Secret Warriors #25 – Review

by Jonathan Hickman (writer), Alessandro Vitti (art), IFS (colors), and Dave Lanphear (letters)

The Story: The origins of Leviathan are revealed in a team-up of epic proportions.

The Review: Secret Warriors #25 is a very interesting issue, if for no other reason that it once again points to Jonathan Hickman carving his own little corner in the Marvel Universe.  His idiosyncratic SHIELD series bleeds over into Secret Warriors this month, and the result is that much of what makes that series good bleeds over.  That and, at a more basic level, it’s just pretty damned cool seeing Hickman’s hidden city and Leonardo Da Vinci in Secret Warriors.  It even threatens to make SHIELD feel less cryptic and inaccessible in a way, but I digress.  The presence of Da Vinci in particular (though he’s never actually named as such) makes everything seem way heavier and more significant and given the scope of SHIELD, it raises the game, and the stakes, as far as Secret Warriors is concerned.  Given that we’re heading to the series conclusion, that’s definitely a good thing.

As far as the plot goes, this is an issue that really lives up to the “Wheels Within Wheels” moniker.  Seeing all the power players of the Marvel spy-world working together under Da Vinci, regardless of what side they may be on, is damned cool.   Seeing Kraken, Baron Strucker, Fury, and hand ninjas all the same team is awesome and makes their shared goals seem all the more important.  Oh, and you even get to see who’s behind Kraken’s mask.

Unlike what has often been the case with the series, the story is still very large this month, but it’s also focused enough to feel excited about.  The characters are easy to root for, if for nothing but name value, and seeing the birth of Leviathan feels important.  And that’s the meat of it really: this issue feels important, not tangential or digressive.  That’s no small feat given that many of the series characters play no role this month and almost the entire issue is a flashback.  It’s an issue that feels vital and exciting and fully comprehensible, despite the massive and largely unfamiliar cast and the non-linear nature of it.

S.H.I.E.L.D. #1 – Review

By Jonathan Hickman (writer), Dustin Weaver (artist), Christina Strain (colorist)

Sturgeon’s Law states that ninety-percent of everything is crap. Books, movies, politicians, your mom’s cooking, and my love-making abilities.

Ninety percent of all of it: crap.

We’ll save my prowess in bed and your mom’s quiche for another day. For now, let’s talk about how this relates to comics. I won’t go so far as to say that nearly all comics are literally overpriced pieces of fecal matter, but I do think it’s safe to say that nearly all comics, and by default the industry that spawns them, perpetuate a necessary cycle of mediocrity. As I grow older, I tend to believe that the purpose of comics is increasingly less about telling great stories and delivering dynamic art than it is selling us the illusion of change one issue at a time.

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Like The Godfather wisely pointed out, “it’s nothing personal. It’s just business.” More to the point, this is a business that operates on razor thin margins; a business where it makes more financial sense to milk established brands like Avengers and X-Men for every penny possible than to risk investing in a new idea that might bomb and cost them much more money in the long run.

If you’ve made it this far in my review, you’re probably wondering where the hell I’m going with this, and you’d be right to do so. As it turns out, none of what I’ve just said has anything to do with S.H.I.E.L.D. #1. Miraculously, this issue is the other kind of comic, the kind that exists in that rare ten percent of things that are anything but crap. In fact, I’ll take it a step further and assure you without hesitation that this is a damn fine comic, perhaps one of the finest Marvel has ever produced.

Astonishing X-Men #32 – Review

by Warren Ellis (Writer), Phil Jimenez (Pencils), Andy Lanning (Inks), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Art hang-ups and the lack of plot development aside, the Warren Ellis/Phil Jimenez run on Astonishing X-Men got off to a pretty nice start. As a fan of the Brood, I can’t help but look forward to what Ellis has up his sleeve.

The Story: The X-Men deal with a strange biological Sentinel and unexpectedly find themselves up against Brood as well.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: Astonishing X-Men #32 is, well, a whole lot like Astonishing X-Men #31. As you’ve no doubt guessed, that’s both a positive thing to say about the book in some ways and a negative thing to say in others. It means that the latest Astonishing X-Men is one hell of a fun, action-packed thrill ride. It also means that the art issues are still a problem and that the current arc’s overall plot only advances over the span of a few pages.

The script for Astonishing X-Men #32 is filled with loads of dialogue that could only come from the mind of Warren Ellis. From the pet names Beast gives to Abigail Brand to the sarcasm that drips from nearly every word bubble, the dialogue is so awesome, so distinctly “Warren Ellis,” that you can’t help but wonder what other type of magic he could work with some of the other Marvel teams. All that good dialogue comes at a price, however, as the story sort of takes a backseat to the action. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since seeing the X-Men do what they do best is almost always a good time, but it does leave the book feeling a little light on plot.

Phil Jimenez’s detailed, dynamic artwork in Astonishing #32 leaves little to be desired from a storytelling standpoint. Especially since the artist’s character work is far more consistent than it was in his Astonishing debut. Visually, Astonishing X-Men #32 is not perfect, however. The problem is that Frank D’Armata’s colors simply overwhelm Jimenez’s pencil work far too often. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that D’Armata’s slick, shiny color work makes some of the action almost indecipherable at times. Some panels/scenes are so awash in a “motion-blur” effect that everything sort of blends together in a way that’s downright hard to follow.

