Books of the Week: 11/20/19
1. Canto #6 (IDW) ★★★★★
Writer: David M. Booher / Art: Drew Zucker / Colors: Vittorio Astone / Cover: Deron Bennett
A beautifully somber, moving and inspiring finale to our hero’s journey. It’s been a long time since I shed a tear reading a comic. They’re promising further adventures in 2020. I can’t wait. What a wonderful series.
2. Shapes #1 (Cave Pictures) ★★★★★
Writer: Jason Brubaker & Rick Rekedal / Art: Jason Brubaker / Colors: Jason Brubaker & Asdrian Amarteifiq / Cover: Jason Brubaker
What an adorable read! Great art and a very interesting story involving gaming crossing with real life. I love that our hero, Tripp refuses to believe any of this is actually happening. It makes for a fun dynamic. I’m in.
3. King Thor #3 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Chapter 3: A Storm of Prayers’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Esad Ribic with Das Pastoras / Colors: Ive Svorcina with Das Pastoras / Cover: Esad Ribic
This was a great read. Threads from all over recent Thor stories woven together into a truly epic battle. The stakes get even higher with the cliffhanger ending. Issue #4 promises to be a-mazing.
4. Gwenpool Strikes Back #4 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Leah Williams & Christoper Hastings / Art: David Baldeon / Colors: Jesus Aburtov / Cover: Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
The silliness reaches its apex with more Gwenpools than you can shake a Mjolinor at. Tons of fun. Plus an ‘In-Laws’ reference! Baldeon continues to show why he’s one of my favorite current artists. Aces.
5. Show’s End #4 (Mad Cave) ★★★★★
Writer: Anthony Cleveland / Art: Jef Sadzinski / Colors: Julian Gonzalez / Cover: Julian Gonzalez
Lordy! Things get real in this latest issue of Show’s End. Certain mysteries are solved just as everything we thought we knew changes almost completely. Lots to like about this issue. It’s grim, dark, and very powerful. A great read.
6. Once & Future #4 (Boom! Studios) ★★★★★
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Art: Dan Mora / Colors: Tamra Bonvillain / Cover: Dan Mora
I love the art in this series. It just grabs you and doesn’t let go. The story is moving along with a trail of blood and mystery in its wake. I love that its taking its time. And yes, I’m still crushing on Duncan.
7. Strikeforce #2 (Marvel -10/23) ★★★★★
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: German Peralta / Colors: Miroslav Mrva / Cover: Andrea Sorrentino & Dean White
This was a surprisingly good read. The writing was fun, with plenty of pop. I love Satana. She and Jessica steal the show. I really didn’t expect Strikeforce to be one of Marvel’s funniest titles. The art matches the story tone quite well tool. A nice, and surprising, rebound.
8. Metal Men #2 (DC) ★★★★★
‘To the Nth Degree’
Writer: Dan Didio / Art: Shane Davis & Michelle Delecki / Colors: Jason Wright / Cover: Shane Davis, Michelle Delecki & Jason Wright
The Metal Men get their butts kicked by the Nth Metal Man in a shockingly brief and costly fight sequence. There’s a lot to unpack in this book. Magnus is a bit of a prick, but he kinda always is, so there’s that. The art in this book is tops, and does a lot of the heavy lifting. Can’t wait to see where this goes.
9. Flash Forward #3 (DC) ★★★★
‘Chapter 3: Freefall’
Writer: Scott Lobdell / Art: Brett Booth & Norm Rapmund / Colors: Luis Guerrero / Cover: Doc Shaner
Justice League vampires and the return (sort of) of one of Wally’s best friends make for an another solid read. Plenty of feels to go along with the action in this one. I do hope they switch up the formula in the next issue though. This could get old fast.
10. 2099 – Alpha (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Viktor Bogdanovic / Colors: Marte Gracia / Covers: Patrick Gleason & Guru-eFX
Top notch art and solid writing highlight this EVENT! Kick-off. I know nothing regarding 2099, so I found the mysteries of this book quite interesting. Interesting enough to wade into yet another EVENT! Series? I don’t know. Jury’s out on that one.
