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Quick Critiques for 2/4
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.
EXILES #42
by Jim Calafiore & Eric Cannon (Marvel Comics)
 Look at that cover. It seems to say, "Hey look, these are my tits! And for you hentai elf manga fans out there, check out these big-ass, pointy ears!" Fortunately, what's on the inside of this comic book isn't nearly as a frustration as the cover, but the bad news is that it's a far cry from entertaining. It's just a big fight scene dressed up with a little father-daughter conflict as an accessory. Perhaps the greatest weakness of this story, though, is that Nocturne we read about here seems to have little in common with the character we got to know under Judd Winick's tenure on the title. Calafiore may not not a strong plot or script, but the art is at least capable. He offers a couple of strong new design twists -- Rogue with the powers of the Super-Skrull is a great idea -- but ultimately, what stands out about this story is its inconsequential nature. 3/10
MY FAITH IN FRANKIE #2
by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew & Marc Hempel
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Carey's story of a lovelorn minor god still tickles the brain, and what still intrigues me the most is Kay, the title character's best friend. She clearly has a pivotal role to play here, and not just as narrator. It's far easier to relate to her shyness and mild cynicism. The overall plot here, though, takes on a surprisingly conventional tone. Instead of being about the hazy line between worship and love, the story is now about a typical good-versus-evil conflict. That robs it of some of its uniqueness. What maintains that unique feel to some degree, though, is the artwork. Liew does an excellent job of walking a fine line between childhood and adulthood when it comes to depicting Frankie and her new beau, and he never oversexualizes the characters even though there's sexual context at play. 7/10
PLASTIC MAN #3
by by Kyle Baker (DC Comics)
 This series gets better, darker and more surreal with every issue. This is first and foremost a super-hero parody book and to a lesser extent, of society in general. The Chief's and Agent Morton's cold reactions to Plas's fate now that he's been instantly branded a criminal and murderer grow out of America's ever-present "tough on crime" attitude, and the Homeland Security crack was a hoot as well. Baker's art is both simple -- even crude, one could say -- and full of depth and texture at the same time. The vibrancy of the colors makes for an interesting contrast with the darker, black-comedy elements of the script. The diverse array of comics and animation influences in Baker's work are not only pleasing to the eye, but even merit study. 7/10
RUNAWAYS #11
by Brian K. Vaughan, Takeshi Miyazawa & David Newbold (Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 One strike this book has going against it is that I don't have a nostalgic soft spot when it comes to Cloak and Dagger. I grew up a DC kid, not a Marvel zombie, so the 1980s flashback here doesn't resonate as much with me. I also find that the story is a little too conventional and predictable. It's a typical hero-versus-hero as a result of some kind of misunderstanding. Super-heroes by way of Three's Company, you could say. Still, Vaughan does a great job of reintroducing Cloak and Dagger to new readers, and the tension among the kids works quite well. Miyazawa's fill-in art is a pleasure as well, and Newbold's inks and Brian Reber's dark, muted colors maintain a consistent visual tone for the series. This is fun reading, but it doesn't boast the same strength in terms of characterization as previous issues have. 6/10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #53
by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley & Art Thibert
(Marvel Comics)
 Two plotlines get something of a wrapup here, and both are thoroughly satisfying. What strikes me as a little odd is that both vie for the limelight. This feels like two shorter issues crammed together into one episode of the series. There's really not much of a segue from one plotline (Mary Jane runs away) to the other (the Black Cat's motives). Still, both are quite entertaining and boast the same kind of grounded characterization and dialogue that stand out as this title's greatest strength. Bagley definitely shines more in the action-oriented Black Cat/Kingpin/Elektra scenes, but that really comes as no surprise. Action is where his strengths as a super-hero artist lie. The action doesn't seem like typical super-hero fare, though. One can really see the intensity of the moment and fear in the characters' faces. 8/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #439
by Chuck Austen, Salvador Larroca & Danny Miki
(Marvel Comics)
 Here's an '80s flashback for you: gag me with a sppon.
Austen offers up a flowery script and implausible plot that promise to make even the most dedicated X-fanatic roll his eyes. The only plot advancement is the southern bigots' all-too convenient discovery of armor that raises them up to the X-Men's level in terms of power. ather than dramatic or touching, the story comes off as completely laughable. Austen also includes a scene in which Archangel and Wolverine make amends... for what, I have no idea. The only aspect of this book that boasts any redeemable qualities is the art, and even this is a far cry from Larroca's best work. I will give him credit, though, for his depiction of Josh Guthrie. It's easy to see why Julia is so obsessed with him. He is a vision of beauty, but his dialogue carries with it the same afore-mentioned laughable quality. 2/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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