The Classics - Sub-Mariner #14

With the resurgence of The Invaders, I started thinking about the earliest "reunions" of the members of that World War II team - the ones that took place before the team was actually (retroactively) created in the '70s.

   When Captain America was revived in Avengers #4, he fought against the Sub-Mariner in that same issue - but neither "remembered" the other.

   This issue was the second encounter between the team members, I believe - as Namor is attacked by an out-of-control Human Torch (but not the teenage member of the Fantastic Four).

   It's a classic fire vs. water battle, as the two fight in true Marvel fashion - and then team up to take on the villains behind the attack.

   This time around, thanks in no small part to writer Roy Thomas being attuned to the Golden Age origins of both heroes, they remember each other - Namor refers to him as "my uneasy ally of 20 years ago." (This issue was published in 1969.)

   The original (android) Torch was revived in the Silver Age in Fantastic Four Annual #4 - but he "died" at the end of that story.

   So this issue finds him revived by the Mad Thinker, the Puppet Master and Egghead, and used to power a weapon that threatens the United States - which puts the Torch in conflict with Namor. There are several other twists along the way, and the ending is a real surprise (though also a bit of a disappointment).

   The art is by Marie Severin with inks by Joe Gaudioso. I've always been of two minds about Marie's art - on one hand, the layouts are dynamic and it's loaded with terrific, action-packed panels. She's also a master at emotional impact. But some of her figures can be a bit rubbery in places. I think  her style was best suited to more comical efforts - but I must admit that her heroic work is a lot of fun, too.

   Perhaps this story struck a spark in Thomas' mind - just seven months later he included The Invaders in a time-travel adventure in The Avengers - and six years later the team received its own title, focusing on their adventures in WWII (eventually Thomas told the story of the fight between the Invaders and the Avengers from the Invaders side of the fight).

   If you love continuity, these are the kinds of stories that made Marvel so much fun to follow!

Grade: A-

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New Comics Day

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

- Aquaman #30 - Fighting a mad Hercules!

- Conan the Avenger #1 - Shadows over Kush!

- Daredevil #2 - Two blind heroes.

- Fantastic Four #3 - One hero down.

- Flash #30 - What's the deal with Wally West?

- Guardians of the Galaxy #14 - Divided and conquered!

- Invaders #4 - Fighting the Kree!

- Justice League United #0 - Can't have too many Justice League comics.

- Original Sin #0 - Who is the Watcher?

- Powers Bureau #9 - A wild one.

- Shadow Now #6 - Bloodbath.

- Tomb Raider #3 - The nightmare returns.

   And that's it!

Hulk #1

   The beauty of the concept behind the Hulk is that it's very flexible - so with great regularity the series takes sudden turns and moves in unexpected directions.

   So we have had a Hulk who was an Agent of SHIELD, a fugitive, a gangster, a hero and a mindless monster (to name a few).

   Writer Mark Waid may have come up with the most unexpected direction of all.

   The Hulk is, of course, virtually indestructible - and efforts to hurt his mortal side (Bruce Banner) tend to result in an immediate appearance by the big green guy.

   So a mysterious group tries a different approach - they use an assassination attempt to set up an even darker plan. The result is a terrible decision facing a surgeon - and more than a few surprises along the way.

   The new art team on the series is one of my favorites, Mark Bagley, with inks by Andrew Hennessy. Perhaps it's the inking and perhaps it's the subject matter, but this is a grittier look for Bagley, whose style is usually more slick and precise. Here's it's darker, edgier - but strong storytelling as always.  

   With that twist on the last page, it's hard to see where the series goes from here - but I'll bet it'll be well worth following.

Grade: A-

-----------------------

Uncanny X-Men #20

   If you're going to be a fan of writer Brian Michael Bendis, then you have to accept the fact that his stories often spool out very slowly, taking months and months to get to the heart of the matter.

