The Back Stack: March 22, 2012 (DOUBLE WEEK SPECIAL!)

Hello, one and all, and welcome to a double feature of The Back Stack!  For those of you who don’t follow my Twitter account, you’ll recall I mentioned that I actually had last week’s Back Stack all finished, but just forgot to post it.  Derp on my part.  Now, I didn’t want to just ignore what I did put down since it really was all finished, so I decided to incorporate it into this week’s Back Stack.  Therefore, you may find some of it doesn’t flow quite as well as it should, and for that, I apologize.

As always, SPOILER ALERT.  Let us begin.

The Amazing Spider-Man #681.  This was just okay, but it does give me high hopes for what Doc Ock’s “Last Master Plan” is.  This has been building up for well over a year now and it’s time to see the payoff.  Five issues are coming up and they can’t possibly live up to my expectations… well, they can, but I’m not getting my hopes up.  Anyway, this issue.  It was just good, simple, superhero fun.  Nothing more, nothing less.  I can’t say it was bad, but it’s far from a standout in my opinion.  I have to say, considering Doctor Octopus and the Sinister Six outshined the Fantastic Four, Avengers Academy, and Iron Man in the past year or so, it’s a little striking that Doc Ock panics at the sight of Spider-Man, but that’s likely attributed to their history.  What I did like about this issue was that the characters genuinely seemed human, aside from Human Torch who primarily acted like the petulant brat he was before he died, only older.  J. Jonah Jameson seeming human in regards to his son was nice to see in particular during this arc.  Good issue, not great.

Verdict – Recommended

Avengers #24 brings to an abrupt close the Norman Osborn’s second coming angle.  A LOT happens in this issue and, unfortunately, it feels very rushed and poorly timed.  I think this issue coming out when it did hurts the upcoming issue of New Avengers where the New Avengers will apparently beat the New Dark Avengers.  Yeah, thanks for the spoilers there, Marvel.  But, I digress.  We learn a lot about why Norman Osborn has all these powers and it’s actually fairly clever.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s also extremely goofy considering how Norman Osborn actually looks, especially when he uses the Red hulk’s powers.  Now, help me out with this one, guys, but isn’t The Vision a machine?  In this issue, we learn Osborn also has Vision’s powers, but his own scientists acknowledged that he could only take the powers of those on a GENETIC level, like a member of the X-Men or someone like the Hulk or Luke Cage.  He couldn’t take the powers of someone magical, like this cover suggested, and he couldn’t take the powers and properties of a machine like The Vision.  This was a HUGE oversight in my opinion.  Also, it seems as though The Hand will work for anybody.  I thought they were exclusively working with The Kingpin, but somehow Osborn has them for his crew.  How the heck did THAT happen?!

No doubt this angle got rushed so Bendis can begin his role with Avengers vs. X-Men (by the way, I AM rooting for the X-Men on that one; sentimental reasons) and the stage being set for future issues seems to have really suffered because of it.  It’s a disappointment in the grand scheme of things.  However, looking at the issue itself, it’s fairly solid with good superhero action character bits, especially with THE RETURN OF THE PROTECTOR.  Where the heck has he been, anyway, Bendis?  I’d typically say this would be a regular “Recommended” vote, in spite of its flaws, but because this should really have come out after the next issue of New Avengers, I can’t do it.  But I wouldn’t say “Pass” either, because it’s an issue definitely worth reading.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended (spoiler warning for the next New Avengers)

Avengers Academy #27 was pretty good, as has been expected, but I can’t help but feel we’re in a meandering phase in the series’ run.  Nothing feels like we’re building up to the inevitable clash between Avengers Academy and that supposed humanitarian group that Jeremy Briggs is running.  We had some potential there, but it seems like it’s all back seat at the moment.  We do get to see the Runaways for this issue and next, which would help if anyone actually read The Runaways.  I can’t say any of the Runaways come across as particularly interesting outside of Nico, the spellcaster, and Molly, a.k.a. Princess Powerful, a.k.a. Bruiser.  The rest of the Runaways are just sort of there for the sake of being there.  The story lends itself to a nice team-up in which one of the Runaways has lost their pet dinosaur and the two teams have to go retrieve it, only to be confronted with Devil Dinosaur.  I don’t know how this’ll push the teams forward, but I’m guessing it’ll have some kind of moral thing that will put the Academy to the test against Briggs when the inevitable moment of truth comes.  Good stuff in this issue, just not very compelling.

Verdict – Recommended

Avengers Assemble #1 was actually a pretty decent comic outing for The Avengers.  I’ll admit, I had apprehensions about this book coming out of the gate, but it was a fine first issue.  If I had one complaint is that it didn’t perfectly introduce us to all the different characters and I think that’s a big failing for a book that’s supposed be a #1 issue for people who may just be getting into comics, as what all #1s should strive to achieve.  We get a neat new group of villains who are based off of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, led by Cancer.  The book has some good action and at least a few good character bits.  I’ll pick up the next issue, certainly, just to see where it’ll go.  This one was just fun… even if I still hate Hawkeye’s new costume.

Verdict – Recommended

Avengers:  The Children’s Crusade #9.  This long, drawn out series finally reaches its end and of course it doesn’t end on a high note.  We get characters dying needlessly, an ending that’s drawn out far too long, and a team splitting up for no reason only to be reunited for little reason.  I like Allen Heinberg’s writing, but the man should not be called upon for series’ that should be monthly.  One-shots?  Fine.  Stand-alone graphic novels?  Fine.  A nine-issue mini-series that’ll be finished in more than a year and a half’s time?  NOT fine.  I’m sorry, but for a series this long, Heinberg and his long, drawn-out process of writing was not something I felt would hurt this series and I can’t help but feel it has.  This issue was just a bit bleh.  And, of course, the big story, Scarlet Witch, basically gets shelved in the end to be called upon when a writer needs her.  Again, Heinberg is a good writer, but his consistent delays don’t suit him to monthly series’ of any length.  Momentum dies and I think even he is affected by it sometimes.  This is another unfortunate case of such, though.

Verdict – Pass

Batgirl #7 wasn’t bad.  We get a nice cameo from Black Canary as Barbara Gordon not only struggles with her paralyzation at the hands of the Joker, but we also see the confrontation between her mother and father.  It’s… uncomfortable, to say the least, but Commissioner Gordon at least makes an effort.  We also bring focus into Batgirl’s brother, Jim Gordon Jr.  And… that’s all I’m going to say about it.  Good book, but from Gail Simone, I still expect damn close to great after the likes of Birds of Prey and Secret Six (which I still can’t believe I got into so late).

Verdict – Recommended

Batman and Robin #7 was a damn fine issue.  We see Batman exhibit emotion so raw that you can actually feel it emanating from the page.  In fact, this is the big hallmark of this issue and the series as a whole so far.  Emotion.  The family binds, the inner turmoil, the passion, everything just clicks and that’s something not easily done in literature, even in comics that at least has the advantage of visual aid.  Batman going to the ends of the earth for his son, almost breaking his vow of no death, and the pleading look of his son, as well as the twist ending, are things that I think even some of the best books out there can take a lesson from.  I can’t recommend this series enough and I am now convinced that this is another one of the hallmark titles of the New 52.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Captain America #9 was good too.  This one focuses more on Sharon Carter confronting and eventually releasing the Machinesmith for the answer to why Cap keeps getting depowered.  Falcon gets captured by the villain, Bravo, too, but the real focus is on Sharon doing “what needs to be done.”  Obviously, this’ll come back to haunt her AND Cap, but hey, it’s nice progression and keeps me interested for the next issue.  Sometimes, that’s all I ask.

Verdict - Recommended

The Defenders #4 was a more introspective look at Doctor Strange.  It was a nice spotlight on his character and his relationship with his love interest, Martha.  We also get some more information on the machine they stole at the end of Defenders #3.  It’s supposedly some kind of wish machine and, as we discover later, it may have connections to something in Atlantian history as its same shape appears in an underwater ruin that Namor examines.  There isn’t a lot to say about this issue other than it was pretty good and it builds up for its next story arc nicely.

Verdict – Recommended

Demon Knights #7.  I wanted to give this series every bit of a chance as I possibly could.  The premise was interesting and the characters enjoyable, but in my mind, it just failed to come together as well as I would have liked it to.  It started off on a very strong note, but around issue #4, it started to fall apart for me.  I’m not hurting for swords and sorcery titles as I pick up two Red Sonja titles that at least feel coherent and interesting, if not extremely racy sometimes.  I do like the fact that Demon Knights will be more of a superhero comic in the medieval Arthurian times, but it’s just not clicking for me.  Certainly, I hope the book succeeds for the fans who do like it, but I’m on a limited budget as is, a budget that’ll be getting tighter as the days go on for me, so unfortunately, this means I’m going to have to drop it.  It’s a shame, too.  A book that was so enjoyable with intriguing characters just ended up so squandered in these recent issues.  Again, I wanted to give it so much of a chance, but, like Blue Beetle, I may have given it too much rope.  Unlike Blue Beetle, Wonder Woman, or Action Comics, though, I don’t drop this book out of anger or rage.  I drop it out of a feeling of unfulfillment.  If you guys still like it, I encourage you t continue reading it.  You are under no obligation to read the exact same things as I or anyone else does.  This is the end of the line for Demon Knights for me, though.

Verdict – Pass (personally dropping)

Fantastic Four #604.  Hot damn was this a fantastic way to end a run by Jonathan Hickman.  I know, one more issue, but this issue ties together all the angles, the good and the bad.  I can honestly say that I’m mixed about this end.  On one hand, I’m glad the goofy Council of Reeds thing is over, for its good and bad moments, and that we get the Fantastic Four proper back together after Johnny Storm’s supposed death.  If I had one complaint about this issue, it’s that the Fantastic Four themselves more or less sit back and watch Future Franklin Richards do battle with the Celestials in a pretty impressively scaled battle.  We get emotional character moments within the family and the promise of moving onward and upward with the Fantastic Four.  This is a near-perfect way to end a writer’s run on a comic and I can only hope he’ll get one of the Avengers titles Brian Michael Bendis will be dropping… hopefully with Paul Tobin getting the other.  Don’t miss Fantastic Four #604.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Fear Itself: The Fearless #10 was all over the place, from the death of one of Valkyrie’s allies to the revelation (already) of Sin’s new armor of destruction in the spirit of Odin’s Destroyer… and its absolutely ridiculous weapon of a ball and chain-like weapon with all eight of the Serpent’s hammers at the end.  Seriously, what battle rationale does this have?  The issue sets up next issue’s inevitable battle where Valkyrie, now teamed with most of the major Marvel Universe heroes, including The Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Avengers, arrive for the big scrap with the big bad.  However, not enough really happens in this book other than a hint that Damian Hellstorm in fact IS a double agent in this war for the hammers.  I’d say just wait for the next issue. 

Verdict – Pass

Frankenstein:  Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #7 good as usual, but not quite one of the top titles on the shelf, again, as usual.  We get some advancement to the new evil baddies from before, whom have taken on some bizarre complex with Nina Mizursky as their mother.  We do get a lot of fun action bits with Frankenstein and even Father.  We get an admittedly weak twist at the end, but it’s still unexpected, so take it for what it’s worth.  My biggest fear going forward is that this will be a “ho-hum” book where we won’t exactly be getting a lot of surprises and things may begin to feel mundane.  Or, hey, we may just be in a lull period for the book.

Verdict – Recommended

Green Lantern #7 left me a little confused.  It promises a secret regarding the Indigo Tribe, but I didn’t exactly see anything that could hint… anything.  It becomes clear that Hal Jordan can’t escape Sinestro no matter how hard he tries.  However, Carol obviously sees his desperation for normalcy, so she jumps into his world, taking up the Star Sapphire ring to go after him.  We also see more of the Guardians of the Universe preparing their bid to apparently overhaul the Green Lantern Corps.  Good setup, but a bit of a light read in my book.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Hulk #49 was a fun little action romp with seemingly no point whatsoever.  Sure, it’ll probably have some pay-off later, but this issue was what it was.  Action was the focus and mostly forgettable.  There wasn’t just anything to this issue by itself.  It felt… empty.  Hulk does battle with the Eternals, but you can’t help but feel this was a one-and-done.  I don’t know what else to say about it.  The action wasn’t good and the characterization wasn’t that great either.  This book missed the mark in so many ways, it wasn’t even funny.  It wasn’t terrible, but it was just bad enough for me to not recommend it.

