Comic Book Reviews for 11/14/12
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Monday, 5 November 2012 Friday, 26 October 2012 0 comments
This was enormous week for comics, as it ushered in four new Marvel NOW! titles -- Fantastic Four, All-New X-Men, Thor: God of Thunder and X-Men Legacy -- while also giving us the next chapter of the epic Batman story Death of the Family. Not to mention, the first issue of the last Locke & Key mini-series hit, along with a bunch of hot Image Comics titles -- including the much-beloved Saga.
A little housekeeping before you go forth and ponder our scores: there will be no review round-up next week, due to the Thanksgiving holiday and our bellies being full of turkey and other such deliciousness. There are some big titles releasing next week though, so we'll have a sprinkling of single issue reviews.
DC COMICS
"The Joker’s return to Gotham City means a lot for the Bat-family, but Batgirl takes the cake. When the Joker paralyzed her in the classic tale The Killing Joke, her life changed forever. With the New 52, Gail Simone has given Batgirl her legs back, but the emotional scarring of the incident has always shown through. Now, all of that pain and fear comes to a head as Batgirl must confront the Joker once again, and the results might surprise you." -Joshua
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Final Score:
8.5
"The Joker made his presence well known with a theatrical slaughtering at the Gotham City Police Department in issue #13, but now he’s out to show the entire Bat-family that he’s back and he’s gunning for them. Batman #14 is another chilling installment of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Death of the Family story arc, and one that builds on its predecessor by amping up the tension to even greater heights. There are sprinklings of great character moments here, but ultimately this issue celebrates dread and atmosphere above all else." -Joey
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Final Score:
9.3
"Yeah, so, I’ve never really been very heavy into the zombie genre. I mean, the classics are good: Night of the Living Dead, Shaun of the Dead, and 28 Days Later. After that, it’s kind of background noise for me. That’s a big reason why Batman and Robin #14 failed to grab me." -Poet
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Final Score:
6.2
"Demon Knights #14 showcases all the stuff that makes this series so wonderful. It's funny, epic and intriguing. You'll get to last page and wish the next issue was in your hands already. The only major bummer about this issue is that it is one step closer to Paul Cornell's departure from the series, and that is some seriously depressing news." -Ben
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Final Score:
9.0
"The first original graphic novel spinoff in the Fables franchise, 1001 Nights of Snowfall, hit the stands back in 2006. In addition to exploring many new angles in Bill Willingham's colorful universe, it served as an excellent primer for new readers. I'd even go so far as to recommend it as a better starting point than Fables Vol. 1. With that book being such a creative and commercial success, it's a bit surprising that its taken so long for a second Fables OGN to emerge. Werewolves of the Heartland is neither the accessible gateway to the franchise nor as creatively engaging as its predecessor. However, fans of Bigby Wolf's misadventures will be pleasantly entertained." -Jesse
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Final Score:
7.0
"I’m really going to miss this book when it’s gone. Issue #14 is infused with the same strong balance of emotional gravity and comedic whimsy that Matt Kindt, Alberto Ponticelli, and Jeff Lemire have cultivated since the series’ instantiation. Take a trip with Frank on this bittersweet quest to save the world." -Poet
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Final Score:
8.3
"At what point does willpower become arrogance? Peter J. Tomasi answers that question in Green Lantern Corps #14 when Guy refuses to call for a retreat during a rather gruesome fight between his Lantern team and the Third Army. The Guardians have been setting Guy Gardner up to fail in a big way, and now that their goal nears completion, Guy must deal not only with them but his own ego. While Tomasi has been not-so-gracefully planting clues to the Guardians’ shenanigans throughout his run on this series, he does manage to use them to good effect here." -Joshua
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Final Score:
7.2
"I want to like The Phantom Stranger, but too often it seems as though this series goes out of its way to make me hate it instead. For all the potential it has in showcasing a new, more human version of the character, the book is more interested in cycling through an endless series of cameos than building an ongoing and engaging storyline." -Jesse
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Final Score:
3.8
"Punk Rock Jesus is finally bringing the punk in a big way. Last issue started to let it loose, but it is in full effect here. Chris and The Flak Jackets are keen to bring punk rock's message to the world. They are heading down a path that can't end well. This issue is mainly setting up the final showdown of sorts, so it covers a lot of ground and breezes through things a bit too quickly, but it's still of the same high quality that this book has been since day one." -Ben
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Final Score:
8.8
"The tendency with any Batman-related crossover these days is for one writer to tell the actual story and all the other writers to be saddled with pointless, superfluous tie-ins. Death of the Family is proving to be no exception so far. Suicide Squad #14 has more direct connection to the event than the first issues of Batgirl or Catwoman did, but it still does a poor job of either adding something meaningful to Death of the Family or furthering its own plot threads." -Jesse
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Final Score:
5.8
"I don't disagree with the assertion that Team 7 is a pointless series. It's sort of an inherently pointless exercise to showcase a team formed in the early days of the New 52 universe and comprised mainly of characters that have their own solo books set in the present day. We all know where this is leading for most of the players involved. But the most important thing is that I'm enjoying reading the adventures of characters like Black Canary, Deathstroke, and Grifter more in this series than I am in their own books. So yay for Team 7." -Jesse
Click to read the entire review!
