Ye Olde Iowa
01-24-2008, 11:52 AM
Each week when Diamond releases the week’s shipping list, I make note of each book I need to pick up and then pre-rank them based upon how I feel they will turn out, taking into consideration the creative team, the previous issues, preview pages, and solicits. Then, after I’ve read through them all, I re-rank them based upon how I feel after actually reading them.
Below are the books I picked up this week, counting down from worst to best, creating my “Power Rankings” for this week. The numbers in parentheses represent where the book was preRanked. Let me know what you all think and feel free to post your own list. I attempt to keep everything as spoiler free as possible, but keep in mind that there may be the occasional minor spoiler that I overlook.
If you have any questions about the Rankings or just want to drop me a line, you can email me at ryanreviews@gmail.com (ryanreviews@gmail.com)or you can always PM me through the message boards. I have been asked recently if I accept review copies; I most certainly will. Any book sent to me will be reviewed. Just drop me a line if you want me to check out your book. I’d be glad to give it a look.
-Ryan “the Iowan”
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10. The Amazing Spider-Man #548 (09)
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Steve McNiven (pencils), Dexter Vines (inks), and Dave Stewart (colors)
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover by Steve McNiven
Well, things started off on a high note for Brand New Day, but as the first month comes to a close, I’m not as impressed. While there are certainly some positives about this issue, such as the good art by McNiven, Vines, and Stewart or some interesting development with the new character Carlie, everything else starts falling apart from the get-go. First of all, Mr. Negative is just a lame villain from beginning to end and his “secret identity” doesn’t help much either. His “DNA-Cloud-of-Death” doesn’t sit well with me either (trust me, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you don’t want to). Of course, this is only one of Spidey’s ridiculous amount of woes, as his identity, his family, his career, his former boss, and his former source of employment are all in trouble. I understand that we are returning to “Down-on-His-Luck” Peter Parker, but enough is enough. Even at three issues a month, there is almost too much trouble brewing here. I’d like to say that Slott’s writing, which I normally enjoy immensely, could save this one, but it doesn’t. He is channeling Stan Lee in the worst way—he is completely “over writing” the issue. There are simply too many words describing too much of the action; it’s almost as if he doesn’t trust McNiven to hold up his end of the bargain in telling the story. I really tried to like this one, but it’s a dud. The good news is that when Amazing Spider-Man comes back next month, we get a new creative team and a new storyline; let’s just hope it doesn’t lose steam like this arc has.
09. Astonishing X-Men #24 (10)
Written by Joss Whedon
Art by John Cassaday (art) and Laura Martin (colors)
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos
Covers by John Cassaday
I don’t think I would consider this issue to be a bad issue if it hadn’t been so long since the last issue came out; then again, I’m not sure I would consider it a good issue either. I’ve never been able to invest myself into this story, so as it builds up to its…eventual…climax, I can’t bring myself to get very excited. It doesn’t help that the biggest threat is (SPOILER ALERT) a giant, world-destroying bullet. A bullet…Not a giant super-missile, an alien warship, or even the great and mighty Chuthulu. A giant freakin’ bullet. Seriously? This is what we’ve been waiting for. All giant, nonsensical weapons aside, I could probably bring myself to care more if Cassaday, a very capable and ridiculously talented artist, didn’t draw the Breakworlders so interchangeably (to his credit, its not like Whedon is giving them much for personalities, either). In the end, this storyline may read better as a trade, as I really think the delays are killing my enjoyment of this issue. As it stands now, I’m just not pleased with the almost-finale of Whedon and Cassaday’s run on Astonishing X-Men and I’d instead like to recommend the finale of the Juggernaut of Awesomeness that is “Messiah CompleX.”
