Snap Judgements: Reviews for New Avengers, Superman/Batman, Runaways, and More

Short comic reviews based on initial, lizard-brain opinions. Arranged from BEST to WORST. Beware some potential spoilers.

Superman/Batman #52 gets an A from AHR

Any criticism I might have about this book is negated by the fact that I read the entire thing with a huge smile on my face. It's part 2 of 2, but here's all I needed to know; cute lil DC characters drawn by former Blue Beetle artist Rafael Albuquerque. Michael Green, he of the both excellent and horrible Lovers and Madmen story, serves up some moments of sheer cute-larity. Even when things go dark, they don't get ugly. WAN MORE PLZ.

Runaways gets an A from AHR

Fun and funny art, plenty of LOLs and :(s. Also lesbians. And you know you're reading an awesome book when you have a gay couple who are being hated on not because they're gay, but because one of them is a skrull. Oh Marvel, you'll win me over yet! I haven't read much of this title, and if you haven't either, check it out; they do a great job filling new readers in on what's going on.

Blue Beetle, New Avengers, and Avengers: Initiative, after the jump...

Blue Beetle #31 gets a B from AHR

This series continues to be really good. Not John Rogers good, but better than 85% of all superhero comics good. It's certainly the best thing I've read by Matt Sturges. I like the border patrol arc, maybe Jamie can take on the housing crisis next?

Avengers: The Initiative #17 gets a B from Albo

As tired as I am of Sectret Invasion, The Initiative does a pretty
good job of telling interesting stories with the mega event as its
backdrop. Ant-Man, stranded in this series after his brilliant Robert
Kirkman solo series got canned, finally gets a moment to shine with
his particular brand of false, cowardly "heroism." There's also a
great pep talk from Nick Fury wherein he goes on about how the
"Greatest Generation" were really just a bunch of scared kids in
trenches, just like you.

New Avengers #45 gets a C from Albo

Man, I bet I would just love this issue if I had read all of that "No
More Mutants" crap a while back. There's a cool alternate reality,
some classic "Back to the Future" style flashbacks where we get to see
a famous scene from a new perspective... All kinds of cool stuff. Oh,
yeah, but I don't know what the hell is going on. My fault, I know, I
know.

Panel Discussion: Scans from Mighty Avengers #15, Final Crisis #2, New Avengers #42 and More

Every week we at Geekanerd rip panels from our comics and put them on display here, recognizing the best, worst, and weirdest moments of the week. Beware some major SPOILERS.

Click the pics for high res goodness!

Celebrity Cameo Corner - Thunderbolts #121

How long has Penance been Edward Norton? I read the entire Deodato Thunderbolts run and only now did this jump out at me. And regardless of how you feel about photo referencing, isn't it a little unadvised to model a Marvel character off an actor who is playing a DIFFERENT Marvel character at a theater near you?! Or is this some sort of insane cross-promotion? Are they trying to tell us that Penance is really Bruce Banner? I'm sure it's all something to do with Secret Invasion. - AHR

Every Man's Worst Nightmare - Mighty Avengers #15
Hank Pym experiences every man's worst fear: that the cute naked co-ed you're sitting in bed eating ice cream with will transform into a Hulk tranny and kick your ass. -Albo

Hero Most In Need of A New Costume - Robin, Teen Titans #60
Tim, you're not the Boy Hostage any more. You're not flipping around the sidelines while Batman does the dirty work. With this in mind, you MIGHT want to re-enforce the spandex outfit at least to the point where Clock King (CLOCK KING!) can't stab you in the stomach like he's punching a hole in a Capri Sun. - AHR

Someone Call Tony Stark... - Avengers: The Initiative #14
A method for detecting Skrulls has been found! They loooooove pickles and strawberries! And I love Dan Slott for being goddamn hilarious. -Albo

What I loved about that moment is that Skrull Man uses quotes when he names the food, because it's so unfamiliar. You know he's internally pronouncing them as "pick-ELLES" and "straw-BERRIES". -AHR