Final Score:
6.8
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Detective Comics #14 Review
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Monday, 5 November 2012 Friday, 26 October 2012 0 comments
Detective Comics fills a niche right now as a Batman book that allows itself to be more free and more fun than the others. The tone of the series under new writer John Layman is not unlike Batman: The Animated Series, with its copious assortment of iconic Bat villains and a tone that isn't too dark or too comedic. It isn't ambitious or ground-breaking, but it achieves what it sets out to accomplish.
Though Penguin's quest for legitimacy is still the overarching focus of Layman' first arc, Poison Ivy hogs more of the spotlight. Layman attempts to fit his issue into the confines of the other at books, referencing both Scott Snyder's Death of the Family material and Ivy's recent defection from the Birds of Prey. Unsurprisingly, this continuity wrangling does nothing to actually serve the story, and I wish Layman could maintain a more continuity-light and editorial caption-free approach. The interaction between Bruce and Damian also seems odd and unnatural, partly because of the pointless references to other books, but also just because of the odd tenor of Damian's dialogue. But eventually the script shakes free of these shackles and focuses on the conflict at hand. Layman adds further spice to history with a surprise revelation at the end, one that is effectively fleshed out immediately after in the backup feature.
Both Jason Fabok and Andy Clarke provide attractive visuals to round out the solid script. Fabok's art play like a looser but still impressively detailed version of David Finch's style. Clarke's intricate line-work and moody panels stand out equally well. My only complaint is that Fabok's depiction of Poison Ivy's already underwhelming new costume is a bit weak compared to Clarke's.
I won't say that if you only read one Bat-book, to make it Detective Comics. It isn't the strongest of that pack by any stretch. But it still has its definite strengths, and when it isn't forced to reference pointless bits of continuity, it succeeds at offering a nice standalone adventure with plenty of familiar faces.
Jesse is a writer for various IGN channels. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.
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The Comics Run: November 5, 2012
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Monday, 5 November 2012 Friday, 26 October 2012 0 comments
Before you freak out on me in the comments, yes, I realize I left out some of this week's biggest releases -- Iron Man, Deadpool, Action Comics, Before Watchmen: Moloch, Green Lantern... but hey, these books I listed are just that exciting.
If you want a comprehensive list of everything that’s coming out this week and not just my own picks for what’s hot, check out Diamond’s shipping list.
We’re drawing ever closer to the conclusion of the remarkable Vertigo series known as Sweet Tooth, as writer/artist Jeff Lemire delivers the series’ penultimate chapter. It’s been a terrific (if anxiety-inducing and tear-sprouting) ride that could ultimately end in one of two ways: optimistically or… not.
While Lemire has teased that Sweet Tooth won’t end as depressingly as we might expect, it doesn’t change the fact that we’ll soon be leaving the world of Gus the boy with antlers behind for good. Prepare to savor this second-to-last installment, for soon, we shall be Sweet Tooth-less.
I admit that I wasn’t the biggest proponent of Avengers vs. X-Men. In fact, I more or less had the same problems with it that I do with most Marvel events: the implications of the story are far more engaging than the story itself. Luckily, it’s for that same reason that I’m enjoying AvX: Consequences as much as I am.
So far, Consequences has done a great job of positioning Cyclops’ new role in the X-Men world in a way that isn’t so much villainous as it is just really intriguing. Kieron Gillen has painted Scott Summers in a three dimensional light that was sorely missing in AvX proper, and with last issue’s reveal of his supporters, I’m ecstatic to see how this series changes the landscape of mutantdom in the Marvel Universe.
