War Ends, Team-Up's Happen, Families Worsen, Plus A God of Mischief
Why I Love Comics rundown for books coming out December 24th, 2008
Welcome to this week's Why I Love Comics. We have the end of a war, a superhero team up, a dysfunctional family getting worse, and the god of mischief continuing to do what he does best. Honestly, overall the week was just okay, nothing really mind-blowing fantastic. So... Let's jump right into things starting with DC.
Rann-Thanagarian Holy War #8... Well, it looks like it's all been written, until we get the next series in March. I read both specials withStrange and Hawkman and was digging this series in general, but it doesn't feel like anything wasreally accomplished in the long run. Animal Man keeps getting tossed around like a punk andStarman finally steps up to help in the final battle.
And you Starlin, you just killed off my favorite character that I've been followingthis entire mini! And you gave his body to the bad guy....what the...!? This depresses me. Rann's new status quo is simply weird and I'm hoping the new series will give us more insight onwhat's to come.
Verdict: Unfortunately, I really have to give the book a skip; I'd been enjoying it so much too. Hopefully, Marchbrings me back into these stories.
I flat out love Batman #683, but if you ask me to tell you what I just read, I'mabsolutely clueless. From what I got out of it, Bruce's head is being screwed with by this thing that Darkseid's henchmen have attached to him. Yeah...about that. RIP was supposed to be the lastBatman story, but it looks like that has changed. The story is apparently going toend in Final Crisis #6. So right here, you're not getting a complete story.
You also have these weird glimpses into Bruce's mind where he's become a successfuldoctor and was never the Batman. Bad things happened when he wasn't the Batman as evidence by the dialogue. The book is all over the place just like RIP was. Don't get me wrongthough, I did enjoy reading it, especially when Bruce is able to turn his new found friend on thepeople that were using it to get to him.
Verdict: Bruce Wayne can use his memories as a weapon, how could you not want to read that? If Final Crisis is on time we'll be seeing just how Batman's story wraps up.
Wonder Woman #27 continues right where we left off last issue as Diana is trapped on the wall after getting the tar beat out of her by Genocide. Tom tries to help her down and restore her confidence so she can heal better. I love the relationship under Gail's writing and like the new responsibility that Tom has picked up. Soon Cassie and Donna arrive to help save Diana and the four of them depart the scene to head back to Paradise Island.
Meanwhile the gods try to figure out just what their place in the world is now and the issue ends with Zeus coming face to face with his daughter Hippolyta. Genocide goes home to get acertain scientist to put the lasso internally inside of it. She's becoming a more and more disturbing and complex villain as time goes on. Two issues alone and there's an interesting new threat to the DCU.
Verdict: This and last issue were really, really good. This arc is shaping up beautifully and it's great to see a new status quo setting itself up for Diana. The fight with the Justice League was really, really cool. Definitely stays a buy.
We move on to Marvel's Thor #12 where it's all Loki all the time. She/He regains his male form and we find out exactly whose body he has. Of course, he has a little help with a fellowsorceress who I'm sure is well known in Thor. Basically, our Loki decides to travel back in time, make sure his younger self gets in with the gods, and takes down the abusive creature he had to deal withas a child.
It's interesting to see Loki's machinations in the past and I'm not quite sure what he's up toanymore. It's good to see him back in his own form for a little while though, even if it was only for thecurrent issue. Poor Sif though, I hope Thor realizes what happened and just how to get her back.
Verdict: Thor is an excellent book! if JMS ever leaves it then Matt Fraction should take over.
Patsy Walker Hellcat #4 continues to be as crazy and fun as the rest of the series. Patsy and her companions reach their destination, but in a story like this...not everything is what itseems. The girl she came to save doesn't want to be saved. And the yeti? Turns out he'sjust her boyfriend. The story is zany, the characters are all fun, the reveals are surprising and mostlyfunny. Did I mention this issue also featured a lot of bunnies?
Poor Patsy gets more and more annoyed as the series goes along. It's a blast to read hergoing through the journey and meeting all these weird and interesting characters that justdrive her more crazy. And that cover? Actually happens in the issue.
Verdict: I really, really love this series and think it's one of the best things to ever come out of theInitiative. Definitely a buy and a blast!
Nova #20 has Rich meeting up with Vance and Angelica over the old days with a few beers and some pizza. He needs a little guidance from his closest friends after last issue's reveal. Everyone reads perfectly in character and it's always fun to see the old and new Warriors together, just wish Robbie could have been there with them.
Meanwhile the Nova guard and Rich's brother stop Dragon Man from his rampage in a way that makes you question if it's really a bad thing he now is part of the Nova Corps. Sure Rob's still acting like a little brat, but here's hoping that he's going to be safe and sound and not killed like Richfears for the entirety of the New Corps. And that last page? Just what does World Mindthink he's doing?
Verdict: I really, really love this book. End of story, definitely stays a buy.
