imbued within each Lantern than perhaps he does in the main event title where the lines are a little more blurred as he deals with the far reaching DC canon. While all of the protagonists here may be clearly defined, the confrontations and uneasy alliance is never predictable and there are some terrific scenes as they try to put aside their many differences and concentrate on the battle ahead. Mahnke’s work is exceptional once again even though he has a little less action to deal with this time around. This issue is simply unmissable if you’re following Blackest Night. 8/10
CHEW #6
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory
Image $2.99
Stewart R: With the well-received first arc out of the way I was interested to see how Messrs Layman and Guillory would continue into the next run of this great comic and whether anything would change. From the evidence on show here it seems that we’re witnessing a very pleasing case of ‘if it ain’t broke…’. Tony is reunited with his former partner, John Colby, who’s gone through a necessary Steve Austin style makeover since his violent meeting with a butcher’s cleaver back in the first issue. The friendly, yet somewhat uneasy partnership between Chu and Colby is quite refreshing as we can see too many buddy-buddy cop partnerships in comics today and the tone of their relationship suits the dark humour of the comic. With the partnership now fully re-established I think we can expect the chaotic exploits and occurrences to pop up in a big way next issue! Huzzah! 8/10
THOR GIANT-SIZE FINALE #1
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Marko Djurdjevic, Danny Miki & Allen Martinez
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: Disappointment was unavoidable really considering the circumstances (Straczynski bailing because he wanted no part of the upcoming Siege crossover) but I kind of hoped it wouldn’t fall as flat as this. Calling it a ‘finale’ is a bit misleading since it doesn’t really bring the story to a conclusion of any sort, and if you take a look at the cover you imagine Straczynski had something more long term in mind for the secondary characters he’s been playing with. It’s a shame Olivier Coipel doesn’t get to complete his collaboration with the writer, but Djurdevic’s no slouch in the art department and his style continues to improve as it evolves. The preview of Kieron Gillen’s take on the title character shows promise, but while Straczynski’s final script has many powerful moments you can’t help feeling let down that an outstanding reinvention of one of Marvel’s major icons has been pushed aside to make way for another Bendis-driven sales juggernaut. 6/10
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #3
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Gary Frank & Jon Sibal
DC $3.99
Matt C: Heavily influenced by Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie, the third issue of this miniseries skips ahead a few years to bring Clark right up to his arrival in Metropolis. I was a bit iffy about last month’s Legion-starring instalment but this is right on the money again as we’re introduced to various characters we know and love for the first time: Perry White, Jimmy Olsen and especially Lois Lane, whose personality is so overwhelming it’s no surprise Clark eventually falls head over heels for her, as any red-blooded male would have a hard time resisting her spirited charms. Johns provides Frank with plenty of opportunities for ‘wow’ moments, and he delivers each an every time. This series stands a good chance of being the definitive take on Superman’s origin for the 21st century, at least until the next group of hotshot creators decide to do it all over again a few years from now. 8/10
POWERS #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mike Avon Oeming
Marvel/Icon $3.95
Stewart R: Well Powers is back… but I missed it the first (and second) time round so am part of the experiment to see if this really is a jumping on point. There’s a brief ‘Previously in Powers’ recap on the inside cover and we’re thrust straight into the action as Christian Walker and Enki Sunrise (the Internal Affairs agent who investigated Walker previously) deal with further super-power related crimes. Having next to no knowledge of what has come previously I must say that the story is easy to follow and certainly interesting, bringing up the past events only when required to keep some continuity but managing not sideswipe new readers with too much referencing to backstory. This is Bendis as I’ve not seen him before, shying away from panels and panels of ‘chatter’ between characters and almost trying to use a ‘less is more’ approach. He’s obviously helped by Avon Oeming’s very simplistic and bold style which really comes into it’s own during the modest lovemaking scene here. I’m not sure what the fans will think but this new reader is certainly intrigued enough to read more. 7/10
Matt T: The relaunch of Powers starts much like the previous issues, in that a superhero-tinged crime requires investigating by former (and perhaps still current) hero Walker and his new partner, Sunrise. It's fair to say they don't get on, and a homicide that brings up Walker's sketchy past doesn't exactly help proceedings. I'm interested for the time being, but I'm starting to wonder if Powers has run it's course if Bendis doesn't drop something new into the standard police-procedural-with-superheroics approach in this run. Especially if it proves to be as unreliable as the last. 7/10
ULTIMATE AVENGERS #4
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Carlos Pacheco & Dexter Vines
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: Yeah, I’m definitely done with this but I’m still going to have to see it out to the end of this arc for the sake of closure. There are just no likeable characters here; even Ultimate Steve Rogers is a grade-A prick, a poor and uninspiring relation to his regular Marvel Universe counterpart. You can almost imagine Millar writing this with his tongue firmly lodged in his cheek, aiming for style over substance on every page, and it just irks me something rotten. Pacheco’s visuals are as excellent as ever, but they can’t quite carry me along through the substandard story. The brilliance of the first two volumes of The Ultimates is a distant memory. 5/10
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #20
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Brad Walker & Victor Olazaba
