Tim Stevens' Reviews

Opinions on the Work of People Far More Talented Than I

It’s been awhile so let us waste no time, eh?

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52 Week 40

“Man Ain’t Nothing But A Man”
Published by: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid
Art Breakdows: Keith Giffen
Penciller: Chris Batista
Inkers: Rodney Ramos & Dan Green
Colorist: Hi-Fi

Steel steps up, finally. And it’s not bad. But boy, Steel’s plotline (being a hero is not and should not be easy) just never worked out huh? This brawl works because of Lex’s role in splitting John and his niece apart, but fails to resound as a lesson in earning the title of hero, not simply “giving” it to yourself.

Grade: B-

The All-New Atom

“The Entropy of the Universe Tends to a Maximum”
Published by: DC Comics
Writer: Gail Simone
Penciller: Mike Norton
Inker: Andy Owens
Colorist: Alex Bleyaert

Huh.

So, this issue is filled with plenty of cool ideas and feels the most influenced by Grant Morrison’s “inspired by ideas from” credit as anything has since the beginning of the series. Unfortunately, it also suffers from Morrison’s “introduce a lot of cool ideas, but don’t bother to develop them” disorder. Sometimes that’s just fine, like Morrison’s JLA, but other times, it hurts the story. This is such a tale as it strives for an emotional impact at the end but misses the mark because the crazy idea quotient has pushed out any room for emotion already. I liked it, but all the sound and fury rendered the semi-tragic ending a bit flat.

Grade: C+

Detective Comics #828

“Sharkbite”
Published by: DC Comics
Writer: Paul Dini
Penciller: Don Kramer
Inker: Wayne Faucher
Colorist: John Kalisz

I think we are far enough into Dini’s run that I can make a few general statements.

1.) It does not matter what DC says. There is not a rotating artist setup on ‘Tec. Kramer is the artist. Period. End of sentence.

2.) Issues that feature the Riddler in his new role as private investigator are standouts in Dini’s run.

This being an issue featuring Riddler means that this is a strong issue. Don’t expect it to shatter your senses, just expect a smart one-off story with some good insight into Bruce Wayne and Riddler shooting a man in tribal dress with a flaming arrow. I’m not sure you need anything more than that in a Bat title. I know I don’t.

Grade: B+

Mystery in Space #6

“Bugs!”
Published by: DC Comics
Writer: Jim Starlin
Penciller: Ron Lim
Inker: Rob Hunter
Colorist Jeromy Cox

“Holy Takeover!”
Published by: DC Comics
Writer: Jim Starlin
Penciller: Jim Starlin
Inker: Al Milgrom
Colorist: Guy Major

This improbably good space opera continues to be…well…improbably good. Ron Lim steps up for an absent Shane Davis and you are unlikely to notice the difference (I’m sure the veteran Lim appreciates the chance to recreate relative rookie Davis’s work). Particularly nice is Lim’s ability to match the highly detailed depiction of Comet’s bulldog Tyrone. The Weird backup remains odd, but if you liked it up until now you should continue to.

Grade for both: B

The New Avengers #27

“Revolution” Part One
Published by: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Lenil Yu
Colorist: Dave McCaig

Sweet! Ninjas! Exactly what the Avengers should be fighting!

Okay, I’m guessing most of you don’t agree with the previous statement. Truth be told, I don’t really either. But that’s mostly because I don’t think there is anything in particular that Avengers should or should not be fighting. When it comes to these Avengers, though, some of the most fun issues so far have featured them fighting ninjas. So, I don’t mind the members of the Hand crawling all over this issue.

And wouldn’t you know it, this is probably the best issue since Cage’s focus issue during the Civil War spotlight arc and the best arc intro since that last ninja/Ronin story.

That’s not to say the issue is not without faults. The sight of Doctor Strange amongst the Hand, no matter how many legion they may be, is likely to give most comics fans pause, and for good reason. I’m fine with him being on the team, but come on! Ninjas that turn to smoke when you hurt them should, literally, cause no issue to the Sorcerer Supreme. Now, if he’s there to go head-to-head with the Beast (the Hand’s mystical god like being) sometime during this arc, I’ll shut my mouth. But, as of now, Bendis is going to have to do a better job of isolating the good Doctor when the Avengers face such arguably “weak” opponents. And, when I say better, it’s gotta be better than the job Bendis has so far done on Sentry because that, my friends, is weak sauce. It is, also, neither here nor there though so I’ll abandon that particular point now.

Overall, a decent debut for the new New Avengers. After the disappointment of the Collective’s later and the bulk of the Civil War spotlight issues, this is a return to the sort of fun big fights and whipsmart dialogue that marked the first few installments of the book.

