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Lunch Hour Comix #1
Publisher: Alternative
Comics
Writer and Art:
Robert K. Ullman
This is a book of strips that were conceived
and drawn over the course of a year, the catch; each strip could
only take an hour to complete. While this isn’t the slam bang
action you get from your every day super heroes, you do get something
special out of them, a celebration of the mundane. Nothing exciting
happens in these pages (although there is a comic strip in Appendix
B that I found highly amusing), but in a way it’s still an
exciting little book. I’ll admit it’s not going to be
the kind of thing that everyone will enjoy, but if you look at it
from the standpoint that each one of these represents an hour of
the creator’s life on the given day, it makes it interesting,
at least to me. You get little hints to the creative process and
glimpses into the creator himself. A nifty little book. -KEVIN-
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Marvel Team-Up #3
Publisher:
Marvel Comics
Writer: Robert
Kirkman
Art: Scott
Kolins
When this series started I thought it was going to run like the previous
incarnation of the title and feature Spider-Man and a guest star each
issue, I was looking forward to that, although hesitantly (due to
Marvel’s latest pacing), since Spider-Man is one of my favorites.
This issue features Dr. Strange and the Fantastic Four and is the
third part of a running story line, which has surprised me, in that
each issue has managed to give you a story but left dangling threads,
but not so many that the story feels like is being slowed down. Briefly
here are the things I really enjoy, Kirkman injecting humor into the
title, nice little touches here and there, Kollins’ artwork,
it’s growing on me, his Thing looks very expressive, who would
have thought so much out of a bunch of rocks, and the little bit of
story that is used to set up the next issue and tie it into the current
one. This issue features the seeming return of Dr. Doom. Since he
was left in Hell in the Fantastic Four, it’s not surprising
that this figures return would catch the attention of Dr. Strange.
The requisite battle ensues and the cliffhanger revelation that truly
made me want to come back for the next issue. This is a fine example
of a book that is done right, at least in my opinion; story and art
inviting enough for new readers and the endings interesting enough
to make the reader want more. -KEVIN-
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Astonishing X-Men #7
Publisher: Marvel
Comics
Writer: Joss
Whedon
Art: John
Cassaday
Here is a brief rundown of the last six issues summarized from the
first page of the book-The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning has
reopened under the supervision of Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Emma
Frost (the White Queen), a “cure” for the mutant gene
has bee discovered and is first administered on one of the students
of the school, causing him to loose his powers completely, Peter Rasputin
(Colossus) returns from the dead (magnificently), aliens from the
planet Breakworld are convinced that they will be destroyed by a mutant
from earth- an X-Man, and want to eradicate the mutants to protect
themselves, a division of S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., seems willing
to help them.
Six issues and a lot going on, but that “lot” went on
in one of the best executions of a comic book I’ve seen in many
years. I can’t compliment the art enough; Cassaday’s art
is some of the best I’ve ever seen, the amount of realism displayed
with the writing of Whedon, really draws the reader into the book.
This issue reintroduces the student that lost his powers, and the
difficulty he is having while dealing with now being a “mere”
human. It also highlight’s the X-Men’s attempt to try
and be a super hero team and features a run in with the Fantastic
Four that, thankfully, does not result in the two teams fighting each
other before defeating the common foe. There are some great moments
when you get a little glimpse into each character as they are attempting
to turn the monster back, Wolverine’s is the one I find the
most entertaining. There is another great moment between Wolverine
and the Thing. Whedon has a knack for entertaining little exchanges.
This issue ends with a bit of heartbreak; apparently dealing with
problems isn’t as easy as one would think. It also opens the
door for a return to the Danger Room. While Whedon and Cassaday are
slated for a 12 issue run on this title, with every issue I wish it
would be more. This is turning out to be one of the best put together
books in a long time. Hopefully Marvel will find a way to wrangle
another year out of them, but if not, I’m still appreciative
for giving us what they have so far, comics definitely done right.
-KEVIN-
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Space Ghost #2
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Joe
Kelly
Art: Ariel
Olivetti
At first I was a bit skeptical about this series. A character that
was created by Hanna-Barbera back in the 60s and later reinvented
by Cartoon Network as a goofy talk show host was finally going to
have his origin told, and it wasn’t going to be a happy story.
When I first thought about that, I couldn’t wrap my head around
Space Ghost being grim and gritty. I didn’t figure I could get
post my preconceived notions about the character. That is the first
success of this series, Joe Kelly’s story has managed to make
me forget about how I originally envisioned Space Ghost. He does not,
at least through issue 2, take anything away from what I know, but
he definitely adds a dark layer, which actually kind of makes sense
to me. The art by Olivetti, seems painted and kind of helps with the
transition from the animated style to this story. I think it was a
good choice to go this route since, I think, regular line art may
have not been able to bridge the gap between the two incarnations.
Last issue, Thaddeus Batch (soon to be Space Ghost) suffered the loss
of his pregnant wife and the seeming loss of his life, betrayed by
some of his comrades. This issue shows his seeming resurrection. While
left for dead, often a mistake made by tormentors, Thaddeus is rescued
by Salomon, an inhabitant of the planet he was left to die on. Over
the months a “friendship” is formed between the two, there
was some distance between them, always kept in place by Thaddeus.
Eventually Salomon shows Thaddeus something that would take him home,
but Thaddeus wanted to use it to exact his revenge, despite the pleas
of Salomon. If the reader does not hold onto their preconceived notions,
this turns out to be quite a good story. -KEVIN-
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Al n'
Ann's Collectibles
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Friday
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