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Quick Critiques for 4/6/2005
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.
BLOOD OF THE DEMON #2
by John Byrne, Will Pfeifer & Nekros (DC Comics)
 I remain impressed with the more brutal, bloody quality of the violence in this book; it's in keeping with the title character's bestial, infernal nature. One could argue that the title merits a mature-readers label, but if someone picks up something called Blood of the Demon for his eight-year-old, the ol' protective parental radar ain't exactly at peak strength. The plot itself here is a bit disappointing. I had thought this series was going to be about Etrigan running loose with no controls in place, but that proves not to be the case here. The control is a little different and not quite as effective as before, but it's still there. Furthermore, the plotline centering around a mage's effort to summon a Lovecraftian god seems like filler. The cover proclaims it to be the focus of this issue, but it really comes off as more of a footnote in the larger plotline. Byrne's art is pretty effective here. He captures the more gory aspects of the action quite well without making it seem too unpalatable for the reader. His attempt to capture the dark and grim incarnation of the Batman isn't all that effective, though. I reserve my final judgment on the Batman guest-appearance until we see more of it in the next issue. 5/10
GREEN LANTERN: REBIRTH #5
by Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Prentis Rollins & Mick Gray (DC Comics)
 This is basically an issue-long fight scene, pitting the iconic Hal Jordan against his arch-enemy, Sinestro. It features dazzling displays of power and really reinforces the notion of Jordan as the lantern-jawed, tough, idealistic Captain America-type of hero he's been built up to be in the years since his "death." The problem with this issue is that the extended, climactic confrontation ends up leading nowhere. Ultimately, nothing happens here. All that's accomplished here is that the status quo of the 1970s and '80s is reinstated. Sure, we get a scene featuring Kyle Rayner's insecurity and a senior hero's validation of him, but that's hardly new as well. In fact, Kyle's inferiority complex really doesn't make all that much sense here. Still, the action here is exciting, and the artwork is stunning in its level of detail. Moose Baumann's colors are absolutely brilliant. This book wouldn't be nearly as effective if the colorist's efforts to convey the power of the rings weren't so successful. 6/10
PUNISHER #19
by Garth Ennus, Leandro Fernandz & Scott Hanna
(Marvel Comics/MAX imprint)
 Ennis surprises me with this issue because it's not nearly as strong as those that came before it. The script here dwells a great deal on the story arcs that came before it, so much so that this is far from the most accessible jumping-on point for new readers. That's too bad, since that's what one might expect from the first chapter in a new story arc. Furthermore, this issue feels unnecessarily padded out; it takes way too long to get to the point here. I was a big fan of Leandro Fernandez's work when it debuted in the North American market in Oni's Queen & Country a few years back. While he tells the story here clearly and with the proper level of edge and brutality, his style has lost some of what made it unique. It's resembling Darick (Toxin) Robertson's work quite a bit these days. What is disappointing about the art in this issue is the color. Dan Brown's colors often wash the line art out with oranges and yellows that just don't seem to belong in this dark, gritty world. Hell, most of the characters often look jaundiced in this issue. 6/10
SPIDER-GIRL #85
by Tom DeFalco, Pat Olliffe, Sal Buscema & Scott Koblish (Marvel Comics)
 In many ways, this comic is a perfect example of how to craft a traditional super-hero comic. DeFalco and Olliffe have included all of the elements that make for solid super-hero story. First of all, it's accessible for new readers. It boasts continuing soap-opera elements that draw the reader back to the next issue. There's plenty of action, a fun twist to the plot and a playfulness as well. I'm not saying that this is the perfect comic book or the least bit innovative. It's actually thoroughly conventional, but it's also a celebration of super-hero traditions. Another strength of the book is that it boasts familiar characters, such as Peter Parker, but those characters are different from the way in which we usually perceive them. I'm pleased to see Olliffe back on pencils here. His softer style brings a slightly realistic, grounded feel to the exaggerated world of the Marvel Universe of the future. The longer this series goes on, the more I appreciate it. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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