Wednesday Number Ones 12/5/2007
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 Countdown Arena #1 of 4, Infinite Horizon #1 of 6, Northlanders #1, The Overman #1 of 5, Resurrection #1, Ultimates 3 #1, World War Hulk Aftersmash and Zombies Vs Robots Vs Amazons #1 of 3.
Nick Budd Read and Thought:
Ultimates 3 #1
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Joe Madureira
Company: Marvel Comics
Even though I’m not personally a fan of the Ultimates title or Mark Millar in general, the one thing that he was always able to do well with the title was provide balls to the wall, super over the top action. For a lot of people, that’s precisely what they wanted from the book. Jeph Loeb’s Ultimates however, doesn’t even live up to that small legacy. The short of it is that the book’s boring. Sure, there’s still action pieces to look at, mainly during a Venom invades the Ultimates Mansion battle, but the action isn’t as intense or even as interesting, and happens to be accompanied by cheese-ball dialogue and such cornball story elements as a sex tape that involves Iron Man and Black Widow. Millar may have been able to get away with something like that but Loeb’s story just doesn’t click and certainly isn’t enough to keep a person interested. Add to that Joe Madureira’s overdone artistic style, which doesn’t really help the matter either, as he’s no Bryan Hitch. I know it’s not completely fair to judge the two side by side but for the people wanting the super detailed worlds that Hitch provided, they’re going to be disappointed because they’re pretty much gone. Maduriera’s style hasn’t changed at all over the years, and in fact has gotten slightly more static and blobby. What makes it look even worse though are the brown color washes applied to many of the pages of the book, which makes some of the action just look like a gigantic puddle of stuff that you have to decipher. Definitely didn’t deliver what it could have, therefore it’s something you might want to thumb through before buying.
Northlanders #1
Writer: Brian Wood
Artist: Davide Gianfelice
Company: Vertigo
Okay, this one was as good, if not better, than I expected it to be. The one thing that I like the most is that while this really is a great introduction to the the harsh and brutal world of Vikings, it’s still a Brain Wood book. You still get the same sort of intelligent and interesting characters, like Matty from DMZ or Megan from Local, and the very layered and very complex storylines that both ask questions and entertain at the same time. With Northlanders, the main character this go around is Sven, an exiled prince who has basically been spoiled by the decadent life outside his homeland. He’s a fun character, very full of himself but smart to boot. When he hears that his Father has died, he returns to claim what is rightfully his. The art, deftly handled by Davide Gainfelice, is just as amazing as the story. His work is comparable to Riccardo Burchielli’s on DMZ, as there’s the same level of detail but really, the action here is flat out fantastic and in your face, just as it should be. Overall, this might not be the out of the gate, grab you by the throat, first issue that one might have hoped for but if Wood’s track record stays intact, the slow build of this story will work in its favor. A great start to a book that you should certainly pick up.
Dave Farabee Read and Thought:
The Infinite Horizon #1 of 6
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Phil Noto
Company: Image Comics
I very much like the premise of Infinite Horizon: a retelling of the grandaddy of all post-war epics, The Odyssey, lensed through the modern context of war in the Middle East. It runs the risk of being contrived in trying to map up with the events of Homer’s story, but by projecting some years into the future, writer Gerry Duggan smartly adds a few new elements to help set the stage (e.g. a panicked martial law in the U.S. paves the way for subplot of Penelope and the “suitors”). I will say that I had a little trouble connecting with the story’s lead - simply referred to as “The Captain” - as he and his troops hit their first series of obstacles in returning home. Not that I recall Odysseus being a particularly deep character, but the Captain’s loyalty to his troops and love for his wife felt a little rote, a little “war story” cliched. I also found that Phil Noto’s art was an obstacle to the immediacy of the action. Noto’s a fine draftsman and his painted colors really set the atmosphere, but his characters are just too stiff for my tastes, his action too staid. I still think it’s an above average first issue, though, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the concept ends up carrying it. It looks as though the story intends to mirror the full ten year Journey Odysseus traveled, and I do look forward to the slaughterhouse takedown of the suitors when the Captain makes it back to his Ithaca - the Catskill Mountains in New York.
