MONDOmagazine

Amazing Spider-Man #616
Fred Van Lente (w), Javier Pulido (a), Marvel Comics

Not as great an issue as the previous, it basically just ties everything up from what happened before. I shouldn’t be shocked, it’s a two parter, but the last issue felt so much more full. There’s a great line where Spidey betrays the trust of a little girl- it’s hilarious, trust me. Spider-Man was in a pretty good mood last issue, but that was before all the sadness and disillusionment that shows up here. Spidey says “Whoop!” when he gets surprised, and as someone who thinks that’s funny, approves. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4 out of 5

Blackest Night: JSA #1
James Robinson (w), Eddy Barrows, Marcos Marz (p), Julio Ferreira, Luciana Del Negro, Ruy Jose (i), DC Comics

For the most part, I’m impressed with Barrows art here, it GENERALLY avoids his crazy wormy lips he’s so fond of drawing. The panels that tell the back story of some of the soon to arrive Black Lanterns (Sandman, Dr. Midnight, and Mr. Terrific) are fantastic- probably drawn by Marz. I have to play continuity cop here: why are Superman of Earth 2 and the Psycho Pirate, two Black Lantern guys, wearing their regular costumes? Maybe I’m missing something. But who cares about that- Powergirl calls that Superman her uncle immediately after calling him her cousin. That hurts me. They’re cousins, F.Y.I. -Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5
Crossover rating: Take it or leave it

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Willow
Joss Whedon (w), Karl Moline (p), Andy Owens (i), Dark Horse Comics

Well, this is the best issue of Buffy I can remember and it’s still not that great. But I’m also being a little hard on this. For long-time Buffy fans there are some great Willow moments. Moments where you remember why she was such a great character. And since it’s set before “Season Eight” starts it doesn’t have the terrible stink of the most recent magic-related events on it. But, here’s a big problem, The Buffyverse never really explained magic very well. In all seven seasons magic was a tool, but the rules of it depended entirely on the episode. And that worked, but now they’re getting into gods and goddesses and intertwined god-plots and there needs to be some explanation of who all these new characters are and what they can and can’t do and what exactly makes them “gods” rather than just other demons that Buffy can fight. I’m pretty frustrated with the whole Buffy comics at the moment, so I’ll leave it at that — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Captain America: Who Wields the Shield #1
Ed Brubaker (w), Butch Guice and Luke Ross (a), Marvel Comics

So here’s the thing: overall I loved this issue. It felt like a welcome return to the things that made me fall in love with Brubaker’s Captain America in the first place. The art felt more expressive than Hitch’s hyper-polished work, it had a moody feel that built on the thoughtful nature of Brubaker’s script. Plus, the snowscapes were beautiful to look at. The character work that Brubaker did with this issue hearkens back to the title’s glory days and was a blast to read. So what was my problem with the issue? The ending left me completely cold. In fact, it’s the same leaving-me-cold ending that annoyed me in New Avengers Annual #3 and Dark Avengers Annual #1. I call it the “something’s going to happen but we can’t tell you what” ending. Maybe it worked for me the first time I read it, Marvel, but three times in a month is too much. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

Criminal: The Sinners #3
Ed Brubaker (w), Sean Phillips (a), Icon

Holy crap just buy this book. It’s so goddamn good. Tracy Lawless is such a great character and I love stories where a guy has to play detective even though it’s not his usual skill set. And this is a totally great cliffhanger. Buy this, and Criminal: Lawless. Just dooooo it. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4.5 out of 5

Detective Comics #860
Greg Rucka (w), J.H. Williams III (a), DC Comics

Why does life have to be so cruel sometimes? On the same day that I read the seventh straight amazing issue of Detective Comics by Rucka and Williams I see that Rucka (via Twitter) is saying that this is his last issue with Williams and Detective Comics. He’s being coy, maybe it means they are going to make this its own series. I hope so, because this is one fantastic run and I don’t want to see it end. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 5 out of 5

Fantastic Four #574
Jonathan Hickman (w), Neil Edwards (p), Andrew Currie (i), Marvel Comics

In my Captain America review I talked about a teaser ending that didn’t work for me, on the flip side of things here is one that works beautifully. It’s engaging, it hints at things we DIDN’T know and it reveals JUST enough so that I can’t wait to read more. Pick up this book if you want to know how it’s done. Leaving the ending aside, though, this is a fun comic. There’s great humour with Franklin’s birthday party (including a great Spider-Man cameo that plays into Spidey and Johnny Storm’s rivalry. Unfortunately Dale Eaglesham is still on break, and Edwards’ work is a little rougher, but it doesn’t detract from the book too much. In fact, I think Edwards shows a lot of promise. So, yeah, after a pretty rough last issue I’m happy to say that this book is back on track…with a vengeance. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Green Lantern #49
Geoff Johns (w), Ed Benes & Marcos Marz (p), Ed Benes & Luciano Del Negro (i), DC Comics

Ed Benes? Why, DC, why? Maybe this could have been a more interesting, introspective comic, but with Ed Benes on pencils it feels like an issue of John Stewart standing around in pin-up poses while we’re being told how he’s supposed to be feeling. I get it, he’s a “soldier with a chip on his shoulder”, can we move on to a less irritating issue, please? It’s not moving when the artist doesn’t even attempt coax a decent performance from his characters. Pretty cool backup drawn by Jerry Ordway, though. – Owen Craig.

