Monday, February 18, 2019
It’s Family Day here in Ottawa. Not everybody gets a day off for this winter holiday. I have every Monday off so not a big deal for me. I just finished reading a new short story by Charles de Lint called “Horsepower and Medicine” spun off of his last novel “The Wind In His Heart”. The story revolves around two young women named Santana and Yirah and how one helps the other open up to the beauty around us all. I am biased when it comes to Charles’s writing but I think folks would enjoy his books if they gave them a try.
Runaways #18 – Rainbow Rowell (writer) Kris Anka (art) Matthew Wilson (colours) VC’s Joe Caramagna (letters). That Was Yesterday part 6. Yay, the kids save the world from the Giborim again but not before they are betrayed by one of their own. Way to get booted off the team. This might seem like a good place to stop reading this book if you haven’t been happy with it but the last page will make you change your mind.
Thor #10 – Jason Aaron (writer) Mike del Mundo (art) Mike del Mundo & Marco D’Alfonso (colours) VC’s Joe Sabino (letters). As we march slowly and inexorably towards The War of the Realms (coming in 2 months!) we take a break and watch Thor and Odin have at each other. The idyllic cover with all-father and son clinking mugs of mead isn’t remotely what happens inside. You’ll find out where Thor gets his stubborn streak.
Ironheart #3 – Eve L. Ewing (writer) Geoffo (layouts) Luciano Vecchio (art) Matt Milla (colours) VC’s Clayton Cowles (letters). Riri runs into a new super villain. Midnight’s Fire. Never heard of him. He’s a master thief, expert martial artist, has magical ability, superior agility, superior strength, and extrasensory perception. Going to be hard to beat, no? The new creative team for Riri is doing a fine job.
Criminal #2 – Ed Brubaker (writer) Sean Phillips (art) Jacob Phillips (colours). This issue was a lot of fun because it happens around a comic con in 1997. The guest artist getting a lifetime achievement award is a piece of work. I wonder if he is based on a real person.
Avengers: No Road Home #1/LGY #708 – Mark Waid, Al Ewing & Jim Zub (writers) Paco Medina (pencils) Juan Vlasco (inks) Jesus Aburtov (colours) VC’s Cory Petit (letters). It’s lights out in this weekly Avengers adventure (say that five times fast) not only for Earth but the entire universe. Such a huge threat calls for a special assemblage of Avengers. Voyager/Va Nee Gast gathers together a team of heroes to fight the darkness. Here they are in no particular order: Hercules, Rocket Racoon, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Scarlet Witch/Wanda, Vision, Spectrum/Monica Rambeau, Blue Marvel/Adam Brashear, Toni Ho, and The Hulk/Bruce Banner. The art in this is gorgeous and I’m happy that each new issue will be hitting the racks every week. The big bad guy is new to me so I don’t have that “here we go again” feeling. Notice the Legacy number? Why have that on the cover? It’s just confusing. Avengers #14/LGY #704 came out Feb 6 and Avengers #15/LGY #705 (I’m assuming) hits the racks Feb 20. I suppose Avengers: No Road Home #1/LGY #708 takes place after those Avengers issues and maybe this adventure will be referenced in the regular series. I dunno. It annoys me.
Wonder Twins #1 – Mark Russell (writer) Stephen Byrne (art) Dave Sharpe (letters). The Super Friends cartoon where these twins first appeared was on TV long after I stopped watching Saturday morning cartoons so I’m not a fan. I can’t say I’m a fan of this new comic book either but it’s not targeted at old fogies like me. I think younger readers will like it a lot. The art is nice and the plots are not too convoluted. There is a big boo-boo with how Jayna and Zan deal with Mr. Mxyzptlk however. Plus what the heck is up with the Flash in that one panel? Is he a teacher at their high school? Like I said, this comic book is not for old people.
The Magic Order #6 – Mark Millar (writer) Olivier Coipel (art) Dave Stewart (colours) Peter Doherty (letters). There’s a good reason for Gabriel’s betrayal and it looks like the good guys have lost. But long time comic book fans know better. I loved how this story ends and I look forward to more stories about this magical family. I hope Olivier gets another regular book to draw soon.
Savage Sword of Conan #1/LGY #236 – Gerry Duggan (writer) Ron Garney (art) Richard Isanove (colours) VC’s Travis Lanham (letters). It’s not the same in colour and the smaller comic book size but the old black & white magazine is back on the racks with Conan swashbuckling all over the pages. Here we find a twenty-year-old Conan rescued from a shipwreck by slavers and his half dead body thrown into the hold with the other living cargo. Of course the rugged Cimmerian lives to fight another day. It looks like they have long range plans for this book foreshadowing Conan’s meeting with the Serpent Priest Thoth-Amon. The last page is enough of a tease for new and old fans alike to keep reading.
