Irredeemable #19 – Review

By: Mark Waid (writer), Peter Krause (art), Andrew Dalhouse (colors), Ed Dukeshire (letters)

The Story: The aliens are coming!  The aliens are coming!

What’s Good: Mark Waid really shook the snow globe last month!  He revealed that the deceased Hornet had made a “deal with the devil” when he asked a super-powerful race of alien conquerors to return to Earth to beat down the Plutonian if need be.  And this issue shows the pay off of the big fight with the aliens and Paradigm (think JLA) on one side and the Plutonian on the other.   The fight is really well done both from a writing/drama AND art standpoint.

One very good thing that Waid does in this issue is remind the reader that the Plutonian is a heavy hitter.  Seems funny that readers would need that reminder, but he really hasn’t been very tough since the early issues of the series.  Since then he’s had he butt kicked a few times and has mostly just moped around.  It was high-time for a reminder that he is a threatening and demented guy.  Krause does a wonderful job with Plutonian’s facial expressions!

But, the topper is where Waid leaves the action on the last page.  Not only do we have no clue what will happen next month, it is hard to even predict what the next issue will be about.  How often can you say that?

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Incognito: Bad Influences #1 – This was a very strong and espionage-themed first issue as Brubaker, Phillips & Staples show how to work as a creative team.  Really, really good.  Runners-up: Scalped #42 & Thunderbolts #149.

Most Anticipated: 28 Days Later #16 – This series left our heroine in a really bad spot last issue.  I hope this series focusing on “zombie aftermath” can get a little love from folks excited by The Walking Dead.

Other picks: Batman & Robin #16, Punisher In the Blood #1, Scarlet #3, Irredeemable #19, Taskmaster #3

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Action Comics #894 – What a great week for comics.  Both major Avengers titles put on surprisingly strong performances while Hotwire and Scalped managed to reach A-grades.  However, they were going up against Action #894, which happened to be one of the best comics of the year, provided you aren’t adverse to an issue devoted to strong dialogue and characterization instead of face-punching and action scenes.  It was truly amazing stuff, as Cornell also continues to show off his intimate understanding of Lex Luthor’s inner workings.

Most Anticipated: Superboy #1 – I’m honestly not that huge a Superboy fan.  I have no problems at all with Connor, but his presence in a comic isn’t something that makes it a must-buy for me.  I guess I’m honestly sort of ambivalent about him, overall.  Jeff Lemire, however, I am not ambivalent about in the slightest, having read most, if not all, of his comics work.  This is Lemire’s first full-length, ongoing work for one of the big two, and it’s a title where he’s right at home.  Lemire has said in interviews that Superboy feels like a creator-owned title, due to its focus on small-town, rural life and that he’s channelled a bit of Essex County in his writing of it.  That’s enough to get me very excited.

Other Picks: Unknown Soldier #25, Batman & Robin #16, Scarlet #3, Wolverine #3, Secret Six #27, American Vampire #8, Sweet Tooth #15, Invincible #75, Brightest Day #13

Joe’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15 – Bendis knocked it out of the park last week with this epilogue to his “Chameleon” arc.  Centering on Peter Parker’s social circle and the people he affects in a way that pushes home just how painful it can be to be a part of his life, particularly when you’re in love with him.  The final scene of a cast member’s exit is all the more heart-wrenching when you realize it really is Peter’s fault.  A nice reminder of how good this title can be when all the pieces fit.

Most Anticipated: Irredeemable #19 – Last month’s tour de force gave us plenty of intriguing scenes that stood with me long after I put that issue down.  From Hornet’s realization of just how dangerous The Plutonian could be with the uttering of one single name to the horrifying price the hero paid to ensure our planet’s safety, it made sure that I’d be on the edge of my seat waiting for the next issue.  And, well, it comes out tomorrow and I’m on the edge of my seat!

Other Picks: Brightest Day #13, Secret Six #27, Red Hood Lost Days #6, Superboy #1, Amazing Spider-Man #641, Avengers Academy #6, Generation Hope #1, Ozma of Oz #1, Wolverine #3, X-Men To Serve and Protect #1, Scarlet #3