Captain America #618: So, when the "Gulag" storyline first started, I was super-annoyed, because it felt like just yet another iteration of the "Trial of Captain America," making Bucky pay, yet again, for his sins as the Winter Soldier. But, it's actually morphed into something much more intriguing and much more sinister. It hadn't dawned on me that Bucky might not end this series as a good guy. I assumed he wasn't going to end it as Captain America, but I figured we'd get him some other secret identity (USAgent, I believe, is available). They'd probably give him a monthly series that would get canceled after 25 issues or so, but he'd still be seen as a member of the "New Avengers." But, here, Brubaker opens the doors to the possibility that he may actually become the Winter Soldier again. I don't think it'll happen, but just the injection of the possibility of it happening has made this story line a lot more dramatic. It's like the "Trial of Captain America," before the somewhat bizarre Sin-related ending, where Brubaker really just kept you guessing. The next issue is the conclusion to the storyline, and I'm intrigued to see what connection Rostov has to the two KGB agents the Winter Soldier killed and whether we will indeed see Bucky still on the side of angels. Way to get me back in the game, Brubaker. I won't doubt you again.
Detective Comics #877: I don't even know where to begin. This issue is perfect. It starts with a cliff-hanger, gives us character development in the middle, and ends with a cliff-hanger. I could point out so many awesome moments in this issue, like Bats taking out the Roadrunner's foot while he's in the middle of a tirade to Dick embarrassing himself in front of Sonia Branch. Both these scenes work not only on a basic level, but on a secondary level, sending up the usual "super-villain" monologue trope (by having Dick cut it short) and reminding us that Dick, and not Bruce, is behind the cowl by making him embarrassed (something I'm guessing Bruce probably wouldn't have been). But, the scene that totally epitomizes why Scott Snyder is the best writer in comics right now is Dick's hilarious conversation with Red Robin. It represents the grace note that Snyder is so good at giving us. Other writers would've just given us Dick monologuing to himself (something Bruce probably would've done), but, instead, we get Dick having a conversation with Tim, developing their relationship and injecting humor into the story. Snyder makes his life more difficult by giving us these scenes, because they're harder to write, but it's why "Detective Comics" is the best comic on the shelves right now.
inFAMOUS #6: Since the first moments of the game, Moya's allegiance has always been a question (if not the question). If you accept that her primary allegiance is to the government (which is a big "if), her ties to Kessler and his experiments made her dirtier than your average agent. However, shooting a military officer in the face pretty definitively establishes that, if she was working for the government, it was a pretty shady outfit (and probably not the FBI, as she claimed). Her death means we don't know, still, who was pulling her strings. At this point, I'm not sure how big of a deal it is. inFAMOUS, as a game and a comic, has always hinted at some sort of conspiracy. But, if you look at what we know, I'm not sure it matters. We know Kessler got involved to jump start Cole's powers so he could face down the Beast (who clearly isn't David, as I originally thought) and we know that the government at the very least wanted the experiments to create some sort of super-soldier. Zeke telling us about Cole surviving an accident a few years earlier more or less establishes that Cole's powers were innate (and activated by the Ray Sphere) and not something the Ray Sphere created in him. So, I'm not sure if we really have a mystery left. Sure, we can find out the identity of the shady outfit employing Moya, but it's not really going to change what we already know. Despite the lack of a big reveal, this mini-series more or less did what it was supposed to do: wrap up the loose ends from the first game and wipe the slate clean for the second game. It doesn't so much set up the second game, since all we know is the NSA wants to talk to Cole. But, it does give us some insight into Cole that we haven't really seen before. He laments here that he walked away from things his entire life, and he decides he doesn't want to be that guy anymore. It sets the stage for a more heroic Cole in the next game (and not an accidental hero, as we saw in the first game). So, despite some pretty bad art, this series delivered on what it promised for me. Now, I can't wait to get my hands on the game!
X-Factor #220: OK, so, I wasn't super-thrilled with the JJJ, Jr./Black Cat arc. Whatever. It's in the past. This issue? I love this issue. It's been a while since we focused on the Rahne/Rictor/Shatterstar love triangle, and David handles it beautifully here. He not only gives us a really touching scene between Rahne and Shatterstar as they walk through the rain discussing Rictor, but he also gives us Rahne and Shatterstar kicking some serious ass against a creepy-as-all-Hell-villain. David's genius is really on display here, highlighting his talent in giving us emotionally-driven stories while at the same time scripting excellent fight scenes. Those two abilities don't often go hand-in-hand (in fact, they almost never go hand-in-hand), which is what makes "X-Factor" such a joy to read month after month. The appearance of Feral -- who, last I checked, was dead -- was an unexpected surprise at the end. From the preview page at the end of the issue, this whole "Rahne and Shatterstar versus the Hordes of Hell" story looks like it's going to last a few issues, and I am very excited to see that. I just hope, in the end, Rictor doesn't get jealous when Rahne and Shatterstar spend a night doing each other's hair.
