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!
Jupiter’s Legacy #5
Writer: Mark Millar
Artist: Frank Quitely
Colorist: Peter Doherty
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $4.99
March 5, 2014 was the last time Jupiter’s Legacy entered the weekly Wednesday stratosphere. A delay of this length is annoying and could lose consumer confidence.
However, even if you don’t remember what happened in the last issue, you know it was good, really good.
This is a credit to the talented duo of Millar and Quitely who spare no creative expense in creating a story that is memorable on a multitude of levels.
The last issue moved ahead in time after Jupiter was killed which allowed Walter and Brandon to rule the country and cause super heroes and villains to go into hiding.
Chloe, Hutch and their eight-year-old son, Jason, have gone in hiding and are trying to live a normal life. Jason has the same powers as his grandfather and has an affinity for saving lives. This has drawn the attention of hero hunter, Barnabas Wolfe.
Millar sets things into motion all while allowing the reader to experience things vicariously through Jason. He and the reader are thinking the same thing: people need saving. Walter and Brandon are ruining society, it’s time to stop hiding and fight back. You want this so bad, but the safe bet of hiding in plain sight is undeniably the smarter play, until the choice is taken away. Barnabas is an effective villain because he relishes his role which comes across so poignantly that you will be itching for Jason to get his way.
Quitely doesn’t just draw pictures, he orchestrates a concerto of illustrations that makes every page come alive. Facial expressions and body language present an honesty where the context is clear without a single word being uttered such as when Jason, with a blissful smile on his face, sneaks up to the moon only to be in for a rude awakening when his mother is waiting for him on the rock with her arms folded.
The coloring of Peter Doherty has been an essential part of this visual endeavor. Instead of making the artwork simply pop, the use of softer colors makes the detail in the depictions standout more which gives the reader a greater appreciation of everything on the page from a brick wall being thrown to items that don’t normally warrant any attention such as wrinkles in a shirt.
Dystopian tales are a dime a dozen lately, but the carefully crafted nature of this book commands your attention from the moment you read and examine the very first panel. The delays with this series haven’t gone unnoticed, and next year’s upcoming Book Two won’t be solicited until the notoriously slow perfectionist Quitely finishes up his work (There will be a prequel series by Millar and artist Wilfredo Torres in the meantime). This is a top notch series and it would be a shame it if fell into the void of the forgotten.
Score: 5 out of 5
Star Wars #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: John Cassaday
Colorist: Laura Martin
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $4.99
I was barely five years old when my father came home with a VHS tape that said Star Wars on the cover.
This unfamiliar title sparked a resounding sense of curiosity because there was no explanation or synopsis as to what I about to witness or how it would change my life.
Five minutes before my bedtime, I was told to sit down, stare at the TV, press play and prepare to be transported into a galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars is back where it all began: on the printed page with Marvel. This venture is an important cog in the wheel of Lucasfilm’s restructured canonical adventures.
Jason Aaron and John Cassaday lead the charge on this endeavor and immediately score major points by devising a presentation that definitively comforts us in the ways of the force with the opening yellow crawl to the blackness of space where a space ship emerges into our view of things.
Hot off the heels of the Death Star’s destruction, our favorite band of rebels attempt to shut down an Imperial weapons facility. The escapade itself was nothing to write home about, but it was more of a vehicle for Jason Aaron to firmly establish that Han Solo is still playing the reluctant hero card which exudes the smugglers machismo. Luke Skywalker is ever the impulsive idealist looking to the stars, and everything that can go wrong will still go wrong when C-3PO is watching over things.
Princess Leia’s persona was a bit of a deviation from the script we are used to. Slugging someone in the jaw first and asking questions later while risking the whole operation on the hope of a kill shot was more spitfire than level-headed diplomat who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty.
In this particular point in time, the wounds of Alderaan are still fresh with Leia, but this wasn’t broached in the confines of this issue. The last Star Wars comic book penned by Brian Wood did an excellent job of showing Leia going through a grieving period for her home world because it’s something we never saw in the movies.
We can’t discuss a book like this without talking about Darth Vader. His point of entry here was as perfectly timed as the moment he first engulfed our senses as he boarded the Tantive IV. The Rebels’ plan keeps getting unhinged at the seams due to outside and unexpected factors. When it seems that things can’t get any worse, the worst possible person, Vader, arrives and displays his take no prisoners ruthlessness that has endeared him to fans.
John Cassaday does a great job of depicting important scenes, but I question his character work here. Instead of seeing Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, I saw Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Seeing the actor instead of the character threw me off at times and kind of diluted the experience for me.
