Advertise on Eye on ComicsQuick Critiques – June 14, 2007
Posted by Don MacPherson on June 14th, 2007
Countdown #46 (DC Comics)
by Paul Dini, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray & Jesus Saiz/by Dan Jurgens & Norm Rapmund
You’d be hard pressed to find a bigger fan of DC Universe characters than me, and I love to see lesser known characters put to use in adventure stories and cosmic crossovers. So Countdown should be firing on all cylinders as far as I’m concerned, right? Wrong. This sixth issue of DC’s current weekly series disappoints in a number of ways. The more traditional tone to the super-hero story is lost when we see Mary marvel against a demon made up with the souls of stillborn babies. Stillborn babies? Who thought that was a good idea for a mainstream DC super-hero book? To be fair, it’s an interesting concept and definitely evokes an emotional response from the reader, but it would be more at home in a Swamp Thing or Hellblazer comic from DC’s Vertigo imprint. The new character introduced in this issue, Forerunner, doesn’t stand out in any way. All we know of her is that she’s a speedster, but the design looks generic inspired by the empty, Kewl mode of super-hero comics of the early 1990s. I remain interested in the Jimmy Olsen plotline, and Jason Todd’s detective skills help him stand out as an interesting character. I’m also a fan of the Flash’s Rogues Gallery, but the writers prove with this issue that including Piper among their number once again just doesn’t jibe with past continuity. Saiz’s art is pretty solid here, especially the Mary Marvel scenes (and his design for the unsettling demon is quite powerful). The “History of the Multiverse” backup story just doesn’t work in this format. The cosmic recap of DC’s past just doesn’t work in four-page spurts. Furthermore, Rapmund’s inks sometimes get in the way of Jurgens’s normally crisp, dynamic lines; the Monitor crowd scenes always look rushed, and the small distinctions among the Monitors are rarely clear. 3/10
Detective Comics #833 (DC Comics)
by Paul Dini, Don Kramer & Wayne Faucher
Paul Dini delivers a satisfying super-hero teamup story featuring the Batman and Zatanna, which not only feels like an old-fashioned genre pairing tale but incorporates elements from earlier on in Dini’s run on this title. Actually, this is such an effective teamup story that I’m surprised DC didn’t hold onto this two-parter for publication in its recently revived Brave and the Bold title. The plot is actually quite simple… a bit too simple for a detective/mystery story, but it’s entertaining. The tension between the two heroes adds a nice added element of conflict to the story, but Dini fails to explain to newer readers why the Batman doesn’t trust Zatanna as a result of the revelations of Identity Crisis from a couple of years ago. The big revelation at the story’s cliffhanger is a great moment, an entertaining throwback to a more innocent time in super-hero storytelling. Dini pulls it off effectively, though perhaps he has to fudge the character interaction elements a bit to make it work. The most impressive aspect of this issue, though, wasn’t to be found in Dini’s script, but rather in Don Kramer’s artwork. Kramer’s been a solidly performer for DC for a few years now, but this effort marks a milestone. His style seems to have evolved here; his linework on this issue remind me at times of the expressive, classic illustration style of Michael (Sandman) Zulli. He and his artistic collaborators bring an appropriately dark and edgy tone to the story, but not so much so that it interferes with the more traditional qualities of the plot. Though I doubt this issue of Detective Comics will go down as a memorable episode of the series, it was an undeniably enjoyable one. 7/10
New Avengers #31 (Marvel Comics)
by Brian Michael Bendis & Leinil Yu
I hadn’t heard it before visiting the comic shop this week, but I guess Marvel’s been hyping this issue as a major event for fans… not at a Captain America #25 level of importance, but noteworthy nonetheless. Unfortunately, the impact of the big revelation at the end of this issue didn’t resonate with me. I was more irked by the fact that Marvel seems to be setting up its next big event in the same week that it launched its current big event, World War Hulk. If every story is of earth-shattering importance to Marvel’s super-heroes, then ultimately, none of them will have any impact on readers. This issue consists mainly of an extended fight sequences, with the New Avengers fighting wave after endless wave of ninjas. Again. I was bored of it three pages into this issue. Furthermore, Bendis’s script isn’t at all accessible to newer readers. The big revelation is never explained, so only those familiar with Marvel cosmic populace will really pick up on a key reference. After several issues on the title, I’m convinced that Leinil Yu’s art is absolutely the wrong choice for this subject matter. This is supposed to be big, splashy super-hero fare, but Yu’s style here is too dark and borderline surreal for it. It’s rather difficult to follow the action; the characters are lost in a sea of faceless enemies. Not only is the linework too dark, but the colors are as well. Furthermore, the final panel — which seems designed to instill a chilling sense of foreboding — is instead rather laughable in appearance. With a story striving to achieve an atmosphere of tension and suspect, New Avengers certainly didn’t need a Stewie Griffin moment. 4/10
World War Hulk #1 (Marvel Comics)
by Greg Pak, John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson
I like the concept behind this crossover event, and the road to this point has taken readers through some really good Hulk stories over the past year or so. I think what’s most interesting about current conflict is that I appreciate both points of view. The Hulk’s anger and outrage are completely understandable, and I buy into his reasons for declaring war. On the other hand, the heroes who tried to banish him to deep space did so out of good intentions; Marvel has established the Hulk as a menace and a monster quite effectively over the years. I buy into their motives and rationalizations. Despite my appreciation of the plotting, though, this first issue was something of a disappointment. Pak spends a lot of time in this issue explaining what has come before and who the players are. The problem is that we’ve already had World War Hulk: Prologue; it seems as though that would have been a better place to set the stage. So much of this issue seemed like rehashing. There is some new plot material, but for the most part, it consists of fight scenes. Mind you, they’re exciting (if predictable) fight scenes. Romita Jr.’s art captures the enormity of the power in play here as well as the Hulk’s rage. However, his and Janson’s efforts here seem a bit too rough in places, even looking rushed. The art here lacks the polish and strength we saw from this art team recently on Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #3, for example. I was also disappointed that this oversized (and therefore higher-priced) issue had a lot of promotional filler in its back end. It felt as though I was paying for a Marvel promo book rather than embedding myself on the front lines of a super-hero war. Furthermore, the scene in which Stark Tower crumbles to the ground in Manhattan struck me as too evocative of the events of 9/11; it felt too soon for such a reference in what is supposed to be an action-oriented, super-hero free-for-all. 5/10
June 15th, 2007 at 4:42 am
Two comments. First, I think the last page of New Avengers was actually supposed to be funny, since Bendis said it made him laugh as he wrote it and saw the drawn page. Now, I’m not saying the humor works, but the point is it’s not meant to be entirely serious. As for the tower in World War Hulk, it’s been almost six years since 9/11. What- towers being attacked is still off-limits?
June 15th, 2007 at 7:07 am
First, THANK YOU for saying the obvious of Leinil Yu’s work on New Avengers! When he first took over, I thought, “What the heck?” His work on Superman: Birthright was phenomenal, but everything since has looked dark and rushed. The layouts are terrible, the inking and coloring sloppy.
Second, as for DC’s big 52/Countdown events, I personally could not care less. DC’s multiverse/universe/multi-Earth stuff is just too over the top.
June 15th, 2007 at 7:46 am
Mory wrote:
First, I think the last page of New Avengers was actually supposed to be funny, since Bendis said it made him laugh as he wrote it and saw the drawn page. Now, I’m not saying the humor works, but the point is it’s not meant to be entirely serious.
Just because a creator says that’s so doesn’t make it so. That comment could have been pre-emptive in nature. And even so, creative intent doesn’t invalidate reader interpretation. Spidey’s banter in the fight is humor that works in that dark story. Killer Baby Stare doesn’t.
As for the tower in World War Hulk, it’s been almost six years since 9/11. What- towers being attacked is still off-limits?
It depends on the context. Brian Vaughan has explored the notion in Ex Machina, but in a manner that resonates. The scene in WWH just struck me as being gratuitous.
June 15th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Casey wrote:
First, THANK YOU for saying the obvious of Leinil Yu’s work on New Avengers! When he first took over, I thought, “What the heck?” His work on Superman: Birthright was phenomenal, but everything since has looked dark and rushed.
Actually, I thought his style was perfect for the story in Ultimate Wolverine Vs. Hulk. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though we’ll ever see the completion of that particular mini-series.
June 15th, 2007 at 8:48 am
I dunno- I was shocked by that scene, what with that particular building having been built up as a landmark of the Marvel Universe over the course of the past few years. You might disagree, but I’d say that resonated.
By the way, I too agree with your sentiments about Leinil Yu and Dave McCaig. It’s always pretty hard to make out what’s going on in New Avengers. There are too many characters sloppily drawn on top of each other, and McCaig doesn’t take any care to distinguish the characters from each other and from the background. It’s messy, for sure.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Mory wrote:
McCaig doesn’t take any care to distinguish the characters from each other and from the background. It’s messy, for sure.
Well, overall, I think McCaig’s one of the best colorists going in comics right now, which leads me to suspect he was directed to use this darker, muddier palette.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:36 am
I was flipping through WWH #1 at the store yesterday and made the decision to wait for it in trade or hardcover. That said, the Planet Hulk HC arrived yesterday as well. I couldn’t pick it up due to the massive Jack Kirby omnibus (mmmm, Fourth World) but I was wondering what your thoughts on the story were? I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and was interested in it as far as flipping through the latest issue when it came out. Considering that I specially ordered it, I’ll still be picking it up, but I’m just curious to your opinion on it, overall.