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: While I have reservations when it comes to DnA’s work with Nova beyond the War Of Kings saga it’s obvious that the GOTG title is perfectly placed for all things Fault-related as the bizarre and unknown threaten the galaxy as a whole. I cannot speak highly enough of this issue which deals with so many of the recent plot lines and the heartbreak that each and every member is suffering after the recent losses to the team. It is the fact that the writers were so very ruthless, yet in the same hand so very caring towards the characters and the way that their story progresses that makes this such a highlight on my pull-list. Brad Walker’s artwork is truly exceptional and really helps to deliver the emotion to the page while convincing me that it is his pencils that should bring the cosmic weirdness to the readers for many issues to come. C’mon, just look at the size of Groot’s cocktail glass and how very creepy the situation with Massdriver is! 9/10
DETECTIVE COMICS #859
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: J.H. Williams III & Cully Hamner
DC $3.99
Matt C: It seems redundant to keep repeating how incredible Williams’ artwork is because it should now really be the consensus opinion, but I’m going to say it again anyway because he blatantly deserves all the praise he gets. Rucka’s scripting is easily a match for the visuals: smart, adult and brave, this is sophisticated superhero storytelling at its finest. Kathy Kane’s ‘origin’ is fascinating and compelling, avoiding cliché to arrive at something completely different from the norm. The Question backup can’t hope to compete against the supreme quality of the lead feature, but it’s a nice addition to what is probably the finest non-Vertigo book DC is putting out right now. 9/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #517
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Greg Land & Jay Leisten
Marvel $2.99
Matt T: I certainly don't hate Matt Fraction's current run on Uncanny, which seems to have taken a huge amount of influence from the blockbuster pacing of The Ultimates, but there isn't a whole amount of substance to it. People show up, kick ass and reel off pithy dialogue without any real emotional investment, even if the likes of Namor and Emma Frost look and sound like they should. Although the new direction of the X-men interests me, I'm not sure Fraction has a complete handle on the team dynamic. 7/10
Stewart R: Matt Fraction really does know how a team of X-Men should work and how their abilities can be used to compliment each other. This is nothing but a glorious display of mutant powers and Cyclops’ excellent tactical mind; since that’s all an X-audience needs once in a while I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. I’ve criticised Greg Land an awful lot in the past – for portraying all women as deliciously sexy strangely enough – but even he adds an extra element to the feast of visceral carnage. While Rogue’s super-powerhouse display is the standout for me it’s also the little touches like Wolverine and Warpath’s ‘mopping up’ of one of the Predator Xs that make this a great read. 8/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #282
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne
Mavrel $0.65
Matt C: Reed is fretting over the Beyonder’s recent appearance on Earth, but Sue isn’t having any of it - having just had her soul raped by the Psycho-Man and his lackey, the Hate Monger, Sue wants revenge and she wants it now. Great character writing from Byrne really connects to the emotional core of the FF, particularly Susan Richards. A neat opening where Franklin meets a certain team of super-powered kids hints at things to come in the future, but it’s the drama of whether to stay and keep an eye out for the Beyonder or head to the Microverse to confront the Psycho-Man that ensures this issue is an unquestionable success. That, and some stellar art from Byrne & Ordway who are no bringing out the best in each other’s talents, and a perfect example of this is the magnificent final page splash. 9/10
By Matt C
NOIR: A COLLECTION OF CRIME COMICS
Writers: Various
Art: Various
Dark Horse Comics $12.95
If you've stepped inside a comic shop over the last year then you'll probably have noticed there's been something of a resurgence in the popularity of crime comics, from Brubaker's phenomenal Criminal to DC’s Vertigo Crime line of graphic novels. It's entirely appropriate that this has happened, the only head-scratcher being why it didn't happen any sooner. The medium’s roots can be found in the pulp magazines of the '20s, '30s and '40s, and while they also dealt with muscled supermen and alien worlds - which helped ignite the popularity of the superhero genre - a good many of the pulps dealt with villains, anti-heroes, private eyes, guns, gangsters and general hardboiled shenanigans.
With plenty of publishers now jumping aboard the crime ‘bandwagon’ (if it’s fair to call it that since crime comics have always been a mainstay of the industry) Dark Horse has joined in with the recently released Noir: A Collection Of Crime Comics, an impressive package with an enviable roster of creators. Along with the likes of Ed Brubaker, Brian Azzarello and David Lapham, there are several lesser-known names as well as folks you’ll possibly never have heard of (but in many cases you’ll find yourself wanting to see more of their work).
Calling this book Noir does rankle be a bit though: to me, the word ‘noir’ evokes shadowy back streets, duplicitous dames, and bruised and battered anti-heroes who’re a little out of their depth. Noir however, is much broader than that, encompassing a wide variety of crime and criminal acts (although it’s questionable whether Alex Di Campi’s contribution can actually sit comfortably inside the genre at all). This doesn’t detract from the quality of the stories, it just seems like the wrong choice of word, although if you look at the copyright page you may wonder if Dark Horse have actually managed to trademark the word ‘noir’!
Chris Offutt’s hitman-based tale (with terrific visuals form Kano and Stefano Gaudiano) and Ken Lizzi’s prose-heavy short are highlights, but it does save the best until last by placing the contribution's from Brubker and Azzarello - the two guys who are angularly more well-versed in the crime genre than many of their peers - right at the end. Brubaker is joined by regular collaborator Sean Phillips on art duties for a brief but tough Criminal story featuring the same alluring seediness and undercurrent of explosive violence that’ll be familiar to any fan of the ongoing series. Azzarello delivers the cream of the crop though, joining forces with the Brazilian twin-brother art team of Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba to cleverly subvert a familiar origin story to thrilling effect. These two entries slot perfectly into what I understand the definition of 'noir' to be, and are textbook examples of how to deliver a strong and succinct tale of bad deeds within just a few pages.
