Panel Discussion: The Week in Comic Book Scans

Most Awesomest Historical Figure Turned Supervillain - Zombie-Robot Gustave Eiffel, Umbrella Academy #1
What would the designer of the Eiffel Tower and structural engineer of New York's Statue of Liberty say if he knew he was being re-envisioned as a zombie robot in a comic book? "Maudit enfants!" ("damn kids!") probably sums it up.

Hit the jump for some motivation from Eclipso, harsh words from Bucky, Wii confessions from the Black Fox, and more!

Best Motivational Speaker - Eclipso, Countdown to Mystery #1Eclipso's latest plot is to become the Tony Robbins of the DC universe.

Most Unpleasant Title Page - World War Hulk #4What's the point here? Though it has some panels from last ish, it's way too vague to work as a recap for someone that didn' t read last issue. The weird Photoshoppy blood (click to see the full res where you'll see the blood is rockin' a PS bezel) plus the weird Photoshop sketch of Strange drinking Zomjuice (which two out of three readers I informally polled in a dream thought was Tony Stark boozing) makes the whole thing seem very amateurish, like a fan wallpaper cobbled together from Romita's panels.

Best Comeback - Winter Soldier, Capitan America #30
"Know me? You don't know jack, Fatty!" I love that Bucky, though now an out of control outlaw vigilante, still uses insults from his child-sidekick days.

Movie Moment - Penance: Relentless #1
This illustration of Penance's Stamford guilt is a direct homage to the most terrifying scene in Terminator 2. Remember, the one where Sarah Conner dreams she's looking at a playground through a chain link fence, and after a moment a nuke goes off and everyone is burned alive? That scared the shit out of me when I was a kid, but you can watch it now if you'd like to compare it to the page above, and if you don't mind having a few nuclear dreams of your own.

Satisfying Conclusion to a Running Gag - Black Fox's Wii Theft Confession, Irredeemable Ant-Man #12
If you haven't been following this saga, first we saw Ant-Man and the Black Fox enjoying some Wii time, then the Black Fox snuck in during World War Hulk to steal the sexy white console, and now, after Ant-Man has thrown Fox to the S.H.I.E.L.D. wolves to save his own ass, Fox confesses. Hopefully the Black Fox can escape from the helicarrier in time to play Super Mario Galaxy on launch day.

Check out our past Panel Discussions while you're at it!

Snap Judgments - Comic Reviews for 9/19/07

This week we're trying out a new format for our Snap Judgment reviews. Namely, they're way snappier. If anybody has an opinion as to which they like better let us know and we'll probably listen to you. Commence judgment!

Umbrella Academy #1

Only yesterday did I realize the comic world has been waiting with baited breath to see if Gerard Way can write as well as he can wear black eyeliner and sing about cancer. I dug out my Umbrella Academy preview from Free Comic Book day, which I had skipped over in my Owly-induced trance. Well, I loved the FCB ish and this first issue is a joyride as well. It's got a nice darkly comedic attitude, and I particularly enjoyed how the superhero team's father-figure, a wryly detached and somewhat mean-spirited old man. This makes sense because Gerard comes from the world of emo, where all authority must be distrusted and or/sneered at. I kid because I love. Gabriel Ba's art slightly recalls the cartoon-industrial feel of Mike Mignola or Duncan Rouleau, and it's bolstered by Dave Stewart's color palette, so we're talking some very pretty pictures. -AHR

The Verdict: A

The Programme #3

Another month, another recommendation from me to go out and pick up The Programme. I was surprised when I saw that this was only issue three, as the story is so dense it felt like I'd been reading it for much longer. But with this issue things are finally all starting to make sense, and even the difficult but rewarding art is getting easier to digest without losing it's heavy atmosphere. Or perhaps I'm just getting more used to it. Either way, if you aren't reading this yet I heartily recommend tracking down the first two issues and getting to it. -Albo

