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Comic Book (sort of) Weekly Reviews – 2/15/12

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I haven’t been catching up in my reading as much as I’d like… but I’m putting a big effort in this week…

Avengers #22 – Osborn’s actions are noticed by more than just the media.  The President has to get in on the action and decide how he’ll react to Osborn’s rise.  There’s some solid stuff here, but the political end of things falls flat.

Story: 6.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7

Avenging Spider-Man #4 – Spidey and Hawkeye team up for a pretty decent story.  It’s a nice self-contained issue, but the art isn’t quite up to snuff.  Not bad, just not great.

Story: 7.25 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

Batman #6 – Batman’s battle with Talon and Court of Owls continues.  So freaking good.  Scott Snyder’s writing and Greg Capullo’s art is a team up from heaven.  Amazing stuff.

Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9

Captain Atom #6 – A man or a rat?  And does it matter?  Captain Atom fights the being and contemplates how he was experimented on and became what he is.  On top of that we’re flash forwarded twenty years to one hell of an event.  The series is very good, I just wish more people recognized that.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.75

Daredevil #9 – Daredevil is going to take on the Mole Man, for some reason.  The issue is solid, especially because of the art and how it plays with what Daredevil sees with his radar and what really awaits him.  There’s a reason that Waid’s series has gotten so much praise.  This is a perfect example.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

DC Universe Presents: Challengers of the Unknown #6 – There’s something old school about the issue and series, but I really don’t have much interest in the story.

Story: 6.5 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.5

Fables #114 – There’s a lot of stories going on here.  The Northwind training continues, there’s the story of a demented evil toy, folks check out Castle Dark and then there’s the revolution in Oz.  So much going on and some is good and some gets the short shaft.  Still, a solid series that always pays off.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8

Fear Itself: The Fearless #9 – We get a better sense of Valkyrie is up to, but as a whole, the series is a bit boring and rather long.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Generation Hope #16 – Kenji and others plot against Hope…. I actually hope they kill her.  Such a wasted character.

Story: 6.5 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.5

Green Lantern Corps. #6 – The Lanterns take on an army and Stewart makes a tough choice to save Oa.  There’s some items here that’s likely to have long term impact for the series and Corps.

Story: 7 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7

The Invincible Iron Man #513 – Stark and War Machine fight to protect the Chinese and Stark realises he’s caught in something bigger as it becomes clear to him that Stane and Mandarin have teamed up.  But, it’s that last page that made me smile as we get a hint as to what’s to come.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.75

The New Avengers #21 – The other part of Osborn’s plan.  We see him take on Cage’s team and I have to say a Wolverine vs. Clor fight is pretty damn cool.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

Nightwing #6 – Dick learns who Saiko is as a benefit performance for his parents takes place.  The story is ok, but overall, the story hasn’t hooked me quite as it did in the beginning.

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Supergirl #6 – Anyone else feel like this whole Worldkiller thing is a bit too much like Doomsday?  There’s some solid stuff here, but overall the story is so-so.  I really wish the series focused again on Supergirl discovering her new world and figuring things out instead of this distraction.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Thunderbolts #170 – The team escapes and there’s a glimpse of the future.  The story is ok, but I’m not a huge fan of the time travel device.  It’s a bit better of an issue than the last few.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Ultimate Comics X-Men #7 – The issue is ok and I’m sure there’s much more to it for long time readers.  The story plays a lot in what came before this current volume and for new readers, there’s just nothing there to really hook you or make you care about it.  There’s something about Pietro’s actions, but what comes after is meh.

Story: 7 Art: 8.5 Overall: 7

Uncanny X-Men #7 – The fight in Tabula Rasa continues and a lot happens, not much I really care about.  The follow up to the events in Uncanny X-Force has been a big disappointment.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Venom #13.2 – The team takes on the denizens of hell.  The story is drawn out and some of the art is great, but overall, this could have been a two or three part story.

Story: 6.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.75

Winter Soldier #2 – The story involving sleeper agents and a gorilla wearing a jet pack and machine gun is fun and entertaining, but the art, while solid, is also a bit hectic, making it difficult to figure out all of the action like a movie with too shaky a camera.  Overall a decent series, but there’s something not quite clicking from the usual quality I’d expect from a Brubaker book.

