Contrary to my head getting all in a spin over The Immortal Iron Fist #6 and my subsequent breakdown of anything remotely resembling disicipline when attempting to describe it, I did buy a number of comics last week, some of which were quite good. Here’s a breakdown of what I got and what I liked. Overall, I found it to be a solid week. This isn’t a complete list of everything I bought, just the stuff I liked best. Please: no wagering.
Awesome comics not called Immortal Iron Fist #6 (and one sorta-awesome one*):
The X-Men First Class ongoing series makes a grand entrance.
X-Men First Class Vol. 2, Issue 1 - I’ll be the first to admit I got on the Jeff Parker bus late and just picked up the X-Men First Class hardcover last week after reading a couple issues in the run. I think I liked the first issue of this ongoing series even better than the stories in the collected version, and those stories were very well done. I’m a big fan of the original X-Men lineup and this story was top notch, hella fun and made me laugh out loud on several occasions. The Roger Cruz art is clean, elegant and brilliant. Kudos to the entire team that put this together. I am really looking forward to all the issues ahead. Jeff Parker writes fun comics. That’s all you need to know.
Oh that and the Fantastic Four appear in this ish. Parker should write that book too. Or a spinoff or something.
I am guilty of liking this costume. A lot. And no, that’s not Thunderbird.
Thunderbolts 115 - I was just about set to drop this book, but it ended in explosive fashion, which earned it a reprieve. Generally speaking, I like the mad scientist that is Warren Ellis. However, I really, really like Warren Ellis whenever he puts together super hero slugfests (Stormwatch, The Authority and Nextwave come to immediate mind). I know he probably loathes the guys in tights, but damn if the man doesn’t write some great action.
This book is one long battle. Songbird sets up Bullseye for a huge takedown, courtesy of some help from American Eagle and his crappy G-Force helmet… easily the best part of the entire book. (For the record: I’m the only person in the entire universe that actually liked AE’s old costume and wish it was in here). Also, Venom does something really gruesome which disturbs me on most levels and yet I enjoy on a very strange and somewhat perverse level. Plus: For the first time in six issues, Norman Osborn doesn’t act like a complete tool obsessing about Spider-Man. Guess Thunderbolts stays on the pull list for now.
I’m enjoying an ongoing X-Men title other than Astonishing. I was shocked too.
X-Men 200 - I haven’t followed X-Men books for years because I dislike them for all the reasons that everyone else seems to dislike them: way too many characters, convoluted/crappy stories, etc. etc. etc. However, I’ve really been enjoying Mike Carey’s take on the team. His misfit X-Men lineup of characters led by Rogue is quite spectacular, and I am a sucker for Chris Bachalo art in any way, shape or form. I was really quite estatic to hear The Marauders would appear to stir up some trouble this ish, because I always felt they were vastly underused since the attack on the Morlock tunnels back in the 80s (yep, I’m dating myself). But then maybe that’s why this works so well… we don’t see too much of them on a regular basis, so this still feels special. They show up in grand fashion, administering a good old fashion beat down. Still way too many X-Men make an appearance in this one (an unavoidable certainty these days, I’m sure), but I found myself enjoying this book quite a bit. Nice ending too.
Note to Wanda: Next time you decide to cull the mutant population, how about limiting the number to 12 or so?
Uh oh. These guys are onto me.
The Boys 8 - Wow, a Garth Ennis book without one lick of the old ultra-violence. Sometimes I think Garth Ennis took this project on to see just how much he could get away with and if he could top his sense of depravity month in and month out. He pretty much suceeded on all counts with The Boys. I’m certain that’s why this book got dropped by DC… the first arc was probably way too controversial for their liking. Garth’s run at Dynamite has been pretty understated thus far, but my guess is this is just the calm before the incoming storm. And oh what a shit storm it will be. For as depraved as this book can get (and there seems to be no shortage of depravity), there’s also some really good social commentary, which isn’t entirely uncommon for an Ennis title. The scene between Hughie and Mother’s Milk is very, very well conceived and executed and in my opinion, well worth the price of admission.
Just for the record, I still miss Hitman. Very few things in comics made me laugh harder than Tommy and the gang.
When you make fun of the Hulk’s tiara, it’s best to just run.
World War Hulk: X-Men 1 - I’m having a lot of fun reading the World War Hulk series so far. I’m trying to stay away from all 200,000 of the tie in books, but did pick up the X-Men one because… well, Brian put it in my box and I wasn’t paying too close attention. I love the cover and the story inside was good fun. The Hulk shows up at the X-Mansion to have a chat with Professor X about the Jade Giant’s unexpected trip to outer space and subsequent destruction of his new home and everything he loves. Yep, he’s pissed. He fights a bunch of New X-Men, all of whom I know nothing about except the Wolverine-girl-clone-thingie (lame!) led by the Beast. Oh, and the Astonishing X-Men show up to save the day. Good, fun comic from top to bottom. And Christos Gage wrote it. I really dig his work on Stormwatch and Union Jack.
It’s a rough day at the Green Lantern office.
Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps Special #1 - Hey, I bought a DC comic! In all seriousness though, I haven’t been reading a lot of DC in the last few months because I haven’t felt that the stories have been that great for a while. I think they missed a huge opportunity with One Year Later and am bitter about it. I wanted gigantic teams of super villains out prowling the streets, making life miserable for our heroes. Sadly, that never came to pass.
I picked this book up just because it looked kind of interesting for some reason. I generally like the Green Lantern Corps and like the entire notion of the Corps. Heck, I’d sign up given the opportunity… how much fun would it be to be a GL? I consider Guy Gardner my favorite Lantern, even though we are nothing alike, so I always flip through anything I see him in.
In this one, Sinestro and his eeeeeeeeeeeeeeevvvil, smarmy moustache form a Sinestro Corps to take on the Lanterns. I like the premise of this book, they set the hook pretty deep. I was really enjoying it right up until the end, which left me a bit cold. I hate giving anything away for those that might be really interested in the story and may gravitate more towards these books than I do, but this one felt pretty awesome, like it was building toward something huge, then something lame came along and poked a hole in the balloon. Great build up, lousy execution.
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Sadly, I didn’t buy any trades last week, because I went a little nuts last week. But that Showcase collection that has Batman fighting what looks like a dude made up of eyeballs? I have to get that…
(*I really need to devise a ratings system)
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