Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #1: This issue is bizarre mostly because I just don't understand what we're supposed to believe about Bobby. He seems either seriously mentally ill or intellectually limited here. He has a running gag with Jubilee about whether wax paper is the same as a baking sheet, and I can't for the life of me figure out why Williams included it. Is it because he himself has been reprogrammed so many times it's broken him? Plus, he's pretty chummy with Jubilee, which seems like a no-no. Also, why are they baking "thank-you cookies" for the X-Men? Isn't saying thanks a form of intimacy? I can't tell if this issue is supposed to be this bizarre or if Williams is just throwing random stuff at us to see if it sticks. The main tension of this mini-series appears to be the fact one of the "'grades" the X-Tremists capture is pregnant, presenting them with a moral conundrum they've never previously faced. But, if the next four issues are like this one, I'm not sure I can enough to see how they resolved it.
Captain America #8: This issue couldn't be better. First, Coates uses Steve's narration to let us know we're in the dark before the dawn. I didn't realize we needed that, but we did. Coates is telling us to have faith in Steve, at a time when no one has faith in Steve. It feels conspiratorial, a reminder we, the fans, will be rewarded for our faith. America may have turned its back on Steve, but damn if we will. Sharon also hasn't turned her back on Steve, and she's as masterful here as she always is. She shakes down the Kingpin for information, wisely intuiting that Kingpin might've allowed Alexa to knock off Ross in his New York but he wouldn't be happy about sharing the stage with a new upstart villain. He provides her the information she wants, that the Foreigner killed Ross. Meanwhile, Steve sits in von Strucker's prison, with the Wrecking Crew telling him to take his moralizing and shove it. Sure, they killed people but Steve did, too, with all his inspirational speeches. Steve insists inspiring people isn't murder, but Piledriver tells him to ask Rick Jones about that. (Ouch.) While Steve realizes he needs a new name, Alexa secures a presidential pardon for Other Steve. It's a particularly clever moment, because it's the third leg of the stool of corruption Coates is building her: Kingpin as mayor of New York, a pardoned von Strucker running a prison, a pardoned Other Steve in the wild. Coates is pretty openly commenting on our era of the grift, and he does so perfectly. But, he also reminds us the villains might've overplayed their hand, and it feels like we see that when Alexa and Selene do something to turn Other Steve into a monster. At first, I thought they would just use his face to make things worse for Steve. Deciding to turn him into a monster seems a bad call. I can't wait to see how it all unfolds. I don't know if "Captain America" has ever been better, and that's a high bar considering how amazing it's been since Remender's days.
Detective Comics #999: It's pretty fucking ballsy for Tomasi to reveal the last few issues have all been a simulation Batman runs every year on his birthday, a way of forcing himself to be the best he can be by sending his own self to try to kill him. But, you know what? I kind of buy it. I normally hate these sorts of issues, but Tomasi sells through the dialogue, as Bruce's doppelgänger reminds him how he sacrificed himself so other children could have the childhood he didn't. Tomasi even goes one better as Bruce takes out his surrogate parents, Leslie and Alfred, for dinner. It follows the theme of "Batman Annual #3 (the "Father's Day" issue), turning a terribly brutal arc into a somewhat uplifting one.
The Flash #65: Ugh. Williamson had a good thing going when he focused on Bruce's relationship with Gotham Girl, but he jettisons that quickly here, presumably forced by management to focus on Barry and Bruce's "Heroes in Crisis" conflict. It goes...poorly. I don't for a minute believe Bruce would raise to Barry's bait as quickly as he does here, and I definitely don't believe he'd criticize him so cruelly for forgetting Wally existed. But, "Heroes in Crisis" is apparently all about overwrought melodrama, so I'm at least glad I haven't subjected myself to it. Along the way to this moment, Batman and Flash somehow miraculously save Claire, resurrecting her after she dies from the "super Venom" overloading her system. You'd figure she'd be dead-dead, given she burns up her life energy every time she uses her power. Instead, they just administer super-powered CPR, which somehow does the trick. Also, she conveniently doesn't remember who gave her the "super Venom."
The Realm #11: This issue is one of the most interesting of the series despite nothing really happening.
In terms of the main two storylines, we the start the issue with a trio of scarred humanoids escorting Redjaw and his companion back to Johnny. (Haun only vaguely shows their faces, so I can't tell if they're actually human.) One of the humanoids keeps running his mouth about how injured Redjaw looks. While Redjaw's companion tells him to drop it, the humanoid hypothesizes Redjaw's too wounded to take back a portal, which is why Johnny sent the trio to collect them. Redjaw has enough, leaps off his horse, and beats the humanoid to death. I assume the remaining two humanoids will be quiet for the trip. Meanwhile, we see Ben is in pursuit of the party. Turning our attention to our party, Eli informs Will and Molly they're running low on supplies, and Will says he knows a guy near where they'll meet Rook who runs a farm where they can restock and trade. Molly suggests Will tells them about his arm then, suggesting they put all their cards on the table. Will responds by suggesting they tell him what David is carrying, to which Molly simply replies, "Fair enough." Later, David discovers the symbol on the amulet the master used to restrain the monster inside Will is in one of the spellbooks that they swiped; he gives Will a curious look. Elsewhere, Rook kills a pair of goblins who kidnapped a fairy, freeing it, before reuniting with the party.
