Paradox Comics Group

Mini Reviews 22/01/2012 EXTRA!!

2012-01-23T21:53:00.009Z

While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, may get struck down with illness of a weekend and may also be subject to untimely powercuts, we do try and provide a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good. Some of these things may have happened to Stewart R this weekend but he still got some reading and reviewing done... Better late than never!

SUPERIOR #7
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Leinel Yu, Gerry Alanguilan & Sunny Gho
Marvel Icon $4.99

Stewart R: Things get wrapped up in a bumper 36 pages of action as young Simon Pooni must decide whether to sell his soul in order to save the world from the transformed Sharpie and demonic monkey, Ormon. There’s destruction and carnage aplenty as the evil duo unleash their fury upon the city and I dare say that this is possibly Leinel Yu’s very best work to date. The sense of scope and scale is phenomenal and there are some terrific set-piece moments that should look truly breathtaking whenever we happen to have a live-action movie arrive in cinemas. Millar spent the last 6 issues setting all of the pieces up which allows this issue to clip along at a faster pace as it heads towards it’s grand finale. As a writer, Millar likes to play clever whenever he can and while the hook here is kinda signposted from a long way out I don’t think we could’ve asked for anything else considering the strength of the title as a whole. The only single criticism I have is that despite the level of death that descends upon the city streets, there’s no mention of the human casualties in Millar’s ‘summing up’; he shows us the global fallout of Superior's actions around the world but the loss of lives in the city don't register. It’s almost as if he’s too blinkered with what he wants from his ending to see that his vision slightly tarnishes what could have been a perfect end note. The nod to Christopher Reeve and Richard Donner though is a nice touch and over the course this has possibly been both creators’ finest work to date. Well worth the money and a 9/10 despite the one flaw.

BATMAN #5
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion & FCO
DC $2.99

Stewart R: Wow! Just when you think that Snyder and Capullo can’t give you any better a Bat-book they show up with this month’s effort! Bruce’s investigation has found him at the mercy of the Court of Owls whose very existence in Gotham threatens to unravel everything our hero has been fighting for all these long years, as well as the Caped Crusader’s mind! The majority of the issue follows Bruce’s struggles throughout the mysterious labyrinth as he tries to comprehend just how his mysterious captors have operated under his very nose for years and years. Capullo does a fantastic job of capturing Bruce’s tired and frayed psyche as his usually strong resolve begins to fail him and the hallucinations grow stronger and more dangerous. The creators take a masterful step in playing with the layout which brings the reader further into Bruce’s desperation and highlights how close to madness poor Bats is. Add in a neat look at Commissioner Gordon’s belief in what the Bat-signal stands for and represents, and you have a top class comic on your hands. 9/10

AVENGING SPIDER-MAN #3
Writer: Zeb Wells
Art: Joe Madureira & Ferran Daniel
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Having fumed at the rather sparse offering in #1 I will say that the three issue first arc has been pretty good fun despite the inflated pricing. Zeb Wells clearly understands the webbed wonder and, despite having had the powerful Red Hulk in tow, it’s left to Spider-Man to save the day and bring peace to Subterranea. From this issue it’s now clearer just what this series is aiming to do and that’s show just where our wise-cracking hero fits into the wider Marvel Universe. Wells shows that despite his great powers, it IS his willingness to shoulder his great responsibilities that makes him the courageous man who can win against near-insurmountable odds. I’ll admit that it has been good to see Madureira take up his pencils and inks to bring us some comic book entertainment again and I’m glad now that I saw this arc through to the end. That said, at nearly four dollars and a change of artist ahead I will be saying goodbye to Avenging Spider-Man here. 8/10

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #5
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Fernando Pasarin, Scott Hanna & Gabe Eltaeb
DC $2.99

Stewart R: So, so good! With John Stewart and a few others in the hands of the Keepers and having been ‘enlightened’ by the arrival of the Martian Manhunter’s appearance during an interrogation, Guy Gardner knows he needs to start thinking outside of the box. And so begins his mission to recruit the Mean Machine, a bunch of veteran Lanterns renowned for stepping very close to the line and bringing the pain whenever it’s needed. I love how Tomasi’s writing seems to thrive when he’s expanding on the ranks of the various Corps and the grizzled warriors he brings to the table here are a true pleasure, especially when sizing up to the regular faces of the Green Lantern Corps. Across the current books focusing on the Lanterns there’s the growing feeling that the Guardians are perilously close to being too destructive a force in the galaxy and Tomasi offers up a huge wedge of evidence to support that view aided well by Fernando Pasarin’s luscious art. Be it the telepathic story reveal across a double page-spread or the action-packed attack on the pirate ship, Pasarin is undoubtedly on top of his game and I can’t wait to see what action he gets to dish out as the arc reaches its conclusion next month! 9/10

NIGHTWING #5
Writer: Kyle Higgins
Art: Eddie Barrows, Paulo Siqueira, Eber Ferreira & Rod Reis
DC $2.99

