From Adventure Comics 401.
Showing posts with label adventure comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adventure comics. Show all posts
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Super Silly Sunday
From Adventure Comics 401.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Reviews!
Spoilers ahead for Adventure Comics #7, GA/BC #29, Batgirl #7, Action Comics #886. I know a month ago I said that I'd cancel Action and Adventure Comics, and I did, but my shop orders books 2 months in advance so anything I do cancel takeas a little while to actually finish. Having said that, it worked out quite well this month, as you shall see.
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Adventure Comics #7
I really really liked this. The storytelling devices worked really well, Krypto was brilliant ( I never thought I'd like Krypto but how he's been used in the last few years has really impressed me), the use of Connor's two bodies was good and the discovery that Connor now has all Superman's powers was satisfying. Definitely worth getting.
GA/BC #29
Meh. Cupid's restoration back to her normal self was boring and far too easily done. I like mad Cupid but Carrie is dull as anything. If we're lucky her 'babe' comment indictaes that ther eis still something of the old Cupid in her. We now have a new villain - Hilt - who has a knife permanently stuck in his head. Great idea, but to get rid of one villain and immediately create another seems sloppy.
There's a completely unneccessary shot of Dinah's arse as she prepares to seduce Oliver - i'm happy with them being a sexual couple but there has to be other, non sexist, ways to frame sex scenes. Well there are - Mike Grell's GA run did it perfectly.
Batgirl #7
I've got Batgirl #6 on order but still haven't decided whether to add this to my pull list or not. There's some great bits in it but overall it doesn't truly delight me. That might be because I read it during the world's crappest weekend leading to me being in a bloody awful mood and not reallt receptive to fuin light hearted stuff. We'll see.
Action Comics #886
Now this surprised me! This title is so up and down, but #886 was great. We got to see Krypton's creation myth and learnt more about the Flamebird and Nightwing entities. Plus there was a reveal about Jax-Ur. Things have just got interesting. But I'll still drop it after the next issue.
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Adventure Comics #7
I really really liked this. The storytelling devices worked really well, Krypto was brilliant ( I never thought I'd like Krypto but how he's been used in the last few years has really impressed me), the use of Connor's two bodies was good and the discovery that Connor now has all Superman's powers was satisfying. Definitely worth getting.
GA/BC #29
Meh. Cupid's restoration back to her normal self was boring and far too easily done. I like mad Cupid but Carrie is dull as anything. If we're lucky her 'babe' comment indictaes that ther eis still something of the old Cupid in her. We now have a new villain - Hilt - who has a knife permanently stuck in his head. Great idea, but to get rid of one villain and immediately create another seems sloppy.
There's a completely unneccessary shot of Dinah's arse as she prepares to seduce Oliver - i'm happy with them being a sexual couple but there has to be other, non sexist, ways to frame sex scenes. Well there are - Mike Grell's GA run did it perfectly.
Batgirl #7
I've got Batgirl #6 on order but still haven't decided whether to add this to my pull list or not. There's some great bits in it but overall it doesn't truly delight me. That might be because I read it during the world's crappest weekend leading to me being in a bloody awful mood and not reallt receptive to fuin light hearted stuff. We'll see.
Action Comics #886
Now this surprised me! This title is so up and down, but #886 was great. We got to see Krypton's creation myth and learnt more about the Flamebird and Nightwing entities. Plus there was a reveal about Jax-Ur. Things have just got interesting. But I'll still drop it after the next issue.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Comic review party time
Yes dear readers, it is that time of the week again where I wax lyrical about ther stuff I bought. Sadly this will not include Batgirl #6 as I forgot to pick it up. What a dunce. Anyhow, there will be spoilers ahead for Adventure Comics #6, Action Comics # 885, GA/BC #28, Catwoman: Blackest Night # 83 (resurrected title), The Power of Shazam: Blackest Night #48 (resurrected title) and Buffy the Vampire Slayer #31.
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Adventure Comics #6
OK, the cover has a dinosaur on it. I knew I was gonna like this issue. Lex Luthor is a really manipulative, power obsessed bastard. Superboy finally realises he can stop fretting about his genetic makeup and resolves to just be himself. The art continues to be gorgeous and when Conner met up with Cassie, Tim and Bart at the end I probably gave a little gasp. Manapul draws a beautiful Tim, not such a great Bart, but a great Tim. (Image nicked from James Ashelford's blog)
Nect month is a Blackest NIght tie in, so I'll get that, but from March it's focusing on the Legion of Superheroes, who i don't give a stuff about, so I shall be dropping it. Thsi may cause problems when folloing this years Super family event, but I'll have to cope.
Action Comics # 885
The art in this is sometimes wildly off key and it took several minutes of hard thinking to remember what had happened in this issue. Maybe I should drop it. But then I think that with the Superman crossover coming up, will I understand the main plot is I'm not reading Adventure Comics, Superman and Action Comics?
And then the odd issue of Action really impresses me and I'm sucked back in again.
But then I get an issue like this week's one, where I don't really care about the main story and I certainly coudln't give a stuff about Captain bleeding Atom. I'm pretty certain that I won't be going back and re-reading these issues. Maybe I should drop it.
GA/BC #28
Bad, bad characterisation of Dinah here - her dialogue seemed very strange. We find out more about Cupid's background and see Mia get to be awesome again. But honestly, when isn't she awesome?
