January 9 Reviews

Scalped #13
Vertigo
Writing: Jason Aaron
Pencils & Ink: R.M. Guera
Colors: Giulia Brusco
Cover: Jock
5/5

There was a time when Scalped seemed the underdog against a comic world unwilling to give it a chance. Slowly more people have noticed, many aggressively, and love-plugging Scalped is a 'hey brou, I'm down' label of now. If you're coming you've hopefully hopped aboard, because it looks like from here it's full tilt emotional espionage chaos for at least the next five issues.

Aaron must be some kind of crazy. He can pile on dozens of grand sweeping layers and yet still focus very intently on a specific moment, goal, concept or characterization. For months Aaron dragged us roughshod across his playing field of characters and the demons they suffer, until now as we suddenly plunge headfirst into the most focused and direct story-arc this title has seen yet.

Scalped is taking off, and this next few months should be the break-out story. Guera's art gives the package its gritty but big-screen appeal and Jock's covers bring that sales-driving majesty. This is the perfect place to begin reading this if you're looking to start.
-Tom



North Wind #1
Boom!
Writing: Dave Digilio
Pencils & Ink: Alex Cal
Colors: Francisco Gamboa
Cover: Andruw Huerta
4/5

This debut has a good premise and is presented well. The environments are thought out and Digilio does a nice job just tossing us into events already in motion. There isn't an initial backstory dump or a bunch of contexting. It's straight to the drama of right-now, and it lets the world and its history explain its own self. The story has a lot going on, most of it interesting, and you care and are invested enough by the end to make the final scene work. The art is very pretty, packed with detail, and gives you as much information about the past as it does the events actually occurring in the scene. As a four issue series there isn't a whole lot of time to spend explaining how things came to be. Cal's intricate work takes on a huge portion of that load. With the exception of some occasionally lumbering speech, this is an excellent start to North Wind for Boom! Studios.
-Tom



Punisher War Journal #15
Marvel
Writing: Matt Fraction
Pencils & Inks: Scott Wegener
Colors: Shannon Blanchard
Cover: Ariel Olivetti
4/5

I imagine a world where a Punisher book is the first I rush to in a stack of mostly great titles and find, oddly, that I'm already in such a place. This three issue arc of War Journal has won me over with much fervor. Every page has immediate character and personality (a lot of credit to Wegener) and it's one of the most childishly enjoyable titles floating around right now. I feel like I'm watching a cartoon I loved as a kid, finding I still love it, and realizing there was an entire arsenal of terrific jokes that had previously flown over my head. Don't think this title avoids serious topics & issues either. This month's release hits on the struggle and frustration found in time wasted killing people that don't matter, finds the power to freely bitch slap someone a 'most righteous destiny,' and gives hand-to-hand combat a makeover from vulgar-and-full-of-pain to sexy-and-full-of-dance! At one point there's even some genuine emotion. I pray that Marvel leaves this one alone and lets Fraction do whatever the hell he wants with it. Because what the hell he wants has proven to be what I want too.
-Tom



Nova #10
Marvel
Writing: Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning
Pencils: Wellington Alves
Inks: Diaz & Pereira
Colors: Guru
Cover: Adi Granov
2.5/5

Unfortunately, this is the least impressive of Nova's run thus far. The thing's been on a roll for a while now and this issue feels like an unwanted time-out in order to wrap up one fleeting loose end so it can get back to doing what it's does. Story lag aside, the remainder of the book isn't firing on all cylinders here as it normally does either. The dialog isn't as comfortable or charismatic as normal and Alves' art, with a few choice exceptions, is the least detailed it's been. It's not shit bucket boring, but it's one you could skip. Nova is on the same course at the end of this issue as he was in the preceding one, albeit with some unnecessary cheesiness now behind him. Let's not do that again, shan't we?
-Tom



X-Factor #27
Marvel
Writing: Peter David
Pencils: Scot Eaton
Inks: Dell, Hennessy, Meikis
Colors: Brian Reber
Cover: Finch, McCaig
4.5/5

The pieces of this event are starting to come together despite even this issue still managing to create a few new loose bits. It all continues to make sense though, and this week things start to get exciting. The thing I'm most impressed with in this event has been its control and pacing. Even now, nearing the end, the thing hasn't descended into a massive slugfest or hey-look-a-twist chaos, which has resulted in recent escalating action actually having weight and significance. Messiah Complex still continues to be thrilling and I can't wait for the next two weeks of X reading.

I am, however, getting a little worried with only two issues left that this coming 'conclusion' won't be as door-shuttingly satisfying as I would like. There's a lot to cover in two releases, otherwise a bunch of this is going to end up spilling over into the new X book lineup which, by the way, I'm not entirely sold on. And yet, Messiah Complex continues to get better. For at least two more issues these books have my complete attention.
-Grady



Amazing Spider-Man #546
Marvel
Writing: Dan Slott
Pencils: Steve McNiven
Inks: Dexter Vines
Colors: Morry Hollowell
Cover: Steve McNiven
3/5

This is all about how you want to look at it. Yes, playing the continuity game, these are no small changes. More, in fact, than most people were expecting. Anyone remotely versed in Marvel lore will immediately have handfuls of questions. But also, yes, it looks like the new Spidey brain-trust will turn Amazing Spider-Man into something worth reading again.

Those who read One More Day will find it impossible to get its taste out of their mouth while reading this issue. On a pedestal by itself, this issue is one thing, but for those with the context of what it's a result of its something completely different. By itself, this was pretty enjoyable. If it were a #1 issue in a newly launching Ultimate-like Spidey book it would be very exciting. There's definite promise. Dan Slott has often been mentioned as someone who should write Spider-Man, and he proves he's a good man for the job. He overdoes it a bit with some throwback thought bubbles, but for the most part this is a well-told and enjoyable story that's certainly a lot more fun than what the book has been doing. At the same time, reminders and references of what came before are everywhere and in everything, making it very hard to escape into this new status-quo without being haunted by the old one.

At this point, Brand New Day is like spit in your face and a refreshing breeze. It's easy to see how there are going to be some wonderfully fun stories coming, but it's hard to imagine them not being tainted by thoughts of how they got there. For people who just want good Spidey comics and don't care about continuity or any of that foolish business, Amazing appears to be pretty good and is at a perfect jumping on point. Consider it a second Ultimate Spider-Man series even. The rest of us will just have to keep reading and hope someday we can enjoy these new stories without a mental asterisk.
-Tom



Killing Pickman #2
Archaia
Writing: Jason Becker
Art: Jon Rea
Cover: Jon Rea
4.5/5

This issue continues the impressively lavish art and presentation from the first. It gets around more this time though, switching scenes and locales quite often and giving Jason Becker a more substantial role. A good portion of the issue is a religious dialogue that, though dark and menacing, is an intriguing discussion. There's still more than shock-value here. The art is again incredibly impressive, but if there's one problem with the issue it's the several brief moments where the art gets lost and confusing with all the sudden switching around.

Killing Pickman is one of the most professionally presented series on the shelves; true Archaia pedigree. Its story is intelligent and provocative and it and several others' art are setting a new standard in comic book design. If they can keep brains in the religious conversation this will continue to be well worth your time.
-Tom