Merry Christmas to those that celebrate!
Best Comic of the Week:
Wonder Woman #4 – Tom King’s Wonder Woman is really very good. Diana takes a day off from the growing conflict between her people and the United States to spend time with a boy dying of cancer, but the President gives a speech that condemns her and makes it clear that America’s fight with the Amazons is only beginning. I like how King structures this issue, and continues to build out the King of the United States as a character with deeper ties to history than previously assumed. I also like the way he’s slowly building Sarge Steel’s and Amanda Waller’s place in this story. Daniel Sampere’s art is gorgeous, and captures the beauty of the moments shared between Diana and the dying boy. I don’t love the backup stories as much, as we keep seeing Lizzie interacting with Jon Kent and Damian Wayne. She seems to be getting older while they are not much older than they are now, and that’s a bit confusing (especially since roughly ten years have passed between the last issue and this one, and Damian isn’t any taller). Maybe we’re going to find out that Lizzie has aged rapidly? That kind of messes up her first appearance though. Either way, this is shaping up to be a great run on this title.
Quick Takes:
Alien #2 – Declan Shalvey has returned to the scene of his last Alien series, years later, and Zasha uses the fact that the scion of Weyland-Yutani wants to retrieve the ship that was lost in that series as a chance to find the things she left behind too. The thing is, the moon is still crawling with Xenomorphs, so the usual stuff starts happening. I like how Shalvey is drawing the flashback sequences, which so far haven’t connected with what’s happening in the main story, as it helps keep things clear. This is a solid entry in Marvel’s Alien oeuvre.
Animal Pound #1 – Tom King has been having a big year, and he closes it out with the launch of a new series with Peter Gross at Boom! This series is set in an animal pound, where one cat has worked to keep the legacy of a deceased dog alive, as well as his message that they should learn to open doors. Basically, it’s a jail break story that reminds me of Animal Farm. Gross, whose art I haven’t seen for a while, is fantastic at portraying these animals realistically, but also giving them easily-read expressions. I’m looking forward to the next issue.
Astonishing Iceman #5 – Bobby has a big fight with the Orchis guy who’s been pursuing him at his home in Antarctica, and he has to really test his ability to pull himself back together and regenerate. This series was a disappointment; it didn’t do much to build on Bobby’s character, and I never believed in his relationship with Romeo, who seems kind of dull to me. I think this is a character who deserves better, and I wish more of these Fall of X miniseries contributed to the larger picture. I feel like I got drawn into the hype, once again, and that the coordination across the line was poor, outside of the already existing main books and perhaps one or two more (which will be discussed below).
The Destroyer #1 – I usually like Bad Idea stuff, and I’m a fan of Alberto Ponticello’s art, so I thought I’d grab this one-off prestige book. I know that the writer, Mae Catt, is in film or TV or something, and the ideas that are played with here are interesting, but I didn’t really buy into this story. A scientist on the Manhattan Project, feeling very alone after being spurned by his lover, decides to commit suicide by messing with the core of an atomic bomb, but the results are not what he was looking for, and he starts hearing a voice. It’s an interesting concept, but it has a few too many antecedents to feel fully original. Ponticello’s art is very effective in showing how much of a body horror story this is, and the production values are nice. I really liked the backup story by Matt Kindt and David Lapham, which is part of the Hero Trade series. I think that Bad Idea is slipping, but like that this was just on the stand at the comics shop, without having to preorder or go through any of the usual Bad Idea nonsense.
The Deviant #2 – This new series by James Tynion IV and Joshua Hixson is excellent. It follows a young comics artist who is trying to put together a graphic novel about an old murder and the presumably innocent man who has been locked up behind it for decades. At the same time, it looks like a similar murder has happened. Tynion does a great job of exploring the homophobia behind the original arrest, and he and Hixson construct an incredible scene where the cartoonist goes to interview someone, and how the tone of their happy meeting shifts as they figure out who the other person is and what they stand for. It’s a masterful comic that is subtle and deeply understanding of the characters within it. The fact that it’s all happening during Christmas makes it also very topical, and maybe a bit creepier?
Doctor Strange #10 – We reach the end of Strange’s fight with General Strange, his older self, and Jed MacKay shows us a side of Stephen that isn’t really all that common in his previous incarnations. I’ve been enjoying this series, and reading this issue, it felt like it was coming to a close, but I can see that there is a next issue planned, and that caused me relief. I want to read more of MacKay’s vision for this character, especially if Pasqual Ferry is going to keep drawing this book.
