Comic Reviews for August 28, 2002

Ah...a somewhat short week. Thanks to Marvel for deciding to release another big batch of books.


--
Agent X 2
Dead Man's Switch Part Two - By Gail Simone and UDON; Published by Marvel Comics

Hayden takes a job from the Culver Sport and Gun Club to capture the Punisher's .45s. He teams up with Outlaw for a night of fun before encountering the Punisher. Mayhem ensues.

Agent X is two for two so far. Another good issue from Simone and UDON as they continue to rack up the laughs while making the plot very worth while. If you haven't started collecting this book yet, do so...now!

Score: 8/10

--
Amazing Spider-Man 44
Arms and the Men - By J. Michael Straczynski, John Romita Jr., and Scott Hanna; Published by Marvel Comics

Peter and Mary Jane begin to talk things over in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Doc Oct and his younger theiving counterpart fight each other and end up causing a great deal of destruction. Spider-Man get's involved, only to end up beneath a building.

Solid issue. Straczynski is writing some good interactions between Parker and his separated wife, as well as the actor and her. Plot remains along the same lines, though all it seems to be right now is a big slobberknocker. Some nice art from Romita Jr. as well. I hate the lettering though. Pisses me off to no end.

Score: 7/10

--
Apache Skies 2
Chapter Two: Hard Ride - By John Ostrander and Leonardo Manco; Published by Marvel Comics/MAX imprint

Rosa and Johnnybart escape the town after killing Billy Tyler, where Rosa explains her story. Meanwhile, Billy Tyler's father shows up in the aforementioned town and burn it down, mad about the Sheriff failing to protect his son.

Good, solid issue. Ostrander makes well with the Old West stuff, and Manco's art continues to make my jaw drop. Solid overall.

Score: 7/10

--
Call of Duty 3
The Brotherhood - By Chuck Austen, David Finch and Art Thibert; Published by Marvel Comics

Spend a day in the life of a bunch of firefighters as they go shopping, and let little kids hang around the fire truck. But no, a truck explodes, and the firemen go into action. Plus, the mystery of the ghost girl is explained to all.

Clearly the best issue of this mini thus far. Austen provides some answers, and he also kicks back with the firemen, allowing them to go grocery shopping, and also to still mourn a fallen comrade. Okay, that fallen comrade thing is a bit overly sentimental, but it fits nicely. And, although it's a bit tough to believe about what's going to happen a year and a day from now, at least it gives the plot a bit of breathing room, even though the little ghost girl still says the same damn thing. And there is also the problem of just one fully developed character among a sea of no-names. Still, Austen nailed it this issue. Simply great.

Score: 9/10
--
Fantastic Four 60 *New*
Inside Out - By Mark Waid, Mike Wieringo, and Karl Kesel; Published by Marvel Comics

In an attempt to get business back on track, a representative of an organization goes and witnesses the lives of the Fantastic Four for a week. Enjoy.

Good solid start to the new creative team on this book. Of course, the damn thing was nine-cents. I wouldn't pass up a full, self contained issue for nine-friggin-cents. It's a good story too. No gripes about it. Art is nice as well. Good overall.

Score: 8/10

--
Fate of the Blade 1 *New*
By Chris Sarracini, Job Yemen and Erik Sander; Published by Dreamwave Productions

Victor Richardson is big in the Hollywood business. And he needs a woman to do his very wishes. Enter Eve Inc., a corporation that specializes in making the perfect woman. A year passes, and it seems as if the perfect girl is about to become very well knowledgeable.

Another interesting concept book, where women are created to be perfect for men. And imagine that you are one of those women. Nice start here, as Sarracini writes a very convincing opening chapter. Art is nice and realistic, nothing overly flashy. Crisp storytelling. Good start.

Score: 8/10

--
Peter Parker, Spider-Man 47
Death in the Family: Part Four - By Paul Jenkins, Humberto Ramos and Wayne Faucher; Published by Marvel Comics
Parker and Osborn settle down for one final showdown, where the Goblin does some psychological stuff to get Spidey to fight. They sit down and laugh something up before Parker walks away, leaving Osborn to think things over.

Bleh. Is this the primary thing running in two of the three Spider-Man books right now, this "I can make your head twitch" shit? Doesn't help that I lost interest in this arc last month. Eh.

Score: 5/10 (Book not part of reviews for this week)

--
Punisher 14
Killing La Vidi Loca - By Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon; Published by Marvel Comics/Marvel Knights imprint

Castle gets Tommy Casino back to New York after a brief run in with guerrillas and a big guy name Pacheco. He, along with a bunch of other mob bosses get wiped out in the end. Meanwhile, Soap kills a wanted criminal in a rather...strange way.

Why this is over a month late, who knows. The story wraps up in typical Ennis fashion, which is pretty hilarious, and pretty darn good. Art is very nice as well. Good overall.

Score: 8/10

--
X-Statix 2 *Pick of the Week*
Good Omens Part Two of Four: How the Super-Hero Business Works - By Peter Milligan and Mike Allred; Published by Marvel Comics

O-Force wins a pre-scripted strike and prepare for their next mission. Meanwhile, the team learns more about Venus Dee Milo and suffer through somemore internal conflicts. An outside force - namely a lawyer - interferes and says that Venus is not a member of the X-Statix.

More of the same this month, and we learn that the main plot is actually attempting to stop Edie's biggest fan from doing what he does. That doesn't play a huge part of this issue. The running subplots are the interesting points, and they're done to perfection. Great book, and it continues to be one of the best books Marvel publishes, the best X-book overall.

Score: 9/10


--
Ah, that was sorta okay. Starting next week, reviews won't get posted till either Saturday's or Sunday's. I start school again on Wednesday, which is the major reason why. Next week is a slight doozy. Oh well. Until then, peace.