Thursday, March 13, 2008
Recent Comics I Have Read
Mighty Avengers #10: The time travel saga continues, with the clever conceit that the flashback pages look like a Marvel comic from 20-30 years ago, including the slogans along the bottom gutter. Dr. Doom is well-presented ("A lot more people hate you than hate me"). Plus the thought balloons are WAY less annoying now.
Birds of Prey #115: Art is good. Zinda is good. Huntress is always good. Black Alice I could do without, as her powers seem ludicrous (she absorbs people's clothing, too?) Still not up to Simonian levels, but making progress.
The Last Defenders #1: A nice turn on the (ludicrous) Initiative concept as the new Defenders are assigned to...New Jersey? Artwork is okay, though Blazing Skull apparently needs to try Adkins. I liked the portrayal of Kyle Richmond as conflicted and self-doubting. Very Marvel, that.
Detective Comics #842: Well, that was kind of a letdown. Is that really all the Magic Armor of Doom does? Give you 'roid rage? As part of some supehero version of The DaVinci Code? Artwork decent, coloring GREAT.
Green Arrow & Black Canary #6: I think Judd Winick has captured the interplay between Canary and Arrow very well. They behave like, well, old friends/lovers, as it should be. Good art, especially with Dinah having an athletic build and realistic boobs as opposed to implanted basketballs,. I thought Mia snoozing in the front seat of the van while "mom" and "dad" talked was unexpectedly sweet.
Powers #28: Ugh. Why does Deena have to have powers? Can I whine about this some more? At least Christian stays out of that ludicrous Milennium Guard get-up. I can only hope this arc ends with Pilgrim losing her power to fry people through their eyeballs.
Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #5 & 6: Superheroes as bad dads is becoming a cliche, but it's well-presented here, even if we have to again swallow the idea that Golden Age heroes have 20-something children. Art is good, rather Chaykin-esque actually. The REALLY gross potential side-effects of shrinking. And Red Bee is presented WAY better as an insect queen villain that that silliness over in Superman.
Wonder Woman #18: Simone is hitting her stride here. The courting rituals were wonderful. Etta Candy: "woo fuckin' woo" = priceless. Artwork was...okay, I guess, though it appears Bernard Chang is convinced Sarah Michelle Gellar should play the lead in the Wonder Woman movie.
Birds of Prey #115: Art is good. Zinda is good. Huntress is always good. Black Alice I could do without, as her powers seem ludicrous (she absorbs people's clothing, too?) Still not up to Simonian levels, but making progress.
The Last Defenders #1: A nice turn on the (ludicrous) Initiative concept as the new Defenders are assigned to...New Jersey? Artwork is okay, though Blazing Skull apparently needs to try Adkins. I liked the portrayal of Kyle Richmond as conflicted and self-doubting. Very Marvel, that.
Detective Comics #842: Well, that was kind of a letdown. Is that really all the Magic Armor of Doom does? Give you 'roid rage? As part of some supehero version of The DaVinci Code? Artwork decent, coloring GREAT.
Green Arrow & Black Canary #6: I think Judd Winick has captured the interplay between Canary and Arrow very well. They behave like, well, old friends/lovers, as it should be. Good art, especially with Dinah having an athletic build and realistic boobs as opposed to implanted basketballs,. I thought Mia snoozing in the front seat of the van while "mom" and "dad" talked was unexpectedly sweet.
Powers #28: Ugh. Why does Deena have to have powers? Can I whine about this some more? At least Christian stays out of that ludicrous Milennium Guard get-up. I can only hope this arc ends with Pilgrim losing her power to fry people through their eyeballs.
Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #5 & 6: Superheroes as bad dads is becoming a cliche, but it's well-presented here, even if we have to again swallow the idea that Golden Age heroes have 20-something children. Art is good, rather Chaykin-esque actually. The REALLY gross potential side-effects of shrinking. And Red Bee is presented WAY better as an insect queen villain that that silliness over in Superman.
Wonder Woman #18: Simone is hitting her stride here. The courting rituals were wonderful. Etta Candy: "woo fuckin' woo" = priceless. Artwork was...okay, I guess, though it appears Bernard Chang is convinced Sarah Michelle Gellar should play the lead in the Wonder Woman movie.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
In Memorium
Like millions of other nerds around the world, my imagination was inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. My best friend once interviewed Gygax for a documentary on gamers and told me what a gracious and accommodating human being he was. That's not too bad a legacy, if you think about it.Labels: Dungeons and Dragons
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Recent Comics I Have Read
Giant-Size Avengers #1: Several short, silly insubstantial stories with artwork ranging from good to dubious, plus two flashbacks--one a classic, the other silly.
Batman#674: Conclusion of the 3rd Man arc. And more Superboy fist/Super Worm powered retconning to further rob Jason Todd's death of any meaning.
Captain America #35: My annoyance at Bucky America is slightly offset by an intriguing and convoluted plot by the Red Skull. Why is the Guice and Perkins art so dark, though?
Invincible #48: A Mole-Man-esque villain captures every hero in the world. More on the Invincible/Atom Eve relationship.
Justice Society of America #13: Pretty good art, including some Alex Ross inserts. The Gog storyline is intriguing.
Teen Titans #56: I like the fact that these Titans are presented as real teenagers, apt to stupidity and bone-headed stunts. In this issue, Kid Devil, the nerd of superhero-dom, stars as a "walking teen cliche."
Wonder Woman #17: Wonder Woman defeats a secret cabal of Amazonian fundamentalists. Artwork a little weak at points and Simone's writing is a tad...off, maybe? Stiff? Just doesn't have the sparkle of Birds of Prey. Probably just needs a little more time.
Batman#674: Conclusion of the 3rd Man arc. And more Superboy fist/Super Worm powered retconning to further rob Jason Todd's death of any meaning.
Captain America #35: My annoyance at Bucky America is slightly offset by an intriguing and convoluted plot by the Red Skull. Why is the Guice and Perkins art so dark, though?
Invincible #48: A Mole-Man-esque villain captures every hero in the world. More on the Invincible/Atom Eve relationship.
Justice Society of America #13: Pretty good art, including some Alex Ross inserts. The Gog storyline is intriguing.
Teen Titans #56: I like the fact that these Titans are presented as real teenagers, apt to stupidity and bone-headed stunts. In this issue, Kid Devil, the nerd of superhero-dom, stars as a "walking teen cliche."
Wonder Woman #17: Wonder Woman defeats a secret cabal of Amazonian fundamentalists. Artwork a little weak at points and Simone's writing is a tad...off, maybe? Stiff? Just doesn't have the sparkle of Birds of Prey. Probably just needs a little more time.
