Comic reviews for May 1, 2002
Deadline 2 (of 4)
Deadline Part 2 - By Bill Rosemann and Guy Davis; Published by Marvel
Kat Farrell is hot on the case of the Judge, some whacked out vigilante who is in desperate need of Kat. Very smartly written stuff, as Bill knows what to do with her journalism job, going out and getting clues about the Judge's wife killer. The art is really nice too, especially for the story being just a lot of talk. It'd be nice to see this in a regular series, or another mini-series for all I care, just needs a respectable sales boost.
Score: 8/10
Exiles 13
Another Rooster in the Henhouse Part 2 of 2 - By Judd Winick, Mike McKone and Jon Holdredge; Published by Marvel
This hasn't been the best story in the short history of Exiles. The weakness comes in a rather weak plot where the Exiles fight Weapon X over whether or not to kill a boy who could imprison the world someday in the future. It's not to say that it's entirely bad. The characterization and art is always the best points of it. Just the progressing story, that's all.
Score: 6/10
Hawkman 3
Lost in the Battlelands - By Geoff Johns, James Robinson, Rags Morales and Michael Blair; Published by DC
I starting to get a little bored with this storyline. Hawkman gets into a predicament by being turned into a slave to work in mines with Hindu elephants. Green Arrow makes a random appearance, killing off someone with no know reason right now. The other subplot with Hawkgirl isn't going anywhere till next month either. The art's good, but that's just the right side of the brain talking.
Score: 6/10
Hellspawn 12
Call Her Hell - By Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith; Published by Image
Possessed woman gives birth to a demon queen. Simple story, with Spawn popping up at the end to fight her. What really makes this work is the haunting art of Templesmith. He obviously has been influenced by Ashley Wood, but this has his own style, and it's down right freaky and explosive. This would make a good jump on point, if anything else.
Score: 7/10
Popbot 2
Book 2 - By Ashley Wood and Sam Kieth; Published by IDW Publishing
Thank God I'm only paying 8 bucks for this every 3 months. I personally have no idea what is going on, since it jumps all over the place, with barely a sliver of connection to any characters. The succubus? The Maxx showing up? Oh well. At least Wood's art is nice. That I'll give him.
Score: 5/10
Ultimate X-Men 17
World Tour: Part 2 - By Mark Millar, Adam Kubert and Danny Miki; Published by Marvel
Two Millar books this week. Both real good. Begin with ULXM, as the team, going shorthanded, encounters Proteus, and mayhem ensues. Actually, some mayhem, as Proteus takes over Wolverine and then another guy which causes a massive pile up. Colossus also jumped shipped, which looks to be an interesting story. Kubert's art is nice, albeit I don't think Xavier would survive an explosion that sent him that high. But I'm just nitpicking. Don't mind.
Score: 9/10
Ultimates 4
Thunder - By Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie; Published by Marvel
Let's see...lot's of talk...movie options...Thor looks like a drunk hippie...and Banner goes Hulk. Trust me, it's all good. This isn't Authority here, since Millar actually infused these characters with a clear sense of logic, personality and direction. Hitch's art is again excellent. My advice: if you haven't gotten into this series yet, do so. My pick of the week.
Score: 10/10
Uncanny X-Men 406
Staring Contests are for Suckers - By Joe Casey, Aaron Lopresti, Mark Morales and Danny Miki; Published by Marvel
My, my, isn't that a beastly Mystique on the cover? This was the conclusion to the X-Corps arc, and in a rather ho-hum fashion. Archangel stops Madrox's multiples from destroying all of Paris, and Sean isn't dead. Mystique ends up disappearing. The fallout from the attack on Paris is more interesting. The art is usual fill-in material, with Lopresti doing a good job with it. Glad to move on though.
Score: 5/10
Gundam: The Origin 1 TP
By Yoshikazu Yasuhiko;Published by Viz Communications
This is the definition of Gundam. A big mech piloted by a human, made by the Federation to be used in combat against the Zions. This book gives a very excellent introduction to the word of Gundam with the first ever Gundam Mobile Suits being made and used. The story is somewhat confusing sometimes with the people talking and not knowing who they were. It's also in black and white, and with some of the fight scenes in near pitch blackness, it's hard to figure out what's happening. But..it's Gundam. It's anime. And it's printed in the original Japanese format (reading right to left instead of left to right), which was stiffling at first but then I got the hang of it. I like it a lot.
Score: 9/10
Next week, another big week. Just stick around, the pain won't last that much.