Geekshow

Comic Reviews – September 26, 2007

Monday, October 1st, 2007

This week featuring the return of the Titans of the Future, Spidey vs naked Electro, and Wonder Woman finally figures out who she is.

Teen Titans #51

Publisher: DC
Writer: Sean McKeever
Artist: Ale Garza

When Geoff Johns announced his departure from Teen Titans a few months ago, I feared the worst. Adam Beechen came on board to write the “Titans East” arc which unfortunately did not ease my worries. It was an arc with a lot of hype and build-up, but ended up falling short of what I had hoped for. Luckily, Sean McKeever took over the book with issue #50 as the new ongoing writer, and things couldn’t be better.

The “Titans Tomorrow” arc was easily my favorite from Johns and McKone’s run on the book. It told the story of a grim future for the Titans as a new “improved” Justice League, where Superman is controlled by Lex Luthor and Batman uses a gun to fight crime. The Titans believed that they had escaped that future, but it seems that their older, eviler counterparts are back to make sure that their future does in fact come to pass.

A standout scene for me is Kid Devil struggling with the thought of trusting his future self (Red Devil), because after all, why would you lie to yourself? But McKeever focus is mostly on Robin throughout this issue and his internal conflict as he fights with his future self, trying desperately to avoid becoming a gun-toting killer.

I can’t write a review of this issue without mentioning Ale Garza’s fantastic pencils. I see a lot of people complain about hit style, but I think it is a perfect fit for this title, and I hope he stays with the book for a long time to come.

Overall, I thought this issue seems to be the beginning of what will be a worthy follow-up to “Titans Tomorrow”.

4 out of 5

Ultimate Spider-Man #114

Publisher: DC
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Stuart Immonen

And here I thought “The Clone Saga” was a fluke…

ULS is back and better than it has been in a long time. For nearly twenty issues, it seems that Bendis had forgotten about this book everyone had liked so much. It was never Spider-Man. It has always been about Peter Parker. Last fall’s “Clone Saga” arc seemed bring Peter back to the forefront, but he was immediately pushed aside for the disappointing “Ultimate Knights” arc. Luckily, Peter Parker is back in full form with “Death of a Goblin”, and this issue just continues to prove why this book is a must read.

After an Osborn-centric last issue, the focus returns to our hero, as he races to get his loved ones to safety. We meet Aunt May’s new boyfriend, whom is obviously going to be playing a role in the near future as he comes off rather untrustworthy. We then switch gears to Spider-Man in all his quipping glory as he chases down a rather naked Electro who surprisingly not interested in fighting. He just wants to get away. The issue ends in a way that only Ultimate titles can: Unexpectedly.

Immonen is right at home as the new on-going artist. Taking over from Mark Bagely’s 110 issue run, would be daunting at best, but he succeeds in spades. After only three issues, I’ve already found myself wondering if I in fact like enjoy Immonen’s artwork more. It is perfectly suited.

For the first time in quite a while, I can’t wait for the next issue of Ultimate Spider-Man.

4.5 out of 5

Justice League of America #13
Publisher: DC
Writer: Dwayne McDuffie
Artist: Joe Benitez

There has been something missing from the Justice League since it’s re-launch last year. I enjoyed Meltzer’s 12 issue run, but there was always something a little off, and after reading the first issue from new ongoing writer Dwayne McDuffie, I’ve finally figured it out: FUN! This issue is the continuation of the story that began in the Justice League of America: Wedding Special. The villains of the DCU have joined forces to form the Injustice League in an attempt to take out every member of the Justice League one by one.

McDuffie’s characterizations are very strong, with each character having a distinctive voice, something that many writers struggle with on team books. He also pumps the issue full of wonderfully humorous banter and more action than you can shake a stick at. With this many heroes and villains in one book, it should be impossible for anyone not to have a lot of fun with this issue. Of course, what do you expect from one of the writer who brought the JLU animated series on a Justice League comic? I don’t care for McDuffie’s Fantastic Four run at all, and it seems very obvious after reading this issue, that the DCU, and more specifically the JLA, is where he belongs.

4 out of 5

All-Star Batman & Robin the Boy Wonder #7

Publisher: DC
Writer: Frank Miller
Artist: Jim Lee

This book makes me feel dirty.

All-Star Batman & Robin is one of the hardest titles to review because it runs such a thin line between “so bad it’s good” and “so bad it’s just really bad”. Miller’s always been known for his dark, twisted noir type writing, but this is just so laughably bad that I can’t help but wonder if Miller has finally lost it. He seems dead set to show “the goddamn batman” as the most horrifically vile sociopath imaginable. The Batman fan in me wants to scream about how much he hates it, but a part of me can’t help but love how absolutely ridiculous it is. I mean some of it is just so bad it’s actually laugh out loud funny. In this issue alone, “The Goddamn Batman” burns some bleach-stealing thieves (seriously, Clorox bleach!) with some thermite, has a quicky with an Irish, cigar-smoking Black Canary (”We keep our masks on. It’s better that way.”), and Dick Grayson is forced to eat a rat he has found in the Batcave. If I took this book completely serious, I think I might be in complete shock, because with every issue, things just get worse and worse. With what looks like the introduction of All-Star Joker next issue, I can only imagine how far it has yet to go.

Jim Lee’s artwork is what really makes this title good for anything but a good laugh. It only seems to get better every issue, while continuing to not remotely match the mood of the book. But, what the hell, right? It’s not like anything about this book is right anyway. Just turn off your brain and imagine you’re reading a Sin City series.

2.5 out of 5

Bullet Reviews

The Immortal Iron Fist #9 (Marvel; Brubaker/ Fraction, Aja)
Why is it that all of Marvel’s best books are about the most obscure C-List characters, while Spider-Man struggles to have anything even resembling a good story. Brubaker proves once again that he is one of the best writers the 616 has to offer. He’s 3 for 4 right now (let’s face it guys, Uncanny sucks…). This issue continues the storyline of Iron Fist being thrown into a “Mortal Kombat”-type competition, one that I was a bit worried about. I assumed I would be bored with such a played-out plot such as this, but Brubaker and company prove once again, they know how to carry a story, and have taken it in a very unexpected direction. (4 out of 5)

Wonder Woman Annual #1 (DC; Heinberg, Dodson/ Frank)
Finally. That’s really all can be said. It’s been nearly a year since Allan Heinberg began his “Who is Wonder Woman” 5-part story, and he have at last gotten the finale in the form of an Annual that reads more like a “Who’s Who of the Wonder Woman Universe”. I tried my best to look past the lateness of this issue, but having it come out after the publication of 10 issues that all take place after it, really hurt the climax of this story. We already know that Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, so why do we care? At least it can be said that Terry Dodson is at the top of his game, the same can’t be said for back-up story artist Gary Frank. All of his characters are obviously cast as notable actors (the first page alone stars Brad Pitt as Nemesis, Angelina Jolie as Wonder Woman, and George Clooney as Sarge Steel), but some are downright fugly (I’m looking at you Donna Troy…). Overall, if it weren’t for Dodson’s artwork, this issue would have been a complete waste of the paper it was printed on. (2 out of 5)

The Astounding Wolf-Man #3 (Image; Kirkman, Howard)
This title would really benefit from a monthly release schedule. As it stands right now, Robert Kirkman’s Wolf-Man has been an entertaining read for sure, but unless something really different happens soon, I can’t see it lasting any longer than his Ant-Man book. This is the story of a rich guy who is bitten by a were-wolf, only to be trained by a vampire to become a were-wolf superhero. It’s actually set in the Invincible universe, but is no where near its equal. Don’t get me wrong, I really do enjoy this book, I just think the premise is just too cool to drag it’s feet for too long. Pick it up Kirkman! I want this book to succeed! (3.5 out of 5)

Countdown to Adventure #2 (of (DC; Beechen/ Gray, Barrows/ Moore)
The second issue of this title proves that Adam Beechen made the right choice to leave Teen Titans. This is easily the best thing I’ve ever read by Beechen. The first half of the title focuses on the space team from 52, and how they are dealing with being back home. Adam Strange has been replaced with a new hero on Rann, a sociopath named Champ Hazard, and must come deal with the entire population of Rann having no respect for the earthman who was once their protector. Animal Man and Starfire are both on Earth, and are each having trouble with their respective powers. All three of these stories seem to be moving toward each other in a very interesting way as it seems that there is some sort of psychological virus outbreak on Rann, causing everyone to act insanely violent. This storyline is really worth the price tag alone, because the second story featuring Forerunner is so uninteresting I didn’t even read it. (3 out of 5)

Avengers: The Initiative #6 (Marvel; Slott, Uy)
With the opening arc finished, this issue features a stand-alone story with fill-in artist Steve Uy. It’s a pretty simple who-done-it story centered around an attack on Initiative drill sergeant The Gauntlet. It’s a good issue that is hindered by the fact that the art is pretty awful. I found myself getting very bored with this issue half-way through, and with a twist ending like this one, I wish the artwork had been able to keep my attention a lot better. I just hope that regular artist Stephano Castelli is back next month. (3 out of 5)

Batman #669 (DC; Morrison, Williams III)
I’m so glad this arc is finally over. I haven’t liked Grant Morrison’s run on Batman at all so far, but this is easily the worst of it. Who cares about the International Club of Heroes? Some obscure team from the 50s. This arc has been given a lot of praise, but I just find myself reading almost like a fill-in story, much like the ones Detective has been publishing between single issues of Paul Dini’s run. It was boring! The only difference is that this isn’t a fill-in. I never would have guessed it had I not known it was written by Morrison, and I think the only reason he has been given so much praise for this storyline is because people are afraid to dislike anything Grant Morrison does. Well, I didn’t like this, and I really haven’t cared for All-Star Superman for close to 5 issues now. So there, take that Morrison! (2 out of 5)

The Immortal Iron Fist Annual #1 (Marvel; Fraction/ Brubaker, Various)
This issue is literally Iron Fist #9.5, as it continues right from where issue 9 left off. This was a good story, though, the artwork is a bit jarring because it so different from Aja’s work on the regular series. This follows Danny Rand as he listens intently to stories of the Iron Fist who came before him, by the man who wrote his biography. It’s a simple story, but should be read as it leads into the next issue. I just wish they hadn’t released the annual and issue 9 on the same day. Is it too much to ask to put a little space between their releases? (3.5 out of 5)