Uncanny X-Force #9 – Review

by Rick Remender (script), Billy Tan (art), Dean White (colors), and Cory Petit (letters)

The Story: Logan does a favor for Magneto that has him going solo.

The Review:  Last month I raved about just how utterly amazing the art provided by Tan and White was and this month, I think it’s even better, though thoroughly different in tone and content.  This is quieter, more emotionally driven issue, allowing for Tan and White to deliver an issue that’s subtle and haunting.  Tan’s work on his character’s faces speaks volumes and is full of complexity.  What I appreciate most though, and granted this is largely due to White’s colors, is the way in which this issue manages to look both dark/gritty and hyper-polished, two things that don’t ordinarily go together.  The result is a gorgeous issue where single panels would make for great splashes.  Couple this with excellent storytelling all around, and the art just about carries the issue.

Which is good, because this isn’t the strongest narrative from Rick Remender.  That’s not to say that it’s bad, only fairly middling, a little too comfortable.  Remender relies on emotional tenor to drive an otherwise unremarkable story.  In some ways, it almost works.  Magneto’s emotions are very human and Logan’s relationship to death and killing is as interesting and engaging as ever.  More than that, these are items that allows for Remender to let Tan tell the story.  Certainly, on the latter plot-line regarding Logan, the issue’s ending on a “what goes around, comes around” warning that reframes the entire issue under that message is a good one.

Unfortunately, beyond these emotional high-points, the nuts and bolts of the story aren’t overly strong.   For instance, I just didn’t buy Logan doing Magneto a favor just because Magneto gives him sad puppy eyes.  This is Magneto, for God’s sake.  Remender doesn’t even really try all that hard to sell this, either.  Magneto asks, looks sad, and Logan, nice guy that he is, caves and moves out.  It’s a big stretch and one that’s oversimplified under a gloss of emotion that almost fools the reader into believing it.

Amazing Spider-Man #555 – Review

By Zeb Wells (writer), Chris Bachalo (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Antonio Fabela (colors)

You know, if these Brand New Day stories came out monthly instead of (almost) weekly, I’d be less enamored with this title. But because of its frequent release schedule, these type of stories work out really well. Amazing Spider-Man has become a staple of my weekly diet. It’s something I read first when I get my books from the local comic store, and it’s like watching a serialized TV show. If this schedule fails to work and Marvel reverts this title back to a monthly schedule (like DC did with Action Comics), I’m going to be very disappointed.

Now, I don’t know who Zeb Wells is or if he’s ever even written a comic before. What I do know is he completely nails the relationship between Spider-Man and Wolverine. The chemistry these two have when put on the same page is very much in the same vein of those buddy cop movies we love so much. Reading the banter between these two is almost worth the price of admission alone. Almost.

The story, itself, is a bit on the light side. We don’t get much of anything other than Wells running around “house keeping” so to speak. He touches on the minor subplots here and there, before bringing us to the grit of the main story near the end of the issue. I’m not saying much of the story is completely wasted, because I was entertained the whole time, but it did feel a bit too formulaic at times (especially when Spider-Man makes it to the Bugle).

Chris Bachalo’s art, as beautiful as it is, is not always easy to follow. Heck, his work in Messiah Complex was a complete mess. But with Amazing Spider-Man, he doesn’t leave you scratching you head. His art perfectly accomodates Wells’ script gives the book a “fun” kind of feeling (weird, I know). The whole snow blind palette used by Antonio Fabela reenforces the crazy blizzard that’s hitting the city, but at times is a bit too overpowering, almost washing out the art. I understand the desired effect, but I wish it were toned down.

This new arc’s off to a decent start. There’s a glaring continuity problem that’ll make some readers groan, but we get a rightful explanation in the letters column. Zeb Wells definitely knows his characters, now he just needs to execute on the story. (Grade: B-)

– J. Montes