Batman/Superman #9 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Some memories are repressed for a reason.

The Review: I feel bad for writers who do the true crossover storyline, where the plot actually advances through alternating books. Not only do the writers have the challenge of crafting a cohesive story across multiple series and issues, since they have no guarantee that a reader will go out of his way to pick up all the participating titles—ahem, like me—they’ve got to make what’s happening in their individual series coherent on their own as well. Talk about patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time.

To his credit, Pak manages to achieve this balancing act, though he reduces the plot to a trickle to do it. If it wasn’t for the fact that our paired-off heroes have switched partners since the last time you saw them, you’d be forgiven for believing there hasn’t been an intervening chapter since then at all. To sum up, our quartet is still in New Gammora, Clark and Karen are still out of control, and we still don’t really know what’s going on, even after reading through this issue.

Batman/Superman Annual #1 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Kenneth Rocafort (art), June Chung & Nei Ruffino (colors)

The Story: Can anyone really bring peace to Warworld?

The Review: It’s a touch unusual, some might say arrogant, for a series to put out an annual before it actually reaches a year’s worth of issues, but then again, what does Batman/Superman have to worry about?  It’s a title starring Batman and Superman, for crying out loud.  I suspect it could be written and drawn by a grade-schooler and still sell more copies than, Swamp Thing, Astro City, or Fatale.  So what the heck—let’s have an annual four months early.

But you know, had Pak taken those four months (or had his DC superiors allowed him to), maybe he could have delivered a better crafted annual, because this one reads like it was pushed out the door four months prematurely.  Here’s the scenario: after Mongul’s imprisonment in the Phantom Zone, his son Jochi appears, with Warworld behind him, ready to challenge the men that defeat his father and demanding they bring two members of their family to assist.  The premise is fine; it’s everything that comes after that feels messy and not very well thought out.

Batman/Superman #8 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Which World’s Finest is the finest?

The Review: The Earth-2 arc that led off this series was a strong storyline whose promise was nearly ruined by the following arc that turned Batman and Superman into living avatars controlled by the collective nerd-rage of a host of gamers.  Returning to Earth-2 is thus a wise decision on Pak’s part.  It reminds discouraged fans of what made this title initially attractive, and it pairs this World’s Finest with that of another world, making for a mighty fine foursome.

I don’t know how Paul Levitz will handle the Batman, Superman, Power Girl, Huntress dynamic in coming chapters of this storyline,* but Pak gives them an endearing chemistry, surprisingly devoid of the misunderstandings that plague encounters between people of different worlds.  Even Batman discovers, to his slight horror, “In my heart, I believe every word [Huntress] says[.]”  This immediate trust lets Pak bypass obligatory conflicts to focus on the story at hand.

Action Comics #26 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Aaron Kuder (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Superman, this is no time to play fetch with the rampaging monster!

The Review: Last month I expressed bafflement over what I took to be a back-up feature in Pak’s debut issue on Action Comics.  Now that I see that little ditty was just the springboard for his first true arc, I don’t know whether I should be feeling chagrin, embarrassment, or validation over my earlier remarks.  While the folks who caught #25 will be glad to get right into the action, those who skipped it will have missed out on some important logistical groundwork.

Not that important, though, which makes you think the only reason Pak put his prologue in #25 was to get some additional breathing space here.  The trade-off pays off, as Pak delivers a tale of heartfelt action-adventure worthy of our star.  While the issue starts off in typically superhero fashion—Superman warding off a giant underground cave monster—it quickly takes on shades of light comedy, human drama, and sci-fi reminiscent of All-Star Superman.  Weirdly enough, it feels more like All-Star Superman than even Grant Morrison’s beginning run on this series.

Batman/Superman #4 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Ben Oliver (art), June Chung & Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Batman vs. Batman vs. Superman vs. Superman.  And Wonder Woman…

The Review: There are certain tropes that most comic book writers, especially the ones who make their living from the superhero genre, end up using (and re-using) at some point in their careers: the tragic loss of a loved one; the vendetta that pits a hero’s morals against his sense of justice; a character’s greatest doubts and fears manifesting in a psychic/magical/spiritual delusion.  As overdone as these scenarios are, writers never seem to tire of them.

As someone who reads comics for a living,* I can’t say I enjoy any of these plot devices very much, but my least favorite has to be the obligatory battle that ensues whenever two heroes meet.  The fights and preceding conflicts always seem contrived, no matter the context: alt-universe counterparts, time-traveling doppelgangers, or the simple meeting of two characters who don’t usually share the same title.  In Batman/Superman’s first arc, we’ve ended up with all three.

Batman/Superman #3 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Yildiray Cinar (art), June Chung, Matt Yackey, John Kalisz (colors)

The Story: Clark and Bruce, best buds forever—until they try to kill each other, that is.

The Review: Never let it be said that Pak doesn’t know how to make lemons into lemonade.  Getting handed a title starring DC’s two biggest icons is hardly comparable to lemons, of course, but the point is Pak knows how to make the best use of what he has.  Your average writer might have chosen a more down-key story for his first arc, but right out the gate, Pak has written Batman/Superman like the boy who decides to play with the most expensive toys all at once.

