Green Lantern #55: This issue must have been the easiest bit of Green Lantern that Geoff Johns has ever had to write. I can think of about five different bits of dialogue that feel like they were ripped straight from the Internet, but it makes sense given that the issue focuses on the Ultimate Troll, Lobo, who is really only in this story as a plot device. While ultimately nothing new happens, it was still worth the $2.99 to watch Mahnke kill it on the art. Dex-Starr squares off against Lobo's dog, and we get some killer spreads as well. Also included is the Secret Origin of Dex-Starr, which no one really asks for, but was a fun little thing to read. I imagine this was probably a bit of a breather issue for Johns, given how much he has on his plate right now and while the plot doesn't advance too much, the issue still exudes quality. B+, would be higher with some forward plot motion although the J.T. Krul joke makes me want to give it an A.
Invincible #73: Another great issue from Kirkman and it has been great to see him picking some things up as a writer. No real surprise how last month's cliffhanger plays out, but what made this issue so enjoyable was how the fallout is handled. I remarked either in a review or to someone a while back that now the Viltrumite War is here, no one really cares because there are so many other interesting things going on with the book and I think the creative team agrees. The structure of this issue allows for plenty of plot to be on-going while also dedicating plenty of time to fleshing out Oliver, who has been apart of the book for almost two years now but never really gotten face time, and letting him interact with Nolan, developing their father/son bond. With some clever narration, our boys are already ready to return to what will no doubt be the climax/deciding moment of the war and the story can go forward from there. Ottley really is a great artist and this issue was an excellent break for him to just draw characters and backgrounds without having to pour so much detail into the hyper-violence that has been so prevalent in the series lately. I really look forward to this book each month and highly recommend it. A-
Secret Avengers #2: The Avengers family is so hot right now that it may be the best franchise in comics. Academy is highly enjoyable, Bendis is in rare form in the main book and New Avengers, and Ed Brubaker's fresh take on a "stealth" Avengers continues to be both fresh and refreshing. Continuing right where SA #1 left off, Cap's team continues the search for Nova and clues to understand what is going on on Mars. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Sharon Carter deals with the fallout of last month's cliffhanger. Secret Avengers across two issues has been the perfect blend of action, dialogue, mystery and plot that so many books strive for, but to few seem to reach. My only complain is that Valkyrie disappears in this issue, but given that she is primarily there as muscle thus far, I can forgive it. Artistically, Mike Deodato is drawing absolutely out of his mind. His layouts are great, his action is awesome and although his art is often heavily shadowed and darkly colored, it still looks spectacular. I'm also really digging his Beast, giving him the perfect blend of cat, ape and man. This series is only two issues in, so I really hope people are hopping aboard. It is accessible, fun and continuity free. A
Flash #3: I really dig Geoff Johns on the Flash. I had no interest in the character before I read his Wally West run, and so I was stoked to get the opportunity to follow a second run as it happened. Johns does a great job of handling the time travel and of writing the Rogues, so seeing him merge those two to produce the Renegades has been very enjoyable, especially with Francis Manapul's art. Each Renegade looks immediately evocative of his particular Rogue, but the designs are fresh and different enough to set them apart. Likewise, their tweaked abilities are also a lot of fun and will be curious to see what else this new police force has up its sleeve for dealing with Speedsters. My biggest complaint though is that while everything has been about speed thus far, the plot hasn't actually moved anywhere. The Mirror Monarch died in issue one, and we're no where closer to understanding how or why it is going to happen. There is still a lot of story left to go and no doubt there will be plenty of clues as we build towards Flashpoint. So while I'm a little disappointed, I'm not giving up yet, especially with Fran Man on art. I absolutely love what this guy does, from his little details, to his action scenes, to his fantastic use of splash pages. It is put together brilliantly, and looks top notch. It feels good to be buying The Flash each month, but I wasn't in a rush to read this issue. B
