Comic Reviews for September 11, 2002
Shorter week than normal. Thank Marvel for deciding not to drop everything in our laps at one time.
I'd also like to say two things. One, Sunday afternoons to evenings will be the new posting times for my reviews. And two, more importantly, we have our first ever turkey. And it's not even November yet. Readers of this column should know who that turkey belongs to. Let's get to this though.
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Call of Duty 3
The Precinct - By Bruce Jones and Tom Mandrake; published by Marvel Comics
Gunz infiltrates the mob guys base responsible for the attempted hit. Meanwhile, his wife and brother decide to get in bed with each other before Joey goes to California to work as a cop.
Yeah...this series is clearly lacking any sense of direction. This is more like a cop drama than a story about the way a cop goes through the routines. I'm really sure New York cops wouldn't do this in their free time. Really lacking.
Score: 5/10
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Definace 4
The Messenger, Part Four - By Kanno Kang, Zack Suh and Douglass D. Barré; published by Image Comics
Lym takes on the Devil and his Earth-bound forces, gets killed, and uses his second soul to kamekazie everyone in the room, including the Mayor. Meanwhile, Cleo gets Ivan to safety and remembers his message.
Bit light on the plot this month, as this serves as the action-packed conclusion to the first arc. Very nicely done, though. Art remains the books best feature, and best in the market right now. Good overall.
Score: 8/10
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Filth 4
S**t Happens - By Grant Morrison, Chris Weston and Gary Erskine; published by DC Comics/Vertigo imprint
Slade goes back to the Hand, where he meets up with Dr. Arno Von Vermun, a type of...detective. They go to Landfill Station XXX, a porno magazine dump.
Still pretty ridiculous stuff, but still pretty good. I'm lost in what direction Morrison is going, as this is the second straight self-contained issue. He has a long ways left to go, though, so I doubt I've seen the worst he's brought out. Some of this stuff gets lost by me, but I truly enjoy all of this weirdness all over the place.
Score: 8/10
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New X-Men 132
Ambient Magnetic Fields - By Grant Morrison, Phil Jimenez and Andy Lanning; published by Marvel Comics
Professor X and Jean Grey go to Genosha, where a monument is being built for Magneto and Polaris is relaying a magnetic message left by the master of magnetism.
Done as a type of memorial for September 11th, as this is said as the "Last Magneto Story". I am a bit confused this issue with all the magnetic type stuff. The message at the end of the issue is nice, though, albiet, I wonder why Magneto didn't just blow up those friggin huge Sentinels. Guest appearances abound this issue as well, as Quicksilver, Thunderbird, Storm, Sabra and Lorna Dane all make appearances. Morrison has a couple things mixed up here, though. First, he's making off with Lorna being Magneto's daughter. That's what it sounds like when looking at it. The other is Unus the Untouchable. I thought he was dead. Ah well. Revolving door art this time comes from Jimenez, who I think is actually just rotating with Quietly now, as the co-artist. Nice stuff here, and the ruined Genoshan landscape is fantastic. Solid overall.
Score: 7/10
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Project ARMS - The First Revelation: The Awakening Part 1, No. 1 *New*
Chapter One: Encounter, Chapter Two: Disappearance - By Ryouji Minagawa and Kyouichi Nanatsuki, English Adaptation by Lance Caselman, Translated by Katy Bridges; published by Viz Communications
Ryo Takatsuki is a high school student with a fast healing left hand, incredible fighting skill and vast knowledge of military like understanding. He fights the new student, Hayato Shingu, who has a mysterious looking right hand. Then, Kastumi, Ryo's love interest, is kidnapped by Hayato, who shows Ryo her bow. Meanwhile, evil corporation men want both Ryo and Hayato because of their mysterious arm's.
Yes, I said "arm's". Jeez. This is my random pick of the week, and it is very nice. All the characters (minus the evil corporation dudes, who right now are evil bastards who wants to kidnaps the kids) who needed proper introduction got it. The plot is clearing evident right now, though future solicitations look to introduce a third person with a strange arm. There looks to be more of them as well. There is an conspiracy subplot with the Evil Bastards at this moment, but that doesn't look to give rise for now. This is clearly set as an high school society with teenagers living out their lives. I enjoy the art a lot, as it is very easy to follow and the action sequences are very nicely done. No one looks exactly alike with each other, which is a plus in black and white art. The night time sequence is done nicely, without it being too dark. Overall, a good start. I'll be collecting this series from now on.
