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My Pull List: Kimberley Griffiths

June 13, 2013 by

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My Pull List is a regular look at the comics we regularly read. Each time we’ll get one comics lover to detail the books they can’t do without month to month. If you’d like to be a participant,drop us a line! This week it’s our contributing writer Kimberley Griffiths.

Looks like it’s my turn to share my pull list with you all, and if you’ve read my reviews and column, you’re probably already thinking you know the kind of titles I’m in to, so let’s see if you’re right.

1. Captain Marvel

Obviously, CM was always going to be the top of my list. Apart from featuring one of my all time favourite characters (plus Jessica Drew, I can’t pass up more Jess), the book is also written by my current favourite writer, Kelly Sue DeConnick. If you aren’t reading Captain Marvel, please please please do start.  Not only do female hero books need all the support they can get (why do you think they keep getting cancelled?), but CM is just simply astonishingly brilliant, for every reason that matters. You can read my review of issues #1-12 here.

2. Hawkeye

Like Sean R, I can’t stop gushing about Hawkeye. The core concepts of this is what I do when I’m not Avenging and if you look a bit closer, I’m actually pretty depressed make Clint a wonderfully relatable and real character. Matt Fraction is doing an A+ job with Clint here, and his writing of Kate Bishop – my favourite Young Avenger – is also spot on. This book isn’t just about Clint, it’s about Kate too. Hawkeye and Hawkguy make the best team – snarky, clever, and best of all, free of romantic tension. It also often features the art of David Aja, one of my favourite comic artists. Always way too long in between issues.

3. Journey into Mystery

I don’t really have much to say about JiM apart from Kathryn Immonen writes Sif so incredibly well, and occasionally Valerio Schiti’s art makes me want to weep.

assemble24. Avengers Assemble

A lot of readers haven’t been enjoying Assemble, but I’ve found it to be a fun, clever title. Particularly since DeConnick took over from Bendis as writer. While there are certainly elements that bother me a little, mostly pertaining to the increased addition of MCU elements, this is handled much more subtly than in Secret Avengers. It features a lot of my favourite characters, and all in all, has a great we’re who’s left in New York right now, so I suppose we should deal with stuff vibe about it. Definitely my favourite Avengers title at the moment.

5. Age of Ultron and related titles

Okay, so I’m mostly reading the AoU books because let’s be honest, you gotta read the big event from your favourite company, right? And I’m a sucker for anything involving time travel, or Tony walking around in his undersuit.

The best of the rest…

Other titles I’m thoroughly enjoying include Saga, FF, Morning Glories, Deadpool, X-Men (even with only a single issue, I can tell this is going to become a favourite), and Fearless Defenders. Sometimes I leave them sitting for a while before I get around to reading them, but when I do, I’m always sucked in straight away.

What am I looking forward to in the way of upcoming titles?  Definitely DeConnick and Emma Rios’ Pretty Deadly (Image).

 

Filed Under: Marvel, Review

Review: Iron Man #11 – Gillen and Eaglesham

June 8, 2013 by

ironman-11Kieron Gillen is re-building Iron Man and he is using alien technology to do so. Well that’s not entirely true, but he is re-tooling the origin story as told to Stark by the alien robot 451. And what a story it is: engineered birth, pursuing murderous greys, the fate of the world in the balance – this is the kind of story that would make Fox Mulder salivate.

Kieron Gillen has hit his stride – I have liked this book since its inception in the Marvel Now line up but it was never the Marvel book I looked forward to reading. That was usually Superior Spider-Man or one of Hickman’s Avengers books or Bendis’ X-Men but lately I have been mentioning Iron Man in those terms with increasing regularity. The book is improving and not all of the credit goes to Gillen. Dale Eaglesham has brought a visual dynamic to this book that it was so sorely lacking. Although Greg Land is an accomplished artist in his own right I don’t think he fit this title. His work tends to be flat and his faces are all rendered in too similar a fashion for my liking.

This issue begins with Tony and 451 on board a cloaked space ship traversing deep space and in deep discussion when they are detected crossing some sort of perimeter. Tony is becoming more and more irate as 451 implores him to save his ship. At one point Tony refers to the robot as having a “glorified Commodore 64” brain, but when all is said and done he decides to go along with 451’s plan.

