Guest raptor Report post Posted August 23, 2002 Soundtrack: The Gin Blossoms. New Miserable Experience. The best album by my all time favorite band. Standout Tracks: Hold Me Down, Hey Jealousy, Pieces of the Night, 29 Powers #22 Story Title:: Anarchy Part II (of IV) Creators: Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming Publisher: Image Comics Auxiliary Facts: IR: Killer Plot: Pilgrim and Argento track down the serial hero killer, but she won’t talk to anyone but Walker. Comments: Bendis really has this series kicking on all cylinders. It’s a hard thing to make your audience deal with the loss of the series’ central star, but Bendis has made the transition seemlessly. Detective Argento was instantly likeable (as Deena was), and Bendis’ obvious affection for Deena Pilgrim makes her shine as the new lead. **** New X-Men #139 Story Title:: Weapon Twelve Creators: Grant Morrison, Igor Kordey Publisher: Marvel Comics, PG Auxiliary Facts: IR: Fantomex Plot: Fantomex leads Jean Grey and Professor X into the tunnel to rescue the X-Corperation and face of with Weapon Twelve. Comments: Morisson is rapidly becoming one of my favorite creators, but this arc was his most dissapointing since he joined the title. The first issues were very chilling and thought-provoking, but they rapidly deteriorated in quality. My major gripe with this issue was it’s conclusion. Unless Fantomex has some sort of telepathy, Jean’s actions in this issue were oddly out of character and off-putting. ** X-Factor #4 (0f #4) Story Title:: Book Four: Fear and Loathing Creators: Jeff Jensen, Arthur Ransom Publisher: Marvel Comics Auxiliary Facts: Final Issue Plot: The full extent of the conspiracy is revealled as Agents Kearse and Grey race against time to disarm a bomb at Xavier’s school! Comments: I’m still at an impase over my thoughts about this series. At points, it seemed to be written with such clarity and power that it was destined to be an X-Men classic in the vein of God Loves, Man Kills (which everybody should read). This issue, and other points in the issue show an inability to establish wholesale change in the property. Everything was cleaned up all neat and tidy by issues end, and no real sacrifices were made. All the makings of an exemplary comic story, just unable to pull the trigger. Still reccomended, though. *** The Ultimates #6 Uber-Book of the Week! Story Title:: Giant Man vs. The Wasp (Act One, Part Six of Six) Creators: Mark Millar, Bryan Hitch Publisher: Ultimate Marvel Comics, PG Plot: The Ultimates relax after the aftermath of the Hulk’s rampage. Comments: I really disliked this series until issue three. It seemed to drag way to much. Now, however, reading the whole first act, I can see what a visionary exploit the series really is. This is like the perfect comic book movie, with all the action and character development that has always characterized the industry’s elite titles. Millar brings something unique to the Avengers mythos, as he has really grasped the “shades of grey” of a government sponsered superteam. What does happen if you give a bunch of mentally screwed up people the ability to do whatever they want, just because they happen to have superpowers? That seems to be the way the series is moving, and I for one am happy at the direction. ***** Avengers Icons: The Vision #1 (of 4) Story Title:: Yesterday and Tomorrow Creators: Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis Publisher: Image Comics Auxiliary Facts: 1st:Derek; A: Professor Phineas T. Horton Plot: We flashback to the invention of the Vision/Human Torch as a young boy, Derek, begins seeing frightening apparitions. Comments: This issue is the reason why I can’t see Kurt Busiek’s side of the Ultimates/Avengers relationship. It seems to me that he’s just bitter that he ran out of good stories after the Ultron storyline. Here, Geoff John’s is only given one Avenger, and is able to create something fantastic. The atmosphere of The Vision is the thing that struck me most. Ivan Reis’ spooky pencils and Johns’ forboding dialouge in the issue’s final moments show that that this mini has serious potential. The only problem was that you may need a better working knowledge than I posses of the Vision’s relationship to Horton and the (Original) Human Torch for some of the plot points. ***1/2 The Filth .03 (of .13) Story Title:: Structures and Ultrastructures Creators: Grant Morrison, Chris Weskon Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo, MR Auxiliary Facts: 1st & O: Secret Original Plot: Ned Slade returns to his old life as Greg Feely, only to be visited by Dmitri the communist monkey and realize the truth about his existence. Comments: This is the better of Morisson’s offerings this month. While reading A.K.’s Title Bout at moviepoopshoot.com (highly reccomended), he came up with a very valid point. A lot of people (myself included) are cautious about Morrison’s creator owned projects because of his reputation for highly cerebral storytelling. His follow up point was that this is largely not the case, as though there are cerebral elements, his work really has a benign simplicity to it. The Filth, although analytical and intelligent, is basically a good, simple spy story. Actually, a very good spy story. So if you were afraid of it’s high brow nature, don’t be. Buy it, and I’m sure you’ll be entertained. *** Fables #4 Story Title:: Chapter Four: Remembrence Day Creators: Bill Willingham, Lan Medina Publisher: DC Comics/Vertigo, MR Auxiliary Facts: IR: Rose’s Killer Plot: Bigby Wolf solves the mystery of Rose’s murder as the other Fables celebrate Rememberence Day. Comments: This is the first issue of Fables that really let me down. The resolution of the mystery was really weak in my opinion, but Wellignham has a chance to redeem himself when he explains it fully next issue. Now, onto the thing(s) that worked. Bigby continues to be an anti-hero of the highest order, as appaulingly likeable as Han Solo and Wolverine. Every issue that goes by transforms Snow White into a wholly symapthetic character, and a tremendous foil for Bigby. Also, I’m continually puzzled as to why I’ve never heard of Lan Medina before. He’s doing some remarkable work. So, the good actually far outweighed the bad this time, but the series has placed itself on thin ice due to the conclusion. *** X-Treme X-Men #17 Story Title:: La Suerte de Matar (Invasion From Dimension X: Epilogue) Creators: Chris Claremont, Sal Larroca Publisher: Marvel Comics, PG Plot: Rogue, dying from a wound to her heart, seeks revenge against the man who attempted to murder herself and Gambit: Vargas. Comments: If last issue showed the best of Chris Claremont, this issue spotlighted the worst. Far too wordy with little accomplished, a horrible air of vague ambiguity to Rogue’s plight, and uneven characterization populate what should’ve been an incredible issue. I dare you to make complete sense of the transpirings in this issue. Will Rogue die at any moment? Did she kill Vargas? If so, doesn’t that nullify the point Claremont was moving towards? Why is this series so irregular when it has all the pieces to be great? *1/2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest raptor Report post Posted August 24, 2002 Just for reference, this weeks Reviews are now posted in Starvenger's topic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pochorenella Report post Posted August 26, 2002 Soundtrack: The Gin Blossoms. New Miserable Experience. The best album by my all time favorite band. Standout Tracks: Hold Me Down, Hey Jealousy, Pieces of the Night, 29 Truly one of the very best albums I've heard, it always finds its way back to my car CD magazine. I was afraid I was in the minority but it's good to see somebody else appreciate this great work. Too bad they're no longer together. Raptor, sorry to go off topic. As much as I want to give Extreme a chance, the stories just don't seem to click with me. And the way they keep messing with Rogue's powers just sickens me. The artwork is good, but Claremont really doesn't do it for me anymore, ever since that God-awful return to Uncanny a while back. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest raptor Report post Posted August 26, 2002 Gin Blossoms are back together! Not recording yet, but touring with The Spin Doctors. I agree on X-Treme. I buy it because two of my favorite characters are in it (Gambit and Rogue). Sometimes it's wicked good (like #16), but other times it feels like deja vu. Hopefully the X-Treme X-Men: X-Pose (ugh) mini-series will breath some life into it. X-Treme X-Men: X-Pose is a two issue mini-series by Claremont and Arthur Ransom that will interrupt the regular series after issue #19. Issue #20 will resume normal numbering in january. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest pochorenella Report post Posted August 27, 2002 My cousin is a Gambit and Rogue fan as well, and he has a suscription to X-Treme, so maybe I'll give them another chance, as I did with Uncanny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