Stewart R: Another reasonable effort from all involved here as Dick continues to investigate the mystery surrounding Haly’s Circus and just why the whole enterprise has been left in his hands. Rather than barrel on with the main drive of that story Higgins elects to give us a brief diversion as one of the circus folk ends up in a spot of demonic trouble thanks to an old flame and of course Nightwing happens to be on hand to deal with the mess. When the ritual action-sequence arrives it’s handled with style by Barrows as Dick finds himself in quite the David vs Goliath battle and I certainly can’t fault what we’ve had from a visual standpoint as this series has gone on. Higgins is clearly giving Dick his own voice and I’ve enjoyed his work with the romantic angle he’s been tackling. For me though, the big problem is what this is following on from - it doesn’t feel that ‘this’ Dick that we’re reading about is the one who was, until recently, Batman. I understand why Higgins has taken Nightwing away from Gotham in order to make the role change clear, distinctive and allow Grayson to stand on his own, but then too many damn questions are surfacing as to why a street-level crime-fighter is now doing his heroism thing all over the country. Even in this issue Higgins has to make a nod to that ongoing problem and it is a touch distracting. I’ll be picking up #6 to see where the tasty reveal leads, but after that I’m sadly going to be dropping this book. 7/10

Mini Reviews 22/01/2012

2012-01-22T20:05:00.009Z

While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and provide a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.

BATMAN #5
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion & FCO
DC $2.99

James R: I'm a great believer in 'the zone', the concept that a lucky few people - sportsmen, actors, writers, whatever you want - reach a pitch in their careers that, for a while, means that they cannot put a foot wrong. I think that Scott Snyder has firmly entered the zone and is making it his personal property with this outstanding issue. We join Batman trapped in a nightmare maze constructed by the Court of Owls, a trap that has pushed the Dark Knight to his very limits, both physical and psychological. Meanwhile, out in Gotham, the extended Bat-family grow increasingly concerned for Batman's safety. The issue is a masterclass on a number of levels; firstly, as an exercise in pushing the boundaries of the medium. I loved it when Mike Carey made an issue of The Unwritten a choose-your-own-adventure, as it was an attempt to shake up the conventions of reading a comic. Snyder does the same thing here, forcing the reader to flip the issue in the latter part of the story, neatly mirroring Batman’s own increasingly twisted journey through the maze. Then there's the characterisation; Snyder's Batman is, for me, a far more involving representation than Grant Morrison's - whereas Morrison portrayed Batman as virtually a God, unbeatable and a match to any challenge, Snyder's Batman is far more vulnerable and human but still filled with the unbreakable will that is the hallmark of the character. It also looks beautiful, with Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion outdoing themselves with every issue. I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the idea - Snyder is in the zone and long may it continue. You need this comic in your life! 10/10

Matt C: Scott Snyder seems to be raising his game with each successive issue of Batman, resulting in the best of his run yet this month, and when you consider the quality of what’s come before, that’s high praise indeed! Batman’s lost in the maze of the Court Of Owls, desperately trying to a hold onto his sanity as, bit by bit, it’s slowly stripped away. The genius of this is that you become completely convinced that someone with the rigid self-control of Bruce Wayne could start to fall apart following a concerted attack that strikes at him both mentally and physically. As Synder continues to deliver script after script of pure brilliance, Capullo layers on the grandiose, gothic visuals that carry a dark potency which is magnified when the book is literally turned on its head. Amongst all the mind games we also get an emotive reminder of what Bruce/Batman means to Gotham, even as the man himself wonders whether it ever really was his city. The body of Snyder’s work with the character may be relatively small at this point but I think there’s now an immensely strong (watertight?) case for proclaiming him not only one of the great Batman writers of our time, but one of the great Batman writers, period. 9/10

UNCANNY X-FORCE #20
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Greg Tocchini & Dean White
Marvel $3.99

James R: Any fears that this title might suffer a kind of hangover after the veritable all-night party that was the ‘Dark Angel Saga' are quickly dismissed this week with yet another fine issue of Uncanny X-Force. Fantomex has been dragged to Otherworld to stand trial for his infanticide of the young Apocalypse, and Captain Britain (yay!) tries to convince Psylocke to join him in the battle to save his realm. As I've said before, I was never a massive X-fan as a teen or in my twenties due to the seemingly impenetrable history of Marvel's mutants, but I'm continually amazed at how easy Rick Remender has made it for me to get immersed in this world. It's like he's taking a lot of 'Greatest Hits' from Marvel continuity and placing his own compulsive spin on them. Here, it's Alan Moore's legendary run on Captain Britain, which, as a self-confessed acolyte of the Great Beard, means it's even easier to love the action in these pages. Remender also keeps the team dynamic interesting and fresh with the AoA Nightcrawler in the ranks, and whereas the art isn't as amazing as when the book is pencilled by Jerome Opena, Greg Tocchini delivers his best work yet. One final point of kudos: as an Englishman, I love it when English or British characters aren't written as either toffs or Dick Van Dyke cockneys by American writers, so Gawd bless ya, Rick Remender, you're a diamond geezer, guv! 8/10

LORD OF THE JUNGLE #1
Writer: Arvid Nelson
Art: Roberto Castro & Alex Guimaraes
Dynamite Entertainment $1.00

