Welcome, friends, to the triumphant return of the Comixtreme.com
Done-in-One Review Segment! As diligent as our review team is, there are simply too many comics published each week for us to give them
all a full-on review treatment. This weekly feature will provide you with quick capsule reviews of several comics from the last few weeks that didn’t quite make it to the full review. Let’s begin, shall we?
Amelia Rules! #18 (Renaissance Press)
By Jimmy Gownley
I talk about how great Jimmy Gownley's Amelia Rules! is whenever an issue manages to come out, but this issue goes even beyond my expectations. Amelia's friend Joan, an army brat, has been worried about the possibility of her father being transferred and her family moving away. When the news comes down that it's not happening, she should be thrilled -- but she isn't. Meanwhile, Kyle asks Amelia to go with him to the school banquet. What makes this such a good book every week is how elegantly Gownley deals with the trials of growing up, and this issue runs the gammut. He tackles relatively light fare, such as the first date, as well as the tremendously heavy spirit of a child whose father is being deployed overseas for a year. As always, the story isn't about the politics of the issue, but instead about how a child deals with the emotion of it, and as always, it is handled extremely well. And as if that wasn't enough, at the end of the book we get a genuine, ready-to-use lesson plan for any teacher who wants to use this story in class. Gownley is producing one of the best all-ages comics ever made, and he's breaking new ground along the way. This gets my highest recommendation.
Rating: 5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Betty and Veronica Double Digest #154 (Archie Comics)
By Melanie J. Morgan, Steven Butler, Al Milgrom
This issue completes the controversial "Bad Boy Trouble" storyline, the first four-part story featuring the "New Look" of Betty and Veronica. The very fact that this story was controversial strikes me as kind of silly -- the classic Betty and Veronica are still featured in 75 percent of this digest and every other Archie comic on the market. The story, aimed at a slightly older tween than the typical Archie tale, isn't a bad one for the age group. Veronica has fallen for the "bad boy" at school, and Betty is worried that he's going to lead her best friend down some terrible paths. True to the character she's been all these years, Betty comes up with a scheme to show Veronica just what sort of boy this Nick St. Clair really is. This isn't going to be a story that appeals to everyone, but I think it's really perfectly suited to the intended audience (essentially, young girls who are starting to get a little old for typical Archie fare -- girls the publisher wants to keep). I've said it before and I'll say it again -- as long as classic Archie isn't going anywhere (and he isn't), I've got no problem with this title being a home for the "new" Betty and Veronica.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Bizarre New World #3 (Ape Entertainment)
By Skipper Martin, Christopher Provencher, Tone Rodriguez
Skipper Martin's intriguing look at an ordinary man who suddenly gains the power to fly takes a totally unexpected turn this issue. As Paul Krutcher bristles over someone else stealing his fame as the first flying man, something happens that may well turn the whole thing moot. This is really the best sort of twist one could hope for -- it's completely unexpected, but at the same time, it doesn't defy anything we already know about Paul's universe, so the reader not only accepts the idea, but embraces it. This was a pretty good little character study for the first two issues. With this third issue, Martin's comic promises to become much larger in scope, much more surprising than it seemed at first. There are supposedly more miniseries and specials to follow this one. I, for one, can't wait.
Rating: 4/5 —Blake M. Petit
Black Canary Wedding Planner #1 (DC Comics)
By J. Torres, Lee Ferguson, Karl Story, Christine Norrie
Give DC credit -- they're really pulling out all the stops on their way to the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary. This is just the first of three planned one-shots leading up to the big day (it will be followed by the JLA Wedding Special and the Green Arrow/Black Canary Wedding Special). The big problem here is that this doesn't actually read like a one-shot, but rather like the first issue of a three-issue miniseries. We see Dinah going about the typical (if late) wedding planning activities -- finding a hall, a caterer, a dress and so forth -- while still carrying out her duties as the leader of the Justice League all the while. There are a lot of nice little character moments with her and Ollie, her and the girls and so forth, but at the end, the issue feels very unfinished. I suppose that's because we know that it will be finished in the Wedding Special. It's a fun issue, but one can't help but think it'll read much better when collected into the inevitable wedding collected edition with the other books.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Crossing Midnight #10 (DC/Vertigo)
By Mike Carey and Eric Nguyen
With a new vision of Toshi fresh in his mind, Kai heads to Tokyo in search of her. What he encounters is Crossing Midnight's strangest foray into Japanese culture to date, Tokyo's enjokosai scene, and a few other problems of his own. Eric Nguyen joins the crew this issue for the duration of the story. I'm still not quite sure whether to love his work or hate it. He commits the occasional gaff of perspective and anatomy, but underlying it all is always an undeniable quirky exuberance, and that may just make him the perfect artist for what's needed here – I don't think anyone could have captured Loretta, Kitty-Ki, and Pink quite the way he has. Of course, unwary readers may find themselves a little culture-shocked with it all. How some Japanese teens spend their time and with who is a cultural peculiarity that is sternly frowned upon in the West, but that Carey can take it and examine it (and all the other cultural minutiae) speaks well of the rich tapestry he has to work with and the rich story that's presented. If you've been waiting for Crossing Midnight to show its non-fantastical side, then this is it, and it's a doozy. Japanese culture aficionados should also be on the lookout.