Although the quality varies when you read this book from cover to cover, it does provide an excellent snapshot of what crime comics are capable of in 2009, and anyone who's more than a casual observer of this type of storytelling would be advised to investigate these vignettes of life on the wrong side of the law. 7/10
While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.
This week also sees the continuation of Matt C's Byrne FF project.
NOLA #1
Writers: Chris Gorak & Pierluigi Cothran
Art: Damian Couceiro
Boom! Studios $3.99
Stewart R: To be honest with you it never really crossed my mind that the devastation of Hurricane Katrina might ever be used as the backdrop to a comic, not least because the comic market is still managing to regurgitate plots based around 9/11 and doesn’t seem to be giving up with that quite yet. Rather than focus squarely on the events that devastated New Orleans, Gorak and Cothran instead level the readers gaze upon Nola, a young woman from the Louisiana city, and the unrelated events that appear to have shattered her life. Part flashback, part mysterious-thriller piece, this is a very interesting read indeed, with past and present events flicking back and forth in parallel and Cothran interlacing the script to bring some cohesion to the two different timelines. The art is terrifically understated: Couceiro keeps a very simple panel format running throughout which helps to keep this a close and intimate story. As usual it would seem that Boom! are putting other publishers to shame with the quality that they demand of a $3.99 comic. 8/10
Matt C: I knew next to nothing about this book prior to reading it – something to do with post-Katrina New Orleans and a gun-toting chick – and I’m kind of glad I hadn’t investigated further since this an unexpected and thoroughly absorbing first issue. It cuts back and forth from before the hurricane hit the city to after it’s catastrophic arrival, and the real hook is how the titular character changes so drastically between the two timeframes. The art captures the emotional resonance of each scene, laying on the intensity where necessary, particularly as the story reaches its back-and-forth crescendo in the final few pages. I still have no idea where this is headed, but based on this debut alone I’m going to continue to steer well clear of spoilers and look forward to whatever lies ahead. 8/10
SPIDER-WOMAN #3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Alex Maleev
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: OK, onto the difficult third issue where comics can come unstuck and quickly find themselves ripped from pull-lists if they don’t maintain consistency and quality as well as keeping the plot moving along. Initially I had concerns from the sudden reintroduction of Hydra after looking forward to seeing a little more of the S.W.O.R.D angle worked upon first. BMB is evidently trying to show that Jessica Drew’s life is never going to be less than chaotic and mysterious, and this turns into an accomplished character piece as whack-job Madame Hydra tries to bring Jessica back into the multiple arms of the most dangerous terrorist organisation on the planet. There are a few questions to be asked on Drew’s choice to play along and hear Hydra out, but as long as you buy the fact that she fully understands the situation she finds herself in then this should make a decent superhero-thriller to add to your lists. 8/10
FLASH: REBIRTH #5
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ethan Van Sciver
DC $2.99
Matt C: Unless the final issue has some astonishing revelation that knocks everyone on their ass then, based on what’s occurred so far, it’s looking like Flash: Rebirth won’t be fulfilling its potential as a thrilling relaunch of an icon in the same vein as the excellent Green Lantern: Rebirth. There’s no doubting Johns’ love and extensive knowledge of the character(s), but that sometimes works against him as the story is often so entrenched in Flash lore that it becomes difficult for anyone bar the hardcore elite fanboy to fully engage in the action. Oh, and there is plenty of action, possibly too much. I realise we’re talking about a character dubbed the “fastest man alive” here, but sometimes I wish Johns would slow things down. When he does, for the quieter, more contemplative moments, his brilliance as a writer shines through, but otherwise its delivered at such a breakneck pace, complete with ‘important’ (and admittedly gorgeous) splash pages, that it’s hard not to feel left behind. 5/10
MIGHTY AVENGERS #31
Writer: Dan Slott & Christos Gage
Art: Sean Chen
Marvel $2.99
Matt T: The worst thing about this book is the 'next issue' page, in which it's revealed that the Dark Avengers will turn up for a throwdown. Other than that, this instalment of Mighty Avengers ticks along nicely, making the big battle more layered than a simple back and forth between a hugely powerful foe and a team of all stars. Hank Pym, who has been the undoubted star to this point, makes a last minute save and ensures evil is defeated once more, and that his team of misfits continue until the tail end of Dark Reign at least. I'm hopeful Marvel keeps this book in play for a while longer though, as it's been a pleasant distraction of B-listers managing to fumble a few wins, and up against Dark Avengers it's clearly the better book. 8/10
COWBOY NINJA VIKING #2
Writer: AJ Lieberman
Art: Riley Rossmo
Image $3.50
Stewart R: A little more clear-cut this time around and that should hopefully win this great comic some fans who may have been a little wary after the first instalment. With Pirate Gladiator Deep Sea Diver Ammo racking up a small body count in Tokyo it’s up to Duncan (Cowboy Ninja Viking – I’ll refer to him as CNV in any review from here on out!) and agent Nix to head across the Pacific and stop him before any more heads roll and tridents are thrown. This is gloriously madcap stuff, part Deadpool-esque psychological yarn, part… well I don’t know quite what really, and the superb ‘pencil-scratch’ style artwork from Rossmo really adds to the bizarre feel that this book is going for. I anticipated that the muted colour scheme may change from issue to issue and that itself shows that this comic may have a real personality of its own as the story continues. Now I just have to find a comic bag that fits its damn gloriousness in… 8/10