Looking back at Cupid's background - the evil government have made her crazy by injecting stuff into her brain via her nose cavity (yes really) and this compound has induced memory loss, given her super strength and increased the levels of the chemical that people feel when they are in love. So essentially they've made a super strong lady who's driven by her hormones. Driven by her hormones to obssess/love/lust after men who she will then attack, fight, kill, rape, abuse or generally take advantage of.
Yeah, that's not trading in sexist steroetypes at all.
DC you suck.
Catwoman: Blackest Night # 83 (resurrected title)
Now this on the other hand, this did not suck at all. This was awesome. Selina has to rescue her sister from the crazy Black Lantern guy who tortured her before, and who Selina susequently killed. Harley and Ivy turned up and came up with a pretty inventive way to dispose of the Black Lantern - a venus fly trap endlessly digesting him. Yum.
Well, I say awesome. It was awesome up till the end when her her sister was turned into Selina's next nemesis. That was a crap outcome. Boring, old and tired.
The Power of Shazam: Blackest Night #48 (resurrected title)
This also rocked. Osiris and his friendly Crocodile mate (last seen in 52) are given Black Lantern rings. Osiris manages to fight off the urges of the Black Lantern (far more effectively than Wonder Woman did, let's be honest), and succeeds in destroying both himself and his crocodile friend.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #31
Again, a good issue. And for once a cover that isn't all about the sexy nakedness. Buffy learns to fly, fins out about Xander and Dawn, is a jekr about it then gets better and combines forces with Willow to defeat the goddesses.
I must take issue with the blurb for next month's issue that states 'Buffy has fucking superpowers'. We know she's got superpowers. She's a damn slayer.
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Adventure Comics #6
OK, the cover has a dinosaur on it. I knew I was gonna like this issue. Lex Luthor is a really manipulative, power obsessed bastard. Superboy finally realises he can stop fretting about his genetic makeup and resolves to just be himself. The art continues to be gorgeous and when Conner met up with Cassie, Tim and Bart at the end I probably gave a little gasp. Manapul draws a beautiful Tim, not such a great Bart, but a great Tim. (Image nicked from James Ashelford's blog)
Nect month is a Blackest NIght tie in, so I'll get that, but from March it's focusing on the Legion of Superheroes, who i don't give a stuff about, so I shall be dropping it. Thsi may cause problems when folloing this years Super family event, but I'll have to cope.
Action Comics # 885
The art in this is sometimes wildly off key and it took several minutes of hard thinking to remember what had happened in this issue. Maybe I should drop it. But then I think that with the Superman crossover coming up, will I understand the main plot is I'm not reading Adventure Comics, Superman and Action Comics?
And then the odd issue of Action really impresses me and I'm sucked back in again.
But then I get an issue like this week's one, where I don't really care about the main story and I certainly coudln't give a stuff about Captain bleeding Atom. I'm pretty certain that I won't be going back and re-reading these issues. Maybe I should drop it.
GA/BC #28
Bad, bad characterisation of Dinah here - her dialogue seemed very strange. We find out more about Cupid's background and see Mia get to be awesome again. But honestly, when isn't she awesome?
Looking back at Cupid's background - the evil government have made her crazy by injecting stuff into her brain via her nose cavity (yes really) and this compound has induced memory loss, given her super strength and increased the levels of the chemical that people feel when they are in love. So essentially they've made a super strong lady who's driven by her hormones. Driven by her hormones to obssess/love/lust after men who she will then attack, fight, kill, rape, abuse or generally take advantage of.
Yeah, that's not trading in sexist steroetypes at all.
DC you suck.
Catwoman: Blackest Night # 83 (resurrected title)
Now this on the other hand, this did not suck at all. This was awesome. Selina has to rescue her sister from the crazy Black Lantern guy who tortured her before, and who Selina susequently killed. Harley and Ivy turned up and came up with a pretty inventive way to dispose of the Black Lantern - a venus fly trap endlessly digesting him. Yum.
Well, I say awesome. It was awesome up till the end when her her sister was turned into Selina's next nemesis. That was a crap outcome. Boring, old and tired.
The Power of Shazam: Blackest Night #48 (resurrected title)
This also rocked. Osiris and his friendly Crocodile mate (last seen in 52) are given Black Lantern rings. Osiris manages to fight off the urges of the Black Lantern (far more effectively than Wonder Woman did, let's be honest), and succeeds in destroying both himself and his crocodile friend.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer #31
Again, a good issue. And for once a cover that isn't all about the sexy nakedness. Buffy learns to fly, fins out about Xander and Dawn, is a jekr about it then gets better and combines forces with Willow to defeat the goddesses.
I must take issue with the blurb for next month's issue that states 'Buffy has fucking superpowers'. We know she's got superpowers. She's a damn slayer.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
3 sentence reviews
Of comics a week old..I'm giving myself a little bit of a break from blogging as I need to recharge and think of topics for posts (!). I will be back in about a week. Meanwhile, happy holidays everyone!
Spoilers ahead for Red Robin #7, Batgirl #5, Green Arrow/Black Canary #27, Action Comics #19, Adventure Comics: Blackest Night # 5.
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Red Robin #7
I'm really liking this addition of Tam Fox, she is really very good. There's a big spider beasty, Alfred and Lucius Fox having a quiet afternoon cup of tea, and then Ra's Al Ghul is killed! There's something about this title that keeps drawing me back, even though I when I do read it I feel it isn't really an obvious book for me.
