Comic Reviews - 8/8 What Did I Just Read?!? Comics Loses a Legend

Hey all their 1uppers! It's that time again, but this week was a little light so I will throw in some filler in here.

So lets get down to brass taxes, but first a shameless plug.  Buy your books at 1up Collectibles!

Gambit #1  -  $2.99  -  T+

What the hell did I just read, let alone see.  I had high hopes for this one, because I grew up loving Gambit.  I thought it would be this intense, high action, very stylized, theft story. Instead we got a look warm but that barely has any action, some theft, whose art was barely in focus.  Everything was not right about this book at all.  This was James Asmus. It starts out with Gambit at his apartment in NYC where he is apparently is retired from being a thief, which is funny because I always just assumed Gambit stole crap when you weren't looking.  So he is going to this charity event at the never been heard of before Mr. Cich, who apparently gives out loans to bad guys. So let me get this right an evil bank roller moonlights by having charity events held at his mansion? Makes sense if you don't think about it. Okay so Gambit is going to his place to steal something, so he manages to gain his finger prints, a copy of his retinas, and a copy of him saying his name allowed so Gambit can access Cich's vault of repo'd villain weapons. Which is apparently hidden on the third floor and resembles Mary Poppin's endless bag. After creating a distraction Gambit has 15 minutes to sneak off steal what he needs too which is totally unclear.  So Gambit gets in and a kinetic shock makes the thing explode? Then sets off its internal security which is a sentinel and we know how reliable they are but seriously he did this all in 15 minutes? Sure whatever suspension of disbelief. Whatever. Then the big WTF moment happens back in Gambit's room, where the thing that shocked him, which apparently didn't explode(?) shocks him again then a star fish comes out of nowhere.  Then the starfish enters Gambit, through his chest.  WTF did i just see, let alone how could I, because the art has no clarity and no depth to it. Granted the pencils might have been muddled by the colorist but the shading is way off, so any respectable colorist would have been able to color it properly.

I will give this one more issue just to find out about that damn starfish.

Story  -  1/5
Art  - 2/5

Batman #12  -  $3.99  -  T

This was a great story written by Scott Snyder, about bullying and standing up for what is right. It's told from the point of Harper Row, who is a Gotham electrical grid worker.  She lives with her bother who is being bullied by neighborhood boys for being gay.  Their building is scheduled to be renovated by the Waynes. When she returns home, she finds her brother Cullen on the floor with a derogatory term shaved into his head. So Harper does the same thing to her hair to prove to the bullies that they aren't scared.  As the Rows were walking home the bullies attack and Batman saves them, effectively ending the bullying.  As Harper becomes sort of obsessed with Batman and figures how she can help him,  As she is down the sewer helping fix Batman's electrical grid, Batman is fighting Tiger Shark on a boat that Harper helps ground.  While at work Batman comes for a visit and tells Harper she didn't help him with the grid and she is finished.  Harper now lives by a variation of the words Batman told her, "Harper Row, you're not finished, no way."  A very emotional issue dealing with a very real problem. The Art is alright, it switches styles half way through which is distracting to me because they are two very different styles, but are both respectively well done. 

Story  -  4/5
Art  - 3/5

Captain America #16  -  $3.99  - Digital Copy  - T

This was an issue written by Ed Brubaker who has been writing you this new series from the start and in this arc Brubaker has been using the power of the media as a weapon. A weapon against heroes.the issue takes off from where the last one ended.  There is a political "talking head" if you will named Reed Braxton, who spins everything the heroes into something negative against humans. That they would rather save aliens then humans.  This a very political statement made about the importance of media and how it essentially sculpts the opinions of people. So as Cap is fighting the Discordians in DC, Braxton is playing arm chair QB and pointing out everything that is wrong.  As this is going on Agent 13 and Dum Dum Dugan are breaking into Braxton's HQ to find out who is behind all of this because in the previous issue we saw he is a clone.  As they break into the production area where we found out he is hypnotizing his audience. So then Braxton makes an announcement that they are being censored and yatty yatta.  The two are then being chased but not before Agent 13 punches one and they find out he is robot and Dugan takes his head. The comic ends with Captain America being beaten by average Americans.  This was an interesting to say the least and am very curious to see how the new Hydra plays a role in this TV News anchor ploy. The art hs been good but there was a few missteps in the story telling in some ares but overall a good issue.


