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Quick Critiques for 3/5
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.
100 BULLETS #42
by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 This self-contained issue finally tries to get the slacker named Wylie into play in the dangerous world of the Trust and Agent Graves, but that's not the element that grabbed me. It's Wylie himself, a lazy schulb who serves as an excellent gateway for the reader into the deadly game being played out here. This issue reminded me of a segment from a Quentin Tarantino flick, devoid any real heroes, just shades of black and grey. Risso's unusual viewpoints and panel layouts keep the reader off-balance. The audience is immersed in an ocean of darkness that mirrors the nasty, noir tone of the story. 8/10
DETECTIVE COMICS #780
by Ed Brubaker, Tommy Castillo & Wade Von Grawbadger/Nancy & Michel Gagne (DC Comics)
 I'm impressed that Brubaker has revealed the name behind this story arc's whodunnit plot, yet the mystery still persists. I'm chomping at the bit to find out what transformed a seemingly normal man into a serial killer. The letdown here, though, Castillo's artwork. He tells the story clearly, but the artwork is inconsistent, a seeming mish-mash of styles and influences, and I can only assume that an inker as adept as Von Grawbadger is cleaning it up considerably already. Michel Gagne's "Spore" backup feature concludes in this issue. As was the case before, this was more about the twisted, organic qualities of Gagne's artwork than plot. And I'm fine with it, since it brought a radically different style to the forefront of mainstream comics. 7/10
GREEN LANTERN #160
by Judd Winick, Dale Eaglesham & Rodney Ramos
(DC Comics)
 Winick continues to take this title just to the cusp of being something special, but it just falls short. The two main characters -- Kyle and Jenn -- boast wonderfully grounded voices, but that human touch is overwhelmed by the science-fiction elements of the story. Mind you, I'm really not sure what the story is at this point, other than random violent encounters on a variety of alien worlds. Eaglesham's artwork remains a strong point, though. He captures the fantastic energy and action quite well, but there's a tenderness to the characters as well that reinforces their down-to-earth qualities. 6/10
LIBERTY MEADOWS #30
by Frank Cho (Image Comics)
 Lo and behold! A plot! An actual plot finds its way into this title, and it renews my interest in the characters and Cho's sense of humor. I wouldn't have thought that any level of drama would have worked in the context of this oddball book, but it worked for me. Mind you, as I write this, a snowstorm wails outside my window, so maybe Cho's timing was just good when it came to this particular Canadian reader. The balance between the cartoony elements and the more realistic drawings is strong here, and neither tone works against the other. 7/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
PROMETHEA #25
by Alan Moore, J.H. Williams III & Mick Gray
(DC Comics/America's Best Comics)
 This was a far cry from the best issue of this series to date, but even a subpar issue of Promethea still makes for a good read. The premise -- a trial to determine who gets to remain in the role of Promethea on Earth -- really didn't do much for me, but the catalyst -- the relationship between Grace and Stacia -- was well done. I also thoroughly enjoyed the federal agents' hunt for the woman they believed to be the "science heroine," and it provided a powerful ending and a promising new direction for the book. Williams and Gray continue to provide interesting, unconvential layouts and brilliantly detailed artwork, but visual flow of the trial didn't click for me either. 8/10
SUPERNATURAL LAW SECRETARY MAVIS #4
by Batton Lash (Exhibit A Press)
 Lash offers up a scattered script that fails to keep my attention several times upon reading. Is this story about a phoney magician's stunt? Is it about a runaway robot? A secretary's unnecessarily complex love life? I honestly couldn't tell you, and none of the plotlines struck me as particularly clever either. Mavis's angst over her love life rings false, as her hangup -- a new beau's one-time, teenage buffonery years before -- is pretty silly. The David Blaine spoof got old after only a couple of pages, and the robot plotline read like the makings of a clunky Silver Age Amazing Spider-Man story. Mind you, Lash manages to cram a vast array of diverse story elements and characters into this issue, and while the visuals are occasionally busy, they're clear and tell the stories capably. 3/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
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