These little one-issue stories are not SiKtC at its strongest, especially not the first few, which are just more monster hunts. But the volume gets stThese little one-issue stories are not SiKtC at its strongest, especially not the first few, which are just more monster hunts. But the volume gets stronger as it goes on, and we see a physically wounded Erica, then an ever-worse mentally wounded Erica. The last few stories are quite good. And it's great to see more hints of who Jessica was. So, I would have preferred a book-length flashback, but these were pretty good in the end....more
I've been waiting about a year to read this, and it was very disappointing.
First, the core premise: society has turned against the supers. It's been dI've been waiting about a year to read this, and it was very disappointing.
First, the core premise: society has turned against the supers. It's been done before, many times, but most notably in DC's first modern crossover: Legends.
Second, this sucks as a crossover because issue by issue the narrative skips big bits, and there's no clue as to where those bits might be.
Third, there's just no nuance here.
Fourth, the ending just comes out of nowhere, and everything is OK as you might expect, and powers jump around and hey-hey all these other random repercussions that are totally unearned.
Good bits: more focus on Dreamer. Uh, that's about it. ...more
An improvement over the previous volume, primarily because the FF are back together again. But the throwback '60s science-hero stories are getting oldAn improvement over the previous volume, primarily because the FF are back together again. But the throwback '60s science-hero stories are getting old quickly, mainly because North can't pull them off like Hickman could. So some are great, like the FF attacking the spaceship and others are largely forgettable like ... I'm not even sure what, just that I don't remember all five issues of this comic any more!...more
Smugglers, ne'er-do-wells, and criminals have always been a part of the Star Wars universe, so Aphra fits right in. Gillen characterizes her well, andSmugglers, ne'er-do-wells, and criminals have always been a part of the Star Wars universe, so Aphra fits right in. Gillen characterizes her well, and this is a fun story that dips back into the universe's history, so altogether an enjoyable read....more
One of the best things that Marvel published in this era: it was obvious that Jonathan Hickman was going places. Surprisingly, this initial effort remOne of the best things that Marvel published in this era: it was obvious that Jonathan Hickman was going places. Surprisingly, this initial effort remains one of his best.
It's the espionage side of the Marvel universe, entirely reimagined (while still remaining true to its origins). Hydra becomes truly dangerous, and its leaders become iconic and weird.
The storytelling is also amazing. Hickman constantly attacks things from different sides, sometimes leaving our protagonists out of it for issues at a time. This goes somewhat wrong in volume four, which feels like it spins its wheels and tells a different story than the rest of the collection, but you can't have this sort of experimentation without the chance of misstep.
And Hickman wasn't afraid of repercussions. We lose multiple members of our cast over the course of the book, which is shocking for a Big-2 comic.
The worst thing about this book is how much it's been ignored. The reinventions, the new characters, the repercussions for old ones, they're mostly swept under the carpet. Alas, that often seems to be the story of Hickman's interactions with Marvel. (They're too stupid to realize what they have.)...more
Post-crisis, Superman was decreed to be the last Kryptonian. So when the Superman team brought Supergirl back, it was a bit bizarre: she was a protoplPost-crisis, Superman was decreed to be the last Kryptonian. So when the Superman team brought Supergirl back, it was a bit bizarre: she was a protoplasmic shape-changing beaing from another world.
PAD corrected that with his Supergirl series, which was still totally respectful of post-Crisis continuity to date, but merged her with a dying Linda Danvers to recreate a Supergirl that was more like what ye olden fans knew.
It was a great success, not just due to the nostalgic value, but also because PAD offered his own twists, involving Linda in a demonic cult, then using that as another lever to reinvent Supergirl, this time as an Earthly angel. Bizarre? Maybe. But the core 9 issues of Supergirl in this volume are an intriguing read because of the novelty. Add that on to a great supporting cast, and you have a very successful book.
Padding this volume out (no pun intent) are a bunch of lower-quality stories, a Showcase, a Supergirl Plus (team-up) and a Legends of the Dead Earth annual. They're all largely skippable, though at least the Supergirl+ story respects the ongoing continuity....more
This comic-book follow-up, replacing the third book in the trilogy, is amazing.
That's partly because ofButterworth's two Hawklords novels are just OK.
This comic-book follow-up, replacing the third book in the trilogy, is amazing.
That's partly because of the timey-wimey reality-bending plot. It's all over the place in the best way.
But the artwork is amazing, truly matching the psychedelic nature of the series as a whole, that you just had to imagine up to now, but is now presented in gorgeous black & white art....more
It's the end of the world. It's never explained why. By Gillen uses it to tell a story of communication, friendship, and comraderie, and Hans illustraIt's the end of the world. It's never explained why. By Gillen uses it to tell a story of communication, friendship, and comraderie, and Hans illustrates it gorgeously. A haunting little tale....more
An ode to 80s skater culture. I'm not a skater, but I am an 80s kid, so there's a lot of nice nostalgia in here, and the skating is very nicely portraAn ode to 80s skater culture. I'm not a skater, but I am an 80s kid, so there's a lot of nice nostalgia in here, and the skating is very nicely portrayed. I love the group of friends who come together, but the plotting gets a little over-the-top toward the end. Still, a fun read, but not one with much depth....more
I really didn't know what to make of these Absolutes. And I still don't. I mean, obviously they weren't just going to be modern takes on the DC heroesI really didn't know what to make of these Absolutes. And I still don't. I mean, obviously they weren't just going to be modern takes on the DC heroes, because DC already did that in the excellent, but unfortunately short-lived Earth One volumes. But I figured: maybe our heroes with darker stories due to Darkseid's influence?
But what we're getting instead are practically new characters that happen to repeat many of the tropes of the DC heroes, and I don't know yet if I find that interesting or not!
Anyway, this Superman is a step up from the Batman. Though the story of his exit from Krypton and his place on Earth are deeply weird, they're also intriguing. I loved getting to see so much of Kal and his Kryptonian family. The modern-day story is much more sporadic, but it's interesting to see where it goes.
I haven't sparked to much of Ram V's work, so I found this surprisingly good.
Oh, there's still an abstractness to it that holds the reader back from tI haven't sparked to much of Ram V's work, so I found this surprisingly good.
Oh, there's still an abstractness to it that holds the reader back from the story. But it seems to work better on The New Gods than most other titles. That abstractness/distance is limited to our storyline on New Genesis, and there's all kinds of interesting detail there on old gods and new threats that really builds out the Fourth World in a way that most others haven't.
And we also get some much tighter connection to a Mr. Miracle storyline. (It almost feels like two books in one, they're so different.)
If I had a complaint it's mainly that the story abruptly stops at the end!...more
A strong Cornelius novella that nicely focuses on the symbolic fall of rock & roll, the rise of punk, and its almost immediate fall as well. It's suppA strong Cornelius novella that nicely focuses on the symbolic fall of rock & roll, the rise of punk, and its almost immediate fall as well. It's supposed to be the novelization of the Sex Pistols movie, and it's absolutely not, but instead it's the novel(la) that proved that Cornelius had legs past the 60s....more
Rucka's Wonder Woman has long been near the top of my list for omnibuses that I'd love to see, so it's great to finally have it in hand.
The main reasoRucka's Wonder Woman has long been near the top of my list for omnibuses that I'd love to see, so it's great to finally have it in hand.
The main reason is that Rucka totally humanizes Diana. This isn't a goddess (though she once was), but a colleague and a friend. And her supporting cast is just as great. (Though the heel turn of one of them in particular really feels like it comes out of nowhere.)
Rucka also makes great use of Greek myth, really building on the foundation that Perez built.
The problem with this volume is the ending, and it's totally not Rucka's fault.
First, we get Sacrifice, which is a *bad* crossover. Oh, Diana's definitive action isn't bad, but three issues of Superman fighting against imaginary baddies are. I don't know who would have possibly approved that.
And then we get immediately dumped into the OMAC attacks of Infinite Crisis, and there's little but issue after issue of fighting.
And then Rucka totally gets the rug pulled out from under him, so he has to do his best to settle things, but not only have we been denied much of what made his WW great for a half-year by that point, but we don't get much of an ending. (Rucka tries. His final issue on Diana and Clark's history is terrific, just not closure for all of his other characters.)
(And of course DC shuffled Rucka out to bring on Allan Heinberg, who trashed the book with a year-long five-issue storyline and then another year's worth of guest writers until Gail Simone finally picked up the reins.)
Still the first two-thirds of this are top rate, and the latter half still worth reading (well, except maybe the Blackest Night that Rucka returned to write a few years later: that's parody-level bad, as Max-head threatens Diana.)...more
The disconnect fundamental to this trilogy of Frost backstories is evident in the pairing of the almost pornagraphic pin-up covers with the girl's comThe disconnect fundamental to this trilogy of Frost backstories is evident in the pairing of the almost pornagraphic pin-up covers with the girl's coming of age story within. The three stories are also a big discontinuous themselves, given we have two school life stories (1+3), then a crime story in NYC (2).
But with all that said, I love the fact that we get backstory and background for Emma, including family who we've seen since. A foundational story, even if one that's not particularly challenging....more
When I first read these post-hiatus issues, I found them uneven. The first three issues in particular rather awkwardly fast-forwarded through what I sWhen I first read these post-hiatus issues, I found them uneven. The first three issues in particular rather awkwardly fast-forwarded through what I suspect was intended as a few years of storylines, leaving behind many of the characters that were so important for previous volumes. (The sidelining of Sonja is still a raw spot.)
Reading them again, in their proper order (thanks to the new collection, which also has an issue that was weirdly missing from the TPBs), and without moving straight on from the previous volumes, offered a better experience. Especially since I knew that the storyline slowed down and came back to characters after those first three frenetic issue.
The world that Rucka has created, which is more fully explained in this final issue, is spectacular. And after almost a year of a rich plutocrat trying to be Emperor of the US, it's more terrifying than ever. The characters continue to be deeply intriguing. There's a genuine storyline here that is constantly moving forward. (The ending is a real "where do we go from here" moment, especially since we don't know the fates of many of our major characters).
And Michael Lark's artwork continues to be tremendous. I've been reading this back to back with a few other major Rucka pieces, and it's amazing how much Lark's artwork brings things up to another level.
Despite early missteps, this is another terrific volume in Eve's plot, and I look forward to the finale in Fallen....more
This doesn't have the ostentatiously modern writing of some of the New Adventures, but it's a delightfully timey-wimey adventure of the sort that DoctThis doesn't have the ostentatiously modern writing of some of the New Adventures, but it's a delightfully timey-wimey adventure of the sort that Doctor Who doesn't do nearly enough. Bulis also keeps tight control of his supporting cast, so that they don't overwhelm the Doctor and Sam, and the adventuring is also of a type unusual for Doctor Who: though there are the typical monsters to fight, this is Arthur C. Clarke SF more than anything. Add all that up with the fact that the story just gets better the deeper you go (and the more you understand) and you have one of the best Eighth Doctor Adventures to date....more
As I suspected might be the case, Greg Rucka's story of Black Magick (with gorgeous art by Nicola Scott) definitely read better as a whole. This is a As I suspected might be the case, Greg Rucka's story of Black Magick (with gorgeous art by Nicola Scott) definitely read better as a whole. This is a terrific look at witches out to help the world, with dark and spooky villains and a great heroine in Rowan Black. There's enough mystery to keep things interesting and high levels of tension, as you never know when those close to Rowan might fall. Overall, an enthralling read....more
Much like the contemporary X-Factor, the second volume of X-Force improves on its debut installment mainly by ignoring its core conceit. So we have noMuch like the contemporary X-Factor, the second volume of X-Force improves on its debut installment mainly by ignoring its core conceit. So we have no more breathless rushing from one disaster to another.
Instead we get the villain behind it all revealed, and she's no one we care about, but she's working for someone else ... that we mostly don't care about. And there's some fake Colossus (why?) and Tank is revealed as the obvious person with no explanation (why?) and everything devolves into fighting again, which is pretty much like the first volume, but at least the fights seem connected now.
There's about a third of a good issue with Rachel and Betsy. And the terrible X-Manhunt crossover feels less intrusive mainly because the author doesn't dump his main plot.
But otherwise, this is as forgettable as its predecessor and like the aforementioned contemporary X-Factor will never be mentioned again. (We hope!)...more
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