One more round, then I’m taking a lunch break.
Review code format: writing (3-1, faboo to mediocre), art (3-1), suitability for jumping on as a new reader (3-1), suitability for giving to a non-comics reader to get them hooked (3-1), and ?Eagerly waiting the collected TBP? (Y/N).
Alias #24 (MAX) [3/2/3/3/Y]
Bendis’ ongoing saga of a washed-up super hero now working as a private eye continues to wow me. His dialog skills are at the fore, and you never know what’s happening next. Jessica gets an offer to work for Ka-Zar in the Savage Land — and turns it down (in a way that’s completely reasonable, but so unexpected in the comics genre that it’s marvelous). Then something from the past catches up with her, as someone tries to hire her to find the Purple Man — a potential job that has her, for reasons we don’t know, in tears. Jessica’s outsider-yet-insider status with the Avengers, Daredevil and others give this book an ongoing freshness. As to the art, Michael Gaydos is blandly realistic — perfect for the book, but nothing to win awards. Still, anything short of “I want spandex-wearing chix with big boobs punching out Galactus” types should enjoy this book. There are three collections out, too — all of which are worth pursuing.
The Authority #3 (Wildstorm) [2/1/2/1/N]
The “Morrison” on the cover as the writer is Robbie, not Grant, by the way, and the dreadfully pedestrian rebirth of The Authority as a “big guns and bloody explosion of the month” title has been a terrible disappointment. In its earlier incarnation, the title was often over the top, but usually for a purpose — either to poke fun at comic violence, or else to show how violent a world with suerphumans would be, espcially if they decided to actually Make a Difference. Here the writing is merely a retread of previous efforts and Dwayne Turner and Sal Regia’s art falls right in line with that. It’s hit my cancellation list, and that’s too bad.
Hellblazer #185 (Vertigo) [2/3/2/2/Y]
John Constantine, magical rogue in all the darkest senses of those terms, continues along his bloody way. Mike Carey has picked up the tale quite adequately, as John visits the scene of an old crime of his, and faces a trial by ordeal by the current caretakers of Eden. Hooking him up with a companion — one with plenty of spunk, but not at all at ease in his world — has been a good move, giving us something other than the narrator to comment on the weirdness, and giving us someone to sympathize with when we’re weirded out. Fine stuff.
Usagi Yojimbo #67 (Dark Horse) [3/3/2/3/Y]
One of the all-time great comic series, Stan Sakai (another really nice guy) continues to work his craft with professional aplomb. The rabbit ronin is accompanying a demon hunter in search of a wizard with a magic ink block whose drawings come to life. The wizard is kidnapping children as the raw material for a new ink block, and Usagi’s nephew Jotaro is among them. Swordplay, magic, heroism, monsters, and villainy all swirld together with fine writing and equisite art. Even folks who think “funny animals” comics are stupid will, if they give Usagi a try, find it rich, engaging, and not at all goofy.
Astro City: Local Heroes #3 of several (Wildstorm) [3/2/3/3/Y]
Busiek has it right: the joy of the Astro City setting is not its heroes (which are quite fine) but in the reactions of everyday people around them. This issue deals with the travails of a teenage girl force to summer over at a relative’s farm, convinced that being away from the big city (and its big heroes) will be inutterably dull (heck, the farmstead only has a single analog line — can’t do e-mail without kicking someone off the phone!). She discovers, of course, that heroes are everywhere — and that there are aspects to the pastoral life that can bring you closer to the action than even in Astro City. Busiek’s writing is solid, and Brent Anderson’s art is decent enough. Astro City should appeal to anyone, largely because it’s stories about people, not punching. If you haven’t picked up any Astro City before, pick it up now (the stories in this miniseries are all self-contained), or pick up some of the collections.