Well, here we go, the first review column posted by yours truly under the new blog style. Feedback on the other review columns has been overwhelmingly positive, so I hope I can keep up the streak with my effort. I haven’t been around here for a while, so it may take me a little time to get back into the swing of things, but hopefully I can be back up and running at the high standard y’all expect as quickly as possible.
Powers #17
Story Title: N/A
Company Name: Icon
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Hoo boy. Where to begin? Okay, so the move away from the traditional “Detectives investigating crimes involving super powers” continues, but the story itself just keeps on getting better and better. Walker is now a fully-fledged power again, thanks to his newly granted powers as Millennium, and the interaction between him and Retro Girl as they both come to terms with the change is a joy to behold. As Walker walks boldly into the bright lights of a new dawn however, Deena continues her slide into darkness. Under investigation by I.A., it’s apparent that she’s contemplating killing off her investigating nemesis, but only a last minute crisis of conscience stays her hand. Instead, she takes out her frustration at the change within her – both physically and emotionally – on a group of ne’er do wells inside a café. It’s a shocking, brutal way to end the issue, and allows us to see just how far, how fast, Deena has fallen. As things stand, there can surely only be an unhappy ending to all this, and the further Deena slips into darkness, the worse things will end for her – unless Bendis pulls some twisty- turny-story-miracle from the hat. There’s a definite contrast between Walker’s elevation to cosmic hero and Deena’s slip into avenging murderous vigilante, and there’s more than a hint that, sooner or later, their paths will converge. I, for one, can’t wait to see it happen.
Score: A
Son of M #4
Story Title: The Gathering Storm
Company Name: Marvel
Writer: David Hine
Artist: Roy Allan Martinez
At what point do misguided intentions turn into evil actions? Do the ends ever justify the means? They say the sins of the Father are visited upon the son, and within this series, Quicksilver, son of Magneto, is proving the old saying true. Thanks to Pietro’s actions within House of M, the mutant population has been all but destroyed, and now, in an attempt to atone and make amends, he’s embarked on a personal crusade to restore the abilities and gifts of as many former mutants as he can. Using the stolen terrigen mists, Quicksilver has already restored a semblance of his former powers, and, in a shocking move, transformed his daughter from non-powered human to super-powered being. Her power, however, has come at a price that I won’t spoil here, but it’s one that leaves you feeling even more uncomfortable at his actions. There is also the hint that her power isn’t permanent, and that continued exposure to the mists is needed to maintain it. On the moon, the Inhumans discover Pietro’s treachery, and set in motion a plan to try and repair the damage and also, more worryingly, take revenge . In the meantime, Pietro heads for Genosha to begin his crusade – and, for him, it is a crusade – to right the wrongs he has caused. His first encounter is with Callisto, and suffice to say that she turns out to be the living embodiment of being careful what you wish for once Quicksilver gives her his “gift”. Somebody else is there, too, and their presence, and the promise of a cataclysmic confrontation, gives us one of the best end pages of a comic so far this year. This story has been a real treat so far, showing exactly how even the best of intentions can lead to damnation. Quicksilver has always been one of the most under-used and intriguing characters within the entire Marvel U, and although it would appear he’s heading somewhere he may never be able to return from, it’s good to see him have his turn in the spotlight. Son of M is by far the best thing to spin out of House of M, and gets better with every issue.
Score: A
Hard Time, Season Two #4
Story Title: It’s all about Cindy
Company Name: DC
Writer: Steve Gerber & Mary Skrenes
Artist: Brian Hurtt
I’ve been following this series since it first started out as part of DC’s “Focus” line, and it’s never disappointed. The fact that it’s the only one of the four launch titles from that line still on-going is a testament to its originality and sheer class. It’s not a traditional “super-hero” read, despite the ethereal power displayed by our titular hero Ethan. This issue focuses in on one of the supporting cast, the feminine Cindy, and attempts to explain how he became such a fragile and broken character. Despite this, there’s no attempt to force sympathy upon us – the purpose seems to be to show that Cindy was always destined to become a victim of his own making (apart from one shocking incident), despite the best efforts of the people around him to force him down a different path. Cindy’s biggest “crime” it would appear was simply to be born inside the wrong body. It raises the intriguing question of whether our genetic makeup can be “wrong” when we are born, and whether nature really is more important and powerful than nuture. Ethan is almost a peripheral figure in this issue, and is still having major trouble with various factions. His power is also still affected in a negative way by Cutter, who provides an intriguing cliffhanger at the issue’s climax. This title deserves to be read by more people as month after month, we are treated to a multi-layered, original and enthralling tale unlike almost anything else on the shelves today.
