Evil Avatar's Weekly Comic Book Reviews - Week 29

[Everlost_MI]

Welcome to week twenty-nine of Evil Avatar’s Weekly Comic Book Reviews.

The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week twenty-nine is Batman & Robin: The Boy Wonder #2 courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/). The deadline for entry submissions for week twenty-nine
is Sunday, September 25th. The selection of the random winner for the August books will occur on Sunday September 25th. Click here (everlost_mi@evilavatar.com) to submit your entry and don’t forget to include your Evil Avatar screenname. Remember, you can submit one entry each week to increase your chances of winning.

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

· Captain America #9
· Ghost Rider #1
· Batman & Robin: The Boy Wonder #2

If you’re tired of missing out on your regular or new comics then you’re in need of a reliable comic book subscription provider. Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers comic book subscriptions (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 20% off of cover price, all issues are bagged and boarded PLUS free* shipping for orders over $14.99 and cheap* shipping for orders under $14.99 (*see BCBcomics’ website (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) for the details).

Remember, these are NOT spoiler-free reviews.

The books that have been reviewed are X-Men #175, Fantastic Four Present: Franklin Richards Son of A Genius #1 and Batman & Robin: The Boy Wonder #2
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/xmen175.jpg http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/ff-franklin.jpg http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/batmanrobin2.jpg

[Everlost_MI]

Week Twenty-nine:

X-Men #175 (An ongoing series)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Peter Milligan
Penciler: Salvador Larroca
Inker: Danny Miki with Allen Martinez
Colorist: Liquid!
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Editor: Mike Marts
Price: $2.50 US/$3.50 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/xmen175.jpg

The X-Men. A hundred and seventy-five issues later and nothing has changed but the number of issues that have been cranked out. Granted this is the spin off series from the Uncanny X-Men which is up to issue four hundred and sixty-five, but in this book neither the characters nor the team has grown anywhere since that initial issue in the early 1990s. While this might be a way for Marvel to snag new readers, it snubs long time ones. For example, Iceman is less mature as a character than his Ultimate Universe incarnation; Rogue and Gambit are still having issues as if they just met back in the late two hundred issues of Uncanny X-Men, or Havok being treated like the new kid on the block. The characters act like this is their second or third mission in the field while having no or little background about each other. And for the umpteenth time, Storm recounts her tale as a thief in Africa, perhaps it was done this time around as a marketing tie-in for her mini-series, Ororo: Before The Storm. In any case, this issue spins its wheels by re-treading character and team interaction with a traditional splash page of Wolverine attacking someone. Instead, if Peter Milligan acknowledged the past of the characters and moved this story forward it wouldn’t have been such a disaster. In Milligan’s defense it is probably the various managing editors at Marvel that have decreed a constant status quo for their cash cow franchise. Finally, if a first time reader read this issue, I am sure the reaction to the book would have been better than the one I’ve given it

For what material Milligan was given he did a passable job in the form of plot. That aside, the characterization and dialogue are horrible and very uncharacteristic of the X-Men and the ending was poorly executed. Salvador Larroca did a great job in the form of artwork, even though I complained about the traditional Wolverine splash page it was still damn pretty.

Bottom Line:
If you are a long time X-Men fan, then stay away from this book as it will do nothing but disappoint you. For new X-Men fans, this is something relatively new and may appeal to you.

2/10


Fantastic Four Present: Franklin Richards Son of A Genius #1 (One Shot)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Story: Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerak
Script: Marc Sumerak
Art & Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Editor: Mackenzie Cadenhead
Price: $2.99 US/$4.25 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/ff-franklin.jpg

This comic collects the four stories that were originally presented in the Power Pack mini-series and adds an addition story for this one shot. The stories are funny and lighthearted in the vein of Calvin and Hobbes while being given the twist of being the son of Mr. Fantastic. Chris Eliopoulos and Marc Sumerak do an excellent job of telling the various stories that show how much fun/trouble Franklin gets into and they actually find a useful purpose for H.E.R.B.I.E., a comic foil.

