Uncanny X-Men

Uncanny X-Men 146, 150, 154-157, 160, 161

Dave Cockrum is a legend and everything, but the transition from him to John Byrne is far less jarring than the other way around - He’s back as the regular penciller in these issues, and I couldn’t help but wonder how much better they would have been if Byrne hadn’t moved on to Fantastic Four.  

As it is, these issues are fine.  Tons of Shi’ar intrigue that I don’t find all that interesting.  Issue 160 is where Illyana Rasputin ages seven years, starting all the Magik drama in her life.  (And “body and soul” sighting number five.)  I’m really waiting for the Paul Smith run to start, that’s when the nostalgia’s really going to kick in for me.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Wolverine, X-Club, Uncanny X-Men

Returning to my X-Men collection for a while.  Since I read Teen Titans, I’ve been hankering for the far superior team book…

Wolverine 20-31

Mark Millar’s run on the title w/ John Romita Jr.  It’s a great example of mindless comic book action at its best.  Brainwashed Wolverine wreaks havoc upon the Marvel heroes, followed by recovered Wolverine raining retribution upon the Hand.  Totally worth the seventeen bucks I paid for the hardcover at the used book store.

It may be a Wolverine comic, but this shot of Cap is my favorite image from it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

X-Club 1-5

Steve Spurrier and Paul Davidson tell an adventure of the scientist members of the X-Men.  This was a lot funnier the first time around; Spurrier’s sarcastic Ellis-like brand of quippy humor just doesn’t land as well on the re-read.  Still, it’s a interesting change of pace from the usual mutant fare.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Giant-Size X-Men 1

Uncanny X-Men 94-119

Here we go, the flagship title for the X-Men and my first great comic love.  I don’t know how to explain the emotional connection I have with the Chris Claremont era of this title, but it runs deep and long.  I have these issues in the Essential X-Men trade, so in black and white.  It definitely doesn’t read as well as it would in color, even though the brilliance of the John Byrne art still shines through.  But with the Dave Cockrum issues, I found myself reading the words a lot more than looking at the art, as good as it is.     

So many classic covers from this era, starting with this one.

Heh, classic good guy v good guy cover.

This panel reads amazing, even in black and white.  Amazing Cockrum work.

This double page splash is bursting with energy.

This era has so many signature covers.

Heh, drooping Wolverine ears.

One of the best X-Men team covers ever.  (Art Adams)

John Byrne's art, with Terry Austin inks, are so frickin' clean.  It's gorgeous.

Byrne's Storm may be my favorite Ororo.

Classic look.

Lascivious, but quite effective on middle school me.

Colossus is totally suffering from the Worf effect.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice for Cockrum issues, Pretty good for Byrne’s

Uncanny X-Men 129-137

The Dark Phoenix Saga.  Even now, just hearing that sends shivers down my spine.  This is so very very good, Claremont and Byrne at their absolute best.  With both this and the previous issues, it’s stunning just how much of it is still regarded as essential to the X-Men canon.  This is where the accepted personalities of Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and countless others are established for all time.  And of course, the Phoenix Force continues to drive X-stories even forty years later.  

Kitty's first appearance, and her first meeting with Emma Frost...

...which will lead to decades of snark and verbal repartee.

One of the classic Claremontisms.  I counted four instances over the span of five issues.

Mastermind totally deserves this punishment, body and soul.

Arguably the most iconic Wolverine image ever.

On the reread, I'm particularly impressed by the fight sequences.

Everyone gets their own showcase and chance to shine.

The sequences are a master class in clear, exciting storytelling

Excellent use of rain to accentuate the mood.

Nowadays, I'd yawn at this kind of heel turn

But back then, it really felt like a huge deal.  Things were less cynical.

I've always loved Claremont's narration over Scott and Jean's last stand.  He manages to convey the operatic tragedy of the moment, the loss of what might have been, the magical moments lost, and the heroism on display.  Reading it always fills me with melancholy:

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

New Comics, Powers

Two weeks of new comics to cover!

Die 14

This is usually the last comic in my buy pile that I read every time it comes out.  Not because I’m saving it for last, but because I’m not that enthused about it.  This month, same thing.  It’s still good, but I wonder if I should wait for the trade for the next arc.  

Rorschach 1

Typical Tom King - Too early to tell what’s going on, but I’m totally in.  