Zombies vs. Robots vs. Amazons #1 of 3
Writer: Chris Ryall
Artist: Ashley Wood
Company: IDW Publishing
Chances are good when you read an Ashley Wood-drawn story it’ll be anarchic. This one’s no exception, and the title pretty much tells the tale. If I’m not mistaken, this mini follows in the wake of a few Ashley Wood one-shots featuring the titular zombies and robots, but it’s not as if you’d need to have read them to plug into some kind of grand worldbuilding. The story’s almost non-existent - something about zombies attacking a settlement of Amazons in the post-apocalypse and the Amazons activating a robot to kill the zombies. Mostly it’s an excuse for Wood to draw the stuff he likes. And I like how he draws the stuff he likes, but I just don’t dig on these kinds of completely random outings if they’re not witty as hell. Zombies v. Robots v. Amazons just settles for doofy and lightweight, so I can really only recommend this to the hardcore Ashley Woodites.
Randy Lander Read and Thought:
The Overman #1 of 5
Writer: Scott Reed
Artist: Shane White
Company: Image
That was one hell of an opener. The Overman is an imaginative read with plenty of characters and hints of more to come, but at its most basic, it’s a science-fiction story about a greedy military corporation and a sentient ultimate weapon of mass destruction. It’s full of touches that remind this reader of Warren Ellis, Grant Morrison and Alan Moore, from the demanding and clearly deranged naked psychic in a cage to direct-from-the-mind telepathic logs to a space station sized insane asylum. While the storytelling is reminiscent of the sci-fi flavor of the comic book British invasion, though, the artwork is pure ’80s American comics, with influences seemingly including Mark Bright, John Byrne and Tom Mandrake. It’s an unusual fusion, and the result is something new, a smart yet action-packed sci-fi series with some nice, foreboding promise in the hints of story to come.
Resurrection #1
Writer: Marc Guggenheim
Artist: Dave Dumeer
Company: Oni Press
What are the odds of two great science-fiction series starting on the same week? I admit, I was skeptical. I love a good post-apocalypse story, I’m a fan of Oni, but I’ve enjoyed literally nothing that Guggenheim has written in comics. With Resurrection #1, I guess the score goes up to one, because this is a fantastic first issue. Starting from the first day after an alien invasion, when a mysterious weapon has forced the occupying “bugs” off the planet, Guggenheim introduces a handful of characters and ideas, teasing about what happened in the invasion, what’s happening now and what the survivors are going to do about it. It’s all got a very similar feel to the first issue of Walking Dead, when it all has a promising vibe but you have no idea how good it’s going to get, and I hope Resurrection builds in the same manner. It certainly has art equal to the task, as newcomer Dave Dumeer shows off clever storytelling (check out the passage of time sequence on nine) and a confident, expressive style that reminds me of Charlie Adlard crossed with Becky Cloonan. Good stuff, and one of the stronger first issues I’ve read in a while.
David Martindale Read and Thought:
Countdown Arena #1
Writer: Keith Champagne
Artist: Scott McDaniel
Publisher: DC Comics
DC’s version Marvel’s Secret Wars or Beyond feels exactly like that… DC’s version of a Marvel event. The Monarch takes the Beyonder’s role as the cosmic force that pits DC’s heroes against each other, and an arena in the Quantum Dimension substitutes for the Beyonder’s Battle World. The big difference seems to be that instead of having different heroes fighting each other, Monarch is pitting different versions of the same hero from various Earths in the multiverse against each other. That change is unfortunately not enough to keep Arena from feeling like DC’s attempt to follow the Secret Wars formula. The battles feel overly morbid and explicit for a superhero action-adventure book. Despite the deaths and the cataclysmic consequences of defying Monarch, the fights still manage not to have any real feeling of consequence. McDaniel’s over the top art suites the book well but could use a bit of refinement. It’s not a bad action book, but it’s not a good one either.
