Two weeks worth of reviews again. At least this time I got some sleep this week, so my mind’s ready to go. (I should have reviewed these other comics so I wouldn’t have to put them all together in a few days. But that would have been smart.) Like vacation time, I’m going to review each week separately, which means two “Best Scene” awards. And a lot of reading for you. (Then again, it was a lot of typing for me. 😀 )

Spoiler-blocked versions posted at ComiXology. Eventually. Promise.

Buck Rogers #3

Dynamite Entertainment (???? 2009)

Anyone know why Dynamite and Moonstone don’t have month dating?

WRITER: Scott Beatty

ARTIST: Carlos Rafael

COLORIST: Carlos Lopez

LETTERER: Simon Bowland

COVER “A”: John Cassaday with Laura Martin (incentive version in black and white)

COVER “B” (shown): regular art team

In the “present” Buck has been declared dead, which in the future he might be. After learning to control the flight controls on his suit, Buck takes Wilma back to the Slaughter Ship, since it beats burning up in the Martian atmosphere. The duo swipe a shuttlecraft to make a safer crash landing on Mars, where Buck uses a communication system at an old Mars colony base to contact Earth–a signal received by Doctor Huer.

What they got right: The art is amazing as all ways, so let’s get that out of the way. We actually get to see how Buck’s disappearance is taken on past Earth (including more from the jerk colonel (I hope Ashley dumps the scuzbag!) as well as his family and friends). You also get some nice Easter Eggs, most notably how the “borrowed” flight suits resemble the classic suits from the original comics rather than another variation of the current design. I wonder if Buck at least will keep his, even if that would be visually contrasting. But the best part is the scene in the beginning, where Buck is learning to use his suit, snags Wilma like a hero and…her anti-“my hero” moment. Best scene in this series thus far.

What they got wrong: The whole Ashley/Wilma looking alike thing is kind of cute, but now we have Doctor Huer, who looks like an older version of a character we hadn’t seen until this issue in the past. I’m wondering if Kane is supposed to be the same “actor” as Armstrong. Also, are they really that callous in the future that they leave their dead comrade behind like that? I think I hate their future, which I shouldn’t for a Buck Rogers story. The future in all the previous versions of Buck I’ve seen have been pretty cool.

Recommendation: A fantastic read every month. I hope you’re getting these, too.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #8

DC Comics/Johnny DC (October 2009)

WRITER: J. Torres

PENCILER: Carlo Barberi

INKER: Terry Beatty

COLORS: Heroic Age

LETTERER: Pat Brosseau

EDITORS: Rachael Gluckstern & Michale Siglain

COVER: Scott Jeralds with Hi-Fi

Batman created by Bob Kane

After helping Rising Sun take out a bunch of ninjas, Batman’s world tour of crimefighting takes him Tibet, where a yeti has been reported causing mountain climbers trouble. There he meets Japan’s super team, the “Big Ten”, who tell Batman that the Yeti is actually a member of their group, but he isn’t wearing the medallion he uses to maintain control in his yeti form. Batman teams up with the Ten (despite not getting along with August General in Iron–I just love these names), and eventually saves the Yeti, and finds a whole tribe of them as well.

The Bat-Files include the Great 10 and Rising Son (seeing as there’s no villain this issue, they needed a second profile, I guess). The other Great 10 members to appear in this story are Accomplished Perfect Physician, my favorite name of the features, and Celestial Archer.

What they got right: I’m told that the Great Ten comes from the 52 miniseries, so it’s interesting to see a series that usually delves into DC’s past break out a more recent group of “super functionaries” (they prefer the “humbler” term over “heroes”), and I like the members Torres uses. Celestial Archer comes off as a “rookie” and a bit of fun. August General In Iron is a bit of a jerk. Accomplished Perfect Physician’s healing powers impresses even Batman (who notes that his father was a great physician as well). I love their names. I should note that the art only barely resembles the cartoon, which usually goes into the “wrong” section, but Barberi and Beatty create such an awesome looking Batman (including really using the best cape in comics) that I can’t really hold it against them.

What they got wrong: Not that it doesn’t qualify as “wrong”. 🙂 Plus I really had nothing else to fit here, since I know so little about the Great Ten in DCU proper.

Recommendation: It’s a good story, and kind of nice to see a Batman story sans super villain but still full of action. You really should check it out.

Doctor Who: Cold-Blooded War!

IDW Publishing (August 2009)

WRITER/LETTERER: Richard Starkings

STORY: Gary Russell

ARTIST: Adrian Salmon (color on Cover “A”, shown)

COLORIST: Kris Carter (inside only)

COLOR ASSIST: Ceri Carter

DESIGN: Amauri Osorio

EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton

A civil war develops on the Draconian homeworld when a female become the leader of the planet. An adjudicator is sent from the Federation (not that Federation), but the ship is blown up en route. So the Doctor is mistaken for the adjudicator and Donna as a member of Earth nobility. A third party is behind the civil war who has a personal gripe against the new lady leader, going so far as killing his wife for speaking in her behalf in front of him and putting his own daughter in a cell. The Doctor is kidnapped (shocker.) but escapes along with the daughter. Our badnik decides to kill the Empress once and for all, but his daughter ends up taking the laser meant for the Empress. Agita’s sacrifice leads to the end of the war.

What they got right: It’s rare that a story with a sad ending gets high marks from me, but Starkings and Russell pull this one off so beautifully that I don’t think any other ending would do. At least death has meaning here, unlike certain other publications that shall remain nameless–like slag they will THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT DC AND MARVEL, NOT AS A CHEAP PR STUNT THAT DISRESPECTS YOUR PROPERTIES AND PREDECESSORS! What results is a storytelling masterpiece, with the usage of old Who races the Draconians and the Ice Warriors as a bonus. The Doctor (or rather the writers) remember Donna’s calling the Doctor a Martian and introduces her to real Whoniverse Martians. It is an excellent story.

What they got wrong: The Ice Warriors’ first appearance in a modern Who story (as far as we Americans know, anyway) really should have had a better use. It’s nice to see them being not evil (did they ever reform in classic Who?) but they don’t really do anything in the story, and anyone could have been used in their place. I’m also not sure about using the Draconians as an analog for Sharia, what with the way the womenfolk are treated. Of course, Donna changes hearts and minds once again, which is how she’s used, making what Davies did to her at the end of the season even more wrong than ever. I’m so glad he’s going. Also, I’m not sure I would have chosen this art style for this story. It just doesn’t work for the Doctor’s somber moment at the end.

Recommendation: This is an incredible story, and one you should read for yourselves.

Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! #7

DC Comics/Johnny DC (October 2009)

WRITERS: Art Baltazar & Franco

ARTIST: Byron Vaughns

COLORIST: David Tanguay

LETTERER: Swands

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Simona Martore

EDITOR: Dan Didio

(Actually, I’m convinced that Didio wasn’t the main editor, considering the Johnny DC line seems to get the shaft and this is a lot more fun than anything happening in DCU Proper. He’s just trying to get his name in my credits list. 🙂 )

Dr. Sivana learns that Tawky Tawny, one of the homeless guys he’s been hanging out with (but not one of his henchmen) is actually a friend of the Marvels, and decides to take him prisoner. Even Tawny’s anthropomorphic tiger form is no match for Sivana’s gadgetry. Sivana also finds out where the Batson kids live, and rig their apartment in order to call them out. Our heroes find themselves once again up against Mr. Atom, the giant robot. Only now it has two new components: King Kull and Tawny!

What they got right: I’ve recently learned that Mike Kunkel is no longer involved with this series, which means Baltazar and Franco aren’t doing a guest spot, but running the whole thing. That’s not a bad thing at all. The story is fun, I like the new take on Tawny (shapeshifting rather than wearing a suit but still being a tiger on two legs). If we have to choose between the artists we’ve had thus far, I’d go with Vaugns. At least his ink lines aren’t super dark, and Mary doesn’t look like a Kewpie doll, even if the artist from the last issue did use character models closer to the old Fawcett Publications comics.

What they got wrong: I’m still not thrilled with Vaugns’ Captain Marvel. Instead of resembling Kunkel’s Captain Marvel (which still has the way too broad shoulders and too short cape), I hope Vaugns fixes the character model to better fit with the rest of the artwork, but still wearing the classic Captain Marvel outfit.

Recommendation: While I’ll miss Kunkel’s work on the series, the new team makes a fun, exciting comic. Definitely worth picking up.

The Incredibles #0

Boom! Kids (July 2009)

WRITERS: Mark Waid & Landry Walker

ARTIST: Marcio Takara

COLORIST: Andrew Dalhouse

LETTERER: Troy Peteri

EDITOR: Aaron Sparrow

COVER: Matt Wagner

In a story prior to the movie, Helen is pregnant with Jack-Jack, but the only doctor capable of handling a super’s birth is Dr. Sunbright. Unfortunately, Doc Sunbright has visitors. Supervillains to be precise. The future Incredibles must find a way to defeat the villains, keep an unknown space virus out of their hands, and have a baby.