Seven Secrets 3

DCeased: Dead Planet 4

I’m enjoying these so much.  Tom Taylor is on such a roll right now in the comics world.  Strongly tempted to start looking for his past stuff.  

Captain Marvel 22

Lee Garbett!  Kelly Thompson’s alternate future is interesting enough, and more than enough to showcase Garbett’s art, which is really all I’m here for.

Strange Adventures 6

King already did the endless slog of war montage in Mister Miracle.  Not that it’s any less effective here, but I’m surprised to see a writer of his caliber reuse a bit so soon.

Getting it Together 1

This slice of life comic got some good early press, so I gave it a shot.  Eh.  It’s fine, but forgettable.  

Fire Power 4

So far, the regular series hasn’t been as good as the original prequel graphic novel.  To be fair, it hasn’t finished the initial arc yet, but I’m still a little worried.  Not that it’s bad, but it’s not standing out from the crowd.  

Powers vol 1 1-37

Powers Annual 2001 1

Powers vol 2 1-30

Powers Annual 2008 1

Powers vol 3 1

I’ve bitched in the past about how people like Phil Jimenez are way too wordy and boring with their writing.  Brian Michael Bendis’ scripts are just as dense, but they are some of the smoothest, easiest to read comics I’ve ever had the pleasure of consuming.  When he’s on top of his game, Bendis writes top-notch can’t-put-down leaves-me-breathless works of art.  Powers is one of those works.

And yet, this run gets nothing higher than a Good rating.  As captivating as the plots and dialogs are, this is the first time I’ve reread this series; I’ve never had the inclination to return to it after the initial release.  It’s one of those masterpieces that doesn’t speak to me emotionally.  It’s why, even though I was tempted, I haven’t picked up the remaining trades to this series after voraciously tearing through it in a week. (I got as far as the checkout page.)

I’d happily read it again if it was placed in front of me, but I may never actively seek it out again.  Which actually makes me rethink my “Would buy again,” which I had set to a no-brainer “Yes.”  Would I really buy it again?

Sigh.  Just as a matter of craft, I probably would.  It’s so well done.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good.  (It dips to Pretty Good in the middle somewhere, Deena really becomes unlikable while she’s hiding her powers and killing people left and right.)

And that’s it for a short Powers box.  (It’s sharing space with DC Box 8.)  

Powers box summary

Time spent reading: 6 hours, 18 minutes

Issues read: 70

Issues cut: 0

Highlights (Good or better): All of it, except for a short stretch in the middle.

Project Summary:

Time spent reading: 30 days, 8 hours, 18 minutes

Issues read: 6241

Issues cut: 815

World's Finest, Young Justice, Zatanna

World’s Finest 1-3

The New 52 reboot, with Huntress and Power Girl from Earth 2.  I don’t know why I bought this, my original intentions are as forgettable as the plot.  Even the George Perez and Kevin Maguire art can’t save this.

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Boring (Cut)

Young Justice 1-3

The Brian Michael Bendis reboot for the Wonder Comics imprint.  This should have been a home run, stacked with awesome DC characters and a great writer.  Instead, it’s surprisingly boring - Gemworld is a non-starter for me, and the chemistry between characters doesn’t click.  Keeping it around because there’s a chance it’ll grow on me at some point in the future.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Boring

Zatanna 1-6

There was a period of time where I kept buying stuff written by Paul Dini.  My thinking was that the guy who created the Batman Animated Series has to be worth a look on whatever he does, right?

Not so much, I’ve been unimpressed with Gotham City Sirens and now this.  Though to be fair to Dini, I have yet to see any kind of evidence that Zatanna can headline her own title.  I couldn’t tell you anything about her personality or character, and I loathe deciphering her backwards spells.  It grinds the reading experience to a halt and rips me out of the flow.  (Kind of like reading Etrigan’s rhymes.)  An easy cut for me.

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Boring (Cut)

And that’s it for a short DC Box 8, I’ve reached the end of the alphabet for this publisher.  

DC Box 8 summary

Time spent reading: 4 hours, 41 minutes

Issues read: 44

Issues cut: 13

Highlights (Good or better): Legend of Wonder Woman

Project Summary:

Time spent reading: 30 days, 2 hours, 0 minutes

Issues read: 6171

Issues cut: 815

Wonder Woman

One new comic!

Shang-Chi 1

Just what I was looking for - Humble Shang-Chi, working at a Chinese bakery (pineapple buns!), is pulled into intrigue of his father’s making.  I’m looking forward to this.  

