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!
Spider-Men #2 (Pick of the Week)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Sara Pichelli
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
One of the great things about a reality bending crossover is when the characters interact for the first time. The second installment of Spider-Men is fun in every conceivable way.
A dumbfounded Peter Parker’s interaction with a star struck Miles Morales provided what could be the best comic book moment of the year.
Peter calling Miles “Spider-Boy” and Miles calling Peter a clone were just some of the awesome exchanges that you have to see for yourself.
One second, they are trying to make sense of it all, and the next, they are fighting each other and Peter finds himself at a disadvantage when he assumed their powers are completely identical.
The fight sequence is depicted masterfully and only in a way that Sara Pichelli could put together.
The story progresses to S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ where Ultimate Nick Fury has Peter detained in a holding cell and their conversation produces the biggest word balloon ever seen by an anxiety-filled Peter Parker. Some tend to bag on Mysterio but I feel he was the perfect villain to be the catalyst of these events. Bendis’ writing makes the story move at such an entertaining pace that you start getting concerned as the pages on the right hand side get thinner because you realize the end is near and that’s the only disappointing thing about this book.
Grade: A
Star Wars: Boba Fett is Dead #3 of 4
Writer: Tom Taylor
Art: Chris Scalf
Cover: Chris Scalf
Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Price: $3.50
The shroud of deception over Boba Fett’s demise has taken a drastic turn as the bounty hunter’s family have entered the mix.
The story opens on Blackfel Moon where chaos erupts in the midst of an Imperial base being destroyed. Darth Vader demands answers and this leads to a brief but tension filled altercation with Fett disguised as a Stormtrooper.
In this moment, Tom Taylor’s script will force your imagination to run wild with endless possibilities. Connor Freeman, the son of one of Jango Fett’s clones is an innocent bystander who has already lost his left arm and Cantina, he is on the verge of losing even more when he discovers the truth behind the treachery of what appears to be a revenge plot.
The art took a dip from previous issues but it got better as the book went along but there was one potentially iconic image with Vader that could have been epic, but it fell flat.
Despite this criticism, this is still an enjoyable book that will provide Star Wars fans with another solid chapter in the endless library of the Expanded Universe.
Grade: B-
Aquaman #10
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Ivan Reis & Joe Prado
Colors: Rod Reis
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
The name of the book is called Aquaman but for this issue, it should have been called Manta.
Geoff Johns made the underwater evil-doer’s story an engaging one which reveals the secrets of Aquaman’s violent past. Unlike most villains, Black Manta has a legitimate reason to kill Arthur. It turns out Mera was kept in the dark about these prior events and she is none too happy about it and a new member of The Others called The Operative emerges.
For everything that happened in this book, my Muppet Babies imagination mirage didn’t kick in at all which occured while reading the previous nine issues.
It’s still worth picking up and the epically beautiful artwork of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado hammers that point home.
The fight scenes with Manta and Aquaman created intensity that perfectly captures the veracity of their rivalry. The Operative’s entrance into the story was also well done and gave you a feeling he is going to be an impact player in the months to come even though the script didn’t give me that feeling.
Again, this sounds like a harsh criticism but it is not at all because I can’t get mad at my star player when they hit a triple instead their usual grand slam.
Grade: B-
Fatale #6
Writer: Ed Brubaker
Art: Sean Phillips
Colors: Dave Stewart
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.50
Image Comics has released a trade paperback of the first five issues of Brubaker and Phillips comic masterpiece. Those who have been keeping up with the story via single issues were in for a treat.
The new story arc moves to the 1970’s where Josephine lives in isolation while Nicholas Lash is still trying to piece together the mystery of his godfather’s past in the present.
Brubaker’s ability to tell a story entices the readers’ inquisitiveness in such a manner that you appreciate every morsel of information that is slowly divulged.
With everything that is going on in this world, the big question is “Who is Josephine?” We know a lot about her but at the same time; we really don’t anything about her at all. Why doesn’t she age or how does she have such control over men?
Ed Brubaker said in a recent interview that he jealously hoards Sean Phillips whenever someone inquires about his availability.
One look at the page layouts in this book and it’s not hard to understand why. He is an amazing storyteller that brings such picturesque page layouts to a mysterious chronicle of events. There was one panel where the one legged Lash was being held at gun point and it was drawn in such a way that you believed the look on Lash’s face that he was about to die as he limped frantically to get away.
