January 23 Reviews

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Mice Templar #3
Image
Writing: Bryan Glass
Pencils, Ink, Cover: Michael Avon Oeming
Colors: Wil Quintana
4/5

Though not quite as rich as the issues preceding it, the third installment of Mice Templar is still a well executed step forward for this fantasy tale. The legend the story is built around is still being fleshed out, as are the characters and their relationships, but already Glass and Oeming are delivering plenty of excitement and suspense. There aren't many comics out that dabble in the fantasy realm and it's a special day when one is as instantly engaging as this has been.

Hopefully it's able to improve from this installment though, which felt slightly less ambitious and too narrowly focused. Several visual choices were also distracting. The frequent use of exaggerated lettering for emphasis, as well as the rat's speech, was overdone and looks a little trashy. There were also some instances, particularly with the 'Druid Witch,' that blood was drawn or colored with too much emphasis and distinction in style from the art around it. With work as beautiful as Oeming's the little tarnishes really show.

Potential is still the operating word here, though already there's plenty of fun to be had. We definitely recommend getting in on any new on-going that's as promising as this one is.
-Tom



Astonishing X-Men #24
Marvel
Writing: Joss Whedon
Pencils, Inks, Cover: John Cassaday
Colors: Laura Martin
4.5/5

There's a reason this is one of the most critically acclaimed superhero titles of the modern era. The current Breakworld prophecy arc that began in issue nineteen and which will conclude the series in the upcoming Giant Sized Astonishing #1 is already considered one of the best X-Men stories put to print. Any disputes of this claim were laid to rest by last November's brilliant issue 23 which all but guaranteed this series a prominent pedestal in comic history.

This penultimate release isn't in the same category of 'instant classic,' but it does well to roll that momentum up nice and tight for next issue's massive ending. Whedon and Cassaday bring cinematic grandeur to the page like no other team working and if there's a comic out there right now that's earned a higher level of expectations than Giant Sized #1 we're sure not aware of it.

Be glad you were here for this.
-Tom



The Amazing Spider-Man #548
Marvel
Writing: Dan Slott
Pencils & Cover: Steve McNiven
Inks: Dester Vines
Colors: Dave Stewart
4/5

With the conclusion of his first arc, Dan Slott has written what is probably the best Amazing story in several years and he did it without gimmicks, unnecessary deaths or anything aiming to be 'epic.' He just gave us a simple Spidey story, inspired by the classics but made in the new mold. It's nice to see the conflict taken back to street-level action and to have some digestible dialogue.

This issue does bring a close to the first run from members of the new creative teams but doesn't seal the story completely. While the main conflict with Mr. Negative is concluded there are still many other threads dangling into Marc Guggenheim's arc that picks up next month. Harry Osbourne, for example, is utilized very little in these opening issues and why he needed to be brought back at all is still uncertain. Future issues will have to do a better job justifying his presence. Mr. Negative even survives the end of the issue and is set up to be returning as a steady fixture in Spidey's rogue gallery.

Slott and the rest of the Braintrust seem to have a vision of where they're taking this book, and so far it seems to be the type of trip you want to tag along for. These three issues were beautifully drawn, well written, and most importantly they were fun. Until we've gotten arcs from all four of the new writers though it's too early to say whether this relaunch will ultimately result in success.
-Grady



The Ultimates 3 #2
Marvel
Writing: Jeph Loeb
Pencils, Inks, Cover: Joe Madureira
Colors: Christian Lichtner
1.5/5

The second installment of Jeph Loeb's grossly misguided foray into guiding the Ultimates continues the series' efforts to shame itself. The attempts at witty and modern banter that open the issue are uncomfortable at best and are followed by a comic-long playground brawl that goes so far as to use an entire page to highlight screaming of the phrase, 'SUCK IT!' It even finishes with a scene which has Wolverine popping his claws for no reason other than it looking cool to do so.

The production on the lettering is horribly ugly and the frequent in-your-face sound effects are at least as much. The art looks decent-to-pretty in places but in general is too XTreme! to be taken seriously.

