My musings on this week in comics, there will be spoilers.
Daredevil 505
This book continues to produce consistently good issues month after month and this is no exception. The issue does see the arrival of new co-writer Anthony Johnson (writer of the very enjoyable Wastelands from Oni Press) and new (fill in?) artist Marco Checchetto and this dude can flat out get it done.
You don't hear a lot about colorist Matt Hollingsworth but he deserves mad props for keeping the look and tone consistent through multiple artists. Story wise Daredevil heads to Japan to meet with the various Daimyos of The Hand as he attempts to solidify his power as The Hand's new leader. While light on action this issue starts to unravel the politics behind The Hand and I love political intrigue so this arc is shaping up nicely in my opinion.
Black Widow and the Marvel Girls #4
This book wins the battle of the Black Widows this week as Natasha teams up with Storm and The Mole Man who find themselves in the middle of a gang war while trying to rescue a kidnapped Senator. The other book, Black Widow Deadly Origin #4, was perfectly adequate but was lacking the charm that Paul Tobin and Takeshi Miyazawa bring here. I especially like The Mole Man here as somewhat charming and manipulative, traits that I don't normally associate with MM. All in all a fun little mini.
Captain America #603
Last issue was the best this book has been in close to a year and this issue continues that trend. This is the kind of issue that made Brubaker's Cap such a hit to began with as it seamlessly blends current events, politics, espionage, and action into a fun, smart story. I will admit that I still miss Steve Epting's art but the issue looks fine, the story telling is clear and the characters are distinct. I still don't care about the backup but it's not bad and if they're going to charge 4 bucks anyways it's nice to get a bit of extra content.
Punisher #14
While I wasn't quite as giddy after reading this issue as I was with the issue 13 this comic is still great. Tony Moore shares art duties with Dan Brereton who illustrates the origins of our villain, Robert Hellsgaard. Hellsgaard's origin makes him a perfect foil for Frank as the parallels of both their pasts and their current circumstances become clear. Both have become monsters, figuratively and literally, to enact revenge on the monsters that killed their families. The great thing is that Frank doesn't care. He can see the connection but he just pushes past it with the single-minded determination that he always has, he is completely beyond sympathy or understanding. All this and it still finds time for Steampunk monster hunter robot suit versus Dracula.
Uncanny X-Men #521
Greg Land is still on this book, I don't even want to post any pictures. Anyways I just wanted to make a few quick comments:
1. It's nice that writers are finally incorporating some of the Morrison stuff that was abandoned after he left the book.
2. I was kind of hoping Kitty would have some cool space adventures before returning, Flash Gorden, Buck Rogers type stuff.
3. That is a pretty cool way of getting her back though it seems to be increasing the limit of what Magneto can do right after we were told that he'd grown weaker with age.
Doom War #1
Picked this up for the hell of it and you know what, it was actually pretty good. As someone who has not been reading the Black Panther this does a nice job of getting you up to speed on what's going on as well as moves the story forward. Basically there has been a coup in Wakanda and T'Challa, the new Black Panther (his sister), and a small group of loyal Wakandaians travel to Utopia to recruit the X-Men into a war to take back their country. The coup was lead by a group calling themselves Desturi, claiming to be a movement of Wakandaians with traditional values who are holding a murder trail for The Queen, and former X-Man, Storm. The real power behind this is Dr. Doom who wants Wakanda for its Vibranium, for once he has it, he will be unstoppable. It's a nice setup combining superhero tropes with a bit of politics that capture some of the common perceptions about Africa. It also realizes that at its heart it is a kick-ass action/revenge story about T'Challa taking back his country through what ever means necessary.
Power Girl #9
Yet another great issue of Power Girl. Amanda Conner's art is so much fun. It's still sexy but has a great sense of humor that you can see in the pages layouts and in the expressions and body language of the characters. To say nothing of Gray and Palmiotti's script which is clever and funny while still setting up a lot of good old fashion Superhero action.
Anyone who enjoys fun comics would be straight irresponsible to miss out on this comic.
Joe The Barbarian #2
I know this is reading way to much into this but I couldn't help but think this was almost Morrison himself giving a weapon he will eventually need to Joe at the beginning of this issue. Maybe that's just because they're both bald, older gentlemen from the British Isles. In actuality this almost seems like Morrison's answer to those who say his books are too confusing. For example, the TVs in Joe's hallucinations all show the graveyard where is father is buried, is that clear enough symbolism for everyone? The fact is that this is a pretty straight forward adventure story. The charm here is in the skill that Morrison and Murphy show in execution. I've mentioned Murphy's art before and it continues to impress here with the always great Dave Stewart on colors. For all the acclaims and damnations heaped upon The God of All Comics not enough people talk about how good a scripter Morrison is. It's not just that he has great ideas he also has a great sense of humor, he understands how to structure a comic, and he writes the best dialog of any comic writer ever.
What can follow that? How about the last issue of the always good Incredible Herc.
Incredible Hercules #141
It ends the only way it could with, SPOILER, the death of Hercules. But hey, if you gotta go might as well go down saving all of existence. It's been hinted for a while (the solicitations didn't do it any favors) that Herc would eventually die and it would be up to his sidekick Amadeus Cho to become the new Prince of Power and champion of Olympus and here it finally comes to pass. Pak and Van Lente have been playing with the mythological archetypes all along and Herc's death wouldn't be complete without a bit of treachery and tragedy as Hercules is betrayed by his most beloved relative Athena, the new Queen of Olympus and wielder of the power of Zeus, for what, she weepingly alleges, to be the greater good. While this may be the last issue the story will continue in the pages of Hercules: Fall of an Avenger and the forthcoming Prince of Power series starring Amadeus. Now being a comic, Hercules won't stay dead forever but this does open up some story possibilities for Amadeus Cho. Herc was a great mentor while alive and I'm sure his teachings will continue to help and shape Amadeus in his further adventures.
If you haven't been reading Hercules you should really pickup the trades, it's not mind blowing but every issue has been high quality, meshing mythology with the Marvel Universe and mixing comedy and drama with an expertise. Also, for a book that never had a true ongoing artist, it always looked good.
Yesh, it's a bad time to be a Greek god in the last month or so Zeus, Hera, Ares, and Hercules have all been killed and Aphrodite has passed her post to a siren.
I just saw that the Agents of Atlas is getting another try as an ongoing series. Wow, Marvel just won't let this one go. I wonder why they have such devotion to these characters when others seem so easily tossed aside. Basically what I'm saying is I want more Iron Fist damn it.
Random thought: Is it just me or does Michael Lark just keep getting better?
Yo dog, comment below.
-egs
His name is Hit-Monkey. He's a hitman. Who's a monkey.
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