Cover To Cover: THE MIGHTY THOR #1

THE MIGHTY THOR #1
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales, Laura Martin, Justin Ponsor & Peter Steigerwald
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: When Hollywood comes a-knocking on the doors of comic studios (with Marvel these days it's now of course happening the other way around) and properties are given the live action treatment, it's inevitable that those said publishers try to maximise the exposure of their freshly transposed characters to make sure those pennies come rolling in. Sometimes this can result in a deluge of sub-par productions that quickly disappear from sight and from mind. With the Thor movie hitting screens around the globe the House of Ideas are approaching this with caution, keeping the established title running albeit with a name change, offering readers an Asgardian-tinged event with Fear Itself and then throwing one new ongoing title into the mix to sate those hungry appetites out to absorb everything related to the heroic Thunder God.

I have admittedly been out of the Thor-loop in recent months having not followed Kieron Gillen's run on the main Thor title - now Journey Into Mystery - or even been convinced to pick it up when Fraction finally took over the reigns. To that end I've not been privy to Odin's post-Siege reappearance as well as the return of everyone's favourite - or not so much - trickster in green, Loki. These being the gods who never stay gone for long means that you can normally get by with the briefest of explanations and a little bit of understanding that all will become clear in time. For Mighty Thor #1 Matt Fraction thankfully provides us with the tightest of chapter introductions which delivers all of the necessary back story and allows the reader to dive straight into the action.

It's clear from the get-go that Fraction is interested in looking at just what it means to be a god or a construct of power and faith, and what it means to be one of the 'mere mortals' who offer their continued faith to those greater powers. With the Marvel Universes' constant source of omnipresent and incomprehensible deities, it's an area of vast possibility and Fraction definitely has the writing chops to pull this off without a hitch. In this first issue he tackles the idea from three very different angles. Thor and the Asgardians go about their task of attempting to fix the damage done to the Bridge of Realms which potentially threatens not only their home but the very fabric of space and time. While they perform their 'universal caretaking duties' with suitably brave heroics Fraction intersperses their efforts with glimpses of the crisis of faith currently growing in the small town of Broxton and, at the other end of the spectrum, the cosmic constant of Galactus' hunger as the destruction of worlds at his hands continues unabated.

By spreading the story out across the galaxy in this way there's a brilliant feeling of the epic leaping out of each page aided lovingly of course by Olivier Coipel's superb pencil work. In fact, I can't just leave the plaudits with Mr Coipel there as everyone who has a hand in bringing Fraction's vision to the page must be applauded. Morales' deft inking coupled with Martin, Ponsor and Steigerwald's mouthwatering colours - or lack of colour in some instances as the use of white space is a triumph - means that this is one of the most eye-catching books Marvel has released this year.

Of additional note is a slight nod from Fraction to the new celluloid outing for Thor as the Asgardians seem to employ a mix of magic enchantment and their own brand of technology to explore the roots of the Worldheart, hinting that magic is perhaps science that is just yet to be understood. One thing that I certainly understand is that this is a great read from start to finish, my only slight grumble being levelled at Marvel for using 8 pages of this comic to provide us with 4 double splash pages of preview art from the upcoming The Art Of Thor film book when 8 pages of extra story and Coipel art would have been far more satisfying! But perhaps it's not the huge commercial company being greedy, perhaps it's just me!? 9/10

Incoming... 27/04/2011

New comics are released Wednesday in the States and guess what, in the UK too! Here's a brief look at our expectations for the books we're picking up this week.

Stewart R: Journey Into Mystery #622 really seems to have wowed some of the PCG team (Matt C even declaring it to be ‘book of the year so far'), Kenneth Branagh’s vision of the Thunder God is now playing in European cinemas - and in the US next week - and on this very Wednesday in late April there’s yet another Asgardian-based treat as Matt Fraction and Olivier Coipel (hooray) bring us The Mighty Thor #1. My experience with Thor only really extends back to Straczynski and Coipel’s fairly recent run, but that was enough to show me that this was a character of great interest, especially when JMS tied him and the rest of the Asgardians to Broxton, Oklahoma. Matt Fraction has been steering the great longboat that was Thor (now retitled Journey Into Mystery) for a few months and it seems that he’s preparing to have us turn our heads around and look up the trunk of the mighty Yggdrasil (the World Tree) and into the reaches where the other 8 realms are to be found in this additional series.

This first instalment promises a mouth-watering confrontation between Thor and the greatest of Galactus’ Heralds as the Silver Surfer discovers that the World Tree has grown something that his master would be very interested in. Now I’ll admit that I am quite a picky reader when it comes to artwork on a title and there are only a handful of pencillers and artists out there that would no-questions-asked guarantee that this makes an immediate appearance on my already crammed pull-list but for me Olivier Coipel is THE Thor artist of the moment capturing the very best Mjollnir-based thumpery in both the Thor series and Siege mini and there is no way I’m passing up this opportunity.

That’ll be the only debut issue I’ll be picking up this week - makes a change following a crazy few weeks from Image - but Marvel does have a couple of number twos out today which follow on from very promising introductions. FF#2 looks to be quite an emotional issue from the speechless previews released so far as an (unwelcome for some) visitor arrives at the Baxter Building following an invitation from bright spark Valeria. These post-Human Torch days are looking interesting for Marvel’s First Family and Jonathan Hickman constantly proves himself to be a writer who can surprise and reward a readership, so I’m hoping for things to be cranked up a notch following the scene-setting first issue. Rick Remender already had the action dialled up around the 9-10 mark when we witnessed Flash Thompson’s latest symbiote-enhanced mission last month and I reckon that intensity is likely to be maintained in Venom #2 when the shape-changing special agent gets sent to the Savage Land. This interesting thing so far is that we’re tearing through the limited number of missions that Flash can spend attached to the symbiote in double-quick time - we’ve had 3-4 of the 20 mission total when considering previews and Point One episodes - and I’m interested to see how quickly we reach that threshold.

The other interesting thing to see is if there is going to be any coincidental similarities that pop up with Marvel’s espionage-and-alien suit series and Image’s own effort which has been striding along now for well over a year. Haunt #15 hits the shops today with Robert Kirkman and Greg Capullo having left things at a tantalising juncture last time out as the mysterious and menacing Apparition made yet another play to tear Kurt Kilgore and the Haunt powers from this plane of existence. I’m still, almost a year on, excited by Greg Capullo having an ongoing title to work on and his action scenes involving morphing characters have been particularly impressive since he got the job as main penciller. With the Kilgore Brothers’ backs to the wall at the moment it’s giving him the opportunity to really deliver some tense chase sequences and I’m looking forward to experiencing that sense of velocity once again this week.

Now for a sense of foreboding I will of course be turning my attention to Scott Snyder’s American Vampire #14 where poor Henry is going to find himself on the mission to Hell as he and a crack team of vampire hunters head to the dark interior of a godforsaken Pacific Island. If the chances of survival were low to begin with then the vicious Skinner Sweet tagging along for the ride is likely to make the body count a great deal higher. The last issue was a thoroughly enjoyable, if a touch sombre read, but it’s those subtle changes in tone and feel, both from writer and artist Rafael Albuquerque that make this series such a compelling read month on month and something that you should consider having a look at should you have spare cash at your disposal and a thirst for something new.

Screen Time: THOR

THOR
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard, Tom Hiddleston, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Jaimie Alexander
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Runtime: 114mins
Certificate: 12A
Release Date: 27 April 2011 (UK)

Stewart R: There’s no doubting that cinema is in something of a lull at the moment with the number of bums on seats down year on year and signs that the industry is struggling to find new avenues and ideas to pursue. Despite terrific successes in recent years for DC with Christopher Nolan’s Batman efforts and Marvel with John Favreau’s Iron Man double there’s also occasional talk of the ‘Superhero Movie Bubble’ bursting at any second as we brace for the sound of a hefty budget being soundly flushed down the toilet. With 2011’s Summer schedule somewhat bloated on comic book adaptations and blockbusters, and with plenty of unknown actors and elements in play, there will have been fears that Thor, the curtain-raiser for the season, could be the first film racing past the U-bend. It is with a huge sigh of relief, a keen buzz in my brain and warm feeling in my chest that I can declare Thor the very high bar on which all other contenders will be judged these next few months.

