Weekly Comics Review - 7/16/2003 edition

[webhead817]

Welcome to the Weekly Comics Review Thread!

Every week we'll put up a "sticky" thread like this one so people can review and discuss the current weeks comics, whether they be Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, etc.

The threads will stay at the top of the Another Realm forum from Wednesday afternoon until the next Wednesday morning, after which time they'll be "unstuck" and return to their chronological spot in the forum, to be replaced by the current week's thread. Each thread will be marked with the ! icon.

[K26dp]

Geoff Johns spectacular...

Hawkman #17 and Teen Titans #1

Last week I kind of poo-poo'd Johns's writing in JSA #50. I am happy to report that he has come back with a vengance this week.

First, the title that was selling like hotcakes at the comic book store this morning... the new Teen Titans. This was very much a set up issue, but it's quite a nice set-up. The ghost of Donna Troy hangs heavy over the characters, and tension is high among the former Young Justice teammates. To combat that is the return of Beast Boy and Starfire to the pages of Teen Titans. As with all of Johns writing, he seems to care very much for the past depictions of characters, and he really seems to be channeling Marv Wolfman here. If your are looking for action, you won't get it in #1, but I think the ride is going to be worth it.

Hawkman on the other hand is all about the action this week, as Shayera Thal and Animal Man wrap up their cameos in a wild battle against the Thanagarian drug dealer Byth. Byth is truly vicious, and it's really a viceral pleasure when Hawkman gets the opportunity to unload on him. Johns seems to have put a hood on Hawkman the last several issues, and it was nice having him unload on a bad guy at last. Also, Carter and Kendra work as a team better in this issue than any other yet. Johns as usual pays homage to the characters that came before, and Kator Tal gets a loving send off. Hopefully we'll see more of Shayera in the future (love those redheads!).

[K26dp]

Uncanny X-Men #428

The second stand-alone Uncanny in a row... put this is much more interesting than #427. Set completely in the past (@20 years ago in comic book time), we get to finally see the circumstances around the birth of Nightcrawler. While it had all but been confirmed that Mystique is Kurt's mother, I don't believe there has been any speculation about his father.

This issue will be certain to raise some thoughts about that.

The art work is much better that the cartoony style of last issue, with very bold darks.

This issue is a must-have for all X-fans, even if you don't normally pick up Uncanny.

[K26dp]

X-treme X-Men #28

The penultimate issue of Claremont's sequel to "God Loves, Man Kills". Stryker's motives are sort of made clearer, but the mystery about the previously unknown mutant town in Colorado only gets thicker. This has been a pretty good story line so far, but this issue feels like a set-up issue. There is action, but it's kind of frentic. A Lady Deathstrike and Wolverine battle happens kind of suddenly, with no real set up - it just sort of happens.

The art work is fine, although the previous installments were much better. I can't put my finger on it, but it just doesn't feel like the same care was taken on the art on this issue. Also, for some reason Sage looks more like Jubilee (although she was in disguise, so maybe she should).

All-in-all, the weakest installment of what has been a pretty good series. But don't worry, Cannonball will save the day next issue. Right?

[Dengar 69]

The only thing with that Uncanny issue is that how does Kurt know that his surname is Wagner if Mystique tossed him off the cliff!

[OnedownCharlie]

Easy in the comic world with rumors and gypsies! Someone heard that there was a demon child born to Wagner with blue skin! I may have read an earlier post incorrectly but I am pretty darn sure that the question of Kurt's mother AND father has been answered.

[darius_dax1]

Queen & Country #17:
With lack of a good Marvel (S.H.I.E.L.D.) or DC (Checkmate) spy title, Q&C is a really good bet. Greg Rucka really writes a good story.

[darius_dax1]

Eternal #2:
This title is really where it belongs..in the Marvel MAX line. It resembles the Eternals only in basic concept. Otherwise it is just another excuse to warp a long existing Marvel charater/s/. I am not ####ing it, it has it's place, but I do not yet know if I like it.

[darius_dax1]

Superman: Birthright # 1:
This was pretty good and i believe much needed in the Superman origin. It is to Superman what Legends of the Dark Knight (early issues mostly) is to Batman.

[darius_dax1]

The Possessed # 1:
I wasn't impressed with this at all. It is run of the mill demon hunter junk. I ecpect more from Johns.

[darius_dax1]

Batman: Gotham Knights # 43:
I liked this story from the past. Now I know why Jason Todd is no longer with us...what a whiny baby. If the Joker handn't taken care of business I would have..."hand me a crowbar!"

[darius_dax1]

Masters of the Universe Icons of Evil: Mer-man # 1:
This was horrible. It was not even close to the Beastmaster issue. It only showed Mer-man's stupidity and pride in his quest for absolute power. Bad form on this one.

