Mary Louise Eklund

Tag: comic reviews

Comic Comments – I have No Idea What Is Going On

The title of this post says it all about these three issues – I don’t know what the heck is going on in the story. This crossover took place in Astonishing X-Men issues #59-61. This reflect the culmination scene from X-Factor at title I don’t follow. So before I attempt to explain my confusion and why I don’t care to put forth the effort to clear it up, let’s take care of technicalities.

Disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

These credits are very complicated please excuse them but if I don’t say the credit covers all three issues: Marjorie Liu, Writer – David Lapham, Marjorie Liu, & Greg Pak, Story Issues #60 &61 – Gabriel Hernadez Walta, Artist #59 – Matteo Buffogni & Renato Arlem, Artist #60 – Renato Arlem, Klebs deMoura, Matteo Buffagni, Raul Valdes, & Carlos Cuevas, Artists #61 – Chris Peter, Colorist #59 – Christopher Sotomayer & Lee Loughridge, Colorists #60 – Lee Loughride & Chris Sotomayer with Andres Mossa, Colorists #61 – VC’s Joe Caramagna, Letterer #59 & #60 – VC’s Joe Caramagna with Clayton Cowles, Letterer #61 – Phil Noto, Cover #59 & varient covers for #60 & #61 – Giuseppe Camuncoli with Cam Smith and Rain Beredo, Covers #60 & &61 – Jennifer M. Smith, Asst Editor – Jeannie Schaefer, Editor – Nick Lowe, Group Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

The whole concept of the title is a group of time-line jumping X-Men that keep the time-lines straight. Think Time Cop kinda thing but with mutants. I am aware of various incarnations of characters I try to ignore this but with Logan’s best friend Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler) who died heroically has a doppleganger with a helpful red face tattoo to tell him from our priest Nightcrawler has been on the X-Force team (a title I followed). There’s some big shouting battle in issues #60 & 61 with a mismash of artists. I don’t know who is who since I don’t follow that title and don’t care to follow it. Then after all this of deaths of some their characters in my book it is continued out of my title somewhere else. So essentially I paid for a two issue ad for another title.

Also in issue #59 the concept of the US deporting Northstar. If you don’t know the character he’s an X-Man that’s Canadian and gay. He’s the one that got married in Astonishing X-Men #51 but the fact that he married an American doesn’t help since at that time gay marriage wasn’t federally recognized. That’s changed recently but any way, it doesn’t matter since that plot line just falls to the side and gets lost in the big advertisement for X-Force.

As for the art – I’m not a huge fan of Walta but find him serviceable. However for issues #60 & #61 it’s a mess of styles that just shocks the eye. It’s not fair to give a read on any of the artists because it’s such a mess.

Moving on to the covers – I like #59 and the variants for the other two issues because I enjoy Noto’s art. As for the non variant covers – #60 is passable but looks like a bad photoshop of various artists’s interpretation of characters pasted together. #61’s cover looks like art from the County Fair’s middle school exhibit – sure they have potential but it’s too blocky, no life in it just overly studied with tight interpretation and over-consciousness on technique. I don’t even know whose work that is given the long list of credits. What possibly happened is too many were involved that no one put their style to it thus no life was ever breathed into the work.

Overall these three issues were worthless to me. I don’t need another X title and am contemplating dropping this title completely if the current Iceman centric arc isn’t awesome (or at least good and makes sense) then I shall drop it.

After the jump are a few panels I enjoyed just for themselves.

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July 23, 2013
Comic Comments – The Dreaming Maiden

The Dreaming Maiden was the final arc of Wolverine Volume #4 taking #314 through 317. There is much here that I liked about volume #4 – Melita and Jean Grey School. It also includes some things I don’t like – magic crap, Seraph’s Angels, and yet another group Logan was a member.

First off let’s give the usual disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Credit to the creators of this arc: Cullen Bunn, Writer – Paul Pelletier, Penciler #314-316 – Cam Smith, Penciler #316 -317 – Dave Meikis, Inker – Cam Smith, Drew Hennessy, Mark Pennington, Inkers #317 – Rain Beredo, Colorist #314-316 – Wil Quintana, Colorist #316-317 – VC’s Cory Petit, Letterer – Mike DelMundo, Covers – Jared K Fletcher, Designer – Jennifer M. Smith, Asst. Editor – Jeannie Schafer, Editor – Nick Lowe, Group Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Ex. Producer.

