Wednesday Number Ones 8/15/07
Wednesday Number Ones is a weekly feature here at Comic Pants. We take the books that are premiering a first issue from that week and give a quick opinion on them. From time to time we may also include more than issue number ones in this feature. If a noteworthy one-shot or the first issue of a new story arc is released, we may talk about it in this feature.
This week we will cover Booster Gold #1, Flash #231, The Fourth Horseman #1 of 4, Killing Girl #1, Ripclaw Pilot Season #1, and Terror Inc #1 of 5.
Nick Budd Read and Thought:
The Fourth Horseman #1
Writer: Jeffery Nodelman
Artist: Tommy Castillo
Company: Fangoria
Oh, how to describe Fangoria’s newest series, The Fourth Horseman? I could say that it was a ho-hum outing, pock-marked with pages and pages of bloody and crude, over the top violence and a single sex scene. That may be the best way to describe it, and sometimes that sort of story is okay. Anyone who’s ever read the Punisher, or anything written by Garth Ennis for that matter, knows that this recipe could be done well. Here however, the end result is something that’s so far from good that it’s scary. Nodelman’s introduction of the first Horseman of the Apocalypse, the White Rider, is nothing more than seeing the character rip and tear and cleave his way through everyone in his way. Since this mini is about the riders of the Apocalypse, the mass carnage seems to make sense, but that’s all that’s being told here and it isn’t enough. Maybe in the next issue or two a more cohesive story will start to turn up, but right now there’s no hook for the reader to latch onto. Might be one to avoid.
Flash #231
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Daniel Acuna
Company: DC Comics
Wow, that was actually quite good. Seeing Waid return to Flash is nice in and of itself. Seeing him put together an issue that hits all the right notes and instills some good fortune and classic heroism in the DC Universe is even better. The story, for those not in the know, is that Wally West is back in the saddle, but this time he isn’t alone in his battle against the bad guys. No, this time he’s got his two kids, both who have powers that are reminiscent of his own. This notion, and the way Waid plays it is great. The family dynamic, not unlike the Disney movie The Incredibles, works incredibly well and seeing all of these characters save people from a sinking ship and fight monsters just feels right. Even Acuna’s artwork works, though I do wish he would use a different color palette that’s a little less garish for this one. All in all though, a great start and I highly recommend it.
Dave Farabee Read and Thought:
Killing Girl #1
Writer: Glen Brunswick
Artist: Frank Espinosa
Company: Image Comics
What a strange mix this book is…and I don’t think it really works. On one hand, it wants to be a slick action flick about a beautiful female assassin. But it also wants to be a gritty drama - our assassin’s an ex-prostitute whose narrative captions definitely dip into harsh reality and reflect a burnt-out morality. And then there’s the art - I usually dig Frank Espinosa’s wildly expressionistic cartooning (think Darwyn Cooke meets Ashley Wood), but cartooniness seems a truly bizarre fit for a story this violent and gritty. On top of all that, our babe assassin’s wholly unlikeable. That’s fine if your story has other hooks, but this one doesn’t have much beyond some soap operatics and Espinosa’s interesting art.
Dan Grendell Read and Thought:
Terror Inc. #1 of 5
Writer: David Lapham
Artist: Patrick Zircher
Company: MAX/Marvel Comics
With a writer like David Lapham (Stray Bullets) and gory, adrenaline-pulsing art from Patrick Zircher (Cable and Deadpool, Iron Man), it’s hard to see where this book could go wrong. Throw in a hook like a cursed assassin who can’t die but needs to replace his rotting body parts with fresh ones and I’m captivated. Fill it with lines like “…maybe I’m not Dan. Maybe I ripped Dan’s head off and put it on to trick you.” and I’m happy for weeks. Jeez, I’m so easy to please sometimes.
Randy Lander Read and Thought:
Ripclaw Pilot Season #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Jorge Lucas
Company: Image/Top Cow
Those of you who don’t like the media cross-pollination of comics should stop reading now, because Top Cow are putting a TV twist on their new series, offering up a selection of one-shots by mid-level profile creators using their existing characters, and the reader gets to vote on who gets a series. It’s kind of a fun idea, but if Ripclaw is an indication of what we’re going to be getting, my likely choice is going to be a vote for “none of the above.” It’s a perfectly solid book, a tale of revenge as Ripclaw, Marc Silvestri’s Wolverine knockoff, tears his way through a series of impressive security measures, tracking down a Yakuza boss on behalf of an angry ghost. It’s just that in every way, it’s been done before. Even Aaron’s usually distinctive dialogue is watered-down action movie cliche, and thanks to a writing gimmick where all the action takes place off-panel and we only see the fallout, it’s like we got the weaknesses of that subgenre without any of the strengths. If you don’t mind the familiarity, the book has solid enough writing and art, but there’s nothing to make it stand out, which is presumably the goal of any pilot or first issue.
D3 (David Martindale) Read and Thought:
Booster Gold #1
Writers: Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz
Artists: Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund
Publisher: DC Comics
Fans of the character, Booster Gold, and the DC event, 52, should dig this one. It’s almost a direct continuation of Booster’s story in said event. Johns and Katz seem to have a good direction and plan for the newly (almost) redeemed Booster Gold. They’ve managed to find the perfect balance between comedic egoism and heroism. The character’s flaws are strong enough to keep him interesting, but not so strong that he isn’t a true hero. The dialogue and plotting seem tight as well. The only real issue with the writing is that this first issue is a bit heavy on continuity and light on action, but it’s hard to imagine a doing the issue any other way. If Johns and Katz had just assumed that readers of the issue had read the entirety of 52, they could have gone heavier on action, but new readers would have been lost. The art is also quite solidwith layouts by Booster’s creator, Jurgens, and finishes by Rapmund. A very solid, and enjoyable first issue, and I’m curious to see where the title will take Booster and friends.
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id’ better love Terror inc it’s the easiest sale JQ’S Marvel has ever made from me
15 Aug 2007 at 3:35 pm
QuoteNot a whole lot of interesting new stuff this week.
Bring on Mouse Guard Winter!
15 Aug 2007 at 6:07 pm
QuoteOh, I dunno. Waid was pretty on this week, Flash #231 is really good (although Acuna’s art is kind of distracting) and Brave and the Bold #6 was awesome. Also really dug Terror, Inc. #1.
Got a chance to take a look at this in San Diego, and it looks fantastic. Definitely looking forward to get a chance to sit down and read it, rather than just flip through.
15 Aug 2007 at 7:20 pm
QuoteI’m glad this week’s Flash is off to a good start. Since, it’s not all dark and gloomy, I know you guys will at least rate it more than an average. I heard that Waid will only be on the comic for a few issues. I hope this isn’t true.
15 Aug 2007 at 7:56 pm
QuoteFlash was indeed quite good and Booster Gold was a surprisingly strong effort as well. I must also say that Countdown took a step up this week for a change. Maybe DC is turning things around a little.
Brave and the Bold actually fell a little flat for me after the excellent last issue. Maybe I’m just not that big on the Challengers. Were they the main draw for you Randy?
16 Aug 2007 at 2:06 am
QuoteTerror, Inc, was lots of fun. I just hope there’s more to it once the gimmick of replaceable body parts runs out of steam.
16 Aug 2007 at 6:13 am
QuoteCan “replaceable body parts” ever run out of steam?
16 Aug 2007 at 9:05 am
QuoteI HOpe Terror sells lots I just pitched Terror vs Valdimer Putin
16 Aug 2007 at 11:09 am
QuoteDid Terror Inc have to have such horrible title design on the cover? my goodness
16 Aug 2007 at 11:12 am
Quotegood question I think it’s a pulp homage but I wondered too
16 Aug 2007 at 12:14 pm
QuoteThat was definitely the big thing for me… I thought it was really cool when I realized what Batman was leading up to. It was a great payoff to all the book of destiny build-up, I thought.