Batgirl #5
Laugh out loud comic of the week with some very clever digs at Damian - one made through the choice of art style and one an off panel gag. There's also a shock ending which contrasted strongly with the humour of the book. I'm eagerly anticipating the next issue!
Green Arrow/Black Canary #27
This issue is very much focused on Cupid. She gets her Dark Arrow and we discover more about her past. The regular artist is far too fixated on giving Dinah an unzipped costume, but other that that, a cracking issue.
Action Comics #19
When you consider how I was debating whether to drop this title a few months back, I think it has really improved in the last few months. I won't debate the content, if you're not reading it it won't make sense, if you are you don't need my description. A solid issue.
Adventure Comics: Blackest Night # 5
I am sick and tired of covers paying tribute to the dead Supergirl crisis cover. It's lazy, boring and reduces the impact of the original. Having said that I thought the comic was lots of fun - I like books that break the 4th wall and this had plenty of that.
Spoilers ahead for Red Robin #7, Batgirl #5, Green Arrow/Black Canary #27, Action Comics #19, Adventure Comics: Blackest Night # 5.
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Red Robin #7
I'm really liking this addition of Tam Fox, she is really very good. There's a big spider beasty, Alfred and Lucius Fox having a quiet afternoon cup of tea, and then Ra's Al Ghul is killed! There's something about this title that keeps drawing me back, even though I when I do read it I feel it isn't really an obvious book for me.
Batgirl #5
Laugh out loud comic of the week with some very clever digs at Damian - one made through the choice of art style and one an off panel gag. There's also a shock ending which contrasted strongly with the humour of the book. I'm eagerly anticipating the next issue!
Green Arrow/Black Canary #27
This issue is very much focused on Cupid. She gets her Dark Arrow and we discover more about her past. The regular artist is far too fixated on giving Dinah an unzipped costume, but other that that, a cracking issue.
Action Comics #19
When you consider how I was debating whether to drop this title a few months back, I think it has really improved in the last few months. I won't debate the content, if you're not reading it it won't make sense, if you are you don't need my description. A solid issue.
Adventure Comics: Blackest Night # 5
I am sick and tired of covers paying tribute to the dead Supergirl crisis cover. It's lazy, boring and reduces the impact of the original. Having said that I thought the comic was lots of fun - I like books that break the 4th wall and this had plenty of that.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Where yet again I feel love (and some rage) for comics
Spoilers ahead for Action Comics #882, Green Arrow/Black Canary #25, Red Robin #5, Adventure Comics #3, Blackest Night: Batman #3 and Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps #41.
Action Comics #882
Part 3 of the Hunt for Reacton, and so much better than the Codename Patriot crossover. Maybe because this directly concerns Kara, Thara and Chris. Anyway, this is exciting, fast paced, has good characterisation and the plot is moved along well. So, everything that is needed for a good story. And Kara is pretty near centre stage again, so I’m happy.
Has anyone else noted the preponderence of the El family colours on the cover? A family effort to defeat the evil, and very good to look at.
As for the second feature, well! Now I’m sold on this and I won’t be dropping the title, because Natasha Irons has turned up! She is on Mirabai and involved in espionage work, for both sides. I like Natasha. I first came across her in 52 and I find her a really interesting and compelling character.
Green Arrow/Black Canary #25
Ollie gets naked, we learn more about Cupid’s backstory and yet again rape is used as a device to show how evil someone is. Except this time it’s to show Cupid’s evilness, and it doesn’t feel gratuitous, it feels like it fits in with what we’ve be shown of her so far. It also isn’t glamourised, or sexed up, or presented as anything other than what it is. Yes, Cupid is wearing a see through negligee, but that because in her head she’s about to make love to Green Arrow.
Mia and Dinah have to conceal the loss of Ollie from the cops, and I really want to see where Mia’s new suit came from. At the end of the story we see another Olllie, this time with clothes and arrows. I’m thinking a little splitting spell, a la Xander’s experience in Buffy. I’m probably wrong though.
The blurb does say get the rest of the story on the next page, e.g. in the back up bit, but that’s a little misleading. What we actually get is Mia babysitting Lian. The story is pretty good and is all about how a strong princess (Dinah) doesn’t need to rescued by the prince (Ollie). Except throughout this Dinah’s boobs are defying the laws of physics, so what I get from this story is it’s ok to be a kick ass ninja and rescue the prince, but you can only do that if you’ve got your boobs out. Because damn, what are the ladies for unless they look hawt?
I appreciate Dinah likes to be sexy an’ all, but for the majority of BoP her suit was zipped up to her neck. BoP, especially Simone’s run is pretty much the definitive Dinah. So don’t fuck about with this.
Red Robin #5
Still good, gorgeous cover and setting up for some really exciting stuff.
Adventure Comics #3
It’s Connor and Tin’s reunion :D Just wonderful. I hope Bart gets a look in soon.
Blackest Night: Batman #3
Tim and Dick get well and truly manipulated by the Black Lanterns and work out what other folks have already worked out in another title. Dick has a brilliant method of getting through and ending the melee.
Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps #41
A good instalment but mostly fighting. Not a huge amount extra is revealed, but there’s a good set up for the next issue.
