Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt #2 – Review

By: Sean McKeever (writer), Mike Norton (art), Veronica Gandini (colors), Clayton Cowles (letters) & Lauren Sankovitch (editor)

The Story: The young Initiative characters are still being pressed into action during Fear Itself and Thor Girl is asked to “take one for the team”.

What’s Good: Young heroes are hard to introduce partially because it’s hard to find good stuff for them to do.  During a “normal” time in the Marvel Universe, there are usually at least several major threats to the Earth/universe and the A-list heroes tackle those threats.  It’s a problem I’ve always had with characters like the New Mutants: If the threat is HUGE, it seems like something the X-Men-proper should handle, but if the threat is small, I don’t feel like I need to spend money to watch B-list heroes tackle B-list problems.  It’s a Catch 22.

Enter Fear Itself!  With a mega-event like FI, it makes all kinds of sense that the kiddie heroes and B-listers would get drafted into action out of necessity.  If escaped criminals from the Raft are rampaging in my town I’d want Thor to show up, but I’d rather have Frog-Man than nothing.  That’s basically the set up for Youth in Revolt.  As in the first issue, the mere presence of these kids drives home what a nasty situation FI is and we get to see some non-traditional heroes doing their best and being heroic.  In some ways, they’re almost more heroic because they aren’t as tough.  At one point, the kids end up in battle with a semi-major villain.  Thor or Red Hulk or Iron Man would just destroy the guy, but these kids are legitimately threatened by this villain and you can really respect their actions all the more because of it.  With any luck, one or two of these characters will be compelling enough that they might end up in some other Marvel books after FI.  Others (like Frogman) will go back on the shelf until the next event.

Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt #1 – Review

By: Sean McKeever (writer), Mike Norton (art), Veronica Gandini (c0lors), Clayton Cowles (letters) & Lauren Sankovitch (editor)

The Story: Even when you have THREE teams of Avengers, they can’t handle everything.  When FEAR ITSELF strikes on a global scale, the need arises to call in some C-listers to help out!

What’s Good: Even though I “liked but didn’t love” FEAR ITSELF #1 and #2, I’m pretty much resigned to the fact that my OCD nature will force me to read the entire event.  One of the big things FEAR ITSELF is pitching is that this is a global catastrophe, but that just didn’t sink in during those first couple issues.  Sure, there was action happening under the ocean and whatever rainforest Hulk was hanging out in when the hammer fell from the sky….and of course, TWO hammers fell in NYC.  But, everything still felt pretty contained as if folks living in Atlanta were still going about their daily lives, playing Farmville, grocery shopping, etc.

What made this issue kinda neat is that it really drove home the point that FEAR ITSELF is a big deal.  Anytime you’ve got Steve Rogers asking a batch of C-listers for help maintaining the order, you know events are dire indeed.  Maybe that sounds like a backhanded compliment, but it isn’t meant as such.  As comic readers we are desensitized to seeing Thor, Hulk, Cap, etc. facing off against global devastation because it happens almost monthly somewhere in the Marvel Universe.  But, what doesn’t happen every month is that the problem is so BIG that civilization needs the help of Prodigy, Gravity, Stunt-Master, Thor Girl, Ultragirl, Red Nine, Firestar, Komodo, Cloud 9 and a bunch of other folks from the Initiative days.

Age of Heroes #2 – Review

“Who Needs Gravity” by: Sean McKeever (writer), David Baldeon (pencils), N. Bowling (inks), Chris Sotomayor (colors) & Joe Sabino (letters)

“Heroic Rage” by: Brian Reed (writer), Chad Hardin (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Sotomayor (colors), Sabino (letters)

“Young Masters” by: Paul Cornell (writer), Mark Brooks (art) & Dave Lamphear (letters)

“Semper Fidelis” by: Dan Slott (writer), Ty Templeton (art), Jorge Maese (colors) & Lamphear (letters)

The Story: Marvel’s 4-issue anthology miniseries showing what various folks are doing in THE HEROIC AGE checks in on the C-listers.

What’s Good: These stories are all cute, fun and well written.  They really serve as a sampler platter for new books that Marvel has coming out and I really don’t mind that.  Heck, I’d much rather get a chance to see a few of these characters in small doses before committing to a few issues at $3.99 a pop.

I thought the best of these stories was Heroic Rage starring American Son.  I feel like I’m falling down on the job by admitting that I am not getting the “Amazing Spider-Man presents: American Son” but I did read the American Son story arc in ASM about 40 issues ago (or a year ago in ASM-time….I swear, it’s like talking about “dog years”, LOL).  Even though my favorite characterization of Harry Osborn is when he’s just Peter’s confident and slick buddy who doesn’t like Spider-Man, I really enjoyed this short (8-page) story.  One of the things the story plays up is that there seems to be some mystery behind who is wearing the American Son armor.  I had assumed it was Harry, but the reactions of the other characters made it seem that wasn’t certain. Plus, bonus points for tossing Norah the reporter into the story (she’s spunky and fun!) and having a cool scene where American Son stakes (vampire style) a bad-guy/monster with an flagpole complete with billowing American Flag.  The whole scene is very Mr. Suribachi inspired.

The art throughout this issue was really well done.  I didn’t see any pages or panels in here where I rolled my eyes.  Marvel also deserves credit for an accurate cover…..The C-listers on the cover are the folks in the comic!  Not sure if that’s a good thing, but….

