This was a great week for comics. Annihilation: Conquest was amazing and easily my Comic Book of the Week. Just about every book was above average or great. I've only got a few reviews right now, but I'll try to add 2 or 3 more before the end of the night, so check back later if you're interested. Hit the jump for this week's reviews!UPDATE - Added JSA and JLA to the list of reviews.
Comic Book of the Week
ANNIHILATION: CONQUEST #2Written by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Art by Tom Raney
If anyone had doubts about Annihlation: Conquest being able to live up to expectations, this excellent second issue should silence all but the most cynical of fanboys. While last issue was good, it had been spoiled with preview issues the week before and was burdened with recapping everything for people that didn't pick up the mini-series leading up to the event. This issue, however, has action, drama, deaths, fake outs and everything in between.
Lanning and Abnetthave, in the span of one issue, done more with Ultron than all five mediocre issues of Bendis' Mighty Avengers arc. While people might enjoy Cho's ass shots, Conquest's traditional Ultron wasted no time making his presence felt in this event when he lead an assault on the High Evolutionary's base and apparently killed Moondragon. While I expect the Evolutionary or Warlock will heal Moondragon, it was still a huge "OH SH--!" moment for me as it was completely unexpected.
This issue also benefited from Starlord and his ragtag band of followers presence. Groot, Mantis and Rocket Racoon are my new favourite characters and I hope a follow up mini or ongoing for this squad comes out of this event.
Verdict - Must Read. If you like Green Lantern's Sinestro Corps War or are a fan of fun, non-decompressed, action packed comics featuring great characters, do yourself a favour and pick up Conquest.
COUNTDOWN: ARENA #1 (OF 4)Written by Keith Champagne
Art by Scott McDaniel and Andy Owens
This was surprisingly good. I was a bit leary about picking it up, but the fanboy in me wanted to see the fights. Ignoring the fact no one from the main DCU Earth is present for this event and the absurdity of these fights, it was a solid and enjoyable read.
First things first, though. The art is probably the worst of McDaniel's career and looks rushed and sloppy. It could be the inker or colourist's fault, but I was less than impressed with this artwork.
Getting back to the story, Monarch has basically gathered dozens of heroes, all in packs of three apparently, for these Multiverse fights. As I said earlier, it's kind of absurd. Why kill off all these characters? Why not just enlist everyone? An army of Supermen is far more imposing than a single one. And what about the Crime Society version? He's already enlisted, so why is he getting a second Superman? When did Monarch get this powerful? Forerunner looked like she could have killed him in Countdown to Adventure. There's still a lot of nitpicking on my part in terms of the genesis of this title, but I'm willing to ignore them for now.
As for the fights, we get one featuring Nightshade characters. I'm not familiar with the character outside knowing she's shadow based and there's one in Shadowpact, but the fight was pretty good and when the winner tried to return to her Earth, I was pretty shocked at Monarch's retaliation.
The second fight is the one everyone wanted to see and featured the battle of the Batmen. I really liked this battle and only have one complaint with it. The other two teamed up to take on the vampire Batman and, once they'd injured him and he turned into smoke, they both turn on each other. They had to have known he wasn't dead, so I'm confused as to why they began fighting each other.
Verdict - Check It. Tempted to give it a Must Read, but the art really let this title down, which is surprising for McDaniel, and it's still just a fanboy book with little actual story or significance. Something akin to Marvel VS DC. I'm a bit upset they killed off Gotham by Gaslight Batman, too. So much potential wasted, but it looks like the Multiverse will be going the way of the dodo by the end of Final Crisis or at least getting a restart.
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS #21Story by Paul Dini
Breakdowns by Keith Giffen
Script by Sean McKeever
Art by Jesus Saiz
This was a solid issue of Countdown to Final Crisis. The art was great, the story flowed well and, aside from focusing a little too much on Holly and Harley basically running for 2 or 3 pages, I have no major complaints about this issue.
The Rogues (or should that be Rogue?) story has been meandering about for the past month or so and, with last week's death of Trickster, this plot actually feels important again. Most of their scenes have felt like filler or advertisements for Salvation Run and, while I don't agree with the cheap death, I liked this follow up with Piper.
This issue also marked the first instance of Granny Goodness being revealed as Athena in Countdown. I'm sure most already know this, but it really felt like they were trying to make it a mystery for some reason. Not sure why anyone would agree to those retarded Amazon "training" sessions though.
The Challengers section was great as well. I enjoyed how they introduced the Batman Beyond universe and the interaction with the other Monitor was great. I like how the Monitors have been evolving over the month or so and they now all have unique names. Seems the "evil" Monitor is from Earth-8, which is the home of Lord Havok and the Extremists for those wondering. I really thought it would have been the Crime Syndicate Earth, but Earth-8 works as well.
The big surprise was the OMAC's and Brother Eye at the end. That came out of nowhere and actually has me interested in the Karate Kid plot for the first time in, well, ever.
Verdict - Check It. Close to a Must Read, but falls short in a few areas. Definitely one of the better issues of Countdown if you ask me though.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #15Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Ed Benes and Sandra Hope
The conclusion to McDuffie's first arc on Justice League was quite satisfying. The story was a campy throwback to the old Silver Age stories where villains are villains for the sake of it with just enough of an edge to keep it modern.
