wktf
01-05-2007, 11:05 AM
Wktf’s Reviews
Another big Civil War week with the main title and crossovers into Amazing Spider-Man and Punisher War Journal. Triple Superman duty with the flagship title, Superman Confidential and All-Star Superman and The Hulk and The Thing represent on the covers of Incredible Hulk and FF: The End. All in all, a pretty good week. My pick of the week this time is a title I’m not reviewing, Amazing Spider-Man. Not to steal Kdawg’s thunder but not only does this issue give us an ending that left me holding my breath plus some great interdynamics between Spidey and Cap, who came to blows in this title just a few issues back, but Ron Ganey draws the single most frightening Kingpin this side of Frank Miller.
Civil War #6
Marvel Comics
Written by: Mark Millar
Drawn by: Steve McNiven
The penultimate chapter of this Marvel Comics Event most definitely is the calm before the storm. There literally is no conflict except within Cap’s ranks as Cap takes issue with The Punisher. Serious issue. As badly as things go for Frank in War Journal they really ratchet up a notch here. But, mostly this title demonstrates how the opposing forces have circled each other, the plans they’re making, the spies they’ve planted, plus some interesting solitary conversations that present the kind of depth I’d expect from a Mark Millar book. I’m told you’re supposed to read Punisher War Journal (see my partner’s reviews) before this one but, while it does explain how Frank gets the outfit that allow him to break into the Baxter Building, I’d say your only loss if you don’t read that book is missing out on another great book.
To begin with, Captain America and The Punisher make for uneasy allies. At least Cap is uneasy, and with good reason. We are privy to a moment between Sue Richards and Prince Namor as she beseeches his help and gets more than what she’s looking for (you go, Namor!) on the one hand but no help in Cap’s conflict. This one confused me since it was Namor who sought out T’Challa to lead a contingency, including his royal underwater self, against Iron Man’s army. So why, now, is he refusing Sue? Is this just poor continuity editing or is something else going on? Speaking of T’Challa, both he and Storm have planted themselves with Cap’s team as we know from the Black Panther’s own book. Cage and Spider-Man share a moment of friendship which I was glad to see. I remember how viciously they fought when JJJ paid Cage to take down Spidey in the issue right after Gwen and the Goblin died, and Cage’s sympathy for Peter’s trauma at the end of House of M. But between this title, Amazing Spider-Man and Punisher War Journal, someone in editorial needs to decide whether or not Cage should have facial hair! Come on guys, let’s be consistent! I was grateful to see Uatu, The Watcher, again this time speaking with and consoling Dr. Strange. And, of course, Hank Pym’s dialogue with Tony pays off big time at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. Some will complain that it’s the prettiest comic book in which nothing really happens, and I disagree. There’s a huge amount of tension accomplished by these super chess pieces all moving into position. Seeing Reed operate on the cyborg Thor was particularly disturbing and one can only hope this character’s possible return can mean the return of the real deal. And I only hope that the big scene at the end pays off next issue. Oh, and a final word about McNiven’s art. Every panel is a thing of beauty. This guy’s art didn’t used to appeal to me. I didn’t like his work on MK4 or New Avengers, but he’s turning into another George Perez with his ability to draw an incredible number of characters all with intricate detail and portraying each individual character with his or her own unique characteristics. Love or hate the series, you’ve got to give McNiven his due for being the standout artist of the last several months.
All-Star Superman #6
DC Comics
Written by: Grant Morrison
Drawn by: Frank Quitely
Like Steve McNiven’s art (see my review, above) this title didn’t really appeal to me at first. I think because I understood it to be an iconic, fresh take on Superman uncluttered by over six decades of continuity and, so, I thought it would be everything I remembered about Superman from my past. Instead, I got two creators’ take on the character starting, as John Byrne did in the ‘80s, as if from scratch while holding certain truths about the character constant. It was their take, not my take. And I really wasn’t expecting it nor, maybe as a result, did I appreciate it. But, while sometimes it’s seemed like a trippy Superman comic on acid overdrive I finally found it to be very creative and compelling. I wasn’t ready for it in the first couple of issues but, by the fourth, I was into it and, now, I’m sold. This title recently won the prestigious Eisner Award for Best New Series and rightly so.
