These are the reviews. Most people don't read this section and just skip to the reviews. I'll just write about fluffy bunnies and pink unicorns to fill the opening paragraph and make this looks pretty, much like rainbows and butterflies. I'll bold some text in the next sentence so you know this is about the Weekly Crisis Comic Book Reviews and then we'll have the jump so you can read the actual reviews.
ACTION COMIS #868Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank
Okay, I really enjoyed this issue. In fact, it was great (aside from Jazzerciser Brainiac), but I'm having a lot of issues figuring out how this huge ass retcon of a story fits into place.
I still have no clue why Superman and Supergirl are making this huge deal about Kandor and I have no idea why Brainiac had no clue what all those 'fake' Brainiacs, whom Johns is retcon punching away, were up to while fighting Superman for the past 70 years.
Pretty much anything to do with this Brainiac is unexplained and, just like the recent Zod, Toyman and Legion stories, we're supposed to just accept the fact they've run out of ideas for new stories and villains and just introduce their own version of a character with no explanation or real reason behind it. With how they've been treating the Superman continuity of late, they should have just did a Man of Steel II and retconned the whole Superman universe and I think I'd be much happier with how they are handling these "new" characters.
With how they've been treating the Superman continuity of late, they should have just did a Man of Steel II and retconned the whole Superman universe.Okay, enough doom and gloom because, despite my misgivings, this was a fantastic issue and you should be readings Superman (well, just Action Comics) with this and the upcoming New Krypton event.
After last issue's supernova ending, which saw Superman captured by Brainiac, he wakes up here in a very Matrix-esque fashion right down to the freaky pods of aliens and the 'tube in throat' pulling out scene.
From there, Superman meets up with the 'real' Brainiac and, unfortunately, he's not the creepy looking version from the cover or the previous two issues. No, once Brainiac wakes up, he's basically a big, green strongman. I was actually pretty disappointed to see him resort to fisticuffs as his first option after the build up of this new persona.
Don't get me wrong, he's still much better than the Y2K version (and the past decade worth of Brainiac incarnations for that matter) and his dialogue was spot on, right down to referring to Superman simply as "Kryptonian", but the fact he pops those cables out of his head and then proceeds to just punch Superman about turned me off to this new incarnation a little bit.
I did love the implication that Brainiac did the same thing to Krypton's star as he did to the planet in the last issue when he captured Superman. It'll be interesting to see if that's what really happened or not as Brainiac ignored Superman's inference.
The ending to this issue left us with Brainiac's ship hovering above Metropolis with the implication he'd be bottling it up.
Verdict - Must Read. Again, if you've never read Superman or don't really care about what happened in the past, these complaints are completely moot. In fact, I, and everyone else, that have a problem with the wanton disregard for previous stories still find it hard to criticize a book as good as Action Comics and I loved everything about this issue, from the creepy Matrix-like feel of Brainiac's ship to the confrontation with Brainiac.
BATMAN #679Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Tony Daniel
I've expressed my dissatisfaction with Morrison's Batman RIP in the past, but I just want to say that this was a much better outing than in the past and went a long way to redeeming this arc in my eyes.
Yes, this issue is just as bat shit insane as the previous chapters, but, unlike those, this issue is focused in its madness and features a logical progression of events without the jarring cuts and nonsensical plot developments. It's as if an editor stepped in and told Morrison to cut the crap already and tell a real story.
As such, this issue features the Zur-en-Arrh Batman running around beating up random Dr Hurt goons with the figment of his imagination, Bat-Mite, on his shoulder. He's completely lost it here and is running around with his broken AM/FM radio, er, I mean Bat Radia, ripping out tracking devices in his teeth and acting like a Batman that's cracked, but, for as far as he's fallen, still has some wits about him. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
Meanwhile, with the crazy, but in a good way, Batman scenes out of the way, we get a lot of other plot details filled in. In fact, we actually get a plot for this event, something it's been severely lacking up until now. We still don't know what Dr Hurt, who claims to be Thomas Wayne (Alfred says otherwise), wants or why he's doing this to Batman.