X-Men #12: This issue continues the story from "X-Men Giant Size," with Cyclops facing down the Evolutionaries just as he remembers he has faced them before. The issue starts with a group of Eternals (I'm assuming) watching a group of proto-humans being attacked and expositing that their purpose on Earth is to keep the Deviants in check, not get involved in deciding which races live or die, which is the Celestials' job. Sure, whatevs. Based on the narrative boxes, the Evolutionaries might have come from this group (or race) of proto-humans, though we don't really return to that idea in this issue. Instead, we learn that the Evolutionaries, who seem to be the ones designated by the Celestials to make the sort of decisions the Eternals said weren't their job, have decided that Cyclops has failed in his task to protect mutantkind and decide to eliminate him as its leader. Cyclops has downloaded his memory -- which Jean apparently blocked -- to Madison Jeffries and Dr. Nemesis, who are disturbed by what they learn (but we don't) and are scrambling to do something about it. At the end, as the team swarms to protect Scott and Emma orders Pixie to take him off the island, Scott is trying to keep the Evolutionaries from contacting Magneto, who, in a flashback, the Evolutionaries previously took to be the leader of mutantkind. This issue doesn't really answer that many questions. Although it's (more or less) clear that the Celestials are behind the Evolutionaries, their origins are still shrouded in mystery and it's not clear why they decided that they needed to strike now (unless it was just to protect the X-Men from the Neo, which it may well have been). Moreover, Cyclops clearly knows something more about the Evolutionaries that scares him, which intrigues me, since it seems enough that they're threatening to wipe out humanity. At any rate, we shall see.
Showing posts with label inFAMOUS (2011). Show all posts
Showing posts with label inFAMOUS (2011). Show all posts
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
New Comics!: inFAMOUS Edition (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
inFAMOUS #3: This mini-series keeps getting better and better in terms of the plot. We see Cole stuck between a rock and a hard place: if he doesn't leave the city, Moya will bomb it into the Stone Age; if he does, he's essentially abandoning it to the gangs. But, we get a few twists and turns as well that complicate matters. First, Moya is actually trying to protect Cole, since he's the link for her (and the military, apparently) to replicating the Ray Sphere experiment. Second, Kessler's monster (who I think is the Beast, or at least some earlier version of him) is chasing Cole because he thinks he's Kessler (which, of course, he is). This turn of events seems to be the action-forcing event that will force Cole to leave Empire City, lest the monster kill more people in pursuit of him. I can't wait to see where it goes next. The fact that I'm going to get to play the game after this mini-series ends is really just icing on the cake! This issue has two main drawbacks, though. First, William Harms isn't great when it comes to writing emotions. I'm not really sure why Cole got so...whiny in this issue and I was confused why he has his emotional break-down on Zeke's couch. I mean, yes, he's had a lot happen over the last few weeks, so you could argue it was the combined stress of all those events. But, Harms doesn't actually argue that; we're just presented it with no real explanation for why Cole is in the mental space he is. The other drawback here is the art, which is rushed. But, to be honest, I'm really reading this comic as a fan of the game, so the answers we're getting plot-wise compensate for the occasionally weak writing and spotty art.
inFAMOUS #4: This issue not only gets us some answers, but promises us more answers in the future. We see here how Moya learns of John White (who, in the game, she pretends is her husband to get Cole to find him). We also get confirmation that Kessler went rogue when he set off the Ray Sphere to "activate" Cole, since Moya is trying to arrest him. Moya finally gets her hands on Cole here, so we're likely to get some answers about her and the government's plans when she and Cole have their "long talk." We're also seeing the reporters from the last few issues sneak into Empire City to get see how bad it is with their own eyes, which should significantly shake up the status quo. Cole's dream sequence is odd, though. He refers to just wanting to protect his "wife and two daughters," but, of course, they weren't his, they were Kessler's. I know it's a dream, so it doesn't really have to make sense, but it left me feeling a little confused about the point Harms was trying to make. Why would Cole be so grief stricken over daughters he never had? Plus, to be honest, we had kind of put to bed the guilt Cole felt over Trish, so it's weird to see it return. Anyway, I'm definitely looking forward to getting some information from Moya in the next issue, and even more so the return of Sasha.
