EA's Weekly Comic Book Reviews - Week 12

[Everlost_MI]

Welcome to week twelve of Evil Avatar’s Weekly Comic Book Reviews.

The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week twelve is Wolverine #28 courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/). The deadline for week tweleve's entry submissions is Sunday, May 29th. The selection of the random winner for the May books will occur on May 29th.

The list of books that are going to be given away for the month of May are:

• Red Sonja #0
• Batman Legends of the Dark Knight #191
• The Punisher: The Cell
• Wolverine #28



Remember, these are NOT spoiler-free reviews.

This week's reviews are Young Avengers #4, Teen Titans #24 and Wolverine #28.


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[Everlost_MI]

Week Twelve:

Young Avengers #4 (An ongoing series)

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Allan Heinberg
Pencils/Cover: Jim Cheung
Inks: John Dell
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.99 US/$4.25 CAN
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I initially dismissed this book as being a title that was created to milk the Avengers Disassembled/New Avengers wave. However after hearing many recommendations about picking up this book, including Evil Avatar himself, I picked up the first three issues and was really blown away by it. This book captures what the Avengers are, a superhero team where they put aside their problems and work together on what needs to be done for the greater good. The characters that are being used, Patriot, Iron Lad, Asgardian and Hulking, are still somewhat a mystery as to their true origin and powers, but they all somehow have ties to the Avengers. These four super-powered teens were called into action by a failsafe that was programmed into the Vision to locate the next wave of Avengers if anything should happen to the main group. As for the rest of the story, I’ll leave that for you to discover yourself.

In regards to this issue, Allan Heinberg crafts another exciting chapter in the story with excellent pacing, dialogue, characterization and plot in providing an interesting mystery that is packed full of action. The only complaint is there’s thirty more days until the next issue. The artwork by Jim Cheung, John Dell and Justin Ponsor is excellent as is their use of varied panels to add to the action and suspense. In addition, the surprise they create with Kate will make almost any long-term fan of the Avengers wax nostalgically.

Bottom Line:
If you’ve enjoyed the Avengers stories of the past or present, pick this book up. Or if you are a stranger to the Avengers but you enjoy a superhero based book that provide great action adventure with a twist of mystery then this book is for you.

10/10


Teen Titans #24 (An ongoing series)

Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Matthew Clark
Inker: Art Thibert
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Eddie Berganza
Price: $2.50 US/$3.50 CAN

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This issue is a great jumping on point for new readers as Superboy, who is a clone of Superman and Lex Luthor, goes on a destructive rampage of the rest of his Teen Titan teammates after a mysterious call unlocks a hidden trigger in his subconscious. Not only does Superboy trash the Titans but he also shaves his head and cuts an “L” into his Superman t-shirt. These events lead right in to the next issue of the Outsiders as Robin makes a desperate call to the Outsiders pleading for help. This call triggers the next domino to fall in this mysterious master plan with the activation of Brainiac-8 who was/is Indigo, a member of the Outsiders.

Geoff Johns gives first time readers of the title, such as myself, a history of Superboy and then throws the reader right into the mix by cranking the action and story up a notch. The pacing is excellent but as a new reader some of the dialogue and attempts at humor seem forced. Matthew Clark and Art Thibert’s artwork is decent but doesn’t really add anything extra to Johns’ story.

Bottom Line:
This is a decent superhero based book that’s packed full of action and of course the mystery of who's pulling the strings of Superboy and Brainiac-8/Indigo. But if you are a new reader to the series and you want the full story, it looks like you will also have to at least pick up the next issue of the Outsiders. Is it worth the $2.50 if you aren’t already collecting this title? No, spend it on the New Avengers or Wolverine this week. But to be fair, this title was better than the New Thunderbolts #8 that came out this week.

7/10


Wolverine #28 (An ongoing series)

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Mark Millar
Pencils: John Romita, Jr.
Cover: Greg Land & Richard Isanove
Inks: Klaus Janson
Colors: Paul Mounts
Letters: VC’s Randy Gentile
Editor: Jennifer Lee
Price: $2.25 US/$3.25 CAN

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This book has it all for Wolverine fans, action, attitude, snappy dialogue, a great plot with a surprise to even knock long time readers on their heels. Mark Millar was born to write Wolverine, he started this story arc with issue 20 and it’s been an unstoppable ride so far.
The interaction between Northstar and Wolverine does seem out of character based on past portrayals but the tension and results will cause the reader to quickly forget that point. The surprise the Wolverine has in store for the undead foot soldiers of The Dawn of the White Light is damn cool and unexpected; it’s just odd that a top scientist in S.H.I.E.L.D had the same authority as Nick Fury to authorize it. The artwork by John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson really brings the action to life, especially the bar room brawl and the all out massacre at the end of this issue. In addition the coloring by Paul Mounts really brings alive the eeriness of the undead foot soldiers, the various mutant powers and the grim night battle at the end of the issue.

Bottom Line:
If you’ve ever enjoyed reading Wolverine, especially the Frank Miller stories or the Uncanny X-Men’s Mutant Massacre series then this issue and story arc is for you. If you can’t stand Wolverine past antics, at least give this issue a look through, it may change your mind. The downside is that Millar is only going to be on the title until the end of this story arc plus one more issue, according to an interview on Newsarama ( http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/Millar_Wolvie13.htm).

Do yourself a favor if you can’t find the early single issues of this story arc and pick up the recently released hardcover collecting #20-#25, it’s worth the money. I was able to pick a copy of it up through our weekly comic book giveaway sponsor, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) for a great price.

10/10


Thanks to Newsarama ( http://www.newsarama.com/) for the Mark Millar interview link. ( http://www.newsarama.com/JoeFridays/Millar_Wolvie13.htm)
Remember, these books as well as back issues, trade paperbacks, toys and statues are available at BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/).

The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week twelve is Wolverine #28 courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/). The deadline for week twelve entry submissions is Sunday, May 29th. Click here (everlost_mi@evilavatar.com) to submit your entry and don’t forget to include your Evil Avatar screenname.

[StoneGut]

Nice reviews... might have to pick these up when I visit my local comic emporum the week.
ps. I think emporum is a very stupid word.

[Cubfan]

I haven't read or bought any comics since I was a kid, but for some reason I read this little column every week. I dunno why.

[Heretic Machine]

I haven't read any Avengers since Disassembled (found that The Ultimates were much better), just wondering if Vision ever.. eh... got himself back together? :p

[Kish]

Perigon: He's not back yet, kinda in Young Avengers but not alive.