Comics reviews (so I can get them off the table). Woo-hoo!
- Flash #190 (DC)
Flash bores me. That’s all I can say. I’ve been reading this title for years, and I suddenly realized that I really don’t care all that much about it, so I’m dropping it. Geoff Johns’ writing is interesting, but not interestnig enough. Justianiano’s art is also fine. It’s not a bad title. Just not worth a monthly outlay of $2.25. - Alias #15 (Marvel MAX)
Brian Bendis, among other things, does one thing superbly. He writes realistic, interesting, and insightful dialog. Which is why this issue of Alias — two set pieces of Jessica doing a bodyguard gig with Luke Cage, and Jessica on a blind date with Scott Lang — is, though simply a non-stop set of dialog, an incredibly realistic, interesting, and insightful issue. I love this book. - Route 666 #4 (CrossGen)
I predict this will be the first CrossGen book to go belly-up. There’s nothing here that hasn’t been hashed to death in a sozen other strange-supernatural-hoohahs comics — or Buffy, for that matter. Karl Moline’s art is pasable. Tony Bedard’s writing is decent. Again, it’s not that it’s bad, just that it’s not worth $2.95/month. - The Path #7 (CrossGen)
Another victim. Ron Marz and Bart Sears are doing a fine job of writing and drawing a very dark, very violent samurai saga. I’m just not that interested. - Uncanny X-Men #414 (Marvel PG)
I bought this issue because of Northstar on the cover, and the prospect that he’s joining the X-crew. He’s always been one of my favorite characters, even when some idiot writer decided to make him and his sister fugitive half-fairies (an oddly prescient fate for one of Marvel’s first characters to come out of the closet). Chuck Austin is modestly interesting in detailing how Xavier gets the obnoxious Northstar (why is it that mutant super-speedsters in the Marvelverse are such jerks?) to join up. The art by Sean Phillips is murky and sub-par. I see nothing here to make me buy another issue. - League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol 2, #3 (ABC)
Murderous Martian War Machines and betrayal most foul fill these pages, and it’s a wonderful romp (though not as wonderful as the cover, which gives some indication of how both the denizens of Toad Hall and the folks through the Looking Glass fared in this world). Alan Moore is wonderful here, and Kevin O’Neill’s art is appropriately quirky. This would be a good candidate for waiting until the TPB (or HC) collection comes out, but, damn, I want to read each issue as it comes. - Amazing Spiderman #486 (45) (Marvel PG)
JMS and John Romita, Jr., continue to work their magic, as Spidey and Aunt May finally catch up with Mary Jane out in Hollywood, and the two Doc Ocks fight it out. The whole issue is as good as anything from the heyday of Spidey, but it’s the very last page that shows the real magic. Triffic stuff.36 view(s)
Ooooh… League…
Sol Foster says his Blaze of Glory Amber (con) game is a ‘swashbuckling adventure’ – but it comes across to me like I’m in the pages of the League… catty, witty, steam punk, ridiculous fun – oh… the first comic was too… I have yet to see the second series…
must be time to go and empty my box again…
>Flash #190 (DC)
I’m sticking with it, just because the Flash is such an important character for me. The only issue I’ve really enjoyed in the last year was the Captain Cold issue, in which Flash appeared only in (you should excuse the expression) flashbacks.
>Uncanny X-Men #414 (Marvel PG)
I’m too poor this week to have picked up my comics, so I haven’t read this yet. Of the four X-books I read, the only consistently enjoyable one has been the quarterly X-Men Unlimited. I really think they need to cut back on the number of these titles. X-cise some of them now!
>Amazing Spiderman #486 (45) (Marvel PG)
I’ve certainly been enjoying Straczynski’s run, although I prefer JR Jr’s father’s work to Junior’s. The portrayal of the real Doc Ock has been wonderful. These generic covers are confusing, though.
Have you been following the Peter Parker mag? The Green Goblin story was entertaining. I hate the Humberto Ramos artwork, but somebody must like it, because the first issue of the arc is already up to $17.50! (And the TP is already out!?!)
Oh, and a suggestion, Dave. I know you’ve dropped the Superman titles, but you might want to take a look at last week’s Action Comics #795, part 4 of the 8-part “Ending Battle” story. Pages and pages of dialogue between Supes and President Luthor, raising some very interesting points regarding their relationship (including an admission from Lex regarding a…mutual acquaintance, shall we say?).
I’ll give the Action issue a look-see.
Marvel’s doing much more generic covers, both because of the lag time problem (the cover is due three months before the issue, so that it can get into the Diamond Previews) and because of the new Marvel policy to not actually talk about the story (except in very vague terms) in Previews. The result is some fine generic pin-ups, but, yeah, missing some of the “Inside This Issue!” nature of comic covers of yore.
I did like JR-Sr’s art tremendously, but I’ve long liked JR-Jr (except during some of his blockiest period), too. He’s also a real hoot on stage, terribly enthusiastic about his art, and terribly in awe, still, of his Dad’s.