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Captain America #42 [review]

Posted on September 24, 2008 by Walt

The Death of Captain America Act 3 – The Man Who Bought America: Part Six

Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciller: Steve Epting with Luke Ross
Inkers: Rick Magyar, Steve Epting & Fabio Laguna
Colors: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Production: Jacob Chabot
Associate Editor: Jeanine Schaefer
Editor: Tom Brevoort
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Cover: Steve Epting

I’m not entirely sure how to start to talk about this issue. I suppose I’ll just wing it. This is the 18th chapter in the Death of Captain America saga, and the 6th/final chapter in the third/final “act”of the saga. Everything from at least issue 25 til now has built to this issue.

And yet…

And yet, there’s no sense of “hype” here, overall. No double-sized issue, no enhanced cover, no wild ‘n trippy cover blurbs.

I think that’s what makes this a good issue, though.

We open as Bucky–the new Captain America–interferes with plans to set the Red Skull’s man up to be a major hero in America’s eyes heading toward an election. While Bucky deals with this, Falcon and Black Widow are mixing it up at the Red Skull’s base trying to find/rescue Sharon Carter. Meanwhile, the Skull prepares another major step in his plan, though he couldn’t resist old habits, and that draws him some criticism from Zola, even as the 50s Cap struggles against his own bonds.

The writing here is dead-on, as usual for Brubaker. Not a thing seems amiss–characters and situations have been set up for a number of issues in this sprawling “epic,” causing events to unfold as they do at present, according to a plan much larger/longer than just a couple issues of “conspiracy” or such. Everything has mattered, from the start of this series to present…and I’m guessing one could argue that from the start of this series, everything has built to this issue, setting up the future of the character. I’ve enjoyed the story well enough as it’s gone on issue by issue, and certainly expect to enjoy it all the more once I sit down to read the entire thing in a much shorter go than 18+ moths.

The art–though multiple individuals are involved–leaves me suitably impressed. There’s a realistic element that makes the word balloons and narration almost look out of place–which works for me, because I do really enjoy the art in a way I don’t notice on the majority of the comics I read these days.

Art and story combine as one very good final product. There are a number of good character moments gotten across as much by story context as by the visuals. As the final chapter in such a long story, I don’t really recommend this as a good jumping-on point (though I suspect the next issue may be a decent starting point for newer readers). If you’ve been following this story, this is not an issue to skip.

Well recommended given that context.

Story: 8/10
Art: 9/10
Whole: 8.5/10

Filed under: Captain America, Comic Reviews 2008, MARVEL | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

X-Men: Legacy #216 [review]

Posted on September 24, 2008 by Walt

Walkthrough, Part 2 of 2

Writer: Mike Carey
Penciller: Phil Briones
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorists: Brian Reber and Raul Trevino
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Production: Joe Sabino
Assistant Editors: Will Panzo and Daniel Ketchum
Editor: Nick Lowe
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Cover: Salvador Larroca

This issue yet again reminds me that it is possible to have a very enjoyable story that is steeped in continuity. We open with Emma Frost holding sway over Xavier–she’d lurked in Cyclops’ mind, and when Xavier interacted with Cyclops, he also got her. She proceeds to lead Xavier through a review of some of the key moments in which he has seemingly abused his power…while she seeks to determine if there’s any remnant of Mr. Sinister lurking within this mighty mutant mind.

Looks at recruiting Henry McCoy, responding to Rogue’s first coming to him, and Scott Summers reacting to the defeat at Krakoa are three of multiple power-abuses Xavier is confronted with–these times that he “played God” with other living people, means to the end being all the justification he’d required.

Carey’s writing here seems spot-on. Whatever history the characters have had, I find his Scott and Emma to be quite believable, and I greatly enjoy the way he has Xavier “re-discovering” all these fragments of his past–which we as readers are shown as flashbacks. Carey picks out moments key to what makes–or made–Xavier WHO he is (or was, or will be again). Through this, we see how past events are stil relevant in the present, and in general get to take this journey of self re-discovery WITH Xavier.