11. Loki #5 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘The Man from Up North’
Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith / Art: Andy MacDonald / Colors: David Curiel / Cover: Ozgur Yildirim
The latest Loki mini-seies ends with a fun western adventure and a treatise on what is and isn’t reality, history and stories. This was a very enjoyable series, it’s a shame it ended so soon.
12. Deadpool #1 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Kelly Thompson / Art: Chris Bachalo with Wayne Faucher, Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Jaime Mendoza, Livesay & Victor Olazaba / Colors: David Curiel / Cover: Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend
Fun, breezy read. Interesting approach – just throw the reader right into the story. Bachalo’s art in this book is also really impressive. There’s a lot to like here.
13. Immortal Hulk #27 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘This is the Day’
Writer: Al Ewing / Art: Joe Bennett with Ruy Jose, Belardino Brabo, Marc Deering & Sean Parsons / Colors: Paul Mounts / Cover: Alex Ross
Special Agent Hulk? Okaaay…. I actually really liked this book. The tri-narrative structure, the dialog (especially from the Minotaur), it all really popped. Still feels like a hard left from previous issues, but remains a solid read.
14. Spider-Man: Velocity #4 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum / Art: Emilio Laiso / Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg / Cover: Skan
This was actually quite an enjoyable read (No one’s more surprised than me at this point). The Spidey in the lab sequence was great. I’m guessing there’s going to have to be a down side to his speed suit, other wise why wouldn’t he use it all his other titles?
15. Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #5 (DC) ★★★★
Writer: Matt Fraction / Art: Steve Lieber / Colors: Nathan Fairbairn / Cover: Steve Lieber & Nathan Fairbairn
Jimmy Olsen takes on Batman with predictably fun results. We get more Olsen/Luthor history, and Jimmy’s sister. A fun take on Batman, and the usual quality art makes this another solid read.
16. Roku #2 (Valiant) ★★★★
Writer: Cullen Bunn / Art: Ramon F. Bachs / Colors: Stephane Paitreau / Cover: Elsa Charretier
Stronger narrative, coupled with exciting fight sequences, and a unique play on exposition make this issue a pleasant surprise. Still a bit more graphic that I prefer, but all in all a solid, action thriller.
17. Annihilation: Scourge – Alpha #1 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Juanan Ramirez with Cian Tormey / Colors: Federico Blee / Cover: Josemaria Casanovas
Marvel’s newest Mini-EVENT! Kicks off with some fun and exciting battles between Blastaar, Annihilus and The Scourge (who I initially thought might be Knull, from AbsCarnage… but alas). Loved the writing on this book, even if the art got a bit wonky a points (can’t anybody draw a Nova helmet well?). I’ll admit it… I’m hooked. Nicely done, House of Ideas.
18. Strikeforce #3 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: German Peralta with Marco Ruby / Colors: Guru-eFX with Marco Ruby / Cover: Andrea Sorrentino & Matthew Wilson
The final-ish battle against the Vridai centers this book, but there’s so much more going on. Lots of great little bits spread around the ever-growing cast. This books has really found its legs. Fun stuff.
19. Something is Killing the Children #3 (Boom! Studios) ★★★★
‘The Angel of Archer’s Peak – Part 3’
Writer: James Tynion IV / Art: Werther Dell’edera / Colors: Miquel Muerto / Cover: Werther Dell’edera & Giovanna Niro
A dryer read than previous issues, with another death and lots of unanswered questions. I enjoyed the interrogation sequence quite a bit. It was tense and had just the right tone.
20. Marauders #2 (Marvel) ★★★
‘The Red Coronation’
Writer: Gerry Duggan / Art: Matteo Lolli / Colors: Federico Blee / Cover: Russell Dauterman & Matthew Wilson
It’s always a pleasure to see Batroc. This book was a mixed bag. Lots of stuff happened, but none of it seems to really matter. Sort of a ‘Day on the Life’ of the Marauders. Pyro’s tattoo is absurd. I’m still not unsure of the motives of this new ‘Kate’ Pryde. It sort of came out of nowhere.
