This week: The secret history of the Manhattan Project is revealed, Animal Man is the coolest super-dad ever, and Superman jumps off the earth.
Action Comics #7 – It seems that
things are looking up. After taking two extra months to work
on this issue, Rags Morales returns with significantly less rushed pencils. While I am not a huge Morales fan, I have to admit
that there is something kinetic about his work when he is on his
game. I love how he has played with the gutters between panels in
Action Comics. Particularly in issue seven, where there is a
really cool looking sequence where Clark literally runs off the curve
of the earth. Plot wise. I think things are shaping up well. One of
the best (and potentially off-putting) things about Morrison is the
way he weaves his stories. It can take several issues to get a clear
view of what is going on and EVERYTHING that has happened can be
important. Seven issues in, I think the plot is coming into focus
more clearly than it has for most of the series so far.
Age of Apocalypse #1 – I am aware of
the mid-1990s Marvel crossover event by the name of Age of
Apocalypse, but I really know very little about it. What drew me to
Marvel's new ongoing AoA book is it's status as an alternate
universe tale. There is just something about those things that I
adore. Creatively, the book is pretty strong. Though he is forced
to introduce lots of new characters to uninitiated readers, Dave
Lapham does a fairly eloquent job of mixing exposition and plot.
Artistically, Roberto De La Torre's art fits the grim AoA
landscape. Issue one was a little slow but now that the characters
are established, I think things will flow a bit quicker.
Animal Man #7 – This issue had one of
my favorite moments I have read in the seven months since I have been
picking up new issues of comic books again. Buddy Baker has to be one of
the best superhero parents in the history of comic books. In fact,
the scene in question was reminiscent of a moment in Morrison's
Animal Man run where Martian Manhunter comes to aid of Cliff Baker in
a way Buddy can't. This time, however, Buddy is the one who gets to
act cool. Animal Man and fam are still on the run in a Winnebago
with the Rot chasing after them. Animal Man #7 was a solid
issue that showed another glimpse into Buddy and Cliff's
relationship. Oh, by the way, it also gave us our first glimpse of
Swamp Thing in Animal Man...but not quite the way we've been
expecting.
The Defenders #4 – Matt Fraction
presents us with an interesting interlude that explores the power of
the magical wishing machine, Dr. Strange's love life, and the magical
makeup of the Marvel Universe's New York. Though the other members
of The Defenders make appearances, the book is dominated by the
former Sorcerer Supreme. It was an interesting issue with a chance
for Strange to flex his magical muscles but it mostly felt like we
were marking time until the next story arc. I could be wrong and
every little piece of issue four might be super important later, but
for now if felt like a momentary diversion. Michael Lark fills in
admirably for the Dodsons, but I am looking forward to their return
next month.
Manhattan Projects #1 – Jonathon
Hickman and Nick Pittara's new creator-owned ongoing for Image Comics
is easily my pick of the week. The book itself was great but the
really exciting thing is the series promise. World War II and the
heady days of the Atomic Age have provided the backdrop for many
stories, but none have really taken the tact that Manhattan
Projects is. There's a kind of whimsical seriousness about the
book that makes me crave more. I cannot wait for the second issue to
come out.
StormWatch #7 – I'm not sure this is
fair but Paul Jenkins and Ignacio Calero's first StormWatch
issue was probably the easiest to follow so far. I don't really want
to get into the perceived failures of Paul Cornell and Miguel
Sepulveda's short run but I can say with a degree of certainty that
it underachieved. While, issue seven wasn't ambitious, it was a
solid story with solid artistic storytelling. It looks as if Jenkins
will be a nice fill in until Peter Milligan takes over in a few
issues.
Swamp Thing #7 – Finally! Seven
issues in, Alec Holland is finally Swamp Thing. The crazy thing about
the series is that, despite the fact that the eponymous character
hasn't even been present, it has remained quite interesting. Scott
Snyder's great script is given form by Yannick Paquette's gorgeous,
lush art. It was a good issue, but not the best in the series so
far. Mostly, it was just the culmination of a process that started
way back in issue one. I'm not saying that the transformation we've
been waiting for was anything short of awesome, I'm just saying it
wasn't the most compelling development in the series so far.
Regardless, it's good to have ol' Swampy back.
Uncanny X-men #8 – Well...this is my
stop. After a very promising first issue, Uncanny X-men has
been mired in dullness ever since. Issue eight brings the Tabula Rasa
storyline to a close just in time for the X-men Extinction team to
run off and participate in Avengers Vs X-men. Kieron Gillen finally
spends some time on developing the characters that are under his
charge but it's too little too late. The vast majority of series has
been spent watching uninteresting characters fight cliched battles in
horrifically rendered Greg Land poses. Even with Carlos Pacheco
coming back next issue, I have no desire to dive into the AvX
crossover.
Winter Soldier #3 – So, the good guys
break in to the Latverian embassy to talk to Dr. Doom and the bad
guys have a Doombot. Lots of Doom in this issue. Ed Brubaker and
Butch Guise have a fascinating tale of super-spies and super-heroes
going on. It wasn't a great issue, but it was more than solid. The
parachute-less, teleport assisted jump into the embassy was a cool
little action piece.
Wolverine and the X-men: Alpha and
Omega #3 – So his mental construct is beginning to malfunction and
a mindless Wolverine is rampaging the school ground, but other than
that Quentin Quire's plan is working perfectly. The idea behind the
plot is an interesting one, but I am still not quite sure why this
mini-series exists. If I had been an editor at Marvel, I am not sure
there would have been anything about the script that screams “Publish
me now!” But, hey, as far as I know, AvX might shake everything up
before this story could have seen print in the regular Wolverine
and the X-men title. Then again, this could have been their plan
all along. Regardless, it's a fun story with good art.
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