Chuck's Comic of the Day

Alpha Flight #8 (of 8)

2012-01-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure where this Alpha Flight mini-series went wrong.

It has a great writing team - Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente - and a terrific artist in Dale Eaglesham - but the series never quite jelled.

If I was placing a bet, I'd lay odds on editorial interference. The series was originally planned as a mini-series, then it became a regular series, then it was back to being a mini-series again. So perhaps the story unraveled a bit during that tug-of-war.

Or perhaps it was just straightening out the mess the team found itself in - with characters dead, de-powered, driven mad, newly resurrected - that sort of thing.

By the end of the series that's all been resolved (mostly), but it took focus away from the story at hand.

Which is the latest scheme by the Master of the World, who planned to genetically alter the human race to make them soldiers for his intergalactic crusade - or something like that.

There's a lot of punching and screaming and teammates turned against each other - the usual schtick.

It's something of a bummer, because I really like the Alpha Flight team. It has a great mix of powers and characters, and as Canadians they're geographically close enough to have crossovers with any of the usual Marvel crowd.

Now that it's all sorted out, perhaps the next series (and hopefully there will be one) can focus more on stories and less on housekeeping.

This series was a valiant effort, but it fell short of success.

Grade: C+

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Fathom: Blue Descent #4

2012-01-30T00:31:00.001-05:00

One of the nice perks of writing over a thousand comic book reviews is that you occasionally receive previews of new comics.

It's fun to see comics I don't ordinarily get to read, although sometimes it can be difficult to sort out the story when you're jumping in late in the game.

That's the challenge with Michael Turner's Fathom: Blue Descent. I read the first few issues of the original Fathom series some years back, but I haven't followed the series since.

So did this issue bring me up to speed? Give me enough info to follow along? Create a compelling adventure?

The answer to the first two is "yes." For the third, it's a "mostly yes."

The story by David Schwartz is an origin story for the undersea superhero Fathom. It tells about the two lost races that live under the sea: the Blue and the Black.

Both are at war with each other, and the members of the Blue are even fighting each other. The parents of Fathom must make the ultimate sacrifice to protect her from the forces in both camps which hope to exploit her secret abilities.

The only weak point for the story is the weight of all the exposition it must labor under, but that's because it has a lot of information to convey.

The art is by Alex Sanchez and Peter Steigerwald, and it's quite good, with some nice emotional moments and some over-the-top action sequences. There are a few small problems with layouts that are a bit confusing, but some of that may be my own lack of familiarity with the locations.

I can't really recommend starting with this issue, as I did - you're showing up for the final reel here. But in a collection it should provide a clear origin for the title character and some background info on her greatest opponents.

Grade: B

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King Conan #1 (of 4)

2012-01-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

I was both surprised and delighted to see this latest adaptation of Robert E. Howard's stories about King Conan.

Delighted because it marks the return of writer Tim Truman and artist Tomas Giorello, both of whom turned in outstanding work on the recent "Scarlet Citadel" series (among others).

They're a perfect match, with Truman delivering hard-hitting action and Giorello providing amazing, lush artwork.

I was somewhat surprised, though, to see the Howard story "The Phoenix on the Sword" is the basis for this mini-series, because the original story is very short one.

But to their credit, the creative team has expanded on the story (so far) without it feeling bloated or padded. We meet the older Conan, now King of Aquilonia, as he relates the story of an early attempt to take away his throne. It also features Conan's oldest and most dangerous enemy.

It's always been a favorite of mine, and surprisingly enough, it's actually the first Conan story published (in 1932). Howard retooled a King Kull story, added a supernatural element and cast his newest creation, Conan, in the lead role. The result is a classic!

The series is off to a rousing start, and if you're any kind of Conan fan, don't miss this series!

Grade: A

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Aquaman #5

2012-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

One of the time-honored traditions of comic book heroes was that they had to have a specific weakness - an Achilles' heel.

So Green Lantern's ring couldn't affect anything yellow, Superman could be hurt by magic and kryptonite, J'onn J'onzz was vulnerable to fire (which has to be the lamest one of them all), and Aquaman could not survive over an hour without exposure to water.

The idea, of course, was to add suspense to the obstacles the hero had to overcome, and to make it possible for normal villains to pose a threat to the hero.

Aquaman's silly limitation was addressed in a story by Peter David some years ago (it demonstrated that Aquaman would not die if 60 minutes elapsed while he was on dry land), but this issue goes the extra step in proving that the old way of doing things is over.

In this issue written by Geoff Johns we see what happens when Aquaman finds himself stranded in the middle of a desert. It's a desperate fight for survival, and the story also offers some tantalizing clues about Atlantis and why it sank long ago.

The art by Ivan Reis is, as always, outstanding, with stunning pages and lots of great action sequences.

I've really been enjoying this series. The issues up to now have established the hero, his supporting cast and his reasons for living along the coast. Each issue gives us more insight into the character and what drives him.

It's going to be interesting to see where it goes from here!

Grade: A-

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Fantastic Four #602

2012-01-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

This is a magazine that can handle almost any kind of story, but the Fantastic Four are at their best when they're dealing with a big cosmic concept.

And boy howdy is this story big. And cosmic.

You have the alien Kree armada attacking the Earth, there's the Annihilation wave now under the control of the resurrected Human Torch, Black Bolt and the Inhumans are in the fight, there's the Supreme Intelligence (leader of the Kree) working on a plot to destroy the Inhumans, and just when the pages seem too crowded, the big gun in the Marvel universe shows up (the cover kind of gives that one away).

A lesser writer wouldn't be able to keep all these elements in balance, but Jonathan Hickman has been putting the pieces in place for this story for over a year, and it's all pushing toward the mind-boggling climax.

The big question, of course, is: can Earth survive? The answer seems dubious at this point.

Artist Barry Kitson has lots of fun bringing assorted spectacles to life. His work is clean, dynamic and of great service to the story - not a task for the faint-hearted.

I've raved about this story before, and I feel the same way about this issue - it's the kind of intelligent, cosmic tale that this series deserves. Keep 'em flying!

Grade: A-

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Justice League #5

2012-01-26T00:01:00.002-05:00

If I didn't know better, I'd swear this was a Marvel Comic.

That's because this issue of Justice League is give over to a slugfest between the (finally assembled) team and Darkseid.

The trick to reading this series is that you have to keep reminding yourself that these heroes have just started their careers, so they're not always as... well, competent as we might expect.

For example, there's an incredibly silly moment as the team "tries out" a rallying slogan. Let's just say the Avengers have nothing to worry about there.

The issue is loaded with interesting moments (some work, some don't). For example, Batman tries a stunt that seems completely out of character, Green Lantern goes over the top, and Flash and Superman head off to the races. The rest of the characters only manage cameos.

The rest of the issue is given over to all kinds of intense, over-the-top battles that you'd usually expect from Marvel.

The art by Jim Lee is excellent, as always, though I get the sense that some of his work here was a bit rushed. Maybe it's just me.

Geoff Johns' story has certainly kicked things into high gear, and it's difficult to see how the League can stand up to a powerhouse like Darkseid - but that's all part of the fun!

Grade: A-

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New Comics Day!

2012-01-25T19:02:00.000-05:00

Today I picked up:

- Alpha Flight #8 (of 8) - The finale.

- Aquaman #5 - He gets some sand in his shoe.

- Secret Avengers #21.1 - Cap and Hawkeye on the town.

- Captain America & Bucky #626 - Which Bucky is this?

- King Conan #1 (of 4) - Beginning "The Phoenix on the Sword."

- FF #14 - Fighting the Celestials.

- Fantastic Four #602 - And now, Galactus!

- The Flash #5 - Wrapping up the Mob Rule story.

- Justice League #5 - Throwing down with Darkseid.

- Mighty Thor #10 - Beginning the comeback.

- The Ultimates #6 - An impossible fight.

And I received a review pdf of:

- Fathom: Blue Descent #4 - Battles under the sea.

And that's it!

The Classics - The Black Terror #1

2012-01-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

Here's a golden age character who was a complete mystery to me.

His origins are long before I started reading comics, and practically every time he pops up in the modern era, he's a completely different character.

The reason The Black Terror shows up every now and then is thanks largely to the fact that the character is in public domain. He last resurfaced about four years ago in a not-so-great new series from Dynamite Entertainment, and he appreared in some of Alan Moore's ABC comics (with Tom Strong) - but his first reappearance (after his original Golden Age run) was in a Prestige mini-series from Eclipse Comics in 1989.

Written by Beau Smith and Chuck Dixon (in what must be the manliest writing team-up of the century) and painted by Dan Brereton (in what I believe was his first work in comics), the series brought the Black Terror back as a (more or less) normal man working undercover to bring down the mob.

The story begins with a nightmarish dream sequence that doesn't seem to have much in common with the rest of the story, but from there we get into the grim and grisly world of crime.

As Ryan Delvecchio, The Black Terror is working as a gunman for the mob. One mission gives him possession on a computer disc that links to a mysterious plot known as Romulus.

Using his insider information, the Terror is able to wreak havoc on the gang, but he has a tall order in front of him. Not only does he face a powerful and ruthless gang of criminals, he's also being pursued by the FBI, who don't appreciate his "freelance" crimefighting - and did I mention that the gang is being run by the state's governor?

So lots of wheels turning in this one, and lots a grim violence to go around.

Brereton's painted art for this issue is brilliant in places and very shaky in others - but you can definitely see the promise of the excellent artist that he would become.

As far as I know, this series hasn't been collected and reprinted, while at least three volumes of the most recent (and far less entertaining) stories are available.

Now that's a crime!

Grade: A-

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Memorial #2

2012-01-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Comics are somewhat imitative by nature, so it's never a surprise when a comic shows up that tries to tap into a past success.

This new series Memorial, for example, seems to be trying very hard to be the new Sandman (or perhaps the new Fables).

And that's ok, because it's always good to aim high.

I should add that the book is not a direct swipe at all, although it hits some similar notes.

The story by Chris Roberson follows an amnesia victim named Em. She works in a bookstore, and while on her lunch break she discovers a magical store loaded with books, toys and knick-knacks.

But she also finds herself in great danger as living statues come after her. She steps through the door of the shop and finds herself at the ocean. Oh, and she discovers a cat who talks.

Em is likeable enough (though we don't know much about her, she's obviously plucky) and the mystery unfolding is entertaining. The story moves things along briskly (being chased by strange, vicious creatures helps keep things crackling).

The art is by Rich Ellis, and I like it - it suits the story well. Sometimes dark and moody, sometimes rumpled and real-worldish (if that's a word). He does seem to struggle with the look of the cat in a couple of places, but that's a minor dig.

There's plenty of room in the world of comics for another thoughtful and intelligent fantasy comic, and that's the niche for Memorial.

It should do well as long as it resists the urge to get too cute with its own premise (as it almost does with the names of the queens of the three mystic realms - a little too much Gaiman lifting going on there).

But if you like that sort of thing (as everyone should), then this is well worth checking out.

Grade: B+

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Lord of the Jungle #1

2012-01-23T00:01:00.001-05:00

Here we have a comic that dares not speak its name.

The cover says Lord of the Jungle, but that's only because of the legal restrictions over using the name Tarzan prominently.

As I understand it, the first Tarzan book (Tarzan of the Apes) is now in public domain, so the story is fair game for adaptation - thus only a cursory mention on the inside cover that this series is "based on stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs."

As written by Arvid Nelson, it's a fair adaptation (though one added story element seems quite odd), but like the Warlord of Mars adaptation, he's spooling this story out very slowly. By the end of the first issue, we've only seen the title character as a baby (not counting a panel showing his back and another showing his hand).

The art by Robert Castro is well done, though there are a few minor gaps in the story progression. The characters and the creatures are expressive, and the art benefits from strong coloring by Alex Guimares.

I can't help but feel that this story is going to suffer from the same dragged-out fate that led me to drop Dynamite's version of John Carter, too.

I know, decompressed stories are all the rage - and sometimes they work - but Burrough's stories were famous for hurtling along at breakneck speed, pushing you on to reading that next chapter.

I don't get that here at all.

Grade: B-

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Conan: Road of Kings #12 (of 12)

2012-01-22T22:12:00.003-05:00

With this issue we reach the end of Roy Thomas' welcome return as writer on Conan.

Thomas, of course, was responsible for the original Conan the Barbarian comic book series that Marvel began in the 1970s, and he wrote it for a decade before leaving the company.

Dark Horse wisely brought him back to the fold for this maxi-series, which has followed the barbarian's adventures (and misadventures) along the Road of Kings, which winds across several countries. He wraps up his adventure in Messantia - in a jail cell, to be exact, as he faces "justice" at the hands of a less-than-honorable judge.

The writing on the series has been solid - very much in the style of the original series, with a bit more graphic violence thrown in. But this issue seems to feel the burden of having to set up the next series in line, which brings Conan and Belit together (which is to say, that seems the only point of this issue).

The art has been something of a sticking point for fans (and for me as well). This issue is drawn by Mike Hawthorne, and while he's a good artist, I don't think his style is a good match for Conan. The character is more grim and gritty, while this style is more mainstream and clean-cut. I think he'd be a great fit for most superhero stories.

So the series has been a nice bit of nostalgia for long-time fans, but it doesn't quite measure up to past efforts.

Grade: B-

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Dead Man's Run #1

2012-01-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

So what happens after you die?

It's a great question - the ultimate question - and one we (probably) won't know the answer to until it's our turn.

It's a favorite playground for books, television, movies and (especially) comic books. Virtually every hero has been "dead" at least once in his or her career. (Oh, if you're looking for a good movie, try Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life. Great flick.)

It's the topic of this post is the new comic from Aspen, Dead Man's Run.

Written by Greg Pak (whose work I loved on the Incredible Hulk), this comic focuses on a man named Sam Tinker, a prison guard who cares deeply for his sister Juniper.

A surprising series of events (not to be spoiled here) results in death, and Sam finds himself in the worst prison imaginable - hell itself.

Can he escape? Was he drawn there for a reason? What happened to his sister? And most importantly, can he survive?

Those of some of the questions raised, and to tell more would be wrong. The story has a definite Lost feel to it (high praise indeed), as we care about this brother and sister and wonder what will happen next.

The art is by Tony Parker, and it's very, very good. He has a nice style of his own, with clear storytelling, some great flourishes and a dark, compelling design for the afterlife.

The mystery is set, the characters are interesting and in place, there's danger and action aplenty (though no superhero costumes to be seen) - I can't wait to see what happens next.

That's what I call a great start!

Grade: A-

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The Avengers #21

2012-01-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

One of the things that makes Marvel's comics interesting is the fact that, sometimes, the good guys lose. (It's usually just temporary, of course.)

That's exactly what's going on in The Avengers. The latest version of the team has been outflanked by Norman Osborn and his allies (which include Hydra, AIM and H.A.M.M.E.R. (still no definition for the abbreviation - it's been, what, three years? My guess: Hydra, AIM Master Many Exotic Resources. I didn't say it was a good guess).

The Avengers have done the tried and true "split up into teams and try to solve the mystery," but Osborn is taking advantage by throwing everything he has - including some surprisingly powerful agents wielding familiar abilities - against the heroes.

From all appearances, it doesn't go well for the good guys.

Brian Bendis is pulling out all the stops to put the Avengers in a bad corner - and it's going to be interesting to see how they get out of it. As always, great dialogue and some good character moments.

The art is by Renato Guedes (I thought Daniel Acuna was the regular artist on this story?), and it feels rushed somehow. There's some strong work here, but there are also panels with weak anatomy and others where I'm not sure what happened.

Much as I'm tired of Osborn, the story has me hooked so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing the big comeback by our team... or a really surprising ending.

Grade: B

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Batman #5

2012-01-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's rare for a creative team to manage a new way to play with the comics medium - and to their credit, that's just what they've done with this issue of Batman.

Writer Scott Snyder and artists Greg Capullo and Jonathan Glapion continue to build a new mythology in Gotham City around a organization known as the Council of Owls. The implication is that the group has been operating secretly in Gotham practically since it became a town, and they have many secrets.

One of them is a vast underground maze where Batman has been wandering for days. Is it real, is he dreaming or drugged? We don't know, but it's shocking to see the World's Most Dangerous Man struggling to survive.

This is more like a horror story than a superhero comic, and isn't recommended for young readers.

The art is terrific, with Capullo doing some amazing, clever things to tell this nightmarish story.

I don't want to say too much or give anything away, because it's a terrific comic - one of the best since the "New 52" started.

We're a long way from the "Best of 2012" list being compiled, but I confidently predict this comic will be on it.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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At the Comics Shop

2012-01-18T23:44:00.002-05:00

Today I picked up:

- Avengers #21 - Bring on the Bad Guys!

