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Quick Critiques for 2/19
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.
THE PUNISHER #22
by Garth Ennis & Steve Dillon
(Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 Ennis brings his three-part "Brotherhood" story arc -- about good cops, dirty cops and the shades of grey that are to be found in between -- to a bittersweet conclusion. He instills in the main characters a surprising and welcome balance of strengths and flaws. Dillon's clean style reinforces the realistic tone of the story quite well. Though some of Ennis's more over-the-top Punisher might have caught more attention and offered plenty of morbid laughs, this stands out as his most thoughtful use of the character yet. Of course, this really isn't a Punisher story, but a dark police drama that would have worked pretty well even without the title character. 8/10
ROBIN #111
by Jon Lewis, Pete Woods & Andrew Pepoy
(DC Comics)
 Lewis tells a compelling story about abuse and betrayal this month. Not surprisingly, the stronger issues of this series are those that focus on the extraordinary characters' more ordinary qualities and experiences. Here, Stephanie Brown, AKA the Spoiler, confesses a brush with abuse as a child. I was impressed with how Lewis doesn't go for the stereotypical abuse story here. Stephanie is one of the lucky ones, but that doesn't mean she feels lucky. Ultimately, this story touches upon a child's anger and disappointment with a parent, and that's something to which everyone can relate. 7/10
SLEEPER #2
by Ed Brubaker & Sean Phillips
(DC Comics/Wildstorm Productions)
 Brubaker offers up an even stronger, more accessible story in this second issue. He builds nicely on the ideas and characters introduced in the first issue, and surprisingly, gets me to like a character named "Genocide" even more than before. This mob story stands out as a radically different take on the super-hero/villain genre, and it offers up the chance to explore some dark, twisted ideas and characters. Phillips's art, noir artwork really captures the ugly, dangerous atmopshere of the script nicely. This title looks at bad guys as something more than just something to throw at a story's hero. 9/10
THOR #60
by Dan Jurgens, Joe Bennett & Jack Jadson
(Marvel Comics)
 I've been thoroughly enjoying Jurgens's thought-provoking new direction for the God of Thunder. He probes political, philosophical and ethical issues in every issue, and this one is no exception. Yet this chapter in the book on Thor's reign as Asgardian monarch doesn't resonate as strongly as those that came before. The drama with Jake Olson and and the trapped child comes off as a bit cliche, and Thor's conflict in this issue addresses points that have been pretty obvious already. Bennett's artwork here is rather ordinary as well. It tells the story capably, but none of the visuals really grab the eye either. Though I enjoy the notion of Jake coming into conflict with his former godly alter ego, this setup didn't live up to the expectations established in previous issues. Of course, that's something of a compliment to the overall strength of the title. 6/10
THREE DAYS IN EUROPE #3
by Antony Johnston & Mike Hawthorne (Oni Press)
 This offbeat romance book takes an even more unexpected turn in this third issue. While I'm not as wild about the story straying from the troubled relationship that serves as its catalyst, I can't deny that this story of art thieves and rock-n-roll groupies is a lot of fun. Hawthorne's light, cartoony style reinforces the irreverent side of the story. The characters that surround Jack and Jill remind me of the kind of oddball figures one might find in a Garth Ennis story, though perhaps not quite so outrageous. What's interesting about the book now is how it's begun to defy genre; this unique little book refuses to be pigeonholed. 7/10
TOM STRONG #19
by Alan Moore, Chris Sprouse, Howard Chaykin, Shawn McManus, Leah Moore, Karl Story & Steve Mitchell (DC Comics/America's Best Comics)
 This looks more like an issue of the Tom Strong's Terrific Tales, and I'd complain that there's no need for two Tom Strong anthology books... but this one is much stronger than Terrific Tales. Moore and company have some fun with the characters here. The art is stunning, and this issue offers a wide variety, from Chaykin's sexy, gritty style, to Sprouse's clean-cut approach. The highlight of the book is definitely Moore's story about a collector and his comic-book weapon. The collector gags are fun, but Moore's look at the Comics Code Authority is morbidly funny. This was a fun, though inconsequential, comic book. 7/10
TRUE STORY SWEAR TO GOD trade paperback
by Tom Beland (AiT/Planet Lar)
 What a pain in the ass. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to come up with a fresh way to explain just how great True Story is? How Tom Beland's remarkable honestly and down-to-earth narration has made his real-life romance leap off of the page and swim around in thousands of readers' heads? How his simple approach hides what a strong eye for detail and drama he has? Beland tosses in morbid humor and funny, charming perspectives of the goofy minutae of life to present a thoroughly balanced romance book... one that's not sickeningly sweet. Beland's story is inspiring and comforting; True Story Swear to God celebrates life and is more affirming than any corny self-help book or mass-produced collection of oversimplified, Chicken Soup anecdotes. 10/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
X-TREME X-MEN #21
by Chris Claremont & Salvador Larroca
(Marvel Comics)
 This plot -- of Bishop and Sage investigating a murder that might have been the work of a teenage mutant who has taken refuge at the Xavier School -- had plenty of potential, but it's not realized here. Some klunky writing -- such as a dragon's rampage and Emma Frost's illogical dismissal of two X-Men -- is part of the problem, but what really put me off here was the introduction of a new mysterious villain that manipulates the innocent. In other words, a stereotypical super-villain brainwashes other players into acting out of character. We're left with a cliched plot rather than the far more interesting clash of politics and justice. Larroca's art is clearly here than usual, but the dragon rampage scene was sketchy and surprisingly unsuccessful in catching the eye. 3/10
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
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