2005-01-05
Capsule Comic Reviews for 1/5
By: Harold Bloomfield
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Writer: David Lapham | ||
Two issues in and David Lapham’s “City of Crime” is turning out to be the best thing to happen to Batman in quite awhile. This issue centers on a terrible fire in a tenement apartment building and features some harrowing moments of rescue attempts by Batman and Robin. Sprinkled throughout is a focus on the mother of a missing girl that proves these type of stories always have more impact when the tragedy is personalized or brought down to a smaller level. Of course the stories of fire and the worried mother come together as Batman makes a horrifying discovery in the burning building. Like last issue Lapham provides very wordy and very effective captions. He also captures Robin’s youthful enthusiasm and illustrates Batman’s role as his teacher. Lapahm’s Batman is a creature of the dark and a man of few words and Lapham makes great use of those few words. Ramon Bach continues his fine art based on layouts by Lapham. So far it’s all here; a literate story, a compelling mystery, quality art, concise and telling characterizations adding up to the beginnings of the finest Batman we seen in a long time.
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Writer: Samm Barnes | ||
This is the first time in a long time, maybe the first time ever in this series, that the art matched the tone of the writing. For some reason Marvel has seen fit to go with unconventional artwork on this book and all the misshapen heads, oversized eyes and out of proportion bodies seriously detracted from the stories. Not that the stories were anything to shout about but they didn’t get any help from the art. Here Scot Eaton’s pencils are of the realistic variety which dovetails nicely for what is essentially a talking heads issue. Also in a first since the early days of the Peter Parker book the story is directly related to events in Amazing Spider-Man. Unfortunately it’s an outgrowth of the dismal “Sins Past” arc but we can’t have everything. At least initially there is some interest in the fate of Sarah, the distaff one of Gwen Stacy’s twins who for now has not gone Goblin-like her missing and presumed dead brother, Gabriel. Samm Barnes’ story could move a little faster, be less talky and contains some awkward moments like Peter unnecessarily unburdening himself to a doctor and later lying for no good reason to MJ. However, there are some nice moments like the instructions Peter receives from a cab driver and Spider-Man’s foray into Paris do-gooding and enough here to pique interest and hope that “Sins Remembered” takes a better path than “Sins Past.”
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Script, Plot and Artwork: Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz | ||
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This issue puts me very much in mind of the Stan Lee John-Romita Spider-Man productions of the Seventies. And I mean that as high praise indeed. After a couple of three pages of non costume goings on meant as a refresher course of everyone’s relationships, secrets and complications the action starts and the rest of the book is a barnburner. Oh and did I mention the guest stars that fit so seamlessly into the mix that their presence and actions are perfectly logical and expected. The pace is high octane and the plot twists are doozies. This book has always walked a fine line and usually has succeeded in staying awhile from what was laughable and exasperating about styles and plots of past decades while keeping the best of what we fondly remember. In today’s era of decompressed story telling, naval gazing angst, moral ambiguity and cynicism this book is a welcome and refreshing throw back.
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Writer: Brian K. Vaughan | ||
Of all the books in the Ultimate Line this one has become the most conventional. So much so that I can’t think of one thing that differentiates this from a regular X-book and I can’t say the same thing for the other Ultimate books as they all have keep a sense of freshness and uniqueness that separates them from their mainstream counterparts. Now that doesn’t make this a bad book, in fact I usually enjoy most issues and I enjoyed this one. This issue starts a new arc and welcomes new artist Stuart Immonen who swapped assignments with Adam Kubert. Mutants convicted of crimes are hunted on live TV in Krakoa, an island nation off the coast of Genosha. Once they learn of this the X-Men are rearing to go but Professor Xavier feels it’s best to go in a covert direction. This doesn’t sit well with the team, especially those left behind. Some of the resistance to Xavier seems out of place and over the top, especially the reaction of Colossus and the undercurrent of animosity between Jean and the Professor. What happens next can be easily guessed. I can’t get over the feeling that I’ve seen this all before in some form or another and that’s not what I want from a book carrying the Ultimate label.
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Writer: Akira Yoshida | ||
I thought the first issue of this series, though flawed by an unnecessary and out of the blue fight between some team members, had some strong points and showed promise. Based on the second issue maybe I misjudged the first issue of this series. The best part of this story is the moral conflict presented by the survivors of the attacked space station who are infected by the alien pods. Sue wants to find a way to help but everyone else wants them done away with before the aliens, who represent a great danger, are born. Unfortunately, a cosmic storm makes the heroes leave the station before a decision can be made. Did I mention that the cosmic storm literally is introduced out of the blue with Reed explaining he was aware of it but didn’t feel it merited mention before the team took off on their rescue mission? Add to that the plot which is a direct rip off of “Alien” (complete with Sue as Ripley although the invisible axe she wields is the issue’s most imaginative idea) and dialogue that at times highlights that English is not the author’s first language and you have serious plotting. An FF X-Men team up limited series is an idea ripe with possibilities and has been done well in the past. Other than for fans of Pat Lee’s art this one is shaping up to be a missed opportunity.
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