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Quick Critiques for 3/23/2005
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.
EXCALIBUR #11
by Chris Claremont, Aaron Lopresti, Greg Adams & Brad Vancata (Marvel Comics)
 This issue is billed as the first chapter of a new four-part story arc, but there are so many unresolved plot threads from previous issues that it hardly feels like it. Of course, this is a Claremont comic, so unresolved issues are the name of the game, I suppose. Speaking of loose ends, Claremont finally brings back the Weaponeers, an army of bad guys he introduced in his first issue of his latest run on Uncanny X-Men. Unfortunately, he's brought them back in the wrong title. Their generic nature makes for some boring action sequences. This title takes on a more conventional super-hero team tone here, and it's not for the better. Callisto behaves like a typical whitebread X-Man in this issue, losing the harsher edge that set the character apart, for example. Angel and Husk's appearance comes from out of nowhere, and Claremont seems to have created a redundant outreach arm of the X-Men as an excuse to get these characters involved. Claremont also spends time trying to reconcile Brian Michael Bendis's use of Magneto in Avengers, and it's a hard pill to swallow. Lopresti's art is capable but unremarkable overall. The use of two inkers here really shows. Earlier scenes boast a rougher quality, while a sleeker, more conventional super-hero genre tone dominates the latter part of the book. 3/10
HAWKMAN #38
by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Dale Eaglesham, Wade von Grawbadger & Lary Stucker (DC Comics)
 The writers have definitely piqued my interest with their resurrection of a rather obscure Teen Titans characters: the Golden Eagle. The problem is that they try to create an air of mystery around the character with omission of detail and a lack of persistance on the protagonist's part when it comes to inquiring as to the Eagle's motives and backgrounds. The plotting comes off as rather illogical and difficult to accept. I remain interested in the coming together of Hawkman's enemies, and the sequence in the mad scientist's lab is morbidly funny. Hawkgirl has seemed like too much of a bystander lately, though, and I hope she takes a more prominent role in future issues. Eaglesham's art is capable for the most part, though the action at the end of the issue isn't clear at all. On the other hand, Hawkman's dream vision makes for some striking visuals; it's always fun to see the diverse array of incarnations of the title character. 6/10
PIGTALE #2
by Ovi Nedelcu (Image Comics)
 I was quite impressed with the first issue of this series, and the second boasts the same kind of energy and inventive, unique artwork that impressed me before. But it's also lacking in one of the aspects I enjoyed the most, and that's the more grounded character elements. This issue focuses on the fantastic premise from which the series derives its title. The frenetic, chaotic energy that flows here is a lot of fun, but the opening chase scene isn't at all clear. And though it's a funny visual, I have no idea what the pig character is supposed to be wearing toward the end of the issue. Most of all, I missed the Boaston Brown character. Oh, he's here, but more as a prop to the, ahem, pig's tale. Nedelcu doesn't touch upon his dichotmous nature as an innocent and as a bruiser. The creator's unique style makes for some sharp new designs of anthropomorphic animal characters, but the dream-like quality of the scenes in the lab make some of the sequences a little inaccessible. 6/10
RUNAWAYS v.2 #2
by Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona & Craig Yeung (Marvel Comics)
 I'm surprised and impressed with Brian K. Vaughan's ability to ffer accessible scripts here. Despite the property's limited history, the large cast of characters make for a rather convoluted backstory, but the writer covers it clearly and succinctly. The dynamics among the title characters work well and really draw the reader into their world. The motivations of the former teen heroes who are hunting them down, though, aren't nearly as convincing. They contradict their goals of normal living too easily and accept money and information from an anonymous source whose motives are unclear but clearly seem sinister. On the other hand, their personalities are strong, grounded and entertaining, and I have to admit that as a longtime super-hero comics reader, it's fun to see some obscure characters turn up in such a prominent role here. Alphona's distinct style remains a pleasure, though I wish the emergence of Victor's powers had been emphasized more strongly with a splash page or another visual approach with greater impact. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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