Pull List Reviews for April 2, 2008
Secret Invasion #1: It’s really, really, really, really promising. Despite growing organically out of years-long ongoing storylines in the Avengers titles, Secret Invasion #1 manages to please both devotees who’ve been waiting for this and the new reader looking for a succinct hook, a la Civil War. With deftness and economy that I honestly wasn’t sure Bendis was capable of - as much as I love his writing - the scope of the situation and threat are clearly laid out and the characters introduced in a manner that seems harmonic with Bendis’s trademark polarizing dialogue. (I love it.) Leinil Yu does an extraordinary job on the art, and softened by Mark Morales’s inks and Laura Martin’s covers it looks like an appropriate middle ground between the styles of both Avengers books. Additionally, Yu’s punctuality is a huge sigh of relief for an event like this, as it’s highly unlikely for major delays to hit this title - and the quality won’t suffer. A lot of intriguing mysteries are set up, and Bendis’s decision to have a double-sized first issue (a lesson he claims to have learned from negative fan response to House of M #1) pays off in spades by giving him the space to set a mood as well as substantially move the plot.
Cable #2: Pick up the pace. We’re at the end of issue two and we don’t really know anything more than could be inferred from Messiah CompleX and a cover. I’m really interested in this storyline, but Swierczynski really needs to start dropping some hints as to what’s going on. I’m hoping this is just a new writer finding his footing - it’s not badly written, it’s just very drab so far. Also, Ariel Olivetti’s computer-generated approach to backgrounds just looks *awful*, especially on the last page where Cable is apparently attacked by an untextured Quake III model brought to life. I really want to like this book, but thye aren’t making it easy so far.
Young X-Men #1: Also a disappointment, as Guggenheim plays everything by the numbers except for a mildly interesting (read: almost definitely temporary) last page reveal. Paquette’s art looks great, but there just wasn’t much in this issue to grab me - again, it wasn’t bad by any means, just fairly mediocre with some truly awful ‘urban’ dialogue from one new character. I’ll stick with it for a while to see if it improves, but this first issue just didn’t grab me.
Action Comics #863: This was pretty awesome, and a quite satisfactory payoff to this popular arc. Johns is giving himself a hell of a task here by trying to reenergize the original Legion, and it was probably a smart move to reintroduce them through the context of Superman in this way. Much like most Johns books, the arc has a definite theme to it meant to shine light on the main character, but it’s not executed very subtly. Still, a lot of fun and the teaser at the back should get some people excited (and more than a few annoyed).
Detective Comics #843: People looking for Dini’s disconnected stories to start fitting together would do well to pay attention to this issue - I haven’t pored over previous ones yet, but this one makes clear there’s some kind of conspiracy behind it all. Nguyen’s art continues to impress, and my only real complaint with this issue is that, as fun a character as Zatanna is, turning her into a full-time supporting character in this book might be a questionable idea. Still, good.
Kick-Ass #2: Man, this is pure, undiluted Millar, and if that’s your thing, you are going to fucking love this comic and laugh for 22 pages. If it’s not, you’re going to think this is the most obnoxious thing ever printed. I thought it was hilarious, but it’s not because it’s taking potshots at its main character anymore; you can kind of feel this rare Mark Millar optimism behind all the cursing and ultra-violence and semi-cliched badassery.
Infinity Inc. #8: Man, this is like a whole new comic. Pete Woods’s art gives everything a fresh new look, and Milligan’s fairly complex script becomes significantly more readable as a result. This issue also finally really defines the membership and the mission statement, which is a relief. Still, it’s almost definitely too little too late, as this book’s sales numbers are dangerously (I’d say almost irredeemably) low, but we’ll see what happens.
Supergirl #28: This is completely great, and finally Puckett’s run is starting to pick up, really rolling with the premise of Supergirl trying to make a more positive and proactive difference in the lives of everyday citizens. A lot happens in this issue, and it’s all both highly amusing and completely unexpected, while also carving out a unique niche for this book in the DC Universe. I hope it gets the attention it deserves, but after the borderline abrasive beginning of Puckett’s run people might just not care anymore. I hope I get the chance to see this story through to its conclusion, though - it’s quirky and different and I’m worried the market won’t reward it for that.
Amazing Spider-Man #555: Get rid of the other three guys, put Wells on full-time. Seriously, this is the first issue that really capitalized on the promise of the BND concept for me. The dialogue’s witty, the art is gorgeous, Peter isn’t completely incompetent and the story is going in an interesting direction. Also, the great continuity fuckup with Strange’s house is now the subject of a No-Prize competition. Easily the best part of the new direction so far.
Countdown to Final Crisis #4: Fuck me for falling for that awful Darkseid-on-couch preview. This comic is still awful.