The art also works very well….I like the way the characters look. I’m not left in confusion as to what’s going on visually; the art works right alongside the writing. That I recognize several of the flashbacks is great: while perhaps from a different camera-angle than the original, there’s a consistency that I almost wouldn’t expect these days.

This is the second of a two-chapter story, and so in and of itself unlikely to be a good jump-on point unless one looks simply to jump into the deep end and flail like crazy to find one’s bearings. With some context of the last couple years of X-stories, one wouldn’t be too badly off pairing this issue with the previous s a single go. As a continuing reader, this is another strong issue in what has come to be my favorite–and only–X-title to read each month.

Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 8/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, MARVEL, X-Men: Legacy | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

Superman #680 [review]

Posted on September 24, 2008 by Walt

The Coming of Atlas Part 4: Man of Yore, Dog of Tomorrow

Writer: James Robinson
Penciller: Renato Guedes
Inker: Wilson Magalhaes
Colorist: Hi-FI
Letterer: John J. Hill
Assoc. Editor: Nachie Castro
Editor: Matt Idelson
Cover: Alex Ross

Across a 16-panel grid on the opening page, we’re treated to a battered-and-bloody Superman as well as some crowd reaction–including specifically Lois and Jimmy. And a narrative, from Superman, about the newly arrived participant in this brawl–Krypto, the “Dog of Steel.” We then transition to Krypto’s narration (gone are the thought-balloons of the silver age, “in” are the narration boxes of the modern age) as he comes to the defense of his master, laying into Atlas. While Krypto chews on Atlas, Lois witnesses the goings-on and recalls her own doubts about this alien dog, as she begins to recognize the bond that truly exists between her husband and his dog. Seeing that Krypto has Atlas occupied and promising to return shortly, Superman zips off to seek some help, with somewhat unexpected results.

In the opening issues of this arc, I must admit I’ve been underwhelmed. Somehow, I just don’t find this Atlas character interesting. That might be partly the fault of Action Comics–I’m much more interested in Brainiac than this “new” character (isn’t that the way, though?–one might complain about repetetive over-use of existing characters, but then new characters are not embraced, either.) That said, the writing is not bad at all–Robinson has crafted an arc that pits Superman against someone at least as strong, if not stronger (whether or not due in and of itself to Magic) than himself. This issue brings Krypto fully into things–for the first time in years, I believe–and does so in a way that really showcases the character’s potential. If we must have a super-powered Kryptonian dog named Krypto as part of the Superman cast, Robinson has shown me that it can work. This isn’t some silly Look Who’s Talking Now thing…we’re not getting full, articulate sentences coming from the Kryptonian canine, but rather emotive responses applicable to the current situation.

I’m not exactly drawn in by Guedes’ art as far as Superman himself or Atlas are concerned. The art’s not bd, really, but there’s something to the style that just doesn’t really work for me personally. Guedes’ Krypto, on the other hand, works quite well. Some of the credit here has got to go to the coloring, which certainly impacts how the finished art comes across. Atls somehow seems almost more cartooney than a dog in a cape…while that dog looks like a distinct individual, rather than a generic dog with a cape thrown ‘cross his back.

The cover painting by Ross is fantastic, and if I could get the image as a poster, I would be all over it.

I’m not sure offhand if this is just a 4-part story or if it still has a chapter or two left. Either way, there’s a definite ending to the issue, and I feel like it’s an ending that works.

All in all, this is a solid issue, worth getting if you’re already buying the title…though perhps not the best point to jump on if you want a full story from the beginning. (Though if you just want to see Krypto in action, this is the issue for you!).

Story: 7/10
Art: 6/10
Whole: 6.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, DC, Superman | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Booster Gold #12 [review]

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Walt

Posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Booster Gold, Comic Reviews 2008, cxPulp.com, DC | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »

The Walking Dead #52 [review]

Posted on September 23, 2008 by Walt

Posted to comixtreme.com.

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, cxPulp.com, Image, Walking Dead | Tagged: , , | Leave a comment »