Comic Book Critique

Ms. Marvel 1

2006-05-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

I've said in the past that it's a shame Marvel and DC don't do more series using characters other than the big names. Where is Heroes For Hire or the Cloak And Dagger of today? I'm a sucker for a b-list characters getting their own series. If DC published an Absolute edition of the 90s Hourman series, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Of course, I'd have to dodge the flying pigs and the monkeys coming out of my butt while hell freezes over, but it would still be worth it.

So, it should come as no surprise that I bought Ms. Marvel's first issue. Unfortunately, I don't think this will reverse the trend. It's not bad. Roberto De La Torre, who I'm not familiar with, draws a good Ms. Marvel (although her breasts often look larger than her head) and the whole look of the title has a brightness to it that feels appropriate. Brian Reed (who I'm also not familiar with) sets thing up nicely. After the House of M experience, in which Ms. Marvel found herself as the superhero she'd always wished she could be, she has decided to push herself to do more, to achieve the level of greatness she received a taste of in that alternate reality.

It's a good premise, but maybe Marvel should have done a test run of this as mini-series first. Her first villain is the Brood. It's nice to see them again, but I worry that once they're defeated, we won't be left with enough loose ends to lead into the next arc. Maybe something a little more grounded with developed characters would work better.

Still, it's too soon to tell, and it's a fun read. It might have more of a shot, though, if Marvel had launched it post-Civil War, with more hype.

Batman Annual 25

2006-05-07T12:53:00.001-07:00

I have no problem with bringing Jason Todd back. I'm pretty sure I phoned the "Kill Him" hotline back in the day, but I was a kid and I was stupid and we so rarely get to see major characters killed that I couldn't resist.

But it was a bad idea. Contrary to popular belief, it's almost always a bad idea to kill a major character off. It limits story ideas, because a character is rarely ever "done". It's a cliche, but a good writer really can do something with most characters.

At the time of his death, Jason Todd was developing into an interesting Robin. He was exhibiting more violent tendencies than Batman, losing his moral compass. There were a lot of potential story ideas here that were cut off when Jason Todd was blown up.

Granted, we got some story mileage out of the event. Batman brooded for a few years leading to, for better or worse, the darker Batman we've had until recently. Maybe in light of what's been done, the death was worth it. It was certainly more dramatic than Batman simply "firing" Jason Todd, though that could have gotten us to the same place.

Regardless, I think the current status of Jason Todd is the best option. Judd Winick, a writer I'm generally not fond of, got an excellent run out of this story. Now, with the One Year Later revamps coming, Winick is allowed to wrap up this story in a double-sized annual. Sadly, we don't get Doug Mahnke as well on the art, but Shane Davis does a great job.

As for the story... well, I saw the explanation for Todd's resurrection coming, but I was still disappointed. I would have liked to have seen an explanation that didn't connect to Infinite Crisis. We'd been given clues, such as the coffin that according to Batman never even contained Todd's body, but all these are pretty much brushed aside by this more "cosmic" explanation. Yes, it all fits (even the aforementioned coffin situation is quickly explained) but it feels a little like Winick was forced to come up with the "how" after the "what" in this story, forcing puzzle pieces into place whether they fit well or not.

Aside from that, it's a good story, maybe not worth an Annual, but I guess I just miss the big, action-packed annuals of my youth. DC attempted to bring Annuals back with this and Teen Titans, but neither left me craving more.

If you haven't picked this up, I'd advise getting both trades that collect the whole story. Lots of action, excellent art, and you'll get this Annual as well, all for less than the original issues would have cost.

Superman 226

2006-03-09T21:20:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

The last pre-One Year Later Superman issues are going out with a bang as we get a blow by blow account of the battle between Earth 1 and Earth 2 Superman we know is coming in Infinite Crisis 5.

The underlying concept of the story is a retelling of the life of Earth 2 Superman, but with some modern flourishes that bring it up to date for modern readers. I'm not terribly familiar with Earth 2 history, but I doubt that previous Earth 2 Superman stories dealt with the Holocaust or McCarthyism. This story does, though, taking the Golden Age Superman and viewing him through a modern lens.

It's handled well, and although it might be confusing to some (at least those who aren't following Infinite Crisis), the story is a real page turner. I found this retelling of the life of the Golden Age Superman fascinating.

The art, by multiple artists, tries to convey different time periods through varying styles. It's effective, but there's also nothing that blew me away. Just standard, good art.

JSA 82

2006-03-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

The concept's a big one - the first Earth 2 JSA story, I believe, since the original Crisis. The story's pleasant, but it doesn't quite live up to the hype. The Gentleman Ghost is an interesting villain, though not the most obvious choice to use in a story like this. I understand he actually plays a role in the next few issues of JSA, though, so for some reason DC is giving him more visibility.

Otherwise, the story once again gives us a chance to enjoy the adventures of Earth 2's Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, which is nice. It gives readers some insight into what it was like on Earth 2. I'm curious - has it always been part of Earth 2's history that the JSA was forced to disband rather than reveal their identities to congress? Or is this a new addition to their history?

The art is just okay for George Perez. It lists Bob Wiacek as a co-artist, so I'm not sure who did what. I just know that had I not read the credits, I wouldn't have recognized this as Perez art. It's okay, the Earth 2 sequences have a subtle classic feel to them.

All in all, a nice above average filler issue until JSA makes the One Year Later jump. Actually, of all the DC titles, JSA has weathered the last few months a little better than most. I haven't noticed much of a drop-off in quality.

Loveless 4

2006-03-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

I hate to say it, but I may just have to give up. I absolutely can't follow this series. I am by no means a stupid person. I'm capable of reading fairly dense books and understanding them, even while listening to my iPod, watching TV, chewing gum, or walking at the same time.

Yet I have no idea what's going on here. And what little I do understand, I'm not sure where it's supposed to be leading me. I guess I just don't feel like I have a connection to this story -- things happen, some of which are very cool and interesting, but as I put the book down, I don't know what just happened or what I should be anticipating or concerned about come next issue.

I really want to like this, but I just can't, and it's driving me nuts.

Exterminators 2

2006-03-08T12:17:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

I'm still not sure what to make of this. I know I'm enjoying it enough that I intend to follow it through the first story arc, but as of this issue, I'm not sure where it's going. Which is probably good, and not uncommon to how I usually feel when reading Vertigo titles.

In this issue, we get a link (literal? metaphoric?) between pest control and the killing fields of Cambodia. We also get the apparent death of a character I assumed was going to be around for a while. I'm curious to see where this all goes.

