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Comic Book Reviews – 5/25/2013

Schmoes Intern — Sun, 26 May 2013 00:15:35 +0000

By Matt Key and Joe Ruggirello

Hello Schmoeville!

First off, we want to thank everybody for checking out our weekly previews article. It was a lot of fun to put together, and we can’t wait to bring it to you every single week! As always, any suggestions you have for our comic book coverage is more than welcome.

Secondly, if we’re going to preview we might as well review, right? So here it is, the first installment of our weekly reviews column here on SchmoesKnow.com!

AQUAMAN #20

This wasn’t so much a “BUY” as it was a “BORROW.” Though, I will say, it was surprisingly good. Aquaman has been a solid read from the first issue, but it hasn’t been one that I’ve consistently looked forward to, but this one was a lot of fun, brought back Aquaman’s old team “The Others” and gave each of them a moment to shine. I especially loved seeing “Prisoner of War” command his Ghost Soldiers. Some great stuff in here.

-MK

BATMAN INCORPORATED #11

So, this may have been the biggest disappointment for me this week. I was all pumped to see some Batman-man-bat action continued from last week, but all we got was the Batman of Japan beating up some disfigured bikers trying to get back in league with Leviathan. I mean, yes, there were some great set pieces and some really fun action, but every single time I turned the page, my brain said, “maybe this next page will give me what I came here for…” and sadly, it never did. My recommendation, reread #10 and get excited for #12, but you can skip this one.

-MK

FLASH #20

Now that’s more like it. I said in this week’s preview that I hoped this was the issue that would renew my enjoyment of The Flash, and I am pleased to say “mission accomplished”. With an eventual showdown with Reverse-Flash looming, the beginning of this story arc sets the stage for what should be an exciting, ahem, run (I’m sorry about that. I really am). After battling Rogues and gorillas (that latter conflict was the one that bored me off this book), we see Barry Allen tackling a good old fashioned murder mystery. It’s kind of refreshing to see him working with his brain, only using his super powers to aid his investigation when necessary. Even though we as the reader know more about this case than Barry does (not much more, but some), it’s still fun to watch him try to piece this puzzle together. After finally figuring out how to watch the footage from a weird, soccer ball-looking camera thingy, Barry learns a supposed accident was really a murder. With two dead bodies on his hands and another almost-victim on the run, it will be interesting to see what happens when Kid Flash is thrown into the mix next month. That’s right, Kid Flash! That’ll totally crash the mode (this reference brought to you by someone who is sad Young Justice got canceled).

Another reason I’m glad to be reading this book again is Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato’s artwork. This book is SO freaking pretty to look at. The title page alone is worthy of all the awards. Manapul’s pencils matched with Buccellato’s coloring give The Flash one of the most unique looks in all of comics. It’s definitely one of, if not THE, best looking DC book out there. And now it finally has an interesting story to match. Oh happy day!

-JR

GREEN LANTERN #20

This week marks the end of one of the most incredible runs in modern comics as Geoff Johns wraps up his 9 year tenure on Green Lantern. It’s strange to think that there was once a time when Hal Jordan wasn’t a major player in the DC Universe considering how far the character has come since Johns took over. He’s returned from the dead, defeated the Anti-Monitor, Superboy Prime, and the rest of the Sinestro Corps, saved the universe from Nekron’s army of Black Lanterns…and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Under Johns’ direction we’ve met Lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Red, blue, yellow, orange (LARFLEEZE!)…the expanded Lantern mythology that Geoff Johns has created here is truly remarkable. It’s weird that someone else will be writing this book starting next month.