Most Chilling Ending - Avengers: The Initiative #14
This issue has a hell of an ending, with the first actual method of detecting Skrulls (other than the aforementioned Skrullian T'Manja berries mention earlier) being fritzed by a Skrull who's actually a good guy but happens to be in hiding because he's genuinely afraid of the predjudice that will be leveled against him if he is revealed. So he "hacks" the Skrull-detecting goggles, and now poor Delroy faces the very Twilight Zoney twist of "seeing" that EVERYONE IS A SKRULL. I fear for his mental health. Great end to a great issue. -Albo

Snappingly Good Dialogue - Mighty Avengers #15
"I didn't kiss anyone. And I could have." I know it doesn't seem like much, but it's just the sort of biting non sequitur that you rarely see in comics but often hear in actual relationship arguments. Not that I would know, because any ladies I let into my life worship the ground I geek on, but that's beside the point. -Albo

Project Runway Winners - Final Crisis #2
Japanese club kids plus superhero outfits = the height of geek chic. I wonder if these are all J.G Jones originals, or if he found some superhero fashion reference material? I thought I recognized some of these looks from the recent exhibit at the Met Museum, but no dice. Fashion aside, the best thing in this panel is the guy in the Stormtrooper/Samurai suit, proving once again that Star Wars fans will use any event as an excuse to cosplay. - AHR

What I Hate About Secret Invasion - New Avengers #42
So much of Bendis' "flashback" stories are just a slew of Skrulls hanging out in some dark New York warehouse talking. Not about anything all that interesting. You know, "Sentry is a threat... We should figure out how to get Stark out of the picture... The plan is coming along nicely..." Blah blah blah. It doesn't help that I often can't tell who the hell everyone is supposed to be.

Malpractice Lawsuit in the Making - New Avengers #42
I've really racked my brain for any plausible explanation, but... Can those blobs on the operating tray be anything BUT breast implants?
Hydra Nurse: "But Doctor, her chart says she's in here for power renewal, not--"
Hydra Dr.: "Silence, Nurse! Scalpel!"
And I guess that's how she went from manageable C-cups to these monstrosities in the same issue:
It's only fair to note that the second Spider-Woman is actually Spider Skrullette. Which only raises more issues. -Albo

Cute Alert - Teen Titans #60
That long gaited, big feet teenager walk is too adorable. I like it when action books aren't afraid to get a little cartoonish, when appropriate.

Someone Please Explain... - New Avengers #42
What exactly is supposed to be happening at the end of this issue? What's the "film melt" effect supposed to mean? Surely I'm overlooking something obvious... Help, Geekanerds of the world! -Albo
[UPDATE: The internets work fast, ladies and gentlemen. Alex Zalben of Pulp Secret and Comic Book Club stepped in like the crack of Indiana Jones' whip to let me know the same film melt effect was used in the first issue of House of M, which coincides with what's happening in these panels. Guess I should have read that. Thanks Alex!]

Snap Judgments: Reviews for 1985 #2, Final Crisis #2, The Initiative #14 and More!

Short comic reviews based on initial, lizard-brain opinions. Arranged from BEST to WORST.

The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite TPB gets an A+ from AHR

This is a must have. First of all, Gerard Way's six issue story is so good it makes me a little anxious; how can comic that's so smart, so refreshing, be the freshman effort of a pop star? It makes me question everything I know about the world. Aside form the main story, the extras in this book are superb: a highly credible introduction by Grant Morrison, in which he mentions listening to The Black Parade on loop while writing the brilliant Batman #663, genuinely impressive original character designs by Way himself, a wonderful piece of promo art by artist Gabriel Ba, and the Free Comic Book Day one shot in which the world got it's first taste of the Academy. Get this book. Cherish it.

Reviews for Avengers: The Initiative #14, Final Crisis #2, Mighty Avengers #15, Walking Dead Vol 8, Thunderbolts #121, 1985 #2, New Avengers #42.

Avengers: The Initiative #14 gets an A from Albo

This has been a "pick up and scan in the store" book for me for months now, along with Amazing Spider-Man and anything that looks a little sexy. But I swear, once I started seeing what was going on within these pages I had no choice but to buy it. Dan Slott takes what could have been a pretty ordinary *COUGH*mightyavengers15*COUGH* Hank Pym-is-a-Skrull story and turns it into a hilarious situation comedy. The issue starts with some flashbacks that show Pym Skrull having to using his hidden extra powers to escape particularly tough scrapes, and then attributing his miraculous survival to "shrinking a lot." Needless to say, Pym Skrull thinks the gullibility of Earthlings is hilarious. There are many more standout moments, such as an Initiative cadet's "discovery" of Pym as a Skrull based on his choice of lunchables and a very Twilight Zoney ending that will make your heart sink. Highly recommended read!

Final Crisis #2 gets a B+ from AHR

For the first half of this book, I was sure it was going to get an A. I LOVE the Japanese superhero team. I wish DC would let Grant Morrison write a guide to the DC Universe, where he just makes everything up. His inventions and reinventions are almost always way more fun and interesting than anything that existed before. I even love what he's doing with the Monitor in this book; it reminded me of parts of Jonathan Lethem's Omega series, oddly enough. But parts of this book are so hard to understand, and so full of made-up space jargon, it feels like a slog in order to get to the next fun bit. Also, if I was a fan of Martian Manhunter, I think I'd be pissed by the one-page funeral scene. Didn't Bart Allen get like, an entire book to himself? He's not even a JLA-er!

Mighty Avengers #15 gets a B from Albo

If you like naked people, this is certainly the Avengers book for you. There are only seven pages in the book that DON'T contain a nude or only partly clothed individual. Anyway, Bendis seems intent in telling the bulk of Secret Invasion through flashback stories, no doubt to illustrate how fiendishly clever he's been these past few years. This one's all about Pym being replaced by a Skrull, and while I certainly can't claim the read isn't enjoyable (Bendis crafts some great little scenes here) I can't help but ask "Why?" when I'm all done with it. I didn't feel like I came out with any important information I didn't have going in. And surely I'm not the only one sick of these frickin' "warehouse talks" the undercover Skrulls seem to have every other night (See New Avengers review below).

The Walking Dead Vol 8: Made to Suffer TPB gets a B- from AHR

I got a little frustrated with this arc of this story, because I felt kind of dicked around with. There are a few too many "gotcha" cliffhangers, which at least won't be as irritating in trade paperback seeing as you don't have to wait a month to realize what seemed to be a horrifying twist was actually just a misunderstanding with no consequences. Thought to be fair, there are a hell of a lot of game-changing events in this book, and some very gut churning moments for long-time readers. But the supervillain-style antagonist of this story arc really gets on my nerves, and his dystopian post-apocalyptic society reminded me too much of Mad Max meets A.I. I never could reconcile it with the intimate, relatable world the story had inhabited beforehand. Also the zombies kind of fade into the background, and that's never a good sign.

Thunderbolts #121 gets a C+ from AHR

Not as fun as the Green Goblin rampage of last week. Not enough angry Moonstone. Too many panels where characters are simply running from one place to the other. And where's Venom? Did he die in the last issue? I can't remember. But; Bullseye comes back, and he's making up for lost time. Lost MURDER time. I liked Ellis' work on this title a lot, and am sad to see him go; I wish this mean, somewhat silly book could have gone out with more of an absurdly violent bang.

1985 #2 gets a C from Albo

Is it a second issue thing? Is Mark Millar just incapable of following up a strong first issue with anything but a dull slog of a story? Much like his Kick-Ass, the first issue was a fun, fresh, exciting setup and the second is just plain dull. Aside for the introduction of some new mystery, this book squanders the momentum it had coming in. Nothing happens. It's that simple. I'll still pick up the next one, though, because if Kick-Ass #3 was any indication, Millar really knows how to pick up the pace after a dull sophomore issue.

New Avengers #42 gets a D from Albo

As mentioned above, I am so sick of reading these scenes of standing around in a warehouse talking about their strategy to destroy the humans. There are invariably a few Skrullettes who look exactly the same and I'm not sure who's who and I'm so bored I can't even muster the energy to figure it out. Yes, we know Jessica Drew is a Skrull. Yes, we know she's working for Hydra and Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. Why don't you tell me something new, BMB?