Story: 8 Art: 7.25 Overall: 8

Wolverine #301 – Wolverine continues to fight the Hand… again… and Sabretooth is there.  The art keeps switching in the issue, which actually hurts the book.  The story is ok, but nothing special.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Wonder Woman #6 – So much going on, just so much.  Something isn’t clicking for me.  The series is interesting but there’s just something I’m not following.  A shame, because the series started so clear and was so good….

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

X-Factor #232 – Madrox’s journey ends, thankfully.  Can’t say I was a fan of that storyline.  But that ending could be interesting, or not….

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Comic Book (sort of) Weekly Reviews – 2/1/12

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The goal is to get two more weeks reviewed by Sunday….

Animal Man #6 – A very impressive issue that slows the weirdness down a bit and instead focuses on a movie staring a super hero and his family.  The story is so good and really reflects well on Animal Man and his superheroing with this family.  Words just can’t reflect how good this is, but it’s up there as one of the best issues of the year.

Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9

Avengers Academy #25 – The kids battle Hybrid and there’s enough here to make me interested.  But the series still feels like it’s a bit “B” level compared to the regulars Avengers “A” game.  Still, entertaining in it’s own ways.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.25

Avengers X-Sanction #3 – Bits I’ve liked, others not so much.  It’s a prelude, but a prelude that could have been done in a one shot oversized comic instead of being dragged out over four issues.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25

Batman: Detective Comics #6 – So there’s a lot of Batman comics it seems, and that’s getting me a bit confused as to what’s going on in which.  That’s also hurting my enjoyment a bit, particularly of this series which I think is the weakest of the bunch.  Overall, a mess due to too much monthly Batman.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 6.75

Batwing #6 – We get a hint as to Massacre might be, though that’s too simple really.  It also looks like the story is shifting back to Gotham.  It’s six issues in and it kind of feels like this story should of wrapped up already.  I do like the filling in of history, but the main story has dragged on for quite a bit and not a lot of resolution.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.25

the Defenders #3 – Um, entertaining, but rather abrupt ending.  With such build up a bad guy really shouldn’t be defeated so easily.  Overall, I don’t expect this series to last very long.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

the Punisher #8 – Not the strongest issue in a while, it’s a bit jumbled and choppy for me.  The series generally has been great and the art is fantastic.  I’m not letting one issue get me down, and maybe as a slice of the bigger story it’s better than it stands as a solo issue.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7

Rachel Rising #5 – The series is creepy, beyond creepy.  A dead girl and another with a demon friend.  Some great horror right here and two female leads.  This is a definite recommend for the horror fans as I imagine not too many of you are picking it up and missing out on a great series.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Red Lanterns #6 – So many issues with this series.  The issue focuses on the new human Red Lantern and like that Corps., it’s all rage and little depth.  The issue suffers from the concept, but the series is shifting to give us more, it’s just taking a while.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25

Stormwatch #6 – The series has a lot going for it and it’s been six issues and it’s just getting going it feels like.  I really feel like a lot of this could have been settled in the first arc, instead the series has tried to be too smart and instead continues to be a jumbled mess.  It’s getting better though.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Swamp Thing #6 – Scott Snyder is one of the best writers out there right now and combined  with art from Marco Rudy, this series continues to show why it’s one of the best in DC’s relaunch and best on the market.  It’s creepy, gross, haunting and just fantastic.  The build up has been coming, and the story is about to explode.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

The Twelve #9 – The limited series WAS fantastic, but too much time has passed and I can’t say I remember enough to care.  I still want to see how it all ends, but that’s more because the delay makes me fascinated to see what might have been.