Hemsworth plays the titular Asgardian God of Thunder who through certain reckless actions threatens his homeland with war and family with ruin. Cue two hours of high drama, thunder-powered action, well measured comedy and even the occasional burst of romance.

One of the keys to this film’s success is that it’s a superhero film without the requirement for the traditional origin story - Thor is a powerful warrior god of Asgard, son of King Odin, brother to Loki and that’s pretty much the situation from the get-go. This isn’t a film about how Thor gained his powers, it’s about how he gained a new perspective and ultimately changes as a man/god. To aid this Branagh and the various screenwriters ensure we get the briefest and most effective of history lessons on Asgard and the dangers that threaten it in the first quarter of the movie which brings the audience up to speed with surprising efficiency, allowing everyone to sit back and enjoy the rest of the ride. What follows amounts to a very heated, emotionally charged family feud and a journey of self-discovery that leads from Asgard to Earth and back again, sucking you in and pulling you along willingly with it.

Hemsworth is a triumph as the strong god in need of the softer touch, bristling with confidence one moment, brought low with grief and frustration the next and showing a keen feel for the subtler comedic edge that’s asked of him from time to time. Whether barking at the excellent Hopkins - here revelling in his best role for years - or slowly wooing Portman’s no-nonsense scientist Jane Foster on Earth, he’s clearly leading man material and definitely an actor for the future based on this performance. When the cocksure and overconfident Thor, Hiddleston as the silvertongued Loki, and Hopkins as the powerful-yet-weary Odin share a scene the tension and electricity feels like it’s leaping from the screen. Pride, petulance, love, seething rage, vanity - it’s a veritable feast of emotive acting that will be credited in part to Branagh’s direction due to his proven track record with previous literary conversions but also belongs to the trio of actors who seem to carry it off so effortlessly and with such conviction.

When the story moves to New Mexico the ‘fish out of water’ element is played to good effect without going too far, allowing the inevitable romance to subtlely play out between Thor and Foster with the occasional jokes creeping out of the woodwork for some neat laughs. There will be some who may feel that the slight shoehorning of S.H.I.E.L.D. into proceedings detracts a little from the main story and that just maybe not enough time is given to the fun to be had in the earthly desert setting, but I’m of the opinion that less is certainly more in this instance and nary a scene takes place that doesn’t add to the story as a whole. Branagh does well to cover so much within a two hour span - it flies past so effortlessly that to add anything more to the mix would have ruined its delightful balance.

This being a blockbuster and a film set for large periods in alien and fantastic worlds there’s obviously a big budget on show and the effects team have done a tremendous job of depicting Asgard in all its golden glory. From the glowing chamber of Odin, across the Rainbow Bridge and to the frozen wastes of Jotunheim, we’re taken on a breathtaking visual journey that adds to the epic feel of the story yet never overwhelms or loses the characters within it. Battle sequences are exhilarating, thunderous affairs that never outstay their welcome though I, and possibly some others, may question whether a viewing in 3D is truly necessary as its use is incredibly subtle - to the point of being unnoticeable in places - for much of the runtime.

From start to finish though this is an exciting, polished, well-acted, and most importantly, heart-warming superhero movie that stands up there as one of Marvel's best efforts to date. You’re all worthy, go see it, NOW! 9/10

Mini Reviews 24/04/2011

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 latest instalment of Matt C's Secret Wars Project.

SUPER DINOSAUR #1
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Art: Jason Howard
Image $2.99

Stewart R: With the recent spate of decent #1 issues from Image it looked that a more adult-oriented audience was primarily being targeted but thankfully it seems that the love is still there for a slightly younger audience with Super Dinosaur. This being Kirkman I did opened the first page expecting to be confronted with blood, gore or potential profanity but it quickly became clear that this is simple, good-humoured adventure writing, albeit a little clichéd in some places. With Derek Dynamo, Kirkman is treading that tried and tested protagonist path that has given the world plucky and resourceful teenage male heroes like Johnny Quest, Ben 10 and Mighty Max, and there’s definitely a TV cartoon series feel to the whole comic. There’s some touching moments involving Derek and his relationship with his ailing-yet-talented father which helps to break up the missile-firing, teeth-and-tails dinosaur action which Howard delivers in a clean, crisp manner. Surprisingly, the titular dinosaur takes something of a backseat during this issue, simply acting as a necessary tool of brawn and strength which leaves me wanting to know a heck of a lot more about who he is and what he’s like. Hopefully that’ll be explored in the next issue and beyond. A promising and fun start. 7/10

Matt C: Robert Kirkman has proven himself a dab hand at this comic book writing lark over the past few years, from the likes of the unstoppable Walking Dead to little gems like Irredeemable Ant-Man. Not everything he’s turned his hand to has been up my street, and to be honest I wasn’t really that bothered about Super Dinosaur from the advance preview materials I’d seen. I decided to take the plunge because a) Image has had a good run of #1s recently, b) it’s Kirkman, and c) it’s $2.99, but literally during the first page I realised this book wasn’t for me. It’s a well-crafted comic by someone who blatantly understands the genre conventions and it’s illustrated in exactly the right way to fit the narrative tone, but if you’re looking for something even remotely challenging, look elsewhere. This seems to be pitched directly at an audience that laps up the likes of Ben 10, and while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that I can’t see that particular audience being interested in picking up comic books, at least not when they’re $2.99 a pop and kids can get their entertainment kicks elsewhere (a lot cheaper). In many ways it feels like a trial run for an animated show, and while I could see it working in such a format I’m sure a lot of people who get this debut issue will find that they’re nowhere near the target demographic when they’re confronted with a hero who proclaims how awesome he is every few panels. 5/10


MALIGNANT MAN #1
Writer: James Wan & Michael Alan Nelson
Art: Pitor Kowalski
Boom! Studios $3.99

Matt C: On the surface this is another one of those man-discovers-his-life-isn’t-quite-what-he-thought-it-was stories - a genre staple in other words – but dig a little deeper and you find that the writers have added a few twists to keep things fresh. The titular protagonist is told his brain cancer is at a stage where he only has a couple of weeks to live. He ponders his condition in a resigned fashion before a have-a-go-hero incident sends him straight to the ER. Things then go from bad to bizarre in quick succession as a group of black-suited guys wielding strange, lethal blades enter the scene. The rapid pace keeps you on edge and the art is suitably moody and frenetic. There’s always a danger with this kind of tale that once it starts revealing more details it loses any uniqueness as it sinks into predictability, but there’s more than enough intriguing material here to suggest that this series is worth another look. 7/10


GREEN LANTERN #65
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Doug Manke, Keith Champagne, Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, Mick Gray, Tom Nguyen & Randy Mayor
DC $2.99

Stewart R: So we’ve gone full circle now with the writing team and find ourselves back in Johns’ capable hands once again as Hal and Guy try to use non-Lantern means of locating and teaming up with Kyle and John on Oa. Krona’s corruption of the Corps members continues and really helps to show that the greatest of wielders of the Green Light are pretty much powerless in the face of his nefarious plans. The one thing I’m starting to notice is that the ‘end-game’ hasn’t really been laid out before us yet - Krona is seeking revenge against the Guardians and shaping the Corps his way to do that, but that’s all we have to go on so far. The scenes where the four human corps members decide upon their weapon of choice for the upcoming fight is interesting, not least because I don’t fully agree with some of the choices made, and Johns keeps the banter between Hal and Guy to an amusing level despite the precarious situation they’re in. The art is of the usual good standard but DC, seriously, sort the inking situation out please! 7/10

