Hey folks, Harry here to continue the amazingly in depth look at this week's comics with Andrew and the wonderful Gray Haven folks... And after reading about TANGLED WEB 4, sounds like a helluva winner... check out the images too!
FIRST LOOKS:
Tangled Web #4: Severance Package
Written by Greg Rucka and Illustrated by Eduardo Risso
Published by Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Andrew Goletz
As much as I enjoyed the Ennis/McCrea arc on this title, I didn’t feel like it took advantage of the concept of the series. Tangled Web is supposed to be about the people in Spider-Man’s life who are affected in some way by the very existence of Spider-Man. Greg Rucka (Detective Comics, Queen and Country) and Edwardo Risso (100 Bullets) have put together a story that I think makes the entire idea of this title worthwhile.
Who would be more affected by Spider-Man than a criminal? What if that criminal worked for the Kingpin of Crime, where the penalty for failure is death? This is the story that Rucka and Risso have told here. The issue focuses on Tom Cochrane, a family man, an honorable man who happens to work for the Kingpin. He’s been the Kingpin’s loyal servant for the past 20 years and knows what happens when someone makes a mistake, whether it’s their fault or someone who’s been working under them.
Last year when we were able to interview Greg Rucka, he told us about this story idea before it had even been agreed that he’d be doing a spot for the book. I was intrigued by the idea then and to see the final result is very gratifying. Here you have a guy who’s worked for one of the most powerful and ruthless criminals for 20 years. You know that when you see the news brief regarding Spider-Man foiling one of your jobs that your number has been called. You’ve seen countless men ‘punished’ for their mistakes before you and now you’ve just made the same mistake. Do you try and run? Do you think you can get away? Do you try and reason with your would be executioner and beg for mercy? Or do you try and turn the tables and do a ‘kill him before he kills me’? Cochrane knows what his choices are and he already knows what he’s going to do. He and his wife have talked about the inevitability of the situation before, so he’s prepared for the next step.
The moments leading up to the end of this story are tense and heart pounding. Between Rucka’s dialogue and Risso’s dark, moody illustrations, it’s quite easy to get absorbed into the story. I was sure that I had the ending figured out a few times, but as usual Rucka surprised. Comic fans have been blessed with an extraordinary amount of talent working in the field now. Since many of these creators are starting to dabble in more ‘mainstream’ work, an audience who’d never usually get to appreciate their work is discovering these wonderful stories. I’m really looking forward to seeing the reaction this issue gets when it comes out in a few weeks. I’m willing to bet that we’ll be hearing about it down the line, too, perhaps when the next Eisner nominations are announced?
Grade: A+
Tangled Web #4 is on sale in 2 Weeks
Tangled Web #4
Reviewed by Rob Schamberger
‘Severance Package’ follows what happens when one of the Kingpin of Crime's men fails in a mission. In this gripping, beautiful tale, the reader witnesses the last night of Tom Cochrane's life, where he ties up the loose ends. Tucking his kids into bed, kissing his wife goodbye, making sure there is no unfinished business, and, finally going off to deal with what fate has in store.
Greg Rucka is a writer capable of great things, and this book is a prime example. I have read this book four times in the last day and I think I'll read it again after I am done writing this. I'm sorry, but I cannot find words to do this piece any justice.
Eduardo Risso is a master of the field, and this piece illustrates why. He is a master of composition, contrast, scenery, and the figure. He can't do wrong and he is only getting better. The copy I read was a preview, strictly in black and white, and I am thankful. I have followed Mr. Risso's career for some time now, and I have always wondered what his work looks like without color. Wow. I feel sorry for Steve Buccellato, who has to color this. Man. I can't think of anything else nice to say about this, other than go buy it. I don't care if your car needs to be washed. The car will get dirty again, but this comic will stay good.
Grade: A
Tangled Web #4
Reviewed by Barry Wolborsky
Ever wonder what happens to the bad guys after Spider-Man, or another favorite superhero, stomps them into jelly? Or, for that matter, what happens to the guys who are the brains behind some of the larger scale operations, like dealing illegal weapons? That’s the basic premise behind this intriguing, thoughtful single-issue story from writer Greg Rucka and artist Eduardo Risso.
At home with his wife and kids, getting ready for bed, Tom Cochran receives a call from an associate at work. It turns out that Spider-Man has successfully prevented yet another of Wilson "The Kingpin" Fisk’s illegal operations from taking place. Tom is the man behind the scenes who was responsible for setting it up and making sure it went smoothly. But it didn’t. Because of his failure, he is summoned to the Kingpin’s offices. Both Tom and his wife Shelly realize that he will not be returning home. Shelly tearfully pleads with him to do something, but in the end, they know that’s not an option. They’ve always known that this was a possibility, given the nature of her husband’s work.
I have to say that I was pretty blown away by this story. I’ve been a fan of Greg Rucka’s since first reading his Whiteout mini-series for Oni Press a few years back and his subsequent work on Batman for DC. While there are some great crime fiction writers currently working in mainstream comics, Rucka stands out as one of the few who can balance both strong characterization along with the crime-fiction aspects of a story. It’s a testament to Rucka’s skill as a writer that you actually feel for this man who is about to die, even though it’s apparent that he is a cold-blooded killer himself. I even found myself sharing Shelly’s anger at Spider-Man for ruining Tom’s operation and indirectly causing his death, even though I knew he was preventing a crime from occurring.
Adding to the overall tone of the story is Risso’s pencils, which makes excellent use of shadows, to accentuate the ominous mood overshadowing this man’s calm, though somber acceptance of his fate. There are also several well done silent panels, notably as Tom approaches Fisk’s office, in which you can almost hear Tom’s heart pounding, as he gets closer and closer to his impending death.
With "Severance Package", we have a fascinating character study of honor among thieves. The possibility of Tom’s death is almost beside the point. Even though he and Fisk may be cold-blooded killers, they live by their own code of being responsible to each other and those that they love.
Most notable about this comic is that it’s a great stand-alone story that someone who isn’t at all familiar with Spider-Man, or even superheroes in general should be able to read without difficulty. While I’m not a big fan of the current Marvel Universe Spider-Man books, if this particular creative team returns to the character, they’ll have a guaranteed sale from me.
Grade: A+
Thunderbolts #54
Written by Fabian Nicieza and illustrated by Patrick Zircher and Al Vey
Published by Marvel Comics
Reviewed by Andrew Goletz
This issue finally reveals the identity of who or what has been in the bio-containment pod at the T-Bolts headquarters at Mt. Charteris all this time. Unfortunately, I really can’t talk about this book in any detail without revealing critical information and ruining the experience for Thunderbolt fans.
This title’s claim to fame for the longest time was their ability to shock and surprise the reader. The revelation in their first issue that the main characters were really villains masquerading as heroes threw even the nosiest Internet news hound for a loop. Since then, Kurt Busiek and then Fabian Nicieza have been able to make the title a success due to their remarkable gift of being able to tell good old fashioned stories and make the reader care about the characters and situations that they’re going through. Mark Bagley’s impressive run with the art chores recently gave way to Patrick Zircher, who’s done a more than admirable job on the title. He has a very realistic looking style that works well with these particular characters. They seem more alive than most comic book characters and it’s no small feat.
The issue begins with Captain America handing over the reigns of the Redeemers to Citizen V and going back to the Avengers. Before the new era can begin, however, some other loose ends need to be addressed. Maybe I’m ignorant, but I didn’t see any of them coming. And if anyone says they’ve discovered the identity of the person in the containment pod before it was revealed here, they’re a liar, although someone in this very issue’s letters page mentions it so, oh well.
Since I can’t really go further into the story, I will say that the surprises should have people talking. Fans of the book will be impressed, as I was, and I think many Marvel fans in general will get some pleasure out of the mystery person’s identity. Busiek and Nicieza did a great job of throwing in a lot of twists and showing their grasp of Marvel history within their stories. This one has to top them all.
Thunderbolts #54 is on sale this week.
Grade: B
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