In this arc a good deed Logan did back in his days as a free-lance muscle guy comes back to haunt him. It turns out years ago he was hired by a group called The Covenant to kill a maiden that dreams the future. As he’s trying to recover his relationship with and memories of Melita after his second encounter with Dr. Rot he’s interrupted by his past. He leaves Melita to ensure his good deed still saved a life.

As the story progresses we learn magic is involved, possibly aliens, and there’s yet another shadow group of super powers with their agenda operating in the world. I get that Logan is getting near 200 years old and that he might have involvements we haven’t heard about. Yet I find that Marvel universe is getting crammed full of superpowered groups (magical, alien, mutant, mutated like Spidy, etc.) that I have to wonder are there any normal every day humans left? Also how can one of these groups turn around without bumping into another one – be they good or evil groups? It’s getting too far fetched that was supposed to be fixed with the M-Day arc but no it’s getting bloated again.

As Logan goes about protecting the Dreaming Maiden again Seraph’s Angels get involved to help him. If you aren’t familar with Seraph’s Angels it’s a group of Logan’s bitter exs that now are a super-team themselves. Melita is the newest member. I have issues about this on several levels. First I find it insulting to women that they all unite having been in a relationship with the same man. Is that all that defines them now – ex-girl of Wolverine. I find that very demeaning of women. Especially these women that were portrayed as very strong women in their own arcs and now they are mewling jilted lovers that can’t get over it so banded together to kick ass. Not a concept I enjoy. Not something I enjoy seeing as a role for a strong female character. Next Cassie the BTF Agent wasn’t really a girl friend – she chased him and eventually he screwed her to feel human after placing a dead drug dealing woman’s baby in her nice sister’s care. As far as she goes it seems to be a one-night stand she never got over. Next issue is there was this big arc where Logan dug up Seraph’s body to find out about the Romulus crap. So she’s supposed to be dead – but if it gets rid of all that stupid line about Romulus and Remus I’d love to have Seraph back. Though I do wonder how she’s not a little person any more and how this effects her dying wish he marry Viper to keep peace in Madapoori. That all said there were some funny panels that come from exs working together.

Once again during the climatic scene that addresses the major issue of the arc – Wolverine/us black out to learn how it resolved itself without us. This has a rushed feel and looking at the number of inkers, change of colorists, and such add to that impression. We are left with the hanging questions that won’t be answered since the title is off to relaunch as part of the Marvel NOW initiative. The sad thing is that when the arc started it was pitched as a jumping on point but then we are left wondering – “What will the reunited Covenant do now?” “Are the Dreaming Maiden’s people coming for her?” “What’s the status between Logan and Melita?” So far in the new volume these are just dropped threads that may never be picked up in service of the trend of bit events and relaunches of titles after them.

Over all I lie the concept – Logan spared a life back in his for hire days. The group that hired him for hit find out their target is still alive and come after Logan to finish this supposedly “finished” contract. In the course of saving the target again he has to work with a bitter ex or two. Is a great pitch, a great set up and a story that I wanted to read. However to have him black out during the resolution, the group that hired the hit slip away, and magic/aliens be involved destroyed it for me.

As for the art, it was good until #316 then it develops what I consider a rushed feel. Suddenly we change pencilers, we have a team of inkers, and the colorist split the job. Not only does the story feel rushed to the conclusion but so does the art. Not keeping the at least same penciler through out the whole arc or changing artists to make say flashbacks differ from story today is fine but this like the jump in artists in the Warbird arc at X-Men gives the story a rushed to finish patchwork feeling.

That said I do enjoy Pelletier’s art. It’s not in my top loves but I like it and enjoy it. Smith does well picking up and blending in as best as two artists can. Their styles aren’t as abruptly different as those in the Warbird arc I mentioned. I think the expressiveness in the opening scene where Logan is trying to understand and recapture what he had with Melita is touching and well done. Pelletier is good at giving a strong character the looks of vulnerability, regret, and sadness without much to-do. It adds well to the experience of the comic where not everything is stated some is shown.

