What is a Short Pants Review? While we’d love to give full reviews to everything, there just isn’t enough time in the day. So we’ve come up with Short Pants as a way of providing capsule reviews from our varied review writers, giving quick hits and short capsule thoughts about various comics we’ve read recently.
This time out, Nick and D3 (David Martindale) cover Iron Man #15, Justice League of America #6, 52 Week 44 of 52 The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 of 7, and The Killer #3.
Nick Budd Read and Thought:
Iron Man #15 (Marvel Comics): As bland and as bleak as the Iron Man title has been over the last few issues, it seems a relative impossibility to deny that a concept along the lines of say, Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, rings strangely of an intriguing idea worth checking out. There’s no doubt that I’m not alone in wanting the uber-cool Nick Fury back at the helm of things, but in lieu of that, I’ll say that as hooks go, not to mention the actual final product, this venture works exceptionally well and is executed by the father and son team (Daniel & Charles Knauf) flawlessly. High praise for a title that stars a character that to some extent has been vilified, but the vibes emanating from the pages of this book have me saying, “Superheroics are afoot!” If that isn’t enough, then throw in some energetic and gorgeous looking artwork by Robert De La Torre that feels like a melding of Lee Weeks and Alan Davis but with a realistic noir-style twist just for kicks, and you have a recipe for a book that is a refreshing throwback to the action oriented, swanky superhero Iron Man books of old.
Justice League of America #6 (DC Comics): About the only thing that grabbed me about this issue was the Adam Hughes variant cover that has Black Canary awaiting her next “sparring opponent” amongst some bloody hand prints and spray. It’s harsh, brutal, well drawn and completely out of character for her, which is par for the course for Brad Meltzer’s JLA. Beyond that highly addictive looking cover though, what lurks is little more than scant story and over the top, gore-tastic violence that would look more at home in a Walking Dead comic book than it ever could in Justice League of America. There have been few moments really worth remembering overall and with this conclusion to the first arc, with most of the mystery solved (Except for the appearance of Geo-Force! What’s he doing there again?) and the enemy revealed (Grundy’s doing what, you say?), you would expect some closure and a nice wrap up to it all. There really isn’t, or what there is goes unexplained. For me, it’s hard not to compare this ending to the countless of endings to New Avengers arcs where multiple story threads are left hanging, never to be resolved. Where’s the real Justice League of America when you need it?
The Killer #3 of 10 (Archaia Studio Press): For the life of me, I can’t stop thinking about Thomas Perry’s novels, The Butcher’s Boy and Sleeping Dogs, when I read the heady and severely satisfying book that is The Killer. They aren’t necessarily the same thing, each title fills its own void, covering the genre of assassin stories in its entirety. Perry’s novels focus more on the action and revenge angle while Jacamon & Matz’s work dives into the gray areas, the actual mindset of an assassin and how that person lives and breathes in the world that surrounds them. In this third issue, the Killer needs a quiet vacation, some time to get his head back into the game after the debacle that occurred during his last contract. Little does he know that he’s being followed and soon his would be vacation is about to turn into something a touch darker. Luc Jacamon continues to prove his talent as an artist in almost every respect possible. His vibrant and fluid action sequences are of the tip-top variety, counterbalanced with a complete control of shadow and light that adds another edge to the work, immersing you into the story that much more. Sincerely, this is one of the best books out there, and if you haven’t managed to experience it yet, you’re missing out on something fantastic.
The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born #2 of 7 (Marvel Comics): This title continues to serve as the standard for what all adaptations should strive to be. It’s fun, faithful to the source material of the first and fourth book, focusing more on the exploits of Wizard and Glass than anything, and is the springboard for the best artwork that Jae Lee has ever done. He truly captures the bleak and acrimonious landscape of Midworld, gruesome decapitated heads and all. That gruesomeness and the reality that what is shown is that gory, just as it was in the books, is actually one of the biggest draws for this issue. Beyond that, this second issue introduces yet another barony named Mejis and more cast members, most notably the deadly Big Coffin Hunters led by the notorious Eldred Jonas. I was worried that the first issue was a fluke, that with this issue it would flop over and die a quiet death. This isn’t the case, and as a fan of The Dark Tower I couldn’t be happier.
D3 (David Martindale) Read and Thought:
X-Factor #16 (Marvel Comics): A hero acting heroically? In my Marvel Comics? It’s more likely than you think! X-Factor #16 is a breath of fresh air in the current morass of dark realism plaguing the Big Two. Jamie Madrox’s mutant power has all kinds of interesting uses, but Peter David has found the best use of his power. He’s made Madrox an everyman that almost any reader can relate to on a personal level. So when David puts the character we all feel an affinity for into a morally challenging situation where he must choose between either giving up a part of his very soul and essence or perpetrating an injustice, it’s that much more powerful and heroic when David’s everyman does the right thing. Madrox’s story is intercut with Monet and Siryn’s adventures in Paris. While the Paris adventure is well above average action/adventure fare, it seems a bit out of place with the rest of the issue. Had this been a Madrox solo issue it would have gone from very good to great. Raimondi’s pencils are a bit too posed and static for my liking, but they do the job adequately and fit the tone of David’s script well.