JSA Classified 8

2006-03-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

Not a lot to say about this one. I can't recommend this as highly as the last two Classified arcs, but if you like JSA, you'll like this. A nice pairing of the Golden Age Flash and Wildcat with solid story and art.

Fantastic Four 534

2006-03-08T11:53:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

One of my all-time favorite comic covers is Fantastic Four 25. You know the one -- the white background, a building under construction, the Hulk on top, the FF and the Avengers climbing the sides. It's a great cover and it sums up how exciting it was back then when the Hulk crashed into the lives of other Marvel characters.

These days, though, a Hulk versus the FF story is, for me, a little tired. It's the type of thing I'd expect a fill-in writer to do. The fact that Straczynski is doing it for his second arc worries me.

I thought his first arc was okay. I loved his Reed Richards and he's also responsible for making the Thing a millionaire. But, he followed this with a so-so story that dragged a little.

I'm not hating this Hulk story, and in fact Hulk fans will probably enjoy this issue, as it sort of takes the Hulk down Memory Lane as he hallucinates after being exposed to yet another massive dose of gamma radiation. Still, at the end of the last issue I found myself groaning to learn that it was a two-parter. Well, guess what? It's actually a three-parter. I haven't given up hope yet. What I've heard of the next storyline has me excited. Right now, though, I feel like Straczynski's run on FF has been stuck in neutral.

Green Lantern 8

2006-03-08T11:37:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

Generally, I love Geoff Johns work, especially on Green Lantern. I have never been a Green Lantern fan before, and now here I am buying it every month. I'm wondering if his current workload may be crimping his style a bit, though. Both this and Teen Titans have been a little weak lately. Nothing terrible, just kind of blah.

This issue teams up Hal Jordan and Green Arrow for the first time since Jordan's return, but the story, involving Mongul and his mind-controlling device, is a little flat. We get Jordan and Green Arrow living out their heart's desires. I understood Green Arrow's, but I was a little confused by Jordan's. Why is he imagining Sinestro as a hero? I realize this has more to do with my lack of knowledge of the character of Green Lantern, but this series has done such a great job of being accessible to new readers that I was a little thrown to find myself lost during this story.

It does, however, contain a very surprising moment at the end involving Mongul.

Legion Of Super-Heroes 14

2006-02-20T20:43:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

Recently, on the Comic Geek Speak podcast, someone asked the Geeks for recommendations for new comic readers. As I was listening to their answers, the first title that sprang to mind for me was Mark Waid's new incarnation of Legion Of Super-Heroes. For my money, this is one of the funnest, most accessible titles around. Even with its sizable cast of characters, it's easy to jump into and I've yet to be bored by an issue. Waid has managed to take a concept that has been at times dated and convoluted, especially post-Crisis, and made it viable again. The ironic thing is that after multiple attempts by other teams to update the concept for contemporary audiences (some of which I'm told were quite good, though I haven't read them myself), Waid seems to have brought the Legion full circle. Somehow, he's made the old Legion somehow make sense. Many of the things readers loved in the sixties are here, but in a way that doesn't seem kitschy or corny.

Most importantly, this is a fun series. The characters and the stories have depth, but never at the expense of an entertaining story. It's a nice blend of character driven drama (these are teenagers with hormones and superpowers, after all) and large scale action (intergalactic wars, planetary battles).

This issue is something of a breather after last issue's climactic battle. It's main purpose is to introduce Shrinking Violet, who turns out to be a surprisingly complex character. There is a big announcement at the end, however, that will probably lead the team into the next story arc.

All in all, a decent issue. I suspect this and the next issue are something of a delaying tactic until One Year Later kicks in and the title changes to Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes. I suggest to everyone they try jumping on at that point. Also check out the trades. I can't recommend this series highly enough.

Captain America 14

2006-02-20T20:29:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5

I'm of the opinion that Brubaker pulled it off. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then this review will mean nothing to you. To the rest, yes, I'm glad he brought Bucky back. Now if we can just get Straczynski to bring back Uncle Ben as a cyborg, everything will be great.

Okay, I'm kidding. I do think some deaths are scared, even for comic books. I just don't think Bucky is one of them. I think that once anyone can look past their own biases and rethink age-old notions, bringing Bucky back is a no-brainer. The drama it injects into Captain America's life is too good to pass up.

Of course, if done badly, the whole exercise is moot. It just becomes one of those stories publishers would like to forget. Luckily, Brubaker did a great job as usual. I think what impresses me most about his writing is the way he sets up a world around the hero that generates its own plotlines and themes for the long term. He does a great job of setting up dynamics between characters and situations so that storylines don't seem like they're forced or coming out of nowhere. It's why I'm excited to see him on Daredevil and X-Men.

The Winter Soldier storyline comes to a strong climax here. I did miss having more of a confrontation between Cap and Bucky, but it looks like that's coming later. What does impress me, though, is Cap's use of the Cosmic Cube. Even though it seems to bring nothing but disaster, he does it anyway. It looks like as a result we're going to have a Winter Soldier who knows he's Bucky, but continues to do what he's been doing. I'm not sure why, but it's certainly interesting.

A lot of people don't like Cap. I've never been a devoted fan, but I've still always found him to be a great combination of soldier, agent and superhero. It's a concept that should work, in spite of the jingoism that some perceive as inherent to the character as a result of his ties to America. Brubaker's done a great job of combining the exciting Cap of the late Sixties with the more dimensional storytelling of today.

Rann-Thanagar: Infinite Crisis Special

2006-02-19T14:48:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

Now this is what I'd hoped Rann-Thanagar would be when the initial mini-series came out. I didn't dislike the mini-series, but for some reason I had a hard time getting into it. I haven't reread it as a whole, perhaps I'll understand it better. At the time, though, it was the series I felt the most detached from.

Not the case here, however. Perhaps it was seeing more familiar characters in the thick of things, but I felt more involved with this issue. Plus, we get a definite connection to the current Crisis that makes for a great visual.

This issue also showed me that to fully understand Infinite Crisis, you have to buy the crossovers. Not all of them, but you definitely you have to pick up some of them. Infinite Crisis 4 didn't resonate with me until I read this and the most recent Teen Titans.

With this issue, we get the death of a fairly important character and a revamp of another fan favorite. I don't think this has been quite the redefining of DC's space characters just as I don't think Day Of Vengeance totally did the trick of redefining magic, but it's a start. I do think DC has a good launching pad for future space stories if they choose to pursue them.

The Defenders 5

2006-02-19T13:58:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5

I miss the Defenders. For some reason, as a kid, Defenders was one of the titles I bought regularly. And this was back in the days when they had second-stringers (third-stringers?) like Gargoyle on the team. It was a bizarre title, and you never knew what would happen in it.

Recent attempts to revive the Defenders have treated them like a joke. So, it only makes sense that eventually the team of Giffen, DeMatteis and Maguire would get a crack at the team.

I'm sure most readers are focusing on the humor, but the reason why it works is because the story itself is a strong one. If you took away the jokes, this story would still hold up. In fact, it would make for a great epic story in a regular, serious Defenders title. The jokes are a stylistic choice, not the sole reason for the story's existence. That's the important difference between this and other titles that use humor and fail.

I understand this team will be doing a follow-up to this, and I'm looking forward to it.

JLA Classified 16

2006-02-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

Lately, it seems like the best JLA stories have been in JLA Classified. If you're like me and you miss the interaction between the big guns in the JLA that Grant Morrison established in his run, Classified is probably your best bet. Warren Ellis' recent run had some great characterization, and so far Gail Simone's new story seems to have the same thing. Most of the members have strong personalities -- only Jon Stewart seems a little one note, but we're still on the first of six issues, so he'll probably get more to do later.

It's a little soon to tell where this is going, but so far it has the feel of a traditional story -- the JLA taking down an evil dictator -- but with flashes of Morrison era weirdness thrown in.

The coolest moment -- the Flash getting infected by Starro in a way we've never seen before. It's an idea that's stuck with me ever since I read the issue.

At the end, we're introduced to the Hypothetical Woman. I have no idea what she does, but I'm looking forward to the rest of this story.

The only thing that caught me off guard -- the Flash is much angrier and more political than I recall him being. Being the most human and accessible of the heroes, though, I can understand why Simone used him as the mouthpiece for these specific opinions.

Adventures Of Superman 648

2006-02-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

I think we're at the point where a lot of issues are sort of treading water until Infinite Crisis ends and the relaunches begin. Writers are either wrapping up dangling plotlines or throwing out single issue stories to fill the gap.

Here we get Superman dealing with recent events in Bludhaven. It's a pleasant story, but we've seen this kind of thing before. It's told through Lois Lane, reporting for the Daily Planet -- one of those reaffirming what a great hero Superman is stories.

There's nothing terribly bad about it, but Rucka's done better during his time on this title.

On the plus side, it's another look at the more proactive Superman that's been developing since Crisis began.

Nextwave 1

2006-02-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

I really miss the days when, along with the big guns, Marvel and DC had a number of titles starring... well, just about anyone. I miss series like The Defenders, Heroes For Hire, Cloak And Dagger - new ideas featuring characters writers could do more with, since millions of merchandising dollars weren't resting on their backs.

Of course, the problem is that lately these titles don't seem to sell. There's plenty of blame to go around. By the time someone gets done buying every X-Men/Batman/Superman/Spider-Man title, how could they have money left over for Nova/Breach/Plastic Man/Hourman? Plus, the fans themselves are less than willing to experiment, probably due mainly to cost, though I'm sure there's an amount of rigidity in tastes impacting this also.

I've been guilty of this as well, but I'm making a concerted effort to change. There's more stuff out there, published both by the major companies and the indie presses. I still have a long way to go with indie title, but I'm gradually trying more of them.

Is it indy or indie? I think the "ie" looks better. That "y" just kind of dangles there, looking lonely and vaguely suicidal. Like he's right on the verge of leaping and leaving just "ind" up on my blog.

Anyway...

Nextwave. Have you heard the theme song? Yes, there's a theme song. I'm sure it's somewhere on the Marvel site. It was on the Marvel podcast feed, but that seems to have gone down in recent days. Perhaps this means we won't be hearing any more of Joe Quesada broadcasting from what sounds like the set of a porn film with that relentless bed of techno playing.

Actually, I like the idea of a Marvel podcast, but it needs a little work. So far they've mainly been press conferences. Hearing voices to go along with the names of all the print and web reviewers I read was a little like seeing how sausages are made. You don't want to know, and knowing somehow seems a little depressing.

Anyway...

Nextwave. I wonder if Marvel is afraid to tell Warren Ellis what to do. Of all the writers working for them now, he seems to be able to get away with the most. This is a pretty whacked out concept played almost totally for laughs. Like Giffen's Justice League, but a little darker.

A confession now: I've always loved the character of Captain Marvel. Not the Kree warrior dying of cancer Captain Marvel, and not the Peter David struggling for sales Captain Marvel. I'm talking about Monica Rambeau, the African-American Avengers member who hailed from New Orleans. Believe it or not, but back in the day, Marvel was pushing her. Remember the Marvel Role Playing Game from the eighties. The cover featured Spider-Man, Thing, Captain America and... Captain Marvel. I think she even led the Avengers for a while. She was one of the few successful attempts to create a black female superhero, and it actually stuck for a time.

The problem: she was a little bland. Intriguing powers - in fact, she's pretty powerful when you think about it - but Monica herself was a little dull. I think she suffered from that thing where writers feel that since they're writing one of the few minority characters in a comic universe, they need to treat them with a little too much respect. We saw this in Hollywood for years. Check out those old movies where no matter how many problems they face, blacks are usually too noble to be true, as if getting angry and bitter diminishes them rather than makes them human.

I think Monica suffered from this a little. She was a little too earnest and lacked the rough edges and flaws that make a character interesting.

But not anymore. Ellis gives us a Monica who's understandably bitter about not being in the spotlight anymore. Finally, she's got a little personality.

Ellis also gives us new takes on Machine Man - with whom I'm only a little familiar - Meltdown and Elsa Bloodstone - two characters I know nothing about. I'm still getting a handle on them, but I have high hopes.

The other member, the Captain, appears to be an original creation, and he's another standout. He's essentially an asshole with superpowers.

We also get a Nick Fury parody running things from an airborne headquarters.

Oh, and Fin Fang Foom is in it, complete with purple underwear. As far as I'm concerned, that's enough of a reason to buy this right there.

It's a fun issue, and reads like something Ellis spit out of his head that just happens to contain some established Marvel characters.

It also has some great, cartoon style artwork by Stuart Immonen that's totally appropriate for the title.

Wonder Woman 225

2006-02-19T08:59:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

If I'd followed this series longer, and I wish I had, this probably would have gotten a four. Of all the major titles ending as a result of Infinite Crisis, I think Wonder Woman has come off the best. Unlike The Flash and JLA, they kept the regular team on till the end, allowing them to wrap things up nicely.