Verdict – Pass

The Incredible Hulk #6.  I don’t know how to feel going forward.  They’re teasing that Bruce Banner is going to be killed off, and while I think that it won’t actually happen, the idea of such is something that I think would do more harm than good to the Jade Giant.  The Incredible Hulk has always been about the inner struggle between man and monster, in the ilk of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  You remove one from the equation by killing that part off, and you lose a huge dynamic.  What made “Heart of the Monster” work so well was that both Banner and Hulk had something to fight for with Betty Ross/Red She-Hulk.  If they really are going down the road of Banner being killed and having just The Hulk, I don’t think the character has nearly any appeal left.  As for this issue, it was a bit bleh for my taste.  The new writer, whose name I STILL forget, just hasn’t lived up to the shoes that Greg Pak left to be filled.  Nothing is quite clicking, even though the concepts are strong and the story flows well.  Something just feels like it’s missing.  I’m still giving this book a shot, not out of my fandom of the Greg Pak Incredible Hulk, but the genuine interest in seeing where this story is going.  Do they really kill Bruce Banner?  Will the two be reunited in the end?  This can go off really well or really stupid really quick depending on what happens in the next issue, but as a penultimate issue, I think it fell short.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Journey Into Mystery #635.  This angle is starting to come together.  I like the interactions between Loki and Leah and their developing relationship, as well as Loki genuinely beginning to seem more heroic than he really should be (being the prince of lies and all).  Hellstorm also adds to the dynamic, but I find that this issue, much like past issues, still suffers from the same problem.  The walls of text on various pages.  Sometimes, it’s hard to get a grasp of whether it’s important or not and, sometimes, it doesn’t begin particularly interesting, and I just glance through it.  Yeah, a comic reviewer just “glances through” some scenes.  The dirty secret is out!

Actually, it’s those walls of text that keep me from loving Journey Into Mystery as much as I probably should.  I normally don’t mind a lot of text, but the way it’s done here, it’s done in a third person perspective and it actually just takes me out of the rhythm of the comic early.  If the writing in these scenes could just improve, I’d probably enjoy this book a lot more.

Verdict – Recommended

Justice League International #7… well, this series started off strongly, but I can’t help but feel that this issue was pulling the rug out from under the fans’ feet a bit.  We finally see the team come together and get to know how they’ll likely work… and it ends with all but four members active and accounted for with the rest either dying, leaving, or being hospitalized (warning, MAJOR spoilers ahead).  Yes, a nicely-mixed team of heroes ends with Rocket Red dying, Vixen, Fire, and Ice hospitalized, Batman leaving for no good reason whatsoever, and the two liaisons for the JLI also being killed off.  I don’t know how to exactly feel about this, but with Vixen’s spine busted up, Ice’s leg broken, Fire comatose, Godiva consistently being depicted as inept, and the female UN representative being depicted as a snarky and angry individual more apt to dripping the hammer than anything else, this issue actually felt kind of backhanded to all of the women characters to boot.  Yeah, the women get banged up, Batman acts like a dick, and the Russian dies.  Mean spirited much?

The only saving grace for this issue was that we see some characterization for Booster as he continues to struggle with being a leader… but that’s a damn poor consolation prize considering how much of a punch to the gut this issue was.  I am still interested in seeing where this is all going, so the writer DID do his job there, but the way it was done still royally sucks.

Verdict – Pass

Archie Comics returns to The Back Stack in the form of Mega Man #11… and it’s more of the same mess and problems that I’ve criticized this run of Mega Man comics about before, and then some.  The new Robot Masters go down without much of a fight (except for Flash Man who clearly would have beaten Mega Man if not for Quick Man killing him himself), more of the same speech and spiel between Mega Man and Doctor Light, going through the carbon copy motions of each of the levels PRACTICALLY EXACTLY, and now we have a heavy reliance on INTERNET MEMES.  Seriously, we get references to “I Can’t Defeat Air Man.”  Wonderful.  The Internet, rather than the writer himself, dictated Air Man’s character.  Then again, this is Ian Flynn we’re talking about, so it should come as no big surprise.

I’ve been with this comic from the get go for one single reason.  I’m a Mega Man fan.  However, I knew not to have high expectations based on Ian Flynn’s work on the Sonic the Hedgehog comics.  Unfortunately, I didn’t think it’d be this bad.  We see Flynn DESPERATELY trying to fit in setup, eight Robot Master battles, Mega Man’s infection angle (which was the only clever thing about this mess, but still somehow dully executed), the return of the original Robot Masters (overly dramatically if you ask me), and, still to come in ONE 32-PAGE ISSUE, Dr. Wily’s final battle, likely Skull Castle, the robotic dragon, probably a rematch with ALL EIGHT NEW ROBOT MASTERS, and the conclusion.  This is where the 4-issue made-for-trade cookie cutter structure really hurts and for as weak of a writer that Ian Flynn is, it won’t end well.  Burying the Robot Masters, Mary Sueing Mega Man, and repetitive text has made reading Mega Man during this angle a CHORE.

Also, unless Ian Flynn is suggesting that the Robot Masters INTENTIONALLY lost to Mega Man so he would take in the pieces of the malware program that Wily cooked up, I refuse to believe that Mega Man can interface with Metal Man  while he’s still alive long enough to take his Metal Blade and use it against him MID-FIGHT.  Look, I know Metal Man is insanely weak to his own weapon, but that is just lazy writing and I’m growing more and more impatient with him as we go on with this comic.  Eleven issues in and I can’t say there have been many I’ve honestly enjoyed.  If it weren’t for the fact that Mega Man was a part of my childhood, I probably wouldn’t have given this damn book a shot because, as I’ve said, I know Ian Flynn.  Ian Flynn is a terrible writer who squanders what good ideas he comes up with at the cost of the reader.  I don’t know how he’s whipped so many people into enjoying his works, but I’d like to know.  I want to be a writer myself one day.  If my books don’t end up that well written, I’d like to know how to get suckers like me to keep buying them.

In the words of Linkara… THIS COMIC SUCKS!

Verdict – Pass

Static Shock #7 was an alright one shot.  Not a lot happens, but we get good character moments with Static and his clone sisters.  Unfortunately, there is only one more issue left with this series, which is a shame because I had high hopes for it, especially after so many delays and my fandom of the old cartoon show.  This was the best young hero comic out there, easily beating out Teen Titans, Superboy, and DEFINITELY Blue Beetle.  My opinion, the wrong book got the shaft.

Verdict – Recommended

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:  Infection 2 #1 was something I approached with great hesitation when I saw that the team was different from the ongoing series, but it actually surprised me in a pleasant way.  The story is a bit of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles meets Resident Evil with zombie-like infected creatures and bizarre mutants that basically cause all kinds of havoc for our favorite foursome.  It’s a two-part tale, so it’ll be done real quick, but so far we have some decent story and some good action (as well as some lighthearted moments, which has its own unique charm).  It’s a complete single issue.

Verdict – Recommended

Thunderbolts #170.  No, this wasn’t from last week’s solicitations, but I missed it when it came out, so I picked it up and I’m reviewing it here and now.  Was it worth the wait for me?  Well… yes!  Thunderbolts is one of my favorite books and in spite of all the character changes and sometimes loony storylines, it’s generally enjoyable and I rather like this stop-over in Arthurian times, definitely more so than the other times the team stopped by since leaving Captain America’s time period.

Verdict – Recommended

Uncanny X-Men #8.  We bring an end to the story regarding the highly evolved species that lived below the Dakota city.  It ties up the loose ends, including dealings with the Unwife, Magik getting Colossus under control again after an admittedly freaky form he took, and Namor having sex with a sea creature to Hope’s disgust.  There are plenty of enjoyable moments, but the wind-down of the book is a bit of a down-note with Psylocke seemingly getting the worst end of the deal, having to tell the people of the city that the people trapped there are lost.  Her ending conversation with Magneto was fairly interesting and I’m wondering if she’ll eventually be the one who brings down Cyclops’ iron fisted reign over mutants.  That… would actually be something I’d be interested in seeing.  This issue wasn’t bad, but I can’t help but feel that there was a sense of unfulfillment after the angle.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Wolverine and the X-Men #7.  Wow… what a whiplash-inducing trip this was.  First the good.  We get some good character bits from many characters, especially Quinton Quire, a.k.a. Kid Omega, as he and Wolverine basically try to knock over an intergalactic casino and hijinks ensues.  Next, Broo, son of Brood, gets a chance to shine.  I don’t know what it is, but seeing the little guy get super scrappy on someone 10-times their size is just a laugh.  Now for the bad… we get a bit of forced romance between Kitty Pryde and Iceman.  I know they’ve been together for a while on the X-Men, and while I don’t recall any history between them romantically speaking (outside of the Ultimate universe), and while I CAN see them getting together, I can’t help but feel that this had an ulterior motive behind it other than good storytelling.  Also, Kid Gladiator hasn’t endeared himself to me one bit yet.  But the biggest problem is the fact that the book doesn’t seem to want to stay on one story arc for more than a page or two and that made me feel a little disoriented at times.  However, taking in all that the issue had to offer, I have to say it was finally the stronger book between it and Uncanny X-Men this time, when recently I’ve actually felt the latter.  Not that I ever thought Wolverine and the X-Men was a bad book.  Far from it.  It’s the best Wolverine book out there and definitely the second best X-Men title.  This book continues that mindset for me.

Verdict – Recommended

X-Men #26 was a step up from the last issue, and that was a good thing.  I’m glad to see Deadpool sort of team up with the X-Men, thanks to Domino promising him a date, to repel the invading bounty hunters who want to cash in by taking out the vampires that Jubilee’s taken the side of.  Speaking of whom, I can’t help but feel that, for all his efforts to reject her, Raizo (I forget his name) is acting very touchy-feely with Jubilee.   It’s a little off-putting to say the least.  We get some good action bits and a little bit of development for Storm to boot (tough to do well with a character as tenured as she is).  However, this arc still feels a bit messy for my taste and it’s keeping me from totally enjoying it.  I dunno.  Maybe it’s the prospect of seeing Jubilee get shelved again or maybe I’m just not that into the story arc itself, which is a shame since the first one was done pretty well in my opinion.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

And we end The Back Stack with the end of a series.  X-23 #21.  Forget the fact that now Marvel has NO books left that star a female protagonist, and no, Ms. Marvel being a 2^nd in command of the New Avengers doesn’t count since she’s practically a background character in that book anyway, and no, Rogue being the lead of X-Men Legacy doesn’t count either since that book is more about her clique of X-Men as a whole rather than Rogue herself.  This leaves a terrible void in the Marvel Universe that needs filling.  I don’t care if they bring back Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, or Spider-Girl (Anya Corazon, not that awful Mayday Parker MC2 series), give Spider-Woman or Black Cat an ongoing, or start something new with Scarlet Witch, but the lack of a woman hero title is a demographic gap that needs filling fast.

Anyway, the issue itself… for the end of X-23, it was… incredibly lackluster.  There’s a vision spirit quest where she’s naked for more than half the book (yes, the teenage girl nude for more than half the book.  Way to keep it classy, Marvel) and NO TEXT.  I know we’re supposed to be interpretive with stuff like this, but honestly, this wasn’t the way to really do this for a SERIES-ENDING title.  You want it to be big, exciting, or at least leave you with something.  This… just left me with an empty feeling.  I don’t know if it’s because we KNOW what happens to X-23 (she joined Avengers Academy recently), but this just hit me the entirely wrong way, especially for a series I loved, even if it started to putter out towards the end.  Even though I’d encourage this title on a normal basis, I’m sorry… I simply can’t because it’s unnecessary and dull.  If I knew there was another issue coming, yes, I’d absolutely still continue it, but as this is the end, new readers would probably gain very little from this.

Also, the artwork is terribly lacking.  X-23 didn’t have the best artwork, which was fine, but for a title that has NO text until the end when it gives a clichéd “The End and The Beginning…” your artwork better be impactful, meaningful, and GREAT.  Also, the art doesn’t exactly tell us a whole lot, or if it was meant to tell us a lot it goes by so briefly that it’ll go over an average reader’s head.  I guess there was supposed to be something about her fighting her inner darkness, but we see that this issue didn’t resolve that as she’s still struggling at Avengers Academy, so really, this issue comes across as COMPLETELY POINTLESS.

It’s a pain to see such a wonderful and enjoyable series end like this not only because of what it means in the big Marvel Comics picture, but as a fan of this series who stuck with it from the Women of Marvel X-23 one-shot.  It just isn’t very satisfying… but still FAR better than Mega Man #11.  It’s just a shame to see such a fine title go out with a whimper instead of a bang.

Verdict – Pass

So, yeah.  Couple of big weeks and some BIG disappointments.  However, this week saw the return of Archie Comics to stores and the family friendly rack is generally better for it… just keep staying away from the Ian Flynn stuff, though.  He HASN’T gotten any better.  In fact, I think he’s getting worse.  Maybe someday kids can get comics outside of the Marvel Adventures line that I’d be proud to recommend.  When that day comes and the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic comic or the return of Darkwing Duck comes into fruition, I’ll be waiting to yell “Shut up and take my money!”

Heck, I’m still waiting on the return of Anya Corazon.

Oh, before I go, I just wanted to let you guys know that I got a replacement DVD for the My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic DVD, The Friendship Express.  So, let me give you my full honest opinion, taking off my Derpy glasses for this one since the effects of Derpy-gate are starting to subside with me.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: The Friendship Express (fixed disc).   While the audio issues ARE fixed, a lot of the other problems I mentioned are still prominent.  Episodes typically begin a couple seconds into the beginning scene, which is off-putting for episodes that begin with early dialogue or scene-setting visuals.  This is remedied with a touch of the back button, but that effort shouldn’t be necessary.  Shout Factory really screwed this one up.  The picture quality is still far from par, in my opinion, which is a shame since one of the shows’ big hallmarks is the fantastic animation.  However, with the audio fixed in episode one, the episodes are still very enjoyable, although I don’t consider Over A Barrel one of the series’ better episodes by any means.

Again, though, this wouldn’t have my idea for a theme to have my first DVD be based on.  Having the first two episodes in your first release is fine for people looking to get into the show so they can get a little backstory, but as much as I love Hearth’s Warming Eve and The Last Roundup (either version), they take place in season two, when the characters have developed and become closer to one another.  If it were up to me, I’d have dropped that terrible Pound Puppies episode, put a sixth episode on the set, and have four remaining episodes after the Elements of Harmony two-parter focus on the characters.  I’d have gone with Look Before You Sleep for Applejack and Rarity, Feeling Pinkie Keen for Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie, Dragonshy for Fluttershy, and The Mysterious Mare Do-Well for Rainbow Dash.  But, that’s just me.  If you INSIST on that Pound Puppies episode, I guess you could go Feeling Pinkie Keen, Fall Weather Friends (Applejack and Rainbow Dash, but that’s not exactly a good way of introducing those two), and Green Isn’t Your Color (Rarity and Fluttershy).

This is going to come down to how badly you want perfect video quality.  If you’re considering buying the DVD, then the episodes aren’t an issue to begin with.  You do get some okay bonus features in the bio videos and the sing along of the extended main theme (which is honestly pretty addicting and “HNNNGGGGG” worthy).  There’s also a coloring page which you can print out for a little one if you go into the DVD’s files on your PC and it’s of Fluttershy.  I actually would have liked it if they either did a group shot or multiple pages, each with an individual or group pony shot.  Just Fluttershy, love her though I do, seems a little exclusive to some fans in my book.  What if their favorite pony is Rainbow Dash and they don’t particularly care for Fluttershy (shocking though it may sound)?  That’s a wasted feature right there.

Ah well.  While there are some nitpicky issues, I don’t think any of them are really a deal breaker.  When I last reviewed this, I took in the mistakes with the audio sync in the first episode and being in the wake of Derpy-gate.  With the audio fixed, I can fully enjoy this DVD and it’s something I’d gladly share with little ones.  Or, I’d just share it with myself.  Like I said; I’m a total brony.

FINAL OVERALL Verdict – Recommended

And finally, we’re done.  An appropriate Back Stack on Tuesday!

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

EDIT – Before anyone asks, yes, I have heard about Ms. Marvel getting a new series and her taking on the mantle of “Captain Marvel.”  Although I don’t like the fact she’s losing a mantle that she rose to even greater prominence in the comic world, my gladness of seeing an awesome character get another series overrules that at the moment… although I still hate her haircut.  Kinda like the costume, though… but that mask needs to be revised.

The Back Stack: March 6, 2012

Hello one and all and welcome again to The Back Stack, Grave Issues’ weekly column of my initial opinions of various issues of comics.  It’s a short week this week and, unfortunately, the releases weren’t great, but not bad… for the most part.  As always, spoiler alert.

Before we begin, I want to address the lack of reviews for the recent issues of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic Universe, the Mega Man trade, and Thunderbolts.   Covering Thunderbolts quickly, I just flat-out missed the issue and will pick it up this week.  As for the three other titles, it turns out that Archie Comics is having MAJOR issues with Diamond Distributors.  I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s hurting not only the fans, not only the comic book shops, but them as well.  The fans are getting hurt by this issue because they don’t get their comics.  The comic shops are getting hurt by this because they’re losing money either to rival shops that somehow weaseled issues anyway or to the digital distribution services that Archie Comics seems to be pimping lately.  And finally, they’re hurting because the issues they’re printing aren’t being moved.  This is a three-way lose situation and it needs to be resolved.  Now, I COULD  download the two Sonic issues I missed digitally, but I don’t believe in digital distribution when I have a comic book store nearby that needs to keep it’s people in work.  If you don’t have a comic shop near you, digital distribution is perfectly fine, but I DO have one and I’m going to support them.  So Archie, get your head out of your ass and ship your merchandise, dammit!  Not that I’m entirely interested in Ian Flynn’s disasterpieces, but as a COLLECTOR, I’m ticked off.

And with that mini-tirade out of the way, let’s begin.

Amazing Spider-Man #680 seems to be kicking off Doctor Octopus’ big-time scheme that he worked all of 2011 to put into motion.  I’m very interested in what Dan Slott has planned.  For all the build-up, I’m expecting big things.  The issue itself wasn’t bad either, but I think that they’re overplaying the antagonistic attitude from Human Torch to Spider-Man.  We have some decent moments from J. Jonah Jameson too, which will probably end up screwing over Peter Parker again in the long run.  While it changes the setting to a decidedly non-Spider-Man role, being a space station, it does so while still making it feel like a solid Spider-Man book.

Verdict – Recommended

The Avengers #23 wasn’t a bad comic by any stretch.  While it’s a bummer to see Vision squandered and while there is still no sign of the Protector, unless I missed something, and we get more of Osborn’s power play, but one thing on that.  Osborn’s liaison to talk to the US Government, Madame Hydra, had her Hydra Hulks attack the caravan including the secretary of defense, and they’re still trying to play up that Osborn could get his position of power?  Is Bendis HIGH?!  In spite of that snafu, because dumber things have happened in comics, we get to see Quake get her chance to shine by freeing members of the Avengers into a confrontation with Osborn and a swarm of ninjas.  This could turn out to be an awesome fight and, hopefully, we’ll get a detailed explanation as to what Osborn did to himself to get powers of a butt-load of superheroes.  Good character moments and, in spite of a hiccup here and there, it isn’t a bad read.

Verdict – Recommended

FF #15 solidified to me that I should have dropped this book a long time ago.  I find it impossibly difficult to get connected to any of the characters short of Doctor Doom, who has been absent most of the time, and Val, who in the end isn’t that interesting from the get go, even if she’s supposed to be, what, TWO?  Okay, that’s unfair, and it’s kind of a letdown, because I think if Marvel’s failed at one thing it’s been developing their young heroes and the ones they DO develop and turn into something awesome, they can’t do enough to hold the book on the rack, like my beloved Arana/Spider-Girl.  While I like to think that Avengers Academy is doing a good job of developing new young heroes, this book did not.  It has been a living bore and I’m done with it.  The story is uninteresting, the connection to the Fantastic Four storyline is questionable, and there are better books out there.

Verdict – Pass (Personally Dropping)

Justice League #6 was… extremely anti-climatic considering this book was supposed to be the grand introduction to the New DC Universe… and now apparently we’re getting teases that the OLD universe could be returning in some capacity with the return of the woman in red, now named Pandora, from the 52 issue #1s.  She gets in a fight with Phantom Stranger which seems to be setting up a company-wide event in the future, because hey, summer, gotta have an event comic, right?  No, of course you don’t, but they’ll bring one out anyway.  Secret Invasion, anyone?

Oh yeah, there was the fight with Darkseid too that ended up amounting to a dog pile of the heroes and Cyborg shorting out the tech Darkseid was using to come to Earth.  There was some questions that do get brought up, though, including who was this “her” that Darkseid was here for.  Was it Pandora?  Maybe.  Although it seemed to me that Superman was his primary target.  Lots of questions to keep the fans reading, but it was generally a dull issue.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

The New Avengers #22 was superior to The Avengers #23 on the grounds that nobody was actually acting like an idiot and we get some genuinely fun moments, including the New Avengers confronting Victoria Hand and throwing her out a window at Daredevil’s request.  We also see that not all is well in Osborn’s new clique of New Dark Avengers as the character we all had doubts about in that whole crew, Skaar, plays his hand, as expected.  This is still the superior Avengers title between it and it’s counterpart, in my opinion, and if you’re only reading one Avengers title… still make it Avengers Academy.  Neither of them can compare to it.

Verdict – Recommended

And we end with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series #3: Donatello was a nice one-shot for what it shaped up to be.  There was minimal story development, but you get some good characterization.  I would have liked to have gotten a bit of an explanation as to why it seems Leonardo and Donatello butt heads as often as they do, but that could be addressed in the next one, which focuses on Leonardo.  This one stars an old scientist looking to reclaim his standing in the scientific community with some pretty trippy tech known as “The Gauntlet.”  Not the most original name, but fitting nonetheless.  Baxter Stockman takes notice and wants him to hunt down the turtles (or just A turtle, according to him).  Good issue, if you like the turtles, or Donatello in particular, I’d check it out.  The best part about the Micro-Series has been that you aren’t required to have read the other two, you can just pick up the characters you want to read about and I like to think they do a good job of introducing you to the character in this new universe.

Verdict – Recommended

I told you it was a short week.  This week marks the end of my #SaveDerpy hashtag support too, and unfortunately, it didn’t go the way I’d hoped.  For those unaware, I am a brony, a fan of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic.  Yes, a 25-year-old man is enjoying a cartoon show made for pre-school girls and younger.  What can I say?  I, and thousands of others, are attracted to high-quality TV.  Anyway, long story short, an alteration we were hoping to stave off came to pass and it seems that our #SaveDerpy movement has failed.  Derpy no longer exists in canon and her voice and eyes in the episode in question have been altered.  While the voice doesn’t bother me, the eyes and name removal does.  It invoked bad memories of One More Day, arguably the worst storyline to ever come to pass in comics.  And yes, I do say that while looking stuff like Countdown, the Iron Queen Saga, and the before mentioned Secret Invasion square in the eye.

The issue at hand was whether or not Derpy was a slight against the mentally handicapped.  Apparently, the name Derpy is erroneously associated with mental disabilities and people took offense, most notoriously being Yamino of Sister Claire fame (whom, while I think gets more blame than she deserves, didn’t help her case by generalizing bronies in an unfavorable light like she did).  Recent episodes did depict Derpy with her cross-eyes, but it’s clear we’ll never truly get to know the character Derpy in future episodes.  The episode was edited and re-uploaded on iTunes in place of the original and we now wait to see if the same is true for TV, which likely will be the case.  Since this was such a short week, and while we’re on the topic, why don’t we review something else I purchased?

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic: The Friendship Express.  This is the first DVD compilation of the series and it’s… an okay assortment of episodes.  Aside from The Last Roundup and Hearth's Warming Eve, there are better episodes they could have picked.  It does maintain a theme, though, that being the train.  However, the biggest failings in this DVD are two-fold.  First, chapter start points seem to skip the first second or two of the episode unless you hit the back button to catch what you missed.  This is the same with the karaoke music video too.  Second, one that’s evidently being fixed by Shout Factory, the makers of the DVD, is an audio sync issue in the first episode.  Also, the video quality is a major misfire, at least on my copy.  If this DVD has one saving grace is that the infamous Derpy episode, The Last Roundup, is available here in all of its adorable gory.   If this episode weren’t on the disc, I’d probably tell Pony fans to get the episodes you want off of iTunes, but because this may be the only place we’ll see the original Derpy ever again, it’s well worth the price in my opinion.

