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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 11, 2016 22:10:33 GMT -5
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 10:16:09 GMT -5
Mr. Quinlan: Vampire Hunter #2 Story by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan Scripted by David Lapham Penciled by Edgar Salazar Inked by Keith Champagne Colored by Dan Jackson Summary: Victory in the arena has brought Mr.Quintas more than just honor but also attention...and not all of it wanted as the Master has found him and sends an army of infected to take him down, he escapes with his life but it may be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Plot: David Lapham continues to expound on the back story of one of the most intriguing characters from Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan's Strain. While the last issue did a lot of world building in this latest issue Lapham shifts the focus over to action with just a hint of a larger world to come at the end. While the pacing was fast and the tease at the end promised interesting developments to come there weren't many quiet moments to get you to truly buy into what was going on. There's no real reason to care for Quinlan so the stakes of the danger he's in don't really feel real, which is a shame after the humanizing characterizations we saw in the last issue. With the tease at the end though with the ancient vampires I hope that the next issue can make the story compelling again.
Art: Although the overwhelming focus on the action bogged down the narrative it did nothing to hamper the art. Edgar Salazar's pencils were sharp, and the fight scenes were framed in a great cinematic way that made you feel like they were almost moving.
Grade: 6/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 11:53:18 GMT -5
Gotham Academy: Second Semester #2  Written by Brendan Fletcher, Becky Cloonan and Karl Kershal Penciled by Adam Archer Inked by Sandra Hope Colored by Serge Lapointe Background paintings by Msassyk Summary: When students and teachers are going missing all over school it seems like a perfect case for the Detective Club...but is this something beyond even them? And will the new girl Amy tear the club apart?
Plot: Fletcher, Cloonan and Kershal continue their adventures of the Detective Club and their balance between horror, mystery, action, teenage drama and friendship continues to be next to perfect. The dialogue is quick, fun and genuinely captures the language of the youthful characters, which is harder to do than you'd think. With the introduction of a new character Fletcher & Co. keep the group dynamic fresh, Amy introduces drama and splits the group which will allow new relationships to grow. And while that plot movement is interesting and there is an overwhelming feeling that Amy will be important latter on there is still a lack of definition in Amy, we don't know a whole lot about her and although the suspense and energy she brings is fun she feels like a distraction.
Art: The art continues to amaze, the contrast between the delicate line work and the hand painted looking backgrounds creates a fantastically otherworldly feel that really highlights the sense of mystery and over all creepiness.
Conclusion: With it's sharp, realistic dialogue and rich characterizations Gotham Academy remains a fun read with its playful mix of youthful energy and horror.
Grade: 8/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 12:41:11 GMT -5
Darth Vader #25 Written by Kieron Gillen Art by Salvador Larocca Colored by Edgar Delgado Summary: Vader's quest for redemption comes full circle in this issue, he finally destroys his would be usurper, cleans up all his loose ends with Arphra and gains the Emperor's good graces.
Plot: It took 25 issues to get here but Kieron Gillen finally delivered the goods. All along the concept has been simple: at the end of A New Hope Darth Vader lost the Empire's greatest weapon, and we all knew there would be hell to pay for Vader but come time for Empire Strikes Back its like nothing ever happened...so Gillen set out to show us that journey. In 25 issues we've seen Vader scheme, rob and kill to gain back his master's good graces and in the end we're treated to the outcome, and Gillen tells it in a way that really fits Vader. For all the smoothness that James Earl Jones brought to Darth Vader with his line delivery, Vader always worked best as the silent, hulking black shadow ominously soaking up the screen. In that tradition Gillen goes for a subtle, spartan approach with showing without telling, it all plays out without any commentary from Vader and little dialogue to explain his actions. Behind his mask Gillen's Vader is cold and inscrutable which is a perfect contrast to the ruthless violence he deals out. Usually that kind of detachment would make for a weak character but it works here for a man that's mostly machine, it makes him mysterious and dangerous which is just what Vader needs to be.
Art: With the above said, with no narration and little dialogue the bulk of the storytelling falls to the artist to portray and Larocca is equal to the task. I'm not always a fan of Larocca's use of photo referencing as it occasionally creates a stiff, wooden look but with the help of Delgado's vibrant colors the art escapes the usual pitfalls with a bright, lively look. I tend to like a more highly stylized look but the realism here creates a bold, cinematic experience that's been enjoyable from the start.
Conclusion: While this may be the end of this story of Vader's redemption, it's hard to imagine that it's the last we see of Vader.
