The Secret Wars Project - Completed

By Matt C

My nostalgic trip back to my childhood for the Secret Wars Project, which ended last Sunday, has highlighted two things. First, the original Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars series remains a classic. Occasionally clunky by today's standards, it nevertheless grips with its grand scope and ambition, manages to juggle it's large cast adeptly, and provides Doctor Doom with some of his finest moments of villainy since Stan and Jack created him back in the 1960s. Secondly, the sequel was a largely unsuccessful enterprise when you consider it's overall aims, but can still be admired for attempting to tackle such massive concepts, and it did manage to produce several fine moments of comic book storytelling. Which appears to go against the general consensus, as from what I can tell Secret Wars II is viewed with disdain from many quarters!

I think, tapping into my recollections of almost 25 years ago, the UK Secret Wars II series, which reprinted not only the US mini but also the vast majority of the tie-ins and several related/connected stories, was a much more effective way of consuming the stories, as it became a vast, sprawling epic when presented in that manner, and probably colours was opinion of it now. Taken on it's own, the 9-part Secret Wars II mini is flawed but is nowhere near as bad as some would have you believe, and is definitely worth a read if you're interested in that era of Marvel Comics (and you should be - it was one of the most creative periods in their history). I'm not sure whether I'll ever revisit it again, but I'm glad I gave it another look.

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars on the other hand, while probably not fitting into the definition of masterpiece, is a classic (and massively influential) piece of blockbuster storytelling. We may be used to seeing multi-character crossover events these days, and that perhaps diminishes the thrill looking back at the series now, but it generally stands up very well indeed and I can definitely see myself coming back for another look at some point in the future (particularly the outstanding issue #10).

So, now I've done Byrne's FF, Buscema's Avengers and both Secret Wars minis – where to next? Watch this space.

Mini Reviews 05/06/2011

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 includes the final instalment of Matt C's Secret Wars Project.


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

James R: In a week of truly excellent comics it was a ridiculously tough decision to pick a book of the week. However, the return of Criminal just shaded it. I really like Incognito, but man, I loves Criminal! When Brubaker really lets the noir out, it's a treat, one which is made all the sweeter by the incredible art of Sean Phillips and Val Staples pitch-perfect colours. Brubaker's tale centres on one of the tried and trusted noir archetypes, the femme fatale. Here, the woman in question is the wife of our protagonist, Riley Richards. He's a man up to eyes in debt with the mob, and a journey back to his hometown provides him with food for thought - there's the girl next door, for whom he still holds a candle, there's his wife's infidelity, and then there's the small matter of his father's death, all of which leads him to consider a drastic course of action. It will inevitably not end well, but man, is it fun to read! The extra goodness in this arc comes from the flashback sections, which see Phillips' style change to ape Archie comics and a more innocent time. Or is it? One of the things I loved about this book is the darkness hinted at the edge, from the revelation that a "stalker killed a few ladies in town" to the casual way in which Riley remembers finding a dead body with his best friend. It's a dark treat which beautifully echoes the crime comics of the ‘50s, and everyone involved in this is at the top of their game. Like the best femme fatales, this book is irresistible. 10/10

Matt C: Much as enjoy Brubaker and Phillips pulp/superhero mash-up Incognito, it’s with Criminal that I think they regularly achieve comic book perfection. I do have a rather insatiable appetite for the crime genre across many mediums, so I’m not surprised how completely this book appeals to me, and reading Brubaker’s thoughts in the back pages I can tell he’s a man with similar noirish tastes. It’s a measure of his talent that he’s able to translate his love of the genre into something that can stand its ground against many of the great works in crime fiction, be that in movies, literature, TV or, indeed, comics. That may seem like very high praise indeed, but Criminal warrants it. Of course, comics are a visual medium and Sean Phillips is equally instrumental in this book’s success. Here he intersperses his usual unique style with some more simplified Archie-esque visuals to give the protagonist’s flashbacks a Happy Days vibe (especially effective when that approach collides with the actual content of those scenes). And let us not forget colourist Val Staples, who tweaks his palette at just the right moment to emphasise the emotional tone of a particular panel. Superb stuff all told – Criminal remains one of the most vital books on the stands. 9/10


FLASHPOINT #2
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope & Alex Sinclair
DC $3.99

Matt C: Gorgeous art and a plethora of twists on established characters can’t quite help me shake the feeling that there’s something missing in Flashpoint. The worldwide nature of the story (check out he ‘World Map’ in the back pages to get an idea of how far-reaching this temporary change to the DC Universe really is) has me wondering whether Johns has bitten off more than he can chew again. Essentially, this should be focused on Barry Allen, but when you’ve got a war between the Amazons and Atlantean’s that’s taken out half of Europe, how much of that do you include in the main title instead of relying on a tie-in to cover it, potentially rendering it superfluous to the central narrative? There’s an awful lot for Johns to fit in during the next three issues and I can see a situation where he cuts corners to reach the finishing line. Case in point: Thomas Wayne, the Batman of this universe, buys into Allen’s explanation of a how things are really supposed to be a little to easily (and conveniently). Okay, so he’s not Bruce, but surely he’s smart enough to rule out all possibilities of Allen being delusional before helping him recreate the experiment that turned him into the Flash? Unless there simply isn’t time to squeeze that much doubt into a five-issue miniseries? Despite my misgivings, I still enjoyed this second issue and seeing how we now know it leads up to DC’s massive reboot of their Universe this August, there’s no way I’m bailing out now! 7/10