As if having the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel at his beck and call isn’t enough, Pak has added on their superior counterparts from Earth-2, Wonder Woman, and now the biggest baddie of the DCU.  Needless to say, this arc is turning out to have far greater reach than anyone expected, though much of its grandstanding is constrained by one fact: the fate of Earth-2, in particular its trinity of Wonders, is a foregone conclusion.  That knowledge steals a lot of the tension away from the plot, though it retains most of its interest.

Batman/Superman #2 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee (art), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Sometimes it feels like your younger self is like a person from another planet.

The Review: Even though the first issue was a bit thin story-wise, Pak took some unusual directions in both the plot and characters that still worked.  With that tentative first step out of the way, Pak lengthens his stride on this second issue, settling upon a surprisingly comfortable and engaging pace.  He has a great instinct for moving from a burst of action to a touch of exposition, from letting characters mull on their own to weaving them together.

It’s that last point where Pak reveals his craft.  Instead of throwing everyone into the story all at once, he methodically cues each one’s entrance at just the right moment in the action, where their presence would best invigorate the scene.  In steady order we get introduced to our villain, our dual heroes, our heroes’ doubles, their doubles’ wives, and several other important figures along the way.  For all that, the issue never feels crowded; each character appears just long enough to keep the story clipping forward, like a highly trained relay team.

Batman/Superman #1 – Review

By: Greg Pak (story), Jae Lee & Ben Oliver (art), June Chung & Daniel Brown (colors)

The Story: Batman and Superman bond over their blind spots with kids.

The Review: I don’t know which genius came up with the idea of writing DC’s two biggest icons together, nor do I know the context, but it’s safe to say that he probably had no clue how writers since then would run away with the pairing.  Certainly he couldn’t predict that Batman-Superman adventures would eventually become less a contrast of skill sets and personalities, but one of moral ideology.

That’s what really sets the Batman-Superman relationship apart from all other superhero pairs.  Because both characters represent much more than the sum of their physical or personal traits, they’re perfect for exploring some of the more interesting philosophical dichotomies.  Pak taps into this material very quickly in this issue, which immediately sets Batman/Superman apart from its eventful but relatively meaningless predecessor Superman/Batman.*

Birds of Prey #8 – Review

By: Duane Swierczynski (story), Jesus Saiz (pencils), Javier Pina (inks), June Chung (colors)

The Story: Starling proves threatening a man’s privates is on par with threatening anyone else’s life.

The Review: Even though this series has been consistently enjoyable since it debuted, it still hasn’t really achieved that special quality which makes a title a must-read.  Last month, I pointed out the slightly lacking group chemistry among the Birds; while each has her unique attraction, they don’t have much in the way of common ground or a mutual agenda.  Another missing element, one which may prove even more important, is a clear direction for the series.

Swierczynski likes the in medias res style of opening, throwing us right into the boiling point of the action from the start, and letting us figure out the context as the issue goes on.  He’s managed to make it work before, but this time, the jump between where we left off last time and where we pick up now leaves us helplessly confused.

Birds of Prey #7 – Review

By: Duane Swierczynski (writer), Jesus Saiz (artist), June Chung (colorist)

The Story: Black Canary, there’s a reason why we call ‘em “frienemies.”

The Review: Another reason the Birds of Prey—and here I’m talking about the pre-relaunch version of the team—were so appealing was they acted not only as a highly effective team, they were a group of women bound together as much by friendship as necessity.  As much fun as it was to see them take names and kick butt, the moments where they bantered, poured their hearts out, or gave each other emotional support were even more enjoyable.

That’s probably the one thing this current version of the team lacks so far.  Swierczynski has given the Birds grit for days, what with a ninja, an agent of the Green, a master spy, one of the finest martial artists on the planet, and Batgirl banding up together.  But since Canary gathered many of these ladies more for the sake of their special abilities than anything else, the bonds among them were tenuous at best, always susceptible to snapping, given enough tension.

You don’t stress out the team spirit any more effectively than shooting upon your teammates.  Frankly, it surprises me none of the Birds thought something like this might happen, considering Choke obviously messed with their heads all the way back in #4.  In fact, I’ve been waiting for a mind-controlled betrayal to happen for a while, and since Starling has gotten the most brutal after-effects of all the ladies, it was almost inevitable she’d be the one to turn on them all.

Choke’s choice of Starling for his prime sleeper agent is brilliant for two reasons.  First, there’s definitely some kind of irony about the woman with an inbred sense of paranoia becoming an unwitting pawn for a mastermind, and refusing even to acknowledge that possibility.  Second, we know that of all the recruits to her team, Canary trusts only Starling, which she states outright to Batgirl.  Thus Choke’s turning of Starling seems to be a direct psychological attack against Dinah more than anyone else, indicating his agenda may be personal at heart.

Birds of Prey #6 – Review

By: Duane Swierczynski (writer), Javier Pina (artist), June Chung (colorist)

The Story: Just when you think you know a guy, he turns out to be a secret killer agent.

