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Highlander #0 [Review]

Posted on January 22, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Average
Story Title: Untitled

Russell Nash–AKA Connor MacLeod–gets called into events springing from the death of the Kurgan, tying his story in to the Chernobyl disaster.

highlander000 Writers: Brandon Jerwa, Michael Avon Oeming
Artist: Lee Moder
Colors: Brian Buccellato
Letters: Simon Bowland
Cover Art: Gabriele Dell’Otto
Special Thanks to: David Abramowitz, Peter Davis, Sharon Jenings
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

For as much as I consider myself a Highlander fan, my first reaction to this is not quite knowing what’s going on. I’m sure there are nuances I’m not picking up on, or missing, for not having recently watched the original film, nor knowing exactly what sort of continuity this is, given the confusing "continuity versions" throughout the Highlander universe: Movie, TV Series, Cartoon, Endgame…

This zero-issue takes place shortly after the events of the original Highlander film, and sets us up to see that there may have been more to the struggle between Connor and the Kurgan than was let on. I’m not familiar with the other characters offhand, and the flashbacks–assuming that’s what they were–left me confused, not entirely certain if they’re flashbacks or what.

However, I think this might need to be approached both from the angle of one approaching a new tv series–things and characters may be shown that don’t make much sense yet, but will later on, and a later re-reading will let the earliest chapters make far more sense in context of what’s discovered as the arc progresses. This should probably also be approached with the realization that it’s based out of a story two decades old, a core that has seen multiple different continuities sprung from it.

I’m most familiar with Duncan MacLeod–the starring character of the live-action Highlander: The Series. However, through watching the original Highlander film several times the last few years and seeing/reading things discussing how great that film was, I’ve been swayed a bit to have a further interest in Connor.

All that said, this series seems geared to the Connor MacLeod fans, who want more of the character than just the trilogy of films, a guest-star role in a tv-series and a debatable role in a fourth film.
The art seems to work well for the issue, though it doesn’t feel overly detailed–which is NOT a bad thing. Everything’s clear and visually not hard to see what’s going on–confusion there comes simply from not knowing certain characters and such terribly well. Visually, we get a Russell Nash/Connor Macleod that is recognizeably based on Christopher Lambert, but given his own "feel."

Having been excited about this series since it was first announced (last year?), I may be judging this a little too harshly for "just a zero issue." After all, this is just a 12-page introduction, for a single shiny quarter (U.S.), and doesn’t begin to have room to flesh much of anything out or get into any meat of a story. It’s a definite teaser, showing us a couple characters that presumably will be focii in the series itself, and teases the motivation for what the story itself presumably entails.

Perhaps just from looking at it in solicitation/advertising materials so much, the Dell’Otto cover is an awesome Highlander image–if there’s not a poster, there should be one with this image. We get a nice, iconic image of Connor and the Kurgan; the two ready to enter combat, all divided by Connor and The Quickening.
This probably has the most appeal for Highlander fans who’ve been into things for awhile, but certainly doesn’t rule out new readers. There’s a lot that’s steeped in Highlander continuity, but at the same time, one has to start somewhere, and should quickly be able to pick up on things. Again, 12 pages is hardly enough to truly judge any story–or creative team–on.

If you’re a fan of Jerwa (former writer on G.I. Joe) and/or Oeming (Thor: Disassembled/Ragnarok, Stormbreaker: Saga of Beta Ray Bill) or just Highlander in general, for a mere quarter this is NOT one issue to miss (plus, there’s a 5-page Lone Ranger preview and ads for other Dynamite books).

We’ll see how things go once the series proper begins–I anticipate enjoying that more than this preview issue.

Ratings:

Story: 2.5/5
Art: 3/5
Overall: 3/5

Filed under: Classic Reviews, Highlander (Dynamite), INDEPENDENT/SMALL-PRESS PUBLISHERS | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Green Lantern #10 [Review]

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Good
Title: Revenge of the Green Lanterns, part one

It’s One Year Later, and Green Lantern is definitely back…but with quite a shadow hanging over him; meanwhile, Hal Jordan prepares to be honored for a past deed…

greenlantern010 Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Ivan Reis
Inks: Marc Campos
Colors: Moose Baumann
Letters: Rob Leigh
Assoc. Editor: Michael Siglain
Editor: Peter Tomasi
Cover Art: Simone Bianchi
Publisher: DC Comics

So…awhile back, Hall Jordan lost his city when it was blown up by an alien bent on having revenge on Superman for failing to save his family and driving him away from Earth. Hal couldn’t handle the strain, went nuts, killed a bunch of other GLs in his bid for control of the central power battery on Oa, became Parallax, tried to wipe out time to set things right, died to re-ignite Earth’s sun when it was put out, stepped forward as a volunteer-host for the Spectre during a spiritual crisis, and ultimately split from the Spectre as the real Parallax stood revealed…huh?

