Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inker: Joe Prado
DC Comics
Cover Date: December 2011
Aquaman #1 was one of my favorites of the DC relaunch. #2 did nothing to disappoint me.
Johns continues the story by showing us some scenes from Aquaman's youth. Mera wants to try the different things that she sees in the pictures.
The action ramps up this issue with the assault on the surface by the denizens of "The Trench" (seen on the cover). The action is all out as Mera and Aquaman show their powers as they are attacked by the masses of "The Trench" creatures. It appears that the creatures are searching for food. Unfortunately for the inhabitants of this small sea side community, humans are on their menu. The next issue blurb says that we will learn the secrets of the Trench. I can't wait to see what Johns has planned.
Reis and Prado turn in another great art job. Hopefully they can keep pace with the monthly publication level.
Aquaman continues to be high on my reading list.
Writer: Geoff Johns
Penciller: Ivan Reis
Inker: Joe Prado
DC Comics
Cover Date: November 2011
In the new DC Universe, Aquaman and Mera decide to move into a lighthouse and live on the surface. It is the lighthouse that he grew up in. Meanwhile, under the surface of the ocean, a menace rises from "The Trench" and starts to invade the surface.
Johns stresses how powerful Aquaman can be. His actions show that he can be very intimidating. Many of the people he interacts with comment on what a joke he is based on "Saturday Night Live" skits. I could have done with a little less of this and hope that it is played down in future stories. Johns has crafted a solid beginning for the new adventures of Aquaman.
Reis and Prado make a great team. Some times I thought the art looked like the early Marvel work of John Byrne. At others, I was reminded of the work of Neal Adams. Then it hit me. The art in this issue reminds me of a classic "Hulk Annual" that featured John Byrne inked by Bob Layton. This is high praise.
The combination of Johns' script with the great art of Reis and Prado made this one of my favorite books in the New DC.
Highly recommended.
Writer: Keith Giffin
Artist: Mitch Breitweiser
Marvel Comics
Cover Date: November 2005
Drax the Destroyer was a character that I first encountered in the original Captain Marvel series. He was brought in during the early days of Jim Starlin's epic battle between Captain Marvel and Thanos.
Drax was created as an unstoppable killing machine designed to take out Thanos. In this issue, the first chapter of the Annihilation crossover, Drax is on board a prison ship. Other inmates on the ship include Lunatik, Super Skrull and the Blood Brothers. The ship crashes on Earth and the inmates escape.
The other storyline involves a young boy and girl who go to investigate the crash site. The two stories meet at the end of this issue.
Giffin's story is light weight entertainment. At this point, we are introduced to the various players but are not sure what this has to do with "Annihilation". Every time I read a Marvel cosmic story, I end up comparing it to Starlin's magnum opus. This story does not have the depth of the old classic. Giffin does okay but it is very action oriented with little characterization.
The art by Mitch Breitweiser is another story. Mitch does a great job with the kids. The scenery is fantastic whether it is in space or on Earth. I thought the
inmates' faces were non-descript. Overall I liked the artwork. He does a solid, all around good job with the book.
I will be reading more issues in "Annihilation". Keep an eye out for more work by this artist.
To read my review of All Star Western #1 over at my Pulp Times site, click here.
Reviews of comics that have more of a pulp theme will appear at Pulp Times.
Writers: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel
Artist: Stephane Perger
Cover Date: January 2012
The Avengers was one of the first series I read regularly. At the time, it was written by Steve Englehart with various artists. It did not take me long to start buying the various Marvel reprint titles and get up to date on the Stan Lee and Roy Thomas runs on this title. Through it's ups and downs with creative team changes, it remained one of my personal favorites. When Brian Michael Bendis did his first arc "Avengers Disassembled", I knew it was going a direction that did not appeal to me. I tried to keep reading it but the "Bendis approach" was not the style I liked on Avengers. The only Avengers title I am currently reading is Christos Gage's "Avengers Academy". It is more in the spirit of the old school series. And that leads me to "Avengers Origins".
Higgins and Siegel have written a slightly different take on the origin of the Vision. Roy Thomas did it originally. This version stays true to the spirit of the original story. This is what I would consider to be part of my Avengers. If you are a fan of the old Avengers stories and are looking for something different from the current Bendis series, I strongly recommend picking this up.
The art by Perger is in the painted style of Alex Ross. Perger does an excellent job illustrating the story. I will be looking for more of his work in the future.
Story & Art: Fabio Moon and Gabriel BaVertigo Comics Cover Date: April 2010Daytripper is quickly becoming one of my favorites. The first issue was a classic while the second issue had a slight drop in quality. This was due to the ending of the first issue. Issue three is another slice of life story. This time it features the breakup of Bras and his long time girlfriend. Moon and Ba do a realistic job of showing the effects of a breakup. It would be easy to believe that this is happening to a real person.
Without seeming rushed, the latter part of the story shows how Bras is beginning to pull out of his depression. And once again they pull a surprise ending off. At this point I have no clue where this story is going. All I know is that I am definitely in for the duration. There is no way that I am going to miss the rest of this fascinating story.
5 out of 5 stars.
Story & Art: Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba
Vertigo Comics
Cover Date: March 2010
Early on in issue 1 of Daytripper, Bras (the main character) is talking with his best friend and mentions the trip they took to Salvador when they were 21. This month we see the story of that trip.
The story focuses on a woman that Bras meets at a local festival. It contains a few surreal moments that is appropriate for a story about falling in love in a strange land. At times it almost seems like it could be a dream. Vacation romances can take on a dream like quality. Based on the end of this story, I did not think we would see the woman again.
The storytelling continues to be outstanding. The art does a fantastic job of sequential storytelling.
There is no denying that this series has the potential to be a classic comic. I think the subject matter will appeal to more than the regular comic readers.
This issue did not rank quite as high as the first one. The ending of the first story pushed it over the top.
4 out of 5 stars.
