Good day, comic readers. This week was chock-full of “eh” comics. Not one truly wowed me. Though not one truly angered me either. Read on…
Ultimate Extinction #4
Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Brandon Peterson
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Published by Marvel Comics
Perhaps I have been wrong about this comic. Maybe I’ve had unreasonable expectations. I have been waiting for it to explode with awesomeness. I have been waiting for it to become this epic opera about earth being saved. But after being disappointed by over a dozen issues (for the most part), it remains oddly quiet. Oh, there is action. Don’t misunderstand me. But it’s more in the vein of Warren Ellis’ “Ocean” or “Orbit”, where the menace is not really seen. Here Gah-lak-tus is not shown at all, and with one issue to go in this series, we still are getting set ups. And the big cliffhanger in this penultimate issue is not the world being taken by storm by a big ol’ planet eater, but it’s a bunch of bald people showing up at SHIELD’s headquarters. Since there is only one issue to go, I will pick it up, but unless it really wows me, this will be a massive (and prolonged) disappointment.
Grade: D
Ultimate Spider-Man #93
“Deadpool” Part 3
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Danny Miki
Colors: Richard Isanove
Published by Marvel Comics
Well, this story just took a turn I was not expecting, and it was a very welcome surprise. Starting with the first page we learn that, what was seemingly a very contrived superhero story, is actually…a very contrived reality show!! Yes, it turns out that this big fight is being broadcast on television. Now, that doesn’t really improve the story on the whole, but it gives it a far more interesting lens to view it on. The way the issue is laid out is a bit difficult to follow, so that kind of detracts from the experience, but it’s a lot more enjoyable than the previous issue. The last page is a bit out of nowhere, but it’s just the kind of cheesy, television cliffhanger that Bendis is sending up.
Grade: B
The Battle for Bludhaven #1
Writers: Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti
Art: Dan Jurgens and Jimmy Palmiotti
Colors: Javi Montes
Published by DC Comics
Ok, I’ll be honest with you. This issue isn’t very good. It’s a bit of a mess. Other than the Titans in the beginning, we are introduced to a number of unknown costumes characters, and they all very much run together. But I picked it up because writers Gray and Palmiotti created the tragically underrated book “21 Down”, and usually they turn out some great stories. Also, the art is by Dan Jurgens, who was the guy who killed Superman. And his stuff is always solid (and is great here). But the story is muddled and messy. This is far too similar to Batman’s “No Man’s Land” story from 1999, and was done to much better effect then. This seems rather like an attempt by DC to get a few bucks from fans (like me) who will pick up anything with the word “Crisis” stamped on it. Poor form.
But hey, there is a cameo by The Monolith, so it can’t be all bad!
Grade: C
Green Arrow #61
“Green Party Agenda”
Writer: Judd Winick
Penciller: Scott McDaniel
Inker: Andy Owens
Colors: Guy Major
Published by DC Comics
This is a big improvement over the last issue. We get to see what kind of politician Oliver Queen really is, and yes, he’s a kick a$$ one. He talks with the bluntness that I wish our real world leaders would, and he just doesn’t care about the consequences. I am a big fan of the more realistic, Mike Grell run on the book from the 80s and 90s, and the writing here seems to emulate that style. But at the same time, McDaniels’ art brings it to a very traditional superhero style. I’m not sure the combination really works, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless. The (very cool) cover seems to promise a showdown in the issue, but that never happens. Actually the two on the cover don’t meet up until the last page.
Odd.
Grade: B
Nightwing #119
“Pleased to Meet Youâ€â€Hope You Guess My Name”
Writer: Bruce Jones
Penciller: Joe Dodd
Inker: Bit
Colors: Javier Rodriguez Studios
Published by DC Comics
Yes, this issue has Dick Grayson vs. Jason Todd. Yes, it’s awesome. This book continues to be one of my favorites. Nightwing is one of the best characters in the DCU, and, while I was a bit nervous when I heard Bruce Jones was going to be taking over as writer, he has won me over, as has artist Joe Dodd, who kind of came out of nowhere to me. Sure, there are some minor quibbles I have with it. There are some moments that are just a little too cliché and juvenile, but I don’t mind them too much. You know why? Because it looks like we’ll be getting more Dick vs. Jason soon.
Grade: B
Superman #651
“Bare Hands”
Writers: Kurt Busiek and Geoff Johns
Art: Pete Woods
Colors: Brad Anderson
Published by DC Comics
I don’t really mind an issue of “Superman” without Superman, especially this current story. Since Superman has no powers, he has an excuse. But this issue doesn’t have much Clark Kent in it either. That’s the bad. But what’s good are the villains. Prankster has never been more evil in my eyes than he is here. His “pranks” are a little weird, but they’re at least fun to watch. And then there is Luthor, who is just outright mean to Metallo. Lex has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and while I continue to lament the loss (at least for the time being) of mogul-Lex, he is delightfully mean here. I know there Superman will return to these pages soon enough, and this story is not even half over, so I can forgive a weak issue.
Grade: C
