First Impressions 9/29/10

First Impressions 9/29/10

The Terminator: 1984 #1

By Zack Whedon & Andy Macdonald
Price: $3.50

Brief Thoughts: Let’s get your question out of the way right now, why don’t we?  If you’re a Terminator fan, especially a fan of the first film (and who isn’t?) then you should pick this up.  Whedon’s script is a strong one, weaving in and out, before and after, the original film’s events in a way that never feels forced or like bullshit.  He even manages to fill in some blanks, bringing in several elements in reaction to the events surrounding Kyle Reese’s and Sarah Connor’s battle against the Terminator that make a lot of sense.  Macdonald wouldn’t have been my first choice of penciller for this type of comic, but I’d have been wrong, because he pulls it all off here.  Even his recreations of some of the key scenes of the first movie evoked just the right amount of nostalgia.  Apparently, this miniseries is a sequel to an earlier one by the same creative team.  I am, without a doubt, going to be picking that one up based on the strength of this one.  Great job all around.

Verdict: Give it a shot.

Valkyrie #1

By Brian J. L. Glass & Phil Winslade
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: Well, that happened.  Glass and Winslade’s tale of how Valkyrie returned to life after dying during Thor’s part in the whole Avengers Disassembled event not only seems to be told much too late, but it’s not told in a particularly riveting manner either.  I’m no expert in the character’s history (and this issue didn’t really clear it up for me, either, despite trying), but couldn’t they have come up with a villain a little more imposing than Piledriver of the Wrecking Crew?  I mean, the Wrecking Crew are Marvel’s baddies that get pulled out whenever we need to see our heroes beat the crap out of someone, and that’s when they’re together!  This is just one of them.  Way to rob this story of any suspense whatsoever.  It is nice to see Winslade on art duties, though, as he’s been out of the spotlight for some time to my knowledge.  All told, this one-shot would have fallen flat even were it published when it would have been actually relevant.  Now?  Well, it’s forgettable at best.

Verdict: Save your dough.

Machete #0

By Rodriguez, Kaufman & Stuart Sayger
Price: $3.99

Brief Thoughts: Well, there is some fun to be had with this comic that features the star of the film out in theaters currently.  It’s the sort of fun you’d get out of a mid-90’s Image comic book, though, so it might not be for everyone.  There’s a lot of blood and dark, scratchy artwork as we follow Mexican police officer Daniel Lopez as he deals with his lazy, crooked partner and some drug runners who have been kidnapping and murdering young women.  I found myself wondering why Lopez, a.k.a. Machete, cared so much about doing his job, besides the fact that he’s a badass cop, which hurt my enjoyment a bit here.  I know that this is a send-up of Grindhouse films, but that unfortunately doesn’t really translate well in comic form.  As a result all we’re seemingly left with is another violent, one-dimensional comic book.

Verdict: Save your dough.

Valkyrie #1 – Review

By: Bryan J.L. Glass (writer), Phil Winslade (artist), Veronica Gandini (colorist), Dave Lanphear (letterer)

The Story: Taking place between Avengers Disassembled and Secret Invasion, this story is about a woman called Valerie, who was murdered and resurrected minutes later as a confused Valkyrie. Then she fights Pile Driver.

What’s Good: I liked the lettering for Val’s inner monologue and… Well, that’s it. I’d really like my money and time back.

What’s Not So Good: This is the most disappointing comic book I’ve picked up since those Green Arrow issues around #21 and the Titans cross-over with Jericho. Cover to cover. I have more than a passing familiarity with Valkyrie, but even the first page synopsis (…the story so far…) confused me with not only obtuse sentences, but with grammatically poor and ambiguous writing. It got no better as the plot started moving. So Pile Driver tries to rape a girl, who throws herself off a balcony. She is resurrected as Valkyie by those paddles they use for heart attack guys. OK. I’ll spend my suspension of disbelief to buy that Val’s got some grudge against Pile Driver and that she’ll pick a suitable host to come back in. Thereafter, her memory problems, confused and cliché internal monologue, and reactions are all tepid and uninteresting. I’ve already seen it in other comics where the story was phoned in. Didn’t like it there either. I thought for a minute the story would pick up with Janet Van Dyne acting as some sort of symbolic fairy godmother, but her superficiality and faux-deep platitudes (and apparently quick mood changes) made her a detractor in a story that already wasn’t doing well. The ending, where Val catches up with Pile Driver, seems to make no sense from Pile Driver’s motivation, nor the coincidences that gave Val the info as to where he might be. Val’s character arc in all this (ie: what is she struggling with?) was muddy, unconvincing and poorly shown in the writing.

Weekly Comic Book Review’s Top Picks

DS’ Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Kato Origins #4: Way of the Ninja – As predicted, Kato Origins #4: Way of the Ninja stomped the competition. Nitz delivered a great, multi-level story that kept on surprising until the end. I’m loving Kato Origins!

Most Anticipated: Valkyrie #1 – I have been a Defenders fan pretty much since I started collecting comic books. It was a non-team of slightly odd characters with really different origins and reasons for being. Valkyrie was just another one of the characters that seemed to fit. Goddess power in a woman’s body. Then Goddess soul in woman’s body. Then finally, Goddess soul in her own body. She’s tough. She’s brave. She’s loyal. And I’m looking forward to seeing what Marvel does with her on her own.

Other Top Picks: Justice Society of America #43, Outsiders #33, Atlas #5, Avenger: Prime #3, Captain America #610

Dean’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Velocity #2 – Read my review to see how much I love Kenneth Rocafort’s artwork, but this series also has a very easy to get behind story that doesn’t require any prior knowledge of Top Cow properties.

Most Anticipated: Avengers Prime #3 – This is an amazingly light week for comics, but I’m still excited to see the next chapter of the adventures of Tony Stark, Steve Rogers & Thor.

Other picks: Amazing Spider- Man #644, Valkyrie #1, Powers #6, X-Men Legacy #240

Alex’s Top Picks

Best From The Past Week: Thor #615– In what was an outstanding week for comics, Thor stands out from the pack as fresh, big, and very, very promising.  It’s Matt Fraction doing what he does best and I can’t wait for the next issue.

Most Anticipated: Powers #6 – Powers really takes this by the slimmest of margins over Action Comics, which sees Nick Spencer’s DC debut.  But I can’t say no to Deena Pilgrim, who is making her return this issue.  Not to mention that it’s about goddamned time this thing came out.  I’ve been aching really badly for some Powers and I finally get not only that, but also one of my favourite comic characters making a comeback.  Sweet.

Other Picks: Captain America #610, Casanova #3, Powers #6, Secret Warriors #20, Action Comics #893, Wonder Woman #603, Chew #14