|
There are 16 comics that were in my pull box this week with a couple of noticeable exceptions. Civil War #4 was supposed to come out but it has been delayed and since so many of the mini-series hinge on the events of the main series, a bunch of those are now delayed as well. I don’t mind since I get so many books a week and I want it to be good, but fan backlash has been fierce. Years from now no one will remember if it was late, only if it was good or bad. Moving along, there were a couple of Civil War books included. The split looked like this: 6 Marvel (including a new addition to TPL), 7 DC, 2 IDW and 1 Devil’s Due Publishing. This is also a big week as the first two issues I read are not from the Big Two! Here we go with another edition of TPL and let’s see what this week holds for us.
---Start Spoiler Warning---
I am gonna start off with the “Indy” books first and they deal with my two main animated loves; Transformers and Family Guy. Family Guy #2: Peter Griffin’s Guide to Parenting debuted and it is in a graphic novel format. What that means is they can charge $7 bucks for a slightly bigger comic book. I didn’t mind since I love Family Guy and that’s what this comic is for. The story is typical FG (random flashbacks and silly stories) and the main story was so borderline racist it probably couldn’t be aired on FOX. It deals with Mexican workers arriving in Quahog to install a canal to Arizona. This was an amazingly quick read and I enjoyed every minute. Family Guy fans will love this but if you don’t like the show, you’ll hate this. I love the show and I loved, so there you go. There were two Transformers related books from IDW. Transformers Infiltration Cover Gallery is in prestige format and features every cover (all variants included) in one handy volume. Some of the covers were absolutely beautiful but this is for completists only. The second TF book I got this week was Transformers Evolutions #2: Hearts of Steel. This book continues to astound as the writing has been ingenious. I like that we see the TF at a different point in history. Here, we have the Decepticons using an Earth scientist (Tobias Muldoon) to help create a base for them in a secluded part of the USA (area 51?) and he helps. Steel is also introduced to Bumblebee. The Decepticons attack a train to steal money and now rumors of robots are out, and the Autobots are worried. Not worried enough to activate Optimus Prime, but they need to learn more about this world. Muldoon, who had been helping the Decepticons, now realize that they want to take over Earth and he runs away to try to tell someone of his tale. I’ve really enjoyed this comic so far. The story is fantastic and the slow build toward an eventual meeting between the Autobots and Decepticons leaves you wanting more. The use of historical characters (like John Henry Irons) has added a lot to this book as well.
Speaking of Transformers, we head over to Civil War X-Men #2. You may ask what this has to do with Transformers so I’ll tell you. The Sentinel on the cover looks like a Transformer. If only it was as good as the Transformers. The issue saw the original X-Men locate Capt. America and learn of a secret base where Domino keep the 198. They head over there (before eluding a Sentinel) where another mutant (who can control others if he has their DNA) is able to locate Cyclops and control him. This leads the government team (led by Bishop) to the hiding place and the original X-Men. Still under control, Cyclops unleashes his full power blast on Bishop. The issue was actually kind of boring, at was just decent, and this is one of those Civil War Tie-Ins that isn’t really that good. Maybe the CW delay will help this out, but its been disappointing so far. There were two other Civil War themed books this week from Marvel; Thunderbolts #105 and The Sensational Spider-Man #29, which is under the Spider-Man Unmasked banner. Both titles were decent, nothing too groundbreaking but each had their moments. T-Bolts saw Zemo meet with Captain America and give him a device to escape when he is captured. To prove to Captain America he really means it, he showed Cap his face when he saved him from being blasted and it is all scarred. Zemo even gives Cap his footlocker of memories (which Zemo destroyed long ago) and everything is restored. What purpose does this have? Only Zemo knows for sure. The Squadron Sinister are also spying on the Thunderbolts and are planning on taking Zemo out. Zemo then plays Jesus at the end, telling Songbird he knows she will betray him and he is letting it happen so his legacy will live forever. This was a decent issue that moves the plot along a bit of the Civil War and I would like to see what direction Zemo is going with this. Sensational Spider-Man also saw predicted repercussions of his unmasking. A bunch of his lesser known rogues gallery are going after him (Scarecrow and Will O’ The Wisp) as Chameleon blackmails Molten Man in joining him and Electro (wasn’t he locked up in New Avengers?) to take out Spidey. There is also a bee character trailing Mary-Jane, Black Cat is shocked that Peter came out, Peter visits Madame Web who has some terrifying visions and Liz Allen is visited by Molten Man. Continuity issues aside, how did Electro get out after all, this issue was pretty predictable. We knew Spidey’s villains would come after him and Doctor Octopus was dispatched in one issue. His other A-Listers aren’t around so we’re stuck with the likes of Chameleon, Molten Man and Scarecrow. I doubt this will end well for Parker but I think there is too much Spidey going on right now. Still, wait for this on the TPB to see how it pans out, as it will probably be touched upon in Civil War.