[Hack-n-slash]

The only thing with that Uncanny issue is that how does Kurt know that his surname is Wagner if Mystique tossed him off the cliff!

Where do you think he {was?} teleported *to* at the end of the issue? The obvious answer to _that_ answers the above, IMO.

[darius_dax1]

Micronauts # 9:
Karza's plan to take over the Earth is proceeding without much problem. Ryan is about to return to full size and the crew is freshly reunited. This is a good book even if you don't know what a Micronaut is.

[darius_dax1]

Wolverine # 3:
This has definately gotten much better since #1. Rucka is still flexing his creativity with this character. We will se even better from him soon enough.

[darius_dax1]

Global Frequency # 9 (of 12):
"You are on the Global Frequency." This is one of the best books I have read in quite awhile. 1001 members each with a special skill or ability to lend to the mission at hand. I would like to see another mini-series in the future.

[darius_dax1]

Uncanny X-Men # 428:
The art was sub-par and the story left me wanting. There was no warning that this was coming just "SMACK!" here is a Nightcrawler origin story out of the blue, for no reason. I wasn't even that impressed with the 'revelation'.

[darius_dax1]

Hawkman # 17:
I wonder what plans Johns has hor Hawkwoman. I liked the conclusion to this story. Hopefully we will be seeing more of Buddy Baker in the near future. I always hated Byth as a character but I think that Johns has at least made Byth acceptable as a Hawk viallain.

[darius_dax1]

The Amazing Spider-man # 56 (496):
I usually dread filler issues or story background issues but this was not horrible at all. Ezekiel makes an appearance.

[darius_dax1]

Teen Titans #1:
Overall I liked this issue. It had an OK start and I am glad to see the Titans coming back together. What I didn't like about it was the whining about the death of Donna Troy. It was bad enough that DC decided to kill her off in the first place, but to make us suffer through it in 2 monthly titles is ridiculous. I am getting really tired of watching the young heroes whine away through an entire issue. Get over it!

[darius_dax1]

Y the Last Man # 13:
Can this title get any better? This is one heck of a story. It has me waiting impatiently for the next issue every single month.

[darius_dax1]

New Mutants Volume II # 3:
I liked the story in this issue but the art was failing to impress me. I like that Dani Moonstar is recruiting mutants to the academy. I can't wait for an actual team to be assembled. I think tis kind of springboarded from the Muties mini-series.

[darius_dax1]

Runaways # 4:
This is one of the best new series of the year. The idea is that this group of mostly teen kids are running from their parents...a group of aliens, occultists, evil scientists, etc. taht perform sacrifices. The kids witnessed one of the latest sacrifices and now they are trying to turn their parents in and are also on the run. The kids have a very serious decision to make next issue.


Buy this book or I kill this smiley face--->:confused:

[Docdoom1000]

New Mutants number 3 is great, so is wolvie number 3, i hated wolvie 1 and 2 the art just didnt look like wolverine, story was great though, latest uncanny x-men was pretty good, nice to see kurts dad was a teleporter too, but the front cover was possibly the worst i've seen in a long time, was kurt wearing oversized dr spock ears when he modeled for that pic. Magdalena is pretty cool I enjoyed the 4 issue crossover in witchblade.
RUNAWAYS ROCKS.

Nice to see you're a serial comic buyer like me,Darius_Dax1

[darius_dax1]

Originally posted by K26dp
Geoff Johns spectacular...

Hawkman #17 and Teen Titans #1

Last week I kind of poo-poo'd Johns's writing in JSA #50. I am happy to report that he has come back with a vengance this week.

First, the title that was selling like hotcakes at the comic book store this morning... the new Teen Titans. This was very much a set up issue, but it's quite a nice set-up. The ghost of Donna Troy hangs heavy over the characters, and tension is high among the former Young Justice teammates. To combat that is the return of Beast Boy and Starfire to the pages of Teen Titans. As with all of Johns writing, he seems to care very much for the past depictions of characters, and he really seems to be channeling Marv Wolfman here. If your are looking for action, you won't get it in #1, but I think the ride is going to be worth it.I have to disagree a bit. I thought that this issue was OK but lacked something essential. What it had in spades was whining!

[darius_dax1]

Originally posted by K26dp
Uncanny X-Men #428

The second stand-alone Uncanny in a row... put this is much more interesting than #427. Set completely in the past (@20 years ago in comic book time), we get to finally see the circumstances around the birth of Nightcrawler. While it had all but been confirmed that Mystique is Kurt's mother, I don't believe there has been any speculation about his father.

This issue will be certain to raise some thoughts about that.

The art work is much better that the cartoony style of last issue, with very bold darks.

This issue is a must-have for all X-fans, even if you don't normally pick up Uncanny. This issue weas a total let-down. There was not much plot revelation and the art was very poor.

