Oraclechele's Reviews

Manhunter #33

This is what a tight DC universe should feel like. With Final Crisis leaving many readers cold it's nice to dig into something that feels bigger then it is but still small enough to be one coherent story. Filled with impactful 'guest stars' and a continued unveiling of the mystery Manhunter is investigating the story leaves readers wanting more. And what a treat to once again see Michael Gaydos' art grounding the action and the guest stars, with his photo realistic style.

Buy It.

NYX No Way Home #1

As a fan of the fairly botched 2003 to 2005 seven issue run of NYX it was exciting to see it back on the Marvel radar but considering the state of things for mutants in the Marvel Universe what might this latest incarnation include? Readers won't be disappointed. A dark reflection of life as a mutant teen, a blend of street living and perseverance bleeds from every page. The art by Kalman Andrasofszky bounces between beauty and brutality effortlessly. The story by Marjorie Liu reintroduces Kiden and the rest of the group in a way that shouldn't feel forced to fans of the first run. A darker Runaways, Marvel has a potential fulltime title on their hands with the creative team they brought on board. Here's hoping it sticks around beyond the planned six issues and that it doesn't take two years to release them.

Must Have

Echo #5

This week brought Terry Moore to Marvel but it was his work in the land of indie comics that had me excited. As the action ramps up this title is feeling more and more like a project Hollywood would want to snatch up and then, sadly, mess up. Quick, someone tell Angela Robinson, or the like, to save it from the big studios.

I digress.

This issue boy introduces himself to girl and then the bicker dynamic promptly falls into place while on the other side of the hunt the government ramps up their search. Could be some wishful thinking brought on by Moore's past project or perhaps my fandom of Y The Last Man but I smell a three-person team fighting from the same side to solve this mystery before it's over.

Buy It.

Sgt. Sausagepant's Reviews

The Boys #21

You know, it's never a good idea to rip the door off an aircraft in flight, even if you are trying to save it. This is the lesson learned by The Seven in this issue. We continue our flashback to the fight between the military industrial complex and the superhuman industrial complex. So in this world, 9/11 doesn't happen, but due to mistakes, a different disaster occurs. If you didn't dislike The Seven before this, you will now. This book may get the laughs with crude humor, but the story is thought-out well, and I find it more and more intriguing.

Read It

Army @ Love #1 (Season 2)

Well, I'm still a bit behind on the Army @ Love series, (waiting for a trade), but Season 2 is looking to be really, really wacky. We've got a man growing new organs on his chest, some sort of conspiracy against the 'Recreation Retreats' the army has set up (orgies) and oh yeah, a man having sex with a yeti. It may not be high-brow, but it's entertaining.

Read It (if you're old enough)

The Authority #1: World's End

Yeah, another Authority relaunch. I was concerned about this one, but with the events of Number of the Beast over, the Wildstorm world is a VERY different place. And the heroes aren't doing so well. No power, no tech, no carrier. They're just trying to survive in an insane world (with something called 'soul storms') and preserve what's left of humanity. This is taking the series in a very fresh direction, and I'm excited.

This issue also has a touching and heartbreaking moment between Midnighter and Apollo.

MUST HAVE

Goblin's Reviews

Ultimate Origins #3

Strangely, Ultimate X-Men has always been my least favorite Ultimate book (despite some kick ass writers being on board), but this issue of UO that focuses on Magneto and Xavier's early relationship is the best of the series so far. Erik's connection to Logan is an interesting twist on the Weapon X program, his powers seem to be even stronger now than they end up being and both his and Xavier's points of view are given serious screen time. He is not the raving lunatic he often comes off as and even Xavier is less pie-in-the-sky dreamer than usual. Bendis may actually have been telling the truth when he said this was all planned and interconnected, it doesn't feel retconned ... yet.

BUY IT

Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1

I've never read Strangers in Paradise or the original MJ series, but I picked this up because of Terry Moore. I'm glad I tried something new. I am far from the demographic the book is aimed at, but it really hits all the points I was looking for. Fun art that isn't goofy, realistic high school banter, nothing too over-the-top action-wise. This really is a story about MJ that just happens to have Spider-Man in a few panels. It shows us how rude Peter can be on the other side of the conversation and really lets the Midtown high cast shine through. Flash is (slightly) more than the neanderthal jock he's always been portrayed as and Gwen Stacy is the evil "Other Girl" instead of Peter's first true love. If you're looking for a good character piece or what to get young girl (or open minded adult) hooked on graphic fiction, you've got yourself a perfect in.

BUY IT

Avengers/Invaders #4

This was a pretty heavily hyped book for Marvel. An event miniseries with Alex Ross attached, it was something of a big deal. Sadly, the book does not exactly rise to those standards. There isn't much that's inherently bad about it, it's just so ... generic. Most issues have been mroe about the Mighty Avengers fighting the New Avengers. Nothing really new there. There have been some good moments (Bucky and Cap on the Helicarrier in #3, Winter Soldier and Bucky in this issue), but the sum of the parts just don't equal all that great of a whole. It's perfectly servicable and I'll run out the clock to #12, but unless you're a completist or a fan of th Invaders, there's really nothing you need to see here. Lovin' the Ross covers, though. They're more dynamic than his usual stuff.

