Best Comic of My Week:
Absolute Martian Manhunter #8 – John is beginning to understand how much his connection to the Martian is upending his life, and making it impossible for him to reconcile with his wife, so he separates from the entity for one night, sending it out to search for the White Martian. Things still don’t go well for John, as government agents come looking, and we meet the Absolute version of Despero. I love this book and the work that Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez are doing with it. I’ve learned that the series is set to end, and while I think that’s unfortunate, apparently it’s because Camp and Rodríguez are starting a new title together, which makes it all okay to me (are they getting the new Doom Patrol book that’s been announced?).
Quick Takes:
Absolute Batman #16 & 17 – These two issues are pretty different, but together they really help explain why this is one of the best-regarded titles on the stands these days. Issue sixteen is co-plotted by regular series artist Nick Dragotta, and shows Batman and Wonder Woman on a journey together in a mythical realm, so Bruce can fight a centaur and find a way to help his friend Waylon. This issue is gorgeous, and helps show how much friendship drives the Absolute version of Bruce. Issue seventeen has guest art by Eric Canete, an artist I’ve long admired, and introduces the Absolute version of Poison Ivy. She’s taken over a building in the centre of Gotham, and we learn her origin and what she’s all about. Canete gets the approach that Dragotta takes with this book, and so his work really fits here. I like how Scott Snyder is building Bruce’s rogue gallery in this series; I also like how this Pamela rejects the limitations of the mainline Poison Ivy.
Absolute Flash #11 – Wally meets up with Barry at Stillpoint while Thawne rampages in the military base. Jeff Lemire has kept this series more decompressed than I’d like, but I do still enjoy it. I’d like to see more happen though.
Absolute Wonder Woman #16 – I find this series to be a real delight, as I really love the way that Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman have developed Diana’s character and world. This issue debuts the Absolute Suicide Squad (it’s confusing to see a Cheetah-like character on the team, when Diana is standing next to Barbara Minerva), which is led by Zatanna. The government is moving against Diana, as seen in Colonel Trevor’s testimony before congress, while Diana’s popularity and celebrity keep growing. This is another very solid issue with lovely art.
Bug Wars: The Spyder Wytch Special #1 – Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar have put a lot of worldbuilding into this series, so it’s nice to see it return with an oversized issue that explores the character of Wysta, the exiled Spyder Wytch, in more detail. We get three stories here; a full-sized one that Aaron wrote comes first. It has Wysta checking on another nest and discovering someone much like her, who has gone rogue. The second story, written by Asrar, shows some of Wysta’s backstory, while the third, which is the only one that has Aaron and Asrar working together, explains why the Spyder Wytches didn’t take the Slaymakers out when they first moved back into their home back in the first issue of the series. The art in the first two stories, by Baldemar Rivas and David Messina, fits nicely in the aesthetic that Asrar has built for this series. I’m looking forward to the next miniseries, as this world keeps getting more interesting as we learn more about it. I want to know more about the squirrel riders in the woods.
The Flash #29 – Wally rushes to rescue pre-accident Barry Allen from the Legion of Darkseid, but he might not be enough. Bart learns something about himself that is a bit surprising, but I guess if anyone is allowed to add to his character, it’s co-writer Mark Waid, who co-created Impulse in the first place. I was happy to see the Darkseidian version of Dream Girl in this issue, as she gives me some hope for the future of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
Justice League Unlimited #15 – While Red Tornado tries to fix power issues on the satellite, and as Kid Flash leads the fight against some villains on Earth, Mr. Terrific continues to make his way through Hell, looking for Neron and losing allies along the way. I think that Mark Waid is doing a better job of building suspense in this book than there is in the larger DC K.O. event, while still juggling a huge number of characters. I am already looking forward to seeing how this book will continue after the event is over; I hope it has a nice long run ahead of it, as this is the most interesting the Justice League has been since Grant Morrison wrote it.
