Comic Book Reviews - Week of 01/04/07

As with all my reviews, there will be spoilers. You have been forewarned.

Uncanny X-Men #482


Writer: Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Billy Tan

We’ve reached part eight of twelve in the “Rise and Fall of the Shi’ar Empire” storyline, and it’s been a long road getting here. Truth be told, I have really enjoyed this story arc, this title has suffered plenty of bad-to-mediocre writing over the last five year, but I can completely understand the complaints of how slow this story has been progressing. This issue, however, gives us plenty to enjoy.

First is the reappearance of the Starjammers, and more importantly, the reunion of Havok with his father Corsair and latter’s newfound knowledge that his third son, Vulcan, is alive. One thing I liked was the fact that Brubaker and Tan have given the Starjammer real crew outside the four or so principles we always see (Raza, Ch’od, Hepzibah, etc.). If the Starjammer were big ship going to war, than it would make sense that she would need more than a handful of people running her. A minor detail, but I enjoyed it.

The rescue was fun and exciting, plus there was room for little character moments; the scene between Polaris and Marvel Girl comes to mind. Tan’s art continues to be lively and his storytelling seems to do an adequate job. He seems a little off this issue, though. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it’s there.

Darwin’s super adaptability still leads me to believe that he’s not making it out of this mission alive. He’s too powerful and I really can’t see him working as a regular character after this arc. I predict a Spock/Wrath of Khan moment near the end of the story.

Looks like next issue we’ll get the third, and hopefully the last, “Vulcan’s Progress” issue. The last one was a vast improvement over the first, and I see the point, but I’ll be happy to be done with them. At least we’ll get clued in on the big reveal at the end of this issue.

Overall: B

Civil War #6



Writer: Mark Millar
Penciler: Steve McNiven

Part six of seven is here and it’s basically an issue that gets the pieces into place for the big finale. It looks pretty, Morry Hollowell is simply an amazing color artist, and it will read well in the trade format, but am I enjoying it. “Yes” and “No”. On the “Yes” front, by the end of this story the 616 Marvel Universe will be completely changed. A whole host of story ideas will hopefully be generated over the next few years, as a result. Also, plenty of underutilized characters (Cloak & Dagger, Hercules, and a bunch of unemployed Avengers) have been given enough “airtime” to spark interest in them again. On the “No” side of matters, there are lots of leaps in logic and plenty of uncharacteristic behavior on both sides of the war. In a sense, this is a big screen interpretation of the Marvel Universe, and everything is being boiled down to an essence. But at the end of the day, I’m not complaining too loudly. It has been a hell of a ride and I look forward to a big bang of a conclusion.

Overall: C+

All Star Superman #6


Writer: Grant Morrison
Penciler: Frank Quitely

It has been months since the last issue came out, but thanks to the storytelling format, this series isn’t any worse for it. Frank Quitely’s pencils are incredible, wonderfully detailed and a visual delight, but as a result, he’s very slow. Thankfully, Grant Morrison is writing standalone stories for this series. There is evidence of an overall arc for these twelve issues, but it’s tucked enough away into the corners that it doesn’t distract from each issues plot. My only complaint for this issue is a bit of odd sequencing. One of the characters leaves in the middle of the big battle to talk to someone and then gets right back into the middle of the fight two pages later. This series has been a joy to read. Morrison and Quitely (and amazing color artist Jamie Grant) have been delivering Silver Age zany fun with a modern edge and sincerity. Do yourself a favor and pick up any of the first six issues and, if you enjoy it as much as I have, pick up the collected volume… whenever it comes out… in a couple years.

Overall: A