BEST SHOTS: ULTIMATE IRON MAN, YOTSUBA, INCREDIBLE HULK, MADAME MIRAGE & MORE

[MattBrady]

by The Best Shots Team, courtesy of ShotgunReviews.com
Your Host: Troy Brownfield

Seasons greetings! Whatever festival you celebrate, we hope you enjoy it. It’s been a supremely crazy year for the Best Shots team, and we’ll talk more about that soon. For now . . .

Here’s a quick run-down of our advance reviews and Best Shots Extras that ran between last week’s column and now:

Don Martin

World War Hulk Aftersmash: Warbound #1

Wolverine: Firebreak #1

As for the Vlog? It’s right here. Huxford says:

“This week, it pains me to report that the best thing I read was a book from last week’s shipment that I just got around to. From what I read of this week's lot, DC should claim 52 days are missing and assumed stolen, as that would explain the many weak points spread through Countdown: Ray Palmer, JLA, Batman & the Outsiders, and Superman/Batman. Marvel's Mighty Avengers fares much better, in comparison, but still has some 'splaining to do. After you finish this article, won't you come to the vlog and see if you agree?”

And now, on with the reviews:

Ultimate Iron Man II #1
Writer: Orson Scott Card
Art: Pasqual Ferry with Dean White
From: Marvel
Review By: Lucas Siegel

I really enjoyed the first Ultimate Iron Man series. It was a visceral, interesting, and pure sci-fi; basically, it was definitely an Orson Scott Card story that happened to feature Iron Man. I’ve been looking forward to this book for quite awhile.

I usually do the good stuff first, and the bad at the end of a review, but this is really bugging me, so I’m going to do the bad first.

After an intelligent, well-paced first series, this first issue, which is largely a continuation, feels very haphazard. I came away from my first reading feeling jittery and uncomfortable. I don’t know if it was the much clunkier dialogue, or the sense that nothing was really accomplished or going to be accomplished by the characters. The cliffhanger felt like the end of a page of a novel, not the end of a chapter. The worst thing, by far, was having to interpret the speech bubbles. In two separate instances, there were major mistakes in who they were either coming from or directed to. Either that, or James Rhodes has some kind of major multiple personality disorder and government agents only see in black and white, therefore making it impossible for them to tell the difference between the Iron Man suit and the War Machine suit. Honestly, this goes through the following credited individuals: Letterer, Production, Assistant Editor, Editor, Senior Editor; that’s not to mention any proofreaders they may have on staff as well. I can usually forgive one of these in an occasional issue, but two in one, and a high profile title at that, it’s just doing a disservice to a creator that’s a guest in this industry, and to all the fans. I feel genuinely disappointed and let down by the staff that produced this. This may seem like too much of a rant, but realize this is a book that’s supposed to be a gateway into comics for fans of Card’s novels.

OK, enough of the bad, let’s go to the good. The art is incredible. I’ve been a fan of Ferry’s for awhile, and the generally bright, up-beat colors by White are a stark contrast to the depressing, harried tone of the book. In fact, I actually can’t find a single thing I didn’t like about the art. It’s as perfect as comic art can be, with everything appropriately driving the story and adding tension. Any other artist on this book would feel inappropriate next to what we have presented here.

There are story elements that are very good, as well. I like the brashness of Tony Stark, and the camaraderie between him, Rhodey, and Nifara. The dialogue between the soldiers on the helicopter, all the while thinking these two men are mere robots, was classic and spot-on. However, aside from these two interactions, things just didn’t feel right. I know that’s a horrible description, but as I said, I felt at the end of the book that it shouldn’t be over, and not necessarily because I wanted it to keep going.

The writing is not a dealbreaker here for me, as the art is so great, and I'm still interested enough from the first series to see what’s going to happen next and how all this craziness concludes. I’ll still be checking out the second issue for sure, and likely the rest of this mini. I will say, already, that this looks to be a story that will read much better in trade (hopefully with the speech bubble issues fixed), so if you were debating, go ahead and wait. Overall, a step down from the previous mini, at least on this first issue, but it still has promise, and WOW that art.

Star Trek: Alien Spotlight: Orions
Writers: Scott and David Tipton
Art: Elena Casagrande with Mirco Pierfederici
From: IDW
Review By: Lucas Siegel

Some of my earliest, and fondest memories are of watching the original Star Trek television series with my dad. He had seen every episode probably somewhere in the neighborhood of ten to twenty times, and still would never miss a single one. If we talked about anything but Star Trek during Star Trek, we were quickly silenced, and told to just watch the show.

I’ve never read a Star Trek comic book before this particular one. This doesn’t follow James T. Kirk and friends, however, but his predecessor Captain Christopher Pike. From the depiction here, fans of the original series on TV would feel right at home. Pike has the same cavalier, devil-may-care, womanizing, ass-kicking personality that was apparently a pre-requisite for Starfleet Captains of the era.

Pike, now Fleet Captain, is at an inter-galactic meet and greet at the base city Babel. A peaceful place with many ambassadors, Pike is interminably bored. On a walk, he gets entangled in a plot of sex, bounty hunters, and revenge- a perfect Star Trek episode. The beautiful Orion girl Leata helps add some conflict and drive the story along as an entertaining foil/ally for Pike.

This really felt like a vignette of the first TV series, and for that, it was great. Sure, some of the dialogue/plot points were a bit cheesy, but that’s what Star Trek was built on! The art does a solid job of communicating action, and being pretty enough to look at during several dialogue heavy scenes. Individual scenes were well-staged in TV style. A couple small inconsistencies in the way faces were drawn didn’t take me out of the story, and I didn’t even notice them until the 2nd and 3rd read through.

If you have any fond memories at all of the old 60s Star Trek show, which was syndicated and re-run for a mere 3 decades or so (and recently again on G4), this is definitely a book worth your time and money. The next spotlight is on the newer (relatively) alien race known as The Borg. I look forward to another nice piece of Star Trek Lore. These books don’t try to add anything major to the canon, they just tell a fun story in the style of the times. A great read and a pleasant surprise, I heartily recommend this book.

Marvel Adventures Hulk Vol. 1: Misunderstood Monster
Writer: Paul Benjamin
Artists: David Nakayama, Juan Santacruz and Gary Martin
From: Marvel
Review by J. Caleb Mozzocco

I've recently come to the realization that the Marvel Adventures line is becoming the new Ultimate line. Think about it. They're more vital and modern versions of classic Marvel characters readers need not know any past-continuity to enjoy, and, more often than not, they tend to be a lot better-written, and certainly a lot more fun and accessible, than the Marvel Universe books starring the same characters.

This is the first collection of the MA Hulk book, and at $6.99 for four $2.99 issues, it's a steal.

Writer Paul Benjamin's first issue isn't very good, actually, and is more or less just a dry update of the Hulk's origin, modernizing it a bit, making Rick Jones an intern, Betty Ross a scientist and adding a monkey. With that set-up out of the way though, the next three issues are great, as we follow Bruce Banner, Rick Jones and their pet monkey Monkey as they run from the military and seek a cure for Banner's Hulk problem.

The second issue guest-stars Madrox the Multiple Man of X-Factor Investigations, and I was honestly quite surprised to see him in an MA book which kept the look, feel, voice and powers of the Peter David iteration of the character. This was probably the best Madrox story I've read since David's original miniseries, in part because it allowed Madrox to be himself (well, himselves), without the regular X-Men three ring circus happening around him. In this story, an accident gives the Hulk Madrox's powers, leading to a sequence in which New York is overrun with hundreds of Hulks with varying personalities.

Next up is a team-up with The Radioactive Man, who rides the rails with our heroes engaging in nerdy science talk with Banner while alienating Jones. And finally there's an issue in which Ross hires both Madrox and The Radioactive Man to help him apprehend The Hulk at a ski resort. Hilarity, as they say, ensues.

David Nakayama and Juan Santacruz are the pencil artists for these four stories, and while MA art is always serviceable, it seems to be getting even stronger (Nakayama in particular, who pencils three of the four stories, provides some of the best art I've seen in the line so far). With the Hulk temporarily MIA from the Marvel Universe again so soon after his big return, Benjamin and company's title provide a very welcome dose of good Hulk stories.

The Incredible Hulk #112
Writers: Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente
Artists:
From: Marvel
Review by J. Caleb Mozzocco

How fair is it for Marvel to continue to publish a Hulk comic almost completely devoid of the Hulk, focusing instead on two just recently introduced supporting characters that have hardly anything at all to do with the title character? Probably not very, in all honestly. But since I'm not a regular reader of this book or a rabid Hulk fan, I hardly cared.

See, this issue was a lot of fun.

Writer Fred Van Lente joins regular writer and World War Hulk architect Greg Pak, as The Incredible Hulk becomes "The Incredible Herc." The writing duo do a wonderful job of somewhat subtly setting Herc and boy genius Amadeus Cho up in the same big strong guy/punk kid dynamic of the Hulk/Rick Jones stories, as well as the brawn/brains dynamic of the Hulk/Bruce Banner relationship, and having them on the run from the authorities (here SHIELD and an Ares-led faction of the Mighty/Republican Avengers, who are sore at our heroes for fighting on the wrong side during the last two Marvel crossovers. Not to mention some old family issues between Herc and Ares).

Additionally, Pak and Van Lente tie Hercules' situation here to his mythological past thematically, as if his committing a crime and engaging in labors to atone for it is a cyclical part of his story. They move through all of this quite quickly, distracting the reader from the heavy lifting they're doing in terms of set up with witty dialogue and a fair amount of action, including Hercules throwing barrels of wine at his would-be captors.

Khoi Pham and Stephane Peru are on art chores, and this is one really nice looking book, their style equally appropriate for both post-WWH Marvel continuity and ancient Greek myth. And there's a lovely scene near the beginning, the only one that has much of anything to do with the Hulk, in which the artists sum up the climax of World War Hulk all in silhouette while Herc compares the jade giant's plight to his own; stripped of their surface details, the characters and setting look incredibly mythic all of a sudden.

I can see Hulk fans being irritated by having to pick up another book to see the Hulk, and I can see Pak fans being irritated that their boy is seemingly being rewarded for the very successful WWH event by getting to write a Hercules monthly instead of keeping his gig as the Hulk's regular writer, but, as a casual reader, I found this issue enormously satisfying, and am really looking forward to the next one.

Finder: Sin-Eater
Written & Illustrated by Carla Speed McNeil
Published by Lightspeed Press
Reviewed by Michael C Lorah

The very first Finder story arc has recently been re-issued as terrific hardcover edition, combining both of the original two paperback Sin-Eater into a single book. So, right away, let’s talk a little about the new format – I’m in love. Maybe it’s because I use mass transit every day or because I have a tiny metro-area apartment, or perhaps it just an aesthetic taste I’ve acquired, but this book is the perfect format. Fifteen issues of material, plus several new pages added to fill out the story, all wrapped up in a $30 (less than $2/original issue, a clear deal) book that fits easily into one hand or into a small bag - which is, in my opinion, a huge plus over the industry’s current push toward bigger and heavier. Sin-Eater’s binding is properly sewn, and the cover is sturdy stock that can easily be leant to friends or survive the rigors of a New York subway jostling. In short, a beautiful package to house one of the best stories from one of the best series being produced today.

As for the story itself: Jaegar Ayers is an aboriginal Finder and a Sin-Eater, a scapegoat for the crimes of others. As a member of the outcast Ascian clan, and a half-breed member at that, his loyalty is a defining trait. His old friend Brigham Grosvenor has lost his mind and become a danger to himself and his own family. Walking the tightrope between loyalty to Brigham and duty to protect wife Emma and the three children, Jaeger is bound to see the situation through, one way or other.

That’s the synopsis, but it doesn’t really tell you just how incredible the story truly is. In Finder McNeil has created an entire fictional society, a caste-based culture filled with divergent clans who display different physical characteristics and societal norms. Jaeger’s outcast status, mixed in with Brigham’s Medawar clan and Emma’s Llaverac clan (and the children’s mixed heritage, with all the emotional baggage that comes along with such complicated ancestry) allows McNeil free reign to examine the pressures of social expectation, disapproving family-in-law, and the desperate need for a place to belong. Each of the three children further the themes, with youngest daughter Marcie searching innocently for her own way outside the existing rules; middle-child Lynne showing one clan’s physical traits while seeking the lifestyle of the other; and oldest daughter Rachel plunging headlong into the feminine ways of the Llaverac family.

When reading Sin-Eater, just dive in and read from the start to the last. Then, after you’ve been pummeled by the info-overload of this culture clash, read McNeil’s End Notes while going back through and re-visiting the story. The details are so immense that McNeil caps the 350 page story with a 20-page section of notes that offer even more details into the lives of the characters (and the creating process), and a huge part of Finder’s success is that the story makes sense without the notes. But the notes add to the experience, filling out the corners of a world that you’ll never truly experience the way you wish you could experience it.

The art is extremely powerful, as each character can clearly be identified with their respective clan but still appear unique. Rachel is never mistaken for Lynne or Emma, and Brigham’s family is immediately Medawar clan before you know their connection to Brig himself. The strange new world gives McNeil lots of opportunities to show off, and she delights in filling crowd scenes with bizarre technology and animal-like beings of (typically lower) other castes. Her line shows the slightest suggestion of Arthur Adams, with a looser, more evocative emotional quality.

In short, Finder: Sin-Eater is a beautiful new packaging of a great comic book story. If you haven’t read it yet, you really, honestly should. It’s virtuoso work, and you can’t really understand until you’ve read it for yourself. If you’ve read it already, well…, you already know how good it is. It’s nice to have a book worthy of the story inside though, so check out the hardcover when you get a chance. It’s well worth it.

Madame Mirage #4
From: Top Cow
Written by: Paul Dini
Art: Kenneth Rocafort
Reviewed by Tim Janson

I just can’t say enough times how much I am enjoying this series from Top Cow. I’ve always considered Paul Dini to be a decent writer. His Batman stuff has been good more often than not, but Madam Mirage has truly been outstanding since issue #0. What I love about Dini as well as artist Kenneth Rocafort is the way they make use of Madame Mirage’s powers. I liken it to Sue Storm. I mean Sue’s powers of invisibility and force field projection seemed somewhat minor originally but clever writers have found ways to make her seem much more powerful. The same goes for Madame Mirage. Her illusionary/teleporting powers may not seem like big league, but she uses them to the utmost advantage, easily taking out foes that are bigger and stronger than her.

Mirage has been battling the organization known as ASI, a criminal organization which is covered up by a legitimate business front. We’ve seen Mirage take on and take out various Mega-Tech operatives of ASI through the first three issues with relative ease and also have it revealed that which of the Temple Sisters it really is who is the true Madame Mirage. In issue four, Mirage takes the war straight to the ASI corporate headquarters as Angela utilizes not only her remarkable technology, but also a robotic duplicate of Mirage to take on ASI’s head-honcho Abraham Coyle and his hand-picked group of Mega-Tech bodyguards.

Again, it’s fun just to watch Mirage operate. Rather than beating her opponents physically, she uses brains and stealth to avoid their powers, and take them down with hers. Her battle with a rival teleporter, Cotton-Eyed Joe was a highlight. No “bamfing” but a well choreographed fight nonetheless. But have we all been fooled by Madame Mirage’s intentions all along? The final page is a definite stunner and that stinking Dini is now making me count the days until issue number five.

Yotsuba&! vol. 4
Written and Illustrated by Kiyohiko Azuma
Translated by Javier Lopez
Published by ADV Manga
Reviewed by Michael C Lorah

I’m going to assume that most of you haven’t read this series at all, so PAY ATTENTION! because it’s one of the great ones. There’s this four-year-old girl with green hair pulled up in pigtails, and she has absolutely no idea how the modern world works. Her name’s Yotsuba. She lives with her adopted dad, hangs out with the three girls living next door, and has occasional visits from her dad’s stupendously tall friend Jumbo, along with assorted other guests and friends. Each chapter, echoing the name of the series, is titled “Yotsuba and …”, wherein the wide-eyed, hyper-active child gazes in astonishment, questions loudly, and physically explodes upon the discovery of some new concept.

The series is, and the competition really isn’t anywhere close, the absolute most hilarious slapstick series being published in comics form today. Azuma’s exaggerated, simple artwork strikes a perfect balance of humanity in most panels, while reaching easily to drive the punchline home. During their game of Rock, Paper Scissors, which features the extra step of the “winner” bopping the “loser” on the head with a rolled newspaper – unless the loser can shield his or her head with a bucket – Dad breaks up the consistence of Paper vs. Scissors with a Rock, throwing Yotsuba into wide-eyed, open-mouthed, blank-faced stare that had at least this reader wiping tears of laughter away, no doubt to the confusion of my fellow mass-commuters. In fact, the teasing, best-friend relationship of Yotsuba and her dad is the series’ most powerful emotional element – playful, fun, teasing and loving.

“Yotsuba and the Bloom of Youth” sees Yotsuba attempting to cheer teenage neighbor Fuka, who recently found that the boy she likes is dating another, by feeding her glasses of milk, proclaiming her legs fat, and spreading Fuka’s secret shame to everyone within earshot. And you have to see Yotsuba’s reaction when Fuka tries to explain heartbreak!

From high concepts to mundane daily activities, Yotsuba&! is always able to maximize the humor value of any situation. Azuma’s a master comic (in the ha-ha sense, as well as the sequential drawing sense), and he’s at the height of his powers in this series. This series is the sort of comic that anybody can pick up and laugh with.

Astronaut Dad Volume 1
Writer: David Hopkins
Artist: Brent Schoonover
From: Silent Devil
Review By: Jeff Marsick

I really wanted to love this comic. The writing has a Stray Bullets kind of feel as a coming-of-age story about children of astronauts in the nascent United States space program back in the 1960s. What’s so compelling about it is that these aren’t the children of the Original Seven or the New Nine, rather they’re the offspring of the reserve astronauts, the bush league of the astronaut program. That’s akin to knowing your father’s a super-hero, but he can’t garner a whole of respect since he’s on the Put-In-Bay Division of the Lake Erie Team of Substitute Legion of Super-Heroes. But two of the children, Jimmy and Vanessa, discover that their fathers are performing unheralded and top secret duty to their country not as runners in the space race, but possibly as spies in low orbit over Mother Russia.

David Hopkins manages to get across how the children regard their fathers with a modicum of awe and respect for being astronauts in the program, yet tempered with a certain amount of disappointment that they aren’t seated at the bigger table of players, those destined for fame and covers of Life magazine. I found it funny that Jimmy and Vanessa throw around names and stats of astronauts in the program like regular children spew the particulars of baseball or football icons. When the children sneak into the nuclear shelter buried in the backyard and discover reconnaissance photos and mission charts, it’s almost palpable how much their fathers’ stock rises in their eyes: they AREN’T nobodies after all! The main problem with the writing is that too often Mr. Hopkins sells himself short by choosing telling over showing. The best example of this is when the three astronaut families get together for a barbecue and Jimmy’s out playing with his father and sister. It’s clearly apparent that Jimmy is second fiddle to his little sister, that he has to work overtime to get his father’s affection. Later, however, a scene between Vanessa’s mother and Jimmy’s, the father and son relationship is spelled out for us in the exchange of dialogue. Mr. Hopkins can clearly tell a tale and I just wish he would flex his muscles a little more completely.

The artwork by Schoonover was a perfect match for the writing, and I’m probably pleased with it because it reminds me of the Archie comics from the sixties that I was fond of, and I’m harkened back to that era of the space race. Sure, it’s a little cartoony in places, but never so much that it completely pulls the reader out of the story.

I said that I really wanted to love this comic, and for the first ten pages I was convinced this was going to be Best In Show 2007, but it in the end it felt unsatisfying. It feels like a racing engine that has a rev limiter cut it off just as it’s about to break loose. The discovery of the fall-out shelter, Vanessa and Jimmy breaking in, the discovery of the reservists’ true purpose; they were all moments where I thought something big was going to happen with the turn of the page, but it never happened. Perhaps it’s just the setting up of the second book, which is fine, but which portends this series to be better read all in one sitting as a trade as opposed to one issue at a time.

To that end, I would recommend that fans of coming of age stories wait until the whole series is finished and grab them all at once to get a full appreciation of what this talented team of artists have created.


Pellet Reviews!

Superman #671 (DC; by Caleb): Sometimes when I finish reading an issue of Busiek's Superman comics, I have a hard time believing just how good they are, and that we're getting this level of quality on the Superman books monthly (If not more often, depending on what's going on that month with Action Comics). Like Grant Morrison, Busiek seems completely in tune with the Silver Age iteration of the character and how to make elements of that Superman work in today's comics. Except Busiek manages to do it within the context of the DCU, continuity and all. His Superman is incredibly powerful, with a brilliant mind and crazy super-senses (he uses his nose like Wolverine here, but it's attached to a brain that can identify, like, every base chemical he smells), and yet Busiek seems to have no problem coming up with threats to give his godlike Superman physical challenges with at least a veneer of physical danger. This time it's the insectoid legions of The Insect Queen, who have abducted Lana Lang. Pencil artist Peter Vale joins Busiek for this new story arc, and they make a good team—Vale does everythign Busiek does with words in his art, which is exactly what a comic book artist should do (And depressingly few working for the Big Two do). I particularly appreciated all the little details adoring this story, like the mention of Gateway City, or Luthor's desk from JLA: Earth-2 being the one Lana sits at, or the logo for Metrpolis' baseball team, and the looks on the faces of those around Superman as he performs a super-feat for charity and so on.

Chance in Hell (Fantagraphics; by Mike): – The first original graphic novel by Love & Rockets co-creator Gilbert Hernandez, Chance in Hell is a befuddling read. There are several intriguing scenes and some hints at a meaning, and the clipped, condensed scenes will be a treat to readers who like dense comics stories, but the narrative never comes together in any meaningful way. I have no doubt Hernandez had some idea he wanted to convey when he sat down to craft this book – certain themes recur, fences, inability to solve problems, emotional disconnects – but the entire experience comes across too vaguely and half-finished to measure up to the work expected from the author of Palomar.

Winsor McCay Editorial Works (Checker; by Mike):[/b] – Compiling McCay’s editorial works, from 1913 to 1917, this book is a document to how little the world really changes. Political corruption, war involvement, social rights… the specificities change (suffragettes certainly have more to be happy about today), but the themes never go away. The hardcover book is well done, and the cartoons absolutely gorgeous. Captions provided to give the cartoons context are skimpy, and many of the cartoons would benefit from larger reproduction (which is a rare, rare thing for me to say), but overall, a nice edition showcasing one aspect of the work of the man who completely redefined comics as a popular medium.

Milk Teeth and Fire Away (Drawn & Quarterly; by Mike): – Two small artbooks, the former by Julie Morstad and the latter by Chris Von Szombathy. Von Szombathy’s work, trippy cartoon designs and photos of interesting shoe sculptures, is lively and colorful and engaging. Morstad’s terrific and lifelike ink drawings focus on peculiar and beautiful combinations of human beings, hair and nature.

Checkmate #21 (DC; by Troy): I hope that this title keeps going now that Rucka is passing into non-exclusivity. Though the recent “Fall of the Wall” arc ended anticlimactically, this story kicks off in style. The creative team digs into the background of Mademoiselle Marie, and reveals her to be a legacy hero in her own right. It’s taut thriller entertainment, the kind of stuff at which Rucka excels. Ably abetting on art are Eric Trautmann and Chris Samnee, who tackle the various eras depicted herein with aplomb.

The Order #6 (Marvel; by Troy): Fraction and Kitson have endeared themselves to me with The Order for two reasons: it’s very entertaining, and Supernaut fulfills a need for more heroes named after Black Sabbath tunes (there definitely needs to be a super-villain team named Electric Funeral). Kidding aside, this book is always fun, and I was glad to see the spotlight given to Milo. It’s kind of interesting that the “time limit” is built in to these characters, because it could all be a clever set-up for a potential bloodbath in this book come “Secret Invasion” time. That would be too clever by half, as Fraction seems incapable of writing characters that you don’t grab you.

New X-Men #45 (Marvel; by Troy): A superb action issue fills out chapter eight of “Messiah Complex”. As promised, “an X-Man falls”, although I thought it was a pretty obvious candidate. Still, lots of characters get good moments, particularly X-23 (a character whom I’ve never warmed to). This continues to be the most exciting X-epic in years, even if Cable’s motives are a little hard to fathom at this point.

The Mighty Avengers # 6 (Marvel; by Troy): I get the sense by now that people either really dig this book or they don’t. Honestly, I thought this was a lot of fun in a totally gonzo way, almost like a much more violent Silver Age story. Think about what the pitch must have sounded like: “The Avengers fight Ultron but he’s Iron Man and turns into a girl and then there’s a ton of Iron Mans and Ares shrinks and fights floating maces in Tony’s blood while Sentry loses his mind!” One gratuitous demise is overturned, Tony gets a classic reaction, and it all moves along well before the ending finally catches up to the events of months ago from other books and minis. Overall, I thought Cho was good on the book, but I won’t miss the lateness.

Angel: After the Fall #2 (IDW; by Troy): I’ll give a slight disclaimer: this issue welcomes Jason Jensen as the new colorist, and he happens to be a friend of mine (we worked together for the late Fangoria Comics). So yeah, I think the colors are great. However, I also think that the Whedon/Lynch plot is interesting, and Lynch definitely writes everyone is character. The weak spot is the art by Franco Urru. It’s very . . . just okay. Still, the other elements are strong enough to keep bringing me back.

The Umbrella Academy #4 (Dark Horse; by Troy): Quite possibly my favorite new book of ’07, The Umbrella Academy fairly crackles with mad invention. It’s reckless comics, careening all over the map in a wild bid to entertain. Gerard Way knows his, er, way around a comic script, and the stylish contributions of Gabriel Ba cannot be understated. This book is a sincere pleasure to read, and I can only imagine what Way will be like with a couple of more minis under his belt. The vibe from this is the same as the vibe that label mate Hellboy exuded in the early days: manic unpredictable entertainment.

Advanced Shot

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #10
From: Dark Horse Comics
Written By: Joss Whedon
Art By: Cliff Richards, Andy Owens
Review by Tim Janson

After penning the first five issues of the new Buffy series, series creator Joss Whendon returns for two more issues beginning with issue number ten. Also back for this issue is longtime Buffy artist Cliff Richards. Together, the pair deliver a unique and off-beat story, self-contained and one that you could pickup and read without necessarily having read the previous issues. Buffy and Willow are soaring through the skies…well, Willow is soaring while Buffy is hanging on for her dear life. They arrive at a small countryside cottage, the lair of the demon Sephrilian. The cottage is guarded by what Willow refers to as a “Minder” who watches over the cottage.

The cottage is an unstable reality; a time-space dimensional anomaly, which is MUCH larger inside and it, appears from the outside. They’ve some seeking the aid of the demon in their coming war. This demon is able to show Buffy and Willow a possible future reality and all is definitely NOT good. Buffy and Willow play a little game of fantasy as Buffy dreams up encounters with the new James Bond, Daniel Craig, and later with Christian Bale. Buffy is shown that she is betrayed by someone very close to her while Willow reveals her insecurity over her new relationship with Kennedy and why she’s kept her away from Buffy. The implications are that Willow indirectly blames Buffy for Tara being murdered by Warren and doesn’t want Kennedy to suffer the same fate. While their futures are uncertain, the demon has given them several disheartening events to consider.

While toned somewhat darkly, the story still does manage to hold on to the usual Whedon witty banter between Buffy and Willow as well as between Xander and Dawn as Xander does his best to make Dawn feel normal even though she’s stuck in giant-size. Dawm as a secret of her own that she reveals to Xander about how she came to be in this condition. It was great to see Richards back, even if it does appear to be for only one issue for now. The issues written by Whedon have such a distinctly different feel than those written by anyone else…or it at least seems that way. I wonder if I convince myself of that just because I see his name in the credits but he certainly has a great feel for the characters and all their idiosyncrasies than any other writer. As long as Whedon continues to show up periodically and lend his talents to the series, it should enjoy another long run.


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[Grievous]

I highly recommend this comic to anyone

Superman #671 (DC; by Caleb): Sometimes when I finish reading an issue of Busiek's Superman comics, I have a hard time believing just how good they are, and that we're getting this level of quality on the Superman books monthly (If not more often, depending on what's going on that month with Action Comics). Like Grant Morrison, Busiek seems completely in tune with the Silver Age iteration of the character and how to make elements of that Superman work in today's comics. Except Busiek manages to do it within the context of the DCU, continuity and all. His Superman is incredibly powerful, with

[whitemarkd]

No Superman/Batman love?

[Blind Assassin]

Astronaut Dad has piqued my interest.

Also, I have been hearing a lot of buzz about the Marvel Adventures books, so I may pick up a book. At those prices you can't go wrong.

[CitC]

I've recently come to the realization that the Marvel Adventures line is becoming the new Ultimate line. Think about it. They're more vital and modern versions of classic Marvel characters readers need not know any past-continuity to enjoy, and, more often than not, they tend to be a lot better-written, and certainly a lot more fun and accessible, than the Marvel Universe books starring the same characters.

Yet someone always comes along to say how "watered down" they are. Out of continuity - Yes. Watered down- I don't agree.

[Batmite79]

If you're going to get so spoilery in an Advance Shot review, could you at least provider a spoiler warning, guys?

[Grievous]

Originally Posted by whitemarkd

No Superman/Batman love?

I got last weeks issue,

it was actually very good,

nice art too

[paptschik]

Hurray for the Yotsuba&! love!
The manga is also currently released in german for the first time and Volume 4 came out a few weeks ago and it was brilliant. This is even better than Azumanga Daioh.
ANYONE who gives this a chance can't help but love it.

[Templar]

Pretty good set of reviews there.

[Merai]

I still chuckle when people call the Mighty Avengers "Republican" because they support a REGISTRATION law which increases federal control, decreases state control somewhat and certainly leads to raised taxes. IE: It's clearly a Democratic program in every way imaginable.

I've said it before and I say it again, the only reason people seem to equate pro-reg with Republican is that they think Republicans suck (which is true) and pro-regs suck (which is not) ergo they MUST be the same!

[emerald archer]

You must be confused, seems DC only published 2 books last week, as opposed to several hundred that Marvel published.

In other words, again, DC just doesn't resonate with certain people, causing a rather myopic view of what gets published.

Originally Posted by Grievous

I got last weeks issue,

it was actually very good,

nice art too

[prolix]

I've said it before and I say it again, the only reason people seem to equate pro-reg with Republican is that they think Republicans suck (which is true) and pro-regs suck (which is not) ergo they MUST be the same![/quote]

I'm with you politically bro, but if Republicans are for government having a smaller role in our lives and less spending, then who has been running the country for the last 7 years?!

[TheWay]

Originally Posted by Merai

I still chuckle when people call the Mighty Avengers "Republican" because they support a REGISTRATION law which increases federal control, decreases state control somewhat and certainly leads to raised taxes. IE: It's clearly a Democratic program in every way imaginable.

I've said it before and I say it again, the only reason people seem to equate pro-reg with Republican is that they think Republicans suck (which is true) and pro-regs suck (which is not) ergo they MUST be the same!

It's funny that the theory mentioned is based on a money point of view. From my experience that seems a very Republican way of thinking. If we take the money out of it I think the ideas are quite different. I see it as a way of taking control from individuals and placing it in the hands of big daddy (in this case we could say Federal Government) to make decisions of what is right and best for all.

Maybe I am reaching here, but my thoughts are that people view Democrats as pro-choice and generally lean more toward personal freedoms and equality for all, while Republicans are more control driven and make special rules for different class, circumstances, etc.

I'd love to hear what other people think and if they would consider pro-registration more Republican or Democrat. Hopefully this can be discussed respectfully. I know politics can be a TOUCHY subject. For the record, none of my comments above have any underlying message or should be taken as jabs at either party.

