Avengers Undercover #5 – Review

By: Dennis Hopeless (Writer), Kev Walker (Penciller), Jason Gorder (Inker), Jean-Francois Beaulieu (Color Artist), VC’s Joe Caramagna (Letterer)

SPOILER LEVEL: RED ALERT

The Story:
Our heroes make a deal with devil, but cross their fingers behind their back.
(Attention, fans of Runaways: You will want to read the issue first, so if you read this review instead, you will find SPOILERS.)

The Review:
The pacing of this series is near-perfect. We all knew from the beginning what kind of decision the young heroes would be making (hint: the name of this series is AVENGERS UNDERCOVER) so the big decision the characters make at the end of this issue is not so surprising. What’s actually full of tension is HOW they go about their decision-making process, which in this issue means a tour of the underworld of Bagalia (which includes a quite literal sense of the word) and lots of character interaction.

The characters are divided more or less among lines that parallel their use in the series– the supernatural characters in one area, the “leaders” go with Madame Masque, with Chase and Death Locket, largely reactionary/follower figures, with Constrictor and the Young Masters. It’s in the latter’s group that we get the sense of what exactly “the deal is” with Bagalia, which is revealed to be the hangouts for grunt labor (“like supervillain marines”) for the higher-up, big name villains. At least that provides a sense of place and purpose, to which Death Locket immediately gravitates, relishing the idea of just being “dumb” for once.

This makes it interesting when Death Locket is left out of the circle when the others come up with the idea of a third option in their “in or out” dilemma. The plates are spinning so that Death Locket as well as Cullen/Bloodstone can be set up for further conflict among the group. This is not a cohesive group, which means the antagonists may not be just the villainous cabal above them but could also very well be their peers, the ones they most need to rely on.

C2E2 Report: Different Perspectives – An Interview with Russell Dauterman

Some of you may not have heard of Russell Dauterman yet, but that’s likely about to change. Dauterman was the artist on the excellent Supurbia, closed out the last two issues of Kyle Higgins’ Nightwing run with a bang, and is now going to be launching the new Cyclops title for Marvel.

Russell has a unique and beautiful style and such a wonderful love for the material that I knew I had to talk to him and, thankfully, he was gracious enough to give us a bit of his time this past weekend at C2E2. Join me as we discuss character, representation, and working in the industry.

New Warriors #1 – Review

By: Christopher Yost (writer), Marcus To (art), David Curiel (color art)

The Story: Clearly Robbie hasn’t been listening to Edwin Starr or Louis C.K…

The Review: Launching a series is a complicated thing. There are all sorts of different requirements that a first issue holds above all other books and it can be nearly impossible to craft the perfect opening to many worthwhile stories. Team books can have an even harder time. How do you bring potentially disparate heroes together, define personalities, and establish what a series will be all in a scant twenty pages?

For New Warriors #1 the answer seems to be breadth. This issue is aware that it’s not a team book yet and it’s unapologetic about it. Held together by a single mystery and a tempting opening page, this issue takes us on a regular tour of North America as we meet our future Warriors.

There’s certainly a sense of youth in this book, even Kaine, apparently the oldest member of the not-yet-team, is accompanied by the cheerful Hummingbird. Kaine is also probably one of the highest profile characters in the book. In some ways that’s refreshing, in others kind of sad. It’s rare that a book from DC or Marvel can claim that its most marketable team member is a recently revived veteran of one of the 90s’ most reviled events, but his sullen, brusque demeanor is an instant draw. Chris Yost does a good job of balancing the off-putting nature of such a reluctant hero against the reality of his recent experience and, if his interactions with Aracely are any indication, he’ll be a fine counterweight to the rest of the team. The pair are a delight to read and their powers are highlighted expertly, perhaps evidence of Yost’s familiarity with them. If you’re not intrigued by the descriptor “Demigod, Manipulation of Emotions, Levitation” I don’t know what to say to you.

Morning Glories Vol. 1 – Review

Words by Nick Spencer, Art by Joe Eisma, Covers by Rodin Esquejo, Colors by Alex Sollazzo

A friend of mine recently got into Lost and said that if he had watched it week to week, he didn’t think he would have enjoyed it half as much as watching them all at once. It would have been too frustrating and tiresome to keep track week-to-week and then over summer hiatus and dealing with the crappy episodes going “Jack’s tattoos? What the hell?” and having to wait a full seven days hoping the next episode would make up for it. On DVD, he got to Jack’s tattoo episode and said, “eh, that sucked. Next,” and moved on. My point is, I wonder if Morning Glories is similar. Because as a graphic novel, it is probably one of the best things I’ve read in the last year…but if I was forced to just get snippets of the story month to month? I might have killed someone. And by someone, I mean Nick Spencer.