But, the issue really gets interesting at this point, because Peck starts showing us other events happening in this world. Mac and his party kill a bar full of patrons, arranging them in a circle so Mac can summon Johnny in one of the dead bodies. Meanwhile, the Red Queen vomits all sorts of red fluid into a man, and he turns completely red like she is. In his wanderings, he then infects another man, and they go their separate ways. According to the Comixology intro to this issue, they're hunting for Will. Interesting, they looked very normal, like you could've easily found them in a coffee shop in Williamsburg.
This issue and issue #10 are perfect examples of pet peeve #1: their covers don't show what happens inside. But, interestingly, the elephant-like creature that appeared on the cover of last issue appears briefly here, in one panel, though it seems like the rest of the party can't see him (despite looking in his direction).
West Coast Avengers #8: I know I say it every month, but "West Coast, Best Coast!" I love that the Skrulls are really vampires. I mean, it's so old-school "West Coast Avengers." That's exactly the sort of thing I'd expect to happen to them. Also, they're not just vampires, but vampires using a Scientology-esque "religion" as a front. It's so Los Angeles! Man, I love this series.
Also Read: Amazing Spider-Man #16; Avengers: No Road Home #3; X-Force #3
Showing posts with label The Flash (2016). Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Flash (2016). Show all posts
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Friday, April 5, 2019
Not-Very-New Comics: The February 13 Non-Avengers Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Amazing Spider-Man #15: Spencer continues to undo some of the more ill-advised aspects of Slott's run here by killing off the newly resurrected Ned Leeds. It turns out Ned is the homeless guy May invited to dinner last issue; he sacrifices himself to save her in this one. But, Spencer doesn't just pop Ned for shits and giggles; Ned warns Spider-Man that Betty is in trouble. She's in Europe on assignment, so it's pretty clear we won't get to that story until we get through whatever Sinister Six reunion Spencer is planning next. In the meantime, Ned's death inspires May to reopen F.E.A.S.T., and it's an excellent call on Spencer's part. Aunt May's at her best as a character when she has something to do other than worry about Peter, and this development brings her a little more closely in line with her depiction in the "Marvel's Spider-Man" videogame. Showing how Spencer has a lot of pots on a lot of burners right now, I also wonder what horrible thing is going to happen to Billy Connors by trusting his mysterious friend. Time will tell.
The Flash #64: I'm not reading "Heroes in Crisis" in part because I don't believe DC would really kill Wally West so soon after he returned to the land of the living. If you don't accept that part as truth, then you don't accept why everyone is so angry at Batman. (I don't totally understand what responsibility Batman had for "Sanctuary" and whatever it was that happened there. But, again, I don't care.) As such, I spent most of this issue just rolling my eyes whenever the narrative veered towards Barry or Iris' anger at Bruce over Wally's "death." Williamson is at his best when he focuses on Gotham Girl. Barry proves Bruce's point that he may be the better detective when he posits that someone had to help Gotham and Gotham Girl with their costumes, just like Bruce (well, Alfred) did with the Robins and Barry did with Wally. Given the amount of Venom they find in the compound they're investigating, it seems like Bane is the answer. The more we can focus on this mystery and not "Heroes in Crisis," the better.
Shatterstar #5: What a weird but delightful miniseries this one was. Seeley really delivered a great cast of supporting characters while also managing to streamline Shatterstar's history. He lost a purpose -- death and destruction -- and found a purpose -- friends and belonging. Do I totally understand how Rictor uses his seismic powers to reach across the galaxy and pluck Ben from space because his powers are (allegedly) sonic in nature? No, no, I don't. But, was it worth that confusion for the great line about how he and Rictor have always been on the same wavelength? Yes, yes, it was. Also, Shatterstar bringing Grandmaster to Tina's god- and hero-less Universe so he could negate his godhood and wound him was remarkably clever, like a well timed stand-up comedy call back. Of the various five-issue mini-series we've been getting lately, this one is the best candidate for an ongoing series in my opinion.
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #5: At long last, McGuire returns Gwen to her life. I feel like it's been years since we had a story focused on Gwen just trying to balance her personal life and her superhero career, and it's a welcome relief when McGuire does so here. Moreover, McGuire makes it clear we're not going to be jaunting to Madripoor or an alternate Universe anytime soon, as Gwen's got a more local foe to defeat: Man-Wolf! I've enjoyed all the places we've gone with Gwen, but I'm possibly most excited about her just spending some time with her in New York for a while.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #4: Thompson continues his strong run here, as Han and company decide to defy orders (surprising, I know) to save Valence after he crashed during a mission. By this point, no one should be surprised Han is willing to risk reprimand for a guy he doesn't even like: his sense of loyalty is beyond question. But, Thompson makes it interesting by using the predicament as a way to show how cold the Empire really is. Although Valence crashed, Han's pretty sure he's still alive. He only resorts to breaking orders after he's repeatedly denied resources to save Valence. His commander's indifference to Valence's plight makes it pretty clear why the Empire eventually falls.
