My musings on this week in comics, there will be spoilers.
Scalped #35
No bullshit, Scalped is quite possibly the best comic being published today. Coming off an epic five part story that saw the culmination of several plot threads and ended in a truly bloody and compelling way, Aaron leaves the ongoing plot and tells a done in one story about two characters we've never seen before, and it is amazing. Aaron is joined by guest artist Danijel Zezelj who does a great job of capturing the harsh reality and beauty of this story. The comic tells the tale of two elderly Native Americans, Mance and Hazel, living on the reservation as far from town as they can get. They survive in large part due to farming but this year the crops run short, the wife is sick, they're broke, and they're running out of food. The harsh tale is one many can relate to these days but it's not that simple. The story truly excels at showing the love between the couple, Mance feels responsible for not being able to provide, and, without him saying a word Hazel understands and offers comfort. The story is fairly strait forward although it has a few unexpected turns. The real joy is in the execution. The art and writing work seamlessly and every line of dialog and every expression seems real and genuine. Only 22 pages but this comic kicks like a mule and delivers a complete and rewarding experience.
New Avengers #62
This issue was fine and I really don't have much to say about it. If you've been reading New Avengers well, here's another issue, and if you haven't you're not missing all that much. I did want to nerd bitch a bit about the end though. This shows what appears to be the same moment from the last page of Siege #1 but under different circumstances (for example Steve's not in his Captain America uniform). I normally wouldn't really care about such a small detail but it's the same writer, granted different artist but still since Bendis penned both of them you'd think he could keep it a bit more consistent. Now that I think about Bendis also wrote another big Cap reveal in one of the annuals that was nothing like this or Siege #1. Also, since when was Stonewall a giant? In Secret Warrior they always draw him as just a regular, all be it large, dude, not some 30 foot tall guy. On the positive, it was nice watching Steve reuniting with a bunch of his old comrades (is it just me or does their always seem like some romantic tension going on between Steve and Carol?).
Speaking of mistakes...
X-Factor #202
...this issue had some big art fuck ups. Notice in the picture above how in the wide shot you don't see Monet and then suddenly she's talking to Doom and has an M tattoo which she shouldn't have. That's cause it's suppose to be Layla, I'm betting they added the tattoo to try and make some sort of fix on it but it kind of wrecks the conclusion of the issue because, as a reader, you're pretty confused. It happens again on the next page where at first it looks like Monet is talking to Shatterstar and they teleport away while the other member wonder where Layla went. Uhg, I'm sorry I appreciate that the book is on time but you got to fix that shit. This isn't like a typo or something small that might be overlooked this is a major plot point made bewildering through obvious mistakes. It seems like someone must have recognized the mistake since the tattoo was added but if that's the case why not redo those pages? At the very least you'd think they'd recolor them so 'Layla' would at least have the right skin and hair color. That aside this was another pretty good issue but come on, that's amateur hour Marvel.
X-Force #24
Can anyone tell me what's going on in that panel? Anyone? That's what I thought. Kyle and Yost continue to tell solid if unremarkable X-tales but seriously Crain, take it easy on the dark colors.
Thus concludes the bitching.
X-Men Legacy #232
Magneto finishes the fight with Proteus and it's damn entertaining. Magneto is pretty tore up but the old man can still lay it down and kick some ass. This was a really engaging fight scene, something that's often hard to do with character with energy based powers so big ups to Carey and Mann for selling it. Since this current direction of the book is Rouge focused she spends most the issue saving/fighting the other X-Men in another good fight sequence. X-Fans will remember the brief romance between Rouge and Magneto in the late 80s (some may also recall the romance between Rouge and not quite Magneto, Joseph) so this sequence brought a smile to my face:
Just when it seemed like Remy and Rouge might finally be a real couple, LOVE TRIANGLE! Oh X-Men, how I love your complicated inter-team relationships. Also, I loved that when question about Proteus Magneto flat out says that he'll be back. No 'maybe he's gone forever' bull just temporary victory, that's how superhero stories roll.
Thor #607
Volstagg youtubes an apology to the nation. Sure, why not. This issue does actually tie into Siege so yea for truth in advertising. This issue starts shortly after the incident in Chicago as the Asgardians receive a prophecy of doom that is ignored until it's too late. We also find out why Heimdall didn't warn everyone in advance as he, and his near all seeing eyes, were held captive by Loki. Overall Gillen has done a real nice job in his short run setting up and balancing the Siege crossover while still keeping up with the plot threads of JMS's run. I especially like that he took a page to keep tough with Kelda as she tracks down Bill's parents. The art is pretty strong in this issue in no small part due to some pages by Rich Elson who's an artist I'm not familiar with but does some nice work:
His Kelda is quite good, capturing her otherworldly beauty. Anyways, the issue ends with a nice twist as Volstagg heads to Asgard to join in her defense...
...he is attacked by what I assume is the Clone Thor from Civil War. Since we haven't seen Clor since then and this event is suppose to be a kind of resolution to the last several years it seems only right for Clor and Thor to finally meet in battle. Not that that happens this issue but I'm guessing it's only a matter of time.
Fantastic Four #576
Ladies and gentlemen, Johnny Storm. That's a nice touch it would have been easy to just have the FF all show up but it helps build or at least reinforce Johnny's characterization to have him strut in like that. The issue follows the FF as they investigate a unexplored lake in Antarctica and discover an unknown intelligent species of water dwellers unlike the Atlanteans we've seen before.
I felt like I pretty much had to review this issue after my rant earlier this week on the FF and strangely enough this issue actually followed some of my advice. Unfortunately, it still wasn't all that good. I will say that Eaglesham's art is very nice; good designs, clear storytelling, distinct characters, and just all around pretty. Hickman's has done something interesting with the last two issues both of which embrace the explorer sci-fi aspect of the FF, regrettably the execution has been lacking. Clearly Hickman has some big ideas and has used the last two done-in-one issues to set up a larger plan. The problem is that the issues don't feel like a story. The fact that they've had to use the last page to explain how these new developments are affecting the world shows you that they're incomplete. Instead of feeling like an adventure the issue have felt like a bland summary of events. I do like a lot of what the new creative team is trying to do and I really do hope that the execution improves.
Batman and Robin #9
If not for Scalped this would be the best issue of the week. Morrison continues his fight against Frank Miller Batman pitting the near zombie like Evil Clone Batman against the new Bat-family. This also plays off the whole 'blackest (k)night' theme of the current DCU as the emotional tethers of the past effect the current day characters. The Evil Batman talks of pain and hurting people in broken sentences, not quite Miller style but it's showing the legacy of Miller's Batman; a worn out, lifeless husk. I don't entirely agree with this as Miller's Batman is the Batman of my generation and the one I think about when I think about Batman but this seems to be Morrison's opinion, or at least his opinion of post Miller Batman as people tried to duplicate or outdo Miller's version. On the other side you have Morrison's New Batman...
...the hero Batman, saving the day in the knick of time. Morrison's Batman has a sense of humor he's driven to be a hero but he also enjoys it. This isn't just limited to Dick who Morrison does write as more carefree but even his Bruce in earlier issues and in the JLA despite his darkness had a sense of humor and of the dramatic. Miller's Batman also understood theatrics and seemed to enjoy being Batman as well as possessing a (admittedly dark) sense of humor. It seems Morrison's real problem is the people that followed Miller who made Batman into the super serious, friendless, sort of dickish character that he became.
What's great about Morrison is that you can ignore all of that and you still have a great comic about Dick and Damion having to fight an evil clone of their father, the original Batman. You could also talk about the whole son replacing father element of this issue and of Morrison's entire run. Evil Batman straight out says that his son is there to replace him and then he tries to kill him to prevent it. Keep in mind that Ras al Ghul was perfectly willing to sacrifice his son to live again earlier in Morrison's run. Evil Batman as the bitter old man, unable, or unwilling to accept change.
Still, ultimately it's a great action book. Damion, in a wheelchair, straight out of surgery, fighting off Evil Batman until Dick and Batwoman show up for a massive martial arts meele. That's just fun comics.
This is a Batman book where people smile. I'm pretty sure no one smiled in Batman books in the entirety of the 90s. Also, kind of glad they've kept up the flirtation between Dick and Kate. Obviously it's not going to go anywhere but it's fun and cute, it makes perfect sense for Dick, and I think it's believable even for Kate.
I haven't even mentioned the art which is fantastic. Cameron Stewart absolutely killed it this arc, I only wish he was doing more then 3 issues. Stewart's layouts, his fight scenes, his expressions, just gorgeous work. Great issue all around.
In other news Spider-Man was again very good this week and that's it for me. Comment below.
-egs
Yep, no Blackest Night #7, I haven't read it yet. I only read it and Flash Rebirth courtesy of my friend Q, maybe next week.
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