The Back Stack: July 11, 2012

Welcome back to that one thing you read on the Internet between better quality works.  It’s time for another Back Stack, and last week was actually surprisingly good, with complaints few and far between.  Unfortunately, I missed World’s Finest #3, but I’ve enjoyed the first two issues so I’ll pick that up and hopefully review it soon.

For now, let’s get started and, as always, spoiler alert.

Amazing Spider-Man #689.  Spider-Man, when it’s on its a-game, is really good.  Suspenseful, funny, action-packed, interesting.  Despite One More Day’s best efforts, in the hands of writers who care, in this case Dan Slott, Spider-Man can still be a highlight item in your pull list.  While this issue wasn’t funny, it had plenty of other qualities you’d look for in a Spider-Man book.  This issue focuses on the “humanized” Lizard, returning to his appearance of Curt Conners, but he still has the mind of the Lizard.  What’s great about this issue is just how much precision the Lizard shows, even though in some cases, he hasn’t really shown this much tactical know-how in the past.  Oh, I’m not saying he’s not smart, but his perception of Morbius’ subtle motions is the one thing I raise an eyebrow at.  However, his plan to usurp control of Horizon Labs, capture Peter Parker’s boss, turn HIM into a Lizard himself, chase off Morbius, make him attack Horizon’s resident eye candy, and goad Spider-Man into chasing after the living vampire and beat him in a blind rage certainly does its job in delivering the suspense and intrigue.  What isn’t clear is if Lizard actually did anything to Spidey, or if he’s just really gone off the deep end, considering recent events with Silver Sable, Conners’ son, and Morbius’ employment at Horizon leading to his attack on a co-worker.  Not perfect, but still a damn good issue.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Avengers vs. X-Men #7.  If there is one thing I love about this issue is FINALLY seeing the Scarlet Witch back in action as well as the differing tactics of both the Avengers and the X-Men/Phoenix Five.  Speaking of the Phoenix Five, it looks like there is a bunch of dissention in the ranks.  So much for the five being united.  We got Emma keeping secrets from Cyclops, both the location of the Avengers AND her making out with Namor on the side, as well as members of the X-Men beginning to question the Phoenix Five.  I’m not sure if Namor was being goaded by Emma to attack the X-Men by himself, using the capture of the X-Man Transonic as a lure, but this issue has at least done enough to keep my interest as we enter the last half of this event.  One thing I really did like, though, was seeing that Cyclops hasn’t completely gone off his rocker and gone into supreme dictator.  He’s not looking to take, he’s looking for acceptance from the world.  He even shows mercy to Hawkeye when he’s burned alive by Emma.  Good deal there.

Verdict – Recommended

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #1 of 6.  I don’t know how I forgot about this, but seeing this triggered my earliest nostalgic memories, playing with Castle Grayskull, conquering Snake Mountain, and having no idea what supposed homosexual innuendos were in the TV show (just to note, I STILL don’t see them).  This comic though, wasn’t bad, but wasn’t particularly great.  We get our setup, but everything progresses at a snail’s pace.  Apparently, Skeletor is up to some bad voodoo that is seemingly reshaping the world in some way, or at least messing with Prince Adam’s memories and history.  We do get a good fight scene between Adam and Beast Man which shows the much weaker Adam using his wits to outsmart and beat his bigger, stronger, and probably faster enemy.  This was a decent read and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.  I just hope James Robinson doesn’t screw THIS up like he did Lian Harper.  Sorry, Linkara, but I’m giving the devil his due on this one.

Verdict – Recommended

Hulk #55.  This issue really picked things up on this whole angle.  We get cameos at the right time, some genuine emotion between the Red Hulk and his robotic squeeze, and a supposedly Mayan god bringing destruction at the cost of A-Bomb.  In addition, more Mayan demons come back as more and more heroes are lured into the temple’s trap.  On a side note, it’s really good to see Toro, former “member” of the Young Allies, again.  He hasn’t been seen since that incredibly stupid Onslaught Unleashed.  Mayan Rule has become a lot of fun and really made me a fan of Hulk again.

