Just made it today. The birthday party I went to last night ran a bit late, and I didn’t get a chance to even start this until late in the day Sunday. It’s been a busy few days, since I had my car worked on Friday. I also didn’t get to make any posts for next week, but more on that in a moment. First it’s time to take a look over the comics I picked up this week.

Spoiler free versions of these reviews will be up at ComiXology when I get the chance. Like I said, busy/tiring week.

ADD: Almost forgot. I did take a look at DC’s Wednesday Comics offering and only a few comics interested me enough to want it. Most of it I really wasn’t interested, and at $3.99 I had no real urge to buy it. If the few comics I wanted (Superman, Supergirl, Batman, and Green Lantern) come out in their own collections, I’ll consider getting those. But I did get a good replacement: The Tick!

Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes #13

Marvel Comics (September 2009)

WRITER: Paul Tobin

ARTIST: Marcelo Dichiara

COLORIST: Sotocolor

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

COVER: Scherberger & Guru

PRODUCTION: Paul Acerios

CONSULTING: Ralph Macchio

EDITOR: Nathan Cosby

She-Hulk picks up Tigra and Spider-Man to check out a Shakespeare production in the park–using X-Men puppets. Sadly, we miss out on that because a SHIELD Life Model Decoy in the form of a bulldog (“Life Model Doggie”) has been reprogrammed by the Leader, who has a few other LMD’s (in the form of Life Model Pigeons and Ponies (LMPs)). Eventually, Spidey is able to shut down all the other LMD animals down, and the Leader himself pops up to claim the dog, which has downloaded many of SHIELD’s secrets. The dog himself…OK, itself, ends up helping the trio take the Leader down and SHIELD agents reclaim the dog.

What they got right: Paul seems to be getting his form back after that recent dismal showing in Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #37 last month. The characters are perfectly portrayed, especially his Spider-Man (making me once again looking forward to his run on Spidey’s own MA title). It’s a story that really showcases what he can do with the characters; double for Tigra, who often gets the short end by the main line’s writers.  Speaking of getting ol’ webhead right, Marcelo Dichiara does a fantastic job drawing him, although the “web lines” on his costume disappear entirely during far shots.

What they got wrong: The aforementioned disappearing web lines. It really pulls you away from the story when they’re gone one panel and back the next time you see him. Marcelo’s She-Hulk is passable, but Tigra looks too much like She-Hulk in the face. Also, while Spidey is in his costume the whole time, Every fight they get in sees She-Hulk is less clothing. First she loses her jacket, then the rest of the outfit. Luckily she has her usual fighting outfit on underneath, since this is a kids-targeted comic. Speaking of which, at what point does Tigra find time to change to her fight suit? There doesn’t seem to be enough time passing.

Recommendation: A fun comic just way Tobin usually hits it out of the ballpark. It’s still tame by Tobin’s standard, but that’s like saying a heavy thunderstorm is tame compared to Hurricane Katrina.

Doctor Who Classics Series 2 #8

IDW Publishing (July 2009)

reprints the strips in Doctor Who Monthly #70-72

WRITER/PENCILER/CO-INKER: Steve Parkhouse

CO-INKER: Paul Neary

EDITOR: Alan McKenzie

IDW COLORS: Charlie Kirchoff

IDW EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton

IDW DESIGNER: Amauri Osorio

The Doctor is surprised to read in the morning paper that the TARDIS was sound in a quarry, but still finds it where he left it (although covered in clay). Then he’s attacked by a creature that can shoot fire from his palms and wants the power of the TARDIS for itself. Even the return of Shayde is no help. When the Doctor fights back, the creature decides to take him out.

What they got right: Steve takes on the dual role of writer and primary artist (he has help inking one to three of the 3 parts) and does a great job with both (although he seems to be missing the external “Police Box” writing on the TARDIS). The fire-spraying creature in the final panels work rather well for the period.

What they got wrong: When we first see it, however, he’s dressed in a hood and nothing else, which just looks weird. Also, I don’t know if it’s the inks or the added IDW coloring (not having seen the original, which was in black-and-white or the Marvel color if the US comic ever reprinted this storyline), but there are times the characters look over-shaded, if that explains what I’m thinking. It’s not that big a detraction, but it is a slight distraction at times.

Recommendation: I would love to see a current Doctor story by Parkhouse. Is he still alive and writing?

Sonic the Hedgehog #202

Archie Comics (September 2009)

WRITER: Ian Flynn

PENCILER: Steven Butler

BACK-UP STORY PENCILER: Jamal Peppers

INKER: Terry Austin

COLORIST: Matt Herms

LETTERER: John Workman

EDITOR: Mike Pellertio

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Victor Gorelick

Sonic and Monkey Khan head for New Megaopolis to say hello to the new neighbors, the Iron Dominion that now controls the Eggman Empire thanks to Snively. They come across the Dark Egg Legion and the Empire’s new group of ninjas and Shinobi, which includes Sonic’s friend Espio. Our heroes barely escape the Iron King to report on all that’s transpired, as Khan informs Sonic and Sally that he is now a king.

