Sorry I missed you last week. I was off making a nuisance of myself in Chatham, Massachusetts. I’m back now though and better than ever (considering the normal level of quality though, this is hardly impressive). More importantly, Moon Knight is back this week. WHEEE! Let’s get to it.
Moon Knight #1
“The Fun Stuff”
Published by: Marvel
Writer: Charlie Huston
Penciller: David Finch
Inker: Danny Miki
Colorist: Frank D’ Armata
I’ve always had a bit of love for Moon Knight, although it’s a bit difficult for me to explain exactly why. I think I own or have owned at some point a grand total of eight Moon Knight comics including the “We All Fall Down” trade, the Stephen Platt issues (allow me to say, god, they were awful), and his most recent (I think) miniseries that was Moench’s return to the character. If you include issues in which he appeared, I think the grand total jumps up to 16 or 17. And, as you can tell, I don’t own the “good” stuff. Still, my interest in the character sustained. The costume, the multiple personalities, the general disposition, it just appealed to me. Sadly, I never found a Moon Knight appearance that fully delivered on that promise.
This issue is basically a prologue to the main event but, for the first time, I’m hopeful that my interest in the character is not misplaced.
Essentially an issue length Moon Knight beating up on thugs in flashback (or is it merely fantasy?) sequence, Huston nicely pulls a surprise out of his hat in the last three pages that is the dramatic push for this first arc. Prior to this, however, Huston nicely nails Moon Knight’s “voice” and brings the religious implications of MK’s mission to mind in a way that I have not seen done before (but, again, consider that I haven’t read a ton of Moon Knight and take that report with a grain of salt).
He is aided and abetted by David Finch who many have expressed a distaste for but for whom I have an appreciation for. I understand that his faces can be a bit rough or too similar from time to time, but I think he excels at action sequences and Huston does well to play to that strength. Finch seems to have raised his game a bit too though as he still nicely illustrates an almost silent sequence that depicts the sadness and desperation of Moon Knight now.
My favorite thing in the whole book though was, oddly enough, Huston’s letter to the audience at the end; especially appealing is the section where he talks about these being the stories Moon Knight told him. I don’t know why, but I am a sucker for that sort of talk.
Anyway, overall, it is a strong (if prologue-like) start. Huston seems to “get” Moon Knight and Finch’s art is so appealing that I did not even realize, at first, that not a stitch of dialogue is spoken.
Grade: B
Young Avengers #11
“Family Matters” Part Three
Published by: Marvel
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Penciler: Jim Cheung
Inkers: Livesay, Jay Leisten, Dave Meikis, Matt Ryan, and Jamie Mendoza
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
If he wrote more, Allan Heinberg could be Marvel’s Geoff Johns (also, you know, if he was not doing that Wonder Woman book). His knowledge of continuity is extensive and impressive. What’s more impressive, however, is that he uses it without ever placing it above the needs of the story. This book has not been an 11 issue showcase of “Allan Heinberg knows just as much as about the Avengers as you…if not more” but rather a nice exploration of how bits of the past (forgotten and not) sometime return with unanticipated results.
This issue, those results concern the paternalism of two (well, three) of the Young Avengers as Teddy, Billy, and Billy’s apparent soul twin Thomas learn pretty definitively that were they thought they came from was not exactly the whole story. There are no huge surprises there, but again, Heinberg is nicely utilizing continuity (as well as adding a bitter postscript to “Chaos”) to link this fledgling team together.
Beyond those revelations, the scene to look for is Patriot, for the first time, fully and intelligently stepping into his role as a leader. His order to head back to Avengers Tower demonstrated a growing maturity and confidence. Hopefully that will put the final nail in the “oh, he’s nothing but an angry black man” coffin.
Grade: B
Detective Comics #818
“Face the Face” Part 3
Published by: DC
Writer: James Robinson
Layouts: Leonard Kirk
Finishes: Andy Clarke and Wayne Faucher
Colorist: John Kalisz
I continue to enjoy this table clearing/table setting arc, but I have noticed that one thing an issue just bugs me. In the first issue it was the ham handed “hinting” of events that we the readers missed (the whole “one year ago” “six months ago” “three months ago” sequence). Last issue it was Poison Ivy taking a dive without putting up the slightest of fights. This issue? The Robin love.
