War Journal Entry number 614 - Weekly Haul 1/21/09
All righty then, let's make this quick. Not only did I just finish downloading a demo of Resident Evil 5 to my Xbox 360 but the computer corner is damn freakin' cold and the space heater is in the other room, near the TV, 'natch.
MARVEL
Astonishing X-Men #28 - Warren Ellis + Simone Bianchi. Lots of talking and posing, a few very, very brief fights, and only one step of plot movement. Looks great but isn't very filling.
Dark Avengers #1 - Brian Michael Bendis + Mike Deodato. Seriously? Dark Avengers? Look, the idea of Osborn's own personal Avengers made up of villains dressed up Avengers is an OK idea stemming from Osborn's take-over, but isn't an idea worth its own title. This should have been handled in the already established series. I'm not planning on picking it up for more than a few issues. Hell, the next issue might be my last.
Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil #1 - Paul Tobin + Patrick Scherberger/Jacopo Camagni. This issue is fun with a capital F, as well as a capital U and N. Brilliantly written from start to finish with well-paced art.
Ghost Rider #31 - Jason Aaron + Tan Eng Huat/Roland Boschi. "The Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance" rolls towards its big bang conclusion, and I'm still digging it.
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 - Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning + Brad Walker/Carlos Magno. War of Kings tie-in. Another great issue. The art is a bit weaker, but the story is still top-notch.
Mighty Avengers 21 - Dan Slott + Khoi Pham. With Slott taking over this series has secured itself on my pull list for a while longer, until Slott leaves or the series is canceled, whichever comes first. The story itself, part one of a three parter, is a bit confusing with the reality shuffling and whatnot going on, but I trust Slott to pull it all together nicely by the end.
Uncanny X-Men Annual #2 - Matt Fraction + Mitch Breitweiser/Daniel Acuna. Emma's history with Namor is revealed, and her new direction as part of the Cabal is hinted at.
Weapon X: First Class #3 of 3 - Marc Sumerak + Mark Robinson/Tim Seeley. The end of Wolverine's story ended up being a bit of a let down, with nothing new revealed, but the young Gambit back-up was a real treat.
Wolverine: Origins #32 - Daniel Way + Yanick Paquette. OK, Daken officially sucks.
X-Factor #39 - Peter David + Valentine De Landro. Wow, uhm, well, that was really unexpected. And disturbing. And got this series back on its feet. Excellent stuff.
X-Men: Kingbreaker #2 of 4 - Chris Yost + Dustin Weaver. War of Kings tie-in. Things, finally, start to go right for the good guys.
X-Men: Legacy #220 - Mike Carey + Scot Eaton. Not much plot movement, but there is a lot of nice quality dialog. Xavier and Gambit have a good chat while Rogue finds herself stalked by someone that is not what they appear. Carey is best with a small cast so I hope he continues to keep it that way.
X-Men: Manifest Destiny #5 of 5 - The Iceman tale by Mike Carey + Michael Richards is, as it has been for the previous four issues, a big load of dookie. Most of that is due to the fact that Mystique is a crazy-ass mad dog, and Wolverine should have put her down at the end of the "Get Mystique" story in his series. The fact that he didn't has soured me on Jason Aaron writing Wolverine because, remember, just a few issues earlier Wolvie had chopped off Sabretooth's head because he'd finally had enough of the bastard. The whole "Get Mystique" story had the same vibe, but ended with him just walking away. Stupid. And now every appearance she will have since then is going to be tarnished by the fact that the woman should, by all rights of logic and good storytelling, be dead. Plus, she's uninterestingly way off her rocker. Maybe a writer will come along someday and return her to being the intelligent ruthless manipulator she used to be instead of the pathetically unstable incompetent she has become. OK, enough of that, "Nick's" by Frank Tieri and Ben Oliver and "Dazzler: Solo" by Kieron Gillen and Sara Pichelli were both well written and illustrated. Good enough to outweigh the Iceman tale.
DC
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D #2 of 2 - Grant Morrison + Doug Mahnke. Another poorly explained mess masquerading about as thought provoking action.
Green Lantern #37 - Geoff Johns + Ivan Reis. Continues to rock.
Tangent: Superman's Reign #11 of 12 - Dan Jurgens/Ron Marz + Carlos Magno/Andie Tong. Big action building towards the finale.
DEVILS DUE PRESS
Spooks: Omega Team #4 of 4 - Larry Hama + Adam Archer. The military versus supernatural action continues. It's good, and I don't know if this is the last issue or not (haven't seen any more solicited) but it's my last one for now. I'm continuing to trim and it didn't make the cut. It's good, don't get me wrong, but not sparking for me.
IDW PRESS
Doctor Who: The Forgotten #6 of 6 - Tony Lee + Kelly Yates. A decently Who-like ending to the tale that featured appearances by all of the previous incarnations of the Doctor.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie prequel, Defiance #1 of 4 - Chris Mowry + Dan Khanna. A look back to the origins of the Transformers' civil war in the movieverse.
WILDSTORM
X-Files #3 of 6 - Marv Wolfman + Brian Denham. The story wasn't as well constructed as I expected with Marv writing it, and Brian's art isn't as good as it had been on the previous issues. Add to this things that contradict continuity (like saying it takes place in 2009) and this issue is more than a bit of a disappointment.