Yes, this issue is just as bat shit insane as the previous chapters, but, unlike those, this issue is focused in its madness and features a logical progression of events without the jarring cuts and nonsensical plot developments.However, we do see the push towards a conclusion with Dr Hurt setting up Arkham as the final stage for his destruction of Batman. He's promised Joker Robin to kill, we get a glimpse of said Joker, Nightwing is being prepped for a lobotimization by one of Hurt's men at Arkham and Robin has called in the calvary with a quick message to the Squire, who we last saw during the League of Batmen story. It's looking like we may see a League of Batmen vs Club of Heroes showdown with a crazed Batman and the Joker stuck in the middle to wrap this event up.
My only real complaint with this issue is the fact Robin takes out his pursuer and then leaves him trapped under some rubble as he runs away. Uh, not going to question him? Wouldn't that help you find Batman or figure out what the hell is going on? Just seemed like a really dumb thing to do given the circumstances.
Verdict - Check It. I'm wary to give it a Must Read since the first couple of issues were nearly unreadable and I'm unsure if this will continue to improve or if this will take another trip down the rabbit hole next issue. For now, this was good, but tread lightly in fear of future issues.
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #27Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Luke Ross and Fabio Laguna
Let's get this out of the way right now. Lantern Saarek, the guy advertised as being able to 'speak to the dead', is a blatant plot device who's only purpose in existing is to give us foreshadowing of the Blackest Night and the whole back from the dead motif the Black Lanterns will have.
Normally, I'd hate this type of character conveniently showing up with no prior development, but it was handled as well as you could expect and the character was far mroe interesting than I expected he would be.
Basically, he shows up randomly in the Green Lantern crypt, where Morro, the GL cryptkeeper, is busy putting Bzzd to rest, and we find out who he is, that he can speak with the dead and that 'they are cold' and the dead GL's are afraid of what's to come.
Meanwhile, Guy and Kyle open the Warriors bar on Oa. We don't spend much time there, but we do catch up with the two after closing time where they celebrate the first night with a beer. Some interesting stuff came from this, such as some info on Guy and Ice's relationship and an odd piece where Kyle scribbles a drawing on a napkin and tosses it in the garbage. After he leaves, Guy picks it up and it reveals a random (I couldn't figure out who it was) Green Lantern with a gapping hole in his stomach. Parallax influence seeping through his ring / lantern or something else?
Finally, there was a training segment with Kilowag that saw the sky rain eyeballs, explaining the trippy looking cover. The rings reveal the eyeballs are from various Green Lantern relatives, including many of the current recruits. How the villain made these rain down on Oa was left unexplained, but Saarek communes with the dead and reveals a head shot of the killer. I didn't recognize the villain, but it looks almost like a Dominator.
Finally, finally, remember Mongul dying last issue? Well, the rings didn't fly away, so we knew he wasn't really dead, but this issue confirms it with him just getting up and flying away. If he wasn't missing an arm, it'd be almost like nothing even happened. Why wasn't he trapped in the Black Mercy's trance like everyone else?
Verdict - Check It. It's a slow issue that sows the seeds for future stories. While nothing mind blowing or must read, it's definitely worth checking out.
SECRET INVASION #5Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Leinil Francis Yu
When I read dberes comment on this week's Post-Crisis Previews about how my prediction about what Secret Invasion #5 would be like was right, I nearly cried. How could Bendis show us an ending with Thor and Captain America entering the fray and then spend the entirety of this issue playing "Who's A Skrull?" in the Savage Land? The worst part of this is that, while my predictions were said in jest, I was honestly expecting this and that when it turend out to be true, I didn't even have it in me to get angry. My apathy for this event has reached new highs (or is that lows?).
You want a recap? Oh, very well. Norman Osborn talks to Captain Marvel and he flies off after a page or two, leaving me wonder why the hell we had to put up with that "attack" anyways. Guess the Tbolts tie-ins have absolutely nothing to do with fighting Captain Marvel.