Spencer is the new hotness. We all know that. Marvel signed him to be exclusive faster than the devil signed Faust. Now he’s got an Iron Man series, an Avengers series, and slated to write even more (please be Iron Fist…just saying, he would be awesome on Iron Fist). So when his name exploded on the solicitations like an eager high school boy on prom night, I looked him up. Morning Glories—good reviews all around, and what’s this? The first volume is only $9.99? Oh, Image, I love your marketing scheme! How can you say no to a ten-buck trade? And if it’s good—then of course you’ll have to get the next trade at $14.99. So, I was all set give this new guy a try and see if he was really as good as the mythos had built him up to be.

I read the first trade of Morning Glories three times—twice in one night. I just could not believe that this was a comic that existed. It’s everything I love about Lost, Runaways, and Avengers Academy rolled together. If this came in a tortilla shell, I would never have to go to Chipotle again. The mysteries Spencer set up could easily go on for six seasons—I mean volumes. More even. And, as Lost was smart to do, as compelling as the mysteries are, Spencer focuses on the characters. We have our Jack—though this Jack is a 16-year-old blonde, which is perfectly fine. We also have a Ben—Miss Daramount. She might seem like the most evil bitch in comics now, but at one point Ben was the most evil person in television, but look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t cry just a little for him in the series finale of Lost. I feel like we might get something like that from Daramount. The characters are already so fleshed out that they only thing left to do is develop. Now, hopefully Spencer doesn’t do the one thing Lost did wrong—through wrenches into a character’s story just for the sake of throwing a wrench (Charlie season 2…what the hell was any of that about?).  The only character we don’t know much about yet is Jun—but we need at least one really mysterious character, right? Can’t give us too many nuggets this early on, right?

Morning Glories #1 – Review

by Nick Spencer (writer), Joe Eisma (art), Alex Sollazzo (colors), and Johnny Lowe (letters)

The Story: We meet six sixteen year olds as they arrive at the mysterious Morning Glory Academy and get to know one another.

What’s Good: While it may not be an outright explosion of a first issue, make no mistake: Morning Glories’ first issue is a rousing success.  The key reason for this is that it manages to ask a great deal of questions, wrapping itself in a cloak of mystery and outright weirdness.  Yet, unlike a great number of first issues that try to do this, it completely avoids feeling confusing or incomprehensible.  It manages to intrigue rather than befuddle, and given just how many questions it poses and how many bizarre occurrences transpire, that really is a major feat that Nick Spencer cannot be commended enough for.

The clearly defined cast is one of the major means through which Spencer accomplishes it.  The six students provide a solid core amidst all the strangeness, anchoring the reader’s experience.  Despite each following a high school stereotype, all of these characters are likable, well-realized, and incredibly distinct from one another.  Each has his or her own voice and I think that readers will all have different favorites; despite their differences, there’s a sense of equality among the six in that each of them feels equally defined, lively, and special.

Furthermore, the fact that each character gets his or her start from a high school stereotype also means that the six are already looking like a well-oiled machine in how they all fit together.  There’s perfect synergy and chemistry between them all.  When they interact with each other, it’s fun and it’s genuine and it’s already clear that each one of them will have a fun and unique dynamic with each of his or her classmates.  The characters are likable enough on their own, but it goes up threefold when they come together.

While the characters serve to anchor Spencer’s book, so does the Academy itself, providing a single, contained atmosphere for all the weirdness.  The end result is a greater feeling of control, making the book feel more accessible, while also lending Spencer’s world a kind of conspiratorial claustrophobia.

BREAKING: Echo Delayed by Hurricane Ike

Abstract Studio weathered Hurricane Ike this past week, with no injury to friends or family.  However, due to the affects of the storm, production of Terry Moore’s Echo has been delayed.  Like much of Houston, Abstract Studio was without power for nearly a week.  This has regrettably halted production of new books, as well as delayed the processing and shipping of website mail-orders.  Abstract Studio apologizes for the inconvenience.  Power was restored last night and everyone is working hard to make up for lost time.

Terry remains positive, following the storm, “We really can’t complain. We’re safe. Abstract Studio came through unscathed.  We didn’t have water or power for a few days, and you can’t buy gas, so life was very 19th century.  As a writer, it was more interesting than inconvenient.”  With regards to Echo, Terry said, “I’m a week behind on Echo #7, but I hope to catch up and stay on schedule, putting a new one out every six weeks.”

While Issue 7 of Echo is currently delayed, Terry’s work for Marvel will not be affected. Scripts for Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane and Runaways are on schedule and should see no delay because of Hurricane Ike.  “Fortunately, I am ahead on my Marvel work,” Terry explained, “I’ve finished Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane.  Runaways is always a race.  I have to scramble to stay ahead of Humberto, but we’ll be okay.”

