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Snapshots for 3/3
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.
FUSED #3
by Steve Niles, Josh Medors & Peter Repovski (Dark Horse Comics)
 Fused takes a turn for the very weird in this issue, and that's saying something given that a previous issue included the lead character literally puking his guts out. But the confrontation between Cro-Magnon man with scientist's brain and robot man with scientist's brain gets truly bizarre, including biomechanical horrors like jet-propelled brains with chainguns and one character actually flinging his own feces at another. Medors excels with this grossout stuff, including some surprisingly visceral moments where a couple unlucky soldiers get gunned down by the flying brains, although he's not quite as strong with Cro-Mag (who looks a little too goofy manga for me) or indeed with much of the more regular stuff. A shame, because Niles is perfectly capable on that score, with a nice scene between one of the Implementors and Mark's wife that feels a bit abbreviated in two pages but certainly helps to continue the notion that this book is as much about the relationship between Mark and Nikki as it is about Mark being fused with a giant robot. 7/10
MARVEL AGE: SPIDER-MAN #1
by Stan Lee, Steve Ditko, Daniel Quantz & Mark Brooks (Marvel Comics)
 It sounded like a good idea. Take the classic stories of Stan Lee and modernize them a bit for today's kids, but keep them self-contained and action-packed, without much in the way of continuity. Like I said, a good idea. Too bad that the execution is so lackluster. With so few pages to work with and a failed attempt to add witty Bendis-like dialogue, not to mention an unnecessary backup story, Quantz's story winds up lurching from illogical plot point to illogical plot point, squeezing out every bit of charm and coolness that Lee's original story had and replacing it with a complete lack of dramatic tension and painfully forced attempts at the trademark Spider-Man quips and classic bits. As a thirty-something old man, I can't really judge whether the more manga style artwork and faster paced storytelling is going to go over with the kids who are the target market, but I do know good comics and I do remember buying them when I was a kid, and I don't think this would have made the grade for me then either. 2/10
THE MONOLITH #2
by Justin Palmiotti, Justin Gray & Phil Winslade (DC Comics)
 I was pleased to see that this issue continues to flash between tales of the birth of the golem that this book is named after and stories of his modern day activities, because both aspects were what made for such a strong first issue. Palmiotti and Gray surprised me by making the Monolith a bit of a horrific figure, as we see his brutal actions against those he was summoned to fight and wonder at why he was imprisoned and who did it. At the same time, though, his role as a protector and avenger isn't in doubt, and Palmiotti and Gray have provided the modern-day Alice with a more dangerous alternative to releasing the golem, even if she has her doubts. Strong characters and a lot of mystery surrounding the title character have hooked me into the story, and Winslade's jaw-dropping artwork has done the rest. Winslade's depiction of New York, both old and new, is so detailed and real that it just drags the reader right into the setting, and keeping the Monolith mostly in shadow is a tactic that is paying off when we do see him, because the power he has and the fear he generates is very easy to believe. 9/10
MY FAITH IN FRANKIE #3
by Mike Carey, Sonny Liew & Marc Hempel (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 Delightfully surprising and fun, but with a serious core about friendship, trust and young love, My Faith in Frankie is a shoe-in for one of the best miniseries of 2004. This issue can't top the surprising change of story direction that came with issue two, but it does pay off those developments nicely, as the plan to separate Jeriven from Frankie works not only for the villains but for the reader, a believable separation that doesn't require either Jeriven or Frankie to act like an idiot for us to believe their actions. Carey's secret weapon in this story, however, is Kay, the sweet, down-to-earth dedicated best friend who is actually more likable than our somewhat confused young god Jeriven or occasionally spoiled young girl Frankie. The chemistry between a humanized Jeriven and Kay is the most romantic aspect of this twisted romance book, and their antics in the bar, complete with visual wardrobe gag from Liew and Hempel, are really funny. Liew and Hempel continue to impress in general, actually, especially with the cartoonish behavior of Jeriven. 10/10
SPIDER-MAN UNLIMITED #2
by Adam Higgs, Rick Mays, J.T. Krul, Paul Azaceta & Scott Koblish (Marvel Comics)
 Once again, Spider-Man Unlimited runs into the problem of its format, in that there's no room for any writer to write a really great story in the space given. However, both Higgs and Krul do a good job with the space they're given, and while neither of these stories are really essential or all that fresh, they're well-executed and good stuff for those who aren't long-time Spider-Man fans. This book is actually probably a much better idea for younger Spider-Man fans than this week's Marvel Age: Spider-Man, actually. Higgs, teamed with Rick Mays, turns in a story that feels a bit overlong given that it is really a standard Spider-Man rescue with a touch of Peter's teaching life thrown in for flavor. Decent, but very much by the numbers. Krul gets a little bit more off the beaten path, and though he's still tackling a cliche (Mary Jane as Peter's inspiration), the words he puts into Peter's mouth and the doubts that Mary Jane suffers are very well-written and touching. In addition, Azaceta's artwork here is great, perhaps a little inconsistently inked by Koblish, but at times very beautiful, reminiscent of Adam Hughes with a more shadowy feel. It also helps that he's out from under the horrible digital coloring he's had on Captain Marvel, and in the hands of established coloring pro Frank D'Armata, who does a great job with the colors on the story. 7/10
