Comic Book Reviews for May 11, 2016 - IGN (original) (raw)
DC came another step closer to bidding farewell to the New 52 this week, as they delivered the final issues of Batman, Action Comics and Gotham Academy and also wrapped up the Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover. Meanwhile, Marvel introduced the new Wasp to the pages of All-New, All-Different Avengers, kicked off a key new Darth Vader storyline and wrapped up the Deadpool's feud with Sabretooth in Deadpool #11. Elsewhere, Boom delivered a new issue of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Southern Bastards capped off its third story arc and the 4001 AD crossover continued at Valiant.Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.
DC COMICS
Action Comics #52
Written by Pete Tomasi | Drawn by Dale Eaglesham & Scott Eaton
"DC's 'Final Days of Superman' crossover is now six chapters in, and the verdict is still pretty much the same. This arc features some of the strongest Superman characterization we've seen from the New 52. Ironically, it took dying for this Clark Kent to finally and consistently start reading like the hero he should be. But where the characterization has been strong, the plot has proved lacking. Too many issues have felt aimless and plodding, as if setting up the various DC Rebirth titles is more important than actually exploring the significance of Superman's impending death. There's little sign this approach will change before the end." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
6.4
Batman #52
Written by James Tynion IV | Drawn by Riley Rossmo
"Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo wrapped up their Batman run in a very satisfying way last month. Strictly speaking, there's no real need for a separate series finale from a different creative team, other than the fact that going a month without printing an issue of Batman is a financially boneheaded move. Batman #52 doesn't read like a particularly essential end-cap to the series, but nor is it merely a quick, pointless cash-in." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
8.3
Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
Written by James Tynion IV | Drawn by Freddie E. Williams II
Never let it be said that this creative team failed to take advantage of the possibilities offered by merging the Batman and TMNT universes. When the final issue of the crossover opens with Batman battling a mutated elephant version of Bane, you know they're doing something right. This issue has plenty of epic, goofy fun to offer readers, as well as a steady stream of action on a bigger scale than any issue before it. It's a little disappointing that the long-awaited showdown between Batman and Shredder unfolds with the former wearing a weaponized battle suit (seems rather unsporting), but otherwise the final battle delivers the goods and makes the most of Freddie Williams' bombastic figure work. And most importantly, this issue wraps offers a heartwarming final word on the bond between Batman and the Turtles. As silly as this entire concept might be, Tynion and Williams offer a very touching look at a loner hero who found a new family with the heroes in a half shell. -Jesse
Final Score:
8.6
Constantine: The Hellblazer #12
Written by Ming Doyle & James Tynion IV | Drawn by Eryk Donovan
This series is just one more victim of the game of artistic musical chairs that's been going on at DC leading into Rebirth. Constantine: The Hellblazer has largely succeeded in marrying the gritty tone of the classic Hellblazer comic with the New 52 take on John Constantine, and much of that balance was due to the surreal art style and impeccably rendered page layouts of artists like Riley Rossmo. But as the series reaches its climax, it's sadly lost a great deal of that distinctive visual flavor. Eryk Donovan's layouts are straightforward to a fault, and his figures generally lacking that necessary spark of life. Only Kelly Fitzpatrick's colors still retain a whiff of the surreal and otherworldly. As for the script, the series has come full-circle in a satisfying way, with Constantine's various misdeeds and shortcuts coming back to haunt him and innocent lives hanging in the balance. It's a predicament the character has been in many times before, but it never gets old seeing this trickster with his back to the wall and trying to con his way to victory. -Jesse
Final Score:
6.7
Gotham Academy #18
Written by Various | Drawn by Various
Gotham Academy’s “Yearbook” storyline comes to an end in this issue (which also is the end of this book, before it gets relaunched later this year) and while this may be the weakest issue of the storyline, it’s still a fun time. More than anything, this arc has proven the adaptability of this series, its characters, and its setting as the book has been turned on its head in this anthology format. There’s nothing considerably wrong about the stories this time around, they just don’t hit quite the comedic highs or dramatic tenderness that other installments in the story have. As with all chapters of this arc, the art is diverse and gorgeous, but it’s Natasha Alterici whose “Talent Show” steals the book with its muted color palette. They didn’t necessarily save the best for last, but Gotham Academy’s “Yearbook” still proved to be a blast to read. –Levi
