Day: July 10, 2014

The Mice Templar Volume II: Destiny 5 (November 2009)

The Mice Templar Volume II: Destiny #5

It’s a strange issue. There’s this romantic interlude between Karic and a girl mouse; they go swimming together. Glass writes the heck of the scene, showing Karic as a youth while simultaneously establishing his maturity. Not to mention Santos gets to draw a fight scene between the two mice and attacking crayfish. It’s an awesome sequence.

The issue also has some reveals and backstory as it relates to Cassius. He’s getting his own subplot now, his mentorship of Karic forcing him to confront old friends and missed opportunities. Glass also takes the time to show some of the debate between Templar factions. It all comes together very nicely.

The only problem is the rushed feeling to the ending. Karic’s development is progressing at a rapid rate and it’s a struggle to keep up with it. Glass never lets up on the pace.

But it’s an extremely successful comic book otherwise.

B+ 

CREDITS

An Order Divided; writer, Bryan J.L. Glass; artist, Victor Santos; colorist, Veronica Gandini; letterer, James H. Glass; editor, Judy Glass; publisher, Image Comics.

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Thomas Alsop 2 (July 2014)

Thomas Alsop #2

It’s funny what doesn’t work in Thomas Alsop. Again, by not working I mean Miskiewicz’s script. Schmidt’s art is always on it. Even with the severely problematic cliffhanger.

There’s a lot of successful stuff this issue and the script is plotted quite well, at least in terms of the narrative events in the present action. Except Miskiewicz apparently doesn’t think about the character during the time previous to the art of this series. A big plot point hinges on the protagonist visiting someplace after ten years. Why not before this issue? Because then there wouldn’t be a comic.

Miskiewicz takes contrived to a new level.

He also rips off “Warehouse 13” a little.

While most of the issue isn’t bad and some of it is good, Alsop is apparently now going to be very ambitious (the best part of the comic is how little to resembles the previous).

I’m unconvinced.

C 

CREDITS

The Hand of the Island, Part Two; writer, Chris Miskiewicz; artist, Palle Schmidt; letterer, Deron Bennett; editors, Jasmine Amiri and Ian Brill; publisher, Boom! Studios.

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The Flash 304 (December 1981)

The Flash #304

I think Bates must have just learned the word “erg” before writing this issue because he uses it ostentatiously.

He also seemingly anticipates Tron–maybe the previews were already out–and puts Flash inside a really lame video game. The coolest part of the issue is how Bates doesn’t worry about resolution, just telling the best story he can… even if Barry’s involvement with it is contrived. There’s finally what make be taken for character development–Barry hanging out with his neighbors–and it’s lousy.

Not to mention there’s no resolution with his parents from the previous issue, which might have been nice.

Still, it’s not a terrible story and Infantino has room to break out the action. Maybe even too much.

The Firestorm backup is packed with content–there’s a diary flashback device–and decent if abrupt art from Broderick and Rodriguez. The feature should’ve donated them some space.

B- 

CREDITS

One More Blip… and You’re Dead!; writer, Cary Bates; penciller, Carmine Infantino; inker, Bob Smith; colorist, Gene D’Angelo; letterer, John Costanza. Firestorm, The Heart Is the Hunter!; writer, Gerry Conway; penciller, Pat Broderick; inker, Rodin Rodriguez; colorist, Jerry Serpe; letterer, Pierre Bernard Jr. Editor, Len Wein; publisher, DC Comics.

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The Terminator: Enemy of My Enemy 4 (July 2014)

The Terminator: Enemy of My Enemy #4

It’s all action but it’s all very good action. I kept waiting for Jolley to slow down and explain some things but he never takes his foot off the gas. He’s missing character moments mostly; he’s definitely not going the lovable T–800 route but he’s falling into the Dark Horse Terminator pitfall… the personalities.

The Terminator only has personality because of the actor playing the part. A comic book character Terminator loses a lot when it’s just a static killing machine. Comics are already full of those types.

Then Jolley misses another opportunity for some exposition when the Terminator and his human sidekick find the lab. You know, at the end of the level. They immediately get attacked, which kills the chance for some nice exposition and relationship building.

It’s a fairly decent book. There’s some great Igle artwork; his action scenes are phenomenal. The rest… just not phenomenal

C+ 

CREDITS

Writer, Dan Jolley; penciller, Jamal Igle; inker, Ray Snyder; colorist, Wes Dzioba; letterer, Nate Piekos; editors, Ian Tucker and Brendan Wright; publisher, Dark Horse Comics.

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