World War Hulk: Aftersmash
Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
This should have been World War Hulk #7. In a single issue, Pak manges to bring the weight of destruction that the Hulk brought to New York to the forefront of the reader’s mind. On top of all that, we get a conclusion to the story that highlights the heroism shown by a variety of other heroes during World War Hulk. If the WWH hardcover doesn’t include this issue, Marvel will have committed a grave injustice as the event doesn’t truly conclude until this one-shot. Pak continues to fire on all cylinders, getting solid to very strong action, character, and plot into the book. Sandoval’s pencils aren’t flashy, but they are very solid with well above average storytelling ability. This is a must for fans of Planet Hulk and World War Hulk.
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I’m going to give Northlanders, The Overman and Resurrection a try. Just wondering what are your thoughts on Twelve #0. Is it a gem from JMS like his new Thor series or should be avoided like Spidey: Sins of the Past?
05 Dec 2007 at 10:59 pm
QuoteToo soon to tell… this #0 issue is mostly reprints of the original appearance of the characters (that’s why it didn’t make the review list, we’ll review the real #1 when it hits)… but I know Dave F. was pretty impressed with some of the character designs, and had some mild interest.
This might have been the best week for first issues all year. It’s certainly in the running. Actually, it was a great week all around. My Top 5 is more like a Top 12.
06 Dec 2007 at 12:28 am
QuoteRandy, if World War Hulk: Aftersmash is WWH #07, what’s WWH #06?
06 Dec 2007 at 1:21 am
QuoteHate to be a bother, but could you give me one word on the following new titles?
AVENGERS INITIATIVE ANNUAL
CRAZY MARY TRINITY
IRON & THE MAIDEN #0
WHAT IF X-MEN RISE & FALL OF SHI’AR EMPIRE
If you don’t have the time, or haven’t read them, no worries. Just wondering if anyone had, and if they were worth picking up.
06 Dec 2007 at 2:00 am
QuoteUltimates 3 was dreadful. I was wondering what was up with the muddiness of the colors. Were they just trying to make it look ‘grittier’? This misfired on so many levels.
06 Dec 2007 at 7:43 am
QuoteI’ll have to give The Overman (which I knew nothing about) and Resurrection (which I had read about but didn’t see yesterday) a shot. Bought Northlanders but haven’t read it yet, and will mostly likely end up collecting it in trade, as I do Wood’s DMZ and most Vertigo.
Aftersmash was indeed excellent - a really indispensible chapter to the WWH story that somewhat changed my attitude about the event it wraps up and has me really excited about three(!?!) of its spin-offs (Warbound, Damage Control and Herc; I don’t buy things that Jeph Loeb writes anymore and I’m “wait and see” on Hulk’s alien son).
Thank you guys for confirming my decision to stay away from all things Loeb and Countdown. Avoiding those means that a really strong week wasn’t spoiled. I too would have a hard time making a top 5 this week.
Oh and ace, for what it’s worth, the Initiative Annual is probably the last issue of that title I buy. I usually love Slott’s work, but this book just isn’t clicking for me. Its not bad, but it has failed to make me care about any of the characters or what happens to them in 8 or 9 issues now (this one is pretty much all secret origins-type stuff, and the only really strong one is for someone that is also pretty much written off in that story). My “eh” attitude toward the Annual, and the title in general, is not helped by releasing it the same week as The Order (not my favorite issue of the series, but even a middlin’ issue featuring the similarly themed but more tightly focused Cali team from Fraction, Kitson & company is waaaay better than anything I’ve seen of A:I). And - SPOILER - a couple of people you’ve never heard of before and also don’t care about are SKRULLS! I don’t have a problem giving the Big Two piles of money for events & tie-ins if they’re good (see WWH). A:I and early indications about Secret Invasion are not looking good for mine.
06 Dec 2007 at 9:44 am
QuoteWow, I just tried to read Countdown: Arena, and I think you were being gracious, D3. It occurs to me that the inspiration for it feels less like Secret Wars or even the old Contest of Champions mini…and more like the manga Battle Royale.
Now I very much dig Battle Royale. I also very much do not want DC trying to emulate it. Especially in a book where Superman calls the mass-murdering villain a “creep.” Talk about you tonal disparity.