Action Comics #882
Part 3 of the Hunt for Reacton, and so much better than the Codename Patriot crossover. Maybe because this directly concerns Kara, Thara and Chris. Anyway, this is exciting, fast paced, has good characterisation and the plot is moved along well. So, everything that is needed for a good story. And Kara is pretty near centre stage again, so I’m happy.
Has anyone else noted the preponderence of the El family colours on the cover? A family effort to defeat the evil, and very good to look at.
As for the second feature, well! Now I’m sold on this and I won’t be dropping the title, because Natasha Irons has turned up! She is on Mirabai and involved in espionage work, for both sides. I like Natasha. I first came across her in 52 and I find her a really interesting and compelling character.
Green Arrow/Black Canary #25
Ollie gets naked, we learn more about Cupid’s backstory and yet again rape is used as a device to show how evil someone is. Except this time it’s to show Cupid’s evilness, and it doesn’t feel gratuitous, it feels like it fits in with what we’ve be shown of her so far. It also isn’t glamourised, or sexed up, or presented as anything other than what it is. Yes, Cupid is wearing a see through negligee, but that because in her head she’s about to make love to Green Arrow.
Mia and Dinah have to conceal the loss of Ollie from the cops, and I really want to see where Mia’s new suit came from. At the end of the story we see another Olllie, this time with clothes and arrows. I’m thinking a little splitting spell, a la Xander’s experience in Buffy. I’m probably wrong though.
The blurb does say get the rest of the story on the next page, e.g. in the back up bit, but that’s a little misleading. What we actually get is Mia babysitting Lian. The story is pretty good and is all about how a strong princess (Dinah) doesn’t need to rescued by the prince (Ollie). Except throughout this Dinah’s boobs are defying the laws of physics, so what I get from this story is it’s ok to be a kick ass ninja and rescue the prince, but you can only do that if you’ve got your boobs out. Because damn, what are the ladies for unless they look hawt?
I appreciate Dinah likes to be sexy an’ all, but for the majority of BoP her suit was zipped up to her neck. BoP, especially Simone’s run is pretty much the definitive Dinah. So don’t fuck about with this.
Red Robin #5
Still good, gorgeous cover and setting up for some really exciting stuff.
Adventure Comics #3
It’s Connor and Tin’s reunion :D Just wonderful. I hope Bart gets a look in soon.
Blackest Night: Batman #3
Tim and Dick get well and truly manipulated by the Black Lanterns and work out what other folks have already worked out in another title. Dick has a brilliant method of getting through and ending the melee.
Blackest Night: Green Lantern Corps #41
A good instalment but mostly fighting. Not a huge amount extra is revealed, but there’s a good set up for the next issue.
Friday, October 02, 2009
3 sentence reviews
In an effort to catch up with my backlog of reviews I am now going to implement 3 sentence reviews. They shall be short, sharp, succinct, possibly with some wit worked in, and to the point. So, mini spoilers ahead for Green Arrow/Black Canary #24, Supeman/Batman #64, Power Girl #5, Adventure Comics #2, Supergirl #45 and Action Comics # 881.
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Green Arrow/Black Canary #24
A positive, normalised portrayal of a lesbian couple, Dinah and Cupid working together (in a believable way) and the return of Mia. What's not to like? It appears that Ollie and Dinah will have rotating duties as the back up feature - this makes sense.
Supeman/Batman #64
Inked and pencilled by one guy - Scott Kolins. He has done a stunning job on this and deserves high praise, recognition and accolades. The art made a boring story well worth the cover price, I could just drink this in.
Power Girl #5
Amanda Connor should be forced to draw cats every issue and Palmiotti should write Peej's everyday life in every issue. Karen is at her most interesting when she's being herself, chatting to normal folks and doing everyday stuff. This book is coming on very well.
Adventure Comics #2
This week Connor reunites with Cassie, next week it's Tim. The art is perfectly suited to the romantic scenes in the book and even Krypto is worked in well. Regarding the legion back up - I dislike twin stories.
Action Comics #881
I have nothing to say that Anj hasn't already, so go read his review. I really don't understand why Captain Atom is the backup to this. Does he have history with the Super family, or Action Comics?
Supergirl #45
Lois takes charge, Streaky the cat is at Kara's appartment and Thara and Kara continue to misuunderstand each other. This Kara is a far cry from the simpering, posing idiot on the cover preview to Cry for Justice #4. Why is she on all fours when the other heroes are dynamic or at least standing up?
Hmm. OK so no wit there, but that was a fun exercise. I must remember to do it again sometime.
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Green Arrow/Black Canary #24
A positive, normalised portrayal of a lesbian couple, Dinah and Cupid working together (in a believable way) and the return of Mia. What's not to like? It appears that Ollie and Dinah will have rotating duties as the back up feature - this makes sense.
Supeman/Batman #64
Inked and pencilled by one guy - Scott Kolins. He has done a stunning job on this and deserves high praise, recognition and accolades. The art made a boring story well worth the cover price, I could just drink this in.
Power Girl #5
Amanda Connor should be forced to draw cats every issue and Palmiotti should write Peej's everyday life in every issue. Karen is at her most interesting when she's being herself, chatting to normal folks and doing everyday stuff. This book is coming on very well.
Adventure Comics #2
This week Connor reunites with Cassie, next week it's Tim. The art is perfectly suited to the romantic scenes in the book and even Krypto is worked in well. Regarding the legion back up - I dislike twin stories.
