Evil Avatar's Weekly Comic Book Reviews - Week 30

[Everlost_MI]

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

The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week thirty is Captain America #10 courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/). The deadline for entry submissions for week thirty is Sunday, October 2nd. The selection of the random winner for the August books will occur on Sunday October 30th. 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 October are:

• Captain America #10

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 Captain America #10, Wolverine #32 and Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/capamerica10.jpg http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/wolverine32.jpg http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/ultffannual.jpg

[Everlost_MI]

Week Thirty:

Captain America #10 (An ongoing series) of 6
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Lee Weeks
Inker: Jesse Delperdang w/ Lee Weeks & Mike Perkins
Colorist: Avalon’s Matt Milla
Letterer: VC’s Randy Gentle
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Price: $2.99 US/$4.25 CAN

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/capamerica10.jpg

This issue of Captain America takes a break from the Winter Solider storyline and spins a what-if tale of what happened to Captain America in the House of M crossover event. The story sheds light on what happened to Captain America and Bucky in light of the House of M events.

Ed Brubaker did a decent job of crafting a story out of what was forced in his hands while working on his Winter Solider storyline. The pacing, dialogue and characterization are suitable as the story doesn’t come across as being rush and Captain America reacts accordingly to his character as the story develops. Lee Weeks did passable but not memorable job in the artwork department.

Bottom Line:
If you’re following the House of M storyline or the Captain America series, you could skip this issue and not be out anything.

3/10


Wolverine #32 (An ongoing series)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Kaare Andrews
Colors: Jose Villarrubia
Letters: VC’s Randy Gentle
Editor: Alex Alonso
Price: $2.50 US/$3.50 CAN

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/wolverine32.jpg

This stand-alone story marks the last of the series of issues written by Mark Millar and it ends with a creepy yet poignant story involving a Nazi concentration camp. The story revolves around Wolverine being the individual who’s taking down a specific Nazi concentration camp in a manner that is strange even by his standards. The narration of the story is told from the point of view of those in charge of the Sobibor concentration camp as they try in vain to defeat the undying prisoner that haunts them. The issue ends with a note from Millar on how he received help on this story from Will Eisner.

Millar did an excellent job of story, characterization, dialogue and pacing. The fact that Wolverine didn’t speak a word actually added a depth the story that could have been destroyed by his typical dialogue. Kaare Andrews used a very simple style in creating the artwork for this issue. The panel layout, especially the bleed over that occurred from panel to panel added a level of atmosphere to the issue. In addition, the use of heavy shadows helped to convey a eerie and serious tone to the book.

Bottom Line:
This issue was a great stand-alone Wolverine story that is a cut above the standard fare that Wolverine is used in and for. It’s worth the time and money in reading.

8/10

Ultimate Fantastic Four Annual #1 (One shot?)

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Jae Lee
Colors: June Chung
Letters: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover Artists: Greg Land, Matt Ryan & Juston Ponsor
Editor: Ralph Macchio
Price: $3.99 US/$5.75 CAN

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/ultffannual.jpg

This comic marks the last of the Ultimate universe annuals for 2005. While it does introduce the Ultimate universe versions of the Inhumans it is the weakest of the Ultimate annuals to date. The annual was a decent read but aside from introducing the Inhumans, it didn’t really add anything to the Ultimate universe or the Ultimate Fantastic Four. The Inhumans take off for the moon after having to abandon Attilan from the Fantastic Four tainting it with their human presence and in any Marvel Universe, Johnny and Crystal still have the hots for each other. The Ultimate Inhumans aside from Medusa and Gorgon were pretty much the same as the main Marvel universe. The significant change in Ultimate versions of Medusa was her actually having the mythological gorgon hair of living snakes while Gorgon was a female.

Mark Millar created a standard fare plot that had decent pacing and dialogue. The strength of the issue was Jae Lee’s artwork that was also used in the Paul Jenkins’ mini series focusing on the main Marvel universe Inhumans a few years. Lee’s moody artwork makes excellent use of light and shadows throughout the issue whether it’s action scene or dialogue panels. In addition, Greg Land, who is doing the art chores on the regular Ultimate Fantastic Four series, created the killer cover to this issue.

Bottom Line:
While this annual is the weakest in the Ultimate Annuals it’s still worth the price of admission, especially if you’re an Ultimate Fantastic Four fan or enjoy Jae Lee’s work.

7/10

What else is worth reading this week…
• The Ultimates 2 #8 – Damn! I still don’t believe he’s the traitor.


The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week thirty is Captain America #10 courtesy of BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/). The deadline for week twenty-nine entry submissions is Sunday, October 2nd.

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.

[Sion]

Sandman is the best comic ever, Lucifer is the 2nd best.

[Kish]

The Ultimates 2 #8 – Damn! I still don’t believe he’s the traitor.


I really don't think he is either. What about Loki, those guys who could shape change, Red Skull, another cap (they have all those cap recruits) or some sort of gov set up?

[Cupelix]

The Ultimates 2 #8 – Damn! I still don’t believe he’s the traitor.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. My comic store definitely didn't have Ultimates #8 on the shelves this week. Thank you guys for being vague so far :P

[thecrazyd]

Sandman is the best comic ever, Lucifer is the 2nd best.
Sandman is the angstiest comic ever, and that is a bit off topic, don't you think?

[Kish]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. My comic store definitely didn't have Ultimates #8 on the shelves this week. Thank you guys for being vague so far :P

We have a few copies (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=11565) if you can't get it at your shop Cupelix.

[Sion]

Sandman is the angstiest comic ever, and that is a bit off topic, don't you think?


Now youre just playa hatin

[Kefkataran]

Now youre just playa hatin

It was off-topic.

That said, I don't see Sandman as completely angsty, at least far from the angstiest ever. But I'm only on the fifth volume.

[thecrazyd]

It was off-topic.

That said, I don't see Sandman as completely angsty, at least far from the angstiest ever. But I'm only on the fifth volume.
Wait til the end. The angst just keeps on coming. That is not to say it is bad, but you can see why the hot topic kids are all up ons.