Wonder Woman #600: The third anniversary issue to drop this month, Wonder Woman is the tie-breaker to whether or not these have been a success, and after reading it, I definitely wish I hadn't. While Batman #700 had the luck of being written by Grant Morrison, the Superman and Wonder Woman issues have been giant anthologies of snippets and quick stories to illustrate why these heroes are so great. Admittedly, I only purchased the issue to get a taste of JMS's upcoming run and the Diana's new outfit, which I'll comment on elsewhere and was a bit nervous to see that 20 different people are credited on the cover. A collection of five stories and a handful of pin-ups, the stories ranged from a lot of fun (Amanda Conner's story which is a bit of a prologue to her work on Power Girl) to groan worthy (Gail Simone's Diana is great! story) but didn't really leave me satisfied in any particular capacity. The JMS prologue has me interested enough to buy the first issue, but I'm going to be disappointed if these pages are replicated. I was expecting a great deal of "cheesecake" in the pin-ups, but even Greg Horn and Guillem March managed to keep it fairly reined in. My biggest disappointment was the inclusion of some preview pages for Cornell's upcoming Action Comics run. It is just a personal gripe but in an issue that is supposed to be a celebration of the character, I would think everything in it should be included to ensure some bit of timelessness and tribute to it, so that it can be picked up in 2010, or in 2040. Overall, not real great, but not absolutely horrible. My only regret was paying $4.99. C+
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Reviews for the Week of 06/23/2010
An uninspired choice of title, I do apologize as I'm a bit fried but let's get to the reviews:
Secret Warriors #17: This book hangs in the balance. Already shaved down from 60 issues to 30 or so, the lead artist has left for other projects and sales are hanging in the mid to low range. Admittedly, it is impossible to initiate anyone into this book without having them start at issue #1 and very few people are willing to do that right now. I can only hope that Hickman keeps his head up and keeps writing the hell out of this book. He is such a talent and when this all wraps up, it is going to be a huge part of his bibliography for years to come. Each issue has been fantastic and this one is no different. Beginning the new arc, "The Last Ride of the Howling Commandos" we begin to see the final pieces get into place as Nick Fury's PMC unit celebrates one last time before what may potentially be their final mission. Also great to finally see some of the other caterpillars for the first time in over two years. These combined with a great last page are why I love this book so much. Fantastic dialogue, excellent characters and incredibly deep plot. Vitti has become the new lead artist here and his work is solid. but Casseli is definitely missed. My only real criticism is that after more than two years of having one of the most recognizable covers on the stands, Marvel broke away from that to showcase the Heroic Age banner. B+
Avengers #2: I don't know what has gotten into Brian Bendis, but I'm damn glad of it. For three weeks in a row now I've read a Bendis book that just absolutely smashes it out of the park. I was initially critical how rushed the initial issue was but those concerns fall away as the writing keeps the narrative tightly focused on the adventure at hand rather than worrying about ironing out continuity. Plenty of standing around chatting by the heroes, but also loads of great dialogue, especially from Tony Stark. I know plenty of people are upset with how Marvel Boy is being handled and I agree that "Protector" is the most ham fisted naming ever, but after an issue, I'll let it slide. Fantastic stuff by JRjr here, I really dug the 2099, Days of Future Past and Age of Apocalypse nods and the cliffhanger spread is absolutely awesome. I didn't think it was possible but the Avengers stock continues to rise and the next issue will only get better. A
Amazing Spider-Man #635: Anyone buying singles right now but not buying Spider-Man, does not like good comics. It is absolutely insane how good this book is. After how powerful #634 was, I had no clue how Joe Kelly was going to top himself, but he did. The plot on this story is absolutely off the rails providing homage to Kraven's Last Hunt, The Clone Saga, JMS's run, The Gauntlet and all kinds of crazy stuff. The involvement of the "other Spiders" makes perfect sense and you can't help but fist pump and pep talk Peter as he goes through this issue. Michael Lark continues to bring his A game to the world of Spider-Man and I'd expect nothing less. The bonus material is alright, it is frustrating to only get 2 Marcos Martin pages a week, and Fimura brings his unusual style to another stale "lost tale." Neither outshine the main book, but given that ASM is in the middle of its best run maybe ever, that isn't surprising. A+ (It is pretty hard to talk about this book without delving into spoilers, but good lord just read it.)
