As Johnny Carson used to say, “We are back!” Since wktf’s reviews went first last time, let’s start with Sam Wilson’s reviews this time. As before, please don’t be shy about letting us know what you think.
Sam Wilson’s Reviews
Age of Apocalypse one shot
Written by: Scott Lobdell, Tony Bedard and Larry Hamma
Drawn By: Alvin Lee, Paco Medina and Talent Caldwell
Age of Apocalypse limited series (1 of 6)
Written By: Akira Yoshida
Drawn By: Chris Bachalo
Okay, those of us who have been with the X-men for awhile remember 10 years ago when the powers that be at Marvel decided to cancel all the X-titles for a few months, and replace them with “What If” type stories. Gambit and the X-ternals, the X-Man, the astonishing X-men ect. The story was simple enough, Professor X’s crazy biological son Gabrielle Haller went back in time to when Xavier and Magneto (then just Erik Lencher) were buds hanging out and whacked Xavier, leaving the X-men to be founded by Magneto. Without Xavier around, the mutant threat known as Apocalypse (there were big into subtlety in the mid-nineties) came to power and ruled the Earth, rounding up humans and placing them in internment camps to be killed or used as slave labor. Magneto founded the X-men to combat Apocalypse and end the tyranny. Everything was turned upside down. The Beast was now Dark Beast, and worked for Apocalypse, as did Cyclops. Wolverine was with Jean Gray, and he and Cyclops had a fight that left Cyclops a true Cyclops and Wolverine with only one hand. It was pretty sweet. People dug it. It sold well.
Now Marvel wants to revisit that idea with two bookend titles and one limited series. I’ll start off by saying this, “I was underwhelmed”.
First, I like the Magna style art, but sometimes it doesn’t work. In Bachalo’s title the panels were so busy I could hardly tell what was going on. The story didn’t really thrill me either. Humans and mutants are now living together on earth, and the X-men are still around to police up the rogue mutants who were loyal to Apocalypse. During the whole time when I was reading this book I got the sinking Yoshida was just going to reverse what happened in the original Age of Apocalypse.
The bookend title, with the three stories, just gave a recap of the original age of Apocalypse. Unless you’re a fan of the creative teams, I wouldn’t bother with this book. I would have to put both of these books in the pile of “books I only buy one issue of and never look at again”. Save your money folks, hold on to your positive memories of a once innovative concept.
Shanna The She Devil (2 of 7)
Written By: Frank Cho
Drawn By: Frank Cho
Shanna the she-devil is a story about a group of soldiers trapped in some remote location teeming with dinosaurs where they stumble upon an old Nazi lab. Apparently the Nazi’s were trying to develop the ultimate porn star, but had to abandon ship for some reason or another. After some tinkering, our porn star awakes and we get to see how she interacts with our soldiers and the dinosaurs.
First let me say this is not your father's Shanna (unless your dad was a dirty, dirty old man). Shanna is all about exploitation. Ass, titties, it’s all there. At one point a soldier takes advantage of Shanna’s naiveté and has her do some jumping jacks. Furie, if you are not reading this book you should.
Cho’s art is gorgeous, and voluptuous, and sensual…
Seriously, it’s pretty good. The story is fairly interesting too. But I’m pretty sure this book is about one thing (well, two if you count T and A as two separate things). Cho is definitely showcasing what he is good at, the female form. I mean seriously, I’m not going to sit here and say how the story is well paced and the dialogue is fresh, sure it’s true, but just look at the covers. If your looking for comic book T and A, you’ll find it right here. It’s safe to say I will be completing this limited series. And I think the rest of you should give it a look also. Or several looks, or look at it in the privacy of your bathroom…
Captain America and the Falcon #13
Written By: Christopher Priest
Drawn By: Dan Jurgens
This book is my pick of the week. Yeah, I know my alter ego is the same as the Falcon’s, but that is not the only reason this is my pick. It’s Christopher Priest.
In my opinion Christopher Priest is one of the most underappreciated writers in comics. I’ve been reading his stuff for the last 20 years, back in the ‘80’s when he did Power Man/Iron Fist and the Falcon limited series under the name Jim Owsley. One may also remember the Spider Man/Wolverine one shot, the one where the Hobgoblin got whacked, he wrote that also. Priest has always given street cred to anything he writes, he has an Elmore Leanord like gift for writing dialogue and setting up a realistic scene.
That’s why it breaks my heart there is only one more issue of Cap and Falc, but hopefully Falc will get his own series and we’ll be all good. At least it lasted longer than the vastly underrated “Crew”, which only went about 8 issues. This issue brings us to a head with the anti cap story line, and the ongoing tension between Steve Rodgers and Sam Wilson. Priest knows how to work the drama, you can tell he is speaking from personal experience with some of the scenes he sets up. Jurgen’s art is fine also. I’m not a big fan of his, but he suffices (to me this book is more about the story). Give this book a chance. Pick up some of the back issues. You won’t be disappointed.
For wktf's reviews, check out Part II of this thread!
http://www.statueforum.com/showthread.php?t=6978
