Comics from the bottom of the stack

I.e., the best that I save for last.

 Death of the New Gods #8 (of 8) (DC) Starlin / Thibert
The conclusion of an utterly unnecessary story, as the remainder of Jack Kirby’s Fourth World is disassembled with only Superman as the (outclassed) witness (and without the final payoff, which comes in Countdown #02). Starlin’s art has improved over the series, and, if you were going to do this story, it was a reasonable path to take it — but I just don’t see the point aside from doing some housecleaning, possibly trying to forestall some IP contention with the Kirby estate, or just wanting to do Something Cosmic ‘n’ Tragic.

 Countdown to Final Crisis #01 (DC) Dini / Giffen / Derenick / Faucher
Concluding the second of DC’s Weekly Event Comics, more has gelled than I’d originally thought would, but this aftermath feels more like a “hey, what do we do about all these loose ends we’ve set up?” than the finale of a grand epic. Most of the heroes who’ve been bouncing around like ping-pong balls across the new 52 universes finally seem to have a purpose — and we’ll see if it’s only to transition to the new Final Crisis series or if (as they’re all “loose ends” characters to begin with) they’ll simply fade into the background until someone else chooses to reinvent them.

 Star Trek – New Frontier #2 (IDW) David / Thompson
I can’t wait for this to be adapted as a book, because it’s really not well-suited to a comic. You’ll be totally lost if you haven’t read Peter David’s New Frontier subfrachise, the artwork is muddied and difficult to differentiate characters with (not helped by some dubious renderings of some of the non-human cast members), and the delicate wordplay and inner monologueing that David does so well to build characters is utterly absent in this much-more-visual medium. Some great bits, but overall only for the completist,

 Fables #72 (DC Vertigo) Willingham / Buckingham / Leialoha
The conclusion of the “Cinderella, Super-Spy” arc, delightful and witty as ever, with Willingham reimagining various fable characters as living in our world, at war wit the tyrannical adversary. There’s fun dialog, lots of action, and even some character and plot development and weaving together of previously-established continuity. This remains an ongoing tour de force series, highly recommended.

 X-Factor #30 (Marvel) David / De Landro / Hennessy / Cox
The X-Factor crew up against old X-Men fave, Arcade. I dunno — between his own machinations and what Marvel has run its X-world through, I’m surprised anyone in the series is still (relatively) sane. Or maybe they’re not, as everyone acts out various stresses and traumas in different, often violent ways. This one gives me something of a headache just to contemplate it, but it;’s a fascinating cultural car-wreck, and I can’t wait to see what David does next with it.

 Fantastic Four #556 (Marvel) Millar / Hitch / Currie
I should like this more than I do. Millar can put together a story, and Hitch’s art is, as always, gorgeous. But the whole thing feels like a set piece, a very intentional and artificial recrafting of the FF with a new vision imposed rather than developed. It’s not bad, and there are some fine character bits, and the artwork is expectedly nice, but it feels more like an intrusive reboot than an evolution.

 Mighty Avengers #12 (Marvel) — Bendis / Maleev / Hollingsworth
Bendis is beginning to draw together the wide skein he’s been weaving for the Avengers since his “Secret War” series a few years back, coupled with the new “Secret Invasion” Skrull storyline running through the Marvel books. This issue is devoted mainly to what’s been going on with Nick Fury since then, appropriately grittily illustrated by Bendis’ Daredevil compatriot, Maleev. Nicely put together, and demonstrative that Bendis is better at more than just dialog — he’s capable of running a hell of set of plot threads.

Punisher #56 (Marvel) Ennis / Parlov
Ennis is drawing near the end of his seminal Punisher run, as the US military finally takes seriously the task of apprehending Frank Castle — aware that they are the one opponenent he won’t gun down without a second thought. Less going on here about the Punisher than about how others react to him. Good, solid stuff, with appropriately sketchy artwork.

 Echo #1-2 (Abstract) Terry Moore
His new series post-Strangers in Paradise, Moore is bringing his interesting, quirky, compassionate characterizations (and drawing style) into a wholly new setting, as an innocent bystander manages to get… infected? … with a blown-up liquid metal flight suit, and finds herself dealing with it in the context of her own personal trainwreck of a life as well as with Sinister Forces out to get the suit back and get rid of any witnesses. It makes more sense in the book, and while it’s not SIP, it also marks a fresh start that Moore can build on. And I can’t wait for the next issue.

 The Dresden Files #1 (of 4) (Dabel Bros.) Butcher / Syaf
An excellent transition from printed book to comic book, everything rings true to Butcher’s detective noir wizard series — not surprising, as he’s writing it, but the accompanying artwork complements the story and his style perfectly (aside from making Harry just a scosh too handsome). It’s not War & Peace … but it’s solidly entertaining. Recommended for fans.

 Serenty #2 (of 3) (Dark Horse) Whedon / Matthews / Conrad / Madsen
Continuing the tale of “what if the crew unexpectedly struck it rich,” as we see both the (delightful) fantasies and realities that come with the unexpected (and uncharacteristic) success of the Serenity gang. The Alliance subplot is somewhat less (so far) convincing, and the art is only moderately successful at capturing the character likenesses — but it’s all worth the price of submission to see Jayne consulting with Simon about Companions …

Thor #8 (Marvel) Straczynski / Djurdjevic / Miki / Martin
A relatively quiet interlude as the (deceased) Odin and Thor discuss fathers and sons and the succession thereof, while Don Blake tracks down Jane Foster to see if she knows the whereabouts of Sif — in which we learn far more of both than was expected. Joe is building this rebirthing -of-the-gods very nicely, and Djordjevic’s art is lovely. The book is the best it’s been since the Simonson days, and that’s saying something.

 The Sword #7 (Image) The Luna Bros.
We continue a kick-ass, yet poignant story about an ordinary young woman, her friends, her massacred family, the demigods who did the massacring, and the sword they were trying to recover during the massacre — a sword they know can end them, which has gives its bearer extraordinary powers, and which has made the young woman a hunted fugitive. Simple but effective “realistic” art, and powerfully straightforward, moving storytelling. Seriously can’t wait for the collection so that I can loan it to people.