March Comic Reviews Continued

Spoilers ahead!

One of the things that made me think of doing a "ten years ago" review piece was seeing that this month was the tenth anniversary of the Age of Apocalypse.

So imagine my surprise when I go back and find out that Marvel chose the WRONG date to celebrate!! They are celebrating the March COVER DATE, which was for books that came out in JANUARY!!

So the Age of Apocalypse issues I am going to discuss are the ACTUAL March releases, which are the third issues of Amazing X-Men and Astonishing X-Men.



The legacy of Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell on the X-Title is generally one of "shepherds." They did not do much to the mythos of note, but they also did not kill the property...so that is to be commended.

Age of Apocalypse, though, was really their one shining moment on the titles.

Nicieza and Lobdell did a remarkable job on this crossover of telling a good story (between two titles, with tons of tie-ins) that actually made sense if you read only the main titles (something VERY few crossovers can boast..I'm looking at you, War of the Gods, Millenium and Legends!), Amazing and Astonishing and no tie-ins.

Joe Madureira was at the height of his fame on the book, and he really deserves it. He was a very good storyteller and brought a real dynamic edge to the comics. Andy Kubert was not so bad either, but Madureira was the real star.

One of the best things in the story was the way they filled in the blanks at the alternate universe withOUT it hurting the plot. I was very impressed.

In addition, Lobdell's comic abilities (he was an actual comedian at one point, no?) are put to good use with Morph. Morph's jokes are legitimately funny...not the typical "any joke in a comic seems funnier because everything else is so serious" stuff.

Both were good issues (with Astonishing X-Men, with Lobdell and Madureira being better than Amazing X-Men, by Nicieza and Kubert).

Catwoman #21



If there ever was a "I Love the 90s" for comics, and people talk about all the stuff that they cannot believe was popular, Jim Balent has got to be pretty high on the list.

He does not actively hurt the book with his art, but he really was not a good draftsman.

And he was SOOOO popular!!!

He is a worse draftsman than Michael Turner, and he patently could NOT draw "normal people."

In any event, this was a throwaway two-parter by Chuck Dixon (who was using Catwoman at this point as his "hey, I got a story to tell, so I may as well tell it in Catwoman" book) about Catwoman trying to steal a movie screenplay.

Not a good issue.

Superboy #15 - This was the last gasp of the Ostrander Suicide Squad, so it always held a special place in my heart, as I loved the Ostrander Suicide Squad.

But wow...this was NOT a good issue.

The guest art by Kevin West was not great, but it was effective enough...but the story...man, it was lame.

I generally enjoy Karl Kesel's work, and I thought Superboy was generally a good book, but this issue was too confusing and filled with cliches.

Also, I always held a grudge that Kesel crippled Boomerang in this issue, so I may be biased...hehe.

Not a good issue!

Showcase '95 #5



I really liked the idea of this series, but man, there were a lot of not-good issues.

This was one of them.

Roger Stern and Howard Simpson do the main story, a Rose and Thorn story that really read more as Stern just finishing up older storylines from Rose and Thorn's appearances in Action Comics.

The art was okay, but really, this was like an Action Comics sub-plot given its own issue, which basically means it was not good.

The Spoiler story by Keri Kowalski was a real "fill in the hero" story, where it really told us nothing about Spoiler the character.

The Firehawk story was boring, but if you like Firehawk, I guess you would like it.

Not a good issue!

Azrael #4 - You really have to give Denny O'Neill credit. In just four issues, O'Neill already put together a strong supporting cast for Azrael in Sister Lilhy and Brian.

In addition, this was a really fun action-packed issue with a lot of interesting character moments.

The Barry Kitson art works well.

In fact, seeing how good this issue was, it really makes you wonder how the heck this was the same writer who wrote the later issues, as the later issues were so boring, non-sensical and lame.

This, however, was a good issue!

New Titans #121



"Wearing out his welcome" Part 1 (Part 2 is tomorrow) - Marv Wolfman on Titans.

Man, this was towards the end of his run, and while I realize how successful his first run was...he really did not deserve the post-Zero Hour "one last chance" he was given.

Was there really any indication that he could turn things around?

I don't remember seeing any at the time, and in retrospect, it is even clearer.

He was just SPENT on the book.

This issue was terrible.

You should not have to have a Master's Degree in Wolfman's Titans run to understand a comic book, but that is the case here.

The ONLY people this would really appeal to are people who are devoted to the minutia of his run (like, well, Wolfman himself).

The Rosado art did help matters much either.

Not a good issue!

Steel #15 - It is comics like this that make the Steel movie screenplay look like it deserved the Pulitzer Price.

I really dig Louise Simonson....but man, this issue was a MESS.

Idiotic villains we are not properly introduced to are involved in some convuluted plan to enact pro-gun legislature by some un-named Steel villain.

Steel is barely in it, and he gets about two sentences of characterization when he IS in it.

Most of the issue is devoted to a new character, Double, whose origins are laughable (he is the British actor cousin of a Senator supporting character)...but Double DID have a cool costume.

Chris Batista's work really has not changed much....which is surprising. You expect some more change from an artist.

Not a good issue!

Well, that's it for today!

Last eight tomorrow!

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