Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Avengers vs. X-Men (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe, New Avengers | Tagged: avengers, Avengers vs. X-Men, Avx, Brian Michael Bendis, Captain America, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, Jessica Jones, Joe Caramagna, John Denning, Lauren Sankovitch, LUke Cage, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Mike Deodato, New Avengers, Rain Beredo, Tom Brevoort, Will Conrad, x-men | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 2.5/5
Art: 2.5/5
Overall: 2.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, IDW Publishing, Infestation 2, Infestation 2 (IDW) [event] | Tagged: Bobby Curnow, Comic Reviews, Covert Vampiric Operations, CVO, cxPulp, David Messina, Duane Swierczynski, Elder Gods, IDW, IDW Publishing, Infestation, Infestation 2, Lovecraft, ScarletGothica, Shawn Lee | Leave a comment »
Written by: Duane Swierczynski
Art by: Stuart Sayger
Colors by: Jay Fotos
Lettering by: Shawn Lee
Edited by: Denton J. Tipton
Cover by: Sam Shearon
Published by: IDW
In 1952, a photojournalist and her pilot have a rough landing a couple hundred miles south of the North Pole. Seeking shelter and to complete their mission–for the journalist to get the photos they flew here for–the two stumble across a fairly deadly gathering. Fleeing the fate of her pilot, the journalist finds herself in continued peril–as a deadly battle between vampires and an Elder God rages around her, with the Russian military seeking to deal with intruders, period. Her struggle for survival ends with a slight twist that seems to fit the issue in general.
The Vampire element in this story seems almost thrown in (given the title and all). It works, but doesn’t seem essential–they could almost be replaced by any sort of “cult” or group of people influenced by the nightmare of the Elder Gods. Having watched an episode of Mad Men the other day, I’m sort of struck by the contrast in the role a woman’s allowed to play in this story set years earlier. The female protagonist also unfortunately plays into the generic horror movie feel. If the character’s name was given, I don’t recall it as I type–she’s just there, speaking to the reader of the event she experienced.
The visual style of the issue is of dark and muted colors, and at points things seemed fairly surreal and hallucinatory. That certainly fit the story and the generic characters, and lent a clear tone to the story.
Overall, this was a pretty good horror-story one-shot officially set within the world of 30 Days of Night. You’ve got tentacled Elder Gods, typical non-sparkly/non-friendly vampires, and “normal humans” caught in-between. I have no idea if the characters are supposed to be significant to general continuity or not, but I enjoyed the issue well enough either way. This puts me in mind of some Aliens comics, where new characters generally seem to be introduced for any given story, set against the general backdrop of a world.
So, as with all the other Infestation 2 issues…I really don’t feel you need to know much more than the basic “concept” of the property to enjoy the Infestation 2 tie-ins; nor do these tread against the continuity of the individual properties. Established fan of 30 Days of Night or fans of the film or just picking this up as part of following Infestation 2 itself, this is worth buying. I almost prefer the single-issue nature of this to two issues, as one issue seems a taste or glimpse into the property, and two issues almost a tease compared to general done-in-one stories vs. “full arcs.”
Story: 6.5/10
Art: 7.5/10
Overall: 7/10
Filed under: IDW Publishing, Infestation 2 (IDW) [event], Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night | Tagged: 30 Days of Night, Denton J. Tipton, Duane Swierczynski, IDW, IDW Publishing, Infestation, Infestation 2, Jay Fotos, Sam Shearon, Shawn Lee, Stuart Sayger | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 4/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5
Filed under: Avengers vs. X-Men, Avengers vs. X-Men (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: avengers, Avengers vs. X-Men, Avx, Brian Michael Bendis, Captain America, Chris Eliopoulos, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, Cyclops, Ed Brubaker, Hope, Jason Aaron, Jim Cheung, John Denning, John Romita Jr., jonathan hickman, Justin Ponsor, Laura Martin, Lauren Sankovitch, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Matt Fraction, Nick Lowe, Phoenix, Phoenix Force, Scott Hanna, Tom Brevoort, x-men | Leave a comment »
I do not feel that I should HAVE TO do RESEARCH on comics that I buy. Whether about story content, or the comics themselves.
Yesterday, I went to a second comic shop for the first time in a few weeks (lately sticking with my pull list at the “main” shop I go to) and browsed their rack. Bloodstrike #1st issue….er…#26 kinda stood out to me. I physically picked it up to look closer, being struck by the blurb across the top of being a 1st issue…but then I saw the #26.
I remember the “Images of Tomorrow” thing from the 1990s where a number of books put out a #25 being where the creators planned to have their books by then, but never got around to seeing how that worked out (and I believe most of those titles never actually made it to their 20s?).
Bloodstrike was one I do remember buying the #25 for, so this struck me as curious.