Matt C: Dynamite seem intent on bringing as many of these iconic characters from yesteryear back to a modern audience as possible, and if they keep on with this ‘$1 for #1’ incentive I find myself much more willing to check out what they have to offer. I’ve seen various interpretations of the Tarzan character over the years, and perhaps I may seek out the original Edgar Rice Burroughs stories at some point, but I can’t say I’ve ever delved too deeply into the archetypal legend of the Earl of Greystoke. This debut issue appears to be setting out its stall as a serious, faithful adaptation of Burroughs work, and while it’s a solid read, it’s not quite strong enough to convince me that I need to pay $3.99 for the subsequent issues. The art’s rustic and evocative (although a touch confusing in some spots), the script has a certain measure of eloquence, but there are probably only so many pages of monkeys going “Oo! Oo!” and “Aah! Aah!” at each other that I can take. Not bad, but not something that makes me want to pound my chest! 6/10

DAREDEVIL #8
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Kano & Javier Roderiguez
Marvel $2.99

Matt C: The concluding instalment of this two-part crossover with Amazing Spider-Man offers further evidence that Waid is on a roll at the moment. The first part was a buoyant affair, exhibiting the writer’s perfect grasp of both Spidey and Hornhead, but this title is where he’s made his current home, and his near-reinvention of the character is so successful that it’s not difficult to see why lots of people are now pointing at this being their favourite Marvel title. It’s not just that he’s brighten things up a fair bit, it’s also because he’s playful with the idea of an ‘outed’ superhero, and, perhaps most importantly, he’s bought Daredevil’s powers back to the forefront in the most inventive of ways. This last point has had a lot riding on the artists chosen to depict those powers visually, and there hasn’t been any disappointment in that department so far, a trend that Kano refuses to buck (check out the brilliant helicopter scene as one of the finest examples here). The series continues to race in a new direction (thanks to the Omegadrive) but Waid still throws in curveballs to keep readers on their toes, as that final page ably demonstrates. If you’ve ever liked this character but drifted away at some point over the years, now is most definitely the time to return. 9/10

CHEW #23
Writer: Johm Layman
Art: Rob Guillory & Taylor Wells
Image $2.99

Matt C: I often find myself passing Chew over when choosing which books to review in its release week in favour of other, frequently lesser, titles. This has to stop really as I should be getting behind the book at every available opportunity and singing its praises. Not that it needs it as it does pretty well for itself as far as I can gather, but if I can turn one person onto Chew that hasn’t already tasted its delights (sorry!) then I guess I’ve done my job. It’s just such a hugely likeable series thanks to its outlandish premise, even more outlandish characters, and the way it seems to continuously takes those characters down unexpected, hilarious avenues. Layman obviously loves his creations but does seem to enjoy putting them through the ringer (again and again!) for the readers’ entertainment, and Guillory’s idiosyncratic, over-the-top illustrations (packed with humorous incidental detail) are now so tied in with the concept that it’s kind of impossible to imagine anyone else drawing the book. A genuinely funny, relentlessly surprising and constantly mischievous comic, it’s always a pleasure to find a new issue of Chew in my weekly stack. 8/10

CATWOMAN #5
Writer: Judd Winick
Art: Guillem March & Tomeau Morley
DC $2.99

James R: I didn't pick up Catwoman as part of the New 52 as I felt that the creative team were facing an uphill struggle. I'm a big fan of the character, or to be more precise, I'm a fan of Ed Brubaker and Darwyn Cooke's version of Catwoman. When they relaunched Selina Kyle’s solo book in the last decade, they not only made her an interesting and strong female lead, but they also carved out a nice niche for her in the midst of noiresque tales of Gotham's underworld. When I saw that Judd Winick had been picked to kick things off this time, I was convinced that he couldn't live up to the book's last run, and that Guillem March was too much of a 'cheesecake' (ugh, I hate that term) artist for the book. However, I'd heard good things about the last couple of issues, so having invested in the prior four and this week's issue #5, I'm pleasantly surprised! Winick understands that gritty noir crime should be the heart of this book, and March seems to be keeping his slightly *ahem* revealing tendencies in check. It's good to see that Selina is portrayed as a character living on her wits, and the narrative feels suitably breathless. I'm still not entirely won over by March, and I don’t think the book is quite up to the standard of the Brubaker years, but it has managed to get me back on board. Slinky! 7/10

Ten Forward: March 2012

2012-01-20T22:15:00.008Z

Every month we spend an evening scouring the pages of the latest issue of Previews and pick the ten titles we are looking forward to the most. This month it's the January issue of Previews which includes comics scheduled to ship in March 2012.

SAGA #1
Writer: Bryan K. Vaughan
Art: Fiona Staples
Image $2.99

Stewart R: The man who wrote Y: The Last Man and the artist behind Wildstorm’s much underrated North 40 get together to bring us some breastfeeding controversy and a tale of love and young family life on the run during an intergalactic war. Not sure there’s much more that really needs to be said...! Well okay, Vaughan is a man who we know can write ongoing titles with a broad scope to a very high standard and despite this being Staples first proper ongoing gig her style should be a match made in the cosmic heavens for the strange species and creatures lurking out in the universe. In today’s risky market it might be too much to hope for another series of Y:TLM’s length and stature but one can hope!

