By Don M. Ventura
Avengers Prime #3
Marvel
Brian Michael Bendis has left me hot and cold over the years. Sometimes I have found his writing to feel rushed and not structured enough for my taste. Last week’s Avengers, for example, seemed to take the characters everywhere but, ultimately, nowhere.
But then I pick up Avengers Prime and I am reminded how good Bendis can be at telling a story. Avengers Prime is a bi-monthly mini in which Steve Rogers, Iron Man and Thor are stuck in one of the nine realms of Asgard. They have been separated for most of the story but are back together again by the end of the tale and it is evident that Bendis is having a good time with these characters.
Hela, a classic Thor baddie, has super-amped powers and is doing a number on the God of Thunder. A de-powered Tony Stark uses his million dollar charm, to great humor, as a means of escaping from the dragon Fafnir. I love this scene because it demonstrates, like in last weeks Steve Rogers: Super Soldier, that the cbest heroes do not rely on their powers alone to get out of the tightest of binds.
Because snappy bantering is an art form at which Bendis excels, Tony and Steve are given several opportunities for a little back and forth in this issue as they attempt tracking down Thor. These two have been at odds for years, culminating in Marvel’s 2006 crossover event Civil War. For the past few years things continued to grow darker, until Norman Osborn was brought down in Siege. Now we are in the midst of Marvel’s Heroic Age, a much brighter 616.
This book is supposed to act as a catalyst, bringing these three classic Avengers back to the tight bond that once held Earth’s mightiest super team together. Bendis is achieving this with ease. The story does not feel rushed, he’s not throwing too much into the mix, he has got the voices of these characters down. With each issue I have grown more impressed.
But Bendis is not alone here in the storytelling. Alan Davis makes a rare appearance on this book and brings an old school appeal as story like this requires. Davis’s work has not lost any charm. His panels are exciting, especially as Tony barely escapes fiery doom from Fafnir. There is pin-up worthy opening splash page of Thor facing off against Hela and the undead that is really powerful—get Davis on another Thor project.
Marvel, led by Bendis, seems dead set on delivering an army of Avengers books to readers (I believe I count four ongoing titles and two minis). They are not all up to the quality of Avengers Prime, but I am enjoying enough of what is being published to say there’s something for everyone.
G.I. Joe: Hearts and Minds #5
IDW
This is the kind of book that reminds me immediately of the power of comic books as a means to tell a story. First, many casual readers passing by the comic racks would see the title and keep walking. Big mistake.
G.I. Joe: Hearts and Minds has been a wonderful series with the same two-story set up each month. The first half is a sparsely narrated tale of a classic Cobra baddie and a second similar story featuring a Joe. But writer Max Brooks’ approach is minimalist. Artists Howard Chaykin (Cobra features) and Antonio Fusso (Joe features) are as integral to bringing to life Brooks’ dialogue.
How does Cobra add to their ranks and how are they manipulated to join? Brooks demonstrates the ease in which people can be exploited when they have either lost their way or never had direction in the first place. The second story focuses on Blowtorch (guess what he does), as he ruminates over the power of fire and its discovery by the Cro-Magnon man. Fusso’s work here is powerful. He evokes first fear, then epiphany, at the realization of fire’s power by its discoverers.
Do not be turned of by the classic G.I. Joe Banner. Hearts and Minds continues to pack a wallop each month.
Chew #14
Image
Get into Chew. The Eisner Award-winner deserves all of the praises bestowed upon it. If you haven’t picked it up yet, this is the only book in memory that seems to be a good jumping on point at just about any issue, regardless of where it is in its story arc.
This happens to be part four of the “Just Desserts” arc in which Tony Chu is inching ever closer to bringing down his former partner, the hulking Mason Savoy. The story opens, as usual, with a flash back (or forward) that may tie back to the story in some way. Tony’s bipolar ex Mindy is introduced and we learn she goes to extremes in picking out personal gifts; this ties into the cliffhanger ending which is unusual for this series so far.
Much of the issue is set-up for the final issue of this arc as Tony battles to keep Amelia, his newest lady love, happy in their burgeoning relationship and tries to finally track down Savoy. Layman is writing what must be the most original book being published right now. The craziness of Layman’s world is complimented perfectly by the cartoonish artwork of Rob Guillory. Guillory creates the liveliest of panels each month, and this issue offers more of the same.