Story: 6.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7

Uncanny X-Force #21 – The art is off, story a bit jumbled and big reveal at the end had no impact on me.  Wow did this issue slip in quality.  Oh well, hopefully it’ll bounce back.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Uncanny X-Men #6 – Great to see some issues from Uncanny X-Force dealt with, but boy is this bad.  Something isn’t clicking for me.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Venom #13 – The Circle of Four kicks off here with the heroes gathering to fight demons.  The art isn’t as solid as it usually is and the story is meh.  Not a good story to a pretty high profile story arc.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Villains for Hire #3 – It’s Misty Knight in control, so the villains turn on her, but is there more to this all.  The end I paused and said, wtf!?  The limited series has been great four three issues, lets hope the fourth doesn’t disappoint.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Winter Soldier #1 – The first issue of the series is interesting and to a point it tries to be smarter than it really needs to be.  The series follows the Winter Soldier/Bucky and Black Widow as they deal with other sleeper agents.  A great premise that could lead to some great spy/noir storytelling, but too much is crammed in and the series instead feels like a cheap action comic.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.25

X-Factor #231 – We find out more about the world Madrox wound up in and it’s pretty interesting.  I imagine we’ll see it again the future.  Madrox hops to another world.  It’s all supposedly concluded next issue.  Thankfully.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

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It’s the weekend!!!! If you haven’t noticed a theme for the last few of these, I’ve been looking forward to the weekend…

Around the Blogs:

IGN – Irredeemable/Incorruptible to End – Well shit, I liked the series.

The ComicChron – Best January since 2008 for comics orders – Super.

Mashable – Apple No Longer Claims to Own Your Content on iBooks – Interesting…..

Around the Tubes Reviews:

CBR – Fatale #2

Comics Nexus – Winter Soldier #1

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The weekend is almost here!  Yay!  Hopefully I get a chance to read some comics….

Around the Blogs:

Kotaku – Gotham City Impostors Coming Out Next Week to Let You Shoot Bats or Jokers in Batman’s Hometown – Really want to play this game.

The Beat – After Before Watchmen: the industry reacts – Still not sure what to think.

Bleeding Cool – OCCUPY RIVERDALE – The Latest Step From Archie Comics Into Controversy – Well, if they’re wading into realism.

The Mary Sue – Judge: Custom Batmobiles Are Subject to Copyright – Hmm, have to read this decision.

 

Around the Tubes Reviews:

Spandexless – American Terrorist

CBR – Winter Soldier #1

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It’s new comic book day, what’s everyone getting?

Around the Blogs:

Comics Alliance – Magnetic ‘Superman’s Underwear’ Advertised as Penis Enlarger and STD Cure in Malaysia – Good to know this is out there.

IGN – More New 52 Change-Ups – More changes…..

Comicvine – Should Creators Have More Rights Over Their Characters? – Interesting read.

DC Women Kicking Ass – Former DC Comics editor Janelle Asselin on women, comics and marketing – Good article from someone on the inside.

CBLDF – Vietnam Censorship Fuels Interest in Banned Comics – Interesting.

Fantagraphic Books – Paul Hornschemeier Awarded Ohio Residency! – Paul is a great guy, so congrats!

GamePolitics – Angry Birds Maker: Piracy Isn’t a Bad Thing – Gutsy to say and fuels my argument.
Around the Tubes Reviews:

ComicBook.com – One Model Nation

L.A. Weekly – Tina’s Mouth

MTV Geek – Winter Soldier #1

Pick of the Week – Winter Soldier #1

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Captain America is still a solid book, but having Bucky go back to his Winter Soldier persona and having everyone think he’s dead opens up a very interesting direction that’s obviously leading to somewhere.  Where that is, I have no idea and that’s why I’m picking Winter Soldier #1 as the comic for the week.  It’s a series I’m looking forward to checking out.  I’m expecting some good things from a character that should be absolutely horrible in theory.

  • Winter Soldier #1 – See above.
  • Fathom #4 – I’ve really dug the fourth volume of the series so far, and can’t wait to see what’s up next.
  • Locke & Key: Clockworks #4 – If you’ve never read the series, time to start from the first volume.
  • The Lone Ranger #2 – I really dug the first issue, here’s hoping the second is just as good.
  • The Strange Talent of Luthor Strode #5 – The series is so over the top violent and so much fun.

Marvel Unveils Avengers Art Appreciation Variants!

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 Marvel Unveils AVENGERS ART APPRECIATION VARIANTS!

