Thor #10 — Writer: J. Michael Straczynski; Penciler: Olivier Coipel; Inkers: Mark Morales, Crimelab Studios, allen Martinez and Victor Olazaba
This has been agonizingly slow to build, but the current set-up offers Asgard hovering in the American Southwest, and the locals interacting with it, and an eyebrowless female Loki stirring up subtle trouble (gullibility in the face of gods of mischief apparently being an inbred Norse trait), and is a well-constructed basis for storytelling. May its arc turn out to be less predictable than it appears: Straczynski’s a big one for examining the serpents in the Garden of Eden, but wouldn’t it be a welcome twist if it wasn’t actually Loki this time?
Wolverine #67 — Writer: Mark Millar; Penciler: Steve McNiven; Inker: Dexter Vines
I still think this borrows a little too liberally from the Standard SF Post-Apocalyptian Handbook (and from Millar’s own Wanted, come to think of it) to be original, but he sure knows how to push the fanboy buttons: I can see why readers are intrigued by a map with the Midwest labeled “Doom’s Lair” and cities along the way with names like “Hammer Falls” and “Paste Pot Creek,” and the whole “Twilight of the Heroes” tone lets him take off the continuity handcuffs and go wild with his doomed-superhero Mad Max mythology. Call it a guilty pleasure.
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #3 (of 12) — Writer: Steve Niles; Art: Kelley Jones
Twelve issues is pushing this — what story couldn’t have been told just as well in six? — but I suppose double the issues of Jones art on Batman is worth the extra attention. At least Niles gives him plenty of cool things to draw, including, here, a monstrous Clayface absorbing the hapless citizens of Gotham City, and plenty of characters with shadowy faces and glittering eyes. I suspect the overall series won’t offer a particularly finely-meshed plot — it’s more of a rickety minecar ride, rocketing through its various adventure scenarios and having lots of cheap thrills along the way, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day — Extra! #1 — (First story): Writer: Joe Casey; Pencils: Chris Bachalo; Inks: Tim Townsend; (Second story): Writer: Zeb Wells; Penciler: Patrick Olliff; Inker: Serge Lapointe; (Third Story): Writer: Marc Guggenheim; Art: Marcos Martin
Previews of two upcoming Spidey storylines, with the Wells offering in the middle more of a here’s-the-flavor-of-what-we-do short episode. Assuming that these are original set-up stories, and not just stuff that’s going to be reprinted in the actual Amazing Spider-Man comic, they’re worth it — especially the Casey/Bachalo piece. For the $4, it’s like getting two and a half issues of the regular title, and a good introduction to what’s been going on if you’ve skipped a few issues.
True Believers #1 (of 5) — Writer: Cary Bates; Art: Paul Gulacy
Nice to see Bates still producing — and it’s a clever story that makes expert use of modern multimedia theory, showing that one of DC’s classic plot artists has been keeping up. Throw in the Gulacy art (with his own inking, too), and it’s solid comics entertainment for your money.
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:
H. P. Lovecraft’s Haunt of Horror # 2 (of 3) — Adapter/Artist: Richard Corben
Knights of the Dinner Table #141 — Creators: Jolly Blackburn, Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson and David Kenzer
Ultimate Spider-Man #124 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Stuart Immonen; Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Phil Mateer