Action Comics #893
DC
Once Paul Cornell finishes this year long Lex Luthor tale, he should just go onto writing an ongoing Luthor title. How can this book continue to be one of the best Superman books in recent memory?
This issue features Gorilla Grodd, as Luthor, Robot Lois (don’t ask, it works), and his shrinking group of yes-people continue to search for the spatial anomaly discovered in the last issue. I forget what this has to do with Lex’s search for an Orange Lantern ring, but you’ll realize by the final page that rings and anomalies are the least of his worries.
Kudos go to Cornell who maintains an exciting and fun ride using a 70-some year old villain with no powers to carry the story. Sean Chen pencils this issue, instead of Pete Woods, and he fills in just fine. I loved his Grodd. Especially when he confronts Lex in the jungle with an enormously fearsome silver spoon (don’t ask, it works).
Wonder Woman #603
DC
J. Michael Straczynski has written a compelling Wonder Woman issue, as the Amazon princess searches desperately for her reality, accompanied by the Amazonian sisters she saved in last month’s issue.
Diana finds herself trapped in Hell after her soul is stolen by demons. The artwork by Don Kramer, Eduardo Pansica, and Allan Goldman is phenomenal in this issue. When Diana is lost in the underworld it looks like… well it looks a lot like Hell. But I have to nitpick. The book establishes the difficulty in getting out of Hell, so when she does it, it’s kind of lame. After I finished the book I thought, well what was the point of that?
Other than this flawed plot point, I am completely invested in Wonder Woman’s odyssey to regain her full powers and identity. Straczynski is writing one of the most interesting Wonder Woman stories that I can recall ever reading.
By Don M. Ventura
Titles released on September 22nd.
Superman/Batman #76
DC
While running some errands this afternoon, I continued to reflect on a powerful image from Superman/Batman #76. Lois Lane has awakened to find her husband, still in costume, sitting at the edge of their bed. Slumped over, he grieves over the passing of his closest friend. He is engulfed by his iconic cape. A cape that, at this moment, is much larger than the man wearing it. This issue is the exploration of Superman as a man.
In the current run of Superman, J. Michael Straczynski has been attempting to write a tale in which Superman is more relatable. However, Judd Winick has been able to achieve something much more powerful in this one-shot by presenting a story that needed to be told: how did Superman react to the death of Batman? I can only surmise, because we know Bruce Wayne will eventually return to his cape and cowl, it was considered a story pointless to tell. Thankfully Winick was passionate to give us this.
The story opens with Dick Grayson and Tim Drake running things from the Batcave at the concluding events of Final Crisis. Superman and Wonder Woman arrive to inform Batman’s longtime protégé’s of the tragedy.
Winick and artist Marco Rudy take us inside Superman’s head and his heart in this emotionally gripping piece which is less a story than a series of substantive vignettes. Superman is reminded of the recent passing of his own father, he recalls his first meeting with Batman, and there is a moving scene where the man of steel is staring at the caped crusader’s hand while listening to the autopsy results. Winick, one of DC’s unsung storytellers in terms of producing well-paced super hero yarns, has struck a home run here. Page after page offer one moving scene after another as Superman ultimately comes to terms with the death of his friend.
Wonder Woman and Nightwing are used nicely here as well, as they are so integral to the two leads of this title. After a nasty run in with Dick, who recently donned the Batman costume, Superman has heart-to-heart with Wonder Woman on his fears of being immortal and what it ultimately means to their loved ones. She consoles him, takes his hand, and they have a quiet moment on a bridge overlooking Metropolis.
My only qualm was with some of the inconsistencies Rudy had in drawing Superman’s face—other than that, his layouts were dynamic. Page slowly through this issue and search for all of the nods to iconic batman images; one in particular: Superman holding Batman’s tattered costume while in the silhouette of Batman standing over his slain parents.
With all of the Batbooks and tie-ins that were released after the “death” of Batman in the pages of Final Crisis, it is shocking that it took so long for this story to be told. But truth be told, it was worth the wait.
Avengers #5
Marvel
This book is beginning to give me a headache. Its story is going all over the place. What began as a story about the future children of the Avengers, has become an ultra-hyper time travel adventure featuring Kang, Ultron, Galactus, Apocalypse, Marvel Boy, Devil Dinosaur, and geriatric versions of the Hulk and Tony Stark. I believe I understand what Brian Michael Bendis is attempting: a bombastic action-adventure series with one WTF-cliffhanger after the next. But it is just too much because all of the dramatic choices are coming off as arbitrary.
