[Comics] - Evil Avatar's Weekly Comic Book Reviews - Year 2 - Week 13
Welcome to week thirteen of Evil Avatar’s Weekly Comic Book Reviews.
The Evil Avatar’s Weekly Comic Book Review column features a monthly giveaway where a randomly drawn winner gets to choose four comics from a list of what BCBcomics has in stock. BCBcomics offer comic book subscriptions with many fringe benefits including no hidden costs, 30-35% off of cover price (depending on the publisher), all issues are bagged, boarded and offer cheap* shipping on all orders (*see BCBcomics’ website for the details). In addition, the comics featured on BCBcomics home page are 50% off or just $1 if you’re a subscriber. The list is in the neighborhood of 200 to 400 titles that will be emailed to the lucky winner after the drawing.
One entry submission is allowed per week. The deadline of entry submissions for week thirteen is midnight EST on Sunday, April 2nd. The selection of the random winner for the April books will occur on Monday, May 1st. Click here to submit your entry and don’t forget to include your Evil Avatar screenname. Remember, submit an entry each week to increase your chances of winning.
Remember, these are NOT spoiler-free reviews.
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"I use to be a highly respected watcher, and now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical strength of a doily." Giles while playing D&D on Buffy.
Gamertag: EverlostMI
Week Thirteen:
Evil Avatar's Weekly Comic Book Reviews – Year 2 - Week 13
By Everlost_MI (Brian K. Nichols), Editor in Chief
Batman #651 (An ongoing series)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: James Robinson
Penciler: Don Kramer
Inker: Keith Champagne
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Price: $2.50 US/$3.50 CAN
Batman and Robin end the hostage crisis created by Poison Ivy with little difficulty in this second part of the story arc that was started in Detective Comics #817. The wake of the Dynamic Duo’s return causes wide-ranging responses from various Gotham citizens as well as foreshadowing a major change in Jason Bard’s life. Jason Bard is an ex-Marine private eye that was engaged to Barbara Gordon at one point, even though he never knew she was Batgirl, and has been tapped by Batman for his services in the past. The issue ends with the corpse of the villain Magpie being found by Bullock.
James Robinson who’s scripting this title as well as Detective Comics has an easy time of maintaining the storyline and does an enjoyable job with the characterizations and the theme of One Year Later. Don Kramer’s artwork captures the essence of the classic Neal Adams work on the Dark Knight and captivates the audience with well-used layouts and action sequences. Simon Bianchi is doing the breathtaking covers of Detective Comics and Batman. While the interior artwork of both titles are excellent, the striking difference in art styles between the covers and the interior work may turn off some who are expecting the same type of artwork throughout the issues.
Bottom Line:
This is a solid Batman story that’s initiating various subplots and re-establishing the Dynamic Duo as a team and a presence in Gotham. If you’re either a die-hard or casual Batman fan, I would recommend picking up this and Detective Comics titles.
Rating: 4 out of 5 EvilEyes
The Incredible Hulk #93 (An ongoing series)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Daniel Way (Greg Pak…?)
Penciler: Carlo Pagulayan
Inker: Jeffery Heut
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: VC’s Randy Gentile
Editor: Mark Paniccia
Price: $2.99 US/$4.25 CAN
First off, the credit of who wrote this issue is in question. According to the cover as well as Marvel Comics’ and Greg Pak’s websites this issue is written by Greg Pak not Daniel Way. Way is credited with the scripting chores in the inside cover of the issue, so for the sake of this review I will assume it's Pak’s work.
This issue picks up with the Hulk making the best of his situation of being expelled from Earth by the Illuminati after he saves the Earth by destroying a rogue sentient space satellite. Due to the Hulk’s ever increasing danger to the Earth and mankind as a whole, he was slated to be dumped on a planet where he couldn’t harm anyone. Unfortunately or fortunately if you’re the Hulk and the slaves of Sakaar, the spaceship the Hulk was unwitting trapped in had been knocked off course and was sucked into a wormhole. The wormhole dumped the damaged ship on the planet of Sakaar where a weakened Hulk was forced into slavery and sent to die in the Great Arena. The Hulk survived the waves of foes in the Great Arena only to take the Emperor of Sakaar, also known as the Red King, on and disgrace him in front of the masses. This gave hope to the rebellion and signed a death warrant for the Hulk in the Maw. Again the Hulk survives and is grouped with six other prisoners, including a Brood, into a team of gladiators to provide further entertainment for the masses. The issue ends with the rebellion attempting to free the Hulk and inadvertently the rest of the team in an effort to have the Hulk fight for them.