- Batman #5 - One of the most unique comics I can remember in a while.

- Conan: Road of Kings #12 (of 12) - End of the road.

- Daredevil #8 - Locking lips with the Black Cat!

- Fear Itself: The Fearless #7 (of 12) - Wolverine brings the pain.

- Invincible Iron Man #512 - Heart trouble.

- John Carter: A Princess of Mars #5 (of 5) - The title just doesn't work like that.

- Lord of the Jungle #1 - Kreegah!

- Memorial #2 - On a recommendation.

- Wonder Woman #5 - Fish story.

Also (in the interest of full disclosure), from Aspen I received pdf's of:

- Dead Man's Run #1 - What happens after a Live Man's Run?

- Charismagic #4 - Magic and sexy women - what's not to like?

And that's it!

The Classics - The Futurians

2012-01-18T00:01:00.002-05:00

In looking at Marvel's Graphic Novels of the 1980s, I came across a nearly-forgotten favorite - The Futurians.

Dave Cockrum rose to fame handling comics that featured large casts, including the Legion of Super-Heroes for DC and the "New" X-Men for Marvel.

He helped create new characters for each group, and most of those characters are still active today. Cockrum was a master of design and took a lot of inspiration from Wally Wood and Gil Kane (among others), but he brought his own sensibilities to every project.

This graphic novel gave Cockrum lots of room to run with. He created his own "reality" and populated it with numerous original heroes and villains, and based it on a complex science fiction idea.

The story started on the Earth millions of years in the future, when two warring super-science races tried to take control of the planet. The evil Inheritors realized they couldn't defeat the noble race known as Terminus, so they escaped into the past and destroyed the sun in the process.

Unable to follow, the scientists of Terminus instead sent "seeds" into the past, which connected with various humans and ultimately gave them super-powers which would allow them to fight back when the Inheritors launched their city-destroying attacks.

Whew! It was a complex concept, but it served its purpose - giving a solid explanation for the new heroes and villains, and allowing Cockrum to design and create seven original heroes, supporting casts and armies of bad guys and monsters for them to fight.

Best of all, it was all written with strong characters and a great sense of humor. I love the costume and character designs on display here. They may be a bit garish and somewhat dated (which is to be expected in a story created 30 years ago), but Cockrum had a great sense of what worked and his creations seemed to roll out with Kirby-like proficiency.

The story also gave him lots of room for some incredible, over-the-top action sequences - sort of the equivalent of today's blockbuster action films.

Sadly, the series never quite caught on. Perhaps the concept was too bulky, perhaps there were just too many characters and too much dialogue. Whatever the reason, this graphic novel led to a series of five (or six) regular-sized comics, but that was the end of it - a sad finish for a strong idea.

His string of successful works far outweigh the ones that flopped - but as The Futurians shows, even his lesser-known work was outstanding.

Dave Cockrum was a true giant of the industry, and he is sadly missed.

Grade: A

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Lobster Johnson #1 (of 5)

2012-01-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

Writer and artist Mike Mignola has created some delightful and twisted characters of the years - and here's one now.

Lobster Johnson has his roots firmly set in the pulp magazines of the '30s and '40s, and that's evident in this comic that perfectly imitates the rough-and-tumble style of those stories.

What's surprising about this first issue is how little we see of the title character - in fact, if you tore out one page (not recommended), you'd almost completely excise him from the tale.

But that's not a criticism - what you have is a strange tale (written by Mignola and John Arcudi) about ghostly Indians, desperate gangsters, a determined (and yes, plucky) female reporter and what happens when all of the above encounter the merciless Lobster Johnson.

I wish the creative teams behind the recent Doc Savage revival had emulated this story - this is pulp fiction done properly.

The art is by Tonci Zonjic, whose work I'm not familiar with - but I like it a lot. It's a fresh style that moves easily between strong character moments and vicious action sequences. The layouts are strong and the characters animated and lively.

What really makes this book work is the sense of humor that flows through it. Like his Hellboy work, Migola knows how to balance drama and humor to maximum effect, and it makes for a comic that's a heck of a lot of fun to read.

Recommended!

Grade: A-

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Wolverine and the X-Men #4

2012-01-16T00:37:00.003-05:00

This comic continues to defy expectations (sort of) - in that I find that I've really enjoyed half the issues so far, and really disliked the other half.

This issue of Wolverine and the X-Men finds the book back in the positive again as it focuses on the students in Wolvie's new version of the Xavier Academy.

The comic leans very close to the "way too much going on" side of things, but this time around the balance is maintained.

Writer Jason Aaron provides some good dialogue with the students, a clever (if improbable) glimpse into a possible future, and a focus on the instructors (though I don't care at all for the Kitty Pryde story element introduced at the end of the issue, which lunges into fan fiction territory).

I really like the artwork, but it seems strange that Art Adams spells his name "Nick Bradshaw" in the credits. To be fair, it's not an exact copy, but Bradshaw obviously counts Art as one of his chief influences. Since I like Adams' art (no pun intended), I like this too.

So, a good issue, but I'm still on the fence here. If this series can string together a few more solid issues like this one, I'll hang around. If not, it'll take its place on the bench next to Spider-Man and Uncanny X-Men.

Grade: B+

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The Shade #4 (of 12)

2012-01-15T00:31:00.003-05:00

It's distressing to hear that sales have been low for The Shade because it includes some of James Robinson's best work as he returns to the character made famous by his inclusion in Robinson's now-classic Starman series.

As I wrote in this review, The Shade is a dark, conflicted character who is now fighting (more or less) on the side of the angels.

One of the neat features in the Starman series was the occasional venture into the past, courtesy of the stories labeled "Times Past." That same method is used in this issue to illustrate a hidden part of The Shade's life, and it's a real delight.

The story, set in 1944, includes a look at the amoral Shade from years past, how he comes in conflict with some Nazis, some dark secrets he has hidden, and the Golden Age heroes he recruits to help in the fight (longtime fans will anticipate one, but the other is a complete surprise).

What's even better is that the issue is drawn by Darwyn Cooke and J. Bone, which would make this issue an instant sale for me whether or not I'd been reading it all along.

The book is great fun, with lots of twists and turns, wonderfully-realized characters and, of course, terrific artwork.

If you missed it in the "New 52" rush, you should look harder. You should be reading this comic.

Grade: A

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Wolverine #300

2012-01-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

I rarely read his comic book, but I've been a Wolverine fan since his first appearance in The Incredible Hulk.

He was a short, fierce fighter with an attitude - and he was willing to take on the Hulk singlehanded (though writer Len Wein threw in the Wendigo just for fun). Not long after that, Wein used the Canadian again in the "New" X-Men - and that's where Wolverine built his reputation.

Eventually, Marvel gave him his own comic series, and this issue presumably celebrates the total of all the various series that Wolvie has starred in to arrive at #300 - an impressive run for any character.

But there's a reason why I don't read the comic from month to month - the character's backstory has become so messy and his present continuity so muddled (and the character is being used to death - the fate of popular comics characters) that I finally gave up and walked away.

But, just as I'm a sucker for an issue #1, I'm also drawn to "anniversary" issues, so I thought I'd give this a try.

Thankfully, there's not a lot of missed continuity to sort out. The story has Wolverine being summoned to Japan (where he spent quite some time in the past, pre-X-Men).

There he finds himself in the middle of a three-way battle between criminal gangs: the Yakuza, the Hand and the Clan Yashida.

The sprawling tale by writer Jason Aaron keeps things moving briskly, with some clever bits of business along the way. He brings in Sabretooth, an old foe of Wolverine's - and it feels tiresome. How many times are these two going to fight?

But that's a minor quibble - the story rips right along with only a few goofy bits of business.

The art is provided by a trio of artists - Adam Kubert, Ron Garney and Steve Sanders, each tackling different chapters, and it's outstanding. Lots of over-the-top action, some raw violence - and that's about it. Still, great work here.

My only real complaint is that the story is continued at the end - all these pages and they couldn't give us a complete story? (Although maybe it's a trend - the Fantastic Four did the same thing.)

So my final point it that, after 300 issues, Wolverine hasn't changed a bit - he's still a fierce fighter with an attitude. If you like that kind of thing, here it is.

Grade: B+

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Scarlet Spider #1

2012-01-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

My name's Chuck, and I have a weakness for First Issues.

For a long time, I would buy the first issue of almost any title - partly to try it out, and partly (I suppose) because I didn't want to take the chance on missing another Action Comics #1 (the one from the '30s, that is).

It's an impulse that has largely been whupped out of me through years of companies renumbering their titles, releasing multiple first issues, or rebooting their entire line (look at me when I'm talking to you, DC).

But this week I gave in to the impulse again and picked up the first issue of Scarlet Spider.

I should have known better - I was around to buy (and suffer through) the original Spider-Man Clone Saga. That story failed because it got too complicated and played a little too fast and loose with the Spider-Man mythos. (For a much better version of the story, read Bendis and Bagley's version in Ultimate Spider-Man.)

So here we have a new story featuring Kaine, one of the Peter Parker clones. He's on the run for reasons that escape me - they devote four pages in the back of the comic to recounting his history, but it doesn't really make it any less confusing.

Apparently he's going to become the Scarlet Spider at some point - but it hasn't happened yet as this issue draws to a close. He spends most of the issue whining about his life, vowing that he doesn't care what happens to others, and scratching things with his incredibly abrasive hands (yeah, I don't get it, either).

I can understand conflicted heroes, but our pal Kaine here is just a jerk, running away from his responsibilities (to be fair he doesn't always run away) and refusing to be the hero we all know he'll eventually have to become (or this series will have a very short run).

Ryan Stegman provides the art, and its very good, but writer Chris Yost needs to make us care about the main character. Right now Kaine is a cypher, and not a particularly interesting one.

The trick to a successful issue #1 is getting the reader to come back for issue #2, and then #3, etc.

The Scarlet Spider did not succeed in that.

Grade: B-

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The Ray #2

2012-01-12T00:01:00.003-05:00

As I've mentioned before, guest reviews are most welcome here. They give your pal Chuck some much-needed breathing room, and I always enjoy reading what other people think! If you're interested in writing one, send me a note at the email address on the right-hand side of this blog. Here's a guest commentary by a gifted and prolific writer I've known for quite some time.

By Evan Minsker

My relationship with comic books has been fickle for the past few years, because honestly, I'm never in a position to afford the habit. Through college, I couldn't afford to buy week to week, or really, month to month.

Thus, the comics I've read since have been in the form of trade paperback collections and full-arc miniseries. (Although I've been burned by the latter, Mike Mignola, with your "to be continued" on issue 3 of 3.)

That's probably why I bought the first issue of The Ray. It's a self-contained six issue miniseries by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray (the writing team behind Power Girl), and best of all for a non-committer like me, it's unburdened by decades of backstory. But what I got in addition is a funny series with fantastic art by Jamal Igle.

Here's the abridged origin story: The Ray is a Korean-American guy named Lucien, a lifeguard at a beach in San Diego, who is hit by an energy conductor in a botched experiment.

Now he harnesses the energy of raw light, which means he can move at light speed, his brain moves at light speed (he's much, much smarter than he was before), and he can alter his physical appearance by manipulating light.

Mysteriously, along the line of the energy blast, monsters have been popping up. In this issue, it's flying stingrays with angry looking fangs.

Obviously, the "flying superhero vs. giant monster" routine has been done approximately three bajillion times in comics, but it's done well here. The Ray has the smart aleck wit of Spider-Man and the deduction skills of Sherlock Holmes, which makes the big action sequences really fun. But of course, Lucien also has another battle on his mind - meeting his girlfriend's parents for the first time at dinner.

This one is more of a transition issue - half character study and half fight scenes - so it's hard to tell where this series will ultimately go.

But The Ray is a funny, self-aware, fresh book, so it's easy to see the character sticking around for more than four more issues.

Grade: B+

Evan Minsker writes about music for Pitchfork, eMusic, and other nice people. You can read his thoughts on music, nerdy stuff, and various Internet memes at EvanMinsker.com.

So Many Comics

2012-01-11T22:21:00.002-05:00

A big day at the comics shop this week for some reason.

Here's what I picked up:

- New Avengers #20 - Battle with the Dark Avengers!

- Secret Avengers #21 - Sadly, Ellis' last issue.

- Captain America #7 - Bringing back some classic Kirby concepts!

- Green Lantern #5 - Seems to me this series is struggling.

- Journey Into Mystery #633 - While this one is a delight.

- Kull: The Cat and the Skull #4 (of 4) - The finale, and the skull revealed.

- Lobster Johnson #1 (of 5) - It's Mignola, so I'm there.

- The Ray #2 - Recommended by a friend, so I'm giving it a shot (also picked up #1).

- Resurrection Man #5 - Dead again!

- Scarlet Spider #1 - I gave in to my old weakness for First Issues.

- The Shade #4 - With art by Darwyn Cooke!

- Wolverine #300 - Suckered in by the milestone.

- Wolverine and the X-Men #4 - This one is on shaky ground. Literally!

Whew! And that's it!

The Classics - The Death of Captain Marvel

2012-01-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

In 1982 Marvel Comics decided to get into the Graphic Novel business, which promised to be the next big thing.

In the years that followed they published some great stories and some not-so-great ones, but none was better than the first one - The Death of Captain Marvel.

It was a shocking move to kill off a mainstream hero, and they wisely turned the job over to the man who had put Captain Marvel on the map: writer/artist Jim Starlin.

I suspect they decided to "kill" CM because his history was so convoluted. He started as a Kree warrior trying to infiltrate the Earth's military to spy on our planet - but he kept finding himself forced to defend our world, and his name - Mar-Vell - was "Americanized" into Marvel.

It was a good start, but then it got weird. Marvel was given super-human powers by an odd alien creature, then he got a new red-and-blue costume and was exiled to the Negative Zone, and he could only leave when eternal sidekick Rick Jones struck the Nega-Bands on his wrist together, and then Marvel gained Cosmic Awareness and battled Thanos (this part during Starlin's excellent run on the title), then he got caught up in various alien battles, and then his comic was canceled.

So rather than sort all this out, I suspect the powers that be decided it would be easier to kill off the good Captain and bring in another hero later with the same name but a simpler origin. (Wonder how that worked out?)

Taking advantage of the greater page count and the more "adult" format, Starlin crafted an amazing, touching story where the hero faces the end not because of a villain's schemes - but rather because he has contracted cancer.

The story takes us through Marvel's slow descent as he tries to fight against the disease while making his peace with the world.

It's moving, entertaining and very well-crafted. Starlin even inked the art himself - though I have to admit that, surprisingly, the art isn't quite up to his usual work. Some of the figures are a bit stiff or the proportions seem slightly off in a few panels (perhaps he had to rush to meet the deadline?) - but those are minor quibbles when you're talking about such a powerful effort.

It was a great sign of the promise Graphic Novels held, and while later efforts couldn't quite reach the same heights, that's only because this story set the bar so high.

Grade: A

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Fatale #1

2012-01-10T00:01:00.001-05:00

What a dark delight this comic is, completely defying expectations.

From the "film noir" cover to Fatale, I assumed this would be a tale of crime set in the past, with a mysterious woman at the center of deadly dealings.

Which turned out to be true, sorta.

This series is actually set in modern times and in the past, and owes as much to horror as to crime fiction.

It starts with a man whose godfather has died, leaving him in charge of the estate. Josephine walks into his life and turns it upside down, as he suffers a murderous attack and finds himself facing a dark mystery.

The story then flashes back to the past for some horrific scenes that connect to the modern tale, but in strange and unnatural ways. The story is part Mickey Spillane and part H. P. Lovecraft, and it's compelling (though certainly too mature for kids).

It's written by Ed Brubaker, who has this kind of hard-edged tale down pat. The art is provided by Sean Phillips, and it's a perfect match for this tale. It's compelling, carrying you from scene to scene and bringing each character vividly to life. There's not a super-hero suit in sight, but Phillips makes each character distinct and memorable.

So, a pleasant surprise wrapped in a dark and sinister comic. Best of all, I have no idea where the story is going, but I can't wait to find out.

Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Avengers: X-Sanction #2 (of 4)

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-05:00

The second issue of this series is identical to the first, except this time around Cable fights Iron Man for reasons that escape me.

If they're going to keep giving us the same comic, there's no sense in me writing a new review. Here's what I said last time - it's just as valid for this issue:

Gah.

Look, I like the occasional mindless action comic, but the creative team has to meet me somewhere in the middle there. Make it fun, make it ominous - something, anything!