    Thus it is that we're 20 issues into this series and we're just now - maybe - getting to the heart of the secret behind the attacks on Scott (Cyclops) Summers' version of the Uncanny X-Men.

   Since the series began, SHIELD has been hunting for Cyclops - and at the same time, the X-Men have been fighting off attacks by ever-more-powerful Sentinels, the giant robots that track mutants.

   We may finally be seeing the source for those attacks - and it's quite a surprise (assuming it's not a false lead).

   As always, the art by Chris Bachalo (with six different inkers) is loaded with striking images and clever designs - and the storytelling on this issue is much improved.

   So has it been worth the wait? I can't render a final judgment on that until the conclusion. In many ways the story has been building nicely, but I admit the this one is straining my patience. Hopefully the finale will make it all worthwhile.

Grade: B+

------------------------



 

Batman #30

   I've been struggling a bit with the "Zero Year" story because it features a Batman who's just beginning his career, and as such he makes mistakes - and sometimes, actually fails.

   As this issue begins, we find a hero who barely managed to survive his last defeat. He awakens to find a Gotham City that has changed completely - it's now under the control of the Riddler (thanks to a number of those video game-esque improbable "Sword of Damocles" devices).

   Those who defy the Riddler tend to have a short life span - so what can a broken Batman do? The answer marks the point where this story really starts to take off.

   As always, Greg Capullo's art is terrific, with bold layouts and some amazing panoramic shots.

    I think my real reluctance with the "Zero Year" story is just that this is well-trod ground, with Frank Miller's "Year One" story being the gold standard.

   This story only suffers by comparison with that classic - on its own merits, "Zero" is quite good.

Grade: A-

-----------------------

Justice League #29

   We must note that the Justice League is the first "New 52" comic to slip on the schedule - while all the other titles that kicked off the DC reboot are at issue #30, JL lags an issue behind.

   Perhaps it's interference from the Forever Evil mini-series, which is also running late.

   For whatever reason, and despite all that, this issue is worth the wait.

   That's because it includes one of my favorite DC teams, the Metal Men. The groups is reimagined and modernized (while largely keeping the original team's personalities).

   Cyborg (the last standing member of the League) comes to them for help as he faces off against Grid, the evil digital force that took over his original mechanized body (don't worry, he has a new one now).

   I like the story by Geoff Johns, which manages a positive, upbeat approach that fits the Metal Men. But I didn't much care for the resolution - the stories up to now have indicated that Relic was searching for something - but that angle never pays off.

   Still, the art by Doug Mahnke is excellent - fresh and dynamic, with some great action sequences.

   The rumblings say that there are some shakeups on the way, leading out of the end of the Forever Evil series. Here's hoping they can get the team back to work - and the comic back on schedule.

Grade: B

----------------------

Superior Spider-Man #31

   For 16 months (since January 2013) the Spider-Man comics have not featured the Amazing Spider-Man (which is why I haven't read an issue since the first in this "Superior" series).

   See, I'm a big fan of Peter Parker - the real Spider-Man. As a kid I bought issue #15 (Spidey's first meeting with Kraven the Hunter), and I was immediately hooked.

   Over the (ulp!) more than 50 years since, there have certainly been some ups and downs, with terrific stories balanced by lame stories.

   I stayed through decades of that sort of thing, staying loyal to the character who vowed to make up for his past mistakes by fighting crime and helping those in need.

   I finally started drifting away when Marvel started putting the character through ridiculous stories - such as allowing Mephisto to end the marriage between Peter and May Jane Watson.

   But even more insulting was the idea of having Doctor Octopus take over Peter's brain - co-opting his thoughts and memories along the way, and (apparently) killing off Peter's mind.

   That was actually resolved last issue, for vague reasons mentioned in the recap section on the first page of this issue. It's difficult to care, honestly.

   So this issue is given over to Peter ending the menace of the Goblin Nation (whatever that is), and confronting assorted Green Goblin-related villains (including GG himself), with the help of Spider-Man 2099, who has traveled through time somehow.

