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Comic Book Reviews Week of 2/26/14

Comic Book Reviews Week of 2/26/14

Well this week there are some real disappointments with some of the new books that started this week. But there were some surprises too so lets see how everything fairs this week.

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Deadly Class #2

Image Comics Writer Rick Remender, Artist Wes Craig, Colorist Lee Loughridge, Letterer Rus Wooton

I really enjoyed the first issue of Deadly Class and was hoping that the quality stays as good as the first. The plot from Image is, It’s Marcus’s first day at the Kings Dominion High School for the Deadly Arts. A locker full of death threats, a schedule full of brutality, and whispers in the hallway about his mysterious past…which is fast catching up to cut out his freshly broken heart. I was a bit worried because the first part of isssue #2 was kind of letdown in the pacing department. It just seemed a little drawn out for me but, once Marcus started the classes at the school then the book kicked back into high gear and turned it around. I get what Remender was doing in the first part of the story but the focus wasn’t entirely there for me. While I get the exposition of the story it just dragged a bit. Craig’s art hits the bullseye again and I really loved how he captures the emotions on the faces of the cast. I really want to point out Loughridge’s color work on the book. He really captures the mood of Craig’s artwork and really makes this book pop.

Is this book worth your time and money? I was a little worried at first with the story and the pacing but Remender really picked it up and got the book back on track. This is a really solid book and I am really loving the mystery surrounding Marcus and the school. There is definitely a lot of story to unfold here and it looks to be a really good one. Recommended.

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Superman: Lois Lane #1

DC Comics Writer Marguerite Bennett, Pencilers Emanuela Lupacchino, Meghan Hetrick, Ig Gurra, & Diogenes Neves  Inkers Guellemo Ortego, Ruy Jose & Marc Deering Colorist Hi-Fi, Letterer John J. Hill

The manager of my local comic shop really hated this book. So after that I just had to read it to see where it was going to land for me. The plot from DC is, Lois Lane is known for chasing down stories — but what happens when the story is her family? As her father gains more power in the government, Lois’s sister Lucy has become involved with a deadly drug scene! Meanwhile, Lois thought she was rid of the influence of Brainiac, but now she finds that the computer tyrant of Colu is calling out to her again! So is it as bad as I was told No but, it was really kind of average. The story was OK but the bigger problem was that it really never felt like I was reading about Lois Lane. It was the type of story that if you changed the name to say Wonder Woman the story would be pretty much the same. While I did like the back story that Bennett gave Lois and her sister growing up with their parents story the main story was overall a been there and done that story. The art is a mixed bag the best is probably the flashbacks to Lois and her sister as kids but the art is like the story is OK but nothing spectacular.

Is this book worth your time and money? At 5 bucks not really. While it’s not the worst book that I have ever read it just is meh. Nothing compelling story or art wise in this book. While I applaud DC for putting the book based on a female character out and getting a woman to write the story I just wish that there was more there with the story. A swing and a miss for me on this one.

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Fantastic Four #1

Marvel Comics Writer James Robinson, Pencils Leonard Kirk, Inker Karl Kesel, Colorist Jesus Aburtov, Letterer Clayton Cowles

After Robinson’s disappointing story on the Marvel relaunch of the Invaders a few weeks back I really hoped that he would redeem himself with the new Fantastic Four book. The plot from Marvel is, “THE FALL OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR” PART 1 The world’s greatest comics magazine begins anew with Marvel’s First Family, the Fantastic Four! But as the brilliant MR. FANTASTIC, the compassionate INVISIBLE WOMAN, the ever lovin’ THING & the hot-headed HUMAN TORCH embark on a strange mission, they aren’t met with new beginnings, but an untimely end! As the family of cosmic explorers head towards their darkest hour, who could possibly be behind their downfall? And how is one of their oldest enemies, the sadistic dragon known as Fing-Fang-Foom involved? Prepare for the fantastic! Well I wouldn’t call the first issue “fantastic” but it’s a decent start to the book. The big problem that I had with the book is that I really felt as if I was missing something. Like their was back story that I felt I didn’t understand. It’s possible that Robinson has done this on purpose for future story lines but after reading the issue I just felt as if I was missing something. The overall story is a first issue of introductions and a fight to help new readers see each member use there powers. The artwork by Kirk and Kesel is really nice and does a nice job of the big fight scenes and the more subtle moments of the story.

Is this book worth your time and money? I think so. While the first issue wasn’t a home run it wasn’t a strike out either. It’s defiantly better than Robinson’s Invaders but not quite as good as some of his previous books. It’s worth checking out and see where the story take me. I willing to give it a few more issues.

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One-Hit Wonder #1

Image Comics Writer Fabrice Sapolsky, Artist Ariel Olivetti, Bonus Art Jean-Marie Minguez, Letterer The Wolfpack

A book sometime comes along and is very appropriately titled One-Hit Wonder is one of those. The plot from Image is, If there was a thin line between reality and fiction, Richie Reese tore it down. Better, he crushed it. Smashed it. Destroyed it. From child star to hitman in Hollywood, this is the story of a glorious bastard. Written by FABRICE SAPOLSKY (Spider-Man Noir) and drawn by superstar artist ARIEL OLIVETTI (Cable, Punisher War Journal, Conan), this is the crime comedy series you don’t want to miss this year. Well this book for me is a One Hit Wonder as in I won’t be sticking around for issue #2. This book is a real mess in the story department. Sapolsky’s story is all over the place. Honestly I really couldn’t tell most of the time what the point of the book is. At first you are not even sure that Richie has really killed his first victim. You really don’t care about Richie or pretty much anyone or anything in the story. The book is billed as a crime comedy series but they must have left out the funny parts from my copy of the book. The only redeeming part of the book is Olivetti’s artwork that is really great to look at but is completely wasted on this awful story.

Is this book worth your time and money. There are so many other things in life that you could buy with the $3.50 you could waste on this book. I’m guessing that this book will be a guaranteed one hit wonder for the people who bought this book because they will not be back for more. D.O.A.

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Empire of the Dead #2

Marvel Comics Writer George A. Romero, Artist Alex Maleev, Colorist Matt Hollingsworth, Letterer Cory Petit

I was pretty impressed with issue one of this book thankfully the second issue continues to impress. The plot from Marvel is, IT’S ZOMBIES VS VAMPIRES—WITH HUMANS CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE— AS THE LEGENDARY GEORGE ROMERO UNLEASHES HIS NEXT UNDEAD EPIC! Welcome to New York years after the eruption of an undead plague—a city not only teeming with roaming zombies, but also ruled by vampires!Meanwhile, in the pit of the bloody Circus Maximus, can anything stop the unchained fury of the zombie gladiator known as Zanzibar?Plus: It’s a terrorizing team-up in variant cover form when the Zombie Godfather George Romero unites with the Zombie King Arthur Suydam! The mixing of vampires and zombies on the surface seems to be more of a ploy to get more readers but thankfully Romero blends the genres together quite well. The pacing of the story is quite nice and the unfolding of it is really well done. The only thing I see is that the story is meant to be read as a complete story and I am begging to think that it’s really going to shine when read as a complete story. Maleev’s art really captures the mood that Romero is evoking in the story and really pulls the whole book together with the story.

Is this book worth your time and money? Very much so but you might also want to wait for the collection of the story. If you have missed the first two issues then I would wait. If you are impatient like me then this book is well worth the $3.99 cover price. Great story and art make this book a must have for the pull list. Recommended.

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Serenity: Leaves on the WInd #2

Dark Horse Comics Writer Zach Whedon, Pencils Georges Jeanty, Inker Karl Story, Colorist Laura Martin, Letterer Michael Heisler

The Firefly crew continues on its journey of trying to stay one step ahead of the law. The plot synopsis from Dark Horse is, Forced out of hiding, Serenity’s crew gets separated, and it becomes clear that everyone looking for the outlaws is on the verge of finding them. River offers to uncover the secrets that are hidden within her in the hope that the crew might have something to bargain with. Whedon continues with his strong story from the first issue and keeps the ball rolling in the second one. The idea of the pulling from all directions with the crew makes for a really interesting story. The best thing about the book is that is really captures the feel of the series and it’s like putting on your favorite shirt and how it fits just right every time. Whedon really steps up the game with this issue of Zoe getting captured and River risking her life to find the answers to their problems. Jeanty again really captures the look of the actors but puts his touch on the look of the book. His layouts for the story give it a really nice flow and hits every beat perfectly.

Is this book worth your time and money? The good news is that this book is a great continuation of the Firefly universe that is really missed. While I would love to have the show back on  television until that happens this is just as good as the show was.

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Adventures of Superman #10

DC Comics “In Care Of” Writer Derick Fridolfs, Pencils and Colorist Sean “Cheeks” Galloway, Inker Derek Laufman, Letterer Wes Abbott, “Dear Superman” Writer Josh Elder, Artist Victor Ibanez, Colorist Matthew Wilson, Letterer Wes Abbott

Well call me sentimental but this was my best reads this week. The first stories plot is, “In Care of,” introduces a young boy who needs Superman’s help to defeat a monster! This is one of those stories where the story and the art blend together so perfectly that you are in awe at the end. Yea it’s super sappy but you know it just works perfectly. The reason that the story works so well is that Fridlofs script keep the plot twist very close to its vest and reveals it at the perfect moment. He also plays the Superman can’t always solve all of the worlds problems too. Galloway art is simply beautiful and the cartoony style is perfect for the story. In a lot of ways the approach of keeping it simple but at the same time the art is so expressive that I really can’t imagine it any other way. This story is what I love about Superman. He is better than the best of humanity and this story tells that flawlessly.

The second story “Dear Superman,” Superman’s #1 fan watches from afar as the Last Son of Krypton battles an upgraded Metallo in the streets of Metropolis! It tells the same type of story and is good but just shy of the first story. Elder keep the twist till the end and tells a nice tight story. Ibanez art has a nice realistic tone that is perfect for the story.

Is this book worth your time and money? Call me old fashion but sometimes bigger is not necessarily better. Both of these story maybe short but they had a great uplifting feeling for me after reading them. It’s so nice to have Superman stories that are not so gritty and depressing. I think the problem is that there needs to be that balance. Just like Alan Moore did with Superman in the story “For the Man Who Has Everything” you can tell a great story but it can still have heart to it. This book has a lot of heart to it and for my money it was the best $3.99 I spent this week. Highly Recommended! 

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