August 15 Reviews

Conquest: Quasar #2
Marvel
Written by: Christos Gage
Art by: Mike Lilly
2.5/5

Christos Gage and I have problems. This is the exact type of writing that keeps new readers from comics. Isn't it pretty much standard procedure at this point to not have characters constantly telling each other what they just did, are doing, will soon do? Why do we still have writing that assumes we're not looking at the imagery, nor that we can remember what was said two pages ago? Are we all morons? Is Gage?

It's too bad this issue left such a bad taste in my mouth, because the story itself is actually quite good and this title would probably be exceptional in more capable hands. I'd feel bad for knocking Gage so heavily, except that I've been bothered by these traits in his writing on many occasions over the last several months.

I'm not quite ready to recant my claims that Conquest is kicking some ass. However, with Quasar leaving me this unimpressed, and Wraith continuing to entice but not really excite, I'm feeling less enthusiastic about endorsing the project on the whole. The flip-side though, is that this has all raised my anticipation to see what Star-Lord and Nova bring in their remaining issues which, relative to this experience, will seem even more exciting.

I have complete confidence that when the main series of this event kicks off, it will be fantastic.
-Tom



Hellblazer #235
Vertigo
Written by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Leonardo Manco
4/5

Last month I was quite meh-faced with how Diggle opened this new storyline. It was empty and gratuitous and didn't attempt to connect with me on any level. I came into this issue expecting to be further frustrated. Thankfully that was not the case.

The opening sequence encapsulated exactly what I want from my Constantine books, and was a refreshing insult to all my cynicism. One of the most prevalent images I hold of the character is of him and Dream walking and talking through an early issue of Sandman, a sequence which contained some of the most fresh and electrifying dialogue I'd read at the time. Sure, all the soul-fucking-weirdness that he gets involved with is fun, but what has always sold me on this character are the tones of his interactions with others, his ability to say exactly what he means, and how he can do so in a way that makes everyone else in the room seem significantly smaller. He's a haunted, damaged guy but he's also got some no bullshit dominance and candor to him. Diggle is Constantine in these opening pages, both fresh and electrifying.

The two other significant strands of this plot advance as well. Though the elements of the story are still somewhat independent of each other they all became much more interesting or at least tangible this time around. I can't recall off the top of my head, but I believe this arc is intended to run through five or six issues. Considering what Diggle did here, I'm comfortable that with that much space to work he can make something strong out of the remaining installments.
-Tom



New X-Men #41
Marvel
Written by: Kyle & Yost
Art by: Skottie Young
3/5

This was a fun story but I'm glad to see it come to an end. Watching the development of several of the children and their rise into the spotlight was the most rewarding aspect of this arc, and I'm excited to see that these kids are seemingly slated to play a prominent role in upcoming events.

That said, this issue was essentially a rehash of the last one. It was fun last month but less so this time around. There were also several occasions where the art made the action hard to follow aside from knowing something loud and fast just happened. Seeing where this goes next will rejuvenate my interest.
-Grady



Captain America #29
Marvel
Written by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Steve Epting & Mike Perkins
4/5

This is easily one of the best hero titles Marvel has going, there's no question about that. I'm hard pressed to think of any, at least not as mainstream as this, that are even near the same plane of presentation. I'm going to try not to slobber all over Brubaker's name aside from right there, but there's no way around how much he is owning this series. I'm not even sure how many different threads he's weaving at this point, it all runs together so seamlessly and without convolution. This is going to read fantastically well in trade format.

The art, of course, also deserves some high praise and accolades. These guys have never met a shadow they couldn't make work for them, with the final scenes in the unlit penthouse looking particularly incredible.

It's hard to find new things to say about this book, and I guess I didn't really come up with anything here. Something has to be said though, because this is just too good to not talk about.
-Tom