Powers #29 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Art: MichaelAvon Oeming
This title has been embedded in a long, frequently-delayed story for what seems like years now, but it’s finally moving toward its conclusion, and this issue provides a number of satisfying payoffs (along with an annoying, and literal, deus ex machina save toward the end). Despite super-powers and lots of flash and thunder, its appeal is in the strong, complicated core relationship between Christian and Deena; that’s intact, fortunately, and reason enough to keep reading the book.
Captain America: White #0 (of 6) — Writer: Jeph Loeb; Art: Tim Sale
All the Loeb/Sale “color” books (Spider-Man: Blue, Daredevil: Yellow, etc.) have been about stripping their subject characters down to primary principles, whether its their actual origins or just the parts that made them so attractive in the first place. That’s harder than it looks; here, it’s done through the script (Steve Rogers, newly-powered and stationed at a stateside WWII army post, dealing with his suspicious sergeant and with Bucky’s discovery of his identity, along with the usual fifth-column Nazi spies) and, especially, Sales’s stripped-down, iconic art, with its Tothian simplicities and elegant line.
The Goon #26 — Writer/Artist: Eric Powell
Mostly an emphasis on action this time, with one big fight and some panels that really let Powell’s Kirby flag fly, while the current stoyline’s dark, apocalyptic tone is leavened by only one comic scene with the kids. Nice group portrait of the cast for the cover, too, as this continues to combine monsters, two-fisted noir suspense, and Three Stooges-like lowdown slapstick in its own unique, exhilarating package.
B.P.R.D.: The Warning #1 (of ?) — Story: Mike Mignola and John Arcudi; Art: Guy Davis
Mostly dealing with the aftermath of the last mini-series, as there’s a search for Captain Daimo, some quiet spotlight time for each character, and an attempt to track down the villain behind the scenes. As usual, Mignola, Davis and Arcudi are effective at hitting just the right, pulpy note of occult menace and foreboding.
Secret Invasion #4 ( of 8 ) — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Leonil Francis Yu; Inker: Mark Morales
Halfway home, as this issue’s about trust, and how its disruption is at the center of the sneaky Skrulls’ invasion plans. The Fury Commandoes subplot doesn’t do much to justify its buildup, and I’m not sure about the Skrull Tony Stark strategy (“He’s one of five people on the planet who could screw us up, but we won’t kill him or capture him; we’ll mess with his mind and let him stay free — so he suffers! Mwa-ha-ha!”), but I like the way the Black Widow, who’s used to double- and triple-crosses, is the logical one to cut through the paranoia, rally the troops and start kicking some butt. Yu’s merely adequate, with the usual two or three confusing sequences (man, think what Bendis could do with a visual storyteller like Frank Quitely, or a J. G. Jones…), but at least he’s getting the art in on time, and holding steady as the story rockets along.
Action #867 — Writer: Geoff Johns; Penciller: Gary Frank; Inker: Jon Sibal
Frank’s settled into this title nicely: his Superman is just the right mixture of power and determination, wrapped around a core of both down-home innocence and otherworldly mystery. The arc’s about Brainiac, and Johns offers his usual efficient fanboy continuity-repair job by untangling the character’s various appearances, keeping the best parts, and combining them into a satisfying whole.
Stuff I liked enough to buy, but don’t have anything new to say about, so read past reviews in the archives if you really want to know:
Trinity #6 — Writer: Kurt Busiek; Penciller: Mark Bagley; Inker: Art Thibert; (second story): Writers: Busiek and Fabian Nicieza; Artists: Scott McDaniel and Randy Owens
Batman Confidential #19 — Writer: Fabian Nicieza; Art: Kevin Maguire
Amazing Spider-Man #565 — Writer: Marc Guggenheim; Pencils: Phil Jimenez; Inks: Andy Lanning
Phil Mateer
