Punisher, New comics

New comics!

Catwoman: Lonely City 4

Back after a 6-month hiatus, the final issue of this up-until-now excellent series is a bit of a letdown.  Everything devolves into a big fight scene, not really what I was looking for out of this amazing work from Cliff Chiang.  Maybe it’ll be better on the reread.  I hope that it is.

Marvel Knights: Double Shot 1

I never remember the second story in this anthology (it’s something to do with Kingpin’s laundry and underwear.  Seriously.).  It’s the first one that’s unforgettable, a mobster’s dentist appointment with the Punisher.  It’s inspired, wince-inducing work by Garth Ennis and Joe Quesada.

So gross.  So well done.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Marvel Mangaverse: Punisher

Yeah, I don’t know why I got this.  This Punisher, as reimagined by Peter David…tickles and spanks for justice (actual quote from the issue).  This could actually be hilarious, but not even David (usually one of the funniest writers out there) can make this work.  

Regret buying: Yes

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Stupid (Cutting)

Punisher v5 1-12

I divide Garth Ennis’ time on Punisher between his “serious” run (volume 7) and his “silly” run (everything before that, starting with these issues).  By silly, I mean that everything is way over the top - The violence, the personalities, the humor.  It may not be quite as good as the serious stuff, but it’s still damn entertaining.  I mean, Spacker Dave!  Polar bears!  The Russian!

If you can't tell, I love Spacker Dave.

Bear punch!

Quick aside, that reminds me of this Magic card...

...which has an alternate timeline version...

...and a REALLY alternate timeline version...

...culminating in this epic suplex.

Back to the main story.

A callback, of course, to this scene...

A question that applies to many situations.

The Vigilante Squad is pretty much a waste of time, but not offensively so.  Soap is hit or miss, but he’s ultimately a net positive, I think.

But through thick and thin, I had fun the whole time, and couldn’t stop until I finished the whole arc.  I honestly don’t remember much about the rest of the silly run, just that it isn’t as good.  I haven’t reread it that many times, if at all.  Still looking forward to it.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Really good

Daredevil, New comics

New comics!

Nightwing 91

Cute second part of the team up with Wally West.

Nice of Wally to ask.

Lion and the Eagle 3

Standard Garth Ennis war fare.  

Catwoman: Lonely City 3

This is so freaking good.  It’s as definitive a last story for Catwoman as DKR is for Batman.  It’s not quite as classic, but it feels that final and epic.  Cliff Chiang has totally leveled up here.

Daredevil 1-8

The start of the Marvel Knights era.  Who would have thought that entrusting a new imprint to those guys who created the firefighter superhero would have such lasting repercussions?

I never read Ash.

This arc, written by Keven Smith, has a better reputation in my mind than it really deserves.  It’s super wordy, Matt Murdock is really played for a fool here, and it’s not a good sign when the writer points out all the flaws in his own story.  Eight issues is way too long, and the Mysterio reveal is a major letdown.  

Joe Quesada’s art is what keeps this above average (though I’m still partial to his work on Sword of Azrael and X-Factor).  That and the excellent Bullseye fight scene in issue number five.  That one sticks in my head.

Yeah, it's a booty call

Great tag.

Sadly, I can't help but think of...

Damn you, Sarah Silverman

I hate the "hedging your bets" argument.

Love the art deco Dr Strange.

What is it about that last phrase that's so eerie and evocative?

Teeth!  So cool.

Didn't see this coming the first time around.

That image of Gwen is shorthand for so much.

Yeah, he doesn't listen.  Milla's coming up.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Pretty good.  Good for issue 5

Aaron Thor

New comics!

Catwoman: Lonely City 2

Cliff Chiang continues this career-defining masterpiece.  I love everything he’s doing with this.

Thor 1-8

The age of Jane Foster Thor begins, and it is glorious.  Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman do a wonderful job of showcasing new Thor and making me not miss Odinson-as-Thor one bit.  (Though I’m certainly not unhappy to see that he’s sticking around.  Minus an arm, a plot bit that works amazingly well.)  

An update that's been a long time coming.

Yesssss.

That's totally Alphonse Mucha hair.

The Roxxon stuff doesn’t piss me off nearly as much, since Dario Agger is playing it a lot more comic book villain-y than real life CEO evil.  Though speaking of people who are pissing me off, when did Odin become such a dick?  He’s seriously acting on body snatcher levels of out of character.  

Total dick.

It's so nice seeing them as old friends, with a past romance that they can remember fondly.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

Thor Annual 1

A complete waste of time.  King Thor creates Adam and Eve on his Genesis Waved Earth.  Foster Thor spends a day with the Warriors Three.  Young Thor drinks Mephisto under the table.  Bleeeech.  Only keeping because I’m a completionist.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: No

Rating: Stupid

Miracleman, Moon Knight, New comics

New comics!

Catwoman: Lonely City 1

This is the Catwoman version of Dark Knight Returns.  Set ten years in the future, Selina Kyle is old, just out of jail, and dealing w/ a post-Batman Gotham City where Bruce Wayne’s been dead for ten years.  Cliff Chiang surpasses all of my expectations on both writing and art duties, and on top of it all, Josie Mac shows up!  Looking forward to the rest of this.

Superman: Son of Kal-El 5

Admission: I wanted to cut this last issue, but didn’t want my LCS to think it was because I’m against Superman being in a gay relationship.  Whatever.  This comic isn’t doing anything for me, and his relationship status has absolutely nothing to do with it.  Cutting.  

Miracleman: Apocrypha 1-3

A bunch of more short stories from quite the impressive list of creators, including Neil Gaiman, Mark Buckingham, James Robinson, Kelley Jones, Norm Breyfogle, Matt Wagner, Kurt Busiek, Alex Ross, Darick Robertson…

The stories themselves nothing too stand out, except for the Ross story, which is basically a retelling of Ray Bradbury’s Kaleidoscope:

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Moon Knight 1-6

The Warren Ellis/Declan Shalvey issues.  He’s definitely on his back half of his career at this point (2014).  It feels like he’s barely trying.  And yet, it really doesn’t suck.  Suboptimal Ellis is still entertaining.  And the sniper issue (issue 2) is really effective as each victim gets picked off one by one.

The moonblades have such a clean, elegant look.

Moon Knight really has the coolest cape ever.

Edna Mode be damned.

I don't know, he killed the other eight.  Bank doesn't always win.

Plus, I think Shalvey’s the one who came up with the “Moon Knight in a suit” thing (I’m not sure), and it’s a sweet look.  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

Miracleman 4

The missing issue in my Gaiman/Buckingham run came in the mail today.  Eh, not that interesting, but it’s worth filling out the gap.  (Gaiman tells us what happens to Winter after she flies off into space.)  

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine