New books for 10-19-05:
Endings & Beginnings:
Authority Revolution #12 The suspense dissipated a bit too quickly this issue, when Jenny (I love writing that) Quantum and Angie the Engineer,…
managed to put down the Midnighter,…
… and the remainder of the story felt a bit anti-climatic, even when we lost the first carrier – a moment that should have felt like the first time we saw the USS Enterprise go down in the first Star Trek feature - Rose attacked Jenny (she got out of that too easily) and [spoiler]the Midnighter pulled out Bendix’ spine.[spoiler]. I am sorry to say that I really think Dustin Nguyen should have found a way to make these moments more visually exciting. Still, it was a decent ending to the “Eternal Return”, and I’m glad I hung on for the whole ride. Thank you Mr. Brubaker! 6/10.
She Hulk #1 Welcome Back Slott AND Bobillo! Together they deliver the first meaty read of the week, quickly re-establishing Jen Walters, her world, and throwing in her perspective on the disasters that befell the old Avengers before House of M. Good efficient, dense set up, leavened with plenty of wry humor. I’ll be amazed if Jen doesn’t get…
… before this story arc is over. Low key as the close is, she’s taking some awful risks…
…
… for a legal professional.
7/10.
Batbooks
Batgirl #69 restored my faith in this title. Gabrych makes us feel Cassandra Cain’s frustration: Shiva or Nyssa, who is her mother? Of course he doesn’t tell us anything conclusive, not yet. He also does a great job reminding us of how vulnerable the proud Cassandra is to the temptations of the martial artist’s life of hard training and combat. Shiva appeals to her spirit, Nyssa works on her ideals. I was relieved to see that Nyssa and plans to…
… freeze the world’s oil reserves…
… As “old hat” as might sound, it makes far more sense than the Society’s plans to “mindwipe” all the super-heroes (as alluded to in other titles. If the Society is going to go through THAT much bother, why not simply kill them all?) Pop Mhan’s work looks better when he isn’t finishing Ale Garza’s layouts, particularly when it comes to lending Cass and Nyssa an expressive quality that’s been missing from this title as of late. This is particularly helpful in bringing Nyssa to life, when she taunts Cassandra and tries to bring Cass over to her side. (The issue ends with a truly unexpected plot twist. This issue is a must for fans of the tragic Dr. Victor Fries.) Best of the Week. 8/10.
After the long dull pause in the action that was last month’s issue, Judd Winnick finally picks up the pace again iin Batman #646. Having decimated the Black Mask’s criminal organization (and putting his former mentor through his paces), good ol’ Frank Cast,… I mean Jason Todd focuses on the crime lord himself, inadvertently driving him into the arms of the Society. The issue ends with a great set up for the next issue: I’m looking forward to a big donnybrook next time around (decompression be damned). As for the art, I do miss Doug Manhke’s work on this title. Shane Davis’ work reminds me of Matthew Clark’s on Winnick’s Outsiders, in both it’s strengths and weaknesses. I guess Winnick likes working with Jim Lee imitators. 6/10. (The score would have been higher, but for the art.)
G_dd@mmit! My LCS didn’t get their shipment of Birds Of Prey #87 from Diamond this week! (Anyone else run into this problem?) After last week’s issues of Villains United and Hawkman I was really looking forward to some more of Simone’s and Bennett’s storytelling this week.
**Robin #143 ** Willingham does a great job integrating on-going elements of his Robin storylines (the Veteran and his special forces team, Johnny Warlock’s vendetta, even the return of the Rising Sun Archer – Yay! – and the Tarantula – how did she get out of prison? – into the editorially mandated OMAC storyline this issue. We even get to see some guests from Days of Vengeance. A decent read all around, if not quite up to the standard of the last few issues. Let the battle for Bludhaven begin! 7/10
Other Titles:
Supreme Power Hyperion #2 – Nice Deodato cover. JMS comes up with an interesting way to introduce a myriad of possibilities for Hyperion’s future, and the notion of multiverses into the Supreme Power Universe. We also get tantalizing hints of something I’ve been waiting for, a glimpse at JMS’ take on the conflict Gruenwald described between…
Nighthawk and Hyperion, and those infected by the nano-virus
… years ago. 6/10.
Ultimate Spider-Man #84, the sixth installment in the “Warriors” story arc was fun if unexceptional. I wish we had been given more time to get to know, and care about more of the participants, ‘cause for now, there is very little tying me into this particular story. One more issue to go and this one’s over. 5/10.
