Star Wars Legacy #1 – Review

By: Corinna Bechko & Gabriel Hardman (script), Hardman (art), Rachelle Rosenberg (colors), Michael Heisler (letters)

The Story: 125 years after Return of the Jedi, the galaxy is still in turmoil.

Review: I didn’t enjoy this as nearly much as I’d hoped.  The primary problem with the issue is that the story is a little too busy and that leads to confusion.

The basic set-up is that Legacy takes place ~125 years after Return of the Jedi.  The galaxy is currently recovering from being ruled by the Sith and the new government (consisting of leftovers from the Alliance, Empire and Jedi) is just trying to get a functioning government back in place to keep the galaxy from fragmenting.  Of course, evil lurks in dark places and promises to make their job more difficult.  And, as expected, there are some young, plucky, budding heroes who will be asked to step-up once they become embroiled in galactic events.

Secret Avengers #24 – Review

by Rick Remender (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Bettie Breitweiser (colors), and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: The Secret Avengers fight to survive in the Core.

The Review:  First thing you’re going to notice when you flip open this issue: this is a gorgeous comic book.  It can’t be said enough that Gabriel Hardman and Bettie Breitweiser are a match made in heaven.  They give the book a fantastic, pulp sci-fi feel that perfectly matches Remender’s outlandish story of underground cities and robot civilizations.  It makes the book feel otherworldly and heavily atmospheric.  Despite being a clearly modern comic, there’s a sense of nostalgia to this book that reflects the science fiction stories of a bygone era.  That said, the world that Hardman and Breitweiser gives us is one that’s dark, dangerous, and constantly threatening with a hint of the weird and the surreal.

And really, it’s a good thing Hardman and Breitweiser bring the goods, because so much of this issue is about atmosphere.  Remender gives us a comic that is as much about the underground city itself as its character.  It’s an issue where the Secret Avengers are constantly hunted and hopelessly trapped in this other world.  Remender, particularly given the ending of last month’s issue, gives us a script where the heroes really seem vulnerable and in a hopeless situation, constantly on the run.

Much as there’s a surreal edge to the artwork, the same can be said for Remender’s script.  It’s fantastic seeing some of the characters run into cybernetic versions of friends, mistaking them for people they knew.  It only makes this world Remender has created all the more threatening and, well, bizarre.  Along with the fact that they’re surrounded by enemies and constantly hunted through dark, dank underground streets, this element of some of the cyborgs looking like old friends only increases the psychological burden that the Core is placing on the Avengers.  There’s a constant vibe that the longer they spend down in this city, the more their  psyches begin to fray along the edges.

Hulk #41 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (artist), Bettie Breitweiser (colorist), Ed Dukeshire (letterer), Jake Thomas (assistant editor) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: The big battle between Rulk and Omegex is upon us, plus a look back at Thunderbolt Ross’ life.

What’s Good: Let’s start with what a nice issue this is to look at. It seems especially appropriate to start with the art since this is Gaberiel Hardman’s last issue on Hulk and is off to do Planet of the Apes comics at Boom! (which should be great since he can actually draw apes very nicely). This issue really shows what a diverse artist Hardman is. You’ve got scenes of families around the Christmas tree, women with 40’s era haircuts, old cars and planes, babies, young boys who actually look like children, naked women, Hulk & Omegex fighting, female Watchers, etc. and it all looks great. Working with an artist like Hardman must be great because Parker can probably put anything in his script and it’ll turn out fabulous.

Another great thing that Hardman does in this issue is function seamlessly with colorist Bettie Breitweiser. I don’t know the technical term for this, but most of Hardman’s work is what I’d call fully rendered. By that, I mean he’s already inked in a lot of the surface texture, musculature and shading. And, that gives Breitweiser a nice canvas where she doesn’t have to waste her talents on making sure that Rulk’s pectoral muscles have the appropriate sheen on them. She can work with Hardman’s inking to make a beautiful finished product. But, what they do on the Zero/One villain is wholly different. She is colored in this two-tone gray in a circular pattern that looks kinda like a bullseye pattern is being projected onto a nude woman. Here Hardman adds almost no surface details to the character at all and allows Breitweiser do her thing. It’s a shame to see these two broken up, because they have a wonderful partnership.

Hulk #40 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (artist), Bettie Breitweiser & Jim Charalampidis (colorists), Ed Dukeshire (letterer), Jake Thomas (assistant editor) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: Red Hulk and Omegex fight and Rulk gets some unexpected allies.

What’s Good: Boy will I miss Gabriel Hardman when he leaves this title.  This is such an attractive comic!  You could just go down the list of things that I like in comic artists and they are all on display here: good storytelling, brushy & vibrant artwork, detailed objects & machines, powerful looking characters who never look like they’re just standing around, attractive women without resorting to D-cups and thong uniforms, attractive women period, cleverly laid out pages, etc.  I especially love Hardman’s page layouts.  I know there is something to be said for newer artists sticking with the “grid” but I’d love to hold up these Hardman pages and say, “This is your ultimate goal, boys and girls.  Now work at perfecting your craft so you can do this without it being a jumbled mess where the reader doesn’t know what panel comes next.”  Make sure to catch his upcoming Betrayal of the Planet of the Apes coming from Boom! in a few months.

