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Snapshots for 8/25
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.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #57
by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr. & Scott Hanna (Marvel Comics)
 I've been of two minds about Amazing Spider-Man for a while now. I loved most of the first story arc that Straczynski did, and though some of his cutesy goofy tendencies, especially in regards to the relationship between Mary Jane and Peter, got on my nerves, he did seem to have that fun yet action-oriented writing style that I like for Spider-Man. However, of late, the negatives have been outweighing the positives, and I'm afraid that "Happy Birthday Part One" is mostly negatives. The opening scene, from Peter's uncharacteristic cluelessness in the name of an unfunny gag to the mean-spirited Julie whose petty tendencies go beyond most human beings I've ever met (and I've met some discourteous folks in my time), set my teeth on edge. I was almost won back over by the spectacular two-page splash of the Mindless Ones invading New York, as Romita Jr. and Hanna do a phenomenal job of showing off the kind of action sequence, old school villains and super-hero team-up that is rare at Marvel these days, but even then, Straczynski's overly cute dialogue just grated on me. And then there's the choice of villain, and yet another guest appearance by Dr. Strange. I like the guy too, and I like his villains, but this isn't his book, and his style really doesn't seem like a natural fit with that of Spider-Man, especially when you combine it with the Spider-Totem story that Straczynski has built as part of the backbone of his run. 5/10
EMPIRE #2
by Mark Waid, Barry Kitson & James Pascoe (DC Comics)
 I love it when a plot is developing that has mysteries that I can't quite figure out, and it's not because the writer is cheating or using twisted logic but just because we don't have the full picture yet. Waid introduces some interesting mysteries this issue, a complex series of events which lands powerful tools in the hands of two forces with ties to Golgoth, one certainly against and the other one a little more uncertain. There's also further movement on the subplot about the Eucharist and its true nature, one of the big shockers of the early issues of the series, and another impression demonstration of the justified arrogance and power of Golgoth's empire. Add in that the artwork by Kitson and Pascoe is majestic and beautiful as always and you've got another issue of Empire which is better than those that came before, and which promises even more interesting things in the future. 9/10
FRAY #8
by Joss Whedon, Karl Moline & Andy Owens (Dark Horse Comics)
 Like Planetary, this is a book that suffered from spectacularly-long delays, and like Planetary, it does suffer somewhat in periodical format as a result. However, also like Planetary, this is a book that is worth the wait, and Whedon, Moline and Owens deliver a pretty spectacular finish here. As you would expect from Whedon, it's got a cinematic feel, and you can practically hear Melika Fray's narration in your head, and it feels right. Also as you would expect from Whedon, there's a pretty big twist in the ending, a surprising revelation about one of the characters that will have more power when I remember the event that is referenced in this issue but which nevertheless plays out nicely in this issue. The artwork looks a tad rushed, as if the script were horrendously late, the penciller under exclusive contract to another company and fans and retailers were calling for the blood of Dark Horse employees if they didn't get their last issue... wait, I think I've figured it out on my own. 8/10
JLA #85
by Joe Kelly, Doug Mahnke & Tom Nguyen (DC Comics)
 File this one under neat ideas, mixed execution. Kelly has crafted an intriguing villainous plot that involves the kind of thing a fair amount of decent people on the planet might be against, and he's doing a reasonably decent job so far of tying it into the character-centric story of Martian Manhunter having found new love with what I gather is a super-villain. What seems a little out of whack here, though, beyond the sometimes slipshod characterization that finds John Stewart acting like the goofy Kyle Rayner and Superman like a self-righteous ass, is that the heroes don't even question whether they're morally in the right here. The good that's being done is immensely bigger than anything the JLA has done, and while the old "free will means bad things too" argument would most likely have won out in the end, it still would have been nice to see some of the heroes having it. Still, Kelly is doing some interesting work with Martian Manhunter, presenting him as likable but also a bit fearsome (when he tells Superman "I'm not afraid of anything" it's chilling) and creating an interesting mystery involving Vandal Savage, the Guardians of the Universe and a new mystery foe. Mind you, I'm getting tired of learning how many Martians survived the supposed death of their world... it's getting to the point that Superman was at with Pre-Crisis Kryptonians, where J'onn shouldn't really mope about the death of Mars but instead be planning reunion barbecues for the dozens of kinsmen he has on Earth. 5/10
THE LEGION #23
by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Chris Batista & Mark Farmer (DC Comics)
 "Dream Crime," the strongest story in a line of strong stories from Abnett and Lanning on Legion, concludes in this issue. There's some fun use of the telepathic illusions that have been an integral part of the story, moments to shine for Sensor, Dream Girl and Saturn Girl and an interesting development for the child of Ultra Boy and Phantom Girl, not to mention some interesting portents about the future. Chris Batista and Mark Farmer once again deliver spectacular artwork, capturing the size of the team and the unusual nature of the setting as well as the important elements of action, super-powers and emotion that come with any kind of storytelling. Having seen what's coming up for The Legion thanks to Previews, I'm particularly curious about the next big story, but having finished "Dream Crime," I have every faith that this creative team can do the big epic well without dropping the ball at the end. Now if only we could get some trade paperback collections! 8/10
