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Quick Critiques for 9/28/2005
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.
BLACK WIDOW 2 #1
by Richard K. Morgan, Sean Phillips & Bill Sienkiewicz (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 Boy, the Marvel Universe is one mixed up bag of characters and continuity these days. This story doesn't seem to reconcile with other recent tales involving SHIELD, notably the opening story arc of New Avengers. Still, on its own, this is a solid espionage thriller. It's surprisingly accessible despite flowing from the first Morgan-penned Widow limited series. This is the typical heroine-has-to-clear-her-name kind of story, and in it, Morgan offers up a radically different vision of the second Black Widow. I like the notion of a former spy who's decided to live it up, and the disspelling of the enmity between the two Widows works quite well. I love Sean Phillips's artwork normally, but his style really isn't to be found here. Sienkiewicz's finishes completely overpower the layouts, but I think that's the point. One comes to this book looking for Sienkiewicz's style, so it works out as planned, I susect. The artists handle the action quite well and offer a nice contrast between Yelena's sensual, playful polished look and Natasha's plain, minimalist togs. 7/10
NEW AVENGERS #11
by Brian Michael Bendis, David Finch & Danny Miki (Marvel Comics)
 I'll give Bendis credit. I (like many other readers of this title, I suspect) thought I had the mystery member of the New Avengers all figured out. It seemed a certainty that it would prove to be Daredevil in a new costume, but Bendis, while indicating that is the case, keeps the reader guessing that it may be someone else. Once again, the writer seems to ignore other Marvel continuity in order to tell his story (notably, recent events in Wolverine), but I have to admit that the continuity distraction is fleeting. This is an action-oriented story, and for the most part, a solo tale featuring the mystery member. I like that Bendis keeps us in the dark about the character, and it makes me want to delve into the next chapter as soon as possible. Finch's art is well suited to the extreme nature of the villains in this piece, and the Ronin design is a simple but striking one. This plot is far from a profound one, but it is a lot of fun. 7/10
WOLVERINE #33
by Daniel Way, Javier Saltares & Mark Texeria
(Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights)
 Marvel launches another House of M spinoff story arc, and like some of the others before it, it's superior to the crossover event itself. Writer Daniel Way explores a world in which Logan is an elite super-spy, in love with his colleague Mystique and tormented by images from the past. I think what made this incarnation of the character interesting is his abuse of alcohol and drugs to deaden the pain of his life. The artwork is a little too ordinary for my tastes. The story is told clearly in the line art, but there aren't any visuals that really grab me (and I usually find something I like in Mark Texeria's work). The strength of the story lies in the fact that it's not linked with the events of the crossover but tells its own independent tale. That seems to be the legacy of House of M, and I wonder if it'll hold true after the event is over and spinoff titles start popping up in November. 7/10
Email Don MacPherson with your comments about this review.
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