KOOKABURRA K #1
Writers: Didier Crisse & William Hicks
Art: Humberto Ramos, Carlos Cuevas & Leonardo Olea
Marvel/Soleil $5.99
Stewart R: You start plastering this kind of price on a Marvel title these days and unless its got Cap America or ol’ Webhead adorning the cover you’ll probably find yourself cramming your money back safely into your pocket. Of course Kookaburra K isn’t strictly speaking a Marvel title, having been released in French the first time around under the Soleil banner, and comic readers are probably aware of Humberto Ramos’ artwork from various other popular titles in recent years. This is pure space-opera in illustrated form as the last remnants of the human race try to escape a relentless tear in the universe which has swallowed Earth. Seven children with special, unique abilities, along with a handful of various survivors, find themselves in an unknown part of the galaxy aboard the mysterious K starship. It is a little on the confusing side in places and the reader is on occasion left guessing as to the motivations of certain characters, but my gosh, this is a pretty thing to look at. Ramos has been refining and experimenting with his own distinct style for a couple of years now, but this dates back to 2006 when I believe his work was at its most clean and sumptuous. I’ll be picking the remaining two issues up just to see if I can grasp the scope of this story. 7/10
IRREDEEMABLE #8
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Peter Krause
Boom! Studios $3.99
Matt T: Well, there was bound to be at least a brief flirtation with the heroes getting some payback against the insane and ridiculously powerful Plutonion. Even though the chances are that it will all go spectacularly tits up, at least we've been treated to more of the mental superhero's motivation behind his rampage of wanton destruction and general death dealing. While it's just another straw to break the unhinged donkey's back, it's at least making him appear more of a rounded person instead of a vague concept with little direction. The art is superbly consistent, and switches between action and dialogue without losing any tone or drama. 7/10
Matt C: Another solid issue as the Plutonian finds himself facing a foe he can’t just incinerate in an instant. I remain impressed by the way Waid is keeping all his balls in the air (oo-er!) – a story like this could easily be started and wrapped up within a miniseries, but Waid is still managing to keep the narrative intriguing, adding layers to the characters as he goes. Even though I continue to question how long a story like this can go on for, for now both Waid and Krause are delivering the goods. And, I know you shouldn’t really base your judgement on a final page but damn, the last image in this issue was a stonker! 7/10
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #7
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Yanick Paquette & Michael Lacombe
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: Although it looks unlikely to be as exhilarating and ferocious as the debut arc, you’ve got to give Aaron a whole heap of credit for doing something completely unexpected and different (for a Wolverine comic at least). With Logan banged up in an asylum with no knowledge of who he is and what he’s doing there, Aaron brings in a darkly comic horror vibe to the proceedings, and it’s not the kind of setting we’re used to seeing the character in. It works though, and the Paquette/Lacombe art combo helps things along with some gruesome imagery (although they can’t match that great Adam Kubert cover). I do feel we need something more for our $3.99, but this comic retains its place on the pull-list due to Aaron’s desire to deliver interesting Wolverine stories, something that’s been lacking for a good long while. 7/10
SWORDSMITH ASSASSIN #4
Writers: Andrew Cosby & Michael Alan Nelson
Art: Ayhan Hayrula
Boom! Studios $3.99
Stewart R: Well, I think that this little feudal Japan mini series can be judged to be a success! Not only did it manage to use cliché to its advantage but it also threw some neat cliffhangers and surprises into the mix as well and deliver a gripping and emotional story of loss and retribution. With this fourth issue and the surprising turn of events that had unfolded beforehand, I was completely unsure of where Cosby and Nelson could be taking us. That in turn ensured that I was reading each page in eager anticipation to see how Toshiro’s quest might reach it’s finale. Hayrula’s art is a touch confusing at times – there’s a panel during a fight sequence where an additional sword appears apparently from nowhere – but has suited the story perfectly. At first glance this looked like it was going to be a simple samurai comic but in the end it delivered something more than that. 7/10
Matt C: A predictable dénouement means it’s the weakest issue of the set by far. Although some of the success of Swordsmith Assassin has been down to the smart utilization of familiar samurai clichés, it did need something unexpected just to spice things up a little. Also, while the art in the previous instalments has conveyed a healthy sense of kineticism, the final battle – the one the whole story has been leading up to – is badly choreographed, confusing and not particularly well rendered. Taken as a whole, this has been an enjoyable series even bearing in mind the lack of surprises. Perhaps not worth $3.99 a pop, but if you can find the eventual collected edition at a reasonable price, and you’re a fan of the genre, then I would recommend giving this a look. 6/10
DARK AVENGERS #11
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mike Deodato & Greg Horn
Marvel $3.99
Matt T: It's rare that I curse myself for buying a book, even after I've been fully aware of it's lack of merit for a while, but in Dark Avengers I've found such a title. The characters are so far from their pre-Dark Avenger's personas as to be unrecognisable, and Norman Osborn is spouting more self-aware pop-culture referenced tripe by the issue. How did Victoria Hand come to be in charge? Don't care. What's the conclusion of this tale involving the Molecule Man likely to be? Care even less. For God's sake Bendis, destroy the team and hand over the reigns to someone who knows what they're doing. Please. 2/10