While I’ve been no slouch in promoting Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s Daredevil series that prides itself on straight-up fun, Bendis’ classic run on the Man Without Fear is one of the greatest things I’ve ever shoved into my brain. End of Days feels like a Dark Knight Returns-esque thematic finale to the Bendis rendition of Matt Murdock; it’s unapologetically grim and remarkably unnerving.
With Daredevil apparently dead, the series currently rests on the shoulders of Ben Urich as he struggles to come to terms with Matt’s end while also investigating it. There’s a lot of mystery and intrigue to End of Days, but hopefully issue #2 will serve to shed a little bit more light on what exactly the future of this mini-series could hold.
I’ll be totally honest with you and say that until today, I had no freaking clue what Colder was actually about. I did know two things: Paul Tobin is writing it and the cover makes my skin crawl. As you might recall from last week, horror comics are one of my favorite things (behind cats and liquor), and so anytime something new comes along I weep with joy.
In any case, Colder tells the story about an ex-inmate of a madhouse whose body temperature is dropping rapidly. He’s also got this innate ability to enter another person’s madness and cure it, but can he even cure himself? You best believe I want to find out, so that’s why I’ll be snagging this book.
Shadowman is back, Jack. Even though Benjamin Bailey of the IGN Comics Review Crew already handed this issue an 8.9 score, I can’t wait to get my hands on this beast myself. Justin Jordan is one of the hottest new writers of the year thanks to the awesome Strange Talent of Luther Strode, and the art of Patrick Zircher should simply never be passed up for any reason.
With Shadowman, Valiant is adding a new type of book to its steadily growing catalog of eclectic superhero comics: supernatural horror. If you like voodoo, blood, New Orleans, and the paranormal, I’d recommend jumping on board this train.
Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He thinks knows the world needs more horror comic books.
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IGN Assemble! #58 - Marry, Boff, Kill Pt. 2
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Monday, 5 November 2012 Friday, 26 October 2012 0 comments
We're back for another week of talking comics! Not a whole lot of news this week (save for the Iron Man 3 trailer), so we fill in the gaps with another rousing (read: disturbing) game of Marry, Boff, Kill.
Also up for discussion: Superman, I, Vampire, Punisher: War Zone, AvX: Consequences, FF, Batman Incorporated, Wolverine MAX, and a whole bunch more.
There are spoilers within for everything we talk about, so beware.
And if you're desperate to see the Vampire Dog trailer we talk about, you're welcome:
In the interest of self-promotion:
Check out the IGN Assemble! Facebook Group!
Check out the IGN Assemble! Wiki Page!
If you've got a question, comment, or art, feel free to drop us a line at ignassemble@ign.com.
IGN Assemble! Podcast: Episode #58
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Enjoy!
Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He will love Star Wars until the end of his days.
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Braid Artist Creates Zelda-Inspired Comic
♦ by Unknown Wednesday, 14 November 2012 Wednesday, 7 November 2012 Monday, 5 November 2012 Friday, 26 October 2012 0 comments
I don't get to write about/play games as often as I'd like, as I'm usually nose-deep in comics 24/7. That being said, there is one franchise that I'll always, always, always make time for: The Legend of Zelda. Hands down, Hyrule has been home to my favorite gaming experiences since I was a kid (I'm wearing a Zelda shirt as I write this, in fact). However, despite IGN's glowing review of last year's Skyward Sword, the game left me cold.
It seems I'm not the only one.
The artist behind the world of Braid (another spectacular gaming experience for me), David Hellman, has partnered with writer Tevis Thompson for a new graphic novel called Second Quest, which aims to take their frustrations with recent entries of the Zelda franchise and create their own fantasy world. It's a 50-page graphic novel that they've taken to Kickstarter for funding. The official synopsis of Second Quest is as follows:
Second Quest takes place in a world that has already been saved. Chaos was banished long ago, and the people were united. It is now the Age of Harmony.
A young woman discovers that she can draw out memories from objects just by touching them. But what these objects show her does not fit the legends she’s always been told. What will she discover about her island home? And what place does a curious, daring young woman have in a world that has already been saved?
Second Quest also engages many conversations that are happening in the videogame community right now – about the representations of women in games, the failures of triple-A titles, the role of achievements and trophies, and why we even play games at all. We hope our comic will offer a unique take on these issues.
The artwork shown thus far looks great, and the project is over the halfway mark of their goal with over two weeks to go. You can see more artwork for Second Quest below. For more on the project, check out their Kickstarter campaign.
Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter @JoeyEsposito, or find him on IGN at Joey-IGN. He loves superhero pets so hard.
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