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Snapshots for 10/15
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.
ARIA: THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT #4
by Brian Holguin & Lan Medina (Image Comics)
 The end of Uses of Enchantment doesn't bring much in the way of surprises, but it's a compelling finale to an entertaining tale of fantasy. I was a little disappointed, given how accessible I've found the series so far, to see one of the characters revealed as someone that Kildare knew, and no explanation made as to from where, as it left me feeling outside the story, but otherwise I was pretty happy with this ending. Holguin tells a story about how what we wish for is never exactly what we want, and how even the most beautiful of lies is still a lie, and probably won't end well. It's illustrated in the same breathtaking fashion by Medina, who really goes to town on the devastation of Oberon's little world and the monster unleashed from the dungeon but whose work on the more quiet details like the fashions of the characters or the beauty of the amusement park is just as impressive. The Uses of Enchantment makes me curious to seek out the rest of the Aria stories. 8/10
BOP!
by Alex Robinson (Top Shelf Productions)
 The pain of being a devoted Alex Robinson fan is demonstrated effectively in BOP!, which is a collection of short stories from various sources including SPX and Expo anthologies, the Box Office Poison Kolor Karnival and Robinson's 24-hour comics. They are all entertaining stories, a smaller slice of the entertainment pie that is the enormous Box Office Poison graphic novel, but the problem is, as someone who is somewhat fanatical about seeking out Robinson's material, I've read most of this book already. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad to have it in collected form, but it's torture to get a little more Robinson when I'm dying for another full-length story from the creator, especially when the teaser of that story that appears in this book is so much fun. For those of you who aren't Box Office Poison completists, though, BOP! is a must-read. It's a $10 sampler of shorts that will indicate whether or not the massive Box Office Poison tome is for you or not, and if you've already read Box Office Poison in graphic novel form and are seeking more (as you no doubt must be, given how good that book is), BOP! might serve to tide you over until Robinson gets his next project out, hopefully sometime in 2004. 9/10
CVO: COVERT VAMPIRIC OPERATIONS - ARTIFACT #1
by Jeff Mariotte & Gabriel Hernandez (IDW Publishing)
 The high concept is a great one: A covert operations team made up of vampires, two creatures of the night blended together into one. In the second outing at bat, however, IDW still has yet to really knock this concept out of the park. When you're talking military fiction/horror, which is really the two genres that CVO should ideally occupy, I want mood, I want technology, I want action and I want good camraderie (or enjoyable rivalry) amongst the soldiers. Artifact has mood down pat, thanks in no small part to IDW find Hernandez, whose art reminds me of an inky and effective blend of John Van Fleet and Phil Noto, full of shadows and abstraction but with realistic characters as well. The characters and action are a bit lacking, however, as Mariotte, like Garner before him, doesn't really introduce the characters at all clearly, and so we're left sort of outside the whole thing, unsure why anyone is doing what they're doing and what they're doing anyway, and without that context, the pretty art and intriguing scenes can't really grab the attention. There are some great scenes in this book, including a terrific chase scene that opens and closes it, a couple all-too-brief character moments for the off-duty CVO members and an effective introduction of a thoroughly-nasty bad guy, but it hasn't come together yet. 6/10
GREEN ARROW #31
by Judd Winick, Phil Hester & Ande Parks (DC Comics)