TRANSFORMERS #1
Writer: Mike Costa
Art: Don Figueroa
IDW $3.99
Stewart R: I grew up with the UK version of the Transformers comic and have dipped into the various other incarnations that have popped up from time to time from different publishers. While the TF world I know and love has subsequently been replaced with the new bastardised Michael Bay/Hasbro incarnation for the general media public, there still exists an element that longs for the glory days of the much-loved G1 characters. IDW seem to be catering to both audiences with this new ongoing title keeping the original G1 Autobots as the focus, albeit with some aesthetic alteration by Figueroa to blend slightly with Bay’s techno-organic vision, and bitter tension between humans and the Transformers as the plot driver. It’s pretty decent work from all involved and hints at a desire to recover a lot of what has been lost since the likes of Simon Furman brought us a dose of Robots in Disguise on a weekly basis back in the day. There’s also a brief look at an Andrew Wildman cover for issue #2 that has me hoping that he might get a brief run on this title at some point in the future. Fingers crossed! 6/10
ADVENTURE COMICS #4
Writer: Geoff Johns & Sterling Gates
Art: Jerry Ordway & Bob Wiacek
DC $3.99
Matt C: Ok, so Superboy Prime is back (I believe DC are legally allowed to call him Superboy again) and apparently he’s now in ‘our’ world, reading this week’s comics and getting stressed by what’s going on in the DC Universe. Johns is using a metafictional approach here, acknowledging fanboys general dislike of the character while at the same asking us to root for him. It doesn’t really work though, but the real crime is that I don’t care – this isn’t why I’m picking up this book. I’m picking up this title for the continuing adventures of Connor Kent so this feels like a bit of a con, making me pay for something I have no desire to read. On top of that, just as I’m getting acclimatised to Francis Manapul’s art, Jerry Ordway comes onboard with some completely different retro stylings, compounding the feeling that this isn’t the book I thought I would be buying. Johns is too good a writer to let his script go by with out some effective moments but there’s simply not enough, and while the Legion back-up is pretty decent, I’m not really getting this title for the ‘Second Feature’, am I? 4/10
REALM OF KINGS #1
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Leonardo Manco and Mahmud Asrar
Marvel $3.99
Stewart R: The $3.99 miniseries madness seems to have taken over the Marvel SBU (Space Based Universe!) with the Imperial Guard and Inhumans five-parters hitting shelves. It probably has many readers looking at their wallets and having to make the hard choice. This one-shot however is a very interesting Realm Of Kings instalment as it studies the Fault and the abominations that lie beyond its periphery. Abnett and Lanning elect to use Quasar, still in his Quantum Energy form, as a probing adventurer who dives into the Fault to collect data on its makeup. This type of alter-world story has certainly been seen before but the scenario here feels slightly fresher and delivers a feeling of impending danger. The use of two artists can often lead a comic to fall flat or lack cohesion but here it acts as a neat plot device to show the difference between locations/dimensions. My only concern is the ‘one-shot’ status which could render this particular story redundant if the ending here isn’t dealt with in its entirety under one title at some later point. 6/10
DR. HORRIBLE #1
Writer: Zack Whedon
Art: Joelle Jones
Dark Horse $3.50
Matt T: I've yet to see any of the Dr. Horrible webisodes, but thanks to the positive recommendations I've heard I thought this one-shot was worth a crack. Inside I found a fair amount of wit from the other Whedon, who seems to be of undetermined relation to the more famous Whedon, Joss. The dialogue contains a lot of the Buffy creator's trademark humour and an interesting insight into the fledgling career of a slightly useless supervillain, so I think I'll be downloading a few episode's of Dr. Horrible to see what all the fuss is about. 8/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #281
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne & Jerry Ordway
Marvel $0.65
Matt C: Anyone who hadn’t guessed the identity of Malice last time doesn’t even have to crack open this issue for it to be revealed thanks to the not-to-subtle cover! The two-page splash of the Hate Monger crowing before a blazing New York City is really powerful, and Byrne’s knack for distinctive characterization makes this another excellent instalment in his seminal run on the book. Perhaps the final confrontation with Malice could have been a bit more lengthy, but the way Reed snaps her out of her brainwashing is brilliantly portrayed. What really sticks out is how far Byrne has taken Susan away from her ‘token female’ role and really pushed her to the forefront of the team, emphasizing just how formidable she can be. 8/10
The Indie Club is an irregular feature where we take a closer look at any small press or self-published books that have crossed our path.
THE ORDER OF DAGONET #1
Writer: Jeremy Whitley
Art: Jason Strutz
Firetower Studios $4.00
Matt C: It's a novel premise: when England is beset by reawakened and pissed off faeries, Merlin returns to round up some new Knights to protect the "green and pleasant land" from being overrun. As there are no proper sword-wielding knights kicking around anymore, the ancient wizard recruits a selection of men that the modern-day public now look up to: celebrities! So we get introduced to an Ozzy Osbourne analog, the author of Harry Potteresque novels, and an aged thespian slumming it in big budget genre movies (Ian McKellen?). It's an amusing twist on Arthurian tropes and the characters are introduced in an engaging manner.