Rating: 4/5 —S.A. Parvaze
Fantastic Four and Power Pack #3 (Marvel Comics)
By Fred Van Lente & Gurihiru
Last issue, Dr. Doom sent Kraven the Hunter to kidnap Franklin Richards. What he got instead was not just Franklin, but half of Power Pack. As Alex and Julie prepare to rescue their missing siblings, the Fantastic Four moblizes to find Franklin. Van Lente has really succeeded in capturing the playful, old-school tone for this series established by Marc Sumerak. While this series is definitely written for a younger reader than a typical Marvel comic, it isn't writing down to them, and that makes a crucial difference. The way it's played off, you can accept the kids holding their own against Dr. Doom -- at least until he puts his true plan into action. We get a nice cliffhanger, great Gurihiru art -- in short, this is a great showcase for the Power Pack gang.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Infinity, Inc. #1 (DC Comics)
By Peter Milligan & Max Fumara
I'll be honest, I had mixed emotions going into this book. On the one hand, anything starring John Henry Irons is going to be a must-read for me -- I dearly love the character. On the other hand, Peter Milligan is a hit-or-miss writer. His standard superhero stuff, on X-Men, was pretty weak. His offbeat stories, like in X-Statix were a blast, but is that the right mood to take? He surprised me, then, by striking neither of those chords and going for a third tone altogether -- that of the sort of mindgame mystery that Grant Morrison is so well known for. More than a year after the Everyman project ended, several of the former members of Infinity, Inc. (including Natasha Irons) are still having trouble resuming a life without superpowers. As each of them seeks therapy for their ills, John Henry starts to question just how deep their troubles are. This was a fine introduction to the main characters and situation of this series -- not the old-school superhero tale you may expect with Steel, but something different altogether, and yet altogether satisfying.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
JSA Classified #29 (DC Comics)
By Arvid Nelson & Alex Sanchez
This month's Classified spotlight falls on one of my favorite JSA members, Mr. Terrific. Arvid Nelson harkens back to the JSA's golden age roots, as the modern Mr. Terrific finds himself running afoul of a Nazi remnant that once battled his predecesor and the original JSA. Nelson's story is very strong, and Mr. Terrific is the perfect character to put in this context. The story is derailed by some sketchy artwork by Sanchez -- the pages look somewhat unpolished, unfinished. His layouts and storytelling skills are adequate, but the artwork really needs a strong finisher over these pencils to make it work. In short -- great character, good story, sub-part artwork.
Rating: 3/5 —Blake M. Petit
Justice League Unlimited #37 (DC Comics)
By Matt Wayne & Min S. Ru
As much as I usually enjoy this title, this issue didn't quite have enough of a spark for me. The basic idea is sound -- Batman, Hawkgirl and Deadman have to team up to tackle a Spectre gone wild -- but the execution falls a little flat. The idea of the Spectre running rampant without a human host has been pretty well-covered ground at this point, and we're never really given a suitable explanation as to how he separated from Jim Corrigan (still his host and a key player in the story). Deadman and Batman's interaction is as fun as ever, but Hawkgirl's part feels rather superfluous -- she doesn't really have too much to do here. The artwork, at least, is spot-on. I'm quite sad this series will be coming to an end soon, although I suppose I should be thankful that it's lasted this long since the demise of its parent cartoon show. I just hope the last few issues can demonstrate the greatness this book usually has instead of putting out a story that's just okay.
Rating: 3/5 --Blake M. Petit
Lions, Tigers and Bears Vol. 2 #4 (Image Comics/Runemaster Studios)
By Mike Bullock & Paul Gutierrez
After far too long a wait, the second marvelous Lions, Tigers and Bears series comes to a close this week. Joey and Courtney have fallen victim to the beasties, with the Night Pride fiercely defending them even as the hideous Lord Valthraax steals the throne of the gentle King Bear. This issue, the stuffed animals -- really fierce warriors charged with guarding the children of the world -- go to war with the beasties. Bullock and Gutierrez have crafted a fantastic adventure that kids will really get into. While the prolonged wait since issue three does hurt this issue's readability, this is a book that will get its true life when kids get to read them in collected editions -- and read them they will. I can't imagine any child -- from age five to fifty -- who wouldn't be enchanted by Lions, Tigers and Bears. I can't wait for volume three.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Mystic Arcana—Scarlet Witch (Marvel Comics)
“Rituals of the Sphinx—Part Three: Sharper than a Serpent’s Tooth” Written by David Sexton, Art by Eric Nguyen. “Birth of a Witch” Written by Jeff Parker, Art by Juan Santacruz and Raul Fernandez.