The Verdict: A-

Robin #166

Robin has been great throughout Adam Beechen's run, although I never got into the most recent on-going plot, namely the saga of Dodge. It's been one of those "annoying wannabe sidekick is rejected only to become an arch-enemy" stories, which can run the risk of either making the hero seem genuinely insensitive or making the sidekick annoying enough to turn off the audience. Dodge was a case of the latter, although in this issue Beechen does a good job redeeming the character, and I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed upon the issue's conclusion. One final nerdpick - in this issue we see Tim Drake cannot play tennis. Bullshit. If the Joker threw a grenade at him and he had to whack it away with a tennis racket, I don't think there would be a problem. -AHR

The Verdict: B

The Irredeemable Ant-Man #12

Last issue seemed to be a perfectly good send off for the series we loved so much. This issue serves not as a conclusion but as a segue into a new iteration of the character that will appear in other Marvel books (it would be a spoiler to say which books...). I seriously doubt I will love the character in another book as much as I liked him in this Kirkman series, so after the satisfying conclusion of last issue this one felt a little like someone resurrecting my dead grandmother and telling me she's gonna work the streets for extra zombie cash. -Albo

The Verdict: C-

SECOND OPINION: Robert Kirkman, no! You said you would never redeem your deplorable non-hero, but in this final outing Eric O'Grady appears to have had a spiritual awakening. It's as if Eric himself knew of his impending cancellation and, fearing the fires of disposed character hell, he felt he had to throw the mea culpas around to save his fictional soul. Still, a disconcerting last issue doesn't erase the fond memories of what has been my favorite Marvel book of the last year. Here's hoping he'll find new fans as a guest-star in other titles. -AHR

The Verdict: A+ for the series, a reluctant D for the issue

Batman/Lobo: Deadly Serious #2 (of 2)

After last issue's questionable merit, I was a little wary to pick this ish up. But I love Sam Keith's art and I figured it'd be worth it just for that. Unfortunately Sam phoned this baby in, with a couple interesting touches doing little to make up for the overwhelmingly bland (and sometimes downright ugly) visuals. The story's a total waste of time, too, so really save your six bucks if you're thinking of picking this one up. -Albo

The Verdict: D-

Green Arrow and Black Canary Wedding Special #1

There are two kinds of events in a comic book. One, the more common one, is where the universe explodes, or someone dies, or is raped, or is slowly lowered into a pit of acid. The other is where someone gets married! This means lots of in-jokes, characters getting page-time with people they'd never regularly get to hang with, and tons of in-jokes. Make the happy couple the two two horn-doggiest members of the JLA, and you also get lots TV-14 rated raunch. Judd Winick manages to keep the tone goofy and light (well, with one notable exception). Even when the requisite big fight scene starts, the madcap comedy keeps rolling right through the cartoon violence. I was disapointed not to see the actual VOWS at this freakin' wedding, but maybe that's for some sort of Green Arrow Black Canary Vow Special, soon to be followed with the Green Arrow Black Canary Feed Wedding Cake To Each Other Special, and the Green Arrow Black Canary Do The Chicken Dance Special. -AHR

The Verdict: A+

Countdown to Mystery #1

Score! I took a chance on this Countdown tie-in solely based on the fact it features Eclipso, who I like simply because the character is currently inhabiting the body of Jean Loring, Ray Palmer's brain-stomping ex who is just my kind of crazy. I didn't realize this issue features two stories, the first of which opens with a shot of the Dr. Fate helmet shooting through the stratosphere like a wayward meteorite and crashing on the Las Vegas strip. That is a good way to open a DC book, and it just gets better from there. The second shorter story is the one with Eclipso, as well as our old, dead friend from Gotham Central (and former partner to Renee Montoya)...Crispis Allen! He's the Spectre's current host (making this book all about mystical entities and the humans they glomp on to, I guess?), and we even get to see him help dole out some patented Ironic Justice. Stephen Jorge Segovia's art for this second story is outstanding, made stronger by Dan Brown's masterful colors. Some of the best art of the week right here, no kidding. -AHR

