July 25 Reviews - Updated!

Updates Marked with - *

Green Arrow: Year One #2
DC
3/5

First of all, praise goes up to the bi-weekly schedule of this book. I'm all about it. Undoubtedly Jock's style contributes a great deal toward making such a thing possible, what with all the giant swatches of single colors and enthusiastically plain backgrounds. It works though.

Unfortunately I can't say the same for the story at this point, which failed to impressive me in the ways I was hoping it would. Some of it was alright. I'm intrigued by the foreshadowed presence of other humans on the island. However, the explanation of how Queen becomes a grizzled survivor is truly laughable. The transition from helpless-spoiled-socialite to bearded-amazon-building-weapons-out-of-engine-parts-and-conjuring-fire happens in a small matter of pages, and is only explained through a fleeting reference to boy scouts. Any feeling of experiencing or understanding his transition is utterly non-existent, a curious thing since I was under the impression that was the whole point of an "origin" story to begin with.

This is still pretty fun, and certainly better than nearly everything on DC's current lineup, but it's nothing near what I was expecting to get from Diggle.
-Tom



Conquest: StarLord #1 *
Marvel
4/5

We've now seen the opening issue from all four series involved in Annihilation: Conquest, Star-Lord being the last but certainly not the least of the bunch. Initially, I must admit, I was thrown by the art. Alongside the complex and extravagant work in the other Conquest titles, the terribly plain backgrounds and goofy faces Timothy Green II uses here seemed a bit out of place and disappointing. Having actually read the comic now though, as well as looking at some of the future cover-art for the series, I no longer have that complaint. The style lends itself well to the hilarious writing by Giffen and the overall tone of Peter Quill in general. I get it, and like the focus on the image of the product as a whole.

This is an absolutely solid first issue, with more character and charisma pouring from each page than any other Conquest title comes close to. It vaults ahead of Quasar and Wraith, joining Nova as my two favorite thus far.

I haven't been disappointed in Conquest in the least, and I'm excited to see where each of these books go from here. Hopefully these Annihilation titles are only the beginning of what turns into a beautiful cosmic thing at Marvel.
-Tom



The Walking Dead #39
Image
4/5


An all-out action issue! Guns are fired! Screaming and yelling! Legs are bitten! Babies are born! Limbs are severed! Theft! People are stabbed! Decapitation!

Hopefully you've read this, otherwise I pretty much just ruined it. TWD is hard to truly spoil though as it's never brainless, even in the most action oriented issues. I was grateful for how the much hyped birth turned out, and would have been disappointed with most anything different. With the pregnancy drama concluded, and in response to other events in this issue, the inevitable war is looming closer and closer on the horizon, and I'm anxious to get things moving. I hope it initiates major changes in the story. I love this series, but I'm not electrified by it lately.
-Grady



The Amazing Spider-Man #542
Marvel
4/5

This was great. Straczynski spent the last several issues making me believe in Peter Parker's rage, and here he delivers the payoff. Peter's vengeance is sweeeet in true adolescent hormonal fantasy fashion. Savage dominant revenge on someone who's truly shattered you to the core. What you imagine when you're so furious you're calm. It isn't the most impressive way to conclude this story from a creative standpoint, but that doesn't matter. This was too enthralling, too guiltily satisfying, too fist-pumpingly kick ass for me to care.

The last few months I've found the webslinger to be more compelling than he has in years, though none of his stories are leaping out as mind-blowingly incredible yet. This recent arc, clearly, has managed to get my blood moving. I'm perfectly primed to be surprised, moved, otherwise manipulated. Hopefully wherever Zyn and all this One More Day jibberish take Spidey from here it will truly be a memorable and important moment in his mythos. I'm ready to get into some Spider-Man stories that I regard with the same legitimacy as I do so many of his older ones. I feel like we're on the verge of that.
-Tom



Black Summer #1
Avatar
4/5

Here's one that's living up to its potential. Ellis, being Ellis, is apparently pushing for more with this series than the shock-and-awe value issue #0 provided so gushingly. Not to say there aren't any moments of awe this time around, but it's becoming clear there are as many character elements to this story as there are political ones. Ryp and Sweeney are doing an incredible job with the art as well, which is perfectly suited for this.

As this is the first official issue, there's clearly still a great deal about this story we don't yet know. Ellis has only shown us a card or two, much less his whole hand. What we've seen so far has been formidable, and if you can handle the violence you should be reading this. Ellis is just incredible lately. From now on I'm just going to expect this title to adhere to the height of standards, which I feel it will do and perhaps then-some.

Now give me Thunderbolts!
-Tom



Sensational Spider-Man #39
Marvel
2.5/5

As with nearly every issue of Sensational, this is a decent read for those who are really into Spidey but by no means is it essential. Again I am increasingly convinced that the new structure of the Spider-Man books is going to function quite a bit better than the current set-up. Unlike the multiple X-Men titles, where each is capable of adding to the X mythos, Spider-Man's story is only advanced through Amazing while the others are relegated to side-stories and character exploration. Both Sensational and Friendly Neighborhood may as well be considered 'tie-in' titles, as though Amazing were truly the main event. Pooling all the books into one will be a tremendous move for this character.

