Comic Book Quick Reviews - 9/12
More Zero issues and the origin of….SHAZAM!!! SPOILERS WARNING!!
Artifacts #21 (Image Comics)
So the final part of the Heart Stone finally arrives, not much going on as Rachel finally seems to channel the powers of the stone by sending some evil spirits away from a dying old lady. The rest of the issue was pretty much showing us how she is getting adapted to her new job and location….including finding a new love interest as well as we getting another gay character in comics (which was very subtle and just made known by a mention).
The art like always is so great, I love this artists and how he plays with the shadows and light in this issue as he conveys the living and the undead. Anyways the ending pretty much opens a new story-line with the missing from action Tom Judge. I don’t know if we will see Dr. Rachel again soon…or maybe the following stories will focus on each Artifact bearer as Tom meets them for the “first” time.
Green Lantern: New Guardians #0 (DC Comics)
Just like Green Lantern #0, this issue isn’t looking at the past but rather continues the story that the book and The Third Army event has been building. We get Kyle meeting Carol while he looks for Hal…of course they arrive to late to the scene where Hal, Sinestro and Black Hand did battle. Later we find out that Kyle now has the ability (although he can’t control it) to use the power of other Corps and Carol pushes him into mastering them if they want to find Hal.
The art was kinda “meh” in this issue as some panels were very detailed while others we half-assed. I LOVE that Carol finally gets a better costume in this issue! And that imagery of Kyle with other Corps costumes was great…although some of his looks were kinda weird (the Orange one being the worst). In a small surprise at the end we see The Guardians meeting the Zamarons whom seem to be on board with them and also want to destroy their own Corps.
Justice League #0 (DC Comics)
Ohh man, this was a great issue! As it focuses mostly on Billy and him becoming Shazam thanks to the Wizard (from whom we learn is the last one from the council that was killed by Black Adam). In a smart twist Billy gets his powers not because he is of pure heart but rather because he has the capacity to become the greatest champion. This is a great way to make the so far annoying (with a heart of gold) New 52 Billy into the one chosen to be Shazam. The rest of the issue has Billy and Freddy experimenting with these powers and what looks like Billy first signs of heroism…although for the “wrong” reasons.
The art like I said last week was by Gary Frank, whom sometimes is a miss or a win…this time he was a win all the way! I loved Billy’s reactions before and after transforming into Shazam! The backup was tied to the main story as we have Pandora (after stealing the Pandora Box) trying to open it…for her to be interrupted by the Wizard (whom seems to be dying after giving Billy his powers), whom tells her that she was wrongfully accused and that someone with great goodness or darkness can open the box and master it’s powers…of course he “dies” before saying whom. And somewhere else we get the first appearance of the Question whom has captured a kidnapper and saved a little girl.
Nightwing #0 (DC Comics)
So as expected this is the origin and how Dick became Robin in this universe. Which I must say was really cool as he really didn’t got the suit until the very end of the book and in the story after months of training and serving of a pseudo-Oracle to Bruce. Also love the overall theme that despite having the same tragedy happen to them both Bruce and Dick deal with it in different ways. Aside from that it was also a nice way to introduce Lady Shiva, whom will show up in the next story-arc.
Like always Eddie Barrows art is very kinetic and fitting for Dick, whom is a fast and agile character. Barrows not only is able to convey speed and agility but also is great with facial expression and convey emotions…especially in the many scenes in which Dick pretty much studies Bruce by his own movements only.
Spider-Men #5 (Marvel Comics)
The end of this fantastic mini finally arrives and it leave us with some mysteries as well as great moments. So Peter, Miles and the Ultimates “face” Mysterio (rather Miles and Peter beat him easily after he tries to sneak away). The rest of the issue deals with the goodbye from Peter and him officially giving his blessing (as well as a whole bunch of advice) to Miles…all while Tony is geeking out on the interdimentional machine. Also it seems that Mysterio will be seen no more in the 616 as he remained in custody over the Ultimate Universe! And the last page teases us with the 616 Miles Morales (my bet is that he is either dead or he is a villain).
Pichelli is just great in the visuals and I love how both Miles and Peter despite having masks on, convey soooooo much emotion! I can’t wait to see the fallout from this story into both Amazing Spider-Man and Ultimate Spider-Man books. And the covers are still misleading! yet beautiful…
The Avengers #30 (Marvel Comics)
This issue wasn’t really necessary other to show the last page……so most of the issue has Hawkeye and Spider-Woman fighting Mr. Negative and his minions while fighting over their relationship….yeah……that was 90% of the book. The rest was us finding out that they were there because Madame Hydra tipped Mr. Negative on the location of a S.H.I.E.L.D warehouse full of weapons from Fear Itself in order for her to get to another one and get Skrulls from I must assume, Secret Invasion.
Walter Simonson art is very old school (as he is well..and old school artist), but I think wasn’t needed for THIS story. A really wasted potential into such sub-par story….
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15
One of the things I never liked about books (that are into their own “stories”) getting tied into events or such is that they loose track, thankfully this issue do not suffers for that and actually manages to work well into the “Divided We Fall” event going on all Ultimate books. So we get the ultimate version of Maria Hill investigating the death of Prowler and giving Miles the good news that he didn’t killed him…although he is still believed to be a murderer. So with that in mind and now that his school is closed…Miles decides to join the Ultimates and help in uniting the country.
Like I said before Marquez’s art at the beginning was EXTREMELY similar to Pichelli to the point that I never noticed the change. Now I do, and yet it has the similar feeling this book had from the beginning…I love the facial expressions that Miles and Ganke have over everything! And well now that Miles has the web-shooters is awesome to see him struggling with them..
