Fantastic Four #2 – Review

By: Matt Fraction (Writer), Mark Bagley (Artist), Mark Farmer & Mark Morales (Inker), Paul Mounts with Wil Quintana (Colorist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer)

The Review: I made a point in my FF #1 review that, though I felt the comic itself was excellent, I was concerned that its potential audience may be put off by the fact that it seemed like you had to be reading Fantastic Four as well to really get the most of it. I certainly didn’t expect for things to be the other way round, but somehow that’s what we’ve got; if you’ve not read FF #1 or been keeping up with all things Marvel NOW on the Interwebs, Fantastic Four #2 may leave you feeling like you’ve missed something.

First, a recap. Fantastic Four #1 established the premise for the series: Reed, Sue, Ben, Johnny, Franklin and Valeria are set to take a year-long vacation through time and space, ostensibly to spend some quality time together as a family but secretly so that Reed can find a cure for the cancer he’s found to be working its way through his body. However, not wanting to leave the Earth undefended for the four minutes (Earth-time) that they’ll be away, a temporary team had to be put together to take their place, with each member of the group choosing their respective replacements. Take a skip over to FF #1 and you’ll see that team get put together.

Fairest #3 – Review

By: Bill Willingham (story), Phil Jiminez (pencils), Andy Lanning & Mark Farmer (inks), Andrew Dalhouse (colors)

The Story: You’re never too old—or tyrannical—for a good story.

The Review: Three months into this series’ run, it’s still not clear what role it’s meant to serve in the grand scheme of the Fables universe.  Though ostensibly a showcase for the most attractive individuals fairy tales have to offer, this doesn’t seem quite enough to support an entire ongoing.  As a supplement to Fables proper, it hasn’t quite established how closely it intends to tie in with the events of its sister title.  In short, you really don’t know what to make of this book.

The first couple issues definitely gave you no help in figuring any of this out.  The plot has largely meandered, switching suddenly from Ali Baba’s hustling adventures to a random retelling of Sleeping Beauty.  We haven’t really gotten to know any of our protagonists to like them very much—assuming they’re likable in the first place (I’m looking at you, Panghammer).  And although the return of the Snow Queen, one of the major Fables villains, suggests bigger stakes than what we’ve seen, we’ve gotten little sense of danger or tension.

Captain America #8 – Review

By: Ed Brubaker (writer), Alan Davis (penciler), Mark Farmer (inker), Laura Martin (colorist)

The Story: Powerless, Part 3: Cap and Sharon manage to eke out a victory in a tough fight with the Serpent Squad only for Cap to lose his powers once again. Why? Who’s behind this? Sharon has one theory and the investigation leads her to the Machinesmith. In the meantime, the Hydra Queen makes several moves. It’s all going pear-shaped.

The Review: I have been a big Davis/Farmer fan since the 80s and absolutely loved them here. Davis is at once a master of draftsmanship, with elegant, detailed faces with close-up texturing. At the same time, he knows his way around a superhero fight, with varied panel structures and camera angles, with quicker and more stylized shapes to focus the reader’s eye on the dynamism as opposed to the detail. A great example of this is on the first page. Cap as the center of the action has the most detail, but it is clearly the composition doing the work here. Check out the stances and angles, the V-shape made by Cap’s leg with the Eel’s, the detail-free Sharon in an uber-energetic Kirby-esque pose. The page radiates energy. Then in the next couple of pages, the close-ups of Cap and Sharon’s faces are wonderfully detailed, emotive and lifelike, in the way a Neal Adams face comes alive. The other artistic roots I felt while reading this book was Mike Zeck. Zeck defined the Captain America for several years and I almost felt Zeck’s great style being channeled in this book, but better.

Storywise, it’s hard to go wrong with Brubaker. His name on the top of the credits virtually guarantees that you’ll be treated as an intelligent reader. Moreover, he’s so good at the thriller and the espionage motifs, which are so much a part of Cap’s WWII and cold-war mythos, that the intrigue and layered mystery pulls the story towards a climax you know is going to be good. The dialogue is crisp and believable (insofar as some villains have to have a bit of an over-the-top style to them) and the plot twists are great. I loved the Cobra interrogation scene and Sharon’s next steps, and I was eating up the Hydra Queen moves.

X-Men: Schism #4 – Review

By: Jason Aaron (writer), Alan Davis (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Jason Keith (colors), Jared K. Fletcher (letters), Jordan D. White (assistant editor), Daniel Ketchum (associate editor) & Nick Lowe (editor)

The Story: The Cyclops/Wolverine split finally comes to the forefront and the ultimate danger to the mutants is revealed.

