Week in review (comics released 06/02)

ABE SAPIEN THE DROWNING #1
The story of Abe’s first solo adventure (ie. no Hellboy). It still feels very BRPD and serves well to flesh out the background and history of the Hellboy universe.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #11
It still doesn’t feel quite right. There are elements of the story, even some very specific scenes that would work so much better on the small screen. Joss can write for TV and he can write comics, it almost feels like those two writing styles are at war with each other here though. More of the ‘big bad’ for this season, but in the usual fashion of not really telling the audience all that much

ALL NEW ATOM #20
This issue reveals the bad guy of the last 19 issues before. All the madness in Ivy City can get traced back to a B grade villain who sold his soul and time travels. Unfortunately, as fun as the series is, this felt like a let down.

COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 12
The issue is call Convergence, but probably should have been titled ‘All Roads Lead to Apokalips’. After the Monitor/Monarch/Superman Prime war reached its conclusion (as far as we know) last issue, this issue manages to take every other storyline that has run through Countdown and send the all to Apokalips by the end of the issue (some work better than others). Less than 3 months to Final Crisis and the Darkseid story is about to take off.

DETECTIVE COMICS #841
Back to the Paul Dini, single issue stories. This time it’s the Mad Hatter. All of these stories are really well done, through I prefer the two-parters to the stand-alones.

EXTERMINATORS #26
Ancient bug conspiracies, literary brothels, reborn gods and a team of pest exterminators. There’s no way of telling which direction this story is going next. Two years in and the story now has a definite feeling of purpose to it and most of all, it’s fun.

FABLES #69
The end of the ‘Good Prince’ storyline. Flycatcher’s kingdom is under threat and he takes the battlefield in an unexpected way. It’s the end of a fairytale but with subtle reminders that the real war is yet to begin.

INFINITY INC #6
One of the weaker spin-offs of 52. The real problem is you just don’t care about any of the characters. Steel’s appearances always feel forced, as if it’s the only way they can tie the story to current continuity. I don’t really expect this series to last another year despite a few good ideas.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #12
The series that is being heralded as the ‘real’ sequel to Kingdom Come. Superman from that era is already part of the JSA now and the current recruitment drive the JSA are undertaking is adding new and old characters to the roster. The villain is not far away though, and this issue finally hints at who it is.

METAL MEN #6
Confusing and fun. The story is told in up to three different time zones, running parallel, with the same characters. Time travel, sentient metal and a liberal splash of chemistry 101 make it a fun ride regardless. Ultimately, though, it needs to be read all at once.

NIGHTWING #141
New creative team and a new direction (kind of) for Dick Grayson. There is even a conversation with Wally West where Dick says he’s done with crisis and whether or not he should be dead (a subtle dig at Dan Dido’s original intention to kill him off). A new hideout, new characters, but enough guest stars to make sure the reader feels everything is still in the same world.

NORTHLANDERS #3
A Viking version of Grand Theft Auto. A viking returns from having seen the world as part of the roman army and now has to deal with his homeland under the control of a power hungry uncle.

SCALPED #14

SUPERGIRL #26
Since her return, Supergirl really hasn't been written well. The Superman/Batman intrductory story did the character justice, the current series doesn't seem to know what its doing. Now she's left Teen Titans the only DCU character she's interacting with seems to be Superman again. Character development needed.

TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #2

VINYL UNDERGROUND #5
Vertigo is still by far the best publisher of magic in comics. This series has four twenty somethings solving crime and dealing with the occult in London. Imagine a young Constantine in modern day Londern

WILDSTORM REVELATIONS #3

DARKNESS #2
Series relaunch after the recent First Born crossover/mini-series. The art is wonderfully coloured and the story is so far interesting. Jackie has a small country of his own and is pushing the powers of the Darkness even further (he has half his country enslaved on a drug made from the byproduct of his powers). Well worth the read.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #549
Ok, so I forgot to cancel this series. I’m desperately trying to give it a chance but I still fail to be impressed. The Jackpot character (which we’re being led to believe is MJ, but probably won’t be) is unbelievable and so much of the Spidey universe just doesn’t make sense anymore.

ANITA BLAKE VH GUILTY PLEASURES #8

ANNIHILATION CONQUEST #4
Warlock and Quasar, Mantis, Rocket Racoon and Starlord all make sense in this galactic epic. The Phalanx as the bad guys are suitably epic and nasty. Wraith is just confusing. Unfortunately the series is let down by the use of Ultron as the leader of the Phalanx and The HIgh Evolutionary as the manipulator of Warlock. Not as good as the previous Annihilation storyline.

CLANDESTINE #1
I can barely remember when Alan Davis introduced Clandestine, a family of superheroes with an immortal father. It looks interesting but without knowing all the history behind the characters it feels like you’re starting a story from the middle of second season.

MOON KNIGHT #15
Psychotic super-heroes are always a little hit or miss. This one hits the mark. There’s no way to tell if Marc Spector is insane or really talking to the god of vengeance, either way he’s unbalanced and vicious.. and a licensed, registered hero, much to Tony Stark’s dismay.

MS MARVEL #24
Ms Marvel with Binary powers vs the Brood Mother. What's more interesting is the lead in to Secret Invasion crossover as of next issue. Oh, and Machine Man from NextWave is worth every printed word.

SILVER SURFER IN THY NAME #4

TWELVE #2
I have to wonder whether The Twelve or Alex Ross’s Superpowers was conceived of first. Both deal with super-hero teams from the past being brought forward to current day. JMS is doing a solid piece of writing here.

UNCANNY X-MEN #495
The first issue of ‘Divided We Stand’. The X-Men are disbanded (though we all know that won’t last). The most interesting part of this is the changes that have been made to Cyclops’s character over the last couple of years. Gone is the weak self-doubting mutant that should never have been the X-Men’s leader. Now he’s calculating, planning and someone you don’t want to cross.

BOYS #15
Back to the earlier storyline of Starlight dealing with joining the Seven, and finding that the hero business isn't all its made out to be. Hughie makes a deal to find out more about the Butcher's crew. Its over the top, excessive violence and sex and a whole lot of fun regardless. Preacher with superheroes.