By Matt C
It took a little longer than planned (I originally intended to get though them all in 2009) but I've finally completed my self-set task of re-reading every issue of Fantastic Four written and drawn by John Byrne. As I stated in my original 'prelude' piece at the end of 2008, while I'd read all the issues previously, due to the lengthy process of putting the collection together long after the publication date I'd never actually read them all in order. That's something I've rectified now, and it's been an absolute blast to follow the FF's adventures on a weekly basis for the last year or so.
I still stand by my assertion that, if you take the Lee/Kirby run out of the equation, no one's handled the team (and the extended cast of characters - Doom in particular!) better. Although it suffered from a couple of dips in quality (although nothing anywhere near catastrophic), it's my opinion that Byrne's five year stint on the book produced some of the best FF issues of all time and, in a handful of instances, some of the best issues (of any comic) of all time! That's no mean feat, and bar the lack of an exultant finale (Byrne left at the beginning of a new story arc) this is arguably one of the finest unbroken runs in the modern age.
I'd like to think my reviews over the last 13 months may perhaps have inspired somebody to seek these stories out for the first time or, indeed, caused them to return and enjoy them again. But even if that's not the case, it's been a thoroughly enjoyable experience for me, and diving back into the world of Marvel in the '80s has inspired my choice for my next ongoing 're-reading' project. More on that soon....
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 last issue reviewed for Matt C's Byrne FF project.
SIEGE #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Olivier Coipel & Mark Morales
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: Whoa, what the hell?! Is it time for me to eat some humble pie? As the premiere Bendis-disser at the Paradox Comics Group I’d all but given up on the man after increasing frustration and disappointment at his mainstream Marvel output. If that’s the case, what I’m I doing reading this book you may well rightly ask? Well, I love Coipel’s art and I figured I’d get a kick out of his luscious imagery if nothing else. So colour me surprised when I found myself completely absorbed by Bendis’ blockbuster storytelling too! I probably enjoyed the preceding issue a lot more than I admitted, but put that down to Coipel’s art alone. I can’t deny it now: Bendis is knocking this one out of the park. The action beats are dead on, there’s no trace of wasted space or meandering, and the dialogue packs a punch, with only minimal signs of the writer’s trademark waffle. Coipel’s art is fantastic, and it makes you wonder how Bendis got it so wrong with House Of M and Secret Invasion. Third time lucky? I’ve been burnt enough times before not to get too excited, but as a single issue of a major Marvel event, this was great stuff. 8/10
Stewart R: What a difference a year really makes. This time in 2009 we were all sat around and ripping Secret Invasion to pieces for its complete misfire and inability to deliver on a great premise. Now in 2010 we’re in the midst of another Bendis event and I believe that there is likely to be nothing but praise heading this comic’s way. This is epic storytelling from writer and artist as the Dark Avengers and H.A.M.M.E.R forces attack the Asgardians with unwavering ferocity. There’s a sturdy speech from Captain America, some heroic action from Maria Hill, but the two standout highlights are THAT fight and the magnificent final four panels. I can’t remember the last time I re-read a comic so many times in two days; it’s just so tense, bold and beautiful. Halfway through this four-parter and I’m chomping at the bit to get hold of next issue! 10/10
SWEET TOOTH #6
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Jeff Lemire
DC/Vertigo $2.99
Stewart R: A new arc arrives from Jeff Lemire and thankfully he’s giving us a little more insight into the mysterious Jepperd and actually gives us a look at the world before the apocalypse descended. While the first arc worked brilliantly well because it was understated and didn’t need to give us answers to the many questions that were building up, I think Lemire may realise that the same trick is unlikely to work for much longer and the audience is going to need to have the back-story fleshed out to keep the interest there. Of course he’s not giving all of the goods away too soon and the brief interactions between the animal children offers small hints of the possible nastiness to come. Lemire’s artwork also lends a freakish edge to the mutant children that actually creeps me out a little and that’s what good, unique art styles should be able to do. I can see that this title already has the legs to go for a good while yet. 7/10
James R: I haven't reviewed an issue of this yet, which is an oversight on my part – Lemire's post-apocalyptic tale is one of the most emotionally effecting comics I've ever read. I'm always a sucker for anything set in the aftermath of a great disaster, and Lemire knows the secret of making a tale that rises above the generic, to make us care about his characters. I'm genuinely worried about Gus, the eponymous Sweet Tooth, who has been dropped off in the hands of a nefarious militia group, and he's starting to realise that salvation is an illusion. But best of all, we get to learn about Jepperd, the Eastwood-esque stranger who has been Gus' saviour and his betrayer. Lemire's tale is both gripping and haunting – long may it continue. 8/10
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #4
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: Things haven’t been moving much in this title for the past few issues and after the whirlwind ride of Most Wanted I’m ready for this series to get a sharp kick in the butt and knock the pace up a little. Stephen Strange’s mystical interactions with the remnants of Tony’s shattered being are certainly necessary to explain the process that Stark is having to go through to bring himself back, but it’s crawling along at a snail’s pace. The more interesting side to this title is the change in Pepper since she had the repulsor technology removed and her constant discoveries about Tony’s dealings and dalliances. I’m not quite sure where the plot-thread with Ghost is really going and I’d like to think that Fraction has something of a twist hidden around the corner to keep things interesting. At least that’s the hope. 6/10
James R: I feel lucky that I was one of the few readers who got to read this issue over the weekend – after the Marvel truck crash, we had our weekly delivery denuded! But this issue is way more like it from Fraction. After feeling a little underwhelmed with last month's offering, this confirmed for me that the current creative team are in fine form. Dr. Strange does his Morpheus from The Matrix routine and gets Tony to realise that – hey!- he is Iron Man! Whilst Pepper and Maria get to realise – hey!- Tony Stark is a dawg! The Ghost gets ever closer to the hideout, and it all builds to a tasty finish. I know I'm preaching to the converted, but you need to be reading this. When the new truck gets in, anyway... 8/10
