Haunt #9 – Review

By: Robert Kirkman (writer), Greg Capullo (pencils), Jonathan Glapion & Todd McFarlane (inks), FCO Plascencia (colors) & Richard Starkings (letters)

The Story: Now a fully trained agent of the agency, Haunt goes out on his first real mission.

What’s Good: There’s a lot of like about this comic.  After a first story arc that was sometimes clumsy as this title tried to find its feet, it has really gotten rolling and turned into an espionage comic with a super-powered twist.  One of my favorite things in comics is seeing personal growth (or at least change) from the characters and Daniel (the human half of Haunt) has come a LONG way from the cigarette-smoking, prostitute-“visiting” guy we met in issue #1.  As was said in Full Metal Jacket: He has been born again hard.  So, getting to see him kicking ass on his first real mission for this mysterious agency was a very fulfilling moment.

The story also brings us back face-to-face with Haunt’s main nemesis and leaves us with a classic comic cliffhanger that has me very eager to read issue #10 next month.  This comic is now top-of-the-stack material.

And the art is just awesome if hyper-detailed and unafraid depictions of violence are your thing.  I’m not a weirdo who gets off on the images of gutted bodies we get to see in this comic, but I do like to see art that goes for “it” (whatever “it” may be).  Capullo and his inkers are pulling no punches.  When Haunt chops a bad guy in two, it isn’t just a blurry mess of red.  You could almost do a human anatomy lesson on what we see here.  It won’t be to everyone’s taste, but I really appreciate unafraid art.  If I want quasi-censored art, I can read a Marvel or DC book.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Batman #702 – Captain America made a strong showing, but Morrison’s moody writing, viscerally close to Batman, pushed Batman #702 over the top. Also, while there are a lot of storylines running right now, this one really was a prelude to the Return of Bruce Wayne, which is just around the corner.

Most Anticipated: Brightest Day #9 – Brightest Day #9, hands down! We’re into the meat and potatoes of Brightest Day now and with all the mini cliffhangers, I don’t even want to blink. Plus, Aqualad? What the diddly?

Other Top Picks: Other Top Picks: Gorilla Man #3, Thor: For Asgard #1, JSA All-Stars #10, Freedom Fighters #1, Secret Six #25, Captain America: Forever Allies #2.

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Avengers #4 – In a week where many books were “good,” but nothing was “great,” I think I most enjoyed Avengers.  The story seems to be pure chaos as the timestream has been seriously screwed up and I cannot wait to find out what future Tony Stark was doing to his younger self at the end of the issue.

Most Anticipated: Last Days of American Crime #3 – This week is just STACKED with books I’m looking forward to, but I’m very eager to see how Rick Remender wraps up his very original (and much delayed)  story set in a world where crime is about to be made impossible by futuristic technology.

Other Top Picks: Stumptown #4, Wolverine #1, Avengers: Children’s Crusade #2, Haunt #9, Choker #4

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Fantastic Four #582 -Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four is one of the best books at Marvel.  This book continues that trend with big happenings, wildly imaginative going-ons, and a really awesome young Dr. Doom.  Once again, FF is right at the top of my stack.

Most Anticipated: Scarlet #2 -Despite my lukewarm grade of the first issue, I still love the concept of this series and it’s main character.  I can’t wait to see where Bendis goes with this and I hope he gets the story going this month so I can get a better idea of his vision for this series.

Other Picks: Secret Six #23, Sweet Tooth #13, Wolverine #1, Shadowland #3, Brightest Day #9, iZombie #5

Joe’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: X-Factor #208 – David’s script hits all the right character beats, making this issue more interesting because of the interpersonal relationships than any action going on.  While some might consider X-Factor, and this issue in particular, a low key title, in a week of underwhelming releases, the second-tier X-title delivers the goods where others failed.

Most Anticipated: Scarlet #2 – I love me some Bendis/Maleev comics and, although I picked up the first issue hesitantly, I walked away from it fully onboard.  While I suspect this series will read better in trades (much like most of Bendis’ work), I’m eager to get in on the ground floor of the floppies, if only for the first arc.

Other Picks: Brightest Day #9, Secret Six #25, Avengers: The Children’s Crusade #2, I am an Avenger #1, Incredible Hulks #612, Origins of Marvel Comics: X-Men #1, Shadowland #3, Wolverine #1, Wolverine: The Road to Hell, X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – Smoke & Blood #1, Taskmaster #1, Back Issue #43