[April 17, 2005] Sorensonian Reviews of a Few Recent Comics
Tue Sorensen
Black Widow #1-6 (November 2004-April 2005, $2.99 @, Marvel Comics)
Story: Richard K. Morgan / Art: Goran Parlov & Bill Sienkiewicz
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 11 April, 2005
Summary: Great spy stuff
I have never heard of Richard K. Morgan until seeing his Black Widow
mini-series. I have to say he's a writer to be reckoned with, because
I immensely enjoyed this mini-series. Despite moments where she seems
a bit out of character (or maybe just out of sync with the previous BW
mini-series, which have been of very varying quality and consistency),
this story about her Cold War background rearing its ugly head again
is exciting, entertaining and, as usual with Sienkiewicz, uproariously
brilliantly drawn. Nick Fury is in on the action as well, and being
ice-cool as he's wont to be. His character is really nailed here. One
criticism one might level against this mini-series is that, once it's
over, not a terrible lot seems to have happened, or been accomplished.
But even if only as a mood piece, it is most definitely a work of high
quality, highly enjoyable to immerse oneself in.
- Rating: 8/10
- DS factor: B
*
Fantastic Four #520-523 (January-April 2005, $2.99 @, Marvel Comics)
Story: Mark Waid / Art: Mike Wieringo & Karl Kesel
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 11 April, 2005
Summary: Not bad, but not great either
Being a sucker for cosmic stories, I had to sample the "Rising Storm"
story-arc in these four issues, where Reed once again devotes his
intellect to curtailing Galactus, and in the process switches Johnny
and Sue's powers. Johnny also gets some power cosmic, and mayhem and
wackiness ensue. It's an exciting and funny cosmic storyline, but it
has several faults. Waid is trying to be funny at the expense of
Galactus' loftiness, but it doesn't quite work. Continuity-wise, I'm
also reticent about stories that try to stop Galactus for good,
because it was established back in a Byrne FF issue that he is a major
force of the universe who's *meant* to be there. His presence and
purpose transcends mortal understanding, having to do with the final
fate of the Marvel universe. To pretend that such a momentous story
and event didn't happen or wasn't important is not the way to get on
my good side. Overall, this material is typical Waid - ambitious and
inspired, but never quite living up to its own idea of what it's
supposed to be. I also don't care terribly for Wieringo's art work -
never did. These issues comprise fairly solid work, but it's not good
enough to make me buy this title regularly (though that may change
when the creative team does).
- Rating: 7/10
- DS factor: B
*
Fantastic Four: Foes (ltd.) #1 of 6 (March 2005, $2.99, Marvel Comics)
Story: Robert Kirkman / Art: Cliff Rathburn
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 11 April, 2005
Summary: Fresh and funny FF story loaded with ideas
Robert Kirkman has an easy-going, fun writing style, and he seems to
know the Marvel universe and the characters very well. I'll definitely
be looking for his other Marvel work. This issue was a delight to
read, filled with interesting ideas and funny moments. The art, while
a bit simple, was highly effective. The deceptive FF arch-enemy
convention was a scream, and the frothing way the Puppet Master was
drawn added to the laughs. One thing, though: Isn't Dragon Man an
android? How can they control him through his DNA if he hasn't got
any? Either Kirkman is not quite clear on Dragon Man's history, or
else the fault is mine. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that
Dragon Man has been turned into a living being, complete with DNA, in
some story I've missed or forgotten about. In any case, this was a
great and funny issue and I can't wait to read the rest of the
mini-series.
- Rating: 8/10
- DS factor: A
*
Hulk vol. 2 #77 (March 2005, $2.99, Marvel Comics)
Story: Peter David / Art: Lee Weeks
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 5 March 2005
Summary: Depressingly decompressed
Hulk is the character that got me into Marvel comics. I have always
taken pride in collecting the title - until Bruce Jones' run. I used
to be a fan of Bruce Jones' sci-fi and horror stuff, but the
decompressed and largely actionless storytelling he used on his Hulk
run underwhelmed me so profoundly that, for the first time since 1985,
I no longer bothered to pick up the title. I was forced to conclude
that the Hulk stories Bruce Jones wanted to tell were not interesting
to me. (Even so, being a long-time Hulk collector, I do plan to pick
up the issues when I can find them at reduced prices.)