QUESTION #37
Writer: Dennis O’Neil & Greg Rucka
Art: Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz & John Stanisci
DC $2.99
Matt C: I guess I picked this up purely for the fact that I like Rucka’s take on the character and I’ve been impressed with what he’s done with Renee Montoya over the last few years. The backup tale in Detective Comics is a bit average but out of all the Blackest Night ‘extra issues’, this was the one that appealed to me the most. Turns out it’s a completely superfluous read. The art’s nicely gritty and the script isn’t exactly bad, but the real crime is it’s forgettable. So much so that that’s all I’ve got to say - I can’t really remember anything else about it. 5/10
DINGO #3
Writer: Michael Alan Nelson
Art: Francesco Biagini
Boom! Studios $3.99
Matt C: This bizarre hybrid of thriller and Greek myth succeeds through both the overt strangeness of the situation as well as the general attitude of it’s world-weary, three-time loser protagonist. Dingo’s voiceover narration is shot through with black, self-deprecating humour and it makes what is essentially an entirely ludicrous premise a lot more palatable. It also helps that Biagini’s art is bursting with the kind of chaotic energy that really makes the fight scenes come alive. I have no idea where this is going, but I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride. 7/10
NOVA #34
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Mahmud A.Asrar
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: DnA have surprised me somewhat with their lack of originality in this current story. The weird gladiatorial game of chess has been done time and time again with handpicked warriors facing off against each other while more powerful forces manipulate events. The greater concern is that this issue is certainly less about Richard Rider and more about what the Sphinx has planned and just how Darkhawk may affect events. This title is called Nova for a reason but of late it seems that the writers are not quite sure where to take the titular hero next. The fun was surely leading him on his journey of growth and discovery to become the Nova Prime he is today. Now he’s attained that level it’s almost as if the writers would rather use the opportunity that the Fault has presented to trawl through the histories of the Marvel cosmos to bring back any old villain or omnipotent being that hasn’t been around in a while. The art from Asrar is also lacking a level of quality that previous artists brought to the table and at the moment this title has moved a little closer to its own Fault by sitting at the edge of my pull-list. 5/10
CRIMINAL: THE SINNERS #4
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Sean Phillips
Marvel/Icon $3.50
James R: Alright, copper – I'll tells you this one last time. I don't know who got the loot, and I don't know about any goddamn diamonds... but my lawyer says I can say that Criminal remains the best thing I read every month. I'm willing to take a lie-detector on this, man... Brubaker and Phillips are one hell of a team, and this is one of those times I feel for the schmucks that say 'I'll wait for the trade...' as this read is a visceral treat that continually ups the ante and leaves you wanting more. Anyway, that's all I'm sayin'. Now get me my phone call! 9/10
SCALPED #34
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: R.M. Guera
DC/Vertigo $2.99
Matt C: Sometimes you feel like you need a bath after reading this book. The final chapter of The Gnawing arc rattles off in directions you would never suspect as its cast of fucked up characters seem to go out of their way to fuck themselves up even more. Based on what occurs there every issue there’s no way in hell you’d ever want to visit the Prairie Rose reservation but it’s nigh-on impossible not to be completely riveted by what occurs there. This is one of the few comic series out there where practically every issue all the main characters are in a worse position by the end than they were at the beginning. That may be off-putting to some, but for me it’s one of the many reasons why Scalped is the best book being published right now. 9/10
ULTIMATE X #1
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Art: Arthur Adams
Marvel $3.99
Tom P: I was going to give up of Jeph Loeb, I really was. After the horrible Ultimates 3, the dreadful Ultimatum and the dull antics of the Red Hulk, I felt he’d lost his spark - this was the bloke who had written some of the best Batman comics ever remember. He seemed to just not click with Marvel and he wrecked The Ultimates. It felt like he was trying too hard to write like Mark Miller and it was a mess. When I heard about Ultimate X I was unsure, but Adams' art was definitely a strong factor when I was thinking of picking this up. When I started to read this I expected to find another badly written and conceived comic book. I was wrong, this is a wonderfully scripted comic and a meaty first issue that’s stuffed to the brim with great character work. I can’t wait to see more of this. It’s Loeb at Superman: For All Seasons and The Long Halloween levels of craft. Adams' art is also incredible to look at; it's gorgeous stuff full of detail and energy. This is why I read superhero comics. 9/10
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #10
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: C.P. Smith
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: Am I really that interested in Logan’s sex life? The occasional aside would suffice, but almost an entire issue devoted to it? No thanks. When it gets to Jubilee handing out relationship advice to Wolverine I did start to ask myself, what the hell is Aaron up to? This isn’t really the kind of thing I want to see when I pick up a Wolverine book. Smith’s art reminds me quite a bit of Alex Maleev, but while single panels are beautifully rendered, taken as a whole I found it all quite distancing. Basically this book is on thin ice with me at the moment; it needs to pull it’s socks up, and it needs to do it soon, because as it stands it’s not worth the $3.99 price-tag. 5/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #293
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne & Al Gordon
Marvel $0.75
Matt C: A huge, jet-black bubble envelopes Reed’s old hometown of Central City, so the FF naturally zip over to investigate. The art’s a bit ropey (Gordon’s inks really don’t bring out the best in Byrne’s pencils) but the dialogue and characterization are bang on. This is the first part of a three-issue storyline but for Byrne…. that’s it. Yep, Byrne was never again to write and draw an issue of Fantastic Four. He’s credited with the plot of #294 and gets a “Special Thanks” in #295 but to all intents and purposes he was done. No exactly a great way to bow out, and the real reasons for his departure have only been hinted at, but by that point he’d well and truly made his mark on the title anyway. Look out for my summation of the Byrne FF project very soon. 7/10
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 includes the next issue in Matt C's Byrne FF project.
CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #6
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Bryan Hitch & Butch Guice
Marvel $3.99
Matt C: And finally, Steve Rogers returns to the Marvel Universe. Well, we kind of knew that already seeing as how he's been appearing in every other book for the last month, but here we get to discover what exactly facilitated his return. It's all very predictable, something I hate have to accuse Brubaker of being, but it's well handled in a blockbuster type fashion, allowing Hitch to do his trademark 'widescreen' shtick (which he does very well indeed). As the regular Captain America title has now reappeared (as well as the Who Will Wield The Shield? one-shot), it's hardly worth commenting on what's in store for Rogers and Bucky following this tale since we've already been shown the direction these characters will be taking over the next few months. Amid all the high-octane action, the scene that really stood out was Rogers recalling what potential futures he’d seen as he was flung through the timestream. A quiet moment of contemplation, it reminded me how well Brubaker can write this character, and - as much as I enjoy Bucky Cap - I hope he gets the chance to put Steve Rogers back in his rightful place soon. 6/10
Tom P: So we get to the final issue of a mini which was so good they had to add this issue just to fit it all in. Um, why? Over Christmas I read the #1-42 of Brubaker’s Captain America epic. It was a shining example of a truly brilliant, exciting, and well-written work of comic book goodness. I enjoyed bits of Reborn, but this just leaves me feeling a bit sour. It all boils down to a giant Red Skull shouting “FOOLS!”. C’mon, this is rubbish. Also what’s happened to Hitch? After reading this I looked at some of his work on The Ultimates and The Authority - now that’s Hitch! This guy that’s been drawing Fantastic Four and Reborn must be some cheap clone. The characters just look sketchy and awkwardly posed - when was Rogers so oddly double jointed? Captain America is back! Shame it was so mishandled. 4/10
Matt T: Finally. Few titles have tested my allegiance to Brubaker, Cap and Marvel in general as Reborn, which switched between pointless reprints, stretched-out plot points and, occasionally, some decent action. The final issue of the series, which was spoilt three or four times in other titles, was a return to 'Classic Cap' writing for me, even if Roger's reappearance felt rushed and far-fetched. Timing aside, this is one of the few issues that would of easily sat within the normal run, with Bucky and Cap teaming back up to destroy the Red Skull while chaos reigns around them, and provides a satisfying conclusion to an unsatisfying mini. I'm glad that Bucky gets to establish himself for a bit longer, but I can't foresee it being permanent unless Steve is otherwise utilised in another position within the Marvel U (*ahem* SHIELD *ahem*). 8/10
GREEN LANTERN #50
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Doug Manke & Various
DC $3.99
Stewart R: So Ganthet has initialised a 24-hour deputisation for all of the various Lantern Corps and we now have some new and interesting players taking down Black Lanterns in Coast City. It’s a great and fun idea and allows Doug Mahnke to deliver some terrific pages as the likes of Mera and Wonder Woman get quickly accustomed to their newfound powers. Mahnke knows how to display pure, unadulterated spectacle and he’s given ample opportunity to produce some exquisite double splash pages. I’ve only been getting the GL title since Blackest Night began so I’ve had to go back and do some reading on the Spectre and Parallax, and I’m not sure if maybe this ‘epic encounter’ will essentially become non-consequential filler once the main Blackest Night story is wrapped up. This is Johns we’re talking about here though, so I’m guessing the events here will more likely be far-reaching. 8/10
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #1
Writer: Brian Micheal Bendis
Art: Rafa Sandoval
Marvel $3.99
Tom P: Out of all the Ultimate comics post-Ultimatum, Bendis’s Spider-Man has been a solid, standout read. Being a big fan of the Ultimate line, which it’s fair to say - like regular Marvel comics - has had it ups and downs, I was keen as mustard to try out this mini. Bendis has a clear hold on this world and I feel he works best with these characters he’s shaped. This is a wonderful fast paced and exciting read setting this new threat up in terrific fashion. Sandoval’s art is emotive and Matthew Wilson’s bright colouring makes it all pop with spectacle. It’s also great to catch up with all but one of the Fantastic Four and see how they are after the Loeb suck-fest that was Ultimatum. Don’t let that comic put you off getting back into this corner of Marvel. This 'Enemy' is bad to the bone - watch out Nick Fury. 9/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #575
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dale Eaglesham
Marvel $2.99
Matt C: I really, really want to love this comic. I think Hickman's an excellent writer, I love the characters that make up the team, and the ideas being bandied around are generally exciting. Take this issue as a case in point: the FF hook up with Mole Man to investigate underground shenanigans involving a 'Darwin bubble' city, abandoned by the High Evolutionary. How cool does that sound? It's the kind of thing I want from my FF comics, but while Hickman conjures up these tremendous concepts, he seems to skirt around them, never really sinking his teeth into them. Here, it seems like huge chunks of plot are overlooked in an effort to get the city up to the surface, and we barely get a sense of what's going on inside it, or who its inhabitants are. It seems to be a pacing issue, with Hickman only skimming the surface of the idea's potential. Eaglesham's certainly the man for the job, which is blatantly apparent when you get to see some of the tremendous subterranean vistas he presents, and I really believe Hickman is the guy to make the magic happen too. He's got the family dynamics down, he just needs to find his own voice with regards to the team. I'll persevere in the hopes he gets there sooner rather than later. 6/10
Tom P: I love Hickman’s Fantastic Four, this issue is a prime example of why. He stuffs this comic to the brim with great sci-fi tales and concepts that lesser writers would stretch out to a three-to-six part arc. Eaglesham is also on good form and provides some great artwork full of creepiness and spectacle; it took me a while to get used to his chunky Reed but now he fits Marvels First Family like an Infinity Gauntlet. The story continues to build up, with a larger tale slowly and carefully appearing in the background, and I still feel anyone could pick this off the stand and enjoy it. That’s a hard thing to pull off. It even has an FF iPad, old news to Reed. The letters page is also an interesting read making some controversial points about the last issue along with Hickman’s feelings about his writing. 9/10
