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Hey
Kids! Comics!
It was
one heck of a good week last week at the shop. For the first
time in a while, I was really excited to read every book in
my stack. So if I seem particularly kind, it's because, well,
the publishers were kind to me.
JSA
#44
writers: David S. Goyer and Geoff Johns
artists: Leonard Kirk and Keith Champagne
In classic
All-Star Comics tradition, the JSA has gone back in
time to face down an enemy in ancient Egypt. But in a move
that never happened in the Golden Age, the story actually
deepens our understanding of characters, especially Black
Adam.
Things
are still not what they appear to be with Adam; clearly, something
huge happens between his younger self fighting alongside Captain
Marvel and the later arrogant member of the JSA. Being accused
of criminal behavior isn't enough to explain it. Then again,
we know from a past issue that either Adam isn't in complete
control of his own mind, or he really is a villain. Something
tells me that's going to get wrapped up very quickly as the
team hurtles toward a confrontation with Mordru.
Aside
from an extremely satisfying story (and odd coincidence that
its resolution seems similar to the end of "The Obsidian Age"),
Goyer and Johns deliver a pretty strong cliffhanger. Dr. Fate
reveals a long-standing fringe character to be not who everyone
thought. Oddly enough, the clue lies in the HeroClix set with
a character that seems out of place.
Rating:
Powers
#27
writer: Brian Michael Bendis
artist: Michael Avon Oeming
Bendis
and Oeming earn the biggest laughs of the month with their
opening sequence. Strangely pastiching Jack Kirby and Hanna-Barbera
simultaneously, the burnt-out Dragonfist explains to Walker
and Pilgrim why he tried to quit Unity many years before.
The story comes right out of a bad seventies comic (not necessarily
a Superfriends episode), but Bendis can't help putting modern
twists on it - like the real consequences of making a star
octopus do your bidding.
Over
cartoony action, Dragonfist reveals himself to be the foul-mouthed
jerk many wrote Green Arrow off as years ago. There's a pretty
strong split between the ideals he espouses and the man he
becomes. Then again, none of Unity really lives up to their
public images. And it's pretty funny to see this out of shape
has been dodging autograph seekers while trying to grab a
hot dog at a convention.
As usual,
this book delivers everything you could want: tight plotting,
sharp dialogue, and unique art that works perfectly. All it
really needs is a quote from us on the cover.
Rating:
Superman:
The Ten Cent Adventure
writer: Steven T. Seagle
artists: Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens
The good
news for us is that for ten cents, you get one heck of a good
story. The so-so news for DC is that I don't know who's going
to pick up this book that isn't reading Superman already.
Other than me, I mean.
So let's
get the word out, if it isn't already. Seagle, whose work
on Sandman Mystery Theater and Primal Force
never thrilled me the way it should have, handles all the
burdens of this promotional book with great aplomb. Without
slowing down the action, he manages to get readers up to speed
as to Superman's current status quo. Along the way, he touches
upon many of the character's thematic concerns, and hints
that in particular he'll be taking a look at the split between
the man and the alien.
Best
of all, we've got a pretty good cliffhanger that would make
Peter David nervous if the axe hadn't already fallen. My money
is on this being a re-introduction of Laurel Kent to the DCU.
For most
people, though, it isn't the writing that will catch attention.
It's the art. McDaniel and Owens have a keen grasp of action
and storytelling, with many panels having a cinematic quality.
The only drawback to it lies in what could be a coloring problem:
there's a lot of smoke here, and it has a tendency to look
more like slime. On the last page, the confusion works, but
through the rest of the book, it becomes a little distracting.
Just
when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
Rating:
Ultimate
Daredevil & Elektra #4
writer: Greg Rucka
artists:
Salvador Larroca and Danny Miki
We knew
it could only end in tears, or at least stoic looks of repressed
pain. Sure enough, that's what we get here. But Rucka has
so skillfully drawn us into the personalities of Murdock and
Natchios that the tragedy of their separation feels fresh.
In this
Ultimate version, it does feel that Elektra has more of a
choice, and her refusal to see Matt's point of view comes
across as a bit brash. She has been backed into a corner,
and fights against helplessness the only way she knows how.
If she refuses to learn another way, it's still hard to blame
her.
Every
page of this reminds me of why I got caught up in Miller's
original run, without feeling like a rehash of the master's
work. That's a neat trick. This mini-series is the one that
has the best chance at pulling in viewers of the upcoming
movie. (Notice that the Ultimate Elektra favors black, just
like Jennifer Garner.)
Luckily,
Marvel already has that trade paperback ready and out on the
stands this week, with the subtitle "Volume 1,"
so clearly, there will be more to come. If you didn't buy
the earlier issues, definitely
grab the trade.
Rating:
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