Grade: B

Ultimate Spider-Man #105

“Clone Saga” Epilogue
Published by: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciller: Mark Bagley
Inker: Drew Hennessy
Colorist: Justin Ponsor

In a lot of ways, this feels like the culmination of a mega arc that Bendis, Bagley, and Co. have been crafting since issue #1. Peter’s relationship with Fury, SHIELD, Aunt May, and the other Ultimate superheroes are redefined and clarified. Peter’s clone Jessica sets off to make her way in the world and try to stop being Peter. Peter and Mary Jane’s relationship reaches a new height (and hits a new snag). Peter’s faith and appreciation of his abilities is returned. All in a typical length comic story. And people say Bendis writes books that lack in action. Ha.

Great stuff and the most satisfying issue of any Ultimate book (and I love most of the Ultimate books) that I have read in quite some time.

Grade: A-

Since it has been a little while, here are some of the reviews you might have missed.

52 Week 38

The Question (“Charlie” to you fans that met him in 52 for the first time) has been dying so long that I am more or less numb to it. Babos calls the arc “an emotional ride that tugged at my heart strings” so I might be the coldest person ever. In any case, the Question’s apparent demise here is so drawn out that I found myself saying “finally” as opposed to “oh no!” or even “interesting”.

On the other hand, we witness Dr. Magnus playing crazy and being crafty and three of the four Horsemen arriving. So there is good here as well. Not enough to pull the issue above average though, sadly.

American Virgin #11

Well, it took 11 issues, but I think I’m finally digging the book and not just holding on because of the glimmers of hope I’m seeing. At this point, it is nowhere Vertigo insta-classics like Y or Preacher, but as the focus shifts away from Adam’s globetrotting and more onto Adam himself, the book is becoming the better for it.

Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #214

So, LODK is over. Sort of. I mean, Batman Confidential is more or less the same damn thing by a different title. But that’s neither here nor there.

In any case, LODK ends as it began. Smart stories set during non-specific times in Batman’s career (usually in the beginning) that enriched the character’s back story while not really adding any “must be followed continuity”. This book was certainly not always on and when it was off it was even less than unnecessary. However, when it was on it told some of the best Bat stories I’ve read. Gage and Winslade do that tradition justice as they depict a Deadshot-Batman faceoff that is settled largely without fisticuffs and nicely illuminates the personalities of both characters.

Checkmate #10

There are some good books that were launched in the OYL DCU following Infinite Crisis. Okay…there are two. And this one is the best of the two. Ever improving art from Jesus Saiz and a story that illuminates how similar and how drastically different espionage is in a world where magic and superpowers are a reality. Purists will point out that Rucka did espionage better in Queen and Country and they’re right. But Queen and Country never featured a sassy simian investigator or interrupted blood rituals so…

Connor Hawke: Dragon’s Blood

Okay, so how is this cover not creepy? On its own, it is odd, but acceptable to me. Yes, it is strange to kiss one of your father’s exes, but if you never knew your dad growing up and you never actually met the woman in question, it is more or less fine. However, the caption throws that all away by calling Shado Connor’s “stepmother” (and a wicked one at that). Ahh, I see now. Implied near incest equals a-ok. Gay though? Baaaaaaaaaaaaaad.

Yes, I’m being overly simplistic and yes, chances are Chuck Dixon did not write the cover blurb. Nonetheless, it all seems a bit…off putting.

As for the issue itself, it was oddly okay. I say oddly because Connor Hawke is an excellent character who Chuck Dixon created and (typically) has a great handle on. Thus, while Dragon’s Blood was not heading towards being a modern masterpiece, it had been pretty darn entertaining in its first two parts. Here though, something seems to have slipped.

First, there is Connor’s rapid transition from barely noticing Libby to taking her to dinner, but haltingly, to rushing back to his hotel room so he can be there when Libby “hunts him down” later that night. Now, it is not uncommon to see someone act out of character because lust is clouding their judgment, but here there is no effort to make us see that lust in work. Connor, even during dinner, is fairly distant and disinterested. Only when Libby brings up a late night booty call does he become interested in her specifically. Is the message that Connor is only interested in women who make overtly promise sex in a few hours? Is Connor the type of guy who only becomes interested in a woman when they become interested in him? Because, quite clearly, he was nursing not even the slightest crush on Libby until she made that whole hunter/prey analogy. Is it possible he’s just got a thing for hunting related dirty talk? So many questions, so few answers.

Sadly, we’ll never really know as Connor is kissing on Shado (you know, his “wicked stepmother” wink wink nudge nudge) a page or so later and Libby turns up dead shortly after that.

(If I could separate myself from my flip tone for a sec, it is sort of sad Libby died. I thought she was a fun character)

However, before you can say, “the creeping dread of Ten Little Indians” (or “the creeping dread of And Then There Were None”, depending on your preference), Dixon cuts straight to action with arrows and ninjas a plenty bombarding our protagonists.

Maybe the “wicked stepmother” thing just put me in a lousy mood from the start, but this issue ended up disappointing.