16 Aug 2007 at 12:44 pm
QuoteTerror, Inc.’s original logo was far cooler, but since this is a reimagining…
16 Aug 2007 at 1:21 pm
QuoteBrave & the Bold felt flat to me to, JB. I probably need to go back and read 1-6 straight through, but the lack of anything resembling doubt about the stakes & overall outcome left it feeling kind of weightless. Maybe I’m just OD’d on the simultaneous apocalypses plaguing the DCU these days…
Speaking of being leery of all things DC, Flash felt a little off to me, too, and I’m the target market for that book. Love the Incredibles riff, but somewhere between Wally’s clunky exposition explaining the kids (Linda was there too, right? Why does she need the story recited to her?) and the “wuhhuh?” baddies, I just wasn’t feeling it the way I thought I would. Acuna’s a different yet appropriate choice to illustrate a DC speedster’s adventures, but the colors are a bit much and sometimes the kids just looked weird, and not in a fantastic way. I will admit to being terrified that Waid’s only going to be on the title for three issues and then we’ll get Frank Tieri or something, so maybe it’s just that.
I was surprised how much I dug Booster Gold. Great job setting up a pretty convoluted raison d’etre and a good reminder of how much fun 52 was. Plus, Show ▼
.
This is the second negative review I’ve read for Killing Girl, which is too bad as that one had me intrigued to read as an eventual trade. Also made the decision to wait for the trade on Terror, Inc when I saw the $3.99 price point - glad to hear lots of folks are enjoying it.
16 Aug 2007 at 1:27 pm
QuoteTerror was my fave Marvel of the 90s i hope SOMEDAY THEY explain his backstory with wolverine
16 Aug 2007 at 2:37 pm
QuoteWell, you see, Rob, Terror Inc. has cat DNA, which means that, like Feral, he’s descended from the wolf line of Romulus and is thus Wolverine’s half-brother.
For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, read this. One of the best negative reviews ever.
16 Aug 2007 at 3:52 pm
QuoteThat Wolverine review is awesome. Paul O’Brien is always very good but that is by far one of his best. “A powerful case can be made that this is the worst Wolverine storyline of all time. ” And he makes the case pretty damn well.
16 Aug 2007 at 4:17 pm
Quote1. YEAH I read the first part of that sick sad sorry mess which bore no relation to part two AS i said “there are editors somewhere at Marvel but nowhere near this
2 AS sheaon garrity says “wolverine fights a lot of crappy versons of himself
3. it took 21 years to come up with THAT?
4. Make no mistake I LOVE Wolverine. Out of 283 failed Marvel pitches 63 were Wolverin
16 Aug 2007 at 9:05 pm
QuoteRob are you making up random statistics? If not how do you know about failed Marvel pitches?
17 Aug 2007 at 10:48 am
Quotesorry I MEANT MY 283 MARVEL PITCHES!
17 Aug 2007 at 11:02 am
QuoteLoeb should be forced at gunpoint to read that review.
17 Aug 2007 at 12:04 pm
Quoteafter house of M I can’t imagine writting Wolverine. Uh he’s got all his memories ok fine AND he’s been around forever? That is’nt WOLVERINE it’s Elric!
17 Aug 2007 at 3:09 pm
QuoteAll you would have to do is put Wolverine in a coma and when he wakes up he doesnt remember anything. I think they have been doing that on soaps for years. They could even have a mini-series Wolverine: Coma Patient. Now we just need to come up with a way for Wolverine to be put into a coma. If only there was some superstrong, crazy, iconic, green monster on the loose who could do it. Rob, feel free to use this idea in pitch 284.
Or if Bendis was writing Wolverine he would just make the current Wolverine a skrull.
17 Aug 2007 at 10:52 pm
Quoteoh I passed 284 years ago 283 when I stopped counting. I USED to pitch all the time in the 90s. Now I only pitch when I have such a good idea it’s painful (ie Terror VS Putin ala Gogo 13) or Woodgod as wrestler.
18 Aug 2007 at 11:13 am
QuoteTHE FOURTH HORSEMAN “might be one to avoid”? Yeah, and you also might want to avoid smallpox-laden blankets. You know, like the plague?
This is arguably the worst comic featuring a Native American ever. See http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2007/10/new-low-in-native-comics.html for more on its shortcomings.
16 Oct 2007 at 11:06 pm
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23 Jan 2008 at 4:19 am
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