Comic Reviews for August 14, 2002
Bless my soul, a short week!
Not the best of weeks though. Oh well, let's get things started.
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Call of Duty: The Precinct 2
By Bruce Jones and Tom Mandrake; Published by Marvel Comics
Gunz sees the mysterious ghost girl again, and through his doctor, gets a mandatory two week vacation before his upcoming promotion. He, his wife Matty and his brother, Joey, go to a carnival in the middle of the woods, where a local drug lords henchman goes to take them out. Joey, a priest, defeats the henchmen, and also decides to quit the priesthood.
Right...now how believeable this that? Joey, now an ex-priest, takes out a bad guy on a roller coaster. Unless he is in really good shape, that entire scene shouldn't have happened. On the plus side, Gunz and Joey get some good dialogue between each other. But this is supposed to be about the lives of New York City cops, not a high thrills chase. Mandrake delivers some good art, and not some good art. The Brotherhood is the better series so far, even if that series has only one developed character among a sea of nameless faces.
Score: 5/10
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Filth 3
Structures and Ultrastructures - By Grant Morrison, Chris Weston, Gary Erksine and Matt Hollingsworth; Published by DC Comics/Vertigo imprint
Morrison introduces the Paperverse, a place that is just one step away from reality. Meanwhile, the communist chimpanzee goes to Slade's apartment to inform him that he can never leave the Hand.
Goddamn...Morrison introduces some crazy stuff here. The opening sequence is one of the most hilarious things I've seen so far this year in comics. Everything here clicks, just like before. The old, defeated superhero, Secret Original (what a 60s name) is an interesting character, looking at the world he should belong in. As for Slade, it'll be nice to see where he goes next issue. Weston's art continues to shine, displaying the sheer weirdness of the script. Another great issue.
Score: 9/10
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New X-Men 130
Weapon Twelve - By Grant Morrison and Igor Kordey; Published by Marvel Comics
Xavier, Jean and Fantomex enter the tunnel to take on Weapon XII. They succeed in a rather unorthodox way, but not without a major casualty, and Jean learns a startling revelation about Fantomex.
Morrison continues the New X-Men show with the conclusion to the Fantomex/Weapon XII arc. The newest idea, the one I mentioned last month, gets a bit of clarity here, as Fantomex explains about the entire program, starting with Weapon I and continuing on till Weapon XII. Weapon XII itself is one organism controlling hundreds of people and animals. Fantomex does some explaining himself, saying that he really isn't a terrorist, but in fact the next number of the Weapon Plus Program, Weapon XIII. Only problem with the story is that he fails to touch up on what he started two issues ago, which is the Scott/Emma therapy session. As you can tell, he needed every page to finish up the story. Kordey concludes his run as artist on the book with the best three issues he has put out yet. Another good issue overall.
Score: 8/10
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Sabretooth: Mary Shelly Overdrive 3
Part 3 - By Dan Jolley and Greg Scott; Published by Marvel Comics
Sabretooth continues on the trail of the ones looking for his hot new girlfriend. He infiltrates the main hideout, only to be captured and escaping. The bad guys find out where the woman is though, moving in for the kill.
More of the same this month. Sabretooth hunts and kills, more hot words passed between lovers, and...that's about it. No plot whatsoever really. Art remains a mixed bag. Why they decided on this mini-series, I don't know. Hopefully next month brings a satisfying conclusion, which I doubt.
Score: 6/10
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Ultimates 6 *Pick of the Week*
Giant Man vs The Wasp - By Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie; Published by Marvel Comics/Ultimates line
In the epilogue of the first arc, Tony Stark hosts a dinner for the team members. Banner is in the hospital, and Hank and Janet fail to make it, as an argument between them goes horribly wrong.
With this, Millar concludes the first story of the Ultimates, in a pleasing and truly disturbing manner. Millar looks to be really enjoying what he is doing, creating new relationships while destroying others. The argument between the Pyms is simply amazing, and is a great testament to Millar's writing, which is better here than in Ultimate X-Men. He has created believeable, likable characters and placed them in believeable situations. Hitch continues to shine as the artist in the book. Overall, it remains one of the best books on the market.
Score: 9/10
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X-Treme X-Men 17
Rogue's Destiny: La Suerte de Matar! - By Chris Claremont, Salvador Larroca and Liquid! colors; Published by Marvel Comics
In the epilogue to the B-movie plot arc, Rogue heals herself, goes through some random character changes, then engages Vargas. The conclusion is left unclear, as Rogue returns, and it isn't known whether she kills the madman or not.
Ugh...I don't want to review this. Seriously, it's still Claremont, and that means inhuman dialogue and endless narration. The art isn't that good either. And someone explain to me where the hell Rogue changed her costume?!? Simply a bad issue.
Score: 2/10
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I read Fables, but I didn't feel like reviewing it. This was the third time I had to write this. Pissed me off extremely. Oh well.
Next week, a bunch of stuff that I really don't want to go through. Actually, I do. I might only review what I want to review, which will probably be all twelve books. Ugh. Until then, peace.