The Pull List: 4/20
It was a smaller week than the last, but that doesn't mean there weren't any gems to review. Just like last week, I'll start with my top 5.
Top of the Stack
1. Green Lantern #65 - This was the 4th part of the War of the Green Lanterns, and it did not disappoint. I worship Geoff Johns exactly for stories like this. Big, over-the-top superhero stories. Simply put, no one does them better. This chapter saw the ringless earth lanterns (Hal, Guy, Jon and Kyle) choose new colored rings to go into battle against Krona. I love this story arc. Plus everything looks gorgeous drawn by Doug Mahnke. Great issue.
2. Avengers Academy #12 - I love the work Christos Gage has done on this book. He created a new group of heroes (save for Reptil) who I've grown to care about in just barely a years worth of stories. This issue has the kids up against big-time Avengers villain Korvac. It's a lover's quarrel between Korvac and his all-powerful wife, where she goes into the timestream and gets alternate full-powered versions of each of the kids. The issue ends with a great moment between Hazmat and Mettle.
3. Hulk #32 - I love Jeff Parker's Red Hulk storyline. Absolute brilliance. General Ross is great and has hit his hero stride now that he has a foil in General Fortean. Their interplay harkens back to the old Ross/Banner confrontations. The Black Fog subplot was great as well, as he looks to be another great adversary to Red Hulk. Kudos to Gabriel Hardmann as well. His pencils have been ferocious.
4. Supergirl #63 - This arc started by the since departed Nick Spencer has been phenomenal. Bernard Chang draws a great Supergirl as well. Plus the big reveal of long-forgotten Dubbilex as the villain was surprising. I was skeptical over where this book was headed, as I really liked Sterling Gates (where did he go?) run, but I like this arc even more.
5. Powergirl #23 - I usually hate magical stories, but I'm totally digging this issue. Winnick and Basri put together a great story guest starring both Superman and Zatanna. Really well-paced throwdown between Zatanna and the new magician. Great acceptance of the new Karen Starr identity at the end of the story. Clark looked so proud.
Rest of the Pull
6. Superman/Batman #83 - Another magic book I really liked. Loved the redesigns by ChrisCross. Very strong arc, after some recent mishits for this once great title.
7. Invincible Iron Man #503 - Stark versus Doc Ock round 3. Strong issue, but wrongly billed as a Fear Itself tie-in. Besides a few panels at the very end, it didn't tie-in at all,
8. Dark Horse Presents #1 - Very strong reintroduction of a classic Dark Horse title. Concrete story was strong, the first loosk at Xerxes and Crimson Empire III were intriguing. The highlight of the book wasn't a comic story at all, but a short piece written by Harlan Ellison. It makes you feel for a tiny man.
9. Justice League of America #56 - The 2nd part of the Eclipso saga. Not a great issue, but Brett Booth's pencils are amazing. Glad to see him on a major title.
10. Avengers #12 - The last part of the Red Hood Infinity Gems story. The story was fine, but JRJR's pencils seemed rushed. I didn't think they matched the weight of the words Bendis wrote. I like the story, a lot, but the visuals I had a hard time embracing. Is a team book (plus Kick-Ass 2) too much for Romita Jr to handle?
11. X-Factor #218 - The near death of Guido (wait, he's saved by Layla lurking in the bathroom) was flat. Not weighty or emotional at all. The very loose pencils had something to do with it. Usually X-Factor has a much darker, moodier tone to the art, but this was a lot brighter and cheerier. Didn't match the tone of the book.
12. Batman #709 - I still hate the new Azrael. The super-powered Crusader is even worse. I'm happy this cross-over is over with. I did like Guillem March's pencils. He's a rising star at DC.
13. Legion of Superheroes #56 - This title just isn't doing it for me right now. I usually like Levitz and Cinar, and thought they were delightful at NYCC, but they both need to step it up on this title.
Till next week...
Top of the Stack
1. Green Lantern #65 - This was the 4th part of the War of the Green Lanterns, and it did not disappoint. I worship Geoff Johns exactly for stories like this. Big, over-the-top superhero stories. Simply put, no one does them better. This chapter saw the ringless earth lanterns (Hal, Guy, Jon and Kyle) choose new colored rings to go into battle against Krona. I love this story arc. Plus everything looks gorgeous drawn by Doug Mahnke. Great issue.
2. Avengers Academy #12 - I love the work Christos Gage has done on this book. He created a new group of heroes (save for Reptil) who I've grown to care about in just barely a years worth of stories. This issue has the kids up against big-time Avengers villain Korvac. It's a lover's quarrel between Korvac and his all-powerful wife, where she goes into the timestream and gets alternate full-powered versions of each of the kids. The issue ends with a great moment between Hazmat and Mettle.
3. Hulk #32 - I love Jeff Parker's Red Hulk storyline. Absolute brilliance. General Ross is great and has hit his hero stride now that he has a foil in General Fortean. Their interplay harkens back to the old Ross/Banner confrontations. The Black Fog subplot was great as well, as he looks to be another great adversary to Red Hulk. Kudos to Gabriel Hardmann as well. His pencils have been ferocious.
4. Supergirl #63 - This arc started by the since departed Nick Spencer has been phenomenal. Bernard Chang draws a great Supergirl as well. Plus the big reveal of long-forgotten Dubbilex as the villain was surprising. I was skeptical over where this book was headed, as I really liked Sterling Gates (where did he go?) run, but I like this arc even more.
5. Powergirl #23 - I usually hate magical stories, but I'm totally digging this issue. Winnick and Basri put together a great story guest starring both Superman and Zatanna. Really well-paced throwdown between Zatanna and the new magician. Great acceptance of the new Karen Starr identity at the end of the story. Clark looked so proud.
Rest of the Pull
6. Superman/Batman #83 - Another magic book I really liked. Loved the redesigns by ChrisCross. Very strong arc, after some recent mishits for this once great title.
7. Invincible Iron Man #503 - Stark versus Doc Ock round 3. Strong issue, but wrongly billed as a Fear Itself tie-in. Besides a few panels at the very end, it didn't tie-in at all,
8. Dark Horse Presents #1 - Very strong reintroduction of a classic Dark Horse title. Concrete story was strong, the first loosk at Xerxes and Crimson Empire III were intriguing. The highlight of the book wasn't a comic story at all, but a short piece written by Harlan Ellison. It makes you feel for a tiny man.
9. Justice League of America #56 - The 2nd part of the Eclipso saga. Not a great issue, but Brett Booth's pencils are amazing. Glad to see him on a major title.
10. Avengers #12 - The last part of the Red Hood Infinity Gems story. The story was fine, but JRJR's pencils seemed rushed. I didn't think they matched the weight of the words Bendis wrote. I like the story, a lot, but the visuals I had a hard time embracing. Is a team book (plus Kick-Ass 2) too much for Romita Jr to handle?
11. X-Factor #218 - The near death of Guido (wait, he's saved by Layla lurking in the bathroom) was flat. Not weighty or emotional at all. The very loose pencils had something to do with it. Usually X-Factor has a much darker, moodier tone to the art, but this was a lot brighter and cheerier. Didn't match the tone of the book.
12. Batman #709 - I still hate the new Azrael. The super-powered Crusader is even worse. I'm happy this cross-over is over with. I did like Guillem March's pencils. He's a rising star at DC.
13. Legion of Superheroes #56 - This title just isn't doing it for me right now. I usually like Levitz and Cinar, and thought they were delightful at NYCC, but they both need to step it up on this title.
Till next week...
Labels: Comics
posted by LEV at
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