By Don M. Ventura
The Infinite Vacation #1
Image Comics
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This blog is on track to becoming the Nick Spencer Appreciation Page. I have become an enormous fan of the writer’s work, beginning with Morning Glories, and then the Jimmy Olsen follow-ups in Action Comics, and finally T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents.
This week Image Comics published the spectacular first issue of Spencer’s new title, The Infinite Vacation. Being a fan of alternate reality storylines, I instantly knew that the book was my kind of thing. While Spencer may not have a dense body of comic work published, it would be hard to argue that he isn’t one of the more talented writers in comics right now. I still sigh that we will not see a run from him on Supergirl. I digress.
The Infinite Vacation is the story of a man named Mark who uses a popular technology called The Infinite Vacation that allows him to travel to an endless number of his own infinite realities. Mark visits many iterations of himself (almost all failures), but has bonded most with a successful version that opened a surf shop in Fiji.
I won’t give much more away other than things begin to downhill fast for Mark (or Marks?). The art by Christian Ward is striking and unforgettable; this is a gorgeous book to look at and it is perfectly colored in a dreamy water-color manner. Is it an insult to say that each page looks like the cover of a Vertigo comic book? Because I mean that as a compliment.
Once again, Spencer knocks it clear out of the park.
Amazing Spider-Man #651
Marvel Comics
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Dan Slott’s “Big Time” arc finishes with Amazing Spider-Man #651; the story may not have been revolutionary, but the writing was solid. While sometimes I feel like Slott goes for a joke a smidge too often, the writer understands Spider-Man and writes him quite well.
Spider-Man takes on the Hobgoblin in his new invisible suit that enables the hero to effectively thwart the villain. The costume design is also the recipient of a great Tron-joke by the Black Cat (c’mon, we were all thinking it). Speaking of which, Slott also has a handle on the relationship between Felicia and Peter—I would like to see more Black Cat on his run.
Humberto Ramos has some of the most likable pencils around. Perhaps too cartoony for some, I like his character-designs just fine and he draws Peter’s expressions wonderfully. Lastly, Edgar Delgado’s colors are just stunning on this book. I was impressed with his work on the stealth costume and his work on Black Cat.
Halcyon #3
Image Comics
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Halcyon is getting better and better as it chugs along. I still haven’t determined if this is a mini, because the story seems to be finite.
If you haven’t been reading this title, it centers on the super team Halcyon which finds itself in a world where crime, war, and ill-feelings in general, have ceased to exist. The book explores how the members of the team individually deal with life in a significantly more pleasant world.
The hero Sabre begins to unravel the mystery as he figures that former hero Psiclops (a telepath and pacifist) might be behind the sudden shift towards positivity on Earth. This issue, by co-writers Marc Guggenheim and Tara Butters, features a story that is more engrossing than the previous entries. We begin to learn that the heroes are up against something enormous and they have no idea how to respond to the threat (for lack of a better word).
That brings us to the powerful end and beginning of the issue that, once you finish reading it, makes your completely rethink the cover. Artist Ryan Bodenheim delivers another strong issue.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger #8
Marvel Comics
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Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee have produced something of which they can be incredibly proud. Thor: The Mighty Avenger was a joy to read and look at for each of its eight issues.
In this final issue, Iron Man comes to the rescue of Thor who was captured by some mad scientists working for an unseen villain in the last issue. Tony Stark is presented as the classic fun-loving billionaire with skewed priorities; he sports an ascot and a bevy of bikini-wearing babes on his yacht. Thor frees himself before Iron-Man arrives, and we are treated to a Thor/Iron Man match as a result of mistaken intentions followed by a hostile takeover of Tony’s armor.
Samnee’s work is as fine as always. The second to the last page offers one final iconic shot of Thor, the lightning striking his hammer as he lifts it high into the air. I also enjoyed the artist’s reinterpretation of Tony’s original clunky Iron Man armor.
This is another excellent example of Langridge’s ability to stay true to the character while writing an accessible Thor story that features the most likable take on the Norse God that I recall having every read.
Thor: The Mighty Avenger will be missed.
Superman #707
DC Comics
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Have you ever had a good friend hurt or wronged but you were unable to help in any way?
That’s how Superman feels for me now. We’re twenty-seven issues into the twelve-part “Grounded” storyline and things have taken a turn for the lateral—that is, it’s as bad as what has come before it. I crossed my fingers that new series writer Chris Roberson would bring something fresh to the storyline that DC seems hell bent to continue.
We get more awkward scenes that continue to not feel right for this book. Superman talking to Lois on a cell phone in front of a crowd, an extremely artificial and ponderous exchange between polluters and an environmentalist, a truck driver calling our hero “Superjerk” after Superman takes the steel bars the driver is hauling—I could see this reaction happening with Spider-Man, but not the Man of Steel.
Roberson tweeted earlier in the week that he was working on his first solo Superman book (this issue was plotted by former series writer J. Michael Straczynski); I am hopeful that the book will turn around at that point. For now, “Grounded” remains a total disheartening disappointment.
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