First Impressions 6/23/10

FIRST IMPRESSIONS 6/23/10

Sea Bear and Grizzly Shark #1

By Ryan Ottley & Jason Howard (w/ an intro by Robert Kirkman)
Price: $4.99

Brief Thoughts: Let’s say you’re bored and you have nothing else to read and you’re feeling in a wacky mood.  Let’s say you’re in a wacky mood and you’re high on hydroponic mushrooms.  Let’s say you’re high on hydroponic mushrooms, in a wacky mood, and you just inhaled some paint fumes.  If this is the case, then you should totally buy this comic book.  The title says it all, except that you might be mislead to think that the Sea Bear and the Grizzly Shark fight or team-up.  Not so.  This is a double-feature of two animals gone wrong and their bloody actions against rednecks, cyborgs, bear/human hybrids, and lovers of ice cream.  Seriously.  It’s 5 bucks for about 50 pages of content.  It might not be your thing, but it was mine.  Though, I was in a wacky mood, on hydroponic mushrooms, and inhaling paint fumes, so, you know…

Verdict: Give it a shot.

Click here for a full review.

Green Arrow #1

By J.T. Krul & Diogenes Neves
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: Krul and Neves deliver an okay first issue that quickly establishes Green Arrow’s and Star City’s new status quo.  Krul seems to not only be telling the tale of a hero in new circumstances, but of an entire city trying to figure out what to do next. Neves is a fine artist, though not a spectacular one.  He does tell the story clearly and energetically.  While nothing to write home about, Green Arrow fans will probably be satisfied with this one.  Green Lantern or Brightest Day completists might want to also give it a look.  If you’re neither of those, then you can safely give this a pass.

Verdict: Save your dough.

Click here for a full review.

Fringe: Tales from the Fringe #1

By Justin Doble, Adam Gaines, & Frederico Dallocchio
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: I have no clear idea what the hell I just read.  I admit I’m not a fan of the TV show Fringe which this title is licensed from.  I’ve seen a few episodes from early in the first season, but it just wasn’t my thing.  That said, I should still be able to pick up a #1 issue and understand what’s going on.  That did not happen here.  There are two stories in this comic, the second of which was almost engaging until it degenerated into an utter mess plot-wise.  This issue not only turned me off from buying any further installments, but from watching the TV show as well.  I’m sure that wasn’t the intention, but that’s my reaction.

Verdict: Save your dough.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

Ray’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: DMZ #54– Brian Wood delivered in last week’s installment of DMZ, as the issue was packed with good dialogue and amazing unique cinematic-esque art from Riccardo Burchielli.

Most Anticipated: Batman: The Return Of Bruce Wayne #3 – Two reasons… A) It’s Batman in the high seas…. and B) I now feel justified and unashamed for owning this.

Other Top Picks: Superman #700, Detective #866, Incorruptible #7, Amazing Spider-Man #635,  X-Men Legacy #237, Powers #5

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: New Avengers #1 -The best issue of the week, for me, was also the biggest surprise of the week.  I honestly expected mediocrity but got a whole lot of fun instead.  I’ve gone from the classic comic reader conundrum of buying out of a sense of obligation to genuinely looking forward to the next issue.

Most Anticipated: Legion of Super-Heroes #2 -The first issue was such an absolute blast that I can’t wait to see how Levitz follows it up.  Hopefully it’s just as dense of a read.

Other Picks: American Vampire #4, Avengers #2, Batman: the Return of Bruce Wayne #3, Fantastic Four #580, Powers #5, Secret Warriors #17, Superman #700, Wolverine: Weapon X #14, Zatanna #2

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Forgetless #5 – This issue shows why Nick Spencer is one of the better up-and-coming creators out there.  Good endings are hard and in this issue he shows that he not only is a font of the weird and wacky, he can also bring the story home in a very enjoyable fashion.

Most Anticipated: American Vampire #4 – There are a lot of big name books coming out this week, but when I scanned down the list, I realized this is the title I was actually looking forward to the most.  I’ve really enjoyed the work that Scott Snyder and Rafael Albuquerque (and some dude named Stephen King) have been doing to create a story about vampires than isn’t just appealing to teenage goth chicks.

Other Top Picks: Avengers #2, X-Men Legacy #237, Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark #1, Powers #5, Amazing Spider-Man #635

DS’ Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Brightest Day #4 – One of DC’s proven creative teams is taking Brightest Day up and issue #4 swiped this week’s crown. I know some are complaining that Brightest Day is starting slow, but that’s because Johns and Tomasi are writing an epic. Think of Lord of the Rings. Brightest Day is in that spot where they’ve decided to take the ring to Rivendell, but haven’t left the Shire yet. A Johns story needs a lot of canvas, but strap yourself in for a great ride.

Most Anticipated: Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #3 – Darkseid has set something bad in motion – Bruce is hurtling towards the present like a living WMD and he doesn’t know it.

Other Top Picks: Green Lantern Corps #49, Legion of Superheroes #2, Power Girl #13, Namora #1, X-Factor #206, X-Men Legacy #237.