52 Week 44 of 52 (DC Comics): I’ve been in a love/hate relationship with 52 for awhile now. Despite really enjoying the book, there are aspects of it that really tweak my nose. This issue is one of those issues where this phenomenon really applies. Both of the stories in this issue follow up on bad ideas, yet they go in very good directions from those bad decisions. Creating a black Marvel family and giving the young boy a cowardly, talking crocodile companion was a lot of fun. I would have preferred to have seen Sobek, the cowardly crocodile, remain fun rather than see Sobek eat crippled adolescents. Having said that, I’m glad to see Black Adam solidly entrenched once again as a villain. The problem with sympathetic villains is that lesser writers tend to sympathise too much, and the villain becomes a hero or antihero, and the villain’s heroic counterpart becomes without focus and purpose. If things continue in this direction, Black Adam’s tragic arc in 52 could easily serve as a new origin for the character. The second story in this issue also bears tasty fruit from a diseased tree. DC is finally returning to a Question that is rooted in spirituality and mentored by Richard Dragon. Unfortunately, the Question was axed to get to this point. Having the Question out on a quest to fight evil and discover him/herself is the best idea that DC has had for the character since its inception, and despite how we got here, I’m excited to see where we go from here. Creating that enthusiastic curiosity is exactly what 52 set out to do, and it has been an unmitigated success. The issue also has some very impressive action and personal expression jumping off the page thanks to Eddy Barrows’ pencils.
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I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said about X-Factor #16. David continues to write Madrox extremely well. Combined with Dark Tower, he’s the Short Pants MVP this week. He rarely disappoints.
Wanted to float out a discussion question as well, if I may: I’ve been a Marvel zombie for most of my comic reading time, but continue to hear good things about many DC titles, not to mention picking up Seven Soldiers last year. Things like 52 have done well, and titles like Manhunter and All-Star Superman have good buzz. If I were to plunge into the DC waters again, what recommendations would people have?
12 Mar 2007 at 2:49 am
QuoteOh I think we can live quite happily without Nick Fury for a good long while. There’s only so many time you can watch a character do three things before it just gets boring. Exposition fury setting up stories for other better characters is a role that can be filled by anyone. Evil Fury in opposition to the heroes can as well, even more easily given that Fury hardly ever gets his hands dirty in these ones. Which leaves us with Action Fury who had SHEILD taken over by the bad guy (for the millionth time) and is fighting to get it back. Sure that’s the most interesting version, by virtue of him actually doing things, but after the 500th time I’m over him.
Lets stick with underground Terrorist Fury for a while. Sure so far he’s just exposition Fury in a new suit but there’s the vague hope he might turn into a decent villain at some point.
Meanwhile Ironmans free of the character molestation of Civil War and is doing something interesting with SHEILD for a change, here’s hoping it lasts a while.
12 Mar 2007 at 4:03 am
QuoteEr, the Knaufs are not brothers; Daniel and Charlie are father and son.
12 Mar 2007 at 8:01 am
QuoteThanks for pointing that one out, Dan. It’s now fixed and I again feel sort of like an idiot. Stupid facts and their need to be checked.
12 Mar 2007 at 9:07 am
QuoteDC has quite a few good reads, like those you have already mentioned (especially Manhunter and All Star Superman), but I’m also a sucker for Geoff Johns’ Flash run. For me it reinvigorated the character, the fun factor is high octane and I find Flash’s rogues gallery one of the better sets of villains. Not to mention Scott Kolins’ art was killer during the run. Other than that, Grant Morrison’s JLA was good, Ed Brubaker’s Catwoman, though dark at points was an overall success, and Starman which is just good in every possible way. There are others, both of the one shot and series variety but these are some of my favorites.
12 Mar 2007 at 9:22 am
QuoteEverybody should just forget about those other titles. The Killer kicks all sorts of ass. If you told me I could have Iron Man, JLA..oh excuse me..Justice League of America, Dark Tower, X-Factor and 52 for the same price as The Killer combined I’d take The Killer.
Justice League of America was just awful. Just terrible. Just bad. Hell, I can’t think of a perfect word(s) for that issue. Meltzer shouldn’t be allowed to write the Justice League again. That’s the type of garbage that has me pulling my hair out about mainstream comics.
