Guest Review - Jungle Jim #2

   Hey, it's Guest Review time - and my pal Glen Davis is here with a look at one of the King titles (as in King Features).

   Today, it's back to nature with Jungle Jim:

   This second issue of Jungle Jim changes genre, from the horror-based first issue into a dime novel adventure.

   After he puts some clothes on, Jungle Jim explains his origin and shows us his personality, He seems to be something of a cross of James Robinson's version of Congo Bill, with a lot of Commander McBragg and some Harry Flashman thrown in for good measure.

   The story itself is very much like a dime novel adventure, nearly free of irony. There's sneaking about, explosions, fisticuffs, everything but a steam-powered Edisonade device, and I'm not so sure that one isn't coming later.

   The art, though, is a concern. Even with the simplified art, there are notable differences between each of the three artists who drew the book. At first, I wasn't so sure it wasn't some kind of meta device, but that doesn't seem to be the case. 

    All in all, a satisfactory book, but it needs more consistent art.

Grade: B+

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Powers #2

   The genius of Powers (well, one of several) is that it keeps reinventing itself.

   It started out as a police procedural about a couple of police detectives assigned to crimes connected to people with super-powers - or as they're called in this reality, "Powers."

   The series is raw - grim and gritty, with enough bad language, nudity, extreme violence and sex to get an "R" rating - if it was a movie.

   (It's now a TV show, but I have to admit that I haven't seen it - yet.)

   The effort with this latest version seems to be to get the series back to its original concept - so the detectives have lost their own (temporary) Powers, and after a brief stint with the FBI (in the last version of the series), one is now back to work with the police force - and the other seems bent on self-destruction.

   And a major mystery is brewing, as a Power is apparently behind a mass murder, and the police must sort through all the bodies to track down the source of the murders.

   It's a great series as long as you can handle the adult, hard-boiled nature of the title.

   Great story, great art, great characters, and you never know what's going to happen next! Brilliant!

Grade: A-

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Guardians of the Galaxy #25

   As feared, by this point the whole Black Vortex storyline (which is crossing through various titles, including several I don't buy) is unraveling like a cheap scarf.

   You have assorted teams made up of mixed-up members of the Guardians of the Galaxy and the All-New X-Men - oh, and thrown Nova in for good measure (no doubt Spider-Man was booked up).

   They're all off on various missions that seem to have nothing to do with the mystery of the Black Vortex, which is the 2001-ish McGuffin that everyone's looking for but no one knows what to do with.

   And some of the events in this issue don't even make sense. At one point Nova grabs the Black Vortex, only to have it swiped by one of the generic bad guys - but at the end of the issue, he has it back, but we have no idea how that happened.

   There's massive destruction and death, characters who change attitude in mid-stream, and not much coherence in evidence.

   I was hoping for better from this series. It started out strong, but this issue doesn't fill me with optimism.

Grade: C+

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Uncanny X-Men #32

   As we draw to the end of writer Brian Michael Bendis' run on Uncanny X-Men (and All-New X-Men), we start seeing signs that he's wrapping up some loose ends.

   In this Cyclops-centric issue, that motion is captured in a heart-to-heart discussion between Scott Summers and his brother Alex (Havok).

   It's a low-key issue (though there are some fireworks as Cyclops prepares to shut down his School for Mutants), as he confronts his actions since the death of Professor Xavier - a death he may have caused.

    The issue lets us see the human side of the team of mutants, and settles some long-simmering issues.

   Best of all, it's loaded with some actual humor - something we don't see enough of in this series.

   Hopefully it's not too late to redeem Cyke (and restore Prof. X). But that may be asking for too much.

   (What's another resurrection between friends?)

Grade: A-

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New Avengers #32

   Hoo boy, am I running late this week - the real world has made blogging difficult, so for the next few days I'll be posting mini-reviews to get back on track. 

   We should be back to our normal efforts soon - thanks for your patience!

     What's not to like about a battle between the New Avengers team of gods and a mysterious (and possibly invincible) cosmic opponent?