Final Score:
7.2
Green Lantern Corps: Edge of Oblivion #5
Written by Tom Taylor | Drawn by Scott McDaniel, Ardian Syaf & Cliff Richards
"One can't necessarily blame DC for putting all of its creative muscle behind the upcoming DC Rebirth relaunch, even if it comes at the expense of many current projects. That said, it's been frustrating to watch so many of these books scramble to replace artists that have moved onto other projects. Nowhere has this shift been more disappointing than with Green Lantern Corps: Edge of Oblivion. This mini-series still ranks as the best Lantern comic since the end of Geoff Johns' long run, but losing artist Ethan Van Sciver midway through the series was a significant blow." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
7.5
Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys #2
Written by Frank Tieri & Jimmy Palmiotti | Drawn by Mauricet
There appears to be a limit to how many Harley Quinns one comic can properly handle. This series was already struggling to balance the Gang of Harleys, most of whom are significantly less compelling protagonists than Harley herself. Once you factor in Harley Sinn and her own team of evil Harley-inspired assassins, the gag starts to wear out its welcome. To be fair, this issue is somewhat more successful than the first in terms of fleshing out the Gang Of Harleys and giving each character a unique personality. The relative lack of page time for Harley Quinn helps in that regard. So does Mauricet's art, which gives each main character a distinctive look and personality above and beyond the color-coded costumes. On the down side, this issue is surprisingly lacking in tension given the fact that the Gang of Harleys members are busy trying to remove their parents from harm's way. There's rarely a sense of danger towards either the Harleys or their loved ones. Then there's the matter of the creepy sexual undertones to Harley's captivity. Her captors aren't quite as playful and innocent as the cover would suggest. -Jesse
Final Score:
5.0
MARVEL COMICS
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #5
Written by Marc Guggenheim | Drawn by German Peralta
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may still have some of the poor logic (a team member not telling anyone about an A.I.M. infection they got) and bad dialogue choices (Did I just get rescued by two girls? Awesome.) that marred the first four issues, but this is finally a pretty entertaining comic. Coulson is being held hostage by a bad guy well known to fans of the TV show, and many Marvel heroes’ lives are stake because of what Coulson knows. This story moves with a much quicker speed than any before, and German Peralta excels at drawing colorful costumes more than he does at differentiating dozens of human faces. Many of the old flaws are still here, but the book is moving in a positive direction. –Levi
Final Score:
6.6
All-New, All-Different Avengers #9 Review
Written by Mark Waid | Drawn by Mahmud Asrar
This series has struggled to the proper voice and direction over the past few months, and perhaps tying into the Avengers: Standoff crossover wasn't the best way to ease that process along. The series does make some marked improvements in this issue as Mark Waid gives the new Wasp a proper introduction. Suffice it to say, this chapter sheds far more light on who this character is, what makes her tick and why she's justified in taking up the mantle. Having artist Mahmud Asrar back on board doesn't hurt, either. At this point, it's Asrar's angular, expressive style and Dave McCaig's rich colors that have come to define the look of this series. This issue also tries to dive back into the ongoing Kang conflict. with slightly more mixed results. Waid plays around with time travel in small, fun ways here, but the script doesn't make enough of an effort to explain what exactly is happening with Vision or why. The script is a bit choppy as a result, but it ultimately sets the team on two divergent but equally intriguing paths. -Jesse
Final Score:
7.6
All-New X-Men #9
Written by Dennis Hopeless | Drawn by Mark Bagley
All-New X-Men might just be the most vital addition to the growing Apocalypse wars crossover, given the fact that one of the core team members is a teenage clone of the world's oldest and most evil mutant. At the same time, it's unfortunate that this series is covering the same ground as its sister X-books. Some elements of this story feel a little too similar when compared to recent chapters of Extraordinary X-Men. But if nothing else, this arc is shaping up to be a solid one in terms of both Evan and Hank's characterization. Dennis Hopeless provides an engaging look inside the mind of a boy who pines for a sentimental childhood that never actually existed and lives in fear of becoming a genocidal supervillain. Artist Mark Bagley ably renders this script no matter what twists and turns it takes, transitioning from a trendy teen party to Beast's technological tomfoolery to a larger-than-life battle in ancient Egypt. -Jesse
Final Score:
7.8
Black Panther #2
Written by Ta-Nehisi Coates | Drawn by Brian Stelfreeze
