Today I was reading the most recent issue of Astonishing X-Men (yes, I am WAY behind) and got to the part about the prophecy and Colossus when he attempts to make a joke and laughed loudly out loud. Good thing I was alone. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed that line because it was completely unexpected but fully appreciated. If Whedon can write like that on Runaways the book will continue to be great. As for this week, well, let's jump into What Looks Good...  GREEN ARROW #70 $2.99 (Judd Winick / Scott McDaniel)I've always like the team/family dynamic that Winick has included in his writing, especially on this book. When the OYL (One Year Later) event came about and the title returned I was a little bit bothered that Ollie's son and his ward wouldn't be coming back soon enough for my liking. Of course, I had nothing to worry about as I think that Winick knows that one of the strengths of this book is that family element that I so love. Also, I love that Brick is a very human and real enemy to GA. In their own way they both care strongly for this city, as seen when the two fought back to back to reclaim it from the zombie-esque attackers a few issues back. Of course, Ollie wants to save the city and make it a beacon on the hill, whereas Brick wants to bleed it; the thing is, what your bleeding has to be healthy enough to bounce back otherwise it just dies. Brick knows this, and though Star City has been through a lot it is turning around, making now the perfect time for Brick to re-establish himself as a power player. I thought that the inclusion of Batman might be a bit distracting but I have to say that I enjoy the way that Winick has the two vigilantes playing off of each other. That said, haven't we seen enough of The Red Hood/Jason Todd as of late? Maybe Winick will change my mind once this arc is over, but for now he's a slight mar on an otherwise fully enjoyable arc. 70 issues in and I'm still loving this book; who knew that I would be a Green Arrow fan?  STORMWATCH PHD #3 $2.99 (Christos N. Gage / Doug Mahnke)Kudos to Mahnke and Gage are definitely due; why? Well, for this über-fan of the Ellis days of StormWatch this book is firing on all of the right cylinders. I'm not going to even try to contain myself as I go on about how much I love Ellis's incarnation of the team. It was unfortunate that his excellent writing wasn't enough to save the book when it was coming out a few years back because those are some of my favorite comics ever. EVER. I was sad to the see the team go but I kind of knew it was coming because the trades had already been collected by the time I was introduced to the group by a friend of mine. I had already been told that the book would morph into The Authority, so it's ending was foretold. Even so, I was sad to see it go. When I heard that the team was coming back I was a touch surprised; for a moment I thought that it might even be slightly sacrilegious to those of us that loved those older comics, but come to think of it I don't think all that many people read them (otherwise they would never had canceled the book in the first place). Still, Gage and Mahnke have hit their stride by honoring the book that came before yet by making this book their own as well. I was sad to see StormWatch and it's first spawn, StormWatch: Team Achilles, come to an end, but if those books had to pass so that this book could eventually come along, well, then so be it? So why do I like this book so much? Well, it's a different take on superheroes, taking the elements from the first incarnation of the series and deftly melding in the “out wit” tactics of the ...Team Achilles book. It's the story of how powerful people can be deal with, either by their own kind or by those that out think them. Good stuff.  PUNISHER #43 (MR) $2.99 (Garth Ennis / Lan Medina)You'd think that well after 100 issues writing the character that Ennis might be slowing down sometime soon when it comes to new ideas when it concerns the Punisher. Well, he's not, and this latest storyline (in seven parts) demonstrates that well. Think of it, we all know that Frank Castle has been out there killing criminals for some time now, but how many times has it been considered how the windows of those dead crime lords felt? Sure, I've missed my share of Punisher comics, but as far as I can remember this is the first time that it has been considered. Remember, many wives of criminals know full well what it is that their husbands do to bring home the bacon. Heck, nowadays it is often that one sees a strong woman behind any powerful man, so why should crime barons be any different? Just think about it: you're a woman that cannot remember the last time that she has ever wanted for anything, surrounded by largesse, doing pretty much as you pleased simply because your husband is the head of a crime family, is a rich drug lord, or any other of a number of kingpin type standings. Then, one day some guy with a skull on his chest kills your husband (and most likely dozens of others as well), instantly changing your life, a life to which you had become accustomed. Now think if this guy had been at it for several years; there would be many of these women like you, so what if one of them had the idea that they should pool their resources and strike back at this man that had effectively ended life as they knew it. That's Ennis for you, always thinking outside of the box.  SQUADRON SUPREME: HYPERION VS NIGHTHAWK #1 (OF 4) $2.99 (Marc Guggenheim / Paul Gulacy)Let's face it, this just going to be a wonderful facsimile of Batman kicking Superman's tail, only probably more brutal and a touch more realistic (unless one counts The Dark Knight Returns. Personally, I'm thinking I'm going to love each and every second.  WOLVERINE: ORIGINS #10 $2.99 (Daniel Way / Steve Dillon)I am finding that I am thoroughly enjoying this book, especially the last issue that kind of hearkened back to an issue of Uncanny X-Men from years back that showed a younger Logan meeting a child that would one day become the Black Widow. It was nice to see that Way and Dillon were able to reference that story in a fashion yet also build on it and give it their own shine. Watching Wolverine negotiate through the webs of his recently recalled past is proving to be much more of treat that I had expected as this title has quickly become a “must read” for me each month. How were your holidays? Did you have a good time? Did you get cool schwag? Did you get engaged like me? Whatever it was, tell me how you spent your time as well as what comics you're most excited about this week by stopping by the What Looks Good message boards (see link below). It's good to be back. Talk to you all soon! Until then, Peace! -Diaz |
