Dean’s Drive-by Reviews
My pull list is way too long, so every week there are at least a few comics that I read that didn’t get a feature review from me or my colleagues here at WCBR. Nonetheless, they deserve some kudos (or a warning sign) as a service to our loyal readers.
Strange Tales II #2 - What a star this was! It was my pick of the week in a really strong week. What you have here is an anthology featuring a bunch of independent creators taking a whack at our favorite Marvel characters. The stories are all complete one-off, out-of-continuity stuff, but boy are they fun. Keep an eye out for a left over issue of this when you head to the comic shop this week. Grade: A-
X-Men: To Serve and Protect #1 – Marvel should really just have a series called “X-Men Anthology” that allows a variety of established and new creators to tell quickie stories in the current X-Men continuity. Fun stuff abounds: Rockslide and Anole taking a Dark Knight turn and fighting crime vigilante style, Emma getting her trip to the spa interrupted by an over-libidoed Mandrill, Cyper being heroic (with art by Pepe Larraz who I really like)…. It’s all good. Grade: B+
I, Zombie #7 – This series took a few issues to get going, mostly because it took Roberson awhile to get all of his toys out of the box. It is a complex world that he has created. But, now that it is humming along I’m really enjoying the antics of Gwen the zombie and her band of friends. It has an almost Scooby-Doo feel (think I may have heard someone make that comparison on a podcast, but can’t remember who). I wish there was more of a connection between the monster hunters and Gwyn though. Perhaps there is a connection and I’ve just misplaced it in my brain? Also….Mike Allred art! Colors by Laura Allred. This is the softest style in mainstream comics (if you consider Vertigo mainstream) and I love it. Kudos to anyone who can draw a pretty lady in gravedigger overalls without resorting to heaving bosoms or having the outfit unbuttoned down to her navel. Grade: B
Punisher: In the Blood #1 – Now that he isn’t Franken-Castle any more, we can have plain, old Punisher back in the Marvel 616 universe. What you have here is a pretty classic intro to a Punisher story. The main villain is Jigsaw and that’ll probably please classic Punisher fans who didn’t like the monstrous turn that Remender took them on. Boschi really nails it from an art standpoint. It’s a little unclear if Punisher is going to have an ongoing in the Marvel 616 universe as this is only a 6-issue mini. The economy is NOT being kind to sales of B-list characters, so it wouldn’t surprise me if Punisher went to a series of minis. Grade: B-
Iron Man – Thor #1 - I was pretty excited about this because it is written by Abnett & Lanning, but for some reason it didn’t stick to me at all. I had to pull the issue out of the bag just now to remind myself what the story was about. That’s not a good sign. But, that happens when the villain isn’t revealed until the final page and now that I’ve done my remedial homework, it appears to be a story about Thor and Iron Man getting caught up in some plot with the High Evolutionary. This could be fun because Abnett & Lanning should write this sort of story well. I didn’t love the art. It isn’t even remotely “bad”, but Eaton’s work looks very Deodato-y and that just isn’t a style I care for much with harsh, dark shadows even in sunny scenes. I’ll probably keep getting this out of my faith in Abnett & Lanning. Grade: C-
- Dean Stell
Filed under: Marvel Comics, Vertigo Tagged: | Marvel, Vertigo, Mike Allred, Laura Allred, Scot Eaton, Andy Lanning, Rick Remender, Roland Boschi, Dan Abnett, review, Comic Book Reviews, Weekly Comic Book Review, Chris Roberson, Dean Stell, I Zombie, Pepe Larraz, Punisher in the Blood, X-Men To Serve and Protect #1, Punisher In the Blood #1, Strange Tales II, X-Men: To Serve and Protect, Iron Man - Thor, Iron Man/ Thor #1, Iron Man/ Thor #1 review, X-MEN: TO SERVE AND PROTECT # 1 review, PUNISHER: IN THE BLOOD #1 review
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Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks
Dean’s Top Picks
Best From The Past Week: Strange Tales II #2 – I love anthologies and seeing a bunch of indy creators get to play with our favorite Marvel characters from different eras was a real treat. Runners-up: Taskmaster #3 & Scarlet #3
Most Anticipated: Amazing Spider-Man #648 – This is the first issue without the rotating team of creators that have entertained us for the last several years. It will be very interesting to see what Dan Slott will do with this title as the primary creative force.
Other picks: American Vampire #8, Unwritten #19, She-Hulks #1, Halcyon #1, Avengers Prime #3
Alex’s Top Picks
Best From The Past Week: Superboy #1 – This week was all about Jeff Lemire, as his two ongoings were the front runners for pick of the week. In the end though, Superboy gets it, if only for the novelty of being new. That said, this is a great book, one that combines Lemire’s idiosyncracies and unique talents with his clear love for the DCU. It’s a thoughtful, high-quality product, but one that’s also written by a writer whose excitement is utterly infectious.
Most Anticipated: T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 – I don’t know a damned thing about the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents property beyond what the solicitation text has told me about this issue. What I do know a lot about are the creative team of Nick Spencer and CAFU, which is a ridiculously good one. T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agent’s hook is a cool one but, more than that, I’m hoping that the fact that this is a relaunch of a long dormant property will allow Spencer and CAFU a good amount of freedom, as both are very, very good at what they do.
Other Picks: Amazing Spider-Man #648, Thor #617, Chew #15, American Vampire #8, Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #6, New Avengers #6, the Unwritten #19 Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Comic Book Reviews, Weekly Comic Book Review, Avengers Prime #3, Amazing Spider man 648, She-Hulks 1, Thor 617, American Vampire #8, Unwritten #19, Halcyon #1, Chew #15, Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #6, New Avengers #6, the Unwritten #19, T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1