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Posted on May 14, 2006 - 09:07 PM by Admin |
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It’s the showdown that couldn’t be avoided. The debut of an earth-shattering comic book event collides with the end of one of the biggest events to ever hit Comicdom! It’s Civil War #1 vs. Infinite Crisis #7, and we reveal which book comes out on top! Plus, on the undercard, Making The Grade reviews of 52 #1, the end of the MC-2 Universe in Last Planet Standing #1, the return of the most unexpected character in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #8, another surprising return in Outsiders #36, and a whole lot more! Read on and find out which comic books are Making The Grade this time around!
Infinite Crisis #7 (DC) vs. Civil War #1 (Marvel) -
Okay. I know it and you know it. It’s not really fair comparing these two books. But I know it and you know it. It has and it will inevitably happen. After all, these are two of the biggest events to hit Comicdom in decades. And, almost as if DC and Marvel were begging for a comparison, both books were released on the very same day.
Perhaps the biggest reason why these two books shouldn’t be compared is the fact that one - Infinite Crisis #7 - is the end of a colossal event, while Civil War #1 is the beginning of another. However, one could easily say that Infinite Crisis #7 is also a new beginning to even more colossal events in the DC Universe…so I guess that makes the comparison fair game.
Let me say right up front that both books were great reads. Let me also say that neither book is perfect, but both books do flirt with comic book perfection.
Now, I am neither Marvel or DC biased. I read an equal amount of comic books from both publishers on any given month. True, it was Marvel that introduced me to comics at a very young age with books like the Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man, but it was DC and the Batman “A Death In The Family” storyline that brought me back to comics when I thought I had left them behind for good. So for all intents and purposes, both Marvel and DC hold special places in my comic-book-loving heart.
With that out of the way, allow me to tackle Infinite Crisis #7 first. Oh, and be prepared for spoilers from here on out.
Throughout Infinite Crisis, writer Geoff Johns seemed to be playing a game of one-upmanship with each new issue. However, the events of Infinite Crisis #6 would be hard to top. After all, that’s when secrets and villains were revealed and when we had our big, meaningful death with the loss of Superboy. So, what does Johns do for an encore? Well, he delivers a book that is not quite as powerful as the previous issue, but still serves as a strong finish to a strong miniseries/event.
Going into this issue, there were a few things I was already certain about. The first and foremost certainty I had was that after the Multiverse was wiped out in favor of a single “New Earth”, there was no way that DC would allow TWO Supermen to exist in the same universe. So, I knew that Earth-2 Superman was about to take a super-dirtnap, I just wasn’t sure how.
But that’s actually one of this issue’s major strengths.
As a true blue Comic Fanatic, I couldn’t help but get goosebumps seeing TWO Supermen going toe to toe with the villain who “killed” Superman, Doomsday! It is without a doubt one of the greatest scenes to ever appear in a comic book.
The whole “New Earth” thing is a good thing…I think. At first, I liked the idea of giving the DCU creators carte blanche without the restrictions of many years of continuity by more or less wiping the slate clean with this New Earth. Now, if a creator doesn’t like something - for instance, the death of Jason Todd - viola! With New Earth, that can be rectified immediately! Already in this issue, we see the return of characters long thought dead, like Doomsday and Bane.
Then again, this slate cleaning totally spits in the face of continuity, by creating a floating continuity that can be altered at will. Those meaningful issues from days gone by - for instance, the Batman “A Death In The Family” issues - are no longer meaningful. Heck, by now, the “death” of Superman in Superman #75 is a bargain bin book! Found one just this past weekend for a quarter at a flea market. Now, my son has his own copy of what was once an expensive, epic, meaningful book to his dad.
The jury is still out on the whole New Earth thing. There are many things I like about it, such as a not-quite-as-dark Dark Knight…and there are things I don’t like - for instance, if this is a “new” and perfect Earth, why is there not a Superboy in it. Oh…I see. We’ve retconned all of that into Superman’s history now.
And I mentioned that this book wasn’t perfect. Well, apparently on New Earth, the word “spellcasters” has been replaced with “sepllcasters.” Apparently, an editor was lost in the whole Multiverse merging thing…
Then there’s that two page spread everyone has been talking about. You know the one…the two pages with the uninked background that I have now heard was an “artistic choice”. I’m sorry. Artistic choice or not, it looks plain sloppy, in a miniseries that had up until this point looked epic in every sense of the word.