What’s good: Anytime an event has had as much build-up as Schism, it’s nice to finally get to the destination.  Seriously, Marvel started teasing this with promotional images of Cyclops’ visor sliced up into Wolverine-sized pieces back in January and in the last month, we’ve gotten images of how the mutants will pick sides in the months to come…..so, it was nice to finally see what they’re fighting about.

I kinda liked the central conflict: Cyclops thinks that every mutant needs to be a warrior whereas Wolverine wants to do the dirty work so that the younger mutants can have a normal life.  This has potential to be the updated version of the classic struggle between Xavier and Magneto.  And, I really hope that future creators continue the momentum in that direction.  To do so, they’ll have to (a) keep Xavier and Magneto on the sidelines and not thrust them back into primary roles and (b) continue with Cyclops’ transformation away from the guy who used to lecture Wolverine on how “X-Men don’t kill!”.  For me, that type of longer term plot development is precisely what I want out of my super-hero books, so let’s hope Marvel sticks with it.

Alan Davis is one of those pencilers who I wish could do a monthly book.  I thought he started out a little rough in this issue, but by about the 5th page, he was just nailing the scenes.  The great thing about Davis is that he’s so gifted that he doesn’t have to resort to tricks to have a visually impressive page.  Sometimes I love just watching a master like Davis draw a normal page with plain, old rectangular panels because it is so pretty.  I also rarely praise double-page spreads, but the image of Cyclops shooting that Sentinel across the Bay was great.  It was visually impressive and a climactic enough moment in the story to justify a double-pager.

Avengers Prime #5 – Review

By Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alan Davis (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Javier Rodriguez (colors) and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: Thor, Tony and Cap make a final stand against Hela, leading the diverse group they’ve managed to recruit in a giant, all-out battle. The outcome is far from certain, and even if they win, who knows if they’ll ever find their way back home?

What’s Good: What a great read this was! Taken on its own merits, the exciting battles and witty interplay between the characters make for an exciting and fun time. Bendis does a very good job capturing the feel of a large scale, old school Avengers adventure, and Alan Davis backs him up beautifully on pencils with excellent detail and some truly gorgeous splash pages. While I’m not a huge fan of contrived-feeling moral dilemmas like the one Thor faces at the end, Bendis treats it seriously enough, and treats the characters involved with enough respect, that it didn’t irk me nearly as much as it could have. That alone speaks volumes about the books overall quality.

Avengers Prime #1- Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Mark Farmer (Inker)

The Story:  Thor, Iron Man, and the original Captain America try to iron out their differences in the aftermath of Siege when the trio are pulled into the Nine Realms against their will.

What’s Good: Bendis and Davis deliver a first issue that will prove to be a blast for any Avengers fan out there.  While Avengers #1 a few weeks ago proved to be a mixed bag for many readers and felt much like Bendis doing his best impersonation of a traditional Avengers tale, Avengers Prime fires on all cylinders and succeeds where it’s much more hyped sister title faltered.  Much of this is due to Alan Davis’ and Mark Farmer’s amazing artwork.  Davis’ renditions of the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ Big Three just feels right.  He brings the perfect amount of grandeur to the proceedings.  One only needs to open this issue to the initial double-page splash that opens the story to see what I’m talking about:  the fallen city of Asgard, burning in the distance, while our three heroes watch in grief.

It’s not only an awe-inspiring image, but appropriately sets the tone for rest of the plot.  Not only does the artist efficiently sell the big set pieces and action scenes, but he does a hell of a job with his character work.  For example, there’s a scene where Tony and Steve get lost in an argument that’s been brewing for years, and Thor solemnly asks them to please leave if they’re only there for his sake.  Davis close-up of the God of Thunder’s eyes as he speaks says everything that Thor isn’t saying with words, and it is a sobering moment.  Another wonderful beat in the story that is all artwork in it’s success is the silent page where Steve, having just defeated a small army of troll-like creatures, spies a shield on the ground, and as he picks it up, there’s a small hint of a grin that crosses his face.  It’s a great capper to a fun little scene that Davis knocks out of the park.

Hulk #22 – Review

by Jeph Loeb (writer), Ed McGuinness (artist), Mark Farmer (inker), Morry Hollowell & Chris Sotomayor (colorists)

The Story: World War Hulks kicks into high gear as the Intelligencia’s plan to hulkify the world’s super-heroes causes some serious (and painful) problems for the good guys.  Meanwhile, Red Hulk has a showdown with Red She-Hulk, in which both of their identities are finally revealed.

