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Snapshots for 9/17
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.
AGENT X #14
by Gail Simone, Alvin Lee & Udon Studios (Marvel Comics)
 In this issue, we get the big explanation for who Alex Hayden is, and despite the relative complexity that goes into it, it's a fun and interesting explanation. Simone and Lee do a terrific job of conveying just how dangerous Black Swan is by showing how afraid Taskmaster is of him, and there's some nice moments of despair and frustration as Alex is unable to explain his hatred of Deadpool and Outlaw gets a case of heartbreak that she really doesn't deserve. Of course, it's not all danger and angst. In fact, it's not even mostly that. Simone brings her usual touch of absurdity to the mentally-challenged Deadpool, the acerbic Alex Hayden and the bitter Taskmaster, and there are as usual plenty of quotable non sequiturs and funny ideas. I'm so much happier that Agent X is going out on a high note, with an explanation and last story by the creative team that made the book worth publishing in the first place, and I continue to live in hope that this means we'll be seeing a Deadpool/Agent X trade that collects all of Simone and Udon's work when all is said and done. 8/10
CASEFILES: SAM & TWITCH #3
by Marc Andreyko & Scott Morse (Image Comics)
 Andreyko and Morse have taken a big risk with their three-tier storytelling, but it's paying off, at least for this reader. I think Andreyko should have gone a little lighter on the continuity for his first time out, since he's referencing not one but two of Bendis's big stories on the book and I honestly am having trouble remembering all of the details that are relevant, but that slight sense of disconnect is made up for by the sense that when this is all completed, it's going to make one heck of a good read. The unusual storytelling approach and dark subject matter puts me in mind of the movie Memento, where I spent a decent amount of time a little bit confused but I found upon finishing my viewing that I couldn't wait to see it again and put it all together knowing what I now knew. And the painted artwork by Morse, unsurprisingly, is gorgeous. 8/10
CINNAMON: EL CICLO #2
by Jen Van Meter, Francisco Paronzini & Robert Campanella (DC Comics)
 As the story of El Ciclo begins to unfold, I find myself drawn much deeper into it, and Van Meter's story seems to be about the cycle of revenge. It's not untouched territory, but Cinnamon seems more self-aware about the nature of revenge than most vigilantes, and Van Meter has gone out of her way to make both Cinnamon and her nemesis Mace likable and noble in their own way. The result is that I'm fascinated to watch these women collide, and I'm also just as interested to watch what happens to them while they're on a path to meet up with one another. There's some great character building here, as Cinnamon and Mace both come off as protectors of those who can't seek help within the system, and it's a fascinating setting for these characters. Along with the interesting atmosphere and lead characters, there's a mystery building involving one of the runaways, and I'm sure there are a couple more twists coming. Throw in terrific, moody artwork by Paronzini, Campanella and colorist Christie Scheele and you've got a very entertaining modern western tale. 9/10
PAPER MUSEUM v.2 #1
by Jai Nitz, Shawn Crystal, Tom Fowler, Zach Howard, Josh Searcy, B. Clay Moore & Mike Giba (Jungle Boy Press)
 This Xeric award-winning comic is an unusual proposition, an anthology comic done in a beautiful 8 1/2 x 11 format by several different creators. I'm afraid that a lot of it misfires for me, but there's something to like about each story. Jai Nitz clearly has interesting ideas, including a steam-powered robotic bounty hunter in the old west and a science-fiction take on what happened to Amelia Earheart, but his work isn't helped by his artists for the most part. Crystal's sketchy style is eye-catching but not clear at all, and the story is a difficult read because of the art. Howard and Searcy use a style that reminds me somewhat of Jason Alexander, but not as polished, with nonexistent backgrounds and no expression in the characters, a style that shows potential but isn't ready for primetime. Meanwhile, Tom Fowler's story of a 30's era gangster with history in the Great War and some nasty delusions has beautiful artwork, but the storytelling isn't really as clear as I would like. The strongest overall story is "Open Doors" by B. Clay Moore and Mike Giba, as a bit of adventure and an old love re-enter a quiet suburban life, and it's a good and inventive read that mostly suffers from not having enough space to really work with the concept. Paper Museum is a collection of impressive potential talent, but the emphasis for me is on potential, and Paper Museum strikes me largely as neat ideas with flawed execution. 4/10
PUFFED #3
by John Layman & Dave Crosland (Image Comics)