It's hard to say what Loeb is trying to do here. If the intention is to be light hearted and take us on a late night cartoon adventure with our Marvel friends then this is well off the mark. At least this issue didn't have as many sex tapes. It's a shame this is what has come of the franchise. Get Loeb out of here.
-Tom



The Order #7
Marvel
Writing: Matt Fraction
Pencils & Cover: Barry Kitson
Inks: Jon Sibal & Kitson
Colors: Jelena Kevic-Djerdjevic & Antonio Fabela
4/5

In a way every issue of this title is now a don't-miss. With its impending cancellation after three more releases there won't be many more opportunities to experience this fantastic set of characters. Fraction and Kitson have done more with this title in seven issues than most every other monthly superhero team book can pull off over the course of several years, if ever. It's witty, smart and hits on a very human level, yet still it fits the model for spandex pose-leaping. The Order should have been promoted and touted as the new bar for team books, not sent to the chopping block.

This issue continued with more of the high-quality stuff we've experienced up to this point. Fraction bleeds from his books. He gives each their own voice and tone but he can't hide or disguise the presence of his unique intellect and charisma. Here he plays Namor into the same role and discussion other writers have tried recently but does it much more fluidly. The majority of the issue is centered around an on-going discussion between Namor and Henry Hellrung, a conversation which has greater weight with our knowledge of the book's upcoming end. There are some funny digs & commentary on Marvel continuity that border on breaking the fourth wall and a bunch of big hero-shot panels where Fraction really gives Kitson the stage. The eventual resolution even makes sure to stay venue-appropriate and is very seedy Hollywood underbelly in nature. The book asks you to look outside the lines a lot to understand what makes it funny and smart, and the experience is quite satisfying.

This has been a great run for The Order and its ten issues will have a vivid, fond place in many readers hearts. The only good that comes of its cancellation is the excitement of where Fraction will land next. Wherever it is, I'll be meeting him there.
-Tom



X-Men #207
Marvel
Writing: Mike Carey
Pencils: Chris Bachalo
Inks: Townsend, Olazaba, Sibal, Vey
Colors: Brian Reber & Edgar Delgado
Cover: David Finch
4.5/5

The thirteenth and final installment has arrived and Messiah Complex is in the books. Now that all is said and done we can safely say that it was one of the strongest events Marvel has done in years and easily one of the top three X-Men crossovers ever. The final issue is a nice balance between calm and storm and touches on enough open threads to bring satisfying conclusion to the story. There is a definitive end, and it occurs without requiring any character monologues to explain it.

Many of the questions we initially expected the course of the event to answer weren't addressed and are being used to kick-start the revamped X book lineup. These leftovers feel natural though and their creation wasn't the primary goal of the event. Messiah Complex can be read as a stand-alone piece and wasn't merely a means to setting up a bunch of spin off titles. More than anything the unanswered questions bring a much needed degree of excitement to the line of books going into the next few months.

This event was a success on many levels. The 'end' of the X-Men has, in many ways, given them new life and they've proven they can work a massive crossover effectively. While some of the artist choices for the new teams may leave room for doubt, the direction the stories are headed in suggest we've more great X reads ahead of us.
-Tom



Iron Man #25
Marvel
Writing: Dan & Charles Knauf
Pencils & Inks: Rob De La Torre
Colors: Dean White
Cover: Gerald Parel
3/5

For some reason Iron Man doesn't generate much discussion despite its titular character's stature in the Marvel Universe. It may be that not a lot has happened in its pages recently. The family Knauf have been putting the book through a slow burn the last few months, building their Mandarin/Extremis plot toward an eventual boiling point. In terms of tone and execution it's essentially Captain America-lite, which may be part of the reason it doesn't receive much attention. These guys should be getting more credit though, because there are a lot of good things happening in this title. The mystery and espionage elements of the story are implemented effectively and there are a lot of well delivered scenes full of heavy dialogue.

Holding it back are several moments that are too cheesy or that reached too far. Tony's realization that Maya must be alive because she hasn't been appearing to him in his schizophrenic visions of dead people is, for example, not the Knaufs best moment. Nor is having Tony end the issue with the cliffhanger line of, "Let's do this," as he encounters the Mandarin for the first time. Nitpicky moments aside however, this is one of the better superhero books coming out right now. In the shadow of titans like Cap we may hear less about it but if you're interested in more of a similar vein the Knaufs' Iron Man is certainly worth your time.
-Grady