I was thrilled to hear of the return of Peter David, and promptly
started buying the title again. Peter David, though uneven at times,
is indisputably one of the industry's better writers and his stuff is
usually very worthwhile. I enjoyed his Supergirl and, most recently,
his Madrox mini-series.
However, David's first issue of his second Hulk run was simply
terrible. In fact, it was exactly as if Bruce Jones had never left.
Horrid decompressed storytelling where an entire issue goes by without
much of anything happening. Some pictures, sure, but hardly any words.
Obviously, it is the introductory chapter of a 5-part story intended
for a TPB collection. But any single issue - esp. at the uproarious
price point of $2.99 - still ought to be a wholesome, rewarding and
substantial experience. A solid read.
Which is something, incidentally, one used to be able to depend on
Peter David for. Well, no longer, it seems. 24 pages with hardly
anything going on; an issue one just pages through with disinterest,
and nothing but empty feelings to show for it afterwards. Immensely
disappointing. That is, it appears to me, the work of a writer who has
no ideas and nothing to say. Or maybe I'm just very old-fashioned. To
be fair, there are the beginnings of one or two plot points and ideas
in it. Something about Banner's high school days, and yadda yadda
yadda. I can't take it very seriously, because it's presented in the
quintessential Quesada way: decompressed to the max, emphasizing art
and hardly bothering with story. I should hope this storytelling
structure is not a 100% Peter David decision, but mainly to blame on
the editorial. Because David ought to be lots better than this.
The art is the good news. Lee Weeks has never been better, and his
work is beautiful. Unfortunately good art without a good story does
not a good comic make.
- Rating: 2/10
- DS factor: C
*
Hulk vol. 2 #78 (April 2005, $2.99, Marvel Comics)
Story: Peter David / Art: Lee Weeks
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 5 March 2005
Summary: Not much excitement
OK, #78 was something of an improvement. More story, more background,
more action, and more plot - apparently, the story, which had Hulk
stranded on Monster Island, is based on The Tempest, which fact alone
commands respect. Still, too quickly read to be truly fulfilling, and
not a lot of substance to the story yet.
The return of the letter column is cool, though.
But I will reserve final judgment about this issue until the story arc
has run its course. So far, the excitement remains moderate to low.
- Rating: 5/10
- DS factor: C
*
Spider-Man/Human Torch (ltd.) #1 & 2 of 5 (March & April 2005, $2.99,
Marvel Comics)
Story: Dan Slott / Art: Ty Templeton
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 5 March 2005
Summary: Old-school. Classic. Delightful. Brilliant.
After reading Dan Slott's new She-Hulk series, I was in a hurry to get
absolutely everything else written by that man. His stuff is funny -
frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious -; his stories have so much
substance per issue that one is practically panting after having
devoured the comic; his reverence for and devotion to continuity comes
through in every element of the writing; his style is a marriage of
the best of the old and the best of the new; each issue has a
wholesome, complete and satisfying story... In short, his work is
entertaining, funny and intelligent the way a good comic - esp. a good
Marvel comic - should be. This is incredibly rare these days, so I can
choose naught but to stick to his work like glue! So far, I have ended
each of his issues with a hearty laugh; an effect very few current
writers consistently has on me.
After reading both She-Hulk and this Spidey/Torch mini-series, I find
myself at a loss for words to describe how great these stories are.
They take classic elements from classic stories, and build on them,
expanding them, detailing them, making everything fit together even
better. And the writing style plays on the plot and dialogue style of
the ‘60s classics as well, to hysterically brilliant effect. For
instance, in Spider-Man/Human Torch #2, Spidey and the Torch decide to
swap jobs, so Spidey goes with the other three members of the
Fantastic Four on a trip to an alien dimension. As they take off,
Spidey freaks out about the fantastic voyage, and the FF calmly tell
him that they have a term for this kind of adventure: "Thursday".
Like, they literally do this pretty much every day!
Top marks for top entertainment.