Captain America #604 – Review

by Ed Brubaker (writer), Luke Ross (art), Butch Guice (inks), Dean White (colors), and Joe Caramagna (letters)

The Story: The Falcon fights his way through an explosive train, while Bucky is forced to don his old costume.

What’s Good: Much like the rest of this arc, this month’s issue of Captain America has a real old school feel, which is something that Brubaker excels at.  From the Falcon’s internal monologue to the Watchdogs’ goofy outfits and rayguns, to Bad Cap’s master plan (revealed in a cackling cliffhanger), this feels like a comic out of a time machine.  When it’s at its best, this comic is just pure, cheesy, retro fun.

For the most part, Brubaker keeps it simple this month.  Most of the issue is dedicated to an action scene, as the Falcon brawls his way through a Watchdog piloted train.  It’s an enjoyable read, particularly as Falcon emphasizes his relationship with Rogers.  The internal monologue throughout gives it a little more depth and significance, preventing it from being totally mindless.

Meanwhile, Bad Cap is as crazy as ever, with the inferiority complex well in place.  His back-and-forth with Bucky is actually fairly humorous.  If anything, Brubaker does a fantastic job in making Bad Cap into a very traditional villain, with evil scheme and henchmen in hand.  Nowhere is this clearer than on the book’s last page, as, hands on his hips and grinning, the villain reveals his plan to the hero.  It’s hard not to smile.

Certainly, in telling a retro tale like this, Luke Ross is the right man for the job.  If Brubaker’s story reads like an homage, Ross’ art completes the picture.  While the level of detail and quality of paper, ink, and coloring reminds us that this was indeed created in 2010, the art itself could easily pass for the best of a by-gone era.

Titans #13 – Review

By Sean McKeever (writer), Angel Unzuera (artist), Wayne Faucher (inker)

Some Thoughts Before the Review: I’ve been following the Deathtrap storyline from the beginning. I’ve read the pre-deathtrap fights with Jericho too, and they were honestly starting to bleed together. This issue hasn’t changed much for me.

The Story: Jericho holds a bunch of rich people hostage to get the Titans and the Teen Titans to come to him so that he can kill them. The Titans arrive, stand around and don’t do anything. Ravager manages to grab onto Jericho, which inexplicably stops his plan…until she lets go. Then he gets away and blows them all up.

What’s Good: Not much. I’m really struggling here. Jericho’s getaway was clever?

What’s Not So Good: None of what’s going on seems meaningful. Jericho keeps trying to kill the Titans for no reason other than he’s crazy. Each time he fails, he keeps getting away.

Also, it’s increasingly straining credibility that a dozen Titans with all their powers can’t take Jericho out, or even try. I’m not keeping a running tab or anything, but their kid-gloving of Jericho in previous issues has allowed dozens of civilian deaths in this one. Hardly inspiring heroism. Most of them just stand around him and talk. The only person who’s using his brains seems to be Vigilante, but he’s not on the team and he keeps arriving late.

Art might have made this issue more palatable, but unfortunately, the pencils don’t pull this book out of its tailspin. The textures of faces and bodies come across as plastic and the posing and facial expressions are awkward. At one point, the art reminded me of Don Perlin, an artist who ruined the last 60 issues of the Defenders.

Conclusion: I think the Titans need Cyclops to be in charge. Put Scott Summers in charge of Power Pack, tie one hand behind his back, and he still would have outsmarted Jericho three issues ago. Batman could have done it by himself. So could Dr. Light, Shadow Lass , and pretty much anybody telepathic, or whose costume includes opaque goggles, or anyone who is willing to poke Jericho in the eye.

Grade: D

-DS Arsenault

Teen Titans #58 – Review

By Sean McKeever (writer), Eddy Barrows (pencils) and Jimmy Palmiotti (inks)

After Geoff Johns’ run on the Teen Titans ended, many fans became unsatisfied with the story arcs following. Sean McKeever’s current run on the series has been very refreshing for many fans, including myself. The current story arc is certainly the decompressed style we have all become used to; however, he uses this decompression for further character development than even Johns was able to do.

Teen Titans #58, continues the story of the Titans getting systematically picked off by the Clock King and the Terror Titans. McKeever continues his on-going theme of writing each issue of the story arc from the perspective of one team member, previously Kid Devil, as he was captured in issue #56 and Ravager, as she was seen in the Titan Tower before the Tower was destroyed in issue #57. This issue focuses on Miss Martian as she tries to cope with what seems to be a dual identity with her current self and her future self (which she encountered in the previous story arc). The issue also tries to drop hints and clues as to what the Clock King and the Terror Titans’ primary motive is.

McKeever does a great job giving readers a more intimate look at the Titans. However, in this issue it becomes a little more complicated. At times, the story doesn’t seem to flow well. Maybe it’s what McKeever is aiming to achieve, as the main character, Miss Martian, deals with some sanity issues. Pacing problems aside, the dialogue is very good. Miss Martian is finally given some depth and no longer feels like a cheap imitation of the Martian Manhunter.

Just as I was beginning to warm up to Eddy Barrows art, Carlos Rodriguez fills in on art for this issue! Not that I’m complaining, but Barrows was giving some good consistency to the series. As for Rodriguez, his art was standard stuff – nothing bad or good, but towards the end of the issue as Miss Martian deals with her dual personality, his attention to detail really shines.

Overall, Teen Titans #58 is a good issue. It just doesn’t have much plot advancement. Yet this seems to be the trend of this series as it is focuses more on the individual characters themselves. This arc, or any of its issues would be a great jumping on point for any fans curious about the Teen Titans. (Grade: B)

-Robert Hyland