X-Men Legacy #237: I want so badly to just write, "Was ok" and move on, but that wouldn't be fair. Another chapter that hits "good" on the solid factor but just isn't that great. The dire threat of the Nimrods is wrapped up quickly with out X-Force ever really feeling like it was in danger and the last page cliffhanger is only a cliffhanger because I was so bored with the plot that I never bothered to put the time into figuring out how that particular thread would work out. Greg Land manages not to wreck things too badly again and even manages to put together a decent spread page. Two chapters left by Kyle and Yost, hopefully they end this with a bang. B-
Secret Warriors #17: This book hangs in the balance. Already shaved down from 60 issues to 30 or so, the lead artist has left for other projects and sales are hanging in the mid to low range. Admittedly, it is impossible to initiate anyone into this book without having them start at issue #1 and very few people are willing to do that right now. I can only hope that Hickman keeps his head up and keeps writing the hell out of this book. He is such a talent and when this all wraps up, it is going to be a huge part of his bibliography for years to come. Each issue has been fantastic and this one is no different. Beginning the new arc, "The Last Ride of the Howling Commandos" we begin to see the final pieces get into place as Nick Fury's PMC unit celebrates one last time before what may potentially be their final mission. Also great to finally see some of the other caterpillars for the first time in over two years. These combined with a great last page are why I love this book so much. Fantastic dialogue, excellent characters and incredibly deep plot. Vitti has become the new lead artist here and his work is solid. but Casseli is definitely missed. My only real criticism is that after more than two years of having one of the most recognizable covers on the stands, Marvel broke away from that to showcase the Heroic Age banner. B+
Avengers #2: I don't know what has gotten into Brian Bendis, but I'm damn glad of it. For three weeks in a row now I've read a Bendis book that just absolutely smashes it out of the park. I was initially critical how rushed the initial issue was but those concerns fall away as the writing keeps the narrative tightly focused on the adventure at hand rather than worrying about ironing out continuity. Plenty of standing around chatting by the heroes, but also loads of great dialogue, especially from Tony Stark. I know plenty of people are upset with how Marvel Boy is being handled and I agree that "Protector" is the most ham fisted naming ever, but after an issue, I'll let it slide. Fantastic stuff by JRjr here, I really dug the 2099, Days of Future Past and Age of Apocalypse nods and the cliffhanger spread is absolutely awesome. I didn't think it was possible but the Avengers stock continues to rise and the next issue will only get better. A
Amazing Spider-Man #635: Anyone buying singles right now but not buying Spider-Man, does not like good comics. It is absolutely insane how good this book is. After how powerful #634 was, I had no clue how Joe Kelly was going to top himself, but he did. The plot on this story is absolutely off the rails providing homage to Kraven's Last Hunt, The Clone Saga, JMS's run, The Gauntlet and all kinds of crazy stuff. The involvement of the "other Spiders" makes perfect sense and you can't help but fist pump and pep talk Peter as he goes through this issue. Michael Lark continues to bring his A game to the world of Spider-Man and I'd expect nothing less. The bonus material is alright, it is frustrating to only get 2 Marcos Martin pages a week, and Fimura brings his unusual style to another stale "lost tale." Neither outshine the main book, but given that ASM is in the middle of its best run maybe ever, that isn't surprising. A+ (It is pretty hard to talk about this book without delving into spoilers, but good lord just read it.)
