lol, reviews!
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:53 pm
In this post I will do a quick once-over of all the titles that I read that came out on Wednesday. The format will be as follows - Title/issue #, quick review, then a liked it/didn't like it declaration.
52 #14 (DC) - More crazy twists and turns in this weekly comic. Good emoting from Steel, and the whole Kahndaq situation with both Black Adam/Isis and Montoya/The Question is getting very interesting. Not bad - there have been better issues of 52, but with a weekly series like this, there are some that are going to be slow.
Beyond #2 (Marvel) - Medusa is a bad ass and Hank Pym is a weenie. Gravity shows some gravitas (see what I did there?) and probably becomes my favorite character in the series so far - he risks his own life to retrieve Spider-Man's body (who died last issue!). The story is becoming interesting, even though I have little hope that it will actually impact on continuity any. Fun series.
Civil War Frontline #5 (Marvel) - I'm really digging this whole Civil War, and Frontline is no exception. This one was a little slow, but it set up some very cool plot points for not only the next issue, but Civil War as a whole as well. Worth picking up if you're liking Civil War.
Fables #52 (DC/Vertigo) - Already to 52? I have issue #1 sitting around here somewhere... Anyway, really really crazy issue. Again, not much happens. This is like the 'week of setups' or something. However, things have just taken a turn for the worse for our beleaguered Fables, and I do not envy them next issue at all. Also a charming 4-page back up story for a fairy tale princess. If you're reading Fables, pick it up. If you aren't, go back and get the trades right now (if you're 18 or older).
Green Arrow #65 (DC) - Nothing too spectacular. Deathstroke continues acting out of character, Green Arrow and Speedy have a bit of a chat while fighting some hoodlums, and Green Lantern shows up ... for no real reason. I haven't really been following the title much though, and I know there are people that are really liking it. Not so much for me.
Incredible Hulk #97 (Marvel) - Planet Hulk is amazing. This is what Hulk should be - warlord of some crazy planet where there are actual threats to him. Watch him beat the crap out of huge alien things! The artwork matches the writing perfectly. I'm really liking his 'lieutenants,' making them actual characters instead of just ways to advance the plot. And there's a crazy surprise ending involving one of his close allies...
Ms. Marvel #6 (Marvel) - More Civil War stuff. We learn that some of the heroes working for the government might be playing both sides of the law ... If you're reading CW, get it. If you're reading Ms. Marvel, get it. If not, this isn't the best jump on point.
New X-Men #29 (Marvel) - I've liked this book for awhile, but it's never really been a favorite. It's consistently good, and there's a good balance between the characters. Sometimes the characterization of the older X-Men is a little off though. What I thought was really awesome about this issue was a little nod to continuity. The New X-Men suit up for a mission, including the de-powered David. He comes on the jet wearing what looks to be a bullet-proof vest. One of the students asks why, he responds with, "Ever hear of a student named Doug Ramsey? That's why." Definitely worth a read.
Secret Six #3 (DC) - I love Gail Simone's writing. Top-notch stuff. The only unfortunate thing is that it will end at issue six, and the Mad Hatter just doesn't seem to fit in well (though him putting little hats on all the fruit was kind of funny).
She-Hulk #10 (Marvel) - Go pick up the She-Hulk trades and catch up on this series. One of the most fun comics out there right now - this issue includes three comic geeks arguing about what She-Hulk series is which volume (since Marvel Comics exist in the Marvel Universe, and for a time they had the Comics Code Authority stamp on them, they are admissible in court as legal documents to prove precedent). All in all, good stuff.
Spider-Man Family Featuring The Amazing Friends (Marvel) - Three doses of funny from this issue, with a couple doses of nostalgia. Just in time for the 25th anniversary of the cartoon featuring Spider-Man, Iceman, and Firestar comes this great issue. In the first story, Spider-Man attempts to play cupid for the two heroes. In the second (a Chris Giarscuro Mini-Marvel Tale), Spidey gets two new co-workers at the Daily Bugle and hilarity ensues. Next up are reprints of an Untold Tales issue and a Spider-Man 2099 issue. Then it closes with a tale of Petey Parker (before he was Spider-Man!) thwarting the rebirth of Hydra in typical Archie hijinks fashion. Worth a read!