Ever imagine what the Avengers would look like if they existed throughout the ages? Well here’s your chance as Marvel is proud to unveil Avengers Art Appreciation Variants available throughout all of April! With everyone on the edge of their seats for Marvel Studio’s The Avengers, fans will have the opportunity to see their favorite super hero team in the styles of the world’s greatest artists like Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Monet, Pollock, Schielle and more! No fan can miss their favorite Marvel artists like Alex Maleev, Michael Kaluta, Gabriele Dell’otto, Greg Horn, Gerald Parel and more put their spin on these surefire classic covers. So be on the look-out True Believers, because in April – these Avengers Art Appreciation Variants are sure to go fast!

AGE OF APOCALPSE #2

Variant Cover by CHRISTIAN NAUCK


AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #683

Variant Cover by MIKE DEL MUNDO

AVENGERS #25
Variant Cover by GABRIELE DELL’OTTO

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #2

Variant Cover by STEPHANIE HANS

DAREDEVIL #11

Variant Cover by STEFFI SCHUTZEE

FANTASTIC FOUR #605

Variant Cover by MICHAEL KALUTA

INCREDIBLE HULK #7

Variant Cover by CHARLES PAUL WILSON III

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #515

Variant Cover by GREG HORN

SECRET AVENGERS #26

Variant Cover by JOE QUINONES

UNCANNY X-FORCE #24
Variant Cover by JULIAN TOTINO

UNCANNY X-MEN #11

Variant Cover by GREG HORN

WINTER SOLDIER #4

Variant Cover by JOHN TYLER CHRISTOPHER

WOLVERINE #304

Variant Cover by Gurihiru

WOLVERINE & THE X-MEN #9

Variant Cover by ALEX MALEEV

X-MEN #27

Variant Cover by KHOI PHAM

Captain America’s Former Sidekick Takes Aim In Winter Soldier #1!

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Captain America’s Former Sidekick Takes Aim In WINTER SOLDIER #1!

Steve Rogers most trusted partner and a former Captain America, Bucky Barnes, must tackle his greatest challenge yet as Winter Soldier #1 hits store shelves everywhere this February! After going toe to toe with the Nazis and being assumed dead for decades, Bucky Barnes went through hell and back as the Soviet Union rebuilt his war torn body into their own one man army known to all as the Winter Soldier. But what if he wasn’t the only one?

From the blockbuster creative team behind Captain America, Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice send Bucky back into the shadows to take down the remaining ex-Russian sleeper agents and dismantle their diabolical plot. Teamed with the Black Widow, the former Captain America will have his hands full when he finds out that he trained them all AND that Doctor Doom is involved! With the entire Marvel Universe thinking he’s dead, Bucky will have to tackle this threat head on with limited resources. Get in on all the action this February in Winter Soldier #1!

WINTER SOLDIER #1 (DEC110588)
Written by ED BRUBAKER
Pencils by BUTCH GUICE
Colors by BETTIE BREITWISER
Cover by LEE BERMEJO
FOC – 1/9/11, ON SALE – 2/1/11

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In 24 hours we’ll be in San Diego and getting ready for San Diego Comic-Con 2011!  Wee!  Until then…. here’s the news you might have missed.

Around the Blogs:

The New York Times – Superheroes, Surveyed and Sized Up – A look at Grant Morrison’s Supergods.

Geekweek – Joe Johnston Interested In Winter Soldier, Boba Fett Movies – Ok….

Con Coverage:

I Am Rogue – SDCC 2011: Sunday Schedule

Comics Alliance – Comic-Con Preview 2011: What to Do Friday

Bleeding Cool – Are You On The List? Parties For San Diego Comic Con Week

Bleeding Cool – Hulk By Jason Aaron And Marc Silvestri To Be Announced At San Diego Comic Con?

The Beat – SDCC11: What if you have to pee?

Bleeding Cool – Defenders By Matt Fraction And The Dodsons To Be Announced At San Diego Comic Con?

The Beat – SDCC11: What if you have to eat?

The Beat – SDCC11: Video Games take it to the streets

Around the Tubes Reviews:

Alien Guide to Planet Earth – The Griff

Books and Movies – Pariah Vol. 1

Publishers Weekly – Comcis Reviews July 2011

Catching Up on Reviews, Part 5 — Avengers Academy and Captain America

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Avengers Academy #9 (Marvel) – I love the storyline here where Finesse might turn out to be the daughter of the Taskmaster, one of my favorite Marvel anti-heroes these days. Less well-done are the parts of the issue dealing with Tigra expelling Academy members for assaulting the Hood. The art isn’t particularly great, either.