Also Read: Detective Comics #998; Mr. and Mrs. X #8
The Flash #64: I'm not reading "Heroes in Crisis" in part because I don't believe DC would really kill Wally West so soon after he returned to the land of the living. If you don't accept that part as truth, then you don't accept why everyone is so angry at Batman. (I don't totally understand what responsibility Batman had for "Sanctuary" and whatever it was that happened there. But, again, I don't care.) As such, I spent most of this issue just rolling my eyes whenever the narrative veered towards Barry or Iris' anger at Bruce over Wally's "death." Williamson is at his best when he focuses on Gotham Girl. Barry proves Bruce's point that he may be the better detective when he posits that someone had to help Gotham and Gotham Girl with their costumes, just like Bruce (well, Alfred) did with the Robins and Barry did with Wally. Given the amount of Venom they find in the compound they're investigating, it seems like Bane is the answer. The more we can focus on this mystery and not "Heroes in Crisis," the better.
Shatterstar #5: What a weird but delightful miniseries this one was. Seeley really delivered a great cast of supporting characters while also managing to streamline Shatterstar's history. He lost a purpose -- death and destruction -- and found a purpose -- friends and belonging. Do I totally understand how Rictor uses his seismic powers to reach across the galaxy and pluck Ben from space because his powers are (allegedly) sonic in nature? No, no, I don't. But, was it worth that confusion for the great line about how he and Rictor have always been on the same wavelength? Yes, yes, it was. Also, Shatterstar bringing Grandmaster to Tina's god- and hero-less Universe so he could negate his godhood and wound him was remarkably clever, like a well timed stand-up comedy call back. Of the various five-issue mini-series we've been getting lately, this one is the best candidate for an ongoing series in my opinion.
Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #5: At long last, McGuire returns Gwen to her life. I feel like it's been years since we had a story focused on Gwen just trying to balance her personal life and her superhero career, and it's a welcome relief when McGuire does so here. Moreover, McGuire makes it clear we're not going to be jaunting to Madripoor or an alternate Universe anytime soon, as Gwen's got a more local foe to defeat: Man-Wolf! I've enjoyed all the places we've gone with Gwen, but I'm possibly most excited about her just spending some time with her in New York for a while.
Star Wars: Han Solo - Imperial Cadet #4: Thompson continues his strong run here, as Han and company decide to defy orders (surprising, I know) to save Valence after he crashed during a mission. By this point, no one should be surprised Han is willing to risk reprimand for a guy he doesn't even like: his sense of loyalty is beyond question. But, Thompson makes it interesting by using the predicament as a way to show how cold the Empire really is. Although Valence crashed, Han's pretty sure he's still alive. He only resorts to breaking orders after he's repeatedly denied resources to save Valence. His commander's indifference to Valence's plight makes it pretty clear why the Empire eventually falls.
Also Read: Detective Comics #998; Mr. and Mrs. X #8
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Not-So-New Comics: The October 25 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
For some reason, I didn't really have a lot to say about the October 25 releases. It's not necessarily a bad thing; they were all really solid issues. "Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider" #9, "Bloodshot Salvation" #2, "Detective Comics" #967, and "Nightwing: The New Order" #3 all significantly advanced their plots, and I thoroughly enjoyed "Quantum and Woody! #0.0001½. But, I guess not much seemed particularly noteworthy.
Dark Nights: Gotham Resistance (Teen Titans #12, Nightwing #29, Suicide Squad #26, and Green Arrow #32): I finally had to admit I was enjoying “Dark Nights” so much I decided to go back and buy these issues. (I read "Nightwing" #29 when it was released on September 20.) The authors do a great job in keeping the story connected issues to issue as some members of the Suicide Squad and Teen Titans get possessed by the Batman Who Laugh’s Damian while the other members join with Green Arrow, Mister Terrific, and Nightwing to get to the heart of Challengers' Mountain in the middle of Gotham. It actually helped reading these issues after reading "Dark Nights: Metal" #3, since it's clear the music and voices Dick is hearing is Bruce telling him not to come rescue him. Dick doesn't exactly hit the nail on the head in interpreting that message, deciding instead Bruce is dead or lost. (That said, he was a helluva lot closer to interpreting the message correctly than Clark was.) The main outcome of this cross-over event in terms of the larger story was Damian seemingly mortally wounding his counterpart with Nth metal. Mister Terrific arrives to whisk the remaining team members — Damian, Dick, Green Arrow, and Mister Terrific — to the Oblivion Bar, as we saw in "Dark Nights: Metal" #3. Here, Green Arrow reveals what they've learned about the Nth metal, setting the ball rolling for the rest of the series. Beyond just advancing the larger plot, the authors really show the despair the characters are beginning to feel, particularly Dick and Harley; you understand why Dick is such a mess in “Dark Nights: Metal” #3. The only criticism I have of this mini-event is I didn’t really buy Harley and Killer Croc feeling some sort of patriotism for Gotham, but it’s a minor complaint. All in all, it's a solid event that anyone reading "Dark Nights: Metal" would benefit from reading.