Helping this issue look pretty are some beautiful colors from two of my current favorite colorists.  I wish every comic could be colored by Breitweiser or Charalampidis!  It’s so nice to see colors that don’t just look like someone was fiddling with Photoshop.

And, the “story” is pretty hot too.  One of the wonderful things about Rulk is that he hasn’t been around for so long that he feels completely “safe”.  By contrast, most of our favorite superheroes are totally safe, but something could happen to Rulk.  Get killed?  Forced back into permanent Thunderbolt Ross form?  This freshness gives the battle between Rulk and Omegex higher stakes than the typical superhero battle.

Hulk #39 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (artist), Bettie Breitweiser (colorist), Ed Dukeshire (letters), Jake Thomas (assistant editor) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: Red Hulk visits the old family farm and Omegex finally strikes.

What’s Good: While this issue isn’t perfect, it has a lot of goodies.  For one thing, it features the top-shelf art team of Gabriel Hardman & Bettie Breitweiser.  Everything about Hardman’s artwork is impressive.  His characters are strong and vital presences on the page and he puts a lot of effort into the barns, trucks, airplanes, etc.  It’s really something to behold, but one other thing to praise about Hardman is page layouts.  If you’ve ever gotten bored by a comic that featured almost nothing but pages full of 4-5 full-width rectangular panels, you will appreciate this.  Every page is laid out a little differently and Hardman uses the full page of layout elements to keep it fresh for us.

Bettie Breitweiser is simply my favorite Marvel colorist right now.  The pages just look stunning and while I (honestly) lack the vocabulary to do her work justice, her work has really inspired me to learn more about color theory.  So there’s that.  In the past, I had called her colors more muted, but I think the big-boy word for that is that he colors are less “saturated”.  She also has a very strong sense of shading and her colors are never at odds with Hardman’s inking (Hardman has a wonderful sense of shading too).  These two are a great team-up.

As for the story, well, it has some good stuff too.  I love the fact that Rulk’s best friend is a life-model decoy named Anne.  In a way it seems weird that this gruff man (whether he is Rulk or General Thunderbolt Ross) would be buddies with a 20-something woman, but she probably reminds him of his daughter.  Over the last ~15 issues, Parker has turned Anne into a character who we care about without resorting to any annoying tricks like a special issue devoted to Anne; he’s done it all within the context of his story.

Hulk #33 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Elizabeth Breitweiser (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters), Jake Thomas (assistant editor) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: Red Hulk evades the U.S. military and does battle with a villain while a mega-threat is coming to Earth from deep space.

What’s Good: The story is typical Jeff Parker goodness.  He is able to give you more story per issue than any other writer out there currently.  What’s awesome about this approach is that even though almost every story element Parker tosses at us is fun and enjoyable, if he ever does fling a turd at us, it won’t be a big deal because that turd will be gone in an issue or two.  This fast-paced storytelling allows him to take more chances because he is constantly renewing the narrative.  It isn’t remotely like these dreadful decompressed comics where a bad story stays with you for 8-9 months and results in you dropping the title.  I like to see creators who are willing to go for it and Parker does that issue after issue.

In this issue alone, you get a new alien race, more detail on this Omegex mega-threat, nanomedicine to remove the bombs in Red Hulk’s brain, more character-building for the LMDs that Red Hulk is hanging with, a battle with the new Black Fog villain, a history lesson of obsolete aircraft, a guest appearance by Steve Rogers and the death of a couple supporting characters.  All that in 22 pages, yet it never feels hurried or rushed.

What more can I say about Gabriel Hardman?  I seriously think he’s the best artist working in comics right now if you limit to professional artists who are generating 10+ issues per year (unfair to compare to folks who are taking 3-4 months to draw an issue).  We already know he can draw a kick ass Hulk that is bristling with strength and energy, but he is also a great storyteller.  Part of the reason these issues are so packed with story is that Hardman can tell parts of the story with the pictures.  Take a panel on page two after the LMDs have a setback while trying to remove the nanobombs from Red Hulks’ brain…. One of the LMDs is rubbing his eyes.  The reader can see that and understand, “He’s tired.  Those LMDs have been working on this for a long time.”  By doing such great graphic storytelling, Parker is freed up to write about other things and one panel covers twice as much territory.  Hardman also gets to flex his overall artistic muscles in this issue by designing a new alien race AND drawing vintage U.S. Air Force planes.  I wonder if Parker ever is just trying to find something that Hardman doesn’t draw well?

Hulk #32 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Elizabeth Breitweiser (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters), Jake Thomas (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)

The Story: Red Hulk continues to be on the run from Gen. Ross’ former second-in-command, while unbeknownst to him…. a new enemy is emerging.