This mini-series is presumably something of a run-up to the upcoming Avengers vs. X-Men event that Marvel is prepping. But Avengers: X-Sanction checked its brain at the door.

The story by Jeph Loeb starts with the Avengers tackling some escaped criminals. Ah, but unknown to them, they're being stalked by Cable, who is attacking the Avengers for mysterious reasons.

Cable's one of those characters that some readers love and others despise. I've never cared much one way or the other - he's always struck me as a one-note, grim and gritty character. The soldier who's always at war.

He's looking surprisingly healthy, since he was apparently killed in a recent X-Men story - but no good comic book character will let death keep them out of the spotlight.

The art is by Ed McGuinness, who specializes in big events and big characters - and he provides both quite nicely here.

But the story is just... well, let's say it's very shallow. It uses the thinnest of excuses to have everybody fight - and it ends on a terribly overused cliffhanger trick.

The art is quite good, but that's the only reason to pick this one up. There's not an original thought to be found here.

OK, one difference - it ends on a cliffhanger that hasn't been beaten to death - but it's still pretty obvious what will happen next.

But I don't expect to find out, 'cause I'm dropping this one right here.

Grade: C

The Defenders #2

2012-01-08T00:23:00.003-05:00

See, this is what being a Marvel Comic is all about.

You gather a team of heroes, set them up against a formidable opponent, throw in some interesting additional characters, add some humor, a bit of drama, some outstanding artwork, great action sequences - who could ask for more?

You'll find all that in this second issue of The Defenders, as the team (consisting of Dr. Strange, Namor, Silver Surfer, Red She-Hulk and Iron Fist) travel to Wundagore Mountain to try to stop Nul, the Breaker of Worlds (and the last remaining member of the Serpent's hammer-wielding demons from Fear Itself).

Of course, if you travel to Wundagore you're going to run into at least one of its inhabitants - in this case, the Knights of Wundagore (animals evolved into human form).

Naturally, mayhem ensues - and while you might think the Defenders would make short work of the Knights, the home team has the assistance of Prester John, a little-seen character who first appeared long ago in the Fantastic Four, carrying the powerful Evil Eye.

The story is great fun, the art by the Dodsons - Terry and Rachel - is terrific, with great layouts, strong designs, beautiful women, handsome men, and a good humorous touch when needed.

I also want to mention one of my favorite bits - the use of random sentences at the bottom of the page, something Marvel did for a short time in the '70s (or was it the '80s?). Here they form kind of a split-personality rambling commentary on the story, on Marvel Comics in general, or offer teasers for upcoming events. Clever and funny!

If you're not reading this comic, you're missing a good one!

Grade: A

Uncanny X-Men #4

2012-01-07T15:50:00.003-05:00

With great regret, I was about to drop the Uncanny X-Men series - the whole "X-Men as world killers" thing isn't working for me - but then I saw the name of the artist who drew this issue.

Brandon Peterson is an artist whose work seems like a rare treat, but he's one of those worth tracking down.

His work is dynamic, detailed and with a great grasp of the heroic ideal. I assume he doesn't tackle a monthly comic because his art is too time-consuming. He puts more into each panel than most artists spend on a page.

His work here is impressive as always, with great support from colorist Justin Ponsor.

The story is by Keiron Gillen, and it's an interesting "done-in-one" issue that gives us the story from the "bad guy's" point of view. It's a familiar menace to long-time fans, and it's a tragic and grim tale with the X-Men almost reduced to minor players.

Still, it's intelligent and well-written and raises some interesting questions.

So it might be a good finale for my interest in the series. The "next issue" ad looks like the story involves vampires, and that's enough to send me running any day.

Grade: A-

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Avengers Annual #1

2012-01-06T00:20:00.002-05:00

See, this is one of those issues that brings out the angry old fogey hiding in my mind.

Marvel's Annuals were once things of wonder. They'd show up in the summer and feature a historic event (Reed and Sue's Wedding), a big story (all the Avengers gather together to fight a big menace), or just a fun tale (Spider-Man and Dr. Strange team up).

These days - not so much.

I can't remember the last annual that felt "special." They now seem to be slightly bigger versions of regular issues with a much bigger price tag.

This issue of Avengers Annual is a great example. It follows up on the events in the New Avengers Annual by giving us... the same exact story. Wonder Man has apparently lost his mind, he's gathered up some powerful misfits and uses them to attack the two Avengers teams.

Much destruction follows.

And that's about it. Oh, in this issue we see Wonder Man using some PR strategies, and the Avengers are apparently too stupid to realize it. You'd think they'd be used to it - Norman Osborn did the same thing during the Dark Reign, and he's doing it again in the ongoing issues of the Avengers comics - none of which, by the way, show any signs of the story in this annual happening.

Look, I'm a fan of writer Brian Bendis - this just isn't his best work at all. Artist Gabriele Dell'otto provides some strong art, but it's also dark and confusing in places.

So the issue basically features lots of destruction and some nonsense dialogue between the two sides - and in the end, no one has learned anything and nothing is different.

Except that you, the reader, are out 5 bucks.

Grade: D+

Action Comics #5

2012-01-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

After four issues of excellent storytelling, we arrive at issue #5 of Action Comics and find... a filler story.

Which is not to say it's a bad story at all - actually, it's excellent.

But it seems odd to have the Earth on the brink of destruction only to take a couple of months to provide some backstory.

This issue covers the oh-so-familiar ground of Superman's origin, beginning with the destruction of his home planet, how he survived and what happened when he reached Earth.

If you think you know all that, you might be surprised at what writer Grant Morrison has crafted. He uses the original concepts but then builds on it to craft a fresh, modern version of the classic tale.

The art is by Andy Kubert, and it's outstanding - a master at work.

The comic includes a backup story by writer Sholly Fisch and artist Chriscross that provides some history for Clark Kent's adopted parents - and it's a sweet story.

So, did we really need another origin story for the Man of Steel? There have been at least two other versions in recent years, but this one does offer some changes and, as the odd epilogue to the opening story indicates, it will have far-reaching effects.

I was prepared to be put off by this issue, but it won me over. Outstanding craftsmanship will do it every time.

Grade: A

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Comic Book Day!

2012-01-04T21:58:00.001-05:00

Here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

- Action Comics #5 - Superman's origin story - again.

- Avengers Annual #1 - Wonder Man has a hissy fit.

- Avengers: X-Sanction #2 (of 4) - Iron Man vs. Cable.

- The Defenders #2 - Hey, it's Prester John!

- Fatale #1 - Accent on the femme.

- Fear Itself: The Fearless #6 (of 12) - Finally, some answers.

- Irredeemable #33 - Another origin story.

- OMAC #5 - Guest starring Frankenstein!

- Swamp Thing #5 - Getting pretty gross.

- Uncanny X-Men #4 - Brandon Peterson's doing the art? I'm there.

And that's it!

The Classics - Classics Illustrated #9

2012-01-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

When I was a kid, my friends and I decided that whoever dreamed up the Classics Illustrated line of comics was a genius.

That's because more than one kid tried to sneak by on tests by reading the C.I. version, as opposed to actually reading the homework assignment. (Of course, since the stories were heavily edited, it often didn't end well for the kid trying this method.)

I don't remember going this route myself - I enjoyed reading too much to pass up reading the book, and the challenge was to find a copy of the Classics Illustrated comic you needed - tough to do in those days.

At some point the original series went away, but it's been revived more than once, as comics companies do their own take on those classic tales (which are all in public domain and require no rights fees, of course).

In the late '80s / early '90s First Comics took a run at it, teaming up with Berkeley Publishing to create new versions of classic tales.

This issue, printed in 1990, is one of my favorites. It adapts Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, one of my favorite books - and the adaptation is handled by Mike Ploog, one of my all-time favorite artists.

The book looks like a labor of love for Ploog, too - his art has rarely been more lush, more joyful and more expressive.

Ploog shows his Will Eisner influences throughout, with wonderful, lively characters, and the Prestige format allows for great printing that highlights the colors beautifully.

So was the series a blessing or a curse? I'm not sure if the C.I. series every succeeded in pointing kids in the direction of true literature, or if it actually helped students in school more than it doomed them to poor grades.

But I do know this: there are some real treasures in the series, whichever comics age it's rooted in. Highly recommended!

Grade: A+

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The Mighty Thor #9

2012-01-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I talked about how Captain America, in the wake of the new film, has been treated like royalty.

It's somewhat the same for fellow movie star The Mighty Thor - but not quite.

The God of Thunder also got a brand-new title with a new "#1" - but his old title was converted to Journey Into Mystery and handed over to Loki. And then there was Thor's fate at the end of Fear Itself (let's just say it wasn't pretty).

Now through means not yet explained he's been replaced in his own comic by Tanarus , who has somehow taken Thor's place throughout Marvel's continuity, so he's always been a member of the Avengers, and no one remembers Thor. Well, almost no one.

It's a twist that feels like a Silver Age plot point - especially since they've already revealed his true identity (which shall go unrevealed here). So he's been pretending to be a hero for all these years?

We get some clues about Thor's fate (though not many), and a connection is made in quite a clever way.

So while I'm obviously struggling with Matt Fraction's story, I should add that I'm more than willing to ride this one out and give him the benefit of the doubt.

The art here is something of a mixed bag, with two artists credited - Pasqual Ferry and Pepe Larraz. Some pages are lush, while others are crude and look rushed.

Is it just me, or does the art for most comics these days seem to be done by committee? Is it that difficult to maintain a monthly schedule? But I digress.

I think some of the story frustration comes from the fact that Asgard still lies in ruins almost two years after it was demolished. Should it take that long to repair? Does it seem prudent to write Odin out of the series so soon after his long-awaited return?

It's still too early to tell how this story is going to go, but so far, I'm struggling. Here's hoping for some clarification soon.

Grade: B

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Captain America #6

2012-01-02T00:01:00.002-05:00

It's nice to see Captain America getting the red carpet treatment.

His adventures have been elevated by the excellent writing efforts of Ed Brubaker for years now, and of course Cap was the star of an entertaining feature film last year.

That led to the relaunch of his original title as Captain America & Bucky (retaining the original numbering of Cap's comic) - also an excellent comic - and the creation of a "new" Captain America comic.

The first story arc was drawn (mostly) by Steve McNiven, another terrific artist, and beginning with this issue, Alan Davis and Mark Farmer are supplying the art.

I've raved before about their work, and it's just as powerful as ever here. Clean, dynamic art, with heroic figures, great action sequences, sexy women, strong layouts - just a joy to see.

Brubaker is also more than holding up his end of the creative chores, as Cap is suffering from nightmares as a result of his recent adventure in another dimension - and more than one old menace returns to threaten Cap and his allies.

And one device that's at the heart of the threat, I must admit, made me smile. A lot.

This is very much a modern version of a classic Marvel comic, with strong writing and great artwork. It's great fun and highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Aquaman #4

2012-01-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year! Hope the coming year is a great one for you and yours!

Now, on to business - and I'm delighted to report that the opening storyline for Aquaman actually wraps up in this issue!

It's quite a shock - I don't think any of the other "New 52" titles from DC have completed a story yet, for which I blame the 6-issues-in-a-collection (and-sometimes-8) standard for the comics industry.

But here we reach the finale of a solid opening story for Aquaman. It has succeeded on almost every level: providing a worthwhile opponent; introducing the main and supporting cast; making the hero interesting and formidable; planting seeds for future stories; and giving you a reason to like him.

I could complain that the menace Aquaman and Mera face is more a physical obstacle than an intelligent opponent, but that's a small point - they must overcome a powerful (and numerous) opponent and deal with a moral issue as well.

The artwork by Ivan Reis is impressive. It's a bit murky, thanks to the action being located deep under the surface of the sea, but it includes powerful layouts, some hideous monsters, great designs on the heroes and lots of tense, all-out action sequences.

I've always liked Aquaman, and as best as I can remember, he's one of the first super-heroes I found when I first started reading comics.

I'd love to see writer Geoff Johns and artist Reis restore him to his rightful place as one of DC's most formidable heroes.

This opening story is a great first step.

Grade: A-

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The Top Ten Comics of 2011

2011-12-31T00:01:00.011-05:00

It’s Dec. 31, so it’s time for the “Best of 2011” review, with the usual caveat that: 1) I don’t read everything, so this is the “Best of what Chuck read in 2011” list; and 2) Your top 10 list is probably very different. This is just my opinion at work.

Before we get to the best, let’s get the worst out of the way. This year I gave no “F” grades at all (always a good sign), and only two “D’s” – so it’s between Doc Savage #14 and Elric: The Balance Lost #1. Both weak efforts about characters I really like. The edge, sadly, goes to Doc, with an issue that included an incomprehensible story and really poor artwork.

Now, back to the good stuff (these are comics that either earned an “A” or were memorable enough to be included – no new comics earned an “A+” this year).

Among the “Honorable Mention” comics that could easily have been in the Top 10 are:

- Action Comics
- Captain Action Winter Special
- Captain America
- Daredevil
- Dark Horse Presents
- FF
- Fear Itself
- Hawken
- Jonah Hex
- League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century: 1969
- Mystery Men
- Rocketeer Adventures
- Ruse
- S.H.I.E.L.D.
- Secret Warriors

And now, our Top 10 for 2011:

10. Thor The Mighty Avenger #8

This is the last issue for the comic that earned a spot on my Top 10 list for 2010.

This has been a Thor comic that's part action / adventure, part exploration of a different version of the Marvel Universe, and part romance story as Thor and Jane Foster fall in love.

This issue covers all the bases. We have Thor captured by a team of scientists who control an army of robots, and we get some hints about the true nature of Thor's memory loss. We meet Tony Stark as he pilots an early, cruder version of his Iron Man armor (and Giant-Man and the Wasp put in a cameo as well). And Jane's love for Thor is what makes the rescue possible.

Congrats to writer Roger Langridge and artist Chris Samnee for an outstanding run on this title!

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9. Ultimate Spider-Man #160

As a matter of policy we try not to spoil the ending of stories, but it's tough to avoid with this issue of Ultimate Spider-Man.

After all, the last six (or so) issues were labeled "The Death of Spider-Man," and Marvel went to the national media before this issue was published talking about how Spider-Man gets killed.

So there's that.

It's been a slow build to this final issue, as Spidey was seriously wounded and then had to confront the Sinister Six, including the Green Goblin, Sandman, Kraven, Electro, the Vulture and Doctor Octopus.

Spread over several issues, it's been the fight of Peter Parker's life - and it's the fight that (apparently) ends his life. (Nah, I don't really believe it, either.)

Still, it's a brutal, emotional roller-coaster ride that keeps you on edge right up to the end. Any reader who's been following the story will definitely find those final pages heart-rending.

It's great work by writer Brian Bendis, who is thankfully reunited on this story with artist Mark Bagley, who manages to balance the raw emotional scenes with the hoo-hah, over-the-top action sequences.

It's tricky to kill a hero - his end must be honest, it must require a heroic effort (and a sacrifice) and allow him some meaningful final words. Check, check, check and check.

Simply an outstanding end to a terrific series.

Let's bow our heads and pay honor to the Ultimate Spider-Man - practically since it started a decade ago, it's consistently been the best Spider-Man comic. Let's hope that run doesn't end here with an untimely death.

That would be too cruel.

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8. Ozma of Oz #8

This issue wraps up Marvels' adaptations of the first three Oz books by L. Frank Baum, and what a delight they've been!

In Ozma of Oz, the title character works with Dorothy, Billina, Tik-Tok, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger and the (laughable) Army of Oz to try to rescue a queen and her 10 children from the Nome King.

It's no simple task - they're trapped in his underground fortress and the King commands an army of Nomes - and he has a magic belt that allows him to do just about anything, including turn his opponents into ornaments.

But the King has a weakness - one that makes it very handy indeed to have a chicken on hand.

Once again, Eric Shanower writes a perfect adaptation, giving each character just the right amount of stage time - and the proper voice - to play their part. It's amazing that something written so long ago (the original story, that is) can still feel so fresh and new.

I've about run out of superlatives for Skottie Young's art - it's just pure delight and invention from start to finish - funny without being silly or childish, inventive without poking you in the eye for effect, and always in service to the story. Just a great talent, and one to watch closely in the years ahead.

There's a reason why the Oz books have stood the test of time and still have a devoted following today - they're clever, loaded with great characters and imaginative situations. And there's something wonderful about seeing a scrappy girl from the Midwest standing up to powerful enemies and winning the day!

If you haven't been following this series, shame on you - you're missing some of the best comics around. Thankfully, there are collections out there to enjoy - and more stories on the way!

What a great time to be reading comics!

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7. Aquaman #1

If one of the goals of this series is to make Aquaman a more respected hero, it's off to a pretty good start.