This is nothing more than Wonder Woman saying farewell to the Gods of Olympus and attempting to say goodbye to her friends at the Themysciran embassy. There's not a lot I can say about it, other than it's nicely done and ends the series on a high note.

Well, sort of ends the series. I see there's another issue. Judging by the cover, I'm wondering if it's a World War II story involving the Wonder Woman of Earth 2. I've been hoping for this character's return, so it could be good. It seems a little silly to not simply end the series with this issue, but we'll see.

New Avengers 15

2006-02-19T00:27:00.000-08:00

5 out of 5

Initially, I told myself there's no way I can give this issue a five. Nothing happens in it other than the Avengers unveil their new line-up to the world. That's it. People who love to criticize Bendis for his lack of action would have a field day with this.

But, as far as I'm concerned, this is the Avengers unveiling we always wished we'd seen back in the day. It has all the backstage gerrymandering you'd expect to happen in the real world. It has the drama, the arguments, the jealousies, the regrets. Some people didn't seem to like filtering the event through Ms. Marvel's eyes. Granted, the decision to use her probably had just as much to do with promoting her new series as it did Bendis trying to find an original way to present this story, but I think it worked.

There's a great use of J. Jonah Jameson in this issue. You'll be surprised, then surprised again when you see what happens with him. There's also a confrontation between Wolverine and Tony Stark that suits the character. I still find it odd that Wolverine's a member, but I trust Bendis enough to have something up his sleeve. I'm sure Stark made some kind of deal with him, and I hope it pays off in a future issue.

All in all, it's Bendis doing what he does best with this series: present a sort of Real World with Superheroes. I'm still itching to see him do a traditional Avengers epic, which I understand is in the works, but between this and recent Spider-Man issues I've never been so entertained just watching superheroes hang out.

An Explanation Of The Star System

2006-02-18T22:20:00.000-08:00

I'm actually not a fan of ranking things by stars. Or letter grades. Or thumbs up or down.

Actually, did you know that in gladiatorial times, a thumb up meant death? Apparently, it symbolized the gladiator raising his sword and striking down his opponent. Or maybe it symbolized him stabbing the opponent. Either way, if you were the guy lying on the ground waiting to see that thumb, odds are you were hoping it pointed downward.

So, Ebert and Roeper have been getting it wrong all this time. Knowing Ebert, he's probably aware of this. Roeper, on the other hand...

Besides, Gene Siskel was better than both of them.

But I ramble...

The star system. Most of you out there, your life will be a series of three star moments with some twos mixed in. On a three star day, the sun will be out. That sandwich you have for lunch will be pretty good. When there's an accident on the interstate and traffic is backed up, or you have to stay another hour at work -- well, now your three star day has become a two star day.

Sometimes you'll have four star days. You'll go out drinking with friends. You'll see an amazing movie that impacts you deeply. You'll have sex. There are probably more of these days than you realize.

If you wake up and find your pet cat dead... that's a one star day. Fortunately, there aren't too many one star days.

Then, there are the five star days. The Christmas with your family where everyone gets along days. The day you fall in love. Unfortunately, there are never enough five star days.

I hope this explains my star system.

Spider-Man: The Other

2006-02-13T18:44:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

So, I actually did it, I went back and reread "The Other" in... well, not one sitting, but close. And you know what? I liked it. For the most part. It definitely has its problems.

For one, it's much too long. I really can't believe this took twelve issues to tell. The length works against it, because at the end, you don't really feel like you've read a twelve-part epic. Yes, there are some reasonably important changes, mainly centering around Spider-Man's powers, but this never feels like the major crossover Marvel sold it as.

The gimmick of having three writers tackle the story over four months seems to have backfired. Peter David gets off to an okay start in the first three issues. Each one looks at Spider-Man's mortality through a different person's eyes: Spider-Man himself, Mary Jane and Aunt May. It's a nice way to carry the story along and give a little more focus to something that's probably a little dragged out at three issues in length.

David introduces a new villain, Tracer, who unfortunately seems to think it's 1994. His uniform has some kind of skirt draped over his nethers and ass. It's a pretty awful costume, but Tracer himself is kind of interesting.

The first three issues basically introduce Peter's illness. What is this illness? This was the major complaint a lot of people had. I'm not as bothered by not being given the details of the illness. It's really not important, it's just there as a plot device to get Peter Parker and his loved ones to go through a grieving process. Besides, at one point someone refers to cellular degeneration, so it's clearly some kind of cancer or radiation damage from when he injected himself sometime ago with a mega dose of the radiation that initially gave him his powers. Unfortunately, David doesn't remind readers of that. So, while it didn't bother me, I can understand some readers needing a little more info. After all, just about any pseudo-scientific explanation would have helped a little bit. Readers ususally need to hear just enough to ground the situation in their own minds so they can let it go and follow the story.

Things start to go off track in the second month, when Reginald Hudlin takes over. I don't think Hudlin's brief time on Marvel Knights Spider-Man was bad. In fact, I enjoyed the story he'd done. However, while I myself wish Spider-Man stories would be more fun these days, Hudlin's sense of fun veers off into the ridiculous. Remember, he's the writer who gave us Absorbing Man turning into cocaine, getting flushed down the toilets of New York, and then recombining deep in the Manhattan sewer system.

Amazingly, Hudlin managed to top this with a sight even more ludicrous. Spider-Man takes Mary Jane and his Aunt May to Latveria so they can use Doctor Doom's time machine and see Peter's parents and Uncle Ben. Never did I think I would be forced to watch Aunt May fire repulsor rays at Doctor Doom's sentry robots.

This sums up the problem with Hudlin's writing for Spider-Man: it's entertaining, but at the expense of a grounded plot. Much of his writing in these issues is nothing but set-up followed by punchline. Characters like Doctor Strange and Black Panther are reduced to playing straight men to Spider-Man's comedian. Personally, I think Hudlin's jokes are funny. I personally enjoyed the moment with Doctor Strange. But, during his initial three issues, there is virtually no forward plot momentum until Morlun comes in.

Oh, yeah, that's right. Morlun's in this. In fact, he's the one who kills Spider-Man. You know that disease we've spent six issues worrying about? Turns out it's not going to have much to do with this story. While Peter and his family have been going through the stages of grief in light of his diagnosis, it turns out he's really going to die after being pummeled by, in my opinion, a forgettable villain. The fight is done well. Deodato does a good job with the layouts, really conveying a sense of a long struggle while capturing the dynamic moments. It's well done, though the infamous eyeball eating moment is a little weird.

