We return once again to my weekly review of the comics I read this week.
Amazing Spider-Man #670—Spider Island Part 4
This was … a bit of a let down. Up until now I’ve loved Dan Slott’s entire run, and Spider Island wasn’t any different. I thought the last couple issues were great.
Part of the problem is that I’d never heard of the villain behind everything. I’m not even sure what to call her. Apparently her name used to be Adriana Soria. I think now she’s just calling herself Queen? They put it large and in an Old English font, so that might be her name now.
But the main problem is that a lot of the comic is just checking in to see what’s been happening in the tie-in books. Here and there are a few panels thrown in to give recaps of what’s happened in other books or bridges to link where the tie-ins with what happens in the next issue. The most jarring example is the significant number of references to the events of this week’s Venom, but I’ll get to that later.
On the upside, the art is still great, and the overall story is still rockin’. Hopefully the next issue won’t be as schizophrenic.
All Star Western #1
The main reason I picked this issue up was Moritat’s artwork. I first heard of him when he was working on the The Spirit, a title I hope they revive eventually. Despite already liking The Spirit character, Moritat’s art was one of the reasons I bought that title too.
Another reason I bought this issue is that it takes place in 19th century Gotham. I’m not a huge fan of westerns, so this seemed like a good gateway comic, introducing a western character in a more familiar, urban setting (I’m sure it was planned that way).
That said, I think Moritat’s Gotham feels more cramped than Moritat’s Central City. Perhaps it is the sepia-toned washes used in an attempt to create a vintage feel. Unfortunately, it comes off as muddy. The infrequent splashes of non earth-tones were most welcome.
The story was good, if not that original (it’s borrows a lot from the Jack the Ripper and From Hell). Much like Snyder’s Batman #1, writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti used a clever storytelling technique to introduce readers to Jonah Hex. Using amateur forensic scientist and criminal profiler Amadeus Arkham to profile Hex as they work together was more subtle than Batman’s H.U.D. contact lens, but Gray and Palmiotti end up telling a little more than they show.
Overall, I liked the issue and I’ll stay around for the first storyline at least.
The Flash #1
I almost didn’t buy this one. In fact, I didn’t buy this on Wednesday, I went back out and got it today, because it was getting good reviews. And you know, I’m glad I bought it.
Excepting Batman, I’ve never been as big a fan of DC as I am of Marvel. I’d never read a Flash comic until now and never had much interest in him as a character. But this comic has me excited for what comes next. The art is beautiful, the storytelling is incredible, and the story is intriguing.
The review that got me to go out and buy Flash #1 (I can’t remember who it was or where I saw it) compared it to the Flash story from Wednesday Comics. I definitely have to agree. So far #1’s story doesn’t seem like it will be as mind- and time-bending as the Wednesday Comics story, but both use page layout to perfectly highlight Flash’s powers.
I’m really surprised, but The Flash looks like it’s my second favorite title of the New 52. Like I said, I’m excited to see where this goes.
FF #9
Continuing Amazing Spider-Man’s pattern of being confusing (we’ll see another example later), I’m not sure what exactly happened in this issue.
I really need to start rereading the previous month’s issues before I tackle new ones. I don’t recognize characters, I’m not sure who they are fighting and why. And Maximus shows up? I don’t remember him in the last issue. Has he been involved in the other Inhuman stories that took place in space?
I do want to see what happens next to Reed, Spider-Man and Doom. Especially Doom. You can’t let that guy out of your sight for a second.
The Sixth Gun #15
Not a lot happened in this issue. Gord visits a ghost plantation and Becky is introduced to the monastery of the religious order trying to keep the Six from ending the world.
It’s still a rich story, and it’s still a pretty book to look at. I do like that Gord is getting more face time in. His subplot introduced in the issues has a lot of promise.
Part of me wishes I’d waited for the trades instead of buying single issues. The Sixths Gun reads fast, and it seems like it would be more satisfying in larger doses.
Vengeance #3 of 6
Part 3 of confusing comics week. In all fairness, the first two issues were confusing too. It doesn’t help that this issue starts off on the astral plane where the characters wax metaphysical and have flashbacks. This seems like another comic that I need to reread before each new issue.
What confused me the most is the motivation of the new Teen Brigade. They are trying to prevent the Young Masters of Evil from killing off the old guard of villains? Because they spend the last third of the comic preventing the Sinister Six from stopping the YME. Is the Teen Brigade trying to keep all of them alive?
I don’t even know man. Hopefully it’ll all make sense by the end.
Venom #7
It was weird to read this issue after reading Amazing Spider-Man. Everything couple pages there was dialogue that was also in this week’s Spider-Man. It was cool to see the other side of conversations that were shown in Amazing Spider-Man, as well as what happened before and after, but it was also really distracting.
The level to which these two issues are tied together really highlights how coordinated the writers all are. I may not like the results, but I definitely give them props for organization.
There were some really good Flash (Thompson, not DC Flash) moments in this comic, especially during the fight with Anti-Venom. I can’t wait for the book to get back to it’s non-Spider Island story, but Rick Remender deserves a lot of credit for tying a lot of good character development into the plot of a tie-in.
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