Week of June 6th

Honorable Mention

Epic Kill # 2 (Image)

One girl against the police, the army...men in black suits with big guns...and all of them are in a world of hurt! Reading this book is like watching a John Woo movie unfold in your hands. Song is a young woman on a mission, and with the training she’s received, there is very little anyone can do to stop her. Anything in her hands becomes a weapon and shooting at her is like shooting at Neo in the Matrix...before when he could only dodge bullets. The layout and art are excellent...bringing enhancement to the gratuitous violence.

Uncanny X-Men # 13 (Marvel)

Continuing the Avengers versus the X-Men story, the Phoenix fast approaches and both teams face off in the blue area of the moon. Colossus, Emma Frost, Cyclops, Magik and Namor take it to Captain America, Thing, Red Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye. Meanwhile Unit is busy betraying the mutants...all in the name of science, of course. With the unwilling help of Danger, plans are set into motion that will change the course of everything...and when the Phoenix arrives, it makes an unexpected decision!

...and now for this weeks All-Stars!

Artifacts # 18

Company: Image/ Top Cow Productions

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Ron Marz, Artist: Stjepan Sejic, Letterer: Troy Peteri, Editor: Filip Sablik

All-Star Summary for Choice: The artwork of Stjepan Sejic never disappoints and simply blows away almost everyone. The pages make me salivate and give every issue tremendous re-read value. The attention to detail and clear renderings make this book a standard every other book should go by.

   The Angelus returns...but it’s not who Tom Judge thought it would be, making everything that much more complicated. To add to the madness, the new Angelus doesn’t waste any time going after the Darkness...making for a slash page that jumps clear out of the book at you.

   Balance must be maintained...but the Darkness made this new world, and he isn’t about to let anyone undo it...or alter it. Fortunately for Angelus, Tom Judge controls the Rapture and has the power to stave off the Darkness’s killing blow...for now. Everything is as it shouldn’t be...and look to get a lot worse before it gets better.

   If just for the artwork alone, this is one of the best books on the shelf...but it has a great story as well...making it s true gem among the many rocks.



All-Star Quote of the Book: “I don’t want the world...I just want you gone from it.”

NOTE: Adult situations and profanity.

Invincible Iron Man # 518 

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Matt Fraction, Artist: Salvador Larroca, Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna, Colorist: Frank D’Armata, Editor: Mark Paniccia.

All-Star Summary for Choice:  Iron Man no more! Say it isn’t so. Well, it kinda isn’t...but sorta is. Tony Stark has resigned from being Iron Man, but if that’s the case, who is in this new suit of armor that is now on the scene? Well...he likes war, and wears a machine (hint, hint). With  new gadgets and abilities that must be seen to be appreciated.

It’s Sasha Hammer versus Detroit Steel...in a fight that really only had one outcome. Meanwhile Spymaster is trying to close of a job that’s been along time in the making, but his intended victim simply refuses to make it easy for him. Easy or not..here he comes.

While the new Iron Man is trying to save lives at sea, Firepower has another idea...but I’m sure it wasn’t getting his butt kicked by the cutting edge technology of the invincible Iron Man. And if that’s not enough, Stane finally removes the bomb inside of him (courtesy of the Mandarin) and takes his grievance directly to the top...but the Mandarin is a very dangerous fellow indeed. The artwork is spectacular and enhances the whole experience.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “Don’t worry folks. I’m here to help.”

Red Lanterns # 10

Company: DC Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Peter Milligan, Artist: Miguel Sepulveda, Letterer: Carlos M. Mangual, Colorist: Rain Beredo, Editor: Pat McCallum.

All-Star Summary for Choice:  Just the ides of this book had me excited. The Red lantern, Atrocitus, versus Stormwatch! The cover alone had me salivating as it tantalized with Atrocitus laying waste to the Martian Manhunter, Apollo and Midnighter. I consider him a heavy-weight, but to suggest he is that heavy....is a must read book!