What they got right: It’s kind of interesting to see what the Parrs were doing before superheroes were allowed to do their thing again. Waid remembered the beginning of the movie, and brought back comic original character Doc Sunbright. The story, and the art, are up to the standards set in the “Family Matters” mini-series.

What they got wrong: Despite what the credits say, Landry Walker wasn’t involved with this story. According to his blog, Landry co-writing starting in issue #1. That means that the inside comes from the next arc. I should add that the inside cover art and the sub-title (“City of Incredibles”–I thought this was an ongoing?), plus the virus’s foreshadowing in this story kind of spoils what’s about to happen in the next batch of stories. And before I forget–THEY DID IT AGAIN! The variant covers for #0 go together to form one picture. This was the same bonehead move they did in the mini-series. Why should I buy two copies OF THE SAME COMIC to get the big picture? I don’t think that’s right, especially for a kid-targeted title! (At least this time it’s only two instead of four–in a 4-issue mini!)

Recommendation: Until we learn what Boom! Studios deal with Disney will be with Marvel in their camp, Boom Kids! has this title, and I’m glad they do.

G-Man: Cape Crisis #1

Image Comics (August 2009)

WRITER/ARTIST/CREATOR: Chris Giarrusso

COLOR ASSISTS/WEB DESIGN: Dave Giarrusso

G-Man’s friends are disappointed that he won’t share his magic blanket cape with them. However, they talk him into letting them borrow some left over scraps. Then they refuse to return them, so G-Man, his brother Great Man, and his friends have to take them back…by force!

Back-up strips include Chris Elipoulos’ “Misery Loves Sherman“, Art Baltazar and Franco (the new Billy Batson writers)’s “Patrick the Wolf Boy”, Greg Schigiel’s “Safari Junior High School” & “Pix: Teenage American Fairy”, Brian Smith’s “The Basics”, and Jacob Chabot’s “The Mighty Skullboy Army”.

What they got right: It’s a fun comic with nice artwork that’s good for kids. The back-up strips are pretty good, although only some of them interested me enough for me to want to see more of them. Not a whole lot I can say beyond that.

What they got wrong: Pretty much nothing. I mean, it’s not the bestest thing ever (sorry, Chris), but it’s good fun.

Recommendation: Someone found a way to get me to buy an Image comic. That takes some impressive work.

Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man #54

Marvel Comics (October 2009)

WRITER: Paul Tobin

PENCILER: Matteo Lolli

INKER: Christian Vecchia

COLORIST: Sotocolor

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

COVER: Scottie Young

PRODUCTION: Damien Luccese

EDITOR: Nathan Cosby

Walking near the park, Peter comes across Gwen and meets her father, Police Captain George Stacy. Then a group of bad guys take two kids hostage only to deal with Spider-Man (who accidentally parrots a comment that Capt. Stacy made to Peter). The next day, Chat talks Peter into a date with her (which Gwen doesn’t seem happy about). Pete rents a car from another student, who rents cars on the side. Unfortunately, the car in question was stolen from some bad guys, who take the car and Chat hostage. Spidey is able to rescue Chat…and his date. He also convinces the student and his friends to come clean, since they had good intentions but bad methods.

What they got right: Yay! Chat and Peter on a date! They make such a cute couple. The story is fun, and the story feels natural. The art is good, even if Spidey’s eyes are a big too big. Surprisingly, I don’t hate Tobin’s Gwen. Then again, maybe it’s not so surprising considering what I’ll miss most about the ended MA: Avengers is his Tigra, a character most other writers just use as a (pun alert) scratching post.

What they got wrong: It’s still Gwen Frickin’ Stacy. Also, Spidey using a line George used with Peter seemed forced.

Recommendation: I approve of this new direction. Continuity. Fun. Chat. Why can’t BND Spidey be this good? Or better yet, drop the BND timeline entirely.

Best Scene of Last Week

Doctor Who: Cold-Blooded War

I usually don’t use the last page, but this one was too good to not make an exception.

Well, that was sleep-impaired last week. Now for the new stuff (not counting all the stuff that was in my folder left over from weeks ago).

The Magnalicious Tick: The Rise of the Setting Sun #2 (of 4)

New England Comics (September 2009)

WRITERS/ARTISTS: Liz & Benn Robbins; Brother Mac

PUBLISHER: George Suarez

The travelling party of the Tick, the Princess, and Edo gain a new member (which is helpful since the last guy was eaten by a dragon) named Ite. After defeating the aforementioned dragon (too late for that one guy), our heroes stop in a village that’s already dealt with the armies of the Setting Sun (who is right now taking over The City). It’s there that the Tick has to deal with his biggest foe yet. No, not the ninja army; the backstory of his three traveling companions! Then the aforementioned ninjas attack, separating Tick and Ite from the Princess and Edo.

What they got right: It’s your typical Tick comic, which means fun and butt-kicking for everyone. (When it comes to the Tick, “typical”=”fun”.) The Tick’s reaction to “exposition time” is typical Tick and the Robbins have really set up a good Tick story. The art seems improved from last issue, even if it is only a few tweaks here and there.

What they got wrong: Is Ite supposed to be a guy or a girl? Granted, there seems to be one in every manga (unless you actually read manga) or Square Enix game (especially if you play every Square Enix game 😀 ), but it’s nice to know. I’m going with “male” if only because the Tick needs a male traveling companion to offset all the females. And he has a name, so he might actually make it to issue #3.

Recommendation: If you need me to recommend it in order to get it you’ve never heard of the Tick, or your just plain boring.

Doctor Who #3

IDW Publishing (September 2009)

WRITER: Tony Lee

ARTIST: Matthew Dow Smith

COLORIST: Charlie Kirchoff

LETTERER: Chris Mowry

EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton

COVER “A” (shown): Paul Grist (artist) and Phil Elliot (colorist)

COVER “B”/RETAIL INCENTIVE: comic art team

The Doctor has been taken to the Shadow Proclamation to answer for the events of the previous arc. The prosecutor is Mister Finch/Brother Lassar of the Krillitane (last seen in the episode “School Reunion”) and someone steps forward to act as the Doctor’s defense council, the Advocate. The Advocate tries to convince the Doctor to escape, since the Krillitane want him dead, trial or no trial. They also have allies among the Judoon. However, the Doctor is found guilty, and put on a shuttle (that Finch and the Judoon have rigged to explode) with a Draconian, a Sontaran, and an Ogron. He reaaaaaalllly shouldn’t have given them his name.

What they got right: Lee is setting up a mystery involving the Judoon and Krillitane, and this is the opening act of a four-part story. Although he skirts the edges of continuity porn (more on that soon), he at least shows he knows his past. There’s a different artist for this round, and Smith (fitting last name for this series) does a good job. I wish he had done the “Cold-Blooded War” one-shot, since he draws a good Draconian as well as the other two races.

What they got wrong: Didn’t Finch/Lassar get blown up with a school in “School Reunion” (the episode that guest-starred Sarah Jane Smith)? And unless you’ve heard the audio dramas or read the synopsis, will any casual reader know who Charley Pollard is, much less her rather tragic fate? And the Doctor makes a good point (unless it’s a plot point). How did he go from myth to having a substantial file?

Recommendation: Tony Lee’s never let me down before on this series, and I don’t expect him to now. Grab this book and enjoy.

Iron Man & The Armor Wars #2

Marvel Comics (November 2009)

WRITER: Joe Carmagna

ARTIST: Craig Rosseau

COLORIST: Val Staples

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

COVER: Skottie Young

PRODUCTION: Damien Luccese

EDITOR: Nathan Cosby

It wasn’t Doctor Doom in his office, but a Doombot that offers itself as a suit of armor to help Tony escape. Congressman Wyndham is convinced that Tony and Iron Man have gone rogue and wants them brought down. Rhodey helps Tony track down his old armors, currently being used by Russian supers who want to restore Russia to it’s communist ways. (It’s run by Putin?) Tony lets Darkstar escape hoping to track her back to her masters. Maybe Rhodey should have asked permission to take the plane they’re using, since the military wants it back. Meanwhile, the Russian group have brought up a weapon from the bottom of the ocean.

What they got right: An improvement over last issue. Things seem to be happening now, even if it’s just Tony vs. his old armors. It’s a lot more fun that the main title has been for years, even before Civil War. That’s the main reason I’m enjoying the title. I’m curious to see how Doom fits into all this. (Hopefully he’s not just a plot point to get Tony some armor.)

What they got wrong: Shouldn’t Tony have been wearing a helmet when going after the Mark 2 armor? (And what happened to Mark 1?) And it’s still a rehash of old Iron Man storylines with just Tony vs. the old armors.

Recommendation: Nothing new, but still a lot more enjoyable than Iron Man has been since the Marvel Adventures version was canceled. Worth taking a look at.

Muppet Robin Hood #3

Boom! Kids (June 2009–gives you an idea how behind I am)

WRITER: Tim Beedle

ARTIST: Armand Villavert, Jr.