Grade: 8/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 14:31:46 GMT -5
Action Comics #965 Written by Dan Jurgens Penciled by Stephan Segovia Inked by Art Thibert Colored by Arif Prianto Summary: Wife, mother, best selling writer; Lois Lane is all of these things but stuck on the farm she wants more from life and with a mysterious note from the Lois Lane of this world she gets just that and more as she tries to crack the code.
Story: In the previous issues were were introduced to the mystery of Clark Kent but with his trip with Superman to the Fortress seemingly proving him to be the "real" Clark Kent and yet not Superman Dan Jurgens puts that pot on the back burner while advancing another mystery: Where is Lois Lane? While it's true that the old mystery was feeling a little long in the tooth I'm not sure Jurgens' technique of leaving it dangling while jumping right into a new one is the best way to go. That doubt aside I really love the way he writes Lois, she's strong, smart and willful and is every bit as brave as her husband...only without the super powers. I don't know if that characterization is enough to carry my interest for too long, especially as this new mystery ties into Superwoman which I dropped after two issues but it might get one more try out of me.
Art: While I like the very expressive and delicate pencil work by Segovia a lot of it is washed away by the very basic looking computer coloring. I know most colorists are digital now a days, and many are good at it but Prianto's pallet is bland and there's no sense of texture so it all comes off as looking very flat and sterile.
Conclusion: With the mystery of Clark Kent on hold Jurgens jumps right into another with Lois and while her characterization is strong I can't help but feel as if Jurgens should have switched directions a bit more if he intended to stretch of the mystery with Clark.
Grade: 6/10 |
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Post by Gene on Oct 12, 2016 14:38:37 GMT -5
Daredevil #12: The Dark Art storyline continues right from where it left off in issue #11 with DD coming face to face with the man behind the grotesque art pieces made from the remains of dead Inhumans. The bizarre figure, who calls himself Muse, sees no difference between his "art" and murder and only cares about finding approval of his work from his "audience." After Muse makes his retreat, Manhattan ADA Matt Murdock finds New Attilan Security claiming jurisdiction over the crime scene. Hoping to stop Muse before anyone else is killed, DD seeks audience with Medusa in hopes of pooling their resources. Things don't go as planned. On his way out of Attilan, DD gets a call letting him know that Muse is a lot closer to home than he hoped.
When Charles Soule's run on Daredevil started, I wasn't completely sold on his take. It felt like the book was trying too hard to get back to the grittiness that had characterized it prior to Waid's run on the series. Dark Art is where it's all coming together for me. Between this arc and the previous couple of shorter stories, Soule's finally found his voice for Matt Murdock. It's dark, moody, and (most importantly) weird and it all comes together into something that's unlike any other take on the character. Add Ron Garney, who's doing the best work of his career, to the mix and you have one of the most distinct books in Marvel's current lineup. If you're a fan of the Netflix series or a lapsed DD reader who couldn't get into Waid's run, I suggest giving this current volume a shot.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 16:15:22 GMT -5
Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #3 Written by Julie and Shawna Benson Penciled and inked by Claire Roe Colored by Allen Passalaqua Flashbacks by Roge Antonio Summary: An encrypted file from the Oracle leads the Birds on a wild goose chase that diverts them away from the safe house, losing them their witness and dividing the team.
Plot: Julie and Shawna Benson have a great ear for dialogue and their characters are energetic and witty. There's certainly a lot of action to be had, and a the quest for identity against the usurper of the Oracle title is compelling but above all else Birds of Prey is a character driven book. In this issue in particular we got some great insight into Black Cannary, in a sense getting her origin only with it feeling like an info dump. We see her as a child in a foster home, then training in some dojo and through it all a feeling of utter aloneness which makes her rejection from Huntress at the end all the more powerful. The forward momentum isn't progressing very quickly but what we're getting is compelling on its own right.
Art: Some may find it jarring but for my tastes I really enjoyed the softer line work and pastel pallet used by Roge Antonio in the flashbacks. It's true that it the style used by Roge Antonio was wildly different from the style used by Claire Roe in the main story, but that intense visual cue really sets off the flashbacks nicely and matches the younger, more innocent characterization of the young Black Canary.
Conclusion: While we're no closer to finding out who Oracle is the character work is richly done and well worth reading.
Grade: 7/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 20:08:59 GMT -5
Wonder Woman #8 Written by Greg Rucka Penciled and inked by Bilquis Evely Colored Romulo Fajardo Jr. Summary: Before she was Cheetah, she was just Barbara Ann Minerva archaeologist but she was far from ordinary as she sought out the truth behind the origin of the Amazons.