Whitley brings a healthy level of wit to the proceedings, obviously not taking things too seriously, although some of the attempts at satire don't always hit their mark. The scenes set in the Houses of Parliament are - I'm assuming - intentionally over-the-top; I certainly can't remember a time when MPs engaged in fisticuffs (although that would surely make the BBC Parliament channel compulsive viewing if there was a chance of that occurring!). The artwork requires a little more clarity on occasion as certain scenes are a bit 'busy', but on the whole it does evoke a certain British sensibility, with Stutz’s vibrant colour palette providing an absorbing visual experience.
As is often the case when it comes to an American perspective on British culture, some of the dialogue and mannerisms don't ring true, but there's nothing especially distracting from the overall storyline. I know some of my fellow comic-book-reading countrymen take umbrage with non-Limeys attempting to utilize the Queen's English for entertainment purposes, but I don't have a problem with that since a great many writers of American comics reside on these shores. Let's just say it "Bollocks" and not "Bullocks" and be done with it!
The Order Of Dagonet does run into trouble at its conclusion: several key players are put into place but it then ends rather abruptly without leaving anything in the way of a hook or cliffhanger. What it really needed was sense of where the story is going next, an idea of the mission Merlin would task his new knights with, and their responses to it. The core idea behind the book is solid with a lot of potential to go places - it's a shame the final page doesn't leave you gasping for more. The creators obviously have big plans for their story and there's plenty of imagination at work within these pages. A little more vigour and urgency and this series could definitely have legs. 6/10
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While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.
This week also sees the continuation of Matt C's Byrne FF project.
PUNISHERMAX #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Steve Dillon
Marvel/MAX $3.99
Matt C: The previous Punisher title on the MAX imprint didn’t really flourish following Garth Ennis’ departure, but Marvel obviously felt the concept was strong enough to relaunch. I had high hopes for this based on Aaron’s work elsewhere (particularly Scalped) and while it does deliver the goods on the script front, there is major problem for me that kind of overshadows everything else. That problem? Steve Dillon. Don’t get me wrong, the guy’s art is amazing – unique, instantly recognisable and near flawless – but his rendition of Frank Castle is so tied to Ennis’ blackly comical take on the character (before he went hardcore for MAX) that it was impossible not to be constantly reminded of that run on every single page. I would imagine Aaron’s approach is intended to be tonally different from Ennis’s inspired mayhem but it’s hard to differentiate them at this point. This is no fault of any of the creators, and the introduction of the Kingpin into the MAX universe is handled very well, but I’m on the fence whether to continue with this in the monthly format or wait for the trade. The $3.99 price point could be the deciding factor. 7/10
SUPERGOD #1
Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Garrie Gastonny
Avatar $3.99
Matt C: I enjoyed Ellis’ Black Summer but then made the partly-financial-based decision to skip No Hero, a mistake on my part by all accounts, and not one I intend to repeat with Supergod. It’s the final series in a loose trilogy that’s tackled the concept of superpowered individuals from different angles, and here we see science being utilized to create living gods on Earth (with all the expected consequences that entails). Ellis is clearly one of the smartest men writing comics, and this issue is packed with fantastic and fascinating ideas. It does seem to skirt quite closely to what J. Michael Straczynski was doing in Supreme Power towards the end, but I imagine this is purely coincidental; I don’t see Ellis as someone who plagiarises his contemporaries, he’s too in front of the pack for that! Gastonny conjures up some powerful visuals and the image of the being known as Morrigan Lugus was particularly unnerving (fungus growing out of people just freaks me out!). All in all, a really strong start. I now need to go out and pick up the collected edition of No Hero! 8/10
Stewart R: When I previously heard comic readers speak of Warren Ellis’ ‘big idea’ style of comic writing I didn’t quite know what to think. Then, having picked up Ignition City, Aetheric Mechanics as well as borrowing the entire run of Planetary, I finally saw what they had been talking about. With Supergod Ellis picks up the idea of man shaping gods in our own vision and flings it straight at the reader with a hefty dose of apocalypse and international destruction. The idea of various nations and Super Powers using their technological and biological knowledge to craft and create beings to be worshipped and to lead them down the righteous path is captivating; Ellis moulds his version of the 20th Century to deliver it with a slight sense of the believable. Gastonny’s artwork suits the grand scale of the Ellis’ premise incredibly well, delivering culturally recognisable landscapes mired in destruction of biblical proportions. A very good first issue - I particularly like the fact that we’ve already seen where the story will eventually lead us but the journey to that point will be the fun part. 8/10
S.W.O.R.D #1
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Steven Sanders & Craig Yeung
Marvel $3.99