This #26, a first issue in a brand new era or whatever the blurb said–did I miss 25 issues the last few years? Is this picking up the numbering of the original series?
I put it back on the shelf, as I had no interest at the time of “gambling.” Is there a “ten year gap” in-story? Other than being the first issue published in years, what incentive makes it a good jump-on issue or not? Is it even aimed at a new/casual reader or is it aimed at fans of the old issues in particular?
This is the sort of case where I truly feel that “a new #1” or “relaunch” or whatever IS appropriate. The title, the property/character(s) have been gone for years (that I’m aware of), so give me a #1 as at least some overt declaration that this is new, fresh material that is at least supposedly geared for the new reader (if, indeed, that’s the case).
Where new #1s and ‘relaunches’ are NOT justified in my eyes are one month to the next, or even an intentional several month hiatus where those involved in the “final issue” of one iteration are already gearing up for the “first issue” of the next iteration. (Such as putting out #544 one month and then in the next 4-6 weeks putting out #1 with the same ongoing continuity.)
While Bloodstrike missed my sale this week, plenty of others have missed my sale when I opt to pass on something “on principle,” such as avoiding the high-number-this-month-#1-next-month stuff. (Or not buying solely because of the $3.99 instead of $2.99-or-less on the cover, etc).
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: Bloodstrike, comics, marketing, relaunch, renumbering | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: Avengers vs. X-Men, Avengers vs. X-Men (event), cxPulp.com, MARVEL, Marvel Universe | Tagged: avengers, Avengers vs. X-Men, Avx, Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Eliopoulos, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, Frank Cho, Hope Summers, Jason Aaron, Jason Keith, John Denning, Lauren Sankovitch, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Nick Lowe, Scarlet Witch, Tom Brevoort, x-men, X-Men vs. Avengers | Leave a comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3.5/5
Art: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: cxPulp.com, INDEPENDENT/SMALL-PRESS PUBLISHERS, Infestation 2 (IDW) [event], Infestation 2: TMNT | Tagged: Bobby Curnow, Comic Reviews, cxPulp, IDW, IDW Publishing, Infestation, Infestation 2, Jay Fotos, Mark Torres, mentos3, Ninja Turtles, Shawn Lee, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TMNT, Tristan Jones | 1 Comment »
Full review posted to cxPulp.com.
Story: 3/5
Art: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5
Filed under: Batman, cxPulp.com, DC, New 52, The | Tagged: Batman, Comic Reviews, Court of Owls, cxPulp, DC, DC Comics, FCO, Greg Capullo, Jimmy Betancourt, Jonathan Glapion, Katie Kubert, Mike Marts, New 52, Scott Snyder, The Talons Strike | Leave a comment »
Animal Man and Swamp Thing were my final DC holdouts. From around 30 of the New 52 #1s in September 2011, these were/are my March 2012 DC pulls. And it’s with these that I’ve pretty much made the decision that on the whole, the New 52 is not for me.
In Animal Man, we’ve seen the reintroduction of Buddy and his family. We’ve been introduced to the idea of his daughter as the new champion of The Red, and that they’re all going to be facing The Rot. After an adventure in The Red where things have been set up, this issue finds the Baker family on the run, just trying to survive and figure out what comes next. Of course, any proactivity as to “what comes next” is out the window when they find a less than pleasing sight outside their RV.
In Swamp Thing, we’ve had the reintroduction of Alec Holland and Abigail Arcane, the reintroduction of The Green and the idea of them having to face The Rot. Seven issues in, and we seem to finally find Alec Holland once again being placed into his most well known form–as the Swamp Thing. And by issue’s end, something new has been set in motion, as this title finds itself on a collision course with events being set up simultaneously in Animal Man.
Where Swamp Thing was one of my original “picks” of the New 52, it was positive buzz over Animal Man and the realization of it tying in to Swamp Thing that helped draw me into that book. Yet, seven issues in with both titles…I find myself simply uninterested. The issues feel fairly short. I’m not a huge fan of the art on either title–the art on Animal Man is rather disturbing–in a way that fits this version of the title, but it’s not to my tastes; while on Swamp Thing it’s pretty to look at but still has something “off” about it. I don’t really want “surreal” in the visuals, and neither book seems to just flow visually, distinctively.
And at this point, I’d just as soon wait a few months and snag the issues from bargain bins, or perhaps sometime next year or in a couple years double back for the collected volumes–if there are any, at DC’s glacial collecting pace.
These aren’t bad titles–there’s loads of potential, and I still have an interest in where things are going. Just not enough interest…not for going month by month when I have to basically force myself to read the single issues.
