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Quick Critiques for 4/28
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.
AVENGERS #81
by Chuck Austen, Olivier Coipel & Andy Lanning (Marvel Comics)
 Chuck Austen wraps up his "Lionheart of Avalon" story arc and finishes up his incorporation of a new Captain Britain into the Marvel Universe. Thank God that's over. Now that it's all over, I'm at a loss to figure out why the Avengers had to be a part of this story at all. The plot is hampered by leaps in logc and omitted plot information, making for a muddled read. Who the villains are and their motives are never made entirely clear; the writer seems to assume that the reader will be familiar with them. What parts of the plot are clear stretch the reader's suspension of disbelief beyond the breaking point, and the pacing has been off throughout the entire storyline. The only saving grace here is the art of Olivier Coipel. He brings a dark edge to the story, and I love the "widescreen" scope he captures with his depiction of a towering Wasp. 2/10
BATMAN #626
by Judd Winick, Dustin Nguyen & Richard Friend
(DC Comics)
 Winick tells a solid Batman story here, but I'm surprised at just how conventional the plot is. At its core, this story is the sort of thing we saw in Batman comics in the 1970s and 1980s. Batman faces off against a couple of members of his rogues gallery -- so far, there doesn't seem to be much more to the plot. Of course, what sets this apart is the darkness and edge that the script and art bring to the mix. The one aspect of the writing that doesn't sit right with me is the Batman's failure to deduce who might be behind the fearful hallucinations of his opponents in this issue. Nguyen's art brings intensity and a palpable air of tension to the tale. His work here reminds me of Eduardo (100 Bullets) Risso's work on the title before him, as well as the style of Doug (JLA) Mahnke. This is a decent start to a new story arc; I just hope Winick sets it apart from typical super-hero fare before long. 7/10
THE FLASH #209
by Geoff Johns, Howard Porter & Livesay (DC Comics)
 Johns's script is a powerfully effective one. Not oly does he bring the title character's impossible powers to life, but he drives home the intensity of his desperation and the inherent nobility of spirit of the Man of Steel. The narration here is quite riveting, but where the writing falters is with the plot. The notion that the Flash can't take a few minutes to explain things to his comrades in arms, most of whom are close friends, just doesn't wash. Reinforcing that contention is the fact that the title character himself admits how foolish it is by the end of the issue. Porter does an excellent job of capturing the Scarlet Speedster's powers as well as those of Superman, and the scene in the JLA Watchtower effectively conveys the larger-than-life qualities of the various heroes. The problem with the art, though, is that Porter doesn't capture the emotions that drive this story forward, and it's an unfortunate omission. 6/10
KINETIC #2
by Kelley Puckett & Warren Pleece
(DC Comics/DC Focus)
 Puckett is moving this story forward quite slowly... a little too slowly, for my tastes. There's plenty of drama to be found in this issue, but the fact is that we don't know anything more about the protagonist at the end of this issue than we did at the beginning. I suspect Puckett is writing this with more of an eye toward a collected format, as it's not the most accessible of single issues. The gimmick here -- that the hero has powers but is still frail -- is a strong one, but we're two months into this story and there's no sign as to what the writer plans to do with that gimmick. Pleece's art is quite strong. I love the bit of misdirection in the opening scene. Pleece's style lends itself to the sullen tone of the story and the main character. The unusual coloring motif for the DC Focus line as a whole works pretty well here as well. 6/10
THE LEGION #32
by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Chris Batista, Chip Wallace & Jay Leister (DC Comics)
 Chris Batista just seems to get better and better with every issue of this series he illustrates. He captures the youth of the young heroes perfectly, but he also conveys their power and confidence just as well. He juggles the rather large cast with seeming ease, and I love the designs of the various Credo aliens. Sno Cone's colors enhance the sci-fi elements of the book nicely and add a lot of energy to the super-hero action. The story is thoroughly accessible, and given its foundation in the Legion Lost series, that's an important and welcome quality in the script. The writers have set up the Credo as an interesting opposite number to the Legion. What I enjoy most about the antagonists is that behind the violence and fanatacism is a valid concern about their safety. Their actions are villainous, but their motiveis self-preservation. 8/10
LOVE FIGHTS #9
by Andi Watson (Oni Press)
 Watson sets aside the romance and slice-of-life plot elements this month, and I'm surprised at how well the book holds up. This issue is all about super-hero comics, the genre, the marketing and the industry. The writer/artist offers up an examination of mainstream, trademark-serving comics that's both critical and complimentary. Watson points out that the characters we love so much from our youth are slaves to corporate concerns and the whims of a conglomerate of creators, and he points out that what the industry does best is repackaging old products and reselling them to the same readers who are wallowing in nostalgia. At the same time, there's a quiet reverence for the characters here, and a cute but satirical tribute to the Silver Age of Comics. Watson's unconventionally simple style is surprisingly effective at capturing the feel of mainstream super-hero art from yesteryear and today without sacrificing its unique minimalist qualities. 9/10
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #5
by Brian Michael Bendis, Adam Kubert, John Dell & Danny Miki (Marvel Comics)
 Bendis offers up an action-oriented issue that's a lot of fun. There's a palpable sense of youthful exuberance at the heart of this new take on the Fantastic Four. I'm at a loss, though, as to why the cover focuses on the Invisible Girl when he doesn't appear in this issue. Bendis's dialogue is snappy, but the three-pronged banter among the heroes is a little difficult to follow at times; Ben's and Johnny's voices are far too similar. Kubert's art lends itself easily to the more traditional super-hero action that unfolds in this issue. He captures the power of the Thing incredibly well, not to mention the larger-than-life, "widescreen" scope of the action. There are a couple of little glitches in the art that don't jibe with the script, though. Overall, this is a solidly entertaining -- if somewhat typical -- super-hero story. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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