Sorry, that sounded dirty.
What I mean to say is it bugged me when, post-fight sequence, Batman turns to Robin and basically says, “A few more years and you’ll kick Nightwing’s ass up and down the street.” Don’t get me wrong, I like Tim Drake a lot. If push came to shove, I’d probably declare him my favorite Robin (I like Dick as Nightwing better). But let us come to the conclusion that Tim could surpass Dick. Otherwise, as it does here, it comes across awkward and forced and frankly makes me resistant to the idea. That sort of designation needs to be earned, not given over in two word balloons.
But that’s just me making a mountain out of a molehill.
Otherwise, I was all about this issue. Harvey being not quite sane, (but not killer crazy, I’m guessing); Bullock’s thinking out loud about why all those villains seem to end up in Gotham; the villain killer’s not victim; Batman and Alfred talking; Batman and Bard talking…I liked it all. It’s just too bad the whole affair grinds to a momentum robbing/infuriating moment on around page 12 whenâ€â€
Well, I already talked about that. Without the Robin pandering, I’d probably give this book an A. With it though, it gets a…
Grade: B
Ex Machina #19
“March to War” Chapter 3
Published by: Wildstorm
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Penciller: Tony Harris
Inker: Tom Feister
Colorist: JD Mettler
Let’s see. Strong writing? Check. Great art? Check. Near perfect coloring? Check.
Yup, Ex Machina is typically strong this month. I find myself looking for just a kick more of adrenaline, but otherwise, what’s there to complain about.
Grade: B
Infinite Crisis #6
“Touchdown”
Published by: DC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils and Inks: A 14 Person Army
Colorists: Jeromy Cox, Guy Major, and Rod Reis
First, I’ve got to address a few pet peeves. One is the reaction to the multiple earths exploding. Shouldn’t someone be worried about that? The only guy who seems remotely concerned is Psycho Pirate and I just don’t feel good about Psycho Pirate being more concerned with billions of lives than Superman. Green Lantern whistles? Donna Troy’s team watches from space doing nothing until Wonder Woman and Superman may die? I know they are just formed planets, but they have a history to them (instant though it may be) and they are fully populated by people, hero, villain, and regular joe alike. Knowing you cannot do anything to stop it is one thing, watching and whistling? That crosses a line to me.
Problem #2, when the heck is a Superman (I don’t even care which one at this point) going to get it together and act heroic. When you start with a thesis that Superman has let people down by being inactive and thus uninspiring, you have to undo that and have Superman reclaim his crown as Hero Numero Uno. Yet, with an issue left, either Superman’s big moment was quick welding a broken building. He has, however, found time to get yelled out by Robin and get in a fight with his older Earth-2 version. Obviously, Superman’s going to come up huge next month and possibly sacrifice his powers in the effort, but I worry that that great moment has been put off too long to be as powerful as it should be.
Finally, Donna Troy’s team. Could we have jettisoned this whole thing without it hurting the story in the least? Yup, pretty sure we could.
So I hated this book, huh?
Actually, no. I liked it. I liked it a lot actually. Most of what’s here is very well done. The problem with that is that the flaws therefore stand out so much more because of that. So, now that I’ve expressed my peeves, why did I still like it?
The generational thing gets a lot of play here and Johns makes it work without forcing it down our throats. Unlike Robinson having Batman call Robin “amazing” or whatever in Detective, Johns lets the actions of Wonder Girl, Superboy, and Nightwing prove that they are worthy heirs to their predecessors’ legacy.
The rest of the Tower stuff was great too. Black Adam teaching Psycho Pirate a proverbial lesson was a strong bit of recall/foreshadowing of Adam’s ambiguous role in the DCU. The rest of the Tower captives stepping up to the plate was also something I enjoyed, (even if Breach just got to be in the background of one group shot).