Also, I have to tilt my head at one of the bonus features.  A FULL EPISODE of the new Pound Puppies cartoon show.  What the flipping frack?!  You could have used that space for another My Little Pony episode that would have incised prospect buyers!  Look, I'm glad you're trying to push one of your other shows, but a FULL EPISODE of something most buyers didn't want in the first place?  And it wasn't even a good episode to begin with.  WHY?!

Oh well.  We've got Derpy and that's good enough for me.

Verdict – Highly Recommended (Cautiously Recommended otherwise)

And now, we’ve reached the end of a short week I artificially made longer by including one of my other fandoms.  Next week, I’ll try to keep it to comics.  Until then, brony on.

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

#SaveDerpy… one last time.

The Back Stack: February 28, 2012

Well hey there, folks!  Here we are again!  What do you say we review some comics?

Aquaman #6 was fairly weak in comparison to its other issues, but even the weakest issue of this run is still better than the best book of most series’ on the comic rack today.  The story focuses on Mera, Aquaman’s “lady friend,” who deals with some crap from a perverted store manager which results in her breaking his arm.  A little excessive, but he kind of deserved it, especially after she told him to stop.  We get some good scenes with her as well as delving into her backstory.  This issue leads into the much bigger impending story arc where we learn more about who sank Atlantis.  While definitely not as good as the other five issues, it’s still a damn fine book.

Verdict – Recommended

Avengers Academy #26, another book that I regularly look forward to.  Unlike Aquaman, which leaned more towards action, this one leaned heavily towards story, in this case setting up the next big series of angles.  This brings back Jeremy Briggs, who is setting himself up to be the next big villain of Avengers Academy.  Hmmm, wonder if he’s been approached for juvenile Hellfire Club membership… anyway, Veil and Jocasta arrive to preach Briggs’ methods of saving the world, which certainly SOUNDS nice, but in the end comes across as very shortsighted because it speaks very little about stopping crime on any level.  In fact, if you sit and think about it, Briggs sounds downright dumb.  I mean, really, what can The Incredible Hulk do to fix the ozone layer?  What can Hawkeye do to cure disease?  Not every superhero can apply themselves best in a laboratory or office building.  Some do best protecting people who are in trouble.  Anywho, we get some good relation bits between the characters, Briggs getting some leverage with Hazmat, and another glimpse into the future.  Still good fun.

Verdict –Recommended

Deadpool #51, unlike previous issues, seems to make it a point to keep comedy in the back seat and give the supporting characters a chance to shine, even though most of them ALREADY HAVE THEIR OWN TITLES!  Not bad, but this didn’t exactly have a coherent flow.  We get some flashback scenes, but it seems some of them aren’t labeled, or I could just be misreading it.  It’s not a bad book, but I can’t say it’s an ideal Deadpool book.  It continues the story, but it wasn’t quite as funny as I’d expect out of Deadpool.  Not a bad book for what it wants to be though.  All I can keep wondering, though, is WHERE IS FLYING ON FIRE  MAN #1?!

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Fantastic Four #603 was pretty darn good in my humble opinion, but not terribly memorable.  There as some pretty epic stuff in a battle between Galactus and the other celestial demigods which ends, for lack of a better term, with a huge impact.  As there are two Fantastic Four books, this and FF, I think this stands as a prime example as why THIS one is the stronger book mixing good superhero action, story, and that unique Fantastic Four touch.  The only drawback was that the reunion with Johnny Storm and the kids was terribly downplayed, which wasn’t so good because

Verdict – Recommended

Green Lantern:  New Guardians #6.  I can’t say for certain whether or not I’m going to like this in terms of a team book, but I’m giving it some leeway because I rather like the multiple lantern corps and what they bring to the table.  This issue has them investigating a manmade solar system and being hunted down by an demonic angel-like being, all without the Red Lantern representative, Bleez.  This guy just tears through the New Guardians, which is what I’m calling them tentatively, and what’s worse is that he is positively determined that he’s right about the lanterns being sinners and the scourge of the universe as Saint Walker, the Blue Lantern, can’t heal him of any darkness.  I’m interested to see how these guys work together as a team, since we didn’t get a good feel for it in the last arc, so here’s hoping all goes well.

Verdict – Recommended

The Mighty Thor #11 continues a relatively boring storyline involving Taranus, the supposed new God of Thunder who usurped Thor’s place in the timeline while Thor himself was left to die.  Of course, this isn’t a new character but the troll warrior Urik, out to do what villains do best.  Loki continues to try to get Silver Surfer to work with him to bring Thor back, fresh off of Thor beating the snot out of him, and we get the setup to the final showdown between thunder gods.  This was a decent issue and as completely unnecessary as this storyline has felt so far, I have to commend the writers for keeping it strong so far for what it’ll ultimately be.  Of course, we could get something like Urik beating Thor to become the God of Thunder, but that’ll probably end up a bigger mess than it has to be.  A good issue in a good series.

Verdict – Recommended

Red Sonja #64 was an issue that was what I call a story pit stop.  We get some details as to what exactly is going on and lets the reader catch their breath from action-heavy issues, though in my opinion I think things have been progressing slowly lately anyway.  Sonja meets the big bad of this story arc who has control over seemingly supernatural beings in his fortress-like city.  Sonja is more interested in saving a child left in his care, but obviously, things don’t exactly go well.  It’s a decent read, though, and for a book set in a barbarian age of swords and magic, it’s one that’s certainly welcome.

Verdict – Recommended

Red Sonja/Witchblade #1, on the other hand, felt like a big disappointment.  I’ll admit, I’m not entirely savvy as to Witchblade, but I am familiar with the necessities.  However, I can’t help but feel that Red Sonja was sort of brushed aside in this issue, which, as a fan of the character, really stunk.  I can’t say the issue was entirely interesting, save for there apparently being a past and present keeper of the Witchblade, but it isn’t done in a compelling way.  I MIGHT decide to give issue #2 a chance, but this issue just really didn’t endear itself to me.

Verdict – Pass

Superman #6 was kind of a disappointment and a bit of a backhand to the character Supergirl.  In this issue, even though she puts up a fight against the clone Superman, she’s essentially beaten around in what can only be described as a rather uncomfortable scene.  As a personal belief, a crossover of ANY kind shouldn’t detriment one party to the benefit of another.  This issue does show Supergirl get in a few punches, but otherwise she gets completely outclassed by Superman.  There are some hints as to Clark and Lois’ relationship, but it’s a very minor issue in a poorly done crossover.

Verdict – Pass

Teen Titans #6 wasn’t nearly as bad as the last issue, but still not a very big upgrade.  This team really hasn’t come together in a big way yet, but we’re beginning to see some relationships be formed, particularly between Kid Flash and the stupidly redesigned Solstice, Wonder Girl and the now admittedly homosexual Bunker, and Red Robin and non-Teen Titan Static… though with his series coming to an end, I’m hoping to see Static join the team sooner rather than later.  Wonder Girl continues to insist that she wants to leave the team and be just generally antagonistic, but hey, character development.  I think what’s hurting this series for me particularly is because I was there for the Teen Titans’ entire 100-issue run last volume before the relaunch, so I’ve seen a lot of this before.  Like with other retreads in the relaunch, it feels unnecessary and bland as opposed to the first time through.  This issue wasn’t bad, much better than last, and there are bigger things to come, I’m sure.  Can they pull it off?  Eh, maybe.  There was also a new villain named Grymm who apparently can control people, so we’ll see how his scuffle with the Titans plays out as time goes on.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Much to my surprise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7 was probably the best book of the week.  Not because Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a just average book on my pull, far from it, but because it was going up against Aquaman and Avengers Academy.  If you asked me, one month ago, if the next issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was going to compare to freakin’ Aquaman or freakin’ Avengers Academy, I’d have laughed my butt off.  Well, color me surprised, it happened.  Now, that was in part due to weaker issues on the other series’ part, but don’t let that undermine what a fun read this turned out to be.  We get a lot of nods towards the old cartoon show from the 80s as well as the series’ own twist, which I’ve appreciated from the get go.  It’s a book that doesn’t try to be an extension on any previous continuity while still celebrating it and that, I think, is what turns out to be our best-case scenario.  This issue shows us Old Hob going out for revenge against the Turtles and he’s bringing Baxter Stockman’s Mousers along for the ride.  In other news, we see General Krang on planet Neutrino with his stone warriors.  Speaking of Krang, he’s in a humanoid suit that has similar principals as his cartoon counterpart.  While I think that this one is far more intimidating, I still hold a soft spot for the somewhat goofy design of the 80’s show.  It’s iconic, what can I say?  Throw in some good action scenes between the Turtles against the mousers, some flirtation between April O’Neil and Casey Jones, and a pizza run with Raph and Mikey, and you’ve got a solid read.

Verdct – Highly Recommended

Wolverine and the X-Men #6 went back to something that I think was missing in the past few issues.  Fun.  Where else will you see Wolverine and a pink-haired wannabe villain try to cheat their way into winning in an intergalactic casino?  Where else do you see Beast leading a team of students to go after Gladiator’s son, who has entered Kitty Pryde’s body to battle an infestation of Brood aliens that have simulated pregnancy to her?  This issue was just a host of fun scenarios wrapped into an enjoyable issue while still remaining a coherent story.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

X-Men #25 was a significant step up from the last issue.  While Jubilee does come across as a bit of a brat when she’s discovered, I can look over it because of what she’s going through as part-vampire.  The big revelation, though, is that a hit has been put out on Jubilee’s new vampire buddies of The Forgiven, and names like Lady Bullseye, Deadpool, and the luchadore legion are en route to what is shaping up to be a big battle between the X-Men, the vampires, and these would-be bounty hunters.  Still not as good as anything the first arc of the Regenesis has had to offer, but it’s an upswing.

Verdict – Recommended

And that’s all from me for this week.  Yeah, to the point, but I’m late as it is.  Sorry.

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

#SaveDerpy

The Back Stack: February 21, 2012

And here we are again, Grave Diggers.  Welcome to another edition of The Back Stack!

Since the last couple were bogged down in the beginning with news bits, and there isn’t really anything I want to talk about in depth this week, so what do you say we just dive right into things?  Besides.  It’s a big week.

The Amazing Spider-Man #679.1.  I’ve said before that I’m not a supporter of the Marvel.1 initiative, which is supposed to make comics more accessable to readers by offering “.1” issues of their different titles periodically.  They basically amount to being one-shot stories that often act as preludes to upcoming story arcs.  Sometimes they’re good, but most of the time they’re just bad, forgettable, or have little to do with what’s happening right now.  Even worse, the .1 issues are often required reading later on when those story arcs finally come to fruition and they don’t tell you everything you needed to know going into the arc.  This issue is not very different by comparison.  We learn who was in laboratory #6 at Horizon labs.  It was Morbius the Living Vampire in what honestly feels like a bit of a letdown and, honestly, kind of forced.  I mean, seriously, who lets a known fugitive vampire into a high-tech science lab like that?  Apparently, the moronic head of the lab!  Way to go there, Einstein!  Forget that one of your employees is “connected” to Spider-Man, one of his mortal enemies!  The issue basically, as you’d expect, gives you a prelude to a team-up between him and Lizard, which I actually think has the potential to be pretty interesting, considering Lizard’s revamping.  This issue, though, felt like it was made just so Peter Parker couldn’t have a good life and only seemed to make trouble for him at his dream job in an asinine way.  There was a brief moment of seeing his new boss being doubted by his employees, but it was severely downplayed.  At the very least, it didn’t win me over to the .1 initiative.

