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Thursday, October 25, 2007

September 24 Reviews

The Walking Dead #43
Image
Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Charlie Adlard

4.5/5

There's really never been any question as to whether or not Robert Kirkman knows exactly what he's doing. That's particularly obvious in this issue where he flushes out what The Governor has been up to since we last saw him and in the time leading up to his attack on the prison. By the time you finish this issue you'll understand exactly what Kirkman has been doing the last few months. He has a vision of where he's taking this series and yet is conscious to not lose sight of the need to tell a well paced human story on the way toward the big picture. The last several issues have been slower paced chatty wanderings exploring the feelings and social relationships of the survivors at the prison. The Governor's attack was inevitable but so much time has been spent away from it that it truly did feel as though it may never arrive. It's here though, and in this issue when The Governor rallies his people to march to war against the prison, it feels as though he's rallying the entire series. It's on from this point forward and several issues from now we can expect our band of survivors, and perhaps the whole structure of the story, to be radically different. If you've been away from TWD, or are looking for a good place to come on board, this is the time to be running to read this. Be here when Kirkman makes us all realize we had no idea what we were talking about.



Casanova #10
Image
Written by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Fabio Moon

4.5/5

I suppose at this point I shouldn't be surprised when I find myself laughing out loud while reading Casanova. It happens nearly every issue and yet somehow the experience still manages to seem as fresh and invigorating each month as it has the times before. This is one of the most entertaining comics I've ever read and it's a pleasure to be following it in the here-and-now and not in a hardcover after the fact two years down the line.

With each installment of this book I'm still impressed with what an incredible value this title is at $1.99. Not only does Fraction cram more story into his 16 pages than mos
t creators do with 22, 24, 32, etc..., but his bonus material at the end of the book is equally as interesting and provides at least another ten minutes of really solid entertainment.

Additionally, Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba have both been fantastic in their work on this series and that continues with this issue. The humor wouldn't sell as well as it does if weren't rendered so hilariously. Looking at their work here, and Ba's on Umbrella Academy, these guys are two of my favorite artists in action right now. Their styles fit the mood of both series perfectly.

Oh Casanova. Please stick around for a long, long time. You're keeping things from getting too boring.



X-Men #204

Marvel
Written by: Mike Carey
Art by: Mike Choi

4/5

Whew. It's about time. Carey's X team has been in non-stop chaos mode for as long as I can remember and in this issue, finally, they catch a breather. There is literally zero action in this installment with Carey instead moving amongst the different players and giving them some time to talk and think. This change of pace is coupled with guest artist Mike Choi who fills in for usual doodlers Bachalo and Ramos. Choi's concise realistic drawings are a radical contrast to the more cartoony/anime style of the series' regular team and work wonderfully with the reflective tone of the issue. This is a great example of how personal and compelling the X-Men can be and has me completely sold on the event starting next week. In fact, this issue reads as much like a 'Prologue to Messiah Complex' as it does as just another issue of the adjectiveless X title. I'm glad that while Spider-Man is floundering around the X-Men books are suddenly becoming engaging and exciting to follow. I have a feeling the next few months will be some of the most fun and memorable times in the X franchise's long and storied history.



Thunderbolts #117
Marvel
Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Mike Deodato Jr.

4/5

This is undoubtedly the least action oriented issue of Thunderbolts that Ellis has written. That doesn't, however, mean it isn't exciting. Doc Samson is visiting Thunderbolt Mountain to take a look at Penance and their time together is riveting. Through Samson, Ellis goes straight to the heart of the boy and gives him depth and substance past what he's ever held previously. It is a fantastic scene with sharp dialogue and serves as the foundation of the entire issue. Also blatantly present though, is the one thread of Ellis' run on this series I'm not at all enthusiastic about - Norman Osborne. Until now I've been trying to ignore his 'existence' in this title altogether, writing the character off as someone new. Now though, with several Green Goblin references being brought into play, that's becoming increasingly difficult. I really hope Ellis stays away from using Osborne as much as possible unless he's prepared to really step up and justify the guys presence.



Green Arrow: Year One #6
DC
Written by: Andy Diggle
Art by: Jock

3.5/5

This is the concluding issue to this mini about Oliver Queen's transformation into the Green Arrow. Now that all is said and done the series showed itself to be a bit short sighted but fun if nothing else. Though I'm still a bit let down by the lack of depth, scope, and meaning to this story I will admit it got more exciting toward the end and was a decent read altogether.

Were there to have been a different artist on this title I would probably have ended up being far more let down with it than I am. Even when the story slumped Jock's work still brought the flavor and kept me from regretting my invested time and money. I don't think I'd recommend this as being worth hunting down if you missed it, but it was a fun ride while it was here.



Wraith #4
Marvel
Written by: Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Art by: Kyle Hotz

3/5

We didn't review the third issue of Wraith but it was undoubtedly the worst of the series, particularly the ending. Thankfully this issue is less frustrating and closes the mini on a stronger note than I had come to expect. Nearly every character that has appeared earlier in this story gets some face time here and most their storylines either find some form of closure or reach a good jumping off point for the Conquest main event. That said there are still plenty of things not to like about this issue though nothing you haven't come to anticipate already. There's still far too much of Wraith testifying passionately and out loud to people who aren't anywhere near him. It advances the narrative but also the level of cheesiness and it prevents me from becoming immersed in the tale. The things that come out of character's mouths should be pretty compatible with how people in real life speak. Most people, I believe, don't talk aloud to themselves in private about their feelings, beliefs, etc...



The Killer #5 & 6
Archaia
Written by: Matz
Art by: Jacamon

(!) / 5

No, that exclamation mark doesn't have anything to do with Radiohead. Neither does The Killer. Though listening to Radiohead while reading The Killer certainly would work. No, the mysterious rating is sadly only around because I don't have these books yet. They're coming in next week at my LCS for reasons unknown(disclosed). Exclamate hope though, because there hasn't been a single bad moment in this entire series. It's easily one of the most can't-go-wrong titles I've ever read. If you like things, you'll like this.



If you don't know what's going on with all the Radiohead stuff - you're not even at all cool. Read more blogs and annoying indie webzines. Have a good remainder of the night and enjoy next week. Exclamate something!

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