The Flash #33 ("Dark Nights: Bats Out of Hell" #1): This issue starts immediately after Superman enters the Dark Dimension, as Murder Machine and Devastator arrive to steal the tuning fork (as seen in “Batman: The Devastator” #1). Interestingly, Devastator destroys the fork, saying he’ll bring it to Barbatos only after he rebuilds it. Why would he need to rebuild it? Is that going to provide the loophole the League needs to defeat Barbatos? Meanwhile, Barbatos kidnaps the various League members from their missions to lock down more Nth metal, separating Arthur, Barry, Diana, and Hal from their partners and sending them against their Dark Dimension counterparts. This entire event has been building to this moment, and I can see why these issues were sold as essential to the overall story.
Amazing Spider-Man #790: OK, first, I have to say, I could overlook a lot here just given how beautiful the art is. Honestly, in 35 years of reading Spider-Man comics, I can't remember them ever looking as good. (Yes, I'm not a McFarlane fan.) As mentioned in the letters column, Immonen really has an amazing (heh) ability to convey motion; at certain points during Peter's fight with Johnny and later Clash, it really felt like I was watching a movie. But, the good news is I don't have to overlook anything. Slott is telling a really bang-up story. I love the idea of Peter committing to going on an apology tour, showing how solid of a guy he is; as Harry says, most companies would've just sent some lawyers to sign the settlements on their behalf. I'm also glad Slott is continuing to keep the Robin Hood version of Clash here. I even liked Peter continuing to somewhat uncharacteristically look the other way when it comes to Clash, as he does here when Clash steals back the tech he developed for Parker Industries. It was a little questionable previously, but something about it now feels like it reflects Peter's new worldview after the fall of PI. Is he really going to sweat Clash stealing back the technology he himself created? He has bigger fish to fry. Meanwhile, I wonder if the developments in "Uncanny Avengers" means Johnny is going to buy back the Baxter Building. (Are the Avengers going to live there?) It seems too perfectly timed for it not to be true. In other words, Slott and the art team have really hit a home run when it comes to a Legacy story that feels and looks like the Spider-Man stories of my youth, and I hope it lasts as long as possible.
Also Read: Batman: The Merciless #1; Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider #9; Bloodshot Salvation #2; Detective Comics #967; Nightwing: The New Order #3; Quantum and Woody #0.00011/2; Rebels: These Free and Independent Starts #8; U.S.Avengers #11; X-Men: Blue #14
Dark Nights: Gotham Resistance (Teen Titans #12, Nightwing #29, Suicide Squad #26, and Green Arrow #32): I finally had to admit I was enjoying “Dark Nights” so much I decided to go back and buy these issues. (I read "Nightwing" #29 when it was released on September 20.) The authors do a great job in keeping the story connected issues to issue as some members of the Suicide Squad and Teen Titans get possessed by the Batman Who Laugh’s Damian while the other members join with Green Arrow, Mister Terrific, and Nightwing to get to the heart of Challengers' Mountain in the middle of Gotham. It actually helped reading these issues after reading "Dark Nights: Metal" #3, since it's clear the music and voices Dick is hearing is Bruce telling him not to come rescue him. Dick doesn't exactly hit the nail on the head in interpreting that message, deciding instead Bruce is dead or lost. (That said, he was a helluva lot closer to interpreting the message correctly than Clark was.) The main outcome of this cross-over event in terms of the larger story was Damian seemingly mortally wounding his counterpart with Nth metal. Mister Terrific arrives to whisk the remaining team members — Damian, Dick, Green Arrow, and Mister Terrific — to the Oblivion Bar, as we saw in "Dark Nights: Metal" #3. Here, Green Arrow reveals what they've learned about the Nth metal, setting the ball rolling for the rest of the series. Beyond just advancing the larger plot, the authors really show the despair the characters are beginning to feel, particularly Dick and Harley; you understand why Dick is such a mess in “Dark Nights: Metal” #3. The only criticism I have of this mini-event is I didn’t really buy Harley and Killer Croc feeling some sort of patriotism for Gotham, but it’s a minor complaint. All in all, it's a solid event that anyone reading "Dark Nights: Metal" would benefit from reading.