One of the key characters in Civil War has been Iron Man, and his solo book came out this week, too, though it had nothing to do with Civil War. Invincible Iron Man #11 is part 5 of the Execute Program. Basically, Iron Man gets the Sentry off his back by using Cloc to mess with him and Tony finally comes face to face with the person controlling him. It seems his father was trying to cure all types of cancer but the government would rather give their money to arms makers like Stark. Also, an enemy of Iron Man’s killed his mother. So he wants revenge and hijacked Tony’s brain using his father’s technology. He also tells Stark that if anything happens to him, a team of Iron Man robots will be unleashed. So SHEILD shoots the kid. Trouble is ahead. Trouble is not only ahead in the storyline; it seems to be ahead with this title. The Execute Program has failed to deliver on many ends. It has been rather ho-hum (it could easily have been told in 4 issues) and the battle with the Sentry was pointless (it was like 3 pages). I don’t know if it will read better in the TPB (due to issues of Civil War going on right now) and the timing of this arc was just bad, and it’s affecting the story for me. There were only two other Marvel books I got this week; Ghost Rider #2 and a new addition to TPL, Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E. #7. I fell in love with this title while reading my father’s stack of Marvel books (he gets every Marvel book by the way). It was so quirky and different that it was a joy to read. This issue was just as quirky as any of the others. Someone from the Beyond Corporation contacts the dread Rorkannu and asks for some Mindless Ones, for only $100 and some women. The NextWave team knows about some sort of deal and fly over there. On the flight, The Captain has a hilarious conversation with Aaron Stack about his codename. So NextWave shows up and Dirk Anger is ecstatic because it seems on paper they will be eradicated while he doesn’t have to do anything. The NextWave defeat the Mindless pretty handily and walk off. Of course, the Mindless Ones are still alive. Another fabulous issue and Warren Ellis shines on this book. He has free reign to write whatever the hell he wants and it’s amazingly funny, and tongue-in-cheek. Ghost Rider itself was pretty decent. It’s basically the Devil showing up, hijacking a van of mourners, leave it soaking in gasoline and eggs Johnny Blaze/Ghost Rider to enter the pool of gasoline or to stop him before he drops a match. As Johnny decides and takes off his chain whip, the people in the car start the van and it explodes. The people are dead anyway and the Devil tells him that he was too hesitant. The Devil tells him he has 665 more chances though. Dr. Strange appears at the end as well. The first issue was kind of disappointing but this issue brought the title along a lot farther. We have a story now. The Devil is out of hell and will make Blaze’s life a living hell. There’s some mystery, too. What does Dr. Strange want? This is looking to be a very good run.
