The Week in Comics: April 23rd 2014

Welcome to The Week in Comics!

This is my weekly column where I go through the new comics releases that I read every week, what I liked and what I didn't. Safe to say there'll be some spoilers but I'll try to keep them light.

So if you're looking for what to read or just some random guy's opinion on the comics he read this week (that's me. Hi there!) then join me as I separate the BEST from the REST in The Week in Comics!

The Best

Daredevil #2

Marvel. Waid, Samnee, Rodriguez.

A stronger, more all round fun issue than the debut last month, this time around we get a wider view of Matt Murdock’s new status quo, as well as a few more players on the board. A shameless yet hilariously tongue-in-cheek rip-off of DC’s Caped Crusader in new enemy The Shroud – one created purely to silence Daredevil’s (admittedly dwindling) critics who have drawn one too many comparisons between Horn-head and Bats in years gone by. Then there’s the mystery surrounding Foggy Nelson – what is going on there?! Well written, superbly drawn, worth your time and money.

Fantastic Four #3

Marvel. Robinson, Kirk, Kesel, Arburtov.

Wow. This was surprisingly enjoyable, mainly for its sheer volume of referencing. With more than one eye firmly in the FF history books, James Robinson is really creating a run that feels like it matters. More than that, because of the stunning level of detail in not only back-story but character development, it feels like he’s building on a richly established world. Which, ok, everyone is when they pay in the Marvel sandbox, but with the constant renumbering and strong focus on ‘new readers’, it’s refreshing and very rewarding to find a book that’s not shying away from acknowledging the full lives these characters have had, and how that influences their future. Really great stuff.

Harbinger #22

Valiant. Dysart, Henry, Reber.

The story I’ve been dreading for a while has begun, and we inch ever closer to the Death of a Renegade…gulp! Click here for my full review on IndieAltRepeat.

Letter 44 #6

ONI Press. Soule, Alberquerque, Jackson.

The first arc is over, and concludes with the same high quality as I’ve come to know and love from this series. Conversations are had both on Earth and in space that bring satisfying payoffs as well as setting up stories to come. Head to Rhymes With Geek for my full review.

Original Sin #0

Marvel. Waid, Cheung, Morales, Ponsor

My personal favourite book of the week, and I really wasn’t expecting to say that. What easily could have been a throwaway issue (seeing as it’s going to sell no matter what) was a touching, fun, emotional look at the origin of the Watcher, and the growing relationship between him and Sam Alexander, the new Nova. See my full review over at Rhymes With Geek.

Uncanny Avengers #19

Marvel. Remender, Acuna.

It’s always a good week when my favourite Avengers title (and may well be my favourite title on Marvel’s current roster) brings out its next issue. The story is tight, frantic, with high-stakes and impossible odds - Kang’s timey-wimey shenanigans are slowly revealing themselves, even if his real motives remain hidden. His motley crew are awesome and I can’t wait to see where this story goes. I desperately look forward to the Uncanny Avengers Omnibus sitting on my shelf in a year or two.

The Rest

24: Underground #1

IDW. Brisson, Gaydos, Burcham.

This was pretty fun. As a fan of the series since day one it was great to read a book that felt like it captured the pace and spirit of the show. Michael Gaydos on art is always a good thing and, much like the Buffy book out this week, the voice and actions of your favourite characters need to be spot on, and it’s safe to say Jack is definitely back. Filling in the gap between the end of series 8 and the start of Live Another Day, the only thing that will make this better is if it’s something that gets mentioned or referenced in the show, to really cement it in canon.

Batman Eternal #3

DC. Snyder, Tynion IV, Fawkes, Layman, Seeley, Fabok.

Another week, another chapter. This one wasn’t as fast paced or revelatory as the previous two, with a feeling that a lot of pieces are being moved into place. Following on from the surprise return at the end of issue 2 the rats are scrambling on both sides of the law to bolster their positions. Interesting more for what’s to come rather than what’s actually in the issue.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 10 #2

Dark Horse. Gage, Isaacs, Whedon.

Still storming ahead in a brand new direction, this issue requires a bit more foreknowledge of the events of season 9 (of both the Buffy title and the Angel & Faith) than the last issue did which, as someone who dropped off at the end of season 8 I was a little confused. Still, it’s not rocket science, and the important thing is the characters all still feel familiar. The transition to a new writing team has not only been smooth but breathed new life into the franchise.

Conan the Avenger #1

Dark Horse. Van Lente, Ching.

Having not read much in the way of Conan before, in comics anyway, I went in to this as more of a Fred Van Lente fan. On that level, or any other in fact, it didn't disappoint. It didn't blow me away but it was a fun romp. With Conan being drunk for the first half of the book and angry for the second, events just kind of went on around him you know? But there’re enough supporting characters to keep you busy, and it moved along at a brisk pace.

