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Good Stuff #16. Don't Miss Out the Stuff You May Have Missed Last Week! Secret Variants! Who is a Skrull? The REAL Wally West ! Click Here!
Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Posted By: Kevin Powers
The Good Stuff. Of course, that all comes down to personal opinion and what your general tastes are. Here at the Comics Bulletin, you can speak your free mind and discuss this blessed art-form with other individuals who are just as passionate about comics as you are. At Comics Bulletin, we pride ourselves on great reviews, fantastic features and a spectacular atmosphere for discussion. Our reviews are second to none covering every corner of the industry from the big guys to the little guys. But sometimes a comic book that doesn’t achieve a certain mark features a scene or a moment that really stands out. A 2.5 bullet book could have the best scene of the week’s stack, but the overall book could come up short in a reviewer’s opinion. So here it is, a column devoted to those moments, a “best of the week” type thing that acts as an addition to our extraordinary reviews. Feel free to agree, disagree, call for the tar and feathering of Kevin Powers, but take a second to check it out; maybe you missed some of the Good Stuff and you can grab it with this week’s stack.
Good Stuff #16: We’ve got a bit of a smaller list for this week’s installment of “The Good Stuff” only because I am exhausted from the Marvel Top 10, Iron Man Movie Feature and because Grand Theft Auto IV and Mario Kart Wii have kept me rather busy.
Where is it? Batman #675
Written by: Grant Morrison
Cover by”Tony Daniel
In last week’s column, I mentioned there being something refreshing about walking into the comic store and seeing an iconic cover featuring Superman. Not only was the cover iconic, but Alex Ross provided the artwork. For this week’s column, there is yet another iconic cover that gave walking into the comic store a bit of a refreshing feel. Tony Daniel’s cover to Batman #675 is not only iconic, but it’s a bit menacing as well. Sure, there are a lot bizarre things happening within Grant Morrison’s run, but if I were a criminal, the image on this cover is NOT something I’d want to see coming. There was an issue of Midnighter a few months ago where the cover was simply the Midnighter standing at the opening of an alleyway with his staff. That was not something you’d want to see, nor is Batman charging through the rain with an angry look on his face. I really liked this cover a lot, while the leg shown is a little large, I suppose it’s all based on perspective.
Where is it? Hulk Vs. Hercules: When Titans Collide/Tales to Astonish #12
Written by: Stan Lee
Art by: Jack Kirby and Bill Everett
What is it? Hulk vs. Hercules
I was really entertained by the Hulk vs. Hercules 64 page special. I mean, Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente have been doing a fantastic job with Incredible Hercules and are really on their way to being true forces amongst Marvel’s “writer’s army.” However, I thought it was really great to see Tales to Astonish #12 reprinted in this 64 page special. That issue by Lee, Kirby and Everett was the first time that Hulk and Hercules engaged in battle. The fight was evenly matched, there was no clear winner and the two heroes really laid into one another. I think reprinting this issue in the 64 page special was very smart because it really gives readers a look into the history of the two characters. They’ve been featured together a few times over the years and given Herc’s current popularity, I like that Marvel tosses Lee, Kirby and Everett some credit and shows the “establishment” of Herc and Hulk’s relationship.
Where is it? Batman #675
Written by: Grant Morrison
Art by: Ryan Benjamin
What is it? Jezebel Jet does her math, figures out Bruce Wayne is Batman
I haven’t been “ga-ga” over Grant Morrison’s current run on Batman. I’m not totally sure where the whole “Batman R.I.P.” is going, but time will surely tell. While I have my theories that Bruce Wayne might put his mental health in check and give Batman a rest for a while, the earliest shades of Bruce’s mental state are seen in this issue of Batman. There’s a great moment in this issue when his current fling, Jezebel Jet, learns that Bruce and Batman are one in the same. She witnesses Bruce take down the Ten Eyed (now Nine Eyed) Man of the Empty Quarter. While this arc directly relates to Morrison’s work on 52, it’s still a little bit out in left field for my taste. Regardless, Jet witnesses Bruce in “Batman mode” and connects the dots. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Ryan Benjamin’s pencils in this issue, his final page is fantastic. I would love to see the way Morrison describes this scene in the script, Jet putting her hands pointing upwards on the side of Bruce’s head, creating a “Batman-like” shadow on the wall behind him. This page and the events leading up to it were really well executed and boosts my general curiosity regarding “Batman R.I.P.”