Terry and everyone at Abstract Studio would like to say “thank you” to those who contacted them with their thoughts and well wishes. Though work is continuing as much as possible, a normal schedule cannot resume until power is fully restored to the Houston area. Terry is working hard to make the delay as short as possible.

Abstract Studio was founded in 1994 as the premiere publishing company of Terry Moore’s work. It publishes popular independent comic books such as Strangers in Paradise and Echo, and can be found online at http://www.abstractstudiocomics.com. We at WCBR send out our thoughts to all those affected by Hurricane Ike. Stay strong!

Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #3 – Review

By Chris Yost (Writer), Takeshi Miyazawa (Artist), Christina Strain (Colorist)

And so another Secret Invasion mini-series limps to an end. I have to say, while I love the secret history flashbacks we’ve been getting in the Avengers books, the tie-ins have mostly been disappointments, clearly thrown together at the last minute. What should be subtle, creepy Invasion of the Body Snatchers type tales, have instead been bombastic War of the Worlds rip-offs. Why? Because War of the Worlds is easier to write.

This issue is basically one big fight scene, between the Runaways Skrull, Xavin, and his mentor, Chrell. (Okay, that’s not War of the Worlds; it’s Star Wars.) They’re fighting over the Young Avenger, Hulkling, who is the prophesied savior (The Matrix?) of the Skrulls, and an alternative to the Secret Invasion. Or something like that. Don’t expect any twists or surprises. Or depth. As all-action issues go, it works well enough, but I still think Miyazawa draws like an art-school freshman, and the writing… well, Yost gives it a good try, but there’s nothing here we haven’t seen before.

Once upon a time, Runaways was a great book, marketed for kids, but really meant for adults. With this mini-series, and Runaways Vol. 3, it’s clear that Marvel has completely given up on anyone over the age of fifteen.

There’s an exchange in the beginning of the book that sums it up nicely:

Hulkling: “If I’m this big savior, what am I supposed to do, Xavin?! Tell me!”

Xavin: “I… I don’t know!”

That’s right, Xavin. And neither does anybody else. (Grade: C)

– Andrew C. Murphy

Secret Invasion: Runaways/Young Avengers #1 (of 3) – Review

By Chris Yost (Writer) and Takeshi Miyazawa (Artist), Christina Strain (Colors)

Maybe I’m outside the series’ intended demographic, but after this debacle, older completists like me are going to be the only readers who pick up the second issue. Kids will just scratch their heads in confusion and pick up the latest Marvel Adventures instead.

There are so many things wrong with this book it’s hard to know where to begin. Let’s start with the very concept of teaming up the Runaways and the Young Avengers. I know what Marvel was thinking: take two books with sagging sales and merge them into a single profitable book. It worked for Power Man and Iron Fist, right? Only in this case, instead of two, there are no less than twelve characters running around, so no one character has enough “air time” to compel our interest.

There’s actually a good story buried somewhere under this mess. The Runaways and the Young Avengers each have a Skrull on their teams. The Runaways have Xavin, a secular Skullist, who, as the new super-Skrulls descend on New York, has to make a hasty decision between his loyalty to his species and his distaste for the religious extremists who have seized control of his home planet’s government. The Young Avengers have Hulkling (worst superhero name ever?), who is the illegitimate child of Captain Marvel and the Skrull princess Anelle. Putting aside its improbability (I think you’d see Dubya and Hillary getting it on before a Kree warrior and a Skrull), Hulkling’s parentage is the core of the real conflict here: a Skrull secret agent named Chrell is dispatched during the Secret Invasion to quietly liquidate the “half-blood prince” so he cannot offer an alternative to the zealotry that has inspired the Secret Invasion.

See? That sounds kind of interesting, doesn’t it? But the story is so confused, jumping between so many characters, that we get no real sense of what’s really going on until the final panel.

And the art. Yeesh. Why do they keep hiring this guy? Is Miyazawa the only Manga-style artist available in North America? Just because the stars of the book are teenagers doesn’t mean the art has to look like it was drawn by one. There really are artists out there who know how to draw more than a total of six facial expressions, and who know how to make different characters look… well… different.

I really like the Runaways and the Young Avengers, so I can only hope things get better next issue. (Grade: C)

– Andrew C. Murphy

A Second Opinion

I completely disagree with Andrew’s review on nearly every level. But I can see where he’s coming from.

He says kids will scratch their heads with this offering, yet I can’t tell you how many kids I’ve seen reading Runaways on the train I take. Because Marvel put the Runaways series into an affordable “digest” format and into libraries, kids have been eating it up. I can’t say the same for Young Avengers, but I do know a lot of adults seem to like that book. So basically we’re looking at a comic that should appeal to all ages. Perhaps if there’s kids not reading Secret Invasion, I can see where the pitfalls may be, but I believe Christopher Yost did enough exposition to make the story accessible.

