By Don M. Ventura
Avengers Prime #5 (of 5)
Marvel Comics
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Not one issue was wasted in this action-packed bi-monthly mini-series by Brian Michael Bendis and Alan Davis. I’ve previously noted that all of Bendis’ Avengers work has not been my favorite, but this story has been fun and exciting throughout.
This issue serves as the final battle between Steve Rogers, Iron Man, Thor, and the populace or Asgard against the sorceress Hela and her minions. Davis draws fantastic battle sequences in this issue. I’m not kidding. Really, really fantastic. There is a two-page splash with Hela riding atop a dragon as her army charges the heroes that is the best work he’s done on this series.
Bendis keeps most of the action between Thor and Hela, but Steve and Iron Man are not without stuff to do. Tony Stark tells the God of Thunder, “Thor, if they made a greeting card that said: Congratulations on your army gathering skills… I would buy you one.” Bendis accomplished what he set out to do with Avengers Prime, establish the friendship between its three leads and give the readers an excellent story along the way. Nicely assembled.
Steel #1 (One-Shot)
DC Comics
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I am only speaking about the books on my pull list, but this was not a great week for DC Comics. Steel underwhelmingly meets his maker by the close of this inaugural issue to the “Reign of Doomsday” storyline. “Reign” will carry over into other DC books over the next few months as Doomsday takes on the Supermen who appeared after the “Death of Superman” storyline.
What is odd is that these characters rose to prominence after that seminal Man of Steel tale, and there is no hint in the book why Doomsday would be holding a grudge against them. The story here is really one-note with a couple of flashbacks to let the reader know who John Henry is, only in a literal sense, and how he became Steel.
Death in comic books can be done right, but more often than not it can be done wrong. Steel was a passionless book that wasted pages of the character getting beat to a pulp but there was no sense of genuine heroism in his plight, and certainly no sense of loss in his death. What a shame.
Superboy #3
DC Comics
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After the third issue of this title I find myself trying too hard to enjoy it because I have such an affinity for this character. I began reading Superboy stories when he appeared in Geoff Johns’ Teen Titans run, but Superboy series writer Jeff Lemire has been more miss than hit on this book.
I get the sense Lemire is trying to do some quality things on this book— establish a unique identity for Connor Kent and create an action fantasy for the character outside of team-ups in other books. Unfortunately the writer does not seem like a good fit for super hero comics based on his work on Superboy.
As each issue passes I also find more fault in the work of artist Pier Gallo. The faces on his characters are all far too similar and their eyes are soulless. Allow me to be nitpicky on a few things. I understand that Superboy’s jeans are tight because they are a part of his costume; however, on Connor it looks awkward. I also did not buy that Connor would sport a primary-colored backpack.
Batman Beyond #1
DC Comics
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I picked up this title because I enjoyed the original television series and I had heard a lot of good things about the mini-series from the same creative team as this book, Adam Beechen and Ryan Benjamin. However, this book did not grab me.
The story revolves around Terry McGinnis, Gotham’s future Dark Knight, as he continues to adjust splitting his personal and vigilante lives. The story is pretty standard as a man dying due to his exposure to metahuman substances decides to take revenge on the superhero community.
This wasn’t a bad comic book by any means, but there was nothing fresh about the story or dialogue. Fans of the character may find this book compelling enough, but I wouldn’t recommend Batman Beyond to anyone falling outside of that group.
Bring the Thunder #2
Dynamite Comics
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The first issue of Bring the Thunder showed some promise, but much of the freshness is lost in this second outing.
Problem number one: much of this book takes place in urban Chicago as our hero comes face to face with street thugs. While I appreciate that series writer Jai Nitz seems to have brought authenticity to the practices of street gangs, the dialogue feels anything but authentic. Combining superhero stories with real world problems is a tricky thing and can all too often fall flat on its face.
There were also some distracting story choices in this issue. Our protagonist, Wayne Russell, is reunited with his wife after a mysterious one year absence. Wayne learns one of his sons is running around with a street gang to keep his family safe and his other son suffered a nervous breakdown when he thought Wayne was killed in Afghanistan. Wayne goes for a checkup with his wife then heads home. Wouldn’t it have been more likely—and dramatic—had he gone to see the son that had the breakdown?
I would like to see more of the creativity that Nitz brought to the first issue of the book if I continue reading Bring the Thunder.
Sweets #4 (of 5)
Image Comics
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Sometimes when an artist decides to tackle the script as well as the artwork the results can be mediocre storytelling.
This has not been the case for Sweets, a bi-monthly comic written and drawn by Kody Chamberlain. Sometimes you can pick up a comic book and recognize that you are reading a labor of love. Every page of Sweets #4 is gorgeous from start to finish.
Detective Curt Delatte is in the hospital after he and his partner were gunned down by the serial killer who they tracked down in the previous issue. Delatte is a remarkable detective who learns in the final pages of this issue that the cause of his unimaginable pain has become even more unimaginable.
Chamberlain’s script work is as on point as his art. The writing is smart, real, and touching. The final scene of the issue is as powerful as it is unexpected. If you haven’t been reading Sweets, either get to your back-issue bin or pray that Image puts out a trade of this wonderful mini.