Action Comics #881
I have nothing to say that Anj hasn't already, so go read his review. I really don't understand why Captain Atom is the backup to this. Does he have history with the Super family, or Action Comics?
Supergirl #45
Lois takes charge, Streaky the cat is at Kara's appartment and Thara and Kara continue to misuunderstand each other. This Kara is a far cry from the simpering, posing idiot on the cover preview to Cry for Justice #4. Why is she on all fours when the other heroes are dynamic or at least standing up?
Hmm. OK so no wit there, but that was a fun exercise. I must remember to do it again sometime.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Super reviews
Told ya I bought a lot this week. After this post there's one more to come, which will cover GA/BC, Booster Gold and Red Robin. this post features spoilers for Adventure Comics #1/504, Action Comics #890, Superman Secret Files 2009 and Wednesday Comics #6.
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Adventure Comics #1/504 Pretty pretty pretty. Oh the skies. All pinks and golds and blues and greens. Oh I haven't seen art this pretty in quite a while. The colourist is named Brian Buccellato. Give the man an award. is this what the skies are really in (the west of?) America? I live in a pretty pretty county, which I name the flatlands, and if I ever got out into the countryside for a sunset I think we'd have skies like this. But not as expansive. One day I'm gonna get to America for a couple of months and do a road trip across the South and the West.
In this issue we see Connor re adjusting to Smallville life. He's grown up so much in the past few years and is now trying to reconcile the Superman part of him with the Luthor part of him. Krypto steals his thunder and rescues the girl, eliciting cries of the cuteness of the cape. Ugh, I know women like that, I am not one of them. Bart is incredibly hyperactive. More so than usual I thought - he seems rather young in this, but maybe he's just very happy to all his friends to be back.
The Legion of Superheroes backup caught my attention. I maintain they've all got stupid names but this was interesting. This Starman character seems a bit mad, or at the very least clueless about 12st century life. I read somewhere that he's meant to have schizophrenia. Well i'm pretty certain that that my friends, is not an accurate depiction of someone with schizophrenia.
It looks like the main and the backup stories will interlink, which is good. I'll stick with Adventure Comics for as long as they have Superboy as the lead and they stick with this art team.
Action Comics #890
Oh my, right back in the action. After last months poor performance this issue is back on form and completely action packed (pardon the pun).
We get to see a lot of what the average joe in the DCU thinks of Kryptonians, Kal and Kara come to earth chasing Ral-Dar and along with Mon-El save a bunch of pilots. Nightwing and Flamebird get treated like celebrities and Thara gets jealous. Christopher acts rather young in this, which is fitting seeing as he has physically if not mentally or emotionally grown in a pretty short space of time. Lois and Clark have a gorgeous reunion and there are some further reveals about the rogue Kryptonians who Thara and Chris have been after (so did not see that coming!), and also about who is working with who.
Overall the art is good, some places it seems average, other places, like with Lois and Clark's reunion and Chris and Thara's fight it is very effective.
I still don't care about Captain Atom but I am definitely gonna keep this book on the pull list.
Superman Secret Files 2009
I ummed and ahhed about whether it was worth getting this book and in the end i'm glad I did. It's got a lot of character backstory which was helpful for finding out about Non, what Kara's current history is and how Argo City/Kandor/Brainiac and the destruction of Kryption fit in. I am not so fussed about the maps of New Krypton or Kandor, but I know that will please a lot of other people.
As for the stories, Ursa's one was vaguely interesting, I suspect i'm not overwhelmed because I don't care much either way for the character. There is certainly nothing wrong with the story. Mon-El's story was delightful - it followed him and his partner on an average day/week in the SP. I like Mon but I don't like his short haircut. I don't like him enough to follow him into the pages of the new JLA but I am tickled by the idea of SuperMon.
The Kara/Thara story was fantastic. I loved young Kara's clothes! Very Linda Danvers (my avatar) esque:
She also has little blue shorts and calf high red boots on. (Picture stolen from Anj).
In the funeral scene Kara was wearing a black version of her uniform - harking back to one of the Kelly (?) issues where she's wearing Connor's shirt, saves a kid from a bus and the kid mentions that Supergirl shouldn't wear black, it's too dark. Well, black is certainly appropriate for the funeral. Interesting that Alura was in red and white though.
I'm always interested in religious stories in comics so seeing young Thara was a delight. Mischievous young Kara resetting the nanny bot was fun.
All in all a pretty excellent issue.
Wednesday Comics #6
Kara takes the super pets to a yuppie Aquaman and Streaky plants sea urchins on her. :D One thing I haven't mention about Connnor's art is that I really admire the way Krypto is recognisabley the same dog breed as the Krypto in the main Super titles. I know jack all about drawing, but it seems to me Connor have quite a simple style, yet it's very very effective.
The Superman stip was all of 5 panels and didn't really do much. I haven't read any of the others and right now am not particularly bothered about the rest, with the exception of the Wondy strip.
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Adventure Comics #1/504 Pretty pretty pretty. Oh the skies. All pinks and golds and blues and greens. Oh I haven't seen art this pretty in quite a while. The colourist is named Brian Buccellato. Give the man an award. is this what the skies are really in (the west of?) America? I live in a pretty pretty county, which I name the flatlands, and if I ever got out into the countryside for a sunset I think we'd have skies like this. But not as expansive. One day I'm gonna get to America for a couple of months and do a road trip across the South and the West.