The story then returns to the past and Tony’s parents in the company of 451. The robot continues to shed light on Stark’s parent’s relationship and his pending birth. Gillen does a really good job illuminating the changes he is introducing to Tony’s mythology without simply blurting them out. He is building up to what we can only assume will be an Earth-shattering revelation. These changes go a long way in making sense of Tony’s inclusion on the current Guardians of the Galaxy team and really legitimising his status as a super genius. His parent’s story is told in meticulous detail. Howard Stark is the portrait of a father. His love for his wife and unborn son serve to motivate him more than the fate of the world. He is a man conflicted and passionate as Gillen demonstrates by having Howard Stark run after a pair of laser pistol wielding greys armed only with a conventional shotgun. This is the act of a protective father rather than a genius. He doesn’t think of the superior fire power he is sure to face, only of saving his young family. These are the kind of details Gillen uses to flesh out Howard Stark and endear him to us. He becomes the hero of the book.

The story then moves to an examination room of some kind. There we see the Starks and 451 – Howard listens intently to 451 explain what is happening to his son in utero while his wife lies back and receives the treatments from the robot’s hand (literally – his finger is a hypodermic). Again Gillen takes us deeper into what is happening to Tony prior to his birth. The complicated alien alterations that are being made to his genetic make-up are spelled out via a sonogram. This scene works so well.

We then return to the present and deep space as Tony rejoins 451 on board the ship. The two continue their conversation, concentrating mainly on Tony’s parents and the reasons behind the decisions they made. Tony pushes for answers that at first 451 seems reluctant to give but he finally relents and that is where we are left as 451 prefaces his coming answers with the ominous “All the things we did, we did for you.” Gillen leaves us with an unbearable sense of anticipation.

Kieron Gillen has established Iron Man as one of the upper echelon Marvel Now titles. The addition of Dale Eaglesham has only served to solidify that fact. Gillen has proven he is a consummate and capable story teller, adding chapters to the already rich history of Tony Stark and the Stark family. Though this is a decidedly different Iron Man from the one Matt Fraction brought us in the recent past, it is an Iron Man that is entertaining and enthralling. Visually dynamic, briskly paced and complexly plotted, this is what good comic books are all about.  Don’t hesitate to jump on board – this promises to be a heck of a ride.

So until next week, see you at the comic book store.

Filed Under: Marvel

Webcomic Wednesday – Adventures of Superman

June 5, 2013 by

Ok I know. DC’s weekly digital instalment, Adventures of Superman, isn’t exactly a webcomic. But technically it’s digital first and it’s a comic so I’ll allow it. Plus it’s the 75th anniversary of the quintessential superhero, and I haven’t had a chance to give this title much love.

So here goes.  

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Hello and welcome to Webcomic Digital Wednesday! Each week I take a look at a webcomic digital comic and let you know what I think about it. This week I’m taking a look at one of DC’s newest line ups of weekly digital comics, the brilliant Adventures of Superman, which incorporates a wide swathe of talent from across the industry.

 

I’ll admit I have never been a huge Superman fan until recently. With Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, the 75th anniversary of Superman, and the recent effort on DC’s part to promote the man, he’s seen a big resurgence. Adventures of Superman is the next step in this promotion, a series of one-shots crafted by industry talent, big and small, each telling a different story of the man. And it is brilliant.

There isn’t any pressure to fit in with the rest of the universe – no problems with continuity or New 52 garbage. These are just straight Superman tales, each only limited by the creators imagination, as they each try to capture a piece of his day to day life.

There is just so much heart to these stories, and they are often told in inventive and fun ways. From standard, “beat the bad guy” stories, to children pretending to play as Superman and Brainiac, each tale feels unique and so far it hasn’t stumbled. If you ever needed an excuse to get into Superman stories, look no further.

So far my favourite is the second issue, written and drawn by Jeff Lemire. But don’t take my word for it, check out the series here , or on any device with the Comixology/DC app. For a dollar a pop, it’s a steal.

Have any webcomics you want me to check out? Let me know on my twitter @Pipes815, or send me a message via our contact form.

Filed Under: DC Tagged With:

Marvel NOW! – Why It’s A Huge Step Forward for Superheroines

June 2, 2013 by

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‘I Have An Issue’ is a regular opinion column from Kimberley Griffiths, with no fear or favour shown. If you’d like to suggest something for a future column, drop us a line. Also, check out Kimberley’s blog!