08. Gotham Underground #4 (06)
Written by Frank Tieri
Art by J. Calafiore (pencils), Jack Purcell (inks), and Brian Reber (colors)
Letters by Randy Gentile
Cover by J. Calafiore
As good as Gotham Underground has been, this issue is the weakest of the bunch, though it is still a fun read that has a lot going for it. It’s great to see Batman taking a darker twist as Matches Malone, while Nightwing tries out his own seedier alter-ego. The Spoiler mystery builds and Tobias Whale gets a stronger hold on Gotham’s underworld. Tieri again shows that he can handle nearly the entire Bat-Family (though don’t let the cover fool you, Batwoman does not appear in this issue) with great dialogue, the pacing and transitions between scenes were a bit too jarring and that really held this otherwise enjoyable issue back. J. Calafiore is still showcasing some of his best work ever, with fantastic character designs and a ton of detail, though one of his characters (the Frankenstein’s mobster that reminds me too much of Simon Dark) looked terribly out of place; something about his eyes and facial structure looked too manga-esque (stereotypically speaking, as manga has a ton of art styles) in comparison to the rest of the book. Still, if you’ve been enjoying the miniseries, you’ll enjoy this issue and that’s good enough for me.
07. Wonder Woman #16 (08)
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Terry Dodson (pencils), Ron Randall (pencils and inks), Rachel Dodson (inks), and Alex Sinclair (colors)
Letters by Rob Leigh
Cover Terry and Rachel Dodson
Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman continues to be a bit of a mixed-bag that shows a lot of promise, but just isn’t quite hitting the plateau that it is clearly capable of. First of all, don’t try to fit this isn’t continuity. With all of the weirdness going on in the Wonder Woman book before Simone took over and the continuity discrepancies that have cropped up since Amazons Attack, it’s really hard to figure out how this one fits into things, but I say it’s best just not think about continuity. You’ll enjoy it more that way. There are some great things going on in this issue, such as the new version of Etta Candy that Simone is developing, as well as the mythology of Hippolyta’s Circle. Other points don’t work quite as well, such as the Nazi’s taking over Paradise Island, those crazy apes, or even the issue’s not-so-shocking cliffhanger. The art by the Dodsons and Ron Randall looks quite nice and blends well; both do such a great job of showing Wonder Woman in an iconic light, mixing both her beauty and power. Overall, there is a lot to love and a little to cringe over, but Simone is off to a good start and this issue should please both her fans and Wonder Woman’s.
06. Mice Templar #3 (01)
Written by Bryan J.L. Glass
Art by Michael Avon Oeming (art) and Will Quintana (colors)
Letters by James H. Glass
Cover by Michael Avon Oeming
Issue #2 of Mice Templar was one of the best books of 2007 and one of the most ambitious comics that I have ever read, setting a very high standard for this issue to live up to. While I will say that I was let down a bit by this issue, its still a great read that comes with very, very strong recommendations. Glass and Oeming close in the scope of this issue after building so much mythology in the previous issue, and it works well enough. Outside of the main two characters, Pilot and Karic, the other mice are considerably less established, which makes it harder to get into their part of the storyline. It’s easy enough to follow the story, but I found myself rushing through their scenes to get back to the main story. The art by Oeming is absolutely gorgeous, though the coloring of this issue is so dark that it really clouds the subtle details that Oeming puts into each page. While it might not be the best issue yet of Mice Templar, it’s still a can’t miss series in my eyes, so seriously, do not pass this one up.
05. Teen Titans #55 (07)
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Jamal Igle (pencils), Ruy Jose (inks), Jimmy Palmiotti (inks), and Rod Reis (colors)
Letters by Randy Gentile
Cover by Eddy Barrows
In a recent interview, Sean McKeever stated that this issue is the real starting point for his run on Teen Titans; while I enjoyed the last arc for what it was, it didn’t blow me away by any means, so I think that this is a good approach to the title. With that in mind, I’d say that McKeever is off to a good start. This issue is mostly a character study, with only minor plot movements, and its certainly successful in its aims. McKeever is great at writing teen dialogue and through this he wrote some great conflicts between Robin and Wonder Girl, as well as some great scenes with Kid Devil growing ever more confused and frustrated over Ravager. My only disappointments with the writing were the way in which Supergirl was written out of the team (it makes sense in terms of the story, but it happens too quick to have much meaning) and McKeever’s approach to Ravager (I’ll admit it, I’m biased, as she is my favorite Titan), who comes across as a one-dimensional b**ch. It was also great to see Jamal Igle on this issue, as he did a great job of drawing the characters as actual teenagers and absolutely nailed their expressions (his Kid Devil-Martian Manhuntress scene was amazing). I was a little less impressed with how he handled Wonder Girl, but the rest of the issue showed why this is a series that Igle would excel with (instead, he’ll be on the upcoming Tangent maxi-series, much to my dismay, as I really have no interest in picking that up). I know there has been a lot of criticism thus far over McKeever’s run on the title, but I think that this issue shows that he has the chops to write the Titans.
