mini-comic review!!!!!!111!
It's review Time!! Well, mini-review time anyway. I am, by no means, a “good reviewer” and I will not give away “spoilerZ” (like you're going to buy them) but here are the comics I got this week. It was a full week.
Goon#11:
Favorite of the week. This has been one of the best quality books in my opinion. Not only in art and story (both done by Eric Powell)but in the paper, layout, even the adds are good. Let me explain that last part. Usually in DC and Marvel comics the adds are everywhere. Usually only the first few pages are uninterrupted, while in all the Dark Horse books I know of (Goon included) they're at the end and once or twice in the middle, only about 4 pages are not sequential. The Goon and Franky help out Dr. Alloy by going to another dimension. Hilarity ensues before and after they get there thanks to Franky. But this isn't just a funny book. I always look forward to Goon, it's too bad it comes out only bi-monthly.
Countdown to Infinite Crisis:
Never was an avid follower of The Blue Beetle. Wasn't much of a follower of the DCU until recently, either. This one-shot is a great story, it's a Blue Beetle story. I knew next to nothing about him but after this I learned about him, I grew to care about him (during the 80 pages), and I grew to like him. This is also the launch of DC's big even for the summer and fall. It did what it was supposed to; get me interested in the four mini's coming out next month. Luckily I have will power and limited funds. I had spoiled the ending of this a week before it came out but I still got chills at the last page. Despite some DC fans total disdain for what DC did in this title, this is what a comic should be.
B.P.R.D.:The Dead #5:
I love the B.P.R.D. (a team spun from Hellboy, but without Hellboy). It's always had great Horror/cult stories. They're not superheroes just supernatural. This story has been building since 10 issues ago with Plague of Frogs. Wait no, it's been building since the first Hellboy appearance. And guess what? No resolution whatsoever. Actually this mini was more of an interruption to the main story and had no real point. But I liked it. I was just a bit disappointed.
Legion of Superheroes #4:
I think they changed artist this issue, it seemed off (I'm too lazy to actually check). This issue mainly develops a few characters and sets up a plot element while ignoring the coming war and team distrust plot elements we were enlisted with last issue. Oh well. The main story was good enough but the “secondary story” featured Phantom Girl and her abilities and was the best part of the comic. How does one exist in two places at once while you can only do one thing at a time?
Astonishing X-Men #9:
Disappointing. This is the second story arc in Astonishing, and so far, the worst. It took two issues to lead up to a disappointment. We learn what made a derilick Sentinel attack the Mansion, what disabled the telepaths and what locked the students in the danger room. We also learn “it's” motivations. Unfortunately, Star Trek used this plot about 20 times: The Holodeck Malfunctions Episode this time starting X-Men! The art is fantastic. The dialog is well done. There are just parts that make me groan.
The Flash #220:
Never read any Flash before this issue. I've wanted to get into the DCU a little further but I didn't want to touch Batman (5-6 different Bat comics not counting the Bat-family comics, ugh). Luckily, only one Flash comic comes out per month and my interest in him has been steadily growing. Apparently, Flash has a CRAPLOAD of Villains and their not all insane (I'm looking at you Wayne). In this issue the Flash is barely featured, instead we are treated to two rival factions of Flash villains. I liked this so much I went out today and got 6 back issues.
A personal comment on the DCU in general:
Like most other comic universes there is continuity between titles. With DC they are really writing a nice big story throughout all their titles. While this may give some a headache because they think they need to follow all the titles, this is not true. Each title can stond on their own but with just a few others you get a really cool feeling that this is one world. Some are upset that DC (in their mind) “resorts to killing B-class heroes just to make things seem important”. People die in real life it what makes things interesting. If someone you don't give a crap about died would you care? Last years Identity Crisis lead into Countdown. Countdown will lead into the four seperate events this summer, which will lead into Infinite Crisis (which is still unknown). I'm excited eventhough I don't plan on getting any of the mini-series (well, maybe O.M.A.C. ... stands for One Man Army Core and features Batman).