I thought Mighty Avengers sucked! It was a total mess IMO. It seemed like they just rushed an ending on it, but it might have seemed like that due to the long gap since the last issue. And yes, the lateness killed it for me.

New X-Men was great! I am a big fan of Messiah Complex, so of course I liked it. I'm also a Ramos fan, so loved the art. The X-23 storyline was good. She finally did something worth remembering long term. The death was a bit obvious, but that doesn't change the fact that I am happy about it.

Madame Mirage is awesome!

I totally agree with the Ultimate Iron-Man review.

[Jeff_14]

Originally Posted by Merai

I still chuckle when people call the Mighty Avengers "Republican" because they support a REGISTRATION law which increases federal control, decreases state control somewhat and certainly leads to raised taxes. IE: It's clearly a Democratic program in every way imaginable.

I've said it before and I say it again, the only reason people seem to equate pro-reg with Republican is that they think Republicans suck (which is true) and pro-regs suck (which is not) ergo they MUST be the same!

While Republicans say they're for small government and less spending in theory, in practice they outdo the Democrats on both spending and government control, but with even more devastating consequences since they also cut taxes, meaning that the spending is worse than ever and there's less money coming in to pay for it, resulting in massive deficits. Looking at charts over the past century, you can see the facts in action - Democrats get previous Republican spending and deficits under control, Republicans blow the savings, requring the next Democratic administration to fix the mess, and repeat. Clinton got the nation back in surplus mode, then Bush showed up and almost immediately achieved record deficits. If Democrats are tax and spend liberals, then Republicans are drunken sailor spenders. In addition, there are far more people employed by government now then there were under Clinton. So combine the foregoing with the Republicans' love of restricting people's rights and freedoms (so much for being the party that wants to interfere as little as possible with people's lives), and its pretty clear that the Mighty Avengers are the Republican Party's stooges.

[FireLight]

Originally Posted by TheWay

It's funny that the theory mentioned is based on a money point of view. From my experience that seems a very Republican way of thinking. If we take the money out of it I think the ideas are quite different. I see it as a way of taking control from individuals and placing it in the hands of big daddy (in this case we could say Federal Government) to make decisions of what is right and best for all.

Maybe I am reaching here, but my thoughts are that people view Democrats as pro-choice and generally lean more toward personal freedoms and equality for all, while Republicans are more control driven and make special rules for different class, circumstances, etc.

I'd love to hear what other people think and if they would consider pro-registration more Republican or Democrat. Hopefully this can be discussed respectfully. I know politics can be a TOUCHY subject. For the record, none of my comments above have any underlying message or should be taken as jabs at either party.

Traditionally - Conservatives (Republicans) believe in smaller government - greater personal freedoms and the concept of let the people rule themselves. Liberals (Democrats) tend to believe in a more balanced wealth distribution - managed services and slightly fewer freedoms for the better of all - not a few.

[Brother Zag]

Originally Posted by Merai

I still chuckle when people call the Mighty Avengers "Republican" because they support a REGISTRATION law which increases federal control, decreases state control somewhat and certainly leads to raised taxes. IE: It's clearly a Democratic program in every way imaginable.

I've said it before and I say it again, the only reason people seem to equate pro-reg with Republican is that they think Republicans suck (which is true) and pro-regs suck (which is not) ergo they MUST be the same!

You should really check on yer Republican Party... unlike Republicans of the past, these current so-called Republicans have increased the size of the federal government enormously. The Republicans have not been about state's rights since Reagan threw the idea out to pass his highway bill in the 80's, undermining states rights and demanding states follow federal mandates or lose the chance to get their income tax money back. The "Republicans" have raised taxes on the lower and middle class as well, the only tax "relief" has been for the very wealthy in this country... so much so that one of our nation's wealthiest, Warren Buffett, is demanding that the country RAISE HIS TAXES so that he can pay his fair share. Your own description of things you say the Republicans are not is actually a description of the way the Republicans are now. That folks like yourself and others claim the Republicans are still old school is either self-denial or blatant hypocrisy. You pick.

I think the appellation "Republican Avengers" is right on.

[Brother Zag]

Troy,

Sorry to post this here, but I don't seem to have your email any longer

Was wondering if you'd received issue 2 of "Panthea Obscura"? You gave issue 1 a fairly favorable review back in April, said it was "one to watch", and so I sent you issue 2 back in October... but there's been no review, so I ask. Hope this isn't tacky or completely the wrong place to inquire.

Feel free to respond and strike this post if necessary. Thanks!

Mike

[emerald archer]

What tripe.

Originally Posted by Brother Zag

You should really check on yer Republican Party... unlike Republicans of the past, these current so-called Republicans have increased the size of the federal government enormously. The Republicans have not been about state's rights since Reagan threw the idea out to pass his highway bill in the 80's, undermining states rights and demanding states follow federal mandates or lose the chance to get their income tax money back. The "Republicans" have raised taxes on the lower and middle class as well, the only tax "relief" has been for the very wealthy in this country... so much so that one of our nation's wealthiest, Warren Buffett, is demanding that the country RAISE HIS TAXES so that he can pay his fair share. Your own description of things you say the Republicans are not is actually a description of the way the Republicans are now. That folks like yourself and others claim the Republicans are still old school is either self-denial or blatant hypocrisy. You pick.

I think the appellation "Republican Avengers" is right on.

[Spy_Smasher]

I was going to make some snide, sarcastic remark insinuating that politics don't belong here on Newsarama but I've realized that would be somewhat dishonest. The truth is, I don't care what your political views are at all, whether you care to dress them up as a discussion of the Avengers or not.