MYSTIQUE #5
by Brian K. Vaughan & Jorge Lucas (Marvel Comics)
 By some happy coincidence, Mystique is one of the better-selling Tsunami titles, and it also happens to be one of the best. Vaughan has been shackled with the same slow-pace editorial mandate as the rest of the Tsunami writers, one assumes, but he has made it work, providing solid action in each issue and an overall story that has built nicely to the climactic events of this issue. In this issue, having set up the overall plot and characters, Vaughan and Lucas really let the action fly. Mystique gets to play the ruthless badass, and Vaughan uses another nifty twist on her powers to come up with a great visual which Lucas executes very well. I must admit, I prefer this more edgy, deadly Mystique to the neutered version Xavier and Forge were trying to create, and I hope we see her slip her shackles like this often in the course of the series. Although Mystique got off to a bit of a slow start, Vaughan has got me completely hooked now, and he's delivering all the espionage-styled action that he promised in early interviews. 8/10
PLANETARY #16
by Warren Ellis & John Cassaday (DC Comics/Wildstorm imprint)
 If the delay between the last issue and this issue of Planetary is any indication, we ought to see the end of the series about the time my now-infant daughter hits college. OK, it's not that late, but given the ongoing story, it's hard not to at least take a knock at the horrendous delays that interrupted this series and made some believe we'd never see it again. The good news is, Ellis and Cassaday haven't lost a thing in the time between issues, and though much of my interest dwindled away without new issues to stir it, this issue did a lot to rekindle my interest in picking up the eventual trades of the material if and when it's completed. Ellis, Cassaday and colorist Laura Martin start off the issue with a spectacular tribute to Hong Kong action movies, full of magic and martial arts, that serves as the standalone story portion of the issue. The latter half of the issue is a confrontation between the mysterious Anna Hark and the mysterious Elijah Snow, and they banter on about events that have taken place in previous issues of Planetary, drawing together the overall plot while simultaneously reminding readers that it might be a good idea to dig out the first two trades if you really want to follow the story along. Beautiful art, clever dialogue, nifty ideas, lengthy delays between issues... pretty much everything we've come to expect about Planetary remains the same. 8/10
SCOOTER GIRL #3
by Chynna Clugston-Major (Oni Press)
 Those who didn't like the Pooka in Blue Monday aren't going to be crazy about the revelations this issue about the relationship between Sheldon and Archer, which takes a turn for the mystical. Fortunately, I think that the more outrageous fantasy elements fit just fine with Clugston-Major's strange mixture of believable teenagers and mixed time period pop culture, and given the outrageous effects that Margaret has had on Ashton, it certainly fits right in with the general tone of the book. This issue is less dark than the previous two, at least for the most part, with some nice interaction between Ashton and Drake and what appears to be a softening of Margaret told Ashton, and vice versa... and then Clugston-Major goes for the reversal. Grandpa Archer is another fun character, his story about the history of Sheldons and Archers is hilariously over-the-top, and the solution that Ashton comes up with is dark and yet funny in the ludicrous extreme nature of it. I wasn't so sure about this series at first, but I've become as much a fan of Scooter Girl as I am of Blue Monday. 9/10
WILDCATS VERSION 3.0 #13
by Joe Casey, Dustin Nguyen & Richard Friend (DC Comics/Wildstorm imprint)
 Though I've been reading this book all along, the recent publication of the trade paperback has made me realize just how much I've been enjoying it, so this was the perfect time for another twist in the storyline to develop in the single issues. Casey's morally questionable protagonists get a few kicks in the ass this time out, including one character discovering the dirty secret that another character hides in his basement, only to have a dirty secret of his own revealed at the worst time. Meanwhile, underneath all this dirty, human behavior, Jack Marlowe is building the perfect car and Zealot is taking on deadly female assassins with a mix of martial arts and modern weaponry. What it boils down to is a little of everything: smart characterization, big ideas, plot twists and spectacular action, all brought together by a writer and artists who are functioning together like a well-oiled machine. 9/10
WOLVERINE #4
by Greg Rucka, Darick Robertson & Tom Palmer (Marvel Comics)
 This creative team is makes me remember why I like Wolverine, a feeling I haven't had in quite some time. In the context of this first story arc, he's not an X-Man, he's the only guy mean enough and yet noble enough to stand up to some really bad guys. He's the anti-hero I used to remember, not just because he's that rare hero who kills or who steps quite willingly outside the law but because it's clear he's more interested in doing what's right in his mind than what society might tell him. What makes this sort of renegade approach work, in addition to the general approach of the creators that takes such a portrayal beyond the cliche, is that he's up against some real bad guys. Rucka, Robertson, Palmer and Studio F do a really good job of showing the villains of the piece as deranged enough to be sick and evil and yet smart enough to make a formidable challenge for any conventional hero. We've seen that these guys have gotten away with a lot, including kidnapping, rape and murder, and we've seen a likable supporting character fall into their grasp, and we've been primed to see Wolverine provide revenge and justice for all those injustices they've escaped paying for so far. 9/10
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