Score: A
Teen Titans #33
Story Title: The Brave and the Bold
Company Name: DC
Writer: Marv Wolfman & Geoff Johns
Artist: Todd Nauck
This title feels like it’s being treading water for a short while now, almost as if DC were waiting for One Year Later before launching their next big standalone story arc. This issue is a direct tie-in to Infinite Crisis, picking up where Issue #5 of the mini-series left off. Superboy and Nightwing are on their way to Alexander Luthor’s hideaway, and along the way, learn to come to terms with themselves and each other. Nightwing is, as usual, the very embodiment of heroism, and leaves Superboy in awe of him. This has an almost detrimental effect, as Superboy finds himself striving too hard to impress; trying too hard to live up to an impossible standard. By the issue’s denouement both characters have found an emotional understanding, with Superboy in particular finding, at last, some sort of self-belief and inner peace after the events of recent times. It’s always good to see Nightwing back involved with the Titans, and the use of the old-school costume is a real visual treat for us DC old-timers, too. A satisfying and adequate issue that ties in neatly and nicely to the bigger picture of Infinite Crisis as a whole.
Score: B
Transformers: Infiltration #3
Story Title: N/A
Company Name: IDW
Writer: Simon Furman
Artist: E.J. Su
I grew up with the Marvel UK Transformers comic over here in England – as written by Simon Furman – so for me, this series is as much about nostalgia as anything else. So far, the Autobot characterizations have been just how I remembered them from the lazy hazy days of my youth, and that continues in this issue. Ratchet is still driven by noble emotion and a desire to understand and protect human life, Prowl is still an implacable, by-the-book leader, and Bumblebee is anxious to please and be of help. The Decepticons, seemingly aware that the Autobots are onto them, head off on a series of strikes to destroy their previous base’s before the Autobots can show up and uncover whatever it is they’re up to. Ratchet, despite being told by Prowl to send the humans who have stumbled into the middle of this situation home, takes them – and Bumblebee – with him to investigate one such base, hopefully before the Decepticons can destroy it. My main gripe so far is that the story itself is moving far too slowly, and we’ve taken three issue’s to tell what’s one and a half (at best) issue’s worth of story. Hopefully, with the teased introduction of both Megatron and Optimus Prime in the near future, things will pick up, but for now, despite some nice, clean art by E.J. Su, and although I’m enjoying the title, I can’t help but wish things were moving at a faster pace.
Score: C
Fables #47
Story Title: The Ballad of Rodney and June – Part 2
Company Name: DC Vertigo
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artist: Jim Fern
Review Content: I love Fables as a concept. The idea of history’s nursery rhyme and fantasy characters living, breathing and interacting is a superb one that offers so much scope, so many story opportunities that some months, Bill Willingham must not know where to start. Having said that, in some ways, this two part story was a step down from the usual high standards that have been set in the series so far. It’s not helped by the “handwriting” font used throughout the issue that I found annoying and difficult to read clearly; a minor gripe, maybe, but still one that detracted from my overall enjoyment. Rodney and June go on a quest to find Gepetto and attempt to convince him to grant their wish to be transformed from wood to flesh, in order that they might have the relationship they both yearn for. They discover that their transformation will come with a price, and despite the initial joy at the change, it soon becomes apparent that they hadn’t realized just how high that price would be. The issue is clearly being used a set-up story, placing Rodney and June undercover deep within the heart of the Fable community, and it promises to have some major and potentially deadly ramifications during times to come. Having said that, the lack of real action or overall plot advancement in this story left me feeling under-whelmed. It’s a rare misstep within the series to be fair, but it’s a misstep nonetheless.
Score: C
