Atlas #2 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (artist), Elizabeth Breitweiser (colorist), Ramon Rosanas (backup story artist and colorist), Nathan Cosby (associate editor), Mark Paniccia (senior editor)

The Story: The new 3-D Man (Delroy Garrett) is flipping out and his mysterious memories are challenging everyone. Whose memories are right? In the meantime, another Atlas evil empire rebellion is in full swing in Iceland.

What’s Good: Parker’s character work is always fun. Particularly well done are Lao (chewing on a bull hindquarter like I’d chew on a chicken leg) and Hale (who has no end of snappy one-liners and smart-ass remarks). And the tremendous world-building that has to go into every issue of Atlas (the underground culture, the hidden conspiracy-filled past, the weirdness of the characters’ origins, the weirdness of their foes) generates that sense of wonder that I look for in comic books, fantasy and science fiction. It’s the brain-stretching “I-wish-I’d-thought-of-that” feeling. Nice work, Mr. Parker.

Artwise, Hardman, Rosanas and Breitwesier carry a strong issue with dynamic action, expressive faces and gritty scenery. The underground stonework looks textured and stony. Lao looks wrinkled and tactile, as do the zombies with power generators on their back. The art teams make the story look real, which is one of the highest compliments I have for art.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Captain America #606 – Brubaker has always delivered stellar writing and Butch Guice is a great artist and the two of them served up some exciting work in Captain America #606. Bucky. Is. Awesome.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #4 – Brightest Day has been at times great and at times a game of patience. Some of the arcs, delivered in their micro-bits, have been very compelling, but issue #3 seemed to have turned a corner. Despite the short arcs, Johns gave us a sense of things starting to come together. We are getting to Act II – the best one and the pace is picking up. And Ivan Reis is one of the artists! Brightest Day #4 tops my pull list.

Other Top Picks: Batman Beyond #1, Atlas #2, New Mutants #14, X-Factor Forever #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Secret Six #22 -This was an incredibly grim, ugly, and somewhat depressing read yet somehow Simone manages to avoid the trap of unintentional comedy or unbelievability that many of these sorts of books fall into.  Instead of pure depressive excess and caricature, we got something that was actually touching and human amidst all the muck, trauma, and spandex and that alone is a major accomplishment.  Also, how this continues to escape having any sort of “mature readers” warning on the cover continues to amaze me.

Most Anticipated: New Avengers #1 -For whatever reason, I find myself looking forward to this more than anything else.  What will the final roster be?  How will Bendis justify this title’s existence?  Why the heck is the Thing on this team? My curiosity is piqued and the preview looks like Stuart Immonen is bringing his A-game to the art.!

Other Picks: Birds of Prey #2, Brightest Day #4, DMZ #54, Fables #96, Unknown Soldier #21

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Daytripper #7 – The entire Daytripper series has been a clinic in storytelling and issue #7 was one of the best so far.

Most Anticipated: New Mutants #14 – The Second Coming event really got kicked back into higher gear last week in Uncanny #525 and there are only three chapters left after this issue, so this should be all action.

Other Top Picks: Forgetless #5, The Walking Dead #73, Amazing Spider-Man #633 & #634, New Avengers #1