[darius_dax1]

Originally posted by Docdoom1000

Nice to see you're a serial comic buyer like me,Darius_Dax1I have passed serial and entered ZEN. I read d-a-m-n near everything produced toay Marvel, DC, and otherwise. I am glad to see someone else reading near as much as I do. Please keep posting your reviews as well as your critiques of others' reviews. Do not feel that you are being picked on if someone disagrees with your point...feel honored that there is another that wishes to discuss what you spoke of in the 1st place.

[m1s1n]

thought I would review the issues I picked up today:
Wolverine #3: I don't really like the way that wolverine is drawn in this book but I like the story and it takes place in my home state so thats a plus for me.
Wolverine Snikt #3: Wolverine looks like a british punk rocker in this series but the story seems to get more interesting as it goes along ( and I think the colenel might be nick fury).
Spider-man/Wolverine #2: I really like this book.The dialog between Wolverine and Spider-man is very funny like when Spidy said "I pretty much just stick to stuff" I thought I was going to die laughing.

[darius_dax1]

Batgirl: Year One # 8:
Good interaction between Robin (Richard) and Batgirl (Barbara) in this issue. There was more action in this issue than in most of the other issues in this series. I thought htat Blockbuster was a dangerous threat to Batgirl. This is a good series.

[darius_dax1]

The Silken Ghost # 3 (of 5):
Another good book. I really like the close-knit editorial control and direction that Crossgen has on it's titles. I think that they have made a good decision in how they run a comic book company (it is almost like a commune).

[Docdoom1000]

Iron man #70 is ok i guess, i'd give it 6/10, nowhere near as good as the manhunt storyarc, that was probably one of the best i've read in iron man.

[K26dp]

Teen Titans #1 discussion...


I'm sorry that you don't like the plot development of Donna Troy's death (I can't say I care for it much either). But did you expect the new Titans to ignore it? Or for Wonder Girl to blow it off? That would make her loss even more of a slap in the face than it already was.

The Teen Titans have traditionally had a lot of team friction, and Johns isn't backing away from that. That said, I hope they get into some action soon. Overall, I am much more excited about Teen Titans than I am about the Outsiders.

[K26dp]

Originally posted by darius_dax1
This issue weas a total let-down. There was not much plot revelation and the art was very poor.

Art is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I enjoyed the almost abstract feel of this issue, like we are looking at someone's memories. I really don't care for the squeaky-clean look of the previous issue of Uncanny.

As for the plot, I assume that it was an attempt to get new readers up to speed on the circumstances of Kurt's birth, and that he will feature prominantly in the upcoming story arc. They've been setting up a Nightcrawler storyline long enough; now it's time to deliver, and to get away from the soap opera that Uncanny has been for too long now.

[darius_dax1]

Originally posted by K26dp
I'm sorry that you don't like the plot development of Donna Troy's death (I can't say I care for it much either). But did you expect the new Titans to ignore it? Or for Wonder Girl to blow it off? That would make her loss even more of a slap in the face than it already was.

The Teen Titans have traditionally had a lot of team friction, and Johns isn't backing away from that. That said, I hope they get into some action soon. Overall, I am much more excited about Teen Titans than I am about the Outsiders.I just didn't like the constant whining. I am more excited about Titans than Outsiders. I just wish that the teams were a little better in membership choices.

[Docdoom1000]

Originally posted by K26dp
Art is in the eye of the beholder, I guess. I enjoyed the almost abstract feel of this issue, like we are looking at someone's memories. I really don't care for the squeaky-clean look of the previous issue of Uncanny.

Yeah and in my eyes it sucked (nothing personal) I liked the previous issue.

[Masada]

I'm getting sick of the anime look in American comics, and fast. I don't think it's beneficial.

[TyeDyeSamurai]

I love anime, the style used in Japanese animation is great, and I'm a fan of many series... but leave it to anime itself!
This new Teen Titans for instance is such an extreme ripoff of anime style.

The Batman/Superman and Justice League styles look great! Don't bite off of anime because a bunch of losers like Yu-Gi-Oh!

American comics/cartoons should keep their own unique look and feel. But of course America is all about greed, and if 'anime style' gets an extra reader of viewer, they'll happily do it.

[Masada]

Originally posted by TyeDyeSamurai
I love anime, the style used in Japanese animation is great, and I'm a fan of many series... but leave it to anime itself!
This new Teen Titans for instance is such an extreme ripoff of anime style.

The Batman/Superman and Justice League styles look great! Don't bite off of anime because a bunch of losers like Yu-Gi-Oh!

American comics/cartoons should keep their own unique look and feel. But of course America is all about greed, and if 'anime style' gets an extra reader of viewer, they'll happily do it.

Amen.

[darius_dax1]

I agree with both Masada and TyeDyeSamurai. I have felt this way for many years...leave manga in manga comics.

I am still not a huge fan of most manga. But there are a few speific titles I like.