Rasl #5
This book was longer and out three times a year. Now it's 22 pages
and will be bi-monthly. I already miss the longer issues, although
this book is just plain awesome. The story has a guy that gets his
hands on a government created device that lets him teleport to
parallel universes. Each universe is similar except for one or two
small details. There's another teleporter, though, and he's rat-faced
and evil. In this issue, the main character falls in love with his
girlfriend in a parallel universe. She has a different name, a
different job and she doesn't know who he is. The last page has them
kissing in her museum. The artwork is beautiful and Jeff Smith is
like a great cinematographer. He always knows what makes a perfect
panel. This book is more of the same and slow to unfold, but there is
just so much mystery to it. Who is the bug-eyed child that he keeps
seeing? Who is the rat-faced villain, anyway? Just a terrific book
all around. ***1/2 (out of ****)
I
wasn't sure if this issue would ever come out. I thought that this
book with be put on the shelf while Captain
America: Reborn
runs its course. I was wrong, although this book features a story
that takes place before Steve Rogers' psuedo-death. The 82 year old
artist Gene Colan drew the book (although his art looks more like a
painting). It was supposed to be a Captain
America Annual
two years ago but got delayed. The story is silly. Captain America
and Bucky fight vampires in World War 2 France. The art, though, is
awesome stuff. Colan was drawing comics in the 1940's (he's famous
for drawing Howard
the Duck)
and today he's still one of the best out there. His stuff reminds me
of the old-school art. It's beautiful but also it flows nicely. It's
not like the bulked-up steroid stuff of most modern artists. Ed
Brubaker wrote a bloody vampire tale that's ridiculous but is
readable. I wonder: will there be a #602? ***
Scalped #30
It's only a matter of time before FBI Special Agent Bad Horse is
revealed for who he really is. He's undercover at an Indian casino
and the big, bad boss is going to finger him eventually. When that
happens the shit will hit the fan...and the book will presumably draw
to a close. But what a book it is as it barrels to a conclusion. This
is part one of five in what looks to be an all out war plot involving
an Asian gangster. The head of the casino, Red Crow, kills one of the
Asian's men. Red Crow also gives Bad Horse one week to find out who
the undercover FBI agent is. This is a great issue that sets up a
bloodbath. Awesome, scraggly art by R.M. Guerra as usual. This book
keeps getting better. ***1/2
Incognito #5
I kind of liked this book better when Zack Overkill was stuck working
a dead-end office job and moonlighting as a superhero. Now he's off
on his own with Ava Destruction, attempting to unravel the mystery
behind his own beginning. The good guys are on his trail. So are the
bad guys. There's also a Zack Overkill clone that has been created
that's going to kill a lot of people and put the blame on the
original Zack. The idea behind this book is grand and satisfying. The
world Ed Brubaker has created harkens back to the 1950's but also has
edge. The superheroes in this world were created when an asteroid
hurtled down to earth and gave people powers. The villains are sick,
the good guys are seedy, and the art is film-noir at its best. It's
going to be sad to see this book go but we still have one more issue.
Hopefully it'll be a classic finale. ***1/2
The Walking
Dead #63
“A
man's gotta eat.” With these last words of the issue, we learn the
motivation behind the hunters. This is part two of “Fear the
Hunters” and it's officially a cannibal story. Dale, the old dude
with the fisherman's cap, was captured in the last issue by a
mysterious group of stalkers in the woods. At the close of this issue
these hunters are ready to eat him. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew
head to the preacher's church and hold up. We find out that the
preacher is probably not working with the cannibals. This book needed
a boost...and cannibals is a good boost. It's definitely shocking,
and writer Robert Kirkman loves to shock. The problem I have is that
I doubt so early into a zombie world that people would resort to
cannibalism. I could see down the road when there are no animals left
or canned goods or farm land out there. Cannibals so early? It's been
maybe a year or two into this new world. Other than that, the art is
a bit sloppy. Charlie Adlard is usually a master but it looks like he
was rushed a bit. The cover is just okay but the plot at least
provides enough suspense and surprises to make the next few issues
bloody good. ***
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