The Review: Some would argue that the real measure of a great superhero is a great supervillain, and that seems pretty true.  You can’t really think of any of the giants—Batman, Superman, Captain America, Spider-Man—without simultaneously thinking of their evil counterparts—Joker, Lex Luthor, Red Skull, John Jonah Jameson (and yes, that last one is, in fact, a joke).  So it stands to reason that often, the failing of any new hero can often lie with mediocre nemeses.

For these new Birds, their first antagonist is kind of a weird bird.  On the one hand, the scope of his abilities and his altogether faceless nature poses some worthy challenges for our heroines.  On the other hand, we haven’t really seen Choke actually do anything, nor do we know much about his motivations.  Without a clear goal, he’s just being manipulative for the sake of being manipulative—which in itself might be interesting, but this issue hints nothing like that.

The real antagonists the Birds have faced thus far have all been these Cleaners, sleeper agents activated by remote hypnotic triggers.  Swierczynski makes the rather pleasant decision to buck the trend of leaving nameless thugs to be nameless thugs and actually follow one of the Cleaners around.  And his name is Brendan, by the way.  Seeing his experience of living a fairly normal routine most the day, only to black out and find himself in pants-wetting situations later (by which I mean he’s been suddenly stripped naked in a warehouse, Katana poised over him with a syringe), definitely shows you how disorienting and frightening it must be to live his life.

Birds of Prey #5 – Review

By: Duane Swierczynski (writer), Jesus Saiz (penciller), Javier Pina (inker), June Chung (colorist)

The Story: I don’t suppose anyone thought to write down what we were doing on a Post-It?

The Review: The best part about a title that features a group of solely women is for once you get (when executed properly) the kind of variety among characters of a single gender that you’ve been getting with dude-focused titles for years now.  It’s remarkable how many comic book writers tend to approach scenes featuring more than two women as if their only experience of such interactions is from what their girlfriends made them watch of Sex and the City.

In sharp contrast to the sameness of females over on Justice League International, each Bird has an immediately recognizable and distinctive voice and bearing.  Poison Ivy is brusque and to the point; Starling is equal parts brash and sensitive; Katana, while cool and businesslike, reveals a sense of humor beneath a surprising shyness; and Black Canary, as the emotion center of the team, has a little bit of everything bubbling her cautious exterior.

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned anything of Batgirl yet.  The reason is simple: she doesn’t really get much of an appearance in this issue.  And the reason for that?  Well, it’s complicated.  As Canary very efficiently sums up, “Last thing I remember, we were on Choke’s secret floor fighting a dozen of those creepy ‘Cleaners’—and all five of us were kicking ass.”  Cut to the first page, and the Birds (minus Batgirl) are under military fire in the midst of a rubble, with no clue what’s gone on in the last few hours.

It’s not just that they’re missing time out of their lives.  None of them seem to have consistent memories of what’s happened (some remember Batgirl being there, others don’t).  Starling’s broken hand has mysteriously healed up.  More significantly, each of them comes away from the experience troubled and out of sorts, which they each deal with in their own way, revealing interesting bits of backstory along the way.

Ev can’t settle herself at the range, so she goes to visit a lady-acquaintance with whom she seems to have a complicated past (“I know what you said…but I really, really needed to see you.”).  Also intriguing is Ivy’s dealings with an unidentified businessman, which may bode ill for her loyalty to the Birds—or it may not; his question of, “You’ll still honor our arrangement?” could mean treachery, or it could mean he’s asking if she’ll keep up an earlier, unrelated bargain with him while having a go at “the hero thing.”

Birds of Prey #4 – Review

By: Duane Swierczynski (writer), Jesus Saiz (artist), June Chung (colorist)

The Story: I’m telling you—the 19^th floor exists!  It does!

The Review: After reading through this issue, it occurred to me that comics have conditioned us to expect supervillains in these kinds of stories, by which I mean crazy wackos with weird costumes, terrible codenames, and themed powers and weapons.  The side-effect is we tend to underestimate the more down-to-earth criminals, the ones who’ve got a plan and don’t need to show off to get it done.  These types see superheroes as obstacles, not nemeses.

I think that’s the situation we have with the big, unseen mastermind (with the name “Choke”—not a bad one, as these things tend to go) haunting the Birds at every turn in this story arc.  Sure, his “invisible” thugs (called “Cleaners”) don’t really pose much of a threat to our well-trained ladies, but you can’t deny how far the reach of his manipulations can go.  It’s not just the bombs he can secretly implant in your head; he can turn people into living microphones, transmitting to him all they see or hear—for what, we can only guess, but it’ll be big, that’s for sure.

Beyond that Swierczynski (and can I just say, it takes me about a minute just to spell this guy’s name correctly every time—no offense) simply crafts a darn gripping plot, filled with all kinds of intriguing details that make Choke seem more impressive all the time.  As Starling explains, “They operate in the spaces between floors…phantom floors someone sneaked into the original design.  This building’s owners and tenants have no idea the creepy Cleaner is here.”  I don’t know if it’s really an original idea, but a fun one to think about, nonetheless.

Fun is really the underlying chord of this series.  Even in the most bombastic action sequence or sober string of exposition, Swierczynski manages to inject some humor.  Best of all, he doesn’t do it by dropping forced gags or strings of witty banter everywhere; he just stays true to the characters and lets them react naturally to the situation at hand.  For example, having Katana prelude her imminent bloodbath with, “My husband wishes to meet with you,” never gets old.