What’s Good: Jeff Parker is really making this a fun series to read.  Maybe it’s because Red Hulk is a relatively new character and we’re still learning about his capabilities and motivations, but everything about him seems new and fresh.  This current plotline where Gen. Ross’ former #2 has infected Red Hulk’s brain with nano-robots that will explode and kill him if he sleeps or reverts to human form is really compelling.  One of the neat things about Red Hulk under Parker is that he has this “old warrior” vibe to him: He’s old and achey (even as a Hulk), but he’ll still get up and go the jobs that need to be done.  So, putting Red Hulk in a situation where he can’t go to sleep just accentuates the great “world weary” feel that Parker has cultivated.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Red Hulk comic without some good Hulk-action and we get that as Red Hulk saves a small town from a tornado.  I like that: Hulks taking on forces of nature!

Meanwhile, Parker is continuing to cultivate his B-story with the new villain, Zero/One who is a scientist melded with some smart alloy that has turned her into some kinda super-powered, emotionless automaton.  For some reason (see below), she wants to kill Red Hulk and goes about enlisting a new army of bad guys to that end.  There’s nothing necessarily remarkable about her (or her cohorts as villains), but I applaud Parker for bringing in some new bad guys.  Just as Red Hulk is himself fresh because we don’t know everything about him, these new villains should be pretty cool and unpredictable.  I honestly have no idea what a Red Hulk – Zero/One fight would look like and that’s a great thing.

I’m just going to rig up an autotext for the art from Gabriel Hardman and Elizabeth Breitweiser because it’s great again.  Every month I think Hardman’s work is even better than the month before.  His storytelling is impeccable and everything about the work just screams: Professional.  The whole comic is very well done and it has a few of those “Wow!” panels (Hulk pressing a pickup truck over his head).  I think he is also getting better at understanding how Breitweiser is going to color a panel because in some panels, he’s letting her do all the cool stuff with her colors instead of trying to draw those details in himself.  This is really a beautiful comic and a large part of that are Breitweiser’s muted and unique colors.

Hulk #31 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Elizabeth Breitweiser (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters), Jake Thomas (assistant editor) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

She-Hulks/A-Bomb back-up by: Parker (writer), Tim Seeley (art), Matt Milla (colors), Dukeshire (letters), Thomas & Paniccia (editors)

The Story: A new story line kicks off for Red Hulk as a former ally is coming to kill him.

What’s Good: This issue is a great continuation from Hulk #30.1.  That issue was a great jumping on point (the whole idea behind the .1 project) that recapped the Red Hulk story thus far while also laying out some new material.  You’re going to see some cynics who think Marvel should have just stuck with consecutive numbering, but I really don’t mind them doing something to entice readers that a new story arc is coming and that it will be pretty accessible.  It is far preferable to starting with a new #1 issue.

Lot’s of cool little elements to this story and in typical Parker fashion, he has more than one thing going on at the same time.  The main story flows from #30.1 and shows that Red Hulk is now pursued by Gen. Thunderbolt Ross’ former protégé, Col. (?) Fortean.  Fortean basically wants revenge for Red Hulk seemingly killing Ross, so there is a lot of irony here AND Fortean has access to years and years of Ross’ Hulk-busting arsenal.  The attacks that Fortean has leveled at Red Hulk are such that it’s going to be very difficult for Red Hulk to get any back-up or rest.  This whole story is great because it plays up Ross as the world-weary, grizzled old warrior.  That’s really a perspective that we don’t get enough of in superhero comics.  The main characters kinda stop aging in the 35-45 age range, so we miss having the cynical, but wise older dude who knows how things are going to turn out before the action starts.  Seriously, what would be wrong with letting a few more characters get older?

The B-Story ties back into Parker and Hardman’s first arc story dealing with the Omnisapient Corporation and we meet Zero/One who seems to be a new villainess derived from the weird metallurgical technology at Omnisapient.  Ordinarily, you’d think that Parker is just setting up his next story, but he has show himself so adept at juggling that he could conceivably wrap up both the Fortean and Zero/One stories in the very next issue.  You have to pay attention to this series or you’ll miss something.

Quick Hit Reviews – Week of March 16, 2011

We try our best to review all the new comics that come out every week, but despite our best efforts…that just isn’t going to happen.  But, some comics still deserve a mention (for better or for ill).  Thus, we bring you the Quick Hit Reviews….

Generation Hope #5 – This series has really turned the corner from its troubled start as a continuation of an Uncanny X-Men story arc (what a stupid way to launch a series, btw).  Now that Hope and the “5 lights” are back on Utopia, we can begin the process of getting to know these new mutants (including Hope) a little better.  This issue covers a lot of good ground by establishing that Cyclops accepts that Hope is not a newbie hero (by virtue of her lifetime of training under Cable), but that the Lights are not “field-ready”.  And, I also really liked the change in art this month to Jamie McKelvie.  The only negative for me in this issue was the depiction of Emma Frost.  This Emma is a little too angry and nasty.  I usually think of Emma as being haughty and aloof (or at least that is how I like to see her).  And, Emma is wearing…gasp…a dress in this issue.  I don’t mind the dress per se, but when you do a major change like that there should at least be some explanation since she fights villains in lingerie in all the other X-titles.  Grade: B