I expected some grand plan from Black Lightning and Superman when they ran straight in to the villains' base, but apparently it consisted of having Firestorm freeing Batman who, in turn, freed the rest of the League.
What followed was an enjoyable rout of the villains by the Justice League. I loved Batman's dialogue in this issue. His 'pick Fort Knox with a pen" and when he, literally, told Firestorm he was joining the League and that it wasn't an invitation. Seems like all the heroes got their payback on the villains this issue and I was quite satisfied with how this turned out.
Of course, I could point out simple flaws, like Fatality, who supposedly had a Sinestro ring and goes toe to toe with Green Lanterns, taking an arrow through the hand or how none of the villains seemed to use their powers during this fight or even how pretty much every villain fled the beaten and outnumbered League. However, it wouldn't matter because these events all seem to make sense in terms of the tone and style of this story and I find it hard to fault this time of story for these minor quibbles.
Verdict - Must Read. Just a plain fun, action packed hero versus villain brawl. Hard to find anyone who wouldn't like this issue.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #11Written by Geoff Johns & Alex Ross
Art by Dale Eaglesham & Ruy Jose
This Thy Kingdom Come arc is moving at a snail's pace. I like it and all that, but every issue, outside of the "OMG it's KC Superman!", feels like fluff and filler.
As of this issue, KC Superman has arrived on our Earth. He's had tea and a chat with the JSA before saving a girl from jumping off a roof. This issue saw him chat with the JLA, confirm his identity through DNA, Wonder Woman's lasso and other various means. After that, there's a brief fight between some random heroes and villains and the issue ends. I don't mind decompressed story telling, but after three issues, I'd like something, anything even, to happen.
The only other thing of note from this issue is the God-complex killer. He's in the sewers near the body he of the guy he killed last issue with the cops surveying the scene and claiming to be Mr America. I'm no major DC buff, but I take it this guy is new? Because I, honestly, have no clue who he is or if the character should be significant. And is he invisible? The cops don't seem to care he's standing over the dead body in the middle of the sewers.
Verdict - Check It. It's still JSA and the issue is fairly good, but if you are only interested in the KC Superman stuff, there's not much to see here and very little of note actually happens. JSA fans will love it, but for everyone else, I'd almost recommend avoiding it.
WORLD WAR HULK: AFTERSMASH #1Written by Greg Pak
Art by Rafa Sandoval
Hard to believe, but this was probably the best issue to come out of WWH since the start of that event. If you followed my reviews of that series, you'll know my opinion of it rapidedly soured as the story, and delays, went on. I really thought I'd hate this issue and was going to put it back on the shelf until I randomly decided to get it. I'm glad I did.
This issue is exactly what you'd expect, an aftermath epilogue to the WWH event. While I hated Tom Foster's portrayal in that event, he was much more tolerable this issue and his character's evolution throughout the issue, mostly after his gaining growing powers and battling Iron Man, was handled well and I'd like to see more of him.
Cho and Hercules, despite the prominent dispaly on the cover, are barely featured in this issue. They basically cameo in a few pages where they are seen helping survivors.
The only thing I disliked about his issue was the Misty Knight stuff. I wasn't a fan of Heroes 4 Hire and, even after having read the last few issues of that series, I don't really know why she's acting like she was involved in some kind of military slaughter of civilians or something. She didn't even kill anyone and wasn't event he one who was tripping out over the stuff they did at the end of her series - that was Colleen.
Verdict - Check It. Worth a look, especially if you weren't satisfied with WWH's ending, and a Must Read if you did enjoy WWH.
4 comments:
JSofA:
Mr. America is not the New Gods Killer or the god-complex killer. He's a friend of the last Mr. America, who was killed in JSofA #1 or #2. He's now taking up the mantle. And the cops do know he's standing there. Also, half the issue is about the new Judo Master and her origin, which didn't get a mention in the review.
I liked the "the Bat-God" has spoken line. Could it be foreshaddowing?
You know, I'm starting to wonder why we see reviews of Countdown every week when perhaps something else could take its place. I don't think anyone is buying Countdown on an issue-by-issue basis, and it's pretty much been demonstrated that it's absolutely uneven anyway. Just a thought.
@swintronix - I didn't mention the Judomaster stuff because, to be honest, this arc is hyped up around the Kingdom Come stuff and spending that much time on a rather redundant character that seemingly has no bearing on the story was just another demerit in my opinion.
And, like I said, it's still a good book and JSA fans will love it, but if you jumped on JSA because of the KC Superman, you'll be disappointed with this issue, as there is little progression for that storyline.
@nu - Ya, that was a fun line, but I hope it has nothing to do with that rumour of him becoming a New God. I think it was just a joke on BL's part.
@zeromus - I usually pick books for the Wednesday reviews that stand out to me, either for good or for bad. Just whatever strikes me as something interesting to write about. This week I was short on funds and didn't get nearly as many books as I wanted (stupid Xmas shopping), so this week was more along the lines of necessity with so few books to choose from.
However, I'll see if I can rotate in some other books this week for reviews and maybe stick Countdown in the Quick Shot Reviews.
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