Mike Buzzelli’s reviews:
Captain America #601
Captain America #601 is a stale tale about Captain America, and his sidekick Bucky, thwarting vampires in a small Belgium village during WWII. The story is told in flashback by James Buchanan “Bucky” Barnes to Nick Fury (there’s even a flashback in a flashback as Steve Rogers tells a soldier his origin as Captain America). The only bright spot is the return of legendary artist Gene Colan. The art is dark and moody, full of Colan’s trademark sketchiness. Unfortunately the story gathers more dust than a just-staked vampire.
Grade: D
Dark Avengers #7
In Dark Avengers #7, the titular characters make a very brief appearance. The story focuses on Emma Frost as she leads a new team of X-Men (Namor, Mimic, Weapon Omega, Dark Wolverine, Cloak and Dagger), sanctioned by Stormin’ Norman Osborn, to quell riots in San Francisco. It’s H.A.M.M.E.R time for a group of misfit mutants; led by Hellion, and comprised of Avalanche (looking more like Irving Forbush), and a group of background characters from various X-Titles. It’s an intriguing tale for the diamond-in-the-rough, Frost as she and Norman dance around their trust issues, but it would have been more interesting with the Dark X-Men capturing more notable mutants, or seeing the actual eponymous heroes get into the action.
Grade: C –
X-Factor #46
In X-Factor #46, Shatterstar has reunited with Rictor (reunited…and it feels so good). It’s just another kiss, but it’s lighting up the Internet. Meanwhile, Cortex sends his newest puppet, Monet St. Croix, on a deadly mission, but Theresa Cassidy cuts the strings. Eighty years in the future, Jamie Madrox tries to make sense of a conversation between Layla Miller and a senile Victor Von Doom. Also, a surprise X-villain returns, but you only readers whose memories are longer than Doom’s will be rewarded. Scribe Peter David moves the pieces around incrementally, and three plotlines come together. Unfortunately, if you’re waiting for Rictor to unlock his lips from Shatterstar, you have to keep waiting another month. The infamous kiss is setting Guinness records (Let’s hope Rictor uses Scope).
Grade: B –
Agents of Atlas #8
In Agents of Atlas #8, Namora, Gorilla-Man, Temugin, and Venus battle some bug-eyed monsters and the incredible Hulk. The agents are off to disband another one of their secret bases. At the base, mad scientists are converting drifters into monsters, but one of the drifters, Dr. Bruce Banner, can transform into a monster without anyone’s help. A big brawl breaks out, but, in the end, Venus uses her music to soothe the Hulk’s savage breast. It’s not Jeff Parker’s best issue (raise your hand if your tired of seeing Venus win every argument with her love songs), but it’s better than a lot of stuff out there this week.
Grade: B-
Tim Schmidt’s reviews:
Mighty Avengers #27
I’m surprised to see Christos Gage credited with scripting over Dan Slott’s plot here. It looks like Gage will be coming on as a co-writer, based on recent interviews. I’m be fine with that, since I like both writers and they worked well together back on Avengers: The Initiative.
Most of the story here is a flashback to the fall of a CENSORED character, a mysterious former king of the Inhumans who removed something called a Slave Engine from Attilan. It seems this reduced Attilan’s standing in the world and changed it to its well-known status as a “great refuge.” I never got a full-on villain vibe from our mystery king, even though he was facing off against youthful heroes Black Bolt, Medusa, Gorgon, and Karnak. We do see the king again in the present when US Agent, Quicksilver, and the GRAMPA agent see him take on a new Chinese super-team (including Radioactive Man!). USAgent has the best line of the book when he yells out that they just got “Alpha Flight’ed” when the king takes them out in one hit. What a great new verb, even if I’m still annoyed that Alpha was taken out so easily in New Avengers.
Pym’s new HQ is revealed too, Avengers Infinity Mansion, a huge HQ with teleportation doors leading all over the world. I get the impression each Avengers member has quarters there, which is a neat idea. Jocasta maintains the place and now can bounce control amongst multiple robot bodies.
Koi Pham’s art is looking more refined than he did in his last issue. I think the break between issues allowed Pham to spend time tightening his pencils making this look pretty strong. I will say I think the book would benefit from a regular penciller.
Grade: B-
Walking Dead #63
So much for my theory that the “Hunters” were just another group of survivors that had been scarred by similar circumstances as our main group! Dale isn’t being grilled for information like I thought, what is happening is much worse.
We also find out more about the newest addition to the group when the preacher explains why he deserves to die. It turns out he turned the other cheek and let his congregation suffer outside the church while he remained barricaded inside and hoarded food to ensure his own survival. It’s a pretty scummy thing to do, but I don’t know that any of the cast is innocent at this point, so I’m curious to see if they allow him to join their group permanently. The meat of the issue is the revelation of the hunters and their motivations. It’s a post-apocalyptic staple to include this type of survivor, so I’m hungry to see how Kirkman handles these guys going forward.
Charlie Adlard’s pencils are well done as always. He really nails the closing scene perfectly, and the big reveal should leave you feeling sick to your stomach.