Plot: Before continuing on after the battle with an ancient African god, Greg Rucka stops here for a brief interlude to explore the origins of Cheetah. He already made her a pretty sympathetic character in the last story arc but seeing her here first as a little girl pretending to be an Amazon and then as an adult trying to prove they exist is a great journey that really brings her to life. It that ability to really make you care about the characters that's making me love Rucka's run, first he made me actually like Steve Trevor(comicdom's most wooden love interest) and now he's turning a villain into a compelling person.
Art: What I really like about the art here is the pallet by Romulo, the mix between the blues and greens for the shadows and the amber and tones makes the art really pop off the page and gives the backgrounds an exotic look.
Conclusion: One shots after long stories are always a good way to break things up and Rucka makes it feel worthwhile so it's definitely a great choice.
Grade:8/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 12, 2016 22:04:24 GMT -5
Han Solo #4 Written by Marjorie Liu Penciled and Inked by Mark Brooks Colored by Sonia Oback Summary: Just when the race was going well and it looked like Han and Chewie could not only win the race but also successfully smuggle all three rebel spies back to safety trouble strikes twice: Imperial entanglement and a murderer among the spies aboard the Falcon!
Plot: Marjorie Liu's thrilling space race continues to intrigue in this forth issue. Her action is slick and she continues to really get Han's voice down which is notoriously tricky. What I like most about the story is that whole space race is such a great star warsy concept, unlike the pod race from Episode One which felt kind of off the space race that Han has entered in as a cover to retrieve the spies has a great pulp feel to that just fits in with the universe and with the added element of the killer on board it has a fun noir feel to it as well. I don't know if you could make a film out of this story, but I can't help feeling as if there was say a live action Star Wars show on Netflix that this story could be wonderfully adapted because everything about it just feels right.
Art: Although Oback's colors are occasionally too bright and clean which clash with the normal lived in aesthetic that's a big part of Star Wars the line work is great. Han looks like Harison Ford and Chewie looks like a Wookie and the facial expressions in the two of them are perfect in their various emotional states which isn't always the case when the art looks too live action.
Conclusion: Although the race story necessarily has a finite quality to it the ride is so good you don't want it to end with the next chapter.
Grade: 8/10
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 8:32:35 GMT -5
Action 965: While I was hoping for more on the Clark Kent mystery, I was glad to see Lois showcased. She hasn't had much to do (aside from helping defeat Eradicator) since Rebirth, other than supporting Clark and taking care of Jon. Here we see shades of the old Lois, diving in head first into a mystery involving her doppelganger. I loved the scene where she arrives at the Daily Planet passing herself off as their Lois. I thought the writer did a good job conveying her being uncomfortable. Loved the scene with Steve Lombard.
I agree with thwhtguardian, the colors looked very unimpressive. I would have preferred some brighter colors. When I think of Metropolis, I think bright, full of activity, lots of reds, golds, silvers, bright colors. I enjoyed this issue, especially with the spotlight on Lois. Hope to see her back to her spunky, sassy, self!
8/10
Supergirl #2: Supergirl encounters her father who is determined to bring back Argo City and reunite with his daughter. This issue was ok. Not a fan of the art. Some panels look great while others look more like a doodle. The best scenes are the ones with Cat Grant, who has the personality of the Cat Grant from the tv show. The book had lots going on, Supergirl and her dad, Supergirl at the DEO, Linda at school, and Linda meeting with Cat. Still going to give this book a chance. It was a decent read, but nothing spectacular.
6/10
Thoughts on Superwoman and Wonder Woman as soon as I get a chance to read them!