James R: I have a huge amount of time for Jonathan Hickman, and I thought giving him the gig on Fantastic Four was an inspired choice (and I can't wait for his forthcoming SHIELD series) but at the moment, I feel the title is misfiring a little. All the elements are in place (from last month, I loved the 'Franklin from the future' idea, which echoed Byrne's run) and the title has got suitably high-concept ideas and big visuals (here, the Mole Man's arrival in the Baxter Building, and the team passing over the corpse of the future Galactus were suitably awesome, and brilliantly rendered by Eaglesham) but the problem lies with the pacing of the book. Hickman's first arc, featuring the 'Legion of Reeds', seemed to be tied up way to quickly, and the destruction of Nu Earth (yay!) could have used another issue. This month's story is the first part of an arc, but again everything is wrapped up in 28 pages, and we're given a 'now here's what happened next' page to end it with! It reminded me of the animated Lord Of The Rings movie which ends with a similar 'Well, that's all we've got... bye!' I'm hoping that it's just teething problems at the moment as this title really does have the potential to be awesome. Maybe Tom Breevort needs to spend less time slagging off DC and more time actually editing this book. 6/10
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #22
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Brad Walker & Andrew Hennessy
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: Wowsers, what a treat this is! Abnett and Lanning have already proven that they do the whole ‘cosmic’ thing to a very high standard but when they give us something this good it makes me wonder how this title doesn’t do better in the sales rankings. This time out the Guardians are jetting off on a daring-do rescue of Moondragon who has been captured by the wacko followers of the Universal Church of Truth. We’ve all seen rescue missions before but DnA use the various talents of this team so well that you can never be sure just what harebrained - but certainly well realised - plan they will come up with. These writers take former one-dimensional powerhouses like Drax and eek out every possible amount of character they can find and then come up with some more of their own. And, when you’ve got someone with the skills of Brad Walker on pencils… well, what can I say? The man is a truly exceptional talent. There’s a terrific feeling of scale and his character design for the Luminals and UCT followers really give a galactic feel to proceedings. Top, top stuff. 9/10
RESURRECTION #7
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Art: Justin Greenwood
Oni Press $3.99
Matt C: I’m still enjoying this post alien invasion/apocalypse series (any book that has President Clinton as a cast member and makes it work has got be doing something right!), I just wish Guggenheim would allow his story more than sixteen pages per issue, instead of giving the rest over to a related back-up feature. Just when things start to get juicy we reach ‘To be continued’, and I really wish we could a get a little more considering the price we’re paying. Having said that, the back-up story this month is really good, focusing on an individual who was subjected to experimentation during the occupation. It’s well written by Aubrey Sitterson, has a nifty twist, and the art from Brett Weldele is nice and spooky. So I can’t complain too much… this time, at least. 7/10
DETECTIVE COMICS #861
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Jock & Cully Hamner
DC $3.99
Matt C: It’s always going to be tough temporarily filling the shoes of an artist of the calibre of JH Willians III, but Jock acquits himself well, bringing a cool and creepy vibe to the proceedings, particularly when it comes to the scenes with the Dark Knight. Rucka cleverly displays both the differences and the similarities between the two Batpeople, and while there’s no clear indication what will tie their cases together, I’m looking forward to finding out. The Question backup is okay again, not something I’d go out of my way to pick up if it was in its own title, but I don’t mind paying the extra dollar for it. 7/10
THE UNKNOWN: THE DEVIL MADE FLESH #4
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Minck Oosterveer
Boom! Studios $3.99
Matt C: The second mini of what is possibly Boom!’s best title reaches its conclusion, and while it speeds through things a bit too rapidly, it continues on from last issue’s big reveal rather well, and nicely ties into the original four-part series. The art’s simple but effective, and Waid is obviously relishing playing with these supernatural/pseudo-religious high concepts. I have to say that Catherine Alligham wasn’t quite the forceful personality she was first time round, so hopefully, now things have been cleared up a tad, we’ll see her reassert herself in the next volume (and I’m assuming here that there will be one). Boom! continue to impress with the diversity of their titles, and if you like what they’ve been doing elsewhere you’d be well advised to give this a try. 7/10
KICK-ASS #8
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: John Romita Jr & Tom Palmer
Marvel/Icon $2.99
Matt C: Fortunately the final issue of this series has arrived before the movie hits the cinema screens, and it's fair to say that the pre-release buzz on the film adaptation has been so huge that it's kind of taken the spotlight off the comic, as though it's only an adjunct to the main product. The delays to the publication schedule didn't help matters, and I think this is another one of those stories that would benefit greatly from the trade format (I think I may have to read the whole thing in one go prior to the movie's release). Overall it's been a memorably anarchic tale, packed with ultraviolence, some generally astute satire on the notion of dressing up in a costume to beat the crap out of bad guys, all exquisitely presented by the art combo of Romita Jr and Palmer. I can't say the suggestion of a sequel fills me with great enthusiasm, as this works well as a standalone tale, but I guess we'll wait and see how well the film does at the box office before we can count on Millar coming up with further adventures for Kick-As and Hit Girl. 7/10
James R: These are strange days were living in – geek culture has finally triumphed, and comics are no longer in a cultural ghetto, and Kick-Ass is a great example: a smart title immediately readied for the big screen and generating huge buzz before the comic has even finished? We comic’s fans are in uncharted territory. This was the first thing I read this week, and that is testament to the creative team here. So what do we get? Well, more of the same – Romita Jr's art is brilliant and he's clearly had a blast letting loose on this title, and Millar rounds things off without resorting to his tiring 'aren't comics fans losers?' line. For my money, it wasn't as good as 1985, but I'm sure that as a springboard for a great movie, it's done its job. But that's also the annoyance – with his head turned by Hollywood, Millar almost forgets that first and foremost he's a comics writer. This book should have been done and dusted in a year... it goes without saying it's taken rather longer to get finished. Why, you could almost make a film in the time it took to produce this com... oh. 7/10
Matt T: There are only so many times you can get punched in the gut before you stop getting winded. Or, at least, that's the way this last issue of Kick-Ass felt to me. There were no major dramatic shocks, no surprising turns and very few panels with that take-your-breath-away factor that the other seven issues provided. Instead, Millar ended Kick-Ass in much the same way that he ended Wanted: a little misdirection but ultimately more of a peter-out than a big crescendo. The final fight was wonderfully bloody, and JR Jr does some stellar work, but Kick-Ass is the kind of mini that almost feels like it was written for the arc rather than individual issues or, more worryingly, as the impending movie script. The mini was superb in places, even if the initial promise and hype wasn't quite matched by the end product. 8/10
CHEW #8
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory
Image $2.99