From there, we get the absolute worst drawings of celebrities I have ever seen with Yu's attempt at drawing people like, well, I'm guessing here based on the backgrounds or accessories they have with them, but people like Paris Hilton, Obama and Oprah, as well as several other Howard Chaykin-esque chinned "people". What's stupid about this scene is the Skrulls could have taken over by simply impersonating the heads of state and announcing their submission since, well, they're shapeshifters and everything. Why even bother causing a panic by announcing to the world they are taking over and why do it as Paris Hilton or other retarded celebrities?
Where's Cap and Thor, you ask? Do I even have to answer this? They aren't in this issue. No, not even a cameo.From here, we get the only decent scenes in the issue with Agent Brand busting Reed Richards out. For the Osama Bin Laden of the Skrull race, as Bendis has claimed, they sure as hell didn't guard or secure Richards in the least. Brand kills a couple of Skrulls, opens the airlocks and then frees Reed, who's pissed. He claims the Skrulls are somehow using his mind to invade Earth. No clue what that means, seeing as Starknet virus is what took everyone out, but I'm sure Bendis won't explain it and will just move onto pretty explosions.
Oh, look, we jump to some explosions as Captain "Plot Device" Marvel shows up to take out the Skrull armada so Reed and Brand can escape. They take their ship and head to the Savage Land, where we spend the rest of the issue playing grab ass as everyone claims everyone else is a Skrull only to have Reed blast them all with his de-Skrullifying gun and it's revealed, shockingly, that everyone that came out of the ship, including Mockingbird, are Skrulls.
For some reason, Hawkeye seems pissed that his dead wife was actually a Skrull and Bendis looks to be taking cues from his Ultimates 3 Gunman Extreme version as Hawkeye starts cursing about killing every goddamn Skrull and takes a gun and kills his "wife".
Where's Cap and Thor, you ask? Do I even have to answer this? They aren't in this issue. No, not even a cameo.
Verdict - Avoid It. All you need to know about this issue is Brand rescued Reed, most of the 70's Skrulls are all dead and, if we're lucky, we'll never hear or see them mentioned ever again.
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22 comments:
You forgot to put the cut in.
I enjoyed Secret Invasion enough to warrant a Check It, and the moment with the celebrity skrulls was Hilarious.
Batman RIP is good, but what the hell happened to the Robin and Damian team up? Morrison just forgot about it, I suppose.
What was the mention of Guy and Ice's relationship?
@leeisl - Ya, had a broken tag somewhere that took me a minute to find. Fixed now.
@andrenn - There wasnt a huge deal with Guy and Ice's relationship. It was merely a mention that he'd be taking a week vacation to go visit her and sort stuff out, which is promising to say the least.
I thought SI warranted a check it as well. I was excited during the whole issues and only noticed some of the bad things upon second reading. The only thing was that some of the dangling plot threads were wrapped up too fast. I think that since these plots are done, then the event can end the last 3 issues with a bang. Thor and Cap will definately be in the next issue also (see the cover). I also think the trade format will treat this series well. ( but that doesn't help all of us buying the single issues) The initial enjoyment that I had when I first read it puts it in the check it category for me.
Thanks to your review, I'm going to pickup Action Comics. Thanks Kirk!
Thanks to your review, I feel validated for cancelling Secret Invasion from my pull list. Thanks Kirk!
I do hate it so when they mess with Hawkeye. And Batman for that matter.
While I agree that Batman was much improved, I'm not sure that "I actually followed what's going on!" is reason enough to consider it worth reading.
I still can't believe this is what they're putting out when The Dark Knight might be driving kids to a comic shop to read some Batman comics.
Hey, Kirk, I think Pixie threw some of her dust at you :P
Methinks you were a bit too harsh with SI. I do agree that it was lame not to show Cap and Thor...but I was totally expecting it. I really loved the scene with Maria Hill using her LMD to blow up the Helicarrier. There are very few times when we seen Reed Richards in a kick ass,take names later kind of mode so that was a different change of pace as well...
I'm also very disappointed in the direction of SI. There was so much great set-up, but the follow through is going nowhere. All of the 70s heroes were Skrulls? All of 'em? Then why bother??
