Less Filling 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. Ron’s (for those of you just tuning in, Ron has managed the place where I buy comics—Atlanta’s Book Nook since the mid-1980s and he’s a good friend with good taste) pick of last week is Matt Howarth’s Bugtown 2 (AEON). My pick for this week is Captain America 3 [Marvel]. This episode of Offhand Opinions is abbreviated, as I was unable to pick up my DC comics due to technical difficulties beyond everyone’s control.

Captain America 3 (Marvel)
Brubaker/Epting/Lark/D’Armata
Brubaker pulls subtle, biting political commentary in one panel that is more effective than any other post-9/11 Captain America attempted effort (and trust me, there’s been many…too many). And is it me, or would Brubaker and Lark be perfect for an Untold Tales of the Invaders miniseries? The way Lark and Epting mesh perfectly despite vastly different art styles is a credit to the colorist D’Armata.
Yes

District X 10 (Marvel)
Hine/Medina/Sicat
Making Bishop the lead (rather than some anonymous mutant character previously unestablished in the X-universe) was a mistake. One has to believe that the character is at risk, and the scenarios Hine puts him in, I know cliffhanger or not, Bishop’s fine. Kind of kills that element of suspense, don’t it?
No

The New Thunderbolts 5 (Marvel)
Nicieza/Grummett/Erskine
The day I praise Tom Grummett for his portrayal of a stripper in a strip club is a unique day. But oddly enough, some of the best action scenes and plot twists to this issue find their foundation in a strip club. I kid you not.
Yes

Fantastic Four Tales 1 (Marvel All Ages)
Thomas/O’Hare & Lim/Moussa & Glapion/Brown
It’s odd to review a retelling of a tale you read years ago, but here I am. Not as fun as the original, but tell me what average seven year old would be roped in by Kirby? So for its target market, I concede…solid gold.
Yes

Fantastic Four: Foes 2 [of 6] (Marvel)
Kirkman/Rathburn
Kirkman writes some solid scenes (particularly playing off She-Hulk in one comedic scene), but Rathburn’s art still does great damage to the narrative. All the characters have these odd facial ticks that derail any ability to lose yourself in the tale. In one pivotal scene, rather than being angst ridden, I’m fairly certain Reed is reacting to some bad chili he ate. Also, Kirkman is a tad off in the way he dialogues Reed and Sue.
No

4 #15 (Marvel Knights)
Aguirre-Sacasa/Muniz/Royal/Reber
Bill Jemas did something right when he pegged Aguirre-Sacasa for the FF. He was wrong to try to replace Waid with this writer, however. Fortunately a solution was found and we got the best of both worlds. Aguirre-Sacasa perfectly captures the family nature of the FF in this issue.
Yes

The Incredible Hulk 78 (Marvel)
David/Weeks/Palmer
I assume in PAD’s mind, he’s written a tale that is challenging himself. Personally I’m reading a convoluted pseudo-head games mystery that more than likely will end with Doc Sampson showing up to explain how Bruce did all this. Weeks, however, has been given a fun opportunity to draw a very surreal Hulk versus Hulk tale. And he delivers the goods but it's not enough to sway me.
No

Alpha Flight 12 (Marvel)
Lobdell/Henry/Morales
Like Quantum and Woody or Deadpool before it, as funny as some of the scenes in this (ending with this issue) series may have been, the core story trying to be told was never distinctly engaging/interesting/coherent.
No