What 5/18 Comics I Would Recommend

Waaaaaaaay too many good books this week!!

Spoilers ahead!!

JLA Classified #7



One of the problems I have with some writers is what I call the "built-in emotional kick".

This is what I call it when a writer writes something where the emotional drive of the story comes not from the writer's work, but from previous writers' work.

For instance, killing off Sue Dibny.

Yes, some people would praise Brad Meltzer for doing a good job of making new readers come to care for Sue and Ralph in the 10-15 pages before Sue is murdered, but really, the emotional kick came not from what Meltzer WROTE, but from the work previous writers did making Sue into an enjoyable character. Thereby, when you see Ralph all freaking out over Sue's death, Meltzer's groundwork is done for him.

It is partially why I often have a problem with writers killing off established characters. It seems like too easy.

The events of JLA Classified #7 are similar to Identity Crisis #1, except that the emotions derived in the issue are a result of work that THESE writers did with THESE characters.

It somehow made the emotional outpouring seem more genuine to me, and had more emotional depth.

No "easy way out" here.

Couple that with some laughs, some good characterization, a decent enough plot and some great art - and you've got yourself a story!!

Wolverine #28



This just BARELY snuck in there.

Millar manages to toss in his little "cynical" shtick in to the story, as Northstar reveals that he had to pop pills just to get through the day back when he was an X-Man.

In any event, thanks to some cool bits and some great John Romita Jr. artwork, this issue had JUST enough cool-time action in it that I think it is to be recommended.

But just barely...hehe.

Toxin #2



Yes, that's right. I am recommending Toxin #2. I stated the reasons here.

You know the claim is so bizarre that you just HAVE to click on the link to find out what kind of drugs I am on.

Lucifer #62



I think this book would be soooo much cooler if Mike Carey just wrote one-shot stories.

The storylines are fine on this title, but the one-shot stories are awesome.

In this issue, the angel Solomon is playing a twisted game of Dominoes (as in, tell person A one thing to make them go visit Person B who has been told another thing while Person C has been told another thing, etc.), and the set-up is quite nice.

In addition, we catch up with some characters we have not seen in awhile, and their progress (and their hardships) are intriguing.

Great art by Colleen Doran.

Young Avengers #4



Kang is awesome, but even awesome villains can be used too much.

And I think Kang shows up a BIT too much.

That being said, I do not think that that should distract much from this issue, as it was quite a fun superhero adventure.

First of all, while the guy Young Avengers seem interesting enough, the GIRL Young Avengers are awesome!

Yes, Cassie Lang shouldn't be showing her panties when she shrinks. That was ree-dick-you-lus. But her characterization is top notch.

But Kate Bishop is REALLY cool. The way she just cobbled together whatever was laying around the Mansion and became "Hawkingbird?" Pricelss. Great job by Heinberg.

Plus, I will allow that the conflict Kang presents the Avengers is JUST interesting enough that I could sorta see them agreeing with him.

However, Jessica Jones is now apparantly the Tim Drake of the Marvel Universe (remember when Tim Drake first showed up in the early 90s, and every title wanted him to show up in it?). Which is kinda annoying...but not a big deal.

Finally, I really like Jim Cheung's art.

Ex Machina #11



I thought this issue was very interesting, as Ex Machina issues normally are.

I especially liked the examination (very quickly, of course) of how someone WOULD be responded to if they told you that a psychic told them not to go to work on 9/11.

WOULD you believe them?

Seriously?

I also like the foreshadowing that Vaughan tosses in, on top of the good character moments in his interaction with the psychic.

Nice art by Tony Harris, as usual.

Seven Soldiers: Guardian #2



I know a lot of people get irked when someone pulls out the old canard, "Grant Morrison not at his best is still better than most writers."

Well, it may be annoying...but I honestly do agree with it.

This issue was not totally to my liking, but Morrison throws SO much cool stuff into it that I would be doing a disservice if I did NOT recommend it.

And Stewart's art is super cool.

Now Shining Knight, Klarion and Zatanna? Much more to my liking, but all of the Seven Soldiers books have been good, I think.

Conan #16



I explain here why I think this issue was really good. No repetition here!!

Marvel Knights 4 #18



I truly believe that Roberto Aguiree-Sacasa is slowly becoming one of the best superhero writers in the business.

And the sheer all-encompassing coolness of this story (in that it can be enjoyed by long-time fans as well as new fans) just impresses the heck out of me.

In the past, I have let Jim Muniz's art (which, while not BAD, I do not think fits the style of story at ALL) take away from recommending this book, but ya know what? This issue was so much fun, I do not think I will let Muniz do that for me.

The art is not to my liking, but this story was sooo much fun!

The Goon #12



The Goon is one of the weird books where any description of it would fail to express to you just how cool it is.

Last issue was a really fun adventure saving Dr. Alloy, but this issue shows us how that might not have been such a good idea.

The wackiness of the humor as well as the chemistry between the characters just makes this a joy to read each and every month.

Eric Powell for President!!!

Plastic Man #16



It is a shame that this book is a bi-monthly, but that's six more issues of coolness a year than what I have grown to expect.

Let's give it the checklist treatment!!

Funny satire of comics? Check!

Cool art? Check!

Funny sight gags? Check!

Morbidly downbeat tie-in to overaching company-wide storyline? Ooooh...no check.

More funny sight gags? Check!

Good character interactions between cast members? Check!

Interesting ending? Check!

Well, six out of seven isn't bad.

And neither is Plastic Man #16.

The following comics I liked well enough, but I would not go as far as to say I recommend them:

Manhunter #10 - Able fill-in art, and I really like her sidekick. He's the saving grace of this book, I think. And even I (Mr. Don't Kill Off Established Characters!!) cannot complain TOO much about Chase Lawler.

Cable/Deadpool #15 - I just do not think there was enough actual jokes (as opposed to continuity references) to make it recommendable.

Hercules #2 - I wrote here about why I was pleasantly surprised about this book.

Simpsons Comics #106 - Funny issue, but if you're going to do song parodies, they really should work a little better, I think.

What did y'all think of the week that was?

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