In this issue we see Connor re adjusting to Smallville life. He's grown up so much in the past few years and is now trying to reconcile the Superman part of him with the Luthor part of him. Krypto steals his thunder and rescues the girl, eliciting cries of the cuteness of the cape. Ugh, I know women like that, I am not one of them. Bart is incredibly hyperactive. More so than usual I thought - he seems rather young in this, but maybe he's just very happy to all his friends to be back.
The Legion of Superheroes backup caught my attention. I maintain they've all got stupid names but this was interesting. This Starman character seems a bit mad, or at the very least clueless about 12st century life. I read somewhere that he's meant to have schizophrenia. Well i'm pretty certain that that my friends, is not an accurate depiction of someone with schizophrenia.
It looks like the main and the backup stories will interlink, which is good. I'll stick with Adventure Comics for as long as they have Superboy as the lead and they stick with this art team.
Action Comics #890
Oh my, right back in the action. After last months poor performance this issue is back on form and completely action packed (pardon the pun).
We get to see a lot of what the average joe in the DCU thinks of Kryptonians, Kal and Kara come to earth chasing Ral-Dar and along with Mon-El save a bunch of pilots. Nightwing and Flamebird get treated like celebrities and Thara gets jealous. Christopher acts rather young in this, which is fitting seeing as he has physically if not mentally or emotionally grown in a pretty short space of time. Lois and Clark have a gorgeous reunion and there are some further reveals about the rogue Kryptonians who Thara and Chris have been after (so did not see that coming!), and also about who is working with who.
Overall the art is good, some places it seems average, other places, like with Lois and Clark's reunion and Chris and Thara's fight it is very effective.
I still don't care about Captain Atom but I am definitely gonna keep this book on the pull list.
Superman Secret Files 2009
I ummed and ahhed about whether it was worth getting this book and in the end i'm glad I did. It's got a lot of character backstory which was helpful for finding out about Non, what Kara's current history is and how Argo City/Kandor/Brainiac and the destruction of Kryption fit in. I am not so fussed about the maps of New Krypton or Kandor, but I know that will please a lot of other people.
As for the stories, Ursa's one was vaguely interesting, I suspect i'm not overwhelmed because I don't care much either way for the character. There is certainly nothing wrong with the story. Mon-El's story was delightful - it followed him and his partner on an average day/week in the SP. I like Mon but I don't like his short haircut. I don't like him enough to follow him into the pages of the new JLA but I am tickled by the idea of SuperMon.
The Kara/Thara story was fantastic. I loved young Kara's clothes! Very Linda Danvers (my avatar) esque:
She also has little blue shorts and calf high red boots on. (Picture stolen from Anj).
In the funeral scene Kara was wearing a black version of her uniform - harking back to one of the Kelly (?) issues where she's wearing Connor's shirt, saves a kid from a bus and the kid mentions that Supergirl shouldn't wear black, it's too dark. Well, black is certainly appropriate for the funeral. Interesting that Alura was in red and white though.
I'm always interested in religious stories in comics so seeing young Thara was a delight. Mischievous young Kara resetting the nanny bot was fun.
All in all a pretty excellent issue.
Wednesday Comics #6
Kara takes the super pets to a yuppie Aquaman and Streaky plants sea urchins on her. :D One thing I haven't mention about Connnor's art is that I really admire the way Krypto is recognisabley the same dog breed as the Krypto in the main Super titles. I know jack all about drawing, but it seems to me Connor have quite a simple style, yet it's very very effective.
The Superman stip was all of 5 panels and didn't really do much. I haven't read any of the others and right now am not particularly bothered about the rest, with the exception of the Wondy strip.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Reviews 23.07.2009
Well this is nice. I’m reviewing something the same week it came out. Spoilers ahead for Wednesday Comics #3 (so-so), Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 (tickle worthy), Green Lantern #43 (Prologue to Blackest Night), Green Lantern #44, Power Girl #3 (so-so), Gotham City Sirens #2 (tits and asserific), Supergirl #43 (wow), Adventure Comics #1 preview (double wow).
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Wednesday Comics #3
The Supergirl strip continues to delight, Amanda Connor’s art is lovely and I’m really enjoying the little details she’s putting in, such as the kids petting Krypto. I hear tell that this type of story is very silver age. I wouldn’t know as I haven’t read much silver age stuff, but now I’m more inclined to give the old fashioned stories a go.
Kamandi is just an old fashioned adventure story really.
Superman is still lovely – full of emotion.
Tim’s derision of Wednesdays and the violence it brings, in the Teen Titans strip, makes me chuckle. I think it’s great how this strip contains more than one group of Titans.
The Wonder Woman story is very full of information, but that doesn’t make it bad. The colours are beautiful, the lettering is really effective and I find it really interesting. This strip has received a lot of criticism, but I’m not getting that.
Flash has just got a whole lot more interesting, what with Barry visiting the future.
I no longer have any interest in Metamorpho, Strange Adventures, Metal Men, Sgt Rock, The Demon & Catwoman, Batman, Hawkman, Deadman or Green Lantern.
Final Crisis: legion of 3 Worlds #5
Oooh this went all meta! I am a big fan of these types of stories so was very tickled by the outcome of this one. Not really much else to say. We finally saw the reunion of Superboy and Bart with the Titans and respective families - the scene was set up in the same manner as that of Green Arrows return from the dead.
Green Lantern #43 (Prologue to Blackest Night)
I succumbed and placed all Blackest Night titles on standing order. Initially I wasn’t going to bother with the prologue issues but I was told that I really should get GL #43. Post reading, I’m not that bothered by it, but I guess it’s good to see where Black Hand came from since he’ll be an integral part of Blackest Night.
Green Lantern #44
J’onn is back and beats up on Hal and Barry. John Stewart is at the site of Xanshi when all the black power rings descend and proclaim the dead to Rise. As the man says, That ain’t good.
It sure isn’t!
Power Girl #3
Ultra Humanite’s ship is powered by a giant organ. Hur hur. Innuendo aside, that’s a frickin’ great idea! Terra and cameos from the JSA made the final installment of this story more interesting. I was rather enamoured of the way in which Peej and Terra rescued Manhattan. The new alien ladies look like great fun and remind me of why Amanda Connor’s art is so good.
Hopefully now that this arc is completed we won’t see any more discussion of the use or ownership of Peej’s body.
Gotham City Sirens #2
The idea of Selina getting training from Talia Als Ghul on how to hide Bruce’s secret for the world is just terrible. An awfully cackhanded way of resolving last issue’s cliffhanger.
Although the colouring and pencils in this issue is gorgoues, the gratuitous tits and ass isn’t. The scene where the criminal blokes are checking out Harley and we only see a torso, that’s not gratuitous - we are seeing her from their perspective and they only see her as a hot piece of meat.
Every other scene of Catwoman, Ivy and Harley where their breasts, bum, legs or lips take centre stage, that’s gratuitous. It is interesting that the other women in the comic (bystanders) aren’t objectified like this, so it seems to be that the artist (or editor, whoever makes these decisions) is deliberately choosing to make the 3 heroines uber sexy. While I understand that they are all sexy and each has their own way of using their sexuality, that doesn’t mean that every.single.scene. has to objectify them. When the 3 of them are together, alone, in the warehouse they won’t be using their feminine wiles on each other. It follows that the art should reflect this. Yes, they are wearing sexy costumes, but their costumes don’t require them to arch their back or for the focus to be on their hips, groin, chest or grossly distort their anatomy. I’m thinking specifically of the first splash page with Selina tied up. What is going on with Ivy’s thigh. Legs, and joints do not work that way!
Supergirl #43
Oh my I’ve been waiting a long old time for this issue. The cover is beautiful and would make a perfect poster. Kara thinks so too as she has a photo of it on her desk. That is incredibly egotistical and weird. Who has pictures of themselves on their desks? Well, I know people do, but I think it’s bizarre. It’s similar to have a portrait of yourself up in the living room…
This issue gave us a lovely snapshot into Kara’s home life on Krypton. The arrangement of items in her room, the way the clothes are strewn across the chair and floor and the objects she has decorating her room all give us more insight to both Kara’s personality and Kryptonian life. Her white outfit that’s he’s wearing at the desk is evocative of 2 of the Tonner Supergirls doll. I wonder which design came first?
Kara is a typical teenager in this installment, by that I mean self centred and self pitying, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. She is convinced that her mother is sending her on all these chores in order to punish her. Her mother is actually doing it as a favour to her so that she can learn more about her new world and make an informed choice when it comes to choosing a guild.
I thought this was a great piece of characterisation. Who here hasn’t, as a teenager, been so convinced of their rightness and world view that they cannot fathom that their parents may have a different motivation for asking them to carry out chores.
This sub plot also served to further differentiate Kara from other heroes. Dinah Lance, Barbara Gordon, Wonder Woman would never have jumped to the same conclusion. Granted, they wouldn’t be put in that position because they don’t have the adult-teenage mother-daughter dynamic, but nevertheless as adult women they have maturity and an understanding of life that you generally don’t have as a 17/18 yr old. It tells us more about her and contributes to an individual characterisation that distinguishes her from not only adult heroes but also her teenage peers, Mia, Cassie Sandsmark and M’Gann M’orzz wouldn’t have had the same interpretations of her mother’s requests.
I am not faulting Kara for reacting the way she did, it’s something everyone goes through and it’s necessary as you grow up to be a mature, responsible adult. It’s really good to see that she’s not being treated as standard teenage hero model 3 and it also helps us see her growth from issue #1 to now.
All in all, an excellent issue.
Adventure Comics #1 preview
The art in this is ace. Colours, pencils, layout, all of it. It looks like the first issue is going to re-establish Connor’s place in the DCU, comparing him to Superman’s career, re-connecting him to his friends (hello there Bart!) and looking at how he performs with potential disasters. This is going to be a must on the pull list.
Currently listening to: Patti Smith's Easter.
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Wednesday Comics #3
The Supergirl strip continues to delight, Amanda Connor’s art is lovely and I’m really enjoying the little details she’s putting in, such as the kids petting Krypto. I hear tell that this type of story is very silver age. I wouldn’t know as I haven’t read much silver age stuff, but now I’m more inclined to give the old fashioned stories a go.
Kamandi is just an old fashioned adventure story really.
Superman is still lovely – full of emotion.
Tim’s derision of Wednesdays and the violence it brings, in the Teen Titans strip, makes me chuckle. I think it’s great how this strip contains more than one group of Titans.
