|
Quick Critiques for 5/7
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.
ACTION COMICS #803
by Joe Kelly, Pascual Ferry & Cam Smith (DC Comics)
 "Harvest" continues, and like the first chapter, there are some interesting plot elements and twists to be found here, but there are also aspects of the story that strain credibility. The most awkward parts of the script are Zod's origin and how the world's super-heroes came to be without powers. More traditional super-hero genre elements are dragging down what has the potential to be an epic Superman story. Ferry's artwork matches the intensity of the more challenging aspects of the story. His angular style brings a dynamic quality to the world of Superman and adds an edgier look to the usually whitebread property. 4/10
THE AGENTS #1
by Kevin Gunstone & Ben Dunn (Image Comics)
 Fans of the espionage genre will be thrilled with The Agents, which embraces the conventions of James Bond and the like with relish. Unfortunately for me, I'm not a fan of the spy genre. Still, there were some ideas here that I found intriguing. Gunstone touches upon an alternate history of a world without its traditional seats of power, a notion I find interesting, and there's just a pinch of politics at play here as well. Dunn's dynamic, black-and-white manga artwork captures a fitting tone of energy and excitement, though if the cover is any indication, a full-color book would have served the property even better. Overall, my reaction here was lukewarm, but that has more to do with my lack of appreciation for Bond-esque storytelling than anything else. 6/10
Note: This comic book was not among this week's new releases.
R.A. SALVATORE'S DEMONWARS: TRIAL BY FIRE trade paperback
by Scott Ciencin, R.A. Salvatore & Ron Wagner
(CG Entertainment/CG Comics)
 To my surprise, I enjoyed the plot behind this first DemonWars series than the followup that begins this week. Ciencin touches on themes of bigotry and the dangerous side of religion here, and it brings the violence and alien cultures of the property down to earth. Wagner's artwork is dynamic and eye-catching, and his design for Moira really gets the reader's attention. Furthermore, the colors here really pop. Ultimately, though, this is a barbarian story, and as I note in my review of DemonWars: Eye for an Eye #1 this week, barbarian stories just are my cup o' tea. The fact that I was able to enjoy the plot on any level is testament to the creators' efforts. 6/10
SENTINEL #2
by Sean McKeever & Udon(Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 McKeever does an excellent job of balancing the colorful, fantastic elements of the story with the coming-of-age, high-school drama to which we can all relate. One can't help but cheer on the sophomore protagonist while watching him make a stand at school and make a friend at home. McKeever's obviously put a lot of thought into Juston's and his family's background, and the little details he shares with Jessie portray him in a genuine light. There's a manga influence at play inthe artwork, but it's not a generic one. There's a lighter tone at play here that continues to remind me of the style of Steve (Mek) Rolston. The detail that goes into rendering the robotic title character is impressive, and the colors add texture to the art while enhancing the more wondrous aspects of the book. 8/10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN 340
by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley & Art Thibert (Marvel Comics)
 Bendis once again brings the fantastic notions of super-powers and crime-fighting down to earth with a more realistic take through the eyes of Peter Parker. The challenges he faces ring true, but it's when the super-hero elements are not in play -- such as in Peter and Mary Jane's classroom communication scene -- that the real strength of the writing shines through. Bagley maintains a grounded yet dynamic tone in the artwork, and he continues to capture the characters' youth -- a key element in the story. The cliffhanger didn't really hold my attention, though, as the development seemed to come from out of left field. It's a sudden, jarring intrusion into the real-life aspects of the book that make it a must-read every month. 8/10
WAY OF THE RAT #13
by Chuck Dixon, Jeff Johnson & Tom Ryder
(CG Entertainment)
 A new story arc gets under way here, and Dixon offers up an accessible jumping-on point for new readers in the process. Not a lot happens in this issue, though, since Boon, the chief protagonist, spends most of the issue whining, stressing and lamenting, but that allows him to provide plenty of exposition. Again, Po Po the mystical monkey steals the show whenever he speaks. Of all the CrossGen sidekicks, he's easily the most entertaining. Johnson's eye for anatomy sells the reality of this unreal story, and his exotic setting designs are richly detailed and mesmerizing. This issue is more of a prologue than the first chapter in the saga's latest direction, but it's a diverting one and could spark the interest of new readers. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.
|
