Amazing Spider-Man #547 — Writer: Dan Slott; Penciler: Steve McNiven; Inker: Dexter Vines This continues to be better than I suspect we all wanted it to be (given the events that got us here), because McNiven can deliver clean, precise art that’s effective at both the faces and the action sequences, and Slott’s able to nail the combination of humor, lovable-loserness and sense of responsibility that makes Peter Parker work (his various reactions to JJJ’s medical problem are all exactly right). I’d still argue that nothing here wouldn’t have worked just as well with Mary Jane, but hey, at least … Continue reading →

Checkmate #22 — Writers: Greg Rucka and Eric Trautman; Art: Travis Lanham The conclusion of a two-parter introducing the new Mademoiselle Marie, in a very Queen and Country-flavored action story involving the solo rescue of a young kidnap victim in the MIddle East. Decent enough, with competent art and a couple of effective scenes, but it’s marred by some uncharacteristically-clumsy staging in the climax (wait: she hit him with that? Um… how, exactly?) that pulls the reader out of the story. Booster Gold #6 — Writers: Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz; Pencils: Dan Jurgens; Finished Art: Norm Rapmund The return … Continue reading →

Teen Titans Lost Annual #1 — Writer: Bob Haney;  Pencils: Jay Stephens;  Inks: Mike Allred This story, set during the early ’60s, was originally done as an Elseworlds book in 2003, but for reasons known only to DC, they sat on it, and are only now releasing it in this “lost annual” format. For longtime Titans fans, the over-the-top Haney script, cover by Nick Cardy (with six pages of his sketches of the characters inside) and Stephens/Allred retro art should be reason enough to buy it. It guest-stars John F. Kennedy, and… well, you’ll have to read it; Haney (who … Continue reading →

Punisher War Journal #15 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Artist: Scott Wegener The second part of a two-parter with the re-villainized Kraven, son of Kraven, and the first in a long while where Fraction’s hit the right spot between sincerity and parody (Wegener’s idiosyncratic art helps enormously). He tends to have his own take on characters like the Rhino and the Vulture, and it’s sometimes only casually related to previous versions, but if you can get past that it works; the scenes of the two battered old pros and their associates trying to survive capture by the insane bad guy had … Continue reading →

Doktor Sleepless #4 — Writer: Warren Ellis; Art: Ivan Rodriguez Gravel #0 — Writers: Warren Ellis and Mike Wolfer; Art: Raulo Caceres Thunderbolts #118 — Writer: Warren Ellis; Art: Mike Deodato, Jr. Ultimate Human #1 (of 4) — Writer: Warren Ellis; Art: Cary Nord Ellis is all over the place this week, split between his for-hire superhero work and his own creations. Of the Marvel titles, Thunderbolts is the better; the third part of a longer story, it offers a very smooth ride, with professionally-rendered thrills and chills and a moment or two of genuine horror. If you want a … Continue reading →