Express Review – Immortal Hulk 42

The Immortal Hulk 42 is scratching my comic itches, and it took me a little while to put the elements together. The writing is solid with good dialogue that moves you through the story and keeps a good pace. Al Ewing (the writer) seems to be laying a foundation for the next issue as there wasn't much action in this one, but something interesting is happening with the Jackie McGee character that could make this a Key issue or at least preluding to one in the next couple of months.

The art was slightly mashed as the credits show four artists working on this standard 28-page issue and I think the colorists help hold the line for continuity where the art changes weren't too jarring. The page layouts weren't flashy or minimal (which I appreciate) and the pacing, art, and story have an old school Swamp Thing vibe going on – if you don't know what I mean those earlier Swamp Thing runs are worth a read. I'm not saying this book is the second coming of Alan Moore, but I am saying I'm enjoying the overall experience of this current series. I paid a cover price of $5.25 Canadian dollars for this issue and there are awesome variants by Joe Bennett and another by Alexander Lozano if you can get your hands on them.

Bottom Line: As a collector, this one might show promise as a Key issue or a precursor to a Key. A good read either way and I'm looking forward to where the series is heading.

Stay focused fellow humans!

Comments

Factors of Return

W hen I recently decided to drive out of my way to visit a comic shop, as the one close to my house stopped selling comics months ago, I was returned to a world both familiar and exciting. I am an artist and writer myself and both of those skills started as a direct result of digesting comics in my youth. I'll admit I was a bit out of the loop and a little hesitant to pick up some of the titles I used to read in the past. I haven't been living under a rock when it comes to recent social/cultural movements, and I do not share the view that every nuance of life has to be viewed through, or serve a political agenda. Nor do I think that every word or interaction is a quest for power, as post-modern theory would have us believe. I would never fault someone for writing from their heart and mind, no matter what their personal or political views are. However, taking a well-known and even beloved character (without knowing the nuanced historic layers built up by ...

Express Review – Future State: The Next Batman

For the sake of time, I'm only going to focus on the first story in the oversized 64 page - Future State: The Next Batman issue #1. As a reader, I needed more set up to care about the new Batman Tim Fox. The character is showing some real promise, but writer John Ridley just threw us into the story which felt more of a tell than a show. I will say there are good points. Ridley wrote some convincing moments with the Bane-litos gang recruiting new members and an interaction between ex-partner street cops. I will also give Ridley credit in that the page count he was working with was dismal. Shame on DC for not at least allowing the writer to develop the full 64 pages for the new Batman. The drawing was good for this first story. Nick Derington has some really decent pages in here, especially with the action shots. Denington makes consistent use of shadows, which is a must to maintain the look and fee l of Gotham City. Some panels also had a Judge Dredd tone (which is a good thing) mi...

Express Review – DC Future Snooze

DC Future State: Superman Worlds of War is an oversized 64-page format issue with four stories. I sprung for the cardstock Federici variant cover which ran me about $12 Canadian dollars at a comic shop I frequent. As a collector, it looked like an awesome cover and the oversize format was expensive either way, card stock or not. After a full read-through, I will not be picking up the second issue. This book is a hot mess that went nowhere. All the stories inside were mediocre and it's the equivalent of buying a Spongebob Comic only to realize there is no Sponge or Bob to be seen. Superman was in a couple of frames and they cut that part of the story off before anything happened. Some of the "Superman" story (if you can even call it that) seemed like social check boxing with snoozy dialogue from characters that appear from nowhere. These characters then pontificate and theorize for multiple pages about Superman's attributes and possible death. I honestly did not want ...

Comic Sandwich by CT Guy

Search This Blog