Latest Comic Book Reviews (07.08.2011) - Fear Itself #4 and Flashpoint #3

Its been quite a while since I have read any comic books.

Time to weigh in some thoughts on the continuation of the mini-events from Marvel and DC Comics and see who made some impact this week.

All my reviews after the jump.

Fear Itself #4
Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Stuart Immonen
Inks by Von Grawbadger

Published by DC Comics

With Bucky Barnes dead (again) at the hands of Red Skull's daughter-turned Asgardian power tripper Sif, the whole superhero community is again in doubt of their collective ability to confront and defeat the mysterious Serpent and his hammer-wielding Worthys, while thousands of people are killed in the process.

We're already halfway this series and I have yet to see the real "fear" come in for this book, and this issue is another wasted opportunity to create that necessary feel. Fraction is using the Serpent as a mere lifesucker - as his Worthy's kill thousands of people the Serpent's power increases and apparently makes him younger - and it doesn't fit in nicely.

If that's how "fear" is supposed to be depicted in this book, then maybe Marvel had an error titling this series. They should have named it  "Death Itself", and The Serpent: "The God of Butchering". That would have justified Fraction's writing.

On the bright side of things, Steve Rogers is back as Captain America and is gunning his way into enemy lines, and Thor comes face to face with the Serpent himself, which makes  a quite exciting scene. But this ultimately fails as Fraction shoves the Thunder God away from the main antagonist and instead have him fight two Worthys: the "Tron"-atized Hulk and The Thing. I'm pretty sure Thor will be able to beat those two guys no matter how big their hammers are. 

To those who think Thor will die in the next issue, I've got this to say: Fraction will NEVER... kill one of Marvel's Trinity, so forget about Thor getting killed. He's a god for pete's sakes. 

Immonen makes little improvement from his previous issues but its still very likeable and neat-looking. Grawbadger's inks are very well done, though it seemed to be too thick at times. The overall art is good to say the least, but it lacks emotion and dynamic for some reason.

Now the question still remains: where is this event going? Honestly, I still don't know at this point. Fear Itself continues to drag itself down the drain by forgetting its core theme and turning this into an all out brawl with little focus on emotional impact. 

Rating:

Flashpoint #3

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Andy Kubert

Colors by Sandra Hope

Published by DC Comics

 

Another series that's on its halfway mark, and though Flashpoint does kind of fall short in terms of storytelling - its certainly filled with fun and awful lot of surprises that had my jaws dropping when they were unveiled.

Johns continues the Barry Allen saga and completely makes up for the ridiculously good cliffhanger by putting Allen again on the chair hoping that he will finally get his powers back this time with a second jolt. Its very hardcore I should say, with 75% of his body burned from the effects of the first lightning strike, Allen didn't care and just went all in this time - but with good results. We get the Scarlet Speedster back again. 

Another thing was that Johns maintained with his stance of making Cyborg the main guy of this series, and that is something that I really liked. Cyborg is one of those underused characters in the old DC universe, and seeing him as the leader of the Resistance while kicking-ass all at the same time is very nice to see.

And speaking of the Resistance, they finally made their first appearance here, and you'll never guess who the members are. I'm not gonna spoil it for you because its so damn bad-ass that you have to read the comic!

Finally, John's radical character creation in Subject 1 is quite of a shocker. This is an entirely new character concept that I really dig, but hopefully Geoff won't immediately make him "bulk-up" all of a sudden just because he got a glimpse of the sun's beautiful rays. Subject 1's progress should be gradual, and there's no other way I would have it.

Kubert's art is as impressive as ever. His anatomy and facial expressions are great, just like his use of perspective and shadows. The Cyborg scenes were very well done and his full page spread showing Barry Allen becoming "The Flash" again and catching Flashpoint Batman in mid-air is exciting as it is superb.

But once again, the main flaw continues to be the slow writing because even with a couple of good follow ups and boombastic surprises, Flashpoint #4 still wasn't able to shake things up for everybody involved, and with just one issue left, I'm pretty sure Johns will not be able to tell his script convincingly that could be the "make it or break it" factor for readers when the New DC Universe line of comic books arrive in September.

Rating:

Latest Comic Book Reviews (06.03.2011) - Flashpoint #2 | Moon Knight #2 | Fear Itself #3

I would say this is a pretty nice week for superhero comics.

Issues from the biggest comic book "Houses" going at it for crossover and storytelling supremacy with the 2nd installment of DC's universe-altering "Flashpoint" up against the third part of Marvel's mega-event "Fear Itself", while Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev tries to improve on their work on Moon Knight.

Do they all manage to impress?

All my reviews after the cut.

**MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!**

 Moon Knight #2
 Written by Brian Michael Bendis
 Art by Alex Maleev
 Colors by Matthew Wilson
 Publisher Marvel Comics 

Opening this 2nd issue was a little bit of a surprise. We see Captain America, Spiderman and Wolverine again conferring with Moon Knight about strategies before "they" infiltrate an illegal establishment that could lead them to the main villain of this adventure. The reason why they is in quotes is because of the realization that Moon Knight wasn't actually speaking with the three Avengers:

It's just his multiple-personality shebang taking over. Yes, Marc Spector is in fact - talking to himself. 

This is a great idea I thought at first. Now MK has Cap, Wolverine and Spidey all in one helping him break down different fighting and espionage methods needed for this mission, and that could only mean a good thing right? But it got so messed up when Bendis' put our white robed hero in the guise of Spiderman himself as he attacked in the open.

Wait... what? Yes folks, Moon Knight is Spiderman... or rather, Spiderman in a Moon Knight costume. I'll give you 10 seconds to process that one in your head.

Ok, got that? Here's another: not only MK is playing Spidey dress-up, he is also shooting-webs and talking shit like he was Spiderman. To make things worse, claws went out of MK's webshooters, started to growl and for another duration of the ensuing fiasco, he is Wolverine! I could have just got a "Wolverine" or an "Amazing Spider-Man" issue and read it instead of putting up with this. It's awfully-hilarious. Words escape me.

 

And to point another thing, Bendis didn't even give any explosive or shocking revelations that could make this story more interesting. Its the 2nd issue and readers need to know what is really happening here, who is this kingpin we're supposed to know and what his motives are. Sadly, still no hints or whatsoever.

The only bright spot here is Maleev's drastic art improvement. He's got better facial expressions, clear sequential storytelling, nice paneling and great action scenes. Gone are the recycled and repetitive illustrations and sketchy lines. Hopefully he continues this and even make a better job next time because Bendis' script is seemingly out of place right now, and a little saving grace will always be helpful.

Rating:

Fear Itself #3

Written by Matt Fraction
Art by Stuart Immonnen and Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors by Laura Martin
Published by Marvel Comics

Just started catching up with this one a couple of hours ago after reading the Prologue, the impressive first issue and the slightly okay book two that had my interest dwindling a little bit.

So here we are with Fear Itself #3. Can Matt Fraction quickly bring back the lost momentum of this mega-event and fill-up the large plot holes in the process?

Just like my previous review on Moon Knight, F.I.#3 barely gives us any indication of when the real fight is going to happen despite Skadi's attack against the Avengers in D.C, the rampage of the Serpent's Worthys in different parts of the globe, The Thing transforming into one of the Worthys as "The Breaker of Souls", and a certain Thunder god's return to Midgard. 

Curiously, the supposed main antagonist - the so-called God of Fear himself - is actually missing in this issue, with no single hint of where the hell he is and what he is doing. And where is the actual "fear"? We have yet to see the ordinary citizens and our superheroes cower helplessly in terror and fear, and I'm starting to feel like this is just an ordinary superhero story that has nothing to actually do with "Fear Itself."

 Immonen and Grawbadger's team continue to deliver in the art department, showing more detailed illustrations together with gorgeous sequencing. There are a little flaws with the inking in some panels, but that doesn't affect the overall beauty of their images. Laura Martin's superb coloring makes it even more lively and I have to say - this team really gets the job done each and every time. Here's a good sample:

The Thing destroys everything after he transforms into one of The Worthy.

I believe that the incredible art is the thing that makes readers coming back for more and Immonen and his gang should stick to what works and make it even better in the following issues.

Finally, if there was one thing that was truly noteworthy for Fraction, that would be everything in final 2-3 pages depicting the "death" of a certain Star-Spangled hero in the hands of Skadi. As usual in event books like this, there will be one or two casualties in the forces of good, and this one of the very first. And its a BIG one.

Poor Bucky. Dying without his robotic arm.

Questions loom as to whether Bucky will survive after a brutal ass-kicking, but clearly, there are more important ones needed to be answered halfway in this event. With just four issues remaining, Fraction has to quickly turn things around and make his story live up to its hype before it blows badly.

Pretty okay issue here despite the numerous plot holes. I'll give it...

Rating:

Flashpoint #2
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Andy Kubert
Published by DC Comics


After a shocking reveal at the end of issue #1, fans we're left hanging with this question: Is this for real?

Geoff Johns clearly answered that with a resounding yes as we get a glimpse of Barry Allen's thoughts in a full page spread that shows him talking to the Flashpoint Batman, (and getting his ass kicked at the same time) when a vision of the past year suddenly dawns upon him - showing Emperor Aquaman and Queen Diana at war - and realizing that this is exactly the same DC Universe, only altered by the his arch nemesis, The Reverse Flash.

Its not the only thing Johns had in store though, he also shows us Flashpoint Deathstroke depicted as a pirate and the first ever full appearance of the Flashpoint Aquaman at the beginning. Wonder Woman makes her appearance as well and their both of their actions in this issue and the last one clearly shows that they are not the same "do-gooders" we are used to see. These are savage and ego-maniacal beings. Change is clearly upon the DCU.