inFAMOUS #5: This issue is a little lackluster in part because Cole spends most of it imprisoned by Moya. Most of the issue is dedicated to the two intrepid reporters interviewing survivors of the Ray Sphere explosion and getting confirmation that the government is lying about its activities and "support" of Empire City. We see Zeke and the cop with whom he and Cole have been working approaching the aircraft carrier where Cole is being held. However, in the end, Cole is freed by Sasha, who has managed to free herself. I can't remember if she did so in the last issue or if it was ever explained how she did. But, it feels a little forced (she only managed to free herself from Moya's clutches just in time to free Cole?) as well as unnecessary (why bother having Zeke and the cop try to rescue Cole at all?). Sasha's character wasn't really all that well developed in the game, if I remember correctly, so her motives are all the more confusing here. However, Harms does a good job in this issue building up the tension as we wait to see how some loose ends are going to resolve themselves, like whether the reporters are going to manage to get out their story and how Cole is going to defeat (or if he's going to defeat) Kessler's monster. I still don't know if this series would appeal (or make sense) to people who aren't fans of the game, but, as a fan of the game, I'm still pretty satisfied. Most importantly, I'm keenly anticipating the release of the game, exactly what Sucker Punch wants!
inFAMOUS #5: This issue is a little lackluster in part because Cole spends most of it imprisoned by Moya. Most of the issue is dedicated to the two intrepid reporters interviewing survivors of the Ray Sphere explosion and getting confirmation that the government is lying about its activities and "support" of Empire City. We see Zeke and the cop with whom he and Cole have been working approaching the aircraft carrier where Cole is being held. However, in the end, Cole is freed by Sasha, who has managed to free herself. I can't remember if she did so in the last issue or if it was ever explained how she did. But, it feels a little forced (she only managed to free herself from Moya's clutches just in time to free Cole?) as well as unnecessary (why bother having Zeke and the cop try to rescue Cole at all?). Sasha's character wasn't really all that well developed in the game, if I remember correctly, so her motives are all the more confusing here. However, Harms does a good job in this issue building up the tension as we wait to see how some loose ends are going to resolve themselves, like whether the reporters are going to manage to get out their story and how Cole is going to defeat (or if he's going to defeat) Kessler's monster. I still don't know if this series would appeal (or make sense) to people who aren't fans of the game, but, as a fan of the game, I'm still pretty satisfied. Most importantly, I'm keenly anticipating the release of the game, exactly what Sucker Punch wants!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Batman: The Dark Knight #2: OK, here's the thing. I've got to be honest: I'm kind of tired of the "girls Bruce Wayne loved" schtick. We saw it with the Absence in "Batman and Robin," we see it in "Batman, Incorporated" #4 (see below), and we see it here with the second installment of "In Golden Dawn." Based on information we got last issue, Dawn Golden was a childhood friend who broke Bruce's heart after college graduation. OK, sure. That sucks. Do I believe that his love for her and his need to find her are so strong that he would savagely break the Penguin's arm and leg? Um, no. I mean, we're talking about a guy who manages not to do that to the Joker, who beat Jason Todd to death with a crowbar and paralyzed Barbara Gordon. But, Dawn Golden is the one to really push him over the edge? I just don't buy it. Also -- and I think I might raise it to status as pet peeve #3 soon -- the Penguin and Killer Croc really didn't take the chance to peak under Bats' mask to see who he is when they had him unconscious? Or, you know, just kill him, like Penguin tried to do at the start of the issue? Really? Speaking of pet peeves, per pet peeve #2, we see Bats holding Dawn Golden on the cover of this issue, but he doesn't actually find her in the book. Also, why is a mutated Ragman killing homeless people? (Maybe something was supposed to happen in the Ragman secondary feature in "Batman: Streets of Gotham," but the series got canceled before we could see it?) I'm not sure Finch is a talented enough writer to keep all the balls in the air that he's got going here. After waiting three months, I needed something more than essentially a poorly-written "Detective Comics" issue to justify keeping this title. I'm not sure if I got that here.