The story by Geoff Johns gives the hero more character than we've seen in far too long.

Here he helps the police stop some bank robbers with some impressive feats of strength, demonstrating his speed, skill and near-invulnerability (think Namor).

He stops in a restaurant for a meal where he gets to clear up some questions about his powers - and he gets to show that he's a good person, too (a very nice touch).

The artwork by Ivan Reis is outstanding, of course, with some amazing action sequences and some delightful real-world characters, too.

The comic sets up the first major menace for Aquaman to face - an invasion from deep below the ocean - and in keeping with the "New 52," there's a bit of gore thrown in at the end of the story.

Despite that, I enjoyed this comic and am glad to see Aquaman back in rare form. He's had a sporadic run in comics, with strong creators taking a turn (Nick Cardy and Jim Aparo being two of the best artists) and then the book falling into lesser hands.

Hopefully, this team will hang around for a good long run. It's off to a great start!

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6. Captain America & Bucky #620

The newly-retooled Captain America & Bucky takes over the numbering of the ongoing Cap comic (which took over the numbering of the old Tales of Suspense comic).

This comic is firmly set (so far) in World War II, as we begin to learn the real secret origin for Bucky. The original story of how he became Cap's sidekick doesn't work by modern standards - no hero is going into battle with an untrained child fighting at his side.

In the original version, Bucky accidentally discovered Cap's secret identity, so he was recruited to be Cap's partner. In the modern version, he's given a more believable age, more realistic abilities and a solid backstory.

This is a strong story from writers Ed Brubaker and Marc Andreyko as they fill in some major gaps in our knowledge about these two heroes.

I'm delighted to see Chris Samnee tackling the art is this series. He was terrific on the sadly short-lived Thor The Mighty Avenger, and his work is even better here. His layouts are fresh and full of energy, his art and characters are expressive (lots of emotions to depict in this story), and his style is unique - original and different, he's carving his own path here, and it's a real delight.

The story is just starting to unfold, but so far, I'm very impressed. This comic is a more-than-worthy companion to the film, and a great jumping-on point for any new reader.

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5. Hellboy: The Fury #3

This is the kind of comic that makes my job a real challenge.

That's because of my "No Spoilers" policy - I do my best not to give away anything that happens in a comic that might spoil your reading experience. (You know, like Marvel does when they give the news media a copy of the panel where Ultimate Spider-Man dies two days before the comic is released. Not that I'm bitter.)

This series, and several connected mini-series before it, all written by Mike Mignola, have been building to a big confrontation, and in this issue it happens. In spades.

Hellboy takes part in the most brutal fight of his career - and the events that spill out of it are frankly shocking and unexpected.

But I can't tell you about them, because that would ruin the story. So all I can say is, you really should be buying this comic. It tells a powerful story of horror and adventure with serious consequences.

The art is outstanding as well. Duncan Fegredo isn't Mignola, but he works in the same neighborhood, with a similar style and a great affinity for horror and brutal action scenes.

I can't talk any more about it - I'll give something away! Go read it now!

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4. John Byrne’s Next Men #9

The final issue of this nine-issue story arc for the John Byrne's Next Men manages the difficult task of wrapping up a time travel story that, in lesser hands, would have been a confused mess.

Instead, it's a smart, clearly-told adventure that plays fair with the reader while offering up lots of surprises, interesting characters and clever twists.

Having suffered through a number of traumatic events - including developing super-powers, being tortured, assaulted and controlled (to name a few) - the surviving members of the Next Men may have found a way to alter their destiny, thanks to the time-traveling technology at their disposal.

But... (there’s always a big "but," as the old joke says) the solution may mean the destruction of the team.

As always Byrne crafts a sharply detailed story (although Jazz gets to be a bit annoying here, her reactions are true to the character), and the art is fantastic, running the range from intimate moments to world-changing events.

I wouldn't recommend this issue to a new reader (wait for the collection), but this is a rewarding wrap-up for longtime readers, and paves the way for the next (and possibly final) Next Men story.

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3. King Conan #4

The issue wraps up a terrific run on the Conan title by writer Tim Truman and artist Tomas Giorello, and I am truly sad to see it end.

As a fan of Conan dating back to the original Lancer paperbacks, I've seen lots of terrific work on the Cimmerian's adventures - and lots of less-than-stellar work, too - and this ranks right up there among the best.

That's because it combines excellent writing with outstanding artwork. Truman knows when to stick with Howard's prose and when to give it a different spin for the comics medium. I mean no disrespect to Roy Thomas or Kurt Busiek, both of whom have done great work on Conan, but Truman may be the best yet.

And Giorello's art is fantastic, especially as teamed with Jose Villarrubia's colors. Each panel is lush, powerful and raw. Conan seems a force of nature, and the battle sequences are amazing.

Here they wrap up their four-issue adaptation of Robert E. Howard's story The Scarlet Citadel, and it's one of his best, with sinister plots, dungeons filled with monsters that would give H. P. Lovecraft nightmares, and lots of action on the battlefield.

Truly impressive work - highly recommended!

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2. Secret Avengers #18

Do remember the work Warren Ellis did on Planetary, as a small group of operatives tackled some amazing "Fringe Science" threats to the universe?

Well, he's doing it again in the pages of Secret Avengers.

The last three issues have each been "done-in-one" adventures wherein a small group of heroes, led by Steve Rogers (in his Super Soldier guise), have tackled some amazing threats to our world.

Each one has been intelligent, cutting-edge and extremely entertaining.

This time around he uses one of my favorite characters, Shang-Chi, to great effect, as the team invades a space station (of sorts) where guns can't be used. Sharon Carter also gets a chance to shine here.

The art is outstanding, as David Aja and Raul Allen create an environment that almost hurts to look at, as the laws of physics bend. The action is well-staged and brutal in its execution, and it's great to see Shang-Chi going all "Bruce Lee" on the bad guys (though it's a bit graphic in places).

Oh, and speaking of Planetary, the cover by the artist of that series, John Cassaday, is amazing.

The comic is smart, fast and sharp as can be.

Highly recommended!

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1. Fantastic Four #600

Give Marvel credit for not holding back on this momentous issue, as the Fantastic Four celebrate their 50th anniversary with a 100-page blowout.

I'm delighted that I managed to read this before any of the surprises were spoiled (the advantage of being away from my computer for a day or so), and I'll do my best not to spoil anything for you.

Writer Jonathan Hickman has been building an epic storyline here, including: several evil alternate Reed Richards; the young members of the Future Foundation; the death of the Human Torch; the threat of Annihilus in the Negative Zone; The Inhumans from five galaxies; the attacking alien Kree Empire; and a gathering of almost all Earth's heroes. Whew!

It's a big canvas, and this issue covers a lot of ground, with massive battles, shocking revelations and hints of more to come.

Even with 100 pages, the story doesn't wrap up in this issue - it's going to take several more to get all this ground covered. But if you're looking for an intelligent, entertaining, plays-fair-with-the-reader story about a great group of characters, this is your title.

It almost feels like a classic Marvel title from the '60s, as it balances action, story, humor and characterization, keeps it all moving at top speed but never loses the reader. But it does all that with a modern, cutting-edge take on the series.

It's impressive that, despite everything that's going on in this issue, I didn't need a recap to remind me of where we were - it's all fresh in my mind from issue to issue. (Not every series out there can make this claim.)

The series is also blessed with great artists. It took a team to get this issue done, including Steve Epting, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ming Doyle, Lenil Francis Yu and an odd postnote by Farel Dalrymple. Excellent work all around!

Needless to say, big things happen here, and if you've ever been a fan of the FF, you should be reading this comic. It's a series that will challenge and delight you, and I (for one) can't wait to see where it goes from here.

It's an exciting time to be reading the Fantastic Four. They're the First Family of comics, and it's wonderful to see them back in a comic that is, once again, worthy of the title: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!

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So there you go – onward to 2012!

(And hopefully a few comics worthy of an “A+” grade!)

Happy New Year!

In Memory of Eduardo Barreto

2011-12-30T11:43:00.004-05:00

Our man Beau Smith has a touching tribute to artist Eduardo Barreto - you can read it on the Comics Bulletin website.

Barreto did an amazing amount of great work, both for comic books (like the Cobb series, pictured here) and for comic strips.

It's a sad loss of a talented and gracious man, and our prayers are with his family and friends.

Secret Avengers #20

2011-12-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

First of all, what a terrific cover by John Cassaday.

The interiors are outstanding, too - though the art style by Alex Maleev is completely different (in a good way). The interior art is much darker, more intense and stylized, including a section that mimics the art style of a certain comic strip heroine.

But Warren Ellis' story is the real star here. He keeps crafting these single-issue Secret Avenger gems, and this is another one to add to the list.

It features the most mysterious Avenger of them all - the Black Widow - as she tackles an assignment that includes time travel (this reads like a good Doctor Who episode), spycraft, playing fair with the story premise and some surprising deaths.

It's smart, well-crafted fun that will ask you to think a bit more than any other comic in recent memory - but trust me, it won't hurt a bit.

You know, I almost dropped this series just before Ellis took the reins. Am I glad I stayed!

Grade: A

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Uncanny X-Men #3

2011-12-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

So the point of this series is to make the "Uncanny" version of the X-Men into the most powerful - and most feared - super-team on the planet.

Sounds a lot like they're becoming super-villains, doesn't it?

Oh, they still perform the work of heroes - sorta. Saving the world, that sort of thing.

They face down Mr. Sinister, who has somehow taken control of the head of a Celestial (one of those godlike, incredibly powerful creatures that are on a level with Galactus). How did he do it? No idea.

Sinister has created an army of clones, giving the X-Men an endless supply of bad guys to kill. Yep, kill. They shoot clones, blast them, smash them - just as though this were a videogame. It's terribly out of character for heroes (at least in my book). Killing should be a last resort, not the first step.

Once they get that menace under control, they're faced with a bigger, more galactic problem - and their solution for that challenge is even more absurd.

Like the story, the artwork is a mixed bag, with three artists, thre inkers and three colorists working together. The final product isn't bad, it just feels fragmented.

This comic, written by Kieron Gillen, is trying to paint on a big canvas, but it forgets that, in order for the reader to root for the main characters, they have to have some personality, some likeability, some humor - all we see here are an army of powerhouses running over the opposition.

It's not that the X-Men can't play on the big cosmic stage - usually the tromping ground of the Fantastic Four or the Avengers - it's just that there has to be a balance between characterization and epic struggles.

So far, this "new" series is too one-sided. It's all pomp and no personality.

Grade: C+

One Last Comics Day for 2011!

2011-12-28T22:42:00.003-05:00

Here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

- Alpha Flight #7 (of 8) - If this is Canada, that must be Wolverine.

- Aquaman #4 - Here he opens a can of whoop-ass...

- Secret Avengers #20 - Just how old is the Black Widow, anyway?

- Captain America and Bucky #625 - Which Bucky is that?

- Captain America #5 - Wrapping up one story with seconds to spare...

- Captain America #6 - ...because they printed two issues this week!

- FF #13 - You should stay away from some neighborhoods.

- The Flash #4 - Faster than death?

- Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #4 (of 8) - Dorothy visits the craziest places.

- The Mighty Thor #9 - Fighting a monster that eats gods.

- The Ultimates #5 - Lots of behind-the-scenes plotting.

- Uncharted #2 (of 6) - Treasure hunting.

- Uncanny X-Men #3 - Silly stuff.

And that's it for another year!

The Classics - X-Factor #1

2011-12-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe that there was a time when the X-Men weren't all that popular.

Hey, don't look at me - I've been a fan since the early days of yellow-and-blue school uniforms, when you could count the members of the team on one hand.

But the original series never seemed to win the kind of audience that the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man enjoyed. After about seven years, the X-Men comic was cancelled.

It would return a few years later as the "New" X-Men, and not long after that, it became Marvel's top title. It was a position the comic would hold for decades, only losing it in recent years (thanks in large part to the influx of a dozen or so X-titles watering down the brand).

But at first, the expansion of the line was gradual, including titles like The New Mutants - and in 1986, someone realized that the original X-Men team - Cyclops, Marvel Girl, the Beast, Iceman and the Angel - was going (largely) unused.

So they decided to put the original band back together under a new name: X-Factor. (Insert Simon Cowell joke here.)

The problem was, the characters were all in messy places. Jean Grey was dead (shocking, I know). Cyclops had remarried and had a child with a woman who looked exactly like Jean. The Beast was a former Avenger and Defender. Angel and Iceman were also former Defenders - and that team's comic had just been cancelled.

The solution was just as messy: Jean was still alive because the Phoenix had placed her in stasis and duplicated her body - so it was the Phoenix who died in the classic X-Men story, not Jean. (It wasn't ideal, but it was a workable solution.)

Her rebirth, and the growing antagonism toward mutants, led the team to regroup. But in an attempt to give the team a twist, writer Bob Layton stumbled. The group presented itself as a Ghostbusters-type team, pretending to capture mutants while actually rescuing them.

It was an awkward plan, and it would eventually be straightened out when the team was "outed" as mutants.

But despite those problems, I enjoyed the issue. It was a strong early effort by artist Jackson Guice and it was great fun to see the original team back together again.

It was a rough start, but there were better days ahead.

Grade: B-

Lady Mechanika #3

2011-12-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

I have to admit that I don't know much about steampunk, except that I like the designs and the costumes that go with it.

That's been the main reason for picking up Lady Mechanika. It features stunning art by artist (and writer) Joe Benitez, with amazingly ornate costumes, designs and mechanical creations.

This issue splits its time between the title character's visit to a mysterious circus and more revelations about the "big bad" guy, and the visuals are arresting - Benitez has crafted an amazing and original world here.

But the writing doesn't hold up its end. The characters spend most of the issue standing around and talking - for a visual comic, it's very heavy on dialogue. Which would be fine if there was a compelling story unfolding here - but we don't really cover much ground in this issue.

And that's a problem because it's such a long wait between issues. The first issue in this series was printed a year ago, and the second issue five months ago. That's a lot to ask of a readership - with such a long gap, each issue needs to pack a lot in to hold attention - and so far, that just isn't happening.

Buy this comic for the art, certainly - but the story will try your patience.

Grade: B

Wonder Woman #4

2011-12-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's interesting to see how the mythological gods are portrayed in fiction. Sometimes they're heroic, sometimes omniscient or evil or virtually mortal.

For the "New 52" version of Wonder Woman, the answer is: they're a petty, venal bunch of powerful children.

Their motivations are somewhat mysterious, but they apparently are willing to kill any number of humans to find - or extract revenge on - their missing ruler, Zeus.

The issue mostly focuses on the gods and their surprising moves. Having received some shocking news last issue, Diana spends most of the issue in contemplation...

... and there's not much else to be said about this issue without giving away key parts of the story.

I'm enjoying this series so far - writer Brian Azzarello has created a fresh, horror-based take on these mythical characters, and he's charted a new course and a new character for Wonder Woman.

I really like Cliff Chaing's art - it's striking, intense, emotional and original - perfectly suited to this dark tale.

This is a comic the gods might not be crazy about - they aren't exactly shown in the best light - but the mortals out there should enjoy it.

Grade: A-

Fantastic Four #601

2011-12-25T01:01:00.003-05:00

As the Thing is obviously about to say on this cover, Merry Christmas, everyone!

It's the holiday (and post #1400), so I'm going to make this quick: Fantastic Four is a terrific comic wherein writer Jonathan Hickman is weaving a heck of a powerful tale.

Something happens in this book. Something wonderful.

Lots of great art by Steve Epting.

Big events on a galactic scale, as one would expect from this title.

Highly, highly recommended!

Grade: A

Batman #4

2011-12-24T18:25:00.003-05:00

(Sorry to be running late - I blame all the crazy holiday family fun!)

This comic continues to be a solid read, as Batman finds himself up against a Gotham City myth that is apparently based in truth.

This issue starts with a blazing escape from a death-trap, moves into a crime thriller as Bruce Wayne tries to unravel a mystery, touches on the relationship between Bruce and Dick Grayson, and launches Batman against the Court of Owls - an organization that may have been running Gotham for centuries.

In other words, this story touches on some of my favorite elements - Batman as escape artist, detective, crime-fighter and, yes, family man.

It's a great balancing act being managed by writer Scott Snyder, and so far it's been compelling.

I also like the art by Greg Capullo, whjo captures the dark look of Gotham, the action sequences, the personal connections with equal skill.

Just a terrific comic, and a good, fresh look at a classic character. Recommended!

Grade: A-

Wolverine and the X-Men #3

2011-12-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

I'm still torn on this series.