   So yeah, it's a mess, loaded with riffs on old stories, a few glimmers of the real Spider-Man, and a story that makes no sense to this reader who just landed at the tail end of this story.

   There's an aftermath that tries to clean up loose ends, covering prior events and doing everything possible to give Peter a clean slate in terms of supporting characters.

   The story is by Dan Slott and Christos Gage, and the art on the first chapter is by Giuseppe Camuncoli and the second chapter is by Will Sliney.  Perhaps the story is affecting my opinion, but I'm not crazy about the art, either. It's loaded with energy, but the layouts are jumbled - the panels don't flow together well, and the character hurl around the page without purpose.

   I'm not sure if I'm back with this series yet (of course, it's about to reboot with a new issue #1). I want to like it, if just for old times' sake, and a relief that the brain swap story is finally over.

   But I have to see more evidence that the real Spider-Man is back. Imposters have been running the show here for far too long.

 Grade: C+

-------------------------------



 

New Comics Day

   Another light week. Here's what I picked up today:

 

- Batman #30 - More Year Zero action, fighting the Riddler.

 

- Hulk #1 - Who shot Bruce Banner?

 

- Justice League #29 - Cyborg and the Metal Men team up!

 

- Ms. Marvel #3 - Learning about her powers.

 

- Superior Spider-Man #31 - Finally, the end of the Dr. Octopus nonsense.

 

- Thor #21 - The end of the Earth.

 

- Wonder Woman #30 - Amassing an army to fight a god.

 

- Uncanny X-Men #20 - The X-Men vs. SHIELD!

 

   And that's it!

The Classics - Justice League of America #1

   I've never owned a copy of the first issue of Justice League of America, but I've read it countless times.

   And here I'm not talking about reprints (though I do have those in my collection) - I'm talking about an actual copy of the issue.

   That's because of a good friend of mine when I was young - who was also named Chuck (the only other Chuck in my school).

   One time when we were at his house I was looking through some of his comics. He didn't have a big collection, but there among the other (unmemorable) comics was this issue - Justice League of America #1!

   I have no idea where he got it, but even in those days (this would have been the late '60s, I'm guessing) we knew that this was a rare gem for anyone's comics collection.

   I tried desperately to talk him into trading or selling it to me, but he wouldn't hear of it, so I had to settle for reading it every chance I got.

   It followed (or set) the pattern for JLA stories, as the League is captured by an alien named Despero (in his first appearance). The character wasn't the Hulk-like powerhouse as he's now depicted. He was a spindly alien who used his mental powers to capture the League - but his powers didn't affect the Flash, so he tricks the speedster into playing a game that he can't win.

   As a result, the members of the team - Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman and the Martian Manhunter - are exiled to distant worlds, and must team up to overcome assorted alien menaces and return to deal with Despero.

   Like most of the JLA issues by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, the story is a bit formulaic - but a heck of a lot of fun.

   By the mid-'60s, the JLA was one of the few DC Comics I was still interested in - I was mostly buying Marvel by that point - and this issue was the holy grail for me.

   But even though I never managed ownership, it was a thrill just to be able to real the actual comic. I wonder if the other Chuck still has that comic?

Grade: A

----------------------

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #1

   To say that Iron Fist has had an erratic career would be an understatement.

   Created during the Kung Fu / Martial Arts craze of the '70s, he was an attempt to cross that genre with superheroes. Thus we have the costumed young man who can turn his fists into glowing, unbreakable... well, fists.

    The original series was quite good, and featured some top-notch writers and artists, including Roy Thomas, Chris Claremont, Larry Hama and John Byrne.

   The character eventually teamed up for a long run with Luke Cage (Power Man). Some (largely forgettable) mini-series followed, but Ed Brubaker's series titled The Immortal Iron Fist was excellent.

   For the "All New" version, Iron Fist's adventures are written and drawn by Kaare Kyle Andrews, and he's off to a solid start here.

