Welcome back to more new-release
reviews! Today is dominated by Marvel titles because this week there
were a bunch of new AvX related tie-ins that we knew folks would want
to read.
But despair not if you have little
interest in the Marvel Summer Event, there are a couple of less
fighty-spandex titles on the list as well, starting with this Vertigo
wonder that kicks the list off!
American Vampire: Lord of
Nightmares #1
(Vertigo)
Story : Scott Snyder
Art : Dustin Nguyen
(Reviewed by Anirudh Singh)
Another Felicia Book story, and this
one steeped heavily in Vassals of Morning Star lore. Needless
to say you should not be picking this book up unless you are an
American Vampire fan. And in case you are an American
Vampire fan, then congratulations... you just found another American
Vampire comic book. An awesome continuation of an awesome series.
With only slightly less awesome characters.
What? I'm a Skinner Sweet fan okay. And
Felicia just never did it for me.
But that doesn't mean she didn't do it
for anyone. And even though I begrudge her slow yet inevitable
takeover of the limelight in the American Vampire saga, I do respect
her prowess and recognize her necessity. She is the perfect heroine
for this saga. And it seems that the vassals of the Morning Star have
let loose the perfect villain for the saga as well.
The first issue
reveals very little as expected, but certainly continues to impress
with regards to the writing and the artwork. Like I said, American
Vampire fans are in for a treat. Not much in the way of action, but I
am sure the comings issues will more than make up for that. They
always do.
A good start to this series. Leaves me
eagerly waiting for the next issue.
SCORE : 8 / 10
Avengers #27
(Marvel)
Story : Brian Michael Bendis
Art : Walter Simonson
(Reviewed by Anubhav Sharma)
So that's what all the build-up
involving The Protector was about. This issue continues the saga of
Noh-Var's betrayal of the Avengers, as he proceeds to hand over the
fragment of the phoenix captured by the Avengers to the Kree. We find
Noh-Var under fire from all camps involved as he opposes the Kree
Supreme Intelligence's opinion of letting Earth go, while his fellow
Avengers thereafter ask him to stay away from them and the Earth.
Bendis does well to find the right individual voices for each of the
characters, with Thor and Beast standing out in particular. This
recently concluded arc, while not appearing to have too many
ramifications to the ongoing AvX story, seems to be building up to
the Protector showing up in Bendis' strongly rumored relaunch of the
Marvel cosmic line after the writer departs from the Avengers books.
Walt Simonson's art makes one remember his sci-fi inspired and
much-adored run on Thor that, while old school, packs quite a punch.
SCORE : 7.6 / 10
AvX Versus #3
(Marvel)
Story : Jeph Loeb (Fight 1) /
Christopher Yost (Fight 2)
Art : Ed McGuiness (Fight 1) /
Terry Dodson (Fight 2)
(Reviewed by Anubhav Sharma)
In this third instalment of the AvX
battle-fest, we get the famous for Superman/Batman and
infamous for the Red Hulk duo of Jeph Loeb and Ed
McGuiness handling a brawl between The Thing and the Cyttorak-powered
Juggernaut-Colossus, along with Chris Yost and Terry Dodson's
massively uneven match-up between Magik of the X-Men and Black Widow
of the Avengers, with both fights occurring during the two teams'
battle in the Blue Area of the moon.
The former is the same dumbed-down
action and atrociously brutish characterisation you would expect from
the Loeb of the past few years. Here's the basic story : Rulk punches
Juggerlossus hard, after which the latter lands next to The Thing.
The two fight,and Juggerlossus wins by pushing the Thing out of the
blue area. While McGuiness does his best to make the punches look
god, the lack of substance in the script remains too big a hole to
fill.
With the second story, Yost almost
manages to sell the absurdity of the Magik-BW match-up with a firm
handle on each character's battle tactics and the circumstances and
experiences that have lead to their genesis. Dodson uses his
much-talked about skills with drawing curvy women, with bright
colours somewhat making up for the lack of too much detailing in the
scene set in Limbo.
SCORE : 4.7 / 10
Deadpool #56
(Marvel)
Story : Daniel Way
Art : Shawn Crystal
(Reviewed by Anant Sagar)
So a quick recap. Deadpool is mortal.
No healing factor. Last issue took down a bunch of super villains,
but got his rear handed to him by the Trapster.
Yes the guy who likes to shoot glue at people.
This issue, Wade decides he needs to
get his act together and goes to Taskmaster to be trained.
Then he tries to break into a
S.H.I.E.L.D facility. Does fairly well, gets set up. And I’m
constantly wondering “how, oh how, is this guy doing this without
his healing factor?” Does he not realize that he will get killed?
And he doesn’t even want to be killed anymore.
Anyway,
The Good:
As I always say with Deadpool issues:
this is funny. But at the same time it can be quite serious. Wade
even sounds smart here and there. The story line is going well. I
like seeing Deadpool take on the challenges of being a mercenary as a
mere mortal with no healing factor.
The Bad:
For once the issue didn’t have my 100
percent attention. So bits here and there tend to be a little (just a
little) dragging.
The Funny:
The usual witty banter always amuses.
Now my favourite moments from issue 56.
-Tasky telling Wade he doesn’t make
sense and Wade going “look who you’re talking too.”
-DP trying to figure out what to tell
Taskmaster when he tells him that he wanted to do this job with him.
-DP: “Do you know who I am?” Robot
screen: “Deadpool, mercenary, healing factor, annoying voice.”
For more funny moments from Deadpool 56
read the issue. I’m not giving more spoilers.
Oh yeah, I give it my lowest rating
ever for a Deadpool issue.
SCORE : 8 / 10
Knight Errant - Escape #1
(Dark Horse)
Story : John Jackson Miller
Art : Marco Castiello
(Reviewed by Anirudh Singh)
The titular Jedi Knight-Errant Kerra
Holt's journey through the shadows continues. Another quality series
from Dark Horse based in the Star Wars universe.
Although Kerra Holt is no Zayne Carrick, the comic still reads
well. The writing is good and gets you in that Star Wars mood just
fine. The artwork unfortunately lags behind. Plot-side things are
taking a turn for the interesting. With Kerra tip-toeing between two
opposing Sith Lords. The intrepid Jedi has her hands full. Spying on
one Sith Lord for the other, burrowing deeper and deeper into the
Sith territories and finally, joining the Sith army itself. All
questionable activities for a Jedi Knight. All more than likely to
get her into trouble.
Even though I have my gripes with the
comic, I would still recommend it to every Star Wars fan. I gain a
familiar comfort from reading her story. And I know where the
familiarity comes from. Following Kerra's adventures is a lot like
following Quinlan Vos make his way through deceit and
treachery in the legendary Star Wars: Republic comic
run. Not as epic for sure, but every bit as gripping. The story is
tightly wound and unravels at its own pace. And Kerra with her
sincerity makes you root for her even when she is down and the only
way out is not one she should take.
I believe this comic has a lot of
potential. And the coming issues might raise it to the level of some
Dark Horse classics.
But the artwork has to get better for
that to happen.
SCORE : 6 / 10
SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK!
IF THERE'S ANY TITLES YOU WANT US TO REVIEW, JUST DROP US A LINE!
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