Incoming... 30/06/2010

New comics are released tomorrow (in the States at least; we have to wait until Thursday in the UK!). Here's a brief look at our expectations for the books we're picking up this week.


Stewart R: Another week, another bunch of comics to take away the pain of World Cup defeat! And ironically enough the hotly anticipated title of the week would happen to be Turf #2 wouldn’t it!? That’s right, we finally get our second dose of gangsters, vampires and aliens after what has seemed like an age. While I admire Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards’ sensible scheduling of this comic to give both writer and artist an ample amount of time to get things right, I have to say that I may need to re-read issue #1 to remind myself just what has happened so far before digging into this week’s release. I’m still expecting good things and I’ve heard that the dialogue may be a little on the lighter side compared to the text-heavy debut.

I loved the Batman Beyond cartoon series when it surfaced some 11 years ago, blowing me away as it did with a neat, futuristic picture of Gotham City when Bruce Wayne had been forced to give up the cape and cowl and pass on the mantle to young upstart, Terry McGinnis. In fact the Return of the Joker movie is one of my favourite animated films ever. So how happy am I that DC are sending Batman Beyond #1 our way this week? Very!! This is written by Adam Beechen who has an accomplished script writing history for animated series like Teen Titans and The Batman so I’ve high hopes that this miniseries is in the proper hands. The story, involving a new foe turning up in Neo-Gotham to target Batman’s old rogue’s gallery, certainly sounds promising and I’m interested to see how artist Ryan Benjamin tackles the futuristic setting.

Now, I should really mention a title that I shall be buying but may not read this week. Gears of War #12 finally surfaces after a good few months off - no doubt the creators were shooting Grubs and Tickers in some underground Locust stronghold - and I shall be passing it into the waiting hands of my housemate who has nothing but high praise for this series. I’ve flicked through the pages myself on occasion and it certainly has been an accurate translation of the video game world to the printed page. Liam Sharp’s art is the right choice to render Marcus Fenix and Co onto the paper and I’m sorely tempted to start reading this series myself. Let’s face it, most video game-based comics don’t tend to make it past the 10-issue mark and it’s even rarer to get an ongoing.

Proof of that statement can be seen in IDW’s Dragon Age comic which has #2 hitting stands this week. This 6-part series started off with a very promising first issue with Mark Robinson’s artwork being the standout success, but I’d be interested to know how sales for this RPG-based title panned out and whether there’ll be enough interest to see this become an ongoing beyond the planned first arc. It certainly doesn’t have the following of Gears of War but if these writers and artists - the terrifically talented Humberto Ramos is on cover duty - bring their A-game with them each and every time there could be potential here.

And potential is what I really want to see oozing from every single page of Secret Avengers #2 when I bury my nose in it on Thursday. From the plethora of Avengers-related titles that have sprung out of the Heroic Age, this is now the only one that I am planning on buying on a regular basis. That decision has come from the brilliant writer in the shape of Ed Brubaker, talented artist Mike Deodato and a varied and decent roster of heroes who should make for an entertaining team dynamic at the very least. Admittedly I’m not quite sure how Nova will fit into this on a regular basis but finding out is obviously going to be half of the fun.

And finally, sticking with the fun theme, it would be remiss of me to not mention Deadpool: Wade Wilson’s War #2 which I’m pretty darn sure is going to be a rip-roaring bundle of guffaws, titters and belly laughs as the Merc With A Mouth continues his retelling of his earliest missions, breaking the fourth wall and spouting puns aplenty as he goes. Jason Pearson did a top-notch job with the first instalment and I’m really happy that I get to pick up the second helping of madcap mercenary mayhem this week.

Mini Reviews 27/06/2010

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.

This week also sees the next instalment of Matt C's Buscema Avengers Project.


SUPERMAN #700
Writers: James Robinson, Dan Jurgens & J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Bernard Chang, Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, Eddy Barrows & J.P. Mayer
DC $4.99

Matt C: Another 700th issue, another missed opportunity. I really think DC dropped the ball with both this and Batman #700. The first of three stories here follows on from the recent War Of The Supermen event, with Clark reunited with Lois after his leave of absence on New Krypton. A brief punch up with the Parasite is followed by an unnecessarily protracted and soppy scene with the married couple. Yeah, they’ve missed each other, I get it, but so much focus on this particular aspect to lead off the 700th issue? Not a wise decision. Dan Jurgen’s second tale is very old-school DC, and while thoroughly readable it comes across as much more of a Dick Grayson story than a Superman one. What should have been the ‘best’ is left until last, but the prologue to incoming writer Straczynski’s forthcoming arc felt overly forced and sentimental. Doesn’t bode particularly well for what’s to come, but he’s a fine writer so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. What DC should have really done is given a self-contained story that hammers home who the Man Of Steel really is in the 21st Century, something that could give new readers a chance to hop onboard. Perversely, the best thing in this issue is the preview for Paul Cornell’s upcoming run on Action Comics, with Lex Luthor as the central character. I didn’t really have any interest in it before but I’ll definitely give it a look now. So, yeah, it looks like I’m striking up the 700th issue of Superman’s book (and let’s not forget, he was the first superhero!) as a win for his arch-nemesis. 5/10


THUNDERBOLTS #145
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Kev Walker
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: This book really has changed since the post-Civil War, Norman Osborn era, and while I’m not a great fan of the 'Heroic Age' concept, Jeff Parker appears to be the man to lead this dastardly bunch into the brighter period. With the new team members selected, Parker needs to show just how this band of individuals are going function as a team and he does this with aplomb in just the first ten pages of this issue. He also cleverly pegs some members’ powersets back to ensure that we get a decent level of danger when the eventual battles and missions turn up. Here we have a writer that really likes to bring a sense of continuity to things as well, so he uses this opportunity to tie things into Siege and just what sort of fallout would surface when the home of the gods was decimated above the Earth. Kev Walker’s art is a delight and I can only hope that what we have here is a team that will get the chance to make this title theirs, and theirs alone for a long time. 8/10

Tom P: I recently dropped Thunderbolts; the Dark Reign and Siege arcs were not great reads - something just didn't click - and despite my love for Parker's writing on team books, it had to go. Then Stewart R showed me the last issue and convinced me that I had to read it. He was right! Solid art, great set up and interesting characters with a last page that had me hooked. A big part of my new found excitement over Thunderbolts is Kev Walker and his fantastic artwork. It impressed me in Marvel Zombies but it’s even better here, looking bold, exciting and distinctive, with Frank Martin’s colours making it leap off the page. This issue is also packed with story as we go from the field test to Man-Thing’s lair and end up with a skirmish with Asgardian trolls. It’s a lot of fun. There’s one thing I disagree with from Stewart’s review of last month’s issue... I like Songbirds hair! In Parker we trust. Impressive 8/10