Owen’s rating: 2 out of 5
Crossover rating: Don’t bother

Incredible Hercules #139
Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, Jeff Parker (w), Rodney Buchemi, Reilly Brown, Gabriel Hardman (a), Marvel Comics

There are a lot of guest stars in this comic that I feel should have gotten less screen time. Nothing wrong with their role, fun segments all, but they took precious screen time away from Hercules and Amadeus, our heroes. The result is an oddly-paced issue. The Agents of Atlas backup probably didn’t help matters; though said backup was pretty excellent too. However they tried to do a play on Jason and the Argonauts for their title which is grating on me even as we speak. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

New Avengers #60
Brian Michael Bendis (w), Stuart Immonen (p), Wade Von Grawbadger (i), Marvel Comics

Call it nostalgia (New Avengers was one of the first comics I started buying on a monthly basis), but I can’t seem to stop buying this title no matter how mediocre it is. I swear, everything post-Civil War seems to blur together into two stories: the Avengers fighting ninjas and the Avengers fighting The Hood. Seriously, how many issues are about those things? This is another issue that just sorta feels like nothing to me, but it is saved by one awesome scene where the Avengers take their revenge on Norman. Still, though, I really hope that Siege kicks this title in the ass and makes it exciting again. – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

Northlanders #23
Brian Wood (w), Leandro Fernandez (a), Vertigo Comics

I was so right to stick with this series. Every issue Wood delivers a satisfying tale. This is a chapter, an episode, and reads fantastic as an issue rather than in trade. This one focuses on a bunch of ships approaching the plague-ridden town with disastrous consequences for everyone. Also, this arc makes you feel better about our icy Canadian winters. It may be cold, but at least we don’t have black death. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4.5 out of 5

Punisher #12
Rick Remender (w), Tony Moore (a), Marvel Comics

A steampunk monster story starring The Punisher. And it’s in continuity. I’ll admit, I didn’t see it coming. The thing is, it’s also really good. Rick Remender is a good writer (and I haven’t even read what is supposed to be his best work, look out Fear Agent, here I come) and Tony Moore is one of my favourite artists, so it’s no surprise that it’s a blast to read. What I’m still not sure of is how well it will play out. Will it be a satisfying read once it’s all over? How will they bring back The Punisher once this “Frankencastle” arc is over? Well, one thing is for sure, I’m having a blast reading it in the meantime. Did I mention that Tony Moore kicks ass? – Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Sonic Universe #11
Ian Flynn (w), Tracy Yardley (p), Jim Amash (i), Archie Comics

A lot of really fun guest stars in this issue, which is good; it takes us away from the main characters odd portrayal. He’s an angry guy, but it comes and goes? Really fast? It’s weird. I just love the peacenik “Guru Emu”, he just sits down and lets himself be captured- he’s going to do something amazing next issue! It’s possible! – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2.5 out of 5

World’s Finest #3
Sterling Gates (w), Jamal Igle (p), Jon Sibal, Jack Purcell (i), DC Comics

I really like the Phil Noto cover, just throwing that out there. It’s weird though that the powers that be felt the need to pull the old switcheroo on us- the cover implies (to me anyways) that this’ll be a Supergirl/Catwoman team-up, but it’s actually Supergirl/Batgirl. I guess more people will buy it if they think it stars Catwoman? The interior art is good too, by the way. One or two goofy faces show up, but they’re just flukes from an otherwise really talented guy. The story itself is pretty ridiculous; they keep glancing over particulars of the caper that the good guys have to bust up, and by not doing so it’s like admitting that any variety of MacGuffin could fit here. It’s details like that which make or break a story (apparently) – plus there are some jokes that just aren’t funny. Supergirl calls this one little robot toyboy “Pinocchio” like that’s an insult, which is fine, but then calls him “Pinocchio” again in the very next panel- it’s like when you say a joke, no one responds, so you say it again, because maybe nobody heard you. Well, turns out, no one responded because it wasn’t funny. – Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

X-Men Legacy #231
Mike Carey (w), Clay Mann (p), Danny Miki with Allen Martinez & Walden Wong (i). Marvel Comics.

This issue is a bit more continuity-driven than the last arc, but don’t let that scare you off too much. It’s also part of the “Necrosha X” crossover, but don’t let that scare you off either. It’s mostly just the set up so that Rogue and Blindfold can have an adventure that addresses both of their origins. However, Cyclops sends a team of heavy real heavy hitters to investigate this hunch. Like, He sends Nightcrawler, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke and Rogue (and Husk and Trance, but those aren’t heavy hitters) out on a hunch when Utopia is being attacked. Like, maybe keep around four of your most powerful members? They’ll probably come in handy. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5