Batman: Streets of Gotham #21: I read this issue first before re-reading the entire arc. I can say now that "House of Hush" will make a really great trade paperback. The plot is compelling, we get new insights into old characters, and the insight into old-school Gotham is fun. However, as a storyline with installments of varying length spread over eight issues, it was hard to stay engaged with the story to the level necessary to fully appreciate it. For example, it wasn't until I re-read the entire arc that I remember Judson Pierce's connection to Roger Elliot (Hush's father) and I had totally forgotten about the Bedbug sub-plot. (Although Bedbug is actually a cool idea for a character, I think it would've been better to save that story for a different arc or a secondary feature, rather than wasting the pages on a story that only served to draw out the primary storyline.) My guess is that the blame here lies with the editors who recommended the page lengths and chapter divisions than Dini, who really delivers a great story. I'm pretty sure they could've had Hush encounter Jane Doe to the same effect (Hush losing Bruce Wayne's face, an important moment in the post-"Return of Bruce Wayne" world) in a three-issue arc that didn't bring us on the convoluted ride we've experienced here. Moreover, if this issue is indeed the last issue of the series, then I'm pretty sure we're denied a conclusion to the Ragman secondary feature, which sucks because it was, for the most part, more compelling than "The House of Hush." In the end, it's a sad ending to a series that showed a lot of promise. (P.S.: After I read the first issue and wrote the original version of this review, I read some other reviews online and someone noted that this arc gives us the origin -- or at least a glimpse into the past -- of the Joker. When I re-read the overall arc, I'll admit my mind was BLOWN. I give Dini a lot of credit for the way he subtly and deftly wove that in that plot. The boy who would become the Joker suffers terribly and it really gives us insight into why he becomes who he becomes. However, it's not enough to make me wish that the overall storyline hadn't been partially ruined by editorial interference.)
Batman Incorporated #4: OK, I've read issue #3 three times and #4 twice, and I've been able to piece together the following: Kathy Kane, the former Batwoman, is the biological daughter of Agent-Zero, the head of the spy ring for whom Agent-33 (now known as the Gaucho) worked. Agent-33 recruited Kathy into the ring for an as-yet-unnamed mission for Agent-Zero, who also happens to be an "unrepentant Nazi master criminal" known as Dr. Dedalus, who was locked into some cave (or something) in the Falkland Islands by a group of British superheroes during the Falkland War. Meanwhile, Batman is trying to bring the Gaucho into "Batman, Incorporated," only to learn that he's the one that got Kathy Kane involved in the spy ring that allegedly killer her, and the new Batwoman is on the trail of an Argentine gang who killed three Marines. Um, yeah. I get that, to understand (and appreciate) Morrison, you've got to put in work. I get that. I also appreciate what Morrison does here with the original Batwoman, bringing her back into continuity. In fact, the flashback sequences are amazingly well done, both in terms of the scripting (where I can almost hear Adam West's voice every time Bruce or Batman speaks) and in the art (aping the 1950s and 1960s style, right down to the original Batmobile design). But, I still feel like Morrison is suffering from being too clever and sacrificing some coherence in the plot to do it. I mean, we're juggling A LOT in these two issues (I didn't even mention "oroboro" in the above recap, and it's pretty much central to the plot), and I think Morrison forgets sometimes that he's competing with ten other Bat-books. That said, this issue is a vast improvement over the last one and I'm now at least interested to see where it leads.
Captain America #615.1: I read the other day that Marvel has announced that Steve Rogers is going to take over the role of Captain America again, something I figured was going to have to happen given the upcoming movie. This issue sets that stage, with Cap encountering a faux Captain America who steps into the vacuum left by Bucky's ongoing legal troubles. I can't say I'll be disappointed to see Steve return, since, to be honest, I've missed reading about him, having to settle only for his appearances in "Secret Avengers." But, I hope Bucky gets his own kick-ass series, because, if he doesn't, THEN I'll be disappointed. Maybe he, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird can get a combined series called "Love Rectangle" or something.
inFAMOUS #2: The plot continues to build here. Moya, who last issue was working with the First Sons, appears to resume her government role here, ordering the capture of Sasha and the invasion of Empire City. Cole is still trying to put himself back together, and works with the Warden and Zeke to fend off the invasion. The Beast is loose in the city, but Moya appears to have another version of him ready to go. This issue really builds on the energy of last issue, clarifying some mysteries and deepening others. For example, Moya mentions that Sasha got her powers at the same time as Cole, which I don't think we knew before. (I'm not really sure how that happened, unless she was holding some secondary Ray Sphere that also absorbed the abilities of all the people who died.) Also, one of the soldiers refers to Moya as "Mother," which makes me wonder whether that's her First Sons codename and where the line between the First Sons and the military is drawn. You get the sense that things aren't going to go well for our guys...
