Wednesday, February 28, 2007

COMIC PICK OF THE WEEK! 2/14 & 2/21/07

Past time for the COMIC PICK OF THE WEEK - My weekly rundown of last week's haul, where I pick my favorite from the stack, and then invite everyone to join in and post their favorites in the comments!

This time we'll catch up on the past 2 weeks!

First we have 2/14/07:
DINOWARS #3 - Great concept, not so great story, but better than issue 2...
OUTLAW SCORN #2 - As with number 1, I like the ambition, the budding style of the artist, but it's just okay (but fun)...
CLAWS #1-3 - Somehow I missed number 1, but picked it up at the recent local con... I love Lisner's art on mainstream books, but the story here (not by Lisner) is very weak. It's full of Wolvie and Black Cat in Lisnerlicious action, so... YAY!
THE PUNISHER PRESENTS: BARRACUDA #1 - Haven't read a Punisher book in a long while, but this is just as fun as those first Ennis issues, only this time we get to follow a new character, and man that art by Parlow is amazing!
NEXTWAVE #12 - Unfortunately this great title, a sugary mash up of Ellis and Immonen wreaking Marvelesque joy, has come to an end, and with a bit of a whimper...
THUNDERBOLTS #111 - Fortunately we have Ellis doing his dark superpowred team magic over here now (and on New Universal)...
NEW X-MEN #35 - 3 issues into the 4 part arc, and my return to the book, I'm hooked. Great pure, young x-team storytelling, with the pretty art of Medina...
GODLAND #16 - Hey look, it's a throwaway "catch-up" issue, where Casey and Scioli riff on all that's come prior... and I still love it! I actually appreciate this unique setup, as opposed to having to re-read the entire series, the creators get me all refreshed and anxious for more, while setting even more plot threads in motion! And it's only 60 cents!! YOWZA!
STORMWATCH POST HUMAN DIVISION #4 - Another remarkably solid issue of one of the best superhero books on the racks...


PICK OF THE WEEK: CASANOVA #7
It's the finale of the first run on this swanky sci-fi spy thriller, and DAMN, it's good comics!!!

Fraction's writing is dense and full of nutty brilliance on every page, while also weaving an epic wacked-out espionage tale, and Ba is simply brilliant with his sparse but oh so sexy lines, and dashes of tone!

One of the best books bar none, and you owe it to yourself to dive into the trade collecting this incredible run!





Now onto 2/21/07:
GEN13 #5 - This book is still floundering big time, which continues to mystify me, between the concept and the writer's track record, I just don't see how things could be this far off... at least Caldwell returned for an issue (if rushed), and I know there's a fill in or two from Udon's remarkable Alvin Lee coming...
LEGION OF MONSTERS: WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #1 - Greg Land is mismatched on a werewolf story, and Skottie Young's Frankenstein is confusing and boring...
OUTER ORBIT #3 - Howard and Murphy should just stick to artwork, cuz this story, plot, and it's characters are just plain flat, but man can they draw...
CIVIL WAR #7 - Holy shit, what a giant turd. Sure it'd read better in one sitting as opposed to delayed release, but Millar can not finish a story, any story, like ever, which is a shame cuz he's brilliant otherwise, and we needed a better artist, McNiven, though way talented, is far too stiff for such a massive cast, action packed blockbuster, and WTF!?!?!?! come on Marvel, your biggest event ever and you can't air things out and give us, and the story, the widescreen throw down decompressed action this book, and issue screams out for!?!? HELLO?!? Fucking fumbled, wasted, and forced a golden opportunity here... How bout some outside the box editing here, or even some halfway decent editing? No, what a cluster fuck...
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA #6 - Another solid issue of comic-style treatment of the best show on TV, Raynor's art really impresses...
THE IMMORTAL IRON FIST #3 - What a good book this turned out to be... Great plot, script, art, characters, GREAT!
WITCHBLADE TAKERU MANGA #1 - Okay, can all of the uptight "comic books with sexy girls are too blah blah blah, panty shots are damaging the industry... blah blah" motherfuckers shut the hell up!?! Yes this book is naughty, so what?! As if comics are not allowed to be sexy anymore, it's too damaging... Don't read it if you don't like that, I'm just really tired of everyone moaning about comic related books, manga, toys, ads, being too overtly sexual... there's room for everything, and geez louise, it's not like there's any great wealth of this material hitting folks over the head. Sure, we want to put a good face forward, but that doesn't mean there's not room for sexy stuff too. So, um, I liked this...


PICK OF THE WEEK: GIRLS #22
What started out as a strong setup and concept, then developed into a gripping character study and mystery, is finishing as a riveting, rewarding hell of a book. As we edge closer and closer to the finish, the climax is building.

Girls is a superb effort from the unique talents of the Luna Brothers, and another of the best books on the racks (many of my very favorites are indeed Image titles)...

How about you, what's your pick for these weeks???

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