What’s Good: Right after delivery, some parents give their newborn sons a sports t-shirt or a teddy bear or rattle.  Ed McGuinness’ parents must have given baby McG an issue of the Incredible Hulk on that momentous day because the artist was obviously meant to draw this title.  McGuinness’ larger-than-life pencils fit not only the Hulk title itself, but the World War Hulks story in particular.  In a blockbuster tale where the likes of the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Thor and Wolverine all turn into Hulks, you must be able to bring a certain amount of weight to the proceedings, and McG does this in spades.  I’d even make the safe assumption that if any other artist was given the task of bringing this issue to life, they would fail.  (Well, okay, maybe not Arthur Adams!)  The rest of the art team also deserves some kudos, from inker Farmer to the colorists Hollowell and Sotomayor.  Hulk is basically a silly cartoon, complete with (unfortunately) silly cartoon logic but also silly cartoon visuals.  And taken for what they are, silly cartoon visuals can be a blast to see (Blackest Night, anyone?).  The entire art team makes sure that you get some crazy fun eye candy and they do it well.

Hulk #19 – Review

By: Jeph Loeb (writer), Ed McGuinness (penciller), Mark Farmer (inker), Dave Stewart (colorist)

The Story: The Intelligencia, having split with their ally the Red Hulk, send the Fearsome Four to invade the Baxter Building under the leadership of one of their own, the Wizard. Red Hulk sneaks in too, acting on a larger plan. And in a secret lair, MODOK and Doc Samson trade barbs over what to do next about the Red Hulk.

What’s Good: The Fall of the Hulks one-shots set up this arc, and now Fall of the Hulks is upon us! Loeb opens with a bang, as he launches plotting and counter-plotting forces, each sneaking around the other, feinting and moving for position. It’s a caper plot with more than two sides and it’s a lot of fun to watch! I’m fascinated (and have been for about a year) with the new, plotting, scrawny Banner that has influence over so many people stronger than him. What also intrigued me were the references to the top eight smartest people in the world. Reed Richards was obviously a target and I love that McCoy was mentioned as well. And, if memory serves, that means that Amadeus Cho will also become involved in this, thereby pulling in Hercules? Interesting….

The art was a treat. I’ve always been a fan of Farmer’s inks. He adds a soft humanity to the faces. McGuinness is obviously very talented as well and I loved the level of detail and texture he brought to the Thing, the Wizard and Klaw. Muscles move the way they’re supposed to under McGuinness’s pencil and the dynamism of the action makes me slow down the reading.

Hulk #15 – Review

By Jeph Loeb (writer), Ian Churchill (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks) Peter Steigerwald and Aspen (colors)

The Story: Rulk and his team Code Red, which consists of Punisher, Deadpool, Tundra, Crimson Dynamo, and Electra, Face off against X-Force. Somehow, this battle leads to the creation and introduction of She-Rulk.

What’s Good: This series has greatly improved since Loeb started to do some actual character development with Rulk by putting his inner-monologue at the forefront. This issue continues that thrust and we get some emotional resonance with Rulk besides his giant ego and confident exuberance (all terrible by the way). Maybe there is some hope for Rulk after all. Maybe.

The basic premise here of X-Force vs. Code Red is pretty good, especially the realistic battle between Rulk and Wolverine. Granted, Wolverine is pretty one-dimensional but at the same time he is pretty entertaining. The rest of the battles are dealt with adequately and the Punisher vs. X -23 battle is interesting.

Also of note is Electra’s role in all of this. She is a very strong and interesting character here and Loeb does a good job of capturing the enigmatic and powerful aspects of her. You can tell that she is the difference maker in this arc.

Overall, Loeb has a certain child-like wonderment for characters that is enthralling when it works, though putrid when it doesn’t. Here it points more to the former rather than the later.

As far as the art, Ian Churchill shows a mix of McGuiness/Cooke style here. Overall, it is pretty successful, especially during the battle scenes.

What’s Not So Good: Um, I think Rulk is the Silver Surfer. Either that or Loeb completely flubs some text. I find it hard to believe that Marvel would give away its “big” “reveal” like this, so I’m sure the Rulk isn’t the Silver Surfer. Yet, Loeb clearly has Rulk say that, so I am lost to what is going on. Maybe Loeb is editing his own books and no one caught his mistake? Here is the line, you decide:

“The abuse of power is so seductive. I’ve even succumbed to it. Careening across the galaxy on a surfboard. Acting like a child.”

Uh, come again.