The Verdict: A

World War Hulk #4 (of 5)

I feel really bad about dishing so many negative reviews this week, but when you walk out of the shop with as many stinkers as I did you have to vent a little. I've known WWH was getting worse since the second issue, so I can't say I was surprised to find this month's installment lacking even more than last month's. The rest of the Marvel Universe has already moved on from this "Mega Event," which leaves the proceedings feeling more and more irrelevant. The stakes keep getting lower (Hulk not killing anyone showed right off the bat that he will one day rejoin the rest of the heroes without consequence), Hulk keeps getting less angry, and even Romita Jr.'s art, which I've been totally into up till now, is getting sloppy. Add to that an inevitable conclusion that has been broadcast since the first issue and you've got yourself one suckbag of a book. -Albo

The Verdict: D+

Snap Judgements: Hack/Slash, Teen Titans, The Four Horsemen, Avengers: The Initiative

On Thursdays, the Geekanerd staff gives you Triple S comic reviews - short, sweet, and spoiler-free.

Hulk Smash Feelings of Self Doubt! - Avengers: The Initiative #5

Marvel's best book on the stands continues to deliver interesting character-driven action, but sags a bit under the weight of the Incredibly Angry Hulk. Isn't World War Hulk over yet? We already know he doesn't destroy the world. The sooner the Marvel Universe's heroes can get back to their own plotlines, the better.

This issue is about Trauma, the omega level Initiative recruit with the Fallout Boy haircut. His "I Know What You're Afraid Of" power has provided a lot of insight into some of our favorite Marvel Characters over the last several issues (Henry Pym's fear of being forever remembered as a wife-beater just because of some damn thing that happened in an ULTIMATES BOOK for godsake was particularly fun), and here's the moment we've all been waiting for - Trauma vs The Hulk. What's the Green Guy really afraid of? To me, the answer is a let-down. To others, including serious Hulk fans, it may be the only acceptable answer.

In the build-up to the big showdown, we meet some new Black Ops Initiative recruits, all of whom are very elite and top secret, but who do not come equipped with interesting personalities. This makes for some very bland team-building sequences, with only a particularly insufferable H.P Gyrich to keep us awake.

Dan Slott has set the bar on this book very high, and the quality of the art and writing is still beyond most mainstream books. But the issue feels too thin without a central focus on the Teen Team that Slott done such a great job developing.

Spotlight on Trauma - Who Are These Old Guys? + Hardball is Still a Dick = B-

Teen Titans, Hack/Slash, and The Four Horsemen after the jump...

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello - Teen Titans #50
At last, a proper farewell to Bart Allen. His funeral in Countdown was a a pretty dry affair (and attended by some less than well-behaved guests), but here the Titans remember Bart on a more personal level, complete with multi-artist flashbacks. Whether you're a long-time Impulse fan or have only a casual knowledge of the littlest Flash, you get an acute sense of what he meant to the team. Luckily it's not all boo-hoos, we get some refreshing cynicism from Ravager (/crush) and a predictably ill-concieved attempt at emotional counseling by Martian Manhuntgirl.

The flashbacks weave into the story with ease, and peak with a stand-alone interlude about Wally West by George Perez. The only misstep is an off-putting section in the middle which features seven pages from last week's Blue Beetle, redrawn by Randy Green. Granted, it's kind of neat to see the same scene re-interpreted by a new artist, but what's really jarring are several minor but significant changes in the dialogue. In Blue Beetle #18, Robin was perfectly chummy in suggesting Beetle train with the Titans, but here he pulls out some Bat-Daddy style browbeating. Wha happa? Was there a change in the script between the two book's printing dates, or did the TT editing crew change John Rogers' script to suit their own story purposes? The change isn't bad, but which version is cannon? Can we blame this continuity glitch on Superboy, or is it Mister Mind's fault now?

