MONDOmagazine

Amazing Spider-Man Family #7
Roger Stern, Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Fred Hembeck (w), Val Semeiks, Sal Buscema, Fred Hembeck (a), Mike Getty (i), Andres Mossa, Bruno Hang, Antonio Fabela (c). Marvel Comics.

Separated into three stories, the first is a sweet recollection of how Aunt May met Uncle Ben, as told within the context of current continuity. It’s good to see they haven’t forgotten about Nathan Lubensky. In general, it was okay but the art is a little odd, like drawing the age on Aunt May was an after-thought. Of course I’m here for the Spider-Girl story, which keeps an excellent pacing while balancing classic action and drama. And the final story has Petey (little Peter Parker) meet Brother Voodoo, I guess.  I don’t know much about those guys — but the issue does have Fancy Dan! He’s fancy! — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Batman: Streets of Gotham #1
Paul Dini, Marc Andreyko (w), Dustin Nguyen, Georges Jeanty (p), Derek Fridolfs, Karl Story (i), John Kalisz, Nick Filardi (c). DC Comics.

One panel has a subtle grappling hook fall on down as Harley Quinn hails a taxi, the next panel she’s yanked into the air by the strong arm of Batman a rooftop away. The drops of humour — this time more litterally — are ever present in Dini’s writing, and I’m glad that’s so. The thing with Dini is that even though he has certain favourite storylines and characters he wants to use (like Hush, for instance) he still clearly plays ball and introduces new adventures to have, shifting things to the backburner as necessary. Not a juggling act everyone can do. I have to complain about the one bad guy punching an imprint of his name (“Abuse”) into another man’s head — I saw the Mythbusters that said that was impossible. I’d actually prefer if the guy used a laser or something to leave his calling card. Why would I rather believe a thug has a sophisticated laser in his pocket instead of the ability to punch words into peoples heads? There’s clearly something wrong with me. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 4 out of 5
Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Brave and the Bold #24
Matt Wayne (w), Howard Porter (a), Tom Chu (c). DC Comics.

This comic was a mess- I think my brain just couldn’t handle the degree to which the Powers That Be are trying to sell me Static at the expense of Black Lightning — shouldn’t you finish selling me on Black Lightning first? I already like Static, I regularly watched his TV show. I read a comic, either Justice League or Outsiders, which said Black Lightning was using his civilian identity to ferret out info as a former member of the Luthor administration, while doing the super hero thing as Black Lightning. Cool, so it makes sense for Static to not like Jefferson Pierce (aka Black Lightning) when he comes to give a speech at his school except Static (and everyone?) already knows the guy is Black Lightning. So why doesn’t Static like him? And then, after totally doing all the work and saving the day, why does Static flip around at the end and call Black Lightning his hero? Any answer I can think of contradicts an answer for any of my other questions. A paradox is what this is. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 2 out of 5

Cable #15
Duane Swierczynski (w), Ariel Olivetti (a). Marvel Comics.

I really wished I had passed on this crossover. I could have saved 20 bucks and done one of a thousand other fun things. Instead I bought this slow paced, inconsequential snore-fest. This issue the characters continue to pass the helpless plot device around and don’t entertain me in doing so. Though I finally figured out what Swiercynski’s biggest problem is as a writer, besides his ultra-slow pacing: his writing has no pop. The dialogue isn’t bad, it’s reasonably smart. But everyone is the same level of smart and every other possible personality trait. They all read in a similar way. There is nothing, no turn of phrase or event, that surprises you. It’s just kinda medium. He’s for sure not Marvel’s worst writer, but I’m going to avoid his writing in the future. Hopefully, the final issue of this series amounts to something important happening with this messiah child Hope. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 1 out of 5

Captain America #600
Main story: Ed Brubaker (w); Butch Guice, Howard Chaykin, Rafael Albuquerque, David Aja, Mitch Breitwiser (a).
Back-up stories: Alex Ross, Paul Dini, Roger Stern (w); Kalman Andrasofszky, Dale Eaglesham (a). Marvel Comics.

This is a really impressive comic because it weaves in about a dozen important characters and is still somehow manageable. Of course, the lengthened page count helps that out significantly: this is the heaviest saddle-stitched comic I’ve ever bought. Almost every single thread that Brubaker has touched on during his run comes into play in this issue, with one helluva kicker into the next storyline. One under-appreciated part of this comic and Captain America in general is how good the action is. Brubaker writes visceral action and has some great partners in this issue to bring it to life. In this issue the Sharon fight and the Crossbones escape are two excellent pieces of violence. For 51 issues (plus a couple side stories) Brubaker has written a compelling action series and never loses steam. The back-up stories in this comic only strengthen my argument that Brubaker now owns these characters. The stories themselves are fine, they just don’t have Brubaker’s flare or tone, though Stern’s comes impressively close.