Matt T: This really is an odd little book, but within its own little world it works really well. That mix of ridiculous comedy, stomach-churning horror and insane action exists in very few other comics, especially when Guillory's art is added to the mix. All the better is that Layman isn't running out of ideas, leaving some plot points to one side to revisit later, and the sudden injection of sci-fi elements isn't out of place. For a comic in which the title character eats people to gain their psychic resonance, Chew really does keep you guessing issue to issue. 9/10
Stewart R: The International Flavour arc is shaping up nicely as Tony finds himself over his head again and pretty clueless as to everyone’s motives and agendas. We, like him, can pretty much sit back and watch the madness unfold as prize chickens and alien fruits start spilling out of the woodwork and it’s terrifically goofy. Layman is still getting decent comedy mileage out of Chu’s cibopathic abilities and is slowly showing us a shift in Tony’s emotional state as he grows continually weary and frustrated by his investigations. Guillory keeps things wonderfully consistent and the neat trick with the TV in the safe house is a small touch of genius. 7/10
X-FORCE #23
Writers: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost
Art: Clayton Crain
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: I really want to enjoy the Necrosha event but I have to say that it’s really not doing anything for me. Not only is the premise ill-timed considering what DC are pounding our brains and eyeballs with currently, but it’s also not terribly exciting. X-event lethargy instantly tells me that even when lesser-members of the X-family are ‘buying the farm’ the core players are probably safe enough, and by not involving the Uncanny title in this story ensures that no drastic changes to the world are likely to come out of this. The fact that Selene’s hordes cannot (at this point at least) be destroyed has been drummed home over and over for the past few issues and it’s growing tiresome. The far more worrying thing is that Clayton Crain, an artist who has created some sumptuous work on this title in months gone by, is producing a page of wonder and then a page of pure unreadable pap on a regular basis these days, and all in all I’m starting to weigh up how much I want to keep getting this title. 4/10
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Gary Frank & Jon Sibal
DC $3.99
Matt C: I'm wary of using the word 'definitive', because in the comics game, with it's constant retconning and updating, the word can never really apply for any great length of time, but for now at least this is continuing to look like it'll be the 'definitive' telling of the Man Of Steel's origin for the 21st century. Really - it's that good. If you love the character and the iconography but haven't really been that invested in his adventures of late, I would thoroughly recommend getting onboard with this series. The combined creative skills of Johns and Frank dive right into the core of what makes these set of characters so great: Clark invokes the right mix of Christopher Reeve and the classic comic book archetype; Lois is just as feisty and irresistible and you'd want her to be; Luthor is a cold, calculating bastard; and Jimmy's slightly innocent but with a heart of gold, something Superman spots instantly. On top of that is the kind of action you want to see Supes involved in, beautifully rendered by Frank and Sibal, and lovingly coloured by Brad Anderson, and you've got an all round excellent package (worth every penny of the $3.99). If only the regular Superman books could be this good. 8/10
IRREDEEMABLE #10
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Peter Krause
BOOM! Studios $3.99
Matt T: This is the first issue of Irredeemable that felt like like an obvious filler, as very little to move the story on occurred, other than an interesting flashback involving the Plutonian. Quite how the team of superheroes managed to survive this long is a mystery as they seem unable to beat most villains even to a draw, and the moments of light in the dark from the last issue have taken a decidedly depressing turn. It's difficult to 'enjoy' this book per se - it’s more a case of appreciating the way Waid has been crafting the tale up to this point. As I'm in for the long haul I'm looking forward to a few gaps being filled in, but the pace needs to pick up somewhat to avoid it fizzling out. 5/10
THOR #606
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Billy Tan & Batt
Marvel $2.99
Matt C: After being less than thrilled with Gillen’s last couple of issues of Thor, this one felt like he’d finally clicked with the character. There’s a pleasing lack of the kind of clumsy, wince-inducing Asgardian dialogue we’ve seen recently, and the characters seem a lot more like themselves rather than one-dimensional facsimiles. Tan’s art has shifted up gear too, far more impactful and exciting than before (and that cover is fantastic). I’m still looking forward to Matt Fraction taking over the reigns of this title, but in the meantime I’m kind of pleased I stuck around. 7/10
SECRET WARRIORS #12
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Steffano Caselli
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: Things just seem to be getting more and more complicated and convoluted in this title but I suppose when things have been turned completely on their head with the reveals about SHIELD and HYDRA events were never likely to be straightforward. Here Hickman introduces another element to the mix, bringing out the Soviet-era organisation Leviathan who seem to have strange and secretive machinations of their own which pose a threat to both Nick Fury and Baron Von Strucker’s plans. It seems that there’s a lot of backstory being filled in here and as a result the pace seems a little plodding, but it’s probably a necessary sacrifice for the inevitable action-packed events in months and issues to come. The journey with Yo-Yo and Jerry visiting their respective pasts is certainly interesting with a neat twist that might also develop into something down the line but the three pages they're given here is simply not enough. It’s merely OK at the moment but certainly has the potential to get back on track. 6/10
PILOT SEASON: DEMONIC #1
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Art: Joe Benitez & Victor Llamas
Top Cowl $2.99
Matt T: Much like the Murderer, this Pilot Season comic is all grimaces and brooding with the occasional bout of crimson-covered ultra-violence. The plot points hinted at in the Previews (the demoniacally-possessed main character having the entire episode in his head) didn't come to fruition and the whole thing felt decidedly rushed, trying to force home twists and turns that didn't sit particularly well. The central character was annoyingly bland outside of his apparent supernatural issues, with the hyper-kinetic action being the only real saving grace. Not anything new, and not as good as it could have been, especially with the excellent art. 4/10
Stewart R: Top Cow’s slightly altered format for Pilot Season this year sees Robert Kirkman – he of Haunt, Waking Dead and Invincible fame – writing all of the involved titles while a different artist is used for each interior. It sounds like a decent enough idea in this volatile and ever-changing market but it relies heavily on Kirkman having plenty of great - and more importantly here, kids - varied ideas to put on paper. Demonic, a story of a man who must provide souls to a demonic entity that only he can see – he ‘chooses’ to kill villains releasing only tainted souls - in order to keep his wife and child safe from himself is reasonable enough but by no means spectacular. Truth be told this is a mash-up of ideas seen before in various forms and the uncertainty of whether the protagonist is cursed or just insane certainly wouldn’t keep me buying this – if it wins – to find out. The art’s passable for the gore and action required but I still feel I could have spent the $2.99 on something far more worthy. 4/10