TURF #5
Writer: Jonathan Ross
Art: Tommy Lee Edwards
Image $2.99

Stewart R: All of the elements come together in one huge party of mayhem for this grand finale of Ross’ Gangsters, Vamps and Aliens series and, for the most part, it works. Eddie’s gradual transformation - both mental and physical - from ruthless mob boss to leader of humanity’s fight against the deadly armies of vampires really had me pulling for the reluctant hero to battle through against impossible odds and the rich, varied cast made sure that things remained interesting and balanced on a knife-edge right up until the end. It must be said that this bumper fifth issue is a little less about Ross’ writing and more about Edwards’ handling of the chaotic action, and while his work should be regarded as superb on the whole throughout the entire series there are a few confusing moments (one character appears to survive a high fall with nary a scratch and nary an explanation as to how they escaped death or injury!) and there’s some heavy inking and slightly simpler work over last few pages that suggest the deadline was looming a little large towards the end. Those points aside, this is a very enjoyable rollercoaster ending that caps off Ross’ first foray into the realm of comic writing with some style and has me looking forward to whatever these creators work on next. 8/10


FEAR ITSELF #3
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, Laura Martin & Larry Molinar
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: This is turning out to be something of a major disappointment. It’s difficult to figure out why the main villain, the Serpent, is doing what he’s doing – his rationale appears to be nothing more than he’s a bad guy and bad guys like causing destruction. Although we know he’s an ancient Asgadian enemy in charge of a bunch of hammer wielding acolytes who have possessed several familiar faces from the Marvel Universe, that’s about all we have to go on at present. Considering the rich Norse mythology available to plunder, it’s strange that Fraction hasn’t tapped into that to find his antagonist and instead created someone who’s almost wilfully one-dimensional at this point. The writer still produces some good individual scenes (particularly those with Thor and Loki), but they just don’t hold together to convey any real sense of world-threatening danger. The saving grace so far has been some phenomenal artwork, with Immonen, Von Grawbadger and Martin all rising to the challenge of producing imagery worthy of a blockbusting comic book event. Check out the awesome double-page spread of the destruction of Yancy Street for some concrete evidence of this. But saying that, watching Yancy Street crumble, along with some of the other scenes of devastation (and the supposed death of a major character at the end) fails to make any impact. It’s death and mayhem for death and mayhem’s sake. I still have hope that Fraction can turn things around, but it’s only the art at this point keeping Fear Itself from being completely vague and inconsequential. 6/10


HALCYON #5
Writer: Marc Guggenheim & Tara Butters
Art: Ryan Bodenheim & Mark Englert
Image $2.99

Matt C: You could argue that we’ve already got past the real meat of the story in Halcyon and this final issue almost feels like it could be an addendum rather than the main conclusion. I say ‘almost’ because while this isn’t the strongest instalment in the series, it’s still quality stuff, and the way it leaves things at on the very final page is a stroke of brilliance. Bodenheim’s art is continuously impressive and it makes absolute sense that Marvel has snapped him up to work on some of the titles they’ve got in the pipeline. I have a feeling this series may have slipped under most people’s radar – hopefully that’ll be rectified once the trade hits the stands as Halcyon has seen an excellent idea pursued with intelligence and inventiveness. One of the best miniseries to reach its conclusion in 2011 so far. 8/10


MOON KNIGHT #2
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Alex Maleev & Matthew Wilson
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Oh dear. Yep, following an initial moment of surprise that the first issue seemed to work for the most part, I’m afraid I’m back to where I started, thinking that Marvel should have persisted with Greg Hurwitz’s direction for this character. Bendis’ experiment doesn’t feel right at all. His messing with Marc Spector’s psychological condition has unfortunately made this come across as a dumbed down and less funny version of Daniel Way’s Deadpool or Lieberman’s Cowboy Ninja Viking, with the different facets of his personality offering their differing views on how he should tackle his current mission. The inclusion of these familiar faces as parts of Moon Knight’s fractured psyche also seems like a fucked up excuse for Bendis to roll in three of Marvel’s biggest hitters and smacks of a certain lack of confidence that a Moon Knight book based purely on the title character will succeed. That’s doubly echoed when he goes and dresses Moon Knight in the recognised garb of those other superheroes to cringeworthy effect. Maleev does what he can with the plot and action but it’s not enough to save this from being a pretty pedestrian read and further proof that Bendis is a very hit’n’miss writer. 3/10


FLASHPOINT: BATMAN KNIGHT OF VENGEANCE #2
Writer: Brian Azzarello
Art: Eduardo Risso & Patricia Mulvihill
DC $2.99

James R: As an ageing geek, one feeling you become accustomed to is disappointment. You watch a trailer, or leaf through Previews, and think "Hey! Project X looks brilliant! That's one to look forward to!", and before you know it there's the gnawing feeling of being let down, of promise unfulfilled. Therefore it's even more of a joy when a book turns out to be exactly as good as you'd hoped it would be. I was a big 100 Bullets fan, and I enjoyed Azzarello and Risso's all-to-brief run on Batman (the 'Broken City' arc.) However, one thing that it lacked was the subtext and drive of revenge. Bruce Wayne is a man who seeks justice, rather than revenge, and so I always had the feeling that Azzarello was holding back a little when scripting his last Bat-tale. This, on the other hand, is Azzarello letting rip. In the Flashpoint universe, Thomas Wayne is a man driven by revenge rather than justice, and revenge was one of the great strengths of 100 Bullets. This issue draws out Thomas Wayne's life, and we learn that he is a man being burnt away by his need for revenge, immersed in a world he clearly loathes. We also learn that his methods are deadly: in 'Broken City', Batman was content to knock out Killer Croc's teeth; here, this Batman is willing to go a little further... This is only a three-part series, but this issue is so accomplished you feel that Azzarello and Risso could easily tell stories in this world for over ten times that length. If you're a Bat-fan at all, you owe it to yourself to check this out! 9/10