So what’s left? Just 7 DC titles, that’s all! We will begin with some characters related to Batman; Robin #153, Nightwing #123, and Catwoman #58. Catwoman brings along Zatanna to mindwipe Angle Man and Film Freak so they don’t know who Catwoman is anymore. Zatanna does that and Angle Man goes to confess his crimes. Film Freak’s mindwipe doesn’t go to well as he kills a man for crimes against cinema. Elsewhere, Holly has been arrested and is accused of killing Black Mask, even though she wasn’t in the suit when it happened. We also see some of what happened last year. After Catwoman killed Black Mask, some people were sent to kill Sam Bradley, so Catwoman saved him, with an assist by Sam who was hooked to some medical tubes, and she mentions she thinks she’s in love. Catwoman was very good this week. We see some very interesting things that happened the year before, we take a walk through the mind of Angle Man and we see Zatanna’s spell, which she labored for to work, didn’t go as planned as Film Freak is still on the loose. Holly’s also in trouble and calls her friend for help, she wants the Green Lantern. I like we wee what as happened in the past (which were in the dark about) and how this story is moving along. Another good title (in my opinion) has been Robin. Here, he is forced to team up with Boomerang to find a nuclear bomb Joker had planned to set off in 24 hours. If you remember, Boomerang’s father killed his father so there is some hatred there. The team-up goes well, actually, though Robin would never admit it, and they succeed in the end in stopping the bomb from going off. I have enjoyed the past few issues of Robin where he has to team up with Boomerang. The kid Robin is growing up, he hates Boomerang but knows he needs his help. He won’t admit it though, which I like. He respects his abilities but hates him. It’s a perfect dichotomy between the two and I would like to see them team-up again. Nightwing was easily the worst of the three as Nightwing saves Cheyenne (his girlfriend, sort of) from a pyro who can control flames. He is working for Barry Pierce and Nightwing hunts down both and takes them out. Unfortunately, he’s now surrounded by SWAT agents with no reasonable means of escape. It was a pretty boring issue though we find out that Dick was the one who ended things with Barbara Gordon. Nightwing has been consistently boring and I am giving it three months before I drop it from TPL.
Moving on, the last quartet of books all sprung up due to events in Infinite Crisis. First there is Shadowpact #4 and then Checkmate #5. Shadowpact was basically a filler issue between arcs as we take a look at the life of the Blue Devil. He battles two people from Hell who want to bring him back for a trial of sort. Blue Devil defeats them as well as some monster in Metropolis. It was a good look at Blue Devil and I hope it pays off in future issues. As a fill-in, it was the best you could hope for. An average issue after the semi-confusing 3-issue debut arc for this title. Checkmate was slightly less interesting than Shadowpact. Basically, Alan Scott was thrown out last issue and he has named a replacement, Mr. Terrific. Mr. T doesn’t know how this will affect his relationship with Sasha Bordeaux. They talk about it and know it must end, but how will they react? Checkmate is also trying to find a new Black Queen’s Knight, and they have found one, some woman named Josephine Tautin. This issue wasn’t as good as the first arc, as it was mostly a set-up for the next arc but seeing the process to pick someone new was interesting. The book lost my favorite character it seems (Alan Scott) so I don’t know what to expect from it for now and if this issue is any indication, I may not keep it much longer.
Finally, there is Ion #5 and 52 Week Fifteen. Ion has shown some signs of improvement but this issue almost shot it all down. It turns out that Kyle Raynor isn’t crazy and someone has been impersonating him and stealing his powers. With the help of Hal Jordan, this copycat (who has a yellow GL ring) is defeated. Now, Kyle has to figure out why none of the other Green Lanterns were able to help. I am just hoping that this title picks up soon. We are almost half-way done and the story has been miserable. This issue wasn’t too bad but it desperately needs to be improved. 52 Week Fifteen certain did have a big shock ending (which is evident by the cover). They really only focus on two storylines here with the first being Renee and Question and Kahndaq. Apparently, Renee and Question have been beaten in hoped they will confess to the murders and when Renee is taken for another beating, she is shocked to see Question’s cell empty! It was just a ploy and Renee and Question escape and make a break for it. Meanwhile, in Metropolis, Booster Gold hears about a being called the Ballostro who appears in the middle of the city. He attacks it in hopes of winning his popularity back but is beat by the monster and makes an ass of himself. Supernova arrives on the scene and promptly beats the monster. This leads Booster to attack Supernova. Unfortunately, the nuclear submarine that the monster brought has been leaking radiation. Booster brings the sub above the city to try to absorb the radiation but it is too much and the sub explodes! Supernova flies up and is shocked to see Booster’s costume on a body of bones. Booster is dead. This was a well-written episode as Booster’s “sacrifice” was not meant to be a sacrifice, he just wanted his fame back. How will Metropolis and the world react? I don’t know. And how will this affect the time continuum. Booster wasn’t supposed to die, it wasn’t in the books. Very good and well-written issue.