You don’t really need to know all that–though it adds a bit of context to the character. What you need to know for this issue is that Hal Jordan–Green Lantern–has apparently had his past exposed to the world, and/or done something that has led to most people of Earth not trusting him–regarding him as little more than some criminal acting without regard for Earthly laws and regulations.

Of course, this issue takes place a year after the events of the currently-unfolding Infinite Crisis so there’s a lot that’s happened that we–as readers–are not yet aware of. Though Green Lantern has been cast in a negative light (and this seems to extend to Jon Stewart as well, though we don’t actually see him in this issue), Hal Jordan is regarded as a hero for things he’s taken part in during the past year.

On the one hand–at the surface–this story seemed rather boring to me. Looking deeper, though, it’s actually a lot better than I wanted to give it credit for. The one-year jump allows for stories to be beyond the whole "hey…you’re back?!?" sort of situations. Hal’s gotten himself very much involved in life again and rebuilt as well as simply built new relationships. He’s fairly established again within the DC Universe.

Apparent flashbacks give some hint as to a fairly major event in Hal’s past (the missing year) that seems rich in character potential. I also like the fact that a story from the Green Lantern Secret Files & Origins 2005 comes into play here–we saw in that story last year that Hal leaves his ring behind when he flies. It added an extra touch of humanity (and/or recklessness) to the character, and provides context for stuff shown in this issue). That’s not to say that you need to have read that to "get" this issue.

The art gives me little to talk about–it worked for me. Things were clear panel-to-panel as to what was going on, all the more in context of the text. The imagery in general is pretty bright–we’re not mired in shadows here. Characters are recognizable and while they may not be clones of versions from other artists, they don’t at all come across as a reinterpretation, which means we have good art, good story, and a good issue.

There are some definite questions that arise from this issue: exactly what does the world know about Hal Jordan? What do they actually know about Green Lantern that has made GL unwelcome outside the US? (As readers, we have plenty of "dirt" that could place him in that position if the info were common knowledge to the residents of the DCU) And so on.

Having seen (and had it as my computer’s desktop for the last few weeks) the cover to a later issue of this title, I’ve a pretty good idea who the villain of this arc is, which takes away from the "shock" that’s apparent at the end of the issue. But then, anything lost there is replaced by an eager "Why?" to the whole thing.
In the end, this is definitely a good issue, and well worth checking out if you haven’t already. It’s also a good jumping-on point, as it’s the first "One Year Later" issue for this title, and in many ways functions as a new # 1–old and new readers alike are at the same point regarding Hal’s past year or so and his new life.

Ratings:

Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Filed under: Classic Reviews, DC, DC Universe, Green Lantern | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #4 [Review]

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Chapter 4: Depression

Spider-Man mourns the loss of Cap, but still has to deal with stuff that life throws at him…

fallensonthedeathofcaptainamerica004 Writer: Jeph Loeb
Pencils: David Finch
Inks: Danny Miki
Colors: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
From an Idea by: J. Michael Straczynski
Assistant Editor: Alejandro Arbona
Editor: Bill Rosemann
Cover Art: David Finch | Variant by: Michael Turner
Publisher: Marvel Comics

This story has certainly lost much of its impact–on me–by being stretched out so much. That’s not to say it’s entirely devoid of impact…but going through these "stages of grief" or "loss" or whatever the official phrasing is would work much better had this series been more immediate and timely. After all, I have had what? A quarter year (or more) now to get used to the idea of Captain America being "dead," and to partake in the online culture of communication that has really lessened the character’s death–as I have come to really agree that within a couple years or so, we’ll have Steve Rogers alive and well, having "got better" after this ordeal…or worse, turn out that THIS Steve Rogers was a certain alien poser.

That meta-textual stuff aside…this was a good issue. This issue’s focus is on a "depressed" Spider-Man as he deals with the loss of a man he’d looked up to as a hero–not just a "fellow" super-hero or colleague, but as an actual hero far above his own "level," by whom it was an honor to even be so much as acknowledged. And while spending time in a cemetary, Spidey/Peter realizes that he’s got an audience…and when his spider-sense goes off, he leaps into action, lashing out at the clear and present threat. The issue winds down with Spidey and Wolverine (which helps hold this series together, not merely "jumping" from one character to another, but maintaining some continuity as the characters interact).

There’s a lot that could be said and analyzed and "read into" the text, based on knowledge that’s been made public about events the writer has faced, and I’d like to acknowledge that fact without getting into it beyond this statement.

The story seems to fit Spidey…I haven’t followed the character all that much for a number of years, so I might be getting something that’s not there, depending on the nuances one pulls out. For me, though, this seemed to be a solid reflection of Spidey acting in context of having just lost a mentor/father-figure/inspiration…and that he’s in the black suit lends yet further loss based on what he’s apparently been dealing with in his own book(s). The threat faced in the cemetery elicits the expected reaction from the character, while simultaneously providing a nice twist, breaking just a bit from a clichéd sort of formula.

I liked the art here. Finch isn’t an artist I’m terribly familiar with of late, only dipping into Marvel here and there the last several years…but the art is definitely recognizable, and carries a certain realism to it that (while allowing one to still subconsciously recognize it as "just" 2-d comic book art) adds a lot to the visual enjoyment of the story. And I think that is the best-looking version of the "villain" I can ever remember seeing.

As a whole, this issue (to me) is an example of how enjoyable story arcs can be as a series of stories that CAN be taken alone, but are also part of a larger arc, rather than a series of chapters that FEEL like they are 1/6th segments of a single story…and that makes it certainly worth its cover price.

If you’re following the series already, this isn’t an issue to skip on; and if you’re just interested in Spidey…you’ve got a good dose of him dealing with another loss in his life, mixed with some action here, and I think it’s fair to say you probably don’t NEED to have read the earlier issues to get/follow/enjoy this issue. I do think these may read better in a collected volume in one sitting, though. Of course, you can do much worse by way of single issues.

Ratings:

Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Filed under: Captain America, Classic Reviews, Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Faces of Evil: Deathstroke #1 [Review]

Posted on January 19, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Very Good
Story Title: Faces of Evil: Deathstroke

After suffering a humiliating defeat, Deathstroke takes stock of his life and makes plans for moving forward.

facesofevildeathstroke001 Writer: David Hine
Penciller: Georges Jeanty
Inker: Mark McKenna
Colorist: Jo Smith
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Assistant Editor: Janelle Siegel
Editor: Michael Marts
Cover: Ladronn
Publisher: DC Comics

Last I recall seeing Deathstroke was in the Last Will and Testament special last Fall, when Deathstroke was defeated in combat by Geoforce. After that humiliating defeat, Deathstroke has had some time to recover, and to take stock of his life. This issue opens with him in the hospital–where those attending to him marvel at his very survival. Once he’s awake, Deathstroke arranges a meeting with his daughter, and the two deal with "family issues" they have with one another. Finally, we see Deathstroke beginning to set up what may be his new status quo.

Hine seems to get this character quite well. The story here is believeable and well within what I’d expect of the character despite my limited exposure to him. We have a man who’s been pushed to his limit and forced to reassess what he is going to do with his life. We get to see him contemplative and in action, see what makes him very dangerous.

The art is solid, too. No complaints here–everything’s nice and clear, with no problems following the action. There’s a slight change in the coloring for a flashback scene that sets that sequence apart from the rest of the issue–gives it a bit of a surreal effect without going hokey or cheesey on us.

Next to Meltzer‘s writing of this character in Identity Crisis and Last Will, this has to be the best depiction I’ve seen of Deathstroke. This issue is–at standard cover price, even!–well worth snagging if you’ve any interest in Deathstroke. And if you’ve never dealt with the character before, you could probably still quite enjoy this issue, as it deals with the here-and-now of the title character as he prepares for what he is going to do moving forward from here.

Ratings:

Story: 4/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5

Filed under: Classic Reviews, DC, DC Universe, Faces of Evil (Event), Faces of Evil (One Shots) | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Astro City: Samaritan #1 [Review]

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Great
Story Title: The Eagle and the Mountain

Samaritan and an old foe size each other up in their latest encounter, as we see key moments in both characters’ past.

astrocitysamaritan Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: Brent E. Anderson
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Lettering and Design: John Roshell of Comicraft
Asst. Editor: Kristy Quinn
Editor: Ben Abernathy
Cover Art: Alex Ross
Publisher: DC Comics/Wildstorm Signature Series

While I’ve read several of the Astro City TPBs, the first arc of Dark Age, and a couple other AC stories, I don’t feel all that familiar with any specific characters. They’re largely archetypal to me, and I think I read them with other characters in mind, or at least, without much of a vested interest in anyone in particular.

Samaritan to me is a different take on Superman, and this "Infidel" puts me in mind of Lex Luthor, and visually in mind of some character from Hellblazer (Papa Midnight, perhaps).

However, these characters certainly are not the others–they draw from a similar pool of ideas, but hold a rich uniqueness all their own.

The issue opens with a story about an eagle and a mountain, to set things up. The issue is narrated by Infidel, presenting things from his point of view–something that when done on occasion like this, works very well. Though we know that he is the "bad guy" (Samaritan being the "good guy"), it’s easy to see where Infidel is coming from, his motivation and such.

Through the years, Infidel and Samaritan have clashed, and despite the intensity of the battles, neither every truly gained the upper hand, resulting in a truce of sorts, as each watches the other, waiting for a moment to strike. The cordiality between Samaritan and Infidel is a bit off-putting at first, but works very well here. It is in itself a bit archetypal–two bitter enemies interacting civilly, almost friendly, neither seeking to physically confront the other…but the dangerousness of both is felt throughout the interactions, and the characters have a very real feel to them, as more than just some black/white comic-book-supervillain/comic-book-superhero interaction; there’s just more depth to it.

And that seems to me to be a large part of the way Astro City works–standard superheroes and supervillains cast in a "real world" of sorts, offering plausible answers to questions that transpose comic book situations with real world actuality. Of course it’s still a comic itself–but it gets beyond certain cliches.

The art works really well here–Anderson‘s art is clear and mood-suited as usual, conveying both the quieter and the loud, cosmic scenes quite well.

Possibly the best part of this issue is that it stands alone. If you’re a long-time fan of Astro City, it’ll add to your enjoyment of the overall "saga." However, if you’ve never touched an Astro City book, this is a great place to check it out, with a story of one of the main superheroes and maybe his greatest foe. In a world of increasing need of the "previously…" page, this issue acknowledges that with a "previously" box: What You Need To Know Before Reading This Issue! / Uh, nothing, really. Dive on in, the water’s fine.

Check it out–it’s a $4 book, but it’s 40 pages, self-contained, and a very enjoyable read!

Ratings:

Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4.5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

Filed under: Astro City: Dark Age, Classic Reviews, DC, Wildstorm | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Superman: World of New Krypton #1 [Review]

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: World of New Krypton Part One

Superman begins his new life on New Krypton by getting to know a bit of his new surroundings as he is tasked with choosing a Guild to belong to.

supermanworldofnewkrypton001 Writers: James Robinson and Greg Rucka
Artist: Pete Woods
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letterer: Steve Wands
Asst. Editor: Wil Moss
Editor: Matt Idelson
Cover: Gary Frank with Brad Anderson (variant by Ladronn)
Publisher: DC Comics

We open this issue on Superman’s solo journey from Earth to New Krypton. Arriving, Superman is confronted by locals informing him that Zod wishes to meet with him–Superman declares that his family comes first and proceeds to his Aunt’s home. Here he declares his intention to live amongst his people on New Krypton as a Kryptonian, leaving Earth behind. As such, he must choose a guild and in general adjust to Kryptonian customs as just another guy in the crowd, since he’s nothing special on a world where everyone has his super-powers. After exploring a bit and meeting with Zod, his guild is chosen and we’re left with a Superman facing a future as a Kryptonian with other Kryptonians.

The art here is not bad, but I’m not terribly thrilled with it. It just lacks the detail/feel or something that I get from other artists like Jim Lee, Dan Jurgens, and Gary Frank (That the cover is a Frank image allows for that much more an immediate comparison). The story is conveyed, we can see a range of expression in characters’ faces where called for and so on, so the art is simply not to my personal taste/preference.

The story is solid. While I haven’t entirely bought into the seeming suddenness of Superman’s decision to pursue this course of action–it’s felt fairly forced/arbitrary like plopping playing pieces where-ever one decides on a gaming board and then throwing some almost arbitrary reasoning to the placement–I can’t deny the potential this story has. It’s been nearly two decades since we last had a story exploring a world without a Superman–but that story was a world which had lost its Superman to death, not one “deserted” or “abandoned” by its hero. Either way, this is the series that follows Superman as he deals with leaving Earth behind in order to live with his people, seeking to protect them from a threat that they don’t want to acknowledge.

On the one hand, this may not be the best point to jump on-board without the context of Brainiac or the branded New Krypton story, if one understands simply that Superman is beginning another “quest” that involves his going to and living on this planet of Kryptonians, this shouldn’t be too bad a point to start into things.

As only the first issue of twelve, it’s hard to say where things will go. For now, I’m taking this simply as another Superman book, and do look forward to seeing how the character handles this new year-long status quo.

Ratings:

Story: 4/5
Art: 3/5
Overall: 3.5/5

Filed under: Classic Reviews, DC, DC Universe, Superman: World of New Krypton | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Red Robin #9 [Review]

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Solid
Story Title: Collision (part one of four)

Beginning with apprehending a Killer Moth, Tim reacquaints himself with Gotham before retribution from Ra’s al Ghul begins…

redrobin009 Writer: Christopher Yost
Penciller: Marcus To
Inker: Ray McCarthy
Colorist: Guy Major
Letterer: Sal Cipriano
Assistant Editor: Janelle Siegel
Editor: Mike Marts
Cover: To & McCarthy
Published by: DC Comics

I’ve long been a fan of Tim Drake, and until the One Year Later break and price hike several years ago had followed the character since long before he even had his own series. And though I read a handful of issues toward the end of that series, and the previous 8 in this series…Red Robin #9 is maybe the first issue that has felt like there’s still that same character to be read that was in Robin.

We begin a new 4-parter in this issue. Tim reacquaints himself with Gotham, takes down someone in a Firefly costume (as the costume and person behind the name changes so much), has a moment with Connor (Superboy), catches up with new love-interest Tam Fox, and we see Vicki Vale prying into "Bruce"’s life. When Ra’s al Ghul ruins Tim’s good moment, Tim puts everything else aside to turn for help–pride be darned–and finds someone in the Batcave he had not at all expected.

The art for the issue’s good…my main complaint is that I still don’t like the Red Robin cowl–but I do like the way Tim himself is depicted. The visuals actually look like I’d expect for a comic, which is a definite plus; nothing that’ll blow one away with awesomeness, but significantly better than a lot of art in comics out there.

The story is decent–something about it leaves me wondering how firm a direction there is for this book. In a way, we have Tim–less than a year in–feeling much like the star of the 180-some issue Robin series, and quite unlike the dark, brooding character that began this current Red Robin series…almost like the primary difference is the costume instead of an attitude or specific story/character direction.

At the same time, it’s refreshing to see that a story doesn’t have to be exactly stretched or compressed to six issues for a "graphic novel" collected format–four-parters are ok, too. What’s rather frustrating, is that the four-parter this issue begins appears to continue directly into Batgirl #8…which is, for me, an entirely unplanned-for purchase, to say nothing of the fact that Batgirl #7 isn’t even out yet, I’m told. The cover has zero indication of any crossover…just a fairly "generic" or "iconic" shot of Red Robin, where I would expect a story continuing into another title would have something on the cover to indicate the crossover.

While one would not have the context of the "Eurotrip" and the setup of things from Tim getting on the bad side of Ra’s al Ghul and his League of Assassins, this isn’t the most horrible point to jump on the title. Still, the issue’s fairly standard, and not much here to truly draw someone in outta nowhere if they’ve not already been "on the fence."

Ratings:

Story: 3/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 3/5

Filed under: Classic Reviews, DC, DC Universe, Red Robin | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Dr. Horrible #1 [Review]

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Dr. Horrible

When Captain Hammer foils Dr. Horrible’s plan to blow up parking meters, Horrible must find a way to balance things out to take on his noisy new nemesis.

drhorrible001 Story by: Zack Whedon
Art by: Joelle Jones
Colors by: Dan Jackson
Letters by: Nate Piekos
Cover art by: Kristian Donaldson
Published by: Dark Horse Comics

I’ve been a fan of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog since the first time I saw it with a friend last year. It came across as a great "origin story" of sorts, introducing a number of characters, their relationships, and motivations…especially for Billy himself–what it was that changed him from a fairly cheesy wannabe-villain into a much darker figure able to run with the most evil group of villains known–the Evil League of Evil.

I’d read a really brief "short story" that was done for some online project (MySpace Comics?) featuring the good Doctor and his nemesis, Captain Hammer; it seemed like more of a tease than anything else, and it seemed such a shame that there wasn’t a "real" comic for the character.

Several months ago, I was quite pleased to learn that as part of a series of one-shots Dark Horse was putting out, there would be a Dr. Horrible issue, written by Zack Whedon, that would show some of Billy’s backstory, and things that led to the story we got in the musical.

So of course, there’s all this expectation driving the standard quite high, even before ever holding the issue in my hands. Normally this can be pretty disastrous for a comic, as expectation almost always outweighs actuality by a large margin.

However, this issue measured up quite well. We begin with a scene from Billy’s youth, as he’s bullied by a kid who doesn’t "get" that Billy is smarter than him. The young Billy also sees the fall of a hero to the genius of a scientific mind, and learns from that man’s failings (though he defeated the Hero, he was unable to unite people to his Cause). 20 years later, Billy is feeding explosives into the city’s parking meters–the destruction of which will disrupt funding and bring the government to its knees. This leads to the first meeting between Billy and Captain Hammer, and a cameo of Bad Horse (and the "terrible, death whinny"). There’s a brief interlude as Billy does his laundry, and "meets" Penny, the girl of his dreams who he has yet to connect with. Meanwhile–knowing he can’t match Hammer’s brawn on his own, Billy creates a potion to give him matching strength…but the potion has unintended side-effects…and from here we see the beginnings of the Freeze Ray.

Everything’s here, really…the personalities of Billy and Captain Hammer shine through nicely, the "minor" characters carry their own presence, and the general situations feel like they’d fit well into what we already know in the musical. The primary drawback of this comic is that it lacks audio.

Particularly as this is specifically a one-shot, and a "prequel" of sorts, this is a great piece for fans of Dr. Horrible. The story elements are a particular draw, getting what ought to be "canon" regarding the characters.

At the same time, the art plays a huge role, and Joelle Jones manages to bring a look to the characters that is both its own thing–they look and feel like comic characters–and yet captures a look that evokes the appearance of the actors that played the live-action versions.

All in all, I definitely would recommend this to any fans of Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. It may be of some enjoyment to those unfamiliar with the original property, but much of the charm and "in-knowledge" that informs this issue would likely be lost. Then again, if one reads this and goes to the source material, it may make for a much different viewing experience.

Ratings:

Story: 4.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

Filed under: Classic Reviews, Dark Horse, Dr. Horrible | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

Booster Gold #20 [Review]

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Walt

Quick Rating: So-so

Story Title: 1952 Pick-Up
Booster goes to 1952 to kill some time while Rip fixes the stalled Time Sphere.

boostergold020 Guest Writer: Keith Giffen
Guest Penciller: Pat Olliffe
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Artist (Bookend Sequence): Dan Jurgens
Finished Inks (Bookend Sequence): Rodney Ramos
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Sal Cipriano
Asistant Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Michael Siglain
Cover: Jurgens & Rapmund
Publisher: DC Comics

While on the one hand it’s kinda cool seeing Giffen (if only as a "guest writer") back on this character…this issue feels entirely like some "filler issue." It doesn’t seem to tie to the previous arc, nor really begin anything new…and even on the art, is "bookended" by one art team with the bulk of the issue another.

Rip’s time-bubble has stalled out, and he’s quickly annoyed by an impatient Booster. Booster decides to "time dive" into the early 1950s, where he gets swept up in a quick adventure apparently involving the original "Suicide Squad." He also gets a chance to see at more length the time period of "The Fonz," who he finally realizes is not real, but still enjoys none the less.

As a generic "Booster Gold, the greatest hero you’ve never heard of" story, this isn’t bad…but it really doesn’t advance the ongoing plot any, doesn’t deal with ramifications of recent goings-on, and as such just doesn’t feel like it matters–all the more if the reader isn’t familiar with Suicide Squad history in detail. I finished the issue, and was simply left wondering "That’s it? That’s all this issue is?"

The visuals are decent–I still very much enjoy Jurgens’ pencils. Not so thrilled with the main part of this issue, especially having Jurgens‘ art side-by-side with Olliffe‘s. Ollife‘s work is not bad by any means…it’s just not Jurgens‘, and not what I associate with my ideal visual style for this book.