ROCKETEER ADVENTURES 2 #1
Writers: Marc Guggenheim, Peter David & Stan Sakai
Art: Sandy Plunkett, Stan Sakai & Bill Sienkiewicz
IDW $3.99

Matt C: The first series of Rocketeer Adventures saw the likes of Darwyn Cooke, Mark Waid, John Cassaday and Bruce Timm pay homage to the late Dave Stevens’ nostalgic creation, and it was (deservedly) enough of a hit that IDW are returning with another helping in March. My embarrassing confession is that I’ve never checked out Stevens’ original work (I’ll get to it one day, honest!) but the standard of creators that have been roped in to contribute is high enough that it could probably be an Archie book and I’d still pick it up. Well, maybe. If you’re looking for comic that exhibits an uncynical love of the craft, this is somewhere you need to be directed towards.

CROSSED: BADLANDS #1
Writer: Garth Ennis
Art: Jacen Burrows
Avatar $3.99

Andy H: The original Crossed series was one of those stories you read and didn't forget about too quickly. Coupled with the downright bone-chilling visual explosion of horror I found it hard to stop thinking about it! I'm not the biggest horror fan in the world but this was a series I could not put down. The story was not just about the horror of the Crossed but also how far humanity would be changed in order to survive. Saying that, the David Lapham volumes didn't work for me so I'm excited to see Ennis and Burrows back at the helm, at least for the first three issues. Here the story starts in Scotland and is set some years after the first appearance of the Crossed. Expect the usual diverse mix of characters, moments of humour, outrageous horror and a complete sense of hopelessness in the face of overwhelming odds. There is no hope. There is no escape. There is only the Crossed! *gulp*

THE NEW DEADWARDIANS #1
Writer: Dan Abnett
Art: I. N. J. Culbard
DC/Vertigo $2.99

Stewart R: Having been a bit more interested in vampires (American Vampire, Victor Gischler’s X-Men) and zombies (Walking Dead) in the past couple of years I’m certainly drawn to what Dan Abnett might be able to bring to the undead party! It seems that he’s taking a thought-provoking and amusing route by using these two horror species(?) to exemplify the class divide in Edwardian England, with the upper classes all voluntarily becoming bloodsuckers to avoid being swallowed by the lowly ranks of the poor and destitute braineaters! We’re apparently going to see a detective story unfold amongst this bizarre London setting and while I’ve not been following much of Abnett’s recent non-cosmic based work this has me locked in for sure.

THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Nick Pitarra & Cris Peter
Image $3.50

James R: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jonathan Hickman either produces works of genius or baffling indifference. Pax Romana? Genius. Red Wing? Hmmm. So it's with a little trepidation I recommend this new series from Hickman which speculates that the scientists involved in the Manhattan Project did far more than create the atomic bomb - they were responsible for unleashing all kinds of weird science hi-jinx! It reminds me a lot of S.H.I.E.L.D. and that's a great thing in my eyes. At least by setting it away from the Marvel Universe we'll be spared the image of Robert Oppenheimer having a 'special cuddle' with a Deviant!

REBEL BLOOD #1
Writer: Alex Link & Riley Rossmo
Art: Riley Rossmo
Image $3.50

Matt C: What, another zombie comic? No waitaminute, come back! This one’s got zombie animals in it too!! Still not sold? Well, I’d be in agreement with you after the glut of undead tales we’ve seen in various media recently if it weren’t for one thing: Riley Rossmo’s art. If you’ve seen his distinctive, intense work on Proof, Cowboy Ninja Viking or Green Wake you’ll know that it does stick out from the pack. Whether or not this miniseries can avoid the clichés remains to be seen, but it’s going to look unlike anything else on the stands and for me that’s reason enough to give it a whirl.

SUPERCROOKS #1
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Lenil Yu
Marvel/Icon $2.99

Stewart R: Funnily enough I’ve just this minute finished reading Mark Millar’s Superior which I now rate as one of his very best works, and lo, in the back happens to be a teaser of what’s to come during the early stages of Supercrooks. While we're not getting to see or hear much about the plot at the moment it looks nice with Yu on pencils and I’ll certainly give it a go as Millar is one of those writers that I almost love-to-hate/hate-to-love because of his rollercoaster success rate. That said, I’m a little concerned that this is yet another one of those projects that hasn’t even hit the printing presses but there’s continuing hype and talk about lining up a director to helm the live-action movie that's in the early stages of being greenlit. Such a cock-sure attitude about an idea like this has me a little wary of whether we’ll see Millar working at the top of his game or simply ‘phoning in’ this title as the big bucks are to be made with the idea elsewhere!

SAUCER COUNTRY #1
Writer: Paul Cornell
Art: Ryan Kelly
DC/Vertigo $2.99

James R: Paul Cornell seems to be a comics writer who blows a little hot and cold; he's a TV writer of rightful acclaim, but his comics work has been maddeningly inconsistent. His run on Action Comics was fun, but then his work on Batman And Robin was... well, you get the idea. However, I'm curious to see what he does in his new Vertigo title, Saucer Country. The blurb says that it's a story about an alien abductee who runs for President and her campaign to make people believe her story. It looks like the West Wing crossbred with The X-Files, and the preview in Vertigo's Strange Adventures looked intriguing. I'm sad Vertigo have dropped their '1st issue for a dollar' policy, but I'm still going to give this a try.

