Donald Duck and the boys go Trick-or-Treating, Booster Gold drops in on the Legion of Super-Heroes, Ender Wiggin prepares for blast-off, Bomb Queen’s grip on her city slips, and Boom! Studios raises money for a comic creator in need. It’s a packed
Done-In-One review thread this week, friends, so let’s get started!
Betty #176 (Archie Comics)
By George Gladir, Stan Goldberg, Bill Golliher & Mike Pellowski
In this month's installment of the adventures of Riverdale's favorite blonde, Betty discusses a variety of good luck charms and how they've influenced her life. Eh... it was okay. I'm not sure why, but it seems like at least 80 percent of the time, I find the second story in any given Archie comic better than the lead, and that's the case here too. In the second tale, Betty comes into Pop Tate's Chocklit Shoppe with a new cheese dip that's so great, Pop continues adding it to the menu... until the dip gives the gang some nasty halitosis. It's not often you see such an important issue addressed in the pages of Betty, but it's nice to see it addressed in such a mature manner. The last two stories feature incognito fitness tips from Betty's mom and Betty's adventure at a wedding. All in all, a good little package for fans of the comic. I liked this one a lot.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Blood Bowl: Killer Contract #4 (Boom! Studios)
By Matt Forbeck, Lads Helloven, Sumi Pak & Andrew Dalhouse
So: another football game full of killings and explosions, and the plot of the killer on the team moves along ... and while there are changes from the previous issues, the format seems set in stone. The art isn't always clear; sometimes there's a good grotesque rendering of a character, but most of the time it's work to figure out who's doing what to whom. Usually, the play by play guys tell us, but I don't see that as a positive. Not a bad comic, but definitely not for me.
Rating: 2.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Bomb Queen #4 (Image Comics)
By Jim Robinson & Paul Little
Things are beginning to slip for BQ. She’s loosing control of NPC, she has to rely on a bunch of nerds to find out some information she desperately needs and most of all the people are losing their fear of her. With all of this tension Jim Robinson has upped the ante with all of the violence and sex, if that’s possible. It has been mentioned that there is a rather disturbing scene involving a young girl and a cleaning appliance, but for me the most shocking moment is when BQ gets drunk on…Zima! I guess I’m growing jaded in my old age. But there is also considerable story line interspersed between all the carnage and the supporting characters are very well developed, all things considered. So if you simply step back from all the excess, Bomb Queen is actually an intriguing story. More importantly it has you rooting for a true villainess and the book is just darn fun.
Rating: 4/5 --Terry Verticchio
Cthulhu Tales #6 (Boom! Studios)
By William Messner-Loebs, Drew Rausch, Drew Berry, John R. Fultz, Marc Dos Santos, Andrew Dalhouse, Glenn Cadigan, Chee, & Renato Faccini
This issue kicks off with a really funny and well drawn story by Messner-Loeb and Rausch, “Cthulhu House”, which basically has communicating with Cthulhu and the Elder Gods in a “Big Brother” format. Now this is a reality show I would watch, even though – maybe because? - the body count is astonishingly high. (To be fair, the contestants seem dumb enough to deserve what they get, especially when they vote the best player out of the house.) The two other stories – about a visitor in colonial times who decides it's time to teach the heathens a lesson, and an IT guy who discovers a computer virus that's more lethal then the usual variety – are pretty good, but the first story made the issue for me. Funny. Worth a look.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Ender's Game: Battle School #1 (Marvel Comics)
By Orson Scott Card, Christopher Yost & Pasqual Ferry
After a few comics by Orson Scott Card and a few adaptations of his lesser-known works, Marvel is stepping up to the plate to adapt the best-known title in his vast stable: Ender's Game. This first issue features young Andrew Wiggin, a six-year-old boy in a future where the human race is desperately searching for a prodigy to train to be the super-general that will save them from the second invasion of an alien race that nearly destroyed the world the first time. Andrew is forced to defend himself from both his schoolmates and his brother -- nothing compared to the Formics -- and the way he does so marks him for inclusion in the fabled Battle School. This is one of my favorite novels ever written, and Yost and Ferry do a pretty good job of adapting it. They capture Ender's character well, and the artwork is fantastic. I'm really anxious to see what will happen when the title actually makes it to outer space. So far so good -- I just hope the companion Ender's Shadow series has the same level of quality.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Futurama Comics #39 (Bongo Comics)
By Ian Boothby & James Lloyd
In a dandy bit of cross-media promotion, this issue Bender is revealed to be several thousands of years old thanks to the time-travel machinations of the direct-to-DVD movie, Bender's Big Score. Since he's so dang old, he's got to be whisked away to the Near-Death Star Retirement Community (another neat bit from the TV show), prompting Fry and Leela to undertake a rescue mission. I've been really happy with the Futurama movies, and it's nice to see the continuity brought here into the comics. Boothby has always been great at playing with these characters, and this one is as funny as I've come to expect. Solid writing, some really funny visual gags by James Lloyd... yeah, I'm more or less satisfied.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
High Rollers #3 (Boom! Studios)
By Gary Phillips, Sergio Carrera, & Andrew Dalhouse
CQ is now in control, but not everyone is happy about it. Quinn schemes, but CQ has schemes of his own. Then there's the cops, the other thugs, the women who happily strip down to their skivvies, and the Feds, all people on the make in one way or another. Nothing is terribly surprising in this issue, and in fact one or two plot developments were just a bit too far fetched for me to believe. Yes, I know it's a comic book, and everything's pretty much far fetched in this medium, but in a book that's going for a type of gritty realism, that's a huge negative. It also doesn't help that I feel like none of these characters are very deep; they seem like thumbnail sketches. The artwork's decent, and the story isn't terrible, but it's starting to lose me.