Stewart R: Jeez, I’ve had to get the judgement scales out for this one, there’s so much good and bad. Bad first. Beast should never be portrayed or drawn like he is here. There’s 45 years worth of character that’s been put into the blue fur-ball but his comical, love-sick, sidekick antics here pretty much just served to wind me up – it’s that much of a misstep. The same goes for Lockheed who was portrayed, rather decently I thought, in the recent Pet Avengers title as a saddened, lost soul, but here he’s just pissed off little dragon time with any excuse to bring out the fire breath. The good… more Agent Brand can only be a good thing and her ‘what could possibly happen next’ approach to her duties makes her instantly likeable. There’s also a very welcome cameo from a certain intergalactic bounty hunter who harks back to the Marvel UK days which may at least prompt me to pick up the next issue to see what part he plays. The art is a crisp and clean affair but nothing to blow your socks off. There’s promise but I’d like to see the $2.99 price tag turn up from next issue onwards. 6/10
BATMAN AND ROBIN #6
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Philip Tan & Jonathan Glapion
DC $2.99
Stewart R: Oh, what has gone wrong here?? The art from page to page goes through some really strange changes, I’m guessing as Tan and Glapion exchange inking duties with each other in some bizarre tag-team frenzy. It really does distract from what would have been an otherwise enjoyable clash between the Red Hood, Scarlett, The Pink Flamingo and the new Dynamic Duo. I’m also hoping that this isn’t the last that we’ll see of Scarlett as I found her to be a very interesting part of these last two arcs and I think that there’s plenty more there to expand on should Morrison feel the urge. Compared to the Professor Pyg arc the Revenge Of The Red Hood had potential that just wasn’t realised thanks mostly to some erratic pencil and ink work, and the strange cliffhanger has me wondering if all hell is about to break loose in this title. 6/10
Matt C: The three-issue story arc. It’s one of the things that initially put me off Morrison’s run on Batman. A great idea built up over two issues and then squandered with a rushed and unsatisfying (and often confusing) conclusion. It's starting to look like the trend is going to continue in this new title: there was so much more that could’ve been done with the new Dynamic Duo’s first confrontation with Jason Todd’s Red Robin plus sidekick, but rather than expand on some interesting themes, Morrision brings in a ridiculously named, one-dimensional villain (Pink Flamingo!) for a punch-up. Tan’s art is decent – atmospheric and energetic – but through no fault of his own he’s still stuck in the shadow of Frank Quitely. Jason venting at Dick towards the end is a powerful moment, and the Lazurus Pit hook does make me want to come back for more, but further disappointment in the narrative structuring may see me leaving this title on the shelves. 6/10
Matt T: Perhaps the phrase 'oh how the mighty have fallen' would be a bit strong, but 'oh how the mighty have gone a bit rubbish all of a sudden' is probably about accurate. The art in the issue has really taken a dive for some reason, looking half finished and a million miles from the hyper-detailed and superbly inventive work Tan has put in before. The conclusion isn't exactly unexpected either, but as an introduction for the fledgling caped duo it's been decent enough, if a little to rapidly wrapped up. Hopefully Morrison will build a more substantial plotline after this, and Cameron Stewart coming on board for a couple of issues means Tan might have a bit more time to turn out top notch work rather than the substandard display here. 7/10
STRANGE #1
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Emma Rios
Mavrel $3.99
Stewart R: Marvel never seems too keen on making permanent changes to its properties and with Brother Voodoo now holding claim to the title of Sorcerer Supreme and getting all mystical in his own comic to boot (which is worth picking up by the way!) the big question is what will happen to Stephen Strange? I’m guessing he’ll be in possession of the Eye of Agamotto before the end of next year and that guess may be helped by the appearance of this 4-part mini. Here Stephen is tackling Tul’luth’s demonic hold over a baseball team exhibiting the skills and limited powers he still possesses, and it’s entertaining enough fare. The art from Emma Rios is certainly clean and colourful – something that I always think helps with the portrayal of bonkers magical occurrences - but I’m no great fan of the Manga style in modern Marvel comics. The premise seems flimsy to begin with but Waid is an old hand at this comic writing game and he steers it towards a satisfactory conclusion. These $3.99 mini series have been flying thick and fast from Marvel lately and I’m not 100% convinced that this one merits the damage to my wallet. 6/10
Matt C: Having ignored all the Bendis New Avengers stuff best I could, Brian K Vaughan’s Blood Oath miniseries was the last time I fully connected with Dr Stephen Strange, and what an awesome read that was. I was hoping Mark Waid was the man to bring the magic (sorry!) back to Strange’s world, but although this debut issue is certainly competent (you’d expect no less from Waid) it’s simply not engaging enough to make we want to go out and get the next issue. Rios’ manga-influenced art marks her out as one to watch, and Waid paces the story well, but in the end it’s all rather forgettable, and not really worth $3.99. 5/10
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #42
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Patrick Gleason, Rebecca Buchman & Tom Nguyen
DC $2.99
Stewart R: I know a lot of people out there will have been getting Blackest Night and Green Lantern over the past few months but I have to say to you here and now people, if you haven’t been picking this up as well I highly recommend seeking it out in back issue form as it really has added a huge part to my Blackest Night enjoyment. Tomasi shares the Corps love around giving Isamot Kol and Vath Sarn some decent exposure as they battle the Black Lantern Corphans with the Indigo Tribesman, Munk, and then brings the focus sharply around as the Black Lantern power levels reach 100% and their mission changes. Gleason’s handle on the ensuing carnage is masterful and once again I’ll show my fondness for colourists by saying that Randy Mayor and Gabe Eltaeb really bring their A-game to this comic. There’s some delightfully polished colour use that really enhances the Lantern spectrum displayed within the pages of what is fast becoming a favourite comic of mine. 8/10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #611