AVENGERS VS X-MEN #0
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis & Jason Aaron
Art: Frank Cho
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: Do I really care about this? Another Marvel event that will inevitably turn out to be a crushing disappointment. Well, no, not really, I’ve been burnt enough times to know better, and yet…. and yet I still have this faint glimmer of excitement erupting somewhere in the back of my mind when Marvel reel out another one of their event high-concepts. With the so-called ‘Architects’ at the helm there is always a chance this could turn out to be something memorable, something exciting, but there’s a far bigger chance it will, well, suck. I can imagine I won’t be able to resist giving this opening shot a look (at the bargain price of… $3.99! Huh?) but I’m certainly not going to get caught up in something I dislike just for some sort of narrative closure. No, sir, not me! (Please remind me of this later in the year!)

SUPERBIA #1
Writer: Grace Randolph
Art: Russell Dauterman
BOOM! Studios $3.99

James R: This new series, penned by Bleeding Cool's new video correspondent Grace Randolph, looks like it's got the potential to be terrific as it features the suburban life of the alter egos of a group of female superheroes (phew!) This reminds me of both Bendis' Powers (back when it was good!) and Brad Bird's The Incredibles, both of which equal fanboy gold for me! Randolph also promises to make it a topical read, bringing in the world of celebrity culture and reality TV. If done right, this could be a solid win, and I'm definitely on board for the first issue!

Cover To Cover: DEAD MAN'S RUN #1

2012-01-18T23:39:00.007Z

DEAD MAN’S RUN #1
Writer: Greg Pak
Art: Tony Parker & David Curiel
Aspen $3.50

Stewart R: He’s a man who’s impressed me with his work with the Marvel canon, and now Greg Pak is putting his writing skills to a new project with a very supernatural feel over at Aspen. The story follows Sam Tinker, a cartographer who’s landed a rather dangerous job at the most dangerous prison on the planet; a penitentiary that sits on the very gateway into Hell! When his military veteran boss meets a sticky end, plans are set in motion that leave Sam sat on the wrong side of that gateway with no apparent way out...but then Sam is no ordinary man! Driven on by the need to save his younger sister, Juniper, who may well be stranded in the same brimstone-encrusted nightmare, Sam may just possess the natural skills to attempt the most daring prison break of them all!

Pak starts off well by establishing the strong, caring bond between Sam and his sister and links that to a nice flashback that offers a tiny glimpse of the young man’s abilities. From there things - just like Sam’s final moments in the living world - get turned upside down as he arrives in the most dangerous of locales. I have to say that I really find the idea of Hell - or at least the tip of that particular flaming iceberg - as a processing facility for the dead and guilty to be a very interesting concept and it allows Pak to play with and warp the general tropes associated with prison thrillers to fit the themes of judgement and punishment that are associated with the underworld. There are the threatening grins, the concealed shivs and knives associated with many works of fiction surrounding incarceration but also the involvement of demon-like guards and the feeding upon souls that you’ll find in horror works and Pak brings it all together brilliantly.

In Sam, it initially feels as if we might have an everyman type of protagonist on our hands, as he’s portrayed as that caring, responsible guardian, just trying to do the right thing. Before too long though, we get to see a bubbling confidence that rises to the surface in between the moments of bewildering chaos and blows to the skull and suggests that he might have what some call ‘grit’ by the bucket-load. A clever twist later provides us with another insight to just why Mr Tinker could be in even further trouble and I suspect that this series may well ooze with delicious character development as things progress.

Tony Parker certainly delivers a great turn on artistic duties with simple and effective facial expression work which really helps to capture the feeling of fear and shock that Sam and others experience through the course of the issue. He also gets to deliver some great panels that depict the engulfing horror of Hell - the sea of limbs that swallows Sam is a definite highlight! - and no-one can fault him whatsoever for his superb variety of viewing angles. I often find that some comics with a hell/horror twist can get a little too caught up in the disgusting, unnerving surrounds but here Parker succeeds by focusing in on what makes any prison a horrifying prospect by itself, and then adds little flairs of the supernatural here and there to spice things up further.

This is an enjoyable first issue that has me very much anticipating the adventure to come. The writing is sharp and snappy and the art is perfectly suited to the premise, delivering to the usually high standard of visual that I’ve come to expect from Aspen as a publisher. Definitely worth poking your nose into this week and I’ll also recommend picking up the #0 for the generous price of $2.50 while you’re at it (if your Local Comic Book Store has one). Released last November, this prelude offers a further insight into Captain Romero, Sam’s deceased boss, and just what his intentions are when it comes to the plucky young cartographer. 8/10

Mini Reviews 15/01/2012

2012-01-15T19:30:00.015Z

While we may not always have the time to review all the comics we get every week, we do try and provide a snapshot of the latest releases, mixing the good with the not so good.