Verdict – Pass

The Avengers #22 is another example of false advertising on the cover.  This time, we have an apparent fight between Gorgon, out of his role as Wolverine, duking it out one-sidedly with Captain America.  Instead, we have Captain America being flirtatiously interrogated by Madame Hydra.  Whoops.  I’m sorry, but is it too much to ask for covers to not be out and out lies?  Anyway, this issue was made to show the dominance the H.A.M.M.E.R./Hydra/A.I.M. alliance has over the Avengers.  Stark is in an energy field, Spider-Woman is behind bars, Red Hulk is in some bizarre operation, and even Vision gets thrown through the doors of Avengers Mansion by the peculiarly augmented Norman Osborn.  It does make me wonder more what is up with Osborn’s new powers, but I can’t say the issue itself was particularly interesting.  The story overall was pretty weak, honestly.  It did continue some story arcs, including Quake stepping up to hunt down Osborn, the U.S. Government interested in what Osborn has to offer, and proving that these villains were serious business.  Unfortunately, as I said, the overall story of the issue was kind of weak overall.  Not bad, but it’s just more build-up, which we’ve had for a bit now.  All I have to say is that the build-up better be worth it.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Avengers X-Sanction #2.  I finally got this issue via a second print release.  Since it was a slated second printing release, I decided that I would review it for you all.  And, it was pretty good.  Since I went ahead and read #3, it didn’t exactly surprise me, since I knew what happens to Iron Man, but it’s interesting to see the flashbacks Cable has with his time with Hope.  It’s not a necessary issue, but it’s a good one.  If you’re a stickler for a complete story like I am, it is money well spent.

Verdict – Recommended

Batman #6 was fairly light in comparison to other issues in terms of story development, but it made up for it in the action department.  Batman is at the mercy of Talon, assassin for the Court of Owls.  He’s held up for members of the Court of Owls, as well as their apparent leader.  Batman’s sheer will sees him though, but he’s obviously been spooked by his trials with the Court of Owls.  He’s also apparently dying pretty rapidly, which doesn’t help him in his escape attempts.  The double-cliffhanger was pretty good too, but a falling was the artwork.  I wasn’t a big fan of the feral-looking Batman in this.  I may have missed something, but why did Batman have fur and fangs?  Was the artist taking the name Batman seriously?  We have Man-Bat for that… at least I think we might.  While I wasn’t happy with the way Batman was drawn, for the sketchy style that I’m definitely NOT a fan of, it is drawn very well and suits the mood each time.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Unfortunately, now we come to the entirely opposite end of the DC spectrum for this week.  Blue Beetle #6.  Unfortunately, this will be the last issue of Blue Beetle I pick up of the current DCnU run.  We’ve had four prominent teen superhero books in the relaunch including Teen Titans, Supergirl, Static Shock, and Blue Beetle.  I started the relaunch picking up all of them.  Personal opinion, Static Shock has been the best of them, followed by Supergirl.  Teen Titans hasn’t been BAD, but it’s a far cry from the 100-issue series we lost in the relaunch (and, yes, I proudly own all of them, for better or worse with some issues).  Static Shock has had its share of drama, but you got the feeling that it was still a lighthearted book at its core.  Supergirl may have had a meandering first couple issues, but it’s slowly picked up steam.  Blue Beetle was probably the one I was looking forward to most, particularly thanks to Linkara’s tribute from his web show, Atop The Fourth Wall.

Since then, there was certainly a promising, if not entirely safe, start, but slowly, we begin to see that this series wasn’t going to be like the series fans once knew.  The old Jaime Rayes Blue Beetle books were known for being fun, solid, superhero action with Jaime having a heart and a strong connection to his family and friends.  This one, not so much.  Yes, we see he wants to protect them, but we don’t get to know them very well.  It’s more of a depressing mess than anything else.  Action has taken center stage, and it isn’t even good action.  You know, I’d actually be surprised if the creative team didn’t have meetings to ask one another “how do we make this guy’s life suck more this time?”  This.  Isn’t.  Fun.

As for the issue itself.  It SUCKS.  Jaime is forced to fight Paco, which would be an interesting concept if it weren’t for the bass ackwards relationship Jaime has with the scarab, the ruse Jaime puts on to supposedly protect his family (which contradicts the old series’ status quo almost entirely), and, well, again, it’s just depressing.  I can only suggest you check out the last run of Jaime Rayes’ Blue Beetle run from the old DCU.  As for this one?  Avoid it at all costs.  As much as I harp on Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man nowadays, at least they TRY to be fun, even if they don’t always succeed.  It’s why I stick with them, but won’t stick with this.

Seriously, Static Shock gets cancelled and we have to keep THIS book?  Well, they can keep this book, but I’m not.

Verdict – Pass (personally dropping)

Daredevil #9.  I’ve loved this new run of Daredevil.  I still want an “I’m Not Daredevil” sweater or t-shirt.  That thing was hilarious!  As for this issue, it begins the mystery of Matt Murdock’s father’s corpse being stolen from underground by the Mole Man.  It turns out that the Mole Man is looking for someone in particular and has been just steeling random caskets in hopes of eventually finding it.  This issue is probably one of the weaker the series has seen so far, but for this series, it’s still not bad at all.  Good action, good characterization, some humor, and we get some development with the Black Cat and her relationship with Daredevil, which will likely lead into the next big storyline for ol’ hornhead.  She was hired by someone last issue to steal the Fantastic Four 4 that Daredevil acquired and se see her conflict in stealing from someone whom she’s starting a relationship of any kind with.  Since it seems like this storyline is made to be a launch pad for the next one, I don’t expect the stolen caskets storyline to go very long.  As much of an interlude story as this is, it does manage to keep me entertained and, sometimes, that’s all you need.

Verdict – Recommended

Fear Itself:  The Fearless #9 of 12 features the battle between Valkyrie and Storm.  Wait, WHAT?!  A cover that actually features an event from inside the book?!  Stop the presses!  What a concept!  All kidding aside, we get more details on the Valkyrie’s desire to find the hammers and a new sense of desperation from Sin, the Red Skull’s daughter.  The fight between Valkyrie and Storm was a little quick in my opinion, but Storm seems to have a habit of being a glass cannon in the Marvel Universe at times.  This story is all about Valkyrie’s sacrifice in finding the hammers and the impending final battle between her and Sin.  This was a significant step up from previous issues as we begin to wind down the series and it makes for a good jumping on point as it explains just about everything that’s gone down and will go down henceforth.

Verdict – Recommended

Ghostbusters #6 introduces the boys in grey (hey, the movie’s term, not mine.  Their costumes looked more beige-brown to me) duking it out with a very powerful Native American spirit who inhabits selfish hearts.  I’m certain this was some sort of knock about the early European settlers in America, but it’s veiled well enough that you won’t roll your eyes at the jab.  The unique thing about this ghost, though, is that he’s able to possess people, something we’ve seen little of, but a mechanic that has huge potential in the Ghostbusters universe, and we see it explored to good detail towards the end.  We learn a bit more about what Egon’s been up to, namely writing a book that is said to invoke the senses, particularly of women.  We get some good characterization for Winston in this issue too, which makes me happy since he seems to usually get glossed over in favor of the other three.  Ghostbusters has been a solid read the whole six issues and while it isn’t the BEST book on the shelves, it’s definitely one I think deserves to succeed.

 By the way, I’m calling it now with Ghostbusters.  Minor spoiler alert.  We see Kylie eating Chinese take-out while talking to Ray about her discoveries in regards to the ghost.  She gets a fortune cookie that gets prominently shown.  The fortune reads “Much happens to the west.”  Obvious foreshadowing, so I’m anxious to see if that has any meaning.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Green Lantern Corps #6 concludes a very action-oriented story arc involving the keepers of the lanterns.  It’s a very action-heavy book and, generally speaking, I wasn’t entirely thrilled with the first arc.  It wasn’t bad, but I found it generally uninspiring until we finally got to learn more about the keepers themselves.  The last couple issues were the best, the first issue was kind of strong, but I think this is the weakest of the Green Lantern books, not counting Red Lanterns.  One major gripe I had with this book, though, was that John Stewart killed a fellow Green Lantern who cracked under pressure and was ready to give the keepers the means to invade Oa.  Major issues I take with this include Jordan using what was left of his power to break him and another Lantern free and, oh yeah, A HERO KILLED ANOTHER HERO!  I mean, good grief!  That was incredibly rash, including the fact that he broke him and the other guy out almost immediately!  It’s almost like he was waiting for an excuse to kill that guy!  I’m never teaming with John Stewart as long as I live!  I’m afraid I’ll rub him the wrong way and he’ll snap my neck the first chance he gets!  Seriously, superheroes don’t kill their teammates, especially if they’ve the means to get out of it!  This issue alone keeps me from recommending this book in earnest.

Verdict – Pass

The Invincible Iron Man #513.  A decent issue that does well to continue the alliance of Mandarin and Ezekiel Stane… and the rest of Iron Man’s rogue’s gallery.  This one did a good job of mixing action with story and didn’t use characters for the sake of using them.  It is somewhat on the mundane side, but still rather enjoyable.  We see some good spots given to other heroes who show up, so it isn’t exclusively the Iron Man show.  It’s not one of the great issues, but it’s well-balanced.  I’m looking forward to the endgame of Mandarin and Stane, which is more like Mandarin’s endgame since Stane is more or less a mind controlled puppet.  Either way, I like to see how it plays out.  This issue was clean cut and straightforward, which I enjoyed.

Verdict – Recommended

The New Avengers #21 was another action-heavy issue this week, but this one felt more impactful and the battle was better executed than in Green Lantern Corps.  This one had the New Avengers taking on the Thor clone known as Ragnarok.  Ragnarok was always a good strong opponent who was always a threat to anyone he took on and this battle had some good moments for several characters, but lost in the shuffle seemed to be Ms. Marvel, who I don’t think had one single line or significant action through the entire fight.  Honestly?  She’s someone whom I’d suspect would have a better chance against Ragnarok.  Still, good moments, especially with Iron Fist, and it ends with the gauntlet evidently being thrown and the US Government seizing Avengers Mansion.  Very good issue and it really sets the stakes higher than they do in the regular Avengers.

Verdict – Recommended

Queen Sonja #27… last issue I lamented the fact that one of the concubines was explicitly topless in one scene and I warned you guys that it may have been questionable.  Well, if that little bit bothered you, this one may be even worse as they drop the pretense and go full-on brothel mode.  There is some modest action bits, but nothing spectacular.  Honestly, I think they spend too much time on the sex stuff, even if it was made just to establish the front for a black magic circle gig.  We learn that assassins have infiltrated Sonja’s castle and that some of her trusted allies could potentially be plotting to kill her, so how does she answer?  She finds one of her enemies who HAS been conspiring against her, cuts him up, and leaves his corpse on display.  What a wonderful ruler!  My subtle sarcasm aside, Queen Sonja remains a decent book, but when we actually see Sonja be diplomatic, it doesn’t fill you with the feeling that you’re reading about a HERO and this issue’s excessive sexual overtones can be off-putting for some.

Verdict – Pass

Supergirl #6 was a breezy read, but an enjoyable one.  At six issues in, we FINALLY have a turning point for Supergirl as she escapes the dying city of Argo and returns to Earth, just in time to defend it from one of the killers who seems to have originated from Krypton.  This is probably going to end up being her coming out party… SIX ISSUES IN.  Took them long enough.  Good issue, but like I said, it’s taken a long time to get here.

Verdict – Recommended

We end the weekly pull list on Uncanny X-Men #7, a book that seems to buck a trend of “light reads” this week with a very solid work that makes good use of the 32 pages it has.  We advance the story of the life-forms that inhabit this land, but don’t get any updates as to Colossus’, Magik’s, Namor’s, or Hope’s situations, which is fine since there is good focus on the rest of the team and the mission.  Characters play off one another well and the rematch with the Immortal Man is entertaining.  Of all the X-Books since Schism, Uncanny X-Men takes its rightful spot as the crown jewel of the franchise and nothing changes here.  While Wolverine remains the most popular X-Men, his absence is far from hurting this book.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

This week I pulled TWO trade paperbacks.  Yeah, I was feeling ritzy!  I think it was well worth it though, so let’s get to them.