21. Captain America #16 (Marvel) ★★★
‘The Legend of Steve – Part 4’
Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Art: Bob Quinn / Colors: Matt Milla / Cover: Alex Ross
Some U.S. Agent vs Cap action, more villainous intrigue and a surprise ending. One of the better Cap books in a while. Dialog and art still a bit wonky at times, but any improvement is welcome at this point.
22. Avengers #26 (Marvel) ★★★
‘As Strong as the Stars’
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Dale Keown with Andrea Sorrentino & Joe Weeks, Cam Smith & Craig Yeung with Andrea Sorrentino / Colors: Jason Keith with Erick Arciniega & Jay David Ramos / Cover: Dales Keown & Jason Keith
The origin of the Starbrand. I liked this book up to a point. A bit too heavy on the melodrama. The art was solid, but some of the dialog went right through me.
23. Amazing Spider-Man #34 (Marvel) ★★★
‘Target: Doom’
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Patrick Gleason / Colors: Matthew Wilson, Dee Cunniffe & Chris O’Halloran / Cover: Patrick Gleason & Matthew Wilson
Gleason’s art is the high point of this book. The plot appears both convoluted and predictable, which is a neat trick. It does seem odd that if Doom were assassinated in NYC, Spidey would be the only hero to show up and investigate. Fortunately 2099 is a short EVENT!.
24. Absolute Carnage #5 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Ryan Stegman with Mark Bagley & John Dell / Colors: Frank Martin / Cover: Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer & Frank Martin
Swift and a bit too tidy wrap up of the AC EVENT!. Naturally the solution results in a new menace… coming soon to an EVENT! near you. A bit of a buzz-kill really. Also, shame on Stegman and the Editors for not catching the Spidey continuity error. Took me right out of the story. Onto Venom #20.
25. Justice League #36 (DC) ★★
‘Justice/Doom War – Part 7’
Writer: Scott Snyder / Art: Francis Manapul & Howard Porter / Colors: Hi-Fi / Cover: Francis Manapul
Perpetua predictably turns on the Legion of Doom as Luthor leads an army to finish off the Justice League. It’s a slow build, but at least its building to… something? The last panel is ridiculous. I laughed out loud… which I don’t think was their intention.
26. Fantastic Four 2099 #1 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Karla Pacheco / Art: Steven Cummings / Colors: Chris Sotomayor / Cover: Toni Infante
H.E.R.B.I.E. has a dark side. Who knew? Did not see that ending coming. There were some interesting parts to this and some ridiculous parts (Vikings in 2099, really?). Lots of unexplained holes. Perhaps they’ll get to them in later books. I do hope we see Vellum again.
27. Excalibur #2 (Marvel) ★★
‘Verse II: A Tower of Flowers’
Writer: Tini Howard / Art: Marcus To / Colors: Erick Arciniega / Cover: Mahmud Asrar & Matthew Wilson
Somewhat clunky read, what with druids, LeFays and LOTS of talking back and forth that reveals very little. I know this is a set-up issue, but it could have read a bit clearer
28. Batman #83 (DC) ★★
‘City of Bane – Part 9’
Writer: Tom King / Art: Mikel Janin / Colors: Jordie Bellaire / Cover: Mikel Janin & Jordie Bellaire
Overly long mourning sequence filled with poetry and grim visuals. The whole thing felt cold and hollow. Not unlike this entire Thomas Wayne storyline. A rare miss in this current run.
29. Amazing Mary Jane #2 (Marvel) ★
Writer: Leah Williams / Art: Carlos Gomez / Colors: Carlos Lopez / Cover: Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado
Not as fun as the previous issue. A lot of over the top dialog and odd character interactions. Mysterio/Cage as a raving lunatic feels somewhat out of character. Its difficult to believe anyone would fall for this ruse. I know its a humor comic, but c’mon.
30. Absolute Carnage: Captain Marvel #1 (Marvel) ★
Writer: Emily Ryan Lerner / Art: Andrea Broccardo & Le Beau Underwood / Colors: Dono Sanchez-Almara / Cover: David Nakayama
So… I have no idea what happened in this book. Carnage shows up, bonds with Chewie and Carol defeats him… by flying into space… somehow? Nope. No sense at all. Nice art tho, and the space intro is fun too. Phyllis looks to much like Aunt May. Old ladies do color their hair, Marvel.
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