Uncle Mikey's Funnybook Round-Up -11/1
Ex Machina #24
Kremlin...you son of a babushka, you! Brian K. Vaughan's sassy Sorkinesque dialogue (I just sort of figured that out) and Tony Harris' lush, inkwashed artwork are both in fine form here as usual. The "Smoke, Smoke" storyline ends exactly as it should: with Mayor Hundred lighting up a much-deserved doob-a-dee-doo. Questions: What's up with Hundred's little spasmodic episodes? Oh, we can find out whether or not Hundred smokes the drugs, but you still can't tell us whether or not he likes penises in his keester (and/or enjoys putting his penis into other men's keesters)? And does putting a big-ass vaccuum on your aforementioned appendage really feel that good? Maybe all will be revealed next issue. But probably not. And hopefully not the vaccuum thing. Because that would be awkward. From an author-research standpoint alone.
52: Week Twenty-Six
Halfway through the run of this still-not-as-good-as-its-writing-pedigree-would-suggest, we're treated to dinner at the Sivanas with the Black Marvels, an on-air argument between Steel and Starlight on O'Reilly-esque Jack Ryder's show, an introduction to the completely-unfamiliar-to-me Richard Dragon, and the budding friendship between Osiris and a party-crashing lizard monster. Despite its offbeat tone, serviceable artwork by Patrick Oliffe, and a nicely streamlined backup featuring the origin of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, I must admit that the most exciting parts of this issue were the ads for all of the Superman DVDs coming out this month. That's right: even the Kirk Alyn one.
Justice League of America #3
This issue continues creative team Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes' love affair with awesome as the Red Tornado meets with the Phantom Stranger and learns he may be one of The Thirteen (?), Black Lightning kicks some ass before getting his own ass somewhat kicked, The Trinity are interrupted from their roster meeting by some unusual faces, and more details of the villains' plans are revealed. Meltzer is incredibly deft at juggling plotlines, while keeping them all equally interesting. I mean, hell, even Vixen's pages are rather turnable. I'm still curious as to the shadowy figure's identity, what this all will mean for John Smith, and why Ivo wants to die (something to do with this whole Thirteen business?). And of course, seemingly contractually, we get a little Starro the Conqueror at the end. Benes continues to deliver career-high work here, this time showcasing his love for the ladies. Black Canary and Hawkgirl both pull boys' fat out of the fire, and make sure to angle their breasts and backsides perfectly while doing so. Funny how that works. Also, Michael Turner actually manages to provide a stylish and dynamic cover.
Midnighter #1
Wildstorm's latest WorldStorm relaunch is notable because it's actually a mainstream, ongoing superhero title in which the main character is gay as a chaps-clad goose. The fact that he's also the ultimate killing machine makes it all the more semi-hot. The Authority's Midnighter spins off into a solo book here, taking on a corrupt faction in Afghanistan before being kidnapped from aboard The Carrier, stripped of his cognitive combat abilities, and ordered to make a very interesting hit. Garth Ennis definitely turns the action up a notch here, giving us that classic twisted British sensibility and humor without making it too goofy, unlike his previous efforts with The Authority. As before, however, it sometimes feels like Ennis relishes in Midnighter's opponents' homophobic slurs and barbs a bit too much. It's something I've found in common with many of the Brits who have taken on the scripting reigns of these characters, as well as their fixation on Hitler. Frankly, I would have been more stoked if it was Midnighter's lover Apollo's picture on the last page. Or Midnighter's daughter, Jenny...what's she now? Nebula? Astro? Chris Sprouse provides his usual crisp, vivid visuals.
Superman Confidential #1
Well, if DC's plan was to strip down and streamline the Superman line, they've failed miserably. I couldn't be more thrilled. Because that means, with this series' kick-off, Superman now stars in five ongoing titles. This one, feautring rotating creators doing various story arcs depicting the past adventures of Superman, kicks off with Darwyn Cooke and Tim Sale's tale of Superman's first exposure to Kryptonite. Personally, I'm an if-Post-Crisis-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it kind of guy and feel that John Byrne and Terry Austin's Kryptonite yarn in Superman (second series) #1 is as good as it gets, but I'll give these guys the benefit of the doubt. After all, this issue establishes a compellingly unsure Superman, desperately in love with the unattainable, unknowable Lois Lane, a gruff and prnicipled Perry White, and a wide-eyed, idealistic Jimmy Olsen. Sale's artwork, while always a little bit ugly (don't believe me? Watch an episode of Heroes), is well-composed, expressive, and effective, especially when complimented by Dave Stewart's colors, trying his best here to recall Bjarne Hansen's beautiful painted colors on the Sale-illustrated Superman: For All Seasons. The three-page Eiffel Tower sequence is worth the $2.99 alone. I hope the book is successful for DC, and proves that Superman is as fertile a creative property as Batman. Speaking of which, Batman Confidential debuts soon as well, despite Batman already having an "untold tales" book. Isn't that a little redundant?