FEAR ITSELF: THE DEEP #1
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Art: Lee Garbett, David Meikis & John Rauch
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Yep, this works. Cullen Bunn gets to expand on the single panel exploit that Namor adversary Attuma - now transformed into the hammer wielding Nekkrod, Breaker of Oceans - had in Fear Itself #2 by showing how much of a smackdown he managed to put upon the King of Atlantis and his newly reconstructed kingdom. Bunn does a fine job of displaying the fear growing within the usually overconfident Namor as he begins to doubt his powers and his worth and this is coupled nicely with Stephen Strange’s slipping grip on the reduced magical talents he has remaining at his disposal. There’s also a neat glimpse of some of Atlantis’ lesser foes, now acting generals of Nekkrod’s forces, conspiring to make the best of the situation and positioning themselves for greater spoils and to bring a greater hurt upon Namor’s shoulders. I’ll dare say that Lee Garbett has now moved himself into the big leagues of top comic book artists with this effort as he doesn’t put a foot wrong, delivering with heavy hitting action and a nice line in conversational panels that really do portray the emotional weariness that these characters are suffering presently. A worthy addition to the Fear Itself event. 8/10


S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver & Sonia Oback
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: At first glance it seems a little strange to have capped off the first arc as a ‘volume’ and start off here right in Volume 2 where the last left off, with Leonardo and Newton’s forces pounding the crap out of each other with laser beams and weapons of destruction. However, it becomes quite apparent that this volume is going to be based around certain revelations that Hickman is going to unveil to us regarding what we witnessed during the events of the first volume. It’s an enjoyable ride to follow Michelangelo's path through the different ages and see that these highly intelligent men are so very frightened by what they cannot yet understand or comprehend. Hickman has long been the master of the convoluted plot and he really does a terrific job of making multiple threads come together and allow readers the odd opportunity to utter aloud “Oooohh, that’s cool!” Series artist Dustin Weaver keeps up the high quality on the visual side of things but doesn’t get the opportunity in this issue to throw anything as lavish as a Celestial gestating in the sun. Maybe next time... 8/10

Matt C: There’s a big part of me that has nothing but admiration for what Jonathan Hickman is attempting to achieve with this audacious series. There is, however, another (albeit smaller) part of me that wonders whether this is all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that’s never going to lead anywhere. There’s a plentiful supply of “ooooh” moments littered throughout the issue (as there were with the preceding miniseries) but it does sometimes look like we’re being given a succession of teases without any payoffs. Having seen what Hickman has achieved with Fantastic Four and FF I’m prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, as he’s clearly a man who takes the long-term approach to his storytelling, and Weaver’s art remains a gorgeous and versatile treat. Hopefully things will start becoming a little clearer soon though as there’s only so much headscratching I’m prepared to fork out $3.99 an issue for. 7/10


SWEET TOOTH #22
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Art: Jeff Lemire & Jose Villarrubia
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: Another month, another spectacular issue of Sweet Tooth - Jeff Lemire just doesn't know how to create mediocre books! This issue sees the drama in the 'Endangered Species' arc ratchet up a notch as Haggarty and co. catch up with the rest of Jeppard's survivors, with truly shocking results. We also gain an insight into the mind of Doctor Singh as he continues to meditate on his mission to take Gus north and his growing fear of Tekkeitsertock - the white demon whom Gus' father feared so much. What's dazzling in this book is threefold: firstly, the way Lemire keeps the plot plates spinning, adding new levels of intrigue every month; secondly the way in which he makes you care (and fear!) for his characters; and thirdly, his understanding of how comics work. Chris Ware once said that 'Drawing is a way of thinking' - the illustrated image, when used properly, can play with time and juxtapose ideas that other artforms cannot. It's an absolute joy to see Lemire demonstrating a mastery of this way of thinking every month. Long may it continue! 9/10


HAUNT #16
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Art: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, Todd McFarlane & FCO Plascencia
Image $2.99

Stewart R: Oh Kirkman, you crafty devil you! What we’re given in this issue is a neat line in almost-an-answer-but-actually-here’s-another-question-instead moments as we discover a little more about Daniel Kilgore’s strange existence as the ghostly apparition that can bond with his brother to form the hero known as Haunt. Kirkman teases us with a little more knowledge about how the brothers’ bonding works and what it could mean to the two of them in the long term. He also shows that there are far greater powers at play but does so in a grin-inducing and of course frustrating way that doesn’t reveal anything about those mysterious forces pulling the strings. The moments where Daniel interacts with the strange ‘voice’ are captured very effectively by Capullo who keeps things incredibly simple and uses the white space well to provide the strange void-like setting that the deceased hero finds himself in. It’s a shame to hear that he’ll be stepping off Haunt shortly having got the job working on September’s Batman #1, especially when he and Kirkman can put an issue together like this. Another great instalment of one of Image’s best books. 8/10


SECRET WARS II #9
Writer: Jim Shooter
Art: Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha & M.Hands
Marvel $1.25

Matt C: Although he’d set his sights on wiping out the multiverse, the Beyonder has a change of heart, deciding that maybe to truly understand what drives humankind he must forsake immortality and become one of them. Unfortunately he’s caused so much mayhem since he arrived on Earth that there are now a great many people who are not prepared so suffer his flights of fancy any longer. This isn’t quite the epic finale it could be as, when it comes down to it, the main battle is between the Beyonder and Molecule Man, and in Shooter’s hands the Molecule Man is a major whiny irritant (to put it mildly). There’s a ton of cameos as various superheroes band together for the final confrontation with the Beyonder, but where the writer managed to capture the essence of various characters in bitesize chunks very well in the original Secret Wars series, here most of them are utilized in a perfunctory manner, often appearing to do nothing more than provide exposition. The last couple of pages work well though, and the odd panel form Milgrom is quite powerful, but really this whole issue is emblematic of the entire series: a bold idea that inevitably slipped through the Shooter’s grasp, even if he did conjure up some fine moments along the way. 6/10

Mini Reviews 29/05/2011

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 includes the penultimate instalment of Matt C's Secret Wars Project.