X-Men Legacy #237: I want so badly to just write, "Was ok" and move on, but that wouldn't be fair. Another chapter that hits "good" on the solid factor but just isn't that great. The dire threat of the Nimrods is wrapped up quickly with out X-Force ever really feeling like it was in danger and the last page cliffhanger is only a cliffhanger because I was so bored with the plot that I never bothered to put the time into figuring out how that particular thread would work out. Greg Land manages not to wreck things too badly again and even manages to put together a decent spread page. Two chapters left by Kyle and Yost, hopefully they end this with a bang. B-
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Reviews Whatever Has Spider-Man (for 06/16/2010)
Amazing Spider-Man #633: Shed concludes this week and by now you know that I've been passing out the kool aid to anyone who will listen about how great this story has been, and the final issue did not disappoint. It was however a lot quieter than I had anticipated, which wasn't bad at all. The evolved Lizard is going to be an interesting character for writers to use in the future now that it is clear Curt Connors is officially gone and a potential journey towards hero-dom could be quite interesting. A lot of credit to Zeb Wells for opting to conclude this arc with a lot of emotional power versus a giant fist fight, especially with ASM double shipping this week, those final pages were a subtle and powerful bridge into Joe Kelly's Grim Hunt story. Bachalo is as brilliant as ever and after three weeks, I don't have much more to say about what he brings to the table. A lot of love also to Emma Rios, whom I was skeptical of at the beginning, but performed admirably, especially in the final pages. This story was absolutely stellar and I do not regret my pushing it so hard in the least. A
New Mutants #14: Second Coming marches on this week, inching its way towards the finale and after 11 weeks, it really can't get here fast enough. I'm over rallying speeches, I'm over dramatic moments and I'm through with pointless deaths. Bring on the final confrontations, bring on the manifestation of powers and let's end this thing. At this point, I'm going to really need to be blown away by the finale, because with three issues to go now, I'm not sure how they're going to confront Bastion, save the city, save the future, resolve this three year Hope story and not have it feel like a rush job. At this point however, I fully expect Cable to die in the future, which will cause Hope to jump start the X-gene and rather than be an ending, Second Coming will only be the beginning of the next phase of X-stories. Plot complaints aside, this issue did have some enjoyable scenes, Legion was used in a very interesting fashion and it was great to see Colossus actually victimized, rather than simply off panel. The art was also handled well, given that it was comprised of 6 members, they kept everything looking uniform and solid. B-
Amazing Spider-Man #634: This is it. What everything has been building towards since last June. The Grim Hunt, and holy cow is here in a big way. Starting the story off a few days after #633, Peter is at rock bottom, adding swine flu to his list of burdens. I can't say too much about the plot because things take off from the very first page, including some serious call backs to the Clone Saga, JMS's run and some hints that have been dropped over the last year or so. Some serious care and energy went into this story and it shows. Joe Kelly has really kicked things off with a bang and has turned in one of the best ASM issues of the year, the last few pages alone were probably some of the most difficult and tear jerking panels I've read since.. well since I Kill Giants. Truly heart-wrenching stuff. Was great to see Michael Lark back on the pencils, his faces look goofy on occasion, but he absolutely killed this stuff with his fluid movements and subtle touches that really brought the story to life. The back-up features were alright, I don't think anyone particularly cares about another "Secret Kaine story" written by J.M. DeMatteis, but it was fun to see Max Fiumara back in Spidey's world. I was a little disappointed to find out that the Stan Lee/Marcos Martin joint is only 2 pages a week, but I'll take Marcos however I can get him. I have no clue how they're going to trump themselves next week, but I have every confidence that they will. A+
Brightest Day #4: The instant this story stops being a stream of blue-balling cliffhangers, it is going to take off in a huge way. There is so much talent in each issue that it is absolutely frustrating how poorly paced it has been. Things are slowly picking up, with Martian Manhunter's story missing in action and the Aquaman pages were re-purposed for the new Aqualad. Thankfully the biggest gains were made for Aliveman, who at this point is probably the main character of the story, but my largest frustration comes at the lack of Firestorm pages, primarily because I'm anxious to know if my theory about the revived heroes being converted Black Lanterns is correct. All things considered, the art is great in these issues, but with Reis, Syaf, Clark and Prado, who can be surprised by that. At this point you are either buying this or not, depending on how it all turns out, trade waiting may be the best idea. B
