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Quick Critiques for 8/24/2005
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.
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #643
by Greg Rucka, Carlos D'Anda, Karl Kerschl, Rags Morales, Cam Smith & Wayne Faucher (DC Comics)
 Now this is the sort of OMAC Project tie-in I can get behind. Rucka explores the emotional fallout from the events of the "Sacrifice" story arc and The OMAC Project, and I love the sharp focus on characterization here. Rucka's examination of Superman's sadness and disappointment, the Batman's anger and Wonder Woman's righteousness makes for some good reading. Rucka delivers a surprisingly accessible script (which is more than can be said for the chapters of the "Sacrifice" story itself). The use of three different artists to tell this story works well, because it's not just one story that's being told. D'Anda's more extreme style suits the nightmarish quality of the sequence for which he is responsible, and Morales's more emotive, grounded approach suits the scenes he handles, for example. It's interesting that the core story behind The OMAC Project has proven to be about the relationships among the three icons of the DC Universe (and of the super-hero genre in general). This is farmore dramatic and interesting than mysterious, computerized warriors appearing from thin air with the ability to obliterate any super-hero or villain. 7/10
DAY OF VENGEANCE #5
by Bill Willingham, Justiniano & Walden Wong
(DC Comics)
 This issue stands out as Justiniano's strongest in the run, and perhaps one of the better efforts in his career thus far. I love his vision of an emaciated Spectre as well as the gloomy and concerned Enchantress. His angular, exaggerated style certainly suits the supernatural qualities of the plot and characters. The script, on the other hand, disappoints. The plot is clear enough, but Willingham's narration, presented in the voice of Nightshade, is awkward and really doesn't make much sense. The write spends an entire page delving into the nature of the character's powers and just how impossible they are. Well, of course they're impossible. They're magical in nature. She's a super-hero, fer cryin' out loud. Impossible is what the genre is about. What's puzzling about it is that Nightshade doesn't seem to play much of a role here, and she had little to do throughout the series. It seems Willingham is providing a cue that she's pivotal to a victory in the concluding issue, but shifting the focus to her comes from out of nowhere. Furthermore, hinging the plot of spreading rumors through the mystical community -- a community that's been devastated by the Spectre -- is a bit much to accept. 4/10
INVINCIBLE #25
by Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley & various other artists (Image Comics)
 After being blown away by what I found in Invincible #0, I was quick to sign up for this new jumping-on point in the series. Kirkman's super-hero story is nicely grounded, but the pacing is a bit off. The opening scene made me feel like I'd been thrown into the middle of a story rather than the beginning of a new one. Fortunately, later on, that feeling of a fresh start is established. The supporting cast of this series reminds me a great deal of the sort of thing one would find in a Mike Allred's Madman comic. There's a quirkiness at play that's charming and plenty of fun. I'm far more interested in the more grounded aspects of the book, such as the title character's relationships with his mother and girlfriend. The character designs are sharp, and the art is exciting. At first, the short origin stories for the peripheral characters felt a bit fluffy, but it wasn't long before the variety in characters and visual styles won me over. 7/10
THE OMAC PROJECT #5
by Greg Rucka, Jesus Saiz, Cliff Richards & Bob Wiacek (DC Comics)
 The revelation at the end of this issue -- to which the script builds up throughout, establishing a perfectly tense mood -- is a whopper, and I love the immensity of the threat and how overwhelmed the heroes are by the mere thought of it. But my appreciation of that aspect of the plot is hindered by what happens to Sasha Bordeaux for no apparent reason. The whole triumph of the spirit of the coldness efficiency of a machine is a concept that played out, and how the cliche works here isn't entirely clear at all. The action in the sequence is hindered by the fact that the scene begins with two women who look identifical -- same skin tone, same hair color and length and same uniform -- facing off against an OMAC. It took me a while to figure out it wasn't Sasha in the OMAC's grip, but the other Checkmate agent. The art boasts rough spots such as that throughout the issue. Furthermore, to appreciate the heroic sacrifice at a pivotal moment in the story requires the reader to be familiar with his past adventures. The character is obscure enough that there are bound to be plenty of readers who aren't familiar with him or the Giffen/DeMatteis era of the Justice League that's played such a prominent role throughout this series. 5/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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