In the back story, The Iron Queen, Regina, tells part of her origin story to Snively. As a girl she was part of a cult of technomages, a group who can control technology. However, this wasn’t allowed in her city, and the child was kicked out, living on her own in the wild until she came across a warlord named Jun Kun.

What they got right: A serviceable story that further sets-up the arc, which is it’s mission. The art is good. We also get to know more about the Iron Queen’s history, since she and the Iron King, one-shot villains, are now the main threat to the Mobians.

What they got wrong: When you get right down to it, the main story is just one big fight scene. I know our heroes aren’t being given much time to relax, but there’s nothing all that spectacular about this issue.

Recommendation: It’s a good story that does what it set out to do. Worth a read if you’re planning to keep up on the Archie version of Sonic and his friends.

The Mangalicious Tick: The Rise of the Setting Sun #1

New England Comics (August 2009)

CREATOR: Ben Edlund

ARTISTS/WRITERS: Robbins Studios (Liz & Benn Robbins)

PUBLISHER: George Suarez

A portal in time sends the Tick to Feudal Japan (which he mistakes for an alien world) and an evil samurai calling himself “The Setting Sun” (who the Tick mistakes for an alien) to The City in the present. The samurai takes Arthur prisoner while the Tick is thought to be a hero of prophecy and sent with a princess to find a scroll that can defeat the magic scroll used by “The Setting Sun”.

What they got right: The husband and wife Robbins team are going for a Japanese (manga) influence in this series, and while it’s not perfect, little manga style US comics ever come close. What I know of the Tick comes mostly from the awesome cartoon (never cared for the live-action version), and it does seem to match up with that show, and I can hear the cartoon voices for Tick and Arthur.

What they got wrong: The art isn’t bad if you consider it stylized (better than I can do right now, but that’s no big feet). It’s not as crazy as I’ve come to expect from The Tick as a series, but again I’m going by the cartoon. This is my first Tick comic, although I did browse a friend’s comic years ago.

Recommendation: It looks good so far, and I’m glad to finally be able to snag some new Tick and Arthur stories. I’ll have to see how the next three issues play out.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (adaptation) #1

IDW Publishing (June 2009)

ADAPTATION: Andy Schmidt

SCREENPLAY: Jack B. Sowards

STORY: Harve Bennett & Jack B. Sowards

STAR TREK CREATOR: Gene Roddenberry

ARTIST: Chee Yang Ong

COLORIST: Moose Maumann

LETTERER: Neil Uyetake

EDITORS: Chris Ryall & Scott Dunbier

COVER B (Shown): Bob Peak (movie poster)

RETAILER INCENTIVE COVER: David Deitrick

Hell, if you haven’t seen The Wrath of Khan by now, what are you waiting for? The movie is a sequel to the episode “Space Seed”. This issue covers the Kobyashi Maru test that introduces Saavik and follows up to the point where the Enterprise is sent to investigate a ship supposedly there to take control of the Genesis device (the mind controlled Checkov and his new Captain via Khan’s “mind worms”).

What they got right: Unlike the recent adaptation for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, this didn’t feel compressed. Schmidt is able to get in all the important scenes from this section of the movie, and bypasses the rather horrific moments of the worm-insertion scene.

What they got wrong: I’m not a big fan of the painted look to the art. They only look like the actors up close, and we don’t get a lot of close-ups of Lt. Saavik. The further you pull back, the worse it gets. To give fair credit, however, the space and desert scenes are rather beautiful.

Recommendation: By now, you’ve probably already made the decision with out me. All three issues have been out for weeks, but I only picked this up Thursday.

Best Scene of the Week

Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes #13

"I'd still rather be doing this than shopping!"

I just really like the way the first line is delivered, so I included it. The scene with Spider-Man being pulled along on his web by the Life Model Doggie is just too fun, but to be honest, nothing really jumped out on me this week.

As for next week, I had hoped that I would have four posts all ready to go, so that you’d have posts and I could enjoy my vacation. That didn’t work out, as I was busy Friday and Saturday, and I’m just tired today. So the Spotlight is taking a week off so I can enjoy myself before returning to work, especially my birthday on the 13th. This will include next week’s comic review (I do plan to get my comics next week, I just don’t want to have to work to read them all by Sunday.) New articles return on the 20th, and I’ll review two weeks of comics in an extended “This Week’s Reviews” article on the 26th. So if you want me, I’ll be at the beach babe watching. 😉