Where is it? Thor #8
Written by: J. Michael Strazcynski
Art by: Marko Djurdjevic
What is it? Odin Forever Locked in Battle with Surtur
I’ve never been really big on Thor up until J. Michael Strazcynski’s current run with the character. It is absolutely fantastic. Everything is easily accessible, you only truly need a passing knowledge of Thor to understand it, and it really features some excellent writing. After all, in my book, JMS is one of the absolute elite amongst comic book writers. There have been many classy, memorable and beautiful moments in the first 8 issues of this run. Even with a few delays, this is one of those rare books that readers will wait for so long as the story continues to captivate.
This issue of Thor delivers yet another powerful and memorable moment. Odin, Thor’s father, is not dead; rather he is locked into eternal battle with the demon god Surtur. Surtur was able to survive Ragnarock and when Thor enters the Odinsleep, he learns that his father is stuck in between life and death where he must battle Surtur every day to prevent the demon from undoing everything Thor has done since Ragnarock. Every day Odin dies keeping Surtur at bay only to wake up and do it again the very next time. While Odin is a noble man and will do this to keep his people safe from the demon, forever locked into a battle in which you know the outcome will be the same every day is probably a lot worse than actually dying. Then again, my boss called the very same thing “marriage.”
Where is it? Justice League of America #20
Written by: Dwayne McDuffie
Art by: Ethan Van Sciver
What is it?The REAL Wally West
Dwayne McDuffie returned to Justice League of America last week and not only did he bring Ethan Van Sciver with him, but he brought the best issue of this series since Brad Meltzer left the title. I must sound like a broken record when I talk about Wally West. I love the character, I’m happy he came back to the mainstream DC Universe earlier in this series, but since his return to his own title, the character hasn’t found his stride. Mark Waid did an excellent job setting up Wally’s new life, but the essence of the character is currently missing. However, Dwayne McDuffie uses this issue of JLA to team Wally up with Wonder Woman and really explore the character’s thought process regarding his priorities. Wally is juggling quite a bit, he’s got a wife and kids, needs a job if you follow Flash, has two preteen children and is the Flash.
Wonder Woman, who Wally clearly states he looks up to, comes to him to confront him about his lack of Justice League duties. What I love about this is the way McDuffie writes Wally. For example, when Wonder Woman first shows up, Wally talks about her in his inner monologue as someone who he admired and wanted to earn respect from. When the two characters actually speak, Wally is her equal, a true sign on the maturity of the character and a level of understanding that McDuffie brings to the table. I was completely enthralled by McDuffie’s characterization of Wally West, it was flawless and McDuffie exploited Wally’s powers perfectly for the situation he and Wonder Woman find themselves in. There is more character development and exploration of Wally West and his new role than there has been since returning to his own monthly title.
Where is it? Mighty Avengers #12
Written by: Brian Michael Bendies
Art by: Alex Maleev
What is it? Are Those Pictures that are Circled Skrulls or not?
So Nick Fury is back. He never really left, just went underground and fell off the radar for a while. Why? Because he knew the Skrulls were coming. Mighty Avengers #12 offers some insight as to where Fury disappeared to. Of course, Fury betrayed some of the heroes following Secret War by using them for his own benefit and then erasing their memories. He definitely played both sides of the table and had to lay low, but he did begin to understand the coming infiltration. In this issue we learn that Fury has been sleeping with a Skrull posing as the Countess, he broke into Maria Hill’s quarters on the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier to vaguely warn her of what was coming, and he gets into contact once more with Jessica Drew.
