Books of the Week: 10/16/19

1. Superman’s Pal: Jimmy Olsen #4 (DC) ★★★★★
Writer: Matt Fraction / Art: Steve Lieber / Colors: Nathan Fairbairn / Cover: Steve Lieber & Nathan Fairbairn
I think I’m falling in love with Jimmy Olsen. This book was so much fun. It bounces around from one silly set piece to another, while at the same time building an intriguing little mystery to solve. The Crazy Board double-page spread alone make this a classic. Inspired stuff.

2. Spider-Man #2 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Bloodline – Part 2’
Writer: J.J. Abrams & Henry Abrams / Art: Sara Pichelli / Colors: Dave Stewart / Cover: Oliver Coipel & Dave Stewart
That was brilliant. What kid wouldn’t do the exact same thing? I love that the suit is too big. Does he adapt a bit too quickly? Sure. Do I care? Mavbe just a little. Still, this is fun stuff. Great way to explore a teenage Spidey again.

3. Absolute Carnage vs Deadpool #3 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Frank Tieri / Art: Marcello Ferreira & Jack Jadson with Roberto Poggi / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Tyler Kirkham & Arif Prianto
Lots of fun and laughs as DP & Spidey tackle Carnage (he’s everywhere!) and his minions. Lots of great jokes, but the story timeline is a mess lately. Getting hard to keep the narrative straight.

4. Metal Men #1 (DC) ★★★★
‘Domo Arigato’
Writer: Dan Didio / Art: Shane Davis & Michelle Delecki / Colors: Jason Wright / Cover: Shane Davis, Michelle Dilecki & NS Studio
Beautiful art and an introspective and bitter Magnus. I really like the writing in this book. You could feel the bitterness from Gold and the cynicism of Magnus. Looking forward to see where they go after this solid set-up.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy #10 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Faithless – Part 4 of 6’
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Cory Smith & Victor Olazaba / Colors: David Curiel / Cover: Patch Zircher & Dean White
That was a quick read. I lie the new Magus. Hard to tell which way he’s gonna go. Love the return of classic Drax too. Actually, I liked pretty much everything about this book.

6. Once & Future #3 (Boom! Studios) ★★★★
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Art: Dan Mora / Colors: Tamra Bonvillain / Cover: Dan Mora
Moving the story along we get a of of exposition and a new setting. Not much actually happens in this issue, but it does set some promising things up going forward. Art still shines, and the dialog remains snappy.

7. Something is Killing the Children #2 (Boom! Studios) ★★★★
‘The Angel of Archer’s Peak – Part 2’
Writer: James Tynion IV / Art: Werther Dell’edera / Colors: Miquel Muerto / Cover: Werther Dell’edera & Giovanna Niro
Some snappy writing and solid set pieces make s issue an enjoyable read. Love how things happen, but give nothing away. Solid.

8. Contagion #3 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Ed Brisson / Art: Mack Chater & Stephen Segovia / Colors: Veronica Gandini & Andrew Crossley / Cover: Juan Jose Ryp & Jesus Aburtov
A slew of heroes join the fight to defeat the Urchin, only to have the contagion migrate to a new host. Some really nice scenes of various characters reacting to what’s happening, as well as some sweet foreshadowing of issues yet to come. Solid stuff.

9. Uncanny X-Men #1 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Pax Krakoa’
Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Art: Leinil Francis Yu & Gerry Alanguilan / Colors: Sunny Gho / Cover: Lenil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho
Interesting reset/continuation after the HoX/PoX books. Everything feels too good to be true which means something bad’s gonna happen soon I can’t wait. Btw: Why do all new Mutants not look even remotely human, but most of the older ones do? Hmmm?

10. History of the Marvel Universe #4 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Lenil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho / Art: Javier Rodriguez & Alvaro Lopez / Colors: Javier Rodriguez / Cover: Steve McNiven, Mark Farmer &Morry Hollowell
Nice bookending of Franklin Richards in this review of the Bronze Age. It covered a lot of things I wasn’t 100% clear on, which was nice. Still loving those annotations.

11. Captain America #15 (Marvel) ★★★
‘The Legend of Steve – Part 3’
Writers: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Art: Jason Masters / Colors: Matt Milla / Cover: Alex Ross
I don’t mind gritty art, in fact I usually quite like it, but Masters’ work here is really shoddy. His Steve is beyond bad. Story-wise, this was actually pretty good. Tight, gripping, even a bit shocking. I do feel this whole story could be a bit tighter though.

12. Batman #81 (DC) ★★★
‘City of Bane – Part 7’
Writer: Tom King / Art: John Romita Jr. & Mitch Gerads with Klaus Janson / Colors: Tomeu Morey & Mitch Gerads / Cover: John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson & Tomeu Morey
A lot of exposition in this issue. I’m assuming this is due to the impending creative change. Still, the book reads well, even if I don’t buy TW Batman being able to defeat the entire Bat family solo. JR JR’s art has been a treat. That helps.

13. Absolute Carnage #4 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer & Jay Leisten / Colors: Frank Martin / Cover: Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer & Frank Martin
A bit of a mixed bag this one. It starts out really strong, then seems to come to really out of left field solution. Toss in last inte reprieve and newly acquired powers for Eddie and it all reads a bit too convenient. A rare misstep for this series. Hopefully it will rebound in #5.

14. Superman: Year One #3 (DC) ★★★
Writer: Frank Miller / Art: John Romita Jr. & Danny Miki / Colors: Alex Sinclair / Cover: John Romita Jr. with Danny Miki & Alex Sinclair
I enjoyed this until the last third when it took a hard left. Batman’s a jerk, and Wonder Woman has the hots for Supes? Huh? Also – the idea that Supes can fly thru space has always seemed kinda ridiculous. Sorry that the book had to end with him doing just that. It’s like a fumble after an 90 yard run.

15. Justice League #34 (DC) ★★★
‘Justice/Doom War – Part 5’
Writer: Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV / Art: Bruno Redondo & Howard Porter / Colors: Hi-Fi / Cover: Francis Manapul
Oh Kendra, you dope. Things go south for the JL just as victory is in their grasp. The story keeps getting bigger. I can see where this is going… I hope I’m wrong.

16. Absolute Carnage: Scream #3 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Cullen Bunn / Art: Gerardo Sandoval / Colors: Erick Arciniega / Cover: Gerardo Sandoval & Jason Keith
The Scream / Carnage / Andi battle takes a couple of wild turns. The book ends sort of… That Scream evidently can hod her own against Carnage is a bit of a surprise, especially after he kills her, but hey… comics.

17. Absolute Carnage: The Avengers #1 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Leah Williams & Zac Thompson / Art: Alberto Alburquerque & Guiu Vilanova / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Clayton Crain
Guiu Vilanova does what he can, but he can’ save Alburquerque’s artwork. It’s just unpleasant.At tines it kind of worked here, but mostly, no. As for the story – of all the AC books this one feels the most like filler. Awesome cover tho.