BULLET TO THE HEAD #1
Writer: Matz
Art: Colin Wilson
Dynamite Entertainment $3.99

Matt C: Another European book translated for the English-speaking market, which is something I’m increasingly keen on seeing these days, and as it’s written by Matz, who also pens the excellent The Killer, it was kind of a no-brainer for me to pick this up. Right off the bat it reminded me of Pulp Fiction with it’s two hitmen arguing about shoes whilst on their way to whack a senior political figure. As the story expands outwards, it pulls two cops onto the case, who aren’t liking the way things are heading when it starts looking like a cover up is on the cards. In other words, not highly original, but as with The Killer, it’s handled with such style and intelligence that it seems immediately fresh. Colin Wilson, probably best known for his 2000AD work, compliments the script with some classy visuals, and does a great job of capturing the amoral brutality of professional killers in one shocking scene. If there’s one thing this confirms, it’s that Matz is one of the best writers of comics in the business, in any language. 8/10


X-MEN LEGACY #237
Writer: Mike Carey
Art: Greg Land & Jay Leisten
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: This X-event has worked so far, and worked very well indeed. Each and every writer knows what they need to bring to their respective chapters. Mike Carey has obviously had his fingers in the mutant-pie for quite some time now so his grasp of the tension and desperation required to keep this fresh really comes to the fore. The tussle between the Sentinel hive-mind and Cypher is terrific and really demonstrates the young mutant’s powers well. Likewise, Magneto’s foray into the battle in San Francisco is also well realised as he uses the surroundings that he’s so very familiar with to stem the tide of Sentinel menaces. Greg Land does what he does with poster-girls and bizarre expressions aplenty but his artwork when he brings Hope to the page is actually showing that his female-facial style could be growing and developing... thankfully. 8/10


SEA BEAR & GRIZZLY SHARK #1
Writers: Ryan Ottley & Jason Howard
Art: Jason Howard & Ryan Ottley
Image $4.99

Stewart R: Hahahahahaha... this comic is BONKERS!! Seriously. The title is not even the half of it as these two comic creators throw bionic spies, Sea Bear Priests, yokel hunters and disembowelment after glorious disembowelment into the mix. Howard’s Sea Bear kick’s things off with a relatively simple revenge story, which then skews off into super-spy territory as Pete Kukri tracks down the creature that robbed him of his family. Howard’s line-style is simple and reminds me slightly of animated series of recent years like Ben 10. This simplicity keeps the gore, when it turns up, to an effective and not overwhelming level. The ending also offers a neat twist and should this prove popular enough could maybe lead into sequel territory. Ottley’s Grizzly Shark is, for me, the true gut-buster, with plenty of madcap comedy jumping from every page. Donnie and his dad’s constant joking about the horrific scenario had me chuckling away before Ottley’s excellent Grizzly Shark attack montage turns up, brilliantly highlighting just how two panels can be used to tell a joke or story. This is great, comedic writing with a bloodthirsty edge. Both creators should be very proud of what they’ve created from the basic seed of a late night conversation. Well done guys, and well done Image. 9/10


AVENGERS #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: John Romita Jr & Klaus Janson
Marvel $3.99

Tom P: I decided that I was going to give the first arc of Avengers a fair go, it is Marvel’s flagship title after all, and John Romita Jr still draws a good-looking book in my opinion. I know some of my fellow reviewers feel his art is not as strong as it was but I think it still looks great. I also enjoyed the return of Marvel Boy aka the Protector (or whatever he's calling himself these days after he got his new look in the Dark Avengers Annual). I still think that was the best thing that came out of Dark Avengers to be honest. I must admit this isn't the most gripping comic out there but part of that is that it’s still finding its feet so I’m going to give it a chance. Ultimately my choice to read this beyond the first arc will be one based on price. At $3.99/£2.85 a pop that’s £17 for the first six issues! No way would I ever pay that for a trade, and it’s those kind of sums that have me looking at my hobby very carefully. I will always be a Wednesday Warrior (even if we Brits get our comics on Thursday) but when a book’s just ‘okay’, for that kind of cash you do have to question your spending and pull-list. 6/10


BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #3
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Yanick Paquette & Michel Lacombe
DC $3.99

Tom P: Ahoy, me hearties! The comic I was most looking forward to spending me pieces o' eight on this week was without a doubt Part Three of The Return Of Bruce Wayne. And what a swashbuckling tale full of traps, danger and scurvy dogs it is! I do love this miniseries and can't wait to see where Bruce ends up each time. It’s great to see Morrison tell his multi-arc mega Batman story with this vast range of talented artists, and Paquette this time out makes it a handsome looking book. I’m sad that Cameron Stewart had to pull out of the next issue as his work on Batman And Robin was incredible, but I cant help but get excited about Bruce’s foray into Wild West! Yo-ho-ho and what a great adventure! 8/10


THE KILLER: MODUS VIVENDI #3
Writer: Matz
Art: Luc Jacamon
Archaia $3.95

Matt C: A detour into Cuba that doesn’t really push the plot forward too far, but gives the unnamed protagonist a chance to meditate and philosophise on a variety of different matters, from political hypocrisy to basic human morality. That may sound strange in a comic about a professional assassin, but he looks at the world around him as a detached outsider, commentating on how things really are but with no intention of ever getting directly involved. He’s like a shark, always moving, self-preservation a paramount, and if he wants to remark on how fucked up the world is, that’s his prerogative. He’s under no illusion that he could change things, even if he wanted to. So, in a nutshell, this is totally not your average crime comic – with Matz’s smart script and Jacamon’s super-slick visuals The Killer deserves the attention of anyone interested in comics that focus on people who operate on the wrong side of the law. 9/10


AVENGERS #273
Writer: Roger Stern
Art: John Buscema & Tom Palmer
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: Plot threads that have previously been weaved into the background finally come to the fore as arguably Stern’s finest Avengers arc begins. Baron Zemo’s plan to bring down Earth’s Mightest Heroes kicks into action – as well assembling a variety of hardcore villains he’s been studying his opponents to uncover their weak spots. Therefore, he’s spotted Hercules increasing resistance to Wasp’s command, the Black Knight’s simmering attraction to the Wasp, and so on. Of course, getting a group of bad guys together will always present it’s own problems: distrust, paranoia and potential challenges to Zemo’s leadership. Beautifully illustrated by Buscema and Palmer, this sees the fuse being lit – the explosions are just around the corner. 8/10

Incoming... 23/06/2010

New comics are released tomorrow (in the States at least; we have to wait until Thursday in the UK!). Here's a brief look at our expectations for the books we're picking up this week.