Writer: Joe Kelly
Art: Eric Canete
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: From the terrific Skottie Young cover you know that it's going to be a relatively bonkers ASM this week and Joe Kelly is certainly the right Spidey writer to keep things on the rails, even if it is a Temple Of Doom mine-cart ride of a comic. Leading into the upcoming Gauntlet arc, the Merc with a Mouth is hired by Kraven the Hunter’s revenge-seeking missus to take on the Webbed Wonder for a moderate fee. Cue the 4th wall breaking, monologue-filled, collateral damage dance that we would expect to receive. Eric Canete is a very welcome addition on artistic duties as he really does know how to capture ‘the everyday’ for Peter Parker’s down-on-his luck segments, and when the dynamic dial needs to be turned up to 11 he whips out the superb angles and frenetic action. To be honest I’m hoping Marvel do the sensible thing and sign him up for another couple of issues if he’s delivering to this standard. It’s terrifically entertaining and a refreshing break from the clone nonsense that we were subjected to over the past month. My only complaint would be the lack of Deadpool’s inner voices but in a comic so crammed full of goodness I’ll happily brush that one under the carpet with a smile. 8/10
CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: THE LAST BATTLE #2
Writer: Garth Ennis
Art: Oscar Jimenez
Avatar $3.99
Matt C: I warmed to Jimenez rendering of these characters a lot more this time around, though I have to say I’m always going to prefer Jacen Brurrow’s version of Jimmy the Rabbit. As a whole, this is certainly a step up from the rather lacklustre one-shot The Last Enemy, but I’ve got a sneaking feeling that the original miniseries was one of those storylines that just didn’t require a sequel; everything that needed to be said was said the first time round, and anything extra is just dilution. They’re still an interesting bunch of characters to spend some time with, but unless Ennis has some outstanding tricks up his sleeve in the next issue or so, you can mark this one as ‘non essential’. 7/10
BOOSTER GOLD #26
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Art: Dan Jurgens, Mike Norton & Norm Rapmund
DC $3.99
Matt T: I've been a huge fan of Booster's more light-hearted adventures, and am always slightly apprehensive when the man in Gold starts tackling the heavier stuff. Now that Blackest Night has suddenly crossed over into the realms of Booster's microcosm of fixing time-based anomalies there was only one intelligent outcome: Ted Kord's resurrection. Jurgens does handle the angst well, and has given Booster far more dimensions than most would afford him, but I'm concerned about this creative team getting too involved in this big crossover. If it’s just a few harmless issues of distraction then I'll be at least able to stomach it, but hopefully it won't be at the cost of the main story Jurgens has been building up for the past few months. 8/10
VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT #3
Writer: Gregg Hurwitz
Art: Jerome Opena
Marvel $2.99
Matt T: Since the relaunch of the Moon Knight book, it’s gone back to it's gritty, hyper-violent roots, with the artist formerly known as Marc Spector fighting his more bloody nature to bring criminals to justice, rather than just beating the snot out of them. The resurrection of Bushwacker happens far too conveniently for my liking, as the Hood seems to suddenly gain abilities hitherto unmentioned (to the best of my knowledge) and use them purely to get at a vigilante he could crush with very little effort. Still, with the main point of this oversight coming to fruition it can only mean good things for the future, as the odds are stacking against 'ol Moony and a big throwdown will soon be in the offing. 7/10
DEADPOOL #17
Writer: Daniel Way
Art: Paco Medina and Juan Vlasco
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: Yes, this is still fun to read, and yes, Paco Medina is still pounding out great issue after great issue, but there’s just the feeling in the back of my head that this little story arc has not been up to the high standards seen previously. I’ve a feeling that that’s due to the involvement of the X-Men: Way is having to play along with the X-World that Matt Fraction has just lovingly crafted and it’s making it feel just a little bit less-like a Deadpool title and more of an X-Men book. That said, I’m certainly not complaining about the inclusion of Domino here as she’s a good foil/lust-interest for Wade and the ‘bit with the chicken’ is a guaranteed chuckle for many. 7/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #280
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne & Jerry Ordway
Marvel $0.65
Matt C: A provocative cover, and once you turn the page you realise the contents are pretty edgy for a mainstream Marvel comic in the mid-Eighties. A tsumani of hatred washes over the citizens New York City with every bigoted belief being amplified to the point of chaos – racism, religious intolerance, mutantphobia….. all these bubble to the surface with the FF caught in the middle. I originally read this tale when it was reprinted in its entirety in an issue of the UK version of Secret Wars II, a series which collected the original sequel mini along with the majority of the tie-ins and several related storylines (such as this one) in a semi-chronological order for British readers. There are some potent concepts being tossed around in this issue, far more sophisticated than the usual sci-fi adventuring – Byrne’s at the top of his game here, and it’s just as powerful re-reading it now as it was back then. Exceptional. 10/10
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #20
BLACKEST NIGHT #5
CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #2
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5
INCREDIBLE HERCULES #138
GREEN LANTERN #48
CHEW #6
THOR GIANT-SIZE FINALE #1
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #3
POWERS #1
ULTIMATE AVENGERS #4
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #20
DETECTIVE COMICS #859
UNCANNY X-MEN #517
FANTASTIC FOUR #282