Rating: 3/5 --Andrea Speed
Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st Century #19 (DC Comics/Johnny DC)
By J. Torres & Alex Serra
In yet another example of this title bringing the contemporary DCU into the DCU of the future, the Legionnaires' bust of the thieves known as the Scavengers is interrupted by the sudden appearance of a time-tossed hero calling himself Booster Gold. As the Legionnaires investigate the sudden appearance of Booster (who seems to have more and more weapons each time they encounter him), Brainiac 5 makes quite a discovery... and a decision. Booster's star is really rising at DC these days, and considering the link he's always had to this team, he's a natural choice to make a guest-appearance in this comic. I really do like the policy of pollinating the comic with contemporary heroes (hopefully it'll get some younger readers interested in the present-day adventures of the guest-stars), but it does sometimes feel like it's being done to the detriment of the real stars of the comic. With the cartoon show off the air, this comic is running on borrowed time, and I just want to see the Legion get their due before they sail off into the sunset.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
The Lone Ranger #14 (Dynamite Entertainment)
By Brett Matthews, Sergio Gariello & John Cassaday
In part three of "Scorched Earth," the Lone Ranger and Tonto continue their search for the murderer that has terrorized a small town. Here we get to see the Ranger doing his best Batman impression, hunting for clues and conferring with the commissioner. That comment was actually snarkier than I intended it to be, because even though the comic does have a familiar Bat-feel to it, it's still a fantastic issue. Matthews has redefined these two and made them as dynamic a duo as you could want to see. The book is a perfectly blend of western, superhero, and (at the moment) mystery. It's unique, unlike anything else on the stands, and a lot of fun. Did I mention I like this comic? Yeah. I like this comic.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #44 (Marvel Comics)
By Marc Sumerak & Johnboy Meyers
Things seem to be looking up for Peter Parker. Liz Allen has managed to convince the jerks at Midtown to give him another chance into their little circle, but things are thrown into disarray when the Lizard attacks. Things are even worse, however, when Pete realizes that the Lizard he's fighting isn't Curt Connors -- it's a woman. Someone is making new lizards, and he's got to find them and stop them before all of New York City goes reptilian. This is a good issue here, and very indicative of just why the Marvel Adventures stuff works. It's a standalone comic, it features a few villains that younger readers may not be familiar with, but it does it very well. Plus, the last few scenes are awesome. Good issue.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
My Name is Bruce #1 (Dark Horse Comics)
By Milton Freewater Jr., Mark Verheiden, Cliff Richards & Bart Sears
Based on the long-delayed movie of the same name, the My Name is Bruce one-shot features B-movie legend Bruce Campbell getting recruited by one of his biggest fans to fight off a vengeful demon accidentally released from a mine. A couple of spiteful ghosts watch the whole thing, amused by the proceedings. This is a pretty weak book, as 99 percent of all movie-to-comic adaptations are. The story is rushed and the characters (even Campbell are paper-thin). There's no real sense of joy or excitement, the stuff that you just need in Campbell's work to make it fun to watch. I'm not going to judge the movie on this, as (like I said) comic adaptations, even of great movies, are usually pretty bad. But if I didn't already love Bruce, this wouldn't be a comic that would make me a fan.