Bottom Line:
This is a fun lighthearted issue for those who enjoy Calvin and Hobbes as well as the Fantastic Four. Is it worth $2.99? No, I’d wait until this issue shows up in the dollar box.

5/10


All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder #2 (An ongoing series)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Frank Miller
Pencils: Jim Lee
Inks: Scott Williams
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Artists: Jim Lee & Scott Williams
Editor: Bob Schreck
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/batmanrobin2.jpg

Huh. That’s the feeling issue two of this series has left me with. I know Bruce Wayne/Batman is odd and it’s even more bizarre that he takes a young boy who’s lost his parents tragically into his home and lifestyle. But the way Frank Miller is creating the inner struggles in both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson is disconcerting to say the least. With the understanding that this is a modern look at the classic characters, it makes me sit back after reading this issue and think, “Huh. Ok.” and hope that next issue makes a bit more sense in character development. I am a little afraid this issue may have jumped the shark and gone down the Batman Forever trail with the whole Batmobile trick. I am still clinging to some hope that Miller can pull it off.

Aside from the odd characterizations that Miller is creating the plot, pace and dialogue is decent and the modern spin on Alfred makes more sense than how he’s be portrayed as in the past. The artwork by Lee is excellent as it’s full of action and energy, however again the inking is rather weak which results in some of the various action panels being a bit hard to follow upon first glance.


Bottom Line:
The issue take a left turn in the form of characterization and some minor plot points Aside from that, the artwork is excellent and hopefully issue three will put the book back on track.

7/10


The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week twenty-nine is Batman & Robin: The Boy Wonder #2 courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/). The deadline for week twenty-nine entry submissions is Sunday, September 25th.

If you’re tired of missing out on your regular or new comics then you’re in need of a reliable comic book subscription provider. Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider, BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers comic book subscriptions (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 20% off of cover price, all issues are bagged and boarded PLUS free* shipping for orders over $14.99 and cheap* shipping for orders under $14.99 (*see BCBcomics’ website (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=7
) for the details).

Click here (everlost_mi@evilavatar.com) to submit your entry and don’t forget to include your Evil Avatar screenname.

Remember, you can submit one entry per week to increase your chances of winning.

[Cupelix]

For what material Milligan was given he did a passable job in the form of plot. From what Milligan was given? I'm not sure what you mean by that. You make it sound like Milligan has no excuse but to write the shitty, nonsense stories he's been writing since he started working on X-Men. I'm sorry, but I can't cut him that kind of slack - its clear to me that he's trying to create characterization (whatever b.s. he's trying to do with Polaris and what she "saw" in outer space) - but he can't get past writing the same conversation between Iceman, Havok, and Polaris each issue. I don't agree that the editors enforce the lack of change - check Astonishing X-Men for actual developments in character. Milligan has blown his run on X-Men.


As for Batman & Robin, I might be dropping the whole thing after the portrayal of Batman in this issue. He's shown as a little too gung-ho and insane for my tastes. Batman should be a methodical, analytical detective who is pretty damn anti-social. Miller has just made him plain insane. Boring, and unnecessary.

[TrackZero]

hundred and seventy-five issues later and nothing has changed but the number of issues that have been cranked out. Granted this is the spin off series from the Uncanny X-Men which is up to issue four hundred and sixty-five, but in this book neither the characters nor the team has grown anywhere since that initial issue in the early 1990s.

Goddamn. Good thing I only followed this series from #1-30 and then dropped it. To be truthful, I've found the Ultimate X-men line to be far more interesting and fun to read (though I do miss Jim Lee's art of course).

[Everlost_MI]

From what Milligan was given? I'm not sure what you mean by that. You make it sound like Milligan has no excuse but to write the shitty, nonsense stories he's been writing since he started working on X-Men. I'm sorry, but I can't cut him that kind of slack - its clear to me that he's trying to create characterization (whatever b.s. he's trying to do with Polaris and what she "saw" in outer space) - but he can't get past writing the same conversation between Iceman, Havok, and Polaris each issue. I don't agree that the editors enforce the lack of change - check Astonishing X-Men for actual developments in character. Milligan has blown his run on X-Men.