Birds of Prey #3 – Review

By: Duane Swierczynski (writer), Jesus Saiz (artist), June Chung (colorist)

The Story: The Birds discover the joys of flower power.

The Review: Like many Batman villains, Poison Ivy has become more complicated over the years, starting off as one of your typical deranged Gothamites and growing into an eco-terrorist of the first degree.  In the process, she’s transformed from villain to something of an anti-hero (with the occasional descent back into villainy).  Still, she’d never label herself as a “good girl,” and as seen in the now-kaput Gotham City Sirens, she likes to stick with other shady dames.

So it’s surprising Black Canary extends an invitation for Ivy to join her team—or it would be had we a different flock of Birds than we do now.  Starling won’t win awards for the pure of heart and Katana’s skill of plunging her sword into anything that moves won’t either.  Even Canary doesn’t have a stainless rep anymore.  So the real question is: what advantage does Ivy get out of joining when her only goal is to “prevent greedy individuals from despoiling the planet”?

We know what the Birds will get with the addition of “the talking salad” (Starling’s words, not mine): firepower.  Except for Dinah’s Canary Cry, the ladies’ talents all focus on espionage and sting ops skills.  Ivy offers a very different set of abilities.  As she demonstrates on one of the thugs they capture, her charm is as potent as ever, reducing him to a blithering puddle in the span of one page: “I’ll take you home you’ll like home let me take you home.”

Adding the semi-villainess to the Birds also adds some delightful new dimensions to the team dynamics.  Though Katana and Starling have just met and haven’t exactly taken to each other, both are immediately on the same page when it comes to their newest teammate.  When Canary asks what they think of Ivy, you have to love their silent exchange of glances seconds before they simultaneously draw their weapons.  Looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Annihilators #3 – Review

By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Tan Eng Huat (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), June Chung (colors), Joe Caramagna (letters), John Denning (assistant editor) & Bill Rosemann (editor)

Rocket-Raccoon story by: Abnett & Lanning (writers), Timothy Green, II (art), Nathan Fairbairn (colors), Clayton Cowles (letters) & Denning & Rosemann (editors)

The Story: We finally see the Dire Wraiths again as the Annihilators journey into Limbo itself.  Meanwhile, Rocket Raccoon is dealing with an odd conspiracy having to do with other intelligent animals and killer clowns.

What’s Good: The art is fairly good throughout.  The star is Green’s art in the Rocket Raccoon story which is very cartoony and where he is drawing all kinds of crazy stuff like killer clowns, a space walrus, a cyborg rabbit, a weasel who is Rocket’s old flame and even a raccoon skeleton (when Rocket goes through an X-Ray).  Green’s layouts are bold and imaginative and the coloring by Nathan Fairbairn pops off the page.  Definitely keep an eye out for Green in the future.

In the “main” Annihilators story, the art team of Tan Eng Huat and Victor Olazaba does a pretty nice job too.  It is a fairly hectic issue with the Annihilators battling the Wraith Queen before journeying into Limbo itself and they manage to keep the story very coherent.  This would have been a pretty easy issue for the artists to lose their handle on the story, but that never happened.

What’s Not So Good: I love me some 70’s and 80’s comics, so I don’t mind exposition, but this issue is very exposition heavy and it doesn’t help that it is double sized (20 pages for Annihilators & 22 pages for Rocket Raccoon).  Some people like to talk about how you “got your money’s worth” for the $4.99 price tag, but I’ve never considered the time required to read a comic to equal “value”; I’m more interested in whether I enjoyed the story and found it memorable.  Probably either one of these stories could have been exposition heavy, and it would have worked IF the other story was quick and jaunty.  But, with both are really drawn out and ponderous, it gets to be a little painful to read.  I tend to blame editorial for this, as I’m fairly sure the original plan was for these to both be separate miniseries before Marvel bolted them together into a single $4.99 miniseries.  It probably would have helped story pacing to lengthen/shorten one of these stories in previous issues such that ALL the exposition wasn’t in issue #3.

Annihilators #1 – Review

By: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Tan Eng Huat (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), June Chung (colors), Joe Caramanga (letters), John Denning (assistant editor) & Bill Rosemann (editor)

Rocket Raccoon/Groot by: Abnett & Lanning (writers), Timothy Green, II (art), Nathan Fairbairn (colors), Clayton Cowles (letters), Rachel Pinnelas & Denning (assistant editors) & Rosemann (editor)

The Story: Quasar, Ronan, Gladiator, Beta Ray Bill, Silver Surfer & a Spaceknight (yes…a Spaceknight) team up to keep the Universe safe.  And….we catch up with everyone’s favorite spunky sentient Raccoon.

What’s Good: The mere premise of this book is kinda “Avengers in space”.  And it isn’t some weak team of heroes either.  Abnett & Lanning (DnA) have basically gathered together the most powerful cosmic beings in the Marvel U. on the premise that the Guardians of the Galaxy were a good concept, but simply not powerful enough to stop the truly massive threats.