Criminal #4

Don’t get me wrong, this is a good book and everything (although it is not the revelation some people like to label it as), but why is Michael Clarke Duncan on the cover?

Daredevil #93

We all knew DD couldn’t be outted forever and thus we all knew Brubaker was going to have to put Matt back in the superhero closet at some point. Having gotten nearly five years worth of mileage out of this status quo, I was pretty okay with the idea of it. What I didn’t expect was to enjoy the storyline that brought it about nearly this much. Brubaker succeeded in making a necessity feel as creative and vibrant as any storyline and thus, even though it is a reset button, really, it certainly does not feel like it.

Doctor Strange: The Oath #4

In this penultimate chapter, Vaughan raises an interesting moral conundrum for Dr. Strange to contend with. Theoretically, curing all disease sounds wonderful. However, realistically, can humanity possibly survive such a thing? Can the planet?

This question does come up relatively late in the book, but until then, the issue keeps us entertained with Strange shooting a Lovecraftian horror with Hitler’s Handgun, flirting like a pro with Night Nurse, and showing that old Strangian arrogance as he verbally (and physically) wallops a human antagonist. It is great stuff and all the better for having been illustrated by perennially underrated Marcos Martin. This man needs more work, comic companies. Now get on it.

Ex Machina #26

Do I need to tell you this good? Because if I do, you just aren’t paying attention.

Moon Knight #7

I never really liked the “boy, he sure is crazy” interpretation of Moon Knight. I don’t subscribe to the idea that multiple secret identities necessarily equals multiple personalities. Huston, on the other hand, seems to really really like that interpretation.

Odd then that I am still enjoying the book.

I don’t think it is a sustainable model. A hero who is constantly speaking to his avatar (especially while that avatar is wearing the flesh of the hero’s worst enemy as a mask) is bound to reach a breaking point sooner or later and then you are left with either a mentally sound avenger or a complete lunatic (if you’ll forgive the pun). The thing is though, Huston does not really have to sustain it. He’s got his 12 or 13 issues and then he’s stepping back. And for now, he’s making this thing hum.

A word of warning though, don’t be fooled by the Spider-Man cover or the “Casualties of War” bug at the top. Spidey is in only briefly and the Civil War tie-in (at least, as of right now) is fairly tenuous.

Also, can we all just acknowledge that the fella with the busy hands and the removable jaw is Moon Knight’s old protégé turned cyborg assassin/tool of the Secret Empire Midnight? I mean, sure, it could be Terror, Inc., but that seems unlikely (at best) and the name of the arc makes that possibility even more remote. I appreciate the “shadowy figures from the past making vaguely scary statements” motif as much as the next guy, but this mystery got a little too obvious real quick.

Of course, if I end up wrong, let this remove be a monument to my own arrogance and idiocy.

Mystery in Space #5

Overlooking the fact that this issue’s revelation really would’ve been given away last issue if Davis and Starlin at all drew Comet the same, I liked the twist here. It makes a certain amount of sense and has a nice kick for the lead characters.

It is interesting to compare this title to its sort of sister book Tales of the Unexpected because, from the start, this one has been telling more or less a parallel series of events from two different perspectives. Add in the unifying influence of Starlin writing both sections and you are left with a title that is, on the whole a more successful enterprise. However, neither story can match Azzarello’s take on the less publicized aspects of the DCU in the hilarious Dr. 13 backup.

That lack of knockout notwithstanding, Mystery in Space continues to mildly impress me by holding my attention in a genre (the space opera) that rarely manages to. Starlin is not exactly blazing new trails here, but he’s smart and adaptable (there is a noticeable difference in tone between the two tales) and Davis makes the lead tale look quite nice.

Robin #158

Fun! The unlikely team-up of Klarion and Robin comes to a close that allows for some fairly spectacular sights and wonderfully dry, humorous narration from Tim.

What I liked best, (besides the one-two punch of excellence from Irving on art and coloring) was how the book managed to keep the arc more or less self-contained while still giving us glimpses of the important subplots in the book. Tim is still pissed at himself and the world for the young heroes that have been hurt (Dodge), killed (Spoiler), or worse (Batgirl) on his “watch”, Dodge’s parents continue to wait for their son’s condition to change at a Gotham hospital (a wish that is granted…sort of), and Zoanne gets some playful needling from her mom about the upcoming date with Tim. Each moment amounts to little more than a page or a few well utilized captions and sprinkles of dialogue but it all fits seamlessly in. That sort of deft touch with exposition can occasionally seem like a dying art, so Beechen deserves high praise indeed for making it all appear effortless.

Teen Titans #43

Strong setup issue with Daniels’ part artistic effort since he came on the book.

Ultimate Civil War Spider-Ham

We all have that one friend who is not nearly as clever as he or she thinks. This is that friend, in bi-fold, fully colored form.