Ultimate Avengers #5 — Writer: Mark Millar; Pencils: Carlos Pacheco; Inks: Dexter Vines with Thomas Palmer
So, how come Millar’s books generally feel successful, while Jeph Loeb’s too often come off as wanna-bes, when both utilize over-the-top plot twists, faux-adult situations, and tic-filled dialog, and often deal with the same characters? Maybe it’s the narrative stance: Loeb’s feel like they’re deliberate talk-down pitches to kids, while Millar is more of an enthusiastic fan himself, roping the readers in and making them co-conspirators in the frequently-awful things that happen to his subjects. Maybe it’s the way the WTF? moments in a Millar book feel like the result of actual planning, and spring organically from his characters, instead of from authorial cynicism or carelessness. Whatever it is, it landed Loeb’s New Ultimates on the put-back list this week, while Ultimate Avengers is… well, right here.
Crossed #9 (of 9) — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Jacen Burrows
The double-sized conclusion, as the original group of 14 survivors of one of your standard crazy-person/zombielike plagues, having been whittled down gradually over the previous eight issues, gets reduced to two. The emotional climax of the series was actually in issue #7, so what’s here is mostly inevitable resolution, but it’s been a satisfying, if very dark, trip, and Ennis is wise enough to let a few rays of light through at the end (although he’s also wise enough not to do any world-saving, or even provide any explanations for the plague), and give at least a few of his characters some non-violent, if tentative, closure.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight #33 — Writer: Brad Meltzer; Pencils: Georges Jeanty; Inks: Andy Owens
The reveal of the Big Villain, who turns out to be… well, less of a villain than we might have thought, and to say any more would be too spoilery. Meltzer does a good job with the characterization bits and the dialog (thankfully, nobody’s wives get raped, or have their brains walked around in), and as this series moves toward its conclusion it keeps ratcheting up the stakes (no pun intended — honest), and providing ideas and special effects through the comics that would have been a lot more expensive, and less believable, on a TV screen. If you’re a fan of the original series who’s been slacking off on reading the comic, the events of this issue offer a prime moment in which to jump back on.
True Story, Swear to God #12 — Writer/Artist: Tom Beland
Another comic reaching a climax this week, as Beland’s multi-cultural, true-life love story features its main characters’ wedding. The deceptively-simple art is surprisingly good at hitting emotional beats, and as an autobiographical cartoonist he’s helped by his clear eye and total honesty, whether in describing his frozen moment during the ceremony, or in explaining why his sister-in-law is an evil bitch (readers can be forgiven for speculating whether she’s a comics fan, which could lead to some considerably awkward family reunion moments now that this issue’s out…). What comes through more than anything else, though, is Beland’s love for his now-wife; it’s both charming and heart-felt, and enough to make this comic a keeper.
Invincible Iron Man #24 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Art: Salvador Larroca
Yet another story reaches a conclusion (we seem to have a theme this week), as the last year and a half of adventures concludes. It comes off as a trifle anticlimactic, actually, but that always happens when corporate superhero characters get cycled back to their default settings, and there’ve been enough cool moments and plot twists along the way to satisfy even a jaded reader (I have to admit, the resolution offers a particularly clever way of excusing Tony’s actions from Civil War on out, and letting him achieve forgiveness for them and move on). The Fraction/Larroca team is as effective at this stuff as, say, the Brubaker/Epting team over on Captain America, and the trades that result from it deserve to be perennial bestsellers — and just in time for the movie fans in a few months, too.
The Sword #22 (of 24) — Writers/Artists: The Luna Brothers
This story’s also racing to an ending, with an antepenultimate issue featuring a big fight against one of those villains who can’t quite figure out when to shut up — fortunately for the heroine. Deftly-choreographed, violent, and clever, all at the same time: the Luna Brothers have improved with each series they’ve produced, from Ultra through Girls to this, and have become major players by producing the kind of flashy, pulpy fantasy entertainment that most comics readers thrive on (hey: me too).
Astro City: The Dark Age Book Four #2 (of 4) — Writer: Kurt Busiek; Art: Brent Anderson
Another antepenultimate issue (oh, look it up), this one to a years-long story, and the comic feels like it’s opening up, stretching its legs and shaking off the effects of the journey as it accelerates to the now-in-sight finish line; even Anderson’s always-reliable art feels more energetic and engaged, as dozens of players converge and pyrotechnics ensue.
Stuff I read and liked enough to buy, but don’t have much to say about, so read previous reviews in the archives if you’re interested:
The Boys #40 — Writer: Garth Ennis; Art: Darick Robertson
Jack of Fables #43 — Writers: Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges; Pencils: Tony Akins and Jim Ferns; Inks: Andrew Pepoy and Joe Rubenstein
Amazing Spider-Man #623 — Writers: Mark Waid with Tom Peyer; Art: Paul Azaceta
Phil Mateer