Fitting, I suppose, that what look to be my final “regular” DC purchases for the foreseeable future were two of the first books to sport DC‘s new Get Glue-ish “hey, everyone’s all about these ‘stickers’ things!” logo.
Filed under: NON-REVIEW CONTENT | Tagged: Animal Man, DC, DC Comics, New 52, Swamp Thing | Leave a comment »
Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Roberto De La Torre
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos
Cover: Humberto Ramos and Dean White
Assistant Editors: Sebastian Girner and Jordan D. White
Editors: Jody LeHeup and Nick Lowe
Published by: Marvel Comics
I was looking forward to this title. Of course, the last time I was looking forward to an Age of Apocalypse title was back in 2005 when Marvel did the 10th anniversary stuff. Enjoyed the one-shot, hated the mini-series. To this day I’ve refused to–even for “free” through a library–read that mini. Yet last year when it was announced that the Uncanny X-Force would revisit the Age of Apocalypse, I was excited. I was looking forward to it. And in the Dark Angel Saga, it was put to some use. Later I discovered that the AoA Nightcrawler would be part of the team, and decided to continue giving that title a chance. When the 2nd .1 issue in less than 2 years hit, I was suckered in with the classic Enter Now: The Age of Apocalypse logo, as Uncanny X-Force #19.1 was essentially Age of Apocalypse #0, or heck, what should have been #1.
This finally came out, and I very nearly quit reading the issue partway in. For me, Age of Apocalypse is a misnomer. Apocalypse’s “Age” ended in 1995, some 17 years ago. This new series, using that name, does so to “cash in on” the name of this classic X-Men story. I would be of more open mind with this series had it been given some other title, and just made it known WHERE it takes place.
This issue picks up where Uncanny X-Force 19.1 left off–the last human stronghold has been destroyed, the bulk of the remaining human population has been slaughtered. Jean and Sabretooth escape and join up with their allies. Having been stripped of their mutant powers, they’re just as human (or moreso) as these allies, who call themselves the X-Terminated. After a fight with this world’s Daredevil, we’re introduced to a man from Marvel’s 616-universe as well as a surprise player who may change things up a bit for all involved, just by being alive.
The art doesn’t sit well with me here. It’s rather stylistic, and reminds me of the visual feel I got from the AoA mini back in ’05. There were points that I was basically reading the dialogue balloons, with no true sense of what was happening in the panel. There’s something clunky, and sketchy, and perhaps semi-abstract to it, and while it gives this a vastly different tone than some “classic super-hero book,” it’s not in a way that draws me in or leaves me interested–visually–in ANY of the characters or setting.
Story-wise, I came into this assuming there’d be plenty I’ve missed since X-Men: Omega back in 1995 and whatever transpired in the 2005 mini-series. But between that series and the death toll in Uncanny X-Force #19.1 to set this one up…this seems a wholly different world, and at least in this issue, I don’t feel like there’s any TRUE connection to the fondly-remembered world built in my youth. As I read this issue, I simply did not CARE. There seems to be no particular redeeming quality to this world or its few remaining inhabitants. Stripping Jean and Sabretooth of their powers is not a concept that interests me in anything more than perhaps a What If..? one-shot at most. The X-Terminated likewise does not grab my interest, though I recognize a couple character names. I don’t care for the mixed tense of the narration–the last page in particular feels like it’s trying to show the present as someone speaking from the future looking back, which really takes something away.
All in all…it would seem that I’m the antithesis of a target audience for this book. I was honestly shocked when I realized this was NOT a $2.99 book–and though that gives it a slight bit of redemption (I’d’ve been incensed to have paid $3.99 for this!), it’s far from being enough.
If you’re a fan of what’s been done with the Age of Apocalypse “universe” over the years since the original “event” where what was simply an alternate reality became just another world in Marvel‘s multiverse, you may find more interest here than I did. If you like the idea of Logan–formerly Weapon X, now “Weapon Omega” as the Apocalypse-level big bad…yeah, pick this up. Along those lines, if you enjoyed the story set up in the Uncanny X-Force .1 issue, you may enjoy this.
On the whole, though…I gave this an issue, and while the final page reveal was a surprise I did not see coming, it actually disgusts me more than not, and was the nail in the coffin for this title for me, at least for now.
Story: 3/10
Art: 3/10
Overall: 3/10
Filed under: Age of Apocalypse (2012), MARVEL, Marvel Universe, Uncanny X-Force | Tagged: Age of Apocalypse, Chris Eliopoulos, Comic Reviews, David Lapham, Dean White, Humberto Ramos, Jody Leheup, Jordan D. White, Lee Loughridge, MARVEL, Marvel Comics, Nick Lowe, Roberto De La Torre, Sebastian Girner, Uncanny X-Force, x-force, x-men | Leave a comment »
Comic Reviews by Walt 