Elektra #1

Marvel. Blackman, Del Mundo.

An unusual one this, and one I desperately wanted to love. Having been treated to so many amazing All-New ongoings from Marvel, I assumed this would be more of the same. The art certainly seemed to lean that way in previews, and while the art is gorgeous it’s not enough to lift the story. Much like how a lot of people seemed to see last week’s Iron Fist The Living Weapon (although I personally found that to be superior), Elektra #1 is just a bit boring really. I’ll stick with it for the beautiful interiors, but even they can’t hold me for a third issue on their own.

Eternal Warrior #8

Valiant. Pak, Gill, Major.

A satisfying end to the series that has gone from Ancient Mesopotamia to 4001AD all while keeping the focus on Immortal champion Gilad Anni-Padda. With a strong theme of family running from start to finish, this is a series that will read well in trade. Take a click towards IndieAltRepeat for a more in-depth review.

Evil Empire #2

BOOM! Studios. Bemis, Getty.

A much better issue than the debut, this took the setup and final cliff-hanger it was given and ran with it in a very promising way. Wittier, smarter, more complex; I wasn’t expecting to be drawn into this series but I’ll definitely keep coming back if this is the kind of thing we’re in for.

Fuse #3

Image. Johnston, Greenwood, Chankhamma, Brisson.

As hard boiled a detective drama as you’re likely to get in a comic, it’s Fuse #3. Heavy on the procedural, light on the Sci-Fi, this is more Law and Order than Star Trek, and all the better for it. The space elements are subtle and unobtrusive, and the ‘crime of the week’ mixed with engaging detectives makes this an easy read for those who love police dramas. The plot ramps up as Ristovych and Dietrich get closure to the truth of debut mystery ‘The Russia Shift’. It even has a crime novel title.

Guardians of the Galaxy #14

Marvel. Bendis, Bradshaw, Wong, Ponsor.

Not just a nod to the past and more like a slap in the face, this anniversary issue brings the old Guardians out of the toy chest, dusts them off and throws them back into the fight in an effortlessly easy way, thanks to their already established dalliances with the timeline. The current line-up get plenty to do as well; although the main story is fairly Star-lord-centric, there’s a subplot involving Drax and Venom (yeah he’s already part of the team. You’ll need to get the Free Comic Book Day issue to find out exactly how he came to be with them), as well as a back up story shedding light on Groot’s childhood. It’s awesome to see Nick Bradshaw joining the team, and with 3 stories packed in between the covers this is a solid anniversary issue.

Secret Origins #1

DC. Pak, Higgins, Bedard, Weeks, Mahnke, Siqueira.

Do we really need another retelling of DC superheroes origins? Well, if they keep rebooting the universe then I guess the answer is yes? This anthology format at least spares us countless miniseries when they’re not needed, and they’re not when you can cover everything you need to cover in a third of an issue. I preferred the Dick Grayson and Supergirl origins over the Superman one, purely because Superman’s story has been done over and over in much better ways than this, whereas the other two I (as a non-DC fan) wasn’t as familiar with.

Undertow #3

Image. Orlando, Trakhanov, Mauer.

Not as enjoyable to me as the previous two issues, this nevertheless delves deeper (no pun intended) into the politics of Atlantis, as well as bringing the surface-world crew face-to-face with The Amphibian. Head to Rhymes With Geek for my full review.

So that’s it for another week! A few stand outs and a lot of good-not-great issues, with only one giving me a distinctly ‘meh’ feeling. Not the strongest of weeks but still some gold if you know where to look. But enough about me, what did you think? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter @MattLune, and I’ll see you next week for return of The Amazing Spider-Man, and the debut of the Southern Bastards.

Until next time,

Matt

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The Reading List: Comic Book Reviews Feb 26 2014

Welcome to The Reading List!
Every week I'll be sharing what I think are the highlights of the latest releases, including a few thoughts on what I liked, what I didn't, and what I think you should be reading too. 
If I've not mentioned something you think I should read, or want to let me know your thoughts on any of the new issues then drop me a message.
If you've read my blog before I do lean towards Marvel/Image/Indie over DC, although I'm working on getting caught up on the New 52 in order to provide a more thorough weekly recap (weekap? No), so don't be surprised if you don't see many DC reviews on here.

Also: this is an open discussion of my personal thoughts on each issue as I've read them, therefore need I say...
HERE BE SPOILERS.
You have been warned.
Let's get started! 

