Author: Jim Starlin
Artists: George Perez, Ron Lim
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First Publication: Sept., 2011
Source: Kindle store
Graphic Novel Challenge Book #11
I remember picking up the early work of Jim Starlin off the spinner rack of a small local grocery store. It was his famous “Captain Marvel/Warlock/Thanos” epic. Starlin showed how Thanos used the Cosmic Cube to gain god-like powers. It was a life and death, fate of the universe in the balance story that was amazing. Starlin revisited Thanos in “The Infinity Gauntlet”.
I am a big fan of his art and was disappointed to see that he did not do the art for this mini-series. George Perez, one of my all-time favorites, started on the art and Ron Lim finished as the penciller. Both do an excellent job.
It was a fun chance to revisit characters we had not seen in a while. The story was good but did not have the pathos of Starlin’s earlier work. The Watcher appears which is interesting since his death is the driving force behind Marvel’s latest crossover, “Original Sin”. The plot goes back and forth with Thanos gaining the upper hand only to lose it. The later issues deal with a surprise move by Nebula. Adam Warlock is guiding the heroes even though they do not know what he has planned.
Highly recommended as a fun summer blockbuster type crossover.
Authors: Mark Waid & Greg Rucka
Artists: Marco Checchetto, Chris Samnee, Khoi Pham
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First Publication: April, 2013
Source: Comixology
Collects Daredevil #s 11-15, Avenging Spider-Man #6, Punisher #10
Graphic Novel Challenge Book #10
This review will be a trip down memory lane. Most of this collection revolves around the Omega Drive. It is a disk that contains detailed information about the top five crime organizations in the Marvel Universe. The disk was made out of a scrap from one of the Fantastic Four’s uniforms. Their uniforms are made of unstable molecules so the disk will self-repair the firewall that keeps the information encoded. Daredevil has the disk and sets up a meeting with all of the groups. As his back ups he recruits Spider-Man, the Punisher, and a woman who seems to be a female version of the Punisher. The first three chapters are all out action as the heroes try to keep the disk from the villains. This reminded me of one of my favorite Spider-Man stories near the end of Stan Lee’s time on the title. In Stan’s story, stone tablets were found that contain the formula for the Fountain of Youth. The crime boss Silvermane tries to get it so he can restore his youth. Kingpin is trying to get it for future use. And Spidey was caught in the middle. It also featured the debut of the hitman called Man Mountain Marko. Stan had to like giving characters names that had the same initials (Peter Parker, Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Matt Murdock, J. Jonah Jameson, etc.). Waid and Rucka capture the excitement of that classic tale. And it does not hurt that the art of Marco Checchetto is very good.
Waid follows this up with a few issues showing the repercussions of the first story. The final chapters deal with Daredevil captured and experimented on in a foreign country. He is trying to escape as his powers are fading rapidly. Waid channels another favorite from my youth in this story. In an old “Worlds Finest” two part story, Clark Kent goes to another country to do an expose on the dictator in charge. The plan falls apart and he changes into Superman to escape. Suddenly he loses his powers, is captured, and thrown in a concentration camp. Batman goes to rescue him. Although Waid’s story is original, it captures the feel of that classic story. And that is part of the appeal of Waid’s “Daredevil” run. He is giving the reader the fun and excitement of the classic comics. I will definitely be on board for more of this.
Authors: Neal Adams & Christos Gage
Artist: Neal Adams
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First Publication: February, 2013
Source: Comixology
Collects The First X-Men #s 1-5
Graphic Novel Challenge Book #9
Neal Adams was one of my favorite artists when I was growing up. I remember the excitement of seeing an Adams cover on the spinner rack. I have many fond memories of picking up an issue of “Batman” or “Brave and the Bold” with his art. And the pleasant surprise of seeing an Adams’ page in the original run of “Justice League of America”. One of my favorite series back then was the Roy Thomas/Neal Adams/Tom Palmer “X-Men”. The stories were good and the visuals were stunning.