 I'm a little disappointed in the direction Winick took a likable new supporting character in this issue, but I can't deny that the after-effects require that change, and that they're pretty interesting. Winick has built up Drakon as a dangerous, capable foe, and that setup, along with a little nudge in the form of the opening pages, makes for a really cool fight sequence between Drakon and Connor, one in which the tension and fear that the characters feel is easy to buy. More impressive is that amidst this deathly serious and well-choreographed action sequence (carried off to perfection by Hester and Parks), Winick maintains a sort of humorous tone as well, and I got a chuckle out of a few of Green Arrow's lines. I also liked the final fate of one of the villains, although I imagine that those who weren't happy about Winick introducing a daughter and niece to Black Lightning won't like this either. I have my gripes about the finale, most of which can be found in the outcome of the opening pages, overall I'd say that Winick's first Green Arrow arc was a really good read, and well worth checking out in trade if you haven't been following it. 9/10
HELLHOUNDS #3
by George T. Singley & Joe Abraham (Image Comics)
 Hellhounds is a book I really want to like, as it's got plenty of style and attitude and a setting that intrigues me. However, issue three, like issue two, is more than a little confusing in terms of plot, and it still feels mostly like Singley needs to slow the hell down, introduce his characters and plots a little more slowly and focus in on them. The balls-to-the-wall action approach is part of what I like about the book, but I'd happily sacrifice it to get a sense of who these characters are and what motivates them, which I don't have as of yet. Still, if you're just looking for a book where stuff blows up real good, you can't do much better than Hellhounds, as Abraham and colorist David Self do up some 90's action movie style ultraviolence, along with some interesting settings like a rain-soaked island or a big old warehouse, both of which are just fine for the shoot-em-ups that are currently the book's biggest selling points. 6/10
HULK: GRAY #1
by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale (Marvel Comics)
 Really, is there anything I can tell you about Loeb/Sale collaborations that you don't already know? When these two team up, it's always worth a look and usually the kind of thing that hardcover compilations were invented for, and their Marvel work has been particularly top-notch. Hulk: Gray follows the pattern of the Loeb/Sale takes on Daredevil, Spider-Man, Superman and Batman, in that it's a "Year One" sort of approach that is faithful to the old stuff but has a fresh feel at the same time. Sale's work is always recognizable as his, but he tends to temper it with a different influence for each book, and it looks like Hulk: Gray is Sale with a touch of the 50's, specifically noir and monster films, both appropriate choices for this character. I expect that this will read best when it's all finished and read in one part, but Loeb and Sale deliver a solid opening chapter in this flashback to the early days of the Hulk. To no one's surprise, this is a thoroughly-entertaining and well-crafted read, and the Loeb/Sale collaboration remains one of the few sure things in the industry. 9/10
HUMAN TARGET #3
by Peter Milligan & Javier Pulido (DC Comics/Vertigo imprint)
 It wasn't until this issue that I twigged to the fact that Milligan doesn't really write good guys in this book. Everyone, from the antagonists to Chance's clients to Chance himself, is a bad person to one degree or another, whether it's the guy who will let someone else die in his place or the guy who'll murder two innocent women for money or the guy who just doesn't know who he is and lives something of an amoral life. While the characters in Human Target may not be very likable, however, they're certainly interesting, and Milligan serves up an insightful look at the darker side of the human psyche, matched with a little bit of action movie style violence. Pulido does a really great job on the former and a solid enough job on the latter, and while I'd like to see a little more of the beautifully choreographed gunfights that drew me to the original Human Target mini-series in future issues, there's certainly plenty here to keep me interested. 8/10
JSA #53
by Geoff Johns, Don Kramer & Keith Champagne (DC Comics)