The Wonder Woman story is very full of information, but that doesn’t make it bad. The colours are beautiful, the lettering is really effective and I find it really interesting. This strip has received a lot of criticism, but I’m not getting that.
Flash has just got a whole lot more interesting, what with Barry visiting the future.
I no longer have any interest in Metamorpho, Strange Adventures, Metal Men, Sgt Rock, The Demon & Catwoman, Batman, Hawkman, Deadman or Green Lantern.
Final Crisis: legion of 3 Worlds #5
Oooh this went all meta! I am a big fan of these types of stories so was very tickled by the outcome of this one. Not really much else to say. We finally saw the reunion of Superboy and Bart with the Titans and respective families - the scene was set up in the same manner as that of Green Arrows return from the dead.
Green Lantern #43 (Prologue to Blackest Night)
I succumbed and placed all Blackest Night titles on standing order. Initially I wasn’t going to bother with the prologue issues but I was told that I really should get GL #43. Post reading, I’m not that bothered by it, but I guess it’s good to see where Black Hand came from since he’ll be an integral part of Blackest Night.
Green Lantern #44
J’onn is back and beats up on Hal and Barry. John Stewart is at the site of Xanshi when all the black power rings descend and proclaim the dead to Rise. As the man says, That ain’t good.
It sure isn’t!
Power Girl #3
Ultra Humanite’s ship is powered by a giant organ. Hur hur. Innuendo aside, that’s a frickin’ great idea! Terra and cameos from the JSA made the final installment of this story more interesting. I was rather enamoured of the way in which Peej and Terra rescued Manhattan. The new alien ladies look like great fun and remind me of why Amanda Connor’s art is so good.
Hopefully now that this arc is completed we won’t see any more discussion of the use or ownership of Peej’s body.
Gotham City Sirens #2
The idea of Selina getting training from Talia Als Ghul on how to hide Bruce’s secret for the world is just terrible. An awfully cackhanded way of resolving last issue’s cliffhanger.
Although the colouring and pencils in this issue is gorgoues, the gratuitous tits and ass isn’t. The scene where the criminal blokes are checking out Harley and we only see a torso, that’s not gratuitous - we are seeing her from their perspective and they only see her as a hot piece of meat.
Every other scene of Catwoman, Ivy and Harley where their breasts, bum, legs or lips take centre stage, that’s gratuitous. It is interesting that the other women in the comic (bystanders) aren’t objectified like this, so it seems to be that the artist (or editor, whoever makes these decisions) is deliberately choosing to make the 3 heroines uber sexy. While I understand that they are all sexy and each has their own way of using their sexuality, that doesn’t mean that every.single.scene. has to objectify them. When the 3 of them are together, alone, in the warehouse they won’t be using their feminine wiles on each other. It follows that the art should reflect this. Yes, they are wearing sexy costumes, but their costumes don’t require them to arch their back or for the focus to be on their hips, groin, chest or grossly distort their anatomy. I’m thinking specifically of the first splash page with Selina tied up. What is going on with Ivy’s thigh. Legs, and joints do not work that way!
Supergirl #43
Oh my I’ve been waiting a long old time for this issue. The cover is beautiful and would make a perfect poster. Kara thinks so too as she has a photo of it on her desk. That is incredibly egotistical and weird. Who has pictures of themselves on their desks? Well, I know people do, but I think it’s bizarre. It’s similar to have a portrait of yourself up in the living room…
This issue gave us a lovely snapshot into Kara’s home life on Krypton. The arrangement of items in her room, the way the clothes are strewn across the chair and floor and the objects she has decorating her room all give us more insight to both Kara’s personality and Kryptonian life. Her white outfit that’s he’s wearing at the desk is evocative of 2 of the Tonner Supergirls doll. I wonder which design came first?
Kara is a typical teenager in this installment, by that I mean self centred and self pitying, and I don’t mean that as a criticism. She is convinced that her mother is sending her on all these chores in order to punish her. Her mother is actually doing it as a favour to her so that she can learn more about her new world and make an informed choice when it comes to choosing a guild.
I thought this was a great piece of characterisation. Who here hasn’t, as a teenager, been so convinced of their rightness and world view that they cannot fathom that their parents may have a different motivation for asking them to carry out chores.
This sub plot also served to further differentiate Kara from other heroes. Dinah Lance, Barbara Gordon, Wonder Woman would never have jumped to the same conclusion. Granted, they wouldn’t be put in that position because they don’t have the adult-teenage mother-daughter dynamic, but nevertheless as adult women they have maturity and an understanding of life that you generally don’t have as a 17/18 yr old. It tells us more about her and contributes to an individual characterisation that distinguishes her from not only adult heroes but also her teenage peers, Mia, Cassie Sandsmark and M’Gann M’orzz wouldn’t have had the same interpretations of her mother’s requests.
I am not faulting Kara for reacting the way she did, it’s something everyone goes through and it’s necessary as you grow up to be a mature, responsible adult. It’s really good to see that she’s not being treated as standard teenage hero model 3 and it also helps us see her growth from issue #1 to now.
All in all, an excellent issue.
Adventure Comics #1 preview
The art in this is ace. Colours, pencils, layout, all of it. It looks like the first issue is going to re-establish Connor’s place in the DCU, comparing him to Superman’s career, re-connecting him to his friends (hello there Bart!) and looking at how he performs with potential disasters. This is going to be a must on the pull list.
Currently listening to: Patti Smith's Easter.
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