There is a lot of “team’s first meeting” in this issue, but the real highlight for me is that one member of the Annihilators is an honest-to-goodness Galadorian Spaceknight.  Alas, it is not our favorite silvery Spaceknight hero from the early 1980’s: ROM.  ROM is still stuck in the trademark penalty box between Marvel and Parker Brothers, but the story of the Spaceknights and their mortal enemies, the Dire Wraiths, is a good one and worth exploring in the Marvel U.  Granted, Marvel has never completely abandoned the Spaceknight concept (there was a miniseries ~2000), but it is always good to have them back.

It was also a fun to catch up with Rocket Raccoon in a truly zany tale that shows Rocky in his post-Guardians phase pushing a mail-cart through a prairie dog warren of cubicles for some faceless cosmic corporation.  Sigh…he hates his job, it’s boring, his boss is a prick and then he get’s attacked by a very strange killer clown which causes him to want to track down his old buddy, Groot.  Fun abounds.

This is also a beefy issue.  So, we’re getting 38 pages of comics for your $4.99.

The art is very solid throughout.  Huat’s designs and layouts interpret the story very effectively and I really like Olazaba’s inks.  He shows a real commitment to shading with very fine lines and it gives the comics a very throwback feel.  Green’s art in the Rocket Raccoon story is much more comical and that not only fits the silly nature of the story, but it is usually a good choice with Rocky.  It is really hard to draw a “realistic” bipedal raccoon and not have it look like a monkey.

X-Men: Curse of the Mutants – X-Men vs. Vampires #1 – Review

From Husk til Dawn by: James Asmus (writer), Tom Raney (art) & John Rauch (colors)

I’m Gonna Stake You, Sucka by: Christopher Sequieira (writer) & Sana Takeda (art)

Rue Blood by: Peter David (writer), Mick Bertilorenzi (art) & Lee Loughridge (colors)

Survivors by: Rob Williams (writer), Doug Braithwaite (art) & June Chung (colors)

Letters by: Dave Sharpe

The Story: A series of short stories showing various X-Men coming into conflict with vampires.

What’s Good: Anthologies can be a lot of fun.  They give the reader a chance to see short stories centering on characters that are rarely front-and-center in the main X-books (Husk, Dazzler) or give us a chance to explore story ideas that (for whatever reason) were not selected to be the central theme of the main Curse of the Mutants story line.  Anthologies are also a great opportunity to see new writing and art talent playing with characters you love OR a chance to see a big name (Peter David) spend a short amount of time in a different part of the comics world.

This anthology features four short tales.  Two focus on misadventures of Husk and Dazzler and were quite enjoyable because they are both useful characters in their own way.  The Husk story was almost interesting enough that I wouldn’t mind seeing a writer try to use her a little more.

The last two stories in this anthology focus more on the eternal nature of a vampire.  Are they alive?  Do they yearn for the same things that they wanted in life?  Do they still recognize old friends?  If you are remotely interested in the overall vampire mythos, you’ll enjoy these two stories.

And what a variety of art you are exposed to in this book: Everything from Doug Braithwaite’s very realistic style, to Sana Takeda’s fuzzy realism to Mick Bertilorenzi’s more cartoony characters.  All of the art is solid in this issue.

Marvel Divas #2 – Review

By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Writer), Tonci Zonjic (Art), June Chung (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: The first issue of Marvel Divas did what it set out to do really well. Because of that, I decided to check out the second issue to find out if the series had appeal for someone outside of the target audience.

The Story: Angelica Jones takes the first steps toward dealing with her breast cancer, as her friends do what they can to help. Also, girl talk about relationships and such…

What’s Good & What’s Not So Good: While it’s a whole lot more serious (with the cancer battle taking front and center), pretty much everything I said about Marvel Divas #1 applies to the second issue. The Sex and the City meets the Marvel U. vibe works really well, the artwork by Tonci Zonjic is a great fit, and the dialogue by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is both effective and realistic. Also, the storyline that’s developing puts an interesting twist on dealing with a very personal issue by (understandably, considering its the Marvel U.) bringing powers and magic into the mix in a way that comes across  far more respectful of the issue then you might expect. Kudos to Aguirre-Sacasa for keeping things, for the most part, grounded in a reality that fits the Marvel universe and its characters.

The only thing actually negative I have to say concerning Marvel Divas #2 has more to do with personal preference than anything else. Simply put, Marvel Divas isn’t a series for a guy like me. I appreciate its quality and give all the credit in the world to the creative team though, so if Marvel Divas sounds like your thing, then by all means be sure to pick it up. I highly doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Conclusion: It may not be my thing, but Marvel Divas #2 is still a quality book.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Marvel Divas #1 – Review

By Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Writer), Tonci Zonjic (Art), and Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic & June Chung (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: It will be interesting to see how Marvel’s Divas stack up against Gotham’s Sirens…

The Story: Patsy Walker (Hellcat), Monica Rambeau (Captain Marvel/leader of Nextwave), Felicia Hardy (Black Cat), and Angelica Jones (Firestar) are superhero “gal-pals” trying to navigate the social scene of the Marvel Universe. In Marvel Divas #1, we learn how they became friends, see three of them attend a party for Patsy Walker’s latest book, and talk about, well, girl stuff (guys, the social scene, sex, relationships, etc.).