Hulk #30.1 – This was probably the truest of the .1 issues I’ve read from Marvel.  They were advertised as being “jumping on points”, but most have been nothing of the sort.  This issue does a nice job of recapping what has happened to date in Hulk and also setting the stage for the next phase of the Red Hulk’s stories.  Of course, Jeff Parker is such a good writer that he doesn’t need to waste the entire issue on this recap and table setting, he manages to squeeze an entire story into this issue too as the Red Hulk comes into conflict with one of Thunderbolt Ross’s former protégés.  The art is very strong, but not quite as good as when Gabriel Hardman inks his own work and Bettie Breitweiser colors it.  Grade: B

Red Robin #21 – Ugh.  This was really bad.  As in I-couldn’t-be-bothered-to-finish-reading-it bad.  This overly long story arc about the Unternet has been a real stinker; it has had little excitement and no cohesion with the rest of the Bat universe.  The other thing killing this title for me are the general delays on the Morrison and Finch Bat-books.  With those not coming out, I find that I’m generally less invested in the entire Bat-family and I start to consider dropping everything but Batgirl and Detective Comics (which are both stellar).  As I mentioned above, I made it about 10 pages into this trippy issue of Tim Drake fighting with various colored villains (where I couldn’t remember who they were) and where Tim kept manifesting other uniforms and stuff.  Was this in a computer program?  I just couldn’t remember.  Grade: D

-Dean Stell

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Hulk #29 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Elizabeth Breitweiser & Jim Charalapidis (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters) & Mark Paniccia (editor)

Watcher back-up: Jeff Parker (writer), Ben Oliver (art), Frank Martin (colors), Dukeshire (colors) & Paniccia (editor)

The Story: Just as the Hulks finish off the Scorched Earth plan, a new evil arises.

What’s Good: There are a ton of things good in this comic.  Jeff Parker really knows how to pack a LOT of stuff into a single issue.  Part of his trick is that he never wastes a panel.  Even when the Hulks are walking around or fighting there is some kind of exposition going on and that’s great because it beats the hell out of the alternative (Hulks standing around and talking).  How about that: Story and action!

And, that’s right, you read correctly: Hulks!  This issue has both green and red Hulk as they smash up MODOK’s island of dinomonsters.  This is not only a lot of fun, but leads to some very interesting character development for Ross/Red Hulk.  Turns out that Banner didn’t depower him, but merely told him he did so that Red Hulk would accept some guidance. The relationship between Banner and Ross is very unique in comics right now: antagonistic, yet grudgingly respectful.  You can see how much Ross hates Banner, but has no choice but to respect him (a little bit).

Parker and Hardman must have a lot of fun with these issues.  I wonder how Parker springs these things on Hardman.  Does he call him in advance and say, “This month you’re going to get to draw a huge fishbowl full of floating MODOK brains!” or does Hardman just find out when he reads the script?  Well, the MODOK brains are cool and the dinomonsters are very cool (and dinomonsters EATING the MODOK brains are cooler still).  Hardman is such a gifted artist.  He draws a good Hulk, but it seems like he draws a pretty good anything.

Let’s also give some kudos to Bettie Breitweiser for her colors.  This is how to color Hulks!  They don’t need to gleam like a recently waxed sports car.  Her colors combine with Hardman’s lines to give this title a very realistic air.

Hulk #27 – Review

By Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (artist), Bettie Breitweiser (colorist)

The Story: Under the guidance and supervision of Commander Rogers and Bruce Banner, General Ross continues his quest for redemption by helping Namor put an end to a Scorched Earth initiative that threatens to destroy the monarch’s empire.

The Good: Ever since Parker took control of this book, Hulk has been one of my Must Read titles every month. True, Loeb’s run had a certain childlike, Saturday morning cartoon charm to it that was appealing, if simple-minded at times, and what he did with the book he did well enough…at times. But in a mere three issues Parker has stopped this comic on a dime and steered it in a completely opposite direction, infusing it with a hard-edged, gritty sensibility that is utterly compelling to read. I credit this largely to the wise decision that was made to let Banner take the back seat and focus the narrative on General Ross and his mission to find a role for himself as Marvel’s latest gamma-powered monstrosity. Certain themes have always resounded throughout time and stories, and the hero’s quest for redemption remains one of the most popular.

Hell, I’d argue it’s one of the reasons why we are so drawn to characters like Wolverine, because his quest to make himself a Better Person is something we each see in ourselves. Where was I going with this? Oh right: in General Ross we have a similar character facing a similar struggle, and for me a large part of my enjoyment of this book right now is in appreciating his growth as a character and personal journey as a superhero. Every bit as powerful as Hulk, yet tactically brilliant in a way Banner could never be, Ross is a soldier with no war to fight, struggling to find an objective to achieve and a worthy endeavor to apply himself to. Notice the way he defers to Commander Rogers’s command or speaks about Namor politically as a head of state and it’s hard not to appreciate the tone and direction Parker is taking this book in. The “Scorched Earth” storyline is an effective, if rather routine, storyline with which to hit the reset button and chart a new course. Minimal on plot yet high on action, it’s an accessible jump on point for new readers and seems poised to tell its tale well without necessarily innovating anything.