KIRBY GENESIS #0
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Art: Alex Ross, Jack Herbert & Vinicius Andrade
Dynamite Entertainment $1.00

Matt C: There’s not an awful lot of indication in this taster issue exactly where the series proper will be heading, but you do get an immediate sense of the sheer love and respect for the genius of Jack ‘King’ Kirby that will be evident all the way through. I doubt anyone will claim that Kirby’s cast-offs and later creations were any match for the like of the Fantastic Four and the New Gods, but the man knew how to draw from the well of possibilities in the superhero genre better than almost anyone else, so even his ‘lesser’ ideas still fizzed with a boundless energy and imagination. Busiek and Ross, in their first collaboration since the groundbreaking Marvels, have scooped up a collection of the characters created by Kirby that are probably unfamiliar to most comic readers today, the idea being to construct a universe where they all coexist (a Kirbyverse?) and then launch a narrative right the way through it. There are only 12 pages of story with the briefest of flashes of the characters we can expect to see going forward but it’s handsomely produced and appears to possess some definite potential. Of course, this could all head down the same road as Project Superpowers (nice idea, dull execution) but I’ll certainly be giving it a look and for only a dollar you’d be wise to pick this up and make your own decision. 7/10


ONSLAUGHT UNLEASHED #4
Writer: Sean McKeever
Art: Filipe Andrade
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: And so this miniseries draws to a close with a relative bang instead of a whimper but I’m not 100% sure whether this has been as good as it could’ve been. McKeever does a decent job of selling Onslaught’s current limitations in order for it to be believable that this team of heroes - Secret Avengers and the Young Allies - are just barely capable enough of tackling a foe of this magnitude. He also maintains an emotionally charged level of tension thanks to Rikki’s crisis as she has to decide whether to give up the adoptive world that had finally welcomed her in order to save those that she loves. There are a few missteps; I’m not sure Steve Rogers would go bounding off the millisecond everything looks clear when dealing with a villain as slippery and deceptive as Onslaught and Andrade’s art occasionally makes it difficult to tell what has transpired - I’m still no wiser to what fate has befallen El Dragon despite several rereads. Niggles aside, the ending is gloriously vague in that brilliant comic book way, either offering us hope of further adventures or signing this particular chapter of Rikki and Steve Rogers’ lives off in reflective style. 7/10


AMERICAN VAMPIRE #15
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Rafael Albuquerque & Dave McCaig
DC $2.99

James R: I should be the last geek you'd find reading a vampire book - as I may have mentioned before, I tend to find vampires as a concept pretty old hat (I seem to be one of the few people on Earth who finds True Blood incredibly tiresome!). However, the American Vampire creative team have really surprised me, and after reading this issue I feel entirely sold on the concept, but more importantly, by Scott Snyder's take on it. Rather than sticking with the familiar tropes, Snyder is introducing different vampiric strains into the comic. At the moment, this WW2 arc sees Preston, Sweet and the covert platoon facing off against a strain of vampires that's terrifyingly feral - think Nosferatu meets Geiger's Alien - and this makes for a compelling and creepy read. Snyder is on incredible form, but in this visual medium his words gel perfectly with the art of Albuquerque and McCaig. The art on this book is breathtakingly lush, and Albuquerque is doing an incredible job of conveying the atmosphere of Taipan and the dark overtones of the narrative. The arc is building to high-tension finale and better still, it's clear that Snyder has got plenty more history to explore, with a vampire mythology that's refreshingly original. If you're not on board with this book yet, don't be afraid to take a bite! 8/10


ASTONISHING SPIDER-MAN & WOLVERINE #6
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Adam Kubert, Mark Roslan & Justin Ponsor
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: When it was announced I suspect a fair few people dismissed this series as nothing more than a cash-in on the popularity of two of Marvel’s most recognisable characters. I have to admit that, even with Aaron and Kubert onboard, I had my doubts, but their names where enough to get me to give the first issue a whirl, and here I am, roughly a year later, thoroughly pleased that I made the journey. Ostensibly a hop, skip and jump through the timestream, at its core the series has really been about the unlikely friendship between Wolvie and Spidey, two polar opposites that have somehow, against the odds, formed a unique connection. The story’s been told with real wit and invention, but what’s made it so successful is an emotional core that felt genuine and honest, nowhere more so than the final few pages of this issue. Then there’s the art from Kubert: I don’t care what dimension you’re from, you can’t knock the quality of the imagery displayed in this book. Along with Roslan, and Ponsor, Kubert’s produced on hell of a good looking series that has proven to be thoroughly rewarding for those of us prepared to drop the cynicism for the duration. 8/10


KILL SHAKESPEARE #11
Writers: Conor McCreery & Anthony Del Col
Art: Andy Belanger & Ian Herring
IDW $3.99

Matt C: A rousing penultimate episode with the battle between the forces of good and evil now in full swing. There are casualties along the way as Hamlet finally sees his role clearly and attempts to convince Shakespeare to join the fray and fight alongside those that still consider him their saviour. There’s a fair amount of melodrama on display but the whole thing sets the pulse racing through pure excitement as the denouement appears upon the horizon. A few ‘characters’ make an appearance here that are most definitely not Shakespearean from whatever angle you look at them, and while that may not sit well with some their inclusion didn’t bother me when considering the general audaciousness and originality inherent in this concept. As for the art, although some of the smaller panels feel a bit inert, when Belanger gets to cut loose on a wider canvas, he does so in grand style, particularly when conveying the carnage and mayhem on the battlefield. For a series I initially overlooked, Kill Shakespeare has turned out to be an unexpected treat. 8/10


