6/08/11

NEW AVENGERS #13—Bendis and his split art team bring this second arc to a close. As incongruous as Chaykin and Deodato’s styles are, they both suit the story’s they’re telling, so while the transitions are at times a bit bumpy, the end result is satisfying. Deodato continues to knock it out, though his style is without doubt a better fit over on SECRET AVENGERS with all those shadows just screaming clandestine. Bendis again takes a single panel to stake his claim as absolute conduit to the voice of Peter Parker, that “That’s copyrighted” line, just a thing of perfection amidst all the shuffling. It continues to be enjoyable watching Luke Cage run his own team, but I’d sure like those oral histories to come back and make me feel better about that extra dollar I’m paying every month for the pleasure.

FRANKENSTEIN and the CREATURES OF THE UNKNOWN #1—Anyone grousing that this is nothing more than a monster book set in an alternate timeline that won’t even “matter” in three months has never read SUPERBOY or THE ESSEX COUNTY TRILOGY. Aren’t the best stories generally self-contained? Ibraim Roberson and Pete Pantazis turn in some lush work with a definite European feel that augments the material. Lemire gets a lot done in this issue, we meet the team, get them set up, put down, and back up with a new mission to accomplish, leaving us just the last splash to meet our heroic antagonist. While not being anywhere near as insane as Morrison’s take a few years back, and no foul, there, this is good clean monster fun that I have no problem recommending, even though it’s a bit light on characterization.

MORNING GLORIES #10—Now, I quite liked this one. Of course, a closing conversation like that, I’m a sucker for that trick, every time. This one’s been lagging a little bit in the –centric done-in-ones, curious given Spencer’s apparently fanatical devotion to L O S T, but we’re picking up a little speed here as we come around the turn. I’m positive this is all going to make much more sense in a marathon gulp.

THE UNWRITTEN #26—In which our heroes succeed and a nun who is not a nun creeps the hell out of everybody. I like how this was just a two-part get-in/get-out kind of thing. No reason to drag things out. I assume DC’s massive relaunch is leaving Vertigo proper alone, at least, I very much hope this is the case. It would be a shame to lose this one because of corporate. It continues to be indispensable for those of us who will forever fall under the charm of stories about stories and how they reflect the ones who read with their eyes and hearts open as wide they can manage.

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #624—Yeah, man, Gillen continues just to tear this one apart. I’ve always been in his corner and rooting for him on his ascent ever since reading the cover of PHONOGRAM vol. 2 #1, but he is simply firing on all cylinders here. Freaking me out with it, I mean. I don’t think Loki was this compelling under Simonson. Which I’m thinking means No More Calls, we have a winner. The art remains breathtaking. A quality Marvel comic for you right here, folks, surely the best random FEAR ITSELF tie-in on the rack (at least, unless and until Bendis just goes apeshit next month on AVENGERS, which is certainly within the realm).

****

BEST OF WEEK: AMERICAN VAMPIRE: SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST #1—I was going to wait for the trade on this, but it was in my Pull and a light week, so I figured what the hell. And so so glad, because I had no idea Dave Stewart was coloring this until I cracked it open tonight. That’s Dave Stewart. Coloring Sean Murphy. JOE THE BARBARIAN, y’all! It’s mainly set-up as we meet Jim Book’s little girl, all grown up and continuing Daddy’s work, but Snyder is so deft with the beats and these guys instill every panel with so much electric that it still comes out on top this week, Stewart granting the final momentum necessary to surge past Lemire and his monstrous upstarts.