The Flash #33 ("Dark Nights: Bats Out of Hell" #1): This issue starts immediately after Superman enters the Dark Dimension, as Murder Machine and Devastator arrive to steal the tuning fork (as seen in “Batman: The Devastator” #1). Interestingly, Devastator destroys the fork, saying he’ll bring it to Barbatos only after he rebuilds it. Why would he need to rebuild it? Is that going to provide the loophole the League needs to defeat Barbatos? Meanwhile, Barbatos kidnaps the various League members from their missions to lock down more Nth metal, separating Arthur, Barry, Diana, and Hal from their partners and sending them against their Dark Dimension counterparts. This entire event has been building to this moment, and I can see why these issues were sold as essential to the overall story.
Amazing Spider-Man #790: OK, first, I have to say, I could overlook a lot here just given how beautiful the art is. Honestly, in 35 years of reading Spider-Man comics, I can't remember them ever looking as good. (Yes, I'm not a McFarlane fan.) As mentioned in the letters column, Immonen really has an amazing (heh) ability to convey motion; at certain points during Peter's fight with Johnny and later Clash, it really felt like I was watching a movie. But, the good news is I don't have to overlook anything. Slott is telling a really bang-up story. I love the idea of Peter committing to going on an apology tour, showing how solid of a guy he is; as Harry says, most companies would've just sent some lawyers to sign the settlements on their behalf. I'm also glad Slott is continuing to keep the Robin Hood version of Clash here. I even liked Peter continuing to somewhat uncharacteristically look the other way when it comes to Clash, as he does here when Clash steals back the tech he developed for Parker Industries. It was a little questionable previously, but something about it now feels like it reflects Peter's new worldview after the fall of PI. Is he really going to sweat Clash stealing back the technology he himself created? He has bigger fish to fry. Meanwhile, I wonder if the developments in "Uncanny Avengers" means Johnny is going to buy back the Baxter Building. (Are the Avengers going to live there?) It seems too perfectly timed for it not to be true. In other words, Slott and the art team have really hit a home run when it comes to a Legacy story that feels and looks like the Spider-Man stories of my youth, and I hope it lasts as long as possible.
Monday, June 19, 2017
Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The May 17 Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
The Flash #22: Williamson does what he can here, given the editors' clear instructions to give us a peak behind the curtain without drawing it back entirely. As expected, Thawne encounters Dr. Manhattan, who destroys him, likely because he doesn't want anyone to be able to identify him. (I'm still not sure how Thawne recognized him, but I feel like that's a story for another time.) As Barry and Bruce are left flailing in the timestream, Jay Garrick calls to Barry. Barry says his name, allowing Jay to rescue them. However, Barry doesn't recognize Jay the way he did Wally, causing Jay to seemingly disappear back into the timestream. Williamson makes it clear both Barry and Bruce are shaken by this arc's events: Bruce was unable to save his father and Barry was unable to save Jay. The biggest unanswered question is why Dr. Manhattan would risk exposing himself by arranging this experience in the first place. After all, Barry and Bruce are clearly committed to investigating the incident now. But, it seems less an accidental oversight than an intentional mystery, presumably one to be answered later. Meanwhile, in an ad after the issue concludes, we're told the "Doomsday Clock" event is coming in November as the blood on the smiley-face button morphs into Superman's shield. I'm not sure if I'm excited, but, if I am, King and Williamson handling this cross-over event with such aplomb got me there.
Secret Empire #2: Spencer avoids the "Age of Ultron" trap here by making the heroes' next steps pretty damn logical. Tony eventually reviews the thumbdrive the new Patriot brought him, revealing a message from Rick detailing the truth behind Steve's betrayal. (He hacked into Hydra's files to get the information.) Hawkeye wants to lead a team to track down the pieces of the Cube, but, since Dr. Selvig was smart enough to hide them outside HYDRA territory, he and his team have to get smuggled past the (very secure) border to do so. On the other hand, Natasha feels it's a fool's errand. She recalls all the people they lost in previous attempts to prove Steve was a clone or a LMD and argues (pretty convincingly) Steve would want them to kill him if he knew how he was being used. Miles doesn't necessarily agree with her, but he feels his destiny is to kill Steve (per "Inhumans vs. X-Men") so he and the Champions join her. (Yes, I'll be getting "Secret Empire: Uprising.") Meanwhile, Clint and his team are on the border in a Mos Eisley sort of town. Ant-Man leads them to Sam, who helped him smuggle Cassie across the border. Let's just say Sam isn't too thrilled to see them. In the Darkforce dimension, Dagger is killing herself to provide the only light the city gets while Kingpin is providing help to the population with the request that people remember his help when the sun "returns." Throughout the issue, Spencer does an excellent job keeping up the pace while still taking us through all the steps necessary to make these developments feel organic. But, it's the last page that brings an honest-to-goodness surprise. Seriously, these sorts of developments are usually so telegraphed that it's rare to be surprised anymore. However, a rugged-looking Steve Rogers saving a mysteriously glowing woman from members of the Serpent Society and asking her for help to get home? Let's just say I don't think I'm as cocky about knowing what Spencer has in mind as I was.
