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Quick Critiques for 1/22
There's no way that Randy and I can cover all of the material we have for review in full reviews, so these capsule reviews will offer some brief comments on other recent releases.
BATMAN #611
by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee & Scott Williams (DC Comics)
 This uber-popular Batman continues to deliver some solid super-heroics, but little else. I keep waiting for it to break out and surprise me, but it has yet to happen. Once again, I loved the flashback scene. Visually, it shows off Lee's less conventional artistic side, and besides, I'm a sucker for Golden Age heroes. The closeness between Lois Lane and Bruce Wayne took me off-guard, and Loeb doesn't hint at what kind of basis there might be for the flirtation. To be fair, though, that closing splash page had just as powerful an impact as was intended, and I knew it was coming. 6/10
CAPTAIN AMERICA #8
by John Ney Rieber, Chuck Austen, Trevor Hairsine & Danny Miki (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 Hairsine impresses once again with his gritty artwork. I'm reminded of Bryan Hitch's earlier work, when he was just starting to shed the Alan Davis clone approach and develop a more unique style. The script is muddled. The characters' actions go unexplained for the most part, especially when it comes to Barricade. The setting for the main action is oddly vague as well. At first, it seems remote, but all of a sudden, a school bus pops up. Despite some strong visuals, the story is entirely missable. The book has lost any fresh perspective on the title character. 5/10
METALLIX #2
by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, Ron Lim & Brett Bredding (Future Comics)
 The clever quality of the core concept is eclipsed in this second issue by the one-dimensional, cliched quality of the super-villain and accompanying plotline. Krome's actions are over-the-top and rob the story of credibility. There's also an inherent contradition between the main plot and the backup story regarding commercial development of weapons that didn't sit well with me. I remain interesting in the premise, but this issue is well worth skipping. 4/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
SUPERGIRL #78
by Peter David, Ed Benes & Alex Lei (DC Comics)
 The interaction between the Supergirl of today and the original Silver Age incarnation of the character has yielded a surprisingly strong character-driven story. I don't much care for the cosmic side of the plot, though, and unfortunately, it takes center stage in this issue. Benes's art has improved by leaps and bounds since his first issue. There's a more tender quality in his work that's in keeping with the softer side of David's script, and there's less of a focus on T&A visuals. 6/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #418
by Chuck Austen & Kia Asamiya (Marvel Comics)
 This is his third issue, and Asamiya hasn't won me over yet. In fact, his work here seems rushed at times, glaringly lacking in key details. A mother's discussion about not getting enough sexual action in bed opens the issue, and things slide downhill from there. Austen assumes way too much of the reader's familiarity with the characters. Mind you, there's an interesting, reflective tone in the narration, and the split approach -- switching back and forth between Angel and Husk as narrator -- made for some good characterization. Unfortunately, the villains completely generic and therefore, uninteresting. 4/10
WEAPON X #5
by Frank Tieri, Georges Jeanty & Dexter Vines
(Marvel Comics)
 Tieri offers up a vision of mutant torment that has a touching human heart that grounds the story. The writer's commentary on the tumultuous state of American politics in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001 is far from subtle, but it's definitely on point and works well within the context of this story. Jeanty's artwork tells the story quite well, and longtime fans of Marvel's mutant comics will be thrilled to see plenty of minor characters turn up again in these pages. 7/10
Y: THE LAST MAN #7
by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra & Jose Marzan, Jr.
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Vaughan isn't content to just keep following the path he's set out for Yorick and company. No, he introduces a new element, one that serves as another interesting commentary on gender that also boasts a riveting quality of danger. Guerra's simple style conveys the realistic tone of the story an character with seeming ease, and her style reminds me, pleasantly so, of the work of Jeff Moy and W.C. Carani, the one-time creative team on DC's Legionnaires series from a few years ago. 9/10
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
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