The first chapter of this new series was a great start, but it featured surprisingly little of its title character. That's not a problem this second issue shares. T'Challa is much more in the spotlight as he takes it upon himself to quell the growing unrest in his kingdom and finds that the problem isn't so easily put to rest. There's a clear attempt to humanize the character here, as Ta-Nehisis Coates explores T'Challa's kingly hubris and the massive pressures he faces. There's also a balance to the conflict that might just be this book's greatest strength. There's no real right and wrong or good and evil here, on;y various players with their own valid points of view. It's less a question of whether Wakanda can be saved than if maintaining the status quo is what's best for this troubled nation. But for all the lofty ideals at play here, this book also has plenty of visual spectacle with which to bedazzle readers. Brian Stelfreeze's lithe, burly interpretation of Black Panther and his captivating use of light and shadow make for one of the most visually distinctive Black Panther comics ever published. -Jesse
Final Score:
8.8
Deadpool #11
Written by Gerry Duggan | Drawn by Matteo Lolli
"After some bumps in the road in Deadpool #10, the 'Deadpool vs. Sabretooth' storyline bounces back and delivers a satisfying conclusion. With Marvel failing to give Sabretooth the attention he deserves lately, it's good to see one member of the extended X-Men family trying to pick up the slack." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
8.7
Guardians of the Galaxy #8
Written by Brian Michael Bendis | Drawn by Valerio Schiti
Last month’s Rocket Raccoon/The Thing team-up seemed to be the start of a promising arc for this title. A good way to get readers to care about a team as big, and relatively new, as is this is to partner them off in interesting (and sometimes, unexpected) ways. The previous issue did just that, and it did it splendidly. So why, in our Venom/Groot team-up issue, are we getting a third of an issue’s worth of flashback to the entire team together deciding to then all split off into teams? That frustration aside, the partnership still doesn’t work out nearly as well as Rocket and Thing’s. This duo simply isn’t as fun, and we get bogged down in too much of last year’s symbiote revelations. Valerio Schiti’s art is as charming and energizing as ever, but it doesn’t quite forgive a ho-hum plot. - Levi
Final Score:
5.6
Illuminati #7
Written by Joshua Williamson | Drawn by Shawn Crystal
Illuminati was a book that always struggled with tone. Did it want to be a comedy like Superior Foes of Spider-Man, or did it want to be something along more dramatic lines like maybe a Suicide Squad or Secret Six? It never fully succeeded at either while trying to juggle both, but in this final issue Joshua Williamson almost entirely drops the humor and it makes for a pretty compelling drama. The story focuses on Titania and Absorbing Man’s relationship, as it was their story that has always been the driving force of the book. While a lot of plots seem to end suddenly, there’s no denying the catharsis of the story’s tensely drawn final act. –Levi
Final Score:
7.0
Star Wars: Darth Vader #20
Written by Kieron Gillen | Drawn by Salvador Larroca & Mike Norton
"The previous Darth Vader story arc showcased the Dark Lord of the Sith in all his glory as he waged war on the hellish mining world of Shu-Toran. Having pacified the Empire's enemies, Vader is ready for the next chapter in his post-Episode IV career. While Vader fans might not appreciate this very talky new issue, Darth Vader #20 does set some very interesting wheels in motion for the series." -Jesse
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
8.3
The Ultimates #7
Written by Al Ewing | Drawn by Kenneth Rocafort
Coming short of redefining the Marvel Universe and absolutely blowing our minds, Ultimates #7 would have to be considered something of a disappointment right? Actually, after all the craziness of the last arc, it is nice to have some downtime with these characters. This issue is the closest this book has felt to a “traditional superhero story”, but even so - the big ideas are still there. Better yet, it gives Al Ewing and Kenneth Rocafort a chance to show off their knack for character. Their Captain Marvel is a tough, assured leader who almost rivals Kelly Sue Deconnick’s iconic interpretation. Blue Marvel is the best superhero character that you might not have heard of. And this Black Panther comes straight from Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers pages. On both writing and art, this issue shows that there are actual people at the heart of these massive conflicts. –Levi
Final Score:
8.5
Uncanny Inhumans #8
Written by Charles Soule | Drawn by Kev Walker
Taking a break from the politicking of recent issues, Charles Soule uses issue #8 to answer the burning question – how did Medusa and the Human Torch get together? Puns aside, this was likely a question that didn’t need answered, particularly given the extended page time it takes to do it. It’s not that the relationship in question has nothing to offer – Soule actually gets some good characterization out of two often one-dimensional characters – but it’s more that the resulting danger of the issue serves as little more than heavy handed set up for future drama down the road. Fill-in artist Kev Walker does what he can with the material given, ably balancing the book’s romance against its unfolding action. His conversational scenes read a bit stiff when compared to the more action oriented elements, but his final spread, overly dramatic as it is, is appropriately romantic. -Jeff