You’ve all probably already seen Shawn’s glowing review of X-Men #1, so I’m sure you have an idea of the general consensus around these parts on the new X team. I’m right there with him – I loved everything about the first issue, and I can only hope that high standard is maintained throughout what is hopefully a long run.  While I can’t help but feel disappointed at the cancellation of Red She-Hulk, Marvel really is doing some great stuff for women heroes at the moment.

x-menFirst off, as with most Marvel NOW! titles (I certainly have a few exceptions, and two of them are written by the same writer), the new X-Men treats its characters like just that – characters.  There’s no sense that the team is all women just to tick a box.  Marvel is certainly heading in the right direction if this is their way of respectfully portraying  women in its books, without seeming exploitative or simply attempting to jump on the feminism bandwagon.

Along with Brian Wood’s excellent writing, we also have artist Olivier Coipel at his absolute best.  One of my criticisms of many female characters, has always been many artists’ lack of ability to draw characters that look different, without falling back on obvious cues like hair colour and costume (yes, I’m looking at you, Greg Land).  Every one of Coipel’s characters is well defined, consistent, and beautifully executed, with obvious differences in facial structure, and not just using skin colour to identify diversity.

As with Captain Marvel, X-Men has shown that we don’t need characters driven by romance, abuse, or disturbing past events (remember Women in Refrigerators?) to enjoy reading about them.  We can be aware of these events in characters’ histories without having to be reminded of them continually, and for them to be the primary motivation for their actions.  While there are plenty of shippers out there – hey, I’m one of them – romance is not something we need to keep things interesting in comics.  Do we even really want it at all?  I would much rather see Carol punch a dinosaur in the face, than having [shippy hero of choice]’s tongue down her throat.

FD9In addition to characterisation,the plethora of costume redesigns over the past year or so are a real breath of fresh air.  The movement away from the ‘traditional’ bodysuit and/or thong was badly needed, and while some detractors have called the new tac suit inspired costumes of Psylocke, Jubilee, and Captain Marvel boring, I think they are the exact opposite.  Valkyrie is also getting a makeover in issue #8 of Fearless Defenders, and it’s finally farewell to the ridiculously impractical and dangerous metal boob cups, and hello to a more simple, comfortable looking outfit, that still has nods to Asgardian styling.

Speaking of Asgardians, the Sif led incarnation of Journey into Mystery is going from strength to strength.  A combination of astonishing writing by Katherine Immonen, and the incredible artistic talents of Valerio Schiti on pencils and colourist Jordie Bellaire, is one of the best creative teams out there right now.  While I’m not as much of a fan of the fantasy elements that JiM brings – I’m more into stories rooted in what passes for the real world – I can’t deny that this book is excellent in every way that matters.

While there is still a distinct lack of female led books out there, you can’t deny that Marvel is heading in the right direction.  Less than two years ago, the only superheroine led book was X-23, and when it was cancelled, it left nothing on the roster with a female focus at all.  Now, we have X-Men, Fearless Defenders, Captain Marvel, Journey into Mystery, all with full rosters of women, or with a single focus female lead.  In addition to that, Uncanny X-Force, FF, and even Hawkeye are pushing forward with core heroines.  The only one of these failing in its characterisations is Uncanny X-Force, but it has to be a hard ask coming back from Rick Remender’s run, that was so well enjoyed by many.

Many have criticised Marvel in the past for its treatment of its women characters, but I think it’s safe to say those days are sliding into the rear view mirror.  This year we’ve had so many incredible titles featuring some of the most badass women in comics.

Women who are dangerous, powerful, and menacing, but haven’t lost any of their humanity.  Women who are characters we really want to read about, rather than just tinsel to hang around the male heroes who dominate most titles.  Women who don’t need a male presence in their team to motivate them when they lose their way.

Good on you, Marvel.  Good on you for employing writers who interact with the fans, and talk to us about what we really want in modern comics.  Don’t get me wrong, you still have problematic moments, and there are areas that need work, but over all, I’m impressed with Marvel NOW! and the clear determination to recognise more diversity, not just gender, but also sexuality, gender identity, and race.

Now if you could just give us that Spider-Woman solo, it would be greatly appreciated.