That is all.

[Jeff_14]

Originally Posted by emerald archer

What tripe.

Just thought it was funny that someone called Emerald Archer was defending the Republicans. Pretty soon Hawkman (being the reincarnation of an Egyptian ruler who would have commanded legions of slaves) will show up advocating for Democratic welfare programs. I must have stepped into Bizarro World.

[emerald archer]

No, you just have no real understanding of the politcal landscape, but that never stopped a lot of people from holding forth with their opinions, so please feel free to opine away......

When your done can I post a message regarding Captain Canuck and how he represents just how messed up the whole Canadian system is? I mean, I don't live in your contry but certainly I can opine away! Even though I don't live in the great white north I probably know more about your system of Government than you do!

Originally Posted by Jeff_14

Just thought it was funny that someone called Emerald Archer was defending the Republicans. Pretty soon Hawkman (being the reincarnation of an Egyptian ruler who would have commanded legions of slaves) will show up advocating for Democratic welfare programs. I must have stepped into Bizarro World.

[Templar1305]

I think the idea of a Herc series rocks....
Specially with Amadeus Choi....



As for the Civil War/Registration issue, it boils down to this.

The Civil War Registration issue was the closest metaphor for Gun Control, IE Civillian Disarmament of any real life political campaign....

It started off with a tragedy at a school and led to political chicanery with politicians and celebrities demanding registration.
Its as simple as that.

And basically Gun Control/Civillian Disarmament is a modern "Liberal" ideology and because Democrats primarily portray themselves as "Liberals" then the Superhero Registration act, which is a close metaphor for civillian disarmament would be a Democrat platform.

Which means Cap, Herc, and the other New Avengers took the Conservative or "Republican" viewpoint during Civil War and Iron Man and the Mighty Avengers took the Liberal or "Democrat" viewpoint in demanding registration.

Its that simple....

Real life politics can get complex. For example, John F. Kennedy was a Conservative running against Liberal Richard Nixon. Ironically, Kennedy was a Democrat and Nixon was a Republican.

The terms "Democrat" and "Republican" are almost useless in this day and age. For example, Rudy Guuuliaaaaaniiii and McCain are both Liberal Republicans...

The real moniker that means anything is "Liberal" or "Conservative" as that ususally tells you how a candidate or party thinks.
Even that is a bit confusing this day and age. As some people have pointed out, even though Conservatives have been traditionally for smaller government, there have been times (Reagan, Bush, Nixon) where supposed "Conservatives" expanded the size and power of Government.
Liberal used to mean people who beleived in "Liberty." Unfortunately these days, Liberal has become a politically correct euphemism for Hardcore Marxist.
For example, Hillary Clinton with her "Cradle to the Grave Big Govt. has to control your life ideology, her civillian disarmament ideology, her big government ideology, and her state will raise your kid not you ideology is a Marxist, not a liberal.
The Liberals I grew up among in the sixties and seventies (especially the hippies) would have been horrified at her antics and her ideology which is all about putting more power and more authority over you into the hands of the state.

[X-punged]

Originally Posted by Jeff_14

Looking at charts over the past century, you can see the facts in action - Democrats get previous Republican spending and deficits under control, Republicans blow the savings, requring the next Democratic administration to fix the mess, and repeat. Clinton got the nation back in surplus mode, then Bush showed up and almost immediately achieved record deficits.

Errr... no.
Spending is never under control whether Democrat or Republican.
And Clinton? Which one, the one who wanted a national healthcare program, or the one who subsequently lost both Congress and the Senate in 94 and then dramatically changed his policy (ie big spending) initiatives?

The 'savings' had nothing to do with fiscal restraint but reflective of the economic health of the nation. And I largely believe that most governments (read of either party) have little ability to improve the US economy, but can clearly interfere with it.

As for Bush, there was obviously no reason to increase spending. Or a cause for an economic downturn in his first couple years of office.
And there are plenty of conservatives who irked by the fact that spending and bureaucracy has increased as well during his tenure. (Hell most of them question his conservative cred because of this).

For umpteen years Congress has been irresponsible in their spending and is independent of whoever it was controlling it. Their poll numbers are lower than the President's for good reason. But if you think a president Clinton or Obama with Nancy Pelosi heading Congress will be able to control spending... well let's just hope Santa get's something nice for you for Christmas.

[Troy Brownfield]

Originally Posted by Brother Zag

Troy,

Sorry to post this here, but I don't seem to have your email any longer

Was wondering if you'd received issue 2 of "Panthea Obscura"? You gave issue 1 a fairly favorable review back in April, said it was "one to watch", and so I sent you issue 2 back in October... but there's been no review, so I ask. Hope this isn't tacky or completely the wrong place to inquire.

Feel free to respond and strike this post if necessary. Thanks!

Mike

You know what, Mike? I did something really stupid this semester: tried to organize my
basement. About a week ago, right after finals, I discovered a few books (like Panthea Obscura #2!), that were in a "To Be Read" stack that never made it to the column. I've decided to get to those in the near future. It's not a resolution, but I'll try.

[Troy Brownfield]

Originally Posted by emerald archer

You must be confused, seems DC only published 2 books last week, as opposed to several hundred that Marvel published.

In other words, again, DC just doesn't resonate with certain people, causing a rather myopic view of what gets published.

Yes, because no one from the team has ever given a postiive review of a DC book ever. EVER ever? Yes, ever ever.

(And yes, that's sarcasm.)