Today I review all the Wonder Woman in my collection.

Legend of Wonder Woman

My original review still stands.  This is lovely, lovely work.  However, it also has the hallmarks of every other Wonder Woman comic I’m going to review: Writers seem to best succeed when telling stories about Diana as a character - Her growth during her youth, her interpersonal relationships, her inner conflicts.  I have yet to read a comic starring Wonder Woman that’s given me an external adversary that’s fun to read about.  Even here, she ends up punching a giant cosmic creature with no nuance.  

It’s all right though, every other aspect of this comic is spectacular.  Again, it’s a pity that Renae De Liz and Ray Dillon probably won’t be working at DC again.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Wonder Woman 86

An early comic in my collection, the only reason it’s still around.  The art by Jeff Parker is stunningly bad.    

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Stupid

Wonder Woman 0, 90-100

The Mike Deodato/William Messner-Loebs run.  To be perfectly clear, high school me bought this because Mike Deodato draws an absolutely gorgeous Diana.  

What a great way to start a run.

I love his facial expressions.

As stated w/ Legend of Wonder Woman, Messner-Loebs does a nice job when writing about Diana’s own struggles.  (In this case, another Contest that strips her of the Wonder Woman mantle and bestows it upon Artemis.)  It gets pretty boring after he moves from that and starts going on about a rival gang war in Boston.  (Completely below WW’s pay grade, even when the demons show up.)    

Messner-Loebs appears to have a torture fetish that’s uncomfortable to read.  Artemis getting beaten to death is hard to watch.  It’ll show up again in Artemis: Requiem.

There's something pornographic about this that's ick.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice through issue 93, Fine after that.  

Artemis: Requiem 1-2

Apparently Artemis was popular enough for DC to resurrect her.  Deodato’s studiomate Ed Benes draws this Messner-Loebs spin-off, and his inexperience shows.  At this point, drawing hot women is clearly his priority, instead of properly placed facial features.

Don't think he's meant to have a lazy eye.

Seriously??

Again with the torture.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Wonder Woman 164, 165, 170, 174, 175

A random selection of Phil Jimenez’s time on the title.  It’s as wordy as his work on Tempest, and just as tedious.  I don’t care if he’s the second incarnation of George Perez, I’ll never read these again.  

Perez.  What a level of detail.

Jimenez, a worthy successor

Perez could hardly do better.

The exception comes with issue 170, where Lois Lane tags along with Diana for a “Day in the life of” article.  This issue is pure character exploration, and the one time where all of Lois’ inner monologuing is justified and interesting to read.  This one I’m keeping.

Not quite how I'd imagine Diana, but I appreciate the verbal imagery.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No (Yes for 170)

Would read again: No (Yes for 170)

Rating: Boring (Nice for 170)

Wonder Woman 1-5, 7, 8

I bought this for the Cliff Chiang art, I left because of the Brian Azzarello writing.  It’s strangely inert.  And by the way, why is it that every writer needs to rewrite Diana’s origin just enough for it to be annoying?  That never happens with Superman or Batman; Superman is always the last son of Krypton, raised by the Kents in Smallville, and based in Metropolis.  Bruce Wayne’s parents are always murdered and he’s the grim Dark Knight of Gotham. 

But Diana?  Her relationship with Hippolyta is always different - Sometimes they get along, sometimes they’re antagonistic.  Sometimes she’s given life by Gaea, sometimes Zeus, sometimes she’s actually the daughter of Zeus.  How can there still be total inconsistency w/ Hipployta’s hair??  Wonder Woman has no defined base of operations, either.  

That Diana is still such a nebulous character in the cultural consciousness probably has a lot to do with the equally fuzzy stories I’ve been reading.  

Man, do I love Chiang's art.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine (Would be lower if not for the art.) 

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Wonder Woman 76

The only issue that Lee Garbett did, my initial thoughts still stand.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Wonder Woman 759-761

Garbett I get - that was just a fill in issue.  But how can Mikel Janin drop out after just two issues??  A disappointment for a series I was looking forward to reading.  I would have gutted out the presence of Maxwell Lord if Janin had stayed on.  Go here if you want to see his pretty art.  If you want better Mariko Tamaki writing, go read her splendid Supergirl miniseries.  

Regret buying: No (Yes for 761)

Would buy again: Yes (No for 761)

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good (Fine for 761)