Brave and the Bold #12 — Writer: Mark Waid; Penciller: Jerry Ordway; Inks: Bob Wiacek
There’s been Internet debate over the last few weeks about why this book doesn’t sell better; that mostly involved the Waid/Perez issues, although these Waid/Ordway ones have similar characteristics — “classic” panel layout and character design, clear storytelling, and stories that draw on extensive knowledge of the DC Universe. So, what’s wrong? That “extensive” may be the problem; with 8 major superhero characters, plus the Challengers of the Unknown, plus Destiny, plus a new villain, it’s an intimidating, complicated story. It’s not badly told — Waid does everything possible to get new readers up to speed, and there’s a reasonable theme and character arc — but as a single issue it’s just too much. As a trade? Maybe, although again it’s a lot of work, and maybe the pressures of having to come up with a six-issue tale are the real problem — it leads to bloat, and to so much calculated storytelling structure that there’s not much heart left at the core of the book. We can see intellectually that it’s done well, but there isn’t any zing to it.
Superman #675 — Writer: Kurt Busiek; Pencillers: Renato Guedes and Jorge Correa Jr.; Inker: Jose Wilson Magalhaes
This is another book that somehow feels like it’s not as good as it should have been: Busiek has the core of Superman’s character and appeal down cold, and yet… like B&B, while it’s a good story, it doesn’t resonate the way it should. The art’s partly to blame, since it’s OK but not much else; it doesn’t have the visual pizzazz that would help make the dialogue and plot pop off the page. The narrative itself doesn’t do anything unexpected, and while the ending’s set up to sing — Superman’s making a storehouse of all the Earth’s knowledge! So even if civilization falls it will last! — it just kind of falls flat (isn’t that just a small tweak on what Google’s already doing?). Busiek’s been dependable on this title, under difficult circumstances, but the news that he’s leaving this for the weekly Trinity book (where he can still do Supes, plus the other two) seems more inevitable than sad.
War is Hell #2 (of 5) — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Howard Chaykin
The real entertainment here is watching Chaykin have fun with the WWI dogfights, and with historical stuff like the uniforms. His faces are still, somehow, annoyingly hard to tell apart (especially in helmets and goggles), and Ennis hits the “naive American farmboy” button a bit too hard (he’s so green that he doesn’t know what a French hooker is? Really?), but there’s no denying the high-quality work that’s gone into this — even though, like the first two books this week, it doesn’t seem quite as good as it should be.
Ghost Rider #22 — Writer: Jason Aaron; Artist: Roland Boschi
Aaron’s won me over in just a few issues: psycho cycle nurses from hell? Cannibals? Cannibal ghosts? He’s willing to pull out all the stops, and he’s not afraid to take a shot at a cheapass thrill; the last panel (promising, literally, a bangup conclusion next issue) is just right. This book doesn’t have the polished professionalism of the others on this list so far, but they could use more of its casual, go-for-it energy; it’s got the beating, bloody heart that they find so hard to bring to life.
Wolverine: Origins #24 — Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Steve Dillon
The perils of writing for the trade, part 34: this would have been perfect as a three (or even four) issue story, but stretching it out — nothing happens this issue, except for a lot of conversation and the sudden, unnecessary appearance of the book’s worst character — drains both the tension and the humor out of what should have been a nasty-fun Deadpool/Wolverine smackdown.
Knights of the Dinner Table #138 — Creator: Jolly Blackburn, with Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson and David S. Kenzer
Worth noting for its tributes to Gary Gygax, the father of role-playing who recently died. Schmaltzy, but heartfelt, both in the letters pages and on the cover, and the stories involving the regular cast of gamers are as funny as ever, a triumph of scripting power and character-building over what is, essentially, a collection of customized clip art.
Stuff I bought and liked, but have nothing new to say about, so read past reviews in the archives if you want to know….
Grendel: Behold the Devil #6 ( of 8 ) — Creator: Matt Wagner
DMZ #30 — Writer: Brian Wood; Art: Riccardo Burchielli
Captain America #37 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Artist: Steve Epting
Bat Lash #5 (of 6) — Writers: Peter Brandvold and Sergio Aragones; Artist: John Severin
Phil Mateer
