The good news is my pull list folder is almost caught up on. The bad news is I didn’t have time to review all the comics I picked up. Therefore, G-Man #2 and Sonic the Hedgehog #204 will be among next week’s reviews. I think I’m still coming out ahead here. One of the comics I picked up was Cartoon Network Action Pack #41 because I thought a Ben 10/Ben 10 Alien Force team-up would be cool, much like the “Ben 10,000” episode. It wasn’t, being too short. The Samurai Jack and Kids Next Door offerings were kind of week as well, so the comic wasn’t worth my time writing a review–that’s how “blah” it was. This still leaves us with four comics, so it’s not a total loss.

Spoiler-blocked versions posted at ComiXology–if I get the chance, lately

Transformers: Tales of the Fallen #2

IDW Publishing (September 2009)

WRITER: Simon Furman

PENCILER: Carlos Magno

COLORIST: Moose Baumann & Josh Perez

LETTERER: Chris Mowry

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Carlos Guzman

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Denton J. Tipton

EDITOR: Andy Schmidt

Back on Cybertron, Demolishor once wiped out Sideswipe’s whole unit. Now on Earth, Sideswipe has sworn revenge, and he doesn’t care who he has to step over, even the humans, to get it. Ironhide is sent to reign in the rouge Autobot before anyone gets hurt, but Sideswipe won’t listen to reason. Demolishor wants the Autobots to show up so he can take them all down. When the military jets actually do some damage to the robots, Sideswipe realizes that the humans have some teeth after all, and they’re probably seeing him as evil as a Decepticon, and that wakes him up to what he’s becoming. He relents and joins up with NEST.

What they got right: My sinus back-up may be affecting my brain, but this was a…g..good story from Simon Furman. There are still some flaws, but the narrative overall is solid, and we get some decent character development for a character that was on-screen for maybe 15 minutes total between three different scenes of a well-over 2 hour movie. Considering my history with Furman’s Transformers, I’m shocked! I actually enjoyed it. The coloring is in keeping with the darker tones of the movie, which can also be a bad thing. 🙂

What they got wrong: Well, at least Furman made one error, reaffirming I’m not in some parallel universe. I find it hard to believe NEST is going to be able to keep this battle a secret, which was rather important in the “Alliance” mini-series as well as the movie. Also, I need to re-read “Alliance” to see if this can fit after #4 as claimed. The art is serviceable, but I’ve seen better, even with the questionable movie designs, in other IDW offerings.

Recommendation: It’s either the three editors or my brain’s being compacted by the head congestion, but there have been other Furman offerings I’ve liked individually, even if the majority of his Transformers work is usually the cause of my brain hurting. So I’m actually recommending a Furman Transformers story. Don’t get used to that, folks.

Sonic Universe #7

(“30 Years Later” part 3)

Archie Comics (October 2009)

WRITER: Ian Flynn

PENCILER: Tracey Yardley

INKER: Jim Amash

COLORIST: Jason Jensen

LETTERER: Teresa Davidson

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Paul Kaminski

EDITOR: Mike Pellerito

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Victor Gorelick

As Sally takes the unconscious Silver and her kids to the panic room “hidey-room”, Sonic and Lara-Su along with the Prower kids meet with Argyll, Vector’s son. Argyll has some guests: Bunny and Antoine’s kids, both cyborgs. Together, the group head back to the castle to kick the Dark Presence out. What they don’t know is that Shadow has been resurrected, and he’s about to release a big nasty on Mobius. Even Lien-Da thinks this is overkill, and Shadow simply destroys the device that keeps her connected to the “30 Years Later” time line. As the “Freedom Fighters” take the castle back, Shadow unleashes Tikhaos, which resembles the Chaos Monster from the Sonic Adventure adaptation.

What they got right: I just love the character reactions and interactions here, every one of them. Sonia’s reaction to learning there are bad guys in the castle. Argyll “geeking out” when Sonic calls the Freedom Fighters to action.Lara-Su’s and Argyll’s reactions to the D’Coolettes’ flirtations. Even Shadow’s going off the deep end just make for great characterization. It is always the little touches that make a comic world feel real, even with it’s a fictional world. The art is a bonus.

What they got wrong: There are things you ignore in a “funny animals” comic and a kids comic especially. Why do two species getting together lead to the sons being dad’s species, and the daughters moms? How did Bunny have kids when…that area…is all robotic? But what I can’t get past is why the D’Coolette kids are cyborgs! Just how far into your DNA did Robotnik’s “Roboticizer” go anyway?

