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Quick Critiques for 9/17
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 #3
by Kurt Busiek, Carlos Pacheco & Jesus Merino
(DC Comics/Cliffhanger imprint)
 My favorite aspect of this series isn't the action, the romance or the interaction among the airmen in Fletcher's unit -- though those elements are all well crafted and entertaining. No, my favorite bits are the peripheral touches that bring wonder to this magical world at war. Dolphins with wings, ships that run on ley lines, dragonskin that reminds young dragonets' of their parents... these are the imaginative adornments that makes Arrowsmith such a joy for me. Pacheco breaks out of a conventional super-hero tone in this series while still maintaining a flair for action and larger-than-life visuals.8/10
BIRDS OF PREY #59
by Gail Simone, Ed Benes & Alex Lei (DC Comics)
 Simone touches on the idea that grabbed my attention in the first issue once again: the line Oracle crosses when she invades people's provacy in order to save lives. I can't wait to see how this notion is explored in further issues. I also enjoyed how Huntress is incorporated into the Birds' world in a much more amicable way than in the past. Savant is an entertaining villain with a funny gimmick, but I don't know that I fully get his obsessions with information and the Batman's identity. Benes's Joe Madureira-esque artwork is energetic and dynamic, and it suits the action-oriented tone of this chapter of Simone's first story arc. 7/10
DAREDEVIL #52
by David Mack (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 The second chapter of a story arc is a little early for a creator to be repeating himself, but that's what happens here. Mack rehashes Echo's history and her one-time innocent perceptions of an alien concept -- sound. It certainly makes for an accessible read, but not one that advances the plot at all. This chapter will no doubt be frustrating for those readers who wait for the inevitable trade-paperback collection. Mack's multimedia artwork is as stunning and well crafted as ever, and his depiction of Echo as an adult is alluring, graceful and haunting. 7/10
RUNAWAYS #6
by Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona & Craig Yeung
(Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 The opening story arc comes to a close, I'm surprised to find this concluding chapter isn't nearly as strong as those that came before. Vaughan is busy getting the new status quo and more traditional super-hero genre elements -- such as codenames and a headquarters -- into place, and some of the book's more genuine qualities are shunted aside in favor of elements that seem a bit forced. Still, the characters are strong -- and more importantly, smart -- and I can't wait to see what comes next for these kids. The artwork continues to impress. Alphona's work strikes me as something of a cross between the styles of Lee (Stars & S.T.R.I.P.E.) Moder and Josh (NYX) Middleton. 7/10
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #2
by Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines
(DC Comics)
 Loeb offered up an incredibly strong and meticulous crafted first issue last month, and that's why I'm so surprised at the seemingly scattershot quality of this followup. The plot completely shifts from two heroes discovering a commonality in a foe to a violent warning from the future that convenient offers no real answers. Furthermore, the heroes' efforts to save one another in the opening scene lacks suspense. McGuinness's artwork is dynamic and captures the wonder and energy of super-heroes while still maintaining an edge in the second-billed hero. Loeb had a strong plot underway in the first issue, but more cosmic elements are interfering with it here, as far as I can tell. 6/10
UNCANNY X-MEN #431
by Chuck Austen & Philip Tan (Marvel Comics)
 Chuck Austen's plotting is all over the place in this story arc. He's following three major plotlines, and not one seems to take precedence over another, despite the fact that the story arc's title points to Nightcrawler's dilemma. As a result, none of the plotlines seems to boast much importance, and none holds my interest. However, I must confess to enjoying Northstar's playfulness when it came to messing with Juggernaut's homophobic beliefs. The story isn't accessible, not even for those of us following this very story arc, let alone the X-books in general. Tan's art, though boasting a strong Neal Adams influence during the Genosha flashback sequence, looks rushed overall, and the inconsistencies are even more distracting than before. 2/10
WOLVERINE #5
by Greg Rucka & Darick Robertson (Marvel Comics)
 Rucka does a remarkable job of tapping into the long-established notion of the title character's animalistic, berserker rages and bringing them to life. His feral demeanor in this story is chilling, and it eclipsed the cruelty that the antagonists visit upon fellow human beings. Rucka's move to introduce a new female character in Logan's world is a sharp one, especially given the writer's penchant for including strong women in his stories. Darick Robertson really backs up Rucka in his effort to convey the unconventional protagonist's mindless rage and thirst for violence. This is the sort of pull-no-punches anti-hero I was hoping experience -- both conceptually and visually -- when I heard these creators would be tackling the popular mutant character. 8/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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