Comic Capsule Reviews 8/19/2009

Capsules, Reviews, Top Story

Wednesday Comics week #7 (Various/DC Comics/$3.99): More comic strip fun for under $4…

Batman: Awesome Rizzo art. 9 out of 10.

Kamandi: This is strip is amazing. I would buy a Kamandi series by these guys. It’s perfect. 10 out of 10

Superman: Some wonderfully rendered action. 9 out of 10

Hawkman: Really pretty pages by Baker 8 out of 10

Deadman: Danger and blood.  8.5 Out of 10

Green Lantern: Nicely rendered action as GL confronts his old friend. 9 out of 10

Metamorpho: this strip continues to make me happy. I love it. An ancient Roman Element Man!!! 10 out of 10

Teen Titans: Dr. Light and the Titans assembled. 8 out of 10

Strange Adventure: Dr. Fate shows up. Beautifully illustrated… 10out of 10

Supergirl: More Aquaman goodness. 9 out of 10

Wonder Woman: Still lost. But it sure is pretty. 5 out of 10

Metal Men: Really fun and well written 9.5 out of 10

Sgt. Rock: I never really enjoyed Sgt. Rock before but I really like this. 8 out of 10

the Flash: Oh That’ a lot of Flashes. Great art. 9.5 out of 10

The Demon and Catwoman: More fun and really great art!!!.. 8 out of 10

I am so happy with this series. I have more fun opening this up every month then I have had reading comics in years. Great job DC. 9 out of 10

Chew #2 (Layman, Guillory/Image Comics/$2.99): I know, I did the review of #3 already what is this a time warp? No, I finally got my hands on issue #2, it’s sold out and the copy Layman sent me never arrived in the mail. Way to go Layman, i’m sure my copies are on eBay. Any way it’s a great issue. John Layman does wonders introducing new characters, pacing the story, witty fun dialogue and moments. I love the scene in the burger joint with the defiant teen burger flipper. Hilarious. Really great work. Great art by Rob Guillory who really sets a great tone with his unique yet quirky style. There is some amazing action as Tony Chu gets ambushed by ninja and Savoy comes to save the day. Savoy is surprisingly spry for his size. And amazing issue full of fun and drama. This book really deserves every bit of good will it gets. Thanks to John for the shout out in the front cover, you know I love you. And he just told me my pin-up will be in issue #5! Believe the hype buy this book. 9 out of 10.

Amazing Spider-man #603 (Van Lente, Atkins/Marvel Comics/$.299): another good issue as Chameleon has a surprisingly fulfilling day living Pete’s life. He gets a date with MJ, knocks boots on the kitchen floor with Michelle, gets to hang out at City Hall, insults Flash, and maybe murders Harry. Busy day. Nice narration as Chameleon goes through the day and we see he plans on blowing up NYC for some terrorist.  And of course…Spidey survived last issue’s cliffhanger. Imagine that. A very well done writing job this issue. I am sure the events will play havoc on Peter’s life in the future. The art is a step down from the great talent that has been handling the book the last several months. Amateurish. Atkins does a good job with the storytelling, but not so good on consistent character faces, and anatomy. 8 out of 10

Blackest Night: Superman #1 (Robinson, Barrows/DC Comics/$2.99): Blackest Night is what comic book events should be. This book was surprisingly good. And fun. First of all I hate the idea of Kal-L being an undead minion of some all powerful death entity. But I have to admit I love Robison’s use of Kal-L here coming to Smallville full of powerful horror, killing people and tormenting Superman and Conner and threatening Ma Kent. Even Krypto gets brutalized. Great dialogue really intense, I think Robinson really nails some emotional tension and care between the characters. Especially the way Kal-L rips into Supes for accepting and caring about Conner. Also an expected stop at New Krypton where Zor-el’s crypt is ground zero for another inductee to the Black Lantern corps. Not a good sign for Alura and Kara. Very intense fights and action. Barrows art is quite amazing. Stunning and a great compliment to Reis and Mahnke’s work on the main story. Magnificent splash pages and suspense and drama front to back. Can’t wait for more of this. 9 out of 10

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Invincible #65 (Kirkman, Ottley/Image Comics/$2.99): After lord knows how many issues of balls out world cracking super action the Invinciverse gets a much need reprieve until the next threat and Viltrumite invasion. Great character work and emotion. Nice movement of plot. Earth has to ready itself for the next threat. At any cost. And after a funeral Mark gets some. I think Kirkman has really set up that the characters are evolving maybe not for the better for the inevitable. And still manages to have fun along the way (“and uh, are your boobs?”). Great stuff. Great art. I can’t say it enough Ottley is a god. Really clean lines and strong no nonsense storytelling. Even in an issue that is relatively quiet compared to what’s come before; he captures a great range of emotion and characterization. 8 out of 10

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Supergirl #44 (Gates, Igle/DC Comics/$2.99): Gates has really packed this issue full of goodies. Ral-dar is proving to be a more interesting and longer lasting character then I thought. General Lane is quite the strategist looks like he is setting up an inevitable conflict with New Krypton. And Mon and Supergirl team up to track down Flamebird and Nightwing. With that plot twisting with the introduction of a new villain and Ral-dar on the loose I have no idea how this will play out. Gates does very nice character work and I love his continuing the strained relationship between Kara and Lois Lane. Good work. Igle is amazing on art chores. A great opening sequence and wonderful expressive character work. He does tremendous work on the figures and flying action. There’s a really great 2 page spread at the end with Supes flying. I am sorry to say though that the ink and color work continues to diminish the over all art. The inks by Sibil tend to be thin and the colors are washed and burnt. I really dislike that there is no rhyme or reason for coloring ink lines on the faces? Still Igle’s masterful use of angles, great expression and figure work are too good and I mostly over look the aspects of the complete art I dislike. Gates and Igle have really made Supergirl a monthly must read. 8.5 Out of 10

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Lockjaw and the Pet Avengers #4 (Eliopoulos, Guara/Marvel Comics/$2.99): What a great ending. Seriously…considering how much fun this was..I would love to read a Chris Eliopoulos Avengers comic. This whole series was great fun, but this issue really brought the action. Great use of Thanos, possibly the best use of Thanos is years. Thanos faces off against the Pet Avengers on the lawn of the White House for possession of the Infinity Gems! Great fun. I love the Pet Avengers and it looks like I can look forward to more of them in the future. The book is cute, full of action and pure joy. I love that this is in continuity. I guess this is how the Illuminati got the gems. The art is sublime. Guara is great. He really does a great battle as the Pets face of vs. Thanos. Great expressive animals, nice scenes full of action. It never looks silly!. This series is one of my favorite reads in ages. 9 out of 10

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