Greg Pak’s storyline while not original when compared to the other banishments the Hulk has undergone in the past is still fun and fits in perfectly with the upcoming Civil War saga. Seeing the Hulk being able to tear loose and ignore his Bruce Banner side without the constant psychological themes that have dominated the character more often than not for quite a few years is an enjoyable change of pace. The dialogue and the characterizations, especially of the Hulk are quite amusing. The pacing of the issue is also well done to provide a balance of drama and action without bogging the story down or making it seem like a huge selection of pinups. Carlo Pagulayan’s detailed artwork match the script by providing great visuals during the dialogue and action scenes.
Bottom Line:
This issue feels like a classic Hulk SMASH story with all the fun and abandonment but mixed with a focused storyline and hints that the Hulk’s actions will affect him in both the short and long term. For long-term Hulk fans, this is an excellent direction for the series and for those who are casual fans it’s a great time to pick the title up.
Rating: 4 out of 5 EvilEyes
Mouse Guard: Belly of the Beast #1 of 6
Publisher: Archaia Studios Press
Story and Art: David Peterson
Price: $3.50 US
This independent comic caught me completely off guard and it didn’t take more than a few pages for me to become entranced with it. The following synopsis at Archaia Studio Press of the title is put together better than I could even try.
Quote:
In Mouse Guard, mice struggle to live safely and prosper among all of the world's harsh conditions and predators. Thus the Mouse Guard was formed. They are not simply soldiers that fight off intruders; rather, they are guides for commonmice looking to journey without confrontation from one hidden mouse village to another. The Guard patrol borders, find safeways and paths through dangerous territories and treacherous terrain, watch weather patterns, and keep the mouse territories free of predatory infestation. They do so with fearless dedication so that they might not just exist, but truly live. In this first issue of Mouse Guard, Saxon, Kenzie, & Lieam are dispatched to find a missing merchant mouse that never arrived at his destination. In doing so they stumble onto much more than they had bargained for.
David Peterson has created story with eye-catching artwork that will enthrall the audience with charm and awe, as the world of Mouse Guard is unfolded. The story combines the themes of fantasy and reality into a tale that contains familiar situations and characters that quickly allow the audience to get comfortable. The detailed art including the use of the color is breathtaking as it completes the story by conveying the story instead relying of narration or dialogue to seal the immersion.
Bottom Line:
If you’ve enjoyed Bone, The Secret of Nihm or a well-told fantasy tale then this issue is worth the time and money in tracking down. The story while simple is enchanting and artwork is gorgeous.
Rating: 5 out of 5 EvilEyes
What else is worth reading this week…
· Nextwave #3 – This series in art, humor and story gets better with each issue.
· Ultimate Fantastic Four #28 – That was a nice twist about Ben. I am curious how this will turn out with the promise of the Fantastic Four Zombies and Dr. Doom on the horizon.
· Captain America #16 – The Winter Solider isn’t gone and AIM needs Cap’s help? Call me intrigued.
· X-Factor #5 – A great stand alone story by PAD that shows that Rictor isn’t helpless.
The deadline of entry submissions for week thirteen is midnight EST on Sunday, April 2nd. The selection of the random winner for the April books will occur on Monday, May 1st. Click here 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.
__________________
"I use to be a highly respected watcher, and now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical strength of a doily." Giles while playing D&D on Buffy.
Gamertag: EverlostMI
Last edited by Everlost_MI; 03-26-2006 at 08:59 PM..
Reason: I forgot to add Nextwave as a worthy title to read! A horrible mistake!
Great reviews. Unfortunately, two of them (Batman and X-Factor) were ones that my local comic shop underordered so I'm getting them late. Can't wait till my BCB subs kick in.
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"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
· X-Factor #5 – A great stand alone story by PAD that shows that Rictor isn’t helpless.
I agree that its a great story, its just too bad that Ryan Sook is no longer the interior artist. His art, in my opinion, is superior to Calero's in almost every way shape and form. To be honest, I didn't realize it was Rictor and not Jamie coming to save Siryn. Sook did a much better job of defining faces, so you didn't have to pay attention to what shirt someone was wearing to tell who they were. Plus, Rictor was doing detective work, which up until now, we've only seen Jamie do, so I was a little confused.
Didn't Greg Pak also write the pointless Phoenix: End Song mini and was touted as the new writer at Marvel with a bright future? Yet somehow, didn't live up to that (somehow). I don't know, but he hasn't done anything to impress. Hopefully a TPB and everyone will prove me otherwise here, but for now "mehhhh, not intrigued."
