Blackgas 2 1
Warren Ellis’ zombie tale returns for a second series picking things up right where the first left off with our heroine, Soo making her escape from the island only to find that the threat has spread to the mainland. This a gory, non-stop thrill ride with some nice art from Max Fiumara and the always reliable Ellis at the helm. This may not be the deepest story he’s ever told but its fun and far better than Avatar’s other zombie series, Escape of the Living Dead. Grade: B
Black Panther 22 T’Challa and Storm head to America on a diplomatic mission and soon find themselves embroiled in the ongoing Civil War. Mauel Garcia’s pencils are little more than adequate and Reginald Hudlin’s script is as heavy handed as ever. While he’s clearly striving to make some kind of racial comment he instead succeeds in creating the comic book equivalent of a 70’s Blacksploitation flick. Grade: C
Blade 2-4
Issue 2 features a guest appearance by Doctor Doom as Blade is sent into the past to save the life of Doom’s mother, 3 has Blade arrested for murder before escaping and going on the run and 4 pits him against a demon possessed Santa in the small Pennsylvania town where he’s been hiding. Chaykin’s art gets better with each issue as do Guggenheim’s scripts, with a little more revealed about Blade’s past each month. Marc Djurdjevic gorgeous covers remain the best thing about the book though. Grade: C+
Bullet Points 1 & 2
J. Michael Straczynski reinvents the Marvel Universe and lets us see what might have happened if Steve Rogers had never received the super-soldier serum and Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben had died during the war. In this skewed timeline Rogers becomes the test subject for a different government project and goes on to become Iron Man. Peter Parker without the firm guidance of his Uncle, becomes a rebellious teen and finds himself in the wrong place and the wrong time during a Gamma bomb test. Straczynski takes a few liberties with Marvel history in order to make things fit this altered universe but it’s easy to forgive when the story is this entertaining. Tommy Lee Edwards art is, for the most part, excellent although he seems to have a problem with scale as both Iron Man and the Hulk seem far larger than they should. Next issue promises Reed Richards agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Grade: B
Captain America 23 & 24 These two issues are the cream of the crop when it comes to Civil War tie-ins. Mike Perkins panel layout may not be the most exciting around but he fills those panels with some of the finest art seen in an ongoing monthly title. Ed Brubaker’s weaves a dark tale of espionage that recalls the title characters finest hour at the hands of Lee and Steranko. Grade: B+
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
Gotta admit I'm looking forward to Whedon's comic book continuation of the Buffy saga . . .
2 - Joy
Awesome!! I love comic books! And it's really great to read something from someone who knows so much about them!!! =)
3 - Rohan Venkat
Was surprised to see that your forthcoming list doesn't include Civil War #6, just recently out on the east coast, an issue I'm really looking forward to.
I remember discussing about the fact that Civil War was leaning very much to the anti-registration side, and probably wouldn't change anyone's mind past the first few issues. I now feel that I was wrong, because from this last month's glut of (often filler issues to replace the late Civil War ones) Civil War tie-in issues, I'm quite surprised to say that I'm on the pro-registration side now.
That is to say, I'm on the leave America, but if you stay in the country then register side, because, for one, I don't see Congress ever repealing the law, and also, I have complete confidence in Tony Stark's belief that if the superheroes don't do this now, then the American Government would have done something much worse (a sky full of sentinels watching our every move) to them.
So while I don't agree with the pro's ideology, if the heroes choose to continue staying in the States, then I'd suggest they register. And this change in my ideas comes right after my favorite character switches from pro to anti.
Of course, if I were American I might not have the same belief, since I'd want to stay in my home country, and then I'd be anti.
Sorry for the excessively long comment.
4 - Ian Woolstencroft
Bill,
I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high for the Buffy mini series but it will definitely be interesting to see where Joss takes the story now that there is more than just one slayer (well there was already more than one but now there’s a LOT more than one).
Joy,
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and I hope you’ll come back next month. :)
Rohan,
Glad you’re still enjoying Civil War, I am too. It wasn’t included in the forthcoming titles section only because I use that section to spotlight new series and major events in regular titles (like Spider-Man this month). If it was a list of the regular titles coming out each month that I'm most looking forward to Civil War would be right at the top (with Desolation Jones).
I agree that in recent months we’ve seen the viewpoint of the opposing sides from a more even perspective. Cap’s side could almost be viewed as terrorists, although the only time they’ve attacked anyone has been either defending themselves or trying to free captured comrades.
From your comment I’d say you'd be off to France with Mr Grimm. ;)
5 - manfred
I have read that JMS will quit Spiderman after this summer leaving only a final story of Mary Jane and Peter Parker , penciled by the big man himself; Joe Quesada. Too bad he has had a magnificent run.
Great review by the way overall , as usual.
By the way will you review: Spiderman: Reign 1 and X-23: Target X ?
6 - Ian Woolstencroft
Thanks Manfred,
I hadn't heard that JMS was to quit Spidey. I seem to remember a few years ago there was a rumour he was to leave, with Kevin Smith set to take over, but that never happened (Smith did a Spidey/Black Cat Limited Series instead) and I hope this turns out to be false as well. I know he is going to be doing the Thor relaunch and he's gone on record as saying that was his reason for leaving the FF.
As for Spider-Man: Reign and X-23: Target X both will be reviewed at some point, although it may be the first few issues or even the complete series. I'm tending to read new titles a few issues at a time in order to get a truer "taste" of what they have to offer.
Next month currently looks likely to include: Justice League of America 0-5, Gen 13 1-3, Immortal Iron Fist 1-2, Impaler 1-2 and Justice Society of America 1-2 plus a few others.
It's nice to know I've got a couple of regular readers in you and Rohan.
7 - manfred
I could accept Kevin Smith as a worthy successor for JMS. I read the Evil men do limited series.
If the rumours are true then Marvel will have a hard time finding a decent replacement for him I think.I just hope it wont be Brian Micheal Bendis, no offense but we get so much of that guy already.
And thank you for writing the reviews :)
-manfred