MONDOmagazine

Amazing Spider-Man #608
Marc Guggenheim (w), Marco Checchetto, Luke Ross and Rick Magyar (a), Fabio D’Auria (c). Marvel Comics.

Finally moving out of the debacle that was the last two issues, we have here a fine comic indeed. Weird that the first page of story, set in the past, has Ben Reilly meet up with Dr. Ryder (the soon to be villain) and it’s pretty hard to tell the two apart. Weird because Ben is already a clone of Peter Parker, so really that’s three people who are hard to tell apart. Otherwise the art is really cool, but I’m biased because of a cool pin up of the Scarlet Spider. Cool action, cool story, classic Spidey failing at detective work, and cool cliffhanger — go buy it! — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4 out of 5

Astonishing X-Men #31
Warren Ellis (w), Phil Jimenez (p), Andy Landing (i), Frank D’Armata (c). Marvel Comics.

I was looking forward to dropping this series until they announced that Phil Jimenez would be taking over. Apparently I’m a big enough fan of him to keep buying this series that I once loved with my whole heart. I have to learn that it’s not the same thing as it was for the first 24 issues. It’s Ellis’ book and he brings all the Ellis with him — which means uneven character development and lots of science talk. It’s hard to tell if I like this issue more than the last six because Ellis is writing it better or that I can stand to look at the art for more than 3 second. I think it’s both, but maybe it’s too early to tell. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating:  3.5 out of 5

Batman and Robin #5
Grant Morrison (w), Phillip Tan (p), Jonathan Glapion (i), Alex Sinclair (c). DC Comics.

So after reading the first issue with Phillip Tan’s art, I decided that Frank Quitely’s was better and wished for him to come back. After reading this issue, I still feel that same way. There are just too many instances where I’m left staring at a particular panel trying to figure out what angle Tan’s trying to get the image from.  I mean it’s not terrible, but it’s no Quitely. I’m still enjoying Morrison’s writing, but wish he was bringing out more of his weird, twisted storylines. Who names a villain who is equivalent to death, Flamingo? I think pink and one-legged standing animal when you tell me flamingo. I think Vegas when you say flamingo. But I suppose there is some humour in that name as well. Bottom line is, I will continue to pick this up despite the fact that I feel the art is sub-par because I like Morrison so much more.  – Sandra Yao

Sandra’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Batman Annual #27
Fabian Nicieza, Derek Fridolfs, Dustin Nguyen, Mandy McMuray (w), J. Calafiore, Dustin Nguyen, Kelley Jones (p), Mark McKenna, Dustin Nguyen, Kelley Jones (i), Nathan Eyring, Dustin Nguyen, Michelle Madsen (c). DC Comics.

Mostly this book is a plug for the new Azrael book, so we’re not off to a good start. I don’t like the new Azrael; I only liked the old Azrael half the time. I do like Batman though, so how about a full story about him? No? Thanks anyway. The story itself is okay at first, it’s a detective story, so Batman and Robin get all deductive on us and that’s always good. But then it shifts gears to the Azrael blood sacrifice/suit of sorrows stuff and I don’t care. Also, and I can’t quite put my finger on it exactly, but this voice isn’t the same as the Damien Wayne I’m always raving about. This kid sounds like the annoying character he was before. I guess it’s a difficult balance when writing him. The biggest problem is that this isn’t a self contained plug for Azrael — these guys want me to buy the Detective Comics Annual to finish off the story, and I’m pretty sure I won’t be doing that. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2.5 out of 5

Buffy the Vampire Slayer #29
Jane Espenson (w), Georges Jeanty (p), Andy Owens (i), Michelle Madsen (c). Dark Horse.

Every time a new issue of Buffy comes out I go and check the Whedonesque comment pool about the issue. I’m shocked how much these people are eating up this comic — especially this arc. These people are oblivious to how completely crappy this storyline has been: under explained events, characters doing things they just plain wouldn’t do, and wildly inconsistent art. I love Buffyverse more than most and I  have to be blunt: this is not up to the standards of the show. Not by a long, long, long shot. And that sucks. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 1.5 out of 5

Criminal: The Sinners #1
Ed Brubaker (w), Sean Phillips (a), Val Staples (c). ICON.