Power Girl:  Old Friends concludes the Power Girl run of trade paperbacks with a fun, if not slightly rushed, series finale.  It isn’t without a hiccup as the first story revolving around Maxwell Lord’s return isn’t finished in the trade, requiring the Brightest Day: Generation Lost hardcovers which are ludicrously expensive by comparison of a trade paperback.  Still, what stories we DO get are great Power Girl stories.  The best thing about Power Girl was that while she was a Superman family character, she never once seemed to be in the character’s shadow… something that may not be the case come the release of World’s Finest.  She had personality, she was lighthearted, she was sensible, and while she had a very fan service-y costume, it was never about the sexualization of the character.  Power Girl was a ton of fun during her series’ run and the comic book shelves are no better off without her title.  This is the fourth and final of the Power Girl trades for this series and I encourage you to seek them out because this is writer Judd Winick at his best.  Yes, his Catwoman series left much to be desired (at least from issue #1) but Power Girl I think is an example of some of his best work and a definitive example of how to do a female superhero who can be sexy AND powerful.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Sonic Universe Vol. 2:  30 Years Later was the second 4-issue story arc from Sonic Universe.  Sonic Universe’s big failing, much like Mega Man’s failing, is that they’re all running under the notion of a one-size fits all trade structure, where every story is going to end up being four issues, and really, most of the arcs don’t need to be four issues.  This one, though, makes good use of all four issues.  Sure, some scenes go a little long and some of it is just filler, but overall it’s a pretty solid story.  A lot of people criticize the “X Years Later” stories, even from way back when controversial Sonic writers Ken Penders and Karl Bollers wrote the book, but I always found them intriguing.  Since we know the main story probably won’t ever have such advancements, it’s something that is fun to look at in terms of interpretations of what the future could hold.  A stand out to me was the idea of Tails and Mina Mongoose becoming an item down the line… which I can actually see, even though Mina is dating that dipstick Ash at the moment, another anthromorphic mongoose.  It seems all the ex-Freedom Fighters automatically have two kids, though, which does make me tilt my head and think that maybe it was just for the sake of symmetry to the old Freedom Fighters and nothing more since a couple of them don’t really leave an impression other than you know they’re there.

However, the story structure is one of the strongest in Sonic Universe and it amounts up to a very satisfying read.  Yes, there are nitpicky moments, this IS Ian Flynn we’re talking about, but I think this is one of the best stories he’s done that’s lasted longer than one or two issues, and that says something.  It doesn’t make up for a lot of the crap he’s done over his entire run by any stretch, but it just goes to show you that the potential is there and that’s why I stick with Sonic comics… that and I was an avid fanboy of the Sonic (and Mega Man) games and, to a degree, still am.  Hey, at least I’m being honest!  So, yes, 30 Years Later is one of Sonic Universe’s better stories and it’s well worth a glance through, especially if you don’t mind reading a children’s book.  Sonic doesn’t compare to the recently discontinued Darkwing Duck these days, but I feel that this series still has a rightful place on the comic rack and this trade speaks volumes as to that sentiment.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

And so ends the week.  Not as strong as previous weeks in terms of the weekly pulls, but a couple great trade paperbacks and a couple standout single issues keeps it a worthwhile week.  Still, disappointments are disappointing, especially with Blue Beetle and Queen Sonja, but this stuff happens sometimes.  Don’t worry though, folks.  Looking ahead to my pull list, there are some reliable series’ coming tomorrow.  As for you guys who may be looking for older stuff to add to what you pull on Wednesday, I encourage you to take a look at my previous entries and see what I’ve been enjoying.  But I do strongly recommend Aquaman and Avengers Academy, because they have ben arguably the strongest books on the shelves.  And, if you have a local comic book store, I encourage you to make the trip out there and buy from them rather than buy digitally, since the comic book shops are still the beating heart of the comic book industry.  But, that’s just me and it’s your money.

Next week on The Back Stack, I hope to have the new issue of Sonic Universe that was solicited for last week, but didn’t show up as well as, hey look, Aquaman and Avengers Academy!  And Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles too!  Also, we’ll see if X-Men and Teen Titans can redeem themselves, if Superman can get back on track, and Red Sonja team with Witchblade.  All this and more next week on The Back Stack!

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

#SaveDerpy

The Back Stack: February 14, 2012

Happy Valentine’s Day, Grave Diggers!  I hope you find some way to enjoy the day.  But if you’re reading one of MY blogs on its publish date, you must be very bored.  ^_~

I want to touch on a bit more news that I glossed over last week that someone asked me about.  Beyond Watchmen.  A series of prequel titles that focus on the most prevalent characters of the series.  Yes, after two decades, more Watchmen stuff comes out… without the vision or direction of Alan Moore.  This is your first warning sign right there.  Now, I admit.  I’m far from calling myself a Watchmen fan.  While there are good things about the book, it felt like there were many more bad things about the book as well.  I can’t help but wonder if this is really necessary.  Do we really NEED these stories?  Only the most die-hard of Watchmen fans are really going to eat it up and only a few of their tales are probably worth looking into.  The titles are as follows, courtesy of IGN.

Rorschach.  I think this is the one everybody will eat up, but won’t be the one that is the best of the bunch.  I don’t think Rorschach is a character who needs more backstory and this could end up just being a cash-in on the most popular character of the series.

Minutemen.  This one has potential since they weren’t drastically touched on in the comic.  There was information, but we didn’t see a terrible amount of characterization.  This one can go either way.

Comedian.  Again, lots of potential to flesh out the backstory, but who really wants to learn more about a raping, unbalanced, murderer?  ‘Nuff said.

Dr. Manhattan.  Just… no.  Dr. Manhattan was one of the most boring, uninspiring, frustratingly dull characters I’ve ever been introduced to.  He was, in the end, a plug in character made for atmosphere.  He just needed to be there, be powerful, and be willing to stay out of things long enough to not be able to end the story in one chapter.  In the end, someone like him was simply unenjoyable, uninteresting, and, perhaps in the end, unnecessary.  Much like many of these titles.  Hell, he had an entire chapter dedicated to him which was all about his history.  Isn’t that enough?

Nite Owl.  As boring as I called Dr. Manhattan, I fear that this book may end up as boring.  My biggest concern with this one is that they may think too much like Batman with this guy.  Every superhero is different and it’ll be up to the writers to find out and highlight the more subtle nuances of the character.  This title has some upside to it, but it’s all still just potential at this point.

Ozymandias.  This one could be quite compelling.  Ozy was one of the best characters in Watchmen and this one probably has the most pure potential.  If you were to talk me into one of the characters books to read, this one might be it… but that still doesn’t mean I’ll be reading it.  Plus, at six issues, it’ll be one of the longer titles.

Silk Spectre.  As much as I’ll run down Dr. Manhattan, at least he HAD characterization and backstory.  Silk Spectre was basically just arm candy and she felt like she was just there to have a female character in the mix.  This will be her one chance at redemption in the annals of comic book history.  I expect the effort to fall flat on its face, but as always, I hope for the best.  Still expect the worst.

So, yeah, I’m not interested in these books.  When they come out, please don’t ask me my thoughts on them, don’t ask me to review them, just don’t ask me about them.  At this juncture, I’m not interested.  At all.  Of course, if it changes any, I’ll let you know in my Back Stacks.

For now, let’s talk about books I AM interested in!

Batgirl #6 was a very nice issue.  We play on the dynamics of Barbara and her relationship with Batman, which is rather touching.  There is a line mid-book where Bruce tells Barbara that she was always meant to be Batgirl which may rub fans of Cassandra Cain and/or Stephanie Brown the wrong way.  It shouldn’t, though, because Bruce isn’t saying that she was the only one who had the right to be called Batgirl, but rather that her being Batgirl was something that should have happened.  It’s a lot more touching than I’m making it sound, but it is a nice scene.  Batgirl finishes her fight against Gretel and we learn more about her unfortunate history.  I won’t spoil it, but it isn’t a case that you’ll want to root for her because she’s still a big villain.  Good issue, glad to see Gail Simone s hitting her stride with this.  I was worried for a second.

Verdict – Recommended

Batman & Robin #6 continues a disturbing trend of covers that don’t match content.  This one advertises Batman vs. Robin, but we get no such thing.  Instead, we get backstory in regards to Batman’s history with Nobody and the Draucan family, and I apologize if I spelt that wrong.  It also shows Robin beginning to enter into and quickly regret his decision for splitting from his father.  We see Batman show genuine concern for his son and the scene in the end where Nobody is obviously torturing Robin, right after we hear Robin justify his split from Nobody by saying that Batman is his father, his words, is especially gripping as Batman yells out his son’s name as he hears the obviously brutal torture of his seed over the communication frequency.  You can truly feel Batman’s pain and when a writer does something like that, you definitely succeeded in your craft.  The artwork truly compliments the mood and setting of the book and overall, it becomes a very good issue.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Captain America #8 picks up with the mystery of Captain America’s waning Super Soldier powers.  There isn’t a whole lot to say here, other than Tony Stark is working on a solution and Shannon Carter goes to confront the Machinesmith about it.  There is one scene that bugged me, though.  When Captain America tries to talk down a mob who is tearing up the streets, they seem to listen to him until he begins to lose his Super Soldier form and shrink back into regular pre-war Steve Rogers.  They immediately turn on him instead of looking to their hero and seeing what is wrong.  Mad or not, they responded to Captain America’s presence, but when he shrinks down before their eyes, they go nuts again.  Maybe it goes back to that whole thing from Men in Black where K told the eventual J that “a person is smart and people are dumb.”  Good issue nonetheless though.

Verdict – Recommended

Deadpool #50 wasn’t particularly funny, but the story does have some moments as we begin to learn more about the man who has an anti-mutant power serum that can supposedly halt Deadpool’s healing factor, which resulted in Evil Deadpool’s supposed demise.  Lots of cameos here and good artwork, but like I said, it isn’t especially funny since we get the more suicidal emo Deadpool in this one.  Don’t get me wrong.  This issue is much better than a lot of recent issues, but it’s still not up to par with Deadpool vs. Hulk or other recent angles.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

In a nice return to form, Demon Knights #6 was a rather enjoyable, if not overly action-oriented, issue of a title that I hoped big things for after some reviews by Linkara.  Like Captain America, there isn’t much to say, but this one feels like there is a lot more going on and the pacing throughout is well handled.  Next issue promises a final battle, but this is still good setup for that.

Verdict – Recommended

Frankenstein:  Agent of S.H.A.D.E. #6 was just okay this month, but it sets the stage beautifully for the next story arc.  We get a lot of good backstory as to the greater DC Universe.  As we know, Superman, considered the first active superhero, has been active for five years.  Frankenstein and his ilk, however, have been active for far longer than that and throughout the 20^th century.  We learn this as we hear about the original Creature Commandos.  In the meantime, S.H.A.D.E. has begun to create automated bodies, but it seems at least one of them has gained sentiency and is leading a charge to take S.H.A.D.E. over.  Good issue and I’m expecting the next few issues to be even better.

Verdict – Recommended

Green Lantern #6 proved what we knew all along… the Guardians of the Universe are the next big-bads of DC.  When Sinestro realizes this, he goes to Hal Jordan, who surprisingly is willing to give up being a Green Lantern in the name of moving on with his life.  Sinestro isn’t buying it and we set up the future story arcs which will hopefully see the end of the Guardians as the leaders of the ultimate police force in the universe.  Because, really, who in their right minds would work for them?  Lots of good characterization for Hal and Sinestro and the stage is set for what should be one of the biggest events in DC.

Verdict – Recommended

The Incredible Hulk #5 begins to answer a lot of the questions that we’ve had from the beginning in regards to the separation of The Hulk and Bruce Banner.  I gotta admit, while I believe with earnest that Dr. Doom is easily capable of separating Hulk and Banner, I didn’t expect him in the least.  I know, HUGE spoiler with that one, but it’s spelled out in the first couple pages, so I don’t care and you shouldn’t either.  The issue is about the deal as a whole, not a lot of lead-up to the reveal.  Incredible Hulk is picking up steam from the first few issues and I’m glad to see it.  Greg Pak made me a huge Hulk fan and this new guy, whose name I unfortunately forget, while nowhere near as eloquent with Pak, is starting to win me over too.

Verdict – Recommended

Journey Into Mystery #634 was a lot less exposition heavy and had a better pace than previous issues.  Unfortunately, what suffers, is pacing.  While it was still an enjoyable read, I felt some areas were just a bit dull while others were pretty good fun.  It continues post-Fear Itself whatnot, but the story, as you may guess, isn’t terribly memorable and probably won’t be one that is remembered in the years to come.  However, there is enough to keep one entertained and some good banter between Loki, Leah, and Hellstorm (whom I’ve decided to not call Son of Satan since, well, Hellstorm sounds more heroic and he’s SUPPOSED to be a good guy, after all).