A Fond Farewell + Diverse Art + Mourning Mishaps - Repackaged Beetle = B

Bang Bang Rock 'n' Roll - Hack/Slash #4

Like books where hot chicks kill monsters? Pick up this book. Hate books where hot chicks kill monsters? You'll probably still like it, because it's just that good. Hack/Slash has a winning high concept - a victim of a Freddie-style slasher becomes a vigilante out to kill serial killers; it goes without saying she's a hot chick and has a hulking brute-force sidekick. But while the series has delivers plenty of pulp slasher thrills, the protagonists turn out to be two of the most surprising characters you're likely to find in mainstream comics.

This issue is the last in the series' first arc, and it's satisfying in the way only a baddie-busting vigilante comic can be. The villains of this storyline have been a bunch of spoiled, rock star devil worshippers, and it's very nice to see them get what's coming to them. New readers should probably wait for the trade, or hell, go pick up the first four issues. They're worth it.

Scary Monsters + Tough Ladies + Satisfying Finale = A-


So Much For Escapism - The Four Horsemen #1

Say what you will about Countdown, at least it's made us all appreciate 52 a little more. 52 could be over-the-top and messy even for an event book, but it was rarely boring. Take the Four Horsemen storyline - living embodiments of Famine, Death, War and Pestilence created by the DCU's finest mad scientists. Why? Because a giant Asian Egg Monster told them to. This is the sort of thing you just don't get from Marvel. And now The Four Horsemen have a book all to themselves, with the Big Three for protagonists. All signs point to yes.

Or not. Perhaps my expectations were colored by how much I've been enjoying writer Adam Beechen's rollicking run on Robin. There's no fun to be had here, as the plot deals with aftermath of the genocidal destruction of the DC nation of Bialyia, perpetrated by Black Adam in one of the more cringe-worthy plot threads of 52. Given the real life genocides and ethnic cleansing happening around the world right now, the mood of this comic is understandably dire. But nothing meaningful is said about the relief effort this comic uses as a plot device, nor does Beechen bring anything new to the question of what the role of the Superhero is in times of mass destruction. At one point, Bialiya's leader asks why Superman and the Flash don't just circle the globe until they find the person responsible. Well? I wish these kinds of practical questions were answered, but they're not.

Oppressively Bleak Atmosphere - Lack of Insight + Veronica Cale Still on Oolong Island = C-

Snap Judgments:Welcome To Tranquility #9, Metal Men #1, World War Hulk #3, Illuminati #4

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

These Bots Is Wacky! - Metal Men #1

The Metal Men, at least as they appear in this series, have something very important that sets them apart from the rest of the DC hero teams - naiveté. While they each come standard with over the top personalities and a range of emotions, there is a sweetness to their nature that harkens back to their Silver Age origins.

This issue is divided into three chapters, and only the second really features the Metal Men in action. As if to count for all the angst-free fun, the bookend chapters deal with the dark, ancient origins of the Metal Men, as well as a look into the past of Doc Magnus (minor art quibble; in the flashback, Doc looks like a babyfaced teen even though the story takes place only four years in the past. I guess mad science takes a toll.). These expositionary stories suffer from way too much mystic and tech jargon, which serves a purpose but is a chore to read. Still, on the whole the book benefits from the singular vision of writer-artist Duncan Rouleau, who ties his panels together with a border of gears that wind in and out of the art like strands of robo-DNA.

Robots Are Our Friends + Steampunitky Art - Slow Beginning and End = B

Reviews for Welcome to Tranquility, World War Hulk and New Avengers: Illuminati after the jump...

Zombies? Really? - Welcome To Tranquility #9

Aren't we tired of zombies by now? With The Walking Dead and Marvel Zombies readily available, I was kinda hoping this arc of Welcome To Tranquility wasn't going to be all about brain eaters. But hope is cheap. Simone even name checks Robert Kirkman in this issue, and it looks like the wall that keeps the undead hoards from the town of Tranquility has come a tumblin' down.

