Ultra Delayed 2nd half of Comic Reviews

September 3, 2008

This is the continuation of the review from the last time. I have four more titles to review. Yes, because I’m poor like that.

Again, there will be no cover art, because I’m lazy like that. The job I have is sucking the life out of me. It really is. -_-Anyway, the perfect score this time around is five Mandarins.

Moon Knight #21
Written by Mike Benson
Art by Mark Texeira

Moon Knight has always been an interesting character for me. The balance between his savage side and his heroic side is a very interesting characteristic, and much like Daredevil, his struggle between the law and justice (technically, not justice for MK, but you get the picture) is a delicate balance. One side is constantly trying to gain the advantage over the other.

The story “The Death of Marc Spector” has Iron Man trying to tip that scale in favor of the law, of order, of the fifty state initiative. Iron Man wants Marc Spector decommissioned. Why he doesn’t pick on Frank Castle, the guy who actually kills people, we’ll never know.

I like where this is going, even though everyone’s dying- Batman, Captain America and dying in new ways, like Spider-Man. It’s still on the Civil War backlash, even though there has already been a world war and there is an ongoing secret invasion.

The art really threw me off here. First of all, Iron Man’s armor looked like a combination of the classic gold and red suit and a happy meal toy. There are no joints- like golden pyjamas and red long johns.

The interrogation scenes were also a bit off. The art was too intense and it doesn’t suit the dialogue, so it looks awkward. Those scenes could’ve been done much better. They look too forced. Actually, a lot of the scenes look this way. If the art improves, then this story could prove to be very good.

3 out of 5 Mandarins for the art. Although even if the art were better, it’d probably get 3.5 or 4 at the most. Good set up story, though.

Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #32
Written by: Stuart Moore
Art by: Carlos Pagulayan and Steve Kurth

This last issue is the finalé of the With Iron Hands arc, and the last one before the story goes War Machine-centric. This is a forgettable arc. It’s enjoyable, yeah, but forgettable. It had its good moments, especially in this issue, but still forgettable overall. The one thing I will remember here is the Iron Bitch Slap.

Mind you, it’s not a bad issue. It just pales in comparison to the ones that came before it. It does have a lot of good moments, and some beautiful internal monologue from Stark.

I think, the best way to enjoy this arc is in a TPB or a collection of some sort. It is to be appreciated as that, I think, as one. There are moments in the arc that felt like there was a credible threat, and some solutions to these threats just kind of feel… lacking.

But that’s okay. I will walk away from this arc into the next one with the Iron Bitch Slap in mind.

Four Mandarins out of five!

Astonishing X-Men
Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Simone Bianchi

It seems that Cyclops has been taken over by Magneto in a lot of the dialogue. Warren Ellis has always been a great writer, but he can’t seem to handle Cyke in the direction Ed Bru and Joss Whedon set him on. I mean, I like where they’re taking Cyclops as the hardcore leader of the X-Men.

The dialogue seems also a bit forced. This is surprising coming from Warren Ellis, but I think he’s trying to emulate Joss Whedon’s dynamic within the characters. I say he should stick to the way he writes. But hey, I’m no expert, so yeah, maybe he just really likes making everyone talk like they’re one-dimensional.

The story is somewhat interesting. The pace is slowly picking up, and I’m sort of interested in what the ghost box holds. Let’s hope it’s a slobberknocker of a surprise, because These AXM’s are fail so far.

What really ikrs me is the art. It’s so goddamned inconsistent. There are some panels that are just gorgeous, and then there are panels where Angelina Jolie became Cyclops and fucking WOLVERINE IS JAY LENO. The costumes, especially Storm’s, are horrible. Please, someone take Bianchi off this book. Put anyone else there! PLEASE!

It’s not a memorable issue, and this is seriously making me miss Joss Whedon and  Cassaday a whole lot more.

Two out of five Mandarins. PFT!

Secret Invasion #5
Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Leinil Yu

It’s business time! The shit has now hit the fan and is now raining down upon us like little rain droplets made out of shit. I loved this issue. The drama, the badassery, the revelations, EVERYTHING! Well, Bendispeak notwithstanding. It wasn’t so prevalent in this issue, so it’s tolerable. Well, most of it was tolerable. Phobos going “You almost got whacked” was just… weird.

I love Reed being a badass. I love how Clint Barton was a badass. I love Captain Marvel was a badass. I love how Nick Fury was rightfully badass. I love how Spidey (surprisingly, written by Bendis) was actually funny in this issue. If Bendis has a ghost rider for Spidey, I wouldn’t care, or maybe his Bendispeak just works on Spidey, and I am just noticing it now. Either way, HUZZAH!

I have much hatred for Maria Hill, although she’s becoming a very complex character, and Agent Brand is slowly catching up.

Leinil Yu’s art is clean, just like all the other Secret Invasion issues. Oh, and he drew the Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as a Skrull. WIN! I like the art quite a bit.

Now, I’m excited for the next issue. Goddamn it, Reed’s thingamajig better have a good explanation behind it, and not just go “because he’s that damn smart.”

4.5 Mandarins out of 5! SECRET INVAAAAAAASSSIIIIOOONNNN!!!