New Comics

Wonder Woman #8 — Writer: Jodi Picoult; Penciller: Terry Dodson; Inker: Rachel Dodson Picoult’s writing ability probably comes out best in the Wonder Woman/Nemesis scenes, as they engage in a kind of awkward, half-kidding courtship in between fighting the bad guys. The unfortunate part’s the forced plot, as she’s compelled to use Circe to resurrect Mother Hippolyta, for no good reason other than to connect the book to the first issue of Amazons Attack, also out this week (This issue runs parallel to that one, and they end with the same scene. If this is going to go on for … Continue reading →

Love and Rockets #19 — Creators: Gilbert, Jaime and Mario Hernandez If you’ve never picked up this title…well, you’re an idiot, frankly. When everyone tells you something is good, you should at least try it, even if it turns out not to be to your taste, right? Anyway, if you’ve never picked this up, this is a good sampler issue: you have the final two chapters of a south-of-the-border story, two chapters of an LA story, and a surreal stand-alone strip. Beautiful, beautiful art, deft characterization, every panel a master class on composition — why, exactly, haven’t you ever tried … Continue reading →

World War III #1 — Writer: Keith Champagne;  Penciller: Pat Olliffe;  Inker: Drew Geraci World War III #2 — Writer: Keith Champagne;  Penciller: Andy Smith;  Inker: Ray Snyder World War III #3 — Writer: John Ostrander;  Penciller: Tom Derenick;  Inker: Norm Rapmund World War III #4 — Writer: John Ostrander;  Penciller: Jack Jadson;  Inker: Rodney Ramos If you bought 52 #50, you really, really don’t need these comics — unless you were hoping for 88 more pages of Black Adam beating up on various super-heroes and punching his fist through people, because that’s all that’s here. That’s all the “World … Continue reading →

Amelia Rules #17 — Writer and Illustrator: Jimmy Gownley Yes, this comic about fifth-graders without superpowers (although a few of them would like to have some) is the best book of the week. That might seem strange if you’ve never read it, but look at the Terry Moore cover, the cranky but affectionate fan mail from Harlan Ellison, the other fan mail from writer/producer David Fury, from the guy who created Akiko, from the team that created Kim Possible, from Luann creator Greg Evans, and from others. What do they know? That Gownley is an extremely talented writer and artist, … Continue reading →

Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four #1 (of 4) — Writer: Jeff Parker; Penciler: Mike Wieringo; Inker: Wade von Grawbadger I almost bought this, and if you’re looking for “classic” FF while the main title’s going through one of its periodic let’s-shake-up-the-roster things, you could do worse. Weiringo knows how to draw this book, and the script gives him Spider-Man and the Impossible Man and a Thing-Torch prank to have fun with. There was a little too much going on for me, though; it seemed like the volume was cranked up too high — the villain’s working for an alien race! … Continue reading →