Although Adams art is not the same as it was then, I still like to look at his work. For this trip down memory lane, Adams is teaming with writer Christos Gage (one of the most underrated writers of recent times). Is this a perfect comic? No, but it is fun. This takes place before Professor Xavier recruits the original team as we saw them in “X-Men #1”. If you are looking for an enjoyable, fun adventure I would recommend this series.
Authors: Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughn
Artist: Jonathan Luna
Publisher: Image Comics
First Publication: July 2014
Source: Net Galley
Graphic Novel Challenge Book #8
I found this comic to be a mixed bag. The artist renditions of the characters were pretty good. What I did not care for was the amount of empty space in some of the panels. I prefer art with that has more detail in the backgrounds. Many of the panels had blank backgrounds. I rank the art as average due to the mixed reactions.
The story is interesting but lacks a narrative drive. The characterization was very good. I feel like I have known people similar to Alex and his friends. The part that was missing was the main theme was week. Alex comments at the end of this storyline that he is not sure why he is trying to free Ada from her programming.
The background technology is very good. I like the way appliances are run by voice command.
This review sounds very negative but I did enjoy the story and some of the details when I was reading it. Recommended for fans of human interest, laid back stories.
Author: Joe Halpin Sr.
Artist: Juanfrancisco Moyano
Publisher: IDW
Source: Net Galley
Graphic Novel Challenge #7
Ex-cop Jake Ryan wakes up in another world/dimension. All he knows for sure is that he has died. Others who have died and been reborn into this realm go to a city called Hopetown for protection from the terrifying Dark Souls. Things are not what they seem in this town so Jake leaves and ends up in a different town controlled by gang members. It turns out he is on a mission as we find out in the course of the story.
In some respects this bears similarities to the latest television series on Syfy, "Dominion". Both have a corrupt town that offers "protection" from a fearsome enemy. Unfortunately they both suffer from seeming derivative of other stories.
Moyano's style is similar to the early work of Thomas Derenick. Once he gets more experience and lets the art flow it will be much better. At this point in his career his art is too stiff.
I would not recommend this book.
Author: Chris Roberson
Artist: Jonathan Lau
Publication: July 2014
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
Source: Net Galley
Graphic Novel Challenge Book #6
Summary (from Comixology): During the height of the Cold War, unknown forces scheme to heat up a global conflict. As key officials on both sides of the Iron Curtain are replaced with doppelgangers, the infiltration threatens to disrupt the precarious state of world affairs. The security of the Free World depends on a young secret agent, one assigned to shape the world's masked heroes into a force with singular purpose and unyielding resolve!
Based on his previous work (iZombie, The Shadow), I had faith in his ability to write this series. Then when he is teamed with the exciting art of Jonathan Lau, it is a guaranteed hit with me. The team did not let me down.
Roberson's story follows the start of a new spy's career. Picture a new apprentice starting to work with James Bond. The heroes start to suspect something is going wrong with the way government officials are lobbying for war. And these are people who did not think that way in the past. The villain's plan kicks into high gear when heroes start to get replaced. The author has crafted a fun summer action story.
The art by Lau is perfect for this tale. When you look at one of his pages, the action flies off through the panels. Lau has developed a very good style for showing action. His storytelling leads you through the panels.
Dynamite has a hit with this book. I hope they are working on volume 2.
Highly recommended.
Author: Wei Dong Chen
Artist: Xiao Long Liang
First Publication: October 2013
Publisher: J. R. Comics
Source: Net Galley
Graphic Novel Challenge Book #5
Summary (from Amazon): With Zhuo Dong gone and a weakened Emperor Xian in exile, a power vacuum has opened in the lands ruled by the Han Dynasty. Soon, Cao Cao, Shao Yuan, and Bu Lu are jockeying for position in the race to rule the land. Provinces will change hands, allegiances will shift, and the law of the land will change in ways no one could have imagined.
I missed the first two volumes in this series. According to what I have heard, they focused more on the people. Vol. 3 continues to cover the history of the Han Dynasty. Although I have only a passing familiarity with this period of Chinese history, I found this volume easy to follow the narrative. And the art was exceptional. The art made the characters jump from the page for an almost 3D type effect. I will be picking up more of the volumes in this series.
Recommended.