   We get a partial recap of Danny Rand's young life, a look at his (rather grim) existence in the modern world, and an over-the-top action sequence. I don't really care for Danny as a listless, idle hero - but events seem to be moving to correct that.

   I like the art a lot - it's very dark and edgy, with a Jae Lee feel to it. The layouts are fresh and the designs outstanding, and the story flows with lots of energy.

   It's been typical through Iron Fist's past series that his stories start out strong and then eventually fade - but I'm a fan of the character, and hope this series will break the trend. It's off to a promising start!

Grade: A-

----------------------



 

All-New Doop #1

   Well, I wanted to like this issue.

   Doop is the odd creature - presumably a mutant - who looks like a cross between a potato and Slimer, doesn't speak English, and is a complete mystery.

    He serves in a mysterious function (tutor? guard dog? janitor?) at the Jean Grey School for Gifted Children (and has appeared most recently in issues of Wolverine and the X-Men), but his motives and methods remain unknown.

   Now he has his own series - All-New Doop, of course, because everything at Marvel these days is "All-New" (just ask the Invaders or the Ghost Rider) - and I'm not quite sure if it's intended to be a comedy or just plain weird.

   The story by Peter Milligan succeeds at the latter, but not the former. It gives us a look at events during the recent "Battle of the Atom" mini-series to see the effect Doop had on the proceedings - and if you didn't read that mini-series, you'll be totally lost here.

   It's very clever and breaks the fourth wall in interesting ways, but ultimately, it never really manages to be much more than some clever vignettes.

   The art by David Lafuente is a lot of fun and loaded with energy and comic potential.

   I admit it, I just don't see how this character can sustain an ongoing series - but I could be wrong. Maybe I'm wrong. Hopefully I'm wrong.

   If you're looking for a comic that's daring and different, here you go.

Grade: B-

----------------------

Superman Wonder Woman #7

   While I'm willing to believe that Superman can survive an atomic blast, I'm not so sure I'm willing to accept Wonder Woman is quite that tough.

   But obviously I'm wrong, as this issue is mostly consumed with both heroes recovering from last issue's fiery conclusion, which (apparently) ended the threat posed by General Zod (who managed to escape the Phantom Zone in an earlier issue).

   There are some nice calm moments for the super-couple, which will come in handy given the nature of the menace revealed in the closing pages of this issue.

   The Superman Wonder Woman title continues to be one of the better of the more recent vintage "New 52" series - which surprises me, because I still don't "believe" them as a couple.

   But writer Charles Soule is mixing exciting stories, genuine menaces and the mythologies of both characters in clever and satisfying ways.

   The art is quite good and meshes well, which is a bit of a surprise since it's credited to three different pencilers - Paulo Siqueira, Eddy Barrows and Barry Kitson - and is inked by two others - Eber Ferreira and Kitson.

   This issue is a prelude to an upcoming crossover event that will cross over into four different issues:. I'm generally opposed to the idea of being strong-armed into buying issues of a series I don't follow, so I'll be missing most of those. Let me know how it comes out.

Grade: B+

---------------------

Nightcrawler #1

   Marvel seems determined to swamp the market with new series, and while I like the character, I almost passed on this issue (following one of Chuck's Laws of Comics: You can't buy everything).

   But then I saw that this issue of Nightcrawler was written by Chris Claremont - and as a result, attention must be paid.

   It's a bit of a surprise - Claremont has been under an exclusive contract to Marvel for some time now, according to reports - but they haven't given him much to write in recent years.

   For those who came in late, it was Claremont who took over writing the New X-Men in the mid-70s (after the first issue by Len Wein), and who, working with artists like Dave Cockrum, John Byrne and Paul Smith (among many others), took the mutant franchise at Marvel to the top of the sales charts.

   He wrote the series for a decade or so, finally moving away to tackle other projects - and it's nice to see him at work in that corner of the comics market again.

