Best Comic of the Week:
SWORD #6 – I’ve said it many times, but I continue to think that Al Ewing is the most exciting writer at Marvel this decade. This issue deals with the fallout of the Hellfire Gala, and the moves that Krakoa has made on the galactic stage. Abigail Brand and some of her people meet with ambassadors from other galactic civilizations to discuss the new changes. The thing is, they have even more surprises in store, as we learn the uses of mysterium, and see how Krakoa is looking to shore up interplanetary trade. This issue is thrilling in a way that intergovernmental negotiations rarely are, and makes some big changes that should reverberate in other Marvel series (like Ewing’s Guardians of the Galaxy). I really like this book, even though it’s one of the least conventional that Marvel is publishing these days.
Quick Takes:
Ascender #16 – Tim is reunited with Telsa, Digger, and the others, but they don’t get much time to enjoy one another’s company before Mother discovers them, and it looks like we’re moving towards the end of this series sooner than later. Dustin Nguyen’s art on this book is always so beautiful, and I like how he’s made Tim look older or more mature, even though he’s not capable of physical growth. This is a solid series.
Black Hammer Reborn #1 – Jeff Lemire returns to the central characters of the Black Hammer universe with this new title. He’s joined by artist Caitlin Yarsky, whose work evokes Dean Ormston’s, but also has its own style. Lucy, the second Black Hammer, spent some time as a great superhero, but now she’s retired, and is trying to raise her family. She’s having some issues with her husband, and trouble connecting with her teenage daughter. She’s unhappy at work, and comes off as haunted by whatever ended her superhero career. Now, TRIDENT is the organization that looks after weirdness, so even when what appears to be a portal to the Para-Zone opens in the middle of Spiral City, she does not want to get involved, even though she knows she should. It’s an interesting debut, and I like that Lemire looks poised to bring more of the characters in this expanding universe into the story. Yarsky’s art is great, and I’m excited about this property again.
Gamma Flight #1 – Three Al Ewing books this week? What a treat. This miniseries has him collaborating with Crystal Frasier as co-writer, and Lan Medina on art. The book spins out of his Immortal Hulk, and features Puck, Titania, Absorbing Man, Leonard Sasquatch (Samson in Sasquatch’s body), with Dr. McGowan and Rick Jones. They are still dealing with Gamma-related issues, while on the run from Alpha Flight. Ewing has done good work with all of these characters in Hulk, so I’m glad to see him spend more time with them here. I really like the way Absorbing Man has changed over the last decade, so it’s cool to see more of him in this book.
Giga #4 – Alex Paknadel brings the whole plot of this series into sharp focus with this issue, as we learn just who is behind the looming war between the people of the cities, who worship “dead” giant robots, and the Dusters who live away from them. Paknadel is one of the most interesting writers in comics these days, and I’ve enjoyed the way he’s built and shaped this series. Artist John Lê’s work looks much looser in this issue than I remember from the previous ones, and I like it. I’m looking forward to seeing how this all ends.
Guardians of the Galaxy #15 – Al Ewing appreciation week continues. This issue ties in to the Hellfire Gala and the issue of SWORD discussed above, as Nova and Star-Lord travel to The Peak to enter into negotiations with Abigail Brand and Krakoa. Rich doesn’t react well to Magneto’s presence though. At the same time, the mystery surrounding Ego, the Living Planet continues, and we learn just what the next big threat is, which surprised me. This book is on a great run right now.
Manifest Destiny #44 – The Lewis and Clark Expedition just keeps coming across more and more problems, and now they find themselves vulnerable in land where the locals are hostile towards all of them but one. We learn more about Sacagawea this issue, and the true purpose of the expedition is finally shared with everyone. This book looks like it’s going to get more brutal in the months ahead, and that’s saying something.
The Old Guard: Tales Through Time #3 – I wasn’t sure I’d ever see another Brian Michael Bendis/Michael Avon Oeming collaboration again, so I liked their story in this issue, which has Andy running into someone she met when he was a child during the First World War. The second story didn’t really work for me, but I was really tired when I read it.
Robin #3 – I’m continuing to really like this series, as Damian explores this secret island where he’s entered a tournament. Connor Hawke is back, and gets a little screen time. Joshua Williamson has a really good handle on Damian’s character, and Gleb Melnikov’s art is very nice.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #13 – I really love Rafaelle Ienco’s art on this book. As we move into the War of the Bounty Hunters, Vader and Oochi are out searching for Luke, and figure that the best way to find him would be to get Han Solo back. This leads to a fight with IG-88, which looks pretty cool. I’m also curious about the people behind IG-88’s mission, which I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of.
Teen Titans Academy #4 – Steve Lieber turns up as guest artist for this issue, which focuses on the Bat Pack, three teens who are determined to figure out the identity of Red X. They investigate their teammates, giving us a little more insight into some of the characters who haven’t received much screen time yet. There’s a more jokey, silly aspect to this issue than the first three, but it all fits together pretty nicely. I’m still kind of lost on the history of Red X, and exactly when Nightwing used that identity, but I’m hoping it will get explained at some point.
Undiscovered Country #13 – We are back, but in a new zone of America – Zone Possibility, which is somehow an ocean and string of islands, in what should be the middle of the United States. This is where I get lost on this title – none of its concepts make sense under any kind of scrutiny. But, Charles Soule and Scott Snyder are playing with bigger ideas, and I’ve grown to like the characters, even when I spend half the time thinking this book is kind of nonsense.
Way of X #3 – Nightcrawler is having a rough time lately, and that’s manifested with him getting pretty wasted at the Hellfire Gala, and then having to deal with the hangover the next day. Si Spurrier is using this miniseries to bring back a number of the most offbeat mutants. In addition to Legion and Dr. Nemesis, Stacy X returns, with a different viewpoint on the first law of Krakoa, to make more mutants. Spurrier is really exploring the fabric of Krakoan society in this book, and I enjoy that. I’m also happy to see the Xorn brothers, even if they don’t do much in this issue.
Wolverine #13 – I think part of my problem with Wolverine, the title, not the character, is that this book rarely feels like its his own. This entire issue, set at the Hellfire Gala, is an X-Force story, continuing the events of that book’s last issue, and wrapping up plotlines that Ben Percy started over there ages ago. Wolverine is in the book, but he’s not the main character. I feel like Percy has nothing to say about Logan, and so we keep getting these stories that never really hit home.
Comics I Would Have Bought if Comics Weren’t So Expensive:
Fantastic Four Life Story #2
Infinite Frontier #1
The Week in Music:
MNDSGN – Rare Pleasure – MNDSGN (pronounced Mind Design) got the title of this album right. His previous work was more beat-heavy, but he’s grown and stretched as an artist, incorporating his own vocals and a variety of instruments into his work. This is the evolution of the LA beat scene, as the album explores pop and ambient, and provides a nice summer style soundtrack. It’s a lovely album.
Portico Quartet – Terrain – This album is only three tracks long, but they are substantial sonic explorations, falling somewhere between jazz and ambient music. They sound very much like a Gondwana Records release, and I’m here for that. This is good late night reading chill out music. I’m still sad that I missed my chance to see them perform live last year when the pandemic canceled their shows.
