Comic reviews for August 21, 2002

I don't like Marvel this week. For no good reason they decided to release most of there scheduled books...and then some. Nine from them this week.

At least the majority of them were good.


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All-New Tenchi Muyo Part 1 No. 4
Chapter 5: Disaster Area - By Hitoshi Okuda, translated by Fred Burke; Published by Viz Comics

Mihoshi, a Galaxy Police Officer and resident ditz, crashes and destroys nearly everything she gets around. Ryoko tells her to buzz off just as she's leaving to investigate something entering the Solar System. After a bit of convincing, Ryoko gets Mihoshi to come back, though she still causes problems with her ditzy ways.

Mihoshi gets her turn in the spotlight this month. As shown, she is a klutz, and gets hurt because of others reactions. What bothers me, though, is that's all the development she gets, the simple 'resident *blank*' routine. It's becoming harder, too, to remember the characters names. The only one I remember from previous issues has been Ryoko, since she is there a hell of a lot. I can recognized another one as well, but that's it. The script is the primary blame, as it doesn't go and give a single character a line with a name attached to it. But then, it's us Americans who decided to screw around with the Japanese formating of the comic, so oh well. Slightly below par issue, and I'm not sure if I'll continue collecting into Part 2.

Score: 6/10

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Captain America 4
Enemy Chapter Four (I think) - by John Ney Rieber and John Cassaday; Published by Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint

Captain America, now revealed as Steve Rogers, enters S.H.I.E.L.D. to get answers for a device the terrorist had which only the organization makes. After getting a written answer, the Cap leaves, going to talk to himself before getting attack by the army. He dives into the bottom of a dam, escaping.

...right. The opening plot is simple enough, as it gets the Cap motivation for finding some answers. Why half of the issue was spent on relapsing some stuff...and pigs fly? Yeah, I know. If it supposed to show something, fine. But it was a waste of sufficient plot space. Why ten pages of inner thought, and also to getting chased by an squadron of troops? There's no motivation for it, unless you count the bigots at S.H.I.E.L.D. It just doesn't add up, and it results in a severly underwritten issue. On the plus side, Cassaday's art rocks. That's the plus side of things, the only plus side for this book right now. It started out real nice, but now it's started to drop off into something.

Score: 6/10

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The Call of Duty 1
The Wagon - By Chuck Austen and Danijel Zelzej; Published by Marvel Comics

Jennifer Montez is a New York City paramedic, working the streets in an ambulence. She and her partner come across a shooting where they evact a baby and encounter the mystery ghost girl. They leave after her cryptic warning and return to the hospital, where they meet up with a fellow paramedic, only to see the guys ambulence explode.

Yeah, so the plot is non-existent. Still, the purpose of this series is to look at the lives of the emergency services in New York City. So far, this book is 1 for 1. Austen writes a nice little story where the medics get involved with a homicide, and leaves a cliffhanger ending, which, while being a bit over the top, still works to an extent. Zelzej's gritty work is nice here, as he looks more loose here than he did with the Captain America mini-series earlier in the year. Very impressive work. Overall, a splendid start.

Score: 8/10

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Elektra 2
Glimpse and Echo - By Scott Morse; Published by Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint

Elektra begins her search for her target. Along the way, she meets the ghost of Buddy Crawford. He tells her to kill his son, for when he becomes powerful enough, the Hand will dump everything they got into him, making them very powerful. And a cat hangs around, for good measure.

Nice story again, as more information is gathered for the task. The story, noticably, is set before Rucka's current run on the main title. It doesn't mess up anything with current continuity, which is good. The painted art is great as well. Good overall

Score: 8/10

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The Hood 4
Blood from Stones Chapter Four - By Brian K. Vaughan, Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell; Published by Marvel Comics/MAX imprint

Parker is on the run from the cops, after nearly killing one last issue. Meanwhile, the FBI get's into the investigation, trying to get King to talk on where his friend is. They encounter Parker as "The Hood", where he exhibits some strange new powers. Lastly, the villains get together to discuss a stragety to get the missing Bloodstones back.

More of the same this month, which is all for the better. The book continues to be great, with Vaughan creating real enough characters to make everything click. Art continues to be good, with no complaints from that department. Great overall.

Score: 9/10

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Midnight, Mass. 5
The Dark Mother's Midwives - By John Rozum, Jesus Saiz and Jimmy Palmiotti; Published by DC Comics/Vertigo imprint

The Kadmons escape a pit of bugs and a spiked ceiling to prevent the enchanting women from raising the fourth sister. They succeed with a well placed shot wound, only to face her in demon form outside of the church. Meanwhile, Harmon sends a couple of spirits to get inside the Kadmons vault.

Nice action story this month, as the Kadmons uses their fists and guns instead of old fashioned magic. It moves at a brisk pace, which is good for a story of this kind. Art continues to be good. Solid overall.

Score: 7/10

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Soldier X 2
Podmoskóvnie Vecherá (Moscow Nights) - By Darko Macan and Igor Kordey; Published by Marvel Comics

Nathan and Blaquesmith travel to Moscow, where Blaquesmith gives his student a mission to accomplish. Nathan encounters the daughters father, who explains to him about her healing powers. He sets off to Krasnaya Polyana, where a very long line awaits the miracle healer.

Macan continues his story with the duo heading off into Russia. He gives Blaquesmith a different personality from the one I remembered during Weinberg's run. This one is more sarcastic and willing to piss off Nathan more. Macan seems a bit uninterested in Nathan himself, as shown with the various supporting characters hanging around. At least Nathan's doing something, rather than just being a dull wandering nomad. The opening recap page was a good one, bringing a chuckle to me. Kordey's art continues to shine. I really love this stuff. Good book overall.

Score: 8/10

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Spider-Man/Black Cat 2
The Evil That Men Do Part Two: A Ruse by Another Name... - By Kevin Smith, Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson; Published by Marvel Comics

Spider-Man and the Black Cat continue on the trail after Mr. Brownstone. Meanwhile, Scorpia attacks the Carnigie Hall in search of Garrison Klum, who may be Mr. Brownstone.

Smith continues his mini, mixing the two heroes rather well together. The overall plot remains in effect, though the drug dealing has been slowed down this issue. Art continues its cheesecake ways, with the Dodson's continuing to show off the Black Cat's clevage and butt push. That's probably the only thing that detracts from the book. The rest of the art is good. Solid overall.

Score: 7/10

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Spider-Man: Blue 4
Autumn in New York - By Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale; Published by Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint

Peter Parker gets invited to his new apartment by Harry Osborn for a house warming party. Meanwhile, a new Vulture escapes from prison and engages Spider-Man, defeating him and leaving him for dead.

More of the same again...fills in time missing, but what's the use?

Score: 6/10

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Thundercats 1
Reclaiming Thundera - By Ford Lytle Gilmore, Ed McGuinness and Jason Martin; Published by DC Comics/Wildstorm imprint

After the defeat of Mumm-Ra, evil still lives, as Shadowmaster is resurrected. The Thundercats assemble, defeating him. Mumm-Ra is brought back.

Well, at least the art's good. It's a fast paced story, though we're given nothing of who these characters are. I remember most of the characters, but a couple of them don't say anything to help them. And what the hell happened to the Shadowmaster? One panel the Eye of Thundera lights up, the next panel, BAMF!, he's gone. Oh well.

Score: 6/10

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Ultimate X-Men 21
Hellfire and Brimstone: Part 1 of 5 - By Mark Millar, Adam Kubert and Danny Miki; Published by Marvel Comics/Ultimate imprint

Kitty Pryde discovers she has mutant powers, and Xavier comes to invite her to the school. Meanwhile, Jean has visions of a Phoenix rising.

Good beginning to the next arc, as Millar makes a nice introduction for Kitty. He get's on the characterization real quick here, developing her and expanding a couple others nicely. It seems that Millar is moving beyond the 'mindless cypher' and actually getting depth into the characters. The Phoenix introduction brings a lot of options for him as well. Kubert's art is nice this issue. Good overall.

Score: 8/10

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Uncanny X-Men 411
Hope: Part 2 of 3 - By Chuck Austen, Ron Garney and Mark Morales; Published by Marvel Comics

The X-Men engage the Juggernaut, only to find out that he needs their help with a mutated Black Tom. Meanwhile, Alex Summers is found in a hospital, unable to respond to simple human contact.

Austen continues to play it safe, only slightly though this time, as he continues the standard superhero heroics. He really seems to let Iceman cut loose this issue, developing him further than he has in a while. The reintroduction of Havok is nice, though Austen needs to explain he reappearance after his death from a long while ago. Garney continues to impress, definitely doing a kick ass job with some of the tough scenes. Good overall.

Score: 8/10

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Y - The Last Man 2 *Pick of the Week*
Unmanned: Chapter Two - By Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra and Jose Marzan, Jr.; Published by DC Comics/Vertigo imprint

Yorick and his monkey make their way to Washington, DC, where they encounter a woman transporting dead male bodies, and then at the White House, where he finds his mother attempting to run things. Elsewhere, Agent 355 finds the highest ranking woman left alive in America.

Another good book this month, as the women of the world continue their struggle to get the world back on it's feet. Vaughan does a nice job with the focus on the various people attempting to survive, including Yorick. The art is very good again. Excellent.

Score: 9/10


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Bleh. I'm tired. Better next week though. Yahoo. Until then, peace.