It’s been so long since the last issue, and this issue is such a perfectly self contained story, that it’s easy to forget the event from issue #1 that’s created Superman’s primary motivation throughout this series thus far. He’s dying. Lex Luthor has killed him by exposing his cells to the Sun at closest proximity. His powers got a huge boost but he’s deteriorating, or maybe more appropriately burning out, as well. And, so, he’s revealed his secret identity to Lois, brought her to his fortress and given her temporary superpowers for her birthday. And now we are treated to a tale of Superman’s past where we see the post high school but pre-Metropolis Clark with his parents, Lana and Pete. There are beautiful scenes of the Kent’s home, the rolling farm and the Smallville diner. And as Clark plays with Krypto, some bizarre characters, some bearing a striking resemblance to Clark, arrive to offer help with the Kent’s harvest. But a bizarre cosmic menace called Cronovore Monster has come to Smallville and The Supeman Squad, these strangers in disguise and descendants of Superman from various eras, have journeyed back through time to this time in Superman’s past to battle it. But why? Is it because Superman in his youth hadn’t absorbed enough solar energy to be powerful enough to take on this beast or is it because he’s really needed somewhere else?
The simply wonderful, quiet cover of this issue reveals this issue’s main event. A sad but thoughtful Superman stands in front of Jonathan Kent’s grave stone with his loyal dog, Krypto, by his side looking up at him. Anyone here who owns a dog knows just how right this image is. Jonathan seems to become particularly comfortable with the bandaged stranger, his face hidden, the same one who urges Clark to give up the fight with the Cronovore Monster just at the moment when Clark is needed elsewhere. And how does this stranger know? Ultimately, Morrison and Quitely have crafted a beautiful story that can also serve as a great jumping on point for readers who haven’t given this title a spin. Though I’d highly recommend those people go back to the beginning as we’re only six issues into what I hope will be a long run for this book.
The Incredible Hulk #102
Marvel Comics
Written by: Greg Pak
Drawn by: Aaron Lopresti
Up to this point The Hulk had been shot into space by the Illuminati and crashlanded on the barbaric world of Sakaar. Weakened, he was enslaved and forced to participate in gladiator games which, naturally, he won as he strength returned. Ever the anti-authoritarian brute that he is, he wore his disdain for The Red King on his sleeve. And while he allied himself with his fellow gladiators, he made an enemy of the king and his bodyguard, he very foxy Caiera. But the Hulk continued to defy the odds and defy the King. Eventually the King’s atrocities became evident even to Caiera who joined The Hulk’s side against her former master. And through it all, carrying a mad-on for Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange and Black Bolt, he’s used that anger to bust heads every issue and just generally do what The Incredible Hulk does best: smash his enemies. It’s been a hell of a ride so far.
Well, we’re 10 issues into Planet Hulk and it’s all led up to this point. The Incredible Hulk vs. The Red King, the man who’s made not only The Hulk’s life miserable but done so for nearly everyone on this godforsaken planet of Sakaar. In fact, as The Hulk faces down The Red King he demands that Miek, his arthropodic ally, to project the images of the King’s atrocities and murders into his mind. The result? He believes he killed them all because it was his right. His duty, and his pleasure. And The Hulk, at the end of this mad journey is prepared to turn this Planet Sakaar into Planet Hulk by beating his adversary to death. But before he can do that he has to literally save a planet, a la Superman 2, from tearing itself apart.
Greg Pak has given us a different Hulk. He’s intelligent but he’s still a brute. He is a loner but he’s also, begrudgingly, now the leader of many, of an entire planet. And while he’s always generated fear and mistrust this Hulk has inspired the fealty, admiration, respect and love of thousands, and one in particular. The love of an incredibly strong woman who once tried to kill him. Yet he’s still our surly ill tempered green goliath. There’s more Planet Hulk goodness on the way as we count down to this summer’s World War Hulk extravaganza. As psyched as I am for that, I can’t get enough of this Planet Hulk storyline.
Sam Wilson’s Reviews
This week is a “Civil War” heavy week with issue #6 out and a bunch of crossovers (my favorite being Punisher War Journal). We have another fantastic issue of Manhunter and possibly my last issue of Nightwing (c’mon DC, do something with this book already). I’ll send some special love towards Ms. Marvel since that book has really came around recently, and also declare my pick of the week to be Punisher War Journal. With that being said, on to the reviews…
Special review note: I originally planned to review “Ultimate Vision #2”, but my LCS will be receiving that book late, so I’m just doing a hasty review of Warren Ellis’s “Newuniversal”. Sorry about that folks, but it happens sometimes. Anyway…
Newuniversal #2
Marvel Comics
Written by: Warren Ellis
Drawn by: Salvador Larroca
In 1986 during Marvel’s 25th anniversary then EIC Jim Shooter gave us the “New Universe” line of comics. Set in a reality that had nothing to do with the regular Marvel U the “New Universe” was to feature stories that had little to do with aliens, gods and super-science and more “regular” types of things, stories closer to home with more believable super powers and super heroes. The series was also set to operate in “real time”, one year of comic time equaled one year of real time. Seven initial titles launched the line (“DP7”, “Mark Hazard: Mercy”, “Star Brand” among them) and by 1989 the line was dead. No one seemed to care and the New Universe faded away, until now…
Warren Ellis’s Newuniversal opens up in an Earth very much like our own, but history is different. Paul McCartney was shot instead of John Lenonn, China has an active space program and the lives of five people are about to get very interesting. Detective John Tensen of the NYPD is shot and 98% brain dead but wakes up to kill a nurse with a Kavorkian complex, Kenneth Connell and Madeline Felix are on the hunt for early civilization in Europe, Izanmi Randall struggles with her identity and Maddie and Ken from Oklahoma fall asleep in a stupor with only one of them waking up, and the other burnt to nothing more than a skeleton. Other than having weird things happen to them, these folks have one more thing in common, a strange star symbol found in various places, and so begins our story. Issue two introduces us to a drunken woman and her robot suit which doesn’t really work, which we find out is part of Project: Spitfire, a top secret joint to deal with superhumans should they ever become a threat, which seems to be happening. Izanmi Randall has made contact with the superflow, the space occupied by thought (or something like that) and found other people there (!), John Tensen and Ken from Oklahoma find themselves with superpowers and little control over them. Yeah, from last issues humble beginnings issue two comes at you like a runaway truck to say the least.
Newuniversal is off to an interesting start so far and I have to say I’m intrigued. I’ll be staying with this book for awhile, and it is definitely worth checking out.
Manhunter #26
DC Comics
Written by: Marc Adreyko
Drawn by: Javier Pina and Robin Riggs
Throughout the DCU’s history several people have taken up the guise of the Manhunter, but I’ll spare you guys from the history lesson and jump straight into the life of the current Manhunter Kate Spencer. Kate was a Los Angeles ADA who was sick of criminals getting off to soft so she stole some super villain stuff from evidence control and became a Manhunter, dealing out justice as she saw fit. Eventually she left the DA’s office and got a job with the DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations) working with her old college buddy Chase Lawler and the mysterious Mr. Bones. This current Manhunter series was almost cancelled, and it has been many months since we last saw Kate and crew (she just recently popped up as Kate Spencer in issue #100 of “Birds of Prey”). Presently Kate works with Bones as a lawyer representing Superhuman criminals, why? To get on the inside of course, but issue #24 gets real interesting when the superhuman criminal she is asked to represent is Wonder Woman (who got in a little trouble for snapping Max Lord’s neck, you know that thing that led to the whole “Infinite Crisis” debacle, check out last year in the DCU if you need clarification).
So far the new storyline has been pretty straightforward, Wonder Woman wants Kate to be her lawyer because the feds are going to prosecute her for the Murder of Max Lord (event though the world court exonerated her). As payment, Kate asks Wonder Woman to train her. Can you say, WORD? Meanwhile, an old nemesis kidnaps Chase Lawler’s sister, the some strangeness is happening in Tibet with Kate’s ex. Issue #26 has Wonder Woman jumping through the hoops of the legal system, Chase in Gotham dealing with her drama and more weirdness in Tibet (sigh). Oh yeah, and there is the matter of Blue Beetle. Yes, he was on the cover, and he shows up on the last panel (boo for the melodrama), and we are all left scratching our heads, even Dianna. Apparently Batman is guest starring in the next issue to clear everything up (yay).
Manhunter is a cool book that is well written and never really got the love it deserved. Yes, this current arc is the last arc of a book already on life support but it seems like it is going to be a doozy (and Kate is a regular now in “Birds of Prey”, so she’ll be sticking around the DCU for awhile). This book is definitely worth checking out.
Punisher War Journal #2
Marvel Comics
Written by: Matt Fraction
Drawn by: Ariel Olivetti
Back in the late ‘80’s/early ‘90’s you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting the Punisher. A character who was once a “C” lister back in the day was given a little bit of a boost Frank Miller in the early ‘80’s, and then a HUGE boost by the Mike Zeck/Jo Duffy limited series which led into the Whilce Portacio/Mike Barr series. At one point there was that series and a second series entitled “Punisher War Journal” written by Carl Potts and penciled by some forgotten guy by the name of Jim Lee and let me tell you, that book was AWESOME. Wow, Punny going up against drug dealers and doing his thing, all the while casually interacting with those members of the Marvel U he would most likely encounter, DD, Wolverine and the Black Widow to name a few. When Garth Ennis kick started the Punisher for the new millennium he wanted to move him away from the super hero stuff and make him more of a Mack Bolan type of hero (ha, anyone remember those books?). This worked out really well in the MAX world, but the powers that be decided they wanted to bring the Punisher back into the regular Marvel U thus we have a new “Punisher War Journal”, and let me tell you, it’s not so bad.
Frank Castle’s reintroduction to the Marvel U came in the last issue of “Civil War” in not-so-dramatic fashion when Frank rescued a beaten Spidey from Iron Man and his newly registered villain/heroes (jack o lantern and some other jackass). Needless to say Frank put a cap in those beyotches and took Spidey to Caps secret HQ to offer his help and whack some supervillians, and in the first issue of War Journal he was begrudgingly accepted by the resistance, for now anyway. With GW Bridge hot on his tail things really heat up in War Journal #2 when Cap strikes a deal with Frank and they get to the business of war. Of course Frank is, well, not stable to say the least and it ends badly.
I gotta say, its great to see War Journal back and kicking a$#, and Matt Fraction is doing a great job tying Frank into the Civil War, and Ariel Olivetti is one of the best new artists to come around in awhile, his Punisher and Captain America are great and he has a style that is truly his own. This book is all I had hoped it to be and give it my highest recommendation.
Another big Civil War week with the main title and crossovers into Amazing Spider-Man and Punisher War Journal. Triple Superman duty with the flagship title, Superman Confidential and All-Star Superman and The Hulk and The Thing represent on the covers of Incredible Hulk and FF: The End. All in all, a pretty good week. My pick of the week this time is a title I’m not reviewing, Amazing Spider-Man. Not to steal Kdawg’s thunder but not only does this issue give us an ending that left me holding my breath plus some great interdynamics between Spidey and Cap, who came to blows in this title just a few issues back, but Ron Ganey draws the single most frightening Kingpin this side of Frank Miller.
Civil War #6
Marvel Comics
Written by: Mark Millar
Drawn by: Steve McNiven
The penultimate chapter of this Marvel Comics Event most definitely is the calm before the storm. There literally is no conflict except within Cap’s ranks as Cap takes issue with The Punisher. Serious issue. As badly as things go for Frank in War Journal they really ratchet up a notch here. But, mostly this title demonstrates how the opposing forces have circled each other, the plans they’re making, the spies they’ve planted, plus some interesting solitary conversations that present the kind of depth I’d expect from a Mark Millar book. I’m told you’re supposed to read Punisher War Journal (see my partner’s reviews) before this one but, while it does explain how Frank gets the outfit that allow him to break into the Baxter Building, I’d say your only loss if you don’t read that book is missing out on another great book.
To begin with, Captain America and The Punisher make for uneasy allies. At least Cap is uneasy, and with good reason. We are privy to a moment between Sue Richards and Prince Namor as she beseeches his help and gets more than what she’s looking for (you go, Namor!) on the one hand but no help in Cap’s conflict. This one confused me since it was Namor who sought out T’Challa to lead a contingency, including his royal underwater self, against Iron Man’s army. So why, now, is he refusing Sue? Is this just poor continuity editing or is something else going on? Speaking of T’Challa, both he and Storm have planted themselves with Cap’s team as we know from the Black Panther’s own book. Cage and Spider-Man share a moment of friendship which I was glad to see. I remember how viciously they fought when JJJ paid Cage to take down Spidey in the issue right after Gwen and the Goblin died, and Cage’s sympathy for Peter’s trauma at the end of House of M. But between this title, Amazing Spider-Man and Punisher War Journal, someone in editorial needs to decide whether or not Cage should have facial hair! Come on guys, let’s be consistent! I was grateful to see Uatu, The Watcher, again this time speaking with and consoling Dr. Strange. And, of course, Hank Pym’s dialogue with Tony pays off big time at the end.
I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. Some will complain that it’s the prettiest comic book in which nothing really happens, and I disagree. There’s a huge amount of tension accomplished by these super chess pieces all moving into position. Seeing Reed operate on the cyborg Thor was particularly disturbing and one can only hope this character’s possible return can mean the return of the real deal. And I only hope that the big scene at the end pays off next issue. Oh, and a final word about McNiven’s art. Every panel is a thing of beauty. This guy’s art didn’t used to appeal to me. I didn’t like his work on MK4 or New Avengers, but he’s turning into another George Perez with his ability to draw an incredible number of characters all with intricate detail and portraying each individual character with his or her own unique characteristics. Love or hate the series, you’ve got to give McNiven his due for being the standout artist of the last several months.
All-Star Superman #6
DC Comics
Written by: Grant Morrison
Drawn by: Frank Quitely
Like Steve McNiven’s art (see my review, above) this title didn’t really appeal to me at first. I think because I understood it to be an iconic, fresh take on Superman uncluttered by over six decades of continuity and, so, I thought it would be everything I remembered about Superman from my past. Instead, I got two creators’ take on the character starting, as John Byrne did in the ‘80s, as if from scratch while holding certain truths about the character constant. It was their take, not my take. And I really wasn’t expecting it nor, maybe as a result, did I appreciate it. But, while sometimes it’s seemed like a trippy Superman comic on acid overdrive I finally found it to be very creative and compelling. I wasn’t ready for it in the first couple of issues but, by the fourth, I was into it and, now, I’m sold. This title recently won the prestigious Eisner Award for Best New Series and rightly so.
It’s been so long since the last issue, and this issue is such a perfectly self contained story, that it’s easy to forget the event from issue #1 that’s created Superman’s primary motivation throughout this series thus far. He’s dying. Lex Luthor has killed him by exposing his cells to the Sun at closest proximity. His powers got a huge boost but he’s deteriorating, or maybe more appropriately burning out, as well. And, so, he’s revealed his secret identity to Lois, brought her to his fortress and given her temporary superpowers for her birthday. And now we are treated to a tale of Superman’s past where we see the post high school but pre-Metropolis Clark with his parents, Lana and Pete. There are beautiful scenes of the Kent’s home, the rolling farm and the Smallville diner. And as Clark plays with Krypto, some bizarre characters, some bearing a striking resemblance to Clark, arrive to offer help with the Kent’s harvest. But a bizarre cosmic menace called Cronovore Monster has come to Smallville and The Supeman Squad, these strangers in disguise and descendants of Superman from various eras, have journeyed back through time to this time in Superman’s past to battle it. But why? Is it because Superman in his youth hadn’t absorbed enough solar energy to be powerful enough to take on this beast or is it because he’s really needed somewhere else?
The simply wonderful, quiet cover of this issue reveals this issue’s main event. A sad but thoughtful Superman stands in front of Jonathan Kent’s grave stone with his loyal dog, Krypto, by his side looking up at him. Anyone here who owns a dog knows just how right this image is. Jonathan seems to become particularly comfortable with the bandaged stranger, his face hidden, the same one who urges Clark to give up the fight with the Cronovore Monster just at the moment when Clark is needed elsewhere. And how does this stranger know? Ultimately, Morrison and Quitely have crafted a beautiful story that can also serve as a great jumping on point for readers who haven’t given this title a spin. Though I’d highly recommend those people go back to the beginning as we’re only six issues into what I hope will be a long run for this book.
The Incredible Hulk #102
Marvel Comics
Written by: Greg Pak
Drawn by: Aaron Lopresti
Up to this point The Hulk had been shot into space by the Illuminati and crashlanded on the barbaric world of Sakaar. Weakened, he was enslaved and forced to participate in gladiator games which, naturally, he won as he strength returned. Ever the anti-authoritarian brute that he is, he wore his disdain for The Red King on his sleeve. And while he allied himself with his fellow gladiators, he made an enemy of the king and his bodyguard, he very foxy Caiera. But the Hulk continued to defy the odds and defy the King. Eventually the King’s atrocities became evident even to Caiera who joined The Hulk’s side against her former master. And through it all, carrying a mad-on for Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Dr. Strange and Black Bolt, he’s used that anger to bust heads every issue and just generally do what The Incredible Hulk does best: smash his enemies. It’s been a hell of a ride so far.
Well, we’re 10 issues into Planet Hulk and it’s all led up to this point. The Incredible Hulk vs. The Red King, the man who’s made not only The Hulk’s life miserable but done so for nearly everyone on this godforsaken planet of Sakaar. In fact, as The Hulk faces down The Red King he demands that Miek, his arthropodic ally, to project the images of the King’s atrocities and murders into his mind. The result? He believes he killed them all because it was his right. His duty, and his pleasure. And The Hulk, at the end of this mad journey is prepared to turn this Planet Sakaar into Planet Hulk by beating his adversary to death. But before he can do that he has to literally save a planet, a la Superman 2, from tearing itself apart.
Greg Pak has given us a different Hulk. He’s intelligent but he’s still a brute. He is a loner but he’s also, begrudgingly, now the leader of many, of an entire planet. And while he’s always generated fear and mistrust this Hulk has inspired the fealty, admiration, respect and love of thousands, and one in particular. The love of an incredibly strong woman who once tried to kill him. Yet he’s still our surly ill tempered green goliath. There’s more Planet Hulk goodness on the way as we count down to this summer’s World War Hulk extravaganza. As psyched as I am for that, I can’t get enough of this Planet Hulk storyline.
Sam Wilson’s Reviews
This week is a “Civil War” heavy week with issue #6 out and a bunch of crossovers (my favorite being Punisher War Journal). We have another fantastic issue of Manhunter and possibly my last issue of Nightwing (c’mon DC, do something with this book already). I’ll send some special love towards Ms. Marvel since that book has really came around recently, and also declare my pick of the week to be Punisher War Journal. With that being said, on to the reviews…
Special review note: I originally planned to review “Ultimate Vision #2”, but my LCS will be receiving that book late, so I’m just doing a hasty review of Warren Ellis’s “Newuniversal”. Sorry about that folks, but it happens sometimes. Anyway…
Newuniversal #2
Marvel Comics
Written by: Warren Ellis
Drawn by: Salvador Larroca
In 1986 during Marvel’s 25th anniversary then EIC Jim Shooter gave us the “New Universe” line of comics. Set in a reality that had nothing to do with the regular Marvel U the “New Universe” was to feature stories that had little to do with aliens, gods and super-science and more “regular” types of things, stories closer to home with more believable super powers and super heroes. The series was also set to operate in “real time”, one year of comic time equaled one year of real time. Seven initial titles launched the line (“DP7”, “Mark Hazard: Mercy”, “Star Brand” among them) and by 1989 the line was dead. No one seemed to care and the New Universe faded away, until now…
Warren Ellis’s Newuniversal opens up in an Earth very much like our own, but history is different. Paul McCartney was shot instead of John Lenonn, China has an active space program and the lives of five people are about to get very interesting. Detective John Tensen of the NYPD is shot and 98% brain dead but wakes up to kill a nurse with a Kavorkian complex, Kenneth Connell and Madeline Felix are on the hunt for early civilization in Europe, Izanmi Randall struggles with her identity and Maddie and Ken from Oklahoma fall asleep in a stupor with only one of them waking up, and the other burnt to nothing more than a skeleton. Other than having weird things happen to them, these folks have one more thing in common, a strange star symbol found in various places, and so begins our story. Issue two introduces us to a drunken woman and her robot suit which doesn’t really work, which we find out is part of Project: Spitfire, a top secret joint to deal with superhumans should they ever become a threat, which seems to be happening. Izanmi Randall has made contact with the superflow, the space occupied by thought (or something like that) and found other people there (!), John Tensen and Ken from Oklahoma find themselves with superpowers and little control over them. Yeah, from last issues humble beginnings issue two comes at you like a runaway truck to say the least.
Newuniversal is off to an interesting start so far and I have to say I’m intrigued. I’ll be staying with this book for awhile, and it is definitely worth checking out.
Manhunter #26
DC Comics
Written by: Marc Adreyko
Drawn by: Javier Pina and Robin Riggs
Throughout the DCU’s history several people have taken up the guise of the Manhunter, but I’ll spare you guys from the history lesson and jump straight into the life of the current Manhunter Kate Spencer. Kate was a Los Angeles ADA who was sick of criminals getting off to soft so she stole some super villain stuff from evidence control and became a Manhunter, dealing out justice as she saw fit. Eventually she left the DA’s office and got a job with the DEO (Department of Extranormal Operations) working with her old college buddy Chase Lawler and the mysterious Mr. Bones. This current Manhunter series was almost cancelled, and it has been many months since we last saw Kate and crew (she just recently popped up as Kate Spencer in issue #100 of “Birds of Prey”). Presently Kate works with Bones as a lawyer representing Superhuman criminals, why? To get on the inside of course, but issue #24 gets real interesting when the superhuman criminal she is asked to represent is Wonder Woman (who got in a little trouble for snapping Max Lord’s neck, you know that thing that led to the whole “Infinite Crisis” debacle, check out last year in the DCU if you need clarification).
So far the new storyline has been pretty straightforward, Wonder Woman wants Kate to be her lawyer because the feds are going to prosecute her for the Murder of Max Lord (event though the world court exonerated her). As payment, Kate asks Wonder Woman to train her. Can you say, WORD? Meanwhile, an old nemesis kidnaps Chase Lawler’s sister, the some strangeness is happening in Tibet with Kate’s ex. Issue #26 has Wonder Woman jumping through the hoops of the legal system, Chase in Gotham dealing with her drama and more weirdness in Tibet (sigh). Oh yeah, and there is the matter of Blue Beetle. Yes, he was on the cover, and he shows up on the last panel (boo for the melodrama), and we are all left scratching our heads, even Dianna. Apparently Batman is guest starring in the next issue to clear everything up (yay).
Manhunter is a cool book that is well written and never really got the love it deserved. Yes, this current arc is the last arc of a book already on life support but it seems like it is going to be a doozy (and Kate is a regular now in “Birds of Prey”, so she’ll be sticking around the DCU for awhile). This book is definitely worth checking out.
Punisher War Journal #2
Marvel Comics
Written by: Matt Fraction
Drawn by: Ariel Olivetti
Back in the late ‘80’s/early ‘90’s you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting the Punisher. A character who was once a “C” lister back in the day was given a little bit of a boost Frank Miller in the early ‘80’s, and then a HUGE boost by the Mike Zeck/Jo Duffy limited series which led into the Whilce Portacio/Mike Barr series. At one point there was that series and a second series entitled “Punisher War Journal” written by Carl Potts and penciled by some forgotten guy by the name of Jim Lee and let me tell you, that book was AWESOME. Wow, Punny going up against drug dealers and doing his thing, all the while casually interacting with those members of the Marvel U he would most likely encounter, DD, Wolverine and the Black Widow to name a few. When Garth Ennis kick started the Punisher for the new millennium he wanted to move him away from the super hero stuff and make him more of a Mack Bolan type of hero (ha, anyone remember those books?). This worked out really well in the MAX world, but the powers that be decided they wanted to bring the Punisher back into the regular Marvel U thus we have a new “Punisher War Journal”, and let me tell you, it’s not so bad.
Frank Castle’s reintroduction to the Marvel U came in the last issue of “Civil War” in not-so-dramatic fashion when Frank rescued a beaten Spidey from Iron Man and his newly registered villain/heroes (jack o lantern and some other jackass). Needless to say Frank put a cap in those beyotches and took Spidey to Caps secret HQ to offer his help and whack some supervillians, and in the first issue of War Journal he was begrudgingly accepted by the resistance, for now anyway. With GW Bridge hot on his tail things really heat up in War Journal #2 when Cap strikes a deal with Frank and they get to the business of war. Of course Frank is, well, not stable to say the least and it ends badly.
I gotta say, its great to see War Journal back and kicking a$#, and Matt Fraction is doing a great job tying Frank into the Civil War, and Ariel Olivetti is one of the best new artists to come around in awhile, his Punisher and Captain America are great and he has a style that is truly his own. This book is all I had hoped it to be and give it my highest recommendation.