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Unfortunately, our run of good luck comes to an end with Mega Man #10.  Ian Flynn strikes again, folks.  This man is quickly becoming my absolute least favorite writer.  This time, Mega Man plows through Heat Man and Crash Man.  While we see Mega Man struggling again with some malicious program Wily snuck into him, the only Robot Master being done any favors is Quick Man, who beats up Mega Man again.  Yes, the hero should be strong, but as Stan Lee once said, a great villain is someone who is the equal or better of the heroes.  Why do you think Batman’s, Spider-Man’s, and Flash’s rogues galleries are so memorable?  Because the villains at least match up to the hero.  Yes, even the mighty Batman has equals and, in some cases, betters.  Ian Flynn is truly failing with his use of Mega Man’s adversaries, beloved and iconic villains from once upon a time whom fans either were able to fight with relative ease or consider it a milestone accomplishment when you beat them.  This is not only insulting to me as a Mega Man fan, but this is insulting to me as a comic fan.  Mega Man is a hero who rises above a daunting legion of enemies in true challenge.  Here, he’s a guy who said “Hello, bang, you’re dead, next.”  This is a waste of great source material all in the name of a cookie cutter 4-issue made-for-trade arc with no heart or soul.

Verdict – Pass

Red Sonja #63.  This was good if for one reason.  Red Sonja finally gets back in her classic chainmail bikini!  Now, you may call me a sexual deviant or something worse of that ilk, but hear me out.  Costumes can become a hero.  While a talented artist can give you a new outfit that you can grow to love, a lot of times, when a character gets a new costume, it ends up being a complete misfire.  While I do think that Sonja’s chainmail cutoff and leather skirt was more practical for combat, I can’t say it was terribly efficient or interesting.  It felt terribly generic to me.  While the chainmail bikini doesn’t offer much protection, it offers mobility.  Red Sonja isn’t the tank paladin who fights with brute force.  She’s more speedy and nimble if anything.  While I’m sure there are light armors she could use, the bikini DOES give her free movement of her arms and legs with no constrictions.  Then again, sometimes she has those fancy shoulder pads, so that argument may be out the window.  As for the issue itself, it continues Sonja’s trek across the Egyptian-esque lands of the arc’s new big bad, who has proven, in contrast to Mega Man #10, the hero’s better.  The city she and her traveling companions arrive in is a very grim place and you can really feel the danger of the challenge that awaits them.  Even if you don’t buy my theory on why Sonja uses the bikini and why it’s better than her cut-off, I hope you go beyond the cheesecake covers and give this one a shot, especially if you’re into swords and sorcery-esque settings.

Verdict – Recommended

Wolverine and the X-Men #5 had its ups and downs, but I think of it more positively than I would other issues.  While we are still having a lot of fun with Wolverine having a school, we get some more characterization and foreshadowing of how each character is going to play.  We get a bit of the epic in Wolverine and Kid Omega going into space, the bizarre in Kitty Pryde being “pregnant” ‘with a swarm of baby alien Brood, and the potentially tragic in Genesis faced with the potential that he could become the new Apocalypse.  What suffers, though, is again, the pacing.  Things feel out of place at times and sometimes we wonder why it’s even there.  The series is still good, but it’s definitely one of the weaker issues.  If you want good old fashioned superhero action, stick with Uncanny X-Men.  Otherwise, this is okay as an alternative.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

X-Men #24… was just not good.  While still a better read than Mega Man #10, X-Men #24 was a dull, boring, monotone snooze.  We see Jubilee suffering from blood deprivation (she hasn’t fed on blood for a while now) and beginning to show her primal vampire instincts.  The vampires who have taken her in, known as the Forgiven, seem to worry about her, but this is probably not going to end up well for her.  What hurts more is seeing Jubilee act, well, easy.  She comes onto two guys during this book, even though one was just for blood, but that could just be an after-effect from the depravation.  While this is surely set-up for a big pay-off, it was just uninteresting this month.

Verdict – Pass

We end on a trade-paperback I picked up.  Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Volume 17.  This is during a time that some Sonic fans consider a down point, but really, a lot of old Sonic lore was born here.  Nate Morgan, the comic-universe creator of the power rings, Ixas Naugus, who now haunts the book as the usurping king of New Mobotropolis, the Sand Blasters, the madness of King Acorn, etc.  The stories collected here are a decent collection, even if it isn’t my favorite artwork in the series.  The one stand-out is a Sin City parody called Sonic Spin City, simply because of how bat-snap crazy it is seeing a KIDS BOOK parody SIN CITY.  For the most part, it’s handled well for a kids book and, aside from Bunnie doing undercover pole dancing, I’m sorry, robotic arm dancing, it’s harmless.  Then again, Bunnie always said she was the “Sax-Cymbal” of the team!  Uhhh… it’s a Sonic the Hedgehog #8 reference… it’s funnier in context…  Good book and it shows that it wasn’t all doom and gloom during Ken Penders and Karl Bollers’ tenure as some of Ian Flynn’s die-hard fans would have you believe.  In fact, I credit them for being able to maintain a story for multiple issues and make continuity a prevalent part of the series, started by Mike Gallagher, the first writer for Sonic.  There are much better collections from earlier in the Archives line that I could recommend, but if you’re looking at this one, give it a shot.

Verdict – Recommended

So that ends another Back Stack.  I hope you take a look at this list of comics from last week and maybe consider something you overlooked.  It’s been a fun few weeks in terms of stories with, thankfully, more good titles than bad.  Next Week is going to be a very extended edition of the Back Stack as there will be a TON to review.  Hope to see you then!

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

#SaveDerpy

The Back Stack – February 7, 2012

And here we are once again.  Welcome to the Back Stack where I take a look at the previous week’s comic offerings and give you my perspective on them.

Unlike previous Back Stacks, I wanted to take a moment to discuss some comic news that came my way late last week.

Six titles from the New 52 are going to get cancelled including Blackhawks, Hawk and Dove, Men of War, O.M.A.C., and the two I’m bummed a bit about, Mister Terrific, and Static Shock.  While I did drop Mister Terrific reluctantly out of financial reasons, it and Static Shock were generally decent books.  It’s a shame for me particularly because Static Shock’s been having a really tough time just getting a monthly series and once they reach #8, it’s done.

I’m not nearly as broken up about this as I was when Spider-Girl got unceremoniously cancelled with issue #8 last year, and yes, I am planning a Grave Issues where I review the Family Values trade, for whenever I figure out images on these blogs.  However, I do empathize with people when a well-liked, albeit possibly not popular, book gets cancelled, whether I read it or not.  I think it hurt most with the DC Comics re-launch and the end of the old series’.  While titles like Green Lantern and Batman were generally unaffected, we lost Power Girl, Teen Titans, Wonder Woman, Superman, and so many others as they became reformed to meet the new environment of the relaunch.

Sure, we still HAVE a Superman book.  Sure, we still HAVE a Teen Titans book.  Sure, we still HAVE a title that CLAIMS to be a Wonder Woman book.  However, they’re not the titles or, arguably, the characters we’ve followed for generations.  People on the outside looking in were probably looking in because of what they’ve heard about the characters and stories from others or in the media.  The principle behind the relaunch is that it was made to keep new readers from worrying about continuity issues as they jumped into a book that was far beyond 600 issues.  I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again.  The only ones who make continuity a barricade for new readers are the writers themselves.  It’s extremely possible for a comic to not only be continuity-light, but also be engaging for the reader who has been reading for decades.  That’s just the failure of the writers for not making them accessible.

Even after the relaunch, I have a hard time recommending DC comics for people who just want to get into comics because the first story arcs have either been all over the place or an absolute mess.  There are only a few titles I’ve had no fears with recommending to new readers and telling them “don’t worry about the continuity.”  However, I also need to criticize some of the new readers and tell them that some of them are being really unreasonable in terms of how much they expect to be spelled out for them.  Comics want you to buy MORE comics.  A good comic will help you along so you aren’t lost, but a GREAT comic will make you interested in what happened before or what happens next.

Okay, I’ve ranted long enough on this.  What are the titles coming out?

Batman Incorporated (by Grant Morrison, art by Chris Burnham):  I’m semi-interested.  On one hand, Grant Morrison absolutely de-railed Action Comics, but on the other hand he has a recent track record with Batman, including the previous Batman Incorporated series.  While I hesitate to add too many more books to my list, this one I may take a peek at.

Earth 2 (by James Robinson, art by Nicola Scott):  …and I had such high hopes for this book.  The return of Earth 2 was something I’ve been anticipating since Justice Society of America and JSA All-Stars went under in the relaunch.  Unfortunately, it appears to be helmed by the man responsible for Justice League: Cry For Justice, which murdered long-time supporting characters left and right, featured moronic heroes, had some flimsy pro-active hero message, and a villain who flip-flopped between genius and idiot.  I really hope this is more of a return to form with him, but I’m hesitant to say the least.  I’ll check it out, but I’m not expecting much from Robinson.

World’s Finest (by Paul Levitz, art by George Perez):  Something else I’ve waited for since the relaunch.  Power Girl!  And she’s being joined by Huntress as two Earth 2 wayward heroes trying to find their way home.  I’ve read that this is going to be a much more serious, darker Power Girl, but we’ll see how long that lasts.  My biggest concern is that they turn two inarguable sex symbols in all of comics into… well… sex symbols.  I hope that Levitz and Perez keep the cheesecake down and focus more on character and action since these are two who can deliver.

Dial H (by China Mieville, art by Mateus Santoluoco):  Talk about mouthfuls in writer/artist names.  This is apparently a take on the pulp hero mechanic from way back when.  I’m… going to pass on this one unless the reviews blow me away.

G.I. Combat (by J.T. Krul, art by Ariel Olivetti):  So, we lost Men at War for… Men at War.  Well, I didn’t buy Men at War, so why should I buy G.I. Combat instead?  Pass.

The Ravagers (by Howard Mackie, art by Ian Churchill):  Apparently a spin-off from Teen Titans and Superboy, making me think Rose Wilson gets herself a crew of heroes to fight against N.O.W.H.E.R.E.  I’m semi-intrigued by this, but I’m cautious as to WHICH Rose Wilson will show up.  The one who was reformed from her past, or the one with a chip on her shoulder.  Like Dial H, I’m going to take a wait and see approach, but I’ll be more inclined to check this one out then that one.

One more thing before we get rolling.  Since this is the first Back Stack to be posted by my local comic shop, Big Ben’s Comix Oasis, I wanted to give a quick rundown of my ratings system that I seem to have inadvertently developed, since I hope this results in an influx of new readers.  It should be simple enough, but here is what to expect.

Highly Recommended – The cream of the crop, or just the stand-out for the week.  If you’re on a limited budget, choosing these books is a safe bet.  To avoid fanboying out, I’m going to try to limit myself as to how many I say are Highly Recommended.

Recommended – A book that I enjoyed.  There may be some nagging issues here or there, but it’s not enough to drag the book itself down.  These are generally enjoyable reads and while not good enough for me to enthusiastically tell you to go out and buy, I’d definitely say that you’d more than likely enjoy them.

Cautiously Recommended – A book much more flawed, or there may be a controversial issue surrounding it (i.e. sex, heavy drug use, etc.).  While these books may be good, they may not be books I’d point out as being go-to buys.  Or, they could be bad, but not that bad.  This is a bit of a middle ground rating, so please treat it as such.  Also, a warning, I am a bit sentimental with some series’, so if you see this and the review doesn’t wow you, please don’t hesitate to pass on them.  I won’t be offended in the slightest and, as with all ratings, these really are your call in the end.

Pass – Whether it just misses the mark or is an absolute disaster (may be accompanied by an appropriate adjective), these are the books that I can’t, in good conscience, recommend.  Sometimes it may come down to pricing, sometimes it could be atrocious artwork, a dumbass story mechanic, crappy characterization, or a combination thereof.  However, one issue usually won’t put it in the pass category alone, unless it hurts the book that badly.

Also, yes, I will review trade paperbacks as I read them.  Currently, I have Avengers Forever, The Dark Knight Returns, Blackest Night, and others to read, so as I finally get through those, I’ll be sure to share my thoughts as older trade paperbacks or hardcovers are far easier to find than old single issues, which I may or may not review.  If I do review old single issues, rest assured that they’ll likely be extremely good… or so bad that I just need to vent about it.

That out of the way, let’s get this show on the road!  Finally!