From the beginning the art work is spectacular. I think DC is in dire need to establish their space program as when I think space heroes and adventures, I think Marvel. A book like this one gave that old Marvel space adventure feel, but with brilliant color and enormous amounts of gratuitous violence. The very fact that Atrocitus was able to rip through hyperspace and find the Eye of the Storm was mind numbing.

Every once in a while, there comes a book the redefines a character and puts that character on another level thought impossible, making it all the more impressive. This is just that type of book, and Atrocities has become that character. Apollo and the Martian manhunter are NOT lightweights...on par with Superman, and Midnighter is very capable and no less dangerous. So then, what does it say about Atrocitus to be able to stand toe-to-toe with them and give better than he got? I guess there is great power in rage...or at least the rage of Atrocitus.

All-Star Quote of the Book: “He’s here! Somehow hiding...in a void...beyond the fabric of space itself. In which case...I shall...incinerate space...and then tear nothingness itself.”

The Mighty Thor Annual # 1

Company: Marvel

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: J.M Dematteis, Artists: Richard Elson, Colorists: Morry Hollowell with Wil Quintana, Letterer: Dave Sharpe, Editors: Lauren Sankovitch & Ralph Macchio.

All-Star Summary for Choice: I just got through speaking about great space adventures in reviewing the Red Lanterns # 10...and here we go again! While the former had a classic Marvel feel to it, this book is an instant classic when it comes to space adventures. The players are all on deck, The Watcher, Scrier, Galactus, The Other...we even get treated to having the story narrative put directly to the reader by Oblivion. It doesn’t get any better than that.

   In the machinations of cosmic entities, beings like the Silver Surfer and Thor are little more than blips flickering for an instant. It’s great writing that gets this point across in just a few panels as a meeting between Scrier and Galactus demonstrates. Oblivion talking directly to the reader with questions like “Did you see it...just for an instant?” is the icing on the cake. The art and coloring are among the best in the industry...meaning this is one of those books that takes some time to read, since everything has to be thoroughly digested.

   The layouts are grand. Every so often a full page is dedicated to the presentation of something bigger than life...demonstrating just how small our heroes are and how powerful and overwhelming the situation is that they face. I counted six such splash pages...the last tipping the scales on the “whoa” meter as Scrier hurles a half dozen planets at Galactus...to no avail! Yeah...it’s THAT kind of book!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “But have either of you ever prepared...for a war against Galactus?”

X-O Manowar # 2

Company: Valiant Comics

All-Star Crew of Presenters: Writer: Robert Venditti, Artist: Cary Nord, Inker: Stefano Gaudiano,  Letterer: Dave Lanphear, Colorist: Moose Baumann, Editor: Warren Simons

All-Star Summary for Choice: A prisoner of the Spider Aliens, Aric and the others are forced to work the “fields” and cultivate the “offspring.” A hungry prisoner gets caught taking a bite and Aric steps in...full of righteous anger, to stop the beat down...costing him a hand for his trouble. What got me was the next page after this event...”years later.” Just putting myself in his shoes...and it left me wondering where he found the hope and will to survive.

   Since the All-Star Crew hasn’t changed, the artwork in this book is still very rich and vibrant. The art does a very good job of conveying the feeling of the situation these men are in. They must work without reprieve, save for a simple nightly rest, and if they can’t perform, prove to be inadequate...or simply die, they go to the compost room where they will continue to serve the cause of the Spider Aliens as fertilizer for the fields! Talk about a bad situation with no upside.

   Of course, Aric will make his own upside by staging an escape. As expected, it is very violent and very bloody...and can only end with Aric coming face-to-face with Shanhara, the X-O armor. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for since I first heard that the book was coming back to the shelf...and everything leading up to this hasn’t disappointed in the least. X-O is back baby!

All-Star Quote of the Book: “I am finished arguing. Today will mark the end of our suffering”