The young mystic Ian McNee continues his quest for four fantastic items that will restore magic within the Marvel Universe. His current journey takes him to a lost underwater city where the Serpent’s Crown is being held by the followers of Set. The second story is of a young girl named Wanda Maximoff and how she’s transformed into a formidable witch in her own right. I like Wanda’s story quite a bit, as it has snippets from the old days of Marvel books; strange characters like Chthon are dusted off and brought back from obscurity. The main story line is intriguing in how Ian continues to outwit the great magical forces set against him. The art for both stories is very good, but Nguyen’s work is particularly well done, as the style is very surreal and well suited to the subject matter. This series, while admittedly rather short, is a pleasure to read, as it returns to those long lost days when Marvel was all about making fantastical stories and creating magical new worlds. Its old-school comic story telling with a refreshing new appreciation to old characters long thought to be passed their prime.
Rating: 4/5 —Terry Verticchio
New Line Cinema's Tales of Horror #1 (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
By Peter Milligan, Tom Feister, Christos N. Gage, Stefano Raffaele, Darick Robertson
After the demise of the New Line horror titles as regular ongoing comics, I rather like the idea of putting them together in an anthology book like this one. I have no idea how many issues of this title are planned, but I think it's something that could sustain where the ongoings couldn't. The book opens with a quick Texas Chainsaw Massacre tale by Milligan and Feister. A traveling chainsaw salesmen peeks into a home that looks promising, only to find the inhabitants a harder sell than he expected. Not a bad story, if you can get past the somewhat bizarre premise of there being such a thing as a traveling chainsaw salesman. The Nightmare on Elm Street story, by Christos Gage and Stefano Raffaele, is considerably better. Freddy Krueger is dismayed to find another murderer in Springwood stealing his gimmick, and is even more upset when he finds out the copycat fancies himself a fan. It's interesting to see a story where Freddy is placed in more of a defensive position, and where he has to use his brains as much as his ability to terrify. I enjoyed this little book, and I hope we get more from Wildstorm.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Strange Embrace #4 (Image Comics)
by David Hine and Rob Steen
This book is built in several layers. Immediately, we have the story of Anthony Corbeau, as it is told by an old, strange man named Alex. Alex, in turn, is telling this story as a part of his own life story, to a boy named Sukumar - and all of this story telling is taking place in a cellar where living memories from Alex' mind sit, waiting for their stories to be told. A bit complicated, yes, but the story Hine is telling here is a good one - rife with layers and a mythology that he has meticulously created by hand and woven to give the entire process a good amount of heft. It's a book filled with things to think about - and should be read with minimal distraction, but well worth the time and effort. All of the back issues are still available to order, and I'm sure this will be collected in a trade sometime in the near future. Rating: 4/5 -B. Schatz
Tales From the Crypt #2 (NBM/Papercutz)
By Neil Kleid, Steve Mannion, Fred Van Lente, Mr. Exes, Jim Salicrup & Rick Parker
The new Papercutz version of Tales From the Crypt has drawn fire from a few corners, and I don't think it's quite fair. The original Tales have become so enshrined in our memories -- not to mention in the HBO series -- that people forget the original comic was intended for kids, and in fact, many of the stories are relatively tame by today's standards. The stories in this book are perfectly in line with the old William Gaines/Al Feldstein comics. Kleid and Mannion's "The Tenant" is a wonderfully spooky tale of a slumlord who gets a taste of his own medicine, and Van Lente and Exes' "The Garden" is a gruesome little story of someone whose ideas of paradise turn to hell on Earth. If there's any respect in which the comic is lacking, it's probably in the artwork, particularly in the second story. It's not bad art, but Exes' lines may be a bit too stylized, and the coloring is definitely a bit too bright for a horror comic, even one aimed at kids. Still, this is a fun book, and I think Papercutz is doing an admirable job holding up the EC Comics tradition.
Rating: 3.5/5 —Blake M. Petit
The Weapon #3 (Platinum Studios/Top Cow Productions)
By Fred Van Lente & Scott Koblish
Here's one you're probably not reading -- The Weapon has proven to be a quite satisfying little kung-fu/superhero romp. Tommy Zhou's invention of a device that can create weapons out of solid holograms has gotten him in deeper than he expected. He and his partner, Megan, wound up on a quest for the ancient scrolls of an order of assassins, she's been kidnapped, and Tommy has to recover the scrolls before his enemies. This book really is a lot of fun -- equal parts Indiana Jones adventure and Jackie Chan-like king-fu action with a heavy dose of superheroics thrown in for good measure. Van Lente also lets us in on one crucial factoid that Tommy, apparently, has missed, but will likely make things pretty darn difficult for him in the final issue of this miniseries. The current Iron Fist series is getting a lot of praise, but for fans of a more old-fashioned martial arts comic, this is really the place they should be looking.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
September 8th 2007, 10:49 AM
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