New Avengers #1: It is insanely frustrating how enjoyable this book was. Last week I remarked that I couldn't understand how Bendis wasn't translating the quality of his Ultimate Spider-Man comics into his Avengers work and it looks like he decided to show me the business. New Avengers was everything Avengers wasn't. Organic, natural, fluid, and filled with characters that felt like themselves instead of being puppeted around. I'd almost dare say that half the reason this issue was so good, was because Spider-Man and Wolverine barely do a thing. Luke Cage in the front and center is really the key here and his interactions with Victoria Hand especially let Bendis's talent for dialogue shine. Even the unrevealed enemy-as-driving force feels less forced than last month's encounter with Kang, as the tension builds in juxtaposition with the blossoming New Avengers. Carrying over from the last volume, the team of Immonen, Von Grawbadger and Martin continue to do fabulous things: this book looks great, reads great and flows fantastically. I think it will be difficult for even those who dislike JRjr over on Avengers to dispute that this is a visually impressive book. Overall, my only complaint is that there is no credit to Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction for the lifting of the great idea to elaborate on Doctor Voodoo's spells and where they came from. A+
The Black Cat #1: In a week with 4 Spider-Man comics, this was actually the one I was most looking forward to. Jen Van Meter and Javier Pulido set up a Felicia Hardy story that is running concurrently with the Grim Hunt, and while those details are still developing, the inital story is still fantastic. As a long running member of Spidey's supporting cast, I may be wrong but I don't think Felicia has ever received the level of background that Van Meter provides here, generating a supporting cast of the Cat's own: from the women who handle her gear to the men who provide her with information. It was great to have a look past the "independent woman"facade she is always written with, for a better look into her life. Everything about the story feels genuine, the dialogue is natural and the events of the book are perfectly suited to a street level hero with a more minor super-power. Visually, this comic pops. From the people I've talked to, Javier Pulido tends to get lost in Marcos Martin's shadow, but as an individual talent, he is just as skilled as Marcos, if not more. With a fantastic use of panel construction and unique layouts, Pulido's talking scenes feel just as fluid as the action, eliminating any chance for a dull moment to even exist. I was very surprised at how lengthy this comic felt, even more so than the other Spidey issues this week. With Shed having been concluded, this may be my new Spider-Man comic to push on everyone, as it was absolutely fantastic. A
New Mutants #14: Second Coming marches on this week, inching its way towards the finale and after 11 weeks, it really can't get here fast enough. I'm over rallying speeches, I'm over dramatic moments and I'm through with pointless deaths. Bring on the final confrontations, bring on the manifestation of powers and let's end this thing. At this point, I'm going to really need to be blown away by the finale, because with three issues to go now, I'm not sure how they're going to confront Bastion, save the city, save the future, resolve this three year Hope story and not have it feel like a rush job. At this point however, I fully expect Cable to die in the future, which will cause Hope to jump start the X-gene and rather than be an ending, Second Coming will only be the beginning of the next phase of X-stories. Plot complaints aside, this issue did have some enjoyable scenes, Legion was used in a very interesting fashion and it was great to see Colossus actually victimized, rather than simply off panel. The art was also handled well, given that it was comprised of 6 members, they kept everything looking uniform and solid. B-
Amazing Spider-Man #634: This is it. What everything has been building towards since last June. The Grim Hunt, and holy cow is here in a big way. Starting the story off a few days after #633, Peter is at rock bottom, adding swine flu to his list of burdens. I can't say too much about the plot because things take off from the very first page, including some serious call backs to the Clone Saga, JMS's run and some hints that have been dropped over the last year or so. Some serious care and energy went into this story and it shows. Joe Kelly has really kicked things off with a bang and has turned in one of the best ASM issues of the year, the last few pages alone were probably some of the most difficult and tear jerking panels I've read since.. well since I Kill Giants. Truly heart-wrenching stuff. Was great to see Michael Lark back on the pencils, his faces look goofy on occasion, but he absolutely killed this stuff with his fluid movements and subtle touches that really brought the story to life. The back-up features were alright, I don't think anyone particularly cares about another "Secret Kaine story" written by J.M. DeMatteis, but it was fun to see Max Fiumara back in Spidey's world. I was a little disappointed to find out that the Stan Lee/Marcos Martin joint is only 2 pages a week, but I'll take Marcos however I can get him. I have no clue how they're going to trump themselves next week, but I have every confidence that they will. A+