04. Legion of Superheroes #38 (04)
Written by Jim Shooter
Art by Frances Manapul (pencils), Livesay (inks), and Nathan Eyring (colors)
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover by Francis Manapul
I’m incredibly impressed at the instant chemistry between Francis Manapul and Jim Shooter. We are only two issues into their run on Legion of Superheroes and I’m already hoping that they stay on this book indefinitely. There is something intangible about the combo that really makes this book work. Manapul’s art is working in absolute sync with Shooter’s writing and the results are magnificent; with the book’s huge cast, they really have to be. Both men are doing an excellent job of expressing a ton of personality in a relatively small amount of space. Shooter has such a great instinctual understanding of the characters that every line of dialogue conveys the uniqueness of the characters and Manapul’s very expressive art and dynamic designs are incredibly telling. The plot itself isn’t too shabby either, with the Legion having to deal with the interferences of politics in their heroics, leading to utter chaos. We may only be two issues into this book, but you can’t count me in for the long haul with this title.
03. G.I. Joe: America’s Elite #31 (03)
Written by Mark Powers
Art by Mike Shoyket (art), Mike Bear (art), and Jean-Francois Beaulieu (colors)
Letters by Dave Rothe
Cover by Mike Bear and Jean-Francois Beaulieu
The epic “World War III” storyline continues in this week’s GI Joe: America’s Elite and does not miss a step. As always, there is a great mix of realistic military action and covert ops with the crazy, over-the-top nature of the GI Joe franchise. Mark Powers does a great job of juggling the huge cast and never putting plot over characterization, as he continues to let certain characters develop and grow in the midst of this action packed storyline. Despite this, in this issue, no character takes the center stage, giving the Joe team a feeling of unity and brotherhood during this conflict. He also introduces a few new twists and turns that keep this storyline fresh and has me crazy in anticipation for the next chapter. Mike Shoyket and Mike Bear tag-team on the art and the result is considerably stronger than previous issues where the two work in tandem, mostly due to their art blending together much better here. With all of the action, it does get troublesome at times keeping the non-“core” characters straight, but that’s a risk you take with this type of storyline. This is the best military-based title this side of Checkmate and this issue comes with my highest of recommendations.
02. X-Men #207 (02)
Written by Mike Carey
Art by Chris Bachalo (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Victor Olazaba (inks), Jon SIbal (inks), Al Vey (inks), Brian Reber (colors), and Edgar Delgado (inks)
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover by David Finch
And so, “Messiah CompleX” comes to a close this week and it does so with style. Mike Carey brings it all together with a great issue, highlight the necessary elements for the future of the X-titles, including the “graduation” of the New X-Men (who are incredibly bada** here), the full development of X-Force, and the shattering of the X-Men as we’ve known them. This storyline has promised to fundamentally change the X-Men and it owns up to that promise without being excessive; the X-Men as we’ve known them are completely different, but in a way that makes sense and can be built upon rather than used for a few months and thrown away. One of my favorite things about this issue is really my favorite thing about this entire series…Cyclops. For decades now, Cyclops has been the leader in title only, but here he takes action in a believable way and has quickly gone from my second least favorite X-Men (I’m sorry, I just can’t take Emma Frost seriously as a member of the team) to one of the all-time greatest X-characters. Carey highlights this by showing Cyclops taking charge in the field, making the storyline’s biggest decisions, and finally standing on his own; quite simply, it works and it works damn well. My only complaint about this issue is Chris Bachalo’s art. It’s very good, there’s no doubt. He has a great handle on most of the characters and did a great job with the frantic action of this issue. In the end though, the overly stylized look of his designs simply doesn’t feel iconic enough to me for this issue. It looks great, but it doesn’t match the tone of the writing and it detracts from the effectiveness of the issue. As it stands, though, “Messiah CompleX” is a huge win for the X-books and has really revitalized the line.