AVENGERS: THE INITIATIVE #32
Writer: Christos N.Gage
Art: Mahmud Asrar & Rebecca Buchman
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: Well, that’s it; Siege is underway whether we like it or not and now we just have to hunker down and see what titles emerge from the wreckage. It already appears that this title is for the chop as the Marvel Universe adjusts once the dust has settled from ‘the seven years in the making’ story (Pah!) and that for me is a great, great shame. Gage has excelled himself by showing us the difference between ‘super’ villains and the lower bit players and he’s used Taskmaster and Constrictor to great effect to do that. In this issue he shows us that Asgard, while filled with some heavy hitters, admittedly does just rely on a strengthened army and that the Initiative can hold their own against these forces for a while at least. He plays around with a neat parallel story devise, interweaving Taskmaster and Diamondback’s perspectives of events nicely to show that this is the one Avengers title out there presently with both heart and brains in abundance. The artwork by Asrar is not up to the usual standard seen on this title but if you’re going to bring a comic like this to an end you might as well let a new face have a go with the pencils. 8/10
JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #6
Writer: James Robinson
Art: Scott Clark
DC $3.99
Matt T: This man Robinson knows how to craft a story. Given the open canvas of a slew of DC characters and the chance to re-craft the JLA as we know it James Robinson hasn't let us down, creating a superb story involving a second-tier villain and a group of forgotten heroes. This mini has had just about everything great in terms of superheroics too, with huge flash-bang fights and some excellent characterization (especially in the case of the Atom, Green Arrow and Green Lantern) and, in Prometheus, a villain that has more than just physical menace. The only really let-down is Scott Clark's art, which is often overly cartoony and lacking in detail, making some of the action scenes extremely frustrating. 7/10
BATMAN AND ROBIN #7
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Cameron Stewart
DC $2.99
James R: The last story arc on Batman And Robin had me worried a little – after the brilliant start to this title, it seemed that without Frank Quietly it lost a little of its mojo, and the Red Hood plot was... well, ok. Had the old problem of Morrison and his maddening inconsistency returned? We had to wait for this issue to find out, but we needn't have worried. This issue is a corker, with Batman here in dear old Blighty on the case of a missing Lazarus pit, while Damien gets the Luke Skywalker Bacta Tank treatment. Morrison continues to sow the seeds of his larger Bat-narrative (with Dick yet again running into someone holding dominoes) and referring back to the RIP storyline. The art of Cameron Stewart is a revelation – I loved his work on Seaguy but here it is up another notch, handling both action and character work with aplomb. Even a speech bubble mishap between Batman and Batwoman didn't diminish the blast I got from this issue! 8/10
Tom P: Batman brings his services to London, God ‘elp us. Damian is out of action and in the care of his Mother, so Squire is drafted in for this story arc and it’s a great opening. I like the fact you don’t see one shot of Big Ben or a red phone/post box and what a terribly British affair this all is. Morrison continues to impress, and it’s nice to see Batwoman join the fun. One panel did confuse me quite a bit. I guess explosives in a confined space affect the reader also. But I see Stewart released a statement about this muddle. Some of the dialogue is cheesy but its part of the fun, the last few panels and teaser leave me keen to read the next issue. Watch your “Davinas”, Dick. Ahem. 7/10
Matt T: Cor blimey guv'nor, Grant Morrison 'as decided all English blokes and birds need to talk like Dick fucking Van Dyke. Nothing annoys me more than a writer turning out the kind of lazy, stereotypical dialogue that Morrison shits out onto the page here. It ruins the story for me, and makes it all seem utterly ridiculous. I've got no doubt that this will be an entertaining little distraction before Bats gets back to the comfort of Gotham, but moving away from the cookie-cutter characters spewed out here would be appreciated sooner rather than later. 4/10
X-FACTOR #201
Writer: Peter David
Art: Bing Cansino
Marvel $2.99
Matt T: Long ago I stopped doubting the David, and learned to trust the way in which he twists X-Factor with the kind of plots that you both don't see coming and can't believe are on the page. The man must have three brains, and the latest issue proves that. What seems pointless and meandering bears significance later in the issue, and the manner in which the Richards kids are being utilised shows he should be given a 'bigger' title to take control of. Still, the current storyline looks set to be a stunner, even if the M subplot feels a bit tacked on at the moment. I still trust the David though, so now wouldn't be a good time to start proving me wrong... 8/10
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41
Writer: James Robinson
Art: Mark Bagley, Rob Hunter, Marlo Alquiza & Walden Wong
DC $3.99
Stewart R: Well, it’s been a nice enough ride but I’m getting off here. Not only is this issue set a good while after Blackest Night, it’s also set after the finale of Justice League: Cry For Justice which I believe has one more issue to go. I’d highly recommend not reading this issue yet if you happen to be picking up that title as well as it’ll give a fair amount away. Here the JLA sees yet another recruiting drive take place as certain characters call time on their membership and others find their voyage of discovery has led them to this point. It’s been done time and time again in the 41-issue course of this title and the team that DC are putting together now really doesn’t interest me. You can see that DC are trying to find a balance of old and new in here but the importance of this title appears to have been lost quite some time ago and I don’t think they know how to write and promote this as a comic that really matters to their fictional universe. Bagley may have jumped on at the wrong time but his work is up to his usual high standard. Might I also add that his portrayal of Donna Troy deserves a ‘hubba-hubba’ mark of excellence! 5/10
FANTASTIC FOUR #292
Writer: John Byrne
Art: John Byrne & Al Gordon
Marvel $0.75
Matt C: The most bonkers cover Byrne ever illustrated during his run on Fantastic Four, no question! The contents are pleasingly crazed too, with a time-displaced Nick Fury hotfooting it to Berlin to take out ’Der Fuhrer’ and thus avert WWII. It’s a nice homage to all those old Howling Commandos comics, setting Fury against the Nazis, but this time he has three members of the FF on his tail attempting to stop him triggering a collapse of the space-time continuum (only in comics!). Gordon’s inks are a little more solid on Byrne’s pencils this time, making for a more satisfying visual experience. 8/10
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 includes the next issue in Matt C's Byrne FF project.