MARVEL
Astonishing X-Men #28 - Warren Ellis + Simone Bianchi. Lots of talking and posing, a few very, very brief fights, and only one step of plot movement. Looks great but isn't very filling.
Dark Avengers #1 - Brian Michael Bendis + Mike Deodato. Seriously? Dark Avengers? Look, the idea of Osborn's own personal Avengers made up of villains dressed up Avengers is an OK idea stemming from Osborn's take-over, but isn't an idea worth its own title. This should have been handled in the already established series. I'm not planning on picking it up for more than a few issues. Hell, the next issue might be my last.
Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil #1 - Paul Tobin + Patrick Scherberger/Jacopo Camagni. This issue is fun with a capital F, as well as a capital U and N. Brilliantly written from start to finish with well-paced art.
Ghost Rider #31 - Jason Aaron + Tan Eng Huat/Roland Boschi. "The Last Stand of the Spirits of Vengeance" rolls towards its big bang conclusion, and I'm still digging it.
Guardians of the Galaxy #9 - Dan Abnett/Andy Lanning + Brad Walker/Carlos Magno. War of Kings tie-in. Another great issue. The art is a bit weaker, but the story is still top-notch.
Mighty Avengers 21 - Dan Slott + Khoi Pham. With Slott taking over this series has secured itself on my pull list for a while longer, until Slott leaves or the series is canceled, whichever comes first. The story itself, part one of a three parter, is a bit confusing with the reality shuffling and whatnot going on, but I trust Slott to pull it all together nicely by the end.
Uncanny X-Men Annual #2 - Matt Fraction + Mitch Breitweiser/Daniel Acuna. Emma's history with Namor is revealed, and her new direction as part of the Cabal is hinted at.
Weapon X: First Class #3 of 3 - Marc Sumerak + Mark Robinson/Tim Seeley. The end of Wolverine's story ended up being a bit of a let down, with nothing new revealed, but the young Gambit back-up was a real treat.
Wolverine: Origins #32 - Daniel Way + Yanick Paquette. OK, Daken officially sucks.
X-Factor #39 - Peter David + Valentine De Landro. Wow, uhm, well, that was really unexpected. And disturbing. And got this series back on its feet. Excellent stuff.
X-Men: Kingbreaker #2 of 4 - Chris Yost + Dustin Weaver. War of Kings tie-in. Things, finally, start to go right for the good guys.
X-Men: Legacy #220 - Mike Carey + Scot Eaton. Not much plot movement, but there is a lot of nice quality dialog. Xavier and Gambit have a good chat while Rogue finds herself stalked by someone that is not what they appear. Carey is best with a small cast so I hope he continues to keep it that way.
X-Men: Manifest Destiny #5 of 5 - The Iceman tale by Mike Carey + Michael Richards is, as it has been for the previous four issues, a big load of dookie. Most of that is due to the fact that Mystique is a crazy-ass mad dog, and Wolverine should have put her down at the end of the "Get Mystique" story in his series. The fact that he didn't has soured me on Jason Aaron writing Wolverine because, remember, just a few issues earlier Wolvie had chopped off Sabretooth's head because he'd finally had enough of the bastard. The whole "Get Mystique" story had the same vibe, but ended with him just walking away. Stupid. And now every appearance she will have since then is going to be tarnished by the fact that the woman should, by all rights of logic and good storytelling, be dead. Plus, she's uninterestingly way off her rocker. Maybe a writer will come along someday and return her to being the intelligent ruthless manipulator she used to be instead of the pathetically unstable incompetent she has become. OK, enough of that, "Nick's" by Frank Tieri and Ben Oliver and "Dazzler: Solo" by Kieron Gillen and Sara Pichelli were both well written and illustrated. Good enough to outweigh the Iceman tale.
DC
Final Crisis: Superman Beyond 3D #2 of 2 - Grant Morrison + Doug Mahnke. Another poorly explained mess masquerading about as thought provoking action.
Green Lantern #37 - Geoff Johns + Ivan Reis. Continues to rock.
Tangent: Superman's Reign #11 of 12 - Dan Jurgens/Ron Marz + Carlos Magno/Andie Tong. Big action building towards the finale.
DEVILS DUE PRESS
Spooks: Omega Team #4 of 4 - Larry Hama + Adam Archer. The military versus supernatural action continues. It's good, and I don't know if this is the last issue or not (haven't seen any more solicited) but it's my last one for now. I'm continuing to trim and it didn't make the cut. It's good, don't get me wrong, but not sparking for me.
IDW PRESS
Doctor Who: The Forgotten #6 of 6 - Tony Lee + Kelly Yates. A decently Who-like ending to the tale that featured appearances by all of the previous incarnations of the Doctor.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie prequel, Defiance #1 of 4 - Chris Mowry + Dan Khanna. A look back to the origins of the Transformers' civil war in the movieverse.
WILDSTORM
X-Files #3 of 6 - Marv Wolfman + Brian Denham. The story wasn't as well constructed as I expected with Marv writing it, and Brian's art isn't as good as it had been on the previous issues. Add to this things that contradict continuity (like saying it takes place in 2009) and this issue is more than a bit of a disappointment.