Eye on Comics

Ever since Norman Osborn, AKA the villainous Green Goblin, emerged as an American “hero” in the climax of Secret Invasion in 2008, some comics fans and pundits have considered what or Osborn was meant to represent. Many speculated he and a darker tone in the Marvel Universe represented George W. Bush’s U.S. presidency. Marvel writer Matt Fraction confirmed the analogy outright in an interview about his work on Invincible Iron Man (in which Osborn figured prominently for a time), but the last word really ought to be with writer Brian Michael Bendis, who seems to have used Osborn as a corrupt political and law-enforcement official in his various Avengers comics and events more than anyone else.

Bendis is at it again with his latest storylines in Avengers and New Avengers, bringing back Osborn and his “Dark Avengers” to oust the legitimate heroes. And in New Avengers v.2 #20 earlier this month, he and artist Mike Deodato seem to take a step closer to confirming the analogy. Read the rest of this entry »

Prophet #21
Writer: Brandon Graham
Artist: Simon Roy
Colors: Richard Ballermann
Letters: Ed Brisson
Cover artists: Marian Churchland (regular)/Rob Liefeld & Andy Troy (variant)
Editor: Eric Stephenson
Publisher: Image Comics
Price: $2.99 US

I never even thumbed through a single issue of the previous volumes of this Rob Liefeld-created comic title in the 1990s. His work and that of other artists who worked on the book, including Stephen Platt, just didn’t boast styles that appealed to me at the time. Furthermore, nothing about the concept made me want to take note of it either. When it was announced Liefeld was resurrecting the property more than a decade into the 21st century, one wouldn’t have thought I’d have any interest either, but it’s clear this isn’t the same comic it was 15-20 years ago. Tapping King City writer/artist Brandon Graham to helm this new take on the title character got me excited. I’ll read anything Graham touches, it’s a policy that’s never steered me wrong. I’m also thrilled to see Simon Roy illustrating Graham’s story. Roy made a real impression on me with his graphic novella Jan’s Atomic Heart, and it was fun to see him back in action. His and Graham’s styles definitely complement each other, and the two Canadian creators have brought a distinctly European sensibility to this once bombastic and wholly American property. Read the rest of this entry »

As the Glass Eye winners for the best comics and graphic novel of 2011 get their pictures taken backstage and get scrummed by the Hollywood media, we ought to soldier on and continue to dole out these imaginary and meaningless awards. The time has come for Eye on Comics to turn its attention to the creators who crafted great comics, whose work was always at the top of our reading piles and who had a great year in 2011.

Obviously, readers should be cognizant of the fact these are just personal preferences based on the material I read through the year and what I recall. Furthermore, my choices are also based in part on how creators fared on multiple issues and/or projects in 2011. Your mileage not only may vary, it definitely will vary. As was the case with the first part of the Glass Eye Awards, I offer several “nominees” in each category with one singled out as the “best” of the short list. Read the rest of this entry »

We’re halfway through January already, so Eye on Comics is long overdue in presenting its picks for the best comics of 2011 and the creators who had the best year last year. Regular readers might note it’s been some time since the Glass Eye Awards were presented; there was no such feature on the site for 2010 comics and creators — just didn’t get around to it. But the Glass Eye Awards are back, starting here with the best comics of the year.

Now readers ought to bear in mind I’m a busy, busy man, and there’s no way for me to read all of the comics and graphic novels released over the course of a year. I haven’t even had a chance to read all of the comics and graphic novels I actually purchased. Furthermore, the “nominees” and “winners” as presented here are based on my best recollections, and my memory ain’t perfect. Now, with no further ado, the envelopes, please… Read the rest of this entry »

Captain America and Bucky #625 (Marvel Entertainment)
by James Asmus, Ed Brubaker & Francesco Francavilla

I was all set to leave this title behind when artist Chris Samnee left the series. His work was its greatest strength, but then I heard his replacement was to be Francesco Francavilla. I’ve enjoyed his recent work, and have been particularly impressed with his cover art on recent Hellboy comics and the classic-movie-poster-style pinups he’s done on Comic Twart. With that in mind, I was quite surprised at how his art on Cap and Bucky didn’t hook me. It looks rough, and the figures don’t seem as dynamic as what I expected based on his past efforts. The color scheme is off too; I don’t like the reds. And I wish Francavilla had included a better glimpse of the second Captain America’s previous identity, the Spirit of ’76.

I enjoyed the done-in-one stories that preceded this issue, but they were, for the most part, predictable. Unfortunately, the multi-issue arc getting underway here seems pretty transparent as well. The second Cap’s grandson’s appearance is all too convenient, and Asmus’ script all but tells us his true nature. The notion the title hero or the elderly former Bucky’s narration make no mention of suspicions seems pretty ridiculous. Still, I’m always interested when writers explore relatively obscure characters from decades past, and the narrator’s voice throughout the issue rings true. 5/10 Read the rest of this entry »

We all knew it was coming, we just didn’t know when — until now. DC Comics has announced its second wave of ongoing titles in its New 52 line of super-hero comics (or other genre books set in the same continuity). And it’s sticking to that “New 52″ label and set number of continuing series. May’s debut of six new titles corresponds to April’s cancellation of six books.

Most of the comics on the chopping block come as little surprise. Read the rest of this entry »

Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis #s 1-5
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist/Cover artist: Kaare Andrews
Colors: Frank D’Armata
Letters: Virtual Calligraphy
Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Publisher: Marvel Entertainment
Price: $3.99 US

There’s nothing quite like a bargain. For comics readers and collectors such as myself, finding an old box of forgotten comics at a flea market, priced to sell, is always a bit of a thrill, but flea markets aren’t the only backdrop for such an experience. A lot of comic shops offer great deals on comics to clear out stock that’s been sitting around for a while. So when I saw all five issues of this limited series marked at $5 for the bundle at my local shop, I grabbed it up. Despite my appreciation of the creators’ past work, I wasn’t interested enough in these characters to pay four bucks a shot for each issue, but five for the lot? That’s a bargain at thrice the price. I’m pleased I got a chance to peruse these pages, but I’m also pleased I didn’t do so at full price back when they were initially published. The story reads incredibly quickly, and as its foundation are both recent and obscure elements from Marvel continuity that would likely leave many newer readers scratching their heads. Read the rest of this entry »

New Teen Titans: Games original hardcover graphic novel
Writers: Marv Wolfman & George Perez
Pencils/Cover artist: George Perez
Inks: Mike Perkins, Al Vey & Perez
Colors: Hi-Fi
Letters: Travis Lanham
Editor: Brian Cunningham
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $24.99 US/$27.99 CAN

Despite being more than 20 years in the making, New Teen Titans: Games was pretty much overlooked when it was released in September. In just about any other given month before that moment in comics publishing, I think, a fair bit of hullabaloo and commentary would have followed its publication, given it reunited a classic creative team to craft a story a long time in the making featuring characters they co-created and/or popularized. But in September, DC also launched its New 52 line of titles, revamping and revitalizing its monthly periodical output. But Games should have merited some attention as well, as the resonance of Wolfman and Perez’s work with the Teen Titans goes far beyond the comics industry; interpretations of their work penetrated the mass pop-culture psyche with the anime-style Teen Titans cartoon from a few years back. And today, Cyborg has graduated from the ranks of teen heroes to a full-fledged Justice Leaguer, and “Nightwing” is a name with which a couple of generations of comics readers (and cartoon watchers) have grown up. Given that legacy, it’s all the more disappointing to discover not only a generic super-hero yarn that fails to capture the original strengths of the work upon which it was founded, but a poorly executed one. Read the rest of this entry »

The Activity #1 (Image Comics)
by Nathan Edmondson & Mitch Gerads

Though his work on DC’s Grifter has lacked the strength of his work on Who Is Jake Ellis?, I had no hesitation when it came to checking out writer Nathan Edmondson’s latest project, The Activity, another creator-owned book from Image. Edmondson is clearly most comfortable in the espionage/international-intrigue genre, and he does some excellent work here. His timing is excellent, given the recent release of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. Those who enjoy the flick will likely get a kick out of this comic book. The interplay among the members of the intel/secret-ops team is convincing, and it helps to make these people with unbelievable jobs more believable. This opening chapter pretty much just sets the stage. There’s no mission in which something goes awry. There’s no shocking revelation, just an introduction to the premise and players. But it’s done quite well. Edmondson has quickly joined the ranks of such writers as Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer, guys cut their teeth in the industry with Image Comics and who pen particular smart, compelling fiction in fantastic or extreme circumstances.

Artist Mitch Gerads’ style is a fairly photorealistic one, but not overly detailed or stiff so as to look like it’s lightboxed, photo-referenced material. His work here reminds me of the styles of such other comics artists as Jock and Jeremy Haun. The good news is he isn’t adapting a typical super-hero style for something outside of that genre. The characters here move and dress like normal people. Muscles don’t bulge; clothes drape believably in the artwork. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the visuals is the color. Cool tones are employed to maintain a slightly tense mood that’s in keeping with the genre and premise. 8/10 Read the rest of this entry »

Reed Gunther #5
“Reed Gunther and the Freakshow Showdown!”

Reed Gunther #6
“From Cowboy to Cowman!”

Writer/Letters: Shane Houghton
Artist/Cover artist: Chris Houghton
Colors: Ciaran Lucas & Jose Flores (#5)/Josh Ulrich & Jose Flores (#6)

Not long ago, I was thumbing through comics recent comics and files I’d received, looking for something a bit off-beat to read, specifically for review purposes. I was putting together one of my Quick Critiques posts, and I wanted to bring some variety to it with a non-super-hero property published by an outfit other than DC and Marvel. I never have a shortage of possibilities, and these two issues of Reed Gunther were near the top of a reading list I had on my desk. So I decided to check them out, not knowing what to expect. Man, have I been missing out on an irreverent, all-ages comic that serves as another example of the strength and diversity Image Comics has to offer those with a love of comics. The Houghton brothers clearly have a passion for comics and for light, goofy adventure. Each issue — hell, each panel — exudes so much personality and whimsy, one can’t help but smile at the title character’s triumphs and gaffes. I was so pleased with what I found in this title, I felt the need to write a full review rather than just a capsule. Read the rest of this entry »