Once again I’m left feeling Marvel missed the mark in the rush to keep to corporate plans. Honestly, I am waiting for the day when they realize that well written stories coupled with strong supporting art will sell comics better longer term than marketing gimmicks. I know of two faithful readers that have dropped many Marvel titles because they are tired of potentially good story concepts ruined by forced cross-overs or rush to the next gimmicky event.

Next a few highlights from the issues – some laughs with ex-girlfriends and some touching scenes along with nonsense.

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July 16, 2013
Comic Comments – A Wolverine Arc That Is Dead To ME!

There are some arcs in the Wolverine solo title universe that just don’t exist in my Earth -616ML version. One is the Enemy of the State (Wolverine Vol 3 #20-25)/Agent of SHIELD (Wolverine Vol 3 #26-31 arc which I lovingly refer to as Mindless Enemy/Agent of YAWN because the whole mind controlled Wolvie crap had me bored to tears yet again. Another was the Return of the Native arc (Wolverine Vol. 3 #12-18 ) which still has what I refer to as frozen-Wolverpups still out there somewhere. Lame, lame, lame to do yet another rewrite of Weapon X. Oh and finally the whole Lupine, Romulus crapola fest (Evolution arc Wolverine Vol 3 #50-55) – not human but descended from dogs. Yeah way to negate the whole mutant thing of that universe. I dropped the series for a few years after those horrid messes of story lines. So when it comes to those arcs I stick my fingers in my ears sing LA-LA-LA-LA and ignore it all. BUT the ghost of the Evolution arc is baaaack to haunt me. Yes this arc entitled Sabertooth Reborn (Wolverine Vol 4 #310-313) is based on the whole Evolution arc from the Romulus crapola fest. Totally ignoring that we know Sabes is back from the Then There Was A War/Back In Japan arc of this Vol 4 that preceded this one. Not to mention Logan showing up at Sabes b-day party in One More Round. So I started off really annoyed that in the same volume that couldn’t keep their conitunality straight for five issues! Stay tuned and I’ll really tell you what I think about it!

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May 15, 2013
Comic Comments – When the Dead Revive

It seems the small consistent presses are the ones turning out awesome stuff. The big publishers can’t get their acts together to bring everything to the table at once in a single title. That’s my take. I adored Think Tank and I’m digging Revival. Both are comics that are slam dunks of the medium – strong multi layered stories whose telling is supported by great art. Revival is about the dead coming back to life in the middle of Wisconsin, Wausau county to be exact. Why they came back, how they came back, and what it means for the rest of the world is what the book is about. It successfully goes from the personal focus to the international focus and back all building and adding to the story of the quarantined area after Revival Day. You know it’s good when you can’t wait for the next issue to see just where this is all going.

Okay let’s get the routine stuff out of the way – legal disclaimer – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

Next a nod to the team that is bringing a great story to press. Story by Tim Seeley, Letters by Crank!, Covers by Jenny Frison, Art by Mike Norton, Colors by Mark Englert, Design by Sean Dove, Edited by 4 Star Studios.

Now let’s talk story set up, May Tao a local reporter breaks the news to the world that the recently dead in central Wisconsin are coming back to life. Her story goes international complete with a reviver jumping out of a cremation oven. The area is put on quarantine by the CDC. Why? Think if this is contagious – no one dies but birth rates continue what would that do to the balance of the world resources? That’s why. So a perimeter is set up where no one is allowed in, no one is allowed out. A task force is formed to study the Revivers with CDC representative and a local officer who is the main character if there is one Dana Cypress. I’d say she’s more the linchpin character that ties all the others of the ensemble together. Oh by the way her younger sister is a reviver – murdered and came back, doesn’t care to solve her own murder though.

This book doesn’t follow the formula of comics of an arc, an issue, an arc and so on. Instead it’s telling a story that keeps growing and developing involving an ensemble cast. This is a hard thing to pull off in book series, TV series, and comics – to develop each character fully while keeping the stories moving and in balance. There are arcs for individual characters, May Tao just completed one with the odd fundamental cutting edge exorcist. Yet the one with Justin and Jamie and their reviver father has just started. Some are short arcs like May’s some are long and slow building like Em sister of Dana. That’s what makes this an awesome read! It’s well written and just because one story beat wraps up in this issue others are at their mid beats or just starting. That’ll keep me reading for a long time.