Score: 8/10
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Transformers: Generation One 5
By Chris Sarracini, Pat Lee, Rob Armstrong and Erik Sander; published by Dreamwave Productions
The Autobots fight a losing battle against the Decepticons in San Francisco. Meanwhile, the remainder of the Autobots fight off the virus infecting the Canadian landscape. And, the conspiracy unfolds, as Spike learns the true meaning of the Transformers reemergance.
Plot Lite this month, as all the conspiracy stuff doesn't work well with Robots In Disguise. The cliffhanger ending with Megatron asking Optimus Prime to switch over to evil doesn't necessarily work either (Optimus Prime would never switch to evil, 'Nuff said). Art's very nice though. Definitely better than last month, as the action takes a back seat. Ho-hum though.
Score: 6/10
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X-Men Unlimited 38 *Pick of the Week*
Yartzeit - By Greg Rucka and Darick Robertson; published by Marvel Comics
Kitty Pryde can't get Peter out of her head, going as far as seeing him on the street. She has a heart to heart with Kurt about it, and meets the guy, a cop, in the end.
Another book set as a memorial for September 11. Really nice issue written by Rucka. Of course it'll be good. He plays the sentimental stuff just right and doesn't make it overly mushy. Kurt adds a nice touch, with his thoughts on the situation. I still don't like Robertson's art, but it's better here than in the Punisher issue from last week. It does his own inks here, and it suits him better. Plus there's no action in the issue. Great overall.
Score: 9/10
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X-Treme X-Men 18 *Turkey of the Year*
Day of the Dead - By Chris Claremont, Salvador Larroca and Liquid!; published by Marvel Comics
The Advengers and Fantastic Four bring in the wounded from Madripor...namely the X-Men. Both Storm and Gambit flatline, and Rogue goes to the rescue, leaving her own body to go onto the astral plane. Meanwhile, Davis leaves the team in the recent discovery of his sister being a bird.
Ughness of ughs. A real mess this issue is. First off, we don't need another epilogue, but Claremont thinks so. So what we have, in the end, is just people yelling and screaming and doing hospital stuff about God-knows-what to various people, namely the X-Men. And since when did the Fantastic Four decide to join this little party? The astral plane doesn't work, since we can't see half of the stuff that's going on. That, of course, goes back to Claremont and his scripting. And does anyone know what the frig Beast has in his hands? The only actual good spot this issue is Davis leaving the team, and not for the obvious reasons mind you. He actually gets some characterization in him with all the things happening. Still, I really despise this when I have to give this the worst score possible, but when the plot doesn't make any coherint sense, the art looking as shoddy as it is (that astral plane stuff does look nice though), and the fact that this is a _second_ epilogue, I see no other reason than to do what I must do.
And hope to God that this doesn't happen again.
Score: 1/10
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From last week:
Ultimate Spider-Man 26
Circles - By Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Bagley and Art Thibert; published by Marvel Comics/Ultimate imprint
Spidey fights Green Goblin. Mary Jane lives. Spidey fights Green Goblin. S.H.I.E.L.D. shoots and does nothing. Spidey fights Green Goblin.
Long fight issue after last month's hazy flashback issue. I'm becoming a little tired of this story line, seeing the Goblin and all. The issues not bad though. Perfectly all right for what it is.
Score: 7/10
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Uncanny X-Men 412
Hope Part Three of Three - By Chuck Austen, Ron Garney and Mark Morales; published by Marvel Comics
The X-Men escape the island before Black Tom destroys it. Juggernaut reluctantly joins the team for the time being. Meanwhile, Scott collects his brother Alex.
Slightly ho-hum ending. Austen's just primarily playing it safe, which, sadly isn't the way to go when you have New X-Men and *ahem* X-Treme X-Men doing what it's doing. Garney's art was a bit off this issue as well. Not as strong as the last two issues were. Average.
Score: 6/10
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Looking at the list right now for next week, we have Automatic Kafka, Midnight Mass and Y-The Last Man from DC, Battle of the Planets from Image, and Elektra, Hood, Soldier X, Ultimate Spider-Man and Uncanny X-Men from Marvel. There's also the last part of All-New Tenchi Muyo coming, though that will be the last one I'm getting. There might be more, depending on what gets added tomorrow. Until then, peace.