Discussions about DC’s New 52 relaunch initially focused on its tremendous success in September and October, but in the weeks since, the focus has shifted in part due to the announcements of several creative shakeups in more than a few titles. Some have interpreted this to be indicative of a higher level of editorial interference, but DC’s management of the New 52 is understandable. It may give rise to some concerns from a creative standpoint, but from a business perspective, it makes sense. DC has undergone a successful rebranding, almost a rebirth. Corporately speaking, there’s no doubt a lot of pressure to maintain that momentum, and the source of that renewed energy and interest in the brand come from on high, stemming from decisions made on a corporate level.

And now, to turn our attention to the individual titles that are a part of this successful initiative. I’ve already covered most of the book in Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3, so let’s wrap things up with the fourth and final instalment of my New 52 overview. Read the rest of this entry »

Squirrel Girl, a rare 1990s creation of the legendary Steve Ditko (along with writer Will Murray), was clearly meant to be a cute character from the start. Some might view as a joke, others as an endearing tribute or even satirical comment on the campiness of the Silver Age. She’s been a relatively obscure character, popping up from time to time, but lately, the character’s profile has been significantly boosted by writer Brian Michael Bendis’ decision to incorporate her into the cast of New Avengers, not as a member of the team, but as a superhuman nanny to the infant daughter of Avengers Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.

Since this boost in visibility, readers have “learned” a lot more about her, in that Marvel writers have started tossing out little tidbits of her history, perhaps the most significant of what was this nugget… Read the rest of this entry »

The comics industry has lost some greats in recent days, and many are still eulogizing Jerry Robinson and Joe Simon online. They’re also mourning the passing of artist Eduardo Barreto, and justifiably so. The former two talents were well into their golden years, and as someone who started reading comics as a kid in the late 1970s, I really wasn’t exposed that much to their work (though evidence of their legacies were ever-present in the comics I was reading). But Barreto was a different story. I was quite familiar with his work thanks to his stalwart efforts in the 1980s on such comics as New Teen Titans v.2, Superman and Batman. I’d later thrill over his contributions during the 1990s, notably Superman: Speeding Bullets.

As a tribute to a skilled comics artist who provided so many wonderful moments of entertainment and escapism, I’ve decided to rerun a review from my days on The Fourth Rail — a review of a 2003 original graphic novel he crafted with writer Ande Parks: Union Station. Read the rest of this entry »

The recent news DC’s New 52-driven lead in the marketplace over chief rival Marvel Entertainment narrowed in November doesn’t come as much of a surprise, but it shouldn’t detract from DC’s accomplishment with its bold publishing initiative. It’s revitalized interest in its brand and characters, and it’s proven to be a boost to the comics marketplace overall. Furthermore, I strongly suspect DC will bolster its position in that marketplace in 2012 with a second wave of New 52 debuts (either under the New 52 branding, or a new banner), coming on the heels of the inevitable cancellations of some under-performing titles. DC clearly has its promotional machine in top working order, and it will no doubt continue to capitalize on that strength next year.

In any case, it’s time to continue my overview of the New 52 titles a few months into the initiative. With the first and second parts of the feature behind us, here are my thoughts on the third and penultimate group of the New 52 stable. Read the rest of this entry »

New Avengers #19 (Marvel Entertainment)
by Brian Michael Bendis & Mike Deodato

This is the first Brian Michael Bendis-penned Avengers comic to be released since the writer announced he’d be leaving the franchise he’s built into Marvel’s powerhouse, eclipsing even its X-Men brand. Given the fact Bendis is rehashing the Dark Avengers concept in this latest story arc, I think a change is a good thing. However, I have to admit there are elements in this story about Norman Osborn’s return to prominence as a public hero but secret villain that are interesting. I love how Bendis portrays Osborn and his colleagues not as corrupt criminals but as people who think they know what’s best for the world. They’re power-hungry, yes, but they don’t see themselves as terrorists. Still, this Osborn plot has been dragging on for years in one way or another. Perhaps by capping his Avengers run with this storyline, Bendis plans to bring some resolution to it finally. Just as I was torn by some aspects of the main plot, other elements appealed and turned me off. The opening scene between Daredevil and Squirrel Girl was clearly meant to be funny, but I found it painful. DD’s internal monologue about the stenches before him came off as juvenile, and he also seems rather naive about public sentiment and protests. However, the subplot focusing on Jessica Jones’ concerns about her child and how she can and Luke can be good parents while also serving as Avengers was quietly compelling. The script also fails in some respects. The woman with whom Gorgon speaks in a pivotal scene isn’t identified, and I can’t remember is she’s called Madame Hydra, Viper or something else these days, and I’ve already forgotten who’s fulfilling the roles of Ms. Marvel and Spider-Man in Osborn’s new Avengers lineup. Read the rest of this entry »