The two biggest moments for me, however, were Batman’s mission and, of course, Superboy’s fate. Sadly already spoiled by Superman OYL and some leaked pages online, Superboy going down like a hero was not much of a surprise. The surprise is not what is important, though, it is the way you tell the story and Johns does that well. Superboy’s rant against the hypocrisy of a murderous “hero” killing to bring back the glory days showed a Connor finally accepting his role in the DCU (and was also a nice bit of metatextuality). Even though it was short lived, given his demise, it was mirror to the rest of the DCU as well. It’s time to step up to the plate and be heroes, consequences be damned, and it took a clone in jeans and a t-shirt to make that clear.
Batman’s mission was a companion piece to Superboy’s death in that way. Batman, master planner of the DCU, finally accepts that planning for yourself is not nearly as effective as planning for many and, as such, mounts a quick and dirty assault on Brother Eye that leaves it crippled and falling from the sky and the OMACS free and human once more. Black Lightning and Mr. Terrific hassling each other was just the icing on that cake.
Grade: B
The OMAC Project: Infinite Crisis Special
“The Lazarus Protocol”
Published by: DC
Writer: Greg Rucka
Artist: Jesus Saiz
Colorist: Hi-Fi Design
Perfunctory. Unnecessary. Superfluous. These are some of the words that you might want to use when describing this issue.
Speaking as one who enjoyed the deliberate pacing of the OMAC Project miniseries, I still admit that this one takes its time going nowhere. A few pages in Infinite Crisis #6 and Checkmate #1 easily could have achieved the same results.
Only Saiz’s art, the return of The Wall, and Sasha’s excellent new metal eye (Cable, watch out!) save this thing.
Grade: D
Planetary #25
“in from the cold”
Published by: Wildstorm
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
We are still in “here’s a bunch of exposition to explain everything before the series wraps up” mode this time out, but I minded it less. Maybe that’s because #24 came out fairly recently (in comparison to the wait between #23 and #24). Or maybe it’s because Jakita and John punch each other in the face for awhile. It could be either.
Planetary has me so hooked though, they could publish an entire issue of Snow just talking about making a really good Reuben and I’d still love it.
As a matter of fact, I wonder if I write Warren Ellis if he’ll slip in one extra issue of Planetary covering that subject matter. I really could use a good Reuben recipe and what’s another 3 month wait amongst friends?
Grade: B
Teen Titans #34
“New Teen Titans” Part 1
Published by: DC
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciler: Tony Daniels
Inkers: Kevin Conrad and Art Thibert
Colorist: Richard and Tanya Horie
Huh…for a page or two there, I could’ve sworn that I was reading an adaptation of Robocop. They even threw in the “two people making out in front of the seemingly unconscious half metal guy”. Good times.
Even if we’ve seen the device before, though, it works. It’s a nice way to introduce the OYL passage of time as well as tantalizing us with bits of randomness (Zatara? Aquagirl? Gar leaving?).
The rest of the issue flies by as Cyborg becomes familiar with the world he has been sleeping through for the past year. Some moments, like Wonder Girl seeing him for the first time, work, some don’t, (Cyborg finding out about Superboy’s demise fails to elicit an emotional reaction despite his robot tears). The new lineup has promise though, especially if Wonder Girl signs back up. Between Tim in full leader mode (with a touch of Batman’s “they don’t need to know this” attitude), Ravager’s cattiness towards Wonder Girl and general creepy playfulness (check out her “I’m a good girl now” comment or the way she drapes herself on Robin), the general “WHA?!”-ness of including Wendy and Marvin, and Kid Devil’s…well, I’m not quite sure what Kid Devil brings to the table yet. But, even without knowing that, the team is nicely diverse and full of little fissures, rivalries, and friendships that could lend themselves to all avenues of storytelling.
The ending, however, is most likely what’s going to catch your attention. It’s a great surprise, to be certain, but I find myself hoping it does not go anywhere. We do not need a “Bizarro Boy” (despite its obvious alliterative pleasures) and having Superboy return just does not feel quite right to me.
Grade: B
