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
Silk #7
Writer: Robbie Thompson
Artist: Tana Ford
Color Artist: Ian Herring
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Marvel
Trapped in an alternate dimension, Silk abandons her fellow travelers for a chance at the one thing she’s wanted all along: seeing her family again. It’s something of an emotional script from Thompson, who has Cindy’s narration toe the line between genuine and try-hard. His plotting is tight as well and ties Cindy’s personal story into the larger event. Ford is back on art in what is an altogether excellent outing. None of the faces approach the usual discomfort and contortion and the action is incredible, always one of her strong suits. She and Herring do a beautiful job of making S.I.L.K. headquarters come alive. The Spider-Women event has improved with every issue, and Silk #7 is no exception.
Dragon Age: Magekiller #5
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Script: Greg Rucka
Pencils: Carmen Carnero
Inks: Terry Pallot
Colors: Michael Atiyeh
Lettering: Michael Heisler
Dark Horse
With the end of the world approaching, Marius and Tessa are given a nigh impossible task in a chance to stop it. Rucka’s script is tight and packed with emotion as the heroes prepare for what could be their final battle. He wisely uses established characters to enhance his own story, raising the stakes by subverting tropes. The art is as gorgeous as ever, minus a few faces that seem a bit rushed. The choreography is sound and the characters’ body language is flawless. Dragon Age: Magekiller has been a welcome addition to a fan-favorite mythos.
New Avengers #10 BOOK OF THE WEEK
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Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Marcus To w/Juanan Ramirez
Color Artist: Dono Sanchez Almara
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Marvel
It’s giant robot Avenger Five vs. the American Kaiju, while the New Avengers traitor is finally revealed! All this while they desperately try to escape the S.H.I.E.L.D. invaded A.I.M. isle with V.I.P. Rick Jones. It’s a very fun issue rife with great superhero conflict as drawn by To and Ramirez. Despite the somewhat dire circumstances, the book never feels overly heavy or grim, which is a credit to both script and art. Event tie-ins don’t normally work out as they feel so sudden and unwarranted, but Ewing’s taken this book off the somewhat monotonous path it was on and engaged in a very refreshing direction.
Howard the Duck #6
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Writer: Chip Zdarsky w/Ryan North
Penciler: Joe Quinones
Inkers: Joe Rivera, Marc Deering, Joe Quinones
Colorists: Joe Quinones & Jordan Gibson
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Marvel
It’s Squirrel Girl, Howard the Duck, and various other animal-themed heroes as the play a deadly game—some would say the most dangerous. The Joseph Conrad shenanigans abound in this very enjoyable crossover from Zdarsky and North. Despite the apparent change in lead writer, the story doesn’t skip a beat. The same can be said of the fantastic art of Joe Quinones and a team of inkers and colorists. While Quinones’s art is a bit more grounded than Henderson’s, the wacky hijinks remain just has funny. Animal House was a fun, brief crossover, which is a worthy goal to shoot for.
Superman: American Alien #6
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Writer: Max Landis
Illustrator: Jonathan Case
Letterer: John Workman
Marvel
Clark Kent deals with a bit of a crisis of identity as Smallville friends, Kenny Braverman and Pete Ross, come into Metropolis for a visit. Landis does some much-warranted hard-casing about Clark as Superman via Pete’s concerned diatribe. While there’s very little action in the issue, the drama builds and builds until it boils over in a very satisfying rooftop confrontation. Case is a perfect fit for the issue, able portraying both the concerned protagonists as well as a bit of a headstrong Superman. American Alien is a bit of a detour from what came before, but it is more than serviceable in terms of amazing character development.
So what did you pick up this week? Agree or disagree with anything said here?
Let us know in the comments.
Labels: American Alien, Comics, dark horse comics, DC Comics, Dragon Age: Magekiller, Howard the Duck, Marvel Comics, New Avengers, Pulllist, Silk