As an ongoing thing, this issue feels like you could pass on it without missing out on anything essential to the ongoing chronicle of Booster. As a one-off, it’s a decent issue to pick up just for a quick read of a story dealing with the character. (Then again, what seemed a throw-away two-parter earlier in the series sparked a 5-issue arc several issues after).

This issue could be a lot better…but ultimately, it doesn’t begin to be as bad as it "could" be.

Ratings:

Story: 2/5
Art: 3/5
Overall: 2.5/5

Filed under: Booster Gold, Classic Reviews, DC, DC Universe | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

52 Week 12 [Review]

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Walt

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Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Mighty

Summary: Black Adam introduces us to Isis, Montoya and The Question come to an agreement as to where they’re off to next, and Ralph Dibny confronts Cassie about her cult’s theft of materials from a storage locker.

52week12 Writers: Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka, Mark Waid
Art Breakdowns: Keith Giffen
Pencils: Barrows
Inks: Stull
Colors: Baron
Letters: Lanham
Assistant Editors: Jann Jones & Harvey Richards
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Cover Art: J.G. Jones & Alex Sinclair
Publisher: DC Comics

I don’t think I knew who "Black Adam" was two years ago. After reading the Countdown stuff, I was surprised when I went back through my Superman collection and found an issue in which he was prominently shown on the cover–point being, even if I’d heard of him, certainly had no clue who he was, nor what he’s all about. I’m still not certain, but something about him has had me quite interested–and for roughly $2.50/issue I’d gladly follow a series with this character in the starring role if of such quality as 52.

As-is, this issue is mostly Black Adam’s story, with a few pages of the other two plots thrown in. While this is a bit of a let-down as far as seeing what’s going on with Steel, or Booster–or anyone else, for that matter–the story held my interest, and regardless of what comes down the line, has an air of significance to it, as to Black Adam’s story, and the Marvel family in general. Adam’s actions do seem a little rushed, but given what he’s been up to lately, I wouldn’t see it as out-of-character…especially if there’s more to it all than we as the readers have been let in on just yet.

Ralph and Cassie’s angle, while brief, also has some good stuff, even though I’m not entirely interested in that particular plot. Possibly my favorite part of their exchange is Ralph’s comment about everyone confusing him with Plastic Man–something that I was definitely guilty of before Identity Crisis. Cassie seems a bit out of character, though it may well simply be my reading of things and that I’ve not figured her out yet.

Renee and The Question get 3 pages this issue, and while they keep that particular thread going, I’d have prefered 3 extra pages of Black Adam–right now, I’m just not all that interested in their story–especially just a snippet like this.

I think my favorite part of this issue involved Billy, and seeing how he’s adjusting to his new role.

The art on this issue is good–everyone’s recognizable and things are easy to follow. Facial expressions–particularly Adam and Billy–come across well, and give depth to the characters visually without even considering dialogue. I have no complaints offhand with art on this issue…

Overall, a strong issue that looks to affect Adam (and the Marvels) for quite awhile, though there’s not too much from other stories going on here. Certainly worth getting if you’re following the series; worth getting if you’re just a fan of Black Adam or the Marvel family, and so on. Recommended.

The Origin of Wonder Woman
Writer: Mark Waid
Art: Adam Hughes
Colors: Laura Martin
Letters: Nick J. Napolitano
Asst. Editor: Harvey Richards
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Special Thanks to: Mark Chiarello
Wonder Woman created by: William Moulton Marston

If you’re looking for short ‘n sweet origin snippets, that’s what you’ll find here. This 2-page origin seems woefully inadequate to do more than tease just the barest, shallowest stuff involved with the character, and unfortunately, by itself doesn’t inspire me to want to know more about the character, other than the fact that this is so brief that almost anything would BE learning more about the character. The first 2/5ths-of-a-page panel/header seems a waste, and based on that visual, it’s a wonder that the character isn’t some porn-star.

The rest of the art on the pages works well, though being just a couple pages isn’t much to go on yay or nay. The bottom 2/5ths-of-a-page on the 2nd page offers a brief "Powers and Weapons," "Essential Storylines," and "Alliances" textual profile.

I’m not familiar enough with the character to know if anything in this 2-pager is new or sheds any light on any possibly "New Earth" changes/retcons, but nothing "feels" like new information to me. I hate to complain, but as with the disappointment the Origin of the DC Universe, this one is also a disappointment to me, and seems that it would serve better as some trading-card than taking up 2 pages that could have been used for continuing the overall 52 story.

Ratings:

Story: 4/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5

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