About That Cover: Ignore the rather obnoxious J. Scott Campbell cover… Actually, scratch that…Take a good look at the J. Scott Campbell cover because it’s really the only thing about Marvel Divas #1 that deserves to fall into the “Not So Good” category. That’s not to say that the cover looks bad (cheesecake certainly has its place), but it couldn’t possibly be a worse fit for a book that succeeds almost entirely because it avoids all the baggage that comes with a cover that says “Marvel Divas” and features four ladies in skintight outfits posing in a way that accentuates their… uh… assets. Now, with that out of the way…

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: As far as story and tone is concerned, Marvel Divas truly is Sex and the City meets the Marvel Universe. Is it really my type of thing? Absolutely not. But that doesn’t mean that the mini-series should be dismissed in any way. And that’s because, on a creative level, Marvel Divas is as strong as some of the best books on the stands.

Writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa does an excellent job of giving Marvel Divas a distinct flavor for a Marvel comic. In other words, there’s very little superhero stuff and a whole lot of girl talk, girl power, and clever banter. The four main characters are written in a way that makes it easy for readers to quickly understand the important personalities (though one or two come across as a bit stereotypical) and where they fit in the Marvel universe. Aguirre-Sacasa also does a nice job of humorously breaking the fourth wall at appropriate times (“Company wide crossover”) to keep the interest of those that are picking the book up out of curiosity.

My only real complaint about the writing in Marvel Divas is actually not really a complaint and more of an observation: Aguirre-Sacasa clearly isn’t aiming for that “all inclusive” feel (though the writer certainly doesn’t have to) . What I mean is that it will quickly become clear whether Marvel Divas is for you or not. I am clearly not a part of the intended audience, yet I can certainly appreciate the mini-series for what it is.

The artwork by Tonci Zonjic for Marvel Divas is perfectly suited to the tone that Aguirre-Sacasa amazingly establishes. Stylish, expressive, and subtle, Zonjic’s work effortlessly brings out the personality and high points of the script. The only negative thing about Zonjic’s style is that character faces all tend to look similar. Skin tones and hairstyles keep faces distinct, but some more facial detail would definitely be welcome.

Conclusion: Even though Marvel Divas isn’t a series for your average fanboys, it’s definitely one unique and creative piece.

Grade: B+

-Kyle Posluszny

Thor: Man of War #1 – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Clay Mann (Pt. 1 Pencils), Victor Olazaba (Pt. 1 Inks), Paul Mounts (Pt 1. Colors), Patrick Zircher (Pt. 2 Art), and June Chung (Pt. 2 Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: For as much as I enjoy the more personal, down-to-earth Thor series, I find that the epic Matt Fraction one-shots better fit the bill for what I’m looking for in a Thor story. And why is that? Simply because the brutal action and sense of scale provide the perfect fix for a casual fan of the character like myself. Time to find out if Thor: Man of War lives up to the bar set by Ages of Thunder and Reign of Blood.

The Story: The destruction caused by Thor’s anger-fueled rampage catches the eye of his father, Odin. Feeling that he must respond in some way, Odin summons the Valkyrior warrior Brunnhilda to get Thor under control. Battling as adversaries but soon united by the need to survive a Storm Giant attack, Thor and Brunnhilda give Odin a reason to take matters into his own hands.

What’s Good: Everything that made Ages of Thunder and Reign of Blood creative successes is present in Man of War. If you liked the first two Fraction-helmed one-shots, then I am sure you will enjoy the latest one as well. Both parts of the story feature fantastic, action-driven artwork and fun, yet weighty, narration.

What’s Not So Good: The only thing negative I can say about Man of War is that it doesn’t feel like it holds quite as much substance as the chapters that preceded it. A lot of that has to do with the action-heavy storyline, but it is still worth mentioning. That said, the artwork during the action scenes mostly make up for any complaint about substance.

Conclusion: Fans of a more legendary take on the classic character will find something to like in the final chapter of Fraction’s epic. I highly recommend it, but be sure to track down the other two parts first.

Grade: A-

-Kyle Posluszny

Dead Of Night Featuring Devil-Slayer #3 – Review

Brian Keene, (writer) Chris Samnee, (pencils) June Chung, (colors) Joe Caramagna, (letters) Kaare Andrews, (cover and Devil Slayer character design)

The Story: The Devil Slayer has been awakened, and he’s been tossed directly into the fire (no pun intended). Angels and Demons are working together to bring about the apocalypse, there’s work to be done, and no time for the necessary training. Caught in between the forces of Heaven, Hell, and a military search team, Danny needs to learn fast, and act faster. But is he in over his head?

What’s Good: The writing and art remain fantastic. As the plot for the armageddon gets closer to fruition, we get to see how truly unprepared Danny is. His “on the job” training adds to the drama exponentially. He’s our only hope for survival, and all of his military training (while good) won’t be enough. He needs something more, but the only man who can hone his Devil Slaying skills was the last of the Magi, killed by Belathauzer. Adding on to this exciting story, is the exceptional art team, where they do a great job with Danny and his environment, even though Danny sticks out in each panel. There’s a very realistic isolation about him, fitting for humanity’s only hope.

