Weekly Comic Book Discussion 5/17/2007

[CandidGamera]

Here 'tis. Still reading my books - I actually picked up one of the Fallen Son books from Marvel - the Captain America one - just to see. Meh.

[Kamino Neko]

Countdown - I'm still a little annoyed over Duela's death, but I do like what they're doing with it.

Fables - Last page...I wonder if that's who I think it is.

SPOILER:

Lance, eeeh? Last name 'Alot', maybe?

I also wonder why he was trapped like he was.

[Lightray]

JLA #9 - If this didn't have the LSH in it, I'd be so gone. The stupid thought/narration captions are impossibly confusing! I hate having to puzzle out who is supposed to be overvoicing -- is dark blue/purple with yellow supposed to be Mr. Terriffic? Black Canary? Somebody else that we're given no clue to? Now Wildfire is in a Red Tornado body? Did we know that, or are we going to get any explanation? I'm thinking: No. Will they realize that this means that Dawny and Wildfire could finally realize some closer connection? I'm thinking: No. Red Arsenal is a twit, and the JLA subplots just hold no interest. At least the writers realized that the LSH is at least a match for the JSA and JLA, smarts-wise.

A pity, because it seems like there's the kernel of a good story buried in there. Hopefully it'll get dug out and polished up better over in JSA.

Countdown #50 - Meh. I was hoping that the Joker would actually, you know, do something worthy of the Joker. Unlike in Infinite Crisis. Or 52. Still, it's early. Also: they needed some better intro for the Karate Kid bit, because it's redundant if you'd read JLA, and too obscure if you hadn't.

[Menocchio]

The Flash The Fastest Man Alive #12:Nice use of some Flash continuity here. Didn't think we'd see that guy again. And it appears Guggenheim's about to unravel one of the more annoying bits of new Flash lore. Can Wally's return be far behind? This book continues to show a shallow, but steady, trend of improvement. In 20 issues or so it'll be pretty damngood if this continues.

Countdown #50: Something's wrong here. How does Jimmy know Jason's (and Dick's!) name and history? Why is Superman letting the Red Hood, a serial killer, go free if he can find him? Jason's apparently been downgraded from "Punisher" to "pre-Birds of Prey Huntress" on the threat-o-meter. And was that a few pages from Justice League of America in there? If I were interested in that, I'd read it.

Checkmate #14:Hate crossovers. Missed Outsiders and have no idea what's happening. At least we finally find out what's the deal with Sasha's OMAC stuff, and confirmation that Tommy wasn't just lying to blow off that stripper.

Batman #665:I'm very confused. Three ghosts? Wha?

Aquaman Sword of Atlantis #52: I'd enjoy this more if McManus didn't draw everyone's faces like they were startled squid people.

Action Comics #849: Very good meditation on faith and religion.

[Kamino Neko]

JLofA - I'm enjoying Meltzer's run, on the whole - I don't see what's so hard to follow about the narration, and I love most of the characters on the team - but is it too much to ask that he actually be given a few issues of Legion to read before being given the characters? Or a character bible? All the major screwups with the Legionnaires have been in the JLofA portions of the crossover, so I'm placing the blame firmly on him.

SPOILER:

One of my favourite bits of Countdown was Black Lightning reassessing Karate Kid's level. 25 is a lot more accurate with Batman at 12. And Wildfire's not a machine, he can't be shut down. If the body he was in was shut down, that would be unpleasant, to be sure, since he wouldn't be able to interact with anybody, but HE wouldn't be shut down, dammit!

ASBAR - At long last issue 5 hits the stands. And...it's officially jumped from 'so bad it's good' to 'so bad it can't even be mocked any more'. What's truly sad is, the Miller cover, with the awkward anatomy and more blatantly than usual sexualized pose is the better of the two - Lee's was, at best, generic. No, I lie. What's truly sad is I'm so unsurprised by Miller's idea of what a strong female character is that the awfulness of Lee's cover is the most remarkable aspect.

Ultimates - Eh, it's an ending, and not an awful one, either. But good glory, no comic book ever has, or ever will, need a 10-page spread! (It was pretty cool looking, I'll admit, but it added nothing but size to the issue. 5 two-pagers showing the progress of that battle would have been much cooler, actually added real content, and still let Hitch play with 'big splash images!'.) Tony's little monologue about Black Widow, and his behaviour afterwards, was the high-point of the issue.

[Jonathan Chance]

Originally Posted by Tengu

Countdown - I'm still a little annoyed over Duela's death, but I do like what they're doing with it.

Fables - Last page...I wonder if that's who I think it is.

SPOILER:

Lance, eeeh? Last name 'Alot', maybe?

I also wonder why he was trapped like he was.

You can't say he wasn't forsworn, after all. But I admit that's a GREAT closing page. My brain flowed down into my spine when I read that.

[Wolfian]

Supergirl #17: I'm liking this story and the art works so much better. Kara and Cassie actually look 16. Amazing!

Justice League #9: It had some good bits, but was mostly meh at best. Was this a rush job? Benes' work usually looks a lot better.

"Wait- you- he- No-!" My thoughts exactly. Didn't see that coming and I'm not really a fan. Hopefully it was just a one time thing.

Countdown #50: Lots of set-up. I have a lot of faith in Dini that it will all pan out. The spread on page 2 was f-ing awesome.

[RikWriter]

Originally Posted by Tengu

[Ultimates - Eh, it's an ending, and not an awful one, either. But good glory, no comic book ever has, or ever will, need a 10-page spread! (It was pretty cool looking, I'll admit, but it added nothing but size to the issue. 5 two-pagers showing the progress of that battle would have been much cooler, actually added real content, and still let Hitch play with 'big splash images!'.) Tony's little monologue about Black Widow, and his behaviour afterwards, was the high-point of the issue.

I thought the high point was the scene with Hawkeye and Black Widow.

[Kamino Neko]

Originally Posted by RikWriter

I thought the high point was the scene with Hawkeye and Black Widow.

SPOILER:

I was...unsatisfied with that scene. Clint offing her, then just walking out like that was off, too me. I like him getting his revenge better than Tony being the one to take her out, but I don't think it was handled well.

[RikWriter]

Originally Posted by Tengu

SPOILER:

I was...unsatisfied with that scene. Clint offing her, then just walking out like that was off, too me. I like him getting his revenge better than Tony being the one to take her out, but I don't think it was handled well.

Shrug. I thought it was very effective and satisfying.

[CandidGamera]

Exiles - bleh. It's amazing how quickly it went downhill with Claremont.

Ultimates 2 - So not worth the wait. I will not be getting the third series.

X-Factor - Still pretty good, but this issue felt a little muddled.

All-Star Batman and Robin - BWAHAHA. My favorite part is how Superman and Plastic Man get little intro captions when they meet with Diana, but Hal Jordan, GL? Gets diddly-squat.

[CandidGamera]

Let's see, also got : Batman, which felt a little off; Checkmate; Supergirl; Action; Flash - uh oh; JLA; Countdown, Ex Machina, and Fables.