Miles’ rating: 4.5 out of 5

Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1

Fred Van Lente (w), Gianluca Gugliotta (p), Lanning and Justice (i), Pattison with Mossa (c). Marvel Comics.

I don’t know why Hammerhead doesn’t look like a Terminator anymore because that’s a look that really worked on him and would have helped spice up the visuals on the Mr. Negative side of the big fight in this issue. It’s a cool story of Mr. Negative telling the Hood to take a hike, like when the Secret Six book came out a couple of years ago and did the same thing to Lex Luthor. Anothr thing I liked, usually Spider-Man ends up getting tricked into helping one evil side or other so it’s  refreshing to see him “just” mind controlled for a change. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Dark Reign: Young Avengers #2
Paul Cornell (w), Mark Brooks (p), Mark Morales, Walden Wong & Dexter Vines (i), Marvel Comics

I can’t believe how awesome this book is. Sure, this issue isn’t quite as horrifying as last issue, but we learn some more about the new characters and there’s a brief fight with the (real) Young Avengers. Brooks’ art is nice and expressive and Cornell writes the Hell out of these creepy new characters. Seeing Coat Of Arms’ infatuation with Norman Osborne was uncomfortable as was Enchantress’ desperation to join the titular team. I’m so hooked that I don’t even care that it costs $3.99 (usually a deal-breaker for me). — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 4 out of 5

Final Crisis Aftermath: Dance #2
Joe Casey (w), Andre Coelho and Eduardo Pansica (p), Coelho and Sandro Ribeiro (i), Pete Pantazis (c). DC Comics.

The art is improved in this issue over last, and there’s more action here than before, but I didn’t really enjoy this issue as much as the previous. I think it just needs to amp up the spoiled insular thought processes of the Super Young Team, a notched up soap opera, like I’ve come to expect, and focus more on the mystery of “what happened to Japan during the crisis?” Of course, by focus I mean blindly stumble onto some excellent clue while clubbing or something. This team actively looking for clues is still a far ways away for their characters. I hope they get there, but not without a fair amount of time put in to gradually changing these guys realistically. After attacking an old hand at the super villain game (not someone I’ve ever heard of, Doctor Dread) the team chills out with him in his cave to chat about their lifestyles, I like that kind of thing. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3 out of 5

Green Arrow/Black Canary #21
Andrew Kreisberg (w), Mike Norton (p), Josef Rubinstein (i), DC Comics

I was hoping this would happen, Kreisberg totally stepped it up with this issue, taking advantage of the plot development he presented last issue. He does some great work with his characters, from Green Arrow and Cupid’s duelling narrations to Black Widow’s tragic Rogue-like flashbacks. The new villain poses some great story potential and Cupid has been a great monkey wrench thrown into the works. If Kreisberg keeps it up then maybe Green Arrow/Black Canary could be a good book for the first time since…um… — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

Herogasm #2 of 6
Garth Ennis (w), John McCrea & Keith Burns (a), Tony Aviña (c). Dynamite Entertainment.

Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly anymore nudity…BAM! There’s a naked superhero flying on the first page. The sheer amount of skin hasn’t ceased to amaze me as of yet, but what captures me more is that fact that Ennis has managed to not only increase the nudity, but also steam up the plot. His twisted mind works in some very special ways, especially when it comes to supes’ drugs of choice. It seems as though this spin-off is a sort of explanation of events before issue #31 of the main title, The Boys.  The issue is filled with superheroes and humans alike, abusing the powers and scheming up plans in order to get what they want. They’re essentially why groups like The Boys exist, who, speaking of which, finally do make an appearance at the end of the issue. — Sandra Yao

Sandra’s rating: 4 out of 5

Incognito #4
Ed Brubaker (w), Sean Phillips (a), Val Staples (c). Marvel Comics.

I’ve been waiting for this issue for what seems like eons. Zack Overkill is in the pits and it’s really his own fault. Ed Brubaker has always been great at putting his characters in some very precarious situations, but most of it — if not all of  it — was their own doing. It’s also hard to not feel for Zack as he lives in the world where the lines between good and evil are very blurred, where it’s hard to look out for anyone but yourself. Yes, he does whine a lot, but it’s pretty justified. My only real problem with this current series is how much it reminds me of my love of a previous Brubaker/Phillips collaboration, Criminal. It’s a problem because I keep feeling that this isn’t hitting the same magical notes that their previous collaboration was. It just seems like it wants to get there, but it’s just missing by that little bit. I don’t like feeling that way. It’s like I’m cheating on Criminal. Regardless, I still look forward to our next encounter and hopefully I won’t leave me feeling so dirty anymore.