Superior Spider-Man #28


Slott, Camuncoli, Dell, Fabela.
This may end up being somewhat of a spoiler, I don't have a crystal ball though so it's purely speculation at this stage but...is the Goblin King actually the Goblin Queen? There were a fair few indications, such as choice of phrasing, facial characteristics...it may be a red herring but I kind of get the feeling there's a woman under that mask. The only criticism I have is that this comic can't come out fast enough. It's hurtling toward its conclusion now, all the pieces are coming together to tear Otto Parker apart. Now all I need to figure out is who exactly is this head Goblin Honcho...
8/10

Wolverine and the X-Men #42


Jason Aaron 'and Friends'
So this is the end, and what a way to go. Proving why it's called Wolverine and the X-Men, this issue focuses on the present and the future of our short furry Canadian friend, and in just a few touching scenes we see that Logan really is growing, that those people laughing at him taking over as headmaster of a school (including a lot of fans) aren't laughing anymore. Jason Aaron has taken him and all the students on a real journey that I hope isn't lost with the change of creative team. Another character that's changed is Quentin Quire who shares focus in this final issue, proving even more irrefutably that this was the little x-book that could, one that mattered and one that (no matter how good the new volume is) will definitely be missed. Pretty much every artist shows up to say their goodbyes too, and while the shifts aren't always seamless, there's no denying this book has seen some gorgeous art. Roll on the new term!
8.5/10

Uncanny Avengers #17


Remender, McNiven, Leisten, Martin.
Ok, wait. What just happened?! The dial gets cranked up to the max in this, the first of 3 Remender titles this week. I say up to the max but what I mean is, the dial gets cranked up so high it gets wrenched off, mutilated and set on fire.The events of this issue go so far that the only way for this to not be the last ever issue of any Marvel comic ever is for some crazy Age of Ultron style shenanigans. Which is fine - it's a shame that this has turned into that kind of story but you know what? It's doing it so much better than AoU ever did. It feels more final, more end-of-the-worldy and like all of the deaths matter. I've loved this book since issue 1 and even though this storyline may cause a few people to write off the whole book, I still absolutely love what Remender's doing here, I'm fascinated as to where it's going next and Steve McNiven on art is always going to make me happy. And to those who may not like where this story will now have to go I ask; what did you expect with Kang the Conqueror in the mix?! 
9/10

Hawkeye #15


Fraction, Aja, Hollingsworth, Eliopoulos.
Do you really want to read about another person telling you to go buy this comic? If you're not reading this title by now then nothing I say will change anything. The art, the layouts, the humour, the voices - all perfect. Those four aspects mean I don't even need the story to be that good, but dammit if it doesn't have that too. This issue returns our focus back to the east coast and back to Hawkguy (as I will never not call him), and I genuinely wasn't expecting the last page one-two punch to give me even more of a reason to come back for more. Ignoring the weird scheduling blip (we've already read the next issue, it's issue 17 that's next), there's a reason every other All-New Marvel title is taking on elements of Hawkeye. Ever the original, still the best.
9/10 

Guardians of the Galaxy #12


Bendis, Pichelli, Immonen, von Grawbadger, Ponsor.
Some people laugh when I say Cyclops is one of my favourite X-Men, but I don't care. He's always been one of the most fleshed out and nuanced of the characters, and for those fans of Scott Summers like me this issue is a treat. Starting with a flashback to a crucial part of his backstory, we get a glimpse of the last time he saw his dad, then cut to the present day where past Cyclops meets his father for the first time, again. Time Travel! 
The Trial of Jean Grey is moving forward at a swift pace, this already being part 4, and I was definitely getting a Star Trek VI vibe as the Shiar courtroom drama gets underway (that's a good thing. It's one of the good Star Trek films). The highlights are again the small character moments that Bendis is so good at - Scott and Corsair, Scott and X-23, Kitty and Star-Lord; all beat-perfect interactions. The art by Pichelli and Immonen is among the best on the stands too, not many people can have a two page splash of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Starjammers and the All-New X-Men all in a room sat around talking and make it look effortlessly beautiful. Not exactly one for fans of the GotG as they don't make much of a mark on the story but the crossover as a whole is going great, and this chapter is no exception.
8.5/10

Wolverine #2


Cornell, Stegman, Morales, Curiel.
So I decided to come back for issue two, which I'm pleased about, but I was definitely not sure I would following that first issue. Turns out it was just the right amount of absolute WTF-ery to make me come back for more though. While Wolverine #2 isn't as totally confusing as #1 there's still a lot of unanswered questions that I'm asking, most important of which is - do I care enough to keep reading? I'll give it one more go, because I definitely enjoyed this issue more. I liked the numerous ties to other series (Otto Parker fighting off Goblin Henchman, Kitty and Cyclops in the new Xavier school, even Logan referencing the latest Avengers issues by revealing to Spidey that he's been 'benched') all helps to make this book feel current and somehow relevant, and yet for the life of me I can't shake the feeling that it's...not. Maybe I'm just not a fan of Wolverine's new Killable status quo, or more that I'm not sure I'm enjoying what's being done with it. As I say, I'll give it one more go.
6/10