   This issue absolutely kicks arse, in a Seven Samurai-style showdown at the edge of the universe.

   I commented recently that I wasn't crazy about Jonathan Hickman's take on Dr. Strange (everyone has a weak spot), but I love his take on Thor, who's been showing his true warrior potential in the series (unlike his own title, which has been taken over by an impostor).

   There's a scene in here that made me laugh out loud with pure delight. You'll know it when you see it. There are also grim, sad moments, and amazing art by Mike Deodato.

   Great, great comic!

Grade: A

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Multiversity Ultra Comics #1

   Despite its serious tone, this issue of Multiversity had me smiling a lot.

   That's because this issue is trying to get into your head - and it succeeds!

   It's something comics have been trying to do for a long time. In the late 1980s I interviewed DC editor Julius Schwartz (what a character!), and he talked about the importance of a strong cover to generate sales.

   He said one of the comics that had strong sales was an issue of The Flash in the '60s that featured a closeup of that hero, holding up his hand and saying (in huge letters) "STOP! Don't pass up this issue! My life depends on it!"

   So here we have writer Grant Morrison, who has (with this series) been playing the comics medium like a maestro, going totally meta.

   So we meet the hero Ultra (or is he called Ultra Comics?), who talks to you, the reader.

   I know, it sounds silly - but it's so artfully done that you have to admire the way the story gets in your head, playing with your concept of how comics work and how you react to them.

   It doesn't hurt that the finely-crafted art is by Doug Mahnke (with three inkers), one of the best in DC's stable.

   This issue will keep you guessing throughout. You might even be tempted to put it down without finishing it - but it would take a stronger person that me to manage that.

   Just wonderful!

Grade: A+

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The Classics - Guy Gardner Warrior #20

   All the rumpus about the recently pulled cover of Batgirl (which depicted her bound and at the mercy of The Joker) reminded me of a similar incident from 1994 that most readers may not know about.

    It happened in this issue of Guy Gardner Warrior - then in the hands of writer Beau Smith.

   As he once told the story, he and artist Mitch Byrd worked on this issue, but his editors weren't happy with the first two pages, which depicted something you hadn't seen in a comic up to that point - namely, Wonder Woman getting beaten badly by several monstrous aliens.

   "You can't do that with Wonder Woman," Beau was told. His response: "Why not? You wouldn't have said anything if it was Superman or Batman getting beaten up. Several other heroes are taking a beating in that scene - why should she be any different?"

   The editors had to admit that he had a point - and the scene was left in place (and I have to admit, it's still pretty shocking today).

   The story was smack in the middle of a difficult time for the comic. The Green Lantern Corps was being destroyed over in GL's comic, as Hal Jordan had gone mad and become a mass murderer. (How much did I hate that storyline? With a white-hot intensity.)

   So the creative team had to come up with a different power source for Guy. For a while (this issue included) he wielded one of Sinestro's yellow power rings, but that would eventually go away.

   The real treat this issue is the interaction between Guy and the assorted hero guest stars. Beau was one of the few writers (Chuck Dixon was another) who could properly write Guy as a tough-as-nails, put-up-with-no-guff, straight-talking, kind-of-a-jerk-but-a-hero-throughout kinda (ahem) guy.

   (He's also good-hearted under all that gruff, as a quick scene with Ice shows.)

   The art by Mitch Byrd and Dan Davis is terrific - powerful, with an organic, larger-than-life, pyrotechnic take to the life-and-death battle that faces this group of heroes.

   As much as I hated what was going on in Green Lantern's book, I loved the story unfolding here, as Guy Gardner became a hero in his own right - not just an imitation GL.

   Great fun - I'm amazed DC hasn't collected these yet!

Grade: A

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New Comics Day

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

- New Avengers #32 - Battle of the gods!

- Daredevil #14 - A new look for the Man Without Fear?

- Elfquest: Final Quest #8 - A crucial decision!

- Flash #40 - The showdown!

- Guardians of the Galaxy #25 - The true power of the Black Vortex.

- Lady Mechanika #5 - Yet another showdown!

