I don’t know if it’s because I’ve got more junk in my head or all the nose blowing, but I’m still feeling funky in the head, so forgive me if anything doesn’t make sense this week. At any rate, here we are with more comic reviewing goodness. No Maximum Ride, but I don’t mind that as much as missing The Greatest American Hero, and I’ve got four stories out of this week’s party, so let’s get to it:
Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #2{IDW}
WRITER: Simon Furman
ARTIST: Nick Roche
COLORIST: Josh Burcham
LETTERER: Chris Mowry
EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton
Scorponok has captured Hot Rod, and is happily bragging about his evil schemes. He plans to expose Skywatch, make them look bad, and use his “Headmasters” to convince the government to hire his services. (Ooooookay.) Meanwhile, the Machination-controlled Dinobots attack Grimlock, but Scorpy keeps dialing down the control when he realises the quartet already have issues with their former commander. While all this is going on, another group of Transformers arrive on Earth, and Skywatch is revealed to have one Transformer still in custody, but not under control–Shockwave!
What they got right: Honestly, not a heck of a lot, and what they have just about makes it readable. The other Dinobots not being happy with Grimlock after the events of Spotlight: Shockwave is a nice bit of continuity this far after, and it’s nice to know Simon didn’t forget about him after all. (I had thought Shockwave would have been behind the Machination, until Scorponok and his not-Zarak partner were revealed.) I do like Hot Rod’s responses to Scorpy’s rambling his plans like an old-time bad guy. And the fight is well done. While I don’t care for Roche’s art style when it comes to character models (see every cover review of Doctor Who:The Forgottenon this site), he does choreograph a good fight scene. The cover is also nice in this regard, although Slag just looks odd.
What they got wrong: I already complained about Roche’s character models. Besides, I’d much rather complain about Scorponok. Never mind that he’s running at the mouth like a 80’s cartoon villain, but unless his plan involves seizing control of the government’s defense to prepare a new Decepticon invasion (this comic taking place prior to All Hail Megatron) and not simply trying to get the government contracts, I have to think the not-Zarak human has more control than Scorponok. Then again, in my mind the US cartoon was the only one to ever get the Headmaster concept “right”, or at least closest to it.
Recommendation: I’m sort of indifferent this round. Which is a step up from most of Furman’s Transformers stories over the years, so I guess it’s a plus. Still not the comic you want to introduce yourself to IDW’s G1verse with.
Marvel Super Hero Squad: Hero Up! {Marvel}
WRITER: Paul Tobin
ARTISTS: Marcelo Dichiara, Todd Nauck, and Dario Brizuela
COLORIST: Chris Sotomayor
LETTERER: Nate Piekos
PRODUCTION: Anthony Dial
EDITOR: Nathan Cosby
(I’m guessing on Anthony’s contribution, as they’re using those funny titles on the staff credits.)
A collection of the comic strips at Marvel Kids.com (although I often have trouble getting them to come up, which is why I don’t read it regularly). Based on the Hasbro toyline, these are more like newspaper strips than the Mini-Marvels, but the concept is still there. Except I’m not sure these are supposed to be kids like in Mini-Marvels. However, the villians actually do something here, but it’s usually just practical jokes or hunting “Infinity Fractals”, whatever those are.
What they got right: Nice, cute little strips. Not necessarily fall-down hilarious, but not a bad way to pass some time.
What they got wrong: As a collection of online comic strips, it’s fine. However, I’m not sure it was worth $4.00. I mean, these are supposed to be for the kiddies, and while it is slightly larger than the usual comic book, it’s not like there was as much extra work done here. It’s a reprint book. The “profiles” at the end of the book are the only original content, as far as I know, but they don’t make up for the price.
Recommendation: Not necessarily a waste of money, but probably not worth as much as I paid. Good to browse through, though.
Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eight Grade #2 {DC}
WRITER: Landry Q. Walker
ARTIST: Eric Jones
LETTERER: Pat Brosseau
COLORING: Joey Hason
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Adam Schlagman
EDITOR: Jann Jones
It’s just another day (gone horribly wrong) for Linda/Kara, as she’s in trouble again. Things go from bad to worse, when Kryptonite + light projector = evil clone. “Belinda Zee” is born from Linda’s self-loathing, and is out to ruin her alpha’s life. She fakes Linda’s attempt to become class president, and then runs against our hero. Salvation comes from an unlikely source, and new friend for Linda, in the form of Lena Thorul, a super genius inventor type and Linda’s new roommate. And if you can read backwards, take a look at Lena’s last name and you know trouble’s coming.
What they got right: Only in a comic like this can you get away with things that should go in the “wrong” catagory. For example, why does a boarding school have Kryptonite in their mineral box anyway? How can all these new kids at once not feel odd. How does Belinda get admitted without Clark Kent or anyone else to sign her up, much less become captain of the cheerleading team in the course of a day? “Just ignore it and have fun” seems to be Landry’s motto, and she succeeds. The addition of Luthor’s little sister as Linda’s friend and roommate has some definate potential. (Especially when you consider it was Kara’s rocket that defeated Luthor’s robot last issue.)
What they got wrong: I would like to know if Belinda has super powers. She obviously knows Kara/Linda’s situation, but she doesn’t seem to share her powers any more than she does Supergirl’s morals. Hopefully future issues will shed light on this.
Recommendation: This comic does for girls what Billy Batson does for boys. Take a famous DC character, use the Silver Age concept of writing stories that speak to kids’s life concerns (mostly bullies, but in this comic’s case, throw in fitting in), and make it fun. A nice change from current DC continuity. Obviously, I can’t relate as well, but well enough to keep picking up the comic for now.
The Phantom #26 {Moonstone}
WRITER: Mike Bullock
ILLUSTRATION: Zeu & Silvestre Szilagyi
COLORIST: Bob Pedroza
LETTERER: Nate Pride
EDITOR: Joe Gentile
Old Mozz tells the kids a tale from the 13th Phantom. On the way to America so his new wife, Jeanette, can collect her things, their boat is attacked by pirates who are also slave traders. The slaves happen to belong to the Llongo tribe, one of the tribes under the Phantom’s protection in Bangalla. Jeanette’s going to be a bit late visiting her folks.
What they got right: I love hearing tales from the previous Phantoms. They make good side stories/filler, and a series like The Phantom allows for period pieces like this. This would be an avantage the comic books have over the comic strips. I’m not sure the strips would be able to do a “Chronicles” story.
What they got wrong: Is it just me, or should these kids have aged a bit more by now? I’m actually laying the blame on the comic strip, although they at least seems a little older in the book. I swear they’re not much older than when I started reading the strips as a kid, and story about a family who maintains the legend of the “man who cannot die” wouldn’t have to be bound by the “non-aging” rule most comics have. (I point you back to the Eric Larson commentary some time back.) Again, this is mostly the strip’s doing.
Recommendation: A must for any Phantom fan. I wouldn’t mind the Chronicles stories being given their own comic, maybe with revolving writers–provided those stories do Lee Falk’s characters justice.
Best Scene of the Week
Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eight Grade #2
I had daydreams like this. Except I wasn't wearing a skirt.
I’m considering not having the “Pull List” and “This Week’s Reviews” be seperate sections, but do them all together one day a week (most likely Sunday). This would free up some time to do more things, since I’ve noticed I’m discussing comics more than anything else, and this is supposed to be a mutli-format entertainment blog.) Probably won’t change the format yet, so see you Wednesday.
BW Media Spotlight 