New Mutants #23 (Age of X: Chapter 4): As expected, Legacy and Gambit survive Magneto dumping debris on them. In fact, Magneto dumped debris on them on purpose, so he could hide them in an underground tunnel and reveal that he's the one who sent Kitty Pryde outside the walls. (He realized it's pretty bizarre that they all keep repeating the same day, over and over again, like "Groundhog's Day.") It's revealed here that the reason Kitty's camera was full of blank pictures is because nothing exists outside the wall; when she said she saw "nothing," she meant it literally. (I'm not sure, logistically, how they're going to make that work, since the humans have to be attacking from somewhere.) Magneto goes into full revolt to distract attention from Legacy and Gambit going to a newly-discovered room in the center of Fortress X. Magneto liberates Professor X, who speaks to him cryptically, but he's interrupted by Dani's squad, who's been sent by "X" to capture him. Just as he convinces Dani to listen to Professor X (when he regains consciousness), Magneto is defeated, and removed from command, by the Force Warriors. Meanwhile, Legacy discovers that someone (a "she") has stolen the universe and put it in a box. This cross-over event continues to be interesting, with Carey doing a great job of making it a good read not just because we can see what's different in this world but because it's a fascinating story. I'm wondering now if "X" isn't Cassandra Nova or even Jean Grey. Guessing is half the fun!
Uncanny X-Men #534: The "Quarantine" storyline wraps up here in a more or less satisfying way, with the humans who took Sublime's drug learning the hardships of mutanthood in a way that borders on "After-School Special" territory but doesn't cross into it. The Sebastian Shaw sub-plot is resolved oddly, though. If wiping his mind of his memories was such an easy solution, I'm confused why Emma just didn't do it in the first place, since it's pretty clear it was the only option other than killing him. Then again, Professor X wiping Magneto's mind didn't turn out so well, so maybe that gave her pause (though I think I'm giving the writers too much credit for thinking about her motivations). The main problem with this series for me, at this point, is the same I have with the other two main X-books. We see little in the way of character development (Dazzler learning Welsh slang from Pixie doesn't count) because every character appears in practically each issue of each series. We need to return to the days where each book had a set roster. I mean, you can still handle 18-21 characters over three books if you put six or seven people on each team! Also, I'm kind of ready for Kitty to be able to talk again. To the extent character development occurred in this arc, I think it's due to Gillen's addition to the writing team, so I'm looking forward to his reign beginning soon on the book.
Batman: Streets of Gotham #21: I read this issue first before re-reading the entire arc. I can say now that "House of Hush" will make a really great trade paperback. The plot is compelling, we get new insights into old characters, and the insight into old-school Gotham is fun. However, as a storyline with installments of varying length spread over eight issues, it was hard to stay engaged with the story to the level necessary to fully appreciate it. For example, it wasn't until I re-read the entire arc that I remember Judson Pierce's connection to Roger Elliot (Hush's father) and I had totally forgotten about the Bedbug sub-plot. (Although Bedbug is actually a cool idea for a character, I think it would've been better to save that story for a different arc or a secondary feature, rather than wasting the pages on a story that only served to draw out the primary storyline.) My guess is that the blame here lies with the editors who recommended the page lengths and chapter divisions than Dini, who really delivers a great story. I'm pretty sure they could've had Hush encounter Jane Doe to the same effect (Hush losing Bruce Wayne's face, an important moment in the post-"Return of Bruce Wayne" world) in a three-issue arc that didn't bring us on the convoluted ride we've experienced here. Moreover, if this issue is indeed the last issue of the series, then I'm pretty sure we're denied a conclusion to the Ragman secondary feature, which sucks because it was, for the most part, more compelling than "The House of Hush." In the end, it's a sad ending to a series that showed a lot of promise. (P.S.: After I read the first issue and wrote the original version of this review, I read some other reviews online and someone noted that this arc gives us the origin -- or at least a glimpse into the past -- of the Joker. When I re-read the overall arc, I'll admit my mind was BLOWN. I give Dini a lot of credit for the way he subtly and deftly wove that in that plot. The boy who would become the Joker suffers terribly and it really gives us insight into why he becomes who he becomes. However, it's not enough to make me wish that the overall storyline hadn't been partially ruined by editorial interference.)
