FF #9—This story just keeps happening. Bentley is emerging from a crowded ensemble as one of my favorite characters, particularly if Hickman continues to play up the dynamic between him and Val. I swear there have to be four or five very addictive premises that could spin off from this thing. As ever, So many great little bits sprinkled throughout. Doom’s response to last month’s cliffhanger, Nathanial Richards in Attilan one thousand years from now, Parker again saying just the wrongest thing possible, The Mole Man’s exit, Black Bolt backing Reed down of course without saying a word, alternate Reed vs. Doom in five panels and what a thread that’s going to spin, and then just out of nowhere that last page. I mean, the possibilities are infinite. Much to imagine in the four weeks between here and the next slice. A couple of other contenders make a run at it, but the left field cliffhanger makes this one easily BEST OF WEEK.
ULTIMATE COMICS ULTIMATES #2—Now that is how you introduce a force to be reckoned with. The capsule origin montage that Hickman drops on the first two pages are easily the most compressed and some of the most entertaining material of the week. It would normally seem implausible for some new guys, even Ultimatized Mike Carey villains to just show up out of nowhere and kill Asgard, but that’s actually totally believable thanks to the weight of this issue’s opening. Otherwise, it’s just a wonderful mad ride. Tonally in line with my fonder recollections of the original Millar/Hitch run without all of that winking at the reader Millar can’t ever seem to keep in check. And such a powerful last image, all the gods falling, Tony zooming in from Tokyo to catch Thor in the nick of time. Really strong.
SECRET AVENGERS #17—Man, you can cut your eyes on this Ellis script. Just razor sharp. Ellis Explodo, thank you for coming back and for all yours shrapnels in my eyes. Though I keep expecting the cast of N.E.X.T.W.A.V.E. to drop in and just say, Seriously?
THE MIGHTY THOR #6—Fine work, Fraction and friends bring this series’ first and possibly only arc starring Thor home to a strong finish. The only thing that threw me off was the three inkers, someone on those last few pages was not as smoking as the others. That last shot of Thor and Sif walking out, Thor looking over his shoulder, it’s like Morales came back just for that panel and one of the other guys was crapping all over the rest of that page and the one before it. In spite of this slight fumble on the one-yard line, Laura Martin continues to earn her spot as one of, if not the, very best she is as what she does. I guess #7 will be out really really soon?
THE NEW AVENGERS #16.1—Great fun to see Adams amok back in the 616, but there was a stylistic clash between his style and our usual Bendis everybody a’talkin panels. Enjoyed him with single characters, though, the standout being that one shot of Ms. Marvel soaring, you could really see the kinetic motion of her flight path. Taking Norman off the bench this soon feels like a real misfire, though, Kelly Sue and Miz Rios just got done with him five minutes ago, and I never wanted to see him again before that little bit of resuscitation. We couldn’t have gone with some other terrible old bad guy or, I don’t know, made one up? Maybe revealed Victoria Hand to be even worse than Norman?
CAPTAIN AMERICA & BUCKY #622—Art was still gorgeous, but this is starting to feel disposable. About to cull the old pull list in light of the DC relaunch and all these damn $4 Marvel singles and not sure this one’s going to make it. It just kind of feels like a garbage move to have invested so much character development in Bucky’s resurrection, having him taken off the board like that, and then expecting us to turn around and invest in his monthly WWII adventures.
JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #628—This one really drew the short straw coming out the same day that Fraction and crew got done with the Galactus Seed. Let’s just leave it at that.
KICK-ASS 2 #4—Oh, Millar. Always the deft touch with you.
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #19—Jordi Bernet steps in and gives Albuquerque a much needed breather for this origin arc. Very interesting stuff, it looks like Snyder is really just getting started here. Such a solid book.
ALL-STAR WESTERN #1—Was expecting greatness from this one and not disappointed in the slightest. Of course, Gray/Palmiotti have been knocking it out with Hex for years now, but the new premise behind this relaunch has them smashing it to bits even more so than usual. And this Moritat fellow, just unreal what’s going on with him. Thinking surely he’ll only be on for like an arc, can’t imagine this level of detail sustained, month in, month out. The really interesting thing about this one is how it casts Hex as kind of an ur-Batman, but I can’t decide if that speaks to innate similarities between the two characters or Gotham’s tendency to shape and mold the lives of those who find themselves within her borders. Seamless work by these guys picking up on the dynasties Snyder and company set up over in GATES OF GOTHAM along with the nod. Really top-shelf work, all around. Hope this one finds the attention it deserves this time out.
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1—This one’s all right, gorgeous art from Mikel Janin and Ulises Arreola (the latter late of JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY, hope her presence on this side of the street doesn’t mean that she and Braithwaite just aren’t coming back), but not a terribly lot happens. Though I guess we do get to see the first few pages of the new Justice League in action, a distinctly odd place to find such a thing. This one’s right on the line for me, will definitely pick up next issue, but am not too flattened.
SUPERMAN #1—With ACTION taking place five years in the past, this is our first chance to be privy to the new status quo, which is I guess about what you’d expect from a 21st century reboot. They dynamite the Daily Planet building on page 2 and go multi-media global, spearheaded by Morgan Edge, who will now be played by Samuel L. Jackson, a strange little swipe there. Just realizing there wasn’t so much as a mention of Luthor. is a pretty solid first outing, Perez does a fine job setting up the new dynamic. And poor Jesus Merino shows up for what’s got to be one of the most intimidating gigs of a lifetime (finishing Perez layouts in a SUPERMAN #1? Come on) and imbues every page with weight and grace. Really digging on these guys. So, of course they’re already gone with #7. The world, the world.
FLASH #1—Manapul crushes it, here. That third page alone is perfection, but taken with the following double-page splash is really quite an eyeful, fantastic kinetic energy so so necessary in order to make a book starring this character succeed. Hope these two guys are in it for the long haul, I’ll stick around as long as they do.
AQUAMAN #1—And Johns is 0 for 2 with me on the relaunch. Reis/Prado/Reis (wife? sister?) crush it on the art, really beautiful work, but the trick of having everyone else make fun of Aquaman to defuse the reader doing same really isn’t working for me. And not nearly enough went on in this issue, it would be one thing if they hadn’t made such a thing ahead of time that they were going to knock out decompression and writing for the trade. I defy you to show me two issues by Geoff Johns that better epitomize both of those trends than this and JUSTICE LEAGUE. Now, you know, they are what they are, but I can’t believe he was making the rounds three months ago going on about the potency of done-in-ones. Not terrible by any means, but already endangered in terms of my pull list.
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