Welcome back to the 86th installment of the new Leave Your Spandex @t the Door! Wednesday is Comic Book Day in the U.S., and LYS@D is here again with this week’s Early Bird Reviews, so you can catch up on what rocks and what flops this week before you head to your local LCS! I’d like to thank Travelling Man Manchester for providing me with the advance look copies for review!
Panel(s) of the week:
Just another reason to add Marvel Adventures: Spider-man to your pull list
This week: This week’s column is a lighter read than usual thanks to my extended obligation at my new job and university, but it still includes ear-ripping angst, lake-dipping suspense, plane-crushing excitement, pill-popping intrigue, daddy-slapping adrenaline, martian-gang-bang surprises, and porky-kissing mischief!
Excalibur #11
Marvel
Writer: Frank Tieri
Artists: Michael Ryan
Review Content: ‘Bout bloody time!
Only three issues into his run, and Frank Tieri writes a story featuring the actual starring team of the book. After his opening Chamber solo story and last issue’s Black Knight expose, I had almost given up hope. The title’s supporters in various forums had of courses berated me for lashing uot at the new writer, but I do keep to my opinion that solo stories focusing on guest-stars are not a proper way to launch a run on a title. Fortunately in this middle part of the storyline, the Black Knight(s) steps behind and lets the Excalibur team shine.
Following the Black Knight’s request, Captain Britain leads his team into ‘The Lake’ and several centuries back to the prime of Camelot, where they must save the wizard Merlin from three fearsome dragons and attend King Arthur’s court.
Despite my earlier doubts (he was avoiding using them for the last two issues), Tieri handles these characters with ease and panache. He’s following Claremont’s lead on their characterisations and relationships, but also adding his own new layers; Juggernaut is dealing with his power loss, Dazzler is having a geek out as a veritable LotR fan, Wisdom freaks out and Nocturne is understandably at home with the whole time-travelling thing. Every character gets their moment in the spotlight, either in the opening battle or the later plot building, with Pete Wisdom standing out as Tieri’s possible favourite.
Wisdom has often been used as the ‘amusing brit bastard’ and Tieri plays off that very well, although he may be pushing the character too much into slapstick territory by having Captain Britain and the rest of the team ignore him and laugh in his face; it’s one thing to play a one-off gag at Wisdom’s lack of authority over the team and establish a challenge for his character, and another to make him the team joke; the Wisdom I fell in love in the first Excalibur run was still self-inflammatory but at the same time too much of a bastard to lie back and take insult like that.
Michael Ryan does an amicable job at portraying the historic setting; the contemporary costume redesigns that are seen on the cover are very smart and original. His rendition of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table on the other hand are too general, with Arthur pulling a strong Aragorn vibe and the rest being interchangeable. After today’s announcement we know that Ryan will be stepping away from this title and onto what is soon to become the Industry’s hottest title: Runaways with Joss Whedon! I’m entirely unconvinced he’s suitable for such a ‘prime time’ book, as his storytelling and panel setting skills are at a creative low point during the current run.
Despite some complaints, this issue is a sunshine of hope for Tieri’s run on the title. He finalyl delivers what was expected of him: a solid entertaining x-title in the vein of Claremont’s original run on the book.
Grade: B
Annihilation #2
Marvel
Writer: Keith Giffen
Artists: Andrea DiVito
Review Content: With this title and DC’s Mystery In Space, I’m slowly being converted into quite the cosmic comics fan. But then again, a good story is a good story, in any genre!
Events keep unfolding at a fast pace as the Cosmic War continues to escalate this issue with new players being introduced, alliances being broken and new threats introduced!
Phylla (one more of Mar-Vell’s offspring, from the most recent Captain Marvel series) arrives in the defenders’ encampment to bring Drax a souvenir from his daughter (the always snarky and cult favourite Moondragon) and recount their meeting with Thanos at the site of the Captain Marvels’ graves. The body of the Super-Skrull is delivered from a questionable new ally from the Negative Zone, leading to a confrontation between Ronan and the Kree’s current ruling elite which doesn’t end favourably for one side. Finally, the Cosmic-powered Ravenous from the Silver Surfer mini-series returns with a new invading wave to attack Nova’s forces leading to a brutal action sequence.
Giffen and DiVito have perfectly captured the feel, brutality and scope of the war in these pages; the initial confrontation between Moondragon and Thanos had me jumping off my seat with horror. Gamorra, Ronan and Drax shine through the action sequence against the collection of obscure but menacing cosmic foes (thank god for the bios at the end of the issue). Ronan is the star of the show both through the quiet moments, like his reaction to the Super-Skrull and his grand standing against the Kree; Giffen avoids going the easy route of turning this villain into a misunderstood hero, but instead uses these circumstances to offer the Accuser’s driving motive and perspective.
The final sequence ups the odds against the heroes by an exponential factor and makes a promise for an unmissable stand-off in the next issue.
Grade: B
New X-Men #30
Marvel
Writer: Chris Yost and Craig Kyle
Artists: Paco Medina
Review Content: The remaining New X-Men students face off against Nimrod… or do they?
Kyle and Yost cheat us out of the showdown they’ve been building up to since the start of their run, by pulling the old switcheroo on their villains and pitting the kids against ‘trainer prelim versions’ of Nimrod while Forge pulls a risky stunt and turns the mother robot against its programming. It makes sense of course to ‘ease’ the characters into such a potentially deadly confrontation (especially considering their track record), and it serves to increase the tension before next issue’s true showdown.