Ex Machina #24
Kremlin...you son of a babushka, you! Brian K. Vaughan's sassy Sorkinesque dialogue (I just sort of figured that out) and Tony Harris' lush, inkwashed artwork are both in fine form here as usual. The "Smoke, Smoke" storyline ends exactly as it should: with Mayor Hundred lighting up a much-deserved doob-a-dee-doo. Questions: What's up with Hundred's little spasmodic episodes? Oh, we can find out whether or not Hundred smokes the drugs, but you still can't tell us whether or not he likes penises in his keester (and/or enjoys putting his penis into other men's keesters)? And does putting a big-ass vaccuum on your aforementioned appendage really feel that good? Maybe all will be revealed next issue. But probably not. And hopefully not the vaccuum thing. Because that would be awkward. From an author-research standpoint alone.
52: Week Twenty-Six
Halfway through the run of this still-not-as-good-as-its-writing-pedigree-would-suggest, we're treated to dinner at the Sivanas with the Black Marvels, an on-air argument between Steel and Starlight on O'Reilly-esque Jack Ryder's show, an introduction to the completely-unfamiliar-to-me Richard Dragon, and the budding friendship between Osiris and a party-crashing lizard monster. Despite its offbeat tone, serviceable artwork by Patrick Oliffe, and a nicely streamlined backup featuring the origin of Hawkman and Hawkgirl, I must admit that the most exciting parts of this issue were the ads for all of the Superman DVDs coming out this month. That's right: even the Kirk Alyn one.
Justice League of America #3
This issue continues creative team Brad Meltzer and Ed Benes' love affair with awesome as the Red Tornado meets with the Phantom Stranger and learns he may be one of The Thirteen (?), Black Lightning kicks some ass before getting his own ass somewhat kicked, The Trinity are interrupted from their roster meeting by some unusual faces, and more details of the villains' plans are revealed. Meltzer is incredibly deft at juggling plotlines, while keeping them all equally interesting. I mean, hell, even Vixen's pages are rather turnable. I'm still curious as to the shadowy figure's identity, what this all will mean for John Smith, and why Ivo wants to die (something to do with this whole Thirteen business?). And of course, seemingly contractually, we get a little Starro the Conqueror at the end. Benes continues to deliver career-high work here, this time showcasing his love for the ladies. Black Canary and Hawkgirl both pull boys' fat out of the fire, and make sure to angle their breasts and backsides perfectly while doing so. Funny how that works. Also, Michael Turner actually manages to provide a stylish and dynamic cover.
Midnighter #1
Wildstorm's latest WorldStorm relaunch is notable because it's actually a mainstream, ongoing superhero title in which the main character is gay as a chaps-clad goose. The fact that he's also the ultimate killing machine makes it all the more semi-hot. The Authority's Midnighter spins off into a solo book here, taking on a corrupt faction in Afghanistan before being kidnapped from aboard The Carrier, stripped of his cognitive combat abilities, and ordered to make a very interesting hit. Garth Ennis definitely turns the action up a notch here, giving us that classic twisted British sensibility and humor without making it too goofy, unlike his previous efforts with The Authority. As before, however, it sometimes feels like Ennis relishes in Midnighter's opponents' homophobic slurs and barbs a bit too much. It's something I've found in common with many of the Brits who have taken on the scripting reigns of these characters, as well as their fixation on Hitler. Frankly, I would have been more stoked if it was Midnighter's lover Apollo's picture on the last page. Or Midnighter's daughter, Jenny...what's she now? Nebula? Astro? Chris Sprouse provides his usual crisp, vivid visuals.
Superman Confidential #1
Well, if DC's plan was to strip down and streamline the Superman line, they've failed miserably. I couldn't be more thrilled. Because that means, with this series' kick-off, Superman now stars in five ongoing titles. This one, feautring rotating creators doing various story arcs depicting the past adventures of Superman, kicks off with Darwyn Cooke and Tim Sale's tale of Superman's first exposure to Kryptonite. Personally, I'm an if-Post-Crisis-ain't-broke-don't-fix-it kind of guy and feel that John Byrne and Terry Austin's Kryptonite yarn in Superman (second series) #1 is as good as it gets, but I'll give these guys the benefit of the doubt. After all, this issue establishes a compellingly unsure Superman, desperately in love with the unattainable, unknowable Lois Lane, a gruff and prnicipled Perry White, and a wide-eyed, idealistic Jimmy Olsen. Sale's artwork, while always a little bit ugly (don't believe me? Watch an episode of Heroes), is well-composed, expressive, and effective, especially when complimented by Dave Stewart's colors, trying his best here to recall Bjarne Hansen's beautiful painted colors on the Sale-illustrated Superman: For All Seasons. The three-page Eiffel Tower sequence is worth the $2.99 alone. I hope the book is successful for DC, and proves that Superman is as fertile a creative property as Batman. Speaking of which, Batman Confidential debuts soon as well, despite Batman already having an "untold tales" book. Isn't that a little redundant?
posted by Michael at 6:32 PM
1 Comments:
They sold out of Confidential at my store yesterday. Sucks, too, because I've been looking forward to that for a long time. I'm going to have to wait until next week to pick that one up.
Also, Midnighter sounds interesting. Would somebody with no knowledge of Wildstorm history be able to understand it?
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