It’s July fourth once again. Happy Independence Day, to all our American readers! Happy Saturday, everyone else. How better to celebrate our nation’s freedom from tyranny than with a slate of quick reviews of comic books? It’s a packed Done-In-One thread this week, so before you head out to the barbecue, check these out:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight #26 (Dark Horse Comics)
By Jane Espenson, Georges Jeanty & Jo Chen
So things are looking bad here. Vampires aren't just out, but they're stars. Slayers have become the hunted. Buffy's friends are beginning to converge just in time for all hell to break loose, and the last chance for salvation may lie with a friend we haven't seen in a very long time. This was a really strong issue. With the series projected to last to issue 40, this seems to be where the "third act" is kicking into gear. All the forces of badness are building up, the good guys are on the ropes, and even though it doesn't seem things could get worse you just know it will. It has that same feel of heading into the last stretch of episodes for the season, where the ongoing plot threads have come to a boil. In short, it's pretty much just what I wanted out of this issue. I like Georges Jeanty's art, for the most part, but sometimes his likenesses leave a little to be desired. The character who shows up on the last page, for instance -- it took me some time to figure out who it was supposed to be. Still, a very strong issue over all, and I'm really excited for the end run of this series.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Chew #2 (Image Comics)
By John Layman & Rob Guillory
Tony Chu's first day as an agent of the FDA isn't going to be a fun one. He meets a new co-worker who has it out for him, gets loaded down with years of cold food-related cases, has to eat a human finger to help seek out a murderer, and gets his lunch taken away. You'd think that with the power to flash on the life of anything you eat, it would be easy to hunt down a killer by taking a nibble, but things turn out to be a lot more complex than that. I'm really impressed at how John Layman has crafted his story. It's a strong mystery with a really clever premise and engaging characters. Rob Guillory's art is just as good as the script. The book has a quirky look to it, with somewhat animated art and a different kind of color palette that helps make things stand out. I'm genuinely surprised at just how much I like this book, but it's quickly becoming a favorite.
Rating: 5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Dead Run #2 (Boom! Studios)
By Andrew Cosby, Michael Alan Nelson, Francesco Biagini, & Matthew Wilson
More Road Warrior stuff happens, as mutants attack the car, and the guy – I can't even remember his name; I don't think it's even mentioned in the dialog – has to beat them violently while dealing with annoying Becki (who you know is going to be his love interest, although not before being kidnapped), and they have to take another route with the Road Warrior reject biker-car gang after them. Inevitably they get booby trapped, and once the guy wakes up from the car accident, he finds Becki is gone. Of course time is slipping away before he has to get to San Francisco if he wants to save his sister, so Becki's on her own. Except ... no, he has a change of heart and decides to rescue her. Who saw that coming? This could have been written by a computer program. The art is fine, better than the story. I think this is my last review of this comic. If you don't mind a generic Road Warrior rip off that feels more like Warrior of the Lost World (MST3K did a wonderful job with that), enjoy this comic. Otherwise, pass this by like a moldy loaf of bread.
Rating: 2/5 --Andrea Speed
Farscape: Strange Detractors #4 (Boom! Studios)
By Rockne S. O'Bannon, Keith R.A. DeCandido, Will Sliney, & Zac Atkinson
This miniseries ends with a good dose of humor, as Crichton goes all Fantastic Voyage and gets shrunk down to fight the virus in Aeryn's system, but that's actually a minor aside. There's much puking as the antidote takes hold – a visual gag (no pun intended) that gets old very fast – and everything is set right in short order, although the things people said to each other under the influence linger. As for what's up with Deke? We find out ... kind of. Clearly this is a plot thread that will be tracked down at a later date. Again, a kind of abrupt ending, but necessary I suppose. The art is uneven, good in some places, astonishingly not in others. (What the hell is up with Crichton's nose?) So far so good in The Farscape comic world.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Finding Nemo: Reef Rescue #1 (Boom! Kids)
By Marie Croall & Erica Leigh Currey
Nemo comes home from school to report a patch of coral that's turning gray, and his concern prompts Marlin to suggest an investigation. Dory tags along, though, turning the investigation into the coral into more of a rescue mission for their friend. Marie Croall is a new name, but she makes a really impressive debut here. This issue doesn't pick up immediately after the film, but it does employ the growth the characters experienced -- the Marlin at the beginning of the movie would never have gone out to the coral reef. The interaction with Dory is very funny, and the different personalities bounce off one another very well. The story concerns me just a little -- the way it's set up, it could turn into a strong story about conservation, or it could wind up getting preachy. It'll all come down to the execution of the rest of the series. Erica Leigh Currey's art is really great. She's got the characters down and Digikore's colors make everything pop with the same energy and vibrancy we got in the movie. Definitely a strong first issue.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Greek Street #1 (DC Comics/Vertigo)
By Peter Milligan, Davide Gianfelice & Kako
You've got to love Vertigo's one dollar first issues. It makes it totally reasonable to try virtually any series. In this first issue, we visit a typical street in a typical modern city, except for the fact that ancient Greek myths and tragedies appear to be reenacting themselves in our modern time. The how and why are still mysteries, but you've got to expect that from a first issue. There's some good set-up here. some good ideas, but the characters haven't quite grabbed me. In fact, I'm not even entirely sure which of them are intended to be the main cast of the series, although that may be intentional. Davide Gianfelice's art is very good -- perfect for this sort of dark fantasy/horror story. I liked this issue enough to get issue two, but I'm not wowed yet. I'll give it a story arc before I pass judgment on pull-list status.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Irredeemable #4 (Boom! Studios)
