New Comic Reviews 11-19-08

As a Geekscape loyalist you are probably asking yourself, “Nick Gregorio what gives you the right to review comic books?” Allow me to present my resume: I have been buying comics since before I could read — Justice League of America (Bowl-Cut Guy Gardener). I own thousands of bagged and boarded comics. I own hundreds of Marvel/DC action figures, statues, models, and Hero Clix. You can find me at Hall of Heroes every Wednesday. You can find me at Wizard World Philadelphia every Spring. I wear a multitude of comic book themed t-shirts and hoodies. I have created not one but two custom, black and gray, comic book accurate, Batsuits. I rest my case.

Each week I’ll be reviewing the four to five comic books I read. I spend roughly $20.00 a week, so I figure that is about average for most readers. If you would like me to review a comic not in my weekly line-up feel free to ship me an issue.

This week’s offering is a very traditional, tights wearing collection:  

Robin #180

The Amazing Spider-man #578

Batman Cacophony

Avengers/Invaders #6.

Robin #180 

Fabian Nicieza — Words

This issues was completely overloaded with thought bubbles. I hate thought bubbles. Comic books are a visual medium. If someone is shooting a rocket propelled grenade at you we as the reader can obviously see that. I have to imagine Nicieza is trying to treat Robin as the DC equivalent to the Ultimate/Younger Spider-man. You know the tale: Teenager with a lot of responsibilities, taking on villains and high school at the same time. We need to know what this poor soul is experiencing internally because teenagers are so full of emotion and insight. Spoiler alert! The Red Robin, who almost took out Jason Todd (though inept he’s still deadly), turns out to be… uh… The General? Wow that matters. Thankfully Robin tells us exactly who he is — “Ulysses Hadrian Armstrong” — because unless you’re well versed in Robin lore you only know him as the lame-o pestering Spoiler. I really tried to get into this story arc but it’s just far too boring. There’s a good amount of moving parts the only problem is none of them are exciting. The one saving grace of the book is the art. Williams delivers some very dynamic panels. The fight between Robin and Red Robin looked awesome though Robin’s thought bubbles totally degraded it. I also don’t buy Robin dodging a point blank gun shot (Spider Sense?). Last time I checked he and Batman were still “guys who go to the gym a lot”. Thankfully Robin walks into an obvious trap and dies at the end. Oh, sorry, Spoiler Alert!.

I hate to be the barer of bad news but: Hawkeye isn’t cool, Batman can’t beat Superman in a fight, and Spider-man is thirty something years old. Why-oh-why is Spider-man still written like he’s a bumbling high school kid? He’s battled deadly foes. He’s experienced great loss. Can we please have the guy be a bit less goofy?

The cover of Issue #578 looks amazing. The bottom heavy composition evokes that buried alive, claustrophobic anxiety. The cover also tells us that this issue Spidey will be saving civilians. Waid opens with your typical Spidey, ironic foreshadowing in the form of a fortune cookie, “Today will be your lucky day”. Here’s the quick and dirty. Parker just makes it onto a subway car. For the thousandth time he awkwardly handles a romantic situation. The subway car gets attacked by The Shocker (minds out of the gutter people). The concrete above is giving way to the river. Perilous. Spidey saves the day or does he? The art is amazing. Original, fresh, and almost Norman Rockwellesque in it’s timelessness. I would recommend this book on the art alone. Issue #577 was way better. A tryst with the Punisher, how could you go wrong?

I had no clue the Joker could be propositioned for anal sex. Why so serious? I know I’m a week late on this one but some how I walked right by it on the shelf. I think it was worth the wait. I’m not a huge Heavy Kevie fan but I do enjoy his films. I think he is a great comic book writer. The guy (whether he finishes his work or not) has a way with super heroes. His run on DD and Green Arrow completely reinvigorated the characters. Where his overly wordy banter hurts his films I think it has the opposite effect on his comics. I’m still not a fan of his use of thought bubbles but at least what is written provides some level of entertainment.

Deadshot is hired to kill the, overly and surprisingly perverse, Joker. Merkin anyone? Deadshot gets taken out and the Joker is rescued by Onomatopoeia; who has the dumbest name in recent comic book history but looks pretty dang neat. Batman stops Zsasz (who’s name is a palindrome but has no relation to onomatopoeia) from murdering some kids but is too late to save the parents. The Bats is informed that the Joker has escaped yet again. Maxie Zeus has bootlegged the Jokers Venom and turned it into a designer drug. If I were a D list villain I don’t think I’d ever give the Joker a reason to be mad at me.

Smith gives an excellent portrayal of the Dark Knight. His Joker was a bit much but I do like when writers and artist throw their own twist on a character. The art is passable but nothing to write home about. The art doesn’t distract from the story though. I recommend this whole heatedly and for anyone worried that Smith won’t deliver the remaining two issues, have no fear, DC made him finish writing the mini-series before they released issue number one.

Avengers/Invaders has become my favorite title of the year. It takes a concept — The Invaders of WWII: Captain America, Bucky, Namor, The Human Torch (orignal robot), and Toro (kid human torch/mutant) time traveling to the current Marvel U — that at face value is a bit hokie but upon closer inspection is a very human story.

This series has given us the confrontation of WWII Bucky and Current Cap, a young Namor beating up his current incarnation, a robot revolution led by the Human Torch, and the first mutant, Toro. Not to mention another show down between Cap and Iron Man. This is a classic Marvel cross over told in riveting fashion and it puts Secret Invasion to shame. It asks the question: What happens when you get to see the world you fought so hard to protect ultimately ruined by your actions?

Issue number six exemplifies the positive aspects of this mini. You have the Human Torch basically wreck The Mighty Avengers only to be duped by the robots he tried to liberate. But it’s the end of the issue that really got me. Thomas “Toro” Raymond, The Kid Torch, finds his grave. A young man confronts his own death. No matter what powers he has and no matter how powerful his friends it’s not enough to keep him alive. I strongly recommend this mini-series. If you haven’t been keeping up I suggest you wait for the trade.

I hope you found my reviews interesting and at the very least entertaining. Comic books are a great medium and I hope geeks the world over rally to support the struggling industry.

Until next week keep your merkins fastened tightly,

Nick Gregorio