Filed Under: Marvel, Opinion Tagged With: , ,

Review: X-Men #1 – Brian Wood and Olivier Coipel

May 31, 2013 by

xmen-1The story of X-Men #1 begins with twins separated at birth, one male, one female – both begin life as a strange form of intelligent, evolving bacteria. John Sublime has evolved from the bacterial stage to become the preliminary adversary of the story, but things aren’t always what they seem to be. He is following Jubilee who has with her a tiny traveling companion, a baby. We don’t find out much about the little guy in this issue beside the fact that it is of the utmost importance for Jubilee to get him safely back to The Jean Grey School and once there to give him a family. This task is close to Jubilee’s heart because she came to the X-Men in much the same way, with nowhere to go and no-one who wanted her. The sincerity she feels for this child’s safety and well-being comes across so well in Wood’s writing. This is by far the most emotionally charged of the X-Books and I am not saying that because of the all-female team. I’m saying it because of Wood’s character driven story that focuses on interaction and dynamics rather than pointless action and contrived dialogue.

The chase takes us from Bulgaria to Grand Central Station where Storm, Rogue and Kitty meet up with Jubilee on a moving train. It is Kitty who actually meets her as she phases through the roof of the train to find Jubilee and baby, however unbeknownst to her John Sublime has learned that she is headed to The Jean Grey School.  Once the four X-Men are reunited on board, Jubilee begins to explain her current situation. It is at this point that we see the baby is no ordinary baby. He reaches out his tiny hand to touch one of the train’s P.A. speakers and some sort of electrical charge is passed from his finger into the train’s wiring system short circuiting many of the doors and killing the two drivers. The team flies into action to save the passengers. This scene is another example of how emotion trumps mindless punching. The action is suspenseful and smart, more of the edge-of-your-seat type than smash & crash, but no less exciting.

While waiting for their team mates to return to the school, Rachael and Psylocke are about the business of interrogating John Sublime, who has surrendered himself to their custody. Sublime explains in some detail the danger of his sister’s return. He implores the team to help him, stressing the life/ death seriousness of the situation. The last two pages of the book are gripping and full of tension. Wood has constructed a rich, poignant sequence of events that leaves us wanting the next issue immediately.

Brian Wood is a class act all the way around. He has taken the high road with this book from the costumes to the absence of any male X-Men to come in and save the day (it’s very clear they are not needed here). The gender of this team is not even thought of when you are reading this book – you are just swept up in a great story that is complex, entertaining and ultimately very satisfying. The characters are genuine and altruistic and they come across as very human. Wood has set this book apart from the other X-Books simply by virtue of its distinctive captivating tone. This is not to say that it is the only X-Book worth reading but it is very high on that list.

Olivier Coipel has created a visual delight. His work on this book ranks as some of his best in my opinion, and I consider him one of the best artists working in comics today. He doesn’t waste time with garish pin-up poses of these heroines; instead he draws strong women who just happen to be beautiful. His realistic style brings the characters to life in a way that is sometimes lost in comic books. Laura Martin does a really excellent job of coloring Coipel’s work. Her colors add dimension and emotion providing each page with depth, combining for a visually stunning book.

Overall I think Brian Wood has set the bar extremely high with this first issue. X-Men #1 is a dynamic story that is emotionally charged and suspenseful. Olivier Coipel delivers some of his best work to date concentrating on the plot and not the poses. I would suggest you not pass this one up. In a time when money is tight and comics are expensive this one is worth the $3.99.

So until next week, see you at the comic book store.

Filed Under: Marvel, Review Tagged With: , ,

Justice League Dark #20 – Lemire / Fawkes / Janin /Cifuentes

May 29, 2013 by

justice-league-dark-20The House of Mystery has been seized and Swamp Thing imprisoned – the work of the sinister Doctor Destiny. He has sent his nightmare creations to battle the Justice League Dark, who have recruited The Flash to aid them in the fight. These are the events that bring us up to issue 20 which is the second part of a three issue story arc by Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes with artwork by the very impressive team of Mikel Janin and Vicente Cifuentes.

The Flash and Frankenstein find themselves assailed by Doctor Destiny’s constructs of Frankenstein’s bride and their son. The abominations seem to be similar to the Green Lantern’s constructs in that they are the product of “hard energy”, a material The Flash is able to dispel by use of his vibrations. This is a method that will serve them well in battles to come. The two are then off to find the rest of the team beginning with Madame Xanadu, which The Flash accomplishes in scant seconds.

At this point in the story Doctor Destiny is slowly torturing Swamp Thing with fire and a prophecy that promises his ultimate demise. While elsewhere Deadman finds himself at the merciless hands of a twisted perverse troupe of circus performers before he is rescued by Frankenstein, The Flash and Madame Xanadu. The next order of business is to rescue their fearless leader, John Constantine, who is at that very moment busy fighting himself – specifically duplicates of himself made of his own blood. The team shows up and thanks again in large part to The Flash, they make rather short work of the constructs and save Constantine’s chain-smoking cantankerous hide.

Far from a happy reunion, the Justice League Dark welcomes their leader back into the fold with accusations and threats. The plucky Englishman takes it all in stride and suggests they get on with the business of finding The House of Mystery. Once again it falls to The Flash to get this done and once again he does so in a split second. He locates the house and off goes the team to retrieve it; however it is not in its original form – it is twisted and spreading like a patch of bad weeds. Constantine dispatches Frankenstein and The Flash to deal with any street level threats while he and the others go inside in search of Swamp Thing. They are met straight away by Doctor Destiny who greets Constantine as The Last Mage. This leads to a final page cliff-hanger that very deeply impacts the League as a whole but one particular member even more so. Trust me, you will want to read this issue.

There is an under-current of dissension in the ranks all through this issue as the rift between Constantine and his team mates begins to become a chasm. His arrogance and shoddy leadership seem to be pulling the team apart. Lemire and Fawkes are writing the Constantine book as well, so they have become the voice of this character who has been written by some of the best writers in comics today (Andy Diggle, Jamie Delano and Garth Ennis to name a very few). I find the use of Constantine not only in a team but as its leader to be quite contrary to his character but I am enjoying it – Lemire and Fawkes are doing a bang-up job. Constantine in the New 52 is definitely not Hellblazer of the Vertigo universe but it is a good read. I’m on board to see where this goes, whether he is replaced or remains on the team. Justice League Dark is a fun book with perhaps the most unique team dynamic anywhere in comics.

Mikel Janin is superb. He is solid and consistent. His work is flawless. I can’t wait to see what he does on this title as we move into Trinity Wars. He handles the supernatural subject matter so well, especially the scenes of Doctor Destiny.  I would be remiss if I failed to mention Jeremy Cox’s colors here. He adds such dimension to Janin’s work that some of the pages look as if you could reach into them. Overall Justice League Dark is one of the books I look forward to every month. It has been solid since the inception of the New 52 and I hope it continues to gain the readers and recognition a book of this calibre deserves. I unreservedly recommend adding it to your pull list especially now with Trinity Wars gearing up.

So until next week, see you at the comic book store.

Filed Under: DC, Review Tagged With: , , , ,

Review: A+X #8 – Duggan/Larroca & Hastings/Brown

May 27, 2013 by

aplusx8So first off, I’m going to be completely honest and say I’ll take or leave A+X.  While it’s basically fun, quickfire stories, I tend to only pick up issues that feature my favourite characters.  So it’s pretty obvious that I was going to pick up this one, seeing as all four featured heroes are on my “A+ 10/10 will read almost anything” list.

The first half of this issue features Spider-Woman and Shadowcat, who along with Lockheed are recovering a meteorite, and fighting the Absorbing Man in an abandoned subway station.  Sounds pretty run of the mill, but I was thoroughly impressed by Gerry Duggan’s treatment of this story.

For starters, the dialogue is great.  Snappy, snarky, and clever.  Straight away we’re reminded that both Jess and Lockheed’s ties to S.W.O.R.D. and Kitty has a couple of great lines in response to not being allowed to know all the details of their mission.  Once they do manage to barge in on the melee, Creel is trying to get his hands on the meteorite while being thwarted by both HYDRA and AIM.

What follows is nothing short of awesome girl power, with added Lockheed brilliance.  Kitty is wonderfully clever as always, taking on Creel while Jess deals with the rest of the goon squad, and when everything is all done and dusted, there’s no way Kitty isn’t taking advantage of the free cleaning squad while they wait for the cavalry.

The art is clean, consistent, and filled with movement.  I often find many conventional comic artists portrayals of Jessica’s (admittedly ludicrous) costume a bit vulgar, but Salvador Larroca does a great job here.  There are very few gratuitous boob shots, and while I’m certainly no detractor of boobs, for that I’m thankful.

The only thing I didn’t like about this story, was Duggan feeling the need to bring up Jess’ pheromones.  While yes, this is part of her character, it’s not something I really need to be reminded of, and the context was kind of iffy.  All in all though, the team of Drew, Pryde, and Lockheed is well worth a read, and will only take up five minutes of your time.

