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Quick Critiques for 6/30
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.
IRON FIST #4
by James Mullaney, Kevin Lau & Alan Tam
(Marvel Comics)
 Mullaney's script suffers from a couple of key problems. The first is his effort to portray the title character as indifferent to what's going on around him. The reader knows the hero of the book isn't going to turn his back on those who need him, so the plot lacks suspense and tension. Furthermore, in an effort to foster a sense of mystery and danger, the writer instills a vagueness in the antaongist and the brewing conflict, leaving the reader puzzled as opposed to intrigued. Lau's manga style suits the martial-arts focus of this book, but his portrayal of the characters could use some work. The only thing that makes the little girl Iron Fist is protecting look like a little girl is her slightly smaller stature. She doesn't look like a child when one compares her to her mother, for example. The exaggerated musculature we see on the cover makes the main character look silly as opposed to powerful. 3/10
RICHARD DRAGON #2
by Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens
(DC Comics)
 This second issue is far more entertaining than the first, and it's because it has a greater emphasis on characterization. The relationship between the title character and the Bronze Tiger isn't what I thought it was or would be, but I did like what I read. Dixon wisely humanizes the driven, bloodthirsty "hero" of the book with a look back at him as a child. Ultimately, the emphasis is on action here above all else, though. The plot is progressing at a surprisingly brisk pace, and that, combined with the tone in the narration, makes it seem as though the quest hasn't proven to be all that challenging for the protagonists. Nightwing's appearance here is somewhat gratuitous, but fans who enjoyed Dixon and McDaniel's run on Nightwing will no doubt be pleased. McDaniel's art here is understandably frenetic and busy, but it doesn't flow as smoothly as I'd like. I'd like to see the martial arts unfold here, but the motion isn't conveyed clearly at all. Owens's inks are as heavy as I expected, and that, combined with some dark colors, obscures the characters, especially the villains. The color and flash of the bad guys are lost in the darkness. 6/10
SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #16
by Paul Jenkins & Michael Ryan (Marvel Comics)
 Pay no attention to that Part 2 of 2" blurb on the cover... this two-part story wasn't really a story at all, but a setup for the next story arc, in which Spider-Man must resist a mysterious villain named the Queen. Why she's so mysterious, I have no idea. Some of the characters know what's going on. They don't let Spidey in on the plot, and I can accept that. But leaving the reader in the dark isn't a smart move at all. I also found the media's role in the plot to be far too convenient, stretching the plot's credibility past Aside from letting us in on some of the antagonist's powers, this issue doesn't accomplish much at all. Ryan's detailed artwork tells the story clearly, but it never really grabs me. Studio F provides not only the colors here, but digital inking. They add depth and texture to the art, but the colors are far too bright given that the script attempts to foster an atmosphere of tension and mystery. 3/10
ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #8
by Warren Ellis, Stuart Immonen & Wade von Grawbadger (Marvel Comics)
 My favorite aspect of the previous issue of this title was Warren Ellis's brilliant and credible descriptions of the science behind the science fiction that's an integral part of this property. There's more of the same to be found in this issue, but what I really enjoyed this time around was his sense of humor. It's much more understated than the kind of debaucherous and filthy hilarity we saw in Transmetropolitan. The jokes here are just more matter of fact and poke a good bit of fun at the super-hero genre. The writer also brings some thought-provoking subject matter to the forefront with his establishment of an odd socio-political circumstance out of which the story's villain -- Victor Van Damme, the newly named and redesigned Dr. Doom -- operates. Immonen's realistic style brings further credibility to the super-heroes here, but what surprised me was how well he handles comedic timing and reaction. This is a nicely balanced issue, and dspite the fact that it's labelled the second part of the current story arc, it's thoroughly accessible. 8/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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