As for Batman & Robin, I might be dropping the whole thing after the portrayal of Batman in this issue. He's shown as a little too gung-ho and insane for my tastes. Batman should be a methodical, analytical detective who is pretty damn anti-social. Miller has just made him plain insane. Boring, and unnecessary.

Granted I've only read #175 so I haven't been able to see the pattern or damage Milligan has created, only what he's done in that single issue. Astonishing is a spin off that has been granted a more freedom that the main titles because it's Quesada's pet project so it personally feel it's given more slack than the main titles.

[The Iron Weasel]

I've been thinking bout getting into comic books, mainly The Punisher catchs my interest, anyway what series should i start looking at, i've heard the MAX one is the most recent, and is way more what some people think punisher should be like, which i think means that its more violent, any suggestions or thoughts?

[CapnBob]

As much as I used to enjoy Frank Miller's work, I can't help but feel that he hasn't written anything but pure shit ever since that sequel to his Dark Knight story. That was just plain retarded.

[Cupelix]

I've been thinking bout getting into comic books, mainly The Punisher catchs my interest, anyway what series should i start looking at, i've heard the MAX one is the most recent, and is way more what some people think punisher should be like, which i think means that its more violent, any suggestions or thoughts?
I don't read any Punisher books - but the MAX line is the Marvel line which allows "adult content" in the continuity of the Marvel universe (The Icon line allows adult content, but outside of the Marvel universe). Presumably, whatever Punisher book is published under the MAX license will have the most room to do Punisher-esque things.

[Justin_McElroy]

Judging from the cover art, Franklin doesn't seem to be "in the vein" of Calvin and Hobbes, he seems to be "ripping him off." Am I missing something?

[mister_slim]

As for Batman & Robin, I might be dropping the whole thing after the portrayal of Batman in this issue. He's shown as a little too gung-ho and insane for my tastes. Batman should be a methodical, analytical detective who is pretty damn anti-social. Miller has just made him plain insane. Boring, and unnecessary.
Yes, obviously the methodical, analytical way to fight crime is to dress up as a winged rodent and recruit an acrobat.

[carneconcarne]

so there are 3 xmen comics not even counting the new ultimate restart? Are they all in the same timeline? universe? Is there an official one that ties in with the rest of pre ultimate marvel?

[Kefkataran]

It sucks that Milligan's X-Men writing isn't up to par with some of the great stuff he's done before (namely X-Force/X-Statix).

As for Miller's new Batman stuff, I need to both agree and disagree. The characterization WAS really weird and felt a bit "off" to me. But I wouldn't go so far as to say it's boring or unnecessary yet. I'm still giving Miller the benefit of the doubt here to see where he takes this.

who is pretty damn anti-social

He's never been *that* anti-social. I mean, sure, he likes working alone most of the time, but he's also always got a huge cast of back-up characters who are helping him out from time to time.

so there are 3 xmen comics not even counting the new ultimate restart? Are they all in the same timeline? universe? Is there an official one that ties in with the rest of pre ultimate marvel?

Uncanny, X-Men, and Astonishing are all in the 616 (Normal) Marvel universe. Ultimate X-Men, obviously, is in the Ultimate universe. Uncanny was the first X-Men comic, so it's always been considered the main one.

If you think four is a lot, you're mistaken. Look at the '90s when there were a ridiculous number of X-spinoffs.

...

Speaking of X-spinoffs, the new X-Factor monthly starts in December. I'm pretty excited about this one though.

[Last of the Red Hot Mamas]

Some scans (http://www.livejournal.com/community/scans_daily/869517.html) from All-Star Batman and Robin #2. Wrong on oh so many levels. "I'm the goddamn Batman" is the funniest thing I've read all year.

[agentgray]

Some scans (http://www.livejournal.com/community/scans_daily/869517.html) from All-Star Batman and Robin #2. Wrong on oh so many levels. ...Nice. Does anyone see the irony in this post?

[Kefkataran]

Oh, I do, I do!

[The Iron Weasel]

Oh, I do, I do!

I think someone is getting a sticker!

[Kefkataran]

I fucking love stickers. Yes!