Story  -  3/5
Art  - 2/5





Over this passed week the comic world took a huge blow, we lost Joe Kubert.  An amazing artist and teacher.  Long known for his art in DC Comics with titles such as Srgt. Rock, Tor, and Hawkman.  He also had a Joe Kubert School in NJ where he and two of his sons Adam and Andy, would teach aspiring comic artists the fundamentals to the most advanced elements of comic art.  Some of his lesser mainstream works that you should definitely read are,  Fax from Sarajevo, Jew Gangster, and GI Combat. He was a true icon and legend. He was a hero to me and some many others. His legacy and life will long out live us all. Thank you Joe for everything you have done.

Rest In Piece

Joe Kubert

1926-2012

Comic Reviews - July 18th & 25th

Welcome to another installment of my reviews. Lets Go!

Also don't forget to buy your books here!

Captain America #15 - $3.99 - Digital Copy - T

A great story written by Ed Brubaker who has Captain America protecting New York from an attack.  We find out it is an elaborate plan by the Hydra Queen to turn the public against Captain America when they clone a TV news talking head and have him twist everything that Cap has done. There is also a power struggle among the supervillians, which I hope leads to a plot device in a later issue. At the end of the issue Cap faces fighting the Discordians. This issue deals much more then a physical attack on Cap but a psychological one by attacking him publicly to turn the people he fights for, against him.  The art by Scot Eaton is solid. It is good at telling the story and good at illustrating the action. I just would like to see a little more flare/personal touch in the art.


Story - 4/5
Art - 3/5

Amazing Spider-Man #690 - $3.99 -  Digital Copy - T

"No Turning Back" continues...into nothing. This issue was meh at best. Morbius was caught by Spidey.  Connors makes everyone into Lizards and isn't sure he wants to be turned back.  The best part about this story by Dan Slott was when Connors has to keep cutting off his arm because the serum finally worked and he had to keep up his crippled appearance. This issue can be skipped, unless you were a fan of the art before.


Story - 2/5
Art - 3/5

AVX #8 - $3.99 - Digital Copy - T+

Round 8: This has been booooring. Seriously all that happens is the Avengers get Hope to K'un Lun.  They defeat Namor with a joint effort and Scarlet Witch.  Namor losses his powers after he "falls" (lame) and they get transferred to the Phoenix four.  Scott won't listen to Professor X. End.  My theory is Scott or Emma get all the power and it goes straight to their head. The story was written by Bendis and the art was by Adam Kubert, but this is one of the worst outings I have seen by him.  The style isn't consistent the mechanics just aren't all there.  In one panel you can see the out line of Captain America that looks like it was forgotten to be erased then inked.  This is one big let down.


Story - 2/5
Art - 2/5

Deadpool #58 - $2.99 - Parental Advisory

The most entertaining book this week, not because it avant guarde but because it knows what it is, and thats where I take it from. It is a slap stick tongue in cheek book. The writer Daniel Way, doesn't try to make any high concepts from it. Deadpool doesn't have powers, so villains are trying to kill him.  Its a quick read but it has great art work by Salva Espin that matches with the wackiness perfectly. The best part of the story involves an explosive toilet and an anti-ballistic shower curtain. If you wan't some great immature fun, read this.


Story - 4/5
Art - 4/5 

Saga #5 - $2.99 - Not Rated

If you aren't reading this, why aren't you? The story written by Brian K Vaughan. Right at the start Robot IV finds out he will be a father.  Mean while Marko saves Alana and Hazel from IV's men where he breaks his rule not to hurt anyone. The Will saves the 6 year old from Sextillion but gets taken back. While there a contact calls The Will and explains she is on the trail of Marko and Alana. His contact, Stealth, is then shot by Robot IV in a haunting final page. This is a great twist to the beginning of this series. The art by Fiona Staples is good for the story it has it's own style and never deviates from it. The splash pages are great and can illustrate some good action. I can't wait to see the repercussions of the final page.


Story - 4/5
Art - 3/5

Green Lantern #11 - $2.99 - T

This series I enjoyed before the reboot, and this issue is more of the same from Geoff Johns.  This issue was a stepping stone into revealing the New 52 Green Lantern mythos.  Indigos made a strong construct ring for Hal Jordan, so he can use it on Sinestro. Foreshadowing?  While they were preoccupied, Black hand escaped and resurrects his family and in a great scene of him sitting around a table with zombies.  While retrieving the Book of the Black, they open it reveling some characters and are transported to the Black Hand and his family. TBC! The art was done by Doug Mahnke who has always had great art style that demonstrates a consistent art style through most of DC. It's great but just lacks a definitive uniqueness that other artists have today.


Story - 4/5
Art - 3/5

Ramblings:

One thing that i noticed about the DC New 52, is that it was suppose to be a place for the casual fan/new fan to pick up and understand whats going on. We are almost a year on and I feel like I am going to look up characters and have to refer to previous issues or Wikipedia.


Let me know what you guys think of the titles I reviewed!

Comic Reviews - July 11th & 18th part duex.

Back to Part two! So much time and so little to do...Strike that. Reverse it.

Action Comics #11  -  $3.99  -  T

This is a series written by one of my favorite writers, Grant Morrison. In this issue Superman changes his disguise after a bomb went off in the last issue. His new identity as Johnny Clark, a fire fighter in Metropolis on engine 1938. Which was nice visual nod to the year Superman joined DC Comics. Superman chose this new identity so he can save people while being both people, which I feel was a good and smart enough explanation for the new identity to justify it. It's an amusing side note seeing him getting life advise from Batman. In an interesting twist Superman hypothesis that Braniac may have been saving these 204 galaxies from the Multitude. In climax of the issue, Clark Kent Johnny Clark's fire truck turns into a Metalek that hits Lois. The space man the Susie has been seeing in her dreams takes her by hand and flys off with her while he makes citizens turn on Superman.

This is a solid story by Morrison. Its a good start to a new era for the new 52 Superman.  It has a few story lines that are intertwined that Morrison is good at doing. The Art of the story is done by Rags Morales, Rick Bryant, and Brad Walker. It was interesting seeing three artists working on the book all of which are great and they get the story told with great action and pacing. The interesting fact is that all the art looks similar and it works. Only if you scrutinize the work will you be able to see the differences in figures, gestures, and layouts. It is a good issue and I will continue to read this book.

Story - 4/5

Art - 4/5

Amazing Spider-Man #689  -  $3.99  -  Includes Digital Copy  -  T 

When we last saw Dan Slott's Spider-Man he was able to turn Lizard back into Curt Connors with the help of New Horizons and Morbius.  Connors is genetically back to normal, but sets off Spider-Man's spider sense but he blames it on Morbius. Connors wants to see his son er... what's left of him anyway, and makes a scene so everyone leaves them alone. This allows Connors to grab blood and sets it in the vents which makes Morbius go all kookoo-for-cocoa-puffs. Morbius gets all bitey on Sanjani from Horizon. This sends Spider-Man after Morbius in a good fight. Meanwhile, the new Madame web gets a vision of the great web being torn, and she has to warn Peter. Finally alone at Horizon Labs, Connors plugs himself with the lizard formula, which only makes him grow his own arm back, but then injects Max with the formula which changes him into a Lizard.


This story line has had its fair share of cool moments, like Morbius stealing Billy's body and Conners using the serum on Max. It feels like it's leading to a big amalgamation of events. I hope this is worth payoff. The story isn't as deep as the latter comic but for me the history of these characters make it interesting enough to stay to see what comes next. Also the banter isn't where it use to be, which reflects the tonality of the story. The art in this issue is by Guseppe Camuncoli, which again is pretty good, but his figures look a little stiff. He is really good at drawing these high-on-bath-salt esque faces for Dr. Connor symbolizing his inner struggle. The colors by Klaus Janson need to be a little darker to add better contrast and depth to Camuncoli's art. Hopefully we see where all this is going next issue.


Story - 3/5
Art - 3/5

Batman #11  -  $3.99  -  T

In this the conclusion of the Court of the Owls, Batman found out that he had a brother he never knew about.  Lincoln March, our villain, who was born with birth defects, was left in a hospital as sickly mute who was visited by Martha Wayne on several occasions. Then the Court of Owls visited him while he was in the hospital telling him he is Thomas Wayne Jr.  While these two fight, March explains to Batman how lucky Batman is to have this city and now needs to share with his brother. In the end of the fight, the building collapsed from an explosion that trapped March but no body was found. This leaves Bruce Wayne questioning his parents and if they would really hid this from them. There are records of a John Doe but without DNA Bruce won't know for sure.  The story ends with Bruce not giving up on the city he loves both as Bruce and as Batman.


This was a good ending to the story, by Scott Snyder, that leaves this little inkling of doubt in Bruce's head.  There are some parallels that run in the end of the story that Snyder does well, like Batman giving up because of this life changing news of a brother, but then Batman vows to fight for the city while Bruce vows to rebuild the destroyed tower as a sign of hope for the city.  The art in book is by Greg Capullo who knows how to add mood and tension very well to his art.  He fits the tone and mood of this book really well. After this story arch I am very intrigued to see what comes next for Bats.


Story - 4/5
Art - 4/5

Captain America #14  -  $3.99  -  Includes Digital Copy  -  T

Ed Brubaker has another story on his hands here. We first Captain America protecting Porcupine from a new Scourge, a brain washed henchmen working for the New Hydra. It is revealed in the fight that the Scourage he is fighting is Demolition Man, Dennis Dunphy. Sharon Carter tries to make it to Cap in time to tell him who is really fighting, but when she arrives she has to do something that Cap will never forgive her for. With Steve Rogers dealing with these events, while trying to unearth who is behind a Super Villain Witness Protection Program. The worst part about it, Bravo just made this all public.


Brubaker does a great job of adding emotion and including some history involved with Cap and his villain.  It seems to make this whole thing cannon fodder for the Bravo to use against him, so he is not only attacking Cap physically and emotionally but as well as politically.  This Single story has several different layers to it that Brubaker does well.  The art Patch Zircher with Mike Deodato are good with drawing the figures and gestures along with story telling. The place where the ball is dropped in the art is the background, most of which are basic or just bland. I guess that to keep the reader more focusing in on the gravity of the story. All-in-all it is a good issue. I say pick it up if your into your comics history from the 80's.


Story - 4/5
Art - 3/5




That's it for now guys. Look out for new reviews from this weeks comics coming soon!

Avengers Assemble in Cleveland

Last week, Marvel Studios pulled out of doing location shooting in Detroit for their upcoming Avengers film following Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s repeal of tax break incentives designed to lure filmmakers to the state. While Snyder may be turning his back on filmmakers, Governor John Kasich in neighboring Ohio is hoping to lure the production to Cleveland.

"Marvel has stated publicly that the change was because of the tax credit loss," said Hill. "The fact that we have it in Ohio has made a huge difference."

According to Bleeding Cool’s Blog Marvel Entertainment will be shooting their upcoming Avengers Assemble movie in Cleveland, Ohio later this spring. Reportedly, the production, to be directed by Joss Whedon, would infuse approximately $40 million into the local economy.

Gov. John Kasich announced that the upcoming Marvel movie featuring the superhero team The Avengers, scheduled for a 2012 release, will be filmed in Cleveland.

He made the announcement before Mayor Frank Jackson's State of the City address this afternoon at the City Club.

"I'm really pleased that the city is going to get this movie," he said. "It's fantastic. It required quick and hard work between the community here and the state of Ohio, something that hasn't always happened. We won another one from Michigan. I'm thrilled we are going to have this here. I'm just bucking for a part as Governator 2."

The news was also confirmed by Katie Sabatino, publicist for the Ohio Film Office, who said the agreement was made with Marvel Comics after negotiations.

"We have been in dialogue with Marvel Comics all week and we finally reached an agreement," she said. "We're very excited about it."

The Avengers movie, directed by Joss Whedon, will feature big-name actors reprising their superhero roles from previous films, including Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man; Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow.

The Avengers movie will also feature Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America. Both men are also appearing in films about their characters this year.

Hemsworth stars as Thor in a highly anticipated movie opening in May and Evans stars as Captain America in the movie, "Captain America, The First Avenger" opening in July.

Wayne Hill, chairman of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, said the Avengers movie will be the largest film ever made in Ohio and that filming is expected to start in the fall.

Ivan Schwarz, executive director of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, said the movie also means jobs.
"It's tremendous for the city's and the regional effort to have films made here," he said. "It means a lot of jobs for people in our area."

The Avengers movie is the film that all the recent Marvel movies have been leading up to. After the closing credits of the movies featuring Iron Man, The Hulk and other heroes, there are hints of the formation of a superhero team featuring the powerhouse characters.