 The original Crimson Avenger has a tie to the JSA in that he was an early hero and fought alongside them, but he started off as a more pulp-ish vigilante hero, and Johns has taken the new Crimson Avenger from those roots. Though the results make her someone that couldn't really join the JSA, they make her a fascinating character, driven by personal demons and taking a brutal, relentless approach to crime-fighting that is interesting to watch. This two-part spotlight has been a fascinating insight into Crimson Avenger, and it also serves as a great action comic, as Wildcat and Power Girl battle their way through a building with Crimson Avenger on their tale, and Kramer does a terrific job with that action. Typically of Johns's writing style, there's also room for some characterization (a little insight into Dr. Mid-Nite), some continuity clean-up (a fun explanation of Morrison's invention of nine lives for Wildcat) and some subplot setup (another recruit for Black Adam's new team). JSA remains a solid super-hero team book, remaining fresh and interesting even with over 50 issues under its belt. 8/10
LONE WOLF 2100 #9
by Mike Kennedy & Francisco Ruiz Velasco (Dark Horse Comics)
 Kennedy pulls a bit of a switch this issue, as we start with Itto inexplicably captured and being interrogated, Daisy hiding out on her own and likable rogue and adversary Prescott reeling from the loss of his role as leader of the Vaper Fist mercenary company. The latter is a follow-up from the previous issue, but the former is the result of action that takes place in a flashback this issue, and it's a pretty interesting little action sequence showing Itto's capture. Actually, Kennedy throws quite a few curves this issue, placing Daisy with a new guardian and hinting at the truth of the virus she carries, as well as the motives that drive Belladonna, and adding another dimension to the story. As always, though, the main draw for Lone Wolf 2100 for me is the artwork, and Velasco does not disappoint, from the immensely detailed torture chamber that Itto is plugged into to the spectacular and unusually colored sequence that illustrates Itto's capture. 8/10
MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE ICONS OF EVIL: TRAPJAW
by Robert Kirkman & Carlo Pagulayan (CGE/MVCreations)
 I was never a big Masters of the Universe fan, and I'm kind of tired of all the 80's nostalgia books, even the ones I once loved like G.I. Joe, so really, there's no way I can be completely unbiased on the matter of these Icons of Evil one shots. However, this is the second one I've read, and it's once again much better than it has any right to be. Oh, sure, it's filled with goofy names and dialogue that is sort of over-the-top super-hero melodrama ("You haven't seen the last of me, Skeletor" and "My doomseekers have confirmed reports of the massive army Kronis has formed" being two examples) but it's absolutely suited to the material, and Kirkman keeps it from bogging down into self-parody. Instead, he tells a pretty interesting fantasy story of a power-hungry lieutenant, cast out by his superior only to return at the head of an army. The confrontation between the lieutenant (the man who will become Trapjaw) and his superior (Skeletor) is a pretty good one, brutal and effective in showing Skeletor as evil grand poobah, with Carlo (Elektra) Pagulayan serving up some solid action and Kirkman's Simonson-esque sound effects proving to be a good companion to his style. Really, I'm not even the target audience for this one, and I found it an entertaining diversion... fans of the characters will probably eat it up. 7/10
MYSTIQUE #7
by Brian K. Vaughan, Michael Ryan & Matt Milla (Marvel Comics/Tsunami imprint)
 Vaughan's mutant spy book cruises into its second arc with a new artist, a new mission and a jumping-on point, but the most intriguing element for me is actually a continuation from the previous arc. A third party seeking to turn Mystique into a double agent delivers not only an intriguing mystery (I assume that the Quiet Man will turn out to be a familiar face) but a nice bit of character conflict, as we wonder when Mystique will give in to her mercenary side and take him up on his offer. The rest of the issue is a James Bond-ian opening scene where we see the end of Mystique's last mission, a nice little piece of action by Ryan and Milla that has a great sense of movement and martial skills, and a briefing on the next mission, which features a bio-terrorism angle. I'm a sucker for gadget gearing-up scenes, and this issue has a good one, and I'm liking the tension between Mystique, Xavier and Forge as well. Mystique doesn't fire up the brain cells the way Y: The Last Man does, nor does it feature the nuanced ensemble cast of Runaways, but it's another hit on the Vaughan chart, and well worth a look for his fans, as well as those who are here to read about a hot blue mutant in leather. 8/10
RAIJIN COMICS #38
by various (Gutsoon!)
