A surprisingly big week for Marvel Comics that had some surprises too. Few number ones so I was able to get to some of the continuing books that seems to be harder to do now. So lets get started shall we.
Frankenstein Undone #1
Dark Horse Comics Writers Mike Mignola and Scott Allie, Artist Den Stenbeck, Colorist Brennan Wagner, Letterer Clem Robins
I honestly haven’t read many of the Hellboy spinoff titles but as a big fan of Frankenstein I though I would give this one a try and it was a nice surprise indeed. The good news is that while this takes place in the Hellboy universe, you can jump right into this story because as long as you are familiar with the Frankenstein story that is all that you need to know here. It takes place after the original story and Frankenstein attempt to get away from society and try and meet his final fate takes some intriguing twist and turns in this first issue and will genuinely surprise you as you are reading it. Mignola and Allie doa very nice job here with the script for a character that has had many incarnations it’s hard to read a truly fresh take on it and they have done that quite well here. What the get so right here is that Frankenstein is a tragic character and they instill a lot of human emotions for a “monster” and that is what makes it such a solid read. Stenbeck’s artwork adds so much to the script especially in the parts of the story that has no dialogue is where his artwork really shines here because he has to convey all of the emotions and actions in the story and he does it here so effortlessly that is very impressive.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? There have been many Frankenstein stories over the years in comics but very few have captured the characters from the source material but this team has captured it quite well here and it makes for a really strong comic book that is well worth buying this week. RECOMMENDED!
Weapon Plus: World War IV #1
Marvel Comics Writer Benjamin Percy, Penciler Georges Jeanty, Inkers Wayne Faucher & Marc Deering, Colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, Letterer Joe Sabino, Back-Up story Writer Ryan Cody, David Baldeón, Colorist Jesus Aburtov
While this may tie into something it does however stand alone and was a far above average one shot from Marvel. Percy’s script while not wholly original, did however give it a fresh spin here and made for a fun read for the Man-Thing character. While the story is not very deep it will keep you entertained while you are reading it and on that level it works well. Jeanty’s artwork really brings this story to life quite well and is one of the big reasons why it works so well and the visuals really complement Percy’s script perfectly here. The Weapon H back-up story is sadly a real waste here because with only 10 pages to work with here there is little that Cody’s script can do to make it work with all of the introductions of the characters that drags the story down so that there is little that actually happens here. The artwork by Baldeón is nice but nothing special beyond getting the job done but in all fairness there is very little for him to work with here.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? I did enjoy the main story here and while it was fun it’s a bit hard to recommend for the five buck cover price for a story that is fun but not mind blowing and a so-so back-up story. Overall if you are a Man-Thing fan you might want to check it out but if you are on a tight budget then you could give this one a pass.
Protector #1
Image Comics Writers Simon Roy and Daniel Bensen, Artist Artyom Trakhanov, Colorist Jason Wordie, Letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
First issues are tough when you are building a big world for you’re story and that is what is happening here in this first issue. Roy and Bensen’s story has a solid first outing but this first issue is pretty much pure exposition that while you are intrigued you’re not totally sure of what is going on quite yet. I would have liked a bit more character development in this first issue because you really know nothing about Mari beyond that she is a slave and that is pretty much it here. There is a three page bio on the tribes and locations of the story and that is great but the main story leaves you more wondering what is going on instead of putting that back up material into the main story. I did find Trakhanov’s artwork to be quite impressive here and the rough look adds greatly to the tone and look of the story and did add quite a bit more to the book considering the exposition heavy script.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? I do think that there are some good ideas here but this first issue is not as inviting as it should be. Roy and Bensen is obviously setting up a lot here and you can see that there are some good ideas here but the second issue is going to have to step up the comics game because as nice as Trakhanov’s artwork is on the book the artwork can only save the story so much. It’s going to take at least another issue to see where they are taking this story but it does show promise.
Hawkeye Freefall #2
Marvel Comics Writer Matthew Rosenberg, Artist Otto Schmidt, Letterer Joe Sabino
I was quite surprised by the first issue of this new series and the second issue builds quite nicely here. Rosenberg continues to have fun here with both the characters and the story that is giving this book a great charm that make sure that you are having fun while you are reading it. He gives the book a very good balance of both action and humor that is working quite well here while still firmly a solid superhero comic all in one. What is most impressive is that he is able to make Clint a charming asshole that is a tough balance to get right but Rosenberg is able to capture that fine line here. Schmidt’s artwork has a simple cartoony style that is bringing all of Rosenberg’s script elements together perfectly here. Where he really impresses is with the subtle humor of the script that he captures with the facial expressions and all of the emotions of the story that is making it work so well.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? I’m having a lot of fun with this comic so far and this second issue keep the momentum going and has a nice twist at the end of the issue that will have you coming back for more. Humor in a superhero comic is hard to pull off but Rosenberg and Schmidt are pulling it off quite well here and is making for a surprisingly good book and is well worth checking out.
Suicide Squad #2
DC Comics Writer Tom Taylor, Artist Bruno Redondo, Colorist Adriano Lucas, Letterer West Abbott
To say that this new incarnation of Suicide Squad was a surprise was an understatement and thankfully the first issue was no fluke because Taylor continues to take chances with this story and it continues to have great twist and turns in the story. With this second outing he continues to have the conflicts with the two teams and that adds to the tensions of the story then he throws in their first mission that goes south pretty quickly and has you guessing as to how the whole thing is going to turn out. Taylor does a nice job here with building the characters out and letting readers get to know the new ones while the story keeps moving along is a smart choice and lets the story move along while the exposition is going at the same time. Redondo’s artwork continues to impress and does a great job with both the action and the drama of the story. One of his best assets is the facial expressions of the characters that he does a wonderful job of conveying the story.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? It’s been quite a while sense I was excited to read a Suicide Squad book but Taylor and Redondo have changed my mind on it very quickly here. The last few incarnations of the book have done little to make the book exciting and they have started this one off better than the entire l previous run of the book. What is making this one so good is that you are never quite sure of where they are going to take the story but simply hang on for the ride. VERY RECOMMENDED!
Killadelphia #3
Image Comics Writer Rodney Barns, Artist Jason Shawn Alexander, Colorist Luis Nct, Letterer Marshall Dillon
This title continues to literally breath new life into the vampire genre. Barns was very smart in having this issue give the back story to John Adams and how he became the head vampire but also continues to have the present day part of the story interweave with each other and made for a another solid issue of this title. The story is unfolding at a nice pace that is taking its time to wash over you and that is why its working so well. Alexander artwork on the book continues to blow me away because he adds so much great mood with both the line work and the color pallet that he uses on the book. One of the most impressive pages is the double page spread of John Adams travels through time to the present that visually covers a lot of ground in just two pages is truly impressive.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? A comic either sinks or swims around its third issue and this one looks to be a keeper because Barns and Alexander do a great job of moving the story forward but not rushing it so that it has a great natural pace to it that keeps you not only interested but wanting to come back for more and that is what a good comic should do. RECOMMENDED!
Tarot #2
Marvel Comics Writer Alan Davis, Artist Paul Renand, Colorist Paul Mounts, Letterer Clayton Cowles
As I have stated so many times before that I am a huge Alan Davis fan and this new mini series may not be his best but it continues to be a fun very superhero story that wont blow you away but doesn’t try to be more than it is. I will be really honest here that the story is pretty basic but I will give Davis credit for being able to have a large cast of characters and not have it spiral out of control and that could be because the story is pretty simple. Renand’s artwork is impressive because there are a ton of characters that he has to draw here and the fact that he is able to keep it all in check with such a large cast is no easy feat but he handles it perfectly here with both the drama and the big action scenes with such ease its amazing.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? Yea this is a basic superhero team up story that has a ton of characters and pretty much them vs the bad guys but in its defense, it does that pretty well here and doesn’t try and be more than that. Sometimes a comic like this is nice to read because it is just fun and you get to see a ton of Marvel characters. The big win is Renand’s artwork and the fact that he is able to draw so many characters and give the story a great visual flow. Its silly fun and that is what you are getting here.
Jessica Jones: Blind Spot #2
Marvel Comics Writer Kelly Thompson, Artist Mattia De Iulis, Letterer Cory Petit
This is a basic murder mystery story and that is working pretty well here and I have to give credit to Thompson who keeps the story moving along nicely here. As with any murder mystery you need to care about two things, first the mystery must be interesting and second you need to care about the characters that are involved with said mystery and she keeps both parts moving along here nicely in this second issue. The one thing that has always worked well for Jones is here not giving a shit about things and her sly sense of humor and Thompson continues this tradition well here especially with her meeting with Doctor Strange that is pretty priceless here. De Iulis’s artwork really gives this book a great edge visually and really helps during the long dialogue scenes that keeps you from getting board during those and it really shows what a strong artist he is.
Is this comic worth you’re time and money? This is a good comic if you are a fan of murder mysteries but also of superheroes and that is not always easy to mix the two genres well but Thompson and Iulis continue to deliver both very well here. They keep the mystery moving along nicely and give you good reasons to come back for more. This is well worth checking out this week.
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