Final Score:
6.9
Vision #7
Written by Tom King | Drawn by Michael Walsh
For a character comprised of synthetic parts, Vision sure knows how to pull the heartstrings. Taking an aside from the book’s current plot, writer Tom King uses issue #7 as a retrospective of sorts, combing through the highs and lows of Vision’s romantic past. It’s a strong, unnerving bit of work, as King is able to use the past as a way of further informing the character’s current state in the present. King has already proven quite adept at finding complex emotion within Vision’s unique world view, but the way in which he explores the character’s joy and loss here in nothing short of captivating. The art team of Michael Walsh and Jordie Bellaire only heightens the dramatic shift in tone. Walsh does an exceptional job getting emotion from Vision’s minute expression, each subsequent leap in time revealing a new layer. Bellaire delivers the capper with her ever darkening tones, color and optimism leeching into a more sterile palette. This might just be Marvel’s best book. -Jeff
Final Score:
8.8
ARCHIE COMICS
Archie #8
Written by Mark Waid | Drawn by Veronica Fish
One of the best things about this new Archie run is how seamlessly it continues to balance the "out there" antics of the traditional series with the more layered characterization of its contemporaries. That marriage is put on fine display here in issue #8, as Mark Waid and Veronica Fish see the Battle for Veronica reach new, and ultimately personal, heights. Pitting the easily stoppable object against the immovable mustache has been entertaining enough, but the added depth generated by the inclusion of Archie’s father makes for some surprisingly compelling drama. It’s never so much as to overshadow the sense of fun that’s consistent throughout, but it does do well in further establishing these characters beyond the somewhat stereotypical traits they’re known for. Fish too finds that balance, her madcap antics and physical comedy offset by complex emotional moments. Archie continues to be the gold standard when it comes to updates, and in the ever confident hands of Waid and Fish that doesn’t look to change any time soon. -Jeff
Final Score:
8.0
BOOM! STUDIOS
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #3
Written by Kyle Higgins | Drawn by Hendry Prasetya
"Nostalgia has been the name of the game so far in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ run, Kyle Higgins and Hendry Prasetya dotting their series with fan favorite characters and instances. With the setup out of the way, issue #3 looks to shake things up, the resulting issue high on character even as it rushes to get to the next big thing." -Jeff
Click here to read the entire review!
Final Score:
7.5
DARK HORSE COMICS
House of Penance #2
Written by Pete Tomasi | Drawn by Ian Bertram
If you're going to build a horror comic around a real-world location, you could do a lot worse than the massive, nonsensical Winchester House. Peter Tomasi and Ian Bertram are making the most of that inspiration, crafting a comic that's propelled by a massive sense of unease and foreboding. The reader can never be sure whether the supernatural goings-on in these pages are real or simply the hallucinations of an insane, grieving widower. Are these characters trapped in a literal Purgatory or a metaphorical one? Either way, the creepy atmosphere sets this comic apart from the crowd. Ian Bertram's distinctive art style further enhances the unsettling tone. He devotes ample attention to the Winchester House and its Escher-worthy architecture, while also relying on shadow and blank space to create an oppressive sense of claustrophobia despite the large, open spaces. His figure work is equally striking, particularly in how panels so often zoom in on faces to emphasize characters' massive, haunted eyes. This is not a comic to read right before going to bed. -Jesse
Final Score:
9.0
IDW PUBLISHING
Satellite Falling #1
Written by Steve Horton | Drawn by Stephen Thompson
This series features a detective/bounty hunter with a massive chip on her shoulder and a tendency to blur the line between law-keeper and vigilante. Sound familiar? But the twist is that it's also a science fiction series set on an alien world where the protagonist is the only human among a sea of unusual species and cultures. This new series effectively blends familiar tropes with an unusual setting and arrives at something unique. It certainly helps that writer Steve Horton doesn't get hung up on world building. He merely drops readers into Lily's colorful world and allows the details to form organically over the course of the issue. Readers get a clear sense of who Lilly is, what motivates her and how she fits into this strange civilization by the end. Artist Stephen Thompson helps bring this world to life thanks to his intricately rendered environments and eclectic alien designs. Lilly is downright dull in appearance compared to the more ostentatious characters that occupy these pages -Jesse
