Mike’s reviews:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27
Buffy, the Scoobs and the army of slayers are magically transported to Tibet to visit an old friend, the dingo in Dingo Ate My Baby, Oz (AKA Daniel Osbourne), in Buffy the Vampire Slayer #27. The four-color Seth Green stand-in recounts his trials and tribulations as an ex-werewolf. Things have changed for Oz: there’s a Mrs. Oz and a baby (I hope the dingo doesn’t eat THIS baby). Meanwhile, Twilight, with his own pack of series guest stars, Amy, Warren and Riley, are busy needling in a haystack. Writer Jane Espenson expositiony script moves slower than the “Dollhouse” pilot (that’s really slow, people!).
Grade: C+
Captain America Reborn #2
Captain America Reborn #2 is here and it’s a doozy! Steve Rogers is leaping around in his own timeline (”Quantum Leap” creator Donald Bellisario could not be reached for comment), revisiting his past and trying to get back to his future. Bickering scientists, Richards and Pym (no, not Lem and Phil from “Better Off Ted” this time), are searching for answers. Great writing by Ed Brubaker and gorgeous art by Bryan Hitch make Captain America Reborn the book to beat this week.
Grade: A -
Tim’s reviews:
Captain America: Reborn #2
Ed Brubaker isn’t exactly moving along at a whirlwind pace in this limited series. This issue gave us more of Steve Rogers’ point of view as he continued to jump through time. I do think Brubaker has Steve’s voice down, Cap sounded familiar and likable, even if he did resort to a little cussin’. Bucky Cap and Black Widow take on Ares and Venom, and it is fun seeing that one of those things is not like the others; Ares is the real deal. He took out Bucky pretty easily and I believed it, while I had a harder time accepting that Venom could actually defeat the Black Widow.
There was no real develoment with the Red Skull or Arnim Zola, the real mastermind for this issue was Norman Osborn. Osborn informed the press of Sharon Carter’s culpability in Cap’s death, making her a wanted woman. He then informs Bucky and Widow that if Carter doesn’t turn herself in, she will be responsible for the death of more than one Cap. It’s intriguing stuff, and I have to think that Osborn has some sort of plan that can get Rogers’ returned and prepped to be taken over by the Red Skull. Crossbones and Sin did show up briefly, so I’m thrilled that their story isn’t over yet.
Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice do a great job with the art once again. The sequence with Master Man was tremendous, with Cap doing some nice aerial acrobatics to drive MM two stories down into a parked car. Hitch definitely does well at the widescreen action.
Grade: B-
War of Kings #6
DnA wrapped up their sci-fi epic nicely, finally delivering the huge brawl we all wanted; Vulcan vs. Black Bolt. Much of the issue shows this fight in detail. You know things are getting hard core when Black Bolt actually has to speak on more than one occasion. Vulcan brought everything BB could handle, and it was fun seeing such powerful characters battle it out. Even after BB shouts directly at Vulcan, seemingly killing him, Vulcan rises a few moments later and starts ranting about how as an Omega Level Mutant, there is no way to kill him. The battle ended with a huge explosion, probably taking both characters off the board for a bit. Pretty cool stuff.
The other stars of the issue are probably the folks who will end up leading their respective factions after the War of Kings. Gladiator of the Shi’ar Imperial Guard strides into the streets, carrying the Imperial Scepter after it was dropped by Lilandra. He is immediately greeted by cries of “Majestor!” What a cool idea. The ultra-loyal Gladiator may end up leading the Empire he has served so long. It is a fantastic idea that I can’t believe took this long to get to. As for the Inhumans and Kree, the issue ends with Medusa wracked with anguish over her husbsand’s death (as I said, that won’t stick though). Crystal is standing strong after taking action to stop BB’s over-reaching plan to forcefully mutate the galaxy with the Terrigen Mists. I think Crystal and her husband Ronan will be the leaders of the Kree after this. Cosmic Marvel is going to be an interesting place for awhile!
Paul Pelletier brought the house down with the violent collision between Black Bolt and Vulcan. The fight atomized their surroundings and Pelletier did a great job portraying the raw power being thrown around.
Grade: B+
Secret Six #12
Wonder Woman comes off kind of rough in the newest chapter of the DCU’s most vile super-team. I suppose we can excuse WW’s behavior since she thinks that Artemis is dead when she arrives, but I was still surprised when WW threatened to make Deadshot into a eunuch if he attacked. Gail Simone writes WW in her own book, is this how tough WW appears there?
Naturally, Deadshot attacks anyway and gets taken out pretty quick. As always, the greater threat forced the Six to put aside their differences and team up. After Jeanette turns into a true banshee (while she does, she looks like classic Superman baddie the Silver Banshee) she successfully drops WW. It was surprising, but it worked into the story just fine since Artemis is of course, not dead, and the Six are able to get back into their employers good graces by turning WW over. It seems the villains have a pretty bad dude chained up in the basement; the devil himself. The DCU’s devil looks a lot like Marvel’s Jackal. It will be pretty fun if this is the real deal, but in any case, this guy looks like trouble.
I will admit I was disappointed when Scandal asks Bane to get back on the Venom so that he can bring his full power to bear. Poor Bane just can’t catch a break.
Nicola Scott rocks this issue. Her Wonder Woman looks fantastic and the fight against the Six has some wonderfully unique perspective shots that really made the fight memorable. Scott’s take on the new Banshee and Devil characters looks great too.
