[Comics] - Evil Avatar's Weekly Comic Book Reviews - Week 39

[Everlost_MI]

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

For the month of December, two signed copies of Athena Voltaire: Flight of the Falcon #1 (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=12588) that is being published by Speakeasy Comics (http://www.speakeasycomics.com/index.asp) will be given away by BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) every week. For those unfamiliar with Athena Voltaire check out the following press release (http://www.speakeasycomics.com/news/news_72805b.html) and the official Athena Voltaire website. (http://www.athenavoltaire.com/) The deadline for entry submissions for week thirty-nine is Midnight EST on Sunday, December 4th. The random winners will be drawn on Monday, December 5th, 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.
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/avfof1.jpg (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=12588)

Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers 35% off of comic trade paperbacks (TPBs) and 20-25% off of comics. In addition, they offer 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.

[Everlost_MI]

Week Thirty-Nine:
Evil Avatar's Weekly Comic Book Reviews - Week 39
By Everlost_MI (Brian K. Nichols), Editor in Chief

She-Hulk #2 (An ongoing series)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writter: Dan Slott
Penciler: Juan Bobillo
Inker: Marcelo Sosa
Colors: Avalon’s Dave Kemp
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Cover Artists: Greg Horn
Price: $2.99 US/$4.25 CAN

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/shehulk2.jpg

The She-Hulk series has returned with more humor and legal hi-jinks. In this issue Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk is trying a court case that requires a jury made up of witnesses that have not been exposed to the media frenzy surrounding the case. This requires a little help from a regulated time traveling authority and with Jennifer still distraught over the loss of Clint Barton/Hawkeye she tips the jury selection in her favor and has him selected. This issue focuses on Jennifer trying to tip Clint of ala Back to The Future with the sealed envelope to prevent the future events from occurring. The story shines by showing why it was a mistake to get rid of Hawkeye from the main universe with his wit and style. It was also a bit interesting to see Jennifer trying to exist more as the She-Hulk especially with the physical aspect of her relationship with her boyfriend.

Dan Slott has created a light hearted, fun story that really shines when Clint/Hawkeye is in the panel. Granted, this is a She-Hulk comic, the jade giantess takes a backseat to the violet archer. Slott has an excellent grasp of Hawkeye who's charismatic and loves every minute of being a hero. If they ever create another Hawkeye mini-series, Slott should be one of the first writers considered. The story is decent but the dialogue, pacing, humor and characterizations are quite enjoyable. The clean artwork by Juan Bobillo and Marcelo Sosa is excellent and the cover by Greg Horn is definitely an eye catcher.

Bottom Line:
This title puts the She-Hulk in a humorous light where she often breaks the fourth-wall as she interacts with the audience. This issue is worth the time to at least read through, especially if you’ve been missing Hawkeye. He also appeared in the last issue as well.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e3_5.jpg


Down #1
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Warren Ellis
Penciler: Tony Harris
Inker: Ray Snyder and Dexter Vines
Colors: J.D. Mettler
Editor: Scott Tucker
Price: $2.99 US/$4.60 CAN

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/down1.jpg

This series was initially scheduled for release in 2001 but due to publisher problems it was delayed until now. The story revolves around Lieutenant Price as she’s been working undercover in narcotics for the past two years. She’s obliterated one of the major rivals gangs in a violent drug buy gone bad, and now on her downward spiral out of the police force she’s offered another chance. The chance is to bring back another cop, dead or alive, who went undercover five years ago only to go native and end up running the city’s largest drug gang.

Warren Ellis has created another world where the reader can feel the grit and corruption seeping out of the pages. The dialogue and characterizations are enthralling and in no time the reader will find themselves at the end of the issue itching for more. The breakneck pacing combined with the nose crunching visuals created by Tony Harris during the initial pages will give the reader whiplash. As I’ve stated before, Ellis really shines when he’s writing his own material and isn’t forced to comply or succumb to the restrictions of someone else’s character. Tony Harris will not be providing the artwork for the final three issues; the art chores now belong to Cully Hamner.

Bottom Line:
If you enjoy crime noir stories or have enjoyed Ellis’ Fell or Authority or for that matter Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled series then pick this book up. The writing and artwork is excellent, but this is not a book for the squeamish.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e4_5.jpg

Jack Cross #4
Publisher: DC Comics
Created and Written by: Warren Ellis
Illustrated by: Gary Erskine
Colors by: Brian Reber
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Editor: Joey Cavalieri
Price: $2.50 US/$3.50 CAN

http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/comics/jackcross4.jpg

Jack Cross has nearly put together all the pieces in the puzzle behind the off-the-record CIA cells plan to use a neurological device in San Francisco in an effort to cover up their screw-up. It’s only during the take down of the various field agents who are attempting to initialize the device do all the pieces fall in place.