Oh, and one more glaring glitch. Superman charging into battle saying, “Like hell!”? I don’t think so. One of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen in a DC comic book. I’m also writing off this uncharacteristic behavior as Multiverse-merging-lag.
For the most part, Infinite Crisis #7 wraps things up nice and neat. We are treated to a touching scene showing us the fate of Earth-2 Superman and his wife Lois Lane. A shocking new Flash is introduced, as an equally shocking Flash passes the mantle. And if you were like me and wondering where in the heck the Joker has been during all of this, one of the greatest epilogues in comic book history should please you! I have to admit sadistically that I laughed out loud at this one!
Perhaps the biggest nagging question for me is what happened to the crew of DC superheroes in space. Those characters weren’t even seen here, and their fate after the Multiverse merging is still in question.
Artistically, as mentioned above, this is the weakest issue of the miniseries. While all artists involved are legends or should-be-legends, the artistic changes within this issue just didn’t seem to flow too well.
Still, despite the flaws, this was another white-knuckled page turner that I honestly didn’t want to see end so soon. Like the original Crisis, I think I could have handled at least 5 more issues!
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Now, on to Civil War #1…
Right off the bat, one thing ruined the biggest impact of this book…that dang preview in Wizard. If I had never seen that preview of what sets the wheels in motion in this issue, this book would have been a complete jaw-dropper. Still, even with the big bang - pardon the pun - revealed in Wizard, this was a stunning opening chapter to what should be the most stunning event to ever rip through the Marvel Universe.
Writer Mark Millar grabs the reader from the opening moments of the New Warriors’ reality TV taping gone bad, and he refuses to let up until the shocking last page with three of Marvel’s smartest superheroes vowing to take care of Captain America!
In case you have been living under a rock, the government has been trying to pass a resolution that would force superheroes to go legit. The heroes would unmask, reveal their identities and become paid employees like policemen. When the New Warriors inadvertently cause the villain Nitro to blow up a playground filled with children, the proposal all but becomes law immediately!
With those kind of cards laid out on the table, it’s easy to see why such a proposal would be made. And Millar does an excellent job of putting the reader into the mindsets of the pros and cons of the would-be law.
From there, it becomes challenging - and a little fun - to debate and decide whose side you would take. On the one hand, folks like Reed Richards have no secret identity and would have no objection to the action. But on the other hand, folks like Spider-Man have a secret identity to protect their private lives and loved ones. If a hated adversary found out Spider-Man’s true identity, they wouldn’t hesitate to strike at him where it hurts the most - through his wife and aunt.
And you would think that Captain America would have no trouble with something the government wanted to do. But this is where Millar reminds the reader that Cap is a man of the American people…not just their leaders. And when Cap’s hand is forced, he has no choice but to lead the opposition!
Yeah, I have already chosen my side. But I have this feeling that Millar will continue to show both sides of this issue as we go along, and he will have me flip-flopping like a fish out of water with each new issue! Millar already has me wavering simply because Spider-Man made a promise to the man on the other side of Cap’s opposition, Tony Stark. However, Millar hasn’t revealed his hand here, and we are still left wondering if Spider-Man will honor his word or do the natural thing and protect his family.
Now, I mentioned that this book wasn’t perfect either…so let’s get to that.
Millar’s Captain America often comes across like the Cap he is used to writing over in the pages of The Ultimates. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, it is a little jarring in places. However, Millar redeems himself with a true 616 Cap-ism - that disappointedly happens completely off panel - as he reveals how Cap finished off a “jet-jacking.”
The other slight imperfection came from a weird sense of deja vu that I had when Cap battled his way off of a S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier. Oh, yeah…I remember now…didn’t Wolverine do the very same thing to kick off the last big Marvel event, “House Of M”?
Millar makes these gaffes miniscule compared to the epic story he lays out and the wonderful things he does with this story. Take notice of how easily Millar shows us a cohesive Marvel Universe as rarely seen characters like Goliath and Nighthawk (rarely seen, unless you have been reading New Thunderbolts, like I have every month!) show up to work alongside the Marvel heroes we see on a regular basis. And notice how easily Millar makes you hate Nick Fury’s replacement in S.H.I.E.L.D, Director Hill.
Politics aside - and it’s not the place for me to say whether I support our President or not - it was refreshing to see a comic book writer portray the President as something other than a totally helpless moron for once.
Artistically, Civil War #1 is a joy to behold from beginning to end. Steve McNiven delivers the best work of his stellar career, packing each panel with an incredible amount of emotion not usually seen in any comic book. And - if you skipped the variant covers, like I did - you’ll notice that McNiven and Marvel deliver a wraparound cover that sets this book apart as something special, although you have to be careful not to get anything on all of that white on the cover. A real epic in the making. DC would have been wise to wrap up Infinite Crisis with some special wrap around cover, simply to add more detail to the many characters illustrated on the cover.
Civil War #1 is by no means a bright, optimistic tale. To be quite honest, this book is rather dark and depressing, but the promise of what’s to come is simply to0 irresistible to pass up.
Each book is suggested for teen readers and up due to violence and language.
So…which book came out on top…Final grades are as follows:
Infinite Crisis #7 -
Overall grade = A
Civil War #1 -
Overall grade = A+
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The Undercard:
52 #1 (DC) -
Okay. Coming out on a weekly basis - if all goes according to plan - will make it tough to review every single issue of this series, but I at least wanted to comment on the very first issue.
Taking place immediately after the events of Infinite Crisis #7, this series will fill in each week of the year between that book and the “One Year Later” books. So far? We’re off to a decent start.
I will say this right off the bat, something felt a little off about this book. It had a DC Universe Lite feel to it. Then it hit me…Writers Geoff Johns, Grant Morrison, Greg Rucka and Mark Waid do such a good job of conveying the fact that this is now a world without the big three - Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman - that the reader can actually feel it!
For all intents and purposes, this is a Booster Gold book. Sure, there are other characters featured here, but Booster owns this issue. Returning from the future with a new look straight out of NASCAR, Booster is armed with the knowledge of the future - including the lost year that will play out in this series - and a desire to be a big time hero. But you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men…
Booster’s time to shine in the spotlight takes a major blow when his source of information on the future crashes, and the future he believed to be true - including his induction into the new Justice League - begins to unravel.
Elsewhere, more heroes step up to fill the void, others are brought back down to earth, while still others aren’t even aware of the role they are about to play in the DCU.
Steel fans will rejoice to see John Henry Irons grabbing his share of the spotlight, although his niece may not be ready for the big time just yet. Meanwhile, the villainous Black Adam may have more noble aspirations after Infinite Crisis, and Renee Montoya is about to come face to face with one of the more mysterious characters in the DCU.
Then there’s the heartbreaking Elongated Man…
Still reeling from the loss of his wife, Ralph Dibny is drowning in a pool of sorrow. The reader can’t help but feel his sadness, especially when it is brought to life so tragically well by artists Joe Bennett and Keith Giffen. But it’s Ralph that provides one of the major hooks that will bring you back for the coming weeks when he receives a most shocking phone call…
I only had one major problem with this issue - the memorial for Superboy. While we are treated to a fair showing of which heroes remain alive in the DCU, this was an event I expected more out of. It’s not like any of the other DCU books are going to be showing the memorial in more detail - at least for the next year. I just thought that the death of Superboy deserved more than just 4 or 5 pages, and to be used as a backdrop at that.
Suggested for teen readers and up due to language and violence.
Overall grade = A-
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Last Planet Standing #1 (Marvel) -
I can’t begin to tell you how much I loved this book! In fact, I can’t begin to tell you how much I love the entire MC-2 Universe. I have been a faithful follower of the only surviving MC-2 title - Spider-Girl - but I sure miss those other books and characters from that glorious old-school style universe. So this book was a much welcomed addition to my weekly stack, despite the very real possibility that it could carry with it the death knell of the MC-2 Universe.
