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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2017 10:27:08 GMT -5
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 4, 2017 11:45:59 GMT -5
None of my regular comics come out this week. I was thinking about trying The Unstoppable Wasp #1, but I'll pick it up next week.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2017 11:54:44 GMT -5
None of my regular comics come out this week. I was thinking about trying The Unstoppable Wasp #1, but I'll pick it up next week. Not a zero comic week for me but it's pretty light at just four books. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 4, 2017 12:10:46 GMT -5
I keep hoping Doom Patrol #4 and Astro City #41 will come out. I (finally!) looked around online and - supposedly - DP #4 is scheduled for January 25 and Astro City #41 is set for February 1.
Which reminds me I have to see if Providence #12 is scheduled yet.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2017 13:09:10 GMT -5
The Unworthy Thor #3  Written by Jason Aaron Art by Kim Jacinto and Oliver Coipel Colored by Matthew Wilson Summary: Captured by the Collector Thor is tasked with unlocking the secrets of the new hammer for the Collector's own use.
Plot: Thor's quest for redemption continues in Aaron's latest chapter but with the focus on action character movement comes to a stand still. Instead of introspective moments of Thor contemplating where he may fit in the world all we get are scenes of Tor trying to reach his hammer again and again peppered with shout outs to what's happening with Loki and Jane. The pacing is quick and the dialogue is sharp so it's never boring but you can't help but feel as if it's just needlessly treading water to pad out the mini for the collection which is disappointing.
Art: The action is artfully portrayed and the panel transitions give it a very cinematic feel which fits with the mini's feel thus far that this plot could make a good Thor movie. That said, the credits on the art are a tad unclear as they list Jacinto before the regular series artist Oliver Coipel which would make me think she did the lion's share of the art and yet it remains consistent with the look of the previous issues.
Grade:6/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2017 14:55:15 GMT -5
Star Trek: Boldly Go #4 Written by Mike Johnson Art by Tony Shasteen Summary: After entering Romulan space in pursuit of the Borg they find they are too late and Spock must pay for their error.
Plot: My distaste of the Borg in the movieverse aside, Johnson's conclusion continued to keep me locked in. While the plot point that Spock was able to resist assimilation due to his hybrid nature wasn't very compelling the mental journey we went on with Spock as he struggled against the Borg was compelling and the discipline of Spock's mind should've what Johnson went with rather the biological explanation. That aside the characterization of Kirk in how he chose to deal with the Romulan's was great and while I understand why they needed to give the Romulans a "win" it was disappointing to see the Romulan first mate left behind, I really liked her addition to the crew and was looking forward to seeing her played off against Spock.
Art: Shasteen continues to give us a great cinematic look to the series but I was a little bothered that his depictions of the Romulan's dress and their ships was taken from the Next Generation rather than the original series. I love the look of the next gen's war bird but it isn't consistent with the timeline which bothered me a tiny bit. It's a small flaw but I feel like someone should have caught it and mentioned it to him.
Grade:7/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2017 15:57:35 GMT -5
Rise of the Black Flame #5 Written by Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson Art by Christopher Mitten Colored by Dave Stewart Summary: The team arrives at the temple of the black flame...but are they in time?
Plot: If there is one issue I've had with Mignola's work of late it's that I often feel like his endings seem to miss their marks ever so slightly and although this final issue is more satisfying than say the end of Abe Sapian it did leave me feeling slightly wanting. The strength of this series up until this point was that it really made you care about these unknown characters and took great care in building them up but in the conclusion they are total nonentities in the face of establishing the temple, a brief action scene and then the birth of the titular Black Flame which really flew in the face of the beautiful character moments that dominated the rest of the series. While I knew the ending from the start, as it takes place only a short while befor the Black Flame's appearance in Lobster Johnson it wasn't that foreknowledge that ruined it as that kind of inevitability is to be expected in a prequel but rather it was the fact that there was no big reveal other than that transformation we already saw coming, we didn't really gain any real insight into the Black Flame so I was left wondering what was the point?
