Dini/Ross Oversized Comics, New comics

New comics!

Nightwing 94

A lot more intrigue as Melinda Zucco struggles to stay undetected as the mole inside Blockbuster’s criminal organization.  I love Dick and Babs as a couple.

Fables 153

I guess I’m going to keep rating these as they come out.  A lot more setup.  The cubs start getting into trouble.  Bigby and Snow tentatively start talking about Dash’s fate - It’s a conversation that I hope Bill Willingham continues in the next issue, there’s a lot of potential here.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Shazam: Power of Hope

Ever since Kingdom Come, Alex Ross has drawn Captain Marvel with a creepy-ass smile.  

Would not trust this guy.

Anyway, this is basically “Captain Marvel does Make-a-Wish with a bunch of kids at a hospital.”  It’s sweet, but generic.  Again, Ross’ art is the draw here.

Ross doesn't usually draw expressions like this.  It's a nice change.

Sweet scene, but where were her parents?

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

JLA: Liberty and Justice

The JLA save the world from an alien virus.  Really not the kind of story that merits the tabloid-size format or Ross’ art.  

Gorgeous.

Amazing use of color.

What is it about Ross' Wonder Woman?  I can't take my eyes off of her.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

JLA: Secret Origins

Cute, but again, kind of a waste of the format.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

JLA: Heaven’s Ladder

Mark Waid tries to channel Warren Ellis and/or Mark Millar (with the partnership of their famed artistic partner Bryan Hitch) in an epic story where the universe’s first race creates a DNA helix out of planets in an attempt to synthesize Heaven.  Or something like that.  Along the way, each member of the JLA shares their beliefs about the afterlife.  

It's exactly what Superman deserves.

In the end, teamwork and holding hands saves the day.  Sigh.  There are any number of comics that I’d rather see with oversized artwork.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

Dini/Ross Oversize Books

Superman: Peace on Earth

Batman: War on Crime

Wonder Woman: Spirit of Truth

These super-oversized books are a perfect showcase for Alex Ross’ wonderful paintings.  

Iconic.

Ross loves this angle.  Very dramatic.

As I've said before, I love Ross' Diana.

I was wondering the whole issue about Diana's odd insistence on wearing her costume.  Clark confronts it head on here.

It’s too bad that Paul Dini’s narrated storytelling is as run-of-the-mill as you can get.  I can’t help but imagine what Jeph Loeb could have done with the same opportunity.

Also, whoever did the book binding sucks.  The pages wrinkle like mad all along the spine.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Iron Man, Asterios Polyp

Iron Man 16-17

I bought these issues less than six months ago, and my thoughts remain the same.  I’m also fine with not buying any more of the run.  I’m pretty sure these were the fun issues of the arc, the rest are most likely self-serious contemplations of the nature of absolute power, yadda yadda yadda.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Asterios Polyp

I had no memory of anything about this graphic novel by the legendary David Mazzucchelli before this re-read.  (By the way, for a legend, Mazzucchelli has a ridiculously short body of work.  I wish he’d do more.)  

I’m not sure how to react to this comic.  It’s the kind of “elevated literature” that attracts raving reviews from both the comics community and the mainstream media.  (Like Blankets.)  And it is good.  But like Craig Thompson’s slightly better masterpiece, it’s not the kind of thing that screams “Read me again!” to me.  I acknowledge its superiority to the kind of comic book that I generally prefer from a strict “work of art.”  But I like what I like, and I don’t apologize for my final rating of this.

As for the comic itself, it really is a work of art.  Mazzucchelli is a master of his craft.  This succeeds as a narrative, a demonstration of what comic book art can accomplish, and a philosophical discussion of the very concept of duality.

What a Dick Tracy face!

Love this visualization of two people connecting.

Great party question.

If only Stiffy knew.  And what growth on Asterios' part.

I have no idea what to make of the ending.  Am I supposed to take it literally?  What does it mean either way?  It’s certainly got me thinking, which is nice.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

That’s it for a short Marvel Box 13.  (I’d already reviewed most of the Bendis Avengers previously, as well as the Hawkeye issues.)

Box Summary

Time spent reading: 10 hours, 20 minutes

Issues read: 87

Issues cut: 5

Highlights (Good or better): Avengers 13-17; New Avengers 17-23; Defenders 1-10; Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 6, 11; Blaze of Glory; Asterios Polyp

Project Summary:

Time spent reading: 55 days, 6 hours, 54 minutes

Issues read: 11481

Issues cut: 1159

I’m down to around 1350 comics left to read.  Aside from the stuff I’ve bought since this project started, what remains is mostly the really good stuff - Sandman, Ultimate Spider-Man, New Frontier, Hitman, Preacher, Punisher…It’s hard to know what to read next.  I can pick off some of the random comics here and there on the shelf, but not for much longer.  I’m leaning towards…man, I don’t know.  Maybe Ultimate Spider-Man.  That’ll be good for 300+ issues.  I’m almost positive I’m going to be ending this whole thing with Sandman. 

