Wednesday, May 9, 2012

4/25/12

BEST OF WEEK: FF #17—This is really for all intents and purposes a Peter Parker issue. And I mean that, it’s not really about his alter ego at all, instead putting the spotlight on Peter’s disastrous capitulation made amidst the climactic events of FANTASTIC FOUR #604 to have Johnny Storm move in with him in a delightful update of The Odd Couple. Peter excels in the role of Felix. Hickman certainly nails the tone of the character but this issue, as with last month, succeeds in large part due to Nick Dragotta’s art. The guy does a fantastic job recreating the overall vibe if not exact shape of the original Ditko Parker, whose head never looked quite right, couldn’t contain all of that brilliance. Of course, just when Peter can’t take any more, he gives in yet again, which leads to another no-dialogue montage that is a perfect thing of beauty and must be experienced by all. I especially loved Johnny’s closing conversation on the phone, one-sided, but we know exactly what’s gone down. In your face, Parker. This book is so good it can still toss out ninety percent of its cast and be better than everything else this week, no problem, just from smashing two characters we know so well together and managing to not even quite surprise but seriously entertain us all along the way. 

DAREDEVIL #11—All right, big finish to a crossover of which I have completely missed the first two parts! No problem. Waid’s got us covered. This Checchetto lad holds it together, doesn’t send the orbital artistic bar in place for this title hurtling back to Earth, in itself a tremendous accomplishment. My big worry coming out of this one was how poor Frank is going to be able to enjoy Whedon’s latest in 3-D. Surely someone’s already made that joke? 

THE NEW AVENGERS #25—It’s much more within Fraction’s wheelhouse to drop a hundreds-year old Iron Fist story in out of nowhere, but Bendis pretty much pulls it off, even while limiting all the serious Phoenix Fu to a couple of prophetic dreams that drive all the other walking around and talking that is, let’s be honest, the wheelhouse Bendis just about built at this point. Mike Deodato continues to tear it up, dude is just a hoss. FLASH #8—Manapul and Buccellato continue to provide a gorgeous up-tempo serial adventure starring The Fastest Man Alive! Interesting developments about what role Barry plays in regulating the Speed Force. And, hey. Grodd.

AMERICAN VAMPIRE #26—Roger Cruz shoulders the mantle of not-being-Rafael-Albuquerque-and-drawing-this-book with grace and dignity. Snyder, again, does fine work, drawing us in to a brand-new setting within a few pages and engaging us with the small picture while slowly building up the overall mythos. Big fun.

SPACEMAN #6—More greatness from one of the most criminally unsung team in comics. I know everybody loves 100 BULLETS, but why isn’t anybody talking about this? Every page is a thing of beauty. Horrible and graphic, but beauty nonetheless. Mulivihill is not of this world. Not so much happens in this installment except for when that one guy gets his right hand chopped off, but it’s a slow burn before the home stretch, here. God bless Vertigo.

KIRBY: GENESIS #7—I thought this was an ongoing! But, yeah, it’s not hard to see that this hyperslambang is about to go Kirbynuclear and be done. It would have been cooler to hang out a bit longer, let all of these different properties bounce off of one another at a calmer rate, but I certainly haven’t minded all the crazy that this pace has provided. It’s . . . ah, I guess it’s safe to say that it’s all about to come crashing down? There are giant space gods about to reappear to unmake humanity or prove their salvation? A myriad of characters are scattered across time and space and the only thing they have in common is their dynamic krackle.

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