01. Blue Beetle #23 (05)
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque (art) and Guy Major (colors)
Letters by Swands
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
It’s a rare back-to-back Book of the Week win for Blue Beetle, with issue #23 taking the top spot this week, just a few weeks after issue #22 topped the Rankings. John Rogers and Rafael Albuquerque are crafting one of the hottest books on the stands right now, working in perfect sync on a book that is pure fun and excitement. Rogers is crafting credibility like its going out of style in this issue, with Jaime finally embracing his role as the newest Blue Beetle, while attempting to earn his place in the Beetle legacy and take down a threat that only he can. Rogers is doing so by building off of the previous issues of this title, Beetle’s first appearances during the Infinite Crisis, and the most recent issues of Teen Titans. The result is a great story that is solidifying Jaime’s place in the pantheon of DC heroes. The best part of this is that, despite accepting his role and facing threats head-on, its still clear that he is in the learning process. He is still susceptible to failure and makes the wrong decisions. It’s a very classic approach to teen heroes, but one that really hasn’t been done this well since the earliest adventures of Spider-Man. Much like those classic stories, the heroics are only part of the package, as the interaction between the titular hero and his great supporting cast reinforce what Rogers is trying to accomplish. In terms of writing, it’s the total package and this issue is really the culmination of that. This story has been brewing for two years, but with this issue, its really reaching its apex and the result is an incredibly well written issue. Of course, you cannot gloss over the efforts of Rafael Albuquerque. With each issue, he is improving his craft and this issue is amongst his best. He handles the action just as well as he does the quiet, tender moments, taking on both with great expressiveness, precision, and consistency. Albuquerque isn’t a household name just yet, but its issues like this that will propel him to bigger things. Blue Beetle #23 is the total package and a great issue from front to back. It most certainly should not be missed.
Below are the books I picked up this week, counting down from worst to best, creating my “Power Rankings” for this week. The numbers in parentheses represent where the book was preRanked. Let me know what you all think and feel free to post your own list. I attempt to keep everything as spoiler free as possible, but keep in mind that there may be the occasional minor spoiler that I overlook.
If you have any questions about the Rankings or just want to drop me a line, you can email me at ryanreviews@gmail.com (ryanreviews@gmail.com)or you can always PM me through the message boards. I have been asked recently if I accept review copies; I most certainly will. Any book sent to me will be reviewed. Just drop me a line if you want me to check out your book. I’d be glad to give it a look.
-Ryan “the Iowan”
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10. The Amazing Spider-Man #548 (09)
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Steve McNiven (pencils), Dexter Vines (inks), and Dave Stewart (colors)
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover by Steve McNiven
Well, things started off on a high note for Brand New Day, but as the first month comes to a close, I’m not as impressed. While there are certainly some positives about this issue, such as the good art by McNiven, Vines, and Stewart or some interesting development with the new character Carlie, everything else starts falling apart from the get-go. First of all, Mr. Negative is just a lame villain from beginning to end and his “secret identity” doesn’t help much either. His “DNA-Cloud-of-Death” doesn’t sit well with me either (trust me, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you don’t want to). Of course, this is only one of Spidey’s ridiculous amount of woes, as his identity, his family, his career, his former boss, and his former source of employment are all in trouble. I understand that we are returning to “Down-on-His-Luck” Peter Parker, but enough is enough. Even at three issues a month, there is almost too much trouble brewing here. I’d like to say that Slott’s writing, which I normally enjoy immensely, could save this one, but it doesn’t. He is channeling Stan Lee in the worst way—he is completely “over writing” the issue. There are simply too many words describing too much of the action; it’s almost as if he doesn’t trust McNiven to hold up his end of the bargain in telling the story. I really tried to like this one, but it’s a dud. The good news is that when Amazing Spider-Man comes back next month, we get a new creative team and a new storyline; let’s just hope it doesn’t lose steam like this arc has.
