by Sal Loria, Dec 17 2009 // 2:15 PM
Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! The latest mutant milestone issue gets top billing, Spidey winds up in the wrong sandbox and Guy Gardner sees a whole lot more than just red. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
PULL OF THE WEEK:
X-Factor #200
Marvel Comics – $4.99 US
Writer: Peter David
Artists: Bing Cansino, Marco Santucci, Karl Moline
Score: 9.5/10
X-Factor Investigations makes the move from Detroit to New York in hopes of wrangling some new clients of the super-hero variety, but when their first client winds up being Franklin and Valeria Richards – the children to Reed and Sue Richards of the Fantastic Four – the team realizes that all is not what it seems.
Long-time X-Factor scribe Peter David continues to mix jaw-dropping plot bombs with great characterizations and intelligent humor in this over-sized anniversary special. The mystery of the missing Invisible Woman, on it’s own, is a great story, but throw in Monet’s father being abducted by terrorists, Siryn’s shocking rendezvous with an old flame (hint: he’s nuts) and Layla Miller’s surprising allegiance to Latveria, and you’ve got one hell of a jump-on issue.
The art team of Bing Cansino and Marco Santucci do a great job of pacing this mammoth story, and their takes on the characters are both familiar and fresh. With a title that relies heavily on many speaking scenes, which should come as no surprise to current readers, their art is right on the money, but they also flex their proverbial muscle in the action scenes, especially where the Thing is involved.
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Posted in: Comic Reviews · Comics · DC · Image Comics · Marvel · Pull List
Tagged: Amanda Conner, Amazing Spider-Man, Bing Cansino, Blackest Night, Brian Michael Bendis, Bryan Hitch, Butch Guice, Cable, Captain America Reborn, Daniel Way, Dark Avengers, Dark Wolverine, DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, Ed Brubaker, Fall of the Hulks, Forgetless, Fred Van Lente, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Green Lantern Corps, Hulk, Humberto Ramos, Javier Pulido, Jeph Loeb, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Karl Moline, Lan Medina, Madrox, Marco Santucci, Marcos Martin, Marjorie Liu, Marley Zarcone, Mike Deodato Jr, Nick Spencer, Norman Osborn, Official Marvel Index, Patrick Gleason, Paul Gulacy, Peter David, Peter J Tomasi, Power Girl, Scott Forbes, Siege, The Gauntlet, Whilce Portacio, X-Factor
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by Sal Loria, Nov 12 2009 // 12:00 PM
Welcome to another edition of The Pull List Comic Reviews! We’ve got a lot off good issues to get through, so let’s get to it. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
PULL OF THE WEEK:
S.W.O.R.D. #1 – Marvel Comics – $3.99 US
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Steven Sanders, Jamie McKelvie
Score: 9.0
Spinning out of Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s seminal Astonishing X-Men run, S.W.O.R.D. is the new title focusing on the organization entrusted to ensure that alien invasions are kept to a minimum. The Sentient World Observation and Response Department’s co-commander, Abigail Brand, has enough on her plate as it is, but having Henry Peter Gyrich – yes, THAT guy – as your co-commander simply can’t be a good thing.
After making a name for himself with the critically acclaimed Phonogram series, Marvel thought that writer Kieron Gillen would be able to handle the launch of a new, ongoing series that has a lot of ties to it, and boy were they right. The juggling parallels between what Agent Brand must endure and the various plot threads that Gillen must keep going wasn’t lost on me; in fact, I’d say it only added to the story’s flow. Imagine Men In Black done up right.
So new that he could be considered a rookie, artist Steven Sanders is anything but. Sharp, clean pencils fill this issue from cover to cover, and while his interpretation of how Beast looks takes a little getting used to, ultimately it’s nit picking on an otherwise near-perfect comic. His rendition of Gyrich, especially, should be noted, as the character has never looked more dick-ish.
About as entertaining as an issue can be, this first issue manages to draw you in with quirky moments – Beast’s lovesick commentary, Lockheed’s binge drinking – and stunning revelations – hello, Kitty! – made this an incredibly easy selection for our Pull of the Week.
OTHER PULLS:
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Posted in: Comic Reviews · Comics · Dark Horse Comics · DC · Image Comics · Marvel · News · Pull List
Tagged: Amazing Spider-Man, Astonishing X-Men, B.P.R.D. 1947, Batman/Doc Savage, Blackest Night, Booster Gold, Brian Azzarello, Charlie Adlard, Dan Jurgens, Dark X-Men, Deadpool, Don Kramer, DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, Emma Rios, Eric Canete, Eric S Trautmann, Fábio Moon, Gabriel Ba, Hellboy, Jamie McKelvie, jason aaron, Joe Kelly, John Cassaday, Joshua Dysart, Joss Whedon, JSA vs Kobra, Kieron Gillen, Leonard Kirk, Mark Waid, Mike Mignola, Mike Norton, Norman Osborn, Paul Cornell, Phil Noto, Phonogram, Punishermax, Robert Kirkman, S.W.O.R.D., Skottie Young, Steve Dillon, Steven Sanders, Strange, Walking Dead, X-Men Origins: Iceman
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by Sal Loria, Nov 5 2009 // 11:00 AM
Welcome to The Pull List Comic Reviews! First off, a huge thanks to John Carle for covering the column last week, he did a fantastic job. Make sure you check out The Flickcast’s podcast this week where he was also a guest-host! The dude’s everywhere. Okay, on with the comics. As always, WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
PULL OF THE WEEK:
Lobo: Highway to Hell #1 (of 2) – DC Comics – $6.99 US
Writer: Scott Ian Artist: Sam Keith
Score: 8.5
You’re sitting there, asking yourself “How in all that is holy is Lobo: Highway to Hell the Pull of the Week?” Believe me, I’m asking myself that very same question. You see I’ve never dug Lobo. I’ve read a good chunk of his various issues over the years and I’ve never seen the attraction to the character, but seeing as variety is the spice of life, I figured I’d give this a shot. The premise sounded interesting enough…
Lobo’s chillin’ at home when he receives a message – in the form of slain dolphins – from the big bad himself: the Devil. Even though the Main Man has been banished from Hell for quite awhile now, he figures it’s time to go on a road trip and pay a not-so-friendly visit to his old pal, Beelzebub. Along the way everyone’s favorite Czarnian runs into more violence, mayhem, booze and floozy “women” than he can shake a stick at, but what happens when he finally comes face to face with the cutest evil… waitaminute… CUTE?!?
He hasn’t had a starring role since 2007’s Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious, so when DC Comics dusted the mothballs off of the character, they decided to get a fresh take on him. Enter Scott Ian, the guitarist for the band Anthrax. Ian’s first foray into comic writing is pretty decent, but it’s how he handles the title character that blew me away. There was just enough here to add weight to the usual aloofness that the character normally projects, which clicked beautifully. While the big payoff will be next issue’s finale, so far this has been a very enjoyable ride.
The Maxx creator Sam Keith, who had both writing and artistic duties on the aforementioned 2007 mini-series, makes his return to the character. Bringing his distinctive style that is every bit as manic as Lobo is, the art looks great, even while juggling different levels of detail throughout the issue. From what I could tell, the creative team looked like they catered to each other’s strengths, culminating in a fun romp that became our Pull of the Week.
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Posted in: Comic Reviews · Comics · Dark Horse Comics · DC · Marvel · Pull List
Tagged: Adam Dekraker, Adam Hughes, Agents of Atlas, Assault on New Olympus Prologue, Batman Confidential, Black Widow: Deadly Origin, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 8, Cable, Chris Yost, Corey Soriano, Craig Rousseau, Dalibor Talajic, Deadpool Team-Up, DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, Fred Van Lente, Gabriel Hardman, Georges Jeanty, Greg Pak, Harvey Tolibao, Humberto Ramos, Incredible Hercules, Iron Man & The Armor Wars, Jane Espenson, Jeff Parker, Jo Chen, Joe Caramagna, John Paul Leon, Karl Kesel, Lobo: Highway to Hell, Marcos Martin, Marcos Marz, Marvel 1985, Marvel Adventures, Marvel Zombies: Evil Evolution, Paul Cornell, Phil Noto, Psylocke, Rob DiSalvo, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Rodney Buchemi, Royal McGraw, Sam Keith, Scott Ian, Steve Dillon, The Maxx, Tom Raney, Tommy Lee Edwards, X-Men Origins: Iceman
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by David Press, Jul 22 2009 // 11:30 AM
With a lot of you heading to Comic-Con, it would be good form for those of us not going to recommend some books you should be looking out for on the Con floor this week.
The biggest one of the week simply has to be Darwyn Cooke’s adaptation of Richard Stark’s novel The Hunter. I got the chance to read this a couple of weeks ago, and to say the very least if you’re expecting something along the lines of Cooke’s The Spirit run or The New Frontier you’re going to be in for a shock. This is absolutely nothing at all like those books in design, color scheme or story. But nonetheless, it is my top pick of the week.
My second recommendation is the double-sized issue of Amazing Spider-Man #600. Truth be told, Marvel is putting out a number of great books this week. I’m a sucker for all things Deadpool, for a reason I still don’t understand, I just enjoy them. The many mini-series featuring the character seems to be leveling off at the ridiculous. However, with each and every spin-off I can’t stop going back for every new issue for only one reason: they are books full of pure fun.
The other Marvel book out this week includes Immortal Weapons #1. This book focuses on the other immortal weapons introduced in Immortal Iron Fist. Written by Jason Aaron and Duane Swierczynski and an all star cast of virtually every artist I love working at Marvel, this is a must have in my book. More stuff spinning out of the Iron Fist corner is a good thing in my mind.
As always, if you didn’t like the picks we have for you this time around, check out Midtown Comics for a great selection of everything that comes out on Wednesday. And if you’re going to Comic-Con, be sure to keep it locked here for some great coverage from the Con floor.
Happy Reading!
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Posted in: Comic-Con · Comics · IDW · Marvel · Recommendations
Tagged: Amazing Spider-Man, Darwyn Cooke, DUANE SWIERCZYNSKI, Immortal Weapons, jason aaron, Richard Stark
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