Final Score:
8.5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #58
Written by Tom Waltz | Drawn by Mateus Santolouco
At this point the team of Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman and Mateus Santolouco is synonymous with good storytelling. Their latest arc ends much like all the others have, issue #58 offering a conclusion that’s both complex and emotionally enriching. It’s not the strongest issue, nor is it necessarily surprising –there are enough signs pointing to Leatherhead’s about face that it feels all but inevitable – but it is well crafted on both a narrative and character level. And that’s really been the case with this series from the start. No matter how big the stakes get, no matter how varied or widespread the cast, the creative team ensures that everything, and everyone, matters. Its commitment like that that makes second tier characters like Leatherhead, or even the newly introduced Utroms, stand out as realized, nuanced individuals in their own right. This is a fantastic series in every measurable way, and while the segue into the book’s next arc isn’t its smoothest, it’s still a shell of a good time. -Jeff
Final Score:
7.5
IMAGE COMICS
The Fix #2
Written by Nick Spencer | Drawn by Steve Lieber
The Fix #2 takes all of the first issue’s promising elements and runs with them. In this issue, Roy convinces his partner to hurt himself in a stupidly dangerous way and then manipulates one of the nicest guys on the planet. This series scrapes a level of scum so vile that it would be completely unbearable if not for the humor, but the humor is just brilliant. Nick Spencer writes these scumbags with lines so utterly silly and charming that you can’t help but fall for the characters. Steve Lieber, meanwhile, is conducting a master class on storytelling. We talk about expressive artists all the time, but Lieber has a seemingly infinite range of character expressions and body language. Ignore the word balloons on a reading of this issue, Lieber’s art tells so much story that you almost don’t need them. This series is off to an incredible start. –Levi
Final Score:
9.0
Southern Bastards #14
Written by Jason Aaron | Drawn by Jason Latour
Most books see their momentum dulled following a long delay. Most books aren’t Southern Bastards. Issue #13 sees the focus at last return to Roberta Tubb, a character long teased but as of yet underutilized. By spending the preceding issues further building his twisted world, Jason Aaron is able to better support the challenges Roberta is soon to face. Aaron’s script here is superb – particularly in how he explores the issues of race and gender in a less than accepting society – but its artist Jason Latour who proves to be the driving force of this installment. His gnarled, angry style gives the book its aggressive edge, but it’s the more subtle, lived in qualities that bolster Aaron’s layered narrative. From the broken down fences and dead grass of its neighborhoods to the squishy indentation of a boot print left in a pile of excrement, Latour’s Craw County is a living, breathing organism – one as continually enticing as it is dangerous. -Jeff
Final Score:
9.0
VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT
4001 AD: X-O Manowar #1
Written by Robert Venditti | Drawn by Clayton Henry
The 4001 A.D. event set up a future for the X-O Manowar series that we needed to explore immediately. Luckily, it only took one week to get those answers in this special issue. The answer is an anti-climax, in an incredibly exciting way. What that means, is that Robert Venditti and Clayton Henry do a great job of setting our expectations with the X-O Manowars of 10 different countries (and their great designs), and then beautifully subverting our expectations. What should be a day of achievement, isn’t anything but. The swiftness with which the creators dash our characters’ hopes is exhilarating. The issue is a really quick read, but that plays well to the story. It’s not what you might have expected, but this is another compelling issue of the event. –Levi
Final Score:
7.8
Ninjak #15
Written by Matt Kindt | Drawn by Diego Bernard
It’s always fun when a character with limited resources gets them taken away, but in the case of Ninjak #15 the end product doesn’t entirely live up to the premise. Matt Kindt spends the bulk of the issue showcasing Colin King’s considerable proficiency, putting the spy in multiple scenarios where he’s forced to get by minus his wonderful toys. Said instances work well in furthering Ninjak’s status as an elite agent, but they also leave little room remaining for any developing plot, a fact made all the more apparent by the space eaten by the shared backup story. That same backup has its own moments, but much like the primary title the narrative feels like it would be better served with more page time. It’s a solid enough read, with Diego Bernard providing some uniquely choreographed action sequences and a great Roku spread, but overall the sense of danger and urgency feels all too brisk and manufactured. -Jeff
Final Score: