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Quick Critiques for 6/18
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.
NEW MUTANTS #2
by Nunzio DeFilippis, Christina Weir, Keron Grant & Rob Stull (Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 The first issue of this revival showed a great deal of promise, and much of it is still to be found in this second chapter. The writers have truly crafted a wonderful and touching character in Sofia Mantega, and I hope the series continues to focus on her has it has thus far. The problem this month is with the artwork. Grant brings an awkward sense of expression to the characters in this issue. Everyone seems so wide-eyed, even the players who should be more reserved or even jaded. Professor X's appears almost clownship when he first turns up in this story. A softer tone is called for in this character-driven book, whereas Grant's style seems more geared toward action. It's not that Grant's work is subpar, but that it's mismatched with this script. Josh Middleton's cover is hauntingly beautiful, but the inexplicable choice to depict a female protagonist in the nude really doesn't make much sense for a comic book that boasts strong potential for a younger-audience appeal. 6/10
OUTSIDERS #1
by Judd Winick, Tom Raney & Scott Hanna
(DC Comics)
 Winick pays tribute to the spirit of the original Batman and the Outsiders book that introduced the DC Universe's less conventional super-hero team. At the same time, though, the writer brings a greater sense of fun and more realistic personalities to the concept. I'm still not taken with Thunder yet (nor the clear titillation factor in the character design), but the other players are convincing and entertaining. Nightwing's close-minded and aggressive attitude toward Indigo portrays the long-standing hero in a less than flattering light, and I appreciate the new flaw in his character. Winick has made notably strong use of Metamorpho as well, and Raney's depiction of the character respects the character's original design while incorporating a more detailed, inventive look. 8/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #426
by Chuck Austen & Philip Tan (Marvel Comics)
 I have to give Chuck Austen credit. In this issue, he turns around some plot developments that until now struck me as being so contrived and implausible as to be laughable. Here, he offers a satisfying explanation for them, and he manages to tell a convincingly emotional story as a result. Even Polaris's ridiculously villainous behavior at her wedding seems to work now. The plotting still stretches suspension of disbelief more than a little, but Austen nevertheless gets the reader on board. Tan's art strikes me as a little rushed and uneven in this issue. Annie is never rendered consistently here, and the dark edges of the artist's style don't seem to be in keeping with the more hopeful and tender tone of some story elements. 6/10
VENOM #2
by Daniel Way, Francisco Herrera & Carlos Cuevas
(Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 Way's riff on John Carpenter's The Thing is a bit too obvious here, but the real problem with the story is that it fails to establish the proper tension and suspense. Though the characters aren't clearly defined or even identified, Way's not really to blame, though. It's the artwork. The exaggerated characters' reactions are so over the top that it's hard to take them seriously... or figure out what they're doing. The action is not the least bit clear, and for some reason, the artist fails to tap into the inky, creepy facets of the fluid design of the title character. When Tsunami was first announced, I had thought that Venom would be its flagship and most popular title, but the obfuscated storytelling cut the legs out from under it. 3/10
WOLVERINE #2
by Greg Rucka, Darick Robertson & Tom Palmer (Marvel Comics)
 I don't know that I've read a better Wolverine story. Ever. Rucka taps into the character's ugliness here. Logan is driven and angry, and his rage and skill have been haphazardly pointed in the direction of callous, stupid and dangerous people. Rucka captures the title character's intensity first by exploring the effects of violence on him, not just the threats he's easily able to back up. Though primarily associated with Marvel's popular mutant super-hero team, the writer explores the character's tendency to isolate himself, and it makes for a dark, tragic tone. Robertson reflects the ugliness that Rucka explores in the script in the character's appearance. Rumor has it that Marvel plans to tailor Logan's look to match that of his big-screen counterpart. That would be unfortunate, given the edge and strength that's to be found in Robertson and Palmer's gritty depiction here. 9/10
Y: THE LAST MAN #12
by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra & Jose Marzan Jr.
(DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Vaughan's sociological experiment continues, and it remains an intelligent examination of humanity's ability and (and lack thereof) to deal with catastrophe. It may be early in the running for this unconventional post-apocalyptic tale, but already, Vaughan has touched upon a wide variety of ideas and scenarios that really make the reader think. My one qualm with the script this month is how quickly Vaughan brings sexual tension back into the equation, this time in the form of a Russian soldier who's made her way to the planned landing site of a spacecraft. It makes sense that sexuality should play a part in this series about the last man on Earth, but it just struck me as being too soon as Yorick's encounter with Sonia in the previous story arc. Guerra's simple style is still quite effective at capturing the reality of this unreal but intellectually stimulating premise. 8/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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