On the one hand, I enjoy the sense of fun and good humor that permeates Wolverine and the X-Men. The characters are fresh and fun and each one has his or her own voice.

I also like the idea of bringing back the Xavier School for Gifted Children (here renamed in honor of Jean Grey).

But it seems that every villain knows the group's new address, which means the students are in constant danger of attack. As this issue begins, the Hellfire Club is doing just that, using the living island Krakoa (which has somehow been placed under the school) to attack.

And that brings us to the part I don't like. The story by Jason Aaron is so over the top, so extreme that the school is (for all intents and purposes) destroyed utterly - yet everyone acts as though nothing has happened.

There just seems a complete disconnect from reality here (I know, it's a silly accusation to make about a comic book) - everything that happens is so zany that it's difficult to buy into.

I feel the same way about the art. I usually enjoy Chris Bachalo's work, and much of it here is excellent - creative, fresh and exciting. But there are some panels in there where I have no idea what's going on, and that disrupts the storytelling flow.

So I'm divided - I appreciate the effort and talent that went into this comic, but it doesn't feel like it's quite come together yet - but it's almost there.

Your mileage may vary.

Grade: B-

Justice League #4

2011-12-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

This issue of Justice League accomplishes a couple of important things: it finally brings the entire team together (or at least the original core of the group), and it marks another successful step in establishing Aquaman as a serious, intelligent, capable, don't-mess-with-this-guy kinda hero.

The first accomplishment we can be grateful for, since it's been more than four months since the title launched - but it's great to see the group together.

The second one I have mixed feelings about. I've been a fan of Aquaman since my earliest days reading comics, and have not enjoyed the fact that he's been made into the butt of jokes by lame comedians. But the solution employed here and in his own title is to make him brutal, angry and aggressive. Some of that is fine, but it goes over the line a bit here. He's awfully quick to employ what should be the final option.

But he does get to show his leadership skills, which are effective while the other heroes are still getting their bearings.

The story by Geoff Johns really kicks into gear here, as he has fun with some of the characterizations, and we finally meet the opposition - and it is quite formidable.

The art by Jim Lee is terrific, as always, with lots of big, hoo-hah events, great character designs and over-the-top action scenes.

After a slow start, this thing is picking up speed nicely.

Grade: A-

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Comics for Christmas!

2011-12-21T22:19:00.001-05:00

Here's what the elves brought to the local comics shop today (at least these are the ones that I bought):

- Avengers #20 - The war with Osborn escalates.

- Batman #4 - Taking on the Owls.

- Conan: Road of Kings #11 - Near the end of the road.

- Daredevil #7 - Fun in the snow.

- Fantastic Four #601 - Total war with the Kree.

- Fear Itself: The Fearless #5 (of 12) - What time is it?

- Invincible Iron Man #511 - Return of the rogue's gallery.

- John Carter: A Princess of Mars #4 (of 5) - Not wild about the art, but always a fan of the story.

- Justice League #4 - The team is assembled, so bring on the bad guy!

- Lady Mechanika #3 - A trip to the circus.

- Wolverine and the X-Men #3 - Tackling a living island.

- Wonder Woman #4 - Hell hath no fury...

- Uncanny X-Force #19 - The aftermath.

And that's it!

The Classics - Spider-Man Comics Weekly #80

2011-12-21T20:58:00.002-05:00

Don't be alarmed if you don't recognize the title of this series or the cover.

This is a comic book I picked up during travels abroad. Back in the summer of 1974 I visited relatives in Great Britain with my family (my grandmother was born there).

I was hoping I could track down some comics, but had no luck finding issues of Judge Dredd or any other British comics - but I did find some Marvel imports, including this issue of Spider-Man Comics Weekly.

It included black-and-white reprints of Marvel comics starring Spider-Man, Iron Man and Thor. Since it was a weekly title, they cut each issue reprinted in half - so you got 11 pages of a classic Stan Lee - John Romita Spidey adventure, 6 pages of an early Stan Lee - Don Heck Iron Man story from Tales of Suspense, and 12 pages from the second Thor Annual.

They're solid examples of '60s Marvel, but they suffer from poor printing quality and some heavy-handed use of gray tone to try to "liven up" the artwork (and make up for the lack of color, I suppose).

Not a bad package, considering it was only 7p - though I have no idea, at this late date, how much that was in U.S. funds. About 20 cents, maybe?

Despite finding so few comics (this was before the days of comic shops, of course), it was a wonderful trip to a beautiful country. But Marvel's comics reprint effort at the time seemed half-hearted at best.

Grade: C+

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Hawken #2

2011-12-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

Someone more clever than I will have to explain why horror and westerns fit together so well.

Perhaps it's because it was a raw period in the nation's history (at least as it's portrayed in popular fiction), where human life was cheap and atrocities were commonplace.

That's certainly the kind of story being spun here by writer Benjamin Truman, as the grizzled man named Hawken seeks revenge on a mysterious group that has vast, terrifying resources at its disposal.

I should mention that this isn't a comic for young readers - it's brutal, vulgar and grim as can be. It's also very entertaining, in the same way the best spaghetti westerns manage - by telling a no-holds-barred tale of a brutal time.

You'll have a tough time finding any heroes in this series - no angels here - but it is compelling. We also learn a bit more about the title character and the burden he carries (though there's still plenty of mystery there, too).

Once again, the art by Timothy Truman is fantastic. He has a unique style that's perfectly suited to this kind of tale.

Again, it's a story that's just for grownups - but if you enjoy a good revenge flick, this is your kind of comic.

Grade: A-

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Journey Into Mystery #632

2011-12-19T00:08:00.003-05:00

I would never have expected this title to stick around as long as it has.

It's not that Journey Into Mystery isn't a good comic - in fact, it's quite good. But a comic starring Thor's brother Loki? Go figure.

It succeeds because of excellent work by the creative team. Writer Kieron Gillen constantly takes the book in clever, unexpected directions.

During the Fear Itself event, we saw Loki working around the edges of the event, scheming to draw together some incredibly powerful forces and allies to play a crucial role in the event.

Now, in the aftermath of that series, we get the most unexpected story yet: a Christmas tale.

Yep, apparently the Norce Gods have decided to observe the holiday as part of an outreach to their mortal neighbors - and Loki finds himself receiving and giving some unusual (and often funny) presents.

It's the kind of series that you can pick up and read cold, but if you've been following along, you get even more out of the series. It's clever, well written and deals with some smart characters.

The art by Mitch Breitweiser (with colors by Bettie Breitweiser) is quite good - often comical, sometimes deadly serious - it has a painted look and it's reminiscent of the excellent Chris Samnee.

The question is, of course - is this newer, younger version of Loki still evil - or can he find redemption? What mischief can he conjure up to make life in Asgard interesting? And is the "old" Loki really gone?

It's entertaining to watch these scenarios play out, especially in a comic loaded with smart, conniving characters. Lots of fun and highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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The New Avengers #19

2011-12-18T00:33:00.004-05:00

I like that cover, but that scene doesn't happen anywhere in this comic book.

That's because it's an issue that spends its time setting up... next issue.

As the issue begins, the New Avengers have somehow survived the massive explosion that ended last issue. I say "somehow" because no effort is made to explain it - they just dig themselves out of the rubble of Tony Stark's lab as though that sort of thing happens all the time.

We get some side stories with Daredevil, the newest member of the team. We get some insight into the new Dark Avengers lineup. We learn about a possible spy, although I trust there are some twists ahead for that plotline - because if not, it's all way too obvious.

We also get some of the patented fun patter between the members of the New Avengers - a virtual trademark for a Brian Bendis-written story. We get the usual terrific art by Mike Deodato.

And that's about it. No real action, just pouring the foundation for future stories.

Bendis recently announced he's planning to retire from the Avengers after he wraps up the ongoing stories - and as much as I've enjoyed his run on the various Avengers titles, you almost get the sense that he's running out of gas here.

He's gone back to the well again to bring back the Dark Avengers, a group I wasn't that crazy about the first time around. Maybe it's time for a fresh approach.

Grade: B-

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Batgirl #4

2011-12-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Four months in and 12 bucks later, we're finally seeing Batgirl move forward - at least a bit.

She's been struggling with a villain called The Mirror, who has decided to punish the people in Gotham City who have enjoyed a miracle of some kind. The Mirror's family died in a car accident, and he miraculously survived - so he's out to "correct God's mistakes."

It's a pretty thin premise for a bad guy, and writer Gail Simone obviously uses him to examine Barbara Gordon's own guilt over her amazing recovery from the shooting that left her in a wheelchair.

We still don't know the whole story behind her recovery, but we get a few more clues here.

We get a reasonably satisfying conclusion to the opening storyline in this issue, but it feels like this could have easily been wrapped up in two issues max - the rest feels like filler.

The art is quite good, from the outstanding Adam Hughes cover to the solid interior art by Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes.

But we still don't know much about Batgirl or her alter ego - why she's driven to fight crime, why she risks another crippling injury, and why she's forced to live in humble surroundings when she's an ally of billionaire Bruce Wayne.

There's a cute plot development at the end, but I don't think it's enough to keep me coming back for more.

This comic has a lot of potential, but it's apparently going to take more patience than I have to see it through.

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Force #18

2011-12-16T00:09:00.000-05:00

If it's polybagged, you know it has to be great, right?

Well, that's probably pushing it a bit - but this issue of Uncanny X-Force does wrap up the long-running "Dark Angel Saga," and sets up some future tales in the bargain.

Summing up writer Rick Remender's story would take a while, so here's the thumbnail version. Apocalypse is (apparently) dead, so he's been replaced by the Angel, who has become the murderous (and heavily armored) Archangel. Using alternate realities, the bad guys have secured a Life Seed, which will allow them to scour the Earth of all life - unless X-Force can stop them.

Whew! It's a gnarly story, loaded with lots of violence, brutal battles, apparent deaths and last-minute heroics. There's a love story mixed in there, too, as Psylocke struggles to save the man she loves - if he still exists.

I suspect the whole story will read better in a collection - it definitely wanders all over the place (or at least covers a lot of ground), and it's tough to keep the characters straight sometimes - but it's a hard-hitting, action-packed comic that keeps the reader guessing most of the way.

The artwork by Jerome Opena and Esad Ribic is quite good, with lots of crazy, over-the-top sequences and a sweet sequence illustrating a long-lasting love story.

If you don't mind the grim and gritty stories, the adventures of the X-Force are actually some of the best X-Men-based comics out there. Recommended!

Grade: A-

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Avengers: X-Sanction #1 (of 4)

2011-12-15T00:05:00.001-05:00

Gah.

Look, I like the occasional mindless action comic, but the creative team has to meet me somewhere in the middle there. Make it fun, make it ominous - something, anything!

This mini-series is presumably something of a run-up to the upcoming Avengers vs. X-Men event that Marvel is prepping. But Avengers: X-Sanction checked its brain at the door.

The story by Jeph Loeb starts with the Avengers tackling some escaped criminals. Ah, but unknown to them, they're being stalked by Cable, who is attacking the Avengers for mysterious reasons.

Cable's one of those characters that some readers love and others despise. I've never cared much one way or the other - he's always struck me as a one-note, grim and gritty character. The soldier who's always at war.

He's looking surprisingly healthy, since he was apparently killed in a recent X-Men story - but no good comic book character will let death keep them out of the spotlight.

The art is by Ed McGuinness, who specializes in big events and big characters - and he provides both quite nicely here.

But the story is just... well, let's say it's very shallow. It uses the thinnest of excuses to have everybody fight - and it ends on a terribly overused cliffhanger trick.

The art is quite good, but that's the only reason to pick this one up. There's not an original thought to be found here.

Grade: C

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It's Comic Book Day!

2011-12-14T21:21:00.001-05:00

Here's what I picked up today:

- New Avengers #19 - Those pesky Dark Avengers are back.

- Avengers: X-Sanction #1 (of 4) - Giving it a chance.

- Batgirl #4 - Final fight with the Mirror.

- Green Lantern #4 - Is Hal really dead?

- Hawken #2 - Great art and one mean western hero.

- Journey into Mystery #632 - Christmas in Asgard?

- Kull: The Cat and the Skull #3 (of 4) - Secrets revealed!

- Resurrection Man #4 - Royal rumble!

- SHIELD #4 - To the end of time - which may not be as far away as you think.

- The Shade #3 (of 12) - Battle in Australia!

- Uncanny X-Force #18 - Must be important - it's bagged!

And that's it!

The Classics - The Spirit #1 (1974)

2011-12-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

Who the heck is The Spirit?

That's what young Chuck would have been asking when seeing this magazine in 1974 - if he hadn't read Jim Steranko's two-volume History of Comics. A significant chapter in that fine work sings the praises of The Spirit - a comic book character I had never seen or heard of before.

The Spirit is actually police detective Denny Colt. He is (apparently) killed while foiling the plot of an evil scientist, but somehow he returns to life, dons a small mask and dedicates his energies to fighting crime as The Spirit.

Perhaps my ignorance was because The Spirit's last adventure was printed in 1952, almost a decade before I started reading comics. Perhaps it's because no local newspaper (as near as I can tell) ever carried The Spirit section, the comic that was included in Sunday newspapers around the country.

Thankfully, Steranko had tipped me off, so I eagerly grabbed this magazine published by Warren - an odd addition to its line of horror comic magazines.

Am I glad I did! The magazine includes a lushly-colored section in the center, and a total of eight stories starring the Spirit.

The star of the story isn't actually The Spirit - it's the ingenious stories by creator / writer / artist Will Eisner, who applied cinematic principles, created new styles and art forms for the comics page, wrote incredibly clever stories, loaded them with terrific characters, set it all up so the format could handle any kind of tale - action, tragedy, comedy, romance - and mixed it all together to create an amazing body of work.

These magazines are probably a bit tough to track down these days (though certainly not impossible), but thankfully these stories are all available through DC's Archive reprint series.

Even the earliest stories are a lot of fun, but it's the post-World War II tales that really pushed the envelope and demonstrated the potential of comics.

I don't think it's humanly possible for me to give this work a high enough recommendation. It changed comics forever, and (assuming you can forgive the depiction of The Spirit's sidekick Ebony, a clever black kid regrettably drawn in the minstrel style that was popular when the strip started) it's a must-read for all comics fans.

Grade: A+

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Static Shock #4

2011-12-13T00:01:00.001-05:00

Look, I'm tired of saying it (since I've said it several times before) - Static Shock is a great idea for a comic, and I'm glad to see it back, since I was a big fan of the original run of the series.

Sadly, I'm not a fan of this "new 52" version of the series at all.

That's because I don't like any of the changes they've made to the character and his backstory. Virgil Hawkins now lives in New York instead of Dakota. Instead of focusing on his life as a student, and his relations with his friends and his family, we find he's been set up as a superhero with a secret hideout and special gadgets, courtesy of the Tony Stark-like Hardware.

In each issue, he's gone up against a different bizarre villain who fights Static as part of some kind of gang war. Static never wins these fights - the bad guy always manages to escape.

We see some flashes of the old Virgil in there - he's an intelligent young man who cracks wise and thinks fast - but four issues in and we don't know any more about the gang war than we did at the beginning of the first issue.

The art is fresh and original, but the layouts are sometimes confusing.

I want to support this comic - the lead character has tremendous, Spider-Man-sized potential. But I can't keep supporting a comic I don't enjoy.

So this one is getting dropped from my pull list - at least for this version of the character. Sorry.

Grade: C

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Fear Itself: The Fearless #4 (of 12)

2011-12-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

This comic has apparently been assembled by committee, with three plotters, a scripter (Cullen Bunn), two pencilers (Paul Pelletier and Mark Bagley), two inkers and a pile of editors.

Given that, you'd expect Fear Itself: The Fearless to be a mess - but it's actually OK. Not outstanding, but OK.

The story has the Valkyrie traveling the world to gather up the mystic hammers left behind by the Serpent after the Fear Itself mini-series.

But evil forces are also on the hunt - most especially the Red Skull's daughter Sin and her second-in-command, Crossbones.

The Earth's heroes are also trying to stop Valkyrie, and for mysterious reasons she refuses to reveal why she's tracking down the hammers. That way, of course, we can have more sequences of Valkyrie fighting her former friends. It's the Marvel way.

It's nice to see the Valkyrie getting some time in the spotlight, but the story seems a bit too predictable. Should I be shocked when Sin manages to gather the hammers together for whatever evil purpose she has in mind, only to be defeated at the last moment by Earth's heroes? Or am I being too cynical?

I enjoy the art, the covers by Art Adams are terrific, and the dialogue is fine, but the series just seems to be taking the long way around to get to the point.

Hopefully I'm wrong - but I fear the story is going to fail because there have been too few surprises.