 I think that I've figured out the appeal of the manga anthology, which is that it's kind of like a buffet. You don't have to go down the line eating each dish, you can pick out the ones you want and leave the rest for other people. The question is just whether or not you can find enough of what you like to make the price worthwhile. This issue of Raijin is one of the weaker ones for me, as it features only two features that I'm completely engaged in, one chapter of the sexist but undeniably entertaining Saeba Ryo in City Hunter and one of the arrogant but entertaining Sakuragi in Slam Dunk. As is traditional for Raijin, one of the features gets double duty in this issue, and this time out it's the historical kung-fu/hyper-violence story of Fist of the Blue Sky. Though I'm primed for this type of thing right now thanks to Kill Bill, I find that I've sort of had enough of Blue Sky, but it still maintains a basic interest level for me. I can't say the same for Guardian Angel Getten and Bow Wow Wata, which have the misfortune of being the wrong genre for me, or for Keija, Nemuri Kyoshiro and Revenge of Mouflon, all of which hit genres that intrigue me but which seem a little confusing and poorly told, although whether that's a problem of the serial format or just a storytelling disconnect for me is hard to judge. At any rate, this is a weaker-than-usual offering of Raijin for me, but for those who are looking for a sampler of manga of varying genres, it's still a pretty good deal. 5/10
SILENCERS #2
by Fred Van Lente & Steve Ellis (Moonstone Comics)
 I was a little disappointed in the first issue of this tale of Mob-loyal supervillains, but the second issue grabbed my attention more effectively, as a tale of a mob guy who wants to open a flower shop turns into a tale of betrayal, murder and far-reaching action. This still seems an odd story to open with, since the betrayals would have had more weight if we'd met these characters in previous issue rather than hasty flashbacks, but the finale serves as a sort of "new beginning" for the Silencers, so it's not a completely odd choice for an origin story, and I really like the names and powers that Van Lente has come up with for his unusual characters. I also love the visuals that Ellis has developed for them, and I think the work of Ellis (along with the colors of Dae Lim Yoo) are the biggest selling point of the book. The style is obviously reminiscent of Mike (Powers) Oeming, but the coloring and general style also reminds me pleasantly of the work of the late, lamented Milestone comics, especially that of Chriscross on Blood Syndicate and Denys Cowan on Hardware. I may have judged Silencers a little too harshly in its first outing, because this second issue is both action-packed and suitably dark, and I'm curious to see where the story goes next. 7/10
STREET FIGHTER #2
by Ken Siu-Chong, Alvin Lee, Arnold Tsang, Alan Tam, Rob Ross, Andrew Hou, Rey & Adam Warren (Image Comics)
 Street Fighter continues to entertain, as the second issue introduces a few more familiar faces (and a couple I'm not familiar with, either new creations or from later versions of the game than I've played) and moves the plot along nicely. There's not a deep story here, it's all based around the kidnapped loved ones, evil warlord and good versus evil fighters structure of Street Fighter, but Siu-Chong is doing a great job making this material interesting, and the artists are doing an even better job with the fight scenes, which are a good mix of exciting choreography and nods to the arcade special moves of the character. The highlight this issue is the fight between sumo wrestler E. Honda and criminal enforcer Vega, although Adam Warren delivers a pretty spectacular Chun Li/Killer Bee fight in his backup story. As with the first issue, while I enjoyed the backup story, it felt too quick to really amount to much, and mostly ended up taking away space that I would have liked to have seen used in the main story, but the affection for these characters as well as the skills of these creators shines through in every page. Street Fighter is a lot of fun, a good hardcopy alternative to a coin-op/console favorite. 7/10
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #3
by Jeph Loeb, Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines (DC Comics)
 This issue, everybody fights. Really. There's a little bit more development of the story as Lois Lane tries to get Lex to explain how on Earth Superman is tied to the Kryptonite asteroid, but it's ducked with a none-too-subtle tie-in to the way that Bush got us into a war in Iraq, with mysterious classified evidence that won't show up later. Problem being that Bush wasn't trying to get us to go to war with Superman, and so I keep hoping there's a more concrete reason behind all this than "so we can get Superman and Batman into big fights," because I'm still not quite buying the premise. The larger issue for me at this point, though, is that the fight scene that takes up most of the issue didn't do much for me, partly because McGuinness's artwork, while attractive, doesn't really offer up much in the way of creative fight moves and partly because these villains either come across as more dangerous than they've ever seemed before or considerably less so, and so it looks more like a choreographed dance number than a fight where there are actually any stakes. What keeps me involved in this issue is Loeb's take on the Superman/Batman relationship, which has just the right amounts of friendship and rivalry between the two, but I'm disappointed that two of DC's biggest icons fighting some of DC's coolest villains didn't turn out to be more exciting than this. 6/10