This is followed by the three issue Straczynski freakout. If you have a low tolerance for Straczynski's work on Spider-Man, this block of issues will probably be the most taxing for you. It's where we get Peter Parker turning into some spider creature and apparently biting Morlun's head or something. It's a little unclear, because when Morlun dies his head looks intact as he dissipates into dust. What's clear, though, is Peter suddenly sprouts a stinger from his wrist, grows fangs and basically attacks Morlun as if he were a wild animal. It's disturbing and seems more than a little out of place for a Spider-Man story.

It's in this month that we also see Peter die, shed his skin, gestate in a cocoon, and have a bizarre dream involving giant spiders and dead loved ones. It's both depressing and odd. Some of it works. It's interesting to see how Tony Stark springs into action to deal with the death of a superhero and its consequences on the hero's family. The dream isn't as bad as it sounds, and Deodato does a good job on the art.

I covered the last three issues individually last week, so I won't repeat myself. They redeemed the story for me somewhat just as I was about to write it off completely.

Now that I've reread it, some thoughts on the art. Overall, it's a bit of a mess. I don't mean the artists did a bad job. Most of them did great. It's just that three very different artistic style, rotating from issue to issue, makes for an uncomfortable reading experience. Deodato's art probably suits the story best and it's a shame he couldn't have done each issue. Wieringo is an artist I enjoy, but his style really doesn't gel with this concept. It's okay, but it feels like an awkward fit.

As for Pat Lee - he's got potential, but I don't think he was quite ready for this. Some of his work looks quite nice. There's a great moment where an entire page is devoted to panel after panel of Mary Jane, with the only variation being a tear streaking along her downturned face. He pencils in a kind of manga style that's interesting, but not there yet. A lot of his characters look the same. In fact, they all look a little like the actress Tilda Swinton: heart-shaped heads, pointy noses. Peter and Mary Jane look younger than they should. It's a light style that doesn't suit such a heavy story.

One other thing - what happened with Mary Jane's arm? It was clearly broken in one issue, then fine for the rest of the story? How did the editors let this slip through?

Anyway, overall, I really did enjoy this story. I'm not looking forward to the new costume, but let's face it, they're just making him wear it so we have the dramatic moment of Spider-Man rejecting Tony Stark's gift at the height of the upcoming Civil War. He'll probably quit the Avengers around that time, too, which I think would be a bad thing. Some of my favorite moments of this storyline were the ones taking place at Avengers Headquarters.

I still don't like Straczynski's whole Spider-Man concept and this story didn't change my mind about it. It's frustrating, because Straczynski is capable of writing really enjoyable Spider-Man issues, but he seems to feel the need to throw in these mystical elements, as if it wasn't enough to just craft strong, solid stories. He did something similar in Fantastic Four. Right off the bat, he started adding new elements to their origin. I'm not totally averse to change, but it's been my experience that the most iconic characters work because their origins are simple. You take that simple beginning and expand upon it. A part of me feels that simply going back and amending things will, in time, limit a character's potential. An origin usually works best as a launching pad for everything to come, not as a centerpiece that has to constantly be dealt with over time.

Batman 649

2006-02-10T22:27:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

I've been fairly impressed by Judd Winick's run on Batman. It's not earth shattering. Even with the return of Jason Todd, we're still not getting anything terribly groundbreaking here. It's just consistently solid storytelling tilted in favor of the action end of things. Which is fine, because I think that's how Batman should be. Leave the crime and mystery to Detective Comics, let Batman be the superhero book.

My opinion on the resurrection of Jason Todd is still very much dependent on the explanation of how he came back. I accepted the return of Bucky in Captain America because it was written well and it seemed plausible. I'm still not sure about Jason Todd. I like the idea of him coming back and I'm enjoying the character. I just hope they had a good idea as to how this happened before they embarked on this story. I think the Annual that explains it all comes out next month, so we'll see.

This is a decent issue, with the highlight for me being the dialogue between Jason and the Joker. Interestingly, it seems like Jason understands the Joker a little better than Batman does.

X-Men: Deadly Genesis 3

2006-02-10T22:16:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

I'm still enjoying this series, and I'm excited to see what Brubaker does when he takes over regular X-Men writing duties, but this issue stalled a bit for me. I disagreed with earlier complaints about pacing -- people were complaining about the pace after just the first issue had come out, for crying out loud -- but I admit that I thought we'd be a little farther along than we are now. I'm more then ready to learn who this mysterious villain is, and just what it is that Xavier did years ago that was so bad.

It's a good issue, there's some nice action, we get the death of a reasonably important character. The art is good, but I'm a little confused by the credits -- it says layouts by Trevor Hairsine, but finished by Scott Hanna and Nelson. It's good, solid comic book art with a slightly darker tone to it that suits to the story, but I'm not sure who to credit for it.

I'd still recommend this to readers, I just hope we move forward more next issue.

The Amazing Spider-Man 528

2006-02-10T20:31:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

I think the most surprising thing for me last month is that I ended up not hating "Spider-Man: The Other".

Before you think I'm crazy, let me clarify. Much of Straczynski's run has frustrated me. I think he's capable of writing a strong Spider-Man story and has done so on occasion. However, the mystical elements he's so determined to insert into Spider-Man's origin and existence aren't working for me. I think his retroactively having Gwen Stacy impregnated by the Green Goblin was a dreadful idea. But, the story before this crossover, featuring Spider-Man taking on Hydra, was the best New Avengers story Bendis never wrote. It had the action, and the dialogue moments, while not as good as Bendis', were pretty close. In fact, I have a hard time remembering which favorite moments came from New Avengers and which came from Spider-Man.

I may reread "The Other" in its entirety now that it's finished and review it as a whole. I'm still convinced it had a lot of flaws, especially in the first six issues. For now, though, I really enjoyed this specific issue and thought Straczynski did a great job of capturing one of those classic moments that shows why Spider-Man is a hero. He did this at the end of the Hydra arc and he does it again here.

Much of the recent hype has focused on Spider-Man's new costume. In case you're wondering, yes, I think it's pretty awful, too. Thankfully, it has little to do with this issue. The big changes dealt with here all concern Spider-Man's new powers, and the ones we see here are pretty cool.

There's nothing too drastic -- mainly, his senses seem to be heightened, as if they've fine tuned his spider sense, made it a little more logical. He can now see in the dark, use his web as a kind of radar or sensory system, sense things in his environment through the hairs on on his skin.

Of course, I'm leaving out the biggest change. That's because the stingers are nowhere to be seen in this issue. I'm presuming the stingers were Straczynski's idea, so I'm confused as to why Peter David and Reginald Hudlin got stuck with using them in their issues while Straczynski didn't use them at all in his. It reminded me of poor Paul Jenkins getting saddled with Gwen Stacy's daughter in his book.

I really hate the stingers. Peter David makes an argument for them in the most recent issue of Comic Buyer's Guide, but I still don't buy it. I've tried to put my finger on why I dislike the stingers so much, and I can only come up with one reason -- I don't want Spider-Man stabbing people. Well, that, and also I think they're gross. I know, those are two ridiculously simple, maybe even childish reasons, but there they are.

Even if it turns out the stingers merely knock their victims unconscious, the notion of stabbing someone with those things is to me much too harsh and violent for a character like Spider-Man. I can't visualize it. I don't want to visualize it.

I'm getting ahead of myself and dealing with things probably best left for my review of the entire storyline. My concern today is this issue, and like I said, it's good.

The art by Mike Deodato is great, and leaves me excited about his upcoming work on New Avengers. This is the style of art "The Other" should have had throughout. I think Marvel really dropped the ball on letting so many cartoonish and even manga influenced styles find their way into this arc. It undercut what was supposed to be a serious story. Deodato's art has a realistic, slightly cinematic style. Not that widescreen, epic, Ultimates style of Bryan Hitch, but more of a steady, plot-driven series of images cutting to one another like a well-edited film. We get close-ups when we need them, nice segues from one scene to another. It really worked well. Plus, he draws the characters out of their costumes, and the normal supporting cast, in a believable way. Aunt May looks like an elderly aunt, Mary Jane doesn't look like a teenager like she has in other issues.

So, disagree with me if you like, but I have to call it as I see it. Some parts of "The Other" didn't work for me at all, but this last month, and especially this last issue, were very enjoyable.

JSA Classified 7

2006-02-05T21:06:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

It's tough to follow a story as hyped as Power Girl's origin, but I think this three issue tale following the Injustice Society and their attempts to help The Wizard is actually more entertaining, even if it's not as important.

There's been a trend lately in the DC universe to flesh out villains. In this instance, Icicle gets a treatment similar to what the Flash's rogues got in the Geoff Johns era. It's very well done, with the main thrust of the story showing just how difficult it is for a supervillain to stop being a supervillain.

If you're a JSA fan, or if you liked Villains United, you'd really enjoy this story. Normally, I don't like the clutter of giving heroes or groups multiple titles, but both this and JLA Classified have given us stories just as strong as the regular series. In the case of JLA, the stories have often been stronger that what we've had lately.

Action Comics 835

2006-02-05T20:53:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

Gail Simone and John Byrne have had a good run on Action Comics. I know there's some bitterness as they leave, since it's not necessarily by choice, but I can't believe anyone's too surprised. With everything revamped in light of Crisis, it seems only natural that DC would want fresh creative teams.

I'll miss them, but it's not the end of the world, as this issue demonstrates. It's fun, but nothing earth shattering. In fact, I'd probably give most of Simone's run about three stars. Personally, I hate the star system and initially didn't use it in my first few reviews, but I have to admit it does form a type of shorthand that makes it easier to see where a reviewer's coming from. Anyway, three stars for me is a solid, dependable comic that I enjoy. Two would be something I perhaps enjoyed, perhaps didn't, but it's not a disaster. The Simone/Byrne run is essentially threes with a few twos thrown in. Dependable fun, but not much more.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy they're collecting these in trade format, because I'm looking forward to having them all together. If you like Superman, you'll like Simone's work, and it'll make for a fun afternoon of reading.

This issue introduces Livewire, a character from the Superman cartoon, to the DC universe. It enables Byrne to once again do his nice girl turning into a super slut thing (see also Scarlet Witch, Sue Storm, etc.) Really, has anyone ever commented on this? Because he does it a lot. I realize he didn't write this, but he seems to love taking normal women and drawing them in a slutty way when they get power. I'm not complaining, it's just something I find interesting.

The story's fine, but a little weaker than what we've had previously from this team. There are a few too many coincidences -- I'm thinking specifically of a connection between Livewire and Lois Lane's stalker -- and Livewire doesn't seem like much of a threat. I'm also unclear as why she suddenly has powers. It's underdeveloped and seems more like DC told Simone to include this character.

If you like solid, action oriented Superman stories, I'd suggest checking out the trade when it's released. Just don't expect this story to be a highlight.

Legion Of Super-Heroes 13

2006-02-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

If you've ever wanted to get into the Legion Of Super-Heroes, now's the time. If you like super-hero team books, you should be reading this. If you like your comics to have some science-fiction, or some soap opera, or some comedy... well, basically, you should just be reading this comic, pure and simple. It's fun and it's easy to get into. I read this issue not having read issues 7-12, and I still enjoyed it. If you don't buy this issue, which is understandable as it does wrap up a plotline that's been lingering since about the beginning, at least try it next month. At the very least, try it when Supergirl joins after the One Year Later jump.

I'll probably write a more thorough review after reading this entire storyline in the second trade that will be coming out in a few months. I'm now buying the series monthly and look forward to really following it.

Green Lantern 8

2006-02-05T20:37:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

We get the first substantive team-up since Hal Jordan's return between Green Lantern and Green Arrow in this issue. It's not quite as good as the previous issues. I think the lateness hurts this comic a bit, as I sometimes find myself forgetting what happened last. Or, more accurately, I always erroneously feel like I missed an issue since it's been longer than a month.

We finally learn what Mongul was doing on the moon after the JLA Watchtower blew up. Fans of a certain Alan Moore story will be pleased by the ending, which has a nice twist leading into the next part.

A solid story with some nice Carlos Pacheco art.

The Flash 230

2006-02-05T15:50:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

"The Flash" probably should have ended with Geoff Johns run. It's suffering from the same lingering death that currently plagues JLA. It's a shame, because "Wonder Woman" has shown that even though a title is ending due to Infinite Crisis, it doesn't have to go out with a whimper. While "Wonder Woman" has given us deeper insight into what happened to her character in Crisis, Flash and JLA have trudged on with stories that in the end, don't matter because they're not leading to anything new.

The final Flash story isn't terrible. It's an interesting Vandal Savage story, and if it weren't for the fact that this is the series finale, I probably wouldn't be too hard on it.

