My comics from the week of December 28, 2007:
Action Comics # 860 (DC)
Atom Eve #1 (of 2) (Image)
Countdown #18 (DC)
Dan Dare #2 (Virgin)
Legion of Super Heroes #37 (DC)
Ultimate Power #9 (of 9) (Marvel) *left in pull file until next payday*
I only had one comic book for the week of Friday, January 4, 2008:
Countdown #17 (DC)
The holidays are finally over. As much as I enjoy Christmas and New Year's Day, I'm always glad when they're over. As a kid, there was a little bit of letdown after the presents were all opened, not because I wasn't grateful for the gifts I got (and I never had a disappointing Christmas, even though there were a few things I would have liked that I never got). The month of January, and the beginning of February, is like that to me because it means the end of football season. Super Bowl Sunday is like Christmas morning, it's exciting when it starts, but there's a letdown when it's over because it means no more football to watch, except for the Pro Bowl. At least there's Arena football to tide me over until the preseason games in August.
Enough about the holidays. Here's my reviews of my pile in the oreder I read them:
Countdown #18 (DC) * * * * *
Finally! Countdown has been months of setup and brief scenes that advance the plotlines in baby steps each week. This issue contained the first major reveal, not counting the revelation of who's really behind the Amazon boot camp on Paradise Island within the last few issues. The rogue Monitor and our vagabond heroes have been bouncing around the multiverse looking for Ray Palmer. We find out why Ray Palmer was so important, and it actually makes some sense. But more important, we find out what Ray Palmer has been doing since the end of Identity Crisis several years ago. It opens at the closing scene of the mini-series, with Ray's ex-wife Jean being committed to Arkham Asylum, and he donning his Atom costume and shrinking to microscopic size. We follow him on his journey as he attempts to deal with his grief and rebuild his life. Issue 18 contains some interesting versions of familiar characters, and the bittersweet tone of the story makes for the most compelling issue yet. There is a brief scene of Mary Marvel and Jean Loring/Eclipso continuing their cosmic battle. The rest of the issue is all Ray Palmer and his world, and we're welcome to it.
The backup feature is a two-page origin of Dr. Light, who's actions loomed large in Identity Crisis.
Countdown #17 (DC) * * * *
This issue is split evenly between the Mary Marvel vs Jean Loring/Eclipso battle, which reaches a climax, and the Ray Palmer story. Ray learns that you can't run from your problems. The Paradise Island story might continue with issue sixteen. Monarch appears, starting what might be the endgame (there are only sixteen issues left, after all). Monarch's origin is the back up feature. I read his appearance in the Armageddon 2001 miniseries from 1991 (I checked my comic boxes and saw that it was published in '91, not the mid-90's as I previously posted. Note to self: check the comic boxes before I post something.), but was not familiar with his connection with Captain Atom. In a previous post I reviewed it. Monarch didn't impress me, but the summer annual tie-ins did. They reminded me of the '60's "imaginary stories", and were the most fun thing about the Armageddon event. If you can pick them up in the back issue bin, you'll find some treats. In 1994, DC published a series of Elseworlds annuals that summer. I wonder if the alternate stories in Armageddon were so popular that DC decided to update their "imaginary stories" three years later?
This issue was non-stop action, but not mindless fisticuffs. The only reason I didn't give it 5 * like issue #18 was because I'm not as interested in the Mary Marvel story as I was in the Ray Palmer story these past two issues. Of all of the issues of Countdown published so far, the Ray Palmer story is my favorite. With 52, my favorite story was Ralph Dibny, expecially the ending, followed by the Rene Montoya/Question story. I wonder if the Palmer story will be the highlight of Countdown and the rest will be a letdown? Only four more months to find out.
Dan Dare #2 (Virgin) * * * *
Dan Dare is a british comics character first published in the comic magazine Eagle and later 2000 AD. Warren Ellis listed him as an inspiration in his trade paperback Ministry of Space (* * * * *), so when I heard that Virgin Comics was bringing him back I had to check it out. I'm not at all familiar with british comics, so I like to read some british characters when I can (Albion * * * * * (DC) ). After being recruited back into the International Space Fleet in issue one, Dare reports for duty aboard the HMS Achilles, commanded by a junior female officer, the highest ranking surviving officer after the events of the first issue. Dare is that stiff upper lip british character, but to me seems more than a cardboard cliche'. Everyone is very aware of his reputation. They almost fawn over him while he wants to get on with it. The plot sets up for action in the third issue, but taking time for character development makes issue two worth reading.
