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!
Evil Empire #10
Writer: Max Bemis
Artist: Victor Santos
Colorist: Juan Manuel Tumburus
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Price: $3.99
The Evil Empire has become a reality as the concept of universal freedom and thought has united the glob as an integrated society. Absolute freedom has brought about people killing people over the smallest things or as President Sam Duggins would say, “Go hard and don’t take any bullshit.”
Celebrity rapper Reese Greenwood is the leader behind the movement to stop the Empire and to hopefully show the world that Duggins is a full of BS as his movement. Max Bemis takes things in an even darker direction as Reese’s team takes a serious hit.
The cause seems to be lost, but Reese’s resolve becomes amplified when she immerses herself into the no rules world of the Empire.
Victor Santos’ artwork has been on point throughout the entire series. It’s gritty in nature, and complex in feeling, as this seemingly approved underlying dictatorship draws emotion from several different points of view. A public smile from Duggins followed by an angry look behind closed doors has evil intentions written all over it.
Throughout this series, Max Bemis is trying to get the reader to look at some sociological what-ifs through a prism of unpredictability that makes this series standout on a consistent basis.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
New Avengers #29
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Kev Walker
Colorist: Frank Martin
Publisher: Marvel
Price: $3.99
Marvel recently announced their plans for the upcoming Secret Wars crossover event that will kick off in May.
Earth-1610 (Ultimate Universe) and Earth- 616 (Regular Marvel Universe) are going to collide through a world incursion event that will fuse the two worlds into one called Battleworld, which will be the official Marvel universe going forward.
Everything Jonathan Hickman has done during his run in Avengers and New Avengers has been building to the eventual merger. This particular issue serves as a good jumping on point to get ready for Secret Wars as time is running out for life we know it in Marvel continuity.
The Illuminati led by Reed Richards and Black Panther have to answer to the Avengers for the very difficult choices they’ve made in which millions of lives have been lost.
Hickman does a phenomenal job of establishing and heightening the tension in the room as Steve Rogers is none too happy about being kept in the dark about the world incursion events. Knowing what is coming, and seeing a potential Avenger powder keg, will make the reader feel as if they are hearing a conversation that they shouldn’t be hearing.
The dark and sullen tone of Frank Martin’s colors compliment the emotional gravitas depicted by Kev Walker as the question becomes not how do we stop it but what should be done after it occurs.
Score: 4 out of 5
Batman #38
Writer: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV
Artist: Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, Sam Keith
Colorist: Ronda Pattison, FCO Plascencia
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
I told myself I wasn’t going to review anymore Batman comics because the message is always the same: they are always amazing.
Scott Snyder’s writing is consistently captivating and Greg Capullo’s illustrations transport you right in the seedy underbelly of Gotham City. This particular issue does all of those things, but also presents a situation that is kind of an anomaly. The Joker has poisoned the people of Gotham with a virus that keeps evolving on a cellular level.
Batman races through the city and kicks down every door he can in order to find a lead. After dead ends and trails with a city tearing itself apart in the background, Batman, in frustration, says something I never thought I would hear him say: “I don’t know what to do.”
This is not a powerful statement under normal circumstances, but it speaks volumes when talking about the world’s greatest detective. Batman’s ingenuity at solving crimes is something to behold. We can always count on him to solve the problem and figure it out.
Seeing his deductions makes it that much sweeter. Penny-One kept nagging him about his lack of process (and I was thinking, “THIS IS BATMAN, DAMN IT!” I just wanted her to let him do his thing. The admission of not knowing meant he was just guessing the entire time when it was assumed all along that he was inching closer to the answer.
If that is not enough to tickle your fancy, there is a revelation about The Joker that if true, it would explain so many things including his maniacal level of certainty in everything is does. Now, this could be another in the long list of lies and manipulations perpetrated by the Clown Prince of Crime. However, this part of the plot was done in such an intricate manner that it’s hard to tell what will be the final verdict.
Snyder produces an ending that will blow your mind if you have been reading his run since the beginning.
The fact that Batman has to seek counsel alone lends credibility to Joker’s story. The who in this equation augments the investigation to the nth degree and will conjure up endless possibilities of the finality of End Game.
Score: 5 out of 5
Bitch Planet #2
Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Valentine De Leabdro
Colorist: Cris Peter
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $3.50
One of the many great things that Kelly Sue DeConnick accomplishes with Bitch Planet is that she sets the reader on one path and then without a moment’s notice, sends us down a completely different course.
The fact that we don’t see it coming is one thing, but the manner of execution along with the emotion narrative extracts is pure genius.
The titular planet is a prison where men send troublesome women who are “noncompliance.”
The pretentiousness in the first seven pages is a generational backhand towards women as a species.
Women’s sociological plight is the overarching theme of the story, but DeConnick doesn’t hit the you over the head with it, but instead uses it as a vehicle to augment some of the larger issues at hand.
The protagonist, Kam, is forced to put together a team for a Hunger Games style game show otherwise she will be prosecuted for a murder she didn’t commit. Kam is a spunky, strong and confident individual who is natural born leader.
Valentine De Leabdro’s artwork perfectly compliments the bombastic nature of the story especially, when Penny-Rolle, the ghetto juggernaut of the prison is smashing fools left and right in the background as Kam layouts the initial part of her plan. Cris Peter’s coloring has this psydecellic vibe where purples, greens and yellows brings an anomalistic sense of routine because for the men referred to as Fathers, the world is one big party and women just live in it.
I normally don’t read the letters to the editor section but there is some great reading that expands on the underlying message Kelly Sue DeConnick is sending. The next issue is going to take a break from the main story arc focus on the origin story of Penny-Rolle which is a great first choice in this outstanding comic book endeavor.
4.5 out of 5
X-O Manowar #32
Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Diego Bernard
Colorist: Wil Quintana
Publisher: Valiant Entertainment
Price: $3.99
X-O Manowar #32 serves as the conclusion to the Armorines story arc as Zhan industries leader Phillip Zhan wants to prove to the world that his Earth-tech is superior to Aric’s armor.
Robert Venditti set it up with all the key elements required for a comic book showdown to payoff. Zhan is an egomaniac and who always gets what he wants. Framing Aric as a killer makes it easier to justify his is attack since the world is already leery of the Manowar suit.
Make no mistake about it; this is one big fistfight where some fun dialog makes each punch landed a pretty sweet thrill. Zhan falling victim to his own hubris is just as much of a factor Aric proving that it is the man, not the suit that makes the warrior.
Diego Bernard is really the storyteller here since so much of this story is a combative confrontation. The battle scenes are gorgeous and filled with great detail. The panels where Aric bends Zhan’s power to sharper use is a bold illustration of power that reminded me of how much of a badass he is.
This was a fun and easy story arc to follow that really highlighted the talents of the creators involved. Bigger things seem to be on the horizon as a powerful Dead Hand is about to be played.
Score: 3.5 out of 5
