Eye on Comics

Final Crisis #2 (DC Comics)
by Grant Morrison & J.G. Jones

Wow… Morrison pulls out all the stops and begins to show just how complex, creative and compelling a story he has in mind for the icons of DC’s super-hero universe. His inventive notions and amalgams of science-fiction and spirituality challenge the reader, and he brings plenty of drama to the mix as well. Final Crisis is shaping up to be the smartest super-hero genre event ever put to paper, even rivalling the meticulous planning and structure of Alan Moore’s never-published Twilight event for DC. The opening scene is incredibly entertaining; Morrison’s vision of super-hero pop culture in Japan is amusing yet biting in its criticism. The scene also reminded me a great deal of the premise behind Alex Ross and Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come, with its criticism of a new generation of heroes and comics. Morrison’s story isn’t the most accessible of creatures, given its deep roots in the late Jack Kirby’s Fourth World. To DC’s credit, it’s not really marketed this as a gateway to its characters and universe, and I’m not sure if it’s feasible, given the maturity and complexity of the writer’s ideas. Still, newer readers won’t be completely lost and will find scenes that will capture the imagination (the Japanese club and Alpha Lantern investigation scenes come to mind). Jones’s art is meticulous and moody. This issue is replete with crowded scenes, featuring a lot of different colorful characters, but the artist handles them adeptly. Detail isn’t sacrificed; quite the opposite, actually. The art demands attention and a closer perusal after one’s initial reading of the issue. While I enjoyed the first issue of this series, I’m really excited about the title after reading the second episode. 9/10

Firebreather #1 (Image Comics)
by Phil Hester & Andy Kuhn

This is the second time around for Firebreather at Image Comics, and I’m pleased to see the property return. Fans who read the original comics from a couple of years ago won’t find anything new in this first issue, but it’s clearly designed as an accessible introduction for newer readers. Firebreather has the kind of insane energy and perspective that one might find in a Matt Fraction comic, but it also has the heart and grounded qualities of a Robert Kirkman comic. Artist Phil Hester is no stranger to the writing side of the medium, and he proves once again he’s comfortable and adept in the role. Andy Kuhn’s angular, intense style is a perfect match for the oddball title character and the weird circumstances in which he finds himself. The fight scenes between Firebreather and his immense dragon of a father are kinetic and eyecatching. Bill Crabtree’s colors stem from a primarily orange and red palette that reinforces the infernal qualities of the two main characters. Kuhn’s exaggerated style is surprisingly effective when it comes to Duncan’s expressiveness. While the premise is out of this world, the core of the book is Duncan’s struggles as a teen. It’s surprisingly easy to relate to him, and Kuhn, despite designing an inhuman look for the hero, still manages to show his humanity at the same time. The creators don’t break new ground here, as I noted, but fans of such Image super-hero titles as Invincible, Noble Causes and Dynamo 5 should find Firebreather appealing. They’ll find some a familiar approach to characterization while discovering a novel premise. 7/10

Hero Initiative: Mike Wieringo Book #1 (Hero Initiative/Marvel Comics)
by Jeff Marker, Mike Wieringo & various artists

Mike Wieringo wasn’t one of the most prolific artists in comics, but his work seemed to be universally appealing, entertaining and even comforting. Here we are, almost a year after his death, and he’s still being remembered with incredible fondness, usually reserved for the industry’s innovators, legends and stalwarts. It’s a testament to the man and the power of his artwork. This benefit book features the last seven pages of comic art he completed before his untimely death, and other talents — including such talents as Art Adams, Alan Davis and Mike Allred — have worked to complete Jeff Parker’s story of a radically different Fantastic Four team. This is a thoroughly accessible book, as one needn’t read the original Walter Simonson/Art Adams FF story arc that inspired it. This Parker/Wieringo Fantastic Four story is much stronger than their Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four series from last year. Wieringo’s bright, wide-eyed style suits this traditional, encouraging super-hero story perfectly. The other artists involved don’t try to emulate Wieringo’s style. Instead, the various differing styles are employed for specific scenes with different moods, often to great effect. Now, there’s nothing terribly new or ground-breaking about this story, but it celebrates not only a wonderful artist but Kirby and Lee’s early FF storytelling and a simpler approach to the genre in general. The book also includes tributes from friends and past creative partners, which fill out this $4.99 US one-shot nicely and makes this benefit book a good value for a good cause. 7/10

Trinity #s 1-3 (DC Comics)
by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Mark Bagley, Scott McDaniel, Tom Derenick, Mike Norton, Jerry Ordway, Art Thibert, Andy Owens & Wayne Faucher

Of DC’s recent year-long, weekly super-hero titles, this is the one I most anticipated and am most enjoying. Busiek and Nicieza have adopted a traditional, straightforward approach to super-hero storytelling that both acknowledges the history of these characters without getting tangled up in it. The plots and scripts are quite accessible, and there’s an emphasis on action that will entertain younger readers while taking longtime enthusiasts of the genre back to a simpler time in comics storytelling. The two-pronged approach to the story — presenting two separate yet linked stories in each issue — works quite well, and I enjoy how the backup story elements shift up front to the main feature with each issue. One problem I noticed by the third issue was one of pacing, which comes as no surprise in the crafting of a weekly series. The various heroes’ encounters with Konvikt, a boring and generic alien villain, are already growing repetitive and tiresome, so I hope we’ll be moving on from this tangent soon. Bagley’s art is an ideal choice for such an action-oriented series. While he carved out a career illustrating the agile and lithe qualities of Spider-Man for Marvel, he manages to capture the larger presence of DC’s icons pretty well. The art on the backup stories is a mixed bag. McDaniel’s exaggerated, dark style isn’t doing much for me on this title, while Tom Derenick’s standard super-hero style is clear but unremarkable. Mike Norton and Jerry Ordway’s collaboration is crisp and much more engaging to the eye. Overall, the creators on Trinity aren’t reinventing the wheel or anything, but they’re doing exactly what’s needed of them to keep the audience coming back every week. 7/10