09. Astonishing X-Men #24 (10)
Written by Joss Whedon
Art by John Cassaday (art) and Laura Martin (colors)
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos
Covers by John Cassaday
I don’t think I would consider this issue to be a bad issue if it hadn’t been so long since the last issue came out; then again, I’m not sure I would consider it a good issue either. I’ve never been able to invest myself into this story, so as it builds up to its…eventual…climax, I can’t bring myself to get very excited. It doesn’t help that the biggest threat is (SPOILER ALERT) a giant, world-destroying bullet. A bullet…Not a giant super-missile, an alien warship, or even the great and mighty Chuthulu. A giant freakin’ bullet. Seriously? This is what we’ve been waiting for. All giant, nonsensical weapons aside, I could probably bring myself to care more if Cassaday, a very capable and ridiculously talented artist, didn’t draw the Breakworlders so interchangeably (to his credit, its not like Whedon is giving them much for personalities, either). In the end, this storyline may read better as a trade, as I really think the delays are killing my enjoyment of this issue. As it stands now, I’m just not pleased with the almost-finale of Whedon and Cassaday’s run on Astonishing X-Men and I’d instead like to recommend the finale of the Juggernaut of Awesomeness that is “Messiah CompleX.”
08. Gotham Underground #4 (06)
Written by Frank Tieri
Art by J. Calafiore (pencils), Jack Purcell (inks), and Brian Reber (colors)
Letters by Randy Gentile
Cover by J. Calafiore
As good as Gotham Underground has been, this issue is the weakest of the bunch, though it is still a fun read that has a lot going for it. It’s great to see Batman taking a darker twist as Matches Malone, while Nightwing tries out his own seedier alter-ego. The Spoiler mystery builds and Tobias Whale gets a stronger hold on Gotham’s underworld. Tieri again shows that he can handle nearly the entire Bat-Family (though don’t let the cover fool you, Batwoman does not appear in this issue) with great dialogue, the pacing and transitions between scenes were a bit too jarring and that really held this otherwise enjoyable issue back. J. Calafiore is still showcasing some of his best work ever, with fantastic character designs and a ton of detail, though one of his characters (the Frankenstein’s mobster that reminds me too much of Simon Dark) looked terribly out of place; something about his eyes and facial structure looked too manga-esque (stereotypically speaking, as manga has a ton of art styles) in comparison to the rest of the book. Still, if you’ve been enjoying the miniseries, you’ll enjoy this issue and that’s good enough for me.
07. Wonder Woman #16 (08)
Written by Gail Simone
Art by Terry Dodson (pencils), Ron Randall (pencils and inks), Rachel Dodson (inks), and Alex Sinclair (colors)
Letters by Rob Leigh
Cover Terry and Rachel Dodson
Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman continues to be a bit of a mixed-bag that shows a lot of promise, but just isn’t quite hitting the plateau that it is clearly capable of. First of all, don’t try to fit this isn’t continuity. With all of the weirdness going on in the Wonder Woman book before Simone took over and the continuity discrepancies that have cropped up since Amazons Attack, it’s really hard to figure out how this one fits into things, but I say it’s best just not think about continuity. You’ll enjoy it more that way. There are some great things going on in this issue, such as the new version of Etta Candy that Simone is developing, as well as the mythology of Hippolyta’s Circle. Other points don’t work quite as well, such as the Nazi’s taking over Paradise Island, those crazy apes, or even the issue’s not-so-shocking cliffhanger. The art by the Dodsons and Ron Randall looks quite nice and blends well; both do such a great job of showing Wonder Woman in an iconic light, mixing both her beauty and power. Overall, there is a lot to love and a little to cringe over, but Simone is off to a good start and this issue should please both her fans and Wonder Woman’s.