Brightest Day #4: The instant this story stops being a stream of blue-balling cliffhangers, it is going to take off in a huge way. There is so much talent in each issue that it is absolutely frustrating how poorly paced it has been. Things are slowly picking up, with Martian Manhunter's story missing in action and the Aquaman pages were re-purposed for the new Aqualad. Thankfully the biggest gains were made for Aliveman, who at this point is probably the main character of the story, but my largest frustration comes at the lack of Firestorm pages, primarily because I'm anxious to know if my theory about the revived heroes being converted Black Lanterns is correct. All things considered, the art is great in these issues, but with Reis, Syaf, Clark and Prado, who can be surprised by that. At this point you are either buying this or not, depending on how it all turns out, trade waiting may be the best idea. B
New Avengers #1: It is insanely frustrating how enjoyable this book was. Last week I remarked that I couldn't understand how Bendis wasn't translating the quality of his Ultimate Spider-Man comics into his Avengers work and it looks like he decided to show me the business. New Avengers was everything Avengers wasn't. Organic, natural, fluid, and filled with characters that felt like themselves instead of being puppeted around. I'd almost dare say that half the reason this issue was so good, was because Spider-Man and Wolverine barely do a thing. Luke Cage in the front and center is really the key here and his interactions with Victoria Hand especially let Bendis's talent for dialogue shine. Even the unrevealed enemy-as-driving force feels less forced than last month's encounter with Kang, as the tension builds in juxtaposition with the blossoming New Avengers. Carrying over from the last volume, the team of Immonen, Von Grawbadger and Martin continue to do fabulous things: this book looks great, reads great and flows fantastically. I think it will be difficult for even those who dislike JRjr over on Avengers to dispute that this is a visually impressive book. Overall, my only complaint is that there is no credit to Ed Brubaker and Matt Fraction for the lifting of the great idea to elaborate on Doctor Voodoo's spells and where they came from. A+
The Black Cat #1: In a week with 4 Spider-Man comics, this was actually the one I was most looking forward to. Jen Van Meter and Javier Pulido set up a Felicia Hardy story that is running concurrently with the Grim Hunt, and while those details are still developing, the inital story is still fantastic. As a long running member of Spidey's supporting cast, I may be wrong but I don't think Felicia has ever received the level of background that Van Meter provides here, generating a supporting cast of the Cat's own: from the women who handle her gear to the men who provide her with information. It was great to have a look past the "independent woman"facade she is always written with, for a better look into her life. Everything about the story feels genuine, the dialogue is natural and the events of the book are perfectly suited to a street level hero with a more minor super-power. Visually, this comic pops. From the people I've talked to, Javier Pulido tends to get lost in Marcos Martin's shadow, but as an individual talent, he is just as skilled as Marcos, if not more. With a fantastic use of panel construction and unique layouts, Pulido's talking scenes feel just as fluid as the action, eliminating any chance for a dull moment to even exist. I was very surprised at how lengthy this comic felt, even more so than the other Spidey issues this week. With Shed having been concluded, this may be my new Spider-Man comic to push on everyone, as it was absolutely fantastic. A
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Light Reviews for 06/10/2010
I've been a bit overwhelmed with school but I caught some time tonight so I figured I'd throw down a few quick reviews:
Batman #700 Typical DC managed to false advertise the hell out of this book, making people believe that it would be more of an anthology and less of a consolidated story and while it is, it really isn't. I know a lot of people were also expecting this to be a huge moment for the Return of Bruce Wayne story that is on-going right now, but we didn't get that either. However, a lot of credit to Grant Morrison, who gets a bad rap for being inaccessible, for turning out a fantastic, one and done story that (if I can use the ever cliche phrase) rewards longtime readers but is also a fun tale for first timers. Anyone who has ever heard of Batman knows that there is always going to be one, and that is really the only piece of information you need going into the story. The art teams all shine on their respective Batmen, although Scott Kolins out of nowhere was very surprising, especially the style used for his pages. As David Uzumeri mentioned on his Twitter, Kolins normal Flash work would have fit in just fine, instead his pages possess a glossy feel that makes everything feel fuzzy. I absolutely love Kubert's Damian Batman as well, but that is just personal preference. The only thing I can really be unhappy with is the additional 4 pages of "Batcave" material which should have really just been a re-print of Jim Lee's All Star Batman and Robin gateway spread which really is all one needs. From a critical eye this issue could have trimmed some fat and been priced at $3.99, but from a celebratory perspective, it succeeds. A-
PunisherMAX #8: I don't consider myself a Punisher fan, but I love this series to death, if only because each month tells you a little bit more about how absolute insane Jason Aaron actually is. Aaron's take on these characters continues to dwell in the land of excess: graphic violence, absolutely insane situations and a true sense of never really knowing what can come next and yet it all feels very natural to the book. His mastery of these characters keeps everything flowing and Dillion's art remains as solid as ever. I'm going to end this portion now because I find it terribly difficult to review without foul language, but that is just the nature of the beast. B+