Kaya #33 – Now that Kaya and Jin have gone their separate ways, this series has to split each issue between them, giving it a much more episodic feel. Jin and Razel are moving north, as Jin’s constant questions plague the demigod. Kaya is going south, and has her bag stolen by some folk she did not expect to see. Wes Craig seems to be getting ever looser with his art, and it leads to an interesting look for the book.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #42 – I hadn’t noticed that this book has been missing from the solicitations for a while, and find it crazy that like Ms. Marvel, Miles is now going without a monthly book. Are things in rough shape at Marvel? I’ve stopped following the comics press, but find it hard to believe that characters like Miles can’t maintain a monthly book. Maybe writer Cody Ziglar wanted to move on? Anyway, this issue wraps up the fight with the Assessor, comes to some small conclusion regarding Rabble, and has Miles hanging out with Peter Parker (whose current appearance and story makes no sense to me, since I don’t read his book). I liked Ziglar’s writing, but I hope whoever gets to work with Miles next takes more time to let him be with his family and environment. I also hope we get rid of the god-awful vibranium costume he’s been wearing. I think I liked the built-in hoodie and facemask costume more, and it was terrible.
Skinbreaker #5 – Anok has fled the challenge for his chieftainship, and Paca, the new chieftain, is busy making the village great again. Anok keeps watch over his people, and intervenes where he can, while Paca’s new rules guarantee that the weaker people starve. I know that this series has been in the work for a long time, so any perceived topicality must be a coincidence, but I feel like Robert Kirkman is commenting on how things are these days. David Finch is drawing the hell out of this book, and is perhaps turning in the best work of his career.
Sonja Reborn #5 – Maggie finally accepts that she has to be Red Sonja in order to get by in the strange world she’s found herself in, after she meets up with her rival from the real world. This series, by Priest and Alessandro Miracolo is a fun read, but I do find that Priest skips around a little more than usual, making it a bit hard to follow at times.
Superman #34 – As the DC K.O. tournament continues, Superboy Prime, Lois, and a Superman robot race back to the Watchtower, pursued by Darkseid’s Legion. I like how Joshua Williamson is making Prime a more likeable character (I’ve always hated him before this), and is showing what is happening outside of the tournament. I know this book is set to undergo some changes after this event is over, but I trust Williamson to handle it properly.
Survive #5 – I’ve stopped watching action movies (actually, pretty much movies in general), but every once in a while I miss the odd couple buddy action movie format. With Survive, Robert Venditti pulled that off really well, with his story about an American spy who scuttled a Russian submarine as part of an attempt to stop something heinous, and ends up partnering with a Russian submariner who just wants to get home. This issue has the two trying to escape from the oil tanker that was supposed to have been destroyed, while they both suffer from decompression sickness. Doug Braithwaite is one of the all-time greats at drawing normal people going through wild moments, so he was the perfect choice for this comic. Now that Bad Idea has started properly distributing their books, they really are putting out some quality comics. I would watch this movie…
Void Rivals #26 – The Quintesson War is in full effect, as these weird aliens face resistance on both sides of the Great Ring. The leader of the Zertonians is openly aggressive, while in Agorria, Darak does what he can to get to his father. Robert Kirkman has taken some time building to this war, and I’m curious to see how it’s going to impact the title moving forward. Andrei Bresan is a good addition to this title, and his art is pretty exciting. I don’t know very much about the Quintessons, and am hoping that some explanations are forthcoming.
The Week In Music:
Kelan Phil Cohran & Legacy – African Skies – Jazz legend Kelan Phil Cohran (a founding member of Sun Ra’s Arkestra) composed the music on this album for an exhibit in a planetarium in Chicago in the early nineties, and it’s now being rereleased on a Stones Throw sublabel. This is a lovely album of spiritual jazz that sounds like it could have been written almost twenty years earlier. There is one stand out track though – White Nile is one of the most beautiful pieces of spiritual jazz I’ve ever heard. It’s timeless in its beauty, and is the reason I purchased this album. I can’t believe I’ve never heard this song before now.