Hulk #26 – Review

By: Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (artist)

A-Bomb back-up by: Jeff Parker (writer), Mark Robinson (pencils), Terry Pallot (inks), Antonio Fabela (colors) & Ed Dukeshire (letters)

The Story: The redemption of Red Hulk continues, Thor shows up, mayhem ensues….

What’s Good: I can enjoy decompressed storytelling when it is done well, but when you have Bendis and Fraction writing a significant portion of the Marvel U, you have a lot of stories that are crawling along.  They are well written, but they are nonetheless not fast.  Jeff Parker is the other side of that coin.  His stories just rip along at a breakneck speed.  Last issue (Hulk #25) introduced us to this concept that Red Hulk was going to be redeemed somehow and tossed him into a team-up with Iron Man against some weirdly altered humans.

Well, that very cool story wraps up by about page 10.  Even though it is fast, you don’t feel shortchanged.  Parker writes a lot of script for these issues, but it is all serving the story instead of humorous, pitter-patter dialog.  In some ways, it is almost a throwback to comics of yore when the story was explained via dialog between two heroes.  But, even though it is a quick scene, Parker still works in a nice moment between Red Hulk and Iron Man as Tony tells him a thing or two about redemption (and Tony is one of the more qualified heroes to discuss the subject).  It is an achievement to get as much character development into this story considering the pacing.

Some comics would have stretched this Iron Man story across many issues, but not Parker.  From there we blast right into the next threat as Thor shows up leading to a great scene between Red Hulk and Thor and a team-up in space.  It is just really a whole bundle of awesome.

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.

The Rest of the Stack for the Week of 11-4-09

Deadpool Team-Up #899

By Fred Van Lente (Writer) and Dalibor Talajic (Art)

The Story: Deadpool and Hercules, both plagued by nightmares, find themselves trapped in a strange labyrinth created by villains Nightmare and Arcade.

The Good And The Bad: The first issue of Deadpool’s new series delivers everything I want from a comic featuring a team-up between Deadpool and Hercules. Fred Van Lente’s script is funny, action-packed, and surprisingly clever. And since the writer manages to find a sweet spot between what a Deadpool comic is like and what a Hercules comic is like to great effect, Deadpool Team-Up #899 is filled with all the violence, wacky comedy, and mythology you could ever want from a team-up between Wade Wilson and the Lion of Olympus. The only real downside to Van Lente’s script is that it follows a fairly predictable team-up formula. The heroes meet, they fight, they team, and they win out in the end. You’ve seen it before.

Dalibor Talajic’s work in Deadpool Team-Up #899 is impressive all around. His action scenes are dynamic and brutal, his character work is solid (I especially like how accurate his Hercules looks), and his storytelling compliments the script extremely well. My only real complaint about his work is that a few scenes look slightly “off.” Bodies look either disproportionate or awkward at times.

Grade: B

Assault on New Olympus #1

“Assault on New Olympus Prologue” by Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (Writers), Rodney Buschemi (Art), and Guillem Mari (Colors)

“Godmarked” by Jeff Parker (Writer), Gabriel Hardman (Artist), Elizabeth Breitweiser (Colors)

The Story: “Assault on New Olympus” begins with a reveal about what the mysterious Continuum project is and a fight between Hercules and Spider-Man over the affections of Hercule’s wife Hebe. In “Godmarked,” the Agents of Atlas take on the god Phorcys in order to save Venus.

The Good And The Bad: While previews make the plot of Assault on New Olympus sound fairly promising, there really isn’t a whole lot to the first part of the Incredible Hercules event. Sure, the Continuum reveal is interesting, the confrontation between Herc and Spidey is fun, and the visuals by Rodney Buschemi and Guillem Mari are very nice, but, as a whole, it’s clear that Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente are saving the most interesting stuff for later.

The strongest part of the Assault on New Olympus prologue is the Agents of Atlas backup story. Thanks Jeff Parker’s entertaining dialogue and Gabriel Hardman’s outstanding visuals (I seriously think Hardman’s Phorcys attack is one of the coolest scenes of the year), I wouldn’t be surprised if “Godmarked” ends up being one of the year’s best surprises.

Grade: C+

Psylocke #1

“Kill Matsu’o” by Chris Yost (Writer), Harvey Talibao (Pencils), Paul Neary (Inks), and Ulises Arreola w/ Brian Reber (Colors)

“A Girl Called Hope” by Duane Swierczynski (Writer), Steve Dillon (Art), and Matt Hollingsworth (Colors)

The Story: Psylocke heads to Japan and finds out that her past isn’t as far behind as she thought. In the backup story, Hope deals with a wound and Cable deals with a sniper.