VENOM #3
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Tom Fowler & John Rauch
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: It was a little foolish of me perhaps to assume that Remender would hit the ground running with this ‘Flash Thompson and his Symbiote Spy Suit’ comic after crafting an unmissable series with Uncanny X-Force. Unfortunately, while Flash being willingly bonded to one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous foes is a very neat premise indeed, I’m starting to find myself picking at little bits of the plot and not being grabbed by the plight that Remender puts Flash and his various friends into. For me, it feels like the descent into the dangerous realm of the symbiote taking influence and control on our hero has been far too quick and I would have liked to have seen it been a far slower and subtler journey to Flash’s dark side. The inclusion of Spider-Man this early is also a little disappointing as I felt that we could quite easily get through the first arc without having to rely on his appearance to ramp the tension up. Similarly disappointing is the changing of the guard on art duties from Tony Moore to Tom Fowler, and Fowler’s heavy inking style is not to my personal taste. I’ll be seeing the arc through to next month’s finale and then that’s me done with this title. 5/10


BUTCHER BAKER, THE RIGHTEOUS MAKER #3
Writer: Joe Casey
Art: Mike Huddlestone
Image $2.99

Stewart R: So this isn’t quite on a par with the first two issues but it’s still a cracking read of bombastic, violent superheroics as Baker comes under attack from the lethal White Lightning in a literally electric face-off. Thanks to Huddlestone’s brilliantly varied art-style there’s a great manic pace to the ensuing chase sequence that’s topped off with a lovely moment of sombre reflection from both writer and artist. Casey bookends the chase between plot continuation for luckless lawman Arnie B. Willard and developing the uneasy alliance between Baker’s rogue’s gallery as they try to track the hulking hero down via his usual haunts, attempting to destroy his life piece by piece. I think that’s where the appeal of this comic truly lies: it’s tackling such a range of styles, emotions, characters and story mechanics and doing it in a very successful, effective fashion without getting overwhelmed. The dark comedy edge is what ties all of the parts together but thankfully Casey is showing that there’s far more to this than crass humour and smile-inducing depravity. 7/10


STRANGE ADVENTURES #1
Writers: Various
Art: Various
DC/Vertigo $7.99

James R: Well I never - it's a lesser-spotted anthology book! Ladies and gents, this is a rarity, and you don't need to be a comics expert to see why. This book is a costly indulgence but one that has some absolute gems. It is the curse of anthologies that you get a mixed bag - some stuff that's stupefies, and some stories that are electrifying. In the latter category here are Jeff Lemire's Ultra: The Multi-Alien, which shows that in the hands of a great talent there's no such thing as a bad character. The part man-part-alien recently mocked by Conan O'Brien (he hoped that his creator had been "Fired...then murdered.") is transformed here with an amazing tale about identity and loss. As I've said before, Lemire is the master of the heartstrings, and it's clear from this story that after Sweet Tooth is done, DC should give him carte blanche to write whatever the hell he wants! I also loved the introduction to Azzarello and Risso's Spaceman, which looks like it will be a continuation of Azzarello's 100 Bullets with its reflection on humanity's dark side, whilst pulling in a host of sci-fi tropes and a healthy dose of dystopia. Next to these, some of the other tales read like filler, and in this fanboy's opinion it would have been wiser to run three stories at $3.99 rather than six at $7.99. The tales mentioned warrant a 9, but taken as an overall package, I have to give this... 7/10


MIGHTY THOR #2
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Olivier Coipel, Mark Morales & Laura Martin
Marvel $3.99

James R: Last week I took Matt Fraction to task over Invincible Iron Man which was so dull and lifeless that I could barely believe that it was the same book that he'd started with such aplomb. Credit where due this week, as it seems that his writing mojo is alive and well in the pages of Mighty Thor. After a great first issue, Fraction keeps up the pace this month as Thor and Sif attempt to train a new Brigade Of Realms whilst the Silver Surfer turns up in Broxton to herald the arrival of you-know-who. For someone who had previously been ambivalent about Thor, I'm finding this an addictive read, with Fraction not overwhelming the reader with the cosmic elements of the story, and developing a great mystery with Odin and the seed of the World Tree. The art from Coipel is as slick as you'd expect, and the sneak peak at next month's cover on the final page promises that we're in for a breathtaking face-off next month. I'll certainly be back for more of this Asgardian epic. 8/10

Matt C: The second issue confirms the first wasn’t a fluke as Fraction shows not only that he’s working with large, ancient canvas packed with weird and wonderful characters, but also that he has the ambition to keep things epic in scale. But, even with all the ominous events taking place in Asgard, the writer still finds the time to bring in the perspective of the ‘common man’, which helps ground things in a semi-believable reality, as well as offering a nice juxtaposition between the lives of the mortals and the immortals. And then the silver Surfer whips into view to announce the imminent arrival of Galactus - Fractions’ not messing around here! Neither is Coipel for that matter – his extravagantly beautiful panel compositions, lushly inked by Morales and given a seductive sheen by Martin’s colours, are a sight to behold. Fantastic work all round. 8/10

Stewart R: It’s always good when a comic puts a smile on your face either due to comedic touch or, as is the case of Mighty Thor, just through the sheer pleasure of reading something so damn good. Fraction has really found an enjoyable sense of epic scale in his writing on this new title, skipping from huge training battles against ungodly monsters, terrifically tense standoffs between the Asgardian elite and visits from incredibly powerful beings heralding the arrival of even greater threats. There’s a lot going on but it doesn’t feel anything like a labour to read through thanks to his succinct dialogue and of course the eye-wateringly beautiful artwork of Coipel, Morales and Martin. I’m a big supporter of the monthly format but, by the gods, this will be one attractive trade when it eventually gets bundled together! Get down your local comic book store and pick up the first two issues of this series if you haven’t already - I doubt you will be disappointed. 9/10


UNCANNY X-MEN #537
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson & Justin Ponsor
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: While my continuing faith in Uncanny’s place on my pull-list hasn’t been restored by this month’s offering, Kieron Gillen has certainly managed to get the hairs on the back of my neck up with the ending to #537. The big problem for me is just how easy he has the X-Men drawn into such a dangerous predicament in their own home as Kruun pursues his blood vendetta against Colossus and Kitty. I appreciate that after almost 50 years of history it must be hard to come up with threats and scenarios that can elevate the tension, but it occasionally becomes farcical to have these mutants on the back foot - or even bested in the initial stroke - on their home turf time and time again. Looking past that problem for one moment I must say that the tension produced as Kruun’s plan unfolds is gripping and the Dodson’s do a good job to sell the feeling that Utopia is almost paralysed during the attack. I’m sticking with it for now, not least because it’ll be interesting to see how the upcoming Schism affects this main book. 6/10


SECRET WARS II #9
Writer: Jim Shooter
Art: Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha & Christie Scheele
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: At last, as he reaches the penultimate issue of the series, Shooter nails it. Mostly he’s admirably attempted to say something profound about certain aspects of the human condition through the superhero medium, and up to this point, while a couple of astute insights have sneaked through, he’s failed to really achieve his aim and elevate this series into something ‘important’. Here though, he succeeds (and, yes, this is all relative, I’m not trying to claim this is high art or anything). The Beyonder’s frustration reaches fever pitch as he comes to the conclusion that human beings appear to treasure life so much because it is so brief and fragile. This concept seems beyond his grasp and so he decides perhaps the annoyance known as the multiverse should be wiped out once and for all. Some of the superhero cameos appear to have been shoehorned to sell more comics but on the whole we're given the most believable depiction of the Beyonder so far by, ironically, presenting him at his most human. The art remains perfunctory with occasional flashes of visual ingenuity here and there, but even factoring in that this is still a very good issue. 8/10

Mini Reviews 22/05/2011

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 includes the latest instalment of Matt C's Secret Wars Project.

ALPHA FLIGHT #0.1
Writers: Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente
Art: Ben Oliver, Dan Green & Frank Martin
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Phew, Marvel must surely be running out of great Point One issues now? Once again the initiative pays dividends as Pak and Van Lente light the touch paper under Canada’s first and best superhero team. I really have enjoyed what the two writers have accomplished here, taking us around some of the members of the team in a ‘roll-call’ type fashion but with a neat level of subtlety that allows newer readers to get a quick grip on these characters while hopefully not grating on the die-hard fans too much. Plus it allows the political nature of the upcoming storyline to be established AND allows Ben Oliver to really grab my attention with some fantastic visuals. Seriously, this guy - with the aid of Green and Martin - knows how to deliver an attractive book! A very promising start that has me looking at a title I hadn’t previously been interested in. 8/10

Matt C: While I was never a huge fan, I've always had a soft spot for Alpha Flight, but I only really engaged with them when John Byrne was in charge back in the '80s. I've looked in on them from time to time but while I liked the fact that they existed, I never really felt compelled to keep them under continuous watch. Still, I was rather pissed off when Bendis decided to wipe most of them out during a couple of pages of a New Avengers issue (one of the more obvious examples of his abuse of continuity) and glad when they were finally resurrected. I decided to give this a whirl as I've enjoyed a lot of what Van Lente and Pak have done in the past, and while it was a perfectly acceptable superhero read with some rather impressive visuals from Oliver (bar his interpretation of Sasquatch, which I’m not too keen on) there was nothing I saw that really jumped out and grabbed me, nothing that made me feel this deserved a place on my pull list. I'm glad there's an Alpha Flight series back in the marketplace, and I hope it gets an audience because it's not a bad book, but it's also not a book that I'll be following. 6/10


BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM #1
Writer: Scott Snyder & Kyle Higgins
Art: Trevor McCarthy & Guy Major
DC $2.99

James R: Scott Snyder's arrival on Detective Comics has been a revelation - as I've said before, it's easily my favourite current superhero title. One of the many great things he's done is bring Gotham, and it's effects on the psyche, to the fore of the book, and this miniseries represents an extension of that, plotting a tale of Gotham's past and present as the Bat-family fight against a mysterious bomber with a grudge against the old families of the city. Kyle Higgins works flawlessly with Snyder on the dialogue, and the art from McCarthy and Major is suitably dark without being tough to read. It's brilliant to see Snyder using Bruce Wayne and - hey! - Cassandra Cain too (and making her fit into Batman Incorporated continuity!). Sorry to sound like a broken record, but once again this is a great time to be a Bat-fan with Morrison and Snyder producing outstanding work. This miniseries looks like it will easily continue the standard. 8/10

Matt C: I would say with a certain measure of confidence that Scott Synder is currently the Paradox Comics Group's Bat-writer of choice following his recent work on Detective, so you can bet that many of us picked up the debut issue of this mini this week. It turns out Snyder receives a story credit but isn't responsible for the ‘dialogue’ - that's fallen to 'unknown' (well, he is to me!) Kyle Higgins to handle and he actually doesn't do a bad job at all. No one's reinventing the wheel here, instead Higgins (and Synder) are telling an engaging Batman story that incorporates various elements that we've seen before but does so in such a confident, enjoyable manner that you can't avoid being entertained. McCarthy's art has a slick animation kind of kick to it, and it works particularly well in some impressive action scenes. As long as you don't go in expecting something revolutionary then I’d recommend you get onboard with what has the makings of being a very decent Bat-tale. 7/10


X-MEN #11
Writer: Victor Gischler
Art: Al Barrionuevo, Michael Lacombe & Rain Beredo
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Following two big and successful arcs it feels a little strange to find a single, contained chapter turn up in Gischler’s run and one which, in my opinion, wouldn’t feel out of place in Mike Carey’s X-Men Legacy considering that it’s pretty Xavier-focused (though obviously looks at Jubilee’s recent transformation into a vampire too). We’re given a flashback to one of Charles’ early adventures and first meetings with a bloodsucker as he offers hope to Jubilee that she doesn’t have to follow the clichéd and destructive route of thirst for blood and power. What follows is a tale of African mystery, gun and knife fights, with a cocky Charles Xavier still learning to use his powers to become the great man that formed the X-Men. There’s plenty going on for sure; Gischler does a good job of portraying Xavier as a young man on the lookout for adventure and there’s a varied cast of thugs and female Russian gangsters to keep things interesting. The small problem is, despite enjoying this read, it still felt like the sort of thing found as a backup and, for $3.99 (and considering what has come before), I expect something a little more from this book. 7/10


UNDYING LOVE #2
Writer: Tomm Coker & Daniel Freedman
Art: Tomm Coker & Daniel Freedman
Image $2.99

Stewart R: There’s a real sense of intensity and urgency to this gun-filled vampire tale that makes it quite a compelling read and means that once again Image have managed to follow up a promising debut with successful second chapter. This particular issue sees the rugged and grizzled John Sargent take the fight directly to one of Hong Kong’s top vampires in the hope of bringing out the big boss who holds the key to Mei’s salvation. Looking through the credentials of this creative team there are titles mentioned that suddenly makes everything slot into place - Punisher, Daredevil, Wolverine - and the grimy, realistic feel depicted throughout (vampires aside of course!) screams of aspects and elements I’d associate with those other books. Coker and Freedman keep the cast small, the dialogue brief and effective, and the plan clear to ensure one hell of a whirlwind read. If the rest of Image’s No #1 campaign passed you by you should look here if you’re after something dark, brooding and brilliant. 8/10


INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #504
Writer: Matt Fraction
Art: Salvador Larroca & Frank D'Armata
Marvel $3.99

James R: He may be invincible, but The Underwhelming Iron Man seems a more apposite title for this book at the moment. This issue is a - ugh - Fear Itself tie-in (an event that has looked spectacularly pointless from the word go for me) and the plot here just felt leaden. Tony Stark investigates a disaster in Paris as the Grey Gargoyle wigs out and turns the denizens of the city into stone. It looks lovely - Larroca and D'Armata are a top-draw team - but I felt disconnected from the plot, which showed no signs of Fraction's gift for crafting dynamic and insightful stories. By the last page I had no interest in seeing how this one plays out, and the ongoing Stark Resilient soap opera is entirely free of dramatic tension. Seeing that Marvel insist on keeping this book at $3.99, I'm now starting to think that I could live without it until it takes on a new writer or a drastic new direction. 5/10

Stewart R: There are some Invincible Iron Man issues where Fraction takes the lead and Larroca gets to sit back a little and then others where Fraction throws a simple idea Salvador’s way and he really gets to go with it. This feels like one of those immense latter moments as Fraction’s major ongoing title gets sucked into Fear Itself in the most intense of ways. From the initial shot of the Grey Gargoyle sat atop Notre Dame cathedral to the armour-crunching encounter between his transformed self and everyone’s favourite gold and red hero, this is a superb piece of visual storytelling told against a devastating backdrop. The fate that befalls Paris does unfortunately smack of some miraculous ‘reset button’ approach to Fear Itself, which has me concerned for the event rather than this title’s involvement, but that’s a point for a few months down the line. For the moment this is once again a thrilling comic read. 8/10


CHEW #27
Writer: John Layman
Art: Rob Guillory & Taylor Wells
Image $2.99

Stewart R: The experiment has definitely worked! Layman and Guillory jump us almost a year into the future to bring us a story - which will be printed in the correct numerical order in trade paperback when it comes around - that shows that Tony has a troubled hospital visit coming his way and allows us to find out what his fraternal twin sister Toni Chu is all about. This adds several delightful mysteries to the mix, adds a few extra faces to this expansive and intriguing cast, and ties things to events that we’ve already experienced since issue #1 all those many, brilliant moons ago. The relationship between Toni and her boss, Supervisor Sharma, certainly looks promising and it’s going to be a great ride finding out what transpires to get us to this point. Plus, how much fun are the Chogs?? Great work Mr Guillory and Mr Layman! 8/10


UNCANNY X-FORCE #10
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Billy Tan, Rich Elson & Paul Mounts
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: A superb cover from Esad Ribic gives way to some far shinier artwork than we’ve seen on the series so far. Surprisingly that didn’t bug me as much as I thought it would as both Tan and Elson turn in some quality work, but really it’s a testament to Remender’s writing on the book that it can withstand artistic shifts and still remain enthralling. Here we see Angel finally snapping as Archangel takes full, murderous control, and his colleagues realise that drastic action needs to be taken. When you recall some of the drastic action X-Force have taken since the series began you’ll probably gather that they aren’t intent on giving Angel a stern talking to. It looks like we’re headed into the Age of Apocalypse next month, which suggests we’ll be sucked a little further into X-continuity, but based on what Remender has done so far I have no doubt that he can keep his individual take on the world of mutants free of contamination. An unexpected bonus this month sees the inclusion of an entire issue of another comic, Iron Man 2.0 #3. I’m not sure whether this is generosity or desperation on Marvel’s part, but I was pleased with the addition as it was actually a pretty good read, capturing the same kind of vibe as Fraction’s excellent Invincible Iron Man. I’m not sure it’s quite enough to get me to pick up an issue as I’ve never been that taken with War Machine, but I may be tempted if I spotted it on the shelf and I certainly won’t have a problem if Marvel do something like this again in the future. 8/10


BATMAN AND ROBIN #23
Writer: Judd Winick
Art: Guillem March & Andrei Bresson
DC $2.99