   That being said, this issue isn't anywhere close to his best work. It reintroduces Kurt Wagner, the mutant who can teleport and goes into battle with a swashbuckling style, as he is getting adjusted to life at the new school for mutants (run by Wolverine).

   Kurt has been "dead" for a while, so he spends some time catching up to old friends - including someone named Amanda, who I must admit I don't know (and who is only introduced by that name). The two are immediately attacked by an armored creature, and the fun begins.

   The reader (or at least this reader) needs a little more information to go on - I felt lost through most of the issue.

   The art is by Todd Nauck, and it's solid work - though the layouts don't always flow well. But the character designs are spot on.

   So it's nice to see the legendary writer back in action again - but here's hoping the future stories hold together a bit better.

Grade: B

--------------------

Daredevil #1.5

   It's rather astonishing to realize that Daredevil is celebrating his 50th Anniversary - mostly because I clearly remember (as a kid)  buying the fourth issue.

   So how to celebrate such a milestone? Typically it's done with a big blowout action issue featuring the hero's most famous villains.

   But you can hardly expect "typical" from this series, at least as written by Mark Waid.

   So it should come as no surprise that this issue takes a unexpected turn. It's set in the future, as Matt Murdock celebrates his 50th birthday (of course, if he existed in the real world, he'd be celebrating - at least  - his 75th birthday. Thank goodness for "Marvel time!").

   We get some glimpses of his future life, including his family life, one of his greatest villains (who we haven't met yet in today's reality) and what may be his future fate. It's clever, touching and a heck of a lot of fun.

   The art is by new series artist Javier Rodriguez (with inks by Alvaro Lopez), and it's excellent - fresh and expressive, with open layouts and strong character designs.

   The issue also features a short prose story by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Alex Maleev - it fills in some gaps in DD's future - and another backup featuring Matt's other alter ego, the silly but entertaining Mike Murdock. It's written and drawn by Karl (and Kurt) Kesel and inked by the legendary Tom Palmer.

   It's an issue that shows how flexible DD can be - able to be concerned parent, a crusader, a vengeful hero, a lover, and a comedian - all in the same issue. It's a good reminder of what a terrific character Daredevil can be - in the right hands.

   Lots of good hands on display here.

Grade: A

-------------------------

All-New X-Men #25

   A comic hitting issue #25 hasn't traditionally been a big deal, but in these days of constant renumbering, I suppose it's something of a milestone.

    Writer Brian Michael Bendis celebrates this "milestone" issue of All-New X-Men by gathering an all-star cast of artists to provide some terrific artwork.

   The story is a pretty thin (and actually somewhat grim) excuse for several poster images of the team and assorted members. But the art almost makes up for it.

   Among the artists included: Bruce Timm, Arthur Adams, Justin Posner, Skottie Young, JG Jones, J. Scott Campbell, Jill Thompson, Paul Smith and Bob Wiacek (among 26 total artists listed).

   It's an odd mishmash, but there's a lot of talent on display here.

   So what's the next milestone - #30?

Grade: B

---------------------

The Classics - Swamp Thing Annual #2

   Before the creation of the Swamp Thing, most of DC's so-called horror comics were pretty tame.

   The original stories by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson pushed the horror envelope, and then in the '80s Alan Moore, Stephen Bissette and John Totleben pushed horror comics into new and frightening territory.

   This massive annual from 1985 is a great example of the power of that creative team. It takes the Swamp Thing on a quest that carries him to the gates of heaven, the depths of hell and all points in-between. He hopes to rescue his beloved Abigail - her body still lives, bot her soul has been cast into hell.

   During the journey he runs into a pantheon of supernatural characters in the DC universe, including Deadman, the Phantom Stranger, the Spectre and the Demon.

   Each is reimagined into a much more fearful or mysterious figure than ever before. Moore manages to pump more life into them in a few pages that most writers managed in years of stories.

   For the first time in a mainstream comic, we get a look at the true horrors of hell - and the Swamp Thing gets to see the suffering of some of his past opponents.

