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Quick Critiques for 4/9
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 AND WATER #2
by Judd Winick & Tomm Coker
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 The title of this story is "Vampire 101," and it sums up this script pretty clearly. What makes it entertaining, though, is how vampires Josh and Nicole explain what a vampire is by exploring what people think one is and how wrong they are. The most powerful moment in the script, though, comes when Adam's resentment bursts forth, when he wonders aloud why his friends let him suffer when they help the dark key to his salvation all along. Coker's art is the best it's ever been. I'm reminded of Sean (Sleeper) Phillips's work and that of Tony (Starman) Harris as well. Though this is far from the most ground-breaking vampire story I've ever sampled, it is nevertheless well crafted and entertaining. 8/10
COURTNEY CRUMRIN AND THE COVEY OF MYSTICS #4
by Ted Naifeh (Oni Press)
 Naifeh brings this haunting, dark take on young mystics to an appropriately gruesome conclusion. Young people and magic has been a popular genre in fiction lately, but Naifeh brings an edge to it that's unlike anything Harry Potter fans will ever see. Courtney's clever and courageous, but there's a corrupt quality to her soul that makes her unique... and makes her a great deal of fun to read about. This tragic ending boasts some stunning visuals as well. While I didn't care for the crowded Coven tribunals scenes all that much, Naifeh provides a lithe, innocent and almost seductive portrayal of Skarrow. The contrast of beauty against the dark, ugly world of supernatural politics that the Coven has created is impressive. 8/10
DAWN: 2003 CONVENTION SKETCH BOOK #1
by Joseph Michael Linsner (Image Comics)
 Normally, I enjoy sketchbook editions, simply for the reason that it gives the reader a chance to look behind the curtain, to get a glimpse of the creative process that goes into comics. That's not to be found in this book, though. This is a pinup book, not a sketchbook, and all Linsner offers is page after page of his seminal character, generally looking rather wanton. If you want to know what this book is like, track down a copy of any Victoria's Secret catalog, and you'll get the picture. Actually, stick with the catalog... there'll be a greater variety of imagery. 2/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
GOTHAM CENTRAL #6
by Greg Rucka & Michael Lark (DC Comics)
 Just as Brubaker did with his first solo story arc on this title, Greg Rucka blows me away with a powerful, character-driven script. Rucka seems to have a soft spot for Renee Montoya, and as long as it results in stories as strong as this one, I'm all for it. Rucka looks at Montoya as something more than a cop, and he also explores some of the unique inter-departmental headaches that would arise in a city with super-heroes and super-villains. The gritty quality of Lark's style suits the cop-drama riff of the series perfectly, but Lark also brings a soft vulnerability to the main character in this story that really lets the reader to get to know her. 9/10
JUDGE DREDD VS. ALIENS: INCUBUS #1
by John Wagner, Andy Diggle & Henry Flint
(Dark Horse Comics/2000 AD)
 Again, the folks at Dark Horse impress with another comic-book/movie-property crossover. The ferocious, bug-like Aliens fit in perfectly in the filthy chaos of Mega City One, and Dredd's extreme but perceptive methods mirror the monsters' quite well. Unlike the super-hero crossovers, the raw quality of Dredd's world goes hand in hand with the Aliens' savagery. Clear, accessible introductions to both properties are to be found here as well. Flint's gritty artwork conveys the dark, ugly nature of Dredd's future quite well, and his work reminds more than a little of that of Carlos (Just a Pilgrim) Ezquerra. 7/10
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Volume 2 #1
by Val Staples & Emiliano Santalucia
(Image Comics/MVC Creations)
 I wasn't a big fan of the limited series that preceded this one, but then, I'm not a big fan of He-Man and his entourage of over-the-top gods among men on an alien world where science and sorcery both reign supreme. Which means, I suppose, that neither really reigns supreme. Not important. Anyway, though the plot here is almost non-existent save for a brief scene in a cave at the end, Staples and Santalucia offer up a fun, action-packed issue, and more importantly, it's an accessible one. This really isn't kids' fare, though, as the nastier side of war and conflict creeps in here. It's restrained, though, and that's too bad. I think the creators need to more clearly define their audience. Are they looking to entertain kids who have just discovered the world of He-Man, or are they after the former kids who might be up for a darker take on the muscle-bound, magical hero? 5/10
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