A weekly column in which Jake gives
short blurbs about the comics he’s
picked up that week. Reviewed in the order read, which varies but generally by
increasing anticipation. Disclaimer: he
knows very little about art, at least not enough to considerably honor such
tremendous undertakings, so…yeh,
there’s that.
Karnak #1
Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Gerardo Zaffino
Color Artist: Dan Brown
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Marvel
Warren Ellis on another obscure (not
sure why I just implied that about Moon Knight) Marvel character. You know it was bound to be on the Pull
List. For those unfamiliar, Karnak was
the former advisor to the Inhuman Throne, born with the ability to see the
flaws in anything. Then, he died. And now he’s back, taking the role of Magister at the Tower of Wisdom,
a pseudo-monastical philosophical enclave that aids newly born Inhumans, with
the blessings of SHIELD. Ellis is back
in classic fashion, crafting effortless dialogue and allowing the plot to aid
the strengths of his art team. Zaffino's
art is a bit scratchier than the usual fair, dealing mostly in the contrast
between light and shadow, but it suits this title and the character. Karnak is no longer the mustachioed, dopey
hat-wearing minister. He’s sporting a hoody and a beard
that more unkempt than dignified. With
Dan Brown on colors, Zaffino creates scenes that are a bit grungier and dirtier
than the standard fare, which makes sense for Karnak’s altered outlook.
The fight scenes are rather incredible, with brutal choreography and
excellent framing choices. Ellis runs
with lesser-known Marvel characters are always standout, and Karnak appears to
be no exception.
BOOK OF
THE WEEK
The Astonishing Ant-Man #1
Writer: Nick Spencer
Artist: Roman Rosanas
Color Artist: Jordan Boyd
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Marvel
Scott Lang is back and still running
his small-business protection agency in Miami with fellow former criminals,
Grizzly and Machinesmith. But eight
months have passed since we last saw Ant-Man, because that’s apparently all Secret Wars
did to continuity. As it turns out, not
much has changed except for the fact that something definitely changed. Nick Spencer keeps the tone light as Lang’s flashback narration plays the
new status quo for laughs right up until the final page’s surprising reveal.
Spencer penchant for hilarity is on the money as much as it was in the
previous series. The returning art team
of Rosanas and Boyd continue to delight, ably using Lang’s interesting power set to fun effect. Astonishing Ant-man proves to be the best of
both worlds: providing enough of that hero-down-on-his-luck charm to stay
constant with the previous volume, while giving a few tidbits of change to add
another level of excitement to the mix.
So what did you pick up this week?
Agree or disagree with anything said here? Let us know in the comments.
Labels: Karnak, Marvel Comics, the Astonishing Ant-Man
