BatWolverine
06-29-2006, 08:29 AM
Blue Beetle #4
Join the Blue Beetle Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bluebeetle/
Story Title: ‘Person of Interest’
Writer: Keith Giffen & John Rogers
Artist: Cully Hamner
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Colorist: Guy Major
Cover: Duncan Rouleau
Asst. Editor: Rachel Gluckstein
Editor: Joan Hilty
Published by: DC Comics
Review by: Batman_Wolverine
This just keeps getting better and better. Now, for a minute of comparison. I don’t know how readers must have felt after reading the first few issues of Ultimate Spider-Man (I got them much later), but I am pretty sure that Spidey, the Ultimate one, even with all of the decades of history (or baggage) that his character brought, couldn’t beat what title and more importantly the character itself, makes me feel. Sure, it might have been at the same level, after all, it is Spider-Man we are talking about. But not beat. No way sir.
Thankfully, our boy and super-reluctant hero, Jaime is back at home, even if he has been relegated to a ‘safe/private’ corner and is literally living out of the suitcase (or boxes in this case). As for the family, dad was already fine or at least trying to be, mom seems to be on the way. The only person not in Jaime’s side is his sister, Milagro. (Little snot nosed kid. Hehe. Good won’t hog the TV remote and bugger Jaime.)
Now for the one (well, two) things I didn’t like about this issue. The first is that even though the Oracle has barely even three pages of a showing, she’s been put up on the cover. And secondly, did we really need a ‘guest appearance’ (especially this kind) at this early juncture in the title. Now, Guy Gardener I understood, after all, even John Stewart was getting weird vibes and feeling rather odd in the scarab’s presence (Infinite Crisis #6). But Oracle? Really? Who next? Wonder Woman…and by that I mean Donna. Or maybe have Robin swing by, after all, he is also a teenager but has ‘experience’ on my side. Please, DC, don’t fall into the same trap that Marvel does with every other Dan Slott title out there (all of them chockfull with ‘guest stars’). I loved the Thing (even though I can’t stand She Hulk) but I could have used a little more Bengy and a little less Spidey, Wolvie n’ the others.
Also, don't think the 'Beetle will count as a Bird of Prey. He'd be more of a....uh, Insectoid of Prey. (And that was my ultra-lamo comment of the review)
Anyways, back to the story. Mommy dearest takes Jaime for a medical examination, with some very surprising (or not so surprising) outcomes. Its nice to see how the family and friends atmosphere that has been built in the first three issues hasn’t suddenly been dumped in favor of heroics for heroics sake. But don’t worry, we do have the heroics and action scenes…later in the issue.
There is also the whole Brenda’s aunt and her ‘business’ thing, and let me just stress here that I am in love with the art of this title. It is clean, its light, its bright and that too without giving up on the ‘emotions and heaviness’ that certain scenes command. And it still has that hint of comedic looks that make all the difference. (Point in case…notice the nose on that ‘Coma Kid’.)
The action scene here, although not entirely original in its concept, does have a couple of nice surprises, both for Brenda and Paco (especially for Brenda) and for the readers. I especially liked one of the two ‘mystical fighters’ (don’t know what else to call them). It reminded me of Treebeard (from Lord of the Rings), but this TB actually has a ‘beard’.
As for the ending (and the cover at the back), I guess we are in for yet another guest appearance. And despite my earlier sentiments regarding this topic, I am kind of leaning towards letting this one slide, not because I like one character or dislike the other, but because of how they play with/around Jaime and equally importantly the ‘magic’ of the scarab.
Conclusion: How about dumping those three pages with Oracle or something else. I’ll even take Milagro and her tantrums. At least that way I’ll get a smile if nothing else.
Rating: 8.5/10 (Almost 9)
Newsarama Style Rating: Story: A-, Art: A
Join the Blue Beetle Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bluebeetle/
Join the Blue Beetle Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bluebeetle/
Story Title: ‘Person of Interest’
Writer: Keith Giffen & John Rogers
Artist: Cully Hamner
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Colorist: Guy Major
Cover: Duncan Rouleau
Asst. Editor: Rachel Gluckstein
Editor: Joan Hilty
Published by: DC Comics
Review by: Batman_Wolverine
This just keeps getting better and better. Now, for a minute of comparison. I don’t know how readers must have felt after reading the first few issues of Ultimate Spider-Man (I got them much later), but I am pretty sure that Spidey, the Ultimate one, even with all of the decades of history (or baggage) that his character brought, couldn’t beat what title and more importantly the character itself, makes me feel. Sure, it might have been at the same level, after all, it is Spider-Man we are talking about. But not beat. No way sir.
Thankfully, our boy and super-reluctant hero, Jaime is back at home, even if he has been relegated to a ‘safe/private’ corner and is literally living out of the suitcase (or boxes in this case). As for the family, dad was already fine or at least trying to be, mom seems to be on the way. The only person not in Jaime’s side is his sister, Milagro. (Little snot nosed kid. Hehe. Good won’t hog the TV remote and bugger Jaime.)
Now for the one (well, two) things I didn’t like about this issue. The first is that even though the Oracle has barely even three pages of a showing, she’s been put up on the cover. And secondly, did we really need a ‘guest appearance’ (especially this kind) at this early juncture in the title. Now, Guy Gardener I understood, after all, even John Stewart was getting weird vibes and feeling rather odd in the scarab’s presence (Infinite Crisis #6). But Oracle? Really? Who next? Wonder Woman…and by that I mean Donna. Or maybe have Robin swing by, after all, he is also a teenager but has ‘experience’ on my side. Please, DC, don’t fall into the same trap that Marvel does with every other Dan Slott title out there (all of them chockfull with ‘guest stars’). I loved the Thing (even though I can’t stand She Hulk) but I could have used a little more Bengy and a little less Spidey, Wolvie n’ the others.
Also, don't think the 'Beetle will count as a Bird of Prey. He'd be more of a....uh, Insectoid of Prey. (And that was my ultra-lamo comment of the review)
Anyways, back to the story. Mommy dearest takes Jaime for a medical examination, with some very surprising (or not so surprising) outcomes. Its nice to see how the family and friends atmosphere that has been built in the first three issues hasn’t suddenly been dumped in favor of heroics for heroics sake. But don’t worry, we do have the heroics and action scenes…later in the issue.
There is also the whole Brenda’s aunt and her ‘business’ thing, and let me just stress here that I am in love with the art of this title. It is clean, its light, its bright and that too without giving up on the ‘emotions and heaviness’ that certain scenes command. And it still has that hint of comedic looks that make all the difference. (Point in case…notice the nose on that ‘Coma Kid’.)
The action scene here, although not entirely original in its concept, does have a couple of nice surprises, both for Brenda and Paco (especially for Brenda) and for the readers. I especially liked one of the two ‘mystical fighters’ (don’t know what else to call them). It reminded me of Treebeard (from Lord of the Rings), but this TB actually has a ‘beard’.
As for the ending (and the cover at the back), I guess we are in for yet another guest appearance. And despite my earlier sentiments regarding this topic, I am kind of leaning towards letting this one slide, not because I like one character or dislike the other, but because of how they play with/around Jaime and equally importantly the ‘magic’ of the scarab.
Conclusion: How about dumping those three pages with Oracle or something else. I’ll even take Milagro and her tantrums. At least that way I’ll get a smile if nothing else.
Rating: 8.5/10 (Almost 9)
Newsarama Style Rating: Story: A-, Art: A
Join the Blue Beetle Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bluebeetle/