The Wild Storm #4: Not a lot happens in this issue, but it's beautiful to behold: Davis-Hunt and Buccellato are geniuses, truly. After the Wild C.A.T.s escape Angie's bunker via Void (before one of the surviving members of Razors 3 detonates a grenade), the action stops and everyone gets a moment to breathe. Miles recaps the last two issues for his husband over wine and leftovers, and we then get our first prolonged exposure to Henry Bendix. We don't learn much, other than the fact he prefers spending his time in his enormous space station orbiting Earth (as opposed to Earth itself) and he engages in a whole lot of bluster with everyone other than his assistant, Ms. Pennington. (I don't know if it was a conscious choice, but Pennington looks a lot like Carol/Cheryl from "Archer," which makes it all the more awesome.) We conclude the issue with Mike telling Miles his brain tumor is inoperable and Miles asking him if he wants to keep working. Meanwhile, Angie walks along a deserted highway (after initially crashing into the ocean when she fled the bunker at the start of the issue). Ellis does a great job keeping us guessing mostly because his characters are all in the same situation: no one really has any clue what's happening. That said, Henry Bendis, Miles Craven, and Jacob Marlowe aren't exactly the types of guys who handle that well, so we'll see where we go.
X-Men: Gold #4: Guggenheim's telling a number of stories here, and they're all pretty great. First, we've got the mundane. Kitty, Kurt, and Rachel easily take out some members of the Serpent Society as they rob a bank. Kitty is anxious to get the fight concluded so she can get to her meeting with the city about hooking up the Mansion to the sewer and water system, a clever reminder of the team's struggles to get itself established. (I'm also intrigued how they're going to pay that rent bill the city presented them earlier.) Plus, Guggenheim is reminding us Kitty wants to improve the X-Men's visibility not just by eliminating mutant threats, but regular ones, too. Then, we're got the mysteries. Dr. Reyes informs Colossus the alien-looking guy from the Brotherhood is actually an alien; in fact, he's an alien whose language is even unknown to the universal translator. Meanwhile, Logan and Storm go all "X-Men: SVU" when they convince a NYPD detective to tell them more about the murder of a mutant. (This entire sequence is great, in part because Guggenheim uses the pacing and phrasing of "Law and Order." It makes me realize I would 100% read a comic where Logan and Ororo just went around town solving crimes.) But everyone has to put their day on hold to help Remy. You see, he swiped some nanites for Bolivar Trask's granddaughter. (Before you worry, he didn't know who she was when he took the job; he took it explicitly to find out the buyer's identity.) Trask planned on connecting the nanites to an artificial intelligence for military (and, allegedly, non-mutant killing) purposes, and Remy decides to stop her. But, he sorta accidentally breaks the containment tube and the nanites fly into Trask's computer system. Given the amount of anti-mutant AIs on your average Trask computer, the nanites bond with such an AI and become a nano-swarm Sentinel. Ooopsie! Remy obviously glides over his role in creating said Sentinel when he calls for help. (It's all part of his charm.) Seriously, it sounds like Guggenheim would've been rushed given how much happens here, but the pace is really fun, a sort of "day in the crazy life" approach. It's a great start for this new arc.
Also Read: Batman #23; Generation X #1; The Mighty Thor #19; Nightwing #21; Star Wars #31; U.S.Avengers #6
Secret Empire #2: Spencer avoids the "Age of Ultron" trap here by making the heroes' next steps pretty damn logical. Tony eventually reviews the thumbdrive the new Patriot brought him, revealing a message from Rick detailing the truth behind Steve's betrayal. (He hacked into Hydra's files to get the information.) Hawkeye wants to lead a team to track down the pieces of the Cube, but, since Dr. Selvig was smart enough to hide them outside HYDRA territory, he and his team have to get smuggled past the (very secure) border to do so. On the other hand, Natasha feels it's a fool's errand. She recalls all the people they lost in previous attempts to prove Steve was a clone or a LMD and argues (pretty convincingly) Steve would want them to kill him if he knew how he was being used. Miles doesn't necessarily agree with her, but he feels his destiny is to kill Steve (per "Inhumans vs. X-Men") so he and the Champions join her. (Yes, I'll be getting "Secret Empire: Uprising.") Meanwhile, Clint and his team are on the border in a Mos Eisley sort of town. Ant-Man leads them to Sam, who helped him smuggle Cassie across the border. Let's just say Sam isn't too thrilled to see them. In the Darkforce dimension, Dagger is killing herself to provide the only light the city gets while Kingpin is providing help to the population with the request that people remember his help when the sun "returns." Throughout the issue, Spencer does an excellent job keeping up the pace while still taking us through all the steps necessary to make these developments feel organic. But, it's the last page that brings an honest-to-goodness surprise. Seriously, these sorts of developments are usually so telegraphed that it's rare to be surprised anymore. However, a rugged-looking Steve Rogers saving a mysteriously glowing woman from members of the Serpent Society and asking her for help to get home? Let's just say I don't think I'm as cocky about knowing what Spencer has in mind as I was.
