Comic Reviews for October 12th 2011

S.H.I.E.L.D. vol.2 #3
Written by: Jonathan Hickman
Art by: Dustin Weaver

Alright I gotta level with you guys on this issue: I am totally undecided on whether to drop this or not. It has been a year and a half now with nine issues to its credit and I don't know what the point is. Jonathan Hickman is a man with a ton of ideas and his creativity is what got me to be a fan in the first place. But after this issue, it's clear as day that there is no story here. This entire issue, sans one panel and a final page, there is no dialogue in this. The Celestial Baby, which has been an obscure part of this entire run so far, has grown to Godzilla like proportions and is now wrecking havoc in the hidden city. While I'll get to the incredible art in a minute, the issue overall reeks of laziness. We presumably only have three more issues to go before this entire story ends and Hickman only gives us this massive fight scene. It's frustrating because I still have no idea why I should care about anything in this book. From the pointless main character whose name I don't even remember (even the solict doesn't bother to mention him) to the more bizarre mathematical portion at the end; nothing makes sense. Why did we have to spend an entire issue on this predicament when bigger things are obviously dire right now?

Comic Reviews for October 5th 2011

Thunderbolts #164
Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Kev Walker

When the last issue of Thunderbolts hit, technically the .1 issue, I claimed this was one of the best titles for Marvel right now. It's still not a wrong statement because Jeff Parker and Kev Walker (one of the artists) has been making this one of the most fun and consistent books for the company the last year. With this new arc of the Thunderbolts being stuck in time, WWII to be exact, it offers a lot of promise and some good old Nazi killing. Sometimes though, a good book can miss a step or two. While this particular issue isn't bad by any means, it certainly feels like a 'speed bump' in a hectic street.

Comic Reviews for September 28th 2011

Daredevil #4
Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Marcos Martin

It's funny how sometimes I can be really impatient when a book doesn't come out on time. Whether it's because the book is late for creative reasons, or if my LCS doesn't get the issue on time; it really bugs me. Now the latter is not really my store's fault but it still bugs me to no end that Diamond will shaft my store. So this brings to this particular issues of Daredevil, which practically contradicts everything I just said before. Because not only will I be willing to wait forever for another issue but I would be willing to pay any type of figure for an issue of this series. (Note: This last sentence does not reflect on higher cost prices Marvel)

Comic Reviews for September 21st 2011

Severed #2
Written by: Scott Snyder & Scott Tuft
Art by: Attila Futaki

It's amazing just how far a man's mind can go to tell a story. Scott Snyder certainly has shown his horror chops in a lot of his work. But this time, it feels like he is going to tell us (along with Scott Tuft) a full on horror story instead of telling horror on the side like in Batman or American Vampire. You certainly have a lot going for this book to scare you: Hobos, cannibal murders, and a general sense of doom are throughout this comic book. If you're like me and you got excited with the word 'hobos' in that last sentence, then this is a comic for you.

Comic Reviews for September 14th 2011

Green Lantern #1
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Doug Mahnke

Sometimes you can't go home again.

I remember getting back into comics around 2008, not even remembering who or what a Green Lantern was. Now with Geoff Johns, a slew of artists (mostly Doug Mahnke for me), and a big screen adaptation that seems like a big joke now. But what made me interested in the character, or now universe spanning characters, is how much of a great space opera it was. Johns had so many great ideas and storylines for this entire universe that it was compelling to pick up each issue. But then, around the time of Blackest Night, the sparkle turned into a dimmer which then turned into complete blackness. (See what I did there?) I just couldn't find myself caring about Johns was creating because it felt more like he cared about his 'bigger picture' then actually telling a good story. So with the reboot coming and this new predicament of  being a Green Lantern once more I was excited to see what was their to offer.

Comic Reviews for September 7th 2011

Secret Avengers #16
Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Jamie McKelvie

This book has been faltering for quite some time now. Ed Brubaker gave us a fun, if not flawed, twelve issues and Nick Spencer just....well let's just forget about Nick Spencer. So with no direction in sight it feels like the Avengers book I only really liked is gonna end soon. But we have salvation my friends! First we have Warren Ellis come back to the Marvel Universe. While he may not enjoy writing mainstream comics anymore, his last few have been pretty good. Also we have a cornucopia of artists for the next six issues starting with Jamie McKelvie on this issue. That should be more then enough to pique anyone's interest right?

Comic Reviews for August 24th 2011

Batman Incorporated #8
Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Scott Clark with Dave Beatty

Although the series, and notion, of Batman Incorporated isn't going anywhere with the reboot it is disappearing for a little bit. With that said we have the 'final' issue of the first volume (sans a double sized one shot apparently coming out this Fall, but nothing mentioned in the solicitations) this week and it's got a lot to live up to from the incredible seventh issue. Grant Morrison seems to finally be giving us the title that was hinted at when first announced: An action packed, somewhat Silver Age return to Batman but still having those big ideas to tell the stories. For the 'last' issue of this run we have the debut of something called 'Internet 3.0'....Now that's a Morrison idea if I ever heard one.