Author Archives: Phil

Amazing Spider-Man #600 — um, I was going to review this (unlike Hulk #600, I bought it — but then, Spidey was my entry drug for comics…), but I seem to have left it at the store; I am lame. Let’s just say we’ll add it to next week’s pile, eh? Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #5 (of 5) — Writer: Geoff Johns;  Pencils: George Perez;  Inks: Scott Koblish Yes, this has been laughably late, but you know what? Otherwise, it’s been a perfect mini-series: I can’t think of a serious Legion fan who wouldn’t be pleased by it. … Continue reading →

The Incredible Hulk #600 — (Main story): Writer: Jeph Loeb;  Pencils: Ed McGuinness;  Inks: Mark Farmer;  (2nd story/Hulk/10 pages):  Writer: Stan Lee;  Art: Rodney Buchemi;  (3rd story/Savage She-Hulk/15 pages):  Writer: Fred Van Lente;  Artists: Michael Ryan and Salva Espin …Plus, there’s a reprint of the Loeb/Tim Sale Hulk: Grey #1, and one of those all-600-covers in a row things: whatever else, this is a lot of stuff for your $4.99. Unfortunately, it’s a typical Loeb production: lots of big panels, sound and fury, lines like “Bruce Banner can never turn into the Hulk again” — and no real payoff, since … Continue reading →

Blackest Night #1 ( of 8 ) — Writer: Geoff Johns;  Penciller: Ivan Reis;  Inker: Oclair Albert This book has already gotten some criticism, partly for its violence and partly for a perceived sloppiness in continuity (i.e., how can that be Bruce Wayne’s skull? What about some of the other “dead” characters?). I like it, though: let’s face it, the idea of a DC zombie attack is cool; we feel guilty about thinking so, because it’s such a teenage fanboy (or girl) thing, but then Johns has always been very good at knowing what will cut through comics’ grown-up pretension, … Continue reading →

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corp #1 — Writers: Geoff Johns,  Peter Tomasi;  Artists: Jerry Ordway, Chris Samnee, Rags Morales Stand-alone tales of the Blue, Yellow and Indigo Lanterns (that last one a deliberately enigmatic introduction, with all the dialogue in untranslated alienspeak), with a full-page spread of the major players in each, and a double-page spread of the GLC at the end. Not essential if you’re buying Blackest Night, but not bad, especially for new fans trying to keep track of everyone — and the art, especially from Ordway and Morales, is solid. Escape #3 (of 6) — Writer: … Continue reading →

Wednesday Comics #1 (of 12)  — and you’re crazy if you think I’m listing the credits for 15 features…. This, kids, is what newspaper Sunday comics sections used to look like in their golden era, from the early 1900s through to sometime in the ’50s: one strip per page, full color, a variety of styles, and at least a couple of strips per issue that were absolute triumphs of design and storytelling. Not so today, of course — the Arizona Republic now fits five or six Sunday strips per page, and you need a magnifying glass — so Wednesday Comics … Continue reading →