Hey folks, Harry here. This is a lite week for Comic News, as two of our regulars... Gray Haven and Lizzybeth took the week off to bag and board their collections. However, this coming week brings SAN DIEGO COMIC CON and I'm waiting in giddy anticipation of all the groovy comic scoops that you readers at the convention will be sending in. BUT... Before we move on to the Sexiest Man in Comics and the Amazing Mutant Fanboy.... I've got my own super-cool extra to throw your way. Mere moments ago, Paul Dini posted the D Campbell MacKinlay animated preview for this year's special JINGLE BELLE CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR!!!! CLICK HERE TO ENJOY THAT HOT SANTA BABE KICK ASS!!!
It’s time once again for another look at this week’s comics, from your favorite reviewers in the whole wide world. I’m the Amazing Mutant Fanboy, along with that ever-lovin’ Sexiest Man In Comics with this week’s Premium Pulp.
This week is kind of a slow week, with only four titles worth mentioning really. That’s not to say there isn’t a lot of product out there this week, it’s just…well, I felt like I was reading Azrael: Agent of the Bat over and over again. However, we’ve sat through this week’s first looks and found three books that are certainly worth taking a look at, starting with the second installment of "New X-Men."
As SMIC said a few weeks ago when he went through the whole slew of new X-Books, Grant Morrison’s take on the X-Men is vastly superior to his take on JLA. Not to say that his JLA run was anything sort of excellent, but Morrison is able in this series to really let loose and his characterization so far has been spot on. Following the events from last issue, Wolvie and Cyclops are still transporting a civilian mutant back to the states, when they are attacked by the new "wild" Sentinels. This leads of course to the eventual crash landing and ground battle between the two X-Men and this new breed of mutant killers. Meanwhile, Prof. X is still reeling after his encounter with Cassandra in the brand spanking new Cerebra, leaving him pretty much helpless to stop her evil machinations for the mutant isle of Genosha.
What makes this book work so well is the pacing that Morrison and Frank Quitely employ. There is a weird calmness throughout each of the action sequences in this book, making the issue’s horrific ending all the more powerful. This book is quickly becoming one of my must reads each month, and it’s certainly worth picking up even if you’ve never been an X-Fan before. Another book worth picking up this week is JMS’ "Amazing Spider-Man" #33. The blurb from Marvel doesn’t do this book any justice, as this is simply an action story from cover to cover. Each panel is filled with dynamic movement, thanks to the excellent work of John Romita, Jr. and Scott Hanna. It’s not often that you see a book nowadays pull off an issue that contains wall-to-wall action convincingly without any asides for other plot points. However, the pacing in this book works so incredibly well, that I was pleasantly surprised when I reread this issue and was still enthralled by it.
I’m not a big fan of the ending for this issue, as it kind of lands with a thud, but I agree that this issue is certainly the best so far from this creative team. There’s one two-page spread in it that absolutely blew my mind away with the skill in which it was pulled off. It’s certainly worth taking a look at, especially if you’re a fan of dynamic artwork. Spidey features prominently in my PULP OF THE WEEK, "Punisher" #2. This issue is absolutely one of my favorite all time team ups now, with the web-crawler stepping in to help The Punisher stop "The Russian."
It’s refreshing to see Ennis have the opportunity to work with other Marvel heroes within the scope of this book. With this team-up, you’re able to see Spidey take a second seat to The Punisher, something that happens oh so rarely for Marvel’s signature character.
Getting back to the story, Spidey saves The Punisher from becoming street pizza only to find himself brought into the battle with The Russian, who makes quick work of the wall-crawler every time he tries to engage him. This is another book that focuses primarily on a fight sequence, but there are little nibbles of plot development scattered about, such as the introduction of The Russian’s engineers, who look to be a recurring nuisance for the man with a skull on his chest.
More or less, if you’re a fan of Ennis’ work, particularly his knack for dark humor, you’re going to enjoy this issue of "The Punisher." Wrapping up this week’s look at the comic book rack is my pick for PULP OF THE WEEK with Dan Brereton’s beautifully painted and exceedingly eerie "Nocturnals: The Dark Forever" #1. Those of you who are new to the Nocturnals universe should have no problem quickly falling in love with this wonderfully bizarre "family" of night creatures and the world they inhabit. This series picks up a few years after Nocturnals: Black Planet, with the Nocturnals crew scattered about, each on their own personal quests. Starfish and Komodo have been sailing the seven seas for months now, while Eve has been off at a boarding school. Meanwhile, Doc has been on a quest of his own, digging deep underneath the Nocturnals’ home, in search of a doorway to something "older than recorded history." As all the Nocturnals clan begins the journey home, Doc’s unearthing of this doorway leads to a crisis for the clan. Oh, and there are zombies too.
While some may be off-put by Brereton’s unique style, I found it extremely refreshing, as each page is masterfully painted in a beautiful, yet delightfully eerie feel. I’m new to Brereton’s work, which is certainly best suited to this sort of book, but what I’ve seen with this book has been nothing sort of amazing. The story introduces characters for new readers like myself without going overboard, while still getting to the crux of the story quickly enough to make everyone want to read the next issue. Although it’s not my pick for PULP OF THE WEEK, it’s certainly a close second, proving once again that pound for pound, Oni Press is the best comic publisher out there today.
Mighty strong words Fanboy.
Hey, I call ‘em like I see ‘em. Well, that’s all from us this week. We’ll be back again whether you like it or not whenever that Harry dude decides to put us up. Until then, I’m the Amazing Mutant Fanboy.
And I’m the Sexiest Man in Comics. Yadda, yadda…
…yadda, yadda.
And now here's Shawn Martinbrough with another look at the highly anticipated DETECTIVE COMICS: EVOLUTION!!!
Here's another preview for the upcoming DC Comics trade paperback, DETECTIVE COMICS: EVOLUTION.
Shawn Martinbrough
artist of DETECTIVE COMICS
And while I know this is a TV scoop, I couldn't help but to include it here as an extra for you COMIC fans.... Here's a couple of Animation Model Sheets for the upcoming JLA series. Thanks goes out to: The Cartoon Avenger, who's letting it hang at that wondrous Network!