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #4
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: Nick Bradshaw & Justin Ponsor
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: My initial reluctance has metamorphosised into what could well be full-blown love because this issue of Wolverine & The X-Men delivers outstanding comic book entertainment. After a lengthy span away from the X-Franchise I was drawn back in, albeit via a darker path, by Uncanny X-Force, but I honestly couldn’t see myself getting any further than that as the frequently pompous tone and sometimes impenetrable continuity didn’t hold any appeal. Bravo then, Jason Aaron, for bringing back a level of fun, excitement and intelligence that – outside of Uncanny X-Force – I’ve not seen in an X-book for a long time. The humour’s one of the obvious selling points but midway through Aaron throws in a look into the future that, while not an original trick for an X-Men story, is handled in such a concise but thrilling manner that it literally had me pausing for breath. It helps that it all ties in neatly with Uncanny X-Force and it’s very pleasing to see that Aaron and Rick Remender are obviously swapping notes to keep a sense of cohesion running through both their books. Bradshaw takes over from Bachalo here and although his style is quite different, the strength of Aaron’s writing seems to indicate that as long as his has a decent artist in tow the results are likely to be spectacular (although I’d always prefer consistency!). 2012’s only just begun but this is already looking like one of the series to follow for the next 12 months. 10/10

Stewart R: So Chris Bachalo is off getting future issues of W&TXM prepared and in steps Nick Bradshaw with the first issue of his run. It’s at a time like this, when a favourite artist comes off a book, where I start to assess and realise the true quality of the writing on a comic. It’s fair to say that Aaron’s writing stands up well to this test as he covers a good half dozen plot threads here but manages to keep things pretty tight in the process. The arrival of Genesis and Angel at the school brings up a host of different issues and Aaron does well to take these Uncanny X-Force characters and make them a proper part of this very different comic. While the Deathlok scene in the classroom is fun and demonstrates the uncertain times ahead for everyone I’m not fully convinced by the later blink into the future showing a potential team of X-Men fighting one of their own as it seems just a touch forced in its narrow focus. The scenes involving Bobby and Logan clashing over Angel/Warren’s reappearance at the school are very well handled though and they’re helped by some very neat expression and character work from Bradshaw. From the cliffhanger we’re left with it looks like the fun will certainly continue next month! 8/10

James R: Four issues in and this title really finds it's feet. I was won over by Aaron's new X-title from the first issue, but after the Hellzapoppin' opening arc, where the book felt fit to burst under the intensity of introducing the status quo, characters and insane action, this is the issue that's pushed me from liking it to loving it! I have to confess and say my real-world alter-ego is a teacher, and so I'd notice if Aaron's representation of teaching's trials and tribulations felt forced or false, but he gets it bang on. From Logan's desire not to screw up, to Rachel Grey's desire to see some of the student body lobotomised, these are all conversations you'll hear in a real life staff room, let alone at an X-school! The pupils themselves also make for a terrific secondary cast, and it reminded me of Joe Casey's brilliant but short-lived book The Intimates. That title also did a great job at capturing the gossip and politics of teenagers while keeping a veneer of intrigue, and it's brilliant to see that same craft shown here. As an extra bonus, it's also funny in places - Deathlok's future history class being case in point. I enjoyed this issue from start to finish, and running in tandem with Rick Remender's Uncanny X-Force, it is shaping up to be an exceptional year for Marvel's mutants. 9/10

GREEN LANTERN #5
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Doug Mahnke, Mark Irwin, Keith Champagne, Christian Alamy, Tom Nguyen, Alex Sinclair & Tony Avina
DC $2.99

Stewart R: This is one of the most promising of the DC New 52 titles yet one of the most frustrating in the same breath. Johns hasn’t had to turn the world of the Green Lanterns upside down in any ‘reboot’ sense but has timed things so we get a definite shift with Sinestro once again becoming a Green Lantern and the Guardians’ vision seeming to take a turn for the more sinister. The stand out by far has been to see Sinestro start to pause and comprehend the mistakes that he has previously been responsible for, especially involving his home planet of Korugar. To that end this issue stands tallest when the former Yellow Lantern is face to face with his people and Johns does well to show that an accusatory crowd will have many voices and opinions. Unfortunately things tend to start to split at the seams whenever Hal Jordan opens his trap to remind people what a prick Sinestro was and could be seen to be now; it just gets too damn repetitive and boring and is, I’m afraid, making the (main) protagonist of this book actually rather unappealing. I also have an issue with just how darn easy it is for Sinestro to bring his former Corps of fear to an earth-shuddering halt with essentially what amounts to a ‘flick of the switch’. Perhaps I am just a little disappointed that we don’t end up with the cover-to-cover fight for survival that we could have been provided with. This title is not broken, it’s just not firing on all cylinders presently. 6/10

SECRET AVENGERS #21
Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger & Chris Sotomayor
Marvel $3.99

Matt C: At the beginning of his short run it did feel a lot like Ellis was on autopilot, cooking up a great idea but almost leaving it alone to do it’s own thing without much further input. In hindsight I’m thinking I may have been too harsh, and maybe I need to revisit those initial issues again, but I do feel there was a definite uptick in quality for the final three instalments. For his last-done-in-one issue the team are up against the clock to find a Shadow Council spy inside a O*N*E station, figure out what their plan is and then put an end to it. It’s not quite as inventive as last month’s time-jumping hi-jinx but it’s an exciting, restless read that gives Immonen a much better plot to work with than found in the entirety of the Fear Itself miniseries, and with the assistance of Grawbadger and Sotomayor he absolutely delivers. Potentially this could be Ellis’ last Marvel work for some time; if that’s the case, he’s gone out on a high. 8/10