Verdict – Recommended

Invincible Iron Man #520.  This one had a lot of great action…both literally and figuratively.  Literally by having two confrontations on two different fronts in the form of the new Iron Man protecting Tony Stark and figuratively with Sasha Hammer fighting back against her would-be captor, Detroit Steel, in some extremely gratuitous shots of her sticking out her generous breasts and showing off her legs in low-cut short-shorts.  While I do find stuff like that a bit campy… I’m also a bit chauvinistic and get enjoyment out of it if it isn’t TOO silly.  The twist comes when we learn that the Mandarin is now in complete control of Tony Stark from just about anywhere he wants, making Tony fall to a knee and call him master to end the issue.  One thing I need to give this arc credit with is keeping things fresh.  I don’t know where each issue will end and I continue to find myself enjoying this more and more.  Yes, I was skeptical at first, but rereading and giving these books more of a proper shake is really letting this and Hulk score big with me.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Justice League International #11.  I am so sorry to see this title go.  When it’s not doing a stupid crossover with a book I have no interest in, this book continued to be a lot of fun and the premiere team book in the new DC Universe in my opinion.  We get some closure to the storyline about the fall of the Hall of Justice and the new villains challenging the JLI.  I’m not going to call the villains themselves memorable by any means, but this issue did have a lot of great moments including August General in Iron avenging Rocket Red in the end and Booster Gold showing his trust towards O.M.A.C.  Of course, being the penultimate issue, things do get rushed a bit drastically including the romance between Booster and Godiva.  Maybe someday we can come back to this team and we can have a FUN superhero team from DC.  Until then, Green Lantern: New Guardians, you’re our only hope.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Sonic the Hedgehog #238.  This issue of Sonic suffers from another Ian Flynnism.  Things wrapping up too fast and conveniently.  Forgetting the decent backup story involving the Secret Freedom Fighters which fills in most of the questions I had about the last Sonic Universe, and no, knowing them NOW doesn’t fix my opinion about it.  If there was still facts to get in, and not all of them are in, then the Secret Freedom Fighter arc should have been held off in Sonic Universe.  This brings us to the biggest issue with the 4-issue made-for-trade arc.  You’re absolutely STUCK with your time schedule.  You run into rare instances where if you pull the trigger too early, you won’t have all your information out, but if you pull the trigger too late, then you’ll have probably messed up your timing to have stories have the most impact on the reader.

As for the issue itself, as I said, pacing is one of Ian Flynn’s enemies and here, the rescue of Lupe, Tails fighting Mecha Sally, and the fight with Drago all wrap up far too quickly for the story’s own good and you don’t get a chance to truly see the impact of these results.  It also rushes in the Wolf Pack’s resident twins being suddenly shipped off for no apparent reason to join Harvey Who’s Secret Freedom Fighters.  Also, it seems that Ian Flynn is really nerfing Mecha Sally.  One thing that needs to happen is that she needs to be presented as a legitimate threat and possibly Eggman’s most deadly creation so that, when the time comes for them to rescue Sally, whenever that may or may not be, that it’ll truly be an uphill struggle and it may not work out.  At this rate, it’s shaping up to be a “Sonic runs in, does some speed stuff, and saves her” type of quick, cheap exit.  Again, an Ian Flynnism.

But, this isn’t exactly a BAD comic.  As quickly as it goes, the story is at least complete and, like I said, the backup story was decent and advanced the Secret Freedom Fighter story.  I really don’t see how this group is going to play into the future of the story, considering we already have a TWO other Freedom Fighter groups doing exactly what the Secret Freedom Fighters are doing, only in two distinct fields and with far more experienced members.  But, as with all things Sonic, I’m giving it a chance, despite my better judgment.

And yes, I’d have dropped this series if it wasn’t so rooted into my childhood.  I’d have to be downright offended to stop buying all together.  Right now, I’m just mad as hell.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

We close this week on Uncanny X-Men #15.  Psylocke and Magneto continue to have concerns over the Phoenix Five with Magneto being more accepting, naturally, while Psylocke has her doubts, also naturally.  Danger continues to be manipulated in such a way that everyone should be suspecting her.  Collossus attempts to negotiate with Cyttorak to release him as he’s accepted the Phoenix as his master now.  Cyttorak ain’t having that, yo, and he decides to keep Colossus.  I’m not entirely sure Cyttorak is actually more powerful than the Phoenix Force, but perhaps divided, it evens it out.  I don’t know.  Finally, Mr. Sinister.  Oops, someone found him and now the Phoenix Five are on their way to eliminate him.  Goodie.  Pro-active superheroes.  Can you sense my excitement?  Oh, wait, that’s sarcasm.  Going after Sinister seems a bit forced for my taste, but I really couldn’t get into that last issue, so maybe I’m missing something.  Overall, a good issue with enough happening to keep you from not dropping it because of a lousy issue #14.

Verdict – Recommended

And so ends our look back for another week and, thankfully, this one was very short.  Next week, however, will be very long, so I’ll try to get started early and maybe even get it up early.  Until then, I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog and, coming soon, pictures!  …Maybe!

Cheers;

Graves