Amazing Spider-Man #679 concludes the “Bad Tuesday” scenario where New York City is completely destroyed at 3:11.  When we left our hero, Spidey had no idea how to save the day and there was one minute to go… one minute and 12 hours.  That’s right.  The watch he found previously was an analog watch and it was, in fact, 3:11 AM, not PM.  This is kind of a fun little “Wah-Wah” moment, but it’s sort of cheap too.  Most analog watches today have a date or day setting on them, so if it did go past midnight, it would technically be Wednesday.  Then again, there was the newspaper highlighting Tuesday’s events and it may have been an old watch, so whatever.  What was a bit of a treat was the return of Silver Sable, who liplocks with Spidey mid-book.  In addition, Peter Parker has a pseudo-date with Mary Jane.  While that does feel forced, it combined with the Silver Sable kiss makes me think of how much of a lady’s man Marvel really makes him out to be.  Mary Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Carlie Quesada (I mean Cooper, silly me), Black Cat, Silver Sable, Ms. Marvel, Jessica Jones (sort of), Kitty Pryde (Ultimate universe)… I’m sure I’m missing SEVERAL, but you get the picture.  Spidey doesn’t have to be a perpetual downer all the time to be interesting.  He just needs to be human and the good along with the bad.  This story was a good balance of human, hero, and story.  While the overall impact on the series is likely minimal, and while not the best Spider-Man story, it is one I enjoyed.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Avengers Academy #25 continues the awesome ride that has been Avengers Academy.  This issue concludes the story involving return of the villain known as Hybrid and the future Reptil.  We get some good character moments and some well-noticed characterization from the typically apathetic Finesse.  Also, it’s cool to see characters who aren’t a part of Avengers Academy step up, especially Sentinel.  It ends with a good mystery revolving the recently suspected deceased Jocasta, the return of Veil, and an ultimatum about Avengers Academy being a bad idea and needing to be shut down.  If I had one complaint about the west coast move, it’s that, having seen Spider-Girl in the first issue of the move… she was nowhere to be seen and that was a huge bummer for me since she’s probably my favorite superhero right now.  But, that’s just me and, taking that out, you have one of Marvel’s best books continuing strong.

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Avengers X-Sanction #3.  I was going to skip reviewing this one in my Back Stack because I missed issue #2, but felt it might make things a bit more fair for people who are new to comics and may consider picking this up as their first comic… though why you’d pick a middle-to-the-end issue in a mini-series, limited series, or even maxi-series is beyond me.  Good news if you do decide to make this a first comic pick-up for you is that this issue doesn’t require a whole lot of prior knowledge about the characters or the other two issues.  Everything is clean and precise, to the point, and even if you only have pop-culture knowledge of certain Marvel heroes, you won’t be left in the dark.  Sure, it may be jarring to know that Cyclops has a son he rocketed into the future in Cable and that Cable has an adoptive daughter from his relative past in Hope, comic family trees are funny like that, but it’s still a story that people can just pick up and not feel like they need a lot of prior comic knowledge to understand the situation, and that is the hallmark of great comic writing.  The issue is solid, good action bits, and the pacing is wonderful.  The complaints are few and far between and… well… now I gotta find issue #2 just out of pure interest on seeing how Cable brought down Iron Man.  Next, we get Marvel’s big moneymakers showing up for the fight in the final issue.  Cable vs. Spider-Man and Wolverine.  One thing on that, though?  The last panel where Wolverine came in with Spider-Man, ready to fight Cable, he seemed pretty... gun happy.  Almost like he was happy to be here to do some killin'.  Really, I thought Wolverine was passed that.  And on the cover preview page, he and Spider-Man have different costumes on.  What the heck?!  Still, you can bet I’ll be reviewing the last issue, especially since I'm looking forward to Avengers vs. X-Men.  So much for my resolution not to buy into any more random side-series’ that aren’t the summer event comics, huh?

Verdict – Highly Recommended

Defenders #3.  Again, I missed issue #2.  I was late getting to my comic shop that week and I hadn’t updated my pull list to reflect new requests at the time.  Same principal as Avengers X-Sanction #3, only this one I think is a better candidate for someone’s first issue… in principal, at least.  This issue seems to be a polar opposite of X-Sanction #3 in that it is pretty well-woven with its plotline, but the art and character falls short by comparison.  Defenders has a lot of potential, but I find a lot of it is unrealized.  I want this book to succeed just so we can have teams other than Avengers and X-Men with different adjectives, verbs, or nouns thrown in with it as the only means of differentiation.  Sure, we have the Fantastic Four, but variety really is the spice of life.  Part of why I’m sad Young Alies got cancelled after only six issues some time back.  This book is decent if you’ve been following, but unlike X-Sanction, it’s not as catch-up friendly or as exciting.  Still, though, there are some fun bits to be had and some fun things on the horizon, it seems, but for now, the team itself still needs to find its legs.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

In spite of my movement to cut down on my pull list, I decided to try out Doctor Who #14.  It was a pretty decent story.  Admittedly, I’m dropping in on the second part of a four-part story, so it’s probably part of why the story didn’t totally wow me.  On one hand, the characterization was pretty good, but on the other hand I felt that the artwork was just awful.  Now, I’m a believer that story and character trump artwork, but this book is really putting that mindset to the test.  This is just my personal feeling, but while you can tell what is supposed to be what, it’s just not appealing to look at.  I don’t know if I’m going to stick with it, but it’s not a bad story, especially in this newly-minted Who-vian’s opinion.

Verdict – Cautiously Recommended

Fear Itself:  The Fearless #8 of 12.  I think the biggest problem with this series is that it’s just too darn long.  I mean, how much needs to be told and just how wordy do you need to be?  Nothing particularly interesting happened until the last couple pages when Valkyrie went to Utopia to get the hammer that the former Juggernaut was using.  We also get a fairly creepy moment where a guy is lusting over a naked Sin.  Speaking of Sin, we see she’s amassed an army… of Marvel Universe low-tier villains who’ll probably be brushed aside in the end.  The series remains high-stake, but again, far too long for its own good and this is an issue you can just skip.

Verdict – Pass

Hulk #48 continues to be solid, but I can’t help but wonder how much shelf life he has.  Lately, it’s been his villains and supporting cast that’s kept the book intriguing, which isn’t a bad thing, especially when you’re bringing in sub-D-list characters who are sparsely seen and inventing new ones.  However, that kind of takes away from Red Hulk since, well, he’s the star of this series.  This issue was decent, continuing the assault from Zero/One from last issue and Red Hulk’s confrontation with his daughter, the Red She-Hulk.  One thing I need to say, though, I’m starting to miss the “Lil’ Hulks” backups.  Decent issue, just not a whole lot to say about it.

Verdict – Recommended

Justice League International #6 follows up on the events of the first issue where bomb-crazed activists blew up the Hall of Justice for one stupid reason or another.  We get some great character moments here and it continues to affirm to me that THIS is the premiere team book in the DC Universe right now.  Great characters, intriguing plotlines that don’t talk down to the readers, and pretty darn good artwork.  The JLI finally gets approved by the United Nations council who originally put them together and, at their coming out party, they get blown up by the masterminds behind the activists (supposedly).  Incidently, Batman was absent from the coming out party, which may lead to the “way out” from the blast, even though Booster Gold has a force field, but I’m not exactly perfectly well-versed in his tech, especially in the new DC Universe.  Good issue, hope you’re reading it.

Verdict – Recommended

Sonic the Hedgehog #233.  This issue is a great example of what I’ve said about Ian Flynn’s writing for so long now, especially in contrast to what we’ve gotten recently from him.  He’s good in short burst stories and this one was actually pretty good.  I’m not thrilled with the structure of the legal system of New Mobotropois, especially since it’s more or less EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE UNDERDEVELOPED KNOTTHOLE VILAGE.  I mean, seriously, a city that found an even balance between its royal monarchs and a diplomatic democracy couldn’t grow its legal procedures up from an underground rebellion’s makeshift methods?  Was this just to get fanservice from having seen Hip and Hop again?  Seriously, who was begging to see Hip and Hop again?

Anyway, we learn the extent of King Nagus’ grip on the city and kingdom, as well as learning some of the artificial backstory for Geoffrey St. John.  It’s very vague and, honestly, things seem a little forced at times, leading me to believe he’s lying about a lot of it or this is even worse written than I thought.  As for the art, while it’s still not my favorite art in the history of Sonic, it does seem to be getting better... slowly.  I think I like it best in the follow-up story that brings back another throwback character, Harvey Who, and all the ominous shading and texturing that is shown.  A big problem happens in the beginning of the first story, though, when word balloons don’t have a cohesive flow to them.  Typically, balloons in American comics are read left-to-right while going downward.  In this one, sometimes it’s top-to-bottom while going rightward.  This creates some disorientation and I think it really could have been fixed if the editor was just doing his job.

Overall, a much, much, MUCH better Sonic affair than we’ve had recently and one of the best issues Ian Flynn’s done.  Then again, he hasn’t exactly had a very high bar to meet, has he?

Verdict – Recommended

Sonic Super Special #2, on the other hand, was an expensive wreck that only had one redeeming quality for me personally.  It featured an issue of Sonic that I’d sadly missed out on once upon a time.  The issues collected are in celebration of Sonic Adventure for the Dreamcast.  WHY this issue chose to celebrate the game that can be argued as the beginning of Sonic the Hedgehog’s DECLINE is beyond me.  Now, that’s not to call Sonic Adventure itself a bad game, but it did start a pattern of hub-world oriented, speed-over-platforming centric, new characters every game who add nothing to the universe, Sonic 2006-esque console messes.  That is until Sonic Colors for Wii.  As for this, it’s good if you’re a fan of Sonic Adventure, but I think it’s still far overpriced.

There are things even worse than the price, though, and that’s the insight to the psyche of the likes of Ian Flynn, namely his disregard for the character Bunnie formerly-Rabbot.  It seems he has plans for her, but if we know Flynn, drawn-out stories aren’t his strong suit and this could end very disappointing.  Also, we get a bit of a love-fest for Amy Rose and it recommends stories for fans of her via order form advertisement.  Problem?  THOSE STORIES SUCK (except Sonic #25)!  The next “Super Special” is supposed to be tied in with Sonic 4 Episode II, so new material may be nice to have… then again, it could only be issue length and we could get more rehashes.  Look, if I want old stories, just put out the trades like you have been, Archie.  Otherwise, stop treating these mega-sized magazines like new material.  Then again, this stuff’s so old by the last magazine’s comparison that it probably IS new material to some readers.

One last thing.  Tracey Yardley.  For the past while, I’ve been calling Tracey “she,” “her,” and the like.  Tracey is apparently a male.  So… sorry, my bad.  This doesn’t make him a better writer by any stretch though.

Verdict – Pass

Static Shock #6 is the conclusion to Static’s first trek in New York City.  We get some clarification about the clone of his sister, although I still think the angle was a bit heavy for asking readers to accept it right off the bat in issue #1.  Static remains an entirely enjoyable character, but I feel this storyline was just all over the place.  It lacked coherency and everything didn’t have a nice flow to it.  I really feel that this one was rushed.  While I’m still enjoying this series, the first story arc was a real hit or miss over the first six issues.  If you’re interested in the series, I say wait for the next issue.

Verdict – Pass

Our last item of the day is the continuing adventures of mutant awesomeness in Uncanny X-Men #6.  This issue continues the battle with the Immortal Man, a one-off from the Uncanny X-Force series.  We also learn of a character named Savage, a higher-learning sentient being who was part of an ancient race.  He had a partner who is tied to the Immortal Man and is, long story short, in a world-overthrowing mood.  We get some good character moments with the disappearance of Magik and Colossus’ quick movement to recover her as the Juggernaut, the next issue will probably be very action heavy.  I also liked the dynamics between Magneto and Psylocke.  I don’t know why I’m getting ship-happy with this book, but I’ve seen Cyclops hooking up with Storm down the line and I’m sort of starting to see a bit of Magneto and Psylocke.  Probably will face some protests from Rogue if that happens, but hey, even I read too much into things.

Verdict – Recommended

Whew, some week, huh?  I think we broke a record for how many “Highly Recommendeds” I had here, but there were a lot of good books… and a lot of really bad ones too.  I think last week may have been a kinder week because of fewer bad books, this week was well worth it if only because the good ones were worth looking for.  And I finally got to say something good about Sonic the Hedgehog for once!

Until next time, this has been The Back Stack reminding you that sometimes, you just need to sit down, relax, and enjoy some good comics.

Cheers;

Master Graveheart

#SaveDerpy