The Good And The Bad: The story that begins in Psylocke #1 isn’t all that inviting to people new to the title character, but Chris Yost deserves credit for attempting to make sense of her twisted continuity regardless. Yost does a fine job of letting Psylocke’s somewhat cold personality come through in the dialogue and it goes a long way towards helping make up for the inaccessible nature of Yost’s continuity heavy story. The artwork throughout the book is pretty slick (thanks, largely to the impressive color work), but it’s also obnoxiously heavy on T’n’A fan-service and posing. Also, it must be noted that Harvey Talibao has a problem keeping Psylocke’s face looking consistent. She looks like a completely different character in a more than a few panels.

The backup story about Cable and Hope is an effective character piece that establishes the relationship the characters share for those that haven’t been following the Cable series. There isn’t much to Swierczynski’s tale, but Steve Dillon’s visual storytelling more than makes up for that. One odd thing about the backup story is that it makes Hope seem younger than I believe she is supposed to be at this point. I could be wrong through, so if I am, feel free to correct me in the comment area.

Grade: C+

Haunt #2

By Robert Kirkman (Writer), Greg Capullo (Layouts), Ryan Ottley (Pencils), Todd McFarlane (Inks), and FCO Plascencia (Colors)

The Story: Daniel Kilgore finds himself getting pulled deeper into his brother’s former life as he learns to adjust to his new powers.

The Good And The Bad: In all honesty, Haunt #2 is only a tiny bit better than the first issue of the series. In other words, it’s a pretty bad comic. Alex covered all that’s wrong about the series in his review of Haunt #1, so instead of repeating everything he said, I’ll just say that the only thing Haunt has going for it is a somewhat interesting story. A nugget of potential exists somewhere within the plot Kirkman and McFarlane are developing. I’m sure of it. It needs to reveal itself soon though or else Haunt is going to be remembered as nothing more than a failed vanity project.

Grade: D

-Kyle Posluszny

 

X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas #2 – Review

By Jeff Parker (Writer), Carlo Pagulayan, Gabriel Hardman, Chris Samnee, & Carlos Rodriguez (Pencils), Jason Paz, Hardman, Samnee, &Terry Pallot (Inks), and Wilfred Quintana & Veronica Gandini

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The first X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas book was solid and entertaining. That said, it wasn’t anything special and a bit too much of an “X” title for my taste. Perhaps the second half of the mini-series will swing things more in the favor of the Agents of Atlas.

The Story: The X-Men and the Agents of Atlas fight for a while until they realize that there is a connection between them. Meanwhile, Venus finds herself at the mercy of a follower of Aphrodite.

What’s Good: The fight that opens X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas #2 is easily the highlight of the entire book. It’s chaotic as hell and a whole lot of fun to see play out…especially when Mr. Lao the Agent’s dragon gets involved. The art team does an excellent job of packing a ton of characters on each page during the scene and Jeff Parker’s battle-banter shines. Also, importantly, both teams come out of the encounter looking pretty damned good. The Agents prove that they’ve got what it takes to hang with the big dogs, while the X-Men once again show why they are one of the best comic teams of all time.

While Jeff Parker’s script is entertaining and serviceable, the only real surprise about it is how he manages to tie the bonus story from last month into the main X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas plot. It’s a nice twist to an otherwise predictable story. Thankfully, the book as a whole is elevated by the impressive artwork. The styles used fit the various segments and really make each piece of the story feel visually distinct.

What’s Not So Good: Outside of the interesting plot twist involving the bonus segment from X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas #1, there’s little in X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas #2 that you haven’t seen before. Jeff Parker uses standard “good guys vs. good guys” plot beats from start to finish. The teams fight, someone gets both sides to listen, and soon they realize they shouldn’t be fighting. It’s predictable and, to be honest, a bit boring. The great action and artwork covers up the dull plot to a certain extent, but it can’t mask it completely.

Conclusion: X-Men Vs. Agents of Atlas #2 is a visually impressive, entertaining conclusion to a fun mini-series. It doesn’t really do anything new, but chances are you probably won’t mind.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

 

Agents of Atlas #11 – Review

by Jeff Parker (writer), Dan Panosian & Gabriel Hardman (art), Elizabeth Dismang & Sotocolor (colors), and Tom Orzechowski (letters)

The Story: The final battle is waged between the Agents of Atlas and the Great Wall.

What’s Good: M-11 really comes off as the star of this issue.  In fact, the robot is more fun this month than he’s ever been.  A lot of humor comes from Ken’s placing a personality microchip into the robot, leading to some utterly ridiculous rhyming trash-talk from the usually silent M-11.  The revelation of who M-11 is impersonating was also unexpected and enjoyable.  All the more wonderful still was how the chip ultimately led to M-11 showing perhaps the most sentience we’ve seen from him in the series, proving that there really is a personality and character underneath all the metal.

Naturally, this issue also has a good deal of action, and it’s all gloriously rendered.  A lot of this is thanks to Elizabeth Dismang’s efforts on the colors, making it all take on a particularly fiery hue.  Again though, M-11 steals the show, with by far the best action scene of the book.  The robot brawl/boxing match is all kinds of awesome, with M-11 bringing back some classic Menacer robot quips.

