Comic reviews for April 24, 2002
Bastard Samurai 1
By Mike Avon Oeming, Miles Gunter, and Kelsey Shannon
My random selection of the week, as the comic opens up with a story about a samurai that is I think hunted by inner demons and has taken to the streets to let his mind relax. At least, that's what I got out of it. This story is somewhat magna-y in nature. Samurai's and inner demons and techno nightlife, that is. The book was conceived by Oeming, who I think is the artist on the Bendis book Powers. The art is very nice and stylish, something that you may see in a book like this. The story has some holes though. My guess is they will be addressed in the next few issues. All told, a solid start.
Score: 7/10
Blade 2
V3s - by Christopher Hinz and Steve Pugh
The book is starting to move beyond the hack-n-slay routine it performed through a lot of the first issue. The central plots look to be the Seven wanting to kill Blade for his rapid rise of violence over the last year and the Tryk queen wanting Blade by his side. There are some nice subplots in there, including the possibility of Blade getting a new girlfriend. I like the touch with the senior citizen network of information. Pugh's art is good when there are violence and excellent during the more quiet moments. Good book.
Score: 7/10
Captain America 1
Enemy, Chapter One: Dust - by John Ney Rieber and John Cassaday
Wow. Oh right, the story. Half of the story is about 9/11, and if you think we already had enough, you're damn wrong. This is the first of Captain America's view (except for the limited amount of panels he was in in Amazing Spider-Man 36) and it is incredibly gripping. The other half shows the Cap finding a town ripped apart by a terrorist attack from a man - I think it's a man - named Al-Tariq. The art is stellar, including the beginning, which is helped incredibly by the grey colors of Dave Stewart. I wish to go on, but then I would be going into the specifics. Just get it. The pick of the week.
Score: 10/10
Deadpool 66
Healing Factor Chapter One: I Forget - by Gail Simone and UDON
Deadpool gets hired by an old guy to remove the horn off of the Rhino. Mayhem ensues. After last months transition issue, this works much better in setting off the motivations of the Black Swan and the trouble Deadpool is into now. The format looks simple right now, figuring with the upcoming issues that each of these chapters are self contained that push forward the overall plot of Wilson's regression. The art is magnificent this issue. Overall a great book that just tips the line of sanity every month.
Score: 8/10
Elektra 9
By Greg Rucka and Joe Bennett
No title in this one, and Chuck Austen's name is on the cover. Don't know why Marvel left that there even though this book is a month behind schedule. We push on though, as Rucka finishes up the story with one of the rapists being led taken away by Elektra for saying that he just looked on and did nothing. There was a subplot about some guy working for Interpol that takes this other guy and does some freaky stuff to him. If I had bothered to know what happened in the last two issues then I might have cared. The art was the problem, but that is resolved this month with Joe Bennett taking over the art chores for this issue and the next. I just hope Rucka can keep my interest in this book long enough to care.
Score: 6/10
X-Men Evolution 6
Just Like You - By Devin Grayson and Udon
The X-Men meet a new mutant, or not really, says Xavier. From the looks of it, this was primarily an issue to get a personality into Evan, as it seems from the previous issues that I missed, Grayson worked off of a character and used them as the central basis for the story. It's an okay story, but it all seems somewhat forced. The art is good, but if I had to choose between this and Deadpool this week, I would have to say Deadpool. Really nice cover though. I'd like to see that guy draw a comic sometime.
Score: 6/10
Next week, Marvel ships Deadline 2, Exiles 13, Ultimate X-Men 17 (2 weeks late), Ultimates 4 (week late) and Uncanny X-Men 406. X-Force and Amazing Spider-Man remain the late books. DC is shipping Hawkman 3, and Image is shipping Hellspawn 12. I'm still awaiting Defiance from Image. Other books include Popbot and Cla$$war. I don't want to order Popbot online (there's a 4 dollar shipping charge on top of the $7.99 price tag) unless it doesn't ship within the next 2-3 weeks. Look for the Gundamn TP to show up in next weeks column. I don't know if I'll get around to Akira Vol. 1. That's all for now.