Grade: B-

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Irredeemable #32

2011-12-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

Coming up on three years into Irredeemable and the story of the Plutonian (a superman who suddenly becomes evil), we finally get an origin story.

The mystery is revealed as he faces "punishment" from two gigantic aliens who claim to be the parents of the Plutonian.

It's an interesting story with quite a few twists and turns - but of course, I don't want to give anything away.

The issue is advertised on the inside cover as the first part of a battle between the star of this comic and Max Damage, the star of Incorruptible - but the only place you'll see Max is on the cover.

The art is provided by Diego Barreto, and it's solid work - professional and clear.

I'm impressed that writer Mark Waid has been able to keep the "good guys goes bad" story moving so well, and it shows no sign of slowing down at this point.

Even though it's tough to talk about when spoilers are a no-no!

Grade: B+

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OMAC #4

2011-12-10T00:02:00.003-05:00

I was going to start this review by wondering if I was the only comics reader who liked OMAC - but after this issue I'm not even sure about me.

It's a series that has been getting middling reviews, little notice from the fans and (reportedly) low sales.

I enjoyed the first three issues for their general action-packed, leave-your-brain-at-the-door attitude - but with the fourth issue, that's wearing a bit thin.

The idea is that the satellite computer / sentient creature known as Brother Eye can somehow transform humble Kevin Kho into the hulking, blue-skinned fighting machine known as OMAC (which now stands for One-Machine Attack Construct). (I prefer the original One Man Army Corps, but that's just me.)

As we see in this issue, Kho is a virtual slave to Brother Eye, and even when he finds a way to fight back against the machine's control, he winds up in even deeper trouble.

But Dan Didio's story just keeps hitting the same notes, as Kho encounters a powerful menace, is transformed and, well, OMAC smashes! After four issues of the same plot, my interest is fading fast.

I'm a fan of Keith Giffen's art, but even it looks a bit "off" with this issue. Could he be adjusting his style to make it more mainstream? That would be a real shame - I loved his work on the first three issues.

So hopefully we'll see some expansion of the characters and the plot in the near future. If not, don't expect OMAC to hang around much longer.

Grade: B-

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Action Comics #4

2011-12-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Long-time fans (like yours truly) will enjoy the bits of business writer Grant Morrison has loaded into these "untold early" adventures of Superman in Action Comics.

This issue owes quite a bit to the old Fleisher cartoon "The Mechanical Monsters," wherein the Man of Steel struggled to fight an army of robots (if you've never seen it, it's well worth tracking down - some amazing animation there).

The situation is similar in this issue, which features several familiar faces, including Lex Luthor, who's early in his evil mastermind stage of life, a certain alien opponent appears (sort of), and Steel makes his "first" appearance.

It's all well drawn by Rags Morales - there's a lot going on here, and Morales keeps the action flowing (or exploding, as the case may be) while keeping the characters clear.

I was enjoying this issue - and then we got to the final page, and I got irritated.

That's because of the blurb at the end of the story - it reads, "To Be Continued in Action Comics #7."

So we apparently have two fill-in issues before this cliffhanger is resolved? What the heck, DC?

Perhaps they have a good reason, perhaps the fill-in issues are necessary - but it smells like the creative team is struggling with deadlines.

If so, it's a shaky start to what has been up to now my favorite of the "New 52" books.

Grade: A-

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The Defenders #1

2011-12-08T00:01:00.001-05:00

I've always had a warm spot in my fannish heart for The Defenders, although the book has rarely been as popular with the buying public.

The team is back again for another run at success, with a bit of a twist.

An original team member - the Hulk - shows up at Dr. Strange's home, asks for help dealing with the the dark, world-destroying side of his personality that has somehow broken free (no idea how), and then leaves.

Strange starts putting the band back together, tracking down Namor the Sub-Mariner (who seems to be everywhere these days), the Silver Surfer (ditto), the Red She-Hulk and Iron Fist (who seems the odd man out here).

Aside from a cliffhanger ending that brings back a character only geezers like me will remember, there's not a lot in the way of action here - but it's so good to see these characters in the spotlight, I can forgive the mechanics required by the first issue.

The art is provided by the Dodsons - Terry and Rachel - and as always, it's quite good, with powerful heroic figures, beautiful renditions of the characters, detailed backgrounds and lots of expressive emotions on display.

It's writer Matt Fraction who has a big job on his hands, as he must find a way to bring together this mismatched (though powerful) group of heroes and make them work together. So far, he's off to a bit of a rough start.

The story is an odd mix of horror and superheroics, but it's compelling enugh to bring me back for the next issue to see how it all works together.

Oh, and if you want to get a special fanboy jolt, pay close attention to the comic Iron Fist is reading on page 16. Now that's how you get some attention. Heh!

Grade: B+

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Comic Book Day!

2011-12-07T23:54:00.002-05:00

Here's what I picked up today:

- Action Comics #4 - An alien attack, and Steel's first appearance!

- Breed III #6 - The final battle (again).

- The Defenders #1 - Getting the band back together.

- Fear Itself: The Fearless #4 (of 12) - Namor gets involved in the hammer hunt.

- Irredeemable #32 - Meeting mom and dad.

- OMAC #4 - OMAC Smash!

- Static Shock #4 - Who is Gulillotina?

- Swamp Thing #4 - Death comes calling.

And that's it!

The Classics - Warrior #1

2011-12-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

There are comic books in my collection that stick out in my mind - I could tell you exactly where I bought them: which newsstand I bought Thor #188; the drugstore where I found New Gods #2; the convention where I picked up Aztek #10.

But there are other comics I own that I don't remember buying - or at least I can't remember where they came from.

This issue of the British magazine Warrior is a good example. Published in 1982, it's a black-and-white anthology comic that made history - but where did I get it? I have several issues of Warrior in my collection. Did I buy them from the (excellent) mail order service Westfield Comics? Did I pick it up at a convention, or my local comics shop? Is this a reprint of the original series, or from the original run? No idea.

But I'm glad to have them! The issue includes the historic first (re)appearance of Marvelman by Alan Moore and Garry Leach. (When Eclipse brought the comic over to America, they changed the title to Miracleman to avoid clashes with Marvel.) It's an outstanding short story, and brings the comical hero over to the "real" world.

The other landmark is the first chapter in the V for Vendetta series by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. The story was adapted into a film and the mask designed by Lloyd has shown up recently as a symbol in the "Occupy Wall Street" movement.

Those are the standouts, but the book is loaded with great stories and art. Pedro Henry and Steve Dillon create another old favorite, Laser Eraser & Pressbutton, about a murderous duo - a beautiful woman and a strange cyborg.

There are additional stories by Steve Moore and Steve Parkhouse, and art by Parkhouse, Dave Gibbons and John Bolton - a killer lineup!

Simply an outstanding magazine, and it's sad that (as far as I know), only the V for Vendetta story is easily available. You might be able to track down the Laser Eraser stories that were reprinted by Eclipse (and others).

The Marvelman stories may not be long in coming - Marvel Comics finally secured the rights from Mick Anglo, the creator of the character. The stories are dark, intense and well worth tracking down (although the eBay prices are extreme).

Or you could check your collection - maybe Warrior will show up by surprise in your collection, too.

Grade: A

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Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #3 (of 8)

2011-12-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

As much as I enjoy L. Frank Baum's Oz books, I have to admit that the one being adapted here, Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, is not one of my favorites.

But even Baum's lesser efforts are still a heck of a lot of fun!

Continuing the tradition of Dorothy Gale traveling to Oz by means of a disaster, she's visiting relatives in California when an earthquake strikes, and she falls deep underground, along with her cousin Zeb, his horse Jim and Dorothy's cat Eureka.

They find themselves in a mysterious underground world where cities are made of glass and the people are actually plants. They're joined by the Wizard, whose hot air balloon was also swallowed up during the quake.

It's all a bit silly, but what can you expect? It's also quite charming, even as the group fights to escape from the surprisingly inhospitable plant people.

Eric Shanower adapts the story, and his script captures the characters perfectly.

I could rave on and on about Skottie Young's wonderful art (which has almost Seussian overtones here), but I adore his depiction of Eureka the kitten, which is all eyes and mouth and attitude.

As the characters go from one adventure to another, what a delight to follow along through new eyes. Shanower and Young are simply doing tremendous work on this series - I can only hope that they'll manage to do all the Baum adaptations!

Grade: A

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Spaceman #2 (of 9)

2011-12-05T00:01:00.001-05:00

This Vertigo comic is one of the oddest science fiction comics around.

Set in a dark, twisted future, Spaceman focuses on Orson, a man whose body was altered to allow him to function on a mission to Mars.

But when the mission ends, he returns to a world that has no place for him - so he spends his time fishing for materials in the ocean.

His latest excursion unexpectedly lands him in the middle of a kidnapping scheme. It's an odd tale that jumps back and forth from his memories of his dangerous mission to Mars to his "present day" life on Earth.

Written by Brian Azzarello, the story offers some interesting commentary on today's world - and I really like the unique style of language he's invented for this series.

I like Eduardo Risso's art - it has a Kubert feel to it, but it's very naturalistic and engaging.

This is a comic for adults - some rough language and violence here - but so far, I'm enjoying it. It's a challenge to sort out the story, but all the more rewarding for it.

Grade: B+

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The Ultimates #4

2011-12-04T00:01:00.001-05:00

One of the advantages to working in Marvel's Ultimate universe is that almost anything can happen.

The Ultimates are a case in point, as a mysterious, super-scientific city has appeared in Europe and has grown to cover a large part of the continent.

The city is populated by a race of humans that are far advanced technologically, and ravenous in their appetite for information - they devastate Asgard and Europe's heroes almost effortlessly.

The issues leading up to this one have detailed the discovery of the city and the attempts by The Ultimates and SHIELD to defeat the threat - attempts that have failed completely.

It's a well-crafted story by Jonathan Hickman, and it's going to be interesting to see how it's resolved. Certainly I can think of few times when the good guys were so badly outmatched.

The last page reveals the mastermind behind the plot, but if it was supposed to be a surprise, it's news to me. The identity was pretty obvious to anyone who's been paying attention to the Ultimate universe.

The artwork is by Esad Ribic, and it's quite good - from the futuristic cityscapes to an amazing tableau of heroes. It's a unique style, very expressive and focused on telling the story.

I've found my interest in the Ultimate line waning lately. The series was intended (I thought) to be a fresh approach to the Marvel characters, but instead it became more like fan fiction - "Hey, wouldn't it be cool to kill all these characters?"

But this series, with its firm setting in science fiction, has me hooked. Here's hoping for more of the same!

Grade: A-

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Daredevil #6

2011-12-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

I really like this comic book.

Daredevil works for me because writer Mark Waid "gets" it. DD is a hero who is equally at home fighting with his fists and with his quick wits - and he gets to do both here.

Trying to protect a man and a kid who have been caught in the middle of a turf war between some powerful criminal factions, DD finds himself fighting a thug named Bruiser who seems like a common hood, but is actually much more.

And even if Daredevil can figure out a way to beat this fighting machine, he then has to deal with some terror organizations. How can one man do all that?

Well, I'm not giving it away - but it's a clever solution, and as I've mentioned before, I love reading the adventures of smart heroes (they're sadly in short supply these days).

Complementing the sharp story is some outstanding artwork by Marcos Martin and Muntsa Vicente. Their art has a nice, natural feel to it, but it's expertly crafted and tells the story with great flair and economy.

It's great to read a Daredevil comic that features the character I first enjoyed following in the '60s - a smart, athletic and light-hearted hero. He's what most of us would like to be - a man without fear.

A delight to read!

Grade: A-

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Uncharted #1

2011-12-02T00:01:00.001-05:00

I should confess up front that I'm a huge fan of the Uncharted video games (at least the second and third ones - I haven't played the first one).

It centers around the modern day Indiana Jones-ish adventures of Nathan Drake, an explorer who sets out to uncover long-hidden secrets and treasures, and finds himself fighting for his life in cliffhanger-worthy situations (fighting to escape a sinking ocean liner, trapped in a burning castle, battling monsters in the Himalayas - that sort of thing).

So it seems like a reasonable leap to go from videogames to the comics, and this first issue does a fair job of keeping the feel of the game.

Here we have Nathan recovering some artifacts, including the diary of an explorer that may just lead to a vast treasure. But first he'll have to make his way past an army of guards and sneak into an ancient castle.

Written by Joshua Williamson, the first issue spends almost all its time setting up the mystery and the treasure, so there's not much space for the usual over-the-top action sequences (though we get teasers of such things coming up).

The art by Sergio Sandoval and Pol Gas is solid - it captures the look of the characters and some of the design elements of the game, though it's (obviously) a differet style from the game's CGI.

So, a reasonable start, but it'll take another issue or two to see if they've really captured the humor and action of the game.

Since I just finished the third game, this will have to take up the slack. Here's hoping that it lives up to the promise!

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Men #2

2011-12-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

So far I find I'm not enjoying the new version of the Uncanny X-Men ("new" in that they rebooted the numbering with a new #1).

That's because the first menace the new team faces is way over the top. Mr. Sinister (a villain I admit I never cared for) has turned up, somehow taken control of the Sleeping Celestial in San Francisco, and created innumerable clones of himself.

We start this issue with the X-Men casually killing those clones as they try to attack Sinister. The story somehow manages to combine the silly with a huge cosmic threat, and ends up just feeling empty.

The artwork is by committee, with three pencilers, four inkers and four colorists. It's not bad, but it all feels flat and rushed.

Maybe I'm just looking for an excuse to drop this book, but there's nothing here that indicates it's a "must buy" comic. I hope to hang on to the end of the storyline, but even that's not a sure thing.

It's a shame - the X-Men have been a favorite for a long time - but the line has been expanded and expanded into an army of titles and characters beyond counting.

That makes it difficult to care about any of them, and it's almost impossible to follow all the books, even if I wanted to. It feels like a balloon that's about to pop.

Grade: C+

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It's New Comics Day!

2011-11-30T22:32:00.002-05:00

A light week, since it's the fifth week of the month. I picked up:

- Daredevil #6 - Really enjoying this book.

- FF #12 - Continuing alongside the returned Fantastic Four comic.

- Herc #10 - The last issue, sadly - but this series hasn't lived up to the previous incarnation.

- Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz #3 (of 8) - Terrific series.

- Spaceman #2 - Giving it a shot.

- Ultimates #4 - Strangly fascinating.

- Uncharted #1 - Based on the videogame series that I adore.

- Uncanny X-Men #2 - Hanging by a thread.

And that's it!

The Classics - Savage Tales #1

2011-11-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

I always smile when I look at this comic magazine.

Savage Tales was Marvel's first attempt at the black-and-white "adult" magazine format that Warren Publishing had mastered.

It was published in 1971, and from the grisly John Buscema cover (who knew he could paint?) to the more adult content, it was obvious this was something different.

It makes me smile because I so clearly remember the day I found the issue at the newsstand. I wanted to buy it, but I was nervous.

I was only 15 years old, and there on the cover was a huge warning that the magazine was "Rated M for the Mature Reader!"

At the time, stores were strict about such things. Kids couldn't buy pornographic materials (which were available behind the "adults only" curtain), we couldn't get into "R" rated movies - and I was certain the little old lady behind the counter was going to refuse to sell the magazine to me.

I finally worked up the courage to give it a try, hoping no one I knew happened by as I took my purchase up to the counter. I stacked several comics on top of the magazine, covering the giant "M" while leaving the price (50 cents) clearly visible.

The clerk picked up each comic, ringing up the cost, and finished by placing this magazine on top of the stack, with that huge "M" blaring away. She told me the total, took my money, placed the magazines in a bag and I walked out, amazed I had "gotten away with it."

What I had was a pretty amazing book, including: a Conan story ("The Frost Giant's Daughter") by Roy Thomas and Barry Smith; a Femizons story by Stan Lee and John Romita; the first Man-Thing story by Gerry Conway, Roy Thomas and Gray Morrow; a "Black Brother" story by Sergius O'Shaghnessy (Dennis O'Neil) and Gene Colan; and a Ka-Zar story by Stan and John Buscema.

The artists went all-out on this effort, turning in some of their best work to date. Morrow's work on Man-Thing may be the best work of his career - simply stunning. Smith was really starting to bloom as an artist, Romita seemed to relish the opportunities of working in black and white, and Colan and Buscema also seemed to enjoy the new format.

The stories aren't quite as impressive, mostly because of the limited page count. The Conan story is the only standout, although the Man-Thing story is a solid bit of work, and Stan has some fun with the Ka-Zar and the Femizons story. The "Black Brother" story is the only one that doesn't really fit - it's more of a sleazy political tale, here for its mature story and surprising twists, but it feels like an accident - a story that was intended for a different magazine.

