Team DBAH: The Pull List #1

A three-part Avengers mini-epic that sees seven Avengers from across time assemble in a near-ruined world where Ultron has basically won. Ewing does a great job capturing the essence of each hero’s time period: pre-Avengers Hulk says words like “Palooka” and is generally ornery while Ironman Jim Rhodes has roller-skates and seems like he’s rolling right out of the eighties. The art team’s work gives the book a classic comic feel and the designs of the Ultron Avengers are a good melding of machine and classic Avengers look. Despite its dark future tone, Ultron Forever is shaping up to be a fun read.

Writer: Nathan Edmonson

Art: Mitch Gerads & Brent Schoonover

Colors: Mitch Gerads

Punisher’s a book I dip in and out of, purely out of personal taste. Generally, Frank Castle stories don’t enthrall me as much as other anti-heroes. However, Edmonson and Gerads long-term project is one that I keep coming back to. Edmonson takes Castle out of his usual element by having him go up against PMCs and a corrupt U.S. senator, which naturally draws the attention of the new Captain America, Sam Wilson. Edmonson’s Punisher keeps his inner monologue relevant to the situation at hand, only waxing poetic at times to make a certain point. If I’m honest, it’s the art that keeps me on this book. There’s something about Gerads’ color palette that I find supremely attractive. His character designs are something to be lauded as well, as I find it particularly nice when Frank is drawn as a veritable tank of a man. Punisher is an excellent shoot-em-up/conspiracy book that has great art to back it up.

Writer: James Tynion IV

Illustrator: Michael Dialynas

Colorist: Josan Gonzales

It’s hard to believe that The Woods has been going on for only a year, as it feels like so much has happened inside this book from Boom! Studios. As such a landmark issue would suggest, big things happen to our displaced protagonists. Tynion doles out several payoffs for certain characters and sets up new conflicts for the next year. Dialynas and Gonzales expertly the issue’s explosive contents, as well as some very emotional character work. The second year of The Woods looks to be just like the last: full of mystery, drama, and wonderful character development.

Writer: Jason Latour

Art: Robbi Rodriguez

Colors: Rico Renzi

The Internet’s latest darling trucks into her third issue, and Gwen continues to deal with the consequences of being a hero. Dealing with policeman dad, the fiendish Vulture and a new foe, Gwen is put through an emotional and physical ringer. Latour crafts a script that feels like one of classic Spider-man roots updated for a new century. Rodriguez and Renzi continue to dominate on the books art, particularly in the smoke-filled Vulture fight. If I’m honest though, I’d like to see the book pick up the pace next issue. It’s still fun, but the classic “learning the ins and outs of being a hero” is starting to wear a little. Spider-Gwen is still a good book, however, and I’ll be snagging the next issue.

Southern Bastards #8

Source: https://d138hkes00e90m.cloudfront.net/release_images/SouthernBastards_08.jpg

Writer: Jason Aaron

Art & Color: Jason Latour

Herein we see the finals steps that transformed Euless Boss into Coach Boss and it’s just as vicious as one would expect. Aaron took a gamble: exposing us to the villain at his lowest point ran the risk of us sympathizing with him. But with this issue, Aaron sealed the record and, while allowing us to understand Coach Boss, allowed us to see him for what he’d always been: a mean son of a bitch. Latour’s work continues to be some of the best I’ve ever seen. His scratchy style and slew of reds are a perfect fit for this book. Southern Bastards is a feat of comics in the present day. And, with Coach Boss’s backstory completed, next issue we’re returning to the present day, where the other shoe will finally drop and the ramifications of the first arc will start to come to bear.