06. Mice Templar #3 (01)
Written by Bryan J.L. Glass
Art by Michael Avon Oeming (art) and Will Quintana (colors)
Letters by James H. Glass
Cover by Michael Avon Oeming
Issue #2 of Mice Templar was one of the best books of 2007 and one of the most ambitious comics that I have ever read, setting a very high standard for this issue to live up to. While I will say that I was let down a bit by this issue, its still a great read that comes with very, very strong recommendations. Glass and Oeming close in the scope of this issue after building so much mythology in the previous issue, and it works well enough. Outside of the main two characters, Pilot and Karic, the other mice are considerably less established, which makes it harder to get into their part of the storyline. It’s easy enough to follow the story, but I found myself rushing through their scenes to get back to the main story. The art by Oeming is absolutely gorgeous, though the coloring of this issue is so dark that it really clouds the subtle details that Oeming puts into each page. While it might not be the best issue yet of Mice Templar, it’s still a can’t miss series in my eyes, so seriously, do not pass this one up.
05. Teen Titans #55 (07)
Written by Sean McKeever
Art by Jamal Igle (pencils), Ruy Jose (inks), Jimmy Palmiotti (inks), and Rod Reis (colors)
Letters by Randy Gentile
Cover by Eddy Barrows
In a recent interview, Sean McKeever stated that this issue is the real starting point for his run on Teen Titans; while I enjoyed the last arc for what it was, it didn’t blow me away by any means, so I think that this is a good approach to the title. With that in mind, I’d say that McKeever is off to a good start. This issue is mostly a character study, with only minor plot movements, and its certainly successful in its aims. McKeever is great at writing teen dialogue and through this he wrote some great conflicts between Robin and Wonder Girl, as well as some great scenes with Kid Devil growing ever more confused and frustrated over Ravager. My only disappointments with the writing were the way in which Supergirl was written out of the team (it makes sense in terms of the story, but it happens too quick to have much meaning) and McKeever’s approach to Ravager (I’ll admit it, I’m biased, as she is my favorite Titan), who comes across as a one-dimensional b**ch. It was also great to see Jamal Igle on this issue, as he did a great job of drawing the characters as actual teenagers and absolutely nailed their expressions (his Kid Devil-Martian Manhuntress scene was amazing). I was a little less impressed with how he handled Wonder Girl, but the rest of the issue showed why this is a series that Igle would excel with (instead, he’ll be on the upcoming Tangent maxi-series, much to my dismay, as I really have no interest in picking that up). I know there has been a lot of criticism thus far over McKeever’s run on the title, but I think that this issue shows that he has the chops to write the Titans.
04. Legion of Superheroes #38 (04)
Written by Jim Shooter
Art by Frances Manapul (pencils), Livesay (inks), and Nathan Eyring (colors)
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover by Francis Manapul
I’m incredibly impressed at the instant chemistry between Francis Manapul and Jim Shooter. We are only two issues into their run on Legion of Superheroes and I’m already hoping that they stay on this book indefinitely. There is something intangible about the combo that really makes this book work. Manapul’s art is working in absolute sync with Shooter’s writing and the results are magnificent; with the book’s huge cast, they really have to be. Both men are doing an excellent job of expressing a ton of personality in a relatively small amount of space. Shooter has such a great instinctual understanding of the characters that every line of dialogue conveys the uniqueness of the characters and Manapul’s very expressive art and dynamic designs are incredibly telling. The plot itself isn’t too shabby either, with the Legion having to deal with the interferences of politics in their heroics, leading to utter chaos. We may only be two issues into this book, but you can’t count me in for the long haul with this title.
03. G.I. Joe: America’s Elite #31 (03)
Written by Mark Powers
Art by Mike Shoyket (art), Mike Bear (art), and Jean-Francois Beaulieu (colors)
Letters by Dave Rothe
Cover by Mike Bear and Jean-Francois Beaulieu
The epic “World War III” storyline continues in this week’s GI Joe: America’s Elite and does not miss a step. As always, there is a great mix of realistic military action and covert ops with the crazy, over-the-top nature of the GI Joe franchise. Mark Powers does a great job of juggling the huge cast and never putting plot over characterization, as he continues to let certain characters develop and grow in the midst of this action packed storyline. Despite this, in this issue, no character takes the center stage, giving the Joe team a feeling of unity and brotherhood during this conflict. He also introduces a few new twists and turns that keep this storyline fresh and has me crazy in anticipation for the next chapter. Mike Shoyket and Mike Bear tag-team on the art and the result is considerably stronger than previous issues where the two work in tandem, mostly due to their art blending together much better here. With all of the action, it does get troublesome at times keeping the non-“core” characters straight, but that’s a risk you take with this type of storyline. This is the best military-based title this side of Checkmate and this issue comes with my highest of recommendations.