Matt C: I’ve kept quiet about this book for some time, but it’s time to face facts and admit that I’m not enjoying it anymore. It’s a feeling I’ve had since the end of Blackest Night, possibly even before that, but I’m sad to say that what was once one of DC’s best superhero books has now descended into tedium. The problem? Well, the focus has shifted away from Hal Jordan as the title has incorporated other Lanterns of various colours, and as well as being overcrowded it’s also become far too convoluted. Sure, I can understand the need to incorporate Oa, the Guardians and the rich history of the GL Universe, but it shouldn’t be so constant, we should be allowed a cosmic adventure with Hal minus all the baggage every once in a while (and probably more often than that). The big plus point is Manke’s art, which is generally gorgeous even with the plethora of inkers involved. It’s not enough to make this a worthwhile purchase though, and while Johns manages to include flashes of brilliance here and there, overall it’s not worth pursuing in its current state. Once this ‘War’ is done, I think I am too. 4/10


INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #503
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larocca & Frank D'Armata
Marvel Comics $3.99

James R: It's always frustrating to fall at the final hurdle or to stop short of the summit, but it was frustration that I felt after reading this month's Invincible Iron Man. The last two instalments have seen Fraction do a terrific job of writing a plot that pitched Stark against Dr. Octopus in a race against time, whilst flashing back to flesh out their relationship before both men had taken on alter-egos. My first cause for concern came from the cover which screams that it's a Fear Itself tie-in. “No worries”, I thought. “Fraction is the architect of Fear Itself so this will be a smooth crossover!'” Well, sadly, it isn't. The finale to this arc feels blunted as a result of the tie-in, and although the resolution of Stark vs. Octavius cleverly subverts expectations it felt strangely empty to me. Invincible Iron Man remains one of Marvel's premiere books in my eyes, but I can't help but feel that this book is lacking the punch of the early arcs. Here's hoping that Fraction comes back with a trademark two-fisted Stark tale after this Fear Itself brouhaha has blown over. 6/10


SIXTH GUN #11
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Brian Hurtt & Bill Crabtree
Oni Press $3.99

Stewart R: The brilliant thing about Cullen Bunn’s Wild West fantasy adventure series has been that each issue feels like a huge read in your hands. At the closing of every final page I’ve felt like I’ve spent an age being sucked into this terrific world of gunslinging and witchcraft. This month Bunn wraps up the second arc with a climactic battle as the Marinette of the Dry Arms makes her play for the Six Guns that could essentially end all of existence should they fall into the wrong hands. Brian Hurtt gets to deliver yet another chaotic fight for survival for Drake Sinclair and Co. as they try to fend off deadly undead hordes and ferocious wildlife, and the tension his artwork delivers throughout is palpable. The Marinette’s earthly form is suitably ghastly and she proves to be a very deadly foe indeed during the latter stages. Bunn throws in some neat twists towards the end which actually took me by surprise and helped to develop these great characters even further as we head into the next arc (entitled ‘Bound’). A great issue of a great series. 9/10


POWER GIRL #23
Writer: Judd Winick
Art: Sami Basri & Jessica Kholinne
DC $2.99

James R: Well, it was a deathly quiet week for me and my pull list - I had two (count 'em!) titles this week, and so feeling weedy in the fanboy department, I decided to pick up Power Girl just to make up my numbers! I was a huge fan of the Palmiotti/Gray/Connor run, and when that came to an end I saw it as a natural point to jump off. I've never been won over by Judd Winick's work, so I read this with some trepidation. Once again I have to report that my assumption was horribly wrong! Winick is writing this book in exactly the right spirit - it's not the most sophisticated book in the world, but Power Girl is an ongoing reminder of how fun comics can be. The title character is embroiled in a skirmish with Siphon - a man who can, well, siphon off the powers of a magically enhanced being! He's wisely plumped to rub up against Zatanna, and as a result it's 20 pages of old-school fisticuffs and hi-jinx. Oh, and Superman is in it too. I'm happy and proud to say that I love the leftfield, the post-modern and the arch in comics, but every now and then it does me good to read a title like Power Girl to remind me of why I fell in love with comics in the first place. The art team of Basri and Kholinne aren't quite in Amanda Conner's class, but they do a fine job here, and this title stood out in a mediocre week. The promise of Power Girl visiting Gotham next month means that it's certainly punched its way back into my monthly haul. 8/10


UNCANNY X-FORCE #8
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Billy Tan & Dean White
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: A self-contained issue, in the sense that it wraps up its story in 22 pages, but it still slots in nicely to the continuing narrative with the fallout from previous arcs coming into play as the characters journey further down a dark path. While ostensibly we see the team run up against the Shadow King, what Remender is doing – and doing brilliantly – is digging deeper into the individuals members’ psyches. In their own ways, they’re each struggling with what their missions involve, and Remender manages to convey this to the reader with a blend of insight and wit in amongst the action. Tan comes onboard for art duties and wisely adapts his style to suit the tone the book has already established – it’s great to see that happening rather than watching an artist impose themselves on the story at the expense of any visual consistency. Going from a non-believer to a true convert I can soundly say that Uncanny X-Force is the best X-book in years. 8/10

James R: Wow, two issues in two weeks! Remender certainly is setting a blistering pace on this title. The general consensus around the interwebs and the Paradox Group is that this is very much the title du jour. However, after reading this and last week's issue back-to-back, I can't quite join in with the cacophony of praise. Sure, there's much to commend about the title, and I'm certainly pleased that I took the advice of my co-reviewers and started reading this. But in these pages there remains the spectre that haunts the X-books for me - the immensely tortuous continuity. This month, Psylocke faces off against Amahl Farouk, who is... someone?! He came across as a flat 2-D villain, which meant that the whole issue felt lacking in purpose. On top of that, I sensed a feeling of deja vu in these pages - so far, the book seems to continuously split the team up and have one of them suffer an eye-popping injury. Matt C often cites Stan Lee's method of 'the illusion of change' - that ultimately, all comics tell the same story over and over, the trick is to make readers believe they're reading something new. In this issue, the illusion started to fade for me. Tan and White's art was beautiful though, and it's a definite tip o' the hat to editor Jody Lehup for producing some inspired art choices to compliment Remender's writing. Uncanny X-Force is still interesting and compelling enough for me to keep reading, but the next arc my be my last. Try as I might, I just can't love the X-Men! 6/10


GREEN LANTERN CORPS #59
Writer: Tony Bedard
Art: Tyler Kirkham, BATT, Nei Ruffino & Rod Reis
DC $2.99

Stewart R: So we get two chapters of the 'War of the Green Lanterns' this week and while there were a few niggles with Green Lantern #65 I’m a lot less happy with how this issue of Green Lantern Corps turned out. It’s very apparent here that Tony Bedard isn’t quite on the same wavelength at Johns and Tomasi - they’ve a partnership that’s spanned a good few years now so that’s understandable - but having just had Hal, Guy, Kyle and John share a hurried but focused reunion on Oa it then seems as if a veil of ignorance descends upon them as they try to get to grips with their new ring powers. Bedard seems too intent on showing what sets these guys apart from each other that he goes overboard and it doesn’t really work. This is unfortunately coupled with a month where Kirkham and BATT don’t bring their A-games to the table and the artwork only helps to highlight the flaws in the writing. There’s a real hurried feel to various pages and continuity from one panel to the next gets lost in some of the action sequences. If this event is going to work then I feel that these guys are going to have to do better in their next instalment. 5/10


SILVER SURFER #3
Writer: Grek Pak
Art: Harvey Tolibao, Iban Coello, Sandu Florea & Wil Quintana
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Taking the man out of his silver suit of armour has been something of an inspired decision by Greg Pak in this reviewer’s opinion. It’s allowed the reader to see just how Norrin Radd feels about his role and situation as the Herald of Galactus and also highlights that on some level the Surfer and Radd are not necessarily one and the same after the Power Cosmic transformed the Zenn-Lavian into a space faring powerhouse. The moments when things begin to get a little more emotional and personal between Norrin and Suzi Endo are really nicely done and never feel too forced or out of place. They help us to warm to a character that we haven’t seen much of in the 55 years that his alter-ego has been around. Pak also does well showing that the High Evolutionary is one of those ambiguous foes who doesn’t really fall into the category of ‘villain’ despite posing a threat of deadly proportions from time to time. The art from Tolibao and the rest of the team really gives a feeling of urgency to Norrin and Suzie’s heroics and also a lovely feeling of the epic during a brief flashback to the days of the Surfer picking out worlds for Galactus. 8/10


SECRET WARS II #4
Writer: Jim Shooter
Art: Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha, Joe Rubinstein & Max Scheele
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: All you need is love? The Beyonder seems to think so in this fourth issue of the limited series that sees Shooter miss the mark repeatedly as he tackles that most unquantifiable of emotions. Hats off to him for giving it a crack, especially in the context of a superhero comic, but while he does manage to make some salient points here and there he too often fumbles, resulting in something that’s implausible and embarrassing. The art is pretty bogstandard this time around, sometimes even less than that, but one particular panel (one of the best of the entire series) which sees the coupling of an omnipotent Beyonder and Dazzler, is enormously effective and actually quite beautiful. Aside from that, this is nothing more than passable. 5/10

Incoming... 20/04/2011

New comics are released Wednesday in the States and guess what, in the UK too! Here's a brief look at our expectations for the books we're picking up this week.

Stewart R: “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No wait... RAAAWWWWRRRRR!” Oh yes indeedy, this is the week when Image crowns it’s campaign of bombarding us with new material with Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard’s Super Dinosaur #1. A madcap tale of science, adventure and a modified tyrannosaurus with giant robotic arms controlled by his tiny rex arms - this sounds like pure Kirkman comedy gold. From Walking Dead to Haunt to this newest effort, Robert Kirkman has shown that he has a varied writing style and knows how to bring fun to a story when required. Following a fairly serious and dark line-up of excellent debuts from Image it’s good to see that there’s some scope for some light relief in the mix and I’ve hopes that this will be a proper grin-fest.

And how about a little ‘Green-fest’? DC are certainly going for one as we have the next two chapters of the War of the Green Lanterns out today when Geoff Johns’ Green Lantern #65 and Tony Bedard’s Green Lantern Corps #59 make their way into my waiting arms. This has been a highly entertaining event already following three installments of well thought out story telling from three different writers working to tell one story from three different angles. It really shouldn’t work so well but each writer - Johns, Bedard and the masterful Peter J. Tomasi on the Emerald Warriors title - are still able to write in their own style and about their own focused characters while keeping the precarious position that the Green Lantern Corps find themselves in as the driving plot point. In these two latest chapters I’m anticipating something of a fightback from Hal and Guy against Krona’s nefarious plans and in all likelihood a glimpse of Ganthet’s troubles going from bad to worse.

In Thunderbolts #156 this week it looks like Warden Walker’s attempting to make bad people into better people aboard The Raft which isn’t sitting too well with the current Thunderbolts roster who have actually been developing their feelings of empathy and sense of teamwork in recent months. Jeff Parker gets an opportunity to play with an expanded cast in this issue as a veritable ‘who’s who’ of C-list villains will get a shot at trying out to be the next Thunderbolt member. I’ve really grown fond of the current dysfunctional line-up of Ghost, Moonstone, Juggernaut and Man-Thing over the past year but I like the fact that Parker keeps the Thunderbolts boat rocking and shows that any of their lives could be forfeit or turned upside down at any moment when on mission. It keeps them and us on our toes!

So who out there is NOT currently getting Rick Remender’s awesome X-book and isn’t planning on picking up Uncanny X-Force #8 this week? C’mon, show yourselves, for you need to be educated my friends and shown the true path to true reading nirvana! (Insert winking emoticon here as I’d never mock you for what you don’t pick up... but seriously, reading THAT, are you serious?? Haha). Two triumphant arcs down and now Remender and Billy Tan are treating us to the start of the new arc just a week after #7 wowed many of us. While the threat turns to an impending nuclear threat to New York City and floating mutant refuge, Utopia, I’m going to guess that the real story will come from the continued agonizing and contemplation each member is experiencing while remaining on this team. I’ll tell you now that I’m certainly yet to agonize over whether I should be buying this title or not. When I first heard that Billy Tan would be taking over on pencils for this latest arc I was a little worried that his style wouldn’t quite fit but once again the previews swimming around the net show that Dean White’s colours make a heck of a lot of difference and will keep a genuine feeling of artistic continuity.

Mini Reviews 17/04/2011

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 latest instalment of Matt C's Secret Wars Project.

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #622
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Doug Braithwaite & Ulises Arreola
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: Kieron Gillen took over the Thor title after Straczynski’s early departure and it looked like he was being used to plug the gap before a higher profile writer (in this case, Matt Fraction) came in to take control. He admittedly had a bit of a rocky beginning but he gradually found his footing to the point where he was crafting some thrilling stories featuring the Thunder God and his brethren. As good as they were, they didn’t quite prepare me for this. The Thor book reverts back to its original Journey Into Mystery moniker and Gillen uses the opportunity to shine the spotlight on the newly resurrect Loki with exceptional results. The young Loki is shunned by his fellow Asgadians, with only the word of Thor preventing him from coming to harm, but even in a child’s body his mind is always active, thinking and plotting. The way Gillen explains how Loki went from assisting in Asgard’s demise in Siege to sacrificing himself in its defence is ingenious, and the little scene with the two brothers discussing the internet is genuinely funny. Gillen’s often lyrical prose is wonderfully evocative, and Brathiwaite’s enticing art – exquisitely painted by Arreola – lifts this far above any expectations I had before opening the first page. Room for two ongoing Asgardian titles on the racks? If they’re as good as this, most definitely. The ball’s in your court, Mr Fraction. 10/10


CARBON GREY #2
Writers: Khari Evans, Hoang Nguyen, Paul Gardner & Mike Kennedy
Art: Khari Evans, Kinsun Loh & Hoang Nguyen
Image $2.99

Stewart R: I’ll admit that I did have slight concerns that this was going to descend into something of a cleavage-and-heaving-bosom fest after the stunning debut but those fears have been proven unfounded following this successful second chapter. The writers here develop each plot strand significantly and clear up just who the Sisters Grey and the other various players are. There are interesting developments with Captain Garber, the only other survivor of a vicious battle that Giselle carved a bloody swathe through, and some expansion on the espionage and subterfuge games being played by feisty Dina Cummings. The writing team thankfully drop a neat refresher of what has transpired on the first page, delivering it effectively in child-hand, which dovetails nicely with the initial flashback scene. There are still sections where you have to take some things for granted with the story but this chapter has certainly fleshed out this very interesting world. The art is once again a sumptuous - if overly visceral - treat from all involved and the breakdowns dropped into the back of the comic show just what a labour of love this has been over the past eight years! 8/10


UNCANNY X-FORCE #7
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Esad Ribic, John Lucas & Matthew Wilson
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Ahhhh, a little bit of ‘smug mode’ employed by this reviewer here as Rick Remender wraps up the terrific ‘Deathlok Nation’ arc with a brilliantly scripted final instalment. Through this issue he shows the many layers (literally?) of Fantomex, takes a closer, personal look at the psyche of Wade Wilson, and thankfully leaves Wolverine slicing and dicing in the background. It’s truly inspired stuff. While the Deathlok threat feels real and very dangerous indeed it’s clear that the focus is on the progression and change in these highly skilled and emotionally volatile teammates and we can see that Remender is looking a fair way down the road when it comes to the various futures of these five wonderful characters (hence my smugness). While accomplished and deadly, Remender is also showing that these individuals cut and bleed like the rest, and that’s really helping to keep this title tense and compulsive. And what can I possibly say about Esad Ribic and John Lucas’s artwork? From cover to cover this is a shadowy delight and Wilson’s colours are a perfect fit. I’m going to have to say it: Marvel’s best and most consistent book on the shelves currently. 9/10


INFINITE VACATION #2
Writer: Nick Spencer
Art: Christian Ward
Image $3.50

Matt C: The first issue of The Infinite Vacation was saddled with delivering the exposition and creating the world the story existed it, but it did so with enough creativity and audaciousness that picking up the second instalment was a no-brainer (even if there were some nagging doubts about the logic). Now the sophomore chapter has arrived we get to see Spencer really cut loose with the concept. Yeah, maybe if you brought a magnifying over the premise you’d start to see holes, but if you’re prepared to go with the flow then this is where Spencer solidifies things enough to make the actual plot the main focus rather than the structure of the fictional environment. While the writer’s script is smart, inventive and funny it’s the mindbending psychedelia of Ward’s artwork that elevates this enterprise to another level. Hell, even the photographic sequences, while a bit disconcerting, add to the impression that we have a couple creators who are not content to settle for formula and are more than happy to mess with the medium’s conventions (as well as our heads!). When something’s this good you don’t mind waiting a little longer for it. 9/10


BUTCHER BAKER, THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER #2
Writer: Joe Casey
Art: Mike Huddleston
Image $2.99

Stewart R: Yet another Image #2 this week and once again another title that could have gone a little too far into ‘babes and boobs’ territory following a risqué and raw first issue but steers off in a different and interesting direction. Joe Casey elects to focus a little less on the protagonist this time and instead show us the nefarious line-up of ne’er-do-wellers who Butcher Baker had tried to put a final end to previously. This is a varied and intriguing cast with Jihad Jones and The Absolutely adding a fresher feel to the usual stereotypical villain moulds though they still appear in tongue-in-cheek fashion with Snowman and Angerhead. When Casey does take us back to Butcher we get a brilliant meet-up with the musclebound hero and Arnie B.Willard, the southern-state lawman with a newly formed vendetta against the driver of the big rig that almost ran him off the road. Huddleston mixes up the art-styles from one scene to the next, electing a rich, lavish palette for the scenes with the bad guys and a simpler, scratchy line style for the pages where Baker drinks and drives around in his red, white and blue wagon. Image is on something of a roll at present and this is definitely a contributing effort to that success. 8/10


S.H.I.E.L.D. #∞
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Nick Pitarra, Zachary Baldus, Kevin Mellon, Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Rachelle Rosenberg & Dan Brown
Marvel $4.99

Matt C: If you’ve been enjoying Jonathan Hickman’s S.H.I.E.L.D. – where he tells of the secret organization that has been ensuring the safety of the Marvel Universe’s planet Earth for generations – chances are you’ll be looking to pick this up. Some may baulk at the $4.99 price tag, and to be honest I’m not sure if this is absolutely essential to the unfurling narrative, but as a world-building exercise – expanding our knowledge of the key characters and their environment – it’s pretty effective. It’s also more than a touch pretentious, but deftly avoids disappearing up its own backside thanks to the wealth of ideas on display. Utilizing a selection of artists I’m unfamiliar is an added bonus; none of them try and ape Dustin Weaver’s style, and their varied approaches to the visuals bring something fresh to the table. For fans only though – anyone picking this up hoping it’s a ‘jumping on point’ will doubtless walk away scratching their head. 7/10


BATMAN AND ROBIN #22
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, Keith Champagne, Tom Nguyen & Alex Sinclair
DC $2.99

Stewart R: I had something of a concern that this was only a three-issue arc - not to mention the obvious reduction of six pages from the usual count across that too! - and having completed the read I do feel like maybe we could have been given just a little more. The White Knight’s background comes into keen focus this time as he reveals his final plan to the inhabitants of Arkham Asylum and the one particular individual he holds responsible for the path that he now finds himself on. Tomasi did well in keeping the mystery behind the motives ticking over up until this point but I can’t help thinking that what we get in the reveal is a little by the numbers for such a promising foe. That said Tomasi does a decent job of looking at the strange dichotomy that both the White Knight and Dark Knight cross over into as heroic crime fighter and vengeful villain, and he certainly has the master/apprentice balance right for Dick and Damian. Gleason’s first arc on this title has been a true triumph and the future is certainly bright for the series even if this instalment didn’t quite live up to the early promise. 7/10


SECRET WARS II #3
Writer: Jim Shooter
Art: Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha & Christie Scheele
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: When I first read this it was interspersed amongst the various crossovers, reprinted as the weekly Secret Wars II series in the UK. There it made sense (at least to my young eyes) as it was an opportunity to continue along the Beyonder’s journey when he wasn’t getting involved with super-folk. Taken as a standalone series it is, quite frankly, bonkers. It’s much better than its reputation suggests, but you do read it and wonder if Shooter really thought this would have the 1980s fanboys chomping at the bit to get the grubby paws on the next issue. The Beyonder hooking up with a prostitute, a pimp and a gang boss before gradually working his way up the ladder to become ruler of the world?! Yep, bonkers, but Shooter still aims high with the subject matter he’s tackling, even if he doesn’t always hit his mark. The art remains acceptable, and it’s a wonder whether this series would be viewed differently in hindsight if, say, John Byrne had been on pencil duties. 7/10

Ten Forward: June 2011

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 April issue of Previews which includes comics scheduled to ship in June 2011.

ALL-WINNERS SQUAD: BAND OF HEROES #1
Writer: Paul Jenkins
Art: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Marvel $2.99

Matt C: I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been eager to see someone would come along with a kick-ass WWII Cap book sooner rather than later. After seeing some of the Invaders-centric flashbacks in early issues of his run on Captain America, I was hoping it would be Brubaker bringing something like this to us but it looks like Paul Jenkins has got the gig instead. Jenkins has been relatively quiet of late after having a much higher profile at the beginning of the millennium, but he’s put out some great work in his time so I’m curious to see what he does here. Di Giandomenico knocked my socks off with his amazing artistry in Magneto: Testament and everything else I’ve seen him do has been equally impressive, so that’s another reason to check this out. There’s a hint in the Previews spiel that there’s a modern day aspect to this too, which I’m not too keen on, but otherwise I’m quite excited at the prospect of seeing Cap in his wartime prime.


FLASHPOINT: BATMAN – KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #1
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Art: Eduardo Risso
DC $2.99

James R: I've been loudly declaring my interest in Flashpoint recently and in June DC rolls out some top quality titles to link into the main event. I'm particularly jazzed to see the 100 Bullets team of Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso take on Batman again as I loved their Batman arc 'Broken City'. That would sell it for me alone, but seeing that in the Flashpoint universe Bruce Wayne is a casino boss means the potential to add in a healthy dose of gritty crime is huge! I'm also excited to see Jeff Lemire and Scott Snyder's Flashpoint books, but this one has the edge as I think it'll be a great fit for the creative team.


ALL NIGHTER #1
Writer: David Hahn
Art: David Hahn
Image $2.99

Rob N: I'm sure I've said it before, but I have a fondness for B&W indie comics revolving around what used to be called the 'slacker generation', just wasting their lives but having a good time doing so. Image seem to be throwing out masses of new #1s these past few months, either in a "let's see what works” capacity or a “let's saturate the market” capacity. Either way it's establishing a precedent for innovation and offers the reader the chance to try a whole range of fresh looking titles with mainstream production values. A quick Google search led me to discover that apparently this book, like Brian Wood's New York Five, was originally part of the DC Minx line aimed at teenage girls. I therefore feel obliged to point out that I also read testosterone-fuelled Conan books and I certainly draw the line at reading any comics with ponies in them.


FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #1
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Lee Garbet
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Summer's just around the corner, we'll all need cooling off, so let's all dive into… Fear Itself: The Deep! The big Marvel event of the year seems set to span across several titles, as these things tend to have a habit of doing, and also spit out the odd miniseries here and there. I've been wary of getting too invested with the 'additional' titles accompanying recent big events from the Big Two publishers but the ingredients list here is simply far too good to pass up. Cullen Bunn has really impressed with his work on Oni Press's Sixth Gun, Lee Garbett made me sit up and pay attention with his work on Batgirl, and then there’s Namor, Doc Strange, The Defenders... Okay, fair enough, that last one is a bit foreign to me but this seems like the perfect opportunity to get a glimpse into what the team was all about. Plus, you just know that if the King of Atlantis has to put out the call for assistance then he's up against very serious and powerful foes indeed!


THE BOMBYCE NETWORK GN
Writers: Corbeyran, Cecil
Art: Cecil
Humanoids INC $19.95

Matt C: I’ve been looking at picking up something from Humanoids ever since they started their publishing venture in the American market. I already have I Am Legion in single issues (although the hardcover is tempting) but nothing else that they’ve actually released (after they decided against putting out monthly books) has tickled my fancy, so to speak. I know next to nothing about this beyond its early 20th Century setting (a website search has proven fruitless) but by suggesting it will appeal to fans of Criminal and From Hell it's definitely got my attention. I’m always on the look out for a good Euro-comic where I don’t have to learn another language to read it (yes, I’m lazy!) so I’m prepared to throw caution to the wind and hope for the best.


S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver
Marvel $2.99

James R: Okay, this is something of a cheat as it's really the start of 'Season 2', but there's a number #1 on the cover, so that's good enough for me! Whilst I remain to be convinced of his work on Fantastic Four, I have enjoyed S.H.I.E.L.D as the bonkers, insanely ambitious epic that it is. The new arc promises to focus on Michelangelo (!) as the secret string-puller behind the warring forces of Newton and DaVinci, and the lunacy of that sentence alone will either sell it to you or leaving you scratching your head in puzzlement as to how this all ties in with M.O.D.O.K. and Baron Zemo! I'll be suspending my reality really high for this one, but I'll certainly be onboard.


GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES #1
Writer: Mark Sable
Art: Paul Azaceta
Image $3.99

Stewart R: WAR! Whoa, whoa, whoa, what is it good for? Well, apparently it's pretty good for stimulating the creative glands of comic writers and artists out there and we're sure to receive a title of some pedigree this June when Mark Sable (Unthinkable) and Paul Azaceta (Amazing Spider-Man) link up once more to bring us Graveyard Of Empires. The conflict in question is the current Afghanistan campaign and Sable is going to be mixing gritty, realism - following a period of heavy research apparently - with a horror element where the recently fallen enemies of the Allied troops rise from the dead to attack and then add the Western soldiers to their ranks. I still to this day hold Unthinkable up there as one of my favourite series of the 21st Century and it's Sable's attention to detail which has me thinking that this could well be a hit in similar vein. Azaceta's art has also grown on me over the past few years and I think that he'll be well suited to the war-horror setting.


SUPREME POWER #1
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Art: Manuel Garcia
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: J. Michael Straczynski’s Supreme Power series on Marvel’s MAX imprint was one heck of a book in its prime, but it got downgraded from MAX and became the ‘safer’ Squadron Supreme before petering out completely. There was a forgettable crossover with the Ultimate Universe, Howard Chaykin tried to inject some life back into the property to little effect and then zilch. Until now. I know next to nothing about the creators involved so the real draw for me is the potential for a return to the edgier, dangerous take on superheroes that we saw when Straczynski originally set the ball rolling. There are no guarantees that’ll be the case put I’m curious to find out.


AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #1
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Sean Murphy
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: I've become a total convert to Scott Snyder's vampire epic due to the high quality his writing. This month sees the start of this brilliant-looking spin-off entitled Survival Of the Fittest featuring a tale set in World War 2. Snyder, Vampires, Nazis? Sold! But that's not all - on art duty is Sean Murphy, whose work on Joe The Barbarian was nothing short of phenomenal. I'm hugely excited to see these two work together, and if you haven’t got onboard the American Vampire bandwagon yet, this looks like it will provide the perfect opportunity.


CRIMINAL: THE LAST OF THE INNOCENT #1
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Sean Phillips & Val Staples
Marvel/Icon $3.50

Rob N: Matt C and I share a mutual love of old fashioned pulp writing – both the original stuff and well crafted modern day imitations such as Criminal. Ed Brubaker is a talented writer of many genres, but it's obvious that this kind of material is where his heart and soul lies. Personally I'd prefer to see Criminal published as an ongoing series a la Northlanders, but I understand the economic necessity to relaunch each story arc as a miniseries. One of the things I love most about the comic book medium is the sheer diversity of subjects available to the casual reader once you look past the (admittedly fun) superhero material. Comics are good for the soul, and never more so than when Brubaker writes hardboiled crime.

Incoming... 13/04/2011

New comics are released Wednesday in the States and guess what, in the UK too! Here's a brief look at our expectations for the books we're picking up this week.

Stewart R: Image have been bombarding our senses for a couple of weeks with #1s but now it’s time for a few of those second issues to creep out of the woodwork and let us all see if the spark of those debuts lingers on in the follow-ups. First up to bat is Joe Casey’s Butcher Baker, Righteous Maker #2 which will be attempting to up the ante after a tits, ass and interesting ideas type of first issue which certainly showed off the artistic stylings of Mike Huddlestone to a very successful degree. I really did like the strange take on an All American Hero who looks like (and has his carnal way with the ladies) Burt Reynolds on steroids and drives a rig just like Jack Burton from Big Trouble In Little China. That makes it sound like a very basic and crude comic but there was definitely an underlying current of social and political commentary to be found alongside a wry sense of humour as well, which has me wondering just what the next few chapters will turn out like.

Certainly with Casanova Gula #4 signalling the end of that title’s current run this week I’ll be in need of some crazy carnage, bodacious babes and over-the-top-heroics which Butcher Baker on paper should be able to provide. Fraction and Moon’s work on Casanova Gula has really sucked me back into the story of multiverses, super spies and terrificc acronyms and the craziest thing of all has been that save for a few panels in the first issue the title character has been completely absent. Casanova Quinn was definitely the star of the first Luxuria series but this second arc has highlighted just how strong a cast of characters Fraction built in those initial 7 issues and how well he can vary his writing style compared to some of the bigger Marvel hero titles he has his fingers in currently. I’m certainly hoping that Gula #4 doesn’t mark the end of the Casanova series as there’s a tremendous amount of promise to be found in this universe that Fraction built.

Sorry, got a little sidetracked there, let's head back to Image’s wares shall we? Now I got the feeling a few weeks ago that I was fighting one particular comic’s corner alone when I mentioned Hoang Nguyen, Khari Evans et al’s strange diesel-punk war-opera to a few Paradox comrades but nonetheless that will certainly not stop me from picking up Carbon Grey #2 today! The artwork was truly sumptuous, albeit with a slight nod to the busty, manga style that may see a few heads turn away in disinterest but that was melded with a painted, almost European feel that really made me sit up and take notice. Having been a little burned by the disappointing Dustwars title a few months back I could do with a decent otherworld war book to make up for that and I just have to keep my fingers crossed that the many writers and artists invested in this one manage to keep the quality high.

It seems that everything I’ve talked about so far involves alternate realities or multiverses and to be brutally honest with you I’m not likely to stop now as Infinite Vacation #2 turns up this week which probably deserves to sit atop the throne of quantum-quandaries and intriguing concepts. The idea of turning the travel between realities into a commercial enterprise is quite inspired and Nick Spencer then went and added a slight murder-mystery element to proceedings as well as a tasty dollop of romance. And there you have it, yet another Image title that carefully picks at the stitching of my wallet trying to get to the safely stowed currency inside and you know what, I’m very happy to be handing my cash over for comics that are coming from publishers who aren’t Marvel and DC as it indicates that the industry is showing healthy growth in creative talent even if numbers are declining month on month.

So what of ‘The Big Two’ this week? Well, they still have plenty to offer in terms of quantity and quality and as always there’s a slew of great regular titles offering up their latest instalment to the masses. Of them all I must mention two, one from DC and one from Marvel, that are hammered in and glued down to my pull list currently and are showing no signs of being removed. Tomasi and Gleason have been delivering the goods as expected and Batman And Robin #22 serves up the final chapter of the ‘Dark Knight, White Knight’ arc as the dynamic duo try to prevent any more kin of former Arkham inmates meeting a fatal end at the hands of the White Knight. This has felt like too big a story to be told in only three 20-page issues but I’m hoping that perhaps this issue doesn’t so much as signal an end to this match-up but instead offers a glimpse at a foe that could really test these two crimefighters for many months and years to come.

Marvel’s top draw for me has to be Uncanny X-Force #7 by Rick Remender and Esad Ribic. I never thought that X-Force would be a readable team following Kyle and Yost’s efforts. I never thought that I’d find any interest in Deathlok or a horde of his kind. I never thought I’d see Matt C pick up an X-book before the year 2012 rolled around and signalled the end of all of us - thank the Mayans for coming up with that and then disappearing into the annals of history without properly explaining it!! - but here I sit and lo, a great read, Deathloks are interesting and Matt C may have fallen in love with the antics of mutants once again! Good times.

Mini Reviews 10/04/2011

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 latest instalment of Matt C's Secret Wars Project.


FEAR ITSELF #1
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Stuart Immonen & Laura Martin
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: The days are becoming longer so that must mean that it’s time for the major comic publishers to throw the latest in comic-event wonders at us. Like all recent Marvel events, Fear Itself kicks off in brilliant style thanks to Fraction’s mastery of pointed and succinct storytelling which remains focused on the key players at all times. The likes of Wolverine and the lesser Avengers are present in Immonen’s artwork but Fraction feels no need to have everyone chime in with their two cents, which is where the likes of Bendis have fallen down in the past. The artwork is a real treat and Immonen’s style here reminds me of Olivier Coipel’s work on Thor - possibly down to the great colouring by Laura Martin who worked on both titles. This really feels like an event book but it thankfully hasn’t thrown us straight into the midst of catastrophe which often kick-starts big stories. A brilliant first issue and I’m really eager to see what transpires over the next six instalments. 9/10


NONPLAYER #1
Writer: Nate Simpson
Art: Nate Simpson
Image $2.99

Matt C: When this first appeared in Previews I wasn't really fussed; I'm not a gamer so the reality-bending premise didn't really grab me. The advance buzz stoked my interest though, and while I may not be a gamer, I am a comics fan who likes discovering something new to sink his teeth into. The first issue of Nonplayer confirms there was more behind the buzz beyond wild speculation as it's really rather excellent. Set in the future where gamers connect up to a virtual reality world, we get the immediate impression that this world isn't quite the pixelated environment full of mindless 'nonplayers' the gamers like to believe it is. That's not an entirely original concept of course but it's delivered with style and energy, with the clean, bright and beautiful artwork giving it a magnetic appeal that makes Nonplayer a winner. The only downside is the rumour that issue #2 may be some way off; other than that Image are onto another winner. 8/10

Stewart R: I picked this out of Previews for Ten Forward a few months back and have to say that the first issue is terrific and any and all hype is very much deserved. Simpson kicks things off with a delicious five-panel first page that shows off his magnificent artistic ability as well as establishing that this is a ‘foreign’ fantasy land filled with creatures plucked straight from his imagination. What follows initially resembles the usual fantasy, swords’n’sorcery mould but then quickly takes a side-step into something far more interesting as it becomes clear that what we’re witnessing is part of a larger world of entertainment and gaming. The action pieces are swift and exciting while there are also some notable and subtle touches when it comes to character expression, showing that this is an artist capable of telling a story with minimal dialogue (which is a hard skill to master). The futuristic ‘real world’ setting that Dana lives her everyday life in is suitably drab and grubby but then Simpson throws in an extra idea at the end that certainly has me intrigued about what we’re seeing and I’m really looking forward to seeing where her life takes her over the coming issues. A great start. 8/10


HERC #1
Writers: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Art: Neil Edwards & Scott Hanna & Jesus Aburtov
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: I was a big fan of Pak and Van Lente's Incredible Hercules when it first arrived - its combination of superheroism, Greek myth and genuine wit was a success, but it did feel like it ran out of steam towards the end, and by the time Hercules "died" I decided it was time to move on. My fond memories of when it was really good were enough to get me to take a look at this new title that sees the Prince Of Power stripped of his godly powers and attempting to find his way in the world where he is no longer immortal. Herc seems a lot more violent and serious than before, and the lower humour quotient makes him a less appealing character. When he hooks up with a Greek family trying to make it in America it goes into cliché overload and at that point it became clear this book wasn't what I was hoping it would be. Edwards' art is very nice, a step up from his recent work on Fantastic Four (Hanna’s inks probably account for some of that) but the writers seem to be taking this down more of a 'dark & gritty' path which, for me at least, isn't what Hercules is about. 5/10


ORC STAIN #6
Writer: James Stokoe
Art: James Stokoe
Image $2.99

Stewart R: It’s been a little while since I had the last issue in my grubby mitts but at long last another dose of Orc-based carnage has winged its way into my life! Following the mass-breakout of the one-eyed Orcs caused by swamp nymph Bowie last time out, everything starts to fall apart for the mysterious Beard as he struggles to maintain control of the mountain fortress. All of the blood-spilling carnage is depicted in Stokoe’s madcap and colourful style and I’m certainly not tiring of this rich and vibrant world that he’s created. There are real moments of tension and jeopardy here and the key for me is the sheer unpredictability of Stokoe’s script which has me genuinely concerned for the well-being of these great characters that he’s created. The ending here promises an upcoming look at One-Eye’s past which should be very interesting indeed. Any comic that has me turning the page in wince-inducing eagerness on such a regular basis has to be commended and not to sound like a broken record but I really do think Orc Stain is worth picking up if you’re in the mood for something exciting and a touch different. 8/10


SWEET TOOTH #20
Writer: Jeff Lemire
ArtL Jeff Lemire & Jose Vollarrubia
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: Another month, another flawless issue from Jeff Lemire. Last month's 'artist jam' issue worked beautifully, but it's equally good to have Lemire and Villarrubia back behind the controls. The girls, caught at the end of the previous instalment, discover that their captor might be a benevolent force, while Gus and Jeppard continue to redefine their relationship as they desperately try to find their missing friends. As always, Lemire's characterisation is perfect, and his vision of a post-apocalyptic world has an incredibly 'real' feel. I particularly enjoy the way Lemire is starting to alter Gus' appearance. As the issues have progressed, he's gradually lost his innocence, and Lemire's art reflects this, giving the reader a great sense of the passage of time and of Gus' ongoing education in this broken world. Lemire is absolutely at the top of his game at the moment, and as far as I'm concerned he's yet to put a foot wrong. Sweet Tooth continues to embody everything that's great about comics right now. 9/10


