Books of the Week – 07/31/19

1. Canto #1 (IDW) (Second Printing) ★★★★★
Writer: David M. Bonner / Art: Drew Zucker
Original Release Date: 06/26/19 (First Printing)
That was just wonderful. Bonner & Zucker build such a uniquely beautiful and interesting world. Plus, I’m a sucker for a good quest. How’d I miss this? I’m hooked. Now to find a First Printing.

2. Fantastic Four #12 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘The Honeymoon Crasher’ / ‘Speed of Light’
Writer: Dan Slott & Jeremy Whitley / Art: Sean Izaakse $ Danieles Orlandini, Will Robson / Colors: Marcio Enyz & Greg Menzie
Nice old-timey Thing vs Hulk story, with a twist. Snappy dialog, great visuals and solid action (I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many pieces of Ben break off). Great stuff. The Future Foundation story was a pleasant read as well. (The feels!).

3. Secret Warps: Iron Hammer Annual #1 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Part 5: ‘Secret Infinity Warp Warps’ / ‘Fenris in a Bottle’
Writer: Al wing & Tini Howard / Art: Carlos Gomez & Ario Anindito / Colors: Carlos Lopez & Israel Silva
They actually pulled this story off. Nice job. I admit in the beginningI had my doubts. Both the main story and ‘Fenris in a Bottle’ were gems.

4. Canto #2 (IDW) ★★★★
Writer: David M. Bonner / Art: Drew Zucker
A quieter issue than the debut. The story takes its time with plenty of stunning visuals and some nice set pieces. An unlikely alliance proves a fun and welcome addition.

5. Fornicators Inc. #1 (Aardvark-Vanaheim) ★★★★
‘Cerebus in Hell’
Writer: David Birdsong / Art: Gustave Dore& Dante Alighieri
The Ditko sequence was definitely the funniest ipart of this up and down book. I came in new to this, so am unfamiliar with the style, but I really enjoyed it. Reminds me of some of the indie comics I read in Seattle back in the early 80’s. I may have to explore the back issues.

6. The Batman Who Laughs #7 (DC) ★★★
‘The Laughing House’ – Part 7
Writer: Scott Snyder / Art: Jock / Colors: David Baron
I loved the look and tone of this series, even though I didn’t fully understand it. I left me feeling a bit conflicted. It was a compelling read, but it left me feeling a bit empty at the end. Probably another one of those ‘It helps to know the backstory things’. Ah well.

7. Powers of X (Marvel) ★★★
‘The Last Dream of Professor X’
Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Art: R.B. Silva & Adriano Di Benedetto / Colors: Marte Gracia
This was certainly an interesting read. The art was quite nice too. I’m not too sure where they’re going with this, but I’ll stick around… for now. Hopefully the text sequences will decrease over time. They give the books (Both House & Powers) a stiffness that I feel hurts the flow of the story.

8. Batman: Last Knight in Earth #2 (DC Black Label) ★★★
Writer: Scott Snyder / Art: Greg Capullo & Jonathan Glapion / Colors: FCO Plascencia
Some good stuff in this issue (Can I be Robin? ), but I’m still a bit lost. Stuff just… happens, with no clear reason or purpose. Odd. I must be missing something.

9. Captain America #12 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Captain of Nothing’ – Part 6
Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Art: Adam Kubert / Colors; Matt Milla
‘Captain of Nothing’ ends, not with a bang, but with lots of set up for ‘The Legend of Steve’. Oddly enough, I liked this issue, even if nothing actually happened (except that final reveal).

10. Avengers #22 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Challenge of the Ghost Riders – Part 1: The Exorcism at Avengers Mountain’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Stefano Caselli / Colors: Jason Keith
For a set-up issue, this was pretty good. Nice to see Daimon Hellstrom again. Art was great, except for the West Coast Avenges page at the end by Al Alburquerque. Yikes.

11. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #9 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Feast or Famine’ – Part 3
Writer: Tom Taylor / Art: Kei Zama / Colors: Felipe Sobreiro
I really enjoy the easygoing, breezy nature of Taylor’s writing on this series, but this one felt lighter than usual. A lot of set-up, highlighted by a quick backstory, and then it was over. I would have preferred more.

12. Marvel Comics Presents #7 (Marvel) ★★★
Wolverine: ‘The Vigil’ – Part 7 / Iron Man: ‘Market Correction’ / Winter Soldier: S’ne Eo Alia Essent Visibilia Omnia’
Writers: Charles Soule, Ryan North & D. Pierson / Art: Paulo Siqueira with Oren Junior, Rod Reis & Alessandro Vitti / Colors: Frank D’Armata, Rod Reis, Lee Loughridge
After the issue 6 fuss, I figured I’d give this nice little anthology series a try. It’s not bad. Art was good in all three stories. They made their point quickly and succinctly. They just didn’t connect with me. Oddly enough, the Winter Soldier story was my favorite (followed by the Sub-Prime Mortgage man intro to the Iron Man story).

13. Death’s Head #1 (Marvel) ★★
‘The Bo(d)y in Question’
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: Kei Zama / Colors: Felipe Sobreiro
I should already know who/what Death’s Head is, yes? This book tries really hard to be funny, but falls a bit short. The art feels crowded to the point where it detracts from the story. Hulkling & Wiccan were welcome additions, but I’m still not sure about this one.

14. Manor Black #1 (Dark Horse) ★★
Writer: Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt / Art: Tyler Crook
A dark, moody mystery with all the usual suspects: magic types, ancient beings, resentful heirs, amusing locals, plus a runaway (BINGO!) Somewhat intriguing, but not sure if it’s enough to keep me reading. Perhaps Patton Oswald oversold it (or he read ahead).

15. Knights Temporal #1 (AfterShock) ★★
‘Wrong Place, Wrong Time’
Writer: Cullen Bunn / Art: Fran Galan
Much like Manor Black, I picked this up on the strength of Cullen Bunn’s name, but found the story a bit too familiar for my tastes. Time traveling, sword & sorcery, treacherous alliances. It’s very well trodden territory. Also, the art, while quite good, was a tad too dark and murky to fully appreciate.