The group dynamics still handle well, the depowered David’s presence is acknowledged and even provides for some tension in the team as the three potential leaders continue to clash enjoyably. The writers continue to emphasize the team’s inexperience through the opening botched landing scene and the enjoyable fight scene, but there’s also the seeds of growth as the kids start functioning more like a team. I’m in no hurry to see them outgrow their difficulties as it makes for a much more enjoyable read by adding levity to a grim situation. Special kudos to the crew for including a hilarious nod to Morrison continuity with the inclusion of the legendary No Girl in one scene. ;)
Grade: B
Wolverine: Origins #6
Marvel
Writer: Daniel Way
Artists: Steve Dillon
Review Content: If you don’t pick up a title this month, this should be it!
This just dawned on me this month, for someone who has recently remembered everything about his life (wasn’t that the point of house of M?), wolverine certainly seems to be drawing a lot of blanks, the most glaring of which is that he didn’t remember he had a son until Ema fished it out of his head.
After the big reveal last issue, I was expecting Daniel Way to capitalise on the added spotlight on the series and deliver an exciting follow-through as Wolvie starts looking for his kid this issue. Instead of all that, we get a two sentence stretched-out plot opening with a pointless sequence of Logan in a ship, an intrusive flashback to establish a pill that negates his healing factor and then a trip to Maverick’s current location eerily perfectly coordinated to match a surprise attack from Omega Red on the final page. Holy plot devices, bub! I firmly believe the whole issue could have easily been ommitted and saved everyone the time and the effort.
Favourite scene: Logan stops over a gas station to phone home to Emma Frost (you’ve heard of her, the current most powerful telepath on earth), and later threatens an innocent truck-driver with his claws to hitch a ride to the city.
Grade: F
Martian Manhunter #2
DC
Writer: A.J. Lieberman
Artists: Al Barrionuevo
Review Content: After the disappointment of the first issue combined with the lukewarm taste from the majority of the Brave New World titles, I was very hesitant to even read the preview copy of this second issue. This all goes to cement the two/three-issue rule to dropping a new title of course.
After encountering a living Green Martian on earth and watching him die, the Martian Manhunter infiltrates the holding facility to discover the root of the mystery and ends up discovering a whole team of super-powered Martians held hostage and being subjected to experiments.
I’m not familiar with Jonnz’ exact history, so I wouldn’t know if these are the first other Martians we see, but I did enjoy the diversity in their design, with different cranial structures and facial features, avoiding the stereotypical ‘they all look alien to me’ lazy character design process when it comes to E.T.s.
The MM featured here is a radical departure from the friendly Martian from One Year Ago; he now has a dark edge owing to his origins which comes in conflict with his gradual humanization during his time on Earth. The new contact with his native people brings forth this contrast and finally provides an interesting lens through which to examine the Martian and fuel a solo series.
Grade: B
Fables #53
Vertigo
Writer: Bill Willingham
Artists: Mark Buckingham
Review Content: Fables is a title with such a rare magic that can never do wrong.
Even a self-indulgent practice like dedicating half an issue to portraying a possible future apocalypse according to the Winter Queen’s vision results in an artistic feast at Buckingham’s capable hands who shamelessly shows off his amazing storytelling abilities. Each of the four ‘plagues’ that befall the Earth are framed by a different (appropriately reminiscent of illustrated storybooks) border illustration andintroduced by a corresponding key icon.
Most of the issue is spent in the Homelands where the war meeting continues, with two sides being formed as the fate of Earth is being decided and a plan is formed. Back in the farm an amusing side story featuring hunter wolves and their elusive prey distracts from the grim and grit of the main events.
The back-up story in this issue is illustrated by Joshua Middleton and features Porky Pine whose enchantment forces him to chase after human girls and beg for their kiss to transform him into a prince. Like every other Fable though, Willingham has devilishly infused Porky Pine with a modern ‘mature’ twist that sets him hilariously apart from the known Frog Prince scenario!
Grade: A
Firestorm the Nuclear Man #29
DC
Writer: Stuart Moore
Artists: Jamal Igle
Review Content: Firestorm has been a consistently good read since OYL, but still not something so remarkably excellent that I’ll rush online to tell my friends about (this column notwithstanding). Part of the current appeal of the book to me is the shift to an ensemble book feel, with the gathering of the Firestorm team,comprising of the current Firestom Jason Rusch, his alternating co-hosts Professor Stein and Firehawk, the russian ex-Firestorm Pozhar and Jason’s mysterious teleporting girlfriend Gehenna. Check the accompanying flow-chart below for reference
Not departing too much from the formula, the current issue features a long action sequence between team Firestorm and the still unfortunately named Dollies; the Dollies are a formidable-looking and actually formidable enemies, but their appearance and ridiculous name make them lose significant face. The shady individual, who is linked with the Dollies and is providing cryptic commentary throughout the issue, is very effectively hyped up as a serious threat and a missing link between all of the team; the next chapter will reveal if he lives up to it.
Despite the engrossing battle, complete with impressive ‘fireworks’ and new combinations of the team’s abilities, the most powerful and striking scene from the issue is the confrontation between Jason and his dad; his dad finally comes clean about his secret leading to the more telling culmination of the recent build-up of tension between them and the unearthing of a startling secret that tip-toes on the edge of cliche but balances safely back inside. The father’s expresion in the closing panels o the scene is hauntingly human and multi-layered, betraying the uniqueness of this title and the creative team who have set up this gripping father-son dynamic.
Grade: B
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Aaaaand that’s a wrap for this week! I’m waiting your comments and feedback through email to Manolis@gmail.com. If you self-publish your own comics or represent an indy comics company, add me to your press release list, and I will run your news in this space every week.
Manolis Vamvounis
a.k.a. Dr. Dooplove
