|
Quick Critiques for 5/14
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.
BLACK PANTHER #59
by Priest, Patrick Zircher & Norm Rapmund
(Marvel Comics)
 I remain a fan of Priest's characterization and complex plotting, but I'm having trouble following the more overt conflicts that drive this story forward. Crooked cops, street gangs and government conspiracies converge to create a vague antagonist here, and I honestly don't know why the new Black Panther, Kasper Cole, is in the middle of it all. Priest grants the character and his colleagues a genuine "street" sound, but for the life of me, I can't follow it. The book also seems to be lacking in the sharp Priest wit; the humorous side of the title has been toned down considerably. On the other hand, the Falcon really gets to shine as a character here. Zircher does a fine job with the artwork, though. His collaboration with Norm Rapmund here reminds me of Sean (Wolverine, Elektra) Chen's style. Zircher captures the characters' intensity and anger, and it casts a tense atmosphere over the book that enhances the story. 6/10
BLOOD AND WATER #3
by Judd Winick & Tomm Coker
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Winick offers up the strongest issue of this novel vampire series to date. The everyday attitude Joshua and Nicki take to the ugly details of Adam's transformation brings the fantastic circumstances of the story down to earth and makes it easy to relate to these characters. The emotions in the more serious moments are palpable, and I love that Adam so believably turns to indulge upon entering a new world of immortality and power. Coker's sketchy approach here suits the dark, supernatural elements of the story and bring a mature tone that's in keeping in the character-driven exchanges. Jason Wright aids him in those efforts with some muted, dark colors as well. 9/10
FABLES #13
by Bill Willingham, Lan Medina & Craig Hamilton
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Willingham delivers yet another fantastic issue, delivering a clever but ethically twisted resolution to the crisis faced by the Fabletown community. The real strength of this issue, though, is an escalation of the conflict between Bigby Wolf and Bluebeard, with surprising results. Bluebeard is portrayed in an unusual light, but it's one that brings a completely different facet to the character. Hamilton's inks bring out a crisp, highly detailed yet clean quality in Medina's pencils, and I hope this art team reunites for future story arcs. My only problem with this issue the fact that it's not accessible for new readers. Fables has a strong buzz going, and it's a safe bet that new readers check the book out every month. A bit of synopsis from the previous issue and a quick overview of the concept in general might have been advisable. 9/10
H-E-R-O #4
by Will Pfeifer & Kano (DC Comics)
 Pfeifer brings Jerry Feldon's story to a satifying conclusion. The suicide attempt that's been looming over the book since it began finally comes to pass, but it's unusual and proves to be a more unifying theme than I expected. Ultimately, this story arc has been about finding purpose, and it's a notion to which I can relate. Kano's art remains strong, and it reminds me of the styles of Mike (Powers) Oeming and Cliff (Beware the Creeper) Chiang. Dave Stewart helps to maintain an appropriate mature atmosphere throughout the book with his colors as well. To be honest, though, I'm pleased to see this story arc come to an end. It seems to me that Pfeifer stretched a three-part storyline out over four issues, and I find I'm chomping at the bit to discover how the H-Dial is going to affect someone else's life. 8/10
JSA #48
by David Goyer, Geoff Johns, Leonard Kirk & Keith Champagne (DC Comics)
 OK, there probably aren't too many JSA readers out there that are better versed on Golden Age super-heroes and DC continuity than yours truly, and even I was at a loss while reading this issue. The writers spell out some major plot points here, explaining how the "Princes of Darkness" story arc got started and foreshadowing how it will be resolved. But to really get it all, one has to be up on a vast array of DC lore. Too much, really. Making up for it, though, are some strong character-driven moments. Hector's pain later on in the issue rings true, and it's the kind of thing that we all experience in our lives. And the new connection that forms between the Star-Spangled Kid and Captain Marvel is a great new dynamic. I was also impressed with Johns and Goyer brief examination on the almost tragic notion of a kid who can turn into a super-hero. Kirk's artwork is as strong as ever. He handles the scene transitions well, and though the golden, ghostly images in the Fate scenes will likely go over many readers' heads, it was a nice, subtle touch. 6/10
MIDNIGHT MOVER #2
by Gary Phillips, Jeremy Love & Jeff Wasson
(Oni Press)
 I enjoyed the first issue of this limited series, so I was surprised to find the story gets a bit out of control in this second issue. The plot stretches credibility a bit too much at times, and Phillips introduces a whole slew of new characters. There are no cues to tell the reader which ones are incidental and which ones have a key role to play. There's a frantic quality to the storytelling here, and it makes for a dizzying read. Love's character designs are far too exaggerated at times as well, and an abundance of dialogue and narration make for some crowded panels. Midnight Mover turns into a runaway train here. There are two or three issues' worth of story crammed into this single episode. 6/10
NEGATION #18
by Tony Bedard, Paul Pelletier & Dave Meikis
(CG Entertainment)
 This was my first exposure to Negation, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Maybe it's because this issue focuses on the rogue members of the group of escaped prisoners looking to escape from the Negation's dimension and back into real space. The weasely Westin and the fierce Lizard Lady make an unusual pair, but their extreme differences make for interesting interplay. The narrower focus on the two characters makes it easier for new readers like myself to get into the story. The ligher side of Pelletier's artwork suits Westin's silver-tongued charm, but the artist is also able to capture the edgier side of the story and characters as well. Negation is an interesting sci-fi spin on a prison escape flick. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
|