 This issue is the conclusion of the warped and laugh-out-loud mini-series Puffed. Actually, it's three conclusions. Layman pulls out the same sort of dumb luck that has saved Aaron in previous issues, but it comes with the same sort of rotten consequences that has come with that luck as well. It's not quite as surreal and funny as the stoned limo driver from issue two, but the reason that Aaron survives his brush with death cracked me up. It was also nice to get a sort of happy ending for Aaron, in the form of an encounter with the object of his crush and the revelation of what happened to his nemesis (which I'm guessing leads into Stay Puffed, the upcoming sequel story.) But the best part of this issue for me was the first epilogue, the one that is depicted in Crosland's insanely funny cover, as two mascots duke it out for supremacy on the street corner. OK, not supremacy so much as stupid macho bullshit. Either way, it's hilarious, and Crosland's fight scene has the same sort of chaotic energy and bizarre sensibilities as I've come to expect from his work. 8/10
RUNAWAYS #6
by Brian K. Vaughan, Adrian Alphona & Craig Yeung (Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 The end of the first story arc of Runaways brings a revelation of the final character's super-powers, a rather nasty turn of events in the way the parents are dealing with their rebellious children and a surprisingly conventional new status quo by the end. The characterization is what has made this series really stand out, and that continues here. The way the teenagers interact with one another comes across as real, awkward and not always what they might intend and with a certain naivete that is charming even as it doesn't interfere with their ability to be effective. In addition, I love that the villainous parents aren't just monsters, but people who are able to justify their behavior, even when it's as despicable as killing a teenage runaway or trying to kill their friends' children. Runaways succeeds because it has an appeal and a sensibility that seems young enough to hit the teenage audience, but it's sophisticated and complex enough to keep the adults interested as well. 9/10
SMAX #2
by Alan Moore & Zander Cannon (DC Comics/America's Best Comics imprint)
 Well, well. It seems that Moore has more up his sleeve than just a goof on fantasy cliches, as this issue, in addition to having the sense of humor that made Top 10 so much fun, explores the past of Smax and turns a little dark, giving the return back to his old home more reason than just coming to pay respects to his dead father. Moore and Cannon have their fun with Robyn's reaction to Jeff's lies about their marital status and Jeff's typically clueless reaction to it, as well as some pretty amusing notions about dragonslaying as a profession, but the book turns serious in this issue and it really got my attention. Jeff's story is one built on tragedy, and just when it seemed he had escaped the dire nature of his childbirth and upbringing, an even larger tragedy came by that literally scarred him for life. The revelation on the last page serves notice that the villain is more than he appeared to be at the time, and has me anxious to see what happens next. Mind you, I'd still trade all five issues of this series for more Top 10, but I'm warming up to it. 9/10
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #2
by Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines (DC Comics)
 Superman/Batman reads like a trip back to the Silver Age, before both of these characters became untouchable corporate properties and had to sustain a good half-dozen books a piece and the creators could just have fun with them. Loeb's ideas are not always consistent with what has gone before or even with each other (the notion of inserting Metallo into Batman's origin seems ill-conceived even as a red herring, and the kryptonite effects seem to vary in intensity) but they are always imaginative and exciting. Kryptonite bullets, alternate future selves, a kryptonite meteor headed for Earth, one of the deadliest villains on Earth in a position of extreme power... the stakes here are high, and that makes for fun reading. In addition, Loeb has a take on the characters of Superman and Batman that I like, keeping the humanity and likable sides of both and emphasizing their differences without playing into the tired rivalry that has become their status quo in the DC Universe. McGuinness and Vines match up these imaginative scripts with equally imaginative and big artwork, capturing both the shadowy world and down-to-earth humanity of Batman and the bright lights and heroic proportions of Superman. I have my quibbles with this book, including a little trouble buying into Luthor's rationale (or the size of his reward) for the big reveal on the last page, but I'm having too much fun to really question too much. Instead, it's my intention to sit back and enjoy the ride. 8/10
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