Grade: B
Brett’s reviews:
War of Kings #6
Wait – what the hell happened? This book was going fantastically, one of the best space stories marvel has done to date. It was going to take it’s place next to the Infinity Gauntlet saga. Only, this last issue of WoK didn’t actually end the story. Yes, we see the fight between Black Bolt and Vulcan and we get a splash page of what will become of Gladiator, but there is no fallout. There is no aftermath. There is no epilogue. The book ends … followed by a solicitation for a book coming in September that I’m guessing is called “Who Will Rule?” but isn’t made explicitly clear.
I call shenanigans on this, Marvel. I liked the book, don’t get me wrong, but it says “6 of 6″ on the cover. Not “6 of 6 … with the ending coming next month!” Maybe if there were one or two less pages of punching between the two kings…
Grade: D (Politics aside, the issue actually gets a B.)
Amazing Spider-Man #601
Call me old-fashioned, but a Spidey book without an occasional MJ appearance is no Spidey book I want to read. She makes her return in a genuinely interesting way as she swaps the usual roles with Peter this issue. I’m also elated to see some great supporting cast action as we see everyone from the newly rediscovered Reilly clan to Glory Grant! Say what you will about “Brand New Day” (and believe me, there is a lot to say about it), I am decidedly in love with the flow this book has been in since the revamp. This is the perfect mixture of the original tone of the book while maintaining it as modern work and not simply retreading Silver Age material.
There’s also a back-up story by Bendis and Joe Quesada. I’m not sure if it isn’t simply a glorified commercial for New Avengers, but it’s harmless. Unfortunately, it isn’t much more than harmless.
Grade: A-
Captain America Reborn #2
Brubaker knows how to tell a story, that’s for damn sure. I’m fairly certain the emphasis on Cap’s 1940s exploits are intended for the mass media audiance as much of what we see is already ingrained in comic readers’ minds. I’m all for a quick review, but there are many pages dedicated to his origin and defining WWII exploits.
Back in the current day, the story seems more more natural in the Marvel Universe now. Frankly, Osborn’s reign (no pun intended, I swear) over the MU works exceedingly well with the espionage story that’s been brewing (Bru-ing?) for the past two years. It almost feels like a loss to only have the two halves meet now, but here’s hoping Osborn will stick around the main title in whatever way is feasible given its status post-Reborn. I’m also bowled over by Osborn ace-in-the-hole and the sheer bravado it took him to reveal what he did. This may be a somewhat over-hyped media event, but you can’t say it isn’t changing things for the characters involved.
Grade: B+
Agents of Atlas #9
While this issue wasn’t exactly a page-turner, it put into place the next storyline that has now become my most anticipated in Marvel’s books. The discovery of an Atlas rival in China was nothing compared to the other revelation in this issue and even that is nothing compared to what’s to come. As Woo and Atlas move away from the “Dark Reign” storyline, they’re moving into what could be a self-contained epic much like Excalibur’s “Cross Time Caper” or the original “Armor Wars” in Iron Man.
The art in this issue wavers greatly, though only one pencil/inker is credited. Agents of Atlas is still too new to have a definitive artist or even a definitive style per se, but it would be great to see someone who can meld Golden Age storytelling with modern sensibilities and appearance. This is a book that very much straddles the line between the pulp books of the 50’s and the modern MU. It’s a tricky ride I’m asking for, this I do not argue, but a series of this overall caliber merits a fantastic and talented artist to match the writing.
So this issue may not hit on all cylinders, it’s an essential establishing shot to get us ready for what seems to be an epic story coming up in the next few months. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll jump on now and not be left out.
Grade: C+
Nick’s reviews:
The Amazing Spider-Man #601
After last issue’s epic battle, it was nice to get a little bit of a break and catch up with Peter’s personal life in Amazing Spider-Man. I’m wondering if Peter and MJ’s inability to meet one another was really the alcohol from May’s wedding, or if Mephisto’s magic has not worn off yet. Really wondering about the Empire State Building going haywire (Electro?). Also, apparently now that MJ is back you can cue the “busty MJ cover” from here on out.
Most balls-y moment: A foiled robber lets Spidey know what he thinks of him: “Hate.”
Grade: B-
Captain America: Reborn #2
Sadly, issue #2 has done very little to reveal any more plot or explain just what the heck is going on in Steve Rogers mind. I guess we are going to have to wait until issue three to get any kind of answers. Reed Richards sounds like he has a technical way to explain Steve’s resurrection up his sleeve, but he better make it good. I assume that most fans are waiting for this resurrection to make no sense so that they can use it as another excuse to not bring superheroes back from the dead.
Most balls-y moment: Honestly, the cover has an image of Captain America putting Hitler in a choke hold. It does not get much ballsier than that.
Grade: C+
Sean’s reviews:
Doom Patrol #1
Before GMo wrote his Midlife Crisis and basically waved his private parts at.. well, everyone, he was responsible for making Doom Patrol, the misfit team of the DCU the misfit team of the DCU. After he left, Rachel Pollack continued the weirdness, really setting DP apart from the typical Sock! Pow! comic book story-lines. Then there was John Byrne… p-tuh! but we will speak of him no more! Now, Kieth Giffen brings Doom Patrol to where everyone else in the comics’ world is: Sock! Pow! seasoned with a dash of psychology. It’s so meta. So tragically meta. It isn’t that I don’t enjoy a good parsing of “Why?” and “How does that make you feel?”, but I prefer it in Special Victim’s Unit. Giffen means well, I’m sure – his 80’s JLA is still brilliant as far as I’m concerned – but his debut issue of DP is just OK. Maybe if the last page had been somewhere around page 7 I’d go along for the ride, but dommage.
Grade: C-
