Worst to first: 5/9/07
Another big week, with a solid dozen books under the belt. We’ve got another huge event beginning, loads of Nightwing, three new Boom! series and, dare I say it, the biggest surprise winner of first place ever (at least so far as I recall). So, if you’re looking for something to take your mind away from the disappointment of Spider-Man 3, what better than a smorgasbord of reviews? As Stan Lee would say with all the acting chops of Jean-Claude Van Damme, ’nuff said:
Worst: Nightwing #132
As I was perusing the racks, I decided to make a few surprise purchases. Lucky for me, I managed to make it a theme day with two Nightwing-related books out that I normally don’t read. After reading this issue, I have to say that aside from slightly better villains, Marv Wolfman’s run really isn’t any better than Bruce Jones’ attempt at Dick’s story. This issue is an absolute mess, with incomprehensible narrative structure, hokey dialogue and a plot that’s like a hybrid of the 1970s-era stupid and 1990s-era stupid. This is a train wreck.
A good idea gone awry: Cover Girl #1
One thing you’ve got to love about Boom! Studios is they come up with clever premises for their books. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. This story about a dumb actor who lucks into saving someone but unlucks into saving a person wanted by mysterious bad guys starts out on the right foot but falls flat amid a middle section bloated with way too much Hollywood mocking. It’s more Be Cool than Get Shorty, though I still think it’s salvageable.
As seen on TV: Supernatural: Origins #1
I don’t watch a lot of TV, and I’ve definitely never seen Supernatural, which I assume is about the Supernatural, though maybe it’s a crime procedural, seems like most shows are… Back on point, this follows a man whose wife is killed by some kind of fire demon, and he delves into the world of magic to try and learn what happened. It’s actually very well written, and I’d give it a much higher grade if it weren’t for the art by Matthew Dow Smith. Never heard of him? Me neither. Maybe that’s why he blatantly rips off Mike Mignola. Sadly, it ruins the whole affair.
Point Break redux: 2 Guns #1
Another Boom! book that just came out, this one has a so-so premise (undercover cop forced bad teams up with a criminal who turns out to be more than meets the eye) but overcomes it with a tight script, strong dialogue and slick, clean art that compliments the overall vibe. Surprises are layered throughout, making for a very fun read.
What movie: Amazing Spider-Man #540
Want to know what doesn’t make me feel better about an overly campy Spider-Man sequel? If you guessed an overly depressing Spider-Man comic, you’re our big winner!
On the right path: Hunter’s Moon #1
We go back to Boom!, which actually tied for most books bought this week with DC and Marvel. They put out three quality books, with this one (from Ray screenwriter James L. White) leading the pack. Hunter’s Moon is a nice change of pace for the publisher, very serious and introspective, with a very brooding, quiet start that lasts to the startling final pages. It’ll be very interesting to see where this series progresses.
A step back: The Immortal Iron Fist #5
Falling from the top spot last month is the Brubaker/Fraction whizz-banger. Aside from an absolutely brilliant splash page, the promised action doesn’t quite deliver and things are just a bit more confusing than they need to be. David Aja’s art also isn’t up to previoius issues. But with all that said, this is still a heck of a fun read, made all the more enjoyable by the expansion of the Iron Fist mythos. The writers have set up a whole lot of opportunities for themselves. We’ll see in the coming months if they deliver.
Dead again: Marvel Zombies: Dead Days
This is our Book of Doom, so you’ll have to come back Saturday to see my thoughts and share yours.
Gob’s favorite book: Countdown #51
For a full recap, check Doom DeLuise’s weekly report right here. As for me? I liked it for the most part, except there wasn’t enough of Darkseid to impose a terrible enough threat and Duela Dent seems like just too strange of a choice for the main attraction. After reading up on her on Wikipedia, I still had no idea what was going on.
Nightwing, part two: Outsiders #47
The Outsiders have always been among the DCU teams that I just don’t really care about (along with the JSA, Titans and others). This was really a whim purchase to complete my Nightwing-a-thon, but boy am I glad that I picked it up. From the first page, in which Sasha Bordeaux (of Checkmate) gives Dick a cup check, the issue zips along with a whole lot of fun and fighting, which seems to be the exact feel needed for this team of violent, revelrous do-gooders. Beyond that, the art is super-sharp and the storyline (the outlaw Outsiders are forced by Checkmate into cleaning up an Oolong mess) crackles with smarts. This came very close to being the best of the week.
First: Nova #2
Left field? This came out of a whole different solar system. Let’s just say that when we chose Nova #1 as our Book of Doom last month, I really didn’t think I would last beyond that first issue. But the writing team of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning came through with a story that was more fun and engaging than it had a right to be, and suddenly I found myself very interested in the exploits of Richard Rider. Still, I worried that Nova’s imminent return to earth would make for too much Civil War blather. Once again I’m surprised. The writers showed Civil War through the eyes of someone who completely missed it and nicely illustrate how much things have change. Also, there’s deep emotional resonance for Rider, whose New Warriors teammates started the whole mess.
Beyond that, there’s an interjection of familial strife, a quick fight and clever interplay between Nova and the police and Nova and Tony Stark. It felt like a much older issue, in how the writers breezily placed so much story within a single issue. I’m still not quite convinced of where next issue is headed, since the Thunderbolts-villains-as-heroes stuff just rubs me the wrong way, but my confidence in Nova is far more sturdy than I ever imagined it would be.