JOE THE BARBARIAN #1
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Sean Murphy
DC/Vertigo $1.00
Matt C: I’m always wary of anything new by Grant Morrison these days, as more often than not I find myself turned off by his brand of storytelling. Thankfully, Joe The Barbarian looks like it might be one of the rare occasions where I find myself on the same page as the writer. An appealing tale of childhood fantasies seeping into reality, even though it initially seems like everything is being laid out in a simple manner for the reader, its clear – thanks to some disparity between certain dialogue and visuals – that there’s something more going on under the surface. Whether this would be quite as potent a first issue without the expressive artwork from Sean Murphy is another matter. It’s fairly easy to get lost in the details of his illustrations and they add so much weight to the writing that it appears that Morrison has picked the ideal collaborator to tell his tale. For obvious reasons I was remind of The Stuff Of Legend, but – this being Morrison – it’s coming at the idea of toys coming to life from an entirely different direction. Yet another winner from Vertigo? It’s looking that way so far. 8/10
Stewart R: Another $1.00 debut from Vertigo and you really shouldn’t be missing these opportunities where they’re concerned as they’ve put out some terrific work in the past year. The first Joe The Barbarian issue is certainly interesting, with some deliciously simple work from Sean Murphy on pencils and some emotion-led scene-setting by Morrison, who shows us just how sad and lonely Joe appears to be. I have to say that I’m still now, after two cover to cover reads, not sure whether we’re going to be visiting a ‘daydream’ world of Joe’s creation or whether there’s something more at hand, but most eight-issue series won’t give the game away this early. It’s certainly polished and offers enough questions to make picking up the next issue to find out what is going on a priority. 7/10
James R: If you're reading this, then you're a comics fan. If you're one of them, then chances are you have a vibrant and colourful imagination, and as a kid you had no trouble thinking of new and exciting realms for adventure to take place in. If I'm right, then you're going to like Joe The Barbarian – a young disaffected boy finds that his fantasy world has become real, and his home is now a dangerous kingdom that has to be travelled with his toys. I've always liked Grant Morrison, and feel that when he's on form no one writes comics like him, and this already feels like the work of the Morrison who brought us We3 – controlled and focused. The highlight of the book has to be Sean Murphy's art though – he infuses his panels with realism, and his colours (along with Dave Stewart) give this comic a wonderfully moody feel. Vertigo continue their policy of charging $1.00 for the first issue, an offer you'd be mad not to take up. With this, The Unwritten, Northlanders, Scalped and Sweet Tooth, Vertigo have got a very good claim to be the best imprint in comics at the moment. Long may it continue! 8/10
Tom P: Morrison, great price, had to get this comic book. It’s a tale of how a boy sees his daydream fantasy world start to come to life and it’s superb. Not heavy on the dialogue, quite a slow start, but this gives Murphy’s artwork a real chance to show off, and its beautiful stuff. There’s a great scene where Joe's on a bus and he’s having a hard time at school - the art makes the bus feel very small, dark and daunting. It’s a very relatable childhood scene. I also liked the walk through the house in this issue - when he gets to his bedroom you just think "now that’s a cool room". I’m 25 and I want stay in there. Highly recommended. If you have a spare dollar give it a go. 8/10
COWBOY NINJA VIKING #3
Writer: AJ Lieberman
Art: Riley Rossmo
Image $3.50
Stewart R: Have we really only had two issues before this? Well, that’s testament to how much action and story you can cram into the first two installments of a title, especially when you don’t have any unwanted adverts interrupting your reading pleasure! With a host of various ‘triplets’ – schizophrenics with three personalities working at once – to introduce, and more reveals on Duncan’s previous life as an assassin to come, this is showing terrific promise indeed. The interplay between some of the bizarre personalities on show is great and ensures that there’s an underlying humour which keeps the premise from tumbling into absurdity. The art is, yes, scrappy at times but the almost ‘storyboard-like’ style that Rossmo is employing is giving this comic a feel all of its own. I’m not sure this is going to get the hype that Chew did for Image last year but it deserves to start getting mentions. 8/10
CAPTAIN AMERICA #602
Writer: Ed Brubaker & Sean McKeever
Art: Luke Ross, Butch Guice, David Baldeon & N. Bowling
Marvel $3.99
James R: I'm proud to say that along with Matt C, I was one of the early champions of Brubaker's run on Cap, and I was really disappointed when the book lost it's way last year; there were too many meandering issues, and it was obvious that the title had been co-opted into the Reborn miniseries... which I was also unimpressed with. So, this issue was a welcome return, like waking from a fevered dream, as it seems Brubaker has got his mojo back on this title. The ‘50s Cap is building a revolutionary army in an attempt to win back his America, and Bucky & the Falcon have to track him down and shut him up. There were only a couple of beats that made no sense – why does Bucky need a flesh covering on his robo-arm? Was the Black Widow complaining about the appendage being too cold to do spoons with?! And why get into the Cap outfit to fly the Quinjet if you're just going to get changed when you land? Minor quibbles, but hey, I'm an old comics fan now, part of the fun is looking for petty inconsistencies! But this feels like Captain America again – the nightmare is over! 7/10
Matt C: Back on track, or at least a step in the right direction following the largely disappointing (and still incomplete!) Reborn. Bucky Cap is on the trail of ‘50s Cap, who has wound up as the leader/figurehead of a group of anti-government extremists. Brubaker does seem a bit rusty at first, bringing his ongoing saga back down a couple of levels to the more ‘realistic’ (comparatively speaking) approach of yore, but he seems to find his footing by the issue’s end. Promising. What is unnecessary is the inclusion of the Nomad backup which pushes the price up an extra dollar. The obvious character links aside, this is tonally a bad fit to be placed with the Cap story. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with it, it’s pitched at a younger audience than the main feature. If they’re hoping to get a possible Nomad series out of this, they picked the wrong book to pilot it in. 7/10
INCORRUPTIBLE #2
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Jean Diaz
Boom! Studios $3.99
Stewart R: Yep, loving this! Waid is taking the bigger picture and placing that in Irredeemable, allowing this title to be the ‘ground zero’ survivor piece that really helps to show the world that the Plutonian has changed forever. Max Damage’s reluctant and tired attempts at heroism are well thought out and the additional insight we’re given on how and when his powers work will obviously bring up some interesting events in future issues. The tense dynamic between Max, Jailbait and Armadale works a treat as they learn to live with their new allegiance, and while this could steer towards a clichéd path of mutual respect I actually get the feeling that Waid will keep things fresh and new in that respect. I should actually make a point of saying that I don’t even think you’d have to pick up Irredeemable to enjoy this as it works as an unknown and unseen threat story. 8/10
Matt C: I’m still to be wholly convinced that this story required its own series and couldn’t just have been dealt with by a subplot in Irredeemable, but it’s fairly enjoyable all the same. There are indications that it won’t be trapped in the shadow of its ‘parent’ book too much longer, and bearing in mind that series constantly surprises me by getting so much mileage out of what – on the surface – seems like a limited concept, I’m prepared to stick around for the time being. One bugbear is Jailbait – great character but, contrary to how old we’re supposed to think she is, Diaz draws her looking way over the ‘legal’ limit (hey, it’s their terminology, not mine!). It’s almost like there’s a reluctance to show her as literal ‘jailbait’ for fear of attracting unwarranted attention. When you consider some of the other risqué stuff you find on the shelves these days though, I don’t think they should be particularly worried. 7/10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #618