Art: Man, what I really loved about Mitten's art in this issue was the real sense of place he imbued on this story. The panels and spreads he spent on showcasing the jungle, the exterior of the temple and the ceremony room itself were absolutely stunning and gave you a feeling that you were really there.
Grade: 7/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2017 16:39:13 GMT -5
Superman #14  Written by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Art by Ivan Reis Colored by Marcelo Maiolo Summary: When the Soviet Superman from Earth 30 literally drops in on Clark he finds himself caught up in battle with a multiversal collector.
Plot: While it's strange to see this story show up so long after Morrison's Multiversity event (two years) I'm glad that Gleason and Tomasi decided to pick up the concept and play with it some more. That said, with out Jon involved in the plot I feel like we're straying from the strong emotional core that made this run on Superman so good to begin with. I don't need every story to have that father/son theme but it did make for a very unique feel and without it the book feels a little like a run of the mill Superman story, which while not bad is slightly less interesting.
Art: I think another thing that makes this feel not as fantastic as the earlier issues is the lack of artistic punch that Gleason gave while the book was under his pen, Reis is solid but his look feels more DC house style than Gleason's bombastic, cartoony look.
Grade:7/10
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,376
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Post by shaxper on Jan 4, 2017 21:42:58 GMT -5
Rise of the Black Flame #5Written by Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson Art by Christopher Mitten Colored by Dave Stewart Summary: The team arrives at the temple of the black flame...but are they in time?
Plot: If there is one issue I've had with Mignola's work of late it's that I often feel like his endings seem to miss their marks ever so slightly and although this final issue is more satisfying than say the end of Abe Sapian it did leave me feeling slightly wanting. The strength of this series up until this point was that it really made you care about these unknown characters and took great care in building them up but in the conclusion they are total nonentities in the face of establishing the temple, a brief action scene and then the birth of the titular Black Flame which really flew in the face of the beautiful character moments that dominated the rest of the series. While I knew the ending from the start, as it takes place only a short while befor the Black Flame's appearance in Lobster Johnson it wasn't that foreknowledge that ruined it as that kind of inevitability is to be expected in a prequel but rather it was the fact that there was no big reveal other than that transformation we already saw coming, we didn't really gain any real insight into the Black Flame so I was left wondering what was the point?
Art: Man, what I really loved about Mitten's art in this issue was the real sense of place he imbued on this story. The panels and spreads he spent on showcasing the jungle, the exterior of the temple and the ceremony room itself were absolutely stunning and gave you a feeling that you were really there.
Grade: 7/10 First time I've seen you give a Hellboy-related book a rating this low! |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,376
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Post by shaxper on Jan 4, 2017 22:18:51 GMT -5
Mickey Mouse #16  Written by Andrea "Casty" Castellan Art by Lorenzo Pastrovicchio Colored by Disney Italia with Nicole and Travis Seitler Summary: A Russ Manning-inspired future city with rogue robots run amok, and it looks like only Mickey can stop them.
Plot: While not one of Casty's stronger scripts, the story thus far is really a series of homages, from (most clearly) Russ Manning's Magnus Robot Fighter and Isaac Asimov's I Robot, to (in a more limited fashion) John Favreau's Iron Man and James Cameron's The Terminator. The whole thing is set up to be a visual feast with a compelling mystery at the center of it, but believable characterization and tight plotting clearly weren't priorities this time. Knowing Casty, his exploration of Asimov's Three Laws will get more compelling and better developed in the second installment, and that, in and of itself, will make this journey worth the while..
Art: In an unusual choice, Casty doesn't do his own art this time. While I miss his technique, Lorenzo Pastrovicchio still manages to provide tremendous beauty and dynamic action to his panels, and the coloring enhances it a thousand-fold. Casty is still better, but this is a very suitable substitute..
Grade: 8/10
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 23:35:24 GMT -5
My thoughts on Superman #14:
I enjoyed this issue and am looking forward to this story as it seems like it's heading toward a Crisis style event (but focusing on Superman--or Supermen). I didn't read Morrison's Multiversity a couple of years ago, but I enjoyed seeing some of the characters appear here. This issue was mostly set up, but I believe we are in store for a fun Superman story. I especially liked seeing the final couple of pages and seeing a favorite funny character from childhood.