Stuff like that happens all the times in comics but the way Sean Phillips draws it makes the image eerie and real when your imagination is captured to such a degree. Dave Stewart’s coloring is the icing on the cake of this dark noir that brilliantly keeps every guessing.
Grade: A-
The Hypernaturals #1
Writers: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art: Brad Walker & Andres Guinaldo
Colors: Stephen Downer
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Price: $3.99
This adventure tale tells a story of a very, very distant future where the human race has colonized the galaxy.
It’s a time of peace and prosperity and super powers within people are called Hypers (i.e. “What is your Hyper?”)
Those chosen to preserve the peace are called the Hypernaturals.
The story opens with a huge battle in space where an evil force is annihilating everything in its path and ultimately destroys the Hypernaturals and novice recruits and former retired members fill in to take their place.
The opening has way too much going on and there was no emotional connection with anyone on the page because we don’t know who they are so there is zero emotional investment.
It’s a highly advanced future so I understand the thinking it more would go on in the everyday comings and goings but it takes away from what the story is trying to accomplish at times. The story progresses nicely when the fighting stops and we are introduced to the characters so we start to actually care about them. Brad Walker’s energetic panels really bring the story to life.
Overall, this was a nice first effort that left me curious to see what happens next.
Grade: C+
Star Trek : The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2 #2
Writers: Scott & David Tipton with Tony Lee
Artist: J.K. Woodward
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Cover Price: $3.99
The second chapter of IDW’s crossover is amusing and well written.
In the last issue, we saw The Doctor and company travel back in time to ancient Egypt before winding up in 1940’s San Francisco where The Doctor noticed there was an android in the club.
It turns out that android is Data and they are really on the holodeck of the USS Enterprise.
We get the usual first time introductions between the iconic characters of different universes as they feel each while being puzzled by each others presence. The art is just as good as the last issue and holds up to what it should be for such a story.
If you like holy $#&@% endings then read this book asap.
Grade: B+
Batman Incorporated #2
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Chris Burnham
Colors: Nathan Fairbaim
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
The latest issue gives fans a refresher of the life of Ra’s Al Ghul’s deadly daughter, Talia.
Cameos and flashbacks take up a big chunk of this issue. Grant Morrison even treated us to some tender father daughter moments that shape Talia into the women she is today.
One of those moments took place at an African Relief concert where a teenaged Talia is taking in the sights and sounds of everyone coming together for a great cause; until her father tells her the band members could have easily cut a check large enough to take care of the problem but instead, they make people poorer by asking them to not only buy a ticket but also donate.
Grant Morrison also revisit’s some important moments in Bat history such as Damien being born and the day Ra’s proclaimed Batman being the only man worthy of his daughter’s hand.
There is nothing else you can say about the work of Burnham and Fairbaim except that they have produced one cool looking book. The creative efforts of everyone involved have truly created a unique and thrilling series that separates itself from the rest of the Batman books.
This one was razor close to being my pick of the week.
Grade: A-
The Amazing Spider-Man #688
Writer: Dan Slott
Art: Giuseppe Camuncoil and Klaus Janson
Colors: Frank D’Armata
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
The Lizard makes his return to the comic books and just in time for the release of a particular movie.
What appears to be a marketing gimmick turned into an immense story that shows you can take the man out of the monster, but you can’t take the monster out of the man.
This is more than just another super villain fight for Spidey. He is truly carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as he badly wants to fulfill his vow of “No one dies.”
Dan Slott deserves a lot of credit for writing a consistently exciting book. His name gets lost in the pantheon of writers such as Johns, Brubaker, Bendis and others but his name deserves to be right up there.
If you are on Twitter, I’d recommended following him as he converses with fans on a regular basis.
Grade: B
Justice League #10 (Shelf Listed: Disappointment of the Week)
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Jim Lee & Scott Williams
Colors: Tony Avina & Hi-Fi
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
The Justice League has a new enemy.
His name is David Graves, a former writer who blames them for the death of his family. He uses his magic-based powers to drain life out of the league that leaves them mummified. Graves defeated the League with such an ease that is exceedingly underwhelming.
Plus, the heroes are really unlikable.
They are phenomenal in their own books but why the jock mentality?
It doesn’t make them cooler or more complex. I thought it was just Green Lantern but all of them are unbearable.
Also, there is something to be said when the four page Shazam back up story is the more entertaining of the two.