Feelings of zombie fatigue aside, this issue has some great moments, but the central plot feels sluggish and fails to live up to last week's superb trilogy of origin stories. We do get to see more of one of the most entertaining characterizations of the devil since Neil Gaiman's Lucifer, and the issue ends with a great mini-story that reaches an almost Frank Millerian level of pulp revenge grit.

Boring Zombies + Cool Satan + Cowboy Grit = B+


He's Going To *yawn* Kill Us All! - World War Hulk #3

Oh, man. This is over. I wish I could spoil this for you because by the end of this issue the Hulk has succumbed to one of the biggest invading villain cliches in all of comicdom. It never worked for the hundreds that came before him, yet somehow he thinks it's a good idea. Poor Hulk. Poor, stupid Hulk. If only you weren't thinking about things so much and just got really angry and smashed stuff. You'd probably have won this war by now.

In other news, this book still looks and feels great. The presentation is top notch, but it's just not enough to make up for the major story problems present. If the Hulk really wanted to kill these heroes, why hasn't he? He's beaten a bunch of them up, but hasn't dealt the final blow to anyone. The premise of this story was "Hulk Kills the Marvel Universe," but so far he's been very restrained. Add to this the fact that since issue 1 everyone's been saying "Ohh, the Sentry is the one guy that might be able to stop the Hulk" and come issue three they're still talking about him but he is just sitting in a house in Northern Vermont, biding his time. Add to that the cheesiest line of dialogue to end a comic this year, and you get a big fat turkey that's pretty to look at but taste like donkey's yonks.

Romita's Outstanding Art - Pak's Plot Holes - King of Supervillain Cliches = C-


Girl Troubles - New Avengers: Illuminati #4

Slight spoiler here, only one of the girls on this cover is actually in the comic. Because this is a comic about boys. More specifically, a comic about boys talking about stuff. In this issue, they talk about girls. Dr. Strange is upset that his lady left to rule the Dark Dimension, Tony Stark is complaining about chasing tail, Black Bolt is miming suicide in an effort to illustrate married life, and Reed Richards and Namor are having a very awkward conversation about Sue Storm. It's great! And then five pages in some superhero bullshit starts happening that nobody cares about. If anybody in the world cared about Marvel Boy (I enjoyed his series, but that's ancient history at this point), he would have been on the cover instead of these girls that aren't even in the comic. We do get some insightful words as to why Professor X doesn't just program everyone to agree with him, but other than that it's a lot of talk about some issues I didn't find myself caring about. Definitely worth picking up for the opening chit-chat, but *shhhh* word on the street is you can read that part online at Pop Culture Shock. Next issue promises "TODAY," so I expect that means we'll be coming out of the past and into the present to deal with the Hulk.

Great Man Talk Between Heroes + Wonderful Characterization - Boring Plot = B+

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

Marvel Honchos Reveal Original Civil War Concept

Tom Brevoort has released some correspondence between himself, Mark Millar and Joe Quesada from early on in the development of Marvel's recent Civil War mega-event. There are some significant ways in which it differs from the version that eventually found its way into our hands. For one, it was planned as a 12-issue series, not 7. One of the big reasons seems to be that it would have included World War Hulk.... kindof. From the article:

"I’d really like to see the Hulk attack Earth and bring with him small, five foot versions of the Hulk called Hulk Babies who are just as powerful and dangerous, but the spawn of the Hulk after he’s bedded a hundred thousand alien chicks. They should all look the same and do enormous amounts of damage when they show up with Dad."

A hundred thousand alien chicks! Millar's either a genius or a very lonely man. More highlights after the jump, including Super Stealth Versions of our favorite heroes, Dr. Doom's Throne of Depowerment, and Captain America's original fate.

