That’s right folks. The second half of my two part epic reviews starts here!
Siege #3 (of 4) Writer: Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Oliver Coipel
Siege Embedded #3 (of 4) Writer: Brian Reed Artist: Chris Samnee
Why do I hate Siege so much? Is it because everything feels a lot more forced than normal because Bendis has no idea how to pace? I think that’s the main reason. Also that Osborn hasn’t really done anything terrible since getting his position, and this character advancement hasn’t worked. The Sentry is still kind of lame, so I hope he dies by the end of this. Embedded is a little better, but when it’s working with the mediocre material that Siege has, it doesn’t get any favors.
Deadpool Merc with a Mouth #9 Writer: Victor Gischler Artist: Bong Dazo
Prelude to Deadpool Corps #3 (of 5) Writer: Victor Gischler Artist: Phillip Bond
Again with the Deadpool overload. I don’t know why, but it’s really starting to get to me. Not to mention that he pops up in Wolverine Origins and the Hulk books. It’s starting to bring Wolverine to shame. I haven’t heard anything about the movie lately, but I have had plenty in the comics to last me for the foreseeable future.
Incredible Hulk #608 Writer: Greg Pak Artist: Paul Pelletier
Hulk #21 Writer: Jeph Loeb Artist: Ed McGuiness
I feel bad for the Incredible Hulk team. Pak wrote a very comprehensive and competent piece in Planet Hulk, and Pelletier is a solid artist, but Jeph Loeb is throwing these terrible ideas their way and forcing them to take part. We are at a point now where the next big Hulk event involves every Marvel character becoming Hulks. It’s going to be a giant crap-fest, and it’s destroying what could be a capable character. McGuiness is hilarious in all of his art. The puffy interpretations of popular characters are good for a smile, but the House of Loeb is filled with so many bad ideas. Yet it still sells. What does that say about the consumer?
Superman 80 Page Giant One Shot Writer/Artist: various
When your first story is about poor kid Clark Kent not knowing how to use his powers and getting a heartwarming lecture from Pa Kent, you know you are in trouble. This entire issue was one gigantic yawn fest with mediocre story after mediocre story. The Kathryn Immonen story was the least terrible, but that’s not really saying much. I guarantee that in the silver age, these Giants were better, cheaper, and slightly more interesting. In this day and age, they are cash grabs, and story dumps. Very disappointing.
Wolverine Origins #45 Writer: Daniel Way Artist: Dougie Braithwaite
This isn’t awful, it just doesn’t make any sense. It seems like every arc of Wolverine Origins revolves around the Search/Discovery of Romulus and then his abrupt departure into the shadows. How much longer will this run for? And will it become coherent? Doubtful, but at least they aren’t wasting Steve Dillon’s art on here anymore.
Titans #23 Writer: Eddie Berganza Artists: Scott Clark and Ardian Syaf
I would say that the Titans stuff has gone off the rails, but that would imply it was on the rails to begin with. This issue is a glaring example of DC’s inability to move on from their past. I understand that there is great stuff there, but there’s only so much you can flash back to and ret-con before I get really frustrated. This issue of Titans spends all of its time reminiscing about the new armless archer, creating a love between Speedy and Wonder Girl, and harkening back to the “My Ward is a Junkie!” story. Not nearly as good as the stuff it borrows from, I wonder how long this title will actually last.
“The” Dan Jacka