---End Spoiler Warning---
Overall, it was a ho-hum week for the Big Two. Marvel had no title that blew me away and finished the week with an average of 2.75 out of 5, lowering their overall average to 3.26. DC was even worse, clocking in at 2.64 and their overall average fell to 2.91. The best book out of the Big Two was 52 #15, but the Book of the Week will have to be awarded to Family Guy #2. It was close and TF Evolutions #2 was in the running, but Family Guy was just too much fun and since I am a huge Family Guy fan, it won the award. The Cover of the Week was a little less competitive, as no covers really blew me away. The award will be given then to Transformers Infiltration Cover Gallery for its awesome Optimus Prime cover. I don’t know if it’s bad to give a comic that reprinted covers this award, but no other book earned it. So the Big Two fell to IDW and Devil’s Due (who had an unbelievable 4.2 average) and they snatched both awards this week. Next week appears to be a slow week and I may actually drop below 10 comics for the first time since I don’t know when. Highlights appear to be Ultimate Spider-Man #99, 52 Week Sixteen (and the Booster Gold aftermath), and some Civil War Tie Ins in Wolverine, New Avengers and Heroes for Hire. Will either of the Big Two rebound? We’ll find out.
Quick Hits (in reading order):
Family Guy #2: If you like the show, you’ll like this book. The cast of Family Guy have to deal with an onrush of Mexican workers in their community. Rating: 4.
Transformers: Evolutions #2 One of the best books on the market, The Decepticons use an Earth scientist to build their base as the Autobots learn more about this planet. Excellent art and story make this a winner. 5.
Civil War X-Men #2: Disappointing Civil War Tie-In that sees the Original X-Men look for the 198 while Bishop and his government sponsored team looks for them! Rating: 2.
52 Week Fifteen: Will Booster Gold be able to save Metropolis and save himself? Very well-written issue where one of the characters in 52 dies. Rating: 4.5
Thunderbolts #105: Captain America is given an offer by Baron Zemo. Will he take it? Average Civil War story. Rating: 2.5
The Sensational Spider-Man #29: Everyone knows Spider-Man is Peter Parker and some of his old foes plan on doing something with that knowledge. Will MJ and his family be safe? It seems to be a bunch of B and C list Spidey villains teaming up. Rating: 2.5
Catwoman #58: Catwoman asks Zatanna for help as we dig deeper into events that happened the year before. This has been a solid title and an enjoyable read the last few months. Rating: 3.
Robin #153: Robin must team up with Boomerang to stop a nuclear bomb. Can they team-up without killing each other? A well-written and well-drawn issue with some interesting character dynamics to play off of. Rating: 3.5.
Nightwing #123: Nightwing learns that some maniac who can control fire is after Cheyenne. Nightwing has to stop him before the NYPD can stop Nightwing. Another yawner from this book as the art and writing have been consistently boring. 1.5
Nextwave Agents of H.A.T.E. #7: Can the NextWave defeat the Mindless Ones? Can The Captain finally pick a name that works? Most fun you’ll have out of any book on the shelves. Rating: 4.
Ghost Rider #2: Ghost Rider faces off against the Devil with the lives of innocents at stake. A big step up in written quality from the first and this first arc is looking very good. Rating: 3.5.
Shadowpact #4: Take a look into a day in the life of Blue Devil. Decent fill-in issue with some insight in the Blue Devil, though not needed for any storyline advancement. Rating: 2.
Invincible Iron Man #11: Tony comes face to face with the person controlling him so how will he react? The timing of this storyline has been poor from the get go. With the events of Civil War running concurrently with this I can’t get the vision of Stark in that role out of my head as I write this. It’s been boring, too. Wait for the trades where it will read better. Rating: 2.
Checkmate #5: Alan Scott has named his successor, but will his successor want the position? Also, a new Black Queen’s Knight is chosen. Fairly uneventful issue that seemed to be a bridge between two arcs. Rating: 2.
Ion #5: We find out why Ion has been acting so crazy as Hal Jordan is there for the assist. Another ho-hum issue as this mini-series has sputtered along with no signs of improvement. Rating: 2.
Transformers Infiltration Cover Gallery: Very good cover gallery of the many Infiltration covers and it is very professionally done. Usually would get a 2 since its in the TPB but this collection is so nice it will get a 3.
Rating Scale:
5 – Must Read
4 – Recommended
3 – Mild Recommendation
2 – Wait for the Trade Paperback
1 – Avoid at all costs
|