02. X-Men #207 (02)
Written by Mike Carey
Art by Chris Bachalo (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Victor Olazaba (inks), Jon SIbal (inks), Al Vey (inks), Brian Reber (colors), and Edgar Delgado (inks)
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover by David Finch
And so, “Messiah CompleX” comes to a close this week and it does so with style. Mike Carey brings it all together with a great issue, highlight the necessary elements for the future of the X-titles, including the “graduation” of the New X-Men (who are incredibly bada** here), the full development of X-Force, and the shattering of the X-Men as we’ve known them. This storyline has promised to fundamentally change the X-Men and it owns up to that promise without being excessive; the X-Men as we’ve known them are completely different, but in a way that makes sense and can be built upon rather than used for a few months and thrown away. One of my favorite things about this issue is really my favorite thing about this entire series…Cyclops. For decades now, Cyclops has been the leader in title only, but here he takes action in a believable way and has quickly gone from my second least favorite X-Men (I’m sorry, I just can’t take Emma Frost seriously as a member of the team) to one of the all-time greatest X-characters. Carey highlights this by showing Cyclops taking charge in the field, making the storyline’s biggest decisions, and finally standing on his own; quite simply, it works and it works damn well. My only complaint about this issue is Chris Bachalo’s art. It’s very good, there’s no doubt. He has a great handle on most of the characters and did a great job with the frantic action of this issue. In the end though, the overly stylized look of his designs simply doesn’t feel iconic enough to me for this issue. It looks great, but it doesn’t match the tone of the writing and it detracts from the effectiveness of the issue. As it stands, though, “Messiah CompleX” is a huge win for the X-books and has really revitalized the line.
01. Blue Beetle #23 (05)
Written by John Rogers
Art by Rafael Albuquerque (art) and Guy Major (colors)
Letters by Swands
Cover by Rafael Albuquerque
It’s a rare back-to-back Book of the Week win for Blue Beetle, with issue #23 taking the top spot this week, just a few weeks after issue #22 topped the Rankings. John Rogers and Rafael Albuquerque are crafting one of the hottest books on the stands right now, working in perfect sync on a book that is pure fun and excitement. Rogers is crafting credibility like its going out of style in this issue, with Jaime finally embracing his role as the newest Blue Beetle, while attempting to earn his place in the Beetle legacy and take down a threat that only he can. Rogers is doing so by building off of the previous issues of this title, Beetle’s first appearances during the Infinite Crisis, and the most recent issues of Teen Titans. The result is a great story that is solidifying Jaime’s place in the pantheon of DC heroes. The best part of this is that, despite accepting his role and facing threats head-on, its still clear that he is in the learning process. He is still susceptible to failure and makes the wrong decisions. It’s a very classic approach to teen heroes, but one that really hasn’t been done this well since the earliest adventures of Spider-Man. Much like those classic stories, the heroics are only part of the package, as the interaction between the titular hero and his great supporting cast reinforce what Rogers is trying to accomplish. In terms of writing, it’s the total package and this issue is really the culmination of that. This story has been brewing for two years, but with this issue, its really reaching its apex and the result is an incredibly well written issue. Of course, you cannot gloss over the efforts of Rafael Albuquerque. With each issue, he is improving his craft and this issue is amongst his best. He handles the action just as well as he does the quiet, tender moments, taking on both with great expressiveness, precision, and consistency. Albuquerque isn’t a household name just yet, but its issues like this that will propel him to bigger things. Blue Beetle #23 is the total package and a great issue from front to back. It most certainly should not be missed.