Now for the second half of the book, featuring Deadpool and Hawkeye.  The art here isn’t quite as pretty as Larroca’s work, but Reilly Brown still does an admirable job.  As you would expect, there is more snarky, fast paced dialogue.  This tweet from writer Christopher Hastings pretty much sums up the entire story…

If you were to walk into a comic shop, get A+X #8, you would find that I wrote a story about Deadpool and Hawkeye being total bros with bows

— Christopher Hastings (@drhastings) May 22, 2013

Let’s look at what I want in a comic featuring these two:

Glaringly predictable but still hilarious dialogue… check.

Lots of action with some form of ridiculous vehicluar stunt… check.

Pop culture references up the wazoo… check.

Explosions… triple check.

Hawkeye + Deadpool was everything I wanted in a short story.  Silly, a bit predictable, and filled with things going boom.

So A+X #8?  Well worth picking up if you’re after something fun, short, and stand-alone.

Filed Under: Marvel

Review: Captain Marvel 1-12 – DeConnick / Soy / Rios / Andrade / Barrionuevo

May 22, 2013 by

Captain_Marvel_11In a Marvel catalogue filled with multiple Avengers, Spider-Man, and X-Men titles, it’s easy for Captain Marvel to get lost in the melee.  As one of only three female hero focus books at the moment (the other two being Red She-Hulk and Fearless Defenders), writer Kelly Sue DeConnick (Avengers Assemble, Ghost) must be feeling the pressure for this book to be successful.

Happily, not only is the writing consistently excellent, but the combination of DeConnick and Dexter Soy on pencils for the start of the run tells us that this title is going to be something very special indeed.

I have always been impressed with Kelly Sue’s skills with dialogue, and as usual, the words jump from the page.  From the very first panel in the very first issue, we’re reminded that Carol is a tough, smart woman, who’s happy to point out that she’s better than you.  The snappy conversation with Cap as they’re fighting The Absorbing Man is witty, fond, and has some great moments where Carol asserts herself.  I’ll also admit, I’m kind of glad to see her wearing pants, and the trend with redesigning female heroes to have more practical costumes is something I can really get on board with.

Despite the action packed start, there’s a shift to a more character focus mid way through, and while it could have been a mess with flashbacks, multiple locations, and some pretty serious angst, it reads incredibly easily.  There’s also some foreshadowing that is so incredibly subtle that I’m not even sure if it’s intentional, but if it is then full credit to DeConnick.  Brilliant work.

After the soul searching in issue #1, you would expect the series to continue down a similar path of a character focus with the odd bit of action thrown in.  Think again.  The next five issues are a full blown time travel story, and while it may be a large departure from the themes introduced in #1, it doesn’t at all feel wrong or off.  Soy’s art suits the WWII era setting brilliantly, and Carol’s internal monologue reminds us that being thrown into the past isn’t exactly something she’s equipped to deal with.

The introduction of a group of all-girl commandos, known as the Banshee Squadron, is fabulous.  The interaction between the Banshees and Carol is dynamic and compelling, and while often rapport between freshly introduced and short lived supporting characters can seem forced or rushed, this is not the case here.

There is a change in artist mid way through #4 when, once Carol successfully escapes 1943 to land in 1961, Al Barrionuevo takes over briefly.  Barrionuevo’s art is pleasing, but not as edgy and filled with movement as Soy’s.  The decision to change artists to indicate the time shift is a good one though, and it adds to the feeling that Captain Marvel has been very well thought out indeed.

The remainder of the 1961 (#5 and #6) story is pencilled by Emma Rios, who brings a wonderfully quirky style to the table.  It fits the story beautifully, and while it’s not necessarily what I would normally look for in comic art, after a second look I found myself far more drawn to Rios’ work than at first glance.  These two issues are filled with great moments of strength from the characters, and it’s just so refreshing to have women heroes, and non-heroes, who are independent, witty (for lack of a better phrase) BAMFs.  Often when I come across female characters who are written by men, their strength feels like it’s ticking a box, rather than coming from any inherent character traits.  DeConnick usurps this by not only writing women from a woman’s perspective, but doing it so well.