- Rating: 10/10
- DS factor: A
*
Spider-Man/Human Torch (ltd.) #3 of 5 (May 2005, $2.99, Marvel Comics)
Story: Dan Slott / Art: Ty Templeton & Nelson
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 9 April 2005
Summary: Still the best writing currently out there
The third issue continues the cool action, characterization and plot
ideas; Reed has invented a gravity localizer, which the slightly
laughable Russian villain The Red Ghost (yeah, the guy with the apes)
is after. But as the Ghost breaks into the Baxter Building to steal
it, he finds it gone - Spidey and the Human Torch have nicked it and
put it in the Spider Mobile, to enable it to drive up walls! Excellent
plot structure (lots of sub-plots and continuity details that all
matter to the story), superb dialogue as usual, but fewer
laugh-out-loud moments than in the first two issues. Still humongously
entertaining and engrossing, and making you forget all about the
outside world when you're immersed in it, but just half a touch below
the perfect excellence of the former two issues.
- Rating: 9/10
- DS factor: A
*
Ultimate Iron Man (ltd.) #1 of 6 (May 2005, $2.99, Marvel Comics)
Story: Orson Scott Card / Art: Andy Kubert
Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 11 April, 2005
Summary: Surprisingly good
Acclaimed SF/F novelist Orson Scott Card makes the jump to comics! I
have only read Ender's Game by him, but I thought it was a major work,
entirely deserving of its fame. I had no idea how he would fare in the
world of comics, so I was surprised and more than a little impressed
by the substance, the science and the fresh angle found in Ultimate
Iron Man #1. The initial issue is about Tony Stark's parents, and how
they performed experiments which went awry and infected Tony's
pregnant mother. She was working on tissue regeneration, and the
experiment had the unexpected side-effect of increasing brain cell
division explosively. So embryonic Tony gets brain tissue throughout
his nerve system! And the cover of next issue shows him as a
four-year-old, hard at work on his Iron Man armor! This is very
exciting, and I'm really looking forward to the continuation.
- Rating: 8/10
- DS factor: B
*
For years I have desired a comics review site which would be the
comics equivalent of the Internet Movie Database, where anybody can
post and read reviews of any individual issue of any comic, and rate
it on a scale of 1 to 10. These reviews are intended to be posted at
such a site someday.
The ratings: As with the IMDb, I am using a 1-10 ratings system, with
1 being the worst and 10 being the best. Or, to be more detailed:
1 - denotes a repulsively bad production; unreadable crud.
2 - denotes a really really bad comic, yet with one or two minor
redeeming features.
3 - denotes a trite, stupid and laughable story, which may however
have a bit of entertainment values (good one-liners, impressive
art-work, etc.)
4 - denotes a disappointing story which is in all ways below average.
5 - denotes what you can expect your average commercial pop-culture
product to be like; a fairly uninspired assembly-line production,
rarely likely to be read more than once.
6 - denotes a rather calculated company production, artificially
"edgy" and "cool", yet exhibiting cutting edge production values.
Never lives quite up to its promise and potential - to say nothing of
the hype -, yet can be entertaining and maybe even worth reading more
than once.
7 - denotes an honest, solid effort which can be taken seriously, and
will often be worth reading more than once.
8 - denotes a really satisfying, substantial comic where all elements
work very well indeed.
9 - denotes an exceptional and highly impressive reading experience
which in all ways is above what could have reasonably been expected,
even by acclaimed creators.
10 - denotes the highest attainable level of art, story and the way
they interact.
In addition, I have decided to couple the rating with a "DS factor",
DS standing for Decompressed Storytelling. The DS factor can be A, B
or C - A denoting no decompression to speak of, B denoting a somewhat
decompressed story, and C denoting a highly decompressed one. A is
best and C is worst.
Personal note: Having been a collector for twenty years, and grown
increasingly critical of the comics I read, I am currently (April
2005) at the point where a comic has to be rated an "8" in order for
me to find it worthwhile reading, and worth paying for - unless it has
other redeeming features, like interesting continuity or really good
art-work.
