What 4/13 Comics I Would Recommend

Yeah, I realize it is a bit late in the week for reviews of last Wednesday's comics, but I had a thought.

When the books first come out, there are lots of people talking about them, but less people have actually read the books. If I post the reviews on a Tuesday, though, people have had time to read the books and will know what I'm talking about, and also any recommendations made will be (if accepted) in the buyer's mind when they buy the NEW books the next day.

If this is a dumb approach, I can always drop it...hehe.

Enough yammering, on to the books themselves!! Spoilers ahead!!

Fables #36



This was a very enjoyable beginning to the story of what went on in the world of the Fables while Jack was off on his movie adventure.

I enjoy Mark Buckingham's art, and he did a very good job with this issue, designing "the Black Knight"'s costume, designing the Goblins, and just basically visualizing every idea that comes into Bill Willingham's head.

This is our first introduction to what the Homelands are like under Adversary-rule, and it was well told by Willingham. The two Goblins he chose to be his exposition devices was a good choice.

We are treated to a terrible reality of tyranny, but for the Goblins, this is just their job, and to hear them describe the situation is great.

The hero is masked, but if you have been reading the book, it is not meant to be a surprise as to who he is...but it is still a treat to see him return to the Homelands for his mission.

My favorite Fables story period was the Last Castle, and to see that story continued is great news for me, and good news for you readers.

Adam Strange #7

If you have not been reading Adam Strange, you really ought to, as it is everything people talk about what they WANT in a comic. I wrote a bit on it early in the series here, and the series has not failed to live up to my kind words since.

This issue, Diggle introduces the surprise villain...and what I found amusing when talking to others about it was how few people found it to be a surprise. Not that they knew who it was going to be, but rather, they did not know who the character WAS. I guess that is what you get when you actually reference DAN JURGENS' JLA!!! Who was the last person to actually reference DAN JURGENS' JLA in a comic book!?!? And if you go back to the last person to reference Dan Jurgens' JLA in a COOL comic, you might have to go back a decade or so...

I mainly am impressed with how this book manages to be so action-packed and keep up the thrills and excitement. Ferry is a marvel on the art (I cannot wait until Mister Miracle comes out) as he keeps up with it all with aplomb.

Vril Dox, I am a bit less thrilled with, but I will admit, I cannot wait until he returns to help save the day (I was a bit disappointed that Diggle even tried the whole "coward" thing...you're not fooling anyone, Diggle!...hehe). So that part makes me happy, even though I think he's not as cool as he could be.

You know what the kicker is? When this series ends and Dave Gibbons takes over the character for the Rann/Thangarian War, I do not know who I would rather have writing a (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE) ongoing Adam Strange series.

THAT is how good Andy Diggle has been...I am not instantly choosing Dave Gibbons over him, like I would with most writers out there.

Imaginaries #1



I think it is silly to repeat myself, so I will just give you a link to something I wrote about why I liked Imaginaries #1 a lot (and why I don't like Legends of the Dark Knight #190 or Toxin #1 enough to recommend them).

Powers #10

Question...why does Powers, which is about police detectives, have more action in it than New Avengers, which is about superheroes?

Would it make sense to you if Law & Order had more action in it than 24?

That's basically what we have here.

In any event, this was a strong conclusion to the Blackguard story, although the comic slows down a BIT too much during the interrogation scene. I guess Bendis' point is that in real life, people ramble on a lot...but is that "realism" really cool enough to outweigh the boredom of reading someone ramble on a lot?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Well, I am curious, at least.

The "shocking" conclusion was not much of a surprise, as Bendis seemed to be going this direction for awhile, but it was still cool (if you read Powers, you will note that my use of shocking in quotes is both a pun AND an indicator that I did not think the ending was shocking).

Other books that I would not actually go so far as to recommend, but I liked well enough...

Iron Man #3 - This was a really good first half of a comic. Sadly, it was meant to be a full issue.

Ultimates Vol. 2 #5 - I probably should recommend this issue, I just can't bring myself to.

Good issue, but I just don't like the idea of this whole series.

Millar is too cynical for me. I do not mind cynicism THAT much, but when I can predict what he will do in the comic based on what is most cynical? Then that's just plain ol' hurting his writing.

However, I will admit that this was a strong issue. A good fight with nice art and interesting dialogue. In addition, the whole "is he crazy or not?" thing has been played out well so far. If I wasn't so sure where the book was going.

Ah, what the heck, I will give it a partial recommendation. I recommend this issue, but not this series.

Noble Causes #9 - Jay Faerber does what he does very well, but I do not know if this vintage Claremont-esque story is for everybody. I enjoy it, but not enough to really recommend it to everyone.

Ultimate X-Men #58 - I loved Steve Dillon on this book, but this issue was a bit too "paint by the numbers" for me to really recommend it to people. It was fine, but I do not think Vaughan pulled a single move in the issue that I would deem "wow." Except for maybe Ultimate Warlock...but that was just one page...hehe.

There you have it!

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