Panel Discussion: The Best, Worst, and Weirdest Comic Panels of the Week

SPOILER ALERT: Some panels contain plot points...those who haven't read their books this week should beware.

BEST ACTOR AWARD: Inertia, All Flash #1

Racked terror as Wally West brings the hammer down for the death of Bart Allen, Inertia displays a fantastic range of fear-crazed expressions.

That tornado is a'comin for YOU, clone boy...you'd better sweat-drop!

It's hard to turn a characters mouth completely down and not have it look silly; it really works here...

Knowing he's dead meat, Inertia decides to go out with a villainous classic; the Kamikaze Crazy Grin!
But he can't hold it; upon learning of his fate, he hits the audience with this perfect facial rendering of abject terror. Sweet.

More of this weeks most notable panels after the jump.

MOST UNDIGNIFIED DEATH: Captain America # 28

All of these guards are doomed, but at least some go out on a relatively high note by being kicked in the face by a sexy redhead. The poor shmoe in this panel is killed by getting his head squeezed up against the junk of a gross dude dressed like a lizard.

FAMILIAR FACES ALERT: Avengers: The Initiative #4

I'm not so sure about some of these new 50-State Initiative teams...this line-up features Michelangelo, an Akira Clown, Gollum, and...I don't know what that thing is, but it really calls into question the existence of God.

NO COMMENT AWARD: The Order #1


...

Okay, fine, here's the context: This girl is simply reacting with embarrassment upon realizing she may have accidentally offended a guy in a wheelchair. But as they say on Scans Daily, context is for the weak.

MOST SEVERE BEATDOWN AWARD: World War Hulk #2

Mr. Fantastic get whomped so hard by the Hulk in this issue that his elastic body explodes like a bungee cord grenade.

BEST USE OF COLOR: The Programme #1The book uses some fun color tricks throughout the book, but this is one of the clearest examples. The therapist is thrown of balance by the confession of his patient that he was "only" able to make love three times in one night recently. The whole scene is in blues with the exception of the therapist's wife's smiling face and the pencil in his hand which he will snap a few panels later.

Link: More of Geekanerd's Panel Discussions

Snap Judgements: The Spirit, Avengers: The Initiative, All Flash, World War Hulk, The Programme, Shazam!

As always, Snap Judgements gives you Triple-S comic reviews: short, sweet, and spoiler-free.

The Spirit #8: You Must Remember This, A Kiss Is Just A Kiss..

While most issues in this revamped run of The Spirit have been self-contained stories, "Time Bomb" fits into a larger continuity dating back to Issue #4. But despite having the events of a past narrative to spice things up, this issue ends up feeling very light on story. There's not one but two cliched plot devices - one is a ticking time bomb and the other I won't spoil, but it's all feels very unadventurous for a series that has distinguished itself with clever, off-the-wall storylines. But not all is lost, since Darwyn Cooke still fills the book up with art so rich and pretty you want to rub the pages against your face. There's also quite a few comedic moments to enjoy, even if the silliness keeps the emotional climax from feeling completely earned.

Tired Plot Devices + Purty Pictures- High Expectations = C+

Reviews for Avengers: The Initiative #4, All Flash #1, World War Hulk #2, The Programme #1, and Shazam! Monster Society of Evil #4 after the jump...


Avengers: The Initiative #4: Nice Going, Jerk!

Writer Dan Slott has a lot to say about about the teenaged trainees involved in the Initiative; if only he had more than 24 pages a month to say it in! Like the previous issues, Initiative #4 is jam packed with great characters, twisting conspiratorial plots, and solid, distinctive art. However, since every Marvel book is currently required to be ROCKED TO IT'S VERY FOUNDATION by World War Hulk, all the exciting developments of the last issues have to be pushed aside so the Hulk can come in and make these poor kids feel horribly inadequate.

Before the Hulk touches down, however, we get some great bombshell plot twists, one of which involves coverboy Hardball being even more of an ass than we'd suspected he was. At least he feels bad about it. Tool!