- Multiversity Ultra Comics #1 - As Meta as all get-out.

- Powers #2 - Where is Walker?

- Thanos vs Hulk #4 - Considering the title, there's not much Thanos content here. Lots of Hulk, though.

- Uncanny X-Men #32 - A brotherly heart-to-heart.

   And that's it!

The Michael Moorcock Library: Elric of Melnibone

    Most sword-and-sorcery heroes follow a typical mold: they're strapping muscle men, killing monsters with a sword while canoodling with a beautiful, half-naked damsels.

   But writer Michael Moorcock took a completely different approach when he created Elric of Melnibone.

   The heir to the throne of a mystic kingdom, Elric is an albino, given to bouts of weakness, which he offsets with drugs and magic - and eventually by the use of the arcane sword known as Stormbringer, a blade that gives Elric strength by drinking the souls of its victims.

   This volume collects the six-issue 1980s mini-series by writer Roy Thomas, layout and ink artist P. Craig Russell, and pencils by Michael T. Gilbert - and what an amazing, gorgeous volume it is.

   It's the perfect combination of incredible writing (is there anyone better at crafting comics adaptations than Thomas?) and mind-blowing artwork.

   Gilbert and Russell are different artists, but their styles mesh vey well here, creating mystic, flowing environments, stunning character designs and shocking depictions of alien creatures and monsters. Sometimes lovely, sometimes gruesome - you never know what to expect.

   This collection isn't for everyone - it's a dark, adult story, with death, destruction, nudity and terror.

   It's an origin of sorts for Elric, and reveals his connection to dark gods and mystic forces, introduces some of his supporting cast, and describes how he came to possess his mystic sword.

   It's great to see this classic tale being made available to modern audiences. Part horror, part adventure, and all imagination - it's a terrific work and highly recommended!

Grade: A

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We Can Never Go Home #1

   Here's a new title that offers a true rarity - a fresh look at what it means to be a teen with super-powers.

    We Can Never Go Home focuses on two kids in high school facing the usual pressures: peer pressure, sex, bullies, mean girls - but this is no after-school special.

   Madison is a beautiful girl who's part of the elite group at school, until a mysterious event reveals her secret abilities. As her so-called friends turn against her, she finds the only one who understands her is a smart-aleck "geek" named Duncan.

   The writing by Matthew Rosenberg and Patrick Kindlon is terrific - the characters are real, and their reactions are all too real. 

   I really like the artwork by Joshua Hood - I don't think I've ever seen his work before. The layouts are strong and original, and the character designs are fresh and believable. He's crafting a real world here, and the art meshes perfectly with the script.

   This is a comic for older readers - it includes profanity and adult situations.

    The first issue is a home run! I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here!

Grade: A

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Little Nemo Return to Slumberland #4

   There must be someone out there who doesn't love the classic Little Nemo in Slumberland Sunday comic by the great Winsor McCay - but I've never met such a creature.

   Obviously the folks at IDW are fans, so they've brought us a modern-day version that is a remarkable homage to the original.

   It must be at least intimidating to attempt to craft a sequel to that classic work - but I don't see any signs of the strain here.

   This mini-series, Little Nemo Return to Slumberland, is astonishingly faithful, while bringing its own charm and storytelling flourishes to the mix.

   It doesn't hurt that the creative team is perfectly matched to the series. It's written by Eric Shanower, a gifted storyteller with an amazing facility with classic creations like this. (You have read his Oz adaptations, haven't you?)

    The astonishing art is by Gabriel Rodriguez, with colors by Nelson Daniel. It's a wonderful journey of the imagination - bright and colorful and creative to a fault. It's not slavish in imitating McCay's style, but it evokes those glory days while carving out its own, glorious niche.

    Simply a wonderful series - hopefully just the first of many mini-series to carry on McCay's marvelous creation, sparking the imaginations of legions of future artists and writers, all of whom will dream of doing work like this.

Grade: A

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Superman #39

   Are secret identities old hat?