While John Romita Jr.’s artwork was improved in this issue and last, it is still not working well with everything Bendis is throwing into the mix. If the next arc does not calm down by a few decibels, I won’t be giving any more issues of Avengers a warm home.
That said, the following Avengers titles I am currently reading are all solid; Children’s Crusade, The Secret Avengers (a strong Nick Fury-centric issue came out this week), and New Avengers (the better Bendis-scribed Avengers series).
Velocity #2
Top Cow
While I tend to pick up my books based on the writers and storyline, I have been completely captivated by Kenneth Rocafort’s artwork on Velocity. That is not to say that Ron Marz is playing the part of chopped liver on this mini, but Rocafort pages are one exquisite example of strong drawing after another. Even when the story slows down for a little exposition, Rocafort nails every panel. Rocafort’s work is made even more pleasing by Sunny Gho’s coloring; a spectacular water color effect has been employed, adding delicate texture to the artwork.
So there is a story. Velocity was caught by Dr. Erasmus Payne in the last issue and she and her teammates from Cyberforce have been injected with a deadly virus. Velocity has one hour to provide her comrades with an antidote before the virus does it’s dastardly business. Marz is a reliable writer (and the guy who turned Hal Jordan into a murderer) who knows how to tell a strong super hero tale with wit and solid action.
Now let’s get Rocafort on a team book!
Hulk #25
Marvel
There was nothing that interested me about a Red Hulk or the Jeph Loeb-penned story that has unfolded over the past two years. After reading the first issue of Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman’s run on the book, I see great potential for this character.
Thunderbolt Ross, who was unmasked (figuratively) as the Red Hulk a few months back, has been offered an opportunity to use his powers for good by Captain Steve Rogers. In this issue, Red Hulk takes him up on it and is thrust immediately into action against M.O.D.O.K. and the Leader’s genetic weapons of mass destruction. Iron Man is soon on the scene, unaware he and Red Hulk are on the same side. Naturally this leads to the time-honored tradition of the heroes beating one another to a pulp due to a case of mistaken intentions.
Parker’s spin on a good Red Hulk is believable considering what has occurred before this. I enjoyed the friction between Thunderbolt Ross and Bruce Banner; their distaste for one another is matched only by that of J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man. Hardman draws an awesome Red Hulk and the fight between he and Iron Man is some really quality stuff.
Flash #5DC
When I first opened this issue I thought, “Man, Barry has been fighting these Renegade guys for too long.” However, the story has actually progressed nicely. By the final page it is clear that Geoff Johns is getting everything tied together in this penultimate issue of the “Death of the Rogues” storyline.
As usual, Francis Manapul proves he was born to draw splash pages. There’s a two-page doozy with the Rogue’s and Renegades squaring off in front of Mirror Master’s Silver-Agey mirror. Come on, “In case the Flash returns break glass”?
Johns is having fun introducing his Rogue’s to the returning Barry Allen; he continues to demonstrate his ability to create really bad bad guys. Johns sets up the finale of this inaugural arc with two fantastic cliff hangers. Barry is placed squarely in the wrong place at the wrong time if he is planning to save his beloved Iris. Though there was a lot of groaning upon Barry’s return, it is hard to dispute that The Flash is one of the best super hero books being published.
Skull Kickers #1
Image
There’s been a lot of early buzz on Jim Zubkavich’s Skull Kickers and the first issue by no means disappoints. After all, the opening page is of a dwarf fighting a potbellied werewolf. Dwarf: “Yeesh! Who ever heard of a fat werewolf?” The tone has been set.
Skull Kickers is the story of two medieval mercenaries, one a large contemporary-speaking man and the other a temperamental (underline temper and mental) dwarf, who travel around villages and kingdoms looking for monsters to battle. For a price. The two main characters remain nameless, but their personalities are clearly identified over the course of the story.
The art chores are split evenly between two artists, who have worked uniformly here: Chris Stevens and Edwin Huang. The artwork is cartoonish and gory, when the story calls for it (which is a fair amount).
Is this Image offering worth the buzz? It may be too early to say. I wasn’t as taken with this book as I have been with Chew or Morning Glories. That said, this is absolutely a fun first issue that grants all the dark laughs comic book readers embrace.