Ben P
Tue Sorensen <soren...@gmail.com> wrote
>
> Spider-Man/Human Torch (ltd.) #1 & 2 >
>
> - Rating: 10/10
> - DS factor: A
>
> *
>
> Spider-Man/Human Torch (ltd.) #3 of 5
> entertaining and engrossing, and making you forget all about the
> outside world when you're immersed in it, but just half a touch below
> the perfect excellence of the former two issues.
>
> - Rating: 9/10
> - DS factor: A
>
That's interesting - I thought #2 was a touch below the others (Dan Slott
doesn't quite manage to capture the 'jive' dialogue that made Spider-Man
such fun at that time), but #3 was possibly the best of the lot. Maybe I'm
just easily won over by those indescribable super-apes...
Johanna Draper Carlson
> > - Rating: 9/10
>
> That's interesting - I thought #2 was a touch below the others (Dan Slott
> doesn't quite manage to capture the 'jive' dialogue that made Spider-Man
> such fun at that time), but #3 was possibly the best of the lot.
You're not the only one. I never read the original stories these comics
are riffing off of, and I felt like I needed to to enjoy #2 as much as
others did. #3, on the other hand, was great as is.
--
Johanna Draper Carlson
Reviews of Comics Worth Reading -- http://www.comicsworthreading.com
Blogging at http://www.comicsworthreading.com/blog/cwr.html
rja.ca...@excite.com
I'm quite unhappy about this story stomping on the Black Widow being
"turned" to work for the free world by the means presented here, rather
than, say, ideological conviction. If it were revealed that Nick Fury
never actually used what he had on her, I'd like that.
Stopping Galactus is the main thing that the Fantastic Four do.
They've done it over and over. It isn't against any rules. If the
Universe comes to an end without him, that's its problem. One more
threat that we have to face. I bet the F.F. kick /its/ ass as well.
> Fantastic Four: Foes (ltd.) #1 of 6 (March 2005, $2.99, Marvel
Comics)
> Story: Robert Kirkman / Art: Cliff Rathburn
> Reviewer: Tue Sorensen - Review Date: 11 April, 2005
> Summary: Fresh and funny FF story loaded with ideas
>
> Robert Kirkman has an easy-going, fun writing style, and he seems to
> know the Marvel universe and the characters very well. I'll
definitely
> be looking for his other Marvel work. This issue was a delight to
> read, filled with interesting ideas and funny moments. The art, while
> a bit simple, was highly effective. The deceptive FF arch-enemy
> convention was a scream, and the frothing way the Puppet Master was
> drawn added to the laughs. One thing, though: Isn't Dragon Man an
> android? How can they control him through his DNA if he hasn't got
> any? Either Kirkman is not quite clear on Dragon Man's history, or
> else the fault is mine. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that
> Dragon Man has been turned into a living being, complete with DNA, in
> some story I've missed or forgotten about. In any case, this was a
> great and funny issue and I can't wait to read the rest of the
> mini-series.
>
> - Rating: 8/10
> - DS factor: A
He's an android, but I think DM's skin is organic, at least. Maybe
other parts. The Awesome Android was built by The Mad Thinker after
taking over Reed Richards' laboratory and reading his notes on
synthetic life, so some of these androids are not merely robots.
Tue Sorensen
Well, the difference in quality is pretty minute at any rate! :-)
- Tue
Tue Sorensen
> Tue Sorensen wrote:
> > (The ratings system is explained at the end of the post.)
> >
> > Black Widow #1-6 (November 2004-April 2005, $2.99 @, Marvel Comics)
> > Story: Richard K. Morgan / Art: Goran Parlov & Bill Sienkiewicz
>
> "turned" to work for the free world by the means presented here, rather
> than, say, ideological conviction. If it were revealed that Nick Fury
> never actually used what he had on her, I'd like that.
Well, ultimately, I do find it a bit of a stretch that such a
dedicated agent would ever cross over to the other side in any case
(and she did it before the end of the Cold War, too), so I thought an
explanation was in order.
> > Fantastic Four #520-523 (January-April 2005, $2.99 @, Marvel Comics)
> > Story: Mark Waid / Art: Mike Wieringo & Karl Kesel
> >
Nah, I don't see Galactus as simply the top cherry of the FF's rogue
gallery. He's one of the major cosmic powers of the universe.
> > Fantastic Four: Foes (ltd.) #1 of 6 (March 2005, $2.99, Marvel
> Comics)
> > Story: Robert Kirkman / Art: Cliff Rathburn
> >
> > Robert Kirkman has an easy-going, fun writing style, and he seems to
> > know the Marvel universe and the characters very well. I'll
> definitely
> > be looking for his other Marvel work. This issue was a delight to
> > read, filled with interesting ideas and funny moments. The art, while
> > a bit simple, was highly effective. The deceptive FF arch-enemy
> > convention was a scream, and the frothing way the Puppet Master was
> > drawn added to the laughs. One thing, though: Isn't Dragon Man an
> > android? How can they control him through his DNA if he hasn't got
> > any? Either Kirkman is not quite clear on Dragon Man's history, or
> > else the fault is mine. I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that
> > Dragon Man has been turned into a living being, complete with DNA, in
> > some story I've missed or forgotten about. In any case, this was a
> > great and funny issue and I can't wait to read the rest of the
> > mini-series.
> >
> > - Rating: 8/10
> > - DS factor: A
>
> He's an android, but I think DM's skin is organic, at least. Maybe
> other parts. The Awesome Android was built by The Mad Thinker after
> taking over Reed Richards' laboratory and reading his notes on
> synthetic life, so some of these androids are not merely robots.
There's probably some story out there giving an explanation. I even
seem to vaguely recall such a story, but I can't remember any
specifics.
- Tue
rja.ca...@excite.com
Tue Sorensen wrote:
> "rja.ca...@excite.com" <rja.ca...@excite.com> wrote in message
news:<1113755259.2...@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com>...
> > Stopping Galactus is the main thing that the Fantastic Four do.
> > They've done it over and over. It isn't against any rules. If the
> > Universe comes to an end without him, that's its problem. One more
> > threat that we have to face. I bet the F.F. kick /its/ ass as
well.
>
> Nah, I don't see Galactus as simply the top cherry of the FF's rogue
> gallery. He's one of the major cosmic powers of the universe.
Yeah, but the FF can stop him any day of the month. And if they stop
him /every/ day, no problem.
Having said that, Galactus is an extreme case of that remark - was it
Stan Lee's? - about readers digging not change, but the suggestion of
change. Galactus is set up as the Avenging Angel. He's devoured
planets since the beginning of the world (give or take a few billion
years), and now he's coming here.
If you change him to something other than that, you probably break him
as a story tool.
Tue Sorensen
Well - the concept of a world-eater *is* pretty damn cool...!! :-)
- Tue
Ibn Tumart
>That's interesting - I thought #2 was a touch below the others (Dan Slott
>doesn't quite manage to capture the 'jive' dialogue that made Spider-Man
>such fun at that time), but #3 was possibly the best of the lot. Maybe I'm
>just easily won over by those indescribable super-apes...
>
>
>
>
Mostess Fruit Pies + Super Apes = most bestest comic book ever.
--
The majestic equality of the law forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
Anatole France
Comic book klatch: http://ibntumart.blogspot.com
Jon J. Yeager
3rd person as well?
There /is/ a "From" field in every header letting us know who's posting it
is, by the by. ;-)
Jon
--
"And if you /still/ have a problem with how New Thunderbolts
isn't gelling well with the events of AD/NA, then maybe it's time
to admit that maybe Kurt /should/ have read something of
Marvel's biggest event of the year by now, if he's gonna have
anything to do with a book sharing a continuity with it. Or else,
just admit his name's only on the book to boost sales. You can't
have your cake and eat it too. Which is it?"
Tue Sorensen
> Are you taking a page from Johanna's book by referring to yourself in the
> 3rd person as well?
*Sigh!* No.
> There /is/ a "From" field in every header letting us know who's posting it
> is, by the by. ;-)
If you read the original post, you'd know that the reviews are
supposed to be entries in some future Internet Comics Database - hence
the format. That they are not formatted acc. to the newsgroup standard
is irrelevant. But if you're so annoyed with me typing my name over
each review, I'll delete that line in future posts, just for you.
Happy?
- Tue