   That seems to be the decision modern writers and editors keep arriving at - but while it works for some characters to have their identities known (Iron Man, Captain America), for many others their secret ID is a crucial part of the character (or at least a fun aspect of the character).

   Many times heroes have revealed their identity (most notably Spider-Man) only to force a future writer to jump through numerous hoops to reestablish it.

   Is Superman about to join their ranks?

   Last issue he revealed his secret identity to one of his human (non-super-hero) friends, and this issue we see how that works out - especially since Superman is temporarily de-powered.

   So it's a day in the life of Clark Kent, who shows what it is to be a hero, powers or not.

   It's a solid issue, with strong art by John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson, and a good script by Geoff Johns.

   I'm still not convinced that Clark should be going around revealing his identity like that - but if you can't trust your best friend, who can you trust?

Grade: A-

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All-New X-Men #39

   You get the sense that Marvel is struggling mightily to keep the ongoing story of "The Black Vortex" on schedule.

   So far they're been successful - but only just barely.

   For example, All-New X-Men #38 (also a Black Vortex tie-in) came out before #37 (which was not) in order to keep on track with the scheduled releases of this series that hops around from title to title.

   Also, Guardians Team-Up has been a weekly book, in order to get issue #3 out in time.

   But, it's to their credit that they've been keeping up so far.

   As for the stories - well, they're a mixed bag. They're actually following the classic structure of the original Justice League stories, where a menace arises, and the large group of heroes (in this case the X-Men, Nova and the Guardians of the Galaxy) split up to deal with the problem.

   The series feels padded though, with side-trips that are just there to provide action sequences - they don't really move the story along.

   The art is this issue is impressive - Andrea Sorrrentino has a painted, Jae Lee-inspired look the her art. It's quite a departure from the other issues in this series, but it's very good.

   So far this series is still fun, but it's starting to get that familiar "four issue story stretched into a dozen issues" feeling. We'll see.

Grade: B

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Batgirl #40

   Fans of this series have wondered if the "new" Batgirl was entirely on the "up and up."

   Since the new creative team arrived, the character has gone through quite a few changes - a new look, a new group of supporting characters, a new location - and she looks like a completely different character.

   The clever cliffhanger last issue brought all those questions to the fore, and (without giving away the plot twist), this issue brings it all to an exciting, city-hanging-in-the-balance, can-Batgirl-and-her-friends-save-the-day conclusion.

   I have to admit that I've been enjoying this series - it's not always easy to follow, and I'm not sure why Barbara's cut ties with her Birds of Prey allies, but the stories are fresh, the approach is unique, and the art is original.

   It's not for everyone, but if you're looking for something fresh, this well worth trying.

Grade: A-

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The Classics - The Golden Age

   I've been giving writer James Robinson a rough time for his recent work on the Fantastic Four, but there are plenty of examples of excellent work on his part.

   One of my favorites was the DC limited series The Golden Age.

   Taking advantage of its Prestige format (and collected afterwards into the handy edition pictured here), the story is set in the period of time between the end of World War II and the early 1950s.

   It's a time of struggle for the heroes and villains from that time period, including most of the All-Star Squadron (or the Justice Society of America, if you prefer).

   Many of them have lost their way and they struggle to find a new purpose. Others are haunted by their war experiences - and some will never be the same.

   It's a complex, adult story (in the best sense of the word) - as heroes like Hourman, Manhunter, Starman, Green Lantern and Johnny Quick try to overcome their own demons. The story nicely weaves their stories together and wraps up in an intense battle that will decide the future of the nation.

   And, oh, that last page!

   I would be remiss if I failed to mention the wonderful artwork by the legendary Paul Smith, who brings these characters out of the world of four-color cartoons and into an intense, incredible story.

   The story isn't for everyone - there's adult language and some intense sequences and imagery - but it manages that true rarity in comics: a serious, adult story that's both moving, thoughtful and uplifting.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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New Comics Day!

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

 

- Batgirl #40 - Will the real Batgirl stand up?

- Doc Savage: Altered States One-shot - He's always angry.

 

- Groo and Friends #3 - Which witch is which?