Stewart R: Sometimes, Ladies and Gentlemen, sometimes great things happen. Teams come from behind against incalculable odds to win games. The vision of a religious figure can be discovered in a piece of granary toast. Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark #1 can hit comic shelves around the globe and wow thousands of readers. Now, I’ll be watching football and eating toast as much as the next guy this week but I’m not sure if anyone is anticipating Ryan Ottley and Jason Howard’s bag-of-frogs crazy comic offering as much as me. I love the fact that the two creators simply discussed the idea, pretty much flipped a coin to see which creature they would get and the scuttled off to get writing and drawing. I’m really hoping for a gut-buster in the hilarity stakes here.

Aside from that one comedy effort it’s looking like a rather serious and grim-faced reading collection this summery June week. In Scott Snyder’s American Vampire #4 Pearl Jones is going after the vampire coven who brutally attacked her and left her for dead. This has been another strong offering from Vertigo during its first arc and I’m still loving the format of this comic with the main story propelling things on while Stephen King’s flashback, back-up story adds plenty of flesh to the blood-thirsty bones of Skinner Sweet.

Approaching the end at a steady pace is the truly epic tale from the mind of Grant Morrison as Joe struggles with his own health and the mysteries of his own mind and imagination in Joe The Barbarian #6. This comic has been a gripping read and a fantastic outlet for artist Sean Murphy who has crafted a mystifying and wondrous world for the events to unfold. With only two more issues remaining after this one I suspect readers will be hoping that a possibility for a sequel might be written in the ashes of whatever explosive or poignant finale we get.

Explosive is a word I’d associated with Bruce Wayne’s potential return to the present and in Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #3 I suspect that we may learn quite a deal more about Bruce’s role as Darkseid’s weapon of mass destruction aimed at the 21st Century. This time the millionaire, playboy socialite with the prime detective and crime fighting skills finds himself in a situation where pretty much none of that applies as he takes to the seven seas in the company of the infamous Blackbeard. Morrison is melding bonkers concepts with brilliant execution in this mini-series and I know for a fact that James R and Tom P are loving this to pieces so far. Let's hope that this continues to impress us all then!

Before I scoot on over to talking about the Marvel catalogue this week I will mention Green Lantern Corps #49 which I really do hope shows us that Tony Bedard has things under control and a good story in place following the recent handover by Peter Tomasi. The prospect of the Alpha Lanterns taking actions into their own hands is pretty exciting and I’m planning on sticking with this title throughout the turbulent months to come.

And so what does the House of Ideas have instore for me this week? Well the Grim Hunt is now in full (Spider) swing and no doubt Joe Kelly will be making sure that things go from bad to worse for Peter Parker in Amazing Spider-Man #635. Considering the preparation that has gone into the Gauntlet storyline and keeping elements of Brand New Day ticking over I would be extremely disappointed if the ‘braintrust’ were to make this arc anything less than unmissable so I’ve fingers crossed that this issue is as impressive, if not better than the last.

The same goes for Thunderbolts #145 and Secret Warriors #17 really. Thunderbolts in the hands of Jeff Parker and Kevin Walker looks like a very promising prospect indeed, not least because of the varied cast that Parker has been able to pull together. It should help this title back on track following a mediocre turn with Andy Diggle in charge which was still limiting this book's potential until recently. Jonathan Hickman’s Secret Warriors has also been building into a very promising final arc and I would be surprised again if this didn’t turn out to be a truly great seat-of-your-pants flight into battle for Nick Fury’s Howling Commandos.

X-Men Legacy #237 rounds off the week’s offerings with the end of 'Second Coming' sneaking up on us from the distance. Now, I am really enjoying the mutated pants of off this X-event but I once again find myself slightly miffed that the majority of the suspense has been spoiled to some degree by Marvel’s insistence on peddling the X-books that are coming out in the next 2-3 months. Through those advertisements alone we can see who is likely to survive this extinction level event for the mutants and it does lead me to believe that there may not be too many shocks or surprises ahead unfortunately. That’s a shame considering the completely bollocks plague of vampires it looks like we’re going to be subjected too shortly in these books.

Mini Reviews 20/06/2010

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.

This week also sees the next instalment of Matt C's Buscema Avengers Project.


NEW AVENGERS #1
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Stuart Immomen & Wade Von Grawbadger
Marvel Comics $3.99

James R: I stopped reading Bendis' runs on the various Avengers books as they became so grindingly predictable - pages of 'Bendis-speak' talking heads building to a fight scene that usually didn’t resolve anything. Rinse, repeat. Out of fairness, I thought I'd take a look at New Avengers, as I'm a firm believer in giving things a fair crack of the whip. So what do we get? Umm... pages of 'Bendis-speak' intercut with an action sequence in which, well, at least something happens! So I suppose that's progress. But in all honesty, it's pretty much 'as you were'. After reading the reasons behind Steve Rogers' decision to form a secondary team, well, to save you time, the main reason is 'to make Marvel more money'! I'm sure they'll be people that love this, but I'm not one of them. Unexciting, uninspired, and certainly not deserving of Stuart Immomen's excellent pencils (the fact he's having to draw this and not another series of Nextwave just makes me more miserable!) 4/10


DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS #3
Writer: Brian Wood
Art: Rebekah Isaacs
DC/Wildstorm $2.99

Matt C: This is turning into something really rather special, and that’s coming from someone who had no knowledge of these characters prior to picking up the first issue of the miniseries. The setup of a teen superhero team being dropped onto a stone age era planet for unknown reasons (where they disperse and attach themselves to different warring tribes) allows Wood the freedom to work his narrative with only minimal continuity baggage. He makes his tale thoroughly accessible to newbies without resorting to any dumbing down that would hamper the pacing. Isaacs firm linework is magnetic, and with the assistance of Carrie Strachan’s bold colours, the effect is utterly absorbing. This is probably the most impressive book I’ve seen coming out of the Wildstorm stable since they knocked Joe Casey’s stellar Wildcats 3.0 on the head. 8/10


ULTIMATE X #3
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Arthur Adams
Marvel $3.99

Tom P: In the first issue of Ultimate X we met mutant Jimmy Hudson, the second then focused on Karen Grant, and now it’s time to meet Derek Morgan. Loeb and Adams take us to a wet, dark Chicago where a mysterious "Guardian Angel" is looking over the streets and protecting the people below. The rule now, post-Ultimatum, is that all mutants are to be shot on sight, so the fact that Morgan's brother is a police officer makes for an interesting and tense home life as he hides his powers and night time crime-fighting from his family. There are some great character moments here and I loved the scene on the train between Karen and Jimmy. It’s great to see Loeb on top form again and a lot of that is down to his focus on the characters. My only complaint would be that the narration at the start of the issue is a bit confusing - I wasn't sure who the narrator was until I got a bit further into the book. But when a comic looks this good I can forgive it and Ultimate X, in my opinion, is easily the best drawn comic Marvel is putting out at the moment. 9/10

Matt T: Like any team origin book, this one's going to take a while to get going. And as much as I've not been a huge fan of Jeph Loeb's Ultimate output to date, Ultimate X at least brings the group together in an entertaining manner. Instead of throwing us right into an action sequence and telling the origins of each character through truncated flashbacks, the three members (so far at least) have had an issue each to bed in. None are particularly dislikeable, and Wolverine Junior is a completely different kettle of fish to his dad without being unfamiliar. I'm a big fan of Art Adams art, and I like the manner Loeb is using the voiceover as a way of misdirecting the reader, so hopefully it'll continue when the team comes together. 8/10


PALE HORSE #1
Writers: Andrew Cosby & Michael Alan Nelson
Art: Christian Dibari
Boom! Studios $3.99

Matt C: Pale Horse begins with no real attempt to provide a firm sense of who its central character is before horror befalls him and propels him along a new, brutal path, meaning we’re given a succession of Western clichés in lieu of anything in that displays true substance. It seems that Nelson’s name appears in the writing credits of just about every other Boom! title I take a look at, and while he’s got some decent books to his name (Swordsmith Assassin, Dingo) I often wonder whether he’s got too much on his plate at one time. Dibari has a good feel for the dustbowl lawlessness of the Wild West, but his art doesn’t distract from the general lack of originality. If you’re looking for a comic book Western fix picking up Jonah Hex is still your best bet. 5/10


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #633
Writer: Zeb Wells
Art: Chris Bachalo, Emma Rios, Tim Townsend et al
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: This has been hands down the most engrossing Spider-Man story I have read in... hmmm... a couple of months actually, as the Joe Kelly/Max Fiumara ‘Rhino’ arc was immense as well! In fact, Amazing Spider-Man is proving to be an unmissable read of late. The ‘Shed’ storyline is wrapped up in brilliant fashion by Wells and Bachalo as Peter struggles to find a way through to the Lizard in order to bring a halt to his rampage through the minds of hundreds of New Yorkers. Wells carries the mammal brain/lizard brain plot strand through to the end and then gives it an interesting shift that should ensure that his cold-blooded foe will never be the same again. It’s a brave move indeed but, with the returning gallery of villains ‘The Gauntlet’ has thrown at us, it’s become clear that Marvel have decided that evolution is required if things are to remain fresh in ASM. Bachalo, Townsend and colourist Antonio Fabela keep things simple, explosive and sumptuous - the use of black and white space that these artists employ is a delight. Honestly, if you haven’t picked up ASM in a while you should... harf... switch off puny mammal brain. Be strong. Read arc of Wells’ and Bachalo! Harf! 10/10


FOUR EYES #4
Writer: Joe Kelly
Art: Max Fiumara
Image $3.50

Stewart R: We may have been forced to wait for what seems an age since the last issue came out, but when a writer and artist bring a comic as polished as this to your waiting, willing hands then you can do nothing but forget everything and enjoy it. Young Enrico was last seen entering a nest of dragons and Kelly picks up the story with the brooding Abraham Fawkes recalling the events that followed the bloody and costly dragon hunt. It helps to show us just what sort of mentor Enrico could have as well as highlighting just what a nasty piece of work Mr Boccioni is. The flashback/dream sequences with Enrico and his father act as a fantastic vessel for Enrico’s character development as he begins to learn from life’s hard lessons and become a tenacious young man. Fiumara uses his cleaner inking style - the man appears to have a brilliant range when you compare his ASM #634 story to this - to deliver a clear, bold picture of a dark and desperate world. For a book based in a world of dragons, this comic is all about the human heart, and it’s terrific. 9/10


BRIGHTEST DAY #4
Writer: Geoff Johns & Peter J Tomasi
Art: Ivan Reis, Adrian Syaf, Scott Clark & Oclair Albert
DC $2.99

Matt T: Ho hum. The splintered story arcs that DC have been putting out in these event books only really work when the stories are interesting, but, in the case of Brightest Day, they’re sorely lacking. Deadman is drifting around without meaning, the Hawks are wandering into vortexes and Firestorm is alternating between being in two parts to one superhero from issue to issue. None of these tales are exactly setting the world alight, as the characters seem too confused with their own situations to give the readers any reason to invest in them. The art is nice throughout, but that's about the only upside to this meandering, dull excuse for a comic. 2/10


ATLAS #2
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Gabriel Hardman * Ramon Rosanas
Marvel $2.99

Tom P: The first issue was good, not great, but I’m a huge fan of Parker's team so was happy to pick this up again to support the book. I think the problem last issue was that it was mostly about 3-D Man and I wanted Atlas! This time I get my Atlas fix from the great ‘50s cover art to the team fighting zombies, saving 3-D Man from dragons and diving into his mysterious memories. The short story at the end of the issue with Ramon Rosanas is also a great extra and his art is fantastic with some excellent iconic pulp imagery. That's what's so great about this book: pulp, super heroes, sci-fi and robots. All for $2.99! What’s not to like? 8/10


CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES #2
Writer: David Lapham
Art: Javier Barreno & Julien Hugonnard-Bert
Avatar $3.99

James R: Two issues into the Crossed spin-off and that's far enough for me. With the debut, I felt that Lapham failed to supply the constant threat and total revulsion that Ennis wrote so well in the original series. I thought I'd give it a second shot to see how Lapham expanded on the Crossed concept, and ‘not particularly well' is the answer. Here we see the family Pratt set up base in 'New Paradise', a safe haven from the Crossed, but it seems the biggest threat is inside their compound. I'm sad to say that I felt bored and disinterested reading this. Ennis' original series seemed dynamic and shocking, whereas this seems dull and predictable. A shame. 4/10


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #634
Writers: Joe Kelly, J.M. DeMatteis & Stan Lee
Art: Michael Lark, Stefano Gaudiano, Max Fiumara & Marcos Martin.
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: I’ve left Amazing Spider-Man on the shelves since issue #601 for a variety of reasons but this particular storyline proved too difficult to resist. A sequel (of sorts) to ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt’, my favourite ever Spider-Man tale? I’ve got to take a look at the first instalment at the very least. Good decision on my part, because this is a cracking read, with Kelly wasting no time putting Peter through the wringer once more. The icing on the cake for me is the art from Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudinao – these two make a tremendous team, injecting some wonderfully kinetic realism into the proceedings, reminding me how much I’ve missed them since they finished on Daredevil. The back-up has ‘Kraven’s Last Hunt‘ writer, J.M. DeMatteis, delve into Sergei Kravinov’s past, and it proves he has a much firmer grasp of the character than most. The Lee/Martin two-pager is a lot of fun and, really, you have to ask if Marvel can put out this amount of content for $3.99, why aren’t they doing it more often? 8/10

Stewart R: Well, here comes Marvel’s bombardment of our wallets and senses as their $3.99 price-point finds the title that we’re supposed to pick up three times a month. Thankfully I’m so mesmerized by this opening chapter of ‘The Grim Hunt’ that I can overlook the forced extra dollar for the meantime. Kelly batters the readers with Kaine encounters, Kraven-kin aplenty and the odd appearance here and there of various Spider-family members. It’s edge-of-the-seat stuff thanks to the preparatory groundwork that ‘The Gauntlet’ laid down, emotionally wearying both Peter Parker and the readers (in a good way). This accomplished writer is the perfect guy to handle such a deadly ASM storyline and since first reading this Thursday I’ve revisited the scenes involving Mattie Franklin - the ‘other’ Spider-Woman - a few times on page and in my mind. It’s powerful stuff. For the extra buck we also get a Kraven/Kaine flashback tale that is rendered nicely by Max Fiumara as we visit the turmoil that Sergei Kravinov endured towards the end of his life. The Stan Lee/Marcos Martin two-pager I can take or leave but in a $4 book at least it’s not two pages of adverts! 9/10


AVENGERS #272
Writer: Roger Stern
Art: John Buscema & Tom Palmer
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: With the assistance of his Avengers teammates, Namor heads to Atlantis to rescue the incarcerated Marrina from the clutches of evil tyrant, Attuma. You need quite a significant suspension of disbelief this issue to buy that Captain America and colleagues can engage in fistfights several thousand fathoms under the sea, but then if you manage that you shouldn’t really be reading superhero comics! Alpha Flight make an appearance (naturally, as Marrina is a member of their team) but it’s one of those occasions where they lose their individual personalities when written by someone not used to dealing with them. There’s something a bit ‘off’ with the art too, but this could be down to the printing quality of the copy I have rather than any dip in brilliance from Buscema and Palmer. And, really, has anyone else ever drawn a pissed off Hercules as well? 7/10

Ten Forward: August 2010

Every month we spend an evening scouring the pages of the latest issue of Previews and pick the ten titles we are looking forward to the most. This month it's the June issue of Previews which includes comics scheduled to ship in August 2010.

GRANDVILLE MON AMOUR HC
Writer: Bryan Talbot
Art: Bryan Talbot
Dark Horse $19.99

Rob N: A second volume of Bryan Talbot's Grandville is a very welcome prospect as I have a weakness for tales of anthropomorphic animals when done with some style and panache. For those of you who didn't catch the first volume, the setting is an alternative Victorian society where France won the Napoleonic war, invaded England, executed the Royal family, and then subsequently lost complete control some time later, when England became a socialist republic with nominal ties to the French empire, but with the added twist that all the main characters are animals. The lead character is a moody pulp noir badger who excels at ticking off all the expected clichés in steampunk/detective fiction. Talbot seems to be going down the European route of releasing stand-alone European 'album' format books rather than the more common American monthlies. As he seems to be one of the few professional British creators working outside the Marvel/DC mainstream, he deserves our support.


ALAN MOORE’S NEONOMICON #1
Writer: Alan Moore
Art: Jacen Burrows
Avatar $3.99

James R: Apparently, Alan Moore 'retired' from comics a little while back. Fortunately for us wild-eyed Moore fanatics, he's playing fast & loose with 'retired' - not only is League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen continuing majestically, but Moore has also decided to go back to an earlier project. He wrote The Courtyard for Avatar - an intriguing Lovecraftian tale – and clearly the call of Cthulu is too strong to resist: this month Moore continues the tale with the help of Crossed artist Jacen Burrows. I'd buy a supermarket receipt with Alan Moore's name on it, but beyond fanboys such as myself, it'll be interesting to see how he deals with H. P. Lovercraft's Elder Gods. If the literary tale that graced the back pages of LOEG Vol. 1 is anything to go buy, this could be fantastic.


DAREDEVIL: BLACK & WHITE #1
Writers: Peter Milligan, Rick Spears & Ann Nocenti
Art: Jason Latour, Mick Bertilorenzi & David Aja
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: I’m not sure whether this is going to be in a similar vein to the recent Savage Sword Of Ares and Mystic Hands Of Doctor Strange one-shots or more akin to DC’s Batman: Black & White tales, but the idea and format appeal and also there’s been a bit of a Daredevil shaped hole in my life since Brubaker left the main series (I’ve heard mixed messages about Diggle’s take on the character, but to be honest the direction the writer seemed to be headed when he took over the book didn’t really appeal to me). I still love the character, which is why this is probably going to make my pull-list. Ann Nocenti and David Aja are the main draws: Nocenti due to her run on Daredevil in the ‘80s (right up there with the best) and Aja due to some phenomenal work he’s been doing on the likes of Immortal Iron Fist in the last few years. It may just feel like an exercise in nostalgia but that doesn’t mean it won’t be fun. I’m prepared to give it a shot and, as it’s an idea Marvel look like they’re pursuing (Iron Man and Blade one-shots are due soon), it may give an indication of whether this is a ‘series’ worthy of a place in my collection.


LOCKE & KEY: KEYS TO THE KINGDOM #1
Writer: Joe Hill
Art: Gabriel Rodriguez
IDW $3.99

Andy H: Once again I find myself banging the drum for Locke & Key and I make no apologies for it. As I write this the third arc has not yet finished, but here I am looking forward to the fourth volume. Joe and Gabriel have continually hit the mark with this tale of good and evil. The Locke children have been fleshed out wonderfully and Dodge is just plain evil (best villain of recent times). So, more keys to be found and more truths to be discovered in this latest instalment. It must be, once again, the read of the year. Don't worry if you have missed out on the earlier arcs - also out this month is a 'Legacy Edition' of the first issue of Welcome To Lovecraft which reprints the entire 32 page comic plus an 8-page recap of what's has gone before. All this for $1.00! It would be criminal to miss out.


SULLIVAN’S SLUGGER OGN
Writer: Mark Andrew Smith
Art: James Stoke
Image $16.99

Stew R: I’ve been loving James Stokoe’s madcap art on Orc Stain and flicking through Previews his name caught my eye and my nose headed straight to the provided spiel. The story follows a mixed group of ex-pros, young rookies and misbehaving baseball players as they turn up at farm-league towns around the US and play for cash. Unfortunately for the Dragons they’re heading straight for a town called Malice where the citizens, and their team the Gladiators, are suffering from a nasty case of monsterism of the flesh-eating persuasion. It sounds crazy and a touch like a story from the recent Dr Strange miniseries, but I haven’t bought a graphic novel in a while and so this finds itself on my wish list not least so I can see how Stokoe's style differs when he deals with (relatively) real-world settings.


SUPERMAN: THE LAST FAMILY OF KRYPTON #1
Writer: Cary Bates
Art: Renato Arlem
DC $4.99

Tom P: One of my favourite Superman comics to date is Superman: Red Son, an 'Elseworlds' tale that asked what if Superman had landed in Russia not America? The Last Family of Krypton asks what if Superman had landed along with his folks Jor-El and Lara to make Earth their new home? What kind of man will Kal-El grow to be if he was never Clark Kent, would he still have the same respect for humanity? I’d certainly like to know what Lex Luthor would make of all this, he could barely stand the Last Son of Krypton on his own, let alone a whole family! I look forward to finding out.


GREEN LANTERN: EMERALD WARRIORS #1
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Fernando Pasarin
DC $3.99

Andy H: One of the highlights of Blackest Night was Peter Tomasi's writing on Green Lantern Corps. So much going on with so many characters but I never felt lost or overwhelmed. Now Tomasi is off GLC and taking Lanterns Guy Gardner, Kilowog and Arisia with him. The intrigue for me is just what is Guy doing for Atrocitus? What is his secret mission and how will his fellow Warriors feel when they find out the truth? This will of course put him on a collision course with Hal Jordan, which won't be the first time they’ve fallen out. When written well, Guy is fantastic character to follow, and not just an arrogant, self-centered creep he sometimes comes across as. Plus Kilowog in a regular comic? That has to be a good thing!


SECRET WARRIORS #19
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Alessandro Vitti
Marvel $2.99

Stew R: This terrific series draws to an inevitable end as the Howling Commandos, HYDRA and Leviathan scrap like they’ve never scrapped before in the hope of wiping each other out. Hickman has woven a brilliant Nick Fury story through the ends of the Secret Invasion and to the very doorstep of the Heroic Age and, despite the ending being slightly ruined by events depicted in Secret Avengers #1, it’s not so much about the destination but more about the journey that’ll get us there. I’m still eager to see how Phobos’ prophecies will turn out and just how some characters are going to handle themselves in the coming maelstrom. I’d have liked to have seen the excellent Stefano Casselli see out the series that he began but Vitti is a decent enough artist himself. Bring on this bundle of twists and turns!!


SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE HC
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Art: Shane Davis
DC $19.99

Tom P: Earth One sees a new series of standalone graphic novel reimaginings of DC's most iconic heroes. The first to get this new makeover is Superman in the highly skilled hands of Straczynski. He's taking Superman back to Smallville and basing his origin in the present day. If this is done right it could be the new Superman movie we would all want to see. I can't help thinking of this as DC's version of the Ultimate universe, which if its turns out like The Ultimates can only be a good thing. From Straczynski’s work on Squadron Supreme (which contained a character not a million miles away from the Man of Steel) I’m sure he can deliver an exciting new take on this well known character, and it would be a good place for new readers to join in the fun!


BALTIMORE: THE PLAGUE SHIPS #1
Writers: Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden
Art: Ben Stenbeck
Dark Horse $3.50

James R: Dark Horse continue to uphold their reputation for top-draw horror comics as August sees the release of Baltimore: The Plague Ships. All Hellboy fans should take note as it's scripted by Mike Mignola (it's actually the illustrated version of a novel written by Mignola & Christopher Golden). All the usual elements are in place - the dark side of European history, Vampires and a tough-nut hero. As far as I can see, this can't be anything less than an essential read for us fans of Mignola.

Incoming... 16/06/2010

New comics are released tomorrow (in the States at least; we have to wait until Thursday in the UK!). Here's a brief look at our expectations for the books we're picking up this week.


Stewart R: Okay, let's start this week off with a quandary; following my recent review of Brightest Day #3 I've been pondering this series' place on my pull-list; should I bin it? I can see what Johns and Tomasi are trying to do and perhaps if they were working their schedule as Marvel do with it's thrice monthly Amazing Spider-Man run this comic would be drawing me in and keeping me there. Brightest Day #4 marks the turning point where I must either carry on for another 22 issues or drop it and have a sniff around the eventual trade paperback versions. I dare say that come Thursday when I eventually step through Paradox's doorway I may still be weighing the decision...

Of course I may also be talking of Marvel's ASM schedule with a touch too much praise as it appears that the House of Ideas may have their timing a little out of whack this week. Should you be a regular reader - and if you aren't and have the funds I highly recommend becoming one - you'll be forking out the princely sum of $6.98 this week for Amazing Spider-Man #633 followed up by a healthy dose of Amazing Spider-Man #634. The wedge of cash aside this should be a fantastic Spidey week with #633 being the grand finale to the deeply engrossing 'Shed' storyline which has definitely taken The Lizard to another level. Zeb Wells' striking plot has been brilliantly delivered so far by Chris Bachalo and Emma Rios and I've high hopes for this last chapter.

ASM #634 then shifts us into high gear and slams us, and the Webbed Wonder straight into the Grim Hunt. That's right, The Gauntlet is over and the Hunt is on. Admittedly I'm usually a little peeved to see Marvel chuck on the extra dollar for some extra Stan Lee work and then an additional back-up story but they've been pretty decent offerings when Marvel have pushed them in the past year. Max Fiumara is bringing his art back to Spidey's world with the Kaine vs Kraven backup and he has been at the very top of his game with his previous Spidey work.

It actually seems that Mr Fiumara and writer Joe Kelly have been busy little beavers this week - Kelly is writing the main Grim Hunt storyline on ASM - as the long awaited Four Eyes #4 finally spins out of Image's print house and onto shelves. I'm going to go out on a non-researching limb here and say that it must be a year if not more since the last chapter of this superb fantasy comic came out and I've been pestering Andy H behind the Paradox desk for any information he might have as to when this might come in. For the uninitiated, Four Eyes focuses not on an optically challenged protagonist as some of you may have thought but instead on young Enrico who has recently had his father taken from him all in the name of underground Dragon-fighting. I love the story and cannot wait to get my hands on this latest installment.

Back over at Marvel the Second Coming X-event has also failed to disappoint as I had initially expected it to (double negatives Stew, what're you doing??). It's actually developed into a thoroughly enthralling read with the Mutants, *gulp* dare I say it, facing their darkest day so far. With the talents of Fraction, Carey, Wells, Kyle and Yost in charge of things I really shouldn't have been surprised. We're nearing the sharp end of things now with New Mutants #14 as Cable and X-Force travel into the future to try to prevent Bastion from completing his rewriting of history while everyone else bunkers down and tries to survive the night.

So some good comics out then. I just have to try to squeeze them all in around the football now...

Mini Reviews 13/06/2010

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.

This week also sees the next instalment of Matt C's Buscema Avengers Project.


BATMAN #700
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Tony Daniel, Frank Quitely, Scott Kolins, Andy Kunert, David Finch & Richard Friend
DC $4.99

Tom P: A couple people commented on this not being mentioned in Stewart R's Incoming... this week but fear not, trusty Bat-fans, for I wrote about my excitement for this title in Ten Forward a while back and made sure to pick it up. It's a talented line up for this ‘Giant-Sized Anniversary Issue’. Without a doubt, I was looking forward to seeing Frank Quitely's detailed linework and its good to see him in action again as he's one of my favourite artists of all time. That said, it is a shame he couldn't finish his chapter but it's still a real treat to see him draw Batman leaping around with his clubs in hand. I think my unexpected highlight was Andy Kubert and his ‘Tomorrow’ chapter. I knew he was drawing the Damian Wayne section but it was a welcome surprise to find it set in the Batman #666 timeline. That was an incredible issue in Morrison's run, and it included all kinds of references and winks to his work on the Batman And Robin series - I strongly urge you to track that particular issue down if you can. Speaking of Morrison, I greatly enjoyed his writing in this issue and how it all links up nicely. We get a few extras too, including a cover gallery and a Batcave Operational file, which are okay, but nothing mindblowing. I must also congratulate David Finch for his fine cover and interior work - it looks like he's back on track after the horrible Ultimatum. Good stuff – here’s to 700 more issues! 9/10

Matt C: A 700th issue is a milestone whichever way you look at it, and if I were calling the shots at DC I’d be asking for a story that really taps into who the Dark Knight really is as a character. The Finch cover is a great start, but the contents don’t match up to its promise. A story in four parts that takes in various incarnations of the Caped Crusader in the past, present and future, as well as a mystery surrounding the Joker’s jokebook, this sees Morrison in “I’m tremendously clever!” mode but frankly, the artwork aside, I found the whole things somewhat forgettable. They’ve rolled out some big guns for this issue, and unsurprisingly Finch, Kubert and Quitely deliever the goods, but I wasn’t expecting how well Daniel would fit in with this company. Some seriously good work from a guy I’d never paid much attention to before. It’s a pity that Quitely didn’t manage to finish his section of the book though, and they had to rope in Scott Kolins for a rather jarring few pages work. There are some lovely images, a series of decent pin-ups in the back, and Morrison is now too familiar with Batman not to drop in some satisfying moments, but overall this is a wasted opportunity. 6/10

James R: In this age of relaunches, renumberings and rebooting of titles, it's incredible to see that Batman reaches its 700th this week. DC haven't gone overboard with this milestone, but they have given us a corking issue that shows off the talents of the creative teams on the main Bat-books. Grant Morrison serves up a tale of Batmen past, present and future. It's a done-in-one tale, which is really reminiscent of the Batman annuals of old (including plans of the Bat-cave, and I'm a sucker for maps and cutaways in comics!), and it's kicked up a notch by the brilliant artistic turns. Tony Daniel (who can be a bit hit-or-miss for me) produces his best work in ages, Quitely & Kubert are superb as ever, and it's brilliant to see David Finch let loose on the Future-Batman pages. A treat for Bat-fans, pure and simple. 9/10


ULTIMATE AVENGERS 2 #3
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Leinil Francis Yu
Marvel $3.99

Tom P: Two set-up issues later and Millar is starting to hit his marks in true Ultimate style here. The team is looking great and a lot better than the last arc with Tyrone ‘The First Hulk’ Cash and the Punisher added to the line up. It's a brutal issue and Yu makes Ghost Rider's killings look truly hellraising. I also liked the use of the neural implants Fury employs to control the more troublesome members of the team. It reminded me of Ellis on his Thunderbolts run and shows what a hardass bitch the new Black Widow can be. All this and it's topped with some great cocky dialogue and amazing visuals. 8/10


INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #27
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: If ever we end up in a time where Marvel starts translating its comic books to the small screen then this 27-issue (so far!) run by Fraction and Larroca must surely be the starting point. This month we get some delightful banter between Tony and Pepper (who’s been given a Nicole Kidman make-over by Larroca which I've just this minute noticed) as they playfully argue over Pepper's desire to have the repulsor tech reinstalled in her chest. Fraction fills Tony with a brilliant dose of tired optimism and Pepper a no-nonsense confidence that brings a smile to my features. Added to that is a great introduction to Bambi Arbogast, a neat action piece involving the Hammer Girls' Detroit Steel, and Rhodey and Tony discussing their concerns about continuously risking everything every time they suit up and head into danger. All this and still only $2.99. Marvel are getting this comic right in every way imaginable and long may it continue. 9/10


THE UNWRITTEN #14
Writer: Mike Carey
Art: Peter Gross
Vertigo/DC Comics $2.99

James R: The Unwritten is definitely a favourite of the Paradox Comics Group, and it's now into it's second year. Undoubtedly, Carey is building up to a huge finale involving the return of the mysterious author Wilson Taylor, and I have no doubt that this will read brilliantly when collected in a trade, but as an individual issue this is definitely one of the most unspectacular instalments so far - it's lacking the usual literary nous, and it merely shifts the leading characters into place for the final act in the arc. Not bad, not a waste of time - a solid read, but readers of this title have got accustomed to excellence from Carey & Gross. 6/10


S.H.I.E.L.D. #2
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver
Marvel $2.99

James R: When I read Jonathan Hickman's Pax Romana, one of the many things I was impressed with was his ability to construct a huge fictional timeline. It's a term that gets overused, but he's brilliant at 'epic' tales, and that's what we've got here. S.H.I.E.L.D. tells of the secret society that has protected the Earth for thousands of years, and in this issue it's more of the same - more Da Vinci, more Richards & Stark, and more brilliance from Dustin Weaver. I may have mentioned before that I was a huge fan of Marvel's Earth X, and until recently, I was bemoaning that the House of Ideas hadn't tried more epic maxi-series. Looks like I've got my wish - my only mild gripe is that the issue isn't bigger! 9/10


DEADPOOL: WADE WILSON'S WAR #1
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Art:Jason Pearson
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Aside from the main Deadpool title I’ve grown tired of Marvel's insistence in flooding the market with the Merc With A Mouth much in the same way that I've grown tired of seeing Wolverine pop up in a hundred titles. That said, they occasionally hit gold with some of Deadpool's efforts and I've hopes that this could be another of those times. This is as crazy as a courtroom Deadpool comic should be, and the brilliant use of 'breaking the fourth wall' during a flashback is definitely a highlight. In fact, the idea of Wade Wilson being brought before a Senate committee is comedy genius enough considering just how nuts the character is. Jason Pearson's art is perfectly matched for bringing the madness to the page and I'm really looking forward to seeing how the next three issues pan out. 8/10


DAYTRIPPER #7
Writers: Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba
Art: Gabriel Ba & Fabio Moon
DC/Vertigo

Matt C: The issues up to this point, by and large, have seen Bras De Oliva Domingos on the cusp of some sort of event that will alter the direction of his life before the proverbial axe falls. This month, as we draw closer to the conclusion of the series, Bras enters a situation that seems destined for one conclusion only. Before there’s usually been a random element that puts him down, but here he seems to walk straight into something that almost seems preordained. It introduces a different tone to proceedings compared to what we’ve seen so far, and it’s probably the most upsetting issue up to date. The quality of art and writing are outstanding as always, and Daytripper is currently shaping up to become a modern classic. 8/10


