In our last thrilling episode of Done-In-One Reviews, a few stalwart Comixtreme.com reviewers came forward to provide exciting, spine-tingling reviews of several comic books that hadn’t received the full review treatment at CX. What will they review next? How many points will each comic get? And will anyone ever review Star Wars: Legacy #19? Find out in the next installment of Done-In-One Reviews… starting now!
Batman and the Outsiders #4 (DC Comics)
By Chuck Dixon and Julian Lopez
Now that we have the full team together, and it feels like all the creative shift change before the title debuted as been settled, and all the bumps have been smoothed over. I'm surprised this book as handled those problems so well. With everything in place, this title is started to gain some ground. While nothing terribly important has happened yet, the team is an appealing one and Dixon really shines with his spot-on dialogue and how well he voices just about every character, with Grace and Thunder being exceptions to some degree. Having Julian Lopez on art definitely didn't hurt his cause, either. Lopez has really surprised me with a very clean but kinetic storytelling style. He does everything from expressive faces to hand to hand action sequences extremely well. Overall, I feel like this title is warming up and really starting into the groove, and I feel very optimistic about its promising future.
Rating: 3.5/5--Ben Lehnsherr
Cable and Deadpool #50 (Marvel Comics)
By Reilly Brown, Fabian Nicieza & Skottie Young
Here's a book I never thought I'd be sad to see get the axe -- I wasn't really a fan of Cable or Deadpool, but the wit and irreverent humor brought to this title over the last few years has really made it a perrenial favorite of mine. In the final issue, a horde of symbiont-infected dinosaurs runs havoc on New York City, and pretty much every superhero in the area shows up for the slugfest. Deadpool and company get a great send-off here, with everyone from Bob to Agent X getting their brief moment to shine. Wade remains the star, though, and Brown and Nicieza use the conventions of the character to great effect here, including a particularly good sequence where Wade starts hearing a different sort of voice in his head. Not really having read much of Deadpool before, I can confidently say that this is a Deadpool I really enjoyed reading. To be honest, I'm not holding out much hope for the new series, based on what we've already seen from its creative team, so for the time being at least, I'm regarding this issue as a very good, very fond farewell.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
The Death of the New Gods #6 (DC Comics)
By Jim Starlin and Art Thibert
Scott Free, aka Mister Miracle, is in a deep dark place and it doesn't look like he's coming out of it very soon. The loss of Big Barda and control of the Anti-Life Equation has snapped his mind. He's attacking friend and foe alike. This, of course, suits the entity that is behind the deaths of the New Gods right down to the ground. In fact his despair is part of its plan to achieve its goal. While there is plenty to enjoy in this series, such as Scott's descent, Superman's leading presence, and even the action, I can't help but feel that things are a bit slow. This series would have been a bit tighter if it had been six issues instead of eight. Still, the story moves along well enough, Orion's character is wonderfully rendered and the art is excellent. And at the very least, the perpetrator of these crimes is finally in the open. So hopefully we'll have two issues of heart pumping action.
Rating: 4/5 --Terry Verticchio
Drafted #5 (Devil's Due Publishing)
by Mark Powers, Chris Lie, and Joseph Baker
Trainees continue to prepare for the interstellar war humanity finds itself embroiled in. Those left behind try to cope with what remains of human civilization. And we learn more about the aliens. This book has an ensemble cast and with each issue we see a little more of each person's character and motivation. Powers does a good job with each character. The art is effective and well designed, especially the aliens, their technology, and their culture.
Rating: 4/5 --Eleanor Cromwell
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #11 (DC Comics/Johnny DC)
By J. Torres & Alexander Serra
This book continues to surprise me with how much it is incorporating the 21st century DC universe into the world of the animated Legion of Super-Heroes. After strong issues focusing on Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Superman himself, this issue, the Legion is off to Mars. Set in the period between seasons one and two of the TV show, during which Superman had returned to his own time, Brainiac 5 recalls an adventure during which the young Superman visited Mars, only to wind up in a fight against the descendants of his future teammate, J'onn J'onzz. The Martians of the 31st century have repopulated, but a contingent of the are pretty violently opposed to off-worlders. This is more than just a fun comic, it's continuing a remarkable run of stories that are linking the world of tomorrow with the world of the day. Definitely recommended, especially for fans of the cartoon.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Madame Mirage #5 (Image Comics/Top Cow Productions)
by Paul Dini and Kenneth Rocafort
At the end of last issue I thought Madame Mirage was going to pull a fast one; I completely misunderstood her motives. With Mirage, though, everything is an illusion, and this issue carries that theme to another level. No one is who you thought they were, and the issue ends with a dismaying twist. Still beautifully drawn and full of surprises. I really enjoyed this!
Rating: 4.5/5 --Eleanor Cromwell
Star Wars Legacy #19 (Dark Horse Comics)
by John Ostrander, Jan Duursema, Dan Parsons and Brad Anderson
In this issue Cade Skywalker is taking the fight to the man who killed his father - but is it something he should really be doing? I'll admit right now, I don't know much about the Star Wars comic book universe. Luckily for me, there was enough information on the inside front cover to get a good running start for this issue - the end of what looks to be a fairly big arc. While some of the character moments were probably lost on me, there were some genuinely fun moments in the book. As a general rule of thumb, jet packs are always a plus, and out of control Wookies driving an out-of-control space ship works great to. Ostrander managed to craft a story that quite an easy and fun read (even for a neophite like myself), and the art is... well, the art on this book is spectacular. I really wonder where Dark Horse gets their Star Wars artists from, because they are just phenomenal. All in all, a very solid read.
