Between The Staples

This week is a mash-up in this week’s Best Bang to include last week’s Canada Day books! From Warren Ellis pissing me off on Astonishing X-Men to Batman R.I.P to Angel making me shake my head, we have lots here. Included is last weeks Final Cri$i$ making me realize that I hate it when people try to show me how smart they are in comics, The (red) Hulk mystery continues and Mark Millar’s Fantastic Four keeps frustrating me. Since I have not gone to the island of Vancouver lately, these books come to you from Port Moody’s Hourglass Comics.

Oh and Happy Independence Day yeah bunch of colonists down south!

Astonishing X-Men #25 (Marvel) - Man, I did not think Warren Ellis could make me interested in his version of the AXM but f***k me did he not only make me enjoy the book overall, I look forward to the next issue, love his Beast (Ellis can always write good mad scientests — or at least, they start well) and… I hate to admit it, I am almost enjoying his Cyclops. Almost. F***K! Oh and the “smart writing” comment I wrote a while ago, yes this book is written smart in that each page of dialog flows into one another, the characters interaction is not stilted or broken and has flow right to the end. Add to that the unbelievable artwork by Simone Bianchi takes the book to the next level. Now is the challenge, can both Ellis and Simone keep this up for his entire run? Things that make you go HMMM?

Buffy: The Vampire Slayer S8 #16 (Dark Horse) - “Time of Your Life part 1″ kicks off much like those episodes of Buffy that are very enjoyable. Kick-ass action, good one-liners with Buffy and Fray. Fray? Yes, this book with cross the epic slayers. Kudos to Joss Whedon in following up the last story arc with this one. I love the change of Dawn, the continued Nick Fury-like development of Zander and Willow / Buffy relationship is getting to be enjoyable to read. Very good issue and well worth the money!

The Astounding Wolf-Man #7 (Image) - A very interesting build up with the main character and his family. Well more than a build up but a climax. If you are not following this title, this may not be the issue for you (or perhaps it is the perfect issue) but HOLY SMOKES did the worst thing happen to the main character. I am very interested where this book goes from this point.

Batman R.I.P. #678 (DC) I prefer when Grant Morrison is playing with our heads given the Batman family, thank-you very much. Bruce jonezing for a hit, Robin & Nightwing being hunted (Note — after spending time thinking about it, I did not like how suddenly Nightwing was not only taken down but thrown into a insane asylum behind the scenes — that knocks this book down a peg to 4 — anyways, on with my review…), Doctor Hurt preaching like all good villains do — all good to put a splash of new to the Batman world. I enjoy Morrison’s work on Batman than I do Final Cri$i$!

Rann-Thanagar Holy War #3 of 8 (DC) - If Annihilation was the best cosmic book for Marvel, this series will be its twin in the DCU. Jim Starlin has a good feel for these characters, the crazy messed up story that is bleeding through-out the worlds in the DCU space worlds like Rann and Thanagar! I love to see the Weird again (I am one of the few who loved the original series) and the rest of the DC cosmic heroes together for this “event”. Give me more please! My only big comment is that the face on the cover looks more like Mongrel than Synnar which is sadly misleading (if not confusing).

Manhunter #32 (DC) - Few DC books are as enjoyable on a monthly basis as this book is. Granted I got into this series late but it is not one book I do not miss. I loved how The Blue Beetles scarab was bothered by Manhunters armour but it doesn’t beat the discussion between Kate & Director Bones but did she have to be sitting atop her bed, using her laptop, in her undies and bra? Seemed a bit much but still a very good and solid issue.

House of Mystery #3 (Vertigo) - Another Vertigo title I am now looking forward to each month. This series of sub stories all wrapped in this very interesting House of Mystery central storyline are very enjoyable which is interesting ’cause lately I was not a fan of Matthew Struges writing (Salvation Run, Shadowpact) in the DCU.

The Boys #20 (Dynamite) - One thing I hate about face-offs in comic books is that if you drag it out, it becomes less and less a face-off and more of a “look who is cooler” extended scene. Add to the fact that this book had more than I could handle of The Legend rambling on, I stopped caring and reading about things that is to help build the background of the series. I wanted to be interested but man most of the book came off extremely boring. I read this book for The Boys, I enjoy those characters and not extended who has the bigger penis scenes and talking heads. Disappointing ’cause I wasn’t really fond of the last issue either. Has The Boys jumped the Shark?

Trinity #5 (DC) - Okay is it me or is this book start kinda Gangbusters and then seem to be sputtering along? What happened? Is that I just don’t want to be reading a weekly series anymore? I think that is it. I am done for a bit until something interests me ’cause right now, Morgan Le Fay does NOTHING for me and you need a good villain to make a book work.

Secret Invasion: Front Line #1 (Marvel) - Other than a very eye catching cover, I felt that this book fell flat. The main characters were not anyone I would want to read about or know so why should I care? If this book did not have Ben Urich, I would not have picked it up and this likely the last issue of that. The artwork was very interesting as it went from looking like a animated comic flip book to hey that’s a nice page, inconsistent and felt rushed at parts.

Angel: After The Fall #10 (IDW) - The finale to the last story arc was brutal, hard to read and hard to get what the hell was going on with so-so artwork. This issue does not help matters as it seems to just muddy things up more and to the point that I don’t care or want to care any further. This is sadly the worst book of the week! Also the “credits” page with the next issue advertisement is just plain enough to make me ignore or miss that it is an Ad for the next issue. Much like most of this book of late, it is quickly becoming an easy book to forget!

Canada Day Extra! Best Bangs for June 25th, 2008

I wanted to say that this was going to be the big Canada Day Best Bang Reborn but sadly this bleed into the following week’s Best Bang but hey, that’s okay ’cause here yah go…

Secret Invasion: Avengers: Initiative #14 (Marvel) - Dan Slott & Christos Cage hit this issue of the park with 3D Man stepping up the plate. Finally you get a small glimpse into one of the Initiative bases — this one is in Hawaii. I am loving this series, the artwork, the characters and great story. I hope this series does not end after SI is done.

Captain America #39 (Marvel) - I like the new storyline of this Former yet Old Captain America rehash coming face to face with the Nu-Winter-Solider-Captain America. I do enjoy The Falcon as a supporting character of the book.

Madame Xanadu #1 (Vertigo) - WOW! What a stunning book both in story, art and imagination. I want more and more NOW! I loved seeing the Phantom Stranger in cloak and pendant! I have a feeling Vertigo has a big hit on its hands here with this series!

Hulk #4 (Marvel) - The first few issues were really hard to read, they felt stilted and did not flow for me. Why am I still reading the series? I want to see who the Red Hulk is and I thought this issue finally started to move along in that direction. I can’t say I am looking forward to the next issue with Clor!

Secret History of The Authority: Hawksmoor #4 of 6 (WildStorm) Yes. Yes Sir! May I have another? *WACK* Fiona Staples artwork is amazing and I am really enjoying the story even if I saw it coming, I wanted to see it coming, I wanted to see what I read. Thank-you very much and I look forward to seeing how this book ends.

Number of the Beast #6 of 8 (WildStorm) The story is finally coming together for me to the point that I am now looking forward to see the WildStorm universe go to hell! Nice artwork!

New Avengers #42 (Marvel) - I LOVE this cover art with titles! Great great job! This was another of the Secret Invasion fill-in issues done through the Avengers books. This week we see how the Skrull Queen aka Spider-Woman plans everything up to M-Day. *sigh* I am getting tired of all this back story filler.

Mighty Avengers #15 (Marvel) - The story of Hank Pym aka Yellowjacket and how he gets replaced by a Skrull. No creator titles so I think the rushed artwork by John Romita Jr. shows that this issue fell on the deadline and for that, this issue fell pretty flat for me. How much more does MA be a fill-in book?

Secret Invasion: Ms Marvel #38 (Marvel) - Maybe it is me but an entire issue that is one single fight works at times but other times it can be a touch uneventful which I found here. I guess I was hoping that this book would give more insight to S.H.I.E.L.D. during the SI crisis with Ms Marvel and not one single knock down. Not a bad issue but just decent.

Trinity #4 (DC) This book is making me sleepy which is bothersome ’cause I think I preferred the backup story to the main one. Is that a good thing? Do I want to be reading a weekly comic series anymore?

Teen Titans #60 (DC) Dan Didio is editing this book. Sean McKeever is a great writer. Eddy Barrows & Ruy Jose did solid artwork. So what was the problem with the book? OH wait — the team is changing AGAIN! Ravager leaving seemed coming out of nowhere. The Terror Titans setup for there own series was lame and What tie did this have to do with the Dark Side Club other than the new Clock King talking about it? Nah, this book did not really work for me. I hope Sean McKeever gets a chance to stop all these bloody crossover shit and just concentrate on making Teen Titans enjoyable again. Also with the spoilers of the new Team, it doesn’t look like Robin is on the team in the future. Joy.

Final Crisis #2 (DC) - WHY is that I hear things like “Once we get to issue #3 - you are going to be blown away!”. NO! I should have been blown away in issue f***king ONE! This is issue #2 and man was this disappointing, lackluster and boring. The last splash page of The Flash seemed to be the only thing moving forward with this series. Everything else from the ONE panel of Martian Manhunter’s memorial (meaning he’s not dead), Vandal Savage’s line was pathetic, Lex Luthor (who JUST saved all the villains from Planet Hell - ie. Salvation Run series) is being snubbed? Does Morrison read ANY of the other books being done by DC Comics? Grant Morrison is not a fricken Rock Star, DC Comics does not revolve around him — someone please let me know that!

Secret Invasion: Runaways / Young Avengers #1 (Marvel) - This issue really did not work for me and maybe it is because the artwork was very below average. The Skrulls did not match the regular series of SI (and other books) plus the characters seemed so… flat.

Fantastic Four #556 (Marvel)  - I have given up trying to figure out where this book fits into the Marvel Universe. Bruce Banner as smart Hulk & his Gamma Crew aka The New Defenders (what is it with Millar and The Defenders, write them if you want but why bring them into a SECOND series you are writing?), I couldn’t care less. Likely a time line storyline which does nothing for me.

Superpowers Project #4 (Dynamite) - Is this book every going to hit its stride? I mean I am so lost with these characters, the story and what is going on, I still have a hard time sitting down and reading through an issue.

The Ultimates 3 #4 (Marvel) - I really do like to whip myself with bad comics and this is a bad comic. I am not fond of the artwork, the lettering OH and the story. I just want to see how deep this series is burying itself and man, that’s one big f***kin hole!

Jack of Fables: The Bad Prince TPB (Vertigo) - Strange but I found this second trade of the Jack of Fables series to be boring and meh. Again I think it is hit and miss with Matt Sturges writing.

Next Week: Captain Britain and MI: 13 #3, Detective Comics #846, Eternals #2, Final Crisis: Requiem #1, Green Arrow/Black Canary #10, Green Lantern Corps #26, Guardians Of The Galaxy #3, Justice Society Of America #17, The Last Defenders #5 of 6, Nova #15, Number of the Beast #7 of 8, Secret Invasion #4 of 8, Trinity #6, and Young Liars #5.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.