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Quick Critiques for 8/31/2005
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.
ASTONISHING X-MEN #12
by Joss Whedon & John Cassaday (Marvel Comics)
 There are a number of elements in this story that just don't make a lot of sense. Danger's and the Sentinel's failure to see their vulnerability of their destructive plans to Kitty Pryde's anti-technological power effects is just the beginning. Furthermore, this is one long super-hero fight that doesn't seem as Herculean a task as the script leads the reader to believe. On top of that, the new subplot involving Emma Frost, though intriguing, comes from out of nowhere. Still, this was an enjoyable effort by Whedon thanks to the ending. The real conflict emerges at the end as we discover that the bad guy in this story arc is actually a victim, and the real villain is one of the supposed heroes. It's a chilling ethical violation, and I love that Whedon steers clear of the warm and fuzzy characterization of a specific character. Whedon also does a nice job of picking up on a Beast plot thread left hanging by Grant Morrison. The art, of course, is stunning, but it's by John Cassaday, so one would expect no less. 7/10
THE FLASH #225
by Geoff Johns, Howard Porter & Livesay (DC Comics)
 I still think Johns went awry when he combined the climactic confrontation between the title character and Zoom with a war among the hero's Rogues Gallery, but this concluding chapter is pretty much limited to the former plotline. That, combined with the appearances of the previous Flash and the previous Reverse-Flash, makes for a fun, more coherent story. Johns immerses the heroes and their counterparts in traditional, Silver Age-like super-heroics, even providing a miraculous, all-too convenient but ultimately satisfying ending that promises plenty of new characterization potential for future issues. Porter's art is capable, and he distinguishes between the similarly clad Flashes and Reverse-Flashes clearly. Overall, though, it's pretty standard super-hero fare. I enjoyed the cover, if only for the homage to Crisis on Infinite Earths #5. Furthermore, it demonstrates that the Flashes of yesteryear and the modern era have amassed quite a colorful, diverse and edgy array of arch-nemeses. 7/10
NEW AVENGERS #9
by Brian Michael Bendis, Steve McNiven & Mark Morales (Marvel Comics)
 Bendis does a great job picking up where Paul Jenkins left off a few years ago with the Sentry. There are wonderful ideas and a brilliant design at play in a telepathy sequence. The story is exciting, and the art crisp and dazzling. Overall, it's a good read and an entertaining issue, but there's one flaw in the story: it's not an Avengers story, not in the least. The key players here are Emma Frost, Mr. Fantastic and the Sentry. Furthermore, the array of other heroes who appear make this feel like a Marvel Universe crossover rather than an Avengers story. Still, Bendis offers an accessible script that sums up the unusual nature of the Sentry character nicely, and the mystery that emerges here is engaging. McNiven's art is a real treat. He handles the expansive nature of the cast of characters with seeming ease, and the Sentry mindscape idea is executed perfectly. I love the metatextual elements explored through this character, and that visual representation of the blurred lines between the comic-book reality and just a comic book is actually pretty cool. 7/10
SILENT DRAGON #2
by Andy Diggle & Leinil Francis Yu
(DC Comics/Wildstorm Signature Series)
 Diggle and Yu offer up a much stronger second issue as the book moves away from the feudal Japanese elements and more into the cyberpunk realm. The plot is spelled out clearly without wallowing in an expositionary tone in the script. The notion of a dead man waking up in the middle of a Frankenstein-esque experiment is executed quite well. Yu's art, a sharp and effective mix of Jim (All-Star Batman) Lee and Chris (X-Men: Age of Apocalypse) Bachalo influences, is far more at home with the impossible tech of the future and the edgy, urban characters than those wearing kimonos and wielding swords. I love the attitude that both writer and artist pour into Suzy Suzuki. The action doesn't flow entirely clearly for a page or two at the end of the issue, but the confusion clears up when law-enforcement officials and technology is more overtly depicted. After reading the first issue, I didn't figure I'd be following this series too closely, but the second chapter has sparked an interest. 8/10
X-MEN: KITTY PRYDE - SHADOW & FLAME #3
by Akira Yoshida, Paul Smith & Joe Rubenstein
(Marvel Comics)
 Yoshida and Smith offer up a thrilling action sequnce, filled with hand-to-hand combat, swordplay and an exciting chase or two. It would have made for a great issue had the script offered anything else at all. The action is stretched out to last the entire issue, and it just doesn't sustain my interest from start to finish. The plot is advanced only on the final page, and it's not moved all that far along. Smith's art is delightful, and some of the energy that made Leave It to Chance one of my favorite comics during its time is to be found here. Smith does a solid job of conveying the title characters youth without making her look like a child. 6/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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