So apparently in Millar's early conception, the Anti-Registration heroes would go underground and don Ninja garb! Well not quite, but:

"The other side, led by Cap, have formed a new team and they’re all wearing new stealth costumes (redesigns of their original costumes that can’t be picked up by satellite or radar) and their objective is equally simple; they want to perform their superhero duties without being captured by the first time. They’re a secret society. An underground movement."

Quesada has some interesting thoughts on Captain America and the Punisher, in reaction to a dustup they get into when the Punisher blows the heads of some supervillains that want to volunteer for the cause:

"When you really look at these two characters standing side by side, they really are our Batman and Superman. Cap’s almost an alien being, Christ figure while Frank is the man without powers who lost his family and what they share is two wars that couldn’t be more different."

Apprehended renegade heroes were originally fated to Dr. Doom's Throne of Depowerment:

"There’s been talk of some machinery recovered from Latveria after the Secret War and the SHIELD techies are building a half-finished device Doctor Doom was working on which turns super-people into ordinary human beings. The plan is to humanize each and every one of these guys banged up in [the Negative Zone]."

"This is being used on Speedball, the hero who kicked this whole thing off, and we see him stripped of his superpowers on live TV and returned to society. It should be an awesome moment and one the heroes watch with a certain amount of fear."

In the original ending, Cap sacrifices his powers to destroy the DoomTech (they never actually refer to it as a Throne, but c'mon, it's Dr. Doom!), and then shares a touching scene with Col. Nick Fury:

"We close the whole thing with Nick Fury talking to the 97lb Steve Rogers in the closing pages. ...[Cap] admits that, despite everything, he’s kind of excited to get his life back again. He’s heading out to discover America and rediscover himself and Nick smiles. Steve hopes he isn’t being selfish and Nick says no way. 'One Hell of a tour of duty you just had, soldier,' he tells Steve and Steve just smiles. They salute and Steve Rogers, skinny as a rake, walks off into the sunset like all the best heroes should."

*sniff* *sniff* Oh yeah, I forgot mention that they were friends again at this point because all the heroes united to deal with World War Hulk. Didn't see that coming. Is this what we can expect to come out of the current WWH? A clean fix to all the Marvel Universe's problems and a return to the status quo because Hulk mad smash puny humans? I sure hope not, heroes at odds reuniting to face a common threat is the oldest comic cliche in the book.

Anyway, if you're interested at all in this stuff the full post is a must-read. There is a lot of good behind the scenes chat, and many vague references to "that alien invasion we talked about".... Can anyone say Skrulls?

Via Newsarama.

World War Old Spice UPDATED with Phil Hester Statement

Forget the Incredibly Upset Hulk and his promise to wipe out Earth's Mightiest Heroes... The real danger facing the Marvel Universe is an alien invasion from the planet Oldspiceooine in the Productplacementylat Sector of the Sellingoutlikeabitch Galaxy. See all SEVENTEEN signs of the invasion from the latest issue of the Irredeemable Ant-Man #10 after the jump.

Seriously, there is an Old Spice billboard behind everyone, Old Spice in apartments, Old Spice flying through the air, and TWO UNIQUE Old Spice products in the stomach of the Incredible Hulk. Like somewhere along his long space journey to New York he stopped off to snack on an Old Spice factory?! I just don't get it. I really love this book, and I hate to have the experience soured like this. I understand that comics are a business like any other and money must be made, but this is not the way to do it. Shame on editor Aubrey Sitterson.

UPDATE: The Blog @ Newsarama picked up the story, and it's been getting some interesting comments. Commenter Caleb spotted a reflection of the S.S. Old Spice that I missed:And Phil Hester himself showed up to explain a bit: "The product placement was required, but we took it upon ourselves to do it on every page as a laugh. And it is on every page." Asked if being forced to shoehorn advertisements into his work was frustrating, he said "Yes, but we tried to be funny and semi-subversive about it, so it wasn’t so bad. Then I think about the many artists who spend their entire careers working in advertising and thank my lucky stars."