The most disturbing thing about Fury’s action is that he truly believes that Jessica Drew is not a Skrull. To be totally honest with you, all signs are pointing to Spider-Woman being a Skrull. It would make perfect sense, especially since she resurfaced as a major character around the time New Avengers launched. She may indeed be playing everyone. However, the wildest moment of this issue comes at the end, a two page spread of Nuck Fury standing in front of a wall of pictures of the Marvel heroes. A select few of them are circled and the majority of them are not. The question now becomes, are those circled pictures Skrulls or not? Looking at the wall I think they are the people Fury knows are not Skrulls. Why? Because Black Bolt and Sue Storm, who we have learned had been replaced are not circled. It’s one of those moments you can discuss for hours and only Nick Fury and Brian Bendis know the answer.
Where is it? X-Men First Class #11
Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Nick Dragotta
What is it? The Warehouse in the Everglades
Have you ever gone to you local comic shop on Wednesday only to discover that Diamond screwed over your store and you didn’t get certain books? Then you go home, call friends in other areas and find out that they got their books? It’s a real pain in the ass and working in a comic store, you have really no idea how often this occurs. A lot of the time we are shorted books or boxes just literally don’t show up. For comic shop owners this is a major headache and there is really nothing that can be done because Diamond essentially has a monopoly over the comic book industry. The Diamond sales rep will shove some crap down your throat and “resend” the box, if they did even send it in the first place. But do the missing boxes get sent at all? Do they end up at another store? X-Men First Class #11 tries to shed some light on this mystery in a rather humorous fashion.
While the Continuiteens caused more problems for me than anything else in this issue, during the explanation of their origin they provide a rather unique way of explaining Diamond’s shipping problems. Apparently, Diamond has a warehouse in the Florida Everglades where shorted comics can be ordered from in case of an absolute emergency. Because the Continuiteens were “pull customers” they received special treatment and got books from this warehouse. It was there they discovered that Man-Thing’s home in the Everglades was a wormhole into an alternate reality, allowing the Continuiteens to receive books ahead of their print schedule. Do you have a headache? I did after reading this issue, but I guess that explains where some of the boxes disappear too, they escape into an alternate reality because of this warehouse in the Everglades. It all makes sense. Seriously though, Diamond needs to get their act together.
Where is it? Uncanny X-Men #497
Written by: Ed Brubaker
Art by: Michael Choi
What is it? Secret Variant
So I’m literally sitting here eating a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, my usual late night snack, and I’m coming up with this very column. I’ll admit this column is challenging this week because my latest “Marvel Top 10” was exhausting and Grand Theft Auto IV is calling my name. Anyways, I was flipping through Uncanny X-Men looking to see if there was anything inside that would be good for this column. Halfway through my bowl of Cheerios, I’m a little distracted, so I closed the book and put it down. Then I noticed something about my particular cover. It looked normal, just like it had in the solicits, and it’s been a week and I totally didn’t notice anything unusual. What is the big deal right?
Well, lately Marvel has been putting out “Secret Variants.” It’s a fun little marketing ploy to keep readers excited about “Secret Invasion.” The “Secret Variants” actually look EXACTLY like the normal covers of the book except someone on the cover is a Skrull. The fun thing about these covers is that Marvel doesn’t tell anyone about them so finding them is a surprise. Low and behold, my cover of Uncanny X-Men #497 features a very green skinned Cyclops. Marvel readers, check your covers, you may be in for a surprise!
Thor #8
X-Force #3
Justice League of America #20
Mighty Avengers #12
Batman #675
Check back next week to find out what was “The Good Stuff”
Hit the boards for fun conversation.
Check out the Iron Man Movie Feature here: http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/12089203874982.htm
Check out the Top 10 Marvel Movie Moments here: http://www.comicsbulletin.com/soapbox/120951613699680.htm
Thanks for reading,
KP
kevin.powers@comicsbulletin.com
kevinpowers70@yahoo.com
kevinpowers.hypersites.com
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