Beyond M-11 though, the other character who really shines this month is Temugin.  The character has spent a lot of the series as uneven, unlikable, and oddly underpowered for his skills, and while the last point isn’t rectified, the other two definitely are, as Temugin becomes a strangely engaging character that I really had no problem cheering for.  I’ve always been a sucker for formerly villainous characters showing heroic qualities, and ultimately transitioning form bad guy to bad ass.  Temugin’s actions are some of the most heroic this issue and the sequence is almost heartwarming.

What’s Not So Good: While he’s a good artist, I still don’t like Panosian on Atlas.  While last month’s issue was glorious thanks to its being heavier on the Hardman side of the team than the Panosian side, the opposite is true this time, and the comic suffers as a result.  Hardman is perfect for the series, and is just a league above Panosian, whose angular, cartoony, and at times pin-up styled artwork just doesn’t jive with the comic.  His angular faces in particular at times feel just a bit too comical.

I also have to add that the first third of the comic is an incredibly frustrating experience overall.  Opening this month’s issue, I actually felt as though I missed a book, and it’s irritating and disorienting.  Last month, Atlas was holding their own against the Wall, but at the start of this issue, Atlas is crippled and near a route.  Huh?  Worse still, last month ended with the cliffhanger of the newly upgraded M-11 showing up to kick ass.  Now, this book opens up as though that never even happened.  Why even bother with last month’s ending and the extended mad scientist scene if the upgrades accomplish nothing and are never even to be shown in use?

Lastly, I’m wholly disappointed with Jade Claw.  As a former lover of Jimmy, she had such potential as a character.  Instead, Parker seems sadly content with keeping her a completely one-note character who sounds like any clichéd female villain.  There’s absolutely nothing that makes her special and the character’s voice is monotonous and unchanging.

Conclusion: Great character moments in a flawed issue that sadly hints at future story-arcs that probably will never come.

Grade: B –

-Alex Evans

Agents of Atlas #10 – Review

by Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman & Paul Rivoche (art), Elizabeth Dismang (colors), and Tom Orzechowski (letters)

The Story: Jimmy Woo and company prepare for round two with Jade Claw and the Great Wall.

What’s Good: This is quite possibly my favourite issue of the ongoing series thus far, as it demonstrates why Atlas is at its best when allowed to dwell in its own fringe corner of the Marvel Universe.  With no Dark Reign, Captain America, New Avengers, or Hulk in sight, this issue is nothing but the sort of unrestrained, pulpy, sci-fi retro chaos that we should be getting from the Agents of Atlas

A key example of this is the scene with Dr. Zu, the mad scientist responsible for many of the Menacer robots.  It’s total mad scientist territory here, with rows of dormant robots and crackling Tesla coils.  It’s a perfect blend of kooky 60s sci-fi and classic matinee horror that reminds us of what this series is capable of.

I also really liked how Parkman paced this series, dividing the book into separate little scenes/ vignettes, each one or two page sequence getting its own title.  It only added to the comic’s already dynamic feel.

While all the characters were flawlessly written this month, Temugin was done exceptionally well.  Early on, he’s called out for his idiotic, arrogant bravado, but later, his arrogance actually leads to him sounding and acting like a hero in some very well-played outrage.  It certainly helps that he also finally comes off as the legit badass that he is.

Perhaps boosting this issue the most, however, is Gabriel Hardman.  I’ve made no secret of my belief that Hardman is far and away the best fit for this series and also one of the best artists on Marvel’s roster.  Once again, he brings that retro, pulpy vibe that almost makes the comic feel like newsprint, in a good way.  Hardman is just so perfect for this book and everything looks grimy and old school, yet detailed and characterful.

Overall, this book is just pure fun, the sort of fun that is perhaps best encapsulated by its ludicrously awesome final image, which I won’t spoil.

What’s Not SoGood: Unfortunately, Hardman had some help on the art from Paul Rivoche and the frames which see Rivoche’s assistance are occasionally pretty glaring, particularly when they involve close-ups.  It’s not bad or anything, just a bit off-putting at times to see facial features being drawn differently in a couple of frames.

Also, while it’s by no means a major focus, Parker’s hinting and foreshadowing Atlas’ upcoming second feature in Incredible Hercules is a little irritating given that the plot has absolutely nothing with the Great Wall or Jade Claw.  It’s poorly placed self-promotion that feels a bit digressive.

Finally, a minor quibble, but where the hell is Khanata?  We get one image of him getting a massage, and then he disappears.  Even when the team goes to battle, he’s not there.  Did I miss something?

Conclusion: Excellent characterization, atmosphere, and a little bit of good old action make for some of the best Atlas we’ve gotten in some time, proving that Atlas is at its best when allowed to do its own thing.

Grade:  A-

-Alex Evans

Agents of Atlas #7 – Review

by Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (art), Jana Schirmer (colors), and Nate Piekos (letters)

The Story: A devastating secret comes out about Namor and Namora’s budding relationship.  Will Atlas lose one of its own?  And in a back-up story, Mr. Lao does battle with a genie.