But here is the main complaint of this issue: She-Rulk has arrived on the scene. This is the worst character ever. Seriously, can it get more predictable and lame? I shutter when I think that this is a character that will most likely stay on the scene for years to come. Terrible. The worst part is that her existence probably precludes the existence of two other fun characters in the Marvel U. I’ll leave it at that.

Loeb should leave Deadpool alone. He’s just not funny in Loeb’s hands and a lot of real estate was lost listening to Deadpool and Warpath fall flat. Generally, all the dialogue here is forced and crude. No one says anything unexpected or interesting.

Lastly, Churchill’s depiction of Rulk’s face is really annoying and distracting. He looks like a fat, red Popeye with his bottom lip resting on the upper makes Rulk look stupid when Loeb is trying to write him as being intelligent. The whole presentation just sends mixed messages and detracts from taking this book seriously.

Conclusion: I think this series keeps getting better and better. That being said, we are still far from great here. But, I think Hulk is just a glorified Marvel Adventures and not to be taken seriously. This all well and good now, but once Marvel starts trying to make World War Hulks a major event, serious problems will arise.

Grade: C

-Rob G.

Dark Reign: The List – X-Men – Review

By Matt Fraction (Writer), Alan Davis (Pencils), Mark Farmer (Inks), and Nathan Fairbairn (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I actually like the concept of The List series quite a bit. It works as a new reader grab and as a compliment to current ongoings. The Daredevil one-shot actually made me interested in following the ongoing series. As for the New Avengers book, it served as a nice compliment to one of the major threads of the series.

The Story: Norman Osborn’s got a secret weapon that he plans to use against Namor and the rest of the Atlantean race.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: Thanks to Alan Davis’ solid, kinetic artwork and Matt Fraction’s entertaining, surprisingly funny dialogue (“Ex-wives. What can you do?”), Dark Reign: The List – Namor,..er…X-Men is one of the most fun “X” books I’ve picked up in quite some time. And really, isn’t that what it’s all about sometimes?! The answer to that question is “Yes…yes it is.”

In all honesty, there isn’t really a whole lot to the latest addition to The List one-shot series. Norman Osborn sets loose a raging sea creature that can only sense and feed off Atlanteans. Some of Namor’s people die and, naturally, Namor needs to take action. The X-Men get involved and the creature is dealt with. It’s simple storytelling, but it’s also effective and lends itself well to a one and done comic.

The biggest negative about the latest The List one-shot, outside of the fact that Namor’s signature saying gets interrupted, is that it really isn’t much of a Dark Reign book. In fact, it’s not really much of an X-Men book either. Sure, the X-Men are in it and the creative team makes great use of the characters during the lengthy, well executed action scene (Fastball Special anyone!?), but as a whole it feels as though the team is in the book only because they happen to be associated with Namor, Osborn’s true target. Neither issue is a major flaw as far as the quality of the book is concerned, but readers should be aware of what they are actually buying.

Conclusion: While the latest List one-shot doesn’t really do a whole lot with the concept of the Dark Reign series, it excels as a one and done “X” comic. So, in short, it’s easy to recommend to X-Men/Namor fans, but not so easy to recommend if you’re just looking for something with strong Dark Reign ties.

Grade: C+

-Kyle Posluszny

Wolverine #74 – Review

By Jason Aaron and Daniel Way (writers) Adam Kubert and Tommy Lee Edwards (art), Mark Farmer (inks), Edgar Delgado, Mary Hollowell, and Paul Mounts (colors)

The Story: This two-part swansong of Wolverine wraps up its two stories, as we prepare to see the series renamed “Dark Wolverine” next month.  The first story concludes the family soap-opera centering around a biker gang as Wolverine goes from playing social worker to sacrificial lamb. The second part of this arc, a day in the life of Wolverine, concludes as Spider-Man has a super-hero intervention with Wolverine for his obsessive work habit.

What’s Good: This issue is a mixed bag. I suspect that hardcore Wolverine fans are so hot-blooded about Logan lately that Marvel could release a Wolverine playing water-sports on a Caribbean vacation to rave reviews and high sales. So, if you’re an adamantium addict, this issue will give you a quick fix as it is standard Wolverine fair, chock-full of softie with gruff exterior, one-liners, and of course, opening his claws into the bad guy at just the right time.

The other highlight of this issue in my mind is his team-up with Spiderman, that takes place in the second story. I love the way these characters interact and just by default, there is a lot of humor that naturally surfaces between the two. When done right, I think the Wolverine/Spider-Man team-up is one of the best in comics.

