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Snapshots for 9/24
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 #58
by J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr. & Scott Hanna (Marvel Comics)
 I like to think of myself as a fairly open-minded guy, and I don't mind a change of pace story every now and then where, say, Spider-Man takes on a mystical foe. But this is yet another story that seems more up Dr. Strange's alley than Spidey's, and Spider-Man feels like a guest star in his own book. Dr. Strange facing off with Dormammu, with art by Romita Jr., sounds all well and good, but when it reduces Spidey to the role of bumbling comic relief, I'm thinking maybe Amazing Spider-Man isn't where the story belongs. The final couple of pages promise an interesting pay-off to all this mystical stuff in the big 500th issue extravaganza next issue, exploring why Peter is Spider-Man and maybe pulling an It's A Wonderful Life type thing, and maybe next issue will rescue the whole story for me, but right now, it feels like decent enough fare that's absolutely in the wrong book. 5/10
CAPTAIN AMERICA #18
by Dave Gibbons, Lee Weeks & Tom Palmer (Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint)
 The second chapter of "Cap Lives" confirms my initial impression that Gibbons, Weeks and Palmer are turning in an exciting and inventive Captain America story that puts most of the work on this book for the past several years to shame. Guest appearances by some other Marvel Universe notables like Reed Richards, Ben Grimm and Tony Stark, all in roles that fit right into the alternate world that Gibbons has created, are neat little touches, but what I really like is that Cap comes off as confident and capable, rather than impotent and full of despair. I'm also really impressed with the artwork by Weeks, Palmer and colorist Dave Stewart, which has both a great sense of design for the Nazi-controlled New York or Nazi versions of Iron Man and fantastic action storytelling. The splash of the blimp exploding over New York is worthy of Bryan Hitch's work on Ultimates, and the running battle between the Iron Men and Cap and his allies is a lot of fun to watch. 8/10
CATWOMAN #23
by Ed Brubaker, Guy Davis & Cameron Stewart (DC Comics)
 OK, let's get this out of the way first: I was disappointed to see someone else, even the talented Guy Davis, doing layouts on this book, because Cameron Stewart's art is right now one of the big attractions for me. That said, this is another fun issue in the "Road Trip" story, revisiting the beloved (and often ignored these days) Opal City of Starman fame and checking in on a couple of the interesting supporting characters that James Robinson developed during his run. Brubaker could easily make a career of poking around these unexplored fifties-style corners of the DC Universe, because his Bobo Benetti is every bit as entertaining as his Slam Bradley without being a copycat, and the way he ties Benetti into Selina's past is a clever and fun bit. Davis and Stewart also give the reader a grand tour of Opal, giving it the same distinct feel as the other cities that Selina and Holly have visited along the way, and while I missed seeing Jack Knight make a cameo, I sure enjoyed revisiting the Opal locale for an issue. Brubaker also drops a few crumbs about the central story, who Selina is looking for and why, which have me anxious to see the end of the "Road Trip." Not because the stories haven't been fun, but because I'm as wrapped up in the mystery as I am in Brubaker's exploration of the fictional DC cities, and I'm looking forward to finding out the reason that got these characters on the road. 9/10
EXILES #34
by Judd Winick, Jim Calafiore & Mark McKenna (Marvel Comics)
 Finally, a return to form for Exiles, a book I had pretty much written off when Winick's return couldn't seem to wash the bad taste of Austen's run out of my mouth. Winick returns two of the Exiles to a world they already visited in order to do some character exploration, and the resulting relationship that develops between Sunfire and a local hero, which resonates nicely with Nocturne's lost relationship, makes for the kind of interesting characterization that drew me to the series in the first place. Calafiore suffers by comparison to original Exiles artist Mike McKone, but his work is solid enough, and the story here is a bright spot in what has become a generally disappointing series after such a strong beginning. 8/10
THE FLASH #202
by Geoff Johns & Alberto Dose (DC Comics)
 I was pretty impressed by the change of direction for this book last issue, but while I still enjoyed the second part of "Ignition," the shock of the new was gone and I was left to wonder what this meant for the book, and to worry that maybe this was going to be another "Smallville-ization" or "Nu-Marvel-ization" where the costume, the super-powers and the action are dialed down to the point of non-existence. I'm a little disappointed that the costume doesn't really make much of an appearance in this issue, and that Wally's amnesia continues throughout the issue, as I felt like that was a neat trick that we'd seen enough of in the first part of the story. However, Johns and Dose do such a great job with Wally sort of fumbling through the rediscovery of his speed that I can't complain too much, and the way his rediscovery of speed is juxtaposed with fast technology, like planes or bullets, is pretty clever. The mystery of who's on an ice-wielding killing spree gets another piece of the puzzle this issue with the introduction of an arrogant supporting character who might as well be wearing an "I'm the bad guy" sign, but there's enough mystery left in why he's doing it to keep me hanging, and Johns is one of those writers who sometimes uses red herrings and misdirection as well. With so many books seemingly ashamed to be about super-heroes these days, The Flash is one of my last bastions of pure super-hero, and it's my hope that "Ignition"'s no-costume, powers-light, super-villain-light approach is a brief change of approach rather than a complete change of direction for the book... but if that does turn out to be the case, I think I can enjoy "Ignition" on that level, given the craft that Johns and Dose bring to this more gritty take on the Scarlet Speedster. 8/10
LOSERS #4
by Andy Diggle & Jock (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 In this issue, the plan goes spectacularly wrong, promises of retribution are made and a whole lot of stuff blows up. It's another fantastic issue of Losers, the best action comic going right now and one of the best new series to come out this year. Diggle again does some great character work, particularly with the slimy nature of the traitor and the calm anger of Clay. Aisha also gets some character development, but the responsibility falls mostly on Jock, who makes her look like an absolute badass (and maybe a little crazy) in a gonzo action sequence that closes out the book. Losers is a great action book that happens to be smart and funny on top of the action comic minimum requirements of being exciting and flashy. 10/10
MYSTIQUE #6
by Brian K. Vaughan & Jorge Lucas (Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 In early interviews, Vaughan described Mystique as a James Bond type adventure, but it really reads more like TV's Alias crossed with the Marvel Universe, especially given the twist that's introduced at the end of this first storyline. Whatever it easily compares to, however, Mystique is an entertaining super-hero/espionage book, and the intrigue added by a mystery benefactor and a little more questionable loyalty from Mystique certainly has me excited to see where it goes from here. Vaughan's Mystique still seems a little toned down, lacking in the ruthless nature that I loved during her X-Men days, and so the conflict of the first part of the issue didn't really ring true to me, but the new subplot addition ups her practical, ruthless component considerably and so grabs my attention. I was also not so certain of Jorge Lucas at the start, but he does a pretty good job here, with a great design for the Sentinels and a suitably over-the-top action/rescue sequence to hit the climax of the issue. 8/10
THE NEW BAKER #1
by Kyle Baker (Kyle Baker Publishing)
 I picked this up at San Diego, and if you want your own copy, you'll probably have to see if you can order it online at www.kylebaker.com. But it's worth the extra time and effort, because the book is hilarious, a treat for Kyle Baker fans who already have all his other graphic novels (that's me) or neophytes who want to check out his stuff without dropping graphic novel money (that might be you). Baker has a variety of one-panel gag strips that are either reprints of his magazine work or in the same vein, ranging from a political cartoon to a goof on a familiar fairy tales to more random but equally funny subject matter. The high point of the book for me is The Bakers, a silent strip that looks at Baker's family life, with an emphasis on the unique joys of parenthood that is delightfully cute and hilariously funny. Almost as funny is the full page "Baker Bulletins" in the back where Baker seems to indicate that he's going to be producing three ongoing series and two graphic novels in short order. While I find this unlikely and very optimistic given that Baker's work usually takes more time, I hope we do see all of these books, because they all sound good, and after reading The New Baker, I'm all set for more Baker goodness in the year to come. 9/10
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