Sandra’s rating: 3.75 out of 5
Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5

The Invincible Iron Man #14
Matt Fraction (w), Salvador Larroca (a), Marvel Comics

This storyline is long. Wow. It’s still good, don’t get me wrong, but with quieter issues like this I sometimes think to myself “we’re seven months into this plot with no end in sight.” Still, it’s a testament to Fraction’s writing skills that I’m not bored of this book. There’s some great stuff here with Crimson Dynamo (they’re friends? I didn’t know that) and Pepper. Not a stand-out issue but I a good one. Oh, but what was with that Black Widow thong-shot? That was completely gratuitous.  — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

Jack of Fables #35
Bill Willingham & Matthew Sturges (w), Russ Braun (p), José Marzan Jr. (i), Vertigo Comics

Is it over yet? I just don’t care anymore. Objectively, this issue was totally badass and awesome, but I can’t muster up any enthusiasm for this storyline. I was excited for it before it started, but after five or six issues of tedious “antics” that felt quite out of place for Fables I stopped caring. This whole crossover would’ve been great storyline in Jack of Fables, it could have been shorter and there’s no reason that Bigby couldn’t have made a guest appearance. But nine issues of this? Ugh, maybe it’ll read better in the trade, which is going to be a volume of Fables rather than a volume of Jack of Fables; I can only imagine to punish those who don’t read the Jack series, because it’ll confuse the Hell out of them. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2.5 out of 5

The Mighty Avengers #26
Dan Slott (w), Stephen Segovia and Noah Salonga (p), Paco Diaz and Harvey Tolibao (i), Jean-Francois Beaulieu and June Chung (c). Marvel Comics.

I had a hard time rating this issue. On one hand, there’s a moment on the second last page where most of the Mighty Avengers jump to an illogical conclusion for no good reason. There was a missing step in the logic there and that really bugs me. However, Slott is usually so good about characters acting like unique people and heroes that I want to gloss over the bad. What I love about Slott is that he clearly loves these characters but isn’t afraid to put them to the test or through the wringer. Nor is he afraid to make his comics fun. Mighty Avengers might not be the best title Marvel publishes, but it’s certainly one of the more fun ones. In this issue the Mighty Avengers take on the Fantastic Four, not for the purpose of hurting them: it’s a heist story. Reed Richards has something Hank Pym needs and Pym is going to take it if he has to (also to prove which one of these elongating men has the bigger…. brain). So, it’s a fun romp with some great character moments. However, I am going to dock some marks for that one large logic gap and art that I’m not into. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 3 out of 5
Owen’s rating: 3 out of 5

Mysterius The Unfathomable #6
Jeff Parker (w), Tom Fowler (a), Dave McCaig (c). Wildstorm.

And so ends Parker and Fowler’s excellent series about a charming jerk magician and his plucky assistant. In full disclosure, I was a little let down by this issue. It felt like Parker had written himself into a corner and didn’t know how to get out so a few too-lucky plot developments occur. But, really, fuck me. This was a great series with incredible art and hilarious characters. I really hope Mysterius and Delfi are back soon for more wacky, magical adventures. There’s so much potential in this concept. Please pick up the trade when it comes out. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5

Power Girl #2
Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray (w), Amanda Conner (a), DC Comics

I really don’t think that it was a good idea to launch this series with an Ultra-humanite story. Usually you want to start off with something new-reader-friendly and Ultra-humanite is anything but. I want to like this series. After all, Amanda Conner is one of my favourite artists working today but this storyline is unfortunate. Pages explaining the science of transferring the monkey-man’s brain into Power Girl’s body are tedious and a flashback to a woman sleeping with a gorilla is creepy. I’m hoping that this story is just a misfire and the book will get better — more of what we saw in that great Terra miniseries (guest starring Power Girl) and less of this, please. Great work on the art, though, as expected. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2.5 out of 5

Resurrection #1
Marc Guggenheim (w), Justin Greenwood (a). Oni Press.

Note: This was actually released last week, but I figure Oni could use press on something that isn’t Scott Pilgrim for once.

I asked my retailer what I was missing out on last week and he suggested this book. It’s like The Walking Dead meets Road Warrior he accurately told me. This issue picks up after a previous mini-series that I didn’t read, which probably puts me at a disadvantage and is why Oni is selling the first trade for something like 7 bucks. This issue moves at a lightning pace. It’s like two trades of The Walking Dead in 22 pages. The pace is refreshing, but I hope the next issue takes some time to explore the time jumps that occur in this issue. It seems like there’s a lot of interesting stuff that wasn’t shown in this issue that I’d like to see. A second read through is required on this book to really get what happens. Not that the events are confusing, but that there is a lot of subtlety that will be missed on a quick read through. I liked the first issue of Resurrection and I’ll go back and pick up the first trade.