Daredevil - Road Warrier #1


Waid, Krause, Kalisz.
Well I really wasn't expecting this. I'm not sure how or why this evaded my notice but I had no idea this was being released. Still, it's a very pleasant and welcome surprise. Bridging the gap between volume one and volume two of Mark Waid's now legendary Daredevil run, this story covers what happens on Matt's cross country flight, because you know, nothing normal can go without a hitch when you're a super hero! I'm a fan of the infinite comics and what they represent moving the medium forward, and there's a few times Matt's 'radar sense' gets to play with the format nicely. To me though the best part is just having more Daredevil! Not that Marvel's new turnarounds from 'Finale!' to 'All-New!' really gives anyone chance to suffer from withdrawal mind you...
8.5/10

Black Science #4


Remender, Scalera, White
I doubt there's anything more original than Black Science out there right now. I don't know for certain (I don't read all of the comics) but it's constantly throwing new things at the team of Anarchist Scientists, which is good because anything less than complete originality would detract from the premise of taking a group of people and having them fly blindly into the unknown. Another brilliant issue this, as Mckay and the team finally make it away from the sheer madness of the armoured Native Americans (mostly) and into what appears to be relative safety. For now. I love the genuine sense that these characters are only just escaping, by a hair's breadth they are just abut scraping through; add that to the fact that you really can't tell who will be alive by the end of the next issue and you get a really tense, unpredictable rollercoaster. Plus those covers. Man they are extremely pretty covers. 
9/10

Deadly Class #2


Remender, Craig, Loughridge
After reading and enjoying the last issue (and loving Rick Remender's other work - see above) I decided to pick up issue 2 and see where Deadly Class is heading. The first few pages were so far so meh, with Marcus getting the new boy treatment from everyone he meets. I was starting to wonder where the 80's influence was that permeated through the last issue and around which all the promotional material was based. And then Marcus met up with the Breakfast Club, or at least Remender's twisted version of it. With a literal "Fuck John Hughes" (and I mean literal, it's the first thing you hear the group say) suddenly the 80's are alive and well and looking to kill someone. From Marcus' personal vendetta against Ronald Reagan to the run down of the school's cliques from pudgy sidekick Shabnam the spirit of the period pratically drips from the page. Hell, there's even a playlist for each of the main characters in the back of the book! I love it when comics do that, it really adds something when you re-read the issue. There's an epilogue of sorts to the issue too that sets up things to come, as well as revealng more disturbng secrets about the main protagonist...
8/10

Empire of the Dead #2


Romero, Maleev.
If the last page or two of the first issue kind of threw you for a loop, then you may want to give this series a miss. This is getting further and further away from the original source material, and I can't really say I'm on board. I know that some hardcore fans of Romero are seeing the inclusion of vampires in his mythology a serious misstep and I'm not sure I disagree. I was really enjoying issue 1 - even including the sketchy retcon of the original movie, it's not a film I'm particularly precious about - but then the final page reveal that one of the characters is a vampire, and then this issue expanding on that to say there are hundreds? It's going to be a hard sell to get people on board, even with Maleev's gorgeous art. It may have Romero's name on the front, but I can't really see how this can be seen as a zombie story when they have no choice but to follow this Vampire plotline for as far as it'll take them.
6/10

X-O Manowar #22


Venditti, Nord, Cifuentes.
So following the clash between the unstoppable force that is Toyo Harada and the immovable object that is X-O Manowar over in Unity, there comes another change in circumstance for Aric of Dacia. While not nearly as enjoyable as Harbinger Wars, the Unity crossover was a lot of fun, and it'll be interesting seeing how long this new status quo lasts for time-displaced Visigoths. Valiant can seriously do no wrong in my eyes, and I'm enjoying every single title they bring out. I love the energy, I love the unpredictable narratives and I love the shared world that is slowly being built up. The artwork on this issue isn't the best I've seen on this title, but is still competent enough to carry the momentum of the action scenes as well as portray the quieter moments well. More of a transitional issue I feel, but still a solid read.
8/10

And that's it for another week! A strong week at Marvel and a lot of indies to get through (too many for me to squeeze into this article!) but a pretty solid week all round. Hooray for everything!
Until next time,
Matt

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The Reading List: Feb 19 2014

This week's Comic Book reviews.

Welcome to The Reading List!

Every week I'll be sharing what I think are the highlights of the latest releases, including a few thoughts on what I liked, what I didn't, and what I think you should be reading too. 

If I've not mentioned something you think I should read, or want to let me know your thoughts on any of the new issues then drop me a message.
If you've read my blog before I do lean towards Marvel/Image/Indie over DC, although I'm working on getting caught up on the New 52 in order to provide a more thorough weekly recap (weekap? No), so don't be surprised if you don't see many DC reviews on here. 

Also: this is an open discussion of my personal thoughts on each issue as I've read them, therefore need I say...

HERE BE SPOILERS.

You have been warned.

Let's get started! 

Read More