Squadron Supreme #6 (Marvel) - Features probably the funniest moment in this week's comics. When being questioned about how he knew about all the other heroes' weaknesses when the government research team couldn't figure them out, Emil Burbank wrote 'The Smartest Man on Earth' with an arrow pointing to him. Other than that, standard Squadron fare. I did like how The Blur tries to recruit Nighthawk to be the team's conscience.
Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 (Marvel) - Spider-Man learns that sometimes the police aren't always the good guys. Ultimate Daredevil comes up with a very interesting idea toward the end that I, for one, want to see where he's going with it. At the very least, a Daredevil/Moon Knight team up is in the works.
Ultimate X-Men #73 (Marvel) - Ha! I was right! Magician is going down. Yes, he looked like a Gary-Sue at first, but now his little world is crumbling down around him. No Nightcrawler at all this issue, but it looks like he took Dazzler out of the hospital. I think we'll get all the Ultimate Kurt we want out of the Ultimate X-Men annual due out soon. Oh yeah, and Jean Grey's back.
Wolverine Origins #5 (Marvel) - Some crazy revelations this issue, some fun fight scenes (even if all the men's faces look exactly the same - seriously, compare Wolverine's face to Hellion's), and a surprising trust placed in Cyclops.
Alright, that's it. Those are the ones I read. If something came out this week that I haven't read yet, let me know and I'll try and get a mini-review up on Friday about it.
Special thanks to Saint Kurt for the mini-review idea. If people find this helpful, fun, or at least read it, I'll keep it up each week. Also, I want a better title for the thread. Wednesday Roundup is so lame.
-edit-
Spaz and I teamed up to come up with a better name for the thread. Think you can beat it? Send in your suggestions!
-edit-
[Edited on 10-8-2006 by idsunki]
52 #14 (DC) - More crazy twists and turns in this weekly comic. Good emoting from Steel, and the whole Kahndaq situation with both Black Adam/Isis and Montoya/The Question is getting very interesting. Not bad - there have been better issues of 52, but with a weekly series like this, there are some that are going to be slow.
Beyond #2 (Marvel) - Medusa is a bad ass and Hank Pym is a weenie. Gravity shows some gravitas (see what I did there?) and probably becomes my favorite character in the series so far - he risks his own life to retrieve Spider-Man's body (who died last issue!). The story is becoming interesting, even though I have little hope that it will actually impact on continuity any. Fun series.
Civil War Frontline #5 (Marvel) - I'm really digging this whole Civil War, and Frontline is no exception. This one was a little slow, but it set up some very cool plot points for not only the next issue, but Civil War as a whole as well. Worth picking up if you're liking Civil War.
Fables #52 (DC/Vertigo) - Already to 52? I have issue #1 sitting around here somewhere... Anyway, really really crazy issue. Again, not much happens. This is like the 'week of setups' or something. However, things have just taken a turn for the worse for our beleaguered Fables, and I do not envy them next issue at all. Also a charming 4-page back up story for a fairy tale princess. If you're reading Fables, pick it up. If you aren't, go back and get the trades right now (if you're 18 or older).
Green Arrow #65 (DC) - Nothing too spectacular. Deathstroke continues acting out of character, Green Arrow and Speedy have a bit of a chat while fighting some hoodlums, and Green Lantern shows up ... for no real reason. I haven't really been following the title much though, and I know there are people that are really liking it. Not so much for me.
Incredible Hulk #97 (Marvel) - Planet Hulk is amazing. This is what Hulk should be - warlord of some crazy planet where there are actual threats to him. Watch him beat the crap out of huge alien things! The artwork matches the writing perfectly. I'm really liking his 'lieutenants,' making them actual characters instead of just ways to advance the plot. And there's a crazy surprise ending involving one of his close allies...