I could be wrong though. It’s possible that this issue will alienate and disillusion many casual readers (especially non-readers of the aforementioned titles). I say this because you have Hulking and Xavin which are both of Skrull royalty and I got confused as to which “prince” was marked for death. It doesn’t help that this issue is “Skrull” heavy, making it easy to get characters mixed up. But honestly, I enjoyed the book.

Marvel’s been pretty anemic with its Runaways offering lately (thanks a lot Joss Whedon), so any chance to see these lovable characters is a treat. Thankfully, Yost writes and treats them with the respect they deserve. The Young Avengers are basically shafted this issue since all we really see is a recap of Secret Invasion #3. Hopefully they’ll get more face time next issue.

Takeshi Miyazawa’s art is simply awesome. I can see how some will hate his style of art, but make no mistake, the guy got his comic career started at Marvel before moving to Japan to work on manga there. His beautiful attention to character clothing and expressions is sorely missed. Seeing his artwork along with Christina Strain’s coloring work really saddens me that they’re both no longer involved with Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane. It’s bitter sweet.

In the end, the book’s a little light on story, but the characters are nailed perfectly and the art is vibrant and appealing. It’s not for everyone, but if you know where I’m coming from, you’re sure to enjoy it. If you’re leaning more towards Andrew’s sensibilities, then you might want to skip this. (Grade: B-)

– J. Montes

NEWS: “Runaways” goes to the movies

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel will adapt the comic book Runaways into a movie.

Brian K. Vaughan is writing the adaptation. There is no announced release date for the movie yet.

Runaways is a Marvel Comics comic book series created by Brian K. Vaughan and Adrian Alphona. The series features a group of teenagers who try to make up for the evil done by their super villain parents by becoming superheroes. They are known as “the Pride’s kids” or “those kids in L.A.” by other characters in the Marvel Universe, due to the team’s lack of an official name and the majority of Marvel’s characters being based in New York.

The Order #8 – Review

By Matt Fraction (writer), Barry Kitson (breakdowns & finishes), Stegano Guadiano, Paul Neary & Jon Sibal (finishes), J. Roberts (colors)

The Order’s left with three issues to go and Matt Fraction is wasting no time tying up loose ends. One again, the story is well written and full of wit. Barry Kitson and company also do a bang up job on art chores. With all these people working on art, you’d think it’d be a mess, but it’s surprisingly consistent. Still, I wonder why it’s becoming harder and harder for Kitson to finish a full issue.

We’re finally shown the outcome of Supernaut and Aralune’s predicament after two issues of suspense. How it’s handled is pretty inventive, but the real kicker is the mastermind behind their attempted apprehension. This revelation gives a lot more relevance to Iron Man’s presence in the book. I’m sure this is all going to build up to issue #10 (just in time for Iron Man’s movie debut), but it’s definitely worth looking forward to.

Meanwhile, Mulholland’s incarceration by the Black Dahlias takes somewhat of a backseat even though it’s prominently featured on the cover.  In fact, the cover is somewhat misleading – The Order does not come to rescue her at all! Perhaps last minute script changes are to blame. Either way, the scenes we’re given of her are shocking (no pun intended), especially near the end of the issue. There is an absence of certain members of the ensemble, but it, in no way, detracts from the story.

It’s gonna be sad seeing this book go. Other than the Runaways, Marvel has no west coast team books and that’s a shame. When you consider the quality of this book, there’s not too many others that have a roster this fleshed out or this likable. (Grade: B)

– J. Montes

Astonishing X-Men #24 – Review

By: Joss Whendon (Writer), John Cassaday (Pencils)

This story was supposed to conclude this issue. Instead, Joss Whedon keeps us hanging on for a giant sized issue due out who knows when. It’s pretty disappointing too when you consider that virtually nothing forwards the story. What happens at the end of the book is the same as the beginning: The 10 mile long missile is still headed to Earth, the X-Men are still scrambling to stop it. Perhaps the only thing revealed to us is that the missile isn’t exactly a missile and the person Hank thinks may cause trouble for the X-Men is killed off.

The story flounders on all levels. Even Wolverine’s dialogue in this issue (“When do I get to be thrown again.”) comes off as stupid, failing to carry that Whedon charm that we’ve all come to expect. This is the first issue of Astonishing X-Men that I honestly didn’t like. So now what? We have to wait 2-3 more months for the conclusion that was due to us this issue?! Thanks for nothing, Whedon.

Oh, Cassaday’s artwork is lovely as expected. (Grade: D)

-J. Montes