By Mark Waid, Peter Krause & John Cassaday
The Plutonian turns his attention to the United Nations this issue, and when the assembled delegates don't tell him what he wants to hear, he decides to take his aggression out on the country of a dishonest diplomat. Qubit launches a rescue attempt, but as has become the norm with the Plutonian, that proves to be more difficult than he imagined. This isn't just a story about a hero falling apart, this is about the crumbling of an entire world, and it's as intense as it gets. In fact, it may be a bit too instense. The book is really high-octane, with no moments to really stop and get to know the characters. I'm enjoying this book a lot, but it's easier to focus on the stakes for people we know than it is to focus on the entire world. Hopefully we'll slow down soon, at least for an issue or two. Peter Krause's artwork remains top-notch. He's got a lot of great designs, does wonderful facial expressions, and tells the story perfectly. A good issue all around, but there's room for improvement.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Jonah Hex #45 (DC Comics)
By Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti & Cristiano Cucina
"The Six Gun War" continues, and the title is becoming a bit more clear. This book is practically turning into "Jonah Hex Team-Up." El Diablo intervenes for Hex, locked up in prison, while Bat Lash and Tallulah Black find themselves in the clutches of the men they believe are responsible for Hex's death. With both factions unaware of the other, they begin to converge on a common enemy. There's actually relatively little Hex in this issue, with most of the action focused on Bat and Tallulah. It's great stuff, though. Gray and Palmiotti take advantage of this longer story to really get into just how Hex's allies view him, how a person could consider such a man their friend. The cliffhanger is as exciting a one as we've yet seen in this series, and Cristiano Cucina's artwork is first-rate. While I do think part of this book's strength has been in the short, usually one-shot stories, for its first extended storyline, this has begun very, very well.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
The Mighty #6 (DC Comics)
By Peter J. Tomasi, Keith Champagne, Chris Samnee & Dave Johnson
This book has gotten consistently better with every issue. Now that Taylor Rhines is dead, Cole has to face the fact that something has gone horribly wrong with Alpha One. But searching for clues isn't exactly easy when you're being monitored by a being who can hear you from the other side of the planet. An encounter with Alpha One leaves him more certain than ever -- but every clue he comes across may bring him closer to his own demise. The book isn't your traditional mystery. We know whodunnit. What we don't know is why, or even exactly what. But Tomasi and Champagne have made those questions incredibly compelling for us. The way the story is going, we've got to be headed for a breaking point very soon. When that happens, there's really no telling what shape this world will take, and you really can't say that about too many comics. Chris Samnee's art is good. It's on-model with the rest of the series and doesn't at all jar with the transition from the previous artist. With each issue, I like this book more.
Rating: 4.5/5 --Blake M. Petit
Mr. Stuffins #3 (Boom! Studios)
By Andrew Cosby, Johanna Stokes, Axel Medellin Machain, Andres Lozano, & Daniela Fiore
Zack's dad separates him from Mr. Stuffins in the hopes of keeping Zack safe and bringing Stuffins to the hostage takers in hopes of exchanging him for his ex-wife and daughter. Stuffins tells him that's not going to work – how could it? - and Zack resents being left out, so he decides to take some initiative and follow. Since this is the last issue of the series, you get a wrap up that determines the fate of the bad guys and Mr. Stuffins, and it's all pretty well handled. The only thing I thought was a bit too hard to swallow was the family situation. Really? But this isn't a comic book noted for its realism, is it? It has a stuffed bear kicking the crap out of soldiers and robots alike. The artwork is solid, although sometimes the coloring is a little grainy. The action scenes involving Stuffins remain the best. A fun comic that only gets points off for sappiness.
Rating: 3.5/5 --Andrea Speed
Muppet Robin Hood #2 (Boom! Kids)
By Tim Beedle, Armand Villavert Jr. & David Petersen
As Robin Hood continues to see just how Prince John has ruined his home during his long years in the Crusades, he finds a way to really get under the Prince's skin -- befriending his niece, Maid Marian. Of course, the classic Robin Hood story takes on a whole new dimension when we watch it performed by the Muppets. Kermit and Piggy (Robin Hood and Marian, naturally) take the spotlight this issue, and Beedle does a great job of encapsulating their personalities. The introduction of Fozzie this issue comes as a bit of a surprise, but the role he plays fits the character well. There are lots of quick jokes and gags as well, classic Muppet material, and even a really funny bit referring to the other comic in the line. Villavert's art improves this issue. Before, I felt that he was lacking a bit of the spark needed to make the Muppets come alive. Here, he's starting to get that. The characters are more fluid and energetic than they were last month, and that's exactly what this title needed.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
Toy Story: Mysterious Stranger #2 (Boom! Kids)
By Dan Jolley, Chris Moreno & Michael Cavallaro
I was a little disappointed in Toy Story: Mysterious Stranger #1. I thought the first story, simply, was too similar to the first movie. So I'm glad to note that Dan Jolley comes back in issue #2 with a totally new story, and the comic is far better for it. Rex accidentally breaks a vital part off Andy's science fair project, and when the project is whisked away to the fair before they can repair it, Buzz and Woody lead a mission to sneak away, fix the project, and rescue Andy's grade. This is definitely the kind of story we should get in this kind of comic. It's a cute story, one that kids will be able to relate to very easily, and it uses the characters in ways that suit their established personalities very well. Moreno's art is clean and on-model as well. My only complaint about this issue would be that it may be a tad too low for a real "all ages" comic, meaning that adult readers would find it a bit simplistic. This is a kids' comic, pure and simple, and that's okay.
Rating: 4/5 --Blake M. Petit
July 4th 2009, 09:52 AM
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