Monday, June 19, 2017
Time. Constantly moving forward no matter what. There comes a point in one’s life when you notice the passage of time. For me it started with people I know getting married. Then it was seeing them having children of their own. It seemed like all of a sudden I was attending funerals. I started retailing comic books in 1980 feeling like the luckiest nerd in the world and I’m still doing it part time thanks to Heather at Comet Comics and my partner Chris at Jee-Riz Comics & Appraisals. I believe it helps to keep me young. I think I’ll have my ashes bagged and boarded with my lucky headband after I’ve shuffled off this mortal coil.
Action Comics #981 – Dan Jurgens (writer) Jack Herbert (art) Hi-Fi (colours) Rob Leigh (letters). The Superman Revenge Squad recruits their latest member and this megalomaniac will pose the biggest threat to the Man of Steel in a while. Not a good time for Superman to suffer from an unexpected handicap. He’s going to need a little help from his friends now and Dan gives us hints as to who they are throughout this issue.
Weapon X #4 – Greg Pak (writer) Greg Land (pencils) Jay Leisten (inks) Frank D’Armata (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). Well the gang’s all here plus the Totally Awesome Hulk. The surprise reveal of the villain just made me go meh.
Jimmy’s Bastards #1 – Garth Ennis (writer) Russ Braun (art) John Kalisz (colours) Rob Steen (letters). The title of this new book made me wonder what it was about because it seemed to be a James Bond 007 parody with the patented over the top Garth Ennis sex and violence that we came to know and love in The Boys. Turns out that Jimmy, the MI6 super spy, has sired enough illegitimate children that they have gathered together for a big family reunion. Boy, do these kids have daddy issues.
Defenders #1 – Brian Michael Bendis (writer) David Marquez (art) Justin Ponsor (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). I suppose that this is the comic book version of the upcoming Netflix TV show because it reads like a first episode where all the major characters are introduced. Well, the heroes at least. I don’t know if the villains in here will show up on the show. I have yet to watch the second season of Daredevil, Luke Cage or Iron Fist but I am familiar with them and Jessica Jones so there’s no need for me to binge the TV shows to get into what’s going on in this comic book. A bad guy attacks the four friends and has a secret weapon which seems to give him a huge advantage. Who needs the Fantastic Four when you’ve got these guys?
Dark Days: The Forge #1 – Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV (writers) Jim Lee, Andy Kubert & John Romita Jr. (pencils) Scott Williams, Klaus Janson & Danny Miki (inks) Alex Sinclair with Jeremiah Skipper (colours) Steve Wands (letters). This is the start of DC’s big crossover event for 2017. It all revolves around a mysterious metal of alien origin from near the dawn of time. Carter Hall/Hawkman starts things off but most of this is in the hands of Batman. The most interesting aspect of this mystery is the appearance of a villain who we haven’t seen on the racks in a while. I’m more interested in another character that hasn’t been around who will add some levity do these grim proceedings. He’s the main reason that I’ll be checking out this new crisis.
Briggs Land: Lone Wolves #1 – Brian Wood (writer) Mack Chater (art) Lee Loughridge (colours) Nate Piekos (letters). The family of antigovernment secessionists is back on the racks and they are in a whole new mess of trouble. Two lost hikers are found trespassing and the bad guys decide to do something stupid. I find the politics in this series very interesting.
Kingpin #5 – Matthew Rosenberg (writer) Ben Torres (art) Jordan Boyd (colours) VC’s Travis Lanham (letters). If you thought you were going to get more insight into the life of Wilson Fisk by reading this mini you will be disappointed. This focused more on the reporter Sarah Dewey whose life isn’t even as interesting as Ben Urich’s.
Wonder Woman #14 – Greg Rucka (writer) Bilquis Evely (art) Romulo Fajardo Jr. (colours) Jodi Wynne (letters). This epilogue to “Godwatch” wraps up Doctor Cale’s futile attempt to rescue her daughter and seals the fate of the Cheetah. I’ve grown annoyed with the alternating past and present storylines with each issue hitting the racks so unless the next present story is really good I will bench this book.
American Gods: Shadows #4Â – Neil Gaiman (writer) P. Craig Russell (script & layouts) Scott Hampton (art) Rick Parker (letters). I read the novel recently and it’s interesting to see how the art is being interpreted. There is a side story about pixies in the book that Colleen Doran does the writing and art for in this issue. If you like Colleen’s work here please give “A Distant Soil” a look see.
All-New Wolverine #21 – Tom Taylor (writer) Leonard Kirk (pencils) Cory Hamscher & Terry Pallot (inks) Michael Garland (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). The end of “Immune” could be the end of Laura. I think Tom handled Deadpool’s appearance well. I would read Deadpool if Tom wrote it.
Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps #22 – Robert Venditti (writer) Ethan Van Sciver (art) Jason Wright (colours) Dave Sharpe (letters). Part 1 of “Fracture” starts off showing us a planet that’s a big bank in a comic book about an intergalactic police force. You just know it’s going to get robbed. The space pirates are just a way of introducing the mystery that will tear the Lanterns apart if I read the title of this story right. Ethan’s art is the reason that I keep reading this book. I do consider benching it when another artist is drawing it.
Betty & Veronica #3 – Adam Hughes (story & art) Jose Villarrubia (colours) Jack Morelli (letters). There’s a really great twist that ends this story about a feud between B&V. Now I wish Adam would do a Josie and the Pussycats story.
Uncanny Avengers #24 – Jim Zub (writer) Kim Jacinto (art) Tamra Bonvillain (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). I debated whether I was going to continue reading this title after artist Pepe Larraz finished his run but decided to give new writer Jim a shot because I like this team. He did a good job of showing these heroes in action for this Secret Empire tie-in and Kim’s art is quite nice. I think I’ll stick around for a bit.
Detective Comics #958 – James Tynion IV (writer) Alvaro Martinez (pencils) Raul Fernandez (inks) Brad Anderson (colours) Sal Cipriano (letters). Part 1 of “Intelligence” starts a new story centered around team member Azrael. James piqued my curiosity by hinting at a mysterious female guest star and when I got to the last page reveal I was very pleased. Alvaro may not be as eye pleasing as Adam Hughes but he did a good job drawing her. I am going to read the rest of this story just to see her in action. The scene with Cassandra reciting Shakespeare was cute.
Ms. Marvel #19 – G. Willow Wilson (writer) Marco Failla (art) Ian Herring (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). The 4-part “Mecca” starts here. The subject matter is apropos of the current immigration climate in the USA right now. I like to think that comic book fandom is well informed and open minded so I hope that Willow’s views are generally supported and there aren’t too many negative reactions to this story.
Star Wars #32 – Jason Aaron (writer) Salvador Larroca (art) Edgar Delgado (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). Uh-oh, some of the good guys change sides in part 4 of “Screaming Citadel”. This should have been a Doctor Aphra book because she plays a big part in the adventure.
Hulk #7 – Mariko Tamaki (writer) George Duarte (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). New artist George Duarte does an excellent job. I am still enjoying watching Jennifer work through her trauma. She Hulks out but only to blow off some steam. The surprise visit from a friend was nice. If the last page is any indication, there is going to be plenty of smashing next issue.