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #11: Reading this book each month continues to make it more and more difficult for me to dump $3.99 into other Bendis titles because his Spider-Man is just so good each month that it baffles how he isn't translating this stuff to his Avengers work. While no actual webs appear in this issue, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of action as the fallout from last month's Kitty-focused drama segues right into something brand new that I would have never expected if I didn't keep an eye on the solicitations. Strong dialogue, solid art and an enjoyable plot both keep this title in the upper tier of comics and reminding us of how quickly time flies (ASM's similar story was a year ago last July and the iPad was announced in January, but appears here). A
Uncanny X-Men #525: Uncanny has continually been the weak-link in the Second Coming chain, even factoring in Greg Land artwork elsewhere, lacking the necessary urgency and cohesion the other titles have had. At this point the plot really needs to be advancing, and instead readers get yet another collection of character moments that don't really go anywhere. Everyone gets it, Scott is carrying a heavy burden, mutants are extinct in the future and outside the dome everyone is crashing into it just to shut up the occasional "Where were the Avengers?" fan. Let's get on with the story, and don't even get me started on the Watchmen joke. At least The Dodson's are doing what they can. I'm ready for Second Coming to wrap-up so we can finally put this Messiah business to rest. B-
Batman #700 Typical DC managed to false advertise the hell out of this book, making people believe that it would be more of an anthology and less of a consolidated story and while it is, it really isn't. I know a lot of people were also expecting this to be a huge moment for the Return of Bruce Wayne story that is on-going right now, but we didn't get that either. However, a lot of credit to Grant Morrison, who gets a bad rap for being inaccessible, for turning out a fantastic, one and done story that (if I can use the ever cliche phrase) rewards longtime readers but is also a fun tale for first timers. Anyone who has ever heard of Batman knows that there is always going to be one, and that is really the only piece of information you need going into the story. The art teams all shine on their respective Batmen, although Scott Kolins out of nowhere was very surprising, especially the style used for his pages. As David Uzumeri mentioned on his Twitter, Kolins normal Flash work would have fit in just fine, instead his pages possess a glossy feel that makes everything feel fuzzy. I absolutely love Kubert's Damian Batman as well, but that is just personal preference. The only thing I can really be unhappy with is the additional 4 pages of "Batcave" material which should have really just been a re-print of Jim Lee's All Star Batman and Robin gateway spread which really is all one needs. From a critical eye this issue could have trimmed some fat and been priced at $3.99, but from a celebratory perspective, it succeeds. A-
PunisherMAX #8: I don't consider myself a Punisher fan, but I love this series to death, if only because each month tells you a little bit more about how absolute insane Jason Aaron actually is. Aaron's take on these characters continues to dwell in the land of excess: graphic violence, absolutely insane situations and a true sense of never really knowing what can come next and yet it all feels very natural to the book. His mastery of these characters keeps everything flowing and Dillion's art remains as solid as ever. I'm going to end this portion now because I find it terribly difficult to review without foul language, but that is just the nature of the beast. B+
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #11: Reading this book each month continues to make it more and more difficult for me to dump $3.99 into other Bendis titles because his Spider-Man is just so good each month that it baffles how he isn't translating this stuff to his Avengers work. While no actual webs appear in this issue, that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of action as the fallout from last month's Kitty-focused drama segues right into something brand new that I would have never expected if I didn't keep an eye on the solicitations. Strong dialogue, solid art and an enjoyable plot both keep this title in the upper tier of comics and reminding us of how quickly time flies (ASM's similar story was a year ago last July and the iPad was announced in January, but appears here). A
Uncanny X-Men #525: Uncanny has continually been the weak-link in the Second Coming chain, even factoring in Greg Land artwork elsewhere, lacking the necessary urgency and cohesion the other titles have had. At this point the plot really needs to be advancing, and instead readers get yet another collection of character moments that don't really go anywhere. Everyone gets it, Scott is carrying a heavy burden, mutants are extinct in the future and outside the dome everyone is crashing into it just to shut up the occasional "Where were the Avengers?" fan. Let's get on with the story, and don't even get me started on the Watchmen joke. At least The Dodson's are doing what they can. I'm ready for Second Coming to wrap-up so we can finally put this Messiah business to rest. B-
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