GODS #3 – I can’t help but feel that Jonathan Hickman is being too precious with this series. He’s establishing a whole lot of new cosmic concepts in the Marvel Universe, but unlike some of this best work, it’s not catching me on an emotional level. Wynn meets with Aiko while their respective assistants/mentees meet in the bar, and some stuff happens with an abstract concept. I’ve always been impressed with Hickman’s ability to world-build, but like his 3W3M stuff, it doesn’t really have an emotional centre, and it’s making it hard for me to care, even though the book is gorgeous and sounds cool. I hope things pick up soon.
Green Lantern War Journal #4 – John works to fight off the Radiant Dead infection within him, and uses an alien GL ring to do it. Phillip Kennedy Johnson is taking his time building this series, but I’m enjoying it more and more with each issue. Montos’s art is very nice, and I like how this book feels different from anything else DC is doing right now.
Hexagon Bridge #4 – The longer this series runs, the more in awe I am of the poetic and detailed visuals of the strange world that the AI Staden is exploring. This issue has him come across other examples of AI life, and come under attack by unknown forces. Richard Blake’s story is not always easy to follow, but his art is so lovely and unique, and he really has me paying attention.
Hunt for the Skinwalker #4 – I preordered this strange Boom! series based on the involvement of writer Zac Thompson, but I should have done a little more research, as this was not really what I thought it would be. I guess it’s an adaptation of a book about a group of paranormal scientists who bought a cattle ranch where weird things kept happening. The series ends without any real resolution, and various threads that should have been used effectively by a writer as skilled as Thompson were left undeveloped or unexplored. I’m not a UFO or cryptid kind of person, so a lot of this didn’t really interest me; it was also a very stiff and uninspired adaptation.
The Incredible Hulk #7 – Hulk and a Ghost Rider face off against one of Eldest’s creatures. I’m starting to really like this series and the way Phillip Kennedy Johnson is constructing this storyline. Nic Klein’s art is great, and things move at a good pace.
Jay Garrick: The Flash #3 – The biggest appeal of this series, for me at least, was seeing how Jeremy Adams continues to build his corner of the DCU. He’s the writer who brought back Mr. Terrific’s child at the end of his Flash run, and now we see him in this issue, as Mr. Terrific hopes he can help Judy recover a memory that holds the identity of the villain currently moving against Jay and his daughter. Things are convoluted, but in a good continuity kind of way, which I like.
Kaptara: Universal Truths #5 – The US has invaded Kaptara, so Keith’s friends and the people they are fighting rush to the defense of the main city, even though it’s been taken over by Villektra and her forces. Keith, meanwhile, has to go rescue Manton from his ex who kidnapped him. Chip Zdarsky and Kagan McLeod are mostly just having fun with this series, but along the way they’ve managed to develop some very likeable characters, and have me caring about what happens to them.
Newburn #13 – Things continue to get worse and worse for Emily, Newburn, and their driver, as the crime families start to figure out that they’ve been deceived and used a few times, and decide to take matters into their own hands. Chip Zdarsky and Jacob Phillips work very well together on this series, building on the suspense we’ve come to expect in this series. I can’t imagine things are going to end well for any of these characters. A new back-up story starts in this issue, by Amy Chase and Fabian Lelay, and while it’s interesting, it didn’t grab me yet.
Nightwing #109 – Dick’s sojourn in the world of Blüdhaven’s pirates comes to a close with this issue, as he helps his former lover and learns what secret of his is in the hold. This has been a fun storyline that comes to a satisfying close. The backup story ties in to Beast World (without any cover dress, which is odd) and shows how it impacts Damian. This series is always entertaining, and I continue to enjoy it.
The Plot Holes #5 – Sean Murphy’s fun series about fictional characters who try to edit and improve digital books comes to its end (at least the first volume; will there be more?) with a few scenes that poke fun at some of Murphy’s other work. I’ve really enjoyed this wildly inventive series, and am happy to see that Murphy has another series coming out at Massive next month, starring Zorro. Murphy is one of the best artist/writers in the business right now, at a time when there aren’t all that many of them, and I’m happy to see him being so prolific and working on creator-owned stuff. I will always support projects like this.
Rare Flavours #3 – An ancient spice market becomes the scene for the latest disagreement between Rubin and Mo, the young filmmaker he’s manipulated into shooting his documentary. This series so lovingly describes the places and cuisine of the places Rubin is touring in India, that you often forget that this is also a horror comic, and that Rubin is a demon. Ram V and Felipe Andrade work so well together on this book, and it really is like nothing else being published right now. It’s so beautiful, but has the creepiest undertones to it. I’m not sure where things are headed after Mo figures out some truths about his manipulative boss.