Rating: 2.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Necronomicon #2 (Boom! Studios)
By William Messner-Loebs & Andrew Ritchie
This mystery-horror hybrid continues, with Henry struggling to translate the Necronomicon and reconcile the unusual things he's seen, as well as dealing with his feelings for Rachel. It's a decent story, but you know what's making this miniseries for me? The art. It has a kind of old fashioned look, so when grotesqueries pop up – and they do, especially near the end of the issue – they seem extra eerie and out of place. The fact that this issue ends on a sort of humorous note also makes me like it, but I must say, the soap opera injection does nothing for me. Otherwise, a strange, creepy book that seems to be developing nicely, and deserves to be seen if only for the art alone.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Powers #30 (Marvel Comics/Icon)
By Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming, & Nick Filardi
Is this the end of Deena Pilgrim? If you've been paying attention, you know last issue Triphammer showed up and cured her of the powers virus. Does this mean we're back to the status quo? Well, yes and no. Yes, because she's cured now, back to normal, but she did kill some people, you know. Bit of a mess. But legalities intervene, yet in this case, they may give her not only a “get out of jail free” card but a way to get out in style. Although it makes things better, it doesn't fix the damage done. Bendis seems to be shaking up the status quo by basically promising to focus on Walker and his new partner. But is this really the last of Deena? I have some doubts, but it will be interesting to find out.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Pulp Tales #1 (Boom! Studios)
By B. Clay Moore, Seth Peck, Chris Samnee, Josh Fialkov, Andy B , Kody Chamberlain, Tony Fleecs, Mario Boon, Steve Niles & Sarah Wilkinson.
This comic will raise money for Josh Medors, an artist afflicted with cancer, and for that reason alone this should be on your pull list. If that's not enough for you, these are entertaining segments of pulp fiction style tales. And yes, I said segments. A running conceit in this collection is that we get a segment of a story, either the beginning ending on a cliffhanger, or a piece somewhere in the middle of a story, ending in a cliffhanger. (It can be argued Niles's tale is a full one, but it's also different from the others by being prose.) Pretty much all the pulp genres are represented: action – adventure, supernatural, mystery, horror, superheroes, and even Westerns, but where was the science fiction? That was the only one missed. (Unless you classify the Bluejackets story that way, but I don't.) Having said that, I did like the mild Venture Brothers vibe from "Bluejacket", although I think my favorite story overall was “Crash Winters: Palooka P.I.” (but Niles's prose story probably ties for second). There are many art styles on display here, but I think Chamberlain's color soaked “The Crescent Flame” impressed me most. A fun collection of story tidbits, this is also for a good cause. Have I pointed that out enough? So buy it already.
Rating: 4/5 --Andrea Speed
Scream Queen #4 (Boom! Studios)
By Brendan Hay, Nate Wilson, & Andrew Dalhouse
Molly's plan goes horribly wrong, as you think it might, but the police think the slasher killer case is solved. But Molly doesn't believe it, and now it's prom time. Will she go? Can she go? Does anybody want to be near a girl who has people dying around here left and right? Molly has a new plan, but it hardly seems any smarter than the last plan. This blood soaked '80's slasher movie homage moves very well, and the art seems a bit cleaner this time out. Not a full out comedy, but certainly amusing in its way.
Rating: 3/5 --Andrea Speed
The Stand: Captain Trips #2 (Marvel Comics)
By Stephen King, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Mike Perkins & Laura Martin
The adaptation of my favorite Stephen King novel continues with the search for the people Charles Campion infected with the disease that would soon be known as "Captain Trips." Stu Redman is tested, Frannie Goldsmith tells her father she's pregnant, and Larry Underwood falls into another one of those little pitfalls that has made his career the success that it is. We're also introduced to our next hero here, Nick Andros, the deafmute drifter who gets the crap beat out of him for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nick is the closest to a pure character Stephen King has ever created, and as such, is a favorite of mine. I really enjoyed the first issue, and I still liked this issue, but here we have a case of Aguirre-Sacasa being a bit too married to the text. The book is full of captions that seem to slavishly repeat the novel, to the point of being a little ponderous. The story could be told just as effectively without the thick prose that works really well in the novel. It doesn't translate quite as well here.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Top 10 Season Two #1 (DC Comics/Wildstorm/America's Best Comics)
By Zander Cannon and Gene Ha
This series picks up where Beyond the Farthest Precinct left off. Toybox and Smax have left on vacation, and there's a new commissioner in town. Enter Slipstream Phoenix, a new transfer to Top Ten, the focal point of our story. But who cares about all of that? The real question is does it live up to Alan Moore's original work on Top 10? For fans of that series – and I certainly was one – you may recognize the names of Zander Cannon and Gene Ha, who did the layouts and finishes on the original Top 10 respectively. Well, they're up to their old tricks and bring a certain institutional experience here because this really does feel like a continuation of Moore's Top 10. We're returned to familiar faces, the characterizations are spot on, and the cop-opera carries on. Pete still has a big mouth. Duane still tries to reign him in. Irma misses her partner. And Lt. Peregrine finds herself with new personal problems. This is Top 10 how it should be, and this mini-series is absolutely deserving of its Season Two moniker.