The brilliant Tom DeFalco, Pat Olliffe and Scott Koblish join forces to deliver an old-school, universe-shaking epic the likes of which hasn’t been seen near often enough in Comicdom. All your favorites are here - although some may not last long! The Fantastic Five, the Avengers (the new crew and some old favorites!), the Shi’ar, Galactus, Spider-Girl and more! This is an adventure that plays out from one end of the MC-2 Universe to the other!
It’s no big secret that the big threat here is the hungrier-than-Oprah Galactus. DeFalco, Olliffe and Koblish treat us to an all new herald for the big purple man…the deadly, slightly-Annihilus-looking Dominas the Wavemaster. And where Dominas goes, Galactus follows…and so does complete death and destruction! And one of the big G’s first stops? The Shi’ar Empire! And his next stop? Asgard! And you just know that Earth is next on that list!
However, Galactus isn’t hitting the planet buffet line this time for sheer hunger. Galactus has a new, very intriguing reason for his recent dash and dine…
What we have here is a comic book that is simply a lot of fun…the way more comic books should be! Action-packed from cover to cover and overflowing with characters and old-school goodness, this issue makes me wish we had more books like this one on the shelves today…books like the ones I used to read when I was my son’s age! Books that truly turned me on and hooked me on the greatest hobby in the world!
Books that I could hand off to my son - a new generation of comic book readers - and let him discover for himself just how great this hobby truly is!
Here’s to hoping that Last Planet Standing will not result in the MC-2 Universe no longer standing! I’m already losing Spider-Girl in a few months…don’t let me lose the entire MC-2 Universe, too!
Suggested for all ages!
Overall grade = A+
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Vampire Free Style #1 (Neptune Factory) -
Now, you may not have ever heard of this book before…but you will. And normally I don’t do this, but at the end of this review, I’m going to post a link to the place where you can find this book, because I think this book is just that good.
There are several things about this book that will stand out in your mind as you are reading it and - more importantly - long after you’ve put it down. First and foremost, there is the creator: Jenika Ioffreda. With such an unforgettable and - yeah - cool name, Ioffreda could rest on her name alone for recognition, but this is a creator who is much more than a namesake.
Ioffreda handles the art and the writing on this digest-sized gem. Let’s get to the art first, since that is what caught my attention first. Ioffreda has a smooth style that can range from the lifelike to the cartoony on the same panel. And Ioffreda truly brings her characters to life by packing tons of emotion into her art. This is a book that will make you laugh and get misty-eyed from the art alone…but then there’s the story.
Ioffreda delivers a heartbreaking gothic fairy tale of a “prince” who has lost his “princess” and doesn’t know why. Trying to pick up the pieces and move on, this “prince” finds a new companion of sorts with a mysterious black cat he later names Micia. And as we soon discover, there is much more to this creature - and the “prince” - than first meets the eye.
Don’t let the title of this one fool you. This is not a horror tale. In fact, at this point, I can’t even tell you how the “vampire” fits into Vampire Free Style…yet. This is a touching, magical tale that begs to be told, brought to life by some of the freshest art I have seen in ages. Two simple lines bring this book to a close: “…once upon a dream. Now we have only to draw it.” Here’s to hoping that Ioffreda draws and writes the rest of this tale soon!
Check out Vampire Free Style yourself by visiting Neptune Factory.Com.
Suggested for readers ages 9 and up.
Overall grade = A
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X-Men: Deadly Genesis #6 (Marvel) -
This is a miniseries that has thrilled me from beginning to end. Sure, it has taken its fair share of lumps around the internet, but as a lifelong X-fan, I feel much of this criticism and disdain was not deserved.
Writer Ed Brubaker seems to be making a habit of taking well-known characters, shaking things up and stunning the comic-book-loving world in the process. He’s been doing it in the pages of Captain America, he began his stint on Daredevil the same way, and this miniseries has been no exception.
Everyone seems to be talking about Brubaker’s big revelation of the third Summers brother. Rather than the fan-favorite Gambit or the long-suspected Adam-X, the third Summers brother turned out to be a totally unknown character, introduced for the first time in this miniseries.
Now, it was the “new” X-Men that really made me a fan of this team. I still remember the first time I read the classic issue with the “new” team rescuing the “old” squad on that living island. With that in mind, I can proudly say that Brubaker hasn’t wiped out a great story and piece of X-Men history…he has simply enriched it and the characters involved.
In this issue, Brubaker - via the stunning art of Trevor Hairsine and Scott Hanna - shows us what REALLY happened all those years ago on Krakoa. The true shocking events of that day were kept a secret thanks to Professor Xavier, who is cast in an all new, not so favorable light after the revelations in this issue.
Brubaker lays all the cards out on the table here. We are treated to the shocking, full story of what really happened on that dark day in X-Men history…a day made even darker now. Brubaker even covers all the bases when it comes to the third Summers brother, Vulcan. From his birth to how he survived on Krakoa, Brubaker reveals all here…and it works. This X-fan got a great sense of closure and has begun to look even more forward to Brubaker’s upcoming stint on Uncanny X-Men.
Getting back to the Professor X thing. Brubaker delivered a shocker at the end of the previous issue by revealing that Professor X was much less than he once was. And the shocks don’t end there. X-fans will be rocked to the core of their very being by the revelations of Charles Xavier’s actions in this issue. Brubaker takes the kindly professor and shows us that he is a real rat b*st*rd! And Brubaker saves an equally big stunner for the end of this issue when Scott Summers confronts Xavier. It’s here that you begin to see how much Scott has grown over the years, and you begin to wonder if the pupil has suddenly become the teacher!
Then there’s Vulcan…
Brubaker has truly created one of the biggest threats - or could he be an ally? - the X-Men have ever known. We get to see a great example of just how powerful the third Summers brother is in this issue when he goes toe to toe with the X-Men’s elite! This alone has me highly anticipating what Brubaker has planned for this character and his run on Uncanny X-Men!
But Brubaker doesn’t stop there…
It seems that Vulcan wasn’t the only member of the lost squad of X-Men to survive Krakoa. And one of those characters BEGINS to make a new appearance in this very issue. A new member for one of the X-Men teams, perhaps? Quite possible!
A must-have for every X-fan! A stunning conclusion to an epic chapter in X-Men lore!
Suggested for teen readers and up due to violence and language.
Overall grade = A+
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War Of The Worlds: Second Wave #2 (Boom! Studios) -
There are two big reasons why you must not miss this issue! I’ll get to the second reason later…
The first reason? While it may honestly be the first of its kind, War Of The Worlds: Second Wave is without a doubt the greatest sci-fi/survival epic you’ll ever read! This is the alien invasion that never ends…but it’s also more. It’s a story of the survivors, and writer Michael Alan Nelson drives that point home big time in this issue.
Immediately following the events of the first Martian invasion, the Earth is attacked by a second wave of Martians who apparently aren’t as susceptible to harm as the first wave. With chaos all around, Miles and his best friend Duke go on the run, looking for safety…but instead they have a close encounter with the ticked-off-at-being-shot kind!
Nelson endears Miles to the reader as the heart of this tale, although not quite the picture perfect hero/leader. Miles’ past isn’t that rosy, but that’s what makes this character all the more human and believable.
And you can only imagine that this deep characterization is just beginning, as Miles and Duke meet a trio of fellow survivors in this issue. Well, at least there will be characterizations for those who survive the eerie surprise on the last page!
Give artist Chee big props. Chee brings Nelson’s incredible story to life in the best Hollywood summer blockbuster fashion. This one is a real page turner, especially when one of the Tripods touches down and goes after Duke and Miles, after their less than gracious welcome. And no artist in the industry illustrates a car wreck scene better than Chee! Check out the amazing detail as the Tripod slices Duke’s pickup in half!
Forget that couch-hopping fruit loop’s so-called summer blockbuster! I’m saving the price of a movie ticket, popping me some microwave popcorn, kicking back and enjoying my own summer blockbuster right here for the bargain price of $2.99! Bring on the next showing…err…issue!
Oh, and I mentioned another reason not to miss this book…
Keeping us in the mindset of a Hollywood blockbuster, we get previews of coming attractions! The fine folks at Boom! Studios provide us with a sneak preview to the new Christopher Golden/Tom Sniegoski book called Talent. You read it here first - Sleeper Hit Of The Year!! If you haven’t already preordered this book, run - don’t walk - to your comic book store and order it now!
If you are a fan of the hit TV series “Lost” like I am, you will LOVE this book! From the 9 pages previewed here, I simply can’t wait to read more! The premise? A plane crashes, and only one man survives. This man - Nicholas Dane - shows David Blaine how it’s really done by surviving aboard the downed plane - UNDERWATER! - for 12 hours! But, believe it or not, that’s not the most amazing thing about this survivor!
Suggested for teen readers and up due to violence and language.
Overall grade = A
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STOP THE PRESSES MAKING THE GRADE REVIEW!!
Talent #1 (Boom! Studios) -
I wrote the previous review late Friday afternoon at the “real job”, without the knowledge that I would be seeing the full issue of Talent #1 until at least the following Comic Book Wednesday. The next day, I had a radio station remote broadcast to do, so it was late in the afternoon before I was able to gather up that day’s mail. Imagine my surprise when I went through the mail, only to discover that there was a copy of Talent #1 right there on my desk!
Needless to say, the excitement overcame me. I dropped everything I was supposed to be doing and dove right into this much-anticipated book, only to discover that the amazing 9-page preview found in the pages of War Of The Worlds: Second Wave #2 didn’t do the full issue justice! The preview was incredible, but the full issue was simply astounding!
As mentioned above, Talent #1 revolves around Nicholas Dane, a miraculous survivor of a plane crash…a place crash that kills every other passenger, but Dane manages to survive, despite being underwater for nearly half a day!
Instead of accepting Dane’s survival as a modern day miracle, the media and government officials begin to suggest that the only way for Dane to survive in the manner that he did would be if he was actually involved with the plane crash! In the matter of moments, Dane goes from being blessed to being a terrorist! But, believe it or not, that’s the least of Dane’s worries!
Mysterious forces have taken notice of Dane’s miracle, and now they are out to silence him once and for all! So, it’s a good thing that Dane is much more than he was before he sat foot onboard Atlantic Flight 654! That’s where the “talent” comes in, and that’s also the BIG hook that will bring you back for each new issue!
Writers Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski are two of the most underrated and talented writers in all of Comicdom, and Talent #1 is a grand example as to why. Golden and Sniegoski grab you from the opening panel and refuse to let you go until issue’s end. Along the way, Talent #1 moves like a breakneck Hollywood thriller in the vein of TV’s “Lost”, all brought to life by the dark, moody art of Paul Azaceta.
A stronger, more addictive debut issue I haven’t read! I said it above and I’ll say it once more - Sleeper Hit Of The Year, right here!
Suggested for teen readers and up due to violence and language.
Overall grade = A+
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Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2 (Marvel) -
Sure, all the talk in Comicdom right now concerns either a Crisis or a Civil War. However, there is an equally big event playing out in the Marvel Universe called Annihilation!
Make no mistake about it, Marvel is giving their cosmic characters their just due and then some in Annihilation. Point of fact, this Silver Surfer miniseries is without a doubt the best Silver Surfer comics to hit a spinner rack in a decade or more! Writer Keith Giffen is delivering MY Silver Surfer and then some!
Minor spoiler…
The culprit behind the devastating Annihilation Wave has been revealed to be none other than the Fantastic Four’s Negative Zone baddie known as Annihilus. The creepy villain - made even creepier and more powerful by Giffen - has his reasons for this unorthodox invasion of the Cosmic Marvel Universe…and that reason is revealed in these very pages to none other than another would-be universe conqueror…Thanos!
Giffen also reveals in this issue that Annihilus is after the Power Cosmic…something that each of Galactus’ former and present heralds all possess…including the Silver Surfer himself! Look for surprising appearances in this issue by characters like Firelord (looking slightly different and even more powerful, thanks to artist Renato Arlem), Terrax the Tamer, Red Shift and Galactus’ latest herald, Stardust! Oh, and look for the big purple man himself! And one of these powerhouses falls to Annihilus’ forces!
Giffen is laying out a grand space epic in the same vein of a Star Wars blockbuster. Many of my favorite characters are showing up and playing major roles again. And there are quite a few characters that have me guessing…not completely sure what role they will be playing in this epic event. I’m still not sure which characters will survive the Annihilation…but you can bet that I’ll be here until this ride comes to an end!
Suggested for readers ages 9 and up due to mild violence.
Overall grade = A+
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Combo Review!
Catwoman #53 & #54 (DC) -
Here’s one I have to fully credit to our resident DC Professor, Jeff Hall. I haven’t read an issue of Catwoman in a long time, but this was a book that Jeff followed before and into “One Year Later.” And Jeff didn’t hesitate to suggest that this should be a book that I at least check out. What can I say, but…WOW! What a difference “one year later” makes!
Spoilers ahead…
Imagine my surprise when Jeff told me that Selina Kyle was no longer Catwoman. Why that’s almost blasphemous! Selina is and has always been one of my favorite characters, whether as a villain or a vigilante! But the surprises didn’t end there. In fact, a new Catwoman was merely the tip of the iceberg!
Three pages into Catwoman #53 and writer Will Pfeifer and artists David and Alvaro Lopez had me hooked when I was treated to the stunning shot of Selina giving birth to a baby girl! WHA?!! Selina was pregnant?! And the question on every DCU Comic Fanatic’s lips is WHO is the father!?!
If you are picking up these two issues hoping for that answer - like I foolishly did, forget it! Pfeifer isn’t talking…yet. However, what this writer is doing is drawing you into one incredible page-turner. And you can bet this one is getting added to my pull list!
Oh, as for the identity of the new Catwoman, Pfeifer gives us another treat by utilizing one of my favorite supporting characters from when I had last read this book - young Holly, who suddenly doesn’t seem so young anymore! Watching a lesser experienced Catwoman in action and learning the ropes as she goes along gives this book an all-new, irresistible dynamic.
And if you have been a Catwoman fan for any length of time, brace yourself for an even bigger shock - a not-so-shapely Selina Kyle realistically rendered as a mother who has just given birth.
The moneyshot? In issue #53, Selina is paid a nighttime visit by a certain Dark Knight, who brings his own private baby shower. A truly touching, heartfelt scene that will further fuel the speculation as to who baby Helena’s father really is.
And that name…Helena? A real tip of the hat to us older DCU fans who remember the pre-Crisis On Infinite Earths’ Huntress.
Suggested for teen readers and up due to language and violence.
Overall grade = A
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Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #8 (Marvel) -
If you haven’t already read this issue, be aware that this review will be jam-packed with spoilers.
Over the past year or so, both Marvel and DC have proven me wrong when I said that certain characters could NOT successfully be brought back from the comic-book grave. DC turned the trick by bringing back Jason Todd as the new Red Hood and now the second Nightwing. However, Marvel went one better and stunned the entire comic-book-loving world by doing the unthinkable…bringing back Captain America’s long-dead partner Bucky as Cap’s deadly new adversary known as the Winter Soldier.
With that said, there is really only one other character who should be considered untouchable when it comes to resurrections…Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben. After all, it was Ben Parker’s death that more or less shaped Peter into the man he is today, both as Peter Parker and as Spider-Man. So…no way and no how would Marvel ever dare disturb Uncle Ben’s eternal rest, right? Right??!
Brace yourselves…Uncle Ben is back…with a twist!
It should be no secret from the advance solicitations and even this issue’s cover that a Hobgoblin is returning to make Peter’s life miserable. The mention of Hobby’s name alone caught my interest, simply because Hobgoblin has always been one of my favorite villains and to be honest, he has been absent from Spider-Man comic books for far too long.
Now, while the “original” Hobgoblin has been showing up in the alternate universe adventures of Spider-Girl recently, the Hobgoblin making an appearance here is a totally new character…because he is the Hobgoblin of the year 2211! And while it isn’t fully explained yet, one can only assume it is because of this Hobgoblin that an Uncle Ben from an alternate universe is now alive and well in the Marvel 616 Universe!
Writer Peter David delivers some of his strongest writing to date - including his impressive work over in the pages of Marvel’s X-Factor. David delivers what at first appears to be a dream sequence, in what is actually the story of Peter Parker in Ben’s alternate universe. With some shades of Spider-Man: House Of M, David goes one better and gives us an emotional roller coaster ride that finds Aunt May dead in this universe, and Ben raising Peter to the best of his abilities. However, the Peter Parker of this universe doesn’t exactly follow the path taken by his 616 counterpart…and the results are shocking and heart wrenching, to say the least.