The issue also features some of the worst work I’ve ever seen from Scott McDaniel. I’ve never been a huge fan, but this outright looks rushed.
DC really needs a new captain steering their ship.
06 Dec 2007 at 11:18 am
QuoteI feel bad for Keith Champagne, who will be paying many people their money back. Recall his offer to buy back every single issue of this series including shipping? He’s going to end up having to buy back more than a few. Poor guy…
06 Dec 2007 at 12:40 pm
Quoteyou gotta give Marvel props Hulk having an alien son is VERY creepy
06 Dec 2007 at 12:55 pm
QuoteThat wasn’t me, that was D3. I was going to make the same joke.
Good if you’re liking Avengers Initiative, interesting origin tidbits for the characters, I have some issues with Show ▼
, but otherwise, good issue.
I don’t know what the first one is, I have no interest in the art style on the second one.
Didn’t read, no particular interest.
06 Dec 2007 at 1:27 pm
QuoteI thought that the Intiative Annual was the most disappointing issue of the series so far. Of course, that still means it was decent. I just would have liked to see these stories get a little more room to breathe. It feels possibly that Slott has possibly too much going on at once, but I will happily take that over New Avengers, which seems to only have had one thing going on for months now.
06 Dec 2007 at 3:08 pm
QuoteTotally forgot about WWH Aftersmash. Considering almost everything I picked up this week was awful and D3’s good review I’m a little annoyed with myself for not picking it up.
Also had no idea that Christos Gage is now co-writer on Avengers Initiative until today. I’ve been on-off with the book from the beginning but will give it a sustained try now Gage is involved.
And as for Ultimates 3? Ultimate rubbish
06 Dec 2007 at 3:52 pm
QuoteResurrection #1 was quite promising and laden with mystery. I’m looking forward to where they take the story and hope they can further distinguish themselves from ‘the Walking Dead’.
07 Dec 2007 at 10:47 am
QuoteWe have been hearing this comparison a bunch lately.
Probably the biggest difference will be the fact that while The Walking Dead keeps a very tight perspective on a few characters and focuses on how they survive an immediate threat, Resurrection widens its focus to a much larger scale and focuses on how people and whole societies rebuild after the major threat has passed.
There is still danger and mystery, but much of the danger and conflict comes from people and their greed, avarice, lust for power, selfishness, pride, etc…
And there is still the tangible fear and threat of aliens someday coming back… assuming they left to begin with…
07 Dec 2007 at 12:32 pm
QuoteWe’ve tried to have a significant web presence about our book…so if anyone is interested. Please go here:
http://www.theovermancomic.com
And thanks, guys for the kind words. Glad you enjoyed it.
=s=
07 Dec 2007 at 2:46 pm
Quotegotta check out WWW aftersmash and northlanders, and maybe overman. its a shame that ultimates v3 1 is a huge bust. i was looking forward to another ultimates run. they should have ran with the success of v1 & v2.
shame on Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira
08 Dec 2007 at 6:17 pm
QuoteI have a question. I have been meaning to check out the recent Hulk stories lately. (even though I might lose any respect I had, I should admit I rarely venture into the DC/Marvel universes).
After reading about World War Hulk: Aftersmash and the What If? Planet Hulk oneshot, I decided its time. However, after doing some googling, I admit I am confused about where to start and what is necessary. So far I was thinking of getting the Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk collection (I guess it only comes in hardcover), as well as the aforementioned What if? oneshot. Then getting the issues of World War Hulk including the Aftersmash. But are you guys talking about the Front Line or Gamma Corps, or does the World War Hulk start at #106?.
Does that cover it? is the prelude necessary?
Also I thought I should read the wikipedia of the Illuminati for a primer. I guess I’m asking is there anyone out there willing to put it together for me as well as the order? Thanks
09 Dec 2007 at 5:09 am
Quoteok, I did some more research,
So far I think I might skip the Prelude and start with the Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk hardcover. Then get the Planet Hulk: What If? one shot.
