The Mighty Avengers #14 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Khoi Pham; Inker: Danny Miki
Another “background” piece of Secret Invasion, focusing on the Skrulls’ plans for the Sentry (including a clandestine meeting of the Earth-Skrulls that shows the Jarvis-Skrull, the Elektra-Skrull, the Pym-Skrull, and some others), and even shows some real-time events synched into Secret Invasion #2. Standard disclaimer: if you’re buying this to get an actual Avengers story, forget it, but if you’re looking for a significant piece to the S. I. puzzle, this won’t disappoint you.
Fantastic Four #557 — Writer: Mark Millar; Penciler: Bryan Hitch; Inkers: Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie
The resolution to the first Millar/Hitch storyline, and it falls kind of flat: Reed’s “Anti-Galactus Suit” is silly, and the plot developments aren’t horrible, but they don’t achieve any cosmic grandeur or surprise, either; they just sit there. It’s redeemed by the art, though, and by the little character bits (if you can stand hearing the FF talk in that slightly-off Millar-speak dialogue).
Echo #3 — Writer/Artist: Terry Moore
An issue that will work better in the eventual trade: the long conversation between the heroine and her (almost) ex-husband might as well have a big “Necessary Information Dumping” label on it, and doesn’t work very well as an actual conversation; most of the rest of the issue feels the same way, as lots of character background bits and future plot developments are set up, but not much actually happens. Surrounded by the rest of the story, this wouldn’t feel so artificial, and it’s an essential piece, but by itself like this the plot seams are definitely showing.
Countdown to Mystery #8 ( of 8 ) — (Eclipso story): Writer: Matthew Sturges; Penciller: Chad Hardin; Inker: Robert Campanella; (Dr. Fate stories): Adam Beechen/Stephen Jorge Segovia; Mark Evanier/Joe Bennett; Mark Waid/Michael O’Hare; Gail Simone/Chad Hardin
The Eclipso story’s OK (and has the advantage of returning Classic Eclipso, instead of Jean Loringclipso, to continuity), but the real attraction is the conclusion to the Dr. Fate story — Steve Gerber died before being able to finish it, so the four writer/artist teams listed in the credits each provide a different four-page conclusion. Reading them offers a tutorial in plot resolution; all of them work, but out of all that talent it’s the rookie, Beechen, who offers the most satisfying tribute.
Star Trek: Assignment Earth #1 — Writer/Artist: John Byrne
Remember the original Star Trek episode that was set on Earth, involving a mysterious operative named Gary Seven, that was meant to be a possible pilot episode for a spinoff show that never materialized? Well, Byrne does, and this mini-series is his take on how a Gary Seven: Season One might have looked. You probably have to have watched a lot of late-’60s TV adventure shows to appreciate just how much he’s able to nail their fashions, plot twists and rhythms here; they’re obviously part of his creative DNA, and while younger readers might not appreciate the references, for me they were surprisingly effective.
Justice League of America #21 — Writer: Dwayne McDuffie; Penciller: Carlos Pacheco; Inker: Jesus Merino
A Final Crisis prequel, with the JLA fighting the two old “new” villains that Morrison’s featuring in that series, The Human Flame and Libra, as the usual collection of bad guys gather to hear Libra’s pitch. As always, McDuffie delivers an effective script, equal parts action and characterization, and it’s a good straight-ahead superhero story whether you’ve heard about (or care about) Final Crisis or not.
Brave and the Bold #13 — Writer: Mark Waid; Penciller: Jerry Ordway; Inkers: Scott Koblish and Bob McLeod
A one-issue story (the kind that, perhaps, this title should have been offering from the beginning), with the cover and plot a shoutback to the 1960s Flash #181, and an examination of why the Jay Garrick Flash would be one of the few superheroes that Batman respects. Well-constructed as always, if a trifle packed with information, and not a bad try-it issue, either, even though for Waid’s run on this title it’s probably too late.
Amazing Spider-Man #560 — Writer: Dan Slott; Art: Marcos Martin
Worth noting for the last-page character reveal, although said character is not particularly well-served by Martin’s art (points for the choice of reading material, though).
Stuff I bought and liked, but don’t have anything new to say about, so read previous reviews in the archives if you want to know:
Knights of the Dinner Table #139 — Writer/Artist: Jolly Blackburn and crew
Wolverine: Origins #25 — Writer: Daniel Way; Artist: Steve Dillon
Captain America #38 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Penciler: Steve Epting; Inkers: Mike Perkins and Steve Epting
War is Hell #3 (of 4) — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Howard Chaykin
Grendel: Behold the Devil #7 ( of 8 ) — Writer/Artist: Matt Wagner
Phil Mateer
