More Offhand Opinions

The key to offhand opinions is it’s a gut reaction with bare bones analysis. I tell you if it’s worth buying in a basic Yes or No situation.

Batman 635
Winick/Mahnke/Nguyen
First off, a call to bloggers and comic book journalists everywhere Judd Winick (two “d”’s and one “n”—is that so hard, apparently so…). So Winick pulls Lucius Fox out of the forgotten characters closet (remember when he had that stroke a few years back…and then writers totally tossed what could have been an interesting subplot) to totally make some of the lamest plot developments ever (I mean it was so formulaic I swore Alfred accidentally called Bruce “Tony Stark” by accident). Now who is the red hood? Who…cares? I hope it’s a merger of Jason Todd and Sue Dibny’ corpses. Nice homage to Joe Pesci’s 1997 flop 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag in one scene—oh wait, it’s not homage, it’s cribbing.
No

Spider-Girl 82
DeFalco/Frenz/Buscema
I always liked Mayday’s universe because there was no Venom…or so I thought. Nuts.
No

The Incredible Hulk 77
David/Weeks/Palmer
I’m sure PAD loyalists are happy. Me? Not really that impressed, actually annoyed by the disjointed (posing as mystery) narrative.
No

The Intimates 3
Casey/Lee/Camuncoli/Hope
Anyone remember the complicated layout and small print that the old 1980s Spy! Magazine used to entertain folks with on a monthly basis? (I still remember Chaykin doing a piece for Spy once). The Intimates tries to be the Spy magazine for comic books in 2004, and succeeds in making the sequential storytelling into one confused mess.
No

Breach 1
Harras/Martin/Lopez
Great art (Ditko-like at points). Story? It’s nice to see Harras reinvent the Captain Atom story (oh wait that’s not what he’s doing? My bad).
No

Deadshot 2
Gage/Cummings/Palmiotti
Even if I had not just interviewed the writer, I would be enjoying this tale. Art-wise, though, I wish adult artists would not feel the need to show how women’s nipples can perk up even under sweatshirts.
Yes

Superman: Strength 1 (of 3)
McCloud/Amancio/Austin/Mulvihill
This does not warrant the prestige format. No way. It’s a really expensive Superman Adventures at best.
No

The Question 3 [of 6]
Veitch/Edwards
Only one question, was the editor mandated not to do anything on this series.
No

X-Men Phoenix Endsong 1
Pak/Land/Ryan
Land is such a good artist, so I was surprised when they had the Death of Phoenix flashback (the original 137 death) and he has her posed like a Penthouse Pet, instead of a woman fighting for her life. I can’t fathom how another Phoenix miniseries got greenlit, oh wait because even X-crap, with an X in front of it, sells.
No

Captain America 2
Brubaker/Epting/Lark/D’Armata
Brubaker has discovered the secret to what made Mark Waid’s Cap run so effective—Sharon Carter. Epting and Lark in one issue. It’s all eye candy. Add to all this, a fan letter from Kurt Busiek. This is one of my favorite reads of the month.
Yes

Fantastic Four: Foes (1 of 6)
Kirkman/Rathburn
Kirkman’s interesting plot is absolutely sabotaged by the art. Every other panel has a character drooling like they are rabid. I mean Puppet Master is literally spitting on Alicia. But the money shot is the final “shock” reaction on the last panel. Everybody’s eyes are dilated and look like just as blind as Alicia (who is inexplicably in the money shot as well). It’s like Rathburn didn’t even read Kirkman’s script. At one point, Sue is elbowing people out of her way in a …not crowded store. I mean the art is weak, really weak and definitely not limited series material. Kirkman deserves a better artist and the new artist deserves a lower profile project (while the artist is still clearly learning).
No

The New Avengers 2
Bendis/Finch/Miki/D’Armata
In one scene, Cap chews the remnants of the scenery and screams: “This ends now.” And I found myself thinking: “I only wish it would.”
No

Spider-Man Unlimited 7
Rosemann/Perkins; Manning/Moline
Bill Rosemann should be writing a monthly book. His Spidey tale tops any of Paul Jenkins efforts in recent years with Spidey. Manning’s got a great vibe for Parker/Spidey’s sense of humor in the second piece.
Yes