I Have Issues Week of 5.26.2010

I Have Issues is a comic book review on the previous week’s new releases. SPOILER WARNING: if you haven’t read your books yet, read no further. These reviews will be posted a few days after comic book release day to give you time to read them so that you can throw your two cents in about what you thought of these books. The picks are currently limited, due to the small selection available in my local comic book shops, but hopefully that will change in a few months. Visit the Giggaheim.com Forums and start your non-censored, no-holds-barred thread on your favorite books. On with the reviews:

Green Lantern Corps #48

Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by ARDIAN SYAF
Cover by RODOLFO MIGLIARI

I have to hand it to DC editorial. They did a fantastic job on release schedule during the “Blackest Night”, delivering books in sequence with the story beats, and not risking spoiling key moments. Brilliant job. Today however, I feel as though they went on a much-needed vacation. It could just be me, but I’d rather have a week between Green Lantern, and Green Lantern Corps. So when you read about Green Lantern, in two weeks you get the continued story. Currently, it’s just a heaping helping of Green Lantern, and maybe as this story progresses, we’ll see why.

Both Green Lantern Corps and Green Lantern had some memorable panels this week. First, Ganthet creating his ring in the Foundry on Oa was awesome. Syaf penciled a hell of a layout that was powerful, and evoked feeling of other famous ring-forging scenes in literature such as the Nibelungen, or Souron’s One Ring.

What I liked the most on this book were the diverging storylines, all of them were interesting, and driving the companion stories forward while having their own importance. Bedard continues to do a magic plate-spinning dance, and crafts a story that we can sink our teeth into, and keeps us coming back for more. With Syaf penciling, this book promises to have some great comics moments in the future.

Secret Avengers #1

WRITER: Ed Brubaker
PENCILS: Mike Deodato
COVER BY: Marko Djurdjevic

Yeah I know, and other “Avengers” title near the top spot. What can I say?  Marvel is emerging from their disaster of an event, “Siege” with good titles, and they are off to a great start. Ed Brubaker crafts a story that sits in his wheel-house, and tackles the “Secret Avengers”; The avengers that preempt terrorist attacks, super villain schemes, and work in the shadows. I didn’t even want this title. Most “secret” super groups start great, and then end horribly.  Steve Rodgers not being Captain America? Beast on the Avengers again? Nova? What is Nova doing on the book? Moonknight? You’re $#%^ me? Valkurie…okay this is just ridiculous….

This rag-tag group of characters actually pulls together an interesting dynamic, and with Mike Deodato’s pencils, and Beredo’s colors…It’s a solid book. The pairings of heroes are intriguing, the story moved at a good pace, the main plot is intriguing, and the book ended with a good cliffhanger/reveal that makes me want more.

Steve Rogers creates and commands a group of heroes that not only are powered to the hilt, but he uses them in the genius manner you would have anticipated and expected from the former Captain America. I’m a sucker for the first issues of team books. The best part is when everyone looks around at one another, and they gather for the first time. This book is slightly different but delivers the great character moments you would expect. It was just a solid book, and I’m glad I pulled it. While Avengers #1’s “Back to the Future” storyline might wilt in interest in 4 issues, I see this run being good for a long while.

Green Lantern #54

Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
Cover by SHANE DAVIS and SANDRA HOPE

This title was also in the running due to the ever-gathering lanterns, and the great moments with the Red Lantern Atrocitous. Dex-Star, the Red Lantern Kitty, stole the issue by melting gang bangers in the subway. The mystery of the weird guardian continues as it gathers the “Entities”, and the White Lantern calls for them as well. I’m looking forward to seeing where Johns plans to take this story after wrapping his latest Green Lantern epic.

Thor #610

WRITER: Kieron Gillen
PENCILS: Doug Braithwaite
LETTERED BY: VC – Joe Sabino
COVER BY: Mico Suayan

Considering ”Siege” was all about Thor and his home environment, we finally get the epilogue of Asgard 2-3 weeks later. This seemed to settle all the lost threads that were left in Loki’s wake, and frankly I’m glad to be rid of Loki for a while. Thor is once again welcome in Asgard (nice of everyone), and offered the throne again, but he takes the position of advisor and defender. We catch up with Bill the brave and Kelda’s love affair, but the best part is Gillen erasing the wilder divergence in Thor by having the Mighty God of Thunder destroy Clore, and as Balder says: “An end to that.” This book sets up a clean beginning for the Thunder God, and I’m hoping it’s a good one. The title fell off the rails in the past issues after JMS’ sudden departure, and I hope it can find its way back to glory.

Superman War Of The Supermen #4 (OF 4)

Written by STERLING GATES and JAMES ROBINSON
Art by EDDY BARROWS and J.P. MAYER
Cover by EDDY BARROWS
Variant cover by ARRON LOPRESTI

My hat’s off to DC for pumping out a quick, 4-issue arc story that had impact on the characters involved, and delivered some stellar moments. The end was just as explosive and action packed as it begin, and I’m glad I was there for the ride. I was a bit disappointed that Kal-El and Zod didn’t have a epic, multi-page fight, but the way the events transpired served the story better. Pick up this thin trade, or if you are lucky, you might find the collected issues at your local comic book shop.

GI Joe Hearts And Minds #1

Writer: Max Brooks
Artist: Howard Chaykin, Antonio Fuso
Cover: Howard Chaykin, Antonio Fuso

I really enjoyed this issue, and the only thing holding me back from making this a pick of the week was the length. It ended too early for me. Just as the table was set, there was no dinner. We get a great set of characters studies, but the story never really started. I can appreciate what Howard Chaykin was after art-wise, but this particular art style isn’t my favorite. The cuts between the characters was a great layout idea, but these pencils just feel a little loose for me. The face construction just doesn’t seem consistent. I will be picking up the rest of this run, but I certainly hope there is more to read in issue #2.

Boondock Saints In Nomine Patris #1 (OF 2)

Writer: Troy Duffy, J.B. Love
Artist: Guss Floor
Cover: Chris Brunner

Sometimes there is a good idea that becomes a cult hit, and then someone just skull-@#$% it until it’s no longer worth attention, or even entertaining. Duffy and Love write a decent story, but the art was too jarring for me to follow at all. Even though it’s a two-issue run, I won’t be finishing it. Ugh.