Teen Titans #8: Maybe it's because this cross-over arc has three writers, but this issue made little sense to me. First, we have Kid Flash deciding to spend the day with some older guy with a cool car. I get he misses his father and likes working on cars, but going for a joyride and then burgers with a stranger (with an eyepatch) you just met is a pretty clear no-no, teenage superhero or not. Then we've got the weirdness of Dick's deal with Deathstroke, which drives the tension of this issue. We don't know what it is yet, but I feel like we're not going to get a satisfying answer in the end. Deathstroke seems to have kidnapped both Wally Wests to activate some sort of battery that will not only resurrect his son but make himself more powerful. But, what would Dick have to do with that? Is the deal completely unrelated and just so happens to come to light when Deathstroke is being all villain-y? Seems unlikely. Percy actually does a solid job in scripting the tired "good guys initially fight as a result of an obvious misunderstanding" bit; the rumble on the roof of Titans Tower actually sounds the way I think it would, all chaotic and jumbled. But, for Percy to sell this issue, you still have to believe Kid Flash not only spent the day with Deathstroke but also then helped him with his time-travel plans even after he revealed himself. I just don't believe even a rookie would be that naive, but there you go.
The Wild Storm #4: Not a lot happens in this issue, but it's beautiful to behold: Davis-Hunt and Buccellato are geniuses, truly. After the Wild C.A.T.s escape Angie's bunker via Void (before one of the surviving members of Razors 3 detonates a grenade), the action stops and everyone gets a moment to breathe. Miles recaps the last two issues for his husband over wine and leftovers, and we then get our first prolonged exposure to Henry Bendix. We don't learn much, other than the fact he prefers spending his time in his enormous space station orbiting Earth (as opposed to Earth itself) and he engages in a whole lot of bluster with everyone other than his assistant, Ms. Pennington. (I don't know if it was a conscious choice, but Pennington looks a lot like Carol/Cheryl from "Archer," which makes it all the more awesome.) We conclude the issue with Mike telling Miles his brain tumor is inoperable and Miles asking him if he wants to keep working. Meanwhile, Angie walks along a deserted highway (after initially crashing into the ocean when she fled the bunker at the start of the issue). Ellis does a great job keeping us guessing mostly because his characters are all in the same situation: no one really has any clue what's happening. That said, Henry Bendis, Miles Craven, and Jacob Marlowe aren't exactly the types of guys who handle that well, so we'll see where we go.
X-Men: Gold #4: Guggenheim's telling a number of stories here, and they're all pretty great. First, we've got the mundane. Kitty, Kurt, and Rachel easily take out some members of the Serpent Society as they rob a bank. Kitty is anxious to get the fight concluded so she can get to her meeting with the city about hooking up the Mansion to the sewer and water system, a clever reminder of the team's struggles to get itself established. (I'm also intrigued how they're going to pay that rent bill the city presented them earlier.) Plus, Guggenheim is reminding us Kitty wants to improve the X-Men's visibility not just by eliminating mutant threats, but regular ones, too. Then, we're got the mysteries. Dr. Reyes informs Colossus the alien-looking guy from the Brotherhood is actually an alien; in fact, he's an alien whose language is even unknown to the universal translator. Meanwhile, Logan and Storm go all "X-Men: SVU" when they convince a NYPD detective to tell them more about the murder of a mutant. (This entire sequence is great, in part because Guggenheim uses the pacing and phrasing of "Law and Order." It makes me realize I would 100% read a comic where Logan and Ororo just went around town solving crimes.) But everyone has to put their day on hold to help Remy. You see, he swiped some nanites for Bolivar Trask's granddaughter. (Before you worry, he didn't know who she was when he took the job; he took it explicitly to find out the buyer's identity.) Trask planned on connecting the nanites to an artificial intelligence for military (and, allegedly, non-mutant killing) purposes, and Remy decides to stop her. But, he sorta accidentally breaks the containment tube and the nanites fly into Trask's computer system. Given the amount of anti-mutant AIs on your average Trask computer, the nanites bond with such an AI and become a nano-swarm Sentinel. Ooopsie! Remy obviously glides over his role in creating said Sentinel when he calls for help. (It's all part of his charm.) Seriously, it sounds like Guggenheim would've been rushed given how much happens here, but the pace is really fun, a sort of "day in the crazy life" approach. It's a great start for this new arc.