Story: 7 Art: 6.5 Overall: 6.75

Avengers Academy #10 (Marvel) – Sean Chen’s art is a step up from the previous issue and the storyline where Leech comes to give Hazmat a day as a normal kid is great. The best part of the issue is Speedball’s growth as a character and the burying of some of his Stamford demons, which is a long time coming.

Story: 8.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 8

Avengers Academy #11 (Marvel) – Christos Gage writes a good connection to Avengers past by bringing back Korvac for this story arc. I’m a little annoyed at the flood of Thor movie tie-ins, though this one takes a different route than most. Tom Raney’s art is good, but not spectacular.

Story: 8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Avengers Academy #12 (Marvel) – There are moments of very strong writing here. The concept of bringing the future selves of the Academy students back to inhabit their present bodies so they can beat Korvac is an awesome device. The story is also fleshed out by one character showing a glaring weakness and two others showing a surprising vulnerability.

Story: 8.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 8

Avengers Academy #13 (Marvel) – I guess I get what they were going after with the idea of the “Superhero Prom” for the students, having an issue that focuses more on the characters and the lighter side of their lives instead of action, I’m just not sure how well it works in this case.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Avengers Academy #14 (Marvel) – I love the way the new incarnation of the Sinister Six is being used and this is another good appearance for them. It’s good to learn more about Dr. Octopus’s character than we have learned in the past, he’s on the verge of being a little over-exposed lately, but certainly not in Deadpool, Spidey or Wolverine territory.

Story: 8 Art: 7 Overall: 7.5

Avengers Academy #14.1 (Marvel) – Ruby is one of the dumbest characters in Marvel history and her presence here detracts from what is otherwise a really good story, focusing on one of the characters who didn’t join the Academy and his tempting offer to the would-be heroes.

Story: 8.5 Art: 7 Overall: 7.75

Avengers Academy #15 (Marvel) – This is Tom Raney’s best art yet and the Fear Itself tie-in works better than most of the others. This story also does a good job of tying in recent themes from the Academy books to Fear Itself, something a lot of the other tie-ins have failed to do.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 8.25

Avengers Academy Giant-Size #1 (Marvel) – Cartoonish art (which isn’t my taste at all) and a retread Arcade storyline with only a few interesting elements makes this issue a waste.

Story: 6.5 Art: 6 Overall: 6.25

Captain America #615.1 (Marvel) – Mitch Breitweiser’s art isn’t my favorite, it seems he has a real problem making people’s faces look realistic (even comic realistic). Other than that, Ed Brubaker’s tale is action-packed and compelling, even if, once again, it relies a bit much on World War II elements in telling the tale of Steve Rogers.

Story: 9 Art: 7 Overall: 8

Captain America #616 (Marvel) – This massive 70th anniversary issue is packed with stories, most of the well-told. The best is probably Brubaker and Mike Deodato’s Winter Soldier gulag tale, the worst is the Mike Benson and Paul Grist Baron Blood/Captain Ameica used to be a vampire story.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Captain America #617 (Marvel) – The continuation of the story of Bucky being put into a Russian gulag is entertaining and action-packed, but I read it after I knew Bucky’s eventual fate already, so I wonder how effective it is considering that context.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

Captain America #618 (Marvel) – The different artists used here vary greatly in quality, but the overall ongoing story is still a compelling one that has an impact on the future of Marvel comics, so it’s well worth the read.

Story: 8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Captain America #619 (Marvel) – The art from the gulag section is still the best in the issue, and it takes chances and mostly succeeds. The overall storyline comes to what appears to be a satisfying end.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Captain America #1 (Marvel) – Ah, the good-old Marvel pointless renumbering trick. The worst part about that for this issue is that this really isn’t good enough to be a first issue. It doesn’t break any new ground with the character and simply rehashes things we already know while mixing in a few newly-retconned storylines that don’t let us know anything new about Cap. It is good, I guess, to see Steve Rogers fully as Cap again, but you’d think that for a first issue, they would’ve had more of a point than what this issue has.

Story: 7 Art: 8 Overall: 7.5

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