MONDOmagazine

The Amazing Spider-Man #600
Main story: Dan Slott (w), John Romita Jr. (p), Klaus Janson (i), Dean White (c).
Backup stories: Many, including Stan Lee, Marcos Martin, Mark Waid, Bob Gale, and many more. Marvel Comics.

For the amount of pages and sheer joy you get from this package you can’t knock it. That said, I’m going to knock it. I have some controversial views on John Romita Jr.’s artwork: I think it’s generally terrible. He’s admitted his style is “the deadline style” — whatever he gets out by deadline, that’s his style. This looks like the deadline was really tight. His work on The Eternals? Generally pretty good. But there are scenes in that comic and in this one where I swear Romita is bored. In particular the last page of this issue, where he achieved a character that looks more sleepy than sexy. Though, really, for me, it’s the good pages that make the bad ones so frustrating. But with an entertaining main story and some seriously great backup material you really can’t fault this title. Worth picking up. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 5 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 3.5. out of 5

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2
For Owen’s review of Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2 and Isaac’s review of Green Lantern #44, check out our Crossover Corner at the bottom of the page.

Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #3
Joe Casey (w), Chris Cross (p), Rob Stull (i), Snakebite (c). DC Comics.

I’m less enthralled with the twitter narration they’ve been using in this comic- it mostly just sounds self indulgent, yes that should come as no surprise, but there was more depth to the first issues “tweets” that let me have hope for the future of these characters. That’s not to say they’ll grow up in this series, that’s certainly what the whole thing is about, it just seems a lot less likely right now. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds #5 of 5
Geoff Johns (w), George Perez (p), Scott Koblish (i), Hi-Fi (c). DC Comics.

This book has been a long time coming, and it’s totally worth the wait! Not only is that because of the beautiful art (which is insanely detailed, and appropriately epic for a true Crisis event) but because of the way the delay gets us to read this book. Just perusing the DC comic message boards there’s a now standard vitriol towards the wait for this book, towards your fellow fanboy, towards the creators and this is heavily mimicked with the villain Superboy-Prime’s attitude. In fact it’s almost insulting just how clearly Prime is an attack on those ridiculous posters that just don’t get the message, well, it would be insulting if I hadn’t made a trip to those DC message boards and immersed myself again in the constant inanity that is what Prime is an example of. It’s a classic case of “if you don’t get the joke, the joke is on YOU!” — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

The Incredible Hercules #131
Greg Pak & Fred Van Lente (w), Ryan Stegman (p), Terry Pallot (i), Marvel Comics

I continue to be impressed with how well this title can balance mythical stories with superhero stories, as well as action with character development and comedy with drama. This comic really is the one that can do it all and this issue is a great example. The growth of Amadeus Cho as a character remains my favourite part of this title, but a definite second place goes to the mythological in-jokes. This issue features a Sisyphus joke and a reference to the way Hercules’ dialogue used to be written. It blows my mind on a regular basis that more people aren’t reading this book. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

The Incredible Hulk #600
Jeph Loeb and others (w), Ed McGuinness and others (a), Mark Farmer and others (i), Marvel Comics

I’m going to speak to the main feature of this title, since that’s what most people are (presumably) here for. I can’t fathom the possible appeal of this style of storytelling. The choices made are mind-boggling: a character with an important part to play is only shown on the side of panels and is not addressed until they are needed and never spoken of again, Peter Parker says “who he” in one panel when I’m pretty sure the writer means “he, who?”, a character seems to have some sort of power that we have never heard referenced and which I can’t understand why he wouldn’t use it before…I…this comic made me so angry. It’s hard to talk about why giving out spoilers, but if anyone wants to debate it feel free to comment. As for the art, it has a sort of appeal to it, but the page layouts leave a lot to be desired. But if you like Hulk-muscles…you’re in luck. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 1 out of 5

The Incredibles: Family Matters #4
Mark Waid (w), Marcio Takara (a), Boom Studios

Mark Waid has made a great kid’s book here. I’ve read all four issues and that’s what I’m feeling. While it can’t compare to The Muppet Show as a book for adults as well as kids, I keep thinking that I would’ve loved to read about The Incredibles’ adventures as told by Waid when I was a kid. The action is great, the characters are clearly-defined — as well as wonderfully drawn by Takara  — and the story was cute: there’s just not much here for adult readers. And I don’t mean that as a criticism. The wrap-up did seem a little rushed, though. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

Immortal Weapons #1
Main story: Jason Aaron (w), Mico Suayan with others (a), Edgar Delgado (c).
Backup story: Duane Swierczynksi (w), Travel Foreman (p), Stefano Gaudiano (i). Marvel Comics.

I haven’t been following Immortal Iron Fist since Matt Fraction left but the origins of Fat Cobra were too tempting to pass up. Aaron clearly had a lot of fun coming up with the hedonistic life of Fat Cobra. Probably the best example is the Michael Lark-drawn sequence of Fat Cobra and an unnamed female ninja getting it on with captions that explain their actions like “Nine Suns Nipple Clamp” and “Tantric Thunder Thrust.” It’s pretty funny — dark and sick funny at the end — so I’d have to recommend this title, but it’s definitely skippable, even if you’ve been following Iron Fist. The backup story by the main creative team doesn’t seem to be carrying the plot further, so don’t even worry about that; it seems to be a bit of enjoyable filler. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Nova #27
Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (w), Andrea Divito (a), Bruno Hang (c). Marvel Comics.

There are two perspectives in this comic, Nova flying in to an impossible situation looking for his brother, and then Robbie, that brother, unable to move lest the Superman type being Robbie has pinned down should escape and spell the end of Robbie. It’s a really tense situation, and I got a tingle when Nova finally arrives — but to all appearances too late. Ah, I hope Robbie will be okay next issue! — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4 out of 5

Resurrection #2
Main story: Marc Guggenheim (w), Justin Greenwood (a), Dan Jackson (c).
Backup story: Marc Guggenheim (w), Pat Bollin (a). Oni Press.

Yes. This is the second time I’ve reviewed Resurrection a week late. I was on vacation — alright? Anyway, this issue addressed my biggest complaint with the first issue: that too much happened. The first issue seemed to be all about killing off characters and moving the timeline ahead a year as quickly as possible. This issue smartly slows things down, gives the audience a chance to catch up, and introduces a few new characters. I can see why Guggenheim was in a hurry to get here, the story is in an interesting place. But you can’t help but admire a series like The Walking Dead where they’ve allowed a similar story to flow at a more natural pace. It also sucks that I have to keep making the Resurrection/Walking Dead comparison because they’re the only examples of long-running survivor fiction. Resurrection is a unique title worth your money. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Runaways #12
Kathryn Immonen (w), Sara Pichelli (a), Christina Strain (c). Marvel Comics.

Okay, I am liking what I’m seeing here with the new Runaways team, but I can’t help feeling that so far it’s all stuff we’ve seen before from these characters: the same old fights, the same old situations, the same old problems. That said, it’s a retread of my favourite periods of Runaways so it feels like the book I used to love so much. Immonen is still getting her feet wet and Pichelli’s art has some just fantastic moments. I still have the faith, still buying the book. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Sonic Universe #6
Ian Flynn (w), Tracy Yardley (p), Jim Amash (i), Jason Jensen (c). Archie Comics.
It’s a straightforward issue where a coup is upcoming and everyone has to get off their laurels and mix it up a bit. There’s some cool moments that defy convention, which is always cool, chiefly Sonic having an argument with his wife (so there’s no confusion, he isn’t generally married, this is a “possible future” tale) that isn’t really an argument, but just a sweet good bye. It’s the kind of interaction that Green Arrow and Black Canary should be having now. Simple, fun stuff. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Supergirl #43
Sterling Gates (w), Jamal Igle (p), Jon Sibal (i), DC Comics

I feel like I have a bit of a unique perspective on the Supergirl title. On the one hand, I read the book as a part of the Superman line (I also read Superman regularly and every so often check out the other two titles) so I know how it ties into the Superman mythos. On the other hand, my fiancée reads it out of her love of female heroines, and spending all this time on Krypton makes it a tougher read for her. So while I thought this issue did a great job of exploring her connection to her Kryptonian heritage, Anya (who still liked the issue) is waiting for Supergirl to spend more time on Earth. So, great issue, but maybe it’s time to leave the Krypton stuff to some of the other titles? – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Crossover Corner

How important is this issue to Blackest Night? Enjoy our special “crossover relevance” rating scale: Essential, A Pleasant Addition, Take it or Leave It, Adds Nothing or Completely Related

Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #2
Various (w), Various (a), DC Comics

I think that the distribution of the stories in these Tales of the Corps books are a little unbalanced. After all, the first issue had stories about an important Blue Lantern, Mongul and the unseen-until-now Indigo Lanters. This issue had…some Red Lantern we had barely seen, a more detailed version of events we already knew about (starring Carol Ferris) and a story about one of the Orange Lantern’s avatars. Hardly the stuff of legend. That point aside, I quite liked the stories. Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi are getting really good at these short sci-fi/horror stories and it shows. The stories are economical, fun and sometimes downright disturbing. Plus the art is top-notch. I just wonder if they could’ve been divided more evenly so that I wouldn’t feel like I paid four dollars for fun but ultimately unimportant back-story. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5
Owen’s crossover rating: Take it or Leave It

Green Lantern #44
Geoff Johns (w), Doug Mahnke (p), Christian Alamy, Doug Mahnke, Tom Nguyen, Rodney Ramos (i), Randy Mayor (c). DC Comics.

This is almost an issue of the Flash, but I’m definitely not complaining. An entire issue of Flash and Green Lantern squaring off against the Black Lantern Martian Manhunter? It’s completely awesome, but the heroes are in big trouble and they know it. The fact is, Manhunter has all the powers out there- he throws a building in this comic! I have no idea how the good guys will win out, but it’s early in the crossover still. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4 out of 5
Isaac’s crossover rating: Essential
Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5
Owen’s crossover rating: Essential