ALL-STAR SUPERMAN #8(w. Grant Morrison, a. Frank Quitely)
Well, it had to happen. Finally, an All-Star Superman issue that I am not freaking out about. It wasn't a bad issue by any means. I guess the book suffered from the expectations it has created for itself. That, and it was part two of a story. The book's strengths have been the done-in-one style, and this storyline has moved away from that. The first part held up beautifully, but this one seemed like what it was: a middle act. A middle act of Bizarro-speak for its entirety. But regardless, the story is still good, the Frank Quitely art was scrumptious, and my faith in this book has not diminished in any way. Still the best super hero book on the market, bar none. (The streak of Book of the Week's for this title comes to an end at seven.)
Y: THE LAST MAN #57(w. Brian Vaughan, a. Pia Guerra)
For my dollar, this was the best Y: The Last Man issue in as long as I can remember. Granted, it had the advantage of being the issue where Yorick (SPOILER WARNING) reunites with his long lost girlfriend. And everything goes, pretty much how I would want and expect. They fuck like crazy, and then the serious talk comes. I was not surprised in the least when she tells him that she was going to break up with him, it was evident in Issue #1, but it was great to finally see all this play out. Really, it was a great extended scene for both characters. Good job Brian and Pia. The last page was another in a long line of good Vaughan cliffhangers. I am sad and excited to see this book finish up. Runner-up book this week.
SCALPED #7(w. Jason Aaron, a. R.M. Guera)
I can see this is going to be one of those books that is hard to talk about, only because it's going to be that damn good, month after month. This is Part 2 of the 6 part "Casino Boogie" where each part is told from the point of view of a different character. This time, it's the series' big bad: Chief Lincoln Red Crow. This is arguably the best issue of the series yet. We get opening night of the casino present day, while we get flashbacks ranging from Red Crow's painful childhood to some of his grizzly crimes. We get to some insight as to why he makes (read: rationalizes) the choices he makes, and ultimately we end up sympathizing with him. Which I didn't expect to ever do. The last sequence was punctuated with a perfect last page, which cemented this as my BOOK OF THE WEEK.
UNCANNY X-MEN #488: The main story was good, better than last issue, but I'm still not sure what to make of Endangered Species.
NEW WARRIORS #2(w. Kevin Grevioux, a. Paco Medina)
I did not love this quite as much as the first issue, but I'm really happy with this title right now. Sofia is standing out as a very nice main character, and the slow reveal of who and what these new New Warriors are is great fun. And helloooo!? JUBILEE! Really happy to see her used somewhere. And this time in a good way: She popped up briefly in Wolverine Origins but it didn't have this kind of pizazz, that's for sure. Some questions that are starting to pop up two issues in: Why are the New Warriors SO intent on getting Sofia? What does she bring to the team that any de-powered mutant does not? I mean, after they pitched big and she turned them down, they come back with Pitch #2 with Jubilee? I'm curious to see what happens, but that needs to be answered for me. Paco Medina is a really fun young artist, and he knocks another one out of the park. He is perfect for this material.
FALLEN SON -- IRON MAN(w. Jeph Loeb, a. John Cassaday)
So this is finally over. I don't want to be too hard on it, but as it turns out, besides a lot of Marvel hype, this was not necessary at all. We got a bunch of issues that NEEDED TO BE TOLD, that really didn't need to be. The series got better with each issue, but that's not saying much. This one was odd because I was really happy with the way Brubaker handled the Falcon speech in Captain America: Characters talking about the great speech rather than actually hearing it. And this one undercut that with actually having to hear it. I am well aware that that might be a personal thing, rather than a legitimate criticism, but it was something that stood out for me when it happened in Cap. Other than that, John Cassaday was amazing here. His pencils are awesome, and it was nice to see him drawing the rest of the Marvel Universe, even if it was for only one issue (and this one at that). Anyway, less said about this series the better. Moving along.
THOR #1(w. J. Michael Straczynski, a. Oliver Copiel)
I have never read Thor regularly. I think besides a random book or two from the 80's in my collection, I own the first two issues of the Heroes Reborn book, and that was more because of John Romita Jr's art and the hype of the Heroes returning than the character. Still, I buy most #1's Marvel puts out, especially of the big characters, so here I am. And it was okay. Nothing special, nothing bad. Problem was, most of the issue was Blake and Thor talking between flashbacks about how he isn't really dead, he is a god, etc. All of that stuff is necessary too, since Thor was actually dead, but I'm more curious about what is to come from here. The last few pages back on Earth were good, and I'll be curious to see an eventual meeting between him and the Marvel Heroes that just cloned him. Copiel was good, and his art style definitely suits the material for sure. I'm around for a bit.
DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER BORN #6: A lot of plot in one issue, good stuff, excited to see how it closes out.
ACTION COMICS #851: The issue was okay, but it was fucking FUN to look at the pictures through the 3-D glasses. Good gag, now get back to the story.
RUNAWAYS #27(w. Joss Whedon, a. Michael Ryan)
Most of my problems with Whedon's Runaways were being put to rest by the end of last issue, and with this book, they are mostly gone. (For now, until they en up back in the present.) Joss' voice for the characters was never in question, it was just the goofy plotting. And somehow we get an even sillier storyline (a time travel caper) and it makes it all come together for me. I've been hard on Ryan's pencils, but this one was pretty good. As always with these things, it was just a matter of distancing himself from Alphona a bit. The cover was awesome too, and I'm totally back on board with the Runaways again. Fun issue.
PUNISHER #49: Holy shit, Garth! The end was weird as hell, but it amazes me how much sick shit makes sense in Frank Castle's world when seen through Ennis's eyes.
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #1 & 2(w. Robert Kirkman, a. Jason Howard)
So I never did make it out to a store for Free Comic Book Day, so I was never able to get this book. But all-around nice bearded man, Robert Kirkman, put out a "Director's Cut" version with the release of the second issue, allowing me (and some others, I'm sure) a chance to catch up.
[Side bar: Shouldn't we come up with a better name than "Director's Cut" for comic books?
I mean "Writer's Cut" or even "Creator's Cut" might be better than something that doesn't exist in comics, no?]Regardless, what Kirkman gives us is basically "if Batman was a Werewolf." Which is fine, really. No reinvention of the wheel, but so far, two issues in it's a fun blend of superhero and horror trappings. If you are a Kirkman fan, you get the exact comic book you would expect from the title Astounding Wolf-Man. I hope this book moves at a pace more like Invincible than Walking Dead, but something tells me with the superhero backdrop, it will. Fun.
G.I. JOE: AMERICA'S ELITE #25(w. Mark Powers, a. Mike Bear)
After the disastrous ending to the last storyline, we are back with the start of an epic 12-part storyline-- World War 3. Cobra is turning up the heat full force everywhere (with some new characters) and G.I. Joe gets the band back together to fight back. Some really fun action sequences led by my man Mike Bear. I'm critical of some individual panels here and there, but he and colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu (I had to look it up) are bringing a really unique and kick-ass look to this title. Little too early in the storyline to really talk about too much, but good start and the promise of FIREFLY (!!!) next issue always makes me happy. I hope Powers makes him cool again, as some of his appearances under the Devil's Due banner have been lacking. Oh, and for a long-time Joe fan, the cover was cool as hell. It was even my computer wallpaper for a while.
THE EXTERMINATORS #19: Another Exterminators issue, which means: It entertains me, but I'm not sure at all where it is going. The last splash page was nasty.
FAKER #1(w. Mike Carey, a. Jock)
What the hell was this Mr. Carey? I don't know that I liked it, but I do know that I'm curious. First of all, none of the characters are likable. In fact, the introduction to our first character, where she seduces a professor and blackmails him, lets you know what kind of people we are dealing with. Some kids return to school, and as they show back up some really weird shit happens. One kid (the most likable) is not recognized by anyone, and no one seems to think he even existed before. And another climbs to the top of the clock tower and announces that he isn't real. An odd book, and since Mike Carey has been more hit than miss with me the last couple of years, I'll definitely see this through. Jock is almost a little out of place here (since it's not an action issue), but he's usually good. And he's at least that here. Sweet cover.
MIDNIGHTER #9: Fun Midnighter nonsense, but I feel like I just read this issue.
WELCOME TO TRANQUILITY #8
TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT: GALVATRON
ULTIMATE POWER #6: Man, I really wish I had a Squadron Supreme book instead.
LONERS #4(w. C.B. Cebulski, a. Karl Moline)
I'm not really sure what this title is trying to do at this point, and as an (at times) entitled reader, I'm not sure what I want from it. What I do know, is that it was easily the best issue of the mini so far. But of course, that's not saying too much. This issue concentrates on Julie Power as her life as a super-powered stunt woman comes to an end when she has a Hollywood casting couch moment. Through this she is able to grow up a little, and realize that this whole powers thing isn't all fun and games. It has some sillier emotional moments, like you would expect in a teen drama such as Dawson's Creek, and that's okay, because for the most part it worked. I was getting into the soapy aspect of it all. Then suddenly, at the last page, I was yanked back into the super hero world proper, which just left me cold. Dunno. The covers are still a ton of fun.
CITY OF OTHERS #3: The less said about this the better, too. Not good.
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