STAR WARS: REPUBLIC #61
by John Ostrander, Brandon Badeaux & Armando Durruthy (Dark Horse Comics)
 For some reason, the political infighting and warfare that Ostrander is writing in the "Clone Wars" stories in Star Wars: Republic are really hitting the spot with me, even though I have no fondness for the material its based on and don't think I'd like to see this kind of thing in a Star Wars film. However, in the comics medium, the political maneuvering and slowly increasing dangerous galaxy as the Republic gives way to the Empire works very well, and Ostrander has more room to develop interesting characters, whether they're ones of his own creation or characters who showed up briefly in the film and need some fleshing out. This issue he takes on Bail Organa, future adoptive father of Princess Leia, and shows him to be worth far more than the cameo by Jimmy Smits in Episode II would indicate. Bail is a man of principle, and Ostrander manages to comment on a lot of things through this character, from parallels to the modern-day state of American politics all the way to how Bail might raise a combat-worthy rebel and shrewd politician both in his daughter Leia. The artwork, by G.I. Joe vets Badeaux and Durruthy, is overcrowded and weaker than what I'm used to seeing from Jan Duursema, but the colors by Brad Anderson are gorgeous and make up for the workmanlike art job for the most part. Ostrander doesn't seem hamstrung by licensing requirements or an untouchable status quo here, and in fact he's telling Star Wars tales that are far more interesting than those coming out of Lucasfilm these days. 8/10
SUPERNATURAL LAW #39
by Batton Lash & Trevor Nielson (Exhibit A Press)
 Anyone with a fondness for monkey jokes will be in heaven with the latest issue of Supernatural Law, which brings back the crimeboss turned gorilla from "The Trial of the 800 lb. Gorilla" issue. Lash has plenty of fun playing around with the notion of a mafioso monkey, from a Planet of the Apes reference in the beginning to a clever Oz joke that plays off of skipping bail to more subtle gags that only really longtime comic fans might get, noticing a resemblance between Gorillo and the gorilla crime boss of Gotham. At any rate, Lash's story is one of just desserts for obnoxious Nicky Gorillo, but it also moves forward a story about a newswoman who has been sniffing around the law firm (and one of its partners), although this is one of the least subplot-oriented issues in recent memory. I wasn't as crazy about the backup story, which is a note-perfect imitation of Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan. Trouble is, the intensely detailed, tiny print style of Ware's art wasn't my cup of tea in Jimmy Corrigan, and I had the same trouble getting through it here. Great fun for those who are Ware fans, though, and another indication of just how talented Lash is, as he is able to effectively lampoon distinctive cartoonists like Ware or Dave Sim while still having a style all his own to use on the rest of Supernatural Law. 7/10
SUPREME POWER #8
by J. Michael Straczynski, Gary Frank & Jon Sibal (Marvel Comics/MAX imprint)
 Supreme Power continues to be one of the best superhero comics Marvel is publishing, ironic given that it basically stars analog versions of their competitor's big guns. However, Straczynski has wisely grounded this story in the tale of one main character, Hyperion, whose struggle to become a good person and do what he feels is right resonates even for those of us unable to fire beams from our eyes or shatter mountains with our fists. Most importantly, however, is that while Supreme Power has fairly deep characterization and themes of power and responsibility, Straczynski knows to include the action as well. This issue's knockdown dragout between Hyperion and Joe Ledger is amazing, beautifully depicted by Frank, Sibal and colorist Chris Sotomayor, and startling both in the brutality of the fight and the aftermath. As much as this issue gives us a visual depiction of the kind of power Hyperion wields, however, the real strength of the issue comes with the ominous talk that Hyperion has with a priest, which sets him on a dangerous path of conflict for future issues. 9/10
THOR #75
by Dan Jurgens, Scott Eaton & Drew Geraci (Marvel Comics)
 If nothing else, you have to give Jurgens credit for writing such an accessible story, because I've only been checking in every few months, and I never have trouble picking up the threads of the Thor story he's telling. Of course, you could argue that this means the story is moving a mite too slowly, especially given that this "Thor takes over Earth" direction has been going for a long time, but it's clear that Jurgens is telling a story about the potential corruption of heroes and why it maybe isn't such a good idea for heroes to become proactive after all. Magni, the future son of Thor, is a likable character, more down-to-earth than his father (literally and figuratively), and the climax of this issue, which sees him taking up a pretty important weapon in his role as protagonist of the book, is a stirring one. Eaton and Geraci, meanwhile, provide beautiful artwork, clearly enjoying the chance to draw the sweeping vistas of a future Earth and futuristic Asgard and blending the Kirby-esque Asgardian designs with human technology and fashion to create an interesting look. Given that this is all set in the future, it's hard to escape the feeling that it's sort of a "What If?" without consequences, but Jurgens continues to provide a thoroughly readable and engaging take on Thor. 7/10
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