I’ve officially renamed Countdown to Letdown. Unlike 52, which featured at least two of my favorite DC superheroes (Animal Man and Steel), there’s no one in Countdown that interests me. I might wait for the trades on it, but honestly, the series hasn’t been nearly as interesting or exciting at 52. Maybe it’s because Countdown is “counting down” to the next big event, which I’m just getting sick and tired of. The reason that events worked well in the first place is simple: they didn’t happen every year or hell, there wasn’t two, three, ten different events all happenening at the same time.
June 15th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Nick wrote:
That said, the Planet Hulk HC arrived yesterday as well. I couldn’t pick it up due to the massive Jack Kirby omnibus (mmmm, Fourth World) but I was wondering what your thoughts on the story were? I’ve heard a lot of good things about it and was interested in it as far as flipping through the latest issue when it came out. Considering that I specially ordered it, I’ll still be picking it up, but I’m just curious to your opinion on it, overall.
I enjoyed “Planet Hulk” quite a bit, which was actually a bit surprising. It’s a mix of sci-fi and barbarian/gladiator genre elements, and I rarely enjoy barbarian/gladiator stories. Also enjoyable was the fact that it was a cohesive story that didn’t require intimate knowledge of Marvel history and suffered no intrusions from what was going on in other titles.
June 15th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
World War Hulk #1 – While I was a little put-off by the re-hash of past events leading up to WWH, I understand the motivation as they wanted to ensure any newcomers would be up to speed, not everyone (especially new potential readers coming in from the postive hype) would know, so take that for what it is worth. I like that they are trying to make a ‘Hulk event’ as accessible as possible.
The other thing – 9/11 was tragic but I did not think the levelling of Stark’s Tower to be in poor taste. I mean, the Hulk thinks Iron Man et all destroyed his world, why would he not want to smash Iron Man’s home? I mean it is not like the Hulk took out the Chrysler Building for no reason.
My biggest beef is that the Black Bolt vs Hulk battle took place off panel. I hope we get to see that somewhere and explain how the Hulk beat him.
All in all, I think this will be the best event comic Marvel has done in years and I have faith in Pak. And JRJR.
June 15th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
Dear Don,
Except for the Detective Comics issue, all of these reviews had low scores. It would be nice if you posted more comics that you enjoyed so I could get some recommendations; especially since your posts are kind of sporadic. You have earned my trust with your reviews and I usually pick up comics that you say you like.
But then again, I guess that does pose a dilemma because it does make sense to pick a bunch of comics to review then if they are bad, that’s just the way it goes. I’m not saying you don’t do that. For example, you did a post about how you liked New Universal and you praised the Peanuts free comic in the last quick critiques. I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud, maybe it’s the nostalgia talking for the “Best of the Week” from the Fourth Rail.
June 15th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Bob wrote:
Except for the Detective Comics issue, all of these reviews had low scores. It would be nice if you posted more comics that you enjoyed so I could get some recommendations; especially since your posts are kind of sporadic. You have earned my trust with your reviews and I usually pick up comics that you say you like.
Well, my posts this month have been fewer than normal because I was away for more than a week on vacation, but I will try to get more reviews up on the site. In my defence, though, there are a number of recent positive reviews, including Fun Home, The Blue Beetle Companion, The Plain Janes and New Universal.
But then again, I guess that does pose a dilemma because it does make sense to pick a bunch of comics to review then if they are bad, that’s just the way it goes.
Actually I don’t necessarily “pick” specific comics to review. When I read a comic, if I enjoyed it or not, I won’t write a review if I don’t have much to say about it. I end up writing some reviews I didn’t expect to because I had a number of thoughts about to share. I also try to offer reviews on a diversity of material and publishers.
There’s no way I can review all or even most of the comics I buy or receive. There’s just too much to get through. And though I know many people appreciated the “Best of the Week” designation Randy and I used to offer on The Fourth Rail, it’s just not feasible anymore. This site is something I do in my spare time, not as a job (as it was when I worked on Psycomic and Comics Newsarama at Fandom).
I’m not saying you don’t do that. For example, you did a post about how you liked New Universal and you praised the Peanuts free comic in the last quick critiques. I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud, maybe it’s the nostalgia talking for the “Best of the Week” from the Fourth Rail.
June 15th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Re The Tower Falls…
I think that before 9/11 no one knew skyscrapers would collapse in on themselves. If it (Stark Tower)didn’t collapse, I think other people would have been bothered as well. I just thought “Yep, that’s what would happen, given the circumstances.
And they DID evacuate the island, at least.