Star Wars: Darth Vader #41 – Vader confronts the Scourge by trying to take control of it, as the Dark Droids saga moves towards its end (I’m still holding off on reading the latest issue of Star Wars, and the Revelations one-shot that came out this week, as I don’t want to have the end of the Dark Droids series spoiled). Greg Pak has been building on the growing conflict between Vader and the Emperor, I suppose to help set up Vader’s turn towards good in Return of the Jedi, and it looks like that will be the focus of the next story arc. Sometimes I get bored of this title, but am hoping that the next arc will have interesting characters again, as it seems that Ochi and Sabé are gone now (is it weird that I don’t remember them leaving the book?).
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #39 – This is a big issue, as Aphra and Sana fight to rescue Lady Domina from the Scourge, and then Aphra makes an uncharacteristic decision. I feel like this series might be ending again, and if so, I’m going to miss it. It took me a while to get into Alyssa Wong’s take on Aphra, but I came around and have been enjoying it a lot lately. It feels like the Star Wars line is contracting again, which makes me think that we’re catching up to the Return of the Jedi, and probably getting close to another reboot.
Superman #9 – Bruno Redondo, of Nightwing fame, draws this issue, so it looks fantastic. Superman is recovering from the Kryptonite exposure he suffered last issue, so he needs a little help when it’s time to go rescue Marilyn Moonlight from Dr. Graft. I find it odd that Joshua Williamson has Superman donning a piece of high-tech armor just after Phillip Kennedy Johnson just had him do the same thing in Action Comics (and that they aren’t the same suits of armor); it’s like there’s not a lot of coordination happening between these titles right now. Still, I’m enjoying this run and am genuinely intrigued by the ending, which features appearances by a couple of very old DC characters.
Uncanny Avengers #5 – Cap and his Unity Squad face off against Captain Krakoa and his plans in this final issue. It does more than most of the Fall of X series to move the world against Orchis, as some of their plots stand exposed to the world’s scrutiny. Gerry Duggan managed to both have fun and tell a pivotal story with this series, and it also restores a confusing and problematic villain to some prominence. I wonder if Duggan plans to pick up on these threads himself, or if this is all going to get ignored in the future.
Uncanny Spider-Man #5 – Simon Spurrier brings his run with Nightcrawler to a close (unless there’s some really good news coming our way soon) with this issue, which has Kurt facing off against Orchis in Vulture’s base. Unlike some of the other Fall of X minis, this one worked really well to clarify some new and old plot points around Kurt, and wrapped up a few threads from the Legion of X series, which I miss a lot. I am hoping we’ll see a lot more of Kurt soon, and that whoever handles him next will stay true to the great work Spurrier’s done with the character.
Wolverine #40 – Logan recruits Spider-Man to join him on a mission to try to destroy Orchis’s space station, which of course doesn’t go all that well. Ben Percy lays on Peter’s jocularity a little too thickly, but it’s nice to see them working together again. This book is kind of spinning its wheels as Logan works his way down the list of fellow New Avengers for his team-ups. I would expect him to be a lot more direct in a fight like this.
The Week in Music:
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – Les Jardins Mystiques Vol. 1 – I’ve been a fan of Miguel Atwood-Ferguson for years, as his is a name that pops up all over my record collection. The violinist is probably best known for his work orchestrating J Dilla’s music as the leader of the Suite for Ma Dukes Orchestra, but he’s everywhere, connecting the worlds of underground hiphop, the LA beat scene, the International Anthem world, and LA’s jazz scene. For this three disc, three and a half hour “debut” on Brainfeeder, he collects old and new tracks, showcasing the full range of his talent, vision, and contact list. Tracks range from solo violin numbers, electronic joints, full jazz songs, ambient explorations, and everything in-between. It’s hard to maintain a sense of cohesion over such a long project, and it doesn’t really feel like the different discs are grouped thematically, but there’s enough variety that it never gets boring (even if it takes a whole afternoon to listen to it from front to back). This is a good intro to Atwood-Ferguson’s world, and features appearances from many incredible artists, including Carlos Niño, Thundercat, Jamael Dean, Kamasi Washington, DOMi & JD Beck, Jeff Parker, and most surprisingly, the late Austin Peralta. If I worked retail still, I’d let this run in its entirety every shift.
Actress – LXXXVIII – The new Actress album is a little challenging, as he gives new meaning to the phrase ‘deep house’. Actress apparently plays with Game Theory on this album, and what we get are cerebral dance tunes that build and swell and in unexpected ways. It’s a pretty impressive and thoughtful collection of music.