12 Mar 2007 at 10:37 am
QuoteI’m pretty much the same as you; Marvel Zombie at heart (even if Marvel has left me a little cold lately). I don’t read a ton of DC titles, but the ones I do, you might enjoy, too:
All-Star Superman - when it comes out, it’s one of my favorite books. Accessible, wonderful, and gorgeous.
Confidential books (Superman and Batman) - self-contained, accessible stories. Right now Superman is way better, but the tables can change at any time - a new creative team comes on after each arc.
Batman - if ya like Grant Morrison, you might like this. He’s one of the few non-superhero writers who maintains his own unique voice and vision when he does write superheroes. Plus, if you like Andy Kurburt’s art, this is a good fix (or it should be, now that the book is back on its regular schedule).
Spirit - one of my favorite books from any company right now. Nuff said. First issue is getting a second printin’, so don’t miss out.
As for titles you guys reviewed….you can’t mention it enough: The Killer is top-notch. I just wish it came out monthly, especially since it’s a translation. Oh well. Surprised to see you liked Iron Man, Nick - besides the interest SHIELD concept, I didn’t think it did anything particularly well. I have to agree that the art was pretty good - de la Torre is gonna be big. I’m just glad I haven’t been pre-ordering the book, that’s all.
12 Mar 2007 at 11:10 am
QuoteYou know, Kiel…I think it may have been the concept and execution of a character as an actual hero saving lives in this issue of Iron Man that I liked so much, compounded with the fact that I really dug the art. Not sure that it’s going to constantly stay at this level of fun (maybe not) but I’m curious to see where it’s going to go and if they can keep Iron Man a hero instead of the amoral clod/villain who just happens to run S.H.I.E.L.D. that he appears to be in every other book he’s in. I guess we’ll see.
12 Mar 2007 at 11:19 am
QuoteHmm. Given Iron Man’s current situation, this book has the potential to become one of Marvel’s top books, but I’m not sure the Knaufs are the right team for it. If they’re gonna do comics, something creepy like Carnivale would be cool. Christos Gage is supposed to be doing a 2-issue fill-in, but I’m really hoping out for an extended run.
12 Mar 2007 at 11:34 am
QuoteSorry, Kiel, I asked Gage about this at NYCC and he said the Knaufs are booked for at least another year or so on the title; he was just filling in for the World War Hulk tie-in issues while the Knaufs take care of Hollywood stuff.
12 Mar 2007 at 12:27 pm
QuoteOh, that’s even more disappointing - I wasn’t planning on picking up anything WWH-related. I actually used to really see the appeal of big events, but CW has left me pretty drained, and caused me to miss out on peripheral stuff I might otherwise not have missed. WWH could actually turn out to be entertaining, but it’s just too much, too soon.
12 Mar 2007 at 1:37 pm
QuoteShort Pants MVP? I like.
All the guys above have given great recommendations but try also Shazam: Monster Society Of Evil (really can’t say enough good things about this), anything by Darwyn Cooke (Kiel mentioned The Spirit, there’s also DC: The New Frontier & Selina’s Big Score), Gotham Central when Brubaker was involved, Matt Wagner’s two recent Batman mini series (Monster Men & Mad Monk) and you might also like Alan Moore’s Top Ten which DC bankrolled.
Really dug Iron Man #15 too. Had it in my top 5 last week. The Director Of SHIELD angle is a great hook and De La Torre really knocked it out of the park. He seems to be getting better with every issue and Sibal & White on inks & colours are great fit for him too. Gage would be a good choice to take over long term but I’m gonna give the Knaufs a chance. After all, they’ve gotten off to a great start with this “new era” for Iron Man
12 Mar 2007 at 2:45 pm
QuoteI’ll stick to stuff that’s currently being published:
*All Star Superman
*Birds of Prey
*Justice Society of America (Some people find this one too dark and violent. If you’re sensitive to that type of stuff, you should probably skip it.)
*Shadowpact
*Teen Titans
12 Mar 2007 at 6:21 pm
QuoteI’d recommend checking out the Annihilation stuff, Kiel. That was the quality event from Marvel last year, not Civil War. I’m actually looking forward to the follow-up event, though I’m feeling pretty unhappy with much of what Marvel does these days.
13 Mar 2007 at 9:29 am
QuoteI’ve heard good things about Annihilation, but some things about it have led me to not pick it up. I tried the Prologue, and wasn’t intrigued at all. Unless it stars the FF or the X-men, the cosmic stuff isn’t really my cup o’ tea. And I’m not sure if I wanna drop $100 on the HCs for something I’m not sure I’d enjoy. So if the sequel turns out to be accessible and the same quality, I might try it, wallet pending. CW, WWH, Annihilation and its sequel….that’s just too many events, way too close together.
13 Mar 2007 at 10:52 am
Quote