Rating: 4/5 --B. Schatz
Superman/Batman #46 (DC Comics)
By Michael Green, Mike Johnson & Shane Davis
Proving that either DC reads these reviews or that Santa Claus got my letter late, DC has announced that Michael Green is taking over writing Superman/Batman full-time, and I couldn't be happier. This arc has far and away been the best this book has had since Jeph Loeb left the title, and this issue is no exception. Expanding their Kryptonite search to get the multi-colored stuff, Superman and Batman locate a new silver strain of the mineral in the Shadowpact's hangout. With the Man of Steel infected, Batman and Zatanna race to rescue him. This issue wraps up the Kryptonite arc very nicely, showing our heroes making an actual difference, but still leaving enough of a thread of doubt to maintain that sense of danger. Green has totally won me over on this arc, and I couldn't be happier to find out that he's coming back for more.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Superman Confidential #12 (DC Comics)
By B. Clayton Moore & Phil Hester
Continuing the theme of this series -- famous "firsts" for Superman -- this new story arc deals with Superman's first encounter his the terrible Toyman, as well as the adventure that inspires him to build Jimmy Olsen a signal watch. It's actually kind of a standard story, with the Toyman up to his usual schtick and Jimmy getting into his usual trouble, but there are a couple of neat twists (for example, Clark's reaction when the signal watch is first activated). Bolstering a so-so story is some nice artwork by Phil Hester -- I really enjoy his work, and he does a solid job on Superman here. This isn't a great issue, but it's not a terrible one either. Highly middle-of-the-road.
Rating: 3/5 --Blake M. Petit
Terror Inc. #5 (Marvel Comics)
By David Lapham and Patrick Zircher
So, here we are at the last issue and the final conflict between Terror and his long lost former love, Talita. Chaos abounds around them, with the U.S. Army crashing in, and Talita's drugged-up suicide bombers with promises of mystic immortality blowing up pieces of Los Angeles all around them. This final issue takes all the violence, gore, cruelty, and level of bloodletting that has made the last four issues great and manages to ramp it up to whole new level. I've been reading comics a while, and I'd have to say this is one of the visually gruesome and violent comics I've ever read. Lapham isn't a one-trick pony though, as you'll find rich history, a strong plot wrap-up, and excellent characterization, even touching to a point with Mrs. Primo. He really managed to balance story and over-the-top violence without letting up on either, something not a lot of writers can do, especially with a horror story. Zircher yet again comes through with consistent, expressive and detailed art. He makes the violent gore and blood work so well, you feel repulsed and distrubed while excited at the same time. He been one of the very best artists to work in the MAX line, and definitely contributed to one of its most violent comics. If you missed any of this, I highly recommend you go out and get the whole series.
Rating: 5/5--Ben Lehnsherr
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #687 (Gemstone Publishing)
By Freddy Milton, David Gerstein, Byron Erickson, Francisco rodriguez Peinado, Paul Murry, Jack Hannah, Sarah Kinney, Carl Barks, Ulrich Schroeder
A little late, but the 2007 Christmas issue of Walt Disney's Comics and Stories finally hits... in February 2008. Oh well. The stories are still good. "Claus and Effect" features Donald Duck trying to make it to the North Pole to deliver a package to Santa Claus for a change, while in "Claws of the Cat," Mickey Mouse engages a daring cat burglar trying to get her claws in a priceless sculpture. "The Present Plot" features Gyro Gearloose enlisting Grandma Duck to help him make a gift for his little helper, and "Santa Claus's Visit" shows Donald impersonating the big guy. For once, the stand out story of the issue is a Goofy tale, "Putting it All Together," in which a mysterious stranger enlists Goofy's help to assemble a load of toys for Christmas. Finally, "Ten-Dollar Dither" is a Carl Barks classic featuring the ducks trying to find the rightful owner of a found ten-dollar bill. Shows you how times change, eh? It's hard to get too excited about a crop of Christmas comics after Valentine's Day, but the Goofy and Gyro stories are particularly good, and "Claws" makes for an entertaining Mickey adventure story. Good package, even if it is somewhat outdated.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Zorro #1 (Dynamite Entertainment)
By Matt Wagner & Franchesco Francavilla, covers by Matt Wagner, Mike Mayhew & John cassaday
Ah, the fox of cunning and free returns! Similar to how Dynamite handled The Lone Ranger, the new Zorro series takes a square one approach, beginning with a few of Zorro's enemies cowering at his legend, then flashing back to his origins. There are some interesting things in here that I didn't know, not being terribly familiar with the origin story, but the pacing is a little slow for an opening issue. Francavilla's art is nice, melding a dusty, western feel with a style that feels more evocative of old-school comics. I'm not totally sold on this series yet, not as much as I am Lone Ranger, but I like it enough to come back for issue two.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
February 23rd 2008, 01:32 PM
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