“There will be no button pushing this day, Duke Marshmallow!! For I am the lord of chaos and hot dogs now! I have slain the chicken of teeth and the crown of checkered pants is mine!!” -Franky while in another dimension
Goon#11:
Favorite of the week. This has been one of the best quality books in my opinion. Not only in art and story (both done by Eric Powell)but in the paper, layout, even the adds are good. Let me explain that last part. Usually in DC and Marvel comics the adds are everywhere. Usually only the first few pages are uninterrupted, while in all the Dark Horse books I know of (Goon included) they're at the end and once or twice in the middle, only about 4 pages are not sequential. The Goon and Franky help out Dr. Alloy by going to another dimension. Hilarity ensues before and after they get there thanks to Franky. But this isn't just a funny book. I always look forward to Goon, it's too bad it comes out only bi-monthly.
Countdown to Infinite Crisis:
Never was an avid follower of The Blue Beetle. Wasn't much of a follower of the DCU until recently, either. This one-shot is a great story, it's a Blue Beetle story. I knew next to nothing about him but after this I learned about him, I grew to care about him (during the 80 pages), and I grew to like him. This is also the launch of DC's big even for the summer and fall. It did what it was supposed to; get me interested in the four mini's coming out next month. Luckily I have will power and limited funds. I had spoiled the ending of this a week before it came out but I still got chills at the last page. Despite some DC fans total disdain for what DC did in this title, this is what a comic should be.
B.P.R.D.:The Dead #5:
I love the B.P.R.D. (a team spun from Hellboy, but without Hellboy). It's always had great Horror/cult stories. They're not superheroes just supernatural. This story has been building since 10 issues ago with Plague of Frogs. Wait no, it's been building since the first Hellboy appearance. And guess what? No resolution whatsoever. Actually this mini was more of an interruption to the main story and had no real point. But I liked it. I was just a bit disappointed.
Legion of Superheroes #4:
I think they changed artist this issue, it seemed off (I'm too lazy to actually check). This issue mainly develops a few characters and sets up a plot element while ignoring the coming war and team distrust plot elements we were enlisted with last issue. Oh well. The main story was good enough but the “secondary story” featured Phantom Girl and her abilities and was the best part of the comic. How does one exist in two places at once while you can only do one thing at a time?
Astonishing X-Men #9:
Disappointing. This is the second story arc in Astonishing, and so far, the worst. It took two issues to lead up to a disappointment. We learn what made a derilick Sentinel attack the Mansion, what disabled the telepaths and what locked the students in the danger room. We also learn “it's” motivations. Unfortunately, Star Trek used this plot about 20 times: The Holodeck Malfunctions Episode this time starting X-Men! The art is fantastic. The dialog is well done. There are just parts that make me groan.
The Flash #220:
Never read any Flash before this issue. I've wanted to get into the DCU a little further but I didn't want to touch Batman (5-6 different Bat comics not counting the Bat-family comics, ugh). Luckily, only one Flash comic comes out per month and my interest in him has been steadily growing. Apparently, Flash has a CRAPLOAD of Villains and their not all insane (I'm looking at you Wayne). In this issue the Flash is barely featured, instead we are treated to two rival factions of Flash villains. I liked this so much I went out today and got 6 back issues.
A personal comment on the DCU in general:
Like most other comic universes there is continuity between titles. With DC they are really writing a nice big story throughout all their titles. While this may give some a headache because they think they need to follow all the titles, this is not true. Each title can stond on their own but with just a few others you get a really cool feeling that this is one world. Some are upset that DC (in their mind) “resorts to killing B-class heroes just to make things seem important”. People die in real life it what makes things interesting. If someone you don't give a crap about died would you care? Last years Identity Crisis lead into Countdown. Countdown will lead into the four seperate events this summer, which will lead into Infinite Crisis (which is still unknown). I'm excited eventhough I don't plan on getting any of the mini-series (well, maybe O.M.A.C. ... stands for One Man Army Core and features Batman).
“There will be no button pushing this day, Duke Marshmallow!! For I am the lord of chaos and hot dogs now! I have slain the chicken of teeth and the crown of checkered pants is mine!!” -Franky while in another dimension