As I said with the last issue, Tommy Lee Edwards’ art is great in this arc, especially given the fact that the scenery rarely changes as he is limited to a few scenes and settings. Also, Kubert’s art is typically classically executed and detailed. I am no student of illustration at all, but I’d say his work here lands in the same family as John Romita Jr.

What’s Not So Good: Well to be blunt, both stories are really flat-lined affairs. I wish I could think of a different adjective for the first story besides “stupid,” but I can’t. It so mentally devoid, Daniel Way had to literary explain the whole plot through Wolverine’s inner monologue. Also, none of the plotlines and character relationships were resolved at all, save for Wolvie gutting the bad guy, as Way explained, at the end. The ending made no sense to me and involved traceable bullets from some guy who we didn’t even see shoot Wolverine.

As for the second story, although I appreciate Spidey and Wolverine having a heart-to-heart, this particular episode in their friendship was very forgettable. It involved Spidey telling Wolverine a bunch of things about himself that Wolverine already knows. The whole premise of this story was built on an uninspiring premise about Wolverine’s work ethic. Not that his commitment to the uniform is spurred by a sense of justice, revenge, wrath, anger, or duty, but rather, because he doesn’t want to face his issues. I know writers in the past have used that dynamic to explain his destructive personal life like the drinking and the relationships, but it seems like a let down for denial to be his major motivation for being a superhero.

Conclusion: I’m sure that there will be many fans that will enjoy this book simply because it is a Wolverine story that pulls the heart-strings a little. However, I think if one looks at this book objectively, it’s obvious that there is very little merit here, save for some of the art. I know this is a new era for the Wolverine franchise as this title changes creative direction, but this is far off from being a decent sendoff to Wolverine from his own series. By the way, can anyone tell me why the second story is entitled “A Mile In My Moccasins?” Doesn’t Wolverine wears boots?

Grade: D+

-Rob G.

Wolverine #73 – Review

By Jason Aaron and Daniel Way (writing), Adam Kubert (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Justin Ponsor (colors), Tommy Lee Edwards (art)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: I totally understand Marvel’s intention with this issue of Wolverine. Coming off the movie launch, Marvel expects there to be new readers looking for a Wolverine title. Since it’s obvious that Millar’s Old Man Logan arc might not be the easiest for these newbies to consume, this is a wise decision by  Marvel. Look what happened with the Dark Night when new readers flocked to get the current Batman title and ended up reading Morrison’s R.I.P.

That being said, and Marvel’s reasons being sound, it is still a let down to not be reading Old Man Logan this month. O.M.L. is a classic in the making and this is a forgettable tale that reads mostly like a movie trailer. Anyways, let’s get to…

What’s Good: This issue is broken down into two parts, and Adam Kubert drew the heck out of the first one! (Disclaimer: I don’t know what that means but I’ve read people using that phrase so I ‘m giving it  a try). Seriously, every scene of the “day in the life of Wolverine” montage was great; full of detail, and in some cases, nostalgia (who can forget the classic Punisher, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider JRJR drawn tale? Oh, wait- You did, didn’t you? Just admit it).

The second part is drawn by Tommy Lee Edwards which I really enjoyed mostly because it reminded me of Marvel 1985.

What’s Not So Good: If you’ve noticed, I haven’t mentioned much about the story because in the first part, there is actually no story, and in the second part, it isn’t all that captivating. The story centers around Wolverine and some old biker friends who have some of the worst nick names I’ve ever heard of: Ram, Level, and Horror-Show, for example. Horror-Show’s son is in some kind of trouble. See, he and his mom and dad used to use drugs and now the father is clean but the son isn’t and after all this exposition that borders on sleep-induction, Wolverine decides to have an intervention with the son.

Besides the boring story, the characters are really off. Horror-Show is supposed to be some reformer or socially-conscious activist bike gang leader. Kinda hard to believe. Wolverine also has some weird lines. For example, when a guy is about to pull a gun during a bar fight, Wolverine says, “I wouldn’t! An’ you shouldn’t.” WTF?!

Conclusion: Great art and bland story delivered cold for this excursion into the Wolverine mythos. That being said, I do think new readers will enjoy this story enough to keep them plugged in. And new readership is a good thing for all.

Grade: C

-Rob G

Astonishing X-Men: Ghost Boxes #1 – Review

By Warren Ellis (Writer), Alan Davis (Pt. 1 Pencils), Mark Farmer (Pt. 1 Inks), Rob Schwager (Pt. 1 Colors), and Adi Granov (Pt. 2 Art)

The Story: The first issue of the Astonishing X-Men limited series consists of two “What-If?” styled stories about parallel universes that Subject X could have completed his mission in. The first story is set in a place very similar to the current Marvel universe, where it shows what might have happened if Subject X had succeeded in securing the universe for those he worked for. The second story is set in the Victorian styled Earth-889, and features the “X Society” working to solve a mysterious murder case.

What’s Good: Both stories are short and interesting reads that show a unique take on the situation featured in Astonishing X-Men. Seeing a familiar face used as a power source for a Sentinel was definitely something new. Also, I especially like Adi Granov’s work on the story about the X Society.

What’s Not So Good: That these stories are of little consequence to the bigger picture and, ultimately irrelevant. I know Ghost Boxes is serving as filler while the main series gets caught up, but it wouldn’t have hurt to have something of substance within the storyline.

Conclusion: I can’t really recommend this book to anyone but the most hardcore fans. While it is fun seeing the other alternate universes, there is not enough substance or story to justify the $3.99 price tag.

Grade: C-

-Kyle Posluszny

Trinity #6 – Review

By Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza (writers), Mark Bagley, Mike Norton, Mark Farmer, Scott McDaniel, Andy Owens (artists), Art Thibert (inker), Pete Pantazis, Allen Passalaqua (colors), Pat Brosseau (letters), Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino (cover)

Trinity #6 goes back to the formula of issue #1 by having more story than action. The more I read it, the more I’m betting that the last few issues are going to be outstanding, but my main concern remains: will anyone still be reading it?

I enjoy Kurt Busiek’s writing more when he adds information as opposed to just giving us action. The problem with this set of information is that it’s stuff we’ve all heard before. Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are three faces of the same idea. They may have different approaches, but the end goal is the same. While that’s a very cool concept, it’s been said before. Fabian Nicieza’s portion covers Gangbuster’s attempt to rescue Rita from the animal men sent by Le Fey and Enigma. This leads him to Hawkman, who’s chasing after the stolen Medallion of Khaf-re which I assume the villains need for their plan. That’s all we get from Nicieza since the fight takes up all of his pages. Since Rita has started to pop up in Busiek’s section I’m wondering what specifically Nicieza is going to cover from here on out. I’m sure Hawkman and the medallion will factor in, I’m wondering how.

Even though parts of the story are hit and miss, the artwork has shown a steady incline. For Mark Bagley, I don’t think he’s doing anything different stylistically, but he’s drawing cooler images. Seeing The Trinity as various tarot cards makes me wish there was a DC tarot card deck. Also, when Rita is talking about each member of The Trinity, the blank faces used while they’re in their secret identities is a great touch since she doesn’t know them. Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens’ portion appears to be the more visually bland of the two. Hawkman and Gangbuster make short work of the thugs, so while everything is drawn nicely there’s no real danger or interest.

The up and down roller-coaster continue with this issue. It’s not that any of it is bad, but it’s either all action or all information. No matter which of those is the case, half of the story (Busiek or Nicieza’s) seems to suffer. If they could get this series running all cylinders we might have something really great on our hands, till then it’s just slightly above average. (Grade B-)

– Ben Berger

Trinity #5 – Review

By Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza (writers), Mark Bagley, Mike Norton, Mark Farmer (artists), Art Thibert (inker), Pete Pantazis, Allen Passalaqua (colors), Pat Brosseau (letters), Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino (cover)

Well, it’s about time. That’s all I can really say about this issue of Trinity.  Not only am I finally getting a sense that these stories are connected, but both halves get a few highlights. The question still lingers, can the creative teams keep it up? Issue #5 is the first since the debut issue to make me think it’s possible. Consistency is key, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Kurt Busiek’s story has been the same for the last four issues. It’s taken so long for The League to put down Konvikt (which feels unconnected to everything else), I’m finally starting to feel some progress. A definite plus is the fact that the Trinity is aware of Le Fey, Enigma, and the “something” larger looming above. Fabian Nicieza’s story on the other hand continues to be the more consistent – maybe it’s the human element. Rita’s analysis of the villains attacking Gangbuster by relating them to tarot cards is very cool.

It’s getting harder to properly critique Mark Bagley’s portion of the artwork. Page after page of the same fight (small portions of it, at that) are hard to judge. The positives are still the same – good collateral damage and a cool shot of Superman blocking a double-axe handle from Konvikt. A lot of the panels for the fight have a very “anime” style background with the “speed-lines.” It comes off a little lazy to me, but it does a good job of showing how quickly Superman and Konvikt are moving. Mike Norton’s art still looks better close up, but there really isn’t a particular panel that came across as striking in my mind.

With Konvikt out of the way, it finally feels like Trinity can move forward. The League has been fighting him since week two, and he just feels like a plot device to establish what each member of the Trinity brings to the table. At the end of the day, it’s taken Busiek and Nicieza five weeks to establish these characters without giving a real sense of what’s going on. With that out of the way now hopefully, we can start to see this team (and the creative team)  cash in on the promise of issue one. (Grade B-)

– Ben Berger

Fantastic Four: The End #1-6 – Review

By Alan Davis (Story and Pencils), Mark Farmer (Inks), and John Kalisz (Colors)

Fantastic Four: The End is one of the best mini-series, and indeed, one the best comic book stories, I have ever read. Given, I am a huge fan of the Fantastic Four, and granted I have only been reading comics for a little over a year, but if this isn’t good enough to rank amongst the top of what this medium has to offer, I don’t know what does. Whether or not one disagrees with this statement, there is still plenty here to satisfy even the most casual comic book reader.

The story takes place years in the future long after a horrific battle with Dr. Doom which caused not only his death, but the tragic deaths of Franklin and Valeria. Now the Fantastic Four have drifted apart. Reed has ushered in a utopian period for humanity, inventing life improving machines and life lengthening processes, and continues to do research, secluded on a base in orbit of Earth. Sue has separated from Reed, and has immersed herself in underwater archaeology. Johnny (who now goes by John) has finally matured and is a prominent member of the Avengers. Ben, who has gained the ability to transform back and forth between The Thing and his human form, has finally married Alicia. They have three children and live on Mars, dwelling inside the Inhuman colony.

While life may seem bittersweet for the four one-time teammates, old threats are reawakened and old foes unite. Eventually, through a seeming act of fate, the Four slowly come together along with many of the surviving Marvel heroes to once again save humanity. This summary may make the plot sound somewhat generic, but nothing could be further from the truth. The story takes many shocking twists and turns while employing clever foreshadowing techniques. This is also a very sci-fi story. It almost felt more like Star Trek than the Fantastic Four due to its futuristic setting, but this is certainly not a complaint. Fanboys (and fangirls) who love far-flung future tales and stories of super heroics will be more than pleased by this entertaining merger of the two.

Alan Davis’ art is a perfect match for his story. Too often, I have seen future settings portrayed as being either too cartoony, or too surreal. This is neither. Utopian scenes, while pristine looking, do not have a sterile feel. Instead, they’re full of life. Once again, visuals from Star Trek come to mind. Similarly, when the rougher parts of outer space are being presented, Davis does not hesitate to show us more mechanized and creepy scenery. John Kalisz’s colors match flawlessly, being vibrant and colorful at the right times and dark when necessary, but never too much of either extreme.

Perhaps the best element is the theme of family that runs throughout. Even a tragedy cannot keep the Fantastic Four from fully severing their ties with one another. When they need each other the most, they are able to overcome adversity and reunite once more. Themes such as responsibility, heroism, and combating prejudice, while all important, come second when placed with one of the most important benefits to society: the family. Not only does Alan Davis convey this in a very well told manner, he realizes that this theme is what drives a good Fantastic Four story, thus making Fantastic Four: The End a great read on several levels – as an FF story, as a piece of futuristic science-fiction, as a superhero tale, and as family-centered piece. Anyone who enjoys reading one of these categories needs to do him or herself a favor and pick this series up – either as individual issues or in trade paperback form. (Grade: A+)

-M. Staples

Amazing Spider-Man #558 – Review

By Bob Gale (writer), Barry Kitson (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Avalon’s Hannin & Milla (colors)

Wow, talk about invoking mixed feelings. This issue of Amazing Spider-Man does just that in spades. After abandoning The Order (which I’m still bitter over), it’s nice to see Barry Kitson turn up with some outstanding pencil work. One of Kitson’s strengths is that he can draw all kinds of people, not just “the standard build” with a different face (which most artists are guilty of doing). And because this issue features tons of pedestrians, Kitson’s artistic talents are showcased at a high level. In fact, everything he draws in this issue is painstakingly detailed and beautiful.

Bob Gale’s script is harder to gauge. His use of word bubbles with Peter Parker harken back to the classic days of Spider-Man, but in this modern age, they feel out of place. Curt Connors’ self-pity is also Silver Age inspired, yet feels unrealistic (by today’s standards). The Freak, I’ll get into in a moment. And while the return of Menace almost feels annoying, the possible revelation behind his character may end up redeeming him as a villain. Because other than Mr. Negative (who has been keeping a low profile since the first Brand New Day story arc), and that crazy Mayan god, the new villains introduced thus far have been pretty weak.

Okay, so the Freak… Good concept, crappy character. He was created for one simple reason: To lose to Spider-Man in humiliating ways. Why do you think they gave this guy “unlimited lives”? Because he’s a stoner, and stoners are stupid. Nothing illustrates this point more than his death in this issue. I mean, come on – going for Spider-Man’s obvious headfake at the end? Are you serious?! No one in their right mind would fall for that. It’s like being in the middle of the fight and you saying to your opponent, “Hey, look over there,” and then sucker punching them. That’s what Spidey did this issue, and the whole scene was just stupid.

The rest of the issue (I know, it seems like I’ve covered it all, but I haven’t), is filled with some good moments. The crowd reactions to Spidey’s fight with Menace are entertaining, the scene with the snipers is spot on, and Aunt May has a glorious moment that actually made me laugh out loud. There’s also some silly narratives scattered about that come off as entertaining, but all in all, this issue just would have been better had it not dealt with The Freak. Please don’t bring this guy back. (Grade: C+)

– J. Montes

A Second Opinion

Funny, I seem to have the exact opposite opinion as Jay. In this issue, we finally get a satisfying ending to the story of Freak. Or do we?

Before that, we trudge through several problematic scenes with this Brand New Day storyline. First, we see that Peter is feeling guilty for wanting to move out and leave his poor old aunt all by herself. How many times has he moved out before? Don’t tell me they all got retconned away too. Likewise, I think he is more than old enough to live on his own. Later on in the story, we get another confrontation between Spidey and Menace, who I have yet to be convinced is not just another Goblin copycat. Making this scene worse, we are given some of the cheesiest mid-battle quips that Spidey has had in a while.

The last half of the issue is where Gale and Kitson finally deliver as Spider-Man once again faces The Freak, and his jokes become funny and smart. Likewise, Kitson is great at displaying the action in this scene as well as the humor (especially in the facial expressions). The Freak, is without a doubt, the best character to come out of Brand New Day. While is extreme addiction to drugs should be saddening and pity-worthy, Gale writes it so that it is humorous, while at the same time giveing another “Stay away from drugs” lesson without brow-beating the reader. So, to anyone not pleased with Brand New Day, the first half of this issue certainly won’t make you feel any better, but the second half definitely entertains. (Grade: C+)

-M. Staples

ClanDestine #1 – Review

By Alan Davis (Writer, Artist), Mark Farmer (Inker), Sotocolor’s J. Brown (Colors) 

Clan Destine is a 5-part retelling or update to a former comic, which I haven’t read, so this review is only based off what I know of this story arc. The story so far is more based on the two youngest of the group, Imp (Rory) and Crimson Crusader (Pandora), while slowly introducing us to the others in the group. Issue #1 starts off with Rory having dreams in class of being a super hero, fighting along side with Spider-Man.We find out his powers are only active when his twin sister Pandora is within his vicinity. Her power seems to consist of flight and invisibility while Imp’s seems to be more inline with a leech, but it’s hard to say for sure. Pandora is the more mature and protective of the twins, yet lacks the discipline of controlling her powers. 

Later in the issue we learn that the kids are only allowed to use their power under supervision from their elders.The clan’s father loses control and turns into a blue “Hulk”-type character when he gets upset. As the dad learns of Rory and Pandora’s use of their power earlier in the day he proceeds to scold them, telling them they can never be too careful. I guess he forgot that they’re kids and kids usually like to get into mischief.As the Destine’s go through their struggle of hiding, fighting, and controlling the urge to use their powers, a mysterious council (whose name is not yet revealed) investigates the members of the Destine group. This council comes to the understanding that the Eldest Destine (Rory and Pandora’s father) is actually immortal. As the investigation continues, other family members are revealed to be certain superheroes. The council’s intentions aren’t really disclosed but they are using the Destine’s past foes against them as most likely a test of sorts.

 From what I’ve read so far this comic seems interesting. Since it is a first issue and I didn’t read the previous series I have to say that it didn’t grab me much. It seemed pretty slow, yet at the same time there is a sense of story building and progression happening here. I’m hoping things get better over the next few issues. I’ll keep my eye on this series, but as it stands I can’t honestly give it too much praise. If you’re interested in this book, I’d say wait for a few more reviews of issues #1 and #2 to come out before jumping on.

 (Grade: C)- Matt Allen