Legion of Super-Heroes #37 (DC) * * * +
This issue marks Jim Shooter's return to the title that began his comic book career in the 1960's as a 13 - 14 year-old writer (Adventure Comics #346). He did his earliest scripts in picture form, using stick figures for the characters. Curt Swan drew those earliest Shooter stories. Jim was quoted in Eddy Zeno's book Curt Swan: A Life in Comics, speaking fondly of one of the first artists to illustrate his stories. Shooter's career as editor and publisher has been filled with controversy, but I was intrigued when DC announced he was returning to script the title that began his career. After Superman, the Legion is a title I think of most fondly from my childhood, when I read the book very irregularly. The reboots of recent years have taken a little luster off of the title, but Mark Waid's beginning premise was the most interesting of them.
Jom Shooter begins his story with a group of Legionnaires in the middle of a mission fighting alien creatures. Lightning Lad regrets what he wished for as Legion leader, overwhelmed by the minutiae of leadership. The Legion is picking up the pieces from the storyline from the previous creative team. Princess Projectra faces the diplomatic consequences of being a princess of a world that no longer exists. It's basically a set up issue, and if readers aren't steeped in Legion lore they mey not be as intrigued as Legion fans. New readers are aided in learning who the many Legionnaires are by text boxes that give the hero name and power of each Legion hero. The story has a nice balance of super-hero action and character development. It's as good an issue as any for new readers to jump in.
Action # 860 (DC) * * * * *
Director Richard Donner is no longer listed as co-plotter or writer with Geoff Johns, but Geoff continues his typically excellent storytelling. This is the third issue of the story Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes. This story is "ret-coning" Superman and Legion continuity. In the original stories the Legion was inspired by Superboy. Since Clark Kent never became Superboy in post-crisis continuity, Johns revises the Legion origin by showing them visiting a young Clark Kent in Smallville. The small group of time travelers comfort a teen-ager struggling with what he is becoming, since Clark's powers only appear gradually in new continuity.
The Legion have brought Superman to a 31st century that is a far darker place than the utopia of silver age stories. A 31st century Justice League have driven the Legion underground, using the legend of Superman as propganda for their zenophopic campaign to drive aliens off Earth. To make matters worse, Earth's sun has been changed to a red star, leaving Superman without powers. But Kal-El shows that powers don't make the hero as he battles alongside his fellow Legionnaires. The 31st century Justice League has several members who began as 1960's Legion of Super-Villain members Spider-Girl (decades before May Parker at Marvel), Radiation Roy, and Nemesis Kid (starting with Adventure Comics #320). This story does what the best Superman stories do, find a way to really challenge him and show him overcome the threat. With a character as powerful as Superman that's not an easy thing to do, which is why Superman comics have been up and down so many times over the years. Even readers who don't care for the "big blue boy scout" should find this story compelling. It has a very dark tone for readers who like "dark" characters like Batman or Wolverine.
Atom Eve #1 (of 2) (Image) * * * +
Atom Eve is one of the main supporting characters of Invincible, especially after recent issues. The creators, Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker, aren't on this issue as writer and artist, respectively. Cory Walker no longer draws Invincible, and Robert Kirkman only serves as editor of Atom Eve. The layout of the story feels just like a Robet Kirkman written issue of Invincible. Atom Eve's origin was first published as a backup feature in Invincible #25, along with some other characters. This issue expands on that original three page origin, from Atom Eve's mysterious birth to the beginning of her super-hero career. We see another dark side to the Global Defense Agency underneath the Pentagon. Robert Kirkman's strength is weaving plot lines into issues that will develop in future issues. I can't help but wonder how events shown in this issue, and #2, will fit into the upcoming issue 50 in three months. Kirkman has promised #50 will be a big issue in Invincible's life. He has yet to disappoint. I would have given this issue 4 *'s, but the art in the beginning was a little rough. Heads in several panels were too big for thier bodies, but the art improved and the rest of the issue was as enjoyable as any story written by Kirkman. Issue 2 promises more of the same.
Next week, on Wednesday January 9, 2008 I only have one title I'm scheduled to pick up:
Countdown #16 (DC)
I will have to wait until payday on Friday, January 18th to pick it up and see if anything else interests me. I've noticed while searching DC Comics website that I missed December's Justice Society of America #11, so I'll have to see if Bad Apple Comics has any copies left over, or have them order one.
Meanwhile, I'll take the opportunity to fill the next blog with a year in review, concentrating on the "event" comics that have been so prevalent in recent years.
I look forward to reading your comments, and what's on your pull list.
e-mail comments to: mypulllist@gmail.com
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment