Amazing Spider-Man #574 — Writer: Marc Guggenheim; Penciler: Barry Kitson; Inker: Mark Farmer
No actual Spider-Man, as we get a “very special issue” involving Flash Thompson in Iraq. Guggenheim’s obviously done a lot of research, and his heart’s in the right place, but this isn’t very good — for one thing, to explain to the readers terms like “cordon and search,” he posits a four-star general who doesn’t know them (so Flash can fill him in). Um, no. Plus, while this story might have worked with an anonymous grunt inspired by Spidey (so it would feel like the “real” world), putting Flash in it just reminds us that this is really Marvel Earth (the one that has, you know, super-heroes, and just faced a massive Skrull invasion), and so the idea that there even was an Iraq war makes little sense. Then, finally, there’s a “shock” ending, straight out of Doonesbury, that seems ill-considered and rings false. Points for trying, but, as with the 9/11 Spidey issue, trying to write about “our” world via superheroes, no matter how earnest and well-intentioned, is extremely hard to pull off, and it doesn’t happen here.
Aetheric Mechanics — Writer: Warren Ellis; Pencils: Gianluca Pagliarani; Inks: Chris Dreier
This is a stand-along “graphic novella,” and looks at first like a Sherlock Holmes/steampunk pastiche before moving in an unexpected direction. Cleverly done, and a good example of the nimble imagination that puts Ellis above most other writers, while the black-and-white art has the kind of obsessive detail that’s required for the Victorian streetscenes, the old-fashioned machinery, and the elaborately-costumed characters. These Apparat books are becoming a welcome annual event — last year’s offering, Crecy, was one of the best books of the year — and while this doesn’t quite live up to it, it’s still a lively and entertaining story.
Final Crisis #4 (of 7) — Writer: Grant Morrison; Art: J. G. Jones, Carlos Pacheco and Jesus Merino
The midpoint of the series, so, while the heroes battle valiantly, things go very badly. Good characterization and writing throughout; from a slow start, this continues to build nicely, and I think it’s now a stronger story than…
Secret Invasion #7 ( of 8 ) — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Leonil Francis Yu; Inker: Mark Morales
…which, from strong beginnings, has become kind of… well, boring, despite this entire issue being about ten minutes worth of all-out climactic battling. After all these months, event fatigue has set in, and now it’s just blah blah Skrulls blah blah Nick Fury blah blah he loves you blah oh God please just let it be over. (This makes the news of the upcoming “Dark Reign” storyline particularly ominous; will this ongoing saga, from Civil War through now, ever end?)
Hulk #7 — Writer: Jeph Loeb; Artists: Art Adams/Waldon Wong (Green Hulk story) and Frank Cho (Red Hulk story)
To enjoy Loeb, you have to be a 12-year-old; that way, you can go “Cool! The Red Hulk just punched the Watcher!” without stopping to think about how stupid that is. Fair enough; superhero comics are meant for 12-year-olds, aren’t they? So what if the Green Hulk is fighting multiple Wendigos in Las Vegas? So what if the Red Hulk (now called “Rulk”) is fighting the Valkyrie, Thundra and She-Hulk? Don’t stop to think; that’ll just give you a headache. Get pulled in by the Art Adams and Frank Cho double-shot art (of which the Adams is the best; Cho does great pinups, but his action sequences lack… oh, wait, that’s thinking, isn’t it? Never mind…) and stop demanding plots that make sense, or even actual narrative flow. Dude — Art Adams Wendigos! Frank Cho babes!
Batman: Gotham After Midnight #6 (of 12) — Writer: Steve Niles; Art: Kelley Jones
Kelley Jones drawing the Joker on Hallowe’en? I’m in; as a sucker for jack o’lanterns , gnarled trees, autumn leaves and all the rest, they had me at the cover, and the interior art is just as suitably spooky. Niles isn’t offering anything new here, but he knows which buttons to push, and does it smoothly, so I’m happy just to enjoy the ride.
The New Avengers #46 — Writer: Briian Michael Bendis; Pencils: Billy Tan; Inks: Matt Banning
Still no Avengers — more Secret Invasion backstory, as the Hood and his villain army find out about the Skrulls, and we find out the Hood’s power source and benefactor. See the above Secret Invasion review for my feelings about event fatigue, but these fill-in things have been kind of fun, expanding character and spotlighting events in a way the regular issues never could. Now: actual Avengers next issue? Self-contained stories with actual resolutions? Please?
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:
Usagi Yojimbo #115 — Writer/Artist: Stan Sakai
Runaways #3 — Writer: Terry Moore; Penciler: Humberto Ramos; Inker: Dave Meikis
Daredevil #112 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Artists: Michael Lark and Stefano Gaudiano
Echo #7 — Writer/Artist: Terry Moore
Captain America #43 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Penciler: Luke Ross; Inker: Pablo Laguna
DMZ #35 — Writer: Brian Wood; Artist: Kristian Donaldson
Criminal #6 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Art: Sean Phillips
Ultimate Spider-Man #127 — Writer: Brian Michael Bendis; Penciler: Stuart Immonen; Inker: Wade von Grawbadger
Phil Mateer