COLORIST: Kat Valliant

LETTERER: Marshall Dillon (insert Gunsmoke joke here)

EDITOR: Paul Morrissey

COVER “A” (shown): David Petersen

COVER “B”: Christopher Schons

When King Richards hears that Robin, who left his rock group to go home, is looking to oust Prince John, he takes the band (the Crusaders) and high tails it back to England. Meanwhile, Prince John comes up with that archery plan that’s so famous in the legends. When Tuck has second thoughts about betraying Robin Hood, John reveals that he has Tuck’s mom (“played” by Fozzie’s mom) prisoner. At the contest, Robin wins, of course–although my words can’t express how over the top it is. It’s at this point that John has him surrounded with his monster soldiers.

What they got right: Interesting that they dropped the holy war in favor of “King Richards and the Crusaders” doing a rock tour of the Holy Land. The archery contest and Fool/Friar Tuck making fun of the Sheriff with a puppet in Sam’s likeness are the best parts of the story.

What they got wrong: While it gets used for a decent joke during the archery contest, I can’t figure out how they can have a high-tech arrow, but not sunscreen or Dr. Teeth not knowing what an album is. Picking and choosing what modern things exist in the form we know is a bit of a distraction. Also, I’m not sure I would have gone with Pepe for King Richard, but I suppose Beedle was running out of characters by this point. What I would have liked to have seen was Jim Henson being used (if proper permissions could be obtained). That would have been cool!

Recommendation: If your a Muppet fan and can find it, get it. You won’t be sorry.

The Phantom: Ghost Who Walks #4

Moonstone (2009)

WRITER/PHANTOM GROUP EDITOR: Mike Bullock

STORY CONSULTANT/EDITOR: David Michelinie

ARTIST: Fernando Peniche

COLORIST: Bob Pedroza

LETTERER: Josh Aitken

COVER: Eugenio Mattozzi

CONSULTANT/BEHIND THE MASK: Ed Rhodes

PROSE BACK-UP: Clay and Susan Griffith

A thief is on the run from the Phantom, and we see it from the point of view of the “prey”. In the prose story, The Phantom (generation unknown) is hunted himself, and just manages to escape, only to later be accused of murder by the Bangalla.

What they got right: There’s not much to say about the story, because it’s one of those you have to see for yourself. And a good read it is. Looking at the point of view of someone being hunted by the Phantom is a different look at the character and now and then those kind of stories give you a good look at just what effect the heroes have on the good and bad people in the area they protect.

What they got wrong: In the prose story, I couldn’t tell which Phantom they were writing about. The only hints is that an outfit was not one you “would wear at the end of the 19th century without a few disappointing eyes” and that this Phantom currently has no family, and may not want one (at least at this point). In the main story, we don’t get a look at what was stolen, and at least in my copy the first page is printed again a few pages later. Luckily, it doesn’t seem any pages were missing, but it does break the story flow and someone should be catching these things.

Recommendation: I’d consider this a must for any Phantom fan, and the Ed Rhodes article in this issue is interesting even if your not a fan. You not only learn something new about Lee Falk, but it’s an interesting look at his storytelling process.

The Phantom: Generations #4

Moonstone (2009–seriously, Moonstone, no cover dates?)

WRITER: Will Murray

PENCILER: Shawn Van Briesen

INKER: Mark Stegbauer

COLORIST: Renato Guerra

EDITORS: Mike Bullock (group editor) & Ed Rhodes

COVER ART: Doug Klauba & Ruben Procopio

COVER COLORIST: Jason Millet

LOGO DESIGN: Anthony Schiavino

A member of the Singh Brotherhood, the descendant of the pirate whose oath the Phantoms swear their oath upon, learns of the skull and steals it, threatening to use the Fourth Phantom’s skull to swear his own family to an oath. However, the Fourth Phantom is still very much alive–and determined to get the skull back!

What they got right: The art is really good, but to be honest I didn’t pay it that much attention. I was too wrapped up in the story. Murray really draws you into the mind of the Fourth Phantom, which is where this look at the Chronicles shines.

What they got wrong: The typesetting, or whatever was used here, was a bit off. In at least one instance two words were too close together and in other areas there seemed to be too much space between words. Someone should have caught that.

Recommendation: My favorite of the Generations stories thus far.

Best Scene of This Week

Iron Man and the Armored Wars #2

And that’s two weeks full of reviews. And my folder’s still got a bunch left. And there’s 8 comics tentatively scheduled for next week. This is getting frustrating.