Batman Incorporated #4: OK, I've read issue #3 three times and #4 twice, and I've been able to piece together the following: Kathy Kane, the former Batwoman, is the biological daughter of Agent-Zero, the head of the spy ring for whom Agent-33 (now known as the Gaucho) worked. Agent-33 recruited Kathy into the ring for an as-yet-unnamed mission for Agent-Zero, who also happens to be an "unrepentant Nazi master criminal" known as Dr. Dedalus, who was locked into some cave (or something) in the Falkland Islands by a group of British superheroes during the Falkland War. Meanwhile, Batman is trying to bring the Gaucho into "Batman, Incorporated," only to learn that he's the one that got Kathy Kane involved in the spy ring that allegedly killer her, and the new Batwoman is on the trail of an Argentine gang who killed three Marines. Um, yeah. I get that, to understand (and appreciate) Morrison, you've got to put in work. I get that. I also appreciate what Morrison does here with the original Batwoman, bringing her back into continuity. In fact, the flashback sequences are amazingly well done, both in terms of the scripting (where I can almost hear Adam West's voice every time Bruce or Batman speaks) and in the art (aping the 1950s and 1960s style, right down to the original Batmobile design). But, I still feel like Morrison is suffering from being too clever and sacrificing some coherence in the plot to do it. I mean, we're juggling A LOT in these two issues (I didn't even mention "oroboro" in the above recap, and it's pretty much central to the plot), and I think Morrison forgets sometimes that he's competing with ten other Bat-books. That said, this issue is a vast improvement over the last one and I'm now at least interested to see where it leads.
Captain America #615.1: I read the other day that Marvel has announced that Steve Rogers is going to take over the role of Captain America again, something I figured was going to have to happen given the upcoming movie. This issue sets that stage, with Cap encountering a faux Captain America who steps into the vacuum left by Bucky's ongoing legal troubles. I can't say I'll be disappointed to see Steve return, since, to be honest, I've missed reading about him, having to settle only for his appearances in "Secret Avengers." But, I hope Bucky gets his own kick-ass series, because, if he doesn't, THEN I'll be disappointed. Maybe he, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird can get a combined series called "Love Rectangle" or something.
inFAMOUS #2: The plot continues to build here. Moya, who last issue was working with the First Sons, appears to resume her government role here, ordering the capture of Sasha and the invasion of Empire City. Cole is still trying to put himself back together, and works with the Warden and Zeke to fend off the invasion. The Beast is loose in the city, but Moya appears to have another version of him ready to go. This issue really builds on the energy of last issue, clarifying some mysteries and deepening others. For example, Moya mentions that Sasha got her powers at the same time as Cole, which I don't think we knew before. (I'm not really sure how that happened, unless she was holding some secondary Ray Sphere that also absorbed the abilities of all the people who died.) Also, one of the soldiers refers to Moya as "Mother," which makes me wonder whether that's her First Sons codename and where the line between the First Sons and the military is drawn. You get the sense that things aren't going to go well for our guys...
New Mutants #23 (Age of X: Chapter 4): As expected, Legacy and Gambit survive Magneto dumping debris on them. In fact, Magneto dumped debris on them on purpose, so he could hide them in an underground tunnel and reveal that he's the one who sent Kitty Pryde outside the walls. (He realized it's pretty bizarre that they all keep repeating the same day, over and over again, like "Groundhog's Day.") It's revealed here that the reason Kitty's camera was full of blank pictures is because nothing exists outside the wall; when she said she saw "nothing," she meant it literally. (I'm not sure, logistically, how they're going to make that work, since the humans have to be attacking from somewhere.) Magneto goes into full revolt to distract attention from Legacy and Gambit going to a newly-discovered room in the center of Fortress X. Magneto liberates Professor X, who speaks to him cryptically, but he's interrupted by Dani's squad, who's been sent by "X" to capture him. Just as he convinces Dani to listen to Professor X (when he regains consciousness), Magneto is defeated, and removed from command, by the Force Warriors. Meanwhile, Legacy discovers that someone (a "she") has stolen the universe and put it in a box. This cross-over event continues to be interesting, with Carey doing a great job of making it a good read not just because we can see what's different in this world but because it's a fascinating story. I'm wondering now if "X" isn't Cassandra Nova or even Jean Grey. Guessing is half the fun!