TALES OF THE REALM #1
by Robert Kirkman & Matt Tyree (CGE/MV Creations)
 OK, at this point I'm starting to think that Kirkman is either a pen-name for a half-dozen writers or some sort of writing computer, because the guy has a ton of books out this month! Tales of the Realm is a fantasy book of sorts, but it's more in the realm of Smax than Bone, as it takes fantasy elements and puts them in a modern context. Kirkman has some fun playing with the vagaries of TV and film stardom in the midst of a fantasy-based world, and there are some elements of this book (such as a troll who complains of racist portrayals of his people or the monstrous agent who can physically threaten his client) that just made me chuckle. I'm not as sure of the actors going on a standard fantasy quest in order to raise their profile, which could turn this into a more familiar type of fantasy, but as long as Kirkman, Tyree and the rest maintain the sort of tongue-in-cheek tone, I think Tales of the Realm could be a fun and definitely unusual comic series. 7/10
TEEN TITANS #4
by Geoff Johns, Mike McKone & Marlo Alquiza (DC Comics)
 I'm not a Titans fan from way back, so I don't know what the continuity cop fans are going to think of this one, but my take is that it's pretty damn cool. Johns is clearly remolding some of these characters to make them more suitable to his purposes, but at the same time, he's writing scenes that are just cool on a super-hero fanboy level. Deathstroke's rather nasty takedown of Cyborg. Starfire's discovery of Robin's lie, and Robin's unrepentant feelings about it. The transformation of Impulse to Kid Flash, making him a much more interesting character to me. Robin, clearly out of his league but not lacking in bravery, taking on Deathstroke. With McKone and Alquiza providing stunning visuals, this is exactly the kind of thing I want out of a DC super-hero team comic: a mixture of character-building, mystery and kick-butt action. 9/10
THREE STRIKES #5
by Nunzio DeFillipis, Christina Weir & Brian Hurtt (Oni Press)
 When I was first reading Three Strikes, despite the clear sense that the characters were being forced down a road by choices they'd made and an ever-narrowing set of choices, I found myself hoping against hope that it wasn't going to turn out as bad as it looked like. That somehow, DeFillipis & Weir would pull out a surprise ending, some twist where Rey and Noah both got what they wanted, to one degree or another. Instead, Three Strikes is a dark, challenging and very effective rumination on the legal system, taking personal responsibility and realizing how your choices affect others. The final chapter of this one, starting with one particular horror and ending with another, will stick with me for a while, because the writers managed to get these characters into my head, and Hurtt's artwork gave them the realistic edge needed to keep them there. 9/10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #48
by Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley & Art Thibert (Marvel Comics)
 On a regular basis, I can easily say that I like Ultimate Spider-Man. But it's issues like this one that remind me that a lot of the time, I freakin' love Ultimate Spider-Man. Bendis captures the teen angst of Peter and makes it funny and poignant, veering from the very serious notion of a teenager learning that our justice system lets murderers go free if they're well-connected (still dealing with that one, myself, at the ripe old age of 32) to the persecuted feeling so many of us had as teenagers, that the world was against us. In the midst of all this, there are some great supporting character moments, from Aunt May's hilarious and heroic (to her nephew, at least) diatribe against J. Jonah Jameson to Ben Urich's quick and easy dissection of the hypocrisy of Sam Bullit. This is a funny issue of Ultimate Spider-Man, whether it's the scene of Peter trying to crash into the Kingpin's office, done with perfect comedic timing by Bagley and Thibert or Aunt May's phone call, which makes me laugh out loud every time I read it. However, it's also a nice continuation of the themes of power, responsibility and growing up that have defined Ultimate Spider-Man, and it's another example of why this is my favorite Spider-Man title probably since Roger Stern and Peter David left the books in the 80's. 10/10
USAGI YOJIMBO #69
by Stan Sakai (Dark Horse Comics)
 Though the driving force for Usagi himself carries over from the previous story and the guest star is a reprise of a previous story as well, this issue makes a pretty good jumping-on point for Usagi Yojimbo. Lone Goat and Kid (one guess where that comes from) make a re-appearance and cross paths with Jotaro in a believable way, and as much as I like Usagi, this issue sort of confirms that Jotaro is my favorite character in this series so far. In addition to some interesting character interplay between Jotaro and Kid, there's a fantastic opening action sequence where the Lone Goat faces off with some bandits and another good (if brief) one where Usagi takes on the bully who drove Jotaro into trouble in the first place. There's also a nice bit of comedy between a pair of travelling couriers, whose role turns from comic to serious in the end. It's a great starting point, with the same quality art and story we've come to expect from Usagi. 9/10
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