Now for the art which is awesome. Honestly I forget I’m reading in someways and feel I’m watching a movie play out. A good novel does that to me just like a good comic. The story is so well done the medium of how it is told fades away and I’m left enjoying the experience. I don’t think I can pay any higher praise to a comic book artist than that – you made the story real for me to watch unfold.

If this isn’t on your pull list it should be. It’s not to late to go back and get reprints of the first few issues. It’s well worth catching up and if you do it as one night’s read I’ll bet my last potato chip you’ll have a great time!

**** SPOILER ALERT********Some interior pages*********Maybe Preview/Review for some but Spoilerly to others *********

In some cases the death and revival are harder for the living to deal with than the dead. In other cases, like the one they are coming from it was hard for the dead to be cheated out of the eternity of bliss with those they loved that had died before them. Interesting to see various reactions from those involved.

I like how the Hmong population of Wisconsin is worked into the story. As it goes on we see the vast difference in the generation that migrated here after Vietnam and those who were raised here come to the surface. That also plays into the story of how they interact with the events and the mysterious white ghost/demon creature.

Here’s Dana and Ibrahaim from the CDC. What’s awkward is they had a romantic encounter the night before at a local bar before they knew they’d be working together. Honestly I like them and hope both sides of the partnership flourish.

Here’s a good example of story layering. May is coming near the dramatic conclusion of her arc with the fundamentalist stalker. Em is just learning a bit of what this white lurking thing we’ve caught glimpses of in other issues is and what it wants. So the fast developing story of May is driving to a conclusion, the slow building story of white creature is developing, and Em’s personal story moves a bit further along it’s arc while encountering the crescendo of May’s story and the building arc of white creature. Cudos!

Here’s a look at what the world saw to introduce it to Revival Day.

Until next time!

February 13, 2013
Comic Comments – Fury Goes To Cuba

When we last visted Fury Max – Nick was in Vietnam just as American were getting involved on the French side of Indochina. That mission was a good read with great historical grounding. The mission wasn’t successful except it got Fury an assignment he liked better for helping out Congressman Pug McCuskey. The bad news is – it has to do with Cuba, Cuban nationals, and the Kennedy White House.

Now for the ever present US legal disclaimer: All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

First a very satisfied nod to the creative team: Garth Ennis, Writer – Goran Parlov, Artist – Lee Loughridge, Colors – Rob Steen, Lettering – Manny Mederos, Production – Sebastian Girner & Nick Lowe, Editors on Issue #4 – Nick Lowe, editor on Issue #5 & 6 – Axel Alonso, Editor In Cheif – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

The bright side of the previously failed Indochina mission was Pug’s secretary Shirley. She and Fury struck up a friendship with benefits. That was early 1954, after a flash Nick today dictating his memoirs while his call girls take a rest between sessions we are taken to 1961. Fury is training Cuban Nationals in Central America. At least until the soon to be Senator Pug calls him for another off the books job.

But in this one – it appears Shirley wants more than quarterly visits. In the middle of one of Nick’s visits she announces she’s marrying Pug. She doesn’t want to go back to the South Side of Chicago she wants the good life. If Nick will stay and give it to her she’ll reconsider – but no that’s not Nick.

He and his side kick Hatherly’s reward for training the Nationals as best they can – an off the books assignment from Pug and the leaders of the Nationals – Kill Castro. They get a gung-ho radioman and set out on their mission in the middle of the Bay of Pigs event. You can guess how it turns out. What you can’t guess is just how low Pug will sink and how he’ll put his new wife in danger doing it.

I like the story except for the end. It’s not that the mission fails (sorry I don’t consider that a spoiler basic knowledge of American history tells you that) I just didn’t get what Fury did or why. I’ve always gotten Fury’s thought process. Sure it’s screwed up at times, at times I DO NOT agree with it, at times it’s so clouded by testosterone that it reeks. His final decision in this arc just didn’t make sense for the character. Maybe it’ll be a plot device we’ll see develop later but as it stands – it’s out of character to me.