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 13, 2016 13:15:14 GMT -5
Action 965: While I was hoping for more on the Clark Kent mystery, I was glad to see Lois showcased. She hasn't had much to do (aside from helping defeat Eradicator) since Rebirth, other than supporting Clark and taking care of Jon. Here we see shades of the old Lois, diving in head first into a mystery involving her doppelganger. I loved the scene where she arrives at the Daily Planet passing herself off as their Lois. I thought the writer did a good job conveying her being uncomfortable. Loved the scene with Steve Lombard. I agree with thwhtguardian, the colors looked very unimpressive. I would have preferred some brighter colors. When I think of Metropolis, I think bright, full of activity, lots of reds, golds, silvers, bright colors. I enjoyed this issue, especially with the spotlight on Lois. Hope to see her back to her spunky, sassy, self! 8/10 Supergirl #2: Supergirl encounters her father who is determined to bring back Argo City and reunite with his daughter. This issue was ok. Not a fan of the art. Some panels look great while others look more like a doodle. The best scenes are the ones with Cat Grant, who has the personality of the Cat Grant from the tv show. The book had lots going on, Supergirl and her dad, Supergirl at the DEO, Linda at school, and Linda meeting with Cat. Still going to give this book a chance. It was a decent read, but nothing spectacular. 6/10 Thoughts on Superwoman and Wonder Woman as soon as I get a chance to read them! I had liked the average teenager elements of Supergirl and although their introduction felt a little rushed I liked the Danvers and the Deo but with throwing in her father as Cyborg Superman again it felt too muddled for a first issue so I never made it to the second issue. Maybe I'll give it another try once they get past the Cyborg story. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 14:38:21 GMT -5
Last night as I read Supergirl #2, I was thinking to myself, "Get through the Cyborg story and see what comes next." haha! Supergirl and Superwoman were books I had high hopes for. I flipped through Superwoman. Phil Jimenez puts lots of detail into his art...as well as his stories (sometimes too much, too wordy, word balloons all over the place.) I did notice there is a different artist this issue. Superwoman is another book I am giving a chance, but it's really close to being dropped along with Supergirl. Justice League as well.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 15:45:25 GMT -5
Flash #8: The ending to the Godspeed arc wasn't too bad. Williamson had Wally II become Kid Flash & help Barry stop Godspeed. I still think DC needs to stop creating these new evil speedsters. I miss the old rogues. Flash has some of the best villains in comics! Use them! The art was spectacular. 7/10.
Superwoman #3: What happened? One of the best titles of Rebirth just became a confusing mess. Jimenez has too many subplots he is trying to juggle. He needs to wrap up some subplots before adding new ones. The art by Emanuela Lupacchino and Ray McCarthy was good. It looks like they may be the new art team? I am going to finish this first arc...5/10.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2016 15:59:51 GMT -5
Daredevil #12: The Dark Art storyline continues right from where it left off in issue #11 with DD coming face to face with the man behind the grotesque art pieces made from the remains of dead Inhumans. The bizarre figure, who calls himself Muse, sees no difference between his "art" and murder and only cares about finding approval of his work from his "audience." After Muse makes his retreat, Manhattan ADA Matt Murdock finds New Attilan Security claiming jurisdiction over the crime scene. Hoping to stop Muse before anyone else is killed, DD seeks audience with Medusa in hopes of pooling their resources. Things don't go as planned. On his way out of Attilan, DD gets a call letting him know that Muse is a lot closer to home than he hoped. When Charles Soule's run on Daredevil started, I wasn't completely sold on his take. It felt like the book was trying too hard to get back to the grittiness that had characterized it prior to Waid's run on the series. Dark Art is where it's all coming together for me. Between this arc and the previous couple of shorter stories, Soule's finally found his voice for Matt Murdock. It's dark, moody, and (most importantly) weird and it all comes together into something that's unlike any other take on the character. Add Ron Garney, who's doing the best work of his career, to the mix and you have one of the most distinct books in Marvel's current lineup. If you're a fan of the Netflix series or a lapsed DD reader who couldn't get into Waid's run, I suggest giving this current volume a shot. Great analysis. I felt the same way. Soule seemed like a great fit for the title. But I was underwhelmed with his writing at first. It took awhile but he finally is making the book his own. I just hope he doesn't drag out the subplot about how Matt restored his ID & why him & Foggy aren't friends anymore. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Oct 13, 2016 16:59:22 GMT -5
Doom Patrol #2 Written by Gerard Way Penciled and Inked by Nick Derington Colored by Tamra Bonvillain Summary: Not everything is as it seems as Casey and Sam learn that as far as their boss is concerned they stole the ambulance the night before and were never told to go anywhere, but with Robotman waking up in her apartment and coming across Negative Man on the street it's obvious there is more at work than meets the eye.
Plot: The erratic, nonlinear narrative structure that Gerard Way introduced in the last issue continues into the second installment and it's wonderfully weird. We get a psychedelic introduction to Larry Trainor, the Negative man, as a test pilot struck by radiation, Robotman fights some bad guys who look like they stepped out of Tron and to top it all off Casey talks to her ambulance and gets pulled into her radio and ends up meeting Flex Mentallo and what appears to be Danny the Street. It's wild, weird and not always clear but the character work is fun and the dialogue though occasionally incomprehensible is snappy and fun.
Art: Derington continues to produce art that is just as weird as the story getting put out by Way. The visuals are unique but the panel structure is still easy to follow so visually the story never feels muddled and the bright colors by Tamra Bonvillain makes the whole book a look one of those posters you ogled as a wayward youth in your local head shop.
Conclusion: Although it appears the team is nearly all together it's still not too clear where it's all going but it remains fun and weird.
Grade:9/10
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