Comic reviews for July 17, 2002
Grr.
Even without reading a book my sis grabbed, I still have thirteen to write about this week. Grr. Some new stuff this week, two really goods and one bad. Care to guess?
Alias 12
Please Come Home, Rebecca Part Two - by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos; Published by Marvel/MAX
'Why I Like BMB' Part One. Only book of his this week (damn), but no complaints here. Jessica Jones talks with a bunch of people getting a bunch of info about the missing girl. Again, Bendis makes it work. Gaydos does a superb job this month. I really like his panel work. Makes the conversation look convincing. Everything else is what it should be, which is gritty and realistic. Excellent.
Score: 9/10
All-New Tenchi Muyo! Part 1, No. 3
Chapter 4: A Carrot a Day - By Hitoshi Okuda, adapted by Fred Burke; Published by Viz Communications
More of the same this month, this time Sasami getting some development. Plot is rather simple: Sasami makes some great carrot cake and a local bakery owner would like her cakes sold throughout the world. The recipe, though, has a sentimental value to her. Nice story as it is. My complaints remain the same, as the characters are becoming to hard to distinguish by. Only the ones who have been develop so far are the most recognizable ones. I still don't know half of this cast, and that remains the focal problem. I take it that this first part will be setting up the characters for something in the long run. Fine by me, for now though...
Score: 7/10
Automatic Kafka 1 *New*
Metal Music Machine - By Joe Casey and Ashley Wood; Published by DC/Wildstorm/Eye of the Storm
First new book this week, and can you guess which one it is? In all honest opinion, this isn't good. It's not terrible, but I honestly can't describe this without using some medication. Casey brings the tale of this 'robot' who OD's on some 'robot' drugs and he goes on a mind trip of sorts. It's pretty much weird, but weird in a way where it's somewhat bad. To put it nicely, only Morrison can get away with all the friggin weirdness that happens in comics. Casey has some nice ideas, but I can't get terribly excited over this. Art comes from Ash Wood, who looks good, but really doesn't belong in a comic book. It looks like he's past the days of incoherint stuff, as he gets some actual storytelling mechanics down, but overall, he can't tell a decent story. Oh well.
Score: 4/10
Elektra: Glimpse & Echo 1 *New*
By Scott Morse; Published by Marvel/Marvel Knights
By the way, I was easy with that score. Moving on to better things, as Morse writes a tale of Elektra on the trail of an assasin. Nothing going thus far in the ways of action, just the basic telling of what she has to do. It's a very nice set up actually. Painted art is fabulous. Kind of like Picasso without the messed up faces. Very good.
Score: 8/10
The Hood 3
Blood From Stones Chapter Three - By Brian K. Vaughan, Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell; Published by Marvel/MAX
'Why Vaughan is Climbing My Favorite Author's List' Part One. Still really good. Parker intercepts a shipment of black diamonds while the FBI finally get a lead on a 'mask' to take down. Dialogue is nicely done, giving much in the way of the overall plot. Subplots are good as well, especially Parker's home life. Art remains good. No complaints here.
Score: 9/10
Midnight, Mass. 4
The Four Sisters - By John Ruiz, Jesús Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti; Published by DC/Vertigo
New story begins as the Kadman's investigate an old myth about the four sisters, and some evil girls are trying to wish back the fourth one. This series has grown on me some. I like how the Kadman's interact with each other and the moving plot mechanics. The story is helped with the solid art work. Good stuff.
Score: 7/10
New X-Men 129
Fantomex - By Grant Morrison and Igor Kordey; Published by Marvel
Story progresses, as Fantomex explains himself some and the Weapon XII threat is expanded. Morrison brings in an interesting concept while Fantomex is explaining himself. He says that Weapon X isn't the letter 'X', but rather in Roman Numerals, making 'X' ten. He goes on talking about the whole thing originating back in WWII. I'm sure some people will backlash on this. I really don't care though, cause I am really interested in what Morrison is doing. He's somehow reimagining the old standards through his eyes, making for a very interesting read. This isn't some hackneyed old plot from the 80's or 90's, but rather a simple and subtle change in the way we think about mutants and humans. Other things include the way Fantomex lives and acts. Not your normal supervillain, to say the least. On the art side, a big plus for Kordey this month. Truly some of his best stuff is shown, from the gritty darkness surrounding Fantomex to the realistic aging of Professor X and the ugliness of Corporal Animal. Very good overall.
Score: 8/10
Peter Parker Spider-Man 46
A Death in the Family Part Three - By Paul Jenkins, Humberto Ramos and Wayne Faucher; Published by Marvel
Story moves along smoothly as Peter goes and takes on Osborn, setting up next issues conclusion. Nothing much more besides that. It's an okay issue as it is, though it kind of feels a bit dragged out, filling this in four issues. I'll reserve that judgement till next month.
Score: 7/10
Spider-Man: Blue 3
Anything Goes - By Jeph Lobe and Tim Sale; Published by Marvel/Marvel Knights
More of the same this month, as Spidey fights the Lizard, and Harry and Peter decide to be roommates. Nothing to get excited about with this, other than the fact that it's nice to have some info about this period in Spidey history. Okay as things go.
Score: 6/10
Transformers: Generation One 4
By Chris Sarracini, Pat Lee and Rob Armstrong; Published by Dreamwave Productions
Not much in the way of plot developments this time round, as Optimus Prime and Co. struggle to slow down the metallic virus. Meanwhile, a big battle takes place somewhere along the Pacific Coast line. Some of the action happening towards the end of the issue is hard to follow. The art here is somewhat iffy in this scene. It remains excellent everywhere else though. Overall, just slightly below a sturdy product.
Score: 6/10
Ultimate X-Men 20
Resignation - by Mark Millar, Adam Kubert and Danny Miki; Published by Marvel
It seems Millar's better issues are the self contained ones. As Professor X contemplates the dissolving of the institute, the rest of the team is out of the country, fighting some of Magneto's followers. The quieter moments of the issue are the better parts of the issue by far. It's somewhat strained a bit, but overall it works to a charm. Interesting subplot at the end, with Jean and Scott finally getting together. Resident whore I think, but oh well. There's also a conflict between Ororo and Hank. Be interesting to see where this goes to. Kubert's back and does a good job. Great stuff all told.
Score: 8/10
Uncanny X-Men 409
Rocktopia Part 8 of 5 - By Joe Casey and Sean Phillips; Published by Marvel
Hmm...seems to me that Casey could give a second thought with a title for this. Anyway, Casey ties up his mutant drug story line in a rather interesting way, with Warren buying out the Vanisher, thus ending the threat. In other things, Logan and Warren seem to bicker a lot nowadays, something I really haven't seen a lot of as of late. Strange, yeah. It's a solid finish to a writer who could have done a whole lot more with this run though.
Score: 7/10
Y - The Last Man 1 *New* *POTW*
Unmanned - By Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan; Published by DC/Vertigo
'Why Vaughan is Climbing My Favorite Author's List' Part Two. First, the concept. Something ends up killing every being on Earth with a Y chromosone except for an escape artist and his pet monkey. Not sure if I call this original, but I never saw this anywhere else before, so I'll call it original (well, I saw this in a game once, but that doesn't count). The story itself was just a setup for the characters in the series, which looking at them right now looks to be a very eclectic cast of people. The art is good, no complaints there. For what it is, I'm making it the pick of the week.
Score: 9/10
Well that was all right looking back at it. Next week is much better. Seven comics I think, as well as another TPB. Joy. Until then, peace.