SKIP IT

Spike: After the Fall #2

I was afraid that after the first issue, the book might hit a sophomore slump. Luckily, that was not the case. Spike keeps the story moving with good bits of action and that sly wit I loved so much from number one. The pacing has been spectacular with this mini. Each issue hits the ground at a running pace, keeping you jazzed for the next.

MUST HAVE

Secret Invasion: Frontline #2

The Frontline series is still fairly new, but it was a fast favorite since I read the first one during Civil War. Showing the happenings of the Marvel universe and showing them from the eyes of everyday people is a great idea, and lucky for us a well executed one as well. This issue picks up with the invasion full underway and various bystanders just trying to survive it. You really get a feel of the direness of their situation, and even though these are mostly new characters, you want them to make it out alive.

Read it

Venom: Dark Origin #1

It's the story of how Eddie Brock came to be the man he is and how he came upon the Venom symbiote. It's not really much more than most fans already know, and the book itself is full of repeating circumstances of how crappy Eddie's life is and how muh of a chronic liar he can be. It may get better later, but it's not worth it right now.

Skip it.

Robin #176

The RIP tie-in continues with Robin becoming a bit darker as he searches for Batman; and Spoiler knows more than she's letting on. It's not as good as Detective's tie-in, but it does help make the actual Batman RIP story make sense. You get Robin's perspective and theories on what's going on with the Dark Knight, clearing through the clutter that is RIP.

Buy it.

Final Crisis #3

The jumbled mess of plot lines and random bits of the mundane finally start to coalesce into, well, something. It feels like Final Crisis is the side book that has bits and pieces of the whole story, but the more interesting stuff actually happens elsewhere (like Requiem.) The third issue is definitely better than the first two, but that's not saying much. The mystery behind Hal Jordan "deepens", the Flashes finally stop running and end up in a place they never imagined, and Mary Marvel debuts what is the worst "I am emo and evil, hear me whine" look yet. Oh, yeah, and the dog faced Wonder Woman shows up, but don't expect it to make sense yet. This is looking more and more like a book you wait for the trade to read.

Skip it.

Jonostarsmore's Reviews

Detective Comics #847

The red banner on the cover of this issue bears the Batman RIP logo...yet there is nary a mention of said storyline. Which bad, per se, it's just misleading. The real story should be called "The Origin of Hush: Part II" as we are taken to the villain's formative years to see just why he hates Bruce Wayne so much. I've never actually read "The Long Halloween" (I know, blasphemy!) but I still found this to be an interesting read. I would recommend checking it out.

Read it

Crossed #0

Garth Ennis' latest project has so far been presented as...well, forgettable. Now, that's not a condemning statement, it's just that not enough really happens to warrant a pick up for issue #1. Other than the shock value, there is little that actually stands out . I'd wait until issue 1 before making any judgment calls, but for now, this preview issue is highly skippable.

Skip It

Nightwing #147

Riding on the new hotness that is The Dark Knight, Harvey Dent makes a rather uneventful appearance in Nightwing. Yes, this is another Bat book that promises to tie in to Batman RIP and yes, again this book has NOTHING to do with that storyline. Instead, we get Nightwing doing Harvey a favor and some back story for the two of them. It's a slightly bland, but probably necessary chapter in the relationship between Nightwing and Two-Face. Nothing terribly interesting to see here.

Skip It

The Invincible Iron Man #4

This book is fantastic. Even during a lull, the characters continue to develop into these complex characters that are imbued highly identifiable traits and flaws. The scenes between Pepper and Tony are gems of their own, and Zeke is one of the best and creepiest comic-book villains I have seen. Do yourself a favor and run out to buy all the previous issues so you can catch up on what I'm seeing as a consistent book that delivers on story, characters, and style.

MUST HAVE

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #17

I like how Fray's world is starting to fit in nicely to Buffy's with this issue. We also get a pretty huge, albeit predictable reveal as to this season's second big bad. We also have your requisite Buffy humor, action sequences, and magical hijinks...all in a tightly wrapped package. Which is what Buffy fans should come to expect, right? But then there's that little itch that I can't scratch....the one that is growing with each issue. Everything is so...Whedonesque (for lack of a better word) that I find myself hungering for something more from Joss. I might be in the minority here, but it seems that Whedon is resting on his laurels and is content with whipping out his bag of Whedon tricks (Kill off the sweetheart!, Have a character be driven by revenge!, Insert non-sequitur into a serious scene!). We still have a ways to go on Season 8, so we may see something yet. There is nothing I want to see more than having Joss Whedon stretch out and explore more as a creator.

Read It