Mucho Intrigue - Big Bad Hulk + Hardball Ruins It For Everyone = B+

All Flash #1: The Flash Is Dead; Long Live The Flash

This is absolutely worth picking up for Karl Kerschl's unbelievably gorgeous art. Each panel looks like a cel from a big budget animated feature, and the vibrant colors make every page-turn a visceral experience. It's fitting that a Flash book should feature such crisp, high-energy artwork, and if All Flash can consistently bring this kind of quality to the table, consider me sold.

Unfortunately, Kerschl only illustrates about half of this book - specifically, the story's framing device which follows Wally West as he drags that Inertia around the circumference of the earth by his lapels. Do bodysuits have lapels?

The rest of the art feels crushingly boring when compared with the visual narcotic of Kerschl's pages. The main story deals with answering questions no one was asking from The Lightning Saga and the last issue of The Flash. Sure, it's fun to see the Rouges experience buyers-remorse after offing Bart, but it's already been covered in Countdown. I would have loved to see more of the Wally and Inertia scene, and not just because of the superior illustration; between Wally's rage and Inertia's almost stupefying fear, it's the most tense scene in any recent DC book. Plus the art is good. Keep that in mind.

Breathtakingly Awesome Art - Breathtakingly Medicore Art + Open Season On Rouges = B+

World War Hulk #2: Whakoom Whakoom Bbkbkkkbkoom!

Will someone tell me why the Hulk isn't angrier? I mean, the whole point of this story is that he's stronger than he's ever been because he's angrier than he's ever been, no? So why is he so calm about everything? First he announces his Intent to Smash in issue one, gives everyone 24 hours to leave, and now in this ish he has a heart to heart with his cousin, engages in intelligent debate with Sue Richards, and nearly cries when he sees Rick Jones. Yeah, Hulk's smashing, but he's being awfully civil about it. I suppose he's just bottling up all his rage deep inside, but that so... UnHulklike.

That conceit aside, the book is a fun read, if only to see your favorite heroes get smashed like you've never seen them get smashed before. Romita's art is great, his rendition of the Hulk makes you believe that this one green giant could wipe out everything. The bits of story that are there are well done, but the issue as a whole feels like an outline that will get filled in by the individual tie-in issues. There are a lot of characters here, and you can tell they're all going through their own dramas, but this particular book doesn't go into them too much. Which makes the whole thing feel a bit shallow, because there isn't any character that you are really given a chance to relate to.

Awesome Smashups - Shallow Characterization + Romita's Imposing Art = B-

The Programme #1: Good, I think?

Beginning a new comic book series presents some problems that aren't present in most other entertainment mediums. The writer is only given twenty-four pages to introduce their mythology, premise, characters and conflict to a reader who won't be able to read the next part of the story for another month. Movies can start off slow, books can be hard to get into, but the audience will usually stick around long enough to catch the hook. With comics, those first twenty-four pages are life or death, because if an impression isn't made, the readers will not be back.

This also presents an interesting problem for the reader, because it can sometimes be very hard to distinguish between a good book and a bad book based on twenty pages. Which brings me to The Programme. The book is completely impenetrable. It shuffles back and forth through time without warning or explanation, brings up mysterious plot points without explaining what the heck is going on, and throws a handful of underdeveloped characters at you. But! I want to understand the importance of the different time periods, I want to explore the mysteries, I want to know these characters. In other words, the book's got promise. I've been burned by many a "Promise Book" before, but I do believe I'll be back for the next twenty-four on this one.

Oh, sorry there's no plot synopsis, I just don't know what the shit's going on. Soviets, Nazis, test tube babies, mysterious guy glowing green... Who knows?

Tough But Rewarding Artwork - Tough Storytelling + Promise of Good Things to Come = B


Shazam! Monster Society of Evil #4: Simply Wonderful

Jeff Smith's take on Captain Marvel (more Billy Batson, really) draws to a close and it ends every bit as strongly as it began. The characters are still great, the art and design still show a wonderful playfulness and imagination. My only gripe could be that the conflict was wrapped up a little to easily, but that's hardly what the book was really about so I'm not taking that too seriously. It's good ole simple storytelling at it's best. If you haven't read any other issues don't try to start now, wait for the inevitable trade.

Wonderful Imagination + New Take On Billy Batson + Just Plain Fun = A