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Quick Critiques for 5/19
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.
30 DAYS OF NIGHT: RETURN TO BARROW #3
by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith (IDW Publishing)
 It seems to me that sometimes, Niles expands the scope of this story way too far beyond the borders of the town referred to in the title. Checking in with vampires elsewhere in the world brings moments of confusion, and references to other 30 Days stories make for an inaccessible tone, even for those of us who have read everything in this line of vampire tales. Nevertheless, the core premise here -- a small town preparing for an annual assault -- is a strong one, and I'm really enjoying the smaller conflicts arising among the human characters. Templesmith's art is the strongest element in this issue. This issue really spotlights that a key trait of his dark style is his usual of brilliant colors as contrasting factors as well. The unnatural quality of the UV lights in Barrow, for example, reinforce the eerie and uneasy atmosphere. 7/10
DAREDEVIL #60
by Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev
(Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 Everything new is old again as Bendis wraps up the "King of Hell's Kitchen" story arc and returns the title character to something that unfortunately resembles the status quo. Don't get me wrong... this is an exciting super-hero story that brings an edge and darkness to the violence of the genre. Bendis's dialogue for Daredevil's allies -- especially Spider-Man -- is a lot of fun as well. But I'm surprised that the ultimate destination of this story arc was to get Matt Murdock back in his red tights and fighting villains the old-fashioned way again. It's as though he's back where he started from, only this time, he's armed with the knowledge that he's pretty messed up. I don't know... it seems that the newness Bendis brought to the character is lost in part as a result. Maleev's gritty and unique art brings the dark and menacing world in which Daredevil and the other heroes exist to life wonderfully. There's a darkly realistic quality at play here that reminds me of the work of Tim (Punisher covers) Bradstreet's art. 7/10
DEMO #6
by Brian Wood & Becky Cloonan (Ait/Planet Lar)
 This issue stands out from the previous five chapters in this unusual but strong series in that it boasts a much more supernatural atmosphere in the latter half. That eerie atmosphere is due in part to the vagueness of the main character's power and exactly how he condemned the neighborhood in which he grew up. What I love most about this issue, though, is its inherent hopeful message. The protagonist recalls the hatred and cruelty he was exposed to as a child, but as a man, he's found happiness and peace. The character could have easily been a prime candidate for membership in the Trenchcoat Mafia, but he made a choice not to be tainted by the ugliness around him. Cloonan's manga-influenced art captures the innocence of the main character perfectly, and her depiction of the manifestation of his powers reminded me of the art of Guy (The Marquis) Davis. 8/10
EXILES #47
by Tony Bedard & Mizuki Sakakibara (Marvel Comics)
 Tony Bedard's second issue on this book isn't much more encouraging than his first. There are two main components to this script. The first is Namora's backstory, in which she's revealed to be a murderous dictator, so that doesn't exactly make me want to read a story in which she's one of the protagonists. The second aspect of the book is the requisite fight scene that takes place despite the fact that most of combatants claim they don't want to fight. The point of this story arc has yet to emerge. Sakakibara's art is detailed but stiff. Despite the colorful array of characters at the artist's disposal, the visual side of this comic book is actually a little bit dull. The plotting is generic, and the art is unengaging. That does not make for a winning combination. Unless Bedard pulls a major ace out from his sleeve in the third and final chapter of his first story arc, it seems my interest in this title is coming to an end. 4/10
HAWKMAN #28
by Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Ryan Sook & Mick Gray (DC Comics)
 Palmiotti and Gray do an excellent job of picking up where previous writer Geoff Johns left off, continuing with established themes of the series while still creating a sense of a new direction. Carter's attempt to break the cycle of his lives proceeds a little too quickly and conveniently, mind you, but it's a smart direction for the character. The writers also introduce an important new character, Det. Grubs, formerly of the Gotham police department. His frustration with vigilantes rings true. Ryan Sook's style suits the title character well, as it's in keeping with the ever so slight supernatural tone. Sook's style has come a long way since it was basically mimickry of Mike (Hellboy) Mignola's style. The darkness brings maturity and tension to the book, but there's a softer quality in the human characters. His work here reminds me of Paul (Leave It to Chance) Smith's work, and that of Kevin (Tomorrow Stories) Nowlan as well. 7/10
OUTSIDERS #12
by Judd Winick, Tom Derenick & Kevin Conrad
(DC Comics)
 With Arsenal back in the active lineup, the team gets proactive again, and the slightly unconventional, edgier tone returns to this super-hero title. The storyline promises to bring the Fearsome Five back as a force to be reckoned with, and as a fan of the 1980s Marv Wolfman/George Perez New Teen Titans comics in which they debuted, I'm a sucker for these villains. I love the use of Alcatraz as the new super-villain prison in the DC Universe, and the Deep Throat-like subplot is an attention-grabber. Kevin Conrad's grittier, sharp inks seem to agree with Tom Derenick's pencils, as this is some of the best work I've seen from the penciller. Winick seems to resort to references to sex as the only way to make these characters seem young and hip, though, and Arsenal seems to be defined solely by the number of notches on his super-hero belt. Still, this is some fun, exciting storytelling. 7/10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #59
by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley & Scott Hanna
(Marvel Comics)
 The scene that opens this issue features a powerful moment between two friends and some convincing dialogue that rings true despite the ovewhelming and unimaginable emotion being explored. The problem is that later on in the issue, I get the feeling that Bendis teeters on the edge of writing some Bob Haney-esque dialogue in an effort to convey a youthful, hip and playful tone in the script. Like, I'm thinkin' it was all, like, "Way too many 'dudes' in there, dude." Still, the tension in the opening scene is eased with an otherwise funny denouement to the "Hollywood" story arc. This is a talking-heads issue, so there's no action for Bagley to convey, but he manages to keep a sense of movement in the book by constantly shifting the point of view. He also does a good job of conveying the characters' emotions through their eyes. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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