Recommendation: With Sonic X gone (possibly because the cartoon isn’t on the air anymore, and they wanted to make this series instead) I wouldn’t mind seeing the 30 Years Later timeline get it’s own series. I’m enjoying this story very much.

Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes #15

(Featuring Hulk and Tigra)

Marvel Comics (November 2009)

WRITER: Paul Tobin

PENCILER: Amilcar Pinna

INKER: Greg Adams

COLORIST: Sotocolor

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

COVER: Sean Galloway

PRODUCTION: Damien

CONSULTING: Ralph Macchio

EDITOR: Nathan Cosby

The Hulk and Tigra attend a movie award show where a documentary about the Hulk is up for an award. (Tigra was also in the movie, due to Hulk’s limited speech I’d imagine.) Also attending is Mysterio, who’s mad that his movie didn’t win for special effects. He plans to use his illusions to trick the Hulk into destroying Hollywood (who am I supposed to root for there?), but his mist doesn’t affect Tigra. She is able to break the Hulk out of the illusion, and Mysterio gets a taste of gamma-irradiated fist.

What they got right: I know I’ve mentioned it, but I have to say it again. I love Tobin’s Tigra! Even though this is the Hulk’s big moment, it’s really Tigra who takes center stage in this story, and I love every minute of it. Tobin’s Tigra could make furry-haters think twice. Pinna and Adams combine to make the character–in fact all the characters who cameo in this, including the Fantastic Four, look great. I love their Hulk especially. The story is fun.

What they got wrong: Tobin continues to show his dislike of Bruce Banner. Wouldn’t he get interviewed for this movie, at least in one scene? Tobin likes to keep Hulk…Hulk. Bruce Banner, and his struggles with his Jeckle/Hyde persona is part of the character, and Tobin just likes to write the Hulk. Granted, I like his Hulk, but I wish he’d give Bruce more to do in his stories. He did it once, and quite well. But only once. Also, the cover really isn’t all that exciting. I’m not a fan of the art style used, especially with the inside visuals looking so good. Why couldn’t they have done the cover instead?

Recommendation: Is there any way to keep Tigra in this series once Tobin uses it to reboot the Avengers? (And why are they canceling that title rather than bring it in along with Super Heroes and Spider-Man?) Also, nobody should be allowed to write this character other than Tobin without a proper audition or something, because most of the Marvel writers fail to use her this well. I’m going to miss MA Tigra.

Marvel Super Hero Squad #1

Marvel Comics (November 2009)

SCRIPT: Mark Hoffmeier

STORY: Cort Lane & Hoffmeier

ARTIST: Christopher Jones

COLORIST: Sotocolor

LETTERER: Dave Sharpe

COVER: Marcelo Dichiara

PRODUCTION: Paul Acerios

EDITOR: Nathan Cosby

Wolverine is out getting hot dogs when he noticed M.O.D.O.K. (I wonder what the “K” stands for in the SHS universe?) heading for X-Men HQ. (Apparently the X-Men get a bigger break in Super Hero City.) Both of them find an “Infinity Fractal” on the roof, which switches their bodies. The other “Squaddies” arrive and defeat MODOlverine and take WolverDOK back to the Helicarrier. Wolverine is able to convince Ms. Marvel of the body switch, but MODOK has already trapped the Squad and is ready to escape with the Fractal, which switches the hero and villain back just in time for MODOK to get his butt kicking.

The story is followed by more strips, which I assume is from the Marvel site, but since the site never worked right I stopped reading it a long time ago.

What they got right: Super Hero Squad is meant to be a fun kids title (much like DC Super Friends), so it succeeds on that level. I love SHS Iron Man’s armor. It’s just so cute. And watching MODOK trying to be Wolverine is funny. The art resembles the figurines, which works better here than in DC Super Friends.

What they got wrong: Maybe it’s a story the target audience hasn’t seen before, but I have, so that’s a personal issue. I do wish the main story had been longer, but at least we get the strips to fill out the book.

Recommendation: This is what I thought the “Hero Up” one-shot was going to be, and it’s not bad. I still don’t think MA: Avengers needed to be canceled for it, if that is the case. It’s worth picking up for the kiddies.

Best Scene of the Week

Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes #15

This is why I'm going to miss her.

Oh, sneezes, am I going to miss her. Please, Paul Tobin, don’t stop writing MA: Tigra for long. Show the writers in Marvel Proper how it’s done!