Tag Archives: Matt Fraction
Phil’s Reviews:Stuff I Bought #228
Hawkeye #1 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Art: David Aja Invincible Iron Man #522 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Art: Salvador Larroca Defenders #9 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Artists: Jamie McKelvie with Mike Norton Three by one of Marvel’s top go-to writers. If Hawkeye’s creative unit feels familiar, that’s because Fraction and Aja were teamed (along with co-writer Ed Brubaker) on the cult favorite Iron Fist a few years ago, and since then they’ve only gotten better. This reminds me a lot of the sublime Daredevil, with its very clean, clear art, its masterful use of small panels to make the narrative flow smoothly, its firm … Continue reading
Phil’s Reviews: Stuff I Bought #225
Casanova: Avaritia #4 (of 4) — Writer: Matt Fraction; Art: Gabriel Ba Invincible Iron Man #519 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Art: Salvador Larroca Fraction’s career arc with critics sometimes reminds me of Bendis’s — people who liked him when he was new and different and an indie star now have a vague resentment for his mainstream success, and are tired of his various literary tics and fallbacks, leading to a lot of bitching about how he’s no good any more. Casanova is the antidote to that, his creator-owned book that (like Powers for Bendis) he’s kept up as a labor … Continue reading
Phil’s Reviews: Stuff I Bought #213
Fatale #1 — Writer: Ed Brubaker; Art: Sean Phillips Fatale is the latest crime/noir book from the Brubaker/Phillips team; it’s distinguished from the various Criminal stories because it mixes in a fantasy/horror element. It’s also very well done; this first issue is a textbook example of how to set up an intriguing cast of characters: a damaged hero, a mysterious woman, shadowy pursuers, etc. Brubaker and Phillips, as always, make a smooth team — if you’re going to build a story around a woman who’s irresistible to men, you need an artist who can deliver that, and Phillips can do … Continue reading
Phil’s Reviews — Stuff I Bought #211
The Defenders #1 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Penciller: Terry Dodson; Inker: Rachel Dodson This is Marvel’s latest attempt to revive this franchise, a best-seller in the ’70s and ’80s but not particularly successful since then, and Fraction’s using leftover plotlines from Fear Itself to do it (specifically, the Nul character who possessed the Hulk, now loose in our world and threatening to break the universe). The core group of Dr. Strange, Silver Surfer and Namor are there, with the Red She-Hulk substituting for Bruce Banner, and Iron Fist thrown in (presumably because Fraction likes writing him). As with Iron Man … Continue reading
Phil’s Reviews: Stuff I Bought #210
Dark Horse Presents #6 — Creators: Peter Hogan/Steve Parkhouse; Carla Speed McNeil; Evan Dorkin/Jill Thompson; Fabio Moon; Neal Adams; Howard Chaykin; Andi Watson As always, this anthology delivers considerable quality for its $8 price, with stand-alone stories from Watson (Skeleton Key), Moon, and Dorkin/Thompson (their stellar Beasts of Burden) supply the meat, while chapters of ongoing serials from the others provide the side dishes — ten stories in all, 80 high-gloss pages of squarebound goodness, making this the Thanksgiving treat of the week. Fantastic Four #600 — Writer: Jonathan Hickman; Art: Steve Epting/Rick Magyar; Carmine di Giandomenico; Ming Doyle; Leinil … Continue reading
