Comic Book Reviews for the Week of Dec. 24, 2008 (On-Going Series)

Brave and the Bold #20

Part 2 of probably the best story so far to come out of this series. The story keeps moving and doesn’t give you a chance to be bored with it. The art is strong and clear, and the alien landscapes are beautiful. Does anyone actually understand what the Phantom Stranger can do? If so, could you please explain it to me, because I’ve got no clue. He can apparently be taken down by an alien plant, so he’s not all powerful. Is this character popular enough to be so mysterious? Can we get an origin story, and not some cheap cop-out like the Secret Origins issue where he’s given multiple origins.

Daredevil #114

So Black Tarantula and White Tiger have been killed and then resurrected as agents of the Hand. Not good at all for Matt. Plus, the thing with Dakota came back to bite him royally in the ass. Again, not good. Foggy’s right. Matt just needs to give the Donovan’s what they want and forget all about Milla. And Izo is the guy who taught Stick. I guess that’s why I made the connection last month. Yeah, we’ll go with that.

Gigantic #2

So the big robot thing that’s actually a human accidentally killed his niece when he appeared on Earth. That sucks. This is a better take on the Mojoverse than the Mojoverse is. The only problem I had was with the fluctuating size of Gigantic. When he appeared last issue he was as big as a building. By the end of this one he was laying on a couch. I hope that’s addressed.

Hulk #9

This comic doesn’t seem to have any substance to it. It seems like a way to showcase great artists (Ed McGuinnes? Art Adams? Frank Cho? Some damned fine artists) drawing the Hulk and various guest stars. And Loeb is tailoring each story to that artist’s forte. McGuinnes gets to draw massive characters, Adams gets to draw a lot of monsters, and Cho gets to draw a lot of ladies. I’m not saying this is a bad thing, but it just seems to be pandering. Loeb could at least be dropping hints as to Rulk’s identity (my money is still on Talbot) along the way. All that being said, it IS a pretty damn fine looking book, and worth the money for the art alone.

New Avengers #48

Nope, I don’t buy it. I don’t buy that Luke would go to Osborn and the Thunderbolts for help. Jessica, sure. She’s always been a little messed up. But not Luke. He has standards and won’t break them for anything, even if it’s about his daughter. Unless of course he’s going to use this as an opportunity to infiltrate Osborn’s inner circle. That I can almost buy. Otherwise, I enjoyed the rest of the book…well, except for the art. I’m not a big Tan fan. I’m hoping he’s not the regular artist. I miss Yu. I hope Cap stays on as a team member. We already know that Mockingbird either isn’t going to be on the team or is going to be a mole of some sort. Spidey and Wolvie together is always fun, and Hawkeye and Bucky should almost be like brothers, both learning from Cap. Fun times are in store for everyone.

New Warriors #19

I’m done with this series when this storyline is over. I’m not at all connected to any of the characters, and there’s just too much bitching and moaning. And apparently in the future the dead can be brought back to life with no consequences.

Nova #20

Now THAT’S the New Warriors I remember. I still don’t know how I’m going to like a whole corps of Novas. If this is going to turn out to be a team book, I don’t think I will like it. Too many people with the same powers. If Nova continues to fly solo, though, I don’t think I’d have any problem with it.

Skaar: Son of Hulk #6

So it seems as if the legends of the Sakaarson were made up. That’s gonna piss some people off. Of the three possible Sakaarson’s I recognized Nova and the Silver Surfer. Was the other one an Eternal? The Death’s Head Guards look somewhat Phalanxish, but I’ll have to take a look at some Nova back issues to see how much they resemble Minion. If they are Minion, that’ll give me a headache what with the timeline confusion. Next issue should be good: Silver Surfer vs. Skaar.

Thor #12

This was a clever look at Loki’s past. All of the scenes we saw have been seen since this book started, either IN the book or in the specials by Matt Fraction. It pretty much ruins any hope of ever having Loki as a sympathetic villain, though, since it’s his hand behind his past that sets him up as a villain. And for a moment, there, I half expected Loki and Hela to start going at it. That sure would have messed up Sif if she’s able to live again once Loki isn’t wearing her form.

Ultimate Spider-Man #129

If I’m remembering this correctly, was Spider-Girl a female clone of Peter? Did I get that right? Having it be Gwen would make sense, what with the symbiote’s ability to change just about anything having to do with her appearance, but I don’t think the ever met the Torch. Can May be arrested like that, or can she be asked (nicely) to come down to the station to answer some questions? And all this is going to be interrupted by a giant tidal wave. Nice going Magneto.

Comic Book Reviews for the Week of Dec. 3, 2008 (On-Going Series)

Amazing Spider-Man #579

So now there’s mystery surrounding JJJ and his dad. And really, without being webbed up, did anyone actually expect the Shocker to stick around once they found safety? Waid’s first arc was decent, but pretty standard. We had a classic villain show up, we had Spidey defy the odds, and we had the introduction of a new character. Check, check, and check.

Criminal #7

Well, Mr. Brubaker took me by surprise with the end of this issue. And he showed us how everything worked out, too. I also like that Jacob didn’t get off scott free. Although, I guess you could say it’s poetic justice. It looks like everyone got what they deserved.

Justice Society of America #21

That was a pretty short issue and a pretty quick reversal by Gog’s followers. I would think there would be more anger toward Gog by the JSAers that followed him, or at least some pleading with him. But no, they went right to the fighting. More Kingdom Come-age, we saw Alan in his KC armor, and it looks like Jay was turned into the KC Flash. I wonder if that’ll be permanent. We’ll finally get to the conclusion next month. I hope that doesn’t mean it’ll be the last Alex Ross cover. I’ve been enjoying them.

New Avengers #47

I like what Bendis has done in New Avengers and Mighty Avengers, showing us events in the past that set up the Secret Invasion. This issue shows some key points in the blossoming relationship between Luke Cage and Jessica Jones. It ends with the two realizing that Skrull Jarvis has taken their baby. I would NOT want to be Skrull Jarvis when they find him. Of course, the baby is a Skrull too, right?

Sir Apropos of Nothing #2

Let’s see how many of the reference I can get: Chicken Little, Wizard of Oz, Bart Simpson, The Spirit (?), The Beatles, Snoopy and Charlie Brown, Thor, Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, Zorro, The Hulk, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Who, Don Quixote, Peter Pan and Wendy, The Gunslinger, Fallen Angel, Popeye, Wizard of Oz again, Wolfman (?), Mutant Enemy, Bella Lugosi, and last but not least The Wizard of Oz yet again. David sure does like throwing all this crap in there. Of course, I still found it funny.

The Boys #25

This issue is more cryptic than anything. Hughie meets Godolkin and plants a bunch of bugs in the G-Men’s house and learns that Nubia isn’t quite as dead as everyone thinks she is. There’s some conspiring and some porn, and I like how Critter has his little neck shield on, I guess so he won’t lick himself. Other than that it’s just a lot of talking.