Uncanny X-Men #534: The "Quarantine" storyline wraps up here in a more or less satisfying way, with the humans who took Sublime's drug learning the hardships of mutanthood in a way that borders on "After-School Special" territory but doesn't cross into it. The Sebastian Shaw sub-plot is resolved oddly, though. If wiping his mind of his memories was such an easy solution, I'm confused why Emma just didn't do it in the first place, since it's pretty clear it was the only option other than killing him. Then again, Professor X wiping Magneto's mind didn't turn out so well, so maybe that gave her pause (though I think I'm giving the writers too much credit for thinking about her motivations). The main problem with this series for me, at this point, is the same I have with the other two main X-books. We see little in the way of character development (Dazzler learning Welsh slang from Pixie doesn't count) because every character appears in practically each issue of each series. We need to return to the days where each book had a set roster. I mean, you can still handle 18-21 characters over three books if you put six or seven people on each team! Also, I'm kind of ready for Kitty to be able to talk again. To the extent character development occurred in this arc, I think it's due to Gillen's addition to the writing team, so I'm looking forward to his reign beginning soon on the book.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
New Comics! (HERE BE SPOILERS!)
Batman Incorporated #3: I can't believe we've waited, what, three months, for this issue and it is, without a doubt, one of the worst comics I've ever read. I have absolutely no idea what's happening in about 90 percent of the issue. (Also, I speak Spanish, so it wasn't just that some dialogue was in Spanish.) I had to basically force myself through the first few pages and couldn't finish the book on my first try. Morrison is clearly WAY too in love with himself here, thinking himself too clever by half. Instead of the interesting narrative structure he thinks he's delivering, we instead get incoherent complicated nonsense. The only remotely interesting part of this issue is the implication that the purpose of the entire Batman, Inc. scheme is to build an army to fight a specific fight. Whatever. It's ironic so far, to me, that the best new Batman, Inc. character to be developed is Nightrunner, and he's not Morrison's. I'm subscribing to eight (!) different Batman books at this point. Morrison had better remember he actually needs to be coherent, or I'm dropping this one.
Dark Sun #3: This series continues moving along nicely. We're heading into the dungeons next issue, on the hunt for not only the treasures that might be in the Under-Tyr, but also for the turncoat, Mudrada. In other words, it's a classic D&D tale. I have two questions that I'm hoping to see answered soon. First, why would Haskyr and Rubi be working (seemingly) against House Ianto when they are, in fact, part of it? Second, how did Rubi come in possession of her half of the key and why didn't Haskyr make a move to get her half before she gave it to Grudvik? I can't wait to see how all this gets resolved.
Hawkeye: Blindspot #2: McCann keeps getting better and better. The short-lived "Hawkeye & Mockingbird" series had some intriguing concepts and cool characters, though the plots were a little unfocused. The "Widowmaker" series was better, but still a little loose in the plot department. You can really see McCann's evolution in this series, though. "Hawkeye: Blindspot" is full of action, but we also get insight into Clint, who's always been one of my favorite Avengers. His tragic back story gives writers a great starting point, but most ignore that, using him instead only as comic relief. McCann lets him be the witty, charming Clint we all know and love, but we also get a sense of the insecurities that drive him. I didn't even mind his brother returning from the dead, because, wow, what a confrontation that promises to be. I hope McCann's impressing the Marvel editors, because I'd be happy to see him get a chance to apply his continually-evolving skills to the W.C.A. and a renewed "Hawkeye & Mockingbird" series.
inFAMOUS #1: OK, if you loved the game upon which this series is based as much as I did, BUY THIS BOOK! This six-issue mini-series is meant to serve as a bridge between the first and second games, and it does a pretty good job wrapping up some loose ends from the first game. (If you didn't play the game and want to play it, don't read further. BUY THE GAME!) We see Moya here working with the First Sons as they experiment on the "person" who will become "the Beast," whose coming was foretold by Kessler. If I'm not mistaken, Moya's motivations were left undefined after the game. We only discovered that she lied about being married to John and him being a FBI agent; we never really discovered her true motivations. We see her working with the First Sons (and still possibly for the government), which makes her efforts to track down the Ray Sphere through Cole in the game make a lot more sense. Beyond wrapping up loose ends, the comic is alive with the energy of the game. Cole is still reeling from the death of Trish (at his future-self's hands) and trying to reconcile his conflicting feelings about Zeke, who is trying to seek redemption after activating the Ray Sphere (to no effect) during the game. All in all, it's a great book.