Also Read: Batman #23; Generation X #1; The Mighty Thor #19; Nightwing #21; Star Wars #31; U.S.Avengers #6
Monday, May 8, 2017
Not-Very-Deep Thoughts: The April 26 DC Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Batgirl #10: [Sigh.] We can never seem to get past issue #10 in a "Batgirl" series before the wheels come off the bus. I feel like Larson just invents whatever event or tool she needs to get Babs from Point A to Point B. For example, I've been a fan of Babs' new "hyperfocus" ability, where she essentially turns her eidetic memory into a computer. But, Larson pushes us past the already fast-approaching point of believability here, as Babs is now suddenly able to see inside a woman's car before her auto-drive system crashes it. Is the car recording her? How is that even possible? Similarly, Babs is in this situation because someone randomly took a photo of her and Dick together that made Ethan jealous. Why did that guy take the photo? No idea. They're just a guy and a girl standing by a motorcycle at a gas station. How did Ethan know the photo was taken? Also no idea. Moreover, Ethan becomes a full-on super-villain here. He not only reveals his new costumed identity as the oddly named Blacksun, but he broke off his relationship with Babs by sending an intern to do the dirty work. It makes even less sense when you consider he got jealous over Babs talking to Dick after he ended it. I just don't know how much longer I can hang in here.
Detective Comics #955: This issue is weirdly bad. Tynion usually produces top-notch products, but this issue is well off the mark. He employs a tedious and unnecessary narrator to move us through the issue. To make it worse, the narrator is reading a children's story that mirrors every aspect of Cassandra's pretty unique life. It inspires her to take on the League of Shadows by herself, and she miraculously manages to defeat all of them. Yup. It's important because her allies are indisposed: Jean-Paul, Kate, and Luke are naked and chained in the same room as the nuclear bomb meant to detonate the fault line under Gotham City; Bruce is soon to join them, and Clayface's body is distributed over a dozen canisters. But, suddenly, they're all free and in costumes in time to face Shiva with Cass. Moreover, Tynion wastes a few pages on Ulysses' narrating to Jake his creation of new smart chemical weapons he wants to use on the League. In other words, we just lurch from one poorly explained plot point to another. As I said, it's a rare miss for Tynion, but a miss it is.
The Flash #21: We have a number of interesting developments here right at the start. First, the Justice Society is somehow tied to this story; a 90-year-old Johnny Thunder appears at the start of the issue, and Flash talks about seeing Jay Garrick's Mercury Helmet in a vision. Second, Barry discovers his own energy signature on Thawne's body, leading him to wonder if he kills Thawne. He notably withholds this information from Bruce (who's now conscious). Third, the Button is missing. The plot gets rolling as Barry and Bruce use the Cosmic Treadmill to travel through time to identify Thawne's killer, using the radiation Barry found on the Button to calibrate their search. Along the way, they see what they initially believe to be alternate universes showing the formation of various Justice Leagues, but then wonder if they're actually showing the period of time Dr. Manhattan stole. But something goes wrong: they're struck by a bolt of lightning and find themselves in the "Flashpoint" Batcave, face-to-face with Thomas Wayne. Williamson does a solid job of moving us through these numerous development without ignoring characterization. Barry is struggling to come to grips with his emotions (or lack of them) as he realizes his mother's killer has come to justice, and Bruce obviously has all the feels when confronted with his father. Maybe he'll even cry next issue!
Detective Comics #955: This issue is weirdly bad. Tynion usually produces top-notch products, but this issue is well off the mark. He employs a tedious and unnecessary narrator to move us through the issue. To make it worse, the narrator is reading a children's story that mirrors every aspect of Cassandra's pretty unique life. It inspires her to take on the League of Shadows by herself, and she miraculously manages to defeat all of them. Yup. It's important because her allies are indisposed: Jean-Paul, Kate, and Luke are naked and chained in the same room as the nuclear bomb meant to detonate the fault line under Gotham City; Bruce is soon to join them, and Clayface's body is distributed over a dozen canisters. But, suddenly, they're all free and in costumes in time to face Shiva with Cass. Moreover, Tynion wastes a few pages on Ulysses' narrating to Jake his creation of new smart chemical weapons he wants to use on the League. In other words, we just lurch from one poorly explained plot point to another. As I said, it's a rare miss for Tynion, but a miss it is.
The Flash #21: We have a number of interesting developments here right at the start. First, the Justice Society is somehow tied to this story; a 90-year-old Johnny Thunder appears at the start of the issue, and Flash talks about seeing Jay Garrick's Mercury Helmet in a vision. Second, Barry discovers his own energy signature on Thawne's body, leading him to wonder if he kills Thawne. He notably withholds this information from Bruce (who's now conscious). Third, the Button is missing. The plot gets rolling as Barry and Bruce use the Cosmic Treadmill to travel through time to identify Thawne's killer, using the radiation Barry found on the Button to calibrate their search. Along the way, they see what they initially believe to be alternate universes showing the formation of various Justice Leagues, but then wonder if they're actually showing the period of time Dr. Manhattan stole. But something goes wrong: they're struck by a bolt of lightning and find themselves in the "Flashpoint" Batcave, face-to-face with Thomas Wayne. Williamson does a solid job of moving us through these numerous development without ignoring characterization. Barry is struggling to come to grips with his emotions (or lack of them) as he realizes his mother's killer has come to justice, and Bruce obviously has all the feels when confronted with his father. Maybe he'll even cry next issue!
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