Check out what I checked out this week.
Whether the comics are inspiring or disappointing, I read them all.
Welcome to The Pull List.
And, as always…Spoilers ahead!
Star Wars: Darth Vader and The Ghost Prison #2 of 5 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Haden Blackman
Art: Agustine Alessio
Cover: Dave Wilkins
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
I’m having a hard time articulating my feelings on this review because my brain went into sensory overload as a result of what I just read.
If George Lucas was ever going to make a movie about the time frame between Episodes III and IV, this would be a hell of story to see on the silver screen.
Coruscant’s Imperial Center is under siege and the palace is in ruins as a deadly virus has been unleashed infecting everyone in its path, including Emperor Palpatine.
Darth Vader and the newly commissioned officer, Laurita Tohm move the Sith master to a secret crypt as he is in a lot of pain and moving closer to death with each passing moment.
This is a case where the terrorists are being terrorized as we see Vader and Palpatine distressed over what the next course of action is; for the first time they are the ones who are hurt, they are the ones in hiding, they are the ones who don’t know who to trust and they are the ones being hunted.
Kudos to Haden Blackman, who got some slack for having very little of Vader and Zero Ghost Prison in the previous issue, for putting together a great script. Introducing readers to Laurita Tohm was the right move because the story is told through his lens and his devotion to the Empire is unflappable so of course, he feels he is on the side of good.
Agustine Alessio’s illustrations created a vivid sense of terror with imagery such as smoke engulfing Coruscant’s skyline while citizens are running scared and Stormtroopers try to police the situation. More explosions cause further destruction and panic as the virus spreads and all sense of order is erased. Darth Vader is so desperate for a solution that he searches the abandoned Jedi temple. Just the image of the Dark Lord standing in the center of the Jedi council chambers was eerie on so many levels because we know who used to sit in those now empty and dust ridden chairs.
Expanded Universe stories can be either hit or miss but this issue bullseyes the womp rat in spades.
Grade A+
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth: The Devil’s Engine #2 of 3
Writer: Mike Mignola & John Arcudi
Art: Tyler Crook
Colors: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
Andrew Devon and Fenix are stranded on a desert highway in the wake of a horrible locomotive derailment that took the lives of a lot of people.
To make matters worse they are being hunted by these giant four legged creatures.
Tyler Crook deserves a lot of credit for his artwork in this issue. Good guys being chased by demons is nothing new in comic books, but these sequences are done with such detail that I found myself genuinely concerned for their safety.
There is other stuff going on in the book too but nothing as compelling as the showdown in the desert.
Grade: B
Daredevil #14
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Chris Samnee
Colors: Javier Rodriguez
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
What happens when the Man Without Fear finally has something to fear?
Mark Waid does it again with a riveting story that places Daredevil in a situation we have never seen him in before.
At one point, he accepts the cold touch of death as there is no escape in sight as his super senses that made him a hero are gone while he is trapped in Doctor Doom’s wonderful country.
Chris Samnee’s art did a brilliant job of depicting the story of Daredevil’s struggle as we see his senses fade and begin to rely even more on what little strength he has left.
I have said it once and I will say it a million more times. If you haven’t been reading Daredevil, START READING IMMEDIATELY!
Grade: A
Saga #4
Writer: Brian K. Vaughan
Art: Fiona Staples
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99
I like Saga, you like Saga, everybody likes Saga.
If you are one of the few that don’t, then there is no hope for you.
The majority of this issue centers on The Will, who is a fierce bounty that has been hired to deal with Alana and Marko.
Speaking of the star crossed lovers, it turns out that Marko forgot to mention something kind of important to the mother of his child. Fiona’s Staples unique imagery is ridiculous and amazing at the same time.
An example of this is when The Will walks by someone dressed in a green Barney costume with a large purple “anaconda” sticking out. Absolutely crazy but yet it looks normal in this universe we are still getting to know.
The story elements of Brian K. Vaughan’s script gives you one sense of direction and then it changes to something even more intriguing.
Grade: A
Avengers vs. X-Men #6
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Oliver Coipel
Colors: Laura Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
While events as a whole seem to have lost their luster among hardcore comic book fans, the sixth issue of AvX shows there is still quality storytelling in these highly publicized pages.
We are ten days removed from the events in issue five and Cyclops, Emma Frost, Magik, Colossus and Namor basically rule the world with their new Phoenix powers.
They are turning the Earth into one large Utopia. They have done nothing wrong, but of course the Avengers and the US government feel things are too good to be true.
The second story arc along with Oliver Coipel’s inclusion in the mix gives the series a refreshing feel where most events can feel stale at this stage of the game. Different
characters were spotlighted instead of Captain America and Wolverine getting the majority of the attention. There was one moment in particular during the fighting where Phoenix Cyclops says to Thor “You threaten me with weather” before he pimp slaps him into the stratosphere. The philosophical differences on both sides of the fence make the conflict even more tension filled as the stakes have been elevated more than anyone can imagine.
Grade: B+
Merciless: The Rise Of Ming #2
Writer: Scott Beatty
Art: Ron Adrian
Colors: Roni Setiawan
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Price: $3.99
We all know Ming is an evil dude, but to see how evil he was before he ruled the planet Mongo is an interesting case study.
As King, he knows he is the top dog so he is very nonchalant with his decrees and actions. In this series he is only a prince and while that comes with a tremendous amount of authority to abuse, the challenge of over-reaching his bounds is thrilling for him.
I would almost compare it to those who drank a beer before they were 21 years of age. It’s exciting because you know you it’s illegal, but once you become of age there is nothing special about the act itself.
Between this and the Flash Gordon Zeitgeist series, Dynamite Entertainment is giving this franchise the attention and care it hasn’t received in years.
Grade: B-
Astonishing X-Men #51
Writer: Marjorie Liu
Art: Mike Perkins, Andrew Perkins
Colors: Andy Troy and Jim Charalampidis
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
Marvel’s all access pass to the wedding of the year brings about very little action but a powerful statement.
Same-sex marriage is a hot button issue, but Marjorie Liu’s script didn’t bring any of those elements into the story.
It was all the comings and goings you would expect to see on ones wedding day.
The catering team prepares the wrong menu, chairs aren’t being set up fast enough, the floral arrangements are set up, the justice of the peace, Hank McCoy, is searching for North Star and Kyle’s vows and of course pre-wedding jitters from the couple to be.
The X-Men who helped with and attended the event were all in support of this union of two people who are clearly in love with each other.
There was none of that “I can’t believe we are here” vibe from anyone. Despite the romantic affair, we are still reading an X-Men comic book and the ending proves that Karma is indeed a &^%#%.
Grade: B-
The Punisher #12
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Marco Checchetto
Colors: Matt Holingsworth
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
Rachel Coles-Alves is the closest thing we have seen, from a female perspective, to the Punisher.
She is on the run and with the cops staking out her apartment, she reaches out to her friend and newspaper writer, Norah Winters.
Her eventual encounter with Frank Castle brings her beyond the point of no return where she needs to let go of her past in order to truly fight this war of protecting the innocent and taking out the Exchange and anyone else like them.
The panel-by-panel sequencing of their fight is outstanding and is my pick for art work of the week. Not only did it capture the physical toll a fight like this takes on someone, but also the emotional toll it takes on Rachel because she doesn’t want to let go of the one thing that is fueling her desire for vengeance.
Grade: B+