Keep a box of Kleenex handy for this one! David tugs at the heartstrings, from Ben’s confusion and desire to see his wife again to May’s belief that she has seen her long-dead husband on the streets of New York.
I’m looking forward to where this one is going, and honestly have no clue as to whether Ben will stick around or not. All I know is that there has never been a better time to be a Spider-Man fan, nor a fan of writer Peter David!
Suggested for readers ages 9 and up due to mild language.
Overall grade = A
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Outsiders #36 (DC) -
What a difference two issues make…
Aside from the stunning art of Matthew Clark and Art Thibert, the first two “One Year Later” issues of Outsiders were almost unreadable. Simply horrible. In fact, art aside, the only two reasons I kept this title in my “pull stack” was because I was interested in seeing how this new team of Outsiders worked together…and because at least writer Judd Winick was giving us a Nightwing that resembled the real Nightwing, rather than those two jokes in Nightwing’s own series.
However, the tide turns with this issue…and business picks up big time!
Sure, the Outsiders are still in Africa, but - as indicated by this issue’s cover - this time around, the team is confronted by an all-new speedster threat.
Minor spoiler warning…
If you are like me…a big fan of the Flash and the Flash’s ongoing series, and if you have been wondering who would be wearing the mantle of the fastest man in the DC Universe…this issue may very well answer that question in a last page stunner that you WILL NOT see coming. Don’t bother flipping back to that old copy of Previews. This major post-Infinite Crisis is a complete, unsolicited swerve!
Aside from the shocking last page, Winick wows readers with the team dynamic that was so often found in these pages post-OYL. This is a new team and already they are clicking and interacting as if they have been teammates forever. The new Captain Boomerang nearly steals the show in this issue, as Winick showcases this previous-villain’s power and ingenuity, not to mention a great pairing with Thunder!
And if you thought Clark and Thibert’s art look great before, well…you ain’t seen nothing yet!
With this issue, Outsiders takes major leaps and bounds in returning to its former glory. Not quite there yet, but mighty, mighty close!
Suggested for teen readers and up due to violence and language.
Overall grade = B+
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JSA #85 (DC) -
Over on the TCF Forum, we have been discussing the decision to restart this title with a new #1 issue. By consensus, JSA is one of our favorite comic books, and I have always been a firm believer in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And this issue only solidifies my belief that JSA is by far not broken…it’s near-comic-book perfection!
Legendary writer Paul Levitz returns for another installment shedding more light on the classic villain known as the Gentleman Ghost. While the insight into the Ghost’s past is truly an eye-opening stunner, it’s the present day story that makes this book a must-read hit!
Tired of the Ghost’s attacks against them and their loved ones, the JSA decide to take the fight to the Gentleman Ghost in his own backyard…the realm of the dead! However, the JSA don’t find themselves up against impossible odds in the land of the dead. Instead, the JSA are aided by some surprising, familiar fallen faces, including the recently slain heroine, Jade!
Levitz delivers a face-paced story that screams old school from beginning to end…and it’s an end that will leave you both teary-eyed and begging for more. Thrilling, touching and truly one of the best team books I have read in a long time!
The artistic changes can be somewhat jarring in places, but each artist brings something equally impressive to the table, especially Luke Ross and Rags Morales, who give this book a real epic look and feel.
Levitz does leave us with one big, dangling question in this issue that I hope will be answered before this storyline and series reaches its end.
Minor spoiler time…
After the events of Infinite Crisis #7, which saw the formation of ONE “New Earth”, continuity is more or less tidied up…except for a huge question mark in this issue. In the land of the dead, the JSA run into several former teammates and allies who have died and gone on before them. However, there is one character that has me and many other Comic Fanatics scratching our heads - Batman’s ghost! A second Batman, when there is no longer a Multiverse? And he died? There has to be a story here…and as a lifelong Bat-fan, I want to know it now! Please, Mr. Levitz, don’t leave us hanging!
Suggested for teen readers and up due to violence and language.
Overall grade = A
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