The Expanded Universe stories now rechristened as Legends have produced a hodgepodge of content over the years. Some of it was strong with the Force while others seemed to be an abnormality that never quite fit in. The priority of sending an entertaining message as opposed to an entertaining story was the right call because this is the first true litmus test for Marvel as to how they are going to handle this beloved franchise.
While I wanted more meat on the bone in terms of story, this new era is on the right track because Jason Aaron and company accomplished the the most important goal with this book by emphatically letting everyone know that this is Star Wars!
Score: 3 out of 5
Terrible Lizard #3
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Drew Moss
Colorist: Ryan Hill
Publisher: Oni Press
Price: $3.99
Dinosaurs, monsters, temporal events, and secret military experiments are wrapped in a succinct package in this touching all-ages adventure.
Terrible Lizard follows the story of spunky teenage girl named Jess who is insulated due to her father’s work with Cosmos Labs. Jess is cured of her loneliness when an experiment gone wrong brings an orange Tyrannosaurus into her life and she names him Wrex.
Cullen Bunn uses the bond between Jess and Wrex as the crux that molds and shapes the narrative. It’s what makes us care about them as they evade a heavily armed military pursuit and creatures referred to as prehistoric bowling balls.
Jess feels people don’t understand her and now she has this new large friend in her life that no one understand but her.
The artwork of Drew Moss presents a dynamic that is charming while carrying the weight of a serious situation. Seeing Jess riding Wrex during an inadvertent rampage brought an instant smile to my face. Moss gives Wrex many difference faces that works in a space that usually requires one or the other. A thunderous roar looks as angry as its intent and then a few pages later he has a confused look on his face when a dimensional door way opens out of nowhere followed by the twinkle in his eye as Jess is cheering him on.
Ryan Hill’s color treatment fills every page with an energy augments Moss’ pencil work. The cover of a book like this is makes it easy to ignore when you are looking for comics in the superhero variety.
Being labeled all-ages is usually code word for kiddie book. Cullen Bunn makes this the exception to the rule with a story that is easy to follow truly has something for everyone. Simply put, Terrible Lizard is a winner!
Score: 4 out of 5
S.H.I.E.L.D. #2
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Colorist: Edgar Delgato
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $3.99
I was a little scared when Marvel announced a comic book series inspired from their Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D television show.
Ratings seems to be steady enough for ABC’s liking but the venom this show receives online is brutal and deservedly so in a lot of ways.
Phil Coulson has made a smooth transition to the printed page but bringing everyone else along didn’t seem well advised.
However, seeing Mark Waid’s name on the cover alleviated all of my concerns because he could write an epic about paint drying on a wall.
Jemma Simmons is under cover as a Biology teacher at Coles Academic High School to stop a teenager from selling supervillain weaponry. Things appear to be in disarray until S.H.I.E.L.D gets some unexpected help from a student named Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel.
The strength of this story lies with the interaction between Coulson and Kamala. One has seen it all, done it all and knows how to act under pressure while the other is new to this world and is eager to make an impression.
The Amazing Spider-Man duo of Humberto Ramos and Edgar Delgato take the art and color reins and as usual produce vibrant imagery, great character work, and lots of action. Ramos has a lot of fun with Ms. Marvel as she is given a lot of page time and uses her powers in some fun predicaments.
This series serves an upbeat version of its TV predecessor that is pure fun and different from last month’s debut. I think a change in tone and presentation from issue to issue could make this standout if the writing remains strong.
This was an enjoyable read and can’t wait for more next month when Spider-Man enters the fray.
Score: 4 out of 5
Rai #6
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Clayton Crain
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Price: $3.99
The first murder in 1000 years hits New Japan which causes tension among the factions as Father, the sophisticated A.I. that governs everything, is pulling the strings.
Rai wants to keep the peace but his race was created by Father so no one trusts him even though his intentions are genuine. This served as my first introduction to a character named Spylock who has beef with Father and is established pretty quickly as someone not to be trifled with.
One thing that you can always count on with the writing of Matt Kindt is that nothing will ever be dumbed down. His consistent tone makes you appreciate the intricacies of the story because they are so pronounced.
Clayton Crain’s artwork looks like a fine oil painting with a cinematic feel coupled with great page layouts and beautiful color treatment. It seems like this has been done before.
A master plan to take out Father comes close, but eventually falters. Matt Kindt adds new elements that makes each outing more intriguing than the next. This book is just a pleasure to read and gives you the most for your money.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