Conclusion: Light on story, but packed with lots of X-Men action, Astonishing X-Men #32 is definitely worth your time and money if you’re a fan of Warren Ellis or Phil Jimenez or both.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

 

Astonishing X-Men #31 – Review

By Warren Ellis (Writer), Phil Jimenez (Pencils), Andy Lanning (Inks), and Frank D’Armata (Colors)

Some Thoughts Before The Review: Warren Ellis’ first Astonishing arc was held back a bit by Simone Bianchi’s inconsistent, occasionally ugly artwork. With Phil Jimenez now on board, I’m hoping that the artwork consistently does justice to Ellis’ storytelling. If Jimenez’s past work is any indication, it’s a good bet that it will.

The Story: The X-Men pull out all the stops in an effort to save Abigail Brand’s life as she plummets to the earth in an escape shell following an unexpected encounter with The Brood.

What’s Good And What’s Not So Good: From start to finish, Astonishing X-Men #31 is one hell an entertaining thrill ride. While there isn’t a whole lot to the book beyond the Abigail Brand rescue and an interesting, somewhat odd ending, there really doesn’t need to be because Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez are such a strong creative team. Ellis and Jimenez make the absolute most of a simple premise and show that their run definitely has the potential to live up to the hype that Marvel has given it.

As expected, Warren Ellis’ dialogue is superb. Predictably, He throws around techno-babble like a pro, yet his writing never feels pretentious. His signature wit and dry humor manages to shine through on nearly every page as he effortlessly continues to put his stamp on the Astonishing team’s dynamic. Also, it must be said once again that Ellis writes Emma Frost and Beast better than anyone. The writer’s style and sense of humor truly shines whenever either Beast or Frost is in command of a panel.

Phil Jimenez’s Astonishing debut is impressive, yet it’s not perfect. The gripping action is silky smooth and the panel layouts are slick, but some of the character work and coloring knock the overall quality down a notch. In particular, Jimenez has some noticeable problems keeping Emma Frost’s look consistent and Frank D’Armata’s rich colors have the unfortunate effect of making everyone look a bit shiny. Still though, despite the flaws, the action that drives Astonishing X-Men #31 is incredibly engaging and a whole lot of fun.

Conclusion: The Warren Ellis/Phil Jimenez era of Astonishing X-Men is off to a fine start. I look forward to seeing what the team has in store for us next. Also, on a personal note, I believe that the word “gauche” totally needs to be used in more comics.

Grade: B

-Kyle Posluszny

Wolverine Fights We’d Like To See

With Wolverine taking Hollywood by storm the past weekend, a few of our editors got together and chose who we would like to see him battle in a future comic. Here are some fight scenes that’ll make you wish Marvel would’ve pulled some power move and just rip the X-license from Fox.

Rob G.’s Pick: Drax the Destroyer

When recently rereading Anhilation, I was once again drawn into Drax the Destroyer and his methodical and brutal fighting style. As I journeyed with Drax as he mowed down negative zone bugs with his two knives in his pursuit of Thanos, it dawned on me that he was like a cosmic Wolverine. So, I thought: wouldn’t it be cool to see these two, Woverine and Drax, duke it out. I have no idea who would win as they both are near indestructible and although Drax might have more strength, Wolverine could easily compensate for the deficit with some good ol’ fashion berserker fury.

Kyle Posluszny’s Pick: Kratos (From God of War)

Adamantium Claws Vs. Chain Blades.  Weapon X. vs. The Ghost of Sparta. Berserker Rage Vs. The Rage of a God. I really can’t think of a better opponent for Wolverine than Kratos from the videogame series God of War. They match up incredibly well as far as skill/power set is concerned. In addition, they both possess an incomparable knack for brutality and bloodshed that would take the battle to unprecedented heights.

Ray Hilario’s Pick: Midnighter (From The Authority)

It’s the X-men most dangerous weapon vs. the Authority’s most sadistic member. Honestly, what more can you ask for from a fight between two guys that are vastly skilled and that have the healing factor. Wolverine’s got the feral nature, and the various martial arts skills that allows him to keep fighting until he has won the battle. Midnighter on the other hand, also has the enhanced speed and fighting skills like Wolverine, but also the ability to predict the unfolding of a battle before it starts. It would be a classic battle between two indestructible forces duking it out till the end.

DS Arsenault’s Pick: The Brood

Wolverine is about four things: (A) “He’s the best there is at what I do,” (B) He follows a code of honor, (C) He’s a loner, and (D) He’s got a deep, savage side.  So the perfect Wolverine fight would have to be physical, visceral and savage.  It would have to be him alone, with no one able to help him against the overwhelming odds.  And the stakes would have to be for all the marbles.  Who can push Wolverine to the limit?  The Brood.  Giant flying insects with poisoned stingers, armored plate skin, razor sharp teeth and a taste for flesh.

So, who would you guys like to see Weapon X tear into? Post your picks in our comment section!