Starlord: Top to Bottom 8/31/11
- Written by Brian Burchette on Tuesday, September 06 2011 and posted in Reviews
Do not blame my fabulous Editor for the lateness of this week's increasingly popular reviews. This was the fault of the reviewer who seems to have forgotten he had an article due while camping with his in-laws and chasing half naked cousins in the pool.1. Uncanny X-Force #14
You know how you can tell that a book is really good? When the weakest issue of the arc is still better than the end of any summer event. If this team wasn't having enough problems getting the Life Seed away from the AoA, now they are facing Dark Angel and a whole mess of Horseman – and the always entertaining Dark Beast. I never would have believed that an X-Book staring Wolverine, Deadpool and Fantomex could be so good, but it's because of the writing of Rick Remender that these over used and over blown characters actually become appealing again. It is also very wise of Remender that he allows the focus of many stories to center on the other characters like Angel and Psylocke. The threat to the team is as real and brutal as it gets in the X-Universe and where the talents of Jerome Opena rise to the occasion. The final two pages are the most riveting of the issue; using only the pictures from a man who knows he is working on the best X-Book on the market right now. My Score: B+
2. The Incredible Hulks #635
And so we say goodbye to what may be talked about for years to come as one of the finest for both the series and for Mr. Greg Pak. Unfortunately the finale of this series was by far the weakest story. A magical wishing well, Dr. Strange, and a villain whom felt kind of lame in this story, did not make for the same caliber of book that any true Hulk fan has become used to. Greg Pak's run does deserve a big round of applause though as his run was just as entertaining as many legendary writers that have put words to the big green guy's world. Also an extra point for giving Bruce and Betty a somewhat happy ending. My Score: B-
3. Justice League #1
And so we say hello to another incarnation of the Justice League, this time in a world that is real but not quite as real as the world of DC that I've grown up with, but will be the world that my children and children's children will learn to love because they really are the market right now. Proof being that my boys are so excited when I bring home by comics they even grunt hello before running upstairs to play a round of Black Ops. Now if I put my old man bitterness aside, set down the cynicism that this the whole thing will be gone in just under two years, I'll say this about the new Justice League – it's kind of like the old Justice League. Hal is cocky, Batman is brooding, Superman is a boy scout and Wonder Woman has big boobies. Huh. Also note to DC. Changing Superman's costume in any way is stupid; the damn thing is way too iconic. My Score: C+
4. Journey Into Mystery #626.1
If you haven't been reading this book (I think one of Marvel's absolute best), then by all means do so! Loki's story so far has been way more entertaining than his brothers. Do not, however, think that this will be the perfect jump on point for you. You really don't need this issue at all to get into the fun of this series. It's also unfortunate that the mastermind of this great revival (Kieron Gillen) is such a perfect writer for this book that the competent enough script by Rob Rodi pales in comparison. This is an average story that floats hopelessly in the middle of a great run. My Score: C+
5. Secret Avengers #16
The Good: Warren Ellis writes Hank McCoy really, really well. The Bad: Jamie McKelvie's art is excellent for many books, but not this one. The Ugly: Both writer and artist should not even touch the character of Steve Rogers... ever. For his first issue of Secret Avengers, the most famous team that nobody knows about, Warren Ellis takes off with some promise, but a rather bumpy start. His Steve Rogers, an obvious soldier, feels more like an any-soldier more than a super one. He fares much better with Moon Knight and he shines rather brilliantly with The Beast; his take on Black Widow is very non-committal. As for the rest, well if you like the usual Ellis science techno-babble then this is more of the same and you should be very satisfied with it. I'll keep reading this but I was less than impressed with the beginning of this. My Score: C-
6. The Amazing Spider-Man #668
Some nice moments where Peter Parker is able to swing freely across the city, fighting side by side with his not quite blond enough to be Gwen Stacy, girlfriend, does not help this already boring and silly story. Still, the story alone does not put this book towards the bottom of the pile for me as much as the poorly inept art of Humberto Ramos whose drawings make everyone look like they are performing inside of a House of Mirrors ride. I can think of very little that would rate lower than this book in fun and entertaining at this point. My Score: D
7. Flashpoint #5
Found it! Geoff Johns did not win the worst summer event ever title with this book (that still belongs to that guy who wrote Final Crisis), but it appears with the final chapter of this rather boring story that he was trying his best. What saves the final issue from a major F grade is the very nice touch at the end. Bruce reading a letter from his father actually gave me a little warm feeling in my tummy. The rest of the issue made me throw it up though. My Score: D-
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