Our Book of the Week may actually be the first time I'm giving it to Brian Michael Bendis as it's none other than New Avengers #48. This one takes place the day after Secret Invasion and theremainder of the New Avengers meet at a new location to discuss what just happened. Our new team is at least an eight member squad, ten depending if Iron Fist and Jess are on the team full time. The real Jessica Drew also arrives at the meeting with a not so welcomed greeting. Of course, it's not her fault and Spidey and Logan diffuse the situation. When Carol, Luke, and the other Jess arrive, the team makes their way to the remnants of the Baxter Building to get help from the Fantastic Four.
There were some really great moments that filled this issue. From Sue waking up the rest ofthe four to Bucky channeling Steve via a speech that would make his mentor proud, this actually felt like a real Avengers book. The tie-ins during Secret Invasion were nice but I needed this back. MyAvengers filled with Clint Barton and Bobbi Morse and even Luke Cage. I'm really hoping that lastpage and next issues cover are both misleading. I also hope the first arc gives the team back the baby and theydon't have to be searching for her for over a year.
Verdict: Seriously, this makes me a very happy reader and I think Bendis is back at his prime. What agreat second follow through to Secret Invasion! Definitely a buy and a great jumping on point!
Dynamite's Army of Darkness Ash's Christmas Horror one shot warms the heart and has avery surprising guest appearance from Ash's past. This was a blast to read, not exactly sure where inthe book's history it could take place, but our big hero has to pose as Santa or else the deadites willcompletely destroy S-Mart without him. The art is fun going over a bunch of classic Christmasspecials adding in Ash's little mug.
Honestly, James Kuhoric gets it and it shows perfectly in the script. The deadite Santajokes were classic and Ash's adventure through the Christmas stories didn't feel forced and wasactually pretty fun to read. This is what Christmas one shots with established characters need to be.
Verdict: Definitely a buy, this one goes up there with any other great Christmas one shot.
Top Cow and Phil Hester's The Darkness #9 introduces Jackie to his new villain and currentboss for what appears is the immediate future of the book. We had a taste of who this guy was in theone shot leading up to the last big company-wide event and I've been looking forward to him beingbrought into the book full time. Apparently part of Jackie died and his soul is basically in hell. So, he now has to work for our new villain as his bag boy.
His first mission was to take down a demon who possessed the body of a nun. Jackie tries to go about this as respectfully as possible, mind you he doesn't have much success, butyou have to give it to the guy for trying.
Verdict: Loving where the book is heading and Jorge's guest pencils have been great story wise. Itwill be interesting to see just how long Jackie has to work under this guy.
In Gerard Way's Umbrella Academy #2, we meet a pair of hitmen who like to wear very weird masks and take the words of a cook veryseriously. Ba drew the masks these two men wore very cartoony which added an even moredisturbing edge to what they did. Kraken does his best Batman impression and then confronts hisbrother on his laziness. Both were definite highlights of the book for me. Kraken is a greatcharacter and it's horrible to see how bad his brother is. Good to see him called out on becoming a couch potato after what happened in the last mini.
And I like the apes that seem to play a major part in the Umbrella Academy universe. It'ssomething I really would love to ask Gerard Way one of these days. Number 5 seems about to have a heart to heart with his sister who is able to find him in his hiding spot. The Seance tries to have a peaceful conversation with Pogo in the graveyard which is interrupted by ournew extremely weird friends.
Verdict: The book gets weirder and weirder, yet more and more charming. Mysteries deepen and the characters seem like a real family. It's great to see the book evolving. Definitely a buy!
We end the week with a Robert Kirkman two-parter with Invincible and the AstoundingWolf-man #57 and #11 respectfully. The two-parter between the two titles had Marc meeting Garyofficially for the first time as the encounter in #49 and #50 was just an unofficial team up where they didn't really get any info on each other. Marc is tasked with bringing Gary in by Cecil who asks for thefavor. Of course everyone thinks that Gary killed his wife, when we as readers know that isn't thetruth at all.
There were a handful of great action scenes in both books and some great dialoguebetween our main characters. Gary for the first time in a long time has an ally and friend in Marc, andMarc has found out that it really is better to get to the bottom of a situation before throwingpunches.
Verdict: Two of Images best books and honestly both are incredibly strong. Ryan Ottley and JasonHoward have similar enough styles that the crossover wasn't jarring and it's great to see aunique expanded universe in Kirkman's world.
Well that's it for this week folks! Join us next week as we look into the finale of theThunderbirds arc in Proof, the official end of the Gog arc in Justice Society, and see just where things are heading in Avengers the Initiative. See you then!
Eric Ratcliffe is a young writer/pop culture journalist/interviewer currently working on pitching a project named the Hunter chronicles. When not reading his weekly stack Eric can be found watching dvd's, playing on his 360 (gamertag: Zack Hunter) or just surfing online trying to find a scoop or two. Brand new to the Comic Related family, Eric is a fun new voice. Eric shops at TJ's Collectibles. Visit them on the web at www.tjcollect.com!
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