Siege #1 – Review

by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Laura Martin (colors), and Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

The Story: Norman Osborn finds his reason to begin his assault on Asgard.

What’s Good: This is some really impressive, massive work by Coipel and Martin.  The art here is gorgeous and some of the best stuff I’ve seen from Coipel.  The assault on Asgard, with its horde of fighter jets, is truly impressive and the mandatory explosions look great.  The book is maintains the “high budget” feel a book like this requires.

Perhaps unexpectedly, the most enjoyably written character in this first issue is actually Ares.  His disagreement with Osborn and the generally badass way Coipel illustrates is a blast (he rides into battle on a fighter jet, bent on one knee).  It’s clear Bendis wants this to be a war comic, and he’s placed Ares in the General position.  The result is a nice fusion of modern combat and ye olde fantasy heroism (the obligatory motivational speech in front of a horde of cheering warriors).  Seeing Ares lead modern HAMMER troops and superheroes as though they were Camelot’s finest is a lot of fun.

Beyond that, Bendis seems to want to make this issue, and this event, as straightforward as possible.  At the very least, you’re guaranteed not to get the sort of convoluted mess that other recent events have devolved into.

WCBR’s Picks Of The Week

Alex’s Top Picks

Pick of the Week: Unknown Soldier #15 – It’s amazing what a change in colorist and art-style can do.  The book has gone from looking rough, and at times, crude, to being an artbook with beautiful shading and an awesome, dusty feel.  The murder-mystery turn the book has taken also points to good things coming with this arc, while Moses continues to struggle with the idea of redemption, as well as his oddly parallel relationship with young Paul.  This was probably my favourite issue of Unknown Soldier since the series’ first arc.

Most Anticipated: Stumptown #2 – I’ve been forced to wait an extra month, and that’s only made me want this second issue all the more.  Stumptown is basically Greg Rucka doing what Greg Rucka does best, combining gritty detective fiction, Sean Phillips-esque art, and one of the coolest and most human female protagonists you can find in comics today.  This looks to be a great series and is an absolute must-read for fans of Brubaker’s Criminal or Rucka’s current run on Detective Comics.

Other Picks: Siege #1, Sweet Tooth #5, Suicide Squad #67

DS’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Blackest Night #6 – Only Blackest Night came out from DC last week, but even at that, it would have topped my list for the last 2 weeks. Awesome blockbuster story, getting deeper as it goes. I’m going to be really sad when it’s done.

Most Anticipated: Siege #1 – Norman Obsorn and the villains of the Marvel U against Asgard!

Other Top Picks: The Uranian #1 (wait for a nerd-out moment if I review this one!), Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2, Red Robin #8, Superman: World of New Krypton #11.

Ray’s Top Picks

Best of the Past Week: Blackest Night #6 –  Other than being the only book in my list to come out, the epic event continues.

Most Anticipated: Sweet Tooth #5 – Jeff Lemire’s haunting tale concludes its first arc. At this point, nothing has been predictable, and every issue hasn’t disappointed.

Other Top Picks: Blackest Night: Wonder Woman #2, The Uranian #1, Red Robin #8, Siege #1