So how was the big finish? It’s pretty great. Wherever you jumped on board the GL train, whether it was day 1 or New 52 or somewhere in between, this is a very satisfying finale to what’s been an amazing journey. The First Lantern, Volthoom, isn’t necessarily the greatest or best-defined villain Hal and the rest of the gang have faced, but he provides sufficient menace to keep things interesting. There are no loose plot threads left dangling, everybody’s fate is revealed from The Guardians to Sinestro to G’Nort. The last scene (for now) between Sinestro and Hal is especially poignant. Their relationship has always been one of the main focuses of this book, particularly since the New 52 started, and the way they part ways hits all the right notes.

The art is mostly great as Doug Mahnke provides his usual spectacular work. Being a finale, however, there are several guest artists on board. Nothing is particularly bad, but the lack of a consistent look throughout the entire book makes it feel a little disjointed. But this IS a finale book, after all. It’s not like we didn’t know that was going to happen. And again, all the guest artists do a fine job. It’s just that Mahnke’s work, as usual, is the best of the bunch.

Overall, Geoff Johns ends his run on Green Lantern in terrific fashion. Everyone gets a proper ending, and he even plants a seed for future events in Justice League. Sneaky guy, that Johns. Collecting trades of first the Sinestro Corps War and then Blackest Night was part of what got me back into regularly collecting comics, so this finale is a little bittersweet for me. But it’s a hell of a way to wrap up this 9 year adventure. Thanks for a great time, Geoff Johns.

-JR

JUSTICE LEAGUE #20

The entire run of this title has been hit or miss for me from issue #1, sometimes good, sometimes not so much, but it’s never really blown me over. But this one, at least for me, marked a change for me and I really enjoyed it. It could just be because it has one of my favorite DC characters, Firestorm in it, transmuting air into Titanium doors, it could be because I got to see another one of my favorite DC characters, Martian Manhunter, perform some telepathic lobotomies, or it could be the fact that they’re incorporating the story that Batman knows all of the Justice Leaguers weaknesses… all except one. But who is it? You’ll have to read it to find out. This is a good jumping on point for the series and I would actually recommend picking this one up.

-MK

AVENGERS #12

Hickman is definitely writing towards the long game with this particular title, with the last few issues dragging a bit as he builds to the Infinity event later this year, but this issue was a lot of fun. Where most of the other issues have been a bit heavy, this was a more lighthearted issue that saw some of the Avengers teaching some newly evolved children in a “garden” site the ins and outs of being human. There were some really fun moments that allowed us to see these individual heroes’ teaching styles which, coincidentally, showed us what they value as well. Not sure I’d say to rush out and buy this one, but with what Hickman is doing, I’m not so sure you can afford to miss anything.

-MK

DAREDEVIL #26

Guys, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Daredevil #26 is perfect. Absolutely perfect. THIS is what comic books are all about: great storytelling combined with amazing artwork. Daredevil has been one of the best books out there under Mark Waid’s direction, and issue #26 is his masterpiece. At least until he puts out another one. Seriously, this book is THAT good.

Everything Waid has been building to since the first issue is revealed here, and it absolutely hits. The pace is frantic, matching Matt Murdock’s state of mind following his vicious beating at the hands of Ikari. Still reeling from the assassin’s attack, Murdock finds himself overwhelmed with paranoia, seeing enemies everywhere. And that’s where the brilliance in this issue lies: he’s right to be scared. The seemingly innocent lawyer on a job interview DOES carry a sinister message from Daredevil’s would-be killer. The nurse preparing to give Foggy an injection IS trying to kill Matt’s best friend. There isn’t a single moment in this issue where Matt isn’t in very real danger, even at the end when it seems he’s gotten the upper hand. Even as he finally confronts the big bad who’s been manipulating things from the get-go, Ikari is still just a step behind him and poised to attack. This book is as good as comics get.

Of course, any great comic book story is nothing without accompanying artwork. Chris Samnee and Javier Rodriguez absolutely deliver in that regard. Samnee’s retro-style pencils have been the perfect compliment to Waid’s work since he first came on board, and now he just kills it in this issue. There’s a great sight gag with an elevator door that adds that little something extra to help make this issue a true work of art. It’s just…it’s just so freaking good.