CAPTAIN AMERICA #606
Writer: Ed Brubaker & Sean McKeever
Art: Butch Guice, David Baldeon & N. Bowling
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: Was last issue the out-of-character nadir for Brubaker’s Captain America run and this issue the point where he rebounds back to the usual level of high-quality storytelling? It’s looking that way (thank God!). Baron Zemo enters the mix, isn’t happy to learn the identity of the new Captain America, and sets in motion a plan to destroy Bucky Barnes. It’s good to see Guice on full art duties following numerous memorable stints as an inker on the book. Some moody images are the order of the day, although I’m not sure how much I’m getting on with Dean White’s rather garish (comparatively speaking) colouring. Maybe that particular aspect will grow on me. Apart from that, back on form. Annnnd….. is that a decent Nomad story I spy at the rear? Yes… yes it is! I still don’t think it’s the right fit for the book, but taken on its own merits this first chapter of a new story is a thoroughly absorbing read with Rikki Barnes attempting to blend into her adopted world with the limited resources she has. The ending of the first chapter is fairly chilling – you initially think (as does Rikki) it’s heading there anyway, but then you find yourself changing your mind, only to realise you were right all along. Good stuff. If you’ve been skipping the Nomad feature before, make sure you give it a shot this time. 8/10

Tom P: "That’s more like it!" This is what I proclaimed on finishing this issue, folks. I didn't like the last ‘50s Cap arc, and Reborn was something of a disappointment, but my love of the first spectacular 42 issues of Brubaker's run on Captain America kept me around. This is a vast improvement in both art and story, with an excellent first scene setting up Zemo and his discovery of the identity of the new Captain America. It helps establish a more personal antagonist for Bucky which I think is just what the title’s been missing. I feel this series suffered a great deal following the story arc involving Aleksander Lukin's Red Skull possession as he was a great villain and that made for a gripping read. Guice's artwork is excellent and the last few pages are truly dark and creepy - I’m now well and truly hooked again. Intense, well-written and action-packed, but why the $3.99 pricetag? Is it because of the Nomad backup? With Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. at $2.99 I have to question this. I'll admit that the Nomad feature is vastly better this month but it just seems unfair for an ongoing to be priced like this because of the backup. That would be my only problem with this otherwise fine comic book. 8/10


CHEW #11
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory
Image $2.99

Stewart R: In recent interviews Layman and Guillory have outlined their plans for this terrific series; a 60-issue run is planned and we're due for some real shake-ups in the near future. With that in mind, we enter the ‘Just Desserts’ arc with a familiar feel to things as Tony Chu gets stuck into another bizarre investigation, this time dealing with a mysterious group who only dine on the rarest, most endangered food stuffs in the world. Another great concept from Layman is superbly backed up by Tony's continued growth and confidence in his relationship with the lovely reporter Amelia Mintz. There's love, action, comedy and crime all wrapped up together to make for a great read and I really do recommend this if you like your comics to have a humorous edge. 8/10


MILLAR & MCNIVEN’S NEMESIS #2
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Steve McNiven
Marvel/Icon $2.99

Stewart R: "Crime is awesome and so am I!" That's how the cover reads and it's a little hard to know whether this is a statement by the hyper-criminal mastermind protagonist or Millar himself. This is dark, explosive stuff, shifting along at breakneck speed as Nemesis' scheming continues to drag the United States into dangerous times. There is a real cinematic feel to this comic thanks to the pacing, reliance on action sequences and McNiven's simple, clean style, and while enjoyable enough there are glaring holes. Millar is going 'high-concept' on us again but doesn't seem too willing to explore the effects of Nemesis' disastrous actions. We're simply told that all of the Pentagon's secrets have been released to the world but are given no visible consequences of this action. The inevitable chaos that a kidnapping of the President would bring is ignored completely and I feel it's an opportunity lost. By focusing too heavily on driving the plot forward he deprives us of some needed gravity and emotion that would draw us in and probably make this unmissable. Without it, I'm afraid this is starting to show that Millar may prefer once again to show us style rather than substance. 6/10

Matt C: I gave the first issue a shot, wasn’t impressed, came back for round two in the vain hope they’d be an uptick in quality, and even though it wasn’t much cop either, I think that, having reached the halfway mark, I’ll be seeing this through to its conclusion. And it’ll be painful, because this isn’t a very good comic book. If you wanted a one-word criticism, I’d say “lazy”. This is Millar sleepwalking through the script, tossing in crass attempts to shock (to limited effect) and doing so in a very cynical manner. There’s something slightly off with McNiven’s art too – whether it’s the washed-out colour scheme or the fact that he’s inking his own pencils, it just doesn’t impress in the way it did in these two guys last collaboration, Old Man Logan. Check out page 7: is that supposed to be an old dude or a some sort of shrivelled zombie?! Nemesis sees Millar barely even trying, and after Kick-Ass that’s a damn shame. 5/10


COWBOY NINJA VIKING #6
Writer: AJ Lieberman
Art: Riley Rossmo
Image $3.99

Stewart R: So we're venturing into unknown territory here as the initially planned miniseries heads properly into a new arc and ongoing status. To mark this, Rossmo takes an artistic shift to colour code specific settings, scenes and times rather than having a single palette for a single issue. This, I have to say, instantly helps to ease some of the confusion I occasionally found myself subjected to in the first arc, re-reading pages over to make sure I was properly comprehending events. The new story seems to be promising, and with the Triplets project essentially being in the pocket of, and at the mercy of, the Government, it seems certain that things are unlikely to ever go to plan with even the simplest of missions. Lieberman really starts to flesh out Duncan's character with some really enjoyable scenes of his psychotherapy sessions which lead onto a fun twist at the very end which could have a profound effect on how the next few issues pan out. Enjoyably bonkers stuff. 8/10


AVENGERS #271
Writer: Roger Stern
Art: John Buscema & Tom Palmer
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: Someone is breaking super-powered crooks out of jail, and while the reasons aren’t clear yet, it’s a situation that’s registered firmly on the Avengers’ radar. The team are currently low on numbers with Cap on a mission elsewhere, Namor shooting off for some personal business in Atlantis, and Hercules getting hammered following a chauvinistic bust-up with the Wasp. This leaves the Wasp and the Black Knight (with the help of, er, Paladin) to square off against three supervillain escapees: Grey Gargoyle, Yellowjacket and Screaming Mimi (really!). A bit of first-class character work here, a bit of well-rendered action from the art team there, and a lot of hints dropped for what we can expect over the next few issues. Sterling work by all involved. 8/10