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Monday, March 7, 2011

Cape Town Capsule Reviews, 3/2/11 Releases


By Don M. Ventura

5 Ronin #1
Marvel Comics
«««½

Peter Milligan begins a five-week mini-series with an interesting take on one of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes. Set in 17th Century Feudal Japan, a former samurai who looks (and acts) a lot like Wolverine finds himself confronted—and soon beheaded—by a mysterious samurai.

Turns out there a story about an immortal Ronin wandering the Japanese landscape and he also looks like Wolverine. Milligan uses an interesting spin on the character’s immortality, and sets up an interesting Elseworlds-style story. The remaining stories feature Psylocke, Hulk, Deadpool, and the Punisher.

Wolverine’s story does not end at the story’s close, so it would appear that the characters will all come face-to-face over the course of the tale. This was an enjoyable opener that I did not believe I would have enjoyed as much as I did. The art by Tomm Coker is striking and perfectly fitted for this type of story. Each page is gorgeous; Coker confidently draws fantastic Japanes landscapes and exciting battle scenes.

My only gripe about the book as there a few times where Wolvie is too in-character. He uses “huh” and “ain’t” a couple of times and it pulled me out of the story. A minor qualm though because this book was otherwise quite good.

Takio #1
Icon Comics
««½

I think I am really in the minority—in fact, I’m certain of it—when it comes to Brian Michael Bendis. I have a strong affinity for the best of his work (Powers, Alias, and Ultimate Spider-Man), but I find his work to be unbalanced.

I was excited to purchase Takio because I’ve enjoyed all of his creator-owned work more than anything. To boot, he’s teamed here with Michael Avon Oeming, his partner on Powers. But lightning has not struck a second time. Not yet at least. I think there is potential in this series about two sisters who are granted superpowers by way of a mad-scientist’s accident.

The main problem is not with they story, but the script was lackluster for Bendis. I know this guy can write some clever-as-hell dialogue, but he does it sparingly in Takio and it becomes frustrating because the material is begging for it. Oeming’s pencils are also an unwelcome departure from the style we are accustomed to on Powers. The faces feel too angular and it isn’t entirely pleasant to look at.

I’ll buy the follow-up to this original graphic novel because there is potential for this book.
Ultimate Captain America #2
Marvel Comics
««««

Is this an Ultimate renaissance? After Ultimatum I had all but given up on Marvel’s Ultimate line, but with this book, Ultimate Thor, and Mark Millar’s Avengers Vs. the New Ultimates, readers are getting some of the decade-old line’s best offerings.

Jason Aaron is writing a less familiar Captain America story with the grittier hero at its center. Cap has been taken hostage by a village of Super-Soldiered Cambodians who help former war-hero Frank Simpson torture and brainwash Cap over the course of the issue.

Aaron has written a truly vile villain in Simpson, with his creepy American Flag facial tattoo and his deranged perspective. Simpson murders two S.H.I.E.L.D. soldiers mercilessly as he forces them to admit they are planning to murder the women and children of the Cambodian village.

Ron Garney’s artwork is spectacular on Ultimate Captain America. A few years ago I remember really not caring for his work, but everything on this comic book is perfect. I would enjoy seeing much more from Garney.

Green Lantern #63
DC Comics
«««½

A few weeks ago on the podcast, I mentioned that I would like the current storyline on Green Lantern to finally be resolved. I’ve mellowed on that position since then; I admitted to enjoying the book and I think I’ll leave it at that. I’ll let Geoff Johns tell the sprawling space epic that he wants to and I’ll continue to enjoy it through its inevitable conclusion.

This issue serves as a prologue to the “Green Lantern War” and sets up the action as the Guardians order Salaak to bring Hal Jordan in for treason. During the proceedings we discover that Krona, a longtime DC baddie, is much more sinister and deranged than we had ever known.

Johns’ storytelling is deliberate and seems to be heading to a specific conclusion. It may not be next month or this year, but there is a structure to his work that keeps things from feeling aimless.

Ed Benes and Adryan Syaf handle the pencils on the issue and their work is fine; there is nothing distracting about the art changes in the book because their work is not so drastically different as to drag you out of the story. This is a strong opener to the next Green Lantern tale, setting up the story some more challenges form the embattled Hal Jordan.

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