Grade: B
Captain America #601
Huh. I hadn’t figured on liking this as much as I did. It certainly was the one-shot style story that I had feared it would be, but the story held up much more than I expected. Winter Cap tells Nick Fury of a WWII encounter that he and Cap where they had to go up against their friends. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wasn’t expecting vampires. It makes sense of course, considering how well Gene Colan handles drawing the undead. The story is fairly generic, with the heroic pair running around taking out vampires in the usual ways. I did like seeing Cap and Bucky in this type of partnership, where they seemed a lot more like equals than the sidekick relationship we used to get. Cap never comes across as weak, but he’s certainly more compassionate than Bucky, so it’s neat seeing them on equal footing.
Gene Colan is the star of the issue. His Cap and Bucky both look great. Colan weaves a tapestry of gloom with shadowed pencils that really sells the horror aspects of the story. The gloomy WWII front comes alive with threatening shadows made even spookier since there are ghouls in the darkness. Ed Brubaker did a great job crafting a story that played to Colan’s strengths. In the past I’ve been unimpressed by some of Colan’s work, but his work in this issue sells the story through his excellent use of atmosphere.
Grade: B-
Randy Broadwater’s reviews:
Batman: Streets of Gotham #2
Streets of Gotham is basically Dini’s Detective Comics with a new name and a new Batman. That’s it. The quality is still the same (solid), the art is good, and the storyline is interesting. Dini manages to make Firefly a genuine threat- I know, I’m shocked too. Also, there’s a very interesting side-story set around a certain Bruce Wayne look-alike that could prove fun. I know a lot of people that like Manhunter and are just as excited, if not more, for the Manhunter companion story but I have to be honest- I have no interest in the character and I got bored and started skimming/speed reading halfway through. That said, the Batman storyline more than makes up for it for me.
Grade: B
Deadpool #12
Finishing out the showdown between the “Merc with a Mouth” and Bullseye/Dark Hawkeye, Deadpool is still just as consistently entertaining as the previous issues. The story is resolved in a fun and interesting way that had me laughing out loud a couple of times. The only down side for me was the very end, which I just didn’t think worked as well as the writer was intending. Still, Deadpool remains one of the few monthly titles out right now that I can’t wait to read each month.
Grade: A-
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic #43
The Star Wars expanded universe isn’t doing so hot right now in the novels. Luckily, Dark Horse has been amazing when it comes to the comics, and Knights of the Old Republic is no exception. Issue 43 kicks off a new two part storyline seeing Zane and his crew trying to con a mining operation that uses slaves, provided by Jareal’s former slaver group, to do dangerous asteroid mining. The idea is to pose as slavers, get inside the operation, set free the slaves and then destroy the business. Of course, that doesn’t go as planned. The issue was solid, as the entire run has been for the most part. Knights of the Old Republic and Legacy, in particular, can always be counted on to tell great SW stories, and it seems that this storyline, short though it may be, will continue the trend.
Grade: A
Nick Kier’s reviews:
Dark Reign: Hawkeye #1-3
So, apparently I am just a sucker for these What-If-esque storylines that Marvel is kind of just throwing into their regular continuity. But, Bullseye being the new “Dark” Hawkeye? Amazing! I love how Norman Osborne’s team of select super villains is constantly slipping through his grip and the only way he can get around the legal issues that surround his cleanup of their mistakes is to say two little words; national, security. Remind you of anyone? I am also really impressed at how the writers for the different Dark Reign titles are all somehow able to make the loss of innocent life the punchline in these books. I don’t really care for the covers to these books, but the work inside is perfectly serviceable. The writing does not seem to shine in any one place, but it does keep me guessing as to just what the hell is going on inside Bullseye’s head and that is enough for me.
Most balls-y moment: After saving a woman from abduction and possible rape, Bullseye puts a pen through her eye into her brain for referring to Norman Osborn as his “boss.”
Grade: B+
X-Men: Forever #1-2
I have to say, I was more impressed with Claremont and Grummet’s X-Men Forever than I was expecting to be. In an “unprecedented comics event,” Chris Claremont returns to X-Men after a 16-year run and an 18-year hiatus. It is awesome to throwback to a less complicated time in Marvel comics. There are no Skrull invasion fleets, no Civil War, and Jean Grey is still smoking as The Phoenix. The writing and the artwork in these issues make it clear that the series is not going to try to revitalize anything, but rather continue the story that ended in 1991. This means very few panels that show artwork and many, many panels that feel too busy with thought bubbles narrating a fight that is currently happening. All in all it’s a good throw-back, and I intend to pick up these issues twice a month from now on to see if this series really gets its wings back.
Most balls-y moment: In a rage, Storm burns out Sabertooth’s eyes with lightning.
Grade: B-
Sean McGrath’s reviews:
New Mutants #3
The mutant whom I wanted to see hand Legion his schizophrenic butt, didn’t; however, the one who did, did it so wonderfully I can’t fault the writer for letting it roll that way. However, the former mutant did get a good shot off at Sam before arming herself for bear. Schizophrenic bear.
Grade: B-