   The art is simply stunning. Bissette and Totleben create some amazing compositions here, but always with a gritty, real-world edge to the characters and settings. They were born to create stunning vistas and compelling stories - and it's amazing to see how effortlessly they go from horror to scenes of gentle beauty.

   After this story, none of these characters were ever the same. A door to a more adult, genuinely unsettling horror had been opened, and it was never to be closed again.

Grade: A

----------------------

New Comic Book Day!

   Here's what I picked up today:

- All-New X-Men #25 - Special anniversary issue!

- Astro City #11 - Mistress of the mystic arts!

- Captain Marvel #2 - Adventures in space.

- Daredevil #1.5 - DD celebrates 50 years!

- Doop #1 - Yep - Doop.

- Iron Fist #1 - Back again!

- Iron Man #24 - Up against magic and the Mandarin's rings.

- Magnus #2 - Jailbreak!

- Nightcrawler #1 - I was going to pass on this, and then I saw it was written by Chris Claremont.

- Star Wars #16 - Royal romance.

- Superman / Wonder Woman #7 - Recovery, and the return of a powerful foe.

- World's Finest #22 - Blast from the past.

   And that's it!

----------------------

Caliban #1

   You can usually count on writer Garth Ennis to serve up a hard-edged story, and he does that (and then some) in the new science fiction horror comic Caliban.

   It's actually a straightforward tale focused on the starship named Caliban (natch), which is transporting a living cargo - workers for a mining colony.

   As the story begins we meet the quirky members of the crew, a mix of likable and not-so-likable characters.

   Their journey runs into a major problem - literally - when they encounter what appears to be an alien ship - and that's when the real horror begins.

   The art is by Facundo Percio, and it captures the dark, cramped conditions aboard the ship - and offers a sharp design for the alien encounters, too.

   Science fiction is all too rare in comics today (sad to say), so it's nice to see a smart SF story. It's not for kids - there are some grisly moments here - but it's a strong start for this new series.

Grade: A-

-------------------------

Real Heroes #1

   Bryan Hitch has made his name in the comics industry as a terrific artist, but for what may be the first time, he's also taking on the writing chores.

   The result is Real Heroes, and it's one of those comics where things are not what they seem.

   (The trick, of course, is talking about it without giving away any of the surprises.)

   The focus is on a super-team known as The Olympians and the connection between that team an a group of actors. What seems like fun and games suddenly becomes deadly serious, and the question is, who will be a real hero, and who will be a fraud?

   It's a clever bit of business as the characters are mash-ups of familiar heroes and real-life individuals (you'll recognize them as they fly past).

   As always, Hitch's art (inked by Paul Neary) is fantastic - taking comic art to a new level of realism while maintaining a dynamic energy.

   The good news is, his writing is also quite good (if a bit wordy in the beginning), as he sets up an interesting conflict and an intriguing cast of characters.

   When Hitch tackles a series, attention should be paid - and this is definitely a series to watch.

Grade: A

-----------------------


 
 

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

   If you'd told me 10 years ago that Marvel would be cranking out blockbuster films featuring some of my favorite Marvel heroes, I would have laughed in your face.

   But here I sit, having just seen the second Captain America movie, and guess what? It's one of "Hollywood's" best action movies since The Avengers.

   Is it better than that film? (That's the first thing everyone asks.) It doesn't quite manage that - but it's very close.

   Where the first Cap movie was a World War II period piece (with some science fiction elements thrown in), this is an espionage / action film, with some genuinely surprising plot twists, great action sequences (both real and CGI), some good character beats, well-placed humor and a lot of heart.

   The story starts with a rollicking rescue sequence on a highjacked ship at sea, and launches right into the mystery of who has infiltrated SHIELD and what their ultimate goals are.

   The movie is actually a team adventure, with the Black Widow getting more room to grow (glad to hear she's getting her own films), Nick Fury taking a much more active role in the adventuring and the Falcon joining the Marvel film universe.