What’s Good: I’ve really loved this two-part Atlantis arc.  After the Cap and Avengers issues, it’s good to see this series regaining its voice, which is a retro, weird one with a unique set of lovable characters.

In this issue, it’s nice to see Parker trying to add to Marvel continuity by messing about with Namor’s history.  While Atlas continues to be a series unlike any other at Marvel, I’m glad Parker managed to make it more than a fringe series with little impact.

That said, Namor continues to be a great fit for the series and, unlike Captain America, does not seem out of place.  Thus, this issue manages to feel important without losing its voice.  I loved Namor in this issue, speaking to Jimmy Woo from one leader to another.  Not only is Namor a good fit for this comic, but this exchange also gives Atlas and Jimmy some Marvel Universe credibility that feels natural and not at all forced.  The best part of Namor’s advice?  He basically tells Jimmy to distance the comic from Dark Reign.

Beyond that, it’s hard to say much more other than that this issue/arc of Agents of Atlas is nothing but pure fun.

No Agents of Atlas review would be complete without some raving about Gabriel Hardman’s artwork.  Marvel has a real star on its hands here and I hope they know it.  The artist hits a high point with this issue, completly capturing the weird, retro sci-fi feel of Atlas, while lending the comic a pulpy, 60s B-movie tone that is nothing short of magnificent.  Every frame looks like a painted cover from a pulp novel.  In fact, Hardman almost makes you feel like the comic you’re holding is something you found in the bowels of a used bookstore, some long forgotten piece of your father’s (or grandfather’s) childhood.  Considering what Atlas is about, that’s just what this comic needs.

What’s Not-So-Good: Gorilla Man feels a little off this issue.  Don’t get me wrong, most of everything he says is comedy gold, but it just doesn’t quite sound like Gorilla Man.  Fun yes, but it feels just a bit too modern or culturally aware.  Somehow, I just don’t buy Gorilla Man saying “I’d hit that.”

I also think that the Mr. Lao back-up is a little lacking.  Other than the last page, showing how Lao ended up with Atlas, a lot of things are left  hanging.  What is Lao’s plan?  Why did he want to take human form?  We never find out and I doubt we ever will.  The battle with the genie could’ve been a bit more drawn out as well.  It just feels like it’s a bit crippled by the page count restriction.

Conclusion: A team comic unlike any other at Marvel, it’s another solid book for Atlas.

Grade: B

-Alex Evans

Agents of Atlas #6 – Review

by Jeff Parker (writer), Gabriel Hardman (pencils and inks), Jana Schirmer (colors), and Nate Piekos (letters)

The Story: The team heads to Oceanus to see if they can get something on Osborne from his Cabal-mate, Namor.

The Good: After the balls to the wall slugfest in the last issue, this month gives a really nice change of pace for the series, being more based in political intrigue, personal tensions, and team dynamics. This also allowed for Parker to do some character work, which has always been strong point. As always, every member of the team is distinct and their relationships with one another are front and center. The major conflict of the issue appears to be Namora’s place in Oceanus, her possible departure for the team, and the alliance with the Atlanteans that may result. It’s a very interesting situation that sucked me in far more than the explosions of last month.

With every passing issue, I feel that each character gains a stronger voice. This idea is widely evident in this issue, as the cast’s personality traits grow onto you; from Venus’ optimism and supporting attitude, to Gorilla Man’s humorous interjections, and to Namora’s pained history… I also continue to enjoy Parker’s depiction of the Uranian’s psychic powers. Bob continues to exude this weird aura of surreal menace, and his powers in this issue manage to share that. More importantly, however, is that this also leads to Bob not being “just another Marvel psychic;”  his abilities are all his own.

Gabriel Hardman’s art suits this new, more subdued tone perfectly. One part retro and one part noir, his dark and shaded work is a sight to behold, also making the structures of Oceanus at once beautiful and pulp. Hardman continues to be a perfect fit for Atlas, giving this unique comic the equally unique artistic feel that it needs and deserves.

The Not-So-Good: Agents of Atlas #6 threatens to cement several changes to the Atlas formula that take some getting used to, or at least a willingness to accept. Firstly, while Hardman’s art is great, until now, his art has been very appropriately limited to the flashback sequences and 1950s parallel stories. Seeing his art now being applied to the present day is a bit off-putting at first, given how it’s come to be associated with the past. It is a good fit, but it takes some getting used to.

Also, after lamenting the absence last month, it looks like I’m going to have to say goodbye to the parallel story structure. I do miss it, but thankfully, this issue showed me that the comic is capable of standing up without that gimmick.

In the end, this is a very good comic, but truly enjoying it requires one to leave behind the creative status quo that the series had established for itself in the past issues.

Conclusion: Agents of Atlas #6 is a much more nuanced, subtle issue. Which isn’t a bad thing. Certainly, a more intelligent story is the best way to get readers to accept a simpler creative method (one artist and one story instead of two of each).

The Grade: B+

-Alex Evans