Rating: 4/5 --S.A. Parvaze
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories #695 (Gemstone Publishing)
By Terry Laban, Francisco Rodriguez Peinado, Tom McKimson, Carl Barks, Romano Scarpa, Rodolfo Cimino, Kari Korhonen & Vicar
IT's October, which means another nice bundle of Halloween tales from Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, beginning with "Trick or Treatment." When the boys decide to call it an early evening on Halloween, Donald decides to go out and have some fun on his own. His adventure leads him to a Halloween party with a cute witch who needs a date (what would Daisy think?), but the party turns out to be a little more spirited than he had planned. This is a great story and a wonderful way to rev things up for the Halloween season. In "Brer Rabbit Visits the Witch," our favorite southern bunny feels like he's been losing his smarts, so he visits Aunt Mama-Bama, the Swamp Witch, for a little pick-me-up. A fun reprint here. "Going Buggy," this issue's Carl Barks tale, has the nephews deciding to pull a fast one on their uncle Donald by dressing up as giant bugs and infesting his garden. In part one of "The Sacred Spring of Seasons Past," Mickey's old buddy Atomo, the giant living atom, shows up just in time to help him follow a treasure map he finds in his yard after Horace tears it up. Finally, a quick Halloween one-pager with Donald and the boys wraps up the issue nicely. This is a very solid issue, well worth picking up for the kids before you take 'em out trick-or-treating.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards: The Hard Call #4 (Dabel Brothers)
By Daniel Abraham & Eric Battle
As Alex and Croyd's tenuous team-up continues, the two aces follow new leads into the serial killer who released the Wild Card virus into Alex's school, and is now unleashing the Trump "cure" into a hospital ward full of Jokers. [b]Abraham does a great job here of fleshing out these two, making their partnership feel natural and no more forced than the plot dictates. Fallon, meanwhile, is making Kira nice and comfortable in her little cage, planning his next strike the whole time. His goofy dog-faced mask is actually really effective here, he makes for a highly convincing, complex villain that really fits into the established Wild Cards universe. The artwork is pretty good here as well -- Battle tells the story effectively, and his designs of some of the more far-out Jokers is fantastic. This book really has been great for fans of the series. I don't know if anyone else has picked it up, but hopefully, they've found something to enjoy too.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Wolverine: Roar (Marvel Comics)
By Duane Swierczynski, Mike Deodato, & Val Staples
In this issue, Logan finds a big monster basically holding a small town hostage – those it hasn't already killed. The terse, hard boiled style approach to a supernatural horror story has much to recommend it, and it does suit Logan, even though there's really nothing new to the story beyond the engaging narrative style. Deodato's artwork is great, though, which is another thing to recommend this. But at four dollars? I don't know if it deserves that even if you threw in another issue with it (which this doesn't). A good read, but who are you kidding, sister?
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
X-Men: Original Sin #1 (Marvel Comics)
By Daniel Way, Mike Carey, Mike Deodato, Scot Eaton, Chris Claremont & Scott Bolton
In the first official chapter of the X-Men: Legacy/Wolverine: Origins crossover, Wolverine finds out that Professor X is alive, gets mad, and decides to have a beer with Charlie to ask him if he can help erase the badness from his son's, Daken's, head. The writers of the two respective titles tag-team this one, but really, you don't feel much Legacy. Yeah, we deal with Xavier's return, but the story really is about Daken and the fact that, evidently, Wolverine was planning to kill Xavier when he was initially recruited to join the X-Men in the first place. The book fails at really explaining why that is, currently, relevant. In terms of quality, the book isn't as good as Legacy, but not as bad as Origins. In other words, it's exactly what I expected. The best bit of the comic is the back-up story, a reprint of the back-up story from Classic X-Men #1, which showed the first "social" interaction between the two teams of X-Men after the originals were rescued from Krakoa by the "new" squad. It's a good character piece, and a nice reminder of why Chris Claremont was so great in his day. If you're getting the two books involved in the crossover already, it's not something you'll hate yourself for purchasing, but I can't really recommend it to the casual fan.
Rating: 2.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Zorro #7 (Dynamite Entertaiment)
By Matt Wagner & Francesco Francavilla
The origin of Zorro continues, as we flash back to Diego and Bernardo's return to California to pick up an old friend, and a chance encounter with the most famous of all Privaters gives Diego an additional bit of inspiration for his eventual destiny. This issue focuses a lot on Diego's efforts to whip up a sort of secret identity for himself. Now I've gotta be honest here -- I haven't really read the original, earliest Zorro stuff, so I'm not sure how much of this is old-school and how much is more reflective of later superheroes like Batman and Superman. Either way, it works, but in a modern context, it feels just a teensy bit derivative. The origin story is also going on a bit too long -- we're on issue seven and it's not over yet. It's still good, but it's in danger of starting to wear thin. Still, great characters, a strong narrative and wonderful artwork are enough to keep this baby on my pull list for a good long time to come.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
October 11th 2008, 11:39 AM
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