This particular issue concludes the two-part story of Eddie Brock's mental struggles and attempt to kill Aunt May while she lays in her hospital bed. All-in-all it's a bit of a throwaway plot as nothing really happens, but the experience isn't a total loss. There are some enjoyable character scenes involving Peter and May, and the physical artistic representation of the symbiote is again pretty damn cool. Hopefully this series is able to get off an arc or two better than this before it gets swallowed into the new Amazing.
-Grady



Iron Man #20
Marvel
3/5

In a world where there is way too much Tony Stark, I'm always surprised at how much I enjoy Iron-Man each month. This issue continues to follow Tony's involvement with World War Hulk, though with circumstances as they are most of the focus here falls on SHIELD, particularly Sub-Director Dugan. Outside of the core WWH title, the Iron-Man issues have been by far my favorite other portion of that event.

I want to like Stark, and in this series Gage lets me do just that. He also lets me like his writing, something which most his other current work isn't permitting.
-Tom



Hellblazer #234 *
Vertigo
2.5/5

Perhaps I simply wasn't in the mood for Constantine this month, but I found myself not enjoying this very much. There are multiple storylines happening at once, and I can see how future issues of this arc will probably be more interesting, but nothing comes together in any type of satisfying way here. There's a great deal of gruesome violence, but nothing attempts to counteract it aside from more scenes even grosser than the last. This had all better move forward very quickly in the next issue, or I'm going to lose whatever interest I have left. I understand that something is living inside the young man, causing him to commit such terrible acts. I don't need to see him commit a whole slew more. Diggle needs to get all these different story threads colliding, and soon.
-Tom



Incredible Hulk #108
Marvel
2/5

In this issue Pak goes back-and-forth between Rick Jones, Hulk's first friend on Earth, and Miek, his first friend on Planet Sakaar. Through them he illustrates how Hulk's sympathizers on both side of the conflict percieve the Green Meanie, and thus develop not only them but the Hulk as well. Unfortunately the presentation is slightly awkward and gimmicky and I found myself simply not caring. I expect something slightly more relevant from the main title of the character around which an entire event is being based.

Frankly, Hulk and those around him are the least compelling pieces of the WWH puzzle at this point. Stark and other supporting characters are stealing the show in the core book, while no one is stealing it here. Disappointing.
-Tom



All-Star Batman #6 *
DC
3.5/5

I'm glad I decided to ignore nearly everyone and take a chance on Frank Miller's All-Star approach to Bats, because it's hilarious. The "Goddamn Batman" is this way on purpose, I should think that were pretty obvious. This being the only issue I've read, perhaps Miller wasn't as blatant previously that this isn't a classic take on Batman. Either way, I'm not entirely sure why everyone is so up in arms and/or confused about this. Maybe people have had trouble accepting some mad-man into the suit they associate with a less volatile personality. Perhaps, with Miller's name on the cover, people thought they knew what they were getting, and had trouble adapting when it wasn't what they expected. Then again, maybe everyone just plain doesn't get it. I dunno. Maybe it's Miller's big joke and I'm the one not getting it. What really matters though is that I thought it plenty entertaining. Golden.
-Tom



X-Men #201 (Endangered Species #5)
Marvel
3.5/5 (3.5/5)

This was a reasonable follow-up to last month's thicky thick issue #200 special. The 'epic' confrontation initiated in that issue resolves somewhat un-spectacularly here, but the story advances in several new directions and other carry-over elements from past installments are addressed as well. There is a lot of momentum in this series right now. The visuals though, continue to be a bit of a sore thumb in places, including a spot where I had to remind myself that Colossus isn't a colossal gorilla nor is Kittie's face supposed to be some shitty cubic art movement.

Beast's adventures in the Endangered Species chapter are good. We're finally seeing some action. The rest of the Astonishing team makes an appearance which is probably smart so when they show up later they don't seem to be coming from nowhere. The art continues to be exactly what I want in the X books. Beast and Wolverine rarely look better.
-Grady



Batman #666
DC
4/5

Grant Morrison rocks. Between this and All-Star Supes, he accounts for a majority of the hero titles I read regularly from DC. Quite frankly if he can handle it, they should give him a third book because the man truly understands how to entertain. This standalone celebrating issue #666 pits a murderous Batman from the future in the form of Damian Wayne against the Son of Satan and various other insane monsters. What actually happens doesn't really matter, it's all in how Morrison tells it, and he doesn't miss the mark here. Great stuff.
-Tom

"So I booby-trapped every single prominent building in Gotham...including this one!" *BOOOM!*
-Batman



The Mighty Avengers#4
Marvel
2/5

Don't read this. I sure as hell didn't.
-Tom

Neither did I.
-Grady