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!
Magneto: Not a Hero: #1 of 4
Writer: Skottie Young
Art: Clay Mann, Seth Mann & Norman Lee
Colors: David Curiel
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
A video of Magneto killing people at an anti-mutant rally has gone viral and everyone fears he has gone back to his terrorist ways. I knew this was not going to be a book that you judge by its cover since there was barely any pre-release hype. It’s a good comic book, but nothing special.
The writing hits it’s stride when Erik has a condescending attitude while being questioned about the massacre by Captain America and Iron Man. The Avengers believe he must cooperate because it’s up to them if he leaves while Magneto believes the opposite. The ending of this issue essentially reveals the obvious plot going forward. It’s nothing creative or original, but nothing bad either.
Grade: C+
Star Trek/Legion of Super-Heroes #2
Writer: Chris Roberson
Art: Jeffrey Moy & Philip Moy
Colors: Romulo Fajardo Jr
Publisher: IDW
Price: $3.99
Kirk’s crew and the Legion are trapped in a universe where the Empire rules with an iron fist. One fascinating story arc is that the Earth ruled by the Federation advanced a lot faster as a civilization as their first moon landing happened in the 1400’s.
This ultimately causes a chain reaction of evolution throughout the galaxy.
This second installment was just as fun as the last one. There is an even amount of things from both properties that produce page by page entertainment. The art and colors are gorgeously captured the emotion of the moment. This cross over event brings a lot of detail to the table with the art and storytelling and deserves more attention then it’s getting.
Grade: A-
Batman & Robin #3
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Art: Patrick Gleason & Mick Gray
Colors: John Kalisz
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
There are four comics a months featuring Batman.
Three of them explore the dark seedy underbelly of Gotham City, while the fourth explores the father/son relationship that is fairly new between Bruce and Damian.
Most fathers worry about helping their 10 year old making the baseball team, while Bruce has to control Damian’s killer instinct. Damian and Alfred are playing chess in the beginning of the book. Alfred wins the match and it fails to teach Damian that despite being as good as he thinks he is, he still has a lot to learn.
Two scenes come to mind that exhibit how awesome Patrick Gleason’s work is. Robin confronts two criminals and one of them mocks “the little kid in the costume” and pulls out an iPhone for a photo opportunity, only for the Boy Wonder to slug him right in the face. Another is a two page spread where Batman jumps from the Batwing and into the alley in order to help Damian as you see the plane positioned near the moon and the coloring of the night sky made it all that much better. This book gets better with every issue and I’m looking forward to #4.
Grade: B+
The New Avengers #18
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: Mike Deodato
Colors: Rain Beredo
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $3.99
Norman Osborn has finally assembled the “Dark Avengers”, but they don’t feel too dark. He obtains services of Skaar (Son of the Hulk), Barney Barton, Ai Apaec, (Osborn’s new Spider-Man) a Thor clone, a Scarlet Witch and Wolverine wannabes.
What is really dark about these turn of events is the support Osborn gets from Hydra, The Hand and A.I.M. with the goal of rebuilding H.A.M.M.E.R.
The New Avengers do not appear in this issue which I thought was a good move since the focus is on Norman Osborn. The last few issues of this series were building towards getting the band back together but the unveiling of version 2.0 was flat and uneventful considering the character selection. If you hate spiders, the panels showing Ai Apaec’s first appearance will make you look for a can of Raid. Overall, the issue left you more interested in the alliance between the super villain factions and it will be interesting to see where it leads.
Grade: C
Batgirl #3
Writer: Gail Simone
Art: Ardian Syaf & Vicente Cifuentes
Colors: Ulises Arreola
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $2.99
More of the new Batgirl continuity is revealed as it turns out she still has strong feelings for Dick Grayson.
The issue revolves around their relationship and what it could be under the right circumstances.
Dick is concerned about getting back in the Bat Family business so soon after recovery from a paralysis which we discover happened three years ago. Most of the pages are dedicated to Barbara and Dick chasing each other from roof top to roof top as if Gotham was their own personal playground. Despite how much she cares about Dick, she rejects his offer for help in dealing with Mirror because she has to prove something to herself.
Not too much action but more character development than anything else. I’m not complaining though. This was necessary to help fill in the blanks in the new 52.
Grade: B-