Wonder Woman using the lasso on Trevor

One scene in particular symbolizes that change. The panel that shows Wonder Woman actually strangling his first love (in the original DCU) Steven Trevor depicts strong womanly violence and superiority, something that we have never seen in any WW incarnations. The same thing can be said with Aquaman showing his ruthless aggression on Deathstroke, as if he is going to impale him with his mighty trident.

Then Johns goes for the kill in the last panel, making me go "Oh shit" again as the image of an electrocuted and unconscious Allen - a result of  him re-creating the lightning accident that granted him his powers thinking he can probably get them back - splashed before my eyes. Great cliffhanger by John there. Now readers would have no idea on what's gonna happen next. 

Andy Kubert improves on his drawings for this 2nd issue, paying more attention to the smallest amount of details without sacrificing his main focal points and the appropriate facial expressions needed.

His sequencing is also way better than the first and he fully utilizes the spaces given to him to deliver his own sequential narrative in the most effective way possible. Kubert is a true master of the arts and he's proving that with his current work.

Only flaw is Johns' surprisingly slow writing because only few questions from #1 were attended to, and mainly because the hero Cyborg is nowhere to be found. But despite that, Flashpoint #2 in its entirety was a great, enjoyable read.

Rating:

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Comic Book Review: Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?

Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?
Written by Neil Gaiman
Art/Pencils by Andy Kubert
Published by DC Comics

In 2009, DC had to come up with a "final" Batman story in the wake of the mental and emotional struggles that the hero endured in the comic book  Batman RIP then following his ultimate fate in the last pages of the crossover series, Final Crisis. Killing Batman in the comic books for the first time caused quite a  stir and thus the need to follow it up with a story that would show the legacy of the Dark Knight over his 70-year existence.

And what better way to do it than to convince one of the most prolific writers of our time to cook up something good for the fans... which he agreed to almost immediately. The guy assigned for the task: Neil Gaiman. It doesn't get any bigger than that. Why? Because anyone who has read his novels or comic books (such as the critically-acclaimed Sandman) knows that every time his name is on that book/graphic novel's cover, they know that what they are about to read is special.

Then you add in one of the top 10 artists in the comic book world in Andy Kubert and now you got a blockbuster of a tandem that looks to bring a special kind of story featuring one of DC's top heroes.

With that said, I really expected this 2-part tale to be something really fantastic story wise, but I feel like I didn't get the kind of satisfaction that I was looking for after reading it twice. Though its not a garbage of a book, it fails to completely amaze me, save for a few good parts. It was just "OK" with me. Maybe I just expected too much mainly because of Gaiman, I don't know.

The story immeditely shows us Batman's wake/funeral in a small Gotham bar called the Dew Drop. A lot of his familiar foes such as the Joker, Catwoman, Penguin, Riddler etc come to pay their respects, which is only seen  in "what if"  scenarios such as this. Some of the Batman's friends are also there in his wake like Jim Gordon, Oracle (Barbara Gordon), Nightwing (Dick Grayson) and Superman - with each one of them sharing his/her own memory of the Bat and how he died (with some taking credit for his death). As for the "real" Batman - or rather a spiritual representation of himself (at least in my estimation) - he observes his own funeral and everything that is taking place with an unknown female entity/figure. (I know what you're thinking right now...Hah.)

Now every story that  is presented to the reader is different and is connected to the others. And i think that's what confused me when I first read it. I was like "where is this going to go?", but upon the second reading I realized that each story - be it from a villain or a friend - contains some similarities that is essential to understanding of the whole concept that Gaiman plotted for the book.

And this is where I give praise to Gaiman - he knows that unlike Superman, Batman has to be written in a different kind of way: he is an intellectual character so he was to be written in a manner that would utilize metaphors and symbolisms in order to create an all-original-thought-provoking material.  In addition to that,  he teases the reader into thinking as to who is the unknown entity/figure that Batman is talking to the whole time... and I have to admit, Gaiman totally got me there.

But the real jackpot lies behind Andy Kubert's gorgeous pencil work that pays homage to almost every Batman artist there is. Kubert totally showcased his skills in this book by imitating the art styles of the great artists that came before him, including Batman co-creator, Bob Kane. Very cool, I must say. Therefore, we get a real throwback treat with some 40's 60's and 80's art fused with Kubert's modern artistic sensibilities that flows naturally to Gaiman's every word  - something that we don't see everyday in comics.

So despite the lack of suspense and some boring and confusing stories, Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader? is a good read that anyone could enjoy. And though it is somewhat "tied" to Batman RIP and Final Crisis, I can say that it stands on its own as a whole because of its originality. Props to Gaiman and Kubert for coming up with something real classy as this.