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Books of Magick: Life During Wartime
#1
DC Comics Vertigo Imprint
Si Spenser and Dean Ormston
This is not you kiddies Harry Potter. It’s never explained but
for some reason Harry has left his friends Ron and Hermione and the
watchful eye of Dumbledore and has exchanged them for the trio of
Molly, Dog and Cat, there is also this blonde guy running around (not
with them) but for some reason I don’t think it’s Malfoy,
unless his middle name is Constantine or something. There also seems
to have been a battle raging for 15 months that young Tim..er um I
mean Harry is oblivious of. These people involved in the war are either
trying to find “the Hunter” or trying to hide him. Malfoy
is really interested in keeping this Hunter hidden. Harry takes a
pill or something that this Dog person gives him (Ron would have never
done anything like that) and something is released from him. Now everyone
has an idea where the Hunter may be and Malfoy isn’t happy that
young Harry (all right it’s not Harry, it’s Tim Hunter
from the books of Magick, and Malfoy is John Constantine) has made
an “appearance” so soon. Thus begins Tim’s Life
Durring Wartime, the first issue in the adventures of Tim Hunter.
I’ll be back for number 2 and 3 and 4 and….. -KEVIN-
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JLA 101: “PAIN OF THE GODS”
PART 1 OF 6
PUBLISHER:
DC COMICS
WRITER: Chuck
Austen
ART: Ron Garney
This is the first issue by the new creative
team of Austen and Garney. Chuck Austen seems to be everywhere lately,
and is not very consistent in his style from what I have observed.
Here on JLA his work seems very good (although there is a lot of
story detail lacking), while on other books written by him his style
is, to say the least, very different indeed. I like Ron Garney’s
art; not much more to say about it than that.
This issue is the first chapter of a six part story
arc called “Pain of the Gods,” apparently focusing on
one character per issue and the repercussions of failure on the
part of the heroes of the JLA. This issue focuses on Superman; the
basic premise is while saving people in a burning building Superman
receives assistance from some never before seen unnamed hero. Very
little else is provided regarding the background of this mystery
man (neither his real name nor his super hero code name), though
we do find out that he had a wife and children and that he got his
powers fairly recently. His wife comments that all he had wanted
to do since getting his powers was to join the JLA, and Superman
arranges for that, but not in the way the mystery hero would have
wished. The book ends with Superman in the meeting room in the Watchtower
losing his composure and self-control; Green Lantern John Stewart
is there to lend a certain voice of reason, which helps Superman
to cope even if only in a very limited fashion.
I’m not sure that I like this story
quite yet. On the positive side, it’s just a short six issue
arc, and then the creative team will be changing again (with Kurt
Busiek doing the writing, woo-hoo!). So even if I’m not thrilled
by the story or the creative team at this point, at least it’s
just a limited run on the book. -TMC-
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Nightwing #95 Road to Nowhere: Part
Two of Two
DC Comics
Devin Grayson, Mike Lilly and Andy Owens
Like a lot of my other reviews, I find myself coming in late…again.
There’s a big crossover brewing with the Batman family of books
so I figured I should stop by Bludhaven and see what Nightwing (Dick
Grayson) has been up to. I stop by for a visit and what do I find?
He’s fighting along some woman that goes by the name Tarantula
and they are up against Copperhead. The first half of the book involves
them taking him down, while the second part is them trying to find
out why he was there in the first place (although I don’t know
if they were trying to hard). Oh and I forgot to mention, this Tarantula
lady, seems to have a crush on Dick, and seems to be influencing him
in some way. In fact they end up in Atlantic City almost doing the
marriage thing, but thanks to a call from the Batman, he dodges that
bullet. I was hoping to gain a little insight as to what has been
going on, but there wasn’t enough back story for me to figure
it out. That’s not to say the book wasn’t readable, just
not the greatest jumping on point. Let’s see what happens when
the crossover starts. -KEVIN-
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ACTION COMICS 817
PUBLISHER:
DC COMICS
WRITER: Chuck
Austen
PENCILS: Ivan
Reis
INKS: Marc
Campos
This story’s premise sounded really
promising when I ordered it. Little did I realize that the “Superman
vs. Gog” portion of the story would only last two issues.
I got sucked into this story by the Previews for it and now I guess
I’m along for the ride. Even though the story isn’t
quite what I expected (after all, Gog just up and disappeared with
very little explanation and hasn’t come back into the story),
it’s still interesting for what it is. This is not something
I would have gone out of my way to pick up the part about Gog hadn’t
piqued my interest…after all, this IS Chuck Austen we’re
talking about, and he’s most definitely not on my “Favorite
Writers” list.
Well, I guess they’ve got me hooked
until this story arc plays out, but this is one of those cases where
I most definitely don’t appreciate a story being something
other than what it was supposed to be. I suppose we’ll see
how well it all comes together at the ending. -TMC-
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Bloodhound #1
DC
Comics
Dan Jolley, Leonard Kirk, and Robin Riggs
Well, his fellow inmates don’t like him, nor do the guards,
not that jail is a happy place to be, but that can’t make it
any better. Travis Clevenger is in jail, despite the fact that he
is one of the best at rounding up meta-humans for the Atlanta PD.
Travis at one point had shot and killed his own partner but was never
charged for the crime. Travis is in jail and the FBI wants him out
at least for a while, but that’s if he cooperates, and he doesn’t
seem to do that often. Just when he’s mulling it over (telling
them no), a riot (undoubtedly helped by the guards) breaks out. While
this is going on Travis gets a vital piece of information, the person
that needs help is the daughter of his old partner. What follows is
one of the most deliberately violent scenes in a comic book I have
seen, but for some reason, it fits, and it tells you a lot about what
Travis will and will not put up with. This is kind of an interesting
start to a new series. I was first drawn in by the cover drawn by
Dave Johnson, but what kept me were the interiors by Leonard Kirk
(from the JSA) and Jolly’s story had just the right pace. While
I’m not a big fan of overly violent books, this one, even though
it had its moments, did not seem over the top to me. I enjoyed this
book and will be back for round 2. -KEVIN-
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She Hulk #5
DC Comics
Dan Slott, Paul Pelletier, Tom Simmons and Don Hillsman
Last month, She-Hulk had me cracking up, this month I’m almost
admiring the writer for being able to now move away from the funny
and towards developing actual plot threads. The New Warriors bring
in a villain named Southpaw (the name comes from an apparatus on her
left arm that can be quite devastating). Once apprehended, the head
of Jennifer Walter’s (She-Hulk) law firm insists that the case
be taken care of immediately, but we don’t find out why until
the end of the book (we need that cliffhanger to get us to come back).
The Mad Thinker has come up with an escape plot, that involves Southpaw,
although indirectly. I thought that Dan Slott came up with something
pretty clever that involes a lot of villains that you just don’t
see used any more. I like that he keeps going to the well and finding
ways to use what would now be second rate villains. An escape on a
not so grand scale (if you read it you’ll know what I mean)
takes place. Entertaining once again. Paul Pelliter and crew handles
the art chores and does a very nice job, I wouldn’t mind seeing
their work regularly on this title. Again if you like you books to
be entertaining, for my money, She-Hulk has been consistent with this.
-KEVIN-
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Captain America #29
Marvel Comics
Robert Kirkman, Scott Eaton, and Drew Geraci
Cut off a limb and two will take its place- Hydra is back, but so
are a few others. This book reminds me of what I read growing up.
A nice fight scene between the hero and a villain (Cap and Mr. Hyde,
to start), followed by some character building piece and then the
movement towards the hook for the next issue, but none of it too convoluted.
It’s like this issue has departed from the more intriguing stories
that the series started with. It’s refreshing. Cap subdues Mr.
Hyde and decides to rent a movie afterwards, on his way home, he finds
Diamondback, waiting on his door step. But before they can get into
the movie, they are summoned by Nick Furry (or not). Senator Richard
Winslow has been kidnapped by Hydra and “Nick” wants Cap
and Diamondback to rescue him. Cap is all too eager to do his duty.
Rocket packs, fights and the old chucking of the shield and Cap has
“rescued” the senator. Something is going on, and it doesn’t
look good. I really enjoyed this story and the art, but the best thing
was the Dave Johnson cover. -KEVIN-
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