Comic Book Weekly Reviews – 10/12/11

A little late for these reviews.  Was it worth it?  Find out below!

Alpha Flight #5 – The team pulls in Taskmaster to help train their army as the Unity government continues to push their agenda.  The art is really off, Taskmaster just doesn’t look like himself.  The story is getting better, but it all feels a bit rudimentary instead of the complicated political story it should be.

Story: 7.25 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #5 – And that’s a wrap for the limited series.  It’s a big action sequence that’s very Indiana Jones at times.  I really liked the series overall, and it added a lot to the overall American Vampire story.  The ending was solid and fun and a nice way to wrap up the story line.  Here’s hoping we’ll see some more limited series and graphic novels based in this universe in the future.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Batgirl #2 – The second issue is pretty solid.  The fight scenes are really good and I like how Babs has PTSD from being shot.  The more I learned about the villain Mirror the more I dug him.  It’s an issue that grew on me, but didn’t grab me like I’d of hoped.  It’s a solid read though, and it looks like this’ll be one of the standout series of DC’s new 52.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

Batman and Robin #2 – I really like Bruce and Damian, one struggling to be a father and the other struggling being a kid.  That dynamic is great and watching Bruce having issues with doing and saying things a father would is great.  The bad is this villain.  There’s clearly history and if you don’t know what that is (like me) that section falls short.  Half of the comic is fantastic, the latter half falters.

Story: 8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Batwoman #2 – Pretty solid story that stumbled only on a few pages, the art is just amazing.  The look, the layout, it’s beyond unique and unlike anything else out there.  The art alone is enough to buy the comic.  Just amazing in that department.

Story: 7.75 Art: 9.5 Overall: 8.25

Black Panther #524 – A Spider-Island tie-in that’s really not needed.  It does nothing to add to that story, but really this is just a bridge to the next arc which involves the Kingpin.  The story is pretty bad and art isn’t as good as usual.  Pretty sure you could skip this issue and miss nothing.

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Daken: Dark Wolverine #15 – I was hoping the whole Daken being a drug addict would of lasted longer.  I liked the art, but story seems a bit convoluted.  We’ll see how it ends, but the lead up has been better than this issue.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Deathstroke #2 – I’d hope the second issue would give a bit more than over the top violence.  But with little plot the second issue of the series continues it’s attempt to make Deathstroke the bad-ass character he used to be.  I myself need a bit more to my characters other than over sized swords and lots of stabbing.

Story: 6.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.75

FF #10 – A quieter moment for the FF, everyone is scattered to where they were “needed” and that’s really the reflection here.  This is the quiet before the storm as Hickman starts weaving all of the threads he’s set up together in what looks like one colossal story that’s leading up to Fantastic Four #600.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.5

Generation Hope #12 – A choppy story, very uneven art and a reprint from another comic, sigh.  The series was getting good, but this just kind of slides back to the second class X comic it was emerging from.

Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

Green Lantern #2 – This issue sets up a dynamic that’s pretty damn interesting.  It looks like Jordan gets his ring back, but with a twist that should lead to some fun stories in the future.  There’s still a lot of questions about continuity, but I like where the series is going.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Grifter #2 – Hmm, I’ve decided the whole Daemonites story running in Grifter and Voodoo is a bit too They Live for me.  The story is jumbled and too jumpy for me.  It’s not quite a clear linear plot and something is very off.  It just doesn’t feel very DC and not revealing info in a way that makes the story entertaining.  The series is very off to me.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.75

Jennifer Blood #5 – We get a lot more of the history and one ending I didn’t need to see.  The words “bring out the gimp” come to mind.  The comic is pure torture porn, but there’s something fun about it.  Garth Ennis knows how to tip-toe that fine line keeping you entertained, but hating yourself for being so.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

The New Avengers #17 – Osborn is back and playing on even a bigger scale.  The plot is just starting and if the Green Goblin is involved, it’s going to be good.  There’s never been a better time to hop on the bandwagon, cause this looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Story: 8 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

The Punisher #4 – The Punisher is broken and it looks like the new Vulture is dead (we’ll see how long that lasts).  A reporter struggles with the story and cops are chasing a killer.  Lots going on in Rucka’s interesting take on the classic character.  It’s a good start and I especially like the different perspective this issue has.  We’ll see where it continues to go.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.75

Resurrection Man #2 – Huh.  The series feels like a riddle mixed in an enigma.  I’m willing to stick around a while to see where the series goes, but it’s definitely interesting so far.  There’s a mix of Vertigo and over the top action, a bit Preacher feel too.  It’s an interesting mix overall.  A decent second issue, but not absolutely amazing.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

S.H.I.E.L.D. #3 – I am so lost as to what’s going on.  The series is a bit hard to follow as individual issues and would read much better as a trade or graphic novel.

Story: 6.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.25

Suicide Squad #2 – The villain is laughable but interaction in the team is great.  Everyone is expendable which makes this anything is possible comic.  That’s the good part.  The characters are no Secret Six when it comes to banter, and there’s a line in there that negates that entire series.  So glad I got into it…  Not a bad second issue, but not great.

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3 – Miles still learns about his powers and comes to terms with them a bit.  He also has his first few days at school which is interesting.  But, most importantly, we learn when this is all occurring which is very interesting and pretty smart writing.  So far so good.

Story: 8 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

Ultimate Comics X-Men #2 – A second solid issue that finds the Mutants of this world hunted and persecuted.  It’s a great mix of some of the latest solid plot lines from the regular 616 Marvel universe mixed a bit and just different enough to be original.  It’s familiar yet totally new and I’m hooked.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Uncanny X-Force #16 – When it comes to “X” story lines, this is it.  A mix of everything that’s good, full of action and packed full of “holy shit” moments.  Archangel is the new Apocalypse, X-Force keeps getting their asses beat and it all looks pretty damn hopeless.  I have no idea how this is going to end.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

X-Men: Legacy #257 – The battle is space continues for about two issues too long.  Can’t wait for this to be over.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

X-Men: Regenesis – The sides are chosen and we get to see the various pitches.  The “X” universe has shifted again and it’s looking like for the better right now.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8