WLG #172: Just Under The Wire!

By Michael A. Diaz

I am running late, yet again this week, so once again you're going to get short-changed on the introduction. I apologize for this, but my day job and other paying side-projects have just eaten up too much of my time this week.

I'm sorry, I really am.

I will post more next week, I promise.

For now, there's this:

Standard Disclaimer: For those of you new to the WLG experience, here's how it works: Every week I check out the release schedule from the Diamond Comics Shipping List and decide which comics that I am going to spend my hard-earned money on. Yep, my money. That's good, because it helps to maintain my objectivity. If I spend money on a comic book and it turns out to be crap I'm going to be upset.
And, without further adieu let's jump directly into What Looks Good...

DC

BIRDS OF PREY #98 $2.99 (Gail Simone / James Raiz)

I think we're being shown a bit of sleight of hand here. Starting several issues back after Braniac's attack on her and the glimpse of Barbara moving her toe I think we've been played. The supposition is that Barbara is no longer confined to the wheelchair and has once again taken the mantel of “Batgirl.” Never mind that there is another Batgirl out there fighting crime, and now a Batwoman as well, so the question isn't just “is Barbara Batgirl again” but also “do we need another Batgirl?”

That's the thing, though, I think it is almost a bit too obvious that Barbara is Batgirl again, so much so that I think that Gail really wants us to believe that but in reality, nope, that's not the case. That's the route I'm going. Of course, when I grab the issue tomorrow I might find out for sure, but like I said, I think that Barbara being Batgirl again is TOO obvious.

Of course, I've been wrong before.

Regardless, the creative team has me speculating and talking, and really, why wouldn't I? This book is, and has been, underrated and I really can't do it justice by saying how much I enjoy it month after month.

WETWORKS #1 $2.99 (Mike Carey / Whilce Portacio)

I've noticed a resurgence of books that were popular during the 90's period boom period of the comic book industry. Does that mean that I should be concerned? Honestly, I don't think so. I think that the lessons learned during those years still ring true. Yes, pretty pages are why many people buy comics but a story of some sort is needed to keep people coming month after month. Do fans geek out when they're favorite artists take on a book? Sure, but more so than during the 90's there are also big-name writers whose names are just as well-known (and sometimes more so) than some of the rock star artists.

Case in point: Wetworks #1 this week. If you've been around comics for the last 10 years or so you know that this is and always has been Whilce Portacio's baby (and if you didn't know that, well, now you do). Unlike the 90's though, we have a known writer taking the reigns on this title, and no slouch either. Mike Carey has done Lucifer for Vertigo/DC as well as Ultimate Fantastic Four for Marvel's Ultimate line and a small book known as X-Men. Not just anyone gets a gig writing X-Men, so I'm hoping that Carey is able to take the admittedly cool visual concept of Wetworks (large muscled men and women covered in gold, armored symbiotes while handling massive guns and knives) and build something good out of it.

Hey, when I was in high school and the original Wetworks was announced I was frothing at the mouth. It's launch was delayed for some time, so I was surprised when this relaunch was announced and it too had its launch delayed by months (or longer).

Hopefully the wait was worth it because I'm looking for some needless carnage as massive guns tear into some vampire hide.

MARVEL

ASTONISHING X-MEN #17 $2.99 (Joss Whedon / John Cassaday)

I think it is pretty well known that I have never been a hardcore Whedon fan. I'm not knocking him, Buffy, Firefly, or anything else the man has touched, because I certainly respect the guy (and even lent him a pen once at the Wizard World Convention in Chicago; that's another story), I'm just saying that unlike one of my friends (whose name begins with “E”) I don't drool over everything that he does.

However, with this excellent run on Astonishing X-Men and his upcoming turn on Runaways I confess that I might soon find myself one of the growing throng of Whedon acolytes. Anyone that can turn Wolverine into a frightened ninny while making it hilarious and action-packed is tops in my book.

Plus, the villains continue to multiply as a member of the team pulls an apparent “Benedict Arnold” (or has s/he) while two other adversaries realize that an old-fashioned team-up might have positive results.

I've been lax in my praise of this book in the last couple of months but the last issue really turned it up a notch in my opinion and BAM! just like it's back on my radar screen.
I can't wait to find out why (unnamed character) is responsible for the destruction of an entire world!

CIVIL WAR #4 (OF 7) $2.99 (Mark Millar / Steve McNiven)

The wait is over and now the next issue is finally coming out. Were you as surprised as I was when you got to the end of issue #3? Maybe not. There are a lot of website out there that are full of spoilers (and I just haven't found them all yet) but for the most part when it comes to comics I try to stay away from ruing surprise endings for me. Sure, I knew that Marvel was planning on bringing back Thor at SOME point in time but I didn't really know when and wasn't that interested. Thor is a fine character and all, but he has never really resonated with me.

That said, his reintroduction to the Marvel Universe was put to EXCELLENT use at the end of the last issue. I was honestly and genuinely surprised and could not wait to find out what happened next. Of course, that's the point of comics, and now, finally, the next issue is here.

Curious though: some of the pre-release hype I've heard mentions that this issue will see a funeral.

What?

Yes, there's lots of hype, but I think Millar and McNiven are pulling it off thus far.

MOON KNIGHT #5 $2.99 (Charlie Huston / David Finch)

OK, I am reading these issues and I keep seeing Moon Knight basically get his rear handed to him again and again. That's fine, I realize that Marc Spector is a broken man at this stage in the game but there is going to come a point when there's that heroic, tranformating event and Moon Knight is going to kick butt and take names.

I SO can't wait for that to happen. Given that this is issue #5 of the six-issue arc I'm thinking that the butt-kicking starts here.

Excellent.

Personally, other than Sinkiewicz's work I don't know when I've seen Moon Knight look better. Any other MK fans out here, and if so, what do you think?

RUNAWAYS #20 $2.99 (Brian K. Vaughan / Mike Norton)

I know that it has been a couple of issue but for the most part I have to say that I am still reeling a bit. First, I am still dealing with Gert's death (I'm not saying anything that hasn't been online for some time at this point), but also for a few days there I was really bothered by the fact that both Vaughan and Alphona were leaving this book. Yes, I know that this is a work-for-hire title and not a creator-owned book like Y: The Last Man or Ex Machina, but no matter this book has always felt like Vaughan's baby. He's said as much as well, so when it was announced that the creative team was leaving I thought that this book was dead for sure. For if Vaughan is the heart of this book then Alphona is certainly the soul.

Of course, all of my whining and doom saying has been tempered by the fact that Joss freakin' Whedon will be take over.

Still, there are only a few issue of the Vaughan-penned issues to go and I am interested to see how he tidies up the place and leaves things for the next writer.

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Was there something that did it for you this week? If so, stop by the What Looks Good message boards (see link below) and spread the love, my friend.

Until then,

Peace!

-Diaz

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Were Diaz's picks on the mark?
Have your say on What Looks Good at the Looking Good message board.

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