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Quick Critiques for 8/20
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.
ARROWSMITH #2
by Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino
(DC Comics/Cliffhanger imprint)
 Busiek's a clever, sneaky man. At a time when mainstream interest in the fantasy genre has never been higher -- thanks to Peter Jackson and company and their adaptations of the works of J.R.R. Tolkein -- he offers up a story full of fantasy elements. But the brilliant thing about it is that it's not a fantasy story. This is firmly entrenched, pardon the pun, in the war genre. The opening issues have been wondrous, but dancing around the periphery is the darkness and ugliness of war. Through the magic, Busiek explores issues of social and historical importance, and he's crafted some strong characters at the same time. Pacheco and Merino's artwork is slick and detailed, and they achieve an excellent balance between historical elements and those that exist only in our imaginations and legends. 8/10
BIRDS OF PREY #58
by Gail Simone, Ed Benes & Alex Lei (DC Comics)
 Gail Simone is a writer who's demonstrated time and time again that she's got an unconventional and mature perspective on things that might seem silly on the surface, and that's what I enjoy best about her work. But she's best known for her humor, and this issue spotlights that strength. The gags here reminded me of the kind of laughs one expects from Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis's Formerly Known as the Justice League. It's a riot, and I hope Simone follows on one funny plot development in particular. Benes's work -- clearly influenced by the styles of Jim (Batman) Lee and Joe (Battle Chasers) Maduriera here -- tells the story capably, but I found he elongated the women's bodies too much and widened the men's. 8/10
DAREDEVIL #50
by Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev & several guest artists (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint)
 Though I still love the cinematic, crime-genre feel of the book, "Hardcore" ends on a much weaker note than the chapters that came before. Still, a weak Bendis story is still a good story. After the intensity of the conflicts between the title character and Typhoid Mary and Bullseye, this showdown between the Man Without Fear and the Kingpin pales in comparison. The hero's words at the end of the issue are chilling, and they lead to another storyline that has the potential to further explore the protagonist as his own worst enemy. Maleev's gritty, textured work is stunning, of course, and inviting other artists -- especially those associated with the title character in the past -- to contribute was a nice touch, though the shifts in style do tend to take the reader out of the story. 7/10
EXILES #31
by Judd Winick, Jim Calafiore & Mark McKenna
(Marvel Comics)
 If it weren't for the credits saying otherwise, I'd swear this was another fill-in issue written by Chuck (Uncanny X-Men) Austen. Winick's ear for sharp dialogue and strong characterization just isn't as prominent here as I expected it to be. We learn nothing new about the characters here, though the writer does offer an accessible script. He also offers a far-too familiar alternate universe concept. Calafiore's dark, gritty and alien style suits the concept well, though, and it was a pleasure to see him return to work on this series. I just hope I'll be able to say the same about the Judd Winick who launched the series and wrote it for two years before this point. 5/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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