Warren Ellis has created an interesting character driven title that features a constant political theme as the viewpoints and enigma of Jack Cross unfold. The dialogue is excellent while the pacing and storyline in some parts is uneven and a bit spotty. Gary Erskine’s artwork is quite detailed but his action sequences seem a bit off and stiff. Even with this slight writing and artist difficulties, the story is still enjoyable to read.

Bottom Line:
This issue is worth reading if you’ve been following the series so far, if not wait until issue five when a new storyline begins or get the back issues first.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 EvilEyes
http://www.evilavatar.com/images/icons/e3_5.jpg

What else is worth reading this week…
· Young Avengers #9 – Huh, that would explain a few things.
· Ex Machina #16 – The Machine demonstrates that he knows how to handle himself.

The Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway for week thirty-nine are two signed copies of Athena Voltaire: Flight of the Falcon #1 (http://www.bcbcomics.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=12588). The deadline for entry submissions for week thirty-nine is Sunday, December 4th with the random winners being drawn on Monday, December 5th.

Evil Avatar’s Comic Book Review Weekly giveaway provider BCBcomics (http://www.bcbcomics.com/) offers 35% off of comic trade paperbacks (TPBs) and 20-25% off of comics.

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.

[Heretic Machine]

SPOILERS


Well, it's not like Hawkeye is actually dead right now anyhow.

[Oddmaker]

She-Hulk is crap imo, sorry to the lovers :P

[Everlost_MI]

SPOILERS


Well, it's not like Hawkeye is actually dead right now anyhow.

True, but then again is anyone really dead in comics?

[thecrazyd]

If only I wasn't such a Warren Ellis fan. I have bought all issues of Jack Cross, even though the art is fucking painfull. Gary Erskine, meet perspective and his good friend proportion. Sure, the art is detailed, but apparently either no one in San Fransisco has a fucking ironing board, or Erskine is OCD about drawing wrinkles on shirts. Saying the action scenes are a bit stiff is an understatement; they have rigormortis.

Continuity fun! Try to find the panel where Jack is missing the bandage on his head.

The art is uterly atrocious, but I dig the story. I would only recomend it to hardcore Ellis fans, who are also blind.

[Rommel]

Mistake to kill character after character in meaningless fashion last year in an attempt to spark temporary interest in the comic? Who would had thunk! In wrestling booking, this is called "Hot-shotting." Everyone knows that comics were on top when carefully planned, well built story lines became coming to fruitition. It was only when sudden, ground breaking events unfolded that made no sense save offer shock value (Spider clone saga, anyone?) that the fans left.

[lpmiller]

the clone saga caused problems because it went on for something like 3 years. during the time, it raised sales - which is why it went on so long. But it lost steam and ended up pissing people off in the end.

[Kefkataran]

I'm really digging Jack Cross and Down. Interested in seeing where Jack Cross goes when the next arc begins in a few months.

As for She-Hulk, I love it, but for some reason I didn't get a copy in my pull box Wednesday. :( I'll have to ask around.

[bardockkun]

True, but then again is anyone really dead in comics?
Uncle Ben and Dead Girl i guess, but a matter of how you define dead. Also Bruce Wayne's parents and...yah im clear out.

[Kefkataran]

Uncle Ben and Dead Girl i guess, but a matter of how you define dead. Also Bruce Wayne's parents and...yah im clear out.

Oooh, oooh, Barry Allen!! They've done well with that one so far. Although who knows with Infinite Crisis and The Flash ending...

[bardockkun]

Oooh, oooh, Barry Allen!! They've done well with that one so far. Although who knows with Infinite Crisis and The Flash ending...
Didn't Barry Allen make like a quick (no pun intended) cameo in The Flash: Rogue War? Oh yah, forgot his name right now, but the native american character that premiered in Giant Size X-Men #1 and died a few months later in Uncanny X-Men. Unless Marvel does something as stupid as resurrect him for the whole Deadly Genesis thing.

[Kefkataran]

Didn't Barry Allen make like a quick (no pun intended) cameo in The Flash: Rogue War?

Yes, but he's made a couple appearances in Johns's run on Flash, but he's still dead. I haven't read the issues, so I'm not totally sure how it works, but I think it was something about Allen going into the future to give Wally West three visits on the three worse days of his life or something like that. Either way, he is still dead.

[Superunknown[GP]]

She-Hulk is crap imo, sorry to the lovers :P

She-Hulk is one of the most amusing reads in comics.