Though I have to say I’m loving this title. It’s historically accurate, great writing, and the art is fantastic. It all comes together to give me a comic I want. Yes Fury is a man’s man but that’s the appeal kinda like Bond with a more rugged edge and dirtier finish. That I enjoy. We are getting to see Pug, Hatherly, and Shirley develop into full characters not just cut-outs of spy novel characters. I can’t wait for the next arc to complete. I’m hoping this team stays for many issues to come.

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*********A Few Internal Scans******* May Be Considered Spoilery by SOME****************
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January 15, 2013
Comic Comments – Everyone DIES!

When the title says Deadpool Kills The Marvel Universe it ain’t kidding. When Marvel says PARENTAL ADVISORY NOT FOR KIDS they aren’t kidding either. Our comic relief Deadpool takes on a darker new persona that’s more not the quipping funny guy with battle skills any more. His inner dialogue is more philosophical than campy. This is not the usual Deadpool but this isn’t part of the normal Marvel universe where AVX interruptus is going on any way.

First let’s give the crazy guys who created this nightmare credit. Cullen Bunn, Writer – Dalibor Talajic’, Artist – Lee Loughridge, Colorist, VC’s Joe Sabino, Letterer – Kaare Andrews, Cover Artist – Jordan D. White, Editor – Nick Lowe, Senior Editor – Axel Alonso, Editor in Chief – Joe Quesada, Chief Creative Officer – Dan Buckley, Publisher – Alan Fine, Executive Producer.

Next the required legal statement – All images are the property of their owners I reproduce them here under the Fair Use Doctrine of the copyright law for commentary and critique. No more than three pages total from any one issue is reproduced.

I have to say I went into this not knowing what to expect and came out oddly conflicted but liking it.

What I don’t like about it is what makes it the have the parental advisory – the gore. Comic books often show fighting, often show deaths of heroes and villains (most of the time death doesn’t last) but generally it’s not gory it’s more like the old Westerns where the violence was cleaned up. Someone gets shot they just fly against the bar and slump kind of thing. Here it’s not that clean – though why it isn’t I don’t know. It could have been. I can only guess it isn’t because it doesn’t have to be being a stand-alone short.

I have to tread lightly here about what I like about it so I don’t spoiler it too much. I like DP’s motivation and the whole concept of why he’s doing it. It’s developed and unveiled well over the four issues. Though I have to say I got it before it became hammer proportions as it is in the final issue. The reason suits Deadpool in the end.

Once I let go of my dislike of the graphic nature of it I did find amusement in how DP went about killing off both heroes and villains alike. He makes endings that oddly suit the victims. His prattle contains the clues to his motivation.

As for the art – leaving the goriness aside – it’s awesome. I like it very much for me Talajic hits a home run on it. It actually reminds me of the Walking Dead art which I like very much. Only this is colorized. A good grounded in reality comic book artist is what this story needed being so graphic and dark. It is exactly what it got.

Now for the final test – would I recommend it? Not everyone no by a LONG shot. I think this only appeals to hardcore Marvel fans. You’ve got to know the victims to get a lot of the story. You have to know Deadpool to understand the irony of him. Given that I’m still not sure I’d say buy it – maybe borrow it or check it out of the adult section of the library (ours has an adult graphic novel section bet yours does too). IF you are a Deadpool fan as I am a Wolverine fan – then yes I’d say you need this. Otherwise – take it or leave it.

*** NOTICE FROM ON SPOILER SCANS*** I did choose scans that were NOT graphic or gory. Being me I looked for more story and character related moments.

I would just like it noted that my Wolverine said it wasn’t a good idea to do what started it all. Just please take note he’s the only one! He knew this wasn’t a good idea and boy it wasn’t.

For those who don’t know this is an Observer – Marvel has had them as narrators on and off for years. I hate them. I don’t know why but I don’t like an omnipresent narrator. It’s lazy writing. It’s telling not showing. So I did enjoy the fact that DP got one as one of his first victims!

Okay maybe this is graphic – Howard The Duck with his goose cooked. I’m sorry I thought it was funny. Does that mean I’m perverse? Nah just have a good sense of humor.

Here’s where the hints of his motive is becoming hammer. Really Chuck you shouldn’t have put DP in an institution.

In the final books DP spells out his motivation. Makes you think about all we put our favorite characters through just for our own entertainment. I have to say I do enjoy it as a reader and thinking up such things as a writer.

Until next time!

October 25, 2012