   As the title gives away, Cap runs up against the Winter Soldier, a brutal opponent who has surprising connections to Cap (unless you've read the comics - or any articles about the movie, both of which give away those surprises).

   Better than being just another action flick, this is a movie with some ideas behind it, and it scores some points for hitting some thoughtful buttons about our digital society and the price of vigilance - and freedom.

   Since Cap has always been one of my favorite characters, I love Chris Evans' portrayal of him as a Gary Cooper-like good guy who's willing to tackle the dirty jobs to protect his country. But he's not humorless or a cipher - he has a sense of humor, he's intelligent, he's humble - but a great leader and extremely capable, and willing to go to great pains to protect his friends.

   If I had to complain about something, it would be the sometimes extreme violence - there's a lot of shooting going on here, and you have to think some innocent civilians got caught in the crossfire. But this film is never gory or repulsive - it's all about the action, not the violence.

   I wanted to see this before too many of the surprises could be spoiled - and I urge you to do the same. It's a terrific film - kudos to Marvel Studios for once again hitting it out of the park!

Grade: A

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Guardians of the Galaxy Prelude #1 (of 2)

   My first reaction to this series was: isn't that nice.

   Nice that the Guardians of the Galaxy Prelude is written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, the writing team who revived Marvel's cosmic lineup almost six years ago, including a brand-new roster for GoG and a modern-day setting for the team.

   This series is (I presume) intended to provide some backstory for the characters who appear in the upcoming film.

   I honestly don't remember the origin story for the character named Nebula, but I know it doesn't match what we see here. This is the story for the film version of that character, played by the lovely Karen Gillan (and let me just say, heck yeah!).

   The blue-skinned space pirate is now a protege of Thanos, and we flash back to see her training alongside Gamora, the (now) Guardian known as the "Most Dangerous Woman in the Universe."

   Their training is brutal, harsh and gives us a look inside the plans of the movie version of Thanos. The story is fast-paced and interesting (if a bit rough for young readers).

   The art is by Wellinton Alves and Manny Clark, and it's quite good - clean, efficient, with clear storytelling and strong character designs.

   I don't think this is required reading before seeing the anxiously-awaited movie, but it certainly couldn't hurt - especially since some of the rules have been changed, along with some origins.

Grade: B+

-----------------------

Aquaman and the Others #1

   So far this week is 0-for-2.

   Today's "swing and a miss" is Aquaman and the Others.

   I was surprised, because I enjoyed the original story that introduced the offbeat team of Aquaman's pre-Justice League allies.

   The story by Dan Jurgens covers the basics - it introduces the members of the team, puts them in danger immediately (they're all attacked by mysterious mercenaries), brings Aquaman into the mix and provides a bit of a cliffhanger (which teases the next big crossover event).

   But the story just meanders around without explaining much of anything. Why are the team's powers malfunctioning? Who is behind the mercenaries? Why should we be cheering on the Others? You'll get no answers here.

   The art by Lan Medina and Allen Martinez is solid, with good character designs and traditional layouts, but it suffers the usual team book problem - it has to crowd so many characters in, the art feels cramped and limited.

   It's a weak start to the series, though there's time to turn it around. The story features several unique, compelling characters - they just need some room to fly.

Grade: B-

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Inhuman #1

   Sometimes you read a comic, and for whatever reason, it just doesn't work.

   Here's one now.

   Inhuman has a good writer, Charles Soule, who's doing excellent work on She-Hulk. It has a fine artist, Joe Madureira, who has a stellar career of solid work.

   But this issue, coming on the heels (if that's the right phrase) of the still-ongoing Inhumanity series, and spinning out of the Infinity mini-series, is dedicated to the Inhumans - a race of humans who were artificially evolved in the planet's pre-history.

   As part of Infinity, the king of the Inhumans, Black Bolt, released the Terrigen Mist onto the world, transforming (or threatening to transform) seemingly normal people into super-powered (or severely mutated) creatures.