New Avengers #10: OK, Bendis won me back a bit (actually, a lot) here. I was worried after the last issue that Nick Fury was going to be putting together an Avengers squad that somehow tied into the original team, ret-conning Avengers history to fit with the upcoming movie. But, I'm happy to say it's a hell of a lot more intriguing than that. Fury's team of awesomeness (Ulysses Bloodstone, Dum Dum Dugan, Dominic Fortune, Kraven the Hunter, Namora, Sabretooth, and the original Silver Sable) has such potential that I can honestly see it becoming a franchise or, at the very least, a limited series. I can't wait to see them take on the Red Skull. The art on the Fury part of the book is a little...loose, but the plot is interesting enough that I really don't care. The modern part is an entirely different kettle of fish. The Mockingbird-has-been-shot sub-plot is still as annoying in this issue as it was in the last one. I don't for a minute believe they'll kill her so soon after resurrecting her. Its primary purpose seems to be setting up a realization on the part of Luke Cage of the burdens of leadership, yet another example of "Women in Refrigerators" syndrome. Also, Superia whining about the Avengers discovering her plan was just bizarre. But, the Nick Fury's Avengers part makes me not care so much about the modern part (despite, you know, the latter being the whole point of the book), so I consider this issue a return to form.
Dark Sun #3: This series continues moving along nicely. We're heading into the dungeons next issue, on the hunt for not only the treasures that might be in the Under-Tyr, but also for the turncoat, Mudrada. In other words, it's a classic D&D tale. I have two questions that I'm hoping to see answered soon. First, why would Haskyr and Rubi be working (seemingly) against House Ianto when they are, in fact, part of it? Second, how did Rubi come in possession of her half of the key and why didn't Haskyr make a move to get her half before she gave it to Grudvik? I can't wait to see how all this gets resolved.
Hawkeye: Blindspot #2: McCann keeps getting better and better. The short-lived "Hawkeye & Mockingbird" series had some intriguing concepts and cool characters, though the plots were a little unfocused. The "Widowmaker" series was better, but still a little loose in the plot department. You can really see McCann's evolution in this series, though. "Hawkeye: Blindspot" is full of action, but we also get insight into Clint, who's always been one of my favorite Avengers. His tragic back story gives writers a great starting point, but most ignore that, using him instead only as comic relief. McCann lets him be the witty, charming Clint we all know and love, but we also get a sense of the insecurities that drive him. I didn't even mind his brother returning from the dead, because, wow, what a confrontation that promises to be. I hope McCann's impressing the Marvel editors, because I'd be happy to see him get a chance to apply his continually-evolving skills to the W.C.A. and a renewed "Hawkeye & Mockingbird" series.
inFAMOUS #1: OK, if you loved the game upon which this series is based as much as I did, BUY THIS BOOK! This six-issue mini-series is meant to serve as a bridge between the first and second games, and it does a pretty good job wrapping up some loose ends from the first game. (If you didn't play the game and want to play it, don't read further. BUY THE GAME!) We see Moya here working with the First Sons as they experiment on the "person" who will become "the Beast," whose coming was foretold by Kessler. If I'm not mistaken, Moya's motivations were left undefined after the game. We only discovered that she lied about being married to John and him being a FBI agent; we never really discovered her true motivations. We see her working with the First Sons (and still possibly for the government), which makes her efforts to track down the Ray Sphere through Cole in the game make a lot more sense. Beyond wrapping up loose ends, the comic is alive with the energy of the game. Cole is still reeling from the death of Trish (at his future-self's hands) and trying to reconcile his conflicting feelings about Zeke, who is trying to seek redemption after activating the Ray Sphere (to no effect) during the game. All in all, it's a great book.
New Avengers #10: OK, Bendis won me back a bit (actually, a lot) here. I was worried after the last issue that Nick Fury was going to be putting together an Avengers squad that somehow tied into the original team, ret-conning Avengers history to fit with the upcoming movie. But, I'm happy to say it's a hell of a lot more intriguing than that. Fury's team of awesomeness (Ulysses Bloodstone, Dum Dum Dugan, Dominic Fortune, Kraven the Hunter, Namora, Sabretooth, and the original Silver Sable) has such potential that I can honestly see it becoming a franchise or, at the very least, a limited series. I can't wait to see them take on the Red Skull. The art on the Fury part of the book is a little...loose, but the plot is interesting enough that I really don't care. The modern part is an entirely different kettle of fish. The Mockingbird-has-been-shot sub-plot is still as annoying in this issue as it was in the last one. I don't for a minute believe they'll kill her so soon after resurrecting her. Its primary purpose seems to be setting up a realization on the part of Luke Cage of the burdens of leadership, yet another example of "Women in Refrigerators" syndrome. Also, Superia whining about the Avengers discovering her plan was just bizarre. But, the Nick Fury's Avengers part makes me not care so much about the modern part (despite, you know, the latter being the whole point of the book), so I consider this issue a return to form.
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