James R: This had the potential to be an epic fail for me. Firstly, I've never been convinced by Judd Winick as a writer, and feel he's not got to grips with Gotham in the same way that, for example, Scott Snyder has. Secondly, I'm also pretty underwhelmed by Guillem March as an artist - his style seemed a total misfit on Gotham City Sirens. So do two wrongs make a right? Almost. Winick returns to Grant Morrison's Red Hood storyline and we see Jason Todd initiate a plan to continue his psychopathic war on Gotham's underworld from behind bars. It's a pacey read and kudos to Winick for that. March’s art is okay - it remains a little too sketchy in some places, and oddly mangaesque in others. The problem here is that it didn't feel like an issue of Batman And Robin - under Morrison's stewardship the book had a particular flavour with stories tinted with strangeness and Dick & Damien front and centre. This just felt like a standard Batman comic, and that makes for a missed opportunity for me. Alright, but no more than that. 6/10


SILVER SURFER #4
Writer: Greg Pak
Art: Harvey Tolibao, Iban Coello, Sandu Florea & Wil Quintana
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Just as I advised you all to pick up the Taskmaster miniseries I find myself urging you to get a hold of this great Silver Surfer story. This issue is a heart-pounding tale of love and action as Norrin tries his best in his vulnerable human form to save Suzi Endo from her fate as the herald of the High Evolutionary. Pak throws the Future Foundation into the mix this time which had me initially concerned but works well to tie this to these characters’ shared history with current events (including a touching mention of Johnny’s death brilliantly delivered to the page by Coello’s pencils). The tag-team pencilling of Talibao and Coello is working well and though it is possible to distinguish where one starts and the other ends it’s not jarring and doesn’t distract from this gripping story. Pak’s study of Norrin’s newly found freedom and, in the same breadth, powerlessness is masterful, and those initial moments where Radd throws himself body and mind into his efforts to free Suzi Endo are really quite moving. This look set for a thumping finale and I can’t wait to find out where things will be left. 9/10


MALIGNANT MAN #2
Writers: James Wan & Michael Alan Nelson
Art: Piotr Kowalski & Jordie Bellaire
Boom! Studios $3.99

Matt C: After a decent debut issue, this sophomore effort sees things take a bit of a dive. The story works when it’s on the move with our protagonist on the run from evil forces intent on his demise, but roughly halfway through here it grinds to a halt to make way for an excessive slab of exposition that pretty much saps the mystery and intrigue from the proceedings, in an often embarrassing manner. The art still packs in a lot of energy and I still have enough curiosity to see where things will end up, but I’m sure I wasn’t alone in groaning when I laid eyes upon that final page reveal. Hopefully they’ll be able to regain some momentum now they’ve got all the explaining out of the way, as I did feel there was definite potential here. 5/10


HULK #33
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Gabriel Hardman & Elizabeth Breitweiser
Marvel $2.99

Stewart R: Okay, so it doesn’t turn out to be the huge royal rumble, an orgy of destruction that the cover suggests it could be but that doesn’t stop this from being a rip-roaring Hulk-ride of emotion and action. Parker has slowly made it easier for the reading audience to warm to Red Hulk as he’s been forced to go on the run and been bombarded and attacked by enemies from all sides. As he’s grown wearier from each attack the gruff edge of Thunderbolt Ross seems to have melted away some and that’s incredibly evident in this issue where the efforts to keep Ross awake and moving in his gamma form take him and his LMD (Life Model Decoy for those not in the know) crew to an aircraft graveyard so that he can catch a small break and reminisce a little. Suffice to say when all hell breaks loose it’s evident that Parker has managed to craft this tale in such a way that seemingly hardened and tough characters, and not just Hulks here, can be and are vulnerable - when Hardman then lays that out on the page the tension is terrific. The artist’s work on this book to date has been tremendous and this is another instalment that both he and Parker can be incredibly proud of. 8/10


G.I. JOE #166
Writer: Larry Hama
Art: Ron Wagner, Gary Erskine & J. Brown
IDW $3.99

Stewart R: Sometimes Larry Hama’s simple, almost retro approach to handling these characters doesn’t work and sometimes it’s a joy to behold. The previous couple of issues had suffered a little from the ‘ham dial’ being turned up to ‘squealtastic’ but that’s now easily overlooked thanks to an issue that shows just how good G.I. Joe was and can still be today. This is a Joe battle scribed with the same blunt, colourful pen used to write the comic of the 1990s and it’s good, fun entertainment. Following the Baronesses’ rescue the Joe’s uncover the hidden Cobra base in New Jersey, the tensions within the Cobra hierarchy reach a head and a whole lot of ordinance is unleashed from pier to the seabed and in every other direction in between. Hama makes a sensible choice to keep the sea battle relatively low-key in terms of participants and Wagner really does capture that simple high-speed and frenetic action that made me fall in love with this comic book world back in my youth. The only disappointment is that Hama still doesn’t seem to know how to dial down the crazy Cobra Commander personality as he’s spoiling a decent book otherwise. 7/10


SECRET WARS II #7
Writer: Jim Shooter
Art: Al Milgrom, Steve Leialoha & Juliana Ferriter
Marvel $0.75

Matt C: Possibly the best issue yet as Mephisto corrals a plethora of villains and, with the assistance of some cosmic deities, hatches a plan to destroy the Beyonder lest he attempt to eradicate Mephisto’s beloved Death permanently (like he did last issue, temporarily). I’ve always been fond of Mephisto as a character – hey, who doesn’t like a Satan analogue who tortures souls for all eternity as a form of amusement? – and Shooter handles him well here, and having the Thing as the Beyonder’s saviour is a nice twist considering Ben Grimm’s assertion that omnipotent one ruined his life. What stops this being a great issue is the presence of Doctor Doom in Mephisto’s villainous army. Surely the architect of the Beyonder’s near defeat in the original Secret Wars series would attract his attention? It certainly did when they met in Fantastic Four #288! I guess we could assume it’s Kristoff rather than Victor Von Doom, but it’s enough of a distraction having him there that it kind of dilutes the impact of an issue that’s generally more successful than what’s come before. 7/10