Miles’ rating: 3.5 out of 5

Starman Omnibus: Volume 3
James Robinson (w), Tony Harris and others (p), Wade von Grawbadger and others (i), DC Comics

Yes, yes. Owen loves Starman. This volume continues the streak of greatness with some great stories featuring other Starmen, a beautiful annual spotlighting romance in the book and a trip inside Solomon Grundy’s mind (amongst other stuff). Plus, for the first time Robinson’s amazing miniseries spotlighting The Shade is collected. This miniseries is a must for Starman completists, as is reading Robinson’s great “afterword”s (continued in this volume). This is great stuff here, and I can’t recommend this series enough, especially in the omnibus format. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 5 out of 5

Supergirl #42
Sterling Gates (w), Jamal Igle (p), Jon Sibal (i), DC Comics

Hey, you know what Owen loves? Emotional fallout. Even better is devoting a whole issue to it. After the “holy shit” events of last issue Sterling Gates has the good sense to take his time and deal with what this will mean for his characters. Oh, sure, there’s still some action (in a sense), but most of the issue is spent showing how characters are reacting to everything that has happened. Not only that, but there is some set-up for stories to come and Jamal Igle is back on pencils. Not too shabby, Supergirl.  - Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

Ultimatum: Spider-Man Requiem #1
Brian Michael Bendis (w), Mark Bagley, Stuart Immonen (p), Scott Hanna, Wade von Grawbadger (i), Pete Pantazis, Justin Ponsor, Edgar Delgado (c). Marvel Comics.

Good to see Bagley doing some Spider-Man stuff again, I sometimes forget just how good he can be. It’s an interesting premise: Jonah Jameson feels guilty for painting Spidey as a menace, a past adventure is recalled to get him to feel even more like a heel, and then the pressure really kicks in when he discovers he’s essentially writing Spider-Man’s obituary. Though understated, it’s a pretty cool cliffhanger and I’ll definitely want to see what Jonah does next issue. — Isaac Mills

Isaac’s rating: 3.5 out of 5

X-Men Legacy #225
Mike Carey (w), Phil Briones (a), Brian Reber (c). Marvel Comics.

This issue sees the end of Charles Xavier’s journey in X-Men Legacy. I’ve really enjoyed the direction and the close focus on Xavier, as well as the incredibly detailed journey through X-Men continuity. It was never a series for everyone, but a real delight for those who are well-versed in X-lore. In this issue, Xavier travels to see Exodus, current leader of the mutant group the Acolytes, to (a) prove that he’s totally bad ass and (b) argue that they’ve both fucked up as leaders but they don’t need to keep fucking up. It serves well as the end of Xavier’s current journey and a nice kicker into his next one. Briones’ art starts strong but looks seriously rushed by the end of the issue. Lopsided faces abound in the last few pages, which is a bit of a disappointment. If you’re an X-fan who skipped X-Men Legacy I highly recommend picking up this issue: it doesn’t really reference the last year of the title and showcases the kind of person Xavier is now going into Dark X-Men. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 4 out of 5

X-Men Origins: Gambit #1
Mike Carey (w), David Yardin & Ibraim Roberson (a), Marvel Comics

My deepest, darkest secret as a reader of superhero comics: I am a Gambit fan. Maybe it’s due to the fact that I wasn’t reading comics in the 90s, when I gather he was at his most irritating, or maybe it’s because I grew up on the X-Men animated series — I just think he’s fun. That aside, how was X-Men Origins: Gambit? Fine, I guess. I can’t imagine that newcomers to comics who were intrigued by his appearance in the Wolverine movie would get much out of this (they don’t really explain the “Morlock Massacre”), and for readers who are already fans pretty much all of this is recap. Carey does some nice work explaining Gambit’s motives and his slightly confusing side-switching, but the art was stiff at times (especially during the wedding scene) and I didn’t find much that was new here. — Owen Craig

Owen’s rating: 2 out of 5

Young Liars #16
David Lapham (w + a), Lee Loughridge (c). Vertigo.

This might be the best issue of Young Liars, which is a shame because it’s the third-last issue of the series. This issue focuses on Donald, the brother of one of the incidental characters in Young Liars. So while it might seem like a detour in the story, there really isn’t a main road in Young Liars so it doesn’t matter. Donald is a lovable loser. My hat is off to Lapham’s writing because Donald is a nuanced character with an exceptionally unique voice and he pulls it off in a couple pages. Donald struggles with the ups and downs of life with his unique, positive perspective and his own prudish faults. The best example is this scene on page three, just after Donald attends a funeral: “I saw my first pair of boobies that same day. An Indian girl that Margaret Bowman used to tutor. I felt kinda ashamed to see my first pair at a funeral, but it was great, too.” He’s just a charming loser. And the ending of the issue is just fantastic. It’s a great comedic sucker punch in excellent juxtaposition to the story and visual. Brilliant. Totally my pick of the week. — Miles Baker

Miles’ rating: 5 out of 5