Then there’s the back-up, featuring Foggy Nelson’s visit to a group of kids in the cancer ward. I don’t have much to say about this beyond the fact that if you can read this and not be moved, you’re probably a robot. I was going to give this book a perfect score anyway, this was just the icing on the cake. It’s really a truly touching little story from Waid and company, especially if you’ve ever had to deal with this stupid disease.

So as I said in this week’s preview, you need to be reading Daredevil. If you aren’t, you’re missing one of the most remarkable runs anyone’s had on any book ever. It succeeds on every level, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes from here.

-JR

FANTASTIC FOUR #8

This was a great stand-alone issue with a lot of great moments, both in terms of action but also in terms of emotion. We get to see Ben Grimm revert to his human form, which he gets to do for one day, once a year, and then visit the Yancy Street of yesteryear. Anything involving The Thing reverting to his human form is already packed with emotion, but knowing he only has a day and seeing what he chooses to do with it gives this story so much more pathos. He doesn’t try to score with some hot chick or do anything like that, he goes back in time and defends a Jewish shopkeeper from the Yancy street gang, yelling lines like, “Yancy Street don’t bend!” Honestly, you just cheer for Ben Grimm throughout this entire issue. Not necessary for the over all story Fraction is weaving, but if you’re a fan of good stories, pick this book up.

-MK

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #10

This book just keeps getting better for me with every issue. When I first heard that they were killing off Peter Parker and putting Otto Octavius in his brain, I was disappointed and wrote it off as a hackneyed premise I would have no interest in. But damn if Dan Slott ain’t proved me wrong. This issue takes place after Otto has completely purged the ghost of Parker out of his brain completely and allows us to see Otto, plain and simple, dealing with the responsibilities of being Spider-Man all on his own. It also brings in the Green Goblin! If you haven’t been reading this title, jump on here. I’d highly recommend it; it’s a fun ride.

-MK

UNCANNY AVENGERS #8AU

All of the “AU” tie-in’s that the titles have been doing have not really impressed me. Though they are usually fun reads, they are typically standalone issues that don’t really contribute a whole lot to the main story that Bendis has constructed. That being said, this issue actually ties in very nicely to that story while also continuing with the time-traveling Kang and Apocalypse Twins main story that Remender has been writing here all along. There were two things that really stood out to me about this issue. Firstly, I loved seeing some character development for the main villains in the Ragnarok Now story arc that Remender is creating. And, second, since this is presumably taking place in an alternate time line that will be eventually be overwritten, Remender had some liberty to play a “what if” game and really take it to a couple characters. This issue doesn’t seem crucial to the over all story that’s being told in either Age of Ultron or in Uncanny Avengers, but if you’ve been keeping up, it’s a good ride with lots of action.

-MK

UNCANNY X-MEN #6

This, honestly, is my favorite of the week, at least with the Marvel releases. I honestly can’t figure out what I like more, Bendis’ writing or Irving’s art. In this issue, the Broken X-men team and their young, super novice, didn’t know I was a mutant until yesterday team mates end up fighting Dormammu in Limbo. That’s already an epic set up, but Bendis’ story takes you on some great twists and Irving’s artwork and framing are breathtaking. In one part, when the Cuckoos have telepathically turned all of the new mutants into barbarian badasses, Irving does a two page spread with two frames, from two different angles, but the effect is like watching that awesome scene in Whedon’s “The Avengers” where the camera sweeps around the team after the Hulk’s taken down one of those giant monster things. About the only thing in this issue that I had a hard time with is the opening scene that shows a new mutant discovering their powers. While it’s a great and humorous scene, it didn’t really contribute anything to the over all story and felt a little out of place or tacked on. But still, that’s just nitpicking on my part. I’d definitely pick up #5 just so you can pick up this issue too. Highly recommend this issue.

-MK

What did you read this week? Sound off in the comments section below!

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