Yes, yes, yes! A million times yes! Get down on one knee and pump your arm in victory because Criminal is back and better than ever. Criminal’s last arc, “Bad Night,” was the good, but definitely the weakest of the Criminal stories so far. So I’m happy to see it back and kicking more ass than ever with my favourite character from the series, Tracy Lawless. The army deserter returns as the worst hitman in the world — not following orders and insisting on making sure the people deserve it before he whacks them — and it’s driving his boss nuts. If you don’t think that’s an amazing opening for a story than I don’t want to know you anymore. A totally fantastic story with great art from Sean Phillips, plus, amazing backup material, including an interview with Brubaker, Darwyn Cooke and Tom Spurgeon. It’s a great read where they talk a lot about Criminal and Cooke’s amazing adaptation of The Hunter. And, even though the solicitations say it, this is a great place to start if you’ve haven’t been picking up Criminal. You won’t regret it. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 5 out of 5

Daredevil #501
Andy Diggle (w), Roberto De La Torre (a), Matt Hollingsworth (c). Marvel Comics.

Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre have certainly taken Daredevil in a completely new direction. What really works in this case is the fact that they took what Brubaker and Lark left with them and ran. We’re getting what we were promised as readers, a new Daredevil that isn’t bogged down by his crumbling personal life, that doesn’t run and hide. Daredevil has taken the reigns of his life, albeit under the Hand’s watchful eye, but still has become so determined to achieve the purpose of making Hell’s Kitchen his own, and he’ll do anything that is asked of him. I like it. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say that I love it. As to ending of the issue, I liked how Diggle left it. I was left scrambling for alternate conclusions and he doesn’t discount them, but there also isn’t an obvious clue to tell us otherwise. Needless to say, I was left with my mouth wide open.  — Sandra Yao

Sandra’s Rating: 4 out 5

Dark Reign: The List – Secret Warriors #1
Jonathan Hickman (w), Ed McGuinness (p), Tom Palmer (i). Marvel Comics

Secret Warriors is not the kind of comic I get into. There’s too much military-talk, too many gritty characters and too many evil terrorist organizations. If this is not my kind of thing why am I still buying it? It’s that damn good. Every time I think I’ve had enough (due to the aforementioned elements that are not what I enjoy) an issue comes along that reminds me how great this comic is. This is one of those issues. This one-shot is a great piece of foreshadowing hinting at things (I imagine) are coming up in the main title, and rest assured I’ll be buying it to see what happens. Also, I don’t normally notice these things, but Chris Sotomayor’s colours were great. As was Nick Fury’s “to do” list. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4.5 out of 5
Miles’ rating: 4.5 out of 5

Ghost Riders: Heaven’s On Fire #3
Jason Aaron (w), Roland Boschi (a). Marvel Comics

After his amazing run on the title, I’m finding it hard not to be at least a little disappointed in Aaron’s Ghost Rider climax series. It’s fun and I’m enjoying it, but it doesn’t seem as epic as I would like. Still, this comic does have the most well-executed and visually interesting fight scene I read this week, so that certainly means something. I have faith that Aaron will get me back to the “Hell yeah” place I was with Ghost Rider a few months ago, I just hope it’s soon. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

Irredeemable #7
Mark Waid (w), Peter Krause (a), Andrew Dalhouse (c). Marvel Comics.

Now, we’re getting somewhere. After so many issues of piecing together flashback after flashback, there’s finally one that seems to actually reveal something significant. Waid keeps putting out issue after issue of character development for the Plutonian and I feel that this is where it has all paid off. I love the way Waid portrays a society that has taken their ultimate superhero for granted. I’d have to agree that at one point people would start to feel a sense of entitlement, but, in reality, to have a superhero watching the world is more of a privilege. But on the flip-side the abilities that one possesses as some like the Plutonian are ones that many of us comic book readers wish we had, but, as Waid reminds us, that sometimes even such gifts can be a curse. And who said you couldn’t learn anything from a comic book?  — Sandra Yao

Sandra’s Rating: 4 out of 5

Justice League: Cry For Justice #4
James Robinson (w), Mauro Cascioli (a). DC Comics.

I feel like whatever the intended purpose of this comic was it fell away from that about halfway through the first issue. Whatever purpose it has now, whatever it has accidentally morphed into, is starting to be kind of fun. Green Arrow punks Green Lantern and the Atom with a sonic arrow — always fun. And Supergirl is drooling over Captain Marvel/Shazam/Freddy Freeman (it’s embarrassing, but I’m not sure what he’s going by at the moment) and it’s semi-plausible that she would do so, which is cool, because Freddie has terrible luck with the ladies. Not that he’s ever had great luck; part of his origin does include getting his leg busted up by a super-villain that fell on him. The Shade shows up and asks for his coffee black. Awesome. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

Sonic the Hedgehog #205
Ian Flynn (w), Steven Butler (p), Terry Austin (i), Matt Herms (c). Archie Comics.

It’s a really goofy issue where the crazed Robotnik escapes and goes on a rampage. There’s a mini meme on the internet consisting of Robotnik clips from the old Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon which is referenced in this book, and that’s a nice wink to fans. It basically has the feel of an actual boss battle in an old school Sonic game, and that’s pretty refreshing to me. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Sweet Tooth #2
Jeff Lemire (w + a), Jose Villarrubia (c). Vertigo Comics.

If you tried issue one of this series and weren’t so keen on it, I urge you — beg you — to check out issue number two. I liked issue one, but wasn’t totally sold on the series. This, however, was fantastic from cover to cover. With his slower, establishing issue taken care of, Lemire sends Gus and his new companion into the deep end of the post-apocalypse. And, yes, you have room in your comic-buying budget for another post-apocalypse story. Why? Because none of the other post-apcalypse stories have a charming child deer mutant in them. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4.5 out of 5

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #3
Brian Michael Bendis (w), David Lafuente (a), Justin Ponsor (c). Marvel Comics.

So what was the answer to last issues cliffhanger about where Johnny Storm had been since all these series were rebooted? Well, he was in Europe, ladies and gentlemen. Awesome. I’m enthralled. So I finally like Ultimate Aunt May, historically she’s been a huge pain, but her knowing about Peter Parker’s swinging extra curricular has erased those old tensions. And Mary Jane is pretty cool too. You know whom I don’t care for? Peter Parker. I just hate his haircut so much. That said — if he were to grow it out and put it into a pony tail to be like Ultimate Uncle Ben, I’d rather like that. The actual Spider-Man stuff — swinging and fighting the never-ending battle — pretty good too. Needs less dialogue (okay, a lot less). — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Walt Disney’s Comics and Stories #699
Giorgio Salatiamy & Riccardo Sacchi (w), Ettore Gula, Roberto Migueli & Stefano Turconi (a). Boom Studios

The third longest-running title (that is still going) in comics history is now a Boom Studios title, and I for one am excited. It’s good goofy fun and does a great job of poking fun at 90s superhero comics (my favourite joke is the overuse of editorial captions). The art is a little different from the usual Disney comic style, but in a refreshing way that I enjoyed. While the style of story isn’t quite what I look for in my Disney comics it’s interesting enough that I’ll stick around to try out at least one more issue. After all, Marvel and DC aren’t the only companies that have their comics hitting milestone numbers. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

X-Men vs Agents of Atlas #1
Jeff Parker (w), Carlo Pagulayan (p), Jason Paz (i), Wil Quintana (c). Marvel Comics.

You know, this surpassed my expectations. One of my current Marvel faves, Agents of Atlas, is on the bubble on getting canceled. The book is on hiatus while the editorial team tries to build the book’s profile with a tried and true crossover. Hopefully it works because Agents of Atlas is a great, great book that needs readers to keep it going. So it’s a somewhat standard crossover of some miscommunication or under communication between heroes. You’ve seen it before but if you’re an X-Man fan you totally have to pick this up because it deals with an important forgotten element from the X-Men’s move to Utopia — what happened to Cerebra, that crazy-powerful mutant detector that surely lots of people what their hands on. So, come for the computer and stay for the Gorilla Man. He’s awesome. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5