What’s Not So Good: As much as I love this book, it’s been done. “The Devil Slayer” concept is basically Buffy, as a dude. Absolutely nothing wrong with Buffy, but the whole “you come from a long line of devil slayers” thing feels a little too on the nose. There’s also a lack of story movement which is cause for concern. Danny’s on his own and framed for the murder of his unit. That’s established in the first four pages. Then he spends the rest of the book on the run, which shows us his instincts and military training. Mission accomplished, but I’m left wondering how everything will tie together in the end. Single-handedly averting the apocalypse isn’t something easily done in thirty pages.

Conclusion: Even though much of Devil Slayer feels like it’s been done in one form or another, it’s still a great read. All of the elements tie together really well, which makes the generic plot elements less noticeable. A satisfying conclusion is gonna be a bit of a challenge, but I think this team’s up for the task. Hopefully, this becomes an ongoing series, there’s a lot of potential for future stories.

Grade B-

-Ben Berger

Dead of Night Featuring Devil-Slayer #1 – Review

Brian Keene, (writer) Chris Samnee, (pencils) June Chung, (colors) Joe Caramagna, (letters) Kaare Andrews, (cover and Devil Slayer character design)

“They told us in school this was where civilization started. This will probably be where it ends, too.”

This sentence alone peaked my interest in this comic. That, plus the story of a soldier fighting demons in Iraq seemed like the perfect thing for me to check out. The plot has a lot of promise, and even though it’s different from what I expected, I’m really excited to see where everything goes.

Brian Keene’s dialogue is excellent. Danny Sylva has one of the clearest voices I’ve heard in a long time. He’s bitter, jaded, and cynical and none of it feels forced or cliche. His wife left him, he couldn’t find a job, and civilian life just doesn’t cut it. Because of all that, Danny’s re-enlists for a third tour in Iraq.

Most of the book is about Danny’s return to the military and I began to wonder how or when demons would enter the story. Did we really have a book called Devil Slayer without any devil slaying? Anticipation builds for the whole book and we don’t see anything until the last page. It’s a bit frustrating, but the tease ultimately works since I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Chris Samnee’s pencils are great to see. They’re very detailed and gritty which reflects the tone very well. More importantly, it’s a very clean style. Each panel shows exactly what we need to see in the best possible way. This issue doesn’t have much gore (though I’m sure it’s coming), but what is shown has a lot of promise. It’s realistic damage which heightens the reader’s emotional response; instead of exploding bodies and guts everywhere it’s a simple exit wound and the appropriate blood-splatter. I found myself concerned even for characters I hated because it looked so real.

Devil Slayer #1, is the perfect setup for this mini-series. The choice to make the reader wait to see the demons, to commit an entire issue to Danny and his back-story works so incredibly well. Keene and Samnee compliment each other greatly, and if they can keep this up they’ve got a winner on their hands. I was expecting demons right away and now I’m glad I didn’t get it. If this sounds up your alley, or close to it, don’t miss this book. (Grade: A)

-Ben Berger

Thor: Reign of Blood #1 (One-Shot) – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Khari Evans (Pencils), Patrick Zircher (Pencils and Inks), Victor Olzaba (Inks), and Matt Milla and June Chung (Colors)

Thor: Reign of Blood is bloody awesome – quite literally! Continuing the story from Thor: Ages of Thunder, this one-shot relates tales from the early days of Asgard and Midgard. It begins with the story of how the frost giant’s witch daughter has plagued Asgard and Midgard with never ending snow and ice. As the gods attempt to rectify the problem, Loki continues to work behind the scenes to sow seeds of trouble. When the long winter is finally solved, Loki’s seeds begin to sprout. Yet another problem involving the Enchantress leads to every single man who ever died to rise again and plague Midgard until they are slain once more. Odin tasks Thor with this battle, so Thor must combat the undead amidst a deluge of blood.

I’ll let that soak in: Thor fights a seemingly endless skeleton army while it literally rains blood. That right there is reason enough to pick up this book. While this battle is also resolved (in an extremely awesome way, which I won’t reveal), we are left yet another problem at the end of this book, which looks to make this be the “Helm’s Deep” before the “Pelennor Fields” (for you Lord of the Rings fans out there). You can bet I’ll be back next time.

Of course, such a huge part of what makes this issue so entertaining is Matt Fraction’s writing. I have no idea how much of this is pulled from Norse mythology and how much is original, but his storytelling is simply impressive. The actual dialogue is extremely readable with more archaic speech mixed in for good measure. As you can see, the story is epic on the level of Beowulf, and the art matches.

Khari Evans’ and Patrick Zircher’s work is beautiful, frightening, and epic in all the right places. Perhaps even more amazing is their similarity in style. Evans pencils the entire first half, and Zircher the second, but unless you are specifically looking for the transition, it is hard to tell the difference. There is absolutely nothing to complain about in this issue. Anyone who loves stories like Lord of the Rings or Beowulf needs to do themselves a favor and pick this up. (Grade: A)

-M. Staples

Thor: Ages of Thunder – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Patrick Zircher and Khari Evans (Pencils), Patrick Zircher and Victor Olazaba (Inks), and June Chung and Jelena Kevic Djurdejevic (Colors)

With Straczynski’s best-selling Thor series exploring Thor’s exploits in the modern day, this issue gives the reader a contrasting, and much needed, look into the epic past of the Thunder God. The story opens with a prologue reminiscent of the opening of first Lord of the Rings film, detailing “Norse geography” and an ancient battle between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants. From here, Fraction shows how a mere mortal from Midgard attempts to solve a dilemma that arose from the battle in exchange for a costly prize, and how Loki, god of mischief, through making a deal with the mortal, causes severe ramifications throughout a large portion of Asgardian history. Overall, it is a tale of trickery, consequences, and heroism.