I also thought Agent Brand's escape from space and rescue of Reed was a bit too convenient in her favor.
And I thought for sure we'd see Thor and Cap. WTF?
And the worst part? The fact that, when the series is over, things will likely go back to normal as if the invasion never happened. No Skrull occupation, the heroes will simply win during the next three issues and that's it. This issue was probably the final straw for me and SI. What a waste!
That damn add at the begining of your page is annoying. Maybe is my browser (IE) but it's causing errors every time I try to visit your blog.
Am I the only one experiencing this?
I just finished Runaways Young Avengers 2 and holy crap did a lot happen in one issue... What's your take on it? I say its a must read, only because I'm partial to both the Young Avengers and the Runaways... So is Secret Invasion 5 after the Runaways Young Avengers crossover cause that somewhat spoils it...
I agree with Bill. It's crazy that DC decided to publish probably the single most confusing Batman story in a long time when the movie is out making millions. If a kid walks into a comics store (or hell, even a Borders/Barnes and Nobles) and tries to read that issue is not going to understand what the fuck is going on.
@guayec - Hmm, I'll check it out in IE, but it should only pop down the first time you visit and never again. Works fine in Firefox, but if it bothers you, one way to get rid of it is using Adblock Plus and just adblock it (and just about every other ad on the internet).
Right on, Kirk. Secret Invasion was fun, but if I was intending to read it as anything other than a bunch of explosions and super heroes punching things, I would be totally disappointed.
Are you going to review Final Crisis: Revelations? I'm curious to see what you think!
Personally, I rather enjoyed SI #5, enough it give it a Check It grade. It was a fairly strong issue, mostly due to the fact that it tied off many of the story threads running through the event and started moving towards the endgame, which I found was excellent. Pacing has never been this story's strong suit, but this issue, at least, managed to drive the story forward. I agree with Chris here, with all this other stuff out of the way, the final three issues of SI should be balls-to-the-wall as the heroes launch their counterattack. I had to admit, the death of Skrullingbird was rather shocking (and a tad uncomfortable), but I think that might have been the point. It represented the final straw for the heroes, who have been pushed and screwed around by the Skrulls until they reached this: the breaking point. Yeah, not having the Hood, Thor or New Cap present in the issue sucked, but it could have been a lot worse.
And Beast has the best girlfriend ever. Seriously, bluffing her way out of danger, freeing Reed, spacing an entire ship's worth of Skrulls? Agent Brand is just plain awesome. Unrealistic? Perhaps. But it certainly was cool, so I'm willing to just roll with it.
@dberes - I'll be reviewing Revelations later today wiht the rest of this week's books. I liked it, but I'm not sure if it needs 5 issues at $3.99 each to tell this particular story.
@keith - &#^$ing unicorns!
@the pheonix king - The only plots it really wrapped up were extraneous things like Captain Marvel's non-story attack on the Thunderbolts or the 70's Skrulls in the Savage Land, who's only purpose was to make people wonder if Marvel was actually going to retcon all or any of these characters back to their previous status quos.
They had no story purpose and were throw aways. Even the fights between the characters were pointless since they just had a big dinosaur come in and break the fight up and it left us with several issues of everyone accusing everyone of beign a Skrull.
None of this really matters in terms of the story. Bendis could have just as well had the heroes ship break down and leave them sitting around playing carsd for the last 4 issues and the story wouldn't have changed in the slightest, which is my biggest peeve about these.
@ Kirk - I disagree I feel that Bendis trapping the Avengers in the Savage Land is a huge story point. It shows the ability of the Skrulls to manipulate the Avnegers, first with getting both teams to the Savage Land and trapping them there and second introducing the 70s versions which adds confusion and mistrust and thereby keeping the Avengers occupied so they do not get back to the mainland.
Having Earth's Mightiest Heroes trapped in Antarctica facilitates the ease at which the Skrulls have been able to take over Earth (except for regions that have an SI tie-in). Without the Avengers trapped in the Savage land mistrusting and fighting each other, it would kinda seem ridiculous to the average fan that the skrulls could take all of these guys out and you would also have no one to come save the day in the last act of the story.
