REVIEW: MARVEL CAPSULES FOR 1-7-98: Snap Judgments
Randy Lander
Herein are reviewed four Marvel titles for the week. If following up
only to Cable, please set follow-ups to racmx only.
CABLE #52
MARVEL TEAM UP STARRING SPIDER-MAN & BLADE #7
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #25
WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #2
SPOILERS
CABLE #52
"The Hellfire Hunt Part Five: Beyond Belief"
written by Joe Casey
art by German Garcia & Jon Holdredge
I definitely missed Ladronn on this issue, as the fill-in art by
German Garcia is merely adequate. I also found Casey's take on Master
Man a little insulting. This was a Nazi, a willing and very cruel one.
To think that he should find forgiveness through such a cursory act of
heroism as giving his life, which he wanted to do anyway, is
ridiculous. I do like the Indiana Jones style (Hellfire Club as Nazis)
quest for Apocalypse's sanctuary. Overall, this was an okay issue, but
disappointing one compared to the first issue by Casey and Ladronn.
Mildly Recommended.
MARVEL TEAM UP STARRING SPIDER-MAN & BLADE #7
Sun-Walkers!
written by Marv Wolfman
art by Thomas Derenick & Tom Palmer
I've come to the conclusion that Wolfman just doesn't do anything for
me. Night Force, most of the New Titans, Man Called AX, I just haven't
been interested. This issue confirms that for me. I thought we might
get the same kind of feel that works so well with Buffy, Vampire
Slayer, but instead we get a rather typical vampire hunting story with
Spider-Man and Blade. I've always found Blade a fairly dull character,
and this story did nothing to disabuse me of that notion. Derenick's
art is also poor, very sketchy and amateurish. Not Recommended.
SENSATIONAL SPIDER-MAN #25
"Spider Hunt Part One: Into the Dance!"
written by Todd DeZago
art by Joe Bennett, Al Milgrom & Dan Green
Well, this was about what I expected. The Spider-Hunt story is
ill-conceived and illogical, and so was this tale. Suddenly,
everyone's shooting at Spidey, and through a very contrived death, he
considers hanging up his webs. It also seems likely that the Green
Goblin is not Norman but rather Harry Osborn, undoing yet another
death for no good reason. While DeZago writes a few okay scenes, this
is overall the epitome of why I don't like the current Spider-books.
Events don't flow logically from characterization, but come from
outside events. Much like the Superbooks and Batbooks at DC. Also,
while Joe Bennett starts off well, the art goes downhill throughout.
Not Recommended.
WEREWOLF BY NIGHT #2
"Life in the Fast Lane"
written by Paul Jenkins
art by Leonardo Manco
I'm still on the fence with this series. Although I like the artwork
quite a bit, and I'm intrigued by Jack's glimpses into Hell, I'm not
sure I like the character very much. His girlfriend seems to stick
with him for no fathomable reason, and Father Adobe also seems like
more than Jack deserves. While I don't want to see Jack over-angsting
the entire time, it does seem like he could be a little more sorry
about his seeming flightiness and coldness toward his girlfriend and
friend. Basically, I just need a reason to like the character, because
right now, I feel like he deserves the curse.
Also, while I'm a fan of Manco's artwork, I think he could use an
inker. Some of the artwork gets too lost in atmosphere and starts to
run together. Some of it, on the other hand, is gorgeous, like the
two-page spread where Jack bursts through to the Cult of the Third
Moon. This book is on the fence for me. I want to like it, but so far
it hasn't broken out of the "okay" level. Mildly Recommended.
Comments from the peanut gallery?
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This review is copyrighted 1997 Randy Lander, although
permission is granted to reprint it in whole or in part
for letter columns.