Then I will search my local stores for the World War Hulk Prologue: World Breaker. Then I want to read World War Hulk but I am still confused about where to go next . I was thinking of then just getting the World War HUlk issues then the World War Hulk Aftersmash. BUt are those a seperate mini series? or is it Incredible Hulk 106 and on. What about Front LIne and Gamma corps? I’ll just skip the ties like X-men etc.
Then I will get the Aftersmash.
09 Dec 2007 at 5:31 am
QuoteAs with most crossovers, the market is flooded with tons of tie ins that people *have* to pick up.
With Planet Hulk, the only necessary reading is the Incredidle Hulk: Planet Hulk HC, World War Hulk, the issues of the Incredible Hulk ongoing that coincide with the main mini, and the World War Hulk Aftersmash. That is the story for me, and truly, it’s a good one and worth picking up.
Hope that was helpful to ya.
09 Dec 2007 at 8:37 am
Quotei tend to stay away from tie ins unless i’m already reading that title or i hear very favorable things about it. for WWH i think i read the 1st or 2nd X-Men:WWH tie ins, it was ok. i heard frontline and gamma corps were not good and passable.
09 Dec 2007 at 7:59 pm
QuoteMy recommendation, as someone who as skeptical about the whole World War Hulk thing but wound up coming around a bit, is to pick up the Planet Hulk hardcover (the Prelude is indeed skippable, everything you really need to know is encapsulated in the first two pages of Planet Hulk). If you dig it, you should be able to find World War Hulk in issues (although several of the issues are out of print, including unfortunately #1, so you might wind up having to wait for a collection).
Whatever you do, though, don’t miss out on Incredible Hulk #106-111. These issues, for me, are better than almost the rest of World War Hulk, and #110 is probably my favorite single Marvel issue of the year.
The rest of the tie-ins are pretty skippable. Indeed, keep as far away from the mopey, self-important, “who gives a shit about Sally Floyd?” World War Hulk Frontline as you can.
10 Dec 2007 at 1:14 am
QuoteThanks Nick, mrnicepants, and Randy for your responses and for your help. You guys even mentioned whether or not you liked the issues. I meant to ask if they were even worth checking out.
Randy, I found an old piece that you wrote where you claimed that Planet Hulk would probably be mediocre at best. To quote you, “Now, I’m braced for this to be somewhere between mediocre and awful, but I have to admit, all the buzzwords being thrown around and Pak’s name attached has me more curious than I would originally have thought.”
Nick said he thought the story was good. What about you? Do you think Pak delivered the goods?
Also, you said don’t miss out on issues 106-111 but how do the regular issues of 106-111 interact with WWH? In other words can I read 106-11 and then WWH or do I need to read them at the same time (not literally at the same time of course). Thanks again!
10 Dec 2007 at 5:33 am
QuoteMaybe if I dig the books, I’ll give some earlier stuff a try. I heard Bruce Jones did a good run and Essential Hulk vol. 4 looks pretty cool.
I don’t know though, I think I might be barking up the wrong tree. I like action and destruction as much as the next guy, but I also like some depth everyonce in a while that makes me think. Maybe Hulk is not the property for that. But i’m still stoked to check out Planet Hulk regardless.
10 Dec 2007 at 5:57 am
QuoteAbsolutely. I didn’t like it much in single issues, but read as one big story, it’s really good, an interesting and new take on the Hulk with cool alien world/battle stuff to boot.
Incredible Hulk (and World War Hulk) turned me around on Greg Pak. I had originally thought of him as a writer who had more buzz than he had earned, but now I see what Joe Quesada saw in him. His Hulk work is really impressive.
I recommend reading the issue of Incredible Hulk after each issue of World War Hulk that it ties into. So read Prologue, Incredible #106, WWH #1, #107, etc. I think you can read them alone and not really spoil anything huge, but they do tend to hinge on events from WWH, and it’s probably better to get those first if you’re going to read them.
Btw, the Bruce Jones Hulk is a lot like X-Files, both in men in black conspiracy tone and (unfortunately) in building up to something that looks interesting and than becoming utterly disappointing. I still own the first hardcover, because there are some neat stories there and some gorgeous art, but I don’t know that I’d whole-heartedly recommend it.
10 Dec 2007 at 2:17 pm
Quote