@phillyradiogeek - Why must the status quo change after every event? Most someone die, lose powers, turn evil/good, etc. to equal a good story worth a read? look at Ellis' Thunderbolts, his last arc was amazing, yet the status quo of the team remained pretty much the same as it was in the first issue of his run. Does that make the story somewhat less compelling?
Anyways, Secret Invasion brings back Fury, adds his new team to the MU, will give the whole Skrull Empire a new status quo and there relations to any MU character, may or may not spell the downfall of Stark as director of shield, made Maria Hill a bad-ass and revealed Spider-Women and a few others as skrulls (which also reveals that the replaced characters are either dead or prisoners).
What Johns and Frank have been doing with Action Comics, is really quite nice. I enjoyed your review of it, Kirk, and I need to grab this issue and the back issue.
Johns really digs into the stories that I enjoy, things that delve into and then play around with the history of things. Plus he has a very strong skill set to execute his ideas. Sure his new group of Legion of Superheroes was kind of confusing on top of the Legion of Superheroes and Supergirl cast, at the time, and Jim Shooter hasn't made it any easier, heh, but I'm sure Johns will have fun twisting and playing with that in the Crisis tie-in with Perez.
Where was I? Ah yes, Frank had a somewhat harsh style to me. But like I just had to get used to Frank Quietly's chubby faces to really appreciate his art, that same can be said with Gary Frank's skinniness... what a hell of a storyteller.
So yep, agreed, Must Read.
Re: Action Comics
This is the first time I've ever been really interested in Superman since I got back into comics three years ago.
Re: SI #5
As a few other people I've seen have noted, the scene of the heroes wiping out the '70s Skrulls was somewhat disturbing. The Skrulls seemed mostly shocked at what had happened, why kill them like that? Any one of them could have been another Captain Marvel skrull (or Crusader or Lyja [for the most part] or Hulkling or Xavin), yet they get fairly coldly wiped out.
I'm hoping that this is touched upon later, but I somehow doubt it will.
Agree completely with the 'Avoid it'.
Where are my Bunnys and Unicors.
I guess there with Thor and Cap in Secret Invasion.
People seem to be overlooking just how terrible the overall SI storyline is.
For example, Reed Richards’s “Eureka!” realization was that the alien Skrulls have alien DNA, while humans have human DNA. That’s scientific brilliance? It didn’t automatically follow that Richards could use that knowledge to construct a gadget that would force Skrulls to return to their normal forms. The gadget was an incredibly artificial plot development, and rather beside the point, since the tie-ins’ text pages (and the SI #5 text page) told readers that the “heroes” on the ship were Skrulls.
The Mockingbird subplot failed badly because it was impossible for the impersonator to be the real Mockingbird, unless the reader dismissed practically all deaths as meaningless events that could be undone without any explanations. Bendis’s Barton got angry only because Bendis wrote him as being emotionally retarded, if not mentally retarded.
The entire sequence with Skrull-Jarvis, Hill, et al., was a waste of page space because the confrontation was meaningless within the (imaginary) context of a planet-wide invasion. Taking over the planet means, um, actually occupying the planet, not taking over a Helicarrier or some blocks in mid-Manhattan.
The assertion that telecommunications were disrupted planet-wide only showed that Bendis doesn’t understand telecommunications technology any better than he understands computers, genetics, biology, physics--any branch of science one can name.
Bendis’s attempt to be profound by having the Skrulls lecture humans on their social failings was pathetic.
Are readers supposed to think that Hill was the only human on the Helicarrier?
Bendis seems to get excited by having characters trigger processes with spoken words.
As SI goes on--well, Bendis’s ability to plot a storyline that is actually coherent seems to be nonexistent.
SRS
Batmite: Batman even prepared for a psychological attack with a backup secret identity...the batman of zurr-en-arrh...
This could be the single most greatest preptime batman moment I have ever read...he had a plan B if the moment ever came where he would go crazy..SO BADASS...This is one of the best moments to be a batman fan and I cant wait for what happens next
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