CYCLOPS #8
Writer: Matz
Art: Gael De Meyere
Archaia $3.95

Matt C: This futuristic look at a world where war is marketed as mass entertainment and the most badass of soldiers are celebrities finally reaches its surprising (but not earth-shattering) conclusion. Matz has really impressed me with his hardboiled work on The Killer and Bullet To The Head and while he doesn’t exactly seem out of his depth in the sci-fi genre, Cyclops hasn’t been up to the same standard as his crime comics. That’s not to say it’s a dud because he handles the thriller aspect of the tale very well, but I think he misses a trick on several occasions when he could be making some prescient observations about a future where the concept behind reality television has run amok. The series also suffered from losing Killer artist Luc Jacamon halfway through, but thankfully De Meyere’s artistic style isn’t that far removed from the man he replaced. Despite the gripes it’s been a good read and it’s always pleasing to see a US publisher translating a Euro comic for those of us who didn’t pay attention during French classes at school. 7/10

CARNAGE U.S.A. #2
Writer: Zeb Wells
Art: Clayton Crain
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: Heh, that is one terrific cover! I’ve resisted the urge to investigate online just what the next three might look like as I’m liking the visual surprises as they come! I’d say that this is a surprisingly good comic but to be honest the creators are simply doing what they do on a regular basis and that is to crank out a decent, entertaining and easy-on-the-eye read. Wells uses this second chapter to remind us of Carnage’s symbiotic weaknesses but also reiterates just how strong he is at the same time. A large portion of the issue is given up to the introduction of other symbiotes being roped into the fight to stop Carnage by the government, and while the team of commandos is a little too ‘Hollywood’ for its own good, I’ve a lot of time for a character like Scorn who seem to have a rich and sombre background. Keeping Spider-Man on the run also keeps things interesting and leads us to the later part of the story which once again takes a turn for the particularly nasty as Cletus Kasady strikes a horrific deal with one of his captors. This is the sort of book that Crain seems to have been born to illustrate as he can capture visceral tendrils and moments of terror like no other. Marvel are once again to be impressing me with their miniseries. 8/10

LOBSTER JOHNSON: THE BURNING HAND #1
Writers: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art: Tonci Zonjic & Dave Stewart
Dark Horse Comics $3.50

James R: By this stage in the game, if you're picking up a book that's part of Mike Mignola's Hellboy universe, you'll know the drill - an otherwordly horror begins to attack the everyday world, and it will be up to an idiosyncratic hero to save the day. Whereas I've never quite clicked with B.P.R.D, I absolutely love the Lobster Johnson tales. On one hand, I think it's due to their irregularity - it's always a treat when Mignola dreams up a new case for Hellboy's boyhood hero - and on the other hand, I think it's because I love noirish tales from the ‘20s and ‘30s. This first issue delivers both - beautifully illustrated by Tonci Zonjic (carrying on his fine work in Who Is Jake Ellis?) with colours from Dave Stewart, the issue has a perfect noir feel. The plot itself feels like the first chapter of a hard-boiled mystery cross-pollinated with Scooby Doo: New York is under attack from a ghostly tribe of Native American Indians and investigative journalist Cindy Tynan is coming up against corruption and the mob in her attempt to crack the case. Lobster Johnson himself only makes a cameo appearance in this issue, but that worked for me - we're seeing this story through Cindy's eyes, and the eponymous hero of the book is almost Batmanesque in being part vigilante, part urban legend, and his limited appearances accentuate that. A handsome first issue, and I shall be back to taste the Lobster's claw again next month! 7/10

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #633
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Richard Elson & IFS’s Jessica Kholinne
Marvel $2.99

Matt C: Gillen is really knocking it out of the park with this title, proving with every issue that there is life (and excitement!) in Asgard outside of Fraction’s plodding Mighty Thor monthly. To start with there’s the title of this arc, ‘The Terrorism Myth’, which is thoroughly awesome even though I’ve not figured out how that’s applicable to the content at this stage! Then there’s Gillen’s masterful plotting, complex in scope but always delivered in an understandable fashion with a strong undercurrent of humour. Of course you also have Loki himself, distinctive enough from his previous adult incarnation to be a thoroughly rounded, compelling individual in his own right, someone capable of wrongdoing but mostly with the best intentions on his mind (especially when things work out best for him!). The book’s seen a number of artists come and go (and come back again) but they're generally of a high standard and here Elson’s mixes the intimate and the epic without putting a foot wrong. I’m always banging on about this being one of the very best titles Marvel are currently publishing, and I’m certainly not changing my tune now! 8/10

THE ACTIVITY #2
Writer: Nathan Edmondson
Art: Mitch Gerads, Kyle Latino & Jordan Gibson
Image $3.50

Matt C: I really want to get behind this title as Edmondson really impressed me with Who Is Jake Ellis? but at the moment it’s borderline whether I’ll continue with it next month. It has plenty of positives, from the realistic tone and the atmospheric locations to the tight scripts, crisp dialogue and gritty, electric artwork, but there’s one thing that appears to be missing from the plotting in the two issues we’ve had so far. We’ve seen this super-elite black ops team go on dangerous missions, carry them out with relative ease, then return to base. It’s all very well done but there never seems to be any chance of things going pear-shaped; it all goes to plan a little too effortlessly. Maybe Edmondson is just giving us an opportunity to see how this team operate before throwing a spanner in the works, but up to this point there’s never any indication that things will take a turn for the worse. The possibility of witnessing the team out of their depth on a mission is probably enough to get me back for issue #3, but if it’s a case of them going through the motions again I may well have to leave them to it. 7/10