It gets points for including the entire Flash cast and wrapping things up with a touching ending. It loses points for the weak artwork. I'm guessing the artist was rushed, as I don't recall the previous issues being too bad. A lot of the art is blocky and poorly defined. In particular, when Detectives Chyre and Morillo show up (in an awkwardly shoehorned appearance to make sure the entire cast gets a last hurrah), they look more like crude sketches than fully drawn figures.

I've read worse final issues, but this is still a big disappointment. I think Wally West deserved better.

Marvel Knights Spider-Man 22

2006-02-04T22:12:00.000-08:00

2 out of 5

Had I started this blog a month or so sooner, you probably would have had to endure me ranting about "Spider-Man: The Other". By these last few issues, my opinions have mellowed a bit. Maybe I've just given up, or maybe I genuinely like the ending of it. I'd like to think it's the latter.

Like most readers, my biggest problem was with pacing. A large chunk of the first six issues could have been cut. I realize the intention was to give Spider-Man, Mary Jane and Aunt May a chance to cope with the possibility of Peter Parker dying, but since the disease he had ended up playing no part in the rest of the story, it inevitably felt pointless. Plus, it gave us the sight of Mary Jane and Aunt May in old school Iron Man armor, fighting off Doombots in Latveria. For that, it's unforgivable.

Putting that aside, though, the basic story is interesting, and once we got to Spider-Man's battle with Morlun and his subsequent "death", the issues generally found their way closer to the top of my pile as my anticipation to see what happened grew.

That said, this is probably the weakest of the final three chapters. Reginald Hudlin only had a chance to give us one Spider-Man story before being drawn into this current plotline. It was a decent story, and I'm curious to see what else he can do. Most of his "Other" issues have been kind of light on plot development, probably because he's been stuck with the middle issue of each month. He seems to be relying on humor to carry things, and it almost does, but it still can't disguise the fact that we're essentially in between the important moments.

I might have given this issue three stars if not for the artwork. I've already been uncomfortable with the drastically varying styles from issue to issue. I can't imagine how jarring this will look when collected in trade. Many of the issues have had a cartoonish, even mangaish, style to them, and this may be the most obvious example. The characters here look very different, very stylized compared to the rest of the series. The bigger problem, though, is that the art's just not that good.

I'm not familiar with Pat Lee's work. Some of it's okay, but this looks rushed. There are even some panels that appear to be duplicates of other panels. I tend to focus more on writing at the expense of art, so I've been trying to pause and look at things like inking, coloring, etc. I have virtually no artistic skills myself, so I'm no expert, but this appears to be bad inking. Rather than enhance things, it just looks as if lines were made darker and shadows were placed rather haphazardly over characters faces. This results in some odd looking figures. For example, I'd always thought that Peter Parker was raised by his elderly Aunt May. Going by the art in this issue, though, it seems he was in fact raised by elderly Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts. This is the most obvious example, but a lot of the characters just don't look right.

When I read the credits, the inker was listed as Dream Engine. They also did the color. Either this is an individual's very eccentric nom de plume, or I have now learned what bad computer inking looks like. You'd think that for a major series like this, Marvel would have lined up some stronger artistic teams.

Overall, though, it's an okay issue. Nice opening action scene, decent interaction with other heroes, touching moment with Aunt May, closing shot of what seems to be a forthcoming new villain.

I still hate the stingers, though.

All-Star Superman 2

2006-01-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

4 out of 5

Okay, enough with the arguments over whether or not the All-Star versions of DC characters are the iconic representations that they should be. I know that's what we all thought the concept of the series would be, but it's not. They offer a non-continuity outlet for the creative energies of talented writers. Complain all you want about Miller and Morrison's work, but both are undeniably the creative visions of both writers. Both put their stamp all over their respective titles. It's not Ultimate Batman and Ultimate Superman. It's Frank Miller's Batman and Grant Morrison's Superman.

Like most, I loved All-Star Superman 1. I think Morrison and Quitely always make a great team. Sometimes Morrison's writing can be sprawling and unfocused, but not here. The out there ideas and concepts are there, but to serve the story.

Issue two isn't quite as good, and the ending leaves me a little worried for issue three. I think it'll be fine, it's just that it's not necessarily the story I expected.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. In issue two, we get out first look at the Fortress of Solitude. Imagine the wackiness of the Silver Age Fortress, but trained through prism of Grant Morrison's brain. Yes, it's that good.

Otherwise, not much else happens beyond Lois dealing with last issue's revelation that Clark Kent is Superman. At the end, we get a plot development that could have come straight out of the Silver Age -- Superman has created a device that can temporarily give Lois his powers. It's an idea that sounds goofy, but I think someone Morrison could make it work. Still, I'm worried that even if it does work, I think there are better stories he could be telling. I wouldn't be surprised if I was proven wrong, though.

Infinite Crisis 4

2006-01-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

3 out of 5

I think I'm in the minority, but the last two issues of Infinite Crisis haven't impressed me as much as they have others. I also know why I feel like this. To me, Infinite Crisis feels like Crisis On Infinite Earths for readers with ADD.

That sounds very negative, but it's not meant to be entirely. In many ways, the fast pace is a breath of fresh air. In this day and age, where a number of stories seem to drag on longer than they should, Infinite Crisis delivers one great moment after another, and each issue ends with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger.

Unfortunately, because there are so many plots and so many characters in this story, I find myself not quite getting into each moment as much as I should. The best example in this issue: the "death" of the Flash. Or, more accurately, the death of the speed force. I'm not sure what really happens to Wally West and Bart Allen, and I suspect that we haven't entirely seen the last of them.

I love the Flash, and I was eagerly waiting to see what happened to him in this story. Maybe I'm just stuck with the notion of Barry Allen's issue long death in the original Crisis, but the few pages devoted to Wally West, coupled with the fact that the moment came out of nowhere, left me a little deflated.

A lot of the story has left me feeling like that. I love the story itself, but I worry that it's not getting enough breathing room. It's going by so quickly that I feel like I'm missing something. The moments -- Batman and Nightwing, Alexander Luthor explaining his behind the scene machinations, the Superboy vs Superboy battle, the destruction of Bludhaven, a glimpse of the new Spectre -- are great. I'm just bothered that I'm not as blown away or as moved as I think I should be.

Actually, what it really reminds me of are the last few issues of the original Crisis, when it felt like Wolfman was throwing in lots of moments in an effort to cram things in and make everyone happy.

I suspect that on a second reading, I'll enjoy it more. This was my experience with the previous issue. Reading all seven issues in one sitting will probably also be more enjoyable. It's simply that right now, issue to issue, I'm feeling a little detached.

