Thor #9 — Writer: J. Michael Straczynski; Penciler: Olivier Coipel; Inkers: Mark Morales, Danny Miki and John Dell
Loki-as-woman is suitably subtle, and spookily sexy, and a scene with one of the locals trying to court an Asgardian reminded me of Walt Simonson. However, despite a stray frost giant or two, most of the book is people standing around a drafty castle talking, and, in pamphlet form at least, it could stand to move faster. If the characters were still speaking like Shakespeare. the appropriate quote would be from Hamlet: “More matter, with less art.”
Teen Titans #59 — Writer: Sean McKeever; Penciller: Eddy Barrows; Inks: Ruy Jose
As with a few other books leading up to Final Crisis, the main antagonist is the Dark Side Club, featuring the (reincarnation? reimagination?) of the Apokalips villains that Grant Morrison first introduced in his Mister Miracle limited series a year or two ago. McKeever’s got a talent for getting the characters’ voices right, and the action zips right along, ending in yet another cliffhanger (with a promise of a conclusion next issue). If you prefer your Titans gritty and bloodied, as opposed to mangafied and cartoony, (and don’t mind that the main characters aren’t the “classic” Titans, but instead people like Miss Martian and Kid Devil), this isn’t a bad little comic.
King-Size Hulk #1 — Writer: Jeph Loeb; Artists: Art Adams/Walden Wong; Frank Cho; Herb Trimpe
The three new stories are all eight-pagers, featuring the “red” Hulk, and fill in events from the main comic; there’s also yet another reprint of Wolverine’s intro from Incredible Hulk #181, and (inexplicably, since the Hulk never shows up in it) a reprint of Avengers #83. Adams, Cho and Trimpe are all artists worth viewing, but Loeb’s scripts (and the eight-page limitations) give them little to do, and there’s no real reason for this comic to exist, except to part you from $5 of your hard-earned comics money.
X-Force #4 — Writers: Craig Kyle and Christopher Yost; Artist: Clayton Crain
I’d originally held out a sliver of hope that the creators were going somewhere with this book, and might actually be making a point about violence, but if so I suspect it’s inadvertent; it continues to be a dark, incomprehensible, bloody and mean comic, and, sadly, there’s no more to it than that.
She-Hulk #29 — Writer: Peter David; Penciler: Val Semeiks; Inker: Victor Olazaba
We find out why Jennifer’s no longer a lawyer, and it turns out to be… well, kind of stupid, actually, one of those by-the-numbers legal-ethics dilemmas that pop up in so many mediocre Law and Order episodes, only with supernatural and super-powers added (the “extra,” he-really-did-this twist at the end only makes it worse; it doesn’t make much sense, and is there only to add another cheap reversal). Even minor-league David scripts like this are better than many current creators can muster, but still….
Angel #1 (of 5) — Writer: Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa; Art: Adam Pollina
Yet another Warren Worthington origin story, with extremely stylized art and a religious-nut antagonist who seems to have wandered in from a Chris Claremont script. The art, at least, isn’t boring, and I can see how some readers might like it, but for me its angular, impossibly-thin character designs are more annoying than innovative, and the script offers nothing that hasn’t been seen dozens of times before.
Blue Beetle #27 — Writer: Will Pfeifer; Penciller: David Baldeon; Inker: Steve Bird
Well-constructed as a one-shot fill-in issue, and more than competent, but even though it guest-stars Terry Thirteen there’s little heart in it (especially compared to the fun and excitement in previous issues), and it’s hampered by the kind of downer, I-won-but-I’m-still-a-loser ending that’s reminiscent of late-Stan Lee Spider-Man.
Shadowpact #25 — Writer: Matthew Sturges; Artist: Phil Winslade
Final issue; after Willingham left as co-scripter, this comic missed his sly, seasoned take on magical strategy and tactics, and it’s just sputtered along since then. At least it’s a satisfying conclusion, one that wraps up the storylines, doesn’t burn any bridges, and leaves the characters in place for someone else to have fun with later.
Phil Mateer