Batman though, damn you Everlost my damn comic shop was out of the first part of OYL Batman. Also Superman OYL so far, it isn't anything too suprising. I honestly hate the new Supergirl and hate she's the one filling the void for Superman. I hope it does get to a point where it goes to "oh shit didn't see that coming territory."
But yah, so far underwhelmed by OYL compared to the 5 issues of Infinite Crisis.
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"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed." - Eleanor Roosevelt
I'm not really a huge comic fan. Have a thing for Hellboy and The Goon and a couple of others but that's it. I LOVED both the Redwall series of books and Watership Down though (dissapointed in both of the cartoons).
I was waiting for a couple of friends to finish up paying for their comics the other day and noticed the artwork on Mouse Guard and creamed myself ("MARTIN THE WARRIOR!"), then for some reason didn't buy it... Gonna have to drag my sorry ass back into the city centre tomorrow now. I'm pretty sure I remember it being bound like a tpb not a comic book though.
Also Superman OYL so far, it isn't anything too suprising. I honestly hate the new Supergirl and hate she's the one filling the void for Superman. I hope it does get to a point where it goes to "oh shit didn't see that coming territory."
Seriously? I LOVED the first issue of OYL Superman. But I've been loving almost everything OYL I've read so far (except Nightwing which was pretty mediocre).
__________________
"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
Seriously? I LOVED the first issue of OYL Superman. But I've been loving almost everything OYL I've read so far (except Nightwing which was pretty mediocre).
Though honestly the problem with Superman is that basically it didn't suprise me or leave me hanging off the one part of the seat i should need ("THE EDGE"). I mean solid writing like always from Geoff and Kurt, but Superman is one of the big three so you expect something big especially with what he means to DC. Instead it's One Year Later and Superman has no powers and it doesn't exactly get me interested to know how Superman has been doing as a reporter for that one year, since i figure Infinite Crisis explains how he becomes a man and really i don't think it's anything that will last.
Then again i can complain the same about Batman with nothing new besides everything old (Robin is back and so is Gordan) is new again. I haven't read it though, but honestly i LOVE the creative team behind it. Also if the follow up writer to Batman is Grant Morrison then i know there's going to be some solid stuff happening.
I wish Geoff Johns would've been writting Nightwing for OYL. He nailed the character down so damn well with no pure angst, but instead as a leader who follows the same footsteps as Batman, but doesn't rely on seclusion. Damn that would be so friggin sweet. Oh well, JLA, Flash, and Wonder Woman still there to look forward to so DC is still best publisher right now.
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"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed." - Eleanor Roosevelt
I agree that its a great story, its just too bad that Ryan Sook is no longer the interior artist. His art, in my opinion, is superior to Calero's in almost every way shape and form. To be honest, I didn't realize it was Rictor and not Jamie coming to save Siryn. Sook did a much better job of defining faces, so you didn't have to pay attention to what shirt someone was wearing to tell who they were. Plus, Rictor was doing detective work, which up until now, we've only seen Jamie do, so I was a little confused.
I agree about Sook's work and your comment about it being odd that Rictor is now doing the detective work when it was Jamie's role initially. I think it's better than Rictor moping around about being de-powered.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bardockkun
Didn't Greg Pak also write the pointless Phoenix: End Song mini and was touted as the new writer at Marvel with a bright future? Yet somehow, didn't live up to that (somehow). I don't know, but he hasn't done anything to impress. Hopefully a TPB and everyone will prove me otherwise here, but for now "mehhhh, not intrigued."
Batman though, damn you Everlost my damn comic shop was out of the first part of OYL Batman. Also Superman OYL so far, it isn't anything too suprising. I honestly hate the new Supergirl and hate she's the one filling the void for Superman. I hope it does get to a point where it goes to "oh shit didn't see that coming territory."
Phoenix: End Song was enjoyable to read because of Greg Land's artwork. Pak did have a good handle on the characters and dialogue. It was just the story was again another way for Marvel to milk a thirty year old character/storyline. Sure it's a bit different but at least this time they wrapped it in a prettier package. Pak also wrote the sequel to Neil Gaiman's 1602 series and it was entitled 1602: A New World. I couldn't get through the initial issue, between the weak storyline, horrible dialogue and just being boring as watching Elmer's glue dry. Actually when you're eight and stuck in school that is kind of fun to watch, but I digress. Pak's work on the Hulk is good so far, but by no means is it the quality of Peter David's.
