#5- Dueling Countdowns


Considering I picked up 23 books this week (well, 24 if you count the second copy of Teen Titans I accidentally bought), it hardly seemed fair to only spotlight five this week. So I’ve decided to do a double countdown this week. And I couldn’t think of any two categories that fit as well together as Civil War crossovers and disappointing books. On to the countdown!

YA&Runaways 3#5 Civil War Crossover- Young Avengers/Runaways #3 (of 4)

I almost didn’t buy this book, but something compelled me to grab it at the last second. Several times in the past, a big haul has caused me to drop a book I was unsure about (Hawkgirl, JSA Classified, Crisis Aftermath: The Spectre, Sensational Spider-Man). I don’t know what made me grab this at the last second. Because even though Young Avengers is amazing (when it comes out) and Runaways is one of the best comics every month, this Civil War crossover consistently falls flat. The writing isn’t nearly as good as Brian K. Vaughn or Allan Heinberg deliver in the main titles, and the art is so bad that at times it has me wondering which brunette is Kate Bishop and which is Niko. I don’t think anyone was clamoring to find out how Civil War affected the Runaways, and the Youg Avengers’ story is being handled a lot better in the actual Civil War mini-series. Quite frankly, Young Avengers/Runaways was not a story worth telling. The re-introduction of Marvel Boy is the one bright spot in an otherwise disappointing mini-series.

Invincible 35#5 Disappointing Book- Invincible #35

Invincible is without hyperbole the best superhero comic coming out on a regular basis today. Nearly every issue has kickass fights and engrossing subplots. Which makes it pretty disappointing when it doesn’t.

Invincible #35 just didn’t do it for me. I don’t need six pages (with teeny tiny panels) of Mark talking about his girl troubles with his tailor. I don’t need six issues to reveal that Mark’s dad’s books are obviously his actual adventures as a member of the Viltrumite race. Robert Kirkman’s usually so good with pacing that it pained me to read through it all.

The worst part of it all is that the book was really late. Normally I don’t mind, because if the issue’s late it’s probably because everyone’s working hard to make the issue as awesome as possible. But when a stinker like this comes along after so much anticipation, it really leaves a bad taste in your mouth.