Of course, the magazine was only "adult" by comparison to the regular comics - there was no nudity and most of the violence happened off-camera.

Savage Tales led the way for Marvel's magazine line, which included the long-running Savage Sword of Conan, Deadly Hands of Kung Fu, Doc Savage and assorted monster mags.

Some were a great success (those Doc Savage mags are vastly underrated), and some were just OK, but they were a (mostly) welcome addition to the Marvel lineup.

And thank goodness, the later issues didn't carry a rating, so I never had to worry about having to deal with a puritanical clerk!

Grade: B+

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The Flash #3

2011-11-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

The ideal comic is, of course, one that features a great story illustrated by great art.

Some books have neither, and some have either strong story or art - but not both.

The Flash is a case in point.

Artist Francis Manapul is doing some great artwork on this title, with creative depictions of the Flash's super-speed, clever and artfully executed panel layouts, some nice artistic small touches (with little icons and emblems scattered through the art), Eisneresque uses of background features to build story titles, and lots of other clever bits of business.

But as much as I like the art, I just can't work up much enthusiasm about the story by Manapul and Brian Buccellato. We're getting some glimpses into Barry Allen's personal and work life - but not much more than glimpses so far, though he's apparently not married to Iris West anymore (the "New 52" played hob with weddings).

The story, as best as I can tell, focuses on an old friend of Barry's who has somehow been cloned - and his army of duplicates are tracking him down for mysterious reasons.

It's not a bad challenge for the Flash to face - but it's not exactly a memorable opponent, either.

There are sparks of clever ideas scatttered among the excellent artwork, but so far, this title has been a disappointment.

If all you care about is the art, this is the comic for you. But the story's not holding up its end of the deal.

Grade: B

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The Mighty Thor #8

2011-11-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

In an odd turn of events, The Mighty Thor has been replaced - in his own comic - by a character named Tanarus.

This all springs out of the tragic conclusion to the Fear Itself mini-series, as (by means not yet revealed) Tanarus has completely replaced Thor in our "reality" - so from his earliest appearances, Thor's place has been taken by Tanarus.

It's all part of a complete change in the status quo. Odin has left Asgard in the control of a trio of goddesses - Freyja, Gaea and Idunn.

They're also rebuilding Asgard from where it fell on Earth (in Oklahoma) and adjusting to some surprising new inhabitants.

As always, the art by Pasqual Ferry is outstanding, from the glimpses of the new Asgard to the depiction of characters both godly and monstrous.

It's an interesting new direction for this book, with lots of surprises and unexpected events. The twist at the end suggests that this story is just kicking into gear.

Very promising so far.

Grade: A-

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Secret Avengers #19

2011-11-27T00:01:00.001-05:00

It would be easy to think that the "done-in-one-issue" comic books were a thing of the past.

In the modern era, creative teams seem focused on the four- to eight-issue story arcs, which can then be collected into a trade paperback. This often leads to stories that are padded or otherwise dragged out to fill the alloted length.

Thankfully, writer Warren Ellis is having none of that in his work on Secret Avengers.

Each story is contained in a single issue, and takes Steve Rogers and his fellow "Secret" Avengers all over the world, tackling strange menaces that jump from the super-scientific to the supernatural without blinking.

This issue brings a quartet to the eastern European country of Symkaria (which borders Transylvania and Latveria - how cool is that?), where they're investigating an insidious drug trade which is much more than it seems.

Working with Steve are Sharon Carter, the Black Widow and Moon Knight. It's a group that is underpowered but never outmatched.

The story is fast-paced, smart and economical - there's no wasted space here.

The art by Michael Lark, Stefano Gaudiano and Brian Thies is perfectly matched to the story - cinematic, dark and often brutal, the story is clearly told and we never lose track of the characters, even though there are few costumes in view. Strong work.

I could quibble about a few points - Steve Rogers seems to turn a blind eye to some brutal tactics - but he is a soldier, and one would expect he could handle such things.

Ellis is putting together a darned impressive series of stories here - and if you missed them, I'm sure they'll be collected, too - even if each chapter stands on its own two feet.

A radical concept, to be sure.

Grade: A-

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We Pause For This Commercial Message...

2011-11-26T20:55:00.003-05:00

Hey, it's a good time to say "Thanks" to those who've clicked on the Amazon links at the bottom of posts or on the right side of this page.

Whenever you order something through those links, it puts a little bit of money in Chuck's pocket (which he then spends on more books, natch), at no cost to you.

I should also mention that Amazon has lots of Black Friday deals going on this weekend, so check 'em out and avoid the crowds at the stores (this has been my shopping strategy for years now).

Much appreciated!

Aquaman #3

2011-11-26T01:12:00.002-05:00

So far, I'm really enjoying the new Aquaman comic.

It's managed to weed out the sillier aspects of his abilities (he doesn't talk to fish because they aren't smart enough to talk - but he can control them), make him much more powerful (nearly invulnerable, able to leap tall buildings, incredibly strong), and provide him with some interesting supporting characters, including his wife (at least I think they're married) Mera, who's an impressive fighter, too, and a mysterious scientists with links to Aquaman's childhood.

And they're up against a formidable foe - a powerful species of creatures from deep below the ocean that resemble a man-like piranha. And there's a lot of them, but their reason for attacking a small coastal town is something of a mystery.

I really like Ivan Reis' artwork on this series, with strong layouts, heroic characters and nasty-looking monsters. His style evokes "realistic" artists like Neal Adams and Brian Hitch.

The story is unfolding at a gradual rate, but that's fine - writer Geoff Johns has a lot of information to pass along, new characters and settings to establish, and (for all intents and purposes) a new hero to introduce to the readers.

So far, it's very, very good.

Grade: A

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Wolverine and the X-Men #2

2011-11-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

I was somewhat surprised at how much I enjoyed the first issue of Wolverine and the X-Men - it was fast, funny and entertaining.

The second issue manages to be - with a few exceptions - none of those things.

That's because the story operates under no sense (or rules) of reality.

The story is, basically: Wolverine has reestablished the original Xavier School for Gifted Children in New York, where he hopes to use veteran X-Men (Kitty Pryde, the Beast, Iceman, Husk) to train young mutants in the use of their power.

But before the school gets past its first day, the Hellfire Club (which is now led by a group of children for silly reasons) attacks the school and rains destruction on it.

So far, that's fine. But the attacks all have the smell of Calvinball on 'em (that being the sport invented by the comic strip kid in Calvin and Hobbes, wherein the players make up the rules as they play the game).

So the attacks are just crazy. Mortars shells erupt into hundreds of robotic, flame-thrower-wielding Frankensteins, innocent administrators there to evaluate the school are turned into monsters, the ground attacks the school - that sort of thing.

The entire issue is given over to a chaotic battle between the good guys and the monsters, and none of it feels like it could possible happen in the real world - even the "real world" of comic books.

Give artist Chris Bachalo credit for trying to make sense out of the chaos. There are some awesome renderings here, but there are also numerous fights using unidentified characters, crazy layouts and loads of panels where I have no idea what is happening.

The worst offense is that the only thing of interest that happens in the comic is that one long-time character acts inappropriately with another long-time character.

Aside from that, the issue begins and ends at the exact same point - the school on the edge of destruction. Not good at all.

Grade: B-

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Fantastic Four #600

2011-11-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Give Marvel credit for not holding back on this momentous issue, as the Fantastic Four celebrate their 50th anniversary with a 100-page blowout.

I'm delighted that I managed to read this before any of the surprises were spoiled (the advantage of being away from my computer for a day or so), and I'll do my best not to spoil anything for you.

Writer Jonathan Hickman has been building an epic storyline here, including: several evil alternate Reed Richards; the young members of the Future Foundation; the death of the Human Torch; the threat of Annihilus in the Negative Zone; The Inhumans from five galaxies; the attacking alien Kree Empire; and a gathering of almost all Earth's heroes. Whew!

It's a big canvas, and this issue covers a lot of ground, with massive battles, shocking revelations and hints of more to come.

Even with 100 pages, the story doesn't wrap up in this issue - it's going to take several more to get all this ground covered. But if you're looking for an intelligent, entertaining, plays-fair-with-the-reader story about a great group of characters, this is your title.

It almost feels like a classic Marvel title from the '60s, as it balances action, story, humor and characterization, keeps it all moving at top speed but never loses the reader. But it does all that with a modern, cutting-edge take on the series.

It's impressive that, despite everything that's going on in this issue, I didn't need a recap to remind me of where we were - it's all fresh in my mind from issue to issue. (Not every series out there can make this claim.)

The series is also blessed with great artists. It took a team to get this issue done, including Steve Epting, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Ming Doyle, Lenil Francis Yu and an odd postnote by Farel Dalrymple. Excellent work all around!

Needless to say, big things happen here, and if you've ever been a fan of the FF, you should be reading this comic. It's a series that will challenge and delight you, and I (for one) can't wait to see where it goes from here.

It's an exciting time to be reading the Fantastic Four. They're the First Family of comics, and it's wonderful to see them back in a comic that is, once again, worthy of the title: The World's Greatest Comic Magazine!

Grade: A

--------------

It's New Comic Day!

2011-11-23T22:39:00.000-05:00

Here's what your pal Chuck picked up today:

- Alpha Flight #6 (of 8) - Canadians sure are testy - in this comic.

- Aquaman #3 - Taking on a different kind of monster.

- Secret Avengers #19 - A mystery in Eastern Europe.

- Captain America and Bucky #624 - The Winter Soldier takes center stage.

- Fantastic Four #600 - The 100-page 50th anniversary 600th issue extravaganza!

- The Flash #3 - Visually stunning.

- Invincible Iron Man #510 - An old enemy returns.

- The Shade #2 (of 12) - Isn't he dead?

- The Mighty Thor #8 - Sporting a different look these days.

- Wolverine and the X-Men #2 - Lots of destruction!

And that's it!

The Classics - A Fall of Stardust

2011-11-23T21:12:00.004-05:00

So, before the review, a confession (of sorts): every couple of years I tackle the job of filing my comics, which I keep in (more or less) alphabetical order by title, each comic bagged and stored in a comic box.

It generally takes several months, because I just file a little at a time - so I figured I'd draw on comics for the classic reviews from whichever box I happened to be filing that week.

Oh, and I file in reverse order - from the end of the alphabet to the beginning - because it's easier to add additional boxes at the front of my storage area.

That's why, if you look back over the past several months of "classic" reviews on this blog, you'll note that (aside from a brief diversion into Treasury Editions), it runs from "Z" to "A."

So as I wrapped up my filing, I thought I would review the first comic book in my collection, which happens to be A Fall of Stardust by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess.

I had quite forgotten, until I opened the bag, that this isn't actually a comic book. Published in 1999, it's a collection of 29 plates by different artists depicting scenes from the excellent Stardust illustrated novel by Gaiman and Vess.

It was created as a fundraiser for Charles Vess' wife, Karen Shaffer, who was badly injured in a car accident (and was making great progress toward her recovery at the time).

I imagine it might be difficult to track down copies these days, because I can't imagine anyone giving up their copy (yet there it is in Amazon's catalog - for $125? Wow.)

It's a pure delight, with wonderful, frame-worthy, full-color art by such notables as William Stout, Michael Mignola, Bryan Talbot, Jill Thompson, Paul Chadwick, P. Craig Russell, Terry Moore, Dave McKean, Jeff Smith, Gary Gianni, Stan Sakai, Michael Kaluta, Moebius and Geoff Darrow.

It also includes two prose sections including work by Neil Gaiman and Susanna Clarke.

Just an outstanding package - what a delight to look it over again. Oh, and Stardust is a great illustrated novel and a fun movie, too. All well worth tracking down.

Grade: A+

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Supergirl #3

2011-11-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

Three issues into the series and we know almost nothing about Supergirl, except that she somehow survived the destruction of Krypton - but she doesn't know how, either.

She arrives on Earth, is attacked by a mysterious group of men in robotic suits and finally meets her cousin, Superman - and immediately attacks him.

She's a blank slate - we don't even know if she's a good person (certainly her habit of punching first and asking questions later isn't too endearing).

This is the third issue in a row that's chock full of mindless violence, and skimpy on the character development - and frankly, it's already getting old.

I was ready to drop this series - I only picked up this issue because of the promise on the cover to reveal "The Truth About Krypton," but the only truth revealed is one the reader already knows - so it's a bit of a cheat.

The strongest thing about the comic is the artwork by Mike Johnson. He has a fresh, breezy style, and it seems like a good fit for this comic.

But the story just seems to be floundering, as the plot just takes us from one fight scene to the next. I'm all for action-packed comics, but I'd like a little more story squeezed in along the way.

Grade: B-

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Batman #3

2011-11-21T00:01:00.001-05:00

Of all the different versions of Batman, my favorite is the "World's Greatest Detective."

It's a skill that's usually underplayed, perhaps because it's difficult to write. Thee's nothing tougher that writing a smart character (except maybe comedy).

But that's the character we're seeing put to the test by writer Scott Snyder. Batman - and Bruce Wayne - are being menaced by an organization of Owls - and one of them almost succeeded in killing Wayne (and they're not done trying yet).

So Batman has to solve the mystery of where the Owl organization hides - no small task - and he has to learn more about that ancient organization that may have been controlling Gotham City for more than a century.

The art by Greg Capullo is wonderful and expressive, evoking the dark environments Batman thrives in and creating a living, breathing city that hides many secrets and dangers.

This one ends with a heck of a cliffhanger. This is the third strong issue in a row, and keeps this title as the best of the Bat-books and one of the better comics in the entire "New 52."

Grade: A-

--------------------

Hawken #1

2011-11-20T00:01:00.001-05:00

I've been a fan of Tim Truman's since he burst on the scene in the 1980s with his amazing art on books like Grimjack and Scout (which he also wrote).

I was lucky enough to interview him at the beginning of his career, and I remember him mentioning his young son Ben, who - at the time - was fascinated by Godzilla.

Amazing to realize that Ben is now grown up and collaborating with his dad on a new comic, Hawken. How time flies!

The comic is a cross between a hard-hitting, no-punches-pulled western, a revenge flick and a horror story (the good kind).

It's the kind of story you could see Clint Eastwood starring in. It's set in a small village in the Arizona desert in 1881. A band of cutthroats attacks, and the villagers are unable to defend themselves.

Lucky for them, a grizzled man named Hawken has been trailing the killers - and what he has planned for them isn't pretty.

The story isn't much deeper than that, but there are quite a few twists, some great dialogue, and plenty of surprises along the way.

It's great to see that Tim Truman's art has only improved with time - his cinematic style captures the era perfectly, he knows just how far to press the horror for maximum effect, and the textures are amazing - from the wooden rifles to the clothing, the sand, the smoke - it all feels real!

Seeing such powerful work is to be expected from the "elder" Truman (who is, after all, one of the best artists in the business), but it's great to see his son has grown into an equally-talented craftsman in the family business.

There are too few westerns around to enjoy these days - but this issue shows why the genre has so many fans.

Mighty entertaining, and highly recommended!

Grade: A

----------------

Wonder Woman #3

2011-11-19T00:01:00.001-05:00

It's always a trick to include the mythological gods in a comic book.

Sometimes they seem more like superheroes than godlike figures. Other times they're more like petty children, or even worse, mere villains.

Writer Brian Azzarello is walking that line in Wonder Woman, and so far, he seems to have a good handle on it.

The gods we've seen so far are either terrible in their vengeance, mysterious is the purpose, or whimsical and quite destructive. They don't seem mortal at all - and it remains to be seen if they have any moral side, as well.

This issue takes us to Paradise Island, where Diana learns some long-hidden secrets, and makes a decision that may affect her life forever.

It's almost too heavy-handed in places, but Azzarello is cleverly setting up the character to make more sense in the "real" world, and to give Wonder Woman a reason to live in the land of mortals.

I really like Cliff Chiang's art here. Lots of emotions are brought to the forefront and there's very little action, but the story is taut and compelling all the way through.

Some will love this story, and some will hate it, but I think it's a step in the right direction. And that's what this comic has always needed: a strong direction.

The creative team has chosen one - so now we'll see if it's one that works. Here's hoping!

Grade: A-

-----------------

The Avengers #19

2011-11-18T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm a big sucker for these "gather the new team" stories.

And it's a long-running staple for The Avengers (although it's only been a year-and-a-half since they gathered the last team - that seems like a very short run). In fact, this is the series that started the whole idea of shuffling a super-team's lineup.

So we have Captain America tracking down heroes new to the team and some old familiar faces to round out the Avengers.

