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Done-In-One Review thread? Each week, we scour the wonderful world of comic books to bring you quick reviews of lots of different titles that may not have gotten the full review treatment here at CX. This week, enjoy a nice mix of monsters, aliens, androids, living embodiments of literary concepts, and a few superheroes to top it all off!
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #3 (DC Comics/Johnny DC)
By Matt Wayne & Andy Suriano
This issue, when Batman uncovers plans for an assassination attempt against the president from the Ultra-Humanite, he rounds up Green Arrow for his backup. With Batman disguised as the commander-in-chief and Green Arrow in a Secret Service uniform, the plan is to just wait for, and thwart, the attack. Batman, however, finds himself unable to resist making a few policy decisions while he has the chance. To be honest here, I didn't enjoy this issue as much as the first two. Granted, it is a comic for kids, but the suspension of disbelief went a little too far here: the president swings on bat-line to break up a fistfight on the floor of congress? An alien ambassador wants to wrestle the president and no one notices a change? And c'mon, why couldn't Green Arrow at least take off his hat while he was in disguise? It was a good idea, but Wayne took it too far. The artwork, fortunately, is spot-on. I really like the look of the Ultra-Humanite this issue (although I'm not really wild about the Wonder Woman design in the opening tag). Overall, while this issue has some charms, it doesn't really satisfy.
Rating: 3/5 --Blake M. Petit
Caped #1 (Boom! Studios)
By Josh Lobis, Darin Moiselle, Yair Herrera, & Renato Faccini
Jimmy comes to Capital City to make a name for himself as a journalist, but ends up the assistant for the prima donna reporter on Action News, who, it turns out, is secretly the superhero The Edge – the one who almost accidentally killed him the night before when an evil villain stormed a train. So now he's the assistant for the Edge as well, in spite of having no powers and no health insurance. This parody of superheroes – also known as super whiners – and villains has a good premise and a few cute moments, but this opening issue struck me as lukewarm, something I've seen before in other forms and venues. It could distinguish itself in subsequent issues, so I'm not giving up on this yet. The art has a nice gritty look to it while retaining a colorful comic style. Not too bad, but I hope this really takes on a distinct identity for itself next issue.
Rating: 3/5 --Andrea Speed
Hellblazer #253 (DC Comics/Vertigo)
By Peter Milligan, Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Stefano Landini
Peter Milligan makes it through his first story arc on Hellblazer, and I can say that I have no complaints. He brings a lot back to this title that makes me think very fondly on Jaime Delano's years at its head, while keeping it distinctly his own. (Mostly I think it's the re-venture into politics -- I've been missing that.) Camo may not necessarily be the first name that pops into your mind for a horror series, but his work is more than serviceable here. This after all isn't head-on horror, it's a mix of politics, relationships, and magic. A fine Hellblazer story in every way.
Rating: 3/4 -- S.A. Parvaze
Hero Squared: Love and Death #2 (Boom! Studios)
By Keith Giffen, J.M. Dematteis, Nate Watson, & Digikore Studios
Milo, still trying to save the world in his own way (and let's not forget his own miserable hide) gets everyone to agree to see his therapist at once. Yes, Stephie, Captain Valor, Caliginous, and himself. It's one of the weirdest group therapy sessions imaginable, and while familiar platitudes are floated amongst potential fistfights, it all ends in tears, and an action sequence that introduces us to the “Captain Valor Corps”. Green Lantern Corps parody? Oh yeah, I'd say so, although I enjoyed the guy in the fishbowl, the ape, and the anime guy in the Valor costumes. This is basically a talky issue that also introduces a way to end this story (which is actually over next issue), although I kind of hope Milo and Stephie don't get back together. I'm sorry, but Milo is still a loser. The art is solid, especially in the action sequences and the “Corps reveal” page. I almost have to rate this one high for simply having the idea of a superhero and supervillain trying to work out their differences in therapy. A little late for a couple of universes, isn't it?
Rating: 4/5 --Andrea Speed
Jack of Fables #32 (DC Comics/Vertigo)
By Bill Willingham, Matthew Sturges, Tony Akins & Brian Bolland
In the aftermath of the war with the Bookburner, Jack and his new cadre of friends take to the road to discuss the threat of Kevin Thorn. On the way, Jack learns a new truth about his origin, several people learn a pretty terrible truth about themselves, and Gary drives us straight into a crossover. This is as close to a perfect issue of Jack of Fables that there's ever been. It serves as a very strong bridge from the "Books of War" storyline into next month's Great Fables Crossover, and it's funny on so many levels that are just plain wrong. The revelations here are totally shocking, but only serve to make Jack look like a bigger goof than he's always been. Tony Akins brought his A-Game this issue too. Awesome, snowy landscapes, incredibly expressive and entertaining facial expressions... the disgust the Page sisters show at one point is almost tangible. I really can't wait to see what the plan is for the next three months of the Fables family of titles.
Rating: 5/5 --Blake M. Petit
The Phantom: The Ghost Who Walks #1 (Moonstone)
By Mike Bullock, David Michelinie & Sylvestre Szilagyi
The Phantom returns in an all-new series that... well, it's pretty much the same as the previous series, but with a subtitle. But the previous series was really good, so I'm not complaining. When a cruise ship in the Indian Ocean is struck by pirates, the Phantom discovers that they aren't quite who they appear to be. As he tries to seek out the real terrorists, his wife and doctor find themselves in the midst of the danger. One of the things that makes the Phantom so unique among the avalanche of superheroes out there is how much it's actually based on reality. Okay, so we've got a protagonist in purple tights beating up people and leaving a skull imprint on their faces, but the threats he fights are pretty realistic -- the kind of people and the kind of attacks heroes in the real world have to face. Szilagyi's art is strong as well -- nice action, lots of good, distinctive faces. It works on all levels. I'm glad this series hasn't lost a step in the relaunch.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Star Wars: Legacy #34 (Dark Horse Comics)
By John Ostrander, Jan Duursema & Daniel Dos Santos
Following the death of Darth Krayt, Darth Wyyrlok begins the charade that his master is merely in another one of his frequent periods of stasis, which he has undergone many times over the years. With Wyyrlok left in command in his absence, he begins the plans to solidify his own power base. Cade, meanwhile, brings Azlyn in for help with her own injuries, but Bantha recognizes the Dark Side welling up inside of him. His solution for her salvation is different, and to many, horrifying. This is a particularly strong issue, with several callbacks to the past of the Star Wars universe, and a nice dynamic established between Wyyrlok and Stryfe. Cade has also really evolved into a unique Star Wars character. We've seen many characters struggle with the Dark Side over the years, of course, but Cade is perhaps the one who has flirted with it the longest without being totally consumed. He has most certainly been affected, however, and those changes are making up some of the best things in this series. This book is working quite well these days.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Super Human Resources #2 (Ape Entertainment)
By Ken Marcus & Justin Bleep
After a first issue that was big on laughs but a little light on plot, issue two makes up for it. As Tim tries to acclimate himself into the day-to-day operations of SCI, everything around him continues a rapid descent into chaos. Manboto desperately pursues a relationship with a woman who wouldn't be interested in him even if he wasn't a robot, plans for Zombor's surprise birthday party go awry, and Tim's request for Wombat to do some basic paperwork has an unexpected result. There's a lot of very funny stuff this issue, particularly the Manboto scenes. Ken Marcus and Justin Bleep have done a really good job of melding the insanity of a superhero parody with the day-to-day tedium of an office comedy. The combination is highly entertaining and flat-out funny. I was a little bit on the fence after issue one, but issue two is enough to make me highly recommend this book.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
March 28th 2009, 01:03 PM
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