As much as I wish I was a Norse mythology buff, I’m not. So I do not know how much of this tale was borrowed from the annals of Viking lore and how much is from the mind of Fraction, himself. But no matter how much of this material is original, Fraction presents it in almost flawless language. Most of the time I felt I was reading something akin to Beowulf, yet not so archaic as to cause occasional confusion. This story somehow manages to sound ancient and modern at the same time (if that makes any sense). There are a few lines that sound a little too modern, but those are few and far between.

The art was also perfect for the story and consistent throughout. Indeed, I was surprised when I looked back at the credits after reading the issue to see that the first and second half were done by two different artists – I didn’t notice a difference. More important than consistency though was the overall look, the pencils and colors were the ultimate match for the elements of this tale. There were several epic shots of Thor in action that I would love to have as my desktop wallpaper. All components together make this the most epic comic I have read since the Beowulf graphic novel by Gareth Hinds (also highly recommended). For fans of Thor, epics, or mythology, this issue is a must. (Grade: A)

-M. Staples

A Second Opinion

I’ve always loved Thor. The language of the character, the sense of urgency in his adventures, the gleaming spires of Asgard – I ate it all up as a kid and I still get a charge when I look back at the old stuff. With that in mind, I had some difficulty in reading this book. This isn’t the same character I know and love and therefore I wanted to dislike it. Yeah, verily, I wanted to trash it. I wanted to say, “What have they done to Thor?” But a funny thing happened on the way to this review, I got caught up in the story and accepted it as a variation on one of my favorites and I enjoyed it.

This is a darker, sullen Thor. A god of few words. He sneers at drunken kinsmen, hordes the golden apples that are a key part of the story and kills frost giants by hurling himself or Mjolnir through their heads. A blood-spattered Thor is not something I’m accustomed to, but I’m sure it will appeal to many readers. It’s sort of like Thor crossed with Conan.

What kept my attention here is the story. The story “was in the time before great and good Odin stationed Brave Heimdall at the mouth of Bifrost to guard the Rainbow Bridge” and therefore reads like something from mythology. The portrayal of the gods is appropriate, they are here violent, greedy and petty – a rough crowd. The story pulled me in and kept me turning the pages and ultimately I was satisfied.

The artwork is spectacular and fits the story well. The frost giants are very cool looking and the Asgardian setting looks suitably ancient. So if you insist on an old style Thor comic, you might be disappointed. But if you’d like to read a more “blood and guts” Thor, then this book is definitely for you. It won me over and I’m looking forward to the next chapter, Thor: Reign of Blood in June. (Grade B+)

-Arthur Cooke

Marvel Zombies 2 #5 (of 5) – Review

By Robert Kirkman (writer), Sean Phillips (art), June Chung (color)

It looks like the whole zombie craze has finally come to an end. Granted, The Walking Dead has always been a good read, but I blame the first Marvel Zombies mini-series for stirring up all the trouble. Robert Kirkman’s take on the an alternate Marvel Universe was fresh, silly, and grotesque. It took a couple of issues to find its audience, but after it did, Marvel Zombies became the runaway hit of 2006.

Its sequel, Marvel Zombies 2, builds upon this new franchise, but sadly fails to capture the allure that made its predecessor so successful. Perhaps it’s the initial novelty that’s worn off, or maybe it’s the lack of a true adversary within the story. Whatever it is, it’s just not as fun. But that’s not to say Marvel Zombies 2 is bad. It’s still a fun book! I think the problem most people had with this sequel is that it actually had more of a story than the original.

Well, after four issues of story and setups, Kirkman unloads everything on this final issue. Characters die, conspiracies are revealed, and we even get a mini-version of World War Hulk! What’s also nice is we get an honest resolution to the story. Sure, the way Kirkman writes the ending leaves it open to another sequel, but even if it never happens, the story, more or less, is complete. And you won’t believe who the real monster of this book is!

As much as I love the “Thor versus Silver Surfer” cover, Arthur Sudyam’s homage covers have become stale. If they were relevant to the story, I’d probably enjoy it more, but they’ve become so tired and gimmicky. Sean Phillips’s artwork is brutal. The stuff he does with Hulk’s rampage on Iron Man and Phoenix ain’t pretty.

If you’ve been largely unsatisfied with this series like many of my friends, issue #5 will most likely satisfy you. Me? I loved every single issue. Kirkman could haven taken the easy way out, giving us more of the same. But he didn’t. Instead, with Marvel Zombies 2, we got a worthy follow-up that tried to do something different. He also got us to care about these zombies! And that’s to be commended. (Grade: B+)

– J. Montes