Another week, another slew of Done-In-One reviews! Let’s take a look at some of the books that may not have been covered in a regular review in the last few weeks!
American Dream #2 (Marvel Comics)
Tom DeFalco, Todd Nauck & Ron Frenz
As Shannon Carter licks her wounds from the battle last issue, she finds herself quite inwardly contemplative. While she considers whether or not she should lean more on her teammates, she simultaneously considers whether she can fit in a personal life, a life outside of her costume. When she goes out to investigate a group of immigrants who are vanishing, she finds herself face-to-face with a few crystalline foes. I didn't enjoy this quite as much as the first issue. The personal stuff with Shannon is pretty good -- the conflict between a personal life and a superhero life is well-trod territory, but it's also territory that can be uniquely tailored to whoever the hero in question is. The immigrant angle is less adaptable -- this story already feels like one I've read a dozen times before. I picked this book up for American Dream, but I definitely find I like Shannon Carter more. Todd Nauck's artwork continues to shine. I really enjoy his style -- it's energetic, it's fun, it's old-school superhero goodness. It's always nice to see him doing work for the big two, even if it is a tangential title like this or Teen Titans Go!. Hopefully, this will lead to some higher-profile stuff, because he truly deserves it.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Countdown to Mystery #8 (DC Comics)
Matthew Sturges, Chad Hardin, Adam Beechen, Stephen Jorge Segovia, Mark Evanier, Joe Bennett, Mark Waid, Michael O'Hare, Gail Simone, Ethan Van Sciver
This is one time I think we can all forgive a little lateness in the conclusion of a miniseries. Matthew Sturges and Chad Hardin wrap up Eclipso's story very well this issue, as the Spectre takes on, then leads the Eclipsed heroes in battle. This works as a nice little character study as well, both of Eclipso and the Spectre, as well as many of the other characters in this tale. The conclusion of "More Pain Comics," however is less satisfying. When Steve Gerber tragically passed away before completing this story, we were left to wonder how DC would handle it. They decided -- appropriately, I think -- to have four of Gerber's friends each write their own conclusion to the tale he began. While I do think this was a fitting way to conclude what he started, the stories themselves turned out kind of weak. Each of them was condensed into just four pages, and as a result, each of them feels like they end terribly abruptly. What's more, there isn't much variation in the stories either. All beginning, as they did, at the end of the Gerber-plotted chapter seven, the stories all lead to more or less the same conclusion as well, with just minor variations. This will probably help to quell fears of the continuity-conscious down the road, but it doesn't make for gripping reading four times in a row. While it's hard to really be upset -- it's certainly nobody's fault that the story couldn't be finished as intended, it's still sort of sad to see what had been such a great relaunch of Dr. Fate come to a lackluster end.
Rating: 3/5 --Blake M. Petit
DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #2 (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
By Keith Giffen, Lee Garbett, Trevor Scott & Ivan Reis
I felt a little let down by the beginning of this miniseries. As good as Keith Giffen is, I thought the opening salvo of Dreamwar was rather pedestrian. I was certain I knew just where this was going. As of issue #2, my theories have been totally shattered, and the book is all the better for it. Across the Wildstorm universe, the Post-humans are finding themselves fighting superheroes from a world that seems to correspond closely to DC's Silver Age -- Gen 13 faces the Teen Titans, the Legion of Super-Heroes plan an assault on Stormwatch, the Justice League faces down the Authority and a few Justice Society members wind up in the middle of Tranquility. Although these characters appear, on the surface, to be indistinguishable from the old-school heroes of the DCU, as the story goes on it becomes clear that there's something else going on, some other force that's throwing a monkeywrench into the collision of the worlds, and that monkeywrench simultaneously makes it far more interesting for the reader. I was on the fence as to whether to continue with this series, but the second issue has saved it from the bubble -- at least for now.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Dynamo 5 #13 (Image Comics)
By Jay Faerber & Mahmud A. Asrar
Last issue we got a pretty big shock as Myriad -- knocked out in the daring escape from the Aquarium -- transformed into a pale-skinned alien creature. As the team is forced to wonder if this is really their brother or if they've been duped all along, even more secrets are spilled. Similarities to a certain (ahem) other shape-shifting alien story aside, Faerber again manages to do something unique here. The truth about Myriad is not only unexpected, but 100 percent faithful to everything else we've learned thus far about his past, his relationship with the team and, of course, the insatiable appetites of the Dynamos' father, the late Captain Dynamo. Asrar's artwork is nice and clean as well -- he gets better and better with each issue. The ending is suitably vague and yet still portentous, leaving us to fear for our heroes while still relatively certain they'll get around to saving the day. This really is one of the best superhero comics on the market, and if you're not reading it, you're missing out big-time.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Ghost Rider #23 (Marvel Comics)
By Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi
It's official. I can now say Ghost Rider has truly become a great book. Jason Aaron has put his stamp on this title with his distinctive, confident voice and fearless, never-ending energy. In just one arc, he turns a trainwreck into a not only a readable comic, but a heck of an entertaining supernatural grindhouse thriller with epic intent. What he does with the characterization of both the Ghost Rider and Blaze himself is excellent, commanding a take-no-prisoners style, and makes them the most driven, direct, and uncompromising characters around. He's able to tell a story that manages to be exciting, energetic, dirty, and disturbing all at the same time. Boschi's art, while not as slick as previous Ghost Rider's artists, has grown on me. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but as the arc has done on, I realize what it lacks in detail and clean lines, it makes for with dynamic storytelling and kinetic energy, though you still wish he was the total package. With the title finally hitting on all cylinders, a new artist in Tan Eng Huat coming aboard, and adding in an absolutely amazing villain reveal near the end (well more of a confirmation for long-time Ghost Rider fans), this title looks like its only going to get even better.
Rating: 4/5 --Ben Lehnsherr
Star Wars: Legacy #24 (Dark Horse Comics)
John Ostrander, Jan Duursema, Brad Anderson
In part two of "Loyalties," Cade Skywalker and his crew are taking a well-earned rest at Rawk's Nest, but news of the destruction of Mon Calamari by Darth Krayt shakes them from their seclusion. Cade ponders a desperate plan, one that causes great dismay amongst two of his ancestors who just keep popping in to give unwanted advice. One of my favorite things about this title is how we see Luke Skywalker -- in ghost-form -- taking on the mentor role to the most unwilling would-be Jedi he's ever encountered. Luke as a teacher is certainly nothing new in the Expanded Universe, but the dynamic he shares with Cade is a unique one. With the destruction of Mon Calamari, Ostrander has drastically raised the stakes in this title as well. Cade has always fought against his family, his history, his... well... his legacy, but it seems clear that he'll have to choose a path soon. But in a future where the lines aren't as cut and dried as good or evil, Jedi or Sith, we're seeing a Star Wars Universe that's just as intriguing and exciting as the first one we were introduced to in 1977.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Tangent: Superman's Reign #3 (DC Comics)
Dan Jurgens, Jamal Igle, Fernando Pasarin, Carlos Pacheco
Our attention is now divided between two worlds. On New Earth, home of the Justice League we all know and love, Batman leads the team in the investigation of the missing Green Lantern and Flash. On Tangent Earth, Wally West argues with their Green Lantern, Flash and the late Joker about the necessity of taking action against the tyrannical Superman that has conquered the world. The ladies' warnings to keep a low profile become moot, however, when nearby Manhunter and the Spectre attempt to free the Atom from captivity. It's an energetic tale, and it's nice to see the full capabilities of the alternate heroes again. The face-off between "our" Flash and GL and the Tangent Superman is quite well-done, and is really the strongest part of the book. The back-up feature here delves into the history of Nightwing, the organization created to police superhuman activity, and although there's still a lot of history to cover, the story is starting to feel like it's beginning to dovetail with the main story. Jurgens has done an impressive job of moving the plot along even in what is essentially a recap/history lesson for a world that we've never seen before. The artwork isn't bad, and the cover is quite good. I'm pretty satisfied with the first quarter of this maxi-series.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
May 24th 2008, 11:59 AM
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