New Comics 10-24-2008

Oh, to be a quarter life on Christmas: No toys. No fun. My tree once brimmed with every single action figure of the Thundercats series… now I get a sweater. Welcome to the world of the grown up. If you want to keep up your nerdy obsessions I hope you have a well paying job. Though the presents under my tree were few and far between, I did, however, receive a stocking stuffed with comic books – I wasn’t trying to weave a holiday themed segue into my article: my mom actually stuffed my stocking with comics. Gotta love the woman – and if this week’s showing is any indication of what we can expect this new year, then color me excited (with a big ol’ brush).

Hulk #9, Batman #683, The Umbrella Academy #2, The Spirit special #1, The New Avengers #48

“Consistently great”, is the simplest way to describe this series. The dialogue, the action, the satirical commentary; every month this title delivers. The slow, unfolding mystery of the Red Hulk is juxtaposed against the high action and comedic lunacy of the story telling.

If you haven’t been following this title (you’re lame) this issue wraps up the rumble in Las Vegas. Green Hulk vs Wendigos vs Sentry vs Ms. Marvel vs Moon Knight = a wrecked and ravaged sin city. Something unexpected happens to ol’ green genes. Don’t worry. I won’t spoil it. A mystical special guest has to come in and save the day. As much as I hate the quick-fix-mystical-being, they used a not-so-obvious Marvel shaman which, at the very least, worked on a comedic level.

The second half of Hulk #9 (yes, moe moe, there are two separate, but still intertwined, story threads running back to back) features the conclusion of “Rulk”‘s throw down with She Hulk and her “Lady Liberators”. Nice bit of action here and a surprise twist at the end. Clever writing and OMG! Frank Cho draws hot women. His depiction of Spider-Woman is especially crotch-spasm inducing.

Pick this book up already! ‘Nuff said.

Now it’s time for your monthly dose of crazy, quirky, irreverent, indie action. The dysfunctional band of super siblings try to get along with each other while searching for their man/boy (literally) missing brother Number 5. Number 5’s gun play at the end of last issue has everyone in town on high alert.

I got to say I really like this title. Gerard Way was able to create an eccentric, seemingly nonsensical world, that feels very real. The book sucks you in and you never question the absurdity. From talking monkeys to Girl-Scout-cookie-craving killers wearing giant cartoon masks, everything is played straight faced. And I’ll tell you what, I buy it… every month actually. The opening of Issue #2 is reason alone to pick up this book.

Once you get past the idea of a new Avengers team led by the, totally awesome, new Captain America you’re left with a rather poorly paced book.

The first quarter of the issue is bogged down by dialogue and slow moving action. The pace quickly picks up but then Bendis takes some serious leaps in time. The first quarter of the book takes place in Cap’s secret apartment, then the rest of book jumps all over time and place, montaging, what seems like, 3 days into 5 pages.

The last page will satisfy most readers but all in all the writing felt very lazy. Bendis seems to be relying on his broad strokes rather than delivering consistently intriguing single pages.

The art on the book is excellent. Tan has a dynamic style, in my opinion, amalgamating Michael Turner and Linel Yu’s artistic renderings.

This first issue wasn’t stellar but I still have faith in Bucky.

I have been pretty hard on Grant Morrison recently but I expect a lot from him. He’s one of my favorite writers. He reinvigorated my love for comics, back in high school, with his new JLA . I can’t just accept anything he writes as gold. I critique his work tougher than other writers because I know what he’s capable of. With all that said, I was very happy with issue #683.

The story was coherent, if repetitive, in delivering the Dark Knight’s current Final Crisis dilemma. Most of this story is easy to spoil so I strongly suggest you pick it up at retail. All I will say is that any Bat fan will have goose bumps by issues’ end.

They took Cap from me now it looks like Batman will be next… (sigh)

Jonathon London (who’s that guy?) gave me the heads up on this reprinting of some classic Spirit adventures. Though obvious hype for the film, this comic shares no resemblance, save the red tie and the names of the characters, to the awful Frank Miller motion picture.

There are four mini-serials in issue #1. To give you guys a little perspective this comic was written in the 40’s and you will be hard pressed to find distraction from it’s age.

After reading this ish I realize why Eisner has the top award in comics named after him. The Spirit is a concise, gritty, realistic piece of crime fiction. Yes, it harks back to a simpler time but there is an honesty to the book that rings timeless. The Spirit is a real person and not an over dramatized pulp hero. He wrestles with old demons and has to deal with the burdens of law enforcement. The camp that you would expect from the film is all but missing from the original work.

Anyone not interested in reading a comic book in it’s purest form need-not-apply. How can you appreciate where the medium is going if you don’t know where it started?

With that I conclude this week’s edition of Stack Attack!.

Until next week, remember you turn the page/you wash your hands. You turn the page/you wash your hands…

-Nick Gregorio