HALCYON #4
Writers: Marc Guggenheim & Tara Butters
Art: Ryan Bodenheim & Mark Englert
Image $2.99

Matt C: A delivery cock-up at the tail end of last year meant that the UK was deprived of issue #2 of Halcyon, but with a reprint out along with the latest instalment this week, everything is back on track. Thank God for that, because for a series that started out with a decent opener loaded with potential it very quickly developed into a thoroughly excellent miniseries. The mystery behind the sudden evaporation of war and violence across the world has played out like a dark, twisted superhero version of a whodunit. So, when Batman analog Sabre finally uncovers the mastermind behind what’s been termed the Global Humanitarian Phenomenon, while it may seem like the obvious choice, the way the reveal is structured and delivered is quite ingenious. Along with the smart writing, the other selling point of Halcyon is some simply terrific artwork from Ryan Bodenheim. Bold, intricate and exciting, surely it’s only a matter of time before one of the Big Two snap this guy up? I had relatively high expectations for Halcyon but so far it’s exceeded them on every level. Here’s hoping the finale hits the spot too. 9/10

James R: In what is a bumper week from Image comics, I was most struck by the latest instalment of Halcyon. In this tale of a world that has suddenly become a crime free-utopia, this issue marks the point where the plot hits overdrive as we see that a utopia is actually a precursor to an inevitable tragedy, and the architect of this perfect world is revealed. It's a plot that is as smart as DaVinci wearing a special genius hat and a very smart pair of trousers, and it's been great to see Guggenheim and Butters avoid cliché and opt for surprise at every turn. The art from Bodenheim has been excellent all the way through and I'm excited to see how he conveys the inevitable super-powered finale to this tale next month. This miniseries has been a most unexpected treat, and makes me hope that someone at DC has picked up a copy of this and thought: "Y'know, this creative team would be brilliant on JLA..." 8/10


ULTIMATE CAPTAIN AMERICA #4
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Ron Garney & Jason Keith
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: A relentlessly brutal finale to a mini which has pretty much done what it set out to do in a resolutely entertaining manner. After being battered by the dodgier episodes of US foreign policy over the last 50 years, Cap decides it’s his turn to teach Frank Simpson a lesson of his own. This involves beating his opponent across the face with his fists and any other implements he can lay is hands on, with a hammer proving to be a most effective weapon. Simpson gets in his shots, but this issue’s all about showing that Ultimate Steve Rogers isn’t the same guy as his 616 counterpart. He’s a solider that knows that a battlefield is a place where ugly stuff can occur and he’s more than happy to dispense vicious justice in the name of the US of A. Frankly he’s a bastard, and I’d only be able to take him in small doses, which is why I’m happy to just dip into the Ultimate Universe every now and then. Four issues is just the right amount of time to spend in his company, and Aaron’s tough-as-nails scripting along with Garney’s balletic violence have made it an exhilarating excursion. 8/10


BUTCHER BAKER, THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER #1
Writer: Joe Casey
Art: Mike Huddleston
Image $2.99

Matt C: Joe Casey is a wonderfully iconoclastic writer who, in an ideal world, would be spoken of in the same terms as some of the more obvious creative powerhouses that have kept the superhero concept fresh for the past few decades. Perhaps it's because his work for the Big Two hasn't reached legendary status that accounts for this situation (although his run on Wildcats 3.0 for Wildstorm is a bona fide classic, and deserves to be treated as such) but it's clear that his creator-owned project are where he really cuts loose. Butcher Baker is his latest irreverent look at the spandex-clad genre, and it's perhaps his most extreme yet, with plenty of naked flesh on display as the title character indulges in some 'adult' pastimes. The script is full of anarchic (but very knowing) wit and proactive illustrations from Huddleston. Butcher Baker feels edgy, rebellious and, most of all, a heck of a lot of fun. Image are really on a roll at the moment. 8/10


BLUE ESTATE #1
Writers: Andre Osborne, Viktor Kalvachev & Kosta Yanev
Art: Viktor Kalvachev, Toby Cypress, Nathan Fox & Robert Valley
Image $2.99

Matt C: I needed to give this a second read through for it to really click (I think I was half asleep the first time round!) but I’m glad I did rather than dismissing it too readily. On the surface it appears to be a modern, convoluted noir tale, and while you wouldn’t be misselling to describe it as such, you’d probably want to add that its a stylish, sharp modern noir that is finding its feet but looks like it might be going places. Sure, it's packed full of familiar genre tropes (a private dick and a femme fatale on the first page!), but that’s to be expected, and the writers seem to have concocted a fairly labyrinthine plot to place their characters in. That I required another reading of Blue Estate #1 probably indicates that I’m not 100% convinced at this point, but I am more inclined to say this series is a worthy investment rather than something to leave on the shelves. 7/10


WHO IS JAKE ELLIS? #3
Writer: Nathan Edmondson
Art: Tonci Zonjic
Image $2.99

James R: Well, I always like to admit loudly when I'm wrong. And, for the record let it be known that: I TOTALLY UNDERESTIMATED THIS! After issue #1, I felt that it was too much of a Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) clone, but as this has gone on, I've been thrilled to see that Edmondson has kicked it up several gears. As to who Jake Ellis actually is, well, Edmondson is keeping his cards close to his chest, but he's crucially kept the pace electric and his characters compelling. I've also been really impressed by the work of Zonjic, who masterfully draws, but also given the book, giving it a truly European feel and sensibility, which is apt given the book's environment of... well, Europe! This has kept me guessing, and has upped my anticipation with every issue. Image Comics are certainly having a 2011 to remember and if you're a casual comics reader, you should take a look at their output - they are now home to some remarkable books and talent. 8/10


CHEW #18
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory
Image $2.99

Stewart R: I haven’t commented on Chew for a while but that doesn’t mean that the quality of this title has dropped for a second over the past few months. If anything it’s become clear that Layman and Guillory are comfortable with where they are leading Tony Chu and can take their time with occasional moments of sheer joyful insanity as we bear witness to in this particular issue. This is pure unadulterated fun as we get to see brief snippets of the lousy and highly dangerous situations Tony and Colby have found themselves in recently before they’re packed up and shipped out on yet another lethal mission. It’s the little comedy touches that make this such a grin-inducing read - a monocular female agent reading Eye Patches Monthly for example - and whether these ideas are Layman’s or Guillory’s is hard to gauge. Of course, there are also scripted moments that bring a big old “YES!” out of the lips of this reader and there was certainly an utterance of that this week when the ‘What’s in the mystery box?” question was finally answered in brilliant style. In fact, it still causes me to smirk thinking about it now. Winning. 8/10


SECRET WARS II #2
Writer: Jim Shooter
Art: Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha, Joe Rubinstein & M. Hands
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: A marked improvement on the first issue that sees the focus fall squarely on Beyonder as he takes on human form in an effort to figure out exactly what makes us regular folk tick. As he materialises in front of various strangers and more familiar faces asking questions like “Why are clothes?” and “Why is eating?” it becomes a lot clearer exactly what Shooter is trying to doing in this sequel. Essentially, he’s attempting to meditate on that most unanswerable of questions: what is the meaning life? Perhaps trying to tackle such a subject within a multi-title superhero crossover is a slightly balmy idea, but you have to credit Shooter for having the stones to give it a shot. It is set up so you feel compelled to pick up other titles, which I imagine would have been off-putting for many considering the self-contained nature of the original series, and this perhaps results in a somewhat disjointed read for those refusing to play that game. Still, I’m giving it props for being much more coherent and enjoyable than the debut – even the art has much improved (perhaps due to the assistance of Joe Rubinstein?). 7/10