Comic Book Weekly Reviews – 7/27/11 Part 1

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I’m a bit behind in my reviews.  So, instead of waiting to post all of the reviews, I figured I’d get it out in pieces.

The Amazing Spider-Man #666 – The prelude to Spider-Island, there’s enough here to get me interested, but it also plays off a lot of back story which makes me hesitant.  I will say, I can understand why everyone is saying Spider-Man is back to form and this is one of the best runs in a long time.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

American Vampire #17 – Scott Snyder continues to show why he’s one of the hottest writers out there.  His “Ghost War” story pitting American vampires versus Japanese ones has been through so many twists and turns with moments you just don’t expect.  This issue mixes action with a lot of character development to the point I felt emotion on what happened to a few of them.

Story: 9 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9

Astonishing X-Men #40 – The X-Men and Agent Brand battle the Brood and I yawn.  There’s some things I really like and others I scratch my head and wonder what they’re thinking.  The story is so-so and the art I could pass on.  This series doesn’t quite fit it’s title of “astonishing.”

Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

Avengers Academy #16 – Half of the issue I disliked and half of it I liked.  Pym continues to fight Absorbing Man and Titania.  My issue with this is the inconsistent art as well as the fact the two possessed villains are speaking in English when at other times these Asgardians speak in another language.  The second half dealing with Veil is so much better and actually somewhat touching.  Overall, I don’t see why so many praise this series as it’s the weakest in the Avengers family.

Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

Brightest Day Aftermath: The Search for Swamp Thing #2 – An interesting read, but I’m not sure I understand the real need for the series other than to give a real bridge bringing these  Vertigo characters into the greater DC universe.  Some inconsistent art and the story is ok.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7 Overall: 7.25

The Cape #1 – Wow, to say this series knocks it out of the park with the first issue is an understatement, beyond solid with a great story and fantastic art.  I have no idea what to expect, but it’s set up what looks to be one hell of a story.

Story: 9.5 Art: 9 Overall: 9.5

Captain America & Bucky #620 – How Bucky met Cap.  I’m not sure if Bucky’s back story has been delved into this much, but it’s a solid beginning for this “new” series.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

Criminal: The Last of the Innocent #2 – When I think of noir, I picture dames and detectives in the 20s or 30s.  Brubaker has fast forwarded that formula for the 60s, and instead of his protagonist being a rough anti-hero, we’re focused on a main character that’s as bad as the villains.  It’s a throwback to the Eerie crime stories of the 40s and 50s with the focus on crime and murder, and boy is it good.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10

Fables #107 – A pseudo one-off story that follows up on a plot point that was made a long time back.  It’s entertaining but something is slightly off.  Not quite the best foot forward after the previous epic storyline.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5

Fear Itself: The Deep #2 – Hmm, I’m a bit torn on this limited series.  There’s a lot of potential with the characters and the interaction is good, but it’s one fight after another with explanations thrown in between as to what’s going on.  Kind of a snoozer and overall it doesn’t add a lot to the Fear Itself storyline.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Fear Itself: The Worthy – Some background on all of the characters that are currently ravaging the Marvel universe.  Some of the writing is quite good, some of the art is quite blah.  It’s a decent comic to give some depth to the characters, but I wonder why it took five months for it to be released.  It should of been out with the second issue of Fear Itself.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

FF #7 – And in one issue, all that was built up in the cosmic end of the Marvel universe is undone.  I’m a bit torn about it, as I feel Abnett and Lanning should have the honor of returning Black Bolt to the Marvel universe.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

Flashpoint: Hal Jordan #2 – Definitely one of the weaker entries in Flashpoint. Something is just off with it, I don’t really like the characters, the art is not consistent and overall, I kind of want them to lose.  Hal Jordan just comes off as a dick.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Flashpoint: Kid Flash Lost #2 – To me, this seems like it’s leading up to the end of the Kid Flash in DCnU.  There’s a lot I like here.  The art is cool, the story flows nicely and keeps me on my toes.  It’s good and seems to add a bit to the overall Flashpoint story.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8

Flashpoint: Lois Lane and the Resistance #2 – Interesting story, but a bit choppy.  It adds something to the overall story, but isn’t a necessity to read.  It’s still fun to see this motley team working together.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Flashpoint: Project Superman #2 – A lot I liked here.  The idea of attachment and how Superman might have turned out without it is explored, but as a whole the story is a bit choppy and not sure it’s the way I would have gone.  It feels as though it was done to explain what happened to this world’s Superman instead of adding something to the overall Flashpoint story.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8

Green Lantern Corps. #62 – As a whole the series seems to be on autopilot until the major DCnU shake up.  The story is ok, but the art is so-so.  We’ll see how much what happens matters in the future DC universe.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors #12 – A single story about yet another evil being the Guardians put away and hoped to never see again. The story is ok, but nothing special.  Overall, it’s just treadng water until DCnU begins.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5