Ms. Marvel #6 (Marvel) - More Civil War stuff. We learn that some of the heroes working for the government might be playing both sides of the law ... If you're reading CW, get it. If you're reading Ms. Marvel, get it. If not, this isn't the best jump on point.
New X-Men #29 (Marvel) - I've liked this book for awhile, but it's never really been a favorite. It's consistently good, and there's a good balance between the characters. Sometimes the characterization of the older X-Men is a little off though. What I thought was really awesome about this issue was a little nod to continuity. The New X-Men suit up for a mission, including the de-powered David. He comes on the jet wearing what looks to be a bullet-proof vest. One of the students asks why, he responds with, "Ever hear of a student named Doug Ramsey? That's why." Definitely worth a read.
Secret Six #3 (DC) - I love Gail Simone's writing. Top-notch stuff. The only unfortunate thing is that it will end at issue six, and the Mad Hatter just doesn't seem to fit in well (though him putting little hats on all the fruit was kind of funny).
She-Hulk #10 (Marvel) - Go pick up the She-Hulk trades and catch up on this series. One of the most fun comics out there right now - this issue includes three comic geeks arguing about what She-Hulk series is which volume (since Marvel Comics exist in the Marvel Universe, and for a time they had the Comics Code Authority stamp on them, they are admissible in court as legal documents to prove precedent). All in all, good stuff.
Spider-Man Family Featuring The Amazing Friends (Marvel) - Three doses of funny from this issue, with a couple doses of nostalgia. Just in time for the 25th anniversary of the cartoon featuring Spider-Man, Iceman, and Firestar comes this great issue. In the first story, Spider-Man attempts to play cupid for the two heroes. In the second (a Chris Giarscuro Mini-Marvel Tale), Spidey gets two new co-workers at the Daily Bugle and hilarity ensues. Next up are reprints of an Untold Tales issue and a Spider-Man 2099 issue. Then it closes with a tale of Petey Parker (before he was Spider-Man!) thwarting the rebirth of Hydra in typical Archie hijinks fashion. Worth a read!
Squadron Supreme #6 (Marvel) - Features probably the funniest moment in this week's comics. When being questioned about how he knew about all the other heroes' weaknesses when the government research team couldn't figure them out, Emil Burbank wrote 'The Smartest Man on Earth' with an arrow pointing to him. Other than that, standard Squadron fare. I did like how The Blur tries to recruit Nighthawk to be the team's conscience.
Ultimate Spider-Man Annual #2 (Marvel) - Spider-Man learns that sometimes the police aren't always the good guys. Ultimate Daredevil comes up with a very interesting idea toward the end that I, for one, want to see where he's going with it. At the very least, a Daredevil/Moon Knight team up is in the works.
Ultimate X-Men #73 (Marvel) - Ha! I was right! Magician is going down. Yes, he looked like a Gary-Sue at first, but now his little world is crumbling down around him. No Nightcrawler at all this issue, but it looks like he took Dazzler out of the hospital. I think we'll get all the Ultimate Kurt we want out of the Ultimate X-Men annual due out soon. Oh yeah, and Jean Grey's back.
Wolverine Origins #5 (Marvel) - Some crazy revelations this issue, some fun fight scenes (even if all the men's faces look exactly the same - seriously, compare Wolverine's face to Hellion's), and a surprising trust placed in Cyclops.
Alright, that's it. Those are the ones I read. If something came out this week that I haven't read yet, let me know and I'll try and get a mini-review up on Friday about it.
Special thanks to Saint Kurt for the mini-review idea. If people find this helpful, fun, or at least read it, I'll keep it up each week. Also, I want a better title for the thread. Wednesday Roundup is so lame.
-edit-
Spaz and I teamed up to come up with a better name for the thread. Think you can beat it? Send in your suggestions!
-edit-
[Edited on 10-8-2006 by idsunki]