Carol’s time travel adventure closes with issue #6, which is outstanding.  We see glimpses of Carol’s origin story, complete with original dialogue which may seem like lazy writing, but from a character and story standpoint fits perfectly.  DeConnick knows who her audience is, and she’s taking a moment to remind us who Carol is, and why she is here.  Rios’s art is beautiful, still keeping the element of whimsy that makes it so appealing.   I was also thrilled to see the appearance of Jessica Drew, in a role that really helps push home home how much Carol’s friends care for her.

#7 and #8 are a short standalone story featuring Carol and Monica Rambeau (former Captain Marvel, Photon, Pulsar) beating the bejeesus out of a giant robot made from the scraps of planes lost in the Bermuda Triangle.  It’s silly, fun, and a brief respite from the intense themes of identity and legacy that make up the first six issues.  We also get Frank Gianelli, the sometimes irritating photojournalist who used to work for Carol at Woman magazine, along with that still ridiculous crush he has on her.  Soy is back, Christopher Sebela joins DeConnick as writer, and they all work together to create two issues that are thoroughly enjoyable, and stunning to look at.

Issues 9-12 are a step in a different direction yet again.  The foundations are being laid for a longer, crossover story arc for Carol here, and while she’s still in costume most of the time, there’s a far more personal, small time tone to these four books.

While I disliked artist Filipe Andrade’s style at first, I’ve grown to really admire his expressive, idiosyncratic style.  The way he puts movement into every panel is pretty incredible, and Jordie Bellaire’s slightly washed out colours add to the feeling that Marvel is really willing to take risks with its art that are definitely paying off.

Carol’s daily life is in the spotlight during these four issues, and as usual, DeConnick’s brilliant skill with character interaction really shines through.  Carol’s interactions with her friends, fellow Avengers, and in particular, the adorable Kit, are clever, heartfelt, and never outstay their welcome.  DeConnick is by far my favourite writer of dialogue at the moment, and probably overall my favourite writer that Marvel has on their roster.

When a serious threat to her powers comes to light, we remember that Carol doesn’t always make the best decisions.  She’s stubborn, cranky, and often self destructive.  This has always been one of my favourite things about Danvers as a hero.  She is often instrumental in her own downfall, and this makes her seem so much more real.  I also love the way her ego and sense of pride contradicts her self deprecating moments.  Even when she’s making bad choices – or perhaps because she makes bad choices – she always feels unerringly human.  DeConnick’s take on this aspect of her character is truly inspired, showing us that while Danvers is tough, brash, and willing to tell everyone how great she is, she will also refer to herself as a glowstick in a circus suit without even thinking twice.

The first twelve issues of Captain Marvel are some of the best I’ve seen from any series.  The consistency of both the writing, and the quality of the art, makes it an absolute must read.  It’s a book full of friendship, heart, and really excellently written, flawed but genuine characters.  If you’re not reading Captain Marvel, you’re really missing out.

Filed Under: Marvel Tagged With: ,

Review: Thunderbolts #9 – Daniel Way and Phil Noto

May 20, 2013 by

thunderbolts9Thunderbolts is far from being the shining jewel in the crown of the Marvel Now Universe. At its best it is a fun read peppered with an ample amount of violence, intrigue and witty jabs dealt out between team mates. I started reading it for several reasons – the first was because I loved the previous incarnation of the book when Thunderbolts was a team of villains led by Norman Osborn during his days as head of the Dark Avengers. The second reason was the current team’s diverse albeit volatile line-up featuring the likes of Deadpool, Punisher, Venom, Elektra, Red Leader, Red Hulk and the very mysterious Mercy. The final was that the very awesome Steve Dillon was going to be handling the artwork. I have always liked Daniel Way as well, so the fact that he was going to be writing the book didn’t hurt.

Now having said all of that, I have not been completely won over by the effort thus far. The opening story arc was fair, pretty straight forward but with hints at a flimsy sub-plot of a love triangle between Deadpool, Elektra and Punisher. This has been lingering on the periphery of the main story for months now with no resolution in sight. This brings me to my next point. Daniel Way is no stranger to writing Deadpool – in fact he has written some of the best Deadpool stories to date, so why does it seem like he has no idea how to use him here? If it is a question of Deadpool working well as part of a team, I would point out Rick Remender’s very fine job of doing just that in his turn on X-Force.

So now the question is, if after working the bugs out of the team and changing from one excellent artist to another, in this case bringing on Phil Noto, is Thunderbolts headed in the right direction? Let’s take a look at issue number nine.

The story is mostly maneuvering and behind the scenes scheming, and is heavy on intrigue. The most memorable action sequence is one in which Red Hulk single-handedly dismantles an entire unit of enemy agents all wearing Crimson Dynamo armor. Deadpool spends most of his time in this issue languishing on the floor healing from a gunshot wound to the head he received last issue. It’s not until Red Leader finds him that we see him awake and on his feet again in time to witness Red Hulk and Venom save the team from suicide bombers in Crimson Dynamo armor. The damage sustained from this sends Flash Thompson to the hospital where he has a rather bizarre sports-themed nightmare in which the Venom symbiote is a football. This all leads up to a big final page reveal that ties one of the team to a cryptic character from the recent past.

One thing Thunderbolts does not lack is potential. The creative team is top-notch, as are the characters on the team. I think this book will hit its stride, but right now it is struggling under the weight of its own high expectations. It’s not a bad book but it’s just not as good as it should be given all the advantages it has going for it. Even the artistic change was one that worked – Steve Dillon is great but Phil Noto has a style that is better suited to this title giving the book a visual direction that more readily lends itself to action sequences.

As for the writing, Daniel Way needs to play to his strengths, put Deadpool to better use and downplay the moral drama. I’m not sure this is a title that benefits from a love triangle. He needs to work on the team dynamic here and get us to care about how these characters interact, form some friendships among the various team mates. Let us see the human side of these guys. Way is capable of writing some fantastic dialogue and I would love to see that here.

All things considered Thunderbolts is by no means a throw-away. It’s just been slow to build up any momentum and as I have said the bar is set pretty high for this creative team but I believe they will deliver. I’m going to stick around for the long ride – the talent is there, the material is there and it’s just a matter of time before all these elements align themselves and we are talking about who has been cast in the Thunderbolts movie (I assume Joss Whedon will be directing). Hey, if the comic has a dream sequence why shouldn’t the review!

So until next week, as always, see you at the comic book store.

Filed Under: Marvel Tagged With:

Review: The Enemy Within #1 – Kelly Sue DeConnick & Scott Hepburn

May 17, 2013 by

Avengers_The-Enemy-Within_1The Enemy Within is a five part crossover miniseries event that kicks off with this book, which is essentially a new issue of Captain Marvel that’s outside the normal distribution calendar.  While it’s not imperative that you read Captain Marvel before this, to fully understand what’s going on I would recommend reading issues 9-12 at the very least.

This book is, at its heart, a mystery.  While there’s action featuring The Grapplers and dinosaurs, the focus is on Carol’s search for Rose the slightly batty old lady, and the quest to uncover who is the mastermind behind all the unsettling events of the past few issues of CM.  All the while, she is dealing with the brain lesion that is supposed to be preventing her from flying.

As usual, Kelly Sue DeConnick’s work is above and beyond any other writers I’m reading at the moment (with the exception of  Matt Fraction’s current work who incidentally, happens to be her husband). She had me laughing out loud by the second page, and I really adore how she’s giving us a lot of Spider-Woman in Carol’s story.  Jess Drew is one of my favourite Marvel characters, so I’m always happy to see any Carol and Jess ‘besties’ interaction.

Jordie Bellaire’s colouring is gorgeous, and consistent with her previous work on CM.  I really adore her use of retro colours like greens, oranges, and pale blue.  It gives the comic an air of the seventies, while still feeling fresh and contemporary.  I really hope she continues to work on Captain Marvel, as she’s doing an excellent job.

Scott Hepburn’s pencil work has me in two minds.  While I really really like it at some points, there are moments where I feel like the faces in particular, are veering too far into caricature territory.  I don’t think I’ve ever read anything featuring Hepburn’s art, and while he’s done a good job here, it is a little inconsistent.  The design of every page is excellent though, and I’m really impressed with the action scenes, particularly during the pages where Thor and Carol battle a couple of dinosaurs to get to Rose.

Beneath all of this action, humour, and intrigue, there’s an undercurrent of unease.  Carol’s brain lesion is worsened by flight, and while she tries her best, there are moments where her stubbornness gets the better of her – she really, really hates Cap’s old flying motorcycle.  Just how much of Carol’s story is real, and how much is a hallucination?

All in all, The Enemy Within #1 is an excellent start to a mini event, and I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

The story will be continued in Avengers Assemble #16, Captain Marvel #13, Avengers Assemble #17, and concluding with Captain Marvel #14

Filed Under: Marvel Tagged With: ,
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