As always, writer Brian Bendis writes clever, funny dialogue and puts the characters through their paces. There are choices that are surprising, some that are logical and at least one that is long overdue.

I'm still a bit on the fence about the art by Daniel Acuna. I like his art a lot - his characters are very expressive, his layouts are strong and the splash panels are impressive. But the painted look seems to flatten out the crowd scenes. When the new team of Avengers gathers, the characters all seem to blend together.

Maybe it's just me. I'm a fan of his style, but I wonder if it might not work better on a different comic.

At any rate, it looks like the next issue brings an end to all the discussion and introspection and gets down to some serious action. That's what we call good timing.

Grade: A-

-----------------

Justice League #3

2011-11-17T00:01:00.001-05:00

So in case you were wondering, here's what the Justice League comic is all about: lots of action, heroes "meeting cute," and that's about it.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

With the third issue, most of the characters are in place, drawn together by a menace worthy of a gathering of powerful heroes: an alien army is sending waves of invaders to locations all over the world.

These Parademons are strong, dangerous and numerous. But, like Nazis, they make great villains - set dozens of them up so the heroes can knock 'em down, rinse and repeat.

OK, so the plot isn't much. But we are meeting the heroes who will eventually be members of the team, getting some insight into their personalities, how they interact with each other, and what their missions are.

The focus here is on Wonder Woman, and she's much more along the lines of the lighthearted Darwyn Cooke version (if not quite so over the top).

So far (aside from the anemic first issue), the team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee have been hitting on all burners.

They're taking their sweet time getting us to the big reveal of the (obvious) big bad, but they're getting there with lots of energy and humor. That last page is priceless.

What a delight to see the Justice League back at the top of DC's line. After too many years of being treated like the proverbial red-haired stepchild, its good to see this comic where it belongs - as the flagship title for the company and one of the best comics out there today.

Grade: A-

---------------

Comics Today

2011-11-16T23:56:00.001-05:00

Wow, almost forgot to post my list today!

Here's what I got:

- Avengers #19 - Building a new team.

- Avengers Academy #22 - A visit from Magneto.

- Batman #3 - Uncovering a secret society.

- Captain America #4 - In a nightmare!

- Conan: The Road of Kings #10 - To the rescue.

- Fear Itself #7.3 - Iron Man talks things over with Odin.

- Fear Itself: The Fearless #3 (of 12) - Battle with (non-sparkly) vampires.

- Hawken #1 - a western by Tim Truman? Cool!

- John Carter: A Princess of Mars #3 (of 5) - Playing games.

- Justice League #3 - Getting the band together!

- Supergirl #3 - The truth about Krypton?

- Wonder Woman #3 - Learning the truth.

And that's it!

The Classics - Action Comics #329

2011-11-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

Some comic books hold up amazingly well when you re-read them.

This one, not so much.

Published in 1965, I remember really liking this issue of Action Comics. Perhaps it was the crazed look on Superman's face on the cover, perhaps it was the cool Krypton design on the shield, or perhaps it was the fact that Superman fights against a deadly knight (hey, I was 9 years old - I was crazy about knights).

Whatever the reason, I liked it. Superman finds himself outmatched by a powerful knight in unbreakable armor who's wielding a sword that can cut through anything - even Superman's indestructible costume.

Of course, eventually the Man of Steel discovers the (surprisingly pedestrian) secret behind the knight and defeats the mastermind behind the attack.

Imagine my surprise in reading this comic for the first time in more years than I'd care to admit, only to realize that the story is just silly.

The secret behind the knight's power ends up being a cheat, and Superman's solution isn't much better.

Even the cover is misleading. Superman says that he's been robbed of his super-powers (he wasn't), it promises a duel to the death (no one dies), and it promises "A Great 'Imaginary' Story of Supergirl" - but it's not an imaginary story.

That's actually the best part of the comic. The Supergirl backup story (drawn by Jim Mooney, I believe) has the Maid of Steel being trapped and taken to a distant world, where she tries to learn more about The Circle of Evil, a society that's tracking down and killing heroes across the universe.

The story wraps as she's forced to confront the incredibly powerful Drang the Destroyer, who has all her powers and more! Oh, and for some reason, her powers are gone!

The surprising thing is that it was a continued story - a rarity at DC - and two characters are killed in the story! Granted, they're evil, but it's still very unusual for DC.

Sadly, I don't think I ever read the next issue of Action Comics, so I have no idea how Supergirl survived. That's the great thing about reading this again - it reminded me that I need to track down Action Comics #330.

And since I didn't see it in 1965, that issue has nothing to live up to.

Grade: (Superman) C- ; (Supergirl) B+

----------------

Batgirl #3

2011-11-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

Come on, DC, throw me a bone here.

I really want to like this title, I want to support it. I like Barbara Gordon as Batgirl, I'm glad she's back in costume again - but you have to give me something to work with here. (Besides the great covers by Adam Hughes.)

Three issues into this series, and all we've seen is Batgirl failing, being defeated, being outsmarted, being unlucky at love, and being forced to live in substandard housing (yet able to maintain a souped-up motorcycle and superhero gear).

I was hoping things would turn about with this issue - but no. Instead we get a race against death, and half the issue turned over to a guest appearance by Nightwing, in which he and Batgirl seem unable to decide if they like each other or would prefer to fight (and remember, while they're fooling around, a murderer is still running around on the loose).

Writer Gail Simone provides some nice bits of dialogue that feel real, and Ardian Syaf provides some strong artwork - but the story is left behind on the way.

I'm struggling to stay with this series through the opening story arc. Here's hoping for a strong finish, because otherwise - sadly - I'll be dropping this one.

Grade: C+

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Kull: The Cat and the Skull #2

2011-11-14T00:01:00.001-05:00

You might be surprised to find out that Robert E. Howard's other barbarian king, Kull, spends a good part of this issue having a calm discussion with a cat.

But it's not just any cat - it's an ancient creature known as Saremes, and it seems to know many secrets - and even the future.

There's obviously a lot bubbling under the surface, but action fans will be glad to know that there's a brutal battle with an army of serpent men to keep the story moving along briskly.

This isn't one of Howard's best-known stories, but it's an interesting change of pace and well adapted by writer David Lapham.

I like the art by Gabriel Guzman - it covers the range from brutal, dark and bloody battles to calm and civilized discussions. I'd like to see more in the way of backgrounds, but that's a minor complaint.

I'd also like to see more of Kull's character - since Howard didn't write as many stories about Kull, the character has a lot of room to grow. Hopefully future stories will take advantage of that.

Grade: B+

---------------

Green Lantern #3

2011-11-13T00:01:00.001-05:00

The funny thing about the Green Lantern comic since the "reboot" as part of DC's "New 52" is that the only thing that has changed is that the main character is now Sinestro, with Hal (Green Lantern) Jordan placed in a supporting role.

After the War of the Green Lanterns, Jordan was stripped of his power ring by the ever-fickle Guardians, while the villain Sinestro was awarded a green power ring.

None of this sits well with, well, any of the characters - but it's especially difficult for the yellow ring-wearing members of the Sinestro Corps.

That group has taken over Sinestro's home planet and is torturing its inhabitants - so Sinestro recruits Jordan and provides him a green power ring (of sorts).

Needless to say, theirs is an uneasy partnership, and that makes for some entertaining scenes.

Geoff Johns has created an strong story here, thankfully focusing on a couple of central characters instead of a colorful army - and he manages a heck of a cliffhanger.

The art by Doug Mahnke just gets better all the time (though I'm not sure the army of inkers is the best approach here), and whether focusing on individuals or armies of aliens, the art is always clean and powerful - reminiscent of Brian Bolland and Gary Frank.

I'm anxious to see how they resolve the ending here, and curious to see how long this "Odd Couple" of GLs continue to work together. But so far, so good!

Grade: A-

-----------------

Fear Itself #7.2: Thor

2011-11-12T19:36:00.002-05:00

(Sorry to be running a bit late today, friends - had a family medical emergency to deal with, but all is well now.)

When major events (death, destruction, etc.) happen in comics, it usually takes a while before they're "corrected" and the characters involved are brought back to life, returned to normal or otherwise restored to the staus quo.

That's why the "sequels" to Fear Itself have been surprising - they're wasting no time explaining what "really happened."

This time around, it's Thor's turn. (And here's your last chance to turn away if you haven't read the Fear Itself series, as I'm about to mention what happens at the end. I won't spoil this issue, but I can't always help spoiling older comics - sorry.)

The end of Fear Itself followed along with Thor's predicted fate at the end of Ragnarok, facing his death while defeating the Midgard Serpent.

I thought they'd get out of this death because, at the end, the Serpent apparently doesn't die (I think). But instead the story takes a surprising (and more abstract) turn. A new character is introduced, Asgard gains new leadership and only one character smells a rat.

Credit writer Matt Fraction with an original and clever new direction for Thor (maybe).

The art is by Adam Kubert and Mark Roslan, and it's terrific (as always), with great character designs, sprawling landscapes and several emotional scenes.

Of the two issues (so far), the story gyrations here may not be easy to follow, but they're actually easier to accept than those in issue #7.1 (of that makes sense). I'm looking forward to seeing where Thor goes from here.

Grade: A-

The New Avengers #18

2011-11-11T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm thinking I may have to take a hiatus from reviewing issues of the New Avengers for a while.

That's because the storyline that's going to be running through the coming year does nothing for me.

The mastermind behind the Dark Reign, Norman Osborn (the Green Goblin), has escaped prison and is assembling an evil army to take on the good guys.

Exactly like he did during the Dark Avengers saga a couple of years ago, he's building his own team of Avengers, using similarly-powered villains (or dupes he has conned into joining his cause) to create his own team.

And apparently Norman has a hidden power - he can talk anyone into joining his army, no matter what they may have been doing before.

The only thing fresh about the story is the artwork, as Mike Deodato and color artist Rain Beredo pour an inhuman amount of work creating the nearly photographic look and feel of the comic.

Certainly it's rare for writer Brian Bendis to let us down, but this issue - aside from not containing a single Avenger - just feels like it's going back to that same old well, even if most of the cast is new to this comic.

I can't recommend this one.

Grade: C+

--------------

Point One #1

2011-11-10T00:03:00.004-05:00

So Point One is (I assume) intended to be a teaser for Marvel's upcoming season of stories, mini-series and special events.

And if that's the case, I have to admit that my overall reaction is: I'm not impressed.

Which is not to say that it's all terrible. It's just a mix of ideas that are interesting with others that... are not.

There are seven story snippets on display here (and I'm not sure if these are excerpts from upcoming comics or original tales designed to stand on their own. My guess is the former).

On the "interesting" side, we have: a short sequence about a mysterious duo who manage to invade the Watcher's home on the moon; a preview of a new Nova story that sets up a major menace; a new and enticing take on the mystical Dr. Strange; and the Avengers facing the "Age of Ultron."

On the "not so interesting" side we have the futuristic X-Terminators and the return of the Scarlet Spider.

Riding somewhere in the middle are the powerful twins known as either Yin & Yang or Coldmoon & Dragonfire. It shows potential, but it's hard to judge from this snippet.

So the real question is: does this make me want to buy any of these comics?

I'll probably pick up the Dr. Strange and Avengers comics, but the rest of them, probably not.

I really can't recommend this issue - there are some high points (Bryan Hitch's art on the Avengers segment, Matt Fraction's writing on Dr. Strange, Ed McGuinness' art on Nova), but not enough here to make it worth the inflated price and page count.

Grade: B-

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New Comics!

2011-11-09T23:01:00.000-05:00

I got:

- New Avengers #18 - More Norman Osborn. Bleh.

- Batgirl #3 - A foot in the face for Nightwing!

- Batwoman #3 - How do you defeat a crying ghost?

- Fear Itself #7.2: Thor - More aftermath.

- Green Lantern #3 - Sinestro pulls the strings.

- Journey Into Mystery #631 - This Loki fellow gets in more trouble...

- Kull: The Cat and the Skull #2 - Sword and sorcery and cats!

- Point One #1 - Marvel starts revving up for the next big thing.

- Renaissance Man #3 - He's still dead.

- Uncanny X-Force #17 - Grim and gritty all over again.

And that's it!

The Classics - Adventure Comics #312

2011-11-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

I can't be 100% certain - memory being a tricky thing at best - but I'm pretty sure this was the first issue starring the Legion of Super-Heroes that I read.

Published in 1963, the issue is actually titled Adventure Comics, and it was home to the Legion for several years before they finally got their own comic, almost always co-starring Superboy.

This particular issue made a real impression on me, because the story centered around the attempt to revive Lightning Lad, a team member who had been killed in action.

Death may be as common as a cold in comics these days (and almost as easy to recover from), but it was very rare in the '60s.

The uncredited story follows the Legion as they comb the universe, looking for a way to bring their teammate back to life. They find a number of possible solutions, but only one that works.

The solution requires that one of the Legion give their lifeforce - in other words, someone else has to die to bring him back.

As depicted on the cover, the whole team wants to volunteer, so they decide to let fate decide who will die - they all stand holding little lightning rods. The one struck by lightning will die, and bring Lightning Lad back.

The plot twist at the end is quite clever - certainly I didn't see it coming (of course, I was just 7 years old) - and it made this issue a favorite.

Today's reader might struggle with this comic - there's a lot of wordage (captions and word balloons) and lots of small panels.

I love the art, which is very much in the DC style at the time - but the funny thing is, as many times as I've read this issue (and at the time DC did not allow credits), I never noticed that the splash page has John Forte's "signature" in the lower right corner.

It's to his credit that he manages a huge number of characters, worlds and creatures while keeping the story clean and easy to follow. The characters are all distinctive and likeable, and he ekes every bit of drama out of the life-or-death situation at the end.

I was always impressed by the team's determination to help their friend - most comics just focused on beating the villain, but here was an issue devoted to beating the ultimate "bad guy" - death itself.

This issue made me a devoted Legion fan for quite some time after. With teen heroes, numerous powers, a futuristic setting and inventive enemies, it was lots of fun to follow along.

And death would make a return appearance in the years ahead - but more about that in a future review.

Grade: A-

Static Shock #3

2011-11-08T00:26:00.003-05:00

I blame the trade paperbacks.

Every comic series these days is written in six-issue story arcs, to make it easier to collect the series later into a trade paperback.

The problem is, some stories lend themselves to an extended series, and some do not.

The opening story in the "New 52" version of Static Shock is a great example. What should have been a one or two-issue story has been extended. We're at issue #3 and counting, but it is not a better story for the padding.

A sure sign of a story that's struggling is when I can't remember the details from the issue before. As best I can remember, the story has Static under attack by some kind of monstrous assassin. The assassin is working with some kind of high-tech gang for hire. They're all trying to assassinate Static because a group of criminals wants him dead for some reason.

Each issue so far is identical - Static shows up and fights the bad guys, only to have them escape. Monster guy tries to kill Static, fails and escapes.

Oh, and Static's real-life sister has a clone, and they each think the other sister is the real clone. No idea where this story came from.

The art by Scott McDaniels is quite good - it has a nice, loose, Gene Colan quality to it. It flows nicely and the characters are easy to distinguish.

It's the writing by McDaniels and John Rozum that doesn't work - they just keep covering the same ground, and the villains are so generic as to be completely unmemorable.

I still say this is a character with tremendous potential - he's smart, powerful and able to out-think and out-maneuver his opponents - when he's written well.

Right now, that potential is going to waste. A pity.

Grade: C

Fear Itself #7.1: Captain America

2011-11-07T00:08:00.003-05:00

I picked this issue to review this week before I read it - and now I regret it.

Not because it's a great issue, and not because it's a bad issue (both can be fun to review for different reasons).

It's because it's going to be almost impossible to review without giving away key plot points. But since "no spoilers" is our credo at Chuck's Comic of the Day, I'm going to give it my best shot.

The story spills out of a key event in the Fear Itself series: the death of Captain America (the version played by Bucky Barnes).

We finally get to see the aftermath of that event, with special focus on Steve Rogers, Nick Fury and the Black Widow.

It's written by Ed Brubaker, who is laying the groundwork for stories into the year ahead, and it's drawn by Butch Guice, and I've really enjoyed his work on the Captain America series.

He has a gritty, realistic yet unique style - but you'll occasionally catch glimpses in his work of past influences, including Kirby, Steranko and others. I'm really looking forward to his next project coming up next year.

More than that, I can't say - but if you've been following Cap's comic for the past few years, you'll want to pick this up to bridge the gap into upcoming stories.

Not everyone will like this story - there are parts of it that just feel clunky and forced - but it covers some important ground, and offers some explanations that will make things clear in the months ahead.

Cautiously recommended.

Grade: B+