The Batman and Detective OYL issues at least from me bring back the awe and wonder of Batman and Robin. It's fun to read without Batman's angst being louder than a Nirvana song nor the bubble-gum of being chums that has occurred in media and comic book forms of the Dynamic Duo. Don't get me wrong, Batman/Bruce Wayne needs to brood and have angst but to the degree that he's had for the past few years. Granted he's has had his back broken, memory messed with and so on.
__________________
"I use to be a highly respected watcher, and now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical strength of a doily." Giles while playing D&D on Buffy.
Gamertag: EverlostMI
The Batman and Detective OYL issues at least from me bring back the awe and wonder of Batman and Robin. It's fun to read without Batman's angst being louder than a Nirvana song nor the bubble-gum of being chums that has occurred in media and comic book forms of the Dynamic Duo. Don't get me wrong, Batman/Bruce Wayne needs to brood and have angst but to the degree that he's had for the past few years. Granted he's has had his back broken, memory messed with and so on.
Hey i agree completly about Batman taking a break from being broody *cough*All Star Batman*cough*. So it's good to see Batman with Robin without him being a total douche bag. More reason i'm eager to get my hands on it for myself, especially with a good writter on board finally writting Batman.
Also what CAN compare to Peter David's Hulk run honestly? Though seriously, i'm sure Greg Pak is talented, but the projects he chooses are basically all stories that really don't need a long over extended and pointless sequel. It's not that i don't have faith in the guy, it's just that he hasn't really done anything to give me the least bit of wow in any of his projects and it gives me no drive to check out his comics.
__________________
"America is all about speed. Hot, nasty, bad-ass speed." - Eleanor Roosevelt
"Groups commonly confused with rodents, or erroneously thought to be rodents, include the aforementioned Chiroptera (bats), Scandentia (treeshrews), Insectivora (moles, shrews and hedgehogs), Lagomorpha (hares, rabbits and pikas) and mustelid carnivores such as weasels and mink."
Didn't Greg Pak also write the pointless Phoenix: End Song mini and was touted as the new writer at Marvel with a bright future? Yet somehow, didn't live up to that (somehow). I don't know, but he hasn't done anything to impress. Hopefully a TPB and everyone will prove me otherwise here, but for now "mehhhh, not intrigued."
Batman though, damn you Everlost my damn comic shop was out of the first part of OYL Batman. Also Superman OYL so far, it isn't anything too suprising. I honestly hate the new Supergirl and hate she's the one filling the void for Superman. I hope it does get to a point where it goes to "oh shit didn't see that coming territory."
But yah, so far underwhelmed by OYL compared to the 5 issues of Infinite Crisis.
I enjoyed Endsong. It was a fun read, I just wish Marvel would make it clear whether it happend in or out of continuity...
EDIT: Another animal commonly mistaken for a rodent is the Guinea Pig. It's actually it's own little thing, not part of any other.
__________________ City of Heroes: Virtue
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Gamertag: Heretic Machine
Currently Playing: Castle Crashers, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Beyond Good & Evil
The Batman and Detective OYL issues at least from me bring back the awe and wonder of Batman and Robin. It's fun to read without Batman's angst being louder than a Nirvana song nor the bubble-gum of being chums that has occurred in media and comic book forms of the Dynamic Duo. Don't get me wrong, Batman/Bruce Wayne needs to brood and have angst but to the degree that he's had for the past few years. Granted he's has had his back broken, memory messed with and so on.
Yeah, and Grant Morrison has said that when he takes over Batman after this first OYL story arc, Batman will definitely be a much more light-hearted character than he has been the last few years. Thank god. Looking forward to it.
__________________
"Your revolution is dead and was born out of laziness."
-Max Bemis
Pak also wrote the sequel to Neil Gaiman's 1602 series and it was entitled 1602: A New World. I couldn't get through the initial issue, between the weak storyline, horrible dialogue and just being boring as watching Elmer's glue dry. Actually when you're eight and stuck in school that is kind of fun to watch, but I digress.
Great, I just picked up the first four issues of that series a week or two ago because I had heard good things about the original miniseries.
I should have looked closer. Gaiman is king, but I don't know much about Pak man. Hopefully The New World isn't quite as bad as you describe it. If it is, I'll be sad
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Great, I just picked up the first four issues of that series a week or two ago because I had heard good things about the original miniseries.
I should have looked closer. Gaiman is king, but I don't know much about Pak man. Hopefully The New World isn't quite as bad as you describe it. If it is, I'll be sad
Hmm...Well here's hoping our tastes run differently. If not, feel free to blame me. It's my turn.
__________________
"I use to be a highly respected watcher, and now I'm a wounded dwarf with the mystical strength of a doily." Giles while playing D&D on Buffy.
Gamertag: EverlostMI
