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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 5, 2018 7:59:27 GMT -5
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 5, 2018 9:37:04 GMT -5
BPRD #158
 Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie Art by Christopher Mitten and Lawrence Campbell Summary: As Rasputin's influence is revealed we learn how it all started and see the death of a dear friend.
Plot: In a lot of ways this issue really only served as an epilogue the conclusion of the last issue. Mignola and Allie don't move the plot forward an inch with this story as at the end our heroes are exactly where they were at the conclusion of #157; reeling in the face of Rasputin's return and looking to regroup. As a weekly warrior it's a little frustrating as I was hoping for the issue to either move things forward towards where the next story arc is looking to go, or provide a more definitive ending to last issue's cliffhanger and it ultimately did neither. While the back story on Varvara, her relationship with Ratsputin and how she became a demon were interesting...it really didn't add much to the book. It'd be a nice addition as an extra at the end of the trade but as a single issue it just came off as fluff.
Art: On the art side I really liked the use of two artists here, with Campbell handling the modern reaction scenes and Mitten giving us the flash back to Varvara's child hood as both artists have become the defining styles of those two respective periods. You'd think their distinctive styles would be jarring but with the coloring the two pieces seem part of the same whole and you hardly notice the change.
Grade:6/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 5, 2018 10:19:53 GMT -5
Immortal Hulk #10Written by Al Ewing Art by Joe Bennett Summary: Just as victory seems to be in the Hulk's grasp Gamma Flight interrupts and the possessed Absorbing man takes them all to Hell.
Plot: While I love the general direction that Ewing is going for in this issue the plot itself was rather thin. Don't get me wrong, the action was certainly fun but everything outside of that seemed like an after thought. Gamma Flight, lead by the former Sasquatch, seems like a cool organization...but it's purpose lacks clear definition. Other than being a plot point that stalled the Hulk from stopping the Absorbing man from opening the Green Door, what was their mission? No real information is given to us about that and without that motivation, or insight into what they intended to do they're just an uninteresting plot mechanic that gets us from point A to point B. Still, Hulk in some Gamma Hell is a great idea and I'm excited to explore it further in the next issue.
Art: Bennett continues to be the real strong man of this series as he knocks out of the park issue after issue. I absolutely loved the fight scene with the mutilated Absorbing man and the desiccated Hulk and I'm on the edge of my set just waiting to see what he gives us next issue when we finally get to hell.
Grade:6/10 |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2018 10:41:25 GMT -5
Yours truly got a letter printed in Immortal Hulk #10. Apologies for the self-promotion! ;-)
(It's the letter that mentions a certain Dr. Connors/Lizard).
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 5, 2018 11:24:41 GMT -5
Yours truly got a letter printed in Immortal Hulk #10. Apologies for the self-promotion! ;-) (It's the letter that mentions a certain Dr. Connors/Lizard). That's awesome! I've had a few letters printed myself, though my favorite was to Joe Kubert shortly after his death which was actually used in the trade collection of Joe Kubert Presents. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2018 23:25:34 GMT -5
Shazam #1 by Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham, Mike Atiyeh, And Mayo Naito:
Shazam has been a favorite of mine since I was little and watched the Filmation show and started following Captain Marvel in World’s Finest. This new series blends the golden age fun with the Rebirth era while smoothing out the harder New 52 Billy Batson. In the Justice League back ups, Billy was a bit of a jerk, but here he embraces his foster family (and the Shazam team). A quick origin recap and the story begins with a mystery in the subway station Where Billy first met the Wizard. Nice cliffhanger ending as well. The back up details Mary’s life before being placed in foster care and Sivana is mentioned And we see Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny!
Not sure how Johns will balance all the Shazam kids, and Billy seems lost in some of the scenes (I would’ve preferred just him, Mary, and Freddie to begin with and add the others later). However, the family dynamic is well portrayed here. The art is absolutely gorgeous and I didn’t mind the very clean manga style art in Mary’s back up tale.