Writer: Dan Slott
Art: Marcos Martin
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: Right, okay. Where I thought that last issue might lead into another Rhino-centric story it seems that we’re done with that thread for now. Instead we hop back with Dan Slott at the controls for more criminal shenanigans with The Maggia family of crime and Mr Negative’s ruthless attempts to finish them once and for all. This is where things with the Gauntlet storyline are getting a little confusing as it’s hard to tell whether the events unfolding here are part of that premise or whether this is just the time for some old dangling threads to be tidied and dealt with. I’m not overly keen on how Slott is portraying Hammerhead here, almost undoing Joe Kelly’s reinvention and sending him down the clichéd gangster/loser path again, but that may be early days. Martin’s art always brings a classic, 1960s feel to things and it suits the Mafia undertones well, and Slott does well to bring Carlie back in as she needs more page time! 6/10
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #44
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Patrick Gleason
DC $2.99
Stewart R: That first page is a terrific reintroduction to how things were left last time out and shows, from a different perspective, just how imposing Mogo can be. Then you turn to page six and all of a sudden you’re confronted with more Gleason magic and it just doesn’t let up. The Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps trade is going to be well worth picking up if you’re late to this party! Tomasi almost seems to take something of a backseat and just lets Gleason deliver an unrelenting scene of carnage as the Green/Red/Sapphire Lanterns attempt to cleanse Oa of the Black Lantern menace. I think it might be fair to say that it feels like the Corps might be coming out of the other side of Blackest Night at this juncture, though the two ‘Top Secret’ issues to come may turn that opinion on its head. It’s not as emotionally powerful as last issue but this is still my favourite of the Blackest Night books out there. 7/10
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #9
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Yanick Paquette & Michel Lacombe
Marvel $3.99
Tom P: So we get to the conclusion of Insane In The Brain. It’s been a crazy ride and I’ve enjoyed it a lot. I didn’t expect much from this arc and its surprised me. Mad as a bag of snakes, Dr Rot’s been a good villain. I don’t know if I would say he’s Logan’s Joker, but, without giving anything away, he’s certainly got a hold over him and I look forward to seeing what Aaron does with him in the future. Besides the price tag it’s been a solid run so far. 7/10
BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #2
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Scott Kolins
DC $2.99
James R: Last week, I complained that DC's Catwoman tie-in to Blackest Night was a letdown, so it's nice to see that the Grand Nabob of the DC Universe, Geoff Johns, has steadied the ship again with this, which is acting like an extended trailer for his new Flash series. Plot-wise, it's pretty simple – we see how Barry Allen is dealing with his new Blue Lantern responsibilities, whilst at the same time, his Rogues are coming under attack from the ubiquitous Black Lanterns. John's strength though has always been in his characterisation, and it's true of this book – it is as much the Rogue's book as it is the Flash's, and it's all the stronger for it. His characters come across as three-dimensional, and the Rogues are far more 'shades of grey' villains rather than Manichean black-and-white. I was a fan of Johns & Kolins together on their initial Flash run, and the thought of the partnership re-combining for a series after Blackest Night makes me a happy geek indeed. 8/10
Matt C: I should have just stuck to the main Blackest Night mini and the Green Lantern series. Ever feel when you’re reading something like you’ve found yourself at a party where you weren’t invited? That pretty much sums up my take on this book. My knowledge of Flash lore isn’t as extensive as it is for some DC icons, and while bits and pieces translate across, most of the time its like I’m watching a bunch of characters I’m vaguely familiar with bashing each other about and it not being entirely clear what their motivations are. Kolins art isn’t really doing it for me on this mini, and Johns appears to be writing for an existing hardcore fanbase only. I’ve still got my fingers crossed for the new Flash series, but after this and Rebirth they’re not crossed so tightly. 5/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #520
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Greg Land & Jay Leisten
Marvel $2.99
Stewart R: When Mr Land has limited opportunities in a comic to pout and pose those X-ladies he actually displays a masterful talent and can really apply the ‘picture speaking a thousand words’ rule. Here he manages to squeeze the tension out of silent panel after silent panel as Magneto apparently tries to atone for his past sins and struggles on that upward climb to forgiveness. Wolverine and co’s seek-and-destroy antics in the sewers of New York are also well realised and their inevitable throw down with the newest secretive powered group on the block next issue should be fun. The constant state of flux that is limiting the success of Utopia as a commune will hopefully stabilise after Dark Reign has ended but in the meantime Fraction is making things tense and, more importantly, entertaining! 8/10
RAPTURE #6
Writers: Taki Soma & Michael Avon Oeming
Art: Taki Soma & Michael Avon Oeming
Dark Horse $2.99
Stewart R: I liked the idea of this series when I first saw the preview but now, having picked up all six issues in the run, I have to say that I don’t think that it lived up to its potential at all. This finale boils down to a super-powered lovers tiff where Gil and Eve try to pin blame on each other for the end of their relationship while duking it out over a decimated cityscape. This unfortunately has been where this series fell down: trying to bring too many things together at once and not really capturing any of them to any success. As a love and angst-ridden, post-apocalyptic survivor piece this might have worked but adding the superhuman ‘Champion’ element to things just seemed to confuse everything, including the artwork. The twist at the end also seems unnecessary and tacked on as a bit of clever writing which actually felt like it’s detracted from what the writers were trying to get across in the main love story. The ‘the end?’ sign-off seems to suggest these creators may have a future planned for this comic book world that they have conjured, but I will be saying no thanks to any more of it. 4/10
AVENGERS VS ATLAS #1
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Gabriel Hardman
Marvel $3.99
Tom P: The excellent Agents Of Atlas series that was, in my opinion, unfairly cancelled, continues onwards in a few backup strips and minis. This is no bad thing. After detecting an unusual distortion the Atlas team travels to New York to help the New Avengers out with a classic Avengers big bad and the fight takes a surprising twist. Parker’s a decent writer and delivers the goods once again, proving himself to be a great asset to Marvel. I will stick around for the rest of this mini and see where it takes me. Promising stuff 7/10
FANTATSIC FOUR #291
Writer: John Bryne
ArtL John Byrne & P. Craig Russell
Marvel $0.75
Matt C: Sue, Johnny, Jen and Nick Fury get caught up in a time disruption in Manhattan, finding themselves shunted back and forth between 1936 and the present day. With Reed out of the picture there’s no one who can take a shot at explaining the strange occurrence, but that’s of little consequence when Fury decides he can save millions of lives by running off to take out a certain square-moustached dictator! This issue’s a great deal of fun, and if Byrne was aware the end was nigh for his run on FF, he wasn’t showing it this time. Russell’s inks here are fine but, as with Al Gordon, he doesn’t quite manage to bring out the best from Byrne’s stellar pencil work. 8/10