   So you have an issue filled with twisted imagery, a powerful Inhuman pursuing a deadly purpose, strange transformations, and lots of death.

   And perhaps it's the casual death that bothers me - it's all too common in comics theses days, to the point that it loses all meaning.

   But more likely it's the lack of a protagonist. The main character is a murderous mystery figure,  and Medusa isn't particularly sympathetic or welcoming and is really a minor character here.

    Look, I've enjoyed the Inhumans since they first appeared in the Fantastic Four (just before Galactus' first appearance). But they've never hit it big because, well, they're just too strange. There needs to be some common ground for the reader to latch onto.

   So far, I don't see any evidence of that here - just lots of sturm an drang.

   The've got the "In" (for incredible) part of the series worked out, but not much in the way of "Human" (or humanity) in evidence,

   Back to the drawing board.

Grade: C+

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The Classics - T.H.E. Cat #4

   It's amazing to realize how much the world of entertainment has changed.

   A mere 50 years ago, there were no digital recorders, no cable or satellite TV, no VCRs - if you liked a TV show, for example, you watched it when it was being aired, or you missed it. (Young people find this impossible to believe.)

   And no matter how much you liked it, if the ratings failed, the show went away - and reruns didn't exist, either, so it was gone forever.

   One of the shows I loved that disappeared suddenly was an adventure show called T.H.E. Cat. 

   First aired in the 1967 - 68 season on NBC, it was about a cat burglar named Thomas Hewitt Edward Cat (natch) who (apparently) reformed his old ways and used his skills to help the good guys. 

   He typically dressed all in black, regularly scaled walls with a hook on the end of a rope, broke into impregnable buildings and used his skills (including martial arts skills) to trap criminals and bring them to justice. The show starred Robert Loggia, and I didn't miss an episode - I thought he was the coolest hero ever.  

   But the dark, clever show didn't get the ratings, so it was cancelled at the end of the season - and I've never seen an episode since. 

   Thankfully, Dell Comics picked up the rights and ran several issues in 1967 - although, to be honest, it was a pretty thin version - this issue, for example, has three 9-page stories that bear only the slightest resemblance to the series, although the art is nicely moody (there are no credits listed, as was the norm for Dell).

   But the comic wasn't a hit, either, and soon faded away just like the series - but unlike the TV show, I can still haul out the comic and get that nostalgic blast, and travel back to my childhood again. 

   So what I'm saying is, comic books are far superior to television. 

   And I'm a geezer.

Grade: B-

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New Comics Day!

   A light week (which is good, since last week was a heavy one). 

   Here's what I picked up today:

- Aquaman and the Others #1 - Aquaman has a brand new gang!

- Caliban #1 - Collision in space!

- Guardians of the Galaxy Prelude #1 (of 2) - Getting ready for the movie.

- Inhuman #1 - There's a new race in town.

- Loki #3 - Getting into mischief.

- Real Heroes #1 - A new super-team created, written and drawn by Bryan Hitch.

- She-Hulk #3 - The Doctor (Doom) is in.

   And that's it!

BubbleGun #5

   This series has been a wacky, offbeat science fiction tale of futuristic mercenaries and their battle with a corporate giant.

   But this issue of BubbleGun (which wraps up the mini-series) feels rushed, like the creative team - writer Mark Roslan and artist ­Mike Bowden - realized about halfway through the issue that they only had a few pages left to wrap everything up.

   The issue is a big fight sequence, as the BubbleGun team works with its bitter enemies to fight a powerful opponent (and his army of robots). Molli leads this offbeat gathering in an attempt to rescue her sister and a cyber-boy (whatever that is).

   It's all chaotic, with spunky gals taking on hulking guys in armor.

   It's fast and breezy, and the art is fun (if a bit uneven in spots). The series has lots of potential - and I love the title - so hopefully it'll get another run to prove itself.

Grade: C+

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