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Snapshots for 1/26/05
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 #6
by Joe Casey, Scott Kolins & Wil Quintana (Marvel Comics)
 With six issues down and only two more to go, I have much the same complaints and same compliments that I've had with this series throughout. Casey neatly ties up the "too Ultimate" version of Thor and Iron Man in this issue with a nice moment, beautifully illustrated by Kolins and Quintana, when Iron Man sees that Asgard is real, but Cap is still a bit too vendetta-driven and shaken for my tastes. However, while I'm not crazy about the more real world, modern reinterpretation of classic Avengers origins, I can't deny that the story structurally is coming together nicely, with Jarvis being the guy to bring Hawkeye into the fold (a terrific bit of continuity tweaking that I really like) and Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver slowly moving into their position as well. Stan Lee didn't tend to give a lot of thought to the underpinnings of his big changes, like the switch from the original Avengers to "Cap's kooky quartet," and it usually didn't matter, but that doesn't mean that a deeper examination of those circumstances can't be interesting, and thanks in no small part to Kolins' gorgeous artwork keeping my attention even when the writing didn't quite have it, I now see that this is essentially what Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is. It takes a look at the moments that don't really need more examination, but which don't really suffer for it either, and it's a nice treat for classic Avengers fans not being served by the "Disassembled" team. 7/10
B.P.R.D.: THE DEAD #2
by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi & Guy Davis (Dark Horse Comics)
 The newest B.P.R.D. mini continues to impress, with a variety of story threads developing at the same time. I'll admit that the number of story threads means there's not much standalone resolution of anything in this issue, but the hints and tidbits we're given are fascinating. Abe's journey into his own past brings him into contact with some kind of malevolent spirit, the new B.P.R.D. headquarters hides some secrets of its own (of course!) and the new field leader of the B.P.R.D. team tries to find a comfortable groove with his task force. The latter is probably my favorite element of the book so far, as Liz seems too ready to rebel even when Ben hasn't done anything to deserve it, but it's believable workplace tension rather than over-the-top melodrama, with Roger serving as some very funny comic relief. Of course, that might be my favorite element, but the spookiest element, without a doubt, is whatever's going on with Abe, with Davis and colorist Dave Stewart really pulling out all the stops to make his haunter look big, dead and scary. The feel is moody and Lovecraftian mixed with very modern, military/espionage type stuff, and it's always compelling reading. 9/10
THE FLASH #218
by Geoff Johns & Peter Snejbjerg (DC Comics)
 A couple years back, Johns wrote what might be my favorite issue of his exceptional Flash run with a single-issue focus on Captain Cold. This issue is the same sort of thing with reformed Rogue Heat Wave. To be honest, I found this to be a surprisingly dark "secret origin" for Heat Wave, rendering his reformation pretty much null and void as his crimes are far worse than previously indicated, but the tragic element of the story is undeniably compelling. Just as he did with Captain Cold, Johns dives into the psychological underpinnings of Heat Wave, making him a touch more "real" but without losing the more outrageous elements of spandex and codename (instead, Johns explains why Heat Wave took on this persona, and it's twisted but logical), and when we come out on the other side, the character has slid into a pretty tragic and dark place. In the meantime, we've gotten some pretty impressive moody stuff and action from Snejbjerg. There are some things that made me like this issue less than its Captain Cold counterpart, namely the lack of Kolins artwork (Snejbjerg does an excellent job, but Kolins was made for this book) and a certain distaste on my part for the darker elements of the DC Universe thanks to Identity Crisis, but this is undeniably a compelling read and a great issue of The Flash. 8/10
THE LOSERS #20
by Andy Diggle & Ben Oliver (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 I noted in my "Year in Review" that The Losers is always best when Diggle and Jock are both onboard, and I still believe that's true, but "London Calling Part One," the first part of a new story featuring art by Ben Oliver, is pretty damn good. Max, as written here, is a decade or so meaner than he was when we saw him last, but no less slick and dangerous, and the way he deals with a threat at the C.I.A. is brutal and efficient. The more pressing matter, though, is that we now know Aisha's motivation, and that raises some interesting questions. The story is about Clay keeping his people in the dark, but it's also about the unusual relationship between Aisha and Clay, one that comes to a beautifully illustrated and fun sequence that demonstrates Diggle is capable of writing more than one type of action as well as shows off Oliver as having the same atmospheric style as Jock with just slightly more defined faces, somewhere between the work of Jock and Vertigo artist Cliff Chiang. Fun, action-packed and full of surprises, "London Calling Part One" is everything The Losers should be, even if my perfect world would be one that never sees anyone but Jock drawing the book. 9/10
WE3 #3
by Grant Morrison & Frank Quitely (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 This comic has been widely praised, but much as I enjoy its inventiveness, I never quite fell in love with it the way so many others did. At least, not until this third issue, which turned out to be my favorite of the series and increased my appreciation for the whole series retroactively. I'm still not convinced that the experimental storytelling, using the limited perspective of the animals for point-of-view, wasn't ultimately a mistake, as it robs the story of a little bit of clarity, but there's no denying the visceral intensity and the emotional punch of the story. Without giving anything away, I'll say that Morrison and Quitely went a little less dire for an ending than I expected, but they didn't hold back at all in the giant fight between We3 and the fourth generation weapon. In the midst of these amazingly brutal action sequences, the creative team also finds time to inject a little humor (the rabbit's "secret weapon") and also provide the story with heart in the form of scientists who sacrifice to give the animals a chance and some very endearing, unusual camaraderie and teamwork between the animals themselves. An amazing and moving finale increases my appreciation for the series as a whole, and this series has earned all of the kudos it has gotten. I'll even admit that a little more storytelling clarity might have robbed the story of some of its unusual viewpoint and resulting punch, although without the powerful emotional component of the story, I'm not sure this experimental storytelling would have been clear enough to carry the tale. 9/10
Y: THE LAST MAN #30
by Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra & Jose Marzan Jr. (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Y: The Last Man is quite possibly the biggest page-turner on the comics market today. By which I mean, even when Vaughan is handing out answers (yep, the big answer to why Yorick survived is revealed here, no teasing, and it's brilliant in its simple dumb luck), he's handing out more questions. We know why Yorick survived, but we don't know what caused the plague. And more importantly, we don't know who else is after the cure, even though she finally makes her move in this issue. On top of the big questions and answers, Vaughan and company also serve up some great character stuff this issue, reintroducing Hero to the cast in spectacular and believably human fashion, showing how the relationships between our three main characters have developed with just a few lines (I love the platonic friendship between Yorick and 355) and giving Hero some much-needed closure to her story as well. Big answers, big questions and terrific storytelling, combined with great art... is it any wonder Y: The Last Man was my favorite ongoing series of 2004? The only question left is whether it'll remain my favorite ongoing series of 2005, and things are looking bright in that regard. 10/10
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