Death of Doctor Strange

Death of Doctor Strange 1-5

I realized after this series ended that I needed to recalibrate for Jed MacKay’s writing; He shot up in my estimation with Black Cat.  Taskmaster was entertaining.  Moon Knight was carried by the art, not the writing, and I quit that after four issues.  

Death of Doctor Strange is at the same Nice level.  It’s more likely than not that Black Cat is the outlier - MacKay’s an entirely entertaining writer who managed one great title.  

On the art side, Lee Garbett is good.  But this is far from his best work.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Future Foundation, Blaze of Glory

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man 6, 11

I must have read good reviews for these issues, there’s no other way I’d have these specific ones.  I must also have bought these before Tom Taylor showed up on my radar, or else I would have kept buying this title.

These are one-shot stories of the highest order.  I’ve had a kid since I read the cancer issue, so the watery eyes from the last three pages are new.

I’m now sorely tempted to pick up the rest of the run. 

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pure joy

Future Foundation 1

Exactly how I remember it.  Easy cut.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Disliked

Blaze of Glory 1-4

My love for this mini hasn’t wavered since the first time I read it in 2000.  John Ostrander and Leonardo Manco (one of the most underrated artists of his time) totally deliver on the tagline: “The Last Ride of the Western Heroes.”  There’s such an epic feel to this story.  I wasn’t familiar with any of the good guys when I first picked this up, but Ostrander effectively conveys their personalities and manages to keep ten (!) characters distinct and recognizable.

Manco's grit and dust is perfect for a western.

It's all so gorgeous and perfect.

(Two-Gun, Outlaw, Colt, and Rawhide, in case you forgot.  All Kids.)

The story is standard Magnificent Seven (Seven Samurai) stuff.  It works because it’s one of the best tropes in existence.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Apache Skies 1-4

With most of the heroes from the previous series dead, the follow-up focuses on Johnny Bart, the Rawhide Kid.  It’s still a nice western comic, but it feels a little more…ordinary.  Manco’s art is best when it’s scratchy and dark (see Blaze of Glory).  Here, while it still looks good, it’s too clean and loses Manco’s distinctive quality.  

A cute nod to Ostrander's DC maxiseries.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Defenders

Defenders 1-10

One of Brian Michael Bendis’ last series at Marvel.  My original assessment still holds regarding the stunning fight scenes by David Marquez, the clutter of villains aspiring to be the next Kingpin, and the unsatisfying ending.

Heh.

Love this shot of Luke putting Frank Castle in a sleeper hold.

Breathtaking.

The less said about Deadpool's appearance the better.  But I liked this.

Bendis wrote himself into a corner, and this is his cop out workaround.

I take back what I said about the characterization.  Bendis continues to nail the Jessica/Luke relationship.  And he writes Danny Rand with an intelligence and generous heart that’s refreshing to read after the idiocy of the tv show and the blank slate of the other series.  (As good as the Fraction run is, I couldn’t tell you a single thing about his personality.)

This is fun, which is all I want out of it.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Hustle, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Hustle

A super engaging, fun to watch, feel-good sports movie starring Adam Sandler as a desperate scout for the Philadelphia Sixers and Juancho Hernangómez as the prospect he’s training for the draft.  A slew of cameos by NBA players and personalities lend an amazing sense of verisimilitude to the proceedings, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen more thrilling training montages.  (And that includes the Rocky movies.)  Truly impressive editing.

I was totally invested in the success of these two characters.  This movie proves once again that tried-and-true plots and tropes can be elevated to great heights by top-notch execution.

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: Yes

Rating: Good

Everything Everywhere All at Once

What a batshit crazy, fucking awesome move.  Michelle Yeoh demonstrates surprising depth of emotion in her performance of a woman who’s faced nothing but disappointment in her life.  Then she demonstrates her not-so-surprising depth of martial arts mastery as she kicks the crap out of everyone who gets in her way.  Mixed in there are some truly wild takes on parallel worlds that I absolutely loved.  So so so good.

Regret watching: No

Would watch again: Yes

Would buy on DVD: Yes

Rating: Really good

Deadpool

Deadpool 1-3

Daniel Way and Paco Medina start a new Deadpool title with a “Secret Invasion” crossover.  I have no idea why I bought this.  Maybe this was when Daniel Way was the It writer for a hot second?  Anyway, Deadpool really isn’t my brand of character.  He’s best in small doses as a supporting character.  Definitely not one to carry his own title.  An easy cut.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Fine