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Snapshots for 1/5/05
There's no way that Don 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.
AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES #4
by Joe Casey & Scott Kolins (Marvel Comics)
 I'm still not quite won over by Casey's more realistic take on the early days of the Avengers, but I can't deny that I'm having a lot of fun, in no small part to the use of classic villains and the beautiful linework being done by Scott Kolins. The presentation of Kang as a dangerous force that the military is called in to deal with reads (as has most of Earth's Mightiest) more like The Ultimates than The Avengers, but it's undeniably interesting, and the same can be said of Cap's interview with Stars & Stripes. In addition, while Casey's take on these characters reads a lot more like the gritty Ultimates versions (especially Iron Man and Thor), Kolins and Quintana are playing very much to the larger-than-life old school superhero feel, and the action scenes are a sight to behold. I still find Earth's Mightiest Heroes a little bit dour and overly serious, but it's closer to what I want out of the Avengers than New Avengers is, and the artwork is so great that I'd almost buy the book for that alone. 7/10
DEADSHOT #2
by Christos N. Gage, Steven Cummings & Jimmy Palmiotti (DC Comics)
 My initial impression of Deadshot was that Gage absolutely got the character, but had plugged him into something of a generic Punisher story. That is still my impression, but while the plot of the story is Punisher territory, the way that Gage is writing it is undeniably tailored to Deadshot, and so I find myself pretty happy with it, on balance. There's a sort of darkly comical tone that plays to the part of all of us that wishes to see criminals punished with imaginative vengeance rather than brought in after a punch-up with a spandex-clad hero, as well as some exceptional action storytelling and an underlying story based very much on the character's psychological makeup. Gage also steers clear of the obvious tragic consequences of this kind of story so far by making Deadshot effective at protecting his own even as he's pissing off some powerful foes, and the over-the-top threats he makes to keep people (and dogs) safe are a lot of fun to watch. Fans of the late, lamented Suicide Squad will definitely want to give this one a look. 8/10
THE INTIMATES #3
by Joe Casey, Giuseppe Camuncoli & Sandra Hope (DC Comics/Wildstorm)
 It's issue three and Casey is still slowly introducing us to his characters. The Intimates is not a story-driven book nor is it really a character-driven book, so far it is an attitude-driven book, and I'm really enjoying it. Casey has focused in on teen life as most of us remember it, the universal heartbreak and selfishness and neuroses, all wrapped up in superpowers and high technology. The core of the book is easy to relate to for teens and those who were teens, but the trappings are undeniably modern and slick, poking fun at the superhero culture and teenaged angst even as it perfectly nails what makes those two things appealing from a storytelling point-of-view. Credit here must also go to Camuncoli, Hope and colorist Randy Mayor, who bring Casey's MTV-chopped pacing to visual life and incorporate more than a little modern videogame style into their straight-up comic-book storytelling. Casey has always done his best superhero work at Wildstorm, and The Intimates is no exception, a fresh and funny take on the teen superhero subgenre. 8/10
THE WALKING DEAD #14
by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard & Cliff Rathburn (Image Comics)
 I've said it before, and I'll say it again: One of the most endearing things a comic can do for me is to be unpredictable. The Walking Dead is certainly that, but unlike the "unpredictable" of event comics, which often throws logic or characterization to the wind, Kirkman builds The Walking Dead on rock solid characterization while packing the book full of surprises. The newest members of Rick's "tribe," the culmination of the Julie/Chris subplot and a fantastic cliffhanger are the big surprises in this issue, wrapped as usual around solid characterization and strongly constructed subplots. Seeing the characters deal with the realities of survival in a world without elecricity right alongside the psychological effects and the sci-fi element of the zombies reinforces just how well-constructed The Walking Dead is. In addition, Adlard and Rathburn have really made the book their own, from the distinctive designs of the new characters to the powerful emotions and violent aftermath of the closing scenes. Fantastic reading, as always. 10/10
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