 

- Guardians Team-Up #3 - It's a Black Vortex crossover.

 

- Hulk #13 - Deadpool horns in.

 

- Little Nemo Return to Slumberland #4 - What a delight this has been.

 

- Princess Leia #2 - A visit to the planet Naboo.

 

- Superman #39 - Human for a day.

 

- All-New X-Men #39 - It's a Black Vortex crossover.

 

   And that's it!

Doctor Who: The 12th Doctor #6

   I've been doing some volunteer work with a local youth group, and I've noticed an interesting trend lately. A surprising number of them - especially girls - are big fans of Doctor Who.

   Perhaps it's just further proof of the growing interest in science fiction, or perhaps it's an indication of the quality of the TV show.

   Whatever the reason, it's certainly great to see, and gives us hope that we'll be enjoying the adventures of the Doctor for years to come.

   Which brings us to the Titan Comics version of the the Doctors, which have also been impressive for both their quality and their skill at "capturing" the personalities of the different actors who filled the role.

   This issue starts a new story arc as the Doctor and his companion Clara start in the middle of an alien invasion on a distant world, and then return to Earth to find a bigger mystery - one that involves a resurrection, a strange new menace, and the possible end of life as we know it.

   It's a fun, fast-paced adventure by writer Robbie Morrison and artist Brian Williamson. They capture the show and the characters perfectly, and they even give us a cliffhanger than just needs the music cue (Oooooweeeeeoooooo) to fit in.

   Fans of the show - like my kids - should be following this comic, too!

Grade: A-

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Ninjak #1

   This was a happy surprise.

   I was sorta kinda a fan of the original Valiant Ninjak series - it was a solid action series through and through.

   But I really really like the new version here - it's a great combination of intense action sequences (such as the opening prison break sequence), sharp characterization (he's very much a the James Bond type of character, if Bond was a bit more mercenary and more wealthy), and terrific artwork.

   The story by Matt Kindt doesn't slow down for a moment, but manages to work in some humor, some good character beats, and sets up a deadly mission for the hero to tackle.

   The art is by Seth Mann and Ulises Arredla, and it's powerful, sexy and dynamic, with fresh layouts and strong character designs.

   The series is off to a great start! Recommended!

Grade: A

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Fantastic Four #644

   Sorry for the scarce posting this week - I'm running behind (work has been crazy lately), so let's get caught up with some quick reviews, and hopefully we'll be back to normal soon.

   Here we are at the next-to-the-last issue of Fantastic Four (yeah right), and the sad thing is: for the first time in about a year-and-a-half, it's starting to feel like an issue of the Fantastic Four.

   The team has finally (apparently) unmasked the villain behind their near-destruction, and they've joined forces with an army of allies and friends to fight back against a global invasion.

   It's all a bit manic, and the art by Leonard Kirk and Karl Kesel is excellent as always, but it feels like it's all coming together far too late - the members of the team have been dragged through the mud, and they're just now finally sorta getting back control of their lives.

   This should be Marvel's best comic, and instead it faces (apparent, yeah, right) cancellation.

   It's a crime.

Grade: B

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Guardians Team-Up #2

   After a strong start to this series, this issue, frankly, falls on its face.

   First of all, no Art Adams artwork.

   Since he drew the first issue, it was reasonable to expect he was drawing the opening story arc - but no such luck.

   The art by Stephen Roux and Jay Leisten isn't bad at all - it only suffers in comparison to Adams.

   But the story is equally weak, which is surprising, since it's written by the usually-reliable Brian Michael Bendis.

   The first issue of Guardians Team-Up featured the Guardians of the Galaxy crash-landing on Earth, where they were confronted by the Avengers.

   A familiar villain pops up to kidnap a member of the team, and this issue is all about the rescue.

   Sadly, there's not a surprise to be found in here (outside of a few funny lines here and there). It all plays out according to the book, and we never really understand why the kidnapping happened in the first place - the explanation we're given doesn't make any sense at all.

   So, a rough start for this new series - two issues in, and it's only batting .500.

Grade: C+

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