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artby: Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray & John Kalisz
DC $2.99

James R: In a word: cinematic. After five issues, Tomasi and Gleason have done a fantastic job of redefining this book and giving it it's own aesthetic. Once again, I have to tip my hat in the direction of Bat-books editor Mike Marts who has assembled a brilliant cadre of artists to illustrate Gotham - Greg Capulo on Batman, J. H. Williams on Batwoman and Patrick Gleason's terrifically moody work here – and I can't think of another character in comics who is so richly illustrated! The issue itself sees Damian working alongside Morgan Ducard - himself a son of a relentless, perfectionist manhunter in Henri Ducard - whilst Bruce broods (what else?!) over his role as a father as he desperately tries to track Damian down. Tomasi's script is the right blend of dialogue and visual storytelling, thus giving Gleason and Gray plenty of scope to deliver the goods. In a year when a lot of us are giddy at the thought of The Dark Knight Rises in the cinema, it's very cool to be able to read an equally cinematic Bat-book every month. 8/10

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #677
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Emma Rios & Javier Rodriguez
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: I’ll admit that I turned my nose up a little when I saw that we were getting a Spider-Man/Daredevil crossover in Previews a few months ago as I’ve been enjoying what Slott has been doing with Peter Parker’s life recently and was concerned that this would be an intrusion or distraction to detract from that. I needn’t have worried though as Mark Waid is of course an exceptional writer, delivering great things on the Daredevil title and previously proved himself a Spidey writer of immeasurable talent. Waid takes Peter’s heartbroken state - following his breakup from Carly - and naturally wraps it up in our hero’s need for a rebound meeting with Black Cat. This being Peter Parker means that it’s a terrific example of bumbling and awkward interaction followed by criminal shenanigans, nefarious plots and a quick web-swing to Matt Murdock for some much needed help. I loved the way that Waid brings across the weird situation surrounding the Daredevil identity and spells out just how the populace of New York picture that particular noose hanging over Matt’s head currently. It certainly allows for some amusing acting and misunderstanding between the two crimefighters and exemplifies the friendship that they share. I have to tip my (imaginary) hat to Emma Rios here as she brings possibly career-high art to the table - the initial two page look into Parker’s emotional state is simply brilliant - and surely makes a strong case for her to provide more Spidey/Daredevil art in the near future. 9/10

SCALPED #55
Writer: Jason Aaron
Art: R.M. Guera & Giulia Grusco
DC/Vertigo $2.99

Matt C: You might think this issue features the moment we’ve been waiting for since right back when the series began. Well, you’d be wrong. This issue features several moments we’ve been waiting for since this sublimely bleak series began! The fact that Scalped hits boiling point here caught me off guard, particularly because there’s still a full story arc left before the series wraps up, but also because it all seemed to snowball so quickly, eliciting one gasp after another. The majority of the issue features Dashiell and Shunka beating seven shades of shit out of each other with extraordinary violence, making it clear that at least one of them won’t be making it out alive. It’s very hard to put across the level of sustained (and mostly wordless) brutality we see here in the pages of a comic book but Guera makes this an entirely visceral experience and has you flinching at various panels. Grusco’s palette choice here is perfect, deep reds and blues reinforcing the sense that Aaron means business with what will surely go down as one of the best comics ever published under the Vertigo banner. Incendiary, dangerous and in a class of it’s own, Scalped is a true classic of modern comics literature. 9/10

SCARLET SPIDER #1
Writer: Christopher Yost
Art: Ryan Stegman, Michael Babinski & Marte Gracia
Marvel $3.99

Stewart R: I’d shrugged this off. I’d said ‘pah!’. There was no way I was going to be shelling out good money for a book about Kaine! Well, I might as well have a flick through when in the shop... oh, I see it really is ‘All of the power, none of the responsibility!’ Of course, yeah, he was a dying man for so long and now he has that impending doom lifted from his shoulders! New powers from his recent Spider Island exploits and the quick swim in the Anti-Venom cure? Yup fair enough... Suffice to say, I parted with my money - finally sacrificed Incredible Hulk in order to do so - and I am very happy with my decision. Yost quickly shows that Kaine is a man haunted by his past, but confused by the near-rebirth that he has experienced which seems to have separated him from his troubled legacy. There’s a rather cool Fugitive feel to the whole thing as Kaine believes he has to run, keep moving, never linger too long, but there’s also a sense that he’s running from his own judgement of what he should use his powers for rather than from the authorities. Ryan Stegman adds his own clinical and accomplished touch to the whole thing and there are some phenomenal panels and pages here - the Humvee destruction is superb! It’s a captivating read from beginning to end and I’ll definitely be picking up #2. 9/10

Paradox Comics Group

Mini Reviews 22/01/2012 *EXTRA!!*

Mini Reviews 22/01/2012

Ten Forward: March 2012

Cover To Cover: DEAD MAN'S RUN #1

Mini Reviews 15/01/2012

Mini Reviews 22/01/2012 EXTRA!!