I didn't mind the shift in art. While it could come across as generic, I felt it conveyed some of the urgency in the story. I loved the opening sequence with Clark riding in the truck, carefree. Reminded me of trips to my grandparents farm and carefree summer nights, just riding around.
8.5/10
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2017 23:53:56 GMT -5
Death of Hawkman #4: Hawkman and Adam Strange discover what Despero is really up to--and it's very over the top and cheesy, but fun (especially the last page). Tensions continue to escalate as Rann and Thanagar prepare for war. Alanna appears on a Rann tv show (with a very Megyn Kellyesque host) explaining why her planet should go to war. My favorite thing about the book is the relationship between Hawkman and Adam. 2 unlikely friends trying to stop the war while learning about each other. Hope Hawkman really isn't going to die as seeing him and Adam team up for another miniseries would be fun. The art is good, very clear and classic looking. Good colors too.
7/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 5, 2017 9:33:50 GMT -5
Rise of the Black Flame #5Written by Mike Mignola and Chris Roberson Art by Christopher Mitten Colored by Dave Stewart Summary: The team arrives at the temple of the black flame...but are they in time?
Plot: If there is one issue I've had with Mignola's work of late it's that I often feel like his endings seem to miss their marks ever so slightly and although this final issue is more satisfying than say the end of Abe Sapian it did leave me feeling slightly wanting. The strength of this series up until this point was that it really made you care about these unknown characters and took great care in building them up but in the conclusion they are total nonentities in the face of establishing the temple, a brief action scene and then the birth of the titular Black Flame which really flew in the face of the beautiful character moments that dominated the rest of the series. While I knew the ending from the start, as it takes place only a short while befor the Black Flame's appearance in Lobster Johnson it wasn't that foreknowledge that ruined it as that kind of inevitability is to be expected in a prequel but rather it was the fact that there was no big reveal other than that transformation we already saw coming, we didn't really gain any real insight into the Black Flame so I was left wondering what was the point?
Art: Man, what I really loved about Mitten's art in this issue was the real sense of place he imbued on this story. The panels and spreads he spent on showcasing the jungle, the exterior of the temple and the ceremony room itself were absolutely stunning and gave you a feeling that you were really there.
Grade: 7/10 First time I've seen you give a Hellboy-related book a rating this low! Ha, yeah I've been loving the recent out put, especially the last four issues of the Black Flame but this one was a disapointment. Although, if I had been using this same ten point system from the start with my review thread I don't think this issue would be the worst as there were a few I gave D's to that were more flawed than this story. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 14:09:42 GMT -5
 The Deluge: Part 3. Written by Dan Abnett. Art by Philippe Briones. Cover by Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy. The war between the USA & Atlantis continues. NEMO continues to manipulate both sides to escalate the conflict. The USA sends the Aquamarines (genetically altered soldiers) into Atlantis to assassinate Aquaman. They fail & Aquaman goes after NEMO. He finds Black Manta as the leader of NEMO. This storyline continues to entertain. Abnett sets up situations that will change Aquaman & Mera at the conclusion of this arc. The Aquamarines were OK although I don't see them as any threat. Briones' art sells the action. Score: 7/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2017 14:22:06 GMT -5
 Written by Tim Seeley. Art and Cover by Marcus To. Dick Grayson continues his "new" life in Bludhaven. As Dick he works with teens at the Community Center. As Nightwing he tries to make "friends" within the police dept. And he starts to earn the trust of ex-villains called the Run-Offs. As a team they go up against the Orca! Returning Nightwing to Bludhaven has caused this book to become so much better. He is his own person here. He is no longer Batman lite. He is his own distinct identity. Seeley shows the qualities that make Dick my favorite hero. In many ways he is more balanced & interesting than Batman. Marcus To continues to astound me on the art. He captures Nightwing's movements so well. I will be disappointed when he leaves this book to draw the next volume of Capt Canuck. Keep Nightwing in Bludhaven! Score: 8/10. |
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