As for the art: I love Phil Jimenez's work, but I don't think he's quite nailing it. I can't put my finger on it. I know that the final moment, when the multiverse is reborn, wasn't nearly as dramatic as I would have expected. I think Jimenez's art, in a specific sense, is good, but in the broader picture, it doesn't quite knock it out of the park. Everything looks nice, but there haven't been a lot of moments that took my breath away.

Of course, having said that, I still can't wait for the next issue. I loved the first two issues, and my high expectations are probably getting the best of me. DC has me hooked -- One Year Later has me planning to buy titles I never planned on buying previously, and I'm already planning on $130 of my money going toward 52 over the next year.

Now, if Marvel can do just as well with Civil War, this will be a hell of a year for mainstream comic fans.

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 4

2006-01-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

*** of 5

We're now up to part ten of "The Other" storyline. You're not going to hear me rant about it too much, as these later issues have, at least, moved the story along and are fairly interesting. I still think the pacing on this story was ridiculous. It could easily have been half the length. I'm not sure whose decision it was to stretch it out this long. I've had problems with Straczynski's writing in the past, but pacing wasn't one of them. I'm guessing Marvel really wanted a twelve issue saga that would make for a nice hardcover trade.

Regardless, what we have now is Peter Parker, back from the dead and wielding new spider powers. His reflexes are quicker. I'm not sure if this is what they're going for, but it reminded me of a cockroach, when you frighten it and kicks into hyperdrive. That works for me. The stingers that pop out of Spidey's forearms... not so much.

We also get a new villain, a mass of spiders that eats the dessicated husk of Peter's previous body, webs up the top floors of the Avengers headquarters, then turns into what would be a hot chick, if not for the fact she's made of spiders that just ate the dessicated husk of Peter's previous body.

I still have high hopes for Peter David's work on this series. Of all the chapters, his issues have seemed to make the most effort to leave an individual stamp in spite of all the plot requirements. I'm hoping that his writing coupled with Wieringo's art make this the fun Spidey book, because we certainly need one.

Speaking of Wieringo's art -- I think his Spider-Man looks great. Everyone else, though, is a little too cartoonish for my taste. It's not quite manga, but it has some of that flavor. Part of the trouble I'm having with the art though is due to its inappropriateness to the current storyline. I'll deal with this more in my upcoming Marvel Knights review, but I think the more cartoonish look we currently see in Friendly Neighborhood and Marvel Knights really doesn't suit "The Other". However, like I said, I'm eager to see David and Wieringo cut loose on their own now that "The Other" is done.

The Exterminators 1

2006-01-26T21:59:00.000-08:00

*** out of 5

I'm giving serious consideration to trying out at least the first issue of every Vertigo series. I admittedly need to broaden my reading beyond DC and Marvel sueprheroes, and every time I check out a Vertigo title I usually find something to like about it. Far too often, though, I miss out at the beginning and a lack of interest in playing catch-up stops me in my tracks. This is why I'm not reading "Y, The Last Man" or "Fables", even though I'm sure they're great.

This is why I made sure to pick up the first issue of "The Exterminators". It's not the kind of thing I'd normally pick up, but I'd heard good reviews.

It's good. Too soon to know just how good, but I'm definitely in it for a few issues to see where it goes. I'm not even sure what genre it is: crime, science-fiction, horror... all of the above? I have no idea where this series could go, so I'm intrigued. I'd recommend this to anyone wanting to try something new.

100 Bullets 68

2006-01-25T21:32:00.000-08:00

*** out of 5

I love 100 Bullets. When I ventured out of the safety zone of superhero titles, 100 Bullets was the first title I tried. I didn't start out at the beginning, but close enough that I was able to catch up quickly. It also helped that the first issue I read was a standalone dealing with the Kennedy Assassination. Things were going well, I looked forward to each new issue.

Then, grad school drained time and money away from my comic reading. I didn't read 100 Bullets for probably a little over a year. I have since found out that during this year, a huge chunk of the conspiracy was explained and revealed.

I currently have no idea what's going on. I've been reading it for probably half a year now, and I am totally lost.

So, why do I buy it? Because DC does a great job of getting the trades out on this one. I have most of them, and I'm rereading them from the beginning. It's worth the effort. This series is that good.

Plus, the art by Eduardo Risso is wonderful to look at each month. It's unique and totally appropriate to this series. In my opinion, the pairing of Azzarello and Risso is one of the best in comics.

If you're not reading 100 Bullets, and you like crime stories, conspiracies or hardboiled drama, you will love 100 Bullets. It seems like this series is slowly falling off people's radar, which is a shame. Buy the trades and see what I mean.

JLA 124

2006-01-25T21:16:00.000-08:00

** out of 5

"World Without A Justice League" Or, "Why Is DC Still Publishing This?" Better yet, "Why Am I Still Buying This?"

I'm baffled as to why DC didn't just end this with the last arc, leading directly into "Infinite Crisis". Scratch that, I'm not baffled. It's obviously financial. I'm sure even with a drop in sales, JLA still brings in enough revenue per month that dropping it completely would have thrown off their bottom line. This topic will come up again when I review the final issue of "The Flash".

Bearing that in mind, I have a difficult time criticizing the creators too much for this. I'm sure it's more editorial than any decision on their part to do this story. I've heard good things about Bob Harras' work on "Breach", but his heart's probably not in this.

Basically, by this point, part five, we've ended up with a Green Arrow and Black Canary story, not a JLA story. Yes, Batman's in it, but I'm not sure why. I'd read this arc assuming it was about recruiting a new JLA. Instead, we have a JLA book in which no one wants to be in the JLA. It's an odd and anticlimactic end for what was once a great title. It's not a horrible story, but not a terribly good one, either.

Of course, JLA will be relaunched once "Infinite Crisis" is over. I, for one, am looking forward to Brad Meltzer. I realize some aren't, but I think one thing this title definitely needs is a steady hand to guide it for a while.

WELCOME

2006-01-25T20:28:00.000-08:00

Because lord knows what the web needs is another comic book review site.

So why am I doing this? Because I'm opinionated and I love to hear myself talk. I'm always visiting various comic sites, seeing people's opinions on what they've read. I'd even thought about contributing to them.

Then, when I saw how simple it was to blog, I figured I'd just do it myself.

Hopefully, a few people will see my site and some intelligent discussions can arise.

Or, perhaps this will degenerate into name-calling and bitching about Spider-Man's new costume like so many other message boards.

Either way, it should be fun.