Art 10/10
Story: 7.5/10
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Post by hondobrode on Dec 6, 2018 2:12:45 GMT -5
Yeah, I really liked Shazam # 1 and am eager to see where it goes.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2018 10:18:04 GMT -5
Shazam #1 by Geoff Johns, Dale Eaglesham, Mike Atiyeh, And Mayo Naito: Shazam has been a favorite of mine since I was little and watched the Filmation show and started following Captain Marvel in World’s Finest. This new series blends the golden age fun with the Rebirth era while smoothing out the harder New 52 Billy Batson. In the Justice League back ups, Billy was a bit of a jerk, but here he embraces his foster family (and the Shazam team). A quick origin recap and the story begins with a mystery in the subway station Where Billy first met the Wizard. Nice cliffhanger ending as well. The back up details Mary’s life before being placed in foster care and Sivana is mentioned And we see Hoppy, the Marvel Bunny! Not sure how Johns will balance all the Shazam kids, and Billy seems lost in some of the scenes (I would’ve preferred just him, Mary, and Freddie to begin with and add the others later). However, the family dynamic is well portrayed here. The art is absolutely gorgeous and I didn’t mind the very clean manga style art in Mary’s back up tale. Art 10/10 Story: 7.5/10 Shazam was everything I hoped it would be. Johns really nailed the fun, light hearted tone and the humor was spot on. I loved the tongue and cheek way they played with the legal issues around the name, "Who is it?" "I'll let you guess, I've been having a lot of trouble saying my own name lately!" and then getting interrupted when he tries to say Captain Marvel later on. My favorite line however came from the cops when they asked for the team name and couldn't get an answer, " Let's just say Superman did it, I'm starving." Just perfect all around, I have no idea why this took so long to come out as the Shazam back up was my favorite thing to come out of the Nu52. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2018 10:25:41 GMT -5
I loved that dialogue as well and the banter between Billy and Freddy at the museum...and how bored Freddy was, haha! Still can't get used to Freddy as a blonde though. I have added Shazam to my pull list as this seems like it will be a fun book....one that will appeal to my inner child too!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2018 10:53:52 GMT -5
Immortal Hulk: The Best Defense  Written by Al Ewing Art by Simone Di Meo Summary: Wandering the empty roads of New Mexico, Bruce Banner stumbles into a mystery as he uncovers the remains of Stephen Strange!
Plot: This week is a real treat with two doses of Ewing's Immortal Hulk in one week, and what I really love is how he changes up the usual horror style to a noir like murder mystery feel. That mystery man walks into a town and solves the crime kind of story really fits the Hulk well, really playing on my fond memories of watching re-runs of the old live action show...but Ewing still keeps the edge that's made his run really fun so far. There's a darkness looming in this story as large as the Hulk himself, a sense of foreboding that is just delicious to read. I'm usually not into cross overs these days, and I have no real idea where this is going but I'm hooked so I'll be following along.
Art: I wasn't sure how this would go with out Immortal Hulk's regular artist Joe Bennett, but Di Meo did an excellent job. The dark, sketchy style really fit the book well and the action scenes with Banner had a brutal kinetic energy to them that really made you feel the hits.
Grade:10/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2018 10:55:27 GMT -5
I loved that dialogue as well and the banter between Billy and Freddy at the museum...and how bored Freddy was, haha! Still can't get used to Freddy as a blonde though. I have added Shazam to my pull list as this seems like it will be a fun book....one that will appeal to my inner child too! Yeah, Johns did a great job making the kids feel real, and all of them had a unique voice to them. It's must buy for me for sure. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2018 11:02:19 GMT -5
I purchased it, but have not yet read it. It's certainly good to see him get his own book again (when was the last one, seems like an eternity ago?).
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2018 11:24:03 GMT -5
I purchased it, but have not yet read it. It's certainly good to see him get his own book again (when was the last one, seems like an eternity ago?). Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam was last out in 2010, and it was a blast! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 6, 2018 11:33:20 GMT -5
Immortal Hulk: The Best Defense I'm usually not into cross overs these days, and I have no real idea where this is going but I'm hooked so I'll be following along.
Namor: The Best Defense Part 2 I immediately take back what I said after reading the Namor tie in. There was nothing wrong with it per-say, it was definitely a serviceable story...but other than Namor: The Deep, I've never really connected with the character and there was nothing new here to change that opinion. On top of that it didn't really seem connected to the Death of Doctor Strange which is the concept that made me want to read more. I mean sure, the ending where he gets picked up by the Silver Surfer's board and he turned into a new Silver Surfer was a neat visual, but I'm more invested in good stories than gimmicks and I'm a little ashamed to say that I fell for this one after the awesome Hulk issue. Unless the reviews are good for the next chapters I won't be buying the rest unless they really seem worth while. Grade:5/10 |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2018 12:24:23 GMT -5
 Shazam! #1.Written by Geoff Johns. Art and Cover by Dale Eaglesham. Finally! One of the best things about New 52 was the Shazam back up stories in Justice League. Johns continues with that origin (which has 6 kids instead of 3 channeling the Power of Shazam). However it is a less angry Billy that is showcased here which was the only thing I really didn't like. Like @mrjupiter I would have preferred a smaller cast (the original 3) but this update on the Shazam mythos is so well done I don't mind there being 6 with powers. Johns expands on the magic subway tunnel, fleshes out the family and it looks like there will be drama in Billy's personal life with that last page. Nice recap of the origin stories and good job moving the story forward. Eaglesham has a similar style to Gary Frank but there is a slightly cartoony feel that fits perfectly to this title. The Mary back up was pretty good too. Fingers crossed that Hoppy will be seen again. 8/10. |
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