Short week for me. I’ve only picked up one so far.
JSA #78: I wasn’t feeling it halfway though, but it really picked up. Did not see that coming at all.
Hmm, I let my brother borrow my comics, so I may have fouled up the numbers.
Wonder Woman #220: Yeah, that’s just about the way I’d have expected him to react.
Rann-Thanagar War #6: I’m still disappointed that this turned into hellgod smackdown rather than WWI in space, but for what it was, I’m staisfied with the conclusion and intrigued with the hanging threads for InfCri.
Superman/Shazam #2: Love the banter between Lex and Sivana, and the interaction between Cap and Supes.
I also Byrne-Stole Supergirl #2: Ick. She’s way too much the Mary Sue.
Amazing Spider Man #524: The end of the Hydra saga. Wrapped up nicely without feeling cheated. I’ve heard Straczynski is leaving the book. That’s a shame. He’s probably my favorite all time Spider writer.
Mutopia X 3 of 5 and Uncanny X-Men 464: Picked these up on a whim since my local comic shop has decided that he doesn’t need to actually get the comics that he promised to hold for me. :mad: I’d go elsewhere but he’s the closest by about 50 miles or so. Mutopia X reads like a bad version of NYPD Blue with mutants. Artwork was subpar. UXM was much better, but then I’ve liked both Claremont and Bachalo for a while.
Ultimate Spider Man Volume 6: Venom: I purchased this due to the rumors of Topher Grace playing Venom in the next movie I wanted to find out how they did the into of the character. I was disappointed. It felt very rushed, like they wanted to get the character in but couldn’t be bothered to write a good story to do it. Bagleys art was surprisingly hit and miss, and I normally love his work. Bendis…well he needs to be stopped.
[quote=WonK,Oct 5 2005, 09:12 PM]
New Books for October 5th: a ‘small’ week all around.
Spoilers in white text, run cursor over the line to read’em.
Supreme Power: Nighthawk #2 may not be quite what I’d hoped (see my Millarworld Magazine review - http://themagazine.millarworld.tv/index.php/?p=181 ) but this month’s issue is a decent enough twist on the Joker’s “origin” and retconned first big crime poisoning (a reservoir of drugs is still a reservoir) neatly replays a memorable moment from the seventies O’Neil and Adams run on Detective. As ever, Dillon delivers decent straightforward storytelling. 6/10.
The Punisher - Max #26I have the same complaint about the inks over Fernandez pencils as I do the finishes on Grummet’s New Thunderbolts. I really think both men’s work might look better inked with a combination of pen and brush. (Granted, that’s a personal preference). Otherwise it’s a solid issue: we meet the Old Man, learn more of Vicora’s ordeal and Frank has a frustrating night on in the field. Slow boil build-up to hell on earth. Wish we could’ve seen more of his visit to Pavla’s. 6/10
Superman – Shazam, First Thunder #2 a decent read. Luthor and Sivana have a heart-to-heart talk about shared mutual hatred, and Capt. Marvel gets to meet one of his heroes, the Man of Steel. It might have been interesting to cut back and forth between these two conversations, emphasizing the contrast between the two, but the story is fine the way it is. Winnick does a nice efficient job of introducing two magic based villains at stories end. Middleton’s art is as good as ever, but looking at it, I cannot help but wish NYX had lasted longer. 5/10.
Outsiders #29. Lot’s of questions this issue: A fresh start? Really? Jade is as bad as Nightwing ever was when he led the team. Are they still getting paid? Without a headquarters they need money for apartments. Just how did Deathstroke gain such insight into the new Sabbac’s personality? None of his needs seemed to grow out of anything we knew about the man-demon in his last (and first) appearance previously in this magazine. One thing is for sure, it’s great seeing this older, wiser, and happier, sarcastic version of Dr. Sivana than the choking angry CEO of SMSFT, discussed above. I guess that’s the young Sivana, and this is older version, the one utterly reconciled to being evil. Now we’re back to questions: what’s Sabbac doing on Alcatraz? I guess we’re to infer that this Sivana IS with Luthor’s Society after all. (That’s a little disappointing, after all. So just how does Luthor’s Society manage to spy on the Rock of Eternity? Well, it was still fun. Still not used to Clark’s work here. I wish his faces were more expressive, his gesture less stiff. 6/10.
Gotham Central #36 – Right off the bat, let me admit I was wrong. The strapping child actor’s agent introduced last issue was a red herring, and I fell for it, hook line and sinker. Nice surprise as to who the culprit was, and there was some satisfaction to be gleaned from the way Batman gave him what he wanted, though not quite the way he wanted it. Featuring the usual fine ensemble “performances”. Bit by bit, Kano’s renditions of the large cast become more distinct. Can’t fault this book at all. Just wish Brubaker was staying on board. 8/10.
Forgot DC Presents: the Return of Donna Troy. Gotta’ go back for it.
Thanks for getting it started - haven’t read mine yet, but should get to this evening.
Rann-Thanagar War 6 - Eh. Not the best ending ever, not the worst. I do like how they dealt with Synn. All in all, a disappointing end, but not TOO disappointing.
JSA 78 - Well, I was a little worried when I noticed the inker was writing, but I was pleased. My reaction to the end was ‘huhn’ - neither good nor bad, just interested. I’m looking forward to seeing this play out.
Nighthawk 2 - Very fast reading. When it ended, I kept looking for more pages. Enjoyed what there was, but there really ought to have been more.
Outsiders #29: I have the same questions and concerns as WonK. Ah well, good issue. Quick question: I thought Thunder’s power was changing her density. On the cover she seems to have electric powers. I started reading around issue er #15 (the Valentine’s Day one). Did I miss something?
Apparently Donna Troy, Rann-Thanagar, and Freshman shipped this week. So much for it being a slow week.
Wonder Woman #221; JSA #78; Rann-Thanagar War #6; Return of Donna Troy #4; Outsiders #29. I also picked up last week’s Adventures of Superman.
I enjoyed Wonder Woman; JSA was very solid, providing more insight on the aftermath of Day of Judgment - and Peachy Pet! Wow. Rann-Than was a good read, and a decent finale, but there’s a distubing trend on these lead-in minis to not actually resolve things, I see. Hopefully VU will be a little better - but I still think Rann-Than outclasses Day of Judgment and OMAC. Adventures of Superman gives us more insight on the magic situation - and hey, the Toyman’s alive. Huh. Outsiders was meh, but Deathstroke’s cameo was funny and entertaining.
Return of Donna Troy - So horribly overwrought. Donna’s thought balloons make me want to hurt her badly. Bleh. But it seems to be central to Infinite Crisis, dammit. And apparently, if I’m reading this right, it’s a good thing Donna didn’t go to JSA headquarters to recruit Alan Scott in JSA #77, because if her, Power Girl, and Hawkman were in the same room at the same time, I’m pretty sure the universe would implode.